SqzMyLemon
Posts: 4239
Joined: 10/30/2009
From: Alberta, Canada
Status: offline
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Jan. 10/42:
A great day for Japan, but some concerns on the fragility of my forces at times.
Australia:
I'll start off at Bathurst and Sydney.
As expected, the Australians launch a counterattack at Bathurst with ground forces, but do not support the operation with air support. I don't know if this was due to weather, or the confidence level was high to brush aside the weak Japanese defence. The base was lost to the enemy, but both fragments of 1st Raiding and IJA 133th Infantry Rgt. retreat, just as I hoped they would, along the road towards Port Kembla. The rail line to Sydney remains blocked! Had Francois pounded them from the air prior to the attack, I think they get destroyed. Losing almost 40 Allied bombers the other day gave reason for pause. I hope that continues. AAR follows:
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Ground combat at Bathurst (89,166)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 2557 troops, 12 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 221
Defending force 719 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 19
Allied adjusted assault: 61
Japanese adjusted defense: 15
Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Bathurst !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
323 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (3 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
10th Australian Brigade
26th LH MG Regiment
8th Cav Recce Regiment
4th LH Cav Regiment
13th LH Cav Regiment
Defending units:
1st Raiding Regiment
113th Infantry Rgt /1
KB flies today and hits the defenders at Sydney to try and keep disruption up. Most of the Australian combat LCU's are being targeted, particularly the infantry brigades. AAR follows:
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Morning Air attack on Sydney , at 90,167
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
B5N2 Kate x 122
D3A1 Val x 115
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 17 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied ground losses:
117 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6
There has been no attempt to bomb Japanese forces at Sydney, but Allied bombers continue to pay attention to Goulburn. The Allied focus on Goulburn is good news and continues to draw attention away from the main fight at Sydney. I had hoped my units on the flanks would draw some heat off my troops at Sydney, and they are doing just that. AAR follows:
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Morning Air attack on 9th Infantry Regiment, at 88,168 (Goulburn)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 5
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
So, I figure I have bought myself at least two more days at Sydney. Even more if what I have planned next works. I will move the remnants of 1st Raiding and IJA 113 Infantry Rgt. to Sydney in an effort to open the hex side and allow a unit at Sydney to move west, and permanently block any further attempt at relieving Sydney. If I can block the road with a regiment and some armour, Sydney is doomed.
Malaya:
Singapore goes ok, but I missed delaying two infantry regiments from participating in the initial shock attack and one got completely trashed. I'm across with 902 AV, and have another 977 coming across as reinforcements within 4-5 days, including the elite IJA 5th Division. I didn't reduce forts during the initial crossing which is disappointing, but then I kept the individual engineer regiments out of the first wave to avoid any of them getting wiped out. AAR follows:
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Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 38619 troops, 363 guns, 164 vehicles, Assault Value = 1157
Defending force 39093 troops, 431 guns, 233 vehicles, Assault Value = 564
Japanese adjusted assault: 1035
Allied adjusted defense: 1145
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)
Japanese ground losses:
4123 casualties reported
Squads: 170 destroyed, 130 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 79 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 57 disabled
Guns lost 40 (20 destroyed, 20 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1723 casualties reported
Squads: 36 destroyed, 88 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 40 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 32 (7 destroyed, 25 disabled)
Assaulting units:
143rd Infantry Regiment
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
18th Division
124th Infantry Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
Defending units:
1st Malay Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
2nd Gordons Battalion
2nd Malay Battalion
2/17 Dogra Battalion
8th Indian Brigade
22nd Australian Brigade
1st Manchester Battalion
2nd Loyal Battalion
22nd Indian Brigade
12th Indian Brigade
AHQ Far East
Singapore Base Force
Singapore Fortress
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
Malayan Air Wing
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
112th RAF Adv Base Force
113th RAF Adv Base Force
109th RN Base Force
111th RAF Adv Base Force
III Indian Corps
Malaya Army
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
5th Field Regiment
DEI:
I mentioned there was a possibility of some naval action and there was. No free pass to the Allies this time, as their luck runs out and they run into serious opposition. Sure, old cruisers and destroyers, but I don't care, they are sunk and no longer a threat. I hope this serves notice. I will say though, CL Java caused most of the damage to my ships, she put up a good fight. AAR's follow:
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Gorontalo at 71,96, Range 23,000 Yards
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 1
CA Takao, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Asashio, Shell hits 1
DD Akatsuki
DD Hibiki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Isonami, heavy damage
DD Murakumo
DD Uranami, Shell hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
CL Java, Shell hits 6, on fire
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Alden, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Barker, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
DD Bulmer, Shell hits 25, and is sunk
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Donggala at 70,96, Range 24,000 Yards
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
C.XI-W: 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano, Shell hits 1
DD Maikaze
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi
DD Hagikaze
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
Allied Ships
CL Java, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Alden, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
DD Barker, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
China:
37 B-17's attack Japanese forces at Pingsiang. I'm concerned about the numbers here, but would rather see them in China than Australia. I'll deal with them when I can, but it's clear Allied air power in China is a threat and Francois is committed to deploying substantial air strength in the theatre.
Thoughts:
Japanese divisions at Sydney recovered some disruption and fatigue, but little AV with only 8 AV recovered between the three. Unfortunately, it seems the smaller units recovered disruption the least and levels are still much too high for my liking. Here's the current status of the big three:
21st - AV 349 Dis 13 Fat 26 Previously AV 348 Dis 38 Fat 34
33rd - AV 338 Dis 7 Fat 17 Previously AV 332 Dis 26 Fat 23
4th - AV 388 Dis 8 Fat 20 Previously AV 387 Dis 33 Fat 26
I may rest the ground forces another day and pound the relief column with KB.
I have to be very careful still of an all out air attack against either KB, or my ground forces, or airbase at Port Kembla. However, I now have 72 fighters on hand in addition to KB. There were some Allied cruisers spotted near Rockhampton so there is a threat developing. I need Sydney to fall soon to restore my freedom of action so KB can do what it does best, which is sink enemy ships.
I'm cautiously optimistic that I can put a stronger blocking force in position providing I open that crucial hex side. It's still going to be a nail biter, but so far so good at Sydney. I just need the rolls to come through for me on the next attack. I think I can definitely rest another day before I attack again. The question is whether to launch another deliberate assault, or go shock.
< Message edited by SqzMyLemon -- 12/24/2015 12:23:10 AM >
_____________________________
Luck is the residue of design - John Milton
Don't mistake lack of talent for genius - Peter Steele (Type O Negative)
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