Banzais Don't Make Victories - Anachro (A) vs John 3rd (J) BTS 5.7

[Anachro]

Fuel stocks below, but I do have oilers lurking in behind. I can flank run in with my destroyers a little bit, as well as cruisers, but not too far. I should note John put his BBs and CB in his his carriers and they engaged my PTs multiple times. The ammo of his BBs and other ships has been further depleted. Oh, and I think the AME thing is actually just an AM and/or E. Probably fog of war with those identifications, I'd guess escorts of some sort.

[RangerJoe]

How about an AM plus an E in the same task force. It looks like there is a space there. [8|]

[Anachro]

In addition to the CVL Ryujo taking two torpedoes, John's surface ships engaged my PTs a number of times again, using up even more precious ammo. His CLs, DDs, CAs, BBs, and CB all face PTs numerous times. The PTs, as with last turn, meet CVs, but the CVs avoid torpedoes and damage. I'd imagine a few of his BBs and cruisers and perhaps DDs are out of ammo. I'd wager BB Shinano is not out of ammo, but certainly at the half way point at best. This turn, I flank my CVEs down 8 hexes and my DDs and cruiser against at flank to see if we can reach any enemy ships. If not, we'll retire. We have to beware of bombers from Wake Island. I speed up my AO's so they'll be able to refuel whatever ships might need it.

My damaged CVEs are undetected and fine for the moment. I send numerous ASW escorts to join up with them and protect them. The one CVE, Liscome Bay, that took 3 torpedoes is probably at greatest risk with her slow speed. She's up to 70 flotation damage this turn due to a flank run away.

[Lowpe]

Doing well.

What can Wake throw at you? Can't be much. I would be tempted to draw an attack just to shoot the planes down.

It would be neat to keep between wake and his TFs.

How is Burma coming along?

[Anachro]

We should take Prome this next turn. Then we can move to consolidate other areas and further cutoff his forces stranded. CVs and BBs are moving down to cover transports bringing supplies and engineers/base units to Rangoon. Additional troops being also landed at Moulmein, which is being a bit difficult to take. I'm working on setting up continuous bombardment from Rangoon when I can.

John tried a few long-range strikes with his 4E Liz bombers at Townsville (~50 A/C) and also to try and defend Prome. I think they took more damage in flak than they caused; I didn't even have CAP up at Townsville, my fighters were training.

Ground combat at Prome (55,50)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 48898 troops, 933 guns, 621 vehicles, Assault Value = 1386

Defending force 17892 troops, 262 guns, 88 vehicles, Assault Value = 357

Allied adjusted assault: 130

Japanese adjusted defense: 64

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: disruption(-), fatigue(-), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
3143 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 131 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 61 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 71 (42 destroyed, 29 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (10 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
570 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled

Assaulting units:
40th Infantry Division
5th Indian Division
XXXIII Corps Engineer Battalion
43rd Infantry Division
9th Australian Division

Defending units:
2nd Guards Division
1st Raiding Regiment
16th Garrison Unit
23rd AA Regiment
4th Air Defense AA Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
38th JNAF AF Unit
26th Fld AA Gun Co
50th Field AA Battalion
33rd JAAF AF Coy

[Lowpe]

Overall, this battle highlights IJN weakness even in this mod.

[RangerJoe]

Just think if the ships on that Midway operation were in the IO opposing this. But that is defensive . . .

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Anachro
Not the big battle we were expecting. John flees, perhaps in the direction that makes the most sense and one I had though he would do if he did flee: southwest.

Well, he has a lot of transports to cover, he can't really flee far. You don't even need flank speed runs to engage, just mission speed run into a general area to a patrol point with maximum reaction range set.

[Anachro]

Next turn run. Unfortunately, CVE Liscome Bay is found by a sub and sunk. John's main KB and battleships flee northwest and are 9 hexes from my CVEs. This is probably diversionary to cover his fleeing transports and damaged CVL that based on the turn seem to have headed further south. We continue south towards these targets. In other news, the base of Prome falls. It looks like the Guard Division was destroyed in the process. Only a couple destroyers find enemy ships, running into 2 CAs. In a weird battle, the 2 Japanese CAs manage to plant a torpedo into the Allied DDs.

Ground combat at Prome (55,50)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 48309 troops, 933 guns, 620 vehicles, Assault Value = 1335

Defending force 14739 troops, 203 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 133

Allied adjusted assault: 138

Japanese adjusted defense: 10

Allied assault odds: 13 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Prome !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-C Irving: 7 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
4673 casualties reported
Squads: 180 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 296 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 93 (92 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 54 (54 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 6
Units destroyed 3

Allied ground losses:
378 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled

Assaulting units:
40th Infantry Division
XXXIII Corps Engineer Battalion
43rd Infantry Division
5th Indian Division
9th Australian Division

Defending units:
1st Raiding Regiment
2nd Guards Division
16th Garrison Unit
26th Fld AA Gun Co
23rd AA Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
4th Air Defense AA Regiment
38th JNAF AF Unit
50th Field AA Battalion
33rd JAAF AF Coy

[Anachro]

The plan in the Indian theater now is to, of course consolidate Rangoon and Burma, setup supply routes to get supplies to Rangoon and create airfields for bombers, especially my new B29s. As soon as possible we will land at Victoria Point, which is looks like John is rushing to reinforce from the other side at Chumpon with multiple sigint showing some brigades being sent there by boat. I hope to move down the Malayan peninsula to eventually reach Singapore, helped of course by landings along the coast. Sabang is a target, though surely expected by John, but nonetheless one that can focused on; and as I build up bases in the area, I can restrict John's ability to mount a defensive effort to hold or take back Sabang like he did in CR's game. I can then walk down towards Palembang perhaps. The narrow passageways between the Malayan peninsula and Sumatra can be a scary place for my capital ships to operate.

[offenseman]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Overall, this battle highlights IJN weakness even in this mod.

Am in Feb 44 of BTS 4.6 and I fully agree. I have been surprised at how weak it becomes too early. Many seem to think BTS is JFB heaven but it feels much like DBB-C. Awesome mod to be sure IF one understands some of the implications of the changes. The Allied aircraft buy-out thing is a game changer too. Perhaps later mods are different than 4.6 idk

[offenseman]

ORIGINAL: Anachro

The plan in the Indian theater now is to, of course consolidate Rangoon and Burma, setup supply routes to get supplies to Rangoon and create airfields for bombers, especially my new B29s. As soon as possible we will land at Victoria Point, which is looks like John is rushing to reinforce from the other side at Chumpon with multiple sigint showing some brigades being sent there by boat. I hope to move down the Malayan peninsula to eventually reach Singapore, helped of course by landings along the coast. Sabang is a target, though surely expected by John, but nonetheless one that can focused on; and as I build up bases in the area, I can restrict John's ability to mount a defensive effort to hold or take back Sabang like he did in CR's game. I can then walk down towards Palembang perhaps. The narrow passageways between the Malayan peninsula and Sumatra can be a scary place for my capital ships to operate.

Agreed it is a dangerous place for the Allies. In my game I was able to execute a crushing Allied defeat at Sumatra. Especially if the battle is near Sabang or V-Point or further up the coast, Japan can operate freely to a large extent. If Nakhon Si Thammarat and Singora are built up with Air HQs. They can own that part of the world. Bombardment proof bases and KB in some form can park in 51.71 and slaughter any landing there. Very tough place to land. I other parts of Sumatra there are many areas that work similarly with the resources Japan should have at the point in BTS. Kuala Lumpur is nice. Even further South, Muntok is nice as well. I am biased toward bases that cannot be bombarded or like Muntok is hard to bombard easily, at least while Sumatra is still in the Empire. Make sure you recon those areas to avoid nasty surprises.

[Anachro]

Well, this next turn could be a disaster, negating all the discussion above. John moves all his carriers and BBs south at apparently flank speed unexpectedly and they manage to get through my CAP and hit BB South Dakota with 3 torps (though damage is surprisingly not too bad considering). She can still make speed of 12, but situation is very, very precarious, as my CVEs are 3 hexes east of John's 2 CTFs, 1 CVETF, and 1 BB TF. I send various DDs to cover my retreat as I move back towards Pearl, covering the BB South Dakota and full CAP settings. Slow BBs are in with my CVEs for protection and CAP. I aim to have my CVEs move same speed and distance as BB South Dakota to cover her. The good news is this: John's BBs and DDs once again use up ammo on one of my DD TFs and I'm really wondering just how much ammo they have left...

The other small piece of good news is based on planes destroyed on the ground, the CVL Ryujo has either sunk or been scuttled. I have no doubt John will try to surge forward this turn. I could lose a lot of CVEs on tomorrow. We'll see. Fuel is low too though my AOs are coming.

[Mahrgell]

Quite a cliff hanger and then.... silence.

Did someone lose carriers and the game is now suffering? What happened? :/

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Mahrgell
Did someone lose carriers and the game is now suffering? What happened? :/

Anachro was directing the battle on one of the BBs in the active theatre. All contact was lost the next day. Search operations are now underway, do not lose hope!

[Mahrgell]

Looks like a full salvo of the Yamato has hit the commander's bridge.

[Bif1961]

Time to activate search and recovery operations.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Time to activate search and recovery operations.

All kidding aside, other forumites who suddenly ceased contact have had disastrous RL situations to themselves or their families. I hope that is not the case here. We will have to remain hanging ...

[Elessar2]

Has John posted elsewhere in the meantime?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Elessar2

Has John posted elsewhere in the meantime?

To get John to post, simply start an AAR with his mod.[:D]