Beware the Dorniers! Scen 17 Tier 3 (Lowpe vs AI (Spoilers))

[Lowpe]

The morning strike hits... 15 Hudsons and 4 Swordfish attack the KB but are repulsed before they can make bombing runs.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 51,79

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 39
B5N2 Kate x 54
D3A1 Val x 49

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DD Vendetta
xAP Kelantan, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Stronghold, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Kepong, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AMC Kanimbla, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Manoora
xAP Matang, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
ML No. 310
xAP Sin Kheng Seng, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
778 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
11 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet
7 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
7 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet
10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
12 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
17 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
17 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.7 Sqn RAAF with Buffalo I (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 59 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AMC Kanimbla
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Sin Kheng Seng
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Basset class DD

[Lowpe]

Then, a follow up afternoon strike really hits hard...I suspect those might be drowning Australian troops.

The KB will retire to Cam Ranh Bay for fueling, minor repairs, and replacement air frames if available.


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 51,79

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
B5N2 Kate x 71
D3A1 Val x 73

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
AMC Kanimbla, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
AMC Manoora, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Vendetta
xAP Poelau Telo, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Pahalwan, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAP Sin Kheng Seng, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Demodocus, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk
xAP Hong Siang, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
3127 casualties reported
Squads: 66 destroyed, 234 disabled
Non Combat: 68 destroyed, 110 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 106 (52 destroyed, 54 disabled)
Vehicles lost 37 (23 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet
13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
10 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet
10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
9 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet
25 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
16 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
16 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
17 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
14 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.7 Sqn RAAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AMC Kanimbla
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Demodocus
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AMC Manoora
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Hong Siang
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Pahalwan
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Poelau Telo

[Lowpe]

An old trick is to send the Boise to the east...could this be her? Or more likely the Penguin?

[Lowpe]

Northern Luzon and Hong Kong

Hong Kong: No attack, but the airfields are still being damaged even though Hong Kong flak is very strong. Will stand down the bombers, they need a break.

Luzon is looking good.

[Lowpe]

Some surface warships are headed to Truk to support New Guinea/Rabaul push.

I am hoping this will be a very active region.

[Lowpe]

I probably am going to pull back all Iboats and use them pretty much for scouting and perimeter defense. Especially if the Allies are sending out shipping without ASW protection.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Malaya...

Moving the KB to cover the Miri Invasion probably was a mistake...should have hit the British shipping concentration at Kuantan.

There is around 100 fighters split between Tavoy and Victoria Point, another 100+ at Singers, dozens in other bases.[:(]

Suffice to say that in this scenario, the Allies are NOT surprised. They have been quietly building up significant forces in the area, and they have been training them to a high level in many cases … [:'(][:'(][:'(]

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Dorniers' attack!!! There were mad rumors that the Dutch might attempt something like this...and the Manado garrison is much stronger than anticipated. All but 96 troopers landed, and a heavy cruiser bombarded soften the defenses so our troops landed in good order. But there is no idea of the fortifications present yet.

Our attempt to organize the 3rd Carrier Division failed, as the CSs' are loaded with supplies to support the invasion.

You are SO lucky. Dorniers generally get 50% hit rate on their attacks against me!!! [X(] [X(][X(]

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

The air war is extremely heavy, Japanese production is now cranking out 1 Oscar Ic and 2 Zeroes a day, but it won't be enough to replace losses.

21 Zeroes lost thru the first few days...ugh.

Not quite as bad as your last AAR, but it ain't pretty either! [;)]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Dorniers' attack!!! There were mad rumors that the Dutch might attempt something like this...and the Manado garrison is much stronger than anticipated. All but 96 troopers landed, and a heavy cruiser bombarded soften the defenses so our troops landed in good order. But there is no idea of the fortifications present yet.

Our attempt to organize the 3rd Carrier Division failed, as the CSs' are loaded with supplies to support the invasion.

You are SO lucky. Dorniers generally get 50% hit rate on their attacks against me!!! [X(] [X(][X(]

I know their training and experience levels are sky high!

[PaxMondo]

You're in pretty good shape all things considered.

You got onto Luzon at a cost of only a couple of beat up CA's. Committing the KB here looks to have been very helpful.

You're into Malaya also at a relatively low cost … nice …. Again, KB locally is a big help.

Fighter production is a huge problem at the start … aircraft production overall actually is an issue. watch your supply, easy to over spend early on ...

[RangerJoe]

That was a nice ground combat victory by your navy . . . [8|]

[Lowpe]

Dec 13, 1941

Four battleships and 4 fleet carriers are now at Cam Ranh Bay. Some are getting minor repairs, resting air planes and pilots, and re-arming. The 2nd Fleet HQ offloaded overnight, and now there is enough manpower present to get those big 36cm reloaded. An AKE is past Takao, and that ship will give even more support services.

The 2nd Wave ships are holding off Soc Trang, as an invasion of Mersing is being debated, but with Force Z potentially in the area?

Speaking of Force Z, Kuantan was visited by two cruiser squadrons overnight, but despite night naval search, they found no shipping....but lo and behold a cruiser and pocket battleships show up during daytime recon. Is it Force Z? Unfortunately, we don't know as 2 BB, 1 BC, 1 CA are spotted in Singapore port with 20+ other ships...

The Army is finally moving west across Malaya...

Miri gets some engineers fast transported in by a small cruiser squadron, and our defensive position there is not tested by an Allied attack. Not in a hurry to take Miri, as Japan lacks fighters to protect the oil right now.

[Lowpe]

Carrier Division 3's Claudes are unable to provide air coverage over two trawlers...and they go down to the Dorniers. Tomorrow, Carrier Division 3 is returning to Manado, can they withstand the Dorniers?

[Lowpe]

I-26 failed to get their return to base orders yesterday, and hopefully this is the reportedly Santa Maria from yesterday and not another big transport.

The Iboat has expended all torpedo stocks anyhow, and will be re-assigned perimeter scouting duties.

[Lowpe]

Hong Kong's planes found at the French base, and they raid Canton, downing 5 Tojo fighters there...

[Lowpe]

Another 12 Japanese fighters lost yesterday...

3 Zeroes and 1 Oscar made. With only 63 points of production into the Zero, odds of having another 3 plane day are quite low for a while. Replacement pools for CV planes are between 16-20 for all three frames.

A nice xak burned up..a victim of American divebombers.

[Lowpe]

Guam is captured today, and Orhpan Annie or whatever her name is makes her first radio broadcast. What a miserable little base.

Anyhow, Japan is slowly accomplishing her perimeter, but the future, if there is to be one is around Singapore and the SRA right now.

[witpqs]

Tokyo Rose!

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Tokyo Rose!

Who actually helped Allied POWs besides improving the moral of Allied servicemen in the Pacific.