Ceterum censeo Tokyonem esse delendam - companion AAR to "now when the land rings.."

[SoliInvictus202]

the main units stationed and assembled in SE-Australia:

[SoliInvictus202]

24th December 1941

NAVAL ACTIONS


- Allied PT Boats engage a bombardement TF off Makassar - consisting of CA Chokai and 3 DDs - the engagements ends without any results, although 2 PT-Boats launch their full torpedo complement [:(] (at least it looks like that the CA used up all his ammo in the process, as the ship had nothing left to shoot with at Makassar base itself [:)])


AIR COMBAT

- massive air raid over Singapore - over 80 unescorted Netties[:@] - and the Allied moroon in command of Singapore's Air groups (meaning ME) left the city without CAP (in my defense, the city was swept over the last 5 days with over 40 Oscars every day - which was the reason why no CAP was present) - we left out a great opportunity today - all fighters have been set on full alert, but I have a hunch they'll be butchered next turn by the usual Oscar sweeps again [:(] [X(] [:-]

- 9 B-17 scored 5 Oil hits on the fields of Tarakan - not too bad, best result so far


GROUND COMBAT


- Japanese forces CAPTURE Cotabato !!!

- Japanese forces CAPTURE Rabaul !!! (nothing was left there, apart from unit fragments)

- Japanese forces CAPTURE Samarinda !!! (one tank reg was enough to rout the forces there, although they had to cross a river...)


SUMMARY


to sum up the events over Singapore: BUGGER [:@] [:@] [:@] [:@] [:@]

that's about it for the day - not the best christmas for the Allies - but it could have been worse... - like CV Kaga launching on San Francisco Bay Area, while everybody was drunk...

[SoliInvictus202]

OPERATION SUNSET

the first Allied counterattack in this war


SITUATION:

due to the rapid Japanese advance in the DEI, the Allied High Command had to come up with a plan to slow down and/or stop any invasions of Timor and/or Palembang within the next 3 weeks.
Therefore 2 CVTFs built around CV Lexington and CV Enterprise have been gathered at Auckland and Melbourne.
both TFs are currently trying to repair the sustained damage from the long retreat after PH as quickly as possible and should be able to sortie around the 30th December.
they will then move to Perth along with 2 Fleet Oilers which will give the CVs the option to make at least 2 days of full speed after having engaged the enemy around Timor and/or Palembang!

Commander CarDiv #1: VADM Halsey
Commander CarDiv #2: RADM Sherman


PLAN:

ROUTE 1: after refuelling at Perth, both CVs are to head for Timor and seek out and destroy any invasion fleets approaching Koepang and/or Lautem - after that they are to retire to Perth again, with 2 AOs waiting in the Port Hedland area to give them 2 days of full speed

ROUTE 2: after refuelling for Perth, both CVs are to head for Sumatra and seek out and destroy any invasion fleets approaching the Palembang area - after that they are to retire to Cape Town without refuelling, as interception is highly unlikely due to the fact that the Dutch Army still controlls Merak and Soerabaja.


RISK ASSESSMENT:

It is the strong belief of that Allied High Command that the 3 TFs sighted off Rabaul consisted of all CV/CVL/CVEs the Japanese currently have in service - therefor this plan has been devised to hit the enemy where he can't hit back.

ROUTE 1::Betty or Nell squadrons will most likely be stationed at Kendari and Makassar, being escorted by Zeroes - their strike range with escorts is limited to 14 hexes - so if the CVs stay off Timor around 80 seamiles we should be able to strike but not get attacked in return.

ROUTE 2:: Singakawang will most likely have Betties and Zeroes - however an Allied air offensive has been planned to start at the same time as the CVs will strike - it will be costly, but the Pilots at Singapore are prepared to take part in this enterprise!

[SoliInvictus202]

25th December 1941

AIR COMBAT

- AIR BATTLE over Singapore #2: this time our Buffaloes and Blenheim Is were on station and flew high altitude CAP over the city - we were able to shoot down:

4 Oscars
1 Betty (flak)

and damage:
5 Oscars
27 Nells
14 Betties

our losses:
4 Buffaloes


- the enemy has finally made out our B-17 Base on Mindanao - minor damage was done to the runways and airbase there - our B-17s still took off

- 3 more oil hits on Tarakan

- Japanese bombers still attack Rangoon - 100% port damage, 98& runway damage - I think the enemy has succeeded in totally destroying an abandoned city - I hope he will be happy to rebuild it for me until I take it back!


GROUND COMBAT

- landings at Kendari

- Japanese forces CAPTURE Chengchow !!! (almost undefended)


SUMMARY:

this time with a map - my opponent wrote me in an email that he was very surprised by seeing Chengchow abandoned (almost) - I wrote back: "our strategies are very different" - what I didn't mention is that I simply see little sense in making a stand in the open - all that will happen is that my troops will get slaughtered - therefore all combat effective troops are moving to terrain that favours defense!

[cantona2]

Like the Google Earth maps Soli

[Captain Cruft]

Someone should make a war game using Google Earth as the user interface. I believe it's quite possible.

Sorry to butt in

[SoliInvictus202]

ORIGINAL: cantona2

Like the Google Earth maps Soli

[:)] - glad you like them - wanted to try something new....

[SoliInvictus202]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

Someone should make a war game using Google Earth as the user interface. I believe it's quite possible.

Sorry to butt in

I believe there was a game some time ago, called "Supreme Ruler 2010" or something - it had satellite images as a map - however the rest of the graphics was pretty aweful [;)] - liked the game however

[SoliInvictus202]

POSSIBLE AXIS OF ATTACK:

the Allied High Command has been discussing possible axis of attack as soon as the Japanese onslaught has been stopped - 4 possible options have been looked at

OPTION 1:

the two-pronged Pacific route: Plan "Flying Fish"

PHASE 1) recapture of New Caledonia and the Solomons, Port Moresby, the SE end of New Guinea and Darwin a strong buildup of these bases to provide support for phase 2


PHASE 2) recapture of Rabaul, the NE coast of New Guinea and Truk (possible faint attack at the Marshall-region and/or the Marianas)


PHASE 3) landings on Babeldaob, Truk with a possible second route from Darwin over Timor to Ambon and Kendari - and the NW tip of New Guinea


OPERATIONAL TARGETS: landings at Manado, Ternate, Mindanao and finally the recapture of the PI and Puerto Princesa

RISK ASSESSMENT: it involves a lot of naval movement with heavy support of CVTFs - thus a major battle with the enemy Carrierforces with favourably results for the Allies has to proceed any such attempts of long range amphibious operations!
on the other hand the risk of facing concentrated LBA is reduced to the longer distances between major bases

TARGETS: it is certainly not the shortest route to deprive Japan of the vital ressource areas - but it would give us several operational bases on the PI within range of Japan more quickly than with options 3 and 4

[SoliInvictus202]

POSSIBLE AXIS OF ATTACK:

the Allied High Command has been discussing possible axis of attack as soon as the Japanese onslaught has been stopped - 4 possible options have been looked at

OPTION 2:

the Pacific route: Operation "Surfing USA"

PHASE 1) recapture of New Caledonia, the Marshall and Gilbert Islands and a possible first landing in the Solomons on Guadalcanal


PHASE 2) recapture of Rabaul, Port Moresby, the remaining Solomon Islands as well as Truk and Ponape


PHASE 3) landings on the Marianas, the NW Coast of New Guinea and Truk (to cover the flanks of Marianas)


OPERATIONAL TARGETS: landings on the PI, Formosa, Iwo Jima

RISK ASSESSMENT: it involves a lot of naval movement with heavy support of CVTFs - thus a major battle with the enemy Carrierforces with favourably results for the Allies has to proceed any such attempts of long range amphibious operations!
on the other hand the risk of facing concentrated LBA is reduced to the longer distances between major bases

TARGETS:it is probably the most difficult route - but it should get us within range of Japan rather quickly - it would focus on the destruction of Japan with strategic bombing and not on cutting off the ressource centres early - landings on Japan might take place earlier with this axis of advance, but I personally prefer taking away the ressources, as Japan is a very potent enemy even in 45 if it's industry is intact (meaning fully supplied)!

[SoliInvictus202]

to all that were following this AAR:

I've been working for the Austria Ski Team at the World Championships of Alpine Skiing in Garmisch/Germany for over 2 weeks now and I must say, quite contrary to what I've been thinking, I have been working about 20 hours a day, and have been out the rest [8D] (fortunately/unfortunately "working" in this case also includes staying up and going out to some extent [;)])
to cut the long story short - I really didn't have any time at all to process turns - I will be back on a regular schedule in about 3 to 4 days...and from the on it should stay that way for a while...

so thanks to all readers for your patience and sorry for the wait!

R.

PS: I know I messed up the last map a bit - sorry for that [:(] [:)]

[SoliInvictus202]

now after a sort of longer break due to technical difficulties:

28th December 1941

NAVAL COMBAT

- SS Plunger puts a torp into AMC Hokoku Maru just off Kwajalein Island

- PC Taney engages a Japanese Sub off PH with the following results

SS I-4, hits 2, heavy damage - both direct hits - the sub is reported sunk, but I doubt it!

- SS Spearfish puts a torp into an xAK off Sapporo - followed by the "sinking" sound

- SS Sailfish gets hit 4 times off Tsushima - it retires with 12 sys and 4 floatation (I know, not too much, but better safe than sorry, I like my subs)


AIR COMBAT


- at least 36 Zeroes escort several bomber squadrons in a large air offensive over Wenchow (again, my opponent seems to be obsessed with China, as he is doing little elsewhere) - unfortunately my 2nd AVG squad was still on patrol there (with the long break, I simply overlooked it) - we lost 3 H81s - to 1 Zero - so it could have been worse... Wenchow HI is completely out of action and still lots of fires in the city too...

- smaller successes over Singapore - our Buffaloes and Blenheim Is shoot down 3 Mabels, 5 Nells and 3 Betties to the loss of 3 Buffaloes



GROUND COMBAT

- Japanese forces CAPTURE Makassar !!!

- Japanese forces cross the river near Taiyuan without major losses - I guess 147 AV wasn't really good enough to prevent such an action against a full mixed Brigade, but it was all I had there

- Japanese forces CAPTURE Kendari !!!

- Allied forces CAPTURE Pengpu !!!


SUMMARY

the Japanese still seem to focus on China - aside from taking Makassar and Kendari - both operations, where the follow up troops seem to be absent and also supporting operations like bombardements, airsweeps and naval attacks are missing, seem to be uncoordinated and without a real target so far - he saw that I wasn't going to fight over them (still lacking Force Z) and thus took the opportunity to take these bases - yet it seems to be that he didn't fully grasp the strategic importance of both of them, otherwise he would start attacking Soerabaja (where still many of my SS are based and return to for replenishement) next turn...
otherwise we took Pengpu in China - an operation which is just part of the plan "create chaos and try to make the most out of it" - it is blocking a rail line and thus might be slowing down supply movement. - other than that - not much happened - my CVs have set sail for operation Sunset, but they'll need at least another 2 weeks to reach the area of operations - they might just arrive in time to attack an landings on Timor - but that depends on whether the Japanese High Command pace of operations!

the first troop convoy designated TNZ #1 will depart San Francisco next turn: on board are 1 Catalina Squad (12 planes, trained in Nav Search and training in ASW), 2 Port Sync Detachments, 3 Base Forces and 2 Construction Units - they're all bound for Wellington but will leave the large convoy once they are getting close to their destinations:
1) 1 more port sync will move to Christmas Island - I need as much Naval Support there as possible to make unloading troops there easier

2) the Catalina Squad will move to Noumea to provide early warning against CV raids with the target New Zealand (our major supply, troop and plane hub for the entire region)

3) the rest is bound for NZ and will help build up the bases as quickly as possible, I will probably send the second Port Sync unit to Tahiti, should I decide to start building it up a little earlier - but I doubt it, nevertheless I have over 2 weeks of game time to decide on that!

R.

[SoliInvictus202]

after a very long time another update - due to RL-issues and a new job I have decided to give weekly updates only from now on - however these updates will be considerably longer to still provide enough insight into the Allied point of view!

[SoliInvictus202]

part II

[SoliInvictus202]

part III

[SoliInvictus202]

well here is the summary for the time between January 1st and January 4th - DEI and Pacific only again - as I plan to update China only once every 2 or 3 weeks - it is my opponents main focus there, but simply out of the fact that I see this as a seconday theatre, knowing that the war in the Pacific is not decided in China - I would like to keep this AAR focused on the events in the DEI, India (if ever), Australia and the PACIFIC.

on a personal note I think that air and naval combat are the main parts of this game - they are modelled in much detail and no combat ever ends the same way, whereas groundcombat usually boils down to counting men, adding AV and then fighting it out with the different mulipliers such as terrain, supply etc - this might be why my opponent is so keen on land war - he told me he was a "math" guy - well....quite frankly I'm not... glad I was able to find studies at University that didn't involve ANY math... [8D] - no offense meant to anyone out there who is interested in these areas!




as mentioned in the pics a full summary of China (I have withdrawn from the planes, my guerilla corps still occupy troops of the enemy in the rear, which he might use on the front, and we've been able to move all of the remaining supply from Burma into China (quite a substantial part I must saay))



the last 2 days in one pic, as not much happened - apart from the fact that the Japanese have invaded Kavieng (yeah, just now - the Coy there has been withdrawn to bolster PM defenses)





on the other hand - the first supply convoy is about to reach NZ - with over 140,000 tons of fuel and around 160,000 tons of supply - escorted by the TF built around CV Saratoga

3 more large convoys have already departed the WZ since then - 2 troop convoys and 1 large supply convoy with a few tankers (still forming up the ones just arriving from AUS, NZ and the DEI)
1 air transport is currently forming in LA - on board are 5 Marine AirWings, 2 Catalina Squads and 2 Army Fighter Squads from the II Fighter command, which will be based at Auckland, along with the I US Amphib Corps until I know if the Japanese's attitude concerning not taking ANY bases in the Pacific has changed or not - the plan is not to reinforce bases like Suva and Noumea until May '42 if they haven't been taken by then - until then they simply can't be properly defended... - with Americal Division and 32nd however we should be able to achieve that for at least 1 of the 2 (I'd go for Noumea then)

by May NZ will be full of supplies and fuel and lots of troops, planes and ships (in safe ports) will have been deployed there and on the Australian mainland (should my opponent seak yet another place for landwarfare - Australia...)

R.

[SoliInvictus202]

just a short update - screenshots will follow over the next day/s

5th - 12th January

China: the Japanese kept advancing onto Lanchow via the NE approaches until the 11th - however it appears that they have stopped and are waiting for reinforcements - constant recon would suggest that the Japanese High command has finally realized that Lanchow has been reinforced (up to 350 AV now, and 500 more coming in, that won't all be stationed at Lanchow itself) - supply situation is pretty good (over 6000) and we brough along 2 AT gun sectinos and 4 Art Regs. - I am confident that Lanchow will hold against anything but 4 or 5 Divisions (FTs are already up to 3)
in the woods NW of Nanyang the Japanese were stalled for the first time taking over 3500 casualties in something that seems like an overconfident if not entirely arrogant frontal assault on our troops in the woods totalling over 2500 AV!
elsewhere the Japanese are still busy with our troops in the rear - and recent attacks lead to the assumption that he is chasing 600 men with entire Divisions!

DEI:
the landings at Palembang were still not enough - it seems the troops are resting - I am airlifting an entire regiment just to keep this base long enough as to make him reinforce his troops again: 2 CVs are waiting undetected to sink anything that tries to land troops at Palembang! (they are off the SW tip of Sumatra within 5 hexes of Palembang!

Pacific:
as before the Japanese have advanced almost not at all: they have taken Naru and Ocean Island - that's about it... - not even Shortlands or the rest of the Solomons have been invaded: on the other hand our first large convoy is about to arrive at Wellington/Auckland - escorted by CV Saratoga this Convoy will give us enough fuel to keep operations going for over 1 month in the entire area - supplies should even last longer


overall situation:

- our cruiser squadron has arrived in its area of operation: NPAC - 1 CA, 2 CL and 5 DD are stationed at Kodiak until they are either moved to Dutch Harbor (already reinforced by a coastal artillery unit) or Anchorage/Prince Rupert

- Christmas Island is building up nicely - plan is to reinforce it that much as to make him suffer severely if he wants to take it!

- West Coast: more troops, planes and supplies/fuel are being shipped every day - what I am trying to achieve by this early "exodus" from the WC to the SWPAC is to have as much there, as early as possible - I'D rather have 2 fighter squadrons with exp 50 and 65 Air and 60 Def skills and be able to decide whether to use them or not, than to have none in the area and get all squadrons with 70 but 4 months too late....

- India: we're building everywhere - engineer units have been reunited to provide the vital airfields and coastal regions with the much needed improvements as quickly as possible - the idea is not to defend to early - but still be able to fly planes into Burma to keep up the pressure - therefore:

1) all units arriving at Aden move to Karachi: 1 Aussi Division has almost been fully assembled at Aden and will move as one unit to Karachi

2) Dacca, Comilla, Chittagong and Ledo will be built up as large airfields, Imphal later on as a secondary one (if we still hold it - 1st Burma Division will form at Imphal)

- Australia: units are training/refitting niceley - 3 Divisions have already largely increased their AV - the 2 Motorbrigades however still lack Matilda IIs - 2 more convoys should arrive at Cape Town before the Japanese can take large parts of Australia however!


that's it for now I think...

R.