IdahoNYer vs LST (J AAR): GAME OVER!

IdahoNYer vs LST (J AAR): GAME OVER! (Full Version)

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LargeSlowTarget -> IdahoNYer vs LST (J AAR): GAME OVER! (9/2/2014 9:38:58 AM)
I have the honor to confront IdahoNYer in my first AE PBEM. Having done several PBEMs with PacWar and Uncommon Valor and one PBEM in classic WitP, I would class myself as an "experienced noob" in AE. IdahoNYer will play the Allies and I just realize that I have played Japan in all my PBEMs so far - I hope I have learned something from past defeats... We are both "historic fanboys" and also do not "play to win" - we just want to enjoy a good game. So we will not go all-out for VPs to trigger an early auto-victory and fancy, unrealistic operations are unlikely. If auto-victory can be avoided and Japan is not invaded by November 1945, I will consider it a success. Furthermore, we won't make supreme efforts for the optimization of pilot training / assignment, the economy etc. - it is a game, not a profession. Expect a slow-motion game since RL will always have priority. Btw, the name "Duel of the tankers" comes from the fact that both IdahoNYer and I have served in the armoured forces - he in the US 3rd Armoured Div in Germany not far from my hometown, I did a stint with the German Panzers. Scenario settings: Scenario: DaBigBabes-C with stacking limits, Scenario 29 Dec 8th Start (we prefer the 8 Dec start as it sets the war conditions and gives a good blow to PH - often Dec 7th start PH results are skewed) Beta: Latest version FOW ON Advanced weather ON Allied damage control ON PDU OFF Historical first turn OFF Dec 7 surprise NA Reliable USN torps OFF Realistic R&D ON No unit withdrawals OFF Reinforcements +/- 60 (this provides the most variables which for us is a plus) Auto sub ops OFF Turn cycle: 2 day turns [This does a couple of things. First, it moves the game forward a bit more rapidly than daily turns. But also, it puts a little caution into both players and actually slows the tempo of operations for both sides - which also enhances the realism.] House Rules: * No 4e naval bombing below 10k * No dot base invasion/paradrops * Restricted units must pay PPs to cross national borders [China theater only] * Sweeps at 2nd best maneuver band * Night bombing rules: - naval attack missions limited to one air unit per attacking base - airfield/port/industry attacks limited to one air unit per target base in 1941/42, two in 1943, three in 1944 and four in 1945 - no restrictions on area bombing i.e. manpower We will do our own closed AARs - so no IdahoNYer past this point! [:-]

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/2/2014 12:29:19 PM)
So, what will be my strategy to delay the inevitable defeat of the Empire? In the "expansion phase" the SRA needs to be taken quickly, of course. Also Burma must be occupied to close the Burma Road and the secure the western flank. Outposts need to be established to guard the the southern, eastern and northern flanks. That means Port Moresby, Milne Bay, Guadalcanal, the Gilberts and Wake must be conquered quickly. In the "consolidation phase" early Allied attacks - if any - on outposts will be counter-attacked. For these counter-attacks, I will try to conserve strength and avoid overextension. That means no conquests of India, Australia, Alaska or deep into the Pacific as well as only limited goals in China. I will try to creat "strategic moats" in order to keep key bases outside Allied fighter range (at least until long-legged fighters appear). To attack accross the "moats" the Allies will need 4Es and carriers and this will surely trigger some nice actions. However, if possible I may nibble at Northern Australia and take some South Pacific bases to act as "speed bumps" with no intention to defend them but to force my opponent to waste some time and efforts to take them back. For the "defensive phase" when the Allies have accumulated overwhelming strength, I will try to fall back slowly. Front-line bases will be held in enough strength to force considerable Allied preparations, but once invested, I will try to get the troops out to fight another day farther back. Goals and force assignments for the expansion phase: Initial force allocation will be guided by two thoughts: 1. Many pre-loaded convoys contain slow ships with low endurance - I use them on the closest invasion sites without much regard to administrative commands or target preparation. 2. Some LCUs are split in sub-units. The Bn-sized subunits are useful for garrison duty and will be kept, the Rgt-sized sub-units will be recombined into divisions for more punch. HK: - to be captured quickly but without risking thrashing 38th Div > massive LBA support planned - 38th Div will then become theater reserve for PI / Malaya - if not needed, prepare for Palembang - Arty units will transfer to 14th Army PI: - main airfields to be taken quickly - Allied troops on Luzon to be contained at Bataan or Manila and starved into surrender - prevent escape / resupply by naval and air blockade - 48th Div, 56th Div (-), 21st Div, 65th Bde Northern Luzon > will contain Allies on Luzon - 16th Div Southern Luzon > to be pulled-out and prepare for Java - 2nd Div Mindanao > 1 Rgt + Bns will garrison Mindanao, 1 Rgt to attack the Visayas and garrison Cebu - 146th Inf.Rgt of 56th Div detached at Babeldaob will take Tarakan and Balikpapan before joining parent unit on Luzon - elements of 124th Inf.Rgt (31st Div) at Cam Ranh Bay will conquer Northern Borneo, then help attacking the Visayas and garrison Iloilo, Bacolod and Baybay > rest of Division will join attack as soon as released from China Malaya: - secure airfields in Northern Malaya - then push enemy forces into Singapore - prevent escape / resupply by naval and air blockade - 5th Div, 18th Div, Imperial Guard Div, 33rd Div, 41st Inf Rgt (of 30th Div - other units of Div will follow after released from Korea) plus all tanks and arty units west of HK - after the capture of Singapore, 5th, 18th and Guard Divs will be transferred to 15th Army, 33rd Div to 16th Army for Java and 30th Div will garrison Malaya - 55th Div (-) will advance into Burma to secure Victoria Point, Mergui, Tavoy and Moulmein, then await reinforcements from 25th Army. The missing units (South Seas Detachment) will join parent without delay Pacific: - Navy SNFL troops to capture Guam, Wake, Tarawa, Ocean Is. and Nauru - 4th Div plus Navy troops to capture Rabaul, Port Moresby, Guadalcanal - supported and covered by KB After Singapore is secured and the enemy PI forces are contained, 16th, 33rd and 38th Divs will capture and garrison Sumatra and Java. 5th, 18th, 55th and Guards will advance on Rangoon. After surrender of PI, the 21st, 48th and 56th Divs will become theater reserves. 65th Bde remain as garrison at Manila. Other divisions on garrison duty to be replaced with dedicated garrison troops in the reinforcement queue to become reserve troops as well. LCU reserves + shipping to be concentrated at Marianas for expected Allied counter-attacks in the Pacific. Other plans: * maximum ASW effort - all float planes groups upgrading to Jakes will be maxed to 24 planes by Chitose/Chiyoda and train ASW at 1000 feet - Jake production reserved for dedicated ASW groups - majority of Lily / Sally level-bomber groups will eventually train and engage in ASW * pilot training - all float planes NOT upgrading to Jake will be maxed to 24 planes by Chitose/Chiyoda and train sweeps at 10.000 feet - all groups not able to upgrade to Tojo / Tony reserved for training duty after conclusion of initial operations - Army dive-bombers not assigned to China will train naval bombing after conclusion of initial operations - all land-based Navy single-engined air groups will be maxed to 81 planes by Kaga and many will be assigned to naval search / attack training - all 80+ pilots will be assigned to TRACOM *Anti-4E-preparations - research and production of Ki-45 pushed, groups able to upgrade to Ki-45 to be kept away from front line duty and set to training - research of fighters and night-fighters with armor rating pushed So much for the initial planning - let's see how much of the plan will survice contact with the enemy.

PaxMondo -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/3/2014 2:19:58 AM)
*lurking*

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/3/2014 1:56:11 PM)
Welcome, PaxMondo - at least one "follower" [;)] Ok, first turn received. Boss is away so I can take some time for an detailed AAR. It will be shorter on busy days (this is a "lunch break game" for me). Btw, top priority is sinking CL-47 Boise - my opponent lives in the namesake city. Here we go: Dec 7th, 1941 Tora! Tora! Tora! The battle against the ABC powers has started with a devastating air attack against Pearl Harbor. Commander Fuchida, leader of the Pearl Harbor air strike, reports his damage assessment: "In the overwhelming surprise attack, the West Virginia, California and Arizona were sunk; badly damaged were the Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Nevada, Oklahoma and Maryland. More than 200 planes have been destroyed on the ground." [image]local://upfiles/1313/9F09469BE0234A1EB387AC235A00B69E.jpg[/image] Southern Army HQ reports that air strikes against Clark Field in the Philippines have destroyed a large number of bombers and fighters on the ground. Air attacks will continue to clear the way for landing operations soon to commence. Furthermore, Japanese troops have landed in Thailand and at Kota Bharu on the Malay peninsular. Enemy air attacks managed to set one transport on fire. Elements of the 18th Division are fighting at Kota Bharu to clear the landing beaches. Elements of the 5th Division are marching from Singora in Thailand to the Malay border town of Alor Star. Units of the 55th Division have secured key locations in Thailand and are advancing to the Burmese border. Other operations are in preparation throughout the future Co-Prosperity Sphere. Dec 8th, 1941 Malaya: The first full day of the war starts with a submarine attack near Kota Bharu. SS I-157 is attacking xAKL Dai Tung on the surface - shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage. Low on gun ammo, I-157 breaks off surface engagement and submerges. At Kota Bharu, our troops are still fighting on the beaches. Enemy troops in brigade strength hiding in bunkers ("pillboxes") are slowing our advance, but fortifications have been reduced to level 1. xAK Awajisan Maru, hit yesterday, sinks off Kota Bharu due to bomb and fire damage. Feeble enemy air attacks are beaten off by our fighter cover operating from Singora. Our bombers in Indochina are grounded by weather. HK: The 38th Division and supporting units are advancing on Hong Kong. Army and Navy air units operating from Canton, Amoy and Takao have launched multiple recon missions and bombing attacks against shipping and port installations. Thunderstorms are interfering with bomb aiming - our agents in Hong Kong report only light damage. PI: Advance parties land on Batan Is. north of Luzon. They have orders to prepare an airbase in order to support opertions against Luzon. Convoys and warships are gathering near Takao for the invasion of Laoag and Aparri. Sweep missions by Zeros based on Formosa down many enemy fighters in the vicinity of Manila: quote: Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 9 Allied aircraft P-26A x 6 P-40E Warhawk x 36 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-26A: 1 destroyed P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 60 Allied aircraft P-26A x 5 P-40E Warhawk x 28 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses P-26A: 4 destroyed P-40E Warhawk: 14 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 26 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet * 20 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet * Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 9 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 9 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet * In the southern PI, Fast Transport TF 13 has arrived offshore of Jolo. Composed of cruisers Myoko, Haguro, Nachi and Nagara plus 11 destroyers, the TF is transporting the 1st Independent SNLF and small Engineer and air support units to set up an air base at Jolo in order to blockade the southern approaches to Luzon. Small carrier Ryujo and a plane guard destroyer (Shiokaze) are covering this operation. They spot fair game: quote: Morning Air attack on TF, near Siquijor at 76,87 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 3 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 1 minutes Japanese aircraft B5N1 Kate x 11 No Japanese losses Allied Ships CL Boise Aircraft Attacking: 11 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp Alas, not hits on Boise... [:@] Pacific: Bombers operating from Roi-Namur set out to soften-up Wake for the upcoming invasion. Unknown to us, the enemy must have flown-in fighters to Wake very recently - we take painful loses. But that means that one or more US carriers must be in the vicinity! quote: Morning Air attack on Wake Island , at 136,98 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 21 Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 7 Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged No Allied losses Runway hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 14 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 24000 feet * Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb Kido Butai has left burning Pearl Harbor behind and has set course to Wake Is. to cover a scheduled landing operation. All strike groups have been set to naval attack in case of a chance encounter with US Fleet units suspected to operate between Pearl and Wake. Our submarines redeploy around Pearl Harbor and report significant enemy ASW activitites. No damage on either side yet. Dec 9th, 1941 Malaya: Bombers operating from Indochina bases hit air bases at Alor Star and Georgetown and enemy troop concentrations at Kota Bharu. Our troops at Kota Bharu reduce enemy fortifications. We will shock attack tomorrow. quote: Ground combat at Kota Bharu (51,75) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 4234 troops, 66 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 264 Defending force 4033 troops, 40 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 83 Japanese adjusted assault: 103 Allied adjusted defense: 37 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: forts(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 11 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 347 casualties reported Squads: 32 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Assaulting units: 22nd Recon Regiment 56th Infantry Regiment 12th Engineer Regiment 91st Naval Guard Unit 18th Mountain Gun Regiment 5th JAAF AF Coy Defending units: FMSV Brigade 8th Indian Brigade 3rd ISF Base Force Feeble enemy air attacks cause some losses on both sides. No enemy naval activities spotted - but our SAG composed of Kongo, Haruna, Takao, Atago, Mogami, Mikuma, Suzuya, Kumano and Jintsu plus destroyer screen is patrolling between Singora and Kota Bharu and naval bombers are in readiness at Saigon should the Royal Navy show up. Our submarines are redeploying to cover possible attack and escape routes and minelaying subs try to block potential bottlenecks: quote: SS I-122 lays minefield at Batu Pahat ( 49 , 82) SS I-121 lays minefield near Palembang ( 49 , 90) HK: 38th Division is still advancing on Hong Kong. Bombing attacks continue with slightly better aim - weather is still lousy: quote: Afternoon Air attack on Hong Kong , at 77,61 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 60 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 21 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 20 G4M1 Betty x 45 No Japanese losses Allied Ships xAK Ming Sang, Bomb hits 1, on fire Kwangchowan is occupied by the Japanese - must have been a 5th column. PI: Sweeps continue to clear the skies over Luzon: quote: Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 9 Allied aircraft P-26A x 3 P-40E Warhawk x 1 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses P-26A: 1 destroyed P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 8 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet * CAP engaged: 6th PS PAAC with P-26A (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 12000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes 35th PG/21st PS with P-40E Warhawk (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 14000. Raid is overhead Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 9 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 9 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet * Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 30 No Japanese losses Aircraft Attacking: 30 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet * At Jolo, TF 13 has several encounters with enemy ships but sticks to its fast transport mission (no retirement) and evades combat - a downside of 2-day turns... quote: Task Force 13 encounters enemy Task Force at 74 , 90 Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,90, Range 12,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Myoko CA Haguro CA Nachi CL Nagara DD Kuroshio DD Oyashio DD Hatsukaze DD Natsushio DD Yukikaze DD Hayashio DD Amatsukaze DD Tokitsukaze DD Yamakaze DD Kawakaze DD Umikaze DD Suzukaze Allied Ships CM Prins van Oranje Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 78% moonlight: 12,000 yards CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards Japanese TF attempts to evade combat Range increases to 12,000 yards... Range increases to 12,000 yards... Both Task Forces evade combat Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,90, Range 11,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Myoko CA Haguro CA Nachi CL Nagara DD Kuroshio DD Oyashio DD Hatsukaze DD Natsushio DD Yukikaze DD Hayashio DD Amatsukaze DD Tokitsukaze DD Yamakaze DD Kawakaze DD Umikaze DD Suzukaze Allied Ships CL Boise Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 78% moonlight: 12,000 yards CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 11,000 yards Range closes to 7,000 yards CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 7,000 yards Range closes to 6,000 yards CA Haguro engages CL Boise at 6,000 yards CL Nagara engages CL Boise at 6,000 yards Range increases to 7,000 yards CL Boise engages CA Nachi at 7,000 yards Range increases to 11,000 yards CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 11,000 yards CL Boise engages DD Umikaze at 11,000 yards CL Boise engages DD Kuroshio at 11,000 yards Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape Task forces break off... Day Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,90, Range 20,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Myoko CA Haguro CA Nachi CL Nagara DD Kuroshio DD Oyashio DD Hatsukaze DD Natsushio DD Yukikaze DD Hayashio DD Amatsukaze DD Tokitsukaze DD Yamakaze DD Kawakaze DD Umikaze DD Suzukaze Allied Ships xAP Legaspi Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards Japanese TF attempts to evade combat Range increases to 25,000 yards... Range increases to 30,000 yards... Range increases to 30,000 yards... Both Task Forces evade combat Grr, Boise escapes again! [:o] But Ryujo draws first blood: quote: Morning Air attack on TF, near Zamboanga at 75,87 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft B5N1 Kate x 1 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AV Langley, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 1 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp Nice - one plane, one hit. But I would have preferred a hit on Boise. And Ryujo has now exhausted its torpedo supply... Furthermore, hunting Langley prevented Ryujo's air group from covering our TF 13 luckily the big B-17s are poor anti-shipping platforms: quote: Morning Air attack on TF, near Jolo at 74,90 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Allied aircraft B-17D Fortress x 4 No Allied losses Japanese Ships CA Nachi Aircraft Attacking: 4 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 16000 feet * Naval Attack: 4 x 500 lb SAP Bomb Carrier support unable to supply air cover.. Our minelaying subs are also busy in PI waters: quote: SS I-123 lays minefield at Busuanga ( 77 , 80) SS I-124 lays minefield near Busuanga ( 78 , 80) Submarine attack near Bataan at 77,77 Japanese Ships SS I-124 Allied Ships xAK John Lykes, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage xAK John Lykes is sighted by SS I-124 SS I-124 launches 2 torpedoes xAK John Lykes is reported to have been sunk near Bataan on Dec 09, 1941 Pacific: Air strikes and losses continue at Wake - another downside of 2-day turns... quote: Morning Air attack on Wake Island , at 136,98 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 25 Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 11 Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged No Allied losses Runway hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 15 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 24000 feet * Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: VMF-211 Det with F4F-3 Wildcat (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 4 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes Light forces capture Nauru Island: quote: Pre-Invasion action off Nauru Island (127,128) Japanese Ships DD Asanagi CM Okinoshima CM Tokiwa PB Nagata Maru Allied ground losses: 179 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 7 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled) DD Asanagi firing at Wren Det. CM Okinoshima firing at Wren Det. CM Tokiwa firing at Wren Det. PB Nagata Maru fired at enemy troops DD Asanagi fired at enemy troops CM Tokiwa fired at enemy troops Amphibious Assault at Nauru Island (127,128) TF 15 troops unloading over beach at Nauru Island, 127,128 Japanese ground losses: 22 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled 17 troops of a SNLF Inf Squad 41 lost overboard during unload of 51st Nav Gd Ground combat at Nauru Island (127,128) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 1805 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 60 Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 53 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 53 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Nauru Island !!! Combat modifiers Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-) Assaulting units: 51st Naval Guard Unit Kido Butai is crossing between Pearl Harbor and Midway, following and covering the assigned oiler group acting as bait. Search planes (Soryu's entire Kate complement) find nothing in the assigned sectors from south to west.

witpqs -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/3/2014 5:45:15 PM)
Good luck! [:)] Reading both sides so will tightly restrict my comments.

Lowpe -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/3/2014 6:33:32 PM)
Good luck. I routinely play 2 day turns against the AI, when I played the AI. The major area of concern is: Cap traps & Bombing Runs -- get air superiority first, escort and lrcap every bomber mission deliberate attacks...if you have a 2-1 or better you will deliberate attack a second day...can be nasty if reinforcements for the other side arrive or you suffer badly in the 1st days attack Naval: longer raids are possible since they can not react to your advance. Good Luck!

Richard III -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/3/2014 8:23:10 PM)
Banzai !! and subscribed to both so no comments on either from me. PS: I`m another old guy here who PBEM`ed PacWar.[8D].

Mike McCreery -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/4/2014 12:31:15 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Richard III Banzai !! and subscribed to both so no comments on either from me. PS: I`m another old guy here who PBEM`ed PacWar.[8D]. I PBM'd Pacific War back before it was trendy to send stuff through FTP... Mailed a 3.5" floppy back and forth. Those were the good old days :P

Bif1961 -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/6/2014 2:28:51 PM)
Looking forward to seeing how things develop over the course of this gay between two friends.

Bif1961 -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/6/2014 2:29:56 PM)
sorry noticed my typo meant game, though there is nothing wrong with that.

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/8/2014 3:28:26 PM)
Thanks for all visits, comments and Freudian slips so far [;)] IdahoNYer and I have met here on the forum very recently, so we are friends in the Facebook sense only. But we get along fine and have discovered some commonalities - we have both served in the armoured forces of our respective countries, he has been stationed in my home state in Germany for some time and I have spent a year as an exchange student in his native New York state, and we are both "historic fanboys" with the same playing style - for fun, not for winning. So, here we go with turn 2: 12/10/41 & 12/11/41 China: Troops in China are launching operations to clear lines of communication. The first action was ground combat at Pengpu (90,50): quote: Japanese Deliberate attack Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 13th Ind.Mixed Brigade 12th RGC Ind. Brigade Defending units: 89th Chinese Corps US submarines of the Asiatic Fleet have made their presence known in Formosa waters. We have expected this and several local patrols of three subchasers each have been positioned at strategic locations at Formosa and China ports. We have also ordered AGs to various ports on the China coast for replenishing depth charges of the local ASW forces. However, no escorts were available to prevent or at least avenge the first success of the US underwater pirates: quote: Submarine attack near Shaohing at 93,60 Japanese Ships AG Okuyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage Allied Ships SS Stingray AG Okuyo Maru is sighted by SS Stingray SS Stingray launches 2 torpedoes AG Okuyo Maru sinks.... As a consequence, Naval HQ has ordered the conversion of suitable small ships into ASW platforms for the newly-established convoy escort command. HK: At Hong Kong, bombing attacks have damaged several merchant ships and port facilities. DM Thracian fleeing from Hong Kong (or on an offensive minelaying mission in Formosa Strait?) encountered one of our ASW patrols hunting enemy subs off Swatow: Day Time Surface Combat, near Swatow at 82,64, Range 12,000 Yards quote: Japanese Ships SC Ch 4 SC Ch 5 SC Ch 6, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage Allied Ships DM Thracian SC Ch 6 sinks.... A cruiser-destroyer force nearby on the way to Borneo intercepted but failed to sink the intruder: quote: Day Time Surface Combat, near Swatow at 82,64, Range 21,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Maya CA Ashigara, Shell hits 1 CL Natori CL Kuma DD Yamagumo DD Satsuki DD Minazuki DD Fumizuki DD Nagatsuki DD Asakaze DD Harukaze DD Matsukaze DD Hatakaze Allied Ships DM Thracian, Shell hits 1 DM Thracian escaped into a rain squall - wheather is still very bad in the Hong Kong / Swatow area. Bad weather however did not prevent the British Naval Air Forces from attacking - we cannot fail to admire their spirit! quote: Morning Air attack on TF, near Swatow at 81,62 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Allied aircraft Vildebeest III x 3 No Allied losses Japanese Ships SC Ch 5, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 3 x Vildebeest III bombing from 5000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring SC Ch 5 Loss of SC Ch 5 on Dec 11, 1941 is admitted A bad start for Japanese ASW forces - two subchasers and a tender sunk for nothing in return. The one bright spot is that 38th Division and consorts have arrived at the "Gindrinkers line" near Hong Kong unmolested - they will start bombarding tomorrow. PI - Luzon: The little island of Camiguin off Luzon has been occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps. Navy paratroops paved the way for the invasion of Luzon: quote: 25 x L3Y2 Tina dropping Yokosuka 1st SNLF at Laoag 23 x Ki-57-I Topsy dropping Yokosuka 1st SNLF at Laoag 8 x Ki-57-I Topsy dropping Yokosuka 1st SNLF at Laoag Japanese forces CAPTURE Laoag !!! Amphibious forces carrying the bulk of 14th Army have arrived off Laoag and started unloading. Air cover is furnished by Nates on LRCAP from Batan Is. and Zero sweeps from Takao, but they have encountered no opposition. Furthermore, Task Force 281 has layed defensive minefield at Laoag to discourage submarine and surface interventions. Another Luzon assault prong was directed at Aparri, this time spearheaded by special naval landing forces: quote: Amphibious Assault at Aparri (82,73) TF 96 troops unloading over beach at Aparri, 82,73 Japanese ground losses: Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) 75mm T41 Rgt Gun lost in surf during unload of Sasebo 1st SNLF One of our convoys has encountered pesky little DM Thracian again off Luzon - and she has escaped once more... quote: Night Time Surface Combat, near Iba at 77,70, Range 8,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Sazanami DD Ushio, Shell hits 1 AMC Asaka Maru xAK Kano Maru Allied Ships DM Thracian, Shell hits 1, on fire Southern PI: Efforts are being made to establish a naval blockade and to catch Allied shipping fleeing the PIs. In order to block the southern route to Manila, Japanese forces captured Jolo. The base will be prepared to receive planes asap. Assaulting units: 1st Engineer Co 1st Indpt SNLF Coy 2nd JNAF Coy 3rd JNAF Coy 9th JNAF Coy Minelayers have been ordered to block the passages at Basilan and Zamboanga. However, CM Yaeyama stumbled across an Allied sub: quote: Sub attack near Dadjangas at 78,94 Japanese Ships CM Yaeyama, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships SS KXVI SS KXVI launches 6 torpedoes KXVI diving deep .... Sub escapes detection CM Yaeyama sinks.... CDR Hirabe, C. has been KILLED Too bad, Dutch torpedos DO work even in 1941... Fast transport TF 13 has been split into smaller SAGs of one cruiser + 2-3 DDs each, with orders to catch shipping fleeing from the PIs. Nachi and Myoko SAGs blocked the Makassar Strait bottleneck, Nagara patroled between Jolo and Tawi Tawi and Haguro stayed at Jolo with react orders. quote: Night Time Surface Combat, near Tapul at 73,90, Range 9,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Nagara DD Kuroshio DD Oyashio Allied Ships xAP Legaspi, Shell hits 4, and is sunk Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,90, Range 10,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Haguro DD Hayashio DD Amatsukaze DD Tokitsukaze Allied Ships CM Prins van Oranje, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Night Time Surface Combat, near Donggala at 69,96, Range 9,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Myoko, Shell hits 1 DD Yamakaze DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 1 DD Umikaze DD Suzukaze Allied Ships DD John D. Ford xAP President Madison, Shell hits 7 Day Time Surface Combat, near Samarinda at 68,96, Range 20,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Nachi DD Hatsukaze DD Natsushio DD Yukikaze Allied Ships xAP Don Esteban, Shell hits 1, and is sunk Day Time Surface Combat, near Samarinda at 68,96, Range 25,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Nachi DD Hatsukaze DD Natsushio DD Yukikaze Allied Ships AM Tanager, Shell hits 12, and is sunk TK Gertrude Kellogg, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk Day Time Surface Combat, near Samarinda at 68,96, Range 21,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Nachi DD Hatsukaze DD Natsushio DD Yukikaze Allied Ships AVP Heron, Shell hits 14, and is sunk Not bad, but Boise has escaped... Cruiser scout planes and long-range naval search from Babeldoap found nothing else in Maklassar Strait and around Jolo, but discoverd numerous enemy TFs EAST of Mindanao and in the vicinity of Talaud-eilanden. TFs still provided with ample ammo are racing off in pursuit. CVL Ryujo, on her way back to Babeldaob to replenish torpedos, launched a strike at the airfield at Cagayan - it is suspected that B-17s operate from this air field, as some of our convoys have been attacked unsuccesfully by the big bombers. Unfortunately no bombers have been found, but one fighter was torched on the ground: quote: Afternoon Air attack on Cagayan , at 79,89 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft A5M4 Claude x 16 B5N1 Kate x 15 Allied aircraft P-40B Warhawk x 2 Japanese aircraft losses A5M4 Claude: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground Airbase hits 5 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 9 Aircraft Attacking: 10 x A5M4 Claude bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 30 kg GP Bomb 15 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 6000 feet Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb The damaged A5M4 Claude from Ryujo-1 is reported missing. By chance, CVL Ryujo ended the day not too far from the gaggle of fleeing Allied ships sighted by naval search near Talaud-eilanden. She is ordered to expend remaining bomb sorties against Allied ships before returning to port to replenish. Borneo: With calculated risk, single-ship forces covered by a cruiser SAG have been sent out from Cam Ranh Bay to invade a cluster of positions in Northern Borneo. Some invasion forces reached their targets: quote: Amphibious Assault at Kudat (69,86) TF 292 troops unloading over beach at Kudat, 69,86 Amphibious Assault at Balabac (70,84) 17 troops of a SNLF Inf Squad 41 lost from landing craft during unload of III/81st Nav Gd Balabac is occupied by the Japanese Unfortunately one TF stumbled over a US submarine: quote: Submarine attack near Balabac at 68,83 Japanese Ships xAK Daigen Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships SS Sturgeon Japanese ground losses: 79 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled xAK Daigen Maru is sighted by SS Sturgeon SS Sturgeon attacking on the surface xAK Daigen Maru sinks.... CDR Terada, H. has been KILLED I/81st Naval Guard Unit destroyed near Balabac !!! Sturgeon no longer virgin! WTF? Aren't US Mk 14 torpedoes supposed to be duds well into 1943? The Invasion of Jesselton has been postponed. Even worse has been prevented - British DDs run into our covering force: quote: Day Time Surface Combat, near Balabac at 69,83, Range 15,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Sendai DD Isonami DD Uranami, Shell hits 1 DD Shikinami Allied Ships DD Scout, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Thanet, Shell hits 3, heavy fires Malaya: In true spirit, the aggressive RAF launched fighter sweeps against our landing beaches - Nates and Buffalos tangled and each side lost one or two planes. Our bombers in Indochina continued to bomb air fields in northern Malaya and supported ground operation at Kota Bharu. The ground forces at Kota managed to rout the defenders and captured the base. quote: Japanese forces CAPTURE Kota Bharu !!! 8th Indian Brigade RETREATING towards Temuloh FMSV Brigade SURRENDERS !!! 3rd ISF Base Force SURRENDERS !!! Assaulting units: 22nd Recon Regiment 56th Infantry Regiment 12th Engineer Regiment 91st Naval Guard Unit 18th Mountain Gun Regiment 5th JAAF AF Coy The 8th Indian Brigade retreated inland along the railroad track. Our combat team from the 18th Division will try to outflank them by marching along the coast to Kuantan. The Naval Guards and AF unit will stay behind to defend Kota Bharu. The balance of the 18th Division is slated to land at Singora. The division will eventually recombine for the assault on Singapore. A regiment of the 5th Division has cut across the peninsula and is now preventing reinforcement and evacuation of Alor Star. Other elements of the division are still advancing on Alor Star from the north. Pacific: Our invasion force closing in on Wake is surprised to find itself on the receiving end of US Navy dive bombers - one or more US carriers definitely have flown-in reinforcements and might still be lurking out there! Kido Butai is ordered to expedite the return from PH. The invasion force and its cruiser screen are only 40 miles from its destination and will go in nonetheless for a night landing - in this situation, we can win more from fighting than from fleeing. quote: Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 135,99 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Allied aircraft SB2U-3 Vindicator x 3 No Allied losses Japanese Ships AMC Kinryu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire Japanese ground losses: 32 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 3 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb Our submarines around PH report heavy ASW activities by air and surface. Nonetheless, one of our subs manages to sink a merchantman: quote: Sub attack near Lihue at 177,104 Japanese Ships SS I-25 Allied Ships xAK Florence D., Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage DM Ramsay SS I-25 launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Florence D. I-25 diving deep .... DM Ramsay fails to find sub, continues to search... DM Ramsay attacking submerged sub .... DM Ramsay is out of ASW ammo DM Ramsay is out of ASW ammo DM Ramsay is out of ASW ammo DM Ramsay is out of ASW ammo DM Ramsay fails to find sub, continues to search... DM Ramsay fails to find sub, continues to search... DM Ramsay fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub xAK Florence D. is reported to have been sunk near Lihue on Dec 10, 1941 The isolated American base of Guam is slated for invasion and a cruiser force is paving the way: quote: Night Naval bombardment of Guam at 106,95 Japanese Ships CA Kako CA Furutaka CA Kinugasa CA Aoba DD Yuzuki DD Kikuzuki DD Uzuki DD Oboro Allied ground losses: 445 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 22 disabled Engineers: 3 destroyed, 5 disabled Airbase hits 12 Airbase supply hits 8 Runway hits 31 Port hits 47 Port fuel hits 6 Port supply hits 3 E7K2 Alf acting as spotter for CA Kako CA Kako firing at Guam CA Furutaka firing at Guam CA Kinugasa firing at Guam CA Aoba firing at Guam DD Yuzuki firing at Guam DD Kikuzuki firing at Guam DD Uzuki firing at Guam DD Oboro firing at Guam Spotters are a must for bombardment runs! TF 113 has troops unloading over beach at Guam, 106,95 - they will attack tomorrow. In the South Pacific, our Nauru invasion force is investigated by a lone US cruiser - apparently it did not expect the destroyer screen detached for this eventuality which scares it away: quote: Night Time Surface Combat, near Nauru Island at 127,128, Range 7,000 Yards Japanese Ships DD Asanagi DD Yunagi, Shell hits 1 Allied Ships CA Louisville, Shell hits 4 Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 46% moonlight: 8,000 yards Range closes to 9,000 yards... Range closes to 7,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 7,000 yards DD Yunagi launches Torpedoes at CA Louisville at 7,000 yards DD Asanagi launches Torpedoes at CA Louisville at 7,000 yards Range closes to 5,000 yards CA Louisville engages DD Asanagi at 5,000 yards CA Louisville engages DD Asanagi at 5,000 yards Range closes to 3,000 yards CA Louisville engages DD Asanagi at 3,000 yards Range increases to 6,000 yards CA Louisville engages DD Yunagi at 6,000 yards CA Louisville engages DD Asanagi at 6,000 yards Range increases to 10,000 yards CA Louisville engages DD Yunagi at 10,000 yards CA Louisville engages DD Asanagi at 10,000 yards Task forces break off... Too bad that no torpedo connected... Other observations: Reports reveal a high attrition of airframes and pilots to combat damage and operation losses: quote: A6M2 Zero from Yamada Det S-1 crashes on landing A6M2 Zero from Tainan Ku S-1/B crashes on landing Pilot killed in landing accident of Ki-48-Ib Lily from 90th Sentai Ki-43-Ia Oscar from 59th Sentai crashes on landing Pilot killed in landing accident of A6M2 Zero from Tainan Ku S-1/C Ki-27b Nate from 11th Sentai is written off Damaged Ki-27b Nate from 1st Sentai does not return Damaged Ki-27b Nate from 1st Sentai is missing 4M1 Betty from Kanoya Ku K-1 crashes on landing Pilot killed in landing accident of A6M2 Zero from Yamada Det S-1 Pilot killed in landing accident of Ki-48-Ib Lily from 8th Sentai Ki-43-Ib Oscar from 64th Sentai is written off Ki-48-Ib Lily from 82nd I.F.Chutai is written off That is scary... I recognize that my opponent is quite aggressive - dive bombers on Wake, cruisers sent to invasion sites, fighter sweeps with Buffalos etc. That surely injects even more caution in my operations!

DanSez -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/8/2014 4:08:17 PM)
Good luck in your efforts. I have not played DBBs so I will be reading much more than posting.

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/11/2014 12:32:46 PM)
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 12&13, 1941 Malaya: Advance forces are nearing Alor Star. The second wave has landed with reinforcements at Singora and the Imperial Guards Division has arrived by train from Bangkok. The march south to Singapore is about to begin in earnest. But not all reinforcements will reach Malaysia thanks to the US submarine service: quote: Submarine attack near Cam Ranh Bay at 65,75 Japanese Ships xAK Zyunyo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships SS S-41 Japanese ground losses: 23 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled) xAK Zyunyo Maru is sighted by SS S-41 SS S-41 launches 2 torpedoes Loss of xAK Zyunyo Maru on Dec 13, 1941 is admitted In the air, feable Allied air attacks on convoys off Singora by a handful of Blenheims are beaten off by our Nate CAP. Our bombers continue to hit Alor Star and Georgetown and 15th Indian Brigade trapped at Alor Star. Major re-basing is scheduled for the next days with the arrival of some AV support at the front. China: Some Chineses troops are observed moving off towards the interior. We have troops moving to cut them off. Our air forces in China are not very strong at the moment but we throw-in some air attacks in the hope of slowing the escape down. Here is one example: quote: Morning Air attack on 30th Chinese Corps, at 85,48 , near Sinyang Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-27b Nate x 19 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 74 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 19 x Ki-27b Nate bombing from 10000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb However, the AVG seems to have moved to Changsha and has sprung an ambush: quote: Morning Air attack on 4th Chinese Corps, at 81,52 (Siangtan) Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-51 Sonia x 9 Allied aircraft H81-A3 x 9 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-51 Sonia: 4 destroyed No Allied losses CAP engaged: AVG/2nd Sqn with H81-A3 (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 9 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000. Raid is overhead Ouch! I have overlooked the air group detachments at Nanchang, operating without AV support, and they have decided to get decimated over Siangtan on their own... Hong Kong: Walrus float planes try some more attacks on passing TFs but are unsuccessful. The Vildebeests however are a different story: quote: Morning Air attack on TF, near Swatow at 80,63 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 0 minutes Allied aircraft Vildebeest III x 3 No Allied losses Japanese Ships xAK Somedono Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 3 x Vildebeest III bombing from 5000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Somedono Maru xAK Somedono Maru sinks at sea Grr - 2-day turns! Need to check the routing instructions for TFs within TWO days sailing distance of HK, not just one day... Our own air attacks on HK are not very effective - not much damage done for the number of planes engaged. 15k and 18k is high for ground attack, but I want to avoid flak losses. Every attack has at least one plane damaged and we suffered one Sally destroyed by flak. Out of six attacks in two days, only one draws enemy blood: quote: Afternoon Air attack on Hong Kong Fortress, at 77,61 (Hong Kong) Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 56 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 19 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 20 G4M1 Betty x 30 Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged Allied ground losses: 8 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Aircraft Attacking: 15 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 18000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 15 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 18000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 20 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 18000 feet Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb First ground bombardments do little better: quote: Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61) on Dec 12 Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 25260 troops, 354 guns, 169 vehicles, Assault Value = 751 Defending force 8082 troops, 132 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 228 Japanese ground losses: 24 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 71 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61) on Dec 13 Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 25303 troops, 354 guns, 169 vehicles, Assault Value = 753 Defending force 8052 troops, 132 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 225 Japanese ground losses: 14 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 48 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 19th Ind Engineer Regiment 1st Ind.Inf.Group 68th Ind.Infantry Battalion 66th Infantry Regiment 38th Division 67th Ind.Infantry Battalion 20th Ind Engineer Regiment 21st Mortar Battalion 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 2nd RF Gun Battalion 2nd Mortar Battalion 5th RF Gun Battalion 23rd Army 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion Defending units: Rifles of Canada Battalion Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion 1st Middlesex Battalion Kowloon Brigade 102nd RN Base Force Hong Kong Fortress We will re-think our air attack strategy against HK - starting with airfield attacks instead of ground attacks in the next war! For now, we will try something else against the annoying HK air force. I have already ordered two BBs to Takao. And we will try a deliberate ground attack to see if we can get some results. Borneo: Sandakan is occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps on Dec 13 2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy CAPTURE Kudat !!! We launch an Amphibious Assault at Miri (64,87). Unfortunately the invasion force stumbles accross two four-stackers fleeing Manila via the western exit. quote: Night Time Surface Combat, near Miri at 64,87, Range 9,000 Yards Japanese Ships APD Aoi, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage TB Kasasagi, Shell hits 1 AMc Wa 19, Shell hits 1 xAK Hokko Maru xAK Zinzan Maru, Shell hits 1 xAK Kinkasan Maru xAK Ryuyo Maru xAK Meiu Maru xAK Teisen Maru xAK Giyu Maru xAKL Kembu Maru xAKL Kiko Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires xAKL Anbo Maru, Shell hits 1 Allied Ships DD Peary DD Pope, Shell hits 1 Pumps fail aboard APD Aoi, flooding increases... Difficulty controlling flooding aboard APD Aoi APD Aoi sinks at sea Meanwhile, the SAG tasked to cover the invasion engaged in merchant hunting and the rendevous at Miri was thus delayed: quote: Night Time Surface Combat, near Miri at 65,84, Range 12,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Sendai DD Isonami DD Uranami DD Shikinami Allied Ships xAKL Paz, Shell hits 9, and is sunk xAKL Anakan, Shell hits 11, and is sunk The destroyers were not enough - Allied small fry operating a long way from home. Are they fleeing as well or is this an aggressive forward-defense? quote: Night Time Surface Combat, near Balabac at 70,84, Range 9,000 Yards Japanese Ships xAK Zyunyo Maru, Shell hits 2 Allied Ships PT-31 PT-32 PT-33 In the meantime, the covering SAG moves off as well to tangle with another intruder: quote: Day Time Surface Combat, near Balabac at 69,83, Range 20,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Chokai CL Isuzu DD Fubuki DD Usugumo DD Shirayuki DD Hatsuyuki Allied Ships xAK Capillo, Shell hits 16, and is sunk Three freighters against an APD - mmh... DD Thanet is running for his life along the north coast of Borneo across the submarine cordon placed against eventual intrusions of Force Z: quote: Submarine attack near Groot Natoena at 57,84 Japanese Ships SS I-165 Allied Ships DD Thanet DD Thanet is sighted by SS I-165 SS I-165 launches 4 torpedoes Sub attack near Serasan at 56,85 Japanese Ships SS I-162 Allied Ships DD Thanet DD Thanet is sighted by SS I-162 SS I-162 launches 2 torpedoes Submarine attack near Serasan at 56,86 Japanese Ships SS I-164 Allied Ships DD Thanet DD Thanet is sighted by SS I-164 SS I-164 launches 2 torpedoes Submarine attack near Billiton at 52,91 Japanese Ships SS I-157 Allied Ships DD Thanet DD Thanet is sighted by SS I-157 SS I-157 launches 2 torpedoes 10 torpedos for nothing! Well, maybe I should be happy that no submarine was sunk? Northern PI: Itbayat Island is occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps Sasebo 1st SNLF CAPTURE Aparri !!! 14th Army is ashore at Laoag and starts the advance down the coast. Zero sweeps finds nothing over Manila and Clark Field, but recon shows 24 fighters at Manila. If he refuses to fly CAP, it might be time to send some bombers to kill them on the ground. At sea, we find that pesky little DM Thracian is still around... quote: Night Time Surface Combat, near Bataan at 77,77, Range 10,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Maya CA Ashigara, Shell hits 1 CL Natori DD Yamagumo DD Satsuki DD Minazuki DD Fumizuki DD Nagatsuki, heavy damage Allied Ships DM Thracian, Shell hits 3, on fire A SAG on its way to Jolo find a small freighter near Subic Bay - a late attempt to flee or resupply efforts? quote: Day Time Surface Combat, near Subic Bay at 77,76, Range 21,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Maya CA Ashigara CL Natori DD Yamagumo DD Satsuki DD Minazuki DD Fumizuki Allied Ships xAKL Yat Shing, Shell hits 12, and is sunk Central PI: 16th Division is conducting an Amphibious Assault at Legaspi (82,82) TF 107 troops unloading over beach at Legaspi, 82,82 Japanese ground losses: 143 casualties reported Squads: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) The covering forces react to various sightings of merchant ships in the area - fleeing or running supplies to Luzon? quote: Night Time Surface Combat, near Catanduanes at 88,81, Range 11,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Ise BB Hyuga DD Wakatake Allied Ships TK Mindanao, Shell hits 2, and is sunk xAK Yu Sang, Shell hits 5, and is sunk Night Time Surface Combat, near Legaspi at 95,82, Range 10,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Nagato BB Fuso DD Kuretake DD Sanae Allied Ships xAKL Escalante, Shell hits 7, and is sunk xAKL Sarangami, Shell hits 8, and is sunk Day Time Surface Combat, near Legaspi at 84,82, Range 24,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Nagato BB Fuso DD Kuretake DD Sanae Allied Ships xAK James Lykes, Shell hits 18, and is sunk Day Time Surface Combat, near Legaspi at 83,82, Range 26,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Nagato BB Fuso DD Kuretake DD Sanae Allied Ships xAKL Sagoland, Shell hits 3, and is sunk Day Time Surface Combat, near Dinagat at 81,87, Range 21,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Ise BB Hyuga DD Wakatake Allied Ships xAKL Regulus, Shell hits 2, and is sunk Southern PI: Apparently the Allies do not like our new base at Jolo: quote: Morning Air attack on Jolo , at 74,90 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Allied aircraft B-17D Fortress x 6 Allied aircraft losses B-17D Fortress: 1 damaged Airbase hits 3 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 9 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 14000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb 3 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 14000 feet * Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb Some float planes have set up camp at Jolo and we have reinforcements on the way to establish a proper air base ready as soon as Netties and Zeros have finished their current assignments at Hong Kong and Luzon. The convoy is hidding off Palawan awaiting arrival of the SAG escort - which has been delayed by the chance encounter with xAKL Yat Shing off Subic Bay. Our SAGs operating in Makassar Strait bottleneck and around Jolo have been directed to intercept Allied merchant shipping spotted by naval search around Talaud-eilanden. Courses have been set for sweeps around the Moluccas islands - and they promptly run into the Dutch Navy! Luckily the seperate SAGs dish out more than they receive. Myoko SAG: quote: Day Time Surface Combat, near Manado at 76,100, Range 25,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Myoko, Shell hits 2 DD Yamakaze DD Kawakaze DD Umikaze DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 1 Allied Ships CL De Ruyter CL Tromp, Shell hits 1 DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 1 DD Witte de With DD Banckert, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage DD Van Ghent Day Time Surface Combat, near Ternate at 77,101, Range 20,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Myoko DD Yamakaze DD Kawakaze DD Umikaze DD Suzukaze Allied Ships xAKL Taurus Both Task Forces evade combat - low on ammo Night Time Surface Combat, near Ternate at 77,102, Range 9,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Myoko DD Yamakaze DD Kawakaze DD Umikaze DD Suzukaze Allied Ships CL De Ruyter Both Task Forces break off - low on ammo Nachi SAG: quote: Day Time Surface Combat, near Manado at 76,99, Range 24,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Nachi, Shell hits 3 DD Hatsukaze DD Natsushio, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 3, heavy fires Allied Ships CL De Ruyter CL Tromp, Shell hits 4, heavy fires DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 2, and is sunk DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Witte de With, Shell hits 3, on fire Day Time Surface Combat, near Djailolo at 78,100, Range 17,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Nachi DD Hatsukaze Allied Ships xAKL Fortuna, Shell hits 1, on fire xAKL Princess of Negros, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage Haguro SAG: quote: ASW attack near Basilan at 75,90 Japanese Ships CA Haguro, Torpedo hits 1 DD Tokitsukaze Allied Ships SS KXIV, hits 2 SS KXIV launches 4 torpedoes at CA Haguro DD Tokitsukaze fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Tokitsukaze attacking submerged sub .... DD Tokitsukaze fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Tokitsukaze fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Tokitsukaze fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub Day Time Surface Combat, near Basilan at 76,92, Range 24,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Haguro DD Hayashio DD Tokitsukaze Allied Ships xAKL Cetus, Shell hits 5, and is sunk Day Time Surface Combat, near Manado at 76,101, Range 20,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Haguro, Shell hits 2 DD Hayashio, Shell hits 1 DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 3, on fire Allied Ships DD Van Ghent Finally, Nagara SAG: quote: Night Time Surface Combat, near Morotai at 81,102, Range 10,000 Yards Japanese Ships CL Nagara DD Oyashio Allied Ships AM Finch, Shell hits 6, and is sunk In the meantime, CVL Ryujo moves into striking range and and all available crusier float planes - including the contingent on CS Chitose and Mizuho with their invasion convoy en route to Manado - have been set to low-level naval attack with 10% search, They have a field day. quote: Morning Air attack on TF, near Talaud-eilanden at 79,96 Japanese aircraft F1M2 Pete x 11 No Japanese losses Allied Ships xAKL Mauban, Bomb hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 11 x F1M2 Pete bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 30 kg GP Bomb Morning Air attack on TF, near Morotai at 82,99 Japanese aircraft E13A1 Jake x 2 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AM Finch, Bomb hits 1, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 2 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb Morning Air attack on TF, near Morotai at 82,99 Japanese aircraft E13A1 Jake x 2 No Japanese losses Allied Ships xAK Si Kiang, Bomb hits 2, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 2 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Manado at 76,99 Japanese aircraft A5M4 Claude x 15 Japanese aircraft losses A5M4 Claude: 1 damaged A5M4 Claude: 1 destroyed by flak Allied Ships CL Tromp, heavy fires DD Kortenaer, on fire DD Witte de With Aircraft Attacking: 15 x A5M4 Claude bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 30 kg GP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Tromp Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Manado at 76,99 Japanese aircraft F1M2 Pete x 11 Japanese aircraft losses F1M2 Pete: 3 damaged F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed by flak Allied Ships DD Kortenaer, Bomb hits 1, on fire CL Tromp, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Witte de With Aircraft Attacking: 10 x F1M2 Pete bombing from 1000 feet * Naval Attack: 2 x 30 kg GP Bomb Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Morotai at 81,99 Japanese aircraft F1M2 Pete x 11 No Japanese losses Allied Ships xAK Ravnaas, Bomb hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 11 x F1M2 Pete bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 30 kg GP Bomb Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gebe at 81,104 Japanese aircraft E13A1 Jake x 2 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AO Pecos, Bomb hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 2 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb Morning Air attack on TF, near Ternate at 78,102 Japanese aircraft E13A1 Jake x 4 No Japanese losses Allied Ships DD Witte de With, Bomb hits 1, on fire DD Kortenaer Aircraft Attacking: 2 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 2 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ternate at 78,102 Japanese aircraft E13A1 Jake x 4 Japanese aircraft losses E13A1 Jake: 1 damaged Allied Ships DD Kortenaer, Bomb hits 1, on fire DD Van Ghent Aircraft Attacking: 2 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 2 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 1000 feet Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb Our SAGs are all ordered to Babeldaop for head-counting, replenishment, repairs and regrouping. Without SAG cover the invasion TF for Manado, Talaud and Mindanao will retreat as well. CentPac: Bandasan SNLF CAPTURE Guam !!! Wake Island is attacked and captured, but cost us an AMC and an xAKL plus damage to other ships. Kido Butai nhovering earby with Vals set to airfield attack and Zeros on LRCAP did nothing to help - lousy weather! quote: Night Naval bombardment of Wake Island at 136,98 - Coastal Guns Fire Back! 11 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships CL Tatsuta, Shell hits 1 CL Tenryu DD Mochizuki DD Yayoi DD Kisaragi DD Mutsuki Allied ground losses: 27 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 1 Port hits 2 Pre-Invasion action off Wake Island (136,98) - Coastal Guns Fire Back! Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force 34 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships CL Yubari CL Katori, Shell hits 1 DD Hayate DD Oite xAKL Toyotsu Maru, Shell hits 6, on fire PB Santos Maru PB Kaiun Maru PB Kaikei Maru PB Ikunta Maru PB Hakkaisan Maru PB Fukui Maru AMC Kongo Maru Japanese ground losses: 31 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 73 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled xAKL Toyotsu Maru sinks at sea Morning Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 136,98 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 10 SB2U-3 Vindicator x 4 No Allied losses Japanese Ships DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 2 CL Tatsuta DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 3 DD Kisaragi Aircraft Attacking: 4 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 10 x F4F-3 Wildcat bombing from 100 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 100 lb GP Bomb Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 136,98 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Allied aircraft SB2U-3 Vindicator x 4 No Allied losses Japanese Ships AMC Kinryu Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 4 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AMC Kinryu Maru Pumps fail aboard AMC Kinryu Maru, flooding increases... AMC Kinryu Maru sinks at sea Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 136,98 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 12 No Allied losses Japanese Ships DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 1 xAKL Tenposan Maru CL Tenryu Aircraft Attacking: 12 x F4F-3 Wildcat bombing from 100 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 100 lb GP Bomb Ground combat at Wake Island (136,98) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 3625 troops, 31 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 120 Defending force 1524 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 23 Japanese adjusted assault: 73 Allied adjusted defense: 4 Japanese assault odds: 18 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Wake Island !!! Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses SB2U-3 Vindicator: 3 destroyed F4F-3 Wildcat: 6 destroyed Combat modifiers Defender: disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-) Japanese ground losses: 123 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 2148 casualties reported Squads: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 106 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 33 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 29 (29 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 2 Assaulting units: Maizuru 2nd SNLF 53rd Naval Guard Unit Defending units: 141st USN Stn Base Force Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion SOPAC: Amphibious Assault at Hollandia (93,116) Amphibious Assault at Vanimo (93,117)

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/14/2014 2:34:18 PM)
OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR DEC 14&15, 1941 Allied Submarines SS KXVI is sighted by convoy escorts near Talaud-eilanden and forced to evade. Later the day she misses DD Oyashio near Morotai at 80,100. SS S-37 misses xAK Koyu Maru near Pescadores. SS Triton misses AO Kokuyo Maru (of the KB oiler group) near Wake. SS Swordfish attacks xAKL Shingetsu Maru near Taihoku at 87,61 - the xAKL suffers 7 shell hits, but fights back and Swordfish is hit twice, breaks off surface engagement and submerges. Later, SS Swordfish launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Eiko Maru #2 but misses. SS Saury misses xAK Celebes Maru near Olga at 114,50 and xAK Eihuku Maru near Sapporo at 119,50 > US submarines operating in the Sea of Japan - how dare they! SS S-36 sinks xAP Ussuri Maru near Hengchun, 23 casualties reported. SS Permit first misses AV Kiyokawa Maru twice near Legaspi and then nails her in the third attempt with one torpedo. The ship disbands in Legaspi harbor and will survive. Japanese submarines: DD Thanet continues to lead a charmed life: Submarine attack near Billiton at 52,92 Japanese Ships SS I-157 Allied Ships DD Thanet DD Thanet is sighted by SS I-157 SS I-157 launches 4 torpedoes Submarine attack near Toboali at 51,94 Japanese Ships SS I-157 Allied Ships DD Thanet DD Thanet is sighted by SS I-157 SS I-157 launches 4 torpedoes DD Pope as well escapes several submarine attacks in the same waters. That pesky little DM Thracian is STILL around - she has escaped SAGs and subs how many times now?!? Submarine attack near Jolo at 73,88 Japanese Ships SS RO-33 Allied Ships DM Thracian DM Thracian is sighted by SS RO-33 SS RO-33 launches 2 torpedoes Submarine attack near Tawi Tawi at 71,91 Japanese Ships SS RO-34 Allied Ships DM Thracian DM Thracian is sighted by SS RO-34 (twice actually) SS RO-34 launches 2 torpedoes SS RO-34 makes an end-around and launches another 2 torpedoes Finally, some success stories: S I-156 sinks xAK Woolgar near Billiton. SS I-166 puts four torpedos into xAK Hai Lee - a slight case of overkill. The ship is reported sunk, no surprise here. SS RO-63 hits the jackpot near Munda at 110,136: CA Louisville, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage - sub escapes detection > smells like the Allies prepare an ambush at Rabaul... SS I-175 escapes several ASW attacks near Pearl Harbor at 177,111 with one hit for 3 sys damage. Malaya/Burma: Air attacks from Bangkok hit enemy units retreating from Tavoy. This is target practice while waiting for more AV support to arrive in Malaya from Japan. Elements of the 5th Division have reached Alor Star and will attack next turn. The base is empty, the 15th Indian Brigade (or so says our air recon) has retreated to the East in direction of Patani. Elements of the 18th Division which have just arrived at Singora are ordered to hunt down the enemy. China: We try a sweep with Nates against the lone AVG squadron at Changsha. Guess we won't do it again. Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52 Japanese aircraft Ki-27b Nate x 26 Allied aircraft H81-A3 x 24 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-27b Nate: 7 destroyed No Allied losses Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52 Japanese aircraft Ki-27b Nate x 3 Allied aircraft H81-A3 x 10 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed No Allied losses Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-27b Nate x 5 Allied aircraft H81-A3 x 7 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed No Allied losses A few Ki-30 and Ki-27b continue to hit a ground unit near Sinyang, causing slight losses. A "recon bombardment" by our pursuing ground forces causes some further losses and identifies the enemy unit as the 30th Chinese Corps The Chinese themselves dare to fly an offensive mission! Morning Air attack on TF, near Taihoku at 87,61 Allied aircraft SB-III x 4 No Allied losses Japanese Ships xAKL Junpo Maru Aircraft Attacking: 4 x SB-III bombing from 6000 feet * Naval Attack: 3 x 100 kg SAP Bomb Some air reinforcements and offensive ground actions in China might be required after all... Hong Kong: Japanese forces CAPTURE Hong Kong !!! Bombed from the air, bombarded by two battleships and two deliberate attacks - Hong Kong falls on Dec 15, 1941. Japanese ground losses: 1089 casualties reported Squads: 5 destroyed, 61 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled Allied ground losses: 747 casualties reported Squads: 9 destroyed, 66 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Japanese ground losses: 1033 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 66 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled Allied ground losses: 7682 casualties reported Squads: 280 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 325 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 27 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 175 (175 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 82 (82 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 6 However, the BB bombardment wasn't such a good idea. It was effective thanks to E8N2 Dave acting as spotter, but the base is beaten-up and the fires are damaging the industries. Darn, did not think about that... Allied Ships xAKL Chengtu, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage Allied ground losses: 247 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 14 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled) Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled) Manpower hits 1 Fires 3013 Airbase hits 4 Airbase supply hits 4 Runway hits 9 Borneo: Japanese forces CAPTURE Miri !!! Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: I/124th Infantry Battalion 8th JAAF AF Coy Defending units: 100th RN Base Force Oilfields and refineries at Miri are 50% damaged 149(151). I/124th Infantry Battalion receives orders to pursue the enemy to Brunei. 8th JAAF AF Coy stays behind to service 84th I.F. squadron (12 Nates) to provide CAP over the oil fields. 2ns Sasebo SNLF Coy is ordered to march from Kudat to Jesselton. Northern PI: 14th Army advances to undefended Vigan and will attack next turn. Sasebo 1st SNLF at Apparri receives order to attack enemy forces at Tuguegarao. We hit Manila AF with unopposed sweeps followed by escorted bombers - taking no chances here against an enemy now recognized to spring nasty surprises: Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 41 G3M2 Nell x 32 G4M1 Betty x 51 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-35A: 2 damaged P-35A: 1 destroyed on ground PBY-4 Catalina: 3 damaged P-40E Warhawk: 2 damaged B-17D Fortress: 2 damaged Airbase hits 5 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 17 Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77 Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 15 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 2 damaged Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 12 Central PI: Legaspi is occupied without a fight by the 16th Division. The unit received orders to advance to Naga, where an enemy unit of unknown size and composition is waiting. Catbalogan is occupied by the Japanese Row Boat Corps. Amphibious Assault at Taytay (75,82) by 15th Naval Guard Unit Southern PI: Ok, confirmed - the Allies REALLY don't like my base at Jolo - they send a reinforced Force Z to flatten the base: Night Naval bombardment of Jolo at 74,90 Japanese aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses E13A1 Jake: 3 damaged E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground Allied Ships BB Prince of Wales BC Repulse CL Mauritius CL Danae CL Java DD Jupiter DD Express DD Electra DD Tenedos DD Van Nes DD Evertsen DD Vendetta DD Vampire Japanese ground losses: 895 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 34 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled Airbase hits 22 Airbase supply hits 15 Runway hits 73 Port hits 47 Port fuel hits 1 Port supply hits 10 Walrus II acting as spotter for BB Prince of Wales Luckily our convoy-escort SAG had been delayed by a fleeing merchantman - otherwise both SAG and convoy loaded with an Air HQ and base forces may have faced Force Z at Jolo - phew... But what is good for the goose is good for the gander - Cagayan is bombarded by OUR battleships (former Legaspi covering force) in order to supress the B-17s operating there. The first wave goes straight in: Night Naval bombardment of Cagayan at 79,89 Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses B-17D Fortress: 6 damaged B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground Japanese Ships BB Hyuga BB Ise DD Wakatake Allied ground losses: 612 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 26 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Airbase hits 9 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 16 BB Hyuga firing at 3rd PA Constabulary Regiment BB Ise firing at Cagayan DD Wakatake firing at 3rd PA Constabulary Regiment The second wave meets a speed bump in the way in: Night Time Surface Combat, near Cebu at 80,85, Range 2,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Nagato BB Fuso DD Kuretake DD Sanae Allied Ships PT Q-111, Shell hits 1, and is sunk PT Q-112 PT Q-113, Shell hits 1, and is sunk Night Naval bombardment of Cagayan at 79,89 Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses B-17D Fortress: 2 damaged Japanese Ships BB Fuso BB Nagato DD Sanae DD Kuretake Allied ground losses: 47 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 7 Arrggh, forgot to switch BB float planes from day ASW to night recon - no spotters this time... Babeldaop / Moluccas: II/81st Naval Guard Unit CAPTURE Talaud-eilanden !!! A quick grab of an undefended base as a future naval search base. The invasion convoys and depleted SAGs return to Babeldaop to replenish from our lone AKE waiting there. After replenishment and reorganisation, invasion and cover forces will leave Babeldaop for Mindanao. Hurrying over from the Guam bombardment, Kinugasa has some ammo left and is split into a SAG to sweep the eastern side of the Moluccas. Day Time Surface Combat, near Sorong at 82,107, Range 4,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Kinugasa DD Oboro DD Kikuzuki DD Yuzuki Allied Ships PC Zeeman, Shell hits 17, and is sunk Counting heads after the confused battles last turn, I am relieved to find that no ship has been sunk by the Flying Dutchmen. But three DDs will require some yard time: Yukikaze 54/33/24 Tokitsukaze 30/8/12 Suzukaze 22/0/1 I should have kept ARD Meyungs at Babeldaop - the ARD is under tow for Truk and sustains damage three hexes out. She has ample fuel and is escorted - must have hit a whale or what? Some sys and float damage, she will turn around and head back to Babeldaop. On the enemy side, DD Piet Hein has been reported sunk, and judging from the battle reports DD Banckert and CL Tromp may have sunk as well. The "ships sunk list" however shows CL De Ruyter and DDs Witte de With and Piet Hein as sunk, as well as AM Finch and some merchantships. PNG: I/66th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURE Hollandia !!! II/66th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURE Vanimo !!! Some quick grabs by light forces for the sake of some action down there. CentPac: A chance encounter near Marcus Island at 123,91: Japanese Ships CV Kaga DD Amagiri DD Akebono Allied Ships xAK Governor Wright Another ship fleeing the PI by going straight east... Both Task Forces evade combat and Kaga continues on to the Home Islands for LBA-resize duties. Her air group has been left in the Marianas, awaiting temporary land-based duty as soon as Jolo can be repaired. A SOC-1 Seagull is sighted over Nauru Island - by whom I wonder since I have evacuated the invasion force after the capture of the base. There seems to be another enemy cruiser looking for easy victims i.e. lightly escorted invasion forces in the Nauru / Ocean Island / Tarawa region! However, we have put activities down there on hold until carrier support is available. Aggressive as my opponent has turned out to be, there might be enemy carriers lurking as well. KB is near Truk and will replenish before moving to cover invasions in the Gilberts and Rabaul. Other: AV Langley is reported to have been sunk near Siquijor on Dec 10, 1941

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/17/2014 8:26:02 AM)
OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR DEC 16 - 17, 1941 Allied submarines: Sailfish duds AK Sakito Maru near Nagoya. SS S-37 misses AMc Fumi Maru #5 near Pescadores. SS Seadragon fires four torps for one hit at AO Shiriya near Babeldaob - fuel cargo burns, AO Shiriya sinks at sea one hex short of Babeldaob. SS O20 sinks CM Kamome near Kompong Trach. A few more attacks near Cam Ranh Bay, near Hengchun, near Kompong Tracha have been repelled by ASW. Our submarines: SS I-155 has a success near Singkawang: xAK Hanyang, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage. SS RO-60 intercepts xAK Governor Wright after her chance encountrer with Kaga near Wake Island at 135,91: , Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage. SS I-6 is worked over by PC Haida and slightly damaged near San Francisco. China: Troop movements and some recon bombardements - we try to encircle a few Chinese units not fleeing for the woods. Ground combat at 85,48 (near Sinyang) Assaulting units: 20th Ind.Mixed Brigade 9th Armored Car Co 14th RGC Temp. Division 15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment 14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 1st Mortar Battalion Defending units: 30th Chinese Corps Ground combat at 88,43 (near Kaifeng) Assaulting units: 12th Tank Regiment 15th Tank Regiment 3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade 12th Army 6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 98th Chinese Corps Ground combat at 85,56 (near Nanchang) Assaulting units: 11th Ind.Mixed Brigade Defending units: 21st Chinese Corps At Hong Kong, hundreds of mines are being swept. Fires are down to 51 and luckily only a few points of industries / shipyards have been destroyed. Malaya/Burma: Japanese forces CAPTURE Alor Star !!! Our troops advance in direction of Georgetown. AVG ambush our "training missions" near Moulmein, we lose 2 Nates. PI: Undefended Vigan is occupied by the Japanese. Sasebo 1st SNLF CAPTURES Tuguegarao !!! 3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion surrenders. 15th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURES Taytay !!! Night Time Surface Combat, near Balabac at 71,84 - PT-41 sunk by DD Sagiri escorting a convoy to Jolo. Two Jakes operating from newly-won Balabac attack xAKL Dona Nati near Tawi Tawi - Bomb hits 1, heavy fires. Manila port bombed by Netties: YO-41, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk AM Bittern, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage xAKL Bisayas, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk ARD YFD-1 Dewey, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage xAKL Corregidor, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage Repair Shipyard hits 1 Cagayan is struck again by mini-KB - now containing Ryujo and Zuiho: P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 10 The invasion of Mindanao will start soon. Pacific A SAG of old CLs was ordered to check-out the sighting of enemy float planes over Nauru. The SAG conducts a sweep between Nauru and Tarawa, finds nothing and is on its way back to Kwajalein. Kido Butai has replenished at Truk and has been ordered south to investigate Rabaul and the Solomons to see if CA Louisville reported sunk near Munda has company in the area. Invasion forces are being readied at Truk for Rabaul and 4th Division will arrive soon from Japan for the invasion of Port Moresby. Submarines are being repositioned between Pearl Harbor, Midway, Johnston, Palmyra and other island bases in the SoPac, anticipating reinforcement efforts. The five midget-sub-carrying I-boats and their backpacks have been ordered to wait off Sydney, a Glen-equipped I-boat will recon the harbor.

PaxMondo -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/17/2014 12:03:01 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget At Hong Kong, hundreds of mines are being swept. Fires are down to 51 and luckily only a few points of industries / shipyards have been destroyed. That's always a nice result .... [sm=Cool-049.gif]

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/18/2014 12:41:55 PM)
OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR Dec 18 - 19, 1941 Allied submarines: Last turn the weather was bad and offensive air missions got cancelled for the most part. The forecast for this turn was not any better, so I have switched most of the twin-engine bombers to ASW duty to see what is out there. Enemy subs are operating around Formosa, around Cam Ranh Bay and in the Gulf of Siam. Some are reported hit but with crews largely untrained for ASW I doubt this. SS Seadragon launches 2 torpedoes at xAKL Nichiryo Maru near Babeldaob at 90,95 - Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage SS S-37 launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Suwa Maru near Pescadores at 83,63 - Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage, 87 casualties reported ASW attack near Jolo at 74,90 - PB Fuji Maru #4 vs SS KXIV: hits 0:4 Our submarines: Sub vs Sub: SS I-164 attacking SS KVIII at 56,86 - near Serasan: SS KVIII, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage - SS KVIII is reported to have been sunk near Serasan on Dec 18, 1941 SS I-5 launches 2 torpedoes at AK Arcturus near Fort Ord at 219,74 - and misses this juicy target... SS I-160 misses damaged DD Witte de With near Sepandjang - so either target identification or the "Ships sunk" list seem to be wrong... Later she misses DD Kortenaer as well. SS I-153 launches 2 torpedoes near Pamekasan at - DM Thracian again! Not hits... China: All minefields have been cleared from Hong Kong, a convoy waiting a hex away is ordered to dock and load the 38th Division. Hwaiyin is abandoned by the enemy and occupied by the Japanese. Japanese forces CAPTURE undefended Kweiteh on the rail line from Suchow to Keifeng - now reinforcements and supplies can flow to Keifeng for operations in the Tsiaotso region. More troops movements and recon bombardements, enemy troops in the open plains try to flee our troops advancing in the direction of Nanyang. Ground combat at 85,48 (near Sinyang) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 8764 troops, 136 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 487 Defending force 11259 troops, 74 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 190 Japanese adjusted assault: 92 Allied adjusted defense: 19 Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: leaders(+), disruption(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 101 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Allied ground losses: 4272 casualties reported Squads: 191 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 96 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 13th Tank Regiment 1st Ind.Mixed Brigade 9th Armored Car Co 20th Ind.Mixed Brigade 14th RGC Temp. Division 14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment 1st Mortar Battalion Defending units: 30th Chinese Corps Here is a look at North China - no big operations yet, just trying to catch some fleeing units. [image]local://upfiles/1313/8B0D465963CA4318A37F8C133CF7E535.jpg[/image] Malaya: The 42nd Infantry Regiment which has cut across the peninsular from Patani captured lightly-defended Georgetown and destroyes the 3rd SSVF Battalion and the Penang Fortress garrison. The balance of the 5th Division plus 25th Army HQ and assorted support troops are marching from Alor Star to Georgetown. The enemy seems to have left behind only some speedbumps in Northern Malaya. The balance of our air force and support organization is still relocating from Indochina to airfields on the Malay peninsular. However, some fighter units are already in place and have been ordered to sweep Singapore - but bad weather has cancelled air missions for four days in a row now... The forecast looks better for the coming days - let's see. We must start bombing Singapore ASAP to prevent fort-building! Borneo: 2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy CAPTURES Jesselton !!! Defeated 108th RN Base Force is retreating. Banggi is occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps. Invasion forces have reached Kuching and will start unloading. Enemy air attacks by a handful of Wirraways and Dutch bombers are ineffective. PI: Allied fighters ambush Nates and Sonias on bombing mission against enemy troops at San Fernando. We lose 1 Nate and 1 Sonia for one P-35A. We launch our amphibious assault of Mindanao at Surigao (81,88) - but we botch it. We have one Amphibious TF with advance elements of the 2nd Division, followed by a Transport TF with the ballance of this unit. Unfortunately I forgot to set the Transport TF to "do not unload" until the Amphib TF has captured the base - and the "amphib assault" from a Transport TF results in troops and equipment from 32nd Special Base Force , III./4th Infantry Bn , 16th JNAF AF Unit , 16th Infantry Rgt , 24th Infantry Rgt , 2nd FA Rgt , 3rd Ship Engr Rgt being lost to accident during amphibious unloading from TF 100... 182 casualties reported Squads: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled) Supporting Mini-KB and surface forces find some more small fry hiding between the Visayas islands: Morning Air attack on TF, near Cebu at 80,86 - xAKL Surigao, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Morning Air attack on TF, near Iloilo at 79,84 - xAKL Kanlaon II, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Night Time Surface Combat, near Guiuan at 88,86 - xAKL Palawan, Shell hits 13, and is sunk Celebes: The invasion of Manado has started with heavy SAG cover. A few Hudsons atatck but miss BB Haruna. South Pacific: Kido Butai is taking a look at Rabaul and then Port Moresby - currently located off Bougainville, there is nothing to report. Nettie searches and recon from Truk see nothing at Rabaul as well - did they actually fly or is Rabaul evacuated? SIGINT: Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Pearl Harbor (180,107). Seems they have figured out Kido Butai is not coming back for another strike and that Pearl is safe now. Radio transmissions detected at Ulan Bator (96,23). Seems the comrades have run out of vodka and are ordering resupply...

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/18/2014 12:54:38 PM)
And here is the South China Sea - reduced the size to fit the forum: [image]local://upfiles/1313/ABFDA34B11574441B230A936AF08CE17.jpg[/image]

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/22/2014 11:33:52 AM)
REPORT FOR Dec 20-21, 1941 Allied submarines: Our aerial ASW efforts seem to scare Allied subs - many are spotted but only one Dutch sub manages an attack: Sub attack near Kuching at 58,88 Japanese Ships CL Kashii, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage xAK Ayatosan Maru DMS W-4 Allied Ships SS KXIII, hits 3 Our submarines: ASW attack near Billiton at 52,92 Japanese Ships SS I-154, hits 1 (slight sys dmg - she will stay in the area) Allied Ships CL Enterprise DD Peary DD John D. Ford DD Isis DD Encounter We will hear of that SAG again later... Looks like reinforcements have left CONUS for the Pacific: ASW attack near Channel Islands at 223,78 Japanese Ships SS I-2, hits 1 (slight sys dmg - she will stay in the area) Allied Ships DD Hatfield PG Charleston AP President Polk AP Tasker H Bliss xAP Etolin DD Humphreys And it looks some reinforcements have already arrived at the strategic base of Canton Island: ASW attack near Canton Island at 153,143 Japanese Ships SS RO-66 Allied Ships DMS Boggs xAP St. Mihel PC Taney DM Tracy Canton Is. is an important base for the transfer of 4e bombers to Australia. I was toying with the idea to capture it, but since I am unwilling to risk "quick grab" invasion TFs without heavy cover (given the fact that even with cover my invasion forces are being sunk...), the Canton Is. operation is delayed - and this base will now be a tougher nut to crack... China Lots of units marching and some ground actions near Kaifeng to clear the railroad to Tsiaotso and to capture Tsiaotso itself. We get the railway but not the city. Ground combat at 88,43 (near Kaifeng) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 19475 troops, 169 guns, 129 vehicles, Assault Value = 621 Defending force 5474 troops, 42 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 169 Japanese adjusted assault: 586 Allied adjusted defense: 29 Japanese assault odds: 20 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 137 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 1294 casualties reported Squads: 57 destroyed, 16 disabled Non Combat: 41 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled Guns lost 14 (9 destroyed, 5 disabled) Units retreated 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 110th Division 15th Tank Regiment 12th Tank Regiment 3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade 12th Army 6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 98th Chinese Corps Ground combat at Tsiaotso (88,42) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 6702 troops, 38 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 218 Defending force 11063 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 270 Japanese adjusted assault: 164 Allied adjusted defense: 190 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 366 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 38 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Allied ground losses: 84 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Assaulting units: 16th Ind.Mixed Brigade 5th Armored Car Co 1st Army Defending units: 27th Chinese Corps 5th New Chinese Corps Malaya Still lousy weather but our first Singapore sweeps finally take off. Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 45 Allied aircraft Buffalo I x 45 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Buffalo I: 6 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 37 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 18 Allied aircraft Buffalo I x 15 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Buffalo I: 5 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 12 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 18 Allied aircraft Buffalo I x 8 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Buffalo I: 1 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 17 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet In the face of Zero sweeps (and follow-up Oscars which found nothing), the Allies may withdraw their remaining planes from Singers - or reinforce with the Dutch, AVG and/OR PI remnants. I take the risk and will send bombers next turn - need to interrupt the building of forts asap! Lots of marching troops as well but only one ground action - the 6th RTA Division captures Victoria Point. Elements of the 18th Division are closing on the 15th Indian Bde trapped between Singora and Patani, other elements of the same unit are near Kuantan. The mass of the 25th Army is near or at Georgetown. My progress is slow, other games have captured Palembang and invested Singapore at this stage of the game. Well, it is my first AE PBEM and I prefer to play it safe. And since it is a historic Dec 8th start I do not have Kido Butai available to cover a "Mersing gambit" and similar ventures anyway. Borneo I'm not only slow-moving everywhere, I also botched the invasion of Kuching. Pre-loading the invasion forces at Cam Ranh Bay two turns ago I did set orders to "do not unload" because the invasion TF was supposed to wait in port but ready to sail on short notice. Of course I forgot to change orders to "unload" when sending the TF to Kuching. So it arrived last turn and spent a day sitting off Kuching marking time. Doing this turn, I was torn between leaving the place without unloading in order to escape a possible counter-thrust or to toughen it out and land anyway. With a strong SAG as cover I decided to risk it and stayed to unload. It almost worked. Our forces encounter some PTs - annoying but no real threat and two are sunk. Then some feeble air attacks - just a nuisance. But then on the second day BC Repulse and consorts show up and maul the invasion force: Night Time Surface Combat, near Kuching at 58,88, Range 4,000 Yards Japanese aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed Japanese Ships CL Kashii, Shell hits 8, and is sunk DD Ayanami, Shell hits 1 DMS W-2, Shell hits 1, on fire DMS W-3, Shell hits 13, and is sunk DMS W-4, Shell hits 2, and is sunk AK Sasako Maru, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk xAK Ayatosan Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage (sinks later) xAK Asakasan Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Allied Ships BC Repulse CA Exeter, Shell hits 1 CL Enterprise CL Dragon CL Durban, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage DD John D. Ford DD Peary DD Van Nes DD Encounter DD Isis Reduced sighting due to 7% moonlight Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 7% moonlight: 6,000 yards Range closes to 16,000 yards... Range closes to 11,000 yards... Range closes to 8,000 yards... Range closes to 6,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards Japanese ships attempt to get underway Range closes to 4,000 yards... CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 4,000 yards [clutter deleted] DMS W-4 sunk by CL Durban at 4,000 yards CL Kashii sunk by CL Enterprise at 4,000 yards AK Sasako Maru sunk by CA Exeter at 4,000 yards DD Ayanami engages DD Van Nes at 3,000 yards DD Ayanami engages DD Peary at 3,000 yards DD Van Nes engages DD Ayanami at 5,000 yards CL Dragon engages DD Ayanami at 5,000 yards DD Encounter engages DD Ayanami at 5,000 yards DD Ayanami engages DD Peary at 5,000 yards DD Encounter engages DD Ayanami at 5,000 yards CL Dragon engages DD Ayanami at 5,000 yards DD Ayanami engages DD Peary at 7,000 yards DMS W-3 sunk by BC Repulse at 7,000 yards CL Durban engages DD Ayanami at 7,000 yards CL Enterprise engages DD Ayanami at 7,000 yards DD Peary engages DD Ayanami at 7,000 yards BC Repulse engages DD Ayanami at 9,000 yards CL Dragon engages DD Ayanami at 9,000 yards DD Encounter engages DD Ayanami at 9,000 yards DD Isis engages DD Ayanami at 10,000 yards CL Durban engages DD Ayanami at 10,000 yards DD Ayanami engages DD Van Nes at 10,000 yards DD Ayanami engages DD Peary at 10,000 yards CA Exeter engages DD Ayanami at 12,000 yards CL Durban engages DD Ayanami at 12,000 yards DD Peary engages DD Ayanami at 12,000 yards Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape Task forces break off... Lone DD Ayanami fights well - the CO will receive a medal! However, the cavalry in form of my covering SAG arrived much too late! Where have they been - sightseeing? Our cruisers dish out some damage, but we lose our first large combatant: Night Time Surface Combat, near Kuching at 58,88, Range 7,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Maya CA Chokai CA Ashigara, Shell hits 20, heavy fires, heavy damage CL Sendai, Shell hits 1 CL Isuzu CL Natori DD Yamagumo, Shell hits 1 DD Fubuki DD Usugumo DD Isonami DD Shirayuki DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Shikinami Allied Ships BC Repulse, Shell hits 10 CA Exeter, Shell hits 2, on fire CL Enterprise, Shell hits 6, heavy fires CL Dragon DD John D. Ford DD Peary DD Van Nes DD Encounter Reduced sighting due to 7% moonlight Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 7% moonlight: 8,000 yards Range closes to 9,000 yards... Range closes to 7,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards BC Repulse engages CA Ashigara at 7,000 yards CA Exeter engages CA Ashigara at 7,000 yards CL Dragon engages CA Ashigara at 7,000 yards CL Enterprise engages CA Ashigara at 7,000 yards CA Ashigara engages DD Van Nes at 7,000 yards DD Shikinami engages DD Van Nes at 7,000 yards DD Van Nes engages DD Hatsuyuki at 7,000 yards DD Fubuki engages DD Van Nes at 7,000 yards Range closes to 5,000 yards CA Ashigara engages BC Repulse at 5,000 yards CA Exeter engages CA Ashigara at 5,000 yards CA Maya engages BC Repulse at 5,000 yards BC Repulse engages CL Natori at 5,000 yards CL Isuzu engages BC Repulse at 5,000 yards CL Sendai engages BC Repulse at 5,000 yards DD Shikinami engages DD Van Nes at 5,000 yards DD Yamagumo engages DD John D. Ford at 5,000 yards DD Van Nes engages DD Fubuki at 5,000 yards DD Yamagumo engages DD John D. Ford at 5,000 yards BC Repulse engages CA Ashigara at 5,000 yards CA Ashigara engages CA Exeter at 5,000 yards CL Dragon engages CA Ashigara at 5,000 yards CL Enterprise engages CA Ashigara at 5,000 yards CL Isuzu engages BC Repulse at 5,000 yards CL Sendai engages BC Repulse at 5,000 yards DD Van Nes engages DD Shikinami at 5,000 yards DD Hatsuyuki engages DD John D. Ford at 5,000 yards DD Van Nes engages DD Shirayuki at 5,000 yards DD Yamagumo engages DD Van Nes at 5,000 yards Range increases to 6,000 yards CA Ashigara engages BC Repulse at 6,000 yards CA Exeter engages CA Ashigara at 6,000 yards CA Ashigara engages CL Dragon at 6,000 yards CL Natori engages BC Repulse at 6,000 yards CL Isuzu engages BC Repulse at 6,000 yards CL Sendai engages BC Repulse at 6,000 yards DD Van Nes engages DD Shikinami at 6,000 yards DD Hatsuyuki engages DD Van Nes at 6,000 yards DD Fubuki engages DD John D. Ford at 6,000 yards Range increases to 11,000 yards CA Ashigara engages CL Enterprise at 11,000 yards CA Chokai engages CL Enterprise at 11,000 yards CA Ashigara engages CL Dragon at 11,000 yards CL Natori engages BC Repulse at 11,000 yards CL Isuzu engages BC Repulse at 11,000 yards DD Van Nes engages DD Shirayuki at 11,000 yards DD Van Nes engages DD Shikinami at 11,000 yards DD Hatsuyuki engages DD John D. Ford at 11,000 yards DD Isonami engages DD Van Nes at 11,000 yards DD Van Nes engages DD Usugumo at 11,000 yards DD Fubuki engages DD John D. Ford at 11,000 yards DD Yamagumo engages DD John D. Ford at 11,000 yards Range closes to 9,000 yards CL Sendai collides with DD Shikinami at 58 , 88 CA Ashigara engages BC Repulse at 9,000 yards CA Ashigara engages CA Exeter at 9,000 yards CA Ashigara engages CL Dragon at 9,000 yards CA Ashigara engages CL Enterprise at 9,000 yards CL Dragon engages CL Sendai at 9,000 yards DD Peary engages DD Fubuki at 9,000 yards DD Hatsuyuki engages DD John D. Ford at 9,000 yards DD Isonami engages DD John D. Ford at 9,000 yards DD Van Nes engages DD Fubuki at 9,000 yards DD Yamagumo engages DD Peary at 9,000 yards Range increases to 11,000 yards BC Repulse engages CA Ashigara at 11,000 yards CA Chokai engages BC Repulse at 11,000 yards CL Dragon engages CA Maya at 11,000 yards CL Enterprise engages CA Ashigara at 11,000 yards DD Yamagumo engages DD Encounter at 11,000 yards DD Yamagumo engages DD Van Nes at 11,000 yards DD Yamagumo engages DD Peary at 11,000 yards DD Hatsuyuki engages DD John D. Ford at 11,000 yards DD Yamagumo engages DD Peary at 11,000 yards Range closes to 10,000 yards BC Repulse engages CA Chokai at 10,000 yards CA Maya engages BC Repulse at 10,000 yards CA Ashigara engages CL Enterprise at 10,000 yards DD Hatsuyuki engages DD Encounter at 10,000 yards DD Van Nes engages DD Yamagumo at 10,000 yards DD Usugumo engages DD Peary at 10,000 yards DD Hatsuyuki engages DD John D. Ford at 10,000 yards DD Shirayuki engages DD Van Nes at 10,000 yards DD Isonami engages DD John D. Ford at 10,000 yards Range closes to 6,000 yards BC Repulse engages CA Ashigara at 6,000 yards BC Repulse engages CA Chokai at 6,000 yards CA Ashigara engages CL Dragon at 6,000 yards BC Repulse engages CL Isuzu at 6,000 yards DD Hatsuyuki engages DD Van Nes at 6,000 yards DD Yamagumo engages DD Peary at 6,000 yards DD Van Nes engages DD Hatsuyuki at 6,000 yards DD Van Nes engages DD Shirayuki at 6,000 yards DD Encounter engages DD Usugumo at 6,000 yards DD Fubuki engages DD Van Nes at 6,000 yards Range increases to 7,000 yards BC Repulse engages CA Chokai at 7,000 yards CA Maya engages BC Repulse at 7,000 yards BC Repulse engages CL Natori at 7,000 yards DD Encounter engages DD Shikinami at 7,000 yards CL Sendai engages BC Repulse at 7,000 yards DD Peary engages DD Shirayuki at 7,000 yards DD John D. Ford engages DD Hatsuyuki at 7,000 yards DD Shirayuki engages DD Van Nes at 7,000 yards DD Peary engages DD Isonami at 7,000 yards Range increases to 9,000 yards BC Repulse engages CA Ashigara at 9,000 yards CA Ashigara engages CA Exeter at 9,000 yards CA Ashigara engages CL Dragon at 9,000 yards CL Enterprise engages CA Ashigara at 9,000 yards DD Shikinami engages DD Encounter at 9,000 yards BC Repulse engages CL Sendai at 9,000 yards DD Shirayuki engages DD Peary at 9,000 yards DD Yamagumo engages DD John D. Ford at 9,000 yards DD Shirayuki engages DD Encounter at 9,000 yards DD Isonami engages DD John D. Ford at 9,000 yards DD Fubuki engages DD John D. Ford at 9,000 yards Range increases to 11,000 yards CA Ashigara engages BC Repulse at 11,000 yards BC Repulse engages CA Chokai at 11,000 yards BC Repulse engages CA Maya at 11,000 yards CA Ashigara engages CL Enterprise at 11,000 yards DD Yamagumo engages DD Encounter at 11,000 yards DD Van Nes engages DD Usugumo at 11,000 yards DD Shikinami engages DD Encounter at 11,000 yards DD Hatsuyuki engages DD Peary at 11,000 yards DD Shirayuki engages DD Peary at 11,000 yards DD Isonami engages DD John D. Ford at 11,000 yards Range closes to 9,000 yards CA Chokai engages BC Repulse at 9,000 yards CL Dragon engages CA Ashigara at 9,000 yards CA Ashigara engages CL Enterprise at 9,000 yards CL Enterprise engages CL Isuzu at 9,000 yards DD Peary engages DD Fubuki at 9,000 yards DD John D. Ford engages DD Hatsuyuki at 9,000 yards DD Shirayuki engages DD Peary at 9,000 yards DD Van Nes engages DD Isonami at 9,000 yards Younger, L.E. orders Allied TF to disengage Range increases to 10,000 yards CA Chokai engages CA Exeter at 10,000 yards CL Enterprise engages CA Maya at 10,000 yards BC Repulse engages CL Natori at 10,000 yards CL Isuzu engages BC Repulse at 10,000 yards BC Repulse engages CL Sendai at 10,000 yards DD Shikinami engages DD Van Nes at 10,000 yards DD Shirayuki engages DD John D. Ford at 10,000 yards Task forces break off... The battle was unusally long, probably due to aggressive leaders (checked the editor - L.E. Younger has agg 70 - not bad for a Brit at that this stage of the war). Too bad none of our numerous torpedoes connected - and luckily the Allied torps weren't any better! Alas, CA Ashigara succumbs to fires and damage... But her comrades extract some revenge by sinking a cripple - but the identification must be wrong (probably Enterprise): Night Time Surface Combat, near Kuching at 58,88, Range 11,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Maya CA Chokai CL Sendai CL Isuzu CL Natori DD Yamagumo DD Fubuki DD Usugumo DD Isonami DD Shirayuki DD Hatsuyuki DD Shikinami Allied Ships CL Durban, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Isis The survivors of our SAG and invasion TF retire to Indochina. And we have been lucky nonetheless - the sunk transports were empty, the ground forces have landed without losses at Kuching and will attack next turn. PI: The recently-revived Allied fighter operations from Manila ask for a counter-strike: Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 40 Allied aircraft P-40E Warhawk x 6 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 40 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet * Afternoon Air attack on Manila , at 79,77 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 40 Allied aircraft P-40E Warhawk x 1 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 40 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet * Jakes operating from Jolo catch small fry near Tawi-Tawi - xAKL Kanchow, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires. Apparently the Allies try to slip some supplies to Luzon - we will increase the number of floatplanes on anti-blockade runner duty. 14th Army assembles at San Fernando and will attack next turn. 16th Division attacks at Naga and forces the 51st PA Infantry Division to retreat - 41 casualties (4 squads disabled) against 1101 100+ squads destroyed). 2nd Division captures undefended Surigao. Undefnded Bayombong is occupied by a patrol. Moluccas: Some Dutch bombers, Hudsons and a pair of B-17s attack our shiping at Manado, but F1M2 floatplanes on CAP disrupt their aim. Our invasion forces shock attack and easily capture Manado - 41 casualties against 375. The enemy forces retreat to Sidate. Our TFs will reorganize and reload while Netties get established at Manado (since Jolo has been thrashed and the few ENG coy are struggling). I suspect that PoW is heading another SAG wit a similar task for Kendar/Ambon as had Repulse at Kuching, so this time I will move with air support. Rabaul: Speaking of air support - Kido Butai has circled Rabaul and prepares the invasion by hitting the airfield and port installations. Apparently the Allies intend to fight for Rabaul because our pilots report dive bombers and B-17s as well as a cruiser present. Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 55 B5N2 Kate x 27 D3A1 Val x 36 Allied aircraft no flights No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Catalina I: 1 damaged B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged Airbase hits 10 Airbase supply hits 3 Runway hits 19 Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 55 B5N2 Kate x 99 D3A1 Val x 107 Allied aircraft no flights No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged A-24 Banshee: 1 damaged Allied Ships CL Adelaide, Bomb hits 16, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk Allied ground losses: 6 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 10 Port hits 1 Port supply hits 1 The invasion of Rabaul will start next turn. 4th Division is reloading from transport to amphib assault configuration at Ponape (due to stacking limits, Truk is already full with support units...) for the follow-on attack on PM as soon as Rabaul has been captured and air search operational. Can't be too prudent with Allied cruisers around and and no fix on Allied CVs! SIGINT is useless as usual.

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/22/2014 4:17:37 PM)
REPORT FOR Dec 22-23, 1941 Allied submarines: SS Porpoise launches 4 torpedoes at DD Amagiri near Fukue-jima at 100,58 but misses. SS Seadragon launches 2 torpedoes at xAP Kitano Maru near Babeldaob at 87,94 - duds. SS S-41 launches 2 torpedoes at PB Fuji Maru #3 near Soc Trang at 60,74 and misses. Our submarines: We pick up BOISE again! She is near Kendari. We have sent Nellies to Manado to take a closer look. ASW attack near Boeton at 68,107 Japanese Ships SS I-159 Allied Ships CL Boise CL De Ruyter DD Barker DD Van Ghent DD Parrott DD Paul Jones SS I-21 launches 6 torpedoes at xAP St. Mihel at Canton Island - torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage - and evades ASW attacks by PC Taney and another by DD Phelps. We order more submarines into the area - there might be carriers lurking to cover the reinforcement effort. SS I-171 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Ward near Hilo at 184,111 - not hits. ASW attack by DD Pillsbury near Toboali at 51,93, SS I-154, hits 2 - with 29 float damage the submarine is ordered back to Saigon. Malaya: Still sub-optimal weather in Malaya, but our bombers from Kota Bharu attack Singers for the first time. Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 45 G3M2 Nell x 28 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses Blenheim I: 3 damaged Blenheim IV: 2 damaged Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed on ground Swordfish I: 1 damaged Hudson I: 2 damaged Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 9 Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 15 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 12 G3M2 Nell x 28 Allied aircraft no flights No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Hudson I: 7 damaged Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground Blenheim I: 2 damaged Blenheim I: 1 destroyed on ground Airbase hits 4 Runway hits 7 Afternoon Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 13 G3M2 Nell x 20 Allied aircraft no flights No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Hudson I: 2 damaged Runway hits 3 Elements of the 18th Division are now in contact with the 15th Indian Bde and will attack next turn. Recon elements of the 5th Division have reached Taiping and find a weak unit. The Recondos will try to dislodge it on their own. China: Northwest of Sinyang, the 13th Division plus arty attacks the 30th Chinese Corps - 39 vs 3403 casualties and the Chinese are RETREATING towards Nanyang. Near Hwainan at at 89,4, the 13th Ind.Mixed Brigade attacks the 7th Chinese Corps - 123 vs 1523 casualties reported, the Chinese unit is RETREATING towards Chengchow. With reinforcements, Japanese forces finally CAPTURE Tsiaotso !!! Assaulting units: 41st Division 37th Division 16th Ind.Mixed Brigade 5th Armored Car Co 1st Army 321 vs 4393 casualties reported. 27th Chinese Corps RETREATING towards Loyang 5th New Chinese Corps RETREATING towards Loyang Wenchow is bombarded in preparation of a ground campaign against this last unoccupied seaport of China. Night Naval bombardment of Wenchow at 89,58 Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses SB-III: 1 damaged Japanese Ships BB Yamashiro BB Mutsu DD Yukaze DD Sawakaze DD Yugumo Allied ground losses: 56 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Resources hits 1 Manpower hits 1 Fires 57 Airbase hits 5 Runway hits 22 Port hits 6 Port supply hits 1 E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Yamashiro BB Yamashiro firing at 100th Chinese Corps F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Mutsu BB Mutsu firing at Wenchow DD Yukaze firing at 100th Chinese Corps DD Sawakaze firing at Wenchow DD Yugumo firing at Wenchow PI: Zero sweeps find nothing in the air. Nates and Sonias bomb enemy forces at San Fernando and help capturing the base. Japanese forces CAPTURE San Fernando !!! Assaulting units: 2nd Tank Regiment 65th Brigade 3rd Ind Engineer Regiment 4th Tank Regiment 56th Engineer Regiment 48th Division 56th Recon Regiment 148th Infantry Regiment 113th Infantry Regiment 21st Ind Engineer Regiment 7th Tank Regiment 37th Const Co 1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment 31st Fld AA Gun Co 14th Army 39th Field Const Co 36th Const Co 30th Fld AA Gun Co 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 38th Field Const Co 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 4th Field Construction Battalion 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 56th Const Co 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 56th Field Artillery Regiment 76 vs 1018 casualties reported 11th PA Infantry Division RETREATING towards Lingayen Amphibious Assault at Dumanquilas (77,89) by elements of the 81st Naval Guard. Tablas and Catanduanes are occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps. Borneo: Japanese forces CAPTURE Kuching !!! Assaulting units: II/124th Infantry Battalion III/124th Infantry Battalion 7th JAAF AF Coy 137 vs 784 casualties reported. Sarawak Force RETREATING towards Sambas 2/15 Punjab Battalion RETREATING towards Sambas 106th RN Base Force RETREATING towards Sambas Rabaul: With dive bombers and heavy bombers spotted at Rabaul we take no chances - Kido Butai strikes again: Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 55 B5N2 Kate x 99 D3A1 Val x 108 Allied aircraft no flights No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses A-24 Banshee: 6 damaged A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed on ground B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged Catalina I: 4 damaged Catalina I: 1 destroyed on ground Allied ground losses: 39 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase hits 22 Airbase supply hits 9 Runway hits 48 Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125 Weather in hex: Heavy rain Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 55 B5N2 Kate x 99 D3A1 Val x 108 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses D3A1 Val: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 8 damaged A-24 Banshee: 4 damaged A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed on ground Allied ground losses: 10 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase hits 8 Airbase supply hits 5 Runway hits 12 Our invasion force is one day away and no surface opposition has been spotted - fingers crossed...

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/24/2014 12:55:34 PM)
REPORTS FOR Dec 24 - 25, 1941! Merry xmas! Allied submarines: Our aerial ASW seems to have scared them away - few attack, no successes. SS Porpoise misses xAK Kuretake Maru near Nakadori-jima at 101,56 SS Shark is forced deep by DD Amagiri near Tanegashima at 101,63 Our submarines: SS RO-34 detects surfaced submarine at 69, 96 but it immediately dives. AG Regulus is sighted by SS I-173 near Midway Island but the captain of SS I-173 elects not to launch torpedoes at this target. SS I-169 does better and attacks AG Kaula near Palmyra - Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage. SS I-175 escapes an ASW attack by two DDs near Kona at 181,111 SS RO-66 escapes several ASW attacks but then encounters a mine field at Canton Island (153,143), triggers three mines and sinks. She is followed by SS I-170 which hits a mine at the same location and sinks. Grr, the subs have reported DMs at Canton last turn but it failed to make "tilt" in the brains of Submarine Command - instead of ordering them away some stupid admiral ordered more submarines to Canton Is. I-9 tries to extract revenge by attacking DM Tracy near Enderbury Island but misses. Indochina: We have found minefields in a coastal hex between Cam Ranh Bay and Saigon and at Kompong Trach. DMS are dealing with them. Malaya: Air attacks on Singers continue, no CAP but several bombers are destroyed / damaged on the ground. We lose a Nell to flak. Buffalo fighter planes bomb the 55th Cavalry Regiment, at 55,58 , near Tavoy - 10 casualties reported. Those cowards - attacking defenseless ground forces instead of flying CAP over Singers! 5th Recon Regiment takes Taiping, 1st Mysore Battalion is retreating. The other units of the 5th Division follow the Recondos which continue south. Elements of the 30th Division will try a flanking movement by sea using landing barges. 25th Army, the Imperial Guard Division and Corps troops will strat move from Alor Star to Taiping. The enemy units trapped between Singora and Patani are tougher than expected: Ground combat at 50,73 (near Alor Star) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 7764 troops, 52 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 254 Defending force 3163 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 104 Japanese adjusted assault: 139 Allied adjusted defense: 101 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 615 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 55 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 163 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled) Ground combat at 50,73 (near Alor Star) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 7313 troops, 52 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 205 Defending force 3050 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 90 Japanese adjusted assault: 85 Allied adjusted defense: 47 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), morale(-), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 147 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 165 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled) Assaulting units: 55th Infantry Regiment 114th Infantry Regiment Defending units: 15th Indian Brigade 109th RAF Adv Base Force We will send tanks and air support. China: Recon bombardements and troop movements continue. Wenchow is bombarded by sea again - the bombardment group is shuttling between Shanghai and Wenchow. Japanese Ships BB Yamashiro BB Mutsu DD Yanagi DD Karii DD Yukaze DD Sawakaze DD Yugumo Allied ground losses: 198 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 3 Port hits 2 Port fuel hits 1 PI: Manila sweeps by Oscars find nothing. Butuan is occupied by the 2nd Division advancing from Surigao to Cagayan. Sibuyan is occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps. Amphibious Assault at Iba (78,75) - a small SNLF Coy will try to snatch the (according to air recon) lightly-defended base, while 14th Army advances on Lingayen. III/81st Naval Guard Unit CAPTURE Dumanquilas. xAKL Dai Lee encounters mine field at Busuanga (77,80) - Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage A small supply convoy near Jolo (2 PB, 2xAKL) runs into five British MTBs - no damage on either side. Floatplanes find small freighters near Iloilo but miss and naval search has discovered other TFs in the Visayas. A SAG will investigate. Borneo: Jakes from Jolo sink HDML P 3 at Tarakan. Invasion forces for Tarakan will start loading at Babeldaop. TFs are spotted at Tarakan - we will split a small SAG from convoy-cover duty to investigate (green arrow). Babeldaop / Celebes: Some Dutch bombers attack a SAG at Manado and lose two planes to flak. Invasion forces are being readied. We hope to make some quick hops now. From Manado four SNLF units will attack Kendari, Makassar and Banjarmasin, from Babeldaop two SNLF will attack Ambon and Koepang (red arrows). Both have heavy SAG cover and Mini-KB (orange arrow) in support. Submarines (blue arrows) are ordered to block potential routes of enemy SAGs. [image]local://upfiles/1313/7DFFA3308D834169A6ACBB4086354519.jpg[/image] PNG: Bandasan SNLF stages an Amphibious Assault at Manokwari (85,109) Rabaul: Kido Butai attacks ground forces at Rabaul, covering the landing of our invasion force. The ground attack will commence next turn.

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/26/2014 10:45:11 AM)
REPORT FOR Dec 26-27, 1941 Allied submarines: SS Tuna launches 2 torpedoes at xAKL Junpo Maru near Hakodate at 21,54 and misses. SS Porpoise is sighted by escort near Nakadori-jima at 101,56 and forced to dive. Our submarines: Not much luck, but at least none of my subs sunk or damaged either: SS I-15 launches 6 torpedoes at DD Selfridge near Enderbury Island at 156,142 but misses. SS I-26 launches 6 torpedoes at DD Russell near San Diego at 226,81 but misses. SS I-26 launches 6 torpedoes at DD Sims near San Diego at 225,79 but msises. SS I-5 hits xAK Susan Luckenbach near Fort Ord at 219,74 with three torpedos, the ship is confirmed sunk. Home Islands: I have transferred all Const Eng units from Kwangtung Command to the HI to start building up the airfields at locations with IJNAF and IFAAF base forces to level 8 in order to trigger the "double aviation support" bonus. Also the restricted IDs with engineer assets have moved to these locations to add what little engineering manpower they have. Surely could use some Seabee units on the Japanese OOB! Purpose of the efforts is to get my pilot training program going while moving unrestricted aviation suport to the front - there is never enough... Kaga and Chiyoda are busy expanding IJNAF air groups to max size. This is PDU off so should not be gamey and the groups are intended for training - and I do not have enough planes to fill them out anyway. Allies can expand Navy and Marines airgroups as well, so no exploit here. Production factories are repairing but with many air groups flying obsolete planes waiting for pools to upgrade and understrength resized air groups, the demand for air frames far outstrips current production. Our R&D factories are not repairing despite supply stockpiles at their bases. I have seen only two factories increasing one point each since the start of the war. I'm only allowing repairs for planes coming online in 1942 in order to keep supply reserves up. Other AARs indicate that it is possible to advance A6M8s and such to July 1942, so other players are able to get R&D to repair. Wondering what I am doing wrong... The first wave of conversions is done and ACMs are spread around to maintain protective minefield being laid: Task Force 155 lays defensive minefield at Matsuyama ( 105 , 59) and sets course for Hiroshima/Kure Task Force 149 lays defensive minefield at Oita ( 104 , 59) and sets course for Hiroshima/Kure China: Bomb attacks, recon bombardments and troop movements aimed at surrounding fleeing Chinese troops in the North and the eastern plains - but they run faster than we do... Wenchow bombarded by Yamashiro and Mutsu again, but only disable some squads - not enough for our lone brigade which has arrived at Wenchow to risk an attack. I will need to be prudent now, US subs may try to ambush the bombardment shuttle. I keep the TF in coastal waters and two DMS have been ordered to join the screen - as we have seen, the Allies seems to be fond of submarine minelaying operations... Malaya: Oscar sweeps of Singers found nothing. About 50 Nells with about 50 Zeros as escort hit the airfields again and destroy one Vildebeest, one Blenheim IV and one Hurricane IIb - now that is a surprise. Why is Ed not putting the Hurries up on CAP? Sallies pound the 15th Indian Brigade which is moving to undefended Patani. That's ok, nothing to find there but some fuel and the unit will be off the railroad and cornered. This operation is delaying the recombination of the 18th Division, but one Indian Division at Singers will be understrength as well. Utan Melintang is occupied by a flanking movement with landing barges from Georgetown. From there it is only a short hop to Sumatra. Borneo: 2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy shock-attacks and takes Jesselton, 108th RN Base Force is retreating down the coast. Overland movements from Miri to Brunei and Kuching to Sambas are advancing slowly. PI: Oscar sweeping Manila find nothing. The Allied CAP seems to work on an on/off basis. Unopposed bombing attacks on Lingayen while 14th Army advances on this base. 1st Sasebo SNLF Coy CAPTURES Iba, 1st PI Base Force is retreating. A small CL+DD SAG sweeps the Central PIs sinking xAKL Cebu near Lucena and xAKL Isla Filipinas near Tablas. Apparently the Allies are still trying to run supplies into Luzon. 3 Petes attack xAKL Magallanes near Roxas - the ship is left with heavy fires and heavy damage. Two P-40 on CAP at 14k are too high to catch our low-level attack. Catalina PBYs try night-torpedo attacks against small convoys without success. Moluccas: Mini-KB moves into strike range of Ambon and sinks the Dutch AVPs Bellatrix and Reiger. Our Nells at Manado elect to torpedo-attack some British MTBs at Tarkan. Zero escort becomes separated and the two Dutch Buffalos on CAP over Tarakan destroy one Nell. The MTBs are untouched, of course. Next day, Nells with Zero escort bomb ground forces at Kendari. Our invasion TFs at Babeldaop (for Ambon) and Manado (for Kendari) have not finished loading yet but will move out next turn for a left-rigth double punch. This is a risk since the whereabout of Allied surface assets is unknown. Long-range Mavis searches from Manado have sighted nothing, but that does not mean anything... Rabaul: Kido Butai pounds ground forces at Rabaul, then our SNLF troops shock attack and CAPTURE Rabaul !!! The enemy forces retreat into the jungle where they will be left to rot. Assaulting units: Maizuru 1st SNLF 2nd Indpt SNLF Coy 7th Naval Construction Battalion 2nd JNAF AF Unit Defending units: A Coy/NG Rifles Lark Battalion Rabaul Base Force One Catalina I and two B-17E are destroyed on the ground. Too bad we cannot piece them back together, we could use some more long-range search assets... After the attacks of Kido Butai the Rabaul airbase is trashed with 80+ runway and service damage. But the port is almost untouched and we have a convoy with lots of base forces, port units and supplies waiting one hex off Rabaul which will unload and deal with the damaged airfield. Kido Butai is ordered a few hexes south of Rabaul into the Coral Sea to cover the unloading and to investigate Port Moresby. Long-range search with Mavis is already established at Rabaul to sniff for Allied carriers. A small invasion force is heading for Lae. 4th Division still amphib-loading at Ponape - with port size 1 it was an error to go there to avoid overstacking Truk... PNG: Manokwari is occupied. The small forces at Hollandia and Aitape have been picked up for another hop down the coast.

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (9/29/2014 12:52:42 PM)
REPORT FOR Dec 28-29, 1941 Allied submarines: SS Porpoise launches 2 torpedoes at PB Takunan Maru near Nakadori-jima at 101,56 and sinks the ship with one hit. SS Porpoise launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Yoshida Maru #3 near Saishu To at 99,56 - no hits. SS Saury launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Nagato Maru near Hakodate at 118,51 - no hits. Better luck next time! SS Saury launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Izan Maru near Hirosaki/Aomori at 117,54 - one hit. Yeah, better luck next time... grrr SS Stingray launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Kaimei Maru near Kaishu at 100,48 - one hit, one dud. The ship should make port. SS Searaven launches 4 torpedoes at DMS W-20 near Wenchow at 89,59 and misses. SS KXVIII is attacked near Manado at 76,99 but our ASW efforts fail - rumour has it our depth charges are not reaching deep enough. SS Seawolf encounters our fleet train (including our only active AKE) near Morotai but is sighted by escorts and forced to dive deep. The fleet train is rebasing from Babeldaop to Kendari in anticipation of the pending occupation of this base. We find some sub-layed mines at Ponape! Our submarines: SS I-2 and SS I-26 suffer several enemy ASW attacks near San Diego again. I-2 receives 51 float damage (35 major) and aborts the mission - she is heading back to Kwajalein. Seems the Allies want to clear the area of my subs - all this ASW activity smells of important enemy movements pending! I will redeploy my West Coast Flotilla (the long-legged boats of the J1 class plus plane-carrier I-26) a few hex offshore from the San Diego - LA area to see if I can intercept something. Home Islands: Since US submarines are operating near the Home Islands and even in the Sea of Japan, we try to close some of their access routes (we just do not have enough mines for all...) Task Force 155 lays defensive minefield at Tsushima ( 103 , 56) and sets course for Hiroshima/Kure Task Force 149 lays defensive minefield at Iki-shima ( 102 , 57) and sets course for Hiroshima/Kure The first AKE conversions are finished and will load-up and move to Truk and Kendari asap. CS-convoys have been organised to ship ressources from Shanghai, Port Arthur, Chinnampo, Keijo, Fusan, Hakodate, Muroran, Kushiro, Sapporo and Shikuka to ports on Kyushu and Honshu. Each convoy features at least two escorts and are tailored to fit "docked" port sizes. China: Marching, bombing, bombarding. We try to encircle some sizeable chunks of the Chinese Army: [image]local://upfiles/1313/C16A47F18B284A76B46FADEA85A5A81C.jpg[/image] Wenchow is bombarded again by BBs: Allied ground losses: 311 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Manpower hits 1 Heavy Industry hits 2 Fires 79 Airbase hits 3 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 8 Port hits 8 Port fuel hits 2 E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Yamashiro DMS W-20 which has been ordered to merge with the bombardment TF has had an encounter with SS Searaven - the bombardment runs are becoming risky. The BBs will stay in port and we will run just some ASW-TF on the same route. Chinese bombers dare to attack our ground forces at at 85,47 near Sinyang and lose one SB-III to Nates on CAP. Malaya: Patani is occupied by the Allies. Singers is bombed repeatedly during thunderstorms - one Cat,one Blenheim, one Hudson and one Wilvebeest destroyed on ground, four Blenheims, eight Hudsons and three Hurris damaged on the ground for one Sally lost to flak plus several damaged - did not check for ops losses. Some airbase damage should slow fort construction. Buffalos attack our ground forces near Moulmein again - annoying. Hudsons attack a convoy at Kota Bharu - no hits. PI: Oscars sweeping Manila find opposition: Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 16 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 34 Allied aircraft P-35A x 9 P-40B Warhawk x 11 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-35A: 3 destroyed P-40B Warhawk: 3 destroyed Aircraft Attacking: 6 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet Cabanatuan is occupied by the Japanese 5th column. 14th Army attacks and CAPTURES Lingayen. Japanese ground losses: 100 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Allied ground losses: 1636 casualties reported Squads: 74 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 39 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 51 (51 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled) Assaulting units: 21st Ind Engineer Regiment 113th Infantry Regiment 56th Engineer Regiment 56th Recon Regiment 48th Division 4th Tank Regiment 2nd Tank Regiment 65th Brigade 3rd Ind Engineer Regiment 148th Infantry Regiment 21st Division 7th Tank Regiment 14th Army 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 37th Const Co 30th Fld AA Gun Co 36th Const Co 31st Fld AA Gun Co 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment 56th Const Co 38th Field Const Co 4th Field Construction Battalion 39th Field Const Co 56th Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 11th PA Infantry Division RETREATING towards Clark Field 86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion SURRENDERS British MTBs intercept a small supply convoy at Jolo, but the PBs covering the convoy land a shell hit on MTB 11 and the enemy TF breaks off. Some of our Petes attack xAKL Dos Hermanos near Iloilo at 79,84. Again, P-40s on CAP are too high. The xAKL is hit twice and burns fiercely. Amphibious TF 120 unloading 15th and 16th Naval Guard Units at Zamboanga. Probably triggered by our succesful FP attacks, US Seagull floatplanes try some naval attacks on their own on our Zamboanga invasion force - but miss. Moluccas: We conduct an Amphibious Assault at Kendari (70,106) - 16 Coastal gun shots fired in defense but the CAs embedded in the invasion TF fire effective counter-battery. Only 2 squads and one gun lost during unload. Ground combat at Kendari (70,106) Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 734 troops, 9 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 21 Defending force 7507 troops, 75 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 242 Assaulting units: Kendari Garrison Battalion Kendari Base Force Defending units: Sasebo 3rd SNLF Sasebo 8th SNLF Kure 1st SNLF Yokosuka 4th SNLF The base should be ours next turn. Another amphib force is one day away from Ambon. At both Kendari and Ambon we have BBs and lots of CAs - just in case PoW and/or Repulse and consorts show up. Rabaul / PNG: Troops are pouring into Rabaul - South East Area Fleet HQ, 7th and 8th Base Forces and their corresponding Port Units, 22nd - 24th Special Base Forces and a few Ship Eng Companies. More will follow. We will have the base up and running shortly. In the meantime, we grab a few more bases in the area: Amphibious TF 4 unloading at Aitape - Aitape is occupied by the Japanese Amphibious TF 111 unloading at Wewak Amphibious TF 6 unloading at Lae Kido Butai hovering south of Rabaul has spotted several TFs at Port Moresby - reinforcements or evacs? In any case, KB will investigate and is ordered to close PM. 4th Division has finished amphib-loading at Ponape and will head to Rabaul for the next important conquest - Port Moresby. Mental note - next game I will reload at Truk, stacking limits or not. The Australian ex-Rabaul garrison has movment arrows in direction of Gasmata - we will send an SNLF by sea to that base to keep them cornered. Australia: I-16 launches midget submarine Ha-3 to attack Sydney - SSX Ha-3 hits a mine and is destroyed at Sydney I-22 launches midget submarine Ha-4 to attack Sydney - SSX Ha-4 unable to penetrate harbor at Sydney and is abandoned I-24 launches midget submarine Ha-5 to attack Sydney - SSX Ha-5 unable to penetrate harbor at Sydney and is abandoned I-20 launches midget submarine Ha-6 to attack Sydney - SSX Ha-6 founders and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Sydney I-18 launches midget submarine Ha-7 to attack Sydney -SSX Ha-7 unable to penetrate harbor at Sydney and is abandoned Well, might have been worth a try - been lucky with my midgets in other games before, but not this time...

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (10/6/2014 12:11:23 PM)
REPORTS FOR Dec 30-31, 1941 Allied Subs: SS Sargo launches 2 torpedoes at DD Amagiri near Kochi at 106,63 but misses. SS Stingray launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Fukuzan Maru near Kaishu at 100,48 but misses. SS Saury is sighted by escort near Hakodate at 118,51 and forced to dive. SS Triton is sighted by escort near Ailinglaplap at 133,118 and forced to dive. SS Pollack launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Daihachikyo Maru near Kavieng at 105,123 but misses. So far, the policy of escorting all convoys with at least one ASW-capable ship pays off. However, luck does run out from time to time: SS Pollack launches 4 torpedoes at CVE Taiyo near Rabaul at 106,124 Japanese Ships CVE Taiyo, Torpedo hits 1 DD Asanagi Taiyo was providing air cover for the convoys unloading at Rabaul while the airbase is being repaired. The ship has 30 float damage and will slip into Rabaul and disband, provided there is no follow-up attack. As a precaution, the embarked air group has been ordered to Rabaul which is repairing nicely. Our submarines: I-26 dodges an ASW attack near near San Diego and SS I-175 escapes near Pearl Harbor - both areas are growing too hot... AVP Arend is sighted by SS RO-34 near Ambon but Captain of SS RO-34 elects not to launch torpedoes at this target. SS I-155 has sighted an Allied SAG near Kangean at 59,106, dodges several AW attacks and tries an unsuccessful torpedo attack. Later, SS-258 near Makassar finds the same SAG at 65,107 and has more luck: Japanese Ships SS I-158 Allied Ships DD Stronghold, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage BC Repulse CL Mauritius CL Dragon DD Tenedos DD Pope DD Peary DD John D. Ford DD Jupiter DD Isis DD Express DD Encounter SS I-158 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Stronghold DD Jupiter fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Isis fails to find sub and abandons search DD Express fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Encounter fails to find sub and abandons search Escort abandons search for sub According to naval search results, the SAG has reversed course and is heading west again - seems an attack on Kendari has been nipped in the bud. China: We have sent some troops out from Wuchang to clear the surrounding hexes and to provide some entertainment: Ground combat at 83,51 (near Wuchang) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 13008 troops, 102 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 420 Defending force 8165 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 171 Japanese adjusted assault: 385 Allied adjusted defense: 29 Japanese assault odds: 13 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: experience(-) Attacker: leaders(+) Japanese ground losses: 463 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 37 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Allied ground losses: 4041 casualties reported Squads: 125 destroyed, 60 disabled Non Combat: 171 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 5 destroyed, 5 disabled Guns lost 6 (3 destroyed, 3 disabled) Units retreated 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 6th Division Defending units: 20th Chinese Corps Ground combat at 84,52 (near Wuchang) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 6551 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 204 Defending force 5522 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 178 Assaulting units: 18th Ind.Mixed Brigade Defending units: 58th Chinese Corps A similar operation has been launched from Nanchang - eventually we want a clear land route from Nanchang to Shanghai. Ground combat at 86,55 (near Kiukiang) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 13035 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 413 Defending force 6827 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 184 Japanese adjusted assault: 228 Allied adjusted defense: 55 Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 1222 casualties reported Squads: 7 destroyed, 105 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled Allied ground losses: 2277 casualties reported Squads: 47 destroyed, 21 disabled Non Combat: 38 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled Units retreated 2 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 11th Ind.Mixed Brigade 12th Ind.Mixed Brigade Defending units: 50th Chinese Corps 23rd Group Army In the eastern plains, the battle to encircle a sizeable portion of the Chinese Army rages near Nanyang - we try to hold the Chinese in place while reinforcements move in for the kill. Ground combat at 86,45 (near Nanyang) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 12880 troops, 156 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 369 Defending force 27958 troops, 118 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 831 Japanese ground losses: 20 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 26 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 13th Division 51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion Defending units: 85th Chinese Corps 48th Chinese Corps 90th Chinese Corps 3rd Group Army In the north, the smaller operation to encircle and destroy isolated Chinese units is heating up as well: Ground combat at 92,36 (near Kweisui) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 6502 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 211 Defending force 5714 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 198 Japanese adjusted assault: 187 Allied adjusted defense: 79 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 161 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 1804 casualties reported Squads: 92 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 56 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled) Units retreated 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade Defending units: 3rd Prov Chinese Corps Burma: III./143rd Infantry Battalion captures undefended Mergui. Other elements of the 55th Division have reached Moulmein. Patrols report an enemy garrison of an estimated 6000 men. Recon bombardments have been ordered. Malaya: 1st Tank Regiment has followed 15th Indian Brigade to Patani and attacks - the enemy surrenders and the base is ours again. Enemy remnants of a base force are still blocking the road and railroad from Alor Star to Taiping - a tank unit currently at Georgetown will soon clear them out. 5th Recon Regiment attacks the 1st Mysore Battalion at 49,77 (near Utan Melintang) - the enemy surrenders at the road to Kuala Lumpur seems to be open. 25th Army is at Taiping and following 5th Recon Regiment. Borneo: I/124th Infantry Battalion reaches and attacks Brunei, the base is taken and the remnants of two Britisch base forces retreat towards Beaufort. Small cruiser SAGs investigating Tarakan sink an HDML and a MTB. Tarakan Invasion Force is still loading at Babeldaop. PI: Tagbilaran is occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps Baler is occupied by the Japanese 5th column. Three Seagulls (the SOC, not the bird) try to bomb our invasion force at Zamboanga but hit nothing from 6000 feet. Zamboanga is captured by 15th and 16th Naval Guard Units, the 4th PI Base Force surrenders. Manila airfield bombed and 14th Army is advancing on Clark Field. Celebes: A handful of B-17Ds attack Manado but meet Zeros on CAP. Two B-17s are destroyed. Kendari is captured, the base force surrenders and the garrison battalion retreats towards Kolaka. One 139WH-3 and one Do-24K-1 are destroyed on the ground. The base is undamaged and will become a major hub for future operations. The fleet train and AKEs will setup shop immediately to refuel / rearm our TFs for the next jump to Makassar. A convoy with aviation support is ready to unload sp we can provide air defense quickly. Ambon: 2 SNLF land at Ambon, covered by a cruiser SAG and with BBs Hyuga and Nagato embedded in the amphib TF. One AK and BB Hyuga suffer damage from coastal guns. One B-339D and four B-17E launch an ineffective naval strike. PNG/Solomons: Kido Butai finds a small convoy at Port Moresby and sinks xAK Centaur and damages xAK Johanne Justesen and AM Bunbury - both most likely goners as well. A second wave flattens the port facilities - whether coming or going, Allied forces will find it harder! Kido Butai is ordered back to Truk to refuel / rearm. II/66th Naval Guard Unit captures undefended Wewak. Undefended Lae is captured as well, Maizuru 2nd SNLF will advance on Wau and 1st JNAF AF Unit investigates a rumor that good airfield sites can be found near Nadzab. Elements of the Maizuru 1st SNLF have landed at undefended Gasmata in order to trap the Australians of the ex-Rabaul garrison. GHQ has disovered that some stupid staff officer has ordered part of 4th Division to load on an amphib TF and another part to load on an ordinary transport TF. The staff officer has been ordered to participate in the next midget submarine operation. Both TFs are ordered to Rabaul where reloading will be arranged.

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Duel of the tankers - IdahoNYer vs. LargeSlowTarget (Japanese AAR) (10/6/2014 12:21:37 PM)
-double post-

LargeSlowTarget -> Battle of Ambon (10/7/2014 4:16:59 PM)
REPORTS FOR Jan 01-02, 1942 - due to New Year's party hangover I report only the highlights... US East Coast: Long Island is reported occupied by the Japanese [drunk staff officer must have read the map upside down?] Allied submarines: SS Stingray launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Sumiyoshi Maru near Kaishu at 101,48 - Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage, ship sinks.... SS Trout launches 2 torpedoes at DD Hamakaze near Truk at 111,110 - the ship is part of the screen of Kido Butai. Our submarines: Chance encounter! Sub attack near Palmyra at 178,125 Japanese Ships SS I-172 Allied Ships CV Lexington CA Portland DD Mahan DD Porter DD Flusser DD Lamson SS I-172 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Lexington I-172 diving deep .... DD Porter fails to find sub and abandons search DD Flusser fails to find sub and abandons search DD Lamson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Lamson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Lamson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Lamson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Lamson fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Lamson fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub Lady Lex escapes grrr I-164 has spotted Repulse & Co near Ruteng at 65,111 with course East - the Allies have turned around again and this time tried the southern passage of the Flores Sea - our subs are there as well. The sighting means trouble at either Kendari or Ambon - see below! Home Islands: CVL Shoho arrives at Yokohama/Yokosuka China: Bombs, bombardments, marching troops - the Chinese retreat faster than we can follow... Malaya: Amphibious Assault at Port Swettenham (48,79) - the landing craft flotilla makes another hop down the coast. Burma: Ground combat at Moulmein (55,55) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 4287 troops, 60 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 178 Defending force 4119 troops, 14 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 104 Allied ground losses: 6 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 112th Infantry Regiment 55th Engineer Regiment 15th Army 55th Mountain Gun Regiment Defending units: Tenasserim BAF Battalion 11th Burma Rifles Battalion 2nd Burma Brigade 107th RAF Base Force 108th RAF Base Force PI: Dinagat is occupied by the Japanese. 14th Army arrives at Clark Field and will start bombarding next turn. Ambon: Two deliberate ground attacks fail to take the base but fortifications are down to 0 - base should fall next turn. The enemy SAG reported by I-164 manages to surprise our Ambon invasion forces - apparently our Navy boys have paid more attention to the New Year's celebrations than to the radio logs... Ok, radar and thunderstorms did help the Allies as well. In a very long and confused battle our covering SAG slugs it out with Force Z: Day Time Surface Combat, near Ambon at 76,109, Range 6,000 Yards Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses Walrus II: 1 destroyed Japanese Ships CA Takao, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage CA Atago, Shell hits 9 CA Myoko, Shell hits 5, on fire CA Haguro, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage CA Nachi, Shell hits 24, heavy fires, heavy damage CL Nagara, Shell hits 2 CL Yura, Shell hits 1 CL Kinu DD Kuroshio DD Oyashio, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Hatsukaze DD Hayashio, Shell hits 1 DD Maikaze, Shell hits 1 DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 1 DD Nowaki, Shell hits 5, heavy fires DD Arashi, Shell hits 2, on fire Allied Ships BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 3 BC Repulse, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1 CL Java, Shell hits 4, heavy fires CL Danae, Shell hits 3, on fire CL Dragon, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage CL Mauritius, Shell hits 6, and is sunk DD John D. Ford, Shell hits 1 DD Peary, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Pope, Shell hits 2, heavy fires DD Tenedos, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Electra, Shell hits 3, heavy fires DD Encounter, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Express, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Isis DD Jupiter, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 6,000 yards Range closes to 17,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards Range closes to 11,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 11,000 yards Range closes to 8,000 yards... Range closes to 6,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 6,000 yards Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 6,000 yards CL Mauritius launches Torpedoes at CA Nachi at 6,000 yards BC Repulse launches Torpedoes at CA Nachi at 6,000 yards CL Mauritius fires at CA Myoko at 6,000 yards CL Dragon launches Torpedoes at CA Nachi at 6,000 yards CL Dragon launches Torpedoes at CA Takao at 6,000 yards CL Java fires at CA Nachi at 6,000 yards DD Jupiter launches Torpedoes at CA Takao at 6,000 yards CL Java fires at CL Nagara at 6,000 yards DD Express launches Torpedoes at DD Arashi at 6,000 yards DD Encounter launches Torpedoes at DD Nowaki at 6,000 yards DD Electra launches Torpedoes at DD Nowaki at 6,000 yards DD Electra fires at DD Maikaze at 6,000 yards DD Express fires at DD Hayashio at 6,000 yards DD Electra fires at DD Hatsukaze at 6,000 yards DD Encounter fires at DD Oyashio at 6,000 yards Range closes to 3,000 yards CA Nachi engages BB Prince of Wales at 3,000 yards CA Haguro engages CL Mauritius at 3,000 yards CA Myoko engages CL Mauritius at 3,000 yards Magazine explodes on CL Mauritius CL Mauritius sunk by CA Atago at 3,000 yards CL Dragon engages CL Kinu at 3,000 yards DD Jupiter sunk by DD Oyashio at 3,000 yards DD Express engages DD Arashi at 3,000 yards DD Nowaki engages DD Encounter at 3,000 yards DD Electra engages DD Amatsukaze at 3,000 yards DD Maikaze engages DD Encounter at 3,000 yards DD Pope engages DD Maikaze at 3,000 yards DD Hatsukaze engages DD Pope at 3,000 yards DD Oyashio engages DD Pope at 3,000 yards Range increases to 5,000 yards CA Nachi engages CL Java at 5,000 yards BC Repulse engages CA Haguro at 5,000 yards CA Myoko engages CL Dragon at 5,000 yards CL Java engages CA Atago at 5,000 yards CL Java engages CA Takao at 5,000 yards CL Dragon engages CL Kinu at 5,000 yards CL Dragon engages CL Yura at 5,000 yards CL Nagara engages DD Encounter at 5,000 yards DD Electra engages DD Oyashio at 5,000 yards DD Tenedos engages DD Oyashio at 5,000 yards DD Amatsukaze engages DD Express at 5,000 yards DD Arashi engages DD John D. Ford at 5,000 yards DD Electra engages DD Oyashio at 5,000 yards Range increases to 7,000 yards BB Prince of Wales engages CA Takao at 7,000 yards CA Haguro engages CL Java at 7,000 yards CL Java engages CA Myoko at 7,000 yards CL Danae engages CA Nachi at 7,000 yards CA Takao engages CL Danae at 7,000 yards DD Nowaki engages DD Isis at 7,000 yards DD Express engages DD Amatsukaze at 7,000 yards DD Arashi engages DD Encounter at 7,000 yards DD Oyashio engages DD Electra at 7,000 yards DD Nowaki engages DD Tenedos at 7,000 yards DD Pope engages DD Amatsukaze at 7,000 yards DD Maikaze engages DD Peary at 7,000 yards DD John D. Ford engages DD Maikaze at 7,000 yards Range closes to 6,000 yards CA Myoko collides with DD Arashi at 76 , 109 CA Haguro engages BB Prince of Wales at 6,000 yards CA Haguro engages CL Dragon at 6,000 yards CL Dragon engages CA Myoko at 6,000 yards CL Danae engages CA Haguro at 6,000 yards CL Nagara engages CL Java at 6,000 yards DD Maikaze engages DD Isis at 6,000 yards DD Express sunk by DD Hayashio at 6,000 yards DD Encounter engages DD Nowaki at 6,000 yards DD Hayashio engages DD Electra at 6,000 yards DD Nowaki engages DD Isis at 6,000 yards DD Nowaki engages DD Pope at 6,000 yards DD Encounter engages DD Maikaze at 6,000 yards DD Hayashio engages DD Tenedos at 6,000 yards Range increases to 7,000 yards BB Prince of Wales engages CA Nachi at 7,000 yards CA Haguro engages CL Dragon at 7,000 yards CA Nachi engages CL Dragon at 7,000 yards CA Atago engages CL Dragon at 7,000 yards CL Java engages CA Takao at 7,000 yards DD Isis engages DD Oyashio at 7,000 yards CL Yura engages CL Java at 7,000 yards CL Nagara engages CL Danae at 7,000 yards DD Arashi engages DD Tenedos at 7,000 yards DD Pope engages DD Hayashio at 7,000 yards DD Peary engages DD Amatsukaze at 7,000 yards DD Hayashio engages DD John D. Ford at 7,000 yards Range increases to 8,000 yards CA Nachi engages CL Dragon at 8,000 yards CL Dragon engages CA Haguro at 8,000 yards CA Nachi engages CL Dragon at 8,000 yards CA Atago engages CL Danae at 8,000 yards CL Danae engages CA Takao at 8,000 yards DD Isis engages DD Arashi at 8,000 yards CL Yura engages CL Danae at 8,000 yards CL Dragon engages CL Nagara at 8,000 yards DD Arashi engages DD Tenedos at 8,000 yards DD Pope engages DD Arashi at 8,000 yards DD Amatsukaze engages DD Encounter at 8,000 yards DD John D. Ford engages DD Maikaze at 8,000 yards DD Hatsukaze engages DD John D. Ford at 8,000 yards Range increases to 10,000 yards CA Nachi engages BB Prince of Wales at 10,000 yards CA Haguro engages BC Repulse at 10,000 yards CA Myoko engages CL Dragon at 10,000 yards CA Atago engages CL Dragon at 10,000 yards CA Takao engages CL Java at 10,000 yards DD Isis engages DD Hatsukaze at 10,000 yards CL Yura engages CL Java at 10,000 yards DD Oyashio engages DD Electra at 10,000 yards DD Tenedos engages DD Maikaze at 10,000 yards DD Pope engages DD Hayashio at 10,000 yards DD Pope engages DD Amatsukaze at 10,000 yards DD Amatsukaze engages DD John D. Ford at 10,000 yards DD Peary engages DD Oyashio at 10,000 yards DD Kuroshio engages DD Pope at 10,000 yards Range closes to 9,000 yards CA Atago engages BB Prince of Wales at 9,000 yards CA Haguro engages BC Repulse at 9,000 yards CL Dragon engages CA Myoko at 9,000 yards CA Haguro engages CL Danae at 9,000 yards CL Danae engages CA Takao at 9,000 yards DD Isis engages DD Arashi at 9,000 yards DD Nowaki engages DD Encounter at 9,000 yards DD Hayashio engages DD Electra at 9,000 yards DD Nowaki engages DD Pope at 9,000 yards DD Amatsukaze engages DD Electra at 9,000 yards DD Maikaze engages DD Encounter at 9,000 yards DD Hatsukaze engages DD Pope at 9,000 yards DD Electra engages DD Kuroshio at 9,000 yards Range increases to 13,000 yards CL Danae engages CA Nachi at 13,000 yards CA Haguro engages CL Java at 13,000 yards CL Danae engages CA Myoko at 13,000 yards CA Atago engages CL Dragon at 13,000 yards CA Atago engages CL Java at 13,000 yards DD Arashi engages DD Isis at 13,000 yards CL Yura engages CL Danae at 13,000 yards DD Electra engages DD Maikaze at 13,000 yards DD Maikaze engages DD Pope at 13,000 yards DD John D. Ford engages DD Amatsukaze at 13,000 yards DD John D. Ford engages DD Maikaze at 13,000 yards DD Hayashio engages DD Electra at 13,000 yards DD Kuroshio engages DD Electra at 13,000 yards Range increases to 16,000 yards BB Prince of Wales engages CA Nachi at 16,000 yards CL Dragon engages CA Haguro at 16,000 yards CL Yura engages CL Dragon at 16,000 yards CA Atago engages CL Danae at 16,000 yards CL Java engages CA Takao at 16,000 yards DD Arashi engages DD Isis at 16,000 yards DD Nowaki engages DD Encounter at 16,000 yards CL Nagara engages CL Dragon at 16,000 yards DD Nowaki engages DD John D. Ford at 16,000 yards DD Encounter engages DD Maikaze at 16,000 yards DD Electra engages DD Hatsukaze at 16,000 yards DD Oyashio engages DD John D. Ford at 16,000 yards DD Kuroshio engages DD Peary at 16,000 yards Range increases to 19,000 yards DD John D. Ford collides with DD Isis at 76 , 109 BB Prince of Wales engages CA Nachi at 19,000 yards CA Atago engages BC Repulse at 19,000 yards CA Atago engages CL Dragon at 19,000 yards CA Takao engages CL Danae at 19,000 yards CL Kinu engages CL Java at 19,000 yards CL Yura engages DD Encounter at 19,000 yards DD Electra engages DD Amatsukaze at 19,000 yards DD Maikaze engages DD Tenedos at 19,000 yards DD Hayashio engages DD Pope at 19,000 yards DD Peary engages DD Hatsukaze at 19,000 yards DD Maikaze engages DD Tenedos at 19,000 yards Task forces break off... CA Nachi sinks after the battle is over [:(]. CA Takao has 79 float dmg (39 major) and is down to 3 knots max speed. She is detached and will stay at Ambon, hoping to survive two days until the base can be captured and the ship disbanded in port - fingers crossed. The rest of the SAG is battered with some ships with 30+ float damage - the ships will merge with the Ambon amphib TF and move at cruise speed to Kendari. Kudos to the SAG - it has done its job and protected the Amphib TF. As an encore, Nells from Manado fly torpedo attacks against Allied cripples but hit nothing... Let's hope the Allies are in bad shape as well and leave my retiring ships alone. The Kendari covering forces will move out to seek revenge. PNG/Rabaul: Amphibious Assault at Kavieng (106,122) Amphibious Assault at Madang (97,123) Amphibious Assault at Sorong (82,107)

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle of Ambon (10/10/2014 12:29:42 PM)
REPORT FOR Jan 03-04, 1942 Allied submarines: SS Pickerel launches 4 torpedoes at DD Nagatsuki near Laoag at 81,68 and misses. SS O19 is located by PB Kiso Maru near Kendari at 71,106 - O19 diving deep. A minelaying sub near Kendari - I don't like that! SS KXII is sighted by convoy escort near Soc Trang at 58,74 - SS KXII, hits 3. DC hits on Allied subs - I don't see that often. Could use more Chidori class TBs! Our submarines: Temporary flotation repairs failing aboard SS I-2 - now 40 float dmg (35 major). The sub is between PH and Los Angeles - a long way from the nearest base... SS I-122 lays minefield at Pamekasan ( 57 , 105) and sets course for Truk. SS RO-65 lays minefield at Pago Pago ( 148 , 161) and sets course for Kwajalein Island. China: Bombing, bombarding, marching... We try a DA against a stack of units north of Chengting at 92,38: Attacking force 20131 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 630 Defending force 14541 troops, 77 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 285 Japanese adjusted assault: 612 Allied adjusted defense: 178 Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 295 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 4926 casualties reported Squads: 158 destroyed, 12 disabled Non Combat: 163 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 5 destroyed, 4 disabled Guns lost 8 (7 destroyed, 1 disabled) Units retreated 3 Assaulting units: 63rd Division 7th Ind.Mixed Brigade Defending units: 35th Chinese Corps 83rd Chinese Corps 13th Group Army Since the retreat path to friendly lines is blocked, the units retreat deeper into Japanese territory. We have units on the march to seal off further retreats. Malaya: Almost constant thunderstorms in the area hamper my air attacks. This turn we had a break - well, sort off: just "heavy clouds" and "severe storms". Our flyboys managed to bomb Singapore airfields. No CAP although recon says fighters are present. Strike #1: Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 41 G3M2 Nell x 37 G4M1 Betty x 3 Allied aircraft no flights No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Blenheim IV: 2 damaged Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed on ground Hudson I: 2 damaged Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 5 Strike #2: Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 18 G4M1 Betty x 19 No Japanese losses Runway hits 5 Strike #3: Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 87 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 42 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 9 damaged Allied aircraft losses Blenheim IV: 5 damaged Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed on ground Buffalo I: 2 damaged Hudson I: 5 damaged S.19 Singapore III: 1 damaged Airbase hits 4 Runway hits 9 Strike #4: Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 41 G3M2 Nell x 55 G4M1 Betty x 9 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses Blenheim IV: 3 damaged Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground Airbase hits 3 Runway hits 8 Strike #5: Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 44 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 39 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 3 damaged Allied aircraft losses Buffalo I: 2 damaged Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 1 I hope the airfield damage will prevent fort construction - shock attacking into forts is something to be avoided. Maybe I should have opted for the Mersing gambit... 109th RAF Adv Base Force - trapped between Alor Star and Taiping and attacked by tanks - SURRENDERS !!! Reinforcements (33rd and 38th Divisions) waiting at Alor Star in strat mode can now rail south to Taiping. Elements of the 5th Division have reached Kuala Lumpur, find it lightly defended and will attack next turn. If all goes well, the reinforcements can rail directly to Kuala Lumpur afterwards. From air recon it appears that there are only speed bumps in front of Singers. The 41st Infantry Regiment, hoping down the West Coast of Malaya in barges, CAPTURES Port Swettenham !!! PI: Manila airbase is bombed: Japanese aircraft Ki-27b Nate x 41 Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 35 Ki-51 Sonia x 36 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses Ki-51 Sonia: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses PBY-4 Catalina: 6 damaged Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 9 Same deal here as for Singers - I hope prevent fort building if possible. At Clark Field 14th Army launches a recon bombardment: Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 43539 troops, 426 guns, 139 vehicles, Assault Value = 1565 Defending force 17758 troops, 184 guns, 210 vehicles, Assault Value = 593 Japanese ground losses: 121 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 17 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 9 (5 destroyed, 4 disabled) Assaulting units: 21st Division 4th Tank Regiment 21st Ind Engineer Regiment 148th Infantry Regiment 2nd Tank Regiment 3rd Ind Engineer Regiment 48th Division 56th Engineer Regiment 113th Infantry Regiment 56th Recon Regiment 65th Brigade 7th Tank Regiment 30th Fld AA Gun Co 37th Const Co 31st Fld AA Gun Co 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 56th Const Co 39th Field Const Co 36th Const Co 38th Field Const Co 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 4th Field Construction Battalion 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment 14th Army 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 56th Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 192nd Tank Battalion 4th Marine Regiment 21st PA Infantry Division 194th Tank Battalion 26th PS Cavalry Regiment 31st PA Infantry Division 11th PA Infantry Division 1st PA Constabulary Regiment I Philippine Corps 803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion Clark Field AAF Base Force Next turn we will DA. I only now realize the 50% overstacked at Clark... Only 40.000 allowed at Clark, I have 61.000. The Const Engs and AA units will move back to Lingayen - will not help much though. My first real game with stacking limits (apart from playtesting personal mod) - must get used to it! Burias and Siargao are is occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps - I assume they are in the PI, did not bother to check this time... 16th Division captures undefended Atimona, with confusing Combat modifiers - Attacker: leaders(+), leaders(-) - huh? After capturing Zamboanga, 15th and 16th Naval Guard units have been loaded again and stage an amphibious assault at Digos (79,92). But - I forgot to check the garrison requirements > low garrison leads to damage and 1 VP loss from partisan attack at Zamboanga (75, 89)! 15th Naval Guard Unit will reload and head back to Zamboanga immediately... The pesky Seagull SOCs finally draw blood: Morning Air attack on TF, near Digos at 79,92 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Allied aircraft SOC-1 Seagull x 3 No Allied losses Japanese Ships xAK Igasa Maru, Bomb hits 2 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x SOC-1 Seagull bombing from 6000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb Borneo: Ground combat at Beaufort (66,87) fails with odds 1 to 2 Assaulting units: 2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy Defending units: 107th RN Base Force 108th RN Base Force 100th RN Base Force The Bn from Brunei is on the way to lend a hand. Celebes / Ambon: Force Z has vanished - neither our naval search nor submarines redeploying in a hurry nor SAGs full-speed sweepsnor Mini-KB catch anything. Two enemy TFs are spotted far away - they must have run like hell before our net could close...too bad. [image]local://upfiles/1313/AB9133F17B5B4E4396FB9188A77927EC.jpg[/image] Lacking targets, Nells from Manado attack MTBs at Tarakan - no hits but 1 Nell destroyed by a lone Dutch Buffalo on CAP. Zero assigned as escorts took a day off... The battered SAG of Ambon fame has reached Kendari and disbands in port to fix some floatation damage before heading for the yards for permanent repairs. Temporary flotation repairs failing aboard CA Haguro and float damage reaches 48 - no sweat. Temporary flotation repairs are also failing aboard CA Takao at Ambon - float damage up to 82. But the ship can disband into port since Ambon falls: Ground combat at Ambon (76,109) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 3541 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 106 Defending force 1985 troops, 29 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 37 Japanese adjusted assault: 55 Allied adjusted defense: 19 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Ambon !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-) morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), fatigue(-) Japanese ground losses: 92 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Allied ground losses: 2501 casualties reported Squads: 40 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 100 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 37 (37 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 3 Assaulting units: Kure 2nd SNLF Sasebo 2nd SNLF Defending units: Molukken Garrison Battalion Ambon Defenses Ambon Base Force So the only loss in the battle of Ambon is poor CA Nachi - against CL Mauritius and two DDs. Could have been worse... Task Force 12 lays defensive minefield at Kendari - I hope O-19 spotted one hex away will hit a mine if she tries to plant mines at Kendari herself. PNG/Solomons: Some quick grabs of undefended bases by light forces: Maizuru 1st SNLF CAPTURES Gasmata !!! I/66th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURES Madang !!! Bandasan SNLF CAPTURES Sorong !!! Do-24K-1: 1 destroyed. Also Combat modifiers Attacker: leaders(+), leaders(-) 22nd Special Base Force CAPTURES Kavieng !!! Next targets: Amphibious Assault at Manus (101,119) Amphibious Assault at Buna (99,129) At Buna however, 3 A-24 Banshees from Port Moresby attack AMC Kongo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire. We have violated Rule #1 - You shall not amphib assault without air cover... Other: DD Fubuki beginning refit in shipyard at Hong Kong DD Usugumo beginning refit in shipyard at Hong Kong DD Isonami beginning refit in shipyard at Hong Kong DD Shirayuki beginning refit in shipyard at Hong Kong DD Uranami beginning refit in shipyard at Hong Kong The other Fubuki class DDs are still on their way to shipyards. 15 days delay to get some lousy type 95 depth charges - oh well...

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle of Ambon (10/10/2014 5:15:04 PM)
double post

JeffroK -> RE: Battle of Ambon (10/10/2014 10:55:32 PM)
Very interesting start to the war. Too many AFB are getting aggressive and interrupting the early attacks. JFB will have to think of new lines of attack!!

durnedwolf -> RE: Battle of Ambon (10/10/2014 11:50:09 PM)
I really love the maps - can I ask where you got them? Very interesting opponent you have - not a Sir Robbin at all. I too have had good luck with the SSX subs. Maybe try Palembang as your next target? With 2 day turns and the DBB game it looks like your air groups take more damage than usual. Are you planning to increase production or perhaps focus research on aircraft with armor? DW

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