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

[jrcar]

Here is China, we are pulling forces from the attack on Sian. 1 Div is going the the SWPAC as a reserve, 2 and a HQ are heading all the way south to help with the followup after Liuchow.

[jrcar]

01 Jan 1943

Indicators and Warnings

Subs
His subs are now active in the shipping lanes, our aircraft and escorts are supressing them, but causing little damage.

Sub attack near Iriomote at 91,62

Japanese Ships
PB Tatsumi Maru
xAK Sinno Maru

Allied Ships
SS Plunger

Sub attack near Phuket at 47,69

Japanese Ships
PB Hokuyo Maru
PB Yahonui Maru

Allied Ships
SS Haddock

Sub attack near Taihoku at 89,61

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-41

Allied Ships
SS Plunger

Burma
We continue to advance over the Chinese border, otherwise it is quiet.

DEI
A BF is on the way to the gap bwteen Java and Timor.


OZ
We strike the troops at Katherine destroying two tanks and hit Daly Waters for the last time. From next turn all airpower will be against the gallent defenders of Katherine, whom do good this turn!

Morning Air attack on 146th Infantry Regiment, at 76,128 (Katherine)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 24
B-17F Fortress x 26


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Ground combat at Katherine (76,128)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 665 troops, 0 guns, 103 vehicles, Assault Value = 300

Defending force 1119 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 36

Allied adjusted assault: 52

Japanese adjusted defense: 78

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), leaders(+), preparation(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
131 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled



Assaulting units:
2/7th Armoured Regiment
2/6th Armoured Regiment
2/9th Armoured Regiment
3rd Motor Brigade

Defending units:
146th Infantry Rgt /2


While we have some 47mm AT guns in the unit the Armoured Regiments probably have Matilda's, and not much we can do about them

The airforce is now starting to redeploy. Helen II from Samulaki can easily reach Katherine, so one bomber unit is operating from there. The Helen 1 are operating out of Darwin, but will move them and upgrade at Samulaki to Helen II, then move in more fighters to Darwin.



Pacific

Part ok KB is split off to raid, as it goes past Nadi the CAP supports the defence of the base.

Afternoon Air attack on Nadi , at 131,160

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 9



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 7


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged

A small 1 ship TF is detected heading to Tanna. We will send in a small SCTF to intercept.

China
We apply mass airstrikes in two key locations. The priority is the mass opposite our armour near Nanning that hurt us last turn. We causing around 1000 casulties as they are disrupted and in the open. He doesn't attack us here and a potential crisis passes.

The other target is in support of this attack.

Ground combat at 73,52 (near Tuyun)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 10872 troops, 128 guns, 1091 vehicles, Assault Value = 516

Defending force 5276 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 228

Japanese adjusted assault: 834

Allied adjusted defense: 88

Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 28 (2 destroyed, 26 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
2798 casualties reported
Squads: 74 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 41 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 15 (7 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
13th Tank Regiment
18th Tank Regiment
5th Armored Car Co
12th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Division

Defending units:
2nd Prov Chinese Corps

The road to Tuyun is now open.

[anthonykevinluke]

Greetings All,

I am the other half of the Japanese team and generally remain below the radar horizon, letting Rob do the AAR stuff, which he does so well - Int types write well, even if it is mostly crap ! Actually, we continue to play very well as a team, acting as foils to each others foibles and eccentricities, whilst complementing each others strengths. We discuss most turns and remain focused on our operational and strategic goals; as Nemo kindly complemented us on. The main purpose of me posting is to see if I can actually cause Rob to have a heart attack by so doing [Rob, how's the ticker mate ...!]

Anyway, I look after CENPAC, SOPAC and SWPAC. My main focus remains destruction and delay. the whole SOPAC theatre is purely held for delay. Our first hard line being Lunga/Tulagi, then Kusai Island, curving NW to Ponape, Truk and finally the Saipan chain. By staying focused on our main effort we try not to be distracted by tactical fluff and try and keep our opposition in reaction mode. This is of course becoming significantly harder as we move into 1943 and the allied power grows. Our main advantage is in the destruction of four of the six US CV, enabling us a significant freedom of manoeuvre until mid 1943. For the SOPAC and CENPAC area's of Operation (AO's) I WANT him to invade; with CV superiority this then gives me the chance to isolate his invasions and kill Allied troops and material, thus achieving further delay.

In China, I play a shell game with the gnd forces. Lure him out of position and kill Chinese troops in the open. This tactic has enabled us to make significant gains in the last few months and may yet open up a backdoor to Chungking (via Luichow and Tyun). Care is taken not to make them surrender, as they rebuild, and in many cases stronger than they started! In scenario 1, opposing a decent opponent (who pulled back from Loyang and Chengchow, thus preserving all those critical troops), it is critical to make use of the interior LOC's (roads and rail) to quickly change the direction of attack. A strat look at the Chinese theatre clearly divides it into three theatres, one isolated (N and NE - Sian AO), and the other two capable of being separated.

As a whole we remain focused on delay; we must win time to gather resources and to buy more Gnd forces out of Manchuria/Mongolia and also time for our reinforcements to arrive (as you will all be aware Scen1 as a Jap you are desperately short of gnd forces). We are happy to fight an air war of attrition over our own terrain and will play the afld 'shell game' and 'CAP Trap' in Burma for as long as we can fly!

Our critical tactical weakness is fuel (balancing fleet usage, and tanker need for taking resources home or dropping fuel into OP bases).
Main Strat weakness is lack of gnd troops to harden the crust and provide depth, thus our focus on DELAY.

Anyway, just a quick brief and happy to answer any questions; now sinking beneath the forum surface once again ...........

Regards,

AKL

[Cribtop]

A Tony sighting! This is rarer than a yellow-bellied woodpecker!

Rough timing on posting to give Rob a heart attack - the man just had surgery. [:D]

[jrcar]

It has taken me 24hrs to recover from this unexpected development!

Will report the turn soon.

Cheers

Rob

[jrcar]

02 Jan 1943 Katherine Falls!


Indicators and Warnings

Subs

ASW attack near Taichu at 86,62

Japanese Ships
DD Shikinami

Allied Ships
SS Gudgeon, hits 1

Submarine attack near Efate at 120,154

Japanese Ships
SS I-21

Allied Ships
xAK Anshun, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Burma
Bad weather, a few attacks on the Chinese on the border.

DEI

OZ
Bad weather grounds our aircraft and they fail to fly in support of the defenders of Katherine. Then the attack goes in:

Ground combat at Katherine (76,128)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5124 troops, 46 guns, 409 vehicles, Assault Value = 300

Defending force 1087 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 33

Allied adjusted assault: 173

Japanese adjusted defense: 6

Allied assault odds: 28 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Katherine !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
873 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 19 (18 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2/9th Armoured Regiment
2/6th Armoured Regiment
2/7th Armoured Regiment
3rd Motor Brigade

Defending units:
146th Infantry Rgt /2

There are still a lot of troops behind these guys.

Darwin in heading to level 5 Forts.

Pacific
Andrew bombs Nadi with B17E causing light damage.

China
Bad weather grounds most combat sorties.

We retake an empty Ichang (3rd or 4th time now).

[jrcar]

3 Jan 1943


Indicators and Warnings

Subs

Burma
Attacks on Chinese troops continue, our ground forces are 1-2 days out.

DEI
Oosthaven on the sth tip of Sumatra makes level 4 port. This takes pressure off Palembang. Supplies from here are flowing to Java to fix the HI, resources to Singapore.

OZ
Our bombers fly getting a nice hit on Katherine airbase. Another unit of Helen II arrives at Samulaki.

Pacific
PT boats detected off Efate, looks like Andrew intends to build this base up. KB continues to lurk...

China
We cause over a 1000 casulties from air attacks on the stack west of Nanning (it is in the open) only 90,000 to go!

We have two div about to move into this hex, that will give use 1800 AV. In the open with Armour we should be able to do some damage...

[jrcar]

Convoys.

We started out using the smaller slower xAKL in the nth drawing resources from Sakalin and Hokkaido. This was due to the port capacity.

We moved any unit with engineers into the key ports to build them up, this took about 5 months.

Now we can use a mix of large and small convoys, I won't claim they are fully optimised however we have drawn resources down in these two areas so that each basically has a load of resources, and it replenishes prior to the next convoy coming in.

Sakalin
From Sakalin we have four convoys averaging about 25,000 point load. Every now and then we run a small TK convoy to pick up oil.

Hokkaido
From Hokkaido we have:

1 large 64,000 convoy (5040 size ships)and a 41,000 Convoy, going Hakodate-Ominato
2 21,000 convoys go Sapporo - Hirosaki.

Korea/Manchuria
From Korea/Manuchuria we ran lots of convoys drawing resources down from Port Arthur, while we built up Fusan. Now we just run just one 20,000 convoy from Fusan, with the occasional one from Port Arthur. Resources are balanced here now.

China
From China we run a 20k convoy from Tsingtao (this was one of the erly set up ones and it has run ever since.

From Shanghai we run 3 25k convoys , one returns with supply every 5 days or so.

Indo China
We have one 31k convoy running Bankok-Home Islands carring resources one way, supply the other.

From Haiphong we run 3-4 large (65k) convoys carrying resources, 2 carrying fuel and one oil.

We use Cam Ranh bay as the oil hub from Brunei/Miri.

DEI
Fuel and oil is shipped from Palembang, Medan and Rangoon to Singapore. From here it either travels overland to Haiphong or is picked up and generally sent to the Home Islands (sometimes is diverted to the Pacific).

Fuel from Brunei is shipped to Manila or the home islands.

Tarakan and Balikpapan send fuel to the DEI/Pacific, resources and oil to Sorebaya.

Resources and oil is shipped from Sorebaya and Kendari to the Home Island.

Resources are fuel to shipped from Nth Oz and the East DEI to Kendari (there are 9 small convoys doing this).

Pacific
A shuttle of 4 small convoys take resources from Nauru to Truk, where convoys heading back to the Home Islands (which were carrying troops/supply to Rabaul/Truk) take it to the Home Islands.


We are drawing about 6k a turn of resources from Nth Oz and from Nauru.

In the Home Islands we now look like:

[jrcar]

Aircraft Production.
Judy is taking time to build, we have two factories working on it and are repairing 2 aircraft a day.

[jrcar]

Oscar IIa is proving its worth in China as a fighter bomber. Its long range also helps with escorting aircraft there, freeing up Zero for Burma and the Pacific.

Tojo overall is on parity with the Allied fighters, but tends to get beaten by P-38.

A6M3a is a great aircraft. The A6M3 has done ok in Burma, and tends to handle the P-38.

The A6M5 hasn't been in action yet... maybe need to try in Burma where its extra speed may help.

Next game I'd focus on Helen more. The Helen II is a good aircraft with long range, allowing it to be kept well back. We keep the Helen 1 in production for ASW.

Lily II was a mistake.



We have placed the supply situation in the home islands under a lot of stress with our large incresae in the Frank/George, however we see that the mid 43 timeframe, when they should arrive, will be a critical time, and a month or twos delay in there will lengthen the war.

[jrcar]

04 Jan 1943

Indicators and Warnings

Subs
Ouch.
Sub attack near Colombo at 28,48

Japanese Ships
SS I-27, hits 10, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Fortune
DD Hotspur
DD Foxhound

OUCH!
Sub attack near Hengchun at 84,68

Japanese Ships
TK Rikko Maru, Torpedo hits 1
TK Tatekawa Maru
TK Nissyo Maru
TK Goyo Maru
TK Akebono Maru
DD Kikuzuki

Allied Ships
SS Barb

She was a big ship and empty, has 30float damage and is two days from Manila, so should be OK as long as another sub doesn't find her.

We get our own back
ASW attack near Noumea at 114,160

Japanese Ships
SS I-34, hits 9

Allied Ships
DD Lardner, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Voyager


Burma
We are now in the same hex, 1 out, from Paoshin. We will wait for a couple of more units to join us while our air works over the defenders...

DEI

OZ
The bombers from Samulaki don't fly due to weather,so only small casulties cauesd to th enemy.

Andrew bombs back with B-17, we don't damage the first raid, but the Nicks come in on the second We claim 4 B-17 (probably 2).


Morning Air attack on 146th Infantry Regiment, at 76,127 , near Katherine

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 2



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 29
B-17F Fortress x 16


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
150 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 2 disabled

Morning Air attack on 146th Infantry Regiment, at 76,127 , near Katherine

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 2
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 16



Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 4


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Pacific
Off Efate we send in a DD squadron to clear the PT boats, we kill one boat, the rest run away

China
We cause another 1000 casulties to the troops in the open west of Nanning. Two more of our divs have now caught up and we have 1750AV... to attack or not...

We are now at Tuyun, we should take the place on the attack next turn.



Andrew is still building up Noumea and playing it cautiously, good play, but what we want (well after a rash ill concieved attack that is!).

Cheers

Rob

[Olorin]

I just finished reading this great AAR. Very easy to read, as signal to noise ratio is excellent. Consider me subscribed.

[jrcar]

Olorin thank you for the feedback and kind comments, it is appreciated!

Cheers

Rob

[jrcar]

05 Jan 1942 Tuyun falls!

Indicators and Warnings
Masses of subs arund the home island, in particular towards China, and south of Yokohama. Aircraft are being redeployed to deal with them.

Subs

Sub attack near Newcastle at 93,168

Japanese Ships
SS I-25, hits 9, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Benham
DD Stack
DD Lang
DD Ellet

Sub attack near Dadjangas at 80,94

Japanese Ships
xAK Kokai Maru, Torpedo hits 1
PB Keiko Maru

Allied Ships
SS Saury

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

It is a bigish ship carring a BF to the DEI, it should make port at Davao and get saved.

Burma
We are waiting for another div to march up before we attack.

DEI

OZ
Katherine is clouded over, our bombers don't strike.

We sweep and bomb Portland Roads, nothing home.

Pacific
This didn't work as intended

Night Time Surface Combat, near Efate at 120,154, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure
DD Murasame
DD Mikazuki
DD Karukaya, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
PT-144
PT-146
PT-149
PT-164
PT-165
PT-167
PT-170
PT-171
PT-172, Shell hits 1
PT-173
PT-174

This did a bit better:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Efate at 120,154, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure
DD Murasame
DD Mikazuki

Allied Ships
PT-144
PT-146
PT-149
PT-164
PT-165, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-167
PT-170
PT-171
PT-172
PT-173
PT-174, Shell hits 2, on fire

China
Tuyun falls. We will continue to advance nth to Moscow! (Andrew asked where PanzerArmee sth was heading, I replied Moscow).

Ground combat at Tuyun (74,51)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 11041 troops, 128 guns, 1096 vehicles, Assault Value = 548

Defending force 4480 troops, 31 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 85

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 561

Allied adjusted defense: 28

Japanese assault odds: 20 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tuyun !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

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


Allied ground losses:
1376 casualties reported
Squads: 163 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 47 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 25 (25 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
5th Armored Car Co
18th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
13th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Division

Defending units:
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
26th Chinese/C Corps

[jrcar]

06 Jan 1943

Indicators and Warnings

Subs
Our ASW aircraft are getting lots of detections, and the occasional hit.

ASW attack near Noumea at 112,160

Japanese Ships
SS I-18, hits 4

Allied Ships
DD Hammann
DD Reid
DD Perkins

Sub attack near Salajar at 66,107

Japanese Ships
DD Hayashio

Allied Ships
SS Shark, hits 1

Burma
We are bombarding the Chines from the ground and air. Another 450-500 AV is about 4 days away.

Ground combat at 64,45 (near Paoshan)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13620 troops, 151 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 1206

Defending force 20543 troops, 112 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 765


Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
33rd/A Division
4th Division
1st Tank Regiment
53rd Division
33rd/C Division
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
200th Chinese Division
28th New Chinese Division
71st Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Division
39th New Chinese Division
49th Chinese Division


DEI

OZ

Pacific

China
We are advancing nth of Tuyun.

[jrcar]

07 Jan 1943

Indicators and Warnings

Subs
Our aircraft get a number of hits on subs.


Burma

DEI

OZ
Cloud continues to stop our bombers flying against Katherine.

Pacific

China

We catch up with the forces from Tuyun as we cross the river.

Ground combat at 75,50 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 11160 troops, 128 guns, 1100 vehicles, Assault Value = 565

Defending force 2742 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 45

Japanese adjusted assault: 753

Allied adjusted defense: 7

Japanese assault odds: 107 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1027 casualties reported
Squads: 60 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 130 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (16 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
18th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
5th Armored Car Co
13th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Division

Defending units:
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
26th Chinese/C Corps

[jrcar]

08 Jan 1943
Indicators and Warnings

Subs
More hits on enemy subs, 3 on one should hurt it.

Sub attack near Torishima at 108,70

Japanese Ships
xAK Wales Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Kamoi Maru
PB Tomitu Maru

Allied Ships
SS Grampus

Carrying resources, she is unlikly to make port.

Burma

DEI

OZ
Fenton falls, the allies are now two hex from Darwin.

Pacific
Clean up some more PT.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Efate at 120,154, Range 14,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure
DD Murasame
DD Mikazuki

Allied Ships
PT-144, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-146, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Day Time Surface Combat, near Efate at 120,154, Range 14,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure
DD Murasame
DD Mikazuki

Allied Ships
PT-154, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT-155
PT-156
PT-160

China
See next post.

[jrcar]

Summary of Operations in China
After turning back the Allied forces from Warzup in Burma in early Nov 1942 we identified an opportunity to shift our two division strategic reserve from Singapore to commit in China.

The situation at that time was we were grinding away in the sth, making a little bit of headway, but the main focus for both sides was nth central China.

The initial aim was to capture Nanning, with the subsequent objective being Liuchow.

We managed to get the extra forces and supply in without being detected, and Nanning fell after some hard manoeuvring and a concentration of air power.

We then advanced on Liuchow. Andrews forces in that sector where being "pinned" by a number of units and a large stack threatening several places on his line. Liuchow was relatively lightly defended.

Once we made it to Liuchow Andrew made the mistake of not reinforcing it, and over a period of a week or more we ground the defenders down from the air and grounds and took the place.

The defenders retreated east, leaving the route to the north open except for one large corps.

This corps was caught in the open by our massed armour and air and was routed.

WE are now deep in China (see map below). However like many historical deep thrusts issues with logistics and support forces means that we are probably about to culminate for a few days.

Our success here has been a bit unexpected and we have failed to provide sufficient supply (we have enough, just, but more would be better).

The critical decision was when Andrew did not reinforce Liuchow in time (partially due to a flanking force that we had sent in and air support on the flanks). This has change the face of China for the better


Observations
Massed armour works great in the open against Chinese forces, and does OK in the wooded areas.

Chinese forces cannot stand in the open.

The Japanese player can afford to fight a battle of attrition at the "break in" point with adequate supply.

Massed close air support in support of the main effort, and interdiction of flanking forces works.


Future Intentions
Another three div (including the 3rd Tank Div) are in transit from Nth to south to continue the push.

Bring in more supply.

Drive on Moscow from the south


Andrew may have to abandon central China, or risk being cut off... a tough call.

I always find China is at a "balance" point at game start that can be tipped by the Allies or Japan. A series of victories either way and it can turn ugly fast. Japan has the ability to recover more through the application of reinforcements and supply. The Allies can provide air support.


Blue circles indicate the main concentrations of Chinese forces.

[jrcar]

09 Jan 1943

Indicators and Warnings

Subs
Subs are really harassing us.

Sub attack near Torishima at 109,70

Japanese Ships
PB Tomitu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
PB Nagato Maru

Allied Ships
SS Growler

Sub attack near Torishima at 108,70

Japanese Ships
xAK Wales Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Growler

Sub attack near Samarinda at 67,96

Japanese Ships
DD Kamikaze
DD Sanae
DD Kuretake

Allied Ships
SS Shark

Burma
No change.

DEI

OZ

Pacific
A daring raid!

Morning Air attack on Koumac , at 113,156

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 33
G4M1 Betty x 45



Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AVD McFarland, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage


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


Port hits 9
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 3


Next turn a large DD Tf will sweep the final PT boats and we will counter land at Efate to destroy the coy there (Andre has not reinforced).

China
A win and a loss...

Ground combat at Kweiyang (74,49)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11237 troops, 128 guns, 1101 vehicles, Assault Value = 578

Defending force 9443 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 315

Japanese adjusted assault: 461

Allied adjusted defense: 197

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
986 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 74 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled


Assaulting units:
13th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
18th Tank Regiment
5th Armored Car Co
2nd Tank Division

Defending units:
89th Chinese Corps
26th Chinese/B Corps
26th Chinese/C Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
1st Group Army
20th Chinese Base Force

It should fall next turn...

This one hurts, we should be strong enough though to withstand any counter attack...

Ground combat at 83,45 (near Nanyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 54229 troops, 460 guns, 495 vehicles, Assault Value = 1806

Defending force 53445 troops, 314 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2053

Japanese adjusted assault: 961

Allied adjusted defense: 3463

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
7819 casualties reported
Squads: 138 destroyed, 332 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 62 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 58 disabled
Guns lost 41 (1 destroyed, 40 disabled)
Vehicles lost 32 (2 destroyed, 30 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
3141 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 145 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 22 (1 destroyed, 21 disabled)


Assaulting units:
36th Division
57th Infantry Brigade
116th Division
17th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
34th Division
41st Division
11th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
98th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
26th Group Army

[jrcar]

Recently read the great primer by Damian http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2933397

Some excellent stuff there, in particular the "ship efficiency" that he has calculated, and should appear in Tracker 1.9. We will start to modify our convoys to take advantage of this information, although we aren't too bad at the moment

More importantly though Allied subs are starting to bite, and we need to rethink convoys.

Andrew is focussing on two areas, one to the east of Japan towards China, and the other south of Nagoya. He is keeping to the deep water where our depth charges generally don't go.

So far we have run a lot of smaller convoys with 1-3 escorts. This allows the optimum use of the port loading, but the escort to ship ratio is low, and the total escorts required is high.

Instead we are going to now look at the following.

Singapore will remain a hub for Burma, Sumatra and the islands around there. Shallow water keeps Andrew away, and we have a number of ASW TF (but few aircraft).

From Singapore large convoys will use the shallow water route to Cam Ranh Bay (currently a 6(6) port - will build it up more, Saigon has restrictions on the river). We will need to put an AV at one of the islands near this route to try and get some search coverage.

Stuff from Borneo will also head to Camranh Bay (already does).

Stuff will then rail to Haiphong.

From Haiphong large convoys, led by an ASW TF will assemble for the leg to Japan. This route is well covered by Aircraft and will use the shallow water where possible... but it will need to fight its way through.



We are still looking at the southern routes from the East DEI (Resources and Oil) and from the Philipines. I'm very tempted to route these nth as well... That will avoid the deep water "killing ground" between Formosa and Tokoy.


Convoy to and from the SWPAC/SOPAC will use the island chain sth of Tokyo (where we have built an offshore airbase), through to the Bonin Islands (more aircraft) then on to the Marianas. These will become more infrequent, but larger, to Truk and Rabaul.

This image shows the top of the convoy route with approximate air coverage.


The problem with this is that once Andrew finds the route he will focus on it... and we may then need to change. It is also vulnerable to raids. To counter this Marcus Isalnd is being being built up, recently the first part of the Combined 8th SNLF CD gun unit was emplaced on the island. It is already home to 18 Emily. It is about to hit level 6 forts, then the airfields will be built.

We also have a two CVE TF in this area to help deal with raids.

this will ultimately use more fuel (but at the DEI end, not the Japan end) and will be less efficient, but should limit losses....