Moses(AL)Jwilkerson(IJ)
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
6 June
6 June:
Alaska: His surface force has disappeared. I'm guessing he was looking for a surface fight against my transports but since I pulled these out for a turn he struck air. I have a small surface force moving toward the front and it will linger for a couple days to see if I can get a small surface fight. My carriers refueled at Ankorage and are now edging forward and getting ready. I'll probably start my big bombardment forces moving in a turn or two as the situation developes. My transports for the landing at Atka island are now loading at Ankorage.
Burma: I continue to bomb the 33rd division. I did have a bit of a scare when a small ASW force (2 DD's) I sent to Akyab got hit by about 18 Nells flying from Moulmain. They all missed but I need to be more careful. My transfer of AP's toward Diamond Harbor has not been interfered with and the danger is now past.
My armor units are now going at 6 miles per 2 day turn and my sea invasion is set to coincide with their arrival. So 9 more turns. The AP's will all be there by then so everything looks to be a go.
Jwilkerson can obviously see my force coming down the road and there seems to be a general redeployment going on in Burma with lots of units moving on the roads. KB does have time to get there and mess things up. I will be watching the likely avenues of approach.
If KB does intervene it will be a true logistical event. KB was off the coast of California not that long ago. I expect it is in the area of Rabaul now but I can't be sure. It could have headed east and be nearing Singapore by now. What a redeployyment that would be--California to Akyab!!!
Alaska: His surface force has disappeared. I'm guessing he was looking for a surface fight against my transports but since I pulled these out for a turn he struck air. I have a small surface force moving toward the front and it will linger for a couple days to see if I can get a small surface fight. My carriers refueled at Ankorage and are now edging forward and getting ready. I'll probably start my big bombardment forces moving in a turn or two as the situation developes. My transports for the landing at Atka island are now loading at Ankorage.
Burma: I continue to bomb the 33rd division. I did have a bit of a scare when a small ASW force (2 DD's) I sent to Akyab got hit by about 18 Nells flying from Moulmain. They all missed but I need to be more careful. My transfer of AP's toward Diamond Harbor has not been interfered with and the danger is now past.
My armor units are now going at 6 miles per 2 day turn and my sea invasion is set to coincide with their arrival. So 9 more turns. The AP's will all be there by then so everything looks to be a go.
Jwilkerson can obviously see my force coming down the road and there seems to be a general redeployment going on in Burma with lots of units moving on the roads. KB does have time to get there and mess things up. I will be watching the likely avenues of approach.
If KB does intervene it will be a true logistical event. KB was off the coast of California not that long ago. I expect it is in the area of Rabaul now but I can't be sure. It could have headed east and be nearing Singapore by now. What a redeployyment that would be--California to Akyab!!!
8 June
8 June:
The last unit in the DEI is eliminated. Only a few unoccupied bases are left. At Port Moresby the level of bombing has decreased over the last week. I actually fully repaired my airfield and have moved recon planes and a group of SBD's in for the first time in at least a month. Jwilkerson might be finding that its not worth the effort to keep this base closed as his losses to flak are too high for him to recieve any training benifits. Or he could be resting up for a major ofensive.....
Alaska: My transports will move to their staging point next turn and should hit the beach on 10 June. My carriers are in support and I have large surface forces coming along as well. No Japanese naval forces or significant air units have been seen since the 4th of June.
The last unit in the DEI is eliminated. Only a few unoccupied bases are left. At Port Moresby the level of bombing has decreased over the last week. I actually fully repaired my airfield and have moved recon planes and a group of SBD's in for the first time in at least a month. Jwilkerson might be finding that its not worth the effort to keep this base closed as his losses to flak are too high for him to recieve any training benifits. Or he could be resting up for a major ofensive.....
Alaska: My transports will move to their staging point next turn and should hit the beach on 10 June. My carriers are in support and I have large surface forces coming along as well. No Japanese naval forces or significant air units have been seen since the 4th of June.
10 June
10 June: One days work against the 33rd Division at Akyab.
Day Air attack on 33rd/A Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 22
Blenheim I x 4
B-18A Bolo x 27
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
129 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 33rd/A Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 4
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
2 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 33rd/B Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 3
B-17E Fortress x 8
LB-30 Liberator x 24
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
161 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 33rd/B Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 8
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 33rd/C Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
Blenheim I x 8
B-18A Bolo x 15
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
111 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 33rd/C Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 9
B-26B Marauder x 64
B-17E Fortress x 26
LB-30 Liberator x 15
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
249 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Day Air attack on 33rd/A Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 22
Blenheim I x 4
B-18A Bolo x 27
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
129 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 33rd/A Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 4
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
2 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 33rd/B Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 3
B-17E Fortress x 8
LB-30 Liberator x 24
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
161 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 33rd/B Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 8
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 33rd/C Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
Blenheim I x 8
B-18A Bolo x 15
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
111 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 33rd/C Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 9
B-26B Marauder x 64
B-17E Fortress x 26
LB-30 Liberator x 15
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
249 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
- castor troy
- Posts: 14331
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:17 am
- Location: Austria
RE: 10 June
ORIGINAL: moses
10 June: One days work against the 33rd Division at Akyab.
Day Air attack on 33rd/A Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 22
Blenheim I x 4
B-18A Bolo x 27
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
129 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 33rd/A Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 4
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
2 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 33rd/B Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 3
B-17E Fortress x 8
LB-30 Liberator x 24
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
161 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 33rd/B Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 8
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 33rd/C Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
Blenheim I x 8
B-18A Bolo x 15
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
111 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 33rd/C Division, at 30,29
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 9
B-26B Marauder x 64
B-17E Fortress x 26
LB-30 Liberator x 15
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
249 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
IMO a big mistake of jwilkerson to split his division. This way he gets far more casualties as he would get when the division isn´t divided. I have seen 150+ 4Es bombing a brigade or division at 6000 feet only inflicting 200 casualties often enough. I think splitting caused at least twice as many casualties as he would get if the div isn´t splitted.
RE: 10 June
I agree. Losses have been significantly higher since he split them up. I've heard it said that units recover disabled squads more quickly when they are split up. I don't know if its true or not. My experience is the opposite but who knows.
Either way the 33rd had to fight its way up through Burma and then fought its way to Akyab crossing the mountains to get there. Ever since its arrival I have bombed it on a continuous basis. Its at a level 3 airbase/level 1 port in a malarial area. Both port and airfield have been at near max damage for the whole period. There has never been any chance for this unit to rest.
I just have to assume that the 33rd is in a very poor state.
Either way the 33rd had to fight its way up through Burma and then fought its way to Akyab crossing the mountains to get there. Ever since its arrival I have bombed it on a continuous basis. Its at a level 3 airbase/level 1 port in a malarial area. Both port and airfield have been at near max damage for the whole period. There has never been any chance for this unit to rest.
I just have to assume that the 33rd is in a very poor state.
12 June:
12 June:
Alaska: I landed at Atka Island without opposition. Since it was still under allied control it was nice to have level 3 forts as I arrived. My BB's bombed Adak island and did good damage although one of my DD's got beat up pretty bad. My carrier SBD's also hit Adak island. Japan has two other small air bases in the Alutians and my BB's will hit the remaining two in the next couple days.
My carriers will stay on station for another two days while the bombardments go in and my remaining troops unload. I'm kind of hoping that by showing this large naval force that I might convince KB to head this way. Then I can slip away and let KB waste its time in Alaska.
I shouldn't really need much naval power in this area once Atka is secure. This is an ideal area for island hopping as each island is quite close to the next.
Burma: He is moving a mixed BDE up the path to Akyab. Shouldn't matter. My armor units are at 18 miles and my last transport will arrive at Diamond Harbor in 3 days. I will have two big armor units and 2 well trained/high morale UK divisions against a bombed out Japanese division and one mixed BDE.
China: My Northern force has moved adjacent to Yenen and will bombard the 8 Japanese units in that wooded hex next turn. I don't think this diversion is accomplishing a whole lot because I havn't seen any evidence of a Japanese redeployment. But maybe my bombardments will convince him. My main force at Changsa is prepped at about level 70 now so we can wait another few days and continue training.
South Pacific: I'm getting some rumblings of an invasion of Numea. 2 SIGINT reports indicate units training for area bases, and I'm still seeing large air balance numbers around the southern end of the Solomon chain.
I have a lot of force here. 2 Divisions with another about a week out. 4 Bde's of various types. Lark and NGVR force. Arty units at each base. Lots of eng units which have dug me in deep.
So he would have to bring a big force. But then for me to have this whole force surrender would be a disaster.
Alaska: I landed at Atka Island without opposition. Since it was still under allied control it was nice to have level 3 forts as I arrived. My BB's bombed Adak island and did good damage although one of my DD's got beat up pretty bad. My carrier SBD's also hit Adak island. Japan has two other small air bases in the Alutians and my BB's will hit the remaining two in the next couple days.
My carriers will stay on station for another two days while the bombardments go in and my remaining troops unload. I'm kind of hoping that by showing this large naval force that I might convince KB to head this way. Then I can slip away and let KB waste its time in Alaska.
I shouldn't really need much naval power in this area once Atka is secure. This is an ideal area for island hopping as each island is quite close to the next.
Burma: He is moving a mixed BDE up the path to Akyab. Shouldn't matter. My armor units are at 18 miles and my last transport will arrive at Diamond Harbor in 3 days. I will have two big armor units and 2 well trained/high morale UK divisions against a bombed out Japanese division and one mixed BDE.
China: My Northern force has moved adjacent to Yenen and will bombard the 8 Japanese units in that wooded hex next turn. I don't think this diversion is accomplishing a whole lot because I havn't seen any evidence of a Japanese redeployment. But maybe my bombardments will convince him. My main force at Changsa is prepped at about level 70 now so we can wait another few days and continue training.
South Pacific: I'm getting some rumblings of an invasion of Numea. 2 SIGINT reports indicate units training for area bases, and I'm still seeing large air balance numbers around the southern end of the Solomon chain.
I have a lot of force here. 2 Divisions with another about a week out. 4 Bde's of various types. Lark and NGVR force. Arty units at each base. Lots of eng units which have dug me in deep.
So he would have to bring a big force. But then for me to have this whole force surrender would be a disaster.
16 June
16 June:
Port Moresby: The drawn out siege of Port Moresby continues.
Recently he has started getting the measure of my fast transport resupply missions. I've been using 3 ship TF's consisting of 1 CL and 2 DD's each. I have 3 such task forces operationg on a continuous basis. They've operated for a long time without loss but on the 12th I had two ships hit by subs and the Bettys flying out of Lea have been attacking my ships and hit a CL a few days back. These ships all look to survive with damage but its getting too dangerous. I'll stop these for a while and run some ASW missions.
I had stopped using my C-47's for the last month because he was flying LRC over Port Moresby and shooting them down. But 4 days ago I sent a group in and it took no losses. So I put all 60 C47's on supply duty and again no losses. So I guess he got tired of flying LRC. I'll keep this up until he notices. Right now PM has about 14,000 suppy points on hand.
The bombing campaign is still pretty unstoppable. For example:
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91--14 june out of Rabaul
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 230
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 12 damaged
Allied ground losses:
147 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 2
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91--15 June from Lea
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 51
C5M Babs x 6
Ki-21 Sally x 81
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 16 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
PBY Catalina: 3 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 81
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91--15 June from Rabaul again
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 229
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 13 damaged
Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Port hits 7
Port supply hits 3
Alaska: Atka Island is secure and I have shelled every Japanese base in the area. Jwilkerson did not oppose the operation and the only Japanese ship sunk was an AG which bravely battled my BB TF at long range.
I'm pulling my carriers and most of my BB's back to San Fransico for refit. with the CV Wasp arriving in 60 days and my other carriers being repaired, it may be that I will have 5 first line CV's available for action in Sept.
I will leave some surface force in the Alaska area to maintain a low level of attritional combat.
China: My fight around Yenen has been quite underwhelming.
Ground combat at 49,26--wooded hex, west of Yenen
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 110812 troops, 616 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value =
3826
Defending force 132378 troops, 1459 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value =
2611
Japanese ground losses:
2 casualties reported
Guns lost 1[8|]--I've bombarded 4 days now and this is my BEST result.
Still it is training my ground troops and I at least know where 4 of the Japanese divisions are.----My central offensive is almost ready to go.
Port Moresby: The drawn out siege of Port Moresby continues.
Recently he has started getting the measure of my fast transport resupply missions. I've been using 3 ship TF's consisting of 1 CL and 2 DD's each. I have 3 such task forces operationg on a continuous basis. They've operated for a long time without loss but on the 12th I had two ships hit by subs and the Bettys flying out of Lea have been attacking my ships and hit a CL a few days back. These ships all look to survive with damage but its getting too dangerous. I'll stop these for a while and run some ASW missions.
I had stopped using my C-47's for the last month because he was flying LRC over Port Moresby and shooting them down. But 4 days ago I sent a group in and it took no losses. So I put all 60 C47's on supply duty and again no losses. So I guess he got tired of flying LRC. I'll keep this up until he notices. Right now PM has about 14,000 suppy points on hand.
The bombing campaign is still pretty unstoppable. For example:
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91--14 june out of Rabaul
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 230
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 12 damaged
Allied ground losses:
147 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 2
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91--15 June from Lea
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 51
C5M Babs x 6
Ki-21 Sally x 81
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 16 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
PBY Catalina: 3 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 81
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91--15 June from Rabaul again
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 229
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 13 damaged
Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Port hits 7
Port supply hits 3
Alaska: Atka Island is secure and I have shelled every Japanese base in the area. Jwilkerson did not oppose the operation and the only Japanese ship sunk was an AG which bravely battled my BB TF at long range.
I'm pulling my carriers and most of my BB's back to San Fransico for refit. with the CV Wasp arriving in 60 days and my other carriers being repaired, it may be that I will have 5 first line CV's available for action in Sept.
I will leave some surface force in the Alaska area to maintain a low level of attritional combat.
China: My fight around Yenen has been quite underwhelming.
Ground combat at 49,26--wooded hex, west of Yenen
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 110812 troops, 616 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value =
3826
Defending force 132378 troops, 1459 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value =
2611
Japanese ground losses:
2 casualties reported
Guns lost 1[8|]--I've bombarded 4 days now and this is my BEST result.
Still it is training my ground troops and I at least know where 4 of the Japanese divisions are.----My central offensive is almost ready to go.
18 June
18 June:
Port Moresby: The situation starts to look ugly. I sent an ASW force to the area to try and hit his sub blockade. Jwilkersons bombers found me and I was spanked good. each of 3 DD's took 2 torpedoes. 2 DD's went down immediately and the third was hit the next phase by a sub. Scratch 3 DD's.
The CV Agagi is sighted just east of Gili Gili. This could be aimed at PM, the austrailian coast or Numea. I'm betting he heads toward the northern Austrailian ports before turning on PM. Further bad omens are a unit is now sighted crossing the mountains from Buna and a division is reported training for PM.
The only good news is that my C47's continue to supply PM and so my supply level is holding steady at above 14,000 sp.
Still I would prefer that Japan focus on PM as its loss will not be disasterous despite the loss of a very good division. An invasion of Numea is much more dangerous as larger forces are involved. Could I survive the loss of three full divisions plus all the supporting units on the island? If he destroyed those divisions how could I then hold New Zealand?
My CV Wasp arrives in 37 days and so for the first time in a while I will have a decent carrier force with which to oppose a landing at Numea. So I figure Japan has about 40 days in which a Numea operation has a good chance of succeding. Once August hits though I really like my chances should he invade.
Anyway its a good bet that his carriers will show their hand in the next day or two.
Port Moresby: The situation starts to look ugly. I sent an ASW force to the area to try and hit his sub blockade. Jwilkersons bombers found me and I was spanked good. each of 3 DD's took 2 torpedoes. 2 DD's went down immediately and the third was hit the next phase by a sub. Scratch 3 DD's.
The CV Agagi is sighted just east of Gili Gili. This could be aimed at PM, the austrailian coast or Numea. I'm betting he heads toward the northern Austrailian ports before turning on PM. Further bad omens are a unit is now sighted crossing the mountains from Buna and a division is reported training for PM.
The only good news is that my C47's continue to supply PM and so my supply level is holding steady at above 14,000 sp.
Still I would prefer that Japan focus on PM as its loss will not be disasterous despite the loss of a very good division. An invasion of Numea is much more dangerous as larger forces are involved. Could I survive the loss of three full divisions plus all the supporting units on the island? If he destroyed those divisions how could I then hold New Zealand?
My CV Wasp arrives in 37 days and so for the first time in a while I will have a decent carrier force with which to oppose a landing at Numea. So I figure Japan has about 40 days in which a Numea operation has a good chance of succeding. Once August hits though I really like my chances should he invade.
Anyway its a good bet that his carriers will show their hand in the next day or two.
20 June
20 June:
Port Moresby: An invasion fleet appears to be headed in. Carriers, a surface fleet and at least 7 AP's. It will surely hit within the next 2-4 days and I wonder if he has brought enough force. 7 AP's is clearly not enough to deal with my force but then I probably don't see everything.
His South Sea detachment is crossing over the mountains but surely won't arrive until after the battle. So the only questions are: How much force is he bringing?; how will it fare against my shore batteries?; and will my initial shock attack be able to drive out the attackers before they get ashore?
I had to halt my C47's this turn as he startted flying LRC again and shot down 16 of them. My last supply line is gone. But I still have 14,000 sp on location which is plenty for the current battle.
Burma: My armored units continue to crawl along the path to Akyab. They are at 32 miles now and moving slower then I had planned. No rush I guess, My UK divisions are not at 100 prep yet anyway so a delay may be good for me. He has moved a mixed BDE to Akyab and my air units have begun hitting this unit instead of the 33rd Division.
There seems to be a build-up of Japanese air power in the area and it is reasonable to expect that Japan is preparing to contest the airspace once my invasion gets underway.
China: I've started my central offensive and they will enter Wuhan in three days. There they will stop his supply, dig in and then train up via bombardment battles. Once I am secure there I will shift south and attempt to occupy Nanchang in the same way.
I don't expect anything dramatic from all this. The Yenen offensive is quite a bust except for the training effects. Units below 60 experience gain very quick. A point or two per day gain is quite good and in another week my entire northern force will be at 60 experience or above.
If all goes well then by the mid July the entire Chinese army will consist of trained units. As most of my units have good morale at this stage my army begins to look quite formidable.
Port Moresby: An invasion fleet appears to be headed in. Carriers, a surface fleet and at least 7 AP's. It will surely hit within the next 2-4 days and I wonder if he has brought enough force. 7 AP's is clearly not enough to deal with my force but then I probably don't see everything.
His South Sea detachment is crossing over the mountains but surely won't arrive until after the battle. So the only questions are: How much force is he bringing?; how will it fare against my shore batteries?; and will my initial shock attack be able to drive out the attackers before they get ashore?
I had to halt my C47's this turn as he startted flying LRC again and shot down 16 of them. My last supply line is gone. But I still have 14,000 sp on location which is plenty for the current battle.
Burma: My armored units continue to crawl along the path to Akyab. They are at 32 miles now and moving slower then I had planned. No rush I guess, My UK divisions are not at 100 prep yet anyway so a delay may be good for me. He has moved a mixed BDE to Akyab and my air units have begun hitting this unit instead of the 33rd Division.
There seems to be a build-up of Japanese air power in the area and it is reasonable to expect that Japan is preparing to contest the airspace once my invasion gets underway.
China: I've started my central offensive and they will enter Wuhan in three days. There they will stop his supply, dig in and then train up via bombardment battles. Once I am secure there I will shift south and attempt to occupy Nanchang in the same way.
I don't expect anything dramatic from all this. The Yenen offensive is quite a bust except for the training effects. Units below 60 experience gain very quick. A point or two per day gain is quite good and in another week my entire northern force will be at 60 experience or above.
If all goes well then by the mid July the entire Chinese army will consist of trained units. As most of my units have good morale at this stage my army begins to look quite formidable.
RE: 20 June
Moses,
The Jap move along the Kokoda Track could primarily be to establish an overland supply/retreat route for his PM invasion force.
Alfred
The Jap move along the Kokoda Track could primarily be to establish an overland supply/retreat route for his PM invasion force.
Alfred
RE: 20 June
Can you send in supplies via subs? About 20 should keep a good trickle coming in, especially if you include some of the large old subs such as narwhal and argonaut.
Also, try using B-17's for supply. They have good load values (8k or so) and can carry 3-4 supply points each. They are also less vunerable to LRCAP.
Also, try using B-17's for supply. They have good load values (8k or so) and can carry 3-4 supply points each. They are also less vunerable to LRCAP.
Surface combat TF fanboy
RE: 20 June
ORIGINAL: Alfred
Moses,
The Jap move along the Kokoda Track could primarily be to establish an overland supply/retreat route for his PM invasion force.
Alfred
You are probably correct. Much better to retreat toward Buna then to be pushed into the forest. Although the intervening hex was a neutral hex as I had never moved a unit there. But it never hurts to take control of the hex for sure. I could always have moved a small fragment there and then retreated him.
RE: 20 June
ORIGINAL: String
Can you send in supplies via subs? About 20 should keep a good trickle coming in, especially if you include some of the large old subs such as narwhal and argonaut.
Also, try using B-17's for supply. They have good load values (8k or so) and can carry 3-4 supply points each. They are also less vunerable to LRCAP.
I may be reduced to that soon. I've been maintaining supply with Fast Transport and C47's but that looks to have been closed off for awile. Supply will be sufficient for the coming battle then if my force survives we will have to see.
Hadn't thought about using the B-17's. I wonder if they would kill any of the LRC planes. Right now I have my heavies set for naval attack on the off chance that they may fly and hit an AP or two before they land.
I have to look at the bright side. At least 250 and probably in excess of 300 Betties are tied to this campaign. At least 100 other heavy bombers and at least 200 zero's. Imagine the damage they could do if they shifted to say Burma/India?
22 June
22 June:

Not much to add to this. 196 Kates hit PM for the last two days. Good news is 19 were lost to flak and ope. Bad news is how the heck do you fight a force like this. 10 CV's !!!!!!
I did get lucky and caught 1 AK with a sub and I still don't see that many AP's. Maybe I'll stop them on the beach. But I doubt it.
My B-17E's refused to fly and I can't say as I blame them. He probably has 200 zero's on CAP.

Not much to add to this. 196 Kates hit PM for the last two days. Good news is 19 were lost to flak and ope. Bad news is how the heck do you fight a force like this. 10 CV's !!!!!!
I did get lucky and caught 1 AK with a sub and I still don't see that many AP's. Maybe I'll stop them on the beach. But I doubt it.
My B-17E's refused to fly and I can't say as I blame them. He probably has 200 zero's on CAP.
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RE: 22 June
Right now I'd say ground attacks on troops on the beach are more useful than naval attacks. You are not very likely to hit anything anyway, but unless he moves his carriers into PM hex, which he probably won't, the cap will be low there and your heavy bombers should have little trouble with getting through. Disrupted troops on the beach aren't the best things to take a base with.
Surface combat TF fanboy
24 June
24 June:
PM: As is typical of Jwilkerson, he is taking his time. His transports are one hex off PM and I should expect them to offload in the first phase of the next two day turn so that they mostly get ashore before I can react.
This has advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that it is just impossible to stop him. No way I'm coming near his 10 CV TF anytime this year. It's just suicide.
The disadvantage is that it is slow and every day my defences build at all the other locations.
Numea: This is the one location that scares me as if he took it he might possibly trigger the auto-victory conditions and also kill the cream of my army. We will play on dispite auto-victory but it would be a moral defeat for me and allow him bragging rights. The loss of my army would be crushing.
I now have 3 divisions there and 4 inf Bde's. Luganville and Esprito Santo also have inf Bde's. I also have artillery at each location.
I am now transfering subs and PT boats from Pearl Harbor to Numea along with 3 AA units and another CD unit. Also I have minelayers en-route and schedualed to arrive at the moment when Numea upgrades to a level 9 port which allows mine resupply.
I believe that Japan will probably take Port Moresby but that will be their last significant conquest. No way I let Numea fall.
Burma: I may have botched this offensive as one of my armor units jumped the gun and advanced to Akyab where he sits all alone. My other armor unit is at 38 miles and wont advance for at least a week. So I started emergency loading of my UK divisions and they will get moving as fast as possible. But my armor is on its own for now. This could be bad. I will bombard with everything I have and maybe his ground units will be too disrupted to drive out my unit. Its a strong armor force (190 AV) and in the woods so maybe I'll be OK. I can also hope that if he drives me out it will be via a costly shock attack and I will gain some benifit at least. Another possibility is that he may believe that I would never be so stupid to send the unit in alone. Surely my second unit is about to follow and so he might decide not to attack and allow me time to dig in.
It's still annoying to screw up like that.
He has sent some fighters to Burma and we are now fighting his LRC over Akyab. He has been doing OK but it has to be wearing on his morale to fly LRC and I am happy with the situation and will just keep grinding on..
PM: As is typical of Jwilkerson, he is taking his time. His transports are one hex off PM and I should expect them to offload in the first phase of the next two day turn so that they mostly get ashore before I can react.
This has advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that it is just impossible to stop him. No way I'm coming near his 10 CV TF anytime this year. It's just suicide.
The disadvantage is that it is slow and every day my defences build at all the other locations.
Numea: This is the one location that scares me as if he took it he might possibly trigger the auto-victory conditions and also kill the cream of my army. We will play on dispite auto-victory but it would be a moral defeat for me and allow him bragging rights. The loss of my army would be crushing.
I now have 3 divisions there and 4 inf Bde's. Luganville and Esprito Santo also have inf Bde's. I also have artillery at each location.
I am now transfering subs and PT boats from Pearl Harbor to Numea along with 3 AA units and another CD unit. Also I have minelayers en-route and schedualed to arrive at the moment when Numea upgrades to a level 9 port which allows mine resupply.
I believe that Japan will probably take Port Moresby but that will be their last significant conquest. No way I let Numea fall.
Burma: I may have botched this offensive as one of my armor units jumped the gun and advanced to Akyab where he sits all alone. My other armor unit is at 38 miles and wont advance for at least a week. So I started emergency loading of my UK divisions and they will get moving as fast as possible. But my armor is on its own for now. This could be bad. I will bombard with everything I have and maybe his ground units will be too disrupted to drive out my unit. Its a strong armor force (190 AV) and in the woods so maybe I'll be OK. I can also hope that if he drives me out it will be via a costly shock attack and I will gain some benifit at least. Another possibility is that he may believe that I would never be so stupid to send the unit in alone. Surely my second unit is about to follow and so he might decide not to attack and allow me time to dig in.
It's still annoying to screw up like that.
He has sent some fighters to Burma and we are now fighting his LRC over Akyab. He has been doing OK but it has to be wearing on his morale to fly LRC and I am happy with the situation and will just keep grinding on..
- ny59giants
- Posts: 9888
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:02 pm
RE: 24 June
After the 10/42 upgrades for the Allies, it's all downhill for the Japanese. [:D][:D]
All that extra AA on your ships and the arrival of P-38's. [&o][&o]
All that extra AA on your ships and the arrival of P-38's. [&o][&o]
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RE: 24 June
ORIGINAL: ny59giants
After the 10/42 upgrades for the Allies, it's all downhill for the Japanese. [:D][:D]
All that extra AA on your ships and the arrival of P-38's. [&o][&o]
Well I'm hoping so. Its just been very hard to land a solid blow against Jwilkerson. I think a lot of players try and go way too fast. He has just slowly and methodically masses against each major objective. I've tried to have forces ready to intervene but when you see all that air power in one spot you just have to pull out.
The largest thing I've sunk all game has been a CL!!!!! Damm!!
I've got 4 BB's and lots of CA/DD's sitting at Sydney for the purpose of fighting against a Port Moresby invasion. But I've just left them there. You know how they would do against his 10 CV's.
- ny59giants
- Posts: 9888
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:02 pm
RE: 24 June
ORIGINAL: ny59giants
How many subs can you send to flood the area around PM??
I've tried to flood an area of contention with subs before. The problem is that he puts tons of planes from that 10 CV TF to work on ASW and cleans my clock. The early battle around Ambonia was instructive. I had about 20 subs sitting and waiting but I never got off a shot. He was hitting 4 or 5 subs per day.
Every day now I'm sending a sub from PH to Numea by way of a random Japanese island where I drop off mines. Within 3 week I expect to have over 20 subs in the PM area.
Numea Plan of Action:
I think my plan will be to let his carriers come in and fight my LBA for a while. I'll have over 100 fighters over Numea and more at Kumac. His trained zero's will hurt me bad but he will take losses and lose a lot of planes to flak. Plus he will burn sorties trying to hit my land defences.
When the landing comes he will surely take heavy losses from my shore defences. Then my subs will come from despersed locations to take out the cripples. He will probably try and work on my subs with his carrier air and the time will come to send in my surface fleet.
Naturally I would rather not. If the landing appears weak then I will defer. But if needed I will send the fleet in.
I plan to split the force into 3 or 4 sections to cause the Japanese bombers to disperse. Then they will charge in towards the transports for a great battle. My surface force will probably sufer heavily but my AA will kill a lot of planes and this may allow my LBA to gain the upper hand in the days to follow.