Hoepner vs. Beren. Mediterranean clash (CHS,scen158)

[Gen.Hoepner]

Central and Southern China plans

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/22-23/41

well, his APDs managed to badly damage 2 of my ducth subs in deep waters...seems like the ASW jap capabilities are better than ours....

What's important to underline now is that every single big unit which isn't operating in Malaya (except for the SSD) is at Clark fields right now...so no big surprises are on the horizont[:)] (see picture)

Clark is being bombed, both by land and by air. There's no way to survive here....

In China he managed to put another unit ( a mix bde) from Canton to the hex NW of it...stopping my advance[:(][:@] I shocked attack and obtained another 40-1 in my favour...but he's gaining precious time for his HK siege (which is going to end anytime from now)....his main railway at Canton gives him the chance to stop me before i enter at Canton...he's gonna win this battle:-(

However...things aren't deploying that bad. Burma is a deadly mess for his units, stuck at Tavoy, while Rangoon is pretty safe at least for another month. Surely in the next days it will start a bombing campaign of Burma (i've spotted more than 300 planes at Bankok)...but it's a good price to pay in order to save India!

In Sopac he landed at Admiralty Island.



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Ground combat at 43,40 (NW of Canton-China)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 33738 troops, 178 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1033

Defending force 6916 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 189

Allied max assault: 1930 - adjusted assault: 2378

Japanese max defense: 207 - adjusted defense: 59

Allied assault odds: 40 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
497 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Allied ground losses:
215 casualties reported
Guns lost 10


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

[Gen.Hoepner]

Just a comment about the new ASW system (after the last patch i mean).
Now ASW TFs really matters. Escorts became vital for the allies. And even with many escorts a jap experienced sub commander can hope to hit a big target and avoid the hunter group. Catalinas and planes on ASW missions are equally important and you do not have just to put them on naval search knowing that every sub in the area will be spotted and possibly sunk....
 
It's really really good now. Great change by Matrix. Again. Thx guys!!

[ctangus]

Hi General,

I'm a fan of the China game, too.

Couple questions:

1. I've raided up in the north like you're planning to do, but never with 3 full corps - I've always wanted them back towards Sian. Plus it seems like they'd be hard to keep in supply up there. Why do you want to send so much? (I hope I don't sound critical - just trying to learn more since I know you have more turns than me. [;)])

2. Can you bring enough troops from the Changsha area to enter Nanchang safely? I did that in one earlier CHS game & was able to withdraw through Nanchang instead of around it, saving my troops a lot of slow marching.

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: ctangus

Hi General,

I'm a fan of the China game, too.

Couple questions:

1. I've raided up in the north like you're planning to do, but never with 3 full corps - I've always wanted them back towards Sian. Plus it seems like they'd be hard to keep in supply up there. Why do you want to send so much? (I hope I don't sound critical - just trying to learn more since I know you have more turns than me. [;)])

2. Can you bring enough troops from the Changsha area to enter Nanchang safely? I did that in one earlier CHS game & was able to withdraw through Nanchang instead of around it, saving my troops a lot of slow marching.

Another china fan!![:D]

1. well the march towards Sian is too long and it will takes me months. By that time he will have already laid a siege around Sian (the fall of Yenan and Honan is pretty sure). I prefer forcing him to take care of his comm. lines, so to say to leave back some big units to face my 3 corps. Even without a decent supply those 3 corps are a mighty force to face...and that means less assault points for him for Yenan and Sian...and more time for me to build up my defences around Sian.

2. This is a good idea...the problem is that he knows the land combat system very well and he 's ready to sacrifice some troops in order to stop everytime my advancing orders...anyway, i'll give it a try...let's see if i can master doing it. At Nanchang however there are 9 jap units...enough to cause me some problems...let's see

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/24/41


today the important news is that HK is ready to fall and my troops haven't entered yet at Canton...it's kinda depressing[:(] supplies at HK are only 800...and the rock won't ast for long...maybe 1 or 2 more days...nothing more:-(

However, as you can see from the picture below, the general situation in China isn't that bad. Altough in the northern front Japanese armies seem ready to launch their main attack against my long streched defensive perimeter, my guerrilla units managed to cut their primary supply road in their back...now the supplies will have to follow a longer road towards Pekiin and this can mean one or 2 more days gained.
The central Japanese front is in the same problematic conditions...the supply is granted only by a very voulnerable road, that passes through Anking...and my guerrilla bands are already moving to break this "pipeline" in different locations at the same time.


Another good news of today is that he came twice with a bombing strike over Singa...from Kuantan and Kota Barhu. My Flak did a great job and at the end of the day he lost 18 planes due to AA fire, obtaining small results imho in terms of AF and Port Damage

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Day Air attack on Singapore , at 22,51

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 61
Ki-32 Mary x 11
Ki-21-II Sally x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 28 damaged[:D]
Ki-32 Mary: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged


Allied ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

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Day Air attack on Singapore , at 22,51

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
C5M Babs x 3
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 26
Ki-21-II Sally x 59

Japanese aircraft losses
C5M Babs: 2 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 2 destroyed, 36 damaged[:D]


Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported

Port hits 1


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Ground combat at Hong Kong

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 50274 troops, 256 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 876

Defending force 14430 troops, 49 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 232

Japanese max assault: 568 - adjusted assault: 547

Allied max defense: 212 - adjusted defense: 298

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0) [:@][:(]

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
558 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
461 casualties reported
Guns lost 12

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/25/41

Another day of defeats for the Submarine-Anti submarine operations for the allies.
SS Salmon and SS Pickerel managed to put two torps in 2 different japanese ships, juts to find out that those nasty fishes don't work[:@].
While the Jap Torp work perfectly. I-16 put a torp in the stomache of DD Clark, while this unit, part of an ASW group, was scouting the waters between SF and PH. The reponse of the other DDs wasn't good enough. Only a marginal hit to the nasty enemy unit...

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Sub attack at 41,70

Japanese Ships
AP Hie Maru
PG Hong Kong Maru
PG Oi Maru

Allied Ships
SS Pickerel

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Sub attack at 128,58

Japanese Ships
SS I-16, hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Clark, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Preston
DD Smith
DD Cushing

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Sub attack at 42,52

Japanese Ships
DD Inazuma
DD Ikazuchi

Allied Ships
SS Salmon

While these things happen, the fight at Clark Fields goes on. The Japs are keep bombing the place with their superior Artillery, causing havoc among our brave defenders..

Ground combat at Clark Field

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 96730 troops, 593 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2774

Defending force 48696 troops, 388 guns, 296 vehicles, Assault Value = 1333



Allied ground losses:
272 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 5


In Burma the first japanese air strikes begin. 2 Buffalos shot down during a japanese sweep mission above Rangoon skies. 66 Oscars, intercepted only by a few brave british guys...
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Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 66
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Ki-15 Babs x 1

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 2 destroyed


While at Mouleim, my little CAP of buffaloes didn't achieve a single victory against the rampant asian power....
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Day Air attack on 1st Burma Brigade, at 30,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-II Sally x 47
Ki-15 Babs x 1

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-II Sally: 3 damaged[:@]



Allied ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Guns lost 2




In Malaya, 16 units are massing at Jahore Baru, ready to jump on Singapore. Subs are already moving to evacuate what remains of the brave Malayan Army....

In China, the japs finally understood that a big, coordinated, anti-partisan campaign is needed to clean the supply lines. My guerrilla units keep on moving, cutting here and there roads and railways...it's a nasty and bloody job, but these men are the right men to to that work!

At HK the japs got a bloody nose today. 0-1 and one more day gained[:D]

My strategic retreat movements are working as planned. Soon the situation will be under controll.

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Ground combat at Hong Kong

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 49692 troops, 249 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 847

Defending force 13954 troops, 35 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 222

Japanese max assault: 14 - adjusted assault: 7 [&:][&:][&:][&:][8D]

Allied max defense: 195 - adjusted defense: 1045 [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)


Japanese ground losses:
132 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/26/41

Johore Baru fell today, under the push of 3 divisions, supported by a number of Eng regiments, Artillery units and support of various types.
Now the way towards Singa is empty and soon the fate of the Rock will be written.

Another DD torpedoed on its way towards San Francisco...[:(]

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Sub attack at 124,59

Japanese Ships
SS I-175

Allied Ships
DD Perkins, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Rathburne
DD Lawrence
DD Crosby


While Kendari is invaded and bombed by a huge TF composed by BBs, CLs and DDs, the fights at Clark fields go on. Japan is bombing the hell out of the place.
HK breaths again for another day...

In China everything is moving. The anti-partisan japanese capaign continues, while my regular army is getting in place.

The first hurrican squadron enters in line in India...

CV Yorktown arrived. Now we have 4 CVs operating in the CENTPAC[8D]

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

Another china fan!![:D]

Yep - it can be a nice place to score points early. [:)]

1. well the march towards Sian is too long and it will takes me months. By that time he will have already laid a siege around Sian (the fall of Yenan and Honan is pretty sure). I prefer forcing him to take care of his comm. lines, so to say to leave back some big units to face my 3 corps. Even without a decent supply those 3 corps are a mighty force to face...and that means less assault points for him for Yenan and Sian...and more time for me to build up my defences around Sian.

That makes sense - thanks. I'll have to try that some day.

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/27/41

A Bad day, begun with a good result, and ending with a serie of crushing defeats...

SS 016 scored a torp on a Jap DD at Tarakan, recieving only 2 minor hits that scrapped its paint.

Then the jap IJA prooved its mighty at Rangoon. Hordes of Oscars, escorting some sallies, shot down 8 indian hurricanes and 4 british buffalos, losing only 4 oscars... Rangoon AF has to be evacuated cause i have nothing to oppose hi here at the moment.

At Clark Fields he attacked and gained a 1-1. Forts reduced to 2 and my strenght getting lower

HK holds, but in northern China he managed to cross the river near Yenan with a full division, that pushed back my regiment there. Now the road to Yenan is open. At the same time his anti-partisan units managed to destroy 2 of my guerrilla units and trapped 3 more of them in a little pocket near Hankow.
At Canton he again managed to move faster than me, stopping my advance[:@][:@][:@] Silly ground combat system[:@][:@], but i'll give him good for good![;)]

The AVG tried a sortie in China. Against Nates over Hankow managed to shoot down 0 enemies, gettin 2 planes damaged in return[:(]

The Mini KB arrived at Rabaul, covering the Kavieng landing operations.


tomorrow morning i'll post some pics of the day...

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Sub attack near Kendari at 33,71

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsukaze, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Yuzuki
DD Minazuki
DD Satsuki
DD Nenohi

Allied Ships
SS O16, hits 2

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Day Air attack on Hankow , at 48,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 18

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 24

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 damaged[:@]

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Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 105
Ki-21-II Sally x 60
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5
Ki-15 Babs x 5

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 9
Hurricane IIb x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 22 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
Hurricane IIb: 8 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
153 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 28

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Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 62,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31
B5N2 Kate x 13

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged


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Ground combat at Clark Field

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 126883 troops, 659 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 2825

Defending force 56113 troops, 401 guns, 294 vehicles, Assault Value = 1442

Japanese max assault: 2734 - adjusted assault: 1470

Allied max defense: 1517 - adjusted defense: 784

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2


Japanese ground losses:
4366 casualties reported
Guns lost 20
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
3994 casualties reported
Guns lost 88
Vehicles lost 15



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Ground combat at 49,35

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7179 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 200

Defending force 291 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14

Japanese max assault: 195 - adjusted assault: 179

Allied max defense: 12 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 179 to 1



Allied ground losses:
458 casualties reported[:@] no more existing
Guns lost 2


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Ground combat at 50,27

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 17486 troops, 97 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 397

Defending force 2591 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 82

Japanese max assault: 376 - adjusted assault: 344

Allied max defense: 85 - adjusted defense: 8

Japanese assault odds: 43 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
281 casualties reported
Guns lost 8


Defeated Allied Units Retreating! towards Yenan[:o]

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Ground combat at Suchow

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7141 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 301

Defending force 270 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 11

Japanese max assault: 212 - adjusted assault: 426

Allied max defense: 9 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 426 to 1



Allied ground losses:
408 casualties reported[:@]




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Ground combat at 49,36

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6806 troops, 30 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 162

Defending force 1159 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 48

Japanese max assault: 149 - adjusted assault: 68

Allied max defense: 43 - adjusted defense: 49

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
106 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
34 casualties reported

this is the little pocket of my partisans...

[Gen.Hoepner]

.

[Gen.Hoepner]

As you can see my northern perimeter around Sian is getting smaller, due to the combined advance of the japs. However, i'm pretty happy. I managed to avoid any encirclement of my regular units as planned. The retreat proceeds well. Now he has 2 choices: he can exploit the rivercrossing east of Yenan and attack yenen from eastward, or he can try something more risky, crossing the river another time west of Yenen, trying to cut the road that leads from Yenen to Sian. This move will be risky because i've predicted this option and placed some good strongpoints on the rivercrossing locations. I don't think he's gonna cross near Honan, cause this will force him to commit units from the Hankow area, where my pressure is surely higher. Still, my guerrilla forces in the area aren't annihilated yet and are ready to come into action to delay his advance. Tomorrow we'll attack SE of Honan where he entered with a division on the hex that contains the railjunction. I hope in a jap bloody nose here...the terrain is plain...so the defenders should not have any big advantage here....lets' see.
 
One more thing to be noticed: his subs with Glens are reconing Palmyra, Canton and Christmas island intensively in these days...this can mean he's getting ready to invade? Well...now i have 4 operational CVs ready to come into action...and i'm willing to defend my route toward Oz!

[Gen.Hoepner]

Beren is dropping.
I need someone else to play with me...
 
here's the thread on the Opponent Wanted forum...
 
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1213958&mpage=1&key=&#1213958

[Gen.Hoepner]

So it seems that a Canadian man is taking over Beren's place.
Think in 2 days we're gonna be active again.
 
Sorry for the delay guys

[AmiralLaurent]

Hi, Gen,

that is goods news.

I like better your new avatar... now you just had to cut the man on the right and it will be perfect....

[Gen.Hoepner]

LOL[:D]
The man on the right is just the typical italian latin lover[8D][;)][:D]
 
well...mmm...ok...probably not, but you do not know me, so you cannot know[:D]

[aztez]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

LOL[:D]
The man on the right is just the typical italian latin lover[8D][;)][:D]

well...mmm...ok...probably not, but you do not know me, so you cannot know[:D]

[:D][:D][:D]

[goodboyladdie]

I agree with Amiral. You can keep your arm in the picture, but it would be much improved without the "typical Italian lover" in the pink shirt!

Is that what you were doing while you were off the forum? Partying with beautiful ladies? Well done!

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: goodboyladdie

I agree with Amiral. You can keep your arm in the picture, but it would be much improved without the "typical Italian lover" in the pink shirt!

Is that what you were doing while you were off the forum? Partying with beautiful ladies? Well done!

Not really...while i was off i was changing my house, working like a beast and getting bored wihout witp.
The "Italian lover" that lives in me comes out only during summer time[:D] (in fact that picture is from last summer in Sardinia[8D])
But today i'm leaving for Sardinia...so i hope to get some new cool avatar pretty soon[;)]

[AmiralLaurent]

A stategic analysis of the situation: