Wild Sheep Chase - obvert (J) vs JocMeister (A)

[obvert]

Thanks Erkki! I think I missed my chance on that one. I check it almost every turn, but was hurrying through that turn and missed it. I've been reconning with Glens a bit though, (put a better pilot in one) and at Pearl there were only 14 ships listed about a week ago with detection level at 3. !!! And my 10 subs in all areas surrounding the base and on the west coast missed them leaving?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

What's your intent after taking Sian? Do you plan on taking that oil center to the north? I've always wanted to do that but never made it that far.

Sian will be a while it looks like. I'd like to have it within the month, but 7 new Chinese units just appeared to the north of the city. Not sure what they are yet. Due to the threat to supply lines and the need for rest to recoup the troops I've decided to leave Sian for up to a few weeks, cleaning out the straggling Chinese units on the roads leading to it.

After the roads are clear and secure I'll move back into Sian and go again. In the meanwhile airstrikes will keep any new forts from building, so losing no ground here really. Lanchow with its oil and refineries would definitely be the next goal.

To the NW about 500 AV of infantry and armour marched to Ningsia, the dot base four hexes from Lanchow. There are 7 units and 50,000 Chinese in Lanchow now , and supply was not drawing to this base. These troops are now heading back to the gray road leading to the far west. If supply allows the armour and cavalry will try to march to Hami and then Urumchi. I'd like to try to take those bases also just to see if anything will ever draw from that far out. [:)]

It looks like the Red Chinese are also evacuating Yenan and that area and joining up with the capitalists. A division is nearly prepped for Yenan and if most units clear the area it will attempt a march to that base as well.

The SE is nearly clear, with troops marching on Kukong and Pingsiang. Changsha is listed as having 100 damage to the runway. Getting a lot of supply hits too.

[obvert]

6 Feb 1942

DEI: Bombing continues at Batavia. A Martin bomber was destroyed this turn. In fact about the only planes destroyed lately are on the ground, as no Allied airforce is flying any missions.

At Soerabaja the situation is looking good. Here is the result of the bombardment.

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Ground combat at Soerabaja (56,104)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 16716 troops, 162 guns, 73 vehicles, Assault Value = 808

Defending force 8349 troops, 103 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 274

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


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


Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF
38th Division
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
124th Infantry Regiment
Yokosuka 4th SNLF

Defending units:
4th KNIL Regiment
2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Artilleriecommando Coastal Gun Battalion
MLD
Soerabaja Base Force


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Burma: Near Tavoy our training Vals sank 3 HDML and 2 ML refugees from Singapore. Bombing and multiple sweeps continue at Rangoon.

SO PAC: Bombing of the Port Moresby fields continue to disrupt fort building and hit supply. 38 damage reported and an average of 1 supply hit per attack. The KB is retreating to refuel and wait in the shadows at Rabaul.

subs: Three DDs forced KX to surface in a DC attack and confirmed finishing her off with gunfire! This is a first for our forces, and it avenges a TK loss to the KX a week ago.

China: Bombing at Sian is really getting effective in hitting supply, and also destroyed an SB-III on the field.

Near Pingsiang our troops catch up again to the beleageured Chinese Army attempting to get to Changsha. Although our troops are tired and weakening themselves, they took another good cut off of these units.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 82,55 (near Pingsiang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 45358 troops, 421 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 1433

Defending force 21965 troops, 197 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 401

Japanese adjusted assault: 538

Allied adjusted defense: 120

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
3209 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 197 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Units pursuing 1


Allied ground losses:
5630 casualties reported
Squads: 293 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 608 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 68 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 43 (17 destroyed, 26 disabled)
Units retreated 12
[/font]

[obvert]

7 Feb 1942

China: Attacks on Sian really start doing some damage. Here is a composite of the results from IJNAF and IJAAF attacks.

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 53

DEI: Troops will bombard and Netties will bomb the troops at Soerabaja for a few days before the attack. I don't want a repeat in miniature of the Sian attack.

Not much else to report. Just bombing fields in Rangoon, Bataan, Kukong, and Port Moresby.

All of the Fubuki, Minekaze and the DMS and other upgrades have all been sent to ports. This means around 25 DDs plus quite a few other ships are out for a while. It'll also mean much better ASW, with the Fubuki I moving to 4.

All major purchases of armour and combat engineer units have been made and these troops are now in China. Small engineer units are now being bought out and shipped mainly to the Gilberts and the Aleutians. The next wave will go to the Marshalls and the Solomons. One 27 plane Ann groups was converted to Sallys today, costing 75 PP.

It'll take another few weeks to get all engineers on their way and begin to convert the 12 plane groups to Sallys.

Troops at Singapore are healing slowly. One Div needs to move out soon to finish up Medan and other points on Sumatra, then be ready to move to Batavia. The 33rd is packing up and moving to Burma, as are elements of the 55th. It should be two weeks at least before any more action takes place on the ground in Burma.

[obvert]

8 Feb 1942

China: The numbers for bombing at Sian continue to improve.

Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 12
Runway hits 52

In other areas bombing from Canton hits Nanning, Kukong, Liuchow, and Kweilin on a random schedule. Changsha and Ichang are hit from Hankow and Wuchow.

Home Islands: The Akagi is in Yokohama for the next two months fixing torpedo damage. The Shoho appeared recently with amazingly skilled fighter and TB groups. Mostly over 80 EXP. She'll soon get ready to move to Attu to be ready to react if any moves are made in the North Pacific area. Two BBs, Kitakami and Oi, and one CA are also ready up here. Just waiting on the DD refits to form a SCTF and the Shoho TF.

Recon shows Dutch Harbor to only have one unit. If there is no change in the area and patrols in the Pacific show no combat ships on their way, we will try to invade and take Dutch right on March 1st at the end of the penalty. Two SNLFs have been prepping, and I can spare a third for which arrives in a week to add to the operation.

Economy: Everything is humming along. Supply is rising in Tokyo. Up to 65,000.

The only question is about the Naval. Building program. Even though tracker shows the need to be 1509 and the Naval Shipyards to be at 1600, there is no surplus building. It's hovering at 0 consistently, with an occasional tantalising rise to around 15 before it drops again.

Any ideas?

[obvert]

9 Feb 1942

DEI: Soerabaja was attacked with a DA today. We got a 3 to 1, dropped the forts to 2, but it still stands in Dutch hands. It'll keep going tomorrow.

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Ground combat at Soerabaja (56,104)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22172 troops, 206 guns, 75 vehicles, Assault Value = 850

Defending force 8165 troops, 103 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 261

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 507

Allied adjusted defense: 161

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
966 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 90 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1278 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Units destroyed 1


Assaulting units:
124th Infantry Regiment
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF
38th Division
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
1st Raiding Regiment
Yokosuka 4th SNLF

Defending units:
2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
4th KNIL Regiment
Artilleriecommando Coastal Gun Battalion
MLD
Soerabaja Base Force


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Another SNLF arrived at Koepang today. Three SNLFs are now here and I hope we don't have to bring more! With 2, the bambardment shows 116 to 48 AV.

China: At Sian we have our best bombing day of the war! The numbers look almost like a 4E raid. This has to be putting a dent in supply.

Airbase hits 54
Airbase supply hits 29
Runway hits 143

PI: Troops are moving into Bataan. We want to have a look at what's there and asses the strength with a few bombardments.

SO PAC: The landing arrived at Port Moresby today as well. It looks like we may need more here, but we'll try one DA before deciding. We've been bombing for weeks which should have kept forts down and troops unhappy. One xAK is in flames fro the shore guns, and should go down.

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Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 922 troops, 11 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 126

Defending force 5475 troops, 60 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 196

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



Assaulting units:
D Coy/NG Rifles
49th Australian Battalion
C Coy/NG Rifles
A Coy/NG Rifles
Port Moresby Brigade
15th RAAF Base Force

Defending units:
144th Infantry Regiment
Maizuru 1st SNLF


subs: Reports indicate a presence of 3 TK and several other ships outside PH. How have these gotten through our subs? No sightings even. Might have to pull back soon if it doesn't change out here and think of something new.

Erkki the intel did reveal a few ships at San Fran the next time there were two notifications. Although it listed only 13 ships, all merchants, at SF. Seems a small number.

[obvert]

10 Feb 1942

subs: Sculpin fires four torps at CM Ukishima. Al miss and the 4 ACMs travelling with it scare off the sub with their powerful DC arrays.

China: Seeing a unit moving toward them 45,000 Chinese troops in Kukong abandoned the city a few days ago. The unit, a 42 AV infantry battalion, moved into the city and took it today. [:D]

Sian bombing today.

Airbase hits 21
Airbase supply hits 19
Runway hits 84

DEI: Soerabaja fell today. Now things can begin to take shape in the DEI. A Special Base Force is on the way down from Babeldaob and an Air HQ will move with construction units and AA from Macassar. The units at the rail blockade will begin moving NW on Java, and after a few turns of rest, these troops will follow. Quite a few Dutch planes were left at Soerabaja.

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Ground combat at Soerabaja (56,104)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22340 troops, 208 guns, 75 vehicles, Assault Value = 778

Defending force 7175 troops, 103 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 192

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 541

Allied adjusted defense: 54

Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Soerabaja !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 3 destroyed
CW-22 Falcon: 1 destroyed
Do-24K-1: 1 destroyed
T.IVa: 1 destroyed
PBY-5 Catalina: 2 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
768 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 50 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
3047 casualties reported
Squads: 142 destroyed, 59 disabled
Non Combat: 205 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 74 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 91 (73 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3
Units destroyed 1
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[/font]

PI: After bombardment, Bataan troops look stronger than we'd hoped after mauling so many PA Divs. It'll take a while here.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1845 troops, 147 guns, 117 vehicles, Assault Value = 1493

Defending force 51979 troops, 847 guns, 659 vehicles, Assault Value = 1421

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (4 destroyed, 5 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
1st Ind. Engineer Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
48th Division
2nd Tank Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
16th Division
56th Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
14th Army
56th Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
16th Army
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
21st PA Infantry Division
11th PA Infantry Division
Manila Bay Defenses
14th PS Engineer Regiment
45th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
1st PA Infantry Division
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
31st Infantry Regiment
91st PA Infantry Division
31st PA Infantry Division
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
71st PA Infantry Division
192nd Tank Battalion
51st PA Infantry Division
4th Marine Regiment
41st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constabulary Division
301st Construction Battalion
1st PI Base Force
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
II Philippine Corps
Far East USAAF
Bataan USN Base Force
Asiatic Fleet
I Philippine Corps
202nd PA Construction Battalion
USAFFE
201st PA Construction Battalion
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
PAF Aviation
Provisional GMC Grp
803rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
Cavite USN Base Force
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
Manila USAAF Base Force
1st USMC AA Battalion
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment


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NO PAC: Shoho and the SCTF head to Attu today. Still very quiet up here.

[obvert]

11 Feb 1942

China: Our army that has been chasing Chinese all over the south has finally gotten a chance to rest after taking Pinsiang. This base hase 120 resources. Unfortunately ALL are destroyed upon taking it. Not sure whether it's a good idea to fix it all or just leave it. These troops will sit here and rest, build forts and get ready to challenge the central area as a feint once troops are ready to attack Nanning and Liuchow from the South.

South of Sian Chinese troops have halted their advance toward supply lines. This means our reserve units, 1800 AV of infantry and armour, will maove around again to come in from behind them on the yellow road and try to dislodge them from the area, removing the threat to the good supply road and making the coast clear to resume the siege of Sian.

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 21
Runway hits 54

DEI: Now that threat of bombing has reduced, an SNLF walked over to Djambi and took the base. All oil is intact. Tandjoengpinang, right next to Singapore, also fell with its 80 resources. The Koepang forces are resting and will commence the attack in a day or two.

One mostly intact division will head from Singapore to Medan and secure the Oil there.

SO PAC: At Port Moresby a bombardment shows the usual suspects here. Our AV advantage is not stellar, but the quality difference should get us through if forts are not high. A bit more from the air and we'll begin with a DA.


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Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 921 troops, 11 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 122

Defending force 5509 troops, 60 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 197



Assaulting units:
D Coy/NG Rifles
49th Australian Battalion
C Coy/NG Rifles
A Coy/NG Rifles
Port Moresby Brigade
15th RAAF Base Force

Defending units:
144th Infantry Regiment
Maizuru 1st SNLF


[/font]

[obvert]

Mines

A recent look at our mining and ACM placements, showing mainly that the Empire is slightly short of ACMs. Some more are due to be converted now that the main portion of PBs have been created and we seem to have enough for now.

I would like to keep prewar placements, but especially in exposed areas. Once those are taken care of new mine fields will be laid on islands in the Gilberts, straits in the DEI, near the HI, and around the islands north of the PI.

Mines arrive slowly, so I'll have to pick one spot per month or two to mine.

[obvert]

12 Feb 1942

DEI: Troops begin to march out of Soerabaja. Bandoeng is lightly garrisoned by Dutch troops. One unit with only 800 troops listed. Looks like a base force. The 1st Raiding Rgt will be pulled from Soerabaja in prep for an attack. Once the SNLFs are near, we'll attempt to jump if no other units appear in that base. There are a few Dutch air groups here as well, so it would be nice to just take them all out at once.

Mines being cleared from the port at Soerabaja. Damaged ships all over the DEI are preparing to move in and get repaired.

A shock attack will go forward tomorrow at Koepang.

Burma: Two Sally groups have been bombing Rangoon from Bangkok and one group flying from Raheng. I noticed the 1 group from Raheng was getting better results, usually 10-15 runway hits and 1-2 supply and airbase hits per day. The other 2, with twice as many planes, were only getting 5-7 runway hits per turn. I looked and discovered all groups were nearly identical in EXP and skill and their leaders are barely distinguishable. Then I checked the group settings again and realized the 2 from Bangkok are set for 15,000 while the one from Raheng is at 12,000.

Amazing this makes such a difference that 3,000ft change the results to make half the number of planes get double the results.

China: Most bombing halted due to severe storms today. Sian still shows damage from previous attacks. It is getting fixed quickly with all of the troops and their engineers there, and we don't want it to ever get to 0 in case forts are close to rising. They were lowered to 3 when we attacked a few weeks ago and bombing has continued unabated until today since that time.

SO PAC: We'll try a DA at Port Moresby tomorrow. Nells from Rabaul will hit troops beforehand.

subs: Salmon is attacked by 3 DDs near Balikpapan. No hits.

[obvert]

13 Feb 1942

Strategy: My opponent sent a note with the turn saying he thinks I must be up to something as China has begun to quiet down. He also said he has chosen three plans he thinks I could try. Only one of them has been adequately garrisoned. He thinks if I choose one of the two other plans, then 42 will be tough for him. Well, I am up to something, but it doesn't involve far-flung invasions like India or OZ proper.

I think he's thinking about;

1. OZ

I've put obvious sub patrols around every major port, sent the KB to hit Sydney, and have multiple units in Manchuria prepping for ports on the east coast especially. Not that this means much. But it's at least a choice he must consider.

2. India

Again, subs all over near Colombo and Calcutta. Multiple units prepping in Manchuria. A stalemate in Burma, which could lead him to believe I want to trap these troops with a landing behind them. Actually I want to get the 33rd Division there plus the elements of the 55th, and then swing armor around behind Rangoon if possible.

3. Not sure?

Where else does he think I could go? Hawaii? Not a chance. Alaska? Probably not worth the fuel. NZ? Possibly. But I won't as I think it's also not worth the fuel and would not be be easy to defend from immediate Allied counters. I have taken many bases nearby, so this could be what he is imagining. I think this might be the one that's very well garrisoned. Or India. I can't imagine how OZ could be with the dearth of ships going to and from there.

So, all of this is good. I'll try to keep some of these options alive and make it look like I could still choose one of them.

The long term plan is;

1. Clear the DEI and take remaining Allied bases. Medan, Batavia and any remaining with Dutch forces on Sumatra.

2. Hit NW OZ. Take Darwin and all bases that could reach the DEI with 4Es. Plus Carnarvon, just to get him thinking and possibly Perth as well, which would really get him squirming. But not with the idea of further campaigns in the rest of OZ. I would like to use the threat of these to feint at some point if it's useful.

3. If there is time left in the bonus, and China is going well, I may commit 2 divisions plus other smaller units to Ceylon. The point would be to make OZ (especially if Perth is included) look like a feint and that India is the real objective. I'd like to keep this thinking going for a while if possible.

Meanwhile elements of the Southern Army will be healing up ready for an offensive to take Nanning and Liuchow.

The true primary objective is China. Boring, I know. But I feel a complete China is Japan's best hope to solidify defenses and prepare for the Allied onslaught. The amount of troops, air forces and support units in China, if real eased, would solidify both Burma and the DEI, and could provide a large mobile reserve ready to move anywhere within a week or two. Also, having all of those resources, the industry, and the clear supply lines would benefit the economy tremendously.

So that's it.


China: Supply is really moving around now. Many of our troops are getting back into some fighting shape. Our armor moved into the hex with 4 Chinese Corps that had been previously roughed up and are trying to join 14 other refugee units on the yellow road in the trees South of Sian.

The hits on Sian continue.

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 51

DEI: At Koepang our 3 SNLFs shocked and took the base on the first try. This is a great result, and will allow a little more clean-up and some reserve units to be added to Java, Sumatra, or elsewhere as needed. Before that can happen though these units will need a good week or two of recovery to get the 71 disabled squads back into shape.

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Ground combat at Koepang (68,116)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 4353 troops, 57 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 176

Defending force 1321 troops, 13 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 48

Japanese adjusted assault: 75

Allied adjusted defense: 19

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Koepang !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
614 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 71 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
1571 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 62 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 3


Assaulting units:
Kure 1st SNLF
Kure 2nd SNLF
Sasebo 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
Timor Garrison Battalion
Dili Detachment
Koepang Base Force
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[/font]

We're looking to paradrop on Bandoeng tomorrow. Only 800 troops one and one units listed. I think it has to be a base force as 3 fighters and 7 bombers are at the base.

SO PAC: At Port Moresby the first DA goes better than any expectations. We get a 1 to 1, drop forts from 1 to 0, and cause almost 50 Allied infantry to be disabled. All while having very low losses and disruption in single digits. We'll shock tomorrow and hopefully take the base.

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Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5556 troops, 61 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 199

Defending force 3986 troops, 37 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 122

Japanese adjusted assault: 105

Allied adjusted defense: 61

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
99 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Allied ground losses:
294 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
144th Infantry Regiment
Maizuru 1st SNLF

Defending units:
49th Australian Battalion
C Coy/NG Rifles
D Coy/NG Rifles
A Coy/NG Rifles
Port Moresby Brigade
15th RAAF Base Force

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[obvert]

14 Feb 1942

SO PAC: After all indications were go for a strong attack after last turn, we laid an egg here. A minor setback, but very frustrating. Our forces shocked and got a LESS good result than last turn's DA, even though disruption was low and almost 50 Allied troops had been disabled last turn. How is this possible?

At any rate, this will mean a likely two week waiting period, another 2 SNLF units scurrying from Koepang in a fast transport TF, more bombing, and the commitment of larger forces (two BBs in the fast transport) that also leave us vulnerable to sneaky moves. Like Banshees flying in, P-40s showing up to kill our Nells, or any number of other things. The KB at Rabaul will release another 1 or 2 zero groups for defense of the area in addition to Akagi's which are now in Salamua.

The good news is the Allied troops will also take some time to heal, and may not have the supply to do so quickly.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 5461 troops, 61 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 189

Defending force 3719 troops, 37 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 85

Japanese adjusted assault: 78

Allied adjusted defense: 115

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
564 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 66 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
144th Infantry Regiment
Maizuru 1st SNLF

Defending units:
C Coy/NG Rifles
A Coy/NG Rifles
49th Australian Battalion
D Coy/NG Rifles
Port Moresby Brigade
15th RAAF Base Force

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

DEI: Benkalis was captured with it's 40 Oil intact. Meanwhile on Java the 38th continues to do its good work. At Melang it DAed against 10 Dutch units, taking the base easily. Also, quite a number of Dutch planes were left behind here.

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Ground combat at Malang (55,105)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13882 troops, 124 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 477

Defending force 6513 troops, 53 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 44

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 419

Allied adjusted defense: 163

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Malang !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 6 destroyed
B-339D: 8 destroyed
L-212: 5 destroyed

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

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


Allied ground losses:
2165 casualties reported
Squads: 38 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 65 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 21 (16 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 10


Assaulting units:
38th Division

Defending units:
4th KNIL Regiment
Commandement Marine
2 ML-KNIL Aviation
Bandoeng Base Force
MLD
Marinier Battalion
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Soerabaja Base Force
Malang Base Force

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[/font]
China: At Sian bombing continues. Other bombers hit Liuchow hard and Changsha a bit.

Sian numbers.

Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 15
Runway hits 76

Burma: The 33rd Div is now unpacked at Pisanoluke to walk to Rangoon. Rangoon field hit again.

[obvert]

15 Feb 1942

subs: After weeks of silence from our subs, finally some action. I-21 sighted a convoy four hexes out from PH. She put one trop into CL Helena. Critical damage listed in the replay, but no magazine or other explosion. She did take a bomb at Pearl on Dec 8 if the report is to be believed so perhaps could still have damage from that time. No sight of the convoy during the daylight.

DEI: The paradrop at Bandoeng failed. The unit was not a base force, but an armored car unit! That explains the lack of troops! It is worth 51 AV and easily repelled the paratroops. No second drop will occur tomorrow. We'll see if he wants to pull the trigger here, but there is no way out otherwise. We're in a +2 defensive hex I think so that could help. SNLF units are 3-6 days away.


China: Bombing goes to Henyang and of course Sian today. No opposition.

The armor attack achieved decent results in the rough and in spite of being outnumbered near Nanyang. This will slow this group some more. Only 1 tank actually lost.

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Ground combat at 86,44 (near Nanyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3700 troops, 8 guns, 303 vehicles, Assault Value = 187

Defending force 12330 troops, 111 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 274

Japanese adjusted assault: 142

Allied adjusted defense: 175

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
650 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled


Assaulting units:
23rd Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
20th Recon Regiment
1st Recon Regiment

Defending units:
40th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
27th Chinese Corps
5th New Chinese Corps

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Map of China

Well, after a ski trip with 29 students in the mountains of Italy left me with sore legs and a low tolerance for the humor of teenage boys I found my AAR sadly behind game time and low on page 2 again. I'll continue with the planned image, map and unit updates and slowly work my way back to the current game date.

Here is an update map on China. The South has been emptied and our Army is resting now south of Changsha. The Sian campaign is in full swing with various Chinese units being chased through the trees south of the city and bombing attacks on both the field and ground forces continuing daily. THe fields have not been below 25 damage in several weeks, since our attack on the city left the IJA licking wounds of 1,000 disabled squads. So forts should still be at 3 where we eft them, and now over 7,000 AV are gathering in the area to try again in a few weeks once the units are near full strength and the supply lines are secure.

Several supply convoys are en route to China to help pump the levels up in these northern areas. While the rest of the map is resting and the clean-up of the DEI continues, this campaign will be the major focus. As soon as forces in Singapore have healed sufficiently to be effective, (around 400 AV at least for Divisions), a force of 2000 AV plus Arty and support will move toward Nanning and Liuchow.

Hopefully the Java campaign will be closing in a few weeks as well, at which time the units there will threaten Northern OZ and make it seem as if the is more our focus. Before the invasion bonus ends Ceylon may also be threatened to further confuse the situation.

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Map of SW China

Units from Singapore are beginning to stage at Lang Son. Arty and HQs first, followed by the 2,200 AV of 5 Divisions.

They will be joined in attacking Nanning and Liuchow by 2 Divisions from Wuchow, one which is there now, and the 51st which will reform once garrison units arrive in Japan and move over. Some arty and the units in Kukong will also join this thrust from the south aiming at the hex between Nanning and Liuchow, or at the hex between Liuchow and Kweilin depending on Allied force deployment at the time. (Currently there are only 2 units in Kweilin). Either way it is intended to cut the rail lines in terms of moving units quickly from the Changsha area.

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Burma

Rangoon is still in Allied hands and the Burma campaign is only just beginning. IJA and Thai troops in Rangoon are waiting for the 33rd Div and elements of the 55th Div (1Rgt, 1 IJA Eng) to move in and take the base. It is bombed daily and there has been no sight of the RAF or any shipping for a while.

Paradrops are being considered behind Rangoon to trap the Burma Division, but may not be feasible.

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Air Losses - Totals

So far in air to air we're doing very well. There have been only two small ambushes of bombers, both of which were escorted, but during which quite a few IJN MB especially were lost. Obviously we would like to limit the loss of these pilots, but these are by far the most effective land bombing forces at this stage, so we'll continue to use them in the hope that sweeps will precede the bombers (which happens about 75% of the time currently), that escorts will fly (happening about 90% of the time, except when weather intercedes), and that our coordinations continues to be good.

There has been so sight of the AVG or British air groups for almost a month. Dutch forces are almost completely wiped out now, and the US planes that I know are in OZ haven't ventured to Port Moresby or other areas where they could contest the airspace. No fighters listed in Darwin or any of the NE OZ bases either. After the raid on Sydney by the KB, I think the P-40s and P-39s that must be in OZ are stationed near there just in case we return, probably training heavily.

No fighters were at either Suva or Auckland when we visited, but I'm nearly positive this must be changing, as both have been listed in sigint much more often recently.

Ops losses continue to be high as we push our crews and planes to keep up the pressure during this phase of extending the Empire. This accounts for around 5-10 losses per turn!

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Top Pilots

Well, some of the Tainan group are doing quite well. A few IJA pilots are beginning to get multiple kills from Malaya and now a few more from Burma. But as you can see this is IJN/zero dominated right now, as it probably should be.

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Unit Updates

It's been a while since I've shown where these 'followed' units are headed and what they've been up to. I'll do that now.

Tainan Ku S-1

These guys have wiped clean the US P-40s in the PI, then moved on to help finish off the British in Malaya and the Dutch in the DEI, and now are in China hoping to continue their success by keeping the skies safe for the bombing missions over Sian and other Chinese bases. Currently they are based in Kaifeng, and are set to sweep/20% LR CAP +20% rest. The hope is that if the AVG does show, not only will the sweep hit them before the bombers, but the LR CAP will be present in case some bombers get there first and to support other IJA raids coming in later.

I'd be happy to have anyone advise me about the efficacy of this setting. No opposition has been seen here yet, so it's hard to tell how this will work. I do see them sweeping, mostly before the bombing raids go in, and each subsequent raid seems to have between 5-7 zeros on LR CAP as well. So as far as I can deduce, this should keep us relatively protected from mass slaughter unless all three sections of the AVG appear at once. This might not be wise for the Allies as the fields are usually damaged between 35-70, so they could get caught on the ground and not even make it up. LR CAP would of course mean fewer of their fighters would appear, so we should be well covered.

Once my first training groups are ready (in a few days, just getting a bit more defensive skill now) I'm going to distribute a few of these 80+ EXP guys around, and put a number of them in TRACOM.

The numbers are pretty good. A total of 120 kills. 10 pilots KIA, 4 WIA, 2 MIA. The AVG will be stronger the next time we meet them, so it'll be interesting if the numbers will continue to be this one-sided.

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Oregon Maru

After a successful and unchallenged mission in convoy to bring a base force and supply to the Gilberts, the Oregon Maru headed for Truk, loaded some resources, and made the trip back to Tokyo. She's there now awaiting another set of ground troops to bring south or east.