Operation Point Luck - Team Game (Allied side)

[KDonovan]

Combat Report for Jan 8th - 9th, 1942

Burma - Nells raid Rangoon for the 1st time hitting a tanker and gunboat in the harbor, sinking both. The handful of P40B's on CAP failed to bring down any bombers.

Borneo - Japanese navy has retreated from Kuching. Unfortunately my carefully position subs failed to find the heavily damaged BB Mutsu, but did manage to take out 2 transports and 2 MSW's instead. Over at Tarakan, things have started to heat up. The baby KB sunk the AVD Heron trying to escape, while 5 Japanese BB's took positions up off the coast of Tarakan. However, SBD's and TB's manage to ruin the party by putting a 1000lb bomb and a torp into the BB Nagato, setting her ablaze. She should be out for a month or so.

Phillipinnes - Manila/Clark air raids as usual. Lingayen base falls, tightening the nose around Bataan/Clark/Manila.

New Guinea - Enemy subs off the coast of Port Moresby are attacked, with the RO-60 receiving a couple hits from MSW's and the RO-62 taking a 250lb bomb from a Hudson.

Hawaii - KB continues to loiter around PH, hitting the airfield and port again. The Allied fighters on CAP are swatted from the sky, while japanese attack planes suffer heavily from flak. Here was the most devestating attack.....

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 41

Allied aircraft
P-26A x 1
P-36A Mohawk x 1
P-40B Tomahawk x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 6 destroyed, 24 damaged


Allied Ships
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
AR Vestal, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
DD MacDonough, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
DD Dale, Bomb hits 1, on fire


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

Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Of note, is Jake scout planes have started to recon PH........(pending invasion??)

[KDonovan]

So far japanese operations in the SRA have come at a price in the form of Japanese BB's. While none have been sunk, several have been put out of commision. Here is the tally

Dec 12th, 1941 in action off the coast of Mayala against Force Z
BB Kongo, Shell hits 12, on fire
BB Haruna, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Jan 7th, 1942 Dive Bombers, and Torpedo Bombers off the coast of Kuching
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, heavily damaged, on fire
Jan 9th, 1942 Dive Bombers and Torpedo Bombers off the coast of Tarakan
BB Nagato, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

the BB Hiei and Kirishima are with the KB, which leaves only the antequated BB Fuso, Hyuga, Yamashiro, Ise left in the SRA. Time to release the British BB's perhaps?? [:D][;)]

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: KDonovan


Jan 9th, 1942 Dive Bombers and Torpedo Bombers off the coast of Tarakan
BB Nagato, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Without a report of heavy damage, I don't know if we can consider her out of action yet. I've seen BBs take a torp a time or 3 & still have less than 10 sys damge. It was still nice to see, though.

Time to release the British BB's perhaps?? [:D][;)]

You seem to want to be rather reckless with my combat ships! [:'(] I have been considering a bombardment against Tavoy, but they'll certainly be staying in the Indian Ocean for now...

[scott64]

I want to know where baby KB is at before I let loose the hounds. ie Enterprise and Lexington. [:'(]

[KDonovan]

I want to know where baby KB is at before I let loose the hounds. ie Enterprise and Lexington.

i believe the baby KB is located near Tarakan at the moment, probably providing air cover for the impending invasion.

[KDonovan]

After consultation with Sir Admiral Hart-palpataions, Operation Caffeine (aka Fortress Java) will commense. The British have been kind enough to send the 18th UK Div, which made this plan possible. Here's what the future deployement will look like by March 1st, 1942.

[KDonovan]

sorry for the lack of update's....been busy trying to deal with a CV battle in my other PBEM game.....but here we go..6 days worth of stuff.

Combat Report - Jan 10th-15th, 1942

China - Changsha is hit by a couple air raids, which destroy a couple of SB-2's on the ground, but pay by losing a few of their Sally's to a squadron of the AVG.

Burma - Chaos in the armpit of this map. Mouleim is hit by japanese DB's taking out a couple Lysander recon planes on the ground. The japanese follow up the attack, with a couple ground assaults. The valiant defenders eventually break, and make for Rangoon where they are cut off from the rest of Burma.

Sumatra - This island see's its first action as Lily bombers hit Medan taking out a few Dutch Falcon recon planes on the ground.

Malaya - Japanese assualt Johore Bahru several time's and manage to drive the allied defenders back to Singapore. Fortunately it was an orderly retreat and all units are still intact in the preparation for the siege at Singapore. Several AK's have arrived in the last few days dropping off supplies to the beliegured garrison. Supply is now up to almost 50,000 points.

Borneo - Japanese subs starting acting up around Borneo, sinking an AK and a valuable Dutch ML. Overall, Borneo continues to be the focus of the japanese offensive in the DEI. On the western coast, Kuching finally falls after repeated assualts. Soon thereafter the japanese station Nells there, and proceed to blast allied shipping in the area claiming hits on 6 AK's, 2 MSW's and 1 AVD.

On the Eastern coast the japanese land troops at Tarakan. Before the base falls, a dutch bomber puts a 250lb bomb into a jap DD, and a japanese transports hits a mine. Soon thereafter allied B17's, Hudsons, and Martins blast the Oil and Airfields there to deny their use to the enemy.

Further down the coast action heats up in the Samarinda and Balikpapan area. First a japanese bombardment TF (4 BB's, 3 CA's) hits Balikpapan causing minor damage. A follow up raid by Nells/Zero's also accomplish little. Only a couple fighters on each side are shot down in the engagement. The japanese then proceed to land troops at Samarinda, with a japanese PC hitting a mine. Answering the call were allied DB's and TB's operating out of several AF's. Despite losing about 10 planes in all, the allied attack planes manage to score hits on 3 CA's, 1 CL, 1 DD, 1 DE, and 3 AP's. Here are the actual results

CA Chokai, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 9, Torepdo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Takao, Bomb hits 1
CL Sendai, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Uranami, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

unfortunately a follow-up night raid by 3 PBY's on the baby KB missed their targets, but at least probably put the scare in our oppenants.

Phillipinnes - nothing to report but the daily bombing raids on Clark/Manila

New Guinea - allied ASW forces sink a japanese sub near Port Moresby, but not before the sub puts a fish into a large ML. The ML will probably sink next turn, bearing some miracle.

Hawaii - The KB continue's to hang around PH, launching 3 more attacks against the harbor and airfields. Allies continue to lose a bunch of planes on the ground and in the air, while the japanese continue to lose lots of DB's and TB's in the process. The ships continue to get pounded, but refuse to sink. Nevertheless practically all the BB's there are at 99 sys damage, while a good number of CA's/CL's/DD's are also severely damaged.

Doesn't look like there are any signs of an impending invasion of Hawaii. With Midway, Johnston, Lahina, and Palymara in allied hands and all the japanese BB's in the DEI. Invasion looks very unlikely

[ctangus]

You slacker! [:-][:D]

In fact Singapore has over 50K supply, 30-40K oil and maybe 5-10K resources. The Commonwealth troops are enjoying their tea & finger sandwiches as the Japanese rot in the malarial cesspit of Johore Bahru.

AV's approaching 900 (vs @1600 Jap) & more Gurkhas are flying in daily. The defenders assure Churchill that the Gilbrator of the east remains impregnable. [:)]

Burma's a mess, though... [:(] I'll try to do a map over the weekend.

[ny59giants]

Are you going to keep all your brigades in Malaya or are you going to try to get some of them out via ships or transport planes to Palembang??

[ctangus]

I currently plan to fight to the death!

I may try to pull out one or two brigades if & when they become combat-ineffective. (5-10 AV or less). If so, they would then go to India for R&R.

My intention is to hold Singapore until March 15th or later. If I do that those Japanese divisions won't be landing on Java until after the Jap invasion bonus expires and it would also give more time for the Operation Caffeine build-up.

I'm not sure I can meet that March 15th target, but to have any chance I'll need every able-bodied fighting man I can keep my hands on. I'm a callous commander - purposely trading lives for time. [;)] It's worked for me successfully in other games, though we'll have to see how well it works here.

[ctangus]

Well, I should be working on a Japanese turn one, but it's just too much effort tonight (forgive me Pat). I'll update my areas in this game. I'm happy with Malaya & China, at least.

Malaya

I delayed at Johore Bahru for 12 days & just barely got my forces out without suffering a forced retreat. [:)] Best of all worlds. It bloodied the Japs a little and gave some time for my depleted units at Singapore to rebuild some.

Current status of Singapore:

AV: 946 (enemy AV at JB was last 1558)
Forts: 5 +36%
Supply: 52603 (more on the way)
Oil: 36310
Resources: 7860 (more on the way)

I should add that the Dutch commander, General Van Kenny, assisted me greatly in stocking up Singapore.

[ctangus]

China

The map should mostly speak for itself.

I've had a few tactical victories, though nothing major. A couple more will come tomorrow.

With US military advisors - well-trained in the art of reducing defensive fortifications - on their way, I'm beginning to consider some more ambitious plans.

I think I've over-stretched myself at Kaifeng & so I just ordered a withdrawal behind the river. I've also ordered an attack in the far north which hopefully will take some pressure off the Kaifeng area, where I think I'm vulnerable.

[ctangus]

Burma

While I'm at least moderately pleased in both Malaya & China, Burma is an utter disaster. [:(]

On the 12th a Japanese shock attack bounced me out of Moulmein (despite 1 brigade of reinforcements). I thought I'd hold a little longer, but it wasn't a huge surprise. However, the Japanese had "follow" orders, crossed the Salween river & forced my cowardly troops to retreat again!!! (They achieved 2:1 with only 1 point to spare!)

BAH! I was hoping to send most/all those troops to Mandalay once Moulmein fell, and abandon Rangoon. Now I'll have to fight for it. In a week or two I may send 3 Burma brigades to try to cut the Japanese supply lines. However Sigint reports two full Japanese divisions planning to attack Rangoon. The 33rd Div was at Singora 7 days ago. I'm not sure where the 55th Div is.

I'm honestly unsure what to do here......

While I'm thinking about it: Kenny - if you don't have a better use for them, I'm going to grab those Dutch transports you just stood down at Palembang & use them to send more Chinese into Burma.

[KDonovan]

While I'm thinking about it: Kenny - if you don't have a better use for them, I'm going to grab those Dutch transports you just stood down at Palembang & use them to send more Chinese into Burma.

of course....the Dutch would be happy to get their hands on some General Tso chicken.

btw...should we be sending resources and oil to Singapore?? Correct me if i'm wrong...but i was under the impression that when the enemy enters the Singapore hex, the HI will cease to work, in which case sending supply would be more useful.

Lastly...how do you get to post combat reports on your map with that cool shade thing??

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: KDonovan

of course....the Dutch would be happy to get their hands on some General Tso chicken.

I can also promise some good Kung-Pao Beef. Yummm....

btw...should we be sending resources and oil to Singapore?? Correct me if i'm wrong...but i was under the impression that when the enemy enters the Singapore hex, the HI will cease to work, in which case sending supply would be more useful.

The resources (and their supply) will stop producing, but the HI will produce. (I've observed it on many occassions.) There's plenty of oil, so I don't need that at Singers, but I'd like to stock enough resources to more-or-less match the oil.

Lastly...how do you get to post combat reports on your map with that cool shade thing??

I use paint.net. It's a free program. It's not as good as something like Paintshop Pro, but it's more like MS Paint on steroids (and free!). It allows for multiple layers so I have the background in one layer, the text in another and the cool shade thing in a third. After a little practice it only takes a couple minutes to put a screenshot like the above ones together.

[KDonovan]

I use paint.net. It's a free program. It's not as good as something like Paintshop Pro, but it's more like MS Paint on steroids (and free!). It allows for multiple layers so I have the background in one layer, the text in another and the cool shade thing in a third. After a little practice it only takes a couple minutes to put a screenshot like the above ones together.

cool!...i already have Paint.net, but i haven't figured much of it out. I still use MS Paint, but i think i've squeezed all that i can out of the puppy, so maybe its time to move on to Paint.net. I also have the awe-inspiring Photoshop, but you need a degree in engineering to figure that thing out.

[KDonovan]

Combat Report from Jan. 16th - 19th, 1942

China - action heats up in the land of Peking Duck. The Japanese switch their air raids at Changsha from the airbase to Heavy Industry and Manpower targets. Damage is light, and the Japanese lose a couple Sally's for their trouble. Meanwhile japanese planes hit Wenchow for the first time, and cause light damage to the airfield there. Elsewhere a group of japanese Ida dive bombers are ambushed, by a flight of P40's and Chinese biplanes which manage to shoot down 5 enemy planes. Lastly, in the ground war, Chinese troops take Ichang, but are driven out of Kaifeng.

Burma - Rangoon is raided by Japanese Helen's for the first time and manage to destroy a couple of Lysanders and Vildebeests on the ground. P40's on CAP manage to shoot down a couple bombers in retaliation.

Mayala - here, the air war really heats up. Sir Admiral Bugs Bunny, decides to smash the newly formed Japanese airbase at Johore Bharu with two dozen B17's and Blen's, with strong escort in the form of Hurricanes and Buffalo's. During a 4 day pummeling the japanese airbase suffers moderate damage with several Sallys destroyed on the ground. Unfortunately the majority of the japanese airforce was in the air on raids to Singapore, and missed being flattened on the ground. The japanese do score some success hitting a couple transports running supplies into Singapore.

Borneo - after the previous pummeling japanese surface forces recieved last turn, Dutch PT boats finish off the DD Uranami, and manage to put a fish into a troop transport. CL Sendai sinks later that day, and the CA Myoko is ambushed by SBD's out of a secret airbase on Jolo Is, eating five 1000lbers and sinking. With the surface screen gone, Hudsons and Martins hit the Samarinda invasion beaches hitting 6 transports and a patrol boat, while a dutch sub puts a torp into a troop transport. Nevertheless Samarinda falls, and about 20 allied planes are destroyed to prevent capture by the enemy.
Balikpapan soon becomes the focus of intense Japanese air raids. 1st was a raid by about 40 Kate bombers. Luckly for the allied pilots, the TBs were unescorted and the allied flyboys managed to shoot down 20. Next came a raid by 50 Nells and 50 Zero's, here the allied flyboys weren't so lucky, losing about 30 planes, while the airfield was pummeled by Japanese bombers, putting Balikpapan airfield out of commision.

Philipinnes - Clark and Manila continue to be hit by Japanese bombers, while Allied TB planes out of Mindano, manage to hit 3 AK's, and 1 PG, landing troops at Roxas. Nevertheless Roxas falls later that day.

Palau - 2 CA's, 3 CL's manage a daring daylight bombardment at the major japanese base. 3 transports and 1 oiler are caught in the harbor and are hit. The allied ships then escape, unharmed.

Gilberts - Japanese land troops at Nauru Is. and take the Australian base