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Ceterum censeo Tokyonem esse delendam - companion AAR to "now when the land rings.."

 
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Ceterum censeo Tokyonem esse delendam - companion AAR t... - 1/14/2011 1:36:10 AM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		well, after due considerations, I have finally decided to start a companion AAR after all - I wasn't really convinced in the beginning, as I don't have much time to spare as long as there is any snow on the mountains...but I simply couldn't withstand the temptation of writing one in the end I guess (girlfriend won't be too happy about it I guess )

this is a companion AAR to "Now when the land rings with the clash of arms" -
my opponent is: fcharton

this is my first game as Allies - I have another game going as Japan...so this is all quite new to me!

as we plan to start a joint AAR in due time, basically when we got the game going properly after the first few "monster" turns, this will be an Allies only AAR...

so if you've been reading this so far, Francois - please read no further ;)



< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/14/2011 1:45:23 AM >
Post #: 1
RE: Ceterum censeo Tokyonem esse delendam - companion A... - 1/14/2011 2:12:21 AM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		December 7th and 8th 1941:

I'll leave the usual stories about the "sudden and deliberate" attack on PH aside and get right down to business....

it could have been worse

Pearl Harbor: was quite bloody as the Kates seemed to have used mostly Torpedoes - yet only 2 BBs were sunk on the 1st day...so not too bad - all others are in fairly good shape - I stacked as many ships as possible in the repairshipyard, as it's my experience that they seem to be much less affected by any further bombing that way....

quite surprisingly no attack on the 2nd day - it might have had something to do with one of my SCTFs that actually caught KB and engaged them in night time!
I formed 4 of these SCTFs - each one with 1 CL and 5 DDs - just enough to MAYBE get one or two torps off at night....they attacked at Full speed and were set to autodisband - a tactic which worked quite well...as all of these 4 TFs were back in port by the time the Airphase had started (just in case he set some planes on Naval attack)
1 TF with CL Honolulu as Flag engaged the Kido Butai a few hexes south of PH - not knowing where he would move I had to cover the north as well, which only left 2 TFs for the southern approaches - the 2nd TF was unsuccessfully engaged by a Japanese LR-SS
the results: 1 reported hit on zuikaku (flight deck hit - but that may as well have been FOW) and one (more plausible) hit on a Japanese DD - for that in return the US Navy received one hit on a DD (10 sys)...

SWPAC:
CA Louisville started off in a 2xAP 1CA TF around Luganville - I detached this cruiser to engage possible invasions of Tarawa, Naru and Oceanic Islands - the ship moved at full speed to these locations, and, quite surprisingly I must say, successfully engaged the preset landing TF (which is set for Makin atoll if I remember correctly) at Tarawa BEFORE offloading - we sank a confirmed 1 CM (quite a large one) 2 AKs and 1 PB - and killed a total of some 2500 troops - not a bad start either!


the Philies:
1) as my opponent opted NOT to take Bataan Island in the first turn I thought I'd give my Catalinas (which I guess would be better of being preserved for later) a chance at Naval attack with torps....omg - they did real good - sinking at least 4 AKs with again some 2000 troops, and more importantly over 40 vehicles in the process!

2)Port attack on Babeldaob with a total of 21 B-17 (yeah, I was surprise too that they all took off) in 2 waves, sinking another CM, an AD (), and maybe 2 AKs again...

China:
my opponent my an odd move in trying to conquer the 2 hardly defended ports to the west of HK, Phakoi and that French Port in the first turn.... - the French is undefended and fell next turn, whereas the SNLF that landed at Phakoi was smashed (completely) by an Allied shock attack the next day! - a great victory for the CHinese Army - but I fear the last for a long time!


not too shabby as Allies, when I was prepared to only see myself crying, while watching the replay....I must say I was pleasantly surprised!


now to the bad (but sort of expected parts) and other stuff:

1) 3 DDs (good crews) escaped from HK at flank speed - all merchants were mostly killed however on the 1st day - the survivors died on the 2nd

2) CL Marblehead was sunk by Kates off Mini KB (CVL Ruyio I guess) - CA Houston and CL Boise were initially headed there too, I contemplated for a short time whether to try and engage the CVL with those 2, thinking that he might have used the 3 CAs in that TF to guard the landings at Ternated and Manado (yeah, also 1st day landing sites) - but I'm glad I didn't, cause I later found out that he had all of them still in the same TF!

3) ships are running from Manila in all 3 possible directions - now with the south cut off however, I will try to go past Saipan and reach Midway (a few AOs will be waiting there)

4) CVs ran at full speed to the west - took on the Wildcats from Wake (all but 4 damaged ones) and will try to engage shipping in the Kwajalein area - hopefully they'll survive

5) ships are leaving ports everywhere - if they're far enough away they will take supplies and/or fuel/oil with them...if not - just RUN (concerning merchants it'll definetely be a Sir Robing campaign of mine)

6) Catalinas have started to evacuate unrestricted troop contingents off Malays (especially Air HQ, HQs and when there is enough time to accumulate the BP the 2 Australian Brigades, as I have already started bringing back Lark Bn from Rabaul - they will form a Division at Darwin)

7) initial reinforcements in the Indian Ocean will move to Bombay or Karachi - I will concentrate my force in Hyderabad - a place where they can train properly and, more importantly, react to any landings anywhere in India...
Ceylon will only be lightly defended should he go for it - he can have it, until I want it back (not much use for Ceylon as Japanese unless you seriously want to go for India, then it's a must - in my oppinion at least)

8) troop and more importantly supply convoys forming on the West Coast - they will build up huge stocks of fuel and supplies in Australia for future operations!

so much for the inital day - more on tomorrow as it's now 0311 AM in the morning, and I am getting the destinct feeling that my initial text for this AAR wasn't really well thought through and is more of a messy brainstorming than an opus magnum

R.



< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/15/2011 2:55:15 PM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 2
RE: Ceterum censeo Tokyonem esse delendam - companion A... - 1/14/2011 8:23:24 AM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		just a short update on December 9th:

I'm currently facing a little problem on the west coast, where, apart from my obvious inability to realize that I "MUST" not move oil from there, which was pointed out to me, all my larger Cargo TFs don't seem to load properly - well actually not "not properly" - but "not at all"...
no idea why - I seriously hope that this will not have further consequences....


as to the turn...
just a couple of screenshots:

it would seem that some of his intercept TFs are already out of ammo - can hardly see any other reason why they woudl disengage from an unprotected cargo TF - they did engage 2 TFs with a total of 8 ships in them just before that....




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(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 3
RE: Ceterum censeo Tokyonem esse delendam - companion A... - 1/14/2011 8:25:15 AM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		well...I am sure that gave my opponent a nice adrenaline dosage, after what my B-17s had done in Babeldaob!
no idea how someone could forget to put up proper CAP over his precious carriers - but I guess that's me..a JFB talking






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< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/14/2011 8:26:05 AM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 4
RE: Ceterum censeo Tokyonem esse delendam - companion A... - 1/14/2011 8:27:41 AM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		so far this campaign simply goes well - even my Wildebeest from HK sink a ship - isn't that nice?

I only hope it stays that way and my little knowlegde of the Allied side is causing these issues on the West Coast!




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(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 5
RE: Ceterum censeo Tokyonem esse delendam - companion A... - 1/14/2011 8:51:58 AM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		The Grand Strategy

well, let's just say that I don't want to mention it too early - I don't even know if it'll work at all - but, all depending on my opponent of course, I'd like to seriously threaten the Japanese in 43, hurt in 44, and hopefully break in 45...(I guess that's every Allied player's plan)

this being my first game as Allies, all the advantage I have is knowing what the capabilites of the Japanese are, and what would hurt me as a Japanese player!
that, unfortunately, only includes a somewhat limited knowledge of the actualy capabilities of the Allies - especially in 43!

so my main goals for 42 will:

1) preserve and contain:

- extract cadres of all important units from everywhere - looking especially at 22nd and 27th Aussie Brigade in Malaya (that is if I get the time to accumulate the PP) - these seem to form a Division at Darwin, along with Lark Bn from Rabaul which is also already being transported there - every HQ, Air HQ that might be possilble to save will be saved... -

- try to counterattack whenever possible: if he gives me the chance of striking with a Dutch SCTF (which is all that will be left in the DEI) I will do so - I don't mind losing ships I won't need in the future

- I'd like to reinforce Port Blair a bit - if I find something - but most units from Burma will form the 1st Burma Division - all the other units that don't form something will remain one hex to the north of Moulmein to form a blocking force behing the river (yeah it's getting the maximum out of nothing!)

2) train, train, train:

- main focus will be on ASW and Naval Search - I know what Japanese SS can do - I use them myself with great success - so I will form ASW groups whenever possible and have at least 3 Catalina Squads train for ASW only....if possible more - they will be stationed at vital ports (not on the West Coast)

- all other squadrons, especially fighters will only reach the frontline, if either absolutely necessary, or having reached at least 60 skill in Air and Defence - if possible 70

3) build up:

- get as much supplies to the destinations needed for my operations to come...
that includes large Convoys (should they ever load) from the West Coast to NZ and Australia and the same from Abadan and Capetown to Perth (though I think I'd rather shift fuel from Abadan to Capetown and then onwards...




Summary:
key to my strategy will be to fend off any initialy attempts to conquer large parts of Australia - if he goes for the Pacific Tour - well....I'll let him - I don't need Suva and Noumea, not until later on in the war, they're easily cut off and it's difficult to keep them supplied!
I do hope that I will be able to hold on to important towns like Brisbane, and if possible Charters Towers etc.... - they're not vital for the grand plan - but it simply would delay all other operations if I first had to recapture those...
if he decides to move on Darwin and Port Hedland very early (as I usually do, while taking the Noumea, Suva, PM region) then there is little I can do about that - his initial moves on Ternate and Manado pointed towards a strategy of cutting off Java, but that would require Kendari as a base, yet it doesn't look like he used the Legaspi invasion TF to actually also move on Kendari!

I'm a little worried about India as well, however I don't think it'S really managable - at least not if he continues losing 4-6000 men a day

China will be important for the Japanese - my plans there are to delay, annoy and defend - only if a unmissable opportunity comes up, I should conduct offensive operations (apart from taking Ichang - the used forces there will then mostly be used to build up a substantial reserve for the southern theatre...I'm vulnerable in the North (Hami and further up - nice ressources to be taken here) - but a few Cavalry Corps are en route to a reserve position to cut off and intercept - this will be an area where the proud () Chinese Airforce will conduct recon ops to find and/or slow down any enemy moves here! (it just needs about 4 Tank Regiments to take those places if they're not reinforced...and the ressources from there do make a difference for the Japanese, so I won' give them up easily!)

that's it I guess... - any comments, suggestions of experienced Allied players are most welcome!

R.


< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/14/2011 8:55:51 AM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 6
RE: Ceterum censeo Tokyonem esse delendam - companion A... - 1/15/2011 2:54:53 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		10 December 1941:

NIGHT TIME ACTIONS:

-British MTBs manage to hit one Japanese fleet destroyer Yudachi with 1 torp off Vigan (I retreated them from HK, and through the system (as the fuel isn't sufficient), meaning by retreating from threats without using fuel, they managed to reach Northern Luzon and refuelled at Iba before going back into action

-Dutch Submarine KXV puts 2 torps into an xAK with fuel on board off Saigon (two attacks, 1 dud)

-Captain Musak F.V. in command of 5 Clemson-Class DDs and one AVD encounters a Japanese Task Force to the east of Legaspi consisting of 3 DDs, 1 BB (Nagato),1 CL, 1 CVL (Zuiho) and one CVE (Hosho)
he crosses the "T" while the Japanese TF-Commodore elects to counter with firing at the lead ship...
results:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Catanduanes at 90,80, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho
CVE Hosho, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
BB Nagato
CL Yura
DD Mikazuki
DD Yakaze
DD Wakatake

Allied Ships
DD John D. Ford
DD Peary, Shell hits 2
DD Pillsbury
DD Pope
PG Isabel
AVD Childs



Reduced visibility due to Rain with 57% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 57% moonlight: 4,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 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
Musak, F.V. crosses the 'T'

DAY TIME ACTIONS:


-a total of 3 AKLs are hit by at least 4 hits each , while offloading at Wake

-unfortunately my valuable TF consisting of 2 AS and 1 AV fleeing from Manila are spotted - their survival is doubtful now... - of course I'm losing ships all day long - but I won't report xAKs or AKL....
I will post a summary of what has been lost in the fighting when the "hunt" is over!

-Wildebeests hit yet another AK off HongKong with 4 bombs - heavy fires, heavy damage - I dare say that is the second score of these planes in the war so far!

-Betties off Saipan miss CA Houston and CL Boise (bombs only, odd altitute) - however also this TF is now spotted - let's hope for the best!

-my opponent is sweeping EVERYWHERE - and only encounters planes over Manila, Clark Field and SIngapore....
we manage to shoot down several Zeroes and Oscars, for the loss of many of our planes - but honestly: every destroyed Japanese plane this early in the war is a huge success for me! - I will post a detailed account of the planes lost so far next turn

SUMMARY:

Japanese Conquests of today: Aparri, Vigan and Wake

the tactic of forming MANY small TFs in Manila and flee into all 3 possible directions is starting to look likes it's paying off - all I want to achieve is save the most important ships like AS, AV, AO and DDs - all the others are just moving along to distract the Japanese and make them expend Ammo - my apologies to anyone here who serves in the Merchant Navy - but it's war and we need to plan ahead - each AS will give us an edge over the Japanese, while we can spare all the AKLs and xAKs
otherwise the first large COnvoy is finally forming on the west coast (YES; I AM THE BIGGEST ALLIED NOOB EVER!!!!, it's official now)

and in INdia and AUstralia all troops that can be reunited into proper combat units are on the move - I expect to be able to form a few units for training and refitting - but they will be handy in the long run....
engineers in India (yes all 10 of them) have been ordered to move to the Calcutta-Ledo-Chittagon triangle to start building AFs - which will take years without reinforcements, but it's the idea that counts, no?

R.

< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/15/2011 8:42:53 PM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 7
plane losses so far - 1/15/2011 8:41:22 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		here as promised some data:

below the AC losses so far: - considering that I am flying old junk such as Buffaloes and worse I am really happy about the losses - a combination of Blenheim I fighters and Buffaloes managed to shoot down at least 6 Oscars over Singapore in one engagement on December 8th - so I really can't complain about that up to know...

of course my losses are much higher than those of the Japanese Air-to-Air wise - but the losses of really elite pilots over PH must have hurt him (scenario 2 or not) - he'll never get those veterans quite back as they were... - of course some losses might be FOW - but I'm happy with even half of the reported ones!






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< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/15/2011 8:45:52 PM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 8
ships at PH - 1/15/2011 8:44:28 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		and here the report of the damaged ships in PH - not too bad either, considering the huge amount of torpedoes that was used! - of course 2 BBs sank right away: Pennsylvania and Tennessee!






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< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/15/2011 9:49:06 PM >

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Post #: 9
RE: ships at PH - 1/15/2011 8:51:15 PM   
LoBaron


Posts: 4776
Joined: 1/26/2003
From: Vienna, Austria
Status: offline 		Good luck on your war SolInvictus!

And nice start on the Hosho.

_____________________________


(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 10
RE: ships at PH - 1/15/2011 9:10:02 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: LoBaron

Good luck on your war SolInvictus!

And nice start on the Hosho.


thanks a lot LoBaron!

and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the DDs evading the salvoes of the Nagato and successfully launch against the Hosho! - I just hope that my luck holds...

(in reply to LoBaron)
Post #: 11
RE: ships at PH - 1/15/2011 9:44:00 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		11th December 1941

NIGHT TIME ACTIONS:

1)

a large Japanese Battlegroup consisting of 3 BB (Fuso, Ise, Hyuga) and 3 DDs attack noessential shippping to the east of Legaspi - 6 AKLs, and 1 xAP (President Madison) - the only one that was worth something - but it was too slow to escape (largely because I wanted to keep some prey for the Japanese behind, so that my important ships can leave, as mentioned below)

- all vital ships seem to be out of SCTF reach already - I really hope I can escape with 2 AS, 1 AV, 1 CA and 1 CL ...that's all I hope for

- 2 AOs and 1 AVP would also be nice - but I won't really miss those! - and they're little behind already, so I haev somewhat less hope for them...


2)

a SCTF consisting of 2 CA (Myoko and Haguro) and 4 Fleet DDs raid around Ambon and sink 1 AKL and one AVP in the process.... (I guess he put that TF there to defend against a possible intercept of his invasion force of Ambon (more later on that) b Force Z - but Force Z is already somewhere else, with another special task!


DAY TIME ACTIONS:


1)

my PT boats are intercepted by the CL-Division off Laoag - 2 are sunk, the rest withdrew (they even made it to 3000 yards, (spotted at 4000) - but then were forced back)- seems the British MTBs were far more effective (and silly me has withdrawn all naval support from Manila already and thus can't reload them - well....it's my first game as Allies, so I guess I'm allowed some mistakes!)


2)

- SS KXVII puts 1 Torp into xAK Teihoku Maru off Patani - with troops aboard!

- SS-41 misses the damaged DD Yudachi near Takao (as in 1 dud, and one miss)

- SS KXVII (on it's second successful attack that day) puts another torp into xAK Naruto Maru - also with troops aboard... I hope both will sink - they usually do, as they both showed heavy fires and heavy damage

and a specialty that day (I've seen it on occasion in AARs) - unfortunately not good but a bad surprise:

Sub vs Sub: SS I-122 attacking SS KVIII at 65,99 - near Balikpapan

Japanese Ships
SS I-122

Allied Ships
SS KVIII, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage



SS I-122 launches 2 torpedoes at 3,000 yards


so I'm down 1 precious Dutch sub, that would have probably caused the enemy quite some headache -



AIR COMBAT:


-sweeps everywhere - but as I stood down my fighters for today (I haven't given up yet - but they need rest, and I want him to change from sweeps to escorting bombers

-troops are being transported from Singapore to get cadres for later rebuilding of troops!



GROUND COMBAT:


-Japanese landings at Ambon - he uses the Legaspi invasion force for that - as seen in CS Chitose bombarding the shoreline! - it should be enough to take the place...planes have been evacuated as far as possible

-Japanese shock attack at GUAM fails (never saw that before, but he didn't use the 144th Regiment to take the place, but a few unprepped forces from Babel - bad choice, as the forces he used are already prepped 100% for Dadjangas and Davao - he should have gone for those or reprepp them)

-Japanese forces CAPTURE Manado !!!



SUMMARY:

his move on Ambon was really a good one (I usually go for Kendari, as it is in Bomber range of Soerabaja, and with Makassar as a Fighter base you have basically shut down the eastern approaches of the DEI)
also taking Ternate and Manado early is good - (meaning bad for me) - although Ternate isn't really operational as a base, as his engineers will need time to arrive to build the base up!

I am expecting that his next move will be on Koepang to completely cut off the connection between Soerabaja and Darwin - I only need to get Cadres from all important troops in Singapore out before he takes DARWIN.... - they fly via Batavia, Den Pasar to Darwin - that's the connection I need to keep open until I have 700 PPs to free both Australian Brigades and move some squads to Darwin - from there they will from the Division and most likely retreat to, at least, Alice Springs....other troops will take their place to try to hold on to Darwin...)

in China we've captured Ichang last turn - the troops that are no longer needed there (due to the defense-bonus being behind the rive now) will form an operational reserve somewhere in the rear, to be ready to be moved either to the south or if needed to the north - I have certain key positions I wish to defend - and if those are threatened they will be committed, as they are strong units mostly - supplying them will be an issue...I have opted to rebuild the industry at Changsha - it will hurt me now, but I might have a little less trouble later on if I do that)

so far my chaotic thoughts for the day

R.








< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/15/2011 9:47:11 PM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 12
12th December - 1/16/2011 4:49:09 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		12th December 1941

NIGHT TIME ACTIONS:



-we hit several xAKs off Ambon with CD guns, some are damaged quite a bit - we'll see - I doubt they'll sink though

DAY TIME ACTIONS:


the SCTF with the 3 BBs off Legaspi sinks the slow AS Canopus along with an xAK - I didn't expect those to survive - he expended ammo, which he might have been able to use on the valuable ones..

AIR COMBAT:


-lots of sweeps over Northern Luzon and Malaya again - he used some bombers to ground attack Clark Field for the first time this day - and he used some fighters to try to strafe Clark Field as well - that is something we will contest next turn: I will put all my fighters on CAP again at different altitudes and hope for the best.....I have seen great results from CAP at different altitudes so far (especially at PH and over Singapore too) - every downed Jap plane is a small victory, if you use Buffaloes and P-40Bs...

GROUND COMBAT:



- Japanese land at Antimonan - losing 215 troops due to total lack of Preparation....

- 1st deliberate attack at HK:

Japanese adjusted assault: 578

Allied adjusted defense: 365

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
857 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 66 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled


Allied ground losses:
347 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)


as he's not committing the 104th Division I expect HK to at least hold for some days - that's all I can hope for, to tie down his 38th Division for as long as possible, and maybe cause some casualties in the process - with 104th it might as well have fallen on the 1st day of attack...


- Japanese shock attack at AMBON fails

- Japanese forces CAPTURE Miri !!!

- 2nd Japanese shock attack at GUAM fails too - he simply brought not enough troops, and should have either left iit as a base I can't use anyway, or commit ample troops for its capture - this is bying me some nice time and the units there will need rest, should they ever succeed without further reinforcements!

SUMMARY:

a quiet day is a good day for the Allies!

R.


< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/17/2011 6:12:24 PM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 13
13th December - 1/17/2011 6:11:39 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		13th December 1941

not much to report over all - so I'll keep it short:

- CA New Orleans catches a fish just off PH - I haven't gotten the turn yet, but I suppose she will be moderately damaged, as I didn't get any messages about any severe damages...
she was part of a special TF meant for purposes in a yet secret area - she will return to PH, repair there (as the shipyard is still available to take her on for repairs) and then rejoin her sistership CA Minneapolis, 2 old CLs and 8 DDs
the important things is that one airtransport TF has left PH via the same hex and was left unmolested - which is by far more important to me!

CHINA:

his troops that just bombarded one CHinese Corps at Kweisui:

1st Ching An Tui Brigade
10th Tank Regiment
3rd Ching An Tui Brigade
11th Division
2nd Ching An Tui Brigade
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment



this is VERY interesting, indeed - he is committing a full Division in the far north - that can only mean he is interested in moving on Lanchow early in the war, to capture the ressources and oil centres there -I don't see any other reasons for moving a whole division up there, when it would be much more needed in the region to the south to take Sian instead! - he might also try to take Urumchi with Tank Regiments as well - we shall see how many more forces move into that area....

anticipating this possible course of action in China, 2 very strong ("Chinese-wise") Cavalry Corps are on the way to Lanchow and will be able to intercept any movement to Urumchi or Hami - or just cut off the supplies of troops that marched by....
furthermore 2 New Divisions are on the way there.... - I know that this means the commitment of a substantial part of the central reserve command - but having taken Ichang without a fight, and being able to defend that position being dug in behind a river, I will be able to form a nice reserve in the south, using troops from this command... - they will move somewhere, where they are able to react to any moves onto Kweilin or Changsha...

all other cities in the south might only be left lightly defended!

I will repair the LI in Changsha - it will give me troubles and headaches supply wise in 42 - but I should be able to produce more in 43 and later.... - I have dispatched 2 AVG squads to Chungking to be able to counter any large strategic bombing missions in China - these planes will not be used to stop the Japanese from hitting troops only - I will train IL-5 for that - (just to annoy him and make him escort stuff)


R.

< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/17/2011 6:14:44 PM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 14
RE: 13th December - 1/18/2011 7:36:51 AM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		Good luck and smash the Jap

_____________________________

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


(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 15
RE: 13th December - 1/18/2011 4:27:46 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: cantona2

Good luck and smash the Jap



thanks a lot cantona2 - I will certainly give my best - it might take a while though (let's say September '42? )

R.

(in reply to cantona2)
Post #: 16
RE: 14th December - 1/20/2011 12:10:18 AM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		14th December:

COMBAT SUMMARY:

- Japanese TFs (1x 4DDs, 1x 4 CAs and 4DDs) sunk 2 refugee-TFs off Pagan - total losses amount to 6 AMs and 2 AKs

- Jap SS I-21 sunk a large TK (14000 capacity , and fully loaded it was too ) with 2 torps off Eureka (one of the 2 unescorted single ship TFs, cause there are simply not enough escorts around at the moment... )

- Japanese Planes have started a strategic bombing campaign over Changsha:

Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 23
Ki-30 Ann x 7
Ki-51 Sonia x 11



Allied aircraft
I-15-III x 4
Hawk 75M x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann: 1 damaged
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged




Resources hits 1
Manpower hits 12
Fires 572



pretty moderate hits - could be worse, better as well though....1 AVG squad will be flown in to offer proper resistance and make him pay for every single hit....(so much for my plan

SUMMARY:


it seems my opponent really is committed to China: first the 11th Division in the north, now a first strategic bombing raid on Changsha - I will have to be very careful and prudent there..

on the bright side, my first large convoy, designated "WC 1" has departed from LA bound for Wellington: on board about 250,000 supplies and 100,000 Fuel - not too bad - pretty much every ship I could find with a minimum speed of 12 and a max speed of 14 knots....

I should be able to send WC 2 within 2 weeks, I hope - then some ships will be available that are currently used to supply Pearl Harbour, Anchorage and Christmas Island.... - this convoy will have some planes for Australia as well - if there are infantry units available I'll create a special LR-Troup convoy for that - I really want to pay attention to the different speeds of the ships, proper escorts (KVs if possible accompanied by AOs to give them the range) and some heavy support if possible....


....CA New Orleans didn't sink (so far - I did sortie the entire ASW capable DDs, DMs and DMSs out of Pearl to escort (yes, possibly a very costly move, but according to my calculations they would be back to Pearl within the same turn - I hope they are ;) )


so much for my thoughts - I only saw the replay yet, I hope I get the turn by tomorrow, my opponent's currently rather busy with RL

R.


< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/20/2011 12:16:52 AM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 17
RE: 14th December - 1/20/2011 11:47:09 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		15th December 1941

NIGHT TIME ACTIONS:

- 2 AKLs fleeing from PI are caught just SW of Marcus Island by 2 different SCTF - we can now add 1 CL and 8 DDs (6 of them Fleet-DDs) to the enemy OOB we know of - good intel for 2 pretty useless ships lost!

- SS Tambor unsuccessfully engages the same convoy, outbound from Sakhalin Island, just off Sapporo twice and scores dud torp hits both times....not that I expected detonations - which got me pleasantly surprised a few secs later


- SS Porpoise patrols W of the Tsushima straits:

Japanese Ships
DD Namikaze, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Nokaze
DD Yugao

Allied Ships
SS Porpoise



SS Porpoise launches 4 torpedoes at DD Namikaze

not bad I'd say for this early in the war - our second destroyer that was hit by SS! (1st was an S-class boat of PI)



AIR COMBAT:

apart from the usual sweeps over PI, which I tend to contest with a maximum of 2 squads, losing 1 plane per turn usually, sometimes to 1 Zero....a nice surprise over China:

as mentioned just yesterday, my opponent started a strategic bombing campaign over Changsha - to be able to counter such actions I had initially transferred 2 AVG squads into China during the first few turns, these planes were only to be used to protect China's rice plantations, the CinC's private villa (or more of a "hut" I suppose) and some industries for the war effort - they were training at Chungking until yesterday, when the order reached one of the squads to transfer to Changsha to provide some proper CAP over the city. - exceptional successes were the results of that move - high altitude CAP made the planes dive on the enemy, which lead to many Nates, Sonias and Lilys burning rather quickly and thus giving the local population something to watch during their local afternoon rice-break....

1)Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 23



Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 6
Hawk 75M x 1


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged



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


2)

Raid spotted at 68 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 15
Ki-30 Ann x 7
Ki-51 Sonia x 3



Allied aircraft
I-15-III x 4
H81-A3 x 18


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 3 destroyed
Ki-30 Ann: 1 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed



3)

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 8
Ki-51 Sonia x 6



Allied aircraft
I-15-III x 3
H81-A3 x 16


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 2 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 4 destroyed


not too shabby I'd say.....


and our B-17s were out for the hunt again: - oil attacks on Miri (which is banged up anyway, but I want to make sure it stays that way) and port attacks on Vigan, as intel and Naval search have reported ships there for over 3 turns now - no idea why they are there, but I thought I'd give it a try, again with nice results:

1) attack on Miri

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 8


No Allied losses



Oil hits 4



2) attack on Vigan:


Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 6



Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 3
P-40B Warhawk x 4


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DMS W-18, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk



Port hits 5


by now I am really glad that I invested my initial PP savings to start evacuating Aussie troops from Malaya, and not to move B-17s from PI, with all of the successes they've had so far!


GROUND COMBAT:

on the sad side we lost Guam and Hong Kong today - both expected losses - still I would have liked to see HK hold on a little longer!




SUMMARY:

this turn has brought again a few pleasant surprises for the Allied side - our planes were superior in China (even the I-15 scored a few hits ) - yes, some of our best pilots took part in this fight, but still - many a mediocre Japanese pilot, who had the potential of becoming great, was shot down today - which is a true victory over China - and the Chinese theatre needs every victory it can get, with the ground war not going all that well, and the soldiers being forced to mold bullets out of stones and bamboo sticks....

I have opted not only to move considerable air force to the Aleutians (details remain secret for now) but also one CD gun unit to Dutch Harbour, which will be withdrawn in 2 months, but it should keep that town safer for that time - which should in turn be just enough to get more reinforcements, which are already prepped for the Northern Pacific, up there and secure at least Dutch Harbour (SS Base) and Cold Bay (Airfield) against anything but a full scale attack!

R.

< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/21/2011 12:01:35 AM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 18
RE: 14th December - 1/22/2011 8:59:58 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		16th December 1941

NIGHT TIME ACTIONS

- our united PT-Boats (joined by the surviving MTBs from HK) sink a, very small, PB at Vigan - it appears it's the only ship left there (after we sunk a DMS with B-17s yesterday in port)... I am considering the option of moving these, quite handy, boats to somewhere with a little more action - I'd like to get the most out of them, as I will certainly be using some of them in small groups at important bases!

- several successful ASW attacks on my precious Dutch SS off Saigon and the southern tip of Vietnam/Thailand (all in shallow waters) forced me to reset my patrol zones a little... - the undamaged SS will continue to give chase in these dangerous waters, however all LR-SS (O-Class) will be redeployed to make movement to and from Cam Ranh Bay and Saigon dangerous - let's see patrol-patterns in open sea will work - I have never had much luck with them with Japanese Boats....but we'll see!

- 3 more fleeing ships from the PI have been sunk - I already thought that they were beyond reach, but apparently my opponent sent the escorts from Wake (CL Yubari was the reason for this assumption) to intercept them.... 1 AM, 1 AVP (Heron) and 1 TK (smallish) were sunk - however it appears that the important ships I really wanted to save (2 AS, 1 AV, 1 CA, 1 CL, 4 DD, 1 AVD) are close to reach Midway and will regroup there, as my opponent seems to have infested the waters around PH - in the long run this will mean many damaged and sunk Japanese SS, with little gain, but in the short run he is limiting my operations around there (especially after he put 1 Torp into CA New Orleans, which is, btw, out of commission for over 120 days (33 sys, 65 flt, 23 eng - she was heavily escorted by 7 Bagley Class DDs, but their ASW capability is still terrible)


AIR COMBAT

- after the nice defeat of yesterday over Changsha my opponent seems to have moved at least 2 Zero squads into range to sweep the city and engage my AVG-planes... - having thought of that I stood them down for the day, not only to rest, but also to avoid a possible massacre through enemy fighter sweeps!) - now the game of cat and mouse begins: when will he be sending bombers again? - when should I put up some CAP again? - well...my orders will be to withdraw the AVG squad once it's fully rested (some pilots are up tp 35 fatigue: 3 missions, one transfer of the squad and prior training....)
all I can do with these two squadrons is try to find opportunities where I can hurt the enemy without being hurt myself too much... - I have achieved one important thing: I have made him commit some of his precious Zero squads to China - I am much happier with them being in CHina, when they could be fighting somewhere in the Pacific or the DEI where I would have to contest them in Air Combat!


- continued air attacks on Georgetown (on the fortress there) and sweeps over all airfield in Malaya north of Kuala Lumpur - he even swept Benkalis this turn - no idea why....as all my fighters are in Singapore waiting for an opportunity to strike back - they are stood down, new airframes are being flown in to replace losses and we shall contest the enemy over the sky of SIngapore as long as possible! - especially when the weather is bad (when he loses his huge sweep advantage, and we might get a chance to kill 1 or 2 enemy planes, along with their pilots)


GROUND COMBAT

- Japanese landings at Brunei from yesterday successful: Japanese forces CAPTURE Brunei !!!

- landings at Kuching: much to my surprise he bombarded the shore defenses with his entire heavy cruise TF that starts out on default settings to accompany the troops to Singora - my shore defense managed to scratch the paint on two of those CAs (1 hit each, but I guess it won't show more than 1 sys damage, if at all )

- one tiny Japanese tank reg routs an entire Chinese corps in the woods southeast of Sinyang (ok we unsuccessfully engaged that reg for 2 days, and the corps was out of supplies )

- in China my opponent is probing my position everywhere we have made contact so far - he appears to be cautious and usually only bombards which might be followed by a deliberate attack if the odds appear to be looking in his favour!

- 4th attack on Ambon fails! - comes off at 1 to 2 odds for Japan, however we suffer slightly higher losses (95 to 139, one squad each destroyed)



SUMMARY:

- from todays action in China I can conclude that my opponent seems to react quickly after having suffered a defeat, it appears unlikely that he will make mistakes twice! - thus I will have to grab every chance I get and follow through with an initial plan, if practical!

- it also looks like that he is beginning to organize strong ASW forces on choke points, where his losses, especially of troops carrying ships around Saigon, en route to Malaya, have been particularly high. - therefore I will have to come up with a plan to employ my SS in a way where I can find shipping lanes easily, but where they still have deeper waters to retire from enemy ASW HunterKiller groups - I will definetely patrol the waters around Hokkaido closely, as it's the easiest way for Japan to get a substantial amount of ressources and fuel back into Japan - 6 Fleet subs (of the same class) have been detached for that task... (I will provide a map of my SS deployment when I receive the next turn)

- I want to give my opponent a false sense of security and maybe make him feel a little arrogant in China - I have withdrawn several strong Corps from the plains, where they would have got slaughtered anyway, to Loyang and Nanyang - I have no ambition of seriously defending those cities, nevertheless I will stay and fight, as my economy has no way of supplying all troops at the moment - so I will accept losses, as they will actually help me in the long run.... - the place where I will make a stand will be in the favourable forest areas to the north of Nanyang and Loyang, on the road to Sian - every hex will be fought for there! substantial reinforcements are on the way to strategic positions, from where they can reach important bases within a matter of weeks (yes, everything is a little slower in China, even I know that )
all troops that are left behing in the plains will move to disrupt enemy communications and make him spread out to hunt those units down and destroy them.... I feel very Chinese with this guerilla tactic - and it's quite annoying, as it doesn't look like he has any interest in forming a proper front line!

why am I so callous about my losses in China? - cause Ichang fell without a single man lost - which means I have over 130,000 soldiers (give or take a few thousand) waiting to be fed (we're fine for now as we captured an astonishing 7800 supplies in Ichang) - with a battle for Ichang and the ensuing losses I would have had less trouble of keeping my soldiers ready for combat!


so much for my chaotic thoughts for today...

R.

PS: by now I serioulsy regret that I have already withdrawn Force Z - I believe I might have done some further damage at Ambon (maybe successfully intercepting 2 CAs and 4 DDs, that's all he has there) but I feared his Mini KB and the Kates, which haven't expended all that many torps up to now....the decision is irreversible, as they have already left Perth for Cape Town to upgrade, still - I feel I might have left out an opportunity here)






< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/22/2011 9:03:52 PM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 19
RE: 14th December - 1/23/2011 3:41:52 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		17th December 1941

NAVAL ACTIONS



- SS Saury successfully attacked off Kanoya - 2 hits reported - she'll head home I guess...
this is only one of the many ASW attacks my numerous SS had to endure for over 2 days now - if the situation in certain areas does not improve (more attacks by SS and less "ASW only" attacks, I will have to relocate almost all of them....I'd be content with "dud-torpedo" attacks - but not even those are happening any longer...

AIR COMBAT

- the continuing of sweeps over Changsha - my opponent has huge coordination issues - I guess he is launching his Zeroes from smallish airstrips, and he doesn't pay ANY attention to weather - this is good intel for me in the long run....

- my plan to ambush the daily sweeps over Singapore failed miserably...... - we lost a total of 10 Buffaloes (only 2 KIA) and 3 Blenheim Is to the loss of 2 reported Oscar Ics - terrible outcome - my fighters are low on morale now - they will have to rest and wait for another opportunity to sting the enemy.... - airframe reserves are just fine: 37 Buffaloes still in the pool - so we can actually continue to take losses, but not at this rate....
therefore I must conclude that offering to fight in bad weather (rain was the weather forecast) was a bad choice: why did I decide to try it? - because my experience when playing the Japs was that if the Allied planes fought on a great flying day, they would drop like flies - if it was bad weather my Zeroes and Oscars would take losses as well....therefore I concluded that as allies I might have a chance when fighting in bad weather - apparently I was wrong! - lesson learned!

nevertheless it's impressive that we actually got 33 Buffaloes and 4 Blenheim Is in the air before the first sweep reached Singapore - I like it!


- on the 4th day of continuous port attacks on Ternate (all attacks up to now were crushed with an average of 2 planes shot down by Zeroes per day) our bombers (3 Hudson Is, and 1 Fighter Escort ) managed to score some nice hits on ships in ports: here the report in full: (the reason for our success is without doubt the bad weather, which made the enemy CAP miss our bombers - so at least in this context my plan with attacking at bad weather worked!)

Morning Air attack on Ternate , at 78,102

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2



Allied aircraft
B-339D x 1
Hudson I x 3


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
xAK Yamafuku Maru, Bomb hits 1
CS Mizuho, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AO Hayamoto, Bomb hits 1, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing from 5000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb


YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

- my opponent continues to wreck the port and airfield of Rangoon - that's bad for him and good for me - the only thing he is achieving with this is Japanese Ops losses, and a completely destroyed city, when he takes it!


GROUND COMBAT

- the woods east of Ichang: - after having bombarded, and thus reconnoitred my positions there yesterday, the Japaese launched a deliberate attack today - 1 full Division and 2 Chinese Traitor Divs attacked what they believed to be 2 understrength Chinese Corps - fortunately for me (as I was trying to coordinate their arrival in the first place, but being lucky, failed to do so) one full Corps with about 5500 Infantry had arrived over the night to reinforce my position there (one day late to arrive with the other 2 at the same time)....

my position held (although my reinforcements were in "move" mode) and we held with slightly higher casualties:

Attacking force 17142 troops, 128 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 657

Defending force 18520 troops, 161 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 563

Japanese adjusted assault: 478

Allied adjusted defense: 491

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
834 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 58 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled


Allied ground losses:
918 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

our first draw in China - I am happy with the outcome of this first battle fought on ground we chose - it convinces me further that the Chinese do stand a chance if they choose the terrain carefully and are at least barely supplied (supply levels were in the red in this particular case, but only barely)




- second successful defensive operation happened in northern China today, on the road to Sian... -about 15000 men supported by 147 guns made a stand in the high mountains there... - we successfully fended off the first deliberate assault by 2 full Divisions supported by 1 Artillery Regiment:

Ground combat at 88,41 (near Kaoping)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23173 troops, 243 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 808

Defending force 15228 troops, 147 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 428

Japanese adjusted assault: 154

Allied adjusted defense: 238

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
956 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 78 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled


Allied ground losses:
872 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 76 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 65 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled


Assaulting units:
37th Division
41st Division
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
34th Chinese Corps
43rd Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
7th Group Army
8th Group Army


although not many Japanese squads have been destroyed, even disabled ones will take a long time to reach combat readiness again - they're a long way from the next base, and supplies must be running low already (own experience)




- our rearguard action to the south of Kota Bharu was successful but costly - we lost over 170 men today, but stalled the enemy advance for another day...


- Japanese forces CAPTURE Kuching !!!



SUMMARY:



my hopes for fighting in bad weather have been both successful and devastating - much to my suprise my bombers hit something on a rainy day, when they couldn't even get close to hitting something on a nice day - I guess the pilots concentrated more when the hail was pouring down on their wings....

China: what a great day - I know it's only a tiny success - but I was able observe several interesting things for the future during these defensive battles today! and I am certain that this will have an outstanding impact on morale in these theatres!

Subwar is starting to turn bad for me - at least until I have come up with a plan to use my submarines properly again... - I am not particularly keen on using SS tactically, but I will have to, at least with the shortlegged S-Class boats and Dutch Submarines... - if the strategic employment of fleet boats doesn't improve - I will also have to change their doctrine as well! (at least with the Beta I am not facing those silly Sub-Bugs that came along with upgrading to 1106i)

R.


(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 20
RE: 14th December - 1/23/2011 4:46:32 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		here the overview of the main operation areas for for Submarines:

Fleet-SS with 11000+ Endurance are to be used strategically only

S-Class and SR Dutch SS are to be used for tactical purposes

to the map:
green: current operation areas
yellow: alternate and secondary operation areas
red: future areas of operations, mainly when ressource centres have been conquered
blue: optional operation zones if these areas are taken by the enemy - more to be added, when I get the feeling that the Japanese will be moving in that direction!








Attachment (1)

< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/23/2011 4:51:26 PM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 21
RE: 14th December - 1/25/2011 3:42:29 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		18th December 1941

NAVAL ACTIONS


- SS KIX puts a torp into a troop loaded AKL just off Ambon - I did here the sound of a ship going down, so that's a pretty definite kill...

- SS Triton puts a torp into an AK off Shikuka - main effort here is to make my opponent escort everything, even the short range ressource convoys from Hokkaido and Sakhalin Island!

- O19 misses CL Kinu off Saigon with 4 torps



AIR COMBAT



- sweeps everywhere, especially over Singapore (high ops losses for the Japanese as they have to use Oscar with drop tanks from Singora and Kota Bharu) and Changsha (where I had smashed his City attack with one AVG squad - which has been transferred for new operations)

- airfield attack on Kendari with Kates escorted by Type 96 Fighters (Claudes) - I assume this is CVL Ruyio that has launched this unsuccessful attack there (because nothing is left at Kendari apart from the garrison there)


GROUND COMBAT:

- one Japanese Inf Regiment attacks prematurely in the jungles SW of Kota Bharu and only gets 1 to 1 odds , with the 8th Indian taken slightly higher but negligable losses!



SUMMARY

another quite day - I plan to set another trap with AVG in CHina tomorrow - I have moved them to another base, which was attacked 2 days in a row with Nates and Sonias only - I will set the AVG-planes on CAP at either 20,000 or 25,000 feet and hope to see another massacre of Jap planes in China!

Ambon will fall soon - my Subs are doing great again, dispite the fact that my opponent has employed considerable ASW assets - the redeployment of some of the boats was a good choice, and it seems it'll take my opponent some time again to adjust his countermeasures! - the DEI, and especially the MAcassar straights (should he move on Balikpapan) and the area between Manado, Ternate, Ambon and Kendari are perfect ground for Subwarfare! - it'll be interesting to see whether my opponent is aware of the danger he is in in the DEI or not - if he isn't we should get nice results - even though only every 8th or 10th US SUb attack is actually successful - we do get 5 to 10 every turn, which gives us quite a chance to actually hit something, as seen above!


R.






(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 22
RE: 19th December - 1/25/2011 9:43:38 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		19th December 1941

NAVAL ACTIONS

- SS KXIII fires 4 torps at CL Kinue off Saigon, and misses - get's 1 DC hit in return

- SS Salmon launches 2 torps at CA Chokai off Donggala and gets 2 dud hits (not that I expected otherwise, good intel however - SCTF to cover landing forces for Balikpapan or Samarinda, as detected by another sub later the day)

- Japanese ships start clearing the minefield at Hong Kong

- ASW TF comprising 3 DDs unsuccessfully attack one of the many Japanese Subs around Pearl Harbour - if these SS linger around PH for another 3 months, then they'll be in trouble (that's where all the DDs get their first nice ASW updates!)

- SS Seal puts 2 torps into DD Asagiri just off Donggala in two subsequent attacks - the TF comprised of
DD Asagiri
LSD Shinshu Maru
xAK Asosan Maru
DD Yugiri
xAK Atutasan Maru
CM Hatsutaka
AK Sado Maru


it has to be an invasion force of some kind - and I guess it's either headed for Balikpapan or Samarinda


AIR COMBAT

- my Dutch bombers unsuccessfully attack CA Mogami off Singakawang - I will try to reach out with my Wildebeests and Swordfish equipped with Torps tomorrow - let's see if they are in range, it's 7 hexes, and without having the game in front of me, I believe their range is limited to either 5 or 6

- AVG ambushed another air raid over China today:

Morning Air attack on Kukong , at 79,57

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 7
Ki-51 Sonia x 13



Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 13


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 3 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged




Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb




- a second CVTF attacked Ambon today, to support the attack of the landing forces there - 9 B5N1 Kates (old models) and 7 A5M4 Claudes (even older) - I guess he didn't update his planes....


- 5 B-17 (6 less than I hoped for) attacked the Port of Ternate to get the ships stationed there damaged further...however the port was empty...I guess he made the right choice and sent those ships to sea - close to my many subs I hope



GROUND COMBAT

- Japanese landings at Singakawang

- Japanese support landings at Ambon - Japanese forces CAPTURE Ambon!!!

- Japanese landings at Tarakan (head on, yes)


Pre-Invasion action off Tarakan - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

110 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Shell hits 1
DD Hakaze
DD Uranami
DD Isonami
xAK Victoria Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Sinsei Maru, Shell hits 3
AMC Saigon Maru

Japanese ground losses:
51 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled




- we held successfully for another day in the woods east of Ichang - with the Japanese taking 3 times the losses we did this time!!!! - he better get some reinforcements, or this could become embarrassing for the Japanese Army - I won't be sending any, as it was just meant as a delaying action - something which was certainly achieved!

Ground combat at 84,48 (near Ichang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16561 troops, 128 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 607

Defending force 17898 troops, 161 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 506

Japanese adjusted assault: 232

Allied adjusted defense: 465

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
987 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 69 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled


Allied ground losses:
347 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Assaulting units:
34th Division
11th RGC Temp. Division
13th RGC Temp. Division

Defending units:
30th Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps


- and the second successful defensive action for the day (same two spots we defended on the 17th) - he will need more troops to dislodge me!

Ground combat at 88,41 (near Kaoping)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22589 troops, 243 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 775

Defending force 14464 troops, 147 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 372

Japanese adjusted assault: 309

Allied adjusted defense: 472

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
824 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled


Allied ground losses:
266 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 49 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
37th Division
41st Division
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
34th Chinese Corps
43rd Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
7th Group Army
8th Group Army


- Japanese forces capture the atoll Makin - after having completely smashed his invasion TF for Tarawa, he took this atoll with a small percentage of a Naval Guard!



SUMMARY

another good day for the Allies - knowing that the next few might be rough....
we have again ambushed the Japanese Air Force over China - only in one location, as the second ambush never happened, because he employed his planes elsewhere or stood them down - both squadrons will relocate again or be stood down... - I really want to preserve the AVG as long as possible, and only use them in favourable conditions - I'm very much aware of the possibility that he might ambush me as well, as soon as he realizes some sort of pattern in my counterattacks, but I will try my best to not show any kind of pattern!

ground attack in China also went well today - he will have to reinforce both of his positions considerably - we always seem to get at least 1 to 2 odds in defense, which is all I can hope for with my limited forces at these positions! - the 7800 supplies captured at Ichang really help I must add

he took Ambon today, we held out longer than expected - I suspect his next moves to be either Kendari or Koepang -- it's only logical.... - the only thing I want to achieve is to keep him busy with these 2 bases for long enough to move Cadres of both Aussie-brigades out of Singapore....one is already being moved via Batavia over Den Pasar to Darwin - after we achieved that the 2 Air HQs would be a bonus as well as the Malaya Army HQ....one can hope for the best

Subs seem to be back to old form already, moving some of them really paid off - we sank our 2nd DD of the war - this time a fleet DD! - nice results - it appears that our SS are everywhere - and are aggressive enough to get around 6-10 attacks every turn - this largely enhances the chances of actually getting a working torp!

R.

< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/25/2011 11:08:25 PM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 23
RE: CONVOY ROUTES - 1/25/2011 11:08:56 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		here a quick overview over my main supply and convoy routes: I guess it's pretty much obvious anyway, and most of you won't be too interested in it - but for me it's a first so I decided to post my thoughts on it:

MAJOR CONVOY ROUTES:

YELLOW:

BASES:

FROM: Los Angeles (Supplies, Fuel), San Francisco (Troops), San Diego (Planes)
TO: Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin
WAYPOINTS: 1 - just off the Marquesas - the convoys will be routed south of the Society Islands

of course that's the main supply, fuel and troop route between the West Coast and New Zealand - I have decided to make it my major base for further operations - it can be easily defended and has enough good ports to facilitate the fast unloading of my large convoys from the West Coast. - from there on short range ships will move the goodies to Australia... - I plan to defend Australia as much and as early as possible, as it's vital for the planned counterattack!


DARK RED:

BASES:

FROM: Wellington (supplies, fuel, troops), Cape Town (S, F, T), Aden (T), Abadan (F), Perth (F, S - if ships are available)
TO: Karachi (from Aden and Abadan), Perth (from Capetown), Melbourne (from NZ), Sydney (from NZ), Adelaide (from Perth)

if possible and practical I will also establish a base at Socotra to facilitate fuel transport from Abadan to Capetown

short range ships will distribute supplies and fuel from NZ to Australia - as soon as sufficient quantities have been distributed in NZ itself to support the huge amounts of troops that will be arriving there - for this task the saved Dutch ships from the DEI will come in handy.
Fuel from Capetown is vital for the operations in Australia - especially for later in the war - to make movement of this fuel easier and faster from Perth to Melbourne and Sydney than via land, I will use tankers with 8000 endurance and less to move it via sea


SECONDARY ROUTES:

ORANGE:

BASES:

FROM: San Fransisco (to Pearl Harbor), Pearl Harbor (S, F, T), Seattle (S, F, T)
TO: Dutch Harbor (as long as we are in posession of it), Anchorage, Christmas Island, Pago Pago, Tahiti

this is a secondary route - in the first few months only engineers and supplies with few ships and planes will be moved - apart from Dutch Harbor, where I plan to station an AS (one of the saved ones from the PI) and a few ships at Anchorage (2 CA, 2 old Cls, 6 DDs) - optional these ships will move to Port Rupert (Prince?)
I plan to make Christmas Island a major base - enough engineers are already enroute and close to disembarking - it'll be the missing link between PH and Tahiti


OPTIONAL ROUTES:


LIGHT BLUE

BASES:

FROM: Pago Pago (S), Tahiti (S, F), Sydney (S, F, T)
TO: Suva, Noumea

only later in the war - maybe starting from March or April '42, if they haven't been captured by the Japanese already


RED

BASES:

FROM: Cape Town (S, T), Ledo (S for China)
TO: Diego Garcia, Addu Island, Kunming (airlifted from China)

I plan to build them up as bases, and defend them to a point, as to where they can't be taken easily any more - I will NOT reinforce Ceylon, as the Japanese can easily take it in the early stages of the war, if they have any intentions there - if that time is passed I will add Colombo as a base in that Convoy route.







Attachment (1)

< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/25/2011 11:10:40 PM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 24
RE: CONVOY ROUTES - 1/26/2011 12:48:52 AM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		ALLIED ZONE

1) THE "MUST HOLD" AREA -------------- YELLOW

although there has been talk of OpSec violations recently I have decided nevertheless to post the line of where I plan to make a stand, should my opponent make an aggressive move on any of the discussed areas of the Pacific and Indic:

I have given in much thought on where I will HAVE to make a stand to be able to retain the ability of making the counterattacks I plan to recapture the lost territory: this is the conclusion I have come to:



PACIFIC

Anchorage - Kodiak - Pearl Harbor - Christmas Island -(Pago Pago) - Tahiti - New Zealand

after 3 to 4 months I will have enough troops to start reinforcing these areas, especially the Christmas Island and Tahiti region - if my opponent doesn't make a move in the South Pacific I will advance my line of defense steadily as reinforcements arrive - more on that in paragraph 2



AUSTRALIA

Brisbane - Alice Springs - Perth


all Australian units of any sort of value have been rebuilt and are currently in the process of training and are taking on the replacements they can - some units are well understrength, nevertheless I am able to field 2 Motorbrigades and at least 1000 AV in Australian Militia Divisions - if my opponent makes a strong move in Australia it is to be considered to move the arriving Aussie Divisions from I Aussie Corps to Down Under as well... - nevertheless there will be plenty of US Army units stationed at NZ, that would also be shipped to Australia in the case of impending conquest.



INDIA

this is the only "problematic" area - if my opponent chooses to invade India, my "plan" will have to be adjusted - but for now I intend to hold the Calcutta - Ledo line - with Imphal as well... - strong airbases to be built at Chittagong, Dacca and Comilla... even though I know that a war of attrition is not really possible in scenario 2 - I will keep my opponent busy over Burma nonetheless!
I plan to hold Diego Garcia and Addu as well - I am prepared to lose Ceylon

I am planning of making Hyderabad my main training area - all non-garrison units which can be reorganized into something bigger, and that are valuable enought to take on replacements will set up there - this place has good railway connections and units can be easily moved anywhere they might be needed.. - furthermore it's not easily cut off, at least not before I know that a landing might take place - also all reinforcements arriving at Karachi, via Aden that don't have an immediate task to fullfill will be moved to Hyderabad - sufficient supply levels and especially support levels, to make the resting, training and reinforcing of units run much more smoothly will have to be provided!


CHINA

Urumchi - Lanchow - Sian - Ichang - Changsha - Kunming - Paoshan


I am currently moving considerable forces to the North to give Sian and Lanchow a chance of survival - supplies will be the biggest problem, as the infrastructure will be unable to supply larger bodies of troops

- furthermore I am reinforcing Paoshan, the attacker from Burma will have to cross a river, and will then have to attack in a mountain hex - almost a perfect strong point.

- Changsha is well defended as it is - I will only have to watch out for the south and to the west - troops will be positioned accordingly - I will make a stand at Kweilin, simply as it's a perfect position.

- Sian is the city that worries me most - it's well within reach of the reinforced Japanese Army (we don't have a rule to pay full PP, as I personally think it's unnecessary - each government and High Command should be able to decide on it's own on where to position the troops - thus no such rule)

- if a defense of Urumchi is possible with the 2 Cavalry Corps tasked for this, great - if not - I can live without it!



2) areas to be defended in case of no early Japanese conquest: -------------------- BLUE

Suva, Noumea, Darwin, Queensland, Ceylon, Aleutians (Dutch Harbour), Midway,

it's as simple as that - I assume that he won't be able to move on all of them before I am able to reinforce some of them and at least put up a fight for some time! - I will not fight for these points with everything I have, should they come under attack later in the war, but I will at least show some efforts to hold on to them - make him commit more than he'd like to - if I can achieve this in any of the above mentioned locations - then it's a success!






Attachment (1)

< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/26/2011 12:57:26 AM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 25
20th December 1941 - 1/28/2011 5:22:34 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		20th December 1941

NAVAL ACTIONS

- we score several hits with the CD guns at Tarakan, deck penetration hits reported on 1 DD, 1 AMC and 2 xAKs - not too bad, but really outstanding either - I doubt one of those will sink...

- Japanese Naval forces started clearing the minefield at HK - yesterday they lost a PB in the process - today the operations were less successful for the Allied mines!

- an American ASW group unsuccessfully engages one of the at least 5 reported SS off Pearl Harbor (patrolling in patterns to the north-east of PH, thus covering the most logical approaches, however I have found routes already that are totally ignored by Japanese SS, thus PH is now fully operational for inbound and outbound shipping)

- Night time bombardements of Singakawang (3 CAs, scoring minimal hits on the runway) and Tarakan (2 BBs, Haruna and Kongo - pretty sure he trashed some of his future oil production too, but I haven't seen the turn yet, just the replay)

- SS KIX gets hit twice off Namlea (not such a good day for our SS unfortunately - although plenty of targets were engaged)

- O16 misses the invasion convoy off Balikpapan and gets hit 9 times in return - plenty of juicy targets there including an LSD!

- TF 91 encounters mine field at Balikpapan (64,97)

Japanese Ships
xAK Asosan Maru
CA Atago, Mine hits 1

- SS Porpoise puts an exploding torp into an xAK off Nakadori-jima, 2 more Allied SS are unsuccessfully engaged by useless Japanese ASW assets (PBs)



AIR COMBAT


- city attacks on Changsha started again - without results - this time the following procedure was observed (preventing me of reusing my tactics of ambushing japanese planes with AVG):

1) sweeps by Zeroes at 20,000 feet
2) Sonias and Anns escorted by Nates on City attack

- Japanese planes are bombing my British troops everywhere in the jungle (Victoria point and the road to the north) with little success - but I guess they have little other use for their planes at the moment!

- Chinese bombers unsuccessfully bombed the troops in the woods east of Ichang - 2 DB-III and 2 A-29A Hudsons shot down

- our attempt to hit Singawang invasion forces FAILED - my bombers (Wildebeest and Swordfish) didn't find a target, as he withdrew his invasionforce already (dammit, I should have kept them on Naval support ALL the time)...however my long range bombers found something over Kuching:

1) first wave: B-339D x 3, Hudson I x 8 failed to score hits
2) second wave: Blenheim IV x 13 managed to effectively break through enemy CAP (only 2 Zeroes were still on station) and hit one xAK once (Never saw I'd live to see the day where British Level bombers would hit ANYTHING)

- last but not least:

Morning Air attack on Ternate , at 78,102

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3



Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 5


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Hasuna Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CS Mizuho, Bomb hits 1
xAK Shinryu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Atago Maru, Bomb hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Port hits 2
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Port Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Port Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb


- no idea why he didn't withdraw his ships from this port - this is the second time where my B-17s were successful there!


GROUND COMBAT

- Japanese forces CAPTURE Jesselton !!!

- Japanese invasions of Balikpapan, defensive actions at Tarakan and Singakawang



SUMMARY


I am afraid but I have to say that I can feel that the wind is finally changing - I had very nice first 10 days of this war - our losses were not nearly as great as I had expected and we managed to inflict some casualties on the enemy - nothing serious, but we showed the Japanese that we wouldn't leave without a fight.

Our initial successes in the air over China seem to have come to an end as my opponent is now using proper tactics to avoid being surprised by AVG: he changes targets almost every day and he usese Zeroes now to cover his city attacks - I will try to mass AA guns at the targets (the very few I have) but it won't make much of a difference - all we can hope for in China now is that the Japanese don't upgrade their useless Anns, Sonias and Idas too early, because until they do the hitrate will not be devastating on our industry (he started bombing HI as well, not just Manpower anylonger) I have 18 replacement planes for the AVG in the pool - I intend to put up a fight, and I will probably fly in American planes early as well, but I won't be able to win an ongoing battle with Zeroes for very long - at least I won't see these Zero-squads somewhere else in the DEI or the Pacific!

my submarines have been less than successful with attacking the invasionforce of Balikpapan - 2 SS hit, 1 of those will have to leave for repairs immediately, and might even have to leave Soerabaja soon, as it's within Nettie rangy of Balikpapan... - 4 more SS failed to engage the TF - I'm not too happy about that - I will however launch a PT Boat attack from Makassar this turn - let's see how that works out (I expect terrible things will happen - especially to my PT boats )

to conclude: the easy and happy days of the Allies seem to have come to close - now the new motto will be "survive as best as you can"... - however I have 2 neat surprises waiting for Francois - one will hit him in 2 turns - the other in maybe 2 weeks - let's see!


R.





< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/29/2011 12:14:25 AM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 26
RE: 20th December 1941 - 1/29/2011 6:51:51 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		to shorten the time between the updates I've prepared 2 maps for the Chinese theatre (which seems to be quite important to my opponent - we did see Nell Bombers on City attack over Changsha for the first time this turn - but more to that later!)

first map concerns the southern front:

strongpoints will be:

Changsha, Kweilin, Wenchow (only temporary, but troops are concentrating there) and Hengyang (to secure supplylines leading into Changsha)

I will however try to slow down the enemy whereever possible - I have marked the line of first resistance with BLUE, and the line where we will hold or die as YELLOW

my opponent is trying to wear down China by destroying its capability to sustain itself - he is targeting LI, HI and manpower - so far we#re able to stem the tide - but this might change very soon (a huge success over China for the AVG today) - therefore I will have to work out a plan to counter his attempt to destroy my Supplyproduction - it's not something I had planned - but in war (and as the Allies in the first few months) you sometimes have to react and try to gain advantages from these moves!

RED: - observed movements so far
DARK RED: suspected future offensives





Attachment (1)

< Message edited by SoliInvictus202 -- 1/29/2011 7:52:30 PM >

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 27
RE: 20th December 1941 - 1/29/2011 7:34:47 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		Northern China

Strongpoints (ORANGE)and "no retreat"-line (YELLOW):

Lanchow, Sian (these two positions will be reinforced, fortified and supplied the best I can!)

delaying actions will happen (BLUE):

1) the road to Sian from the East
2) the woods SE of Sian
3) the road to Lanchow from the East
4) the mountains around Lanchow

we will fight and make a stand whenever we find favourable odds and terrain - I doubt I will make any counteroffensives, however I plan to use CavCorps if I see any chance of cutting supply lines...

my main goal in this area is to delay - more planes will arrive in time in China, that will help in slowing the enemy down and maybe prevent any serious damage (if not all is destroyed by then) to the surviving industry!

MAIN ENEMY ASSAULT AXIS (RED (current) -DARK RED: projected):

as already mentioned before - so far the main effort of the enemy seems to be in this area - he moved an entire Division into Paotow and I suspect to see more troops there soon - therefore it seems logical to assume that he will be moving in on the oil of Urumchi and Lanchow (it's what I do when I play the Japanese) - however I am not moving EVERYTHING there, as he might still shift his main offensive of 42 to the south, and I don't want to be caught with my pants down - therefore a substantial reserve will be formed in the rear of Changsha, on a main road, consisting of the rested troops of the Ichang campaign.









Attachment (1)

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 28
RE: 20th December 1941 - 1/30/2011 8:57:00 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		21st December 1941

NAVAL ACTIONS

- CD guns manage to score several hits on ships unloading at Rabaul, Balikpapan and Tarakan, CAs Kinugasa and Aoba (we scratched the paint again I guess), and at least 5 xAKs, 1 AMC and 2 AKLs are among them



AIR COMBAT

- successful, uncontested, city attack on Changsha - target was Manpower and the evil Japanese scored 3 hits and a negligable number of fires (234) - one of our AVG there was resting....

- AIR BATTLE over Kweilin:

1) A6M2 Zero x 21 vs H81-A3 x 26

result: 3 Zeroes shot down, no losses of our own

2) A6M2 Zero x 24 vs H81-A3 x 19

result: 1 Zero shot down, no losses of our own

3) summary of incoming bombers and losses:

attacks: Ki-51 Sonia x 9, Ki-36 Ida x 15, Ki-48-Ib Lily x 6

causing the reported losses of: 15 enemy bombers lost A2A and an additional number due to Ops (Zeroes as well)!

what did the Allied cause lose in this battle?

1 H81-A3 crashing on landing.....

what did we gain?

1LT Gunvordahl, R. of AVG/3rd Sqn attains ace status!!
1LT Hedman, R. of AVG/3rd Sqn attains ace status!!
(1LT Hedman, R. of AVG/3rd Sqn is credited with kill number 7)

NOT A BAD DAY for the Allied Air Force!


GROUND COMBAT

- Japanese forces CAPTURE Singkawang !!!

- Japanese forces CAPTURE Tarakan !!! (almost undamaged, 86 oil ready - will start bombing it with B-17s, as Balikpapan will have fighter cover I suppose)

- Japanese forces CAPTURE Balikpapan !!!

- landings at Rabaul



SUMMARY

yet another very successful day in the air over China - he will have to adjust his plane production pretty soon to keep up with his losses (I won't even start mentioning 50 lost Kates, 40 lost Vals and around 50 lost Zeroes up to now).
however I see that my opponent is committing almost the entire available Air Force to keep depriving China of its capability to produce supplies - this will be very difficult to counter long term, I can only hope that reinforcements in the air from USA will help to stem the onslaught - the Tenth Air Force (India) will be given additional units for that purpose, also thinking of moving Base Forces to China to help defend the centre around Chunking!

we lost 3 very important bases today - especially taking Balikpapan and Tarakan undamaged was not too good for the Allied cause - however the fault is mine as I failed to commit SCTFs to at least threaten his invasions - one of my biggest mistakes so far: sending Force Z to Cape Town to refit and upgrade.... - I will regret this for a long time, as it has also been confirmed that he moved his entire CV/CVL/CVE fleet to Rabaul - (Claudes over Rabaul, as well as Vals) which was the main reason why I withdrew in the first place

we will however strike around Sakhalin Island tomorrow - 2 AMCs will try to hit unescorted merchants running from there to Ominato or somewhere else in mainland Japan!

R




(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 29
RE: 20th December 1941 - 2/1/2011 5:56:51 PM   
SoliInvictus202


Posts: 367
Joined: 8/27/2010
From: Austria
Status: offline 		22th December 1941

NAVAL ACTIONS


- several unsuccessful ASW attacks on my subs - my opponents seems to be committing a substantial part of his DDs to ASW tasks - which means that my SS are at least achieving something - they keep the bulk of his (older) DDs busy and make them burn fuel and expend ammo - they rarely hit anything, except when the find a SS in shallow waters!

- a Japanese SS sinks DD Ward off Pearl Harbour - it was a vain attempt of mine to engage the 5+ SS off PH - but with a ASW rating of 2 it was rather a silly mistake of mine, and cost me a DD (at least it was an old one, but it would have made a nice DE!)

- AMC Prince Robert is the first of the two AMCs to see action of Sakhalin - but unlike I expected the AMC doesn't engage unescorted AKLs, but a SCTF of 4 old DDs - the ship gets hit 14 times, and retires home at full speed - let's hope it'll make it!

- AMC Prince Henry has less luck - it can't keep the DD TF at bay - they close in on her and sink her with 42 shell hits! nevertheless she goes down fighting - and puts two shells into DD Karukaya

AIR COMBAT


- the usual sweeps over Malaya

- several bombing runs over China with negligable results, this time unopposed by the AVG and Chinese planes (yep, they are shooting down Jap planes as well) - the AVG has been repositioned (both squads) and was resting for the day - I'd like to keep those pilots ready for as long as possible


GROUND COMBAT

- the (reinforced) Japanese Army Corps in the woods east of Ichang finally kicks out our 3 Chinese Corps (B)
we take 3500 losses (some 400 squads destroyed) while inflicting over 1050 Japanese casualties!

- Japanese forces CAPTURE Batangas !!!

SUMMARY

well, the attempt of disrupting his ressource convoys in the north failed miserably - all factors were in our favour - the weather was terrible (visibility less than 8,000 in both engagements), however the lack of armament on my two AMCs proved decicive - the results was all my fault - I should have sent DDs (Bagley Class at least)..well....one of the first major setbacks of this war and it hurts particularly as we've lost surprise for any future incursions in this area... - all I can hope for is that he commits men and ressources to keep me from trying such a thing again - in which case I at least achieved something...

my plan is to repeat such an attack in the future (as long as the weather stays bad) with a force of 4 DDs - with 1 CA somewhere to the rear to keep the fuelled (AOs are too slow for a mission this close to the enemy...)

I was initially thinking about trying a Doolittle raid, when I confirmed his CV TFs around Rabaul - but I've come to the conclusion that my 2 battle ready CVTFs (Saratoga doesn't have enough escorts to form a CVTF of her own, she will join her sister ship ASAP) are of better use somewhere else - it's risky as hell, but I'll give it a shot anyway - I certainly won't hide my CVs somewhere offma - and as they have little else to do, while they're not strong enough to face KB - I'll simply use them wherever KB is not around.

R.

(in reply to SoliInvictus202)
Post #: 30
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