To the Death - Buttsworth versus Son of Heaven

[matt.buttsworth]

This AAR is a campaign that I hope will be fought to the bitter end. It is CHS 155 and I am playing allies. The Chinese are fighting the Japanese throughout China and have engaged in a program of retreat in the near central pocket with the aim being to defend cities in the centre, east and West. Changsha and Sian are pivotal.
There are not enough base forces in the right positions so base forces have been rushed to Sian and other places. All cities with base forces having being ordered to build airfields and expand fortifications. The bombing of Japanese airfields has been done although the weak Chinese airforce is expected to inflict few losses. The main aim is to force the Japanese to use some of their airforces in China.
Under house rules only task forces at sea can be moved.
Task forces are fleeing the China sea to the southwest, south and southeast but whether they can survive is questionable.
Subs have begun a program of picking up cadres from Malaya and Borneo.
Pacific fleets are moving to Noumea and to San Francisco to begin the logistics program essential for future offensive operations.
Across the Pacific and Southeast Asia local commanders suspect an immanent Japanese attack? But where will they strike.

Son of Heaven is not to read this thread.

[matt.buttsworth]

The Japanese attacked with deadly fury.
Pearl Harbour was bombed but thankfully no battleships were sunk. Two were severely damaged and if there is another attack they may sink. All fighters that can fly have been put on alert.
Malaya was invaded at Kuantan but the brave defenders were able to resist an attack.
The philippines main island was invaded at Lingayan and in the South while Yolo was invaded to try and cut off any escape for Chinese sea ships.
Near China there was a slaughter as all ships trying to escape China were bombed. It is a real question as to whether any can survive.
Immediate counter actions were taken.
Plan Z was put into operation to withdraw cadre elements of all Malayan units to be rebuilt in India with the same also being attempted in Borneo and Malaya and with some Philippine units.
The aircraft carriers have been sent to bomb the Japanese fleets at Wake island but if the invasion is successful before they get there they will hide.
Moulmein is being reinforced to delay the Japanese so that all the Burmese army may be retreat.
The aim is to create a fortress in India while conducing a fighting retreat out of Burma.
Java is being abandoned but the North of Australia is being reinforced with Darwin to be held.
There will be no attempt to defend Port Moresby but it is hoped to defend Noumea as the hub of future advances.
The Pacific Islands west of Pearl Harbour will be defended as soon as regimental combat teams are available to defend them.
This may involve stripping Alaska for a short time as it is doubted the dreaded Japanese will attack there.
The surviving phillippine airforce has been withdrawn with China with orders to engage and destroy the lower quality Japanese air force there.
The High Command now nervously awaits the second Japanese turn. Hopefully Pearl will not be attacked again.

[matt.buttsworth]

The Japanese continue their attacks. Wake island has been captured, Jolo and Kuantan.
The allied airfoces have had success in the philipines bombing transports and at Kuantan where a torpedo was put into a battle ship.
Terrible ship losses have occurred in the China and Philippines with numerous ships being sunk. Given the capture of Kuantan a retreat to Johore Bahru has been ordered.
In the philippines the Japanese have been held at Lingayan with the defenders inflicting heavy losses. But Japanese landings over the philippines have made a retreat to clark field necessary.
HQs for Dutch East Indies air force are being changed so they can be withdrawn to Australia
Last elements of Malayan units are being sent to India.
Near Pearl the KB has apparently been divided, one heading north the other south.
It will be tracked so that no heavy losses occur. I am not sure why sun of heaven has divided his fleet in this way.
The carriers have abandoned attacking Wake and are now heading south to avoid the KB and then head to Noumea.
Son of Heaven is expert at destroying undefended merchant fleets as shown by the slaughter of the Philippines.

M

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: matt.buttsworth

The carriers have abandoned attacking Wake and are now heading south to avoid the KB and then head to Noumea.

Careful! In CHS there's not enough fuel in SoPac to keep multiple CV TFs in action during the first weeks. Be sure to send a lot of fuel ASAP.

Good luck!

[matt.buttsworth]

The warhawks are shooting down heaps of nates. Hankow is getting bombed every turn.
The withdrawal to Clark Field has been successful with a Philippine division which was forced to retreat the wrong way from Lingeyan now almost having made it back. Manila has been abandoned in favour of an all out defence of Clark field.
In Malaya the Japanese are not advancing quickly so withdrawal to Johore Bahru has been conducted without problems. Withdrawal of cadre units from all Malay units has been successfully completed.
The Japanese have battleships with few support ships east of Borneo. The main British fleet is being rushed there for a battle but it is feared the fleets will flee before the British fleet arrives. Seaplanes are being sent there to search properly for the fleet.
The Japanese KB is somewhere northwest of San Francisco heading East. Should it head south to attack fleets heading to the South Pacific there could be real problems. Numurous sub fleets are being sent from near San Francisco and Pearl to try and find where it is. Transports from south of Alaska are being sent south to try and trigger an attack. Sub catchers from San Franscico are being sent North West for the same purpose.
Destroyers and transports will be sent from Pearl west to San Franscisco to try and create a screen so I know if he is heading South. The killer fleet must be found. M

[matt.buttsworth]

Hunt the KB

Vicious airfights were fought across the phillippine seas with the allies having many planes damaged for no successful hits.
In the Eastern Pacific a massive hunt of every submarine, patrol boat, mine sweeper, and destroyer has been launched to find the missing KB.
If it is not found within two turns it will be presumed that is headed north and then disappeared near Alaska.
Otherwise an attack should be triggered this turn or the screen of converging submarines should have a chance to shoot a torpedo and die as they sight the KB

[matt.buttsworth]

15th of December

Eastern Pacific.

Plan Z

No one can find the KB despite extensive searching and exploration of the target area.
If it is not found soon it will be presumed that it has withdrawn.
Commanders of RCTs travelling to Midway, Palmyra and Canton Island can now breathe a sigh of relief as they can get their safely. Damaged battleships being withdrawn from Pearl can also be presumed safe.

Plan Y

Philippines sea. The British fleet that has been moved to Borneo has now been sent to attack. With luck there will be a sea battle this turn.

China

The Japanese armies at Nanking, Hankow and adjacent cities are now surrounded with no supplies. 9 Chinese divisions have been ordered to attack Nanking. Next turn other surrounding troops will be ordered to advance from all sides.
Can the Japanese fight with no supplies?

[matt.buttsworth]

16th of December

KB Found!
The KB has been found 16 squares southwest of San Fransisco preparing to reap devastation.
Urgent action has been undertaken. The battle fleet to be repaired has been sent back to Pearl to dock.
The 2nd Marine Division has been sent back to San Fransisco under air cover.
Supply fleets heading south have been sent to the far south Pacific to ride out the storm and eventually head west towards Noumea.
The problem are two fleets carrying RCTs that have unfortunately been attacked by a submarine and their location revealed. They have been ordered to head due East back south of San Diego and Los Angeles.
If the KB knows their location it will try and cut them off but they are under air cover of the Flying Fortresses and will soon be under air cover of the marauders. It is doubted that the KB will risk trying to cut them off and coming within bombing range of the land based aircraft, but if he does they will either head south towards the Panama canal or southwest and south to the South pacific.
It is thought the KB will try and head south to cut them off in which case they will be back safe under air cover. All transfer of units is halted until the KB eventually heads back to Japan.
There is a mass of submarines in the area. They have all been sent East to try and intercept the KB should it try and cut off the RCT fleets.
No battle in the Philippines.
In China troops have been ordered to advance on Ichang and Nanchang. When enough troops are in position another attack will be launched.
In the Philippines there was a great success where two divisions at Clark launched a deliberate attack and were repulsed. A deliberate attack by all the Phillippine divisions then forced them to retreat.
No battles in Malaya.
The son of heaven seems expert with his air carriers but is not attacking with ground units anywhere except in the Philippines and Malaya where his advance is very slow.
The question is, he has no new source of oil at all as he has not attacked Borneo or Sumatra so that means he is not getting fresh oil to power his war machine.
In India the first of the Malayan units have landed with four bases and two brigades being saved.
They will rebuild at Calcutta with base forces being put to immediate use.
The slow advance of my opponent I feel is working in my favour.
All I have to do is save the RCT units.

M

[matt.buttsworth]

December 18th

Victory

Another patrol boat was sunk but the KB has been tracked and has now retreated to the North West. It is now expected to retreat to Japan.
The RCTs have been saved and for safety are returning to San Franscico.
The battle fleet is still retreating to Pearl to wait.
Other supply fleets to the south have been ordered to go south and then on to Noumea.
Disaster has been averted by 6 squares due to a massive search.
All ships will now return to their home ports.
Saved battalions from Hong Kong and Sumatra have now arrived back in Darwin.
More saved cadres have arrived in India.
The Ghurkha brigade has now landed in Sri Lanka to defend the eastern port.
Headquarters at Columbo will now be picked up and sent to India.
Troops are marching to Northeastern Australia and Northern Australia.
No battle in China yet but 4 more divisions have been ordered to attack Nanchang.
Supply fleets are now leaving Aden for the long trip to Perth, Noumea, and San Francisco.
Disaster has been averted and long term plans are now being implemented.

M

[matt.buttsworth]

December 18th General Staff.

Gentlemen,
We must have a planning meeting.
While awaiting the next attacks of our esteemed opponent an assessment of the war to date must be made.
The enemy is very good at sinking ships and has made a dangerous foray into the Eastern Pacific with disaster only being narrow averted. In future a series of ships will be deployed north of Midway up to Alaska to make sure aircraft carrier raids are detected long before any disaster can occur.
The question for this meeting is what to do next.
Offense is out of the question. There are not enough units or ships to do that but what to defend is a matter of debate.
In the pacific Midway, Palmyra, Canton Island, Pago Pago, Noumea must be defended but our planning staff have wondered how to take advantage of our opponent's very slow advance.
Specifically it has been put forward that in the Western Pacific not just Noumea, but if it has not been attacked Rabaul, Lae and Kavieng could all be defended. This would enable a large number of airunits to be deployed to create a strong defensive position.
Supply and raids by the KB would remain a problem but it may shorten the war by half a year if a forward position like this could be defended.
At the moment the 25th division and the 2nd Marine division are already on route for Noumea.
It is proposed that the Americal division as soon as it arrives be sent to Noumea and then North to Rabaul if Rabaul has not been taken by then.
A cadre of the unit would immediately be sent to Rockhampton to rebuild the unit should Rabaul fall.
What is the opinion of the general staff of this aggressive option.
We have planes available now to deploy around Rabaul and Kavieng and Port Moresby but not enough land units.
All opinions are welcome.
Should Rabaul be held the next step would be to defend the Dutch East Indies, Timor, Bali, and Java.
The enemy's slow advance is an opportunity.

Opinions by all generals and admirals are welcome.


At the moment

[matt.buttsworth]

December 19th.
No real conflict. The KB has disappeared but is definitely not in the Eastern Pacific. All fleets have now been ordered to continue their journeys to their original destinations.
Dive bombers have been sent to Rabaul to create a surprise for any Japanese fleets approaching their.
The good news is that the Battleship Haranu has been torpedoed near Taiwan and is flooding heavily.
Given the number of Japanese bases in the area though it is doubted it will sink.
Good luck Gentlemen.

[matt.buttsworth]

December 19th. Very little happened in the previous day.
A mass attack has been ordered at Clarke Field to repulse the Japanese. It is doubted it will be successful.
Soon mine laying around DEI will commence.
The transport fleet going to Midway island has nearly arrived. As soon as it unloads combat planes will be transferred there.

[matt.buttsworth]

December 20th
The Japanese have been thrown out of Clark Field again. At Midway the first troops have landed so planes are being transferred to protect the base.

[matt.buttsworth]

December 21st
The Japanese subs are attacking the Allies supply fleets sinking an oil tanker.
Convoys with anti submarine protection will have to be formed.

M

[matt.buttsworth]

December
22nd Fighters and fighter bombers have been send to Noumea. These are the first planes to be sent to the Western Pacific apart from Australian fights and US dive bombers at Noumea.

M

[matt.buttsworth]

24th December
All retreated units in Johore Bahru have been registered. Cadres of units not properly withdrawn will now be sent to Trivandium.
In the Philippines the Japanese have been forced off Clarke Field again. A repeated attack is being launched at Nanchang. Chinese units are also being advanced elsewhere on the Japanese pocket. An attack is being launched at Johore Bahru to force back the Japanese defenders.
Aggressive defence is the rule!

[matt.buttsworth]

Christmas 1941. Music breaks out on the allied front, beer is handled out, and wrapped presents from home are opened.
In China the attack on Nanchang is changed to bombardment to allow units to rest.
In Malaya the enemy cannot be thrown back so Johore Bahru units bomb the Japanese and await the build up of Japanese forces.
Hong Kong falls. Thousands of troops spend their first Christmas in captivity.
There are problems loading planes to go to Noumea. It is not known what is on.
The gradual allied build up of forces continues.
Merry Christmas!

[matt.buttsworth]

Little has happened. The slow Japanese advance in Malaya continues. Kuantan falls. No other Japanese landings.
In China a Japanese unit is surrounded. An advance has been ordered.
Problems sending plans to Noumea. Hopefully a solution will be found next turn.

M

[matt.buttsworth]

Little to report.
No major conflict.
Transports are making their long way to Sanfrancisco. Units and Planes wait there to be shipped.

[matt.buttsworth]

air battles continue.
The elimination of the nanyang pocket will soon begin.
Nanching holds out against repeated allied attack.
Battles at Johore Bahru continue.