Empire Mod PBEM ( From 1 Jan 43) Game finished Sept 45 as a draw.

Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Tue Aug 16, 2022 2:35 pm

This is a update on the Empire Mod ( its on the mod page) currently playing with Dean (he also has an AAR) , this game is with realistic research and development which makes it very tight in the air game and you have to try and find a use for every aircraft as they are available. It has been a tough and gruelling 1942 for both sides with the allies gaining marginally the upper hand I think it's fair to say.

This mod has a slow start on tech but it accelerates during 1943 into 44. We usually manage one two day turn a day!!

Jan 1 1943

First of all we will cover a few situations and the most important of these is the sudden surge of the allies into the Marshall Islands. With I suppose the thought of rapidly crossing the central Pacific. About which we are taking rapid emergency actions to build up the key Islands.

They have bypassed some of our defences to seize some key in a bases in the Marshalls but not without loss. Two invasions including Tarawa also repulsed and one still in contest.

Next turn I will put up a more detailed report on this an show you the current important naval losses so far in this game but essentially Japan lost the KB in Aug 42 around the Solomons to a combination of allied CV with massive LBA cover. But the allies also lost carriers round the Solomon’s Darwin and in early 42 around Rabual.

Anything you want to see let me know.

Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Tue Aug 16, 2022 2:35 pm

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Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 2:27 pm

We are now the third and fourth of January 43 - I have attached a couple of screenshots so you can start to see where the areas of activity are. Primarily we have an area of attrition and land attrition situation in Burma with the allies trying to push forward and have isolated Rangoon and made several unsuccessful assaults. In the marshal islands the allies made a surprise attack to seize some of the islands photo of the attacks will repost. I think it will be quite difficult to try and maintain the momentum of this as we are building up around them.

In this turn Japanese submarine I159 Gets very lucky sinking the CVE Prince William with 2 TT and putting 1TT in the CVE Copahee.

It is always tempting for the allied player to try and use these ships in an offensive capacity but they have no such possibility I are generally find. The Prince William was fully loaded with Wildcats. There is a very tense situation in this scenario because the allies have lost quite a lot of carriers - Though the dreaded Essex apparently arrives in just a few days. And perhaps need to use the CVE like this now - although we have lost all our CV . I will put up some loss screens next time.

Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 2:28 pm

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Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 2:35 pm

Japanese bombers raid Chinese 6th Corps at Pegu. Tit for Tat bombing by both sides but the allies have no close base for the short range fighters so limited to P38 and a few others. Allied bombers visit most days 100+ Land units, Rangoon, Chiang Mai base.

Rangoon was reduced to fort 2 by assaults (from 5!) but is now back up to 4. Supplies and troops by sea, the allies should never take it unless thy can prevent this.

Allied supply ships are off the coast - we need to send them a surprise. They are not allowed extra supply.

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Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Sat Aug 20, 2022 2:43 pm

I will be improving these posts as I go not used to doing this very much.

Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Thu Aug 25, 2022 11:54 am

5/1/43 Ambush at Akyab.

The allies risk a lot for Burma as Bay of Bengal is not contested by the allied navy so much ( they are concentrated in the central pacific including the British CV -

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and the Japanese can raid frequently - All allied supply ships were bagged.

Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Thu Aug 25, 2022 11:56 am

CV Losses. Both sides ultra agressive resulted in lots of losses.

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Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Fri Aug 26, 2022 1:32 pm

7 - 8 JAN 43.

Talking Subs for a moment.

Japanese subs remain active sinking one TK and 3 x xAK today. All ships without escort.
Dean does not use much the dedicated ASW planes though has moved a few ships to the role in the last few weeks.

In this mod we have simulated ASW DC form planes as well as dedicated (almost all allied) aircraft for them. Japan has sunk one allied SS with an ariel DC that I can see.

Japanese losses to allied SS remain light, though I have pulled back some ASW to North Homeland area
Suspicious something is coming from the Aleutians soon. Holding remaining CVL in a deep reserve, awaiting better planes and a lot of ships refitting and a lot damaged. I think only 4 BB and around 6 CA remain active(two of those are the Niitaka class the only CA Japan can build - I have 2 and trying for a third).

Some modded ship screens next time - we have plenty but they fit in nicely in the atmosphere of the mod.

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Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Sat Aug 27, 2022 3:07 pm

9-10 Jan 43

More SS activity bagged 2 axl but managed to loose I8 to air attack and I19 to depth charges outside Karachi on 10/1/43.
But then the Bettys turned up and bagged some others off the coast. Its v important the allies can not get enough supply into Burma - they need Rangoon or another close by port.

Allies very focused on maintaining air sup over Rangoon while bombing my insurgencies... I put up some LR CAP with less success than was hoped but those allied bombers have been active non stop maybe they will be damaged and no very tired maybe they will give us a break.

I plan to take out some air support out of Rangoon next turn to cut back on supply needed i think c 100 is enough over 200 there now . No way that is needed as so many planes could be destroyed.

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Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Mon Aug 29, 2022 3:33 pm

11/1/43

Evacuation of non essential air support from Rangoon underway to reduce AS to about 100 which is plenty - made lots of distraction so the allies to not try a big air attack - fingers crossed. I have LRCAP c 50 planes over the Rangoon TF.
otherwise a bit too quite elsewhere. At least I have a few planes in my pools now as before we we on the red line. The allies will show the first land based Corsair soon.

2 Thai subs badly damaged this turn but lived to escape.

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Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Mon Aug 29, 2022 3:38 pm

The Royal Thai Navy had 4 SS built by Japan- they are depicted in the game too.

House rule says they may only base in Thailand or Malaya/ Burma. I have had success with them patrol coastal Burma and spotting TR TF for bigger teeth to handle. Two were badly damages at Chittagong this turn... by allied DD and DE.

There are plenty of ships in my mod that were deficient, or sunk before Dec 7 or operated else where or hypothetical but they are all tried to enhance the mod.

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Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Tue Aug 30, 2022 9:34 am

12/13 Jan 43 - Nothing special to report, steady allied bombing of Rabaul and land units in Burma... allied S TF near Rangoon - they must have known we are loading we are gone now... 3 Betty lost for no hits...

In the meantime here are key active ships and key ships in repair.

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Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Wed Aug 31, 2022 9:53 pm

13/14 Jan 43

Raids intensify on Rangoon - we lack supply for DT so keeping back, raids also on Rabaul continue.
Allied S FT lurks somewhere of the coast of Burma undetected... no doubt awaiting a TR TF. J STFT sent from Singapore to try and find it.

Thai Sub get bagged by HMSS Truant.
Else where 1 xAK goes down to a J sub outside PH.
China very still - we continue bombardments in front of Changsa, in this mod China is a real WW1 , both sides lack forces and we have little supply devote to it but we have pretty much ended the partisans and warbands activity.

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Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Thu Sep 08, 2022 4:10 pm

23-24 Jan 43

Thing are a bit slow - he is prepping for something.

More general bombing and new surprise raid on Manus sinks several XAK and 20 or so planes on the ground. The allies loose c 40 planes on raids on Rangoon, Rabaul and Manus. We are keeping our powder dry and building back our depleted FTR units some with new and better planes. We know the Corsairs will be around soon as the CV Essex must be on the map by now.

Dean has boasted of a massive offensive within 14 days - He is up to something and I am fairy certain he is going to try in the far north - he always puts his SS where he attacks. 2 CVL have moved back from Saipan to join the others at Tokyo to keep all defensive options open.

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Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Mon Sep 12, 2022 4:34 pm

End Jan 43

Very large sweeps and raids on Rabaul plus massive bombardment - Looks like landings may follow. Rushing stuff to the area as expected an attack in the far north or maybe from Darwin. Supply levels in the Truck Rabaul sector are not looking at all good.

At Akyab a Surface action but almost no damage on both sides, My ships them bombard to little effect.

Another Thai sub is lost

Air losses however are still in my favour as I am avoiding...

( Patch about to come out)

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Cavalry Corp · Post by **Cavalry Corp** » Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:58 am

Jan 31 1943

Well, I am responsible for some bad planning because the very spot I thought the attack would not happen it did. And all the bases in the area are low on supply… drat.

Full-scale attack and landings on Rabaul…

In addition, the allies switched their tactics in Burma and bombed Port Blair, sinking a large number of small transport ships ( nearly 20 over the whole map) and support ships; even though I had moved a few of them out of a couple of turns before I still left too many there.

The good news is there were no important airfield attacks and we will see if we can take some revenge on the Rabaul landings

Allied CV are parked just outside Truck. It managed to sink several large tankers and Oilers who had either just arrived or were just leaving. it was completely undetected before its arrival. 3 DD will try an attack tonight from Truck.