Offenseman & Seydlitz(J) vs. LoBaron & Rob Brennan (A) Joint AAR

[seydlitz_slith]

At sea, the I-122 shelled and torpedoed the coastal freighter Yat Shing near Soebi-besar, hitting her with 4 shells and two torpedoes.

[offenseman]

The Dutch Navy hits its mark! CVL Ryujo was torpedoes by a Dutch sub. It is heading to the body and fender shop.

[offenseman]

Unfortunately that same sub or another Dutch sub also hit CVL Zuiho, which sank under the weight of two torpedo hits.

[offenseman]

Better news occurred elsewhere. A SCTF bombarded Kwangchowan causing great damage. I saw a question elsewhere on the forum about ship bombardments causing fires. Here is a picture of exactly that.

[offenseman]

A vicious attack by PT Boats against the amphib group at Singawang was driven away after causing damage to several ships.

[offenseman]

As part of Operation Octopussy, the KB attacked Port Moresby

[offenseman]

Other than damage to the port and airbase, several ships were caught in port. Were they loading or unloading? Or simply moored there...

[offenseman]

So far Octopussy has been a success. In the past turn these bases were taken: Rabaul, Manus, Shortlands, and Mussau. Fierce fighting is reported at Kavieng.

[offenseman]

In the PI, the noose is tightening on Allied forces with the liberation of Vigan, Lucena, and San Fernando. Strong forces are moving toward Clark and Manila from all directions.

[offenseman]

December 21st and 22nd

Japanese aircraft appeared over Singapore for the first time (non-recon) in the form of Yamada Det S-1. Yamada swept the skies clear just after the war began, ringing up a 32:1 kill ratio. It was then assigned CAP duties and got a bit of rest as well. In its return to an offensive role, Yamada had a series of encounters such as the one below.

[offenseman]

Over the two days, Yamada claimed 18 more kills against no losses and no damaged aircraft. It is a very effective fighting force.

[offenseman]

Col. Yonihara Yoshitomo of 8th Tank Regiment has been awarded the Heinz Guderian award for his outstanding leadership. Yoshitomo saw an opportunity to storm across a river and attack Balikpapan before the defenders were ready. His hasty attack routed the enemy and Balikpapan was taken without damage to its crucial facilities. Colonel, the Emperor is proud of you.

pictures of the event were lost when a barge overturned offshore of Samarinda.

[seydlitz_slith]

The ministry of propganda would like to offer up this picture of Colonel Yoshitomo Yonihara, hero of Balikpapan.

[seydlitz_slith]

After much consultation, we have decided to make this a joint AAR, meaning that both sides are allowed to post on this thread.
While this means that we may have to censor or delay some posts, the fun factor of propaganda and taunting of the enemy have of course won out and Mike and myself are happy to welcome the presence of our worthy opponents here.

[offenseman]

Based on the nature of our emails back and forth, I suspect a good deal of mirth will be forthcoming.

[offenseman]

...and disinformation... &nbsp; <did I really say that?>

[Rob Brennan UK]

Hello fellow AE addicts, Thank you to both Seydlitz and offenceman for allowing us to post here. there hasn't been time for me to do a dedicated Allied AAR thread so we will pop in here from time to time to add our 2c to the dicussion.

Allies are broken down as follows:- LoBaron has control of the US and Pacific forces while I have commonwealth,DEI and china. China is a nightmare as I have no clue about how much supply i'm using anywhere. However the japanese in china have enveloped a few chinese forces (I really should have seen that coming). but it's not all one sided with the chinese army investing Foochow on the south chinese coast. It almost fell to a suprise attack but the japanese airforce was quick to respond and flew in some much needed combat troops and have done a good job flattening the 2 corps that 'were' besieging the city. Further North the japanese seem to be tying to envelop the three cities just east of Kaifeng. chinese forces have routed one japanese regiment in the mountains and today stopped cold the southern chinese blocking force on the main road.

Ground combat at 87,45

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3903 troops, 31 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 142

Defending force 39915 troops, 232 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1168

Japanese adjusted assault: 5

Allied adjusted defense: 605

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 121

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

Japanese ground losses:
1883 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 137 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 69 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled


Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
35th/B Division

Defending units:
12th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
3rd Group Army
22nd Group Army
31st Group Army

Next turn that unit (if not rapidly reinforced will be attacked and hopefully battered to pieces and forced to withdraw). 3 Full japanese divisions have been seen in the area and i do not want to meet them in the open so we 'may' just leave the area to the invaders rather than incurr even more losses. Chinese vs the Japs in open tarrain is not a war winning strategy imo.

In the DEI the dutch CL groups (eg 1-2 CL's with 3 DD's ) seemt to be having an effect and have so far sunk two japanese invasion taskforces. KB in the DEI early war forced me to hide the dutch navy but its returned now and wants payback. force Z is in an undisclosed position right now but there are cruiser groups waiting to pounce on weakly escorted invasion forces now that the navy here is no longer in mortal fear of KB. However japan now have bomber bases available to it in balikpapan so we will have to be very carful with surface assets from now on. British Navy lost a CL on a patrol between singapore and Batavia (in case of opportunistic invasions groups).

The real heroes of the war so far (as Brits) have been the 3 DD's from Hong kong. Early war they harried japanese convoys and attempted some rather unrealistic mine laying missions (which were a disater in hindsight). With the early fall of Hong Kong they voted the most timid ensign to be the commodore for the trip back home. En-Route they bumped into the japanese CL force blockading Manilla and evaded it quite nicely while putting a round or 2 into a DD. They then (by pure accident) ran into the japanese invasion force near jolo in the PI. Timid commander or not they still hit a few tranports but did not stay long enough to cause serious damage. 3 days later they ran into 4 Japanese CA's and escorts south of balikpapan. Fortuantely after a just a few salvoes the commander managed to withdraw. They have now arrived in Java and are in suprisingly good condition. Given the japanese Sub menace they will be most welcome additions to the rather shabby attempt at ASW the dutch have so far put up.

Given the drive (early on) into the SE east indies australia looks to be a prospect for an early japanese invasion. Bearing in mind this is a joint AAR i cannot reveal any secret weapons the boffins have come up with to defend Darwin. but the great big rolling wheels look to be very effective on paper [;)].

But as you have seen the great allied weapon so far has been this wee little dutch sub.

[offenseman]

Dec/25 and 26th 1941

As ground forces pursue the retreating Allied horde across Luon, IJNAF continue their bombardment. It appears Manila is essentially been declared an open city and capture of it is expected within days. For awhile it looked as though the Allies would make a stand at Clark but recent recon has shown that units appear to be leaving for Bataan. Here is a typical attack on Clark Field.

[Rob Brennan UK]

Elsewhere however the japanese continue thier policies of agression. Kendari is invaded and the dutch airforce actaully managed to hit something for a change. In all 4 hits were reproted on 3 differant vessels. at least one was accurate as the burning hulk was reattacked the following day.



Over in china the stated 'we will kick them out' worked rather well.

Ground combat at 87,45

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 37420 troops, 232 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1167

Defending force 2656 troops, 31 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 38

Allied adjusted assault: 1249

Japanese adjusted defense: 4

Allied assault odds: 312 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
775 casualties reported
Squads: 65 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 54 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Allied ground losses:
423 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Very pleased with these losses on the japanese side. thier failed attack last turn must have disabled a lot of squads allowing the counter attack to do some long term damage.

Having booted the japanese out from Tsingtao once before I was very wary of ordering in a blind assault when another unit poked its head in yesterday. However as it might have had follow on forces the allied commander on the ground took control and ordered in a shock attack. the results were really good for the chinese and not so good for the invaders.

Ground combat at Tsiaotso (88,42)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 31493 troops, 175 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1036

Defending force 5701 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 206

Allied adjusted assault: 926

Japanese adjusted defense: 262

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1982 casualties reported
Squads: 64 destroyed, 57 disabled
Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Allied ground losses:
94 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
27th Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
43rd Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
5th New Chinese Corps
8th Group Army

Defending units:
16th Ind.Mixed Brigade

This has isolated a lone japanese unit just west of loyang <sp> ? but as its all open terrain the risk of being counterpunched while trying to make the most of the envelopment probably isnt worth it.

PS .. tip for any allied players in china, Dont try and take cities on the south coast! while the suprise of almost taking it may have been fun, the overwhelming and now punishing japanese air response has meant that this little adventure was not worth the effort imo. And trying to get away is no easy matter sadly. There has been an upside but due to the fact this so-called freedom of the press has allowed us to be 100% sure that this correspondence is compromised [;)].

[offenseman]

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

PS .. tip for any allied players in china, Dont try and take cities on the south coast! while the suprise of almost taking it may have been fun, the overwhelming and now punishing japanese air response has meant that this little adventure was not worth the effort imo. And trying to get away is no easy matter sadly. There has been an upside but due to the fact this so-called freedom of the press has allowed us to be 100% sure that this correspondence is compromised [;)].

Ahh, you must be speaking of the Foochow Training Ground, where we are training our green pilots. Thank you for providing live targets, the boys were getting tired of bombing that same rice paddy on southern Kyushu again and again.