Sand in the Vaseline - Wobbly vs PzB

Sand in the Vaseline - Wobbly vs PzB (Full Version)

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wobbly -> Sand in the Vaseline - Wobbly vs PzB (8/5/2004 1:42:15 PM)
Hi all - as i wrote in PzBs thread we are going to do separate threads, one from the allied perspective: mine, and one frem the Jap perspective: his. We will not look at each others AAR but you are welcome to. From this you should see the blunders as they build and the victories as we pull them off (blind luck in my case most likely). Please do inform us of information that is likely to change the course of events... With no further ado: Yesterday, a day that will live in Infamy, the treacherous Jap attacked Pearl Harbour and locations in the Phillipines, Malaya, Bornea and other less well known locations. Dum de dum... Well PzB has done a number on me at Pearl. Two BBs gone up in smoke due to magazine explosions: Pennsylvania and West Virginnia, 2 more in the 80s damaged, two more in the mid fifties and 2 that can muster 14 knots. I sortie the two that are functional with a DD escort and head them due south making their TF run at full speed - they have used all 1000 of their ops so this may be an extremely foolish thing to do. I do expect he will stay around and try another attack on Pearl - there is literally nothing airworthy to stop him. I form the subs into singular TFs and send them to places close to Pearl and hopefully whereever he sends the KB. I also build a PG and PT surface force to hopeful dissuade the BBs from coming into port or to absorb any naval attack planes he has set. I have also done a possibly foolish thing with the B-17s in the US moving them to Pearl and putting them on Naval attack at 5000. I just hope to persuade him that staying is dangerous. It isn't dangerous from a carrier perspective, they are running to the west at full speed - one is going via Wake, Enterprise I think, the other is going via Tarawa to the South Pacific. This is exceedingly dangerous but I am going to trail my coat through South east asia and make him follow me - he should run out fuel before I do. In the US I create some large transport missions to bolster Pearl, Auckland and eventually Brisbane. I also create a fuel transport mission to go to Pago Pago, which will become a refueling stop. Little else to do in the South Pacific with no assets to speak of until the Aussies and Kiwis merge. In the Dutch provinces the main points of interest will be Kanimbla (I think - my computer wont let me play and alt tab too well) it is the base below Balikpapan that produces resources. It has a size 4 airfield. It is also about to be invaded and I intend to close the place. First Dutch air assets are placed within range - mainly Balikpapan. they will try and bomb the invaders. Second I am creating a surface unit to visit. I don't really want to tango with his surface forces but I do want to badly damage the place so he can't fly Nells or Betties out of there. It is also loaded with supplies so I have to cull some. In Singapore The surface forces are made into a fast transport group and will take the 1st malay unit to the top of java (again the name escapes me). Then it too will join in the bombardments further south. I do have to watch out for his little carriers as they could ruin the party. To this end I move a few of my long range dutch search planes to the likely areas of egress. A transport fleet of 2 APs is also trying ot load troops at Singapore, now that I have closed and sent the turn I think I should have waited a couple of turns. The troops at Kuala Lumpur and the place below it are marching to Kuantun. My level bombers are moving out of the coastal airfields and are set to ground attack the landing troops at Kuantun. He appears to have only landed a few troops here and i want to hurt them as much as I can before the larger force at Khota Bharo hammer my units there - they have zero supplies at the base! I have moved dutch level bombers up to the island to the West of Malaya and they will help to attack Malayan targets. My Wilderbeasts will be on naval attack but I don't expect much - they are usually hammered if there is CAP and I expect there to be. In india I create a large transport fleet to provide supplies to Tricomalee and send APs back North ready to load up with troops for the front lines. I also create some Fuel and supply Tfs to go to Rangoon. the fuel tfs are to empty the place and the supply Tfs are taking in some to try and allow the units there some extended life. In the Phillipines I have sortied the important tankers support vessels and some PGs to try for Balikpapan - the P-40s are flying LRCAP. I individually sortie each sub and aim them in the water between Borneo and the Phillipines and choke points further South, i am of the opinion most people hammer the waters in between the Phillipines and Formosa so this is the likely location of his ASW forces. The B-17s in the South are changed to South Pacific command and moved to balikpapan (important place this). Alot of ships are staying where they are for a turn or two. My exposed units at Aparri and those other northern bases head back towards Clark. In China I move a few units around - man I have no idea what to do here!

rogueusmc -> RE: Sand in the Vaseline - Wobbly vs PzB (8/6/2004 2:08:01 AM)
Are ya gonna do this AAR in narrative form too?...I enjoyed that format before but it's probably alot of work. I'm debating on helping you in this AAR...might bite me in butt...lol

wobbly -> Japanese make headway (8/6/2004 2:08:20 AM)
Day two and the smoke still hangs over pearl harbour like a pall, the interesting thing is it was not added to... PzBs carriers are sighted heading away - at full speed it appears - to the Northwest and a possible invasion of Midway?? The good thing about this is that the two mildly damaged BBs that traveled south get away and can continue on to the US. I assemble two ASW TFs and head one east and one west to try and find some targets. Now, as a pointer, don't try and rush your turn through so you can go to work.. I wanted to slow my carriers down to mission speed and forgot, I also wanted to change the P-40 sqd at manila to LRCAP another departing transport mission - woops. The Japs run rampant in the Phillipines and make serious headway in Malaya. I am very worried about being cut off, I mean I know it is a sure thing eventually but I don't want to loose troops because I couldn't retreat! This happened in Lungayen, PzB's troops take the base but my unit does not retreat, I take it this is because there are enemy units at Naga? If so this is important information to know. His forces also take Aparri, Vigan, Jolo and Davao - the last is dangerous as he has an airbase unit here and instantly ACs are listed as basing here (none fly however). Some sub activity is starting to occur - I loose a dutch sub but my fleeing Phillippino transports manage to return the favour. Sub attack at 25,47 Japanese Ships DD Hagikaze DD Nowaki DD Maikaze Allied Ships SS KXIII, hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Japanese Ships SS I-123, hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships AVD Heron Bombers hit the naval yards at manila and the two ships hit are seriously damaged. Another large group sorties with balikpapan as their homebase. Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 22 G4M1 Betty x 21 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed, 9 damaged Allied Ships AK Anakan, Bomb hits 1, on fire AK Compagnia Filipinas, Bomb hits 1, on fire Allied ground losses: 39 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Port hits 1 Port supply hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 14 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet 5 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet And I find his second carrier group (well they find me :P !! they are South East of the Phillipines heading towards the South Pacific. With this knowledge I sortie more of the transports from Manila to head South West and the ships that hadn't moved in Naga now all sortie heading towards Pearl - they will have to watch out for the retreating KB! Day Air attack on TF at 44,63 Japanese aircraft D3A Val x 15 B5N Kate x 18 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Mauban, Bomb hits 12, on fire, heavy damage - this ships has to be scuttled. Aircraft Attacking: 6 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet 2 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet 4 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet 4 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet 4 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet 4 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet 9 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Many small enemy units head ashore at Kuantun - the defenders will be overwhelmed soon. My defenders at Khota Bharu all retreated to Alor Star - I wonder if their attackers will follow. If they do they wont be coming to Kuantan and the two more Indian brigades that are 30 miles out of Kuantun could make taking the place difficult... Ground combat at Kuantan Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 3057 troops, 28 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 12365 troops, 55 guns, 208 vehicles Japanese ground losses: 34 casualties reported Guns lost 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 143 troops unloading over beach at Kendari, 33,71 Japanese ground losses: 111 casualties reported Here is the invasion I was alluding to in the previous day's listings (I think I named it Kanimbla) anyway - many planes attack but none hit anything and my bombers at Balikpapan decide to hit the ships at Kuching (there are some BBs there and they would rather bomb something they can't hurt). I can't reduce the range either as they are equidistant. I have scouted 2 CAs there but hope that this is not the case and they are actually DDs as my Dutch surface force is slated to sweep in tonight. With 3 CLs and 10 DDs I hope to meet out some damage! In other news the evacuation of Singapore went well with all ships leaving unharrassed including the APs now fully loaded with the 2nd Malay brigade!!! I'll try to strike while the iron is hot - two APs sitting at Palambang also head to Singapore - it would be excellent if I could get the Aussies as well! The AVD sqd of Tomahawks also moves to Rangoon while the Buffalos retreat to Mandalay - I want this sqd to protect my transport fleets, all of which have disembarked and are on their way.

wobbly -> RE: Japanese make headway (8/6/2004 2:11:25 AM)
roguemc: Hey mate!! [:)] Well you could help me with things we have already passed. No I don't seem to have the imagination to create the good stories in narrative so I was going to keep writing thoughts and plans.

Andy Mac -> RE: Japanese make headway (8/6/2004 4:15:08 PM)
Hi guys good AAR If i may ask the commander his intentions given the evac you are trying to do in Singapore how long would you be happy to hold out for ? Mid Jan or is that to far away ?

Luskan -> RE: Japanese make headway (8/6/2004 4:40:27 PM)
Hold out shmout. If wobbly gets the aussies out, he suddenly gives himself several defensive options, and if he is fast enough Pzb won't know he's done it until after singapore falls. There is nothing worse as the jap player than planning a nice little offensive carefully, sending in just the right amount of troops and stepping on an aussie INF that you didn't realise was there. I think I've just done this in sumatra myself vs Raver (he said he sent them to java or burma). Best place for the aussies is rangoon. Time it right and you can have all those tank units and arty units from karachi arriving at Rangoon a turn or two before the japs arrive there via rahieng. If the aussies are already there and you're bulding your fort, you'ce got a size 6 fort and 80000 tough defenders, while the japs only ever bring a division at most. I've got Doomed (he is the japs) all tied up at Moulmein AND rangoon where he has attacked both and lacked the strength to take either. I bombard every turn and hammer his two seperated divisions down a little every turn and every day my forts get bigger etc. etc. WARNING: do not land any reinforcements at Akyab. The place is a death trap. The trail leading out of it takes about 3 months to travel end to end because trail movement is so slow. Too easy to bombard and bomb too. PzB isn't dumb - he's going to be waiting for you at balikpapan however.

Thayne -> RE: Japanese make headway (8/6/2004 7:22:50 PM)
I must protest. I have been sitting here for a week thinking, "Hey, you know, it would be great to get into a PBEM game where each player could post their own DAR, explaining what they are doing and why, so that the readers can be both sides . . . so long as each player has the integrity not to look at the other player's DAR or indirectly try to mine information from it." Here, you go and take my idea. I do think such thing could make interesting reading. Thayne Editor in Chief Thayne News Campaign Reports

rogueusmc -> RE: Japanese make headway (8/7/2004 6:01:54 AM)
Wobbly and Herbie did this in UV. It was fun. Wobbly's was in a narrative form alot like yours but from a first person perspective of certain characters during the conflict.

herbieh -> RE: Japanese make headway (8/8/2004 10:05:11 AM)
hey! Wobbly and I did a classic of this at UV, and will be at it for ages yet on a current game. It is very much fun way to do it. BUT ONLY FOR HONORABLY MINDED MEN . Wobbly has high honour.[&o][&o][&o][&o][&o] quote: ORIGINAL: Thayne I must protest. I have been sitting here for a week thinking, "Hey, you know, it would be great to get into a PBEM game where each player could post their own DAR, explaining what they are doing and why, so that the readers can be both sides . . . so long as each player has the integrity not to look at the other player's DAR or indirectly try to mine information from it." Here, you go and take my idea. I do think such thing could make interesting reading. Thayne Editor in Chief Thayne News Campaign Reports

wobbly -> Surface fight works! (8/8/2004 11:25:36 AM)
Thanks for the words guys, especially herbie - this is stealing a bit of his thunder as he and I did the first version of this in the UV forum, where, as he said, we have another version still running. Luskan has essentially given the game away, I am moving the malayans asn the aussies out to ship them up to Burma. I like to defend teh crossroads hex to the north of Rangoon as well. To this end there are most of the Indian APs heading up to Karachi to get the tank units there. My surface attack against the Jap landings at Kendari are both a success and a failure - I manage to meet and sink both destroyers he had guarding the invasion but don't manage to get amongst the transport ships. Unfortunately the invasion has gone ahead and is a success - Kendari falls and now I will have to go well out of my way to send ships to Australia in their attempt to deprive the Japs of resources and oil. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Kendari at 33,71 Japanese Ships DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 20, and is sunk DD Umikaze, Shell hits 2 Allied Ships CL De Ruyter CL Marblehead, Shell hits 1 DD Alden DD Barker DD Bulmer DD Edsall DD John D. Edwards DD Paul Jones DD Parrott DD Whipple DD Stewart, Shell hits 1 DD Banckert DD Witte de With DD Kortenaer DD Piet Hein -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Kendari Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 8507 troops, 42 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 1103 troops, 10 guns, 2 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese forces CAPTURE Kendari base !!! Japanese ground losses: 7 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Allied ground losses: 40 casualties reported Guns lost 5 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Around the PI some of my eastwardly fleeing ships are found by his torpedo planes and sunk. The bad weather that was hiding the ships has now abated and I can see more destruction on the horizon. His small carrier TF has also changed direction popping up between the PI and Sulawesi. This location is extremely bad as I have many transports trying to make for Balikpapan and this will undoubtably mean I get them sunk. (Luskan the mind reading banana strikes again). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 22,51 Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 10 Ki-48 Lily x 13 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AP Van Diemen, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 2 AP Speelman Aircraft Attacking: 1 x Ki-48 Lily attacking at 100 feet 4 x Ki-48 Lily attacking at 100 feet 4 x Ki-48 Lily attacking at 100 feet 4 x Ki-48 Lily attacking at 100 feet This is one of the APs going to Singapore to try and evacuate men - it isn't too badly hit at present and will soon come under the dubious cover of the buffalos still stationed there. My carriers are in position to hit any forces around Wake and Tarawa next turn. I have been thinking about what I do with the carriers and I will take one South and the other all the way over to the Bay of Bengal. If I can sneak it over there it might give him a nasty shock if (when!) he decides to get amongst the shipping there. Speaking of this my first tankers are arriving at Rangoon in the next turn so the AVD is put up to defend them.

wobbly -> Adios Repulse (8/9/2004 5:07:15 AM)
major faux pas! D@mn, I forgot to tell the Repulse and POW group not make a home base in Java. They drop off the 1st Malayan Brigade and then try to return to Singapore, the Nells find them and hammer 4 fish into the Repulse - I have not opened the next turn (I am at work and it is in my inbox) but PzB informs me that she did not make it to palambang like I had hoped - She only had 56 float damage so i can only surmise he hit her again. He also pops up again by Pearl -Woah - did not expect this. I imagine he is after returning carriers but the Enterprise has passed Wake and the Lex refueled at the island north of Tarawa and continues west. The plan here was to interupt the invasion of Rabaul but PzB again informs me that the aussies there have capitulated so I am likely to meet enemy ACs operating out of there if I continue too far. Some sub and anti-sub activity with me sinking a couple of his and him sinking one of mine and an ML and DD. In the Phillipeans I send another bunch of merchies out - LRCAPing them from Manila - PzB informs me that he hit them (in the new turn) but I don't know which ones. It is a run of the gauntlet down the gap between the Phillipines and Borneo. Which brings me back to teh Repulse - now my firepower I can aim at Kendari has been seriously dented - humph. I really want to close Kendari down but you have to face up to a swarm of Jap Naval bombers to do so - is my ploy an impossibility? The APs heading to Singapore are hit again my low flying Lilis and they stop in at Sing to get a bit of repair and flood reduction done. No need to race my evacuation - better he revert his planes to land bombing missions for a bit. In Oz I pay political points to change the HQ of the small Oz Brigade at brisbane, they and the base unit plus the Aus HQ are loaded into APs and sent to PM. China is still a mess with one unit ddeciding a move to the East is best done by moving through Canton - no doubt it will get slapped. Hong Kong and Naga continue to hold however but again i don't see this lasting much longer. I'll look at the new turn when I get home and update with anything new from the front...

wobbly -> The army finds its teeth (8/10/2004 2:19:41 AM)
A day of transport force mayhem and ground forces bravery. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat at 39,56 Japanese Ships CL Naka DD Natsugumo DD Minegumo DD Harusame DD Yudachi DD Samidare Allied Ships MSW Tanager, Shell hits 15, on fire, heavy damage AK Bisayas, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk AK Capillo AK Ethel Edwards AK Palawan, Shell hits 1 AK Princess of Negros More ill luck as PzB gets a mid ocean night intercept of one of my retreating transport TFs. The MSW joins the AK at the bottom of the Phillipine Sea. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 110,70 Japanese Ships SS I-171, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships DD Dewey DD Hull DD Selfridge DD Phelps DD Allen I get another sub around Pearl - there still seems plenty of targets to choose from. Just an addendum to the debate about the effectiveness of Allied ASW, this was a night attack and none of these destroyers has greater than 35 night experience AFTER the successful attack (it probably went up). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 23,59 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 17 G3M Nell x 7 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 2 damaged Allied Ships ML Krakatau, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 3 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet 4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet This poor bugger has been trying to get into Singkawang for the last turn but has been scared off by surface raiders, this time for good reason as the BB - Ise and Hyuga visit. The next day naval bombers find and despatch her. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Sawu Island at 27,75 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 2 G4M1 Betty x 6 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged Allied Ships AK Sinabang, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 34,61 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 19 G3M Nell x 6 G4M1 Betty x 12 Allied aircraft Brewster 339D x 4 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Brewster 339D: 8 destroyed Allied Ships AP President Madison, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage TK Mindanao AO Pecos, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage the unerring capability of his twin engine naval bombers adds to the loss of my transport fleet - there is no hiding from the menace in the sky - weather stays a balmy "partly cloudy". -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Naga Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 22018 troops, 210 guns, 1 vehicles Defending force 9769 troops, 87 guns, 0 vehicles Allied ground losses: 122 casualties reported Guns lost 5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Hong Kong Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 39307 troops, 435 guns, 12 vehicles Defending force 12526 troops, 79 guns, 4 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 4) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3 Japanese ground losses: 314 casualties reported Guns lost 9 Allied ground losses: 286 casualties reported Guns lost 10 Wow, both Hong Kong and Naga hold despite borderline odds, Nagas defenders are actually 30 miles out of the hex on their way to Manila - being forced to retreat ruins morale something shocking and theirs is still OK - I hope they make it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Yenen Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 65431 troops, 783 guns, 15 vehicles Defending force 31547 troops, 193 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1 Japanese ground losses: 1163 casualties reported Guns lost 36 Vehicles lost 2 Allied ground losses: 280 casualties reported Guns lost 3 The days good defensive effort continues with the Chinese defenders of Yenen giving the Japs a bloody nose. I am sending reinforcements but I don't hold out much hope as the odds are nearly 2-1 and the forts are falling. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Alor Star Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 19135 troops, 261 guns, 7 vehicles Defending force 9780 troops, 66 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 5) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 4 Japanese ground losses: 555 casualties reported Guns lost 24 Vehicles lost 1 Allied ground losses: 33 casualties reported Guns lost 2 And again in Malaya - what a great day for the ground pounders. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ok, I am in dire straits in the race to get ships out of the Phillipines, if I am not careful more will sink than escape. I think I have sighted his CVE TF below Kendari as well, it isn't as if he needed more help in this area - he is pounding me. A surface TF is moving into position down there for a bombarment run - this is a worry as I have scouted warships at Kendari and of course the naval bombers can "reach out and touch me". What I really need is some bad weather. To help in the job I move the Martins that were in Java back to Balikpapan to hit Kendari - maybe a pointless exercise with zeros there. In Singapore I create a transport Tf of the two damaged APs and load the aussies aboard, all 3 sqds of buffalos are put on LRCAP - they have reasonable morale so may stay to fight. The two Malay brigades are on their way to Rangoon - baring long range bombers - he just took Victoria point. The tankers at Rangoon are filling and leaving - the AVG has defended them completely so far, it remains to be seen how well they will do when the Malayans and hopefully the Aussies arrive. My two Carrier TFs continue Westward; Spruance down South now has an airbase at Rabaul to contend with - I don't want to be sandwiched between there and Truk if i can help it. I don't know what PzB is up to with the KB. I have a large enemy force heading eastwards about 20 hexes North East of Pearl. At present my recon is scouting no Carriers amongst it but I think it is KB (or part of it). They are getting into the shipping lanes between the US and Pearl. All of my transport Tfs have been filled now and are heading due South - it may be touch and go as to whether I get around KB if he keeps heading this way. I will have to watch out for the Yorktown, which is heading to Pearl with the BB Colorado and 4 DDs as escort.

wobbly -> Jap torpedo plane heaven (8/10/2004 11:53:35 AM)
Another depressing day for the forces of light. The evil empire makes hay while the sun shines and the small amount of shade that was in the offering has now also departed - clear weather in the SRA forecast. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 23,56 Japanese Ships SS I-162 Allied Ships DD Thanet, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage This was one of the three DDs form Hong Kong - as it's former home expires so does it. That is 2 from 3 for PzB - the other has made it safely to Soerboja. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 6th Tank Regiment, at 24,48 Allied aircraft Blenheim I x 17 Blenheim IV x 12 Hudson I x 10 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 72 casualties reported Vehicles lost 5 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x Blenheim IV bombing at 10000 feet 6 x Blenheim I bombing at 10000 feet 7 x Hudson I bombing at 10000 feet 5 x Blenheim I bombing at 10000 feet 3 x Blenheim I bombing at 10000 feet 3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 10000 feet 3 x Hudson I bombing at 10000 feet 3 x Blenheim I bombing at 10000 feet He is moving his tank battalions down the East coast of Malaya and I am killing some of the men and machines - targeted again for this turn. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Songkhia at 24,43 Allied aircraft Hudson I x 3 No Allied losses Japanese Ships AP Enju Maru, Bomb hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x Hudson I bombing at 15000 feet A small smile in the gloom, a hudson, all the way from Rangoon manages to hit one of the transports at Songkhia from 15,000. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 43,61 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 3 G3M Nell x 7 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Luzon, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage Day Air attack on TF at 37,60 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 20 G3M Nell x 9 G4M1 Betty x 13 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Ethel Edwards AK Princess of Negros, Torpedo hits 1, on fire AK Capillo, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage AK Palawan, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Day Air attack on TF at 24,77 Japanese aircraft D3A Val x 14 B5N Kate x 34 Japanese aircraft losses D3A Val: 1 damaged Allied Ships DD Van Ghent, Bomb hits 1, on fire AK Modjekerto AK Boero, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage AK Parigi, Bomb hits 1, on fire TK Iris, Bomb hits 2, on fire AK Loa Koeloe, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage AK Sigli AK Soerabaja Day Air attack on TF at 33,65 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 2 G4M1 Betty x 5 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Sagoland, Torpedo hits 1, on fire MSW Quail, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage A truly awful day to be a merchantman. I have come to the conclusion that I moved too quickly for a non-historic turn. That is all I have played before this PBEM and the difference it makes when the Jap can move to southerly bases and put down Nells and Betties cannot be denied. As you will also notice I HAD seen his CVEs and they saw a large TF loaded with fuel bound for Darwin - he makes one hell of a mess and the fires on the fuel laden ships are insurmountable. I break the TF up and scatter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 111,70 Japanese Ships SS I-8, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships DD Dewey DD Hull DD Selfridge DD Phelps DD Allen DMS Wasmuth DMS Chandler DMS Perry DMS Dorsey DMS Lamberton DMS Boggs DMS Trevor DMS Zane DMS Hopkins DMS Hovey DMS Southard ASW strikes again around Pearl - this time in the day - these guys are getting good experience. I make two more TFs to step up the hunt - Pearl is not where you want to be Mr Scandinavian! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Hong Kong Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 39183 troops, 427 guns, 12 vehicles Defending force 12106 troops, 64 guns, 4 vehicles Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2 Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese forces CAPTURE Hong Kong base !!! Japanese ground losses: 243 casualties reported Guns lost 9 Allied ground losses: 16543 casualties reported Guns lost 53 Vehicles lost 1 Hong Kong at last capitulates - now the enemy troops located there will be destined for the SRA or more China bashing - he also gets a very handy repair yard! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere in Yenen he gets rid of the final fortress level and has almost twice my forces so a few more lost will bring about 2-1 odds and that will be that. Alor Star lost another 70 men and a fortress level. My attempt to load the Aussies up has somewhat failed - one ship got hit by torpedo bombers so will remain in Singapore and unload while the other, under the dubious cover of the Buffalos, will try a run up the Malaca straits, me thinks some dingos are about to take a bath! My surface force that was lining up to hit Kendari was right under the wings of the CVL fleet - phew, not scouted. I get cold feet and send them rushing back to Soerboja - is there nowhere I can walk in freedom? Lexington continues on its way east and whats more a large Jap transport fleet is heading its way, I may not be able to intercept, but if possible it will be very sweet. Spruance, down south in Enterprise has decided that taking a trip between Truk and Rabaul is tanatamount to suicide and is instead going to skulk around Lunga. The KB is making a play at cutting off supply to Oz, Noumea and NZ. I know your game, my friend! Every long-range plane I have is on scouting missions and he can't shake them. I am therefore routing all the transport TFs he is hunting a good 18 hexes away. He is moving at about 4 hexes a turn so I have to keep a wide berth and hope my scout planes can keep him visible.

wobbly -> thunderstorms on the horizon (8/11/2004 3:09:36 AM)
The japanese don't appear to be funny little yellow men after all, they do appear to be able to build reasonable aircraft and fly them well too. The Carnage continues and this time the land forces don't show the backbone they have up to now exhibited. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 88 troops unloading over beach at Gasmata, 59,90 Japanese ground losses: 194 casualties reported This is attempting to cut off the retreating rabaul forces - don't know if i can do anything about it. PzB managed to land troops on the Isthmus between Manila and Naga - I take it you can pick up troops (fast transport) in a non-base location -certainly couldn't in UV - anyone know? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 2nd Tank Regiment, at 24,48 Allied aircraft Blenheim I x 14 Blenheim IV x 9 Hudson I x 7 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 54 casualties reported Vehicles lost 5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 6th Tank Regiment, at 24,48 Allied aircraft Blenheim I x 6 Blenheim IV x 3 Hudson I x 3 No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 42 casualties reported Vehicles lost 2 This has got to be tearing his nighty - they may be tanks but the trails on Malaya are still a turd to get around. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 24,75 Japanese aircraft A5M4 Claude x 8 A6M2 Zero x 17 D3A Val x 14 B5N Kate x 26 No Japanese losses Allied Ships TK Iris, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage AK Parigi, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage AK Boero, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage AK Loa Koeloe, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 24,75 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 4 B5N Kate x 5 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Parigi, on fire, heavy damage AK Boero, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 24,77 Japanese aircraft A5M4 Claude x 8 A6M2 Zero x 20 D3A Val x 14 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Toendjoek, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 5 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet 9 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 24,75 Japanese aircraft B5N Kate x 14 Japanese aircraft losses B5N Kate: 2 damaged Allied Ships DD Van Ghent, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Koepang at 28,77 Japanese aircraft B5N Kate x 12 No Japanese losses Allied Ships MSW Jan van Amstel AK Sigli, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 24,73 Japanese aircraft B5N Kate x 4 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Soerabaja, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage All of these attacks are from the same CVE force that found my fuel laden TF to Darwin. As you can see the scattering of the TF does little to save them as the TF commander points his assets at each individual ship or pair of ships. Despite many attacking planes being damaged none are listed as lost - hummph. To consol myself I have been saying - 'that's fuel the Japs wont get going to the bottom' - has a hollow ring doesn't it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Naga Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 41341 troops, 414 guns, 8 vehicles Defending force 9523 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Naga base !!! Japanese ground losses: 438 casualties reported Guns lost 14 Vehicles lost 2 Allied ground losses: 11923 casualties reported Guns lost 100 Oh woe on the two PA divisions caught at Naga - useless buggers! I sent them towards Manila 3 days ago. Yesterday they were at 59 miles of 60 to get to the isthmus hex between Naga and Manila, however the loss of Naga today makes them surrender. What irks me is the base force made it to Manila 2 turns ago - they all left at the same time. Do the Phillipine troops have slower marching speeds than the american base units? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Tuguegarao Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 14704 troops, 256 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 1411 troops, 10 guns, 1 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 52 to 1 (fort level 3) Japanese forces CAPTURE Tuguegarao base !!! Japanese ground losses: 41 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Allied ground losses: 10 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! I left 3 engineering units (base forces) here to damage the resources. I don't know how effective this will have been - now it is up to the speed they can move as to whether they get to Clark. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Alor Star Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 18251 troops, 220 guns, 6 vehicles Defending force 9553 troops, 57 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3) Japanese ground losses: 1202 casualties reported Guns lost 41 Vehicles lost 2 Allied ground losses: 14 casualties reported I am so thankful to my one shining light per turn - Alor Star - you are a star - a nasty "back at you" for the Japanese army! Malaya is one area I seem to be handling correctly, or more likely he is handling incorrectly - his intial offensive has halted - no suppleis in Khota Bharu - and the speed he is able to move around is severely restricted by the places he has chosen to go to, due to the connecting roads/trails. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In other news: Thunderstorms in the SRA - wohoo. Now of course, my surface bombardment force is out of fuel two hexes from Soerboja, so by the time I could get them into position the sun will of course be shining! This does mean I have sortied some more transports and hope to get them further from harms way. To this end, many tankers and AKs are about to arrive in the SRA from India hoping to load up and return without being blown ou of the water. Palembang is filling up but I am worried about moving there as PzB has stationed a surface attack force North East and there are always the Nells and Betties of course. My single damaged AP of aussies has managed to sneak up the Malacca straits one whole turn. I move some Buffalos North and continue the LRCAPing. The other AP managed to unload safely. I can't see the Kido Bhuti any more!!!! Oh woe - where the hell can it be. I was plotting the location and have a general trend of South East, which is threatening. I have the 2nd marines in ships and really don't want them to go to the bottom. He doesn't even need to hit anything - he just needs to stay invisible and I have to treat him with care! The large expanse of water in between the States and Hawaii, without an island is to blame...

wobbly -> Lex flexes her muscles! (8/12/2004 3:47:18 AM)
Sorry folks - missed a turn that didn't have much to offer - but this one does :-) First thing to note is the combat replay bug has not been fixed - PzB and I are playing on the same machine we started on and this turn his combat replay has him capturing Mersing and fighters from Clark straffing a CS while mine has me holding Mersing and never going for the CS. I hate this bug - it really does suck! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Tarakan at 33,61 Japanese Ships CL Naka DD Natsugumo DD Minegumo DD Harusame DD Yudachi DD Samidare Allied Ships PT TM-9, Shell hits 1 PT TM-10, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage PT TM-11 PT TM-12, Shell hits 4, and is sunk PT TM-13, and is sunk This and an earlier attack halve my PT boats in the South of Borneo - the retreat towards Balikpapan - I can only surmise he is going to attempt (well going to succeed lets be realistic) to take tarakan shortly and does not need these menaces getting in the way. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Batavia, at 19,59 - Coastal Guns Fire Back! Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses No Allied losses 12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships DD Hibiki DD Akatsuki DD Arashio DD Michishio, Shell hits 2 DD Oshio DD Asashio CL Jintsu CA Atago CA Takao BB Haruna BB Kongo Allied Ships AK Beatrice, Shell hits 1 Allied ground losses: 44 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Airbase hits 4 Runway hits 2 Port hits 2 Port fuel hits 1 Very little damage in the morning but I am about to go waaaaaaay out on a limb - I am sending the light surface attack force of Houston, Tromp, Java and 10 DDs into Pontianak this turn. He has a few DDs there but it doesn't look well defended - the big if is this bombardment force retreating towards Saigon to rearm - it may be on react and come to the party. Alot of reacting has been occuring in the game so far - mainly PT boats and the ML Krakatoa which would not go to Pontianak to lay its mines - bah would have helped now! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 15th Indian Brigade, at 24,44 Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 8 Ki-21 Sally x 34 Ki-48 Lily x 30 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 30 casualties reported Guns lost 1 3/4s of the jap army airforce just fell out of the sky upon Alor Star (edited for brevity) - I don't think he liked the two lots of 1000+ losses he suffered trying to take it without support. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 53,72 Allied aircraft F2A Buffalo x 16 SBD Dauntless x 34 Allied aircraft losses SBD Dauntless: 1 damaged Japanese Ships PC Sonan Maru #5, Bomb hits 1, on fire MSW Banshu Maru #8 AP Juko Maru AP Tafuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire PG Shoei Maru AP Monji Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage AP Yokohama Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage AK China Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Japanese ground losses: 238 casualties reported Guns lost 5 Yeehaaa!! Lex finds a southward bound transport TF AND she is loaded with troops!! man was this gratifying and to me this is the beauty of the game over UV - there is a whole lot of ocean to get lost in and both sides can do it - read the KB playing hide and seak on my side of the ocean! [sm=00000106.gif] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 53,72 Allied aircraft F2A Buffalo x 16 SBD Dauntless x 28 Allied aircraft losses SBD Dauntless: 2 damaged Japanese Ships PC Ch 24 MSW Fumi Maru #2 AP Juko Maru AP Monji Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage AP Marsue Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire Japanese ground losses: 217 casualties reported Guns lost 2 Bliss I tells ya Bliss! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 51,76 Japanese aircraft G3M Nell x 13 Allied aircraft F2A Buffalo x 6 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 4 destroyed, 9 damaged Allied aircraft losses F2A Buffalo: 1 damaged Allied Ships CV Lexington Aircraft Attacking: 3 x G3M Nell bombing at 6000 feet Woah heart is in the mouth as I have stupidly put my CAP at 30% but the withering fire from the AAA is enough to make the BOMBING Nells think twice on their bomb runs. So nice to have some of that to help defend too. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Mersing Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 19654 troops, 224 guns, 7 vehicles Defending force 4859 troops, 50 guns, 4 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 3) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2 Japanese ground losses: 293 casualties reported Guns lost 23 Allied ground losses: 62 casualties reported Guns lost 4 See, my combat report has me holding but I can assure you it has been lost - first attack he put in too. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alright then, action packed turn planned and I see PzB has already done the next turn so you lot will be able to see how I went. I split Lex from some of her escort vessels and head the escort vessels to some of the uninhabited bases up and down New Guinea - i am perilously low on fuel and getting some would help me feel a little safer. Lex herself moves two hexes North to get another crack at the transport TF. As an added bonus there is also a transport heading down from the Phillipines which I order to follow the Lex - see if I can't get some fuel from her. PzB reports that I hit a few of his hurt APs and weather an attack form Nells escorted by zeros - who of course make short work of my Buffalos: 5 downed - but no hits on Lex. I can't tell you what I will do here as I haven't seen what he has done but the likely course is North of NG then South - depends on his light Carriers. As I said the small surface fleet goes into Pontianak and my PT boats in Phillipines are attempting an intercept of his transports. The AP of Aussies has escaped and will attach to the transports moving up to Rangoon with the Malayans on board. Another 9000 supplies has arrived at Rangoon so she is getting well kitted out. I have also set alot of Dutch bombers to naval attack inteh straits below Balikpapan - most likely to no good but what the hell.

wobbly -> A good day for the allies! (8/12/2004 1:37:05 PM)
The first really good Allied turn, with two major actions coming off. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/17/41 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coastal Guns at Pontianak, 25,58, firing at TF 77 TF 77 troops unloading over beach at Pontianak, 25,58 16 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships ML Hatsutaka, Shell hits 2 Japanese ground losses: 13 casualties reported Allied ground losses: 18 casualties reported Guns lost 1 The invasion continues but a few visitors are about to ruin the party! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 152 encounters mine field at Hong Kong (43,42) Japanese Ships MSW Rokko Maru MSW Hinode Maru #20 MSW W.13 MSW W.14 PC Ch 18, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Sunk PC Ch 32 First of these and we will take all comers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Pontianak at 25,58 Japanese Ships DD Kasasagi, Shell hits 48, and is sunk ML Hatsutaka, Shell hits 15, and is sunk AP Josho Maru, on fire AP Meisho Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire AP Mexico Maru, Shell hits 1 Allied Ships CA Houston, Shell hits 2 CL Java, Shell hits 1 CL Tromp CL Boise, Shell hits 1 DD Barker DD Bulmer DD Edsall DD Parrott DD Whipple DD Thracian, Shell hits 1 I'd have loved to hammer the APs but judging by the results there were no troops aboard anymore - oh well. Upon retreating the Nells find the ships - one DD suffers a torp but should live and that is that - phew! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 116,71 Japanese Ships SS I-1, hits 7, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships DD Allen DD Dewey DD Hull DD Selfridge DD Phelps DMS Wasmuth DMS Chandler DMS Perry DMS Dorsey One more Pearl sub - it is a death trap to stay around there -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 51,73 Allied aircraft F2A Buffalo x 5 SBD Dauntless x 32 No Allied losses Japanese Ships PG Shoei Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage Day Air attack on TF at 52,74 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Allied aircraft TBD Devastator x 12 No Allied losses Japanese Ships MSW Seki Maru #3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: Lex attacks once more but it is the cripples she is sinking, as expected he runs for Palau. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 51,74 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 16 G3M Nell x 6 Allied aircraft F2A Buffalo x 16 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 4 damaged Allied aircraft losses F2A Buffalo: 2 destroyed Allied Ships CV Lexington Aircraft Attacking: And the zeros come out to play, this and another attack fail to get any hits and a few Nells are damaged - unfortunately my already weiny fighter squad lost 4 Buffalos! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 27,72 Japanese aircraft A5M4 Claude x 8 A6M2 Zero x 4 D3A Val x 5 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Lepus, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 27,72 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 1 B5N Kate x 1 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Lepus, on fire, heavy damage The parting shot from his little carriers - they have put on full steam and are speeding back towards the East. He will have to go through the straits below Balkpapan and I set all the planes to naval attack - should net much but I hope to scare them at least. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 24,49 Allied aircraft Buffalo I x 18 Vildebeest IV x 19 Allied aircraft losses Vildebeest IV: 5 destroyed, 18 damaged Japanese Ships BB Kongo DD Asashio, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage At last the Vilderbeasts jon the party. Flying into horrific flak they manage to plant 2 torpedos into teh Kongo's escort - she sinks - unfortuantely the Kongo isn't scratched. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tavoy and Pontianak are added to the Japanese haul. With his CVLs rushing back to do battle with Lex the shipping lanes in the west get back to loading and moving goods to Oz. Lex's escorts have all managed to refuel one way or another but ex herself is still mighty thirsty - she heads towards one of the little locations that hasn't been emptied yet and I hope we can get more than teh 1500 fuel she currently has in her tanks. The plan, such as it is, is to go down through the hell by PM and try to fight my way through. To this end the P-40s that were at Manila, that moved to tarakan and will next fly down to Darwin, then Townsville and then PM (phew) will try and LRCAP the old lady as she makes her bid - we shall see. Still no sign of KB - the area she could be in is now vast. I am hoping, with my ASW work, that he is heading back to Pearl and hopes to take out one of the groups. One more turn and they all head for home. Saratoga is very close to Pearl - coming from the North - i am going one step closer then two runs at full speed! A huge fleet of CAs, DDs and more ominously - APs and Aks are heading fo rthe straits of Malaca - is he on his way to Burma - it doesn't llok like Lex can make it across this time. Thinking about this - maybe I move Enterprise from her position by Lunga over there - hmmm. Phillipines are in deep strife and Malaya, with the quick loss of Mersing is starting to look decidedly shaky. I was contemplating trying to rescue some men with fast transport from the ships at Tricomalee but with the enemy ships by Singapore I have a shaky feeling. In china things are in waiting mode - how long will he bombard before running me out of town?

wobbly -> Lex lost in the mist - where can she be? (8/13/2004 3:01:24 AM)
A quiet turn with the only thing of note being the massive increase in air assets in Malaya and the invasion of Johore Bahru. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/18/41 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Mersing , at 23,49 Allied aircraft Buffalo I x 19 Blenheim I x 15 Blenheim IV x 12 Hudson I x 9 No Allied losses Resources hits 3 My first resource raid is pretty unsuccessful - 3 hits will hardly dent its capacity - still you have to start where you start. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50 Japanese aircraft Ki-27 Nate x 7 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 27 Ki-21 Sally x 61 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21 Sally: 3 damaged Allied aircraft losses Blenheim I: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed Vildebeest IV: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied ground losses: 14 casualties reported Airbase hits 5 Runway hits 34 61 Sallys!!! All coming from Khota Bharu - with this up against Singapore it may be time to skidaddle away brave brave sir Robin -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Kuching at 28,56 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 7 Ki-27 Nate x 7 Allied aircraft Brewster 339D x 20 Martin 139 x 12 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Brewster 339D: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Martin 139: 8 destroyed, 5 damaged Japanese Ships BB Hyuga BB Ise Arggghh they've done it again and I have noone to balme but myself. The attraction of bombing targets they can't hurt is too great. I reduce their range to 6 so they wont go to Kuching again (well the ones that are left!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 116,67 Japanese Ships SS I-7 Allied Ships AVD McFarland AVD Thornton MSW Turkey MSW Rail MSW Tern MSW Grebe MSW Vireo MSW Bobolink Another combat replay discrepancy - PzB says a torp hits the AVD thornton and that I hit him - as you can see in MY combat replay no-one is successful - the truth turns out to be as PzB saw it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat at 79,68 Japanese Ships BB Hiei BB Kirishima DD Kagero DD Isokaze DD Urakaze DD Hamakaze Allied Ships AK Elcano, Shell hits 29, and is sunk Now this is a really strange one!! One of my retreating transport ships meets members of the Pearl Harbour invasion retiring to Japan. There can be no naval bombers though as they would have pounced on the transport 1 hex away. I still believe the Carriers are in my neighbourhood - no sign though. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coastal Guns at Johore Bahru, 22,49, firing at TF 131 TF 131 troops unloading over beach at Johore Bahru, 22,49 116 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships CA Chokai ML Aotaka, Shell hits 1 APD APD-33 PG Eiko Maru, Shell hits 1 Japanese ground losses: 763 casualties reported Allied ground losses: 12 casualties reported PzB is trying to completely cut off Singapore and it is working too well. I, of course, have helped him by evacuating some troops. This is the location of the ships I saw below Singapore so I send a surface fleet from Tricommalee to try and get some indian troops out of Malaya. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Clark Field Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 20878 troops, 206 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 1988 troops, 0 guns, 137 vehicles Allied assault odds: 26 to 1 Japanese ground losses: 304 casualties reported Vehicles lost 18 Allied ground losses: 154 casualties reported Guns lost 6 Defeated Japanese Units Retreating! PzB got ahead of himself and the the tank units get to Clark before the rest of the hoard. i just took the oppotunity to send a few of them back whence they had come. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plans: The TF of smaller carriers did not run through the straits below Balikpapan but are sitting back in tehir favourite position: West of Kendari. This meant my small surface force aiming to hit Kendari could have been on the receiving end of a spanking, however, weather is at last being friendly and they are socked in all day and are not found. Fortune favours teh brave and teh same has occured for the Lex battlegroup - searches do not manage to find her as she heads for refueling. The whole group is a bit of a hodge podge so I hope I can get them sorted out before the bad guys arrive. The reinforcement TF from Brisbane is almost at PM - 1 more turn. The P-40s from Manila are all now at Darwin: next stop Townsville. Enterprise has decided to stay near Lunga, it may be benficial to have the fighter support when Lex tries her run, I am still contemplating going North around New Guinea, all depends upon his little carriers.

wobbly -> Malaya in Strife (8/14/2004 2:19:27 AM)
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/19/41 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coastal Guns at Johore Bahru, 22,49, firing at TF 131 TF 131 troops unloading over beach at Johore Bahru, 22,49 38 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships ML Aotaka CA Chokai APD APD-38, Shell hits 1 Japanese ground losses: 415 casualties reported Guns lost 1 More troops pour ashore and I have little to stop them - his decision to invade though does mean I must be destroying men and weapons rather than taking them into Mersing and then marching them -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 35,54 Japanese Ships DD Kiji MSW W.6 PG Hashidate PG Saga Allied Ships SS KXV Jap ASW tries to stop the Dutchies.... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 35,54 Japanese Ships AP Seizan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire Allied Ships SS KXV Japanese ground losses: 30 casualties reported But they sneak by and manage to put a torp into a troop ship -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50 Japanese aircraft G3M Nell x 24 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 20 Ki-21 Sally x 50 Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 2 damaged Ki-21 Sally: 5 damaged Allied aircraft losses Hudson I: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged Blenheim I: 10 destroyed, 3 damaged Buffalo I: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged Blenheim IV: 6 destroyed, 9 damaged Allied ground losses: 39 casualties reported Guns lost 2 Airbase hits 7 Runway hits 47 massive damage to the air fleet at Singapore - my Buffalos do naught to stop this so I start evacuating. The level bomebrs go to Ceylon with some moving to Java. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 15th Indian Brigade, at 24,44 Japanese aircraft Ki-27 Nate x 24 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 9 Ki-21 Sally x 45 Ki-48 Lily x 31 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 89 casualties reported Guns lost 2 He is really pounding the troops at Alor star but I have moved another indian brigade there - hopefully they make it before he decides to attack again. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 63,93 Allied aircraft F4F-3 Wildcat x 7 SBD Dauntless x 30 No Allied losses Japanese Ships ML Tsugaru, Bomb hits 5, on fire DD Asanagi, Bomb hits 1 DD Yunagi, Bomb hits 1, on fire ML Tokiwa, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Japanese ground losses: 173 casualties reported Guns lost 5 The big E plays her hand!!! A small shortlands transport TF is found and damaged. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat at 76,63 Japanese Ships BB Hiei BB Kirishima DD Kagero DD Isokaze DD Urakaze DD Hamakaze Allied Ships AK Dos Hermanos, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage D@mn - he mid-ocean intercepts again, I have to move my retreating transports to a more erratic path. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jahore Bahru is not going to hold for very much longer and with it goes retreat from Singapore - Malay will be cut in half! Don't know what to do here - he really has concentrated on me here. Big E is moving down South - with his fleet carriers' whereabouts unknown I am getting very antsy with my moves. I still feel he is trying to hammer transports between the US and the South Pacific but where he will strike is still anyones guess, I fogt to do it this turn but I am going to split the large transport TFs into a whole lot of little ones - that way if he finds one I will loose alot less. A surface combat group splits off from the Big E and heads into shortlands but I tink he will be long gone. Lex managed to get some fuel but it barely dents the requirement - i am going to have to try the same trick at another of the little locations. I notice others do not allow this sort of refueling - I would have been in dire straits without it... In other Carrier news Saratoga makes it to Pearl and upgrades her airwing to F4F-4s. Some transport Tfs are nearly at Pearl form the North.

wobbly -> Quiet... (8/15/2004 8:06:59 AM)
A quiet day -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Balikpapan, at 31,64 Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses Brewster 339D: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged Martin 139: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged Do 24K-2: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged Japanese Ships DD Hatsukaze CA Nachi DD Natsushio DD Kuroshio DD Sawakaze DD Oyashio DD Hasu DD Samidare DD Yudachi DD Harusame DD Minegumo DD Natsugumo CL Naka Allied Ships AK Montanes, Shell hits 1 AK Siantar, Shell hits 2, on fire AP Mijer, Shell hits 2, on fire DD Pillsbury, Shell hits 1, heavy damage Allied ground losses: 170 casualties reported Guns lost 7 Vehicles lost 4 Airbase hits 10 Airbase supply hits 9 Runway hits 42 Port hits 1 Port fuel hits 1 It looks like Balikpapan is aggravating PzB and he hammers it with a contingent of ships. the number of aircraft lost isn't as high as stated but there are alot of dmaged ACs in the squadrons. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Yenen Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 108972 troops, 1254 guns, 12 vehicles Defending force 44858 troops, 325 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Japanese ground losses: 953 casualties reported Guns lost 28 Allied ground losses: 585 casualties reported Guns lost 10 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Johore Bahru Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 21449 troops, 224 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 8458 troops, 72 guns, 3 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3 Japanese ground losses: 366 casualties reported Guns lost 17 Allied ground losses: 51 casualties reported Guns lost 2 Both Yenen and Johore Bahru are not lokg for this world - I can see them capitulating in the very near future. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No one is at home in the shortlands for my surface ships to tango with so they retire towards the Enterprise as she rounds the bottom of the Solomons. I am playing with fire trying to refuel a bombardment mission to the south of Bali - I really do want to hit Kendari, this is very difficult with the amount of Naval bombers floating around. His Carriers really are heading to the East - they were slow while refueling but now are on their way. Tis of course means I can empty the more accessable supply locations with more impunity. Lex wil be refueling this turn PzB has more search planes out after her so I don't think I will get away without weathering some form of storm. Unfortunately the P-40s cannot get to Cairns without being boxed up - this means I am going to be slow at getting some added defence over the ships.

wobbly -> KB resurfaces! (8/16/2004 5:16:46 AM)
The Kido Butai rears its ugly head sending some of my freighters to the bottom. I had split the Tfs into smaller units the trun before so doing so has lowered my losses but it still hurt! Also Yenen capitulates in the North of China � he has the serious potential to cut my off in the North now! AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/21/41 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 131,81 Japanese aircraft D3A Val x 20 B5N Kate x 24 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Steel Trader, Torpedo hits 1 AK Steel Navigator, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage TK H. M. Storey, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 131,81 Japanese aircraft D3A Val x 24 Japanese aircraft losses D3A Val: 1 damaged Allied Ships TK H. M. Storey, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage AK Steel Navigator, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage AK Steel Trader, Bomb hits 3, on fire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 130,77 Japanese aircraft B5N Kate x 24 No Japanese losses Allied Ships TK Admiral Chase, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage AK Steel Exporter AK Nebraskan, Bomb hits 2, on fire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 130,77 Japanese aircraft D3A Val x 21 B5N Kate x 20 No Japanese losses Allied Ships TK Admiral Chase, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage AK Nebraskan, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage AK Steel Exporter, Bomb hits 2, on fire Bang Bang Bang � all of these ships bar one are sent to the bottom (either instantly or through scuttling charges). The other as yet unfound Tfs turn in differing directions and run for the hills. As yet the 2 marines are a good 20 hexes from this major threat � they will continue south to try and get around the likely direction of travel the KB will now take. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Waingapu at 27,74 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 14 G4M1 Betty x 6 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged Allied Ships CL Marblehead CL De Ruyter Aircraft Attacking: My surface combat Tf lining up to hit kendari is instead targeted by Betties form their target. What�s worse is Kendar has a well stocked Surface group contingent so it�s �run away� again. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Yenen Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 107661 troops, 1209 guns, 12 vehicles Defending force 43268 troops, 311 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Yenen base !!! Japanese ground losses: 1967 casualties reported Guns lost 41 Vehicles lost 3 Allied ground losses: 639 casualties reported Guns lost 8 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! He does pay to take the place but all the retreating units are out of supplies and will find it very hard to move fast in their current condition. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Johore Bahru Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 21176 troops, 201 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 8294 troops, 69 guns, 3 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3) Japanese ground losses: 351 casualties reported Guns lost 9 Allied ground losses: 142 casualties reported Guns lost 7 This is a better result. Especially since he did not reduce the forts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alright, much is afoot. In the South Pacific I have decided to spend most of my political points releasing a NZ Cavalry unit from Auckland. They load into AKs as �only troops� and head to Noumea. With the lack of extra defence accorded by the 2nd Marines it is important that I try to cover this vital base. A large TF of Cruisers and destroyers is still a long way form Noumea � about at Clark Island. With the KB being found I sortie the damaged BBs from Pearl. They will travel North and then East. They are travelling in two groups of 2 BBs and 3 DDs � one group has BBs with 41 and 48 damage the other two are in their 80s. I need to reduce the pressure on Pearl�s repair facility. The two BBs that sortied after the Pearl attack have made it to San Diego. The APs with the Malayans and Aussies are about 2 turns out of Rangoon. PzB has dedicated himself to Malaya so there is no air force at Tavoy to intercept the incoming troop ships. This may yet come off! In the continuing saga of the Lex, she has taken on another load of 700 fuel which has her at 3000. This is borderline enough to get her down below New Guinea at cruise speed � obviously I wont get the luxury of travelling at a cruise speed or while she is under air attack � hope it�s enough. To help in this endeavour further, the P-40s that are being reassembled in Cairns are flying to PM. Two there at present, it will be a while before they have any impact. At PM itself I am dropping off the Aus corps HQ a small cavalry unit and a RAN base unit. IN my combat replay PzB hit this with the Nells damaging the CL Adelaide. In the actual replay no such attack occurs. With the advancement of the enemy light Carriers towards Truk my attempts to empty the SRA of supplies has stepped up in pace. I expect to loose more but get more stuff out too. In Malaya it is more of the same. I have moved the two swds of Buffalos to George field (sp) and they are LRCAPing Alor star � just might restrict his bombing of my troops. The fast transport from Tricommalee will be ready to run into Malaya in a turn or so. I will have to retreat one of the more beat up units from Alor Star for evacuation. In the Philippines I am attacking another single unit that has advanced ahead of the pack at Clark. The B-17s damaged at Clark are transferred to the South Pacific command and moved to Balikpapan � from there to Darwin. This takes up the very last of my political points � I have 11 left� Many more pinprick anti-naval fighter sweeps go against his APs � nothing of note hit though.

wobbly -> Windows Wrecked in Windy Wellington (8/18/2004 5:19:12 AM)
Sorry for a somewhat belated report, as PzB may have added he has been moving from one location to another and in Wellington we have suffered the worst storm I have ever seen in this city. While those in Florida may sniff in derision i still have four weather facing windows blown out and a roof that is a piece of iron short of full coverage. Others are in a far worse condition so I shouldn't grumble but it will be a cold night tonight despite 3 windows now replaced and boards over the other which is too inaccessible in this weather. Poor me! [:(] But that 's not what you're reading for is it! OK - The kido butai has already run out of targets - she found one forlorn (and previously damaged) AK and sent her to the bottom without too much additional drama. My other transport Tfs, at full speed, are now a goodly distance from the threat. I should (hmmm) be Ok here now, it is actually a relief to find out where they are. In Pearl two very large transport TFs come in with fuel and about 150K supplies. The Kiwi Brigade I 'bought' in Auckland has loaded and left for Noumea, it has just cleared Cape Reinga. One full day of unloading in Port Moresby without aircraft interdiction has seen most of the troops and about 5K supplies unloaded, 2000 troops and about 3K supplies to go. Lex combines with her escorts and puts on full steam to Townsville - I should have enough fuel to get there, it is obviously up to the japanese in Rabaul as to whether she does so. I notice I don't have much in the way of Northerly fuel in which to replenish them so I am probably going to have to head to Brisbane or Sydney. Many single transport ship TFs created in the SRA this turn - I am trying to load up supplies and fuel while the Jap aircraft carriers are away (they are rounding the northern tip of New Guinea). Another large Tf of surface vessels is formed at Soerboja and heads south while the previous southern group should return tonight. A group of transports also makes port in Balikpapan this turn - very dangerous - I have 25 fighters defending them... Johore bahru still holds but I cut my losses and retire the aussies to Singapore - I should loose this base this turn. Further north the british surface fleet is ready to run in to George base (name?) and load an airbase unit then sprint out again. i have remembered to do this at full speed so we shall see. Rangoon is about to be reinforced with the first lot of malayans and Aussies from Singapore - I can see a jap unit at the base to the East of Moulmein so it is possible he may try and go around behind me. Two very large supply TFs pull into Columbo and Tricommalee. In China I try to attack a Jap held base which unhappily has a split unit from some jap mixed brigade - I am heavily repulsed but will try again this turn. In the Phillipines another unit that got ahead of the rest is deliberately attacked by the units at Clarke and sent back the way it came. The opposition is closing in now though.

wobbly -> Soerboja quakes under port attack (8/20/2004 3:28:08 AM)
An eventful turn - Lex is found by Nells and Zeros; Johore Bahru is taken by force with the defenders retreating to Singapore and a very nasty port attack by Nells out of Kuching on Soerboja. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/23/41 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 24,65 Japanese Ships SS I-156, hits 4, on fire, heavy damage - Sunk Allied Ships DD Van Nes DD Paul Jones DD Kortenaer DD Evertsen DD Banckert DD Stewart CL De Ruyter The retreating Dutch warships stumble upon a sub and sink it on their way to a burning Soerboja. They refuel and then head out again - too hot here! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 22,65 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 24 G3M Nell x 60 Allied aircraft CW-21B Demon x 3 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 17 damaged Allied aircraft losses CW-21B Demon: 4 destroyed Allied Ships MSW Abraham Crijnssen, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage AP Van Landsberge, Bomb hits 1 ML Prins van Oranje, Torpedo hits 1, on fire PG Asheville, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage AS Colombia, Torpedo hits 1, on fire AP Rochussen, Torpedo hits 1, on fire AO Trinity, Torpedo hits 1 AVD Heron, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage AK Sagoland, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage AK Liran, Bomb hits 1, on fire And bang - change in tactics by my erstwhile opponent - he has made quite a mess too. It is my fault to an extent, I had moved the Demons that were defending to Palembang to defend a resource pick up there. I have attached the damage he caused. One hell of alot of torp hits for planes coming in at 15000 feet! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 56,92 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 17 G3M Nell x 18 Allied aircraft F2A Buffalo x 13 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 4 destroyed, 19 damaged Allied aircraft losses F2A Buffalo: 4 destroyed Allied Ships CV Lexington -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 56,92 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 17 G3M Nell x 3 Allied aircraft F2A Buffalo x 10 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses F2A Buffalo: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied Ships CV Lexington 9 Buffalos splash into the water - i can't tell how many pilots I lost. They do manage to hold the nells off and even shoot down 2 zeros however the sqd is now down to 8. The most important point is that Lex was untouched - she is leading a charmed life! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Alor Star Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 52681 troops, 587 guns, 105 vehicles Defending force 12070 troops, 79 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2 Japanese ground losses: 618 casualties reported Guns lost 23 Vehicles lost 1 Allied ground losses: 393 casualties reported Guns lost 9 Ouchhhhh The imperial guards make it to Alor star and the extra weight tells immediately. The last bastion of strength in the North's days are numbered. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Johore Bahru Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 40205 troops, 404 guns, 5 vehicles Defending force 5378 troops, 29 guns, 2 vehicles Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2 Japanese assault odds: 12 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese forces CAPTURE Johore Bahru base !!! Japanese ground losses: 76 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Allied ground losses: 104 casualties reported Guns lost 5 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Back to Singapore - since I have removed most of the defenders the jewel in the East Empire's crown is about to be deflowered. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ok Lex is in the hex to the east of Dobadura, the whole tf shows red in the fuel stakes - they will continue at mission speed and I hope I can make a northern oz base. The Enterprise is due to rendevous with the Lex this turn - her wildcats will be joyously received! I don't know if carriers can fuel other carriers... My fast transport mission didn't work - not sure why. I changed a couple of settings and now the fuel state is green rather than red which may have been the cause. They try again tonight. The Kido Butai disappears back into the mist - back to playing russian roulette with my transports. The marines are going to take the long way around - can't risk them being found - the Kiwi Cav Brigade are about a turn out of Noumea anyway. While the Lex and Enterprise have done sod all damage they may have thrown PzB's plans to come further south into disarray; until he gets more firepower he wont contemplate a southward move. [image]local://upfiles/7787/Bz791896040.jpg[/image]

sadja -> RE: Soerboja quakes under port attack (8/20/2004 4:42:19 AM)
I'm a newbee with this version of WIP played the old one long time ago , love reading the AARs really like yours and Thynes. keep it up. Thanks again for the entertainment.

wobbly -> RE: Soerboja quakes under port attack (8/20/2004 6:37:21 AM)
Thanks for the encouragement sadja. It's nice to know we are entertaining others while we have a blast ourselves. I can highly recommend the game, you will have to overcome the initially overwhelming size, but if you are a pacific war veteren then you'll be fine. I tried the game but hated the interface. WitP is much better - although I can't play the game with sound [:(] PzB has done the turn, apparently subs get in on the action agains the Lex - once again her luck holds and the torps miss. Unfortunatley for the sub the depth chargfes (or one depthcharge in this case) don't and the single hit is enough to sink the sub. I am still at work so I can't elaborate further - will do so when I get home.

dtravel -> RE: Soerboja quakes under port attack (8/20/2004 8:45:35 AM)
Wobbly, I just have to say that there is just something about the title of your AAR that makes me wince every time I see it. Not sure why, it just does. [:o][:D]

wobbly -> Tenacious Indians show pluck! (8/20/2004 1:14:47 PM)
Major defensive effort by the indians at Alor star and a base force in Cagayan. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/24/41 ASW attack at 56,95 Japanese Ships SS I-159, hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships DD Balch CA Louisville DD Benham CA Northampton DD Ellet DD Dunlap DD Fanning DD Maury DD McCall DD Gridley DD Craven CV Enterprise One last (I hope) crack at the luckiest ship in the fleet and she is through to the safer waters of the coral sea and the defensive firepower of Enterprise: Lex we salute you! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 20,55 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 18 G3M Nell x 15 Allied aircraft CW-21B Demon x 10 Brewster 339D x 1 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 4 damaged Allied aircraft losses CW-21B Demon: 8 destroyed Allied Ships AK Empire Hope AK Empire Raven, Torpedo hits 1, on fire CLAA Capetown Aircraft Attacking: My demons sacrfice themselves trying to defend the crazy notion I have that the resources in Palambang should not go to the Japanese. PzB has two major surface fleets in the waters around Palambang and two subs under the water in this hex - time to move! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 34,64 Allied aircraft Martin 139 x 11 Allied aircraft losses Martin 139: 1 damaged Japanese Ships CL Tama BB Nagato BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 2 Aircraft Attacking: My Martins throw themselves at some Battleships trying to pass below Balikpapan - they manage to hit Yamashiro but I doubt the paint was even chipped. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Cagayan Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 2378 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 792 troops, 7 guns, 2 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1 Japanese ground losses: 8 casualties reported Allied ground losses: 5 casualties reported -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Nanning Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 26762 troops, 310 guns, 5 vehicles Defending force 21539 troops, 90 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 Japanese ground losses: 822 casualties reported Guns lost 19 Vehicles lost 1 Allied ground losses: 169 casualties reported Guns lost 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Alor Star Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 51920 troops, 563 guns, 104 vehicles Defending force 11502 troops, 65 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Japanese ground losses: 1332 casualties reported Guns lost 27 Vehicles lost 1 Allied ground losses: 477 casualties reported Guns lost 15 Some exceptionally courageous defence from the Indians at Alor star plus these other locations - the jap casualties above are from the Imperial guards et al! No fortifications left though so only a rest day can save them from loosing the location tomorrow. There is a kin ransome in supplies at Alor Star too. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lex is on her way to Townsville and Enterprise is heading to Cairns. They will take on fuel and then try to ge to a location with enough supplies to replenish their airwings - Brisbane is closest. The unloading of troops and supplies at Port Moresby wsa completed without a hitch - the sub in the area was conveniently sunk by Lex's escorts. The troops destined for Rangoon have all arrived. PzB has been sending in recon every day so he should notice the sudden rise in defenders. The bad news is my supplies plummet upon their arrival - is this normal? His baby carriers are on their way back to the happy hunting grounds of the south resource area. Time for my transports to take the long way around! There are 19 days until the Yorktown and a whole swag of other reinforcements are released - we are counting those days. Dtravel - you are so right - hope it is doing the same for PzB. All his best laid plans delayed or scrapped through grit in the lubricant!! [sm=00000506.gif]

wobbly -> Adios Capetown and Alor Star (8/21/2004 4:58:40 AM)
Looking over the side Jason could see the azure water change to a darker shade as the borderline of the sand and the ship met. The heat of the tropical sun was making him sweat and the need to wear a coral suit in case of currents moving you onto the sharp homes of the underwater creatures was not helping. The divemaster, a local originally from Singapore, pointed out across the water to the East: "The Japanese planes come in from over there catching the task force here" he continued waving his arms about the boat. "Capetown moved towards the threat unleashing her anti-aircraft guns. The enemy planes concentrated on her putting 3 torpedoes into her. She sank in 43 seconds taking all but 15 hands with her." "Her sacrifice enabled the Task force to continue although one other ship was damaged badly enough to require heading to Batavia and another patrol boat sank". "Capetown now sits upright in 34 to 26 metres of water." The group nodded their heads and continued testing their breathing apparatus. This was where Jason's Grandfather had perished, a young father caught in a war on the other side of the world from his wife: Jason's Grandmother. It seemed incredible to him now that Joseph had died in such a beautiful location - the water seemed so inviting, the sky a deep blue. However, 60 years earlier the HMS Capetown and her flock had emerged from morning squalls to be greeted by the Japanese Naval Nell aircraft and had been hammered to the bottom. Obviously, Capetown is sunk and others in her Tf damaged. Alor Star falls to the all conquering Jap. Mines rear their ugly head but both sides fall foul of them. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/25/41 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 121 encounters mine field at Palembang (20,55) Japanese Ships DD Kuretake, Mine hits 1, on fire PzB obviously did try and hit the TF I had at Palembang, they instead find the underwater obstacles. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 1001 encounters mine field at Darwin (36,84) Allied Ships MSW Cairns MSW Deloraine MSW Ipswitch AVD William B. Preston, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage In Darwin a returning anti-sub TF finds sub-laid mines and unfortunately William B. Preston hits one; she is in serious trouble. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 29,66 Allied aircraft Brewster 339D x 15 T.IVa x 3 Allied aircraft losses T.IVa: 2 damaged Japanese Ships BB Mutsu, Torpedo hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: A torpedo hit on one of the big boys - this is what I am after - I get a severe flooding damage report. Considering I can't follow this up it is likely the ship will find a safe port and pump dry having suffered very little system damage. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 21,57 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 19 G3M Nell x 33 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 2 damaged Allied Ships CLAA Capetown, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage AK Empire Hope, Torpedo hits 1, on fire PG Aster PG Nigella, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage What the surface combat TF miss the Nells find. Both the Capetown and the Nigella sink. I think the TF should make it out through the breach between Sumatra and Java though. For the loss of a CLAA - put in there to offer some form of protection - 2 planes damage does not really fill me with delight that my tactics are the right ones. The early ships are just too crap at anti-air. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coastal Guns at Brunei, 32,57, firing at TF 75 TF 75 troops unloading over beach at Brunei, 32,57 36 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships AP Hakka Maru, Shell hits 1 Japanese ground losses: 264 casualties reported Guns lost 3 Brunei semms slated to fall - he has another airbase unit with them so no oil attacks by the dutch airforce. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Cagayan Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 2382 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 782 troops, 7 guns, 2 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Japanese ground losses: 51 casualties reported Guns lost 3 Allied ground losses: 27 casualties reported Guns lost 3 Still the US base force holds. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Alor Star Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 50145 troops, 521 guns, 103 vehicles Defending force 10859 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese forces CAPTURE Alor Star base !!! Japanese ground losses: 792 casualties reported Guns lost 19 Allied ground losses: 293 casualties reported Guns lost 9 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Alor Star seccumbs to a far superior force. PzB seems in a rush to get the Malayan Peninsula subdued. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It is the speed that PzB is attacking Malaya that seems the key here. He is very slow to move against Burma and as such my reinforcement has been allowed to continue unabated now for a while. However, his plans seems to be to use the forces in Malaya (once taken) to take Burma. If that is the case then he will come north like a steamtrain in month or so. I cannot imagine Rangoon can hold against that unless I try some radical changes to the defense. I have hinted at the seed of the plan previously. Get the Enterprise and the Lexington across to India. If I can do it secretly he may not use his full carrier capability against India and the American flat-tops could come as a very rude surprise. Alot of water has to flow under the bridge before we get there but never the less this is the idea. My Fast transport worked this time! A sizable chunk of the air base at Georgetown is on its way to Rangoon. the surface ships here may try this run a few times to see what they can get out of Malaya. Still don't know where the Kitu Butai is hiding. I start moving the now fully fleshed Catalina sqds to the small island locations about the South Pacific - where oh where could he be???

wobbly -> attack against ambiona (8/22/2004 3:08:43 AM)
Quiet couple of turns. The Chinese manage to repulse an over eager Jap regiment trying to move up the rail line north of Canton. I loose yet another AK. Japs invade Amboina. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/27/41 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval Gun Fire at Amboina (39,73) - Coastal Guns Fire Back! 13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. Japanese Ships AP Koshin Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage AP Kembu Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire Japanese ground losses: 26 casualties reported Beginning of the invasion -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 22,52 Japanese aircraft G3M Nell x 18 Ki-30 Ann x 21 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Empire Hope, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage One of the injured ships being escorted by the hapless Capetown joins her fate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Amboina Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 2426 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 2004 troops, 19 guns, 2 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese ground losses: 139 casualties reported Guns lost 4 Allied ground losses: 6 casualties reported The Japs are a little under powered here. Amboina may survive for a wee while until he brings up reinforcements. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Taiping Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 2125 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 5769 troops, 29 guns, 3 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3) Japanese ground losses: 18 casualties reported Allied ground losses: 8 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Much the same thing in Taiping. The troops that retreated from ALor Start o George town were given move orders to Taiping straight away. PzB tried to get some small fast units there to cut off retreat but it is to no avail. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 43,39 Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 30190 troops, 245 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 6715 troops, 84 guns, 5 vehicles Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 Japanese ground losses: 166 casualties reported Guns lost 2 Vehicles lost 1 Allied ground losses: 170 casualties reported Guns lost 8 Defeated Japanese Units Retreating! Go back to Canton little regiment - your type is not received well here! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Most of the action is in fact maneouvering. The Kiwi cavalry unload in Noumea and the ships return the way they came. Both the Lex and Enterprise groups have fuel enough to get to Brisbane and they begin the journey down there. Brisbane now has enough supplies to affect un apgrade and reinforcement of the airgroups. Rangoon is getting more and more well defended - I am contemplating moving one of the Indian tank brigades there as well. This could be my undoing if he does an end run and goes for diamond head or the other more Northerly Indian cities. PzB's jaunt with his carriers down the american coastline has curtailed the industry of Australia. I don't have enough oil there to create fuel and this is stopping me from reinforcing vital locations like PM and maybe Lunga. He has very effectively shut off access to the SRA as well.

wobbly -> Malayas last gasps (8/23/2004 1:38:41 PM)
Quiet day again - many sightings of my ships in the SRA but no naval atacks from PzB. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/28/41 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Brunei , at 32,57 Allied aircraft Martin 139 x 20 No Allied losses Oil hits 2 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x Martin 139 bombing at 5000 feet 3 x Martin 139 bombing at 5000 feet 3 x Martin 139 bombing at 5000 feet 3 x Martin 139 bombing at 5000 feet 2 x Martin 139 bombing at 5000 feet 3 x Martin 139 bombing at 5000 feet 3 x Martin 139 bombing at 5000 feet First successful anti strategic raid I have done - they are going again this turn. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Penang Fortress, at 23,44 Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 17 Ki-21 Sally x 33 Ki-48 Lily x 31 Allied aircraft Buffalo I x 8 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21 Sally: 3 damaged Allied aircraft losses Buffalo I: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied ground losses: 56 casualties reported That is alot of planes in the air. He now occupies two of the last bases I have in Malaya and my troops have nowhere but georgetown to retreat to. Those in Kuala Lumpur are trapped - the end is in sight. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 11th PA Division, at 43,51 Japanese aircraft Ki-27 Nate x 54 Ki-30 Ann x 36 Ki-21 Sally x 62 Ki-48 Lily x 21 Ki-15 Babs x 2 Allied aircraft P-26A x 4 P-35A x 5 P-40B Tomahawk x 6 P-40E Warhawk x 3 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-27 Nate: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged Ki-30 Ann: 8 damaged Ki-21 Sally: 3 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-26A: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged P-35A: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged P-40E Warhawk: 1 damaged Allied ground losses: 73 casualties reported Guns lost 1 I try to put up a better defense of my troops at Clark but the weight of aircraft aluminium is starting to make the attempt pointless. The War/tomahawks are doing their bit but the ancient P-26s and P-35s are still just targets. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Miri at 31,57 Japanese Ships AP Meiten Maru, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Allied Ships SS O20 Dutch sub has surely put paid to this AP. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 41500 troops, 444 guns, 0 vehicles Defending force 5749 troops, 29 guns, 4 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 3) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2 Japanese ground losses: 283 casualties reported Guns lost 12 Allied ground losses: 217 casualties reported Guns lost 5 Taiping just cannot last - 4-1 already and no more troops for defense. The last stand of Malaya is on the cards. Then only Singapore to take! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At last Palembang has moved over 20K supplies which allows me to replensih my severely depleted Dutch airforce with new planes. Most of PzBs surface forces are South by Amboina and I have a very large transport TF about to come in through the gap between Sumatra and Java. I want a few of these replacement fighter planes to get repaired first but once that is true they will run the gauntlet - like the previous mission this also has a CLAA with them - I am sorely tempted to leave her at home. A large surface unit sorties from Soerboja and heads to Northern Malaya to attempt a rescue of the cut off troops. I don't know how many I can save but better to have tried. As someone wrote - many orphaned digital wives and kids otherwise. My other surface unit gets closer to Kendari too - alot of heavy metal around here though - not to mention the baby carriers and the obligatory Nells. I am trying to make a fist of attacking but invariably Mrs Nell reaches out to 'touch me'. Another lone Jap Regiment makes it to Clark and I set up to deliberate attack. Surely he has timed it properly this time and I will get a spanking!

wobbly -> Georgetown or bust (8/24/2004 12:12:55 PM)
Another CL - Java takes an aerial torpedo. I can't get close to any targets with this mighty aerial shield he has. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/29/41 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 25,65 Japanese Ships SS I-166 Allied Ships AK Sipirok, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage I was looking to get some supplies to Soerboja to enable me to have two locations where I could replenish airwings - he hits the supply carrier hard. Touch and go if it will make it to port let alone unload. And now Soerboja has over 20K supplies under its own steam... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Amboina, at 39,73 Japanese Ships DD Numakaze CL Kiso DD Namikaze DD Nokaze DD Okikaze DD Kamikaze CL Tama CL Oi CL Kitakami BB Yamashiro BB Fuso BB Nagato Allied ground losses: 204 casualties reported Guns lost 5 Airbase hits 3 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 18 Port hits 6 Port fuel hits 1 Port supply hits 7 Amboina is receiving a pounding! Supplies are down to 47! it has a resource point there of 10 so a few meagre supplies are getting to the troops but time is not on my side. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Brunei , at 32,57 Japanese aircraft Ki-27 Nate x 8 Allied aircraft Martin 139 x 20 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses Martin 139: 2 damaged Oil hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 2 x Martin 139 bombing at 5000 feet 3 x Martin 139 bombing at 5000 feet 3 x Martin 139 bombing at 5000 feet 4 x Martin 139 bombing at 5000 feet 2 x Martin 139 bombing at 5000 feet 3 x Martin 139 bombing at 5000 feet 3 x Martin 139 bombing at 5000 feet More anti-oil attacks this turn, which he defends against. This turn I return at 15,000 feet. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Roti Island at 28,76 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 16 G3M Nell x 3 G4M1 Betty x 9 Japanese aircraft losses G3M Nell: 2 damaged G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged Allied Ships DD Barker CL Tromp CL Java, Torpedo hits 1, on fire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 22,43 Japanese aircraft G3M Nell x 9 Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 26 No Japanese losses Allied Ships CL Durban MSW Goulburn, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage MSW Maryborough, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage I am taking one hell of a risk with my valuable APs here. They are going to Georgetown on an evac mission. I have 25 buffalos on defense but they will struggle to hold off the swarm of enemy aircraft that now inhabit Malaya; no I am more hopeful that the forecast of heavy precipitation will deny him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Taiping Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 64458 troops, 670 guns, 104 vehicles Defending force 5423 troops, 21 guns, 4 vehicles Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1 Japanese assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Taiping base !!! Japanese ground losses: 220 casualties reported Guns lost 10 Allied ground losses: 363 casualties reported Guns lost 8 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! (to georgetown) Georgetown is now overrun with allied troops - I have about 20 surface ships and 5 APs trying to get there in time to retrieve some of them. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Kuala Lumpur Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 19546 troops, 252 guns, 17 vehicles Defending force 6716 troops, 35 guns, 4 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 4) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3 Japanese ground losses: 248 casualties reported Guns lost 12 Vehicles lost 1 Allied ground losses: 18 casualties reported The boys at KL are cut off they will soon go in the bag - good luck lads! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Clark Field Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 21988 troops, 186 guns, 63 vehicles Defending force 23528 troops, 252 guns, 64 vehicles Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 Japanese ground losses: 210 casualties reported Guns lost 14 Vehicles lost 6 Allied ground losses: 687 casualties reported Guns lost 37 At last he sorts out his movement - just needed one of the bigger divisions to get there. My troops cannot nudge him back out of Clark - the seige now starts. With 30 units recorded at ... - oh hell the base to the North of Clark - I am just biding my time until he squashes me. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A turn very reliant on the weather. I have the large transport TF moving into Palembang and the AP TF moving into Georgetown this turn. Many sqds got replacement planes this turn with more fighters on hand than at any time in the war, unfortunately the fighters are still mainly Buffalos and 339s. His baby carriers are on the move again heading South East from Amboina. There is no immediate threat as most of the shipping is out of the way. I am starting now to think about where his next targets are likely to be. Darwin is an obviously attractive target as is Port Moresby and Lunga. Darwin is getting an australian tank regiment (although it is currently 1260 miles away!). Port Moresby is no longer defenseless but Lunga is bare, although there is now a very large surface unit in range of both Lunga and shortlands, on react, that could ruin a landing attempt. In the East, Indian tanks make it to Chanpur - two regimemts of them. A concerted effort by the Japs will probably still cause me problems, but unless he moves his units by ship he will have trouble now breaking through. China is static, I am unsure what he is doing at the moment. I do have masses of Chinese at Yenan which I don't know what to do with - maybe they should come across to Burma...? Enterprise has made it to Brisbane, she refuels and replaces the 3 lost F4F-3s (operational). Lucky Lady Lex should make it this next turn.

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