Road to Tokyo. MrKane(A) vs Spidery(J)

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: MrKane

ORIGINAL: Sangeli

I'm surprised you didn't allocate an HQ for the Truk operation. I'm not sure exactly the magnitude of the HQ bonuses you could have received but certainly it would have been beneficial for this battle which may stretch on for weeks if not months.

Well I am playing this game very very long time, HQ bonuses it is just urban legend in my opinion, everyone knows it exist, nobody see it.

IIRC, very, very rarely have a I seen it noted in a combat report. Due to the results I've seen, I do believe/strongly suspect that they often get applied without being duly noted in the accompanying combat report.

I've seen it once! so It exists... but I also believe that the HQ Bonus is shown ONLY when it operates at 100% of its bonus abilities and that's why we see it so rarely

Truk is not an atoll?? [X(][X(]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy


Truk is not an atoll?? [X(][X(]

IRL geologic definition, yes. In-game, no. IRL it's not a typical atoll, so the scenario had to treat it differently to get realistic effects.

[MrKane]

Fort drop to level 6

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy


Truk is not an atoll?? [X(][X(]

IRL geologic definition, yes. In-game, no. IRL it's not a typical atoll, so the scenario had to treat it differently to get realistic effects.

yes yes, got it, just thought it was a "shock-mandatory-hex"... pretty shocked it is not! need to consider a couple of changes in my strategy[:'(]

[MrKane]

[font="Courier New"]16th Dec 1943.



South Pacific HQ:

B-25 continue bombing Rabaul (100dmg).

B-24 visited Truk, 20k altitude seems to be little to high. Only mirror damage to base.

Central Pacific HQ: Truk landing operation. Operation code name "Disaster".

Marines tried advance and leave sandy beach. They reduced island fortification to level 6 but they paid high price for this success.[/font]


Ground combat at Truk (112,108)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29075 troops, 455 guns, 504 vehicles, Assault Value = 1038

Defending force 21868 troops, 237 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 337

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 6

Allied adjusted assault: 358

Japanese adjusted defense: 2782

Allied assault odds: 1 to 7 (fort level 6)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
642 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 49 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1993 casualties reported
Squads: 41 destroyed, 87 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 53 disabled
Guns lost 37 (9 destroyed, 28 disabled)
Vehicles lost 21 (3 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st Arm Amphib Battalion
2nd Marine Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
1st Marine Division
754th Tank Battalion
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
Kure 5th SNLF
88th Naval Guard Unit
59th Division
38th Div /1
48th JNAF AF Unit /1
33rd JNAF AF Unit
4th Fleet
4th Base Force
3rd Base Force /1
24th Special Base Force
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
1st JNAF AF Unit
Truk Naval Fortress
9th Fleet
8th RF Gun Bn /2

[MrKane]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy


Truk is not an atoll?? [X(][X(]

IRL geologic definition, yes. In-game, no. IRL it's not a typical atoll, so the scenario had to treat it differently to get realistic effects.

yes yes, got it, just thought it was a "shock-mandatory-hex"... pretty shocked it is not! need to consider a couple of changes in my strategy[:'(]

Well I hope you do not think I am crazy, right ? There is no way I would shock attack atoll with 25k SL.

[witpqs]

Those are pretty good results when you consider the multipliers. Each of his AV was worth ~9, each or yours worth ~0.3. Your casualty ratio is way better than 27 to 1.

[MrKane]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Those are pretty good results when you consider the multipliers. Each of his AV was worth ~9, each or yours worth ~0.3. Your casualty ratio is way better than 27 to 1.

Never look at results this way. But you are right Sir.

[blueatoll]

According to wikipedia, Truk (127.4 square kilometres (49.2 sq mi)) is the largest non-submerged atoll in the Pacific. The next largest non-submerged atoll in the Pacific is Kwajalein (42 square kilometres (16 sq. mi)).

I can see how Truk might not be considered an atoll in game terms as Tinian is only 100 square kilometers (39 sq. miles) of land and Saipan is only 115.38 square kilometers (44.55 sq miles). Truk is bigger than either of these.

[Sangeli]

I don't feel so stupid then for assuming Truk was an atoll...

With regards to HQ bonuses I think the problem is that rules are fairly complex for it and even most veterans probably have to look it up to tell you. I just think when you have a big target like Truk that you know without doubt is going to be a tough battle well in advance, that its worth the time and energy to try to get those big HQ bonuses for that one battle. And the biggest challenge really in making that happen is foresight; you need to figure out what intermediate HQs you will bring and get their prep to 100% as well.

[MrKane]

ORIGINAL: Sangeli

I don't feel so stupid then for assuming Truk was an atoll...

With regards to HQ bonuses I think the problem is that rules are fairly complex for it and even most veterans probably have to look it up to tell you. I just think when you have a big target like Truk that you know without doubt is going to be a tough battle well in advance, that its worth the time and energy to try to get those big HQ bonuses for that one battle. And the biggest challenge really in making that happen is foresight; you need to figure out what intermediate HQs you will bring and get their prep to 100% as well.

I have just a few of them, I am preparing them for more important landings. But As I said before I do not have big hope and generally I do not count on bonuses.

[MrKane]

[font="Courier New"]17th Dec 1943. Bad day.

I have just noticed that delivery of '44 squads started this month. Very nice.
Additionally, due to very passive manner of Japanese air forces my a/c pools are growing nicely.
90 B-24J, 143 P-4, 443 F6F, 99 F4U-1A, 67 Spit VIII, 199 Spit V and over 1000 all P-39 and P-40 (including 356 P-40K)


xAK Barpeta, Torpedo hits 1, sunk by I-164 near Karachi
DD Gillespie, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage, by RO-66 near Lihir
xAP Chief Washakie, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage, sunk by I-1 near Hollandia


South Pacific HQ:

B-25 continue bombing Rabaul (100dmg).
B-24 are continue raiding Truk AF.

Here is list of 5th Fleet ships needed head back to Hawaii: 1 BB, 3 CA, 3 DD
It is much shorter than my original perdition.
[/font]

[MrKane]

[font="Courier New"]18th Dec 1943.

South Pacific HQ:

B-25 continue bombing Rabaul (100dmg).
B-24 are continue raiding Truk AF. 2 Rex tried attack on bombers without effects.

5th Feet docked at Kavieng, rearming, reloading etc ...

Southeast Asia HQ:

54 Ki-49-IIa bombed Shwebo protected by 90 N1K1-J and 50 Ki-43-IIb.

My air forces in this area are mainly equipped with hurricanes and p-40e. So, I am planing to let him to feel strong in air there before I will set CAP trap. I can start working on this squadrons and rearm some of them. My losses on Pacific and Java are not as high as I predicted.


Now I have 60 P-51A, no idea what to do with it. Speed, climb rate, durability and SR is OK, but
maneuver, max altitude are terrible. No chance to fight against N1K1-J.

!!!! N1K1-J !!!! my major problem. They are everywhere, plus resized Japanese navy units gives me huge headache.
Literally there is no area where I can use my P-40, P-39 or even P-38, F6F, F4U. Only P-47 can fight and win, but still taking huge losses and having only 56 / month of them does not help either.

[/font]

[Mike McCreery]

ORIGINAL: MrKane

[font="Courier New"]18th Dec 1943.

South Pacific HQ:

B-25 continue bombing Rabaul (100dmg).
B-24 are continue raiding Truk AF. 2 Rex tried attack on bombers without effects.

5th Feet docked at Kavieng, rearming, reloading etc ...

Southeast Asia HQ:

54 Ki-49-IIa bombed Shwebo protected by 90 N1K1-J and 50 Ki-43-IIb.

My air forces in this area are mainly equipped with hurricanes and p-40e. So, I am planing to let him to feel strong in air there before I will set CAP trap. I can start working on this squadrons and rearm some of them. My losses on Pacific and Java are not as high as I predicted.


Now I have 60 P-51A, no idea what to do with it. Speed, climb rate, durability and SR is OK, but
maneuver, max altitude are terrible. No chance to fight against N1K1-J.

!!!! N1K1-J !!!! my major problem. They are everywhere, plus resized Japanese navy units gives me huge headache.
Literally there is no area where I can use my P-40, P-39 or even P-38, F6F, F4U. Only P-47 can fight and win, but still taking huge losses and having only 56 / month of them does not help either.

[/font]

When you get the upgraded model P47-25 there is a time between when they are being produced and the newer model the p47-N is produced. Also, some Allied squadrons top out at the P-47 25 and thus can run out of planes long before the end of the war.

It is frustrating because the P47 can kill almost anything on favorable ground.

[MrKane]

19th Dec 24th Dec 1943.

We had one week pause in playing game due to Martin absence.
So, now we are back.

South Pacific HQ:

B-25 continue bombing Rabaul. B-24 are continue raiding Truk AF. Both AF are close.
I am using carriers planes as ground support for 1st and 2nd USMC Div at Truk.

Central Pacific HQ:

Two attacks at Truk resulted fort reduction to level 4. However 2nd USMC Div has disabled ~40% squads now,
1st USMC Div ~10% squads. Both divisions needs some rest time now.

Dec 22th Attack:

Ground combat at Truk (112,108)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30431 troops, 474 guns, 641 vehicles, Assault Value = 1147

Defending force 22010 troops, 249 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 375

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 5

Allied adjusted assault: 451

Japanese adjusted defense: 3115

Allied assault odds: 1 to 6 (fort level 5)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), preparation(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
843 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 72 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
920 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 96 disabled
Non Combat: 31 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 22 disabled
Guns lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 116 (100 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st USMC Tank Battalion
1st Arm Amphib Battalion
1st Marine Division
2nd Marine Division
754th Tank Battalion
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
59th Division
Kure 5th SNLF
88th Naval Guard Unit
38th Div /1
24th Special Base Force
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
3rd Base Force /1
1st JNAF AF Unit
Truk Naval Fortress
33rd JNAF AF Unit
4th Fleet
48th JNAF AF Unit /1
4th Base Force
9th Fleet
8th RF Gun Bn /2


Dec 24th Attack:


Ground combat at Truk (112,108)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29082 troops, 473 guns, 506 vehicles, Assault Value = 1065

Defending force 21191 troops, 249 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 318

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied adjusted assault: 281

Japanese adjusted defense: 3136

Allied assault odds: 1 to 11 (fort level 4)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
926 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3103 casualties reported
Squads: 42 destroyed, 221 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 38 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 70 disabled
Guns lost 37 (6 destroyed, 31 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (3 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2nd Marine Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
1st Arm Amphib Battalion
1st Marine Division
754th Tank Battalion
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
88th Naval Guard Unit
Kure 5th SNLF
59th Division
38th Div /1
33rd JNAF AF Unit
4th Fleet
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
24th Special Base Force
3rd Base Force /1
Truk Naval Fortress
9th Fleet /1
48th JNAF AF Unit /1
1st JNAF AF Unit
4th Base Force
8th RF Gun Bn /2

[HansBolter]

Looks like one too many DAs in a row.

Time to rest, recover and bombard for 3-5-7 days.

[MrKane]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Looks like one too many DAs in a row.

Time to rest, recover and bombard for 3-5-7 days.

Just bad dice roll. Both Divisions were full rested during both attacks.

[MrKane]

[font="Courier New"]25th Dec 1943.

Southwest Pacific HQ:

Bandjermasin captured by 53rd SEP Regiment.

South Pacific HQ:

B-25 continue bombing Rabaul. B-24 are continue raiding Truk AF. Both AF are close.
I am using carriers planes as ground support for 1st and 2nd USMC Div at Truk.

Japanese !!! CARRIER !!! spotted at Woleai. Does he planning raid against my carriers or 5th Fleet parked at Kavieng? Just for case Carries are moving south (most of carriers remaining sorties reduced to 106)

Kavieng CAP is raised at full strength 480 fighters. Bad news is that 60% of fighters are old P-40E But for medium altitude carrier strike they should do OK.

Southeast Asia Pacific HQ:

Fighters air units upgrade.

USAAF:
80 FG P-39D -> P-40K
311 FG P-40E -> P-40N5
23 FG P-40E -> 25 P-38J, 50 P-47D2
5318 FS P-39D -> P-51A

RAF:
60th & 135th RAF Sqn Hurricane IIc -> Spitfire Vb
11st & 34th RAF Sqn Hurricane IIc -> Spitfire VIII

[/font]

[MrKane]

[font="Courier New"]26th Dec 1943 1st Jan 1944.

!!! A new year, 1944 nice !!!

Southwest Pacific HQ:

Two days night raids against Tarakan oil without result. Just 3 Bombers lost for 9 Japanese fighters.

Spider send over 200 fighters to sweep Sampit Dec 31st, unfortunately it was day of for my CAP, so no fight
Next day CAP was flying but it seems it was one day action only


South Pacific HQ:

B-25 continue bombing Rabaul. B-24 are continue raiding Truk AF. Both AF are close.

Marines are ready for next attack, but unfortunately due to squadrons resize and planes maintenance carriers are grounded at Kavieng for next 5-10 days

[/font]

[MrKane]

[font="Courier New"]2nd Jan 1944.

Central Pacific HQ:

Jet one more not very successful attack against Truk fortress. Fort reduced to level 3.

It seems that carriers planes maintenance will take over 10 - 15 days

South Pacific HQ:

B-25 continue bombing Rabaul.


Truk attack report:[/font]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Truk (112,108)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29959 troops, 488 guns, 614 vehicles, Assault Value = 1108

Defending force 22372 troops, 238 guns, 60 vehicles, Assault Value = 348

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 253

Japanese adjusted defense: 2701

Allied assault odds: 1 to 10 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
800 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
3220 casualties reported
Squads: 30 destroyed, 195 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 59 disabled
Guns lost 50 (9 destroyed, 41 disabled)
Vehicles lost 73 (21 destroyed, 52 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st Marine Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
2nd Marine Division
1st Arm Amphib Battalion
754th Tank Battalion
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
59th Division
Kure 5th SNLF
88th Naval Guard Unit
38th Div /1
4th Fleet
Truk Naval Fortress
24th Special Base Force
31st Army
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
3rd Base Force /1
33rd JNAF AF Unit
4th Base Force
1st JNAF AF Unit
8th RF Gun Bn /2