Miller41 (J) v Wirraway (A) - Allied Perspective

[Wirraway_Ace]

This is the start of a new Grand Campaign, Scenario 1, from the Allied perspective against my WITP opponent Miller41. In our WITP campaign, I was Japan, so neither of us have much experience in predicting the other’s strategy and tactics for the side they are playing.
Game settings:
PDU - On
FOW - On
Weather - On
Real R&D - On
Allied DC - On
Reliable Torps - Off
No Withdrawals - Off
Reinforcements - Either +/- 15
Dec 7th Surprise – On

I allow myself as the Allies only an hour per turn for the first three turns to give the Japanese a reasonable head start.

So I believe the basic protocol for the Allies turn 1 is no changes except to TFs at Sea.

I deviated from that in a few cases where I thought there was a historical precedence.

In the PI:
I put S-37 and S-38 on patrol in the Bataan hex (according to Blair, that’s where they were on 8 Dec (Manila time). I left Sealion and Seadragon in port at Manila; they were being overhauled at Cavite. The other subs were dispersed with ready crews, so they are formed in a TF, but I did not deploy them to their wartime patrol site.
I put an air unit on recon to support the B17s at Clark preparing to strike Formosa.

I began moving units in China. I figured they had been at war for years.
China: Move the 10th, 25th and 32nd Army Groups out of the Wenchow/Chusion Salient NW to reinforce the defenses around Changsa. Increase the supply requirements at Changsa to draw the stockpiles out of Chusion.

Consolidate scattered troops behind the rivers to defend Loyang and Chengchow from the NE.

Malaya:
I began moving 2 ground units (6th and 15th Indian Bdes) in Northern Malaya consistent with the actual British plan for preemptive occupation of key terrain; although I had to change the plan specifics because the AE map terrain is necessarily only a representation.

I put Force Z to sea in a position where it can respond to a variety of threats as the Japanese strategy becomes clearer; also to give the Japanese player a chance to sink the big capital ships. However, the Nells and Bettys will have to get through one or two Buffalos the RAF can spare to provide LRCAP.

[Wirraway_Ace]

8-12 Dec 41:
Central Pacific: The Kido Butai struck Pearl Harbor for three consecutive days before withdrawing to the West while a separate invasion forces stuck and took Wake Island and Guam

SOPAC: Kavieng in the Bismarcks fell to IJN special landing forces on 12 Dec, as did Hollandia and Wewak on Papua New Guinea

Philippines: Imperial Japanese Forces have invaded Luzon at three points, Aparri, Vigan and Legaspi. The main effort appears to be at Aparri. Phillipine forces on Luzon are planning to defend in three belts.

[Wirraway_Ace]

The Japanese have invaded the southern tip of Mindanao. They have a strong CA escort for the Transports and a CVL providing aircover. I am going to try and pin the CVL in place with B17s out of northern Mindanao to give the shipping sneaking along the coast of Borneo a few more days to escape.

[Wirraway_Ace]

Borneo: It looks like a strong surface TF presumably escorting transports is heading towards Kuching. I have mined Kuching and am moving Force Z up to be in a position to intercept, but the escort may be too strong. Dutch pilots report 5 BBs in the escort, although the big Nachi class CAs can look like a BB from a distance.

[Wirraway_Ace]

Malaya: Strong Japanese forces are at Kota Bharu moving SW and across the border in Thailand; however, Mersing is the real prize. Both Australian Bdes will be digging in at Mersing to protect the neck of the Malaya.

[Wirraway_Ace]

[font=calibri]13 Dec 41:  An indecisive encounter between Force Z and 2 Kongo Class BCs, 2 CAs, CL, 6DDs off Kuching.  Force Z drove off the escorts and got among the transports.  Swordfish flying from nearby bases also struck the transports.  It looks like the IJN lost 1 DD and 3-4 Transports, but enough troops got ashore to defeat the irresolute Dutch resistance.  The British base force retreated to the adjacent Dutch base and I am going to try and extract it by air to Palembang.[/font]
[font=calibri]Repulse is going to be out of action and the Dutch CL Durban took a torp in the action among the transports—she may not make it.  I will probably send Repulse to the US West Coast via Perth and Sydney.  The little 40 pt shipyard available on Ceylon doesn't look like a good bet for repairing major float damage to a BC.                  [/font]
[font=calibri]As far as I can tell, the IJN BCs were only lightly damaged, but a couple of the CAs and DDs are probably going to be out of action for a while.  I have a number of Dutch subs that may still get some shots at the cripples.  Subs will also continue to patrol off Kuching.  I doubt he got many supplies off, and there were not many there in the first place.  More transports will be on the way.[/font]
[font=calibri]One interesting note, I had 150 mines in the port, and as far as I can tell, not a single mine hit on his invasion TF.[/font]

[SuluSea]

I like the pics w/info so far, good luck Wirraway.

[Wirraway_Ace]

Status of the Pacific Fleet on 19 Dec 41:
The once mighty Pacific Fleet is reduced to 3 CVs, 8CAs, 2 CLs and 44 modern DDs in operational condition. Actual combat ships sunk have been few: 2 BBs, 1 CA, 2DDs, 2SS. But the number of seriously damaged ships is over 20. There are 6 BBs, 1 CA and 1CL with system damage greater than 50.
West Virginia (one of the Big 5) was sunk and cannot be salvaged. Pennsylvania was also a total loss. The other 6 BBs can be salvaged, but none will be back in action before September 42.

[Wirraway_Ace]

Asiatic Fleet: 19 Dec 41
Adm Hart is relocating the Fleet HQs in stages to Northern Australia. Sub tenders Otis and Canopus are relocating to Freemantle. Holland was lost of Bataan due to an enemy mine. The Asiatic Fleet surface forces are currently at Balikpapan.
All submarines are on wartime patrols or damaged. 6 fleet boats and 2 S boats have been damage in operations. 12 are on station, 9 in the South China Sea and 3 in the Celebes Sea. 5 boats are enroute to their patrol areas: Sea Ray to relieve Perch and Swordfish to reinforce Shark and Pickerel off Cam Ranh Bay and Sea Raven and Swordfish to reinforce Saury, Sargo and Spearfish in the Celebes.
The enemy has used large escort groups off Luzon, but his TFs near Cam Ranh Bay and in the Celebes have proved easy targets. Allied subs (including the Dutch boats) are averaging 1 enemy vessel sunk per day.

[Wirraway_Ace]

19 Dec 41. The situation in Luzon is becoming increasingly dire. MacArthur’s air force is incapable of further resistance. The enemy has invaded at two additional sites in the Northwest (Lingayen and San Fernando). U.S. and Philippine forces still hold Lingayen against three unsupported Armor units, but enemy infantry is in strength 40 miles to the north. The IJA has a large number of engineer units in its eastern force advancing from Appari. There is another large invasion force that appears to be headed for either Iba or Clark Field.