Threadwar 3x3 - Japanese Animal War

[Terminus]

Damn, that's quite the kicking...

[Mike Solli]

30 were from the PH attack and the other 20 were from bombers.  Actually, the loss of pilots was far less.  Odd but nice.

[Mynok]

"Odd but critical " you meant to say, right?

[Mike Solli]

Of course it's critical.  Pilot quality is the name of the game.  We're already working on our training program.

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

A few stats for those of you who like numbers like me. [:'(]

I agree, you're quite a number, Mike.

Just kidding, but you walked into that one. [:D]

[Mike Solli]

Just an update.  We finally got the 8 Dec turn to the Allies.  Things are just plain slow due to the massiveness of things and RL rearing it's ugly head.  They'll probably be pretty busy for some time now that they can react.

[Mike Solli]

I got the combat replay for 8Dec 41 but haven't gotten into the game file to see details.  There's typical Japanese running amok, with a couple of surprises thrown in by the Allies.

We successfully took Wake, Aparri, Vigen, Weda, Guam, Sorong and Jesselton.

We made 3 other attacks that are not yet successful, but were all good attacks, IMO.  Hong Kong's forts dropped from 4 to 3, Brunei 2 to 1, and Rabaul 3 to 0.  They all should fall in the next couple of days.

We currently have forces on Amboina, Kuching, Kuantan, Lingayen and Miri.  These places will all be attacked shortly.

The one surprise was the Repulse and 2 DDs showing up at Kuching.  We had a huge transport TF with effectively no cover there.  Fortunately, they concentrated on just a few ships and we lost just 2. 

Our overall naval losses were an AP, AK (from Repulse) and a MSW (from sub torps).  We have confirmed sinkings of 2 APs, 3 AKs, a ML [:D] as well as the MSW Penguin and an AO which were scuttled in Guam.  KB started moving away but was still in range of PH.  They hit a couple of 1 ship TFs, sinking an AK and (I think) an AV.  Until I check or one of the others comments, I can't remember for sure if the AV sank.  She took a dozen 250 kg bombs, so I'm pretty sure she succumbed.

Tonight I should see the turn so I'll give more detail later.

[Mike Solli]

I had a chance to look at the turn last night.  We lost 15 aircraft to 33 for the Allies.  The current loss ratio is 2:1, not nearly good enough for the Japanese.  I'd like to see it rise to about 3.5-4:1.
 
On the production front, things are beginning to shake out.  At the start of the war, many HI factories had no oil in the hex so our HI reserves dropped by 1890.  This past turn the AI moved oil around so things are much better.  We had an HI surplus of 1230.  Very nice. 
 
We expect Rabaul, Kuching and Kwantan to fall tomorrow.  Then we will put Betties in Rabaul, Betties/Nells in Kuching and Sallys/Lilys in Kwantan along with fighters in all three places, of course.  This should effectively give us air superiority in all three regions. 
 
In Rabaul, the goal is to cut off Pt. Moresby using air power and subs (the subs are just about there).  The South Seas Detachment will reach Truk shortly.  Once we get enough PPs to transfer it to the SE Fleet, we'll mount up and take PM.  Until then, I'll clean up on all the bases in the area.  I'm  not sure I'll take Lunga before or after the PM operation.  It'll all depend on how long it takes to transfer the SSD.  Naval assets for SE Fleet are currently 2 BBs, 1 CL and 2 DDs with the 4 Furutaka CAs en route escorted by 4 DDs.  I also have a Betty Daitai at Truk and 2 Claude Daitai enroute to Truk.  They'll be upgraded as soon as possible.  I've also been allocated 1 Glen carrying sub and 9 RO class subs.  The ground forces include 4 NLFs, 1 SNLF and a BF at Rabaul, 1 NG and 2 BFs in Truk, and another BF leaving the Home Islands for Truk.  The invasion force for PM will be the SSD, SNLF and probably 2-3 NLFs.  The BFs will be allocated as follows:  1 each for Truk, Rabaul, PM and Lunga.  I get another SNLF, 1 BF and a special BF by the end of Dec 41.  They'll go to Truk to be allocated later.  I'm thinking about Hollandia or Wewak for one and possibly Buna for the other.  We'll see.
 
In the North, 2 construction bns have been allocated so far.  They will take Adak and all the Aleutian Islands to the west.  There are also a couple of small BFs available.  Eventually, I hope to get some infantry units to defend the place.  My current naval forces include 2 CLs, 9 DDs, 2 I class subs, 2 RO class subs and a Glen carrying sub.  I also have a Mavis chutai.  Eventually I hope to get some Nells/Bettys to harass the Allied SLOCs.  The Aleutians are a backwater but in Allied hands, they make me nervous.  The more the Allies commit here to take them back, the less they will have available for other areas.
 
On the production front, I'm beginning to move AKs to areas where they can begin to move resources once the SRA is liberated.  These areas include Saigon, Formosa and Palau.  The TKs are pretty much where they need to be, which is the same areas as well as the Home Islands.
 
My forces in China are still moving to their assembly areas for their offensives.  These include cutting off as much as possible in non-base hexes and taking Honan (which will cut off about 4 hexes of Chinese troops.
 
That's about it for me.  I'll leave the other areas to their commanders.

[fabertong]

8th December 1941.........

4th fleet HQ...........Wake falls........5th Base Force sets up home and some recons arrive........SAG 6 (4CAs and escorts) moves away to Truk to join South East Fleet.........supply convoy on the way...........6th BF loads at Kwaj....headed for Tarawa........Baker Is TF offloads supply......and will leave the NLF there ....for now.......

KB......sunk a couple of AKs at PH by Naval Attack....is now putting on speed and moving beyond French Frig. Sh.....and off allied radar....I hope.......the PH strike was on the low end of poor I suspect...as no US BBs are reported as sinking........

Guam fell..............7th Base Force has been alloted..............

SAA........southern HQ.....Pelau.............Amboina force moves off.......before unloading all combat troops....only excuse here is poor flipper work......apologies to my team.....this has been fixed...but will cost me three precious days..........

Phils...............progress being made........

Will post maps of turn 3.......

[Mike Solli]

9 Dec 41
 
Just a quick overview.  KB has vanished off the Allied radar.  Where will it appear?  Only Faber knows for sure. 
 
Our subs were very successful today.  The I-123 torpedoed and sank the AK Forafric and the I-157 put a torpedo into the DD Tenedos and badly damaged her.
 
The Nagara and 5 DDs were covering the invasion of Amboina when who should appear but the Boise.  Three torpedo hits later, down went the Boise without firing a shot! 
 
The Marblehead and 2 DDs surprised a Japanese TF of a CL and several DDs.  Their DDs took moderate damage while our beloved DD Umikaze slipped beneath the waves.  The Yamashiro, Kitakami and 4 DDs arrived badly damaging the Marblehead and a DD while sinking the second DD.  Bettys sank two AKs while Kates from the Ryujo sank the AVD Arend.
 
As Rabaul fell, the Allied scuttled an AK left there in the harbor.  In addition, Kuantan and Kuching fell.  Aviation regiments are already preparing for the victorious Japanese Army and Naval Air Forces to move forward and occupy the level 4 airbases at all three locations.
 
Miri was liberated.  The oil centers were captured with minor damage (97/100 centers functional) and all 10 resource centers functional.
 
In the Philippine Islands, the northern portion of the island is in Japanese hands now.  Lingayen fell with very minor damage to the resource centers (123/125).
 
The assault on Hong Kong continues to make headway.  The fort level dropped from 3 to 2.  Their demise is imminent.
 
Losses for today were the following:
 
Allied:
1 CL
1 DD
1 AVD
4 AK
 
Japanese:
 
1 DD
1 AK
 
The air war is becoming more lopsided.  The Allies lost 29 aircraft while we lost 13.
 
More to come.

[Mike Solli]

9 Dec 41
 
Here are a few stats for you log types that like this kind of thing:

It'll always be Japanese/Allied.
 
Plane lossses - 202/95
Supply down 3k from the day before.
Fuel down 64k from the day before.  (This is mainly due to filling the AOs.)
Manpower is up 3k from the day before.
HI production is up 1150 points.
Resources are down 6k.
Oil is down 10k.
Naval shipyard points are at 267, up 61.
Merchant shipyard points are at 493, up 3.
Armaments are up 100.
Vehicle points are up 90.
Aircraft engines are at 1624, back up to the start.
Aircraft assembly is 508, up 8.
R&D is at 14, up 5.
 
Currently there is 1 CL and 8 DDs headed to the fender shop.
 
Not sure if you want any of these details.  I may just do it once a month.

[Mike Solli]

10 Dec 41

Our liberation of the SRA continues. The attack on Hong Kong resulted in the reduction of the fort level from 2 to 1. The troops will rest to reduce fatigue and disruption levels, but the bombardment will continue. The attack on Brunei was unsuccessful. We have only a NLF there. We may need more troops. We'll see. Our forces continue to land on Amboina. Not sure when the attack will occur there. That's Faber's AO. Forces are loading from Rabaul for invasions of Lae, Gasmata and Kavieng.

Our subs had another great day. The I-153 torpedoed and sank an AP and the I-156 sank a TK. The I-156 was damaged by a DC hit from the Whipple. She's returning to port.

Our aircraft had a good day too. They sank an AK and the DD Bulmer (which was damaged with the Marblehead yesterday). They also damaged an AP, AO and 2 PGs.

We lost an AK previous damage and the Perch sank a MSW. One of our ASW TFs damaged the Perch in return.

More to come soon. The Allies have the turn....

[Mike Solli]

11 Dec 41
 
Sorry for the delay, guys.  Today the Japanese received a PC reinforcement!  Air power had a good day killing 2 PGs, 2 AKs and an AP.  We captured Manokwani, Babo, Brunei and Amboina.  Amboina is in good shape with only 4 oil and 1 resource damaged.  Brunei, on the other hand, has 29 damaged oil centers.  Supply has been sent to Brunei to repair the damage.

[Mike Solli]

12 Dec 41
 
Another good day for the liberators of the SRA.  Of particular note is the I-123.  Stationed amongst the islands south of the Philippines, she torpedoed and sank 2 AKs!  Both were carrying troops too.
 
Our airpower was very effective too.  They sank 3 AKs and an AP, while damaging several other ships.  An AO succumbed to a Nell torpedo from 10 Dec and A PT boat was sunk and another heavily damaged in a surface action.  A Kate put a torpedo into the Java at Sinkawang.  We had a transport TF there at the time.  The Java never attacked us.  She apparently fled, trailing oil. [:D]
 
We lost an AP to old damage and lost a MSW in the surface action against the PT boats.
 
Bruce invaded Sinkawang on the 11th and attacked this turn.  The forts were reduced from 2 to 1. 
 
Tuguegarao fell to our victorious army.  Faber has also invested Clark field and is bombarding while he masses forces there. 
 
I attacked Hong Kong again, causing heavy casualties.  The fort level remains at 1.  I will bombard for a couple of days, allowing the forces to rest.
 
I attacked Kavieng.  It was a bust.  I'll give them some rest and send some naval forces to visit before I try again.
 
My forces continue to crawl toward Adak Island. 
 
Rabaul has received fuel.  Something interesting has happened there that I have never seen before.  I was allocated 2 BBs to assist in the reduction of the area.  They attempted to rearm at Rabaul and received ammo for everything except their main guns.  I never saw that before.  There's a thread about this.  Someone suggested that if there is fuel present, the main guns will be resupplied.  There was no fuel when they resupplied.  Now that there is fuel I'll test this and try again.  Currently, the 2 BBs are at Lae lobbing what few main gun rounds they have at the Allied troops there.  They're on their way back to Rabaul.  We'll see what happens.

[Mike Solli]

13 Dec 41
 
Very nice day for the Japanese.  First of all, one of our ASW TFs caught the Dutch sub KXIII with a depth charge, damaging her.  Then the I-157 sank an AP.  Nice start for our sub/ASW forces.
 
The Naka and 7 DDs caught 4 PGs and sank them all with little or no damage to them.  Unfortunately, a T.IVa put a torpedo into Naka in the morning.  She received minor damage (11-18-6) but is headed to Camranh Bay for repairs.  (By the 14th, she's down to 11-11-1 damage. [:D])
 
Now the fun begins with our air forces.  Some of Bruces Nells caught the damaged Java and put 3 more torpedoes into her and had the satisfaction of seeing her sink. Some Nates sank 2 PTs and damaged another.  Some of Fabers Nells and Bettys put 2 torps each into a couple of AKs at Kendari.  We haven't seen them go down, but I'm pretty sure they will.  Finally, some Lilys put down a damaged AK.
 
There are about 8 OS2U-3s flying out of Manila that are a pain in the butt.  They put a couple of 250 lb bombs into an AK.  She should make harbor.  The SS Porpise atacked a lone AK but missed with her torps.  She raked the AKs superstructure a bit and left. [:'(]
 
The only bad news was the loss of the I-153 to damage that occurred a couple of days ago.
 
In the land war, we liberated Singkawang, bagging 6 Brewster 339Ds, landed at Boela and bombarded HK, Clark Field and Kavieng.

[Mike Solli]

14 Dec 41
 
In the sub war, the Murakumo hit the KXIII with another depth charge.  She is now heavily damaged and we're confident she'll sink.
 
Our 4 Tomozuru class DDs (I consider them oversize torpedo boats) ran into 2 PT boats.  They sank one PT and damaged the other.
 
An Allied AK sank from earlier damage as did 2 Japanese APs.
 
On land, we liberated Boela (only 1 resource damaged [:D]) and San Fernando.  We landed on Hollandia and bombarded HK and Clark Field.
 
The Allied tried two things and they both backfired.  They moved the 6th Indian Brigade north out of Malaya to Singora.  They ran into the Japanese 5 ID.  We handed the Indians their butts and pushed them back across the border.  It didn't delay us at all because we're waiting for the IG Division and 1st Tk Regiment to arrive so we can send all 3 units south at the same time. [:D]  The second disaster was for the 2/1 Ind Coy in Kavieng.  I had landed a NLF there which was unable to secure the base.  The Australians decided to shock attack that NLF and attempt to force it to surrender.  What they didn't know was that I had sent reinforcements in the form of another NLF to Kavieng.  They counterattacked right into this fresh force and also had their butts handed to them.[:D]

[Mike Solli]

15 Dec 41
 
Our sub fleet continues to do wonderful things.  The I-124 caught AVD Heron south of the Philippines with a torpedo and later in the day hit her again with 2 more torps.  Down she went. [:D]  Ro-63 found the AK Balus south of Pt. Moresby with 2 torps and down she went also.
 
Sendai and 5 DDs found 6 Dutch PT boats and sank 3 of them for no loss around Singkawang.  Another US PT boat sank to old damage.  We had an AK hit by a torpedo from the Dutch sub O16 for moderate damage.  She'll head for FIC for repairs.
 
In the ground war, Hollandia was taken by a NLF.  Bruce landed forces at Khota Baru.  HK, Clark Field and Kavieng were all bombarded by Japanese forces.  I'm making another attempt at Kavieng and HK tomorrow.

[Mike Solli]

16 Dec 41
 
Again we move forward with our plans of the liberation of the SRA.  South of Balikpapan, the I-162 put 4 torpedoes into and sank the TK Ven Koh.  Unfortunaltely, later in the day, Allied ASW forces sank the I-162.  In the Coral Sea, R0-68 turned the schooner Malahuka into matchsticks with 2 torpedoes.  The Dutch KXIII sank from old damage.  Our ASW forces managed to damage a US S boat and a Dutch O class boat.
 
Our air forces continued with the clean-up of the SRA of Allied shipping.  Faber's Nells out of Amboina sank the CL Durban.  Also, 2 AKs were damaged from airpower.  An Allied PG sank in Hong Kong harbor from old damage.  One of our APs received minor damage from a 250 lb bomb and is heading for port for repairs.
 
Bruce took Kota Bharu this turn.  Also, he has cut off northern Malaya from Singapore effectively cutting the Malayan garrison in two.  Faber took Laoag today and now controls the northern half of the Philippines.  I finally defeated and destroyed that pesky Australian independent company at Kavieng.  Clark Field was bombarded again.  I assaulted Hong Kong and reduced their fort level to 0. 
 
The one thing that happened that pissed me off was the Chinese capture of Ningpo, a base on the coast of China.  Anyone who has played this mod knows that China is a mess.  I'm in the process of preparing offensives there and am moving forces (I suspect Robert is too on the Allied side).  Ningpo starts the game garrisoned with one Japanese brigade.  Additional forces are heading for this out of the way base to take back what is rightfully ours. [:D]

[Mike Solli]

17 Dec 41

Relatively quiet turn today.  Our sub forces gained a small victory by putting a torpedo into an AK south of Pt. Moresby.  I suspect the ship was attempting to send supplies to PM.  The British submarine force had a good day today. [:@] The Trusty sank an empty AP and damaged a second empty AP.  Both were off the coast of Malaya.

The only incident of note in the air was a unit of OS2Us (about 8-10) that put 2 250 lb bombs into an AP.  This unit has been harassing us since the war started.  Fortunately, 2 were destroyed by AA.

Hong Kong fell today! [:D] Some 18k Commonwealth soldiers were killed or surrendered.  The best part of the deal was that the only damage to the infrastructure was 1 point of manpower, 1 HI and 1 shipyard, with 2 manpower, 100 HI, 200 resources and 25 shipyard points captured intact, along with 28k supply.  The 38th Div and 1st Heavy Artillery Brigade are already prepping for their next assignments.

In other parts of the world, our liberators landed on Batan Island and Sandakan.  They both are expected to be taken tomorrow.  Aitape, the dot base next to Hollandia, fell (presumebly to 2 soldiers in a rowboat with a rising sun flag).  In China, 2 Chinese Corps had moved into Hangchow.  The Japanese division there ejected them easily.  Also, our forces continue to prep for the re-conquest of Ningpo.

In Malaya, Bruces forces are massing north of Johore Bharu and at Alor Star.  Alor Star should fall shortly (the Allies fled).

We also received our third ship reinforcement of the war, AP Toko Maru, in Tokyo.  (We received 2 PCs earlier.)

[Mike Solli]

18 Dec 41
 
We gained a little more ground again today. 
 
Our subs continue to sting the enemy.  The I-155 put down an enemy TK and the I-122 put 2 torps and a couple of shells into an AK.  We didn't see her go down but expect that to happen soon.  The nasty British subs (Truant this time) sank a damaged, empty AK.  The KXI put a torp into the DD Shirakumo, but she'll easily make Saigon.  She will be out of the war for awhile.
 
A Japanese SAG consisting of Kako, Furutaka, Oi, Yura and 3 DDs caught the Whipple and Edsall off Manado and sank them both.  Our ships received no damage. [:D]
 
Tabar Island (next to Kavieng) fell to our 2 men and a rowboat routine. [:D]  In addition, we liberated Batan Island, sandakan and Nauru (no damage to the 20 resource centers there).  We landed on Attu, Lae and Manado.
 
Next turn we will have enough PPs to change the South Seas Detachment to SE Fleet.  They will begin loading from Truk and head south.  Target:  Pt. Moresby!