Burns vs. Yubari, CHS scenario 158 version 2.08c

[Jim D Burns]

9 Jan. 42

Not much happening today. Johore Bahru and Manila both get bombed from the air causing moderate damage.

On Luzon I’ve managed to withdraw all my mobile forces to 3 bases without taking any damage from retreat results so far. Clark has 677 AV, Manila has 107 AV and 355 AV are located at Lucena just south of Manila. I’ll hold these bases until one of them falls, and then everything will run into Manila ASAP. Question for the community, if Clark gets taken by force, do units retreat to Manila or Bataan?

The task forces my air units bombed last turn appear to have diverted northwest to Manado out of range of my planes. KB is also near Manado, perhaps he is going to regroup/refuel before coming back within range of my bombers. With KB in tow I doubt I’ll be able to get through to his ships. I no longer see the 2 APs that were near Tomini last turn, perhaps they too headed towards Manado.

My opponent advises his units in Kalgan have 15-30 miles progress towards a friendly base. Hopefully some of his units will move this turn and we can avoid a more drastic solution to our problem. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Here’s a screenshot of all my damaged ships in the west coast ports and those still left at Pearl Harbor.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

10 Jan. 42

A Dutch DD locates a minefield at Soerabaja and clears a few mines. I’ll have to get a MSW group to Soerabaja as soon as I can, but right now my MSWs are on convoy escort duty.

Japanese bombers in Malaya bomb Singapore and cause moderate damage. They also hit the III India HQ unit located at Johore Bahru and cause 72 casualties.

50 of my B-17Es bomb Palembang’s oil from 35000 feet and score 2 hits on the oil. Japanese zeroes at the base were unable to reach the bombers altitude.

18 B-17Ds tried their luck at Toboali and failed to score any hits on the resources there. I had forgotten to lower their altitude settings when I changed their mission to a different base than the B-17Es, so they went in at 35000 feet as well.

Japan bombs both Manila and Clark Field on Luzon and causes minor damage.

Last turn I had observed a Japanese fleet at Tarakan, so I rebased my Dutch torpedo planes with a small fighter contingent to Samarinda in hopes they would finally get to launch some torpedoes. My little ambush paid off and 10 of the 12 planes took off escorted by 4 339Ds.

The Japanese AKs were sitting ducks docked at the base apparently loading troops, and 5 of the 10 torpedo bombers scored hits on 3 different AKs. There were also 9 casualties reported, so some unit/units that were loaded aboard took a little hit as well.

I’ve left the planes at Samarinda in hopes they get to launch another attack, but Japan will probably bring in fighters so I’ll probably lose some planes tomorrow.

Japanese Zeroes, Nells and Bettys appear in the sky over Amboina and cause 6 runway hits to the airbase there. I had already rebased the A-24s out to another base to refit, but the damaged planes still on the ground must have convinced my opponent the base still has operational aircraft present. I won’t bring the A-24s back until I see another fleet approaching, as there simply isn’t sufficient air support to keep a squadron functioning well.

Here’s Japans bombardment attack at Amboina this turn. It looks like he’s been flying in supplies and/or reinforcements. Still not 2-1 yet, but getting close.

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Ground combat at Amboina

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4884 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 152

Defending force 3426 troops, 32 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 88


Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Intel of Palembang shows 44 fighters, 27 bombers and 70 auxiliary aircraft at the base. With so many auxiliary aircraft I’m worried Japan might be planning an air drop into Java to precede his invasion.

I did an inspection of all my units on Java this turn and have listed the combat units present and the bases total assault values in the below screenshot (I ignored all units with no AV, only units with an AV are listed). Only Merak or Kragen are in danger of being air assaulted out of their base right away, and those are lousy port bases, so Japan might not want to land his troops at those bases.



Then again he may be planning to para drop into northern Sumatra. Either way, I really wish I had brought the two Philippine Reserve divisions to Java right now, their extra AV would go a long way to making an early landing on Java a costly venture for Japan.

With Just 3 divisions committed to Malaya and another 3 to Luzon, there are still 2 unaccounted for Japanese divisions out there somewhere. At least I think Japan has a total of 8 he can use right away, after a year off from the game I’m not 100% sure anymore.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

11 Jan. 42

Japan lands troops at San Jose in the Philippine island archipelago, Lae in New Guinea and Pontianak on the west coast of Borneo this turn.

2 large Japanese air raids cause moderate damage to Johore Bahru. The level 2 forts there remain at 88% progress to level 3, looks like my opponent is determined to prevent my units from digging in further. I’ve added 2 AAA units to Johore Bahru to try and make it more costly for him to bomb there. Of the combined total of 60 bombers that hit the base in the two missions, 1 was destroyed and 17 were damaged. 2 recon planes were damaged as well. Not bad considering he came in at 14000 feet.

Manila was hit again but only light damage was caused this turn.

Over the past 2 or 3 turns, I’ve started bombing raids on the Japanese forces marching along the jungle trail to the southeast of Moulmein with 30 or so of my Blenheim IVs. From the units that have been bombed, I’ve gathered so far that Japan has a mixed brigade an armor unit and an engineer regiment on the trail.

I’ve got 3 brigades defending Moulmein, so it will be a close fight due to the low 35-45 experience ratings of those brigades. I’ll keep the bombing going every turn in an attempt to disable and disrupt his forces.

At Kendari Japanese sub I-20 rears its ugly head and slams 3 torpedoes into one of my APs arriving at that base. The AP was bringing in the majority of a Dutch base force from one of the out of the way islands and the entire unit aboard the AP was lost, ouch!

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Sub attack near Kendari at 33,71

Japanese Ships
SS I-20

Allied Ships
AP Ormiston, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
147 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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At Ichang in china all my units have finally arrived at that Japanese held base. But given the fact most are still just under 50 experience, I determined not to launch a deliberate attack. I’ve also spotted 3 units on the road just east of Ichang, so a deliberate attack might get hammered if reinforcing Japanese arrive at the base next turn. For now I’ll have my units continue to train up via bombardment attacks and I’ll reevaluate a possible attack when they’re all in their high 50s.

This turn I decided to look at Malaya and my recon reports of Japanese strength there. Below is a screenshot of all the reported forces spotted by my recon this turn. Looks like my opponent is bringing more troops to the party via the mountain road from Kota Bharu.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

12 Jan. 42

Japanese troops capture Lae and my A-24s at Port Moresby fail to launch against the invasion ships for a second turn in a row.

At Merak on the northern tip of Java, a Japanese DD is reported to have hit a mine. No Japanese fleets are spotted anywhere near that area by my recon this turn, and no troops have landed, so I’m unsure if KB or mini KB just moved west out into the Indian Ocean, or if an invasion is imminent.

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TF 43 encounters mine field at Merak (19,59)

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuyuki, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

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A Japanese cruiser force bombarded Amboina this turn causing minor damage. Additional Japanese troops land over the beaches and the ensuing bombardment attacks by both sides leads me to believe the base will fall next turn.

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Ground combat at Amboina

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3564 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 308

Defending force 2956 troops, 27 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 88

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Ground combat at Amboina

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1880 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 88

Defending force 21061 troops, 64 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 308


Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported

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Japanese planes bomb Manila, Clark and Johore Bahru this turn causing light damage to each base. Johore Bahru actually increased its progress towards level 3 forts by 1% this turn. LOL at this rate (1% every week or so) it’ll only take 3 more months for my guys to finish the job.

My Dutch torpedo planes launched another attack at Tarakan this turn, but found themselves going up against a battleship task force this time. Not the sitting ducks that the AKs were, my planes failed to score any hits and I lost 1 bomber and 8 were damaged.

Japan captures Singkep and 2200 Dutch are marched off to POW camps. Teloekbetoeng on the southern tip of Sumatra also falls this turn and the allied troops retreat east to a costal hex. I managed to evacuate most of the fragment from the Australian 22 AIF brigade to Soerabaja using Dutch float planes before the base fell.

Here’s a screenshot of the problems we’ve been having in northern China. I now think the problem is caused by the maps rail/road network and the games path finding routines. The games move routine is probably trying to march west (an illegal move) due to the shorter movement cost following the road net and every time my units reach 60 miles towards the northwest, the move routines crash and my units all reset.

Had the map made a road link to the NW things would probably work ok. Even if no road is displayed on map, the link is necessary I think for things to work

As it is I’ve given up trying to march out NW and since the E and NE both have Japanese zocs, I’m left with no choice but to try and leave to the SW into the forest.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

13 Jan. 42

More Japanese troops land over the beach at Amboina assuring my troops there will attempt to bombard them, thus reducing my AV by half. The base just barely falls in the ensuing ground combat phase. Had my guys not attempted to bombard, I may have actually held. I wish there was a command that allowed you to prevent your units from bombarding invading troops.

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Ground combat at Amboina

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21888 troops, 60 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 308

Defending force 2946 troops, 27 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 88

Japanese max assault: 298 - adjusted assault: 182

Allied max defense: 78 - adjusted defense: 43

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Amboina base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless: 2 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
346 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Allied ground losses:
743 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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Japan invades Puerto Princesa this turn, it looks like he’s begun a mop up operation against all the little unoccupied islands.

A Dutch sub at Tarakan slams a torpedo into a Japanese AP at the base, damage appeared to be moderate.

Well the AVG fights in its first air battle and results are more than a little disappointing. Last turn the AVG groups all had 0-5 fatigue and 99 morale. This turn 34 planes from the AVG flew escort for a ground strike 2 hexes southeast of Rangoon and were met by 44 Japanese fighters flying LRCAP over the hex.

I carefully watched the replay as many of the AVG pilots are 80-90+ in experience. What ensued was a repeat of what I had seen with my lower level experienced pilots earlier. For every 1 attack my planes got to roll, the Japanese Nates got 6-8 or more. The Nates scored hit after hit, while most were damages, they still ended up shooting down 7 AVG planes even with their WWI vintage machineguns, while only losing 4 of their own.

The zeros shot down 6 AVG planes and were virtually untouchable as the AVG got to attack maybe 2-3 times max against them. I thought the zero advantage wasn’t supposed to apply to the AVG, but the way this fight went I’m not so sure.

The Oscars fared the worst on the Japanese side and lost 3 planes while only shooting down 2 bombers.

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Day Air attack on 28th Engineer Regiment, at 30,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
Ki-27 Nate x 27
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
Lysander I x 1
Blenheim IV x 26
P-40B Tomahawk x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
Ki-27 Nate: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 13 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
12 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
11 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
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Given the fact the AVGs planes are faster and more heavily armored than the Nates, I think the myth that speed and armor makes up for a maneuver advantage is clearly false. You can’t kill it if you don’t get a chance to shoot it down, and the allies are not getting very many air to air combat rolls compared to the Japanese.

With such poor performance against such obsolete aircraft by my elite pilots, I think the allies are going to be very hard pressed to ever rack up enough kills to get out of the 50-60 experience range before they themselves get shot down.

There’s a lot I like about the nik mod, but he simply got it wrong on the maneuver ratings. The Japanese planes maneuver values are simply too high for the allies to overcome. I’m not saying most allied groups should do well in the above fight, but the AVG have elite pilots and had max morale and no fatigue, yet they got their ass handed to them by Nates. Had those Nates been zeroes, I have no doubt all the AVG planes would have been destroyed.

Japanese bombers hit Johore Bahru, Batavia, Manila and Clark field this turn. Damage at Clark was moderate, the other fields suffered light damage.

My Dutch torpedo planes launch another attack at Tarakan but are met by 9 Oscars over the base. 1 - 339D fighter and 1 bomber are destroyed and no ships are hit.

Northeast of Kendari a large Japanese task force is spotted and my bombers launch a strike. 43 Zeros are flying CAP over the transport task force and 13 of my planes get slaughtered. The few bombers that make it through the CAP fail to score any hits.

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Day Air attack on TF, near Taliabu at 37,70

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 43

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 3
Martin 139 x 7
Hudson I x 3
A-24 Dauntless x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 3 destroyed
Martin 139: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
A-24 Dauntless: 7 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AP Hakone Maru
AP Gyoko Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
1 x Martin 139 bombing at 2000 feet
4 x Martin 139 bombing at 2000 feet
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Looks like he’s coming south in significant strength. I can’t tell from the task forces current position if he’s going for Kendari or Timor, or perhaps both. I’ve dispersed my air around at all the level 3 and 4 airfields in hopes that the impending large strike by KB (I assume it was KBs zeroes over the transport fleet) doesn’t catch all my air in one place.



Japanese naval air bombers (possibly from mini-KB) sink an already damaged AK near Balikpapan that was trying to rescue troops from the 61st Reserve Division. A large chunk of the division went down with the ship only 2 hexes from port.

For several turns now, Japan has been launching deliberate attacks against one of my Chinese guerrilla units in an off-road hex. They have been unable to destroy the unit even though they are achieving odds greater than 2-1. The unit still has ample supplies on hand, so perhaps it’ll go into surrender routines once the supplies all dry up.

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Ground combat at 52,35

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7188 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 190

Defending force 724 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 25

Japanese max assault: 188 - adjusted assault: 46

Allied max defense: 19 - adjusted defense: 6

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
53 casualties reported


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Jim

[Jim D Burns]

14 Jan. 42

A couple of Japanese ASW attacks in the SRA result in no damage to my subs.

A Japanese Cruiser force appears at Balikpapan and engages my 4 PT boats sinking one of them. The cruisers then bombard the base and catch several ships in port causing quite a bit of damage and sink the AP Luzon (in port recovering from earlier heavy damage).

Damage to the base itself is light and a few planes are destroyed on the ground. From the looks of things, this cruiser force came from Tarakan in a single turns full speed run in move. Looks like Balikpapan and Samarinda are now untenable for my naval and air units, as he can make these kinds of high speed runs on the two bases at will.

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Naval bombardment of Balikpapan, at 31,64


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed
CW-22 Falcon: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
CA Takao

Allied Ships
AS Holland, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
TK Madrono, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Luzon, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AGP Serdang, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AVD Reiger, Shell hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
504 casualties reported
Guns lost 11
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 7
Port supply hits 3

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Balikpapan is also hit from the air by Bettys and Nells from Manado and another aircraft is destroyed on the ground and damage to the base is moderate.

Singapore gets hit from the air twice this turn in two Japanese air raids by a total of 96 bombers. Looks like the campaign to attrit my supplies is well under way. AAA at the base shot down 3 of the bombers and damaged 45. Looks like the Japanese ground crews will be kept pretty busy.

67 of my B-17s darken the skies above Palembang at 35000 feet and score 4 resource hits. 9 LB-30s from Singapore launch a strike on the Brunei oil at 15000 feet but score no hits. Hopefully once these guys get a little training under their belt they’ll start to get some hits and force Japan to base fighters at all the rear area bases within their range.

On Luzon 3 Japanese air raids totaling 166 bombers hit Manila. Total damage to the base is 6 air base hits, 7 air base supply hits and 21 runway hits, surprisingly light give the total number of bombers that hit the base. Allied AAA managed to shoot down only 2 bombers and damaged only 18. Quite a bit of difference from the damage caused at Singapore by its 4 AAA units.

At Amboina 7 Hudson’s from Darwin fly over and bomb the 56th brigade. I had forgot to change the air mission for the 2 Hudson units which had been ordered to fly for months but only now flew after the base had fallen… a little late fellas.

Kendari gets invaded this turn by the Japanese 56th Division and the 17th Heavy Field Artillery rgt. The small allied air force at the base launches three small attacks on the invading fleets, and even though they manage to slip past the 10 zeroes flying LRCAP, no hits are scored. Even at 2000 feet, allied bombers prove worthless.

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Day Air attack on TF, near Kendari at 33,71

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 9
Martin 139 x 3
Hudson I x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 1 damaged
Martin 139: 2 damaged
Hudson I: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
CA Kinugasa
CL Yura

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 34,72


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 3
Hudson I x 3


Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139: 1 destroyed
Hudson I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami
DD Oyashio

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Martin 139 bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Kendari at 33,71

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 8
Hudson I x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged


Japanese Ships
AP Horai Maru
AP Heiwa Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
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A small Japanese Cruiser force then enters Kendari’s hex and sinks 3 of my 4 PT boats and suffers no hits in return.

Based on recon reports this turn, it appears KB may have been divided, but I'm not going to assume that till I see it launch an airstrike somewhere. Allied recon is horrible with their low experience pilots.

The 51st Chinese Guerrilla Corps southeast of Suchow surrendered today. I found it odd that the surrender was not announced on the combat report, even though it was announced during the replay. The corps is scheduled to reappear in 30 days, so it isn’t a sync issue or anything, the surrender announcement simply failed to appear for some reason.

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Ground combat at 52,35

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7155 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 189

Defending force 619 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

Japanese max assault: 187 - adjusted assault: 103

Allied max defense: 10 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 103 to 1



Allied ground losses:
925 casualties reported
Guns lost 6


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With the appearance of the 56th Division this turn at Kendari, that’s a total of seven Japanese divisions committed to battles so far. The Imperial Guards division is yet to be committed anywhere (I have not seen it marching towards Burma yet) and Japan probably could have paid PP by now to activate a ninth division for overseas deployment.

Given the rapid expansion into the DEIs, I think it’s safe to say my opponent’s strategy is to bypass the key strongpoints of Luzon and Malaya and go for a rapid expansion strategy. The question is where will he go after Java falls?

I’m not too concerned about northern Australia as it’s too hard to really defend well. I’ve sent the 1st Cavalry division to Darwin to help keep the base from falling to anything less than a 2 division sized invasion force. But I’m not going to expose the rest of Australia by sending any more forces north beyond that until significant US forces arrive to bolster Australia’s defense.

India is probably a likely target, though I can’t see an invasion there succeeding without at least 6 full divisions, so he’ll simply have to succeed at Luzon or Malaya first if he hopes to win in India. Should he go in with anything less, I think he’ll get established ashore but I’ll have enough strength to box him in and turn his invasion into a costly nightmare for him.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

15 Jan. 42

A Japanese ASW attack at Kuching damages Dutch sub KXIII causing minor damage. The sub is ordered to return to Soerabaja for a little yard time.

A Japanese ASW attack at Tarakan damaged the SS Pompano, but with only 5 sys damage I decided to keep her on patrol and order the sub out to a deep sea hex a few hexes southeast.

Singapore, Manila and Clark Field all get bombed from the air today. Each of the attacks cause light damage and Japan loses another 6 bombers to AAA fire.

Allied A-24s launch 2 attacks today, one at Kendari and one at Lae. Both attacks manage to slip by the zeroes flying LRCAP over the two bases (though 5 339D escorts are destroyed at Kendari) and score hits on a couple of Japanese ships.

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Day Air attack on TF, near Kendari at 33,71

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 8
A-24 Dauntless x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 5 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Wakatake, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Gyoko Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
9 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Lae at 56,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
A-24 Dauntless x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Yokohama Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
9 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
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More Japanese troops land over the beaches at Kendari bringing Japan’s AV up to 298 today compared to an allied AV of 165. My troops are still causing more damage in bombardments than Japan, I’m hoping Japan’s division is almost all ashore now, but I fear this is just the beginning and his AV will exceed 400 soon.

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Ground combat at Kendari

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10250 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 298

Defending force 5832 troops, 53 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 166



Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

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Ground combat at Kendari

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3392 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 165

Defending force 10250 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 298


Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
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Japan launched a ground bombardment at Clark field today, and even though I had a higher AV than the Japanese, they caused quite a few casualties to the allies. This does not bode well for my troops at Clark. I thought about launching my own bombardment of his troops, but recon spots 14 Japanese units to the NE. I need to rest and recover disablements for the onslaught soon to come.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

16 Jan. 42

Allied sub SS Pollack makes a torpedo attack on CVE Hosho southeast of Tarakan and scores a hit! But the dang blasted torpedo fails to detonate. Japanese destroyers conduct 2 ASW attacks on the Pollack, but it manages to evade and gets away clean.

My one remaining PT boat at Kendari makes a heroic charge against the large Japanese transport convoy, and gets to within 3000 yards to launch its attack run. But the very first shot by an enemy AP destroys the torpedo mount before the PT can launch an attack. Multiple hits by other ships in the transport fleet send the brave men of PT TM-14 to the bottom.

Singapore, Balikpapan, Manila and Clark Field all get hit from the air today. Damage is moderate to heavy and no Japanese planes are lost in the raids.

Allied Hudson bombers from Koepang launch a small attack on Japanese CV’s 2 hexes southwest of Kendari and some of the bombers make it through the CAP and launch an attack on Soryu. Unfortunately about half the bombers went after the BB Kirishima and no hits were scored on either ship.

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Day Air attack on TF at 32,73

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 8
Hudson I x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 4 destroyed
Hudson I: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
CV Soryu

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
1 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
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Allied Hudson’s flying out of Darwin launched a small attack on a convoy east of Lautem, but no hits were scored. It looks like this task force is heading in to Lautem to put troops ashore. I’ve only got a single Australian company defending there, so it’ll probably be rapidly overrun.

Allied A-24s from Makassar launched an attack on a task force next to the Japanese CVs near Kendari and scored a 1000 lb bomb hit on the CL Kitakami causing moderate damage. Dutch torpedo planes from Koepang followed up the attack with an attack of their own, but failed to score any hits. I’m not sure what to make of this task force, is it another invasion task force, or was it perhaps setting up for a night bombardment run on Makassar?

On a positive note, Dutch pilot 1st LT. Van Der Elst U. of the 3e-VLG-V fighter group scored an air to air victory over one of the Japanese zeroes flying LRCAP over this task force. The Japanese pilots must be pretty tired, hopefully my inexperienced Dutch will see more minor victories like this as Japan stretches his resources thin to cover all his operations going on in the SRA right now.

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Day Air attack on TF at 31,73

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 3
A-24 Dauntless x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 1 damaged
A-24 Dauntless: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Oyashio

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
9 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 31,73

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 3
T.IVa x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
T.IVa: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x T.IVa launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x T.IVa launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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At Kendari, Japans ground bombardment is the same as yesterdays. Could it be this is all of the division? If so my guys have a good chance of holding out for some time.

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Ground combat at Kendari

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10252 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 298

Defending force 5825 troops, 54 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 165



Allied ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


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There is so much Japanese naval activity going on in the SRA this turn, I decided to do a very large screen capture to try and allow the readers to take it all in. Allied recon is notoriously bad right now, so don’t take the reports as gospel.



It looks like perhaps an invasion could be on the way to Balikpapan from Tarakan, since I doubt Japan has that many DEs yet. And if he had them, would he put them all in one task force like that?

He also may be loading transport task forces at Palembang and Kuching if my recon is remotely close to what his task forces seen at those bases contain.

I still cannot tell if my opponent has split KB up or not. He hasn’t launched any air strikes with his naval bombers, so he’s playing it safe in case my CV’s show up unannounced. By the number of zeroes flying LRCAP over all the different southern invasion task forces, it’s very possible all of KB is located with the Soryu, even though there were only 27 zeroes flying CAP over the CVs task force.

Jim


P.S. Take a look at the range circles centered on Batavia, what's going on with the off-center green and yellow rings? The black and red rings are perfect circles centered on Batavia, but the green and yellow rings are off-center.

[Jim D Burns]

17 Jan. 42

At Balikpapan a Japanese BB task force shows up and engages my PT boats, sinking my last three boats there while suffering no loss. The BB’s then bombard the base and destroy two aircraft and cause light damage to the base and defending troops.

The accumulated damage over the past several turns means Balikpapan is out of action for quite some time for either side. I doubt the allies have enough engineer squads to repair the damage, so I’ve pulled out all the planes I can.

An invasion is also imminent as SS Plunger engages a transport task force a few hexes east of Balikpapan and puts a torpedo into Ayatosan Maru. No troops are reported as casualties though, so perhaps this AP wasn’t loaded, or the damage was too light to have caused any troops casualties. Either way, Japanese landings at Balikpapan are expected to commence next turn.

Japanese AK Sado Maru hits an allied mine at Singkep. Looks like Japanese MSW assets has been too busy to clear these mines, as I think this is the third or fourth Japanese ship to hit a mine at Singkep now.

After making its successful attack, SS Plunger is attacked by a surface fleet and receives 1 hit. Damage is light, so the sub remains at sea. The Plunger detected the BB Hyuga in the fleet that attacked it, so perhaps Samarinda is going to be bombarded next turn. That or the fleet is simply a surface group protecting the transports.

Singapore and Kendari get hit from the air today and Japan loses 4 bombers and 19 are damaged. Damage to the bases is light.

It appears that KB is probably still together, as the CV task force near Kendari last turn has moved north into the straight near Balikpapan. Several naval air strikes were launched against ships fleeing Balikpapan and a naval air strike was also launched against the Port of Balikpapan in an apparent attempt to finish off the damaged ships in port there from the first BB bombardment several turns ago.

I had removed the ships from port and ordered them to make a run for Soerabaja even though they had lots of floatation damage still as it was apparent an invasion was probably coming soon. KBs timing was perfect as it moved the same turn my ships fled port and all fleeing ships were lost at sea.

Here are the combat reports for the air strikes, as you can see there is a good argument that KB is still intact, but it’s not a decisive bit of Intel on the issue. I count 125 Kates and only 51 Val’s, so it’s still possible he’s split KB up.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 29,68

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 16
B5N2 Kate x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Hanyang, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 29,65

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 15
B5N2 Kate x 19

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AGP Serdang, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AVD Reiger, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 29,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
B5N2 Kate x 24

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AS Holland, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
TK Madrono, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 29,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
D3A2 Val x 20
B5N2 Kate x 23

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AS Holland, on fire, heavy damage
TK Madrono, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Balikpapan , at 31,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
B5N2 Kate x 39

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 1

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 13000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Near Timor my Hudson bombers launch several small strikes at two invasion fleets now detected moving towards the island. All strikes miss except one which scores a hit on an AP and kills a few Japanese troops as well.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 35,77


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 5


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Niitaka Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PC Ch 4

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japan launches a deliberate attack on Kendari and the writing is on the wall as he gets a 1-1 and the fort levels drop. I had hoped my troops here could hold out longer, but their drop in AV was just 1 point away from the dreaded 2-1 when compared to the Japanese adjusted AV, so I no longer hope the base can hold out for very long. At best my guys will last through one more deliberate attack, but the forts will be gone then and the next attack after that will prevail.

I’m pre-positioning transport capable aircraft to be able to start pulling out some troops right after the next attack.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kendari

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10336 troops, 77 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 302

Defending force 5824 troops, 52 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 163

Japanese max assault: 300 - adjusted assault: 240

Allied max defense: 150 - adjusted defense: 121

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
119 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
193 casualties reported
Guns lost 5


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



I should note that every turn there are multiple air strikes going on in China, but there too insignificant to report on every day. I’ll only report significant air strikes or air battles in china. Japan has bombed a few of my resources in China and I should have probably reported on those, damage has been light to moderate at the resource sites though, so I’m not too concerned.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

18 Jan. 42

Japanese MSW ships finally start to clear the minefield at Singkep this turn.

Landings commence at Balikpapan and even though I get quite a few coastal gun shots, nothing gets hit. However an AP drifts into a minefield and gets hit. SS Plunger and SS Pollack follow the convoy to Balikpapan and they are both attacked by Japanese ASW assets. The Pollack takes 4 hits causing light damage and is ordered to return to port for some yard time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Balikpapan, 31,64, firing at TF 89
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 89 encounters mine field at Balikpapan (31,64)

TF 89 troops unloading over beach at Balikpapan, 31,64


129 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Hayabusa

Japanese ground losses:
683 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 89 encounters mine field at Balikpapan (31,64)

TF 89 troops unloading over beach at Balikpapan, 31,64


Japanese Ships
PC Ch 7
PC Ch 3
DD Hayabusa
DD Hiyodori
AP Kiyosumi Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

Coastal Guns at Balikpapan, 31,64, firing at TF 89
46 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
133 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ensuing allied land bombardment phase shows Japan has landed 2 Naval Guard units, 2 Mortar Battalions and 1 Tank Regiment at Balikpapan. Given the difference in our AVs and the fact all of the Japanese forces are most likely not ashore yet, it looks like Balikpapan will fall just as fast as Kendari.



Singapore and Batavia are hit from the air today and both bases take light damage. Japan loses 3 bombers and 25 are damaged.

80 of my B-17s fly to Palembang at 35000 feet and score 5 hits on the oil there. Damage to the base is now 542 (59) resources and 1073 (128) oil.

I would fly at a lower altitude to speed up damage, but most of my B-17 groups are still in the mid fifties in experience and mid sixties in morale, so I don’t want to face his fighters just yet. One big air to air skirmish right now could send my B-17s morale into the tank thus preventing any raids for several weeks. Once morale gets into the seventies, I’ll lower their altitude.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Palembang , at 20,55

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 20
B-17E Fortress x 60

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Oil hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 35000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7 of my LB-30s fly to Brunei at 15000 feet, but again fail to score any hits on the oil there.

At Clark Field 130+ Japanese bombers have begun to bombard my troops instead of the air base. In the two raids flown, a total of 188 casualties and 3 guns are lost from the 91st Reserve Division. No enemy planes are destroyed and only 1 is damaged. Looks like my opponent is tired of losing his planes to the heavier flak in nik mod. If he keeps this up though, I’ll be able to hold out much longer on Luzon since he isn’t destroying much supply this way.

Japan makes another unexpected deliberate attack at Kendari and the forts are reduced to zero. I had hoped for a turn or two between attacks so my planes could get some sizable parts of the units out before the final hammer comes down, but I expect the base to fall tomorrow.

Float planes are ordered to take parts of some of the more experienced land units out this turn, but I doubt I’ll save very much.

Japanese troops land at Dili on Timor, the empty base will fall tomorrow.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

19 Jan. 42

AVD Heron fleeing southeast from Kendari stumbles into the Japanese replenishment fleet a few hexes west of Amboina. Heron is slaughtered by the task forces escorts, man what I wouldn’t give to have a small surface group at Darwin to send north.

Unfortunately allied search aircraft fail to spot the replenishment group, so no air attacks can be launched during the turn.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 37,74

Japanese Ships
CL Kashima
DD Arare
DD Akebono
DD Ushio
AO Akebono Maru
AO Ken'yo Maru
AO Kokuyo Maru
AO Shinkoku Maru
AO Toei Maru
AO Toho Maru
AO Nihon Maru

Allied Ships
AVD Heron, Shell hits 17, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japanese troops begin landings at Koepang and Lautem on Timor. With the extra troops pulled out of Kendari, I may be able to disrupt his efforts to take Timor until he brings in more troops. I have a decided edge in AV at Lautem, but Koepang is looking bad. I’ve decided to keep my float planes at both bases to try and bring in even more of the troops from the Kendari forces.

This is pretty risky as Kendari fell this turn and the troops retreated to the dot base northwest of Kendari. Float planes won’t pick up troops from coastal hexes (I tried earlier), but I’m hoping they will from dot bases. If not I’ll probably lose the float plane groups at Koepang.

Here are the allied bombardments of the invading Japanese, both bases have fort levels of 2, so I may be ok at Koepang for at least one turn.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Koepang

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 973 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 53

Defending force 6446 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 124



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lautem

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 834 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 36

Defending force 961 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 24

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This turn Japan bombed my troops at both Clark Field and Johore Bahru, causing light damage. Japan had 10 planes damaged at Johore and none at Clark.

Last turn Japanese troops began landings at Mersing, so I rebased some torpedo bombers to Singapore and Johore. I sent 7 Vildebeest to Singapore and 12 Swordfish to Johore along with 8 Wirraway for escorts in case there was LRCAP over the transports at Mersing.

It paid off, the transports moved one hex southeast of Mersing this turn and my torpedo planes pounced, finding no enemy CAP over the fleet.

3 separate strikes were launched and 2 AK’s and 1 PC were hit. I had hoped for a better showing since the strikes were not intercepted, but both AK’s had troops aboard, so I’m hoping they sink before reaching a port. The PC took 3 torpedoes, so it was basically blown into smithereens and is sunk, but so far neither AK is reported sunk.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 23,51


Allied aircraft
Vildebeest IV x 5


Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest IV: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Kinka Maru, Torpedo hits 1
AK Sasako Maru

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Vildebeest IV launching torpedoes at 200 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 23,51


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 12
Wirraway x 4


Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Hiyori Maru
PC Ch 16, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Ushio Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on TF at 23,51


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 9
Wirraway x 4


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Kennichi Maru
AK Ushio Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PC Ch 13

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



I launched an air strike against Lae and its level 1 airfield with 15 A-24’s and 8 Wirraway escorts from Port Moresby, unfortunately the strike was intercepted by 13 zeroes. 1 Wirraway was destroyed and 2 damaged, and all 15 A-24s were damaged. The zeroes must have been flying LRCAP, otherwise they would have shredded the strike. No damage was caused to Lae.

Japan launches a deliberate attack on Clark Field and gets a 1-1 and reduces the forts to level 2. The writing is on the wall at Clark and since I don’t want to suffer a retreat and possibly get forced west to Bataan, I ordered all units to march to Manila this turn.

I also ordered the units at Lucena to Manila as well, otherwise Japan could potentially get contested zocs in Manila and Lucena thus trapping my troops there.

I currently have 26000+ supplies at Manila, so I should be able to hold out for several months. Forts are only level 2 though, I would have preferred getting to level 3 before pulling back, but his air bombardments made that impossible.

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

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 76535 troops, 433 guns, 98 vehicles, Assault Value = 1538

Defending force 29617 troops, 140 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 772

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese max assault: 1447 - adjusted assault: 592

Allied max defense: 695 - adjusted defense: 486

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2


Japanese ground losses:
2233 casualties reported
Guns lost 32
Vehicles lost 8

Allied ground losses:
1127 casualties reported
Guns lost 43
Vehicles lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japan also launched a deliberate attack at Johore Bahru and again got a 1-1 and reduced fort levels from 3 to 2 there as well. I noted the addition of the Imperial Guard division to this attack, so Singapore is now doomed with 4 divisions and a brigade there now.

I decided to stick around until the forts are down to level 1 due to the fact there are 12000 supplies at Johore. I still don’t want to be forced to retreat here either, but since Mersing fell to Japan this turn, if I am forced to retreat it will have to be to Singapore, so I felt the risk of staying for an extra turn or two was ok.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Johore Bahru

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 85811 troops, 399 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1954

Defending force 33749 troops, 250 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 671

Japanese max assault: 1921 - adjusted assault: 1318

Allied max defense: 661 - adjusted defense: 909

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2


Japanese ground losses:
1949 casualties reported
Guns lost 21

Allied ground losses:
797 casualties reported
Guns lost 22


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In both cases (Clark and Johore) all units have been prepping for Manila and Singapore from day 1, so most units are in excess of 50 prep points towards their final redoubts. Hopefully the extra AV shift this will give will make Japans task of forcing these last two hexes a long and tedious one.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

20 Jan. 42

Japanese troops continue to land at Koepang. Given the bombardment AV’s seen this turn, I think if I can get a few more turns bringing in remnants of the Kendari units, that I may be able to hold Koepang, forcing him to land additional forces.

So far I’ve brought in 23 squads from the 26th PS Cavalry regiment. Since there are only 2 more squads left to bring in of that unit, all but one float plane group now have orders to start lifting in elements from the 61st Reserve Division. Granted it’s not a very good unit, but it is the largest unit left from the Kendari group and has the most non-disabled elements.

The 23 AIF brigade is being lifted into Lautem, about 1/3rd of the units is there already and I’d say Lautem cannot be taken by what Japan has ashore there now.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Koepang

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1094 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 64

Defending force 9156 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 128



Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My sub SS S-38 torpedoes a Japanese AK at Koepang. Damage is heavy, but no troops are reported killed, so the ship is either empty or carrying supplies.

At Kwajalein Japanese sub I-171 hits a mine recently laid there by the SS Argonaut and sinks! My first sub to sub kill playing WitP ever, at least as far as I know, I’ve never had a sub reported hit by a mine in one of my games before.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 77 encounters mine field at Kwajalein (81,84)

Japanese Ships
SS I-171, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japanese bombers hit Johore Bahru and Port Moresby today. Damage at Johore is moderate and 3 bombers are damaged. Damage at Port Moresby is light, but 1 A-24 is destroyed on the ground and several are damaged. Japan loses 1 bomber and 7 are damaged.

I forgot to turn off my LB-30 squadrons oil bombardment run on Brunei last turn so 6 planes flew at 15000 feet today. Surprisingly they scored 2 oil hits! Not sure if this is FOW or not, but I’ll take it. Damage at Brunei is reported as 293 (8). I hit it once before, but I cannot remember what the damage was before this turn.

Japan also bombards combat units at Johore Bahru and Clark Field causing casualties and disruption. Only one attack is made at Johore, but 4 separate units get hit at Clark.

Japan then conducts a deliberate attack at Clark and stomps the few units remaining there that failed to move into Manila this turn. Luckily all units retreated to Manila. Clark Field is now in the hands of the Japanese, but it will be a long time before he can use it as damage was in the red for both service and runways.

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

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 73531 troops, 380 guns, 86 vehicles, Assault Value = 1389

Defending force 7961 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 196

Japanese max assault: 1194 - adjusted assault: 978

Allied max defense: 144 - adjusted defense: 53

Japanese assault odds: 18 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Clark Field base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
288 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Allied ground losses:
1165 casualties reported
Guns lost 12


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All but 2 units from Lucena also made it into Manila this turn and the two units left there each have 45 miles accumulated so they should enter Manila tomorrow before Japan can attack them. By tomorrow Manila will have over 950 AV and 25000+ supplies present with most units prepped for the hex with over 50 prep points. The total AV should go up for the next week or so to get above 1000 as the 3-4 units spanked at Clark this turn recover their disablements and disruption.

Japan launches a deliberate attack at Balikpapan this turn and achieves a 1-1 and reduces the forts to level 1. But what I found striking was how close our adjusted AV’s were. Even if Japan manages to reduce the forts to 0, I don’t think he can take the base with what he has there now. Here’s a screenshot.



Up to this point I have been lamenting my decision to spend so many political points right away on large combat formations to defend the SRA bases with. The fact the SRA is rapidly becoming Japanese controlled and 2 months haven’t even passed in game yet, I was starting to feel the spent points were a complete waste of time.

But now I’m not so sure. How much faster would his conquest have been if I hadn’t had large units at some of these key bases to slow him down? If he’s forced to take the time to bring more units to both Koepang and Balikpapan, then perhaps my strategy isn’t a completely bad move.

I still wish I had taken the two large Philippine reserve divisions to Java instead of sending them to Manado and Tarakan, but the rest of my moves to bases like Amboina, Kendari, Balikpapan and now Koepang appear to have at least slowed my opponent down some.

I guess had my opponent done a slower more methodical typical Japanese strategy and not gone for such a fast strike into the SRA, then perhaps my strategy would have played out better. His fast strategy is probably the best counter to my strategy because my units don’t have time to dig in or build up many prep points for their bases, so they are a lot easier to overcome now instead of Later.

Given his fast moves I think the best thing for me to have done would have been to get everything into Java right away and tried to make that island impenetrable to anything less than 3 invading divisions. I still may be able to hold out in Java for a while, but the fact no really large units have been added to the defense there means he’ll probably be able to force me into a redoubt pretty quickly.

He has a division at Kendari, quite a bit of strength still that he used to take Palembang with and I have no idea what he has at Kuching. If he manages to take Koepang that’ll be another full brigade he can add to his attack on Java, so things are looking pretty grim for Java.

In fact I’ve decided not to even try to reinforce it with anything, not even a supply run. He simply took everything too fast, I think anything I send in now will be lost, and not amount to a whole lot of help on Java in the long run.

I’ll probably air lift as much of the 57th PS RCT from Samarinda into Soerabaja as I can after the Koepang operation is completed. Once Balikpapan falls I’ll also lift in as much of the remnants of the US 30th RCT as I can as well. These two units should add about 100-150 AV to the island. Not enough to change the situation, but perhaps enough to allow the redoubt to hold out until supplies run out rather than falling to direct assault.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

21 Jan. 42

I sent 27 Blenheim bombers from Rangoon on a night bombing mission to Tavoy in hopes of catching a few Japanese planes on the ground and scored a grand total of 1 runway hit. No other damage was caused, looks like I’ll have to go in in daylight if I hope to get some planes.

Japan hits Singapore with 67 bombers and causes moderate damage. 2 bombers were destroyed and 19 damaged by the flak.

I lowered my heavy bombers altitude to 31000 feet and sent them after the airfield at Palembang to see if they could cause enough damage to close it down. 74 bombers flew and they only caused 1 airbase hit and 6 runway hits. 3 zeroes were destroyed on the ground and 3 were damaged. Given the fact only 11 zeroes flew as CAP, I think I may reduce altitude to 15000 next time they fly to see if I can cause some heavy damage to the oil and resources.

At Koepang my Kingfisher float plane group finally flew 2 naval attacks (had been on naval attack for several turns but didn’t fly) against the invasion task force at the base, but no hits were scored in either attack.

Japan takes the undefended base of Lucena this turn and thus completes the isolation of Manila. With 24k+ of supplies, 2 forts and 966 AV Manila will try to hold out till at least May I hope.

I will try to evacuate some of the combat formations via sub to reduce the routine supply draw of the units there as much as possible. Right now they are drawing about 6000 supplies a month and with supply losses from bombings that means they’ll probably run out of supplies in about 3-4 months, so May is a long way away. If I can manage to reduce their routine supply draw to less than 5000, they might make it to May, but that’s a lot of sub trips and my subs aren’t near Manila right now.

Japan attacks Balikpapan again this turn and reduces the forts to zero. Given our adjusted AV’s though, I’m confident he won’t be able to take the base unless I have a really bad die roll or something. Also there are no more Japanese convoys at Balikpapan right now, so his units must be burning through their supplies.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Balikpapan

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9111 troops, 81 guns, 61 vehicles, Assault Value = 205

Defending force 4922 troops, 47 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 104

Japanese max assault: 181 - adjusted assault: 242

Allied max defense: 98 - adjusted defense: 153

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
141 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I may have made a mistake sticking around at Johore Bahru. Japan’s attack this turn was pretty decisive and the forts are now down to level 1. Given the 3-1 odds achieved by Japan this turn, I will probably lose if he launches another attack and thus be forced to retreat. This would be a disaster for Singapore, so I’ve ordered all units to march to Singapore ASAP.

My only hope is he takes a turn to rest his units, or if he attacks, his units suffered enough disruption from today’s attack that he fails to achieve another 3-1 odds attack.

As at Manila, all my units have been preparing for Singapore from day 1, so most are above 50 prep points. Except for two units, the Corp HQ and the Air HQ at Johore both were prepping for Johore to give that base some bonus in air combats and ground combats there.

If I’m forced to retreat, the bonus from being prepped for the Singapore base probably won’t be enough to hold the base for very long as my total AV will have dropped too much. I should have retreated after the last battle, it was a serious mistake to stay around once the Imperial Guard Division showed up.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Johore Bahru

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 82386 troops, 369 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1861

Defending force 32150 troops, 213 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 651

Japanese max assault: 1804 - adjusted assault: 2627

Allied max defense: 642 - adjusted defense: 753

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1325 casualties reported
Guns lost 20

Allied ground losses:
1386 casualties reported
Guns lost 11


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Japan launches a deliberate attack at Koepang and fails to take the base, in fact he only achieves a 0-1 attack. Given the fact he had landed troops over the beach this turn and forced the allies to bombard, I’m confident I can hold the base against what he has there now. By forcing me to bombard my AV was automatically halved, so future attacks will get hammered even worse.

I’ll continue to pull the remnants from Kendari into Koepang as I expect I’ll need them when Japan brings more troops to the party.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Koepang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9436 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 128

Defending force 3092 troops, 16 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 71

Japanese max assault: 113 - adjusted assault: 38

Allied max defense: 60 - adjusted defense: 45

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)


Japanese ground losses:
182 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Koepang

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1083 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 64

Defending force 9140 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 112

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

22 Jan. 42

Not a great turn for the allies today, my brash statement last turn about holding Balikpapan proves hasty and the base easily falls to Japan. The mysteries of the ground combat routines elude me completely as last turn it appeared there was no way Japan could get the base, yet Japan easily achieves a 2-1 and takes the base as my adjusted AV is less than half what it was yesterday.

The only thing that changed was forts went from 1 to 0, but as I understood it that’s just a .33 multiple per level of fort, but given today’s drop in AV, it appears level 1 forts are worth far more than just a .33 multiple to the adjusted AV.

The real disaster of the turn though is apparently all the spare supplies from Samarinda must have been sucked into Balikpapan during the past few turns fighting (I used to have 2500+ there last time I checked) and now the base only has 812 supplies on hand. The units that retreated need a combined total of 514 supplies since they all have 0 on hand now, so Samarinda is effectively out of supply and probably won’t even be able to withstand the shock attack from Japanese units coming across the river from Balikpapan.

I’ve therefore immediately cancelled the lift operation into Koepang and sent all available float planes to Soerabaja to start lifting units out of Samarinda ASAP.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Balikpapan

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8996 troops, 77 guns, 61 vehicles, Assault Value = 194

Defending force 4543 troops, 42 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 85

Japanese max assault: 173 - adjusted assault: 158

Allied max defense: 81 - adjusted defense: 69

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Balikpapan base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
CW-22 Falcon: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
195 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
147 casualties reported
Guns lost 9


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Japanese bombardment task force showed up and bombarded Koepang today, causing moderate damage and destroying 2 Kingfishers.

Japanese bombers bomb Johore Bahru and Singapore today causing moderate damage to both bases. A total of 5 bombers were destroyed and 35 were damaged out of the 98 attacking bombers.

Manila was hit twice by a total of 117 bombers and damage was moderate to heavy. 3 bombers were destroyed and 21 were damaged during the raids.

17 of my A-24’s from Makassar launched an air strike against a Japanese fleet a few hexes west of Kendari. Only 1 1000lb GP bomb scored a hit on a CA, and it appeared to bounce off the belt armor. 2 of my A-24’s were destroyed by flak. This fleet is the fleet that just bombarded Koepang, it is apparently returning to Kendari to rearm and refuel.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 32,72


Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 5
A-24 Dauntless x 17


Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa, Bomb hits 1
CL Yura

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
8 x A-24 Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Japanese ASW attack damaged the SS Plunger a few hexes east of Balikpapan, damage was light, but I ordered the sub to port for a quick refit.

As I expected, Japan launched an attack at Johore Bahru today. Luckily for me most of my units made it into Singapore before the attack. 3 of my brigades and a few other units remained in the hex and were slammed by a 6-1 shock attack and forced to retreat into Singapore.

I’m glad my opponent launched a shock attack, it’ll take him a few days to recover from the extra losses and give my retreated units a little time to recover.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Johore Bahru

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 80532 troops, 341 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1830

Defending force 12577 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 213

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese max assault: 3258 - adjusted assault: 2048

Allied max defense: 207 - adjusted defense: 307

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Johore Bahru base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
1342 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Allied ground losses:
747 casualties reported
Guns lost 8


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



After drawing supplies for the retreated units this turn, Singapore now has 40k+ supplies on hand and 800 AV defending the base behind level 5 forts. I assume my AV will eventually get up to about 850-900 if my retreated units are allowed to recover fully, so the question is can I hold out for very long against the 1800+ AV of Japan?

The level 5 forts should make achieving a 1-1 difficult for Japan I hope. I would have liked to have gotten higher level forts in Singapore, but Japan has kept the base damaged and I’m only 9% of the way to level 6, so I doubt there will be any more forts built at Singapore.

So my only hope for a prolonged defense is the auto shock attack Japan has to launch when he crosses the river. If Japanese units are hit hard, they will probably have to take at least a few weeks to recover. If so then my units should be in good shape and I may have a high enough AV to prevent the dreaded 1-1 fort reducing odds attacks.

If not then Singapore will probably fall right on historical schedule around mid February.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

23 Jan. 42

I forgot to mention that the Japanese DD Kiji was reported sunk at Tarakan last turn. My opponent informed me it sank 26 days after being hit.

Some PT boats rebasing to Samarinda from the Philippines area had a mid ocean intercept of a large Japanese AK fleet a few hexes west of Tarakan. The Japanese DD’s did their job and kept my bopats away from the transports. One of my boats was sunk and the one boat that launched its torpedoes missed its target.

Samarinda is bombarded by a Japanese battleship fleet and damage to the base is heavy.

50 Japanese bombers hit Singapore today and damage to the base is light. 1 Japanese bomber is destroyed and 23 are damaged.

Manila is hit twice by a total of 100 bombers and damage caused to the base is light. 3 Japanese bombers are destroyed and 9 are damaged.

68 of my B-17s fly to Balikpapan at 15000 feet and cause 10 oil hits. Damage to the base is reported at 386 (15) resources and 341 (60) oil by Intel. My opponent has been very lucky in the SRA, none of the bases he captured appear to have taken much damage at all from retreating allied units, even though I’ve fought for almost every base with additional units.

My bombers are causing minor damage to some of the bases, but they are going to be forced to leave the SRA soon I think, so in the end Japan will have a decent sized economy to work with. Had even one of the big resource bases taken 50% or 100% damage upon capture, then the damage being caused by my bombers right now would be critical, but his luck has given him the SRA and Philippines almost 100% intact.

Hudson’s from Darwin launch a couple small raids on Japanese task forces near Timor. As usual, the allied pilots miss the AP’s and hit a combat ship. The MSW is blown to bits by 3 250 lb bombs and sinks.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Wetar Island at 34,76


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Gotake Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on TF, near Wetar Island at 34,76


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
MSW Ataka Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Anrugu Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10 of my A-24’s from Makassar launch a strike against a Japanese surface flett to the north and score hits on a DD and a BB. The fact my planes dropped 500 lb bombs instead of the 1000 lb bombs normally dropped when they fly within normal range, tells me the base is probably low on supplies. I’ve rebased the planes out of Makassar. Had I realized how active this base was going to be I’d have put a lot more supplies ashore there.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

24 Jan. 42

Makassar is hit by a BB bombardment group and the base sustains heavy damage. Japan follows up the naval bombardment with 43 Nells and Bettys from Kendari and finishes the job. It’s a good thing I rebased my air units out of the base last turn, the groups would have been smashed had they remained. Basically Makassar is no longer an option for use as an allied air base, my guess is all the naval attacks launched from here were really getting to my opponent.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Makassar, at 30,70


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
CA Takao
BB Hyuga
BB Mutsu


Allied ground losses:
739 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 65
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on Makassar , at 30,70

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
G3M Nell x 19
G4M1 Betty x 24
Ki-46-II Dinah x 3

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless: 1 destroyed
Do 24K-2: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 23

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 13000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Singapore gets hit by 39 Japanese bombers today, damage to the base is light. Japan lost 2 bombers destroyed and 11 bombers damaged.

63 of my B-17s hit Balikpapan again today at 15000 feet and cause 15 oil hits to the base. Damage is now reported by Intel to be 386 (15) resources and 291 (110) oil. The base airfield does not appear to be repairing very quickly, I think my opponent may have overreached here and failed to bring engineers and air support with him, as there still appears to be no air cover over the base.

I’ll continue to attack the base at 15000 feet since LRCAP isn’t as devastating as regular CAP, so any air cover encountered should cause minimal damage.

Manila is subjected to two air raids again today by a total of 101 Japanese bombers. Damage is moderate and Japan loses no bombers and only 11 are damaged. Looks like his constant bombardments are starting to have an effect on my AAA unit’s accuracy.

Japan launches his first ground bombardment at Manila. It doesn’t look like all his units are at Manila yet, so I’m not sure how strong his eventual attacking forces will be. But they caused considerable damage today even though I’m in an urban hex and his units just arrived which means they are probably disrupted and fatigued, this does not bode well for my defenders as it is only going to get worse.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 71090 troops, 441 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 1910

Defending force 73849 troops, 417 guns, 258 vehicles, Assault Value = 1137



Allied ground losses:
194 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had stopped my bombardment attacks for several turns and Japan must have thought I was having supply difficulties in Ichang and Canton in China, as he launched some bombardment attacks in those bases even though I outnumber him considerably. In Canton I’ve been awaiting the arrival of 7 artillery units and 4-5 corps from the Changsha area. I plan to train these units at Canton with bombardment attacks before sending them back to the Changsha area.

At Ichang I’ve been resting my units to try and get their disruption from the move into the hex down and it is a slow process. I also have a War Area HQ on the way so my units there will start to benefit from a command HQ and a combat HQ in the same hex. I’m hoping that will speed up recovery times, as it takes forever to get fatigue and disruption to drop in this hex.

All of my units in both bases are drawing adequate supplies and none of the units are short supply.

Given the comparative AV at Canton, my opponent better bring in at least another division or I may be able to take the base once all the units there train up to 60 experience. Given that I outnumber him in guns by 10-1 now, once I start my training bombardments he may start to suffer some serious disruption.

Ichang seems secure for Japan, I can’t afford to march my artillery through the woods to get it out to the isolated base without risking the units to isolation and destruction. It would probably take them many months to get there and Japan could easily interdict the move as his mech units move a lot faster than any of my Chinese units.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ichang

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1144 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1270

Defending force 67360 troops, 334 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 2025



Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2784 troops, 54 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1295

Defending force 91300 troops, 537 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 2438



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I made a mistake at Lautem this turn. Looking at our comparative AV’s last turn, I thought perhaps Japan was suffering from a lack of supplies and initiated a deliberate attack to try and disrupt his troops and perhaps force a retreat.

Well needless to say it was over-ambitious and the attack went in at 0-1. Thankfully I suffered few casualties, but my disruption levels jumped and I’m afraid he may be able to take the base next turn if his disruption didn’t jump like mine did. He suffered higher losses than I did, so perhaps I’ll be OK.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lautem

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1116 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 52

Defending force 3988 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 61


Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lautem

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2424 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 61

Defending force 2080 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 52

Allied max assault: 40 - adjusted assault: 9

Japanese max defense: 46 - adjusted defense: 21

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
69 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported


I have no idea why my AV dropped to 9 like that, Japans bombardment attack couldn’t have caused that much disruption could it? I mean I took no losses from his bombardment and he did, so would my guys get disrupted to the toon of a 75% drop in my AV?

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

25 Jan. 42

A Japanese Cruiser force shows up and bombards Makassar again this turn, the damage to the base is overkill. No way could the engineers present there have even repaired last turns damage in time for me to use the base again, let alone today’s additional damage.

50 of my B-17s appear over Balikpapan and cause another 11 oil hits. I’ve stood down my bombers for a turn or two to allow them to recover damaged planes and fatigue.

My Kingfishers from Koepang make another small naval attack on a Japanese convoy to the north, but score no hits. It looks like Japan is already bringing in reinforcements to take the base.

I’ve staged the Asiatic Fleet’s PBY squadrons to Darwin so I can pull out some of my defenders from Koepang if it looks like Japan can easily take the base with the reinforcements he may be landing in a turn or two. This could be just a supply convoy though, so I’ll wait and see if anything lands before pulling any troops out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Labao at 30,75


Allied aircraft
OS2U-3 Kingfisher x 6


Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Kawakaze
AK Shinano Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x OS2U-3 Kingfisher bombing at 2000 feet
4 x OS2U-3 Kingfisher bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My three remaining PT boats near Tarakan ended up in the same hex as a Japanese APD task force. No torpedo hits scored, but a few of the machine gun hits stated they penetrated the APD’s armor, so perhaps they’ll need a little yard time. All of my PT boats were sunk.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat at 31,66

Japanese Ships
APD Patrol Boat No. 32, Shell hits 1
APD Patrol Boat No. 33, Shell hits 4
APD Patrol Boat No. 34
APD Patrol Boat No. 35

Allied Ships
PT MTB 7, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT MTB 8, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PT MTB 9, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Japanese land bombardment of Manila didn’t cause as many casualties as yesterday’s bombardment. It looks like as my units recover fatigue and disruption they’ll sustain fewer casualties. Hopefully this downward trend in casualties will continue. Here’s a screenshot of the forces present at manila:



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 73531 troops, 493 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 1997

Defending force 74320 troops, 425 guns, 259 vehicles, Assault Value = 1144



Allied ground losses:
180 casualties reported
Guns lost 5


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I began bombarding Japanese units at Ichang today, here are the results. Japan has brought in significant reinforcements to boost his starting strength in the hex. I seriously doubt I could ever take the place now, so I’ll simply stay there and conduct bombardments. If he wants me to leave, he’ll have to force me out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ichang

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 64021 troops, 335 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 2033

Defending force 53010 troops, 262 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 1270


Japanese ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported

I’ve ordered bombardments to commence again at Canton this turn. Most of the 25 experience artillery units are there now and I want to take advantage of the huge difference in our artillery strength before he can reinforce here like he did at Ichang.

I think it is significant to note that Japan launched no air strikes today. I think there are two possible reasons why. First my AAA may be causing unsustainable losses to his air groups. Second he may be redeploying his strength to launch a large air campaign to close the airfields in Java.

I think the second possibility is the most likely one. I’ve been causing him a world of hurt with my strategic bombardments recently and I think he needs to do something to stop it. Were it to continue unchecked he’d soon run into major problems with his economy.

I should note that the Japanese controlled resource in Kalgan was damaged by more than 50% due to my being in that base with land units alone after he graciously pulled his troops out to allow me to leave. So to make up for this unfair destruction of his resources, I have offered not to bomb any more resources in the SRA until after I have been completely expelled from the region.

I could easily kill off more than the 60 or so resources he lost at Kalgan, so I felt this was a fair solution to the problem. So for now the only thing in danger of being bombed in the SRA now is his oil. I had been hitting both oil and resources with my raids, sending the B-17E’s to the oil and the B-17D’s to the resources in hexes I flew against.

Jim

[Jim D Burns]

26 Jan. 42

The Japanese sub I-22 launches torpedoes at my mine laying task force 2 hexes east of Townsville and hits the Bungaree with 2 torpedoes. With massive damage and 44 fires I should have scuttled the ship, but it is my only mine laying ship in Australian waters, so I wanted to give it a chance to get into port at Townsville.

I can’t believe how effective my opponent is with his subs, this is the second major mine laying vessel he’s hit. I lost the ML Oglala to a sub attack near Johnston Island a while back. Now the Bungaree looks like it’s going down as well.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 48,105

Japanese Ships
SS I-22

Allied Ships
ML Bungaree, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PC Doomba
PG Yarra
PG Warrego
PG Swan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



62 Japanese bombers hit Singapore today and cause moderate damage. 4 bombers are destroyed and 19 are damaged in the raid.

41 Japanese bombers from Kendari hit Makassar again today causing light damage to the already destroyed base. A Japanese transport task force appears in the hex this turn and will probably begin invasion operations tomorrow. That is if my Intel is correct, it could very well be just another surface task force.

I launched another ground strike attack on the Japanese units southeast of Moulmein today and another air battle is fought against Japanese LRCAP over the hex. This time 8 P-40B escorts are engaged by 19 Nates and 7 Oscars.

The elite, non-fatigued, high morale AVG pilots fired so few return shots in the engagement, that they didn’t even score a single damage result. The Oscars shot down 1 P-40 and the Nates shot down 3 P-40’s.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 124th IJA Base Force, at 30,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 19
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
Lysander I x 2
Blenheim IV x 53
P-40B Tomahawk x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed, 18 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 4 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
135 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Blenheim IV bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Chinese land bombardment attack at Canton goes in and I’m disheartened to learn Japan has brought in a lot more artillery to counter my artillery build up. No damage is caused to either side. Hopefully when these 25 experience guns get up into the 50 range, they’ll start to hit something.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 83376 troops, 584 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 2436

Defending force 88618 troops, 360 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1300


Jim

[Gen.Hoepner]

Very well written aar.Really a nice read!
Keep it up

[Jim D Burns]

27 Jan. 42

Gen.Hoepner - Thanks, glad you're enjoying the read.


Japan launches its first air strikes against Java’s airfields today, with two strikes hitting Bandoeng. Damage to the airfields is light, but I lose 2 of my few remaining Vildebeest torpedo planes on the ground. I now have 8 Vildebeest’s left in the two squadrons (4 in each), I’ll probably load them onto ships and evacuate them if they lose any more air frames before the invasion.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bandoeng , at 19,61

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 14
C5M Babs x 3
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7
Ki-15 Babs x 2

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
C5M Babs: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest IV: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x G3M Nell bombing at 12000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bandoeng , at 19,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
G3M Nell x 43

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x G3M Nell bombing at 12000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

153 Japanese bombers hit Manila today causing heavy damage to the base. Japan is really hitting this base hard from the air, at this rate my supplies definitely won’t last till May. Hopefully he won’t be able to sustain such a heavy bombardment. A total of 2 Japanese bombers were destroyed and 11 were damaged in the two raids.

My Blenheim’s hit the Japanese units southeast of Moulmein again today, but no Japanese LRCAP was present. Intel spots another Japanese unit on the trail hex 2 hexes southwest of Moulmein, I’ve given my recon planes orders to fly over the hex to try and ascertain what it is.

Huzzah! A good day for allied submariners today. Dutch sub KXII arrives at Saigon and finds a big fat and happy Japanese repair ship sitting in the harbor. Two torpedoes slam into the ships side. No report of the ship sinking yet, but damage was heavy. This has got to hurt my opponent, helps make up for the loss of my Minelayer near Townsville today, it sank 1 hex away from port there.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Saigon at 31,45

Japanese Ships
AR Yusho Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXII

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well the Japanese task force at Koepang didn’t land any troops, but the supplies it delivered made a difference. Japan gets a 2-1 deliberate attack today and I suspect the base will fall tomorrow. Again the huge drop in my AV is a mystery to me. I’ve ordered my PBY’s to pull out what they can this turn.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Koepang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9390 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 123

Defending force 2706 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 72

Japanese max assault: 112 - adjusted assault: 20

Allied max defense: 64 - adjusted defense: 10

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
146 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With the loss of Koepang I’m wondering if it’s even worth staying at Lautem for a few more turns. I’ll probably just pull everything from there out by air into Darwin. The units will do a lot more good at Darwin then they will defending Lautem.

At least if they get pushed back from Darwin they will remain as a force that can continue to fight. If I leave them at Lautem, they will eventually end up isolated and starving like so many other formations I tried to defend the SRA with are doing now.

I’ve made some recent adjustments to my defenses in northern China. I had originally planned to keep a corp behind each hex of the river that runs between Yenan and the Japanese occupied base of yangtu. This was going to be an attempt to cause him some hurt as he would be forced to shock attack if he crossed the river.

But an inspection of my units revealed to me no units were drawing supplies except the ones on rail or heavy road hexes. Units along trails (even units adjacent to Yenan) were almost out of supplies and hadn’t drawn any all game.

Obviously this make the units combat ineffective, so I’ve ordered all units into the bases they are prepped for.

Here’s a screenshot of one of the units:



On a positive note I’ve finally managed to extricate my units from the area around Kalgan. They are now west of Tatung with orders to march to Yenan.

Jim