At Dawn We Slept - Allied version of RHSRAO

[ny59giants]

23 & 24 Dec 41

Naval:
23rd - My ASW TF at Diamond Harbor comes up empty. [:(] S-41 at Ambonia gets run over by a CL, 11DD, but has only 4 near misses. The Australian Navy continues to shine - 2 AP are sunk and another damaged at Finschhafen. Landings continue at Kuching, Finschhafen, Miri, Aparri, and Rabaul. A BB TF hits Kuching and Ambonia. While not many direct hits on shipping, 8 AK and 2 AP are sunk from battle damage.
24th - O16 is hit by 2 DC's and sinks while making its way back to Singapore. Landings continue at Aparri and Christmas Island.

Air:
23rd - 4 Nell hit Pago Pago from Canton Island. A CL gets hit with a torpedo in the "Triangle" - Singapore, Kuching, and Palembang. An AK gets 3 x 100lb by my Ansons from Rabaul. 21 B-17 manage only a single hit on an AP at Kuching (fatigue and moral seem to be catching up).
24th - The usual visitors show up at Manail, Bataan, and Clark at Luzon. My Vidlebeest put 2 bombs int6o an AP at Kota Bhura. Another AK and AP sink.

Ground:
23rd - Hong Kong finally falls after a short siege. Ambonia, Finschhafen, Kuching, and Gorontalo all are captured by the Imperialist. [:D]
24th - Christmas Island is captured by an EAB and RCT size LCU. Kuala Lumpur falls to a shock attack by the 18th Division, 3 Tank, and 3 x Engineers. Miri is captured by 2 x Naval Guard units. In China, I get 1:1 odds at Wuchang/Wuhan, but fail to get the enemy to retreat.

Comments: Total shipping sunk climbs to 22 AK and 11 AP. A realitively slow few days as Johns writes he is getting ready for Phase 2.

[ny59giants]

25 & 26 Dec 41

Naval:
25th - After success at Finschhafen, the Australian Navy (CA, 2CL, DD) head for Rabaul and sink 3 AK's out of 11 that are landing troops here. There seems to be a lack of covering SC TF for this and many of his other landings. This is not like John after our other brief game. [&:] [&:] S-39 at Aparri sinks an AP with 3 torpedoes. However, the Dutch sub, KVIII misses BB Yamashiro and suffers 3 close DC hits. He lands at Waihai (120 miles NW of Ambonia).
26th - A single Dutch PT boat takes on the invasion force (3 DE, 1DD, 18 AP, 16 AK) heading for Singkawang. Needless to say, he died a valiant death. [:D] A DE hits a mine while troops are landing there. My ASW TF at Diamond Harbor continues to play hide and seek with I-153 and misses again. [:(] After the PM air phase, they try again and get 13 near misses, but no direct hits on lucky I-153. [8|] The unescorted transport land troops at Lautem. 2 PT boats manage to land a torpedo in a force of 6 APD's just off the north coast of Luzon and sink 1 APD without any damage in return. [&o][&o]

Air:
25th - 9 Nell visit Pago Pago and 4 are lost to flak (this should make Canoerebel - Dan feel good [:D]). 12 Hudsons put a single 250lb bomb in 2 AP near Lautem (another transport TF without a SC TF close by). The Ansons moved from Rabaul to Port Moresby put 4 x 100lb in an AP at Lae.
26th - The struggle of the valiant Buffalo pilots over the skies of Singapore comes to a near end as 2 attacks by 18 Zeros, 56 Lily & 48 Zero, 64 Sally result in 46 planes lost, with most of them being the Buff's. Following this attack and the AF being close to being shut down, the remaining planes head to northern Sumatra to begin the slow hop to Port Blair and then Burma, before getting to India in about 5 to 6 hops. Moving the BF from Victoria Point to Andamann Island pays off. [;)] The Vildebeest get their send off by putting 2 bombs into an AP at Kota Bhura. While the Dutch Martin's get one bomb hit among all those AP/AK at Singkawang and a DMS at Miri from Tarakan. Luzon get the usual 3 flights from Formosa. Rabaul has 34 Nells from Truk hit it.

Ground:
25th - My Chinese forces retreating from the SE corner have struck potential paydirt as they drop the forts at Nanchang to 1. Hopefully, I can let them rest a turn and take the base before the end of the month. The 55th Division captures Ye (Burma) - another new base added to RHS. Rabual is attacked by 3 Tank, Naval Guard, and an Engineer Regiment dropping the forts to 1.
26th - Rabaul falls quickly to the 3 Tank, 1 x Naval Guard, and 1 x Engineer. John writes he expected a longer siege and thus no aviation support was sent there. [:D] Waikai falls to 2 x SNGF

Comments: No AP's or AK's are sunk this turn. [:(] I move the 1 B-17E/F squardron that carries 6 x 1000lb AP to Palembang. Hopefully, I can get lucky on a CA or BB in the area. Another B-17E/F with 12 x 500lb is moved to Chungking. With the improved ranges of the LB in RHS, I can reach Luzon from there.

[cantona2]

Giants
 
How are you finding the general play of this scenario? Any obvious glitches?

[ny59giants]

I would say that it is an adjustment from other mods. I only found one OOB issue that I've already PM Sid about. From the Allied perspective, the focus on the economy is the primary goal that has to be made.

[ny59giants]

27 & 28 Dec 41 Things have slowed down as John appears to be getting round 2 of conquest lined up.

Naval:
27th - O19 & 20 bear fruit as their mines at Singkawang hit both an AP and AK (sunk). S-38 puts a torpedo in an AK, while I-159 takes up station at Coloumbo and puts 4 torpedos in an TK (which doesn't sink today, but does tomorrow). Nightime SC TF meet off Laong (Luzon) and a Japanese DD eats a torpedo while a PT is sunk. An exchange rate I can live with. [:D] Another AK hits a mine at Aparri. Eventually, all my hard work should bear fruit. Finally - my ASW TF lands 2 hits on I-153 at Diamond Harbor and sinks!![&o][&o] The second ASW TF enroute from Colombo is turned around and heads back to deal with I-159. KXII puts 2 torpedoes in an AK at Singkawang. Landings continue at Singkawang and Lautem.
28th - Landings take place at Lautem and Tarakan. S-41 undergoes an ASW attack with only a near miss. Kaga is sighted at Ambonia while Hosho is now 120 miles SE of Rabaul (glad I'm sending my Australian Navy back home). CL Kinryu Maru engages my ASW TF 240 miles SW off San Fran. [X(][X(] 2 SC take 6" shells, but thankfully the TF breaks off and they head back to port. A BB TF of BB, CA, CL hit Johnson Island with other units spotted headed this way, its fall will be in a few days at most.

Air:
27th - Singapore gets two raids while my unescorted [:@] Ducth Martins lose 5 out of 17 to Oscars over Singkawang for only one hit on an AK. The Ansons at Port Moresby put 3 x 100lb in an AK at Lae.
28th - Singapore, Manila, Clark, and some Guerilla Rgts in China get attacked along with the Burma Bde at Moulmein.

Ground:
27th - Singkawang falls to part of 18th Division and 4th Mixed Bde. Laong falls to 7th Tank. A shock attack at Lautem by the 65th Bde, 8th Tank, 2 x Construction, and 1 x EAB gets 1:1 odds, but by forces survive. At Nanchang, I get almost 2:1 odds and reduce forts to 0. I may be losing a good part of the eastern Pacific, but am having success here. [:D]
28th - A shock attack at Lautem results in the base being captured. A shock attack at Wuchang/Wuchan results in the Japanese units retreating out of the hex. [:D] A BF, 3 Para, and 2 x NGF are identified at Tarakan.

Comments - I am not shocked by his success to date, but getting reinforcements (which are loading at various ports on the WC) to Hawaii will involve use of my CV's as escorts. He may use either KB or the range of his Nell/Betty to hit them beyond LRCAP.

Below is my "wall" for the western bases in China. [;)]

[Canoerebel]

It's interesting to read your game and compare how John proceeds (and how you counter).  Good luck with facing off against the Japanese hord until the happy day arrives when you have parity.

[ny59giants]

29 & 30 Dec 41

Naval:
29th - Landings at Tarakan, Johnson, Fanning. A BB TF hits Midway. Not a big surprise there. However, it includes BB Yamato, 2 CA, CL. [X(][X(] I didn't know this "bad boy" was completed this early. An AK at Johnson and a DE at Fanning each get a torpedo for their efforts by my S-boats. Akagi is identified to by covering the invasion at Johnson.
30th - My 2CL, 3DD TF reaches Dutch Harbor and find out it has mines. [X(] SS Grayling on the way to Pago Pago misses an AO about 360 miles NNE of Pago Pago. It looks I was right to send about 4 subs at full speed for the base when the invasion of the Line Islands took place earlier. Taiyo is spotted heading for the SE tip of New Guinea.

Air:
29th - Usual attacks at Johore Bahru, Singapore, and my Chinese guerilla's take place along with my Burma Bde at Moulmein. My B-17's from Pearl run into Akagi's Zero's over Johnson in two separate attacks and I lose 2 to his 3. I get hit again as my Brewster escort from Palembang try to get the Vildebeest and B-17's to Singkawang without success. I lose 5 planes. With the attacks at Singapore, my British and friends have left for Burma/India. Now I will follow up with my B-17's as I don't have the avaition support for them and the Ducth planes as bases are captured.
30th - Usual attacks at Johore Bahru, Singapore, Manila, Bataan, and Clark continue along with my Chinese guerrilas. A small attack by 12 Mary's try to discourage my boys at Nanchang. With the miss on the AO, I send a PBY squadron to Pago Pago to confirm (hopefully, they can get in and out if my guess is correct).

Ground:
29th - I get the forts at Nanchang down to 0. I will rest for the next day to recover and try a shock attack before he can get enough forces in to stop its capture. Fanning Island is captured by elements of the 144 RCT. Johnson Islands falls to part of the 16th Div and 1 x Construction. [:(]
30th - An attack at Tarakan fails to capture the base.

Comments - With the capture of Johnson Island and a BB TF hitting Midway, I expect to have Hawaii isolated and under siege by subs. I have my old Flush Decks (Clemson Class DD's) at San Fran preparing for their 1/42 upgrade as they will be busy. I also have 12 of them at Sydney doing the same thing. John likes to place his subs at bases he wishes to deny free access to. With 4 ASW TF roaming around, I hope to make him pay for this (in about 3 weeks). My other PBEM opponent (blam0) knows what this means. [:D]

[Yakface]

With units like that, surely you will ahve to change your signature?

[ny59giants]

It's interesting to read your game and compare how John proceeds (and how you counter). Good luck with facing off against the Japanese hord until the happy day arrives when you have parity.

I feel he is using some lessons learned from your game with mine. I read an AAR a while ago by a former Allied player who went after capturing the outer limits of his intended conquest first and then took care of the inner stuff afterwards.

I am using my Political Points to reinforce Hawaii first and foremost. By the end of 1/42, it should be in good shape as I have the 2nd Marines, 161 RCT, and mutliple BF (many of them with 150 aviation support) headed there along with engineers. I have some CD units that will surprise him if he tries. One has 6 x 12" CD guns. [:D]

I feel he may try to capture French Polynesia early like he is thinking of doing with you. I have the 41st division drawing replacements and prepping for it along with some Canadian BF. I will head them towards Panama after Hawaii operations are done, but I'm not going to rush things down there.

However, he cannot garrison this much area well. I have my shipping channels to move stuff to and from Oz/Nz that will just add more transit time. Up north, the Russians are active, but not at war. I have their search planes out looking and this area has shown no activity. I will build up Umnak, Dutch, and Cold Bay (supplies are off loading at Archorage now and the AK's will be used to more forces around).

[ny59giants]

This is a typical Chinese LCU with full TO&E. [&o][&o] It may take a while to get this big, but I have a few that can grow this large. [;)]

[Grotius]

Looks very interesting! I haven't looked at BigB's AAR, so I don't mind speculating at this stage: do you think he intends to invade Hawaii?

Also, I assume one can't play this mod against the AI. Can it be played in conjunction with the Nik mod?

[Mistmatz]

ORIGINAL: Grotius

Looks very interesting! I haven't looked at BigB's AAR, so I don't mind speculating at this stage: do you think he intends to invade Hawaii?

Also, I assume one can't play this mod against the AI. Can it be played in conjunction with the Nik mod?

There is an AI oriented version of RHS around (RHSAIO) but as far as I understood, the A2A combat is something different to anything we've seen before. I assume there are some similar approaches and design goals how to simulate a somewhat realistic A2A combat though (not to forget Flak and aircraft armament).

[ny59giants]

I have another PBEM game (CHS 158c - Nik Mod) going on in mid 9/42. To date, I have lost less than a handful (5) B-17/24 to a2a with the first two models of Zeros and Tony's. He is hoping that his Jacks (when they become available) are more successful.
 
If he intends to come for Hawaii, it's already too late. [:D]  I have over 450 planes there now and players new to RHS have not seen the increased range of LB when it comes to adjusting their thinking. I can reach Johnson Island with B-17, A-20, B-25. My PBY have a search radius of 16.

[Mistmatz]

ny59giants, could you please post a screenie with the aircraft losses after a month of play as comparison?

[ny59giants]

31 Dec 41

The end of the month comes and Allied forces have done well only in China.

Naval:
2 out of 3 DD's that are at Dutch Harbor clearing mines hit them. [:(] They disband in port and MSW's from San Fran will stop to pick up others before heading here. Two AK and an AP are hit by torpedoes. The invasion of Pago Pago has begun, but it is preceded by a BB TF of BB, CA, CL. It seems that after his efforts against Dan (Canoerebel), he doesn't want to start build an artificial reef here. [:D]

Air:
Just the daily "milk runs" over Singapore, Johore Bahru, and Guerilla x2.

Ground:
Ilagan (Luzon) is captured by the 33rd Division. Vigan/Bangued (Luzon) is captured by 7th Tank. Next for the 33rd is Baguio/Balinta Pass which is a mountain hex, forts at 3 with AV - 508. [;)] Looks like once he tries to attack this base and fails badly, the daily runs over Manila, Bataan, Clark will be focused here. This will allow me to build the forts at Manila in peace. [:D] Meanwhile, in front of 7th Tank, San Fernado has AV - 393, but is a clear hex with no forts.
Part of the 55th Division fails to take Pago Pago with his first shock attack. The PBY I sent there turns around and heads for Pearl.
Tarakan is captured by 3 Para, 2 x NGF, 1 x BF
Allies capture Nanchang with a shock attack [&o] and Japanese forces retreat over the river. I had started sending a BF that way to start building forts. Chinese LCU have combat engineers and cannot build forts on their own. [:(]

Comments - The Japanese have CVL Mizuho near Lae. However, no fighters have come up as CAP and my Anson LB at Port Moresby continue to attack it in vain. At least they are building up experience. [:D]

Below is my troops taking Nanchang. Inchang is on the river and my 5 LCU's marching towards it are being supplied by barges from Chungking. Only the bottom LCU is not at full supply level dispite repeated supplies dropped off. Hopefully, it will take them once they get there.

[ny59giants]

Here is how things stand as Dec 41 draws to a close.

I have sunk 31 AK's and 18 AP's. Many of the AK's have a victory total of 1, so I feel that many of them are small in size.

[Mistmatz]

Did a quick calculation on your air war so far.

The losses in percent:
allied japanese
a2a 28% 7%
field 55% 3%
flak 10% 68%
op 7% 22%

324 japanes aircraft shot down by flak is quite a bunch isn't it [~70%!!).
Did that happen on special occurances or under special circumstances or has this been the 'normal' air war?

[ny59giants]

1 Jan 42 to 5 Jan 42

West Coast: On the 5th, CL Kinryu Maru (a raider with 6" guns) ran into some ships from Pearl heading to Seattle (300 miles SW of Seattle). The same ship that hit my ASW TF outside of San Fran. [:(] 3 DD's, 3 PG's, 6 DMS, 5 AVD, 2 AO recieved 4 hits among them while 10 4' shells hit the Maru. Hopefully, the damage is high enough for my bomber out of Seattle to finish her off. [:D]

North Pacific: Over the last six days, only a 10 ship TF that is now 360 miles west of Attu Island. The advantage of active Russians, is their patrols keep track of movements up here. I have the 4 RCT coming from Anchorage to Umnak Island.

Central Pacific: I-24 hit a mine at Hilo. Nice to see that happen. [:D] An invasion fleet is approaching Midway from the SW, but for three days it has stayed 240 miles SW and only planes from the Shoho on the 5th. Why?? [&:] The 2nd Marine has arrived at and 161 RCT has landed at Hilo. The 161 will march over to Kona. More LCU's are following from the WC. My 3 CV's leave Pearl to take up station east of Midway to await an opportinuity. I feel he is trying to bait me, but after seeing what he has done when Dan lost 2 CV's, I want to keep mine afloat to at least give him some pause.

South Pacific: Pago Pago falls on the 1st to elements of the 56 "Division" Bde. I guess he didn't want any repeat of what happened with him and Dan (Canoerebel). [:D]

Australia: Hosho and "friends' are now 360 miles to the west of Cairns and are slowly cruising down the eastern edge of Australia for 3 days. Shipping has been sent back to Sydney and/or to Brisbane to disband. The 2 40E's squadrons from Koepang have gone to Darwin, Alice Spring, and now are at Adelaide. They will be going over to the east coast in a few days. The CA Houston (sys 54 and float 8) and CL DeRuyter (sys 36) have been recovering from damages at Darwin and will flee as soon as things on Timor settle down a little.

Phillipines: 4 DD's vs. 4 PT boats go after each other for days at Laong. Eventually, I lose 2 PT's. The air attacks on Manila, Bataan, and Clark have ceased. I think due to flak losses. [;)] He has used Nates on straffing runs against my PT's to good affect. [:(]

Malaya: Johore Bahru falls on the 1st as Singapore is now isolated. Almost daily air attacks by either Lily and/or Sally hit Singapore. However, John starts a thread in the Design Section about his high losses. Review of the combat reports show he has them set at 5,000. He needs to change this, but I'm not telling him. [;)] On the 3rd, Sing has been shocked attacked by 5th, 18th, & 48th Divisions along with 3rd Tank, 3 x Eng, & 2 x FA. The isolated 15th Indian Bde that retreated down the coast from Kuantan has gone over to the rail line and moved into Johore Bahru. I will attack next turn and temporarily isolate his forces in Sing. He will have to send someone to take it back, but it will delay his assault on Sing for a while. [:D][:D]

Dutch Possessions: S-40 had a very successful few days off the coast of Timor. On the 3rd, she puts 2 torpedoes in BB Yamashiro during the night phase and during the day phase has moved to Koepang where troops are unloading and hit 2 AK's in two days before having to return to port as she ran out. [:(] Zuiho and Kaga continue to remain 120 miles west of Koepang. It falls on the 5th to 8 Tank, 2 x SNLF, 56 Bde. He lands at Palembang on the 5th, but LBA put some holes in a few AK/DE.

Burma/India: RO-34 undergoes a ASW attack with only one direct hit on the 1st at Columbo. I-159 hit a TK near Bombay. Time to shift my 1 ASW task force up the coast. The 55th "Division" Bde and 4th RTA division capture Moulmein on 5th.

China: My forces at Wuchang/Wuhan continue to dig in (forts over 1 and growing) while a BF is in route to Nanchang (most Chinese infantry has comabt engineers, so they will not build forts). I have 5 divisions/corp moving on Inchang (44 miles moved).

Others: The supply situation is tough to adjust to from stock/CHS/BigB games. I did one large AK full of supplies for Pearl. Now, most bases are in the pink. Thus, rebuilding of LCU's is not happening. I took 20k from Seattle to Anchorage and this whole area is in the pink. San Diego and now San Fran have worked their way above twice needed, so their LCU's are repairing. I have shipping heading to and from Panama along with AK's to New Orleans, but the distances take some time to overcome. My Clemson/Wilkes Class DD's are upgraded and sys damage is coming down. I should get 2 ASW TF each at both Australia and WC/Hawaii afterwards. Then, I will start to hunt down his subs that are all in coastal hexes blocking ports. [:D]