Howlin' At The Moon - DBB Vettim(A) vs Greasylake (J)

[vettim89]

26-27 March 1942

Very slow turns. I lost another sub up near Formosa. All remaining subs are pulled back. No sense in just sending them to their death up there. Oddly, I see more ASW activity in this region than around the HI.

Thought I would give an image of the situation in north-central China.

Stack 1 is 600 AS heading to Sian
Stack 2 is 1000 AS digging in to block any move up the road from the SE
Stack 3 is 2000 AS moving to the hex to the NW. If the IJA keeps pushing on Sian, they will hop the river and cut them off
Stack 4 is 900 AS behind level 3 forts at Sian. An addition 600 AS is in the hex immediately to the east.

The IJA stack east of Sian is two ID plus some artillery. As you can see, they are at present cut off. The small stacks east and SE of them each have AS below 100

[vettim89]

28 March 1942

Back from four days in NYC with my three daughters. For the record, teenage daughters are living examples of Newtonian Physics

1. Objects at rest tend to stay at rest (ever try to get three teeangers ready for a nice dinner?)
2. Acceleration is proportional to the forace applied to the object (Here teenage daughters resist Newton - see above)
3. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction (I don't think I need to explain this)

Anyhow, sum total of action for this turn is that Singkep falls. An Arty is indicated as being loaded on an xAP and heading to Wenchow. I would assume there is some infantry coming along

[vettim89]

29 March 1942

No new invasions. For the first time I am seeing sweeps out of Palembang. My Dutch Fighter Corps is dieing quickly. They lived to almost April so I can't really complain. Still no sign of the Java invasion fllet as of yet. My subs had some activity in the Celebes Sea - no hits. Perhaps this is the force heading to Java. As I don't expect one to appear out of no where in the next two days, I think it will be done without the invasion bonus.

The two Aussie BGDs are now just one hex from Oosthaven. Supplies are low so this will be a very close operation at best.

Enterprise and Lex should make port in the first week of April. Not perfect timing but darn close. Hornet sits at San Diego just waiting for the calender to click over.

[vettim89]

30 March 1942

A RNN sub likely sinks a DD today!!!!! My subs seem to like escorts a little too much but still a dead DD is a dead DD

IJA takes Djambi overland from Palembang. Paras take unoccupied Muntok(why???)

The IJAAF is hitting Chinese units east of Sian. I think Larry realizes he created a mess there. Give me a few weeks and it will get worse as I have over 3k of AS moving that way

Set about ten subs for upgrade = yes anticipating the 4/1/42 date approaching.

[vettim89]

31 March 1942

IJA is landing (Imp Guards plus a RCN RGT) at Moulmein

Oosthaven is liberated by the two Aussie BGDs. Supplies being sent in and an TF is sent from Perth to possibly evacuate them if time allows

An IJN SCTF built around two BB bombards Bandjermasin

Fighters are now based at PM and are opposing B-17 attacks on the AB.

1 April 1942

Moulmein Falls. One BTN is outright destroyed and the second might as well be. The RCN RGT Pursues

Many ships enter upgrade including CV Hornet.

Very slow right now elswhere.

[vettim89]

1-3 April 1942

IJA lands two Divisions at Wenchow. I need this base to fall as it would qualify as a Kamikaze activation base giving my opponent access to them on 1 Jan 44. Having had that happen with Pakhoi in my WitP game against Larry, I did not want that to happen again. I have enough AS strength here to at least make the IJA fight a little for the base.

Taytay is invaded and taken on the 3nd.

An IJN SCTF is spotted just North of Milne Bay. I have a SCTF between Sydney and Noumea. I am planning on moving it up to NE Oz to act as a blocking force. I have four S-boats operating between PM and Milne Bay. Maybe one will get lucky

[vettim89]

4 April 1942

Most of the action is in China. Landings continue at Wenchow. No attack yet but the IJA now has a 2:1 advantage in base AS. Up Norht, the IJA tries to force the river just east of Sian. The attack comes across as 1:2 with 2500 Japanese casualties. These units are now cut off. The 1st sq AVG is now on patrol at Sian.

I lost another TK west of Hiva Oa to an I-Boat.

SigInt indicates another ID on an xAP heading fro Moulmein. Moving some units around to possible make this next group's arrival a little hotter

The IJA is now retreating away from Oosthaven. I am guessing the AS is too spread out to take on the Aussies. I may get them out yet.

[vettim89]

5 April 1942

Very little to report. Trrops still landing at Wenchow. CV Lexington arrives SF and upgrades her VF. Heading to Mare Island for upgrade. AVG knocks down about a half dozen IJAAF fighters and bombers near Sian.

I have a question for those that may be reading. The IJA shock attacked last turn just east of Sian. These units are cut off from supply but Larry is now moving some units in to open the road. For those with experience dealing with the Chinese in AE, should I shock attack now to try to force the IJA back? I have a base AS advantage of about 1200 to 400. Is it worth trying?

[vettim89]

6-9 April 1942

Well the trailing IJA unit Shock attacked across the river east of Sian solving my dilemma. The resulting attack came offf at 1 to 99 and cost the Japanese 6 k casualties and over 200 squads destroyed. I now have 2000 AS just south of this stack (the units from Loyang and Chengtow). A second IJA stack is four hexes east pushing my weak stack aside. I think I am going to let Larry stick his head a little further into this noose.

Still no Java invasion sighted. More troops coming ashore at Moulmein. The two Ausie ID's have arrive at Perth so Oz is a little more secure now.

Hornet has completed her upgrade but her escorts still have nearly two weeks before ready. Enterprise and Lexington are also upgrading.

[vettim89]

10 April 1942

IJA Deliberate Attack at Wenchow is 1 to 2 but reduces forts to 0. Still it is just a two division supported assault; so, I don't think I need worry about a major central China offensive. I sent one very weak unit across the river behind the IJA stack one hex east of Sian. With a large stack approaching from the west, my intent is to block the IJA retreat then, hopefull, Shock Attack before the reinforcements arrive.

Dutch rout and destroy one Para unit at Padnag but another has appeared. Lets see if this one will meet the same fate.

My AMPH TF will arrive Oosthaven this turn. Part of me is reluctant to pull the Aussie BGDs but they did their job. I figured I would lose them defending Palamebang but the way things worked out perhaps it is better.

I bought out the 164th Inf RGT which is the restricted part of Americal. I will send them to: New Caledonia of course. However, that is only after I can buy out the 41st ID to go with them.

[vettim89]

11 April 1942

Very little going on right now. Larry has massed 13 units in the dot hex just NE of Loyang. I figure they will be pushed toward Sian. I will Shock Attack the stack one hex east of Sian as soon as my blocking force blocks the retreat hex. That unit has now moved 7 miles.

There are now seven units across the river from Pegu. Just waiting for the big jump to fall. I have about 350 AS behind level 3 and building forts at Pegu. I am hoping they can hold off the first attempt by the IJA to force the river. I have moved up some NavAttack type units to Mandaly and Magwe along with a Hudson unit on NavSearch. I hope to catch the next convoy into Moulmein unawares

Suva is now in really good shape with lots of engineers, tanks, Arty, and a full ID. Pago Pago now has all three Marine Raider BTN plus two CD units. I have 27th ID ready to go. Trying to decide if I want to reinforce Fiji even more or send it to NC along with Americal.

I have played a fairly passive game so far. The reason for this is that this is my fourth AE PBEM vs the first for my opponent. I will give him to the beginning of May to get his bearings. Afer that it is no holds barred. If he hasn't invaded Java by then, I may opt to reinforce it. I have the I Aus Corps available plus potential some USA ID's. Just thinking on that for now.

[vettim89]

12 April 1942

The game was on break for Holiday travel. Convy at PM managed to walk right over the top of seven subs with only one attack which was a dud. I did have a cruiser based SCTF heading to PM but I turned them around. The IJN convoy is escorted by a SCTF. While I thought about giving battle, what I really want to do is shut down the AB. Also I am so short of DD's right now, I just didn't want to chance losing any at this point. Hope I don't regret this.

[vettim89]

13 April 1942

Well the game finally gets interesting. KB has shown up NE of Noumea of all places. No sign of invasion convoy but I suspect it migh be trailing behind. No vital Allied shipping is in the area; so its all good there. Howevere, AV Langley is in port at Noumea and may be sunk next turn. THere are four separate TF's near PM right now. Apparently this is a major resupply and reinforcement effort

The IJA forces the road to Sian back open. I still have quite a bit of AS in reserve up here but will wait for the IJA to commit before revealing its presence.
Meanwhile the IJA appears to be trying to flank Pegu with one unit now NE of the hex likely trying to force the river into the unoccupied hex to Pegu's north. I am sending a small BRN over to at least block the IJA entrance. I do now wnat to reduce either Rangoon's or Pegu's AS at this point.

My subs had been harassing a REPL TF coming down towards Truk. Multiple dud TT had been fired over several turns. Finally found a working TT here. I believe the TK is a goner as she was listed as HEavy FIres, Heavy Damage

[vettim89]

14 April 1942

Well KB appears to be raiding not escorting an invasion. From the image, you can see they are east of Fiji. Larry must have hit the "max speed" button becuase they moved a good ten hexes in one turn. I have a large convoy with a/c for Suva well east of here. Just another week and I could have made it interesting. If the IJN persues, I will likely lose that REPL TF next turn. Here's hoping they burnt enough fuel to cause a retreat.

Elsewhere there was heavy bombing on the stack east of Sian with over 500 Chinese casualties. Unfortunately Sioan was socked in as the AVG did not put a single plane up in defense. GRRR.

US S-boats hit an AMC for the second time in two days and sink it. ALso CL Nagara is hit one hex SE of PM. If she disbands there I may see if a Port attack by B-17's can do her in.

Aussies are out of Oosthaven. Struggled with that decision but I figure they would be of far greater use defending Oz that being dispatched in a losing battle on Sumatra. Oosthave will likely fall to occupation soon.

[vettim89]

15 April 1942

Okay a little disconcerted here as the IJN carriers just went "poof" and disappeared. Looking at my search arcs, there are two gaps where they could be lurking. The first is between Noumea and Suva just south of Lugainville. The other would be in the space between Fiji and NZ. That would not be desirable at all. Not a lot down there but still hate to lose merchies. My hope is that with the sprint two turns ago and the great distance from Rabaul/Truk that they just retired. Will likley know next turn. I did turn a NZ Hudson sq to the SE from Suva to at least look.

Good news is the skies cleared over China. AVG did well. Air losses for the day were 20 to 0 for the good guys!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ketza]

I brought my daughters to NYC this past holiday week.

Are sons cheaper then daughters?

My Discover cash back rewards will be huge for December!

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Ketza

I brought my daughters to NYC this past holiday week.

Are sons cheaper then daughters?

My Discover cash back rewards will be huge for December!

I have three girls also. They ain't cheap - lovable but not cheap

[vettim89]

16 April 1942

Well the IJN CVTF reappeared up near the New Hebrides. They hit Noumea's port again for little effect. Now if I can just get that TF into Suva with 5 FS and a couple of DB sq, things will be a little more fun next time around.

Speaking of fun, my SCTF ran afoul of a convoy at PM. Last turn cursor intel said there was a small SCTF there. Either it left or it was FOW. You can see from the results that the Four Navies TF wreaked a little havoc. They then bombarded PM for good measure before retiring safely into the Coral Sea (just far enough away from Rabaul based Netties)

The flanking maneuver at Pegu is in full force now. Cursor intel says five units directly east of Pegu and only two to the SE. If Larry completely abandons the hex to the SE I will send a BTN across to cut off the larger stack. Time will tell.

[vettim89]

17 April 1942

Two separate S-boats each sank an xAK off southern PNG today. The one pictured really did not like this xAK. The first two TT missed but the sub fired four more for hits plus put a shell into its foe. Talk about overkill.

IJN CVTF are 200 NM WNW of Espiritu Santos now and withdrawing to the NW.

SigInt indicates an additional ID being sent to both Moulmein and Wenchow.

Chinese rout two AC BTN that had pursued the retreating stack from a few turns ago. End result was 6 to 1 odds and 31 out of 64 AC destroyed or disabled. My highly depleted Chinese Corps has assumed blocking position two hexes east of Sian. The road is once again closed. IJA continues to loop around Chinese troops north of Loyang in an effort to reopen the road.

Gloucester BTN now opposes the growing IJA stack east of Pegu.

Suva AB goes to level 4 today. My convoy with the a/c is three days out. Just hoping KB stays away.

[vettim89]

18 April 1942

The IJA has landed yet another ID at Wenchow (the 8th). SIgInt had given me warning of this move about a week ago. Base AS is now 1100 to 300 in favor of the Japanese. Up north in China, it appears Larry may be pulling back his Sian offensive. If that is true, I may need to chance a Shock Attack east of Sian to avoid having those units escape.

The IJ carriers last seen WNW of the New Hebrides have disappered presumably to replenich at either Rabaul or Truk. However a new TF has been sighted 400 nm SSE of Ceylon. Is this another raid? Time will tell. Cursor intel at the moment says it is a SCTF. I don't trust that at all. I have moved some additional FS from Calcutta but they only made Madras. They can hop to Colombo next turn if time allows. Next turn should be interesting.

Still no evidence of Japanese expansion into the SRA. We are fast approaching May. Already one unit has been delayed as the Japanese do not hold the arrival hex which is Soerabaja.

The Aussie units I pulled from Sumatra are now well south of the battle area. I am debately sending them to Exmouth to defend and expand up there.