Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (Full Version)

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Wirraway_Ace -> Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (9/26/2021 3:02:35 AM)

For the men of the Imperial Japanese Navy, Army and Air Services, there will be no tomorrow, only a thousand todays.

Come not tomorrow
Today will take everything
Only death remains


This is the Japanese side of the struggle between me (Wirraway_Ace) and my esteemed opponent, Omar (DesertWolf101).

The game is Scenario 1, with PDU off, stock map with stacking limits, and a handful of house rules.



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (9/26/2021 3:05:09 AM)

Game settings:
FOW: ON
Advanced weather: ON
Allied damage control: ON
PDU: OFF
Historical first turn: OFF
Dec 7 surprise: ON
Reliable USN torps: OFF
Realistic R&D: ON
No unit withdrawals: OFF
Reinforcements: +/- 15



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (9/26/2021 3:09:02 AM)

House Rules
Turn 1:
Allied player able to give orders to formed TFs and units in China on Turn 1
Japan cannot abuse the magic-move TFs (i.e. No turn-1 Mersing gambit, no CV TF hunting, etc.)

Remainder of the game:
Pay full PP cost to move restricted land units across borders
No supersizing of air groups (i.e. using Akagi to resize a squadron to 80 aircraft)
Transport fuel/oil only in TK, AO and in dedicated fuel/oil capacity of some xAKs
No strat bombing of LI, HI, resources and manpower centers in China; Oil and refineries are valid targets (we might add HI to the valid targets list too, since there were a few largish factories that could be effectively targeted)
No daytime PBY torpedo attacks
Airborne units must be fully assembled before making the next drop



BBfanboy -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (9/26/2021 6:09:07 AM)

quote:

Wirraway_Ace: No supersizing of air groups (i.e. using Akagi to resize a squadron to 80 aircraft)


Did you discuss a maximum size for resizing or forbid it altogether?

And why PDU OFF? That really hampers the development of effective aircraft for the Japanese, no?



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (9/26/2021 3:03:11 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

Wirraway_Ace: No supersizing of air groups (i.e. using Akagi to resize a squadron to 80 aircraft)


Did you discuss a maximum size for resizing or forbid it altogether?

And why PDU OFF? That really hampers the development of effective aircraft for the Japanese, no?

Thanks for the question, BB. It made me put it down in black and white.

Resizing is allowed to doctrinal sized sentai of 24-32 aircraft: 2 chutai of 16, 3 of 9, 2 of 12 are the common examples. I will not be resizing the Jake units beyond 9 or 12.

Why PDU-Off? Really just for fun, to employ all the different types of aircraft developed on both sides during the chaos of wartime manufacturing and the frenetic pace of technological innovation. The homogeneous and hyper-optimized air OOBs of PDU-On games get a bit monotonous. Yes, PDU-Off is much harder on the Japanese player, but has a feel closer to the reality the commanders faced. As the intro to the AAR suggest, I don't expect to win in the end. I intend to deal the colonial powers many decisive defeats, but recognize that fighting the world's foremost economic power, the world's most populous country, and a globe-spanning empire all at once might be a bit much, even for the Bushido-inspired soldiers, sailors and airmen of The Land of the Gods.




Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (9/26/2021 3:14:56 PM)

First comes the National Strategy.

From the hand of the prime minister, with divine guidance from the emperor, our national strategy:

Secure the Home Islands from strategic bombing attack and maintain the flow of key resources (oil, fuel and resources) from the Southern and Northern Resource Areas in order to maintain a military capability adequate to cause a negotiated peace under favorable conditions for Japan.



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (9/26/2021 4:05:10 PM)

I will need the divine guidance of the emperor to figure out a way ahead on aircraft research in a PDU-Off game.

IJN Air Service

By war's end, approximately 1,200 AC can be upgraded to A6M5c and then the A6M8. By comparison, only 546 Sams, 279 Georges, 135 Jacks and 198 Shinden
DB = 414 Judys
TB = 399 Jills
DB/TB = 390 Grace
2E MB/TB = 198 Frances

IJA Air Service
891 Franks
853 Ki-43-IIb Oscars (w armor)
240 Tonys
179 Peggys
85 Patsys

I have not looked at the night fighters yet.





Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (9/26/2021 5:13:58 PM)

Engine Research
I am going to get out of the turbojet, rocket and argus engine research business and focus on the Ha-45 (4 factories researching at 30). I will increase the Ha-43, 44 and Kaw. Ha-60 all to 30. I will probably switch some Ha-45 research facilities to the Ha-43 when the Ha-45 is production ready.



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (9/26/2021 6:05:04 PM)

Aircraft Research
I like to build and deploy in combat at least one operational sentai of each new aircraft model before discarding it for another model. We have the advantage of knowing in advance the exact stats on how well certain models will perform while the actual manufacturers, pilots and leaders had very imperfect information.



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (9/27/2021 3:35:28 AM)

I think I have the aircraft research figured out. Some surprises in PDU off. It is no good researching the P1Y1 Frances line. Almost nothing will upgrade to it, and the first possible unit to equip arrives 43/10. Most Betty units remain Betty units the whole war. That is going to be fun! The Army will have to pick up the slack with the Peggy, Peggy T and Lily IIb. Of course, only two sentai will upgrade to the Peggy T, so it will be mostly bombs...
Researching dedicated Kamikaze aircraft looks like a waste.
I will definitely need to switch Ha-45 research to Ha-43 when the former becomes available. The Ha-43 is the key late war engine.


[image]local://upfiles/26719/9EFE2C2785AE48CEBD9F7627060C79AF.jpg[/image]



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (9/28/2021 2:49:31 AM)

First turn is in the books.


I detached Hiryu to support operations in the DEI. When doing this in the past, I have often used Kaga because of her speed mismatch with the rest of the KB, but Hiryu has the capacity for what I have in mind and Kaga has a bigger Kate squadron giving the Pearl Harbor strike potentially nine more torpedoes. As it turned out, this didn't matter.
For the Pearl Harbor strike, RADM Yamaguchi used all the Kates on port attack at 10,000 feet while two of the Val squadrons attacked the port to suppress AA fire. The remaining Val units struck Hickam Field. The full strike was escorted by two Zero squadrons while two more bombed Hickam from 10,000 feet. Soryu was responsible for CAP over the TF.

In the Marshalls, the 6th Fleet ordered Makin taken, and the amphibious TF sprinted to the atoll, while the Wake TF and all valuable shipping left for Truk until the KB returns. Wargames in the fall showed the 6th Fleet area of operations at risk from enemy carriers, if these were not caught in the Pearl Harbor strike.

In the Philippines, the full weight of the 11th Air Fleet out of Formosa was ordered unleashed on Clark Field and Manila, both the aerodrome and port. Datais of the Tainan Ku have the mission to sweep the skies over Iba, Clark and Manila in advance of the bombers escorted by the 3rd Ku. A unit of IJAAF Sallys will also strike the port in Manila. The final blow against the Asiatic Fleet will come for the Hiryu airgroup. Landings are planned for Laoag in the north and Naga in the south, with strong naval covering forces.

CVL Ryujo steamed into the Celebes Sea and north toward the Sulu Sea. CVE Taiyo picked up a datai of Claudes and prepared to escort armor and infantry tasked with taking Cagayan and its large aerodrome on Mindanao.

SNLF units from Babeldaob and Truk were loaded on amphibious taskforces with orders to take Guam. The 144th Inf will bypass Guam and proceed to Rabaul from the Bonins. The 4th Div will be coming behind from Osaka to take Port Moresby.

Further to the west, typical landings are planned for Kota Bharu, Patani and Singora, but only with first wave forces. Most of the 25th Army will remain afloat to provide operational flexibility.

Far to the northeast, a force is steaming toward Adak Island in the Aleutians. D-Day is the 10th.







Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (9/28/2021 2:50:14 AM)

The first turn strikes did not go very well.

Only 2 Kate units carried torps during the attack on Pearl, with predictable results.

The strikes in the Philippines were beautifully coordinated (replacing a couple leaders in the air HQs and using only a single aircraft type per target does wonders) and the airfields were hit hard, but target selection in the port strikes was poor. The submarines were my target, but the pilots had mostly other ideas.

The landings in the Philippines were not opposed by the Asiatic Fleet.

Ryujo Kates caught and sunk Boise making her leisurely way past Mindanao. Houston sprinted to the NW east I think.

I had been testing using a JAAF AF Eng Co on a magic move TF located at Samah to support the Adak operation, but eventually decided it was not necessary since it could not get much past the home islands, and loading a base force from the home islands worked as well. But, I apparently forgot to change its orders. The small three ship TF making its way east from Samah stumbled into the RN DDs from Hong Kong. Two 14 pt Lima xAKs sunk along with a AKL and the company of troops.

The strikes in Malaya went well, as did the CAP over the invasion TFs.







Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (9/28/2021 2:51:12 AM)

First turn is in the books.

In China, I am moving my Chinese units to free up the Japanese units while buying armor units and Sallys from Manchukuo.

Armor will be massed in Taiyuan under the 1st Army (main effort), and drive toward the Sian plain through the mountains.

The 11th Army will conduct a supporting attack along the Sinyang - Nanyang axis. 12th Army will encircle Loyang.

In the south, 13th Army units will advance to take Chuhsien and Pucheng, cutting off Wenchow and opening ground lines of communication between Hangchow and Canton.

Once Allied forces in the Philippines and Malaya have been driven into their corners at Clark/Manila and Singapore respectively, the armor units employed in those campaigns will be redeployed to Hong Kong and the 23rd Army will drive north along the Wuchow-Liuchow-Tuyun axis toward Kweiyang.













Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (9/28/2021 2:09:57 PM)

Commander's Critical Information Requirements (CCIR):
Location of Force Z
Location of AVG
Location of Lexington and Enterprise

Priority 2nd phase operations:

Assemble a force to take Palembang as soon as Zuiho arrives from Kure to reinforce Hiryu, or sooner if practicable.





Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (10/1/2021 2:04:45 AM)

December 8th, 1941
Kido Butai fighters sweep Pearl Harbor. Allied losses of Mohawks and P40Bs are heavy, totaling 39 aircraft for loss of 6 zeros.
American fighters (P40s) from the the Philippines deploy to Hong Kong and provide CAP as the IJA approaches the outskirts of the city. These fighter aircraft pounce on the lightly escorted Sonias and Lilys, shooting down ten IJAAF aircraft. In Malaya, the British aggressively commit their two remaining squadrons of Buffalo Is in an inconclusive sweep over the Japanese forward airbase at Singora.

Kates from Ryujo attack shipping fleeing Manila in the South China Sea while G4M1s from Babeldaub range in to the Celebes Sea sinking small freighters fleeing south.

The enemy appears intent on attacking the landings at Vigan with PT Boats and the three small British destroyers have refueled back at Hong Kong and will likely sorte during the night. They may also attempt to strike the landing sites in the northern Philippines.

Recon identifies what appears to be the bulk of the AVG at Kunming. He will presumably move these front line fighters to Changsha along with the two squadrons of P40Es in Hong Kong. The enemy is planning on challenging the skies over China.

No sign of the B17s in the Philippines.

No sign of Force Z.

No sign of the U.S. carriers.



Tanaka -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (10/1/2021 6:38:18 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace


quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

Wirraway_Ace: No supersizing of air groups (i.e. using Akagi to resize a squadron to 80 aircraft)


Did you discuss a maximum size for resizing or forbid it altogether?

And why PDU OFF? That really hampers the development of effective aircraft for the Japanese, no?

Thanks for the question, BB. It made me put it down in black and white.

Resizing is allowed to doctrinal sized sentai of 24-32 aircraft: 2 chutai of 16, 3 of 9, 2 of 12 are the common examples. I will not be resizing the Jake units beyond 9 or 12.

Why PDU-Off? Really just for fun, to employ all the different types of aircraft developed on both sides during the chaos of wartime manufacturing and the frenetic pace of technological innovation. The homogeneous and hyper-optimized air OOBs of PDU-On games get a bit monotonous. Yes, PDU-Off is much harder on the Japanese player, but has a feel closer to the reality the commanders faced. As the intro to the AAR suggest, I don't expect to win in the end. I intend to deal the colonial powers many decisive defeats, but recognize that fighting the world's foremost economic power, the world's most populous country, and a globe-spanning empire all at once might be a bit much, even for the Bushido-inspired soldiers, sailors and airmen of The Land of the Gods.




Ah a brand new fresh PDU off game featuring two vets with good house rules. Count me in. Hard to find so thank you! PDU off is also my favorite type game for these reasons. I just started my very first PBEM PDU off game and I much prefer the realistic feel to Star Wars. Will follow this for tips! Count me subscribed! [sm=character0085.gif]



Mike Solli -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (10/1/2021 12:55:10 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

First comes the National Strategy.

From the hand of the prime minister, with divine guidance from the emperor, our national strategy:

Secure the Home Islands from strategic bombing attack and maintain the flow of key resources (oil, fuel and resources) from the Southern and Northern Resource Areas in order to maintain a military capability adequate to cause a negotiated peace under favorable conditions for Japan.


Sounds really simple when you put it that way. [:D]



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (10/1/2021 1:34:27 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli


quote:

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

First comes the National Strategy.

From the hand of the prime minister, with divine guidance from the emperor, our national strategy:

Secure the Home Islands from strategic bombing attack and maintain the flow of key resources (oil, fuel and resources) from the Southern and Northern Resource Areas in order to maintain a military capability adequate to cause a negotiated peace under favorable conditions for Japan.


Sounds really simple when you put it that way. [:D]

The Emperor is a big-picture guy.



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (10/1/2021 1:51:47 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

I will need the divine guidance of the emperor to figure out a way ahead on aircraft research in a PDU-Off game.

IJN Air Service

By war's end, approximately 1,200 AC can be upgraded to A6M5c and then the A6M8. By comparison, only 546 Sams (and another 636 A7M3A-J Sams), 279 Georges, 135 Jacks and 198 Shinden
DB = 414 Judys
TB = 399 Jills
DB/TB = 390 Grace
2E MB/TB = 198 Frances (no squadrons are available for upgrade before the scheduled available date of 43/10; no use advancing)

IJA Air Service
891 Franks
853 Ki-43-IIb Oscars (w armor)
240 Tonys
179 Peggys
58 Peggy T
85 Patsys



I updated the message with the bold text.
Based on this reality, I went with a heavy research effort (post #9) on the both the Sam models (CV capable and not), the Frank, the Judy, the Grace, the Peggy, the George, A6M2-N/A6M5 and the Peggy T.

I have small research efforts continuing along historical lines, including the Tony, Jack, Jill, Helen, Nick and Emily.



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (10/1/2021 1:59:53 PM)

As for ship conversions and build/stop/accelerate, I usually copy/paste from Mike Solli. Conveniently, he has a new AAR going, which facilitates the process. To show my fierce independence, I am doing fewer ACM conversions than he.



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (10/1/2021 11:30:06 PM)

December 9th, 1941.
Kido Butai hits Pearl Harbor again. Bad weather saves the Pacific Fleet significant damage as they had no CAP flying over the port. Four battleships take additional bomb hits.

In the Philippines, the PT boats show up off Vigan and find it empty of Japanese shipping, as if the enemy knew they were coming. The 14th Army now has the bulk of two divisions ashore on Luzon and will begin advancing toward Clark and Manila along two axis. The 48th Division will move along the coast to Lingayen while the 16th Division marches south from Aparri on Manila. Japanese infantry and armor will land at Cagayan on Mindanao tomorrow.

The American P40s leave Hong Kong. Japanese intelligence is unable to identify where the patrol squadrons and the AVG have gone. Recon elements in the China Theater will search every base with more than a level I airfield.

IJA bombers from Formosa strike the airfield at Wenchow, closing it.

38th Div (+) prepares to assault Hong Kong. Imperial Japanese soldiers will face the English imperialists on the ground for the first time.

In Malaya, the 5th and 18th Div (-) landed in good order at Mersing. They will take it tomorrow. Intelligence indicates a single Australian brigade attempting to withdraw to the south. It is unclear whether there will be a true fight.

Paratroopers will drop at Kuala Lumpur to cut the rail line. The British are likely to have to find another way to get their forces back to Singapore.

Japanese forces have landed on Guam. Intelligence indicates there are Allied bombers present.

Further to the south, the old Australian cruiser Adelaide attempted to raid Truk. It was sunk by Nells.

Far to the North, the invasion TF has arrived off Adak.









Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (10/2/2021 8:19:11 PM)

December 10th, 1941.

Mavis flying boats operating from Marcus Island identify a two-carrier taskforce four-hundred nautical miles (10 hexes) to the southeast. Intelligence believes the enemy was in the vicinity of Wake Island and made the decision to attempt to interdict Japanese lines of communication between the Home Islands and Truk. They may also be considering attacking the Home Islands. <<JFB tip: move the Mavis sentai that starts at Babeldaob to Marcus Island, supported initially by the AV that starts at Chichi-Jima, to fill the gaping hole in your naval search until you take both Wake and Midway. Move a Betty sentai from Formosa to Babeldaob and set to naval attack, 50% nav search.>> No Japanese shipping is in any immediate danger. The carriers may try to head directly west past Guam and Babeldaub into the Celebes, but will face a significant threat from Japanese navel aircraft during such an operation. Japanese forces took Cagayan and its excellent airfield this morning and will have a strong naval aviation presence there within 24 hours.

Recon aircraft identified what appears to be the AVG in Chungking. The P40 squadrons that left the Philippines to fly CAP over Hong Kong may have returned to Manila instead of moving on to join the AVG (considered the enemy's most dangerous course of action). 48 fighters were identified in Manila.

The Kido Butai bombed the Pacific Fleet again at Pearl Harbor. No enemy CAP present. Poor weather hindered bombing accuracy for the second day in a row.

At Mersing, the 5th and 18th Div (-) routed a single Australian Bde (7:1 attack) and two infantry regiments pursued the enemy south to Johore Bahru. Armor and recon units will lead the drive west to cut off the peninsula. A battalion drop by the 1st SNLF on Kuala Lumpur caught the enemy, including the Gurkha Bde, on trains and two more enemy brigades are also on trains, stopped 40 miles further north. In all, five enemy brigades are caught along the Kuala Lumpur - Kuantan line. They will not get much help from the RAF which impaled itself on Hiryu CAP over the Mersing beachhead. Enemy air losses were 51 to 0. The Buffalos, Swordfish, Wildebeest and Blenheims never threatened the shipping. The only bright spot for the enemy was a B17 raid from Singapore that struck the newly captured aerodrome at Kota Bharu, and a bomb hit the pilots mess, killing a 1st Sentai pilot and wounding three others. Japanese engineers have kept the airfield open, however.

At Hong Kong, the initial attacks by the 38th Div made progress as the IJA worked its way into the enemy's fortified line.

Japanese forces took Adak.



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (10/2/2021 9:50:51 PM)

Current Operations:
An ad hoc force of an infantry battalion and an SNLF unit landed successful at Sinkawang, on the northwest tip of Borneo, during all the confusion of the Mersing landings. They should be able to take the Level III airfield from the understrength Dutch battalion. Seizing this base is will allow the IJN to conduct naval search and interdiction over much of Sumatra, Borneo and northern Java. The Japanese High Command considers the capability for naval search into these area preconditional to the next major attack in this area of operations--seizing Palembang.

Future Operations:

1.Seizure of Palembang. 2 battalions of the 124th Regiment and 21st Mixed Brigade will begin boarding 14kt transports NLT than 12 December with D-Day set for the 17th. Hiryu, Ryujo and Zuiho will provide air cover for the operation. BBs Kongo and Haruna, with four Mogamis and four Kageros will provide heavy cover and two destroyer squadrons close cover.

2. Wake island will be invaded as soon as either the enemy carriers are known to be clear or the Kido Butai returns.

3. Rabual and Port Moresby will fall in quick succession by the end of the month at the latest.



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (10/2/2021 9:54:39 PM)

CCIR as of 10 Dec 41:
Location of U.S. CVs: sited 400NM southeast of Marcus Island.
Location of Force Z: unknown
Location of the AVG: Chungking
Location of enemy B17s from the Philippines: at Singapore



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (10/5/2021 7:51:57 AM)

11 Dec 1941
Enemy carriers withdraw after being sighted near Marcus Island on the 10th. 4th Fleet has deployed submarines along the expected movement route east and south of Wake.

Kido Butai attacks Hickam Field. The enemy air power in the Hawaiian islands is just about spent. They could only muster 30 total fighters, of which 10 were trainers. Weather permitting, the Kido Butai will make one more strike against Pearl then return to Truk.

Hong Kong falls. The AVG flew long-range CAP over the city, and shot down a handful of Sonia's, but were unable to affect the outcome. The Imperial Army took jewel of the colonial outposts in the orient. The 38th Division suffered light losses and is in good order, ready for follow-on operations. Warning order issued the division to prepare to join the assault on Singapore.

Naval fighters from the 3rd Ku sweep Manila and Bettys from Formosa bomb the airfields. 1 P40E destroyed on the ground. No CAP. The aircraft caught by the bombers was likely a hanger-queen. The rest of the pursuit aircraft appeared to be executing a CAP trap over a handful of ships at Bataan. One squadron of the AVG were conduction a similar operation in southern China, at Pakhoi, flying heavy CAP over a few freighters that had fled Hong Kong two days before. The Japanese are familiar with this tactic, and no naval bombers fall into either trap.

A CL and DDs engage the squadron of British DDs near Vigan, damaging all three enemy ships. These destroyers are retreating to Manila.

On Mindanao, Cagayan was taken with its airfield intact and torpedo armed Betty's are now flying throughout the Celebes Sea and into the Makassar Straight. A squadron of 4 BBs has arrived from Japan, and the next stage of invasion forces are being loaded to seize Manado, Ternate, then Kendari and Ambon in the Banda Sea.

Japanese forces took Sinkawang on the NW tip of Borneo. The excellent airfield was the prize. Nells have staged forward and are preparing to search Java Sea. C5M2s of the Yamada Det. will recon Palembang, Batavia and Balikpapen.

Japanese armor and recon has cut the Malaya Peninsula west of Mersing. One armor regiment has turned north to relieve the paratroopers at Kuala Lumpur, while the 5th Div Recon and another tank regiment race south toward Johore Bahru. There, they will link up with the infantry regiments coming directly from Mersing, pursuing the fleeing Aussies.

In China, most of our forces have reached their lines of departure.



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (10/6/2021 5:36:43 PM)

12-13 December 1941

Kido Butai struck the Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor on the 12th. Weather was clear, no enemy fighters. No BBs reported sunk, but all should now be thoroughly crippled. The Mobile Force is moving towards Truk. The enemy's CVs are probably a bit south and east of Wake. The airgroups on board our carriers are at about 90% strength. Four of five CVs still have torpedoes.

In the Marianas and at Truk, amphibious TFs are loading for Wake, Rabual, Shortlands and Lunga. The 4th ID has left Osaka on fast transports. It will take Port Moresby.

Operations in the exposed Marshalls are still paused.

On Luzon, the Imperial Army is advancing towards Clark and Manila along three division axes of advance, two from the north and one from the south. A6M2s of the 3rd Ku swept Manila on the 12th and found no fighters. The enemy's pattern has been to put up CAP the day after a sweep, so the 3rd Ku swept again on the 13th, and found a mix of trainers and P40s. Enemy losses were heavy. Then escorted bombers from Formosa hit the airfield with good success.

In the Malaya, the British retreated from Johore Bahru without a fight, and the lead regiment of the 5th Div took the airfield. Three enemy brigades are trapped at Kuala Lumpur and a fourth at Kuantan. Intelligence suggests the enemy's most dangerous course of action is to try and use transport and patrol aircraft to get some of these troops to Singapore. The 3rd Air Div is tasked with interdicting any such operation. The army will seize Kuantan by amphibious assault on the 15th. Four divisions are en route to Mersing by fast transport, now less than a week out. The 5th and 18th Divisions are consolidating at Johore Bahru. Singapore will fall before the end of December.

Transports are just about loaded for Palembang. Taking this oil center early has its risks. The infrastructure has to be defended from airstrikes once taken. However, the enemy has lost much of both he RAF's and USAAF's offensive capabilities and intelligence estimates of the Dutch bombers assess only a low-moderate risk. With the enemy committing the AVG in China, we have adequate (just) A6M2s to cover Palembang without pulling either Tainan Ku or 3rd Ku from offensive missions.

On the 12th, British bombers from Singapore and American B17s from Java attacked the airfield at Singkawang. A6M2s for the Yamada Detachment were flying CAP. The enemy lost ten bombers and did little damage. The B17s tried again on the 13th and lost two more of the big four-engine aircraft.

In China, the enemy tried using the AVG again for CAP traps. We avoided those locations and struck his main airfield at Changsha catching most of his bombers on the ground. The 1st Army has begun its drive through the mountains to Sian. The 11th Army will begin it supporting attack at Singyang on the 15th. The 12th Army has crossed the line of departure to encircle Chenchow and Loyang.





RangerJoe -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (10/6/2021 6:06:45 PM)

You can put CVEs at Palembang for CAP.



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (10/6/2021 6:19:31 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

You can put CVEs at Palembang for CAP.

Thanks, RangerJoe. At the moment, I simply don't have enough zeros to upgrade all my airgroups. Taiyo is carrying around A5Ms, but with nearly all the Swordfish and Wildebeests already shot down, there is not much they can help with. Maybe they can harass Dutch B10s. I have not checked the relative speeds.



RangerJoe -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (10/6/2021 6:44:38 PM)

I think that they can handle the B10s, remember they are on defense and can position themselves accordingly. I actually like to use the A5m Claudes as a low level CAP early on against the torpedo bombers while the A6M2 Zero/Zeke fly higher.



Wirraway_Ace -> RE: Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A) (10/6/2021 9:11:28 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I think that they can handle the B10s, remember they are on defense and can position themselves accordingly. I actually like to use the A5m Claudes as a low level CAP early on against the torpedo bombers while the A6M2 Zero/Zeke fly higher.


Thanks!



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