14-15 Feb 1942
Fairly quiet turns so I'll be combining reports.
SIGINT
15th Army is planning for an attack on Meiktila.
2nd Formosa Inf. Regiment is planning for an attack on Darwin.
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment is planning for an attack on Changsha.
Paramushiro-jima airfield expanded to size 2.
I've had no reason to doubt SIGINT reports thus far, they've proven to be an indicator of CTG's intentions. It might be a setup but I cannot just not do anything. The 2nd Formosa was last seen on Luzon about a month ago game time. I presume it still is there. Will watch closely for any reports mentioning this unit, especially if it comes south or if additional forces are prepped for Darwin. Per our HRs Batavia and Soerbaja will have to fall before CTG can turn his attention on Oz.
In the meantime, the Australian 6th is 4 days out of Perth, that division will head for Darwin when it disembarks, the 7th has just loaded onto transports at Aden, I do not expect that division to reach home waters for another 2 weeks. The militia divisons have moved out to their assigned cities to help bring up fort levels. These cities are Brisbane, Townsville, Darwin and Sydney. Most of the armored battalions have moved north to cover points west of Darwin, the motorised brigades are covering other significant objectives like Cairns or being kept as strategic reserve together with the 5th Aus ID. HRs will compel me to give priority to the defence of Australia should it be invaded so I will be prepping at least 1, maybe 2 US divisions for service in Oz. The Americal Division and 2nd MARDIV(-), currently missing a regiment can also be pulled out of defensive duties in SOPAC should the need arise.
House rules pertaining to the invasion and defence of Australia
- The Japanese player may only invade Australia once Timor, Ambon, Kendari, Mindanao, Batavia and Soerabaja are in Japanese hands and once he has saved a reserve of 3000 political points. These political points should be kept in reserve until (1) the capture of all ports in northern Australia (Port Hedland; Broome; Derby; Wyndham; Darwin) or (2) the capture of Perth, or Sydney, or Brisbane
- IJA units invading Australia need a minimum of 80 preparation points (not needed for IJN units)
- If Australia is invaded, the Allied player may not spend PPs on anything except sending forces to Australia by any means or medium, whether land or air force (with the exception of reassigning leaders)
China
Nanyang is shock attacked but holds out fairly well for an out of supply stack. Lots of disabled squads though. The IJA stack at Wenchow is reinforced but the Chinese hold out for another day.
Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 73749 troops, 720 guns, 170 vehicles, Assault Value = 1361
Defending force 55622 troops, 269 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 960
Japanese adjusted assault: 552
Allied adjusted defense: 313
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)
Japanese ground losses:
4688 casualties reported
Squads: 49 destroyed, 314 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 73 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 34 disabled
Guns lost 48 (3 destroyed, 45 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1635 casualties reported
Squads: 73 destroyed, 261 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 85 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 25 (2 destroyed, 23 disabled)
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Ground combat at Wenchow (89,58)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 32499 troops, 289 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 820
Defending force 13527 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 361
Japanese adjusted assault: 1364
Allied adjusted defense: 1063
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
3506 casualties reported
Squads: 64 destroyed, 178 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 38 (22 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
849 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Assaulting units:
102nd Infantry Regiment
15th Division
62nd Infantry Brigade
56th Infantry Brigade
52nd Infantry Brigade
58th Infantry Brigade
2nd Ind.Mixed Regiment
China Expeditionary Army
13th Army
4th Mortar Battalion
Defending units:
100th Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Corps
25th Group Army
Singapore
CTG doesn't waste time clearing the minefield at Singapore.
DEI
Bombers start working over the airfields of Batavia and pretty much close it. I'm husbanding the glass cannon that is the Dutch airforce for the invasion fleets.
Koepang is attacked over the 2 days but holds out. The first of 2 garrison battalions has reached Djambi, it shock attacked over the river but casualties were light, the 2nd battalion should be a day behind, don't know whether I should try for an attack or just march on through to Palembang.
Ground combat at Djambi (48,88)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 694 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 25
Defending force 834 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 31
Allied adjusted assault: 3
Japanese adjusted defense: 35
Allied assault odds: 1 to 11 (fort level 0)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-), fatigue(-)
Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
Sabang Garrison Battalion
Defending units:
Yokosuka 1st SNLF
Sub War
Confirmation of
O 20's kill of
Taizan Maru in late Dec 1941.
Allied Sub killboard
K XIV - AK Sakura Maru (6,840t)
S-38 - xAK Gyoun Maru (1,900t), xAK Kikuryu Maru (1,900t)
K XV - xAK Nojima Maru with O 19(3,425t)
Sargo - xAK Gosei Maru (3,425t)
O 20 - xAP Taizan Maru (3,380t)
Swordfish - xAKL Yamatsuru Maru (1,650t), xAKL Muko Maru (1,650t)
Seadragon - xAKL Kanjo Maru (1,650t), xAKL Tamaki Maru (1,650t)
Perch - DD Sazanami (2,090t)
Tarpon - TB Manazuru (775t)
Probable
xAK Kogyo Maru (torp hits 2, hvy fires/dmg, 07/12/41-Kota Bahru 53,74) - K XI
xAK Tamon Maru (torp hit 1, on fire, 12/12/41-Laoag 80,72) - S-38
xAP Rakuyo Maru (torp hit 1, hvy dmg, 21/01/42-Oosthaven 49,96) - Seadragon
xAK Kano Maru (torp hit 1, hvy fires/dmg, 06/02/42-Oosthaven 49,96) - S-38
xAK Kinugasa Maru (torp hit 1, hvy fires/dmg, 11/02/42-Oosthaven 49,96) - K XI
xAK Azuma Maru (torp hit 1, hvy fires, 11/02/42-Pontianak 54,90) - K X
SWPAC
Hollandia is occupied. Here's a snapshot of where the IJN heavies are, they've moved on from taking New Britain and are poised to invade PM.
