A rush to Tokyo - Pat vs Davide

[George Patton]

THIS AAR IS OFF LIMITS FOR DAVIDE aka INVERNOMUTO[/b]

I’ve started a new game with CHS 2b, AB’s map 6.2, scenario 157.

December, 7th 1941

The first shot of the was a torpedo launched by S-39, that hit AP Kanko Maru, off Samar.

DEI

DD Evertsen and DD Van Nes, damaged with one DC jap submarine I-158, off Batavia.
Enemy landings have been registered in Kuching

Malaya

135 Nell attacked Singapore airifield, during the morning, destroying, in the sky or on the ground, 2 Blenheim, 2 Vildebeest and 3 Buffalo
In Khota Bharu, as supposed, Japan landed many troops. The defense inflicted 700 casualties to the enemy.

Philippines

Clark Field airfield, the main air base in the Philippines, has been attacked and bombarded by 106 japanes bombers, escorted by 50 Zero. My fighter’s pilot were not able to shot down any attacking planes. Instead I’ve lost 19 fighters and 2 B-17.
Japanese troops landed in Jolo I., Naga (where japan suffered 1026 casualties), Aparri, Vigan, Legaspi and Batan Is that have been quickly occupied.

China

PG Wake resulted sunk in Shangai harbor, attacked by japanese light vessels.


Cent Pac

26 Nell attacked Wake I., doing little damages. In the morning, japan inflantry begun to land, but coastal guns opened fire, hitting 16 times CL Yubari. The first infantry assault has been repulsed and Japan suffered another 320 casualties, but the fort has been reduced to 0.

Coastwatchers in Guam reported japanese landings

In Pearl Harbor, 351 japanese planes attacked early this morning.
The results have been tremendous: BB Maryland and BB California have been sunk, and DM Breeze as well.
BB Arizona is at 70/82, BB Pennsylvania 56/56, BB Tennessee 55/55, BB Nevada 49/13, BB West Virginia 46/6, BB Oklahoma 22/7, CA New Orleans 91/17, CA San Francisco 49/31.
The air losses have not been so heavy, 46 planes for the US, and 33 for Japan, but 187 out of 351 japanese attacking planes have been damaged.


Day Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 57
D3A2 Val x 137
B5N2 Kate x 157

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed, 24 damaged
D3A2 Val: 8 destroyed, 85 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 17 destroyed, 78 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 14 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 8 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
B-18A Bolo: 4 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 5 destroyed
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed
C-47 Dakota: 1 destroyed
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 13, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 18, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 22, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AE Pyro, Bomb hits 1
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 14, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB California, Bomb hits 21, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DM Sicard, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 14, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 18, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CL Helena, Bomb hits 1
DM Preble, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL St. Louis, Bomb hits 1
CL Honolulu, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
AV Tangier, Bomb hits 1
DMS Perry, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DM Breese, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Lamberton, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Monaghan, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Phelps, Bomb hits 1
DMS Chandler, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AR Argonne, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Phoenix, Torpedo hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
42 casualties reported

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 45

[George Patton]

December, 8th 1941

The situation is the following. It seems that Davide wants to proceed step by step, more historically than, for example, I’m trying to do against Chuck.


Cent Pac

KB is now NE of Oahu, heading SE. Nagumo is trying to attack sea lane between WC and Hawaii and, maybe, is hoping to find my carriers.
But Lexington and Enterprise are heading west, towards Wake I. I hope to find some enemy surface vessels supporting the landing. Now they will sail N of Wake, to avoid Nell bombers based in Kwajalein.

I don’t have too much to use on the west coas. 2. USMC is still understrenght and need more time. In SF the time needed is surely less.
I can transfer some air assets to Hawaii, maybe using Saratoga to ferry them.

In Wake, it depends how goes during the next few days, but I suppose the island will fall. Anyway I’m not planning to reinforce the garrison. Enterprise and Lexington will try to attack enemy ships, and I’m sending also two SS.

Instead Midway will become a stronghold. I want to reinforce the island more as I can, but until KB is around Hawaiian islands it’s impossible to do.

On the WC I’m assembling a bombardement force in SF, just in case KB come around here.

SW Pac

NY Inf Bde will be immediately transferred to Nomea, while one australian infantry company from Sidney to PM.
That’s all I can do for the moment.

Malaya

I’m retreating towards Johore and Singapore. First defense line will be established in Johore, the main defense in Singapore. Meanwhile I’ll try to slow down the enemy advance.

Force Z and other naval surface force will concentrate in Soerabaya.

For others front I will try to figure out later.

[George Patton]

Report of December, 8th 1941

Philippines

During the night CL Boise attacked 4 enemy transport while unloading troop in Jolo, damaging three of them, one heavily, and killing 385 japanese soldiers.

In the afternoon, a total of 40 P-40 tried to attack CVL Ryujo, CA Nachi and CA Myoko with bombs, without success. 1 P-40 shot down.

DD John Ford, escaping from Manila, survived to an attack made by 18 Kate. Same exploit, later, for DD Thanet.

On the ground, japanese occupied Aparri, Vigan, Legaspi and Naga, and Jolo I. as well.


Malaya

My Buffalo on CAP over Singapore have a lot to do. Today they shot down 3 Nell, while one of my heroes has been killed. In addition 3 Vildebeest and 1 Catalina have been destroyed on the ground.


Borneo

The important afld of Kuching is captured by Japan. Now Nell and Betty can be based there.

Cent Pac

The fort at Wake is reduced to 0. I think that my defenders will not hold for another day.
Guam surrendered, as preview.
Meanwhile I managed to transfer the Wake’s Wildcat squadron to Enterprise.

KB is heading W, directly towards Enterprise and Lexington. I ordered Halsey to steam to south, at max speed. I have some kt more that KB, so I should be able to escape. We’ll see.

DEI

All the available ships are coming to Soerabaya. After they arrived I will establish some raider TFs to ambush japanese invasion forces.

[George Patton]

Report of December, 9th 1941

Malaya

Japanese air raids are continuing all over the peninsula. I’ve scattered my fighters squadron around DEI. I will use them later.

Kuala Lumpur is fallen today. My troops are retreating towards Kuala Lumpur

Philippines

One lucky hit, SE of Luzon. One of my P-40 hit with a 100 lb bomb CS Mizuho. Deck penetration and severe casualties. I don’t know how bad is the ship damaged, but anyway it’s a great result.

DD Peary, in exchange, received 2 torpedoes while running south of Puerto Princesa and sunk.

AP Nissho Maru, damaged yesterday, sunk today at Jolo.

Borneo

Dutch planes heavy damaged one enemy AP at Kuching.

Hong Kong

The fort of the city drop to 4, but the odds for the japs were 0:1

South Pac

The japanese took Makin atoll today with a small naval force. I have CA Louisville SW of Abemana atoll and I send it immediately to Makin. With a bit of lucky I will intercept some enemy ships. CA Pensacola, anchored at Baker I. will do the same.
I know that Chuck tried the same agains me, and he lost 1 CA vs one of my CL, but this occurred during the night. I hope that with full speed set this will not happen.

Cent Pac

KB is still SW of French Frigate Shoals, heading, apparently to SW. My carriers are running to SE. I hope they will escape.

Yorktown will arrive in 3 days in Panama City. She will join Saratoga on the West Coast and, togheter, they will be based in PH.


DEI

A lot of ships arrived in Soerabaya. Now the main base is this one, but I’m preparing Koepang for future operations. When I will have enough PP I will also transfer there some dutch infantry and base force units.

[George Patton]

Report of December, 10th 1941

Cent Pac

CA Louisville attacked as planned at Makin. The cruiser arrived during the night and sunk DD Asanagi, and damaged DD Asanagi, and damaged DD Yunagi and 1 ML. Louisville received 5 hits but is not damaged.
CA Pensacola arrived too late. The 2 cruisers left then togheter the area.

DEI

Almost all the surface forces are now in Soerabaya.
One TF, leaded by PoW and Repulse, 3 CL and 9 DD is now heading to Balikpapan and wait for juicy targets.
Another TF, with CA Houston, CL Marblehead and CL Boise, will instead go to Kendari, and wait there that the japanese decide to move in the Celebes Sea.

[DanielAnsell]

Sounds like a great start.
 
What do you plan to do with your carriers in the near term?  I just started playing the game in the last couple of weeks, and I'm currently getting 'taught' the game by the AI in stock scenario 15.
 
Does the raiding in DEI tend to cause enough damage to the Japanese to make it worthwhile?
 
Carny

[George Patton]

ORIGINAL: Carny

Sounds like a great start.

What do you plan to do with your carriers in the near term? I just started playing the game in the last couple of weeks, and I'm currently getting 'taught' the game by the AI in stock scenario 15.

Does the raiding in DEI tend to cause enough damage to the Japanese to make it worthwhile?

Carny

If you can attack avoiding jap planes, you can inflict a lot of damage with PoW and Repulse. It could happens that R get some damages but generally PoW will escape undamaged. Obviously, you should engage enemy during the night and use the radar.

For the carriers I will keep two in PH and 2 in Noumea or Australia. Depending were KB is, I will attack enemy naval lanes.
Maybe Davide will split the KB, so I could hit some juicy target.

[George Patton]

Report of December, 11th 1941

Philippines

Oops they do it again! P-40 hit with two 100 lb bombs CS Mizuho. (and with another one 1 AK). One of the two bomb on Mizuho penetrated below the deck and exploded causing a lot of damages.
I don’t know the exactly conditions of the ship but I suppose she is seriously damaged.

One lucky hit, SE of Luzon. One of my P-40 hit with a 100 lb bomb CS Mizuho. Deck penetration and severe casualties. I don’t know how bad is the ship damaged, but anyway it’s a great result.

Cent Pac

KB appeared half way between West Coast and PH. I’ve been lucky, because japanese planes attacked and sunk one empty AP. I’m sure Davide is searching for damaged BB heading back to USA, but I’m keeping them in PH until tornado-KB is gone.
All the merchant ships and convoys have been ordered to return to SF.

My carriers are now heading to Canton I. where they will meet CA Louisville and Pensacola. The will then wait ther for further info, but I think I will send them to Noumea or Australia.

[George Patton]

Report of December, 12th – 14th, 1941

Cent Pac

Heavy naval bombardement against Wake I. on the night of the 12th. 286 US soldiers reported casualties. Jap reinforcements arrived on the 14th with another naval bombardement and in the afternoon the atoll was in jap hands.

Philippines

The japanese begun to land in Lingayen. The first waves of troops suffered 1150 casualties.
Laoag is now in jap hands, and Tugueguarao and Bagujo as well.


Borneo

The jap landed on the 14th. The city will probably fall tomorrow.

Malaya

A second japanese landing occurred in Kuantan.

South Pac

Tarawa is occupied by the japanese naval infantry.

My carriers rejoined themselves in Canton I. and they departed immediately towards SW Pac. They will sail near Tarawa and see if some enemy ships are still presents.