Onto the breach - Da Big Babes (where are the babes?)

[vicberg]

Yes, it's one more game between WITPQS and me. Yes, he's kicked my proverbial butt again, but yes, I'm at it for more. Witpqs has the turn and will take some time to return...

Lessons Learned
After 3 vodka cranberries, not a lot. But I can say that Witpqs loves to stack up in defense (or attack) and my goal this game (early war) is to prevent that. I know that this is a short term objective for China, but everywhere else, it's central to my strategy. In China, it's do as much damage as possible and then maneuver.

House Rules
- Japs can modify initial TFs (including fast ones), create new ones and change targets. It makes no sense to play an ahistorical start with historical TF loadouts.
- Allies cannot form new TFs, but can change orders for TFs at sea
- Allies cannot change orders for air squadrons in Luzon and PH...they can in malaysia and DEI, but no transfers
- Cap at 25k maximum for both sides
- Thai and Indian units may move outside 3 hexes of their borders
- Full PP for transfers (no sub-unit transfers for cheap)
- No strat bombing in or out of china until 44
- There's more, but I'm too bored typing to write them...they are minor if you care.

Objectives
- SRA (duh)
- Burma (duh)
- Luzon (double duh)
- Sopac or OZ based on success..Sopac if my progress is sucky and OZ if good

Plans
Gotta love plans...their whole purpose is to get messed with by the other guy. So I have to lay out my plans before this game starts and see how messed up they get. Remember my goal is to not allow stacking wherever possible, so in that vein and on a serious note, I've been too used to economy of force in multiple areas because of scenario 2...this failed miserably in scenario 28 in my previous game...so Witpqs has forced me to actually plan...OMG...how novel. Sucky scenario that actually requires planning...especially after 3 vodka cranberries.

If you are taking me seriously, then scenario 28 Da Big Babes, is a great scenario...just don't drink as much...

More on the plans coming....

[vicberg]

Operation MacArthur Sucks
The operation is relatively simple. Prevent massive stacking on Clark by attacking multiple locations and preventing retreat to Clark. Elements of the 2 divs I've committed to the operation will focus on Clark and destroy it. If this is successful, then the rest of Luzon should fall quickly. But the best laid plans....

To make this happen, initial aerial assaults will include air field attacks on Bataan, Clark and Manilla. Iba is being passed on the air attacks because I want the airfield intact. The KB will launch a full port attack on Manilla to annhilate any potentital allied threat to the operation. Paratroopers will land on Cabnatuan to insure that allied retreats are away from Clark. Each amphib TF has ample sub and surface escorts. I'll be splitting these away turn two to protect the amphib fleets...

How can Witpqs screw with this
Surface Combat TFs can mess with this big time. The PT boats can force retreats and cause a heck of a lot of havoc. Hopefully, the KB port strike will take out much of the threat

[vicberg]

Operation MacArthur Sucks - Phase 2

This part of the operation calls for shock attacks throughout Luzon and a Paradrop by the 3rd Yokosuka Paratroopers on Clark. We have HRs about landing fragments, so I've switched the drop to the 3rd Yososuka. Ignore the clerical error in the provided document. The clerk has been transferred to a front line combat unit. This unit's purpose is to prevent retreat to Clark by occupying Clark.

[vicberg]

Phase 3 of MacArthur Sucks calls for ground bombardments to prevent movement to Clark, elements of 2 Divs to land at Iba and move to Clark and the movement on Manilla to hopefully stop all unit movement to Clark and stop supply production as well

I lay this out because plans are fun to draw up but often rife with flaws....we shall see.

[vicberg]

Operation Not Again
The goals of this operations are to 1) not allow Singapore to stack up and 2) hit Palembang first turn to prevent stack up.  Ancillary parts of this operations are transfer of the Imperial Division and elements of the 55th division from Thailand to north Malaysia for push to the south.  Landing of the 18th div on Kota Bharu.  Invasions in Mersing, Palembang and Singkawang.  The Mersing invasion is limited.  Enough to take Mersing and block the rail line.  I'm expecting transport lossess.  I've discussed this with Witpqs before and he doesn't consider a first turn Mersing attack gamey.  Nor do I.  Palembang is to secure the base before buildup.  Singkawang is to support both Mersing and Palembang. 

How can Witpqs screw with this
Is this aggressive?  Yep.  Could this go wrong in many ways?  Yep.  But I believe this can work.  First, there's so many targets in the region that the Naval Air can't focus on any one spot.  Second there's 3 SCTFs in the area.  3rd, it really all depends on what he does with force Z...move north? Protect Palembang?  Move south to Batvia...time will tell

[vicberg]

The final phase of this is to isolate Java. I would love to do Balikpan, but it's really a death trap. Many Dutch SCTFS, plenty of subs...so I'm dodging stage left to Kendari.

Follow up operations will commence on Koepang to further isloate java and dominate North OZ as well as ancillary invasions on ternate to provide a bit of support.

[vicberg]

There's more plans for China....I'll include them later...we'll see how plans and reality cross....

[vicberg]

More pre-war planning as I await Witpqs....

This is the plan for north china...Move to Yenan...nail unit along the rail line south of Yenan...mass stacks to take the rail line between Sinyang and Chengchow.

I've realized in China that stacking is the name of the game...at the same time I want to continue the strategy of hitting him before he stacks. Once stacked, I'll need to move to a maneuver war.

My ultimate goal in China is to secure the LOC from Vietnam to Shanghai. So there will be no northward thrusts or attempts at Sian, unless opportunity presents.

Taking Yenan, moving units south of Yenan and thrusts to secure the rail line to Sinyang will extend his troops a bit...in the mean time, I'll fortify and then transfer forces to where I wish to concentrate an attack

[Nomad]

Here, just for you:

[Nomad]

ORIGINAL: vicberg

Operation Not Again
The goals of this operations are to 1) not allow Singapore to stack up and 2) hit Palembang first turn to prevent stack up.  Ancillary parts of this operations are transfer of the Imperial Division and elements of the 55th division from Thailand to north Malaysia for push to the south.  Landing of the 18th div on Kota Bharu.  Invasions in Mersing, Palembang and Singkawang.  The Mersing invasion is limited.  Enough to take Mersing and block the rail line.  I'm expecting transport lossess.  I've discussed this with Witpqs before and he doesn't consider a first turn Mersing attack gamey.  Nor do I.  Palembang is to secure the base before buildup.  Singkawang is to support both Mersing and Palembang. 

How can Witpqs screw with this
Is this aggressive?  Yep.  Could this go wrong in many ways?  Yep.  But I believe this can work.  First, there's so many targets in the region that the Naval Air can't focus on any one spot.  Second there's 3 SCTFs in the area.  3rd, it really all depends on what he does with force Z...move north? Protect Palembang?  Move south to Batvia...time will tell

One thing to keep in mind, he can not move force 'Z' into Palembang, it is a river movement.

While Mersing on turn 1 is a slight bit gamey to me, not terrible though, Palembang on turn one really would be a gamey move. Just my opinion.

[jrcar]

Thanks, some interesting bits, I like plans Remember the benefit isn't the plan itself but the process of planning

I'm a bit more cautious at start until you can beat up the enemy SCTF... once you have done this or chased them away it is really time to ramp up a notch...

As Allies I love it when the enemy extends forward without adequete support!

Cheers

Rob

[jrcar]

Oh a lesson isn't learned until you stop repeating it... otherwise it is just an observation.

Cheers

Rob

[vicberg]

Witps and I have discussed already...as long as invasions are in the same "time zone"...neither of us consider to be gamey.  Allies can move force Z just before palembang.  They can also move to Skingkawang...sit where they are at and then strike...
 
It was a surprise to the allies.  It's doubtful the allies could have done much other than guess as to where the invasions where going to occur.  In our game  TF's at sea (allied) can move wherever they want (so they can defend, should they guess and choose to) and air units in malaysia can be given attack orders (different from what was originally assigned)...so it's not a complete surprise...but it is a guessing game.
 
TBH, I really don't understand the "gameyness" issue.  I've read about it for a while now.  The idea that it's ok to suprise Khota Bharu but not a few hundred miles to the south when the japanese could have struke either place just as easily is hard to believe.
 
I would like to know more why people feel first turn mersing is gamey?  I don't get it.   
 
 

[vicberg]

Hopefully, I have enough support, both in naval, air and AF units, etc...ya never quite know what your opponent will do, but a BB TF and 2 Cruiser TFs in south malaysia should be enough.  KB and Mini-KB will be close by.  If any one attack goes wrong, the other two SCTFs can support, and always with the KB.  Once again though, plans plans plans don't equate with reality.  We'll see.  I'm willing to accept losses because I've seen what can happen when the allies can stack up, especially in swamps!
 
I'm in a 2x2 with prestor John and we are up against fortress Palembang.  OMG...77 units PLUS...swamp...probably fortified beyond belief...yikes...it's going to take a long time to pound through it especially since we can't bomb out their supply easily.  In the mean time, our opponents are starting to nip at our exteriors because we are totally focused on sumatra...not good.

[jrcar]

I think Mersing is just "plausible". The Brits were tracking the invasion TF, looking to see if it would go, they lost track of it... but even if they had of kept track, they lacked the Command and Control, and forces, to actually do anything about it...except for Force Z.

So allowing force Z free range is a reasonable compromise. I also allow Allied players to reset their air units as well.

Cheers
Rob

[vicberg]

My point exactly.  In so much as the PH attack was a complete surprise, that same surprise should be expanded to virtually every other spot in the SRA (time zone rule that Witpqs employed makes a LOT of sense).   The allies weren't exactly combat ready at the time and the confusion shown at PH would, in all chance, happen elsewhere. 
 
To avoid this feeling of gameyness, the best thing would be that each spot (PH included) have a low to very low chance to spot the attack...another interim action would allow the allies to respond with whatever they felt like, and the japanese forces would be given a chance to respond (either via user controlled or computer controlled)...not likely to happen in our lifetimes from a development standpoint.  So IMO, the surprise turn should occur wherever the japanese focus (time zone rule included).  It's really the only japanese advantage.  Past the first turn, it goes downhill quickly (not minimizing the japanese uber plane production, etc...)
 

[jrcar]

History shows the Japanese didn't have strategic suprise, but they did have tactical, everywhere (even if in the Philippines it was luck).

In Malaya though the C2 (what C2...)/Rules of engagement means that nothing could be done until they landed.

The Allies were as ready as they could get given the military/political situation.

Cheers

Rob

[vicberg]

December 8th, 1941.

The first day went flawlessly. Only damage so far is a hit to cruiser (10 sys, 11 float) at palembang. I doubt that this next day will be quite as smooth, but so far, everything is in place.

The major focus of attack is Singkawang, Palembang and Mersing. I debated on doing all three at once vs. one, but decided on all 3 for the following reasons: Fortress Palembang is ugly. In my 2x2 PBEM, there's 66 allied units on Palembang, probably fort level 4 minimum and it's going to take at least one to two months more to take it (guessing). Singkawang is being done to support Palembang and Mersing is limited in order to cut the rail line. One of the nice things about doing this is that allied naval air has to split against multiple targets, so they can't stack up and destroy any one area. On turn 3, sufficient air power will be transfered to Palembang and Singkawang to defend the territory and attack allied assets in the region.

Part of this includes ground bombards on units north of singapore to prevent strategic movement south. The Imperial Guard Division and other elements are strategic moving down from Thailand to Singora. The other invasion elements landed (all of them) from Samah in Khota Bharu. This causes higher losses than a transport to Singora, but it gets all the troops ashore quicker, so I'm willing to accept the losses.

I've pulled the Singkawang SCTF and Amphib off Singkawang for a turn...I was tempted to leave them there, but worried that Force Z could easily reach it. I'm hoping that Witpqs tries because the nells/betties in Saigon could attack force Z on turn 2 and on turn 3, those squadrons will be moving down to palembang and could catch force Z in transit to batavia. I'm guessing Witpqs will continue moving his SCTFs down to java. However, if he's not careful, I'll be able to port attack from palembang and/or kendari. This is another good reason for a turn 1 attack on palembang.

[vicberg]

The other side of java is covered by Kendari. There will be follow up invasions in Ternate, Manado, then Ambon and Koepang.

This area I'm worried about for another week. A cruiser TF and a single CVL is covering this invasion. The BBs and CVL from the home islands is in route but about a week away.

It's goal is to harass and sink shipping in Balikpan and Soerabaja.

[vicberg]

And finally, the more complex of the initial turn operations, Luzon.

This next turn will be interesting to see how many shipping losses I take. The PT boats from Manilla and the DDs from Hong Kong can create some havoc. However, the allied DDs stopped one away from one of my SCTF forces...hopefully it will be intercepted tomorrow. Also, I've formed another CA SCTF and putting it one hex between Iba and Lingayen. A 3rd DD sctf has been formed and will by 1 hex off Bataan. Between these and another port strike, this should keep the allied combat ships at bay.

This was a port and air strike on Manilla from Takao

Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
G3M2 Nell x 36
G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
AO Trinity, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD John D. Ford, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Neptuna, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
TK La Estrella Caltex, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS Sealion, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
SS S-40, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS Sculpin, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
DD Peary, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS S-41, Bomb hits 1
SS Permit, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
xAK Cape Fairweather, Bomb hits 1
xAKL Bisayas, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS S-38, Bomb hits 1
SS Seal, Bomb hits 2
AV Langley, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AM Bittern, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AM Tanager, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Pillsbury, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
SS Spearfish, Bomb hits 1
ACM Colonel Harrison, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Pike, Bomb hits 1
AVD Childs, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PT-34, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS Skipjack, Bomb hits 1
TK Mindanao, Bomb hits 1
SS Perch, Bomb hits 1
YO-41, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS Stingray, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
SS Sturgeon, Bomb hits 1

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

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 13
Runway hits 58
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 3

This was the KB port strike

Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 44
B5N2 Kate x 144
D3A1 Val x 135



Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-4 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
AM Whippoorwill, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Hai Kwang, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Peary, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Spearfish, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AO Trinity, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Perch, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS Salmon, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
xAK American Leader, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Finch, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SS Seal, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS Stingray, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
AV Langley, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Ethel Edwards, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Shark, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
DD Pope, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Sailfish, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
xAP President Madison, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS Sargo, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
SS S-41, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SS Permit, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Cape Fairweather, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SS Sturgeon, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
PT-33, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Capillo, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Compagnia Filipinas, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Seawolf, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
SS Skipjack, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
xAKL Anakan, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
SS Swordfish, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
TK Mindanao, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
SS Pike, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Tantalus, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
PG Asheville, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Snapper, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS Sealion, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
AM Quail, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
DD Pillsbury, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AO Pecos, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SS Tarpon, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
SS Saury, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Yu Sang, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PT-41, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS Sculpin, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AVD Childs, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AS Otus, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS S-38, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AS Canopus, Bomb hits 1, on fire
ARD YFD-1 Dewey, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
PG Isabel, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PT-31, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS Searaven, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS Pickerel, Bomb hits 1
xAP Don Esteban, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS Porpoise, Bomb hits 1
PT Q-113, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PT Q-112, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Sagoland, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AM Lark, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAKL Bisayas, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Repair Shipyard hits 5
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 28
Port hits 15
Port fuel hits 5
Port supply hits 1

One more port strike should pretty much destroy anything else in Manilla. There were also air attacks on Manilla, Clark and Bataan. These averaged around 80 hits per base.

Tomorrow will see a paradrop into clark to prevent retreat from Iba. If this works, and the attacking units in Iba successfully cause a retreat, then the Iba units should be eliminated. I've talked with Witpqs about this already to insure that it's not "gamey" and neither of us consider paratroops to cut retreat as gamey.

There will be a mixture of ground and air attacks in Bataan and Manilla. The ground attacks are to slow movement. If successful, I might be able to get 2 divs into Iba and then Clark before he can move significant troops into it.