RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager)

RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (Full Version)

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wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (5/24/2010 2:36:00 AM)
Summary of Operations 12/11/41 Hawaii: No reported contacts with the KB. Damaged ships from Pearl Harbor departed from Hilo and cleared the Hawaiian Is area unmolested. These ships are still moving in convoy and proceeding due eastward towards the Panama off-map exit area. All damaged ships in the convoy are capable of passing through Panama to the US East Coast without any difficulty. Plans are to send some of the damaged ships to the East Coast (especially the BB’s). Gilbert Is: CA’s Louisville and Pensacola are withdrawing southward after failing to intercept any Japanese ships this game turn. CV Lexington and Enterprise task groups are operating undetected further to the south. Kavieng: Japanese invasion force landing at Kavieng. Rabaul: Lark Bn is still embarking. Philippines: No Japanese landing as of yet on Luzon. Jap fighter sweeps continue over Luzon. The Philippine Two Step - Something's grossly wrong with naval movement... Despite having set movement on all TF’s exiting the Philippines to “direct”, all these ships are circling around like decapitated chickens (without regard to movement setting) as they're waiting for Pillager to come and sink them. It's not like I'm expecting many of these ships to get through, just the idea of having them maintain some semblance of forward motion while heading to their doom. Even the Boise! (see map below) I had CL Boise set to make a full speed run to safety (on its remaining 20 kts & "direct" movement turned on) down one side of Borneo, and it’s sent completely in the opposite direction to be sunk by a flight of Kates from CVL Ryuho. There's no guarantee Boise would have got through on the movement orders I set for it, but at least let it move the way I set it to move. [image]local://upfiles/18646/B80244F95F1940359A7977F5500DA597.jpg[/image]

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (5/24/2010 2:38:48 AM)
Summary of Operations 12/11/41 (continued) Malaya: Japanese planes (Nells & Betties) bomb Kuantan. Planned withdrawals of Allied ground units from northern Malaya proceeding without significant Jap interference. Hong Kong: Light Japanese air bombing raids. No Japanese ground attack yet. DEI, Burma, India, China all reporting quiet.

cantona2 -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (5/24/2010 7:30:25 AM)
wneumann Mayhaps your movement troubles have to do with the threat level tolerance settings of your TFs. If the AI percieves a perceptable threat in its area of travel it may circumnavigate the TF by another route, sometimes way off its intended course. If you want a TF to head in a certain direction regardless of threat then manually input a direct course and an absolute level of threat tolerance. PS erm just reread your post and you already had it on direct orders. Maybe the AI regarded that SCTF off Kuching as detected and thus rerouted southwards. Was the CV detected? What threat level tolerance did you have?

Alfred -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (5/25/2010 1:57:23 AM)
wneumann, Two questions raised by you recently. 1. The planeless PBY unit at Pearl Harbor. I would not bother restocking it with planes but would fully restock it with rookie pilots who are put on 100% training. Reason being that (a) you can hoard the new PBY production until you have sufficient airframes to upgrade a PBY-4 unit (for which there is no airframe production), thereby releasing spares for other PBY-4 units, and (b) pilots will train even if there are no airframes present in the unit. 2. Naval movement. Operating in waters under enemy air superiority you have to manipulate two TF AI "scripts": (a) route path and (b) air threat tolerance. The first determines the intended hexes for travel. In your case you have selected "direct" which means the TFs are to plot the shortest route irrespective of the presence of enemy air space. However the second determines how they are to react in the event of air attack. If you have them on "normal" (or whatever term is actually on the screen) air threat tolerance, your TF may baulk at moving through enemy air space (note the aggressiveness level of your TF commander) even if you have selected a "direct" routing path. You need to have both the routing path and the air threat reaction set to the highest "da** the torpedoes" setting. Alfred

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (5/26/2010 3:16:13 PM)
Note on naval movement: Thanks to Alfred and Cantona for your remarks... I answered my own question on this while doing my last turn in AE before coming back in the forum and seeing your posts. I found a previously undiscovered TF movement option called “Threat Tolerance” on the TF Routing “page” of the Task Force Information Panel. The “Threat Tolerance” option no doubt came into being in one of the patches to AE as it did not appear in the physical (bound) copy of the Game Manual that arrived with my initial purchase of AE. At the start of this match with Pillager, I had left the “Threat Tolerance” option for all my TF’s at the “Normal” (default) setting, not knowing any better. And as long as a TF has no nearby enemy air or naval forces, “Normal” is exactly that, normal. Add an enemy force in the vicinity of your TF set to “Normal”, and the “Normal” setting of your TF turns into “Decapitated Chicken”. Getting around the problem… Since my surviving ships in the Philippines had nothing to lose, the “Absolute” setting at the opposite extreme of the “Threat Tolerance” option had some appeal. While the “Absolute” setting will save few if any of these ships, at least they will proceed to their doom on a relatively straight path along the course I directed them on. And who knows… with a little luck and maybe a shortage of Japanese ammunition, somebody could actually get outta there. Which leaves a question, what about the two settings in the middle (“High” and “Low”). I’d be interested in knowing how useful these two settings are and what they can be used for. quote: ...pilots will train even if there are no airframes present in the unit Alfred, didn't realize that. I'd say I have lots of places where I can do that, especially in the mainland US. My original understanding of this was that you couldn't train more pilots in an air unit than the number of planes the air unit had (i.e. if an air unit had 10 planes, it could train no more than 10 pilots, etc). Enlightening...

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (5/26/2010 3:29:46 PM)
Summary of Operations 12/12/41 No reported contacts with the KB. Wake Is: Japanese surface naval TF arrives, bombards Wake Is. One Jap DD hit by shore batteries, probable light damage. Minor damage to base facilities from Japanese bombardment, no aircraft damaged or destroyed, no LCU casualties or disruption. SS Tambor attempted attack on Jap TF, received light damage from ASW counter-attack. Guam: Japanese landing force disembarking, no ground combat yet. The US base force LCU on Guam has dug into level 2 fortifications – at least it should make the ground combat mildly interesting for Pillager. Kavieng: Japanese forces capture Kavieng. Rabaul: Lark Bn has completed loading and is now departing Rabaul. Orders issued for Lark Bn to proceed to Suva. AM Penguin arrived safely at Rabaul from Guam and is now escorting AP transporting Lark Bn. Philippines: Japanese surface TF (CL Naka, 7 DD) and an air combat TF (CVL Zuiho) now operating along the west coast of Luzon. Several night surface actions occurred between Jap CL Naka task force and groups of US and British PT/MTB. One Philippine PT was sunk, no hits scored against Japanese ships, no torpedoes launched either. Pillager flew several low-level air strikes with Zeroes against US PT’s – two PT were damaged. SS Perch attempted attack on CVL Zuiho. Torpedo hit, but ‘twas a dud. Still no Japanese landing on Luzon, though a landing should be coming shortly. Jap fighter sweeps continue over Luzon. Only a handful of USAAF fighters are still operational over Luzon. CVL Ryuho task force and several small Jap surface TF’s continue operating in the Sulu Sea area and near Tarakan. Several Allied AKL, AO Trinity, and a small Dutch AO were sunk in attacks by these TF mainly near Tarakan. Pillager also has two unidentified Jap TF's operating east of the Philippines, both of them stationary and a few hexes off Mindanao. Probably there to intercept any Allied ships escaping down the east side of Mindanao. Hong Kong: Japanese ground forces launch attack. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 21536 troops, 321 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 634 Defending force 6692 troops, 132 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 235 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2 Japanese adjusted assault: 522 Allied adjusted defense: 321 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 585 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 36 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled) Vehicles lost 7 (0 destroyed, 7 disabled) Allied ground losses: 195 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled) Assaulting units: 66th Infantry Regiment 38th Division 19th Ind. Engineer Regiment 20th Ind. Engineer Regiment 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 2nd Mortar Battalion 5th RF Gun Battalion 2nd RF Gun Battalion 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion Defending units: Hong Kong Fortress 1st Middlesex Battalion Rifles of Canada Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion Kowloon Brigade 102nd RN Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DEI: Japanese landing forces coming ashore at Singkawang and Jesselton, Miri captured this turn by Jap forces. A detected Jap task force possibly containing several CS now located near Singkawang and Pontianek. Pillager has used planes from Jap CS in our last match (early 1943 off New Zealand) to launch naval air strikes against Allied transports – possible that he’s doing it again. While Pillager’s CS sortie in our CHS match was easily dealt with by Allied surface warships (all the CS were intercepeted and destroyed in surface actions), the situation here is considerably different and it is likely much riskier to send Allied surface warships out to take out the CS task force. Many Allied transports have already departed DEI, some of these already well to the south of Java. Perth is ordered destination of most transports sailing from the DEI. Departure of Allied transports still in the DEI is being accelerated as much as possible. Malaya: Operational planes in most non-fighter British air units have departed Malaya via Singapore. Longer range planes transferred by air to Rangoon, shorter range planes transferred by air via Palembang to Java. British torpedo bomber squadrons from Malaya have concentrated at Batavia and will be used for naval air strikes from that base. Other squadrons (mainly Hudsons) flown on to Tjilatjap for evacuation by sea from that port – these may also be used for launching naval air strikes prior to their evacuation. Burma: Some evacuations of materiel (mainly fuel, some resource) plus several LCU in progress by sea from Rangoon. Allied fighter squadrons (including the AVG) have concentrated in Rangoon along with a number of air base force LCU. Base LCU’s in Rangoon will be gradually drawn down and mostly evacuated by sea. India, China both reporting quiet.

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (5/28/2010 2:40:10 PM)
Summary of Operations 12/13/41 Wake Is: No activity reported. Pago Pago: Japanese AMC’s attack and sink AP Bloemfontain unloading elements of 148 FA Bn on Pago Pago. 70% of 148 FA Bn’s elements were destroyed when Bloemfontain sinks. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, at Pago Pago - 148,161 Japanese Ships AMC Aikoku Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire AMC Hokoku Maru, Shell hits 3 Allied Ships xAP Bloemfontein, Shell hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage (later sinks) Allied ground losses: (elements of 148 FA Bn disembarking on Pago Pago) Guns lost 18 (8 destroyed, 10 disabled) Vehicles lost 20 (8 destroyed, 12 disabled) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guam: Japanese landing force still disembarking, no ground combat. Philippines: Japanese surface TF (CA’s Kumano & Mikuma, 2 DD) intercepts US evacuation TF carrying HQ Asiatic Fleet south of Palawan. All ships and escorts were sunk either in the surface action or later by Jap LBA (Betty & Nell). HQ Asiatic Fleet LCU eliminated in this action. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Balabac at 69,83 Japanese Ships CA Mikuma CA Kumano DD Maikaze DD Nowaki, Shell hits 1 Allied Ships DD John D. Ford, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage (later sunk) AM Tanager, Shell hits 3, and is sunk AM Quail, Shell hits 6, and is sunk xAP Rochambeau, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage (later sunk) xAP Neptuna, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage (later sunk) Allied ground losses: (elements of HQ Asiatic Fleet) 232 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 33 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jap fighter sweeps continue over Luzon. Only a handful of USAAF fighters are still operational over Luzon. Hong Kong: Japanese ground forces continue attacking. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 18860 troops, 315 guns, 202 vehicles, Assault Value = 605 Defending force 6480 troops, 132 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 222 Allied ground losses: 32 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 66th Infantry Regiment 19th Ind. Engineer Regiment 38th Division 20th Ind. Engineer Regiment 5th RF Gun Battalion 2nd Mortar Battalion 2nd RF Gun Battalion 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion Defending units: Rifles of Canada Battalion 1st Middlesex Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion Hong Kong Fortress Kowloon Brigade 102nd RN Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DEI: Japanese forces capture Jesselton. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Jesselton (68,86) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 1733 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 63 Defending force 345 troops, 4 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 4 Japanese adjusted assault: 27 Allied adjusted defense: 5 Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Jesselton !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), fatigue(-), experience(-) Attacker: Allied ground losses: 109 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 16th Naval Guard Unit 6th JNAF Coy Defending units: 108th RN Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japanese task force containing several CS remains near Singkawang and Pontianek. Batavia raided by a Jap surface combat TF, no shore bombardment but two Australian AMC in Batavia base hex loading 1 KNIL AA Bn were sunk (this LCU eliminated when both AMC were sunk. AAR follows. Jap surface task force withdrew to the NW beyond attack range of British torpedo bombers (Swordfish & Vildebeest) based at Batavia. Dutch Martin 139 bombers attacked the Jap surface TF, one hit (minor damage) on BB Haruna. This TF ended its movement at Singkawang. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 49,97 Japanese Ships BB Kongo BB Haruna, Shell hits 2 (minor damage) CA Takao CA Atago CL Jintsu DD Asashio DD Oshio DD Michishio DD Arashio DD Akatsuki DD Hibiki Allied Ships AMC Manoora, Shell hits 32, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk AMC Kanimbla, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Allied ground losses: (elements of 1 KNIL AA Bn) 119 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 17 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 13 (5 destroyed, 8 disabled) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unidentified Japanese TF (possible invasion force) spotted near Ambon and Namlea. Both Dutch PT flotillas are now in the Ambon/Namlea area and are expected to intercept the Jap TF. Malaya: Jap fighter sweeps over Singapore. Light plane losses on both sides. Unidentified Japanese ground forces detected moving into Alor Star. Allied LCU's starting the game in Alor Star have all moved southward. Burma: Evacuations of materiel and LCU in by sea from Rangoon continue. No Japanese attacks in this area. China: Several ground combat actions. AAR’s follow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 83,51 (SW of Wuchang) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 28992 troops, 262 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 944 Defending force 6454 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 161 Japanese adjusted assault: 870 Allied adjusted defense: 14 Japanese assault odds: 62 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 211 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 3948 casualties reported Squads: 84 destroyed, 70 disabled Non Combat: 150 destroyed, 85 disabled Engineers: 6 destroyed, 4 disabled Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 6th Division 3rd Division 18th Ind.Mixed Brigade Defending units: 20th Chinese Corps -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 84,55 (S of Nanchang) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 5498 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 190 Defending force 5765 troops, 54 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 189 Japanese adjusted assault: 93 Allied adjusted defense: 31 Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: op mode(-), leaders(+), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: leaders(+), leaders(-) Japanese ground losses: 61 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 2405 casualties reported Squads: 78 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 95 destroyed, 22 disabled Engineers: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled) Units retreated 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 12th Ind.Mixed Brigade Defending units: 3rd New Chinese Corps --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (6/3/2010 10:16:49 PM)
Summary of Operations 12/14/41 Wake Is and Guam: Both bases remain in US hands. Pillager is putting little emphasis on capturing either of these bases quickly. South Pacific: Force N is completely formed near Tulagi - TF Merge function in naval movement worked very well in forming this group in a set location from ships converging on this point from multiple directions. Composition of Force N is one CA (Canberra), four CL's (Perth, Adelaide, Leander, Achilles) and one DD (Le Triomphant). Mission assigned to Force N is engaging Jap invasion forces entering the Solomons as conditions for favorable engagement allow. Philippines: It may or may not be FOW, but the AAR below does show that lousy US torpedoes do score a hit once in a while. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Laong at 81,70 (NW of Laong) Japanese Ships xAK Kotohira Maru, Torpedo hits 1 xAK Holland Maru xAKL Kokuei Maru SC Ch 23 Allied Ships SS Pickerel Japanese ground losses: (landing force elements?) 24 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two detected Jap task forces including the one attacked by SS Pickerel are in hex 81,70 northwest of Laong. Would be safe to say a Japanese landing on Luzon is imminent. A total of 16 operational US fighter planes remain in the Philippines, mainly at Clark Field. I expect to execute withdrawals shortly on fighter air units in the Philippines once these air units no longer have any operational planes remaining. When playing this scenario vs the Japanese AI (using the last patch prior to the current one), withdrawn USAAF fighter air units from the Philippines re-appeared in Sydney with a full complement of P-40E’s – this in effect working as a “back door” evacuation. Jap fighter sweeps over Luzon have mostly stopped, Pillager apparently satisfied there are few if any operational US fighters remaining. Except for one Jap surface naval TF remaining along the NE coast of Borneo near Tarakan, no other Jap naval TF’s were detected this game turn in the Sulu Sea. Sigint report for 12/14 is indicating a Jap invasion force may now be heading for Davao. DEI: A number of Allied transports (moving independently) attacked and sunk by Jap surface naval forces off SW Borneo and near Palembang. I still have a few transports in Palembang attempting to remove as much materiel (oil, fuel, resource) as possible in whatever time is remaining. No matter what happens to the transports, once they're loaded, Pillager will never get hold of their cargoes. Only a handful of Allied ships leaving the Philippines or Hong Kong reached bases in the DEI safely, the most notable safe arrivals being AS Holland and AV Langley Allied transports and warships departing Manila and Hong Kong were practically wiped out while heading southward across the South China and Sulu Seas. Pillager made a concerted effort to intercept and destroy Allied ships moving southward from Manila and Hong Kong, using most of the available Japanese surface naval and light carrier forces in this endeavor. Even if I had sea movement working correctly on these ships, the outcome would have changed little if at all. For these ships there was only one way to go to reach safety, and that was into the gauntlet. It appears most of the detected Japanese surface naval and CVL TF’s are now withdrawing northward, probably to replenish. One Jap surface TF remains along the NE coast of Borneo near Tarakan, no Allied ships are in that area. Hong Kong: Japanese ground attacks continue. Latest AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 21297 troops, 321 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 617 Defending force 6495 troops, 132 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 221 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1 Japanese adjusted assault: 441 Allied adjusted defense: 433 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 436 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 23 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled) Allied ground losses: 419 casualties reported Squads: 16 destroyed, 22 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 52 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 24 (4 destroyed, 20 disabled) Assaulting units: 38th Division 19th Ind. Engineer Regiment 66th Infantry Regiment 20th Ind. Engineer Regiment 2nd RF Gun Battalion 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 2nd Mortar Battalion 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 5th RF Gun Battalion 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion Defending units: 1st Middlesex Battalion Hong Kong Fortress Rifles of Canada Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion Kowloon Brigade 102nd RN Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malaya: Japanese ground forces (5 Recon Rgt) capture Alor Star. Jap fighter sweeps (Zeroes) continue over Singapore. Only six operational Buffalo fighters left in Singapore. Georgetown base facilities and Penang Fortress (at Georgetown) hit by Jap air strikes (Ki-21 Sally, Ki-27 Nate). Jap bomber strike (Ki-21 Sally) against airfield facilities in Alor Star. Burma: Evacuations continue unimpeded from Rangoon. China: Other than light Jap air activity over Changsha, all sectors reporting quiet.

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (6/6/2010 2:54:32 PM)
Summary of Operations 12/15/41 Wake Is: Quiet. No reported enemy activity since Japanese surface naval bombardment on 12/12. Guam: Japanese ground assault launched, Guam captured. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Guam (106,95) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 4001 troops, 42 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 166 Defending force 771 troops, 0 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 10 Japanese adjusted assault: 61 Allied adjusted defense: 15 Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese forces CAPTURE Guam !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(-), preparation(-) Attacker: Allied ground losses: 920 casualties reported Squads: 17 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 113 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 20 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 38 (35 destroyed, 3 disabled) Units destroyed 1 Assaulting units: 144th Infantry Regiment 15th Base Force Defending units: Guam USN Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pago Pago: LCU from Pensacola convoy sent to reinforce Pago Pago are now fully disembarked, units include 114 USAAF Base Force and two US FA bns (131 & 148). Elements of 148 FA Bn landed on Pago Pago are at 30% of TOE strength after losses taken in the sinking of their transport AP Bloemfontein on 12/13. 115 USAAF Base Force also landed on Pago Pago but is now re-embarking for transfer to Auckland pending further orders. Philippines: A Japanese destroyer TF engages US PT and British MTB flotillas off Iba in what may be part of advance preparations for an invasion of Luzon. AAR’s follow. While these actions failed to destroy any significant part of Allied light naval forces positioned to oppose Japanese amphibious landings on Luzon, the actions did result in about half of the Allied PT’s and MTB’s (indicated by * in the AAR’s below) expending their torpedoes. As torpedoes on these ships represent their principal armament, in effect, these PT and MTB are out of action for purposes of opposing a Japanese landing on Luzon as no means to re-arm their torpedoes exist in the Philippines. Allied PT and MTB flotillas have been re-organized to detach those ships that expended their torpedoes – the detached PT and MTB are under orders to move southward as they are no longer effective for further naval combat in the Philippines theatre. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Iba at 78,75, Range 1,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Naka DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 1 DD Minegumo DD Asagumo DD Murasame DD Harusame DD Yudachi DD Samidare Allied Ships MTB 8 MTB 9 MTB 10* MTB 11* -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Iba at 78,75, Range 1,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Naka DD Natsugumo DD Minegumo DD Asagumo DD Murasame DD Harusame DD Yudachi DD Samidare Allied Ships MTB 7 MTB 12 MTB 26* MTB 27, Shell hits 1, and is sunk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Iba at 78,75, Range 3,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Naka DD Natsugumo DD Minegumo DD Asagumo DD Murasame DD Harusame DD Yudachi DD Samidare Allied Ships PT-31 PT-32* (sys damage 12, cause unknown) PT-33* PT-34* PT-35* (sys damage 21, cause unknown) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unescorted Japanese bombing attacks resumed, mainly against Clark Field. AAR’s follow, these AAR reflect the current state of remaining US fighter air forces in the Philippines. Airfield damage levels at Clark Field are now at 75% for both runway and service facilities. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76 Weather in hex: Light rain Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 11 G4M1 Betty x 12 Allied aircraft P-35A x 2 P-40B Warhawk x 4 P-40E Warhawk x 1 Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-40B Warhawk: 1 damaged P-26A: 1 destroyed on ground Allied ground losses: 5 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Runway hits 31 CAP engaged: 35th PG/21st PS with P-40E Warhawk (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead 24th PG/20th PS with P-40B Warhawk (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes 35th PG/34th PS with P-35A (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 15 Allied aircraft P-35A x 1 P-40B Warhawk x 4 P-40E Warhawk x 1 Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 5 CAP engaged: 35th PG/21st PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes 24th PG/20th PS with P-40B Warhawk (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 8000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes 35th PG/34th PS with P-35A (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DEI: The Japanese surface naval TF remaining near Tarakan again moves southward through the Makassar Strait and raids Allied shipping off Balikpapan. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, at Balikpapan (64,97) Range 10,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Maya CA Ashigara CL Kuma DD Fubuki DD Usugumo DD Sagiri Allied Ships xAKL Lee Sang, Shell hits 4, and is sunk xAKL Belawan, Shell hits 4, and is sunk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 19 encounters mine field at Balikpapan (64,97) Japanese Ships CA Maya, Mine hits 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No Japanese surface naval TF’s detected this game turn in the sea area near SW Borneo. Jap surface naval forces previously located in this area appear to have returned to base, probably for replenishment. Many Dutch LCU’s and air units on Java located at outlying bases are now being redeployed into either Batavia or Soerabaja. Combat LCU’s to reinforce ground defenses at these bases. Base force LCU’s to provide additional engineer elements for constructing fortifications and also later use for demolition of facilities (oil & resource production, refinery, industry, shipyards) at Batavia and Soerabaja. Dutch air units on Java are relocating into Batavia and Soerabaja to continue using aviation support. A similar movement of Dutch LCU’s from outlying bases on eastern Sumatra to Palembang is also underway to reinforce ground defenses at Palembang and also provide additional engineer elements for demolition of refinery, oil & resource production facilities in Palembang. Hong Kong: Japanese ground attacks continue. Latest AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 20970 troops, 321 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 597 Defending force 6001 troops, 132 guns, 74 vehicles, Assault Value = 195 Japanese adjusted assault: 268 Allied adjusted defense: 709 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 924 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 40 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 62 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled) Vehicles lost 15 (0 destroyed, 15 disabled) Allied ground losses: 337 casualties reported Squads: 14 destroyed, 31 disabled Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 42 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled) Vehicles lost 14 (9 destroyed, 5 disabled) Assaulting units: 38th Division 66th Infantry Regiment 19th Ind. Engineer Regiment 20th Ind. Engineer Regiment 2nd Mortar Battalion 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 2nd RF Gun Battalion 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 5th RF Gun Battalion 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion Defending units: Rifles of Canada Battalion 1st Middlesex Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion Hong Kong Fortress Kowloon Brigade 102nd RN Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malaya: Jap fighter sweeps (Zeroes) continue over Singapore. AAR’s follow, these AAR reflect the current state of remaining British air strength at Singapore. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 8 Allied aircraft Buffalo I x 10 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Buffalo I: 1 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 6 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet CAP engaged: No.21 Sqn RAAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes No.243 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes No.453 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000. Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 31 Allied aircraft Buffalo I x 1 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses Allied ground losses: 5 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase hits 5 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 13 Aircraft Attacking: 15 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 15000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb 16 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 15000 feet Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: No.453 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Singapore airfield facilities only lightly damaged. Light air activity elsewhere in Malaya. Southeast Asia: Dutch submarine K-XIII heavily damaged off Saigon in action against Jap transport convoy. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Soc Trang at 60,74 Japanese Ships xAK Okuni Maru xAK Tone Maru xAK Ryugi Maru xAK Tazan Maru xAKL Hachirogata Maru xAKL Awa Maru xAKL Nichizui Maru E Yomogi Allied Ships SS KXIII, hits 4 (sys 28, float 55, eng 7, no fire) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Intelligence display (Ships Sunk “page”) shows BB Kongo sank at Cam Ranh Bay from a mine hit (VH Mk II). There is no AAR or other information elsewhere confirming this report. FOW or did it really get a mine out there? Burma: Japanese ground forces capture Victoria Point. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Victoria Point (51,66) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 1192 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 43 Defending force 314 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6 Japanese adjusted assault: 21 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 21 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Victoria Point !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: leaders(-) Japanese ground losses: 12 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 156 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: I./143rd Infantry Battalion Defending units: 108th/2 Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Evacuations continue from Rangoon. Japanese fighter sweeps appear over Rangoon, opposed by RAF and AVG fighters. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 15 Allied aircraft H81-A3 x 27 Buffalo I x 16 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-Ia Oscar: 4 destroyed ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 2 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 2 Allied aircraft H81-A3 x 23 Buffalo I x 6 No Japanese losses No Allied losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 18 Allied aircraft H81-A3 x 21 Buffalo I x 4 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses H81-A3: 3 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- China: Light air activity reported. Several ground combat actions, AAR’s follow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 90,49 (along Kaifeng – Suchow rail line) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 5367 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 172 Defending force 538 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 12 Japanese adjusted assault: 128 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 128 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: op mode(-), fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-) Japanese ground losses: 24 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 408 casualties reported Squads: 37 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 2 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 13th Ind.Mixed Brigade Defending units: 89th Chinese/A Corps 89th Chinese/C Corps Ed Note: I had split 89th Corps into "guerilla bands" due to it being too far into Japanese territory to get it back to the main Chinese lines. This may be done as necessary with other Chinese INF Corps that end up too far in Japanese territory to get them out. If properly done (and not in excess), it might require Pillager to divert some of the IJA in China to chasing these little "guerilla bands" around - i.e. leave a rail line unattended, and it could be cut. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Kweiteh (90,46) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 11453 troops, 102 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 396 Defending force 1425 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 35 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 349 Allied adjusted defense: 2 Japanese assault odds: 174 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Kweiteh !!! Combat modifiers Defender: preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-) Japanese ground losses: 38 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 676 casualties reported Squads: 67 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 37 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Units retreated 2 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 32nd Division Defending units: 51st Chinese Corps 69th Chinese Corps --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (6/7/2010 4:50:40 AM)
Summary of Operations 12/16/41 Solomon Is: Defensive minefield of 150 mines laid at Tulagi by Australian CM Bungaree. Force N remains on patrol in Solomons area. Australia: First Allied transport ship evacuating from DEI arrives at Perth – TK Angelina with cargo of 1825 oil. Philippines: Clark Field air base facilities heavily damaged, airfield is barely operational. The last operational fighter planes at Clark went up to intercept this Japanese air strike, AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 26 G4M1 Betty x 10 Allied aircraft P-26A x 1 P-40B Warhawk x 1 P-40E Warhawk x 1 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-26A: 1 destroyed P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 20 Aircraft Attacking: 10 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 3 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 16000 feet CAP engaged: 35th PG/21st PS with P-40E Warhawk (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead 6th PS PAAC with P-26A (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead 24th PG/20th PS with P-40B Warhawk (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Raid is overhead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three US fighter squadrons on Luzon withdrawn this game turn, no operational planes remain in any of these units. Time to save the surviving pilots. Other US air units still on Luzon will be withdrawn as they deplete their last operational planes. Japanese amphibious force now landing at Jolo. DEI: All but a few surviving Allied transport ships have departed the DEI, these ships now at various points in the Indian Ocean enroute to Perth, Colombo, or Capetown. The last transport ships are expected to depart the DEI within the next 3-5 days. Force Z combined with Dutch surface naval forces is still in the DEI. Orders have been issued for it to refuel, then prepare for departure from the DEI. Hong Kong: Japanese ground attacks continue. Latest AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 2016 troops, 153 guns, 133 vehicles, Assault Value = 560 Defending force 5537 troops, 132 guns, 66 vehicles, Assault Value = 172 Allied ground losses: 13 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 66th Infantry Regiment 38th Division 19th Ind. Engineer Regiment 20th Ind. Engineer Regiment 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 2nd Mortar Battalion 5th RF Gun Battalion 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 2nd RF Gun Battalion 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion Defending units: Rifles of Canada Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion 1st Middlesex Battalion Hong Kong Fortress Kowloon Brigade 102nd RN Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malaya: Jap bombing raids begin on Singapore. Last operational British fighter planes were flown out from Singapore to DEI for evacuation. Remnants of British air units still in Singapore will be withdrawn. Japanese ground forces advance southward from Kota Bharu along rail line to Temuloh and attack British rear-guard units. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 51,76 (along rail line N of Temuloh) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 3712 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127 Defending force 1612 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 60 Japanese adjusted assault: 102 Allied adjusted defense: 19 Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), disruption(-) morale(-), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: leaders(+) Japanese ground losses: 148 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 633 casualties reported Squads: 29 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 33 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled) Units retreated 2 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 56th Infantry Regiment Defending units: FMSV Brigade 8th Indian Brigade -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kuantan base has been abandoned, the last British LCU’s departed the hex two days ago. British units previously in Kuantan have withdrawn towards Temuloh and are expected to reach there ahead of any Japanese forces advancing south from Kota Bharu. Burma: Continued Japanese fighter sweeps (Zeroes & Ki-43 Oscars), air combat losses light on both sides. Two of the three AVG squadrons are now engaging Jap fighters over Rangoon. Sea evacuations continue from Rangoon, last ships are due to depart Rangoon within the next several days. Once the last evacuation transport ships have cleared from Rangoon, AVG and British fighter air units will be pulled out of Rangoon, Allied LCU's remaining in Rangoon except rear-guard combat units will also begin leaving by land routes for Akyab and the interior areas. China: Light air activity reported. Several ground combat actions, AAR’s follow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 83,52 (E of Changsha) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 29245 troops, 262 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 976 Defending force 15304 troops, 116 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 403 Japanese adjusted assault: 596 Allied adjusted defense: 103 Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), morale(-) experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 601 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 36 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Allied ground losses: 7187 casualties reported Squads: 232 destroyed, 17 disabled Non Combat: 460 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 18 destroyed, 7 disabled Guns lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 3 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 3rd Division 6th Division 18th Ind.Mixed Brigade Defending units: 37th Chinese Corps 20th Chinese Corps 58th Chinese Corps -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 84,54 (SW of Nanchang) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 12091 troops, 104 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 424 Defending force 5356 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 172 Japanese adjusted assault: 446 Allied adjusted defense: 36 Japanese assault odds: 12 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), disruption(-) Japanese ground losses: 562 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 38 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 38 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Vehicles lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled) Allied ground losses: 1985 casualties reported Squads: 67 destroyed, 19 disabled Non Combat: 108 destroyed, 15 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 2 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 39th Division Defending units: 78th Chinese Corps 30th Group Army --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (6/9/2010 11:28:38 PM)
Summary of Operations 12/17/41 Rather quiet game turn overall. Philippines: Remnants of all remaining US fighter air units on Luzon withdrawn this game turn. Several attacks by US submarines against Jap transport ships at Jolo and off NW Luzon. No hits or damage reported. Japanese amphibious force continues disembarking at Jolo. DEI: A small Japanese surface naval TF (CL Nagara, 2 DD’s) entered the eastern DEI area and sank a lone AKL. The Jap TF was then intercepted in two brief engagements off Ambon by each of the two Dutch PT flotillas positioned at Ambon. No hits or damage to ships on either side in the two battles. A second Japanese surface naval TF (CA’s Takao & Atago, 1 CL, 5 DD) entered Palembang and sunk three loaded Allied transports (1 TK, 1 AK, 1 AKL). No Allied troops aboard any of the sunk transports, these ships carrying only materiel (oil, fuel, supply) as cargo. Hong Kong: Japanese ground attacks continue. Latest AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 20597 troops, 321 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 570 Defending force 5582 troops, 132 guns, 66 vehicles, Assault Value = 174 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0 (British engineers later rebuilt back to level 1) Japanese adjusted assault: 156 Allied adjusted defense: 321 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 374 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled) Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled) Allied ground losses: 653 casualties reported Squads: 9 destroyed, 25 disabled Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 41 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 10 (5 destroyed, 5 disabled) Assaulting units: 66th Infantry Regiment 19th Ind. Engineer Regiment 38th Division 20th Ind. Engineer Regiment 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 5th RF Gun Battalion 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 2nd RF Gun Battalion 2nd Mortar Battalion 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion Defending units: Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion Rifles of Canada Battalion 1st Middlesex Battalion Hong Kong Fortress Kowloon Brigade 102nd RN Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malaya: Jap bombing raids on Singapore continue. Remnants of last British air units remaining in Singapore were withdrawn – no operational planes left. Burma, India and China all reporting quiet.

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (6/13/2010 10:32:56 PM)
Summary of Operations 12/18/41 Hawaii: Unidentified Jap submarine detected NW of Lihue. A flotilla of six S-class submarines is departing Pearl Harbor to operate in the South Pacific area. This transfer will make better use of the S-class subs’ shorter range and also bring their better torpedoes to bear on Japanese naval and transport targets that will certainly appear in this theatre in the near future. Plans on where these subs will be based in the South Pacific area have not been finalized, though Auckland and bases on the east coast of Australia are under consideration. US West Coast: Unidentified Jap submarine detected and attacked near Los Angeles by a float plane from CA San Francisco (this CA part of a TF of lightly damaged ships arriving from Pearl Harbor). Entry from Operations Report of 12/18 follows. SOC-1 Seagull from VCS-6/4 attacking a Type A1 class SS at 224,79 A Japanese SS is reported HIT Canton Is: Japanese surface TF appeared, taken on in night engagement with CA Pensacola. No reported hits or damage. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Canton Island at 153,143, Range 7,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Tenryu CL Tatsuta DD Sazanami DD Ushio DD Mutsuki DD Kisaragi DD Yayoi DD Mochizuki Allied Ships CA Pensacola -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Australia: xAP Boschfontein with 3 KNIL AA Bn evacuated from DEI arrives at Perth. 3 KNIL AA Bn is now attached to SW Pacific command. Current plans are to disembark this LCU in Perth and transfer it overland from Perth to reinforce flak defenses on the Australian east coast. Other arrivals at Perth this game turn from the DEI include a small Dutch AO (1550 oil cargo) and a Dutch AK (1450 fuel). Philippines: Allied PT’s and MTB’s transferring southward from Luzon after expending their torpedoes arrived at Tarakan. After refueling, these boats are continuing southward movement to Soerabaja where they will join the general sea evacuation from the DEI. Last USAAF B-17 bombers departed Mindanao this game turn for Darwin. A total of 21 B-17D’s from the Philippines reached Australia, air units with these planes are now attached to SW Pacific command. A total of 28 PBY Catalinas transferred from the Philippines are now based in Australia, air units with these planes attached to South Pacific command. Japanese amphibious force continues disembarking at Jolo. DEI: All sectors reporting quiet. Sea evacuations continue. Concentration of Dutch LCU’s on Java at Batavia and Soerabaja continues. Base force units with engineer elements in Batavia and Soerabaja are busily digging foxholes and will also be in place for “enhanced” demolitions of oil & resource production, industrial and shipyard facilities at these two bases. A similar concentration of Dutch LCU’s on Sumatra at Palembang (eastern Sumatra) and Medan (western Sumatra) is also underway. Emphasis in this action is on concentrating available engineer elements from nearby bases in Palembang for demolition of oil & resource production and refineries. The last Allied transport ships in Palembang (2 AKL’s) are now loading resource points for evacuation. Hong Kong: Quiet. No reported ground combat. . Malaya: Jap bombing raids on Singapore continue. A rather large Japanese landing force coming ashore at Mersing, engaged by 22 Australian Brigade. AAR follows. All British ground forces north of Johore Bahru are “packing” to withdraw into Singapore as quickly as possible. Singapore base is also set to draw as much of the available supply from mainland Malaya into Singapore proper as possible. Current plans are to organize a ground defense of Johore Bahru followed by a withdrawal into Singapore fortress, -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Mersing (51,82) Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 2396 troops, 22 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 96 Defending force 17314 troops, 320 guns, 318 vehicles, Assault Value = 239 Allied ground losses: 13 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 22nd Australian Brigade Defending units: 3rd Ind. Engr Rgt /21 21st Ind. Engr Rgt /21 Sasebo 8th SNLF /21 Yokosuka 4th SNLF /21 Sasebo 3rd SNLF /21 26th Fld AA Gun Co /21 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Bn /21 8th Field AF Const Bn /21 15th Const Co /21 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Bn /21 1st RF Gun Bn /21 3rd Engineer Const Bn /21 HQ 2nd Fleet /21 56th Const Co /21 34th Road Const Co /21 31st Fld AA Bn /21 5th Mortar Bn /21 HQ 14th Army /21 35th Fld AA Bn /21 3rd Mortar Bn /21 21st Fld AA Gun Co /21 8th Medium FA Rgt /21 47th Const Co /21 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Bn /21 33rd Road Const Co /21 14th Ind.Art.Mortar Bn /21 9th Field AF Const Bn /21 12th JAAF Base Force /21 43rd Const Co /21 35th Fld AA Gun Co /21 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What makes the above AAR interesting is the identities of the Japanese units involved. Not so much what kind of LCU's they are, or the number of them... but where some of those Japanese units came to Mersing from. Pillager brought a number of units shown in the preceeding AAR (italics) into Mersing from Formosa, rather than using them in the Philippines. Hard to say how much can be concluded from the action at Mersing. The most likely conclusion is that Pillager is placing some emphasis on Singapore, and perhaps more emphasis than indicated simply by the fact he is landing Japanese forces at Mersing to outflank British ground defenses in Malaya. Might be that a quick Japanese capture and build-up of Singapore as a base has some importance to Pillager's plans as a jumping-off point for other Jap advances. I'm not necessarily interpreting this as Pillager ignoring the Philippines, though at this time he has sufficiently eliminated it (for his purposes) as a significant Allied obstacle to his plans. But I easily see the possibility that Singapore is considerably more important in Pillager's plans than Manila. And besides... both Pillager and I realize the Philippines will fall no matter when he lands on them. Burma, India and China all reporting quiet.

Alfred -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (6/14/2010 4:19:54 AM)
The move on mersing, as constituted appears to be very risky. Risky because (a) the ships are vulnerable to Vildeberest/Swordfish from Singapore (b) a shortage of infantry suggests an Allied shock attack may be very profitable (c) it may well be that you can rush some additional infantry to Mersing (don't forget the British Catalinas can transport infantry to Mersing) to assist in (b) above (d) so much artillery is very vulnerable to ground attack from level bombers from Singapore and Palembang and Medan Alfred

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (6/21/2010 4:35:28 AM)
Summary of Operations 12/19/41 US West Coast: Jap submarine detected last game turn remains off Los Angeles. Suva: Transport (AP) carrying Lark Bn arrives at Suva from Rabaul. Lark Bn was evacuated from Rabaul on 12/12 and will be disembarking in Suva to reinforce the Allied garrison force. AM Penguin (evacuated from Guam) escorted the Lark Bn transport into Suva. New Zealand: Elements of Pensacola transport convoy with US 147 FA Rgt arrives at Auckland. 147 FA Rgt is disembarking at Auckland pending further orders. Rabaul: Japanese invasion force reached Rabaul and is now landing troops. Several AAR’s of gunnery exchange between Allied shore batteries and the Jap invasion TF show the invasion TF to have at least 2-3 AK escorted by 5 PB’s with no evidence of heavier Japanese naval forces in the area. Force N (1 CA, 4 CL, 1 DD) is moving NW from the Tulagi area toward Rabaul for a possible engagement with the Japanese invasion TF. Philippines: Japanese amphibious force continues disembarking at Jolo. DEI: Jap amphibious landings underway at Menado and Singkawang. An unidentified Japanese TF detected NE of Morotai. AAR of Allied ground bombardment attack at Singkawang follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Singkawang (56,88) Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 830 troops, 5 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 36 Defending force 2859 troops, 63 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 52 Japanese ground losses: 22 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: West Borneo KNIL Battalion Singkawang Base Force Defending units: 41st Guard Bn /23 51st Fld AA Bn /23 6th Field AF Const Bn /23 23rd AA Rgt /23 18th JNAF AF Unit /23 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last two Allied evacuation transports departing from Palembang with cargo of resource points. All available Dutch 139WH-3 2E bombers transferred by air into Palembang to launch ground attack air strikes against Japanese LCU’s coming ashore at Mersing. Hong Kong: Japanese ground forces resume attack against Hong Kong. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 20525 troops, 321 guns, 217 vehicles, Assault Value = 564 Defending force 5115 troops, 132 guns, 61 vehicles, Assault Value = 144 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0 (fortifications rebuilt to level 1) Japanese adjusted assault: 251 Allied adjusted defense: 257 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 94 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled) Allied ground losses: 335 casualties reported Squads: 21 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 19 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Vehicles lost 8 (0 destroyed, 8 disabled) Assaulting units: 19th Ind. Engineer Regiment 38th Division 66th Infantry Regiment 20th Ind. Engineer Regiment 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 5th RF Gun Battalion 2nd Mortar Battalion 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 2nd RF Gun Battalion 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion Defending units: Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion Rifles of Canada Battalion Hong Kong Fortress Kowloon Brigade 102nd RN Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malaya: Japanese landing force continues disembarking at Mersing, engaged by 22 Australian Brigade. Jap force at Mersing was reinforced this game turn with Sasebo 3 SNLF arriving from Samah. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Mersing (51,82) Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 2376 troops, 22 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 95 Defending force 18806 troops, 320 guns, 335 vehicles, Assault Value = 238 Assaulting units: 22nd Australian Brigade Defending units: 3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment 21st Ind. Engineer Regiment Sasebo 3rd SNLF Sasebo 8th SNLF Yokosuka 4th SNLF 33rd Road Const Co 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 2nd Fleet /21 56th Const Co 1st RF Gun Battalion 14th Ind.Art.Mortar Bn /21 31st Field AA Battalion 21st Fld AA Gun Co 26th Fld AA Gun Co 43rd Const Co 8th Field AF Construction Battalion 15th Const Co 3rd Engineer Construction Battalion 35th Field AA Battalion 34th Road Const Co 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 47th Const Co 3rd Mortar Battalion 35th Fld AA Gun Co 14th Army 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 9th Field AF Construction Battalion 5th Mortar Battalion 12th JAAF Base Force /21 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- quote: The move on mersing, as constituted appears to be very risky. Risky because (a) the ships are vulnerable to Vildeberest/Swordfish from Singapore (b) a shortage of infantry suggests an Allied shock attack may be very profitable (c) it may well be that you can rush some additional infantry to Mersing (don't forget the British Catalinas can transport infantry to Mersing) to assist in (b) above (d) so much artillery is very vulnerable to ground attack from level bombers from Singapore and Palembang and Medan Alfred (a and c) Singapore airfield is pretty much non-operational due to bombing damage. British air forces in Singapore have all been evacuated via the DEI or Rangoon. The British torpedo bombers (Vildebeests & Swordfish) are now based on Java, other British air units are in various stages of evacuation and no longer available for combat ops. (b) Most British infantry LCU's are still located in central Malaya and will need to be moved southward, either to avoid being cut off from a retreat into Singapore and/or reinforce 22 Australian Brigade in attacking or holding on at Mersing. I'm not expecting any British LCU's to reach Mersing in time to execute an effective counterattack, but reinforcing Mersing would be useful in bottling up Japanese ground units Pillager is landing there and keeping them separated from the Jap ground forces advancing southward from Kota Bharu and Thailand. No matter what... I have to hold Mersing to keep the escape route into Singapore open, so at the very least reinforcing an Allied ground defense at Mersing is a must. (d) Although I have no British level bombers available to attack Japanese LCU's at Mersing, the full available Dutch 139WH-3 2E bomber force (40-45 planes) were sent to Palembang to launch a ground attack strike at Mersing. This air strike should have a good chance of at least a modest level of success as Mersing (as of now) is probably beyond the range of effective Japanese LRCAP (assuming Pillager has any LRCAP up over Mersing). The Japanese flak LCU in Mersing are still partially disembarked, so the Dutch bombers might have things their way for at least one try. Southeast Asia: A series of sigint report entries for 12/19 indicate elements of four Japanese LCU’s are enroute by sea to Bangkok. Build-up for land invasion of Burma. Burma: Sea evacuation from Rangoon of materiel (fuel, oil, resource) and Allied forces in excess of what is needed for a rear-guard defense of Burma is nearly complete. All transport shipping sent into Rangoon to remove LCU’s, aircraft and material have loaded and are now departed. RAF and AVG fighter air units in Rangoon have completed their CAP cover mission for the sea evacuation and are preparing for transfer out of Rangoon to bases in NE India. China: Japanese ground forces attack in north China. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 89,40 (SW of Taiyuan) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 12181 troops, 141 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 980 Defending force 4977 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 135 Japanese adjusted assault: 178 Allied adjusted defense: 88 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 96 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled) Allied ground losses: 1792 casualties reported Squads: 64 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 45 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 5 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 37th Division 41st Division 4th Ind.Mixed Brigade 6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 33rd Chinese Corps 7th Group Army --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (6/21/2010 5:23:34 AM)
The Big Picture #2 – Early War Allied Air Operations & Doctrine From the Allied perspective, the air campaign during the early war period is considerably different in AE than my past experience in CHS or stock WitP. Several factors I’ve already observed in AE greatly influence the way Allied air operations and doctrine are handled in this game compared to my last game vs Pillager in CHS, and possibly other factors that I’ve yet to run into. Anyway…this discussion will cover what I’ve observed so far in AE and what measures appear to be necessary as adjustments. Two principal factors appear to dominate conduct of the overall Allied air campaign in AE through at least the opening months of the war. 1) Starting strength of Allied Air Units: Few Allied air units begin the game on 12/8/41 at anything approaching full TOE strength, even those air units equipped with “obsolete” planes. Thus… before the Allies can even begin thinking of an air war, there is first the task of bringing air units up to TOE strength with whatever planes that are available, regardless of type. 2) Aircraft Production & Replacement Pools: Two other eye-opening features of AE from the Allied side are the numbers of planes available in the replacement pools and the Allied production rates for those aircraft types where planes are being produced at all. The numbers for both aircraft production and replacement planes on hand are quite stingy in AE compared to either CHS or stock WitP, and create a rather severe shortage of planes across all nationalities and aircraft types. The end result of the two factors mentioned above: Combining the two factors I mentioned renders any significant or sustained Allied air operations (defensive or offensive) during the early war period virtually impossible, with the exception of local defense operations at critical rear-area bases or operations in forward areas (Philippines, DEI, Malaya) where Allied air units for the most part will be fighting to the last plane. Primary roles of Allied air forces in the early war period: Outside of the forward areas (Philippines, DEI, Malaya), Allied air doctrine during the opening months of the war cast the Allied air forces in two primary roles. • A force-in-being: Units of the Allied air forces which are at operational TOE strength will need to be used carefully and be committed only in situations that are critical or very significant to the overall conduct of the war. No matter how weak Allied air forces are compared to the Japanese, the Japanese have to operate with the knowledge that an Allied air force exists to oppose them and that force can appear before them anywhere and at any time. Only if Allied air forces are kept at a significant level of strength, will the concept of a force-in-being be possible. • A work in progress: Considerable amounts of time, planning, effort and micro-management will be required before the strength of Allied air forces becomes useful for sustained large-scale air operations, particularly with regard to combat ops. What cannot be estimated at this time is how long a period the early-war state of Allied air forces will continue before advanced plane types appear in sufficient numbers to bring Allied air units to full strength and to allow effectively supporting air units in sustained operations and combat. My present thought being the air war in AE is not unlike playing the rest of the Allied side in general – patience, discipline and preparation being key. Classification of Allied air units: After combing through Allied air units starting the game on 12/8/41 across all theatres and nationalities, I’ve placed nearly all Allied air units into one of four categories as follows. Category #1 – Forward area air commands as of 12/8/41 Air units in this category include those in areas that will come under immediate or imminent Japanese attack (i.e. Philippines, DEI, Malaya) in 1941 or early 1942. Many of these air units are frozen in a restricted command at these locations with no possibility of transfer (using PP) to a non-restricted command, this being true of all Dutch air units in the DEI and many US air units in the Philippines. In general, plans for forward Allied air units (especially fighters) located in the Philippines, DEI, and Malaya will be to stand and fight to the last plane. Once an air unit no longer has any operational planes remaining or if the base an air unit is located at is under imminent danger of capture by Japanese forces, either withdrawal or disbandment of the air unit will be executed to save its surviving pilots, or (where possible) the air unit is flown out or evacuated by sea transport. It is anticipated at least the surviving US B-17 bomber and PBY patrol air units along with much of the British air forces in Malaya will evacuate from the forward areas to participate in future operations. Executing a withdrawal or disband once an air unit no longer has any operational planes or is threatened with imminent overrun by Japanese ground forces is the probable option for most other Allied air units in forward areas, mainly US air units in the Philippines other than B-17’s and PBY’s, Dutch air forces in the DEI and some British air units. Category #2 – Air units suitable for long-term or permanent employment in front line air forces This category includes air units satisfying both the following criteria – (a) are in a non-restricted command or are in a restricted command and can be transferred out of the command using PP, and (b) do not have a withdrawal date or have a withdrawal date late enough (1943 and after) to warrant bringing them up to full establishment and training for use in front line service. Most if not all Allied air units entering the game as reinforcements after 12/8/41 are expected to be Category #2. Most air units in Category #2 as of 12/41 exist in the mainland US, Hawaii and Australia, with some British air units. In some instances, air units starting the game as Category #1 that do not have a withdrawal date will switch to Category #2 after evacuation out of the forward areas, notably some British air units from Malaya having a late or no withdrawal date. Initially, virtually none of the Category #2 air units will be in a condition suitable for effective use in sustained or significant air operations, especially combat against any kind of substantial Japanese opposition. This situation is true for either or both the following reasons – (a) insufficient number of planes on hand in the air unit or in the replacement pools to bring them up to or maintain them at full strength, and/or (b) low pilot experience and training levels. During the early war period, it is planned that Category #2 air units will be in training mode as much as possible and not be employed in combat operations except for critical situations. When the use of dedicated pilot training squadrons is implemented, it appears in nearly all cases these squadrons can only be selected and drawn from Category #2 air units that do not have a withdrawal date. This appears to be due to the fact that pilots in an air unit can be transferred from the air unit to the general reserve pilot pool only when the air unit does not have a withdrawal date. If an air unit does have a withdrawal date, it appears that pilots cannot be brought into the air unit from the pilot pool, trained in the air unit, and then returned from the air unit to the (general) pilot pool after training. Category #3 – Air units suitable for short-term employment in front line air forces This category includes a number of air units in the mainland US with a relatively early withdrawal date during 1942 and attached to a non-restricted command (either initially or transferred from a restricted command using PP). As in Category #2, there are virtually no Allied air units in Category #3 in a condition suitable for effective use in sustained or significant air operations. Some air units starting the game in Category #1 and have an early withdrawal date will become Category #3 once they are evacuated from the forward area (i.e. Philippines, Malaya) where they started the game. Early withdrawal dates of these air units limit their usefulness in building them up for effective long term employment in front-line service. Due to having a withdrawal date, Category #3 air units are also not usable as dedicated pilot training squadrons. Category #4 – Non-transferrable restricted rear area command air units This category includes a number of air units in the mainland US that are in restricted commands, and are either not transferrable to a non-restricted command or are transferrable but have not been transferred. From my observation, it appears that with very few exceptions, Category #4 air units have a withdrawal date. Useful employment of Category #4 air units in the mainland US is limited to local defense of bases in the mainland US and missions (primarily naval search and ASW) on or close to the US West Coast. Except for the few Category #4 air units that do not have a withdrawal date, Category #4 air units are likely not usable as dedicated pilot training squadrons. Final notes on air unit categories – The breakdown of air units into the four categories described above reflects the state of Allied air forces as they exist on 12/8/41 and during the first months of the war. Some of the air unit categories I described above gradually disappear as time in the game progresses. The initial Japanese conquests will render Category #1 air units extinct, many of these units eliminated in action during the Japanese advance, with other Category #1 air units that evacuate from forward areas merged into Category #3 until they are eventually withdrawn from the game. Withdrawals will eventually remove nearly all Category #3 and #4 Allied air units from the game as most of these air units have a withdrawal date. Nearly all the air units I’ve placed in this group are expected to leave the game by the end of 1942 or considerably earlier, and likely never to operate in a significant front-line or training role. Beginning mid- to late-1942, the number of Category #2 Allied air units in the game will increase and this category eventually becomes the predominate category of Allied air units in the game. In the mid- and late-war periods, except for a small number of Category #4 air units in the mainland US that are non-transferrable from their restricted command and do not have a withdrawal date, nearly all other Allied air units in the game can be regarded as Category #2 units operating either in a front-line or training role. It's anticipated that Category #4 air units without a withdrawal date will almost certainly be employed as dedicated pilot training squadrons. Training, training, more training: While the Allies do lack for planes, they do not lack for pilots. And that’s what those pilots will be doing for awhile… training. Pilot training will be an important if not the sole activity for air units in all theatres when these air units are not required for other functions. All or as many air units as possible will be engaged in pilot training activity except when needed for other functions or in critical situations. Methodology of Pilot Training: This is the micro-management part… Plans are to set air units actively in training mode to continuous 100% training, with pilot fatigue levels and numbers of operational planes monitored in these units. An air unit in active training will be stood down once the air unit is found to have a pilot fatigue level of 30 or above, and/or the air unit has a significant number of damaged planes. Once the air unit’s fatigue level drops and all planes in the air unit are in operational status, the air unit will again be placed in 100% training. It's anticipated that pilots in most if not all air units will be performing specialized rather than general training. The specific type of specialized training done for pilots in an air unit will be based first on the air unit’s type (fighter, bomber, patrol, recon, transport, etc). In some cases, the designated type of specialized training will be set according to the mission type(s) the air unit is expected to fly in front-line operations (strategic vs tactical bombing of ground targets, naval vs ground attack air strikes for bomber units; recon vs naval search for patrol & recon air units; air-to-air combat vs ground support for fighter and fighter-bomber squadrons, etc). Development of dedicated pilot training squadrons: At the earliest possible time, a number of selected air units may be designated for use as dedicated pilot training squadrons. Due to the (apparent) restriction where pilots in an air unit can be transferred out of the air unit to the general reserve pilot pool only when the air unit does not have a withdrawal date, selection of dedicated pilot training squadrons can only be made from air units that do not have a withdrawal date, these air units mostly in Category #2 and a few Category #4. Expected training activity to be performed in designated pilot training squadrons will be to draw untrained pilots from the replacement pools, provide either general or specialized training to these pilots, then transfer the trained pilots from the training squadron into the general reserve pilot pool for eventual assignment in a front line air unit. I’m anticipating as of now that the large-scale practice of dedicated training squadrons will probably be limited to the US, mainly USAAF and USN pilots. Though if it proves to be feasible, I would consider extending the use of dedicated training squadrons to other nationalities and branches of service. Conclusion: The discussion above is based on my initial observation of Allied air units in AE, the state of those air units, Allied aircraft production, and numbers of available planes in the Allied plane replacement pools on 12/8/41. I’ve also included some observations from my earlier play of AE against the Japanese AI through mid-1942 prior to starting this PBEM vs Pillager. I’m also quite aware that “missing links” probably exist in my view of conducting early-war Allied air operations in AE, and I’ve not even got around to mentioning the workings of Allied air warfare in AE later on (1943 and after). I will gratefully receive from readers any facts, opinions, advice, suggestions on the general conduct of the Allied air war in AE or about other air topics.

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (6/22/2010 11:01:33 PM)
Summary of Operations 12/20/41 US West Coast: No reported contact this game turn with detected Jap submarine off Los Angeles. Suva: Transport convoy from Sydney arrived in Suva and is disembarking 39 Australian Bn to reinforce Allied ground forces garrisoning Fiji. This LCU, along with Lark Bn arriving at Suva last game turn, will double the infantry strength on Fiji. Rabaul: Japanese forces capture Rabaul. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Rabaul (106,125) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 1803 troops, 19 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 64 Defending force 381 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7 Japanese adjusted assault: 25 Allied adjusted defense: 3 Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Rabaul !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-) morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 15 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 117 casualties reported Squads: 5 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 2 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: Maizuru 1st SNLF 1st JNAF Coy Defending units: B Coy/NG Rifles Rabaul Det. Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Force N is now 4 hexes SE of Rabaul and is proceeding into Rabaul to strike at ships in the Japanese landing TF. Still no detected heavy Japanese naval forces in the Rabaul area. Australia: Dutch AP arrives at Perth from DEI carrying Marinier Bn (Dutch INF) evacuated from Java. Marinier Bn is being disembarked at Perth and will be brought to full TOE strength with replacement LCU elements. Marinier Bn is now assigned to SW Pacific command. US DD Pope and AP President Madison (empty) also reached Perth this game turn from the DEI. Philippines: Japanese landing force captures Jolo. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Jolo (74,90) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 1459 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 62 Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 28 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 28 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Jolo !!! Combat modifiers Attacker: Assaulting units: 16th Naval Guard Unit 3rd JNAF AF Unit -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No detected Japanese ship activity in sea areas near Luzon. Several strafing attacks by Zeroes against remaining US PT boats on station at Iba (Luzon). Light damage reported to several PT’s, no Japanese planes hit. DEI: Japanese landing forces capture Singkawang. A new Jap landing is now underway at Kuching. AAR’s follow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Singkawang (56,88) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 1875 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 50 Defending force 1061 troops, 10 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 36 Japanese adjusted assault: 35 Allied adjusted defense: 7 Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Singkawang !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 11 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 307 casualties reported Squads: 21 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 2 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 41st Guard Battalion 51st Field AA Battalion 23rd AA Regiment 6th Field AF Construction Battalion 18th JNAF AF Unit Defending units: West Borneo KNIL Battalion Singkawang Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Kuching (58,88) Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 1113 troops, 5 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 51 Defending force 4577 troops, 21 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 167 Assaulting units: Sarawak Force 2/15 Punjab Battalion 106th RN Base Force Defending units: 2nd Engr Rgt /24 II./4th Infantry Bn /24 I./4th Infantry Bn /24 2nd Recon Rgt /24 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All Allied shipping has now departed from Palembang. Several Dutch minelayers have been detailed to lay minefields in Palembang base and its adjacent sea approaches. Japanese landing force at Manado has captured that base. AAR follows. A flotilla of Dutch PT boats sent to attack Japanese transport ships in Manado entered Manado base hex and engaged the enemy transports in a night action, but failed to press home the attack. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Manado (75,99) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 3170 troops, 32 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 107 Defending force 1628 troops, 2 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 57 Japanese adjusted assault: 47 Allied adjusted defense: 15 Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Manado !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: leaders(+), leaders(-) Japanese ground losses: 26 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 393 casualties reported Squads: 25 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 2 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 146th Infantry Regiment Defending units: Manado Garrison Battalion Manado Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hong Kong: Continued Japanese ground attack at Hong Kong. Latest AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 20436 troops, 321 guns, 217 vehicles, Assault Value = 558 Defending force 4796 troops, 132 guns, 61 vehicles, Assault Value = 138 Japanese adjusted assault: 210 Allied adjusted defense: 229 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 299 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Allied ground losses: 331 casualties reported Squads: 6 destroyed, 9 disabled Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 7 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled) Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled) Assaulting units: 38th Division 66th Infantry Regiment 19th Ind. Engineer Regiment 20th Ind. Engineer Regiment 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 5th RF Gun Battalion 2nd Mortar Battalion 2nd RF Gun Battalion 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion Defending units: Rifles of Canada Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion Hong Kong Fortress Kowloon Brigade 102nd RN Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malaya: Allied ground forces in central Malaya prepping to withdraw southward to form a defense around Johore Bahru. Some units will begin moving southward on the 12/21 game turn, the remaining Allied LCU’s in central Malaya to begin their southward movement over the next 1-2 days. Plans are to divert several of the Allied combat LCU’s leaving central Malaya to reinforce 22 Australian Brigade at Mersing. What is questionable is whether these units will reach Mersing before the Japanese launch a ground attack sufficient to force 22 Australian Brigade out of Mersing. In any event, plans are to hold Johore Bahru as long as possible until Allied forces are pushed back onto Singapore. The Dutch 2E bomber force transferred to Palembang failed to launch a ground attack air strike on Japanese LCU’s at Mersing. Current situation map of Malaya and latest ground combat AAR’s at Mersing follow. From information shown in the AAR’s below, it appears that Japanese LCU’s in Mersing have almost completely disembarked from their ships. Reinforcing an Allied defense of Mersing could already be too late. Several entries in the 12/20 Sigint report indicate Pillager is sending additional Jap ground units by sea into Mersing. [image]local://upfiles/18646/8193A4E8397D47DBA0676FFBDACA23EB.jpg[/image] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Mersing (51,82) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 10479 troops, 253 guns, 200 vehicles, Assault Value = 248 Defending force 2376 troops, 22 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 95 Japanese adjusted assault: 128 Allied adjusted defense: 173 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 56 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Vehicles lost 6 (0 destroyed, 6 disabled) Allied ground losses: 143 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Assaulting units: 21st Ind. Engineer Regiment 3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment Sasebo 3rd SNLF Sasebo 8th SNLF Yokosuka 4th SNLF 56th Const Co 3rd Engineer Construction Battalion 2nd Fleet 26th Fld AA Gun Co 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 43rd Const Co 35th Field AA Battalion 3rd Mortar Battalion 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 33rd Road Const Co 14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 21st Fld AA Gun Co 9th Field AF Construction Battalion 8th Field AF Construction Battalion 34th Road Const Co 15th Const Co 1st RF Gun Battalion 31st Field AA Battalion 14th Army 12th JAAF Base Force 35th Fld AA Gun Co 5th Mortar Battalion 47th Const Co 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 41st JAAF AF Bn /24 Defending units: 22nd Australian Brigade -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Mersing (51,82) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 2263 troops, 22 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 83 Defending force 19614 troops, 335 guns, 338 vehicles, Assault Value = 244 Allied adjusted assault: 18 Japanese adjusted defense: 637 Allied assault odds: 1 to 35 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-) Attacker: leaders(+), fatigue(-) Japanese ground losses: 26 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled) Allied ground losses: 434 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 36 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled) Assaulting units: 22nd Australian Brigade Defending units: Sasebo 3rd SNLF 3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment Sasebo 8th SNLF 21st Ind. Engineer Regiment Yokosuka 4th SNLF 26th Fld AA Gun Co 9th Field AF Construction Battalion 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 35th Field AA Battalion 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 12th JAAF Base Force 3rd Mortar Battalion 8th Field AF Construction Battalion 5th Mortar Battalion 2nd Fleet 15th Const Co 31st Field AA Battalion 14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 47th Const Co 1st RF Gun Battalion 21st Fld AA Gun Co 33rd Road Const Co 3rd Engineer Construction Battalion 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 35th Fld AA Gun Co 34th Road Const Co 43rd Const Co 56th Const Co 14th Army 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 41st JAAF AF Bn /24 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (6/22/2010 11:06:38 PM)
Summary of Operations 12/20/41 (continued) Burma: Final stages of sea evacuation from Rangoon due to complete in the 12/21 game turn. RAF and AVG fighter air units in Rangoon are now transferred by air out of Rangoon. LCU’s for a rear-guard defense of Rangoon are in place, all other Allied LCU not required for this task have departed Rangoon by sea or are in some stage of overland movement towards Akyab. A small contingent of engineer elements also remain in Rangoon to perform demolition of production, shipyard and refinery facilities. China: Japanese ground forces attack a second time near Taiyuan in north China. Latest AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 89,40 (SW of Taiyuan) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 12043 troops, 141 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 977 Defending force 820 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1 Japanese adjusted assault: 170 Allied adjusted defense: 16 Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: Units pursuing 2 Allied ground losses: 295 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Units retreated 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 41st Division 37th Division 4th Ind.Mixed Brigade 6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 7th Group Army --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (6/28/2010 4:01:33 AM)
Summary of Operations 12/21/41 US Mainland: US transport ship reinforcements arriving at Panama are now being sent to the Eastern USA base instead of entering the game map. This practice will be done provided the number and location of on-map US transport ships in the game is sufficient to cover shipping operations on the game map. Plans are underway to organize transport convoys departing the Eastern USA and utilizing off-map sea routes to Australia via Capetown as much as possible, especially for transporting non-critical reinforcements and materiel. Unlike WitP stock and CHS, the off-map sea routes provide a second (though slightly longer) communications route between the US and Australia virtually free of possible Japanese interdiction. Off-map routes are also handy in the respect that until transports from the Eastern USA reach Capetown, it’s basically “send em and forget em”, no management required. Central Pacific: Japanese forces land on and capture Arorae atoll (W of Baker Is). AAR of this action follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Arorae (138,137) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 1458 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 61 Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 56 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 56 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Arorae !!! Combat modifiers Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-) Assaulting units: 61st Nav Gd /27 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CV Enterprise TF and CA Pensacola are currently operating undetected near Canton Is, but are not being sent to Arorae to attack ships of the Jap amphibious TF still detected at Arorae. Plans are to hold back for the moment US naval forces in the Canton Is area and draw Pillager further south before attacking. My opinion being that Japanese amphibious TF’s heading for either Baker Is or Canton would be more lucrative prey. As long as CV Enterprise and the Pensacola remain undetected, Pillager may not be as likely to send significant Japanese surface naval or carrier forces to support an operation at Baker or Canton, increasing the possibility of a successful US counter-attack on an initial Japanese move in this direction. Rabaul: Force N enters Rabaul and attacks Japanese ships still unloading in a hit and run operation. Force N remains intact and now off Woodlark Is retiring southward. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 1,000 Yards Japanese Ships xAKL Hagoromo Maru, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage xAKL Noshiro Maru #2, Shell hits 3, and is sunk xAKL Takunan Maru #10, Shell hits 3, and is sunk PB Toshi Maru #3, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage PB Shonon Maru #15, Shell hits 5, and is sunk PB Takunan Maru #2, Shell hits 5, and is sunk PB Takunan Maru #5, Shell hits 8, and is sunk xAK Nittai Maru, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Shinwa Maru, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk xAKL Taiyu Maru (later intercepted and sunk by Force N in a daylight action) Allied Ships CA Canberra CL Leander CL Achilles CL Perth CL Adelaide DD La Triomphant -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Australia: Ships arriving in Perth from the DEI include one Dutch AK with 3000 fuel cargo, a Dutch AP carrying Lifjwacht Cavalry Sqdn, also 5 small Dutch xAP (all empty) and 4 small Dutch AMc. Lifjwacht Cavalry Sqdn is disembarking at Perth and will be brought to full TOE strength with replacement LCU elements. Lifjwacht Cavalry Sqdn is assigned to SW Pacific command. Two USN floatplane air units (10 planes total, elements of squadron VJ10) have reached Australia from the Philippines. These planes are still attached to Asiatic Fleet. Philippines: Japanese strafing attacks by Zeroes continue against US and British PT on station at Iba (Luzon). One British MTB reported sunk, two US PT’s damaged. No Japanese planes hit or destroyed. A number of Sigint report entries over last several game turns indicating various Jap LCU’s prepping for Lingayan. DEI: Japanese force continue moving into W Borneo. Kuching captured. Jap landing is now underway at Brunei. AAR of Kuching attack follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Kuching (58,88) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 4592 troops, 21 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 169 Defending force 1526 troops, 9 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 51 Japanese adjusted assault: 100 Allied adjusted defense: 9 Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Kuching !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 204 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 1262 casualties reported Squads: 61 destroyed, 33 disabled Non Combat: 59 destroyed, 47 disabled Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 2 Units destroyed 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: I./4th Infantry Battalion 2nd Engineer Regiment II./4th Infantry Battalion 2nd Recon Regiment Defending units: Sarawak Force 2/15 Punjab Battalion 106th RN Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unidentified Japanese TF detected in the Eastern DEI area NE of Ambon, possibly an invasion TF. Possible destinations of this TF include Ambon and Kendari. A Dutch PT flotilla (6 boats) is at Ambon and will attempt to intercept the Jap TF. Hong Kong: Continued Japanese ground attack at Hong Kong. Latest AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 2077 troops, 153 guns, 133 vehicles, Assault Value = 550 Defending force 4541 troops, 132 guns, 57 vehicles, Assault Value = 130 Allied ground losses: 51 casualties reported Squads: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 38th Division 19th Ind. Engineer Regiment 66th Infantry Regiment 20th Ind. Engineer Regiment 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 5th RF Gun Battalion 2nd RF Gun Battalion 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 2nd Mortar Battalion 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion Defending units: Rifles of Canada Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion Hong Kong Fortress Kowloon Brigade 102nd RN Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malaya: No detected activity by Japanese ground forces in central or northern Malaya. Most Allied ground forces previously in central Malaya have reached Johore Bahru. Plans are for most of these units (particularly combat LCU) to form a defense of Johore Bahru before an eventual withdrawal into Singapore. Dutch 2E bombers from Palembang launched a ground attack air strike on Japanese LCU’s at Mersing with minor success. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 55th Infantry Regiment, at 51,82 (Mersing) Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Allied aircraft 139WH-3 x 43 Allied aircraft losses 139WH-3: 1 destroyed, 27 damaged Japanese ground losses: 15 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Vehicles lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled) Aircraft Attacking: 3 x 139WH-3 bombing from 5000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 300 kg GP Bomb 7 x 139WH-3 bombing from 5000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 300 kg GP Bomb 2 x 139WH-3 bombing from 5000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 300 kg GP Bomb 6 x 139WH-3 bombing from 5000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 300 kg GP Bomb 7 x 139WH-3 bombing from 5000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 300 kg GP Bomb 6 x 139WH-3 bombing from 5000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 300 kg GP Bomb 3 x 139WH-3 bombing from 5000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 300 kg GP Bomb 6 x 139WH-3 bombing from 5000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 300 kg GP Bomb 2 x 139WH-3 bombing from 5000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 300 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Latest ground combat AAR at Mersing follow. The AAR report indicates two Jap infantry regiments (55th & 114th) have landed in Mersing and now reinforcing the Japanese attack. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Mersing (51,82) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 11106 troops, 263 guns, 200 vehicles, Assault Value = 491 Defending force 1921 troops, 22 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 49 Japanese adjusted assault: 146 Allied adjusted defense: 65 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 26 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled) Allied ground losses: 196 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment Sasebo 8th SNLF 114th Infantry Rgt /27 Yokosuka 4th SNLF 21st Ind. Engineer Regiment Sasebo 3rd SNLF 55th Infantry Rgt /27 14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 26th Fld AA Gun Co 31st Field AA Battalion 5th Mortar Battalion 9th Field AF Construction Battalion 34th Road Const Co 56th Const Co 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 3rd Engineer Construction Battalion 1st RF Gun Battalion 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 14th Army 12th JAAF Base Force 43rd Const Co 15th Const Co 35th Fld AA Gun Co 3rd Mortar Battalion 47th Const Co 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 2nd Fleet 35th Field AA Battalion 21st Fld AA Gun Co 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 8th Field AF Construction Battalion 33rd Road Const Co 41st JAAF AF Bn Defending units: 22nd Australian Brigade -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Burma, India and China all reporting quiet.

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (6/28/2010 4:06:00 AM)
Summary of Operations 12/22/41 US West Coast: British TK Eidsvold torpedoed and sunk near Los Angeles by Jap submarine identified as I-17. South Pacific: The KB was detected this game turn operating betwen Canton Is and Pago Pago, reported moving on a SE heading. Appearance of this contact on the map suggests the KB is operating here at full strength. A number of Jap carrier planes located and attacked CA Pensacola which was stationed at Gardner Is. AAR and situation map follows. CA Pensacola is withdrawing to the NE at 12 knots. Float planes from Pensacola have flown off to Canton Is. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Gardner Island at 149,144 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 27 B5N2 Kate x 13 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 7 damaged Allied Ships CA Pensacola Aircraft Attacking: 13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gardner Island at 149,144 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 46 B5N2 Kate x 19 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged Allied Ships CA Pensacola, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage (sys 10, float 59, eng 12, no fire) Note: Combat replay shows one of two torpedoes hitting CA Pensacola a dud. Aircraft Attacking: 19 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [image]local://upfiles/18646/71D5A87466BB4E4AB8D44886AE7EA7E8.jpg[/image] It cannot be determined at this time what objective(s) Pillager has for operating the KB in this sea area. Possibilities include a “reconnaissance in force” as a preliminary to Japanese forces moving against Canton Is and/or Pago Pago, also to interdict and destroy Allied shipping moving between the mainland US and bases in the South Pacific area. Allied naval forces operating near Pago Pago and Canton Is are moving away from the KB’s location and projected course (southward), with the intent of dodging the KB and remaining undetected, then returning to this area once the KB has departed. CV Enterprise task force and CA Pensacola are withdrawing to the N and NE of Canton Is. CA Louisville and the CV Lexington task force have been operating near Pago Pago and are withdrawing south from Samoa towards the Cook Islands. No Allied transport shipping is currently at Pago Pago, Canton Is, or in the KB’s vicinity and projected path of movement, though a number of individual transport ships and small convoys bound for Canton, Pago Pago and Auckland are heading towards this general area but remain at some distance to the E and NE as of now. These transports will be diverted or held in place until confirmed the KB has moved back to the north. Sigint: Sigint report for 12/22 contains an entry reporting heavy volume of intercepted radio activity near (just east of) the Mariana Is. Red Japanese TF symbols were shown on the game map in the hex location where the Sigint report entry indicated the radio signals originated. Current estimate of enemy activity reported in this Sigint entry is that the Japanese TF(s) in question are part of a larger southward movement of Japanese forces, likely destination somewhere the South Pacific theatre.

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (6/28/2010 4:24:50 AM)
Summary of Operations 12/22/41 (continued) Coral Sea: Force N continues moving southward and is well beyond range of Japanese LBA now detected in Rabaul. Plans are for Force N to proceed to Auckland to replenish pending further orders. New Guinea: Japanese troops are reported landing at Hollandia. Numbers and identities of Japanese LCU’s and ships at Hollandia is not known. Australia: Allied ships arriving in Perth from the DEI and Singapore (via the DEI) include 1 British PG, 1 British and 1 Dutch xAP , 5 British AK, 2 Dutch xAKL, 2 small Dutch AO, 2 small Dutch AMc. Cargoes reaching Perth on these ships include 845 oil, 1432 supply, 1000 fuel, RAF and RAAF air units (total planes in these units: 24 Hudson I, 15 Buffalo I fighter, 2 Buffalo I PR). One Dutch LCU (Padang Base Force) arrived in Perth this game turn. Padang Base Force is assigned to SW Pacific command and will be disembarking at Perth. Philippines: Japanese strafing attacks by Zeroes continued against US and British PT on station at Iba (Luzon). Six boats (2 US & 2 Philippine PT, 2 British MTB) remain at Iba, all in varying stages of damage. Orders have been issued for surviving PT and MTB at Iba to depart the Philippines for the DEI, then to Australia if possible. DEI: Japanese forces capture Brunei. AAR follows. Map displays are showing approx 50% demolition of oil production and refinery facilities at Brunei and Miri. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Brunei (65,87) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 1336 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 153 Defending force 457 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2 Japanese adjusted assault: 26 Allied adjusted defense: 5 Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Brunei !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 113 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 200 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 9 disabled Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled Units retreated 2 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: III/81st Naval Guard Unit I/81st Naval Guard Unit III./124th Infantry Bn /30 II./124th Infantry Bn /30 10th JAAF AF Coy Defending units: 107th RN Base Force 100th RN Base Force ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japanese LBA (including Ki-21 Sally) now operating from Singkawang. Detected status of Singkawang base shows 67 aircraft (23 fighters, 17 bombers). A newly detected contact with a Japanese surface combat TF including at least one BB appeared near Sorong. This TF is moving on a SW heading, likely to enter the eastern DEI sea area. Hong Kong: Continued Japanese ground attack at Hong Kong. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 20440 troops, 321 guns, 217 vehicles, Assault Value = 554 Defending force 4549 troops, 132 guns, 57 vehicles, Assault Value = 131 Japanese adjusted assault: 312 Allied adjusted defense: 225 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 380 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 22 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled) Allied ground losses: 219 casualties reported Squads: 22 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 39 destroyed, 32 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled) Vehicles lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled) Assaulting units: 66th Infantry Regiment 38th Division 19th Ind. Engineer Regiment 20th Ind. Engineer Regiment 2nd Mortar Battalion 2nd RF Gun Battalion 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 5th RF Gun Battalion 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion Defending units: Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion Hong Kong Fortress Rifles of Canada Battalion Kowloon Brigade 102nd RN Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malaya: Mersing captured by Japanese forces. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Mersing (51,82) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 8826 troops, 246 guns, 119 vehicles, Assault Value = 799 Defending force 1776 troops, 22 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 39 Japanese adjusted assault: 66 Allied adjusted defense: 15 Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Mersing !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 35 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Units pursuing 5 Allied ground losses: 758 casualties reported Squads: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 35 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment 56th Engr Rgt /30 21st Ind. Engineer Regiment Yokosuka 4th SNLF Sasebo 8th SNLF 114th Infantry Regiment Sasebo 3rd SNLF 148th Infantry Rgt /30 56th Recon Rgt /30 55th Infantry Regiment 113th Infantry Rgt /30 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 1st RF Gun Battalion 3rd Engineer Construction Battalion 9th Field AF Construction Battalion 15th Const Co 35th Fld AA Gun Co 56th Const Co 12th JAAF Base Force 14th Army 33rd Road Const Co 3rd Mortar Battalion 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 21st Fld AA Gun Co 34th Road Const Co 41st JAAF AF Bn 2nd Fleet 43rd Const Co 14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 8th Field AF Construction Battalion 31st Field AA Battalion 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 5th Mortar Battalion 26th Fld AA Gun Co 35th Field AA Battalion 47th Const Co 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 56th FA Rgt /30 Defending units: 22nd Australian Brigade -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The preceding AAR also shows several more Japanese LCU’s now disembarking in Mersing – including 113 & 148 Infantry Rgts, 56 FA Rgt and 56 Recon Rgt. Plans to form a defense of Johore Bahru before an eventual withdrawal into Singapore are still in effect. Only three British LCU’s remain in mainland Malaya north of Johore, one of these LCU moving this game turn into Singapore by rail (strategic movement). The other two LCU are engaged with Japanese ground forces near Temuloh, it is uncertain whether these units can reach Johore before they are trapped by the Japanese advance. Overall, nearly the complete British ground forces in Malaya have reached Johore and Singapore intact. Burma: All Allied ships are now cleared from Rangoon. No detected signs of Japanese ground forces entering Burma, including the far south. China: Japanese ground forces attack in north China. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Tsiaotso (88,42) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 11197 troops, 94 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 391 Defending force 9218 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 276 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 85 Allied adjusted defense: 256 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: leaders(-), fatigue(-) Japanese ground losses: 285 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Allied ground losses: 84 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 35th Division Defending units: 27th Chinese Corps 5th New Chinese Corps --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alfred -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (6/28/2010 3:09:31 PM)
You do not need to send any transports to the Eastern USA base in order to embark units for transport to any "off map" base (caveat note the temporary broken link with the Middle East until the opening of the Mediterranean in May 1943). LCUs and LBAs can be moved between "off map" bases using their own local "off map" shipping (which is not represented in the game). Hence the transports you have sent from Panama should be used "on map". You only need sea lift capacity located "off map" if you need to move LCU/LBA from "off map" to "on map" or need to move supply/fuel from/to "off map" bases which have no land connection between them. Alfred

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (7/1/2010 3:56:18 AM)
Summary of Operations 12/23/41 South Pacific: No further display or reported contacts with the KB. New Guinea: Japanese forces capture Hollandia. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Hollandia (93,116) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 325 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 15 Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 4 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Hollandia !!! Combat modifiers Attacker: leaders(-) Assaulting units: 1st Indpt SNLF Coy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Australia: Allied ships arriving in Perth from the DEI and Singapore (via the DEI) include 1 Dutch PG, 2 US DD’s, 3 British DD’s (from Hong Kong), 1 British AP, 7 small & 3 large Dutch xAP , 1 Australian xAP, 2 Dutch AK, 1 Dutch xAKL, 2 small Dutch AO, 8 small Dutch AMc, 1 Dutch AS, 2 Dutch AG, 2 Dutch AGP. Cargoes reaching Perth on these ships include 3100 oil, 1750 resource, 3001 supply, 6400 fuel. One Dutch LCU (2 KNIL AA Bn) arrived in Perth this game turn and will be disembarking at Perth. 2 KNIL AA Bn is assigned to SW Pacific command, plans are to use this LCU to reinforce flak defenses on the east coast of Australia. Philippines: Japanese bombers (Ki-21 Sally) are operating from Jolo. Detected status of Jolo base shows 29 aircraft (all bombers). Jap ground attack air strikes reported against US LCU’s at several locations on Luzon. DEI: Japanese forces landing at Kendari, supported by a surface combat TF including four BB (Nagato, Fuso, Ise, Hyuga), one CL and 5 DD. The surface combat TF attacked and sank two Philippine AKL’s near Kendari that had been escaping southward through the eastern DEI. AAR of ground combat in Kendari follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Kendari (70,106) Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 524 troops, 9 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 25 Defending force 9360 troops, 87 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 324 Allied ground losses: 6 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: Kendari Garrison Battalion Kendari Base Force Defending units: (LCU landing at Kendari brought in from Japanese home islands) 16th Recon Rgt /32 9th Infantry Rgt /32 20th Infantry Rgt /32 16th Engr Rgt /32 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hong Kong: Continued Japanese ground attack at Hong Kong. Latest AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 20267 troops, 321 guns, 217 vehicles, Assault Value = 542 Defending force 4150 troops, 132 guns, 51 vehicles, Assault Value = 126 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 175 Allied adjusted defense: 573 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 161 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Allied ground losses: 142 casualties reported Squads: 7 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 10 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled) Vehicles lost 5 (0 destroyed, 5 disabled) Assaulting units: 38th Division 19th Ind. Engineer Regiment 66th Infantry Regiment 20th Ind. Engineer Regiment 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 5th RF Gun Battalion 2nd Mortar Battalion 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 2nd RF Gun Battalion 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion Defending units: Rifles of Canada Battalion Hong Kong Fortress Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion Kowloon Brigade 102nd RN Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malaya: Japanese ground forces advancing in northern Malaya capture Taiping, also attack near Temuloh. British FSMV Brigade was destroyed this game turn in ground combat at Temuloh. Japanese ground forces from Mersing advanced across the Malayan peninsula north of Johore Bahru and cut land communications from Singapore and Johore Bahru into central and northern Malaya. Except for one LCU (8 Indian Brigade engaged with Jap ground forces at Temuloh), all mobile British LCU’s in Malaya successfully retreated southward into Johore Bahru or Singapore before land communication was cut off. Pillager closed the trap, but he'll find it practically empty when he looks inside. My short-term estimate of the situation is that Pillager will first move to liquidate what he has "trapped" in central Malaya while holding Japanese ground forces stationary in the Mersing area. I expect it will take Pillager at least several days before he realizes he's trapped nothing (other than 8 Indian Brigade) in central Malaya and that British ground forces successfully escaped into Singapore. Until he realizes the trap in central Malaya is empty and also not until at least some of the Japanese ground units advancing southward by land through central Malaya reach the Johore Bahru area is he likely to begin launching ground attacks against British positions at Johore Bahru. Though it buys me nothing more than time (and not much at that), it's at least time. Dutch 139WH-3 bombers launch a ground attack strike against Japanese LCU at Mersing without noticeable effect. China: Japanese ground forces continue attack in north China. Latest AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 88,41 (NW of Loyang) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 16619 troops, 140 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 586 Defending force 7582 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 218 Japanese adjusted assault: 255 Allied adjusted defense: 208 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-), morale(-) experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 338 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled) Allied ground losses: 493 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 40 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Assaulting units: 41st Division 4th Ind.Mixed Brigade Defending units: 33rd Chinese Corps 34th Chinese Corps 7th Group Army --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (7/7/2010 4:05:35 AM)
Summary of Operations 12/24/41 Samoa: KB raid on Pago Pago. Port attack air strike launched against Pago Pago base, light damage to port facilities on shore. A flotilla of nine US PT’s recently arrived in Pago Pago from Pearl Harbor were also hit, all sunk. Two US auxiliaries evacuating Pago Pago to escape the KB were found and sunk. KB is split into two divisions – one division reported heading NE, the second KB division heading SE. All US and Allied transport shipping and naval forces have departed the Pago Pago area. AAR’s and situation map follow. [image]local://upfiles/18646/233C1FFB29244DF2A52788A9023AF8B8.jpg[/image] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Niuatoputapu at 143,163 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 36 B5N2 Kate x 18 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged Allied Ships AM Kingfisher, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk AGP Niagara, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AM Kingfisher -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Pago Pago , at 148,161 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 9 B5N2 Kate x 39 D3A1 Val x 38 Japanese aircraft losses D3A1 Val: 1 damaged Allied Ships PT-28, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk PT-20, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk PT-30, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk PT-25, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk PT-21, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk PT-26, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk PT-22, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk PT-23, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk PT-42, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk Allied ground losses: 10 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Port hits 7 Port fuel hits 3 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (7/7/2010 4:13:14 AM)
Summary of Operations 12/24/41 (continued) Solomon Is: Japanese forces begin landing at Shortlands. Force N (short of fuel) moved out the Coral Sea and is now beyond range of turning back to the Shortlands – current orders for Force N is return to Sydney for refueling and replenishment. Otherwise, an attack on the Japanese TF landing at Shortlands would have been a tempting target, given the known disposition of the KB and Japanese surface naval forces. Rabaul: Detected status of base – 51 aircraft (23 bombers), 2 LCU. New Guinea: Japanese (automatically) occupy Vanimo on northern coast near Hollandia. Australia: Allied transport ships arriving in Perth from the DEI and Singapore (via the DEI) include 2 Dutch xAP , seven TK (1 Commonwealth, 1 British, 5 Dutch), 2 British AK, four xAKL (3 Dutch, 1 Philippine). Force Z arrived in Perth this game turn from the DEI and will proceed from Perth to Capetown for refit and further orders. Possible future employment of Force Z after refit at Capetown includes returning to Australia (this had been done in my last match vs Pillager in CHS). Other Allied naval forces arriving at Perth from the DEI this game turn include 3 Dutch CL’s, 2 US & 7 Dutch DD. These ships will all remain in Australia pending further orders. A number of Allied auxiliary ships arrived at Perth this game turn including AS Holland & AV Langley from the Philippines, one Dutch AS, 1 US AVD, 1 US AVP, two US AM, four small Dutch AMc. Plans are for most or all these ships to remain in Australia. Total cargoes reaching Perth this game turn aboard these ships include 17030 oil, 2700 resource, 3283 supply, 33365 fuel. One RAF air unit (W Flight RAF) with 6 Wirraway arrived in Perth aboard a transport from the DEI. Two small Dutch combat LCU (Marinier Bn & Lijfwacht Cav Sqn) now landed in Australia are drawing elements from the replacement pools to build to full TOE strength. Philippines: A small number of Jap ground attack air strikes continuing against US LCU’s on Luzon. DEI: Japanese forces capture Kendari, AAR follows. Jap surface combat TF with BB’s Nagato, Fuso, Ise & Hyuga, one CL and 5 DD remains at Kendari. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Kendari (70,106) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 9428 troops, 87 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 325 Defending force 839 troops, 10 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 24 Japanese adjusted assault: 141 Allied adjusted defense: 5 Japanese assault odds: 28 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Kendari !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: disruption(-) Japanese ground losses: 15 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 418 casualties reported Squads: 8 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 16 disabled Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 2 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 16th Engineer Regiment 9th Infantry Regiment 16th Recon Regiment 20th Infantry Rgt /32 Defending units: Kendari Garrison Battalion Kendari Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jap LBA bombers (Ki-21 Sally) strike Palembang, no reported damage or Allied casualties. Malaya: Japanese ground forces detected in Malacca, these units likely moving northward into Malacca from Mersing into the rear of what appears to be British positions holding central Malaya. As stated in last game turn’s operations report, only 8 Indian Brigade remains in central Malaya. 8 Indian Brigade is in Temuloh and engaged by Jap ground forces moving into that hex from the north. Dutch 139WH-3 bombers again launch a ground attack strike against Japanese LCU at Mersing with no noticeable effect. China: Japanese ground forces attacking in north China towards Sian. AAR’s and situation map follow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Tsiaotso (88,42) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 11035 troops, 94 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 377 Defending force 9185 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 271 Japanese adjusted assault: 594 Allied adjusted defense: 100 Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Tsiaotso !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-) morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 188 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 2653 casualties reported Squads: 175 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 115 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 31 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 2 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 35th Division Defending units: 27th Chinese Corps 5th New Chinese Corps ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 88,41 (N of Tsiaotso) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 16660 troops, 169 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 972 Defending force 7243 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 183 Japanese adjusted assault: 888 Allied adjusted defense: 67 Japanese assault odds: 13 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 216 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 2556 casualties reported Squads: 190 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 132 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 6 destroyed, 4 disabled Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 3 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 37th Division 41st Division 4th Ind.Mixed Brigade 6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 33rd Chinese Corps 34th Chinese Corps 7th Group Army -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [image]local://upfiles/18646/393FDD8374C245C9BF79F1C4E51ECB6F.jpg[/image] Japanese ground forces (11th Army) attacking at Changsha. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Changsha (82,52) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 45658 troops, 392 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 1577 Defending force 55099 troops, 367 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1503 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3 Japanese adjusted assault: 1071 Allied adjusted defense: 1717 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), morale(-) experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 1365 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 102 disabled Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 71 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled) Allied ground losses: 1318 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 67 disabled Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 91 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled Assaulting units: 18th Ind.Mixed Brigade 3rd Division 6th Division 34th Division 58th Infantry Regiment 11th Army Defending units: 72nd Chinese Corps 37th Chinese Corps 99th Chinese Corps 58th Chinese Corps 74th Chinese Corps 10th Chinese Corps 20th Chinese Corps 78th Chinese Corps 5th Construction Regiment 30th Group Army 9th War Area 27th Group Army 19th Group Army 29th Group Army 17th Chinese Base Force --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (7/7/2010 4:20:33 AM)
Summary of Operations 12/25/41 South Pacific: No detected or reported contact with anything that can be positively identified as the KB. Sigint report entry for 12/25 indicates radio transmissions intercepted N of Savaii, in the same hex location as one of the KB divisions detected on 12/24. The map display shows a detected Jap submarine at this hex location. It could be a Jap sub, could be the KB hanging around. Solomon Is: Japanese forces capture Shortlands. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Shortlands (109,131) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 342 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 16 Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 7 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Shortlands !!! Combat modifiers Attacker: leaders(-) Assaulting units: 2nd Indpt SNLF Coy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Australia: Allied transport ships arriving in Perth from the DEI and Singapore (via the DEI) include one Dutch AR, one Commonwealth xAP , seven AK and xAK (4 British, 2 Dutch, 1 Australian), one Philippine xAKL, one Australian AM, two British HDML’s. Total cargoes reaching Perth this game turn aboard these ships include 1000 resource, 11768 fuel. Philippines: Jap ground attack air strikes continue against targets on Luzon, one ground attack strike, also bombing attacks on defenses at Subic and Manila Bay. DEI: Japanese TF (11 ships) detected off Tarakan, incoming… Jap LBA bombers (Ki-21 Sally) continue bombing Palembang. No reported damage or Allied casualties. Hong Kong: Japanese capture Hong Kong this game turn. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 20447 troops, 321 guns, 217 vehicles, Assault Value = 556 Defending force 4047 troops, 132 guns, 51 vehicles, Assault Value = 123 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 354 Allied adjusted defense: 161 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Hong Kong !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 360 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled) Allied ground losses: 9594 casualties reported Squads: 215 destroyed, 21 disabled Non Combat: 664 destroyed, 77 disabled Engineers: 38 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 160 (154 destroyed, 6 disabled) Vehicles lost 70 (67 destroyed, 3 disabled) Units destroyed 5 Assaulting units: 38th Division 66th Infantry Regiment 19th Ind. Engineer Regiment 20th Ind. Engineer Regiment 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 2nd Mortar Battalion 2nd RF Gun Battalion 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 5th RF Gun Battalion 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion Defending units: Rifles of Canada Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion Hong Kong Fortress Kowloon Brigade 102nd RN Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malaya: Japanese ground forces capture Malacca. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Malacca (49,81) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 1025 troops, 4 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 38 Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 38 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 38 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Malacca !!! Combat modifiers Attacker: Assaulting units: 56th Recon Regiment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jap bombers launch multiple air raids on Singapore, mainly against base facilities. No reports of damage or Allied casualties. Approx 20 Jap bombers were hit by flak, one reported destroyed. China: Japanese forces in north China capture Chengchow. This attack along with the two Japanese ground attacks near Tsiaotso on 12/24 clearly indicate Pillager is setting Sian as the objective of a Jap ground offensive in north China. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Chengchow (88,44) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 23777 troops, 226 guns, 119 vehicles, Assault Value = 833 Defending force 16066 troops, 98 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 406 Japanese adjusted assault: 996 Allied adjusted defense: 160 Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Chengchow !!! Combat modifiers Defender: leaders(+), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-) Japanese ground losses: 609 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Vehicles lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled) Allied ground losses: 8403 casualties reported Squads: 144 destroyed, 73 disabled Non Combat: 359 destroyed, 73 disabled Engineers: 80 destroyed, 2 disabled Guns lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 9 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 36th Division 7th Ind.Mixed Brigade 15th Tank Regiment 3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade 11th Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 8th New Chinese Corps 98th Chinese Corps 15th Chinese Corps 40th Chinese Corps 3rd Construction Regiment 7th Construction Regiment 39th Group Army 24th Group Army 1st War Area 10th Chinese Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jap ground attack air strikes in the last two days against Chinese LCU’s in the Wuchow area. With the fall of Hong Kong, it’s anticipated that Wuchow is likely the next objective of Japanese ground armies in south China. Ten Japanese LCU’s were detected in Canton, this in addition to the Jap units just completing the capture of Hong Kong (above)

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (7/7/2010 5:33:20 AM)
The Big Picture #3 - Conduct of Sea Transport Operations Overall, the conduct and movement of Allied transport by sea is expected to be a much more complex task in AE than my previous CHS game vs Pillager. Several factors impacting Allied sea transport operations are mentioned here. Japanese Submarine forces: It is my view that Jap submarines can be used more effectively and at much less risk against Allied transports in AE than CHS or stock WitP. I see this as mainly due to two factors – first, what appears to be a slight increase in effectiveness in AE for Jap submarine torpedoes, and second, the reduced effectiveness of Allied surface (naval) ASW in AE. It’s only a question of time before Pillager “connects the dots” and begins to go aggressively against Allied transports. My conclusion is based on observing performance of the Japanese AI in AE when playing the Allies against it and I have absolutely no reason to believe that Pillager can’t do at least as well if not better with Japanese subs against Allied transport shipping. Allied surface naval ASW operations and protection of transport shipping: The diminished effectiveness of Allied surface naval ASW in AE compared to CHS has a significant impact on the conduct of sea transport operations for the Allies. Effects of this reduction in effectiveness for Allied ASW on Allied sea transport is being felt in these areas. • In general, early-war Allied surface naval and air ASW operational capabilities in AE will make it more difficult to intercept and attack Japanese subs before they find and attack Allied transport shipping. • To minimize exposure of Allied transports to Japanese submarines and maximize the value of Allied ASW resources available to protect transports, a system of transport convoys for Allied shipping will need to be implemented. • Inclusion of DD’s and specialized ASW ships (DE, KV, etc) in Allied transport convoys as escorts will be required to maximize effect of the limited numbers of DD’s and specialized ASW ship types available for escorting transport ships, this being especially true during the early war period. Security of on-map Allied transport shipping: Providing secure movement of Allied transport shipping without significant interruption from Japanese action across each of the six primary movement routes will be an important part of Allied strategy in the early war period. Securing routes for transport shipping will be a significant factor in many decisions including what locations to defend (or not defend) against Japanese attack, sites where principal Allied bases are to be developed, among others. Security of on-map transport shipping routes requires protection of Allied transport ships moving at sea (either individually or in convoy) from each of the following forms of Japanese attack. • Submarines • Surface naval raiders. • Carrier forces (including KB, also CVL and floatplane tender TF’s) The threat of attack from Japanese LBA was not included here as the scope of this discussion covers rear-area transport shipping routes rather than movement of transport ships into forward bases or front-line areas normally within reach of enemy LBA. A variety of Allied resources and tools will be used as needed in securing movement of transport shipping across on-map routes, and include the following. • DD’s and specialized ASW ships attached to convoys for close escort. • Dedicated ASW task forces to independently attack detected Jap submarines. • LBA air units performing naval search and ASW missions from bases near or along the shipping routes. • Surface naval and/or Carrier TF’s operating in a screening role along transport shipping routes. • Implementation and use of a transport convoy system. Allied transport shipping routes: Conduct of Allied transport shipping operations throughout the war will inevitably focus on a number of primary shipping routes, each primary route controlling strategic communication into or between one or more major theatres. The flow of transport ships and cargoes across these routes has an important strategic effect on the course of the war. Primary on-map shipping routes #1 – Western US & Canada to Hawaii and the Central Pacific theatre. #2 – Western US and Panama to eastern areas of the South Pacific theatre. #3 – Western US & Canada to Alaska and the North Pacific theatre. #4 – Western US and Panama via route #2 to central and western areas of the South Pacific theatre, Australia/New Zealand and the SW Pacific theatre. Route #4 includes route #2 above and extends it across central and western areas of the South Pacific theatre to New Zealand and Australia. #5 – Western Indian Ocean. This route actually represents a network of shipping lanes, including on-map shipping movement through the western Indian Ocean between points in mainland India and Ceylon, and also movement to India and Ceylon from off-map bases at Aden, Abadan and Capetown. #6 – Eastern Indian Ocean route between Colombo and Western Australia. Primary off-map shipping routes #7 – Eastern US to Australia via Capetown. #8 – Eastern US to India. This is actually two off-map movement routes from the Eastern US, one via Capetown and a second route via Aden (once Mediterranean travel is opened in 1943). For the US, securing transport routes #1, #2 and #3 above is vital for effective movement from the western US to almost any location in the Pacific. A major priority of US air and naval resources in the eastern Pacific area will go toward security of routes #1, #2 and #3 as collectively these routes are the prerequisite to any effective on-map communication going out from the western US and Canada. To some extent there is an overlap between routes #4 and #2. For purposes of discussion I deliberately made these into two separate shipping routes to make the following distinction. Route #4 represents the historical route of communication from the western US to Australia across the South Pacific that was successfully maintained by the Allies during the actual campaign in the Pacific. Maintained in real life, yes… WitP and AE often show a different story. In my CHS match vs Pillager, the Japanese captured Canton Is, Pago Pago, Suva, Noumea and completely eliminated this historical route through the South Pacific. In my long-range calculations, Pillager is expected to again send an initial Japanese advance deep into the South Pacific in an attempt to repeat establishment of an outer perimeter line along Canton Is - Pago Pago - Suva - Noumea. Even if my plans to maintain footholds at Suva and Pago Pago are successful, Pillager will still be in a good position to seriously interdict route #4 if not completely shut it down. If there's a way I can keep route #4 open, it will be used. However, my long-term strategic plans run on the premise route #4 will at the least be heavily interdicted if not fully shut down as a result of the Japanese advance. Therefore, a contingency is needed and AE provides one. Route #2 exists as a truncated version of route #4 (historical US to Australia route across the South Pacific) and represents the route of communication between the US west coast and Allied front-line bases in the combined South/SW Pacific theatre (Line Islands – Penhryn – Society Is) after Pillager sent Jap forces to overrun Canton, Pago Pago, Suva and Noumea in our last CHS match. So what happens if Pillager cuts the historic US to Australia communications through the South Pacific (Route #4) again? In our CHS match, the remaining on-map communication route between the US and Australia/NZ was a very long path through sea areas along the eastern and southern edges of the WitP (CHS) map. Along much of this alternate route, Allied transport shipping was moving with absolutely no cover against Japanese interdiction. No adequate bases existed along or near this route to provide LBA cover or to support substantial Allied naval forces, this situation leaving a sizable uncovered "gap" along the route. Pillager sortied the KB, surface raiders and floatplane tender TF’s a number of times into this “gap” to engage and sink Allied transports with virtually no effective opposition. Now for the contingency… As in CHS, a path along the southern and eastern map edges is again available as an alternative to route #4 if (and after) Pillager seriously interdicts or shuts down that route by a Japanese advance in the South Pacific. And in one respect the designers of AE helped out! They provided lots of islands down there for bases from which the Allies can cover this route. But why do this when AE also provides route #7 (Eastern US via Capetown to Perth, Melbourne or Adelaide). While route #7 from the eastern US to Australia is no shorter than the long way from the western US to Australia going around the southern and eastern map edge, unlike the southern and eastern map edge route, most if not all of route #7 is completely free from any kind of Japanese interference. Allied transport shipping moving across route #7 does not require naval escorts nor coverage by LBA from nearby land bases (bases that would have to be built up in order for LBA to operate). Only one thing is needed before route #7 can be used on a large scale, transport ships moved and operating off-map. quote: You do not need to send any transports to the Eastern USA base in order to embark units for transport to any "off map" base (caveat note the temporary broken link with the Middle East until the opening of the Mediterranean in May 1943). LCUs and LBAs can be moved between "off map" bases using their own local "off map" shipping (which is not represented in the game). Hence the transports you have sent from Panama should be used "on map". You only need sea lift capacity located "off map" if you need to move LCU/LBA from "off map" to "on map" or need to move supply/fuel from/to "off map" bases which have no land connection between them. Alfred Using route #7 as the primary communications route between the US and Australia is the reasoning behind dispatching US transport ships arriving as reinforcements in Panama to the Eastern US rather than sending them onto the game map. In addition to ships from Panama, substantial numbers of large, long-range transport ships now heading to Capetown from Australia, India, the DEI, Philippines, Malaya and other areas are expected to provide yet more ships for use on route #7. It should also be noted that route #7 is a combination of off- and on-map sea movement, on-map movement being the final leg from Capetown to Australia. For purposes of my calculations, Allied transport ships operating along route #7 will be considered off-map as this is where they'll be spending most of their time. Allocating transport ships for the mainly off-map movement along route #7 does not draw from US transport ships already operating on-map along the US West Coast, Canada, Hawaii and Alaska. Numbers of on-map US transport ships now operating from the US West Coast are adequate for current transport requirements in on-map areas of the eastern Pacific. Route #5 is basically a British theatre of operations and actually represents the network of mainly on-map sea routes covering India and the Southeast Asia theatre. Transport shipping in this area of the Indian Ocean is almost entirely short-range and relatively local in nature compared to shipping routes in the Pacific theatres. Route #6 represents the on-map sea route mainly between Colombo and Perth and will be used almost entirely for transport shipping into western Australia (via Perth) from India, Ceylon and off-map bases in Aden and Abadan. Routes #6 and #4 are the two routes most likely to be subject to active Japanese interdiction. Route #8 is another available off-map shipping route, though it’s anticipated this route will not be as extensively used. Utilization of off-map bases and shipping routes: Where possible, Allied transport convoys will make use of off-map bases and shipping routes, especially in non-critical situations where neither the convoy’s cargo nor the time in which it has to arrive at its destination are crucial factors. Collection of longer-range transport ships and their movement to off-map bases early in the game will be done to begin implementing an off-map transport system Collection & Allocation of transport ships: A process was begun immediately effective 12/8/41 to collect and allocate on-map Allied transport ships. The process will (1) concentrate Allied transport ships in central locations from where they can be allocated or used, and (2) allocate and dispatch individual transport ships according to their future employment. Transport ships in Hawaii, Alaska, and the mainland US & Canada as of 12/8/41 are being collected and retained in this general area to service on-map shipping routes leaving US and Canadian west coast ports for Hawaii, Alaska, and the Pacific theatres. These ships are exempted from the collection and allocation process for transport ships that will occur elsewhere. In all other on-map areas, the process of collecting and allocating transport ships will take place. Transport ships from forward areas in the immediate path of the Japanese initial advance (Philippines, DEI, Hong Kong, Malaya, etc) are being evacuated to rear-area bases along with whatever cargo can be loaded aboard them. Once transport ships arriving from forward areas are unloaded, they will go into the allocation process. Allocation of transport ships will be done according to the type of operation each individual ship will be used for – long range vs short range or local transport, on-map vs off-map movement, etc. Several criteria including size, movement range, ship type and nationality will factor into how and where a given transport ship will be used. Longer range ships (8,000 to 10,000 mi and greater) and ships with larger cargo capacities are generally being dispatched to off-map locations. Several roles for these ships are anticipated and include. • Transporting reinforcements and materiel (supply, fuel, oil, resource) entering the game in off-map locations to on-map bases. • Long range transport operations both on- and off-map. I’m anticipating extensive use of these ships in moving cargoes between the US and Australia from the Eastern US via Capetown to ports in southern Australia (route #7). Smaller and shorter range ships (< 8,000 mi) will be retained on-map and used for short-range and local transport operations along routes that in most cases will be entirely within the same theatre area. Distribution of smaller and short-range transport ships among major theatre commands will be done according to operational needs. Transport Convoy System: Plans are to establish and implement a convoy system for the majority of Allied transport shipping similar to what was historically done in the Atlantic. The convoy system will be used and followed to the greatest extent possible, though I expect making many exceptions to this rule on an case-to-case basis as situations dictate. Size and composition of transport convoys: The following practices will be used in the formation and operation of Allied transport convoys to the greatest extent possible. • A convoy may be formed of ships proceeding to a single destination, or can include ships going to a cluster of multiple destinations within a short distance of each other or located at different points along a common path of travel. • Port capacity of the assigned destination base or bases for a convoy will be the main factor in determining the number and size of ships to be included in that convoy. If possible, the port size of a destination base should be sufficient to allow simultaneous docking of all ships from a convoy that are being sent to that destination. • Size and number of ships in a convoy going to the same destination should not exceed the destination base’s port capacity to unload the ship(s) within a relatively quick period of time, usually 3-5 days maximum. This practice will ensure best turn-around time of transport ships at the destination port and also minimize exposure of transport ships to enemy air or naval attack while stopped at the destination base. Movement of transport convoys with multiple destinations: Transport convoys composed of ships going to multiple destinations will detach individual ships or groups of ships going to each destination (with or without escorts) as the convoy approaches that destination. These ships proceed to the destination base, load and/or unload, then depart from the destination base to merge again with the convoy for the return trip. Risks of a transport convoy system: • Use of a transport convoy system will impose delays in many departures of individual ships as a result of collecting and holding loaded transport ships in port while transport convoys are being formed. In turn, ship departure delays will slow down the rate of deployment of materiel (supply, fuel), land and air forces by sea, especially movement of US forces from the western US by sea to Australia, New Zealand and forward bases in the Pacific theatres. • Each transport convoy that is formed and sails is to some degree “putting a number of eggs in the same basket”. While the risk of a convoy’s detection by Japanese forces (especially carrier or surface naval) is somewhat less than for the same number of transport ships sailing independently (one target to detect vs many), the possibility of heavy losses is considerably increased for a transport convoy that is detected and attacked by Japanese forces.

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (7/10/2010 4:10:06 PM)
Summary of Operations 12/26/41 Panama: Three damaged US BB’s from Pearl Harbor arrived in Panama, these ships enroute to US east coast shipyards to complete repairs and then upgrades. The fact these BB are lightly damaged (I can get them to the US east coast) and that there is little value in keeping these ships in or near the front line (at this point in the war, front-line employment of US BB at this point in the war merely providing cannon fodder for the KB) lends itself to sending them to US east coast shipyards for repair and upgrade. Utilization of US east coast shipyards keeps shipyard capacity on the west coast & Pearl Harbor free for quicker and/or more urgent repair. Also, once repaired and upgraded, these BB can either return to the map via Panama or dispatched to Australia via Capetown (more than one way back into the Pacific). [image]local://upfiles/18646/96A1BCC01A2B4632950BE901B437FAD8.jpg[/image] One moderately damaged US BB (Nevada) still at Pearl Harbor with current damage levels 26 system, 27 float, 11 eng. BB Nevada is now capable of 14 kts and and plans are to have it leave Pearl Harbor shortly to complete repairs on the US west coast. Two more severely damaged BB's remain at Pearl Harbor and will need to continue repair of damage there.

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (7/10/2010 4:23:10 PM)
Summary of Operations 12/26/41 (continued) Australia: Allied transport ships arriving in Perth from the DEI and Singapore (via the DEI) include 1 Australian AM, 1 Dutch AVP, 2 small Dutch xAP , 3 British xAKL, 2 British TK, 1 Dutch PC. Total cargoes reaching Perth this game turn aboard these ships include 2000 resource, 14725 fuel. At this time, nearly all Allied transports and auxiliary ships successfully leaving the DEI have already reached Australia or are now in Australian waters. Unlike my last match vs Pillager in CHS where I got nearly all Allied transports to Australia, Pillager's early movement of Japanese CVL's and surface naval forces into the Philippines and northern DEI decimated US and British transports leaving the Philippines and Hong Kong and claimed substantial Allied ship losses elsewhere. DEI: Jap landing begins at Tarakan, heavy fire on Japanese transport ships from Dutch coastal artillery. AAR’s follow. While scoring hits on enemy ships is nice, Pillager is disembarking the Japanese 4th Division to capture Tarakan so the gallant actions of Dutch coastal gunners isn't expected to put a serious crimp on Pillager's progress. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Invasion action off Tarakan Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 74 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships xAKL Eiwa Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire PB Kinsyo Maru #2, Shell hits 3 DD Akikaze xAKL Hinode Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires PB Teibo Maru #2 xAP Huzi Maru Japanese ground losses: 104 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled) 120mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging xAKL Eiwa Maru at 7,000 yards DD Akikaze fires to suppress enemy guns at 7,000 yards 120mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging xAKL Hinode Maru at 7,000 yards DD Akikaze fires to suppress enemy guns at 7,000 yards 75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging xAKL Hinode Maru at 7,000 yards DD Akikaze fires to suppress enemy guns at 7,000 yards 120mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging xAKL Eiwa Maru at 7,000 yards DD Akikaze fires to suppress enemy guns at 7,000 yards PB Teibo Maru #2 firing at enemy troops PB Kinsyo Maru #2 firing at enemy troops 120mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Kinsyo Maru #2 at 2,000 yards 75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Kinsyo Maru #2 at 2,000 yards Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amphibious Assault at Tarakan TF 204 troops unloading over beach at Tarakan, 67,91 Japanese ground losses: 186 casualties reported Squads: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled 19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 4th Div 20 troops of a IJA HMG Squad lost in surf during unload of 4th Div /12 19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 4th Div /10 19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of 4th Div /10 19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 4th Div /2 19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 4th Div /9 10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 4th Div /8 19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 4th Div /7 10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 4th Div /6 10 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 4th Div /5 10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 4th Div /3 10 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 4th Div /3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Tarakan 46 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships xAKL Hinode Maru, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage PB Kinsyo Maru #2 DD Akikaze PB Teibo Maru #2, Shell hits 2, on fire xAP Huzi Maru Japanese ground losses: 34 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled 120mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging xAKL Hinode Maru at 6,000 yards DD Akikaze fires to suppress enemy guns at 6,000 yards 120mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging xAKL Hinode Maru at 6,000 yards DD Akikaze fires to suppress enemy guns at 6,000 yards 120mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging xAKL Hinode Maru at 6,000 yards PB Teibo Maru #2 fires to suppress enemy guns at 6,000 yards PB Teibo Maru #2 firing at enemy troops 120mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Teibo Maru #2 at 2,000 yards 75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging PB Teibo Maru #2 at 2,000 yards PB Kinsyo Maru #2 firing at enemy troops Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Tarakan Coastal Gun Battalion, at 67,91 (Tarakan) Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 7 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged Allied ground losses: 13 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled) Aircraft Attacking: 7 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Tarakan 30 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships xAKL Eiwa Maru, on fire, heavy damage DD Akikaze PB Teibo Maru #2 xAK Goyo Maru PB Kinsyo Maru #2 xAP Huzi Maru Japanese ground losses: 27 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled DD Akikaze fires to suppress enemy guns at 6,000 yards PB Teibo Maru #2 fires to suppress enemy guns at 6,000 yards DD Akikaze fires to suppress enemy guns at 6,000 yards PB Teibo Maru #2 fires to suppress enemy guns at 6,000 yards 120mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging xAK Goyo Maru at 6,000 yards PB Teibo Maru #2 fires to suppress enemy guns at 6,000 yards PB Teibo Maru #2 firing at enemy troops PB Kinsyo Maru #2 firing at enemy troops Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91) Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 989 troops, 30 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 44 Defending force 12895 troops, 113 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 444 Japanese ground losses: 13 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 8 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: VII KNIL Battalion Tarakan Coastal Gun Battalion Tarakan Base Force Defending units: 4th Div /37 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jap LBA bombers (Ki-21 Sally) continue bombing Palembang with no significant damage or Allied casualties. Last Allied convoy remaining in the DEI (2 empty Dutch CM, 1 Dutch xAKL) departed this game turn for Australia. Malaya: Japanese ground forces (one LCU) detected entering Johore Bahru base hex. 8 Indian Brigade now in Temuloh with no possiblilty of escape to Singapore, it is now remaining in Temuloh to the end. Jap bombers continue air attacks on Singapore. Light British casualties reported. 9 Jap bombers hit by flak. China: Japanese ground forces (12 LCU) detected entering Changsha base hex.

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (7/10/2010 11:45:02 PM)
Summary of Operations 12/27/41 Canton Is: Japanese naval bombardment of Canton Is. Substantial damage (30-40%) reported to base facilities. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Canton Island at 153,143 Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses No Allied losses Japanese Ships BB Kirishima BB Hiei CA Kako CA Furutaka CA Kinugasa CA Aoba DD Hokaze DD Yuzuki Allied ground losses: Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Airbase hits 7 Airbase supply hits 6 Runway hits 18 Port hits 23 Port fuel hits 8 Port supply hits 3 BB Kirishima firing at Canton Island BB Hiei firing at Canton Island CA Kako firing at Canton Island CA Furutaka firing at Canton Island CA Kinugasa firing at Canton USN CPNAB CA Aoba firing at Canton Island DD Hokaze firing at Canton Island DD Yuzuki firing at Canton Island -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One or more unidentified Jap TF(s) detected near Tarawa. Sigint report entry for 12/27 indicates radio transmissions from same hex location. Possibilities include the KB returning to base (Kwajalein?), also invasion TF(s) on their way to Canton and/or Baker Is. Number, composition, and heading of these TF(s) are unknown. CV Enterprise TG is near Christmas Is and just completed refueling from a replenishment TF. It is remaining within movement range of either Canton or Baker Is in the event Pillager's unidentified Jap TF(s) are pulling an invasion. All this keeping in mind the KB may still be in the area. That being said… the “all clear” has been sounded at Pago Pago and Suva. Transport shipping activity to these two bases is resumed. New Guinea: Japanese landing (1 LCU detected) at Hansa Bay near Madang. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amphibious Assault at Hansa Bay TF 302 troops unloading over beach at Hansa Bay, 97,121 Japanese ground losses: 10 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled 8 Engineers lost from landing craft during unload of 3rd Base Force /27 17 troops of a SNLF Squad lost in surf during unload of 9th JNAF Coy 8 Engineers lost overboard during unload of 3rd Base Force 8 Naval Support troops lost overboard during unload of 3rd Base Force 8 Naval Support troops lost in surf during unload of 3rd Base Force 10 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 3rd Base Force /29 10 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 9th JNAF Coy /28 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Australia: No arrivals of Allied transport ships in Perth from the DEI. DEI: Japanese capture Tarakan. AAR’s follow. Two stray British MTB’s heading southward from the Philippines visit Tarakan and disrupt Jap disembarkation in a night surface combat operation, fired their torpedoes at Jap transports, hit nothing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Tarakan Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 7 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships xAKL Sakae Maru PB Kinsyo Maru #2 PB Teibo Maru #2 xAKL Eiwa Maru, on fire, heavy damage DD Akikaze xAK Goyo Maru xAP Huzi Maru -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Tarakan at 67,91, Range 6,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Akikaze xAK Goyo Maru xAK Hitati Maru xAK Terukawa Maru xAK Syohei Maru xAK London Maru xAK Kurogane Maru xAKL Eiwa Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage xAKL Sakae Maru xAP Asama Maru xAP Buenos Aires Maru xAP Huzi Maru PB Kinsyo Maru #2 PB Teibo Maru #2 Allied Ships MTB 8 MTB 9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Tarakan at 67,91 Japanese Ships DD Akikaze xAK Syohei Maru xAK Terukawa Maru xAK Hitati Maru xAK Goyo Maru xAKL Sakae Maru xAKL Eiwa Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage Allied Ships SS KXVIII, hits 5 (system 18, float 37) SS KXVIII launches 4 torpedoes at DD Akikaze DD Akikaze attacking submerged sub .... DD Akikaze attacking submerged sub .... DD Akikaze fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Akikaze attacking submerged sub .... DD Akikaze is out of ASW ammo Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Tarakan Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships xAKL Eiwa Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage PB Teibo Maru #2, Shell hits 2 DD Akikaze PB Kinsyo Maru #2 xAP Huzi Maru -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Tarakan Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships xAKL Eiwa Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Akikaze PB Teibo Maru #2 xAKL Sakae Maru PB Kinsyo Maru #2 xAP Huzi Maru -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invasion Support action off Tarakan Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 15 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships xAKL Sakae Maru PB Kinsyo Maru #2 DD Akikaze xAK Goyo Maru, Shell hits 1 PB Teibo Maru #2 xAP Huzi Maru -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 12925 troops, 113 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 447 Defending force 1773 troops, 46 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 43 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 341 Allied adjusted defense: 28 Japanese assault odds: 12 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Tarakan !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 78 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 1036 casualties reported Squads: 15 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 67 destroyed, 16 disabled Engineers: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 27 (26 destroyed, 1 disabled) Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 2 Units destroyed 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 4th Division Defending units: VII KNIL Battalion Tarakan Coastal Gun Battalion Tarakan Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japanese surface naval TF previously reported in Kendari on 12/24 appears at Ambon, engages Dutch PT flotilla in a daytime action. Dutch PT’s were unable to close range to fire torpedoes. No hits or damage on either side. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Ambon at 76,109, Range 20,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Nagato BB Fuso BB Ise BB Hyuga CL Yura DD Mikazuki DD Yakaze DD Wakatake DD Kuretake DD Sanae Allied Ships PT TM-4 PT TM-5 PT TM-6 PT TM-7 PT TM-8 PT TM-9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jap fighter sweeps (Zeroes) reported over Palembang. Dutch transport and patrol seaplanes are now flying additional engineer elements into Palembang to reinforce the demolition of oil & resource production and refinery facilities there. 13 engineer squads and one engineer vehicle are currently in Palembang. Dutch LCU’s from surrounding bases on Sumatra have already moved into Palembang Malaya: Jap bombers (Ki-21 Sally) continue air attacks on Singapore against port facilities and ground units. Light British casualties reported. Jap bombers hit and inflicted additional damage on Dutch submarine K-XIII under repair in Singapore shipyard. Dutch sub K-XIII is being removed from the shipyard (3 days delay) and will depart from Singapore for India. 9 Jap bombers reported hit by flak. Burma: Japanese capture Mergui in southern Burma. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Mergui (53,62) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 53 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4 Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 5 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Mergui !!! Combat modifiers Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-) Assaulting units: 1st Raiding Rgt /38 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Capetown: Five large Dutch AK arrived in Capetown from the DEI evacuation. These ships are being allocated to transport operations between the US east coast and Australia. China: Japanese ground forces attack at Changsha, capture Chuhsien. AAR’s follow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Changsha (82,52) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 57304 troops, 636 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 2315 Defending force 61193 troops, 405 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1635 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2 Japanese adjusted assault: 1182 Allied adjusted defense: 2151 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 2574 casualties reported Squads: 7 destroyed, 161 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 133 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled) Allied ground losses: 2782 casualties reported Squads: 13 destroyed, 149 disabled Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 176 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled) Assaulting units: 18th Ind.Mixed Brigade 13th Division 116th Division 34th Division 3rd Division 6th Division 58th Infantry Regiment 14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment 11th Army 51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 1st Mortar Battalion 52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion Defending units: 37th Chinese Corps 78th Chinese Corps 99th Chinese Corps 74th Chinese Corps 58th Chinese Corps 26th Chinese Corps 20th Chinese Corps 10th Chinese Corps 72nd Chinese Corps 5th Construction Regiment 30th Group Army 9th War Area 19th Group Army 29th Group Army 27th Group Army 17th Chinese Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Chuhsien (88,56) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 12274 troops, 112 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 436 Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 458 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 458 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Chuhsien !!! Combat modifiers Attacker: leaders(+) Assaulting units: 15th Division --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

wneumann -> RE: Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Jolly Pillager) (7/15/2010 5:09:29 AM)
Summary of Operations 12/28/41 Let’s go to Tokyo! SS Argonaut deposits its first load of mines in Tokyo Bay. A fitting start for the sundry voyages of this distinguished boat which laid its mines across nearly the entire WitP game map in my last outing vs Pillager. Canton Is: KB task force(s) spotted three hexes NW of Canton by SOC-1 Seagull from damaged CA Pensacola now operating from Canton Is. KB is reported moving on an E heading, either to check out Palmyra or intercept any US naval forces or transports moving southward into the area from Pearl Harbor. CV Enterprise TG remains in the Christmas Is area outside the detection range of KB aircraft. New Guinea: Japanese capture beach hex at Hansa Bay. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Hansa Bay (97,121) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 402 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 59 Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 8 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Hansa Bay !!! Combat modifiers Attacker: Assaulting units: Bandasan SNLF 9th JNAF Coy 3rd Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sigint report entry for 12/28 indicates radio transmissions detected in hex 99,112 north of Hollandia. Australia: Allied transport ships arriving in Perth from the DEI and Singapore (via the DEI) include 2 British TK, 2 British xAK, six Dutch xAKL. Total cargoes reaching Perth this game turn aboard these ships include 11980 oil, 1950 resource, 4670 supply, 2900 fuel, along with two RAF & one RNZAF air units (total planes – 2 Singapore III patrol, 14 Vildebeest). DEI: Probable Japanese invasion TF (9 ships including multiple AP) detected three hexes W of Ambon, moving on an E heading. A flotilla of six Dutch PT’s is at Ambon. Jap fighters (Zeroes) continue sweeps over Palembang, also ground attack strike by Ki-21 Sally bombers on Dutch LCU’s in Palembang. AAR follows. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Palembang Base Force, at 48,91 (Palembang) Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 9 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 6 damaged Allied ground losses: (no engineers affected) 7 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 9 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet * Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malaya: More Jap LCU’s detected entering Johore Bahru base hex, other Jap LCU shown in adjacent hex. I’d expect the battle for Johore Bahru to begin shortly. Philippines: Jap bombing strikes reported at several locations on Mindanao, including Davao. Minor damage and casualties reported. Capetown: One large Dutch xAP arrives in Capetown from the DEI evacuation. This ships has been attached to a convoy of US transports also arriving this game turn in Capetown from India – ships this convoy departing for the US east coast to participate in transport operations between the US east coast and Australia. India: British 18 Division arrived at Madras and now disembarking. One British xAK arrived in Colombo from DEI evacuation, cargo included 1935 fuel and part of 100 Squadron RAF (two Wildebeest). Other elements of 100 Squadron (9 planes) arrived this game turn in Perth from the DEI. China: Attacks by Japanese ground forces at Changsha and Loyang. AAR’s follow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Changsha (82,52) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 1115 troops, 140 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2182 Defending force 59260 troops, 405 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1487 Japanese ground losses: Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Allied ground losses: 47 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 3rd Division 116th Division 13th Division 34th Division 18th Ind.Mixed Brigade 6th Division 58th Infantry Regiment 2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 1st Mortar Battalion 51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment 14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 11th Army 52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion Defending units: 74th Chinese Corps 26th Chinese Corps 58th Chinese Corps 37th Chinese Corps 99th Chinese Corps 20th Chinese Corps 78th Chinese Corps 10th Chinese Corps 72nd Chinese Corps 5th Construction Regiment 30th Group Army 29th Group Army 9th War Area 27th Group Army 19th Group Army 17th Chinese Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Loyang (87,43) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 10965 troops, 94 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 375 Defending force 36445 troops, 166 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1014 Japanese adjusted assault: 196 Allied adjusted defense: 268 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1) Combat modifiers Defender: op mode(-), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-) Japanese ground losses: 766 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 44 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled) Allied ground losses: 597 casualties reported Squads: 42949666 destroyed, 12 disabled Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 61 disabled Engineers: 4 destroyed, 1 disabled Assaulting units: 35th Division Defending units: 5th New Chinese Corps 40th Chinese Corps 2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps 15th Chinese Corps 3rd Construction Regiment 93rd Chinese Corps 80th Chinese Corps 7th Construction Regiment 1st War Area 36th Group Army 15th Group Army 14th Group Army Jingcha War Area 24th Group Army 39th Group Army 4th Chinese Base Force 10th Chinese Base Force --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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