March 12th, 1942, punishment, all around
The Dutch tried to evacuate small ships from Java to Australia, and were punished for doing so…
Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
CA Haguro
DD Maikaze
DD Umikaze
DD Nenohi
Allied Ships
AM Jan van Amstel, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AM Pieter de Bitter, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
CA Haguro
DD Maikaze
DD Umikaze
DD Nenohi
Allied Ships
AGP Eridanus, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
I do realize this is overkill, and not something to gloat about, or even to mention is a respectable AAR, but precious little is happening in the war today, so…
Punishment went both ways, though… In China, I tried to dislodge the troops that invaded Changteh yesterday. This was a very bad idea, as one of the corps was a very strong (500 AV) one.
Ground combat at Changteh (81,50)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 23343 troops, 204 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 767
Defending force 36670 troops, 314 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1161
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
Japanese ground losses:
2607 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 280 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 22 (1 destroyed, 21 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
266 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Disruption is high, and my garrison fell from 770 to 480 AV. But I doubt the enemy can take the base, so I suppose all I have to do is to wait for the cavalry, which is now travelling (on foot) between Hankow and Ichang.
Such a strong KMT force had to be taken from the Changsha garrison. I will try to move against Hunan. I don’t intend to take Changsha, but increasing pressure there can only help my troops between Changteh and Kweiyang.
Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J), no spence, please
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
March 13th, 1942, more punishment in Java, and a better day in central China
In the Indian ocean, we are still chasing Dutch boats, today was a pretty good one.
Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
CA Haguro
DD Maikaze
DD Umikaze
DD Nenohi
Allied Ships
AS Janssens, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
AGP Wega, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
And in the afternoon, a bombing run over Surabaya paid off
Afternoon Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
G3M2 Nell x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
SS KXIII, Bomb hits 1
SS KXI, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
Reinforcements are now landing in Banjoewangi. A division is unloading now, two regiments are a few days away. Also, a tank regiment managed to turn Malang, and open a corridor through the besieged base. I will soon have over 1000 AV in south Java, and lots of supplies. I want to be on the offensive when the northern landings happen (probably Buitenzorg and Kalidjati).
In China, a first attack in Ichang damaged the invaders. I expect to throw them back into the marshes tomorrow. In Changteh, several bombing runs did more damage to the enemy than yesterday’s failed attack. I will go on bombing the place, and probably bombard as well, once my units are rested.
Allied ground losses:
184 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
102 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
112 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
In the Indian ocean, we are still chasing Dutch boats, today was a pretty good one.
Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
CA Haguro
DD Maikaze
DD Umikaze
DD Nenohi
Allied Ships
AS Janssens, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
AGP Wega, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
And in the afternoon, a bombing run over Surabaya paid off
Afternoon Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
G3M2 Nell x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
SS KXIII, Bomb hits 1
SS KXI, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
Reinforcements are now landing in Banjoewangi. A division is unloading now, two regiments are a few days away. Also, a tank regiment managed to turn Malang, and open a corridor through the besieged base. I will soon have over 1000 AV in south Java, and lots of supplies. I want to be on the offensive when the northern landings happen (probably Buitenzorg and Kalidjati).
In China, a first attack in Ichang damaged the invaders. I expect to throw them back into the marshes tomorrow. In Changteh, several bombing runs did more damage to the enemy than yesterday’s failed attack. I will go on bombing the place, and probably bombard as well, once my units are rested.
Allied ground losses:
184 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
102 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
112 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
March 14th 1942
In the Indian Ocean, no Dutch ships were detected, or attacked today. But we did have a good day over Surabaya:
Morning Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
G3M2 Nell x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
SS KXIII, Bomb hits 1
AR Castor, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AVP Fazant, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS KXI, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1
We invaded Ketapang, one of the last enemy held bases on Borneo. As often, it was held by a loose collection of defeated units. About a month ago, my opponent tried to evacuate them, but my Nells from Singkawang sank his transports, and the troops have been left there to rot. Allied bombardment revealed 15 AV against 125 mine (the 24th Infantry regiment). It shouldn’t be too long.
In central China, Ichang was cleared :
Ground combat at Ichang (83,48)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 25953 troops, 186 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 1006
Defending force 18059 troops, 112 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 459
Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
388 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Allied ground losses:
3578 casualties reported
Squads: 299 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 365 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 22 (22 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2
My troops will now march on Changteh, and oust the Chinese corps there, then we can proceed on Kweiyang.
In the Indian Ocean, no Dutch ships were detected, or attacked today. But we did have a good day over Surabaya:
Morning Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
G3M2 Nell x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
SS KXIII, Bomb hits 1
AR Castor, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AVP Fazant, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS KXI, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1
We invaded Ketapang, one of the last enemy held bases on Borneo. As often, it was held by a loose collection of defeated units. About a month ago, my opponent tried to evacuate them, but my Nells from Singkawang sank his transports, and the troops have been left there to rot. Allied bombardment revealed 15 AV against 125 mine (the 24th Infantry regiment). It shouldn’t be too long.
In central China, Ichang was cleared :
Ground combat at Ichang (83,48)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 25953 troops, 186 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 1006
Defending force 18059 troops, 112 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 459
Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
388 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Allied ground losses:
3578 casualties reported
Squads: 299 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 365 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 22 (22 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2
My troops will now march on Changteh, and oust the Chinese corps there, then we can proceed on Kweiyang.
-
SqzMyLemon
- Posts: 4239
- Joined: Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:18 pm
- Location: Alberta, Canada
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
Hi Francois,
Still following along. I'm getting my Japanese fix from your and obvert's AAR's. [8D]
I need to learn to say more with less as you do in your AAR. I talk to damn much! [:D]
Still following along. I'm getting my Japanese fix from your and obvert's AAR's. [8D]
I need to learn to say more with less as you do in your AAR. I talk to damn much! [:D]
Luck is the residue of design - John Milton
Don't mistake lack of talent for genius - Peter Steele (Type O Negative)
Don't mistake lack of talent for genius - Peter Steele (Type O Negative)
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
Following it too. A very well done AAR Francois! Really like your style
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
Thanks a lot, SqzMyLemon. I really enjoy writing this AAR (sometimes I even wonder whether I write the AAR because I play the game, or the other way around), but it is always good to know it reads.
And welcome, Grey Joy, to the weird side, where you spend countless hours roleplaying a bureaucrat (should we call this C&C, clipboards and convoys?). The fact we enjoy it probably says something about our mind, something with a complicated latin name.
But anyway, there’s a war to be fought, with papers, excel spreadsheets, coffee table maths, and beer (this is one thing this game has in common with real warfare: beer abuse!) So let us be about it, as they say in blue water scifi series…
March 15th, 1942, giving up on Port Blair,
Those sweeps over Port Blair are getting expensive. Today, we lost about thirty planes, to ten enemies. Over the last three days, over eighty fighters were shot down, for about thirty bandits. And today another enemy air concentration (Kittyhawks and Airacobras) was detected in Port Moresby. I will sweep it tomorrow, but I doubt it will be painless.
The situation is not bad, I am still leading in air losses (1275 vs 1510), and I have air superiority over my bases and most of the war zone, but I am having misgivings… Shall I go on and try to break the RAF, or just let them alone, as see what happens?
As March, and the amphibious bonus, ends, I will hold most of the Indies: Sumatra, Borneo, the Philippines, the Celebes and Moluccas, most of New Guinea and the Solomons, and the conquest of Java will be a matter of weeks. Everything, save three areas: Timor, Port Blair, and Port Moresby.
Timor is not strongly held, and I should be able to invade it as soon as I’m done with the Phillies. A pair of infantry regiments should do the trick. Port Blair and Port Moresby are most certainly strongly reinforced, and fortified, and an invasion would be a very costly affair. I am considering suppressing them instead, and trying to keep my opponent busy there.
I don’t think leaving Port Blair alone threatens my position. It does interdict shipping to Burma, but I don’t really need it (especially if I manage to take China out of the war). I also complicates an invasion of India, but I am not planning this. On the other hand, All the troops holding the Andamans won’t be fighting my boys in Burma.
I’m very split about Port Moresby. I do understand conventional wisdom says it is a thorn in the Japanese side. Yet, I fail to see the risk. So long Japan holds Rabaul and Manus (and perhaps Horn Island, or a pair of Australian islands in the gulf of Carpentaria Those troops are not going anywhere. Besides, if this can convince my opponent he is winning in the Solomons, and he should begin his reconquest there, I will be very happy : this is the longest road to Japan.
I had first thought of invading Port Moresby from Buna, over the Kokoda trail. But I sent the infantry division to Rabaul instead, as my strategic reserve. I am giving this a couple of weeks, and will think about it again in April. Java and Sumatra are my first order of business, now.
Talking of which, Ketapang fell today, and the enemy seems to be evacuating Malang, and concentrating in Surabaya. This is good, as Surabaya is even more “besiegeable”. A long battle in Surabaya might damage the installations there, but I can afford this, as Palembang was captured intact.
On the supply front, things are going fine. I am saving about 5 000 tons supplies a day, and am getting close to the levels at game start. Fuel stocks are increasing as well, by about 5000 tons a day, excluding bunker fuel. Bunker fuel is down, and my total fuel reserves are marginally increasing. My frugal approach to the economy seems to be paying dividends. I will probably have about 700 000 HI points by the end of the month.
All this suggests I can soon forget about keeping the economy fueled and supplied, and focus on the important aspect: garrisoning and defending the empire. My long term goal is getting pretty clear. I want to make enemy reconquest a very bloody affair, especially at start. The bloodier it begins, the slower it will get. To do so, I think I need three things : a long way to reconquest, ideally, something close to the historical advance on the Solomons, large garrisons even on slow islands. This is the whole point of my attempts in China, its capture will free lots of troops, and good defenses. I am now scavenging all the engineer units I can find, and sending them to build forts, that will be manned. Level four is a minimum, I will try to do better every where I can.
And welcome, Grey Joy, to the weird side, where you spend countless hours roleplaying a bureaucrat (should we call this C&C, clipboards and convoys?). The fact we enjoy it probably says something about our mind, something with a complicated latin name.
But anyway, there’s a war to be fought, with papers, excel spreadsheets, coffee table maths, and beer (this is one thing this game has in common with real warfare: beer abuse!) So let us be about it, as they say in blue water scifi series…
March 15th, 1942, giving up on Port Blair,
Those sweeps over Port Blair are getting expensive. Today, we lost about thirty planes, to ten enemies. Over the last three days, over eighty fighters were shot down, for about thirty bandits. And today another enemy air concentration (Kittyhawks and Airacobras) was detected in Port Moresby. I will sweep it tomorrow, but I doubt it will be painless.
The situation is not bad, I am still leading in air losses (1275 vs 1510), and I have air superiority over my bases and most of the war zone, but I am having misgivings… Shall I go on and try to break the RAF, or just let them alone, as see what happens?
As March, and the amphibious bonus, ends, I will hold most of the Indies: Sumatra, Borneo, the Philippines, the Celebes and Moluccas, most of New Guinea and the Solomons, and the conquest of Java will be a matter of weeks. Everything, save three areas: Timor, Port Blair, and Port Moresby.
Timor is not strongly held, and I should be able to invade it as soon as I’m done with the Phillies. A pair of infantry regiments should do the trick. Port Blair and Port Moresby are most certainly strongly reinforced, and fortified, and an invasion would be a very costly affair. I am considering suppressing them instead, and trying to keep my opponent busy there.
I don’t think leaving Port Blair alone threatens my position. It does interdict shipping to Burma, but I don’t really need it (especially if I manage to take China out of the war). I also complicates an invasion of India, but I am not planning this. On the other hand, All the troops holding the Andamans won’t be fighting my boys in Burma.
I’m very split about Port Moresby. I do understand conventional wisdom says it is a thorn in the Japanese side. Yet, I fail to see the risk. So long Japan holds Rabaul and Manus (and perhaps Horn Island, or a pair of Australian islands in the gulf of Carpentaria Those troops are not going anywhere. Besides, if this can convince my opponent he is winning in the Solomons, and he should begin his reconquest there, I will be very happy : this is the longest road to Japan.
I had first thought of invading Port Moresby from Buna, over the Kokoda trail. But I sent the infantry division to Rabaul instead, as my strategic reserve. I am giving this a couple of weeks, and will think about it again in April. Java and Sumatra are my first order of business, now.
Talking of which, Ketapang fell today, and the enemy seems to be evacuating Malang, and concentrating in Surabaya. This is good, as Surabaya is even more “besiegeable”. A long battle in Surabaya might damage the installations there, but I can afford this, as Palembang was captured intact.
On the supply front, things are going fine. I am saving about 5 000 tons supplies a day, and am getting close to the levels at game start. Fuel stocks are increasing as well, by about 5000 tons a day, excluding bunker fuel. Bunker fuel is down, and my total fuel reserves are marginally increasing. My frugal approach to the economy seems to be paying dividends. I will probably have about 700 000 HI points by the end of the month.
All this suggests I can soon forget about keeping the economy fueled and supplied, and focus on the important aspect: garrisoning and defending the empire. My long term goal is getting pretty clear. I want to make enemy reconquest a very bloody affair, especially at start. The bloodier it begins, the slower it will get. To do so, I think I need three things : a long way to reconquest, ideally, something close to the historical advance on the Solomons, large garrisons even on slow islands. This is the whole point of my attempts in China, its capture will free lots of troops, and good defenses. I am now scavenging all the engineer units I can find, and sending them to build forts, that will be manned. Level four is a minimum, I will try to do better every where I can.
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
March 16th, 1942
Over Surabaya, our bombers sank another Dutch submarine and damaged AR Castor, a repair ship. We lost three bombers and two fighters to enemy CAP. Three Dutch bombers were shot down over Malang, where enemy resistance is breaking, even though the forts are still at level two. The evacuation of the base is confirmed, one British brigade disappeared today.
Meanwhile, my reinforcements are unloading in Banjoewangi. We will be in position to march on Malang tomorrow or the day after.
I am now preparing the second phase of the invasion of Java: the northern landings (at this point, I should probably find a cute and warlike name for this operation). I have two divisions near Oosthaven. Once the city is taken, they will land in Buitenzorg. I am sending transports from south Java to Oosthaven (hoping the city will be ours by the time they arrive). I would like to land in Buitenzorg before the end of the month, but the schedule is pretty tight.
Meanwhile, three infantry regiments are staging in Ketapang, and will cross the straits to Kalidjati. I hope the landings to happen around the 20th. This is not exa ctly a feint, as three regiments can conquer quite a bit of ground. I hope to create a threat on Batavia, to prevent the reinforcement of Buitenzorg. Once everything is over, we should have three division equivalents in the north, two in the south, and the conquest should be easy.
In Burma, the 112th infantry regiment captured Lashio, and will march north on Myitkvina. The 104th infantry division, spearheaded by a tank regiment, will march on Paoshan and Tsuyung. In the south, the fifth and sixth guard division are transiting between Moulmein and Rangoon. The former should be based in Prome, the latter in Magwe, and the Imperial Guard division will march northwards. My short term goal, in Burma, is to show enough strength to dissuade an early offensive. Reinforcements will arrive later, a small part once the DEI is captured, the rest when China falls.
Most of the action today happened in China. In the far west, the lone tank regiment that took Kiuchuan and Ansi and was pushing a base force and a trashed brigade before it, is now blocked, halfway between Ansi and Hami, by a second brigade, probably from Urumchi, and bombarded daily by planes from Hami. Meanwhile, on the northern road, a full strength division is three days away from Hami, and a mixed brigade a week behind. Those separate brigades are in for a nasty surprise, and those planes in Hami are doomed. Once they are done for, I believe very little is left to defend Urumchi.
In Central China, the road between Ichang and Changteh, cut by a small enemy force, is being cleared. Even in rough terrain, the efficiency of air bombing as a “softener” is proven…
Over 50 combat squads are disabled during the air attacks…
Morning Air attack on 83rd Chinese Corps, at 81,49 , near Changteh
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 25
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 33
Ki-27b Nate x 12
Ki-44 Tojo x 2
Allied ground losses:
381 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44 Tojo x 4
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 24
Allied ground losses:
73 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 22
Ki-44 Tojo x 2
Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 15
Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9
Allied ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
And this makes the subsequent land attack much easier
Ground combat at 81,49 (near Changteh)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 3627 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127
Defending force 1910 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 82
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: leaders(+), supply(-)
Japanese ground losses:
92 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
The hex should fall tomorrow.
Over Surabaya, our bombers sank another Dutch submarine and damaged AR Castor, a repair ship. We lost three bombers and two fighters to enemy CAP. Three Dutch bombers were shot down over Malang, where enemy resistance is breaking, even though the forts are still at level two. The evacuation of the base is confirmed, one British brigade disappeared today.
Meanwhile, my reinforcements are unloading in Banjoewangi. We will be in position to march on Malang tomorrow or the day after.
I am now preparing the second phase of the invasion of Java: the northern landings (at this point, I should probably find a cute and warlike name for this operation). I have two divisions near Oosthaven. Once the city is taken, they will land in Buitenzorg. I am sending transports from south Java to Oosthaven (hoping the city will be ours by the time they arrive). I would like to land in Buitenzorg before the end of the month, but the schedule is pretty tight.
Meanwhile, three infantry regiments are staging in Ketapang, and will cross the straits to Kalidjati. I hope the landings to happen around the 20th. This is not exa ctly a feint, as three regiments can conquer quite a bit of ground. I hope to create a threat on Batavia, to prevent the reinforcement of Buitenzorg. Once everything is over, we should have three division equivalents in the north, two in the south, and the conquest should be easy.
In Burma, the 112th infantry regiment captured Lashio, and will march north on Myitkvina. The 104th infantry division, spearheaded by a tank regiment, will march on Paoshan and Tsuyung. In the south, the fifth and sixth guard division are transiting between Moulmein and Rangoon. The former should be based in Prome, the latter in Magwe, and the Imperial Guard division will march northwards. My short term goal, in Burma, is to show enough strength to dissuade an early offensive. Reinforcements will arrive later, a small part once the DEI is captured, the rest when China falls.
Most of the action today happened in China. In the far west, the lone tank regiment that took Kiuchuan and Ansi and was pushing a base force and a trashed brigade before it, is now blocked, halfway between Ansi and Hami, by a second brigade, probably from Urumchi, and bombarded daily by planes from Hami. Meanwhile, on the northern road, a full strength division is three days away from Hami, and a mixed brigade a week behind. Those separate brigades are in for a nasty surprise, and those planes in Hami are doomed. Once they are done for, I believe very little is left to defend Urumchi.
In Central China, the road between Ichang and Changteh, cut by a small enemy force, is being cleared. Even in rough terrain, the efficiency of air bombing as a “softener” is proven…
Over 50 combat squads are disabled during the air attacks…
Morning Air attack on 83rd Chinese Corps, at 81,49 , near Changteh
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 25
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 33
Ki-27b Nate x 12
Ki-44 Tojo x 2
Allied ground losses:
381 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44 Tojo x 4
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 24
Allied ground losses:
73 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 22
Ki-44 Tojo x 2
Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 15
Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9
Allied ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
And this makes the subsequent land attack much easier
Ground combat at 81,49 (near Changteh)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 3627 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127
Defending force 1910 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 82
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: leaders(+), supply(-)
Japanese ground losses:
92 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
The hex should fall tomorrow.
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
March 17th 1942
Done with Sumatra
Today, the Evil Imperial Army captured Oosthaven, at the southern tip of Sumatra. In the north, another infantry division is a marching on Sabang. The conquest of Sumatra is pretty much over, and was quite the walkthrough. The enemy never provided credible resistance and all installations were captured undamaged, together with large oil, fuel and supply stocks.
This somehow foils my evil plans. I had expected a Palembang fortress, or something similar, and the major reason why I wanted a stingy approach to Japanese production was to allow for trashed oilfields in Palembang.
But let us not cry over unspilt milk. The situation in Sumatra is good. Convoys from Medan and Palembang to Malaysia have been set up. I am still spoiling quite a bit of fuel in Palembang, but the port is being built, and this should cease soon. My fuel stocks are not increasing yet. I suspect the spoiling is one cause, and some task forces hanging around in ports another one.
In Oosthaven, my two divisions are now waiting for their transports. Those should arrive in five or six days, which means I should make it to Buitenzorg before the end of the month (and of the amphibious bonus).
No way to fight a war
In western China, near Ansi, the KMT did something very silly today. As you might remember, my tank regiment failed yesterday to dislodge a separate brigade that blocked the road. Today, the brigade counterattacked.
AFB friends, who chance upon this AAR, don’t do this, ever! As a general rule, the Chinese lack anti-tank weapons, and those low quality units that defend border areas even more so. If you try to charge tanks, even disrupted, over open terrain, you get this:
Ground combat at 80,21 (near Ansi)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 1702 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 56
Defending force 856 troops, 0 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 70
Allied adjusted assault: 0
Japanese adjusted defense: 65
Allied assault odds: 1 to 99
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-), fatigue(-), supply(-)
Allied ground losses:
368 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 2 disabled
Assaulting units:
9th Separate Brigade
Defending units:
12th Tank Regiment
A waste of a good unit, if you ask me… But let’s not cry over spilt enemy milk…
Popping the cork
As expected, the two Chinese corps blocking the road to Changteh were defeated today. About 1000 AV is a few days away, twice as many are arriving in Ichang. My artillery is further away. The drive on Kweiyang can soon begin.
In Changteh, my opponent actually helped by attacking. That was a bad idea: the KMT attacking the IJA at 2:1 AV ratios in defensive terrain is a dangerous proposition. If the IJA is behind forts, then:
Ground combat at Changteh (81,50)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 35628 troops, 312 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1068
Defending force 23268 troops, 204 guns, 60 vehicles, Assault Value = 536
Allied adjusted assault: 192
Japanese adjusted defense: 1233
Allied assault odds: 1 to 6 (fort level 3)
Japanese ground losses:
344 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
2352 casualties reported
Squads: 71 destroyed, 209 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
The Chinese probably are around 700 AV now (I have noticed that a 1 valid combat squad = 1 AV relation seems to hold in such attrition battles). I doubt they will reinforce the hex (they would need to strip the Changsha garrison, which is only around 1500 AV), and I will have around 1500 AV in Changteh in a few days.
Between Kweiyang and Tuyun, the Chinese have reinforced the hex, I have as well, and nobody seems able to break the stalemate.
Ground combat at 75,50 (near Kweiyang)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 35039 troops, 405 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 967
Defending force 14605 troops, 192 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 402
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
832 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 112 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Allied ground losses:
637 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 99 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 18 (2 destroyed, 16 disabled)
I am really looking forward to this campaign in central China. According to combat reports, about 20 000 KMT combat squads have been destroyed so far, which leaves (after accounting for replacements and born-again soldiers) the KMT with about 15 000 squads (a little less than half their initial forces). This still represents quite a formidable force, and I doubt a maneuver campaign aiming at striking Chungking can work. Which means my middle term objective is unchanged : destroyed as many squads as I can, to soften Chinese resistance.
Done with Sumatra
Today, the Evil Imperial Army captured Oosthaven, at the southern tip of Sumatra. In the north, another infantry division is a marching on Sabang. The conquest of Sumatra is pretty much over, and was quite the walkthrough. The enemy never provided credible resistance and all installations were captured undamaged, together with large oil, fuel and supply stocks.
This somehow foils my evil plans. I had expected a Palembang fortress, or something similar, and the major reason why I wanted a stingy approach to Japanese production was to allow for trashed oilfields in Palembang.
But let us not cry over unspilt milk. The situation in Sumatra is good. Convoys from Medan and Palembang to Malaysia have been set up. I am still spoiling quite a bit of fuel in Palembang, but the port is being built, and this should cease soon. My fuel stocks are not increasing yet. I suspect the spoiling is one cause, and some task forces hanging around in ports another one.
In Oosthaven, my two divisions are now waiting for their transports. Those should arrive in five or six days, which means I should make it to Buitenzorg before the end of the month (and of the amphibious bonus).
No way to fight a war
In western China, near Ansi, the KMT did something very silly today. As you might remember, my tank regiment failed yesterday to dislodge a separate brigade that blocked the road. Today, the brigade counterattacked.
AFB friends, who chance upon this AAR, don’t do this, ever! As a general rule, the Chinese lack anti-tank weapons, and those low quality units that defend border areas even more so. If you try to charge tanks, even disrupted, over open terrain, you get this:
Ground combat at 80,21 (near Ansi)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 1702 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 56
Defending force 856 troops, 0 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 70
Allied adjusted assault: 0
Japanese adjusted defense: 65
Allied assault odds: 1 to 99
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-), fatigue(-), supply(-)
Allied ground losses:
368 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 2 disabled
Assaulting units:
9th Separate Brigade
Defending units:
12th Tank Regiment
A waste of a good unit, if you ask me… But let’s not cry over spilt enemy milk…
Popping the cork
As expected, the two Chinese corps blocking the road to Changteh were defeated today. About 1000 AV is a few days away, twice as many are arriving in Ichang. My artillery is further away. The drive on Kweiyang can soon begin.
In Changteh, my opponent actually helped by attacking. That was a bad idea: the KMT attacking the IJA at 2:1 AV ratios in defensive terrain is a dangerous proposition. If the IJA is behind forts, then:
Ground combat at Changteh (81,50)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 35628 troops, 312 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1068
Defending force 23268 troops, 204 guns, 60 vehicles, Assault Value = 536
Allied adjusted assault: 192
Japanese adjusted defense: 1233
Allied assault odds: 1 to 6 (fort level 3)
Japanese ground losses:
344 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
2352 casualties reported
Squads: 71 destroyed, 209 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
The Chinese probably are around 700 AV now (I have noticed that a 1 valid combat squad = 1 AV relation seems to hold in such attrition battles). I doubt they will reinforce the hex (they would need to strip the Changsha garrison, which is only around 1500 AV), and I will have around 1500 AV in Changteh in a few days.
Between Kweiyang and Tuyun, the Chinese have reinforced the hex, I have as well, and nobody seems able to break the stalemate.
Ground combat at 75,50 (near Kweiyang)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 35039 troops, 405 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 967
Defending force 14605 troops, 192 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 402
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
832 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 112 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Allied ground losses:
637 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 99 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 18 (2 destroyed, 16 disabled)
I am really looking forward to this campaign in central China. According to combat reports, about 20 000 KMT combat squads have been destroyed so far, which leaves (after accounting for replacements and born-again soldiers) the KMT with about 15 000 squads (a little less than half their initial forces). This still represents quite a formidable force, and I doubt a maneuver campaign aiming at striking Chungking can work. Which means my middle term objective is unchanged : destroyed as many squads as I can, to soften Chinese resistance.
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
March 18th, 1942
Plus ça change…
Near Ansi, the separate brigade that tried to attack a tank regiment yesterday was punished
Ground combat at 80,21 (near Ansi)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 864 troops, 0 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 74
Defending force 1230 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2
Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1
Allied ground losses:
668 casualties reported
Squads: 48 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1
Note how the brigade went from 56 AV yesterday to 2 today (and probably less now…)
For some reason, the enemy tried the same gamble in Sining, with more and better troops, but against two tank regiments.
Ground combat at Sining (80,32)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 8836 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 379
Defending force 1920 troops, 0 guns, 288 vehicles, Assault Value = 162
Allied assault odds: 1 to 3
Allied ground losses:
641 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 90 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Même punition, même motif.
Apparently, Sining has not been reinforced. Apart from the units that retreated from Lanchow, it is defended by Ma Bufang’s 81st corps. I have 1500 AV four days away, I doubt they can hold.
Finally, after the failed enemy attack in Changteh, I did try a counterattack, which didn’t quite succeed.
Ground combat at Changteh (81,50)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 21096 troops, 204 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 589
Defending force 33743 troops, 311 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 888
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
Japanese ground losses:
1238 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 138 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Allied ground losses:
508 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
I don’t have enough troops to break the stalemate, and need to wait for the reinforcements, which should be there in a couple of days.
Sapworks
Iloilo, the last enemy held base in the Philippine islands, was attacked today for the first time. To my surprise, a single infantry regiment proved enough to reduce the forts. A second regiment is a hex away, I am waiting for them for the final onslaught.
On Borneo, in Bandjermasin, the 5th Amphibious brigade attacked and managed to reduce the forts. The enemy still has troops, but probably is out of supplies. I am resting tomorrow, and attacking the day after.
On Java, Malang is being evacuated. I am not sure this is a wise decision, this base has good terrain and forts, and once it falls, Surabaya is quite isolated.
All this suggests major advances in the days to come.
Plus ça change…
Near Ansi, the separate brigade that tried to attack a tank regiment yesterday was punished
Ground combat at 80,21 (near Ansi)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 864 troops, 0 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 74
Defending force 1230 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2
Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1
Allied ground losses:
668 casualties reported
Squads: 48 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1
Note how the brigade went from 56 AV yesterday to 2 today (and probably less now…)
For some reason, the enemy tried the same gamble in Sining, with more and better troops, but against two tank regiments.
Ground combat at Sining (80,32)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 8836 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 379
Defending force 1920 troops, 0 guns, 288 vehicles, Assault Value = 162
Allied assault odds: 1 to 3
Allied ground losses:
641 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 90 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Même punition, même motif.
Apparently, Sining has not been reinforced. Apart from the units that retreated from Lanchow, it is defended by Ma Bufang’s 81st corps. I have 1500 AV four days away, I doubt they can hold.
Finally, after the failed enemy attack in Changteh, I did try a counterattack, which didn’t quite succeed.
Ground combat at Changteh (81,50)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 21096 troops, 204 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 589
Defending force 33743 troops, 311 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 888
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
Japanese ground losses:
1238 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 138 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Allied ground losses:
508 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
I don’t have enough troops to break the stalemate, and need to wait for the reinforcements, which should be there in a couple of days.
Sapworks
Iloilo, the last enemy held base in the Philippine islands, was attacked today for the first time. To my surprise, a single infantry regiment proved enough to reduce the forts. A second regiment is a hex away, I am waiting for them for the final onslaught.
On Borneo, in Bandjermasin, the 5th Amphibious brigade attacked and managed to reduce the forts. The enemy still has troops, but probably is out of supplies. I am resting tomorrow, and attacking the day after.
On Java, Malang is being evacuated. I am not sure this is a wise decision, this base has good terrain and forts, and once it falls, Surabaya is quite isolated.
All this suggests major advances in the days to come.
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
March 19th 1942
AR Castor is reported sunk in Surabaya. The circumstances were a bit odd. Our regular bombing run had damaged her, but she did not sink
AR Castor, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
And then…
Morning Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 12 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Allied Ships
AR Castor, and is sunk
Like many others, I had thought sweeps were meant to shoot down enemy fighters. Now, I know they can sink ships as well (although it is a pretty rare occurrence).
AR Castor was the only ship found in port. Another raid on Batavia, and yet another on Semarang yesterday, found nothing. Enemy naval assets have probably been evacuated.
In Bandjermasin, a second day of attack brought the forts to zero. We are resting tomorrow, and will attack the day after. A similar situation prevails in Iloilo.
In China, I have been attacking the small units threatening my supply line between Changteh and Kweiyang. North of Kweilin, an armored car company routed a Chinese division (I know this sounds a bit strange). South of Chihkiang, an IJA division suffered at the hands of two Chinese corps.
Ground combat at 78,51 (near Chihkiang)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 10971 troops, 104 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 293
Defending force 5836 troops, 44 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 192
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
Japanese ground losses:
1240 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 88 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Hate that!
You know nothing is happening in the game when you comment on river crossings and other side actions.
AR Castor is reported sunk in Surabaya. The circumstances were a bit odd. Our regular bombing run had damaged her, but she did not sink
AR Castor, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
And then…
Morning Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 12 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Allied Ships
AR Castor, and is sunk
Like many others, I had thought sweeps were meant to shoot down enemy fighters. Now, I know they can sink ships as well (although it is a pretty rare occurrence).
AR Castor was the only ship found in port. Another raid on Batavia, and yet another on Semarang yesterday, found nothing. Enemy naval assets have probably been evacuated.
In Bandjermasin, a second day of attack brought the forts to zero. We are resting tomorrow, and will attack the day after. A similar situation prevails in Iloilo.
In China, I have been attacking the small units threatening my supply line between Changteh and Kweiyang. North of Kweilin, an armored car company routed a Chinese division (I know this sounds a bit strange). South of Chihkiang, an IJA division suffered at the hands of two Chinese corps.
Ground combat at 78,51 (near Chihkiang)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 10971 troops, 104 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 293
Defending force 5836 troops, 44 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 192
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
Japanese ground losses:
1240 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 88 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Hate that!
You know nothing is happening in the game when you comment on river crossings and other side actions.
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
March 20th 1942
Yet another dull day, in Western China, the 9th Separate Brigade was thrown back once again, a Dutch base force was molested north of Oosthaven, and a pair of Chinese HQs were trounced near Nanchang. But lots of movement happened. Iloilo was reinforced with a second infantry regiment. Two divisions arrived in Changteh. The 26th division reached Hami. Tomorrow will be most interesting.
So without further ado…
March 21st 1942
Lost opportunity
Off Suva, RO-67 found a transport task force…
Japanese Ships
SS RO-67
Allied Ships
BB New Mexico
DD Walke
AP Crescent City
AP President Polk
xAP Rangatira
xAP Santa Elena
xAK Howell Lykes
DD Le Triomphant
DD Stuart
Unfortunately, she was spotted before she could fire. In deep water, the three destroyers didn’t achieve anything.
Meanwhile in Brisbane
KB paid a surprise visit. We traded Zeroes and Kates for Airacobras and Kittyhawks, and badlay damages a submarine tender (Otus) and a coastal sweeper. I could pretend that this is keeping the enemy on his toes, but truth is I have little use for the KB right now…
This confirms one previous impression I had about my opponent. He loves planes, and will use them as soon as he has opportunity. This suggests capturing bases for his bombers will play a large part in his late game strategy.
Hami and Changteh
In Western China, Hami fell today, 16 chinese planes were trapped in the base. Next stop: Urumchi! In both my games, the conquest of western China is a pretty easy affair. Last time, it began earlier: I captured Urumchi on the 22nd of March, on the other hand, when the game stopped in late may, Lanchow was about to fall. In this reality, I will probably hold Sining by the end of this month, and all bases in the west by May.
In Central China, a deliberate attack near Kweiyang achieved very little. The enemy is reinforcing the hex. They will not have enough to chase us, but we cannot oust them either. In Changteh, enemy units were bombed, reinforcements have arrived, we are attacking tomorrow.
Easy Indies
As expected, we had a very successful day in the Philippines and East Indies.
On Sumatra, Sabang was captured, a Dornier 24 and two Catalinas were destroyed. This completes the capture of northern Sumatra.
On Borneo, Bandjermasin fell soon after the supplies were exhausted. Sampit is the only allied base on the island.
On Java, three infantry regiments landed in Kalidjati. The base is empty, and should fall tomorrow. We will then march on Buitenzorg, to meet our forces there, and cut northern Java (this is important : Java has a very good railway network, if you want to prevent the enemy from reinforcing, you need to cut it).
In the south, Malang, abandoned by the enemy, was captured. I am marching on Surabaya, and detaching my tanks to isolate the city, and captured nearby bases (Tjepoe, Madioen).
Iloilo, the last enemy base in the Philippine Islands, fell today. The garrison surrendered. The two regiments that participated are still at full strength. I intend to send them to Timor, to take the place and begin building this area.
Yet another dull day, in Western China, the 9th Separate Brigade was thrown back once again, a Dutch base force was molested north of Oosthaven, and a pair of Chinese HQs were trounced near Nanchang. But lots of movement happened. Iloilo was reinforced with a second infantry regiment. Two divisions arrived in Changteh. The 26th division reached Hami. Tomorrow will be most interesting.
So without further ado…
March 21st 1942
Lost opportunity
Off Suva, RO-67 found a transport task force…
Japanese Ships
SS RO-67
Allied Ships
BB New Mexico
DD Walke
AP Crescent City
AP President Polk
xAP Rangatira
xAP Santa Elena
xAK Howell Lykes
DD Le Triomphant
DD Stuart
Unfortunately, she was spotted before she could fire. In deep water, the three destroyers didn’t achieve anything.
Meanwhile in Brisbane
KB paid a surprise visit. We traded Zeroes and Kates for Airacobras and Kittyhawks, and badlay damages a submarine tender (Otus) and a coastal sweeper. I could pretend that this is keeping the enemy on his toes, but truth is I have little use for the KB right now…
This confirms one previous impression I had about my opponent. He loves planes, and will use them as soon as he has opportunity. This suggests capturing bases for his bombers will play a large part in his late game strategy.
Hami and Changteh
In Western China, Hami fell today, 16 chinese planes were trapped in the base. Next stop: Urumchi! In both my games, the conquest of western China is a pretty easy affair. Last time, it began earlier: I captured Urumchi on the 22nd of March, on the other hand, when the game stopped in late may, Lanchow was about to fall. In this reality, I will probably hold Sining by the end of this month, and all bases in the west by May.
In Central China, a deliberate attack near Kweiyang achieved very little. The enemy is reinforcing the hex. They will not have enough to chase us, but we cannot oust them either. In Changteh, enemy units were bombed, reinforcements have arrived, we are attacking tomorrow.
Easy Indies
As expected, we had a very successful day in the Philippines and East Indies.
On Sumatra, Sabang was captured, a Dornier 24 and two Catalinas were destroyed. This completes the capture of northern Sumatra.
On Borneo, Bandjermasin fell soon after the supplies were exhausted. Sampit is the only allied base on the island.
On Java, three infantry regiments landed in Kalidjati. The base is empty, and should fall tomorrow. We will then march on Buitenzorg, to meet our forces there, and cut northern Java (this is important : Java has a very good railway network, if you want to prevent the enemy from reinforcing, you need to cut it).
In the south, Malang, abandoned by the enemy, was captured. I am marching on Surabaya, and detaching my tanks to isolate the city, and captured nearby bases (Tjepoe, Madioen).
Iloilo, the last enemy base in the Philippine Islands, fell today. The garrison surrendered. The two regiments that participated are still at full strength. I intend to send them to Timor, to take the place and begin building this area.
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
March 22nd 1942
Changteh, at last
Changteh was captured by the IJA on the 16th of February. Since then, the KMT mounted two operations to retake it, and cut off my troops in Chihkiang and around Kweiyang. The first assault was easily repulsed. The second one, on the 11th of march, involved a much larger force. It could not storm the base, thanks to the forts, but I could not defeat them either.
With reinforcements arriving from Ichang, we were able to attack the invaders, disrupted by several days of air bombardment.
Ground combat at Changteh (81,50)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 46686 troops, 392 guns, 145 vehicles, Assault Value = 1453
Defending force 32845 troops, 304 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 802
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
2838 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 153 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Allied ground losses:
9824 casualties reported
Squads: 234 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 432 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 22 (15 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units retreated 7
Note the absence of disabled squads, this most certainly was a very bloody affair.
I am pursuing these guys. I want them trashed and back in Changsha.
What happens in Changsha
We invaded Hengyang. A first shock attack over the river went fine
Ground combat at Hengyang (80,53)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 17696 troops, 142 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 594
Defending force 12712 troops, 85 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 420
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
Japanese ground losses:
579 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Allied ground losses:
961 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 137 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
I am bombing, and attacking again tomorrow. Reinforcements are on their way. I believe Hengyang will be ours very soon. Then, we will have Siangtan. The goal is to isolate the troops in Changsha. The enemy has about 40 units there, probably worth several thousand AV, and I don’t want them defending Chungking, or Kweiyang.
Incidentally, this also means that if my opponent wants to make a stand on the road to Chungking, or defend Kunming, he will have to use troops from Sichuan, and therefore weaken his core.
The fall of Kalidjati
This is hardly newsworthy: two small units defending the base offered little resistance to three battle hardened regiments. But we have a beachhead in northern Java, we are moving on Bandoeng, and the landings in Buitenzorg, which should happen very soon, will most cut off Batavia.
Changteh, at last
Changteh was captured by the IJA on the 16th of February. Since then, the KMT mounted two operations to retake it, and cut off my troops in Chihkiang and around Kweiyang. The first assault was easily repulsed. The second one, on the 11th of march, involved a much larger force. It could not storm the base, thanks to the forts, but I could not defeat them either.
With reinforcements arriving from Ichang, we were able to attack the invaders, disrupted by several days of air bombardment.
Ground combat at Changteh (81,50)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 46686 troops, 392 guns, 145 vehicles, Assault Value = 1453
Defending force 32845 troops, 304 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 802
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
2838 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 153 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Allied ground losses:
9824 casualties reported
Squads: 234 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 432 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 22 (15 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units retreated 7
Note the absence of disabled squads, this most certainly was a very bloody affair.
I am pursuing these guys. I want them trashed and back in Changsha.
What happens in Changsha
We invaded Hengyang. A first shock attack over the river went fine
Ground combat at Hengyang (80,53)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 17696 troops, 142 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 594
Defending force 12712 troops, 85 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 420
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
Japanese ground losses:
579 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Allied ground losses:
961 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 137 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
I am bombing, and attacking again tomorrow. Reinforcements are on their way. I believe Hengyang will be ours very soon. Then, we will have Siangtan. The goal is to isolate the troops in Changsha. The enemy has about 40 units there, probably worth several thousand AV, and I don’t want them defending Chungking, or Kweiyang.
Incidentally, this also means that if my opponent wants to make a stand on the road to Chungking, or defend Kunming, he will have to use troops from Sichuan, and therefore weaken his core.
The fall of Kalidjati
This is hardly newsworthy: two small units defending the base offered little resistance to three battle hardened regiments. But we have a beachhead in northern Java, we are moving on Bandoeng, and the landings in Buitenzorg, which should happen very soon, will most cut off Batavia.
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
March 23rd 1942
Noumea now
After Brisbane, KB raided Noumea today, and sank a French cargo, xAKL Vichy, a strange name, since the Vichy government is supposed to be on our side.
More interesting was the presence of a squadron of Airacobras, and a large troop contingent (8 units, with the base registering as US). This might, together with the buildup in Port Moresby, might indicate plans for a historical approach to reconquest, from the Solomons northwards.
KB’s next stop is Suva for another reconnaissance in force, which might confirm these findings. If so, I need to rush in the Solomons: most of the area is conquered, but most of the bases are ungarrisoned, and those that are could be taken by token forces. I have an infantry division in Rabaul, which would make a rash attempt a very dangerous proposition, but I now need to reinforce all those small places in the south.
The objective, here, is very simple : I want to make this southern route the obvious and only road for Allied reconquest, as I believe this is what offers me the best chance to last. As such, troops send to the Solomons will be expendable: I am trading men for time.
Sining, the beginning of the end
Yesterday, the two tank regiment cordoning Sining were reinforced with two divisions and two brigades. A first deliberate attack reduced the forts and damaged the enemy, while achieving 2:1 odds. The city should fall tomorrow.
Ground combat at Sining (80,32)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 37973 troops, 343 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 1484
Defending force 13108 troops, 105 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 326
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese ground losses:
833 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 76 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1031 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 19 (2 destroyed, 17 disabled)
The capture of Sining and the pursuit of the garrison will end our operations in northern China (Urumchi, Kashgar and Wasu being a side show). Everything should be over by the end of the month. The campaign went surprisingly well.
Here is a map that shows the progress, with the dates when enemy bases fell.
Several notes to self:
Yenan is key to early operations: once Japan holds it, the northern road is safe, and Sian can be turned.
At least one of the stacks in Nanyang or Loyang must be thoroughly battered before they retreat into defensive terrain. This means bombardment, sieges, and resisting the temptation to oust the defenders while they still have some strength left. In this game, we managed that in Nanyang, and the march on Sian was very easy. We did not achieve it in Loyang, and the 20 retreated units could put up a defense on the “slow road”.
Once Sian falls, there is no need to go for Ankang and Tienshui at once. Those bases will fall eventually, but the slow roads make operations very inefficient. Instead, pushing on Kungchang and Lanchow (and Sining, if possible) can be done fast, due to the major road, and will deprive the Allies of a lot of resources.
The fall of Sining should free a few more divisions. I am planning to end them (with a few more stationed now between Sian and Ankang) to Kienko, along the mountain road. I probably do not have enough to break into Sichuan, but this will force the enemy to defend this access to his heartland. It must be good.
Noumea now
After Brisbane, KB raided Noumea today, and sank a French cargo, xAKL Vichy, a strange name, since the Vichy government is supposed to be on our side.
More interesting was the presence of a squadron of Airacobras, and a large troop contingent (8 units, with the base registering as US). This might, together with the buildup in Port Moresby, might indicate plans for a historical approach to reconquest, from the Solomons northwards.
KB’s next stop is Suva for another reconnaissance in force, which might confirm these findings. If so, I need to rush in the Solomons: most of the area is conquered, but most of the bases are ungarrisoned, and those that are could be taken by token forces. I have an infantry division in Rabaul, which would make a rash attempt a very dangerous proposition, but I now need to reinforce all those small places in the south.
The objective, here, is very simple : I want to make this southern route the obvious and only road for Allied reconquest, as I believe this is what offers me the best chance to last. As such, troops send to the Solomons will be expendable: I am trading men for time.
Sining, the beginning of the end
Yesterday, the two tank regiment cordoning Sining were reinforced with two divisions and two brigades. A first deliberate attack reduced the forts and damaged the enemy, while achieving 2:1 odds. The city should fall tomorrow.
Ground combat at Sining (80,32)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 37973 troops, 343 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 1484
Defending force 13108 troops, 105 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 326
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese ground losses:
833 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 76 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1031 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 19 (2 destroyed, 17 disabled)
The capture of Sining and the pursuit of the garrison will end our operations in northern China (Urumchi, Kashgar and Wasu being a side show). Everything should be over by the end of the month. The campaign went surprisingly well.
Here is a map that shows the progress, with the dates when enemy bases fell.
Several notes to self:
Yenan is key to early operations: once Japan holds it, the northern road is safe, and Sian can be turned.
At least one of the stacks in Nanyang or Loyang must be thoroughly battered before they retreat into defensive terrain. This means bombardment, sieges, and resisting the temptation to oust the defenders while they still have some strength left. In this game, we managed that in Nanyang, and the march on Sian was very easy. We did not achieve it in Loyang, and the 20 retreated units could put up a defense on the “slow road”.
Once Sian falls, there is no need to go for Ankang and Tienshui at once. Those bases will fall eventually, but the slow roads make operations very inefficient. Instead, pushing on Kungchang and Lanchow (and Sining, if possible) can be done fast, due to the major road, and will deprive the Allies of a lot of resources.
The fall of Sining should free a few more divisions. I am planning to end them (with a few more stationed now between Sian and Ankang) to Kienko, along the mountain road. I probably do not have enough to break into Sichuan, but this will force the enemy to defend this access to his heartland. It must be good.
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RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
Great job in China ...
[&o][&o][&o]
[&o][&o][&o]
Pax
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
Thanks a lot, Pax. I am very curious about the war in China. Taking the KMT out is not really a problem, but I want to see whether this can be done without meddling too much with strat bombing, and trying to really the Chinese in the field (and not starving them into submission).
March 24th, 1942
(while listening to Ben Britten and Peter Pears in Schubert, can one find less warlike music?)
The day Sining really fell
… was today, but I discussed it yesterday, so I will not elaborate. Here is the relevant part of the combat report.
Ground combat at Sining (80,32)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 37246 troops, 342 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 1412
Defending force 12403 troops, 103 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 272
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Sining !!!
Allied aircraft losses
I-16-III: 1 destroyed
Japanese ground losses:
927 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 78 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
7477 casualties reported
Squads: 197 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 333 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 27 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 17 (9 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Units retreated 3
Units destroyed 3
I had hoped to catch a few more planes, but their legs are probably long enough to flee to Chengtu. The ground losses (530 squads destroyed) are very nice, as are the three destroyed units, base forces and headquarters, ie those that die for good. I will pursue them as I retire on Lanchow. With a little luck, we can defeat them twice and push them into the mountains.
New China
With northern China under Japanese control, the focus is shifting to Central China. Two important operations are underway.
First, we are trying to cut the communications between Changsha and Chungking. To this effect we invaded Hengyang. Forts are now being reduced, it is a matter of days. Once Hengyang falls, we should take Shaoyang. Between 150 000 and 200 000 enemy troops, and forty units, will then be trapped in Changsha and Siangtan.
Second, we are trying to cut the road between Tuyun and Kweiyang. We are being much less successful here, as the Chinese have reinforced the hex. Fortunately, Chiang is helping, by being a bit arrogant.
Ground combat at 75,50 (near Kweiyang)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 24533 troops, 243 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 746
Defending force 32737 troops, 405 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 730
Allied assault odds: 1 to 10
Japanese ground losses:
534 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Allied ground losses:
850 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 116 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Over 22 000 chinese combat squads are reported destroyed today, out of a total of 35 000 including replacements. Real losses are probably slightly higher, due to attrition of cut off troops. I intend to go on destroying Chinese units before going for Chungking, so that the defeated Chinese cannot flee and rebuild in India.
Time is of the essence, though. The longer I take in China, the more complete the destruction of the KMT, and the more troops I can extricate to reinforce Burma (thus freeing troops there for duty in the DEI), but the more time the enemy has to launch his reconquest.
My “perfect timing” would be to finish China off by July, so that Burma can be reinforced in September, troops in Burma can take duty in the DEI, and DEI troops in the pacific. This means we could block any enemy advance by the end of the year, and hold very strong positions in the Pacific in mid-1943.
This should make Allied advance in the Pacific and DEI a very costly and slow affair. I want a defensive battle there. But then, if China can be cleared of enemy troops, we will have more than we need to launch an operation into India…
March 24th, 1942
(while listening to Ben Britten and Peter Pears in Schubert, can one find less warlike music?)
The day Sining really fell
… was today, but I discussed it yesterday, so I will not elaborate. Here is the relevant part of the combat report.
Ground combat at Sining (80,32)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 37246 troops, 342 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 1412
Defending force 12403 troops, 103 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 272
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Sining !!!
Allied aircraft losses
I-16-III: 1 destroyed
Japanese ground losses:
927 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 78 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
7477 casualties reported
Squads: 197 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 333 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 27 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 17 (9 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Units retreated 3
Units destroyed 3
I had hoped to catch a few more planes, but their legs are probably long enough to flee to Chengtu. The ground losses (530 squads destroyed) are very nice, as are the three destroyed units, base forces and headquarters, ie those that die for good. I will pursue them as I retire on Lanchow. With a little luck, we can defeat them twice and push them into the mountains.
New China
With northern China under Japanese control, the focus is shifting to Central China. Two important operations are underway.
First, we are trying to cut the communications between Changsha and Chungking. To this effect we invaded Hengyang. Forts are now being reduced, it is a matter of days. Once Hengyang falls, we should take Shaoyang. Between 150 000 and 200 000 enemy troops, and forty units, will then be trapped in Changsha and Siangtan.
Second, we are trying to cut the road between Tuyun and Kweiyang. We are being much less successful here, as the Chinese have reinforced the hex. Fortunately, Chiang is helping, by being a bit arrogant.
Ground combat at 75,50 (near Kweiyang)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 24533 troops, 243 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 746
Defending force 32737 troops, 405 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 730
Allied assault odds: 1 to 10
Japanese ground losses:
534 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Allied ground losses:
850 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 116 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Over 22 000 chinese combat squads are reported destroyed today, out of a total of 35 000 including replacements. Real losses are probably slightly higher, due to attrition of cut off troops. I intend to go on destroying Chinese units before going for Chungking, so that the defeated Chinese cannot flee and rebuild in India.
Time is of the essence, though. The longer I take in China, the more complete the destruction of the KMT, and the more troops I can extricate to reinforce Burma (thus freeing troops there for duty in the DEI), but the more time the enemy has to launch his reconquest.
My “perfect timing” would be to finish China off by July, so that Burma can be reinforced in September, troops in Burma can take duty in the DEI, and DEI troops in the pacific. This means we could block any enemy advance by the end of the year, and hold very strong positions in the Pacific in mid-1943.
This should make Allied advance in the Pacific and DEI a very costly and slow affair. I want a defensive battle there. But then, if China can be cleared of enemy troops, we will have more than we need to launch an operation into India…
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
gj on China - very impressive...
BUT - didn't you say you wanted to focus more on the Pacific in this game - contrary to ours [:D][:D][:D][:D] (just kidding...)
BUT - didn't you say you wanted to focus more on the Pacific in this game - contrary to ours [:D][:D][:D][:D] (just kidding...)
formerly known as SoliInvictus202
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
Hi Roland
I do focus a lot more on the Pacific than in our game, but "a lot more" is still not enough to amount to "much".
Francois
I do focus a lot more on the Pacific than in our game, but "a lot more" is still not enough to amount to "much".
Francois
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
March 25th, 1942
Today, we landed on the last enemy held base on Borneo, Sampit. Since there is no garrison, it should fall tomorrow, either to attack or auto capture.
Most of the action happened in China. Near Changsha, a first deliberate attack of Chinese units retreated from Changteh resulted in 1:2 odds. Reinforcements are on their way, we will attack again in a few days.
Near Kweiyang, the enemy, unfazed by yesterday’s bad result, shock attacked, and it was a good day for Evil Empire
Ground combat at 75,50 (near Kweiyang)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 23872 troops, 243 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1008
Defending force 32433 troops, 405 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 699
Allied assault odds: 1 to 45
Japanese ground losses:
243 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Allied ground losses:
5159 casualties reported
Squads: 199 destroyed, 116 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 63 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 37 (2 destroyed, 35 disabled)
With enemies like that...
Finally, we captured Hengyang. The Changsha pocket is closing.
Ground combat at Hengyang (80,53)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 16950 troops, 142 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 517
Defending force 11146 troops, 85 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 258
Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Hengyang !!!
Japanese ground losses:
231 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
1721 casualties reported
Squads: 176 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 174 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 31 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 29 (27 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 4
The battles in Hengyang and Kweiyang made the 25th of March our best day in the month in terms of Chinese combat squads destroyed (over 400, and 200 more support squads).
Today, we landed on the last enemy held base on Borneo, Sampit. Since there is no garrison, it should fall tomorrow, either to attack or auto capture.
Most of the action happened in China. Near Changsha, a first deliberate attack of Chinese units retreated from Changteh resulted in 1:2 odds. Reinforcements are on their way, we will attack again in a few days.
Near Kweiyang, the enemy, unfazed by yesterday’s bad result, shock attacked, and it was a good day for Evil Empire
Ground combat at 75,50 (near Kweiyang)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 23872 troops, 243 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1008
Defending force 32433 troops, 405 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 699
Allied assault odds: 1 to 45
Japanese ground losses:
243 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Allied ground losses:
5159 casualties reported
Squads: 199 destroyed, 116 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 63 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 37 (2 destroyed, 35 disabled)
With enemies like that...
Finally, we captured Hengyang. The Changsha pocket is closing.
Ground combat at Hengyang (80,53)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 16950 troops, 142 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 517
Defending force 11146 troops, 85 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 258
Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Hengyang !!!
Japanese ground losses:
231 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
1721 casualties reported
Squads: 176 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 174 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 31 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 29 (27 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 4
The battles in Hengyang and Kweiyang made the 25th of March our best day in the month in terms of Chinese combat squads destroyed (over 400, and 200 more support squads).
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
March 26th 1942
KB in Suva
This was probably the most disappointing raid since the beginning of the war. We did not find much in Brisbane, sank a lone French light cargo in Nouméa, and today, had an inconclusive air battle over Suva, where two zeros were traded for four P-400 (I don’t know whether this is good or bad).
And later this afternoon, Dauntlesses managed to hit Shokaku. She’s at Sys14, so nothing too bad, and we shot down three Warhawks and two Dauntlesses, but still…
We are now sailing back to Truk for refits. I am considering detaching Shokaku and Zuikaku to the Home Islands, where they need to refit in June anyway.
The only worthwhile part of the raid is the intelligence gathered on enemy dispositions. My opponent has assembled large American forces in Fiji and New Caledonia. I have not checked Pago Pago, but I suspect it is the same. This suggests the Gilberts and Solomons as possible paths for reconquest. Right now, I am grossly inadequate in both areas. I need to reinforce soon.
Java
In the South, we took Tjepoe. A first bombardment attack in Surabaya revealed 850 AV, behind good fortifications. These units will not go anywhere, since all the hexsides are ours, but I don’t have enough forces to defeat them. I will wait for the northern troops to join us, and Surabaya will probably be the last base to fall.
On Borneo, Sampit was captured. All bases on the island are now Japanese.
In Bataan, another bombardment managed to destroy enemy squads, but none of mine. Given the number of guns the Allies have in town, this suggests they might be out of supply. I am hesitating to attack.
KB in Suva
This was probably the most disappointing raid since the beginning of the war. We did not find much in Brisbane, sank a lone French light cargo in Nouméa, and today, had an inconclusive air battle over Suva, where two zeros were traded for four P-400 (I don’t know whether this is good or bad).
And later this afternoon, Dauntlesses managed to hit Shokaku. She’s at Sys14, so nothing too bad, and we shot down three Warhawks and two Dauntlesses, but still…
We are now sailing back to Truk for refits. I am considering detaching Shokaku and Zuikaku to the Home Islands, where they need to refit in June anyway.
The only worthwhile part of the raid is the intelligence gathered on enemy dispositions. My opponent has assembled large American forces in Fiji and New Caledonia. I have not checked Pago Pago, but I suspect it is the same. This suggests the Gilberts and Solomons as possible paths for reconquest. Right now, I am grossly inadequate in both areas. I need to reinforce soon.
Java
In the South, we took Tjepoe. A first bombardment attack in Surabaya revealed 850 AV, behind good fortifications. These units will not go anywhere, since all the hexsides are ours, but I don’t have enough forces to defeat them. I will wait for the northern troops to join us, and Surabaya will probably be the last base to fall.
On Borneo, Sampit was captured. All bases on the island are now Japanese.
In Bataan, another bombardment managed to destroy enemy squads, but none of mine. Given the number of guns the Allies have in town, this suggests they might be out of supply. I am hesitating to attack.
RE: Perfection, of a kind, spence (A) vs fcharton (J)
March 27th, 1942
A bad day to evacuate
In March 1942, and save the occasional submarine wake off the coast of Japan or between Truk and the Gilberts, Japanese search planes seldom find enemy ships at sea. There was much rejoicing and merrymaking in EVNAVSUM (Evil Naval headquarters, Sumatra, after long discussions, vicious lobbying and a purge, the Empire began experimenting with US style military acronyms, USMILACR in newspeak), and a cruiser force led by CA Maya and Takao, was promptly dispatched to investigate.
It turned out to be two Dutch transports, loaded with what might have been a base force, or perhaps a headquarter unit. It was promptly sunk, there was more rejoicing and merrymaking, and our search pilots resumed their normal activity : staring at the empty sea.
Day Time Surface Combat, near Christmas Island IO at 47,110, Range 22,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Maya
CL Natori
DD Mikazuki
TB Kari
Allied Ships
xAP Mijer, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAP Van Imhoff, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
2079 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 124 destroyed, 142 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
One strange thing about this report is the disablement count… It seems we sank the whole task force, in the middle of the ocean, how can troops be disabled? Or does it mean there were escorts which managed to fish out half of the unit?
Java crumbling
In northern Java, Buitenzorg and Bandoeng were captured today. We will have about three division equivalents ashore tomorrow (two divisions in Buitenzorg and the three regiments that landed in Kalidjati), and Batavia and the area around it is cut off.
In the South, a bombardment of Surabaya confirms yesterdays findings. The enemy is beghind forts, and we need more troops.
Our plan for Java is now clear. The three divisions in the north will converge on Batavia and Merak and clear the units there (recon suggests a limited force). Meanwhile, my tanks will move along the coast, and try to open the railway line between Batavia and Surabaya, leaving behind them pockets in places like Tjilatjap. Once Batavia and Merak are held, the two divisions now in Buitenzorg will be railed to Surabaya, and take the place, while the rest will clear the remaining enemy forces.
Tough times in Bataan
We tried our first deliberate attack in Bataan… As expected, the enemy was unsupplied, but behind level four forts.
Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 37873 troops, 488 guns, 246 vehicles, Assault Value = 1276
Defending force 48181 troops, 736 guns, 536 vehicles, Assault Value = 1484
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 3)
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Japanese ground losses:
4154 casualties reported
Squads: 38 destroyed, 438 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 127 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 36 disabled
Guns lost 74 (14 destroyed, 60 disabled)
Vehicles lost 54 (7 destroyed, 47 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1143 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 86 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 58 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (2 destroyed, 14 disabled)
This hurts, but the fort level will not come back (the airfield is bombed every day, and supplies are lacking), and we probably took a 10% of enemy forces. We will rest for a while, bombard again, and attack again.
I would like to take Bataan in April, and send those troops to the south pacific.
A bad day to evacuate
In March 1942, and save the occasional submarine wake off the coast of Japan or between Truk and the Gilberts, Japanese search planes seldom find enemy ships at sea. There was much rejoicing and merrymaking in EVNAVSUM (Evil Naval headquarters, Sumatra, after long discussions, vicious lobbying and a purge, the Empire began experimenting with US style military acronyms, USMILACR in newspeak), and a cruiser force led by CA Maya and Takao, was promptly dispatched to investigate.
It turned out to be two Dutch transports, loaded with what might have been a base force, or perhaps a headquarter unit. It was promptly sunk, there was more rejoicing and merrymaking, and our search pilots resumed their normal activity : staring at the empty sea.
Day Time Surface Combat, near Christmas Island IO at 47,110, Range 22,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Maya
CL Natori
DD Mikazuki
TB Kari
Allied Ships
xAP Mijer, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAP Van Imhoff, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
2079 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 124 destroyed, 142 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
One strange thing about this report is the disablement count… It seems we sank the whole task force, in the middle of the ocean, how can troops be disabled? Or does it mean there were escorts which managed to fish out half of the unit?
Java crumbling
In northern Java, Buitenzorg and Bandoeng were captured today. We will have about three division equivalents ashore tomorrow (two divisions in Buitenzorg and the three regiments that landed in Kalidjati), and Batavia and the area around it is cut off.
In the South, a bombardment of Surabaya confirms yesterdays findings. The enemy is beghind forts, and we need more troops.
Our plan for Java is now clear. The three divisions in the north will converge on Batavia and Merak and clear the units there (recon suggests a limited force). Meanwhile, my tanks will move along the coast, and try to open the railway line between Batavia and Surabaya, leaving behind them pockets in places like Tjilatjap. Once Batavia and Merak are held, the two divisions now in Buitenzorg will be railed to Surabaya, and take the place, while the rest will clear the remaining enemy forces.
Tough times in Bataan
We tried our first deliberate attack in Bataan… As expected, the enemy was unsupplied, but behind level four forts.
Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 37873 troops, 488 guns, 246 vehicles, Assault Value = 1276
Defending force 48181 troops, 736 guns, 536 vehicles, Assault Value = 1484
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 3)
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Japanese ground losses:
4154 casualties reported
Squads: 38 destroyed, 438 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 127 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 36 disabled
Guns lost 74 (14 destroyed, 60 disabled)
Vehicles lost 54 (7 destroyed, 47 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1143 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 86 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 58 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (2 destroyed, 14 disabled)
This hurts, but the fort level will not come back (the airfield is bombed every day, and supplies are lacking), and we probably took a 10% of enemy forces. We will rest for a while, bombard again, and attack again.
I would like to take Bataan in April, and send those troops to the south pacific.