Air Raid Pearl Harbor (Navy CPO vs Imp AI)

[BBfanboy]

ChiefOC: no joy finding out how to have torpedoes be auto-reordered.

If you mean having the HQ draw them automatically, it is done through the unit TOE screen. Click on the Air HQ that needs torps, then click on the "Show TOE" button. When that screen comes up you can click on the torpedoes item and type in the number of torps you want it to stock. I usually go for double the number needed to have all the bombers in range that can carry them, then round it up to the nearest multiple of 10. Don't forget that US Catalinas can carry two torpedoes each on each sortie.
And of course you must have lots of stock - each torp costs 10 supply.
Once the HQ has the torps, the next check is that the airfield is large enough to handle them. I found out that Bataan at start does not have a big enough AF so the Cats there flew with bombs while the ones at Manila and Clarke carried torps.
Also note that you cannot return the torps drawn by the HQ to stock to increase supply, so don't overstock the HQ.

As for missing the starving troops - that is pretty standard for new players on this mind-boggling game. I think it is a mistake to rush supply to Nome - that place is off the beaten path and will contribute nothing to the war effort unless you need to hide a damaged ship there for a while. Just pull the troops out using that xAKL or Cats (weather permitting) or APDs.
Early on I like go concentrate the troops at Kodiak while they fill out some of their TOE. Kodiak is close enough to Prince Rupert to be supplied well and can be built big enough to be hard to attack. Dutch Harbour has a nice port, but building an airfield there is nigh impossible. Build the AF at one of the adjacent islands. And move all the continental Canadian BFs except Vancouver's to Prince Rupert to build the port and AF their as quickly as possible. It is a bit closer to the Aleutians than Vancouver and Seattle.

[RangerJoe]

Copy BBfanboy

Roger Ranger Joe. I believe I have a couple 4-Piper DE conversions in Soerbaya to back up my Baby Birdfarms. BtW, no joy finding out how to have torpedoes be auto-reordered.

And I appreciate all input, comments and critiques. Especially about taking my eyes of the troops back at home.

15 Apr 43

Well, a bit of a fustercluck that I am going to have to "cover up".

I received another "Xxx unit disbands!" message and decided to track this one down, to see what is the deelio. Been a few of those lately which seem odd. Whoops. Seems in my initial set up @17 months ago, I was rather slipshod in sorting out troops in Alaska and far North Canada. I presumed supply would not be an issue and left them to their own devices. Ooops. There are several [more!] units on the verge of starving to death. I have three subs, headed for Japan being rerouted to pick up survivors at Nome. I have three subs that were in Adak, now loaded with emergency rations, likewise bound for Nome and all subs will carry home whom they can. I have a slower AKL loading a much larger load at Adak and then she will also head north. I have APs bound for several ports, including Nome, on similar missions to evac everyone. Units out of reach of a beach, such as Fairbanks and Whitehorse, are headed on foot etc to ports such as Anchorage and Skagway. Loaded AKs will soon be headed to all the the nearest ports of affected units. What a mess. If Nimitz finds out I will probably get reassigned to the Panama Canal Zone. Maybe Duty Driver for the Nurses?

On the other end of the world it's a lot different. NAS Exmouth is now a level 3 port and level 2 airfield with abou 16K of supplies. Port Morseby is still growing - now a level 5 port and level 6 airfield with @60K of supply. And my secret 24 hour pitstop at Tahiti is a level 5 port and level 3 airfield. Tahiti has a "Separate" Inf Regiment, a base force, two Seabee Battalions and of course her own Tahiti Inf Det. At hand are @7K of supplies and just shy of 29K of fuel.

SE of Midway another bombardment group, with six standard BBs, is headed once again to Wake. Meanwhile small Amphip groups from the States are headed to Pearl, where others are likewise loading/forming. D-Day for Wake probably to be scheduled early June.

I wonder how often it rains at NavSubBase Coco Solo? (Me imagining the backwaters of Panama)
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Torpedoes for ships are resupplied by ports large enough. Torpedoes are resupplied to carriers by AEs and AKEs, to destroyers (and cruisers?) by ADs, subs by ASs, and PTs/MTBs by AGPs. I have noticed that larger ships have been resupplied with secondary and tertiary ammo by lower level replenishment vessels (ADs and AGs) if they are supplying those to the appropriate vessels that they normally service. I am not sure which vessels carry Class 6 supplies although at first, the torpedo juice was 100% ethanol but then it was denatured. Of course, the sailors figured out how to undenature that torpedo juice!

An earlier conversion for the 4-pipers to increase their ASW to 6 is to convert them to APDs. Those can then carry some supplies to offload for the invasion while also escorting the invasion. They can also make supply runs to isolated garrisons while retrieving parts of those units.

[ChiefOC]

Roger Ranger Joe. I reckon I misunderstood about auto torpedo reloads by Air HQs. I knew how to add "reloads" by clicking/adding lots of 10 to the HQ. I thought you knew a different (automatic) way.

24 Apr 43

I wonder how one says 'Operation Drumbeat' in Japanese? Taiko Drums?

Early on I suspected my (our?) SoCal ports would become haunts of I-Boats once my HVTs started In-Choping from Panama. Therefore, I started having our numerous Seabee Battalions building airstrips and getting my nuggets (newly commissioned Naval Aviators) on ASW patrol in/around the Channel Islands. But, first after the airstrips, I need to get some Aviation support on the islands b4 basing birds there. First Operational Channel base is San Clemente Island. Besides the Bees, there is Det F, Port Services Unit w/8 av/s. Perfect to support ZP-32 (a Squadron of 8 ASW Blimps ) I already refreshed my ASW TFs, and changed the status of several nearby squadrons of OS2Us, SBDs etc from training to ASW patrol. Also part of this Op is have some small fry/flash bangs (AKLs carrying inter-island supplies) as bait while my war convoys carry out the Plan of the Day. I'll probably start flying out my aviation ground support to the base on Channel Islands just to be safe.

Taiko Drums

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[RangerJoe]

I would not worry too much about Japanese submarines off of the West Coast. Your Catalinas and other aircraft can do Naval Search and once found, the convoys can steer around them. Once you have some good ASW vessels with trained crews, you can go hunting subs if you want.

For automatic reloads of Air HQ torpedoes, click on the "Show unit TOE" selection, then right click on the yellow "Torpedo Ordnance" selection. A box will open up and you can put in the number of aerial torpedoes that you want that specific Air HQ to have. It will then restock torpedoes as they are used as long as there is sufficient supplies. There may be a minimum amount of supplies needed but I do not know what that is. It costs ten units of supply per torpedo, if I remember correctly so they are relatively expensive. I guess that it includes the "evaporation" of the 100% ethanol that just happens if ethanol is used by the torpedoes. I know that the American PT Boats switched to using aerial torpedoes and a lot of such ethanol seemed to evaporate somehow.

[ChiefOC]

Hello Boys, this is Tokyo Rose bringing you the news and more of your favorite music. Today the Imperial Japanese Navy reported sinking a US battleship and three Heavy Cruisers. Why keep fighting fellas? The sooner your leaders sue for peace, the sooner you can all go home to your families. Now to remind you of your homes, and all your lost shipmates, here is a favorite song; "I Heard You Cried Last Night" by Harry James and Helen Forrest.

29 Apr 43

SC-634 blew up after being hit by a submarine launched torpedo while her ASW TF was prosecuting a second contact target of the day near San Clemente Island. Post War records would reflect four IJN HA Class midget Submarines reported lost while their I-Boat mother ship reported a hit on a US Battleship.

30 Apr 43

Far away in the DEI, a much larger engagement happened SW of Soerbaya in deep water off Bima (64,110).

Out from Soerbaya, Australia's Avengers including Australia, Canberra, San Francisco, three CLs and several destroyers had set course to intercept an IJN surface force reported to be four CAs and four DDs. The IJN force was heading south, destination unknown. The Allied Force knew they were in trouble when a squall cleared and Pagoda masts were seen.

Japanese battleships Musashi and Hyuga commenced firing while Allied Cruisers were several miles short of being in range. Full speed and evasive maneuvering were ordered. HMAS Australia, then HMAS Canberra were the first hit by heavy shells. Shortly after, USS San Francisco was hit by a massive shell. Then in short succession, San Fran was staggered by three more monstrous shells. Australia was hit again. Finally Allied Cruisers could return fire. Allied destroyers raced in to fire multiple torpedo spreads. Miraculously, a number of torpedoes found both Japanese battleships as the behemoths focused on the cruisers. Allied cruisers using new RADAR were themselves now scoring hits on the enemy battleships. As the Allied destroyers raced back laying white and black smoke, time stopped for a moment. Amongst the Allied cruisers, a huge cloud mushroomed. Another salvo of heavy shells had detonated one of San Francisco's magazines. She was gone.

As the US destroyers readied for a second charge, Australia signaled a general withdrawal. What no one in the Allied Squadron knew as they reformed, the massive Musashi was mortally wounded. Rumored to be the largest and unsinkable warship in the world, Musashi was clearly down by the bow, and would sink before nightfall.

- - - -

I knew San Fran was in big trouble after several 46cm hits were scored in succession during the combat animation. Then more hits on both my other heavy cruisers. More sweating as IJN CAs and DDs fired LL torpedoes. But I hoped I had enough Tin Cans screening my cruisers. I really hoped the multiple torpedo hits on Musashi and Hyuga would bear fruit. I breathed a sigh of relief and surprise when the combat report cited Musashi sank. San Fran and Musashi were the only two losses in the action.

Battle of Bima 1

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Battle of Bima 2

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Musashi sinking

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[RangerJoe]

There was a player, who was famous for his English spelling of words, who sank the Yamato with one hit from a PT Boat torpedo! Still, congratulations on sinking the Musashi!

[BBfanboy]

I am not yet convinced. How many torp hits does "multiple" mean? The game routinely reports any ship hit by a torpedo or a mine as sunk, so that is not a reliable indicator. Does the aircraft losses for the IJN show any float plane ground losses that turn?

[ChiefOC]

Ranger Joe Copy that.

BBfanboy Roger Roger. Lots of spashes when a dozen ships are shooting mostly at two targets. Hyuga took at least three torpedo hits/explosions and Musashi took at least three torpedo hits/explosions and as many as five.

- - - - -

The IJN Surface Action Group (SAG) which sank San Francisco has disappeared. Submarine and air search from Java have lost all contact with surface contacts. Then again, it's not like I have any appreciable naval force to deal with any thing bigger than merchants/small escorts. Definitely reduced hours of operation at Soerbaja Port Ops with San Francisco deep sixed and both my Aussie CAs being herded, slowly, to Columbo via Cocos Island for major repairs.

02 May 43

In the BTO, Allied forces had a good day. The 11th Australian Infantry Division with the 77th and 111th Chindit Brigades crashed into Moulmein. Though, stumbled might be a better description. I knew when they attacked over the river it would be a "shock attack". I just hoped I had planned their jumping together, and jump they did. When they jumped, the IJA ran out the back door in the single round of combat. Maybe it was the Chindits' reputation, or it was just survivors chased out of Rangoon then down the coast with small rear area support troops also bolting. In any case, the enemy left over 40 damaged aircraft on the runways.

04 May 43

Recon spotted a BB with two tin cans scooting North from Batavia bound maybe for Singapore. Maybe my missing cripple? I spun up all my birds and hoped for joy. Several months ago, after Yorktown got hit, and while on her way to Columbo, she flew off the 28 newish TBFs of VRF-2T to bolster Java's anti-shipping airpower. Since then, they have been hunting merchies and amphib convoys. Today it was big game. Flying out of Tjilatjap, the TBFs found battleship Ise in company with two destroyers just south of Toboali (50,92). Over the next two days TBFs hit Ise with three 22in Mk 13s that exploded and one that did not. The next day a Dutch sub got worked over mildly by two IJN DDs in the same area, but no battleship reported.

[ChiefOC]

13 May 43

T e l e g r a m

To the Right Honourable Winston Churchill.

Sir, it is my duty to report the Tunisian campaign is over. All enemy resistance has ceased. We are now masters of the North African Shores.

General Sir Alexander
C-in-C Middle East Command

- - - - -

So, on the same day Axis Forces surrendered in Tunisia, Japanese resistance finally ended in Bandoeng. After some fresh troops, including the newly formed American 1st Marine Division, a Kiwi Brigade, a second Aussie Division and yet another British Brigade joined the fray, IJA defenses finally collapsed after four days of the worst fighting at Bloody Bandoeng. First day one unit was eliminated, the next day several more, and the rest over the next two days.

Now, time to send some units to Tjilatjap and Soerbaya to recover while most units will march on to liberate Batavia and Merek. And several smaller units will finally reform/rebuild into their original Dutch Base forces which I didn't know were split up - presumably before Java was invaded. I just need about a week's cooperation from the IJN to not push in any reinforcements. One can hope

I've being making note of the various casualties - ground, air and naval but have not paid visit to those brave men in their flying machines.

After 18 mos of war: These are my 20 top scoring pilots. I am really impressed the top five are from China and The Netherlands. Similarly impressive is the representation by several pilots from the Netherlands. And a Kiwi triple ace, nice. Not surprisingly his squadron is in Soerbaya, and in serious need of some leave. Looks like several of these guys need a break. One in Rangoon, one in Tjilatjap, a couple at Cox's Bazaar. All current or recent hot spots. I bet if I look closely into the US Army pilots, some will be in Port Morseby. I guess if you are all that is avail, your butt will be in a plane. And I guess someone needs to enforce some downtime. Hmmm.

Top 20

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[RangerJoe]

I would not be too fast to recombine those base forces. Save the game before you recombine them, recombine them, then look at what the TOE is and compare that to the fragments. If their TOE loses devices, keep them separate. As a plus, when you buy them out, they can add just that little bit of Air Support that a base might need without using an entire and much larger unit.

[ChiefOC]

Copy Ranger Joe. Very good counsel, but I already recombined them. Many wee units with a few of this and one or two of those bits but missing most parts. Many were in battles when IJA troops landed in their laps, and no replacements are available or coming. Maybe later on the Dutch lads will get some reinforcements when the Canooks and British liberate their Homeland. The only thing worse than the Dutch ground troops are their squadrons. I have 10 Dutch squadrons on Java with a combined total of three (3) flyable a/c. I pull 'em out, and they come back in a couple weeks. Sigh. But they did stick their collective thumbs in holes when no one else was toeing the line. They will no doubt largely become the compulsory garrisons here and there. But your insight will serve me later in the war, and certainly (hopefully) when I replay/next go round.

15 May 43

Recon spotted a convoy headed toward Batavia/Merek. After my epic encirclement of the majority of my Japanese "guests", I don't want any more. I may not have the facilities for them all. Recon reports a CS, CA, a pair of DDs and some merchies with another after-hours landing I'm guessing. That means God only knows what the TF actually has.

So once again, it's up to my four undergunned (?) ABDA CL Musketeers and their overworked destroyers. Haven't been able to get any more heavies into Soerabaja yet. I set them up as usual as a bombardment force (which are supposed to time their attack during night) with max intercept and shooting. This time the Flagship would be HMNZS Leander. She has good guns and torpedoes, fair go lass!

Well. Of all possible scenarios, this was not one I anticipated; nor would I have chose it. Leander and company found thee Queen Bee, Yamamoto's KB Flagship, with only a single destroyer as escort. I hoped they had enough ammo. Once again, torpedoes apparently saved the day and the AAR cited her (hopefully) entire airgroup went down with Akagi.

[RangerJoe]

Yamamato stayed on a Battleship, that would be Nagumo's flagship.

Those little bits and pieces of Dutch units use universal devices for their support and air support devices. Even if they have no combat squads, they are still good for being cooks and quartermaster units to help at bases, especially when shattered units go for I & I*.

*Intoxication and Intercourse.

[ChiefOC]

30 May 43

Operation Payback is in motion. Time to take a chomp out of the perimeter of the The Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere. Target: Wake Island.

Primary assault force is the US 24th Infantry Division. The first part will be when three DMS break off from the Bombardment group to sweep Wake Atoll for mines, then head back for Pearl. The Bombardment group of six "standard" BBs and some cruisers are set for max attack next day then they will also head back to Pearl (likely absorbing the DMS group enroute). Then the Landing force, including it's own cruisers and DDs will hit the beach. Heavy air cover from three Fleet Carriers (no airstrikes - just CAP defense and two squadrons of SBDs for naval attack) and 6 CVE's (all CAP fighters) should keep bandits at arm's length. Additionally, there is the followup second wave led by 25th ID a couple days behind the primary assault force. D-DAY set for 2nd or 3rd of June.

But before that, another report of another IJN carrier TF making it's way to Koepang. If so, it is going to be a real bad day for the IJN. Enterprise and Hornet are on the prowl nearby. Yorktown and friends will also be nearby to rejoin the US fleet and Wasp, escorting HMS Victorious to Columbo, will also be nearby. This I believe is the first time I will have five Fleet Carriers in close proximity. And then there is Fleet Base Koepang with it's bombers and fighters. I wonder which carrier(s) the AI is bringing. It's gotta be running out of Birdfarm hulls (carriers).

31 May 43

I'm calling this the 4th Carrier Battle of Koepang.
Huge waves of Allied aircraft found and attacked the Japanese. I was kind of surprised there was only a single carrier with only three DDs as escort. I was also kind of annoyed the hoards of strike aircraft completely ignored the Tincans. This was also the combat debut of the new USN F6F Hellcat. Anyway, another section of reef (Fleet Carrier Junyo) was added to 'Carrier Shoals"; aided in large part by a an ammunition stowage explosion aboard Junyo. (Apologies for poor picture of Junyo).

By my count that is the Japanese loss of seven carriers and three battleships during the first five months of 1943.

Junyo magazine explosion

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Korpang 4 Airstrike

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[RangerJoe]

There is no need for an apology for the poor quality of the photo, after all it is real combat footage!

You are doing very well but at Wake, you could have Avengers bombing from an altitude where the machine guns and autocannons can't reach, only the larger AAA can if there is any there. Many times for invasions, iT is not the damage that helps but the disruption and fatigue for the defenders that helps. So a bunch of smaller bombardment task forces can work better than one big bombardment task force. This is where the strategic 4E bombers also help with fairly constant bombing missions. Also, embed some larger combat ships to do counter battery fires and help protect the transports. Be ready with other ships to swap with one that have used up their ammo if the transports have not completely unloaded in one day although unloading in one day is optimal.

In my current beta testing game against the AI in scenario 2, I have just liberated Wuchang with defenders hiding, have Hankow and am making Japanese sausage out of the remnants of 6+ Japanese divisions at Chengchow. I also have 4+ divisions with about 28 units total starving but strong trapped at Clark AFB while Luzon is otherwise cleared.

[ChiefOC]

Roger that Ranger Joe. Thank you for the valuable Intel. Good stuff. Air Ops tell me Wake is (several hexes) beyond the max range of Midway's B-17s/B-24s.

02 June 43

Disaster

Wellllll, all-righty-then. Going to chock that up to a swing and a miss, and places about #3 on my list of major oopsies for this Cam-pain. How in thee H Ee double-hockeysticks did I F-up my Wake assault so badly?! Perhaps a bad die roll on my "shock attack" landing?

So what happened? Good question. During the combat resolution I got the dreaded "landing force recalled" notice! WITFF?
So yeah, Bugger. Not only were my troops taken back aboard - those that were able, but also my Primary Amphib Force had already started it's return trip back to Pearl. Whaaat? This was my third Amphib landing on an enemy held island, and the first two went off without a hitch. Though, Wake is the only one which has not suffered from repeated aerial bombardment. Grrrr.

To recover, I checked my Wake Bombardment Group, and it still has some main gun ammo; so I've folded it into my New (Reserve) Landing group. I ordered Sara's CVTF to switch to land attack, Target Wake. I had been reluctant to do so earlier as I know Wake is (was?) an angry wasp's nest very full of IJA/IJN fighters. My first Wake airstrike last year saw two squadrons of SBDs virtually wiped out along with @40 escorting F4Fs. LCDR Thatch, USN, of Fighting 3, was among those lost in that massacre (insert Navy term disaster["death and or injury to 15 or more Naval Personnel"]). About 50-60 planes and @100 aircrew lost now seems small compared to half(?) an Infantry Division being lost. I won't know how bad the 23rd ID got hurt until all the stragglers get back to Pearl and this mess gets un-f'd.

I've doubled checked my Follow-up/Reserve Landing Force is set to remain on station. I have FA and ENG units also going in. Behind them are Coastal AA and base force units plus an entire TF made mostly of LSTs carrying only supply. Wake might capsize if they all land on the same beach! The only thing lacking is any HQ unit. I think (hope) it was a die roll thing... Deep breath.

04 Jun 43

VICTORY.

64 dead birds

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The American Flag once again flies over Wake for all at sea to see 'Course that is not really a "big" deal as the highest natural point above sea level on Wake is 21 feet. Most of my ships can see plumb (some Seabee humor) right over Wake.

Another factoid about Wake Atoll, is it is almost exactly two-thirds the distance between Honolulu and Guam. Hmmm... Guam is how many VP? Spoiler - Guam, and adjacent sister Islands Tinian and Saipan move the VP needle @1000 pts. Hmmm... But in any case, Operation Catchpole is next on the hit parade for CentPac.

[RangerJoe]

You are most welcome for the information.

At this stage of the game, if you have an Amphibious HQ, put it on the appropriate ship and keep it there while the troops go ashore. You know how REMFs and higher ranking officers like to go to a battle.

As far as bombing Wake, wait until the first surface bombardment group makes divots on the runway from the 14" and 16" guns. Pound it for one week if you have to, rotating bombardment groups, sending them back to Midway to rearm. That makes it a little harder for an aeroplane to safely take off. But that won't stop float fighters but LRCAP will help against those.

Use an entire division for the invasion if you have to, include armor and artillery as well. Have ships with just supplies only to make sure that the landing force has enough Class I and Class VI supplies handy.

Use your SBDs for Naval search to spot subs and keep them down.

[ChiefOC]

RangerJoe.

Noted. I did not include arty or armor in my initial assault. I will not make that mistake again.

I have made some phone calls, and the 1st Amphib HQ is presently in San Diego. And if I'm reading my ground reinforcements correctly, the 5th Amphib HQ is going to be established/recruited at Pearl in the next month or two. Woot woot. I will likely ship 1stAmphibCom out to Pearl next time a few AP types drop their hooks in San Dog. That HQ is too valuable to move in a single vessel even in the highly unlikely event it would be torpedoed. Additionally, I sea the USS Blue Ridge (Amphibious Command Ship) is due soon. Then her sisters USS Appalachian a month later, followed by USS Mt. Olympus a month or so later. Good stuff.
------------
5 June 43

Wake is back under control of the U.S. Navy, least what remains of Wake. Wrecked Japanese ships, including Kinryu Maru*, litter the waters around the atoll(s), no port services (100% damaged), the holed flat spots which used to be runways (100% damaged) are covered in IJN/IJA plane wrecks and the only structures usable are the tents the Marines are using. Speaking of, the Force Medical Officer says the island is beyond capacity and some troops need to be redeployed. Over 8,500 troops on the Atoll rated at 6K. So, the only folks staying are Engineers, a Base Force and a Coastal AA unit. Everyone else, back on the boats. Overcrowding has huge penalties imposed on those present.

Wake looks like it was good hunting for USN Carrier groups.

First unit sent back to Pearl from Wake is the 25th ID. They took some losses but a lot less than the 24th. But I gotta get Wake into the war. First need is logistics. Then eyes and defenses. Wake is going to need about 40K of supplies (seed money). I already have one convoy coming with lots of supplies, fuel, a Seabee Battalion and a pair of small AVPs. This will boost the repairs progress and keep the AA fellas happy. The AVPs will let me bring in some Kingfishers for local ASW and some webfeeted Recon PBYs for patrolling while I figure out where the runways used to be.

Down in Java, the major port of Batavia has been liberated. Hurrah!! Similar to Wake, it is fairly beat up, but overall damage is only about 66%. The imposing wreck of Mutsu at Batavia's primary dock, prompted telegrams to England for assistance. The recent recovery/removal of German (WW 1 High Seas Fleet) battleship wrecks in Scapa Flow, during the past few years, has created new techniques which should be helpful.

The remaining refuge for the IJA on Java is Merek. It has been a month or more since any seabourne resupply arrived for them. Almost all units there have been booted out of at least one Dutch town. Some IJA units have been retreated two and three times, so they have to be pretty disorganized. It shouldn't be much longer now, a week or so, then Java will be declared secured.

And in the BTO, Indian and Brits are trudging their way back south to Tavoy, down the coastal track.

*The Kinryu Mara, sunk by Wake's USMC CD guns in my campaign, (pic 3) took part in the actual Japanese Invasion of Wake. Another subtle touch from Master Grisby I reckon.

Apologies for the poor pics of Wake victims. Still sorting out BBfanboy's recommendation for grabbing/editing screenshots.

[BBfanboy]

A couple of things:

1. Are those Amphib HQs called Amphibious Corps or Amphibious Force? The Corps HQ act as normal LCU HQs and do not contribute to efficient Amphib Landings while on a ship. The Amphib Force HQs are the ones meant to go on an Amphib Command Ship to coordinate the waves of landing craft and info from the Beachmasters about the state of the beach for further landings (the first amphib landings were choked on the beach with destroyed landing craft and vehicles and stacks of supplies that had no one assigned to move them inland). Note that you need to keep the Amphib Force HQ from landing with the other troops so split it off into its own TF set to "Do Not Unload". I usually assign a couple of DEs to protect it from subs, and if I can spare any, a DD or two for AAA.

2. Check your supply limits at Wake before you dump that 40K supply. The Base info screen will tell you in the top center portion what the supply limit is for the base at current level of development. Anything more starts to suffer spoilage. I am uncertain about the effect of damage to base facilities since that would include the warehouses you need to keep the supplies from rotting. For sure you need to repair the base as quickly as possible and should probably bring in supply at the same pace as the repairs of port and airfield e.g. when the AF services are 50% repaired, you can have 50% of the supply that would normally be attributed to AF development alone. Alternately, you can keep cramming the place with supply and accept the spoilage until everything is repaired and expanded to the desired level!

[ChiefOC]

BBfanboy Good counsel.
Very good Intel indeed
My Amphib HQ(s) status at present (30JUN43):

San Diego - I US Amphib Corps, CORPs HQ
Command Radius: 1

+ Reinforcements
V US Amphib FORCE, Amphib HQ
Command radius: 1
Future ETA: 15 JUL 43 at Pearl Harbor

V US Amphib CORPs HQ
Future ETA : 11 AUG 43 at March Field

------------
30 Jun 43

Status of Wake
[Supply limit - 53K]
[Fuel limit - 33K]

Wake now has a Level 1.45 port, open for business. That means only one respectable sized transport pierside at a time. At Wake, there is @23K of supply and 759 (units?) of fuel. The repairship USS Hector is presently making the APA American Legion fit for sea, as she was hit by an aerial torpedo and is @40% damaged across the board. DMS USS Perry was sunk in the same attack on 6/24. There are also Aviation Tenders (AVP/AVD) on site. Over 100 Engineers and vehicles are working to improve port facilities then will start working on fortifications.
The airfield is back in service at Level 3 (maximum) with 101 Aviation Support personnel (including Navy types) on hand. Presently there are two fighter squadrons, with 18 F4U-1 Corsairs each, presently ensuring no more IJA bombers make pests of themselves at/near Wake. And there is a Squadron of PB4Y Liberators searching local waters. I can base a 4th Squadron here. I'm thinking SBDs in case of any stray Marus wandering nearby. If I understand correctly, an airbase has to be level 5+ to fly 4E bombering missions.(?)

For ground forces, there are two USN Base Forces, the 20th Seabees, a Combat Engineer Regiment and a Coastal AA Regiment. Still about 960 hungry mouths still too many. Since 36 Corsairs are here now, I will likely send the Coastal AA (@2000 troops) back to Pearl. Similarly, with base repairs done and improvements well underway, I'll send a base force or more likely the Combat Engineers back to Pearl. These transfers should let me drop a USMC Defense BN into Wake.

On a related note, Floating Drydock 1 (AFDB-1) has arrived at Midway without incident and is repairing it's first patient. USS Nautilus was badly depth charged off the coast of Japan and clawed her way back to Midway. She presently has five floatation dmg, three ENG dmg and about 20 structural dmg remaining. I can give brave Nautilus the boot any day now, and let Pearl finish Nautilus's repairs - and I think she may also have a refit due soon(?). I just wanted to get an idea how the floating drydock conducts business.

It appears AFDB-2 will arrive in California mid/late October this year so will have to plan where it will go. I'd like to get one these wonders to Java or Darwin, just not sure how to do that. Perhaps start AFDB-1 trudging down to Oz now, and then send #2 to CentPac later. If memory serves, three or four more will arrive over the next 18 months. I would really like one or two in/near Java. 'Course General MacArthur will likely want Singapore and Manila, with their superior respective shipyards, liberated before then. I should figure if an AFDB could be sent to Aden through the off board route or rather calculate how many months of transit factoring 2 hexs per day. Yewl.

Small coastal TFs are moving supply around Java. And several convoys are heading towards Java. One to pull a Brit Brigade out (to form a Division in BTO), some bringing more planes, some bringing cargo. I need more dedicated transport and bomber squadrons. I found one strange thing noteworthy in Soerabaja while doing admin stuff. Comment if you sea it. Not sure how this situation came to be, I had nothing overtly to do with it. A bit weird, but it's working. Leading the sinking of Akagi proved that. Nevertheless, it is inappropriate and I suppose I need to intercede☆.

Best news on Java is all Japanese resistance has ended. Time to shuffle garrisons, including posting large tough semi-permanent ones in key locations, just in case the AI hasn't received the memo on No Trespassing. Time to also get Merek and Batavia's ports and airbases "sorted". Batavia has most damage repaired as well as some items of interest from clearing the port*. Local convoys are already shuffling supplies from Soerbaya locally, as well as exporting fuel to Darwin's empty fuel farms. Excellent.

ALL of the Kido Butai is now confirmed permanently moored at the bottom of Davy Jones' locker, as well as two additional fleet carriers and six CVLs. The Allies now enjoy Air Superiority over the Java Sea, and almost everywhere else; so it is time to figure next where to strike. Immediately up for consideration is Bandjermasin aka The Graveyard of the Japanese Merchant Fleet and oft referred to as Band Aid Bay. This will re-project air coverage over Balikpapan, The Makassar Strait as well as Madjene and Makassar proper on Celebes; as well as the center course to and from the PI. Next target, (first?) for a couple reasons, will be the oil interests at Oosthaven, and then likely going back into Pamberjang. At that point, Singapore will be coming into focus. Recon seems to indicate no enemy air or ground units in Oosthaven. Hmmm, weird. Following those, I am of mixed mind regarding Makassar on Celebes, but I'm pretty certain it's port and airfield are out of action barring IJN resupply etc. But Celebes, particularly Kendari, will need sorting out as it is the southern gate access to the PI. Recon indicates there is an IJN CA and @four DDs holed up in Kendari. I have four subs patrolling nearby. When I get some B-24s to the new Aussie Base at Lautem (72,115) I'll get a better picture of what is going on there. Sounds like a good job for the Liberators at Christmas Island IO (45,104) which are doing some R&R for their missions/work in the Java campaign.

30 Jun 43 Stats
[Feb '43 Stats in brackets for comparison]

Allied a/c pts lost: 4,958
IJA/IJN a/c pts lost: 10,462
[Allied a/c pts lost: 4158]
[IJA/IJN a/c pts lost: 8143]

Allied Army pts lost: 11,564
IJA Army pts lost: 7,817
[Allied Army pts lost: 10,429]
[IJA Army pts lost: 6,149]

Allies ships sunk: 271
Pts for sunk Allied ships: 1,850
IJN ships sunk: 1,537
Pts for IJN ships sunk: 17,131

[Allies ships sunk: 254]
[Pts for sunk Allied ships: 1,684]
[IJN ships sunk: 1,302]
[Pts for IJN ships sunk: 13,503]

Political pts: 1845

Japanese score: 23,637
Allied score: 45,852

Major Victory


☆HMNZS Light Cruiser Leander profile

*Recovery of main gun turret from BB Mutsu's wreck

[BBfanboy]

The English teacher would not award Soerbaya another 'a', and refused to pronounce a 'j' like a 'y'.

In addition to the likely typo when entering the magazine value for Leander's aft main magazine, the ship art shows her in her later mod where X turret was removed and replaced with a twin 4" AA mount. This version should not be shown until that upgrade is done.