Stalking in the Paficic - Allied (no Yakface please)

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> Stalking in the Paficic - Allied (no Yakface please)

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Stalking in the Paficic - Allied (no Yakface please) - 4/12/2011 8:30:31 AM

String

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Greetings.

I started a new PBEM as an allied player vs. Yakface playing as Japanese. We've advanced into the first days of 1942 and as I need to get my ego stroked I decided to start an AAR.

This has been, so far, a quite different game from any others I've seen from my Japanese opponents. Yakface is much more methodical and less agressive than most Japanese players. In fact, the slowness of his advance through the DEI is somewhat puzzling. During the past few days I've become a bit worried about Pearl and other important far flung places.

I'll give a short review of the actions so far in the next post.

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RE: Stalking in the Paficic - Allied (no Yakface please) - 4/12/2011 9:06:13 AM

String

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Accidentally managed to edit this post :p

< Message edited by String -- 4/25/2011 2:37:39 PM >

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RE: Stalking in the Paficic - Allied (no Yakface please) - 4/12/2011 9:17:44 AM

String

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General strategy

I have decided to create a fortress at a certain undisclosed location in the Pacific

. I feel that this is a location that can be supported by the Allies and made impregnable, and at the same time, is of rather great importance to the Japanese player. The slow advance of my opponent has made the creation of said fortress much easier, against a more aggressive player I might have been operating under Japanese air cover in a few weeks.

By now I've managed to get about 1000 AV worth of forces there, about 90 CD guns (5"/6"/155mm) from various CD units (Australian CD, Marine Def Bn's etc.), several base forces and also an EAB with several more arriving relatively soon. I'm also scrounging up all the AA units I can find in the pacific and sending them there if I can. I'm not too sure I can hold air superiority via fighters so I hope I can make any bombing campaign quite costly for the Japanese. By the end of February I expect to have over 200 heavy AA guns there (ceiling over 10k feet) and, if possible, an additional 1k AV behind level 4-5 forts. We'll see if the place holds.

Obviously I've left a few areas uncovered by this, but I feel that I can let him run through most of the Pacific if he so wishes, occupying tiny atolls here and there.

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RE: Stalking in the Paficic - Allied (no Yakface please) - 4/12/2011 9:18:44 AM

obvert

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You've probably also read the reports of the GC with CR and ChezDaJez which is taking a similar slow course. Very puzzling. Does make you think there are other plans elsewhere.

What other defensive arrangements have you had time to make then for the DEI? Where are the Aussie units going, and the British/Indian?

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RE: Stalking in the Paficic - Allied (no Yakface please) - 4/12/2011 9:29:05 AM

String

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quote:

ORIGINAL: obvert

You've probably also read the reports of the GC with CR and ChezDaJez which is taking a similar slow course. Very puzzling. Does make you think there are other plans elsewhere.

What other defensive arrangements have you had time to make then for the DEI? Where are the Aussie units going, and the British/Indian?

Most of the british/indian/aussie units that arrive as reinforcements or are loaded on ships are heading to the fortress. In DEI i've decided to concentrate local units at a few key locations, such as Balikpapan, Batavia and Palembang.

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RE: Stalking in the Paficic - Allied (no Yakface please) - 4/13/2011 7:18:17 AM

String

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1/6/1942

It is still very quiet. Quite puzzling to be honest.

PI

55 Ki-21's of various types attack Clark Field during the whole day at 6000ft causing light damage and losing one of their numbers to Flak

DEI

Submarine attack near Donggala at 68,97

Japanese Ships
SS I-159

Allied Ships
xAK Kiangsu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

SS I-159 is sighted by xAK Kiangsu
SS I-159 attacking on the surface

That's in the Makassar straits for those who don't know the hex numbers by heart

China

Most of the action took place here. The IJA attacked Nanyang after air attacks by about 200 bombers but were repulsed at 1 to 1 odds. Casualty rates were 1:3 in IJA favour but combat squad casualties were 2:1 in chinese favour.
In addition one of the 50AV guerilla corps was routed by an IJA armored car company.

I have had some success in destroying my routed units in the deep japanese rear by walking them over river hexes. So far, one of the smaller corps is already in the reinforcement schedule.

Fortress

I'm starting to set up small forces, about Bn size, along with ACM's and minefields along perimiter islands so that he can't easily set up a close in supporting base. A US Army tank Bn is within days of arriving and reinforcing the Fortress.

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RE: Stalking in the Paficic - Allied (no Yakface please) - 4/14/2011 11:11:48 AM

String

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1/7/1942

SoPac/SwPac

KB makes an appearance near Lae and sinks an AKL bound for Port Moresby with supplies. Two other TF's are spotted with the KB and intel indicates that DD Hakaze is heading for Buna. It seems like my opponent likes landing at bases away from targets and then walking to the target overland.

DEI

Japanese forces, marching overland from Miri, take Brunei. Almost 90 bombers from Johore Bahru hit Palembang, but strangely enough, none of the allied bombers set on training there are torched on the ground. Perhaps they were all in the air doing training flights?

China

Japanese air attacks around Nanyang area.

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Post #: 7

It's heating up - 4/20/2011 10:21:35 AM

String

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1/8/1942-1/10/1942

SoPac/SwPac

Yakface captures all of the dot bases west of Rabaul on New Britain via fast transport TF's and also lands at Buna. KB is in support and also several large surface combat TF's have been spotted. Intel indicates several construction units being moved to Buna, so he'll likely build the place up before moving on to PM.

DEI

I spotted a TF heading to Miri on the 7th and moved in with a cruiser task force. They got there unscathed but apparently my opponent had spotted them and they were met with two japanese heavy cruisers and supporting ships. I had, by the way, forgotten to set them on retire, otherwise the battle wouldn't have happened at all.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Miri at 64,87, Range 25,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Shell hits 9
CA Mogami, Shell hits 5, on fire
CL Sendai, Shell hits 5, on fire
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Nowaki, Shell hits 1
DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 2
DD Shikinami
DD Tatsuyuke, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
CA Louisville, Shell hits 5, on fire
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Tromp, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
CL Enterprise, Shell hits 3
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 8, heavy fires
DD Bulmer, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
DD Edsall, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
DD John D. Edwards, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD John D. Ford, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Parrott, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Peary, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

The only more or less undamaged ship was CL Enterprise, CL Tromp and all of the destroyers except DD Parrot sunk during the afternoon. Not exactly the greatest hour for the ABDA fleet. The rest of the ships are out of immediate danger zone but IJN subs still lurk, so nothing is certain. CL Marblehead will probably sink due to fires spreading.
This has been, so far, the only major surface battle, but hopefully it will force my opponent to escort his TF's with more assets.

Malaya

It's finally clear where the Japanese troops are. Over 4000 AV of Japanese troops marched into Singapore on the 10th.

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 114196 troops, 1200 guns, 511 vehicles, Assault Value = 4062

Defending force 46429 troops, 546 guns, 341 vehicles, Assault Value = 1341

Japanese adjusted assault: 2754

Allied adjusted defense: 1683

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
14210 casualties reported
Squads: 87 destroyed, 887 disabled
Non Combat: 181 destroyed, 682 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 56 disabled
Vehicles lost 105 (9 destroyed, 96 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
4884 casualties reported
Squads: 70 destroyed, 233 disabled
Non Combat: 105 destroyed, 319 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 26 disabled
Vehicles lost 62 (5 destroyed, 57 disabled)

The results are not promising, but hopefully the Japanese army will rest for a few days before another attack. I lost about 300 AV due to the attack.

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RE: It's heating up - 4/20/2011 11:04:51 AM

String

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I also ran a quick analysis of the IJA LCU situation. The Japanese have concentrated almost all of their major LCU's at Clark Field and Singapore. Intel says the 21st Division is at Truk, probably planning for PM, and then there are 6 regiments still unaccounted for, two of which have just arrived.

So all in all, I'm not too worried. I expect him to take Singapore within a week though, and then all of those forces will be released somewhere, and I'm somewhat afraid that somewhere might be India. Then again, if he decides to go right after India, he will be in quite some trouble, as that means the Fortress will remain uncontested and a thorn in his side.

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RE: It's heating up - 4/20/2011 11:49:04 AM

Canoerebel

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I'm having a hard time guessing your Fortress location. It has to be forward enough to be a "thorn" in your opponent's side, but not so far forward that it can't be supported. To me, those two criteria seem mutually exclusive early in the war. My best guess is Fiji.

Good luck with the game. Is this Scenario Two? If so, with Singapore in trouble this early, like you I'd be worried about India. If it's Scenario One, I don't think Japan can really pose a threat there.

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RE: It's heating up - 4/20/2011 12:59:32 PM

String

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I'm having a hard time guessing your Fortress location.� It has to be forward enough to be a "thorn" in your opponent's side, but not so far forward that it can't be supported.� To me, those two criteria seem mutually exclusive early in the war.� My best guess is Fiji.

Good luck with the game.� Is this Scenario Two?� If so, with�Singapore in trouble this early, like you I'd be worried about India.� If it's Scenario One, I don't think Japan can really pose a threat there.

It is, indeed, scenario two. I'll probably disclose the fortress location by the end of the month, or whenever the Japanese get in recon range.

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RE: It's heating up - 4/20/2011 2:02:09 PM

Canoerebel

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Scenario Two, eh? I love Scenario Two! It can be a huge challenge for the Allies, which is where all the fun is at. So I'll follow along, pulling for you, but hoping at the same time that your opponent gives you a challenge worthy of long memory.

As for your Fortress, it can't be Pago Pago, becasue that's too far to the rear to really "pose a thorn" in your opponent's side. For that matter, Fiji is too. It can't be Noumea, because that has too many bases for the Allies to garrison adequately early and could be isolated to easily (or so I think). Luganville is too far forward.

But it could be....Milne Bay? That's my latest guess.

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RE: It's heating up - 4/20/2011 3:13:12 PM

String

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Scenario Two, eh? I love Scenario Two! It can be a huge challenge for the Allies, which is where all the fun is at. So I'll follow along, pulling for you, but hoping at the same time that your opponent gives you a challenge worthy of long memory.

As for your Fortress, it can't be Pago Pago, becasue that's too far to the rear to really "pose a thorn" in your opponent's side. For that matter, Fiji is too. It can't be Noumea, because that has too many bases for the Allies to garrison adequately early and could be isolated to easily (or so I think). Luganville is too far forward.

But it could be....Milne Bay? That's my latest guess.

Well, you're certainly getting closer

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RE: It's heating up - 4/25/2011 2:37:28 PM

String

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1/11/1942 - 1/16/1942

CenPac/NoPac
We sank I-26 on the 16th. The credit goes to PC Travis and and four tankers that hit the sub when she was forced to surface. In other news we had a strange sigint message on the 14th, indicating that xAK Tokyo Maru was just 12 hexes from San Francisco, I sent a DD to investigate but so far I've found nothing. Could it be a picket ship?

SoPac/SwPac
The Japanese have been capturing small and dot bases around the Bismarck sea for the past week now and on the 12th a para Bn from the 1st Raiding Regiment landed on Rabaul. The Lark Bn held out and the Japanese achieved only 1 to 4 odds. No further action has taken place there since. Yakface currently has 10 units marching from Buna to Port Moresby. The Kido Butai was seen retreating northeast on the 15th and on the 16th we recieved intel that it's probably at Truk. I expect to see it in DEI, supporting the second wave operations from Singapore within a week or two.

Australia

The first LCU's are arriving at Darwin and I'm feeling a bit more secure here.

DEI

A Japanese sub managed to sink CA Houston on the 14th with three torpedoes. Several small xAKL's, which are running the gauntet to PI, have also been sunk.

Malaya

The Japanese army made a deliberate attack at Singapore today, achieving 2to1 odds and reducing forts to 1. 5k casualties were recorded on both sides. IJA airforce continues to pound Singapore airfield and has made an occasional raid on Palembang, indicating that it's probably the next target.

PI

Air raids on Clark field, but currently our forces outnumber the Japanese, so it's going to be a long siege for them. Intel has shown that the 29th Division is unloading at Aparri, so he is bringing in reinforcements. Currently he has three divisions, the 65th brigade and supporting and tank units there.

Burma/India

I managed to unload another 40k supplies at Rangoon before about 50 Betties and Nells nailed the convoy, sinking half of the ships. It's becoming costly. I'm getting the NCAC chinese troops into Lashio right now. All in all, a potential of almost 1000 AV.

China

The IJA is still stuck at Nanyang, but north of it, they managed to rout another 1000 AV stack that was retreating from the debacle at Kaifeng, costing me another 500 AV. On the plus side, the experience is in the 50's for the LCU's involved.

Fortress

I have concentrated the fastest AP's at Aden currently. When the final part of the 6th Australian division arrives the Queen Elizabeth and West Point will rush the bulk of the division to the Fortress with full speed runs, and the rest of the 20+ knot AP's will follow with whatever gets left behind. I expect to have the division there within a few weeks at most.

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Post #: 14

Night action at Milne Bay - 4/25/2011 8:51:46 PM

String

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1/17/1942 - 1/19/1942

SoPac/SwPac
Heavy cruisers Chicago and Indianapolis raided Milne Bay where Yakface had landed a part of a naval guard unit via fast transport. We caught the APD just as it had loaded the unit and DD Voyager sank it.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Milne Bay at 101,133, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
APD Tade, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis
CA Chicago
DD Cushing
DD Porter
DD Voyager

Japanese ground losses:
228 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

On our way there CA Chicago was torpedoed by an i-boat, receiving moderate damage.

DEI

Our subs hit the heavily damaged I-166 (how did it get damaged, I don't know) two days in a row with dud torpedoes. Other than that, and an air raid on Palembang by approx. 80 sallies, nothing else of importance happened

Malaya

Air raids on Singapore. I expect it to fall soon.

PI

Two japanese DDs sank three xAK's and damaged the fourth at Cagayan on the 18th. They had been unloading supplies there, and sadly, hadn't unloaded a lot.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Cagayan at 79,89, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Wakaba
DD Matsukaze

Allied Ships
xAK Lena Luckenbach, Shell hits 32, and is sunk
xAK Hupeh, Shell hits 20, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kauri, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Marion Moller, Shell hits 2, on fire

On the up side, the IJA tried a deliberate attack at Clark Field and failed horribly, achieving 1 to 5 odds and suffering pretty horrible casualties

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 52540 troops, 544 guns, 652 vehicles, Assault Value = 1913

Defending force 56402 troops, 923 guns, 661 vehicles, Assault Value = 2122

Japanese adjusted assault: 861

Allied adjusted defense: 5071

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
9953 casualties reported
Squads: 28 destroyed, 720 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 594 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 72 disabled
Vehicles lost 208 (15 destroyed, 193 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1051 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 74 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 116 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 42 disabled
Vehicles lost 44 (1 destroyed, 43 disabled)

China

The battle at Nanyang continues. The IJA brought in reinforcements raising their AV to 4.5k vs our 2.9k and achieved 1 to 1 odds on the following attack. Casualties were 8k to 10k in their favour. However, on the 19th 1.3k AV worth of troops arrived from Ichang, bringing the lates AV values up to 4.2k vs 3.9k.

Fortress

The concentration of AA at the fortress should give the Japanese a pause. The current AA suite is as follows

Heavy AA guns:

3.7" MkII AA Gun     - 92 
3in M3 AA Gun        - 170
80mm AA Gun          - 10
90mm M1A1 AA Gun     - 8

Total                - 280

Light AA guns:

37mm M1 Colt AA Gun  - 192
40mm Bofors AA Gun   -  103

Total                - 295

I didn't bother counting the various AAMG's present.

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RE: It's heating up - 4/28/2011 7:39:37 AM

castor troy

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amazing your cruisers did so bad against the IJN in daylight. At night, ok, even in late 45 every IJN ship is superior than the Allied ships in the game (not in real life) but during the day I would have expected your cruisers to perform far better than this. Clear IJN victory near Miri.

4000 av for Singapore sounds a bit too much to me, any clue why he sent so many units? Nearly 1000 av out of combat state though which confirms the usual happening of more units, more casualties.

< Message edited by castor troy -- 4/28/2011 7:48:40 AM >

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RE: It's heating up - 4/28/2011 2:18:18 PM

obvert

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How do you feel about the 4000 AV in Singapore? Obviously he wants it over quick, and then wants to put them somewhere new shortly after. Where is he going? Just Palembang?

Phillipenes seem on the back burner slowly simmering, so he must be cooking up something elsewhere, right?

< Message edited by obvert -- 4/28/2011 2:19:08 PM >

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RE: It's heating up - 4/29/2011 4:51:36 PM

pionkki

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quote:

ORIGINAL: castor troy
4000 av for Singapore sounds a bit too much to me, any clue why he sent so many units?

Yakface is very careful player and uses overwhelming forces rather than takes the possibility of defeat. I know his tactic very well because I played a CHS WITP game against him until the infamous vanishing pilot bug ruined our game mid 1944.

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Post #: 18

RE: It's heating up - 5/2/2011 10:19:41 AM

String

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Thankyou for your replies.

castor troy: Yes, it was a bit disappointing but i'm not overly fussed. It keeps him escorting his convoys with heavy surface assets.

obvert: Well, judging from what I've heard about my opponent I'm not too worried, he doesn't seem to be prone on wild forays into the far reaches of the pacific or indian ocean.

pinokki: Yup, sounds like him. When I get to the next update you'll see that he does like the concentration of force, almost as much as I do

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Post #: 19

RE: It's heating up - 5/2/2011 10:57:16 AM

String

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1/20/1942 - 1/24/1942

DEI The Japanese forces have sunk several xAKL's over the last days which have been attempting to resupply PI.

We spotted the Kido Butai heading towards DEI from the east and it is currently situated four hexes south of Davao in the Celebes sea. Large number of surface combat ships have been spotted accompanying it, and the mini-KB is also present. Whether this is the long-anticipated invasion of eastern DEI or is the IJN sailing to Singapore to cover the loading of transports there, remains unknown. I suspect he might do both.

Malaya

Singapore finally fell on the 21st. However, I managed to evacuate most of the 11th Indian Division via air transport, with over 300 precious indian rifle squads in it. I sent a lot of subs just east of Singapore, to intercept the transports and shipping that must surely be coming to that major port, but so far they've just been battling the japanese ASW forces there with no results on both sides.

Burma

After a long quiet a Japanese regiment captures Tavoy, which had been evacuated some weeks ago.

China

I decided to evacuate Nanyang after the AV of the Japanese army there climbed up to 6000 and the Japanese shock attack got 2 to 1 odds and reduced the forts to 0 on the 22nd. On the bright side the Japanese suffered 26k casualties with over 300 squads destroyed. Yakface reported that all of the squads came from one division which was reduced to 10% TOE, the rest of the units got 10-30% disablements. We suffered 12k casualties.
Last turn my forces arrived at the wooded/rough hex northwest of Nanyang and the IJA captured the city. The terrain there should be quite a bit more favourable for defence and also should offer more defense vs. air attacks.

Fortress

The fortress is well on its way to level 9 airfield. When it reaches that size I can concentrate over 1000 aircraft there, with most of the torpedo and dive bombers available in the pacific, alongside with the dutch level bombers which have been training for low-level naval attack since the beginning of the game.

This, along with the massive AA and CD concentration should prove to be a tough nut to crack even for the KB.

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Post #: 20

RE: Stalking in the Paficic - Allied (no Yakface please) - 5/2/2011 1:48:29 PM

String

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1/25/1942

SoPac/SwPac

A fast transport TF unloads at Madang

DEI

One of my american subs, SS Finback, manages to torpedo xAP Kamo Maru with one torpedo near Peleliu, no doubt the transport will survive. The Japanese fleet moves deeper into eastern DEI and is now just two hexes east of Manado. However, only mini-KB is spotted today, most likely just fog of war.

Fortress

The australian brigades are getting close, but the fast AP's are really suffering for it. I should get the Queen Mary for the 7th Australian Division that arrives at Aden in three weeks, perhaps I can get it in as well before the door gets shut.

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RE: Stalking in the Paficic - Allied (no Yakface please) - 5/3/2011 8:28:49 AM

String

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1/26/1942 - 1/27/1942

SoPac/SwPac

Japanese capture Madang

DEI

The Japanese land at Sidate, which is a dot base just southwest of Manado and capture it. There are three SNLF and Naval Guard units with combat engineers and a base force present. A grand total of 124 AV. I'm considering reinforcing Manado via air transport just to slow him down, but I'm not sure if it's worth the PBY losses via leaking KB cap. The bulk of the IJN is hovering 2-3 hexes south of Manado. All of the carriers are there and atleast three battleships have been spotted.

O19 manages to torpedo a DMS just south of Singapore, but gets damaged by ASW in return.

PI

He has removed his tank regiments and two divisions from Clark field and brought in another, they are most likely in Manila, recuperating from the failed attack on the 17th. I currently enjoy a 2:1 advantage in AV, but I'm not too keen on trying to attack, considering the quality of my forces and the terrain. Would be nice to rout the enemy though.

Any ideas if a shock attack with this situation could succeed?

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1259 troops, 92 guns, 93 vehicles, Assault Value = 1123

Defending force 57012 troops, 923 guns, 659 vehicles, Assault Value = 2087

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
38th Division
29th Division
65th Brigade
14th Army
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
16th Army
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
41st PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
192nd Tank Battalion
194th Tank Battalion
1st PA Infantry Division
86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion
21st PA Infantry Division
45th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
31st PA Infantry Division
91st PA Infantry Division
4th Marine Regiment
31st Infantry Regiment
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
Subic Bay Defenses
51st PA Infantry Division
11th PA Infantry Division
14th PS Engineer Regiment
4th PA Constabulary Regiment
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
Asiatic Fleet
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
201st PA Construction Battalion
USAFFE
803rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
Manila USAAF Base Force
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment
Provisional GMC Grp
II Philippine Corps
301st Construction Battalion
I Philippine Corps
202nd PA Construction Battalion
1st USMC AA Battalion
1st PI Base Force

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RE: Stalking in the Paficic - Allied (no Yakface please) - 5/13/2011 4:08:59 PM

String

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Joined: 10/7/2003
From: Estonia
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1/28/1942-1/29/1942

SoPac/SwPac

IJA captures Port Moresby with the 21st and 2nd Divisions, resulting in the destruction of the Port Moresby Brigade, 29th Australian Battallion and an independent company. This means that the Torres straits are closed for me.

DEI

Lots of sub activity around Manado. Over two days my subs make 10 attacks, but only US subs with Mk14 torpedoes hit, and only one torpedo is not a dud, which hits an xAK near Sasebo.

< Message edited by String -- 5/14/2011 10:19:57 AM >

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RE: Stalking in the Paficic - Allied (no Yakface please) - 5/14/2011 10:19:30 AM

String

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1/30/1942

CenPac

AMC Prince Henry intercepts three japanese merchants between Tokyo and Kwajalein, but the merchants manage to evade combat :(

DEI

Japanese capture Manado, their first real foothold in DEI. I expect Netties to be based there next turn.

< Message edited by String -- 5/14/2011 10:20:07 AM >

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Carrier strike at Butuan - 5/29/2011 8:41:46 PM

String

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Joined: 10/7/2003
From: Estonia
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1/31/1942 - 2/12/1942

Almost two weeks of game time has passed since my last update. It has been very quiet in the Pacific, but in SRA the action has finally arrived.

DEI

After capturing Manado the IJN hung around for a day or two and then escorted another invasion convoy near Tarakan, where they invaded various small bases around Tarakan, but not Tarakan itself. I expect some unhappy SNLF troops to arrive from the jungle in a few weeks.

After this the IJN sailed for Singapore, via the northern coast of Borneo, and from there escorted a major invasion convoy to Java. They captured Merak via paratroops (good move, if they mine the place i'll be unable to use the straits) and landed at Kalidjati. Because the base was also taken by paras before the main landings i've been unable to identify all of the forces there, but SIGINT has detected atleast two divisions. I have about 650AV at Batavia and that's about it, everything else has left Java for the Fortress. The KB, after covering those landings, sailed back north and is currently midway between Java and Singapore.

Japanese troops also finally arrived at Singkawang and shock attacked, achieving 1 to 1 odds there.

Meanwhile, when the japanese were busy in western DEI, I sent a cruiser task force to bombard Manado, and achieved great results, destroying 15 planes on the ground there and thoroughly nuking the base. B-17's from Ambon will follow in tomorrow. This operation, however was in support of another, which yielded great results...

PI

A week ago or so I observed the mini-KB hanging around east of Leyte. A few days later a large invasion convoy came down and the mini-KB escorted it to Butuan, where it began its landings, obviously aiming to take Cagayan. The big-KB meanwhile, was leaving for Singapore. This is where I saw my chance, my carriers had been lurking around the western end of Java, and I decided to loop them around Timor and make a full-speed run for Mindanao, to catch the mini-KB.

Sadly, by the time my carriers arrived today, the mini-KB had already left, also heading for Singapore. However, four Furutaka class heavy cruisers, escorting destroyers and an invasion convoy still unloading supplies was present. In the two attacks all cruisers and destroyers were hit numerous times and also several patrol boats four of the biggest xAP's in the japanese merchant marine were blown out of the water.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Butuan at 80,89

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 19

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 18
Fulmar II x 9
Sea Hurricane Ib x 3
F2A-3 Buffalo x 18
F4F-3A Wildcat x 13
F4F-3 Wildcat x 26
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 17
SBD-2 Dauntless x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 124
TBD-1 Devastator x 58

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Brazil Maru, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Hakozaki Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Kikuzuki
CA Furutaka, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Hakusan Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Kamitu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PB Chitose Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PB Busho Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Hikawa Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Kensin Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Aoba, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Shosei Maru, Bomb hits 1
CA Kako, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires
PB Tyuwa Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Kyo Maru #8, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Nako Maru #2
PB Hirota Maru
PB Chosa Maru
PB Heiei Maru #7, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Syozui Maru
DD Uzuki
DD Oboro
PB Kenkon Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Taikei Maru
DD Shiokaze
PB Tatsumiya Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Butuan at 80,89

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 11

Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 5
Sea Hurricane Ib x 3
F2A-3 Buffalo x 18
F4F-3A Wildcat x 11
F4F-3 Wildcat x 24
SBD-2 Dauntless x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 104
TBD-1 Devastator x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar II: 1 destroyed
F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Uzuki, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
PB Yomei Maru
DD Shiokaze, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
DD Kikuzuki, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yuzuki, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Kinugasa, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Chitose Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Oboro, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Aoba, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Chosa Maru
PB Taikei Maru

Intel reports two cruisers sunk currently, but I'm not sure. I figure I still have a turn to hang around, and the port facilities at Butuan aren't exactly stellar. In addition I have 143 air support and 600+ AV at Cagayan, so it's unlikely that he's gonna take the place in a while.

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RE: Carrier strike at Butuan - now with pretty maps - 5/30/2011 8:41:33 AM

String

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Current situation in the Pacific

The current situation as I see it is as follows. After a long lull the Japanese are on the move in DEI. Yakface is playing it safe, and the one time he tried to be bold, he got stung (i'm referring to Butuan here). So I expect him to continue invading only under the cover of KB and most of his surface assets. His recent moves on Java have put him back on schedule with most of the PBEM's, meaning that he will likely take Java by march. What he will do from then on, I do not know. I fear the invasion of India the most, but we'll see.

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RE: Carrier strike at Butuan - now with pretty maps - 5/30/2011 10:10:44 AM

String

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CHINA

The situation in china has changed during the last two weeks. I amassed 5700 AV north of Nanyang vs 1600 Japanese AV,in an effort to rout them. The subsequent shock attack resulted in 1 to 2 odds, 42000

chinese casualties vs 2500 japanese. Result was that my AV was reduced by 2000 and has been around 3500 ever since. This marks the end of any chinese offensive operations for a long time..

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Fortress Pacific revealed - 6/5/2011 6:36:17 PM

String

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2/13/1942 - 2/16/1942

SoPac/SwPac

It has been very quiet in this theatre. Yakface has dropped another para unit at Rabaul, which failed to take the base, and is now marching a (SNLF most likely) unit from Gasmata. My opponent doesn't like to land directly at his targets it seems.

PI

I moved some of my B-17's and B-26's into Cagayan and ordered attacks on Butuan port for two days. The result was a total of 13 unpenetrating hits on CA Kinugasa, which I hope set her on fire and made her sink in the level 1 port there, DD Yuzuki sunk and two other DD's damaged by bomb hits. Also several merchant ships and PB's were hit, but not too bad. In return I lost about 15 bombers altogether from various causes, most of the B-26's. Yakface moved in a lot of zeroes in an attempt to save his ships.

We won't know for sure, but I think we got atleast three heavy cruisers. CA Kako, which was only hit 5 times in the first carrier strike, probably got away. The whole Furutaka class should be out of the picture for a while, which means that we managed to wipe out the weakest 1/5 of the IJN heavy cruiser force. Additionally this means that Yakface won't venture far from his carriers for a while, overall a great success.

DEI

Yakface captured Singkawang on the 13th and has also been slowly advancing in Java, capturing Bandoeng on the 15th. After the allied carrier strike he also moved his carriers through Java sea almost up to Makassar but withdrew them last turn, no doubt after observing the force concentration at Koepang

Koepang is the secret fortress I have been creating ever since turn 1. I've concentrated the majority of LCU and aircraft reinforcements there. The current situation there can be seen in the attached picture. More on the fort in the next post...

Attachment (1)

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RE: Fortress Pacific revealed - 6/7/2011 9:02:11 AM

String

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The plan for eastern DEI

As I said in the last post, I decided before the game to go for a Fortress Koepang strategy, for several reasons.

The first one is that it protects the northern OZ, with Koepang in its rear any landings in northern OZ can only succeed and be sustained with carrier support.
The second, it provides a good bridgehead into southern DEI and places such as Balikpapan and Soerabaja are already in US heavy bomber range.
The third, it can be supported from norther OZ, Capetown, and via OZ, west coast as well. Granted, it isn't close to them, but it isn't too far from them either. In addition, it is within air transfer range of northern Oz. This was the deciding factor in choosing fortress Koepang over fortress Java strategy.
The fourth is, that being a dutch base I can easily the Dutch airforce and some of the air transportable Dutch units there and thus save them without pulling a full Sir Robin.

There are several things going for Koepang currently, thanks to the slow advance of my enemy. I have concentrated a massive amount of AA, CD guns, aircraft and supplies there.

The tests showed that the average loss in dive bombers for one attack was above 70 to flak alone for KB. Level bombers up to 10k feet lose about 10-25% of their numbers per attack, above 10k ft it is about 10-5% and above 15k ft the success rate for flak goes down to 5-1%. However at that altitude the bombers do little damage already.
I have 80+ 5-6" CD guns there, most of the mobile units on the map. Tests again show that even amphibious TF's with BB's included still suffer moderate damage.
I have a level 9 airfield there and the numbers of AC you can see from the previous post. 200 of the level bombers have low naval skills in the high 60's. The dive bombers and torpedo bombers are also at similar level. 120 of the fighters are the excellent Hurri2b's with good pilots. About 4-500 are P-40's and P-39's with skill levels between 50-60, they will provide the meat shield, and the rest of the planes are dutch.
All of this, of course needs supplies and I have already pushed the supply level up to 460000. A large amphibious convoy will bring in 200k within the next week.

This base is already so built up that I've shifted focus and most of the engineering units to Broome instead. The 700 AV there is a bit decieving, as it consists of the Americal Division, an Indian brigade (a pretty crap one) and about 200 AV worth of tank units with very good artillery support (100+ 155mm guns). The idea is to prevent Koepang from being cut off and to provide a level 9 airfield to where the Koepang airforce can withdraw if things go bad.

It's the same in Darwin, although the 1000 AV there is made up from australian militia divisions so it's a bit of a paper tiger. The large number of armor devices arriving with convoys to Capetown should improve the situation there though.

The 200 AV at Ambon is mostly made up by the "bird force" battalions, and the small garrisons to the north of Koepang are there to cover the minefields which in turn should force the enemy to take the long way round to invade Koepang, or suffer the losses.

In general I think that my opponent, after seeing the forces assembled here, won't touch the place, and given his tempo, any invasions in other areas, such as India or southern Australia, are unlikely. Any ideas from my readers?

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by String -- 6/7/2011 9:05:17 AM >

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