Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop (J) vs CF (A)

[jrcar]

Good start

I think it is worth preping units for targets as they come up, even a few points help with the early war Japanese bonus. Like you we keep units planning for deep targets as a cover... although we are hoping to pull a few off (Fiji is stage 1).

Cheers

Rob

[Cribtop]

Thanks, Rob!

Dec 16, 1941

Subs

Our ASW patrols hunt two enemy subs near Formosa. No hits, but we keep the enemy's heads down. Near Quinhon, S-41 misses a DD bound for Samah to escort big reinforcement convoys to Burma. Amazing how much scarier sub replays are when the enemy is an S-boat, a Brit or Dutch sub instead of a USN fleet boat. Working torps are scary.

4th Fleet

Lining up for invasions of Tarawa and Wake. CVE Taiyo is inbound to ferry Claudes home for upgrading. KB is two days out and will refuel from Oilers in the Marshalls.

SE Fleet

No change, but 23rd Air Flotilla planes are en route.

14th Army

Main forces and 90K supplies are unloaded. We move out for Clark. A few support units will unload starting tomorrow to make Aparri and Laoag into airfields capable of supporting the IJAAF.

Recon picked up that CF's surviving fighters were trying to hide at Cabanatuan. We raid the airfield and smash a few on the ground. Armor will grab this base asap as we don't want to leave Clark and Bataan alone to build forts.

16th Army

An FT TF unloads supplies and a construction battalion at Sinkawang. More supplies unload by sub tomorrow and even more is en route. This position is looking more secure.

The Air HQ TF arrives at Jolo tomorrow and will move on to Manado. Cribtop HQ gives the go ahead for Operation TS, the invasion of Tarakan, Kendari, Ambon, Boela and Sorong.

Babeldoab hits level four airfield and will work on expanding its port.

25th Army

Marching and bombing. The enemy is in full bore and sensible retreat to Singapore.

China

DA Hong Kong drops forts to 0 and we get a great adjusted AS, but so does the enemy, resulting in a disappointing 1:1, casualties 589(25) vs 419(2). A push tomorrow could finish the base, but as usual supplies are in the red after the attack so we will have to continue the pattern of every other day attacks. We may land supplies from Takao nearby if the next attack fails.

5th Fleet

All preconditions for Operation AA, the seizure of Attu and Amchitka, are met. Ships are bound for Shanghai to ferry the two SNLFs to Tokyo. Two subs are nosing through the Aleutians to get recon and a picket ship will be sent later to scout for the enemy.

[Canoerebel]

Hey, you can't use words like "eschew" and get away with it unnoticed! I'm watching you, Cribtop!

Very good AAR (clean, concise, interesting). Also, you seem to be doing very well thus far. Keep up the good work, even if you are the bad guy.

[Cribtop]

Thanks! So I should keep up the bad work, eh? [;)]

Sorry about the ten dollar word, you know us lawyers, they slip out on occasion... [8D]

[Nemo121]

The thing that concerns me at this stage is the lack of intel ops aimed at Pacific/ Indian Ocean hubs to try to figure out where he is setting up his fueling/resupply hubs.

They'll be one phase ( in his mind ) behind his MLR and that is, of course, the phasing you need to disrupt.

Some flying boat overflights from islands manned by sub-landed base force fragments or landed by a small xAKL would suffice to keep an eye on everything from Noumea to Hawaii if you pick the place properly. It'd also freak him out which, IMO, Cuttlefish is quite prone to. My assessment of his personality is that he'd be particularly vulnerable to getting dislocated by such an op.


Bottom line though... What are you doing to identify where he's beginning to try to form his MLR and supply hubs... My reasoning would be that if you identify those supply hubs then you bypass the MLR, hit the supply hubs and:
a) win more captured resources etc at lesser cost - the supply base will be less well-defended.
b) you are likely to capture a base whcih has expanded the port and airfield at the expense of forts - again you get more for less, this is efficient, which is important for Japan.
c) you can transition to the next phase more rapidly due to the capture of these fuel and supply stocks.
d) it'll dislocate his defence and give you a great opportunity to pursue more deeply more rapidly than the enemy can retreat --- this will give your Pacific offensive the timbre of a pursuit rather than a series of attacks into defences/rearguards. Historically pursuits are where the majority of the killing occurred in warfare.

I ALWAYS seek to go for the supporting bases rather than the MLR for that reason because once I do that I can pursue and take Phase 3 and 4 objectives at very little cost.


So, right now I'd send out my floatplane subs and other assets to begin ascertaining this. If you get it right you can gain your victories in the Pacific ( and DEI ) at lesser cost and more rapidly than would otherwise be possible.... This greater efficiency will allow you to commit more ships and troops to your main thrust elsewhere - which will make that thrust more likely to succeed.

That's only very general input but I think that's the thing I'd be most worried about right now, the intel war....

[Cribtop]

Excellent point Nemo. I currently have three or four Glen boats retiring from their game start positions at Pearl that could be used for this purpose. I have been sniffing around Canton Island, Pago Pago and Fiji with traditional subs, but their intel is hit or miss compared to Glens and even long range flying boats on recon missions.

Most of my recon thoughts were focused on determining whether CF was going for Fortress Palembang. Your suggestion is a good one.

[Cribtop]

Dec 17, 1941

Boy, is it good to have a consistent opponent like Cuttlefish. I find myself apologizing I can't get turns out as fast as he does (even though I turn one per day at least). A refresing change from my prior PBEMs.

Subs

Permit duds on a DMS in the TF moving Air HQs to Jolo.

14th Army

Our bombers bounce the rubble at Clark Field for 55 runway hits.

16th Army

The same Air HQ TF dodges PTs based at Puerto Princesa and reaches Jolo safely. Cribtop Intel will take some credit for this. Our Nells at Jolo spotted the PTs days ago and we made the assumption CF had them on high react hoping to pop an IJN TF in the strait between Palawan and Borneo. Based on this intel we ordered full speed to Jolo and thus evaded the clever trap set by our opponent.

B-17s attack KBL near Palawan but miss and take damage from the CAP. KBL is headed to Cam Ranh Bay to re-load torps and provide cover for Operation KuKu.

A quiet turn, but we will soon launch a flurry of invasions aimed at Borneo and the eastern DEI.

[Cribtop]

Dec 18, 1941

Subs

Permit misses a DD escorting KBL near Palawan. Seadragon duds on an SC escorting 11th Air Fleet HQ to Manado. S-37 misses a DD escorting the Aparri invasion TFs back to Takao. Tarpon duds on a DD near Quinhon. Could've been a banner day for CF's subs if their torps worked.

I-166 is DC'd by escorts of Force Z near Bandjermasin. They miss and we gain extremely valuable intel on the location of Force Z. The British BBs may yet taste Netty torpedoes if they move closer to Jolo or Manado, both of which will be torpedo enabled effective the 19th.

4th Fleet

KB returns victorious to the Marshall Islands and refuels from the fleet Oilers. Recon of Wake shows the enemy Wildcats are gone. We will try a very limited port attack with 24th Air Flotilla Nettys tomorrow to confirm. If no figthers are present at Wake KB will retire on Truk. Otherwise KB will swing North and bomb Wake once. The Wake Invasion is loaded and sorties from Kwaj. Tarawa will be invaded by FT TF tomorrow.

SE Fleet

144th Regt is FINALLY loaded at Guam and will move to Truk. Lots of reinforcements en route and 2/3rds of Tainan Air Group's Zeros arrive at Truk.

14th Army

IJNAF bombers pound Bataan's airfield to retard fort building. A few IJAAF Air Battalions load at Takao for Laoag and Aparri. That will be the last TF headed to Luzon for a good while.

16th Army

21st Air Flotilla HQ is unloaded at Jolo and that base is torpedo enabled. This completes the pre-conditions necessary for the attack on Tarakan and Cribtop HQ orders the invasion of that base to commence in short order. LCUs are at Samah and will await fleet elements to complete cover of Operation KuKu.

11th Air Fleet will unload at Manado tomorrow. At Sidate (dot base 1 hex SW of Manado), an SNLF DAs the survivors of the Manado garrison and gets a 1:1, casualties 25(0) vs 27(0). We'll try again tomorrow.

Recon of Ambon shows the base is not reinforced. Kendari will be reconned tomorrow.

Basilan occupied by the rowboat corps.

25th Army

Our two kamikaze supply ships will head into Sinkawang to deliver vitally needed supplies tomorrow. Recon shows Palembang and Kuching unreinforced.

The Operation KuKu invasion fleet is loaded. We launch tomorrow. BB Kongo, the four Myoko Class CAs, and a DesDiv ship out for Truk so that KB can divide into two TFs (which will stay in the same hex).

In Malaya, we cross the border at last. Alor Star has been evacuated by the enemy and will fall tomorrow.

China

Lots of action.

IJA stack nearing Chusien catches 10th Army Group HQ alone and crushes it; odds 23:1, casualties 435(47) vs 0(0). Another stack DAs 1 hex East of Sinyang and forces a KMT corps over the river, odds 49:1, casualties 3961(158) vs 202(1). DA 1 hex East of Chengchow opens up the railway, odds 3:1, casualties 777(91) vs 833(7) despite rough terrain.

Now the bad news. The KMT seizes Ichang against token collaborationist resistance, odds a LOT to 1, casualties 138(1) vs 1985(112). The main forces that start at Ichang long ago retreated over the river into the rough forest hex to the West. Will CF cross the river to challenge us? If so, he could temporarily de-rail our drive on Nanyang, but we have stout defenses behind a river line wherever he chooses to cross, and many enemy LCUs near Ichang appear to be moving into the interior, presumably to assist with the defense of Changsha.

We are VERY frustrated that Hong Kong still holds out. DA this turn fails to drop the forts until the assault phase, meaning our 2:1 isn't enough to take the place. We do destroy one of the Canadian Battalions. Casualties are 234(34) vs 457(2). We are getting a good adjusted AS, but the enemy always has a fort up to thwart us. In most prior games, the two combat engineer regts plus organic engineers in 38th Div took down forts in the combat phase and allowed relatively easy capture of the base. We can only attack every other day due to supply issues. Cribtop HQ therefore reluctantly orders the IJNAF and IJAAF bombers on Formosa to hit the Hong Kong airfield tomorrow to prevent fort re-building. We will then commit all bombers to ground attack on the 20th when the next DA goes in. We hate to divert the bombers from Luzon, but Hong Kong needs to fall.

Home Islands

Today's back burner effort is to create a horde of ACMs and PBs out of useless To'su and K'iso xAKLs at Tokyo. Next we send out resource convoys.

5th Fleet

Continuing to put together defenses of the Kuriles and preparing for seizure of Attu and Amchitka.

[Cribtop]

Dec 19, 1941

Subs

KXII torpedoes and sinks one of two kamikazi supply ships just off Sinkawang. Her cargo will be missed, but the second vessel snuck into port and should unload.

4th Fleet

Tarawa invaded by FT TF and falls to the mandatory SA. The ships retire toward Kwaj to join the upcoming Wake invasion. We send a tiny Nell force to bomb Wake to determine whether the Wildcats are still there (Daitai set to port attack, 90% rest). This information costs us 3 Nells. KB will thus delay her move into the SE Fleet AO by 48 hours and pound Wake.

SE Fleet

Vanimo occupied by rowboat. Awaiting reinforcements that should arrive on the 22nd and KB's return from Wake. 4th Fleet HQ and a base force load up for their new home on Kwajelein. 6th Fleet HQ will catch a ride back to Truk on the same TF. Why? 4th Fleet is a command HQ and will torp enable Kwaj and Roi Namur, allowing 24th Air Flotilla to eventually torp enable TB.

14th Army

Our advance guard seizes unoccupied Bayombong and San Fernando. The main force of 14th Army is just a few days behind. Should have CF's troops pinned in Clark & Bataan very soon. We are annoyed, but order all IJNAF and IJAAF bombers in this AO to blast Hong Kong to prevent fort re-building. Tomorrow these bombers will launch a massive ground attack on Hong Kong, then resume smashing Clark & Bataan.

16th Army

DA Sidate gets 2:1 odds and takes the base, casualties 354(42) vs 36(0). Supplies continue to unload at Jolo and Manado.

25th Army

Operation KuKu forces load for targets in Borneo. Alor Star falls. Recon of Oosthaven shows that it, like Palembang, is unreinforced. It's early, but so far no signs of Festung Sumatra. Cribtop HQ has a contingency plan to use 38th and 2nd Divisions to assault southern Sumatra early if needed but hopes to use 38th in 16th Army AO and 2nd as theater reserve.

15th Army

Marching. We are close to the border along the trail leading out of Rahaeng. Chiang Mai and Rahaeng are both well on their way to becoming air bases capable of supporting the future offensive against Rangoon.

China

The fort-inhibiting airfield attacks against Hong Kong go well and demonstrate a cool feature. The Formosa IJAAF bombers, set on airfield attack, join up with the fighters and bombers out of Canton still set to ground attack in a single raid, some of which hits the base and some of which hits the front lines. Now that's one hell of a co-ordination roll! [:D] The IJNAF fighters and bombers of course come in separately as the IJAAF is beneath their notice. [:'(]

[Cribtop]

Dec 20, 1941

[:-] Our first setback of the war today, fortunately nothing too bad, and it's balanced by a Tokyo Rose worthy victory.

Subs

Tarpon puts a TT into a small supply xAK moving from Cam Ranh Bay to Samah. The ship is probably lost but will try to make Quinhon 1 hex away.

4th Fleet & SE Fleet

AM Penguin, having almost escaped from Guam despite all odds, is hammered twice by KB planes on nav search. Normally nav search attacks are unreliable, but this is the A team out of KB, so she probably took at least one hit, poor thing.

We are preparing for Operation CH, the Nemo-recommended recon of probable supply hubs. Two Glen boats are already en route. Two Alf carrying AMCs will re-fuel at Kwaj and sortie as well. Targets will include Fiji, the Samoas, Canton Is., and Christmas Is. (Pacific). If nothing turns up there, we'll try Penrhyn Is. and the Hivas. One concern is that thing are so early, and CF is still getting used to the Allied side, that we could recon a planned supply hub not yet up and running. Thus, this Operation is expected to take a few weeks to pay off, but will eventually yield valuable intel.

14th Army

Even the gods collude with the brave defenders of Hong Kong, as thunderstorms in the HK hex prevent launch of the major ground attacks Cribtop HQ had ordered to assist with the (hopefully) final assault. Base forces to allow use of Laoag and Aparri by the IJAAF, and thus to allow the hand-off from IJNAF to IJAAF in Luzon, should arrive and begin unloading today.

16th Army

[:@] Ugh. Exercising almost perfect timing, 3 CL and 3 DD sail into Manado harbor in the night phase and sink 1 TB, 1 DMS, 2 SC and 3 fast xAK that fortunately had completed unloading 11th Air Fleet HQ and were trying to dump supplies. One day later and these ships maybe get hit by the 36 Nells flying in today. Sigh. We will escort the other half of this ill-fated convoy from Jolo to Manado to ensure enough supplies for torps and drop tanks.

25th Army

Operation KuKu fleet launches. D-day for Kuching, Miri, Brunei and Kudat should be the 22nd. Covering the Kuching invasion is an ASW TF in the lead, Indes Fleet (2 BB, 4 CA, 1 CL, 6 modern DD) and KBL, with torpedoes fully reloaded at Cam Ranh Bay. Covering the other forces is Celebes Sea Squadron, a semi-permanent raiding force of 4 CA, 1 CL & 6 DD. In addition to KBL, LBA from Saigon, Jolo and Sinkawang will provide port attack (for the CD guns at Kuching), ground attack and LRCAP. See how the plan came together? We hope.

China

Despite the lack of air cover, the defenders of Hong Kong, their forts unrepaired due to yesterday's airfield attack, succumb at last. Odds are 5:1, all enemy units surrender, IJA casualties 441(0). Facilities are captured about 90% intact, most importantly the shipyard at 48(2) will be quickly up and running under new management. Banzai, but we salute the proud defenders as well as our own lads. [&o]

[Cribtop]

Dec 21, 1941

Can you tell we're cranking turns pretty fast?

Subs

I-6 is DC'd by Canadian KVs off Vancouver Island. They get what looks like a solid hit but it turns out to be only 5 SYS and 4 Float. I-6 will continue her patrol. Our SCs off Formosa harass Skipjack. The xAK hit near Quinhon yesterday sinks before disbanding. At least we saved the Captain and crew.

4th Fleet

KB sweeps and port attacks Wake to try to hit CD guns. The sweeps produce 9:1 losses in the air, 9:2 once we account for an Ops loss. The Wildcats neutered, our Kates go in but achieve desultory results. That sentence's fancy wording was just for Canoerebel. [;)] Wake invasion fleet will move into the hex tomorrow and unload on the 23rd to ensure maximum unloading for the ever painful SA. KB will hit the port tomorrow and the enemy troops on the 23rd. Then she makes haste to Truk for her appointment covering invasions in that AO.

14th Army

IJNAF bombers resume attacks at Bataan while all base forces for Aparri and Laoag successfully unload at Aparri. Time for the IJAAF to earn its money. 23rd Air Flotilla HQ and the small paras, along with construction units, prepare to load on transports for the journey to Truk.

Hong Kong PTs flee their lost base and try to create mischief with a small IJN supply convoy. The PTs are shamed by being outrun. They're probably out of fuel. Odd that CF kept them at Hong Kong for so long.

25th Army

The Kuching Invasion TF and KBL are spotted 3 hexes off Kuching, but no enemy a/c sortie. Nells from Saigon attack Kuching's port and get good hits. D-Day tomorrow.

China

An IJA regiment crosses a river on the North China Plain and re-overruns a previously retreated KMT Corps, 53:1, casualties 351(56) vs 14(0). Our attacks on Nanyang, Chengchow and Loyang are picking up momentum, but we keep a wary eye towards Ichang and the South China front.

Home Islands

We finally get around to launching the Home Island and China/Manchukuo/Korea convoys. RL issues slowed us down a few game days on this, but we doubt 72 hours will ruin the Empire's economy.

5th Fleet

Transports are almost at Shanghai to lift out the two SNLF destined for the Aleutians. Base forces are at Ominato ready to garrison Paramushiro Jima, Shimushiri (sp?), Etoforu and Amchitka.

[Cribtop]

Dec 22, 1941

A big day of invasions in Borneo.

Subs

Tambor duds on a DD escorting the Wake Invasion. Porpoise duds on an SC in an ASW TF near Formosa. We successfully slipped the last major reinforcement convoy past the USN's nose by using the Pescadores route north of Formosa.

Our subs in the Java Sea comb empty ocean since the sighting of Force Z. So far little activity, which is great news on the Fortress Palembang watch. Our recon subs will be in position at Canton Is., Fiji and Samoa tomorrow.

4th Fleet

Hiei and Kirishima, escorted by 2 DDs, bombard Wake Island as an invasion prep. They will re-join KB tomorrow. It's a nuke with respect to CF's Marine defenders, casualties 303(14). That should soften them up. KB bombs the port today, ground tomorrow. We keep the CVs dancing around in the hopes of avoiding subs. The invasion TF has entered the Wake hex and will do a full unload tomorrow. KB then immediately retires on Truk.

SE Fleet

4th Division and Combined Fleet have unloaded at Truk. Strong elements of 23rd Air Flotilla are in position with more on the way. Once KB gets here, we will rapidly invade Rabaul, NG and the Solomons. Support vessels, inlcuding an AR, arrive soon.

CVE Taiyo is headed to Tokyo with two Claude Chutai in need of upgrading.

14th Army

An airfield attack by a much reduced IJNAF contingent meets a small P-40 CAP over Bataan. The enemy gets one Zero and one Betty in exchange for all but two of their planes damaged. We will rest tomorrow and then use the Zeros in a sweep role again.

Our lead elements are marching on Lingayen and will seize an abandoned Cabanatuan tomorrow. Main force will be at Bayombong tomorrow or the next day.

Support LCUs at Takao prepare to ship out to Truk and Babeldoab.

16th Army

Manado is re-supplied by sea, covered by a strong SCTF headed for Truk to serve as escorts for KB. Cribtop HQ issues a warning order to significant elements to prepare for a synchronised invasion of Tarakan, Mindanao, Sorong, Ambon, Boela and Kendari as soon as KBL, Indes Fleet and Celebes Sea Sqdn are released from duty covering Operation KuKu.

Babeldoab now hosts 1st Fleet HQ and its naval support, 1 AS, 1 AD, 1 AG, 1 AV, and the big AKE. This base's capabilities have thus been significantly augmented.

25th Army

All the action is really here today. The whole point of this game is to plan a big Op and try to carry it out without screwing something up. While it's early and CF hasn't got much in position to oppose it, Cribtop HQ is very pleased at how professionally Operation KuKu kicks off today.

We invade Kuching, Miri, Brunei and Kudat in one fell swoop. Indes Fleet covers Kuching while Celebes Sea Sqdn watches Miri & Brunei. KBL lurks offshore, providing LRCAP at Kuching in concert with land based Zeros from Sinkawang. There is no significant opposition except for two large but unescorted raids by Hudsons and Blenheim IVs from Singapore. The 24 Zeros on LRCAP have a field day, shooting down 17 enemy bombers for no loss per the intel screen. Two Blenheims get through to bomb the ocean around Nagato. As an aside, air losses from all causes today are at least 20:6 in our favor. A2A losses for the game to date are 159:47 in our favor, a 3.38 to 1 kill ratio that suits us just fine.

The only mild disappointment is that multiple port attacks aimed at the CD guns don't fly due to storms at Kuching. One xAK at Kuching takes a penetrating hit from CD guns and suffers moderate damage. She will retire in an escort TF.

All troops are ashore and will DA tomorrow at all four enemy bases. All TFs at Kuching will withdraw as this invasion even got its supply ashore. The rest remain on station a day to dump more supplies. We have a recon group at Saigon waiting to fly into Miri to begin checking up on the Makassar Straits bases.

In Malaya, we slog towards Georgetown and Taiping. Chumphon goes to level 2 airfield and immediately becomes host to a Zero Chutai and a torp enabled Nell Daitai. We will hunt the waters near Rangoon.

Burma

No change other than the fact that 21st Mixed Brigade arrives in theater and two reinforcement convoys begin unloading at Bangkok tomorrow with troops mostly destined for Singapore.

China

We are moving to encircle Chengchow and Loyang in a sneaky manner. No idea whether it will work but it's worth a shot. BA 1 hex NW of Sinyang finds 1 corps and 1 HQ unit opposing 1 Division and 2 Brigades, raw AS 796:168. DA here tomorrow could put us 1 hex from Nanyang.

DMS TF sweeps lots of mines at Hong Kong. The shipyard is fully repaired.

5th Fleet

We sortie with base forces for the Kuriles. Next stop Attu and Amchitka once the SNLFs arrive in theater.

[Cribtop]

Dec 23, 1941

A lovely replay with many "Banzais!"

Subs

O-19 misses a DD escorting Indes Fleet away from Kuching. Whew! Air search reports enemy subs near the Home Islands for the first time. Our Glens recon Canton, Samoa and Fiji. No useful intel yet as Glens aren't trained recon. We'll search these targets again over the next few days.

Our subs continue to scour the Java Sea, but nobody's home. More subs are en route to hunt in the Eastern DEI and in the Indian Ocean.

4th Fleet

The defenders of Wake are hammered by Nells but KB's planes don't fly. The bombardment force re-joins KB, which is set to retire to Truk. Wake is invaded and the enemy is clearly suppressed by the nuke bombardments and air attacks. The normally stout Marines only fire 11 CD shots in total at our ships, only two minor hits are recorded. Given all three unloading cycles, our troops pour ashore in good supply and shock attack, easily taking the base with 13:1 odds, the two enemy LCUs surrender and we take 285(1) casualties. Both SNLF used are in good order. One will be withdrawn for use invading Nauru and Ocean Islands. Those bases plus TB will conclude offensive ops in 4th Fleet for a time. We may seize Baker and Canton, particularly if recon shows the latter base being used as a supply hub or convoy waystation.

SE Fleet

Rambutyo occupied. Reinforcements are unloaded and awaiting KB, which will arrive in a few days. We will soon buy out 90th Regt from Korea for use in a possible invasion of Noumea. A single I-boat noses into waters south of Rabaul, presaging an influx of Japanese forces over the coming weeks.

14th Army

Other than recon, the air force takes a day off as both Formosa and Luzon are shrouded in Thunderstorms. Cabanatuan falls. Aparri reaches a level 2 airfield and becomes home to much of 5th Air Division. The balance goes to Laoag. We upgrade most of one of 5th Air Div's Nate Sentais to Oscars as the Zeros are about to leave this AO.

An LCTF with 1 CL and 6 DD heads for the enemy's PT harbors, first Iba, then the northern base on Palawan. We give this TF a crack, aggressive commander and will enter Iba in the day phase tomorrow.

16th Army

Manado is now fully supplied and the TFs depart. Quiet for the moment but soon we will get very busy here.

25th Army

Kuching is pounded from the air from multiple bases, but a DA here just misses taking the base, odds 2:1, forts dropped to 0, casualties 202(2) vs 154(1). We will attack again tomorrow and should take it. Brunei, Miri and Kudat fall easily. Facilities at Brunei are undamaged, at Miri they suffer approximately 20% damage from the pre-war 150(150) state. A question for the audience - I assume we should repair the Oil, but what about the refineries? Not sure it's worth it for those, but would appreciate some guidance.

Nells from Chumphon smash an HDML at Langsa on Sumatra. We expect CF to surrender unconditionally as a result of this action. [:D] Still, he is now on notice that torpedo enabled Netties are roaming the area.

Burma

The "bulk" of 15th Army will reach the hex SE of Moulmein tomorrow. We will use this force to keep CF's attention while 21st Mixed Bde tries to sneak in between Moulmein and Pegu. It may not work, but it's something to do while awaiting 33rd Division.

China

Lots of attacks here today. DA Chusien, 1:1, forts drop to 0, 284(2) vs 163(1). We'll try again tomorrow with air support. SA in the northern plains as we cross a river 312:1, enemy LCU retreated again, 306(67) vs 0(0). DA 1 Hex NW Sinyang, 1:1, 887(3) vs 372(1). The adjusted AS is such that we will try an SA tomorrow as that will probably get us the necessary 2:1.

And now, the biggie. We snuck a Division into Tsiaotso and find two enemy Corps. Despite the bad terrain, our first DA takes the base! Forts dropped to 0 by engineers, Odds 2:1, casualties 2708(338) vs 162(1). Although the resources and light industry are 95% destroyed, the capture of the base is of potentially strategic importance. We will divide the unit and send the "C" brigade 1 hex West. Combined with a Division coming up from the south, we may just encircle both Chengchow and Loyang and utterly destroy the enemy defenders. This in turn may make an assault on Sian feasible once Nanyang falls. Sian is attractive because of its 21 Oil, but is often a tough nut to crack as it is in the highlands where the KMT fights better.

See the screenie in the next post below for a visual on the plan.

[Cribtop]

Dec 24, 1941

Christmas Eve in the first year of the War...

Subs

A USN sub is reported hit by Anns out of Formosa. Our 3 ASW TF plus a/c combo is keeping the enemy's head down so far.

4th & SE Fleets

4th Fleet HQ and a big base force will begin unloading at Kwaj tomorrow. One of the SNLFs at Wake is being lifted for the return to Kwaj. KB heads to Truk and escorts head East from the DEI to allow creating a two TF look for KB.

14th Army

Sweep of Manila by Zeros nets 8 P-40s for 2 Zeros per the Intel screen and Tracker. Not much air strength left in the PI for the USAAF.

We have been puzzled by CF's passive use of his USN and RN PTs. He only made one effort at our Aparri convoys. We assume he expected invasions nearer to his bases, but if so he waited in vain. Today our hunter LCTF arrives at Iba and surprises the enemy in his lair. Over the course of three daytime engagements, we sink 9 RN MTBs and USN PTs. Banzai! We will visit his other big PT base in a day or two.

16th Army

The Tarakan invasion fleet begins loading.

25th Army

Kuching falls to a DA, odds 5:1, casualties 847(141) vs 56(1). Two enemy LCUs surrender. We now have a pile of defeated enemy troops at Sambas that forces from Sinkawang are moving to finish off. This will open up overland supply of Sinkawang from Kuching. Sinkawang has been successfully reprovisioned by subs, FT TFs and kamikaze xAKs (only one of which died), but it will be nice to more safely re-supply the base.

The Operation KuKu fleet retires in good order and without incident. Indes Fleet and KBL will cover the invasion of Tarakan and then move to assist with the Kendari invasion. Celebes Sea Sqdn heads for the body of water it is named for to escort the invasion of Mindanao. Got to keep moving, time is the JFB's enemy. The conclusion of Operation KuKu brings to a close the amphibious responsibilities of 25th Army until the invasion of Sumatra.

The main body of 25th Army finally emerges from the jungle onto good roads and immediately marches on Georgetown and Taiping. We should pick up speed in Malaya at last. CF is still defending forward at Taiping, Temuloh, Kuantan and Kuala Lumpur. We assume he has these troops in strat mode and will retire on Singers as we approach, preventing us from using armor to seize bases on the cheap and then rail in the infantry, but if not, this is curious. Lots of base forces and a few AA LCUs are moving by rail to Alor Star to get this air base online. We need to seize air superiority over Singapore asap.

15th Army

Massive reinforcements for 25th Army begin unloading tomorrow at Bangkok. 33rd and 2nd Divs are in a convoy bound for Bangkok about five days' sail away.

China

DA Chusien takes the base with 3:1 odds, casualties 2602(227) vs 98(2) as four enemy LCUs are retreated. CF was trying to move the Wenchow garrison to reinforce, but they didn't arrive in time. Now half his force is trashed and the Wenchow troops are caught 1 hex south of Chusien.

SA 1 hex NW of Sinyang takes the hex, 47:1 odds, 2 LCUs retreated, casualties 3168(355) vs 202(1). Chinese casualties are really starting to pile up as one unit after another is defeated in detail. CF has been moving to mass his forces but the starting position is so disorganized that it's hard to prevent the IJA from winning some cheap early victories.

Screenshot of the situation in North China below. Arrows show troops on the move attempting to encircle Loyang and Chengchow and an 8 LCU army on the North China Plain.

[Cribtop]

Dec 25, 1941

Merry Virtual Christmas!

There are two kinds of slow turns - the kind you planned for in between big Ops and the kind where you're just screwing around. This is the former, as we position assets for big moves in the 16th Army AO and bring together the pieces for a SE Fleet offensive.

Subs

Spearfish duds on a DD in the hunter LCTF. DC retribution is ineffective. An ASW TF near Formosa DCs Saury.

4th & SE Fleet

6th Fleet HQ loads at Kwaj for Truk. KB is one day out from Truk.

14th Army

Sweep of Manila only opposed by 3 P-40s. All are damaged, no Zeros are lost. Lingayen falls. Should have the enemy locked up in Clark in about a week. He is trying to hide his air force at Batangas and we may catch a few base forces outside of the fortress if he doesn't get moving soon.

25th Army

Ryujo's Claudes upgrade to Zeros at Saigon. As soon as they are ready we ship out to invade Tarakan and the other Eastern DEI bases. A convoy of AKs, xAK-ts and the LSD depart for Truk. They will be used to assault Port Moresby. Reinforcements at Bangkok are almost fully unloaded and many pour onto trains to Malaya.

15th Army

Recon show the enemy troops in Moulmein evacuating. We destroy the pitiful survivors of Victoria Point by IJAAF ground attack.

[Cribtop]

Dec 26, 1941

Subs

ASW TF harasses S-37 near Formosa. We have 3 SC based ASW TFs plus Anns working the straits here and it seems to be working ok. Ann reports a hit on a Dutch sub near Malaya.

4th Fleet

The Wake invasion TF is almost back to Kwaj. We attend to a few housekeeping matters such as re-supply of Jaluit and Tarawa. Nauru, Ocean and TB are on the menu very soon.

Recon of Canton continues to show an emtpy base.

SE Fleet

KB returns to Truk victorious! Our CVs have hammered Pearl Harbor and made seizure of Wake simple with virtually no loss. The Strike Force replenishes fuel, torpedoes, ammo, elite pilots and aircraft today. It is very gratifying how few airframes and reserve pilots are necessary to return to full strength. Most of the ships disband into port, leaving a placeholder DD so we don't have to pay PPs for a good commander. In 3 days, our escorts will arrive, allowing KB to assume a 2 TF look. Until then, the ships will remain disbanded to clear minor SYS damage. An AR, AV, and 3 AGs arrive at Truk today as well, upgrading the capabilities of the base. Another AG from this support convoy will move to Kwaj. We have a lot of LCUs chomping at the bit to seize Rabaul, Kavieng, Lae, Buna, Milne Bay, Port Moresby, Shortlands, Munda Point, and Tulagi. Subs are also en route to screen the advance and hunt for Allied shipping.

Recon of Nadi and British Samoa doesn't find much.

14th Army

Numerous base forces, construction engineers and AA LCUs ship out for Babeldoab via the "northern route" around Formosa to dodge enemy subs. We decide to ship two more IJAAF battalions to Luzon. Zeros sweep Manila for the last time and achieve a 2:0 kill ratio. Oscars recently upgraded at Takao fly into Laoag and Aparri and tomorrow we will launch the first IJAAF airfield attack in Luzon.

65th Brigade marches on Manila, which still contains 11 LCUs. 2 more are at Batangas. We may just trap all these forces outside of Clark. 48th Division arrives at Cabanatuan tomorrow, with the bulk of 14th Army behind it. A tank unit moves on Iba while a regiment of 16th Div will reach Lingayen tomorrow. The siege begins in earnest soon. Is CF trying something sneaky, playing a historical variant that defends Manila or just not paying attention? Who knows, but he is about to get significant elements of his PI land forces trapped.

Our hunters visit the second enemy PT lair on Palawan but find no victims and retire to Cam Ranh Bay. Search planes from this TF reveal the enemy PTs have withdrawn to Legaspi, which suits Cribtop HQ fine.

16th Army

Djailolo occupied. Celebes Sea Sqdn approaches Manado to re-fuel from captured Dutch stocks. Tomorrow the Mindanao invasion begins loading at Babeldoab.

25th Army

All is well with our new bases on Borneo. Ryujo's fighter group finishes upgrading to Zeros and returns to the Mother ship. The Tarakan invasion is ordered to launch from Samah. Indes Fleet and KBL will join this TF, then assist with deeper penetrations of the Dutch empire.

The bulk of 25th Army arrives at Georgetown but is short supplies. BA tomorrow to draw them. Reinforcements have finished unloading at Bangkok and move by rail to Alor Star. The last big convoy has cleared the sub zone around Saigon and will arrive in Bangkok in two days time, bearing 1st Raiding Regiment, 2nd Div and 33rd Div.

15th Army

We march on Moulmein, Tavoy and Pegu. Recon reveals the enemy holding Rangoon in force but nothing at Pegu. Interesting. Cribtop Intel is beginning to operate from the assumption that CF is playing a VERY historical action, limiting his options in the early going by refusing to apply "player knowledge." We are not sure this is true, but the evidence currently points this way.

China

We will launch several attacks near Chusien and Nanyang tomorrow. The pincers have closed on 6 enemy LCUs on the North China plain.

5th Fleet

Unloading at Etoforu, Shimushiri and Paramushiro Jima continues. Forces earmarked for the Aleutians will arrive at Ominato in 3 days' time.

Home Islands

Resources and some Oil begin to flow from the China/Manchukuo/Korea convoys.

[Cribtop]

Dec 27, 1941

Subs

I-162 finds a big convoy transiting just east of Java. She sinks both an xAP and AVP Poolster. The I-boat duds on an xAKL and thus misses the hat trick.

Recon of Christmas, Canton, Suva, Nadi, and the three Samoas is complete. So far, none have been reinforced. We suspect it is too early for CF to have gotten his rear area hubs set up yet and thus will try again in a few weeks. This impression is reinforced by CF's e-mail chatter to the effect that he is unfamiliar with the Allied OOB and dismayed at how disorganized the at start position is.

4th Fleet

No change.

SE Fleet

KB's aircraft and pilots are at 100%, and new escorts arrive tomorrow. The invasion fleet for Operation KR (Kavieng/Rabaul) loads. A second Daitai of Bettys arrives at Truk. We are ready to move here.

14th Army

Oscars sweep Bataan and the IJAAF bombs the airfield. No CAP. We will soon take Iba and enter the Manila hex. Paratroopers, 23rd Air Flotilla and four construction battalions load at Takao for Truk.

16th Army

Tapul occupied. From disparate bases, the forces detailed for the massive Operation TKM either launch or load ships. Indes Fleet and KBL will rendezvous with the Tarakan Invasion fleet tomorrow. Mindanao invasion forces load at Babel, Celebes Sea Sqdn will RV with them soon. Then we hit the next level of eastern DEI bases after Indes Fleet and KBL are finished with Tarakan.

25th Army

Next and final reinforcement convoy will arrive at Bangkok tomorrow. We bomb and bombard Georgetown to see how well defended it is and find raw AS of 1401 vs 42. DA tomorrow.

15th Army

We are close to seizing Tavoy.

China

DA 1 hex SE of Nanyang is good and bad. Good because we force 6 enemy LCUs to retreat with 3:1 odds, casualties 5806(379) [X(] vs 719(4). Bad because the enemy withdraws into the relative safety of Nanyang. Thus, the final haul from the encirclement here will be four LCUs.

DA 1 hex W of Chusien pummels already defeated units 8:1, casualties 952(107) vs 305(2).

5th Fleet

Base forces almost finished unloading.

Home Islands

We upgrade two 24th Air Flotilla Chutai at Tokyo to Zeros. Armaments stocks have now exceeded 30K. We shut down all but the two biggest factories, freeing up HI for a small expansion of vehicle production to about 150.

[nashvillen]

Hey, I almost got the Gridley in one of my games... [:D][:D]

[Cribtop]

It's a multi-game manhunt!

[Cribtop]

Dec 28, 1941

Subs

I-162 continues her reign of terror, sinking an xAKL near Bali. S-41 duds on a DD in the Tarakan invasion force. We're lucky an S-boat's torps didn't work. ASW TFs harass Pike near Formosa.

4th Fleet

The TB invasion FT TF sets out to load troops at Jaluit.

SE Fleet

Operation KR launches, screened by the South Seas Fleet under Tanaka (2 BB, 4 CA and a DesDiv) and the new look KB, now divided into two Car Divs that will remain in the same hex at all times. Akagi, Shokaku and Zuikaku are paired with two Kongo class BBs, 3 CAs, a CS and a DesDiv in the first TF. Car Div 2 boasts Kaga, Hiryu and Soryu, a Kongo class BB, 3 CAs, a CS and a DesDiv. D-day will occur soon. We will load the Solomons invasion the day Rabaul falls and the combat elements will meet them without returning to port. We shouldn't need to re-fuel, but the fleet oilers are standing by just in case. Haruna will join Car Div 2 after we fix the hole in her side left by a Dutch sub. She is currently two days' sail from Hong Kong's newly liberated and de-mined shipyard.

14th Army

Reinforcements for Babel and SE Fleet ship out from Takao. We sweep and bomb Clark, no CAP resists. 65th Bde will enter the Manila hex tomorrow and Iba will fall. Hoping to catch some LCUs before they can retreat to Clark. We believe CF is fixated on an Atimonan invasion that won't come and recon the hex to encourage this belief.

16th Army

Invasions of Tarakan and Mindanao are inbound to the targets. Tarakan is port attacked from Jolo and Manado to suppress CD guns.

25th Army

DA Georgetown takes the base with 526:1 odds, casualties 1884(166) vs 14(0). Two LCUs surrender. Alor Star is now operational and the IJAAF takes up residence. We should pick up speed at last.

15th Army

2nd Div, 33rd Div, 1st Raiding Regt and two shipping engineers unload. Recon of Pegu shows enemy LCUs falling back to Rangoon, but this could just be the enemy's engineers.

China

We will soon attack Chengchow, isolate that city and Loyang, crush the surrounded LCUs on the plains and enter the Nanyang hex with three division equivalents. The lightning campaign is going well. If we annihilate the Loyang pocket we may be able to go for Sian on the cheap. We shall see. CF's obvious counter is to attack somewhere farther south but so far he is being very passive. Cribtop Intel continues to assess that he is a bit overwhelmed by the newness of the Allied side. We will push hard on many fronts to try to prolong the period before he inevitably gets his sea legs.