Turning to the Dark Side - ctangus vs VSWG

[ctangus]

12/10 - 12/11/42

We've only done a couple turns largely because I've been busy at work. Lots of surface action.

4th Fleet

A SAG & KB will pummel Wake tomorrow & the invasion will go in the following day.

SS I-171 torpedoes 2 imperialist APs near Canton Island. They were empty of troops & reportedly headed generally north. Has it been reinforced already? A Glen sub will fly recon tomorrow.

Southeast Fleet

The enemy slipped in & sent two cruisers against my landing at Kavieng. I was forced to scuttle Kashima & a MSW might not make it. The enemy SAG then retired to Rabaul where a daylight engagement was fought with my own SAG that was bombarding there. Heavy damage was reported to CA Louisville. CA Kako will be out of action a few weeks - 17/3/15. My other 3 cruisers barely had their paint scratched.

Also - I was about to invade Rabaul with the South Seas Detachment, but realized I didn't bring along any supply! Oops... They'll head to Truk where they'll unload & then combat load for the invasion.

[ctangus]

Marianas

The loss of Kashima was avenged (and then some) when Kates based at Pagan sunk a cowardly, fleeing, Brooklyn-class cruiser:

12/11/41
Day Air attack on TF at 64,59
Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Boise, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage Sinks!

Malaya

Alor Star was occupied without a fight and the British forces seem to be in full flight. I attacked & routed again the initial garrison from Kota Bharu.

BB Ise ate a torp from an enemy sub near Saigon & won't be available to cover the Kuching landings. (20/26/4) [:(]

China

The next assault against Hong Kong goes in tomorrow.

Phillipines

More surface action. The scorecard was:

5 Japanese DDs sunk. (1 was finished off by a sub.)
1 Allied DD sunk.
11 Allied PT boats sunk.

That's 6 DDs I've lost so far. Certainly more than I'd like this early, but my combat ships did do their job in keeping the enemy away from the transports.

Enemy LBA is flying from Jolo Island & Iloilo.

[George Patton]

Hi Chuck.

On waiting your first turn, I'm lurking here... [:D][:D]

Nice presentation of the battle reports. Which programs do you use?

[ctangus]

Hi Pat! [:)]

I should have turn one ready for you sometime tomorrow (my time).

I'm using paint.net. It's a free download that can be found here:

http://www.getpaint.net/index2.html

[George Patton]

ORIGINAL: ctangus

Hi Pat! [:)]

I should have turn one ready for you sometime tomorrow (my time).

I'm using paint.net. It's a free download that can be found here:

http://www.getpaint.net/index2.html

Thanks! I'm downloading it right now, waiting for our first turn...

[ctangus]

12/12 - 12/13/42

I'm still not used to this JFB thing. I keep trying to click on green units... [:'(]

4th Fleet

After pounding by KB as well as the Kongo/Haruna TF, Wake Island falls on the first assault (18:1 odds).

Most of the combatants are retiring to Kwaj where the Tarawa, Baker & Canton Island invasions are loading. I'll reorganize KB & its escorts & take on some replacements. I expect to hit Tarawa within a week and Baker & Canton very shortly after that.

Southeast Fleet

Quiet.

I'm thinking I'll wait for aircover before I invade Rabaul. It won't slow down my moves towards Port Moresby & the Solomons (those are waiting for reinforcements). And I'm a bit paranoid about the US CVs - I haven't seen them yet & I've twiced staged successful CV ambushes around Rabaul in late Dec. '41.

Eastern DEI

I've taken Weda. The Amboina invasion is loading at Palau.

Borneo

Brunei was emancipated on the 12th. However I set my Kuching invasion convoys to follow the wrong TF - I found them headed towards Hainan island. I should hit Kuching in about a week.

Malaya

The British forces continue to flee from the might of the Imperial Japanese Army. Georgetown should be liberated tomorrow.

An air-raid over Singapore shot down 13 Buffalos (all A2A). One Sally was lost to Flak.

China

An attack on the 12th brought Hong Kong's forts down to 2. I think I should be able to take it shortly before the historical date of Dec. 25th.

In the far north 3 Chinese Corps are advancing . I'm bombing them daily & have enough troops nearby to surround & eliminate them. However it is forcing me to disperse my forces.

Chinese forces are starting to concentrate SE of Nanchang. He's either going to try to take the city or withdraw through it. I don't think Nanchang's in danger as it's been reinforced. I've initiated operation Gink-Go in the hopes of eliminating the pocket. I don't have high hopes for it but I might get lucky.

Phillipines

Certainly the most interesting theater over the last couple days.

I almost had a major success at Jolo. The allies had established an airfield at Jolo. I suspected it was lightly garrisoned so ordered a paradrop for the 12th, hoping to destroy a bunch of enemy LBA on the ground. Unfortunately clouds prevented my ground support from flying & only achieved 1:1 odds. BAH! On Dec 7th I successfully took more strongly-defended bases with paras. [:(]

(BTW, Kenny - if you read this be careful. Mike - if you read this, ignore it! [:'(])

Filipino forces reinforced Jolo on the 13th and I got 0:1. Tomorrow most of an SNLF will arrive via fast transport, with a heavy cruiser SAG paving the way.

Davao fell on the 13th. I should be able to surround & eliminate the remnants of the garrison there.

Also, with an airbase on Mindanao I can now withdraw Baby KB to Palau where it will replenish & then cover the Amboina landings. The Mutsu/Nagato TF is already at Palau & will cover those landings as well.

[KDonovan]

bad break there Chuck, that would've been a huge victory at Jolo had you captured it. Its every AFB nightmare to lose whole squadrons to para drops, and every JFB dream to take out B17's squadrons with a paradrop. At least now VSWG will be more careful with his air deployements, as he will be more weary of Para drops.

[ctangus]

Hi Kenny,

Its every AFB nightmare to lose whole squadrons to para drops, and every JFB dream to take out B17's squadrons with a paradrop.

Yea, I learned that the hard way when I once lost a squadron of high-experience Corsairs to a paradrop. Oops... [:D]

Don't think there were any B-17s there (size 3 AF), but I know for a fact there were Blenheims, Hudsons, TIVas & Swordfish(es) there. It could have tremendously aided my conquest of the SRA if successful, but as you said it'll make VSWG more careful. There's been no more air attacks against my landings on Mindanao, for one thing.

[Rob Brennan UK]

Getting the torp planes would have made the next few months a LOT easier , unlucky there imo.

good looking AAR by the way CT, downloaded the image thingy so time to try and tart up my own one [;)]

Good luck as Japan, i can sympathise with your wanting to click on green units [:D], VSWG is an outstanding allied player imo but then again your no sloch either so this should be a great fight.

as ever, good luck

[ctangus]

Hi Rob!

Yea, taking out those TBs would have been nice. Especially since they were just used against me again! I still think I had a brilliant idea, hampered only by bad die rolls. I was 98% sure that the attack would succeed - the game must be broken!!! [:'(] To be honest I like the fact that you can't always count on combat results in this game. Except, of course, when it works against me... [;)]

12/14 - 12/15/41

I got caught napping a time or two, but still the only delays to the Japanese invasion plans have been self-imposed.

4th Fleet

An enemy AK hit a mine I recently laid at Pago-Pago.

The Tarawa/Baker/Canton Island invasions have now sailed.

KB took on some replacements (IJN pilot pool is already empty. Yikes!) It's also reorganized a little with the 3 carrier divs each in their own task force and some additional escorts added. Carrier Divs 1 & 2 will cover my advance in Cent Pac. Carrier Div 5 (Sho & Zui) is going to try to ambush some of the allied cruisers annoying me near Rabaul.

Southeast Fleet

I got ambushed at Papua New Guinea. Ouch!

12/14/41
Day Time Surface Combat, near Wewak at 54,84
Japanese Ships
MSW Tama Maru No. 2, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
MSW Tama Maru #2, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
AP Koshu Maru #2, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kotobuki Maru #5, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tateyama Maru, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
AK Amakasu Maru #1, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CL Leander
CL Achilles

This was a calculated risk on my part. I knew I was taking a risk advancing without any cover, particularly since I know VSWG is aggressive with his SAGs. At least all my troops were ashore.

On the 15th Nells put torps into an AP at Rabaul that had troops aboard. Recon reports 3 ground units there. I'm not sure if he's evac'ing or reinforcing. I think it's the latter, but I'm not sure.

Celebes

I have to admit I got caught with my pants down here. A couple enemy cruisers hit me at Manado. I had 4 CAs covering this landing but I must have forgotten to retire the transports when I retired the cruisers:

12/15/41
Day Time Surface Combat, near Manado at 39,67
Japanese Ships
PG Edo Maru, Shell hits 2
PG Saiko Maru
AP Izumo Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
AK Kosho Maru
AK Macassar Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Momoha Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Sumanoura Maru
AK Mikage Maru #20, Shell hits 1
AK Sensan Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AK Udo Maru, Shell hits 2
Allied Ships
CL Java
CL De Ruyter
DD Witte de With

Nearby, the Amboina invasion has sailed from Palau.

Borneo

In 2 days I'll invade Kuching.

Looks like this has been reinforced as well - 3 ground units reported there. I've done this myself - I think VSWG is reading my other AARs too closely! [:'(] I do have a full division in reserve nearby if the initial invasion isn't strong enough.

Malaya

Georgetown is taken with little resistance. My advance is continuing unopposed but it's still slower than I'd like.

Luzon

The enemy TBs I failed to destroy at Jolo relocated to Manila and launched multiple strikes against my shipping. Only 1 hit is scored. I was tempted to counter-attack with airfield strikes but I'm not going to. I think this is probably just a hit-and-run raid.

Other

I think Japanese spies may have provided me with the location of Force Z. And, if I can believe my intel, it's been split up. Good news, if true. Baby KB may pay a visit to Kendari within the next week.

[KDonovan]

Looks like this has been reinforced as well - 3 ground units reported there. I've done this myself - I think VSWG is reading my other AARs too closely! I do have a full division in reserve nearby if the initial invasion isn't strong enough.

ooo...Operation Orangutan in reverse!. Becareful of Singkawang, as you remember in our game, that base makes a great TB ambush base. (Maybe a Nell visit is in order [:D])

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: KDonovan

ooo...Operation Orangutan in reverse!. Becareful of Singkawang, as you remember in our game, that base makes a great TB ambush base. (Maybe a Nell visit is in order [:D])

But nothing can stop Operation Monkey-Go! 4 heavy cruisers are visiting Singkawang tonight.

I forgot to add:

China

4 Chinese Corps are routed after the entered Nanchang piecemeal.

[ctangus]

12/16/41

4th Fleet

The Tarawa invasion is about 3-4 days out. Baker & Canton will follow shortly.

Southeast Fleet

Nells torpedo another AP near Rabaul. It's definitely being reinforced - there's now 4 units reported there.

Banda Sea

The Amboina invasion has sailed. Spies no longer report a BB at Kendari.

Malaya

Taiping falls to the good guys unopposed. Looks like everyone's withdrawing to Singers as there's 15 units there & only 4 at JB.

Phillipines

A SAG sinks the last PT boat here.

China

Good & bad news here.

The bad: I ordered a brigade to attack what I thought was a guerrilla unit on my supply lines. It was a full Corps & I got 0:1. I also decided to withdraw some naval infantry from the Hankow area to serve as garrison units around Shanghai. They crossed the Yangtze the very day some Chinese units moved into the hex. They shock attacked at 0:1 and are very beaten up right now.

The good news is at Hong Kong. The shock attack ordered for tomorrow should take it:

Ground combat at Hong Kong
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 52956 troops, 273 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 979
Defending force 16393 troops, 91 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 285
Japanese max assault: 1006 - adjusted assault: 745
Allied max defense: 272 - adjusted defense: 286
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
Japanese ground losses:
285 casualties reported
Guns lost 12
Allied ground losses:
858 casualties reported
Guns lost 16

Borneo

The Kuching invasion's going in.

I sent a small SAG in to try to take out some PT boats there. They didn't engage the PTs but met, damaged & drove off a reinforcement convoy. The convoy was subsequently attacked by Nells. A daytime engagement by a BB TF of mine caused no damage.

I'm sending 4 heavy cruisers in to take out the PT boats. (Retirement allowed as there might be British BBs nearby.) 3 BBs - Fuso, Hyuga & Yamashiro - under Tanaka - will screen the transports in case Force Z or part of it shows up. Spies still report a BB at Batavia.

[ctangus]

12/17 - 12/18/42

Don't believe the imperialist propaganda. I see the title line of my opponent's AAR states "PoW sinks Huyga, Fuso!" They were scuttled I say! [:'(]

I expect Martin's provided most of the details. In truth that was one of the most painful turns I ever experienced. In short my BBs decided to become target drones off Kuching. Yamashiro (who will also be scuttled) used up more main gun ammo against 6 PT boats on the 17th than she did against enemy BBs on the 18th. Her magazines are still over half full. None of my supporting LBA flew.

I also ran in some CVs (carrier div 5) to raid enemy cruisers near Rabaul and they didn't fly either. Bah!

A little good news. On the 17th I took Hong Kong - 8 days ahead of historical. I also put 19,000 troops ashore on Kuching in one wave on the 17th. On the 18th they got 3:1 odds and brought the forts down from 2 to 1.

More hopefully later today, but I have a burst water pipe IRL I need to finish dealing with. [:(]

[ctangus]

To heck with the burst waterpipe. There's a war on! [:'(] (I'm taking a break from cleaning up.)

Battle for Kuching

Worst news first. I got absolutely trounced off Kuching during the night. I guess Force Z wasn't at Batavia like I thought.

In short: Despite outnumbering the allies with both heavy ships & guns, I was pounded. Hyuga & Fuso were sunk outright. I mean scuttled... Yamashiro ended the day at 96 flt damage & 600 miles from safe harbor. I scuttled her as well. [:(]

Absolutely nothing went right this turn. My BBs refused to fire their main guns. No Nells on naval attack flew. (Martin was flying LRCAP, but I had two daitais of A6M2s over Kuching where most of the enemy ended up.) Some ammo had been used up against enemy PTs on the 16th but each of my 3 BBs still had 9 loads of ammo for their main guns. Tanaka was leading the TF.

Bah! Well, kudos to my opponent. I reviewed my prior turn & I hadn't made any major mistakes. But he played it perfectly.

In return I only got 2 small caliber hits against each of POW & Repulse. The losses would be somewhat palatable if Force Z was also out of action for several months. Now I have to contend with Force Z with a much reduced force.

I almost took Kuching:

12/18/41
Ground combat at Kuching
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 18608 troops, 72 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 208
Defending force 4823 troops, 20 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 94
Japanese max assault: 206 - adjusted assault: 277
Allied max defense: 83 - adjusted defense: 91
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
Japanese ground losses:
249 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Allied ground losses:
160 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

I came close to 4:1 - I would have taken out several air units plus several ships disbanded in port. If only my ground attack had flown or my CAs made it through to bombard. Bah!

I could easily take Kuching tomorrow if it weren't for the fact my ground units are (slightly) undersupplied. And I expect both a bombardment and LBA on ground attack against my forces.

Plans for tomorrow: another deliberate attack. As many planes as possible flying in supplies. 3 kamikaze TFs (2-3 ships each) are going to try to land supplies as well. Some Nells from Saigon on ground attack missions again. If I don't take Kuching tomorrow I'll be in serious trouble.

Here's a pic of Yamashiro after the battle:

[ctangus]

4th Fleet

The Tarawa invasion is one day out from landing. Carrier divisions one & two will continue to cover this. But then they'll head west to support operations near Rabaul & operations in the DEI.

Since they're already loaded I will continue in my plans to take Baker & Canton Island, albeit without aircover. I'll bug out at the first sign of resistance, however.

Southeast Fleet

Carrier division five got within range of enemy shipping near Rabaul, but didn't fly. Bah again! Sho's bombers were set to port attack. Zui's bombers were set to naval attack primary & port attack secondary.

My ships have now been spotted and I expect the enemy shipping to withdraw so I'm moving my carriers accordingly. See the pic.

Since Rabaul's being reinforced already I need to take it as a priority. The full KB will be used to support that until the job's done. Then KB will go to the SRA where I'm now sure I'll need it.

[ctangus]

DEI

The Amboina op is still on.

Phillipines

The allies seem to be trying to resupply Cagayan on Mindanao. Kates based at Davao didn't attack them. (Didn't I say nothing went right this turn! [:'(]) However I should be able to destroy an enemy division tomorrow. See the pic.

On Luzon, Martin seems to have garrisoned both Naga & Legaspi. I have two divisions sailing towards here. I'll land one at each base & should be able to destroy in place the units at Legaspi. Again, see the pic.

[ctangus]

China

Okay, to be honest there's a little good news.

Hong Kong fell on the 17th, 8 days before the historical capitulation. Next stop - Wuchow. (Maybe.)

Also, my opponent didn't attack some naval infantry that had inadvertently shock-attacked and that he could have easily routed. Oversight? Low on supply? I'm not sure.

I'm also starting to get a read on my opponent's intentions in this theater & am planning counter-moves myself. I'll prepare a map in a turn or three.

[ctangus]

12/19 - 12/20/42

I realized that losing those BBs was a good thing. Since I'm also running low on destroyers it's nice to not have so many ships that I need to escort. [:'(]

In truth the losses hurt, but despite Martin throwing the kitchen sink at me, he only delayed the fall of Kuching by one day. The Japanese steamroller continues...

4th Fleet

I took Tarawa. Land on Baker tomorrow. Subs have spotted shipping near Canton Island - I'll fly recon over it a few days before I decide on that.

Southeast Fleet

Carrier Div 5 catches some allied cruisers. Here's a sample from two days worth of raids:

12/19/41
Day Air attack on TF at 62,92
Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 28
B5N2 Kate x 28
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 7 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 13 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Leander, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Canberra, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Le Triomphant
CL Achilles, Bomb hits 5, on fire

Canberra, Leander & Perth are confirmed sunk. Le Triomphant & Achilles were both damaged. BANZAI! Louisville & Adelaide were reported in the vicinity earlier, but have probably made good their mistake - I'm withdrawing my CVs before I push my luck anymore.

DEI

One "oops" here:

12/19/41
Day Air attack on TF at 41,72
Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 20
Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 9
Hudson I x 24
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVE Hosho, Bomb hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CVL Ryujo

Hosho probably won't make it - 65 flt damage & 600 miles from port. Zuiho, while out of action for a month or two, should be fine if she doesn't run into any allied subs.

At least they did their job & protected my shipping. The Amboina invasion will land tomorrow & only one transport has been damaged so far.

Borneo

Supplies landed without a fight & the great apes of British Borneo were liberated on the 19th. On the 20th Nells based from there started to attack shipping in the area.

Malaya

Kuala Lumpur fell largely undamaged on the 19th. On the 20th British terror bombers ineffectively struck against the rubber plantations there. A retaliatory raid against Chinese rice paddies has been ordered so as to discourage such acts of terror.

Phllipines

Okay, here's the good news. I took Jolo, Dadjangas on Mindanao, Lingayen & Baguio.

I also landed a full division each at Naga & Legaspi. Legaspi fell easily on the 20th and 6000 prisoners were captured. And Martin tried to counter-attack at Naga! [:)] I suspect he had bombers ordered for ground attack which didn't fly, but it still wasn't close. I think some over-confidence is carrying over from his last game.

[ctangus]

Having trouble uploading my screenshot. I'll try again.