Sardaukar's Newbie Tutorial AAR for Newbies (vs. IJ AI)

[Sardaukar]

North is indeed the logical route.

I won't do 100% CAP, because that'd be against USN Naval Doctrine. [:D] Full speed would be problematic too, since soon system damage and lack of fuel would set speed back to level of Mission speed or even lower.

I'll go N, then NE, E and curve back to PH behind Midway.

And if this fails, at least people will have interesting combat reports to read! [:D]

[Igel]

I love you "Sardaukar".
Are you married ? If are not I want to be present to your parents and if you are, I could be your concubine .........[:D], this AAr is what I had always been looking for and, although strategy "Sir Robin" is not mine and I like to fight in each corner here are a lot of plenty common sense and your feedback is invaluable to novices like me.

Now that I remember, also I have to ask in marriage "Fletcher" for his guidance on Japan ......[:D]

Cheers[&o]

Irulan Corrino

[pionkki]

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

PI Air:

Because Far East USAAF HQ provides torpedoes, I've used PI PBY's on naval attack at 1000ft. They have had great success against the AI invasion fleets, because the AI doesn't use proper CAP. Against a human player, the tactic is useful until the Japanese player captures at least one airfield at PI. Then a strong CAP will cover the invasion fleets...

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

North is indeed the logical route.

I won't do 100% CAP, because that'd be against USN Naval Doctrine. [:D] Full speed would be problematic too, since soon system damage and lack of fuel would set speed back to level of Mission speed or even lower.

I'll go N, then NE, E and curve back to PH behind Midway.

And if this fails, at least people will have interesting combat reports to read! [:D]

Keep them on full speed just for one turn to put enough water between you and the KB

[Sardaukar]

Problem with Full speed it this:

I play 2-day turns. As per manual:

Whenever a ship moves in a TF, it draws on its Endurance, which in turn subtracts from the
amount of fuel carried. Fuel is expended when:

»» A ship moves the entire turn at or below its Cruising Speed (the cruise speed
for the ship in hexes as specified on each Ship Information Screen); this
ship will use up Endurance equal to 40 times the number of hexes moved.

»» For each hex moved over the ship’s Cruising Speed, the ship will expend
an additional 240 endurance per hex. The cruising speed of the TF in hexes
is figured by the Cruising Speed of the slowest ship in it. Since each ship
checks the TF move against its own Cruising Speed, ships in the same
TF can use up different amounts of Endurance in the same move.

2 days of full speed would equal 36 hexes (since I cannot change speed in middle turn). TFs have 44 hexes of endurance left at full speed. PH is currently 46 hexes away BY DIRECT ROUTE. Since I have to take wide extra detour, at least 100 hexes, I'd run out of fuel half way. Midway has only 200 fuel points, scarcely enough to fuel 2 DDs, much less 2 CV TFs.

So, it has to be mission speed, which accounts for 178 hexes of movement for both TFs.

[Sardaukar]

ORIGINAL: pionkki

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

PI Air:

Because Far East USAAF HQ provides torpedoes, I've used PI PBY's on naval attack at 1000ft. They have had great success against the AI invasion fleets, because the AI doesn't use proper CAP. Against a human player, the tactic is useful until the Japanese player captures at least one airfield at PI. Then a strong CAP will cover the invasion fleets...

I won't use Patrol planes for Naval Attacks right now. One reason is heavy casualties to Patrol planes and you need to keep up the pools to ensure your patrol coverage. Second reason is that it is one of those bad habits against AI that may punish you when playing PBEM. As you said, AI does not often LRCAP it's TFs, but good human player may. I may use patrol planes in this role later in war, especially when they get radar, but not yet. Thirdly, it's not yet "doctrine". [8D]

[Sardaukar]

Orders for Dec 11-12:

Central Pacific:

- Both CVs near Wake are ordered to proceed to North and then East towards North of Midway. Due to fuel concerns and 2-day turns, we cannot order Full speed. (If I was playing 1-day turns, I would, since now it's definitely time to "haul ass"). Wake F4Fs are now aboard Enterprise as additional fighter unit, Vindicator DBs have been transferred to Johnston I. and later to PH.

- Unfortunately, there is not much to do about Wake, if Japanese do subsequent attack. Supply and reinforcement convoys from PH would take about a week to load and reach this base. During that time, Wake's destiny has been most likely already decided.

- Some TFs arriving to PH has been disbanded. During next turn we will start to sort out ship repairs.

Malaya:

- not much new, one brigade of Australians has arrived to Singapore. Also, first defensive line SW of Johore Bahru has been manned. Units arriving to their destinations have been set to appropriate orders (combat or rest). Air units have been consolidated in Singapore, only few planes remain outside main base.

India & Burma:

- about same as above, combat power is being concentrated to Pegu, air support to Rangoon.

- arriving reinforcements in Cape Town & Aden set to Strat mode to allow quick shipping (when I have ships..)

China:

- not much happening here for Chinese, Japanese have some combat activity near Canton and in HK.

Philippines:

- building forts, concentrating fighting power to Clark Field and Manila. Same with air power.

- IJN CV TF has disappeared from view, so I am waiting one more turn before starting to load Cebu BF.

DEI:

- more minelaying, more sub patrols.

- Force Z aborted patrol due fuel issues outside Kuching one day before patrol planes announced incoming invasion. So first big surface combat didn't happen yet.

- Air transporting outlying Dutch troops to Java continue.

- Surface combat power is getting concentrated to Soerabaja, around BB PoW & BC Repulse.

Australia & SW Pac & SoPac:

- Still waiting to units to arrive to their destinations, mainly brigades of 5th AUS Division.

- Cargo TF was dispatched to Port Moresby, since base is down to 2 and half weeks of supplies, with frantic building.

- Outlying battalions of 13th AUS Brigade set to march to Perth and recombine there, just in case. We need those troops to defend the base, not miles of dust and 2 kangaroos 80 miles north and south.


Generally, some ASW ships have been sent to Sydney, Brisbane and SF, to escort future convoys.

Further note: [:D]

"Military failures fall into three different categories:

- failure to learn from the past
- failure to anticipate what future may bring
- failure to adapt to the immediate circumstances on the battlefield

When one of these basic failures happen in isolation (known as simple failure), the results, while unpleasant, can be overcome.
Aggregate failures happen, when two of the basic failure types , usually learning and anticipation, take place simultaneously, and these are more difficult to surmount.
Finally, at the apex of failure, stand those rare events when all three basic failures happen simultaneously. An event know as catastrophic failure. In such an occurrence, the result is usually a disaster of such scope that recovery is impossible."

[Sardaukar]

ORIGINAL: Igel

I love you "Sardaukar".
Are you married ? If are not I want to be present to your parents and if you are, I could be your concubine .........[:D], this AAr is what I had always been looking for and, although strategy "Sir Robin" is not mine and I like to fight in each corner here are a lot of plenty common sense and your feedback is invaluable to novices like me.

Now that I remember, also I have to ask in marriage "Fletcher" for his guidance on Japan ......[:D]

Cheers[&o]

Irulan Corrino

Heh, I am married already and my wife would have dim view about concubines, be them from House Corrino or not! [:D]

Now we just need few Atreides and Harkonnen to make it Dune. [8D]

[Sardaukar]

Malaya:

[Sardaukar]

Philippines:

[Sardaukar]

China:

[Sardaukar]

And the CV Gambit....soon we'll see which part of military failures this will belong...or does Sardaukar grasp the glory?

[Coulsdon Eagle]

As a WITP virgin, this thread is of immense value. I plan to cut my teeth on the less involved WPO to understand many of the simpler game mechanics, but can't wait to lead the RN Eastern Fleet to... the bottom of the Indian Ocean!
 
Now appoint you my second favourite Finn after Aki Riihilahti [:D]

[Sardaukar]

Dec 11-12:

Started to use Combat Reporter, really neat tool you can find from subforum Scenario Design.

There is some useful info in Ops report, as you can see, several ships were reported hit during Naval Search phase:

a Aoba class CA is reported HIT

xAP Kamo Maru is reported HIT

xAP Teikyo Maru is reported to have been sunk near Laoag on Dec 11, 1941

AM Penguin is reported HIT

xAK Thames Maru is reported to have been sunk near Kota Bharu on Dec 12, 1941

xAK Uyo Maru is reported to have been sunk near Kota Bharu on Dec 12, 1941

Also makes it easier to check SigInt etc, this is quite interesting:

2/Guards Mixed Brigade is loaded on xAP Shanghai Maru moving to Wake Island.

3/16th Engineer Regiment is loaded on xAK Konan Maru moving to Legaspi.

5/20th Infantry Regiment is loaded on a Kiso-E Cargo class xAKL moving to Legaspi.

Something we need to remedy:

Low garrison leads to damage and 1 VP loss from partisan attack at Srinagar (60, 8)!

Clark Field is hammered repeatedly during both days, but out gallant flybous are giving it as good as getting, excerpt of type of attacks:

Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31
G4M1 Betty x 20
Ki-27b Nate x 14



Allied aircraft
P-35A x 8
P-40B Warhawk x 11
P-40E Warhawk x 12


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 2 destroyed
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 1 destroyed on ground



Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 32

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
24th PG/3rd PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
24th PG/20th PS with P-40B Warhawk (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
35th PG/34th PS with P-35A (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes

Dai-Ichi Kido Butai (First Mobile Strike Force) is found SE of Wake and it unleashes attack on island, good thing we didn't stick around:

Afternoon Air attack on Wake Island , at 136,98

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
B5N2 Kate x 45
D3A1 Val x 102



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged



Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 53
Port hits 13
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
12 x D3A1 Val bombing from 2000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
14 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 4000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val bombing from 5000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
17 x D3A1 Val bombing from 3000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
24 x D3A1 Val bombing from 2000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 3000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
4 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 3000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val bombing from 3000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
5 x D3A1 Val bombing from 2000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
5 x D3A1 Val bombing from 3000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
5 x D3A1 Val bombing from 2000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Another CV TF is NW of Philippines, supporting Japanese invasions.

Japanese sub is busy, both losses are annoying, especially loss of AV Langley:

Sub attack near Balikpapan at 65,100

Japanese Ships
SS I-122

Allied Ships
AV Langley, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage



SS I-122 launches 4 torpedoes

Submarine attack near Balikpapan at 64,100

Japanese Ships
SS I-122

Allied Ships
TK Gertrude Kellogg, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage



TK Gertrude Kellogg is sighted by SS I-122
SS I-122 launches 4 torpedoes at TK Gertrude Kellogg

At Rabaul, CL Adelaide gets it's butt kicked multiple times, come on RAN, you can do better!

Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Yura
CL Kiso
DD Kamikaze
DD Numakaze

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 1




Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 35% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 10,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 10,000 yards
Ono, Takeji* crosses the 'T'
CL Kiso engages CL Adelaide at 10,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Adelaide at 10,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages DD Numakaze at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages CL Kiso at 9,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Adelaide at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CL Kiso engages CL Adelaide at 11,000 yards
Task forces break off...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,124, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
TB Hato
AMC Bankok Maru
xAP Tsingtao Maru

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide




Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 35% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 10,000 yards
Japanese TF attempts to evade combat
Range increases to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages TB Hato at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages TB Hato at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages TB Hato at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages xAP Tsingtao Maru at 12,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages xAP Tsingtao Maru at 12,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages TB Hato at 12,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages xAP Tsingtao Maru at 12,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages xAP Tsingtao Maru at 12,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


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

Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,124, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu
CL Tama
CL Oi
DD Akikaze
DD Nokaze
DD Namikaze

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 4




Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 35% moonlight: 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
Ura, Koichi crosses the 'T'
CL Adelaide engages CL Oi at 11,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages CL Isuzu at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CL Oi engages CL Adelaide at 9,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages CL Oi at 9,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages DD Namikaze at 9,000 yards
Showers, H.A. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Oi engages CL Adelaide at 10,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages DD Akikaze at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CL Oi engages CL Adelaide at 11,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages DD Namikaze at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CL Oi engages CL Adelaide at 12,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages DD Namikaze at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...

We have some limited success with out subs against Japanese, 3 ships are hit, presumed sunk.

At China, we get some anticipated defeats in hands of IJA:

Ground combat at Chengchow (88,44)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 11028 troops, 94 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 380

Defending force 10518 troops, 57 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 206

Japanese adjusted assault: 486

Allied adjusted defense: 61

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Chengchow !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
618 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled


Allied ground losses:
5757 casualties reported
Squads: 159 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 271 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 75 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 17 (17 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 8


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
35th Division

Defending units:
3rd Construction Regiment
40th Chinese Corps
15th Chinese Corps
7th Construction Regiment
1st War Area
39th Group Army
24th Group Army
10th Chinese Base Force


Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 20995 troops, 321 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 1033

Defending force 6405 troops, 132 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 207

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 491

Allied adjusted defense: 421

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
627 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 60 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled


Allied ground losses:
563 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 50 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
66th Infantry Regiment
38th Division
104th Division
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
5th RF Gun Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd RF Gun Battalion
23rd Army
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

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


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


Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 32605 troops, 425 guns, 260 vehicles, Assault Value = 1002

Defending force 5971 troops, 130 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 181

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 937

Allied adjusted defense: 261

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hong Kong !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

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

Japanese ground losses:
806 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 62 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled


Allied ground losses:
5967 casualties reported
Squads: 210 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 415 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 144 (144 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 96 (96 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 6


Assaulting units:
104th Division
66th Infantry Regiment
38th Division
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
5th RF Gun Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
23rd Army
2nd RF Gun Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

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


Ground combat at 77,58

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3284 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 133

Defending force 4534 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 166

Japanese adjusted assault: 76

Allied adjusted defense: 26

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
792 casualties reported
Squads: 60 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 43 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
68th Ind.Infantry Battalion
67th Ind.Infantry Battalion
20th RGC Division

Defending units:
62nd Chinese Corps


Ground combat at 90,49

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 5427 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 178

Defending force 809 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

Japanese adjusted assault: 140

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 140 to 1

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

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


Allied ground losses:
592 casualties reported
Squads: 35 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
89th Chinese Corps


Ground combat at 90,56

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3306 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 115

Defending force 4542 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 173

Japanese adjusted assault: 116

Allied adjusted defense: 50

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

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

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


Allied ground losses:
1505 casualties reported
Squads: 85 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 60 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd Ind.Mixed Regiment

Defending units:
88th Chinese Corps

Overall, decent turn. Loss of Hongkong this early is bit annoying, but more than balanced by escape of US CVs. They should be out of danger now. Our defensive deployments in PhI & Malaya continued normally.

[nicwb]

What a great idea - I'm certainly adding this to my must read AAR (need all the help I can get)

At this stage of the events given your inclination to hold Port Moresby - Do you have any thoughts on Milne Bay, Horn Island and Fiji ?

[Sardaukar]

Orders for Dec 13-14:

Central Pacific:

- repairs of ships in PH commence in earnest. Lighter units that can be repaired within couple of weeks or less set to Shipyard repair. Heavy units damaged for months left for Readiness repairs, they will be sent to large shipyards in West Coast after sys, engineering and minor flotation damages are deemed low enough for sea travel. 2 BBs damaged light enough to be repaired completely in few weeks with Pierside repairs. Remember that PH shipyard is only 100k capacity and thus should be used as emergency repairs only, not main efforts that will clog it for months. You have several 100-250k yards in WC for that.

- there is not much to do about Wake. It has been hammered by Japanese air attacks and resupply in time is impossible. Also, SigInt tells us that Japanese second wave invasion is already on it's way, possibly brigade-size. All supply or reinforcements at this stage would just gove Japan more prisoners and captured supply..

- Lihue in Hawaii was out of supply after KB parting shot, supply ship has been set with ASW escort. Submarine menace is to be expected around PH.

- US TF at Palmyra recalled to PH.

West Coast, Panama, E-USA & North Pacific:

- restructure of Allied supply network commenced. San Francisco will be the hub for Ground and Air units being shipped out, plus it will handle shipping of fuel to PH. Los Angeles will handle shipping fuel to SoPac, SWPAc, NZ & Australia. This will be done by building up Suva as secondary fuel hub. Fuel will be shipped to Suva with long-range tankers from LA & Panama to be distributed around by short-range tankers. Gatherring of appropriate shipping and escorts has started.

South Pacific:

- not much, checked that bases are still in supply. Buildup of Suva continues, covered by 2 NZ CLs

SWPacific & Australia:

- despite less-than-satisfying combat reports from Rabaul, CL Adelaide seems to have done it's job and disrupted IJN first landing, gaining some valuable time to fly out more troops to Port Moresby. Now, if our minelayer sent there from Sydney would get there in time, we might make IJN landings bit more costly.

- normal re-deployments set before continue. We still need more Political Points and one brigade to arrive to Brisbane for planned recombine and operations of 5th Aus div.

DEI:

- one escaped AS from PhI. disbanded to Soerabaja, other AS with AVD sent to Darwin.

- one Dutch INF battalion air-transported from Bandjermasin to Soerabaja, also BF there is set to be transported.

- we have now 2 heavy Surface Combat Tfs in Soerabaja, other with PoW and Repulse, other with several cruisers.

- some more mines were discovered and 2 more bases were set for minelaying by Dutch CMs.

Philippines:

- Japanese continue landing troops in Vigan & Legaspi. Japanese advance forces arrive to San Fernando and ground combat will most likely commence immediately.

- one damaged SS sent to Soerabaja, subs are horribly vulnerable to air attacks in ports

- British MBTs evacuated from HK will try night dash to Vigan from Lingayen. With luck, they catch some shipping unloading there, even when it looks rather empty right now

- redeployment of ground forces mainly to Clark Field continue. We aim to recombine as many units as possible to larger ones with more staying power. Fortifications continue.

- BF at Cebu is now loading into Transport TF, do or die, either it makes it to Port Moresby or not.

China:

- troops set to attack Ichang arrived, IJA has evacuated. It has not much value, but will open extra supply route.

- not much else, we are not going to contest areas situated in clear terrain unless absolutely necessary nor do we initiate combat unless forced to. This stage, we try to build up troops and supplies.

Malaya, Burma & India:

- 2 brigades of AUS 8th Div are in Singapore. Now just have to wait that other changes to Strat more too.

- redeployment to south of Malaya continues, I just hope I can get units out from Kuantan in time.

- some units in Pegu, Moulmein and Rangoon set to Rest in hope to gain some combat power and morale.

- battalion, part of the 6th AUS Div sent to Aden aboard TF, with some escort ships for future.

- 63rd Indian Brigade is in Karachi, but I cannot sent it towards Burma border yet, because of garrison limits.

- battalion in Srinagar set to Rest so that disrupted squads would repair faster and garrison requirement will be fulfilled.

- reinforcements in Aden & Cape Town set Stat mode for shipping.

[Sardaukar]

ORIGINAL: nicwb

What a great idea - I'm certainly adding this to my must read AAR (need all the help I can get)

At this stage of the events given your inclination to hold Port Moresby - Do you have any thoughts on Milne Bay, Horn Island and Fiji ?

Fiji is must to keep, since I internd to use Suva as fuel distribution point. I will reinforce it as soon as I get some applicable troops, US & NZ mainly.

Milne Bay and Horn Island, nice to have but no plans to garrison/reinforce it now. As long as I keep Port Moresby, I can always recapture them at leisure later. Japan cannot keep & reinforce them if I win air war around PM. And if I lose air war there, I would not be able to keep those bases anyway. Right now I plan major reinforcement of PM in near future, with Air HQs, Base forces and engineering units. But first Ineed to get in some combat power to prevent it from falling. Same with New Caledonia and Fiji.

[Sardaukar]

December 13 Intelligence Report

As you can see, air-to-air losses have been quite equal. Pure fighter losses favour Japanese slightly, though.

[Sardaukar]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 13, 41 (EXCERPTS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As I thought, there was some IJN shipping in Vigan, RN MBTs did well!

Night Time Surface Combat, near Vigan at 80,73, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAKL Rokko Maru
xAKL Toshi Maru #2
PB Akitsui Maru
xAK Konan Maru
xAK Somedono Maru
xAK Kosin Maru, Torpedo hits 1
xAK Kurohime Maru
xAK Ueizuru Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
MTB 7
MTB 8, Shell hits 1
MTB 9
MTB 10
MTB 11
MTB 12
MTB 26
MTB 27

Important things for success bolded:

Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Reduced sighting due to 28% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 28% moonlight: 2,000 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...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
Gardner R. gains tactical advantage

Pesky IJN subs neat LA:

Sub attack near San Clemente Island at 223,79

Japanese Ships
SS I-18

Allied Ships
xAK Steel Ranger, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kilty

I was asking bit too much from one CL...CL Adelaide is no more:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 106,125, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
CA Nachi
DD Asagao
DD Fuyo

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 1, and is sunk



Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Adelaide at 15,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages CA Nachi at 15,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages DD Asagao at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CL Adelaide sunk by BB Mutsu at 13,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...

Enemy now has land-based air in Malaya (Kota Bharu) and Philippines (Vigan). This means enemy planes are not necessary getting into fights fatigued and in Philippines, our fighters are slowly but inevitably getting grinded down.

Kido Butai continues to hammer Wake I.

Example of what Chinese troops can do if in good defensive terrain with decent leader:

Ground combat at 71,56

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3432 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 110

Defending force 7955 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 157

Japanese adjusted assault: 38

Allied adjusted defense: 81

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
463 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


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


Assaulting units:
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment

Defending units:
52nd Chinese Corps

We lose San Fernando in PhI:

Ground combat at San Fernando (80,74)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 8105 troops, 62 guns, 176 vehicles, Assault Value = 345

Defending force 3274 troops, 69 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 149

Japanese adjusted assault: 330

Allied adjusted defense: 41

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE San Fernando !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 33 (2 destroyed, 31 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1564 casualties reported
Squads: 54 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 50 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 25 (25 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
4th Tank Regiment
65th Brigade
7th Tank Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
11th PA Infantry Division

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 14, 41 (EXCERPTS)

Attacks like this are smashing us in Clark & Manila, unfortunately we do not have much other options than try to provide CAP to base and troops:

Afternoon Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 20



Allied aircraft
P-26A x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 18


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-26A: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed



Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 19000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
24th PG/17th PS with P-40E Warhawk (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
35th PG/21st PS with P-40E Warhawk (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
6th PS PAAC with P-26A (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

Japanese have also landed to Papua-New Guinea in Finschhafen and Madang, capturing both undefended bases.

[Sardaukar]

Our fighters in PI are depleted, but they can still put up a fight: