IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

[racndoc]

"I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way"........John Paul Jones, November 16th, 1778

Best PBEM game I ever had of WitP was the first game I ever played....started in 11/04 before the game engine was thoroughly dissected on the boards and threads. My opponent and I didnt know exactly how the game worked and learned as we went...before all the uber stacking and uber cap and uber flak and uber 4Es and uber ASW AC and on and on....

Probably not coincidentally, it was the only game of mine that reached a final conclusion....on 1/1/45.

Im looking forward to playing AE now and learning as I go without knowing exactly how the game engine works. Im playing the Allies and my brave opponent is StoneAge....I say brave as he is willing to tackle Japanese production....gives me a migrane just reading the discussion threads about it.

I hope to not only discuss Allied options and strategies in this AAR but also compare and contrast AE with the original WitP.

Here are the settings:

GC Scenario 1
2 day turns
FOW.......................on
Advanced weather...on
Allied damage control...on
PDUs..........................on
Historical 1st turn........off
Dec. 7th surprise........on
Reliable torpedoes.....off
Realistic R&D.............on
No unit withdrawals...off
Variable reinforcements...+or- 60 days



HOUSE RULES:

Allies can issue orders only to Chinese units and TFs at sea on turn 1
No sub invasions
4Es on naval attack at 10,000 ft or higher
Garrison limits must be observed(no evacuating Soerabaja to allow partisans to destroy the infrastructure)
PPs must be spent to move Kwantung Army units out of Manchukuo
PPs must be spent to move Nationalist Chinese units out of China
No city bombing attacks from or against Chinese bases
RTA units restricted to Thailand and eastern Burma
No B-29s on naval attack
B-29s must fly offensive missions out of size 6 or larger bases
No dropping of parafragments...one unit/one base at a time
One port attack on 12/7/41
If Pearl Harbor is selected for 12/7/41 port attack Japan can attack the port for a max of 2 days before retiring

[witpqs]

Allies can issue orders only to Chinese units and TFs at sea on turn 1

Can you issue commands to units all over to turn off replacements? This can be pretty important to prevent air units in the Philippines that get smashed on turn 1 from eating all of your fighters from the pool.

Looking forward to the AAR - good luck!

[racndoc]

12/7-12/8/41


The Dutch initiate hostilities in the Pacific by committing the first overt hostile act of the war:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 07, 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Patani at 52,72

Japanese Ships
PB Eiko Maru

Allied Ships
SS KXVII



KXVII bottoming out .......
PB Eiko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search......
PB Eiko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search......
PB Eiko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search......
PB Eiko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search......
PB Eiko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search......
Escort abandons search for sub...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Patani at 51,73

Japanese Ships
AK Sagami Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXI

Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



SS KXI launches 2 torpedoes at AK Sagami Maru...
KXI bottoming out .......
Escort abandons search for sub...



Japan responds by bombing bombing Pearl Harbor:

Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 68
B5N2 Kate x 144
D3A1 Val x 102



Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-18A Bolo: 3 destroyed on ground
P-36A Mohawk: 2 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 4 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 2 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 4 destroyed on ground
SBD-1 Dauntless: 3 destroyed on ground
A-20A Havoc: 2 destroyed on ground
R3D-2: 1 destroyed on ground
C-33: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 5, on fire
BB California, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2
DD Henley, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 3, on fire
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 5, on fire
CL St. Louis, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 1
BB Tennessee, Torpedo hits 1


Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Repair Shipyard hits 6
Airbase hits 41
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 208
Port hits 12
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x A6M2 Zero attacking from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
15 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
15 x A6M2 Zero attacking from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
9 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
City Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
15 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
15 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
19 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
19 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
10 x D3A1 Val diving from 10000'
Port Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb


Interestingly, only 1 daitai of Kates carries torpedoes and only 8 torpedoes strike their targets. The weather was clear but the airfields on Oahu were not hit particularly hard....AC losses were on the lite side. Pearl Harbor port was hit hard though.....the repair yards are now 36% damaged. As far as the Bbs, none are sunk.....Maryland and Oklahoma should be repaired by Feb. 1942. The most heavily damaged BBs: California, Arizona and Nevada will be out of the war until 1943.

SS I-21 torpedoes and sinks AVD McFarlane off Lahaina.


Fortunately the USN CVs are at sea at the time of the Japanese raid on Pearl.

Admiral Wilson Brown aboard CV Lexington directs his TF west to cover Wake Island in case Japan attempts an amphibious assault there.

Japan invades and captures Makin Island. Admiral Bull Halsey aboard CV Enterprise sails south toward the Gilbert Islands to prevent Japan from conducting more smash and grab operations in the south Pacific.

CA Pensacola and attendent DMSs sail to Palmyra. CA Louisville detaches itself from a transport convoy and sorties towards the Gilbert Islands.

Small PBY detachments are staged into Ocean and Nauru Islands to snoop on Japanese TF movements.

Convoys are formed on the USA west coast to bring base forces, combat units, fuel and supply to the south Pacific and Australia.

CL Adelaide sorties from Port Moresby to help cover Rabaul, while the 2 New Zealand CLs are ordered north to cover Noumea.



MALAYA

Since I was allowed to give orders to all TFs at sea on 12/7/41, BB PoW and BC Repulse were ordered to retreat out of IJN torpedo plane range to rendezvous with other RN fleet units at Soerabaja. Orders were giving to all shipping in port at Singapore to evacuate towards Java. Normally in WitP I split Singapore shipping up into single ship TFs due to the threat from Bettys/Nells.......but then the IJN sub wolfpacks and mines take a heavy toll on the stragglers. In AE, I will send out an ASW TF to clear a path to the south with 2 TFs full of AMs/AKs/APs/TKs following close behind......the Bettys/Nells are much less of a threat here and naval search is not nearly as effective.

Farther north, the IJA 56th Infantry Regiment invades at Kota Bharu. The best land commanders available are selected for the Indian LCUs at Kota Bharu to beef up the defenses and every available level bomber on the Malayan peninsula (including the Wirraways) are ordered to to bomb the Japanese LCUs landing at Kota Bharu.

There is a RAF HQ at Kuala Lampur that has torpedo storage. Over 40 Vildebeests and Swordfish are staged in with 16 Buffaloes as escort to hit the Japanese invasion fleets. The torpedo bombers range is set to 5 hexes so that only the Kota Bharu invasion force(the one with the BBs) will be targeted. Another Buffalo squadron at Georgetown is ordered to sweep the sky over Kota Bharu and the level bombers are also given Buffalo escort so that the Japanese CAP over their invasion fleets will be whittled down. In addition, CVL Hermes is sent from Ceylon at full speed towards Malaya in order to stage her Swordfish squadron into the battle next turn.


CHINA

Yeah, China is a mess. I tried using my typical WitP defense here against the AI in a practice game before the 1st patch came out and was thrown around like a rag doll. Normally in WitP if you can prevent Japan from getting more than a nominal 1:1 attack and you are behind at least level 3 forts with adequate supply you will create an attrition battle that the Chinese could win if they had sufficient reserves. In AE, you can have a nominal Japanese 1:2 attack against Chinese troops in level 3 forts and end up with an actual 5:1 or 10:1 attack...and the 15, 000 to 25,000 Chinese defenders you have will suffer 8,000 to 12,000 casualties.....before retreating! Fortifications, at least up to level 3, appear to be little more effective than speed bumps. Some people say to not defend Chinese front line cities in clear terrain. Unfortunately, China has a critical supply shortage and losing frontline cities like Wuchow, Loyang, Chengchow, Wenchow and Liuchow that have a lot of HI, LI and resources exacerbates the supply situation. In additon, there is a single highway in outer Mongolia that starts at the railroad terminus in Kweisui and extends through Hami to the oil and refineries of Urumchi...plus it provides a backdoor appoach for Japan to attack Lanchow and Sining...once this road is cut the rest of China will have to fight with effectively no more fuel.

Now against Stoneage, I intend to hold Wenchow and its 2400 supply /mo as well as Wuchow and its 1800 supply/mo as long as possible. But instead of sitting back in my cities, digging futile fortifications while awaiting the inevitable Japanese shock attacks I will instead entrench in Japanese front line cities that are situated in good defensive terrain. In the north, the Chinese will invest the 3x terrain in the mountains at Paotow and the rough/wood of Kweisui....hopefully we can hold the Japanese up here long enough until we can move some 1500 AV from central China to the north defend the highway to Urumchi.

In the center where Chenchow and Loyang are horribly exposed, we will invest the 2x terrain at Sinyang with over 1000 prepped AV while another 1500 AV overrun Ichang and threaten Hankow.

In the south, the key is to hold Hong Kong long enough until Wuchow can be defended. We swapped out the LCU commanders in Hong Kong with the best ones available and all available Chinese bombers were staged to southen China to hit the IJA assault troops that are approaching Hong Kong. An AVG squadron is staged in to sweep the sky of IJA fighters over Hong Kong.



PHILIPPINES

Japan captures Batan Island while 2 more invasion TFs approach the northern coast of Luzon....probable targets Aparri and Vigan. The PT boats at Manila are staged to San Fernando to refuel to put them into a position where they can intercept the IJN invasion TFs off northern Luzon tomorrow.

As at Singapore I normally evacuate all the shipping out of Manila on the first turn in single ship TFs to again escape the Nell/Betty menace...here in AE with the neutered naval search and torpedo bombers.....I will send out MSWs to sweep mines ahead of 2 large transport TFs escorted by ASW and LRCAP prvided by P-40Es and P-26s based at San Jose. Im leaving a few AKs and an AP behind in Manila to evacuate the Cavite Base Force. If I can manage it I will try to evacuate the base force at Cebu also.

Im going to fortify Manila a bit but my final defense will probably be at Clark with a final redoubt at Bataan.

[racndoc]

12/9-12/10/41


MALAYA


Japan continues its buildup at Kota Bharu but no assaults are launched. The weather is bad over Kota Bharu...thunderstorms for most of the 2 days. Allied level bombers and torpedo bombers go in without their escort and and without the preparatory fighter sweeps and a heavy toll is taken from Japanese CAP. 49 Allied AC are lost vs 14 Japanese...in A2A its 14 Allied AC vs 4 Japanese. The torpedo bomber strikes in particular are very reminiscent of stock WitP. The first torpedo bombers strikes from Kuala Lampur are decimated without their fighter escort:


Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 8



Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 12


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Ayatosan Maru
AK Sasako Maru



Then some of the Vildebeests venture north to Patani at a range of 7 hexes even though they were set to a max range of 5 hexes:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Patani at 51,73

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 4



Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 11


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
AK Hirokawa Maru
CA Suzuya



Finally in the afternoon the escort shows up:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kota Bharu at 51,75

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 2



Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 27
Vildebeest III x 12


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
xAK Ayatosan Maru
BB Haruna


At least they are targeting the BBs finally in the actual target hex.



The weather finally clears and more torpedo bombers drift north to Patani:


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Patani at 51,73

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 2



Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 5


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish I: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano


Finally on the 10th, the torpedo bombers, yet again unescorted, draw first blood on the BBs:



Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 4



Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 10


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kongo, Torpedo hits 1





Again the torpedo bombers fly with no escort:




Morning Air attack on TF, near Kota Bharu at 51,75

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 3



Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 3
Vildebeest III x 10


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Sasako Maru
xAK Ayatosan Maru



I guess that escort only flies in the afternoon:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kota Bharu at 51,75

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 2



Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 15
Vildebeest III x 2


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Torpedo hits 1


Another hit on a BB. Neither torpedo hit showed great damage, yet the intell screen says that BB Kongo sunk off Kota Bharu today....fog of war I guess.




Subs were pretty active off the Malayan and Indochina coast. I sent some subs snooping into harbors at Saigon and Cam Ranh Bay as well as mixing it up with the invasion fleets off the Malay coast.

SS-020 had a very bad day.....she was 1st hit by depth chages when she entered Cam Ranh Bay and then she ran into a mine:

ASW attack near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,72

Japanese Ships
DD Sagiri

Allied Ships
SS O20, hits 2



O20 bottoming out .......
DD Sagiri fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Sagiri fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Sagiri attacking submerged sub .......
DD Sagiri fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Sagiri fails to find sub, continues to search......
Escort abandons search for sub...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 469 encounters mine field at Cam Ranh Bay (64,72)

Allied Ships
SS O20, Mine hits 1, on fire



SS-019 also hit a mine when she entered Saigon harbor:

TF 468 encounters mine field at Saigon (60,71)

Allied Ships
SS O19, Mine hits 1


Note to self.....stop entering enemy harbors with your subs.

Obviously StoneAge is concentrating on defensive mining as opposed to offensive mining.


The sub carnage continues:

ASW attack near Singora at 51,72

Japanese Ships
AK Kyushu Maru
xAK Nako Maru
xAK Kashii Maru
DD Yugiri

Allied Ships
SS KXVII, hits 3


ASW attack near Kota Bharu at 51,75

Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu
DD Oshio
DD Hibiki
DD Akatsuki

Allied Ships
SS KXII, hits 5


None of the subs sank but the shipyards are gonna be busy for awhile.


The transports escaping Singapore got away safely...the escorts even sank SS I-154 off Bintan on the way out. SS KXI sank DD Nowaki and AK Kinka Maru off Patani.

CMc ProPatria was on a minelaying mission to Singkawang when she was sunk by SS I-165 off Muntok.




CHINA

The battle for Hong Kong begins. Stoneage hits Allied troops at HK with a lot of air and I throw every Chinese bomber in range at the Japanese.

Japan shock attacks for 2 days at 1:1 odds:


Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 26190 troops, 321 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 631

Defending force 8638 troops, 132 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 224

Japanese adjusted assault: 711

Allied adjusted defense: 421

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
680 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
720 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 60 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 23 (0 destroyed, 23 disabled)


Assaulting units:...
38th Division...
66th Infantry Regiment...
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment...
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment...
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion...
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion...
2nd RF Gun Battalion...
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment...
2nd Mortar Battalion...
5th RF Gun Battalion...
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment...
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion...
...
Defending units:...
1st Middlesex Battalion...
Hong Kong Fortress...
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion...
Rifles of Canada Battalion...
Kowloon Brigade...
102nd RN Base Force...


Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 25650 troops, 320 guns, 217 vehicles, Assault Value = 607

Defending force 7898 troops, 131 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 188

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 417

Allied adjusted defense: 229

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
814 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 41 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
681 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (4 destroyed, 8 disabled)


Assaulting units:...
66th Infantry Regiment...
38th Division...
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment...
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment...
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment...
2nd RF Gun Battalion...
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion...
2nd Mortar Battalion...
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment...
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion...
5th RF Gun Battalion...
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion...
...
Defending units:...
Rifles of Canada Battalion...
1st Middlesex Battalion...
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion...
Hong Kong Fortress...
Kowloon Brigade...
102nd RN Base Force...


Losses are fairly equal and the forts are reduced to level 1. Im afraid that Hong Kong will capitulate tomorrow.



CENTRAL PACIFIC

CV Lexington reaches Wake and detaches CAs Portland and Chicago along with 2 DDs for surface action while preparing to launch a carrier airstrike if the Japanese are spotted. A Japanese TF is spotted to the south at the same time RO-61 is discovered and hit with depth charges by DD Porter off Wake Island. The Japanese have been spotted, we have been spotted ......and we lost track of KB 2 days ago. Reluctantly Admiral Brown gives the order for Lady Lex to retire and leave the Marines on Wake to their fate.......but not before taking Wake's VMF group with then to leave the defenders of Wake totally without air cover...they didnt have enough supply to run those expensive toys anyway.




PHILIPPINES


Japan actually lands at Aparri and Laoag....not Vigan. Allied PTs and MTBs than had laid in wait at San Fernando for the invasion are unsuccessful in multiple intercepts:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near San Fernando at 79,73, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
PT-31
PT-32
PT-33
PT-34
PT-35



Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 30,000 yards...
Allied TF attempts to evade combat...
Range increases to 21,000 yards......
Allied PT Boat TF evades combat...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near San Fernando at 79,73, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
PT-41
PT Q-111
PT Q-112
PT Q-113



Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 30,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 30,000 yards...
Range closes to 28,000 yards......
Allied PT Boat TF evades combat...



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near San Fernando at 78,70, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
MTB 7
MTB 8
MTB 9
MTB 10
MTB 11
MTB 12
MTB 26
MTB 27



Reduced sighting due to 57% moonlight...
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 57% moonlight: 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards......
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards......
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 4,000 yards...
Ferris H. gains tactical advantage...
DD Harusame engages MTB 12 at 4,000 yards...
DD Asagumo engages MTB 12 at 4,000 yards...
DD Harusame engages MTB 8 at 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
MTB 12 engages DD Samidare at 2,000 yards...
DD Yudachi engages MTB 8 at 2,000 yards...
DD Harusame engages MTB 8 at 2,000 yards...
DD Murasame engages MTB 26 at 2,000 yards...
DD Asagumo engages MTB 26 at 2,000 yards...
DD Minegumo engages MTB 12 at 2,000 yards...
Range increases to 9,000 yards...
DD Samidare engages MTB 7 at 9,000 yards...
DD Yudachi engages MTB 12 at 9,000 yards...
DD Harusame engages MTB 27 at 9,000 yards...
DD Minegumo engages MTB 10 at 9,000 yards...
DD Harusame engages MTB 8 at 9,000 yards...
DD Natsugumo engages MTB 26 at 9,000 yards...
Task forces break off......



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Laoag at 81,72, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
MTB 7
MTB 8
MTB 9, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
MTB 10
MTB 11
MTB 12
MTB 26
MTB 27



Reduced sighting due to 57% moonlight...
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 57% moonlight: 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards......
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards......
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards...
DD Samidare engages MTB 12 at 2,000 yards...
DD Samidare engages MTB 11 at 2,000 yards...
DD Samidare engages MTB 9 at 2,000 yards...
MTB 9 engages DD Minegumo at 2,000 yards...
MTB 9 sunk by DD Natsugumo at 2,000 yards...
CL Naka engages MTB 10 at 2,000 yards...
DD Samidare engages MTB 12 at 2,000 yards...
DD Yudachi engages MTB 12 at 2,000 yards...
DD Harusame engages MTB 10 at 2,000 yards...
DD Minegumo engages MTB 7 at 2,000 yards...
Range increases to 8,000 yards...
DD Yudachi engages MTB 11 at 8,000 yards...
DD Harusame engages MTB 11 at 8,000 yards...
DD Murasame engages MTB 10 at 8,000 yards...
DD Natsugumo engages MTB 8 at 8,000 yards...
DD Asagumo engages MTB 7 at 8,000 yards...
DD Natsugumo engages MTB 12 at 8,000 yards...
Task forces break off......


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Laoag at 81,71, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
MTB 7
MTB 8
MTB 10
MTB 11
MTB 12
MTB 26
MTB 27



Reduced sighting due to 57% moonlight...
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 57% moonlight: 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards......
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards...
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CL Naka engages MTB 7 at 2,000 yards...
CL Naka engages MTB 26 at 2,000 yards...
DD Murasame engages MTB 27 at 2,000 yards...
CL Naka engages MTB 7 at 2,000 yards...
DD Natsugumo engages MTB 26 at 2,000 yards...
Range increases to 7,000 yards...
CL Naka engages MTB 26 at 7,000 yards...
DD Samidare engages MTB 7 at 7,000 yards...
DD Yudachi engages MTB 10 at 7,000 yards...
DD Minegumo engages MTB 27 at 7,000 yards...
DD Natsugumo engages MTB 8 at 7,000 yards...
Range increases to 11,000 yards...
CL Naka engages MTB 27 at 11,000 yards...
DD Samidare engages MTB 26 at 11,000 yards...
CL Naka engages MTB 12 at 11,000 yards...
DD Minegumo engages MTB 7 at 11,000 yards...
Task forces break off......


Day Time Surface Combat, near San Fernando at 79,73, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
MTB 7
MTB 8
MTB 10
MTB 11
MTB 12
MTB 26
MTB 27



Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 30,000 yards...
Allied TF attempts to evade combat...
Range increases to 21,000 yards......
Allied PT Boat TF evades combat...



Looks like the patch has really changed PT boat combat.


In the PI, I put the bombers on naval search and the patrol planes on naval attack...and actually had some luck with them:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Laoag at 81,72

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 3
OS2U-3 Kingfisher x 4


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Bunzan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x OS2U-3 Kingfisher bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Aparri at 82,73

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 4
SOC-1 Seagull x 6


Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Kuwayama Maru
xAK Kotoku Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled



SS Porpoise is hit twice by depth chages off Laoag but will make it back to port.



Allied shipping at Manila escapes without incident....and the Cavite base force is also extricated intact. CVL Ryujo and some CSs lurk to the east of the PI:

[racndoc]

witpqs.....Thanks! I forgot to mention that one of the house rules was that all LCU and air replacements were turned off.



12/9-12/10/41(continued)


SOUTH PACIFIC

Japan invades and captures Ocean and Nauru Islands. The Cat detachments on these islands ID the Japanese invasion forces before their airfields are overrun. The invasion TF escorts are far too numerous for CA Louisville to engage on her own. In addition, CA Louisville is spotted by RO-67. CA Louisville is ordered to withdraw.

KB was last spotted off French Frigate Shoals on 12/8/41 heading west. The whereabouts of KB is not known at this time but it is doubtful that they could be in supporting range of the Gilbert Islands invasion TFs. Admiral Halsey directs CV Enterprise to intercept the Japanese assault TFs.

[racndoc]

12/11-12/12/41


MALAYA

IJN and IJA bombers pound Allied LCUs at Kota Bharu, Alor Star and Georgetown. Japanese counterair against Kuala Lampur destroys 4 Vildebeests on the ground.


British torpedo bombers repeatedly strike IJN transports off Kota Bharu. AK Koroshio Maru and AK Hoko Maru are sunk but the cost is high....19 Buffalo Is, 11 Swordfish and a Vildebeest are lost in A2A combat. The torpedo bomber as well as the level bomber squadrons in Malaya are now heavily attrited and disorganized. All torpedo bombers and most level bombers are withdrawn to Java for rest and reorganization.

IJA troops finally assault Kota Bharu in a 9:1 shock attack and some 1800 Indian troopos are lost prior to retreating. Its time to begin the pullback south towards Singapore.


CHINA

StoneAge launches another shock attack on Hong Kong....the Japanese can only muster a 1:2 attack this time but still the Allies lose 868 troops vs 391 Japanese. Hong Kong continues to hold on as more Chinese troops reach Wuchow and dig in.


DEI

Japan captures Miri.

SS I-162 brazenly enters Batavia harbor and sinks CM Kung Wo....at least its just a minelayer and once they drop their initial load of mines there is not much use for all of them with the limited mines available. I mined all the front line ports but now I need to make sure all the ports in the rear are defensively mined.


PHILIPPINES

Japan invades southern Luzon at Naga and Legaspi. TK Manatawny attempts to intercept the invasion forces approaching Naga in a night action:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Catanduanes at 82,81, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CS Mizuho
CS Chitose
DMS W-7
DMS W-8
AMc Ataka Maru
AMc Kyo Maru #1
AMc Takasago Maru
PB Edo Maru
PB Myoken Maru
PB Saiko Maru
PB Gamitsu Maru #1
PB Nichi Maru #1
PB Showa Maru #3
PB Showa Maru #5
AO Hayamoto
TK Matsumoto Maru
xAK Myoko Maru
xAK Shinanogawa Maru
xAK Shinryu Maru
xAK Kanko Maru
xAK Yasukawa Maru
xAK Hasuna Maru
xAK Meigen Maru
xAK Yamafuku Maru
xAKL Kakyu Maru
xAP Haruna Maru

Allied Ships
TK Manatawny



Reduced sighting due to 46% moonlight...
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 46% moonlight: 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards......
Range increases to 12,000 yards......
Range increases to 12,000 yards......
Both Task Forces evade combat...


Stoneage doesnt do a lot of small invasions...he does a few major ones with _lots_ of escorts.



IJA troops capture Aparri and Laoag.

Looks like StoneAge is trying to isolate Manila/Clark in a pincer movement. I need to determine the relative size of each army. If Japan becomes overextended on either front the Allies will counterattack with the Marines, 31st Infantry and the 2 armor units. AGs and AKLs run some supply from the DEI up to Bataan.

The PTs and MTBs were ineffective against the heavily escorted transport TFs off northern Luzon so everyone is is sent to southern Luzon to hit the less heavily escorted transports of Legaspi.


CENTRAL PACIFIC

Guam surrenders.

SS I-173 sinks AM Vireo off Johnston Island.

Multiple ASW TFs are formed at Pearl Harbor to sweep the local waters and separate ASW TFs are sent to Palmyra, Canton and Pago Pago to cover future transport unloading operations. An ASW TF with 4 DMS runs over SS I-2 on its way to Palmyra landing 6 hits with depth charges. The unfortunate thing about this is that the ASW ships run out of ammo after one depth charge attack...and they must return to either Pearl or Auckland to reload. AEs and ADs are on the way to the south Pacific but for now there is no practical way to reload ammo locally.



SOUTH PACIFIC

CV Enterprise races west into the Gilberts and spots 2 IJN transport TFs....the largest one appears to be loading troops from just captured Ocean Island while a smaller TF approaxches Tarawa. Enterprise's SBDS work over the Japanese assault transport TF at Ocean Island:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Ocean Island at 130,130

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 9
SBD-2 Dauntless x 30


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AMC Kongo Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Kinryu Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Tatsuta, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yayoi
CL Yubari, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
211 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)



Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ocean Island at 130,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 9
SBD-2 Dauntless x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AMC Kinryu Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Fukui Maru, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
AMC Kongo Maru, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk

Japanese ground losses:
320 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)



Intel show that AMC Kongo Maru, CL Tatsuta and PB Fukui Maru are sunk. Still, Stoneage has a lot of escorts remaining. Id love to stick around one more turn and hit the IJN TF at Ocean Island again as well as the TF that is approaching Tarawa. However, KB could be charging down here tomorrow at full speed.

Its time for CV Enterprise to disappear into the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean.....

[racndoc]

12/13-12/14/41


SOUTH PACIFIC:

CV Enterprise retires from the Gilberts without incident. Her arrival last turn had the desired effect however....the IJN transports approaching Tarawa withdraw so Japanese expansion to the south here is temporarily halted. StoneAge now knows that there is an USN air combat "fleet" in being" in the south Pacific so I think that further Japanese expansion here or in the Admiralties/Rabaul/Solomons will have at least one carrier division as escort.


A Japanese "torpedo bomber", probably from Makin is spotted over Pago Pago so StoneAge is already sending out his feelers here.




CHINA:


Things quiet down a bit here. Japan settles for only bombarding Hong Kong so it can recover some disruption there. Japan continues to mop up Chinese units in their rear that are cutting several of the main roads and railroads in central China.

Chinese nationalist forces liberate Ichang....now 8 corps are freed up to advance on Hankow. More Chinese corps pile on the Japanese garrisons at Sinyang and Kweisui.



MALAYA


Vicxtoria Point is captured.

SS I-156 surfaces off Malacca to sink AKL Nam Yong in a night action.

SS KXVIII surfaces off Kota Bharu in another night action to sink AKL Nittatsu but is hit by 2 shells in return and set afire.

IJA troops approach Alor Star....the Indian LCUs here are still switching over to strategic mode to rail out to the south.

IJN bombers sink the 4 HDML ships at Georgetown.....cant seem to give orders to these ships so they just sat around waiting for the inevitable.




DEI

SS I-158 sinks AK Demosthenes off Palembang.


An USN SAG group forms up in the central DEI east of Borneo centered on CA Houston and CL Boise. Farther south, a RN SAG based on PoW and Repulse and another Dutch CL SAG form up off the Celebes.

Japan has been fairly quiet so far in the DEI....it must be due to the threat posed by the unspotted RN capital ships.



PHILIPPINES


Japan captures Naga, Legaspi, Calayan and Camiguin. There are now 12,000 IJA troops in Naga and 7300 troops in Legaspi.

The IJN CS group sitting just east of the PI is souting all Allied TF movement in the central and southern PI. An IJN SAG based on CL Nagara and 7 DDS spends 2 days reacting to our TFs throughout the region. First the IJN SAG reacts to the MTBs approaching Legaspi and sinks all 7 without being hit:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Sibuyan at 80,82, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
DD Yukikaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Yamakaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Umikaze
DD Suzukaze
DD Shiokaze

Allied Ships
MTB 7, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
MTB 8, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
MTB 10, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
MTB 11, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
MTB 12, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
MTB 26, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
MTB 27, Shell hits 6, and is sunk



Reduced sighting due to 17% moonlight...
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 17% moonlight: 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards......
Range closes to 10,000 yards......
Range closes to 9,000 yards......
Range closes to 8,000 yards......
Range closes to 7,000 yards......
Range closes to 6,000 yards......
Range closes to 5,000 yards......
Range closes to 4,000 yards......
Range closes to 3,000 yards......
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 3,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 3,000 yards...
MTB 26 sunk by DD Shiokaze at 3,000 yards...
DD Suzukaze engages MTB 10 at 3,000 yards...
DD Yamakaze engages MTB 27 at 3,000 yards...
MTB 11 sunk by DD Yukikaze at 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
MTB 27 sunk by DD Suzukaze at 2,000 yards...
MTB 8 sunk by DD Tokitsukaze at 2,000 yards...
Range increases to 3,000 yards...
DD Shiokaze engages MTB 12 at 3,000 yards...
MTB 12 sunk by DD Shiokaze at 3,000 yards...
MTB 10 sunk by DD Shiokaze at 3,000 yards...
MTB 7 sunk by DD Kawakaze at 3,000 yards...
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk......


Well it seems that the PTs arent uber any longer.



Then, the Allied AKLs loading the the Cebu base unit are spotted and the CL Nagara TF reacts there to sink AKL Escalante.


The US SAG with CA Houston is ordered north to intercept the CL Nagara TF tomorrow off Zamboanga.

SS Sculpin torpedoes and sinks DMS W19 off Calayan.


The CVL Ryujo TF sails off to the SE away from the SRA.....it apparently will be used to support support Japanese moves in the south Pacific.

[racndoc]

12/15-12/16/41


PHILIPPINES:


Tuguegaro and Vigan are overrun today.

Stoneage started placing a lot of Zeros over his invasion TFs and our float planes on naval attack started taking heavy losses....along with our P-40Es which were placed on 80% CAP and 20% rest but evidently they leak over to escort missions every turn. The float plane losses are ok though...these seem to be the only plane types the Allies have that have replacements so I might as well use them.The 2 US Army tank units and 3 regiments are sent to San Fernando...if Japan overextends itself here we will counterattack with a "backhand blow".

The CA Houston SAG reached Zamboanga but the IJN SAG had already withdrawn to the east towards Palau(or whatever its called now) probably to replace its ammo after expending all of it on my MTBs and the AKL.



CHINA

Japan shock attacks Hong Kong on the 15th after resting for 2 days but the 2:1 attack is unsuccessful:


Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 25159 troops, 317 guns, 215 vehicles, Assault Value = 579

Defending force 5923 troops, 127 guns, 63 vehicles, Assault Value = 112

Japanese adjusted assault: 464

Allied adjusted defense: 173

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
415 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
722 casualties reported
Squads: 34 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 38 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (7 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Assaulting units:...
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment...
38th Division...
66th Infantry Regiment...
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment...
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion...
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion...
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment...
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment...
2nd Mortar Battalion...
5th RF Gun Battalion...
2nd RF Gun Battalion...
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion...
...
Defending units:...
Rifles of Canada Battalion...
Hong Kong Fortress...
1st Middlesex Battalion...
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion...
Kowloon Brigade...
102nd RN Base Force...


On the 16th the valiant Hong Kong defenders surrender after putting up a heroic defense for 8 days:


Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 24784 troops, 317 guns, 214 vehicles, Assault Value = 563

Defending force 5136 troops, 128 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 107

Japanese adjusted assault: 215

Allied adjusted defense: 53

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hong Kong !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
385 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled


Allied ground losses:
9481 casualties reported
Squads: 324 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 612 destroyed, 180 disabled
Engineers: 27 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 223 (217 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 85 (79 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units destroyed 6


Assaulting units:...
66th Infantry Regiment...
38th Division...
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment...
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment...
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion...
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment...
2nd Mortar Battalion...
5th RF Gun Battalion...
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment...
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion...
2nd RF Gun Battalion...
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion...
...
Defending units:...
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion...
Hong Kong Fortress...
Rifles of Canada Battalion...
1st Middlesex Battalion...
Kowloon Brigade...
102nd RN Base Force...


Hopefully the brief respite that Hong Kong afforded the Allies will enable us to hold on to Wuchow.

Chinese corps reach their forward deployment positions at Sinyang and Paotow. Japanese efforts to dislodge us are unsuccessful and costly:


Ground combat at Sinyang (86,48)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 2374 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 87

Defending force 16759 troops, 81 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 466

Japanese adjusted assault: 71

Allied adjusted defense: 135

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
134 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Allied ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:...
12th RGC Temp. Division...
18th RGC Temp. Division...
52nd Road Const Co ...
67th JAAF AF Coy ...
...
Defending units:...
12th Chinese Corps...
85th Chinese Corps...
3rd Group Army...




Ground combat at Paotow (92,34)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 3744 troops, 40 guns, 100 vehicles, Assault Value = 86

Defending force 5308 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 166

Japanese adjusted assault: 25

Allied adjusted defense: 82

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
566 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 71 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 50 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 54 (2 destroyed, 52 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:...
1st Cavalry Brigade...
4th Cavalry Brigade...
...
Defending units:...
81st Chinese Corps...


Japan captures Hwaiyin.


I will post some screen shots of China in a few days as the situation begins to stabilize.



MALAYA


IJN wolfpacks off Muntok are very successful....SS I-153 torpedoes and sinks AK Wing Sang while SS I-166 torpedoes and sinks AK Elenga.


SS KXIII puts a torpedo in AK Enju Maru near Soc Trang.


Japan captures Alor Star but fortuanately the 6th and 15th Indian Brigades were able to withdraw before the aerrival of the IJA assault forces.


StoneAge has been concentrating most of his land and naval bombers on pounding my front line ground forces every turn at the expense of targeting my airfields and naval TFs. So far Japan has only bombed Singapore at night and Allied air forces are stil amazingly intact. My front line ground forces are however demoralized and disorganized and are not only incapable of putting up an effective defense but cant even withdraw as fast as the Japanese advance. Malaya Army places blocking forces in 2 hexes with 3x terrain in the hex N of Temoluh and the hex directly west of it...these chokepoints blocks all the roads/railroads extending down the length of the Malay peninsula. I placed about 3 brigades in the western hex with 2 antitank units to face off against the advancing 1st Tank and 14th Tank regiments. Approximately 3 brigades and an armor unit are placed in the hex N of Temuloh to slow down the 56th Infantry regiment. Our 300-350 AV are tripled in each hex and the idea here is to force Japan into committing substantial SAA units here to break through.

[loricas]

interestin strategy in china: one question: in WITP sieging a city stop production (and as i know is the same in AE) so it's no better to defend Whuchow with two strong flank in forest than in the city itself,as your goal is keep producton active? japan have few units in Canton free for garrison (if the not restricted units in HK leave china)so the fear of pocket...

[racndoc]

LORICAS....thanks for your comments. Its my understanging that if the enemy occupies a friendly base hex you lose your resource production but the LI continue to crank out supply.......correct me Im wrong on this. If Japan can cut LI production just by moving into the base hex then there is no reason for me to entrench in Wuchow, Wenchow, Chengchow, Loyang or any other front line city. Then I might as well just retreat everywhere and just entrench in favorable terrain.



12/17-12/18/41



MALAYA:


The IJA 56th IR advaces down the Kota Bharu/Temuloh rail line faster than my Indian troops can retreat. Japan shock attacks again and further decimates/demoralizes the 8th Indian Brigade and the FSMV Brigade. The 3rd ISF Base Force in fact surrenders. I might as well move these 2 Indian LCUs back to Singapore and withdraw them if I am able because their combat value is almost nil now.

Up until now Stoneage has only conducted night attacks against the massive aerodrome at Singapore. Today he finally conducts a major daylight raid but his escorts/sweeps dont fly and the Bettys go in unescorted....these flying cigars are like"dead meat" when they encounter the Buffalo I CAP over the base:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 25



Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 40


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 14 destroyed, 5 damaged




Port fuel hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 15000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.21 Sqn RAAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 21000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
No.243 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 21000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
No.453 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 21000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
No.488 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (3 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 21000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 13



Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 38


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed




CAP engaged:
No.21 Sqn RAAF with Buffalo I (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 21000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
No.243 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 21000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
No.453 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 21000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
No.488 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 21000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes


Intel shows that 34 Bettys were destoyed in A2A combat in these 2 air attacks. Im a bit surprised at how many Buffaloes flew CAP.....virtually everyone at the base. The combat report shows that all the CAP was airborne in 9 minutes in the first attack and 12 minutes in the 2nd attack...must have something to do with either the size of the airbase or the air HQs present.



DEI:


SS I-156 torments us yet again...this time she torpedoes and sinks DD Scout who was supposedly performing ASW duties off Toboali.

Japan invades at Kudat on the NW coast of Borneo. The CA Houston SAG refueling at Tarakan is ordered into the South China Sea to intercept this invasion force....this will be right at the limit of Betty torpedo range from Indochina but the Bettys dont seem quite as uber at extreme range in AE as opposed to stock WitP. 2 DDs are detached from this SAG to hit some IJN transports off Miri.



CHINA

Faily quiet here this turn....a few Japanese bombardments here and there. The lone exception is a Japanese amphibious assault into Pakhoi...never seen this before in WitP but it serves me right for leaving the city undefended.



SOUTH PACIFIC


SS I-172 has been snooping around Canton harbor the last ciuple of days. We just mined the port here last turn and KABOOM.....SS I-172 strikes a mine and is heavily damaged. It seems that in AE defensive minefields are EXTREMELY effective against enemy subs...and I dont do this anymore avter having SS-020 and SS-019 hit mines at Saigon and Cam Ranh Bay early in the war.

The first amphbious convoy from the west coast US should be arriving in the south Pacific in a few days.



BURMA


OK I admit it....Ive kind of neglected this theatre so far in the war. Im a bit amazed at this early juncture in the war that Japanese troops have already crossed the frontier and have cut the Tavoy/Moulmein highway. Intel shows that the 33rd ID is still sitting in Nagasaki. Either StoneAge has committed some substantial forces here that would normally be fighting in Malaya or its just a couple of SNLFs/Naval Guards poking around. I didnt even see these units until last turn.

Unfortunately, we have a houserule that all garrisons need to be maintained. EVERY base in Burma has a garrison requirement except Akyab... and of the 265 AV currently stacked at Rangoon the garrison requirement is 150....so I dont have much in the way of manuever forces around here. In stock WitP and CHS I always fought to hold on to Burma...my last game of CHS saw opposing armies of 250,000 troops facing off in Mandalay.

Here in AE the terrain and supply situation are more unfavorable for the Allies...Mandalay is on the other side of the Irrawaddy River in clear terrain so is undefendable. Normally I move the six or so SEAC Chinese divisions into Lashio and Mandalay but in AE all the Chinese troops are restricted...and I have no PPs available to release any. I dont want to commit any additional British/Aussie/Indian troops here and have them shock attacked into the endless jungle. So I was not going to reinforce Burma but just delay as long as possible....but I wasnt expecting a Japanese incursion at this early date.

When I sent my last orders to StoneAge I requested that he waive the garrison requirement rule here in Burma so that my forces could retreat towards Schwebo and the Indian border. If Iam am required to maintain garrisons everywhere here then the Burma army will be destroyed in situ. I hope to at least extricate the air HQ at Rangoon though.

[loricas]

About LI in sieged base: i'm not sure: this night a little test (after stop [:@][:@] for the loss of Enterprise in my pbem game) so tomorrow we have sure response
CHINA have you think to split china corps in Divisions? on averege leader are better, cost less to change and you have a more flexible army on hand...
CAP: set part on rest if you don't wont fly in CAP over % choice
 
Burma: in Witp the burma defense is useful to keep burma road open (i'm too defend succesfully Mandalay) but now it's closed when Rangoon-china road trail rail is interrupted and keep Rangoon in allied hand and linked is difficult: so i can't find any reasons to fight here apart to prevent a flank drive into china or protect the air bridge to china. the chineses Div (1 elite for china 50 exp) can be transferred to stilwell HQ (not yet in play) under chinese command but unrestricted so costing 1/4 PP: i think that is a must move to put one, in the worst, in india via burma: is probably the only chinese unit using replacement (and at full is BIG), but in our situation is not clear how match jap are here.
Garrison: i think it's gamey to empty a base only to damage resource but that evacuate due enemy pressure is not. i'm my game HR is: Garrison must be fullfill but this requirement is deleted if: enemy LCU close 3 than hex and city/base is declared open(empty as soon as possible) to have a general rule preventing "HR" pocket.
 
interesting Japan move..another reason to keep an eye on this AAR
 
 

[racndoc]

loricas....I totally agree....the main reason to fight in Burma is to keep the Burma road open to China....and in AE it appears that Rangoon must be under Allied control to make this work and holding Rangoon against determined Japanese assault is virtually impossible. The other reason 2 reasons I wanted to hold Burma in stock WitP and CHS were:

1) Provide bomber bases to ravage SE Asia
2)Provide a jump off point for the land forces to effect a reconquista of Burma and SE Asia.




12/19-12/20/41



BURMA


14th Tank Regiment is ID'd as it enters Moulmein....that means 1st Tank Regiment is operating solo in Malaya.....more on that later. The big question is.....where is the Imperial Guards Division? Japan will take Moulmein next turn as we have already evacuated the brigades there across the Salween.

StoneAge said I could evacuate my garrison troops when the IJA troops close in....as soon as he crosses the Salween we will mostly evacuate Rangoon and try to put up a defense across the Irrawaddy River in Schwebo.

The Allies start the war with just the AVG and a squadron of Buffaloes in Burma and a couple of Anthrax squadrons and a Lupita squadron in India. I was going to move the Hurricanes to India when they started arriving in 1/42 but I wasnt expecting this so early. The AVG BTW take part intheir first combat missions today both in Malaya and China. I transferred some Blenheims to rangoon following the air reorganization in Malaya a few days ago and they strike the 14th Tank Regiment at Moulmein.

PPs were spent to buy a B-17 group in Mindanao and they were staged to Dacca today. More B-17 groups will be transferred from the PI to India in the next few days and they will be bombarding the IJA units as they cross the Salwwen into central Burma.



CENTPAC/SOPAC

SS Triton is awarded the Distinguished Service Cross today for spotting CV Akagi in the Marshalls off Namorik....this is the first spotting of Jap fleet carriers since 12/8/41. I sure that at least a part of KB is there to support another invasion attempt at Tarawa.

SS I-170 torpedoes and sinks CM Oglala approximately 240 miles west of Kona.


SS I-172 which struck a mine last turn at Canton is reported to have sunk.

BB Tennesee completed repair of its system and minor flotation damage and it is sent to the US west coast to repair its major flotation damage.


AVP Thrush and TK HM Storey collide at sea while sailing in convoy formation and suffer minor system and flotation damage.



PHILIPPINES

Japan captures Babuyan and Atimonan on Luzon.

Several AKLs loaded with supplies in the DEI are ordered north to resupply the troops on Luzon.



CHINA

Japan captures Pakhoi.

Now that the AAR is catching up in real time with the game I can post some screen shots of China. First we look at northern China and outer Mongolia....and I guess the road I will call the Trans-Mongolian highway. At the start of the road at the railroad terminus in Kweisui the Chinese have 2 corps with an AV of 400...in 3x terrain it is 1200 AV and I will wait for Japan to bring 1500-2000 AV here to kick us out. Ive identified a couple of chokepoints on the map where I will set up roadblocks in 2x terrain but it will be weeks before the defensive troops arrive. Ive basically evacuated Yenan...in WitP is was an important front line city in the north but in AE its little more than a gas stop on some secondary road. The Red Chinese divisions that started in Yenan are moving west to be used as guerillas to cut the roads in caser of a major Japanese advance here.

[Swenslim]

In my game as japan side player I bought 2 tank and 2 motor-recon regiments (Imperial Brigade cant wait for Port Moresby untill I take Rabaul and Solomons) and with help of 3 mongolian cavalry regiments I will tear in shreds any red chinise partzans in plain fields of North China.... [8D]
You underestimate the number of  troops Japan player has in China, I revised all cities and find way to muster additional 3 divisions and few regiments (freed from garrison duty). And 1 more division (4-th division) have some free time to havoc south China untill  mid January when I will transport it to final conqure of Singapure.

[racndoc]

Swenslim....I dont think that Im underestimating the Japanese forces in China at all. At the beginning of this thread I mentioned how the AI threw me around like a rag doll in China when I tried to dig in in my front line cities in clear terrain. I think that China is very unbalanced in Japan's favor in this patch and have no illusions about holding on when the Japanese armor and heavy artillery arrives from Manchukuo......I think that Japan can blow a hole through the Chinese lines in the north big enough to drive a Hummer through. To that end Im sending some 1500 AV and the 2 antitank regiments to the north. 37mm antitank guns in rough terrain against thin skinned Japanese tank hulls should be like 88's against Matildas at Hellfire pass...or so I hope....lol. All of my defensive positions in the north will be in at least 2x terrain....and the Red Chinese divisions are not meant for standup combat but for harrassment of supply lines.

I have only 2 goals in China:
1) Delay as long as possible.
2)Make the Japanese player react to you rather than the other way around.

I think that so far Ive accomplished both. Time is on the Allied side here.....there are so many disrupted squads in the Chinese corps that the Chinese army aggregate AV should be 50% higher in 6 months....even with replacements turned off.





12/21-12/22/41


CENTPAC

Stoneage assaults and captures Tarawa as anticipated by the presence of CV Akagi.

SS I-6 sticks her nose in port at Kaui and strikes a mine and sinks immediately....Im telling you that minefields are death for subs in AE.

FYI....at the end of the combat replay(001 file) the screenshot of Japan shows all of the defensive minefields in the home islands....I assume that the screenshot of the US west coast also shows all the defensive minefields to the Japanese player.



PHILIPPINES

SS Seal torpedoes AK Anzab Maru off Laoag.

For most of the war, StoneAge has not been sweeping my main airfields at Manila, Clark and Singapore directly but instead sweeps thwe smaller airbases next door to them.....causes a small number of my CAP to "leak" and then the leakers are overwhelmed ny the numbers of the sweep.

Today Japan finally sweeps and airfield bombs Clark and a major air battle breaks out....losses for the day to be posted later.


MALAYA

I put large blocking forces in 3x terrain on the 2 rail lines just north and northwest of Temuloh. The AVG goes into combat for the first time today here in Malaya and in China.....1st squadron AVG bases at Kuala Lampu with some Buffaloes and LRCAPs my blocking forces from repeated Japanese air attacks....losses to be reported later.



DEI

The CA Houston again missed its intended victims as the Japanese transports evacuate from the west coast of Borneo. Using capital ships on high spped runs creates a lot of system and engine damage in AE with the 2 day turns...the CA Houston SAG is sent to Soerabaja for repairs but Admiral Doormans Dutch CLs and a British cruiser force sail to Tarakan to take its place. A large AKL convoy with CL Marblehead escort is sent north to bring badly needed supplies to the troops on Luzon.

Dutch 139WH-3 bombers score 2 hits on AK Kuritake Maru off Miri.


BURMA

The IJA 14th Tank Regiment attacks Moulmein at 2:1 and reduces the forts to zero. Most of the Burmese defenders are now digging in in the 2x jungle on the far side of the Salween River.


CHINA

The 2nd and 3rd Squadrons of the AVG go into action in the skiies above Wenchow and Wuchow. Its tough to break apart the losses for individual air battles with the FoW so I will list the total losses for the turn.

Largest air losses of the war so far in battles across the PI,Malaya and China.....33 Allied planes are lost vs 48 Japanese in A2A. Individual losses include: 25 Lilys, 12 P-40Es, 10 Buffaloes, 10 Idas, 9 A6M2s, 7 Marys, 6 P-40Bs, 2 H81-A3s, 1 Tojo and 1 Sonia in A2A combat.


Looks like StoneAge has only 4000 troops in Sinyang but large reinforcements from Hankow are marching down the road....a shock attack will be ordered for tomorrow before the reinforcements arrive.

The Ichang corps arrive just outside of Hankow....some 2400 AV will be ordered to shock attack some 4000 defenders tomorrow.

Ive attached a map that shows all my front line positions in central China:

[Swenslim]

I dont think China is unbalanced, historically Japan hold too much power in Manchuko in hope to size Soviet Far East if Germany could take Moscow.

Only thing which must be added in patch is some supply and armament from Soviet Union for China , like from Rangoon.

But Japan player at maximum can push china to the masive forest zone and not further and this will take many supplies and armamament.

[racndoc]

Swenslim....I guess then that we can agree to disagree. By 1939 Japan had been at war with China for 2 years and had been unable to "steamroll" China. Japan could ill afford the economic costs of the fighting nor the dramatic increase in administrative problems for the conquered territories. Japan instead adopted a policy of strangulation against China. Only in WitP does Japan throw a switch on 12/7/41 and shock attack and bombard the Chinese into oblivion.



12/23-12/24/41



PHILIPPINES

Japan captures Lucena and Itbayat Island as the noose closes around the Allies on Luzon. Still no Japanese activity on Mindanao.


I sortied 2 PT TFs towards northern Luzon but they were again met by our old friends CL Naka SAG with 7 DDs. The CL Naka SAG chases the PT boast squadrons back towards Manila in a series of running engagements:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Vigan at 80,73, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
PT-41
PT Q-111
PT Q-112
PT Q-113



Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards......
Allied PT Boat TF evades combat...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near San Fernando at 80,74, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
PT-31
PT-32
PT-33
PT-34
PT-35



Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 28,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards......
Allied PT Boat TF evades combat...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near San Fernando at 80,74, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
PT-41
PT Q-111
PT Q-112
PT Q-113



Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 30,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 30,000 yards...
Range closes to 28,000 yards......
Allied PT Boat TF evades combat...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Iba at 79,74, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
PT-41
PT Q-111
PT Q-112
PT Q-113



Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 30,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 30,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards......
Allied PT Boat TF evades combat...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Iba at 78,75, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
PT-41
PT Q-111
PT Q-112
PT Q-113



Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 30,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 30,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards......
Allied PT Boat TF evades combat...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Clark Field at 78,76, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
PT-41
PT Q-111
PT Q-112
PT Q-113



Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 30,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 30,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards......
Allied PT Boat TF evades combat...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near San Fernando at 79,73, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
PT-31
PT-32
PT-33
PT-34
PT-35



Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 30,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards......
Allied PT Boat TF evades combat...


The CL Naka SAG ends the turn just NW of the Sulu Sea. Admiral Doorman's Dutch CL SAG and a RN cruiser SAG are ordered into the Sulu Sea in hopes of engaging the IJN SAG.



SOPAC


No sign of the Japanese in the Admiralties, New Britain or the Solomons yet. Transport AC have ferried in the Lark Batallion and all of the small Coy units on New Guinea into Port Moresby and AV now exceeds 160. We built up supply in Port Moresby to over 10,000. I dont want to commit additional Australian manuver formations here as if Japan really focuses on Port Moresby its a lost cause anyway. However we did spend PPs to buy the 5th RAA CD unit in Sydney and APs are currently transporting it north to Port Moresby.....at least if Japan invades here they will have to deal with mines and CD guns.


Ive transported some Coy units to New Caledonia and a base force is on the way from the US but the defenses here are still woefully inadequate.



WEST COAST

BB Tennesee has completed its repairs of system and minor flotation damage and is now on the way to San Franscisco to repair the major flotation damage.

We need AEs at every small island we are garrisoning in the south and central Pacific so we can reload depth charges on our DDs. There arent enough AEs available so 2 AKs were converted to AKEs in San Franciso and should be available in about 12 days.




CHINA

SS Sculpin torpedoes and sinks AK Yamagat Maru off Swatow.

The Chinese "Ichang" corps stack just outside of Hankow launches an assault on the RGC division there:


Ground combat at 84,49

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 92729 troops, 502 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2419

Defending force 2472 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 84

Allied adjusted assault: 2844

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 2844 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), morale(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
2521 casualties reported
Squads: 122 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 124 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Allied ground losses:
119 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:...
18th Chinese Corps...
67th Chinese Corps...
45th Chinese Corps...
8th Chinese Corps...
2nd Chinese Corps...
59th Chinese Corps...
32nd Chinese Corps...
68th Chinese Corps...
75th Chinese Corps...
26th Group Army...
33rd Group Army...
...
Defending units:...
11th RGC Temp. Division...


Ive finally found troops that are weaker than the Nationalist Chinese....11th RGC suffers nearly 100% casualties. Now the 2400 AV sits unopposed outside Hankow and is given orders to invest the city.....if they make it into the major urban hex their AV will be quadrupled...nearly 10,000 AV. In additon, if they make it into Hankow, Wuchang will be cut off from supply.



The 1500 Chinese AV in Sinyang shock attack the city before the reinforcements can arrive:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Sinyang (86,48)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 59570 troops, 340 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1475

Defending force 2762 troops, 16 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 86

Allied adjusted assault: 1058

Japanese adjusted defense: 11

Allied assault odds: 96 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Sinyang !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
1736 casualties reported
Squads: 55 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 58 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4


Allied ground losses:
163 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:...
84th Chinese Corps...
13th Chinese Corps...
30th Chinese Corps...
7th Chinese Corps...
12th Chinese Corps...
29th Chinese Corps...
85th Chinese Corps...
3rd Group Army...
21st Group Army...
...
Defending units:...
12th RGC Temp. Division...
18th RGC Temp. Division...
52nd Road Const Co ...
67th JAAF AF Coy ...


In additon to capturing the city, the Nationalist Chinese troops capture 13,000 supply there....nearly a year's worth of supply from the Burma Road. We are going to entrench here and hold Sinyang as long as possible...this city is the key to the defense of central China.

Farther south, Chinese corps have cut the Wuchang/Nanchang highway and also the Hangchow/Nanchang highway.....Nanchang and Kiukiang are now cut off from supply. Ive attached a map with the front line positions in southern China:

[racndoc]

12/23-12/24/41.....CONTINUED

Its a bitter Christmas eve for Allied troops in Burma.


B-17s transfer from Mindanao to Dacca and launch their first ground attack on IJA units attacking Moulmein. Unfortunately its not enough as 14th Tank Regiment captures the city.

Burma Command is completely surprised as IJA LCUs somehow navigate their way at high speed through rough/jungle teraain and cross the Salween upstream from the Allied blocking force next to Moulmein. These IJA troops threaten to cut the Rangoon/Mandalay rail line and isolate the bulk of the Burma army in southern Burma. All units in the vicinity of Rangoon and Pegu are ordered to withdraw immediately. Without firing a shot Japanese manuver has unhinged the Allied defense in Burma. We will attempt to withdraw to Toungoo and form new defensive positions there.

[racndoc]

12/25-12/26/41


INTEL

Now that the war is nearly 3 weeks old its time to evaluate what Japan's future intentions might be....I normally do that by counting the SAA divisions.

38th Division is sitting between Canton and Hong Kong....looks like it might be used in operations in southern China for a bit.

33rd Division is still at Nagasaki....probably waiting for some AKs to convert to troop transports.

18th, 56th and 2nd Divisions have been spotted in Malaya.

16th Division, 48th Division and 65th Brigade are fighting on Luzon.

That leaves some 5 divisions unacounted for. Im most concerned about the whereabouts of 5th Division and the Imperial Guard Division. I would normally have expected to see them in action in Malaya by this time. Im wondering if one or both of these divisions have been diverted to Burma. If so, then Burma will collapse like a house of cards....but it will take more than 3 divisions to subdue Malaya.

Aircraft losses stand at 334 Allied to 222 Japanese.....in A2A its 207 Allied to 129 Japanese. Individual plane type losses greater than 10 include 62 Buffalo Is, 48 P-40Es, 46 A6M2s, 37 Lilys, 35 Bettys, 23 Nates, 22 Nells, 22 H81-A3s, 22 Vildebeests,16 Swordfish, 16 Idas, 14 P-40Bs, 13 Cats, 11 Seagulls, 10 Blenheim Is and 10 Marys.

My Buffalo and P-40 losses are completely unsustainable. The 2nd and 3rd AVG Squadrons in China were withdrawn this turn....they just cant stand up to the endless waves of Japanese fighters and bombers. The Allies 1st Hurricane squadron arrived in Aden today and was immediately loaded on the fastest AK available for shipment to India....I will need these to cover my retreat in Burma.

The intel screen now shows BOTH BB Haruna and BB Kongo sunk....but instead of sinking off Kota Bharo on 12/9/41 it shows them sinking off Takao on 12/15/41.....this is almost more believeable....that maybe some temporary flotation repairs failed as they were being sent back to Japan for repairs. The game is giving me the points for either one however so I have to assume that they are still somewhere on the map. At least if they are damaged they will be out of the war for most of the crucial first 6 months.



CHINA

Japan reinforces Kweisui...now have 460 AV there to Allies 408 AV.....should still be ok for awhile as we are tripled there.

The "Ichang" corps invest Hankow....all 2400 AV of them....dont think they will ever be kicked out of there now....and supply to Wuchang is now cut.



CENTPAC


SS Tuna spots BB Kirishima off Kwajalein...I have to think that at least some of KB is sitting there.



PHILIPPINES

The CL Naka SAG sinks AG Gemma as it was trying to resupply Manila. Our AKL convoy got through and is currently unloading some 15,000 supply in Manila now.

We had sent the Dutch CL SAG into the Sulu Sea to intercept the CL Naka SAG...instead it intercepts an IJN invasion force off Balabac:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Banggi at 69,85, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DMS W-4, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
PB Eiko Maru, Shell hits 25, and is sunk
xAKL Kaishi Maru, Shell hits 20, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Java, Shell hits 1
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With
DD Evertsen
DD Kortenaer
DD Piet Hein
DD Van Ghent

Japanese ground losses:
102 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


In central Luzon we have dug in in favorable terrain at San Fernando and Bayombong. If Japan breaks through here then its clear terrain all the way to Clark and Manila. Japan conducts a shock attack on our tripled defenders at Bayombong and a bombardment on our doubled defenders at San Fernando:


Ground combat at Bayombong (80,75)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 6998 troops, 75 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 115

Defending force 7675 troops, 96 guns, 129 vehicles, Assault Value = 281

Japanese adjusted assault: 182

Allied adjusted defense: 280

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
273 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
216 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Assaulting units:...
Tanaka Detachment...
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment...
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment...
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion...
14th Army...
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion...
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion...
...
Defending units:...
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion...
31st Infantry Regiment...
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team...
194th Tank Battalion...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at San Fernando (80,74)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1434 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 81

Defending force 5275 troops, 81 guns, 113 vehicles, Assault Value = 220

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Assaulting units:...
48th Recon Regiment...
Kanno Detachment...
...
Defending units:...
11th PA Infantry Division...
192nd Tank Battalion...


Another IJN transport TF is spotted off Lingayen heading SW...looks like Japan may try to invade behind our front lines at IBA.



Japan invests Batangus and is now within 40 miles of Manila.

[racndoc]

12/25-12/26/41.....continued



THE LOGISTICS WAR

Havent said very much about this to date but the transport reorganization has been nearly completed. Starting with the US west coast, I moved all the short ranged AKs<6500 endurance to Seattle along with most of the AKLs. Seattle will be the supply hub for western Canada and Alaska. I will use mostly AMs and KVs for escort here.

San Francisco had its "supplies required " arrow set to max. All of the non restricted LCUs and restricted LCUs in North America that can be purchased were railed here for embarkation. All the APs and about 1/3 of the large AKs are sent here. San Francisco will be my shipping port for all LCUs and some supply that will be sent to the Pacific.

Los Angeles also had its "supplies required" arrow set to max. All of the non restricted aircraft squadrons and all the restricted AC squadrons in North America that can be purchased were sent here along with all the TKs, AOs and about 2/3 of the large AKs. LA is the shipping port for fuel and AC and the majority of the supply that will be sent into the Pacific.


Moving to India/Burma/SE Asia,DEI and Aussie west coast...... all the short ranged AKs and most of the AKLs are sent to Abadan along with all the TKs and AOs. TKs and AOs will ship fuel to Bombay and Ceylon....Id like to accumulate 1,000,000 fuel in Bombay to run Indian industry for awhile and maybe 500,000 fuel in Ceylon for future offensive actions....then I will start building up the fuel stocks in Australia from Abadan. The short ranged AKs and AKLs will ship supply from Abadan to Karachi and fuel to Bombay. A good portion of the APs and an equal number of large AKs are sent to Aden to bring in the ground reinforcements. The majority of the APs and large AKs are sent to Capetown...and a _LOT_ of these....maybe 50-70 initially are sent from Capetown to Panama. Its really not that far from Capetown to Panama...the 12 knot ships take about a month while the faster APs can make it in 3 to 3 1/2 weeks. Paradoxically, the smaller load(but still long ranged) AKs are more valuable in AE...unlike in stock WitP. The small ports in the Pacific require the smaller sized AKs...6000 tons or less for level 1 ports.
I sent about 30 of the smaller AKs(size<6000) to Panama last week loaded with fuel. The large AKs at Capetown will ship fuel and supply to Australia.

The large TKs and AOs from LA are too big to drop off fuel at the small island ports so they will ship directly to Australia and New Zealand. Its the smaller AKs from Capetown via Panama that will initially drop off fuel at such ports as Palmyra, Canton, Christmas Island, Samoa and Fiji.


I formed up all the AOs, TKs, large APs and long ranged AKs from eastern Australia into a TF with over 90 ships and they are currently half way on their voyage from Sydney to LA. I got another 27 AOs/APs/TKs and large AKs out of New Zealand and they are also hal way to LA now. Smaller TKs/AOs and AKs from the DEI and PI are transporting fuel to Perth, Darwin and Koepang. I also pulled 15,000 supply out of the DEI thats unloading currently at Manila and another 16,000 supply on the way to Singapore.

As far as moving the larger LCUs on the larger APs, they will need to go from LA to either Auckland or Sydney and then will be transferred to smaller APs for the trip out to the smaller islands. The Queen Elizabeth was sent to SF from Australia....Im hoping I can get enough PPs to buy the 41st ID eventually and then the QE will ship it Sydney where it will be transferred to smaller APs.

My convoys from the US west coast are huge....convoys from SF and LA link up under the cover of ASW AC off the California coast and then they are generally escorted by an ASW TF. Im more into security than speed and efficiency due to the effectiveness of subs. The convoys normally take an extreme southern route to Australia and New Zealand where they resemble a single sky rocket with little streamers shooting off onto the individual islands.


In China, I never seemed to have any supply build up when I played against the AI. In this current PBEM, I turned off the infrastrucure repairs in Changsha and Chungking and now I have plenty of supply...some 37,000 supply in Chungking now and 25,000 supply in Changsha. I think China starts with some 40,000 supply at Chusien and you need to adjust all the city supply requirements to suck it all out of there.



BURMA

14th Tank shock attacks its way across the Salween from Moulmein and resets our retreating units there from "move" orders to "combat" orders. Its going to be a bit of a race here to see if the Burma army can piull back in time.


MALAYA

Japan captures a deserted Taiping.

In central Malaya, the IJA 21st, 42nd and 55th infantry regiments try to shock attack their way through our road block north of Temuloh:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 50,77

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 7586 troops, 62 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 362

Defending force 14390 troops, 112 guns, 64 vehicles, Assault Value = 481

Japanese adjusted assault: 43

Allied adjusted defense: 706

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 16

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
3168 casualties reported
Squads: 82 destroyed, 100 disabled
Non Combat: 37 destroyed, 40 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
127 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:...
42nd Infantry Regiment...
21st Infantry Regiment...
56th Infantry Regiment...
...
Defending units:...
27th Australian Brigade...
1st Hyderabad Battalion...
1st Manchester Battalion...
2nd Loyal Battalion...
2nd Argylls Battalion...
2nd Gordons Battalion...
1st Malay Battalion...
22nd Indian Brigade...
FMSV Brigade...
8th Indian Brigade...
5/2nd Punjab Battalion...
5th Field Regiment...

The 3 IJA regiments take huge casualties....Japan is going to need a lot more troops here before they can break through. Over on the west coast of Malaya, I was thinking of advancing the Malayan troops from the road block to the clear hex just north...perfect terrain for mauling a solitary Tank unit...1st Tank since 14th Tank is off in Burma. For now, Japan halts its advance with 1st Tank and is bringing up reinforcements.


An AKL convoy approaching Singapore from the south with 16,000 precious supplies should reach their destination tomorrow.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance

The Queen Elizabeth was sent to SF from Australia....Im hoping I can get enough PPs to buy the 41st ID eventually and then the QE will ship it Sydney where it will be transferred to smaller APs.

I wanted to do the same thing, but divisions (even regiments IIRC) will not fit on her because they have such a heavy cargo component and her cargo space is not up to it. She's still quite useful, though!