Matrix Games

quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Remember that after they themselves unload, ships with some sort of amphibious ability (like APA, AKA, AP, AK, LST, LCI, etc. etc.) help other ship in the same TF to unload. This simulates them using their organic landing craft (or maybe for smaller vessels the ship itself) to go ferry cargo for the ships still unloading.

So, what and when to break out is something to consider based on the circumstances.

quote:

Makin at 136,124 (one hex NW on 12th)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 17

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
DD Yuzuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Uzuki, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Kikuzuki, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

quote:

Ground combat at Alice Springs (74,143) on 11th

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 814 troops, 4 guns, 39 vehicles, Assault Value = 30

Defending force 4164 troops, 17 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 119

Japanese adjusted assault: 4

Allied adjusted defense: 311

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 77 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
83 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
16th Recon Regiment

Defending units:
Prajoda Garrison Battalion
2/2nd Ind Coy
19th Australian Battalion
4th RAAF Base Force

I left a decent amount of supply here.

quote:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tarawa at 136,128, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yayoi
DD Uzuki
DD Kikuzuki, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
CL Boise
CL Nashville
DD Wilson
DD Lang
DD Porter
DD Selfridge
DD Phelps
DD Balch

Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 0% moonlight: 3,000 yards

You would think that I should have blown them all out of the water. There was no moonlight and the Allied warships have poor night experience at this point. All are now mid-50s to 40 for a DD.

quote:

Ground combat at Abemama (136,130)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 5080 troops, 65 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 191

Defending force 197 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 77

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 77 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Abemama !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
256 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
1st Marine/C Div /1
2nd Marine Raider Bn /1
13th MAG /1
11th US Naval Const Bn /1
23rd Port Maint Engr Bn /1

Defending units:
II/84th Naval Guard Unit

Work to expand the AF will begin immediately. An Air HQ is loading at Pearl for here. I didn't have enough follow up forces off the various bases. Another lesson learned.

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Ground combat at Tabiteuea (137,134)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 12607 troops, 112 guns, 141 vehicles, Assault Value = 425

Defending force 1873 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 34

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 339

Japanese adjusted defense: 6

Allied assault odds: 56 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Tabiteuea !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
821 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 24 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
135 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd Marine Div /4
26th Port Maint Engineer Battalion
14th MAG
318th Base Group /1
I US Corps
3rd Marine Defense Battalion
6th US Naval Const Bn /1
7th US Naval Const Bn /1

Defending units:
III/84th Naval Guard Unit
I/84th Naval Guard Unit
II/81st Naval Guard Unit
2nd JNAF Coy

The AF will be expanded and a deliberate attack ordered for tomorrow. More supplies and the rest of the support for each unit left to be unloaded.

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Ground combat at Tarawa (136,128)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 7346 troops, 150 guns, 85 vehicles, Assault Value = 308

Defending force 6736 troops, 45 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 158

Allied adjusted assault: 54

Japanese adjusted defense: 272

Allied assault odds: 1 to 5 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
973 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 63 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 13 (3 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (20 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1691 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 227 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
1st Marine/A Div /1
1st Marine/B Div /1
9th Port Maint Engr Bn /1
12th MAG
1st Marine Def Bn /1
13th US Naval Const Bn /1
14th US Naval Const Bn /1
15th Base Group /2

Defending units:
41st Naval Guard Unit
42nd Naval Guard Unit
43rd Naval Guard Unit
1st JNAF Coy
26th JNAF AF Unit

My major lesson is here. I did not expect him to have as much as he did (I didn't recon the base beforehand as I wanted surprise). I landed with 2/3 of my Marine division (the other 1/3 went to Abemama), but came ashore with the follow up forces (BF, engineers, CD) and not enough combat power to take the base quickly (No FA, tanks, more infantry, and/or combat engineers). Afterwards, I looked at what I have prepping for Makin and increased the combat power to make it overwhelming, I hope.

I have ordered the SC TF to become a BB TF to hit the base, ordered my SBDs and Avengers to have a secondary mission of attacking the troops, changed the leaders of the two parts of the Marines as I have high disablement and fatigue in the 80s (no disruption), and stopped unloading as I don't want to trigger another shock attack for the next two days while my troops rest and recover. The AV is down to 119.

quote:

Hi Michael,

Wow! That came out of nowhere! I got a signint report indicating heavy radio signal near Tabituea yesterday, but it was dismissed as unreliable. Most of my naval search was looking to the west. Very interesting development, I have to plan my response now.

Enjoy!!!
Nick
Looks like I got the element of surprise on my side here. Now, I need to not waste it.

quote:

Sub attack near Truk at 114,112 (4 hexes due SE) On 14th

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi
BB Hiei
CA Mogami
CS Chiyoda
DD Yugumo
DD Inazuma
DD Ikazuchi

Allied Ships
SS Finback

SS Finback launches 6 torpedoes at CV Akagi

quote:

Night Naval bombardment of Tarawa at 136,128 on 13th

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
CL Nashville
CL Boise
DD Balch
DD Phelps
DD Selfridge
DD Porter
DD Lang
DD Wilson

Japanese ground losses:
411 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 23
Port hits 12
Port supply hits 5

While I'm learning about how to conduct an invasion of an atoll, the importance of using BB TF is becoming clear. The casualties are nice along with base damage, but a very important unseen (doesn't show up in combat reports) thing is the amount of disruption the ground units sustain. You need to get that high to be able to conduct a successful ground attack.

This TF stays for one more day and uses their little remaining ammo to hit the base on the 14th before heading east towards Palmrya.

quote:

Afternoon Air attack on 42nd Naval Guard Unit, at 136,128 (Tarawa)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 64
SBD-3 Dauntless x 204
TBF-1 Avenger x 85

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
623 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)

quote:

Afternoon Air attack on 42nd Naval Guard Unit, at 136,128 (Tarawa)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 20
F4F-4 Wildcat x 59
SBD-3 Dauntless x 204
TBF-1 Avenger x 85

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
281 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

quote:

Afternoon Air attack on 26th JNAF AF Unit , at 136,128 (Tarawa)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 20
F4F-4 Wildcat x 56
SBD-3 Dauntless x 204
TBF-1 Avenger x 85

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
281 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

quote:

Ground combat at Tarawa (136,128)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 8578 troops, 169 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 162

Defending force 5125 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 72

Allied adjusted assault: 44

Japanese adjusted defense: 11

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
920 casualties reported
Squads: 64 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (8 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
502 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Marine/A Division
1st Marine/B Division
14th US Naval Construction Battalion
15th Base Group
12th MAG
9th Port Maint Engineer Battalion
13th US Naval Construction Battalion
1st Marine Def Bn /1

Defending units:
41st Naval Guard Unit
42nd Naval Guard Unit
43rd Naval Guard Unit
1st JNAF Coy
26th JNAF AF Unit

A BB TF hitting the base two days in a row and three days of ground attacks from my American CVs have done wonders. His Adjust AV went from 272 to 11. I will need a few days of rest before the final attack takes place as my Marines are not in great shape.

quote:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16359 troops, 238 guns, 148 vehicles, Assault Value = 458

Defending force 1274 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 15

Allied adjusted assault: 805

Japanese adjusted defense: 2

Allied assault odds: 402 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1694 casualties reported
Squads: 45 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 101 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 3

Assaulting units:
2nd Marine Division
I US Corps
318th Base Group
14th MAG
3rd Marine Defense Battalion
6th US Naval Construction Battalion
26th Port Maint Engineer Battalion
7th US Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
I/84th Naval Guard Unit
II/81st Naval Guard Unit
2nd JNAF Coy

quote:

I am not sure what benefit you are expecting from Abemama for your CV TFs. A level one field cannot launch anything offensive and can only do local CAP. Are you expecting to reach Level 2 within a couple of days? That is about all it will take for KB to show up.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

quote:

I am not sure what benefit you are expecting from Abemama for your CV TFs. A level one field cannot launch anything offensive and can only do local CAP. Are you expecting to reach Level 2 within a couple of days? That is about all it will take for KB to show up.

She went to level 1 last turn and I moved in 2 P-39 groups and my PBY-5A group. Hopefully, I'll see him coming. The Canadian Hurricane moved from Baker to Tabiteuea to take their spot. Three short legged groups are loading at Christmas for Canton and then they will use Baker as a way point to get here. MY CVs have gone to expecting KB attack mode - CAP 50%, SBD on 10% search, and secondary attack still remains Tarawa.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Eddie - most of the base have two Naval Construction there plus what the BFs have.
Tabiteuea has 111 Engineers and 36 Engineer Vehicles.
Nonouti has 78 Engineers and 36 Engineer Vehicles.
Abemama has 57 Engineers and 14 Engineer Vehicles.
Tarawa has 86 Engineers and 30 Engineer Vehicles, but they are not full strength.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jrcar

Nice job, if you can stop the Japanese from "setting" then you can start to build momentum and roll him...

Cheers

Rob

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: jrcar

Nice job, if you can stop the Japanese from "setting" then you can start to build momentum and roll him...

Cheers

Rob

There is still the little problem of preventing him from taking the rest of Oz, and then trying to take it back. He has a little too much there to treat it as an island to be cut off and turned into a POW camp.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I have 7 divisions in southern Australia and they would retreat into those two main bases. Melbourne just reached Forts 5 and has 200k supply along with lots of engineers. Sydney has started to work on level 7 Forts and has 400k supply. They could hold out for significant time. A while agao we discussed him already triggering the Emergency Reinforcements and I get the airframes and devices now, but the troops are headed back to Cape Town and Aden. If he goes further south again, I can deploy them.

quote:

Sub attack near Nonouti at 137,133

Japanese Ships
SS I-21

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1 13-17(9)-0-0
CA Minneapolis
CL St. Louis
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Preston
DD Smith
DD Mahan

SS I-21 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Lexington

quote:

Sub attack near Nonouti at 137,133

Japanese Ships
SS I-21, hits 1

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1 22-19(13)-0-0
CA Vincennes
CL Hobart
CLAA San Juan
DD Lardner
DD Hull
DD Dewey
DD Tucker

SS I-21 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Yorktown

I reply to Nick with the need to give the captain of I-21 a promotion and 30 days shore leave. I've had this lesson before and I was reminded again, "don't allow your CVs to be stationary." Both will easily make Pearl, unless I run over another sub.

quote:

Ground combat at Wenchow (89,58) on 17th

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 73187 troops, 606 guns, 132 vehicles, Assault Value = 2272

Defending force 13632 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 408

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 1559

Allied adjusted defense: 751

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2075 casualties reported
Squads: 54 destroyed, 128 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 11 (3 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1242 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 90 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
110th Division
35th Division
27th Division
15th Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
36th Division

Defending units:
100th Chinese Corps
25th Group Army

quote:

Ground combat at Tarawa (136,128) on 18th

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6156 troops, 101 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 145

Defending force 3590 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 26

Allied adjusted assault: 26

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 26 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Tarawa !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1391 casualties reported
Squads: 48 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 22 (18 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Marine/A Division
1st Marine/B Division
9th Port Maint Engineer Battalion
1st Marine Defense Battalion
15th Base Group
13th US Naval Construction Battalion
12th MAG
14th US Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
42nd Naval Guard Unit
43rd Naval Guard Unit
41st Naval Guard Unit
1st JNAF Coy
26th JNAF AF Unit

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41st Naval Guard Unit Wiped Out at Tarawa by attrition!!!

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42nd Naval Guard Unit Wiped Out at Tarawa by attrition!!!

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43rd Naval Guard Unit Wiped Out at Tarawa by attrition!!!

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Yeah, jrcar, I was thinking mostly of the VPs the Japanese would get for Sydney and Melbourne. And eliminating Austalia would make the Centpac/Northern routes fairly predictable. A Burma offensive is possible but it takes a long time to build up the strength needed.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

[Crackaces] - I have 9 BSs of B-17Es at Suva (108 planes). At Pearl, I have a BG (48 planes) filling out with B-17Fs (since I only get two months worth, this group may not see action till late Sept) and another with B-24s (needs another 15 planes) that will go to the Gilberts once Tabiteuea is built up to AF 5. I get another B-24 BG with 32 of 48 planes in 4 days in USA.

quote:

You already know this NY59Giants but just to make conversation in the thread ... Those bases in the Marshall's that have shore batteries make great targets for the modern BB's .. unlike the prewar bemouths ....just in case the Betty's come calling they can at full speed make it back to the safety of aircover and get the boys mixing it up while reducing the fort units along with runways and ports .. I got a hefty experince bonus in my current game blasting these targets as well as lot's of grumbling in the email ..