NOT JUST Submarines in the Pacific: FDRLincoln (Japan) vs. Bakerman (Allies)

[FDRLincoln]

He then sneaks a bombardment force in and whacks Singkawang.

Night Naval bombardment of Singkawang at 56,88

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 11 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 7 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Tromp
CL De Ruyter
CL Java
DD Van Ghent
DD Piet Hein
DD Kortenaer
DD Evertsen
DD Witte de With
DD Van Nes
DD Banckert
DD Whipple
DD Alden

Japanese ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

[FDRLincoln]

I-162, on patrol against just such an attack, gets knocked around by ASW.

Sub attack near Tambelan-eilanden at 53,90

Japanese Ships
SS I-162, hits 3

Allied Ships
DD Evertsen
CL Tromp
CL De Ruyter
CL Java
DD Witte de With
DD Van Nes
DD Banckert
DD Whipple
DD Alden
DD Van Ghent
DD Piet Hein
DD Kortenaer



SS I-162 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Evertsen
DD Van Ghent fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Piet Hein fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Kortenaer attacking submerged sub ....
DD Kortenaer loses contact with SS I-162
DD Evertsen fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Kortenaer fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kortenaer fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kortenaer fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kortenaer fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kortenaer fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kortenaer attacking submerged sub ....
DD Kortenaer loses contact with SS I-162
DD Kortenaer is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub

She may, or may not, make it back to base.

[nashvillen]

Watch out for those British DDs they are bad news for a SS.

[FDRLincoln]

Meanwhile, his carrier force hanging around the NE corner of the Celebes manages to catch my CS squadron before it can run away.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Dadjangas at 78,95

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 13
F4F-3A Wildcat x 3
SBD-2 Dauntless x 39
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 3 damaged
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
DMS W-8, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
CS Mizuho, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DMS W-7, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CS Chitose, Bomb hits 3, on fire
DD Sanae
DD Kuretake



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DMS W-8
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CS Mizuho
Massive explosion on DMS W-8
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CS Chitose
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DMS W-7

[FDRLincoln]

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Dadjangas at 78,95

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 13
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 18
SBD-2 Dauntless x 23
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14
TBD-1 Devastator x 27


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CS Chitose, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Sanae, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
CS Mizuho, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Wakatake, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
15 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
6 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CS Chitose
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CS Mizuho
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Sanae


Mizuho sinks and Chitose probably will.

Mini-KB and the other convoys got away, but I'm annoyed by the loss of the two CS. I love those ships.

I know Lexington and Enterprise are here. I don't know where Saratoga is.

[FDRLincoln]

On the positive side, my ground forces in China come up with a significant victory.

Ground combat at 77,58 (near Canton)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 28583 troops, 381 guns, 244 vehicles, Assault Value = 944

Defending force 9461 troops, 86 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 375

Japanese adjusted assault: 1196

Allied adjusted defense: 95

Japanese assault odds: 12 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
770 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled


Allied ground losses:
4678 casualties reported
Squads: 170 destroyed, 77 disabled
Non Combat: 106 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 42 (16 destroyed, 26 disabled)
Units retreated 2


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
104th Division
38th Division
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
23rd Army
2nd RF Gun Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
62nd Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps

[FDRLincoln]

I also take Tavoy, and mopping up operations against the cutoff Indian Brigade near Singora begin in earnest.

round combat at Tavoy (54,60)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 588 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 24

Defending force 1089 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 23

Japanese adjusted assault: 10

Allied adjusted defense: 4

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tavoy !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
morale(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)


Allied ground losses:
603 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
55th Cavalry Regiment

Defending units:
Tenasserim BAF Battalion
6th Burma Rifles Battalion
108th RAF Base Force


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Singora (51,72)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7001 troops, 62 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 256

Defending force 1405 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 46

Japanese adjusted assault: 66

Allied adjusted defense: 31

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Allied ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
I./4th Infantry Battalion
II./124th Infantry Battalion
17th Indpt Guards Regiment
82nd JAAF AF Bn
84th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
6th Indian Brigade

[FDRLincoln]

Now that I know where his carriers are, KB is rushing to the Celebes area. I expect he'll get away in the short run, but KB will now support upcoming DEI operations since this is apparently going to be where he makes a stand and he's willing to expose his CVs to do it.

Mini-KB will shift to Truk, resupply, then support operations in the Solomons and South Pacific.

[FDRLincoln]

Other forces including the Imperial Guards are gathering at Moulmein to begin the drive to Rangoon. I haven't seen much evidence that he's doing much with Burma. I haven't seen any convoys going in or out of Rangoon. On the other hand I've been burned with ineffective air recon twice already, so I'm making no assumptions of an easy time.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: FDRLincoln

Other forces including the Imperial Guards are gathering at Moulmein to begin the drive to Rangoon. I haven't seen much evidence that he's doing much with Burma. I haven't seen any convoys going in or out of Rangoon. On the other hand I've been burned with ineffective air recon twice already, so I'm making no assumptions of an easy time.

Make sure to have Netties watching the approaches to Rangoon. It's vital to keep supplies out of Burma early to keep them from getting sucked over into China. If you can keep supply low in China, you will have a much easier time there.

Also, see if there are spots undefended where you can drop paratroops ahead of you advance to encircle troops. Be wary of taking Magwe early though as he could just bomb the oil before you get there and have any CAP in the area.

[FDRLincoln]

Yeah, I have Netties in the area. Aside from a couple of KVs near Port Blair, they've seen nothing. In fact, other than a few TKs near Java and Sumatra, I haven't seen any convoys at all, anywhere, despite lots of air search and submarines milling about. He's routing his convoys in some weird way or he's not doing many at all perhaps.

[FDRLincoln]

I think both of us intend to make China a major area of operations. He's being aggressive there, with both AVG and ground units near Ichang and Canton. So far I am holding my own but I opted to keep the 38th Division in China to help out. I've bought some units out of Manchuria and Korea as well. I'll get a screenshot of China soon.

[obvert]

Did you try to keep Ichang?

If you can spare it one of the big zero groups will do wonders against the AVG, at least if the sections are split. Especially if he doesn't expect it to be there.

Bomb to destroy any units in the clear in China. It costs supply to heal them and they have little AA in China.

[FDRLincoln]

I've held Ichang so far. He launched a shock attack a couple of turns ago and lost over 7,000 troops at no cost to me. He's got about 100,000 troops on the way so I won't hold it much longer, but I should be able to retreat in good order down the railline.

I've had good results bombing him in the clear areas, yes, although AVG did set a cap trap and cost me some Sonias and Marys. I have an A6M2 unit in the Phillipines that I can spare now that Clark is effectively out of action, although I'm trying to make China as much of an IJA theatre as possible.

[FDRLincoln]

I've been shuttling my A6M2s out of the Phillipines towards points south to provide air cover for the various DEI landings, but if necessary I can send some to China long enough to take care of AVG.

He originally deployed AVG near Rangoon but lost about half of it to A6M2s.

[Captain Cruft]

My personal foible is that I refuse to use the IJNAF in China unless I can put them at a coastal base or at a port along the Yangtze.

BTW did you know that you can transport troops direct from the Home Islands to Hankow? It saves a lots of time compared to dropping them off at Shanghai and moving overland or vice versa.

[FDRLincoln]

Other than floatplanes along the coast and a small batch of Vals and Mabels on ASW patrol at Shanghai, I have no IJNAF forces in China.

I am trying hard to keep IJN and IJA units from being totally interchangeable, although I do have some SNLF units participating in the Malaya campaign.

[FDRLincoln]

I think I knew about the Hankow thing but I haven't tried that yet. Nice idea though. I'll use it if I need to.

Almost everything in the home islands that is deployable without using polpoints has been used.

[FDRLincoln]

I don't have my notes with me with all the unit names so some of these descriptions are rather vague.

[FDRLincoln]

RO-33 and RO-34 takes shots at Enterprise and miss both times.

Sub attack near Ternate at 76,103

Japanese Ships
SS RO-33

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise
CA Astoria
CA Chicago
DD Dunlap
DD Craven
DD Balch
DD Porter
DD Flusser
DD Lamson



SS RO-33 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Enterprise
DD Balch fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Porter fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Flusser fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Lamson fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Balch fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Balch fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Balch fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Balch fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Balch fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Obi at 76,106

Japanese Ships
SS RO-34

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise
CA Astoria
CA Chester
DD Ellet
DD Balch
DD Porter
DD Flusser
DD Lamson



SS RO-34 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Enterprise
RO-34 diving deep ....
DD Balch fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Porter fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Flusser fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Lamson fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Balch fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Balch fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Balch fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Balch fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Balch fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub