RE: Battle of Ambon

RE: Battle of Ambon (Full Version)

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LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle of Ambon (10/11/2014 3:06:39 PM)
Yes, Ed is quite aggressive in his defense - which is fine since a Sir Robin would be rather boring. It seems JFB "standard moves" are now well known to forumites and AFBs come up with more and more counter-moves. For me this is a learning game because it is my first AE PBEM, the first time I play 2-day-turns and the first time I play with stacking limits. I will try to expand within the historical limits - against Ed this will already be a "win". @durnedwolf: The map is from Chemkid's superb Topomod map project. He has prepared several versions with different ocean hex styles etc. Can be found here

durnedwolf -> RE: Battle of Ambon (10/11/2014 4:18:42 PM)
Hi LST - thank you for the link to the maps. Can you share what you are doing with your search aircraft? I'm kind of curious to see if you are setting up a search perimeter along with which bases you want to use. I've never used Jolo but instead always choose Manado for search coverage of the Celebes Sea.

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle of Ambon (10/13/2014 2:12:03 PM)
@durnedwolf: I have only a few Jakes and Petes at Jolo to hunt PI blockade runners. The place is still smashed-up and with just one Eng Coy is repairing very slowly - no place for LBA. Mavis long-range naval search for the Celebes / Flores / Banda Sea areas has been moved from Babeldaop to Manado and now to Kendari. Torpedo-totting naval strike aircraft are operating from Manado but the Air HQ and planes will move soon to Kendari - this will become my mainbase for operations planned against Java and Northern Australia. ********************************* REPORTS FOR Jan 05-6, 1942 Allied submarines - not much to report: SS Saury is hit twice by PB Nichinan Maru near Hakodate at 118,51. SS KXI sinks xAK Toyama Maru near Kompong Trach at 56,71 with four hits out of four torps, but escorts punish her with three good hits. Our submarines - not much to report either: After one month at sea, many short-legged subs are heading back to port for replenishment: I-173 covering the approaches to Midway collects light damage in an ASW attack. I-23 escapes an ASW attack near Kona. China: Reinforcements have reached the battle hex in the Easter Plains and We launch a DA east of Nanyang: Ground combat at 86,45 (near Nanyang) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 35081 troops, 392 guns, 123 vehicles, Assault Value = 1127 Defending force 27421 troops, 118 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 789 Japanese adjusted assault: 845 Allied adjusted defense: 135 Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: fatigue(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 1880 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 124 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled) Allied ground losses: 11367 casualties reported Squads: 344 destroyed, 207 disabled Non Combat: 224 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 8 destroyed, 15 disabled Guns lost 34 (10 destroyed, 24 disabled) Units retreated 4 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 13th Division 2nd Ind Engineer Regiment 12th RGC Temp. Division 9th Armored Car Co 13th Tank Regiment 3rd Division 8th Ind Engineer Regiment 138th Infantry Regiment 18th RGC Temp. Division 14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 11th Army 15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment 1st Mortar Battalion 51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion Defending units: 48th Chinese Corps 85th Chinese Corps 90th Chinese Corps 3rd Group Army The enemy stack has retreated into Nanyang and we will try to surround the city before moving in for the siege. In the north, still marching and maneuvering - progress is slow in the hill country. [image]local://upfiles/1313/023CFAF5C0724576ADB6EC0A154032E2.jpg[/image] Malaya: Good weather for a change on Day 1 of the turn - partial cloudy! More air attacks on Singers airfields. This time we have dropped from 23k to 18k - and suffer more flak hits than we like. Also note that Army bombers are less effective than the Navy flyboys. Strike #1 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 41 G3M2 Nell x 55 G4M1 Betty x 22 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses Hudson I: 17 damaged Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground Blenheim IV: 7 damaged Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed on ground Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed on ground Airbase hits 13 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 37 Strike #2 Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 86 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 42 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 9 damaged Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 7 Second day of the turn - heavy rain, strikes arrive fragmented. Strike #3 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 41 G3M2 Nell x 37 G4M1 Betty x 3 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 8 damaged Allied aircraft losses Hudson I: 1 damaged Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground Airbase hits 2 Runway hits 4 Strike #4 Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 19 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 7 damaged Runway hits 3 Strike #5 Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 18 Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 4 damaged Runway hits 2 Strike #6 Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 45 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 34 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 7 damaged Allied aircraft losses Buffalo I: 3 damaged Runway hits 2 Strike #7 Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 15 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 8 damaged no hits Strike #8 Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 23 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 8 Allied aircraft no flights No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Buffalo I: 1 damaged Airbase hits 1 On the ground, the advance south continues against speedbumps: Ground combat at Kuala Lumpur (49,79) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 4922 troops, 28 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 231 Defending force 283 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1 Japanese adjusted assault: 160 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 160 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Kuala Lumpur !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-), morale(-) experience(-) Attacker: Allied ground losses: 267 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 1 Assaulting units: 5th Recon Regiment 42nd Infantry Regiment 5th Engineer Regiment Defending units: 2nd ISF Base Force Elements of the 18th Division marching along the Malayan East Coast have reached Kuantan. Ground combat at Kuantan (51,79) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 4944 troops, 42 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 165 Defending force 299 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1 Japanese adjusted assault: 95 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 95 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese forces CAPTURE Kuantan !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: Allied ground losses: 424 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 1 Assaulting units: 56th Infantry Regiment 22nd Recon Regiment Defending units: 1st ISF Base Force PI: Digos is occupied by the Japanese as 16th Naval Guard Unit steps ashore. Oroquieta is occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps. 3 Jakes try to bomb an xAKL blockade runner near Tawi Tawi but a lone Dutch Buffalo on CAP over the ship downs a Jake... The Allies bomb our convoy rushing garrison forces to Zamboanga and a lone P-40E hits xAK Toyohasi Maru with a bomb. Time we close-down the enemy airfield at Cagayan once and for all - the units of the 2nd Division have arrived at that base and will recon bombard. Bombing attacks by 30 Ki-51 and 36 Ki-43-IC support a DA at Clark Field: Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 50243 troops, 452 guns, 406 vehicles, Assault Value = 1624 Defending force 17735 troops, 184 guns, 206 vehicles, Assault Value = 580 Japanese adjusted assault: 1238 Allied adjusted defense: 331 Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Clark Field !!! Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses O-47A: 3 destroyed Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 3861 casualties reported Squads: 54 destroyed, 231 disabled Non Combat: 29 destroyed, 62 disabled Engineers: 24 destroyed, 40 disabled Vehicles lost 30 (12 destroyed, 18 disabled) Allied ground losses: 8339 casualties reported Squads: 184 destroyed, 75 disabled Non Combat: 302 destroyed, 20 disabled Engineers: 51 destroyed, 3 disabled Guns lost 78 (64 destroyed, 14 disabled) Vehicles lost 170 (159 destroyed, 11 disabled) Units retreated 9 Units destroyed 2 Assaulting units: 3rd Ind Engineer Regiment 65th Brigade 21st Division 56th Engineer Regiment 2nd Tank Regiment 48th Division 56th Recon Regiment 21st Ind Engineer Regiment 113th Infantry Regiment 4th Tank Regiment 7th Tank Regiment 148th Infantry Regiment Sasebo 1st SNLF 4th Field Construction Battalion 30th Fld AA Gun Co 1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 14th Army 31st Fld AA Gun Co 38th Field Const Co 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 37th Const Co 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 36th Const Co 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 56th Const Co 56th Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 192nd Tank Battalion 26th PS Cavalry Regiment 11th PA Infantry Division 21st PA Infantry Division 4th Marine Regiment 31st PA Infantry Division 194th Tank Battalion 1st PA Constabulary Regiment 803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion I Philippine Corps Clark Field AAF Base Force The enemy stack has retreated to Bataan - may they rot there! We will leave a blocking force at Clark and move on to Manila. At Subic Bay, the 1st Sasebo SNLF Coy gets 1:2 odds against Subic Bay Defenses and the 1st PI Base Force - help is on the way. Borneo: The 2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy gets 1:1 odds against remnants of three British base forces at Beaufort - help is on the way as well. The Nells at Manado launch again against small fry at Tarakan and again the Zero escort assigned does not launch and again we lose a Nell against the lone Dutch Buffalo on CAP. Guys, your job is to attack Force Z if spotted! Celebes: A heavy SAG looking for Force Z sweeps Makassar and finds a bunch of PT boats - Q-112, TM-10, TM-13 and TM-15 are sunk. Amphib TFs are loading at Kendari for Makassar and Ambon for Koepang. PNG / Solomons: II/66th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURES Manus !!! 2nd Indpt SNLF Coy CAPTURES Buna !!! The A-24s from Port Moresby can claim a victim: Pumps having difficulty controlling flooding aboard AMC Kongo Maru Damage Control Systems failing aboard AMC Kongo Maru, order is given to Abandon Ship The ship was part of the Buna invasion force sent-out without air cover. 4th Division has finished amphib loading at Rabaul, Kido Butai (except Kaga still in the HI) has replenished at Truk and has moved south again to a rendevous near Rabaul - next stop Port Moresby! Hiei and Kirishima have beed detached from KB and will join the screen of the Amphib TF. This will be a risky operation, as no dedicated SAG cover can be provided. I count on it that Kido Butai will scare away any potential surface threats. One Zero group and two Betty groups at Rabaul are tasked to provide additional cover and softening-up attacks. ************************** One month into the war, time for some stats: Japanese Ship losses: CA Ashigara - Battle of Kuching CA Nachi - Battle of Ambon CL Kashii - Battle of Kuching I-170 - mined at Canton Is. RO-66 - mined at Canton Is. 1 APD 2 AMC 5 SSX 2 xAP 1 AK 9 xAK 2 xAKL 1 AO 2 CM 2 DMS 1 AG 2 SC 1 PB Allied ship losses (subject to FOW)** CA Louisville CL Enterprise CL Mauritius - confirmed CL Durban CL De Ruyter CL Adelaide - confirmed DD John D. Ford DD Piet Hein - confirmed DD Witte de With DD Banckert DD Stronghold DD Express - confirmed DD Jupiter - confirmed SS O16 SS KXV SS KXI SS Trout AV Langley - confirmed 3 xAP 13 xAK 19 xAKL 2 TK 2 AM 1 CM 3 AVP 1 AG 17 PC, PT, ML, HDML [image]local://upfiles/1313/1F6D4DF5629240579209B6C280BFA886.jpg[/image]

LargeSlowTarget -> PoW intercepted (10/17/2014 1:33:26 PM)
Am very busy at work so this time just a short recap of the past two turns (Jan 07-10, 1942): China: Bombing and marching (resp. fleeing) in the Eastern plains continues as we try to trap Chinese forces in the Nanyang / Chengchow / Sian area. AVG has ambushed bombing missions near Nanyang AND near Nanchang. I have moved Oscars and the Tojo evaluation unit to Kaifeng and they bag two Flying Tigers. Burma: Tavoy and Moulmein have been captured by elements of the 55th Division. The unit will consolidate at Moulmein. I am becoming annoyed by small-scale AVG and Buffalo/Blenheim raids on Moulmein. I have also spotted a fat convoy at Rangoon. Chiang Mai airbase has finally reached size 2 and my transport planes are flying in supplies (the overland route through Rahaeng with supply cap 150 is a bottleneck - Eng units are at work to expand the base and thus supply cap). Two groups of Oscars and a few light bombers have been moved to Chiang Mei and a first sweep netted two Flying Tigers (those guys are everywhere!) and a Buffalo. Malaya: Singers airfield bombed - finally some damage starts to show. Johore bombed as well since recon has spotted fighters and bombers at that airbase. Sneaky Brits retaliated by sending bombers to hit Kota Bharu airfield - I did not expect this and had no CAP - I lost at least five Nells and Betties plus a Zero on the ground [:@] Port Dickson has been captured and most of 25th Army is strat-moving / moving to that base to assemble in front of what seems like the first serious attempt of ground defense - recon reports 8000+ troops at Kuklong. PI: 2nd Division has captured Cagayan, but a handful of SOCs and P-40s are operating from Cotabato and have damaged a few more xAKs. I have moved a 9-plane Claude unit to Jolo to offer some protection - runway is still 20+ damaged and service 60+, but well. 21st and 48th Divisions plus tanks and arty have reached Manila and will bombard, 16th Division is moving up from the south and has one base to capture before linking up. Rebasing of air assets and AV support to Clark is underway. Borneo: The landing at Tarakan is imminent, the invasion force is one hex away. I have only two CAs and some DDs embedded, no dedictated SAG because I count on events on Celebes to keep the enemy away. Celebes: Kendari and Ambon are bombed by trios of B-17s from Darwin - no damage. Macassar is invaded and captured and Zeros and Jakes are ordered in for CAP and ASW. The invasion force will reload one SNLF and move to Denpassar under cover of a cruiser SAG. An Air HQ is operational at Kendari and Nells with torps are ready just in case. During the first turn one of our submarines has sighted the Prince of Wales near Darwin with course West. The TF is spotted a day later by Mavis naval search further to the west. Mini-KB (Ryujo, Zuiho, Hosho) spent the first turn replenishing torps at Kendari and on the second turn was ordered to move out full speed into the Indian Ocean to intercept, with the heavy SAG built around Haruna and Kongo ordered from Macassar to follow at best speed. On the second day of the second turn, the enemy SAG is spotted between Java and Australia: Morning Air attack on TF, near Denpasar at 54,117 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 21 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 19 B5N1 Kate x 18 Japanese aircraft losses B5N1 Kate: 2 damaged B5N1 Kate: 2 destroyed by flak Allied Ships CL Danae, Torpedo hits 1 BB Prince of Wales, Torpedo hits 2 Aircraft Attacking: 12 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 6 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp Mini-KB has 18 torps left and our SAG will try to close for the kill - question is whether the enemy will run west into the IO, north for Java, south for Perth or east back to Darwin... PNG / Solomons: On the second turn, 4th Division lands at Port Moresby. Apart from the initial garrison there are no enemy reinforcements at the base so it should fall next turn. Kido Butai hovering around PM sinks a few xAKs and AMs fleeing from PM,bombs ground forces at PM and fends off feeble strikes by P-40s and A-24s from PM and B-17s from Australia. The invasion convoy is ordered back to Rabaul to fetch garrison and base forces. Kido Butai will replenish again at Truk and then will cover operations in the Solomons. Not sure where 4th Division shall go next - Darwin, Noumea, into reserve?

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: PoW intercepted (10/21/2014 11:30:26 AM)
REPORT FOR Jan 11-12, 1942 Allied Submarines: Ed is quite aggressive with his subs even though the Mark 14 torps miss or dud most of the time - closest thing to a kill this turn was SS Porpoise landing a dud on xAK Gyoko Maru near Masan at 101,55. Three or four other attacks by US subs have been parried by alert escorts. With subs seemingly everywhere - from the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan to the Gulf of Siam, off the Home Islands, off Indochina, around Truk, Rabaul and Kendari - I try to escort everything, even if it means waiting a few days for escorts to arrive where needed. Requires constant juggling of TFs because even with most Ansyu class xAK and Kiso class xAKL converted to PBs, there are not enough escorts for everything I want to move. For example, supplies at Truk are down to 20k because the Marshalls, Rabaul and now Port Moresby took stocks from Truk but I have only enough escorts left for one Home-Island-Truk supply shuttle run. Priority is in the SRA for the moment. I try to assign a minimum of two PBs per convoy. The PBs are not sinking or even damaging subs, but without them it would be worse. Our submarines: Heavy ASW near Pearl Harbor forces a redeployment of our submarine cordon further to the south in the waters between PH and Palmyra / Christman Is. I hope they will sight some of the reinforcements that must be on their way to Australia and the SoPac. SS I-16 attacks SS Trout at 97,159 near Brisbane and launches 2 torpedoes at 1,000 yards - SS Trout, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage. Trout should be sunk but might as well made Brisbane. If she did, she may fall victim to the next SSX attack which is approaching Brisbane and for which I-16 is scouting for. China: The net is closing slowly around the isolated units in North China - once all hex sides are closed, the DAs will start. Forces engaged amount to one division, three brigades, a tank regiment bought-out from Kwangtung Army and cavalry units. Once the mopping-up is done, it is planned that they advance on Lanchow. In the Eastern Plains, both sides are marching stacks of units in the Nanchang-Chengchow-Loyang area and the IJAF continues bombing to slow the Chinese down - no air opposition this time. Chengchow is being evacuated by the Chinese, I have ordered units to advance and take ownership. With some luck I may trap 10 enemy units at Nanyang (see recon bombardment below), four of the six hexes around Nanyang are ours, the remaining two more will be occupied soon and no movement out of Nanyang has been noticed. Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 39261 troops, 481 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 1086 Defending force 52406 troops, 222 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1187 Japanese ground losses: 56 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 41 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 1st Ind.Mixed Brigade 13th Division 3rd Division 2nd Ind Engineer Regiment 8th Ind Engineer Regiment 138th Infantry Regiment 51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 11th Army 15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment 1st Mortar Battalion 14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 4th Mortar Battalion Defending units: 92nd Chinese Corps 48th Chinese Corps 29th Chinese Corps 41st Chinese Corps 85th Chinese Corps 90th Chinese Corps 4th Construction Regiment 3rd Group Army 5th War Area 22nd Group Army Burma: Air battle over Rangoon - one Oscar Ib and one Ki-30 lost for two Flying Tigers down, no hits on a small convoy of one KV and two xAK at Rangoon harbour. Need to get Singers asap to move the Navy flyboys north to blockade Rangoon - the IJAF is useless against shipping target. Recon indicates that the Allied defenses at the two river crossings south of Pegu seem to be mere speedbumps, but I am waiting for reinforcements after the fall of Singers. I do not want to risk a river crossing with the subdivided 55th Division alone and getting it trashed by bad dice rolls or enemy reinforcement railed in - and I do not want to recombine the division either as I have garrison plans for later for this unit. However, in the meantime I have four Thai divisions marching through the jungles north of Chiang Mei in the direction of Toungoo. I hope they remain undetected and that I can time their arrival at Toungoo with the river crossing attacks south of Pegu so I have a chance to trap the enemy forces defending Rangoon. Malaya: Bombing of Singers airfield continues - 38 airfield damage and rising, no CAP, no counter-attacks. Ed seems to run his air forces in Malaya (like in China and Luzon) on a "one turn on, three turns off" schedule and keeps losing planes destroyed on the ground at Singers. Speaking of the ground, 25th Army continues marching in direction of Malacca - the base is lightly defended and should fall next turn to our advance force. Then they will face the defense line in the jungles of Kluong. Elements of the 6th Thai Division have eliminated the remnants of the 208th RAF Adv Base Force in the jungles north of Victoria Point. PI: My air searches spot some shipping activities around Bataan and Manila, but the IJAF bombers on Luzon are not better than their brethren over Rangoon. I assume Ed is still sending small ships with supplies from the outlying islands to Bataan. After the fall of Manila I will deal with Cebu which is the most likely supply source as it has some light industry. I have ordered a recon bombardment at Manila. The first attempt to DA is waiting for a) Combat Eng units which took a beating in the Clark Field assault and are replacing losses at Clark, b) for the heavy artillery from Hong Kong currently unloading at Lingayen and c) the 16th Division coming up from the south. Ground combat at Manila (79,77) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 29583 troops, 372 guns, 139 vehicles, Assault Value = 1006 Defending force 17633 troops, 236 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 515 Japanese ground losses: 40 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 53 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled) Assaulting units: 2nd Tank Regiment 56th Engineer Regiment 21st Division 48th Division 4th Tank Regiment 7th Tank Regiment Sasebo 1st SNLF 14th Army 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 56th Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 1st PA Infantry Division 91st PA Infantry Division 51st PA Infantry Division 71st PA Infantry Division 2nd PA Constabulary Regiment 1st USMC AA Battalion Nichols Field AAF Base Force Far East USAAF II Philippine Corps Cavite USN Base Force On Mindanao, the 16th Naval Gard takes Dadjangas and retreats the 2nd/101st PA Battalion into the jungle hex to the north-west. Some elements of the 2nd Division are advancing on Cotabato, the balance of the division is moving from Cagayan to Butuan. The enemy stack at Butuan is moving in direction of Davao. Polillo and Boac are occupied by the Japanese 5th column / Rowboat Corps - never heard of these places and did not bother to look for them, I assume they are island dots in the Visayas. Borneo: Three platoons of the 1st Indpt SNLF Coy at Jolo have moved last turn aboard two APDs to capture Tandjoengselor, the base just south of Tarakan, in order to block the retreat of the Tarakan garrison - the base falls this turn. The invasion of Tarakan has started, our troops are ashore with few losses and will shock attack next turn. The Dutch Coastal Artillery landed a few hits and xAK Tusima Maru sinks later that turn due to fire damage. One HDML and five British MTBs oppose the landing force and in several rounds of combat the embedded escorts sink the HDML and three MTBs for no damage on our side. But then it is payback time for the remaining two stubborn MTBs: Day Time Surface Combat, near Tarakan at 67,91, Range 1,000 Yards Japanese Ships CS Chitose, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 2, on fire CA Maya CA Chokai CM Itsukushima CL Isuzu DD Murasame DD Harusame DD Yudachi DD Samidare DD Satsuki DD Minazuki DD Fumizuki DD Kikuzuki DD Yuzuki DD Tsuta DD Yomogi PB Myoken Maru PB Saiko Maru PB Kinsyo Maru #2 PB Kinsyo Maru #4 PB Tonon Maru xAK Sinsei Maru, on fire xAK Toyooka Maru xAK Turuga Maru xAK Tusima Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage xAP Yoshino Maru xAP Mizuho Maru xAP Kitano Maru xAP Atsuta Maru xAP Kanzyu Maru xAP Montevideo Maru xAP Teikyo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage Allied Ships MTB 7 MTB 8, Shell hits 1 Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards Range closes to 19,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 19,000 yards Japanese ships attempt to get underway Range closes to 17,000 yards... Range closes to 15,000 yards... Range closes to 13,000 yards... Range closes to 11,000 yards... Range closes to 10,000 yards... Range closes to 9,000 yards... Range closes to 8,000 yards... Range closes to 7,000 yards... Range closes to 6,000 yards... Range closes to 5,000 yards... Range closes to 4,000 yards... Range closes to 3,000 yards... Range closes to 2,000 yards... Range closes to 1,000 yards... MTB 7 engages CS Chitose at 1,000 yards MTB 8 engages CM Itsukushima at 1,000 yards Range increases to 2,000 yards CS Chitose , CM Itsukushima screened from combat - escorted by DD Harusame CA Chokai engages MTB 8 at 2,000 yards MTB 7 engages CS Chitose at 2,000 yards Massive explosion on xAP Teikyo Maru MTB 8 engages xAP Teikyo Maru at 2,000 yards Allied TF attempts to disengage CS Chitose screened from combat - escorted by DD Harusame Range increases to 7,000 yards CS Chitose , CM Itsukushima , xAP Teikyo Maru , xAP Montevideo Maru , xAP Kanzyu Maru , xAP Atsuta Maru , xAP Kitano Maru , xAP Mizuho Maru , xAP Yoshino Maru , xAK Tusima Maru , xAK Turuga Maru , xAK Toyooka Maru , xAK Sinsei Maru screened from combat - escorted by DD Tsuta , DD Yuzuki , DD Fumizuki , DD Minazuki , DD Murasame , PB Tonon Maru , PB Kinsyo Maru #2 DD Satsuki engages MTB 7 at 7,000 yards Range increases to 11,000 yards CS Chitose , CM Itsukushima , xAP Teikyo Maru , xAP Montevideo Maru , xAP Kanzyu Maru , xAP Atsuta Maru , xAP Kitano Maru screened from combat - escorted by DD Yomogi , DD Yuzuki , DD Fumizuki , DD Samidare DD Satsuki engages MTB 8 at 11,000 yards Range increases to 17,000 yards CS Chitose , CM Itsukushima , xAP Teikyo Maru , xAP Montevideo Maru , xAP Kanzyu Maru , xAP Atsuta Maru , xAP Kitano Maru , xAP Mizuho Maru , xAP Yoshino Maru , xAK Tusima Maru screened from combat - escorted by DD Kikuzuki , DD Samidare , DD Harusame , DD Murasame , PB Kinsyo Maru #2 Range increases to 21,000 yards CS Chitose , CM Itsukushima , xAP Teikyo Maru , xAP Montevideo Maru , xAP Kanzyu Maru screened from combat - escorted by CL Isuzu , PB Tonon Maru , PB Saiko Maru Task forces break off... A very strange encounter - despite CAs, CL and DDs present no defensive fire until the MTBs got within 1000 yards - in broad daylight! My TF commander must have confused the closing enemy with friendly forces - the first symptoms of victory disease? The convoy is ordered to disband in the closest friendly port one hex south (Tandjoengselor) - which at size 1 is not much help. Chitose may survive - fingers crossed. Lesser Sunda Islands area: Koepang and Denpasar have been invaded with SNLF forces and should fall next turn. The invasion TFs and their light SAG cover are ordered no to stay around - who knows what surface forces the Allies have nearby at Java and Darwin. Three B-17Es from Darwin bomb our invasion forces at Koepang without effect. Six B-17Ds from Darwin attack Makassar and five Forts are damaged by Zeros on CAP. PNG / Solomons: Port Moresby falls as expected and the PM garrison retreats to Kokoda - may they rot and freeze in the Owen Stanleys! Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 12940 troops, 98 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 400 Defending force 3086 troops, 37 guns, 31 vehicles, Assault Value = 70 Japanese adjusted assault: 370 Allied adjusted defense: 69 Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Moresby !!! Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed Catalina I: 1 destroyed Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), preparation(-), morale(-) experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 78 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 826 casualties reported Squads: 24 destroyed, 15 disabled Non Combat: 59 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 26 (26 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 4 Assaulting units: 4th Division Defending units: 49th Australian Battalion Papuan Inf Battalion 13th Field Regiment 15th RAN Base Force I have decided to prep the 4th Division at Port Moresby for Darwin - tentatively as a SIGINT trap, but I may pull off an invasion later when the SRA is secured. My "strategic moat" in the SoPac will remain the PM - Solomons area, with some possible speedbump operations in the US-Australia island chain - that will depend on future events ands enemy reactions. I do not want to overextend in a DBB-C game. Elements of the 66th Naval Guard Unit land simultaneously at Buin, Shortlands and Tulagi. Shortlands as a size 2 island triggers a shock attack and the undefended island is taken. Last but not least - the Air-Sea Battle off Port Hedland: After the Kates of Mini-KB did spear the Prince of Wales with two torps between Flores and Port Hedland on January 10, the question was in which direction Force Z would flee. PoW surely must have floatation damage, so I did rule out the route West into the Indian Ocean. Moving to Java would have meant crossing the area where Mini-KB operated, so I ruled that out as well. Back to Darwin would have risked a known submarines presence and air attacks from Kendari. Remainded the southern option towards Australia, so I ordered Mini-KB and the escorting SAG to a position closer to Australia - and BINGO! Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Hedland at 54,119 Weather in hex: Clear sky Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 20 B4Y1 Jean x 6 B5N1 Kate x 27 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses B4Y1 Jean: 1 damaged B5N1 Kate: 3 damaged B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses Walrus II: 1 destroyed Allied Ships BB Prince of Wales, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3 (+ 2 duds), and is sunk [image]http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/upfiles/1313/2FD0E72788104CA2A303777B3F839E07.gif[/image] DD Evertsen DD Pillsbury DD Peary Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 5 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 6 x B4Y1 Jean launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 3 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 10000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 12 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp Magazine explodes on BB Prince of Wales [sm=00000959.gif] There were some follow-on strikes on escorting destroyers with some additional bomb hits. Mini-KB is out of torpedos but has some bomb sorties left and will return to Kendari by the way of Port Hedland where a convoy has been spoted by naval search. The escorting SAG will remain with Mini-KB just in case but it has split off a TF with one CL and two DDs with orders to chase cripples from PoWs screen. Now, where is Repulse, Houston and the biggest prize of all - Boise?

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: PoW intercepted (10/27/2014 12:32:16 PM)
REPORT FOR Jan 13-14, 1942 Allied submarines: SS Pollack operates north of Rabaul and encounters BB Kirishima detached from the PM invasion convoy (back at Rabaul to pick-up garrison forces for PM) to replenish at Truk - alert escorts force the sub down. SS Sculpin launches 4 torpedoes at CM Itsukushima (part of Tarakan invasion force) near Tarakan but misses. SS O19 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Shiokaze (escorting an AO replenishment convoy) near Kendari but misses. SS Searaven launches 2 torpedoes at DD Sawakaze (Wenchow bombarment force) near Wenchow but misses and later launches 2 torpedoes at DMS W-20 (same force) and misses again and then launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Asuka Maru (different TF - a convoy passing the area) and misses yet again, but is hit once by alert escorts. We admire the enemy's tenacity! Japanese submarines: One hex off the northern channel to Soerabaja, SS I-162 has sighted an enemy SAG on the prowl - that bodes ill for Tarakan or Makassar: Allied Ships CA Exeter CL Boise CL De Ruyter DD Bulmer DD Van Ghent DD Witte de With DD Kortenaer DD Vampire Some other intel gained from that contact: Previous report of sinking of DD Witte de With is incorrect - ship sighted and engaged at 56, 103. The same TF is picked up later near Balikpapan at 63,100 and SS I-156 launches 6 torpedoes at CL Marblehead: Allied Ships CL Marblehead, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage CA Exeter CL Boise CL De Ruyter DD Bulmer DD Van Ghent DD Witte de With DD Kortenaer DD Vampire We will see if this will quench the courage of this SAG. In any case, I have sent my own SAGs in pursuit in the direction of Tarakan and have ordered all shipping away from the assumed target. SS I-123 lays minefield at Noumea but is slightly damaged by ASW forces, including an AM. Guess the mines have been wasted... China: The net around Nanyang keeps closing, the hex to the west is captured and it remains only one exit on the road to Sian. Ground combat at 84,45 (near Nanyang) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 384 troops, 0 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 240 Defending force 1945 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 61 Japanese adjusted assault: 41 Allied adjusted defense: 7 Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: leaders(-), fatigue(-), experience(-) Attacker: Allied ground losses: 1028 casualties reported Squads: 36 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Units retreated 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating towards Sian Assaulting units: 13th Tank Regiment 20th Ind.Mixed Brigade Defending units: 8th New Chinese Corps This is the stack we try to encircle: Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 39318 troops, 481 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 1090 Defending force 52392 troops, 222 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1186 Japanese ground losses: 111 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 23 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Assaulting units: 2nd Ind Engineer Regiment 8th Ind Engineer Regiment 1st Ind.Mixed Brigade 3rd Division 13th Division 138th Infantry Regiment 51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 1st Mortar Battalion 11th Army 2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment 14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 4th Mortar Battalion Defending units: 48th Chinese Corps 29th Chinese Corps 85th Chinese Corps 90th Chinese Corps 41st Chinese Corps 92nd Chinese Corps 4th Construction Regiment 5th War Area 3rd Group Army 22nd Group Army At the coast, Wenchow is hit again: Japanese Ships BB Yamashiro BB Mutsu DD Yanagi DD Karii DD Yukaze DD Sawakaze E Uji E Hashidate DMS W-20 DMS W-19 Allied ground losses: 216 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Heavy Industry hits 1 Light Industry hits 2 Manpower hits 1 Fires 54 Airbase hits 4 Airbase supply hits 3 Runway hits 9 Burma: Oscars sweeping Rangoon encounter AVG and Buffalos, as do the following strike missions with Oscars escorting single-engine bombers on airfield attack. We get some, but we lose significantly more. We will re-evaluate mission planning. Malaya: Singers airfields bombed by the JNAF flyboys from Kota Bharu (about 60 Zeros, 80 Netties) - losses from flak mount despite staying above 20k The defense line at Kluong is bombed in preparation for ground attack by the IJAF flyboys at Alor Star (about 30 Oscars, 80 Sallies). Once more, the RAF counter-attacks - Kota Bharu is hit by Blenheims at 2k and Hudsons at 6k and suffers a few airbase, runway and supply hits plus 4 Netties destroyed on ground. Our Zeros on CAP at 10k get only one Hudson. Kuantan gets the same treatment but I have no forces there. 25th Army is still closing in on Kluong. Undefended Temuloh in central Malaya is captured by the 22nd Recon Regiment, 18th Division is ordered south to recombine for the attack on Singers. PI: Light air attacks on Manila and arty bombardment continues while 16th Division moves up. On Mindanao, the elements of the 2nd Division are on the move to chase and destroy the enemy forces retreating to Davao. Borneo: Japanese forces CAPTURE Beaufort, the remnants of three RN Base forces surrender. We now have one SNLF Coy and an Army Bn free for other operations. The SNLF Coy will capture undefended dot bases in the area, the Army Bn will ship to Tarakan for future garrison duty. 3 x H6K4 Mavis drop elements of the Yokosuka 1st SNLF to captured Tawau. Enemy forces at Tarakan now have no base nearby to retreat to. Then the shock attack at Tarakan is launched: Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 6105 troops, 61 guns, 118 vehicles, Assault Value = 208 Defending force 1824 troops, 41 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 33 Japanese adjusted assault: 784 Allied adjusted defense: 19 Japanese assault odds: 41 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese forces CAPTURE Tarakan !!! Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses Do-24K-1: 2 destroyed Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), preparation(-) fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 24 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 538 casualties reported Squads: 29 destroyed, 2 disabled Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 39 (33 destroyed, 6 disabled) Vehicles lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 3 Assaulting units: 8th Tank Regiment 146th Infantry Regiment 1st Ind Engineer Regiment 16th Army 17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: VII KNIL Battalion RETREATING towards Samarinda Tarakan Base Force RETREATING towards Samarinda Tarakan Defenses RETREATING towards Samarinda The forces at Tarakan will now prep for Samarinda and await the garrison Bn from Beaufort before moving out - who knows if the Dutch forces will continue to retreat or try to move back into Tarakan. The enemy SAG spotted by subs (see above) is apparently heading for Tarakan and was attacked near Balikpapan at 65,99 by torpedo-totting Nells from Kendari. Unfortunately, enemy CAP interferes with their aim and all miss: Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 16 G3M2 Nell x 18 Allied aircraft B-339D x 8 P-40B Warhawk x 4 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed G3M2 Nell: 8 damaged G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses B-339D: 1 destroyed P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed Allied Ships CA Exeter DD Kortenaer CA Houston Sunda Islands area: Kure 2nd SNLF and Sasebo 2nd SNLF CAPTURE Koepang !!! Timor Garrison Battalion RETREATING towards Dili Dili Detachment RETREATING towards Dili 1/10th Avn Sup Afd RETREATING towards Dili One SNLF will load-up again and head for Dili. Yokosuka 4th SNLF CAPTURES Denpasar !!! 2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion SURRENDERS !!! 1/9th Avn Sup Afd SURRENDERS !!! A construction unit is already busy repairing airfield damage and base forces will be airlifted from Kendari. Soon we will be able to provide CAP and project offensive air power over eastern Java. Now all the remains are significant ground forces for the invasion - they are still tied-up at Luzon and Mindanao... A few B-17s, Hudsons and Dutch bombers raid Makassar and our SAGs in the area, little damage and several Dutch bombers downed by Zero CAP / flak. PNG/Solomons: I/66th Naval Guard Unit CAPTURES Tulagi. 1st JNAF AF Unit CAPTURES Nadzab and starts building an airfield. More Engs will move in as soon as Truk reaches size 7 port and Rabaul is build-up. My plan for PNG is to build airfields only at Nadzab and Dobadura - they can be raised to high levels but cannot be bombarded by sea and are save from short-range sweeps as long as I can hold the Terauke-PM-Milne area (and of course the bases will help to defend that area). With ample garrisons and forts, the bases should be able to project offensive power for some time, allow concentrated air defenses mid-war and when I'm forced to evacuate the air groups, to be denied to the Allies for as long as possible. The other bases in the area, including PM, will only see fort construction. Other: We lose two ships damaged in earlier actions: xAK Sinsei Maru sinks.... Pumps fail aboard xAP Teikyo Maru, flooding increases, xAP Teikyo Maru sinks....

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: PoW intercepted (10/27/2014 1:56:35 PM)
REPORTS FOR Jan 15-16, 1942 Allied submarines: SS Sculpin launches 2 torpedoes at DD Oshio near Tarakan at 67,91 and misses. Oshio is part of a SAG sent to search for the enemy SAG reported and attacked last turn near Balikpapan. Persistent, SS Sculpin launches 4 torpedoes at DD Shiratsuyu of the same TF - and collects 5 hits in the ASW counterattack. SS Nautilus launches 2 torpedoes at PB Sento Maru near Finschhafen at 100,127 - I am surprised to find this potential minelaying / transport sub on frontline duty. Japanese submarines: Previous report of sinking of SS O16 incorrect. Ship sighted and engaged at 59, 107: Sub vs Sub: SS RO-33 attacking SS O16 at 59,107 - near Sepandjang Japanese Ships SS RO-33 Allied Ships SS O16, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage SS RO-33 launches 2 torpedoes at 2,000 yards I hope this time the sinking will be confirmed for good! SS I-154 lays minefield at Singkep ( 49 , 87) and sets course for Saigon Our Midget Sub Corps encounters enemy ASW forces and port defences at Brisbane but achieve one good hit: I-16 launches midget submarine Ha-11 to attack Brisbane SSX Ha-11 runs aground and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Brisbane I-18 launches midget submarine Ha-12 to attack Brisbane SSX Ha-12 gets tangled in nets and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Brisbane I-22 launches midget submarine Ha-14 to attack Brisbane SSX Ha-14 gets tangled in nets and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Brisbane I-24 launches midget submarine Ha-15 to attack Brisbane SSX Ha-15 founders and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Brisbane I-20 launches midget submarine Ha-13 to attack Brisbane SSX Ha-13 penetrates harbor at Brisbane!!! Midget Sub attack inside harbor of Brisbane!!! Japanese Ships SSX Ha-13 Allied Ships AM Matai, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage SSX Ha-13 runs aground and is lost attempting to escape from harbor at Brisbane Other submarine contacts reveal interesting INTEL - more details later in the "regional report"!: Previous report of sinking of CL Boise incorrect. Ship sighted and engaged at 57, 103 Previous report of sinking of DD Kortenaer incorrect. Ship sighted and engaged at 57, 103 China: Bombing and marching - but now movement arrows indicate the enemy forces at Nanyang are pulling out in direction of Sian through the only hex still open - we have tank units a few miles short... Three Chinese Corps are investgating the hex north-east of Nanyang which holds 116th Division, 13th Ind.Mixed Brigade plus puppet units and the said tank unit on the move. Seems this is an operation to open a second escape route for the Nanyang garrison just in case. Grr, we will have to chase the Chinese stacks all the way to Sian... But well, the bases in the Eastern Plains start to fall - Japanese forces CAPTURE Chengchow !!! 39th Group Army RETREATING towards Loyang. Near Wuchang at 84,52 a minor operation by 6th Division and 18th Ind.Mixed Brigade to clear the surroundings sends the 58th Chinese Corps RETREATING towards Changsha. Burma: Instead of sweeps and strikes, we sent reinforced sweeps only to Rangoon - 1 Oscar down for 1 Flying Tiger and 2 Buffalos destroyed. That is better! Malaya: Air attacks on Singers encounter CAP and arrive uncoordinated due to weather - we lose 4 Zeros, 7 Nells and 1 Betty for 5 Buffalos and 2 Hurricane IIb Trop down. Air attacks on ground forces at Kluong reveal the presence of the 22nd Australian Brigade, the 12th Indian Brigade and the 6th Indian Brigade - hawk-eyed Japanese pilots are discerning the tactical symbols on Allied vehicles from 7k up... Malacca is occupied by the Japanese and 25th Army will assemble in this 95k stacking limit hex before attacking Kluong. PI: Siquijor is occupied by the Japanese CAP is on again over Manila, 5 P-35A down one Ki-51. 16th Division is nearing the gates of Manila: Japanese forces CAPTURE Batangas !!! 41st PA Infantry/B Division RETREATING towards Mauban 41st PA Infantry/C Division RETREATING towards Mauban PAF Aviation RETREATING towards Mauban P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed P-26A: 1 destroyed On Mindanao, detachments of the 2nd Division CAPTURE Cotabato !!! 3rd/101st PA Battalion RETREATING towards Davao 305th Base Sqdn RETREATING towards Davao The balance of the 2nd Division CAPTURES Malaybalay !!! 3rd PA Constabulary Regiment RETREATING towards Davao 103rd PA Infantry Regiment RETREATING towards Davao 102nd PA Infantry Division RETREATING towards Davao Del Monte AAF Base Force RETREATING towards Davao 205th Base Sqdn RETREATING towards Davao Sunda Islands area: Counter-attack at Manado! The former Dutch garrison must have observed that most of our forces have moved out (to Kendari/Makassar/Densapar) and deemed it possible to retake the base. It might have been possible - only the II/81st Naval Guard Unit was left to guard at depot of 30k supplies being sent by small convoys to frontline bases - but I have seen the move arrows just in time to fast-transport and airdrop reinforcements: Ground combat at Manado (75,99) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 1082 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 37 Defending force 919 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 32 Allied adjusted assault: 1 Japanese adjusted defense: 47 Allied assault odds: 1 to 47 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-) Attacker: leaders(-), supply(-) Japanese ground losses: 9 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 156 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 22 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled) Assaulting units: Manado Garrison Battalion Defending units: 1st Indpt SNLF Coy /3 II/81st Naval Guard Unit Yokosuka 1st SNLF /2 A handful of B-17s from Darwin bomb Koepang and score airbase and runway hits. Bandasan SNLF CAPTURES Ternate !!! Ground combat at 65,105 (near Makassar) - the Kure 1st SNLF is sending the Makassar Garrison Battalion RETREATING towards Watampone The enemy SAG sighted near Balikpapan and assumed to target Tarakan has turned around and paid a visit to Makassar, where a convoy is unloading. Our screen suffers losses but achieves its purpose of deflecting the enemy from the transports: Night Time Surface Combat, near Makassar at 65,106, Range 1,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Hyuga DD Asakaze, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage (and sinks later) DD Harukaze DD Matsukaze DD Hatakaze DD Oite DD Hayate PB Aso Maru #3 PB Busho Maru, Shell hits 19, and is sunk PB Edo Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk AK Sakito Maru AMC Asaka Maru, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk xAK Manila Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire xAK Kinai Maru xAK Goyo Maru xAK Hokuroku Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire xAK Tokyo Maru xAP Baikal Maru Allied Ships CA Houston, Shell hits 1 CA Exeter, Shell hits 1 CL De Ruyter CL Boise, Shell hits 3, on fire DD Barker DD Bulmer DD Stewart, Shell hits 1 DD Paul Jones DD Parrott DD Vampire DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Witte de With Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 3% moonlight: 2,000 yards Range closes to 7,000 yards... Range closes to 5,000 yards... Range closes to 3,000 yards... Range closes to 1,000 yards... BB Hyuga engages CA Exeter at 1,000 yards BB Hyuga engages CA Houston at 1,000 yards BB Hyuga engages CL Boise at 1,000 yards BB Hyuga engages CL De Ruyter at 1,000 yards DD Matsukaze engages CL Boise at 1,000 yards DD Matsukaze engages DD Kortenaer at 1,000 yards PB Edo Maru sunk by CL Boise at 1,000 yards PB Busho Maru sunk by CL Boise at 1,000 yards DD Stewart engages DD Matsukaze at 1,000 yards AMC Asaka Maru engages DD Kortenaer at 1,000 yards CL Boise engages AK Sakito Maru at 1,000 yards DD Stewart engages xAK Hokuroku Maru at 1,000 yards Range increases to 2,000 yards DD Asakaze engages CA Exeter at 2,000 yards CA Houston engages DD Asakaze at 2,000 yards CL Boise engages DD Oite at 2,000 yards DD Kortenaer engages DD Hatakaze at 2,000 yards AMC Asaka Maru engages DD Witte de With at 2,000 yards DD Harukaze engages DD Kortenaer at 2,000 yards DD Vampire engages DD Asakaze at 2,000 yards DD Parrott engages AMC Asaka Maru at 2,000 yards DD Asakaze engages DD Paul Jones at 2,000 yards DD Stewart engages DD Asakaze at 2,000 yards AMC Asaka Maru engages DD Barker at 2,000 yards DD Kortenaer engages xAK Hokuroku Maru at 2,000 yards DD Stewart engages xAK Kinai Maru at 2,000 yards DD Vampire engages xAK Manila Maru at 2,000 yards Range increases to 6,000 yards BB Hyuga engages CA Exeter at 6,000 yards DD Hayate engages CA Houston at 6,000 yards DD Oite engages DD Kortenaer at 6,000 yards DD Kortenaer engages DD Hatakaze at 6,000 yards DD Kortenaer engages AMC Asaka Maru at 6,000 yards AMC Asaka Maru engages DD Paul Jones at 6,000 yards DD Stewart engages DD Hayate at 6,000 yards DD Bulmer engages AMC Asaka Maru at 6,000 yards AMC Asaka Maru sunk by DD Barker at 6,000 yards DD Parrott engages xAK Manila Maru at 6,000 yards Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape Task forces break off... In the meantime, our cruiser SAG galopping off to Tarakan in vain extracts a (very) small revenge: Night Time Surface Combat, near Donggala at 67,97, Range 1,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Aoba CA Kinugasa CA Furutaka CA Kako CL Kuma CL Tama DD Arashio DD Natsugumo DD Minegumo DD Asagumo DD Yugure DD Ariake Allied Ships xAKL Montanes, Shell hits 18, and is sunk However, payback is handed out by our submarines patrolling off Soerabaja on the enemy SAG returning to base: Sub attack near Soerabaja at 56,103 Japanese Ships SS I-159 Allied Ships CA Exeter, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CA Houston DD Stewart DD Barker DD Witte de With DD Vampire DD Parrott SS I-159 launches 6 torpedoes at CA Exeter Submarine attack near Soerabaja at 57,103 Japanese Ships SS I-165 Allied Ships CL Boise, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CL Boise is sighted by SS I-165 SS I-165 launches 4 torpedoes at CL Boise Sub attack near Soerabaja at 56,103 Japanese Ships SS I-159 Allied Ships CL Boise, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage CL Boise is sighted by SS I-159 SS I-159 launches 6 torpedoes at CL Boise CL Boise is reported to have been sunk near Soerabaja on Jan 16, 1942. BANZAI! With Boise gone, my war aims have been achieved! The war is as good as won and only some mopping up needs to be done! [:D] [;)] Other: Pumps having difficulty controlling flooding aboard xAK Rokko Maru, xAK Rokko Maru sinks -another victim of inept Japanese damage control...

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle of Ambon (10/30/2014 4:08:37 PM)
REPORT FOR Jan 17-18, 1942 Allied Submarines: SS Sculpin attacks a convoy at Tarakan without success and is hit 3x by alert escorts. SS Stingray is hit 3x as well by escorts near Chinnampo in the Yellow Sea. Our SAGs operating in the Balikpapan / Macassar area are luck to escape hits from several S-class boats in the area. Unfortunately a minelaying mission to Pamekasan encounters S-38 and as a result, CM Kyosai sinks near Makassar at 62,107. Our Wenchow bombardment TF has bad luck as well - SS Searaven sinks DMS W-19 near Wenchow at 90,59. Finally, SS Plunger launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Ginyo Maru near Kavieng at 107,120 - two hits and the ship sinks. Have the Allies solved the torpedo problem already??? Our submarines: O-16 is still alive and trying to reach Soerabaja! Two of our submarines try to sink the cripple near Kangean and Pamekasan but miss... China: Bombings at Nanyang are intercepted by Flying Tigers - 1 Oscar and 2 H81-A3 destroyed. A deliberate attack at Nanyang reveals forts at level 3 and our troops take significant losses - grr! The second day my forces refrain from a second DA and only bombard. I will need the forces doing the flanking movements before trying again. Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 41743 troops, 487 guns, 31 vehicles, Assault Value = 1127 Defending force 41755 troops, 151 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1007 Japanese adjusted assault: 618 Allied adjusted defense: 1038 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3) Combat modifiers Defender: forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 3866 casualties reported Squads: 8 destroyed, 256 disabled Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 44 disabled Engineers: 24 destroyed, 28 disabled Vehicles lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled) Allied ground losses: 1584 casualties reported Squads: 9 destroyed, 180 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 30 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled Assaulting units: 13th Division 2nd Ind Engineer Regiment 3rd Division 1st Ind.Mixed Brigade 8th Ind Engineer Regiment 138th Infantry Regiment 14th RGC Temp./A Division 14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment 52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 11th Army 1st Mortar Battalion 4th Mortar Battalion Defending units: 29th Chinese Corps 90th Chinese Corps 41st Chinese Corps 92nd Chinese Corps 4th Construction Regiment 5th War Area 3rd Group Army 22nd Group Army The right pincer on the north bank of the Yellow River is progressing well: Ground combat at 86,41 (near Loyang) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 36374 troops, 298 guns, 44 vehicles, Assault Value = 1125 Defending force 6988 troops, 61 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 204 Japanese adjusted assault: 606 Allied adjusted defense: 165 Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), morale(-), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 689 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 58 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Allied ground losses: 2734 casualties reported Squads: 128 destroyed, 11 disabled Non Combat: 55 destroyed, 16 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled Guns lost 9 (4 destroyed, 5 disabled) Units retreated 2 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 110th Division 37th Division 41st Division 1st Army 12th Army Defending units: 43rd Chinese Corps 61st Chinese Corps Burma: Sweeps over Rangoon continue to exchange airframes and pilots - 3 Oscars for 2 Buffalos and 1 H81-A3. I have sent the grounded bombers back to Bangkok and have ordered two groups of Nates to Chiang Mei - perhaps I can crush them with numbers... Pilot Miyabe T. is reported as having been found - his plane was damaged over Rangoon and he had to bail out over the jungles on the way back to Chiang Mei. Malaya: The RAF launches night bombing attacks against Kota Bharu and destroys a Nell and a Betty on the ground. A handful of Wirraways attack 25th Army at Malacca and cause some casualties - I admire the offensive spirit of the RAF! 25th Army at Malacca is starting to advance to Kluong. PI: Manila bombed and bombarded while 16th Division at Batangas has split - one brigade to close the hex sides into/out of Manila and the other two to capture Mauban and close the eastern hex sides of Manila. But - recon reports that the sneeky US forces at Mauban are trying to move south-west to Lucena in the rear of 16th Division! One brigade is ordered back to Lucena. It also appears that forces from Bataan are moving back to Clark Field. Ed tries every trick to slow me down! 56th Recon Regiment has reinforced the 1st Sasebo SNLF Coy at Subic Bay and together they CAPTURE Subic Bay !!! Subic Bay Defenses SURRENDERS !!! 1st PI Base Force SURRENDERS !!! Lubang is occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps. Then something odd - I lose six midget subs in the minefields of Bataan. I have no recollection of having created midgets at Luzon and ordering them into know minefields...? However, I had six MGBs at Mauban - and they are gone. Borneo: Two Battalions arrive at Singkawang and launch a DA - forts are reduced to 0 and the base should fall next turn. Makassar area: On the way back from the sortie to Tarakan, a cruiser SAG pays a visit to Balikpapan to sink three Dutch MTBs and TK Hai Kwang and to scout minefields - CA Kako hits VH Mk II Mine at Balikpapan and thus she will need some yard time... On Makassar proper, Japanese forces CAPTURE Kolaka !!! Kendari Garrison Battalion RETREATING towards Palopo Timor: B-17s continue to pound an empty airbase - apparently to prevent its use to attack Darwin. I have scheduled a bombardment mission and a visit by Mini-KB to raid Darwin. PNG/Solomons: Oro Bay is occupied by the Japanese 5th column. Maizuru 2nd SNLF CAPTURES Wau !!! The unit is ordered to march overland to Terauke. Other units are advancing from Buna to Dobadura and to Kokoda - where the ex-PM garrison is trying to march to the coast. CentPac: Operation Jailbait I - an invasion force has left Jaluit for Ocean Island. I have no idea on the whereabouts of the US carriers, but given Ed's aggressive forward defense, I have placed submarines on likely approaches to Ocean Island and a reinforced KB (all six big boys + Shoho) is loitering near Ontong Java for a flanking movement in case Allied forces assumed to be in the Deep South take the bait.

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle of Ambon (10/31/2014 3:47:34 PM)
REPORT FOR Jan 19-20, 1942 Allied submarines: SS S-35 launches 2 torpedoes at APD Shimakaze near Port Moresby and misses. SS Perch launches 4 torpedoes at DD Matsukaze near Darwin and misses. SS Sailfish launches 2 torpedoes at PB Nikki Maru near Torishima and misses. SS Seawolf launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Taihei Maru near Gebe at 80,104 and - xAK Taihei Maru sinks! TF 113 managed to rescue 105 men from Bandasan SNLF. The Amphibious Assault at Lolobato (79,102) is deprived of half the troops assigned... Our submarines: SS I-157 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Thanet near Toboali at 50,94 and misses. China: Japanese Ships Bombarding Wenchow again: BB Yamashiro BB Mutsu DD Yanagi DD Karii DD Yukaze DD Sawakaze E Uji E Hashidate DMS W-20 Allied ground losses: 192 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 6 Port hits 1 Port fuel hits 2 Nanyang is bombed unopposed, we hope to slow the fleeing stack down so we can close the last open hexside. On the ground, we are still licking wounds and only bombard while the flanking movements are advancing so painfully slow... The pincer north of the Yellow River at 86,41 (near Loyang) is advancing well - the 34th Chinese Corps is RETREATING towards Yenan. In northern China, two surrounded Chinese Corps are slowly being reduced. Small setback at Chuhsien - 24th RGC Temp. Division is RETREATING towards Hangchow. The unit should have waited for reinforcements - shoddy staff work... Burma: Rangoon swept but no opposition this time. Malaya: Batu Pahat is occupied by the Japanese. More night strikes by the RAF against Kota Bharu - a small Zero detachment on night CAP prevents damage. The handful of Wirraways continue their nuisance raids - Oscars on CAP fail to catch them... Singers bombed by our Navy and Army flyboys - airbase damage is light from 23k up, but the flak losses prevent me from going lower. We lose one Zero, one Sally and one Betty destroyed by flak and Buffalos on CAP. Strange that 34 Zeros vs 10 Buffalos and 19 Oscars vs 5 Buffalos only cause losses to our side. At least we destroy a Swordfish and a Blenheim on the ground. PI: Two deliberate attacks at Manila reduced fort levels to 0. We outnumber the defenders 2:1 so the city should fall soon. On Mindanao, a river crossing shock attack at 78,91 south of Cotabato by the III./4th Infantry Battalion crushes enemy resistance - 3rd/101st PA Battalion and 305th Base Sqdn SURRENDER !!! Borneo: II/124th and III/124th Infantry Battalions CAPTURE Singkawang !!! West Borneo KNIL Battalion RETREATING towards Pontianak Sarawak Force RETREATING towards Pontianak Singkawang Base Force RETREATING towards Pontianak Pontianak Base Force RETREATING towards Pontianak 106th RN Base Force RETREATING towards Pontianak Makassar: We counter-attack at Manado and force the Manado Garrison Battalion to retreat again towards Sidate. Kure 1st SNLF shock-attacks and CAPTURES Watampone - Makassar Garrison Battalion SURRENDERS !!! Solomons: Vella Lavella is occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps. Australia: In order to end the nuisance raids by B-17s from Darwin, I have sent a pair of BBs to bombard, with Mini-KB following behind. A few hexes off Darwin the bombardment force is attacked by a handful of A-24 Banshees and Hudsons. I have included CS Mizuho with a bunch of Petes for CAP and ASW over the bombardment TF - the Pete CAP does not shoot down anything put disrupts the aim of the enemy bombers. At Darwin the TF encounters a supply convoy: Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 76,124, Range 4,000 Yards Japanese Ships CS Mizuho, Shell hits 3 BB Nagato BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1 CL Nagara CL Yura CL Kinu DD Kuroshio DD Hatsukaze DD Sazanami DD Ushio DD Harukaze DD Matsukaze DD Hayate Allied Ships DD Evertsen, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk AM Warrnambool, Shell hits 2, heavy damage TK Manatawny, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Empire Hamble, Shell hits 1 xAK Ping Wo xAK Taiyuan, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage xAK Gorgon, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage Then a second round: Allied Ships xAK Empire Hamble, Shell hits 2, on fire xAK Ping Wo, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk xAK Taiyuan, Shell hits 7, and is sunk xAK Gorgon, Shell hits 6, and is sunk Then the scheduled bombardment: Night Naval bombardment of Darwin at 76,124 - Coastal Guns Fire Back! 13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships BB Hyuga BB Nagato CL Kinu CL Yura CL Nagara Allied Ships xAP Van Swoll, Shell hits 2, heavy fires AVP Arend, Shell hits 1 xAP Elcano, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage Allied ground losses: 360 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 22 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled) Runway hits 4 E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Hyuga Emery Point Fortress firing at BB Hyuga BB Hyuga firing at Emery Point Fortress BB Nagato firing at Emery Point Fortress Emery Point Fortress firing at BB Nagato CL Kinu firing at Darwin CL Yura firing at Darwin CL Nagara firing at Emery Point Fortress Emery Point Fortress firing at CL Nagara And finally, while already retreating, the TF claims a another victim: Allied Ships xAK Empire Hamble, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk On the second day, Mini-KB strikes Darwin airbase - one P-40 destroyed in the air, 4 airbase hits - but the B-17s seem to have fled... Somehow DD Sazanami suffered heavy damage during the surface actions and split off into an escort TF - probably during a collision. She is caught by Banshees all alone one hex off Darwin - a hit with a 1000 lb SAP Bomb did not help her... With 58 float damage, she may survice if I can prevent further damage. I have ordered Mini-KB to provide air cover. Near Horn Island, we have an AMC on patrol: Day Time Surface Combat, near Horn Island at 91,129, Range 20,000 Yards Japanese Ships AMC Bankok Maru Allied Ships AM Whyalla xAK Momba, Shell hits 1, on fire Other: A bunch of Fubukis complete 1/42 upgrades at Hong Kong.

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle of Ambon (11/4/2014 3:48:46 PM)
REPORT FOR Jan 21-22, 1942 Submarine war: SS O19 sinks a PB near Kendari. SS I-162 is hit once by DD Stewart near Soerabaja. SS I-124 lays minefield at Darwin ( 76 , 124) and sets course for Kendari Air war: Flying Tigers destroy 3 Oscars against 1 H81-A3 in China. Rangoon is hit without CAP and the airbase is damaged - 8 airbase hits, 2 airbase supply hits, 7 runway hits and 6 H81-A3 damaged plus one destroyed on the ground. OTOH, losses over Singers mount for little to show - 2 Zeros, 1 Nell, 1 Betty, 3 Oscars and 6 Sally destroyed by flak for 2 runway hits and 2 Buffalos and 1 Hurri destroyed... RAF night bombers again scored against Kota Bharu despite night CAP and destroy 1 Nell and 1 Betty on the ground. A new air front has been opened at Java with Zeros sweeping and Nells night-bombing Soerabaja - 1 Zero lost for 6 P-40 and 2 75A-7 Hawk destroyed and the following ships hit: Allied Ships AG Gemma, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage CA Houston, Bomb hits 1 PG Soerabaja, Bomb hits 1 Ground War: Since most divisions are still busy in Malaya and the PI, further offensive operations against Java, Sumatra, Burma and perhaps Australia or the South Pacific must wait until some units can be freed. Small Japanese forces CAPTURE Lolobato (Halmahera) and Dili (Timor). Dobadura is occupied as a SNLF Coy approaches the village. It seems that the area is well suited for airfield construction. Calapan is occupied by the Japanese 5th column - did not bother to check but it is probably in the PI. In China, stalemate at Nanyang. I have 950+ AV, the Allies are at 840+ AV. Bombardment attacks cause even losses for both sides. I still hope to be able to surround the Chineses defenders of Nanyang with the flanking forces. The last open hex side has been reached by a small advance guard - which fights surprisingly well against a Chinese stack trying to hold the escape/supply path open: Ground combat at 85,44 (near Nanyang) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 8578 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 182 Defending force 180 troops, 0 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 18 Allied adjusted assault: 87 Japanese adjusted defense: 55 Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled) Allied ground losses: 72 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 85th Chinese Corps 8th New Chinese Corps 3rd Group Army 22nd Group Army Defending units: 9th Armored Car Co Infantry is rushing to reinforce the hex just in time for the second attack: Ground combat at 85,44 (near Nanyang) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 8538 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 174 Defending force 6924 troops, 38 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 229 Allied adjusted assault: 31 Japanese adjusted defense: 520 Allied assault odds: 1 to 16 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), experience(-) Attacker: morale(-) Japanese ground losses: 65 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 390 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 18 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Assaulting units: 85th Chinese Corps 8th New Chinese Corps 3rd Group Army 22nd Group Army Defending units: 9th Armored Car Co 20th Ind.Mixed Brigade So, it may still be possible to surround and crush the Chinese stack at Nanyang after all! In North China, elements of the 26th Division plus sundry Cavalry and Puppet units are slowly picking away at isolated Chinese Corps in good defensive terrain. In Malaya, first ground attacks at Kluong reduce forts and defenders but our combat engineers suffered since the fort levels are surprisingly high - maybe next time I should dare the "Mersing gambit"... Japanese Deliberate attack on January 21st: Attacking force 36218 troops, 487 guns, 211 vehicles, Assault Value = 1431 Defending force 11945 troops, 156 guns, 63 vehicles, Assault Value = 376 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2 Japanese adjusted assault: 776 Allied adjusted defense: 399 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 796 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 44 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled) Allied ground losses: 1283 casualties reported Squads: 18 destroyed, 168 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled Guns lost 28 (4 destroyed, 24 disabled) Japanese Deliberate attack on January 22nd: Attacking force 35472 troops, 487 guns, 211 vehicles, Assault Value = 1864 Defending force 11040 troops, 157 guns, 65 vehicles, Assault Value = 241 Japanese adjusted assault: 519 Allied adjusted defense: 337 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 1220 casualties reported Squads: 8 destroyed, 24 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled Engineers: 13 destroyed, 37 disabled Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled) Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled) Allied ground losses: 556 casualties reported Squads: 20 destroyed, 27 disabled Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 12 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Assaulting units: Imperial Guards Division 20th Ind Engineer Regiment 4th Ind Engineer Regiment 33rd Division 19th Ind Engineer Regiment 15th Ind Engineer Regiment 38th Division 23rd Ind Engineer Regiment 41st Infantry Regiment 6th Tank Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion 20th AA Regiment 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 16th AA Regiment 5th Mortar Battalion 25th Army 21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion 14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 2nd Mortar Battalion 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 44th Field AA Battalion Defending units: 6th Indian Brigade 22nd Australian Brigade 8th Indian Brigade 1st Hyderabad Battalion 12th Indian Brigade 272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment 30 Battery/3 HAA 2/215th Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment 5th Field Regiment In the PI, the sneaky units at Mauban trying to move behind our front are destroyed before they can leave the hex: Ground combat at Mauban (80,78) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 4847 troops, 42 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 153 Defending force 3194 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 62 Japanese adjusted assault: 66 Allied adjusted defense: 15 Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Mauban !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), preparation(-), morale(-) experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: fatigue(-) Allied ground losses: 4407 casualties reported Squads: 153 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 186 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 45 (45 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 2 Assaulting units: 16th/B Division Defending units: 41st PA Infantry Division PAF Aviation Best News this turn - Manila falls on January 22nd and 14th Army remains in good shape: Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 31850 troops, 406 guns, 254 vehicles, Assault Value = 956 Defending force 13153 troops, 202 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 178 Japanese adjusted assault: 727 Allied adjusted defense: 261 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Manila !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 740 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled Engineers: 4 destroyed, 17 disabled Allied ground losses: 18784 casualties reported Squads: 649 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1023 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 246 (246 destroyed, 0 disabled) Vehicles lost 15 (15 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 10 Assaulting units: 21st Ind Engineer Regiment 21st Division Sasebo 1st SNLF 48th Division 56th Engineer Regiment 16th/A Division 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 14th Army 1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 3rd Ind Engineer Regiment 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 56th Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 71st PA Infantry Division 1st PA Infantry Division 91st PA Infantry Division 2nd PA Constabulary Regiment Nichols Field AAF Base Force II Philippine Corps Far East USAAF 1st USMC AA Battalion 51st PA Infantry Division Cavite USN Base Force I will shuffle the Luzon units to keep the "Bataan gang" bottled up and to-be-dealt-with-later by 48th Division plus some Arty at Clark Field (fort 2 and building) and 65th Brigade as Manila garrison The 16th, 21st and 56th divisions will prepare for Java and Sumatra - they will load at the size 3 port at Batangas. Horn Island: AMC Bankok Maru patrolling the narrows around Horn Island clashes inconclusively with an AM, and then is hit by a Catalina with a 500 lb SAP Bomb. On fire, the AMC is ordered back to base. Darwin: Bombarded by a small SAG again and bombed by Mini-KB - 1 Zero, 1 Kate and 2 Jean lost for 2 P-40 shot down and 1 A-24, 1 PBY and 1 Hudson destroyed on the ground. Main purpose of the operations was to cover damaged DD Sazanami limping back to Koepang. However: Pumps fail aboard DD Sazanami, flooding increases... Major flooding aboard DD Sazanami Temporary flotation repairs failing aboard DD Sazanami Operation Jailbait I: Amphibious Assault at Ocean Island, the base is taken. KB is ordered from Ontong Java to patrol south of the Gilberts to see if the Allies take the bait. Other: CL Tromp is reported to have been sunk near Manado on Dec 12, 1941

Walker84 -> RE: Battle of Ambon (11/4/2014 5:11:16 PM)
I've been enjoying catching up with your AAR. Your main plan of campaign seems to be proceeding according to a good timetable, and it certainly seems to motor along with 2 day turns!

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle of Ambon (11/6/2014 9:28:48 AM)
Hi Walker84, thanks for following. [:)] I am just trying to advance within historical limits and timetables, so this will be a rather conservative, boring game. But I'm reading GreyJoys AAR and I'm not willing to get sucked into a supply sink like India! REPORT FOR Jan 23-24, 1942 Submarine War: A few contacts with Allied subs in Formosa Strait, Makassar Strait and off the Home Islands, the undersea pirates are forced to dive without attacking by alerts escorts. SS KVII launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Tonan Maru near Patani - hit once, she is struggling back to port and may make it. SS KXIV launches 4 torpedoes at AV Sanyo Maru near Kendari, 2 hits sink this valuable ship grrr. She was on her way to Makassar to provide air support to float planes on ASW... A sub-laid minefield is found at 56,73 ("corner hex" off Indochina on the sea lane from Saigon to Bangkok), 8 mines are being swept but DMS W-1 hits a mine and sinks... Our subs come up empty... Air War: Overall I am utterly and thoroughly disgusted with the results this turn. Port Moresby is bombed ineffectually by a dozen B-17s. With a base force in place, Zeros will provide CAP next turn. A handful of B-17s deliver night attacks against Makassar for no results. A few Catalinas launch attacks on AMC Bangkok Maru retreating from Horn Island and on a convoy near Makassar for no gain. No losses either, 7 Zeros flying CAP at Makassar fail to catch 2 lumbering PBYs... Zeros at Makassar continue to sweep the skies over Soerabaja, 9 CW-21B Demon destroyed for no losses. The night-bombing Nells hit CA Exeter with three bombs. In the PI, port attacks on Bataan causes slight damage to port installations and hit an ACM and an xAKL, but two Ki-51 are lost to flak. Singers is hit again by the Navy flyboys, only minimal results from 23k but at least no losses. So far the relative good News - now the ugly part: Attacks on Rangoon become unglued, attack piecemeal and meet reinforced CAP. Furthermore, for some reason my Oscars don't sweep but the strike missions (from same base) take off. Even superior numbers do not help - the bombers with Nate escorts are eaten alive: Japanese aircraft Ki-27b Nate x 58 Ki-30 Ann x 5 Ki-32 Mary x 3 Ki-51 Sonia x 10 Allied aircraft H81-A3 x 6 Buffalo I x 15 Hurricane IIa Trop x 16 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-27b Nate: 3 destroyed Ki-30 Ann: 2 destroyed Ki-51 Sonia: 4 destroyed Japanese aircraft Ki-27b Nate x 6 Ki-30 Ann x 7 Allied aircraft H81-A3 x 5 Buffalo I x 15 Hurricane IIa Trop x 14 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed Ki-30 Ann: 5 destroyed Japanese aircraft Ki-27b Nate x 3 Ki-32 Mary x 3 Allied aircraft H81-A3 x 5 Buffalo I x 14 Hurricane IIa Trop x 12 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-32 Mary: 2 destroyed Japanese aircraft Ki-27b Nate x 62 Ki-30 Ann x 15 Ki-32 Mary x 3 Ki-51 Sonia x 18 Allied aircraft H81-A3 x 6 Buffalo I x 15 Hurricane IIa Trop x 16 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed Ki-30 Ann: 2 destroyed Ki-32 Mary: 1 destroyed Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Attacks in China meet almost the same fate, despite Oscars and Tojos present: Attacks near Nanyang Japanese aircraft Ki-27b Nate x 12 Ki-30 Ann x 7 Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 11 Ki-51 Sonia x 9 Allied aircraft H81-A3 x 17 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-27b Nate: 5 destroyed Ki-30 Ann: 1 destroyed Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed Ki-51 Sonia: 1 destroyed Japanese aircraft Ki-27b Nate x 8 Ki-30 Ann x 8 Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 6 Ki-44 Tojo x 7 Ki-51 Sonia x 23 Allied aircraft H81-A3 x 12 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses H81-A3: 1 destroyed Japanese aircraft Ki-32 Mary x 6 Allied aircraft H81-A3 x 6 Buffalo I x 15 Hurricane IIa Trop x 15 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-32 Mary: 3 destroyed No Allied losses Score: 10 Nates destroyed 3 Oscars destroyed 25 Bombers destroyed vs. 1 H81-A3 destroyed Looks like all it needs to stop the IJAF is a squadron of Flying Tigers here and there. It is not even the losses as such that bug me - the Japanese planes are crappy. It is the one-sidedness. I mean, 60+ very maneuverable Japanese fighters against less than 40 Allied flying bricks should cause at least some losses to the inferior side, no? I am almost done with this ridiculous time vampire of a game! [;)] China: Bombardments an Nanyang cause minimal casualties on both sides. A deliberate attack north of Nanyang with 218 AV against 139 AV only gets 1:2 odds but we suffer (and cause) only minimal losses. In the North, an attack with 284 AV against 24 (isolated unit) gets 22:1 odds - and cause minimal casualties. First reinforcements arrive and will be sent into battle immediately: 52nd Infantry Brigade arrives at Shanghai 62nd Infantry Brigade arrives at Shanghai 54th Infantry Brigade arrives at Peiping 4th Air Division arrives at Canton - that is not where an Air HQ is needed... Malaya: Kluong falls with 1813 AV against 209 and 5:1 odds and important losses for the Allies: Japanese ground losses: 1403 casualties reported Squads: 12 destroyed, 94 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled) Allied ground losses: 4412 casualties reported Squads: 130 destroyed, 23 disabled Non Combat: 195 destroyed, 17 disabled Engineers: 69 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 102 (92 destroyed, 10 disabled) Vehicles lost 52 (52 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 8 Units destroyed 1 272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment SURRENDERS, the other Allied units retreat to Johore Baru. Recon says there is a second defensive line in place at Johore Baru. With three Indian and one Australian brigade shattered at Kluong, we hope this line is not as strong. PI: 21st PA Infantry Division and I Philippine Corps have advanced to Clark Field and attacked with 62 AV against 558 AV and fort level 2 for 1:99 odds - looks like a suicide mission to get rid of some "eaters". We will comply after the reshuffling of forces is complete. Our recently upgraded Fubukis have been sent to Batangas to escort the Java / Sumatra invasion forces assembling at that port. At Lubang, they encounter TK La Estrella Caltex and YO-42 and indulge in some target practice. Solomons: Torokina is occupied by the Japanese - the patrol reports swampy terrain requiring considerable efforts for airfield construction. Lunga is occupied by the Japanese - just a small hunting party trying to catch some cattle left behind when the plantation owners evacuated the place. The party reports that there is terrain suitable for airfield construction. Port Moresby: A Special Base Force has been dropped as garrison and 4th Division is loading up for Java. I want to secure the SRA first before turning to eventual adventures in Australia or the South Pacific. Darwin: Since the B-17s have not been caught by the first bombardment, I have sent a new bombardment force. They meet some ineffectual air strikes on the way in and out and destroy one A-24 with flak. The bombardment results are nice: Night Naval bombardment of Darwin at 76,124 - Coastal Guns Fire Back! Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 5 damaged P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground Hudson I: 20 damaged Hudson I: 3 destroyed on ground B-17E Fortress: 17 damaged A-24 Banshee: 1 damaged A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed on ground PBY-4 Catalina: 9 damaged PBY-4 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground 32 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships BB Haruna BB Kongo CA Kumano CA Suzuya CA Mikuma CA Mogami CA Maya CL Isuzu CL Jintsu Allied ground losses: 448 casualties reported Squads: 8 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 56 disabled Engineers: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled) Airbase hits 8 Airbase supply hits 6 Runway hits 42 E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Haruna BB Haruna firing at Darwin F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Kongo BB Kongo firing at Emery Point Fortress Emery Point Fortress firing at BB Kongo CA Kumano firing at Emery Point Fortress Emery Point Fortress firing at CA Kumano CA Suzuya firing at Emery Point Fortress Emery Point Fortress firing at CA Suzuya CA Mikuma firing at Darwin CA Mogami firing at Darwin CA Maya firing at Darwin CL Isuzu firing at Emery Point Fortress Emery Point Fortress firing at CL Isuzu Emery Point Fortress firing at CL Jintsu CL Jintsu firing at Emery Point Fortress I hope this will convince Ed that an invasion of Darwin is imminent. If he pulls forces to Darwin, they will lack elsewhere. Furthermore he will have troubles to supply them and I may get a few more licks against convoys. And finally, if I decide to attack Northern Australia in force, there might be an occasion to destroy a significant part of the Australian Army. We will see - SRA and Burma first. CentPac: MY naval search and scouting submarines have picked up no trace of any Allied reaction to the Ocean Island invasion. However, a sub-based Glen covering Noumea has reported several task forces in the harbor and planes present at the airbase - obviously the Allies are pouring reinforcements into New Caledonia. Therefore, I have decided to cancel Operation Jailbait I. The Ocean Island invasion force has loaded up again and is will head to Tawara without covering forces. The submarine cordon around the Gilberts will redeploy around Noumea and Fiji. The reinforced KB which has reached the area 8 hexes south of Ocean Island has been ordered to turn around and to investigate Noumea. Probably Allied carriers are covering the unloading convoys at Noumea (that's what I would expect), so this could get interesting!

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle of Ambon (11/10/2014 7:50:09 AM)
REPORT FOR Jan 25-26, 1942 Submarine War: Many contacts with Allied subs but gladly their torpedos miss or fail to explode. SS I-9 - the float-plane equipped sub covering Noumea - is hits 4x by KV Wetaskiwin and must return to base with moderate damage. That is a long way from home for a Canadian warship! Air War: BANZAI! No losses over Nanyang and Rangoon this time! Seems I have found the answer to the AVG - ground all bombers and set all fighters to CAP at range 0... At Singers, I have dropped bombing altitude to 16 k and finally get some results. Maybe it is also the presence of IJAF planes staging through Kota Bharu (to Kuantan to help with the final assault on Singers) which have inspired my navy flyboys into extra efforts. Several planes are destroyed on the ground and the runways are pockmarked by dozens of hits. My losses are limited to one Nell destroyed by flak and a dozen damaged planes. 5 Hudsons hit back at Kluong, causing damage to an empty airbase. In the PI, the bombing of Bataan runs into a four-plane CAP - I lose 1 Nate and 3 Sonias to CAP and another Sonia to flak, but the xAKL Corregidor is left with heavy damage and heavy fires - I am sure she will not survive. Soerabaja is swept by Zeros operating from Densapar - no opposition. Nells from Makassar hit the airbase and destroy 2 139WH-3. China: Some good News at last! Allied forces are pulling out of Nanyang, so I have launched a deliberate attack to speed them up and cause some losses. To my surprise, Nanyang is captured in the second assault and 5 Chinese units surrender. Attacking force 41992 troops, 516 guns, 31 vehicles, Assault Value = 890 Defending force 29200 troops, 114 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 509 Japanese adjusted assault: 915 Allied adjusted defense: 227 Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese forces CAPTURE Nanyang !!! Combat modifiers Defender: fatigue(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 2225 casualties reported Squads: 16 destroyed, 152 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled Engineers: 9 destroyed, 21 disabled Guns lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled) Allied ground losses: 26280 casualties reported Squads: 1560 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1710 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 96 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 105 (105 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 5 Assaulting units: 3rd Division 2nd Ind Engineer Regiment 138th Infantry Regiment 1st Ind.Mixed Brigade 58th Infantry Regiment 8th Ind Engineer Regiment 13th Division 18th RGC Temp. Division 14th RGC Temp./C Division 2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 4th Mortar Battalion 1st Mortar Battalion 15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment 51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion 14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 11th Army 14th RGC Temp./A Division Defending units: 29th Chinese Corps 41st Chinese Corps 92nd Chinese Corps 4th Construction Regiment 5th War Area So the battle for Nanyang is a half-success - 5 enemy units out of 10 destroyed. Unfortunately my units are in pretty bad shape now, with about 50% of squads disabled. I will move a Command HQ from Kaifeng to Nanyang to help with recovery. At 85,41 (near Sian), our right-flank pincer shock attack shatters the 61st Chinese Corps and continues to advance in direction of Sian. Recon says that there are several units in each hex south of Sian to Loyang, making river crossings risky. I have changed my planes, accordingly - I will try to cross the river NORTH of Sian and encircle the whole bunch. In Northern China at 93,34 (near Kweisui), the encircled units 11th Chinese Corps and 17th Group Army have been destroyed as well, with minimal damage to our forces: Attacking force 9889 troops, 103 guns, 92 vehicles, Assault Value = 292 Defending force 3961 troops, 31 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4 Japanese adjusted assault: 246 Allied adjusted defense: 1 Japanese assault odds: 246 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 9 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 5703 casualties reported Squads: 162 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 329 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 35 (35 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units destroyed 2 Assaulting units: 3rd Ching An Tui Brigade 26th Engineer Regiment 13th Indpt Infantry Regiment 1st Cavalry Brigade 5th Mongol Cavalry Division 4th Mongol Cavalry Division 26th Recon Regiment 11th Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 11th Chinese Corps 17th Group Army That frees the Cavalry and puppet units for a "reconnaissance in force" in the direction of Lanchow and elements of the 26th Division which will help to destroy the two remaining pockets of enemy resistance in the North and then will be ordered to Yennan. Here is the current situation and planned moves. Aim is to encircle and compress Allied Forces into the Sian area. [image]local://upfiles/1313/5B6ABA61D9FA43BE99AEE6CE00A94EEB.jpg[/image] PI: Small groups of Fubukis patrol the Visayas since naval search indicates that the Allied still use blockade runners toi Bataan. xAKL Latouche is being sunk near Iloilo. The Fubukis also bombard Iloilo and Cebu in preparation of landing operations with good results. There is one PI division at each place. At Clark Field, a counterattack sent the 21st PA Infantry Division and I Philippine Corps fleeing back into Bataan. DEI: In order to avid a similar setback against Allied MTB/PT boats like I suffered at Tarakan, I have sent a few small SAGs out to hunt the sneaky bastards reported by naval search and recon. A group of four DDs sink 5 Dutch and British MBTs at Madjene. Another group of four DDS sink one MTB at Bandjermasin and then spends the remaining ammo in a bombardment with spectacular results: Japanese Ships DD Michishio DD Oshio DD Asashio DD Hagikaze Allied ground losses: 55 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Resources hits 3 Manpower hits 5 Fires 228 Airbase hits 14 Airbase supply hits 3 Runway hits 47 Port hits 13 Port fuel hits 1 Port supply hits 7 Some Dutch and Australian bombers fly ineffective strikes against my raiders. At Sidate (near Manado), local garrison forces chase the remnants of the Dutch Manado garrison into the jungles and capture the dot base. Kure 1st SNLF CAPTURES Pare Pare (on Celebes) unopposed. Solomons: Treasury Islands and Russell Islands are occupied by the Japanese Rowboat Corps. I have moved a Mavis group from Rabaul to Tulagi (2 AVs on the way) to extend naval search into the Noumea area, where KB is one night-movement phase away from reaching striking range for Noumea. Before forced to leave, the Glen-equipeed I-9 reported the enemy TFs are still present. Let's hope for some easy victims! CentPac: 61st Naval Guard Unit CAPTURE Tarawa unopposed. Other: TF 226 encounters mine field at Agrihan (111,88) - PB Ryusei Maru sinks at sea. Pilot Makino R. is reported as having been found

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle of Ambon (11/12/2014 2:36:51 PM)
Report for the four-day period from Jan 27 - 30, 1942 Submarine war: SS O20 misses DD Asagumo near Makassar and receives four hits in return. SS Trusty launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Miike Maru near Kiungshan at 72,63, misses and is punished with one DC hit. SS KX launches 2 torpedoes at xAKL Hokuzan Maru near Miri, obtaining one hit which sinks the ship. Two days later, SS KX launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Toa Maru - same place, same result. I must be more careful with routing instructions! SS Cachalot intercepts AMC Bankok Maru near Gasmata - the AMC is limping to Rabaul with bomb damage obtained off Horn Island - and finishes her off with two torpedoes. SS I-160 sinks xAP Candioa near Singkawang at 54,86 with a torpedo and gunfire. SS I-4 launches 2 torpedoes at xAP Baranof near Sitkinak Island (Aleutians) at 181,46, misses and is hit once by KV Chilliwack - those RCN corvettes are nasty escorts... China: The infantry divisions at Nanyang are recovering slowly. I have sent the arty and tank units to the battle hex north of Nanyang to keep up the pressure. In North China the slow erosion of encircled Chinese forces continues - at 91,39 (near Chengting) for example, one unit from a stack containing one Group Army HQ and two Chinese Corps is destroyed. Malaya: The RAF night bombers keep hitting Kota Bharu. Although only 12 planes in 4 strikes are involved, they strike with uncanny precision. A total of 3 Zeros, 4 Nells, 2 Bettys are destroyed on the ground, 2 airbase hits, airbase supply hits, 7 runway hits suffered. My Navy flyboys at Kota Bharu attack Singers port for a change during the first two days: SS KXI, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk SS S-36, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk MMS-51, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk AMc Gemas, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk HDML P 10, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk AMc Jerantut, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk AMc Rahman, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk Repair Shipyard hits 1 Port hits 4 For January 29-30, I switched back to Singers airbase, but this time meet enemy CAP plus arrive uncoordinated - and suffer: #1 Strike: Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 35 G3M2 Nell x 28 G4M1 Betty x 3 Allied aircraft Buffalo I x 27 Hurricane IIb Trop x 9 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed, 12 damaged Allied aircraft losses Buffalo I: 1 destroyed Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 7 #2 Strike: Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 4 (due to heavy cloud cover) G3M2 Nell x 13 G4M1 Betty x 14 Allied aircraft Buffalo I x 18 Hurricane IIb Trop x 6 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed G3M2 Nell: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses Buffalo I: 1 destroyed Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed on ground Runway hits 2 Due to weather, some unescorted follow-on strikes add 1 Betty and 5 Nells to the butcher bill. I blame the meteorologist at 22nd Air Flotilla HQ for this disaster! On Jan 27-28, the Army flyboys from Kuala Lumpur hit the Singers airbases with two massive strikes (30 Oscars + 60-70 Sallies) and cause significant damage, the airfield damage levels are above 40 now. On Jan 29, they are ordered to support the Army attacking Johore Baru with low altitude ground strikes. They do well, losing only one Sally and the Army takes the base in the first attack: Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 60470 troops, 688 guns, 435 vehicles, Assault Value = 1763 Defending force 6549 troops, 85 guns, 108 vehicles, Assault Value = 89 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1 Japanese adjusted assault: 1282 Allied adjusted defense: 141 Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Johore Bahru !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 547 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 52 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Allied ground losses: 3622 casualties reported Squads: 23 destroyed, 39 disabled Non Combat: 144 destroyed, 49 disabled Engineers: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 48 (39 destroyed, 9 disabled) Vehicles lost 103 (99 destroyed, 4 disabled) Units retreated 5 Units destroyed 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 33rd Division 5th Division Imperial Guards Division 19th Ind Engineer Regiment 38th Division 23rd Ind Engineer Regiment 15th Ind Engineer Regiment 4th Ind Engineer Regiment 14th Tank Regiment 25th Ind Engineer Regiment 20th Ind Engineer Regiment 6th Tank Regiment 14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 20th AA Regiment 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 2nd Mortar Battalion 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 5th Mortar Battalion 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion 21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion Defending units: 27th Australian Brigade 3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment 113th RAF Adv Base Force III Indian Corps 29 Battery/3 HAA 111th RAF Adv Base Force 25th Army will rest for a turn or two to allow supplies to catch up - and then on to Singers! But - on the second day of the turn (Jan 30), the IJAAF blunders big time as well! Apparently they did not want to leave all the "glory" to the IJNAF flyboys alone... The bombers at Kuala Lumpur switch target automatically from Johore Bahru ground strikes to Singers ground strikes - at low level into CAP and without escorts, which somehow stayed with escort orders to Johore Bahru. Some stupid staff officer at 3rd Air Division HQ must have forgotten to coordinate the bombers with the fighter jockeys! I lose 15 Sallies to CAP and flak... ouch In the meantime, Mersing is captured by the 22nd Recon Regiment and the defending 1st Malay Battalion is not even a speed-bump. PI: Army flyboys from Clark Field hit xAKL Tatung which is left burning heavily. At Cabanatuan (east of Clark Field), fleeing remnants of the Mauban-Manila battle are hunted down - the Asiatic Fleet HQ is captured. A PB patrol encounters xAKL Luzon at Lubang but fails to sink this blockade runner. Tawi Tawi is occupied by elements of the 2nd SNLF Coy. Borneo: Samarinda receives a bombardment by 2 CLs which is successful and reveals no ground forces present.: Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 18 Port hits 4 Port fuel hits 1 Port supply hits 2 Balikpapan receives a heavier dose of the same treatment: Allied aircraft losses B-339D: 1 damaged B-339D: 1 destroyed on ground 139WH-3: 2 damaged 139WH-3: 2 destroyed on ground Japanese Ships BB Hyuga BB Nagato CL Kiso CL Yura Allied ground losses: 670 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 24 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Guns lost 16 (3 destroyed, 13 disabled) Airbase hits 17 Airbase supply hits 6 Runway hits 53 Port supply hits 1 During this bombardment, DD Yugiri hits a mine at Balikpapan and is escorted back to Makassar by DD Ushio. Just outside Macassar, DD Ushio is torpedoed by SS S-38. Both DDs manage to disband in Macassar port but need a month to fix enough damage to try to reach a repair yard. Next night, an encore at Balikpapan: Japanese Ships CA Atago, Shell hits 1 CL Tama DD Hayashio DD Oyashio Allied ground losses: 86 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled) Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 8 Invasion forces from Tarakan have arrived at undefended Samarinda - I prefer to shock attack across the river into Balikpapan than to land against opposition directly at Balikpapan. Java: After sweeps from Densapar-based Zeros find no opposition, a Nell group from Makassar bombs Soerabaja airbase and port, causing good damage - here is the most effective of several strikes: Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 4 G3M2 Nell x 20 Allied aircraft no flights No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Hudson I: 1 damaged Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground 139WH-3: 3 damaged 139WH-3: 1 destroyed on ground P-40E Warhawk: 4 damaged P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 15 16th and 21st Divisions are loading at Batangas (PI). They will meet at Makassar with 4th Division coming up from Port Moresby. This should be enough for Java. In the meantime, the elements of the 56th Division will recombine at Samarinda for the attack on Balikpapan and then prepare for Palembang - together with what is left in good-enough shape (I hope) after the attack on Singers. I'm not taking chances to get stuck in the DEI! Recon says Palembang is a fortress. I plan to land at Oosthaven with 56th Division and units not needed on Java and para-drop at and air-transport to Djambi the Singers forces and then walk into Palembang from the north-west, avoiding a river crossing. Maybe combined and coordinated with amphib landing and para drop at Palembang - the full nine yards. Hope this will limit damage to the oil wells... Rest of DEI: Boela is captured by the 8th Indpt SNLF Coy. Lautem is captured by the Sasebo 2nd SNLF, the local Dutch garrison surrenders. Ineffective small strikes by a handful of Dutch bombers against convoys and bombardment TFs operating around Densapar, Makassar and Samarinda. Darwin: Mini-KB stages another attack on Darwin airbase but only loses one Zero for nothing in return. The operation is covering a bombardment shuttle: #1 Bombardment: Allied aircraft losses PBY-4 Catalina: 10 damaged A-24 Banshee: 3 damaged A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed on ground Hudson I: 2 damaged Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground 50 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships BB Haruna BB Kongo CA Kumano CA Suzuya CA Mikuma CA Mogami, Shell hits 1 CA Maya CL Isuzu CL Jintsu Allied Ships TK Angelina, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage xAKL Taurus, Shell hits 1, on fire AMc Enggano, Shell hits 1, heavy damage TK Petronella, Shell hits 1 Allied ground losses: 657 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 48 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled Guns lost 10 (3 destroyed, 7 disabled) Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled) Resources hits 1 Airbase hits 3 Airbase supply hits 3 Runway hits 15 Port hits 3 Port fuel hits 1 #2 Bombardment: 4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 2 BB Mutsu Allied ground losses: 390 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled) I want to keep Darwin suppressed since I have plans for it after the SRA is secured... Brisbane: Midget subs try it again in 90+% moonshine - no luck: I-16 launches midget submarine Ha-16 to attack Brisbane SSX Ha-16 hits obstruction and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Brisbane I-20 launches midget submarine Ha-18 to attack Brisbane SSX Ha-18 unable to penetrate harbor at Brisbane and is abandoned I-24 launches midget submarine Ha-24 to attack Brisbane SSX Ha-24 gets tangled in nets and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Brisbane I-18 launches midget submarine Ha-17 to attack Brisbane SSX Ha-17 founders and is lost attempting to penetrate harbor at Brisbane I-22 launches midget submarine Ha-23 to attack Brisbane SSX Ha-23 hits a mine and is destroyed at Brisbane Solomons: Auki (east of Tulagi) is occupied. PNG: Japanese forces CAPTURE Salamaua and land at Milne Bay. Two SNLF units are still struggling accross the Owen Stanleys to capture Terauke and Kokoda and to eliminate the exPM garrison in the process. Noumea: Bad weather prevented KB from striking on Jan 27th, but on Jan 28th from a position south-east of Noumea our All Star Team launches - and is surprised by carrier fighters on land-based duty: #1 Strike: Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 55 B5N2 Kate x 27 D3A1 Val x 18 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 29 F4F-3 Wildcat x 19 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed Allied Ships xAK Cagou, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage AMC Cap des Palmes Allied ground losses: Vehicles lost 18 (11 destroyed, 7 disabled) #2 Strike: Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 72 B5N2 Kate x 18 D3A1 Val x 12 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 24 F4F-3 Wildcat x 11 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships AMC Cap des Palmes, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk xAP Katoomba, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk xAK Barossa, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage A day later, I order more strikes - I have not come that far down from Truk to do half a job! #3 Strike: Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 47 B5N2 Kate x 90 D3A1 Val x 128 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses D3A1 Val: 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses PBY-5 Catalina: 3 damaged PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground P-39D Airacobra: 5 damaged P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed on ground F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 damaged Allied Ships AM Doomba, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk xAKL Capitaine Illiaquer, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage xAKL Loyaute, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk YO-14, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk xAKL Mawata, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk xAK Barossa, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk Allied ground losses: 20 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Airbase hits 10 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 26 Port hits 4 Port fuel hits 4 #4 Strike: Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 48 B5N2 Kate x 90 D3A1 Val x 128 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses D3A1 Val: 5 damaged D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 damaged F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground P-39D Airacobra: 9 damaged P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 5 Port hits 8 Port fuel hits 1 Port supply hits 1 And in between, the detached heavies of KB's screen deliver some more greetings: Night Naval bombardment of Noumea at 115,160 - Coastal Guns Fire Back! Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 8 damaged P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground F4F-3 Wildcat: 8 damaged F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground PBY-5 Catalina: 1 damaged Japanese Ships BB Kirishima BB Hiei CL Abukuma DD Kasumi DD Arare DD Tanikaze DD Isokaze Allied ground losses: 125 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 7 (5 destroyed, 2 disabled) Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled) Light Industry hits 1 Airbase hits 5 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 4 Port hits 3 Port fuel hits 2 Port supply hits 1 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at BB Kirishima BB Kirishima firing at 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment BB Hiei firing at Noumea CL Abukuma firing at Noumea DD Kasumi firing at 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at DD Kasumi DD Arare firing at 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment DD Tanikaze firing at Noumea DD Isokaze firing at 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment The place got a good drubbing, which should slow the Allied build-up. I already plan a repeat performance after replacing plane losses and ammo at Truk. Ed may think I want to inavde New Caledonia - not planned, it is outside my "strategic moat" line which runs through Guadalcanal. Other: CL Java is reported to have been sunk near Ambon on Jan 03, 1942 Here are the air losses suffered on that disastrous Jan 30, 1942: [image]local://upfiles/1313/ED84CDB71B6C4913B3DC0D5CA7821176.jpg[/image]

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle of Ambon (11/18/2014 9:48:41 PM)
REPORT FOR Jan 31 - Feb 02, 1942 Allied Submarines: SS O24 sinks xAK Shinai Maru near Swatow at 80,62. SS KX sinks TK Mitu Maru near Miri at 64,87. Our submarines: Nothing to report. China: The AVG seems to be everywhere! They must have a sixth sense because they always seem to know where I strike next- this time I lose 2 Nates and 12 Sonias over Changsha... Ground attacks continue against isolated Chinese units in the North and near Hwaiyin. At 91,37 (near Kweisui), the 3rd Prov Chinese Corps and at 91,39 (near Chengting) the 13th Group Army SURRENDER. Burma: Nothing to report. Malaya: After the blunder and heavy losses on January 30th, all groups are grounded while staffers analyze the situation and designate the culprits. PI: Blockade-running AG Ban Hong Liong is intercepted near Lubang by four PBs patrolling off Bataan and sunk. Borneo: Elements of the 56th Division CAPTURE Samarinda !!! At 55,89 (near Pontianak), the II/124th Infantry Battalion attacks and West Borneo KNIL Battalion and Sarawak Force are RETREATING towards Pontianak. At sea, a minesweeping force clearing the mined harbor of Singkawang is surprised by a sortie of the ABDA strike force, probably from Batavia: Night Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 56,88, Range 11,000 Yards Japanese Ships DMS W-9, Shell hits 18, and is sunk DMS W-12, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk Allied Ships CL De Ruyter CL Dauntless CL Caledon, Shell hits 1 DD Barker DD Bulmer DD Vampire DD Vendetta DD Witte de With DD Thanet Java: Heavy clouds interfere with our air campaign over Soerabaja. Only a third of my Zeroes sweep and meet heavy resistance, barely making a dent: Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 16 Allied aircraft B-339D x 22 CW-21B Demon x 2 75A-7 Hawk x 8 P-40B Warhawk x 4 P-40E Warhawk x 19 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses B-339D: 2 destroyed P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed Then Nells attack unescorted into the strong CAP: Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 28 Allied aircraft B-339D x 16 CW-21B Demon x 1 75A-7 Hawk x 6 P-40B Warhawk x 4 P-40E Warhawk x 14 Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 13 destroyed, 3 damaged On the second day, we lose another Zero for one Warhawk and two Dutch Buffalos. Timor: Ground attacks continue in the jungles east of Koepang. PNG: 2nd Indpt SNLF Coy CAPTURES Milne Bay !!! 15 B-17s strike Port Moresby at 21k and are greeted by elite Zeros patrolling at 20k: B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged Solomons: Emirau Island is occupied by the Japanese Choiseul Bay is occupied by the Japanese Japanese forces CAPTURE Talasea !!! REPORT FOR Feb 02-03, 1942 Allied Submarines: SS S-41 launches 4 torpedoes at DMS W-13 near Balikpapan, 1 hit - DMS W-13 sinks. Our submarines: Interesting encounter: ASW attack near Tarawa at 140,129 - a bombardment raid or carrier escorts? Japanese Ships SS RO-60 Allied Ships CA San Francisco DD Tucker DD Reid DD Case Heavy ASW activities off Brisbane - I have three subs loitering in the area and two are attacked and damaged by PG Moresby and AVD William B. Preston. China: Japanese forces CAPTURE Loyang - the Chinese garrison has fled. Lots of troops marching around according to plan. Near Hwaiyin, the Lusu War Area HQ is being reduced by puppet units. In North China, isolated pockets should be eliminated soon. Chinese bombers stage nuisance raids on ground units - not enough to risk LRCAP and encounters with the AVG. In fact, I have grounded all air groups (except recon) in China and put them on training. I currently have two groups of Oscars with experience in the low 50s (after encounters with the AVG) and two groups of Nates which are waiting for Oscars plus the small experimental Tojo unit - I do not want to feed them to the Flying Tigers which seem to be everywhere I dared to fly. I will wait for the Oscar production to catch up and will try again to take the air offensive in China. Burma: The Thai units marching through the jungle from Chiang Mei in direction of Toungoo are a few miles short of reaching the hex next to Toungoo. Apparently they have not been spotted yet - soon Ed will discover what is going on. I am airlifting one Rgt of the 55th Division to Chiang Mei for a flanking movement across the river - should have thought about that sooner. Malaya: Singers swept and bombed, no CAP. PI: The 21st PI Division and I Philippine Corps are retreated from Clark Field back to Bataan. Sending units to Clark to get mauled is nonsense - I figure Ed simply wants to get rid of troops with the lowest combat value in order to relieve overstacking. Frankly, that is a bit cheesy - no real-life commander would send troops to their deaths so other troops have more to eat... Bataan airbase bombed, hoping to destroy supplies and preventing fort construction. No CAP but there are still fighters present - wondering when Ed will put them up again to down a few unsuspecting Sonias... I do have a third of a Sentai upgraded to Oscars which are sweeping Bataan and the other two-thirds left with Nates for escort - for what it is worth... Masbate is occupied by the Japanese. Sumatra: The 41st Infantry Regiment has crossed Malacca Strait on landing barges assembled at Georgetown and lands at Langsa. The base is undefended and should fall next turn. Borneo: Out of the blue (naval search saw nothing), enemy cruisers arrive at Miri and find a juicy TF in port, loading fuel... Night Time Surface Combat, near Miri at 64,87, Range 11,000 Yards Japanese Ships TK Arima Maru #4, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage (sinks later) TK Kanze Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk TK Nichiei Maru, Shell hits 16, and is sunk TK Nikkoku Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk TK Shoyo Maru, Shell hits 20, heavy fires, heavy damage (Sinks later) PB Hakka Maru, Shell hits 2 PB Kaika Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage (sinks later) PB Muroran Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire PB Konei Maru, Shell hits 5, and is sunk Allied Ships CL De Ruyter CL Dauntless CL Caledon DD Barker DD Bulmer DD Vampire DD Vendetta, Shell hits 1 DD Witte de With DD Thanet After running out of shipping targets, the base is plastered: Night Naval bombardment of Miri at 64,87 PB Hakka Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires (sinks later) Airbase hits 3 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 21 Port hits 8 Port fuel hits 1 Port supply hits 3 The intrepid SAG then continues to sweep the coast and finds another victim farther east: Day Time Surface Combat, near Kudat at 70,86, Range 19,000 Yards Japanese Ships TB Chidori, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage TB Manazuru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage xAP Koan Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires xAP Kobe Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires xAP Naminoue Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage Allied Ships CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 1 CL Dauntless, Shell hits 1 CL Caledon DD Barker DD Bulmer DD Vampire DD Vendetta DD Witte de With DD Thanet Japanese ground losses: Guns lost 14 (7 destroyed, 7 disabled) Not enough, a second small DD SAG is following the cruisers for mopping up: Day Time Surface Combat, near Kudat at 70,86, Range 15,000 Yards Japanese Ships TB Chidori, Shell hits 10, and is sunk TB Manazuru, Shell hits 11, and is sunk xAP Koan Maru, Shell hits 23, heavy fires, heavy damage (sinks later) xAP Kobe Maru, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk xAP Naminoue Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage (sinks later) Allied Ships DD Stewart DD Paul Jones DD Parrott Great - 3 good APs, 5 useful small tankers and 2 excellent ASW plattforms lost! (I don't mind the four cheap PBs.) Belatedly it dawns on me that this is the force that has sunk two DMS at Singkawang last turn, an event I did not pay much attention to because I did the turn in a hurry. Instead of retreating back to Singers or Batavia or where it came from, this SAG continued up the north coast of Borneo and inflicted these painful losses. Nice move, Ed! To add insult to injury - the SAG then continued around Borneo as if on a pleasure cruise and ended up near Tarakan! Now, this impudence shall be punished - the IJN and IJNAF are out looking with a vengeance! Netties are transferred from Kota Bharu to Makassar and several SAGs are sent sprinting to block every hex across the exit of Makassar Strait. I do have some convoys in the vicinity which are rushed to safety, shedding some escorts to act as pickets and rear guards. One convoy has loaded 16th and 21st Division on fast transports on their way to Java - it has surface escort so is allowed to continue through Makassar Strait (hugging the coast of Celebes) in order to rendevous near Denpasar with 4th Division coming up from Port Moresby. While all this is going on, light units stage an amphibious Assault at Bandjermasin (60,99). Celebes: Small unit action contine at Sidate with 1st Indpt SNLF Coy trading squads with the Manado Garrison Battalion. Timor: Kure 2nd SNLF continues to reduce the Dutch ex-Koepang garrison in the jungles east of the base. PNG/Solomons: Tassafaronga is occupied by the Japanese TF 96 encounters a mine field at 107,126 in the channel south of Rabaul: PB Tsuneshima Maru hits Mk 10 Mine at 107 , 126 PB Tsuneshima Maru sinks.... Another TF following behind fails to get the word: TF 111 encounters mine field at 107,126 xAKL Tateyama Maru hits Mk 10 Mine at 107 , 126 xAKL Tateyama Maru sinks.... TF 235 rescuing 45 men from 82nd Naval Guard Unit CentPac: After the sighting of enemy ships near Tarawa by submarine and naval search, orders for KB near Guadalcanal are changed from "retreat to Truk" to "look-see near Tarawa". NorPac: AMC Kiyosumi Maru is patrolling near Ulak Island at 160,56 - and is hit by a prowling PBY with a bomb. REPORT FOR Feb 04-05, 1942 Allied Submarines: The ability of the Allied submarines to find the right spots for traffic is uncanny and scary... Supply convoys on the way from the Home Islands to the Java front run over SS S-39 near Talaud-eilanden at 79,96. First xAK Taito Maru and then xAK Takao Maru suffer one torpedo hit each. xAK Takao Maru sinks. Next day, SS S-39 shifts position and launches 4 torpedoes at TK Eiyo Maru near Gorontalo at 72,96 - two hits sink TK Eiyo Maru. I am sure the skipper will receive a medal! SS S-18 launches three persistent attacks at AMC Akagi Maru patrolling near Agattu Island (Aleutians), scoring a total of four torpedo hits, sinking AMC Akagi Maru. Not enough, in a fourth attack she hits AMC Kiyosumi Maru of the same TF, scoring one torpedo hit. Another medal... My ASW forces hit back: SS Shark is hit by an ASW attack near Subic Bay. Either Ed is running sub ops from Bataan until the last possible moment - or he is using subs to run supplies to Bataan. In any case, I have float planes on ASW at Manila and PBs on ASW on station off Bataan. MGB G-4 patrolling at Port Moresby hits SS S-37 once - probably not evenenough to send her home. Our submarines: SS I-122 lays minefield at Muntok ( 50 , 90) and sets course for Kendari SS I-172 is damaged off Noumea by enemy surface ASW and returns to Truk for repairs. China: 35th Chinese Corps SURRENDERS at 91,39 (near Chengting) - the last pocket in North China has been eliminated and 63rd Division, 8th and 9th Ind. Mixed Brigades and the 5th Tank Regiment are free to launch operations against Yenan. At 85,56 (near Nanchang), the weak 21st Chinese Corps is RETREATING towards Pucheng with heavy losses: Japanese ground losses: 200 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 1497 casualties reported Squads: 74 destroyed, 15 disabled Non Combat: 43 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled Guns lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled) Units retreated 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 55th Infantry Brigade 51st Infantry Brigade 12th Ind.Mixed Brigade Defending units: 21st Chinese Corps Burma: Nothing to report. Malaya: Air attacks on Singers continue. CAP is up again - 5 Zeros traded for 2 Hurricanes and 2 Buffalos plus 3 bombers lost to flak. A night attack by 3 B-17Ds on Johore Bahru destroys an Oscar on the ground. 25th Army has rested and received attack orders for Singers - Guards, 5th, 18th, 33rd and 38th Divisions, 3 Tank Rgts, 6 Independent Engr Rgts and 10 Arty units should be enough - in any case, I could not bring much more due to stacking limits. PI: Tapul is occupied by the Japanese. A PB ASW patrol encounters a small convoy near Bataan at 77,77 - Ed is really trying hard to run supplies into Bataan! KV Freesia and xAK Bintang are left burning fiercly and are presumed sunk. CAP is up over Bataan again - one P-35A and one P-40 - but no losses to either side. One Sonia is downed by flak. Sumatra: The 41st Infantry Regiment CAPTURES Langsa. SS Truant sinks three landing barges with gunfire. Java: 4th, 16th and 21st Divisions land at undefended Loemadjang with minimal disruption and casualties. I expect change of base ownership next turn. Dutch bombers launch weak attacks against the invasion TFs which are beaten off by Zeros on LRCAP fron Denpasar. Borneo: Sasebo 3rd SNLF CAPTURES Bandjermasin !!! SE Borneo KNIL Battalion RETREATING towards Balikpapan Bandjermasin Base Force RETREATING towards Balikpapan Celebes: The sneaky enemy cruiser SAG near Tarakan has turned around and is heading back along the north coast of Borneo. There are some encounters with rear guard / pickets ships I have left in the area. Two DMS are damaged but will survive, the enemy does not press the issue as he surely is low on ammo and fuel by now. I will rush one SAG to patrol off Singkawang and reposition submarines in the narrows leading to Batavia. Netties rebase from Macassar to Kota Bharu and are set to naval attack. Bandasan SNLF CAPTURES Gorontalo. Ground combat at 68,104 (near Kolaka) - Sasebo 8th SNLF sends the remnants of the Kendari Garrison Battalion RETREATING towards Palopo. Timor: The guerilla campaign on Timor ends victorious for the Kure 2nd SNLF: Timor Garrison Battalion SURRENDERS !!! Dili Detachment SURRENDERS !!! PNG: Finschhafen is occupied by the Japanese. 8th Indpt SNLF Coy CAPTURES Babo and the small oil production undamaged. CentPac: KB has swept the Gilberts and is near Baker Island - nothing spotted, course is set to Truk for refueling.

GreyJoy -> RE: Battle of Ambon (11/19/2014 4:03:25 PM)
Isn't this date still too early to start drinking fuel from Borneo when the DEI isn't yet completely under your control? I tend not to do anything with my tankers (except, maybe, supplying my big port for the main fleet necessities) until I the threat of the enemy SAGs is neutralized. Nice match anyway! And intriguing AAR

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle of Ambon (11/21/2014 11:51:39 AM)
Hi GreyJoy, thanks for visiting. I am following your (and obvert's) AAR religiously [:)]. I know it is a bit early to send tankers that far forward, but I count on local fuel supplies to operate the IJN in the DEI rather than shipping fuel all the way from the Home Islands to a fuel-producing area (that's like carrying coals to Newcastle). Therefore I have small TKs shuttling fuel from Miri and Tarakan (and Saigon) to my forward bases at Kendari (currently shifting to Makassar). Well, it backfired since I did not expect a SAG raid in waters covered by Netties (which I failed to set to naval attack...). Good move by Ed and another blunder on my side - but hey, it's my first PBEM with AE so I am learning. REPORT FOR Feb 06-07, 1942 Allied Submarines: Couple of attacks but torpedoes either miss or fail to explode. Guns however, do work - at Babo, SS Sargo shells xAK Shinwa Maru, hitting her six times. Gunners on the xAK hit back twice before their ships sinks - taking the 8th Ind. SNLF Coy with her. Takes but one PP to buy this LCU back, but still... Our submarines: SS I-162 intercepts two Dutch destroyers near Soerabaja and hits DD Kortenaer with one torpedo - further results are unobserved since DD Van Ghent launches an ineffective counter-attack. SS I-157 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Stewart near Singkawang and pays the for attacking in shallow waters: quote: Japanese Ships SS I-157, hits 10, and is sunk Allied Ships DD Stewart DD Thanet DD Witte de With CL Dauntless China: Chinese bombers continue their nuisance raids and disable some squads. This starts to annoy me... I have decided to sweep hex 85,40 near Sian where my troops are launching a cross-river attack with the Tojo experimental unit, hoping to catch some Flying Tigers who may LRCAP the hex expecting air support for the ground attack - 3 H81-A3 shot down for no losses. The said cross-river attack is a full success: quote: Ground combat at 85,40 (near Sian) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 29905 troops, 234 guns, 216 vehicles, Assault Value = 985 Defending force 18240 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 441 Japanese adjusted assault: 788 Allied adjusted defense: 153 Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 644 casualties reported Squads: 3 destroyed, 84 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled Vehicles lost 51 (4 destroyed, 47 disabled) Allied ground losses: 11928 casualties reported Squads: 220 destroyed, 116 disabled Non Combat: 329 destroyed, 7 disabled Engineers: 8 destroyed, 12 disabled Guns lost 20 (7 destroyed, 13 disabled) Units retreated 2 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 12th Tank Regiment 110th Division 5th Armored Car Co 15th Tank Regiment 37th Division 41st/A Division 1st Army 12th Army Defending units: 16th Chinese Corps 42nd Chinese Corps Two divisions are not enough to attack Sian (where recon has identified 10 units with 60k men). While waiting for reinforcements to come up, I will use part of my troops to clear the east bank of the Yellow River opposite of Sian, and another part to feint in the direction of Yenan. At 85,58 (near Foochow), 1st RGC Route Brigade on a recon mission finds the 86th Chinese Corps sitting in the hex and is sent back in retreat. Burma: The Thai units emerge from the jungles south-east of Toungoo and take the road to close on that base - it appears lightly garrisoned at the moment but Ed may rail-in reinforcements. Malaya: Singers swept and bombed - no CAP but 3 bombers lost to flak. 25th Army ends the turns one mile short of Singers. That gives me the opportunity to coordinate the river crossing with a para drop - I hope the paras will create confusion and disruption in the enemy's rear to help with the river crossing attack. The Navy flyboys at Kota Bharu supposed to hunt the ABDA strike force prefer to attack a small TF right in the port of Singers - luckily no losses, xAP Candesa is torpedoed twice and sinks. PI: Bataan bombed, no CAP but 1 Sonia killed by flak. Again, Philippine troops have been sent to Clark Field to get killed [8\|]. DEI: PT-32 hits a mine at at Muntok (50,90 - off Palembang) - finally my submarine minelayers can claim a victim... At our invasion site at Loemadjang (Java), enemy bombers try day and night attacks. Only the torpedo-totting "stringbags" have success - xAK Taifuku Maru and xAKL Haguro Maru are sunk. Loemadjang is captured. Yokosuka 4th SNLF lands at Djokjakarta (Java) to cut retreat paths to Batavia. Kure 1st SNLF captures Madjene (Celebes). A paradrop by the Yokosuka 1st SNLF captures Melak (Borneo - the inland base near Samarinda/Tarakan). On the north coast of Borneo, the air, surface and submarine chase for the ABDA strike force has mixed success. It appears the enemy has split into several small SAGs, increasing chances that some get through. First is the submarine attack near Singkawang at 55,87 in which SS I-157 is sunk. That hex is also the destination for a heavy SAG with two Kongos which en route encoutner two small SAGs: The first intercept is a dud - apparently the tired Japanese lookouts failed to spot the enemy: quote: Night Time Surface Combat, near Pontianak at 54,89, Range 10,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Kongo BB Haruna CA Mogami CA Mikuma CA Suzuya CA Kumano CL Jintsu DD Oyashio DD Hayashio DD Murasame DD Harusame DD Yudachi DD Samidare Allied Ships CL De Ruyter DD Barker DD Parrott DD Vendetta Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 60% moonlight: 11,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 10,000 yards Allied TF attempts to evade combat Range increases to 12,000 yards... Allied Surface Combat TF evades combat But a short time later, a second force is intercepted: quote: Night Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 55,88, Range 11,000 Yards Japanese Ships BB Kongo BB Haruna, Shell hits 1 CA Mogami CA Mikuma CA Suzuya CA Kumano CL Jintsu DD Oyashio DD Hayashio DD Murasame DD Harusame DD Yudachi DD Samidare Allied Ships CL Dauntless, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Stewart DD Witte de With DD Thanet, Shell hits 1 Navy flyboys from Kota Bharu intercept one of the TFs near Kuching at 57,87: quote: Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 24 G3M2 Nell x 20 Allied aircraft B-339D x 4 Japanese aircraft losses G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses B-339D: 1 destroyed Allied Ships DD Bulmer CL Caledon, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage DD Paul Jones Other air strikes are directed against some small fry at Langsa - HDML Pahalwan is torpedoes and sunk. In the Indian Ocean, the enemy has discovered Mini-KB (Zuiho, Ryujo, Hosho) off Sunda Strait and launches two air attacks, 40 Zeros on CAP down many attackers for no losses and no hits: quote: Allied aircraft losses Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed 139WH-3: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged B-339D: 5 destroyed Hudson I: 4 damaged Mini-KB in turn launches a port strike at Batavia - no CAP, one Kate damaged by flak and CMc Pro Patria hit once (probably sunk) and CA Houston hit twice. I play with a very short message delay but saw that at least one hit was a 800kg bomb - I hope on Houston! PNG: THe B-17s switch to night attacks - those cowards! 1 Airbase supply hit at Port Moresby. I have a convoy with AA units on the way - for what Japanese flak is worth... IAJ construction units arrive at Lae and are moved to Nadzab for airfield construction. I plan to anchor my PNG defense on Nadzab (size 6+3 airbase). Lae and Wau will serve as satellite fighter bases for added protection. Hope to make the re-capture of Port Moresby a bloody affair. Unfortunately I found out that Dobadura is actually only size 1 potential and Buna is size 6 (it is the other way round in my mod - last time I played a vanilla DBB dates back some time...), so my plans to expand Dobadura are cancelled. I will not improve Buna or PM since too vulnerable to surface bombardments. Long-term plan is the denial of the best base locations to the Allies as long as possible. Maizuru 1st SNLF captures Kokoda, of the 13th Field Regiment and 15th RAN Base Force, one unit is destroyed and the other retreats to the coast north of Port Moresby. Solomons: Special Base Forces are shifted to Shortlands and Tulagi to start improving the anchorages. I only have some Naval Guard Companies and Independent SNLF Companies in the Solomons but with KB in the area I doubt Ed will try something funny that early. CentPac: A couple of submarines terminate their patrols off the West Coast, between the West Coast and Pearl and south of Pearl in order to refuel. Contacts have been very sparse - I must be looking at the wrong spots... NorPac: One Glen-equipped sub is conducting recon missions - an unidentified ground unit is spotted on Adak Island. Other: Maiana and Basilan are occupied by the Japanese 5th column / Rowboat Corps - did not bother to check but they surely are in the PI / DEI area. Two months into the war I finally have my first ace: PO2 Kurauchi, T. of 3rd Ku S-1 is credited with kill number 5 PO2 Kurauchi, T. of 3rd Ku S-1 attains ace status!! DD Scout is reported to have been sunk near Miri on Dec 11, 1941 Previous report of sinking of CL Marblehead incorrect. Ship sighted and engaged at 49, 98 (Batavia - apparently she has been spotted in the port raid by Mini-KB).

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle for Singers (11/24/2014 9:28:13 AM)
REPORT FOR Feb 08-09, 1942 Allied Submarines: SS Triton is hit once by SC Ch 18 near Kaishu. Our submarines: nada China: Marching, bombing, bombarding. Burma: Blenheims attack the Thai units near Toungoo. I will LRCAP them next turn. P-40Es (re-equipped AVG?) and Buffalos sweep Moulmein but 18 Oscars on CAP down 3 Warhawk and 1 Buffalo for 2 Oscars lost. Malaya: Netties sink a couple of MLs, HDMLs, AMcs and xAKL Lyemun at Singers and Medan. Singers ground forces are being bombed by all IJAF planes in range in preparation of the shock attack accross Johore Strait. Weak CAP and flak cause the loss of a dozen bombers. A handful of British bombers counter-attack my ground forces but Oscars on CAP disrupt their aim. The shock attack is not the overrun attack I have hoped for, in fact my forces are handled quite roughly. The tank and combat Engr units are trashed, the paratrooper elements of 1st and 2nd Raiding Rgts dropped in the hope of disrupting the defenders are wiped out - twice. The infantry divisions suffered less, but are highly disrupted (80+). The arty is ok and will bombard next turn while the other units rest and rebuild. 1st day: quote: Ground combat at Singapore (50,84) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 75700 troops, 815 guns, 548 vehicles, Assault Value = 2274 Defending force 44195 troops, 493 guns, 289 vehicles, Assault Value = 808 Japanese adjusted assault: 1153 Allied adjusted defense: 729 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-) Japanese ground losses: 9101 casualties reported Squads: 46 destroyed, 688 disabled Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 72 disabled Engineers: 29 destroyed, 118 disabled Guns lost 76 (4 destroyed, 72 disabled) Vehicles lost 68 (6 destroyed, 62 disabled) Units destroyed 2 Allied ground losses: 4326 casualties reported Squads: 80 destroyed, 166 disabled Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 141 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled Guns lost 84 (18 destroyed, 66 disabled) Vehicles lost 52 (14 destroyed, 38 disabled) Assaulting units: 18th Division 20th Ind Engineer Regiment 5th Division 19th Ind Engineer Regiment 23rd Ind Engineer Regiment 6th Tank Regiment 15th Ind Engineer Regiment Imperial Guards Division 38th Division 1st Tank Regiment 1st Raiding Rgt /1 33rd Division 4th Ind Engineer Regiment 25th Ind Engineer Regiment 14th Tank Regiment 2nd Raiding Rgt /1 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 2nd Mortar Battalion 25th Army 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion 5th Mortar Battalion 21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion Defending units: SSVF Brigade 3rd Cavalry Regiment 8th Indian Brigade 28th Gurkha Brigade 2nd Malay Battalion 2/17 Dogra Battalion 6th Indian Brigade 2nd Loyal Battalion 1st Hyderabad Battalion 22nd Indian Brigade 22nd Australian Brigade 5/14th Punjab Battalion 27th Australian Brigade 2nd Gordons Battalion 1st Manchester Battalion 12th Indian Brigade 112th RAF Adv Base Force 3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment 2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment Malayan Air Wing 113th RAF Adv Base Force AHQ Far East Singapore Base Force Malaya Army 3rd Heavy AA Regiment 1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment Singapore Fortress 1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment 22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment 2/215th Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment 109th RN Base Force 137/155th Field Regiment 24th NZ Pioneer Coy 5th Field Regiment 2nd day: quote: Ground combat at Singapore (50,84) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 68882 troops, 814 guns, 547 vehicles, Assault Value = 1659 Defending force 40904 troops, 477 guns, 277 vehicles, Assault Value = 542 Japanese adjusted assault: 1161 Allied adjusted defense: 607 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-) Japanese ground losses: 3414 casualties reported Squads: 12 destroyed, 67 disabled Non Combat: 36 destroyed, 82 disabled Engineers: 53 destroyed, 45 disabled Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled) Vehicles lost 134 (39 destroyed, 95 disabled) Units destroyed 2 Allied ground losses: 2831 casualties reported Squads: 88 destroyed, 85 disabled Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 116 disabled Engineers: 8 destroyed, 22 disabled Guns lost 60 (31 destroyed, 29 disabled) Vehicles lost 24 (8 destroyed, 16 disabled) Assaulting units: 1st Tank Regiment 19th Ind Engineer Regiment 33rd Division 1st Raiding Rgt /1 5th Division 38th Division 14th Tank Regiment 23rd Ind Engineer Regiment Imperial Guards Division 20th Ind Engineer Regiment 15th Ind Engineer Regiment 18th Division 4th Ind Engineer Regiment 6th Tank Regiment 25th Ind Engineer Regiment 2nd Raiding Rgt /1 5th Mortar Battalion 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 3rd Mortar Battalion 25th Army 2nd Mortar Battalion 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion 14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion Defending units: 2nd Gordons Battalion 5/14th Punjab Battalion 8th Indian Brigade 2/17 Dogra Battalion 1st Manchester Battalion 3rd Cavalry Regiment 1st Hyderabad Battalion 28th Gurkha Brigade 27th Australian Brigade 22nd Australian Brigade 22nd Indian Brigade 6th Indian Brigade 2nd Malay Battalion 2nd Loyal Battalion 12th Indian Brigade 1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment 2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment 113th RAF Adv Base Force 3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment SSVF Brigade 112th RAF Adv Base Force Singapore Base Force 109th RN Base Force 137/155th Field Regiment Singapore Fortress 3rd Heavy AA Regiment AHQ Far East 24th NZ Pioneer Coy Malaya Army 2/215th Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment 22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment Malayan Air Wing 1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment 5th Field Regiment PI: Two Sonias lost to flak. The enemy units at Clark are destroyed / retreated back to Bataan with heavy losses: quote: Allied ground losses: 1349 casualties reported Squads: 34 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 76 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 29 (29 destroyed, 0 disabled) Units retreated 1 Units destroyed 1 On Mindanao, 2nd/101st PA Battalion is destroyed in the jungles at 78,92 near Dadjangas by the 16th Naval Guard Unit. Elements of the 2nd Division finally arrive at Davao. DEI: Mini-KB attacks Batavia airfield and suffer heavy losses against USAAF P-40s and Dutch Buffalos. 5 Zeroes, 8 Jean, 7 Kate destroyed for 3 Buffalos and 1 Warhawk. The price for keeping the enemy airforce occupied while many SAGs are operating around Batavia without air cover. Dutch level bombers from Batavia attacking my SAGs off Batavia and Sunda Strait but hit nothing. Many ships spotted at Palembang. Can't get there with BBs and the hex is probably heavily minded, so I will try to put a cork on all possible exits (Netties in Malaya, Mini-KB and SAG off Sunda Strait, SAG at Denpasar). AG Vyner Brooke is sunk by BB Haruna near Singkawang. One of my SAgs was busy: First, DD Paul Jones is sunk by BB Ise near Batavia. DD Bulmer escapes because my ships get in each others way - DD Yayoi collides with DD Mochizuki. Next, Batavia is bombarded with good results: quote: Naval bombardment of Batavia at 49,98 - Coastal Guns Fire Back! Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses 139WH-3: 34 damaged 139WH-3: 2 destroyed on ground Blenheim IV: 7 damaged Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed on ground PBY-5 Catalina: 2 damaged PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground B-339D: 1 damaged Do-24K-1: 1 destroyed on ground 8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships BB Ise, Shell hits 2 BB Fuso CL Yubari CL Tatsuta CL Tenryu CL Tama CL Kinu Allied ground losses: 542 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 37 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 13 (8 destroyed, 5 disabled) Airbase hits 5 Airbase supply hits 3 Runway hits 16 Port fuel hits 1 However, retreating towards Makassar, Fuso and Ise collect one air-launched torpedo each near Soreabaja despite Zero LRCAP from Denpasar. Ise shrugs it off but Fuso will need yard time. On the ground, 3 divisions are advancing on Soerabaja. The Yokosuka 4th SNLF at Djokjakarta fails to take the base - reinforcements have arrived and can hold despite op mode penalty: quote: Ground combat at Djokjakarta (52,103) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 1912 troops, 18 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 63 Defending force 4307 troops, 57 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 157 Japanese adjusted assault: 43 Allied adjusted defense: 29 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), op mode(-), preparation(-) experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-) Japanese ground losses: 58 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 86 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: Yokosuka 4th SNLF Defending units: 1st Regt Cavalerie 4th KNIL Regiment 3/4th Avn Sup Afd On Borneo, Japanese forces CAPTURE Pontianak !!! quote: Allied aircraft losses B-339D: 2 destroyed Japanese ground losses: 47 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 846 casualties reported Squads: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 50 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Guns lost 10 (9 destroyed, 1 disabled) Units retreated 3 Units destroyed 2 Assaulting units: II/124th Infantry Battalion Defending units: West Borneo KNIL Battalion Singkawang Base Force 106th RN Base Force Pontianak Base Force Sarawak Force PNG: Night-bombing by B-17s hitting nothing. Solomons: Nothing to report. CentPac: Nothing to report. NorPac: A SNLF recently arrived as reinforcement will establish an outpost on Attu Is. to provide early warning of any Allied moves in the North.

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle for Singers (11/28/2014 8:05:20 PM)
Due to a change of job I won't have the time anymore to write detailed AARs for each turn as before. I will try to post the highlights though. The game has advanced four days, we are at February 13th. In Burma, the attack of the Thai unit on Toungoo fails, reinforcements have railed in which hold despite op mode penalty. Looks like Ed is evacuating, there is only one unit left to contest the river crossing north of Moulmein - 55th Div will advance. Moulmein has been bombarded by a RN cruiser SAG for moderate damage. After this attack, I have moved 45 Zeroes and 72 Nells to Bangkok to catch other bombardment attempts and to attack convoys spotted at and near Rangoon. For some reason the Air HQ airlifted from Kuantan to Bangkok failed to provide torpedoes. During the first attacks against heavy CAP, 5 Zeroes and 3 Nells are lost for 1 Buffalo and one bomb hit on an AK. Finally, on Feb 13th sweeps from the IJAF lend a hand (grounded by weather before), downing more enemies than own planes lost, and the Navy flyboys manage to land a few more bomb hits on xAKs. I have ordered only bombardment attacks with Arty units at Singers on Feb 11-13 to allow the Inf, Engr and tanks to recover a bit. A new effort with a DA is ordered now - maybe (just maybe) I can capture Singers on Feb 15th [:)]. On Java, Djokjakarta is reinforced with another SNLF unit, less to capture the base but to prevent the first wave from being anihilated. The three IJA divisions are encirceling Soerabaja before moving in for the kill. Remaining enemy surface assets try to flee the DEI. CL Marbelehead is hit by a submarine torp, Houston is missed. Near Pamekasan CL Sumatra plus DD escort sinks two of my dwindling fleet of DMS - their screening SAG has left them alone to sink a fleeing xAKLs and an AG. Enemy submarines torpedoe two of my CMs, one near Wenchow the other near Kiriwina Is. Three of my submarines are hit by ASW forces but will survive. In the South, Woodlark and Kiriwina Is. have been occupied by Naval Guard units. KB has rearmed at Truk and heads south again - except Akagi, Kirishima and Chikuma which need to fix some sys dmg.

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle for Singers (12/26/2014 11:06:34 AM)
Low activity at work due to xmas gives me time for an update. Going from memory here, so just a summary without hard facts. We are in March 04 now. China: Heavy air losses, AVG springs nasty traps from time to time - they always seem to know where I am planning to hit next. I have two groups of Oscars plus the Tojo experimental unit there, but numerical superiority in Oscars does not help. Alas, with PDU off there are only a bunch of Nate groups to add, which is pointless as they die even faster than the Oscars. I do not want to engage Navy fighters in China, there are not enough Navy fighter units, Zeroes and pilots for China AND the SRA. Waiting for Tojos... On the ground, the pincer movement against Sian is proceeding slowly. The Chinese units south of Sian are conducting delaying actions, but I am not pressing hard here since the goal is to encircle the enemy forces around Sian. Unfortunately, the left pincer from Nanyang via Anking is actually stalled due to the fact that the main elements - two divisions at Nanyang - are slow to recover. They suffered about 50% disabled squads/devices during the battle for Nanyang and only recover at a rate of 1-2 squads/devices per day - despite presence of China Exp. Army HQ at Nanyang. and 3x the required supplies. The right pincer following the north bank of the Yellow River resp. Wei River has reached the hex due east (map-wise) of Sian and has cut the road to Yenan. Due to the necessity to leave garrisons behind to keep the corridor open, the tip of the spear has been reduced to two divisions. They will rest while waiting for the Yenan operation to terminate. I have forces marching on Yenan from several directions, but progress is slow in this almost roadless country. Some Chinese units north of Yenan are actually trying to get behind my stacks to cut their LOCs, but I have tank units on the move to check them. Burma: The air war above Rangoon was give an take, as in China the Oscars and Nate do not really distinguish themselves. Reluctantly, I have sent some Navy flyboys to help stop the flow of convoys to Rangoon (supplies for China, no doubt). By the end of February, the Thai units have captured Toungoo and are continuing north, while 55th Division has finally crossed the river obstacles and is marching on Rangoon. It seems that Rangoon, Pegu and the river crossing hexes have been evacuated due to the Toungoo operation. A para drop at undefended Prome has cut off one retreat path, but it appears that except for some speed bumps, the Burma Corps has already escaped north. I will continue operations to secury Burma incl. Akyab, but "plans" (or more precisely dreams about) for India have been shelved due to events described below. Malaya: Singers has finally fallen around February 22, after a prolonged and unexpected tough resistance. Although only defended by six brigades (Ed did not combine the units into divisions for some reason) and assorted smaller units - Ed has not thrown any reinforcements away at Singers - my forces needed a month to capture the base. I had assembled five divisions, six Combat Engineer Regiments plus ample tank and arty, almost all fully prepped for Singers. I have bombed Singers for over a month as well. Still, forts were at level 3 and I took very heavy casualties in the river-crossing shock attack - most Eng units got almost wiped out with a handfull of disabled squads / devices left, the tank and infantry units suffered heavy losses and ended up 50%-80% disabled. Only the arty remained intact. Alternating rest periods with bombardment and ground attacks, Singers needed four more ground attacks. 25th Army is in a bad shape - plans for invading India have been scrapped. I am piling supplies at Singers and concentrating my air forces for the attack on Palembang. DEI: On Sumatra, an IJA regiment is clearing the northern part of the island, only Sabang remains to be taken. Having captured Balikpapan, 56th Division is on the way to Palembang via Benkolen, with two of the least damaged divisions from 25th Army following. Some SNLF units are mopping-up on Borneo. On Java, three IJA divisions have captured Soerabaja and are slowly advancing in the direction of Batavia. The enemy is resisting with with air attacks from Palembang which until the fall of Singers was outside LBA range and from batavia which until the fall of Soerabaja was outside LBA range. Furthermore, an important amount of shipping was accumulating in the Batavia-Palembang area - apparently short-range auxiliaries and damaged combat ships. To counter the enemy'S air and surface activities, I made the following dispositions: 1. Nayv flyboys from Kota Bharu were tasked to close the Strait of Malacca - they wasted a lot of torpedoes against HDML and ML types, but nothing else. I have sent them to Bangkok, hoping that from there they can cover the northern exit of the Strait of Malacca as well as the approaches to Rangoon. 2. Several SAGs built around old BBs and CAs have been tasked to block Sunda Strait and to bombard Palembang and Batavia on several occasions. Some success, notably by closing Palembang airbase. But despite DMS sniffing for mines before sending SAGs through Sunda Strait, one of them ran afoul into a minefield - three BBs, 2 CAs and several DDs have hit mines, two DDs sank. The rest needs yard time. To add insult to injury, my DMS types seems to be magnets for enemy TFs - I have lost several of these precious ships in chance encounters with fleeing enemy ships. Enemy air attacks on my SAGs have been shrugged of for the most part, the bombers hit seldom anyway - except some Vildebeests scoring torpedo hits on a BB and a CA, adding two ships to the yard time applicants. 3. Mini-KB (Zuiho, Shoho, Ryujo, Hosho), basing at Makassar, was tasked to keep Sunda Strait and Batavia covered, sometimes split into two TFs for replenishing. Dancing around to avoid subs, Mini-KB has had some success, couple of ships hit, but also heavy losses against CAP over Palembang and Batavia. However, last turn my luck ran out. As a xmas present for Ed, a Dutch sub has torpedoed both Ryujo (3x) AND Shoho (1x). Both CVLs suffered secondary explosions of fuel/ammo. Ryujo of course sank same turn, Shoho is at 88 float damage and a long way from any friendly port. I hardly ever scuttle ships as long as there is the slightest chance to save it, so she will try to reach a friendly base. She is heading for Buitenzorg, where I have just dropped a fragment of 56th Division from a damaged transport in danger of sinking (mine hit at Merak...). With lots of luck Shoho may survive long enough for the fragment to capture the base and allowing the CVL to disband - not that a level 0 port will help much. Additional DDs have been split from other TFs nearby and are converging to merge with the cripple - to enhance ASW and to pick up Shoho's crew in the likely case that she sinks as well. With the high damage level, the air groups are stuck on board, but I have pulled all pilots. Oh well... Australia: I am building up Koepang as a forward fleet base and air base for my campaign against Northern Australia in order to keep long-range bombers out of reach of the SRA. Two SNLF have captured lightly defended Derby as the first stepping stone. A handful of P-40s and A-24s operate from Broome, but LRCAP from Koepang took care of them. Recon indicates that Wyndham and Darwin have been reinforced and last turn I have observed naval activities at Broome - a CL-SAG will investigate, with a BB-SAG to bombard the air base following up. The "big push" will wait for 25th Army units recovering at Singers and the units currently engaged on Java and Sumatra. If Ed select to defend Darwin, shuttle bombarments by BBs (as soon as they are out of the yards...) from Koepang will hurt him, while the flanks are guarded by LBA at Port Moresby and Koepang. South Pacific: In late February, KB made a sweep from Truk to Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia - goal was to scare away and thus delay any reinforcement convoys at sea and with luck maybe to sink something. I kept the path and air strike ranges out of reach of Sydney, Auckland and Noumea - don't want my CAGs getting chewed up again by CAP like the last time at Noumea. Well, I got lucky and sank an entire convoy between Australia and New Zealand which must have carried at least a regiment of troops. Off Auckland last turn, a few four-stackers have been added to the list. I plan to establish a forward fleet base at Tulagi in order to repeat the performance more often. KB will be kept in the Pacific to keep the USN honest. Central Pacific: I'm taking the numerous dot bases in the southern Gilberts with light naval forces and small SNLF Coys. They will serve as "early warning stations" for any Allied counter-offensives in the area. Dots which can support substantial air bases (size 3) will be defended by at least one NG unit and have priority in the assignement of construction units for fortification building. I will not expand the air base facilities and ports only to level 1 to help with supply storage. "Fortress type" defenses are being constructed at Kusaie and Ponape, the outlying "speed bumps" and KB should by the necessary time. I may counter-counterattack any early moves on the early warning stations, depending on the situation. North Pacific: Ed does not ssem to like my outpost at Attu - it is being bombed by 4Es and also suffered a bombardment by 3 old BBs. Damage to the lone SNLF occupying the base was minimal, still I would like to add some forts and air defense - looks like a place for the Rufe units the PDU off is imposing. Am planing to add more mines, some PTs and midget subs as well, for what they are worth. But I do not plan to employ major assets up there.

GreyJoy -> RE: Battle for Singers (12/26/2014 11:30:47 AM)
Ouch....pretty severe losses for Palembang and Singapore... Gotta recover quickly cause the amphib bonus will end soon! Best wishes....

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle for Singers (2/25/2015 7:10:30 AM)
Slow week at work due to school holidays allows me to catch up. I have decided to change the format of the AAR, I hope the "telegram style" will allow me to post more often. Time permitting, I will dig through the AAR and combat reports to add the first 44 turns in the same style. So, what has happended since the last update (March 04-05, 1942): Turn#045 Mar 06-07, 42: Broome bombarded and small supply convoy sunk in port; small SAG and AMC patrols sink more small fry west of Broome; AVG ambush over Wenchow again costs many planes - Nates and Oscars are useless against the Flying Tigers!; overland attack reaches Palembang; CVL Shoho succumbs to damage from torpedo and secondary explosions Turn#046 Mar 08-09, 42: Naval Actions at Broome - cruiser SAGs engage enemy convoy and cover force > long-lance surprise attacks fails to score, CL Hobarts saves the day: one DD, one AM and one xAP sunk but CA Mogami and CL Tama crippled; Submarine Day - I-3 sinks fat AP off LA, RO-60 sinks SS Sealion off Brisbane, I-171 torpedoes an APD near Noumea; Meitktila occupied Turn#047 Mar 10-11, 42: Magwe occupied, 15th Army closes on Mandalay; Broome bombarded again and 3 xAPs sunk; Palembang bombarded and enemy cripples sunk en route (1 CL and 1 DD) Turn#048 Mar 12-13, 42: Zero sweep over Darwin met by P-40s and P-39s, trading airframes 5:10; SNLF reaches Broome from Derby to find an Aussie Bde in place - need to send reinforcements Turn#049 Mar 14-15, 42: Zero sweep over Darwin again, losing 10 against 12 (!) - where do those Allied elite pilots come from?; CV Saratoga sighted by sub off Auckland; AMC finds troop convoy off Perth but disengages Turn#050 Mar 16-17, 42: Naval Guards occupy Luganville and Efate with KB lurking to ambush eventual reaction; Darwin bombarded for good effect by 4 BBs, 4 CA, 4 CL + DDs, sinking two xAKL in port; enemy cruisers bombard Attu Turn#051 Mar 18-19, 42: Palembang falls with minimum damage; Wenchow bombardment and sweeps finds and destroys 8 Flying Tigers (Ed said in his email that one of his ace pilots got killed - good!) Turn#052 Mar 20-21, 42: Taung Gyi occupied; Dutch bombers raid Palembang oil facilities causing light damage - not unexpected but CAP grounded by weather... (if they can fly why can't we?); Darwin bombarded by cruiser SAG and finding a minefield in the approaches Turn#053 Mar 22-23, 42: Darwin bombarded by BBs again for good effect; light SAG blockades and sinks AVD at Broome; Mandalay and Horn Island captured; Magwe oil installations bombed by RAF for 20 oil damage grrr Turn#054 Mar 24-25, 42: Oosthaven, Roxas, San Jose captured, Naval Guards occuppy Funafuti (again with KB lurking behind ready to ambush); light SAGs blockade Port Hedland, Broome and Wyndham; Magwe oil bombed again at night Turn#055 Mar 26-27, 42: Wyndham bombarded and invaded - Darwin will be attacked overland trying to trap the garrison or force them to evacuate without a fight; AVG finally bested over Sian - 12 Flying Tigers downed; but CAP trap over Akyab costs 30+ Zeros and Nells; subs spot enemy naval activities around Noumea - KB on the way Turn#056 Mar 28-29, 42: Wyndham (garrison: 2nd Aus Cav Bde and Sparrow Force) falls to 5th and 38th Divisions; naval disaster at Derby - enemy cruiser SAG sinks supply convoy - 2 PB and 9 large xAKs lost Turn#057 Mar 30-31, 42: USN BBs bombard Attu - I-28 intercepts but hits nothing and is damaged; RO-33 sinks enemy sub off Ceylon; KB arrives off Noumea to provide LRCAP over detached screen (I'm not sending airstrikes into Noumea CAP for a lowly convoy) - Hei, Kirishima, Chikuma, Tone and six DDs sink a dozen ships and bombard Noumea, destroying a dozen planes and putting the airfield out of business Turn#058 Apr 01-02, 42: RN cruiser SAG (3 CL, 6 DD) conduct naval raid at Rangoon! Three Amphib TFs in port and embedded CLs and DDs save the day: one CL and one DD sunk for CL Naka and two AK lost; KB launches a night raid against Noumea airbase - no success but 10 planes lost - an experiment not to be repeated; Bathurst Is. off Darwin occupied by SNLF Coy but lose two xAKL to Darwin-based SBDs Turn#059 Apr 03-04, 42: Naval Guards riding Tokyo Express occupy Tanna; Nells sink crippled DD from last turn's Rangoon raid; Darwin-SBDs sink a DD on FT to Bathurst Is. Turn#060 Apr 05-06, 42: Submarine Day - I-4 torpedoes CL Raleigh and sinks a DD off Adak, I-155 torpedoes CL Perth near Exmouth; Darwin-SBDs hit CA Furutaka - that airbase needs to be put out of business!; CAP trap over Akyab with 20+ planes lost - that airbase needs to be put out of business!; CVE Hosho escorting a convoy in Java Sea damaged by Batavia-based bombers - that airbase needs to be put out of business! Turn#061 Apr 07-08, 42: Tjilatjap captured, Yenan falls with several Chinese units destroyed, Broome taken despite enemy bombardment including BC Repulse (19th Brigade of the 6th AUS Division destroyed!); CL Raleigh torpedoed again by I-4 off Dutch Harbor Turn#062 Apr 09-10, 42: Thai Army captures Shwebo, defenders retreat east into the jungle; KB sent to cover invasion of Baker in another "Jailbait" operation; B-17s bomb Broome from Meekatharra (did not even notice that base - bad surprise); Chinese counterattack at Pakhoi, outnumbered Japanese forces retreat towards Kwangchowan Turn#063 Apr 11-12, 42: Chuhsien captured; Darwin bombarded but SBDs hit back, damaging 2 DDs; B-17s strike PM against ineffective Zero CAP; a dozen Zeros and Nells lost to CAP trap over convoy near Cox's Bazaar, Broome bombed again by B-17s Turn#064 Apr 13-14, 42: Darwin bombarded again; KB discovered by air search and sub near Baker - while USN CVs raid Wake to decimate a supply run (2 xAP sunk); B-17-delivered bombs deny any repairs to Broome Turn#065 Apr 15-16, 42: Baker Is. occupied; KB retreats due to sub sightings and USN CVs near Wake being too far away to give chase (fuel considerations); USN cruiser SAG bombards Luganville; usual Japanses bombardment of Darwin and Allied bombing of Broome plus BC Repulse bombarding Derby - I am preparing a surprise for the next run; 2nd Aus Cav Bde and Sparrow Force destroyed defending a river crossing east of Wyndham Turn#066 Apr 17-18, 42: Sabang invaded (scheduled unit was delayed due to garrison requirements in Malaya); S-38 spoils the surprise party for BC Repulse by torpedoing CV Junyo off Broome and spying on the covering BB force; I-158 discovers and misses CV Formidable near Port Hedland and is sunk by screening DDs; finally the first carrier battle in history off Port Hedland: Mini-KB (Junyo, Hiyo, Zuiho) trade blows with RN carriers: escorted balanced strike loses a dozen planes to Martlet and Sea Hurricanes on CAP, CV Indomitable receives 3x 250kg bomb hits, CV Formidable 1x 250kg bomb hit - Mini-KB is attacked by unescorted Albacores which are slaughtered for no hits. Mini-KB will remain in the area despite Junyo's torpedo damage (36 float) while the covering SAG splits to chase the RN CVs and the shipping at Port Hedland. Next turn will be interesting!

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle for Singers (2/25/2015 11:07:44 AM)
Situation and plans: China: After the fall of Yenan, units regroup. Will try to renew the attack of the "southern pincer" in direction of Anking (after clearing the road to Nanyang for supply flow), while re-assembling the "northern pincer" to encircle Sian from the north. This means a long overland approach march, but I hope air supply will keep the troops in fighting shape and bad China recon abilities will help to achieve surprise. Am pulling out some tank units which are part of the soon-to-be-fomred tank divisions for duty in Australia - the terrain there is better suited for tank ops than the mountains around Sian. North China [image]local://upfiles/1313/1239BF69391C41429586ED7F019FF363.jpg[/image] South China [image]local://upfiles/1313/804BA74FE95146168AAB141CCE46ACC5.jpg[/image] PI: 48th Div and 65th Bde plus arty still blockade the enemy stack at Bataan. The enemy stack is bombarded and bombed daily but enemy loses are lighter than ours and flak indicates they still have supplies. No hurry here, I will get some garrison brigades soon which will be bloodied on Bataan when I finally launch the ground attack. 2nd Division which is split in sub-units has captured Cebu and the other islands in the central PI, but I have problems providing garrison forces tailored to the requirements to free 2nd Div for other duty. Am busy shifting forces but it takes time. 2nd Div will eventually go to Australia. Burma: 18th, 33rd and 55th Divisions advancing overland in direction of Akyab and Cox. Thai Army tasked to capture Lashio and Myikina and to mop-up remnants in the jungles east of Shwebo. Burma [image]local://upfiles/1313/8233E3F57597473B98DB7E0F5550619E.jpg[/image] DEI: Mopping-up on Borneo almost finished, one enemy unit remains to be destroyed in the interior. Almost the same on Sumatra, all bases taken, two enemy stacks of weak remnants remaining to be eliminated. Java - Batavia and Merak not attacked yet, 4th, 21st and 56th Divisions are concentrating on "hill fortress" at Bandoeng first. After cleaning Java, the three divisions will help in Australia. Australia: 5th, 38th and Guards Division + supporting units will try to capture Darwin and the bases to the south, but recon has spotted lots of units at each location, including lots of AVFs. Will build-up Wyndham and Bathurst Island. as airbases while logistical support will be centered at Koepang. 16th Division at Broome will try to capture Port Hedland with help of major portion of Combined Fleet (everything except KB). I will need more units currently engaged on Java, PI and China. PNG / Solomons / Pacific Ocean Area: I have grabbed pretty much all bases in the Gilberts and New Hebrides with small SNLF / Naval Guard units, with KB lurking behind the invasion convoys to ambush eventual Allied reactions - no such luck. I do not have any big ground forces in the area yet, even PM is only garrisoned by an SBF (but I bought out the Guards Brigade which is on the way). So KB will remain in the area to discourage early Allied counter-offensives. I have some eng assets in the area digging trenches (but not air bases or ports for the Allies to grab). I will defend to delay in the Central Pacific and the southern Solomons. The MLR will go through Nadzab and Bougainville which will get airbases. No offensive plans for Noumea, Suva, Pagp-Pago etc. - lack of LCUs, shipping and air groups. North Pacific: Holding on to Attu as early warning outpost for eventual plans Ed may have in the North. An eng unit is digging trenches, but no base building. I will send some Rufes up there which entered production as well as mines and midget subs to see if they can discourage further bombardements. Home Islands: Busy expanding to size 8 air bases to get the AS bonus. Zero and Oscar production 200 each, bomber production remains at start values except for Val/Kate. R&D is botched, never quite understood that aspect. With PDU off I understand I have to research everything, but tried to concentrate on Osacar and ZEro line. But it seems the factories are not repairing or only slowly. Only factory to reach the magic "30" was the Rufe factory - a few days before the model was due to enter production anyway. Don't get it how other players manage to advance future plane models by months and years. Losses so far: CVL Ryujo CVL Shoho CA Ashigara CA Nachi CL Natori CL Naka A dozen DDs and TBs A dozen DMS 5 submarines Sorry for lack of details, I'm not using tracker and largely relying on memory...

Jorge_Stanbury -> RE: Battle for Singers (2/25/2015 12:44:50 PM)
I am reading both AARs, so I will be very careful on what I write... how bad was the damage to the British carriers? any hints like explosion, fire, etc 250KG bombs can't have done too much damaged as they have armored decks...

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle for Singers (2/25/2015 1:08:50 PM)
No secondary explosions, no fires, just some wisps of smoke. I think both CVs are still fully operational. But Albacore losses have been heavy, so Ed may consider a withdrawal. Have his turn waiting in the inbox, am impatient to leave work...

Jorge_Stanbury -> RE: Battle for Singers (2/25/2015 1:17:04 PM)
Replacement rates for British TB are horrible, so you won't see Albacores in a long time not to mention these 2 ships are scheduled for withdrawal

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle for Singers (2/25/2015 2:09:00 PM)
I know the RN carriers and other ships will withdraw eventually - but I did not bother to check the dates. I try not to profit too much from hindsight / information available trough the editor, tracker etc. in order to "optimise" my gameplay. First of all, with gaming time limited by RL, I do not have the time to spare for searching and keeping track of this kind of information, second I prefer to "role-play" my game - as Japanese admiral, I am not supposed to know that CV Formidable will withdraw on date xy.

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Battle for Singers (2/26/2015 10:44:05 AM)
Turn#067 Apr 19-20, 42: Apparently Ed does not want to abandon Northern Oz. The expected Battle off Port Hedland started with Betties attacking a convoy (including BC Repulse) in port, pretty much ignoring the BC and other juicy targets and sinking an AM and a KV instead - for 15 Betties lost to unexpected CAP (fair punishment for ignoring a capital ship - I would have shot the pilots if they had returned to base!). Mini-KB sent the handful of remaining operational bombers for one bomb hit on Repulse, despite Zero escort the strike is decimated by CAP (can't believe P-39s and **tyhawks are that good - what will happen when P-38, P-47 etc. become available?). The second night, the surface forces clash off Port Hedland. Ise, Yamashiro, Mogami, Mikuma, Suzuya and 6 DD first encounter some light forces - CL Concord, CL Sumatra and 2 DD are sunk for some non-lethal damage spread around my SAG. Next come Repulse, Australia, Canberra, Achilles, Glasgow and 6 DD. Ise is hit twice, the OpForce collects 12 hits but both TF are apparently low on ammo and disengage without serious damage. The TF chasing the RN CVs up to Exmouth escapes a sub attack but finds no CVs. I have three fresh SAGs on the way to Port Hedland for the next turn. What happened else: Dutch bombers hit Palembang damaging 17 oil despite CAP - guess Oscars were too high and the bombers were hiding in storm clouds; Do-24K-1 sink an xAK right in Palembang harbour - also despite CAP; the mountain stronghold Bandoeng falls in the second assault by three full divisions with 10 enemy units surrendering; Attu bombarded by 4 DD; I-162 sinks an xAP near Exmouth; Darwin is bombarded to keep the airbase suppressed, causing 500 casualties; the Mixed Rgt trying to hold against a Chinese Corps at Kwangchowan gets help by CA bombardment and bomber strikes - the latter are decimated by the usual AVG ambush** (Will I ever learn that this is not an AI game?)

LargeSlowTarget -> Slow turn (3/2/2015 11:16:34 AM)
Turn#068 Apr 21-22, 42: Surprise - for once, Mini-KB escapes a sub attack without damage! Snapper misses Zuiho near Roti, the TF will enter Koepang next turn for repairs and replenishment. Junyo needs yard time, I think I will detach Kaga to replace her (best match speed-wise). SS I-173 gets a drubbing from a KV off Ceylon and limps towards the closest port with heavy damage - fingers crossed. I-15 encounters a SAG off Auckland including CA Northampton and a bunch of DDs - not hits on both side, but the enemy seems to be on the prowl. KB is back at Tulagi, preparing another stab at Noumea. At Prome, a handful of RAF night bombers destroy 3 planes on the ground - in only 51% moonlight. During daytime, the RAF hits a SNLF which has reached one hex east of Akyab - let them have fun as long as they do not spot 33rd and 55th Divisions in the jungle on the way to Cox. In the meantime, our flyboys hit Akyab airbase unopposed to keep it closed. In the DEI, Dutch bombers on Java hit oilfields at Tjepoe for 14 damage - ever aggressive Ed uses every trick in the book to annoy me! Broome, PM and Milne Bay are also attacked by B-17s and B-26s for minimum damage. The IJN at Koepang is licking wounds and replacing Betty losses. On the ground, Kwangchowan is held against a DA by a reinforced Chinese Corps. I have renewed the attack at Wenchow but got a bloody nose - 3000 against 800 casualties.

LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Slow turn (3/12/2015 1:54:16 PM)
Turn#69 Apr 23-24, 42: Cocos Is. captured by 24th Nav Gsn Unit; Akyab airbase bombed without opposition by 60 Nells covered by 45 Zeros; last enemy unit on Borneo destroyed; SS Searaven hit four times by ASW near Roti; bombardment run to Batavia sinks some small fry (MTB, 3x AMc); bombardment run to of Port Hedland destroys or damages two dozen planes; ground combat near Ankang grinds down 55th Chinese Corps. Turn#70 Apr 25-26, 42: Small RAF nuisance raids against LCUs in Burma have been going on for some turns - this time they run into fighter opposition - 5 Hudsons destroyed; 55th Chinese Corps at 83,44 (near Ankang) reduced by air and ground attacks; B-17s attacking Broome intercepted by Derby-based Zeroes - one Zero lost for 17 bombers damaged; SNLF unit fast-transports to Normanton on a recon/diversion/nuisance raid but finds an armoured unit in place Turn#71 Apr 27-28, 42: SS Seadragon sinks xAK Brisbane Maru off Koepang; Port Hedland bombarded again, look like enemy figters have been evacuated; Darwin bombarded as well to keep airfield supressed; violent air reaction to the landing at Normanton, the SNLF is burried undere the payloads from three dozen B-26s and B17s; ground combat near Daly Waters at 74,131 between five IJA Tank Regiments and the 3rd Motor Brigade and 754th Tank Battalion - the enemy is fleeing leaving 77 smoldering vehicles behind; not far away at 74,130, the 2/8th Armoured Regiment tries to block two full IJA divisions plus supporting units and dies fighting; 55th Chinese Corps at 83,44 (near Ankang) is destroyed by air and ground attacks; bombardment run against Batavia closes airfield and damages many planes, ground bombardment attack against Batavia shows 10:1 advantage in AV - tomorrow I will DA; Merak is captured by 23rd Nav Gsn Unit to seal off Batavia; with Akyab empty, I send sweeps against Chittagong - losses 9 Zeroes, 2 Oscars vs. 3 Buffalo, 3 Hurris, 6 P-40; KB (actually just CarDivs 2+5) investigates Koumac - there is an "anchor" symbol there which as expected turns out to be an AV (Tangier), she is left on fire - I hope Ed will think that a landing in northern New Caledonia is imminent - I do not need enemy reinforcements in Northern Oz... Turn#72, Apr 29-30, 42: With 100% moonlight, I try a few night raids against airfields (Chittagong, Imphal, Cairns) for some slight damage; SS Plunger is hit three times by ASW near Nauru; I-21 is damaged by 2 depth charge hits off Albany and has to return to base; RO-34 is torpedoed by S-40 at Darwin, but does not sink - she will disband at Bathurst Is.; KB adds a few more bomb hits to AV Tangier, leaving her with heavy fires and heavy damage; Batavia falls to the second DA, two dozen planes destroyed on the ground - 4th, 21st and 56th Divisions will be sent to Bataan, then to Wenchow and then to Kwangchowan to help clear these three pockets of resistance within the SRA.

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