Roosvelt's revenge - AAR Graham vs deVada

[deVada]

After the fall of Tokyo in november and Japanese apologies for leaving some still ships afloat at Pearl Harbor back in XII.1941 another war started almost immediately. This time obc_a from PW ver 3.2 is being used.

In the beginning stunned world saw (as usually ) dreadful attack on Pearl Harbor. Two battleships have been sunk, many damaged. Not a perfect starting for Emperor deVada but good enough not to execute Nagumo at once.

Then Imperial forces begun their run for control.
Just a month since war starting - Singapore, Port Moresby, Johnston Island and Akyab was under Japanese control. Then Imperial forces took the rest of south Pacific (ex. Fiji & Palmyra & Midway & Wake), besieged Rockhampton and Calcutta and took everything but Baatan & Clark Field in Philipines.

Allied counteractions started very early, first in India, where joint US & CW carrier forces prevented the early collapse of Ceylon & Calcutta, then they have been moved to South Pacific and Australian theatre just to efficiently support the defenders.

After severe set back at Hawaii, where famous Japanese 48th Division went down with all hands boarding a completely wiped task force, which was to be covered by assholic Yamaguchi with all available carriers and the stupid admiral went quite different way and he wasn't able to protect his ships (Hiryu was lost after a sigle hit (as usually )) Japanese offensive stuck.

In mid and late 1942 the frontline estabilished and frozen on Calcutta/Brisbane/ New Caledonia/Johnston line. Strong british battlefleet plus numerous bomber squadrons there prevented Japs to go forward in India, and strong allied surface & carrier forces prevented the fall of Australia, where few Japanese divisions stopped in Rockhampton.
The mighty Empire went completely out of fighters in mid 1942, so enemy took control of skies virtually anywhere.

Just a next Allied step was to begin a half scale offensive in Solomons & Australia at september and october of 1942. Allied forces landed at Townsville, Milne Bay, Tagula, Green Island, Buka Island, Guadalcanal, Noumea, Efate, Tarawa, Eniwetok and Ponape. Only Townsville held.
In response - Imperial fleet joined 17th army efforts to protect Rabaul and the area. Gods of war allowed to capture few thousands on roundeyes in Townsville and regain control of heavily defended Buka Island (Gen. Geiger is in a POW camp now).
Then - in a series of great naval clashes off the coast of Green Island allied joint Pacific fleet has been decisively defeated. Four allied battleships went down, one carrier as well. The rest of allied fleet fleed to dry docks with water lapping over the decks. As for january 1943 only two allied carriers and three - four battleships are quasi-operational. Japanese Imperial Navy has lost two carriers and Yamato & Ise battleships in those battles. All Japanese dry docks are full as well.
God bless "long lances" !
Without the support of naval forces, three isolated brigades and an engineering battalion surrendered to the empire on Green Island. Allied troops were pushed back from New Caledonia as well.

Now, in the middle of january of 1943 the situation is unclear.
Allies have no ships, Japanese have no planes. Brits have captured Ambon Island and their Wellingtons are massacrying japanese transports regularly.
We will see what gods of war will bring to us ...

[Capt. Harlock]

Who has control of Clark Airfield? Very important in determining the fate of PI...

[deVada]

I have planned to use it as a training site for my air squadrons, but from longer perspective I see it as a mistake. His bombers and fighters there are a pain in the a s s now.

But the situation isn't that bad for me I think. If I could only have 10 more divisions ... :rolleyes:

Next week will see an invasion of New Georgia. Allied forces there seem to be a bit starved, so it may be another victory.

PS
what is that "PI" ??

[war is on hold until Graham will be back from a tourist trip]

[Capt. Harlock]

PI stands for "Philippine Islands". One of the many short-hand phrases people on this forum have fallen into the lazy habit of using, like "SRA" for "Southern resource area".

IMHO, the situation is dangerous for the Japanese. The Allies may be low on ships, but they'll get more. The Japanese shortage of aircraft is much harder to remedy, now that the Lightning and the Corsair are available. I would think that you can expect air losses to be lopsided in favor of the Allies from now on.

One final thought: the fact that the Allies still have a base close to the Japanese Home Islands may be a serious problem under the water as well as over it. Submarine units will be well placed to interfere with the vital oil shipments. What are the Oil Reserve and Victory Point levels now?

[Graham Smith]

At the beginning of the war, Rossevelt's strategy was clear.....Germany must be defeated first.

Consequently, the orders to Halsey and Mcarthur, were to delay as much as possible in 1942, and wait for a decisive battle in 1943 when Hellcats and better army units are expected to be available. However, this strategy was impossible in the first six months, because major offensive action was necessary to prevent the collapse of the entire western front......just three Indian bases remained in Allied hands, before destruction of the Japanese supply chain, finally exhausted the Japanese hoards.

In the middle of 1942 most of the South Pacific was flying the Rising Sun. However, it looked like the Japanese were over committed in India and Australia. Mcarthur and Halsey disobeyed direct orders from Roosevelt, and set out to complete a grand encircling manouvre along the general line Pearl Harbour, Midway, Wake, Eniwetok, Ponape, Green, Buka, Milne Bay, Townsville.

All went surprisingly easily, until the allied counter offensive stalled at Townsville. Seven allied divisions could not dislodge the defenders. Then disaster struck. Four allied carriers were disabled in quick succession, while escorting troop transports across hostile waters...... all carrier were hit by land based attacks. With minimal carrier support, supply to the Townsville liberators could not be maintained. Townsville was partly evacuated, but three divisons became POW.

Then Garrisons on Bouganville and Buka were proven to be pitifully out gunned, by fanatics of the Imperial Army.

With public pressure mounting against the senseless slaughter of so many allied divisions, the Allies commited every thing that could float, to the defense of the large airfield on Green Island. The result was disaster.....every allied carrier damaged, most American battleships crippled....and the British fleet is still isolated in Calcutta.

In the latest round of combat, "sigint" hints of an attack on New Georgia caused panic, and a complete evacuation of the island. Only General Herring remained on the beach, wildly waving his baton, as several Japanese Divisons stormed ashore.

The next few weeks/months will require major repairs of allied capital ships. The Japanese have a window for further mischief, or for consolidation. However, the Japanese dilemna, appears to be how to conduct any offensives. with almost no pool of remaining fighters. The allied problem, is how much territory must be surrendered, while waiting for the repairs to take effect.

[deVada]

end of january 1943

Dai-Ichi Kaigun Koku Gijitsusho reporting D4Y Suisei production launch. Old D3A's will be slowly replaced.
Great tasks are awaiting the Ki-44 Shoki produced since two weeks at Nakajima Kikoki Kabushiki Kaisha. First squadrons are planned to switch to those new superior planes during next two months and they'll take the aerial offensive fate on their backs.
Combined Fleet reports five battleships and four aircraft carriers supporting the landing on New Georgia. As revealed before, allies fleed unspotted, just before mighty Japanese 17th's Army divisions appeared. Allied long range four engined bombers have managed to put Zuiho on fire, but the damage isn't dangerous.

Four allied divisions that were reported on Jaluit Island last week haven't shown up yet. They're proably waiting in reserve until Imperial GHQ will reveal its battle plans for next months.
British Royal Naval forces in Calcutta are now using five battleships. Regular bombardment of Japanese positions in Calcutta and Dacca became trurly boring.

Regarding to Japanese dillema about either consolidating or attacking further - Japanese command has decided to go forward.

BANZAI

[deVada]

The war has been paused for a while as it seems.
Only fierce airbattles happened in Solomons, but as usually Japanese airfrorce was outclassed by Lightings and Corsairs. There is no way to stop B24 and B17 from Milne and Tagula (on naval interdiction missions) slaughtering Imperial cargo shipping in Rabaul area.

The only assault was allied capture of undefended Nassau atoll. Japanese forces have been evacuated and three allied divisions have won the battle.

US Pacific Fleet has almost sunk Ponape atoll. Day & night FSNAB was given by at least one battleships and plenty of cruisiers. Many troops killed. No counterstrike. Japanese army hasn't planes in the area.
Carriers haven't shown up. Both sides are doing some urgent paint repairs as it seems.

Nothing special in India, usual bombardment of troops besieging Calcutta. British fleet seems to be fully repaired now. G4Ms and G3Ms are slightly attacking them at any occasion, but long range attacks with 12 - 18 planes armed with shitty 250kg bombs cannot do much harm ...

An Allied big supply & transport convoy has been detected 17 miles west of Andaman Island. The base seems to be lacking supplies. Good.

Next weeks will pass under the task to regain aerial dominance in Solomons and India. Japanese fighter supply has bounced off the bottom and there is a chance to kill some **** allied pilots with our new Ki-44 superfighter !

/the plane is nice, isn't it ? see the picture above/

[deVada]

Allied carriers from Hawaii have attacked my small transport group near west coast, and have managed almost to kill 'em all ... Dammit ... Almost entire 4th infantry division went to the bottom and the plan of attacking Seattle is doomed.

In revenge - Yamamoto has given an order no 137/43.
Mikawa with his cruisiers lifted the anchors and made it on full speed to Andaman, meeting british transport group in a fierce night battle. Brits fought for their lives bravely, and have even managed to damage a light cruisiers (You should see MCS firing their guns ), but the gods of war allowed to sink some minor allied ships. Unfortunately one of troop transports and few cargo ships escaped.

Yamaguchi has came 50 miles south of Andaman Island with 4 CVs and 3 or 4 smaller ones, meeting four fully equipped squadrons of Corsairs, Lightings and Spitfires. Althrough he has managed to destroy 15 planes on the ground, almost no planes remained intact on the flight decks.
Tanaka commanding from Nagato, with four other battleships and heaviest cruisiers has used a chance to kill over 350 allied soldiers from three divisions defending Andaman, then he returned to Jitra unspotted, same as Yamaguchi and Mikawa.

In Solomons and Australia - Japanese mighty airforce has attacked several bases in a series of night high level bombing raids, but in the daylight Rabaul's harbor was pumelled by allied four enginers from Tagula. One CVE (Hosho) is badly damaged.

Allies have taken Cook Island. A halved SBF battalion defending the base has killed one roundeye for each skeweye killed.
Japanese 17th army units (a division and a brigade) landed at Guadalcanal (will it go historical way ) but despite higher allied looses (a division, brigade and engineers) the base remained in McArthur's command.

A stalemate in India continues. Adm. Scott commanding RN battleships has pounded Calcutta, Japs have not enough supplies to go forward. Hopefully with some help from Yamaguchi and Tanaka the carnage will be ended.

Next week should also be interesting. It will be a test for the new Ki-44 fighters.
Judy production has been launched finally too. Ki-61 Hiens arrived, but so far factories cannot produce them. It should be the best method of killing B17 & B24 with those 10 cannon fighters.

[deVada]

After last week long range attack on Rabaul harbor, Emperor has ordered his engineers to produce a heavy bomber too. All wrecks of B17 and B24 downed in the Solomons were putten together, remodelled and refitted. New type bomber should enter test flights any moment ... Beware of Renzan Allies !!

[Capt. Harlock]

Both sides can claim some victories. The good news for DeVada is that troops drowned on sunk transports generally don't show up as victory points for the other side.

I confess I'm a little surprised that the bombardment of Andaman didn't destroy more Allied aircraft on the ground. I guess they were all in the air, fighting the IJN aircraft.

When attacking the allied four-engine bombers, firepower is definitely important, but it's also good to have high durability ratings. (There's no way to approach a B-17 or B-24 without getting shot at.) I've had pretty good results using the Ki-45 Toryu.

[deVada]

Emperor's deVada press office:

During last two weeks our brave Imperial Navy continued their efforts to liberate India. Andaman was attacked twice by our brave carriers, covering Adm. Tanaka bombarding the island. A week ago Adm. Mikawa has also managed to engage a huge british transport group, loaded with supplies for defenders. The seemed to be totally out of ammo, food and spare parts. At least 6 cargo vessels and an AP has been sunk.
Unfortunately, that group has reached it's destination in next week.
It was just in time.

Two big surface task forces, including Adm. Tanaka's six battleships and Mikawa heavy cruisiers (on bombardment mission) went together with Adm. Yamaguchi to make it over with Andaman. 1st INA division and 1st Amphibous Brigade were ordered to make a landing there and take the island.

Adm. Philips couldn't allow to loose such a vital point, and he has ordered Royal Navy to attack the attackers. Two task forces, one with all 5 RN BBs and second under Adm. Lee (a CL + plenty of DDs) went to prevent a landing.
The base was also defended by four squadrons of fighters, which have succesfully managed to bring down over 100 carrier borne planes. Anyway, two fierce surface battles took place. In first one, Adm. Lee was ambushed by Tanaka's battleships. He has lost many destroyers, his flagship and life, but thanks to his sacrifice british battleships could sunk Nagato and disable the rest of our battleships. Shipyards will be busy again.
A tactic of putting battleships damaged at 19% in combat has again proved to be faulty. But time is money.
After those battles, Mikawa has bombarded defenders, killing 300 of them. Landing of 1st INA division followed. Amp Brigade turned back. 600 of our brave soldiers died for not many killed brits.

No other important actions. Many air battles in Solomons, allied airforce rules still. Nimitz is finishing the mopping of south pacific. This time he took undefended Canton Island. Palmyra and Johnston under FSNAB permanently. But the defenders won't give their lifes for nothing.

Next week will also be interesting. Combined fleet has reorganized it's surface forces and another battle may occur.

[deVada]

Emperor deVada is sad after this week of battles.
Gen. Horii's 15th Army failed to capture Andaman Island. Four or five Commonwealth divisions were just too much for him. Even the support of Yamaguchi five carriers and bombardment of all available cruisiers didn't helped to secure the objective. After loosing almost 2000 soldiers, Imperial Army took their back back.
Royal Navy didn't intervened, because of being still disorganized after last week of battles. Actually - they have been quiet for whole week.
It has caused also more G4M bombers to be stationed in Akyab and Rangoon, hoping to take some of them at port of Vizatpam (or whatever the base is named) and Calcutta. Satisfactory amount of A6M2 and the newest Ki-44 fighters should at least reduce looses a bit.
It may also allow a huge task force of over 100 cargo marus to reach Akyab and solve supply problems for at least two weeks.

On Pacific - McArthur has taken Palmyra, defended by an SBF and two regiments of infantry. Gen. Hyakutake subordinates have killed 950 allies before the last of 1900 men died for Emperor. Next allied leap will be Johnston proably, also under surface bombardment since three weeks. Aerial units have been withdrawn from there already.

In Solomons - allied forces (three brigades) have recaptured New Georgia, with no opposition. Some Intelligence reports say that they'll be bound for D'Encentreux next.

On next week Andaman will be attacked again, this time only by IJN. Supply level is getting at 700 there now, so the base can change owner if allies will be more starving ... Else we would have another surface battle.

We will see ...

[deVada]

Emperor press office proudly announces the death of another allied commander.
This time gods of war weren't gentle for Australian Royal Navy Adm. Cruthley.
His flagship - a Henderson class AP exploded after a torpedo hit 20 miles east off the D'Encentreux island.
Succesfull Betty crew from Buka Island is already on vacation in Tokyo.

Anyway, enemy sailors weren't demoralised and they have landed a division there, capturing undefended island.

Heavy air battles all around in Solomons. Corsairs are making wrecks from any amount of Imperial planes spotted. Over 600 lost this week.

Kwaialeien bombarded from air again and again, same as Johnston Island. Luckily one of I-15 type submarines has managed to put a well placed torpedo in one of attacking battleships at Johnston, flames are visible but the ship remained afloat.

Allied forces mounted a gigantic attack in Brisbane, but Gen. Mutaguchi has beaten roundeyed soldiers well. 3000 to 2000 total looses, in favour of Empire. This will teach them a lesson.

Andaman bombarded again. Invasion to follow. Supply level there is zero. Mikawa will intercept any cargo group which will dare to resupply defenders. Yamaguchi will give cover again, and he'll lost all his planes again proably

GIMMME MORE BETTER FIGHTERS !!

/RIP/

[Graham Smith]

The photo of Admiral Crutchly which Emporer Devada has attached, appeared on the front page of every newspaper in Australia. It was a very clever ruse by Prime Minister Curtin, to divert public opinion away from the slaughter of the sixth and ninth divisions in Bribane last week......Rommel was not able to inflict such casualties on Australian divisions in an entire campaign, as Devada has in one battle.

Americans now have three BB with less than 20% damage, and the British have one. Orders from Washington and London are not to endanger remaining units until repairs are completed on a few of the 4 crippled carriers. Three CVs are now also below 20% damage. However, local commanders may still not well controlled, and may disobey these orders.

[deVada]

Many executions have been done in Japan after last week.

1st one was Imperial Fighter Training Center leader - Adm. Nagasuka (for inacceptable looses due to low quality pilots),
2nd one was Prime Ki-44 Designer (for designing a shitty plane),
3rd one was Prime Supply Chief (for loosing 25 ships in one week due to submarines).

Gen. Horii, previously in command on 15th Army invading Andaman has been moved to Brisbane (allies are plotting to kill our leader there, so there is no need to waste swords or rope ). The cause was to fail all readiness checks during last amphibous assault there. Two division size units did a triple landing, with more than satisfactory supply level (Yamamoto did his job good) and satisfactory shelling from Tanaka and Mikawa, but for unknown reason only 2 squads attacked with each turn (monsoon or what ? ). 1000 Imperial soldiers would never return home, for 80 killed roundeyes.

Yamaguchi has been warned as well. His carriers - Akagi, Kaga, Shokaku, Hiyo, Junyo and 4 smaller ones weren't able to go through four exchausted corsair squadrons. If the result's won't be improved - he'll surely take command of a lone destroyer bound for Los Angeles. :p

Enemy forces have captured Johnston. Despite fierce battle, the base fell in first round. That ends Japanese presence in Southern Pacific. Only New Caledonia remains under Imperial rule.

More battles in India and Andaman to follow. Good that they have only 7 units of supply left (resupplying convoy turned back) so another attack may be the ultimate one.

[deVada]

The final phase of war has just begun.
After Japanese defences breakdown in Solomons, enemy is quickly pushing forward using his material and technical superiority.

Imperial airmen and sailors do their best to stop enemy, but with no available troop transports and risky carrier cover, all ovensive operations have been stopped. Only the process of shortening the defense lines by withdrawing from India and Australia has helped a bit, but now after the fall of Bangkok even defense of Singapore and Malaya generally looks bad.

Anyway, with numerous groups on Special Attack mission we still can win the war. Yamaguchi has 5 big (Taiho just arrived) carriers, Tanaka still rolls with several battleships so defense of Japan will be bloody for the enemy. [:D]

Japanese design bureau has also developed a Supernell torpedo bomber basing on captured B24 Liberator, so at least long range kamikaze attacks are able to sink a freighter from time to time.
Japan is full of aircraft now, mostly Ki-61, Toryus and J2M Raidens but enemy night attacks from Marcus Island and Takao have begun to became more and more intense.

Emperor urges all available personel to do his best in such difficult times.
BANZAI !!

[LargeSlowTarget]

Interesting situation - I 've never seen PI and Formosa in Allied hands while Marianas and Iwo are still in Japan's.

[deVada]

yeeep .. it looks quite weird ...
All the mess is caused by Gen. Mutaguchi incompetence.
That man was unable to take control of Clark Field, even with 6 full sized and fully ready divisions. Actually, he didn't make it even to attack enemy.

Shitty japanese planes were also unable to isolate those bases, and when Japanse defense in Solomons suddenly crashed nothing could stop allies on total offensive.

Yamaguchi and Tanaka are in Japan, airfields and land bases are full of squadrons and divisions, so at least Japan wouldn't fall quickly. I hope so ... [:D]

See the Japanese carrier force.

[deVada]

[&o] god bless Emperor !!

[Capt. Harlock]

Okay, even with the Japanese kill point multiplier, that has GOT to be a game glitch. Maybe even two glitches: Japanese production should not be that high, especially with the "*" signifying a shortage of oil.