Kantai Kessen: A Sparrowhawk26 vs J LongLance93

[Encircled]

You would be very unlucky indeed to have anything threaten the KB out near Wake this early

Its an acceptable risk, though I suspect Wake is going to fall whatever the KB does

[LongLance93]

You would be very unlucky indeed to have anything threaten the KB out near Wake this early

Its an acceptable risk, though I suspect Wake is going to fall whatever the KB does

Only the concentration of submarines, I will get the Kageros to work in extra ASW task forces.

[LongLance93]

How good of a catch was the USS Kitty Hawk at this point of the campaign?
Historically she seems to have been a valuable part of the fleet at the start of the war.

[RangerJoe]

I thank you for the nice pictures.

However, the caption for the B-17 is incorrect as that model did not normally have a tail gunner, tail gunners were added on the B-17E model which had a different fuselage going into the tail section. So the latest model that could have been was the B-17D although I think that some B-17Cs were also in the Far East.

I really like the picture of the Buffalo with its story.

[LongLance93]

I thank you for the nice pictures.

However, the caption for the B-17 is incorrect as that model did not normally have a tail gunner, tail gunners were added on the B-17E model which had a different fuselage going into the tail section. So the latest model that could have been was the B-17D although I think that some B-17Cs were also in the Far East.

I really like the picture of the Buffalo with its story.

Thanks, and nice to hear!
I edited that, I actually edit a lot, I make many mistakes.
Just edited Moulmein to Temuloh, and AWS to ASW, I am also mildly dyslexic so that does not help.

[LongLance93]

It looks like most of the American air power in the Philippines has been withdrawn, not much sightings of naval units either.
Java might be being built up as the main defensive position.

After 14 and 16 Armies have contained the enemy in the Phillipines they will both start preparing for Java, Southern Army will build up its reserves to support them, armor and elite infantry units.

[LongLance93]

Malay Operation 12/23/41

IJA

Southern Army

25th Army

JAAF
3rd Air Division

IJN

Combined Fleet

2nd Fleet
3rd Fleet
6th Fleet

JNAF
22nd Air Flotilla


The Nakajima Ki-43 Ic continue to sweep the skies over Singapore.




Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 14

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
No.21 Sqn RAAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
No.243 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
No.453 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes


Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
No.21 Sqn RAAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes

[LongLance93]

“HERE's ALL YOU DO! 1. Come towards our lines waiving a white flag! 2. Strap your gun over your left shoulder, muzzle down and pointed behind you. 3. Show this ticket to the sentry. 4. Any number of you may surrender with this ticket.”



Wake Operation 12/24/41

IJN

Combined Fleet

1st Fleet
4th Fleet
6h Fleet

JNAF
11th Air Fleet

24th Air Flotilla



IR 144 and the 15 Base Force SNLF have gained cohesion fast and will assault the next morning.
Propaganda leaflets are fired by mortar during the bombardment to get someone to interrogate but for some strange reason none seem to be willing.




Ground combat at Wake Island (136,98)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3735 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 129

Defending force 805 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 12

Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
144th Infantry Regiment
15th Base Force

Defending units:
Wake USN CPNAB
1st Marine Defense Battalion

[LongLance93]

"The Wake Island Marines Surrender" Yasushi Matsuzaka


Wake Operation 12/25/41

IJN

Combined Fleet

1st Fleet
4th Fleet
6h Fleet

JNAF
11th Air Fleet

24th Air Flotilla







Wake surrenders and Mobile Force 11 and Cruiser Force 12 are routed to Truk, the Naval Guard from Guam and a supplies from Truk continue as planned to garrison and build up the base.

IR 144 "The South Seas Detachement" will be routed to Davao to prepare for operations in the DEI.

4 Division in on route to Truk, Rabaul operation is the first it will take part in.





Ground combat at Wake Island (136,98)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7603 troops, 59 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 132

Defending force 798 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 13

Japanese adjusted assault: 44

Allied adjusted defense: 2

Japanese assault odds: 22 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Wake Island !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
949 casualties reported
Squads: 30 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 85 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 24 (24 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
144th Infantry Regiment
15th Base Force

Defending units:
Wake USN CPNAB
1st Marine Defense Battalion

[LongLance93]

I am happy I got Hong Kong, Guam and Wake for Christmas, it frees up a lot of my attention and resources.

Singawang-Kuching invasion is boarding transports at Cam Ranh Bay and Saigon, in support are the bulk of the 2 Mobile Fleet:

Mobile Force 21 (CV Kaga, CVL Ryūjō)
Battle Force 21 (BB Nagato, BB Hyuga, BB Ise)
Cruiser Force 21 (CA Mogami, CA Suzuya, CA Aoba, CA Kinugasa)
Cruiser Force 22 (CA Kumano, CA Mikuma, CA Furutaka, CA Kako)
and 3 Fleet escorts groups (Mutsukis and Momis) for the transports.

If this operation does not bring out the ABDAFLOAT I dont know what will, but I am prepared this could result in the first major naval battle.

[LongLance93]

Standing orders for China are to avoid major battles and attritional positions but exploiting opportunities is allowed.

13 Army seems to have a opportunity opening up to take Wenchow so need to update the situation in China soon.

[LongLance93]

I actually ordered one RD factory researching the Mitsubishi Ki-51 upgrade to speed it up to production.
I cant produce as much artillery as I would like so I need both Mitsubishi Ki-51 and Nakajima Ki-49 as my bomb trucks and strafing interdiction.
I want the enemy to start hating both and using his resources against them, neither is an IL-2 but they will have to do.

[LongLance93]

I had COVID, we continued playing but I did not have the energy to update, trying to get back on this soon.

[LongLance93]

Burma Operation 12/26/41

IJA

Southern Army

15th Army

JAAF
3rd Air Division


15 Army advanced elements are crossing the Burmese border at all possible points.



Ground combat at Tanbaya (55,57)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 578 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 24

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 13

Allied adjusted defense: 1

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tanbaya !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: leaders(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
55th Cavalry Regiment

[LongLance93]

Malay Operation 12/26/41

IJA

Southern Army

25th Army

JAAF
3rd Air Division

IJN

Combined Fleet

2nd Fleet
3rd Fleet
6th Fleet

JNAF
22nd Air Flotilla


British left two Indian Brigades to slow down 25 Army advance but they where isolated so that they are not a threat to LOC.
Elements of the IG Division in reserve will fix in place and destroy the enemy.



Ground combat at 50,73 (near Alor Star)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4411 troops, 36 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 155

Defending force 4768 troops, 20 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 216

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards/A Division

Defending units:
6th Indian Brigade
15th Indian Brigade

[LongLance93]

Malay Operation 12/27/41

IJA

Southern Army

25th Army

JAAF
3rd Air Division

IJN

Combined Fleet

2nd Fleet
3rd Fleet
6th Fleet

JNAF
22nd Air Flotilla



Penang Fortress falls.







Ground combat at Georgetown (49,74)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6047 troops, 42 guns, 229 vehicles, Assault Value = 281

Defending force 1718 troops, 14 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 43

Japanese adjusted assault: 253

Allied adjusted defense: 5

Japanese assault odds: 50 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Georgetown !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1467 casualties reported
Squads: 60 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 142 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 17 (17 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 3

Assaulting units:
6th Tank Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
5th/A Division

Defending units:
5/14th Punjab Battalion
3rd SSVF Battalion
Penang Fortress

[LongLance93]

Philippines Operation 12/27/41


IJA

Southern Army

14th Army
16th Army

JAAF
5th Air Division

IJN

Combined Fleet

2nd Fleet
3rd Fleet
6th Fleet

JNAF
11th Air Fleet

21st Air Flotilla
23rd Air Flotilla



The elements of the 14 Army will turn towards Lingayen to cut of the enemy in San Fernando from retreating.
2 Tank Regiment of the 16 Army will wait for the 65 Brigade,
the 14 Army reserve, and watch over the enemy force at Manila.
16 Army is tasked taking Manila but only 2 Tank Regiment is at Luzon at this point.
The enemy has divided bulk of his forces between Clark Field, Manila and Bataan, the most important objective is to keep them divided.



Ground combat at San Fernando (80,74)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7392 troops, 52 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 305

Defending force 3639 troops, 69 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 143

Assaulting units:
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
48th Recon Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment

Defending units:
11th PA Infantry Division






Ground combat at Cabanatuan (80,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4611 troops, 89 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 204

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 130

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 130 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Cabanatuan !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker:

Assaulting units:
2nd Formosa Inf. Regiment
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion