The Shipwreck of Our Hopes: Japanese Side

[Rainer79]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
Very true. However, I need to capture Alor Star and Taiping to get the Imperial Guards Division into action.

You could divert the IG Div to Burma and substitute it with one of the divs from the HI (which can be landed further south). I have found that the IGs provide some much needed firepower to the 15th Army.

[bklooste]

re IG to Burma , Its not a bad idea as IG moves pretty fast with the support it has and for Burma thats usefull. The Mersing force will take Singapore alone esp if he is flying everyone out using PBYs which i would be. You can prob rail 38th DIv from Hong Kong to Malaysia ..anyone ever tried that ?

[ny59giants]

Dec 15: Those damn Allied subs are at it again. Thankfully, nothing was sunk, but they are are annoying the heck out of me again.

ASW/Subs:
S-40 misses a DD at Ambon.
S-37 at puts a torpedo into xAK Tamon Maru off Batan Island.
SS KXV is just east of Cam Ranh Bay and misses APD Fuji.
SS KIX misses a DD in my 2 x BB based SC TF just to the west of Ambon (protecting Mini-KB from potential Allied SC TF).
O19 is two hexes due south of Saigon and hits xAK Nankai Maru with a single torpedo.
SS KXVII is one hex NE of Singkawang as the invasion TF closes in. She gets xAK Zinzan Maru in her sights and get a single torpedo hits, but receives one direct depth charge hit for her efforts.
SS KIX is the second sub operating at Ambon and an ASW attack fails to find her.

Surface Combat: [>:]

Carriers:
Mini-KB is moving NW to support Kendari invasion TF that is now approaching north of Ambon.
KB2 is drifting south of Singkawang. 27 Val sinks a lone xAKL. 14 Kate sink an AMc near Kuching with 2 torpedoes, but waste 14 torpedoes total. [:(]

Malaya:
One hex due west of Mersing -
3/16th Punjab Battalion is again subject to attack by 35 Lily (No escort needed!).

China: [>:]
Back to the cease fire except for Hong Kong which will have a deliberate attack launched tomorrow.

Philippines:
Clark Field -
18 Zero sweep in to clear the skies for the level bombers. 3(1) P-35A, 1(1) P-40B Warhawk, and 2
P-40E Warhawk are not sufficient CAP.
18 Sally and 16 Lily hit the AF without opposition.

Manila -
19(1) Zero escort in 40 Betty to see only 5(1) P-40E Warhawk on CAP.

Allied Ships
SS Sealion, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Ethel Edwards, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AM Quail, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AS Holland, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AO Trinity, Bomb hits 1, on fire

SRA (East):
Zero, Betty, and Mavis move into Ambon as Air HQ has unloaded.

Notes/Plans:
Malaya - I just had about 50k in supply move from Mersing to Kuantan. I don't have a road or even a trail to connect them, just woods and jungle. [&:] 5th Division makes her way to west and will deliberately attack few troops there to cut off Singapore/Johore Bahru from rest of peninsula. Follow up troops continue to unload and will move west asap. AF will be reach level 1 next turn.
Luzon - troops from San Fernando reach Lingayen and all but one are ordered to Clark Field. The orphan heads for Iba.
Takao - large AKE reaches port and is refueled. We make the rest of the trip to Babeldoab at Full Speed with CL and 2Dd escort. Construction troops and some medium BF loading for short trip to Luzon
KB2 will drift a few hexes south. After next turn she will dash to get into a launch position close enough to Soerabaja. A damaged BB and hopefully some cruisers are hidden there.

[Rainer79]

ORIGINAL: bklooste
You can prob rail 38th DIv from Hong Kong to Malaysia ..anyone ever tried that ?

You'd have to march it overland to Indochina (a journey which may or may not be easy depending on Chinese dispositions), rail it to Saigon, march to Pnomh Penh (sp?) and from there you can finally board the trains to Malaya. Shipping would be faster.

[bklooste]

Malaya - I just had about 50k in supply move from Mersing to Kuantan. I don't have a road or even a trail to connect them, just woods and jungle.

This is the new patch did you loose 50% of it due to moving on trails etc ?

[ny59giants]

This is the new patch did you loose 50% of it due to moving on trails etc ?

No, I didn't.

[ny59giants]

While doing my turn for my other game, I noticed a lot (over 12) of land based Chutai of FPs that can "Resize to Fit." Looks like I will need to look for a CS that can be used for this in the near future. The more ASW assets, the better. Take a 3 to 6 plane Chutai and make it 15 to 18 plane.

[bklooste]

I saw one report of allied players using the resize to fit and disband and then removing the other squadrons and they ended up getting an 80 plane squadron.. WOuld be interesting to try this ... ie make 2 carriers in KB carry just Kates and put the Vals and zeros on land as large training squadrons.

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

While doing my turn for my other game, I noticed a lot (over 12) of land based Chutai of FPs that can "Resize to Fit." Looks like I will need to look for a CS that can be used for this in the near future. The more ASW assets, the better. Take a 3 to 6 plane Chutai and make it 15 to 18 plane.

[John 3rd]

I would NEVER have been crazy enough to do such a thing in WitP! 
 
Course it is useless now with 1/5th of a Torpedo on every CV...
 

[FatR]

A question: What you intend to do with Japanese shipbuilding program? More precisely, what ships you're going to put on hold? You have only 60% of naval points needed to build everything and you cannot afford extra 3000 HI points per day you need to eliminate this deficit.

[John 3rd]

Business SLOWLY continues in our campaign.  We are moving along at a blistering 3 Turns/Week right now.  YES--I am frustrated...
 
SE Pacific:
1.  With the fall of Canton, I am retiring all my warships in the Canton/Marshalls area to Kwajalein.  At Kwajalein I will reprovision, refuel, and replace lost aircraft.  Adm. Benoit has told me that there are all sorts of Val and Kate Pilots and Planes EAGERLY awaiting being picked up by my five CVs!  Once everything is reloaded, the Fleet shall set sail to support the Port Moresby Landing. 
 
2.  Canton will gain two Base Forces to get the AF up and running within days.
 
3.  The 144th Inf Reg is steadily moving towards Savaii.
 
South Pacific:
1.  Rabaul fell today! (Dec 16th)  A Base Force will unload tomorrow and I have SE Fleet HQ and an Air Flotilla HQ earmarked to move there from Truk tomorrow.
 
2.  Lae is building up quickly and now has an SNLF, 2 Con Bat, and a large BF.  Moved 18 Mavis into the base this turn to start scouting for trouble along the Aussie through Milne Bay arc for 20 hexes.  Also placed a Jake FP here to recon Port Moresby.
 
3.  Cannot load the two remaining Regiments of the 4th ID until I get all my shipping back from Lae, Rabaul, and Lunga.  FRUSTRATING but very real.  Cannot have enough shipping to attack everywhere.
 
4.  Am also pulling all my warships back to Truk for reprovisioning and reorganization.  Have a group of 4 DD coming over from Palau and this will help my lack of Escorts some.  Am TOLD [8|] that I will gain more DDs from Adm. Benoit's area sometime in the next 10-12 years.  When this happens life will be just DANDY!
 
Actually we're doing well.  Michael and I make a good team since we're friends and talk on the phone every other day.  Helps bunches...
 

[ny59giants]

Dec 16: Allies launch a well coordinated attack against shipping at Mersing! [&o]

ASW/Subs:
I-165 misses DD Van Ghent two hexes SE Balikpapan with 4 torpedoes.
S-37 misses transports returning to Takao (operating one hex SW).

Carriers:
Mini-KB is 6 hexes due east of Kendari. She sends in 9 Zero as escorts for 6 Val to see only 2(1) B-339D on CAP. xAKL Wollongbar absorbs 5 bomb hits. Then, 7 Zero escort in 6 B5N2 Kate to sink AMc Bogor with one torpedo hit.
KB2 is continuing her drift south of Singkawang. 14 Vals sink a ML headed towards Palembang.

Malaya:
Malacca -
112th RAF Base Force is still here when 25 Ki-43-Ib Oscar escort in 57 Sally.

One hex west of Mersing -
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment is again the target of 35 Lily.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1835 troops, 48 guns, 219 vehicles, Assault Value = 576

Defending force 965 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 30

Japanese adjusted assault: 101

Allied adjusted defense: 7

Japanese assault odds: 14 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
514 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 29 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
1st Tank Regiment
5th Division
6th Tank Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
5/2nd Punjab Battalion
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment

Mersing -
First wave of 23 H81-A3 sweep in at 18,000 to face 8(1) Ki-43-Ic Oscar on LRCAP from Kuantan.
Second wave does not find any LRCAP. [X(] So, 26 Buffalo as escorts don't have to protect 6(1) Blenheim IV and 3 Hudson as they get one bomb hit on xAK Tatutaki Maru.
The third wave consist of those dreaded TBs. 8 Buffalo escort in 3(1) Swordfish and 16 Vildebeest III. With only the ships flak to ruin their aim, they are able to deliver their deadly payloads.

xAK Kenyo Maru
xAK Shoho Maru
xAP Palau Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Mogamigawa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nittei Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Still not satisfied with their results, 6 Blenheim IV find two more targets.

xAP Kasado Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Tazan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

A second sweep by 16 H81-A3 at 18,000 find the skies empty.
The first afternoon strike finds 5 Zero and 3 Ki-43-Ic Oscar on LRCAP to face off against 17(2) Buffalo escorting in 6(1) Hudson. Only xAK Kogyo Maru gets hit with one bomb.
The warships are targeted by the next wave as 1 Zero and 2 Ki-43-Ic Oscar are the only LRCAP left. 11 Buffalo escort in 6(1) Blenheim IV to attempt to hit CLAA Oi and CA Tsurugi.
Due to the short distance, there is a quick turn around as 6 Buffalo guide in 9(1) Vildebeest III.

xAK Kogyo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Tatumiya Maru
xAP Kasado Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Palau Maru, and is sunk

Borneo:
Singkawang - Landings commence

China:
Hong Kong -
8 Nate escort in 21 Ida and 19 Sonia to soften up ground troops before the assault.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24349 troops, 337 guns, 217 vehicles, Assault Value = 736

Defending force 5186 troops, 118 guns, 76 vehicles, Assault Value = 174

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 568

Allied adjusted defense: 153

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hong Kong !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
374 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 38 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
10936 casualties reported
Squads: 482 destroyed, 99 disabled
Non Combat: 460 destroyed, 92 disabled
Engineers: 27 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 199 (199 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 113 (108 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units destroyed 6

Assaulting units:
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
66th Infantry Regiment
1st Ind.Inf.Group
38th Division
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd RF Gun Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
5th RF Gun Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd Army
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion
Rifles of Canada Battalion
Hong Kong Fortress
1st Middlesex Battalion
Kowloon Brigade
102nd RN Base Force /5

Philippines:
Manila -
The daily attacks on the port comprises 18 Zero escorting in 50 Betty to find only 4 P-40E Warhawk on CAP.

AS Holland, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Ethel Edwards, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Trinity, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Clark Field -
Only 8 Zero are needed to escort in 34 Nell to face a lone P-40B Warhawk on CAP. Airfield damage is minor - Airbase hits 5 & Runway hits 33.

SRA (East):
Kendari -
10 Zero escort in 13 Betty from Ambon to find 6(1) B-339D on CAP. They are no match as xAP Zealandia gets 2 torpedo hits and is sunk while xAP Marella gets one torpedo hit.
14 Betty find xAKL Bintoehan and with overkill use 4 torpedo to sink her 4 hexes due east of Kendari.

Notes/Plans:
While the loss of transports at Mersing stung, it was being covered by LRCAP out of Kuantan. The AF went to level 1 and 27 Zero and 31 Oscar moved in. 30 Oscars are now at Kuantan on LRCAP over the next transport TF (2DD, 2 xAPs, AMC) carrying 33/B Division that should arrive next turn. The transport sunk were empty. If they try again next turn, they will find a significantly higher level of fighters over the base and ships. [:-]
5th Division will march south to attack Johore Bahru. Tanks and follow up forces will head for Malacca. Once all of 33rd Division is ashore and gets to Johore Bahru a two division assault of Singapore will commence.
With AVG moving south to Singapore, transport planes were moved into Soc Trang and 1st Raiding Rgt will para into an empty Alor Star (AVG was at Georgetown). Once captured, Imperial Guards will move down and get off the trains to push from the north.
38th Division is now prepping for Singapore, but 5 DMS from Formosa will need to sweep the port clear of mines before transports are allowed in. If not needed at Singapore, the troops will end up at Palembang.
Transports should arrive at Kendari over the next day or two.
KB2 will hit Soerabaja next turn. [:D]
Overall, things are going well and ahead of schedule. The question will be how strong is Singapore and how soon can it be captured??

[FatR]

Hong Kong was overran surprisingly fast, and even without softening the defenses with a huge airstrike. Looks like with 38th Division you can take out Singapore in early January. Didn't you think about Billiton and landing straight on Java after that? Building-up Billiton seems to be rather meaningless when you have a host of carriers to cover the landing, and this way you can take a level 4 airfield - one right to the east of Batavia, forgot the name - straight away.

[ny59giants]

I'm glad to see this game progressing at this pace while my game against you, FatR (Stanislav), is being used to learn.

Malaya OOB

- 5th Division: South to Johore Bahru/Singapore
- 18th Division:
55 Rgt at Kuantan
56 Rgt is 1 hex SW of Kota Bharu
114 Rgt, 22 Recon, & 18 Gun is at Mersing marching to Malacca
- 56th Division:
113 Rgt & 148 Rgt at sea (12 hexes away from Mersing)
56 Recon, 56 FA, & 56 Engineer at sea (3 east of Camrahn Bay)
- Imperial Guards Division: at Singora (awaiting Alor Star to fall)
- 33rd Division:
A is at Mersing heading for Singapore
B is at sea (6 hexes away)
C is at sea (10 hexes away)
- 2nd Division:
16 Rgt & 24 Rgt at sea (38 hexes east of Camrahn Bay)
2 Recon & 2 Engineer (3 east of Camrahn Bay)
- 41 Rgt/30 Division: between Singora and Alor Star
- 38th Division: at Hong Kong (prepping for Singapore)

So I have about 7 divisions committed to the rapid conquest of Malaya. 3 to 4 will be needed to take Singapore (I figure around 500 Assault value there). 1 division each for the north and southern pinchers on west coast. Another division at bases on east coast.

[ny59giants]

Didn't you think about Billiton and landing straight on Java after that?

Your lack of cooperation in this area does not give me an example to improve upon. "IF" you allowed Singapore to fall soon, then I could use our game as practice first. [;)]

[bklooste]

ORIGINAL: FatR

Hong Kong was overran surprisingly fast, and even without softening the defenses with a huge airstrike. Looks like with 38th Division you can take out Singapore in early January. Didn't you think about Billiton and landing straight on Java after that? Building-up Billiton seems to be rather meaningless when you have a host of carriers to cover the landing, and this way you can take a level 4 airfield - one right to the east of Batavia, forgot the name - straight away.

Better to use LBA from Biliton and use the carriers somewhere else eg Timor or Darwin ...But you want to take it then before SIngapore falls. The question is what is in Singapore ?

re 7 divisions on Malaysia i think 1 divison on the east coast is wasted

[John 3rd]

I for one am very happy with DEI progress and am excited to see the KB-2 hit Soerabaja.  SHOULD be fairly exciting and great hopes abound for some serious damage on Allied Warships.  Michael--What did you set your 3 CV Air Groups on for the day?
 
That is A LOT of firepower for Singapore but Michael has 'I will not make the same mistake in THIS campaign'--itis!   

[ny59giants]

The one division on the east coast is mostly the 18th Division split up. The initial landing rgt at Kota Bharu driving SW along rail line, another rgt at Kuantan (don't want the the Allies to double back on the base and find only engineers and BFs), and the third rgt is at Mersing marching to Malacca). So, I don't see this as a waste.

KB2 -
Zero set at 15k, 40%CAP
Vals set at 12k, Naval Attack only
Kates set at 9k, Naval Attack with Port Attack on Soerabaja as secondary
Each Jake on the 2 BCs is set to recon Batavia and Soerabaja

So, Admiral Cochran...is this to "your" satisfaction??

[John 3rd]

To the men of the KB-2 on their upcoming day:  BANZAI!
 

[John 3rd]

We're on another extended holding waiting for AJ...
 
REALLY need to get my Mod finished so Michael and I can square off with each other and get at least 1 Turn a day in...