Shall we play a DBB-C game? - CT Grognard vs Arnhem (no CTG pls)

[Arnhem44]

Quiet turn.

China
Nanyang is attacked and falls. Why can't I get rolls like he does?

Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 72055 troops, 725 guns, 170 vehicles, Assault Value = 1195
Defending force 36173 troops, 171 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 427
Japanese adjusted assault: 793
Allied adjusted defense: 79
Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Nanyang !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1730 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 197 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled

Allied ground losses:
12483 casualties reported
Squads: 574 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 517 destroyed, 61 disabled
Engineers: 72 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 75 (55 destroyed, 20 disabled)
Units retreated 9

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
37th Division
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
110th Division
116th Division
35th Division
13th Tank Regiment
32nd Division
1st Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
41st Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
7th New Chinese Corps
5th War Area
22nd Group Army
4th Construction Regiment

SWPAC
Thanks for the comments guys, the airgroups have been upgraded with Wildcats and SBDs so they're as good as they're gonna get equipment wise. In the cold light of the morning after I've concluded that discretion is the better part of valor and have withdrawn the CVs to refuel.

[Arnhem44]

24-25 Feb 1942
Nothing much happened on the 24th so we'll skip right on down to the 25th.

Burma
The AVG goes into action for the first time in this war, all 3 squadrons are flying CAP over Lashio and they deal with multiple sweeps by Oscars. Tracker is telling me I've lost 11 for 13 claims, pilot losses are 4 KIA and 3 WIA. Will be upgrading one of the squadrons to Warhawks, been sheperding aircraft stocks since it's PDU off as I don't want to have a squadron stuck because of a lack of planes to fill an upgrading squadron but seeing as I've got about 100 of those E's I'm sure I can spare a squadrons worth.

SWPAC
The PM invasion force is RTB, the TF tripped over one of the subs keeping station outside of PM, KB also tripped on a sub but is now safely past and just off Milne Bay. It looks to be heading southeast instead of swinging north so I've ordered everything afloat in SOPAC to head south for a turn or two. Resupply convoys to Darwin from Perth have resumed as I want to stock as much supply as I can before the entire north coast gets shut down to ship traffic due to the air threat posed by bombers out of Koepang.

The I-boat keeping an eye on Sydney is DCed and 3 hits are claimed, doesn't look like she's in danger of sinking though.

Sub War
Gato fires a spread of 4 at Hiryu but they're duds, would have been easier to swallow if they were clean misses. Excuse me while I unsqueeze my testicles.

Sub attack near Port Moresby at 98,132

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
BB Hiei
CA Suzuya
DD Isokaze
DD Amatsukaze
DD Shiranui

Allied Ships
SS Gato

SS Gato launches 4 torpedoes at CV Hiryu

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Arnhem
Sub War
Gato fires a spread of 4 at Hiryu but they're duds, would have been easier to swallow if they were clean misses. Excuse me while I unsqueeze my testicles.

[:'(]
Seems fair - he probably needs to unclench something too!

[Arnhem44]

SIGINT
6th Division is planning for an attack on Changsha.

Reinforcements slated for Changsha have started to move there in anticipation of a serious attempt on the city.

Burma
The AVG loses 3+2 ops losses for claims of 4 Oscars.

DEI
The 2 Dutch bns trying to get out of Djambi are bombed.

SWPAC
Second wave of invasions, this time targeting the rest of PNG, landings at Lae, Buna, Salamaua and Finschhafen. It's looking like simultaneous landings on multiple targets are a trademark of CTG's ops.

Sub War
O20 sneaks into Kendari to plant some mines and bags a PB on the way out. She got DCed but should survive the trip back to Soerbaja.

Allied Sub killboard
K XIV - AK Sakura Maru (6,840t)
O 20 - xAP Taizan Maru (3,380t), PB Hirota Maru (2,780t)
O 23 - xAP Manzyu Maru (5,830t)
S-38 - xAK Gyoun Maru (1,900t), xAK Kikuryu Maru (1,900t)
K XV - xAK Nojima Maru (3,425t)
Sargo - xAK Gosei Maru (3,425t)
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

[Arnhem44]

SWPAC
Buna, Lae and Finschhafen are captured this turn.

I forgot to mention the last turn that a heavy SAG is making a nuisance of itself just off Darwin, this turn it caught a small convoy of 2 xAKLs and an AM and sank all 3 ships. It also gave me the TF composition. I've moved 2 A-24 squadrons up from the east coast to see if I can nail a ship or two the next turn, all this assuming he does not pulverize Darwin during the night.

BB - Kongo, Kirishima, Nagato, Fuso, Yamashiro, Ise, Hyuga
CA - Aoba, Kinugasa, Furutaka, Kako
5 CLs and 9 DDs screening

Sub War
More or less certain there are at least 2 I-boats outside Sydney, I-5 and I-6. Grampus shells an xAK off Shortalands after expanding her entire torpedo loadout for no earth shattering kabooms. Lots of ASW activity off Singapore waters, going to pull the subs further out to sea till the heat dies down.

Guessing enemy intentions
KB (at least 4 CVs) is now about a day's steaming north of Noumea and that SAG is just outside Darwin. I have absolutely no idea what CTG is up to. Feb '42 has been a fairly quiet one after the hectic pace set in January. Apart from the taking of New Britain and now the bases in PNG there's been little forward movement by the Japanese Empire.

In Burma, the advance has just stopped at Toungoo, there are units there but there's been no attempt to move anything forward, I've been unmolested in my buildup of the defence of northern Burma. The 17th Indian ID is ay Myitkyina and the Burma Division holds Lashio. The Desert Rats and the BFF Brigade are the only other significant units in the area. One Chinese corps has been bought out and is just outside Lashio, another 2 corps are on the way, all 3 corps are the US equipped corps with a much stronger TOE than the ordinary Chinese corps. I'm allowed 4 corps worth of Chinese LCUs in Burma, the last one under direct NCAC command will come on the map in Chungking in Jan '43. Supply levels are ok but I'd feel more comfortable with a little more. The transports of the CNAC are working out of Ledo.

In China, the attack and taking of Nanyang was the major event for the month in this theatre, SIGINT has been going wild with reports of units prepping for Changsha and I'm keeping a nervous eye out on the approaches to the northern bases (Lanchow, Yenan and Sian). The Nanning-Changsha line looks ok but I've lost plenty of squads in the first 2 months of the war, definitely more than my replacement rate, because I'm directing most of the replacements to the NCAC units I'm looking to recovering disabled squads for any increase in the rest of my Chinese LCUs.

The Indian subcontinent is quiet, no air incursions, no surface or subsurface threats spotted (although with my current search capabilities you could warp in a Borg cube and I wouldn't know). Buildup of the line of bases bordering Burma continues.

In the DEI, Java remains unmolested, while Palembang is under siege there's not been any attempt to whittle down the defenders there, just bombardment attacks.

So that's the story so far, back to KB and the SAG, I can think of several nasty possibilities as to why they're there and all of them are not good. First, KB, it's either CTG is making a sweep of ANZAC waters to see if he can bag a couple of easy kills while at the same time disrupting my buildup or KB is clearing the path of an invasion force bound for I don't know where. I'm reasonably certain of holding Noumea unless he throws something like 3 divisions at me but the other islands, with the exception of Luganville, are lightly held. Am watching to see how far KB comes down south and if my Cats at Luganville and Noumea can pick up anything behind it. If KB is alone she's welcome to burn fuel making a round of the SOPAC islands.

As for Darwin, an invasion is unlikely because of 2 reasons, he hasn't taken targets in the DEI yet (Batavia, Palembang and Soerabaja) and apart from 1 unit based in the Philippines, I don't have any other intel of units prepping for Darwin (I think IJA units need 80 prep points to invade Oz). Still, I'm a little jittery because I've never had to deal with an invasion of Oz before and I'm looking forward to it with mixed feelings.

That's right, say hello to Ford, and General Fucking Motors
Ceylon Command arrives at Colombo
1st Marine Defense Battalion arrives at Pearl Harbor
12th MAG arrives at San Diego
13th MAG arrives at San Diego
14th MAG arrives at San Diego
22nd MAG arrives at Pearl Harbor
23rd MAG arrives at Pearl Harbor
24th MAG arrives at Pearl Harbor
Roodenburg Battalion arrives at Batavia
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion arrives at Aden
2/5th Ind Coy arrives at Sydney
2/7th Ind Coy arrives at Sydney
2/1 AIF Pioneer Battalion arrives at Aden
2/2 AIF Pioneer Battalion arrives at Aden
NW Australia Base Force arrives at Katherine
1st RAAF Supt Wing arrives at Darwin
11th RAAF Supt Wing arrives at Katherine
2nd Medium Regiment arrives at Sydney
21/22 Field Regiment arrives at Sydney
1st RAAF M/W Sqn arrives at Sydney
2nd Australian Hvy AA Regiment arrives at Sydney
A/B Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment arrives at Darwin (in the nick of time with that SAG offshore)
C/D Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment arrives at Townsville
23rd NZ Pioneer Coy arrives at Dunedin
33rd Medium Regiment arrives at Auckland
2nd RNZAF Base Force arrives at Auckland
3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment arrives at Calcutta
3rd Carabiniers Regiment arrives at Karachi
20th Indian Division arrives at Bangalore
222 Group Base Force arrives at Aden
75th Indian Brigade arrives at Lahore
84th Indian Brigade arrives at Madras
Pathan Construction Battalion arrives at Madras

[BBfanboy]

25 ships in that heavy SAG - that has to be unwieldy. Could reduce effectiveness against air strikes and set up a collision [:)]

[Arnhem44]

28 Feb 1942

China
Ningsia, a dot base on the road from Paotow to Lanchow is taken by the equivalent of 2 divisions so there's defintely a push on Lanchow coming. The IJA catches up with the defenders of Wenchow but don't too hot this go around.

Ground combat at 88,57 (near Wenchow)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 22633 troops, 215 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 489
Defending force 9607 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 209
Japanese adjusted assault: 301
Allied adjusted defense: 370
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1183 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 125 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
318 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
56th Infantry Brigade
15th Division
62nd Infantry Brigade
2nd Ind.Mixed Regiment
13th Army
4th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
100th Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Corps
25th Group Army

DEI
Bandoeng swept by Zeroes and Djambi and Palembang are bombed again, Soerabaja is also bombed but this time the Dutch AF is lying in wait and Demons and B-339s claim 7 Nells, figure could have been higher if my CAP was a little lower.

Morning Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 23
G4M1 Betty x 25

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 10
CW-21B Demon x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
L-212: 1 destroyed on ground
T.IVa: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
17 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
2-Vl.G.IV with CW-21B Demon (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 6 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
3-VI.G.V with B-339D (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 5 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes

SWPAC
The 7 BB TF pounds Darwin. The A-24s didn't go after them on the morning turn. Pity. Salamaua falls.

Night Naval bombardment of Darwin at 76,124 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 4 damaged
A-24 Banshee: 2 destroyed on ground
Hudson I: 7 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground

41 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
BB Nagato
BB Kirishima
BB Kongo
CA Kako
CA Furutaka
CA Kinugasa
CA Aoba, Shell hits 1

Allied ground losses:
581 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 31
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1

Sub War
S-34 stalks and sinks an xAKL off the north coast of PNG.

Allied Sub killboard
K XIV - AK Sakura Maru (6,840t)
O 20 - xAP Taizan Maru (3,380t), PB Hirota Maru (2,780t)
O 23 - xAP Manzyu Maru (5,830t)
S-38 - xAK Gyoun Maru (1,900t), xAK Kikuryu Maru (1,900t)
K XV - xAK Nojima Maru (3,425t)
Sargo - xAK Gosei Maru (3,425t)
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)
S-34 - xAKL Kanaiyama Maru (1,650t)
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

[Arnhem44]

CBI
The situation in China is still developing so not much I can report here, I've mentioned Burma a couple of posts back while India doesn't look like it knows there's a war on.

[Arnhem44]

DEI

[Arnhem44]

SWPAC
North Australia and PNG

[Arnhem44]

SOPAC

[Arnhem44]

By sea, by land, by air
28 Feb 1942
6 S-boats arrive at San Diego
4 VMFs, 4 VMSBs arrive at San Diego

The coming month will see the following notable reinforcements
Hornet, Formidable, 1 CA, 4 American DDs, 4 British/Australian DDs, 7 TKs (arriving in Abadan)
2 Marine Regiments

It will also see the start of production for the -4 variant of the F4F and it's much needed extra pair of guns, assuming all goes smoothly, it will take 3 months at the earliest to completely upgrade all 5 CV VFs.


The war thus far
Page 1 of the AAR
7 Dec 1941 - Air raid on Pearl Harbor sinks Nevada and Tennessee, with Pennsylvania eventually succumbing to fires a couple of days later. The Philippines and Malaya are invaded. CTG goes long and invades bases like Puerto Princessa and Singkawang from the word go. Repulse is torpedoed just off Singapore, she suffers moderate damage.
9 Dec 1941 - Boise sinks CVL Ryujo in the Celebes Sea before being sunk herself. Tarawa falls.
11 Dec 1941 - Wake Island falls.
12 Dec 1941 - Guam falls.
18 Dec 1941 - Hong Kong falls.
18-24 Dec 1941 - Chinese troops attempt to take Ichang but are bloodily repulsed suffering heavy casualties.
27 Dec 1941 - First major Allied success of the war, invasion convoy destroyed off Ambon by Force Z.
29 Jan 1941 - 1 Jan 1942 - IJA troops make an unsuccessful attempt to take Changsha and are thrown back with heavy losses.
Page 2 of the AAR
2 Jan 1942 - An element of KB (4 CVs) appears off the east coast of Australia, presumably on a raiding run, they sink a convoy of 8 merchant ships unloading supplies at Noumea.
4 Jan 1942 - Battle of Timor Sea. A portion of the ABDA fleet intercepts and engages 3 IJN CVs raiding Darwin, they inflict light damage on the enemy TF and are later decimated by retaliatory air strikes launched from the CVs, suffering the loss of Tromp and 9 DDs (6 Dutch, 2 US and 1 British). With this loss, ABDA ceases to exists as a viable fighting force. Another attempt to break the blockade on 6 Jan results in heavy losses to the remnants of the fleet.
6 Jan 1942 - Malaya completely occupied by the Empire of Japan.
7 Jan 1942 - 14 Jan 1942 Darwin Turkey Shoot. Counting losses including warships that were lost in the Battle of Timor Sea and ships sinking in port and at sea post KB departure of the Darwin area, the Allies have lost a total of 2 CAs, 7 CLs and 19 DDs in addition to upwards of 60 non-combatants/auxiliaries when elements of KB (split into 2 TFs) together with significant IJN surface forces blockaded and proceeded to bomb Darwin harbour over the course of a week of game time. A more detailed writeup of losses is included in the daily report of 27 Jan 1942. Clark Field falls, Bataan is the only Allied base left on Luzon.
12 Jan 1942 - Japanese move into Singapore and begin the reduction of the garrison.
15 Jan 1942 - Moulmein falls. The invasion of Burma begins in earnest.
Page 3 of the AAR
21 Jan 1942 - Bataan falls. Organized resistance in the Philippines ceases.
27 Jan 1942 - Ternate, Tarakan and Ambon fall.
28 Jan 1942 - Rangoon falls. Palembang under siege.
Page 4 of the AAR
7 Feb 1942 - Japanese forces invade New Britain
10 Feb 1942 - Rabaul falls.
13 Feb 1942 - Surrender of Singapore
18 Feb 1942 - Capture of Port Moresby
20 Feb 1942 - Koepang overrun.

[Arnhem44]

1 Mar 1942

China
Fighter sweeps by Oscars over Kanhsien and Kukong. My Nanyang defenders are attacked by pursuing forces but manage to not embarass themselves.

Ground combat at 84,45 (near Nanyang)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 11999 troops, 102 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 570
Defending force 41754 troops, 204 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 528
Japanese adjusted assault: 35
Allied adjusted defense: 401
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 11

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
396 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 79 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
526 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Assaulting units:
110th Division
32nd Division

Defending units:
12th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
7th New Chinese Corps
3rd Group Army
22nd Group Army
5th War Area
4th Construction Regiment

DEI
That combatant heavy TF that I saw near Singapore a couple of turns ago? It was heading into Singapore to pick up the 2nd Division, this turn sees it depositing the division and 2 tank regiments into Palembang to join the 38th Division, my Dutch boys now face 2 regular IJA divisions backed up by 2 tank regiments. CL Kitakami hits a mine but shouldn't be in danger of sinking.

ASW attack near Muntok at 49,89

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CA Nachi
CA Myoko
CA Chokai
CL Oi
CL Kitakami
CL Tama
CL Kuma
CL Yura
DD Sagiri
DD Shirakumo
DD Shinonome
DD Inazuma
DD Hibiki
DD Yugure
DD Wakaba
DD Shigure
DD Oshio
AV Sanyo Maru
xAP Horai Maru
xAP Terukuni Maru
xAK Teihoku Maru
DD Tachikaze
DD Yakaze
DD Ushio
DD Yugiri

Allied Ships
SS O16, hits 1

Sub War
The pair of parasites off Sydney score and bag an ACM each. Seal spots a convoy out of Saigon but can't get into position to fire.

KB
KB is continuing southwest from Noumea towards Sydney, I've cleared out the harbour except for some small merchies to entice him to hit it instead of pursuing my auxiliaries/merchies that are fleeing west towards Melbourne and maybe beyond depending on how hard he chases after them. My P-40 squadrons will CAP Sydney by the next turn in case he does want to bomb the port, the pilots are green but I'll take any chance to whittle down his elite pilot pool. I don't see any oilers following KB so he's either turning back soon or I get a chance to thwack some IJN oilers if KB continues further southwest.

[Arnhem44]

2 Mar 1942

SIGINT
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion is planning for an attack on Changsha.
2/1st Ind Engineer Regiment is loaded on a Japanese CL moving to Kalidjati.

The light bulb finally came on, just about every surface combatant in the IJN has some sort of troop lift capability which explains the composition of the TF that first spotted near Singapore and which subsequently waltzed into Palembang. And now it looks like it will be Java's turn shortly because look what pops up near Balikpapan on a southwesterly course.

ASW attack near Balikpapan at 66,98

Japanese Ships
DD Tokitsukaze
CA Kumano
CS Chiyoda
DD Numakaze
DD Kamikaze
DD Kawakaze
AV Sanuki Maru
LSD Shinshu Maru
AK Kyushu Maru
AK Sasako Maru
AK Sado Maru
xAP Naminoue Maru
xAP Shanghai Maru
xAP Baikal Maru
xAP Yoshino Maru
xAP Hakozaki Maru
xAP Hikawa Maru
xAP Argentina Maru
xAK Arima Maru
DD Namikaze
DD Yukaze
DD Akikaze
DD Harukaze

Allied Ships
SS Saury

DEI
A couple of Zeroes sweep Soerabaja and the B-339s get away with no loss although they don't bring down any A6Ms either. Palembang is attacked, I'm running low on supplies, should have stopped trying to build forts once I hit level 3.

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 28522 troops, 240 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 948
Defending force 13113 troops, 60 guns, 95 vehicles, Assault Value = 411
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese adjusted assault: 465
Allied adjusted defense: 1024
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
501 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 93 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 44 (3 destroyed, 41 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
553 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 16 (4 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st Tank Regiment
38th Division
2nd Division
6th Tank Regiment
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF

Defending units:
Tapanoeli Gsn Battalion
Zuid KNIL Battalion
So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion
44th Indian Brigade
Padang Garrison Battalion
Van Aaran Garrison Battalion
Medan Garrison Battalion
45th Indian Brigade
Padang Base Force
Palembang ML Base Force
24th NZ Pioneer Coy /1

Obviously the big news here is the flagging of Kalidjati as the landing target. I do not know if it's a feint and if the landings will occur elsewhere because there are other options out there that seem a better fit, Semarang for one has better port although Kali has a lvl 4 airfield so I guess CTG must want air support on Java ASAP. Dutch MTBs from Batavia should be able to hit the invasion TF if the target is Kali. I'm also moving subs from around the neighbourhood on an intercept course and a Dutch minelaying sub should be able to plant a couple of surprises before the IJN hits the beach, 40 mines won't do much but every little bit helps. Every plane of the Dutch AF and a couple of Brit torpedo bombers and Formidable's complement is on call, the question is, do I throw everything at the invasion TF while they are out at sea or should I hold back until they're on the beaches?

[FeurerKrieg]

Me personally I always provide the most cover on the invasion TFs when they are coming in. Occasionally, if I have a rapid timetable, I'll pull the air and surface cover back once the bulk of the troops are unloaded. Since it is unlikely you will be able to stop the invasion, I would wait and hit everything a day or two after the landing. By then his screening ships will be lower on ammo from shore support, and maybe his bigger ships will have left the scene.

This early I think you should not go for the knockout, but rather keep taking out AKs/APs whenever you can. Japan needs all the AK's they can get later on for the production machine.

[Arnhem44]

ORIGINAL: Feurer Krieg

Me personally I always provide the most cover on the invasion TFs when they are coming in. Occasionally, if I have a rapid timetable, I'll pull the air and surface cover back once the bulk of the troops are unloaded. Since it is unlikely you will be able to stop the invasion, I would wait and hit everything a day or two after the landing. By then his screening ships will be lower on ammo from shore support, and maybe his bigger ships will have left the scene.

This early I think you should not go for the knockout, but rather keep taking out AKs/APs whenever you can. Japan needs all the AK's they can get later on for the production machine.

Hmm, you've definitely given me food for thought, you're right in saying I can't hope to stop CTG from gaining a foothold in Java but if the target is indeed Kali I'm gifting him a level 4 airfield which I'm sure he'll start operating from the moment he gets it (it's undefended, probably not one of the smarter moves on my part), so it's either I deal with his LRCAP and probably mini KB when he hits the beaches or tangle with Kali based Zeroes if I wait a turn or two to hit him (a little risky since he's got that amphib bonus, could be hitting empty beaches). I probably have another turn before I have to decide what to do.

[Arnhem44]

3 Mar 1942

DEI
Screenshot of the situation in Java. Bandeong got swept by Zeroes this turn so just about every part of the island is within range of Japanese LBA, no need to risk his carriers for this op I reckon.

SWPAC
KB is exactly midway between Sydney and Auckland in the Tasman Sea, it had disappeared the last turn but I suspected CTG would keep on coming and so it did, KB's flyers sank a lone ACM in transit from Auckland to Sydney and naval search from out of Auckland also picked it up, am repositioning naval search assets to try and keep KB on the scope at all times, have about 100 odd ships south of Melbourne in the Bass Strait and heading west to try and keep out of KB's reach, I hope CTG doesn't have enough fuel to loop all the way around to Perth or I'll have to start sacrificing some of the shorter legged ships soon. Might be an opportunity if he does try going the long way round though, if I can sniff out his oilers the American CVs might just get the opportunity I've been waiting for.

[Arnhem44]

4 Mar 1942
146th Infantry Regiment is planning for an attack on Kalidjati.

Burma
We start with Burma today, the AVG is engaged by 94 Oscars over Lashio and from what CTG tells me they're the varsity, experience of 75+ and air skill in the 70s. I lose a total of 33 fighters for no kill claims, NO kill claims. To say I am pissed off with that exchange ratio is an understatement. Perhaps I should start ranting like CT :p

DEI
Palembang is attacked, the 2 Indian Bdes are shod of most of the AV in one fell swoop. I expect it to fall the next turn unless the die rolls are drastically in my favour.

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 27781 troops, 240 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 870
Defending force 11771 troops, 56 guns, 95 vehicles, Assault Value = 306
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese adjusted assault: 488
Allied adjusted defense: 403
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1090 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 103 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 19 (3 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
1963 casualties reported
Squads: 77 destroyed, 69 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (7 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

SWPAC
An I-boat off Melbourne takes a shot at a merchie that's part of a group fleeing KB so now CTG knows I've got ships to the west of his last known position. KB herself has disappeared and it's anybody's guess where it is and where it's headed.

A large convoy is detected by one of my picket subs a couple of hexes south of Singapore, destination unknown, there are tons of PBs screening quite a few merchies. Wonder if it's a 2 pronged approach. Then again, what I labelled as the invasion convoy in the last post has now moved further east and is just off Makassar. The BB TF is now half a day's steaming away from Kali and I expect a night bombardment of the target on the next turn.

In addition, another one of my subs picks up a merchant heavy convoy (TK/AOs, merchies) to the east of Singapore.

[BBfanboy]

"Here be BBs" [:'(]
Love the alliteration and the historical allusion to ancient maps - schweet!

[Arnhem44]

Heh, glad you like that BB, wasn't trying to be smart about it or anything, just seemed an appropriate phrase to use.

5 Mar 1942

SIGINT
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion is planning for an attack on Changsha.

Burma
Flushed with his success against the AVG in the last turn, CTG sweeps Lashio again this turn. Have withdrawn the AVG up to Mykit for rest and refit, am going to bring down a couple or dozen Hurricane squadrons currently training in India for some payback, or at least that's the plan.

DEI
Palembang is still in Allied hands after the 2nd consecutive day of attack. The invasion fleet should hit the beaches at Kali the next turn and I'm going all in, everything and the kitchen sink, I realise I'll take heavy losses but I can't take the Dutch AF with me and I don't think I'll be able to do much better if I wait a turn or two so I might as well go out in a blaze of gory.

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 27017 troops, 240 guns, 217 vehicles, Assault Value = 788
Defending force 10151 troops, 49 guns, 92 vehicles, Assault Value = 191
Japanese adjusted assault: 567
Allied adjusted defense: 247
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
352 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 23 (3 destroyed, 20 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
869 casualties reported
Squads: 68 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 79 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (9 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Sub War
An I-boat off Melbourne puts 1 into the side of Barker, one of the original Asiatic Fleet Clemson's which got converted into an APD, glugglugglug.

The Allied subs arond Kali are busy as they intercept the incoming invasion TF but all they get for their trouble is a couple of DCs in the face. At least they're getting intercepts, now to wait for another 9 months so they get a little more dangerous.

One of mine picks up what I assume to be a resource convoy out of Shanghai, might be useful to stake out the larger ports to have a feel for which ones he uses to transport raw materials back to the HI.