On occasional occasions – NO RATTOVOLANTE, PLEASE

[modrow]

Alfred,

always good to read your observations [:)]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

At this stage, Billiton is an unnecessary distraction for Japan.  However now that he has it, he may as well use it to station some float planes to give himself eyes over the west coast ports off Sumatra and Java to peek at enemy naval movements.

Alfred

I agree. I *think* there may also be a second motive behind this move. My opponent did use Jolo quite effectively by basing a TB/DD-based SCTF, probably with some reaction setting, there, which caught a number of ships trying to shuttle supplies into the PI. I think he may intend to try something similar at Billiton, which is located in a similar relative position for the shipping lanes to/from Singapore. He probably assumes that the exodus from that base may begin soon and may wish to replicate this situation.

There is a considerable difference in the situation though, because at Jolo, I was not in a position to threaten that base. Please do not interpret "threaten" as an announcement of an intention to actually seriously move against/contest the base here, my sole intention is to suggest and demonstrate convincingly this may be possible at any point of time so it is just one more base he should cover. We'll see if he buys that and devotes assets to guard duty (which should be used to secure more essential targets instead in my opinion) or whether he accepts whatever I may do to the place, because it is of secondary importance. Every plane/squad/ship he removes from his main effort to pursue a task of secondary importance is a good one.

Thanks for your interest

Hartwig

[modrow]

Gentlemen,

as you know from a previous post, part of KB is presently loitering around Suva in my game. Suva has been reinforced recently (presently >400 AV, almost at lvl4 forts). The downside of this is that part of this did occur that recently that there were still a number of high value ships in the port which I could not really scatter, so I decided to take my chances with what the (few) AAA guns available and my freshly uncrated P39D (mid 50ish exp wise), whose presence had most likely not been detected so far, would do.

Well, it was painful in the end. Not the A2A part, though, that was actually much better then I had expected...

[font="Courier New"]Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
B5N2 Kate x 13
D3A1 Val x 88

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 8 destroyed, 44 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed[/font]

Maybe I was lucky, but I think this shows that the P39D can survive even a KB strike, even if exp is not great but more like ok. Thus, there is a chance for them to be useful, if they are used appropriately.

Still, enough strike planes got through to present me with an expensive butcher's bill...

[font="Courier New"]Allied Ships
AG Sirius, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AVP Avocet, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tucker, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AS Fulton, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AVD Ballard, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKE Cynthia Olson, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP U.S. Grant, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AD Dixie, Bomb hits 2
AE Lassen, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AP Henry T. Allen, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Wharton, Bomb hits 1
Port hits 5[/font]

The damage to/loss of those APs, A(K)Es and ADs really hurts, so from this point of view this is a clear defeat, but I would not have considered it to be acceptable to distribute each of these ships, who could not have outrun KB given its position on the map, to a different hex, to limit losses.

On the other hand, KB's air wings may have been made aware of the fact that they are not invincible, more painfully so if some of those 44 Vals reported as damaged will crash when trying to land.

Thanks for your interest

Hartwig

[castor troy]

Airacobras can stand their own against KB´s Zeroes as long as the Zeroes are on escort and the P-39 get the bounce. Shot down 250 Zeroes, Vals, Kates over Sydney in my PBEM recently for the loss of a good dozen P-39, P-40, Sea-Hurricanes, F4F-3 and F4F-4. Most fighters were P-40 and P-39.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: hartwig.modrow

Alfred,

always good to read your observations [:)]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

At this stage, Billiton is an unnecessary distraction for Japan.  However now that he has it, he may as well use it to station some float planes to give himself eyes over the west coast ports off Sumatra and Java to peek at enemy naval movements.

Alfred

I agree. I *think* there may also be a second motive behind this move. My opponent did use Jolo quite effectively by basing a TB/DD-based SCTF, probably with some reaction setting, there, which caught a number of ships trying to shuttle supplies into the PI. I think he may intend to try something similar at Billiton, which is located in a similar relative position for the shipping lanes to/from Singapore. He probably assumes that the exodus from that base may begin soon and may wish to replicate this situation.

I did consider Billiton as a location to both strike at Allied ships and to support invasion of Palembang/Sumatra. However I dismissed it because of size of AF required. Jolo is already a size 3, n'est pas, whereas I think (but could be mistaken) Billiton is only a size 1, thus precluding offensive missions until it is built up.

Alfred

[modrow]

Alfred,

I think I need to clarify... maybe the "TB" was misleading and you thought DD was a mistype. I was talking about my opponent's use of a naval raiding force, not planes on naval attack.

The TB I refer to are one mot the myriad of new ship classes AE has introduced,
short for "Torpedo Boat". From the manual, p. 274:

"Smaller versions of Destroyers that resulted from a clause in the Naval limitation treaties. Not as capable as Destroyers but sometimes assigned the same role."

My opponent surprisingly did not make use of Jolo as a base for naval attacks using planes, but placed a surface combat task force with some reaction setting there. A novel apporach I had not come accross before, but it worked well.

There's nothing that would prevent him to do the same at Billiton.

Hartwig

[modrow]

Gentlemen,

by now, I have received the game file from my opponent. This is according to the great tracker [&o] the final tally of KB's strike against Suva:

P39D lost: 5

A6M2 lost: 6
D3A1 lost: 16 [:D]
B5N2 lost: 0

Also, my squadrons are in good shape after the attack - exp increased, morale increased, some more planes uncrated - he can come back if he wants... Actually, he will have to if he wants to finish up the ships he started to hit, most of the ones that did not sink at once are in reasonably good shape.

Thanks for your interest

Hartwig

[modrow]

Gentlemen,

time for another update. We have been moving along slowly during the last two weeks, my opponent was out of town and rather busy lately. By now, I have sent back the January 23rd, 1942 turn and am in possession of the results.

First, however, I thought maybe you are interested in what is happening in Malaya...

Here's the new map, showing the situation on January 22nd...



Most of my troops left Malacca in good order a turn previous to the situation shown on the map. However, I had left the remnants of two units behind, which I had hoped to be able to airlift out sufficiently fast, but did not manage to pull out completely in time.

Last turn, Rattovolante decided to attack a) Malacca (quite successfully, even though it looks like he did not use the correct op mode - but with a shock attack with a recon rgt and a tank rgt set to pursue. I was lucky there, because that propelled those units into the hex east of Malacca, and I guess they will have fun moving back out of there [:D]. Here's the corresponding bit of the combat report:

[font="Courier New"]Ground combat at Malacca (49,81)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 691 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 283
Defending force 85 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 6
Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Malacca !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
Units pursuing 2

Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
42nd Infantry Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF /1
5th Recon Regiment
1st Raiding Rgt /1

Defending units:
109th RAF Base Force
2nd ISF Base Force /1[/font]

In addition, my opponent decided to try to dislodge my units from the hex west of Mersing, which was either an error of judgement or clicking. Here's the result of that attempt:

[font="Courier New"]Ground combat at 50,82
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 4657 troops, 30 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 165
Defending force 9761 troops, 119 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 400

Japanese adjusted assault: 68
Allied adjusted defense: 455

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 6

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

Japanese ground losses:
347 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (0 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
186 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
55th Infantry Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment

Defending units:
15th Indian Brigade
3rd SSVF Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
22nd Australian Brigade
6th Indian Brigade
2nd Argylls Battalion
112th RAF Base Force
137/155th Field Regiment[/font]

As you see, he will have to bring some more to dislodge me from that hex. At the same time, note what happens even during a 1:6 failed Japanese attack to the units involved in said attack: almost no squads/devices are destroyed, disablement is all that is achieved.

Anyway, my situation in the southern part of Malaya appears to be consolidated for the time being, buying me a bit more time. The next battles to come will most likely occur at Temuloh. This bombardment attack during the last turn shows the set of forces opposing each other at that location:

[font="Courier New"]Ground combat at Temuloh (50,78)
Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11202 troops, 111 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 380
Defending force 6724 troops, 57 guns, 33 vehicles, Assault Value = 274

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
11th Infantry Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment
56th Infantry Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
28th Gurkha Brigade
8th Indian Brigade
22nd Indian Brigade
5th Field Regiment[/font]

As you see, AV-wise I don't look too bad, specifically when taking into account effects of terrain and forts. But I fear that, as always, the first attack that comes in will most likely fail, but induce high numbers of disablements in my units and then my AV will be melting away like butter in the sun while leaving the Japanese units in sufficient shape to attack again the next day.

Anyway, each day counts [;)]

Thanks for your interest

Hartwig

[modrow]

Gentlemen,

There’s two other regions apart from Malaya (and, naturally, the China theatre) where we are more or less entangled in ground combat – Burma and the PI, so I thought maybe I show you the situation in those areas.

Let’s start with the PI, which has been relatively static over the last few turns. Here’s the map. Burma will follow at another occasional occasion [8D]

There are currently 20 enemy units in the Manila hex, 1 in the base southwest of Manila, 2 at Lingayen and 6 at the base east of Clark, whereas I am spread out at Bataan, Clark and Manila (plus a nominal presence at Iba).

Rattovolante has reopened a bombardment campaign at Manila. He had started one previously, but after I had pointed out that I don’t think it improves his situation there, because losses on both sides were about equal, while my (inexperienced) units will gain experience (and more quickly than his already experienced ones), he had stopped for a while. Evidently he has now decided that this info is not to be relied on and restarted his attacks after concentrating even more artillery there.

Actually, I still don’t think this is working in his favor, but I’m not going to offer that advice again right now. I include the bombardment results of the last two turns so you can make up your mind yourselves, maybe I’m wrong.

[font="Courier New"]Ground combat at Manila (79,77)
Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15607 troops, 326 guns, 105 vehicles, Assault Value = 653

Defending force 13085 troops, 253 guns, 120 vehicles, Assault Value = 622

Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
127 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
16th Engineer Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
Tanaka Detachment
2nd Tank Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
14th Army
48th Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
91st PA Infantry Division
31st Infantry Regiment
192nd Tank Battalion
11th PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

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

Ground combat at Manila (79,77)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15607 troops, 326 guns, 105 vehicles, Assault Value = 653

Defending force 13003 troops, 253 guns, 120 vehicles, Assault Value = 616

Japanese ground losses:
241 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
110 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Assaulting units:
Tanaka Detachment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
16th Engineer Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
14th Army
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
48th Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
11th PA Infantry Division
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
71st PA Infantry Division
91st PA Infantry Division
192nd Tank Battalion
31st Infantry Regiment
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment[/font]

What does puzzle me is whether he really brought everything scheduled for the PI there or diverted some troops for other use. Right now, I believe the PI may keep him busy for some time to come. I manage to smuggle in a few supplies every now and then, fort levels at Clark and Bataan are climbing nicely and experience grows a) due to his bombardments @ Manila and b) as some of the units are 100% prepped for their targets now.

Thanks for your interest

Hartwig

[modrow]

Gentlemen,

still waiting for a turn [&:], but then you are still waiting for the promised Burma update...

Here's the map. I won't comment too much on it, I would mainly call it a complicated looking easy problem from the perspective of the Japan player [8D]



*Most* of the units dancing around all over the map are those small Burmese Battalions, which can be defeated easily. Rattovolante's key problem here is the limited number of units he used for his rapid advance into Burma. They are definitely capable of blowing through everything I can put together in the theatre if I would have tried to confront him.

So instead, I tried to make use of the bigger number of units available to me and create supply problems for him. He has resorted to dividing his imperial guards unit, but a) that still is not enough and b) if he moves too much out of Pegu, I may be able to threaten him there as long as no reinforcements have arrived. As a consequence, for the last few turns his "Burma Blitz" has been stalled.

Thanks for your interest

Hartwig

[modrow]

Gentlemen,

just a “this game is alive” post, in order to inform you about two recent developments in this game which has been very slow even by our standards lately due to work issues on my foe’s side and vacation issues on my side. We are now at January 24, 1942.

a) Rattovolante’s CV division near Fiji quite suddenly reappeared south of Pago Pago on January 23rd and delivered another quite painful blow, because it caught an important (and thus quite well guarded) AC replacement convoy, sinking a US CL, a DD and an AKV and damaging some other ships.

Of course, I could try to blame lady luck. I had a total of 3 squadrons, some 30ish planes in the region on naval search – which did not find his TF. My TF which was composed of ships with a top speed of 15 knots or more, started the turn in four hexes distance from Pago Pago and surprisingly ended one hex short of Pago Pago, which was CAPped quite well. Usually, this would cause the presence of leakers in the strike hex – which did not show up. And of course, the one AKV that was sunk was the one that held a full squadron of P40Es, which went down with the ship.

What good would that analysis do ? I would tell myself that I did what could be done and sit back.

Instead, I think this highlights a few issues where action is still required:

i) providing pilots that are well trained for naval search missions

ii) were my subs (that may have told me about his presence if positioned adequately) distributed well enough ?

iii) looks like a long trip of those carriers; could there be oilers around ? I would willingly exchange a CA for a few of IJN’s oilers.

Surprisingly, the next turn did not see a follow-on attack. Excellent, the rest of the assets held by this convoy should now stand a chance to arrive at their respective destinations.


b) Luck allowed me to drive home once more my message for the DEI in this game: Guard your TFs adequately.

As you know, there has been a series of surface battles conducted to stress this message previously. If my opponent paid close attention to these battles, he may have noticed that the assets available in the DEI by the beginning of the game as well as the Australian CAs and some US cruisers that escaped from Pearl relatively unharmed have been used. Whereas outright losses were limited for ships larger than DDs, a number of them were damaged and may be considered not to be in good shape for combat. Thus it may look like in spite of my attempts to conserve forces ready for action in the DEI, I am running out of steam there, especially as the Royal Navy units available in the Indian Ocean appeared from time to time off the Burmese coast to do some (frankly not very successful in spite of regular reconning by air) shelling.

Actually, Rattovolante’s invasion of Koepang was the first of his last few jumps forward where there was no intervention of significant Allied surface assets, once again possibly indicative of a lack of remaining assets to send into the fray.

Clearly, I have no interest whatsoever in this perception. Therefore, when I became aware of the presence of a surface TF at Pontianak, I decided to remind my opponent that TFs should be well guarded and that more of the Royal Navy’s assets may very well be present in the DEI and sent some of the assets that I transferred to the theatre in. They did very well:

[font="Courier New"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Pontianak at 56,90, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
DD Hasu, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
DD Tsuga, Shell hits 18, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Tromp
CL Mauritius
CL Glasgow
DD Napier
DD Nestor



Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF begins to get underway
Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 50% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
CL Glasgow engages DD Yugiri at 11,000 yards
DD Hasu engages DD Napier at 11,000 yards
CL Tromp engages DD Yugiri at 11,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD Napier at 11,000 yards
DD Napier engages DD Yugiri at 11,000 yards
Yamashita, Shizuo orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 6,000 yards
DD Tsuga engages CL Glasgow at 6,000 yards
DD Napier engages DD Hasu at 6,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Nestor at 6,000 yards
DD Napier engages DD Tsuga at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CL Glasgow engages DD Tsuga at 4,000 yards
DD Napier engages DD Hasu at 4,000 yards
CL Tromp engages DD Tsuga at 4,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD Napier at 4,000 yards
DD Napier engages DD Hasu at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Yugiri sunk by CL Glasgow at 2,000 yards
DD Napier engages DD Hasu at 2,000 yards
DD Fubuki sunk by DD Nestor at 2,000 yards
DD Napier engages DD Tsuga at 2,000 yards
CL Glasgow engages DD Tsuga at 2,000 yards
DD Nestor engages DD Hasu at 2,000 yards
DD Tsuga sunk by CL Tromp at 2,000 yards
DD Hasu sunk by CL Glasgow at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk... [/font]

Thanks for your continued interest in spite of the long intervals between posts.

Hartwig

[modrow]

Gentlemen,

A further aspect I would like to comment on is the fall of Koepang on January 24, 1942, which I had reinforced with one of the British Brigades in order to present another unexpected speed bump. It turns out that whereas I did force my opponent to commit additional forces twice during the siege it appears quite doubtful that this was a really good investment - it took Rattovolante only about 10 days to conquer the base (though admittedly he did provide heavy support with naval bombardments.

I had expected that the British brigade with quite complete TOE located there could last longer. I will once again try to illustrate a development of events in a theatre/at a location, which is rarely found in most AARs but which I consider to have the potential of providing interesting information.

January 14:

1) Naval bombardment of Koepang at 68,116
Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Fuso
BB Nagato
CA Nachi

Allied Ships
xAK Ping Wo, Shell hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
148 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 21
Port fuel hits 1

2) Morning Air attack on Timor Garrison Battalion, at 68,116 (Koepang)

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 9

Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 2

No Japanese losses
No Allied losses

January 15:

1)Pre-Invasion action off Koepang

8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Nagato
CA Nachi
DD Sawakaze
DD Minekaze
DD Kamikaze
DD Yukikaze
DD Kuroshio

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

2) Amphibious Assault at Koepang

TF 20 troops unloading over beach at Koepang, 68,116

Japanese ground losses:
149 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 65th Bde /5
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 65th Bde /5
10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 65th Bde /5
10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 65th Bde /5
10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 65th Bde /5
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 65th Bde /1
70mm T92 Howitzer accidentally lost during unload of 65th Bde /1
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost in surf during unload of 65th Bde
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost in surf during unload of 65th Bde
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of 65th Bde
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of 65th Bde
10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 65th Bde
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost in surf during unload of 65th Bde /3
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost in surf during unload of 65th Bde /3
10 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 65th Bde /4

3) Invasion Support action off Koepang

9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Nagato
CA Nachi
DD Fuyo
DD Yakaze
DD Sawakaze
DD Minekaze
DD Asakaze
DD Yukikaze

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

4) Invasion Support action off Koepang

5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Nachi

Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft

5) Ground combat at Koepang (68,116)

Allied Bombardment attack (triggered by invasion, 1st wave)

Attacking force 2887 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 196

Defending force 6669 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 244

Assaulting units:
Timor Garrison Battalion
Dili Detachment
55th British Brigade
Den Passer Base Force
107th RN Base Force /2
102nd RN Base Force /1
100th RN Base Force
Manado Base Force /2
Koepang Base Force
Kendari Base Force /1
Asiatic Fleet /4
Mataram Base Force /1

Defending units:
65th Bde /2

January 16:

1) Morning Air attack on Asiatic Fleet , at 68,116 (Koepang)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
G3M2 Nell x 16
G4M1 Betty x 15

Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 6 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
CW-21B Demon: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

January 17:
1) Invasion Support action off Koepang

8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 20
CA Atago


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


SC Ch 20 firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft
2) Invasion Support action off Koepang
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft

4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 20

SC Ch 20 firing at enemy troops

3) Naval bombardment of Koepang at 68,116

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
CA Tone

Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 20

4) Ground combat at Koepang (68,116)

Allied Bombardment attack (triggered by 2nd wave of invasion)

Attacking force 2918 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 197

Defending force 7354 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 273

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

Assaulting units:
Timor Garrison Battalion
Dili Detachment
55th British Brigade
Koepang Base Force
Kendari Base Force /1
107th RN Base Force /2
Manado Base Force /2
Asiatic Fleet /4
Den Passer Base Force
Mataram Base Force
102nd RN Base Force /1

Defending units:
65th Brigade
Yokosuka 4th SNLF /2

January 18:

1) Naval bombardment of Koepang at 68,116

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Kongo
CA Ashigara
CA Haguro
CL Kiso
CL Kinu


Allied ground losses:
94 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 30

January 19:

1) Morning Air attack on 65th Brigade, at 68,116 (Koepang)

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 4
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Allied losses

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

January 20:

1) Naval bombardment of Koepang at 68,116

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
CL Yura
CL Natori
CL Nagara


Allied ground losses:
119 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 10

2) Pre-Invasion action off Koepang here comes the 3rd wave

5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DD Namikaze
DD Shiokaze
DD Wakaba
PB Kaisho Maru
PB Seikai Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) Amphibious Assault at Koepang

TF 50 troops unloading over beach at Koepang, 68,116

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

7.7mm T99 AAMG dropped into water during unload of 24th Infantry Rgt
10 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 24th Infantry Rgt /2
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 24th Infantry Rgt /4

4) Invasion Support action off Koepang

Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft

4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DD Shiokaze
DD Minegumo
PB Kaisho Maru
PB Seikai Maru

5) Afternoon Air attack on 24th Infantry Regiment, at 68,116 (Koepang)

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 4
B-17E Fortress x 5

No Allied losses

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

6) Invasion Support action off Koepang

Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft

2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
PB Kaisho Maru
PB Seikai Maru

7) Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3575 troops, 40 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 199 an interesting observation here is that in spite of all those naval bombardments my AV was still climbing

Defending force 10618 troops, 61 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 392

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

Assaulting units:
Dili Detachment
Timor Garrison Battalion
55th British Brigade
Asiatic Fleet /4
Mataram Base Force
Koepang Base Force
107th RN Base Force /2
Kendari Base Force /1

Defending units:
65th Brigade
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
24th Infantry Rgt /1

January 21:

1) Morning Air attack on 65th Brigade, at 68,116 (Koepang)

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 4

No Allied losses

2) Pre-Invasion action off Koepang and yet another piecemeal landing

7 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DD Asagao
DD Sanae

3) Amphibious Assault at Koepang

TF 63 troops unloading over beach at Koepang, 68,116

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

7.7mm T99 AAMG damaged beyond repair during unload of Yokosuka 4th SNLF /1

4) Ground combat at Koepang (68,116)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11415 troops, 73 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 412

Defending force 3979 troops, 50 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 198

Japanese adjusted assault: 201

Allied adjusted defense: 127

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Interestingly, this first 1:1 attack breaks my back. Japanese troops suffer a reduction of their AV by a factor of >2, the Allied about 1.5; the British core unit of my defence had exp of about 45 when the attack came in and was 30ish prepped for Koepang, plus was upgraded to 25 pounders (artillery often causes a significant part of the losses in many cases according to my observations) - still the Japanese are hardly touched and the Allied take heavy losses.

Japanese ground losses:
417 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
1030 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 74 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Assaulting units:
24th Infantry Regiment
65th Brigade
Yokosuka 4th SNLF

Defending units:
Dili Detachment
Timor Garrison Battalion
55th British Brigade
Koepang Base Force
Asiatic Fleet /4
Kendari Base Force /1
107th RN Base Force /2
Mataram Base Force /1

5) Ground combat at Koepang (68,116)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2883 troops, 41 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 140

Defending force 11073 troops, 73 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 388

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

January 22:
1) Morning Air attack on 65th Brigade, at 68,116 (Koepang)

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 3


No Allied losses



2) Morning Air attack on 65th Brigade, at 68,116 (Koepang)

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 5


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 14000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

January 23:
1) Naval bombardment of Koepang at 68,116

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
BB Mutsu
BB Kongo
CA Ashigara
CA Haguro
CL Kitakami
CL Kiso
CL Kinu


Allied ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)


Runway hits 16

2) Morning Air attack on 24th Infantry Regiment, at 68,116 (Koepang)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 2


No Allied losses

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


3) Ground combat at Koepang (68,116)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11146 troops, 73 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 392
Note that Japanese AV increased by 4 between the end of January 21 and the beginning of January 23 for fatigued troops at an enemy base

Defending force 3139 troops, 50 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 129

Japanese adjusted assault: 191

Allied adjusted defense: 77

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Still better total AV adjustment factors for me - but the losses don't show any negative effect of the negative adjustment for the Japanese troops

Japanese ground losses:
162 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
676 casualties reported
Squads: 47 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 31 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled


Assaulting units:
24th Infantry Regiment
65th Brigade
Yokosuka 4th SNLF

Defending units:
Dili Detachment
Timor Garrison Battalion
55th British Brigade
Koepang Base Force
Asiatic Fleet /4

January 24:

1) Morning Air attack on 65th Brigade, at 68,116 (Koepang)

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 2


No Allied losses

2) Morning Air attack on 65th Brigade, at 68,116 (Koepang)

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 2


No Allied losses

3) Afternoon Air attack on Koepang Base Force, at 68,116 (Koepang)
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
G4M1 Betty x 47

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

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

4) Ground combat at Koepang (68,116)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11011 troops, 73 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 383

Defending force 2480 troops, 50 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 92

Japanese adjusted assault: 169

Allied adjusted defense: 45

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Koepang !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

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

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Allied ground losses:
871 casualties reported
Squads: 48 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 41 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 25 (25 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4


Assaulting units:
65th Brigade
24th Infantry Regiment
Yokosuka 4th SNLF

Defending units:
Timor Garrison Battalion
Dili Detachment
55th British Brigade
Koepang Base Force

The end... Note that the final AV of the Japanese was 29 lower than the 1st value, almost exclusively disabled units. Assuming that they do not recover more quickly than before when owning the base, in two weeks those units, which do not seem to be drastically affected and still seem to be ready for action anyway will be as fit for the next jump as they were before the action. Question is, was it worth putting the Brigade there. I think it was, but mainly for a psychological reason: My opponent may take the need to reinforce his troops several times as a hint to use more troops for each jump for a few jumps, which will slow him down.

Thanks for your interest

Hartwig

[modrow]

Gentlemen,

this is just a short "game is alive" message. Real life interfered heavily with my opponent's playing time, I waited two weeks before I got the last turn (which I sent back yesterday). It' s a bit unclear at what pace this will continue, but we both agree that continue it will.

Thanks for your interest

Hartwig

[modrow]

Gentlemen,

since my last update, I got a replay file including another successful surface action of the Royal Navy in the DEI...

[font="Courier New"]Night Time Surface Combat, near Pontianak at 56,90, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CL Sendai, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
DD Oshio
DD Arashio
DD Hatakaze
DD Hokaze

Allied Ships
CL Tromp
CL Mauritius, Shell hits 1
CL Glasgow, Shell hits 2
DD Napier
DD Nestor

[/font]

However, losses on my opponent's side seem to include his laptop, whose display was hit by a stray 6" shell... so once again, the game is asleep...

Sorry not to be able to provide more of an update...

Hartwig