To the Death - Buttsworth versus Son of Heaven

[matt.buttsworth]

12th February

Pedro continues to surprise me
his kb has not turned around and is heading back to canton island
my ships as always have been turned around again.
in dei at Borneo the UK albacores continue to wreak havoc destroying an invasion fleet.
two sunk and the rest striken but they may still get through to Borneo.
I have not withdrawn my bombers. Perhaps I should have.
the bombers must sink the ships before they land as the base has no land unit.
that is being marched overland.
the next turn again is crucial.
any advice?

[matt.buttsworth]

15th February

The war goes on. At Canton island another NLF dies of attrition. Only one NLF is on the island now so an immediate attack is ordered in the hope of wiping out the Japanese invaders.
At Borneo the Japanese have managed to land at two ports. But only 360 men made it ashore. It is not known if that is enough to seize the base but if it is then the Japanese finally have a base at Borneo.
The destroyers hit the transports hard but they still landed. Two destroyers sunk by Japanese bombers.
Positively a Japanese CVL was sunk by torpedo bombers. The biggest Japanese naval loss of the war to date.
The allies are 2000 points ahead in total but still behind on planes and ships sunk. The Japanese have lost 15 ships trying to take a borneo base.
If Borneo is not taken next turn then a regiment will be sent to the island to reinforce the base.
If it is the defence lines will be Java and Sumatra.
B 17s will be used to bomb the airport into dust.

Matthew

[matt.buttsworth]

February 16th
Sansawan has not fallen so dive bombers have been sent back to the base to attack the transports that are unloading troops at Kuching.
The aim is to stop the Japanese conquering Burma. If Kuching holds one more turn it may work.
In the South Pacific the KB appears to have left Baker Island.
The 24th division is now being loaded onto transports to be sent to Canton Island.
If it lands, air support units will then be sent to the island so that all planes on the island can fly.
The CV fleet is now heading to Noumea to pick up fuel before travelling to Java.
The KB leaving Baker island may not be good.
Nothing can resist it if it attacks Borneo but it will be interesting given the number of dive bomber squadrons in the region.
Canton island itself is a victory.
In a few months if Borneo is held then the Japanese will start running short of fuel.
A desperate attempt to conquer Borneo is expected soon.
The Singapore troops are still holding Johore Bahru but losses are high. The Japanese are now attacking repeatedly.

[matt.buttsworth]

February 18th

A decisive turn

The Japanese seize Clarke Field and Johore Bahru in a day of fierce fighting as well as launching attacks with troops and paratroops at Sinkewan and Kuching.
Fortunately the attacks fail so the dive bombers are flown out but the loss of Clark and Johore Bahru mean the fall of Singapore and Bantan fortress are only a matter of time.
Cadres will have to be withdrawn where possible.
Where will Pedro strike once Singapore falls?
Oil dictates Sumatra but where then?
How high are his oil stocks?
Oil will be ferried out of Borneo and Sumatra as quickly as possible and plans for strategic bombing is made.
Oil must be denied to Pedro for as long as possible.

M

[matt.buttsworth]

February 19th

The battle for Borneo goes on.
The battlefleet bombards Kuching and three destroyers and three APs are sunk although the BC takes a torpedo.
Nells appear at Johore Bahru and begin to attack shipping.
Two transports near Kuching are struck but the BC survives unbombed.
Airplanes are flown out of Swewerwan as fast as possible and few now remain.
Ships arrive to ship a Dutch defence battalion to the base but it may be too late.
On Eastern borneo cadres of units are withdrawn to fight on after Borneo falls.
The tankers and transports must arrive soon.

[matt.buttsworth]

22nd February

Bataan has fallen!
All troops lost with only a few cadres saved.
Where will Japan now send its troops.
The allies will have to depend on airpower until their land forces build up.

M

[matt.buttsworth]

28th of February

Disaster.

The battle fleet at Canton Island was ambushed by the KB. Wave after wave of divebombers hit the fleet. 2 battleships were sunk, two more will sink.
But the 24th Infantry division got ashore amidst the carnage so Canton island is safe.
Was it a victory or was it a loss? Is the safeguarding of Canton Island worth 4 battleships?
Positively I now know where the KB is and it is in the wrong place.
The war will not be won or lost at Canton island.
Oil will be the next major battleground and bombers and fighters are now being sent from China into the DEI to fight off the next Japanese attack.
The carrier fleet is now one square from Brisbane and although short of fuel will refuel at Brisbane before going to Tarakan to pick up more oil.
Once it is there any major Japanese fleet sent into the DEI will be destroyed. It is unsure whether to unload the fighters and bombers or keep them on the carriers.
The Japanese will no doubt win in DEI. Their troops are too strong but they will pay a terrible price in transports and other ships.
Empty transports will now be sent regularly to Canton island to try and keep the KB pinned at the wrong battlefield using up oil.
In Malaya the Japanese troops have now begun their attack on Singapore.
It will not last long but cadres of all units and of two philippine divisions are now on their way to Calcutta to rebuild.
More Philippine units could have been saved but I did not act fast enough.
The aim is to hold Burma, conduct a fighting retreat in DEI using maximum airpower and build up slowly along the entire South Pacific in preparation for an offensive in 1943 while keeping the KB pinned for as long as possible at Canton island.

Comments?

[matt.buttsworth]

26th of February

A quieter turn.
The battered allied combat fleet is making its way to Palmyra while damaged transports struggle to Pago Pago. Two will sink this turn.
But the air situation in Canton island is improving as aviation support is flown in and soon another base force will arrive.

Little else happens.

[matt.buttsworth]

13th of March

After a break I am now returning to write the AAR. The situation at Canton Island has stabilized and the South Pacific is no longer under attack.
The KB which was haunting Baker Island has left so trouble can be expected elsewhere.
The CV fleet has now refuelled at Darwin and is heading off to Java. It is not planned to expose it to risk but a strike force of divebombers, torpedo bombers and marine fighters will be used as land based planes to be transferred into attacked ports and sink the attackers.
It will be the greatest force of allied dive bombers assembled.
The Japanese now rule Northern Borneo but have not yet tried to land in Java, Brunei, or Eastern Borneo.
It is estimated they have three months of fuel left so he must attack soon.
Numerous squadrons have been transferred to defend the seas as there is not enough land forces to match the Japanese army.
Singapore and Bataan has fallen and daily bomber raids are launched on Singapore to beat down the city's vast airports.
In the seas north of borneo Japanese convoys are constantly attacked causing repeated damage to Japanese ships but few sinkings.
The Japanese are bombing Palembeng to suppress the airfield but the airfield continues to function.
Will that be there next target?
The allied plan is to continue the airbuild up of squadrons in the DEI, to finish transporting snippets of DEI units to rebuild in Calcutta should the DEI fall, and to begin the long process of changing HQs for US land airforces so the massive US airforce can be used.
The only question is whether to change HQs for two New Zealand brigades first to be used to conquer baker island and to divert the Japanese attention from the real battle that must occur in Sumatra and Borneo.
Or should more air squadrons be sent there to stop the Japanese attack when it comes.
Pedro is a methodical player so when he attacks he will attack in force, the question is where?
If he does not attack in Sumatra or Borneo he is in real trouble.
If he does attack using the KB in Borneo or Sumatra it is hoped the sudden transfer of the CV fighters and dive bombers can cause some real damage to him.
Revenge for the sinking of the battleships at Canton island is wanted.

Coming action. The british fleet will bombard Singaweng. If the Japanese surface ships are still there real damage will be inflicted.
The BRitish fleet will then retreat back into hiding.
Where is the KB?

[matt.buttsworth]

March 18th 1942

Brunei has fallen. Pedro now has oil and my bombers from Java will not reach it.
two engine bombers are sent to bomb Brunei but it is doubted they will be very successful.
Pelembang is being heavily bombed and I lose planes every turn. Soon I will have to withdraw.
The transfer of segments of dei forces is now almost complete.
The next stage will be to change command for brigades in Tasmania and New Zealand to be used in the reconquest of Baker island.
Fleets are sent from SF to to Tasmania and New Zealand to pick them up. I should have done that a month ago but it will take a while to assemble the points to convert the brigades.
Fighters must also be converted from US air force.
As soon as the Zero bonus is gone it is hope the air battles will be much more balanced.

Matthew

[matt.buttsworth]

March 19th

Little has changed.
Miri is attacked and is about to fall.
The bombing of Brunei has commenced but little success. A B 17 has been shifted to join the air attack.

Matthew

[matt.buttsworth]

March 22nd
Pedro makes an attack on Canton island.
Two cargo ships are sunk in a massacre.
Our own counter attack on baker island is being planned.

Matthew

[matt.buttsworth]

March 23rd 1942

Preparing for battle.

Pedro is sending a transport fleet to take Tarakan. My carriers and battle fleet are at Balikpapen. They are now being sent to Tarakan to intercept the transport fleet.
Bombers have been redeployed to attack it.
A battle fleet is being sent to bombard Baker island.
On to battle!

[matt.buttsworth]

March 24th

The batte is fought. Dive bombers from Tarakan hit the fleet and the aircraft carrier fleet attacks for the first time. Three ships are sunk. Will Pedro withdraw or will he try and take Tarakan. If he does destroyers are waiting to attack any ships that reach the port.
The carrier fleet is manouvred one square south of Tarakan to continue the attack. It will not pursue the transports for fear of land bases bombers.
Once this attack has been launched it will retreat and hide as it is not known where the KB is.
At Pelembang two oil ships trying to load oil from the port are sunk.
The oil there from now on will be Pedro's if he lands there. Wrecked planes litter the airstrip. Those that can be mended are flown out to rebuild the squadrons in Java. Losses have been heavy.
The battlefleet is now being sent to Baker island. Hopefully there will be a battle there if it is not spotted.
It will take two turns to reach the islands.

War!

[matt.buttsworth]

25th of March

Furious air battles are fought near Tarakan.
The Allied bombers destroy the Japanese invasion fleet sinking three transports and heavilly damaging all the others. Zeroes and nells from Jolo island attack and land a bomb on the enterprise.
It seemed minor but examination showed that 35 system damage had been suffered.
The Enterprise will now be sent to Sri Lanka for repairs.
Many Japanese will not make it home.
Near Baker island the US battle fleet is closing in. If their ships do not flee soon there will be a battle.

War!

[matt.buttsworth]

Savage air battles over Pelembang and Menado.
The Japanese have landed troops at Menado, Tarakan and Pelembang backed by carrier support from the KB.
It is too early to tackle the Japanese KB so the US aircraft carriers are staying out of range at Java.
The damaged CV will go to Sydney for repairs and to pick up planes currently fighting in the islands.
A counter strike is planned at Baker island as soon as two US RCT brigades and the 2nd Marine division become available in 8 days.
While the KB is busy in DEI a small counter offensive will be launched to capture Baker island and perhaps Wake island.
Slowly the allied forces are building up to change the tide.

[matt.buttsworth]

a bloody turn.
Tarakan has fallen and a 100 planes were captured on the ground.
Positively the carrier fleet surprised two invasion fleets on their way to Java and the dauntlesses bombed every boat in the fleet with devastating effect.
It is still to be seen how many of the ships will sink.
Once Pelembang falls bombing new invasion fleets will be very risky.
Menado is holding and a patrol boat fleet devastated the transport ship unloading troops there.
110 Japanese ships have now been sunk.
The plan is to continue to hold on to the DEI for as long as possible.
Once ambonia falls the next step will be to attack koepang essential to the retreat of many units.
All fighters are being withdrawn now. Fighters from Java are still being transferred.
No squadrons can be left abandoned in the DEI
bombers will be last to be flown out.
the b17s are doing a great job and will retreat to Seorabaya to continue bombing until the Japanese troops close in.
It is a desperate defence. Defeat is inevitable but as many Japanese will be sunk and destroyed first.
It is estimated that at least a division of Japanese troops were in the invasion fleets battered today.

Comments?

[matt.buttsworth]

6th of April

The deadly dauntlesses destroy the wounded transport fleet near Sumatra. The KB has disappeared from sight so it is time they hide again. Land based bombers are getting more and more deadly.
The DEI fall but not before a lot more Japanese ships are sunk.
Banzai! Or sinking banzai!

[matt.buttsworth]

Pelembang falls after a two week seige
The heroic defenders retreat westwards.
Carrier fleets flee southwards so they are not caught by land bombers of the hidden kb.
the problem is fuel.
Too many tankers were lost at pelembang so there is a fuel shortage in the DEI.

I learn.

[matt.buttsworth]

VICTORY

A great victory has been scored in the DEI.
The fight has been over Java and Makassar.
While land based bombers attacked every fleet approaching Java the Japanese made their move to attack Makassar.
It was noticed the KB was being used frequently to attack all ships at Samarkan and Makassar and could be tired.
The retreating allied carrier fleet was then ordered to change direction, and to advance back towards Makassar despite being severely short of fuel.
The KB attacked with Kates at long range, but no damage was done as the formidable was bombed with little damage. 80 kates were shot down and 30 zeroes. Allied losses were less.
It was then decided to send the allied fleet into the middle of the Japanese invasion fleet to Makassar with low fuel retreat being avoided by making the destination and home base makassar.
Do or die!
A critical mistake was made in that the Japanese bombardment fleet north of Makassar was not noticed and disaster was feared with a surface fleet destroying the carrier fleets in sea battles.
But for some strange reason the sea battle never occurred and instead the carrier fleets reacted to the Japanese KB which had headed south to continue attacking the carrier fleets. The two fleets were side by side, range, one square.
The allies launched first attacking the bombardment fleet at Makassar with 110 dauntlesses, severely damaging a battle ship and four CAs.
Fortuntely the Japanese KB did not immediately attack due to local poor weather, and in the second impulse 110 dauntlesses, 20 devastators, albacores and swordfish attacked the kb defended by f4s, f3s, sea hurricanes and formicans. The Japanese zeroes killed more allied fighters than the allies killed but the huge bomber attack got through. Waves upon wave of bombers attacked inflicting crippling damage on four Japanese CVs.
The Japanese counter attacked with 70 bombers but only the thanet and the formidable were hit.
One Japanese CV sunk immediately and the other three struggled north towards Samarkin.
Land bombers attacked the Japanese invasion fleets north of Java and Makassar inflicting severe damage.
The balance of the game has changed.
Victory has been won.