Hawker (IJN) vs 2ndAcr (Allied) Nikmod 9.2b

[2ndACR]

NO Hawkers allowed
















This will be my first AAR in a very long while. I have played Japan almost exclusively since game release, but have lately been wanting to try my hand at the allies. Hawker is working on the turn right now.

HR's

- 1 port attack turn 1
- Allied moves at sea TF's and China only turn 1
- No first turn invasions of Southern Borneo, Palembang, Java and nothing from Davao south on turn 1. No Kendari, Ambonia turn 1. He is allowed to move his shipping right up to that line on turn 1 though.
- No 2E to 4E for Allied
- Allied ASW limited to 6 ships
- PDU's on
- No 4E naval attack below 10,000
- No B29 naval attack
- No 4E attacks below 10,000
- Blocking forces must be roughly 100AV (80 strength SNLF's can be used)
- No sub invasions

I have made the HR mainly against the Allies. Japan will have a free hand after turn 1. Since I know them so well, I plan to use that knowledge against him.[:-]


I plan to turn Java into a fortress along with Palembang. One Aus brigade will be air lifted to Palembang starting on turn 2 and the other will be brought to Batvia. Just about every scattered Dutch Infantry unit will be brought home to Java to guard against para drops. I may not be able to stop him, but I want him to have to bring maximum force to take Java from me.

The 18th UK Division may be brought down to Java also, but that will depend on how fast he moves and where it is on the re-inforcement schedule.

I plan to release the 2 big coastal defense units in OZ for duty elsewhere. The one in Sydney will go to Port Moresby and the other to Noumea or Gili Gili. I want to see what 16 6" guns can do to an invasion force and hopefully bang up some warships.

Selected PI units will be brought out to help in Java. Once I get a feel for what Hawker is going to do, I will choose what units and where to send them.

Just about every a/c that can transport troops will be used for these massed moves to Java. And to allow me to rapidly shift forces around to counter his moves.

I plan on zipping my stringbag torpedo planes all over the Malaya and DEI area to hit and run as much as possible and hopefully hurt his fleet. They will never sit still in one place for more than a day or 2. Shoot and scoot is the name of the game. I want him to pause every time he sees the airfield symbol. They can not halt him, but I can draw blood.

The plan for the US is in the air right now. I need to shift some forces to cover my supply lines to OZ. But I am going to be cautious in case he tries for the US. I have to wait and see what he does with KB first. Alot will depend on if he goes for Force Z at the start or not. I hope to shift some surface forces to North Pac and also to S. Pac. At least one CV will be shifted south. If I am lucky, I can catch some small invasion TF's and pound them.

This will be as mean and violent a fighting withdrawl as I can make it. I plan to fight for every base I can get to. Losses will be heavy on both sides. I hate to lose ships and troops, but can not allow the Japanese free reign. I will surrender no area without a fight. I am thing about basing the 2nd Marine Div around Suva or Pago Pago as a counter attack force with the shipping need to re-invade any base he takes from me along my supply lines. If the base is a size 3 or 4, it will be fought tooth and nail for. I can not allow Betty's into this area. Palymra will get a RCT and so will Canton.

[Yakface]

Hi Hawker - which scenario are you playing.  Is it CHS with 9.2 Nikmod?

[2ndACR]

Nikmod 9.2B.....................It will be the 1st time he has played it.

[Gen.Hoepner]

Hawker is a very good and reliable opponent. A gentleman i'd say. Treat him with white gloves[;)]

[dpstafford]

Wow. Two of my current opponents going at each other. This should be interesting.

My money is on the AI.........[:D]

[2ndACR]

I have watched his play in some other AAR's. I will treat him very fair. But white gloves..............that could be stretching it some. I plan to make this as painful as possible for him. I gave him carte blanche on anything he wants after turn 1. That is as far as I can go.[:D]

[2ndACR]

I hope it is very entertaining for everyone. Hawker is aggressive as Japan and I like aggressive play.

[Gen.Hoepner]

Yes, Hawker is aggressive, no doubts!
Maybe it can be usefull for you to take a look at my AAR against hawker that was stopped almost 1 year ago...i decided to defend Java against him with questionable results...[:-] However it delayed him a lot!
 
AH, remember, Hawker always goes for Russia[;)]

[2ndACR]

That's alright.......He at least has to give me 2 weeks activation for Russia. I think that is the only restriction I put on him as Japan after turn 1.
 
I am going to avoid reading his AAR's though. I probably already read it, but I like the unknown feeling of not knowing what will happen next.

[2ndACR]

And it is now game on.........turn sent back to Hawker.

[2ndACR]

Well Hawker went after Singapore and removed Force Z from the picture right away. That puts a crimp in the old battle plan some.
 
Every base on the island of Davao is being invaded. All of norther Borneo is invaded. Wake has fallen, but I banged up alot of ships. Tarawa and Makin have been taken.
 
Now it is time to see what kind of damage I can do. I am sending 3 BB's and 2 old CL's with some 4 stackers to Dutch harbor. They will help deter some non-CV escorted raids.
 
2 BB's (with 16" guns) and escorts are moving to South Pacific. They will give me some firepower surface ship wise down south. Lex and Enterprise are moving at Flank speed towards the Tarawa area to see if I can pound on his ships there. Afterwards Lex will move back to PH, Enterprise will move to Noumea. I am not real keen on splitting my CV's, but Lex and Sara will team up at PH. Yorktown will arrive in 34 days and move south to link up with Enterprise.
 
PH will be secured with 4 BB's and a slew of DD's.
 
Some highlights:
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/07/41
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Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
D3A Val x 126
B5N Kate x 143
 
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 9 destroyed, 54 damaged
B5N Kate: 8 destroyed, 27 damaged
 
Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Bomb hits 42, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
MSW Toowoomba, Bomb hits 1
BC Repulse, Bomb hits 41, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Vampire, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Isis, Bomb hits 1
DD Vendetta, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
CL Danae, Bomb hits 3,  on fire
MSW Goulburn, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Tenedos, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
DD Express, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AP Kanimba, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
DD Jupiter, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
G3M Nell x 97
G4M1 Betty x 27
 
Allied aircraft
no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 4 destroyed
Vildebeest IV: 4 destroyed
Swordfish: 2 destroyed
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed
 
 
Allied ground losses:
157 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1
 
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 29
 
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Sub attack near Kuching  at 28,56
 
Japanese Ships
DD Shirayuki, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Ayanami
DD Shikinami
DD Uranami
DD Murakumo
DD Hatsuyuki
 
Allied Ships
SS O19, hits 2
 
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Naval bombardment of Kuching, at 28,56 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
 
4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Ayanami, Shell hits 1
DD Shikinami
DD Uranami
DD Murakumo
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Isonami
DD Sagiri
CA Chokai
 
 
Allied ground losses:
248 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
 
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 1
 
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Coastal Guns at Wake Island, 82,63, firing at TF 16
TF 16 troops unloading over beach at Wake Island, 82,63
 
 
901 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 19
AP Kotobuki Maru #3, Shell hits 5,  on fire
DD Hayate, Shell hits 2
AK Hirokawa Maru, Shell hits 6,  on fire,  heavy damage
CL Tatsuta, Shell hits 5
ML Tokiwa, Shell hits 19,  on fire,  heavy damage
CL Katori, Shell hits 21,  on fire,  heavy damage
ML Okinoshima, Shell hits 4,  on fire
DD Kisaragi, Shell hits 1
DD Yayoi, Shell hits 12,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Mochizuki
 
Japanese ground losses:
1604 casualties reported
Guns lost 16
 
Allied ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
 
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Ground combat at Wake Island
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 6131 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 204
 
Defending force 1826 troops, 37 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 18
 
Japanese max assault: 328 - adjusted assault: 114
 
Allied max defense: 9 - adjusted defense: 4
 
Japanese assault odds: 28 to 1 (fort level 1)
 
Japanese forces CAPTURE Wake Island base !!!
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
no flights
 
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 6 destroyed
 
Japanese ground losses:
408 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
 
Allied ground losses:
1777 casualties reported
Guns lost 31
Vehicles lost 2
 
 

[2ndACR]

 I love the Boise as the Allies. I absolutly hate her as the Japanese. Boise caught and savaged a Japanese surface combat group, but ate a torp in the process which cancels my plans for her. Houston hit another Japanese TF and inflicted some damage on it, but [font="times new roman"]I forgot that she has paper thin armor and she took some hits.   KB is on the move south towards Java. This could hurt.                                            [/font]
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/08/41
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Davao at 41,61
 
Japanese Ships
CL Nagara, Shell hits 16,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Yukikaze
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 14,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 5,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
Allied Ships
CL Boise, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Davao at 41,61
 
Japanese Ships
CL Nagara, Shell hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
 
Allied Ships
CL Boise, Shell hits 1,  on fire
 
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Cagayan at 42,59
 
Japanese Ships
DD Umikaze, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
MSW Toroshima Maru, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
AP Katori Maru
AP Mikage Maru #20
AP Nichiran Maru, Shell hits 8,  on fire,  heavy damage
AP Nissho Maru
 
Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 4,  on fire
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
G3M Nell x 66
G4M1 Betty x 17
 
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 11
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
G3M Nell: 8 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 6 destroyed
 
Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
 
Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
 
Port hits 1
 

Day Air attack on TF, near Kuching at 28,56
 
 
Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 4
 
 
Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
ML Hatsutaka, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
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  And my Stringbags begin hittting back. I plan to move them often and make Hawker guess where they are next.

[trollelite]

Pity, if he abandoned Pearl strike he should have the right to attack manila port. This harbor is roughly in the same timezone as singapore.

[2ndACR]

Well, if he would have asked, I probably would have let him. Usually, they go for either Manilla or PH.

[2ndACR]

Well, KB is still circling Borneo. Virtually every PI ship will be lost. Just a big duck hunt for him. But I do have a ton of subs along his path ways, so hopefully, he will trip over a few and catch some holes.
 
Enterprise is near Nauru island and has been beating up on a IJN TF there. Lexington is on her way back to PH to link up with Saratoga. Enterprise will move to Noumea and prepare to pound on his move to Rabaul or Lunga. Unless KB shows up and then I may have to change my plans.
 
3 BB's, 3 CL's and 9 DD's are nearing Dutch Harbour. They will remain there to make any landing painful in the Alaska region.
 
2 BB's, 6 CA's, 6 CL's and 20 DD's are nearing Noumea. There, they will also make any landing's painful for Hawker. I have stripped West Coast of every AK and TK to ship the items of war to Noumea and OZ. Every large AO I have is moving to Noumea fully loaded. There, they will remain to support my fleet. Slow AO's are based in PH to support the fleet there. 1 AE, 1 AD, 1 AR, 1 AS is also moving to support Noumea. 1 AE, 1 AD, 1 AS are moving to Dutch Harbour to support ops there.
 
4 BB's and everyone else is staying at PH.
 
I am slowly evacing the 27th Aus brigade from Malaya to Palembang, also the MAF aviation is being moved there too. The PI aviation is being lifted to Tarakan, there they will be picked up by subs. The airlift will really move into full swing once my Coronados and C47's arrive on scene.

[Gen.Hoepner]

Isn't too early to move everything to Noumea? I mean Noumea has not the key role that had in UV...in certain games Noumea has a totally marginal role, simply because the war doesn't go that south.  If he's not going for the Salomons (so if he's not following the regular history path) are you going there nonetheless?

[2ndACR]

Well, it is a calculated risk. I am splitting my forces to cover vital areas. If he took Noumea, he could go after NZ, and that would cut me off from OZ. I have to have some forces there to cover that possibility.
 
Plus, it allows me to shift forces forward. I may move to the DEI area once I see where his next forcus point is. Right now he is sweeping up my fleeing ships. I stood down 90% of my air force in the DEI to keep them from being sucked in and destroyed by KB.
 
I have already (going by his words in emails) shocked him some with my use of the Stringbag torp planes and my CV raids. Soon, he will have to slow doen alot to cover every landing with KB. Even though my CV's usually show up after he has troops on the ground. I am after the ships, not his combat forces. I can mop up his land units, of course catching them at sea is fun too.
 
Basically, I am trying to cover all avenues he may take so that he gets no free ride.........not if I can help it anyway. Sort of like the real commanders at the time. Alot of targets and not enough ships, men, aircraft to do the job.