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RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR

 
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RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/5/2015 6:51:25 AM   
Leandros


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Buckrock
It's not clear in the AAR but I didn't get the impression that many air assets had been dedicated in the game to performing search missions for the area to put the
IJN subs under pressure.

Thank you, Buck. I may not have been clear on this but actually I have ASW patrols flying out of both Horn Island and Port Moresby. Brisbane, too. No doubt the game
is overplaying the IJN subs but, after all, that it what it should do...

I shall have to make adjustments on this when adapting the game to the Project. Not sure how, but....

Fred


< Message edited by Leandros -- 6/5/2015 7:51:51 AM >

_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Buckrock)
Post #: 271
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/5/2015 7:02:11 AM   
Leandros


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January 18th 1942

SS Sealion reports hits on AK Alaska Maru near Jolo.

New attack by the BB Yamashiro TF against Port Moresby. Planes from CV Saratoga are looking for her during the day. No luck!

SS I-17 is at it again! 1 torpedo hit on Matthew Luckenbach near Horn Island. It sinks!

Morning raids on enemy force near Namlea by A-24’s and B-26’s.

161st IR attacks the Namlea invasion force. Still no decision.

No US planes lost today. 2 transports, though.

AP Chaumont, quite damaged, CL Perth and DD’s Peary and Thracian are the only ships left in Zamboanga now. In Cagayan are AP Rochambeau, AKL Magellan and
AS Canopus. Canopus has some damage. Tries to evade tonight. In Butuan is CA Australia more or less immobile. CL Leander in Cotabato is also damaged.

Fred


January 19th 1942

DD’s Patterson, Scout and Jarvis withdrawing from Mindanao meet an enemy convoy in the Celebes Sea escorted by 3 auxiliaries. Both parties evade.

The usual nightly bombardment of the enemy on Namlea has started. They have been completely cut off for some days now.

Bad luck! 3 AK’s escaping south from Butuan stumbles into an enemy CV TF west of Davao, CV Soryu with 2 cruisers and 3 DD’s. Turns back.

An enemy BB TF – 2 BB’s, 2 CA’s and 4 DD’s have snuck in behind Flores. Discovered by a 4-AP Dutch convoy on its way back to Soerebaja. All AP’s are sunk by
gunfire and torpedoes.

SS Stingray report hit on AK Syoryo Maru near Laoag.

Morning raids on Namlea invasion force by in all 29 B-26 and 30 A-24.

Cotabato morning B-17 raids yield some 160 enemy casualties.

PT’s Q 111 and 112 and PT-35 are attacked by 11 Sallys near Masbate. No damage.

Cotabato is captured. The enemy has been able to land some 9.000 troops. 8 grounded P-40’s were destroyed on the airfield.

Again a frontal attack by the 161st IR and support units on the Namlea invasion force beachhead. Enemy losses: 146. Own losses: 3. When shall they break?

Talk about the devil – information just in that that the 3rd Yokosuka SNLF on Namlea has been annihilated. Have used too much naval ammunition and bombs on them.
Which I suppose was the enemy intention.

The BB TF that attacked Port Moresby seems to have left the area.

Apart from the P-40’s lost on the ground in Cotabato a quite pleasant day. Time to start pestering the enemy in Ternate again.

Nice thing is: No losses in 2 days for the newly-arrived A-24 and B-26 units on Ambon.

New Base Force units are getting available in the States every day now.

The first 3 Brigades of the AIF 1 Australian Corps are embarking in Aden, destination Timor. Afraid the troops don’t know that yet.

In the meantime the Aussie leadership has released the 9th in Sydney as an intermediate solution to defend Timor. It shall leave Sydney in a few days.

Fred


_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 272
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/5/2015 9:17:09 AM   
Buckrock

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Leandros
I suppose none of these were in the vicinity of the Torres Strait?

One was until the 16th Jan. In the few days she was there, the only merchant traffic sighted was a Hospital ship. The submarine left after two Australian corvettes arrived to sweep the area. She then joined three other submarines covering the approaches to the port of Darwin as that was where the main volume of traffic for the area was concentrated. Had it been somewhere else, likely the submarines would have followed.

quote:

Actually, they are right on schedule but were beaten to it in Menado (in the game) and withdrew from Davao - but returned.

I thought the AI had already gone after Tarakan in Dec. In RL, that move was part of the Japanese drive into the DEI.

quote:


RL, they invaded Ambon in the end of January. Their submarines haven’t bothered me at all in the Moluccans or around the Philippines. Maybe a couple of encounters. As you may know, “strategic” in
the Japanese term at this time, would be against warships, not transports.

Actually that's not completely accurate. The Japanese submarines operating off Darwin and the group despatched in January to operate south of Java and into the Indian Ocean were tasked with cutting the sea lanes for both warships and merchant traffic. IIRC, they targeted more merchants than warships. Not that they were good at it but they did at least try.

quote:

In my game I’ve had half a dozen ships sunk, and several more damaged, in January only. This in spite of almost a dozen ships working ASW missions. No complaints, it only makes the game more interesting but this is something I shall have to consider if my project shall proceed with reference to a Japanese RL.

It may have been only a "perceived" threat in RL at the time but having in place an equivalent ASW effort early in your games against the AI might allow you to get the desired volume of traffic through the straits without taking what would be unRL losses from the submarines for this period in the war.

quote:


It should take months for them to react to the increased US efforts south of The Philippines. It did on Luzon and it did in the Visayas.

Just my opinion...

Perhaps the Japanese saw little threat to their plans from the historical Allied efforts at sea around Luzon and the Visayas. On the other hand, the Japanese did recognise in late December the fact that Darwin had become the major base for Allied operations in support of the DEI. Within two weeks, submarines had gathered in Davao and then begun their move south to cover Darwin. That doesn't suggest it would take the Japanese months to recognise and respond to some large volume of Allied shipping activity between Northern Australia and say, the Moluccas.

< Message edited by Buckrock -- 6/5/2015 10:33:31 AM >

_____________________________

This was the only sig line I could think of.

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 273
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/5/2015 9:32:42 AM   
Buckrock

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Leandros

quote:

ORIGINAL: Buckrock
It's not clear in the AAR but I didn't get the impression that many air assets had been dedicated in the game to performing search missions for the area to put the
IJN subs under pressure.

Thank you, Buck. I may not have been clear on this but actually I have ASW patrols flying out of both Horn Island and Port Moresby. Brisbane, too. No doubt the game
is overplaying the IJN subs but, after all, that it what it should do...

I shall have to make adjustments on this when adapting the game to the Project. Not sure how, but....

Fred



If you're not too concerned about what happens outside your chosen area of operations for your project, you should be able to strip enough squadrons from other areas to make things fairly uncomfortable for IJN submarine ops along your reinforcement routes either side of Torres Strait. Even airgroups on Naval Search can help. You might end up with an unhistorical number on searches but as the detection level (DL) on the subs rise through being spotted, they should become less effective in their attacks (excuse the simplistic explanation).

_____________________________

This was the only sig line I could think of.

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 274
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/5/2015 12:51:59 PM   
Leandros


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January 20th 1942

The Japanese are landing in Lae, New Guinea.

The enemy are mind-readers. No sign of a CV TF but suddenly it’s in the middle of the path of a ship transporting the 808th EAB to Kendari, quite close to the port.
Shall AK American Leader get away with it? CV Soryu is accompanied by 2 CA’s and 3 DD’s.

First bombing attack on Samarinda. No results.

SS Saury, operating on the surface, reports shell and torpedo hits on AK Konzan Maru near Morotai.

RN DD’s Iris and Electra bombard Singkawang.

CL de Ruyter and 2 DD’s meet 2 PB’s escorting 7 AK’s near Morotai. Both parties evade.

SS Searaven report torpedo hit on on AP Teikyo near Davao.

Tarakan is captured!

AK American Leader got away!

A relatively quiet day. What is he planning for?

I’m saving resources for a counter-attack. Some amphibious vessels have been assembled in Darwin and I’m routing some newly-arriving transports with army troops
there. So far, only the 193rd Tank Bn has arrived.

In a week there shall be more fighter groups in place. I need that to assemble landing convoys farther forward. They are obviously dependent on air coverage. Only
a few ports can handle reloads without excessive delays. As important is to place ground units on central points for reinforcement those already in position,
being they Dutch, Aussie or Philippine.

Can Zamboanga hold off an attack? The local units are under-manned regiments each of the 61st and 81st PA divisions. They have been reinforced by 2 small US Army
FA Bn’s, 131st and 148th, and 3 Base Forces. All in all 4.300 troops with quite a lot of artillery.

In Menado is a full Combat Engineer Regiment with 3 AK’s finishing unloading of supplies. Should I use these ships to try retake Ternate? Otherwise, Menado isn’t
too well defended – 2 Aussie Bn groups, parts of 2nd Marine Def. Bn (more of it is on its way). Finally, the local Menado Garrison Bn and Base Force.

Fred


January 21st 1942

CL TF de Ruyter finds 3 large transports, escorted by 2 DD’s, unloading on Morotai. Both parties evade.

MTB 7 sunk by a CA TF near Dadjangas.

CL’s Hobart and Colombo find an enemy CV TF outside Macassar. Both parties evade.

The Japanese are landing near Port Moresby! Suspected that with the BB force hovering around the area. CD artillery hit AP Kashima Maru, 63 casualties. I suppose
they didn’t know that PM has been reinforced.

Surfaced SS Snapper is hit by 4 shells from a PB near Kagi.

AK Hamburg Maru escapes CL TF near Morotai. AK Zuiko, too.

TK Erling Brövig reports a small enemy landing force outside Port Hedland, Western Australia, evades. A matter of misidentification?

Dutch SS O21 hits enemy subchaser near Davao. Heavy damage.

5 B-17D’s flying from Cagayan bomb 146th IR in Cotabato. 124 casualties.

Port of Batavia attacked by 13 Kates, 10 Zeros. 17 hits on 3 AK’s.

A bombing attack by carrier planes is reported on an AK east of Macassar. 1 bomb hit.

A PA battalion surrenders west of Davao.

3rd Constabulary Regiment surrenders near Cotabato.

The Japanese already have 1.300 troops ashore near Port Moresby.

Fred


< Message edited by Leandros -- 6/5/2015 1:59:59 PM >

_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Buckrock)
Post #: 275
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/5/2015 12:54:49 PM   
Leandros


Posts: 1740
Joined: 3/5/2015
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Buckrock
If you're not too concerned about what happens outside your chosen area of operations for your project, you should be able to strip enough squadrons from other
areas to make things fairly uncomfortable for IJN submarine ops along your reinforcement routes either side of Torres Strait. Even airgroups on Naval Search can help. You might end up with an unhistorical number on searches but as the detection level (DL) on the subs rise through being spotted, they should become less effective in their attacks (excuse the simplistic explanation).

Thank you for useful inputs. In the end I suppose the only way is to play both sides intermittently. Don't know what that does to the AI. If at all possible to
alternate. I have Hashimoto's table of the whereabouts of the IJN submarines. Suppose there are some which are more detailed.

Fred


< Message edited by Leandros -- 6/5/2015 1:56:39 PM >

_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Buckrock)
Post #: 276
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/5/2015 2:14:33 PM   
Buckrock

 

Posts: 578
Joined: 3/16/2012
From: Not all there
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Leandros
Thank you for useful inputs. In the end I suppose the only way is to play both sides intermittently. Don't know what that does to the AI. If at all possible to alternate. I have Hashimoto's table of the whereabouts of the IJN submarines. Suppose there are some which are more detailed.

Fred



Intermittent play then handing back to the AI did appear to have an impact when I tried it. The AI often cancelled missions already in progress and created new ones. Not a big problem for air operations or land but for naval, it could disrupt an AI offensive mid invasion.

My advice would be to learn to play from both sides so you can create the strategic and operational situations needed for your project. And since you probably only need to play though perhaps 3-4 months, you can ignore much of the economic side of the game.

Hashimoto - haven't used it. I tend to refer back to Boyd and Yoshida while keeping Japanese Monograph 102 (Sub Ops, Dec '41 to April '42) handy. And if you know the submarine id, just go straight to the submarine TROMs at CombinedFleet.Com.

_____________________________

This was the only sig line I could think of.

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 277
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/5/2015 2:17:38 PM   
Leandros


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January 22nd 1942

Port Moresby CD batteries are defending against the landing forces with Bofors and 18-pounders.

DD’s Ellet, Smith and Preston bumps into BB Haruna accompanied by 1 CL and 2 DD’s. Preston is hit by torpedo and sinks.

AKL Prusa is hit by 2 torpedoes from SS I-18 near Newcastle.

Another encounter with the Haruna TF. DD Smith on fire after shell hits.

SS I-18 shells AKL Morazan near Newcastle. 34 hits. Sinks.

SS I-18 attacks a third ship with gunfire near Newcastle. It escapes.

AG Argonne hit by a torpedo from SS I-19 near Nadi. Sinks.

Dutch SS O21 reports torpedo hit on AK Yamakisan near Davao.

13 B-17D’s bomb 16th IR in Cotabato. 97 casualties reported.

A second attack by 3 B-17’s yields 37 casualties.

12 B-26 attack CV Soryu south of Macassar. Turns back when intercepted by 13 Zeros, they have no escort. 3 B-26 lost, 2 damaged.

8 Vals and 5 Zeros from CV Soryu attack CA Salt Lake City TF SE Macassar. No damage. 1 Val destroyed, 4 damaged. Air attacks against Palembang and Batavia from a
CV TF in Sunda Strait.

In a second attack against CV Soryu 1 B-26 is lost to the 11-Zero CAP, 1 by flak.

4 Vals and 4 Zeros attack CL Hobart SW Macassar. No damage on Hobart. 2 Vals damaged.

The Japanese are landing more forces in PM. With the BB force constantly intervening it’s difficult to avoid. The Aussie brigade originally planned for Timor is
disembarking in Sydney. Their transport need to be prepared for amphibious landings. It shall take some days before they can leave Sydney. In the meantime a 2-CV
force of ours is approaching from Hawaii, 2 days out of PM. They shall probably swing by PM to give the enemy a couple of blows.



January 23rd 1942

DD’s Ellet and Smith encounters the Haruna TF east of Morotai. Smith is hit 13 times. Sinks.

5 Vals and 6 Zeros from CV in the south bomb Kendari. 4 Vals damaged by CA Chester flak.

Quiet before the storm? The enemy’s main action at the time seems to be to improve upon the Ternate and Morotai bases. Not long until he starts flying bombing
missions from those, I suppose.

The Japanese landing in Port Moresby is worrying. The more so as there has been problems with organizing an Aussie counter-attack force in Sydney. I hope to slow
down his progress by stationing some of the fighting ships escorting Lexington and Yorktown outside PM.

Something is brewing west of the Banda Sea, too. I won’t use resources on that but rather reinforce Timor and Kendari. “Time is of the Essence”!

As our bombers have shown to be somewhat impotent against enemy ships, more naval forces are needed. There is still hope to keep Mindanao in the fight but Bataan
is already down to zero supplies. I’m afraid to move planes into the airfield in case it suddenly falls.

There are four resistance pockets on Mindanao: Zamboanga being the strongest. The airfield there is expanding very slowly so I need to have Cagayan operational
now that I have lost Cotabato and Davao. No more shipping afloat to move more forces from the other islands.

What happens if PM falls? Cairns shall be the nearest “offensive” airfield. I’m redirecting the 101st USN Base Force to Horn Island. It is 2 days south.

Unfortunate if I have to use the two carriers against PM as 4 fighter squadrons are just now disembarking in Brisbane. Maybe I shall just dispatch a cruiser/DD
force against PM and let the carriers call on Brisbane directly. I can fly off a squadron from each to make space for the army fighters and pick up the carrier planes again after the army planes have been flown off north of the Torres Strait.

Too bad the carriers have already passed Brisbane on their way north. They need to be turned back. They are short of fuel, anyway. Intricate operation.

Fred


_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 278
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/5/2015 2:22:00 PM   
Leandros


Posts: 1740
Joined: 3/5/2015
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Buckrock

My advice would be to learn to play from both sides so you can create the strategic and operational situations needed for your project. And since you probably only
need to play though perhaps 3-4 months, you can ignore much of the economic side of the game.


That was my original intention so that's probably what I shall do. Intend to try the other solution first, though. Just to have done it.

Thank you again.

Fred

< Message edited by Leandros -- 6/5/2015 3:24:37 PM >

_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Buckrock)
Post #: 279
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/5/2015 2:29:13 PM   
Leandros


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January 24th 1942

The enemy is trying to increase his control of the Celebes Sea by landing in Tandjoengselor, close to Tarakan, too.

The concentration of USN submarines are continuing to damage the enemy near Davao and Dadjangas.

A 2-CA allied force meets the Soryu TF, 2 CA’s and 3 DD’s, SE of Kendari. DD Scout sunk by enemy torpedo, CA Chester hit by torpedo. CA Aoba and DD Yukikaze on
fire after shell hits.

AK Corrales is hit by 3 torps from SS I-173 near Portland Roads. Sinks.

SS I-17 is reported hit twice by DD Phelps near Horn Island.

6 Vals, 7 Zeros from a CV force in NE attack CA Astoria near Bara. 3 Vals damaged.

Constant bombings of Bataan through the day. 32 Nates bombing from 15.000’. Quiet on the ground. Actually, the enemy has been quite passive for some time as if
he has decided to starve out the garrison rather than break it.

Costly Japanese bombing attack on Singapore. Of 16 Vals and 5 Zeros, 2 Vals destroyed by CAP, 7 by flak. 3 damaged.

5th enemy Tank Regiment is ashore in Davao. Bombed by B-17’s from Cagayan. No damage.

DD Phelps is after I-17 again! 1 shell is reported.

Tandjoengselor is captured.

Another relatively quiet day. DD Scout and AK Corrales sunk.

The British lost 4 Buffalos defending Singapore but the enemy lost 21 Vals and a dozen others for various reasons.

New army transports are being readied in the States every day.

SS Pollack shall take up position outside PM tomorrow. 4 cruisers and 7 DD’s are 1 day out before starting the blockade.

The Buffalo and Wildcat squadrons of Lexington and Yorktown have been flown off to PM to cover the upcoming naval blockade.


Fred


_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 280
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/6/2015 10:16:27 AM   
Leandros


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Joined: 3/5/2015
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January 25th 1942

The Indianapolis TF, 2 cruisers, 4 DD’s and 2 DMS’s reaches PM. In a nightly, half-moon, attack 1 enemy PB and 1 AK are sunk. Enemy units ashore are consequently
bombarded.

SS I-175 executes an attack on the Yorktown TF just outside Brisbane. 4 torpedoes miss! DD Walke chases her away.

SS S-36, loitering outside Jolo Island, is chased away by DD Sawekaze.

An enemy PB and a transport is sighted west of Portland, Australia by two allied transports.

SS I-17 launches 2 torpedoes at AK Horace Luckenbach near Horn Island. Both miss!

An enemy transport convoy is reported NW Menado. A landing in the offing?

SS I-17 attack AK Utahan on the surface. 1 shell hit, 1 torpedo hit. Utahan sinks.

The carrier planes moved to PM attack enemy ground forces outside PM. 26 casualties.

An attack by CV Soryu NE of Ambon hits TK Gulf Pride with 2 bombs. On fire. 6 P-39’s intercept. 1 lost to escorting Zeros.

Bataan is constantly hammered by bombings now.

Afternoon attack on Zamboanga from CV force in the Sulu Sea. 10 Kates, 5 Zeros and 8 Claudes. Intercepted by 3 P-36, 1 P-40B and 12 P-40E’s. 1 Claude, 1 Zero,
6 Kates destroyed. 1 P-40E lost.

In a 35-plane bombing attack on Singapore 1 Sally is destroyed, 18 damaged by 4 Buffalos.

The Japanese have landed on, and taken, Baker Island.

SS I-175 is confirmed sunk near Bandenberg, Australia.

CV’s Enterprise and Saratoga are loitering south of Saumlaki. Accompanied by 2 oilers.


January 26th 1942

34 SBD’s dive-bomb enemy ground forces near PM.

CM Prins van Oranje sunk in open seas by 16 Kates flying from CV force west of Dadjangas.

21 Vals, 5 Zeros bomb Menado from CV force NW of the city. 19 allied fighters take off to intercept. 2 Vals destroyed, 2 damaged. No damage on ground.

The same CV force launches a second attack on Zamboanga, 27 Kates, 25 Vals, 14 Zeros. 1 P-36, 6 P-40E’s intercept. 1 P-36, 1 P-40 lost. 4 casualties on ground.

Cagayan harbor is attacked by 11 Kates, 8 claudes and 5 Zeros. No fighter defense in Cagayan. AP Rochambeau eats 3 torpedoes. Sinks.

Southern Sulu Sea and western Celebes Sea is crawling with Japanese convoys of all kind.

The Japanese are landing at Oroquieta, on the NE part of the Zamboanga peninsula.


Fred


_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 281
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/7/2015 8:55:04 AM   
Leandros


Posts: 1740
Joined: 3/5/2015
Status: offline
Catching up now!



January 27th 1942

SS Sculpin reports hit on AK Kioyo Maru near Jolo Island.

IJN sends in a CA-force, Chokai, CL Kuma and 2 DD’s to try to break the blockade of the Japanese invasion force near PM. CA Indianapolis with cohorts intervene.
Indianapolis, Honolulu and DD Helm all hit by gunfire. 4 hits on Chokai, 1 on DD Danae.

SS I-173 sinks AK Julia Luckenbach with 3 torps. near Portland Roads.

DD’s Shaw and Conyngham bombard the enemy ground forces near PM.

SS Pickerel reports hit on AK Samura Maru near Dadjangas.

BB Nagato with 1 CA, 2 DD’s sinks PC Formalhaut outside Menado.

SS RO-34 attack AKL Nevadan on the surface. 21 shell hits on Nevadan. On fire. RO-34 is hit 5 times.

It’s the 8th Engineer Regiment that has landed in Port Moresby.

A BB is reported hit by an SBD flying out of Menado.

Morning air attack on the 8th Eng.Reg. near PM. 14 SBD’s and 15 Buffalos. A second attack with 18 SBD’s. 36 casualties on ground.

An enemy CV TF in the middle of the Macassar Strait launches 15 Vals and 23 Zeros against Balikpapan airfield. 12 Dutch Buffalos intercept. 4 Vals destroyed, 2
damaged. 3 Buffalos lost. AVD Childs is hit in the port. Sinks.



January 28th 1942

BB Nagato’s TF meets AM Cairns east of Menado. She is sunk with 4 shells.

Chokai and Indianapolis TF’s clashes again outside PM. 4 hits on Indianapolis. Both parties break off.

Night attack on Menado. 3 P-40’s damaged on ground, 1 destroyed.

CA Chokai sighted south of PM by SBD’s. Reported hit by same.

14 SBD’s bomb the 8th Eng.Reg. near PM. 14 casualties.

The Japanese are landing in Cagayan, Mindanao.

The 9th Australian Brigade has soon finished embarking their transports in Sydney. Question now is how much time we have before the enemy is able to reinforce his
PM invasion force? Presently PM is garrisoned by an RAAF Base Force, the 49th Aussie Bn and the PM Brigade. Not much against the determined Japanese engineers. A
reinforcement was planned but the enemy got ahead of it.

It’s problematic to release the two carriers in Brisbane for northern operations as long as Port Moresby is almost in Japanese hands.

There are two pivotal points, one on each side of the spectre, so to speak. PM in the south and Zamboanga in the north. At the moment there seems to be Little
chance of relieving Bataan as supplies there are at Zero. There is still hope for Mindanao.


Fred


< Message edited by Leandros -- 6/7/2015 9:55:57 AM >

_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 282
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/8/2015 7:55:29 AM   
Leandros


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Status: offline

January 29th 1942

Cagayan enemy landings are in full swing.

Nightly encounter outside Ternate. CA Astoria goes in with CL St. Louis and DD’s Chase and Fanning to bombard the enemy ashore. Clashes with BB Nagato, CA Mikuma
and 2 DD’s. DD Sawakaze receive 7 hits and sinks. St. Louis is hit 4 times and set afire. Nagato, Mikuma and DD Asanagi also receive hits.

At the same time a similar battle is taking place outside Port Moresby. DD Helm is struck by a torpedo and sinks. Hits on both sides and both parties break off.

As the Nagato TF withdraws from Ternate it bumps into CL de Ruyter with DD’s. Nagato decline to do battle and evades. A good sign?

SS Saury attacked by an escort vessel close to Namlea. WTF…..is it doing there?

Dutch SS KXI finds herself in the way of BB Hiei’s TF south of Macassar. Launches 4 torps. on DD Akizumo but misses.

SS Permit goes all the way! Attacks PB Hirotama Maru with 2 AK’s on the surface near Jolo. Reports 1 torpedo hit but receive 12 shell hits in return. SS Permit
sinks!

DD’s Shaw and Conyngham bombard the enemy invasion force in Port Moresby after the Nagato-TF has left.

Attacking on the surface SS Sculpin reports a torpedo hit on AK Matsue Maru near Jolo.

The enemy has a hard time getting ashore in Cagayan.

The enemy is landing at Funafuti.

The Chokai and Indianapolis TF’s clash again outside PM. Inconclusive, both parties break off.

The devils are trying it again! An enemy invasion convoy, consisting of 2 TB’s, 1 CM and 2 AK’s, is approaching Namlea!

Oh, well, they broke off the landings and withdrew. Namlea is pretty well defended now, they turned north again where they met PT’s 31, 32 and 33 on their way
south to Ambon. The PT’s are out of torpedoes so they evaded.

SBD’s flying out of PM report 4 enemy vessels south of PM. CA Chokai is reported hit by SBD.

13 Sonias attempting to bomb Samarinda are turned back by a 4-Buffalo CAP.

A new CV TF is approaching the Celebes Sea from east. Launches 16 Kates against Cebu airfield. 1 Stearman destroyed on ground.

Only a/c losses today is an SBD shot down by naval flak south of PM and the Stearman in Cebu.

An uplifting day with the 2 enemy TF’s chased away, from Ternate and PM, and their failed invasion attempt of Namlea.

With the US engagement in ships and planes to defeat the Japanese landings near PM the Aussie leadership has decided to up their force transferal to PM, too. The
7th Brigade in Brisbane is also being readied to go on 4 transports already in Brisbane.

Fred




_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 283
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/8/2015 1:29:56 PM   
Leandros


Posts: 1740
Joined: 3/5/2015
Status: offline

January 30th 1942

The Japanese have occupied Funafuti.

132nd IR has just passed Hawaii on 4 transports.

10 ASW vessels are patrolling around the Torres Strait.

2nd Marines and 2nd Marines Para Bn are on a convoy just south of Torres Strait.

Indianapolis and Chokai TF’s meet again outside PM. 1 hit on Indianapolis. Both forces evade.

AK Steel Voyager bumps into enemy CA TF near Canton Island. Sinks with 13 P-40’s onboard.

Dutch SS KIX hits CM Wakataka near Davao.

DD Danae is reported hit by SBD’s near PM.

Koepang, Timor is bombed by 12 Kates from CV force operating in the Banda Sea.

The same TF raids Kendari with 24 Kates, 5 Zeros. Intercepted by 5 P-36 and 16 P-39. 1 Zero, 2 Kates destroyed, 1 damaged. 1 P-39 lost.

16 Kates bomb Lautern, Timor. 2 Kates damaged.

CV TF south of Zamboanga launch 23 Kates, 8 Claudes and 5 Zeros against Zamboanga airfield. Intercepted by 2 P-36, 1 P-40B and 4 P-40E’s. 1 Claude, 2 Zeros
destroyed. 1 Kate damaged. 1 B-17D destroyed on ground, 6 r/w hits.

The Japanese are landing near Samarinda. 26 casualties caused by CD batteries.

Cagayan is captured! The defenders withdraw towards Malabalay. 20 grounded B-17D’s, 12 P-40E’s and 2 B-10’s destroyed on the airfield.

Bad day! 3 AK’s and 1 tanker lost, too. Again, not many troops onboard the lost ships.



January 31st 1942

Ships under repair in PH has improved considerably. The only non-battleship repair going on is Tasker H. Bliss. Nevada is supposed to be fully repaired and out
of the wharf in 25 days. The next ones are several months off.

In Brisbane S-35 shall be ready tomorrow. AV Langley has major hull damage. Probably needs to be moved to Sydney.

In Darwin there are 6 ships under repair, CA’s Chester and Minneapolis, CL’s Adelaide and Achilles (Achilles has been in a tough spot before) and DD’s Ellet and
Bagley. All have hull (2) or superstructure damage demanding wharf time. I shall dispatch all but Ellet and Bagley to Sydney. They need a couple of days to be
cleared for the transfer. Adelaide has the most serious damage but not the longest repair time. The cripples shall be routed via the west coast. Fortunately,
several repair ships are approaching Darwin now.

The 9th Aussie Brigade on 7 transports shall be escorted by AMC Westralia and 2 AM’s. More escorts shall be arranged for as they approach their destination.
Before that the enemy BB-force outside PM needs to be taken care of.

182nd IR, 8th Marines and the 134th Base Force have started embarking in San Diego.

56th CD regiment has been rerouted to Kendari. Disembarking now. SS Pickerel reports to have put 3 torpedoes into CM Wakataka near Dadjangas. Later confirmed sunk.

De Ruyter’ TF clashes with a PB and 3 AK’s near Ternate. Heavy damage on PB Akitsui Maru. The transports get away.

South of Kendari CA Northampton with 3 other cruisers and 3 DD’s bumps into an enemy BB-TF, Hiei with 4 light cruisers and 6 DD’s escorting the Japanese carriers
Hiryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku. Zuikaku is hit twice in the encounter, DD Isokaze is set afire.

Northampton suffer 9 hits, on fire. DD Patterson is sunk by torpedo and gunfire.

CA Portland, Chicago and CL Helena clashes with BB Haruna, CL Naka and 2 DD’s near Ternate. Both parties break off after an inconclusive exchange of fire.

CA Astoria gets through to Ternate and bombards the airfield. 14 Zeros and 2 Dinahs are damaged on the ground. 1 Zero is destroyed. 83 casualties ashore.

DD’s Shaw and Conyngham bombards the 8th Engineers near Port Moresby.

CL Trenton follow-up of Shaw and Conyngham near PM.

Samarinda CD batteries (31 guns) inflict 32 casualties on the invasion force. It does not stop the landing which continue relentlessly.

CA Astoria with DD’s Fanning and Case find 3 AK’s outside Ternate. Two are set afire.

Dutch SS 024 hits AK Shirogane Maru near Cam Ranh Bay- Heavy damage.

CL Kuma is reported hit by SBD’s flying out of PM.

9 Idas bomb Samarinda. Intercepted by 4 Buffalos, 4 Demons and 5 Dutch Hawks. 4 Idas destroyed, 1 damaged. No allied losses.

Here comes the retaliation! The 3-CV TF found by Northampton during the night has moved east. Launches attack from SE Kendari, 26 Vals, 12 Kates 17 Zeros. They
find Northampton TF before it has made it back to the Kendari fighter cover. Northampton is his by 5 bombs and 1 torpedo. It sinks.

CA Chokai is reported hit by an SBD flying out of PM.

Cebu airfield is bombed by 16 Kates flying from a second assembly of CV’s SE of Davao. 1 Stearman damaged on the ground.

Repeated bombing attacks on Bataan through the day.

DD’s Talbot, Drayton and Mahan bombards the PM invasion force in three separate raids.


Fred


_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 284
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/9/2015 7:30:46 AM   
Leandros


Posts: 1740
Joined: 3/5/2015
Status: offline 		February 1st 1942

An allied DD is sunk by the Haruna TF near Ternate. Is it never going to leave the area?

CL de Ruyter and 2 DD’s bump into the 14-vessel force (the KB?) north of Ambon. Strangely, the enemy evades contact.

PB with AK sighted by AM Warrnambool quite close to Menado. Suspicious!

Now it starts in earnest! CA Astoria with 2 DD’s surprise a convoy of 14 AKL’s and 8 AK’s escorted by a scanty 2 PB’s on a southerly course north of Ambon. What’s
their destination? And where is their covering force? Looks like an overkill for anything else than the large one – Australia..? Both forces evade contact.

After that Astoria, too, meets what is probably the Kido Butai. Both forces break off.

An enemy tanker is reported hit by SBD’s flying out of Menado.

An SS is reported hit by a B-17 patrol outside PH.

CA Astoria is attacked by 15 Kates and 9 Vals near Mangole. These are planes from the large CV force. 4 bomb, 2 torpedo hits. Heavy damage. DD Fanning is unharmed.
Should have kept those ships in port under a fighter umbrella with that enemy TF going bananas.

The KB launches a long-range strike against Kendari harbor with 9 Kates escorted by 6 Zeros. AKL’s Sinabang and Proteus are sunk. 4 P-39’s intercept. 1 Zero
destroyed, 1 P-39 lost.

In a third strike AK Florence D. is sunk SE of Kendari by 13 Vals.

In a fourth strike of the day – 9 Kates attack Menado harbor. AK Bellatrix is hit by 2 torpedoes. The strike is intercepted by 1 Dutch buffalo, 3 P-36 and 15
P-40E’s. 2 Kates are destroyed, 2 damaged.

A fifth, unescorted, strike, against AM Warrnambool patrolling north of Menado, is intercepted by allied fighters. 6 Vals destroyed, 1 damaged.

What a massacre! In an afternoon attack with 12 Kates and 9 Vals CA Indianapolis and DD Fanning is sunk by bombs and torpedoes. DD Case gets away.

They go for Menado harbor again! 16 Vals escorted by 7 Zeros. The same allied fighter force intercepts – 3 Vals destroyed, 2 damaged for the loss of 3 P-40’s.
AK Bellatrix is sunk with 2 bomb hits.

DD Phelps is after SS I-17 in the Strait again! No luck.

Cagayan, Mindanao is captured! The defenders withdraw to Butuan.

Samarinda is captured! The defenders withdraw to Balikpapan.

What a bloody awful day with the KB cutting though the Moluccans like a hot knife through butter!

Enterprise and Saratoga, loitering south of Saumlaki with a couple of oilers were sent into the Banda Sea to look for the enemy TF but it had moved north.
Probably for the best. The KB is west of Ternate now.

A mystery with the enormous transport convoy sighted north of Ambon, heading south. There are reports of a large assembly of support vessels SW of Ternate, too.
I suspect more and more that they are going for Ambon. They should.

While the enemy lost 18 Vals through the day, the Dutch lost 18 139-bombers, 12 Buffalos and 5 L-212’s, mainly those destroyed on Samarinda airfield when it was
captured.

A positive experience this day. The P-39 fighter seems to hold up quite well against the Zero. Better than the P-40E, anyway. The enemy lost in all 30 planes
today. I won’t mention the ship’s statistics.



February 2nd 1942

Oops! The Japanese seem to intend to land near Menado again. A PB and an AK suspends unloading when approached by a guard vessel outside Menado.

AK Steel Trader just about to arrive in Menado is surprised by the KB but manages to get away. Too bad, she has the last part of the 34th IR onboard. Returns to
Ambon to wait for better times.

De Ruyter’s TF bumps into another BB-TF west of Ternate. Is hit twice, DD Piet Hein is seriously damaged. It later sinks. Both parties break off.

SS RO-34 hits AK Iron Baron with 2 torps near Palm Island. Sinks.

3 US DD’s bombard the PM invasion force.

The KB is just north of Menado, reported by Dutch AM Warrnambool (what a name!) patrolling the area. She’s let alone.

CA’s Portland and Chicago, and CL Helena, find the large transport convoy detected north of Ambon yesterday. PB Choko Maru is sunk. 5 transports are hit by gunfire,
AKL Takashima sinks – PB Kaikeu Maru is hit 8 times. This convoy consists of more than 20 transports, half of them AK’s. They turn back. No doubt their final
destination is Ambon. Prefer it to be the bottom of the sea. If the US TF had gone wholeheartedly for sinking this convoy they would have had to spend all their
ammo.

The CV force north of Menado launches a strike of 8 Vals, 3 Kates and 17 Zeros against Menado harbor. Intercepted by 3 P-36 and 8 P-40E. 1 each Zero, Kate and Val
are destroyed. 1 P-36, 2 P-40 lost. AK Walter Luckenbach receives 3 bomb hits. It later sinks.

Afternoon bombardment of the PM invasion force.

In all a somewhat toothless performance by the KB today. Quite close to Menado they only launched one strike. The area around Menado is crawling with transport and
cover forces. The enormous transport convoy has withdrawn northwards.

The BB-force outside PM is to be found nowhere. This coincides nicely with the assembled fighters in Brisbane. Lexington and Yorktown can now proceed north to
deliver them.

I think I shall withdraw the A-24’s from Ambon - to Darwin or Koepang. They have achieved little against the enemy naval forces but were useful in bombing the
enemy invasion force of Namlea. If he returns I can bring them back, now they are just taking up space. Besides, if the Japanese goes for Ambon I don’t want to
lose them on the ground.


February 3rd 1942

DD Mustin is chasing SS I-17 NW Horn Island. She slips away again.

AM Warrnambool turns back a small convoy just outside Menado, a CM, an E-ship and an AP. A Base Force?

Evading this TF she bumps into the close-by Haruna TF. Warrnamboo is shot to pieces with 9 hits from Haruna.

South of Kendari heavy cruiser Salt Lake City with cohorts, three light cruisers and 2 DD’s find PB Yoshida Maru escorting AK Seizan Maru, Both are sunk with
gunfire and torpedoes. 1.153 casualties.

A little further on they run into AK Yamahuku Maru escorted by SC Cha-21. Both are sunk with gunfire. 1.325 casualties.

SS Sailfish is chased by 2 enemy DD’s near Ternate. She escapes.

Menado is night-bombed by 8 Bettys. 2 Buffalos damaged on ground.

3 US DD’s bombard the PM invasion force.

CA Indianapolis, just arrived from PH bombards the PM invasion force.

An 11-Betty raid is launched against PM from Rabaul. Turned back by 2 P-39’s. No damage on ships in harbor.

A second strike of 5 Sallys is directed at DD Shaw in the harbor. The same 2 P-39’s intercept, 1 Sally destroyed, 1 damaged. No own losses or damage.

A long-range strike against Menado from a CV TF in the Celebes Sea with 35 Vals, 10 Kates, 17 Zeros is met by 1 P-36 and 3 P-40’s. 3 damaged bombers, 1 P-36,
2 P-40’s lost. 1 Buffalo destroyed on ground. 14 own casualties, 1 supply and 7 r/w hits by the bombers.

Several bombing raids on Bataan during the day.

SS Sculpin is chased by DD Murakumo near Jolo. Sculpin suffers 1 shell hit.

Afternoon bombardments of the PM invasion force.

Now it starts! Pre-invasion action north of Menado. 2nd Marine Defense Bn answers with 155 mm CD artillery. One enemy AK on fire with 166 casualties.

The enemy is ashore!

Another CD barrage yields 221 enemy casualties aboard AP Kokuryu Maru.

Ground contact near Menado. Yokosuka and Ankei SNLF’s already have 465 troops ashore against more than 10.000 defenders.

90 more enemy casualties reported after an allied bombardment.

Combat contact near Port Moresby. 25 enemy casualties. No enemy reinforcements have got ashore in the last couple of days.

Even with dozen of recce sorties flown north of Ambon no sign of yesterday’s large transport convoy. Was it only a feint for the Menado landings or is Menado
an alternate for a missed Ambon landing?

Nightmare scenario if Menado falls before the airfield is evacuated. Should I evacuate or reinforce? Should I move the A-24’s up rather than withdraw them from
Ambon as was my intention yesterday?

There are hardly any fighters left in Menado. What about that? If I only had a few more cruisers and destroyers the beaches of Menado could have become the enemy
transports’ graveyard.

There is only one thing that counts now so I shall withdraw all unessential planes from Menado and rush in fighters and bombers. The transport carrying the last
part of the 34th regiment shall have to try again. I shall put it under cover of a decent CAP and request the Dutch for the assistance of their 139-bombers in
Macassar and Bandjarmasin.

I shall combine the 4 carriers in one powerful striking force when they have come north of the Torres Strait.

In Darwin there are 9 fighting ships in various stages of repairs, among them CA’s Minneapolis and Chester and CL’s Detroit, Achilles, and Adelaide. Only Chester
and Adelaide have hull damage. Minneapolis has her aft turrets damaged while Indianapolis, on her way up from PM, has her forward turrets damaged. Destroyers
Ellet, blue and Bagley should be able to get into the fight again relatively fast. A couple are out of gun ammo and torpedoes. Voyager has a slight engine problem.
I’m afraid I have to activate some of those cripples.

CA Australia is stuck in Butuan and CL’s Perth and Leander, and DD Thracian, in Zamboanga. These four damaged ships are now being prepared for an escape south.


Fred



< Message edited by Leandros -- 6/9/2015 8:46:52 AM >

_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 285
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/9/2015 2:35:11 PM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline 		I think you need a level 5 port to repair a damaged CA turret. ARs don't help repair damaged devices, IIRC.

_____________________________

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(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 286
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/9/2015 4:27:20 PM   
Leandros


Posts: 1740
Joined: 3/5/2015
Status: offline
February 4th 1942

4 enemy AK’s are approaching Menado with landing forces. 2nd Marine Defense Bn 155 mm, 5 in. and 3 in. guns defend. Shell hits on 3 AK’s. AK Toyame Maru is on fire.

SS I-162 misses AO Kanahawe with 2 torps near Cairns.

SS Perch reports 2 hits on AK Hitati Maru south of Dadjangas.

SS Swordfish reports torpedo hit on AP Asama Maru south of Dadjangas.

BB-TF Mutsu, Ise, 2 CA’s and 2 DD’s find AKL Bordvik near Komodo. Sunk with 12 shell hits.

What is that enemy TF doing down there?

Dutch SS KIX hits AK Yuri Maru near Davao.

SS RO-34 hits AO Neches with 2 torps near Palm Island. Neches sinks.

9 Bettys bomb PM airfield. 1 r/w hit.

17 Sallys bomb Zamboanga airfield. 1 r/w hit.

The daily naval bombardment of PM invasion forces has started.

Enemy morning landings near Menado. AK’s Syoyan Maru and Norway Maru damaged by CD fire.

SS I-18 hits AO Gouadelupe with 1 torpedo near Sydney.

CA Portland TF finds AK Toei Maru and SC Cha-9 near Taliboe. Both are sunk. 2.134 casualties.

28 SBD’s in two missions bomb the enemy invasion force in Port Moresby. 24 casualties.

Morning air attacks on the Yokosuka and Ankei SNLF’s near Menado.

In 5 separate missions 20 A-24, 76 P-40, 24 B-26, 14 Buffalos and 3 SBD’s bomb and strafe the Menado invasion force, flying from Menado, Ambon and Namlea airfields.
69 enemy casualties reported.

Afternoon strike from enemy CV near Zamboanga attacking the airfield. 10 Kates, 7 Vals, 17 Zeros. Intercepted by 2 P-36 and 8 P-40’s. 1 Kate damaged, 1 Val
destroyed, 1 damaged. 2 P-40 lost. 5 r/w hits.

San Jose, Panay is struck by bombers flying from CV TF NW Zamboanga. 22 Kates. 1 r/w hit.

Several bombings of Bataan during the day.

Air strike with 13 Sallys on the Aussie garrison at Wau, New Guinea. 12 casualties on ground.

Afternoon naval bombardment of enemy PM invasion force has started.

The enemy troops ashore in Menado start a bombardment attack on the defenders. 3 casualties reported.

First ground action in a long time on Bataan with a Japanese bombardment. 53 own casualties.

Allied bombardment of the Menado invasion. 96 enemy casualties.

Allied shock attack near PM. 37 enemy casualties. Own losses: 127.

If it wasn’t for the loss of an oiler on the Australian west coast and the Norwegian freighter Bordvik west of Timor this would have been a fine day.

Both the enemy PM and Menado landings seem to have been more or less restrained by our actions. Three small cruiser TF’s are in position north of Ambon to strike
the enemy Menado landing beaches during the night and in the morning.

The bombing operations out of Menado and Ambon have found their pace and it is now time for the Menado garrison to make a counter-attack while the enemy is still
weak.

The 7th and 9th Aussie Brigades are both approximately three days out of PM. Which one shall land in PM depends on who comes there first. The second shall be kept
back till I see how it turns out. One of them was originally meant for Timor.

Hopefully, the PM defense shall hold up that long as I am planning to release the bombarding DD’s for missions near Menado. Difficult balancing act.

CV’s Lexington and Yorktown have left Brisbane and shall soon request their SBD’s back from the PM support missions.

11 submarines have been redirected from the Philippines to the area around Menado. Most of them shall arrive during the night.

CL de Ruyter, St. Louis and DD Tucker all have hull damage. They are leaving for Darwin tomorrow.

Damaged CL Leander and DD Peary are just outside Butuan on their journey from Zamboanga. They shall await the preparing of CA Australia before they attempt a
get-away to the south.

First part of 2nd Marine Brigade is unloading in Darwin. Amphibious vessels are standing by to re-embark them.


February 5th 1942

The nightly landings near Menado have started. AK Norway Maru receive 14 hits from CD batteries.

SS Seal reports hits on AK Sekiko Maru with 2 of 4 torpedoes launched outside Menado.

CA Chicago TF bumps into PB Nire with 1 TB and 3 transports on its way to Menado. Both parties evade.

AK Sinsei Maru is reported hit by 1 of 2 torpedoes launched by SS S-37 outside Menado.

AK Norway Maru is reported hit by 1 of 2 torpedoes launched by SS S-38 outside Menado.

CA Portland TF interrupts landings near Menado, PB Hirotama Maru and AK Kotoku Maru. Both parties evade.

CA Salt Lake City TF hits landing force near Menado. AK Sinsei Maru and AK Momoyama Maru are sunk by gunfire and torpedo.

SS I-10 misses AP Madhui near Newcastle.

8 Lilys bomb Zamboanga airfield flying from Jolo.

6 Sallys bomb PM airfield flying from Lae.

Damaged DD Tucker sinks in the Banda Sea on its way to Darwin.

The naval bombardments of the PM invasion force have started.

CA Salt Lake City and CL’s Colombo and Concord are bombarding the enemy invasion force near Menado.

The Japanese are landing on Siace island just outside Menado.

PB Nire TF bumps into US cruiser TF again. Not so good in daylight! A transport and AMC Nosiro Maru are set afire. 18 casualties on ships.

Morning strike on the PM invasion force. 12 casualties reported.

Long-range strike from Rabaul on shipping in PM harbor, 14 Bettys, 9 Nates. Intercepted by 2 P-39’s. 1 Betty damaged, no hits on ships.

Repeated bombings of Bataan during the day.

Dutch AG Gemma hit by 1 of 2 torps from SS I-122 near Kangean. Sinks.

Damaged CL de Ruyter has problems keeping the water out. In the middle of the Banda Sea.

The Japanese are landing on Tulagi, the Solomons.

Japanese shock attack near Balikpapan. 93 enemy casualties.

Powerful Japanese ground bombardment on Bataan. Second day in a row.

Japanese ground attack outside Menado. 9 casualties. No own losses.

Allied counter-attack with 6.500 troops. 507 enemy casualties. Own losses: 23.

The Dutch defense of Singkawang, Borneo, is holding up.

Aussie troops bombard the PM invasion force. Inconclusive.

No own air losses this day in spite of several large bombing missions.

A relatively good day on the naval side, too, excepting the loss of AG Gemma, a Dutch support ship, and DD tucker, already severely damaged.

The enemy lost 4 large transports confirmed.

BOTH THE ENEMY SNLF’S NEAR MENADO HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT – THROWN INTO THE SEA!

The beaches are cleaned out. A good day, after all!

Port Moresby is next. The convoy with the Aussie brigades are two days out. The enemy has about 2.000 troops ashore that haven’t been reinforced or supplied for
nearly a week. The defenders are more than 3.000 troops, dug in with daily air and naval support. They ought to be able to hold out for 2 more days. Particularly
as they know relief is on its way.

With Menado out of the danger zone for now the air units there, except for the fighters, shall be stood down. The A-24’s shall be withdrawn to Ambon or sent
forward to Zamboanga. Probably the first. Menado airfield is totally saturated. Namlea airfield can now off-load Menado and Ambon.

Should I try to do something with Ternate or just push reinforcements into Zamboanga, if at all possible? What about Davao?


Fred



< Message edited by Leandros -- 6/9/2015 5:33:36 PM >

_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 287
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/10/2015 7:13:03 AM   
Leandros


Posts: 1740
Joined: 3/5/2015
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I think you need a level 5 port to repair a damaged CA turret. ARs don't help repair damaged devices, IIRC.

Thank you!

What bothers me particularly in the game is the inferior instrument for finding and attacking enemy naval vessels and flotillas. An example: Yesterday a CV force
sliced through an area surrounded by my bases. For the day after, about 200 planes of all sorts were spread all over the area in "naval attack-recon" mode, flying on
different levels and ranges and in all directions, from bases of proper sizes with and without escort. Not one single attack was registered on the CV force - or
on any other enemy naval vessels, for that matter, even if there were quite a few others, too.

This is opposed to the enemy's uncanny ability to find everything afloat.

Fred


< Message edited by Leandros -- 6/10/2015 9:31:22 AM >

_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 288
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/10/2015 8:24:14 AM   
Leandros


Posts: 1740
Joined: 3/5/2015
Status: offline

February 6th 1942

Tulagi, The Solomons is captured by the Japanese.

CA Salt Lake City finds PB Hirotama Maru with AK Kotoku Maru outside Siace. Both forces withdraw.

Nightly bombing raid of 5 Bettys against PM. 1 Catalina, 1 SBD damaged on ground. Airbase and r/w bomb hits!

3 USN DD’s bombard the PM invasion force.

The enemy tries to get ashore in Menado again! AP Brazil Maru, escorted by 2 TB’s, is hit twelve times. 181 casualties.

The Japanese are landing on Madjene, South Celebes.

AP Brazil Maru approach Menado. 9 shell hits by CD artillery. 34 casualties in landing crafts.

CA Salt Lake City TF intercepts the enemy landing force near Menado. AP Brazil Maru further damaged.

28 SBD’s dive-bombing the enemy invasion force near PM.

3 PBY’s attacking enemy shipping in Ternate. Intercepted by 11 Zeros. 1 PBY lost.

The Japanese are preparing to land at Salamaua.

Powerful ground bombardment against Bataan. Third day in row. 73 own casualties.

The enemy has captured Wau, New Guinea. The Aussie defenders surrender.

The Japanese occupy Siace near Menado.

Allied shock attack against the renewed Japanese landing near Menado. 211 enemy casualties.

Only 1 ship lost today, the already damaged Dutch light cruiser de Ruyter.

The enemy got back again to Menado – a setback. I hoped we’d got rid of them there. Well, on it again. This can still become the Japanese transports’ graveyard.

The convoy with the 7th Aussie Brigade is well ahead of the 9th and shall be the one to land in PM to assist in evicting the Japanese. The DD’s based on PM shall
go out and meet them. That makes 6 DD’s to support the landings.



February 7th 1942

The nightly bombardment of the Menado invasion force, Yokosuka 2nd SNLF, has started.

SS I-162 launches 2 torps on AM Townsville on ASW duty near Cairns. Misses. Gets away.

CA Chicago TF surprise Siace invasion force, PB Kaki with 3 support and 1 AK vessels. They withdraw.

Long-range air raid on Horn Island. 5 Bettys flying out of Rabaul. AK Momba hit by a torpedo. Sinks.

4 Lilys flying out of Jolo attack CL Hobart outside Menado. Intercepted by 1 P-40. 1 Lily destroyed. No damage on Hobart.

Morning air attacks on 2nd Yokosuka SNLF near Menado. In all 4 P-39’s, 4 Buffalos, 3 SBD’s and 23 A-24’s.

4 PBY’s flying out of Ambon attack AKL Hozugawa Maru NW Celebes. 1 bomb hit reported. On fire.

Several air strikes on Bataan through the day.

The Aussie Lark Bn is still alive and well west of Ambon.

Japanese forces capture Butuan, Mindanao. The defending forces surrender. DD Peary scuttled in the port to avoid capture.

The Japanese capture Salamaua. The Aussies withdraw towards Buna.

102nd PA IR, has retaken Cotabato.

The Japanese capture Madjene SW Celebes.

Allied ground forces attack the enemy invasion force near Menado. 175 enemy casualties. Own losses: 58.

The 7th Aussie Brigade is disembarking in Port Moresby without opposition. 4 DD’s are released to go north with the carriers.


Fred


_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 289
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/11/2015 11:02:10 AM   
Leandros


Posts: 1740
Joined: 3/5/2015
Status: offline

February 8th 1942

CA Chicago TF finds DD Mutsuki with a TB and 2 transports outside Siace. Both parties evade in low visibility.

SS I-23 hits AK Makua near Ninatoputapu with 2 torps. 18 casualties.

SS I-9 hits AKL Compania Filipinas near Maryborough.

DD Yuzuki suddenly turns up south of PM. Sinks AK Ewa with 23 shell hits.

CA Portland TF meets DD Mutsuki and transports, too. Again, both parties evade.

SS Searaven reports hit on CM Hirashima with 1 torpedo near Siace.

Night air attack on Menado by 7 Bettys. 2 Buffalos damaged on ground, 1 destroyed.

DD’s Talbot and Flusser bombard the PM invasion force.

The Japanese are landing near Balikpapan. 2 transports heavily damaged by CD artillery.

CA Chicago TF clashes with 2 PC’s and 1 AP near Siace. Inconclusive.

DD Mustin with Gridley, Phelps and Balch sinks PB Hirotama Maru and AK Kotoku Maru near Sangi.

Damaged CA Australia evading from Butuan through the Surigao Strait meets AK Hohuku Maru east of Mindanao. Let her go.

DD Mustin and her 3 friends clash with PB’s Kaki, Sunire and AK Hie Maru. All are sunk near Sangi. One hit on Mustin. She’s on fire.

An enemy CM is reported hit by an SBD NE Menado.

Japanese ground forces are deep into Bataan now.

In 3 strikes 24 A-24’s bomb the invasion force at Siace. 19 casualties reported.

6 Bettys flying out of Jolo are intercepted by 2 P-39, 1 P-40 and 4 Buffalos north of Menado. 4 Bettys destroyed.

Numerous bombing raids against Bataan during the day.

4 Claudes and 3 Sonias attack Cotabato in the evening. Intercepted by 4 P-40’s scrambled from Zamboanga. 1 Claude destroyed.

A strike from a CV force SW Luzon hits Cebu airfield. 12 Kates, 15 Zeros. Numerous bomb hits on airbase and runway.

A second attack is directed at Iloilo. 15 Kates, 9 Vals.

The Japanese are landing at Vaitapu.

In a Japanese frontal attack on Bataan they have more than 1.000 casualties. Our losses: 265. Bad enough.

The 7th Aussie Brigade is starting to get into the play at PM. Participated in this evening’s attack on the invasion force.

A small crisis in Sydney. The station is out of ship’s fuel. Arranging for some re-routings of tankers. Sydney is developing into a hub for the supply traffic.

The evidence that the enemy continue to over-stretch his resources and the improvement of the Hawaiian land defenses has resulted in a release of more naval
resources from PH and the West Coast. A strong CA force left PH two days ago and three old battleships and the RN battlecruiser Warspite have departed the West
Coast to act as heavy artillery in eventual amphibious operations.

The continued US reinforcement, and also their ability in holding and rejecting the enemy at various important points, has made the Australian leadership more
willing to position military units outside Australia proper. The western and southern part of Australia is combed for units fitting the purpose. The first Aussie
Brigades returning from the Middle East are in the Indian Ocean, only a few days out of Koepang, Timor.

1st Australian Corps HQ is moving from Melbourne to Timor and taking with it the 4th Australian Brigade and the Perth (4th) RAN Base force. 9th Brigade, already
on its way, shall be attached to this Corps, too.

CA Australia is now in open sea SE Mindanao, escorted by Dutch submarine O21. Australia has had her speed reduced to 10 knots due to her damages. She’s heading
for Sorong. Behind her, heading for Sorong, too, are CL’s Perth and Leander.

Fred


_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 290
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/13/2015 2:43:45 PM   
Leandros


Posts: 1740
Joined: 3/5/2015
Status: offline
I don't Think I shall bore you any more with my detailed AAR’s as I shall soon be through with this game, too – it has served its purpose well. I’m presently at
February 22nd, so lagging a little behind in postings here.

As expected, this version of Scenario 1 behaved a little differently (it should according to the manual) than the first game – also Scenario 1. US losses in the
initial stage were smaller both in The Philippines and in PH. That particularly went for fighter losses on Luzon which gave me a few more fighters to work with for
a while. Didn’t make much difference, though. Some British vessels escaped from Hong Kong, among them some MTB’s. That was fun.

The AI also acted a little less aggressive in the start than in the first game. Which it should compared to the RL. Just my opinion. Even then, as far as I can
judge it, it was quicker and more efficient than historically.

Because of what I learnt in the first game I’ve been able to execute some of my theories better. I was able to reinforce Ambon, Menado and Zamboanga and reject or
deny the enemy from a couple of places by amphibious landings – Namlea, Menado, Cotatabato and Ambon. I still have a lot to learn there. Presently the Japanese AI
is still ashore in Port Moresby and Ternate. So far the enemy in Port Moresby doesn’t do much harm but he shall if he’s let alone. It ties up a few naval vessels
and more troops must be put ashore to annihilate the enemy. That would be a job for the Aussies. CV Yorktown has been tied up outside PM for some days to give
ground support and US fighters have been moved there. Much the same goes for Ternate. It’s too central on the Relief Route to be left alone. Unfortunately, I was
too sluggish in reinforcing that base and now I have great problems in expelling the enemy. I feel the enemy is much too flexible, and efficient, the way he is
switching between destinations when rejected somewhere.

On February 22nd Singapore and Bataan is still holding up. Bataan shouldn’t, as it has been out of supplies for several weeks. Even if much of the US forces, as
in the first game, were able to withdraw into Bataan in good order, very little supplies got through this time. The enemy has used much more forces, faster, than
in RL to break Bataan. These are details I have to adapt when I’m starting in earnest. That said, in my concept little shall be touched upon on what happens on
Luzon other than to make it keep up as well as it did, 6 weeks more should make room for a lot of possibilities given the will to sacrifice. The emphasis shall be
on the (Philippine) islands in the south to establish a base for supporting the blockaded Bataan. For example, in RL the Japanese did not have resources to go for
Mindanao in earnest until April – at the time Bataan fell. With a much more stubborn opposition south of Mindanao this should not improve.
Why Singapore is holding up, I don’t know. In the first game it fell a couple of weeks earlier if I remember correctly. I have touched Malaya little, Burma and
China nothing at all. Because of the increased resistance in the Moluccas this can have influenced on the delays in invading the Malayan Barrier.
In the next game I shall probably try the Japanese side to see how I can streamline the historical development. Or play both sides manually.

What I am reacting most (negatively) to in the game is the total impotence of allied air forces to find, but even more, for same to attack enemy naval forces.
I know they weren’t very good at it in RL but, on the other hand, their numbers were often deficient to make much difference. At a couple of occasions in the game
I have been able to concentrate as many as 200 planes, land and-sea based, for a given search of a defined area, with little actual sightings - and no attacks as
a result. In contrast to the opposition that finds, and attacks, all the time, all the day, on twice the ranges. This even goes for the carrier-based US units. Seems
a little weird to me. I suppose this can be corrected somewhat in the editor?

Anyway, I shall play on for a couple of weeks on my own. Thanks for all support and good advice.

Fred


_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 291
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/14/2015 2:00:40 AM   
wdolson

 

Posts: 10398
Joined: 6/28/2006
From: Near Portland, OR
Status: offline 		What is the search and ASW skills for the pilots? That has a lot to do with it.

Bill

_____________________________

WitP AE - Test team lead, programmer

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 292
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/14/2015 3:03:03 AM   
Jorge_Stanbury


Posts: 4320
Joined: 2/29/2012
From: Toronto and Lima
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Leandros
In contrast to the opposition that finds, and attacks, all the time, all the day, on twice the ranges. This even goes for the carrier-based US units. Seems
a little weird to me.


AI has significant advantages for search and naval attack; try changing sides, and then it will be the Allies who always attacks, although mostly unsuccesfully (unless you get in torpedo bomber range).

For the next time, you might want to try hotseat or PBEM

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 293
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/14/2015 10:30:53 AM   
Leandros


Posts: 1740
Joined: 3/5/2015
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: wdolson

What is the search and ASW skills for the pilots? That has a lot to do with it.

Bill

Thank you, Bill - that much I have understood. And there's been a lot of advice on using time on training pilots, which, as you know, I have not found time for.
Even then I feel that the game must be too skewed in this respect. The AI, anyway. It's all well that the allied pilots may have little experience in anti-ship
mode but it is too general. Just my opinion. On several occasions I have concentrated huge numbers of planes in quite narrow search areas where the game indicates
there is traffic, without much response. If they report anything they usually do not attack or achieve little results if they do. No sinkings, anyway. This also
goes for carrier-based planes against unprotected enemy naval units.

As an example, the Dutch 139-pilots, knowing the area, experienced and with planes of some endurance, rarely find anything. This conflicts with the opposition that
finds, and sinks, "everything" in their path. I wonder, can this be somewhat evened out in the editor before a game is started? I know it shall never be completely
balanced (but, as I see it, it isn't now, either) but perhaps a little more realistic.

Such a bettered balance may not not have meant much in RL but in my scenario, with much more assets available faster, it should.

Fred



_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to wdolson)
Post #: 294
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/14/2015 10:55:58 AM   
Leandros


Posts: 1740
Joined: 3/5/2015
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury


quote:

ORIGINAL: Leandros
In contrast to the opposition that finds, and attacks, all the time, all the day, on twice the ranges. This even goes for the carrier-based US units. Seems
a little weird to me.


AI has significant advantages for search and naval attack; try changing sides, and then it will be the Allies who always attacks, although mostly unsuccesfully (unless you get in torpedo bomber range).

For the next time, you might want to try hotseat or PBEM


Thank you, Jorge, I suppose I inevitabely have to.......Problem with PBEM is that the opponent have to follow some strict RL rules, at least in the first weeks
and till the time it can be said that the Japanese detect such an important change in the Allies' behaviour that they need, or want, to change their strategy.
Even then internal leadership differences have to be considered, as well as resource distribution compared to their original plan. This shouldn't mean very much as
my scenario possibly looks more like what the Japanese expected than what happened in RL. That they were surprised on their better than expected advance could
indicate this. IOW, that their advance in the Moluccans is slowed down more than in RL should not set off too many red lights.

But, I'd like to try out the AI a little more before I do. Ref. my response to Bill about adjusting parameters in the Editor - any comments on that?

Fred

_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Jorge_Stanbury)
Post #: 295
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/14/2015 3:14:24 PM   
BBfanboy


Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Leandros


quote:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury


quote:

ORIGINAL: Leandros
In contrast to the opposition that finds, and attacks, all the time, all the day, on twice the ranges. This even goes for the carrier-based US units. Seems
a little weird to me.


AI has significant advantages for search and naval attack; try changing sides, and then it will be the Allies who always attacks, although mostly unsuccesfully (unless you get in torpedo bomber range).

For the next time, you might want to try hotseat or PBEM


Thank you, Jorge, I suppose I inevitabely have to.......Problem with PBEM is that the opponent have to follow some strict RL rules, at least in the first weeks
and till the time it can be said that the Japanese detect such an important change in the Allies' behaviour that they need, or want, to change their strategy.
Even then internal leadership differences have to be considered, as well as resource distribution compared to their original plan. This shouldn't mean very much as
my scenario possibly looks more like what the Japanese expected than what happened in RL. That they were surprised on their better than expected advance could
indicate this. IOW, that their advance in the Moluccans is slowed down more than in RL should not set off too many red lights.

But, I'd like to try out the AI a little more before I do. Ref. my response to Bill about adjusting parameters in the Editor - any comments on that?

Fred


Some time back Andy Mac, one of the original programmers of the game, offered to modify the starting scenario to make it more historical. I think he just wanted a list of things you think are ahistorical so he could quickly adjust the existing scenarios and some things built into the AI that the scenario editor will not allow you to change.
Since the game was designed to give the Japanese player a chance to play longer before the Allies overwhelmed, there are some built-in advantages that only a programmer can offset or remove.
I once looked at toning down the experience level of Japanese pilots and officers but when I looked at the thousands involved I balked at the task. Better to let a pro do the fixes.

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 296
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/15/2015 9:09:23 AM   
Leandros


Posts: 1740
Joined: 3/5/2015
Status: offline 		Thank you, BBF - that would have been ideal for my concept. So, none of the standard scenarios start out with the exact historical losses?

What is most important to me is that the Japanese keep to their original schedule and force constellations in the first few weeks. Say, till around January 10th,
when they understood that they had to break off their advance on Mindanao to have enough resources for the next southbound stage, the invasion of Menado, Tarakan,
Kendari and Ambon. This would also imply correct dates for the various landings on Luzon – Aparri, Vigan, Legaspi, Lingayen and Lamon.

They could of course decide to continue to press their advance west from Digos/Malalag but then their southward advance would suffer in resources. That would be an
advantage to “me”. At that time, US reinforcements had already started to arrive on Mindanao from the Visayan Islands - Cebu, Panay and others. Even from Luzon.

This date would roughly coincide with the arrival of Allied reinforcements in the Moluccas (and perhaps Mindanao) which my concept prescribes and eventually
signal a reasonable change in the Japanese use of their resources. This is where the AI should step in. From then on everything is possible.

It is important to understand that the Allied (US, really) decision to go for the Moluccans (which I call the Relief Route) as their main point of attention
isn’t because they see, or know, that the Japanese are particularly weak at that point, but because that would have to be the crucial route for reinforcements
to The Philippines. Alas, that is where their resources should be concentrated. Colonel (later General…...) Eisenhower mentioned this specifically in an analysis
for General Marshall just after he joined General Gerow’s War Plans Dept. in the middle of December 1941.

That the Japanese had to be weak everywhere was understood by the way they had started the war. US pre-war analysis suggested this.

Fred


< Message edited by Leandros -- 6/15/2015 1:02:19 PM >

_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to BBfanboy)
Post #: 297
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/15/2015 5:45:48 PM   
pontiouspilot


Posts: 1127
Joined: 7/27/2012
Status: offline 		How did you fare at getting fresh supplies and or troops into PI?

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 298
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/16/2015 8:42:28 AM   
Buckrock

 

Posts: 578
Joined: 3/16/2012
From: Not all there
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Leandros
What is most important to me is that the Japanese keep to their original schedule and force constellations in the first few weeks. Say, till around January 10th, when they understood that they had to break off their advance on Mindanao to have enough resources for the next southbound stage, the invasion of Menado, Tarakan, Kendari and Ambon.


As far as I knew, there was no historical Japanese "advance on Mindanao" that needed to be broken off to free up resources for the "southbound stage". If you go by the Japanese plans (such as covered in Japanese Monograph Series No. 1) the initial phase of operations for Mindanao involved only the capturing of the Davao area (and the island of Jolo) for use as a staging base for the later DEI operations. This phase was completed by the 1st Jan '42 and the responsibility for the Davao area was handed over to Homma's 14th Army (main force Miura Detachment). There never appeared to be any plans to use those forces earmarked for the DEI (16th Army) in any further Mindanao "advances" after the initial phase.

quote:


It is important to understand that the Allied (US, really) decision to go for the Moluccans (which I call the Relief Route) as their main point of attention isn’t because they see, or know, that the Japanese are particularly weak at that point, but because that would have to be the crucial route for reinforcements to The Philippines. Alas, that is where their resources should be concentrated. Colonel (later General…...) Eisenhower mentioned this specifically in an analysis for General Marshall just after he joined General Gerow’s War Plans Dept. in the middle of December 1941.


quote:


That the Japanese had to be weak everywhere was understood by the way they had started the war. US pre-war analysis suggested this.

Can you list the references for these? I've read before about Eisenhower's planning involvement and also about some of the pre-war estimates of Japanese capabilities but hadn't come across anything that would suggest what you seem to be using them for in your project.

Thanks.

_____________________________

This was the only sig line I could think of.

(in reply to Leandros)
Post #: 299
RE: Saving MacArthur - Rookie AAR - 6/16/2015 9:09:30 AM   
Leandros


Posts: 1740
Joined: 3/5/2015
Status: offline
Thank you for asking, PP!

Actually, quite well. As you may have understood I’m still in a learning process of the game and to that purpose I have kept on playing it even if I’m not posting
AAR’s. Takes time. I’m now on March 1st 1942.

If you have read my AAR’s you know that I was able to get some reinforcements into Zamboanga and Jolo from the south quite early – forces from the Pensacola convoy.
Also, had some regiments transferred from the various Visayan Islands to Mindanao – as was done in RL. Menado, Namlea and Ambon have been reinforced substantially
so the Relief Route is more or less open.

After that most of my energy has been used on beating back the various vicious counter-attacks by the AI. He has been evicted several times from Namlea and Menado
and just recently from Ternate, too. That is the slot I need to get to Mindanao. He is ashore in PM but is kept well down. He recently landed in Milne Bay, too, so
Australian units are on their way to counteract that.

Presently, he is threatening the Relief Route by landing in Sorong, on the north-western point of PNG. That is unfortunate, but not a crisis – there is no airfield
there at the moment - but I am going to try to get him out of there, too.

Naval losses have been horrific so I need to assemble new cover forces to be able to cross the Celebes Sea with more troop transports in relative safety. The enemy
has both Davao, Cagayan, Jolo and Cotabato in his hands. What I need is to have fortified a couple of airfields along the route between Zamboanga and Manila so
that sea transports can get fighter cover. To retake Jolo before that shall probably be too costly.

It was unfortunate that he was able to take Jolo quite early. I didn’t balance my forces correctly there. One reason for this is that I am restricting myself
regarding moving troops between the Philippine Islands, as was done in RL. Much the same goes for assistance from the ABA partners. As an example, I am barely
touching what’s happening on Luzon. My intention in that respect is to have the US forces inside Bataan on January 6th with enough supplies to hold up till the
beginning of April. Longer if I am able to get supplies and/or ground troops through.

In this, my second scenario, the British are still fighting in Singapore. If that is because my escapades in the Moluccas have diverted enemy forces from there, I
do not know. That said, the various Dutch resistance pockets are defending themselves much better than in RL.

Certainly, the enemy advance towards Java has been seriously delayed. In RL they took Menado on January 10th and Ambon in the beginning of February. These bastions
are still in my hands as is Kendari.

OTOH, the Japanese didn’t go for Mindanao, and the other Visayan Islands, in earnest till the beginning of April.

Fred


< Message edited by Leandros -- 6/16/2015 11:19:31 AM >

_____________________________

River Wide, Ocean Deep - a book on Operation Sea Lion - www.fredleander.com
Saving MacArthur - a book series on how The Philippines were saved - in 1942! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D34QCWQ/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref=series_rw_dp_labf

(in reply to Buckrock)
Post #: 300
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