Aussies v Aussies - Clubbing baby seals (no AOFFEN or Mark)

[jrcar]

NY59Giants, thanks at the moment they divs are spread out doing various tasks... it will take days to concentrate them.


22 Jan 1942
Subs
We continue to chase and hit their subs from the air.

Burma
We chase the Burmese units Nth:

Ground combat at 58,50 (near Toungoo)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 675 troops, 0 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

Defending force 1608 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 63

Japanese adjusted assault: 49

Allied adjusted defense: 13

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1

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


Allied ground losses:
521 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
6th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
12th Burma Rifles Battalion
10th Burma Rifles Battalion
1st Burma Brigade

The B-17D are annoying, but we want to shoot them down now if we can...

Morning Air attack on 14th Tank Regiment, at 56,52 , near Pegu

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 1



Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 7


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 2 damaged


Malaya
Temeloh falls, but they hav recaptured an unoccupied Kota Bahru.

Ground combat at Temuloh (50,78)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3632 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Defending force 161 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 30

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 30 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Temuloh !!!

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


Allied ground losses:
87 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1
Units destroyed 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
11th Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
FMSV Brigade
3rd ISF Base Force

DEI
No Change. Sorting out TF's, supplies and recovering strength at Tarakan.

Starting to realise how many supplies the Oil refineries produce... need to organise shipping.

Philippines

Zamboanga Falls.

Ground combat at Zamboanga (75,89)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 7818 troops, 70 guns, 161 vehicles, Assault Value = 350

Defending force 334 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Japanese adjusted assault: 487

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 487 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Zamboanga !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

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

Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
417 casualties reported
Squads: 24 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 46 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2


Assaulting units:
Kure 2nd SNLF
8th Tank Regiment
146th Infantry Regiment
Sasebo 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
4th/101st PA Battalion
4th PI Base Force

SWPAC
Despite having some DMS a CA kits a mine and is light-moderately damaged as it supports the unloading at Port Moresby.

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3135 troops, 41 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 150

Defending force 9027 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 265



Assaulting units:
49th Australian Battalion
Lark Battalion
Port Moresby Brigade
15th RAAF Base Force
Rabaul Det. Base Force

Defending units:
144th Infantry Rgt /2
61st Nav Gd /2
53rd Nav Gd /1
15th Base Force /2

KB is in the area, we will rest and make sure we are at 100% to take the base in a few days.


Cheers

Rob

[jrcar]

23 Jan 1942
Subs
No Change

Burma
We are advaning north on two axis. A battalion is flown into to Toungoo to advance up the inland route. We have cut across the back of Rangoon as well and it is now isolated.We will drop onto Prome and then Bassein to truely isolate Rangoon.

The B-17 don't visit today.

Malaya
No change.

DEI
No change.

Philippines
Their unit in our rear area tries to attack San Fernando, and fails. It is now trapped and its brief foray will be at an end an a couple of days.

SWPAC
They bombard at PM, the Allies have much better arty than us But give us a couple of days and we should be able to take it.

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3129 troops, 41 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 150

Defending force 9321 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 270

Japanese ground losses:
109 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Assaulting units:
Lark Battalion
49th Australian Battalion
Port Moresby Brigade
15th RAAF Base Force
Rabaul Det. Base Force

Defending units:
144th Infantry Regiment
53rd Naval Guard Unit
61st Naval Guard Unit
15th Base Force


China
Lots of minor action as we try to pin their forces in places and tidy up.

[jrcar]

We have had a busy couple of days cranking out turns!

24 Jan 1942
Subs
No Change. I think our ASW is slowly becoming more effective.

Burma
Prome Falls. We are advancing on Rangoon with the 33rd Div, and advaning north on three axis.

Some trapped forces try to break out...
Ground combat at 56,52 (near Pegu)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1635 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 60

Defending force 3626 troops, 57 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Allied adjusted assault: 58

Japanese adjusted defense: 126

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
216 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1


Assaulting units:
11th Burma Rifles Battalion
2nd Burma Brigade

Defending units:
112th Infantry Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion

Malaya
No change.

DEI
No Change

Philippines
We continue tobomb from the air and ground, and are slowly making headway. When the 19th Div arives in a couple of days, and a few other units are rested, the assault will begin again.

SWPAC
The first attack, supported by a lacklustre KB, fails.

Afternoon Air attack on Port Moresby Brigade, at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 115 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 49 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 144



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 15 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak


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


Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 9408 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 274

Defending force 5162 troops, 74 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 148

Japanese adjusted assault: 155

Allied adjusted defense: 141

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
436 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Allied ground losses:
623 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 42 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Assaulting units:
144th Infantry Regiment
53rd Naval Guard Unit
61st Naval Guard Unit
15th Base Force

Defending units:
49th Australian Battalion
Lark Battalion
Port Moresby Brigade
15th RAAF Base Force
Rabaul Det. Base Force

China
No Change. We plan to buy out some air units from Manchuria to support a renewed attack towards Sian.

[jrcar]

Well work has been knocking me abut, we have done a number of interesting turns that I haven't had time to update, so here is a batch update.

25-30 Jan 1942

Subs
Our subs have done good during this period. Theirs have launched lots of attacks, in particular around PM, but either have missed or have been duds, and two of their subs were hit in reprisals.

Sub attack near Perth at 49,146

Japanese Ships
SS I-123

Allied Ships
xAKL Chungking, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage

Sub attack near Albany at 52,154

Japanese Ships
SS I-153

Allied Ships
xAK La Cordillera, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Bengalen
AM Whippoorwill

Burma
We have advanced deep into central Burma, and look to have cut off some forces at Taun Gyi. We have trapped a large number of units in Rangoon, their is no escape. Our inital attacks have been good, but we are resting the 33rd div now waiting for a bit more force to finish it.

In return they have advanced with a unit into Thailand cutting of Chiang Mai. But we have plenty of supplies and two Thai div are advancing to clean them up.

Ground combat at 58,49 (near Taung Gyi)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 675 troops, 0 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 57

Defending force 1109 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 42

Japanese adjusted assault: 24

Allied adjusted defense: 4

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1

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


Allied ground losses:
607 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 3


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
6th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
12th Burma Rifles Battalion
10th Burma Rifles Battalion
1st Burma Brigade

Ground combat at Rangoon (54,53)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12902 troops, 159 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 439

Defending force 6329 troops, 78 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 242

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 622

Allied adjusted defense: 309

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1167 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 51 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled


Allied ground losses:
215 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
33rd Division
15th Army
55th Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
1st Gloucestershire Battalion
4/14th Punjab Battalion
Rangoon BAF Battalion
9/11th Sikh Battalion
4/8th Gurkha Battalion
2nd King Own YLI Battalion
16th Indian Brigade
27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Ground combat at Rangoon (54,53)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12264 troops, 160 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 393

Defending force 6067 troops, 77 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 228

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 150

Allied adjusted defense: 219

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

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

Japanese ground losses:
756 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
327 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
33rd Division
15th Army
55th Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
Rangoon BAF Battalion
2nd King Own YLI Battalion
9/11th Sikh Battalion
4/8th Gurkha Battalion
4/14th Punjab Battalion
1st Gloucestershire Battalion
16th Indian Brigade
27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Here is the picture of Burma at 31 Jan.

[jrcar]

25-20 Jan 1942
Malaya
We have launched another attack at Singapore, but are now waiting for two more fresh regiments, which will be in location next turn.

We have recaptured Kuantan via amphib assault, destroying the reminat of the bde that we there., and generally cleaning up the rear area of enemy.

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35906 troops, 488 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 1208

Defending force 19413 troops, 280 guns, 105 vehicles, Assault Value = 242

Japanese adjusted assault: 687

Allied adjusted defense: 377

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
2119 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 158 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 121 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled


Allied ground losses:
1728 casualties reported
Squads: 45 destroyed, 84 disabled
Non Combat: 24 destroyed, 149 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 21 (3 destroyed, 18 disabled)


Assaulting units:
55th Infantry Regiment
16th Infantry Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
56th Engineer Regiment
II./124th Infantry Battalion
Imperial Guards Division
24th Infantry Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment
5th Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
2/17 Dogra Battalion
2nd Argylls Battalion
2nd Loyal Battalion
2nd Gordons Battalion
1st Manchester Battalion
Singapore Fortress
22nd Australian Brigade
SSVF Brigade
1st Malay Battalion
3/16th Punjab Battalion
111th RAF Base Force
29 Battery/3 HAA
Malaya Army
AHQ Far East
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
224 Group RAF
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
2/215th Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
109th RN Base Force
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
110th RAF Base Force
30 Battery/3 HAA
Malayan Air Wing
III Indian Corps
Singapore Base Force
5th Field Regiment

Ground combat at Kuantan (51,79)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3899 troops, 26 guns, 44 vehicles, Assault Value = 149

Defending force 1738 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 80

Japanese adjusted assault: 66

Allied adjusted defense: 13

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kuantan !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Allied ground losses:
2450 casualties reported
Squads: 127 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 108 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (12 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Assaulting units:
2nd Engineer Regiment
2nd Recon Regiment
Sasebo 3rd SNLF

Defending units:
8th Indian Brigade

Ground combat at 51,78 (near Kuantan)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3632 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Defending force 45 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 116

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 116 to 1

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


Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Assaulting units:
11th Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
3rd ISF Base Force

[jrcar]

25-30 Jan 1942

DEI
Pretty quiet. We are cleaning up the dot bases. We have rebuilt the units that took Tarakan over the week and they are now embarking for Samarinda then Balikpapan.

Java and Sumatra are waiting for Singapore to fall.

Philippines
We have tried one more attack, without a lot of success, but caused them a few thousand casulties. the 19th Div has arrived and ismoving into position at Clark. Another couple of turns and we should have enough AV to take the place.

Elsewhere we have cleaned up Mindanao and there are only a couple of areas left in the Philippines not under our control.

[jrcar]

25-30 Jan 1942
Australia
Mini KB raided Perth, however an unscheduled refueling stop gave the game away and the raid wasn't as succesful as it could have been...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Perth at 49,147

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 157 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 67 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
B5N1 Kate x 21



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Isis
DD Jupiter
DD Stewart, Bomb hits 1

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Perth at 49,147

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 122 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 52 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
B5N1 Kate x 41



No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Isis
DD Stewart
DD Jupiter
Afternoon Air attack on Perth , at 49,147

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 137 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 59 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
B4Y1 Jean x 10
B5N1 Kate x 41



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
xAKL De Haan, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS KXVI, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
SS O16, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AS Otus, Bomb hits 1, on fire


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


Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Morning Air attack on TF, near Albany at 51,153

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
B5N1 Kate x 11



No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AS Janssens, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Afternoon Air attack on Busselton , at 48,149

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
B5N1 Kate x 11



No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AGP Wega, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AVP Orion, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk



Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 3

Afternoon Air attack on Perth , at 49,147

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 136 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 58 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
B4Y1 Jean x 9
B5N1 Kate x 12



Japanese aircraft losses
B4Y1 Jean: 1 destroyed by flak
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged



Repair Shipyard hits 1
Manpower hits 2
Fires 2904
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1

Getting the AS was nice, and the two subs, but we missed the DD;'s and we spotted some tankers.

We are going to go away a bit then go deep cover for a few days and see what we can find...


Elsewhere our daily raids on Darwin continue, chewing supplies. We are not sure if we will eventually attack or not.

[jrcar]

25-30 Jan 1942

PACIFIC
Port Moresby sontinued to hold out... just, and some more forces are being comitted. It is a pain but not an issue, we have destroyed the surface combat ships in the area, they have no real airforce and we know ehere their CV's are (off Samoa).

In the last turn our AMC raiding forced cam across a convoy, but then daylight bought trouble...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 30, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Pago Pago at 148,161, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMC Aikoku Maru
AMC Hokoku Maru

Allied Ships
AM Bobolink, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Iron Knight, Shell hits 9, on fire
xAK Evi Livanos

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Upolu at 146,162

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 16
F4F-3 Wildcat x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AMC Aikoku Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Hokoku Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage


One AMC is sunk, the other moderately damaged, and probably won't make it.

KB is currently silent and fairly deep and in the vicinity... but not close enough.

We suspect the CV's were esorting a convoy to Suva (that our subs had detected) but they are now heading back East.

Auckland is being built and our subs there are being harassed by a 4 DD ASW Tf... a number of ships are reported in Harbour....

Decisions, deecisions!

[jrcar]

25-30 Jan 1942

China
In the north we are push deep chasing a shattered Corps.

In the centre we have cleaned up their forces (despite the fact they get them back at 1/3rd strength in a few months, it frees up our rear area forces).

We are concentrating for a push on Sian. Nanyang has been built from a level 1 airfield and is now 4 going to 5 and eventually 6. From here we can attack the capital, and dominate central China... when we have some more planes.

We will soon be able to amass around 3000AV, combined with the airsupport and plentiful supply we should be able to push forward...

The dotted lines show our intentions here... possibly aspirational...

[jrcar]

In the south we are trying to make a lot of noise to cover our actual weakness in this area... Although we have recently transferred a full strength Div across from the central front to take Kukong.

Inaddition to the starting forces we have comitted three, but only two remain (one was shipped out), SNLF to take the port cities. However we pulled out one Mixed Bde for Burma... so strength is about the same.

The circles indicate the objectives we are after... but no rush, we have taken the key locations we want.

Cheers

Rob

[jrcar]

Air Production

We are going fairly good, except for medium bombers. Naval attack aircraft are fine, and the fighters are coming on line nicely and we are converting a unit every week or so.

[jrcar]

Industry
We look to be going OK. Resources are being shipped well, but fuel and oil are starting to be a problem and are obviously the critical path. Miri and Tarakan are online, but the fuek is mostly being used locally. Need Balikpapan and Palembang to really get a boost. Our tankers are ready and we are gathering escorts for them.

Vehicle points are always critical. We continue to increase them though a bit at a time.

[ny59giants]

That is a lot of Zero and Oscars to produce. How is your expansion of Ha-35 engines going?? I'm playing scenario 2 and I'm up to 900 Ha-35 engines (Aug 42).

For vehicles, I would get them between 170 and 200. Use the LCU Production tab and then use the far right pull down to look ahead 180 days to see how many vehicles you will need. This is important as you get the 1st and 2nd Armor Division components in mid-42 and I was almost caught short. Your Army HQs suck them up also.

In the future, on posting your Air Production, I would use the "Status" as Build & R/D and sort by date. It makes it easier to see the important stuff.

[jrcar]

We are at 310 Ha-35, repairing 24 and have 42 in the pool. We should be able to turn off a Zero factory in a month or so, by then our main airgroups should be full. We want to be able to prosecute the airwar hard and early, and don't mind burning HI and supllies to give us the strategic depth we seek so we can go on the Defensive on the ground we want, not what we get... if that makes sense!

Thanks to on the Tracker info, I'm still getting the hang of it... it is a fantastic tool.

Cheers

Rob

[jrcar]

31 Jan 1942
Subs
We hit the Snapper twice.

Burma
We have now advanced to Mandalay, we attack next turn. At Rangoon we are waiting for an extra regiment to take the place.

Malaya
Two extra regiments have come up, we are well rested and will shock attack.

DEI
Still cleaning up dot bases.

We land at Samarinda next turn.

Philippines
2500 AV are now at Clark ready to attack.

Australia
Quiet

Pacific
Another Naval Guard is about to arrive at PM.

Sushhh we are hunting Wabbits...

Lots of shipping detected in Port at Wellington...

China
Moving into position.

Cheers

Rob

[jrcar]

01 Feb 1942

Two milestones and a real turning point in the Japanese game occured this turn.

Clark fell with all the forces surrendering as paras were dropped on Bataan.

Singapore fell around 14 days early.

Subs
Nothing significant. That had lots of dud torpedoes.

Burma
Mandalay fell easily.

Now need to pause while forces move into position.

Starting to ship supply and troops via the Malcca straits now that Singapore has gone.

Intened to free up some of the forces from singapore for Burma to help dig in.

B-17D's raid and cause light damage to an armoured unit. 1 B-17D is lost.


Malaya
Apart from Singapore we clean up one of the pockets of resistance. They manage to attack across the river into Kuantan with a starving Bde. The remenants of our amphib force hold them, but now we need to unload, clear the hex and reload for Palembang.

Only two hexes of the enemy to go and the peninsula is clear.

DEI
We land at Samarinda.

We continue to clean up dot bases.

The Tarakan force will take Samarinda, then Balikpapan then move onto Makassar then Koepang.

The dot base elements will consolodate and then take Ambon.

This should take another month in total. Then we can look at what in North Australia we are interested in...

Moving supply and fuel around.

Philippines
Clark falls, Bataan has about 380AV. We will move the whole force to Bataan and then clear the base. These force will then load for several Pacific destinations.

Ililio falls. Only Cebu and Tacloban (each has a Div) to go. Then we need to sort out garrisons.

Pacific
KB is detected off Noumea. It will head south then be recon pulled to a target.

Suva has been reinforced with some US troops and is a likely target for a smash and grab with the freed up Philippines forces...

China
No real change.

[Cribtop]

Oh, my. Taking both the PI and Singapore this early leaves you with lots of strategic options. Well done.

[ny59giants]

Clark fell with all the forces surrendering as paras were dropped on Bataan.

Since you had forces in Bataan (paras) the Allies could not retreat into the hex. It doesn't seem to be a realistic move and some might feel it is gamey to use them this way as a few hundred troops would be unable to stop thousands retreating across a 40 mile plus front.

[jrcar]

Thanks Cribtop, yes our options are now wide open... however we have a strategy (articulated back on page one I think). Basically these forces will be used to raid with the intent of destroying Allied LCU. We have basically now reached our intended Defensive locations (less the rest of the DEI and the last bit of Burma).

We have idetified (also back on page one) likely enemy form up points where we may wish to launch smash and grabs. These include Samoa, Fiji, Noumea, Northern Australia and Ceylon/South India. Of these Fiji, Samoa and Seylon are looking tasty at the moment.

Ruled out is New Zealand (we don't want to trigger reinforcements) or a significant push in Austalia (we do want them to upgrade their Militia with AIF squads tough so they don't rebuild the 8th Div). Instaed KB will continue to raid and harass.

In the DEI and Malaya we have been digging in already for our third and 4th line sof defence, and making mutally supporting lvl 4 airfields as future points of resistance. The majority of these bases are now lvl 3 forts, a few key ones are about to hit level 4, however now we have Singappore we need to move those engineering assets forward to work on our primary and secondary lines of resistance.

I'll go into our defensive plans when I have time, but soon.

Cheers
Rob

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Oh, my. Taking both the PI and Singapore this early leaves you with lots of strategic options. Well done.

[jrcar]

Yes it can be a vexed issue. The following are the reasons I think it is "reasonable":

Historically during this period even small numbers of enemy forces that had infiltrated by whatever means caused significant morale and combat issues. Happened in Malaya, Burma and the DEI although I'm not sure about the Philipines. This was largely due to the allied doctrine at the time that emphasised a WW1 like continuous front, and that if penetrate you should fall back. It took several years to get this out of the training system, as late as 1943 an Australian Battalion Commander, who tried that approach, and was penetrated by the Japanese at Finschaven, was subsequently sacked, for incorrect application of doctrine.

The game should (and largely does) reward a player who "synchronises effects", including the application of airpower, combat troops, special forces, engineers and logistics. The use of paras in this context rewards not only good play, but good military doctrine.

Specifically in this case the paras were effectively dropped on the "neck of Bataan" so it isn't 40 miles However most other areas in the AE world there were limited routes to move along, often only one in a 40 mile hex.

We had extensive recon and planning over several weeks to plan and prepare drops to generate the greatest effect. Possibly the effect is too great (many troops would have made it past us in real life, sans equipment and organisation).

There are other historical precedents when small forces holding a defile generate a tactical and operational effect well beyond simple numbers when properly trained and supported by intelligence.

Otherwise yes we think it is a bit gamey

On the balance we think it is reasonable and expect them to use it on the counter offensive, we have even explained why it worked, the risks, and how to synchronise it.

Maybe a future code change though would be to resolve airbourne attacks first. This will force players to commit a real force (we commited a Battalion, of which half landed), that if they don't survive the shock attack of landing (ours didn't by the way) then wouldn't be "in the hex" for future combats... at the moment this is a risk you face, which combat gets resolved first.

Cheers

Rob

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Clark fell with all the forces surrendering as paras were dropped on Bataan.

Since you had forces in Bataan (paras) the Allies could not retreat into the hex. It doesn't seem to be a realistic move and some might feel it is gamey to use them this way as a few hundred troops would be unable to stop thousands retreating across a 40 mile plus front.