Tsunami in the Pacific - Mogami vs. Kereguelen

[Kereguelen]

Hi,

as Mogami told, this AAR is now to be continued after a break of two months. Not sure was I was doing, trying to sort out things now. Some strange destinations for some of my TFs [&:].


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/15+ 02/16/42

Not much to report for those two days (and I somehow lost the after action reports). A deliberate attack on Clark Field failed, but CF will fall soon.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/18/42

Nells from Singapore bomb Soerabaja during the night, no hits. Some airstrikes in China. Dutch SS KX torpedoes AP Anzan Maru near
Toboali but is sunk by Japanese escort vessels afterwards. Land bombardments at Clark Field.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/19/42

Another night Air attack on Soerabaja with Nells. Naval bombardment of Bankha (BB Hyuaga, BB Ise, 4 CA, 2 CL, 8 DD). Nells sink the
AK Parigi at Rangoon. Martins from Soerabaja score some hits on the AP Daifuku Maru near Pontianak. SS Pickerel torpedoes the
AE Soya south of Rabaul. Japanese forces CAPTURE Clark Field, high losses for both sides. Battered remains of Allied forces return to
Bataan. Japanese Deliberate attack at Banjarmasin reduces forts.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/20/42

Only some airstrikes and land bombardments.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/21/42

21st Japanese Mixed Brigade lands at Bankha. Day air attack on Batavia, heavy losses for both sides. Japanese forces force Chinese
troops in China to retreat from a strategic crossroads. Buka and Wewak captured by NLF.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/22/42

Unescorted day Air attack on Batavia, lots of Nells and Betties shot down by Dutch fighters. Seems that his Zeros decided to stay at home. Martins hit AP Tohuku Maru near Jambi. 21st Mixed Brigade captures Bankha.

SUMMARY OF ELEVENTH WEEK:

Not much happening. Allies lose Dutch SS KX. Clark Field captured. This will release many forces of his Southern Army for
other tasks. The spotting of an AE in the Solomons is quite alarming to me. Guess that its purpose was to replenish
his battleships for bombardment missions. If it's damaged this could hopefully delay some of his actions.
Maybe a planned attack on Noumea? We'll see!

[Kereguelen]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/23/42

Japanese landings at Jambi and Hansa. His planes bombards Bataan to get some easy experience. Dutch Martin bombers hit the BB Hyuga with a 250lb bomb doing no damage.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/24/42

Naval bombardment of Raba (CA Atago, 5 DD). A NLF takes Green Island, another one Hansa. Target practice at Bataan.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/25/42

Lots of air attacks against ground forces. Dutch planes try to hit Japanese transports near Java without any success. Invasion of Java seems to be imminent. SS KXV torpedoes AP Mikage Maru #2. SS O23 sinks. Landings at Sabang and Madang.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/26/42

Naval bombardment of Batavia (BB Mutsu, BB Nagato, 3 CA, 2 CL, 9 DD), coastal defense guns do not fire at the attackers! Another naval bombardment at Kragen (BB Hyuga, BB Ise, 4 CA, 2 CL, 8 DD), seems to be the landing beach of his choice for the assault on Java. Sabang captured. Lots of air attacks.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/27/42

Dutch Martin bombers hit some transports near Kragen. Japanese forces CAPTURE Madang base. Japanese artillery bombards Homan.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/28/42

A NLF lands at Siador. B-17E attack Rahaeng. Martin bombers hit an AP and ML Yaeyama at Raba. Lots of Japanese troops land at Kragen. Raba, Muntok, Sampit and Toboali captured.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/01/42

More troops land at Kragen and some small forces land at Tulagi. B-17E hit Rahaeng again, but no convincing results. Dutch bombers try their best at Kragen, but their best seems not to be enough (only one hit on an AP scored). At sea, a T.IVa torpedoes AP Teiun Maru. A NLF lands at Andaman Island (he was reconning and bombing the hell out of that place, don't understand why). Japanese Shock attack at Homan meets Level 8 forts (he loses 3284 casualties and 176 guns). Siador and Andaman Island taken.

SUMMARY OF TWELFTH WEEK:

The attack on Java has begun. Not much to do against it. Dutch airforce is rather ineffective. And the occupation of the Solomon Islands is under way. No ship losses and low plane losses for both sides. No action in the Pacific, no sightings, no nothing.

The occupation of the Andaman Island irritates me somewhat but seems not to threaten my position in India. India is well stocked and has very high fortification levels (some Level 9 forts). His shock attack at Homan was quite costly for him and gave my Chinese some needed combat experience. Seems to me that this AAR still sees much less action than others.

[Kereguelen]

Hi,

after quite a long time updating this AAR (6 weeks game time have passed since my last entry). Well, have not lost interest in AAR's (daily checking the forums and reading most of them when time permits), but Dec/Jan/Feb is my busy time at work and have not much time (and another PBEM).

There was not much action the last weeks:

SRA: The Japanese have taken Soerabaja and are closing on Batavia. The Imperial Guards are fighting at Palembang for weeks (or rather, after a failed attack, they exchange bombardments with the defenders). I managed to bring in the 22nd Indian Brigade early, but don't understand why Mogami did not simply reinforce the Guards and attack Palembang with stronger forces! The Allies still hold Bali and Timor (Timor was taken back by local forces).

Burma: The Japanese stand at the gates of Rangoon.

Solomon Islands: The Japanese have taken Shortlands and Guadalcanal (Lunga and Tulagi), but that's it for the given time.

North Paific: He bothered to take Attu and has landed at Kiska weeks ago without attacking, strange!

China: He's bombarding at Changsha.

Naval actions: A quite succesful torpedo boat action; Dutch PTs put torps into three unprotected Japanese AK at Kragen, three were lost later when refueling at Batavia, the rest escaped to safer waters.

Air action: Some unopposed bombardment runs by both sides.

Losses (whole game):

Air Allied 744/Jap 529

Ships (Allied/Jap): BB 1/0, CS 0/1, CL 2/0, DD 3/2, DM 1/0, SS 5/6, ML 1/0, MSW 4/3, PT 8/0, PC 0/4, TK 0/1, AP 0/18, AK 18/2

Current Score: 4430/10449

K

[Tom Hunter]

Comments on Singapore falling.

I get the impression that an isolated city that has no escape route will fall pretty quickly. I am not sure why but this seems to be the case.

I have Chinese cities in my game that are fighting long and hard. In fact Wochow just pushed the Japanese out. The battle there lasted January to March. Yenen is still going strong 100k Chinese and 200k Japanese.

Clark field lasted a nearly a month but Singapore proper came apart pretty fast. My only exception to this was Rangoon which held a few weeks. before I got half the garrison out by sea.

Maybe its just luck or maybe the Japanese general in Malaya was really kick ass but that is what I have seen so far.

Nice AAR, have you thought about adding maps?

[Kereguelen]

Maps: Yes, soon to follow (I always forget to make screenshots before ending a turn).

[mogami]

Hi, I forgot all about those lads up north. I have become so fixed on Java.
The Guards are under orders not to take Palembang before the enemy airfield 240 miles away is captured. (I don't want bombers hiting my oilfields.)
everything is pretty much according to plan [X(]

[mogami]

Hi, All quiet in the Pacific. Both sides glare across the distance but make no move.

[Kereguelen]

Ok, this game still lives (we started nearly a year ago under Patch 1.20) but there was not much happening for some time. Not many air battles and absolutely no surface combats during the last months. Sub warfare continues to a limited extend but subs of both sides seem to be unable to hit anything with their torps. Mogami tried some kind of sub offensive in Indian waters but this only resulted in sunk or damaged Japanese subs. Heavy bombers from India managed to largely demolish the HI at Hanoi and the Oil at Rangoon. In Burma Mogami has taken Rangoon but does not push north. Port Moresby was taken some time ago but I had evacuated it before.

Kido Butai seems to be at Kwajalein...

Scores (Allies/Japan) are: Ship losses 44/42 (sub losses 5/10), Air losses 985/728.

[witpqs]

What's the current game date?

[mogami]

Hi. 8-8-42 (as in 08-08-42 update)

[Kereguelen]

The motto of this AAR should have been "noli me tangere"[>:].

It is now 09/09/1942 in our game. Not much happened in the last month: Some Allied airstrikes vs. Rangoon and Port Moresby and an unopposed (there was no CAP[8D]) Allied carrier raid against Guadalcanal which killed some Japanese transports and escorts. Finished off two more Japanese subs and damaged a third one. Allied subs don't even spot Japanese ships. Sub losses (A/J) are 5/12 now, ship losses (A/J) 45/59. Allies have lost 1 BB, 2 CL, 5 DD, 1 DM, 1 ML, 4 MSW, 5 SS, 8 PT, 18 AK, Japanese 1 CS, 5 DD, 5 APD, 1 PG, 3 PC, 4 MSW, 12 SS, 1 TK, 2 AK, 25 AP thusfar. Guess that 2-3 more Japanese transports will join their brethren in the "slot" during the next few days.

Army losses are 7816 Allied, 307 Japanese (seems that parts of 21st IJA Division went down with their transports near Guadalcanal). Air losses (A/J) are 1110/796. Both sides take more OP losses than combat losses.

[Kereguelen]

Finally we see some action in our game for the first time since my small carrier raid on Guadalcanal two month ago.

About two weeks ago Mogami started a limited air offensive over Burma which resulted in some Zeros (about 25 went down in only two days) shot down while the losses of the RAF remained low. It seems that he doen't want his elite pilots now, it was simply too easy to make mincemeat of his fighter planes

But now he seems to come in force, at least four Japanese divisions (maybe even five, not yet confirmed) with tank and (probably) artillery support and a HQ [X(] have taken Pagan. Seems that he wants to take Mandalay now. Don't know what he's up to, he could've taken the place months ago. Seems that he's trusting in my paranoia about India and does not expect much resistance...

Nothing is happening in the SOPAC currently (that is, at least nothing I'ld know about). He recons Noumea with Betties from Lunga, giving my fighter pilots and flak something to do. Sometimes my Catalinas spot some subs, but he seems rather to employ them for defensive actions than for attacks on my convoys (there was not a single attack on my shipping for some months).

My subs don't make many contacts, even if one of them managed to sink an AP near New Guinea.

At Port Moresby he keeps at least 100 fighter planes ready, would be a nice target for my heavies, but I've decided not yet to flatten the place even if the neccessary assets are ready. Maybe later...

Allied ship losses have not changed since last post, Japan has lost two more AP. Not much for about two months[:(].

Allied top ace is 1LT W.Conkling (AVG) with 8 kills. Aircraft losses are (A/J) 1279/945, Land losses 7834/320.

[Kereguelen]

Finally Mog came out of his hiding place[8D]

Some days ago, a massive fighter sweep from Guadalcanal swept away my fighter CAP over Luganville. This move put Allied forces in that area on alert condition. Some days later the whole Japanese fleet (with all [8] fleet carriers and all CVL's) was spotted in the vicinity of Luganville
SOPAC ordered all available bombers on naval attack and fighters on escort mission. Actually I was hoping to catch a bombardment TF, but the next turn, KB was spotted only three hexes away from Noumea[X(]. This resulted in the following battle:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/26/42

Day Air attack on TF at 70,110

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 81

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
SBD Dauntless x 12
Beaufort V-IX x 3
P-40B Tomahawk x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 3
B-17E Fortress x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 9 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 9 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 6 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 2 destroyed, 28 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1
CV Kaga
DD Akigumo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 70,110

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 77

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 72
SBD Dauntless x 20
Beaufort V-IX x 16
P-40B Tomahawk x 42
P-40E Warhawk x 20
B-26B Marauder x 36
B-17E Fortress x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 36 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 40 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 22 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 13 destroyed
B-26B Marauder: 3 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 15, on fire, heavy damage
CS Nisshin
CVL Ryujo
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

In the end, I expect Junyo and Hiyo not to reach port. Zuiho may survive, but it's a long way home.

I still wonder what Mog wanted to do near Noumea. I have no hints of an imminent invasion[&:]

[mogami]

Hi, All 3 damaged CV have sunk. Actually I got carried away. In the Lunacy games I have my Cv interdicting the South Pacific and am having so much fun I sent them in this game. But this game is in late 1942 not early 1942. I didn't even have all CV putting up CAP [X(]
Sometimes you need to spank a child before they can sleep. I've been spanked and am going to sleep untill he wants to come and wake me up. I've got an adventure in Burma because I need something to do.

[Kereguelen]

Just updating this AAR after some months of lazyness[8D]

Game is still alive and is now in July 1943. First Allied counterattack of the war was successfully directed against Port Moresby. No real losses for the Allies (some squads disabled, some ships damaged by CD guns, Japanese planes trying to interdict shot down at about 6:1 ratio by Lightnings and Wildcats flying LRCAP - Thursday Island was build up before - but after one air battle Japanese pilots stayed home), Japanese garrison was forced to retreat towards Buna four days after the invasion started.

Kido Butai sighted near Canton Island last turn, but no combat occurred (my airfields in the vicinity were covered by Thunderstorms). Probably just a raid against my convoy lanes. Not much worried about this, my convoys are well protected in this area.

Japan suffers some losses due to Allied subs, but probably not enough. Japanese subs are completely inactive (I haven't spotted one for weeks).

Ship losses are 49 Allied ships and about 115 Japanese ships, no capital ships went down after our clash in November 1942 near Noumea.

In Burma Mogami has withdrawn from Mandalay and Pagan but ostensibly keeps large ground forces around Rangoon. Currently not much happening there, but the British have finished their preparations and shall attack soon, I hope to liberate Rangoon in 1943.

China: Some airstrikes against Japanese airfields but Mogami has withdrawn his airfields, he's simply not accepting a battle[&:]

Victory Points (I don't really care about this): Japan is still in the lead, but less than 2:1 (something like 15000: 8500 I think).

[mogami]

Hi, This game has reached Oct 1943. I will post a complete Japanese status next turn.

[mogami]

Hi, 12 Oct 1943. The enemy has driven Japanese airforces out of Burma and South Pacific. The Ki-43IIa Oscar proved unable to cope with modern enemy fighter types.
I have decided I no longer can employ the Ki-43II in front line service. By reducing inventory I can convert the support production to more modern types when new groups form. (This is a non PDU game)
Remaining Ki-43II groups will be deployed in Home Islands/Manchuria/Korea/China where it is hoped they can succeed against unescorted enemy bombers (or at least prevent all but heavy bombers from launching unescorted strikes)

The Japanese will mount a massive effort to drive enemy air out of China once and for all. Support units have moved to Wuhan and Changsha in conjunction with transfer of bulk of groups flying Ki-43II. Wuhan will be mainly effort by IJNAF (A6M2 and Betty/Nell) while Changsha will be mainly IJAAF (Ki-43II and Sally/Helen) Both fields will have groups from other service. (The IJAAF will provide CAP over airfields with Tony/Tojo groups)

It is likely this Operation will be the last major Japanese air campaign of the war.

First strikes Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 70
Ki-21 Sally x 124
Ki-49 Helen x 51
Ki-46-III Dinah x 6

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 29
P-40N Warhawk x 127

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 68 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 77 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 37 destroyed
Ki-46-III Dinah: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 6 destroyed, 12 damaged
P-40N Warhawk: 21 destroyed, 67 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
1 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
1 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
1 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
1 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
1 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
G3M Nell x 27
G4M1 Betty x 52
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 72
Ki-46-II Dinah x 6

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 10
P-40N Warhawk x 50

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged
G3M Nell: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 15 destroyed, 12 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 33 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 12 destroyed
P-40N Warhawk: 51 destroyed
IL-4c: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
137 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 36

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
9 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
8 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
5 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
8 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
5 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
3 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
4 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
2 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet


Fighter versus fighter results were good (108 Japanese 91 Allied) however Japan lost a further 136 aircraft in A2A and 18 to AAA or OPs
Total for day 263 Japanese 99 Allied.

On the 15th depleted groups were either disbanded into other groups (with Ki-43II groups set not to return) or withdrawn to rear bases.
Uncommited groups were moved into mission status and fresh groups moved into airifields for missions on 16th. Rear bases had fresh groups arrive for movement later.

It is up to the enemy now because I intend to reduce every enemy airfield in range to rubble.

Ki-43II production has been halted and these factories will later convert to new types when needed. (The IJAAF will provide CAP over front line bases with Tonyy/Tojo combination while IJNAF provides strike escort with Zeke. )

I HAD planned on opening the campaign with large fighter sweeps over target on day prior to commencing bombing however enemy detected the movement and build up of my air and I was worried they might bomb my airfields.

[mogami]

Hi, 16 Oct 1943 weather clsoed Changsha today so strikes against Chungking were flwon only by Wuhan. Ki-43II did not fare as well today compared to yesturday.
After disbanding groups 12 Sentai of Ki-43II remain.

Just in case you do not understand what I am doing. This is a non PDU game so Ki-43II pilots can never be anything other then Ki-43II pilots. Since I am withdrawing this aircraft from service I must get what use I can from these pilots while I can. The A2A results for the last 2 days between opposing fighters have been 115 Allied planes for 166 Japanese. I don't expect the Ki-43II to be able to maintain ratios less then 2 for 1 into 1944 and so they are being commited to major battle while the getting is good. The support and production required to maintain them will thus be free to support the incoming groups flying newer aircraft.

Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 54
G3M Nell x 18
G4M1 Betty x 47
G4M2 Betty x 25
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 69
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 14
P-40N Warhawk x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed, 6 damaged
G4M2 Betty: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 51 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 11 destroyed
P-40N Warhawk: 16 destroyed, 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
79 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 38

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
7 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
12 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
16 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
3 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
6 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
2 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
4 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
3 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
3 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet

Total loss for day 32 Allied 76 Japanese. Wuhan has done the air group shuffle. (depleted groups moving to rear and fresh groups moving in. )

[veji1]

but don't they upgrade to Franks later in the war ? I have never reached that so I don't know, but I thought KI-43II sentais converted to Franks...

[mogami]

HI, Nope. All the Ki-43II groups that remain have no further upgrade. All the Ki-43(I/II) groups that could upgrade to other then KI-43 have already converted ((That is where most of my IJAAF non KI-43 groups came from)(There is only 1 non Nate/Ki-43 fighter group in entire IJAAF at games start. )