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

[JeffroK]

Its only the fault of players who take on JIII's wet dream scenarios.

[Bearcat2]

ORIGINAL: adarbrauner

No it's not silly; it was an underpowered airplane, thus the lower performances in his specs here; and it's not produced for free, it has a cost, of 4 ENG per specimen, it's a lot for Japan;
the long range I guess it's his own real one;

It was later developed in the G6N Rita;
again not mass produced because of the dire industrial and economic conditions in Japan and other priorities, but if you Allied commander do not pursue Japan's economic ruin but other goals, so why not pressing these bombers in service;

It was not produced because it was a failed design. The biggest problem they faced was the original engines[Ha-36 1850HP] were junk. The plane never came close to design specifications which is what this scenario is using. They replaced the Ha-36 with a Ha-32[1500HP] which had even less power.
The fantasy part is not that the plane did not exist, but that it's performance never came remotely close to meeting it's design specifications.

[Anachro]

ORIGINAL: JeffroK

Its only the fault of players who take on JIII's wet dream scenarios.

Right you are! I knew what I was getting into when I signed up for this mod. It's a fun challenge, but I dread to think what it will be like facing these PITA's in 1944/45. Should be interesting...

[Anachro]

July 30-31 1942

Not much to report. John is launching air raids on my small forces still in south-eastern India to clean it up I suppose. My three divisions and tanks are gathering for a push south towards Calcutta or its southeastern flanks. One potential option is to ignore Calcutta and take the areas south-east of it. John has been building airfields here and they are lightly defended. Rajnashi has level 3 airfields. Dacca level 5. Take these and I can get air cover to help my LCUs if they move down there. Another option is to overwhelm the 3 divisions at Asanol and push down from there.

The 70th British division is moving down from Patna after recovering disablements almost fully (has ~450 AV). The 7th Aussie Division is moving to Patna to recover ~60 squad disablements. More tanks are moving here for the push from the west. All counted, I theoretically have ~3-4k AV I can use for the push if all my forces at Asanol, Patna, Ranchi, and Jamshedpur were to be used. About half will stay behind for defense.

While this is going on cut the rail from Viza where I anticipate John gathering forces. 2 hexes outside of Bezwada, John seems to be gathering forces, showing 3 units which I suspect contains at least 1 or 2 divisions. The units (and tanks) at Calcutta seem to be moving out.



Meanwhile, Japanese carriers have been spotted north of Soerabaja and they appear to be moving south... to Australia? To the South Pacific?

[Anachro]

John is reinforcing Guadalcanal and I estimate it will have 2 divisions on it once this new one arrives according to Sigint.

SIG INT REPORT FOR Jul 31, 42

2/2nd Army is loaded on a Kasu-D Cargo class xAK moving to Lunga.
Radio transmissions detected at 106,129.
Babeldoap Naval Fortress is located at Babeldaob(90,97).
9th Manchukuo Inf Brigade is located at Jehol(97,39).
Radio transmissions detected at Bataan (78,77).
171st Cavalry Regiment is located at Changchun(106,41).
46th JAAF AF Bn is located at Jehol(97,39).
Radio transmissions detected at Bihoro (123,51).
Radio transmissions detected at Jaluit (134,120).
Cam Ranh Fortress is located at Cam Ranh Bay(64,72).
RTA Cavalry Division is located at Bangkok(56,62).
6th RTA Division is located at Nakhon Si Thammarat(51,70).
23rd Air Flotilla is located at Lae(99,126).
51st Air Defense AA Battalion is located at Taichu(86,64).
1st Ind.Inf.Group is located at Kweilin(76,54).
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment is located at Kienko(78,41).
9th Garrison Unit is located at Suchow(91,47).
41st Guard Battalion is located at Saigon(60,71).
Ichiki Det. is located at Ulak Island(160,53).
Radio transmissions detected at Cagayan (79,89).
Radio transmissions detected at Moulmein (55,55).
Southeast Area Fleet is located at Rabaul(106,125).
93rd Base Force is located at Port Blair(46,58).
45th Ind.AA Gun Co is located at Rashin(110,46).
Southern Fleet is located at Cam Ranh Bay(64,72).
16433 men are based at Truk (112,108).
Radio transmissions detected at Tabiteuea (137,134).
9th Division is loaded on xAP Suwa Maru moving to Lunga.
23rd Air Flotilla is located at Lae(99,126).
15th Medium Field Artillery Regiment is located at Heijo(103,47).
Eastern Army is located at Tokyo(114,60).

[Anachro]

Aug 1 1942

Nothing much, but Japanese activity is heating up in the South Pacific. A roving Japanese SCTF (CL/DD) moves deep into my SoPAC LOC and hits a small transport convoy I had carrying the Fiji Bn. Drat! Not much lost and a shame because I have a decent amount of nav search covering this sector. We'll see if two can play this game. Given that Lunga is being reinforced I've moved up undetected DDs to Luganville. I need to quickly take Canton and Baker Island so I can have a better nav seatch setup towards the Gilbers and Marshalls.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Manihiki at 163,156, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Kagero
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Sawakaze
DD Yakaze
CL Ayase

Allied Ships
xAKL Loyaute, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Mawata, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAKL Capitaine Illiaquer, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
xAKL Nicarata, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Tamara, Shell hits 2
xAKL Georgian, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Iowan, Shell hits 3
xAKL Atlantic, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
355 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 78% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
Japanese launch Long Lance torpedoes at 12,000 yards before allies detect Japanese presence
Range closes to 10,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages xAKL Atlantic at 10,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages xAKL Iowan at 10,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages xAKL Georgian at 10,000 yards
CL Ayase engages xAKL Nicarata at 10,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages xAKL Mawata at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages xAKL Capitaine Illiaquer at 7,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages xAKL Atlantic at 7,000 yards
DD Kuroshio engages xAKL Atlantic at 7,000 yards
DD Kagero engages xAKL Georgian at 7,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages xAKL Mawata at 7,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages xAKL Loyaute at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CL Ayase engages xAKL Atlantic at 5,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages xAKL Nicarata at 5,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages xAKL Georgian at 5,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages xAKL Georgian at 5,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages xAKL Capitaine Illiaquer at 5,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages xAKL Mawata at 5,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages xAKL Loyaute at 5,000 yards
CL Ayase engages xAKL Loyaute at 5,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages xAKL Iowan at 5,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages xAKL Georgian at 5,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages xAKL Tamara at 5,000 yards
DD Kuroshio engages xAKL Nicarata at 5,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages xAKL Capitaine Illiaquer at 5,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages xAKL Mawata at 5,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages xAKL Loyaute at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DD Kuroshio engages xAKL Atlantic at 7,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages xAKL Mawata at 7,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages xAKL Georgian at 7,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages xAKL Tamara at 7,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages xAKL Nicarata at 7,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages xAKL Capitaine Illiaquer at 7,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages xAKL Loyaute at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CL Ayase engages xAKL Nicarata at 9,000 yards
DD Kuroshio engages xAKL Iowan at 9,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Carnarvon at 48,133

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuzuki

Allied Ships
SS Devil Ray

SS Devil Ray is sighted by escort
Devil Ray bottoming out ....
DD Hatsuzuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsuzuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsuzuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Carnarvon at 49,133, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kinu
CL Kiso
DD Akizuki
DD Teruzuki
DD Susuzuki
DD Hatsuzuki

Allied Ships
xAKL Kaiping, Shell hits 14, and is sunk

[Anachro]

I should note I have two CL/DD TF's south west of Pago Pago. Maybe they can catch something.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Anachro
Meanwhile, Japanese carriers have been spotted north of Soerabaja and they appear to be moving south... to Australia? To the South Pacific?

That looks deep in the Japanese territory now. I wonder who did the spotting?

[Anachro]

I don't know how it was spotted as I have nothing up there that I can think of. I randomly saw it as I was scrolling from India to the SoPac on my map.

[Anachro]

August 2 1942

South Pacific

The raiders from last turn make an appearance thanks to redirecting my nav search this turn and, as expected, move towards Pago Pago as last turn Japanese recon had spotted another unescorted convoy carrying troops near there. I, of course, moved that convoy in the opposite direction while moving my cruiser SCTF's towards Pago Pago and now there appears to be an opportunity to intercept at least some of John's surface ships (he may have split his forces to go after various transports). We will try to intercept him during the night or tomorrow in the day phase.



Australia

Again John's carriers make an appearance in an area where I have no recon. I don't quite know why. The only thing I can think is there are two green dots near Soerabaja that have been recon'd by Japanese fighter plans, perhaps from John's carriers. Nonetheless, the info shows his carriers moving south, either to Darwin or towards the South Pacific. That's good info to have for informing my own operations in these areas. Nonetheless, they haven't arrived yet and I still have time before they do.



India

In India, more leaves point to a push towards Bezwada or Warangal. John originally had 3 units 2 hexes east of Bezwada and now only has 1 unit. Furthermore, more units are moving west from Cocanada. I suspect John has moved troops along the smaller road north of his western-most units. He might be trying to cut off the rail between Bezwada and Warangal. This won't help him much because there are more rails through which I can move troops to the west and both Warangal and Bezwada have pretty good defenses (Bezwada is 40% to level 4 forts, Warangal has level 5 forts.

Now that I think about it, John's probably trying to avoid the river crossing/shock attack of moving directly towards Bezwada.

Asanol just went to level 5 forts today, as well. I think eastern India is prime for a push. Once my Aussie division has recovered a bit, we'll see what we can do.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Anachro
Again John's carriers make an appearance in an area where I have no recon. I don't quite know why. The only thing I can think is there are two green dots near Soerabaja that have been recon'd by Japanese fighter plans, perhaps from John's carriers.

Pretty good info too, not "wa-ah, some big ships out there". I guess this is the lesson to JFBs to not be lazy with painting your dots. Replace those local fishermen with loyal subjects.

[Spanno]

Your map looks amazing, is it a mod you are using?

[Anachro]

I am using MakeeLearn's Bellum Pacifica Kamikaze map, which can be found in the link below. It is a fantastic blend of the stock map and one of chemkid's excellent maps. You can download either an extended or stock version of his map. I'm using the extended version. MakeeLearn more recently published a new map called Victoriam, but I prefer this one.

MakeeLearn's Bellum Pacifica Kamikaze Map

MakeeLearn's Victoriam

[Anachro]

August 3 1942

No surface actions today as John's TF near Pago Pago disappears and probably pulls back. Canton Island, his nearest base, showed ships in port last turn so maybe that's where they will be returning to. I have a few carriers repairing minor damage at Pearl that will be ready to go in 2 days. Maybe I'll sweep these islands with them and port strike to see what's there. Lexington and Saratoga are still 16 days and 18 days away from finishing their refits.

John's carriers continue to move south from Soerabaja and using a sub to anticipate their destination, their current path seems to suggest they are heading for Darwin, but that could simply be a stop along the way to the SoPac for all I know. We'll see, I guess. I don't think these are the same carriers I met off of Darwin.



In India, John continues to move forces west. There is now 1200 Japanese AV at Asanol with 7 units in the hex nearby (to be recon'd tomorrow to find out their strength). The est is open and I'm debating in my mind whether to go for Calcutta or Push down towards Burma, capturing airfields along the way. I would threaten his oil down there and he'd have to move troops back, but this also leaves my rear flank open and he could cut off my forces. We'll see how Calcutta weakens and perhaps just take the airfields near it before moving back to Calcutta.

John does an unescorted strike on Raipur and his bombers suffer from both flak and my fighters. Sigint shows Japanese heavy artillery at Cocanada.

[Anachro]

August 4 1942

Now, they move east. This would be a path to Truk.

[paullus99]

John just can't seem to "not" be doing something with that fantasy fleet of his.....

[Anachro]

It would seem John is shifting his focus to the South Pacific, what with the carriers moving there and he is finally reinforcing different islands. I'm really hoping to surprise his convoy heading for Lunga with a few hidden DDs. Dangerous mission yes, loss of destroyers, surely, but the risk is worth it if I can prevent another division there. My carriers are at Sydney and Pearl. The two British carriers at Sydney need 20-30 days for repair, but the USN ones will finish their refits in 4 days. They will join the other US carriers at Pearl.

In the next week, despite lacking full prep, units will land at Canton and Baker in fast transports to avoid having to deal with KB, which seems to be on its way. Then we will land at green dots up in the Aleutians with some carriers and more transports to make it seem like a full-blown invasion, then we will do island hopping in the SoPac, then we will shift to Ceylon.

Fun times ahead. So much tedium in the planning though. Oil is finally flowing through Tahiti, but John has some nasty subs down there. Subchasers and such are being moved down there; there is already a floatplane unit there doing ASW.

[Anachro]

August 5 1942

Today we have successful air battles in India, where John launches a series of unsuccessful sweeps against Warangal, as well as an unescorted bombing raid on Raipur. He comes off the worse for it. The more interesting piece of news is that the 7 units 1 hex east of Asanol appear to be another 3-4 divisions in jungle defense terrain. That ends my desire to do a foray that way with my troops unless he moves them back. As yet, there seems to be no push west. Cuttack is undefended and could be an area of opportunity to cutoff his east and west.



In the South Pacific, we send a lone destroyer to disrupt a resupply effort at Ndeni and it does an admirable job. There appears to be more ships there today so might try against with another destroyer. Not sure though, as I'd like to keep them hidden for Lunga. They might move to a green dot hex.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 05, 42
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Ndeni at 120,143, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DMS W-19, Shell hits 3
xAK Nasusan Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Oigawa Maru, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Somedono Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
xAK Utide Maru, Shell hits 3

Allied Ships
DD Hughes, Shell hits 1

[CaptBeefheart]

I've come across the Liz and Rita in Ironman scenarios. They aren't too much of a problem since the computer side doesn't handle them too well. Controlled by a human I could see where they could cause some pain. My question is: What extras do the Allies get in return? Do you get the B-19? Maybe early operational capability for the B-36? That would be fun.

Also, do you have a spy with a radio aboard that KB fragment traipsing through the DEI? I've never seen anything like it.

Cheers,
CB

[JohnDillworth]

[/quote]

What extras do the Allies get in return?

3 extra P-40's and a class of minesweepers can convert to Seaplane Tenders or something [:)][:)]