Now, now, if Mike Solli begins reading my AAR, I need to be a bit more serious when quoting figures…
February 3rd, 1942
Bloody 144th
There is something with the 144th Infantry Regiment in this alternate history: it always seems to bring bad luck. After the invasion of Guam, which went fine, the regiment was sent to Wake. This landings failed, and it then took three weeks, and reinforcements, to take the island, which had not even been reinforced.
After Wake, I sent the 144th to Mindanao, in order to take Cagayan, together with the 146th, the 1st Amphibious Brigade, and an SNLF Battalion. The enemy are fort-less, supply-less, and outnumbered, so even in defensive terrain, they stood no chance, right?
Well, we attacked today, and managed 1:3 against zero fortifications, and PA infantry badly outnumbered. The 144th is fine, thank you, but all the other units are in very sore shape.
I don’t really know what to do with this. Cagayan will fall eventually, so it might be better to extricate the 144th and send it to other places, where it can test its bad luck again, and let the others babysit the PA infantry.
Celebes’r us
Whereas I am quite happy with the progress in China, I often worry that my progress in the DEI is slow. Today, a tank regiment landed a few days ago at Watampone took Macassar, and another tank regiment arrived yesterday from Balikpapan tool Madjenes. The northern part of this island is under Japanese control, and Kolaka is under siege.
We now hold a line that goes from Macassar to Ambon. Small SNLF companies are busy clearing all the small bases behind us, and ASW forces are trying to turn the area into a mare nostrum.
What then? After the long battle for Ambon, I suspect my opponent will make a stand in Koepang, and there is little point in storming such prepared positions. I am tempted to feint a bit, either towards Lautem or Babar, or even the southern coast of New Guinea. This should force the enemy to keep focused on northern Australia. Then I want to invade Java from the south, probably by taking Komodo and the islands around it first (to cut it from Timor), and then Denpasar, finally landing in Banjoewangi. I believe I can commit two or three tank regiments, two infantry regiments, and probably a pair of SNLF. Not a very large force if my opponent had Java reinforced, but certainly enough to establish and hold a beach head.
Shells over Collyer Quay
We launched our second deliberate attack on Singapore today. The enemy had about 750 AV (from almost 1000 when we invaded the place), and lost 52 combat squads and 22 guns. We reduced the forts to level two, losing most of an engineer regiment in the process, and had heavy disablements, but I think it was worth it.
The fourth infantry division, from Luzon, has arrived in Kota Baru, and will reinforce in a week. The 38th and 104th are closing on Saigon, and will march on phnom penh. They should arrive in two or three weeks, for the kill. I am hoping to take the place by the end of February. All the troops will then be commited to the invasion of Sumatra, and the reinforcement of Java and Burma.
Japanese ground losses:
6575 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 452 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 43 destroyed, 46 disabled
Guns lost 58 (3 destroyed, 55 disabled)
Vehicles lost 17 (1 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
2252 casualties reported
Squads: 52 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 98 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 22 disabled
Guns lost 76 (22 destroyed, 54 disabled)
Vehicles lost 29 (2 destroyed, 27 disabled)
Meanwhile in China
We had a pretty good day today, with 877 combat squads reported destroyed. That’s our second best since the beginning of the game.
In Ichang, the five remaining units were defeated, and retreated north (mapwise) towards Patung.
Japanese ground losses:
1270 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 135 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 31 (8 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
5342 casualties reported
Squads: 749 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 422 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 30 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 51 (13 destroyed, 38 disabled)
Units retreated 5
There are now nine damaged Chinese corps on the road to Patung. I will pursue them and defeat them once more, to prevent any significant recovery. Then, we will turn back towards Changteh, and try and defeat the rest of the units (about 5 corps) in this area.
I don’t know what I will do next. I have 2500 AV in Ichang, I could march them to threaten Changsha. I am probably a bit short to take the city, but I certainly can do some damage around it, and capture most of the resource production in the area. I could also use them to make a move on Ankang, and have an early drive on Sichuan through the northern passes. This seems all the more tempting as the troops in Sian are being reduced. Today, bombardment of the city destroyed over 70 squads (who needs DA?).
On the other hand, I am interested to go on with the original plan, reduce Chinese numbers before launching the final attack on Sichuan. I also would like to be able to reinforce Burma before (to prevent a large number of units from fleeing into India).
Anyway, we’re over 13 000 chinese squads destroyed now, and we have been destroying about 1750 combat squads a week over the last two weeks. At this rate, there will be very little left of the KMT by May or June.
Relating this to my previous comments about resources, this means I might be able to pull significant, and battle hardened, forces out of China by the end of 1942 (maybe earlier).
Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J), no spence, please
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
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Mike Solli
- Posts: 16580
- Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2000 8:00 am
- Location: the flight deck of the Zuikaku
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
ORIGINAL: fcharton
Now, now, if Mike Solli begins reading my AAR, I need to be a bit more serious when quoting figures…
Are you kidding? I'm learning a lot from you, as I try to do from everyone. Keep doing what you're doing. I'm especially interested in your frugalness. I'm curious to see if you can keep that up, especially with your aircraft. Don't wait until you're in a hole to increase aircraft production though. It takes time to ramp up and if you're out of a needed airframe in your pool, you may be in trouble.
Created by the amazing Dixie
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
February 4th 1942
The day after in Singapore
The usual day-after bombardment revealed enemy strength at 600 AV. This will most certain go up, but it is good to know the defenders of Singapore lost about a third of their initial strength.
I am bombing the airfield every day, hoping to delay fort construction. The fourth infantry division is packing in Kota, I am expecting them in a week. The 38th and 104th are in Cam Ranh, marching on Phnom Penh. They should arrive in Singapore in about three weeks. If everything goes fine, the city should be ours in March.
This suggests we could land in Sumatra in March. Other troops from Singapore would reinforce Burma, and perhaps attack Java. In other words, the conquest of the East Indies would be well advanced by the time the amphibious bonus ends.
I do realize this is a relatively slow tempo (the nicer word for it being “methodical”). But then, I’m not going for a large perimeter either.
Nells over Java
I have air HQ in Singkawang and Balikpapan, which means the straits between Borneo, Sumatra and Java can be a very dangerous place to sail, when my bombers do fly, and conduct successful searches, that is.
Today was one of those days. Singkawang fliers found a group of tankers loading in Palembang.
TK Iris, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO TAN 3, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AO TAN 5, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO TAN 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
And then, the Balikpapan boys found a couple of mine sweepers on the coast of Java.
AMc Kawi
AMc Gedeh, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Tjerimai, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Merbabo, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
Not a great victory, of course, but a sunk ship is a sunk ship.
Bombing the KMT
In Sian, daily bombings are taking a large toll. Yesterday, 70 combat squads were destroyed, and 46 more today. This is only costing supplies, and does a very good job at reducing global Chinese strengths.
In Wuhu, the Chinese corps that tried to take the base, without success, is now surrounded. It will probably take some time, but they will have to surrender.
West of Paotow, one tank regiment is chasing the remnants of the 11th corps over the road to Ningsia and Lanchow. A division and another tank regiment are moving on the northern road, towards Jiuquan and Hami. Our western expedition is taking shape.
Production news – engines and air frames
I have been slowly increasing air frame production. We are now producing 566 frames per month, from 380 at the beginning of the war. Fighters account for almost half of my production, with 134 Zeroes and 127 Oscars built every month and level bombers for a third.
I intend to increase my air production in the future, I would probably want to produce something between 1000 and 1500 planes per month. But right now, I need to catch up on engines. I am almost fine on the Ha-35 (which equips my fighters), but I am low on Ha-32 and Ha-33 for my bombers.
As for R&D, I am in the process of repairing research factories (by groups of 30) for planes soon to be delivered. 30 Helen factories are almost repaired, which means I can probably accelerate Helen II by a couple of months. Again, fighter planes were given priority, I have 90 factories researching the Zero 3.
The day after in Singapore
The usual day-after bombardment revealed enemy strength at 600 AV. This will most certain go up, but it is good to know the defenders of Singapore lost about a third of their initial strength.
I am bombing the airfield every day, hoping to delay fort construction. The fourth infantry division is packing in Kota, I am expecting them in a week. The 38th and 104th are in Cam Ranh, marching on Phnom Penh. They should arrive in Singapore in about three weeks. If everything goes fine, the city should be ours in March.
This suggests we could land in Sumatra in March. Other troops from Singapore would reinforce Burma, and perhaps attack Java. In other words, the conquest of the East Indies would be well advanced by the time the amphibious bonus ends.
I do realize this is a relatively slow tempo (the nicer word for it being “methodical”). But then, I’m not going for a large perimeter either.
Nells over Java
I have air HQ in Singkawang and Balikpapan, which means the straits between Borneo, Sumatra and Java can be a very dangerous place to sail, when my bombers do fly, and conduct successful searches, that is.
Today was one of those days. Singkawang fliers found a group of tankers loading in Palembang.
TK Iris, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO TAN 3, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AO TAN 5, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO TAN 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
And then, the Balikpapan boys found a couple of mine sweepers on the coast of Java.
AMc Kawi
AMc Gedeh, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Tjerimai, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Merbabo, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
Not a great victory, of course, but a sunk ship is a sunk ship.
Bombing the KMT
In Sian, daily bombings are taking a large toll. Yesterday, 70 combat squads were destroyed, and 46 more today. This is only costing supplies, and does a very good job at reducing global Chinese strengths.
In Wuhu, the Chinese corps that tried to take the base, without success, is now surrounded. It will probably take some time, but they will have to surrender.
West of Paotow, one tank regiment is chasing the remnants of the 11th corps over the road to Ningsia and Lanchow. A division and another tank regiment are moving on the northern road, towards Jiuquan and Hami. Our western expedition is taking shape.
Production news – engines and air frames
I have been slowly increasing air frame production. We are now producing 566 frames per month, from 380 at the beginning of the war. Fighters account for almost half of my production, with 134 Zeroes and 127 Oscars built every month and level bombers for a third.
I intend to increase my air production in the future, I would probably want to produce something between 1000 and 1500 planes per month. But right now, I need to catch up on engines. I am almost fine on the Ha-35 (which equips my fighters), but I am low on Ha-32 and Ha-33 for my bombers.
As for R&D, I am in the process of repairing research factories (by groups of 30) for planes soon to be delivered. 30 Helen factories are almost repaired, which means I can probably accelerate Helen II by a couple of months. Again, fighter planes were given priority, I have 90 factories researching the Zero 3.
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
Catching up on low intensity turns…
February 5th 1942
In the Java Sea, my Nells did not find targets today, and Betties from Balikpapan missed CL Tromp in Surabaya. But SS I-154 put a torpedo into AVP Orion, and apparently sank her. This is my sixth AVP (after Arend, Bellatrix, Pollux, Poolster and Valk).
In China, bombardment in Sian destroyed 50 more squads, and the enemy column on the Taiyuan-Sian railroad was defeated once more.
February 6th 1942
A Dutch troop transport, xAP Van Rees, was found in Bandjermasin and sunk by Mabels from Samarinda. Over the last few days, I have spotted a number of small transports along the coast of Borneo. I suspect my opponent is evacuating his garrisons. Where to? I am betting on Java, since recon of Palembang do not show a large troop concentration there.
A raid on Koepang showed the base is garrisoned by Australian units, I will wait before I attack there. An early capture of Timor makes little strategic sense, to me, and can delay operations in Java if it turns out like Ambon (which took me several weeks).
In China, apart from the 40 squads routinely destroyed in Sian, an attack in the woods west of Ichang sent the KMT stack back into the mountains, and destroyed 394 combat, and 550 support squads. Those nine units had 430 AV left, after the retreat, they probably are in very bad shape. I am now backtracking towards Ichang, and then along the road towards Changteh. There still are a number of undefeated units in the area, I want them…
Near Nanchang, one of the Chinese corps still present in the plains south of the city was defeated. Why my opponent keeps units there, in open terrain, is beyond me. 116 squads were destroyed.
February 7th, 1942
The Evil Empire does Bali
Call me an incompetent tyrant, but I managed to play this game for a year and a half, and never use a fast transport mission… Well, those times are over now, as a fast transport task force just landed an SNLF unit in Denpasar.
Landing in Denpasar is a risky proposition. It is very close to the southern tip of Java, and in close range from Surabaya. On the other hand, it is one of the few airfields in the area, and holding it effectively cuts southern Java off Timor and Australia.
The landings went fine. The SNLF arrived in one piece, even though allied bombardment showed the enemy had reinforced the island. I will need more troops. One destroyer was lost when she hit an underwater rock while unloading troops. Les risques du métier, as we say in Japanese.
Unfortunately, the task force was set on remain on station (again! I’ll probably never learn), and lingered a bit too long in the area. This gave the enemy air force on Java a free shot at my task force. Banshees and Hudsons did not achieve much, apart from getting shot by my flak, but a squadron of Swordships managed to put two torpedoes in CL Kuma. She has 87% floatation damage, Macassar is not far away, but she’s slowed, and if the Allies get a second shot at her…
I have lots of fighters in the area (in Macassar, Kendari, Ambon, and Balikpapan), I will LRCAP the retreating task forces. With a little luck, I might kill a good number of bombers. There is, also, a good chance that the enemy navy will sortie. All my bombers are on naval attack, tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I am reinforcing Macassar, which will be used as my staging area for the invasion of Java.
Another one in Singapore
A deliberate attack produced the following results:
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)
Japanese ground losses:
4798 casualties reported
Squads: 77 destroyed, 389 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 39 (2 destroyed, 37 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1410 casualties reported
Squads: 110 destroyed, 132 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 84 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 26 disabled
Guns lost 36 (19 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (7 destroyed, 9 disabled)
I am getting more disablements, but the allies are losing a lot of squads. I am also quite happy that the forts still are level 2. We shall bombard, now, and wait for the 4th ID.
Central Burma
Magwe fell today. Oscars will be based there, and an air support unit is being flown in. Mandalay and Schwebo seem to have been reinforced, perhaps with Chinese units. Apart from the Imperial Guard division, I have two infantry (112th and 15th guard) and a tank regiment. This is enough to seize an secure the coast and the road to China, but the capture of the north might need to wait until Singapore has fallen.
There is no need to hurry in this theater. I will eventually need to garrison the plains, and move troops up the road to China, in order to prevent an orderly retreat of the KMT into India, but all of this can wait.
February 5th 1942
In the Java Sea, my Nells did not find targets today, and Betties from Balikpapan missed CL Tromp in Surabaya. But SS I-154 put a torpedo into AVP Orion, and apparently sank her. This is my sixth AVP (after Arend, Bellatrix, Pollux, Poolster and Valk).
In China, bombardment in Sian destroyed 50 more squads, and the enemy column on the Taiyuan-Sian railroad was defeated once more.
February 6th 1942
A Dutch troop transport, xAP Van Rees, was found in Bandjermasin and sunk by Mabels from Samarinda. Over the last few days, I have spotted a number of small transports along the coast of Borneo. I suspect my opponent is evacuating his garrisons. Where to? I am betting on Java, since recon of Palembang do not show a large troop concentration there.
A raid on Koepang showed the base is garrisoned by Australian units, I will wait before I attack there. An early capture of Timor makes little strategic sense, to me, and can delay operations in Java if it turns out like Ambon (which took me several weeks).
In China, apart from the 40 squads routinely destroyed in Sian, an attack in the woods west of Ichang sent the KMT stack back into the mountains, and destroyed 394 combat, and 550 support squads. Those nine units had 430 AV left, after the retreat, they probably are in very bad shape. I am now backtracking towards Ichang, and then along the road towards Changteh. There still are a number of undefeated units in the area, I want them…
Near Nanchang, one of the Chinese corps still present in the plains south of the city was defeated. Why my opponent keeps units there, in open terrain, is beyond me. 116 squads were destroyed.
February 7th, 1942
The Evil Empire does Bali
Call me an incompetent tyrant, but I managed to play this game for a year and a half, and never use a fast transport mission… Well, those times are over now, as a fast transport task force just landed an SNLF unit in Denpasar.
Landing in Denpasar is a risky proposition. It is very close to the southern tip of Java, and in close range from Surabaya. On the other hand, it is one of the few airfields in the area, and holding it effectively cuts southern Java off Timor and Australia.
The landings went fine. The SNLF arrived in one piece, even though allied bombardment showed the enemy had reinforced the island. I will need more troops. One destroyer was lost when she hit an underwater rock while unloading troops. Les risques du métier, as we say in Japanese.
Unfortunately, the task force was set on remain on station (again! I’ll probably never learn), and lingered a bit too long in the area. This gave the enemy air force on Java a free shot at my task force. Banshees and Hudsons did not achieve much, apart from getting shot by my flak, but a squadron of Swordships managed to put two torpedoes in CL Kuma. She has 87% floatation damage, Macassar is not far away, but she’s slowed, and if the Allies get a second shot at her…
I have lots of fighters in the area (in Macassar, Kendari, Ambon, and Balikpapan), I will LRCAP the retreating task forces. With a little luck, I might kill a good number of bombers. There is, also, a good chance that the enemy navy will sortie. All my bombers are on naval attack, tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I am reinforcing Macassar, which will be used as my staging area for the invasion of Java.
Another one in Singapore
A deliberate attack produced the following results:
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)
Japanese ground losses:
4798 casualties reported
Squads: 77 destroyed, 389 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 39 (2 destroyed, 37 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1410 casualties reported
Squads: 110 destroyed, 132 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 84 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 26 disabled
Guns lost 36 (19 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (7 destroyed, 9 disabled)
I am getting more disablements, but the allies are losing a lot of squads. I am also quite happy that the forts still are level 2. We shall bombard, now, and wait for the 4th ID.
Central Burma
Magwe fell today. Oscars will be based there, and an air support unit is being flown in. Mandalay and Schwebo seem to have been reinforced, perhaps with Chinese units. Apart from the Imperial Guard division, I have two infantry (112th and 15th guard) and a tank regiment. This is enough to seize an secure the coast and the road to China, but the capture of the north might need to wait until Singapore has fallen.
There is no need to hurry in this theater. I will eventually need to garrison the plains, and move troops up the road to China, in order to prevent an orderly retreat of the KMT into India, but all of this can wait.
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
February 8th and 9th, 1942
Denpasar II : Aftermath (Sounds like the title of a teenager horror movie, doesn’t it?)
After the landing on Denpasar, the Evil Imperial Head Quarters (EIHQ) was worried about the fate of CL Kuma, sporting a float damage of 87, and a maximum speed of three knots. She seems out of trouble now. Apparently, bad weather prevented enemy naval bombers from flying on the 8th, and a feeble attempt by PT boats was repulsed. CL Kuma is not in port yet, but EIHQ is optimistic. The rest of the invasion force successfully returned to Macassar.
On the eighth, an enemy task force, including destroyers and at least two cruisers, was detected in Denpasar. A task force including BB Kongo and Haruna, CA Mogami and Kumano, CL Sendai and a handful of destroyers was ordered to intercept… and the naval battle of Denpasar took place in the early hours of the ninth of February.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Mataram at 60,109, Range 11,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna, Shell hits 2
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CA Kumano, Shell hits 1
CL Sendai, Shell hits 1
DD Maikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Nowaki
DD Usugumo
DD Isonami, Shell hits 2
DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
CL Tromp, Shell hits 1
CL Durban, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
DD Vampire
DD Banckert, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With
DD Van Ghent, Shell hits 2
DD Electra
DD Encounter, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Express
DD Jupiter, Shell hits 2
After a few more rounds, CL Tromp was left burning, and one more destroyer (DD Express) was sunk. Overall, we lost one destroyer, BB Haruna and CL Sendai have been damaged (system in the 20s, engine damaged for CL Sendai), and sank a light cruiser, three destroyers, and probably did a fair amount of damage to CL Tromp, DD Jupiter, and DD Van Ghent. A victory, not an overwhelming one, but a victory still.
This creates an interesting situation. First, most of the ships my opponent used to interfere with my operations around Java are lost or damaged. De Ruyters is damaged, Marblehead was reported sunk a few days ago, Durban is gone, Tromp in the yards. If the Allies want to go on, they will need to reinforce, probably with ships from the Royal Navy.
Mini-KB, reinforced by CVL Shoho, is now in Cam Ranh, and KB is in Truk. I might relocate one or the other to the Celebes (Manado? Davao?), in case my opponent sends carriers around Java (something many AFB are tempted to do).
Also, I probably have a short window of opportunity, where enemy naval forces will not be able to intervene. This leaves the bombers from Surabaya as the only threat to my invasion forces. The troops earmarked for Java are on their way to Macassar, in the meantime, I will try to damage the airfields in Java.
Meanwhile in the Java sea
I believe my opponent is evacuating Borneo. This suits me fine. Today, our Nells found a couple of AGP loading (or unloading, this is hard to tell while you’re busy strafing, dropping bombs, and shooting banzai at the top of your voice, with that white scarf the director said you ought to wear flying over your eyes) in Ketapang.
Allied Ships
AGP Aldebaran, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AGP Sirius, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aldebaran and Sirius, as a JFB, you’ve got to love those names that sound like Grendizer (Goldorak for our French readers, and Goldrake in Italian, if Wikipedia is to be believed (your mileage might vary on this)).
Sirius is probably done with. Take that, you… méchant ennemi.
Building the empire
As of today, Japan holds 437 bases, 176 of which have engineers. Whereas it seems clear that Japan should build its defense as early as possible, just how to do this is not clear. I am now trying to formulate and apply a few principles.
There are two reasons why you’d want to build infrastructure. The first one is… to develop your infrastructure, and the second one is to bring victory points (twice the VP multiplier per airfield level, plus VP multiplier per port level). As Japan, you need those if you want the game to go into 1945 and 1946. Also, building infrastructure is relatively costless and easy so long you don’t reach standard size. Over that, it gets a lot more expensive. Finally, building cuts both ways : a large airfield or port will benefit the enemy once captured. For this reason, it is probably better to develop the center more than the periphery.
Forts, on the other hand, only benefit the builder (so long they are manned). They are very easy to build at low levels, but get slower over level three, and a lot more expensive over level six.
As a general rule, I will build airfields and ports to SPS, and forts to level three. Larger levels will be built when the situation dictates it. In China, my main reason for building will be VP. Apart from a few “air hubs” (Hankow-Wuchang, the Shanghai area), I am trying to build all captured bases to their SPS. This means marching construction companies west and south.
203 bases (46%) have forts, for a total of 442 levels, 22 have level four or more, 48 level 3, 68 level 2, and 65 level one forts. In other words, 46% of my bases are fortified, and 16% at level three or more.
285 bases (65%) have an airfield (740 levels). 14 have level 7 and more, 64 level 4 to 6, 91 2 or 3, and 116 level 1.
278 bases (63%) have ports (656 levels). 14 have level 7 or more, 37 4 to 6, 101 2 or 3, and 126 level 1.
I will report regularly on base building.
Denpasar II : Aftermath (Sounds like the title of a teenager horror movie, doesn’t it?)
After the landing on Denpasar, the Evil Imperial Head Quarters (EIHQ) was worried about the fate of CL Kuma, sporting a float damage of 87, and a maximum speed of three knots. She seems out of trouble now. Apparently, bad weather prevented enemy naval bombers from flying on the 8th, and a feeble attempt by PT boats was repulsed. CL Kuma is not in port yet, but EIHQ is optimistic. The rest of the invasion force successfully returned to Macassar.
On the eighth, an enemy task force, including destroyers and at least two cruisers, was detected in Denpasar. A task force including BB Kongo and Haruna, CA Mogami and Kumano, CL Sendai and a handful of destroyers was ordered to intercept… and the naval battle of Denpasar took place in the early hours of the ninth of February.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Mataram at 60,109, Range 11,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna, Shell hits 2
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CA Kumano, Shell hits 1
CL Sendai, Shell hits 1
DD Maikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Nowaki
DD Usugumo
DD Isonami, Shell hits 2
DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
CL Tromp, Shell hits 1
CL Durban, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
DD Vampire
DD Banckert, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With
DD Van Ghent, Shell hits 2
DD Electra
DD Encounter, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Express
DD Jupiter, Shell hits 2
After a few more rounds, CL Tromp was left burning, and one more destroyer (DD Express) was sunk. Overall, we lost one destroyer, BB Haruna and CL Sendai have been damaged (system in the 20s, engine damaged for CL Sendai), and sank a light cruiser, three destroyers, and probably did a fair amount of damage to CL Tromp, DD Jupiter, and DD Van Ghent. A victory, not an overwhelming one, but a victory still.
This creates an interesting situation. First, most of the ships my opponent used to interfere with my operations around Java are lost or damaged. De Ruyters is damaged, Marblehead was reported sunk a few days ago, Durban is gone, Tromp in the yards. If the Allies want to go on, they will need to reinforce, probably with ships from the Royal Navy.
Mini-KB, reinforced by CVL Shoho, is now in Cam Ranh, and KB is in Truk. I might relocate one or the other to the Celebes (Manado? Davao?), in case my opponent sends carriers around Java (something many AFB are tempted to do).
Also, I probably have a short window of opportunity, where enemy naval forces will not be able to intervene. This leaves the bombers from Surabaya as the only threat to my invasion forces. The troops earmarked for Java are on their way to Macassar, in the meantime, I will try to damage the airfields in Java.
Meanwhile in the Java sea
I believe my opponent is evacuating Borneo. This suits me fine. Today, our Nells found a couple of AGP loading (or unloading, this is hard to tell while you’re busy strafing, dropping bombs, and shooting banzai at the top of your voice, with that white scarf the director said you ought to wear flying over your eyes) in Ketapang.
Allied Ships
AGP Aldebaran, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AGP Sirius, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aldebaran and Sirius, as a JFB, you’ve got to love those names that sound like Grendizer (Goldorak for our French readers, and Goldrake in Italian, if Wikipedia is to be believed (your mileage might vary on this)).
Sirius is probably done with. Take that, you… méchant ennemi.
Building the empire
As of today, Japan holds 437 bases, 176 of which have engineers. Whereas it seems clear that Japan should build its defense as early as possible, just how to do this is not clear. I am now trying to formulate and apply a few principles.
There are two reasons why you’d want to build infrastructure. The first one is… to develop your infrastructure, and the second one is to bring victory points (twice the VP multiplier per airfield level, plus VP multiplier per port level). As Japan, you need those if you want the game to go into 1945 and 1946. Also, building infrastructure is relatively costless and easy so long you don’t reach standard size. Over that, it gets a lot more expensive. Finally, building cuts both ways : a large airfield or port will benefit the enemy once captured. For this reason, it is probably better to develop the center more than the periphery.
Forts, on the other hand, only benefit the builder (so long they are manned). They are very easy to build at low levels, but get slower over level three, and a lot more expensive over level six.
As a general rule, I will build airfields and ports to SPS, and forts to level three. Larger levels will be built when the situation dictates it. In China, my main reason for building will be VP. Apart from a few “air hubs” (Hankow-Wuchang, the Shanghai area), I am trying to build all captured bases to their SPS. This means marching construction companies west and south.
203 bases (46%) have forts, for a total of 442 levels, 22 have level four or more, 48 level 3, 68 level 2, and 65 level one forts. In other words, 46% of my bases are fortified, and 16% at level three or more.
285 bases (65%) have an airfield (740 levels). 14 have level 7 and more, 64 level 4 to 6, 91 2 or 3, and 116 level 1.
278 bases (63%) have ports (656 levels). 14 have level 7 or more, 37 4 to 6, 101 2 or 3, and 126 level 1.
I will report regularly on base building.
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
Base Building
Since I don't play VP's, take these thoughts with a grain of salt.
Forts: build almost all bases upon level 3. Rarely will I not build them up as almost every base will be defended.
AF/Ports: Very selectively. As you noted, the allies will capture almost every base except the interior defense area* (we hope) so I want to minimize the benefit to him. I will only build up those few, key base AF's, that are part of my integrated defense and those very few base Ports that are part of my logisitical support.
* My definition of IDA is anything within 16 hexes of the HI. This is normal range on the B24 ... if the allies get within normal range with their mass 4E's, bad things are going to happen (like they can force and win a beachhead on the HI). B29's I can't prevent, but fortunately that supply is limited. B17/B24 are almost endless in '45 though. This means Formosa is a critical defense area as Taihoku is at 16 hex range.
Since I don't play VP's, take these thoughts with a grain of salt.
Forts: build almost all bases upon level 3. Rarely will I not build them up as almost every base will be defended.
AF/Ports: Very selectively. As you noted, the allies will capture almost every base except the interior defense area* (we hope) so I want to minimize the benefit to him. I will only build up those few, key base AF's, that are part of my integrated defense and those very few base Ports that are part of my logisitical support.
* My definition of IDA is anything within 16 hexes of the HI. This is normal range on the B24 ... if the allies get within normal range with their mass 4E's, bad things are going to happen (like they can force and win a beachhead on the HI). B29's I can't prevent, but fortunately that supply is limited. B17/B24 are almost endless in '45 though. This means Formosa is a critical defense area as Taihoku is at 16 hex range.
Pax
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
Hi Pax,
Very interesting comment on air bases. Judging from AAR I have read, it seems many (most?) JFB build a lot of bases in the DEI: you end up having a set of airfields around the Solomons, another one around Rabaul, yet another around Timor, and one more between Ambon and the Celebes, and then another... Would you go as far as saying such "air hub" strategy is mistaken (in the DEI, no one disputes its merit in the Home Islands)?
On the other hand, so long you build airfields to SPS, does it really make a difference, given the number of engineers the Allies receive in the late game? I have never played the late game, but I was under the impression that the US could build pretty much anything, very fast.
Francois
Very interesting comment on air bases. Judging from AAR I have read, it seems many (most?) JFB build a lot of bases in the DEI: you end up having a set of airfields around the Solomons, another one around Rabaul, yet another around Timor, and one more between Ambon and the Celebes, and then another... Would you go as far as saying such "air hub" strategy is mistaken (in the DEI, no one disputes its merit in the Home Islands)?
On the other hand, so long you build airfields to SPS, does it really make a difference, given the number of engineers the Allies receive in the late game? I have never played the late game, but I was under the impression that the US could build pretty much anything, very fast.
Francois
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
Air HubORIGINAL: fcharton
Hi Pax,
Very interesting comment on air bases. Judging from AAR I have read, it seems many (most?) JFB build a lot of bases in the DEI: you end up having a set of airfields around the Solomons, another one around Rabaul, yet another around Timor, and one more between Ambon and the Celebes, and then another... Would you go as far as saying such "air hub" strategy is mistaken (in the DEI, no one disputes its merit in the Home Islands)?
On the other hand, so long you build airfields to SPS, does it really make a difference, given the number of engineers the Allies receive in the late game? I have never played the late game, but I was under the impression that the US could build pretty much anything, very fast.
Francois
Without rail connection, I haven't been able to get very effective operations out of it. The allies can reduce any one airfield and the units there are then 'stuck'. Unless you have really high forts, a lot of AA, a lot of engr's, and the ability to move a lot of groups in and out. But face it, IJ doesn't have enough AA and engr's to do this in more than 5 or 6 places. The perimeter requires +20.
Nor have I really seen it done well in an AAR. C&G was just about to display his method when he departed. [:(] PzB has a few built up only a bases and then swoops in with the KB in a timely fashion. That has been really a deciding factor for him. His techniqe is proven.
Allies can build anything given time. But, if they have to start a AF=2 instead of AF=5, it means he can't turn his 4E's on you right away. Those extra few days are what you need for your counter-attack. IJ can work off of AF2 and AF3 effectively given the bombers that they have.
Anyway, just my take.
Pax
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
February 10th, 1942
The fall of Sian
This is the major headline for today. A deliberate attack reduced the forts to level zero, achieved 3:1 odds, and captured the city. Chinese losses were heavy, as the KMT retreated over a river.
Japanese ground losses:
437 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 36 (5 destroyed, 31 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
16844 casualties reported
Squads: 659 destroyed, 59 disabled
Non Combat: 975 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 49 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 40 (27 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Units retreated 12
I am pursuing. As the enemy retreated over a major road, and across a river, my tanks will shock attack tomorrow. The Sian garrison is in bad shape, but I think I can make it worse.
With the capture of Sian, several KMT units in northern China are stranded. Two units lost between Taiyuan and Kweisui will be attacked tomorrow, and then probably left to wither. Troops retreating from Taiyuan and Yenan are two hexes away from Sian, both stacks are in bad shape. Finally, the former defenders of Loyang are pocketed on the secondary road between Sian and Loyang. Overall, about 50 ghost units will either be left far behind the lines, or will slowly retreat towards Sichuan.
What now? I have quite a few units in the area, most of them in good shape. I intend to march west and clear the area between Sian and Lanchow, therefore cutting Sichuan from its oil and fuel supply. I have no idea what my opponent might have in Lanchow and Sining. If both bases are not too strongly held, I might go on and take them with the troops that just captured Sian (about 2500 AV).
The rest of my troops in the north (about 3000 AV) have two options. Either turn south and try to attack Sichuan, hoping it is not too strongly defended, or move back east and reinforce central China. I probably need to recon all those bases, and get a good idea of enemy dispositions.
Clearing the Celebes
Both Kolaka and the last enemy held hex near Macassar fell today. The Dutch garrisons surrendered. Two tank regiments will move on Macassar. The SNLF that just took Kolaka will be sent to reinforce Denpasar. Two more infantry regiments are being sent to Macassar, where I hope to concentrate about 500 AV. This will be my invasion force for Java.
Thoughts on base building
@Pax Mondo, thanks a lot, this discussion is very interesting, and I think I need to digest all of this before making decisions. I realize Japan doesn’t need large airfields as much as the Allies. I will still build a few of them, but probably on the continent, on it the Philippines. Meanwhile, my engineers will focus on building forts.
But I need to rethink my strategy...
The fall of Sian
This is the major headline for today. A deliberate attack reduced the forts to level zero, achieved 3:1 odds, and captured the city. Chinese losses were heavy, as the KMT retreated over a river.
Japanese ground losses:
437 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 36 (5 destroyed, 31 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
16844 casualties reported
Squads: 659 destroyed, 59 disabled
Non Combat: 975 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 49 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 40 (27 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Units retreated 12
I am pursuing. As the enemy retreated over a major road, and across a river, my tanks will shock attack tomorrow. The Sian garrison is in bad shape, but I think I can make it worse.
With the capture of Sian, several KMT units in northern China are stranded. Two units lost between Taiyuan and Kweisui will be attacked tomorrow, and then probably left to wither. Troops retreating from Taiyuan and Yenan are two hexes away from Sian, both stacks are in bad shape. Finally, the former defenders of Loyang are pocketed on the secondary road between Sian and Loyang. Overall, about 50 ghost units will either be left far behind the lines, or will slowly retreat towards Sichuan.
What now? I have quite a few units in the area, most of them in good shape. I intend to march west and clear the area between Sian and Lanchow, therefore cutting Sichuan from its oil and fuel supply. I have no idea what my opponent might have in Lanchow and Sining. If both bases are not too strongly held, I might go on and take them with the troops that just captured Sian (about 2500 AV).
The rest of my troops in the north (about 3000 AV) have two options. Either turn south and try to attack Sichuan, hoping it is not too strongly defended, or move back east and reinforce central China. I probably need to recon all those bases, and get a good idea of enemy dispositions.
Clearing the Celebes
Both Kolaka and the last enemy held hex near Macassar fell today. The Dutch garrisons surrendered. Two tank regiments will move on Macassar. The SNLF that just took Kolaka will be sent to reinforce Denpasar. Two more infantry regiments are being sent to Macassar, where I hope to concentrate about 500 AV. This will be my invasion force for Java.
Thoughts on base building
@Pax Mondo, thanks a lot, this discussion is very interesting, and I think I need to digest all of this before making decisions. I realize Japan doesn’t need large airfields as much as the Allies. I will still build a few of them, but probably on the continent, on it the Philippines. Meanwhile, my engineers will focus on building forts.
But I need to rethink my strategy...
- Attachments
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- Sian100242.jpg (111.47 KiB) Viewed 2007 times
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
Hopefully we'll get a few more opinions here on this. Maybe someone will be able to share some results. We'll see.ORIGINAL: fcharton
@Pax Mondo, thanks a lot, this discussion is very interesting, and I think I need to digest all of this before making decisions. I realize Japan doesn’t need large airfields as much as the Allies. I will still build a few of them, but probably on the continent, on it the Philippines. Meanwhile, my engineers will focus on building forts.
But I need to rethink my strategy...
Pax
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
February 11th, 1942
The day after
West of Sian, five tank regiments crossed the Wei and attacked the Chinese units (a dozen units, including nine corps) that had just retreated. We all have read that during large scale battles, most of the casualties result from pursuit (and that failing to pursue is a grave mistake), it happens in this game too.
Ground combat at 83,40 (near Sian)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 3590 troops, 0 guns, 540 vehicles, Assault Value = 258
Defending force 31923 troops, 202 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 399
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), morale(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 35 (4 destroyed, 31 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
12469 casualties reported
Squads: 513 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 517 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 19 (15 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 12
The rest of my troops is one day behind, marching on Tienshui. Over the last two days, we destroyed about than 1500 KMT squads, almost 5% of the Chinese forces.
Northern fights
We are mopping lone KMT corps, left between Taiyuan and Kweisui. Today, the third provincial corps was destroyed, south of Kweisui. I know they’ll be back in Chungking, but I don’t think it is worth leaving such units so far behind my lines. The 35th corps was also defeated, near Tatung.
Solomons
We landed in Kirakira and Lunga today. Those are very small units, and it is by no means the real conquest of the Solomons. I am doing this to prevent my opponent from trying something weird, like occupying bases or building airfield.
Meanwhile, near Macassar, CL Kuma, retreating from Denpasar, sank to a system failure, two hexes away from the port.
The day after
West of Sian, five tank regiments crossed the Wei and attacked the Chinese units (a dozen units, including nine corps) that had just retreated. We all have read that during large scale battles, most of the casualties result from pursuit (and that failing to pursue is a grave mistake), it happens in this game too.
Ground combat at 83,40 (near Sian)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 3590 troops, 0 guns, 540 vehicles, Assault Value = 258
Defending force 31923 troops, 202 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 399
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), morale(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 35 (4 destroyed, 31 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
12469 casualties reported
Squads: 513 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 517 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 19 (15 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 12
The rest of my troops is one day behind, marching on Tienshui. Over the last two days, we destroyed about than 1500 KMT squads, almost 5% of the Chinese forces.
Northern fights
We are mopping lone KMT corps, left between Taiyuan and Kweisui. Today, the third provincial corps was destroyed, south of Kweisui. I know they’ll be back in Chungking, but I don’t think it is worth leaving such units so far behind my lines. The 35th corps was also defeated, near Tatung.
Solomons
We landed in Kirakira and Lunga today. Those are very small units, and it is by no means the real conquest of the Solomons. I am doing this to prevent my opponent from trying something weird, like occupying bases or building airfield.
Meanwhile, near Macassar, CL Kuma, retreating from Denpasar, sank to a system failure, two hexes away from the port.
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
February 12th, 1942
… was a relatively quiet day. Over Java, a raid from Borneo on the air base in Surubaya destroyed a Warhawk, a Banshee, and damaged a few more. In Burma, the Imperial Guard Division seized Meiktila. In China, the “Loyang stack”, isolated in the woods near Sian, was attacked once more. I have not enough forces to destroy them, but I am slowly wearing them away.
Meanwhile, we are capturing dot bases in the Celebes, New Guinea and the Philippines islands. Today, we landed in Nabire (in northern New Guinea), and took Mangole (between Ternate and Ambon), Siaoe (just off Manado), and Mussau Island (the northernmost Bismarck). I am trying to be as systematic with this as I can. A captured base, even a dot base, prevents enemy reinforcements, provides intelligence, and looks nice on the map…
So? How are we doing so far?
I keep wondering about my rate of advance in the East Indies. Comparing this game to the previous one ( tm.asp?m=2669708), I believe I am doing slightly better in China (more about that in a later post), but much slower in the DEI and South Pacific.
Back then, my opponent had retreated most of his naval and air forces, I was invading against little opposition. This time, my opponent is defending, and sometimes fighting back.
So? Where are we in the Indies? Here is a theater by theater report.
Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra
Malaysia is all under Japanese control, save Singapore, under siege. We will probably not achieve the historical milestone (mid February) there, but with 2200 AV against 600, and a thousand more on their way, I believe Singapore will be ours before the end of the month.
Borneo is all Japanese, except three bases on the southern coast (Ketapang, Banjermasin and Sampit). The oilfields and refineries have been damaged by enemy bomber, but we now have flak and Zeroes protecting them, and are repairing. Both Singkawang and Balikpapan have Air HQ and squadrons of Nells and Betties. This makes the Java Sea a dangerous place for Allied ships. The Allies have a number of submarines operating around Singkawang, Balikpapan, and near Kota Baru, but my ASW task forces seems to have made them inefficient. I cannot sink them, but they don’t get to shoot my transports. I’m happy.
Sumatra is still Allied. I am waiting for the fall of Singapore to invade. I do realize this means I might find a fortress in Palembang, but I am happy fighting one. In my opinion, there are only two approaches to the conquest of Sumatra: the early capture, where your Palembang invasion sails on day one or almost, and the late one, where you wait for Singapore. Anything in between might need more troops than you can spare, because your opponent will have had enough time to reinforce, and will delay the capture of Singapore.
A completely different (and unorthodox) approach might be to postpone the capture of Singapore. Just clear Malaya (you need a few regiments for this), bottle the enemy in Singapore, sweep his airforce out of the skies, perhaps bomb to prevent fort building, and wait for the supplies to be gone. I wonder how this would work? Any takers?
Here’s a map of the area.
Philippines
Luzon was an easy thing. The enemy evacuated both Manila and Clark Field. I am facing about 1500 AV in Bataan, and cannot dislodge them. Bombardment is costing me more squads than the enemy: we need time. As a result, I dispatched several units to other theaters: the fourth ID went to Singapore, a few infantry regiments were sent to Macassar, for the operations in Java. I have about 1500 AV on the island, 1200 in Bataan and 300 in Manila, but I will probably withdraw an infantry and a tank regiment from Manila, and probably drop the Bataan garrison as well.
In the Central Philippines, Panay and Leyte are still Allied. Cebu is under siege, and is being reinforced (with a regiment from Singkawang). These units should be sufficient to capture the other islands by the end of March.
On Mindanao, the siege of Cagayan is dragging on. I most certainly need to reinforce the place. The lesson from this game is that Japan should better invest on an early conquest of Mindanao, by sending lots of troops there in December. In my previous game, I had not enough, and took losses. This time, I did not take losses but had not enough for a quick victory.
After two games, and reading a number of AAR, I am pretty much convinced that, barring a major Allied blunder, Luzon can only be captured through a long siege. As such, there is little point, once the Allies are bottled in Clark and Bataan (and this usually happens in late December) to keep more than one needs. The surplus should probably be sent to Mindanao, and then either Java or Timor.
(to be continued)
… was a relatively quiet day. Over Java, a raid from Borneo on the air base in Surubaya destroyed a Warhawk, a Banshee, and damaged a few more. In Burma, the Imperial Guard Division seized Meiktila. In China, the “Loyang stack”, isolated in the woods near Sian, was attacked once more. I have not enough forces to destroy them, but I am slowly wearing them away.
Meanwhile, we are capturing dot bases in the Celebes, New Guinea and the Philippines islands. Today, we landed in Nabire (in northern New Guinea), and took Mangole (between Ternate and Ambon), Siaoe (just off Manado), and Mussau Island (the northernmost Bismarck). I am trying to be as systematic with this as I can. A captured base, even a dot base, prevents enemy reinforcements, provides intelligence, and looks nice on the map…
So? How are we doing so far?
I keep wondering about my rate of advance in the East Indies. Comparing this game to the previous one ( tm.asp?m=2669708), I believe I am doing slightly better in China (more about that in a later post), but much slower in the DEI and South Pacific.
Back then, my opponent had retreated most of his naval and air forces, I was invading against little opposition. This time, my opponent is defending, and sometimes fighting back.
So? Where are we in the Indies? Here is a theater by theater report.
Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra
Malaysia is all under Japanese control, save Singapore, under siege. We will probably not achieve the historical milestone (mid February) there, but with 2200 AV against 600, and a thousand more on their way, I believe Singapore will be ours before the end of the month.
Borneo is all Japanese, except three bases on the southern coast (Ketapang, Banjermasin and Sampit). The oilfields and refineries have been damaged by enemy bomber, but we now have flak and Zeroes protecting them, and are repairing. Both Singkawang and Balikpapan have Air HQ and squadrons of Nells and Betties. This makes the Java Sea a dangerous place for Allied ships. The Allies have a number of submarines operating around Singkawang, Balikpapan, and near Kota Baru, but my ASW task forces seems to have made them inefficient. I cannot sink them, but they don’t get to shoot my transports. I’m happy.
Sumatra is still Allied. I am waiting for the fall of Singapore to invade. I do realize this means I might find a fortress in Palembang, but I am happy fighting one. In my opinion, there are only two approaches to the conquest of Sumatra: the early capture, where your Palembang invasion sails on day one or almost, and the late one, where you wait for Singapore. Anything in between might need more troops than you can spare, because your opponent will have had enough time to reinforce, and will delay the capture of Singapore.
A completely different (and unorthodox) approach might be to postpone the capture of Singapore. Just clear Malaya (you need a few regiments for this), bottle the enemy in Singapore, sweep his airforce out of the skies, perhaps bomb to prevent fort building, and wait for the supplies to be gone. I wonder how this would work? Any takers?
Here’s a map of the area.
Philippines
Luzon was an easy thing. The enemy evacuated both Manila and Clark Field. I am facing about 1500 AV in Bataan, and cannot dislodge them. Bombardment is costing me more squads than the enemy: we need time. As a result, I dispatched several units to other theaters: the fourth ID went to Singapore, a few infantry regiments were sent to Macassar, for the operations in Java. I have about 1500 AV on the island, 1200 in Bataan and 300 in Manila, but I will probably withdraw an infantry and a tank regiment from Manila, and probably drop the Bataan garrison as well.
In the Central Philippines, Panay and Leyte are still Allied. Cebu is under siege, and is being reinforced (with a regiment from Singkawang). These units should be sufficient to capture the other islands by the end of March.
On Mindanao, the siege of Cagayan is dragging on. I most certainly need to reinforce the place. The lesson from this game is that Japan should better invest on an early conquest of Mindanao, by sending lots of troops there in December. In my previous game, I had not enough, and took losses. This time, I did not take losses but had not enough for a quick victory.
After two games, and reading a number of AAR, I am pretty much convinced that, barring a major Allied blunder, Luzon can only be captured through a long siege. As such, there is little point, once the Allies are bottled in Clark and Bataan (and this usually happens in late December) to keep more than one needs. The surplus should probably be sent to Mindanao, and then either Java or Timor.
(to be continued)
- Attachments
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- Malaysia120242.jpg (101.99 KiB) Viewed 2007 times
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
I agree on the PI stuff. Also, why worry about Luzon? There is nothing the Allied player can do against good play, so just bottle it and keep other stuff for the places you NEED to take quickly.
On Palembang, there are many ways to go. It seems every player tries different things there. Really also depends on what your opponent is doing. If there is a fortress building, a reaction may have to come before you're ready at the expense of other interests. Or you could just wait until he's committed a ton of stuff and trap it all there for later, then wiping it clean. The Canoerebel AAR against Chez da Jez had a lot of thoughts about that.
All of these choices are what make it fun to play Japan in the beginning. How you force the action and what steps you take to counter what your opponent throws your way. It's tense though, and timing is always a concern. The amazing part of this game is that there is no real best play that will work every time. It's a constant process of learning, reacting and making good choices.
On Palembang, there are many ways to go. It seems every player tries different things there. Really also depends on what your opponent is doing. If there is a fortress building, a reaction may have to come before you're ready at the expense of other interests. Or you could just wait until he's committed a ton of stuff and trap it all there for later, then wiping it clean. The Canoerebel AAR against Chez da Jez had a lot of thoughts about that.
All of these choices are what make it fun to play Japan in the beginning. How you force the action and what steps you take to counter what your opponent throws your way. It's tense though, and timing is always a concern. The amazing part of this game is that there is no real best play that will work every time. It's a constant process of learning, reacting and making good choices.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
Don't let Palembang fortify ... if you even suspect he is doing that, you need to go in right away even at the risk of him bombing it afterwards. The swamp bonus can really create problems for you and you MUST take that oil center.
Pax
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
ORIGINAL: PaxMondo
Don't let Palembang fortify ... if you even suspect he is doing that, you need to go in right away even at the risk of him bombing it afterwards. The swamp bonus can really create problems for you and you MUST take that oil center.
In Scenario 1 I agree this is probably the best option. In Scen 2 there was a lot of talk about Japan being able to withstand a damaged Palembang, or a delayed capture, due to the extra starting fuel and oil.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
Hi Pax and Obvert,
I have been reconning Palembang, and never saw more than 4 units there. The airfields in southern Sumatra do not seem to have been developped either, so I am fairly certain I will not find a fortress there. Palembang as a "must have", I wonder... We're all very influenced by the "it is all about oil" school of thought, that so many AFB defend, and so we tend to put a very high value on Palembang, the largest oilfield in the game, by far. On the other hand, a CR-like Sumatra, reinforced with British and perhaps US troops, and turned into a prison camp by extensive bombing would cause a very long delay in Allied reconquest, thus allowing Japan to use the other oil bases (Borneo, Java) for a longer period of time.
So far, the only Palembang defenses I have seen in AAR were Nemo and Canoerebel's, and both fought JFB who apparently didn't realize what it was all about. Other JFB try to invade Palembang in December. Our 2x2 game against Swift and Undercovergeek looked like we might end up fighting such a fortress, but it ended early. I would be very interested to see how a "Fortress Palembang accepted" opening would turn out... I'm not sure it would be such a cakewalk for the Allies. (In fairness, I have to say I was hoping to play such a game, but it seems this won't happen now...)
Francois
I have been reconning Palembang, and never saw more than 4 units there. The airfields in southern Sumatra do not seem to have been developped either, so I am fairly certain I will not find a fortress there. Palembang as a "must have", I wonder... We're all very influenced by the "it is all about oil" school of thought, that so many AFB defend, and so we tend to put a very high value on Palembang, the largest oilfield in the game, by far. On the other hand, a CR-like Sumatra, reinforced with British and perhaps US troops, and turned into a prison camp by extensive bombing would cause a very long delay in Allied reconquest, thus allowing Japan to use the other oil bases (Borneo, Java) for a longer period of time.
So far, the only Palembang defenses I have seen in AAR were Nemo and Canoerebel's, and both fought JFB who apparently didn't realize what it was all about. Other JFB try to invade Palembang in December. Our 2x2 game against Swift and Undercovergeek looked like we might end up fighting such a fortress, but it ended early. I would be very interested to see how a "Fortress Palembang accepted" opening would turn out... I'm not sure it would be such a cakewalk for the Allies. (In fairness, I have to say I was hoping to play such a game, but it seems this won't happen now...)
Francois
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
February 13th, 1942
Another quiet day in the war… With the 4th infantry division just arrived, we attacked Singapore, suffered heavy losses but destroyed three enemy units, and probably a good number of support troops. Odds were 1:1 for the first time, but fatigue and disruption are very high nevertheless. I will bombard tomorrow, and probably attack again in a few days. Then, the 38th and the 104th ID will arrive, and perhaps one more infantry regiment, and this should seal the fate of the Lion City.
Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 77338 troops, 805 guns, 344 vehicles, Assault Value = 2323
Defending force 32952 troops, 380 guns, 215 vehicles, Assault Value = 627
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese ground losses:
3112 casualties reported
Squads: 132 destroyed, 244 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 67 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 41 disabled
Guns lost 32 (9 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Vehicles lost 19 (1 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
3291 casualties reported
Squads: 75 destroyed, 81 disabled
Non Combat: 141 destroyed, 80 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 32 disabled
Guns lost 50 (15 destroyed, 35 disabled)
Vehicles lost 29 (6 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Units destroyed 3
In Nanyang, a very strong Chinese corps (sporting 440 AV!!!) tried taking the base. I had seen that coming, and had reinforced the place. Not the KMT’s finest hour…
Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 12844 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 454
Defending force 18148 troops, 184 guns, 47 vehicles, Assault Value = 452
Allied adjusted assault: 81
Japanese adjusted defense: 447
Allied assault odds: 1 to 5 (fort level 2)
Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Allied ground losses:
661 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Damage is low, but I suspect the 59th corps has very high disruption. I am counterattacking tomorrow, stay tuned!
How are we doing so far? (part 2)
Celebes, Timor and Java
This is the active theater at the moment. Both Macassar, Kendari and the surrounding bases have been captured, and Macassar is being used as the staging point for the invasion of Java. All bases north of a line from Ambon to Kendari are ours (the last handful of dot bases are being captured now), and support ships (AKE, AG and AD) are moving forward. Timor, and the islands between Ambon and Australia have been left alone.
The next move is, obviously, the landings on Java. The capture of Denpasar, which will probably happen once the base is reinforced, is a first step. As for the landing site I am hesitating between Banjoewangi and Loemadjang, but I might change my mind and go for Probolinggo or Tjepoe…
When will we land, probably after the 20t of February. I want mini KB (now in Cam Ranh) around, and I need to take Denpassar first. I might go for Pamekasan as well, as it provides a nice base close to the coast, and good intel on troop movements.
Here is the map.
South west Pacific
This is the least active theater. New Britain, the Admiralty Islands, Ontong Java, and the northern coast of New Guinea were captured, and I have troops in Shortlands, Lunga and Kirakira, but all those were token moves, meant to keep the enemy watching. I will probably send a few more invasion forces, just to keep the side show going, and to catch a few landing sites before the invasion bonus ends, but I must say I am not interested in this theater right now.
So, how are we doing so far? Compared with your average AARed campaign, I don’t think I am really late, but quite a few landings must take place in March if I want to take advantage of the amphibious bonus. But then, life doesn’t end with the landing bonus…
Another quiet day in the war… With the 4th infantry division just arrived, we attacked Singapore, suffered heavy losses but destroyed three enemy units, and probably a good number of support troops. Odds were 1:1 for the first time, but fatigue and disruption are very high nevertheless. I will bombard tomorrow, and probably attack again in a few days. Then, the 38th and the 104th ID will arrive, and perhaps one more infantry regiment, and this should seal the fate of the Lion City.
Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 77338 troops, 805 guns, 344 vehicles, Assault Value = 2323
Defending force 32952 troops, 380 guns, 215 vehicles, Assault Value = 627
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese ground losses:
3112 casualties reported
Squads: 132 destroyed, 244 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 67 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 41 disabled
Guns lost 32 (9 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Vehicles lost 19 (1 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
3291 casualties reported
Squads: 75 destroyed, 81 disabled
Non Combat: 141 destroyed, 80 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 32 disabled
Guns lost 50 (15 destroyed, 35 disabled)
Vehicles lost 29 (6 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Units destroyed 3
In Nanyang, a very strong Chinese corps (sporting 440 AV!!!) tried taking the base. I had seen that coming, and had reinforced the place. Not the KMT’s finest hour…
Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 12844 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 454
Defending force 18148 troops, 184 guns, 47 vehicles, Assault Value = 452
Allied adjusted assault: 81
Japanese adjusted defense: 447
Allied assault odds: 1 to 5 (fort level 2)
Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Allied ground losses:
661 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Damage is low, but I suspect the 59th corps has very high disruption. I am counterattacking tomorrow, stay tuned!
How are we doing so far? (part 2)
Celebes, Timor and Java
This is the active theater at the moment. Both Macassar, Kendari and the surrounding bases have been captured, and Macassar is being used as the staging point for the invasion of Java. All bases north of a line from Ambon to Kendari are ours (the last handful of dot bases are being captured now), and support ships (AKE, AG and AD) are moving forward. Timor, and the islands between Ambon and Australia have been left alone.
The next move is, obviously, the landings on Java. The capture of Denpasar, which will probably happen once the base is reinforced, is a first step. As for the landing site I am hesitating between Banjoewangi and Loemadjang, but I might change my mind and go for Probolinggo or Tjepoe…
When will we land, probably after the 20t of February. I want mini KB (now in Cam Ranh) around, and I need to take Denpassar first. I might go for Pamekasan as well, as it provides a nice base close to the coast, and good intel on troop movements.
Here is the map.
South west Pacific
This is the least active theater. New Britain, the Admiralty Islands, Ontong Java, and the northern coast of New Guinea were captured, and I have troops in Shortlands, Lunga and Kirakira, but all those were token moves, meant to keep the enemy watching. I will probably send a few more invasion forces, just to keep the side show going, and to catch a few landing sites before the invasion bonus ends, but I must say I am not interested in this theater right now.
So, how are we doing so far? Compared with your average AARed campaign, I don’t think I am really late, but quite a few landings must take place in March if I want to take advantage of the amphibious bonus. But then, life doesn’t end with the landing bonus…
- Attachments
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- Celebes120242small.jpg (62.01 KiB) Viewed 2008 times
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
I, too, would like to see this opening. I would never suggest that Fortress Palembang is a cakewalk for the allies, but the danger to IJ is real..ORIGINAL: fcharton
I would be very interested to see how a "Fortress Palembang accepted" opening would turn out... I'm not sure it would be such a cakewalk for the Allies. (In fairness, I have to say I was hoping to play such a game, but it seems this won't happen now...)
Francois
Pax
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
February 14th 1942
Tough times in Bali
A fast transport from the Celebes (CA Myoko, CL Nagara and seven DD) was due to reinforce Denpasar today but met an enemy surface force (CL Colombo and six DD) in the dead of night (new moon today, so it must have been very dark). The result was inconclusive. Two of our destroyers got one shell hit, CL Colombo was hit twice and DD Vampire once. But it did send the fast transport home without unloading.
The task force is almost undamaged, and still not short of ammo. I am sending them again tomorrow…
Nanyang, day 2
Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45)
The Chinese corps that tried to take Nanyang yesterday was attacked today. As expected, disruption must have been very high : a nominal AV of 388 was modified to 82.
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 16711 troops, 181 guns, 35 vehicles, Assault Value = 454
Defending force 12291 troops, 74 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 388
Japanese adjusted assault: 295
Allied adjusted defense: 82
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
125 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Allied ground losses:
2962 casualties reported
Squads: 200 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 161 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 9 (5 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 1
One mixed brigade will pursue, there is no reason to let them fall back nicely…
All around Sian
It was a bad day for the KMT, today… West of Sian, retreating units were attacked by five tank regiments. Odds only were 1:2, but 85 combat squads and 8 guns were traded for one tank. The rest of my troops (about 1300 AV and lots of artillery) will attack tomorrow, and the tanks will be pursuing. If every goes as planned, this means we will attack tomorrow, and again the day after. The Chinese had 284 AV this morning (down from 1500 when they defended Sian…), I believe very little will be left in a few days.
North of the city, the stack from Taiyuan was attacked, across a river. This probably was my best odds ever in a battle involving significant forces.
Ground combat at 84,41 (near Sian)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 38506 troops, 322 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 1332
Defending force 5170 troops, 56 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 161
Japanese adjusted assault: 1654
Allied adjusted defense: 8
Japanese assault odds: 206 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
332 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Allied ground losses:
3144 casualties reported
Squads: 120 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 99 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 39 (27 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Units retreated 6
Finally, the Yenan stack was also defeated, four units retreated, and another one surrendered.
Our forces are in pretty good shape, and almost 50 enemy units are damaged beyond recovery. Ideally, I would like all of them to retreat, and avoid having to destroy them, which would cause them to respawn in Chungking, but I don’t think I can achieve this with the Loyang stack.
With almost 5000 AV in the region, 4000 once roads and bases are garrisoned, and a lot of artillery, and in the face of weak opposition (the 8 units around Tienshui probably amount to less than 1000 AV), we certainly should push forward, but where?
I see three possibilities…
Marching West: the bulk of our forces moves on Lanchow and Sining, captures the two bases, and doubles back to Tienshui. This secures the northwest and denies resources to the KMT, but it will give my opponent time to reinforce the road to Chungking. It also means those 5000 AV will be far away for a while (even on major roads, Lanchow is several weeks from central China)
Marching South: do we have enough to break into Sichuan? I believe it is possible to reach Kienko, leaving a blocking force around Tienshui, and pocketing the defenders of Ankang. But I doubt we actually can take Chungking, and keep the troops supplied over such a long lifeline. And capturing Chungking (or Chengtu, at least) is the only merit of such a move.
Marching East: with the KMT forces around Ichang defeated, we are marching on Changteh, threatening to cut Changsha from the west. A large fraction of my troops around Sian could be sent to reinforce this area, and establish a line between Changteh and Kweiyang, effectively cutting the Chinese in three (Lanchow, Chungking, Changsha).
I am still undecided, but in any case, Tienshui and the cross road to Sichuan must be captured first, to cut Western China off.
Tough times in Bali
A fast transport from the Celebes (CA Myoko, CL Nagara and seven DD) was due to reinforce Denpasar today but met an enemy surface force (CL Colombo and six DD) in the dead of night (new moon today, so it must have been very dark). The result was inconclusive. Two of our destroyers got one shell hit, CL Colombo was hit twice and DD Vampire once. But it did send the fast transport home without unloading.
The task force is almost undamaged, and still not short of ammo. I am sending them again tomorrow…
Nanyang, day 2
Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45)
The Chinese corps that tried to take Nanyang yesterday was attacked today. As expected, disruption must have been very high : a nominal AV of 388 was modified to 82.
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 16711 troops, 181 guns, 35 vehicles, Assault Value = 454
Defending force 12291 troops, 74 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 388
Japanese adjusted assault: 295
Allied adjusted defense: 82
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
125 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Allied ground losses:
2962 casualties reported
Squads: 200 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 161 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 9 (5 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 1
One mixed brigade will pursue, there is no reason to let them fall back nicely…
All around Sian
It was a bad day for the KMT, today… West of Sian, retreating units were attacked by five tank regiments. Odds only were 1:2, but 85 combat squads and 8 guns were traded for one tank. The rest of my troops (about 1300 AV and lots of artillery) will attack tomorrow, and the tanks will be pursuing. If every goes as planned, this means we will attack tomorrow, and again the day after. The Chinese had 284 AV this morning (down from 1500 when they defended Sian…), I believe very little will be left in a few days.
North of the city, the stack from Taiyuan was attacked, across a river. This probably was my best odds ever in a battle involving significant forces.
Ground combat at 84,41 (near Sian)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 38506 troops, 322 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 1332
Defending force 5170 troops, 56 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 161
Japanese adjusted assault: 1654
Allied adjusted defense: 8
Japanese assault odds: 206 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
332 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Allied ground losses:
3144 casualties reported
Squads: 120 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 99 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 39 (27 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Units retreated 6
Finally, the Yenan stack was also defeated, four units retreated, and another one surrendered.
Our forces are in pretty good shape, and almost 50 enemy units are damaged beyond recovery. Ideally, I would like all of them to retreat, and avoid having to destroy them, which would cause them to respawn in Chungking, but I don’t think I can achieve this with the Loyang stack.
With almost 5000 AV in the region, 4000 once roads and bases are garrisoned, and a lot of artillery, and in the face of weak opposition (the 8 units around Tienshui probably amount to less than 1000 AV), we certainly should push forward, but where?
I see three possibilities…
Marching West: the bulk of our forces moves on Lanchow and Sining, captures the two bases, and doubles back to Tienshui. This secures the northwest and denies resources to the KMT, but it will give my opponent time to reinforce the road to Chungking. It also means those 5000 AV will be far away for a while (even on major roads, Lanchow is several weeks from central China)
Marching South: do we have enough to break into Sichuan? I believe it is possible to reach Kienko, leaving a blocking force around Tienshui, and pocketing the defenders of Ankang. But I doubt we actually can take Chungking, and keep the troops supplied over such a long lifeline. And capturing Chungking (or Chengtu, at least) is the only merit of such a move.
Marching East: with the KMT forces around Ichang defeated, we are marching on Changteh, threatening to cut Changsha from the west. A large fraction of my troops around Sian could be sent to reinforce this area, and establish a line between Changteh and Kweiyang, effectively cutting the Chinese in three (Lanchow, Chungking, Changsha).
I am still undecided, but in any case, Tienshui and the cross road to Sichuan must be captured first, to cut Western China off.
- Attachments
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- Sian140242small.jpg (104.51 KiB) Viewed 2007 times
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
February 15th, 1942
Ugly days in Bali
... and so, the fast transport task force, meant to reinforce Denpasar, and prevented from unloading by an enemy cruiser squadron, was ordered again to Bali.
Bad idea… on their way, they found mines in Banjoewangi
Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Mine hits 1 (17/6/14)
CL Nagara, Mine hits 1 (26/30/7)
DD Satsuki, Mine hits 1, (32/63/45)
DD Kawakaze, Mine hits 1, (26/77/44)
And then, again, CL Colombo and friends prevented them from unloading. Quand ça veut pas, ça veut pas...
So, my formerly-fast transport TF is now limping back to Macassar. I am pretty sure the cruisers will make it, for the destroyers it is 50/50.
But a few things went right around Bali, today. First, the transports were capped. Enemy bombers learnt this the hard way…
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mataram at 59,109
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 8
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish I: 5 destroyed
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mataram at 59,109
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
Allied aircraft
139WH-3 x 7
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 5 destroyed
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mataram at 59,109
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 3
A-24 Banshee x 11
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed by flak
And then, CL Colombo, retiring to Surabaya, met my Nells, and her fate, apparently (she’s listed as sunk anyway).
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Soerabaja at 56,104
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Colombo, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Air losses for today ended up as 26 Allied for 8 Japanese. If the Colombo was really sunk, this compensates for the fast transport affair…
More Sian
West of Sian, a second day of attack pushed the enemy towards Tienshui, with more losses.
Allied ground losses:
7884 casualties reported
Squads: 191 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 531 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 48 (36 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Units retreated 11
My tanks pursued: we will get a third day.
Do surrounded units come back?
In Wuhu, a Chinese corps had tried to take the city weeks ago, and was surrounded after a mixed brigade followed it into the hex. After several days of inconclusive battle, I had the message: “Allied Unit(s) surrounded at Wuhu”, and the Chinese corps vanished.
I know units destroyed in combat respawn, and that units lost to attrition don’t. What about “surrounded units”?
In any case, we have destroyed more than 16 500 KMT combat squads so far. This is about half of the Chinese fighting forces. In reality, I suspect the situation is slightly worse for the KMT, as a significant part of the remaining half is probably disabled.
I am still undecided about what to do next in China. We are attacking Changteh tomorrow, we shall see…
Ugly days in Bali
... and so, the fast transport task force, meant to reinforce Denpasar, and prevented from unloading by an enemy cruiser squadron, was ordered again to Bali.
Bad idea… on their way, they found mines in Banjoewangi
Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Mine hits 1 (17/6/14)
CL Nagara, Mine hits 1 (26/30/7)
DD Satsuki, Mine hits 1, (32/63/45)
DD Kawakaze, Mine hits 1, (26/77/44)
And then, again, CL Colombo and friends prevented them from unloading. Quand ça veut pas, ça veut pas...
So, my formerly-fast transport TF is now limping back to Macassar. I am pretty sure the cruisers will make it, for the destroyers it is 50/50.
But a few things went right around Bali, today. First, the transports were capped. Enemy bombers learnt this the hard way…
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mataram at 59,109
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 8
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish I: 5 destroyed
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mataram at 59,109
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
Allied aircraft
139WH-3 x 7
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 5 destroyed
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mataram at 59,109
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 3
A-24 Banshee x 11
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed by flak
And then, CL Colombo, retiring to Surabaya, met my Nells, and her fate, apparently (she’s listed as sunk anyway).
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Soerabaja at 56,104
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
CL Colombo, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Air losses for today ended up as 26 Allied for 8 Japanese. If the Colombo was really sunk, this compensates for the fast transport affair…
More Sian
West of Sian, a second day of attack pushed the enemy towards Tienshui, with more losses.
Allied ground losses:
7884 casualties reported
Squads: 191 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 531 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 48 (36 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Units retreated 11
My tanks pursued: we will get a third day.
Do surrounded units come back?
In Wuhu, a Chinese corps had tried to take the city weeks ago, and was surrounded after a mixed brigade followed it into the hex. After several days of inconclusive battle, I had the message: “Allied Unit(s) surrounded at Wuhu”, and the Chinese corps vanished.
I know units destroyed in combat respawn, and that units lost to attrition don’t. What about “surrounded units”?
In any case, we have destroyed more than 16 500 KMT combat squads so far. This is about half of the Chinese fighting forces. In reality, I suspect the situation is slightly worse for the KMT, as a significant part of the remaining half is probably disabled.
I am still undecided about what to do next in China. We are attacking Changteh tomorrow, we shall see…