Don Quijote against the Japanese Windmills. Seydlitz (J) against traskott (A). Allied side AAR

[traskott]

And 1942 has begun...

In the same way 1941 said good bye: SS Warfare rocks !!

I-162 sanks xAP Tatung between Singapore and Batavia, loaded with a cadre of an AT Regiment.

I-169 blow up the YP-116...

I-7 is reported hit near San Francisco by one of our new received Kingfishers..



On the rest of theathres, a boring day ( which means one more day of rest and refit at DEI and Malasia [;)]).

Several marine and US Army units have arrived to Pago Pago. Now no less than a division is needed to take this point.

A big convoy with a lot of planes is leaving back Suva, and soon will be at Brisbane with the main core force of 5th US Army Air Force.

4th Inf. Japanese Division plus 2nd Tank Regiment take Cabanatuan, near Manila. MacArthur orders that the capital will be an open city. Last remmants of administrative units are moving to another places...

Eastern Fleet has a very good news, and a very baaaad. Good is some little BC has arrived Aden, where will be fixed. [:D][:D]. I absolutely love this ship. The bad is that its sister of battle, the PoW, is near Australia with 91 of flooding, and there Port Hedland looks like veeeery far. AR Castor will be there if the miracle happens.

[traskott]

There were no miracle. PoW sunk [:@]. My mistake as it leaves Java with high system damage, but in range of Bettys and Nells, it wasn't a good idea remain there. 

[traskott]

3/1/1942. Turn29.Interesting...


Thing began very well with the whole might of the ABDA Fleet crushing another amphibious TF at Sorong.

Enemy ships: CL Kiso, DD kamikaze, DD Okikaze, xAK Tokai Maru and xAK Amasisan Maru.

The Kortenauer, in a very good performance, sunk both DD Okikaze and Tokai Maru. Kiso reported sunk but Tracker gives the Sendai name..hummm..

The minus is one torpedo at CA Houston, which sails back to Darwin. AR Castor set course to this port too, to help in repairs.



Oh !! And Cats strikes again:

xAK Yamasimo Maru: 1 torpedo. On fire. Heavy Damage.
xAK Azuma Maru: 4 torpedos. Sunk.
AMC Bankok Maru: 1 torpedo.
xAK Nozima Maru: 2 torpedos. Sunk.
xAK Mito Maru: 3 torpedos. Sunk.
xAP Kokuruzu Maru: 1 torpedo. On fire. Heavy Damage. 100 casualities reported.

To add salt to the injury: CA Nachi located by an Stearman 75M. CA Nachi reported it !!!

Considering the heavy payload of the Stearman, probably it has ram the ship!!

On the minus side:

One (stupid) shock attack at Cebu by my troops ( ordered by me, all fault is mine ) gives a 1-17. Cebu will be Japanese tomorrow...fool me !!!

Ioilo falls

Sorong falls

Over Singapur 4 buffalos downed to 0 losses [:(]

Submarine Warfare

16 B-17 bombard the Heavy Industries of Bangkok. Just one hit...Not bad but....

I-7 reported sunk by a 500lb bomb. Two days ago she was it by a Kingfisher.

I-5 launch a torpedo to DD Sims. Dud !! (thank goodness). Counterattack has no effect.

Strategic Warfare

[Fletcher]

Congratulations for a new victory at Sea against Dark Side !

[traskott]

4 and 5, January

FILIPINAS

Manila is about to fall. My units withdraw the city, as units from 14th Japanese Army are entering. I should have flee two daws before to avoid troubles with HR. I hope won't be troubles.

Cats stroke again, with 2 AKs and 1 PB sank. No more torpedo attacks since this moment, as some Kats are now at CAP all over the zone.

MALASIA

Singapure is empty of RAF Sqns, no more Buffalos. All shut down or withdrawn. Now all is just matter of time.

WEST COAST

27th Inf.Div is about to load in S.F., to Noumea, a heavy scort of DDs, PCs and similars, are ready to escort the unit. YPs, and KVs are patroling outside the harbour ( I-4 was sank by KV Dawson forth at night ).

Several fighter units will be send via Cape Town to avoid heavy SS patrol at S.F.

[traskott]

12of January, 1941

Manila falls, one CD unit trapped here surrenders. STOP. Intel reports 144th Regiment on route to Port Moresby. STOP. Australian forces in red alert. STOP. 22 Bomber Group (with Marauders) at Brisbane, ready for action. STOP. Some strategical assets ready for action. STOP.

BTW: 6 japanese submarines reported sunk just in one month of fighting. I think is a very good outcome, considering I've lost just one ( 7th December, at PH).



 

[traskott]

12/1/1942


SOUTH WEST PACIFIC

KB spotted !!!!

Seydlitz has deployed at least two carriers to took Port Moresby.

I have no snapshots of the combat but the rookies of the A-24s at PM almost hit the Akagi. What a pity!!!

220 AV in position, plus 150 mines, and fortifications level 2. Aussies are ready for combat.

There is one thing which looks like strange to me: Their carriers moved into the same hex of PM. I've 2 Electric Boat plus 150 mines ready to took advantage of this. One hit at one of his carriers deserve well even the loss of Port Moresby.

Things are getting hot in New Guinea...

[traskott]

CHINA

Air warfare is running at optimum pace, as AVG has (again) attacked it's unescorted bombers with some pretty good scores:





LT Hodges and LT McMIllan, from AVG/3rd Sqn have become aces. I'll miss this elite troops when they withdraw...

Besides, some traitors chinese units has been beaten, and they take forever rebuild [:D]





Now, my initial impulse has stalled, but he lacks the strenght to push me out of my positions...Every day I save is one more to build my defensive wall at the "clasical" line of defense, aroung Sian, Changsha, and so.

[traskott]

MALASIA

Here it comes the marabunta!!!




No ships is at Singa, i'll send one or two xAKLs to bring supplies but no more activity. My B-17s will try to disturb air operations to bring time to the engineers at Singapore to put the fortifications as high as posible.

DEI

All quiet [&:][&:]

[traskott]

14/1/42

INCOMING KB RAID OVER WEST COAST !!!

A6M2 Zeros spotted over San Francisco !!!

Succesful air attack means the lost of 32 Base Force plus one AA Regiment. [:@].


Stay tunned !!

[traskott]

Days 14th and 15th, January 1942:

  SUBMARINE WARFARE

I-154 sunks Ravnaas and Governor Wright, the last AKs operating near Borneo. They were sunk with 9.000 tons of supplies, takken from Balikpapan, and destinated to Darwin. At least doesn't fall at Japanese hands.

I-122 tried to enter at the port of Darwin, and the AM Colac launch several depth charges, no hits confirmed, but 5 near misses...

SS Sailfish reports heavy ASW effort of the japanese player south of Korea. My SS will move to a more secure waters..

Two days' raid of my B-17s based at Palembang leaves one hit at CL Isuzu and another at MTB G-2 (reported sunk).

SS Thresher sunks SE of Tokio Bay. My first casuality since 7th December.[:(][:(]

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER

Akagi spotted SSW of Port Moresby. B-17s launched from Charter Towers tried unsuccessfully attack the Akagi. One shot down for one Zero. Low CAP.

144th Infantry Regiment is ashore at Port Moresby. 130 AV face my entrenched 220 AV.

Several important convoys have arrived at Australia ( two full air groups ), Pago Pago ( 1 Marine Rgt plus support troops ), and Suva (1 Marine CD Bon ). Another one with more than 100.000 points of fuel sails to Noumea.

PHILIPINES

The last P-40s (2, to be exact), scramble to intercept the waves of Nells bombarding Clark Field and Bataan. One shut down, plus several damaged.

At Clark Field, the following japanese LCU are located:
 
 4th Division, 21th Division, 38th Division, 65th Brigade, 47th Infantry Regiment, 1st Formosa Infantry Regiment, 48th Recon Regiment, Tanaka Det., Kanno Det, 7th Tank Regiment, 4th Tank Regiment plus 8+ artillery units.

 CHINA

 Two japanese attacks at Nanchang, and Chaochow, with no results.

 My troops at Wuchang are about to fall, and in Nanchang just 122 AV is garrison the city. Aditional units will be send there to try to disturb japanese troops.


PS: I would really apreciate if some one says me the "standard" procedure to withdraw units 6 months before it's withdrawal date BUT with date of return. Thank you in advance.

[traskott]

16/1/1942


Air attack over San Francisco, not drill, not drill !!!

Hummmm. 7 Zeros, plus 7 Vals, all DB downed....Interesting.. xDDD My B-18s and so launch a (suicide) attack against CV Soryu spotted as part of the Strike Force, but no hits and several AF are lost. I think it deserves the effort. Even one well placed bomb should be critical at this point. There are really far of everything...

My carriers remain at Pearl Harbour, expecting any REALLY important attack from the japanese. He can be there more than 3/4 days, and then come back very quicly. My convoys still are running, and there is no really a setback in my deployment as every important unit I want to sail has departured yet or is planned in a few weeks.

Port Moresby

24th plus 16th Infantry Regiments unload today. Now I'm behind at AV points, but we'll see (340AV vs 228). My B-17 will fly from Australia to pummel the enemy troops.

CVs Kaga and Akagi reported near PM supporting the land.

China

Hwainan falls to japanese hands. 17th Jap Inf Division was more than my poor 183 Chinese Corps could chew. 1873 casualities to 224. .

At several points, the japanese troops begin to push. Soon I'll be repulsed from the coast. Some key units ( engineers, and BF ) have began to move to more secure zones.

Philipinnes

Clark Field falls !!! Ok, I didn't expect lot of the troops which I left there but....well...At the end, more than 2.000 AV japanese were too much for the about 800 AV mine. Last stand will be BATAAN.

[traskott]

Days 17 and 18, January, 1942.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC

The threee japanese regiments landed at Port Moresby looks like too much for the australian defensor. In two days, fortifications are levelled to zero, and tomorrow will probably falls. AV313 to 148 doesn't sound well.

CL Achiles was hit twice near Sydney. Damage is high but the ship is now safe at the shipyards...

PC Zeeman was sunk by a mine at Darwin. AM Colac will change it's duty from ASW to minesweepers.

S-27 and S-35 mantained several skirmishes with the ASW japanese forces near Port Moresby, without success.

I-121 tries to sneak into Perth and is granted with a well placed mine hit. It's a looong trip to home.

PHILIPINES

Davao falls, and 1/101Bn surrenders to an overwhelming japanese force. Mandabalay is now the main fortress at the island. With Bataan, are now the last Allied strongpoints at Philippines.

The only P-40 at Bataan ( the last one!!) shoot down one Nell, and AA shoot down another two. And another 27 damaged. My AA units are at full TOE and with enough supplies, so Bataan will be a tough nut to crack ( I hope!!).

CHINA

Lot of action !!

At Wuchang the 26th Chinese Corps is destroyed, it can't move, so will be destroyed soon.
At Hankow, a Japanese attacks (1500 vs 1193 ) sees a 1-2 score, so my troops will remain here for a loong time.

Wenchow falls to the 22th and 116th Divisions, plus 2nd Ind. Mixed Regiment.
Chaochow falls too, to the 19th Ind Mixed Brigade and 102nd Inf. Regiment. Engineer and support units began to withdrawal to second line in order to prepair new fortifications (and to avoid be destroyed )

In Foochow a bit more troops will be sent. With a little of luck, I hope to conquer it.

DEI

[>:][>:] No action. My Dorniers D-24 will recon some bases to find suitable targets for my B-17s.

My ABDA Squadron is in middle of nowhere expecting some movement of the japanese player.At this moment, some intel suggests an attack over Ternate.

[Fletcher]

Hi Traskott !
Could be P.M airfield a suitable target for your "mobile" B-17 strategic force ? [:)]
I think it´s an interesting target meanwhile this base will  not be hosting enemy fighters.
Best of lucks
ramón

[traskott]

Aye. FF are now bombarding japanese troops at P.M. Anzac troops have managed to hold one more day, but with a huge amount of loses ( about 300 KIA in combat squads ), so no hope for tomorrow. However, there are a good number of engineers so the japanese will have a looong way to make PM a viable base.

Oh, concerning strategic war, my SS are well placed, as they launch LOT of attacks...With 100% dudes... [:@][:@]

Grrr.....I-165 managed to evade no less than TEN british DDs and put a torpedo at CL Mauritius. She is a 19/32(26) so, is safe by the moment, but is a blow for me as is one of the best CLs at ABDA Sqn.... The cursed I-165 gets four hits.

Seydlitz comments that it's ASW forces managed to sank three SS last month. I'll say her that no ship under my command sank without written order [:D][:D]

[traskott]

Ok, three days in just one report...hehehehehehehe

20/21/22

PACIFIC:

Damn !!! CL Mauritius sank by I-162, grrr...3 hits at the SS isn't worth this superb CL.

Hehehehe...The I-21 sank xAP Republic (ok, we'll turn a monarchy). Then emerged and tried to shoot the xAP Bloemfontan. [:D][:D][:D] The crew of the xAP shot and hit the SS FOUR TIMES, and forced it to sumerge !!. It's night experience is now 56 !!!, an xAP with 56 of xp. Unbelieveable...

Several sweeps of Zeros over San Francisco ( yes, u have read well: San Francisco, at West Coast ) finished with a 13:1 ratio. Hummmm, yes, it's bad idea put my rookies to fight the KB. Well. We'll sit and wait. Some SS will try to put a gift in the CVs.

Akagi and Kaga launched several attacks over PM and then dissapear. The whole fleet vanished and the attacks stopped. Looks like some one has run out of supplies !!

My Cats and a lonely Skytrain transport supplies to the troops.

DEI/MALASIA:

My B-17 at Palembang get only 1 hit at Kuching. Their performance looks like a bit bad...hummm...

At Malasia, 33th took Moulmein and make a lot of casualties to one of my burma bns....At Temuloh, 1st Hyderabad Bn found the whole japanese army and is wiped out in just one day, nor even surrender...


PHILIPINNES:

The last P-40 at Bataan is shot down . Fortis at Lvl3. We'll see....

CHINA:

Just one combat: Japanese attack at Hankow. 1823AV vs my 1154. I got a 1:2 !!! [&o]. 2681 japanese casualties. He has lost (destroyed) 60 combat squads, 56 non combat squads and 18 vehicles. If this were Facebook I'll post "I like it".

[offenseman]

ORIGINAL: traskott

Ok, three days in just one report...hehehehehehehe

20/21/22



Hehehehe...The I-21 sank xAP Republic (ok, we'll turn a monarchy).


Just one combat: Japanese attack at Hankow. 1823AV vs my 1154. I got a 1:2 !!! [&o]. 2681 japanese casualties. He has lost (destroyed) 60 combat squads, 56 non combat squads and 18 vehicles. If this were Facebook I'll post "I like it".

[:D] funny stuff.

[traskott]

@Thanks, offenseman, it was a very lucky outcome for me. I hope to mantain him at a "defensive mindset" for a couple of months, just to put my forts at lvl3 or 4 [;)]

[traskott]

22 to 24th, January:

PACIFIC

Part of the KB are near WC, yet. Yesterday, several Zeros launch 2 sweeps over Los Angeles, with no effect. Psch....Perhaps he'll sink 2/3 xAKs plus an AKE os so, but nothing really important.

My CVs left PH in force yesterday. CV Yorktown took a hit of the I-171. Grrrrrrrrrr.. Sys14, Flot19. Sorry baby, you WILL go to the war. I have sent an email saying (more or less) I'm about to lose the ship, and congratulation him about the hit.

DD Shaw attacks RO-62 and achieve 1 hit.Good !!. he has lost 10 SS since the beggining of the war, to 2 mines...

SWPAC

Looks like as troops at PM are really OUT of supply. My xAKLs are unloading 1750 supplies, and more is on my way...Besides, 20 B-26 have been based at Cairns to add more plunder to the 20 B-17 at Charter Towers.

In a very strange decision (from my point of view), it's carriers near PM left the zone and are now near Espiritu Santo. It's time to make risky choices: One elite coy plus 193 US tank Bon are now loading at Sidney and will be shipped at full speed to PM. I trust on my tanks

DEI/BATAAN

Lots of ships are now arriving here to pick resources, and bring suplies to bataan which is now at 5k . Yesterday a deliberate attack got a 1-2. But my loses where higher than his.

BURMA

33th Division is near of Pegu!! . Over Rangoon my just arrived Hurricanes shoot down 3 Oscars and 1 Zero for 2 hurricanes.Good ratio !!!

[traskott]

The raid over West Coast seems over. He has just arrived to Los Angeles/San Diego, so he should be back home soon.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but, overall, this "attack" has give me one month or two to reinforce my position at DEI, where I KNOW he MUST strike. All british/ANZAC sqn I had move to India are now back to Java or Palembang.

I won't commit masive british reinforcements to the zone, because the low replacement rate of this type of troops can make me unable to attack (or defend!!!) at Burma or India trough 1942 and 1943. The two units I've sent are the 3rd Hussars Sqn plus the Desert Rats. They will be placed at Palembang, or around the zone, to destroy the first wave of attackers. I'm almost sure the first strike will be made with paras, which are almost defenceless against tanks. A good round of shock attacks should do the trick.

H.R. prevent the sending of more troops from India, minus a couple of brigades, but I want them at Chittagong and Cox'Bazar to avoid an agressive punch of the japanese. Besides, their low xp (20) make them unable to combat til properly trained.

6 and 7 AIFs will be put at Australia. With several armoured reserves in place, I'm considering putting them at Dili or Kendari. Supported from Darwin, they should hold really well against everything minus a whole army.

At China: Sining is about to fall. Then, I'll leave here about 800 AV and the others 800 AV will go to the north, to stall the incoming japanese ofensive which points to Naning. This is just my second PBEM with china active, so I'm not sure how to proper handle the situation. Looks like the first month I took the iniciative, gaining a couple of cities, but now, he is slowly bringing my troops back (as everybody can expect). Well, as soon as Sian or Changsha don't fall, everything will be fine, I think.

PACIFIC:

The raid over WC is an strategic failure. The main strike force has spent a month sailing to San Francisco, and now it has to go back to Truk/Hokkaido/any port with fuel to 4 CVs and escorts. So if he wants to attack DEI, only miniKB will be there. An interesting perspective [:)]

The downside of the raid (to me) is that no convoy has sailed to OZ/Fidji or so in a week, and no one will sail til I was sure the path is clear. So, the next "run" of convoys will be huge, with all the troubles you can imagine. Mainly: The small ports size.

But we'are talking about Pacific: My main concern was secure the SLOC. Til now, no enemy movement has been tracked, minus Tarawa. Canton and Baker remains as USA bases. Canton with a CD with a near withdrawal date, and Baker empty. Looks like it's time to put an AVD there, with Cats, to get some intel.

PagoPago has almost 300AV, but needs more forts. A fully marine division will be placed here.

Suva will be defended by the Americal Division. Now it has 120AV and forts2, but obviously it is not enough to hold a determined attack.


Noumea: 27th Div is about to arrive, and now has BFs, art, CD and ENG in force. I think I'll use it as base to build up my forces....


BURMA:

The 1st Burmese plus 17th Indian must hold as much as they can. If not, retreat to a secure zone.