Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J)

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Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 5/28/2010 12:55:32 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

I'm commander of the Allied forces against Tone's imperial forces of Japan. We're playing John 3rd's Reluctant Admiral mod. This mod adds some interesting changes and enhancements to the Empire of Japan based on the what-if idea of Admiral Yamamoto having more influence on Japan's war machine. This should definitely make for a more challenging game on my part. Go to this link to see what this mod has done specifically: http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2358505

For the many of you who don't know me, I'm a young adult from the good old south and as obsessed with history as the lot of you. This'll be my first AE game as the allies, and also my first AE AAR.

Settings are realistic with PDU on. House rules are:

1. No resource bombing on either side in China.
2. No strategic bombing before 1943.
3. Must spend PP to move units from China/Manchuria/Korea.
4. No sub invasions.
7. 4 engine bombers cannot naval attack below 10k ft.
8. Paratroopers cannot be split to make numerous attacks, one formation for one target.
9. Only dots/bases invaded.
10. Max 5 artillery units per base (except for cornered situations).

Huzzah!! I hope you guys enjoy the AAR, it's going to be a bloodbath.

Tone may now return to his own headquarters from this point!!

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/14/2010 9:15:07 PM >

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 5/28/2010 1:11:42 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

The game has been going for a few weeks, so it's now December 22nd 1941. Most of you probably know what the map should look like by now, but here it is anyway:

Early War Objectives:

1. Fight hard and smart against Japan in the early war. Slow down and challenge his acquirement of DEI's oil and destroy his war assets wherever possible.
2. Fortress Java will become a reality. I want this to become a huge thorn in his side in his conquest to secure oil in the DEI. Japan's lifeline depends on oil from the East Indies, so he'll have to face me head on.
3. To accommodate Fortress Java, and in my opinion use doomed troops for a better cause, I'll be evacuating most British units from Malaya towards Java.
4. Evacuate Burma, build up India. Most of Burma's army will most likely go to Java, I'm not scared of an invasion of India.
5. Use China to tie down his troops. Mass AV in good terrain and constantly keep him occupied.
6. If Java is defeated or on the edge of collapse I will switch focus onto building up forces at Pearl Harbor, the South Pacific, Australia, and India for my counterattack.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/13/2010 6:13:14 AM >

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 5/28/2010 2:40:33 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

Highlights:

A Pearl Harbour attack, Japanese landings in the Phillipines, advance in Malaya, advance in the Solomons, army sighted near Burma, and fresher landings in northwest Borneo. Pretty predictable moves by Japan so far. Here are the highlights:

------------------

Pearl Harbour

The BB Pennsylvania went under and all other BBs received damage of some kind. It'll take awhile for all of them to repair. I also lost one destroyer and there was damage to one heavy cruiser, three light cruisers, and some less important ships. I also lost about 45 aircraft, which hurts, but can be replaced. Overall not that bad for me at all-- I've got most of my cruisers plus my beautiful carriers ready for combat.

------------------

Kuching

On December 16th Japan made a strong move on north west Borneo at Kuching. A strengthened Force Z wouldn't let this happen unmolested and an intense four day battle lit up the night's sky. A 25 ship task force under Admiral Poole with a combined force of USN, RN, and Dutch ships, based around the Prince of Wales and Repulse, rushed to Borneo's coast once our patrol planes spotted the invasion force.

After two days of maneuvering and devious decoded messages (email between players) I managed to split the IJN surface force and fight an even battle against two of his battleships with escorts. The resulting battle left the IJN BB Haruna sunk after a flurry of fire, a sunk CL, a moderate-heavily damaged CA, and moderate damage to several of his destroyer escorts. I lost one CL, CA Exeter took some heavy damage.

Despite heavy ammunition expenditure I decided to make a move on the IJN's now unescorted merchant force at Kuching. The Prince of Wales and 12 other ships were sent back to Batavia due to a lack of ammunition or fuel and the remaining 12 ship allied task force made their move. I expected the IJN surface fleet to make a run for it back to Indochina, which was partially true. The battle started good once I ripped into the Japanese merchant ships sinking one of them and heavily damaging 8+ others. At this point I expected Force Z to retire back to Batavia victorious, but I was surprised to encounter a Japanese surface force with two fresh IJN battleships. After two previous battles of fighting my ships had virtually no ammunition left and the battle ended badly. The BC Repulse fought valiantly to it's utter demise after closing within 2,000 yards of the IJN battleships, shooting off the rest of it's ammo, and then resorting to it's AA ammunition before finally exploding and sinking from all the holes in her hull. Two CLs also sank during the battle and the rest of my ships fled. The same morning another of my heavily damaged CLs was finished off by a submarine's torpedo, putting my toll at one BC and three CLs. The IJN lost one CL and took some moderate damage to several destroyers and minor damage to the BB Yamashiro, the killer of the Repulse.

The battle ended with the following casualties:

Allies:
One BC, Four CLs Sunk
One Heavy Cruiser heavily damaged
Minor damage to 6+ warships.

Japan:
One Battleship, Two CLs Sunk
Moderate-Heavy damage to one CA
Moderate damage to 5-6 destroyers
1 AK sunk, heavy damage to 8+ merchant ships

The battle is somewhat of a stalemate, since I failed to stop the landings at Kuching, but I was able to trade a capital ship with the Japanese. Strategically it should also make Tone a lot slower and more methodical in his advance into the DEI. Then again, he committed four battleships to the operation, so maybe he'll simply continue with that cumbersome strategy.

Force Z isn't extinct yet, the Prince of Wales surrounded by cruisers will be out for revenge for his sister.

------------------

Phillipines at sea

A gang of 6 destroyers, both USN and RN, have been doing an admirable service in the Phillipine sea. They have intercepted several landings killing 1,000+ Japanese infantry, heavily damaging 15+ Japanese merchants, and also damaging a number of Japanese destroyers and other escorts. Here's a look at their last heroic battle (minus DD Pope, who stayed at Manila for repairs) just last turn:

quote:

Japanese Ships
DD Asakaze, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Tachikaze
PB Aso Maru #3, Shell hits 2, on fire
PB Kiso Maru, Shell hits 7
PB Nanpo Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
xAK Yamaura Maru, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tokiwa Maru, Shell hits 3
xAK Kogane Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Seikai Maru
xAK Teimei Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Yomei Maru, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Malta Maru, Shell hits 3
xAK Sinkyo Maru, Shell hits 1
xAKL Tientsin Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAKL Shun Yuan, Shell hits 2
xAKL Kikuryu Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Misaki Maru

Allied Ships
DD John D. Ford, Shell hits 2
DD Peary
DD Pillsbury, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Scout
DD Thanet, Shell hits 1

Unfortunately the Pillsbury was hit hard and Scout was hit by a Nell's torpedo after the battle and is heavily damaged, so this brave squadron is brought down to 4 destroyers.

------------------

Air losses:

The air war has been fairly quiet since I pulled out my air force from the Phillipines. Very heavy zero sweeps made any fighter resistance futile. The British air force has seen little action and I'm diverting as much airpower as I can for fortress Java with a lot of training going on for the future battles.

------------------

Ship losses:

A total of 64 ships lost for me.

Many of the important losses have been highlighted in the previous comments. The largest number of losses was from the chicken run from the Phillipines, a bunch of merchants and auxiliary ships lost but nothing serious. Japan has lost two light cruisers at Kuching, I'm highly confident the CL Isuzu has sunk or won't make it home because of it's damage after the battle of Kuching-- 25 shell hits, 1 torpedo, heavy damage, heavy fires.
I'm happy with the level of losses I currently have, it could be a lot higher. I wish I was sinking more of his merchants but keep in mind the fog of war prevents me from seeing how many of his heavily damaged ships are sinking. Either way I've done significant damage to 30+ of his merchant ships, including two tankers, one AV, which should at least put them out of action for awhile.

------------------

Arsenal of Democracy

Every merchant ship between Sydney and San Francisco are hauling big time to send troops to Pearl Harbour, stockpile resources in Australia, build up bases in the South Pacific, and send planes to Java.

------------------

USN Carriers and Cruisers

Enterprise, Lexington, and Saratoga and every available USN cruiser are making their way to Australia. The Yorktown will also arrive and head to Australia in a few days. My USN carriers and cruisers will be important for my commitment in Java, if I use them properly.

------------------

Fortress Java

I already have about 1,800 AV at Java. CDs and mines are/will spread out along the most likely landing points and forts are being built. Batavia and Soerbaja will become the strongest points on the island, along with resistance in the mountain hexes. I expect the AV to grow up to 3,000 within a month since I'm grabbing units from nearby DEI bases, Singapore, Australia, Burma, India, and off-map reinforcements. Basically a lot of troops that were doomed anyway or are expendable. There's already about 450 aircraft in Java training their pilots. I am also sending P40s, Hurricanes, two squadrons of the AVG, and whatever else I can scratch up for Java. Aviation support is my biggest deficit at the moment, and I'm cherry picking every base force I can to meet the demand.

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/9/2010 8:46:24 PM >

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 5/28/2010 4:44:55 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

December 23rd 1941

----------------------

Submarines

A Japanese AP takes a hard smack in the side, and so do the soldiers onboard. The sound of sinking and men shouting brings a twisted smile to my face.

Off of the Phillipines one of my submarines gets more aggressive and puts 4 shells and a torpedo to finish off a heavily damaged AK.

------------------

Phillipines

The destroyers deployed in the Phillipines came under air attack while limping back to Manila, but avoided taking anymore hits. My PT Squadron made an attack on the Japanese landings with two PT losses and a torpedo into a Japanese AK.

China

Hong Kong is under siege. The Japs are getting 1-2 odds, so it should fall any day now.

No other Japanese offensives have started here yet. Most of China's armies have rendezvoused to the front line and a few offensives of my own are planned.

------------------

Burma

A Japanese army is a closing in on the Burma border. They won't have much to fight since I'm preparing the majority of the Burma army to head over and reinforce Java. This is going to take some heavy troop lifting.. something Britain is severely lacking at this point of the war.

------------------

DEI

I saw that some Jap ships anchored at Kuching so my B-17s couldn't help but blow APD Aoi to smithereens with three 500lb bombs. Interesting enough a few seconds later I heard another sinking noise, which could mean an unconfirmed sinking due to the battle of Kuching several days ago.

I'm going to try to hammer the airfield at Kuching with my B-17s next turn -- some Jap planes have flown in so I want to either prevent or slow him down from building up a significant airfield.

------------------

KB Spotted?

My patrol planes spotted an interesting task force north of Manado. It's possible it's the KB... if it's heading for the DEI that could be a rude visit. I'm sending in some submarines to investigate. I also have some ships picking up a CD unit nearby at Tarakan. It would be unfortunate to lose them, but if they get attacked it'll provide good intel.

BB Tennessee also sank at Pearl Harbour.. haven't seen that before after so much time passing. Although after the attack she did have 99 FLT damage

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/2/2010 2:53:55 PM >

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 5/29/2010 5:48:06 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

December 24th 1941

A peaceful turn for the most part, with some explosions.

------------------

Under the waves

Near Taiwan I smack a Japanese AK loaded with troops. Some of his troops lost and heavy damage, but it'll probably make it to port.

AS Canopus, which was heading to Australia, gets hit by a Jap submarine's torpedo and sinks on the spot. Not a major loss, since I have plenty of this auxiliary ship at the moment.

Bad day for CL Helena as she gets hit by two torpedoes. She'll probably sink.. a bad loss since she is a good ship. She was heading to San Francisco for repairs and must have run into a Jap submarine that was in transit, since it was in a pretty random and open part of the ocean.

------------------

In the skies

Over Kuching my B-17 airfield attack took place. I lost two B-17 from the squadron of Zeros defending with no losses to him, but I hit the small airfield and did some decent damage. I don't think I'll attack again since I don't want to attrition away my B-17 force.

Otherwise a creepily quiet air turn. Only a few naval and recon patrols and that was it.

------------------

DEI

At Kuching I've spotted 5 Japanese land units and he still has a number of ships floating near the base.

My planes spotted what looks like 20+ fresh Japanese ships about 10 hexes away from NW Borneo. Prince of Wales and escorts have rearmed their guns, refueled their tanks, and repaired most of their minor damage so they should be ready to strike if an opportunity presents itself. It's very likely he will bring along his 3 or more Battleships for any fresh base invasions so I'll be cautious. I've sent forward four patrol boats to oppose any landings and recon his surface fleet, specifically at Singkawang which has a ready-built airfield that I would dread for him to use.

Related to the DEI-- at Seattle I have cut short the BB Warspite's repair yard time and will be sending it to Java to join the surface fleet there. Only about 5 SYS damage left to repair, which shouldn't be a problem. It'll take some time for her to arrive. This battleship is slightly slower than her PoW counterpart but the Warspite should prove a good asset for my focus in the DEI.

------------------

Kido Butai Watch

The suspected KB task forces(s) diverted away from the Makassar Straight and seems to be heading into the Cerab Sea. My naval patrols have been very vague but as you can see there's another task force southeast of the one I've highlighted with more CVLs and CSs which could mean a split KB or mini KB elements. Submarines are closing in, so maybe I'll be able to shoot off a few torpedoes into some juicy Japanese carrier hulls.

My CD Gun extraction from Tarakan should now be able to get away safely to Java and another CD extraction from Ambon has nearly finished loading and will hopefully head to Java before his carriers get in range.

Otherwise my planes haven't spotted any nearby invasion fleets, so a raid into this part of the DEI would be pretty fruitless for him.

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/2/2010 2:54:39 PM >

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 5/30/2010 2:54:21 AM

Cribtop

Posts: 3890
Joined: 8/10/2008
From: Lone Star Nation
Status: offline

Sounds fun, and we're always willing to listen to the yarn of a fellow Southerner!

How do you AFBs extract so many units in the DEI? PPs from disbanding the early little air units in CONUS? Just curious as in my Allied game vs the AI I haven't been able to pull out nearly as many DEI/Malaya units as the average AFB seems to move at will.

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 5/30/2010 5:59:28 AM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Sounds fun, and we're always willing to listen to the yarn of a fellow Southerner!

How do you AFBs extract so many units in the DEI? PPs from disbanding the early little air units in CONUS? Just curious as in my Allied game vs the AI I haven't been able to pull out nearly as many DEI/Malaya units as the average AFB seems to move at will.

Thanks Cribtop.

Although I'm not an allied player at heart--underdogs always capture my admiration-- it hasn't been as difficult as I originally thought to extract units to Java. One factor I think is important is I began immediately transporting and diverting units to Java on day one after Pearl Harbor.

I basically am taking everything that isn't nailed down in Southeast Asia and putting them onto ships and then diverting them to Java. Everything that was originally going to Rangoon/Singapore was sent to Java. Unrestricted units in India, Burma, and off-map reinforcements are being used. I spent PP points on infantry, base forces, and CD Guns scattered around the DEI. Large amounts of the British Malaya army are already unrestricted and will make up a large portion of the army on Java. A few bases forces in Malaya were also bought out to provide the critical aviation support I will need. All elements of the 8th Australian division in Malaya and Australia make an excellent fighting force and are are also shipped over. The DEI actually starts with a good number of APs to accomplish these local tasks.

Air force wise I gathered all British and Dutch forces in the area and have been preserving them. I spent PPs on my B-17s in the Phillipines and two squadrons of the AVG in Burma and sent them over. Any new reinforcements such as Hurricanes are being sent to Java. Several P-40 Squadrons from Australia and PH are being shipped to Java. Once I get a good network of airbases across the island this should prove to be a formidable air force even against the KB. Combined with the USN and RN carriers I might even be able to win some decisive victories.

This plan also heavily depends on what my opponent does. If he gets more aggressive around Java it could unwind the plan significantly. For example right now Tone is making a move on NW Borneo where his planes can threaten shipping in Batavia and make it very difficult to extract further units from Singapore.

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 5/31/2010 5:07:57 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

Fun Note: I've been making the mistake of stating it is January 1942 when it is in fact still December 1941. Sorry folks! Fixed, and I feel like a fool!

Janu...DECEMBER 25-26th 1941

Christmas comes and goes pretty quietly and the boys get to enjoy a short break from the war.. but not for long.

------------------

Under the waves

quote:

Submarine attack near Kandavu Island at 131,163

Japanese Ships
SS I-16

Allied Ships
xAK Aeon, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

xAK Aeon is sighted by SS I-16
SS I-16 launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Aeon

This is the terror gripping the South Pacific. Another AK gets annihilated by Japanese submarines. This is the third one in the last few days. I'll need to adjust my convoy paths, because he seems to have caught on to them already.

In the DEI an AP gets attacked and is hit with two torpedoes and sinks shortly after. Thank god it was heading to Singapore and wasn't filled with troops.

In the Hokkaido strait, in North Japan, the SS Searaven launched a torpedo at a IJN DD but it failed to detonate. Then it hit a mine later the same turn-- drat.

------------------

Phillipines

At Lingayen, right next to Clark Field, the Japs roll up the base with no resistance. The interesting thing is it was captured with only 350 AV and there are relatively few Japanese units trailing behind according to my air recon. I'm moving forward with my larger force of 1600 AV to see if I can teach the Japs a lesson about not bringing enough firepower. If my air recon pick up significant reinforcements then I'll simply call off the attack.

Meanwhile in Batavia a supply relief flotilla is being organized. If I can slip 20,000 supplies into Manila it would work miracles for the defenders.

The destroyer squadron based at Manila runs another sortie at the Japanese ships still unloading onto the beaches of the north Phillipines. They run into an unbalanced fight against a Jap CL and several destroyers. The shells whizz and splash into every imaginable plot of ocean. The battles rages and there is an amazing result:

quote:

Night Time Surface Combat, near San Fernando at 80,74, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
DD John D. Ford
DD Peary
DD Pope
DD Thanet, Shell hits 1

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 42% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
Japanese launch Long Lance torpedoes at 12,000 yards before allies detect Japanese presence
CL Naka launches Long Lance Torpedoes at DD Thanet at 12,000 yards
CL Naka launches Long Lance Torpedoes at DD Pope at 12,000 yards
DD Harusame launches Long Lance Torpedoes at DD Pope at 12,000 yards
DD Murasame launches Long Lance Torpedoes at DD Pope at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Naka engages DD Thanet at 8,000 yards
DD Thanet engages DD Samidare at 8,000 yards
DD Thanet engages DD Yudachi at 8,000 yards
DD Murasame engages DD Thanet at 8,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Pope at 8,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Pope at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CL Naka engages DD Thanet at 9,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Thanet at 9,000 yards
DD Yudachi engages DD Peary at 9,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Peary at 9,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Murasame at 9,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Asagumo at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Thanet at 10,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Thanet at 10,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Peary at 10,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Pope at 10,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Peary at 10,000 yards
CL Naka engages DD Thanet at 10,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Samidare at 10,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Asagumo at 10,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Peary at 10,000 yards
DD Murasame engages DD Pope at 10,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Pope at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
DD Murasame engages DD Thanet at 11,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Thanet at 11,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Peary at 11,000 yards
DD Pope engages DD Harusame at 11,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Pope at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CL Naka engages DD Thanet at 12,000 yards
DD Yudachi engages DD Pope at 12,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Peary at 12,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Harusame at 12,000 yards
DD Murasame engages DD Thanet at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--Nothing! I guess I should be grateful, but from the intensity of the fire it was very unusual for both task forces to float away unscathed. At Manila the DD Scout will repair it's heavy damage at Manila in 10 days-- but the destroyer squadron isn't waiting around since it'll be resupplying and sortieing out again despite the obvious presence of Japanese surface forces.

At Manila the sky is darkened by 50 Betties. They hit the port but thankfully hit none of my ships and do only minor damage.

quote:

Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
G4M1 Betty x 50

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged

Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 11000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
25 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 11000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb

------------------

DEI/Malaya

In Malaya virtually my entire land army has made it to Singapore and I'm getting as many units as I can onto transport ships and shipped to Java. My ships are still capable of doing this right in the open, right now the only threat has been IJN submarines.

At Kuching the Japanese ships leave the area and according to my naval patrols all other Japanese task forces that were heading to NW Borneo are also heading back to Vietnam. This is good news to me, since it gives me more time and breathing room. Since there is an opening Force Z, which is lurking in the nearby waters, will be sent to bombard Kuching and knock out some of his aircraft and potentially shut down the airfield.

An invasion force has landed at Manado with a strong Mini-KB covering it. With the Reluctant Admiral mod the Japs start out with several more light carriers which makes the Mini-KB a bit more scary. My naval patrols and submarines cleared up the confusion and gave me a more accurate recon so the KB is out of the picture and lurking somewhere else in the shadows. This is making every skipper in the Pacific jittery and nervous of being pounced upon. Meanwhile in Manado the Japs took it on their second assault which gives them access to a good airbase.

Another thing that gives it away that it's the Mini-KB:

All Kates and not the nuclear attack the KB would have been capable of.

The Japanese air force is attacking left and right, but not at the most valuable targets. I'm sure the poor Brits who know they're isolated and facing inevitable defeat don't need their day any worse!

------------------

South Pacific/Australia
At Rabaul by an Aussie naval patrol. Yes!

At Brisbane 54 unrestricted Banshee dive bombers just arrived. These will be really useful in Java so I'll send them northward once they finish assembling.

And.. What the hell is that?!

My three carriers spotted an unidentified Jap ship south of Fiji. I'm getting my nearby convoys out of dodge, but I'm not sure how I should react to it. I don't want to attack with my carriers and tell him where my carriers are--although he might have already figured it out due to the search aircraft. It might be a Jap AMC raider so I'm sending a cruiser and several destroyers to check it out while the rest of the carrier task force continues to Australia.

------------------

China

In China I've launched a major offensive into Central China. Reluctant Admiral has made significant increases to China's army so it's not such a pushover anymore. Once this offensive develops a little more I'll show it off.

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/2/2010 2:56:30 PM >

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 5/31/2010 5:14:03 PM

Durbik

Posts: 276
Joined: 1/20/2008
From: Krakow, Poland
Status: offline

Way to go, Jon! I only hope your engagement here will at least slow your rapid advancement in our game :)

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obey the fist!

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 5/31/2010 5:30:48 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Durbik

Way to go, Jon! I only hope your engagement here will at least slow your rapid advancement in our game :)

Thanks Durb! And not a chance.

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 5/31/2010 7:14:18 PM

Cribtop

Posts: 3890
Joined: 8/10/2008
From: Lone Star Nation
Status: offline

I like the replay combat screen mod you are using.

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 6/1/2010 3:03:19 AM

CarnageINC

Posts: 2208
Joined: 2/28/2005
From: Rapid City SD
Status: offline

AHHHH, here I thought that you were being super pokey and that were totally screwed if your pace was as slow as it was. Much better that its late December instead of late Jan.

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 6/1/2010 2:59:45 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

I like the replay combat screen mod you are using.

I picked it up in the mod forum at http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2393702

The unit icons weren't to my taste so I opted from installing those, but otherwise the artwork is really nice.

quote:

ORIGINAL: CarnageINC

AHHHH, here I thought that you were being super pokey and that were totally screwed if your pace was as slow as it was.� Much better that its late December instead of late Jan. �

Seriously. I would probably have gone crazy and sent my carriers on a suicide mission if the game was going that slowly.

_____________________________

(in reply to Cribtop)

Post #: 13

RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 6/1/2010 8:13:11 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

December 27th 1941

---------------------

Under the waves

A few missed shots on both sides, otherwise nothing this turn.

------------------

Phillipines

1350AV of my Phillipine army makes it to Lingayen and they're going to do a shock attack against the approx 350 AV Jap force before it gets reinforced. I'm taking a risk with this attack, but the benefits of heavily damaging a portion of his army would be very good in lengthening the amount of time the Phillipine Army can resist.

The Manila Squadron gets hit hard and looses two more destroyers against powerful IJN surface forces. But history will remember them going down with guns blazing against the evil Japanese!

Due to these extreme losses I'll be preparing the remaining three destroyers to screen the supply relief transports that are incoming to the Phillipines. If that is a success they will head to the DEI where they can operate under more favorable conditions.

quote:

Night Time Surface Combat, near San Fernando at 80,74, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Maya
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 1
CL Kuma
DD Yamagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Ikazuchi, Shell hits 1
DD Inazuma

Allied Ships
DD John D. Ford
DD Peary, Shell hits 1
DD Pope, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
DD Thanet, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

------------------

DEI

Let em have it!!

quote:

Naval bombardment of Kuching at 58,88

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses (According to Intel Screen)
C5M2 Babs: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed on ground
B5N1 Kate: 6 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
CA Houston
CL Colombo
CL Capetown
CL Boise
CL Glasgow
CL Ceres
CL Dauntless
CL Danae
CL Enterprise
CL De Ruyter
DD Jupiter
DD Isis
DD Express
DD Encounter
DD Electra
DD Tenedos
DD Stronghold
DD Stewart

Japanese ground losses:
965 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 77 destroyed, 56 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 11 disabled

Airbase hits 32
Airbase supply hits 40
Runway hits 896
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 1

COMPLETELY destroyed the airfield, and caused tremendous casualties. He won't forget this one. Force Z makes it's way back to Batavia without any problems.

But.. the Japanese are coming.

Once Force Z left the area my naval patrols spotted major Japanese task forces making a move on North Borneo. Based on the bases his planes have been hitting it is most likely he'll be attacking Singkawang and Brunei. This is serious, since Singkawang can turn into a major airbase and compromise my shipping in the Java sea. I'll do anything in my power to slow him or prevent him from getting a foothold into the DEI.

Force Z isn't enough to stop them-- I'm going to easily assume he has at least 3 Battleships escorting the attack on Singkawang. I'm setting up a net of submarines so I can recon his ships and hopefully score some hits. Four patrol boats are waiting outside Singkawang to meet the landing and 12 PTs are rushing forward from Palembang-- they should be able to tell me what the IJN surface fleet consists of and potentially get some lucky hits. Meanwhile Force Z will sit back and wait for any weaknesses or openings in his attack.

I've also got a little surprise for his landings which might cause some good damage...

------------------

South Pacific

The mysterious and unknown Jap ship south of Fiji disappeared into thing air. Maybe it was a mirage... of my thirst to kill Japs. My ships continue back onto their routes.

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/2/2010 2:57:04 PM >

_____________________________

(in reply to jonreb31)

Post #: 14

RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 6/1/2010 8:18:44 PM

cantona2

Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline

JonReb nice DMP screenies

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born

(in reply to jonreb31)

Post #: 15

RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 6/2/2010 8:56:31 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

January 28th, 1941

---------------

Under the waves

Bloody submarines everywhere in the South Pacific!

I lost two AOs and an AK took a torpedo. Not pretty. However my "wave" of convoys going to Australia or going to Pearl Harbor have pretty much left the area so his subs should get lonely for a little while.

And look what he did to both AKs in my supply convoy heading to Manila..

Very frustrating.. both AKs sank and that's 16,000 supplies down the drain. I'm considering sending another convoy, since Java is getting stockpiled with plenty of supplies (200,000+ supplies) and AKs are expendable.

My subs couldn't even get revenge. Torpedoes launched at several Jap ships, including at Sapporo, were all duds.

---------------

Phillipines

My attack at Lingayen was miserable. His reinforcements got there after all and I took bad casualties. But I Forgot To Change The Op Mode!!

Even with his reinforcements my odds were actually pretty good, if they were in combat mode they could have actually done some good damage... Arg! Shouldn't there be an auto feature when you order your men to ATTACK they get smart and swing their rifles off their shoulder and get out of column formation?
Well, what's done is done-- my troops are now heading back to Clark Field before the Japs get anymore reinforcements.

quote:

Ground combat at Lingayen (79,75)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 29229 troops, 460 guns, 454 vehicles, Assault Value = 1351

Defending force 17964 troops, 142 guns, 226 vehicles, Assault Value = 686

Allied adjusted assault: 771

Japanese adjusted defense: 288

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker: op mode(-), shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
863 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 75 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 61 (3 destroyed, 58 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1692 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 123 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 133 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 86 (25 destroyed, 61 disabled)

Assaulting units:
192nd Tank Battalion
45th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
91st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry Division
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
71st PA Infantry Division
51st PA Infantry Division
194th Tank Battalion
31st Infantry Regiment
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
North Luzon Force Corps
Provisional GMC Grp

Defending units:
48th Recon Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
65th Brigade
48th Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
48th Field Artillery Regiment

---------------

DEI

Looks like he didn't hit Singkawang after all, but I'm not complaining. All three task forces appear to have gone to Miri, right next to Brunei. Nothing I can do about it so I'll sit tight and wait for him to come over to NW Borneo.

---------------

China

Meanwhile in Central china Operation Forge has been initiated. My hordes of hundreds of thousands of men have started a major offensive-- here's a look at the situation:

As you can see I have overwhelming numbers. The main purpose of this offensive is to force Tone to focus on a small area of China, draw in a lot of troops, and fight a war of attrition with me. What better way to do that than to get right up to his belt buckle and fight on my terms in good terrain? My units are low on supply but they should still be able to put a good fight and draw in a lot of his troops.

The best case scenario would be to take the cities and defend from there. This'll be hard even with my numbers due to my supply problems, the terrain he's defending in, and level 4 forts. Nonetheless I'll try-- and if assaulting the cities is futile then we'll see if he can break through 14,000 AV worth of troops defending in urban and forest terrain.

My first attack on Sinyang went OK. The forts are a killer. I'll attack again for next turn since about 1,400 AV worth of troops arrived last turn and didn't participate in the battle.

quote:

Ground combat at Sinyang (86,48)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 92677 troops, 468 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4442

Defending force 14082 troops, 112 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 504

Allied adjusted assault: 524

Japanese adjusted defense: 695

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1763 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 69 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 78 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3097 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 189 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 140 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled

Assaulting units:
92nd Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
30th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
4th Construction Regiment
22nd Group Army
2nd Group Army
5th War Area
31st Group Army

Defending units:
12th RGC Temp. Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
14th Ind.Mixed Brigade
18th RGC Temp. Division
52nd Road Const Co
67th JAAF AF Coy

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/9/2010 9:03:27 PM >

_____________________________

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 16

RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 6/2/2010 9:40:26 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: cantona2

JonReb nice DMP screenies�

Spreading the good stuff wherever I may go.

_____________________________

(in reply to cantona2)

Post #: 17

RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 6/3/2010 6:13:32 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

January 29th, 1941

--------------------

Under the waves

Relatively quiet in the deeps but an excellent hit on a TK by SS Sculpin. Burn baby burn!

--------------------

DEI/Malaya

Japanese Bettys swooped in from Saigon and miraculously (for him) NONE of my 75 fighters on CAP met his bombers.

He did damage to a lot of my APs and three of them sank later. Thank god they had only just started loading troops. I'm short of APs so this hurts, but I'm still going to try to evacuate what's left in Malaya. I've sent off all officers of the Buffalo squadrons to deal with logistics in Pakistan, where they'll be more useful.

quote:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Singapore at 50,84

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
xAP Van Riebeek, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Rajula, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAP Van Landsberge, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Marella, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAP Speelman, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAP Zealandia, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
xAP Van Imhoff, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Raranga, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 8000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

I'm sending in my two AVG squadrons to Singapore to see if they're more brave than their Buffalo allies.

Also my Hermes surprise came a little prematurely at NW Borneo on a useless target.

quote:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kuching at 58,88

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 12

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CM Kamome, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Swordfish I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

Not surprisingly he took Miri and Brunei is probably next.

--------------------

China

Big battles going on in central China. I'm actually making progress. He can't keep taking casualties like this with the number of troops he has. Sinyang is going especially well where the forts are knocked down to level 2.

quote:

Ground combat at Hankow (85,50)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 162800 troops, 858 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5797

Defending force 24655 troops, 352 guns, 216 vehicles, Assault Value = 663

Allied adjusted assault: 945

Japanese adjusted defense: 2013

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1273 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 158 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 90 (7 destroyed, 83 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2101 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 228 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 174 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled

Assaulting units:
18th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
87th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
26th Group Army
33rd Group Army

Defending units:
13th Tank Regiment
13th RGC Temp. Division
13th Division
9th Armored Car Co
11th RGC Temp. Division
14th RGC Temp. Division
8th Ind. Engineer Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
22nd AA Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Engineer Regiment
51st Road Const Co
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
11th Army
Hankow Special Base Force
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
54th JAAF AF Bn

quote:

Ground combat at Wuchang (84,51)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 103378 troops, 546 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4494

Defending force 29996 troops, 264 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1028

Allied adjusted assault: 650

Japanese adjusted defense: 1249

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1508 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 76 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2156 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 364 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 186 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Assaulting units:
79th Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
58th Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
19th Group Army
9th War Area
27th Group Army
20th Group Army
6th War Area
29th Group Army

Defending units:
40th Division
3rd Division
18th Ind.Mixed Brigade

quote:

Ground combat at Sinyang (86,48)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 118816 troops, 624 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4610

Defending force 12711 troops, 112 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 416

Allied adjusted assault: 1404

Japanese adjusted defense: 519

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
2139 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 51 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 126 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3400 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 395 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 375 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled

Assaulting units:
36th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
30th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
4th Construction Regiment
5th War Area
22nd Group Army
2nd Group Army
31st Group Army

Defending units:
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
12th RGC Temp. Division
14th Ind.Mixed Brigade
18th RGC Temp. Division
52nd Road Const Co
67th JAAF AF Coy

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/9/2010 8:49:46 PM >

_____________________________

(in reply to jonreb31)

Post #: 18

RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 6/4/2010 6:38:50 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

January 30th, 1941

---------------

Under the waves

Duds, duds, duds.. there should be a theme song for it.

SS Sargo puts a fish into a Jap SC and sinks it. It's almost insult to injury (or injury to insult?) that after watching so many failed detonations that torpedoes have to be wasted on what amounts to a Japanese fishing boat.

----------------

DEI/Malaya

Tone sends in his Betty's at night to attack Singapore's port. He looses 3 bombers and two of my already heavily damaged APs are hit by fresh bombs.

In the daytime he gets a little surprise by the AVG at Singapore, which I just flew in. He sends in some Sally's to hit Singapore's airfield, but you aren't attacking me for free this time!

I lost a vildebeest on the ground and he looses four fighters and six bombers. But it gets better!

I shoot down fourteen of his Sallys and they flee without dropping their load-- did I say it was over though?

His Lilys go for the port and hit my damaged APs some more, but not after I shoot down four more fighters and twenty lilys. Amazingly my transports are still floating and frantically repairing damage. If I can get rid of their float damage I might be able to send them back to Batavia and then India for repairs. But for the meantime they might keep drawing his bombers to attack Singapore's port.

Here are the losses with Op losses and unreported kills included.

It's amazing I lost no planes except for the vildebeest on the ground. Sweet Revenge!

Japan's total air losses now exceed my own. The AVG surprise worked out remarkably better than I expected.

------------------

Fortress Java

Here's a peek at how fortress Java is progressing:

(F=Fighter, LB=Level Bomber, TB=Torpedo Bomber; Auxiliary aircraft not included)

So far I have a total of approximatively 2,750 AV spread out across the island. Batavia is the major concentration of troops at the moment. The number of troops is constantly growing and I project for it to grow up to 3,500 AV in the next few weeks if there are no major interruptions. I plan to send another 800 AV to Soerbaja to form a 1,000 AV army at the south of the island. I may also send a few more units to the beaches and mountain strongholds. However, Batavia is where I'll have my largest, most experienced force complemented by strong flak and armor units.

Air power in the area is steadily growing. Including the air units currently in Java and the force I have in Singapore I have a total of 441 aircraft ready for combat: 211 Fighters, 50 Torpedo Bombers, and 180 Level Bombers. This does not include the dozens of auxiliary aircraft also operating.

Naval wise I wish I was stronger, but I still have managed to gather a potent force to challenge Tone in the open waters around the DEI. The Australian surface fleet is several days away from Batavia. Once they arrive my fleet composition will look like this:

1 Battleship, 1 CVL, 4 Heavy Cruisers, 17 Light Cruisers, 24 Destroyers

It'll take several weeks for any significant reinforcements to arrive. I'll just have to make due. My US carriers will be staying in Australia, I don't want to risk them this early.

------------------

China

My one AVG squadron in China joins the air killing frenzy and shoots down a modest 3 Sallys that were bombing Wuchang.

On the ground it's not going too hot. I got overly ambitious and got a lot of my men slaughtered. I'll let the combat reports speak for themselves.

quote:

Ground combat at Hankow (85,50)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 160133 troops, 858 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5557

Defending force 36013 troops, 456 guns, 248 vehicles, Assault Value = 1044

Allied adjusted assault: 483

Japanese adjusted defense: 6337

Allied assault odds: 1 to 13 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1629 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 74 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 90 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 29 disabled
Vehicles lost 57 (48 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
7796 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 836 disabled
Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 290 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

quote:

Ground combat at Wuchang (84,51)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 127088 troops, 702 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4201

Defending force 29029 troops, 264 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 960

Allied adjusted assault: 986

Japanese adjusted defense: 2671

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1848 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 117 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 52 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled

Allied ground losses:
15645 casualties reported
Squads: 235 destroyed, 614 disabled
Non Combat: 148 destroyed, 640 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

quote:

Ground combat at Sinyang (86,48)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 127962 troops, 702 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4232

Defending force 11259 troops, 112 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 324

Allied adjusted assault: 429

Japanese adjusted defense: 709

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
3990 casualties reported
Squads: 41 destroyed, 123 disabled
Non Combat: 37 destroyed, 71 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 27 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3258 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 130 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 145 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled

Sinyang is the better news. It should fall in the next few attacks at that rate, and his men seem to be marching to get the hell out of dodge anyway. Meanwhile in Wuchang and Hankow my men are going on the defensive.

Don't let the casualties fool you though. One interesting aspect is my men have been making surprising leaps in experience .. up to 5-10 experience per unit. I suppose one way to look at this is I have way too many men in the Chinese army to supply anyways, so sacrificing my overly populated units for better experience and better supply might be beneficial. Cold reading, but that's war.

Once Sinyang falls I'll be able to free up a lot of troops to reinforce Wuchow and Hankow and also strengthen my encirclement efforts. I already have a corps blocking the road to Hankow, and I have a large army moving to cut off the road to Wuchow. With both these roads blocked he won't be able to supply his troops, even the light industry in Hankow and Wuchow will be useless since there are no resources to directly supplement it. Unless he's smart enough to resupply by the river or manages to brings up a very strong relief army his army in central China will eventually run out of supplies and there might even be a chance to bag 75,000 veteran Japanese troopers.

That would be a beautiful accomplishment. To help with Operation Forge I'm starting local offensives along other parts of the Japanese front line to try and tie down as many of his units as possible to prevent reinforcement to central China. Am I crazy?

Yorktown

The Yorktown arrived at San Diego today, she's heading to PH to pick up some escorts and then will go straight to Australia. Once she arrives that'll bring my total CV force up to four. When I finish upgrading and replenishing the air wings this is a very decent carrier force which could potentially stand up against the KB with good LBA support.

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/9/2010 9:03:03 PM >

_____________________________

(in reply to jonreb31)

Post #: 19

RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 6/7/2010 4:23:56 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

December 31st 1941 - January 1st 1942

New Years eve and New Years day went very quietly. Both sides get a breather and the Allies use the time to prepare for whatever the Japanese may be scheming.

------------------

Under the waves

My convoys have been avoiding his submarines, for the time being. Between Taiwan and Tokyo my subs have been failing to get any torpedo hits, but have resorted to their deck guns on 5 ships including a tanker. Nothing to cause them to sink, though...

-------------------

Philippines

The majority of my army in the Philippines is digging in at Clark Field and Bataan. The IJA is entering the final stages of the battle of the Philippines--he's encircling Clark field and approaching a lightly defended Manila. I have 20,000 supplies currently en route to Manila so hopefully it can arrive before the port falls. It would make a world of difference.

Similarly in the southern Philippines at Mindanao my smaller army has retreated to Cagayan and will make their last stand against the approaching Japanese.

A small beacon of fortune. Two heavily damaged ships that hit mines at Bataan early in the war, an AP and an AO, made their escape through the Makassar straight today. Once they've repaired they'll be able to contribute to the war effort after all.

-----------------

DEI

Still not much to report here.

The Japanese have still not moved forward significantly since the battle of Tarakan 10+ days ago. He has a task force floating at Manado and no sign of large Japanese task forces near Borneo.

The 7th Hussars Regiment is now heading to Batavia. They were among the famed defenders of Tobruk and at Sidi Rezegh they held off German Panzers for four days until the 7th Hussars had only two tanks left. This will be among the small number of fine and battle-hardened units deployed to Java-- now if only I could replace their Stuart I tanks with something a little more.. sturdy.

------------------

USN Carrier Fleet

Here's a look at the USN Carrier Fleet now based at Sydney.

280 aircraft (375 once Yorktown arrives) with excellent escort coverage under command of 'Bull' Halsey, one of our best admirals. I've hand picked the best pilots and I am directing all of the latest aircraft models to the Carrier Fleet. When the time comes for a showdown the KB better be careful.

------------------

China

The battle of Sinyang has been raging the past two days and is finally in Chinese hands! The Japanese units retreat with heavy casualties-- sadly to the north outside of the pocket. Once I've rested my victorious troops I'll have about 4,000 AV free to spread out like locusts into the Japanese rear. Wuchow and Hankow are already cut off from their supply lines, I just need to reinforce the encirclement units and fill in the gaps to prevent magical supply lines through jungle hexes and Tone will have a real problem.

quote:

Ground combat at Sinyang (86,48) (December 31st, 1941)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 139088 troops, 780 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4451

Defending force 8547 troops, 112 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 192

Allied adjusted assault: 765

Japanese adjusted defense: 199

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
2707 casualties reported
Squads: 143 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 157 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2845 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 195 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 143 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

quote:

Ground combat at Sinyang (86,48) (January 1st, 1942)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 137065 troops, 780 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4273

Defending force 6023 troops, 112 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 158

Allied adjusted assault: 453

Japanese adjusted defense: 181

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Sinyang !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
2669 casualties reported
Squads: 128 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 142 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 31 (29 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 5

Allied ground losses:
402 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/9/2010 9:02:37 PM >

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 6/8/2010 4:21:56 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

January 2nd - January 3rd 1942

Another quiet few turns, so not much to say. I can't imagine that I've slowed him down that much, so maybe he's preparing for something big.

-----------------------

Phillipines

The morning sky's clouds were broken by 60+ Japanese planes attacking the port at Manila. They did some bad damage to the warships stationed there. Due to this attack I'll probably rebase what warships are left and send submarines to resupply at Java from now on.

quote:

Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
G4M1 Betty x 30

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD John D. Ford, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Stingray, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
AS Otus, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Peary, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Pike, Bomb hits 1
DD Scout, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Port hits 7
Port fuel hits 3

SS Pike was also sunk in a subsequent attack. These are the only two subs I've lost in the war so far.

-----------------------

Here's a list of my aces, since i haven't shown it yet:

My pilots have been performing well but still no 5 kill aces. It seems all the kills have been spread out pretty well, with the majority of my best front line pilots being in the AVG.

Otherwise not much else is notable. Lots of units still shuffling around and my units in China are resting before continuing the attack. This continuing quiet period is a little bit worrying for me so I'm stepping up naval patrols in all sectors of the Pacific.

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/9/2010 9:02:09 PM >

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 6/9/2010 6:11:47 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

January 4th 1942

Still mostly the calm before whatever storm that may be coming. I haven't seen the KB since several days after the Pearl Harbor attack, so I'm on the alert everywhere... even the west coast. I've also been scanning the intelligence reports religiously for clues.

--------------------------

Under the waves

SS Dragon puts 29 3" shells into a Japanese AKL and causes heavy fires. Look at her go!

Southwest of Hawaii one of my big AKs gets a fish in her, she might be able to make it back to PH though.

..Oh, never mind. She just took 2 more torpedoes, so AK Michael Goulandris has gone under.

DEI/Malaya

Tone does a sweep with 30 Oscars over Singapore. I've weakened the CAP here to prevent losses to night raids so I only got 15 planes in the air and lost two buffaloes and 1 P-40.

I've picked up a lot of heavy radio traffic from Babeldaob, the island about 1,000 miles east of Manado. Sure enough my naval patrols have spotted several task forces around the island and nearly 50 ships in the port of Babeldaob. This is likely a buildup for invading Ambon, Kendari, etc. My patrols also spotted one CV in the port of Babeldaob, but no idea how accurate the report is. I'm going to do a proper recon of Babeldaob this turn to see what they can find.

The 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, another veteran of the war in North Africa, leaves Aden today and makes it's way to Java.

China

While making my local offensives on other fronts in China, I ran into larger resistance than expected when crossing the river west of Taiyuan.

quote:

Ground combat at 90,40

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 38850 troops, 229 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1413

Defending force 63025 troops, 544 guns, 347 vehicles, Assault Value = 2206

Allied adjusted assault: 82

Japanese adjusted defense: 7072

Allied assault odds: 1 to 86

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

Japanese ground losses:
859 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 61 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
17782 casualties reported
Squads: 449 destroyed, 296 disabled
Non Combat: 413 destroyed, 188 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 17 disabled

My troops have been knocked down to 800 AV. I'm surprised at the build up he has here, he may have been planning to start an offensive onto Sian. However I have 2,500 more AV marching down the road from the west which will arrive in a few days. Once they arrive I should be able to pin his troops in this mountain hex.

Meanwhile slightly further south I have crossed the river at Chenchow unmolested and have besieged Kaifeng, Anyang, and Kaoping. Anyang should fall tomorrow. My objective is to take these three towns/cities and then push southeast to Suchow to threaten his north-south railroad between North China and Central China. The main idea is to attract as many of his troops as possible away from the surrounded Japanese in Central China.

In Central China the troops at Sinyang are moving out. Units are being sent to reinforce my encirclement troops while 2750 AV moves to reinforce the siege at Hankow. I have another 2,500 AV coming from Changsa that will also reinforce the siege at Wuchow. If I wait a few weeks for his supplies to dwindle these two cities should eventually fall if he doesn't send a substantial relief army-- which will be hard for him due to my other offensives stretching him out.

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/9/2010 9:06:34 PM >

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 6/13/2010 6:58:10 AM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

January 5th to January 7thth 1942

The last few days, and indeed the last few weeks, have seen only a few skirmishes across the Pacific and most of the action has been in China. I think that's about to change though...

-----------

KB making a move

A few days ago I picked up heavy radio traffic and ship concentration at Babeldaob. Further investigation from my patrol planes spotted three CVs in port. I was suspicious it was only the mini-kb, but I've now spotted two major task forces heading to the Makassar Strait. It definitely looks like all 6 major flattops of the KB escorted by a powerful SAG are heading my way.

I'm not sure what his objective will consist of so far. I haven't spotted any invasion forces behind the KB so my prediction is this will be an all out raid into the depth of the DEI with the intent of striking a coup de gr�ce against the ABDA fleet and whatever shipping that is in the area.

I have a day or two to organize my defense. Every convoy, merchant and auxiliary ship based in or heading to Java will flee westward until it is safe to return. I have about 20 submarines around the area that will converge onto the KB to try and score some hits. The ABDA surface fleet will retreat west of Java as well and await opportunities for the time being since it would be futile to try and stand up to the KB and the potential surface escorts it will have.

The USN Carrier Fleet is moving out from Sydney towards Darwin and will lurk in the nearby shadows. I don't want to be aggressive with my carriers since facing the KB head on could end up in disaster, even with the LBA in Java. However, if that battle lasts long enough, they will be nearby to exploit any opportunities that arise

The brunt of my defense will fall on my aircraft stationed in Java. For the most part he has better planes and pilots but I should be able to knock out a lot of his aircraft and potentially land some hits on his juicy flattops if he isn't careful. I have over 400 aircraft of different types based in Java. My best air units and pilots will be the 50 P-40s of the AVG, 25 P-40s of the Pacific Fleet, 16 Hurricanes that just arrived, and 50 British torpedo bombers. My best bet would be to combine these units for a powerful strike package.

Hurrah for the upcoming battle, my pilots better count their blessings!

----------------

Phillipines

Good news in the Phillipines. My supply convoy made it to Manila safely and they're now unloading their 20,000 tons of supplies to the hungry defenders of Clark Field. This will be extremely useful for the Philippines and should prolong their resistance for a good amount of time.

-----------------

China

In China my tactics seem to be working in North China. I'm attracting a lot of his units to the area, and actually making some headway at the same time. Kaoping and Anyang have fallen to my forces and Kaifeng should also become mine once I march in some more reinforcements.

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/13/2010 7:01:57 AM >

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 6/13/2010 8:18:58 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

January 8th 1942

By the way Tone has started his own AAR in case anyone is interested in seeing the other perspective. Obviously I won't be reading it until after the war is over.

Meanwhile the KB is right at my doorstep.. it's going to get hot in the next few days.

---------------

Under the waves

There has been little action from submarines on both sides recently. My luck has been especially bad and probably 75% of my hits have been duds.

Today, while most merchants were retreating from Java, the SS I-55 sank two out of four of my APs that were bringing the 85th British AT Regiment to Batavia. I lost a large percentage of the regiment, but they should be able to rebuild.

I currently have 6 dutch submarines that are moving to interdict the KB. 8 more submarines are coming from positions around NW Borneo which will bring a total of 14 submarines chasing the KB, hopefully I'll get off some lucky shots. I have 5 USN submarines in transit from Pearl Harbor that are a few days from the Makassar Strait-- I'll use them to lurk around the KBs retreat routes.

Incoming KB Raid

Here they come, in full force.

As you can see my submarines are moving into position. The weather has been very bad the last two days with storms and rain across the DEI but my air force has stopped it's training and is now waiting for the KB to get close.

Most of my naval forces in the East Indies area, over 100 ships, have left the area temporarily. The only ships that will be left behind will be coastal ships which have terrible endurance and the CA Cornwall and CL Dragon in Batavia since it has been taking some time to get them off pier side repairs.

My biggest concern is a convoy that was in the process of ferrying 9,000 troops from Singapore to Batavia. They're now somewhat trapped between the Bettys in the north and the KB in the south. They're going to try and make a dash through the Java-Sumatra strait but it looks like it'll be a close one.

Mini-KB Spotted

In conjunction with the incoming KB raid I've spotted the Mini-KB at Sorong.

If the Mini-KB stays in the area this would be the perfect opportunity to use my USN Carriers. My carriers are 4-5 days away from being in range of Sorong.. so fingers crossed.

China

The war continues to go encouragingly well in China. I've pinned down more troops in North China and reinforcements are pouring into Hankow and Wuchow.

Lack of supply exclamation marks are popping up all across China. My offensives are definitely taking their toll on the overall state of the Chinese army. I'm directing what little supplies I have towards my forward bases to keep up the pressure.

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/13/2010 11:43:46 PM >

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RE: Victory or Valhalla - JonReb (A) vs Tone (J) - 6/14/2010 10:03:42 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

January 9th, 1942

-----------------

Under the Waves

Japan's SS I-155 hits a mine at Kalidjati and will probably sink.

SS Dolphin is the first to make contact with the incoming KB. They fail to find the big ships, but at least they've made their presence known.

quote:

ASW attack near Madjene at 63,102

Japanese Ships
CL Noshiro
DD Yugumo
DD Arashio
DD Michishio
DD Oshio

Allied Ships
SS Dolphin

My subs missed the KB this turn, but now I have swarms of submarines converging on him from both the north and the south.

SS KXVII has spotted several AKs coming from Saigon. I'm suspicious Tone might be doing a joint strike and an invasion force is heading to NW Borneo.

---------------

So it begins

The KB begins it's strike against Java. My 2nd rate planes and pilots are being used for the first line to wear down his planes and pilots.

Doesn't turn out too snazzy. I lose 12 planes and he lost 2.

He follows up with an attack on the port and sinks an AS and heavily damages two AKs that were in port. My fighter CAP was already worn out and I lost another fighter to none of his.

At the end of the day I lost 6 more fighters to ops, but so did my opponent! Not sure if the FOW is fooling with my head, but the KB lost 6 Zeroes to ops. That's 8 Japanese fighters lost to 20 of mine. Not a great ratio but I can't expect much better with the superiority of the Zero and his KB pilots-- I'll take it, as long as his elite pilots are going down with his planes.

Air losses of the day:

I'm going to keep using my 2nd rate fighters to wear him down until he gets closer to Batavia, that's where I have all my aviation support, bombers, and 1st rate fighters.

Fortunately it looks like the 9,000 troop convoy from Singapore are going to make good with their escape, all the KB is going to be up against are my angry hive of planes.

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/15/2010 2:55:06 AM >

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Battle of Java Sea - 6/15/2010 10:30:53 PM

jonreb31

Posts: 714
Joined: 11/26/2006
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

January 10th 1942

------------------

Under the waves

One of my TKs leaving Pearl Harbor takes a torpedo and will spend some time in the repair yard.

I hit and sunk a patrol boat off of Saigon. It was part of a AK taskforce that seem to be heading south.

Unfortunately the KB bypassed my submarine net once again.

---------------

Battle of Java Sea

The air battle around Java gets hot as the KB moves northward towards Batavia. The weather is absolutely terrible and there is chaos on both sides.

The first encounter ends with 6 of my fighters downed to 2 of his.

A second Zero sweep over Batavia ends with 2 of my fighters downed to 1 of his.

A torpedo strike against the KB is organized, and we meet a competent CAP of zeroes.

They actually broke through the CAP, but failed to deliver the blow! I lost 19 planes to none of his, but torpedo bombers coming so close should scare him.

Then the big raid comes.. my air headquarters really got their act together today.

All of my bombers made it through the CAP but if you can believe it NONE of my planes managed to accomplish a hit. Arg!

Several smaller raids go against the KB and take heavy losses, but fail to hit the KB's ships.

Another Zero sweep over Batavia knocks out more of my fighters, and that concludes the second day for the battle of Java Sea.

Very exciting but also very frustrating when you see torpedoes and bombs missing all 6 of his carriers.

My air losses were horrendous and his were acceptable. I was expecting to be able to attrition his airforce more, but not at this rate.

His counterattack will almost definitely come tomorrow. What's left of my bomber force is shattered and it would be foolish to try another attack. I'm pulling out my bombers to safe locations while I leave all my fighters to put up a strong CAP and shoot down as much as they can.

< Message edited by JonReb -- 6/15/2010 11:07:22 PM >

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