Cribtop
Posts: 3890
Joined: 8/10/2008
From: Lone Star Nation
Status: offline
|
Dec 23, 1941
A lovely replay with many "Banzais!"
Subs
O-19 misses a DD escorting Indes Fleet away from Kuching. Whew! Air search reports enemy subs near the Home Islands for the first time. Our Glens recon Canton, Samoa and Fiji. No useful intel yet as Glens aren't trained recon. We'll search these targets again over the next few days.
Our subs continue to scour the Java Sea, but nobody's home. More subs are en route to hunt in the Eastern DEI and in the Indian Ocean.
4th Fleet
The defenders of Wake are hammered by Nells but KB's planes don't fly. The bombardment force re-joins KB, which is set to retire to Truk. Wake is invaded and the enemy is clearly suppressed by the nuke bombardments and air attacks. The normally stout Marines only fire 11 CD shots in total at our ships, only two minor hits are recorded. Given all three unloading cycles, our troops pour ashore in good supply and shock attack, easily taking the base with 13:1 odds, the two enemy LCUs surrender and we take 285(1) casualties. Both SNLF used are in good order. One will be withdrawn for use invading Nauru and Ocean Islands. Those bases plus TB will conclude offensive ops in 4th Fleet for a time. We may seize Baker and Canton, particularly if recon shows the latter base being used as a supply hub or convoy waystation.
SE Fleet
Rambutyo occupied. Reinforcements are unloaded and awaiting KB, which will arrive in a few days. We will soon buy out 90th Regt from Korea for use in a possible invasion of Noumea. A single I-boat noses into waters south of Rabaul, presaging an influx of Japanese forces over the coming weeks.
14th Army
Other than recon, the air force takes a day off as both Formosa and Luzon are shrouded in Thunderstorms. Cabanatuan falls. Aparri reaches a level 2 airfield and becomes home to much of 5th Air Division. The balance goes to Laoag. We upgrade most of one of 5th Air Div's Nate Sentais to Oscars as the Zeros are about to leave this AO.
An LCTF with 1 CL and 6 DD heads for the enemy's PT harbors, first Iba, then the northern base on Palawan. We give this TF a crack, aggressive commander and will enter Iba in the day phase tomorrow.
16th Army
Manado is now fully supplied and the TFs depart. Quiet for the moment but soon we will get very busy here.
25th Army
Kuching is pounded from the air from multiple bases, but a DA here just misses taking the base, odds 2:1, forts dropped to 0, casualties 202(2) vs 154(1). We will attack again tomorrow and should take it. Brunei, Miri and Kudat fall easily. Facilities at Brunei are undamaged, at Miri they suffer approximately 20% damage from the pre-war 150(150) state. A question for the audience - I assume we should repair the Oil, but what about the refineries? Not sure it's worth it for those, but would appreciate some guidance.
Nells from Chumphon smash an HDML at Langsa on Sumatra. We expect CF to surrender unconditionally as a result of this action.  Still, he is now on notice that torpedo enabled Netties are roaming the area.
Burma
The "bulk" of 15th Army will reach the hex SE of Moulmein tomorrow. We will use this force to keep CF's attention while 21st Mixed Bde tries to sneak in between Moulmein and Pegu. It may not work, but it's something to do while awaiting 33rd Division.
China
Lots of attacks here today. DA Chusien, 1:1, forts drop to 0, 284(2) vs 163(1). We'll try again tomorrow with air support. SA in the northern plains as we cross a river 312:1, enemy LCU retreated again, 306(67) vs 0(0). DA 1 Hex NW Sinyang, 1:1, 887(3) vs 372(1). The adjusted AS is such that we will try an SA tomorrow as that will probably get us the necessary 2:1.
And now, the biggie. We snuck a Division into Tsiaotso and find two enemy Corps. Despite the bad terrain, our first DA takes the base! Forts dropped to 0 by engineers, Odds 2:1, casualties 2708(338) vs 162(1). Although the resources and light industry are 95% destroyed, the capture of the base is of potentially strategic importance. We will divide the unit and send the "C" brigade 1 hex West. Combined with a Division coming up from the south, we may just encircle both Chengchow and Loyang and utterly destroy the enemy defenders. This in turn may make an assault on Sian feasible once Nanyang falls. Sian is attractive because of its 21 Oil, but is often a tough nut to crack as it is in the highlands where the KMT fights better.
See the screenie in the next post below for a visual on the plan.
< Message edited by Cribtop -- 4/22/2011 7:10:04 PM >
_____________________________
|
Printable Version
RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop ... - 
Wake invasion fleet will move into the hex tomorrow and unload on the 23rd to ensure maximum unloading for the ever painful SA. KB will hit the port tomorrow and the enemy troops on the 23rd. Then she makes haste to Truk for her appointment covering invasions in that AO. 
vs 719(4). Bad because the enemy withdraws into the relative safety of Nanyang. Thus, the final haul from the encirclement here will be four LCUs. 
. Thus we get a 1:2, casualties 10(0) vs 7(0). We will rest a day and try again. DA at Sambas goes better, odds 3:1, forts level 1, the base falls with casualties 200(48) vs 30(0). Four LCUs retreat into the jungle and we open an LoC from Sinkawang to Kuching. 
The two divisions lose about 20% of their squads outright and with disablements one is at 55% combat power, the other units are at 70%. Foolish waste of troops here. We should have waited and entered the hex with all our forces. Underestimate the enemy, even the Chinese army, at your peril. One consolation prize is that in the vicious fighting one KMT LCU is destroyed. 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread