Conference of the Supreme War Council: Q-Ball (J) v. Hemajor (A)

[Smeulders]

The reinforcements for an attack on Australia are sent to Aden and Cape Town, so probably won't be used in Oz itself if you take Perth. It won't take long for those to go on the offence in Burma though. Interesting is that they are only triggered once you go South of Brisbane, so you can take some important bases on the East coast first. Also not sure if Calcutta triggers reinforcements, I think there was a post around here somewhere that gave the lines and in India it was supposedly one hex south of Delhi. That's still a pretty big chunk of India that doesn't trigger anything.

Thanks for doing this AAR, with one about an offensive against the Soviets and one planning to take Australia, there will be some interesting reads.

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, Dec 9th
Interesting day, mostly punctuated by a third strike at Pearl Harbor. The highlights:

Luzon
Troops hit the beach at Vigan and Appari, and these points should fall tomorrow. At Appari, we landed 4 construction units and base forces, they will quickly build an airbase. A Wilderbeest sank our first loss of the war, an xAK off Lingayen (smart to move those from Hong Kong).

Our bombers found xAP President Madison and sank it, plus an xAK, and damaged another xAP. 3 xAKLs were sunk east of Luzon. An xAK was sunk at the pier in Hong Kong.

Pearl Harbor
Our third day strike on Pearl was a mixed bag. Question for the gallery: Today, I only spotted 4 BBs in Pearl Harbor; the ones I didn’t all did take a lot of damage the first couple days. Is it safe to assume they sank? Hard to say. A lot of fast, undamaged ships ran from PH on Day 1, so I am not surprised all the DDs are gone.

The pilot losses are bad. Even if I sank 5 BBs, and pretty much trashed PH, not sure it was worth it; a quick count says I lost 65 pilots (some wounded). Most of those are Val and Kate pilots. Yikes! PH result today:

Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 51 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
B5N2 Kate x 88
D3A1 Val x 80



Allied aircraft
P-36A Mohawk x 12
P-40B Warhawk x 24


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 10 destroyed, 10 damaged
D3A1 Val: 10 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-36A Mohawk: 4 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
B-18A Bolo: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-1 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AV Tangier, Bomb hits 2, on fire
BB Arizona, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Honolulu, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AM Vireo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AO Ramapo, Torpedo hits 1
If the other BBs are not sighted, does that mean they probably sank? All other ships fled after Dec 7th (in fact, one of our subs put a torp into a DD)

Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Repair Shipyard hits 8 I have worked over the Shipyard pretty well
Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 7
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 1

Naval Combat
*I-154 sinks a Dutch Minelayer off Billiton; hopefully before it dropped mines!
*I-154 next phase, puts 2 torps into AMC Manoora! Troops are on-board. Overall, good day for this sub.

[ny59giants]

I started a game as Allies vs Andy Mac's super AI and KB only used bombs. I still had 2 BBs sink even though they didn't look that damaged. So I would say you got them.

[Blind Sniper]

Wow...three port attacks on PH [X(]

Repair Shipyard hits 8 I have worked over the Shipyard pretty well

Did you see strategic points earned?

[Q-Ball]

nygiants: I hope it's similar, I think we sank 5 BBs, which would make the 60 pilots losses easier to swallow.

Blindssniper: Nope, no points so far. Maybe Repair Shipyards don't count? Not sure, but no points. 3 attachs sounds fairly typical on the forum.

[Alikchi2]

I'll definitely be following this, good luck.

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, Dec 10 1941
A very active turn, featuring several surface combats at night, not all of which went my way.

Night Action off Lingayen
British MTBs from Hong Kong did nice work, dodging a small surface TF to find a transport TF, sinking a PB and an xAK. Most of the 7th Tank Rgt went down to the bottom, most inconvenient!

This delays the landing of a few units at Lingayen. I am sending more DDs to guard follow-on troops, we need to get everyone ashore and get this going!

Night Action off Cebu
A TF consisting of CA Nachi and 2 DDs, found an Allied TF at anchor, loading troops; 5 xAKL, an xAP, and AVD Childs were all sent to the bottom.

Sub Action
I-153 sinks a small TK, and an xAK in one night. Nice work!
I-124 finishes off xAP Rochambeau; good to sink those large APs.

Air Action
6 more xAKLs are sunk by Bettys and Nells in the great transport roundup.

Appari Falls; a pile of engineers are now here, and will quickly build the airbase.

Overall:
Lots of small actions against fleeing Allied ships. The Allies are hitting back, sinking 4 transports so far, with a 5th likely to go down.

KB is sailing to Truk; Car Div 2 will hit Wake tomorrow, with 2 SNLF units ready to land immediately after. KB basically has complete airgroups, with a few losses; I am going to resist the temptation to re-fill those at Truk with trained pilots, and wait until I can get back to Japan and use better pilots from units there.

Allied Losses So Far:
Confirmed Losses: 14 xAKL, 4xAK, 3xAP, 1 TK, 1 AO, BC Repulse, BB Arizona
Fairly Certain: 4 more BBs at Pearl

WITP v AE Thought of the Day The Japanese start with alot more supplies available at forward bases, and in general.

Alikchi: Thanks!

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, Dec 11th 1941

Fairly quiet day compared to the day before. We sank another 2 ships fleeing the PI, and one of our subs put 2 torpedoes into the xAP Dominion Monarch outside of Soerbaya. It would be nice to take down that ship!

Phillipines
Yesterday, MTBs and PTs did a nice job delaying landings, and also sinking 2 transports. Today, they sparred inconclusively with our DDs. Our troops are now unloading again, and by tommorow, we should have Lingayen captured, as well as Appari well on it's way to size-2 airbase.

Southern DEI
Our Ambon invasion fleet will land tommorow, and is covered by 4CA and DDs. The only aircover are Petes based on CS Chitose, but they have been enough so far to keep Martin and Hudson bombers honest. After taking Ambon, we are moving in an Air HQ, plus Nells and Zeros, to begin to dominate the Banda Sea, and move on Timor.

Eastern Pacific
We landed at Kaveing today. Wake invasion will happen tommorow, 2 SNLF units supported by CV air from Car Div 2

South China Sea
Attached is a Sit Rep Map. As you can see, I forgot to order a Bat Div to Singkawang, and as a result, I am exposed to an ABDA cruiser force. We do have 2 CA down there, but a Bat Div would have been ideal. Moving to correct that!

Miri has fallen

[Graymane]

Great overview on your AAR. I'll be following with interest.

[Q-Ball]

Graymane: Thanks! Feel free to recommend any improvements

Combat Report, Dec 12th,1941

My opponent is reacting well to my moves in the DEI, and I am learning a few hard lessons on TF settings for Threat levels. I recommend to the Japanese player that you set them to ABSOLUTE in most instances; for ground troops, it's often safer ashore than afloat! Some lessons you learn the hard way........

Borneo
My Singkawang invasion fled, YET, no movement by that Allied cruiser TF at Pamakasan. 2 BBs will be at Singkawang tommorow, but my transports are now 2 days out they fled so far, inconveniently. We will attack the Allied cruisers if we can, and try again to get everyone ashore. It would have been better, in the end, if the TF was set to a better threat level. My bad! Still learning AE............

Northern Luzon
Same deal here; PTs managed to dodge the covering surface ships and put 2 more transports down, and sent that convoy fleeing for the 2nd day! Yikes. This time, I am sending it to Vigan to unload there, even though Lingayen is clear, don't want to take chances. DD's are covering the force now. THIS I would do better next time!

On the bright side, 16th DIV. is coming ashore at Altimonan unopposed, for the Southern Luzon pincer.

Central Pacific
I found the US CVs, not exactly in a way you want to; they stumbled on my AMCs returning to Tokyo, sinking one. The other one will make it if it isn't hit again. This is approx. 640 miles SW of Johnston Island in the middle of nowhere. KB happens to be returning to Truk about 600 miles north; we are going to steam South for a day, to see if he is dumb enough to pursue that AMC. Probably not, but worth a shot; I would like to engage them for sure.

Celebes Sea
Here is the situation in the Celebes Sea. This could be bad. All my troops are ashore, which is good, but we are casting off; best not to be caught unloading at Davao. I am moving surface ships there, normally I would welcome a fight, but I bet anything CL Boise is coming, which means I am worried about getting my Cruisers shot up. Guess we'll find out!

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, Dec 13th, 1941

An active turn, featuring a nice surface action off Pontianak.

Battle of Pontianak
Yesterday, we had spotted an ABDA cruiser force off Pontianak; I had to re-do my Singkawang landing as a result. Last night, I ordered a small TF led by CA Chokai to attack the ABDA cruisers, and the action was a success:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Pontianak at 54,89, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Shell hits 2
DD Murakumo
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Sagiri, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Yugiri

Allied Ships
CL Dragon, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CL Durban, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Vampire
DD Tenedos, Shell hits 24, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Express, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Not too bad, hate to lose a modern DD like Sagiri, but I'll take it. The threat is now removed, the landing at Singkawang will proceed tommorow.

Celelebes Sea
Surprisingly, no surface action happened here; the Allies didn't attack Davao. That USN TF is currently at Dadajangas, at the tip of Mindanao; I have ordered 2 BBs and 4 DDs to attack tonight. This SHOULD go well, but who knows....I have seen some crazy results with Boise.

Elsewhere, I have several surface TF's prowling for fleeing ships from PI.....we found and sank 2 TK and 2 xAK off Sandakan

Hong Kong
Our first attack tommorow dropped the fort to 1, today's attack was 1-2.....a couple days rest then try again

Ambon
Fell to first attack, with 5000 Dutch laying down their arms. These troops are now prepping for Kendari and Koepang, and a base force will land shortly. Dutch PTs showed up and sank an xAK, and a Hudson sank a PB with a lucky shot.

DD Sagiri in better days.........

[Q-Ball]

deleted

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, Dec 14th

Today figured to be busy for surface combat, and it delivered!

Celebes Sea
I sent a Bat Div to Dadjangas, to attack the USN cruisers there. The result on this one was pretty sound: CA Houston sunk, and a DD. I had 2 DDs suffer minor damage:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Dadjangas at 78,93, Range 4,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Shell hits 4
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 20
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Mikazuki

Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
CL Marblehead
CL Boise
DD Barker, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Bulmer
DD Paul Jones
DD Parrott, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Pillsbury
DD Stewart

Not too bad.... that was for the next one

Battle of Ambon

Although we successfully captured Ambon, a Dutch TF savaged the the transports; this despite my having a surface combat TF set to FOLLOW. The surface combat TF did engage after this combat, but inconclusively:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Obi at 77,107, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Japanese Ships
CS Chitose, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DMS W-7, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
DMS W-8, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
AMc Ataka Maru, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
AMc Kyo Maru #1, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PB Edo Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
PB Gamitsu Maru #1
AO Hayamoto, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
TK Matsumoto Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
xAK Myoko Maru
xAK Shinryu Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
xAK Kanko Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Yasukawa Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Hasuna Maru
xAK Meigen Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAK Yamafuku Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
xAP Haruna Maru, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Java
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 3
CL Tromp
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With
DD Evertsen
DD Kortenaer
DD Piet Hein
DD Van Ghent


OUCH! Biggest loss was CS Chitose, that one really hurt.

We are regrouping our surface forces a bit, I need to get an AIR HQ and Base Force to Ambon; those are on the way, we will provide a larger surface TF force to help.

Elsewhere

Singkawang should fall tommorow. KB is approaching Truk, where it will refuel and cover the Rabaul landing. Troops are moving on Luzon and Malaya.

Convoys
I have many convoys starting to haul resources from Korea/Manchukuo/etc. to Home Islands. Attached is a sample convoy....I have lot like this.

[Rainer79]

Ouch, loosing Chitose hurts.

I think one of the devs (JWE?) posted that you should set the transport TF to follow the SC TF and not the other way round. I believe the explanation was that under your scheme the transport TF moves first into the hex, the game checks if there is a battle, then the second TF moves into the hex, the game checks if there is a battle and so forth.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Rainer79

Ouch, loosing Chitose hurts.

I think one of the devs (JWE?) posted that you should set the transport TF to follow the SC TF and not the other way round. I believe the explanation was that under your scheme the transport TF moves first into the hex, the game checks if there is a battle, then the second TF moves into the hex, the game checks if there is a battle and so forth.

Rainer, good to know. Will the surface combat TF hold up for the Transports? Or do you set the surface combat TF to cruise speed?

That is the way it played out, my surface TF engaged AFTER all the carnage was done

[Rainer79]

They are supposed to slow down to allow the other TF to catch up.

I found this thread where it seems to have worked as advertised.

[ny59giants]

this despite my having a surface combat TF set to FOLLOW

Rainer is correct in this being backwards. I would have the SC TF be followed by an ASW TF followed by a Amphib TF with a CV TF set to follow but back 2 or 3 hexes. Have them all set to mission speed. You could put a BB (bombardment) TF in between the SC and ASW TFs.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Convoys
I have many convoys starting to haul resources from Korea/Manchukuo/etc. to Home Islands. Attached is a sample convoy....I have lot like this.

Q-Ball, why are the ships only carrying 1k resources? Why didn't they fill up?

[Mike Solli]

Forget it.  They're still loading.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Forget it.  They're still loading.

We're cracking the whip at Fusan, they can only load so fast!

Combat Report, Dec 15th

Fairly quiet day; no signficant air or naval combat, but some events on the ground as we shift to a new phase of operations: That being the phase after I have moved ships and units closer to where they need to be!

Singkawang

This base fell yesterday. We already have 2 Base Force units there, and an AIR HQ is at sea, and should be there in 2 days. At that point, the IJN will rule the waves! This also helps us cover the next move, which is...........

Billiton

What do you guys think of this? Obviously taking it is easy. I have 1 SNLF Co, plus 3 Nav Construction Batt, and base forces loading up now to sail there. I hope to quickly get this airbase to size-2 or 3, and use it to support landings on Western Java. This seems easier, and better placed, than trying to leapfrog down the West coast or South Coast of Borneo.

Ambon

After that slaughter off Ambon, I am being careful on the next convoy. I am organizing a convoy of a Base Force, AIR HQ, Fuel, and Supplies to sail to Ambon. Once there, we can start to load the troops there for the next targets, Kendari and Koepang.

Rabaul

We are 2 days out of Rabaul, and have not spotted an Allied plane. We will probably be spotted tommorow. KB is sailing into the Bismarck Sea, to sweep for ANZAC cruisers or maybe even USN CVs.

Luzon

We are firmly ashore in Southern and Northern Luzon; the Allies appear to be concentrating at Clark. This is fine by me, I would like to take Manila and force them into Clark/Bataan area. 4th Division is unloading at Apparri from Japan, and will join the fight.

Hong Kong

A 1-1 attack dropped the forts to ZERO; hopefully tommorow, the Colonialist forces realize the futility of further resistance and accept His Imperial Majesty's hospitality.

NY Giants59 Thanks for the tip Michael, lesson learned. Hopefully others are learning the "Easy" way by reading this AAR! Set Amphib TF's to follow Surface Combat ones!