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

[vettim89]

1 January 1942

A very quiet day. An I-Boat is attacked off the Canadian coast by a couple of KV but does not suffer any damage. "Carrier Aircraft Spotted over Suva" message is seen twice which makes me believe there is an invasion in the works soon. The Houston/Boise TF drifts a little east just in case but far enough south to hopefully avoid the IJN CVTF. I had to put the ANZAC cruisers off line to get all there accumulated damage repairded at AUckland. However CA Australia and CL Marblehead are both about ready to go at Sydney. It may all be academic because if KB is in the neighborhood, nobody is going anywhere near Fiji. Don't want to jinix myself but this could play into our hands nicely

[vettim89]

2 January 1942

A RO-Boat is lurking off Johnston Island and was attacked as my SCTF passed by on the way to bombard. It only took one hit but is was a direct hit with a fire critical. Johnston Island damage is AB: 82, port 27 now. Was looking at the abysmal replacement rates for USAAC/USN/USMC a/c. It will be a while before I will even have most squadrons filled up let alone ready to commit to battle. A lone xAK is about 400 nm east of Wake. If she makes it she will pull the VMF out of there.

The Japanese are invading Luganville. They should take it next turn. I suspect KB is lurking off to the NE so I will not try to intervene. I suspect this was a trap just like the one where I lost Lex. I have learned my lesson. Still having the IJN CVTF in the SoPac means it is not in the DEI. This has given Ken a free hand to do his Sumatra thing.

The Enterprise TF is at Auckland but will make its way to Sydney to rep up a bit. Asiatic Fleet (a remnant of it any way) is there to help out. Sara and Yorktown sit at San Diego. Sara's airgroup arrived a bit below the rest of the CAG's so we are doing some training. The first two convoys with supplies and fuel will arrive Auckland within days.

[Nomad]

Very little happening in the West right now. I am continuing to move units to Southern Sumatra. I lost an empty xAP outside of Balikipapen which was moving to Tarakan. I lost a couple of Buffalos and a H83 defending Palembang. I put up more aircraft this turn to see if I can down more than 1 A6M2.

[bigred]

2. PP must be paid for units to cross national boundaries

Are you paying the full price or the HQ work around technique at 25% of regular cost?

[stuman]

Interesting AAR.

I need to mention that some people in your audience would appreciate more actual pinups posted to your thread.

Or so I have been told.

[Nomad]

ORIGINAL: bigred

2. PP must be paid for units to cross national boundaries

Are you paying the full price or the HQ work around technique at 25% of regular cost?

I strongly object your inflammatory and derogatory use of the term "work around." Before you start insinuating that people are somehow cheating, you should have some knowledge of the facts.

1. Knil Army Command is assigned to Far East Cmd(ABDA). Note that ABDA = Australian, British, Dutch, American forces. So changing the command of a unit assigned to the Knil Army Command to Far East Cmd(ABDA) is just moving it up the chain.

2. I am moving Dutch units assigned to Knil Army Command, that are at a base commanded by Knil Army Command, to another base that is commanded by Knil Army Command. I really shouldn't have to pay any PPs for this move, but in order to move them by ship, I must. It is a limitation of the game, one they developers tried to change but could not find a complete solution.

As a final point, just what command do you think would be more appropriate to use?

Please, go troll some other thread.

[witpqs]

I guess it should be noted that the developers put it in there on purpose and it was designed into the stock scenarios with knowledge of the 4 to 1 ratio of points (they have posted this). Over time various opinions have emerged among players, but it's there on purpose; not an exploit.

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

I guess it should be noted that the developers put it in there on purpose and it was designed into the stock scenarios with knowledge of the 4 to 1 ratio of points (they have posted this). Over time various opinions have emerged among players, but it's there on purpose; not an exploit.

My take on this is that the designers made the concious decision that the Japanese should be able to run amok the first few months of the war while deliberately limiting the Allies ability to respond. Japan has godlike knowledge of the initial Allied dispositions while the Allies have most of the decent units in restricted commands that bar them from significantly changing those dispositions. In other words, we need all the help we can get.

3-4 January

Luganville falls to a Co, size unit on the 3rd. I am thinking this might be a sub based invasion - interesting. The IJN showed up at Nadi in Fiji. You can see they brought a sizable force. I initially sent a SCTF up to intervene before NavSearch revealed the force I was against. They run south now.

My AK arrived Wake Island only to find it cannot dock. Poor planning on my part. I am sending an AKL. Other then the constant air/naval bombarding of Johnston Isl., things are very slow in this part of the theatre. I did spot an I-Boat of SF. My patrol a/c are not quite there yet as far as training.

I moved another Catalina unit up to Cairns. They will try to pull all the small CO. sized units out of PNG and the Bismarks. Every little bit counts. I need to be patient. Once I get some units down to oz, I plan to establish a base in the Iron Range to allow my B-17's to hit PM.

[Nomad]

Another quiet turn. Not much happening. No attack at Singapore this turn.

[Q-Ball]

I just caught up, but interesting what is happening on Malaya

1. Your opponents really short-changed Malaya in favor of Luzon. This is a mistake. Singapore is far more important; it's a MUST TAKE.

2. I agree on the Mersing gambit; landing turn 1 is gamey, but a great strategy to me is:
a. Land a force at Kuantan turn 3 or so, establish an airbase. Maybe use the forces ticketed for Khota Bharu.
b. Land everyone else at Mersing the first week or so.

My AAR against Dan, I wish I had landed at Mersing; I would have closed Singapore out a couple weeks earlier than I did.

[vettim89]

5 January 1942

Well the Japanese landed at Suva too. Ken and I both agree this makes no sense. It does not take long to march from Nandi to Suva. Why take all the disablements and disruptions from the second landing? You can tell from the cursor intel that the IJN came in force. Wish my carriers where down here now as KB is parked in the Nandi port hex. Glad I turned my SCTF around as they would have been slaughtered.

The unit count dropped to 1 at Bataan. Still 23 at Clark. Not sure what is going on here. I ordered one unit to bombard to see what he left behind.

[Nomad]

Well, after a bit of a delay we are moving again. One of the Japanese players had too many RL commitments to continue so a replacement player has been found.

January 6, 1942 and little really happened on my side of the map. I am continuing to move units to Palembang and building the forts up. I lost a small xAP off Soerabaja, but at least it was empty.

[vettim89]

6 January 1942

The Japanese cotinue to unload at Fiji. The two Inf RGT at Suva try a deliberate attack and fall 1 AS point short of a 1 to 1 attack. Level 2 forts are untouched. KB remains parked in the port hex of Nadi. Oh for some carriers when you need them. That said, they would probably react out of the hex and my CV's would just die. Best not to have the temptation

CV Enterprise is 80 nm east of Sydney. The minor SYST will be repped up before sending her out again. The first supply convy will arrive AUckland next trun. Fuel is about three days behind.

As Ken said, we have a new opponent. Now we will have to wait and collect intel on his playing style. I mentioned to Ken that I feel like we almost have a unfair advantage. Our now opponent is bound to the Fiji invasion in the short term. Then he will have to decide if he will continue the old strategy, modify it, or abandon it completely. This, I hope, will give us time to firm up our defenses

[Nomad]

January 9, 1942.

I am not sure what my opponent was trying to do, but I like the results.
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Naval Gun Fire at Singapore - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

133 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 35, Mine hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Maya, Shell hits 18, Mine hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kuma, Shell hits 17, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Natori, Shell hits 5, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatakaze, Shell hits 3, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Harukaze, Shell hits 3, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Minazuki, Shell hits 5, Mine hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Satsuki, Shell hits 3, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage



Singapore Fortress firing at CA Ashigara
CA Ashigara firing at Singapore Fortress
Singapore Fortress firing at CA Maya
CA Maya firing at Singapore Fortress
Singapore Fortress firing at CL Kuma
CL Kuma firing at Singapore Fortress
Singapore Fortress firing at CL Natori
CL Natori firing at Singapore Fortress
Singapore Fortress firing at DD Hatakaze
Singapore Fortress firing at DD Harukaze
DD Harukaze firing at Singapore Fortress
Singapore Fortress firing at DD Minazuki
DD Minazuki firing at Singapore Fortress
Singapore Fortress firing at DD Satsuki
DD Satsuki firing at Singapore Fortress


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TF 92 encounters mine field at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Ships
DD Minazuki, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Ashigara, Mine hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Maya, Mine hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage



2 mines cleared


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Day Time Surface Combat, near Singapore at 50,84, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Japanese Ships
CA Maya, and is sunk
CA Ashigara, and is sunk
CL Natori, and is sunk
CL Kuma, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Satsuki, and is sunk
DD Minazuki, and is sunk
DD Harukaze, and is sunk
DD Hatakaze, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall
CA Exeter
CL Dragon
CL Durban
CL Ceres
CL Glasgow
CL Caledon



Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 24,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
Both TF attempt to withdraw!
Range increases to 30,000 yards...
Both Task Forces evade combat


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And before all that, I bombarded Johore Bahru

Night Naval bombardment of Johore Bahru at 50,83

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-I Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
CA Exeter
CA Cornwall
CL Caledon
CL Glasgow
CL Ceres
CL Durban
CL Dragon

Japanese ground losses:
408 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled



Resources hits 1
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 56
Port hits 13
Port fuel hits 7
Port supply hits 2

Walrus II acting as spotter for CA Exeter
CA Exeter firing at Johore Bahru
CA Cornwall firing at Johore Bahru
CL Caledon firing at Johore Bahru
CL Glasgow firing at Johore Bahru
CL Ceres firing at Imperial Guards Division
CL Durban firing at Imperial Guards Division
CL Dragon firing at Johore Bahru


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Else where, not much happened.

[vettim89]

7-9 January 1942

Three days of the Allies playing their role as a Japanese punching bag. Highlights (lowlights?)

* Japan takes an empty vigan on the 6th

* A single shock attack on the 7th obliterates the defenders at Manila

* Nadi falls on the 6th

* Japan invades and takes Batan Island and the island immediately to the NW (why not just take one and let the rowboat corps take the rest)

* Baby KB appears off Guam (KB is still off Suva at least through the 8th). Troops coming ashore on the 9th

* Stephen is more methodic than Tonguc and with only one remaining airframe, I disbanded the last P-40 unit at Bataan

On the good news front

* I-1 is engaged off the WCUSA and takes at least two hits.

* Damaged AS Canopus is passing through the Bali Strait heading for Perth. Unless she runs afoul of a sub, she should make it to Oz where she will be repaired and then sent to Auckland. Once that is done she will support my S-Boats off Suva and the New Hibrides.

* I heard gurgling noises associated with SS Salmon's three attacks on an AKE south of Okinawa.

And Ken has some amazing news but I won't steel his thunder

Now I need the PP to accumulate so I can start moving forces forward to defend Oz and NZ. At this point we have no way of knowing if the Fiji operation was just a land grab of a prelude to a deeper drive south by out opponents.

[vettim89]

10 January 1942

The Japanese get their act together, sort of....

Japan takes Guam and Bubuyan today. They are also coming ashore at Gau Island and Kandavu Island in Fiji as well as Feni Island. KB appears Se of Pago Pago and obliterates a small convoy that was offloading supply after delivering a Marine DB there. No other TF's are anywhere near Pago Pago so this is a one time hit. Funny thing is I had more lift arrive at Balboa this turn than was destroyed in Samoa.

With KB away, I am sending a SCTF up towards Fiji to try to interdict some traffic there. If I lose track of KB, they will run back to Auckland.

I-1 Took another penetrating hit off LA/SD. This may be her doom if FOW isn't lying to me as it is a long way to anywhaer where she can even pump out.

Adventuresome Japanese make challenging opponents but if they don't get they act together as far as taking the DEI, they will regret it

[Nomad]

January 10, 1942 and not much happened in the West. One thing I didn't understand
was this attack:
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Night Air attack on Palembang , at 48,91

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 19


Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 9 damaged



Aircraft Attacking:
19 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes


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

Why use valuable Nells, at extended range, to make a night port attack?
Anyway, I put up a night CAP to see if I can down a few if they return.

[JWE]

Hi guys,

So how them Netties holding up with the reduced AvSup? Saw some places where they might have gotten some ops hits, or other damage. Just curious.

Ciao. J

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: JWE

Hi guys,

So how them Netties holding up with the reduced AvSup? Saw some places where they might have gotten some ops hits, or other damage. Just curious.

Ciao. J

Just casually I would say what we see is that Japanese air power cannot be ubiquitous, i.e., they can not be active on all fronts as once. So we may see activity out of Malaya right now and some over the PI but little elsewhere. A week ago we saw action over New Britain but not since. Would not surprise me if I was so bold that a raid on the Marshalls would find them relatively devoid of large air units right now. I know in a year or so, we will be in the same situation where we have pelnty of airframes but fewer bases with enough air support to house them

[vettim89]

11 January 1942

Japan continues to consolidate its gains. Gau, Kenduva, and Feni Island all fall. The Japenese are coming ashore at Manus and another one of the little island north of Luzon (Haven't these guys heard of the Row Boat Corps?). All IJN CVTF are off grid. I pulled back my SCTF from the raid on Fiji for a turn or two to see if they pop up again.

A RCN ASW force hits I-5 off the coast of Victoria landing 4 non-penetrating hits. As Eng BTN is loaded and heading to Tahiti to expand the facilities there. THis is an important way point now that the Japanese hold Fiji. Will become even more important if the strike further south or east.

I don't care what Mr. Gecko says, greed is not always good. The IJA followed up it's Deliberate Attack at Suva yesterday where casualties were 1000 for them to 750 for us with a Shock attack today. The Forts are now reduced to 1, but as you can see it cost them. Time and again we see our opponents rushing. Are they in a hurry to wrap up the initial ops or just impatient? Time will tell.

I am using patrol a/c to pull the remaining units out of PNG. The Japanese have not landed anywhere other than PM and Buna