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19 Jan. 42 - 10/16/2007 5:16:31 PM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		19 Jan. 42

AVD Heron fleeing southeast from Kendari stumbles into the Japanese replenishment fleet a few hexes west of Amboina. Heron is slaughtered by the task forces escorts, man what I wouldn’t give to have a small surface group at Darwin to send north.

Unfortunately allied search aircraft fail to spot the replenishment group, so no air attacks can be launched during the turn.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 37,74

Japanese Ships
CL Kashima
DD Arare
DD Akebono
DD Ushio
AO Akebono Maru
AO Ken'yo Maru
AO Kokuyo Maru
AO Shinkoku Maru
AO Toei Maru
AO Toho Maru
AO Nihon Maru

Allied Ships
AVD Heron, Shell hits 17, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japanese troops begin landings at Koepang and Lautem on Timor. With the extra troops pulled out of Kendari, I may be able to disrupt his efforts to take Timor until he brings in more troops. I have a decided edge in AV at Lautem, but Koepang is looking bad. I’ve decided to keep my float planes at both bases to try and bring in even more of the troops from the Kendari forces.

This is pretty risky as Kendari fell this turn and the troops retreated to the dot base northwest of Kendari. Float planes won’t pick up troops from coastal hexes (I tried earlier), but I’m hoping they will from dot bases. If not I’ll probably lose the float plane groups at Koepang.

Here are the allied bombardments of the invading Japanese, both bases have fort levels of 2, so I may be ok at Koepang for at least one turn.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Koepang

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 973 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 53

Defending force 6446 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 124



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lautem

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 834 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 36

Defending force 961 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 24

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This turn Japan bombed my troops at both Clark Field and Johore Bahru, causing light damage. Japan had 10 planes damaged at Johore and none at Clark.

Last turn Japanese troops began landings at Mersing, so I rebased some torpedo bombers to Singapore and Johore. I sent 7 Vildebeest to Singapore and 12 Swordfish to Johore along with 8 Wirraway for escorts in case there was LRCAP over the transports at Mersing.

It paid off, the transports moved one hex southeast of Mersing this turn and my torpedo planes pounced, finding no enemy CAP over the fleet.

3 separate strikes were launched and 2 AK’s and 1 PC were hit. I had hoped for a better showing since the strikes were not intercepted, but both AK’s had troops aboard, so I’m hoping they sink before reaching a port. The PC took 3 torpedoes, so it was basically blown into smithereens and is sunk, but so far neither AK is reported sunk.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 23,51


Allied aircraft
Vildebeest IV x 5


Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest IV: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Kinka Maru, Torpedo hits 1
AK Sasako Maru

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Vildebeest IV launching torpedoes at 200 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 23,51


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 12
Wirraway x 4


Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Hiyori Maru
PC Ch 16, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Ushio Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on TF at 23,51


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 9
Wirraway x 4


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Kennichi Maru
AK Ushio Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PC Ch 13

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




I launched an air strike against Lae and its level 1 airfield with 15 A-24’s and 8 Wirraway escorts from Port Moresby, unfortunately the strike was intercepted by 13 zeroes. 1 Wirraway was destroyed and 2 damaged, and all 15 A-24s were damaged. The zeroes must have been flying LRCAP, otherwise they would have shredded the strike. No damage was caused to Lae.

Japan launches a deliberate attack on Clark Field and gets a 1-1 and reduces the forts to level 2. The writing is on the wall at Clark and since I don’t want to suffer a retreat and possibly get forced west to Bataan, I ordered all units to march to Manila this turn.

I also ordered the units at Lucena to Manila as well, otherwise Japan could potentially get contested zocs in Manila and Lucena thus trapping my troops there.

I currently have 26000+ supplies at Manila, so I should be able to hold out for several months. Forts are only level 2 though, I would have preferred getting to level 3 before pulling back, but his air bombardments made that impossible.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Clark Field

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 76535 troops, 433 guns, 98 vehicles, Assault Value = 1538

Defending force 29617 troops, 140 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 772

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese max assault: 1447 - adjusted assault: 592

Allied max defense: 695 - adjusted defense: 486

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2


Japanese ground losses:
2233 casualties reported
Guns lost 32
Vehicles lost 8

Allied ground losses:
1127 casualties reported
Guns lost 43
Vehicles lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japan also launched a deliberate attack at Johore Bahru and again got a 1-1 and reduced fort levels from 3 to 2 there as well. I noted the addition of the Imperial Guard division to this attack, so Singapore is now doomed with 4 divisions and a brigade there now.

I decided to stick around until the forts are down to level 1 due to the fact there are 12000 supplies at Johore. I still don’t want to be forced to retreat here either, but since Mersing fell to Japan this turn, if I am forced to retreat it will have to be to Singapore, so I felt the risk of staying for an extra turn or two was ok.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Johore Bahru

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 85811 troops, 399 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1954

Defending force 33749 troops, 250 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 671

Japanese max assault: 1921 - adjusted assault: 1318

Allied max defense: 661 - adjusted defense: 909

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2


Japanese ground losses:
1949 casualties reported
Guns lost 21

Allied ground losses:
797 casualties reported
Guns lost 22


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In both cases (Clark and Johore) all units have been prepping for Manila and Singapore from day 1, so most units are in excess of 50 prep points towards their final redoubts. Hopefully the extra AV shift this will give will make Japans task of forcing these last two hexes a long and tedious one.

Jim






Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/16/2007 5:24:24 PM >

_____________________________


(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 31
20 Jan. 42 - 10/17/2007 1:18:13 PM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		20 Jan. 42

Japanese troops continue to land at Koepang. Given the bombardment AV’s seen this turn, I think if I can get a few more turns bringing in remnants of the Kendari units, that I may be able to hold Koepang, forcing him to land additional forces.

So far I’ve brought in 23 squads from the 26th PS Cavalry regiment. Since there are only 2 more squads left to bring in of that unit, all but one float plane group now have orders to start lifting in elements from the 61st Reserve Division. Granted it’s not a very good unit, but it is the largest unit left from the Kendari group and has the most non-disabled elements.

The 23 AIF brigade is being lifted into Lautem, about 1/3rd of the units is there already and I’d say Lautem cannot be taken by what Japan has ashore there now.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Koepang

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1094 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 64

Defending force 9156 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 128



Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My sub SS S-38 torpedoes a Japanese AK at Koepang. Damage is heavy, but no troops are reported killed, so the ship is either empty or carrying supplies.

At Kwajalein Japanese sub I-171 hits a mine recently laid there by the SS Argonaut and sinks! My first sub to sub kill playing WitP ever, at least as far as I know, I’ve never had a sub reported hit by a mine in one of my games before.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 77 encounters mine field at Kwajalein (81,84)

Japanese Ships
SS I-171, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japanese bombers hit Johore Bahru and Port Moresby today. Damage at Johore is moderate and 3 bombers are damaged. Damage at Port Moresby is light, but 1 A-24 is destroyed on the ground and several are damaged. Japan loses 1 bomber and 7 are damaged.

I forgot to turn off my LB-30 squadrons oil bombardment run on Brunei last turn so 6 planes flew at 15000 feet today. Surprisingly they scored 2 oil hits! Not sure if this is FOW or not, but I’ll take it. Damage at Brunei is reported as 293 (8). I hit it once before, but I cannot remember what the damage was before this turn.

Japan also bombards combat units at Johore Bahru and Clark Field causing casualties and disruption. Only one attack is made at Johore, but 4 separate units get hit at Clark.

Japan then conducts a deliberate attack at Clark and stomps the few units remaining there that failed to move into Manila this turn. Luckily all units retreated to Manila. Clark Field is now in the hands of the Japanese, but it will be a long time before he can use it as damage was in the red for both service and runways.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Clark Field

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 73531 troops, 380 guns, 86 vehicles, Assault Value = 1389

Defending force 7961 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 196

Japanese max assault: 1194 - adjusted assault: 978

Allied max defense: 144 - adjusted defense: 53

Japanese assault odds: 18 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Clark Field base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
288 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Allied ground losses:
1165 casualties reported
Guns lost 12


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All but 2 units from Lucena also made it into Manila this turn and the two units left there each have 45 miles accumulated so they should enter Manila tomorrow before Japan can attack them. By tomorrow Manila will have over 950 AV and 25000+ supplies present with most units prepped for the hex with over 50 prep points. The total AV should go up for the next week or so to get above 1000 as the 3-4 units spanked at Clark this turn recover their disablements and disruption.

Japan launches a deliberate attack at Balikpapan this turn and achieves a 1-1 and reduces the forts to level 1. But what I found striking was how close our adjusted AV’s were. Even if Japan manages to reduce the forts to 0, I don’t think he can take the base with what he has there now. Here’s a screenshot.




Up to this point I have been lamenting my decision to spend so many political points right away on large combat formations to defend the SRA bases with. The fact the SRA is rapidly becoming Japanese controlled and 2 months haven’t even passed in game yet, I was starting to feel the spent points were a complete waste of time.

But now I’m not so sure. How much faster would his conquest have been if I hadn’t had large units at some of these key bases to slow him down? If he’s forced to take the time to bring more units to both Koepang and Balikpapan, then perhaps my strategy isn’t a completely bad move.

I still wish I had taken the two large Philippine reserve divisions to Java instead of sending them to Manado and Tarakan, but the rest of my moves to bases like Amboina, Kendari, Balikpapan and now Koepang appear to have at least slowed my opponent down some.

I guess had my opponent done a slower more methodical typical Japanese strategy and not gone for such a fast strike into the SRA, then perhaps my strategy would have played out better. His fast strategy is probably the best counter to my strategy because my units don’t have time to dig in or build up many prep points for their bases, so they are a lot easier to overcome now instead of Later.

Given his fast moves I think the best thing for me to have done would have been to get everything into Java right away and tried to make that island impenetrable to anything less than 3 invading divisions. I still may be able to hold out in Java for a while, but the fact no really large units have been added to the defense there means he’ll probably be able to force me into a redoubt pretty quickly.

He has a division at Kendari, quite a bit of strength still that he used to take Palembang with and I have no idea what he has at Kuching. If he manages to take Koepang that’ll be another full brigade he can add to his attack on Java, so things are looking pretty grim for Java.

In fact I’ve decided not to even try to reinforce it with anything, not even a supply run. He simply took everything too fast, I think anything I send in now will be lost, and not amount to a whole lot of help on Java in the long run.

I’ll probably air lift as much of the 57th PS RCT from Samarinda into Soerabaja as I can after the Koepang operation is completed. Once Balikpapan falls I’ll also lift in as much of the remnants of the US 30th RCT as I can as well. These two units should add about 100-150 AV to the island. Not enough to change the situation, but perhaps enough to allow the redoubt to hold out until supplies run out rather than falling to direct assault.

Jim




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/18/2007 5:00:33 PM >

_____________________________


(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 32
21 Jan. 42 - 10/21/2007 9:17:17 PM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		21 Jan. 42

I sent 27 Blenheim bombers from Rangoon on a night bombing mission to Tavoy in hopes of catching a few Japanese planes on the ground and scored a grand total of 1 runway hit. No other damage was caused, looks like I’ll have to go in in daylight if I hope to get some planes.

Japan hits Singapore with 67 bombers and causes moderate damage. 2 bombers were destroyed and 19 damaged by the flak.

I lowered my heavy bombers altitude to 31000 feet and sent them after the airfield at Palembang to see if they could cause enough damage to close it down. 74 bombers flew and they only caused 1 airbase hit and 6 runway hits. 3 zeroes were destroyed on the ground and 3 were damaged. Given the fact only 11 zeroes flew as CAP, I think I may reduce altitude to 15000 next time they fly to see if I can cause some heavy damage to the oil and resources.

At Koepang my Kingfisher float plane group finally flew 2 naval attacks (had been on naval attack for several turns but didn’t fly) against the invasion task force at the base, but no hits were scored in either attack.

Japan takes the undefended base of Lucena this turn and thus completes the isolation of Manila. With 24k+ of supplies, 2 forts and 966 AV Manila will try to hold out till at least May I hope.

I will try to evacuate some of the combat formations via sub to reduce the routine supply draw of the units there as much as possible. Right now they are drawing about 6000 supplies a month and with supply losses from bombings that means they’ll probably run out of supplies in about 3-4 months, so May is a long way away. If I can manage to reduce their routine supply draw to less than 5000, they might make it to May, but that’s a lot of sub trips and my subs aren’t near Manila right now.

Japan attacks Balikpapan again this turn and reduces the forts to zero. Given our adjusted AV’s though, I’m confident he won’t be able to take the base unless I have a really bad die roll or something. Also there are no more Japanese convoys at Balikpapan right now, so his units must be burning through their supplies.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Balikpapan

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9111 troops, 81 guns, 61 vehicles, Assault Value = 205

Defending force 4922 troops, 47 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 104

Japanese max assault: 181 - adjusted assault: 242

Allied max defense: 98 - adjusted defense: 153

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
141 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I may have made a mistake sticking around at Johore Bahru. Japan’s attack this turn was pretty decisive and the forts are now down to level 1. Given the 3-1 odds achieved by Japan this turn, I will probably lose if he launches another attack and thus be forced to retreat. This would be a disaster for Singapore, so I’ve ordered all units to march to Singapore ASAP.

My only hope is he takes a turn to rest his units, or if he attacks, his units suffered enough disruption from today’s attack that he fails to achieve another 3-1 odds attack.

As at Manila, all my units have been preparing for Singapore from day 1, so most are above 50 prep points. Except for two units, the Corp HQ and the Air HQ at Johore both were prepping for Johore to give that base some bonus in air combats and ground combats there.

If I’m forced to retreat, the bonus from being prepped for the Singapore base probably won’t be enough to hold the base for very long as my total AV will have dropped too much. I should have retreated after the last battle, it was a serious mistake to stay around once the Imperial Guard Division showed up.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Johore Bahru

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 82386 troops, 369 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1861

Defending force 32150 troops, 213 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 651

Japanese max assault: 1804 - adjusted assault: 2627

Allied max defense: 642 - adjusted defense: 753

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1325 casualties reported
Guns lost 20

Allied ground losses:
1386 casualties reported
Guns lost 11


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Japan launches a deliberate attack at Koepang and fails to take the base, in fact he only achieves a 0-1 attack. Given the fact he had landed troops over the beach this turn and forced the allies to bombard, I’m confident I can hold the base against what he has there now. By forcing me to bombard my AV was automatically halved, so future attacks will get hammered even worse.

I’ll continue to pull the remnants from Kendari into Koepang as I expect I’ll need them when Japan brings more troops to the party.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Koepang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9436 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 128

Defending force 3092 troops, 16 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 71

Japanese max assault: 113 - adjusted assault: 38

Allied max defense: 60 - adjusted defense: 45

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)


Japanese ground losses:
182 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Koepang

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1083 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 64

Defending force 9140 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 112

Jim






Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/21/2007 9:51:42 PM >

_____________________________


(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 33
22 Jan. 42 - 10/23/2007 12:54:19 AM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		22 Jan. 42

Not a great turn for the allies today, my brash statement last turn about holding Balikpapan proves hasty and the base easily falls to Japan. The mysteries of the ground combat routines elude me completely as last turn it appeared there was no way Japan could get the base, yet Japan easily achieves a 2-1 and takes the base as my adjusted AV is less than half what it was yesterday.

The only thing that changed was forts went from 1 to 0, but as I understood it that’s just a .33 multiple per level of fort, but given today’s drop in AV, it appears level 1 forts are worth far more than just a .33 multiple to the adjusted AV.

The real disaster of the turn though is apparently all the spare supplies from Samarinda must have been sucked into Balikpapan during the past few turns fighting (I used to have 2500+ there last time I checked) and now the base only has 812 supplies on hand. The units that retreated need a combined total of 514 supplies since they all have 0 on hand now, so Samarinda is effectively out of supply and probably won’t even be able to withstand the shock attack from Japanese units coming across the river from Balikpapan.

I’ve therefore immediately cancelled the lift operation into Koepang and sent all available float planes to Soerabaja to start lifting units out of Samarinda ASAP.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Balikpapan

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8996 troops, 77 guns, 61 vehicles, Assault Value = 194

Defending force 4543 troops, 42 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 85

Japanese max assault: 173 - adjusted assault: 158

Allied max defense: 81 - adjusted defense: 69

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Balikpapan base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
CW-22 Falcon: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
195 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
147 casualties reported
Guns lost 9


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Japanese bombardment task force showed up and bombarded Koepang today, causing moderate damage and destroying 2 Kingfishers.

Japanese bombers bomb Johore Bahru and Singapore today causing moderate damage to both bases. A total of 5 bombers were destroyed and 35 were damaged out of the 98 attacking bombers.

Manila was hit twice by a total of 117 bombers and damage was moderate to heavy. 3 bombers were destroyed and 21 were damaged during the raids.

17 of my A-24’s from Makassar launched an air strike against a Japanese fleet a few hexes west of Kendari. Only 1 1000lb GP bomb scored a hit on a CA, and it appeared to bounce off the belt armor. 2 of my A-24’s were destroyed by flak. This fleet is the fleet that just bombarded Koepang, it is apparently returning to Kendari to rearm and refuel.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 32,72


Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 5
A-24 Dauntless x 17


Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa, Bomb hits 1
CL Yura

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
8 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Japanese ASW attack damaged the SS Plunger a few hexes east of Balikpapan, damage was light, but I ordered the sub to port for a quick refit.

As I expected, Japan launched an attack at Johore Bahru today. Luckily for me most of my units made it into Singapore before the attack. 3 of my brigades and a few other units remained in the hex and were slammed by a 6-1 shock attack and forced to retreat into Singapore.

I’m glad my opponent launched a shock attack, it’ll take him a few days to recover from the extra losses and give my retreated units a little time to recover.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Johore Bahru

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 80532 troops, 341 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1830

Defending force 12577 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 213

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese max assault: 3258 - adjusted assault: 2048

Allied max defense: 207 - adjusted defense: 307

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Johore Bahru base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
1342 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Allied ground losses:
747 casualties reported
Guns lost 8


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




After drawing supplies for the retreated units this turn, Singapore now has 40k+ supplies on hand and 800 AV defending the base behind level 5 forts. I assume my AV will eventually get up to about 850-900 if my retreated units are allowed to recover fully, so the question is can I hold out for very long against the 1800+ AV of Japan?

The level 5 forts should make achieving a 1-1 difficult for Japan I hope. I would have liked to have gotten higher level forts in Singapore, but Japan has kept the base damaged and I’m only 9% of the way to level 6, so I doubt there will be any more forts built at Singapore.

So my only hope for a prolonged defense is the auto shock attack Japan has to launch when he crosses the river. If Japanese units are hit hard, they will probably have to take at least a few weeks to recover. If so then my units should be in good shape and I may have a high enough AV to prevent the dreaded 1-1 fort reducing odds attacks.

If not then Singapore will probably fall right on historical schedule around mid February.

Jim




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/23/2007 12:58:00 AM >

_____________________________


(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 34
23 Jan. 42 - 10/23/2007 7:11:52 PM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		23 Jan. 42

I forgot to mention that the Japanese DD Kiji was reported sunk at Tarakan last turn. My opponent informed me it sank 26 days after being hit.

Some PT boats rebasing to Samarinda from the Philippines area had a mid ocean intercept of a large Japanese AK fleet a few hexes west of Tarakan. The Japanese DD’s did their job and kept my bopats away from the transports. One of my boats was sunk and the one boat that launched its torpedoes missed its target.

Samarinda is bombarded by a Japanese battleship fleet and damage to the base is heavy.

50 Japanese bombers hit Singapore today and damage to the base is light. 1 Japanese bomber is destroyed and 23 are damaged.

Manila is hit twice by a total of 100 bombers and damage caused to the base is light. 3 Japanese bombers are destroyed and 9 are damaged.

68 of my B-17s fly to Balikpapan at 15000 feet and cause 10 oil hits. Damage to the base is reported at 386 (15) resources and 341 (60) oil by Intel. My opponent has been very lucky in the SRA, none of the bases he captured appear to have taken much damage at all from retreating allied units, even though I’ve fought for almost every base with additional units.

My bombers are causing minor damage to some of the bases, but they are going to be forced to leave the SRA soon I think, so in the end Japan will have a decent sized economy to work with. Had even one of the big resource bases taken 50% or 100% damage upon capture, then the damage being caused by my bombers right now would be critical, but his luck has given him the SRA and Philippines almost 100% intact.

Hudson’s from Darwin launch a couple small raids on Japanese task forces near Timor. As usual, the allied pilots miss the AP’s and hit a combat ship. The MSW is blown to bits by 3 250 lb bombs and sinks.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Wetar Island at 34,76


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Gotake Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on TF, near Wetar Island at 34,76


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
MSW Ataka Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Anrugu Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10 of my A-24’s from Makassar launch a strike against a Japanese surface flett to the north and score hits on a DD and a BB. The fact my planes dropped 500 lb bombs instead of the 1000 lb bombs normally dropped when they fly within normal range, tells me the base is probably low on supplies. I’ve rebased the planes out of Makassar. Had I realized how active this base was going to be I’d have put a lot more supplies ashore there.

Jim






Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/23/2007 7:14:32 PM >

_____________________________


(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 35
24 Jan. 42 - 10/23/2007 10:54:20 PM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		24 Jan. 42

Makassar is hit by a BB bombardment group and the base sustains heavy damage. Japan follows up the naval bombardment with 43 Nells and Bettys from Kendari and finishes the job. It’s a good thing I rebased my air units out of the base last turn, the groups would have been smashed had they remained. Basically Makassar is no longer an option for use as an allied air base, my guess is all the naval attacks launched from here were really getting to my opponent.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Makassar, at 30,70


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
CA Takao
BB Hyuga
BB Mutsu


Allied ground losses:
739 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 65
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on Makassar , at 30,70

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
G3M Nell x 19
G4M1 Betty x 24
Ki-46-II Dinah x 3

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless: 1 destroyed
Do 24K-2: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 23

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 13000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Singapore gets hit by 39 Japanese bombers today, damage to the base is light. Japan lost 2 bombers destroyed and 11 bombers damaged.

63 of my B-17s hit Balikpapan again today at 15000 feet and cause 15 oil hits to the base. Damage is now reported by Intel to be 386 (15) resources and 291 (110) oil. The base airfield does not appear to be repairing very quickly, I think my opponent may have overreached here and failed to bring engineers and air support with him, as there still appears to be no air cover over the base.

I’ll continue to attack the base at 15000 feet since LRCAP isn’t as devastating as regular CAP, so any air cover encountered should cause minimal damage.

Manila is subjected to two air raids again today by a total of 101 Japanese bombers. Damage is moderate and Japan loses no bombers and only 11 are damaged. Looks like his constant bombardments are starting to have an effect on my AAA unit’s accuracy.

Japan launches his first ground bombardment at Manila. It doesn’t look like all his units are at Manila yet, so I’m not sure how strong his eventual attacking forces will be. But they caused considerable damage today even though I’m in an urban hex and his units just arrived which means they are probably disrupted and fatigued, this does not bode well for my defenders as it is only going to get worse.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 71090 troops, 441 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 1910

Defending force 73849 troops, 417 guns, 258 vehicles, Assault Value = 1137



Allied ground losses:
194 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had stopped my bombardment attacks for several turns and Japan must have thought I was having supply difficulties in Ichang and Canton in China, as he launched some bombardment attacks in those bases even though I outnumber him considerably. In Canton I’ve been awaiting the arrival of 7 artillery units and 4-5 corps from the Changsha area. I plan to train these units at Canton with bombardment attacks before sending them back to the Changsha area.

At Ichang I’ve been resting my units to try and get their disruption from the move into the hex down and it is a slow process. I also have a War Area HQ on the way so my units there will start to benefit from a command HQ and a combat HQ in the same hex. I’m hoping that will speed up recovery times, as it takes forever to get fatigue and disruption to drop in this hex.

All of my units in both bases are drawing adequate supplies and none of the units are short supply.

Given the comparative AV at Canton, my opponent better bring in at least another division or I may be able to take the base once all the units there train up to 60 experience. Given that I outnumber him in guns by 10-1 now, once I start my training bombardments he may start to suffer some serious disruption.

Ichang seems secure for Japan, I can’t afford to march my artillery through the woods to get it out to the isolated base without risking the units to isolation and destruction. It would probably take them many months to get there and Japan could easily interdict the move as his mech units move a lot faster than any of my Chinese units.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ichang

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1144 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1270

Defending force 67360 troops, 334 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 2025



Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2784 troops, 54 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1295

Defending force 91300 troops, 537 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 2438



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I made a mistake at Lautem this turn. Looking at our comparative AV’s last turn, I thought perhaps Japan was suffering from a lack of supplies and initiated a deliberate attack to try and disrupt his troops and perhaps force a retreat.

Well needless to say it was over-ambitious and the attack went in at 0-1. Thankfully I suffered few casualties, but my disruption levels jumped and I’m afraid he may be able to take the base next turn if his disruption didn’t jump like mine did. He suffered higher losses than I did, so perhaps I’ll be OK.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lautem

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1116 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 52

Defending force 3988 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 61


Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lautem

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2424 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 61

Defending force 2080 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 52

Allied max assault: 40 - adjusted assault: 9

Japanese max defense: 46 - adjusted defense: 21

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
69 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported


I have no idea why my AV dropped to 9 like that, Japans bombardment attack couldn’t have caused that much disruption could it? I mean I took no losses from his bombardment and he did, so would my guys get disrupted to the toon of a 75% drop in my AV?

Jim

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/23/2007 11:03:41 PM >

_____________________________


(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 36
25 Jan. 42 - 10/24/2007 8:30:36 PM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		25 Jan. 42

A Japanese Cruiser force shows up and bombards Makassar again this turn, the damage to the base is overkill. No way could the engineers present there have even repaired last turns damage in time for me to use the base again, let alone today’s additional damage.

50 of my B-17s appear over Balikpapan and cause another 11 oil hits. I’ve stood down my bombers for a turn or two to allow them to recover damaged planes and fatigue.

My Kingfishers from Koepang make another small naval attack on a Japanese convoy to the north, but score no hits. It looks like Japan is already bringing in reinforcements to take the base.

I’ve staged the Asiatic Fleet’s PBY squadrons to Darwin so I can pull out some of my defenders from Koepang if it looks like Japan can easily take the base with the reinforcements he may be landing in a turn or two. This could be just a supply convoy though, so I’ll wait and see if anything lands before pulling any troops out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Labao at 30,75


Allied aircraft
OS2U-3 Kingfisher x 6


Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Kawakaze
AK Shinano Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x OS2U-3 Kingfisher bombing at 2000 feet
4 x OS2U-3 Kingfisher bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My three remaining PT boats near Tarakan ended up in the same hex as a Japanese APD task force. No torpedo hits scored, but a few of the machine gun hits stated they penetrated the APD’s armor, so perhaps they’ll need a little yard time. All of my PT boats were sunk.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat at 31,66

Japanese Ships
APD Patrol Boat No. 32, Shell hits 1
APD Patrol Boat No. 33, Shell hits 4
APD Patrol Boat No. 34
APD Patrol Boat No. 35

Allied Ships
PT MTB 7, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT MTB 8, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PT MTB 9, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Japanese land bombardment of Manila didn’t cause as many casualties as yesterday’s bombardment. It looks like as my units recover fatigue and disruption they’ll sustain fewer casualties. Hopefully this downward trend in casualties will continue. Here’s a screenshot of the forces present at manila:




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 73531 troops, 493 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 1997

Defending force 74320 troops, 425 guns, 259 vehicles, Assault Value = 1144



Allied ground losses:
180 casualties reported
Guns lost 5


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I began bombarding Japanese units at Ichang today, here are the results. Japan has brought in significant reinforcements to boost his starting strength in the hex. I seriously doubt I could ever take the place now, so I’ll simply stay there and conduct bombardments. If he wants me to leave, he’ll have to force me out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ichang

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 64021 troops, 335 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 2033

Defending force 53010 troops, 262 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 1270


Japanese ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported

I’ve ordered bombardments to commence again at Canton this turn. Most of the 25 experience artillery units are there now and I want to take advantage of the huge difference in our artillery strength before he can reinforce here like he did at Ichang.

I think it is significant to note that Japan launched no air strikes today. I think there are two possible reasons why. First my AAA may be causing unsustainable losses to his air groups. Second he may be redeploying his strength to launch a large air campaign to close the airfields in Java.

I think the second possibility is the most likely one. I’ve been causing him a world of hurt with my strategic bombardments recently and I think he needs to do something to stop it. Were it to continue unchecked he’d soon run into major problems with his economy.

I should note that the Japanese controlled resource in Kalgan was damaged by more than 50% due to my being in that base with land units alone after he graciously pulled his troops out to allow me to leave. So to make up for this unfair destruction of his resources, I have offered not to bomb any more resources in the SRA until after I have been completely expelled from the region.

I could easily kill off more than the 60 or so resources he lost at Kalgan, so I felt this was a fair solution to the problem. So for now the only thing in danger of being bombed in the SRA now is his oil. I had been hitting both oil and resources with my raids, sending the B-17E’s to the oil and the B-17D’s to the resources in hexes I flew against.

Jim




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/24/2007 8:31:00 PM >

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(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 37
26 Jan. 42 - 10/25/2007 1:40:01 AM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		26 Jan. 42

The Japanese sub I-22 launches torpedoes at my mine laying task force 2 hexes east of Townsville and hits the Bungaree with 2 torpedoes. With massive damage and 44 fires I should have scuttled the ship, but it is my only mine laying ship in Australian waters, so I wanted to give it a chance to get into port at Townsville.

I can’t believe how effective my opponent is with his subs, this is the second major mine laying vessel he’s hit. I lost the ML Oglala to a sub attack near Johnston Island a while back. Now the Bungaree looks like it’s going down as well.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 48,105

Japanese Ships
SS I-22

Allied Ships
ML Bungaree, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PC Doomba
PG Yarra
PG Warrego
PG Swan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




62 Japanese bombers hit Singapore today and cause moderate damage. 4 bombers are destroyed and 19 are damaged in the raid.

41 Japanese bombers from Kendari hit Makassar again today causing light damage to the already destroyed base. A Japanese transport task force appears in the hex this turn and will probably begin invasion operations tomorrow. That is if my Intel is correct, it could very well be just another surface task force.

I launched another ground strike attack on the Japanese units southeast of Moulmein today and another air battle is fought against Japanese LRCAP over the hex. This time 8 P-40B escorts are engaged by 19 Nates and 7 Oscars.

The elite, non-fatigued, high morale AVG pilots fired so few return shots in the engagement, that they didn’t even score a single damage result. The Oscars shot down 1 P-40 and the Nates shot down 3 P-40’s.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 124th IJA Base Force, at 30,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 19
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
Lysander I x 2
Blenheim IV x 53
P-40B Tomahawk x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed, 18 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 4 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
135 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Blenheim IV bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Chinese land bombardment attack at Canton goes in and I’m disheartened to learn Japan has brought in a lot more artillery to counter my artillery build up. No damage is caused to either side. Hopefully when these 25 experience guns get up into the 50 range, they’ll start to hit something.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 83376 troops, 584 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 2436

Defending force 88618 troops, 360 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1300


Jim




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/25/2007 1:42:10 AM >

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(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 38
RE: 26 Jan. 42 - 10/25/2007 9:27:46 AM   
Gen.Hoepner


Posts: 3645
Joined: 9/4/2001
From: italy
Status: offline 		Very well written aar.Really a nice read!
Keep it up

_____________________________

[image]http://yfrog.com/2m70331348022314716641664j [/image]

(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 39
27 Jan. 42 - 10/25/2007 6:18:22 PM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		27 Jan. 42

Gen.Hoepner - Thanks, glad you're enjoying the read.


Japan launches its first air strikes against Java’s airfields today, with two strikes hitting Bandoeng. Damage to the airfields is light, but I lose 2 of my few remaining Vildebeest torpedo planes on the ground. I now have 8 Vildebeest’s left in the two squadrons (4 in each), I’ll probably load them onto ships and evacuate them if they lose any more air frames before the invasion.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bandoeng , at 19,61

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 14
C5M Babs x 3
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7
Ki-15 Babs x 2

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
C5M Babs: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest IV: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x G3M Nell bombing at 12000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bandoeng , at 19,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
G3M Nell x 43

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x G3M Nell bombing at 12000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

153 Japanese bombers hit Manila today causing heavy damage to the base. Japan is really hitting this base hard from the air, at this rate my supplies definitely won’t last till May. Hopefully he won’t be able to sustain such a heavy bombardment. A total of 2 Japanese bombers were destroyed and 11 were damaged in the two raids.

My Blenheim’s hit the Japanese units southeast of Moulmein again today, but no Japanese LRCAP was present. Intel spots another Japanese unit on the trail hex 2 hexes southwest of Moulmein, I’ve given my recon planes orders to fly over the hex to try and ascertain what it is.

Huzzah! A good day for allied submariners today. Dutch sub KXII arrives at Saigon and finds a big fat and happy Japanese repair ship sitting in the harbor. Two torpedoes slam into the ships side. No report of the ship sinking yet, but damage was heavy. This has got to hurt my opponent, helps make up for the loss of my Minelayer near Townsville today, it sank 1 hex away from port there.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Saigon at 31,45

Japanese Ships
AR Yusho Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXII

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well the Japanese task force at Koepang didn’t land any troops, but the supplies it delivered made a difference. Japan gets a 2-1 deliberate attack today and I suspect the base will fall tomorrow. Again the huge drop in my AV is a mystery to me. I’ve ordered my PBY’s to pull out what they can this turn.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Koepang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9390 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 123

Defending force 2706 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 72

Japanese max assault: 112 - adjusted assault: 20

Allied max defense: 64 - adjusted defense: 10

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
146 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With the loss of Koepang I’m wondering if it’s even worth staying at Lautem for a few more turns. I’ll probably just pull everything from there out by air into Darwin. The units will do a lot more good at Darwin then they will defending Lautem.

At least if they get pushed back from Darwin they will remain as a force that can continue to fight. If I leave them at Lautem, they will eventually end up isolated and starving like so many other formations I tried to defend the SRA with are doing now.

I’ve made some recent adjustments to my defenses in northern China. I had originally planned to keep a corp behind each hex of the river that runs between Yenan and the Japanese occupied base of yangtu. This was going to be an attempt to cause him some hurt as he would be forced to shock attack if he crossed the river.

But an inspection of my units revealed to me no units were drawing supplies except the ones on rail or heavy road hexes. Units along trails (even units adjacent to Yenan) were almost out of supplies and hadn’t drawn any all game.

Obviously this make the units combat ineffective, so I’ve ordered all units into the bases they are prepped for.

Here’s a screenshot of one of the units:




On a positive note I’ve finally managed to extricate my units from the area around Kalgan. They are now west of Tatung with orders to march to Yenan.

Jim




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/25/2007 6:54:48 PM >

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(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 40
RE: 27 Jan. 42 - 10/25/2007 6:43:21 PM   
cantona2


Posts: 3749
Joined: 5/21/2007
From: Gibraltar
Status: offline 		Thoroughly enjoying this AAR

_____________________________

1966 was a great year for English Football...Eric was born


(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 41
28 Jan. 42 - 10/25/2007 9:54:21 PM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		28 Jan. 42

cantona2 - Thank you, glad you're enjoying it.

A previously undetected Japanese bombardment task force shows up at Soerabaja and bombards the base. The 6th Dutch Coastal gun battalion and its 15 150mm CD guns did its job and fired 24 shots at the bombarding fleet. 9 hits were scored on the Battleship Yamashiro, which apparently disrupted the task forces bombardment run, as damage to the base was light.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Soerabaja, at 23,66 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed
Do 24K-2: 1 destroyed

24 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CA Myoko
CA Atago
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 9
BB Fuso


Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Dutch air force at Soerabaja retaliated by launching 2 air strikes against the task force later in the day. The irony is more damage was caused to the Dutch air force by these two raids then by the bombardment.

On the upside, the Dutch aviator 1st Lt. Ten Eyck S. of the 2e-VLG-V fighter Groep managed to rack up two air to air kills against the defending LRCAP zeroes. Not much when compared to the 16 Dutch planes lost, but at least something was shot down by my fighters.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 26,68

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 25
Martin 139 x 43

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 8 destroyed, 9 damaged
Martin 139: 3 destroyed, 21 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Martin 139 bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on TF at 26,68

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 16
Martin 139 x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
Martin 139: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Martin 139 bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After having some rest from their routine raids, 82 Japanese bombers launch an air strike on Singapore today. Unfortunately for the Japanese my ground units have rested up as well, and 9 bombers are destroyed and 41 are damaged. My AV at Singapore is now 898, so the past several days of RnR has allowed me to gain nearly 100 AV from the day I was forced out of Johore Bahru.

84 of my heavy bombers hit Palembang’s oil fields today at an altitude of 15000 feet. Even though none of my bombers were shot down, 30 were damaged and I’m absolutely certain it was a mistake to have gone in so low. Only 10 hits were scored on the oil and many of my groups now have morale well below 50. It’ll take a long time to recover the lost morale.

Another Japanese air strike hits Makassar again today and the Japanese 56th division comes ashore. The base will fall tomorrow, but the damage there is 23 Port, 61 service and 90 runway, so Japan won’t be using the base for anything for quite a while.

134 Japanese bombers pound Manila today in two separate raids. Damage to the base is high and only 2 bombers are destroyed and 22 damaged.

One of my ASW groups west of San Francisco moved to a sub contact spotted last turn and my opponent made the mistake/oversight of not moving his sub. Flooding on the bridge was reported during the attack, so I’m hoping it’ll never survive the long voyage back to a Japanese port.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 139,54

Japanese Ships
SS I-15, hits 8

Allied Ships
DD Kane
DD Sands
DD Lawrence

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As expected Koepang falls this turn to a Japanese shock attack. Another 3400 allied prisoners march off to POW camps. I managed to get a few pieces of a couple of the units here out to Darwin, but the majority of all the elements for the units remained and ended up surrendering.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Koepang

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 9180 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 113

Defending force 2548 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 59

Japanese max assault: 202 - adjusted assault: 64

Allied max defense: 49 - adjusted defense: 10

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Koepang base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
190 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
3415 casualties reported
Guns lost 11


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here’s a shot of the units present at Canton in southern China. All of my units have arrived now and are busy training up. Eventually 1 HQ, 3 Corp and all 7 artillery units will move back to the Changsha area. I’ll then bring in another 3 Corps from the Changsha area to train up and so on until most of my units in the south of China are at or near 60 experience.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 83537 troops, 586 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 2451

Defending force 88966 troops, 360 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1308



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jim




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/25/2007 9:57:01 PM >

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(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 42
29 Jan. 42 - 10/26/2007 6:54:23 AM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		29 Jan. 42

Japan bombs the resource at Hengchow with 19 Sally’s and scores 4 resource hits. 2 bombers are damaged in the raid.

In Java Japan bombs Merak this turn with 21 of his dive bombers and causes light damage to the base. No bombers were shot down or damaged as the only AAA at the base is the intrinsic machineguns of the small Dutch battalion stationed there.

34 Sally’s hit Manila this turn causing very light damage. 1 sally is destroyed and 7 are damaged in the raid.

A large bombing raid from Rabaul hits Port Moresby this turn and 5 of my brave Wirraway pilots rise to try and defend the base. 3 Wirraways are destroyed by the escort and were unable to launch even one attack on an enemy plane in return.

Damage to the base is light however and 1 Nell is destroyed and 1 is damaged. I need to get some AAA to Port Moresby ASAP if I hope to keep the base open against so many Japanese bombers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 54,93

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
G3M Nell x 46
H6K4 Mavis x 1

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
H6K4 Mavis: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 3 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G3M Nell bombing at 8000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I’ll have to spend 30 political points next turn on the 1st RA AA unit at Sydney (no other AAA units anywhere in theatre) and send it north. I only thought about doing this while writing my AAR, and my turn has already been sent, otherwise I’d have done it this turn.

Later in the day 23 zeroes from Lae sweep Port Moresby, but only manage to damage 1 of the 3 defending Wirraways.

At Tarakan a Japanese surface fleet drops depth charges on my sub SS S-37 and scores 2 hits. Damage is light but I’ve ordered the sub back to port.

The big news this turn is Japan crosses the river at Singapore and launches a shock attack. Losses on both sides are heavy, but the Japanese take almost 3 times as many casualties as the allies. Hopefully this will put his troops out of action for several weeks.




I thought about launching an immediate counter-attack, but looking at the AV’s before adjustments I figured I’d get creamed like I did when I attacked at Lautem and my AV dropped to almost zero for inexplicable reasons.

Of course at Singapore I’ve got a command and combat HQ, all units prepped to 60+ etc., but it is simply too important to hold on here for several months to make a risky counter-attack that would possibly lead to my losing the base in a week or something.

As expected Japan attacked Makassar this turn and captured the base. The units retreated east and have orders to march north to the dot base 3-4 hexes north in the mountains.

At Manado some of my shattered forces that had retreated west when the base was captured by Japan have arrived back at the base. One of the units still has 5 squads that are non-disabled, so I ordered it to attack the lone Japanese unit present. Hopefully it’s just a base force with no AV and I can grab the base and cause Japan a little consternation.

It was a mistake for him to have left these units alone after he took the base, he should have hit them at least once more as they were in a clear hex which allowed them to march back before starvation killed them off.

Jim




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/26/2007 7:05:27 AM >

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(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 43
30 Jan. 42 - 10/27/2007 1:00:12 AM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		30 Jan. 42

Japanese escorts attack Dutch sub KXVI at Kendari and scores a hit. Damage is light but the sub shall return to base for refit. The torpedo launched by KXVI hit an AK, but it was a dud.

In retaliation one of my ASW groups attacks Japanese sub I-23 4 hexes northeast of Pearl and scores 3 hits. Hopefully the sub will have to leave the area.

Japanese Sonia bombers strike the manpower resource at Wuchow and score 14 hits. The 1 point of manpower at the base is still undamaged. I guess my opponent assumes I have repair toggled on for everything in China, in fact I have everything toggled off. So any damage he causes will remain damaged until I can manage to get a massive resupply effort going over the hump. Right now China simply can’t afford to repair anything.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wuchow , at 42,39

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 5 damaged

Manpower hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another Japanese strike on Merak by 22 dive bombers from Palembang causes minor damage. No Japanese planes are damaged in the raid.

Two air raids pound Manila with a total of 122 bombers. Damage to the base is moderate and 2 bombers are destroyed and 16 are damaged. It is of note that no escorts flew with the bombers. Looks like a potential for an ambush in the air if my opponent keeps this up.

17 Val’s from Lae hit Port Moresby causing light damage. 1 Val is destroyed and 11 are damaged. Allied search planes detect an invasion fleet near Woodlark Island moving southwest, and an AK fleet that appears to just be leaving Rabaul.

Looks like Japan is about to invade Port Moresby. KB has been nowhere to be seen for quite some time, so it is very possible it is lurking somewhere near Rabaul waiting to dash in and hit any kind of reactionary force I may send to oppose the invasion.

As things are, I simply don’t have anything heavier than a PG or MSW anywhere close by that could arrive in time to stop things, so I won’t be able to oppose the landings with any naval power. Looks like it’s going to be up to my one group of A-24’s at Port Moresby and 4 under-strength groups of Hudson’s I rebased to Cairn’s this turn to try and stop the attack.

So 15 A-24’s 11 Wirraway escorts and 39 Hudson’s may have to go up against KB’s 300+ planes, not a very bright prospect. Then again he may be depending totally on land based air to cover his landings, if so I may be able to do some damage.




At Manado my isolated and starving units go on the attack and get hammered by a Japanese AV of 30 at the base. Both Dutch units then die from attrition. The remnants of the 81st Reserve Division are still present but with no hope of taking the base, they’ll simply stay put and annoy the Japanese base force there.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manado

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 255 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Defending force 7753 troops, 31 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 30

Allied max assault: 3 - adjusted assault: 0

Japanese max defense: 28 - adjusted defense: 26

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)



Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Menado Garrison Battalion Wiped Out at Manado by attrition!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5th NEIAF Base Force Wiped Out at Manado by attrition!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few small Japanese units crossed the river into Singapore this turn and launched another shock attack. Damage to both sides was light as the Japanese had an assault value of 0 (probably just artillery units arrived). I look at it as free training for my guys.

As things stand only 3 of my 12 combat brigades at Singapore are still under 50 experience. The rest are in the mid to high 50’s or higher. The Malay Army HQ is at 68 and the Indian III Corp HQ is at 62. So my combat forces should be able to maintain a pretty decent AV once the attacks at Singapore begin.

Jim




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/27/2007 1:01:17 AM >

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(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 44
31 Jan. 42 - 10/27/2007 12:34:32 PM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		31 Jan. 42

Burma

With the 6 Chinese divisions beginning to arrive in theatre, I took some time this turn and reviewed the situation in Burma. Japan hasn’t made any serious moves into Burma yet and only has a few units along the two trails leading to Moulmein. Recon spots an armor regiment on the trail along the coast and an engineer unit and base force unit on the trail coming from Rahaeng.

The trail leading to Taung Gyi from Pisanuloke also has no major combat units, just a base force unit is detected there. So it looks like I’ll have at least another month or more before any serious threats can arrive in theatre via these overland routes.

The naval invasion threat is a real one and needs to be seriously considered given how long a land route invasion would take him, so I’ve decided to move 4 of the 7 CBI theatre brigades into Rangoon. The other 3 brigades will remain at Moulmein and will swap out with Rangoon brigades to allow them to recover some disabled elements once the Rangoon brigades themselves have recovered a bit.

The 6 Chinese divisions shall take on the roll of base security at the rear area bases. One division shall go to each of the following four bases, Meiktila, Magwe, Lashio, and Myitkyina. 2 Chinese divisions will garrison Mandalay to help increase the rate at which the forts are being built up there.

I’m going to bring the 1st Assam Rifles battalion in from India via air transport to garrison the base of Taung Gyi, it is a jungle trail hex and any unit garrisoning this base would need almost a month to march out. The Assam Rifles unit can be completely air lifted out in a couple of turns, but is large enough to defend against any para drops into the base.

This new defensive setup should give me ample force to repel an invasion at either Rangoon or Moulmein with anything less than 2 Japanese divisions. This should secure my hold on Burma until either Manila or Singapore falls and prevent any NLF/SNLF/armor forces from pushing me back before then.

If/when Japan commits to an overland approach, I should have plenty of time to rush all 7 CBI brigades to Moulmein. I’ll divide a couple of Chinese divisions to take over garrisoning the rear area bases against para drops and have 2 Chinese divisions go to Rangoon. The other 2 Chinese divisions will join the CBI brigades at Moulmein.

Should Japan invade by sea, the above setup has all my units on rail bases, so I can easily maneuver my forces to reinforce if needed, or fall back quickly to Mandalay to avoid encirclements.




Additional Japanese troops land at Lautem, but it is too late. I’ve managed to air lift the majority of all four units out to Darwin. There is still a good chunk of the 23rd AIF brigade present, but with an air transport group and 2 PBY groups set to pull them out this turn, most of the elements should get out before the surrender comes.

Darwin currently has 218 AV defending the base. By the time all the fragments and evacuated units on route there arrive, there should be over 250 AV there. That should be enough to make any attempt to take the base a multi-division operation for Japan.

Japan bombs Singapore with 81 bombers at 12000 feet, and pays the price for his altitude setting. 6 bombers are destroyed and 40 are damaged.

Japanese dive bombers from Palembang hit Merak again today causing moderate damage to the base with no loss in planes. Looks like Japan might be making this his landing point, though I’m not going to move any forces in. I can’t afford to defend everywhere on Java and units in Merak can easily be isolated if Japan invades there and Batavia at the same time. The small battalion holding the base against para drops will have to go it alone.

74 bombers hit Manila from 12000 feet and only 5 are damaged. Looks like my base force units AAA at Manila is getting worn down. Perhaps I should have left the Marine AAA unit there instead of sending it to Balikpapan.

Two air strikes hit Port Moresby again today and cause light damage to the base. 1 Wirraway is destroyed on the ground. I have 100% of the Wirraways set to escort in case KB is around and covering the invasion task force with fighters. Next turn should see my A-24’s go in and hopefully my Hudson’s will launch too, though they’ll be at close to max range. The Invasion task force is one hex southeast of Milne Bay this turn.

Japanese ASW forces score 1 hit on Dutch sub KXVII at Tarakan. Damage is light and I’ve ordered the sub to Brunei in hopes of finding less well protected targets.

Jim




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/27/2007 1:38:52 PM >

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(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 45
1 Feb. 42 - 10/29/2007 2:58:27 AM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		1 Feb. 42

February arrives and allied Coastal Defense gunners at Manila Bay are treated to some target practice as two unwary Japanese MSW’s cruise into the bay and get hammered by 14 inch shells. 21 out of 31 shots fired score hits, and both boats are blown to bits.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 10 encounters mine field at Manila (43,52) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

31 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
MSW Choun Maru #18, Shell hits 14, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Choun Maru #7, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japanese bombers continue to hit the resource at Hengchow. I must assume that Japan does not intend to try and capture any of my resource bases since he’s blasting them with his planes so often. I’ve started looking at Indo-China as a possible target for attack around June/July. If Japan hasn’t started attacking my bases in China by then, I think I’ll launch a 7 Corps assault into Indo-China.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hengchow , at 44,37

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 31
Ki-21-II Sally x 21
Ki-15 Babs x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Resources hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Ki-21-II Sally bombing at 6000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

86 Japanese bombers hit Manila today and cause moderate damage to the base. 1 bomber is destroyed and 6 are damaged in the raid. Manila’s supply stock are down to 19000+, looks like I’ll run out long before May if these relentless air raids keep up their pace.

37 Japanese Nell’s hit Port Moresby again today, but damage to the base is very light. My tiny air force at Port Moresby then launches three small raids against the approaching Japanese invasion fleets 3 hexes southeast of their base.

62 Japanese fighters are flying LRCAP over the fleets, and my tiny air force gets decimated. Surprisingly though, 6 of my A-24’s make it through the LRCAP in the second raid and score a single hit on an AK. No troops are reported destroyed, so this must have just been a supply ship.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 56,96

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 62

Allied aircraft
A-24 Dauntless x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 56,96

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 62

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 9
A-24 Dauntless x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 9 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Haruna Maru
CL Tatsuta

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on TF at 56,96

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 61

Allied aircraft
A-24 Dauntless x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GRRR! After reviewing the combat reports text, it looks like we are experiencing a sync bug. As you can see, the text reports no hits even though my screen capture from the replay shows one. Aslo I attacked an AK and the text shows a CL and AP were attacked.

After the raids my air force at Port Moresby is decimated, so I pull out what little is left to the main land for rebuilding.

Japan captures Lautem and the few remaining allied remnants march off to POW camps. Only 844 men are taken prisoner, the rest were evacuated to Darwin and are busy preparing to defend that base.

Another shock attack goes off at Singapore as more Japanese units arrive to the party. I think it was an artillery unit that came in.

At Manado Japan wipes out the last remaining allied unit from my rag tag counter attack force there.

Jim




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/29/2007 3:04:10 AM >

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(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 46
2 Feb. 42 - 10/29/2007 9:27:42 AM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		2 Feb. 42

I double checked all results this turn and it was back in sync, so perhaps last turns sync issue was just a fluke.

80 Japanese bombers hit Singapore today and damage to the base was heavy. Japan lost 8 planes destroyed and 44 damaged, so it was a costly raid for him as he flew at 12000 feet.

Manila is hit by three separate raids with a total of 204 bombers, damage to the base is heavy of course, but luckily he only scored 2 airbase supply hits. No Japanese bombers are lost and only 20 total are damaged in the three raids.

Something I’ve noticed in the past couple of turns is a lot of Japan’s recon missions are being preformed as raids instead of the simple on map pop-ups you normally see. I have to click through the combat replays even though none are being intercepted, and then they show up in the combat report text file.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Group Army, at 43,41

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Singapore , at 22,51

Japanese aircraft
Ki-15 Babs x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-15 Babs: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Singapore , at 22,51

Japanese aircraft
Ki-15 Babs x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Singapore , at 22,51

Japanese aircraft
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-15 Babs x 2

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
C5M Babs x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At Lautem this turn a Japanese transport fleet showed up to pick up his combat troops. 21 Hudson’s from Darwin flew and actually hit a couple of ships with 250 lb bombs.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lautem at 33,77


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 21


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Kasuga Maru #2
AP Kyuma Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kashiwa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The fact there was no LRCAP over this fleet leads me to believe the 62 zeroes flying LRCAP last turn near Port Moresby might have all been land based air. I’m starting to get a feeling KB may show up on a raid soon in the Pacific convoy lanes east of Palmyra.

I’ve got a few convoys out, but nothing important is loaded on them. I’ll withhold sending any troop convoys for a while till I get a sense of where KB is. I assumed he’d need it to invade Java, but I haven’t seen it in the SRA in quite a while.

Japan has brought a fourth division and a lot of other assets to the party at Manila. Looks like he wants to reduce the place ASAP. The only thing giving me any chance at all is the urban hex and my unit’s preparedness.

Unless his units have been preparing for the base from day one, I think in pure combat I should do OK until supplies dry up, but I emphasize I’ve been wrong more times than right when trying to figure out ground combats in this game. Here’s this turns comparative AV’s during the bombardment of the base, he’s already got a 2-1.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 121504 troops, 709 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 2850

Defending force 75346 troops, 464 guns, 290 vehicles, Assault Value = 1250



Allied ground losses:
139 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At Wenchow in China, Japan has brought a division to the base and gets a rude surprise when he tries a bombardment attack. With one unit 100% prepared and the other just under 50% prepared, he gets creamed in the artillery duel.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Wenchow

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 19731 troops, 97 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 445

Defending force 16618 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 520


Japanese ground losses:
134 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hit him again later in the turn. Were it not for the fact I’m in the orange on supplies this turn, I’d have launched an attack. But with low supplies I stood down my troops.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Wenchow

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 16607 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 519

Defending force 19537 troops, 83 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 445


Japanese ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The invasion fleets are 2 hexes from Port Moresby and should arrive next turn. I have 4 subs sitting in the hex to welcome them, but that’s it. I have no other assets left that can oppose the landings. I’ve already pre-positioned planes to conduct air lift operations if it looks like he’ll be able to storm the base.

Jim




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< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/29/2007 9:29:03 AM >

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(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 47
3 Feb. 42 - 10/30/2007 10:24:52 AM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		3 Feb. 42

At Port Moresby Japanese PG, PC and DD escorts conduct ASW operations, four separate attacks are made, three of which are against SS S-34. Several hits are obtained and damage to the sub is moderate, I’ve ordered the sub to return to Sydney harbor.

Japanese troops then begin landings and a PG hits a mine. My Coastal Defense guns then fire 136 shots, but only 2 hits are scored on the wounded PG.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 81 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (54,93)

TF 81 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 54,93


Japanese Ships
DD Asanagi
DD Yunagi
PG Tamo Maru #7
PG Tamo Maru #6, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PG Choan Maru #2

Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 54,93, firing at TF 81
136 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AK Myogi Maru
DD Oite
PG Tamo Maru #7, Shell hits 2

Japanese ground losses:
469 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japanese bombers score another hit on the resource at Hengchow, 6 bombers are damaged in the raid.

90 of my heavies bomb the oil at Palembang from 31000 feet and score 10 oil hits. 8 of my heavies are damaged and 2 Oscars are damaged. It appears the Oscars have the altitude to intercept these raids at 31000 feet, I’ll have to adjust the raid a bit higher the next time it flies.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Palembang , at 20,55

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 20

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 17
B-17E Fortress x 61
LB-30 Liberator x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 1 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 7 damaged

Oil hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 31000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japanese dive bombers from Palembang hit Merak in Java again, damage to the base is minor.

Three separate raids totaling 159 bombers hit Manila again this turn, damage to the base is light but 2 airbase supply hits are scored again this turn. 1 bomber is destroyed and 30 are damaged in the raids.

36 Nell bombers hit Port Moresby again today, but damage to the base is negligible with only 2 runway hits scored. However 1 of my 8 Empire float planes is destroyed on the beach.

Last turn I had the Empires air lift some air support to Portland Roads (dot base 6 hexes west of Port Moresby) from Port Moresby’s base force unit, so I rebased my Empires there this turn and ordered them to pull a piece of one of the artillery battalions out. They already sent a piece of the artillery regiment to Portland Roads earlier.

The artillery won’t be decisive in holding the base, so I wanted to pull a few pieces out now before there was an urgent need to leave the base. Later if I have to leave in the face of overwhelming strength, I’ll focus on pulling out the combat formations.

During land combat, I only observed a Japanese base force unit in the combat display. I almost decided to launch an attack, but thought perhaps this was bait to get me to launch an attack on the second turn as an entire brigade or something comes ashore, I’ll await further developments before doing anything rash.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5013 troops, 98 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 95

Defending force 5265 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 34


Japanese ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At Kendari Dutch sub KXVIII gets a hit on an AK, the sub managed to evade several counter-attacks by Japanese ASW assets.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Kendari at 33,71

Japanese Ships
AK Kenryu Maru, Torpedo hits 1

Allied Ships
SS KVIII

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In China at Pucheng, Japanese recon must have been pretty dismal as my opponent sent 2 divisions to this base in the woods along a trail to expel my 2 units. But they were just 2 Guerilla units, talk about overkill, I love it. Those 2 Japanese divisions will be stuck in the woods for the next 3-4 weeks now. Not to mention the Manpower at the base will eat Japanese resources every turn now.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Pucheng

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 39273 troops, 199 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 929

Defending force 1214 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 44

Japanese max assault: 869 - adjusted assault: 791

Allied max defense: 41 - adjusted defense: 15

Japanese assault odds: 52 to 1 (fort level 5)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Pucheng base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
123 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Jim




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< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/30/2007 10:30:59 AM >

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(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 48
RE: 3 Feb. 42 - 10/30/2007 10:30:13 AM   
Gen.Hoepner


Posts: 3645
Joined: 9/4/2001
From: italy
Status: offline 		How's the Ichang situtuation? How many AVs have u got there and how many units does he have?

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(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 49
RE: 3 Feb. 42 - 10/30/2007 10:34:27 AM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

How's the Ichang situtuation? How many AVs have u got there and how many units does he have?


Here's our respective bombardment attacks this turn. I'm still winning the artillery duel, but my experience gain has slacked off. My Command HQ is one hex away to the NE, but it's about 1 month from getting to the base. I doubt I can take it, but once the Command HQ arrives, I'll try one deliberate attack to see if my 100% preparedness makes a difference, unless he reinforces even more by then.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ichang

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1144 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1269

Defending force 68370 troops, 347 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 2061



Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ichang

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 64750 troops, 345 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 2061

Defending force 52810 troops, 250 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 1269


Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jim

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/30/2007 10:36:27 AM >

_____________________________


(in reply to Gen.Hoepner)
Post #: 50
RE: 3 Feb. 42 - 10/30/2007 10:37:16 AM   
Gen.Hoepner


Posts: 3645
Joined: 9/4/2001
From: italy
Status: offline 		I'd say: do not attack. Ichang is a bad place (due to the supply problem) to launch an offensive attack.
You could imho disengage some of your units and use them to threaten his flanks...1000 AVs are enough there to pinn even 60.000 japanese
just my 2 cents

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(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 51
RE: 3 Feb. 42 - 10/30/2007 11:04:21 AM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

I'd say: do not attack. Ichang is a bad place (due to the supply problem) to launch an offensive attack.
You could imho disengage some of your units and use them to threaten his flanks...1000 AVs are enough there to pinn even 60.000 japanese
just my 2 cents



Actually I'm finding my units pull plenty of supplies there as long as they are actively bombarding him. All my Corps have 1000-1200 supplies on hand and rarely have less than needed.

As long as you are within a range of 2 hexes cross country of a friendly base, I think you'll do OK on supply draw for units engaged in combats, greater than 2 hexes cross country and you're in trouble though.

I find no one pulls supplies cross country if on anything smaller than a highway if just sitting idle though. My unit on a trail adjacent to Yenan practically starved to death before I finally just sent it to Yenan.

Jim


_____________________________


(in reply to Gen.Hoepner)
Post #: 52
RE: 3 Feb. 42 - 10/30/2007 11:39:16 AM   
Gen.Hoepner


Posts: 3645
Joined: 9/4/2001
From: italy
Status: offline 		the crazy and funny thing about ground combat system is that everyone has his own different opinion about it and everyone is right

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(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 53
4 Feb. 42 - 10/30/2007 10:01:42 PM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		4 Feb. 42

It’s a busy day at Port Moresby. The hero of the allied cause is once again the mine fields placed earlier by the doomed Australian ML Bungaree. Three Japanese ships hit mines today and another is torpedoed. Several Japanese vessels suffer at the hands of the coastal defense gunners as well.

It however makes no difference as Japan has come with overwhelming strength. Both the South Seas Detachment and the 2nd Division are landed and Port Moresby will fall tomorrow or the next day. Air lift operations are ordered to save what we can.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 25 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (54,93)

TF 25 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 54,93


Japanese Ships
PC Ch 30
PC Ch 29
PG Ikunta Maru
PG Hakkaisan Maru
PG Fukui Maru
PG Daido Maru
PG Chokai Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Hatakaze

Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 54,93, firing at TF 25
52 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PG Fukui Maru
PG Daido Maru

Japanese ground losses:
793 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 81 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (54,93)

TF 81 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 54,93


Japanese Ships
PG Takunan Maru #8
PG Choan Maru #2
AK Chifuku Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 54,93, firing at TF 81
10 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
78 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 125 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (54,93)

TF 125 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 54,93


Japanese Ships
MSW Seki Maru #3
MSW Noshiro Maru #2
PC Sonan Maru #5
PC Tama Maru #8
PG Shotoku Maru
PG Nikkai Maru
PG Keiko Maru

Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 54,93, firing at TF 125
41 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PG Keiko Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AP Haruna Maru, Shell hits 1
PG Keijo Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
1154 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub attack near Port Moresby at 54,93

Japanese Ships
AK China Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PG Yachiyo Maru
PG Tamo Maru #7
PG Takunan Maru #8
PG Choko Maru #2
PG Choan Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS S-23, hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 81 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (54,93)

TF 81 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 54,93


Japanese Ships
PG Tamo Maru #7
PG Takunan Maru #8
PG Choko Maru #2

Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 54,93, firing at TF 81
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 125 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (54,93)

TF 125 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 54,93


Japanese Ships
MSW Seki Maru #3
MSW Noshiro Maru #2
PC Tama Maru #8
PG Oi Maru
PG Nanpo Maru
PG Keijo Maru, on fire
PG Heijo Maru
AP Kunimitsu Maru, Mine hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 54,93, firing at TF 125
69 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PG Nikkai Maru, Shell hits 2
PC Sonan Maru #5, Shell hits 1, on fire
AP Takasago Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
349 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




So far, that’s four Japanese ships that have fallen victim to the mine field at Port Moresby. None have sunk yet, but I’m sure some will eventually. My opponent exclaimed how the AI never used mine fields, so he’s scrambling to deal with this *new* threat.

Japanese dive bombers hit Merak again today and cause light damage to the base while taking no damage in return.

146 Japanese bombers hit Manila in the three routine raids there again today. Damage to the base is light and only 1 airbase supply hit is scored today. 16 bombers are damaged in the raids.

Blenheim IV’s from Rangoon spot a Japanese task force at Bangkok and launch two small unescorted raids. Both raids manage to slip past the tiny CAP at the base, but only the first raid scores any hits.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Bangkok at 29,39

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 2
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Nichimei Maru
AK Muko Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Shikisan Maru
AK Yamahagi Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Bangkok at 29,39

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 2
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 9

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Nichimei Maru
AK Shunsei Maru
AK Muko Maru, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The allies are not the only ones to benefit from CAP oversights in the area today. In fact we suffer far more than Japan due to lazy CAP settings today. I had been diligently assigning LRCAP over task forces coming and going from Rangoon. But I neglected to check the loading status of a small cargo task force picking up resources and oil from Rangoon and missed that it was due to leave.

Needless to say, as the task force left the protective umbrella of the AVG, Japanese bombers pounced. Given that two unopposed raids flew, I consider myself lucky that any ships survived at all.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,33

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 7
Ki-27 Nate x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
TK Elsa, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Colborne, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
G3M Nell x 22
Ki-27 Nate x 26
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 33
Ki-49 Helen x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 3 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Shinai, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
TK Elsa, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
TK Francol
AK Shinkuang, Bomb hits 1
PC Sonavati, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
PC Pansy, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The TK Elsa was sunk, but it was a small 3330 capacity tanker, the larger TK Francol (6000 tons) wasn’t even damaged. One squadron of the AVG will fly LRCAP over the fleeing TK, the other two remaining damaged AK’s are in their own single ship task forces and ordered to flee as well. Hopefully any strikes will go after the AK’s and I can save the TK.

At Kendari Japanese APD’s pound the Dutch sub KVXIII and score 11 hits sinking the sub outright. This has been one of my more successful subs, I mourn its loss.

Japanese troops from Balikpapan shock attack Samarinda today as they cross the river. Very little is left at the base as most assets have been air lifted to Soerabaja. What little is left manages to stand up against the 1-1 attack and prepares for the inevitable fall tomorrow or the next day. Allied float planes shall continue the air lift until Japanese tanks are patrolling the beaches at Samarinda.

As the allied gunners at Port Moresby conduct a barrage against the invading swarms of Japanese, the utter hopelessness of their situation is exposed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4916 troops, 97 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 96

Defending force 35311 troops, 117 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 621


Japanese ground losses:
122 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


I wish I had started air lifting the troops out 3-4 turns ago when I first saw the invasion approaching. Now I’ll only be able to save a few fragments while the majority of the troops are forced into the jungle to starve to death.

With this many Japanese in the Solomon’s area, I’m sure Noumea and perhaps New Zealand are on the menu. I’ve arranged to send a large transport task force to Panama to embark the Americal Division. It’ll go to New Zealand as soon as practicable.

Jim




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/30/2007 10:04:56 PM >

_____________________________


(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 54
5 Feb. 42 - 10/31/2007 12:54:31 AM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		5 Feb. 42

The excitement at Port Moresby continues as 3 more Japanese AP’s slide into mines at the base. Allied Coastal Defense guns however fail to score any hits on ships from the invasion fleets as troops continue to pour ashore.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 81 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (54,93)

TF 81 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 54,93


Japanese Ships
PG Yachiyo Maru
PG Tamo Maru #7
PG Takunan Maru #8
DD Yunagi
DD Asanagi
AP Teizui Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 54,93, firing at TF 81
Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 125 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (54,93)

TF 125 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 54,93


Japanese Ships
MSW Seki Maru #3
MSW Noshiro Maru #2
PC Sonan Maru #5
PC Tama Maru #8
PC Toshi Maru #3
PG Oi Maru
PG Nikkai Maru
PG Keijo Maru, on fire
PG Keiko Maru, on fire
PG Heijo Maru
AP Taganoura Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 54,93, firing at TF 125
68 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
54 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 81 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (54,93)

TF 81 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 54,93


Japanese Ships
PG Tamo Maru #7
PG Takunan Maru #8
PG Choko Maru #2
PG Choan Maru #2

Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 54,93, firing at TF 81
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 125 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (54,93)

TF 125 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 54,93


Japanese Ships
MSW Seki Maru #3
MSW Noshiro Maru #2
PC Sonan Maru #5
PG Shotoku Maru
PG Oi Maru
PG Nanpo Maru
PG Heijo Maru
AP Daihachikyo Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 54,93, firing at TF 125
4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a desperate attempt to assist their beleaguered comrades, Australian Hudson’s from Cairns launch a long range ground strike against the Japanese 2nd Division. Zeroes flying LRCAP break up the strikes cohesion, but fail to shoot down any bombers.

Three of the bombers are lost however due to the inept allied planners who forgot to adjust the bombers altitude high enough to avoid the machinegun fire from the division’s inherent equipment. Damage caused to the division was negligible.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Division, at 54,93

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
3 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japan launches a shock attack later in the turn that captures the base and sends the allied remnants reeling into the Kakoda trail and the mountainous jungle terrain. With no supplies left anywhere in New Guinea, the remnants will soon starve.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 35818 troops, 137 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 625

Defending force 7100 troops, 108 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 80

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese max assault: 1094 - adjusted assault: 496

Allied max defense: 67 - adjusted defense: 91

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Moresby base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
1155 casualties reported
Guns lost 14

Allied ground losses:
199 casualties reported
Guns lost 13


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I managed to get a piece of the 30th Australian Brigade and part of the 2/1 Independent Company out along with a piece of each of the three US artillery units. These units will rebuild in Australia to return and avenge their parent formations at some future date.

Japanese troops land at both Bali and Lombok this turn. Dutch Martins launch a naval strike on the invading task forces, but only manage to bounce a 250 lb bomb off of the Japanese CA Kinugasa. All defending land units at these two bases were evacuated to Soerabaja some time ago, so the bases will fall next turn.

On the bright side, these two bases are easily within range of Dutch bombers, so I can conduct training raids to improve the bombing crew’s accuracy. Assuming of course there are no better targets about. Bali is a level 3 airfield, so will be closed ASAP to prevent Japanese fighters from sweeping southern Java from such a close location. (note: in accordance with our HR I will only conduct raids if a legitamate military target is present, should Japanese land units leave I will not raid the bases)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lombok at 25,70

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 11
Martin 139 x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
Martin 139: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Yura
CA Kinugasa, Bomb hits 1
CL Nagara

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Merak is hit again today by Japanese dive bombers and the base sustains light damage. This is turning into a routine raid and I will refrain from reporting on it in the future unless something unusual occurs.

Manila is hit by 140 bombers in three raids. Damage today is heavy with 4 airbase supply hits being suffered. 3 Japanese bombers are shot down and 19 are damaged.

As expected Japan launches a shock attack at Samarinda and captures the base. Another 2,564 allied men (mostly Dutch) march off into POW camps.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Samarinda

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 9175 troops, 83 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 186

Defending force 1707 troops, 28 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 22

Japanese max assault: 170 - adjusted assault: 69

Allied max defense: 16 - adjusted defense: 5

Japanese assault odds: 13 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Samarinda base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
2564 casualties reported
Guns lost 22


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thankfully I was able to air lift most of the US and Philippine units out of Samarinda and Soerabaja now has 237 AV in its hex. I was also able to air lift out the remnants of the Dutch VI KNIL battalion, but it is pretty much still disabled.

As you can see in the below screenshot, I’ve got an eclectic group of defenders at Soerabaja. There are a few other fragments in the base as well, but these are the main defensive units. Should Japan give them enough time to recover disablements, I can muster almost another 100 AV with just these 4 units shown here. Their lack of support is made up by the Dutch HQs in the base, as you can see they all have white or green support numbers.




On an alarming note, allied recon spotted an AK fleet moving southwest only 5 hexes northeast of Darwin this turn. Could he be going for Darwin so soon? Perhaps he’s on his way to Wyndham, his recon flights over that base have been pretty heavy lately.

I’m air lifting in the 2/4 Independent Company to Wyndham, I’m not willing to spend more effort defending there, but I don’t want to give him the base for free either. Darwin will still have 230 AV defending after the company leaves, I suspect my opponent doesn’t know about the 1st Cavalry division’s arrival at the base.

This may be the first allied victory of the war if he does land at Darwin this early. He’s got 4 divisions at Manila, 4 at Singapore, 1 at Port Moresby and 1 last seen at Makassar. This approaching task force appears to be coming from Amboina or Palau, so I doubt it would have a full division aboard. Even if it does, I think I can hold against a full division with 230 AV.

The next few turns may be pretty exciting.

Jim




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 10/31/2007 12:59:01 AM >

_____________________________


(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 55
6 Feb. 42 - 10/31/2007 7:13:57 PM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		6 Feb. 42

Well it is officially 2 months into the game and the air to air fighter combat gets another review. To date the allies have lost 144 fighters in air to air engagements and the Japanese have only lost 11 fighters in air to air engagements. That’s a 13-1 kill ratio for Japan so far.

Total air losses however a very close. The allies have lost 714 planes to all causes and the Japanese have lost 623 planes to all causes. Of note is fully half of Japan’s losses are to flak. I expect once the allies begin to conduct offensive bombing raids their losses to flak shall go up significantly too.

89 allied heavies hit Palembang from 33000 feet and score only 4 oil hits. 1 Oscar and 6 bombers are damaged. I now suspect the damage is being cause by flak, as the game lists the Oscar’s max altitude as 28500. I’ll drop back down to 31000 for future raids as the loss in accuracy at 33000 is striking.

Two Japanese raids hit Manila today with a total of 82 bombers. Damage to the base is moderate and 2 air base supply hits are scored. 3 Japanese bombers are lost and 23 are damaged.

I can say with confidence that Darwin is going to be invaded. The Japanese task force spotted last turn is only 2 hexes northeast of the base and is accompanied by either a surface group or a bombardment group. 2 hexes further northeast of those task forces is another Japanese transport fleet, so he’s bringing lots of stuff to the party.

Allied bombers out of Darwin launch two raids on the incoming task forces and only manage to score a few hits. The good news is one of the approaching AP’s was hit by 2 bombs and men were reported lost, so hopefully if this ship sinks he’ll lose a good portion of a unit.

With a potential BB bombardment fleet 2 hexes away, I’ve rebased all allied air out of Darwin to prevent its loss. The allies are very short on planes right now and the loss of these few planes to a bombardment would mean I had nothing to throw against the landings after they are ashore.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 37,83


Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 7
Hudson I x 20
A-24 Dauntless x 14


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 3 damaged
A-24 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kashima
DD Akebono
AP Tainichi Maru
MSW Tomozono Maru #3, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Minryo Maru
AP Sangetsu Maru
AP Hamburg Maru
AP Astuga Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 38,81


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Yubae Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More bad news for the allies today though. More Japanese transport fleets and a surface group are spotted 6 hexes east of Soerabaja, so it looks like my evacuated units are not going to get much time to repair disablements.

I can’t imagine he’d go straight into Soerabaja against its 15 - 150mm CD guns and 13 - 75mm CD guns, so perhaps he intends to sail to the west side of the island for his landings.

Dutch bombers out of Soerabaja launch four separate raids against the incoming fleets, but only manage to score 3 hits with 250lb bombs. Again one of the approaching AP’s is hit and casualties are reported, so the allies are hoping for it to go down with a good chunk of the unit.

Unlike Darwin, I determined to keep my planes at Soerabaja, its coastal defense unit has protected the airforce from a BB bombardment before and I doubt Soerabaja is the target anyway.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 26,71


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 3


Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Yura

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,68

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso, Bomb hits 1
DD Samidare

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Martin 139 bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,68

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 11
Martin 139 x 38

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 2 damaged
Martin 139: 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Jinsan Maru
AP Kasui Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Tatsuwa Maru
PG Eiko Maru
AP Oigawa Maru
PG Chosa Maru, Bomb hits 1
PG Sozan Maru
AP Daifuku Maru
AP Tsutsukami Maru
AP Hakka Maru

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,68

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 7
Martin 139 x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Martin 139: 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




A few hexes southeast of Soerabaja, Japanese sub I-158 locates the previously damaged TK Ondina and puts two torpedoes in her side. The Ondina has been repairing flooding damage at Soerabaja until just recently and took on a load of oil for its run to Australia. With this added damage I don’t think the ship will stay afloat long, but I left her on map anyway, perhaps she’ll soak up another ammo load from a Japanese sub before she goes under.

Bali and Lombok both fall this turn, but with Japanese fleets so close no raids are ordered. Looks like I’ll not get to use these bases for training, my opponents advance is relentless.

Jim




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 11/1/2007 5:26:41 PM >

_____________________________


(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 56
7 Feb. 42 - 11/1/2007 2:20:27 AM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		7 Feb. 42

As expected a BB bombardment group hits Darwin this turn. However the damage to the base is non-existent, only some casualties are caused to the men and equipment. The Coastal Defense guns dish out some pain to the bombardment task force.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Darwin, at 36,84 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

26 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, Shell hits 1
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Naka, Shell hits 2
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 2
BB Hiei


Allied ground losses:
280 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Japanese transport group then begins to land the 21st division ashore and the coastal guns at Darwin deal out more pain to the Japanese ships.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Darwin, 36,84, firing at TF 11
TF 11 troops unloading over beach at Darwin, 36,84


229 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Yamafuku Maru
CL Kashima, Shell hits 2
DD Ushio, Shell hits 6
AP Durban Maru, Shell hits 1
PG Saiko Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
PG Edo Maru, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
1215 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Our current comparative AV’s makes me think I may be able to hold the base. But there is a nagging feeling this turn that there is still another transport group out there and next turn will see even more troops landing.

76 Japanese bombers hit Manila today, damage to the base is light and no airbase supply hits are scored. 1 bomber is destroyed and 15 are damaged in the two raids.

I was wrong about the task force east of Soerabaja last turn, they didn’t head for Java. Instead 2 task forces went to Bandjarmasin and began unloading troops and 2 task forces went to Bali to apparently unload additional troops there.

Allied planes launched an air strike against the fleets at Bali and bounced a few bombs off the CA’s and BB’s. Unfortunately none of the Dutch torpedo planes scored any hits, it would have been nice to cripple a BB or two.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Bali at 24,69

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 3
T.IVa x 8
A-24 Dauntless x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
T.IVa: 8 damaged
A-24 Dauntless: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Atago, Bomb hits 2
CA Furutaka
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x T.IVa launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x T.IVa launching torpedoes at 200 feet
9 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With no apparent move heading to Java quite yet, I’ve ordered my heavies and the Dutch bombers to try and close Bali this turn. I don’t want Japanese fighter air getting established anywhere near south Java. If it does, I’ll have to pull my air power out of Java as I doubt it would last long against 40-60 zeroes in the area.

Bandjarmasin will also have to be closed, but for now my efforts are geared towards Bali. I’m not even sure Dutch air power is strong enough to get the job done, even with the heavies helping them.

Jim




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 11/1/2007 2:26:34 AM >

_____________________________


(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 57
8 Feb. 42 - 11/1/2007 3:39:06 PM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		8 Feb. 42

My coastal defense guns at Darwin continue to dish out some pain to his invasion fleet unloading troops.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Darwin, 36,84, firing at TF 11
TF 11 troops unloading over beach at Darwin, 36,84


217 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PG Saiko Maru, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AP Minryo Maru
DD Akebono
DD Ushio, Shell hits 2
PG Edo Maru, Shell hits 4
AP Gyoko Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
521 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japan then hits Darwin again with his bombardment task force. As last turn, no damage is caused to the base and only a few casualties are caused to ground troops.

Given the effectiveness of my Coastal defense units to reduce/negate shore bombardment, I’ve rebased my airforce back to Darwin. Some of the groups will need to take a few turns to repair as they were railed out so had to rail back in, but the Hudson’s can fly this turn along with some kingfishers I brought in.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Darwin, at 36,84 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Kuma
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Naka
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei


Allied ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

124 Japanese bombers hit Singapore today and cause heavy damage to the base. 4 airbase supply hits are scored and Japan loses 4 bombers destroyed and 46 damaged.

81 of my heavies flew to Bali today at 15000 feet and are intercepted by a tiny CAP over the base. 5 of the bombers are damaged, but the strike only causes minor damage to the base. Recon reports airfield damage of only 5, so most of the damage was repaired this turn.




Recon also reports 37 fighters and 56 auxiliaries at the base already, so it looks like I may be too late in trying to close Bali. I’d rather lose my air assets on Java trying to cause him damage at his base rather than to lose them on the ground at my airfields, so I keep the heavies and Dutch bombers scheduled to hit Bali again this turn.

Things are rapidly becoming untenable in southern Java, I may have to pull the heavies out to India soon. The heavies have only been slightly successful at Palembang anyway, due to the high altitude of the raids they flew. Damage to the oil there is reported as 1035 (166) and resource damage is reported as 547 (54). Compared to the damage of 545 (56) resources and 1115 (86) oil I reported on 5 January, I’ve barely managed to cause 80 oil damage in a month of high altitude bombings.

I did cause over 100 oil damage at Balikpapan in the same time period, so my heavies haven’t been totally useless, but the time has come for a risk/reward cost ratio analysis again. If I stay in Java much longer, I’m going to lose most of the heavies. I doubt they can do much more damage in the short time they have left, and the time it would take to rebuild 80+ heavies would be excessive I think, so I’ll pull them out soon.

122 Japanese bombers hit manila in three raids today. Damage to the base is moderate and 2 airbase supply hits are scored. Japan loses 1 bomber and 26 are damaged in the raids.

A Japanese carrier reported as the Akagi is reported 1 hex east of Bali this turn. It launches two air strikes against the crippled Ondina and sends her to the bottom. Based on the numbers of planes launched, I cannot confirm more than 1 CV in the group, but it is possible more than 1 CV is present and the game only launched a few planes due to the fact it was a single ship task force it was bombing.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 22,69

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
B5N2 Kate x 24

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
TK Ondina, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 22,69

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
TK Ondina, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Looks like my opponent is unsure of himself at Darwin, as he launched a bombardment attack today instead of a deliberate attack. Given the results of our artillery duel there, I’d say I may have him on the ropes. His attack should come tomorrow if it is going to occur, so I anxiously await the outcome.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Darwin

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 16437 troops, 88 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 424

Defending force 17531 troops, 170 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 266



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Darwin

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11613 troops, 109 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 266

Defending force 19081 troops, 88 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 424


Japanese ground losses:
186 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Should he fail in his attack, I’ll aggressively begin bombardments of his troops with the intent of drying up his supplies. If I can whittle down his supplies before additional troops can be brought in, I may be able to cause his division considerable damage, possibly even driving it out of the hex before its help arrives.

Jim




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 11/1/2007 3:45:50 PM >

_____________________________


(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 58
9 Feb. 42 - 11/1/2007 8:53:22 PM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		9 Feb. 42

Today is a good day for the allies, relativley speaking of course.

The turn starts off with a Japanese surface group running in to Batavia to engage my 4 PT boats there. The PT’s are surprised and the Japanese sink one and leave, suffering no damage.

Along with the routine air raid on Merak, Japan sends 18 Nell bombers to hit Batavia. Damage is light, but I think he’s getting ready for landings in the north and these are the opening moves. Intel reports 114 ships in port at Palembang.

North of Batavia allied recon spots some Japanese MSW's and my Swordfish launch a stike that sinks 2 of the 3 MSW's attacked.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 20,57


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 10
Wirraway x 7


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
MSW Musashi Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Banshu Maru #56, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Banshu Maru #52

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At Bali, my strategy of taking the fight to his airfield pays off and my 2 raids cause moderate damage to the base. First my Dutch Martin’s go in and manage to get past the defending CAP after losing 5 fighter escorts and 1 bomber. Damage to the base was light, but this battle probably disrupted/fatigues the Japanese CAP.

My heavies then came on and got past the CAP without losing any planes. The damage they caused to the base was significant enough to prompt my opponent to pull out the planes that recon had detected there last turn. Only a few air frames are left at the base and these are probably damaged.

Intel reports runway damage is at 30 at Bali this turn, so his engineers are working mightily to reduce damage. I’ll have to hit it every other turn or so from now on to keep it closed, taking only occasional breaks to recover fatigue and pursue other targets.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bali , at 24,69

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 17
Martin 139 x 70

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged
Martin 139: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 18

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 12000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bali , at 24,69

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 1

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 3
B-17D Fortress x 19
B-17E Fortress x 52
LB-30 Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 5 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 40

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 15000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

100 Japanese bombers hit Manila today and cause very light damage. 2 bombers are destroyed and 14 are damaged.

Now for the good part. Allied air launches 3 airstrikes against the invading Japanese at Darwin and for the first time my pilots choose their targets wisely. This time the small 3 plane raid went after the surface group and the other two large raids went after the transport group.

The surface group suffered no hits, but my plane crews were on their game against the transport group. In the two raids, 4 different AP’s were hit (one reported sunk so far), 1 CL was hit and 1 PG was hit as well.

Damage to the CL was very heavy (I think it’ll sink) and several of the AP’s appeared to have moderate damage.

I’ve wanted to make my opponent pay a price for his early advances and now I can say I finally extracted a good price from his forces. Too bad I had pulled my air force out earlier before his shore bombardments, had I stuck around I think I’d have hurt him a lot more than this.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 36,84


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 3


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 36,84


Allied aircraft
OS2U-3 Kingfisher x 9
Hudson I x 22


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Eli Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Ushio
CL Kashima
AP Tainichi Maru, Bomb hits 1
DD Akebono
PG Edo Maru
AP Kisaragi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Gyoko Maru
AP Astuga Maru, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 36,84


Allied aircraft
OS2U-3 Kingfisher x 8
Hudson I x 21


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Yamafuku Maru
CL Kashima, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
PG Edo Maru, Bomb hits 1
DD Ushio
AP Kisaragi Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Minryo Maru
AP Heiwa Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




I thought about leaving my bombers on naval attack, but given the results of this turns deliberate attack, I’ve switched everything to ground attack. I need to cause him some disablements and disruption if I hope to keep the base once he reduces my forts.

I’ll keep pounding him every turn on the ground at Darwin until I see more fleets headed in, then I’ll switch back to naval attacks.

Singapore was subjected to its first deliberate attack this turn, and the writing is on the wall. Even though the attack was a 0-1 with my side enjoying a comfortable advantage in adjusted AV’s, his engineers reduced the forts one level. If his engineers can do this every time, I think the base will fall very soon. A lot sooner than I had hoped in fact, I doubt it’ll even last till March.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Singapore

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 87721 troops, 405 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 1766

Defending force 74902 troops, 380 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 1085

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Japanese max assault: 1686 - adjusted assault: 1254

Allied max defense: 1147 - adjusted defense: 2390

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 4)


Japanese ground losses:
3664 casualties reported
Guns lost 29
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
1538 casualties reported
Guns lost 45


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With all the supplies on hand I had hoped Singapore might last till as late as April. With Manila looking to go down within a month or so, I was counting on a long siege at Singapore to help make up for the early loss on Luzon (supplies are already down to 14K, 3 airstrikes a turn make a real difference there). Now it looks like both bases are going to fall in or before March, not a good development for the allies.

This means he’ll probably go for Australia or India for sure I bet.

Jim




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Jim D Burns -- 11/1/2007 8:57:20 PM >

_____________________________


(in reply to Jim D Burns)
Post #: 59
10 Feb. 42 - 11/2/2007 1:23:13 PM   
Jim D Burns


Posts: 4013
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Salida, CA.
Status: offline 		10 Feb. 42

I sent my Blenheim IV’s at Rangoon against Rahaeng airfield this turn. I had seen a buildup of Japanese strength there recently and wanted to start hitting some of his supplies. 52 bombers flew and caused light damage to the base. I lost 2 bombers destroyed and 27 were damaged.

One large Japanese raid of 138 bombers hit Singapore this turn. Damage to the base was extremely heavy and 8 airbase supply hits were scored. 7 bombers were destroyed and 55 were damaged in the raid.

Having spotted over 100 Japanese ships in port at Palembang last turn, I sent my heavies on a port attack at 31000 feet. 64 heavies flew and scored 4 hits on ships in the port. I was amazed they actually hit anything, but damaged to the ships appeared to be light.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Palembang , at 20,55

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 16
B-17E Fortress x 42
LB-30 Liberator x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Kaisho Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Tokushima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Sasako Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Asashio, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 31000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Manila was hit by 2 raids today totaling 77 bombers. Damage caused was light and only 1 airbase supply hit was scored. Japan lost 1 bomber destroyed and 16 bombers damaged.

I sent my Dutch bombers to Bandjarmasin today to hit the Sasebo 8th SNLF unit attacking that base. Damage to the unit was moderate and enough to disrupt its deliberate attack later in the turn and the base held.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bandjermasin

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1390 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 39

Defending force 1588 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

Japanese max assault: 8 - adjusted assault: 7

Allied max defense: 17 - adjusted defense: 16

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 1)


Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

24 of my bombers at Darwin hit the Japanese 21st Division today but only caused 16 casualties. Hopefully as more of my bombers become operational they’ll do better in future turns.

Invasion task forces are spotted north of Java and my small swordfish squadron launches 3 separate strikes. Japanese LRCAP over the task forces is heavy and only the first strike manages to score any hits, though damage caused by the torpedoes did not appear to be very heavy.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 20,57

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
Ki-27 Nate x 3
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 10
Wirraway x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged
Wirraway: 5 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AK Belgium Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Kashii, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 20,57

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
Ki-27 Nate x 3
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Natori

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 20,57

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 28
Ki-27 Nate x 5
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 21

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 4 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




My Swordfish squadron is decimated after these attacks, so it begins to withdraw north towards India. At least it got a few hits in before pulling out. Now I have no air power left in northern Java, only the three level 4 airfields in southern Java still have any air power left.

Along the east coast of Australia Japanese sub I-18 makes a torpedo attack on a supply convoy arriving from the states. The PG escorts do a good job and score 2 hits on the sub. Hopefully this will put it out of action for quite a while as it’s a long way to any Japanese repair yards.

With no Japanese attacks materializing at Darwin this turn, I assume my opponent is in supply trouble. I’ve switched my ground units over to bombard to help burn his remaining supplies.

Jim




Attachment (1)

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(in reply to Jim D Burns)
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