Pin Ups in the Pacific - Da Big Babes 2x2 - Allies Only please

[Nomad]

And lastly a picture of the reported Japanese ships sunk. There are a lot of xAKs( and one AK ) on the list.

[TheElf]

ORIGINAL: vettim89

First the HR's which are minimal


1. No Strategic Bombing before 1944 either side
2. PP must be paid for units to cross national boundaries
3. No 4-E NavAttack below 15 k
4. Escalating Sweep alt: no fighter sweeps higher then the ALT with the second best MVR value

On point #2 - the Japan side has agreed to consider Akyab an Indian base for the purpose of this HR

excellent rule

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: TheElf

ORIGINAL: vettim89

First the HR's which are minimal


1. No Strategic Bombing before 1944 either side
2. PP must be paid for units to cross national boundaries
3. No 4-E NavAttack below 15 k
4. Escalating Sweep alt: no fighter sweeps higher then the ALT with the second best MVR value

On point #2 - the Japan side has agreed to consider Akyab an Indian base for the purpose of this HR

excellent rule

Seems to working so far.

One of our opponents had a virus issue. We just ran the first turn in almost a week. Hopefully the pace will pick up.

26 December 1941

Other than the continued efforts against Johnston Isl, nothing happened in the Pacific. The IJA went for another Deliberate Attack at Clark Field that came off at 1 to 2 and did not touch the forts (which had rebuilt to 1). Casualites were 978 to 1200 in favor of the IJA. Still that is now 13 K casualties so far at Clark for the IJA. Truly grinding down the tip of teh spear to a very dull point

[Nomad]

December 26, 1941, from the Western edge of the map.

Hong Kong fell today, held out pretty well. I did evacuate the Rifles of Canada and will try and get them to Sumatra.

Palembang has 498 Assault Value now and growing. The 18th British started unloading this turn.

They still have not attacked at Singapore. Most likely the first time they do, it will fall.

[Nomad]

Hmm, December 28, 1941.

I guess I was wrong. They attacked Singapore today and didn't take it, actually they hurt themselves more than they hurt us.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34090 troops, 437 guns, 239 vehicles, Assault Value = 935

Defending force 32411 troops, 345 guns, 158 vehicles, Assault Value = 459

Japanese adjusted assault: 603

Allied adjusted defense: 623

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
2385 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 108 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 89 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Vehicles lost 28 (5 destroyed, 23 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1752 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 125 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)


Assaulting units:
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
II./124th Infantry Battalion
55th Infantry Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
5th Division
III./124th Infantry Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
21st Fld AA Gun Co
25th Army
26th Fld AA Gun Co
35th Field AA Battalion
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
34th Field AA Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
35th Fld AA Gun Co

Defending units:
22nd Australian Brigade
2nd Gordons Battalion
2nd Loyal Battalion
2/17 Dogra Battalion
1st Manchester Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
Singapore Fortress
11th Indian Division
2nd Malay Battalion
1st Malay Battalion
5/2nd Punjab Battalion
III Indian Corps
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
223 Group RAF
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
111th RAF Base Force
224 Group RAF
Malaya Army
Singapore Base Force
29 Battery/3 HAA
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
Malayan Air Wing
5th Field Regiment


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

[vettim89]

27-28 Decmber 1941

Big news in the eastern Pacific was a two day raid by the IJN CV's on Suva. No real damage done. Those convoys traversing to the south of Fiji are routed due south for a few turns just to be safe. The supply convoy that was on its way to Johnston Isl before it fell is unloading very slowly at Midway. USN DM's just departed from same after depositing a little present for our Japanese friends. I have an idea for this TF once the supplies are unloaded.

Clark Field withstood another Deliberate attack with the forts holding and the IJA taking another 1100 casualties. They do not seem to want to rest and switch to Bombardment Attacks for more than a day or two. Like I said before: are they in a hurry here because they want to be somewhere else? Also there have been no attacks for a week at Manila. Perhaps not enough supplies on this axis?

Larry and I were discussing the progress of the game so far. Our opponents did some early forward invasions but since have backed off. The only hold Brunei and Miri on the north coast of Borneo. I have always thought an early capture of Kuching is a vital part of most Japanese player's early strategies. Wake has been ignored - not even token bombing runs. Likewise for Guam. No move on Tarakan of Balikipapan either.

Just an odd set of early moves.

[seille]

4. Escalating Sweep alt: no fighter sweeps higher then the ALT with the second best MVR value

Please just let me ask what this means.
If i have a fighter (Hurri II Trop) with 23/23/23/19/15 could i set it to 30k feet (19 the second best value) ?

Is that rule only for sweeps or also for CAP and escort ?

One day i want to start a own PBEM and this rule might be VERY useful then.

[Nomad]

Who's Larry?

[Nomad]

ORIGINAL: seille

4. Escalating Sweep alt: no fighter sweeps higher then the ALT with the second best MVR value

Please just let me ask what this means.
If i have a fighter (Hurri II Trop) with 23/23/23/19/15 could i set it to 30k feet (19 the second best value) ?

Is that rule only for sweeps or also for CAP and escort ?

One day i want to start a own PBEM and this rule might be VERY useful then.

Yes, your Hurricane IIc could fly sweeps at 31,000 feet if you wish. For our game this only affects aircraft on sweep missions. Cap and escort missions are not affected.

[seille]

Thought the maneuver band in question goes from 20k to 30k ?

0 -10k
10k - 15k
15k - 20k
20k - 30k
30k +

Is that not longer correct ?

[Nomad]

ORIGINAL: seille

Thought the maneuver band in question goes from 20k to 30k ?

0 -10k
10k - 15k
15k - 20k
20k - 30k
30k +

Is that not longer correct ?

Looks like 21k-31k to me

[vettim89]

30 December 1941

QE arrives at San Diego but is a bit dinged up. She is put into the shiyard for 11 days. Hopefully by then we will have enough PP to move at elast a RGT to Oz. Unfortunately, we are a bit short on those as Ken has been using bunches to move untis to Sumatra.

No sign of the Japanese CVTF that hit Suva. There is an unidentifed TF NE of Lunga; that may be them.

Lastly, the IJA tried again at Clark Field. Image attached show that a unit went POOF. I don't think Tonguc has a clear understanding of what is going on here.

[Alfred]

From where did the units moved to Sumatra comre from? Did you lift off Malaya units not assigned to III Corps and hence the need to pay PPs.

Alfred

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

From where did the units moved to Sumatra comre from? Did you lift off Malaya units not assigned to III Corps and hence the need to pay PPs.

Alfred

Ken could best ask that but he has done very well at lifting units out of Malaya and the DEI. Also the Indian BGD's tasked to Rangoon ended up there and the 18th UK is at Oosthaven. But yes, we have a little bit of a PP shortage because of the use in the DEI. Again, Ken's AOO but we are basicallyy all in on Sumatra in the DEI

[Nomad]

Most of the PPs I have used were for Dutch units. Even paying 25% for moving them from Knil Command to ABDA takes some. I have moved most of the III Indian units into Palembang, and as Tim stated the 18th and the 3 Burma bound Indian Brigades. I did switch most of the base force units in Malaya to ABDA and moved them. I also used a few on changing a couple of extremely bad commanders. We are at 30 December, 1941, so we have accrued 1150 and started with 100 and we have 426 left at this time. I have some more units to switch to ABDA, but we will have to see what happens. One thing that does concern me, I have not seen Baby KB for a number of turns.

And, they tried another deliberated attack the turn before and again hurt themselves more that us.
Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32475 troops, 437 guns, 232 vehicles, Assault Value = 852

Defending force 30699 troops, 343 guns, 156 vehicles, Assault Value = 394

Japanese adjusted assault: 217

Allied adjusted defense: 747

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1208 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 112 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 101 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled
Vehicles lost 28 (5 destroyed, 23 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
696 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Assaulting units:
22nd Recon Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
II./124th Infantry Battalion
114th Infantry Regiment
5th Division
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
55th Infantry Regiment
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
III./124th Infantry Battalion
35th Field AA Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
34th Field AA Battalion
25th Army
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion
26th Fld AA Gun Co
21st Fld AA Gun Co
3rd Mortar Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
35th Fld AA Gun Co

Defending units:
1st Malay Battalion
11th Indian Division
2nd Gordons Battalion
2/17 Dogra Battalion
2nd Malay Battalion
1st Manchester Battalion
2nd Loyal Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
Singapore Fortress
27th Australian Brigade
5/2nd Punjab Battalion
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
III Indian Corps
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
223 Group RAF
224 Group RAF
Singapore Base Force
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
111th RAF Base Force
Malaya Army
29 Battery/3 HAA
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Malayan Air Wing
5th Field Regiment

[ny59giants]

I just read your whole AAR. The situation at Singapore has some poor planning on your opponents part. From my experience, launching attacks which have too many infantry regiments vs whole divisions is not wise. They have just the 5th Division and multiple regiments. Not good if the siege is not ended soon. I've had almost a whole regiment disabled in failed attacks. [:(]

I'm playing PBEM Scen 2 as Japan with non-historical start. I sent Kaga to Camranh Bay and eventually made her a floating fighter platform to cover Mersing. I took Singapore on 31 Dec 41, but had sent 6 divisions to Malaya. Your southern Sumatra strategy seems to be from the "Nemo" textbook.

Since they are using two extra divisions (21 & 33) on Luzon, there is a part of me that wonders if Hawaii is going to be on the menu soon. Were you able to get significant supplies into Bataan??  

[Nomad]

Interesting enough, I once did this "Sumatra gambit" in WitP. I was able to hold out until mid July 1942 and when my opponent took Palembang the oil was 90% damaged. That was the end of the game. I did read some of Nemos AAR and had to modify my original plan a bit to account for the differences in WitP and AE.

If I were to do the Mersing gambit, I would probably land a division at Kuantan and set up an airbase there as quick as possible. You can usually do it in three turns, and they can cap your Mersing invasion TFs. Plus, you need to bring at least 3 divisions to Mersing, and yes full ones, not regiment equivalents. I was lucky in that I spotted an amphibious TF three days out from Mersing and put all my units I could into Strat mode and moved them to Singapore. That has made Singapore a bit stronger and of course sinking some of their ships with troops on them helped.

One thing that is interesting is that my adjusted defense value grew in those two turns despite my moving parts of the 9th and 11th Indian Inf Div to Palembang.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I just read your whole AAR. The situation at Singapore has some poor planning on your opponents part. From my experience, launching attacks which have too many infantry regiments vs whole divisions is not wise. They have just the 5th Division and multiple regiments. Not good if the siege is not ended soon. I've had almost a whole regiment disabled in failed attacks. [:(]

I'm playing PBEM Scen 2 as Japan with non-historical start. I sent Kaga to Camranh Bay and eventually made her a floating fighter platform to cover Mersing. I took Singapore on 31 Dec 41, but had sent 6 divisions to Malaya. Your southern Sumatra strategy seems to be from the "Nemo" textbook.

Since they are using two extra divisions (21 & 33) on Luzon, there is a part of me that wonders if Hawaii is going to be on the menu soon. Were you able to get significant supplies into Bataan??  

I was able to get about 35k supplies into Bataan; so that redoubt may hold for a very long time. The base AV is down to 120 at Clark (IJA = 900); so you can see if they would just slow the pace for a few days, they would be able to take the base. Now after five consecutative days of ever poorer Deliberate attacks, I suspect the units there will take a while to restore themselves.

I am planning on the HI invasion. Not that I necessarily think that they will but just making my dispositions such to meet that possibility. Right now defense is built around PH and Hilo. Once a few more PP become available I will garrison Lahaina and Lihue.

[vettim89]

31 December 1941

The Allies survive the first month of the war actually ahead of the historical model (barely). Singers holds and Clark Field holds albeit both bases are in trouble. The IJA finally bombards for a turn. The Japanese have taken Rabaul, all of PNG, plus PM. The have occupied Kavieng, the Shortlands, and Tulagi but no other bases in the Solomons/Bismarks. They took Ocean and Nauru Islands plus the Gilberts. Even though they took Johnston Island, we still hold Wake and Guam. No moves on Midway as of yet either nor toward the Line Islands, Fiji, or Samoa.

Ken can speak to the DEI but with a few exceptiosn they are way behind where they should be especially on Borneo.


I still think the aggressive moves in the PI and in Malaya were intially aimed at quickly removing those theatres from their "to do" list. Unfortunately things have not gone quite as well for the Japanese as what I have to believe they originally had hoped.

Even though we are still perfroming the requisite AFB duty of taking it on the chin at this point in the war, we are still dealing out a lot of damage. While it is not enough to really stop the Japanese steamroller, I do beleive they will eventually feel the pinch especially if we keep hitting their shipping the way we have

[Nomad]

As December, 1941 fades into the past, I am reasonably happy with what has transpired. On the last turn of the month, they flew a ground attack on Singapore. Didn't do much, I still have about 44,900 supply there. 99 Sallys disabled 8 non combat squads.

In Southern Sumatra I have 117,000 supply stored with no spoilage anywhere.