Dulce et decorum est... (an Allied AAR vs Mike Hall as Jap)

[Hortlund]

...My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori.








No Mike Hall in this thread please.






Grand campaign, stock + nikmod.











We join the action on January 16th 1941.


First a strategic map of the current situation.




Losses so far:
Allied
BB Nevada
BB Prince of Wales
CV Lexington
11 x CA
8 x CL
46 x DD



Japanese
BB Nagato
4 x CL
10 x DD
24 x AP
10 x AK

[Hortlund]

Burma Theater




Dispositions

Dacca
W Flight RAF (5 x Wirraway)
135th Squadron RAF (16 x Hurricane IIb)
20th Squadron RAF (9 x Lysander)
84th Squadron RAF (16 x Blenheim IV)
19th Bomber Group USAAF (9 x B-17C)

Ledo
7 x Lockheed 212

Mandalay
28th Squadron RAF (12 x Hurricane IIb)
605th Squadron RAF (15 x Hurricane IIb)
6th FS USAAF (14 x P-26A)

Imphal
27th Squadron RAF (12 x Blenheim IF)
62nd Squadron RAF (11 x Blenheim I)
AVG/C (20 x P-40B)
8 x C-60A Lodestar

Jorhat
243 Squadron RAF (9 x Buffalo I)
488 Squadron RAF (9 x Buffalo I)

Calcutta
No.8 Squadron RAAF (12 x Hudson I)
60 Squadron RAF (12 x Blenheim I)
211 Squadron RAF (12 x Blenheim IV)
AVG/B (24 x P-40B)

Diamond Harbor
67th Squadron (15 x Buffalo I)
36th Squadron (12 x Vildebeest I)



In Trimcomalee
CVL
BB
BC
3 x CA
4 x CLAA
7 x CL
8 x DD




Short history of the Burma campaign so far.

Several japanese paratroop attacks behind the lines wreaked havoc on the defensive plans for me here. I took Raheng and managed to inflict heavy casualties on the attacking Japanese forces (Imperial Guards Division). They lost over 2000 men in the attack across that river. However, he dropped paras behind my lines and cut off five brigades as you can see on the map.

An early paradrop siezed Andaman Islands, but I counterattacked and recaptured the Island. Im having it pretty well fortified now, at least enough to force him to come in large numbers to take it.

RN is waiting in Trimcomalee for the inevitable Japanese probe into the Indian Ocean.

Im planning to hold at Akyab but not at Mandalay. I only have base forces at Mandalay.

[Hortlund]

Java

Initial Japanese attack came on the 9th of December. When paratroopers took Kragen. The following week saw an invasion directly into Batavia by two brigades. One of these brigades moved south to Tjilitjap where it stalled, the other attacked Merak. I managed to hold him at Merak for a couple of weeks, but last week he overcame my defences there, freeing up the brigade to reinforce the drive south.

Initial counterattacks at Kragen by two Dutch regiments proved unable to recapture the base. After that, it was merely a matter of time. The fall of Java is as inevitable as the passing of the sun over the sky.

I am unable to evacuate troops or reinforce Java due to heavy Nell and Betty precense at Batavia and Palembang.

This is for now, a forgotten front for the Allied war effort. The handful of airunits that remain in this theater are scheduled to retreat to Australia as soon as Soerebaja falls.

[Hortlund]

Timor

Not much to report here either. Very early Japanese landings in this area too caught me off balance. Attempts to attack Japanese troop convoys proved a costly affair as he brought the mini-KB into the fray, together with several CAs. In these waters, most of the DEI-navy perished.

[Hortlund]

Malaya

Depressing as always. Singapore will fall within the week. The initial Japanese crossing into the city came at 1-1 odds, so...

[Hortlund]

Phillipines

Here the initial attack came at Cagayan. Japanese paratroopers took the base on the first day of war, destroying an entire B-17 group. The base at Cagayan was then used as staging point to paradrop into bases in the southern DEI.

Landings at Aparri and Legaspi with lots of airsupport turned those two bases into very strong Jap airfields already two days into the war. The effect on the Allied shipping based at Manilla was devastating.

[Hortlund]

Aleutians

Surprisingly strong Japanese forces were used here. Right now, Vals and Kates are based at Dutch Harbor. Ive managed to hurt his forces somewhat thanks to BB Colorado.

I also sent Lexington up here. First I wanted to see if I could catch the Japanese AOs, and then when the first invasion came up here, I sent Lexington up north. For a week I sailed around with her in these waters, all the time with spotted Japanese TFs in range, but not a single strike was launched from Lex. Frustrating to say the least.

Not to mention when I got BB Colorado into Dutch harbor and discovered five Japanese AOs. In the surface combat that followed, I managed to score ONE hit on one of the AOs...then the forces broke contact. Not exactly a shining performance by Colorado.

[Hortlund]

Wake

One of the few bright spots so far. He never tried to land at Wake on December 7th. I rushed a surface combat TF over to the area to see if I could catch him off guard. The surface combat TF consists of CL Honolulu (a Brooklyn class CL) and 4 DDs. The surface TF at Wake are PTs from Pearl Harbor.

I also rushed in ground reinforcements.

When the Japanese invasion attempt came a few days later, it was a slaughter. I also moved Lexington down into this area from the Aleutians. She found the KB however.
She launched a first strike, but amazingly enough, not one single bomb hit. In the Japanese counterstrike, she was hit several times by torpedos and bombs, and she sank, roughly in the same area as my surface combat TF is in right now.

Right now I have the following forces there.
1st USMC Defence Batallion
4th USA Regimental Combat Team
34th Engineer Regiment
250th Cst Artillery
24th/B USA Division
804th EAB
114th USAAF Base force

All in all ~200 combat factors at fort level 3.

[Hortlund]

Canton Island

Another bright spot. Here two Japanese invasion attempts have been repulsed. The first one was during the first week of war. A single NLF was defeated thanks to the Artillery Brigade that begins the game on a convoy. I unloaded it at Canton, and those guys really know how to use their guns. At the initial landings, the Japs lost more than 70% of their forces.

Last week another invasion attempt was foiled. The South Seas Detachment and a Naval Guard unit was defeated. The South Seas Detachment can be seen here running west, followed by a couple of my destroyers. The Naval Guard unit was wiped out by attrition after the battle.

Here I had a nightmarish naval combat though. There is a Japanese surface TF in this area consisting of 4 BBs and several CAs. There are also a couple of CVs hovering around here somewhere. The BBs went to bombard Canton, and the day after the transports were arriving. I had a force of CAs in the area, and tried to ambush the Japanese transports before unloading. I ended up being ambushed by the BBs myself however, and lost 4 CAs in a bloody night engagement. A black night for the USN.

Forces at Canton.
24th USA/C Division
205th US Coast AA Rgt
206th US Coast AA Rgt
250th US Coast Art Rgt
26th USA FA Bde
808 Engineer Aviation Batallion
114th USN Base force

Roughly 120 combat factors at fort level 2.

[Hortlund]

THE ALAMO

Last, but not least we come to The Alamo. Or "Noumea" as the maps call it.

Here the fight has been unbelievably hard. During the opening stages of the war, a small Japanese TF landed a NLF at Koumac. He was forced to land there because the two CLs from New Zealand were protecting Noumea harbor itself.

Desperately I managed to rush an australian Tank Batallion to Noumea. It arrived when the Jap NLF had captured both Koumac and La Foa, and was about to enter Noumea. With this force, I managed to turn the tide, and drive the Japs north, back to Koumac.

He reinforced Koumac via air however, and the offensive stalled. Another huge (10-15 APs and AKs) Japanese convoy was intercepted and slaughtered by the USS Enterprise.
This bought me enough time to bring in some reinforcements. I brought in the Southwest Pac HQ from australia and the 1st NZ Cavalry bde from NZ. The reason I brought these units is the lack of PP avaliable to me. I also reinforced Luganville with the 7th USMC defence batallion and a base force.

The next wave of Japs landed at Luganville and Koumac and La Foa. This time he came in force, supported by the KB. My surface forces in the area were ambushed by the KB, but Big E managed to inflict heavy losses on the invasion fleet, as well as escape the sledgehammer of the KB.

All in all Big E has sunk something like 20 Jap transports in this area, and without her, the entire area would be in Jap hands now.

Japs also landed at Norfolk Island. I thought I would recapture it with 30th Aus Brigade, but the Japs spotted me coming, and ambushed the invasion fleet with several BBs and CAs. Luckily, and thanks to the heroic efforts of a DD, my APs and AKs survived, and managed to flee. These guys are now trying to reach Noumea instead.

As you can see on the screenshot, the situation is desperate. But the cavalry is on the way. You can see the 2nd USMC division coming straight from San Diego. Ive had CV Saratoga escort them all the way, and now Enterprise has joined the escort.

They will soon run the gauntlet of Japanese surface TFs and airpower. Luganville just became a lvl 3 airbase, so I can expect Nells and Betties over Noumea now.

Ive also got another NZ Cav Bde coming up from Auckland. They should arrive inside a week. Will they make it? This convoy will decide the fate of Noumea. If I manage to get them safely ashore, I will have 2nd USMC defending Noumea. If they fail to get there, I will have pretty much nothing.

The forces currently at Noumea are:
HQ Southwest Pacific
56th US Coast Art Rgt
Parts of 7th USMC Defence Batallion
Parts of 2nd USMC Paratrooper Batallion

The forces currently at La Foa are:
1st NZ Cav Bde
2nd Australian Tank Regiment


Airunits at Noumea:
VP-13 (8 x PB2Y Coronado)
90th USAAF BS (12 x B-25C Mitchell)
42nd USAAF BG (15 x B-26B Marauder + 18 damaged)
58th USAAF BS (6 x B-26B Marauder + 4 damaged)
21st USAAF FS (4 x P-40E Warhawk + 12 damaged)
4 AACU (6 x Swordfish + 5 damaged)

The reason the Swordfish are there is because I need torpedo-capable aircraft here to try to intimidate his CAs and BBs. These guys had one heck of a journey, they flew from Singapore, through the NEI to Darwin. Then rail to Brisbane. Then on to a ship for the perilous journey through the jap infested waters. They managed to escape airstrikes from the KB twice thanks to weather and...well...the grace of God.

[Hortlund]

This is the interesting part of todays AAR.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/16/42


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 69,110


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 7
B-26B Marauder x 9


Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
APD APD-2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
APD APD-1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 5000 feet
2 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet

The lads from 4 AACU unloaded at Noumea yesterday. Already are they proving their worth in gold. Two torpedo hits in two Japanese APDs should make Tojo think twice about coming with capital ships into torpedo range from Noumea. I desperately need to have a safe zone around Noumea, so I can bring in my reinforcements.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 68,113

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
D3A Val x 19
B5N Kate x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AP Koolama, Bomb hits 22, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
324 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 6000 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 6000 feet

Aircraft from Zuikaku attacks Noumea Harbor. This AP had been detached from the main convoy due to its speed. She arrived a day before the rest of the convoy. Unfortunately, the Jap CV has returned (was gone the past two days) and he managed to sink the AP before I could unload even a single man. Thus, no men from 30th Australian Brigade makes it ashore yet.

30th Aus have had a nightmarish journey so far. First they were ambushed off Norfolk Island and lost two ships, and now this transport perish so close to the goal. Three ships remain, I desperately need them in Noumea. Tomorrow they are scheduled to arrive.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 70,107


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Kembu Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 67,108

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 3
B-25C Mitchell x 3
B-26B Marauder x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Atago, Bomb hits 1
CL Jintsu

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Swordfish bombing at 5000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Swordfish bombing at 5000 feet

4 AACU strikes again. Unfortunately this was outside torpedo range. Must change the range setting for these guys, I dont want to waste those precious Swordfish on pointless bomb runs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 67,110

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged


Japanese Ships
AK Syozin Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 5000 feet

Excellent show by the Marauders. Damage the Zeros and put bombs on target. Nicely done.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Clark Field

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 134188 troops, 1306 guns, 253 vehicles, Assault Value = 2538

Defending force 31624 troops, 244 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 697

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese max assault: 1944 - adjusted assault: 1487

Allied max defense: 712 - adjusted defense: 411

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Clark Field base !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
1406 casualties reported
Guns lost 42
Vehicles lost 13

Allied ground losses:
1352 casualties reported
Guns lost 37
Vehicles lost 12

This closes the deal for the PI. We are pushed all the way back to Bataan now.