Day of Infamy AAR - Feinder vs. Ngineer (no Ngineers allowed)

[Feinder]

06-25-1942

China is active all along the front.

In the northern provinces, Nationalist Chinese forces attack at Kalgan. Our troops hold, and counter-attack inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese. Meanwhile, to the SouthEast, our own forces push into the mountains towards Taiyuan, mauling the sparse defenders; but are unable to yet dislodge them.

In Central China, our Expeditionary Army pushes west near the Hubai River, and engages a Nationalist Chinese Corps which has been hastily moved to the area for its defense.

The Chinese also counter-attack near Wuhan (again), but are thrown back. This time, with heavy casualties on both sides. While our Army has held, Gen Yang at Wuhan calls for reinforcements.

In the South, a 3rd Army is allocated to Yamishita and begins to deploy NE of Nanning; along with two Tac-Bmbr groups en-route to Burma.

[Feinder]

06-25-1942

Cent-Pac and Strategic Map

Mostly sub-hunting in the Central Pacific. His subs have proven to be quite capable, having scored 6 hits on major capital ships in the last turns. I'm shifting most of my fleet assets to crush the Royal Navy, leaving behind several destroyers and CVL to play whack-a-mole with his subs.

I did transfer several SNLF-Divs (3x) into Rabaul. Perhaps thru intel, or just luck, he reconned Rabaul and spotted my 3x SNLF-Divs. On the plus side, I think that'll give him some pause on, "Where is Feinder sending those... Invasion Port Moresby? Retake Kwaj?" Or frankly, I usually don't have any idea what's rolling around in his head (which is why he's such a dangerous opponent).

Strat Map

General Displacement of assets. You'll see as shift westward in the next turn or two.

[Feinder]

06-25-1942

Losses, Builds, Research, Economy

Losses - IJN Destroyer squadron. Ugh. And it's very obvious that I need ASW assets. Not a good loss (not that ANY loss would be a good loss).

Builds - No builds. Spending points on Repairs and Upgrades.

Research - Production Tech and Fighters are coming along, but never fast enough.

Economy - Burma and Solomons convoys are shut down. And -110 MPPs due to Home Guard and Garrisons.

[Feinder]

07-15-1942

Kind of a quiet turn over-all.

Burma

Continued skirmishes at Yenangyaung (Mines) and south of Mandalay. Also indecisive air sweeps by both the RAF and our Army Fighter Group. It seems obvious that this much is stale-mated on the ground in Burma.

I loaded a division at Rangoon, to invade the Andaman Islands (it's a National Morale location within reach). Also moved in several SNLF-Divs from the Dutch East Indies that will require some replacements, but should be useful for an invasion of India (yes, that's what I'm looking to do).

[Feinder]

07-15-1942

China

A general offensive in China. Moving from North to South...

Nationalist Chinese units continue to press at Kalgan. I am sending reinforcements that way. Altho I can inflict more casualties on an singular counter-attack, it does wear down my troops. And with two units adjacent, he's eroding the supply there, which will make it more un-tenable; except that it's a capital, so we're not going let him have it.

Somewhat to try to take some pressure off Kalgan, I'm pressing at three points further south. Destroyed the Chinese Garrison near Taiyuan, and also the Communist Garrison to the SE as well. I didn't have the movement points to occupy it tho. Also driving a unit in center.

He continues to press at Wuhan as well. He has local-advantage, but my troops are holding. I also pushed up a to attack his Artillery-Div (supporting attacks at Wuhan). He's pretty well entrenched, and I only did 1xSP of damage. I continued to attack his mines to the south. That Inf-Army is gaining good experience, for what it's worth.

At Nanning, I think we're both too dug-in for anything to break that. I might shift one of the Inf-Armies away (only need 2 if stalemate), but I haven't decided yet.

[Feinder]

07-15-1942

Losses, Builds, Research, Economy

Losses - Comm-Chi and Nat-Chi garrisons.

Builds - No builds. Spending points on Repairs and Upgrades.

Research - Still haven't pushed anything over the finish line yet.

Economy - MPPs stead at around 400.

[Feinder]

07-15-1942

Strat Map

Oops. Almost forgot the Strategic Map. I'm shifting Naval and Air assets toward Burma.

[Feinder]

08-04-1942

Burma

At the behest of their Colonial Masters, the Chinese Inf-Army attacks south from Mandalay, slashing into the Thai Inf-Corps. Our Thai allies hold, but will need to be withdrawn for reinforcements and updated equipment.

The Royal Navy intercepts the Amphibious Task Force headed for Andaman Island. The HMS Warspite and HMS Resolution take part in the action, and are supported by Fairy Swordfish from the HMS Victorious. The invasion TF is completely obliterated.

However, IJN assets have been moving into theater, including the heavy carrier Akagi. Akagi's carrier-borne Kates combine with G3M Nells out of Rangoon, and attack the Royal Navy battleships. Fairey Fulmars from the Victorious are found to be flying top-cover over the battleships, but escorting Zeros from Akagi, and Oscars from Ragoon drive off the CAP. HMS Resolution takes 5 torpedoes and 4 bomb hits, and is sunk.

The Warspite and Victorious are expected to have retreated back to safer ports along the Indian Coast.

[Feinder]

08-04-1942

China

More fighting along all along the Chinese front, from Kalgan in the north, to Hengayang in the south.

Our reinforcements begin to arrive in the north, and additional units are activated from Manchuria.
The Communist Chinese push out of their enclave in the north, and badly maul our Cavalry Division. The Manchurian units will be used to shore up our lines both near Kalgan, and at the Communist incursion.

[Feinder]

08-04-1942

Central Pacific and Strategic Map

CentPac isn't exciting, but we did manage to sink one of his 3(?) subs operating in the area. Hate those nasty things. We also spotted a USN Heavy Cruiser, and launched a few strikes against it, but P-38s from New Guinea drove off most of our bombers, and the results were inconclusive.

I would love to be able to have boxed him in, but I couldn't get all of his possible escape routes, and also be out of spotting range. I have recently repaired and refitted naval units from the Home Islands are moving into play as well though.

Strategic Map

General disposition of knows assets.

[Feinder]

08-04-1942

Losses, Builds, Research, Economy

Losses - Royal Navy Battleship, a USN Submarine, and an embarked IJA AAA-Div on transports.

Builds - No builds. But I do get a DN and CVL next turn...

Research - Getting close on Fighters-2 and ProdTech-2. But not there yet.

Economy - 400(+) MPPs, with deductions for Home Guard and Garrisons.

[Feinder]

08-24-1942

Burma

IJN forces sortie into the Bay of Bengal, in search of the British Pacific Fleet.

The HMS Victorious is found in port at Chittagong. Our bombers strike, and fight their way past CAP from both the RAF and Flying Tigers. Several bomb hits are scored, but Victorious is not sunk at at her moorings. I expect she will flee to a more southerly port, are around to the west side of India. The HMS Warspite has not been spotted. If Warspite and his Heavy Cruiser to sortie, we should be able to handle them without difficulty. Note that we're moving up another carrier and battleship in the support, will be in theater next turn.

Also Marine and LBA forces continue to mass.

[Feinder]

08-24-1942

China

Heavy fighting in the north of China.

Nationalist Chinese forces attempt to surround the city of Kalgan, but reinforcements from Manchuria have arrived, and smash the Chinese Inf-Corps that was attempting to surround Kalgan. Caught between two of our Inf-Armies, the Chinese Inf-Corps is utterly destroyed.

Meanwhile, to the southeast Nationalist and Communist Inf-Armies attempt to break into the central Dasha River Valley. They destroy a IJA Garrison unit that was hastily gathered to delay their advance, to buy time for the arrival of additional Inf-Armies from Manchuria.

We're also finally able to push our forces to occupy the Communist Chinese stronghold at Pingxing Pass.

A little further south, our Inf-Army consolidates the salient Zhyan, awaiting the arrival of a Inf-Corps to secure the town/supply depot. I'll push the Inf-Army south, to hit his flank at Ychang, which should relieve some of the pressure on Wuhan.

[Feinder]

08-24-1942

South Pacific and Strategic Map

SoPac is actually fairly quiet. We bombarded the port and Australian Special Forces unit at Lorengau.

Also moved up additional fleet assets (including two CVs), to Truk. We'll move against his Heavy Cruiser in New Guinea next turn, if he keeps it there.


Strategic Map

General disposition of opposing forces.

[Feinder]

8-24-1942

Losses, Builds, Research, Economy

Losses - Chinese Inf-Corps. IJA Garrison.

Builds - Rebuilt the 2x Garrisons and Mari-Bmbrs that were destroyed previously (in supply), so less expensive. Next turn, an SNLF-Div and 2x Garrisons arrive.

Research - InfantryTech, Fighters, and ProductionTec... Which will complete first?!

Economy - Ugh. MPPs dropped to 337, due to Home Guard, Garrisons, and AAA event builds.

And now, this AAR is caught up, and I'm waiting on a turn!

[Feinder]

And as an FYI, so that folks don't think this AAR has lapsed...

Ngineer is a first-responder, and we both live here in Florida. We had that storm blow thru, and he's being sent to "respond" for the next several days (up to 10).

He very dutifully sent me the turn before heading out; which I am working on, and will update the AAR.

But once I'm done with the turn and have posted to the AAR, there probably won't be any updates for a week(+/-).

[Tanaka]

And as an FYI, so that folks don't think this AAR has lapsed...

Ngineer is a first-responder, and we both live here in Florida. We had that storm blow thru, and he's being sent to "respond" for the next several days (up to 10).

He very dutifully sent me the turn before heading out; which I am working on, and will update the AAR.

But once I'm done with the turn and have posted to the AAR, there probably won't be any updates for a week(+/-).

Good stuff thanks for the update guys.

[Feinder]

9-13-1942

Burma

I presumed that he's retreated the HMS Victorious, to the safer waters along India's coast.
Given that I still want to invade Andaman Islands, I pulled back the IJN towards Rangoon to cover that invasion (planned to launch next turn, SNLF-Div circled).

In returning to Rangoon, we spotted his Royal Navy sub is "silent" mode just south of Rangoon. After many bombs by my two Carriers, and the two newly deployed Tac-Bmbrs, his sub was significantly damaged (about 4-SP), and forced to flee.

We'll get the SNLF-Div loaded into transports next turn, and following get them ashore; THEN go hunting for Royal Navy fleet assets.

More skirmishes near Mandalay. He attacked. Our troops held. Nothing exciting.

[Feinder]

9-13-1942

China

In the north, the IJA counterattacked near Kalgan, bleeding the Nationalist forces arrayed against us. At this point, the IJA's 2x Inf-Armies should be very sufficient to repulse the Nationalist units there.

Along the plains in the south , IJA forces also counter-attacked advancing forces of both Communist and Nationalist Chinese. I wanted especially to hit the Comm-Chi forces, to bleed them. Those two Comm-Chi Inf-Armies hit hard, but there are very few MPPs for them to have replacements. So if I can bleed them off, he'll have to pull them back. I then pulled my forces back a hex (not adjacent), so that he doesn't get the bonus for starting adjacent with a prepared attack.

He did push an Inf-Corps towards my HQ at Zhengzhou. But his Inf-Corps took two step losses, my HQ one. Not optimal, as the HQ is expensive to replace. But it held. I'm now pushing my units North and South out of Shiyan which should relaxt the pressure on my HQ, and also make him consider his position a little further south at Yichang.

Along the southern front, I took replacements. Also Inf-Weapons should kick to Level-2 soon, and I'll want to have my units a step back, to take that upgrade.

[Feinder]

9-13-1942

South Pacific and Strategic Map

US Marine forces landed at Tulagi, and pushed their way inland towards Fuchida Field.
An additional SNLF-Div was quickly moved down The Slot to reinforce our forces on Guadalcanal.
Our forces, now reinforced, attacked the USMC incursion before it was able to secure it's beach-head.
The exhausted Marines suffered many casualties, and the remaining stragglers were taken prisoner.

A routine patrol flying east from Truk, identified a squadron of Dirigibles based a Kolonia. The Carrier Hiryu was dispatched to strike the base, many dirigibles were caught on the ground and destroyed. A subsequent bombardment by the battleship Kongo proved to have insubstantial results. The majority of our fleet units sortied to escort Hiryu. I'm a little concerned about how far out Kongo is, and without air-cover. This could develop into something, or nothing at all. I guess I'll find out when the turn comes back.

(no pictured)
And further West of Ulithi Atoll, the CVL Shoho and a group of Destroyers scored several hits on a USN Submarine prowling the Solomons convoy route. A second US submarine was spotted making its way into the shipping lanes south of Japan. By the time flying boats and destroyers arrive at the position, the submarine had already disappeared.

Strategic Map

Probably too much detail here. But locations of major (and many minor) assets are shown.