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RE: Final preparations - 5/17/2010 5:49:55 PM   
FatR

 

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In my experience, using the supply draw arrows is the only way to keep necessary bases stocked with enough supply to repair factories under the current patch. I'm using supply draw conservatively, usually increasing it to 3-5k, until the supply level at a base stabilizes at slightly above 10k. This way multiple bases, that normally don't get enough supply, definitely can be kept with just enough to repair factories.

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Post #: 31
RE: Final preparations - 5/17/2010 10:29:02 PM   
TheLoneGunman_MatrixForum


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Since you say noobs are welcome I figure I may as well make my first official post here and cease being a lurker on the forums.

Have you given any thoughts to stripping out the BBs and some of the Cruisers that are assigned to the KB and using them to further augment your SCTFs or to even create an additional one?

It's my opinion that this early on, it's unlikely that the KB will encounter any concerted effort that requires the additional AA firepower (assuming you're not overly aggressive), and that those larger warships can actually do far more damage not being forced to escort your carriers around while you still have both carrier and battleship superiority.

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Post #: 32
RE: Final preparations - 5/17/2010 10:33:52 PM   
Chickenboy


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quote:

ORIGINAL: TheLoneGunman

Since you say noobs are welcome I figure I may as well make my first official post here and cease being a lurker on the forums.

Have you given any thoughts to stripping out the BBs and some of the Cruisers that are assigned to the KB and using them to further augment your SCTFs or to even create an additional one?

It's my opinion that this early on, it's unlikely that the KB will encounter any concerted effort that requires the additional AA firepower (assuming you're not overly aggressive), and that those larger warships can actually do far more damage not being forced to escort your carriers around while you still have both carrier and battleship superiority.


Noobs absolutely welcome, thanks TLG!

Good question. I like to have some BB support in with KB for two reasons:

1. BBs can do a good job of being bomb sponges. I'd rather they be preferentially targetted by bombers than my flattops-they can shrug off all but the biggest bombs with minor damage.

2. I'll be operating my KB in restricted waters early in the war with my "Java first" gambit. This approach comes perilously close to your 'overly aggressive' description, I'm afraid.

I'm not sure how this is going to work, but I'd be lucky to not face the PoW, Repulse, CA Houston and CL Boise in a stout SCTF or two. Mid-ocean intercepts are a real danger until he evacuates his SCTFs from the DEI. I'd rather have some heavy support along for the ride "just in case" he intercepts my carriers with a surface combat group.

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RE: Final preparations - 5/17/2010 10:38:34 PM   
TheLoneGunman_MatrixForum


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Noobs absolutely welcome, thanks TLG!

Good question. I like to have some BB support in with KB for two reasons:

1. BBs can do a good job of being bomb sponges. I'd rather they be preferentially targetted by bombers than my flattops-they can shrug off all but the biggest bombs with minor damage.

2. I'll be operating my KB in restricted waters early in the war with my "Java first" gambit. This approach comes perilously close to your 'overly aggressive' description, I'm afraid.

I'm not sure how this is going to work, but I'd be lucky to not face the PoW, Repulse, CA Houston and CL Boise in a stout SCTF or two. Mid-ocean intercepts are a real danger until he evacuates his SCTFs from the DEI. I'd rather have some heavy support along for the ride "just in case" he intercepts my carriers with a surface combat group.


Makes sense in that case.

I've just always had the personal belief that the Japanese were far too cautious with their surface warship assets historically, and were far too aggressive in the use of their carriers.

Luckily, the IJN appears to be in competent hands this time around. ;)

(in reply to Chickenboy)
Post #: 34
Peace negotiations (snicker snicker) - 5/22/2010 5:16:57 PM   
Chickenboy


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I sent the turn to Steve this morning with the following note...

Hello, Yankee gaijin.

Your presence is requested for peace talks. Our embassadors will be arriving at your Secretary of State's office forthwith. Enclosed please find a 'computer' file of our demands. Merely open the file and all will be clear regarding where we stand on peace talks.


The note went on with a reiteration of our house rules.

The balloon just went up.

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RE: Liquidating the gaijin - 5/22/2010 9:41:01 PM   
herwin

 

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The use of gaijin has become offensive. (My greatgrandfather and my eldest son have been resident in Japan.)

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RE: Liquidating the gaijin - 5/23/2010 1:18:03 AM   
Chickenboy


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Hi Herwin,

Sorry you feel that way.

Please see the first post on this thread. Interpretations vary of the offensiveness of the term and I have linked to some of the discussions. I think its usage is pointed, but not necessarily offensive.

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RE: Final preparations - 5/23/2010 9:11:15 AM   
paulk205

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Japanese Home Islands (minus Hokkaido, Sakhalin)-general

Mostly, this involves setting a plethora of multiple TFs to start getting goodies from China, Port Arthur, Hokkaido and Sakhalin. I won't bore the readers with this detail. The main thrust here is to start the shipment of the necessary avalanche of resources needed for Home Island expansion of manufacturing.



As a semi-complete newbie and long-time lurker, who's got the hang of the Allies vs AI so far and would like to proceed to playing Japan vs AI before getting my butt kicked in PBEM as either side, this "boring" convoy information is exactly what I'm after. Between Mike Solli's and Fletcher's AARs I've got some insight already, but anything more would be more than welcome. I'm not after every little rowboat's movement orders of course, but rather optimal convoy routes/loads, optimal number of ships/convoy, number/type of escorts per convoy, this kind of thing. The game is unforgiving enough for the Allies when it comes to first turn blunders that come back to haunt you months hence, I shudder to think of my hamfisted attempts at fiddling with the Japanese economy without insight from the veterans here.

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RE: Final preparations - 5/23/2010 3:01:12 PM   
Chickenboy


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quote:

ORIGINAL: paulk205


quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Japanese Home Islands (minus Hokkaido, Sakhalin)-general

Mostly, this involves setting a plethora of multiple TFs to start getting goodies from China, Port Arthur, Hokkaido and Sakhalin. I won't bore the readers with this detail. The main thrust here is to start the shipment of the necessary avalanche of resources needed for Home Island expansion of manufacturing.



As a semi-complete newbie and long-time lurker, who's got the hang of the Allies vs AI so far and would like to proceed to playing Japan vs AI before getting my butt kicked in PBEM as either side, this "boring" convoy information is exactly what I'm after. Between Mike Solli's and Fletcher's AARs I've got some insight already, but anything more would be more than welcome. I'm not after every little rowboat's movement orders of course, but rather optimal convoy routes/loads, optimal number of ships/convoy, number/type of escorts per convoy, this kind of thing. The game is unforgiving enough for the Allies when it comes to first turn blunders that come back to haunt you months hence, I shudder to think of my hamfisted attempts at fiddling with the Japanese economy without insight from the veterans here.


OK. I'll try to explain a little of my focus here.

Mike is the king of IJ production, so I would defer to him for most of these specifics. In general, I can't be bothered to calculate precise numbers of ships / port / convoy, I try to stick with rough approximations.

1. You have a ton of small xAKLs-some that have only 170 ton capacity, IIRC. These are worthless as xAKLs in the classic sense. Identify these ships and put them in their own convoys with a destination of any port with a small repair shipyard. Once there, disband them and immediately convert them to PB classes. This takes a while (between 15-20 days), but better get started now. These PBs will be invaluable to you for escorting local TFs carrying resources from Hokkaido, Port Arthur and Shanghai.

2. The most important focus for your resource convoys should be A. Port Arthur, B. Hokkaido, C. Sakhalin and D. Shanghai.

Sakhalin and Hokkaido are the only home islands that will require convoys to collect resources. All others (Honshu, Kyushu, etc.) will be able to move resources by rail amongst themselves.

In the case of Shanghai and Port Arthur, they're both very large ports. Almost any group of xAKs or xAKLs will suffice at these ports. Set up CS resource convoys to Nagasaki, Shimonoseki or Hiroshima from these ports. I will have two or three large CS resource convoys originating from Shanghai and three or four large resource convoys originating from Port Arthur.

Hokkaido and Sakhalin are a little more tricky. In the former, Ominato (N. Honshu) and Hakkodaite (S. Hokkaido) are the two most important ports for consideration here. The former starts at port size 5, the latter port size 6. Select whatever combination of xAKs or xAKLs with escort that will be under the maximum TF side for the size port (you can tell what this number is from the base home page) and set these up as a CS convoy from Hakkodaite to Ominato. I'd have 2-3 convoys this size plying the straits between these cities.

Oh, both of these ports should be increased in size ASAP. You have some restricted port support and engineer units in Honshu that you can RR over to Ominato. When you have some PP, repeat this for base support for Hakkodaite, as it does not start with sufficient engineer build capacity.

WRT Sakhalin, it's Shikuka versus Tayohara. The former is the larger port and where resources tend to accumulate. You can pick them up at Tayohara as well, and it is a bit closer than remote Shikuka. Use the Northern Japanese ports for these CS convoys (Maizuru or Niigata work well) in order to spare some of the other ports aforementioned. Use an occasional small TK (some of the 1250 tonners work well for this) in your convoy to pick up oil accumulating here.

3. Escorts: The small PBs or coastal SCs work fine for escort near the home islands. Don't use your DDs, which are better suited elsewhere in the Empire for fleet defense or longer distance escort. Even the allied player will balk at sending SS TFs up the shallow seas towards distant Port Arthur-they are likely to be intercepted and destroyed while operating in these shallow waters of the Yellow Sea. You may be able to skimp a bit on escorts from Port Arthur to Shimonoseki.

4. ASW: You get periodic infusions of cSC and SC-type ships. Some of these have very high ASW ratings. I'll operate a group out of N. Honshu-protecting the Ominato / Hakkodaite corridor and a group off of Northern Hokkaido, protecting the Hokkaido-Sakhalin corridor. Allies like to have an SS snoop south of Tokyo too (an east-west track along Honshu), so an ASW TF working these areas (combined with aerial Naval Search / ASW) may be useful.

5. Fuel and / or Oil: I mentioned Sakhalin before as a source. Try not to take too much fuel our of Port Arthur. It is needed by some of the Chinese / Manchuko heavy industry sites. Hong Kong has more than enough fuel for now, you can transship some of that to the home islands. Otherwise, you're going to have to...erm...liberate copious stores of the precious liquids from the DEI and Burma.

6. Supply: If you're to have any sort of sustainable drive in China, you'll need supply to be brought there. If you capture cities and wish to repair damaged resources or industry, you will need copious supply. I have one or two Nagasaki-Shanghai convoys carrying supply into China. If you expand heavy industry in Hong Kong, you'll need to keep it in repair with supply for some time. Don't worry too much about supply-that's the least critical of the resource elements for the Japanese, IMO.

7. Support ships: I like the idea of maintaining the plentiful minefields around the home islands. You have insufficient minefield support ships to prevent minefield degradation. Convert some of those supernumerary 170 ton capacity xAKLs into ACMs instead of PBs. Use one ACM per port per 150 mines. Disband it in the port and it should preserve the minefield for quite some time. I'll usually convert my 170 ton xAKLs at a 4:1 PB:ACM ratio when I'm converting.


Alright, hope this helps a bit...

Banzai!


< Message edited by Chickenboy -- 5/23/2010 3:20:58 PM >


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RE: Final preparations - 5/23/2010 8:01:07 PM   
paulk205

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Alright, hope this helps a bit...



Very informative. Thank you.

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Post #: 40
Seams rupture - 6/19/2010 4:01:44 AM   
Chickenboy


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Seams rupture. A gout of blood pulses forth. War comes suddenly to the far East.

Phillipines: The Manila attack went well. Some 125 Netties pound Manila harbor effectively. Then this happens:

Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 78
B5N2 Kate x 144
D3A1 Val x 135



No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
SS Sculpin, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS Porpoise, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
SS Tarpon, Bomb hits 1
AV Langley, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD John D. Ford, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
SS Saury, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
TK Gertrude Kellogg, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Mindanao, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AO Trinity, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Spearfish, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
SS Salmon, Bomb hits 1
SS Snapper, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Si Kiang, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Pike, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS S-38, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS S-41, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AS Otus, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
SS Stingray, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PG Asheville, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Neptuna, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Tantalus, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS Seawolf, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS Skipjack, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AO Pecos, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Peary, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Sailfish, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS Seadragon, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS Swordfish, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS Sturgeon, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS Sealion, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
DD Pillsbury, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Sargo, Bomb hits 1
SS S-37, Bomb hits 1
SS Perch, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS S-40, Bomb hits 1
SS Seal, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
SS Pickerel, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAKL Palawan, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PG Tulsa, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AM Quail, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AS Canopus, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Capillo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Rochambeau, Bomb hits 1
AM Whippoorwill, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Don Jose, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAKL Paz, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage


Bombers based in Canton and Formosa dealt heavy damage to shipping in Hong Kong:

Morning Air attack on Hong Kong , at 77,61

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
Ki-27b Nate x 7
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 39
Ki-51 Sonia x 24



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 4 damaged
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
xAKL Joan Moller, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Fatshan, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
xAKL Halldor, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Bennevis, Bomb hits 2
xAK Hanyang, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hinsang, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Yat Shing, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAKL Chengtu, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Kanchow, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Haraldsvang, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nanning, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Hai Lee, Bomb hits 2
xAK Ming Sang, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Munlock, Bomb hits 2, on fire

and in the PM...

Japanese aircraft
Ki-36 Ida x 27
Ki-44 Tojo x 9



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-36 Ida: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied Ships
xAK Munlock, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Fatshan, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Ming Sang, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Bennevis, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Joan Moller, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hai Lee, Bomb hits 2
xAK Nanning, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires



Repair Shipyard hits 2
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1


The Ships sunk list below for December 7, 1941. S-41 is on the list too.

That makes 20 submarines. Combat replay accounted for several more that had been hit and damaged, but not obliterated. That means 4-5 heavily damaged subs remaining, but not dead yet.

SS-121 dropped 42 type 88 mines on Bataan, so any injured ships transiting will be required to move through a minefield at this point.

Elsewhere, the three British DDs left Hong Kong and tangled with some TBs I put in the area as blockers. The TBs emerged the worse for wear after two rounds of combat. That's the bad news. All are shot up, one may not make port. The good news is that the IJN TBs and RN DDs went through several rounds of combat, including several rounds of torpedo fire, and main gun battery exchanges. The RN DDs are assuredly low on ammo. now and ready to be rolled up by more capable forces. These are en route.

Steve sortied the entirety of his PT force from Hong Kong as well. These boats ran into a small (2 DD) force of the IJN south of Hong Kong. Several PTs fired torpedoes-to no avail. Alas, my shooting was not up to snuff either.

KB for turn 2: 90% of the damage I sought to inflict on Manila has been inflicted. Time to extend the pain elsewhere. I will move KB two hexes SE of Puerto Princessa on turn two. Mini KB will be operating just East of Mindanao. Between the two of them, they should be able to intercept most shipping leaving the area. In particular, I want a crack at CL Boise and the USN CA around Leyte (CA Chicago, IIRC).

Force Z?: In emails, I have intimated strongly that I intended to hunt force Z starting on turn 2. Of course, I intend nothing of the sort on turn 2. My opponent knew that I intended to schelaque Manila.

A large force with numerous "CA" type ships was sighted leaving Singapore in this phase, heading Southwest. My guess is that this force included the RN BB POW and BC Repulse and will rendevous with ancillary Dutch DDs, CLs and the remnants of CAs and CLs from elsewhere in the Phillipines somewhere around Southern Borneo or Java. I may see if I can beat them to the rendevous site and bag the lot of them.

Summary: The turn one strikes, subdued as they were intended to be, were successful. I'll update the AAR tomorrow with additional turn two adjustments and movements.




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Chickenboy -- 6/19/2010 4:29:26 AM >


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RE: Seams rupture - 6/19/2010 5:49:49 AM   
PaxMondo


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Well, you got the start you wanted.  Going to be very interesting to watch how this plays out. 

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RE: Seams rupture - 6/19/2010 6:17:13 AM   
thegreatwent


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quote:

Well, you got the start you wanted. Going to be very interesting to watch how this plays out.


+1

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RE: Seams rupture - 6/19/2010 9:27:11 AM   
sprior


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RE: Seams rupture - 6/19/2010 10:54:04 AM   
Canoerebel


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Good strike at Manila, Chickenboy.

Good luck in the game!

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RE: Seams rupture - 6/20/2010 12:42:07 AM   
Chickenboy


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Thanks, guys. Pleased that you're reading-but I need your pearls of wisdom early and often.

Turn one sent back to AW1Steve tonight. If memory suits, turn 2 for the Allies is a really long slog, so it may be a bit before I get it back.

I'm reasonably pleased with the first turn, but left a few opportunities 'on the table' One of them was a turn one bombardment of Iba on Luzon. I meant to do it, but somehow it didn't get done. Either that or I switched unit orders for the bombardment unit. I've been known to do that too.

Well, c'est la guerre.

JFB tidbit: I am pleased with another action that I'd recommend for all JFBs though. The units just outside of Hong Kong can get into the city many times faster if you let them 'move' on December 7 and switch them to 'combat' movement thereafter. I would expect about 6 miles of progress daily with 'combat'. They're already 27-30 miles along since I 'moved'. They've been switched to combat movement at this point, but should get into the city in 2 days now, versus 6-8 had I combat moved 'em.

Tomorrow: Heavy fighter sweeps of Manila from Formosa. KB and mini-KB move to the SW to work on other shipping in the region. More Port pounding scheduled for Hong Kong. Additional landings on N. Luzon. Rail movement of multiple LCUs into the Malay peninsula. 3 IDs finished loading from Shanghai, Nagasaki and Osaka, bound for Batavia, Soerbaja and Port Moresby with escort and support.

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More pain, more gain - 6/22/2010 6:40:59 PM   
Chickenboy


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December 8, 1941:

China Sea:The three British DDs (Tenedos, Scout and Thracian) put up a brave fight. They fought off two much better armed CA/CL/DD TFs to a standstill. Eventually, they ran out of ammo and were damaged. In the afternoon phase, Tenedos and Scout were attacked and sunk by Betties operating out of Saigon. Thracian was last seen aflame and detached from the other two DDs, manuevering North while trying to desperately break contact.

Northern PI:
KB moves to the Southwest of Manila. Several Val groups on naval search identify (and successfully attack) large numbers of TFs fleeing the charnel house that is Manila. Large numbers of ships are sunk by combined TB and DB strikes. around the SW coast of Luzon. See ships sunk list for 12/8/41 below. There's probably another 20 ships in penny packet TFs that are heavily damaged, but not on the sunk list.

I kept a Val group on ASW and really honed in the search cone to the mouth of Manila harbor, hoping to pick off USN subs trying to make for the open water. I received two successful "hit" messages during the ASW phase, but don't know how much that's disputed by FOW.

KB was attacked by two small waves of escorted B-17Ds operating out of Luzon. They met a CAP of 66 A6M2s and were swatted aside.

KB will move towards Tarakan next turn, sweeping all before her. Thereafter, a quick sprint ought to take her within striking distance of Soerbaja port on December 11.

A nice feature of AE is the comparative rapidity with which KB runs out of torpedoes. I've used up half my supply in one day! I'm hoping to save some for some surface combatants near Java. As nice as it is to liquidate the xAKs and AS support vessels, I'd much rather save some of these precious munitions for POW and / or Repulse, if they're present.

VIS (very imporant ships) I'm particularly pleased that I got both the AS Otis and Holland. The former under an avalance of 250kg bombs, the latter after numerous bombs and torpedoes.

No shows: Disappointed that I couldn't lay into CA Chicago or CL Boise yet. There is a small (and fast) TF sprinting SE between Babeldaob and Morotai. Could be. I've given orders for mini-KB to try an intercept.

Luzon: Aparri fell. Reinforcement landings continue here. Two A6M2 Daitai have been based here for CAP.

AW1Steve moved his PTs from Hong Kong and Manila to the Northern coast of Luzon (Iba-Lingayen). I assume an intercept attempt on my forces landing on Aparri will be attempted tonight. I've detached a SAG of CLs and DDs and ordered it to a point on the N. Luzon coast in a blocking position. A Betty group on Formosa has also been ordered on Naval Search at low level. We'll see if we can do some PT 'plinking' with naval search from here.

Malaysia: I moved my SAG a hex out to sea and a hex closer, LRCAPing it with several Daitai of Oscars and Zeroes from Cambodia / Saigon. It worked well-several unescorted LBA flights were destroyed as they sortied forth. Total air losses for the day: Allies 36; Japanese 4.

Most of my LCUs are railing in from Cambodia. ETA into Singora (main 'distribution' hub): December 9-10. A few reinforcement landings at Singora or North are underway.

Steve seems to have evacuated his airfields at Georgetown and Khota Bahru. I've stopped bombing them, lest I damage those nice fields further before I take them. He has consolidated his airpower in Singapore, it seems, leaving N. Malaysia airfields entirely empty. It looks as though he's turtleing there. Good. Less of the Malay peninsula that I have to take with meager forces.

China: Lots of forces on the move-Chinese and Japanese. Some small local fights, but nothing major yet.

Pacific:A series of ineffectual SSX attacks at Pearl Harbor, although one of them *did* actually manage to evacuate its tubes before being pummeled. Other Pacific submarines are manuevering towards the West Coast in an effort to interdict the sea lanes between Hawaii and CONUS. At least half of my submarines are heading back (via Waypoints) towards Kwajalein. They'll be redeployed to more interesting patrol grounds.

An SNLF group took Tarawa.











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First resistance - 6/27/2010 9:27:25 PM   
Chickenboy


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From: San Antonio, TX
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December 9-12:

Hong Kong and South China Sea:

The Allies were apparently attempting to amphibious load some of the Canadians out of the port since the opening of hostilities. Betties and Mabels sink several transports trying to make for other coastal Chinese cities, putting many of the evacuees into the drink, eh? A pair of DDs are brought in to clear out remaining surface transports. xAKL Halldor takes a 63cm Long Lance and sinks immediately. She is the last Allied ship in the area. All of the others have been exterminated.

Troops moved into Hong Kong ahead of schedule on December 10. An ill-advised shock attack by the defenders results in long odds and heavy casualties against them. Combined with the evacuees, the combat strength of the city is significantly diminished. The Japanese deliberate attack on December 11 comes off well and the city falls. 4118 Allied troops go into the bag and the Japanese gain control of a first-class port for operations in the area. 2x DMS in the region commence minesweeping operations on 12/12/41, in an effort to open the newest port in the co-prosperity sphere! Banzai!

Phillipines:

Heavy fighter sweeps of Manila and Clark December 10 & 11 result in the loss of some 65 Allied fighters. Less than 5 IJN Zeroes are lost in exchange.

Landings continue on Aparri. Troops begin moving towards inland objectives. Desultory allied bomber runs are broken up by two daitai of A6M2s in place.

Landings on Vigan on the 10th are successful, but the Kanno detachment is surprised to find the 11th PA Infantry Division in place, astride the beach objectives. Available surface forces are vectored in to disrupt the defenders with nighttime bombardments the evening of 12/10-12/11. LBA from Formosa ground attack in the morning phases of the 11th to add to the disruption. The 11th PA Infantry Division attempts a shock attack on 12/11, which comes off at terrible odds and wrecks it. The Kanno detachment, hitherto outmanned, is now in an ideal position for counterattack on the 13th.

East of Legaspi, a series of sharp naval encounters occur on the 10th. Several IJN CL/DD Task forces are in the area, either mopping up fleeing allied xAK traffic or escorting in two major amphibious forces for the Lingayen landings. One of the amphibious TFs blunders into the CA Houston and CL Boise while its cover is off having fun with some merchant shipping. Hilarity ensues:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Legaspi at 91,82, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CS Mizuho, Shell hits 1, on fire
CS Chitose, Shell hits 27, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS W-7
DMS W-8, Shell hits 1
AMc Ataka Maru
AMc Kyo Maru #1, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Takasago Maru
PB Edo Maru
PB Myoken Maru
PB Saiko Maru
PB Gamitsu Maru #1
PB Nichi Maru #1, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Showa Maru #3, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PB Showa Maru #5
AO Hayamoto
xAK Myoko Maru
xAK Shinanogawa Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
xAK Shinryu Maru
xAK Kanko Maru
xAK Yasukawa Maru
xAK Hasuna Maru
xAK Meigen Maru
xAK Yamafuku Maru
xAKL Kakyu Maru, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
xAP Haruna Maru

Allied Ships
CA Houston
CL Boise, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
228 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled




Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 57% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 4,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 4,000 yards
Riker, K.I. crosses the 'T'
PB Showa Maru #3 sunk by CA Houston at 4,000 yards
CL Boise engages DMS W-8 at 4,000 yards
CL Boise engages CS Chitose at 4,000 yards
CL Boise engages CS Mizuho at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CA Houston engages CS Chitose at 2,000 yards
CL Boise engages CS Chitose at 2,000 yards
AMc Kyo Maru #1 sunk by CA Houston at 2,000 yards
CA Houston engages CS Chitose at 2,000 yards
CL Boise engages CS Mizuho at 2,000 yards
xAKL Kakyu Maru sunk by CL Boise at 2,000 yards
CA Houston engages CS Chitose at 2,000 yards
CL Boise engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 2,000 yards
CL Boise engages CS Chitose at 2,000 yards
CL Boise engages CS Chitose at 2,000 yards
PB Nichi Maru #1 sunk by CA Houston at 2,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


In the morning, the prodigal cover force shows up, and a long naval battle erupts:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Legaspi at 92,82, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara, Shell hits 11, heavy fires
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kawakaze
DD Umikaze
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 8
CL Boise, Shell hits 30, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage


CL Boise takes a number of small caliber shells, none of which penetrate. She also takes a 63cm Long Lance, courtesy of CL Nagara. The damage is mortal and she sinks in the next phase. CA Houston is nowhere to be found. She is certainly out of ammo and hitting East at flank speed for the nearest source of fuel. This will likely be Wake island.

The IJN lose the CL Nagara, DD Yamakaze, CS Chitose and several small vessels to the Allied cruisers. Still, considering the fact that so few troop transports were affected, I was very fortunate to not pay more severely for this oversight. I'll miss the Chitose, especially.

On December 12, the IJ Legaspi landing commenced. During the night of December 11, several PT TFs had attempted to intervene in this landing, but were repulsed with losses by mixed IJN CL/DD forces.

Elsewhere in the Phillipines, two successful intercepts of PT TFs by larger SCTFs result in more loss of these boats for the Allies.

KB: Kido Butai Sinking lagging xAK and TK TFS, KB moved through the Macassar straits December 10-11, taking station 6 hexes off of Soerbaja on December 12. Hoping to catch shipping of value in port, air attacks commenced on am December 12:

Morning Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
B5N2 Kate x 54
D3A1 Val x 72



Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
SS KIX, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
AR Castor, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
AMc Kawi, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Gedeh, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Alor, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS KVII, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
AGP Eridanus, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
AMc Slamat, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Rindjani, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Merbabo, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Bantam, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Bogor, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Djombang, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Enggano, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Tjerimai, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Smeroe, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Cheribon, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Merapi, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Ceram, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Djember, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Ardjoeno, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Aroe, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Repair Shipyard hits 1
Port hits 7


KB will pass to the Southeast of Java and skirt the IO side of the island, while heading North. The purpose of this move is to eliminate shipping in the corridor Batavia-Soerbaja or relief shipping congregating at Tjitilap. We'll see what Batavia looks like as we approach. That may merit some additional consideration. While planes can range over Java and deliver their payload, keeping the island between KB and potential SCTFs trying to 'mousetrap' her is probably not a bad idea.

Around Palembang, two submarine attacks on xAPs have occured. One resulted in a number of LCU casualties on board. This likely represents evacuees from Singapore moving into Palembang. It would be amusing if Steve assumed the 'fortress Sumatra' gambit whilest I assumed the 'early Java' gambit. Wouldn't that make for interesting theatre!

Elsewhere in the DEI: Mini-KB II snuck around to a point near Flores island. A SCTF of 4 DDs was sighted at Koepang and a strike launched against it. Three DDs were damaged by aerial 250kg bombs, one severely. A CA-based SCTF will follow-up with a sweep of the region in the morning. Meanwhile, mini-KB II is ordered back to the home islands. Her undermanned Claude and Mabel airgroups are not up to the task. A reload, expansion of existing air groups and updated airframes are in order. For now at least, she's served notice in the Southern DEI.

Nearer the home islands, Mini-KB I has been upgraded and expanded. Along with a heavy surface force, it is escorting an IJAA division towards Rabaul.

Malaya: Most of the LCUs involved in the liberation of Malaya have been railed into Singora. They are organizing for movement, with initial objectives of Alor Star and Georgetown. These fine airfields will serve as a source of interdiction for some time as my meager forces move south. I have no illusions about the paltry strength here being sufficient to liberate Singapore. Again, the purpose is to back him up into Singapore for comparatively little cost.

China: Strategic movement of LCUs continues throughout this theatre. Several divisions arrive at Kaifeng and combat move Westward. Initial objectives are to cut road supply into Chengchow-Loyang and reduce that salient. Large numbers of Chinese troops can be liquidated here, if I play my cards right and cut off eggress appropriately.

Pacific: Nauru island falls. Guam invaded by regimental (+) strength. 3:1 odds on first assault means it falls tomorrow. Ocean island is scheduled for liberation tomorrow.

A group of 5 midget subs kept busy in Pearl harbor until December 12, when the last one was snuffed. In what may be a program bug, all subs had "42" fuel every day on station. Apparently, none had to expend fuel to stay at Pearl. Frustrated supernumerary ASW TFs took 5 full days to round them all up. In the meantime, the minisubs identified a number of CA and a few CV TFs at anchor in Pearl. This matches my 'Heavy Radio Traffic" signals of the last few days.

Butcher's Bill: I'll post a 'ships sunk' list tomorrow. On the list are 108 allied ships. I know that this list is missing a number of others, including the CL Boise my opponent admitted sank. I would venture a more complete listing would include about 120 allied ships lost to date. Granted, none of these is larger than a CL, but this is a pretty nasty rate of shipping loss for even the USN to tolerate. At this rate, the allies will lose 24,660 ships throughout the conflict. BANZAI!


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Post #: 48
December 13-14 - 6/29/2010 4:28:00 AM   
Chickenboy


Posts: 24520
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From: San Antonio, TX
Status: offline
December 13-14:

KB sweeps around Java on December 13 and starts north. Small strikes find some TKs between Java and Borneo. The TKs are loaded with fuel / oil and are fired after one hit apiece. One sinks outright, while "heavy fires" indicate the others' likely fatal wounds.

On the 12th and 13th, IJN submarines in the Batavia-Oosthaven region encounter many allied xAK, xAP and other transport and support ships fleeing through the Sumatra-Java channel. In a feeding frenzy, IJN submarines deal fatal blows to 7 allied ships in this immediate vicinity. Better yet, 4 of these ships contained troops being evacuated-presumably from Singapore or Palembang.

I order KB to ring up flank speed NW, paralleling the Java coastline. This movement puts her in good position on the 14th due West of Batavia. A series of 'naval search' and naval attack attacks sink or mortally wound at least 5 TKs, two AGs and a number of xAKs and xAKLs trying to exit the area. Tomorrow, I order her to continue NNW in the likely retreat path of other transport ships escaping towards Ceylon.

SE Asia: The IJAA host uncoils below Cam Ranh Bay. After refueling on 12.13, the multiple TFs head south to rendevous at Miri. They will await a refueled KB and the arrival of two IJAA divisions for the Java assault. My goal is to land in force on Java in 1941.

Malaya: Forces are moving from Singora to the SW and SE. Slow moving and securing from OPS movement have resulted in several days 'downtime'. S'OK.

Troops load for Kuching and Singawep (sp.?) assault. This is an important base for solidifying control over Sumatra, Singapore and Java moving forward. An air HQ with torpedo device has been detailed for this area.

On the Phillipines, another ill-advised shock attack at Vigan results in heavy allied casualties. IJAA forces have reinforced Vigan and will counterattack tomorrow. Legaspi falls as troops pour ashore.

China: Several painful reversals for the Chinese send multiple corps retreating in disorder. Several IJAA divisions are moving SW of Chengchow with the intent of cutting it off from retreat. I'll post more on the Chengchow-Loyang-Nanyang salient tomorrow.

Off the coast of New Guinea: Hey, lookee what I found! Mini-KB II, on its way back to Baldeolap spies a solitary xAKL hugging the New Guinea shore. Kates score several bomb hits, leaving it aflame.





ETA: Technical difficulties in this 'ships sunk list'. It should be about 5 times this length, starting on 12/9 and going through 12/14. Most prominent ships: a few TKs, two Dutch SS in Soerbaja, the ships from the spat off Legaspi and a myriad xAKs and xAPs sunk around Batavia / Oosthaven.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Chickenboy -- 6/29/2010 4:30:37 AM >


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Post #: 49
RE: December 13-14 - 6/29/2010 11:36:07 PM   
Lecivius


Posts: 4845
Joined: 8/5/2007
From: Denver
Status: offline
Subscribed.  Nice to see this approach, especially with all the discussion in the other thread regarding a Manila stike instead of PH.  Also very cool to see a Leap & Grab strategy

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Post #: 50
December 16, 1941 - 6/30/2010 4:51:45 AM   
Chickenboy


Posts: 24520
Joined: 6/29/2002
From: San Antonio, TX
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A slow news day on most fronts.

Phillipines: IJA deliberate attack at Vigan liquidated one of the PA divisions present (the one that had previously made the inadvised shock attack). In the meantime, Steve moved another understrength PA division into Vigan. This one was, in turn, thrown out of the hex, suffering significant casualties in the exchange.

China: See map below. At least 5 IJA divisions are either on the rail line immediately West of Chenchow or manuevering around it. I am hoping to be able to bag large amounts of Chinese troops in place and liquidate them in toto, rather than have them retreat, resupply and regroup.

Several other Japanese assaults deal heavy blows to the Chinese, causing their retreat. The Chinese simply cannot defend in clear hexes-they are grossly outclassed.

The rail line has been cleared to Shanghai and resources suddenly began pouring into Port Arthur. The Port now has >1 million resources in it. I've increased the number of CS:resource convoys to the port to bring some more of the goodies to the home islands.

DEI: An AVP is torpedoed by I-123 at Darwin and sinks. The submarine mines the hex and departs.

KB rolls snake eyes to the NW of Batavia. The shipping she sought has either been destroyed or successfully fled into the Indian Ocean. I've ordered her to CRB, where AKEs will await her arrival. Ah, fuel and torpedoes!

Pacific: Two brief encounters with a pair of DMS and AVP and two IJN submarines occured near Midway island and French Frigate Shoals. Looks like Steve is putting out the eyes of his fleet and supporting amphibious flying boat recon.




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< Message edited by Chickenboy -- 6/30/2010 4:53:34 AM >


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Post #: 51
RE: December 13-14 - 6/30/2010 4:55:33 AM   
Chickenboy


Posts: 24520
Joined: 6/29/2002
From: San Antonio, TX
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

Subscribed.  Nice to see this approach, especially with all the discussion in the other thread regarding a Manila stike instead of PH.  Also very cool to see a Leap & Grab strategy

Much obliged, Lecivius. Thanks for reading.

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Post #: 52
RE: December 13-14 - 6/30/2010 5:35:01 PM   
Ketza


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From: Columbia, Maryland
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Subscribed as well.

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Post #: 53
December 15-22 - 7/11/2010 5:43:12 PM   
Chickenboy


Posts: 24520
Joined: 6/29/2002
From: San Antonio, TX
Status: offline
December 15-22:

Positioning for next sequence of attacks continues. Minor assaults / interim goals taken.

Phillipines: Resistance at Vigan and Bayombang has been pushed back with considerable losses to the PA defenders. These guys shoulda backed off while they had the chance. Troops pour North from Naga-Antimonan. Successive unresisted attacks over this time bracket have liberated the southern panhandle of Luzon.

The 38th Division (from early conquest of Hong Kong) and several units of heavy artillery will make landfall at Vigan tomorrow and add their assault values to the other forces on Luzon.

On Mindanao, Davao fell on the first day of amphibious assault. Reinforcements, including an armored regiment are being brought in to sweep up the island.

I haven't seen too many aerial defenders of late on Luzon. My guess is that Steve has evacuated functional airframes.

China: Chengchow is invested and surrounded. A sizable IJA force (1190 AV) has moved into the hex and commenced bombardment / reconnaisance. Another sister infantry force (1203 AV) is combat moving across the river from the East. I'll time their arrival and pending shock attack and order the 1190 AV force already there to attack on the same turn. At that point, 2400 AV will shock attack Chengchow and, hopefully, liquidate the 10 units of Chinese infantry present.

Loyang is being reinforced by the Chinese. 50,000 troops are identified in this city. The 35th IJ Division and an accompanying armored regiment are parked in the hex, hopefully cutting off retreat out of Chengchow.

DEI: An AKE and AG support anchored at CRB. The next day, (12/21) KB ported at CRB, refreshing sorties, torpedoes and receiving sizeable replacement carrier aircraft. She didn't expand her air wings, as requested-the CRB airfield / lack of air HQs may have interfered. In any case, she is making her way back out to sea with rested and renewed air wings.

Kuching fell under amphibious assault. Singawang is under amphibious assault. It should fall tomorrow. An air HQ with torpedo device should land the day following. I hope to base Nell, Betty and Zero units here for support / LRCAP of the invasion forces.

A small SNLF and air support contingent has sailed for Jolo.

The balance of the Java invasion forces have refueled at Miri in recent days and are now ordered to Kuching, where they will meet KB for movement to Java. Two 'bait' TFs of a PB and 3 xAKLs have left Saigon. The bait TFs will preceed the bulk of shipping as it moves to Java. They will be LRCAPed by KB in an effort to whittle down the expected Dutch aerial counterattack. I wish I had some mutually supporting airfields that I could use prior to landing, but I cannot both build supportive airfields in the area and land by surprise (?) assault on Java before the new year. Some of my forces will be 'up in the air', at least for a bit. If I was to accept this risk against anyone at any time, doing it against the Dutch AF before January 1942 is probably the right place to assume the risk.

Malaya: Alor Star fell. Air support units strategic moved into the hex and have been reset to Combat. They should have the airfield(s) fixed up by tomorrow or day following, latest. An air HQ with torpedo device will strat move into Alor Star and set it up as a ASuW base for surface interdiction. Troops from Alor Star (heavily represented by RTA troops) are moving on Georgetown. The Imperial Guard, an SNLF unit and armored regiment are making slower progress on the Eastern side of the peninsula towards Khota Bahru.

Pacific: A stout SCTF, based around BBs Hyuga, Ise, Fuso and Nagato (with assorted CL and DD retinue) and an Air Combat TF (based around CVL Zuiho and CVE Hosho) are escorting the 4th IJA Division towards Rabaul. They should make landfall in two days. The SCTF may be overkill. However, against the AI in particular, Rabaul was always a place that the Allies could sting an underprepared IJN assault with surface interdiction by some of the Australian CAs or the NZ CLs. Here's hoping they try.

CVE Taiyo and CVL Ryujo made port at Hiroshima. There, they have refreshed their sortiese, expanded their air wings. CVE Taiyo welcomed aboard a daitai of Val dive bombers that had been 'purchased' for the occasion. They will await some support surface combatants and move towards Nagasaki, where they will upgrade their service aircraft from the currently limited airframes in use.

Scout DBs from an American CV force sank an xAKL unloading supplies at Tarawa on December 22. The xAK in this supply force has been ordered back to port at Truk. The remaining xAKL has been ordered South to gain some additional intelligence about the attacking force. Eight SS at Kwajalein (12 had recently refueled there) have been given patrol orders to the S, SE and SW of Tarawa.

I do not fear an allied assault on Tarawa or elsewhere on the Gilberts at this stage of the game. The Allies are very weak on LCUs and carrier forces at this juncture. Commiting to such an early course of action with such woefully underprepared forces would be, in my opinion, folly. I welcome the opportunity to rectify the now unhistoric presence of his prewar BBs by torpedo 'correction'.







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Post #: 54
December 23 - 7/13/2010 2:44:36 AM   
Chickenboy


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From: San Antonio, TX
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December 23

China: Major two tiered attack at Chengchow tomorrow. I'm hoping for liquidation of the entire force at Chengchow.

DEI: A refueled and rearmed KB makes for Kuching, where she will meet the multitude of amphibious TFs awaiting her there. Hence-Java.

Singawang (on the NW corner of Borneo) fell. An Air HQ with torpedo device lands tomorrow and we shuttle over Netties.

A6M2 sweeps of Singapore net 14 Buffaloes at the expense of two A6M2s flying LRCAP from Cambodia.

Central Pacific: (see image below) The 4th IJA division will land at Rabaul tomorrow. I've detailed two BBs from the SCTF to bombard in preparation for the landing. Air units from my escorting CVL and CVE unwisely opted for the secondary ('airfield') mission, betraying my presence for little gain by attacking Rabaul.

In the meantime, Steve is operating his CVTF between Ocean and Tarawa Islands. Both the xAK that I ordered North and the xAKL that I ordered South were sighted, engaged and sunk by carrier aircraft. I'm not sure exactly what he has in mind, but monkeying about in Nell / Betty range early in the war is not smart.

ETA: The two attacks (one on the xAK, another on the xAKL) were by entirely different DB types, escorted by entirely different fighter types. Unless he has five different a/c types on one carrier (highly doubtful), we're looking at at least two CV TFs operating in the area.

Another 4 SS have been dispatched on patrol zones between Kwaj and Ocean Island. In case Steve is planning a port strike, support ships from Kwaj have set sail for Truk until the raid is over.

Nell torpedo bombers at Roi Namur have had their range shortened. Under my watch, they won't fly without fighter cover on any suicide runs. I couldn't upgrade my Claude POSs in time at Truk, so they're flying back (via Ponope) tomorrow.




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< Message edited by Chickenboy -- 7/13/2010 10:02:06 PM >


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Post #: 55
December 24 - 7/26/2010 4:11:47 AM   
Chickenboy


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From: San Antonio, TX
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December 24 or "Merry Clistmas, Yankee GI". This was an auspicious turn for the forces of the Japanese Empire!

China:
Chengchow falls. All Chinese units are caught in the attack and liquidated:

Ground combat at Chengchow (88,44)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 68559 troops, 585 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 2362

Defending force 12419 troops, 99 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 216

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 1425

Allied adjusted defense: 124

Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Chengchow !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1127 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 59 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
18883 casualties reported
Squads: 70 destroyed, 340 disabled
Non Combat: 901 destroyed, 268 disabled
Engineers: 65 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 118 (101 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Units destroyed 9


Assaulting units:
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
110th Division
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
37th Division
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
15th Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Division
15th RGC Temp. Division
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
98th Chinese Corps
8th New Chinese Corps
15th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
7th Construction Regiment
1st War Area
39th Group Army
24th Group Army
10th Chinese Base Force


Units from Chengchow will rest a few turns and move on Loyang after recovering disruption. Intel indicates >85,000 troops here-what a plum that would be for the plucking!

Central Pacific:
Somewhat surprisingly, Steve moves his carrier forces within range of Roi-Namur / Kwajelein-5 hexes to the E / SE. Obligingly, Nells and Claudes sortie on a naval torpedo strike. Steve's CAP puts up a fight, but the Claudes, piloted by fine airmen, manage to fend off the attackers. The Nells prosecute the attack on the Enterprise and some other attending CAs. The flight scores a torpedo hit and a dud () in the morning round.

The afternoon sees the dedicated IJNAF airmen return for another round. Claudes manage to hold off the Enterprise CAP, whilest suffering heavy losses. The Nells descend on the Enterprise. Two more torpedo hits are claimed, including a "FUEL STORAGE EXPLOSION". BANZAI!

On December 25, the aircraft losses table tells the tale-some 55 carrier planes are listed as 'OPS' losses. The others must have diverted towards the other carrier(s) in another TF to the South. The Enterprise has been sunk! Long life to the Emperor! BANZAI!

Planes from two carrier TFs attack the airfield at Kwajalein, but find little to hit. Two Nells are destroyed on the ground and the airfield is moderately damaged.

I suspect that Steve will take the hint and flee the area. I'll rest and reorganize my damaged air groups here tomorrow and strike the day following, weather and targets permitting. If he stays in the area, I'll order mini-KB East to assist with the naval attack. I'd love to bag another carrier due to his oversight / carelessness, but I think he'll withdraw.

Rabaul:
HIJM 4th IJA Infantry Division evict the gaijin from Rabaul, claiming it for the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. They begin their preparations for Port Moresby-they will be utilized there in January.

Steve had continued aerial evacuations from Rabaul via flying boat / transport. Eight of these have been claimed by CAP intercept in the past 2 days. Base forces will be routed in to build Rabaul into a formidable air and naval base.

DEI:
Forces sortie from Kuching to a rendevous two hexes off of Singakawang, Borneo. KB will rendevous with them here, along with two "bait" xAKL TFs-designed to flush out the airborne rabble from Java before the arrival of the laden transports. Steve has moved a number of submarines into this salient in an effort to interdict anticipated movements. They have not yet been successful due to their high detection levels. Betties from Rabaul and Vals from KB have claimed 4 "hits" after attacking SS in the past two turns, but we all know what that means.

~100,000 of his Imperial majesty's troops are embarked on multiple transport forces, ready to assail the enemy on Java. We should make landfall in force before the new year.

Philippines: Forces from Boyambang and San Fernando both advance towards Lingayen. In the south of Luzon, Lucena falls. Remaining troops on the southern panhandle will strat move towards this city.

Manila is close at hand. Many of the units at Manila have movement indicators on them-heading North towards Clark. There are some with a NE movement too. Don't know why-perhaps solely as a means of annoyance to lines of communication.







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Post #: 56
RE: December 24 - 7/26/2010 11:48:27 AM   
Canoerebel


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As an Allied player it makes me cringe to see Enterprise go under this early in the war (or at any time later in the war or after the war or at any time whatsoever).  It brings back so many, many unpleasant memories of game of yore....

(in reply to Chickenboy)
Post #: 57
December 26-January 3 - 8/12/2010 4:31:10 AM   
Chickenboy


Posts: 24520
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From: San Antonio, TX
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Very sorry, readers. Life has delayed my update. My apologies (bows).

December 26, 1941- January 3, 1942:


DEI: The Java invasion TFs sortie from Kuching. "Bait" xAKL and PB TFs preceed the troop-laden amphibious TFs and draw out LBA from Batavia, Palembang and Soerbaja. The bait is LRCAP'ed by KB. Over a four day period, the KB fighter pilots claim 141 kills alone. Other LRCAP from Singawang claims another 30+ aircraft. The Dutch AF is slaughtered. See cumulative air losses. Some hits are scored on the bait xAKLs, with three of them sinking.

One xAK laden with troops is severely damaged off of Sinkawang by a dutch sub. Fortunately, the ship has the residual strength to return to Sinkgawang and unload without sinking. This is the only laden troop transport thus afflicted en route.

Multiple TF land intact on December 28, 1941 at Kalidjati, Java. 2500 AV of screaming Japanese storm infantry ashore, sweeping the impure before them. Kalidjati falls on December 29. IJA air support units, including an air HQ are in the first waves. The airfield is running on December 30 and units of Nells and Zeroes are in operation from the fine size 4 airfield.

Armored units move out from the beachhead immediately, seeking to sever rail lines of communication between Batavia and the Northern portion of the island and the South. On January 3rd, a tank regiment severs the rail line on the SW corner of the island, just north of Tjitilap. Java is severed.

Infantry units, with supporting engineer and artillery regiments took two days to recover some disruption from the landings. They commenced movement on January 2 and have been ordered into Batavia (North primary goal) and a variety of points around the waist of the island.

One infantry regiment and an armored regiment are prepping for Palembang. The assault of Sumatra will occur through Oesthaven and drive North. Air cover will secure the landings (after Batavia falls) from Java.

Amphibious TFs unload ~95,000 tons of supplies at Kalidjati and depart for Kuching. I alter the return path to have them skirt Borneo as close as possible. Both Singapore and Palembang still have active airfields and I don't intend to give either airfield a short-range target solution.

As of January 3, all amphibious TFs have raised anchor and left Java. Now its up to his majesty's forces on the island to produce their own success. They should be fine.

Short term goals on Java:
1. Capture Batavia.
2. Import additional fighter IJAAF fighter and bomber aircraft.
3. Reduce Palembang and Soerbaja aerodrome and ability to resist.

China: Troops move from Chengchow and parts East and nearly surround Loyang. The hex (forested, across the river) due North of Loyang is the only one unoccupied by his majesty's forces, but an infantry regiment is marching there now. This should be accomplished in 4-5 days.

Assault forces have moved into Loyang and conducted 'reconnaisance by bombardment'. The Loyang defenders, superfluous in number as they are appear to be outmatched 2:1 by assault values. Once the northern route is severed, the Loyang assault force will attack and liquidate the 93,000 trapped defenders.

A relief force marched towards Loyang from the West track (the one that eventually leads to Sian). An IJA infantry Division with supporting armor forced their retreat with heavy losses.

The Pacific: Steve's cruisers bombarded Roi-Namur a couple times, causing moderate to heavy airfield damage. Following these runs, the cruisers (and spotted CV) departed to the Northwest. Why? What is he doing here?

Two mini-KBs (CVLs Ryujo and Zuiho, CVEs Hosho and Taiyo with support CS and light surface ships) will merge just East of Saipan on January 4. The mini-KB sent to Japan has upgraded its obsolescent Claudes into A6M2s and biplanes into B5M2s. In total, approximately 100 naval aircraft are prepared to see just what Steve is up to in this area.

Unfortunately, my naval search loses the track of the American fleet on January 3-west of Wake island. This just as my defensive assets come into theatre. Hmmm...

The Philippines: Lingayen fell with heavy PA and PS losses around the New Year. Survivors retreated to Clark. Iba fell by 'osmosis' the next day.

The majority of IJA forces in Luzon will arrive at Clark Field tomorrow. A smaller force is in place at Manila, serving to hold whatever forces at Manila in place.




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(in reply to Canoerebel)
Post #: 58
January 4-11, 1942 - 8/18/2010 4:53:49 PM   
Chickenboy


Posts: 24520
Joined: 6/29/2002
From: San Antonio, TX
Status: offline
Lots going on in four different regions. Text update here, with images to follow below.

C'est la guerre: Steve sent me an interesting email regarding the fate of Enterprise. She did survive the initial assault and did not founder immediately, as I thought. Here's the email:

Enterprise wasn't hit with three torpedo's, but one. And she had her air group totally wiped out, and took 76 float damage. Despite that , I was trying to get her into Wake, where I had 2 AR's, lots of supplies, and extra base forces (all gone now). To keep you from finding her, I sent my cruisers to distract you, by 1) bombing your airfield and either damaging the field , or destroying your planes, and 2) giving you a target closer than Enterprise. She got to Wake's dock and sank. After over a week of struggling to make it to safety.

It seems like your die roles are incredibly good, or mine are incredibly bad. But that's the story.


I suspect that the 'mystery' TF that I saw *heading Northwest* a few days ago was a cover force intending to shield the Enterprise's salvage operations. I didn't tell steve that mini-KB was within a day's sail of striking Wake on January 5.

China: A regiment moves into the forest to the North of Loyang. Loyang is surrounded-cut off from supply and retreat. Periodic bombardments to Loyang precede two deliberate attacks on January 9 and 11. The former goes off at 1:1, the latter 2:1. The Combat Report on January 11 indicates that Chinese supply is low, resulting in combat penalties. Well, that and the fact that they're rabble, I guess:

Ground combat at Loyang (87,43)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 83315 troops, 702 guns, 257 vehicles, Assault Value = 2928

Defending force 44835 troops, 216 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1249

Japanese adjusted assault: 1586

Allied adjusted defense: 549

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1661 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 161 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 162 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Vehicles lost 22 (1 destroyed, 21 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
5662 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 426 disabled
Non Combat: 24 destroyed, 516 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
32nd Division
37th Division
41st Division
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
35th Division
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
5th Armored Car Co
110th Division
1st Garrison Unit
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
93rd Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
5th New Chinese Corps
Jingcha War Area
15th Group Army
14th Group Army
36th Group Army
4th Chinese Base Force


Loyang should be liquidated tomorrow. IJA troops from Loyang will immediately begin prepping for Nanyang while they recover disruption.

Elsewhere in China, mopping up operations continue. Rail traffic is unabated throughout his Majesty's Chinese Empire now, having cleared the rabble from the tracks. Another benefit of clearing the rail is the fact that everything Chinese south of the rail LOC is now cut off from supply.

In the Southwest, two regiments evict a Chinese "Corps" from Pakhoi. One regiment will follow it and try to force its surrender in Kwangchowan. The other will mind the store at Pakhoi.

Boneheaded moves in China: D'oh for the day. I intended to increase Canton and Hong Kong's HI production modestly. I've already done so in Hong Kong-it is recovering the damaged HI points. For some reason, when I did this in Canton, I had a brain infarct. I *expected* that, by clicking on the HI value on the city's industry screen icon from the main city view that it would bring up a submenu and I could 'dial in' a precise number of HI units to increase.

When I clicked on the HI value on this HI button screen, nothing seemed to happen. Hmmm...OK...maybe my click didn't register. Better do it again, thought I. Hmmm...nothing. OK, once more with feeling. Still nothing. I wonder wha....oh oh. Oops.

Clicking on the HI value on the industry screen doubles base HI production it seems. Now Canton is at (103)x37 HI. Question for those IJ players following this AAR (are there any?): is it worth the resource allocation and supply to repair the HI here or to turn off repair now?

DEI: Much of the latest action found here. Map follows.

Java: "Northern Java" Forces arrive at Batavia on January 8, commence bombardment. Lillys and Sallys from Kilidjati join in with regional ground attacks. Attacks go off at 1:1 on January 9 and 11, but the 'casualty picture' for the Japanese improves. Attacks tomorrow should bring the assault ratio near the 2:1 mark.

Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27646 troops, 261 guns, 194 vehicles, Assault Value = 1015

Defending force 18979 troops, 287 guns, 123 vehicles, Assault Value = 466

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 593

Allied adjusted defense: 365

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
625 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 81 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (0 destroyed, 20 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
832 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 109 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 93 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 34 (3 destroyed, 31 disabled)


Assaulting units:
15th Naval Guard Unit
55th Infantry Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment
21st Division
56th Infantry Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
15th Ind. Engr Rgt /3
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
53rd Const Co
25th Army
18th JAAF Base Force
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
21st JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
1st Regt Cavalerie
4th KNIL Regiment
2nd KNIL Regiment
1st KNIL Regiment
Lijfwacht Cav Sqn
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion
4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion
KNIL Army Command
1st KNIL AA Battalion
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
Bintan Det. Base Force
Merak Base Force
1 ML-KNIL Aviation
ABDA
ML-KNIL
Batavia Base Force


In the meantime, "Southern Java" forces continue to advance down Java. These forces are forming two distinct spearheads-one on the island's southern shoreline, one on the northern shoreline.

Tjitilap falls on January 10. Its defenders are pushed into mountainous terrain between Tjitilap and Djorjkarta on the Southern shoreline.

I know from previous experience the trudge that it is to move two hexes through mountainous terrain in Java. Instead of following his forces into this more defensible slog, I prepare them for strategic moving on January 11. Why?

On the other side of the island-the Northern coast-Semarang falls on January 9. The next turn troops spread out from here. The next immediate thrust is the underrated dot hex of Soerakarta to the immediate South of Semarang. This hex serves as a rail and road hub. Terrain also makes it quite defensible-I'd like to be the first one there with the mostest. Once captured, everything the North will be incapable of movement back to Soerabaja.

There's a perfectly good RR connecting Tjitilap with Semarang and I intend to use it to move my troops. Soerabaja is the main thrust of the Southern group (to which all Southern group units are prepping now), so it wouldn't bother me at all to turn SE Java into a pocket that I can reduce at leisure.

Elsewhere in the DEI: Sinkgawang seems to be a 'hot corner'. Lots of sub activity near and around here. O20 is spotted laying mines here on January 10. She is driven off. As serendipity would have it, 4 DMS are present in the harbor in an AMS TF and immediately begin to sweep mines on January 11.

Steve nicks four or five xAK and xAKL transports in this area between January 4-11. The S boats (USN) and Dutch boats are by far more effective than the other USN Mk.14-equipped fleet boats. Lots of attacks by the latter with the torpedoes either 'missing' or failing to detonate.

The area around Cam Ranh Bay is particularly active as well. His submarines here haven't gotten nearly as many attacks, as the area around Saigon-CRB-South China Sea is being heavily swept by naval search and / or ASW assets. High detection levels make for ineffective submarines.

Samah and Takao are busy loading up support units for transport. Mostly, these are being split between the PNG / Solomons theatre and the DEI. A few (particularly AA) units are being tasked for Burma.

Philippines: Image follows.

Solid progress here is enhanced by Steve's previous piecemeal apportionment of combat forces. More on this in just a moment.

On January 6 , Clark Field falls. The defenders retreat to Bataan. I'm pretty sure that Steve has moved some units out recently to Bataan, as this is a paltry defensive force present on the last day:

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 40905 troops, 450 guns, 463 vehicles, Assault Value = 1359

Defending force 7361 troops, 210 guns, 141 vehicles, Assault Value = 201

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 887

Allied adjusted defense: 211

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Clark Field !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
796 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 42 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 18 disabled
Vehicles lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
2881 casualties reported
Squads: 115 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 167 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 46 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 170 (159 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 126 (126 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 10
Units destroyed 2


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
2nd Formosa Inf. Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
65th Brigade
38th Division
48th Recon Regiment
48th Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
Sasebo 1st SNLF
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
48th Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
14th PS Engineer Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
Subic Bay Defenses
21st PA Infantry Division
91st PA Infantry Division
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
1st PI Base Force
I Philippine Corps
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment


Minus a small holding force at Clark, all LCUs at Clark rest a couple days. All units are now prepping for Manila. They begin the move on January 9, arriving Manila on January 12.

A small armored recon unit leaves the besieging Manila forces and moves to Mauban-a small base just SE of Manila. It arrives to find the base unoccupied. It will assault on January 12. This should effectively cut off Manila defenders from retreat.

The USAA 192nd Tank Battalion attempts to cause havoc behind the lines at San Fernando. It must have moved up the central Luzon highlands roads that were behind my lines over the last 6 days or so. It is spotted on the road to San Fernando on January 7. I detail three IJA armored units to move from just captured Clark up the coastal road to relieve San Fernando. In the meantime, LBA from Formosa conduct ground attacks to slow it down.

The 192nd arrives San Fernando on 8 January. An IJAAF base force is the only occupant of the base. Inexplicably, the 192nd does nothing until January 10. On January 10, it shock attacks. Unfortunately for the American tankers, my three IJA armored units arrived overnight in "Combat" mode. The 192nd impales itself on the defenses, suffering horrendous casualties. The next morning, the IJA armored units counterattack, wiping out the 192nd.

LBA based at San Fernando (1 each a Lilly and Sally group) have commenced aerial bombardment of the defenders of Bataan. Time to start starving them out.

On Mindanao, Allies attempt two separate piecemeal assaults from Malaybaylay overland to Davao. These units are spotted, so the 146th Infantry Regiment and the 17th Medium FA regiment stay put in Davao and await the assault. Both assaults are repulsed with heavy Allied losses.

Malay Peninsula: Slower progress here, probably due to my conservative initial force deployment and assault approach.

Georgetown and Taiping have fallen with heavy air bombardment of retreating Allied troops. Repeated retreats and air bombardment cause the 6th Indian Brigade, 1st Mysore Battalion and 28th Gurkha Brigade to evaporate on January 6. They were the last blockers on the road.

Japanese troops have a clear road to Kuala Lumpur. Two armored recon units will arrive there on January 12. Support and LCUs are in 'Strat' mode in Taiping, awaiting rail movement to KL after its capture. A dash for Malacca will ensue.

In the middle of the peninsula, the slog through the jungle continues for the Imperial Guard and attendants. Allied defenders are being driven back to Temuloh.

The Pacific: Quiet for now. Support units continue to feed into Rabaul. The IJA 4th Division continues its prep for Port Moresby. I'll try to get them to PM by early February.

Mini KB arrives at Kwajalein and refueled. Over the last several days, I've picked up some SigInt indicating an Allied TF at sea, approaching Tahiti. I've given orders for Mini-KB to go sniffing around by Pago Pago to see what's up. Worse comes to worse, the Allied TF at sea is supported by both remaining unidentified Allied carriers and I've a mini KB (2 CVE, 2 CVL) versus 2 USN fleet carriers. In January 1942, I'll take those odds.

The main KB with surface support docked at Hong Kong on January 9. Three of the carrier's air wings have expanded to maximum and the carriers are repairing some minor engine damage, nicks and scrapes. It should be ready to roll out again on January 15.

In the meantime, I've got to identify a passel of good IJNAF fighter pilots to fill the new roster spots. I should have JUST enough replacement pilots available from the IJNAF training units that I stripped out earlier.

Boneheaded production moves: I hadn't checked my production screen in a few weeks of game time. D'oh! It seems that a number of the aircraft / engine factories that I ordered expanded had insufficient supply to expand. So I went back through and painfully expanded supply (right arrows) to make up for the oversight. All's well now, but I wasted about 3 weeks of factory repair for airframes and engines.

Question for IJ players: I find that I export a LOT of supply from the mainland to China, DEI, P/NG and the rest of the Pacific. As a result, I'm a hungry hungry Imperial Hippo for resources.

For those of you that export copious supply from the mainland, does this change your rationale for the value of importing resources? Some IJ players turn off LI (!) to minimize the resource drain. I can't imagine doing this and sleeping at night for want of supply. Thoughts?


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(in reply to Chickenboy)
Post #: 59
RE: January 4-11, 1942 - 8/18/2010 4:55:33 PM   
Chickenboy


Posts: 24520
Joined: 6/29/2002
From: San Antonio, TX
Status: offline
Malay peninsula and surrounds.




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Post #: 60
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