The Elephant Vanishes : obvert (J) vs Historiker_SqzMyLemon_Canoerebel (A)

[Empire101]

Looks like Ambon is on its last legs[:D]

I really like the way you lay out your AAR Obvert.

Would you mind if I used a similar style in my AAR?

Regards
Chris

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Empire101

Looks like Ambon is on its last legs[:D]

I really like the way you lay out your AAR Obvert.

Would you mind if I used a similar style in my AAR?

Regards
Chris

Cheers. Yeah, it kind of evolves. They started more plain, then I found the color useful to pinpoint things. Use whatever you like. I was impressed with a few other AARs when I started and kind of put a few similar things into mine and it just went from there.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]5 March 1942[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A bit of devastion during this turn. The window was left open too long and a swarm came flying through.

[font="Verdana"]DEI: [/font] At Oosthaven one division unloaded easily, but the synchronization of amphibious TFs did not happen and another division that began disembarking during the night was a day too late. The US CVs parked off of Benkolen and flew numerous sorties against a number of TFs in the area. Neither the Nell group nor the Bettys at Singkawang flew against them. The LR CAP was not nearly enough and only about 1/3 of a division was landed safely, while the other part went for a last swim in the waters off of Oosthaven.

The number of DDs performing ASW and surface combat roles in the area probably saved the TF at Pelembang from also being savaged. This was great as the CA and CL there would taken a pounding. As it was, we lost more DDs, but a number proved too nimble to be hit. This was all painful to watch, and i was very unhappy with the MB group leaders (or the weather) for keeping our attack planes back, but at least enough troops should be landed to accomplish the intended mission on Sumatra. These divisions were not allocated for use in a second tier mission should that happen.

There was some good news as Oosthaven and Kalidjati fell and Ambon should be in our hands tomorrow. The timing is still on track, we're now just short about 10-12 good ships and much of a division.

[font="Verdana"]CHINA: [/font] Sian continues to get the works. The troops across the river made it back into the city before we could attack. That is tough, but he still hasn't retreated his big stack into Sian and bombards every day. I think he must be trying to increase their experience. It seems like this would be counter-productive if they end up with no supply, but we'll see as we go. I may be too optimistic.

[font="Verdana"]PACIFIC: [/font] Only fort building in the Solomons going on and engineers being sent from Manchuria.

[font="Verdana"]BURMA: [/font] A flight of P-40s did well against our zeros over Meiktila, shooting down for for one loss. We'll add a second group in case bombers follow tomorrow.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 05, 42
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Pre-Invasion action off Palembang (48,91)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

536 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
DD Minekaze
DD Asakaze
DD Samidare
DD Yudachi
xAK Arizona Maru, Shell hits 3
DD Harusame
xAK Myoko Maru
DD Urakaze

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 19 (1 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 31 (2 destroyed, 29 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


CA Mikuma firing at 4th KNIL Regiment

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 49,98, Range 16,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Wakatake
DD Kuretake
DD Sanae

Allied Ships
PT TM-4, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT TM-7
PT TM-8

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 17,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
DD Wakatake engages PT TM-8 at 11,000 yards
DD Kuretake engages PT TM-7 at 11,000 yards
DD Sanae engages PT TM-4 at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
DD Sanae engages PT TM-8 at 8,000 yards
DD Sanae engages PT TM-7 at 8,000 yards
PT TM-4 sunk by DD Wakatake at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 18,000 yards
DD Sanae engages PT TM-8 at 18,000 yards
DD Kuretake engages PT TM-7 at 18,000 yards
Task forces break off...

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Morning Air attack on Meiktila , at 58,47

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5


Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 15


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses


Aircraft Attacking:
14 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet *

CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 48,91

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 2



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 2


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Samidare



Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
59th Sentai with Ki-43-Ia Oscar (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Raid is overhead

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Oosthaven at 48,96

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 5

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 7
SBD-3 Dauntless x 60
TBD-1 Devastator x 15


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBD-1 Devastator: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Sado Maru
xAP Brazil Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Saigon Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
TB Kamo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
TB Kiji
xAK Kagu Maru
TB Hayabusa
DD Shiratsuyu
AK Sasako Maru
DD Kuri
xAP Shanghai Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Yamasimo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



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

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
84th I.F.Chutai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 8000
Raid is overhead
24th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AMC Saigon Maru


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Merak at 48,97

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7
TBD-1 Devastator x 15


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Karii, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Yomogi, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yugure
DD Tsuga

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Oosthaven at 47,97

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 7
TBD-1 Devastator x 15


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Hokaze
DD Nokaze
DD Namikaze
DD Yukaze


Aircraft Attacking:
15 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Batavia at 49,98

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-2 Dauntless x 15
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Sanae
DD Wakatake
DD Kuretake

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

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Oosthaven at 48,96

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 4



Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 6
F4F-3A Wildcat x 7
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
SBD-2 Dauntless x 15
SBD-3 Dauntless x 47
TBD-1 Devastator x 45


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Yamasimo Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Hie Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
TB Kiji, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kuri
xAP Shanghai Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Tatsuta Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Kinka Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Ariake
xAP Ukishima Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Sado Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Kamakura Maru, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shiratsuyu, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
TB Hayabusa, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kagu Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Ishigaki, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Sawakaze

Japanese ground losses:
7064 casualties reported
Squads: 191 destroyed, 99 disabled
Non Combat: 117 destroyed, 109 disabled
Engineers: 39 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 84 (76 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (10 destroyed, 3 disabled) This is bad. About a third of the division made it ashore with good supply to begin the rebuilding process.



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

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
84th I.F.Chutai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 8000
Raid is overhead
24th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring TB Kiji
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Yamasimo Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Ukishima Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AK Kinka Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Tatsuta Maru
Massive explosion on AK Kinka Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring TB Hayabusa
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Kamakura Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring E Ishigaki


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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Oosthaven at 47,97

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Tachikaze
DD Hokaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Hokaze


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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Batavia at 49,98

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Wakatake
DD Sanae
DD Kuretake

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
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Ground combat at Oosthaven (48,96)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13464 troops, 123 guns, 68 vehicles, Assault Value = 478

Defending force 2239 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 456

Allied adjusted defense: 11

Japanese assault odds: 41 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Oosthaven !!!

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


Allied ground losses:
957 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 71 destroyed, 38 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 2


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
5th Division
2nd Division

Defending units:
ML-KNIL
2 ML-KNIL Aviation

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Ground combat at Ambon (76,109)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4169 troops, 43 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 184

Defending force 2233 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 69

Japanese adjusted assault: 63

Allied adjusted defense: 31

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
172 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
128 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
83rd Naval Guard Unit
41st Guard Battalion
Maizuru 2nd SNLF
16th Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
Manado Garrison Battalion
Molukken Garrison Battalion
4th Coastal Gun Battalion
Ambon Base Force

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Ground combat at Kalidjati (50,99)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1468 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 591

Defending force 503 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 27

Allied adjusted defense: 3

Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kalidjati !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 2 destroyed
FK-51: 6 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:


Allied ground losses:
189 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 3 disabled
Units retreated 1


Assaulting units:
Sasebo 2nd SNLF
53rd Naval Guard Unit
38th Div /1

Defending units:
Kalidjati Base Force


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Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 23133 troops, 270 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 967

Defending force 33923 troops, 458 guns, 170 vehicles, Assault Value = 1012

Japanese ground losses:
251 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled


Allied ground losses:
296 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 6 (3 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Assaulting units:
Marinier Battalion
Tapanoeli Gsn Battalion
Padang Garrison Battalion
2nd KNIL Regiment
Pakanbaroe Det.
1st Regt Cavalerie
4th KNIL Regiment
SE Borneo KNIL Battalion
Zuid KNIL Battalion
4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Riouw KNIL Battalion
Barisan KNIL Regiment
2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
6th KNIL Regiment
West Borneo KNIL Battalion
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Lijfwacht Cav Sqn
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
1st KNIL Regiment
2/15 Punjab Battalion
Palembang Base Force
Bintan Det. Base Force
Bengkalis Base Force
1st KNIL AA Battalion
Padang Base Force
6th Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
33rd Division
65th Brigade
4th Division
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

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Ground combat at 84,42 (near Sian)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 101712 troops, 677 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3834

Defending force 88334 troops, 845 guns, 323 vehicles, Assault Value = 2758

Japanese ground losses:
164 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Allied ground losses:
112 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
76th Chinese Corps
42nd Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
8th Route Army
96th Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
27th Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
43rd Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
38th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
5th New Chinese Corps
39th Group Army
4th Group Army
Jingcha War Area
57th AT Gun Regiment
1st War Area
56th AT Gun Regiment

Defending units:
110th Division
35th Division
32nd Division
37th Division
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th Division
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
58th Infantry Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
13th Army
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Army
4th Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
12th Army
1st Mortar Battalion
11th Field Artillery Regiment

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Even Devastators were useful today, getting a number of torpedo hits on transports. [/font]
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]US CV Raid[/font]
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Here is the current map of the DEI after the turn. I'll bring in as much CAP to cover retreating ships as I can. Also, the 45 plane zero group heading to Oosthaven will be set to escort Nettys should the planes actually fly tomorrow and if Torsten stays around to try for more. I don't think he will, however.

Soerabaja should fall within days, and a division has landed at Kalidjati and will move to Bandoeng on the way to Batavia.

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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Burma[/font]
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The big infantry units from Taung Gyi should move in to the Meiktila hex very soon. I only have just over 200AV in the hex, but should have level 1 forts at least by the time of an attack. Zeros are at Chang Mai and Pisanoluke and Nettys at Bangkok.

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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]South Pacific[/font]
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Port Moresby is looking to be a tough place to get to soon. It has over 25k troops, plus PTs and other vessels constantly in the port. Kittyhawks move in and out. The Banshees might have been exhausted though, which is a bonus. I've still not decided whether to try for this base or to attempt to invade somewhere past Burma in India to isolate troops there.

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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]6 March 1942[/font]
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[font="Verdana"]SUBS: [/font] Adding insult to injury, the KXV took out DD Tokitsukaze, part of a SCTF today moving toward Singapore. Too many DDs lost!

[font="Verdana"]DEI: [/font] The US CVs disappeared as quickly as they arrived. I had a bunch of CAP set at Oosthaven and throughout the area, plus the two Netty groups ready, but nothing was there to hit. On Java Cats were used for naval attacks, losing 3 of their number to the Oscar CAP.

Ambon fell. This will free these troops for Lautern, next on the list. Then Koepang. A SCTF is heading out tomorrow to pick up a few troops and head down to Timor.

The KB is gathering. I've sent the big fleet CVs with the new Shoho to Babeldaob. They're meeting there with the mini-KB and all will move to Balikapan. Eventually they will move to Soerabaja and be ready for whichever destination I attempt to land before the April 1 bonus deadline. I'm still short a bunch of zeros, so I shut down replacements for all groups except those CV groups that are short. In 10-12 days I should have 35-40 ready to put into those groups and be sailing somewhere. Tense moments. But it looks like only two CVs were operating yesterday near Sumatra.

[font="Verdana"]CHINA: [/font] Sian and Changsha are pounded. Troops in the center are threatening moves to several bases, but only the Changsha bound divisions are actually moving in. They are two days away.

[font="Verdana"]BURMA: [/font] Chinese troops plus some Burmese units have moved into the Meiktila hex. We're not where we want to be, but there is one fort built, and there is about 215 AV at the base. I'm hoping this will hold due to the superior quality of troops, but I'm not sure. I was hoping for more by now. Moving a division it is hard to get the AV value in quickly as the guns and other troops are also flown in. I'll sweep and CAP the hex for tomorrow.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 06, 42
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 50,98, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Wakatake
DD Kuretake
DD Sanae

Allied Ships
PT TM-7, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT TM-8, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Improved night sighting under 82% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 82% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Koizumi, S. crosses the 'T'
PT TM-8 sunk by DD Kuretake at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
DD Sanae engages PT TM-7 at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
PT TM-7 sunk by DD Sanae at 5,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
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ASW attack near Billiton at 52,91

Japanese Ships
DD Tokitsukaze, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage sunk [:(]
CA Haguro
CA Takao
CL Kinu
DD Yukikaze
DD Wakaba
DD Kawakaze
DD Michishio

Allied Ships
SS KXV, hits 3


SS KXV launches 4 torpedoes at DD Tokitsukaze
KXV bottoming out ....
DD Wakaba fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Kawakaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Michishio fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Michishio attacking submerged sub ....
DD Michishio fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Michishio attacking submerged sub ....
DD Michishio fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Semarang at 53,102

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 10

Allied aircraft
PBY-4 Catalina x 4


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-4 Catalina: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
24th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
84th I.F.Chutai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 8000
Raid is overhead

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

Ground combat at Ambon (76,109)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4965 troops, 48 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 174

Defending force 2064 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 52

Japanese adjusted assault: 88

Allied adjusted defense: 37

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Ambon !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
2683 casualties reported
Squads: 97 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 74 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 4


Assaulting units:
Maizuru 2nd SNLF
83rd Naval Guard Unit
41st Guard Battalion
16th Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
Manado Garrison Battalion
Molukken Garrison Battalion
4th Coastal Gun Battalion
Ambon Base Force

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Tokitsukaze was moving a bit too slowly today. [/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Empire101]

Those Dutch 'K' are the bane of my life too!!


Ambon done. Excellent!![8D]

Enjoying this AAR, as I know Torsten will give you one hell of a game!!

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]7 March 1942[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Verdana"]DEI: [/font] Tomorrow I'll bombard at Soerabaja, Bandoeng and Pelembang. No more ships have sunk from the air raids, and it's great to have the shipyard at Singapore now to send them to.

[font="Verdana"]CHINA: [/font] Sian gets crushed from the air. The last of my divisions have joined up and are moving to the hex right across the river from Sian. If he lets these cross thinking this is not my main force I may have a shot at the city. The forts will be tough. Several IJA engineer units are supplementing those within divisions. The majority of all the tanks in China are here as well. It'll be a week before I can move in. If he retreats his main for SE of Sian into the city, I'll move my Army on the gray road in as well, trying to coordinate it with troops coming fro over the river so they make it in time for any attack by the KMT but don't need to shock.

[font="Verdana"]BURMA: [/font] His troops were in the hex at Meiktila but not attacking. Fingers crossed I finally got the Tinas over here for a last ditch effort to get the division flown in. Up to about 223 AV now. Tomorrow it could be at 250-60AV.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 07, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on Sian , at 83,41

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 29
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 24
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 35
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 5

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
165 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 38

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking Sian ...
Also attacking 16th Chinese Corps ...

Afternoon Air attack on Sian , at 83,41

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 24
Ki-51 Sonia x 9

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 17

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
12 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking Red Chinese Army ...
Also attacking Sian ...
Also attacking 81st Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking Sian ...
Also attacking 12th Chinese Base Force ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]I'm just now starting to get enough Sallys to think about converting smaller 12 plane groups to 2Es.[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Empire101

Those Dutch 'K' are the bane of my life too!!

Ambon done. Excellent!![8D]

Enjoying this AAR, as I know Torsten will give you one hell of a game!!

Torsten has already accomplished that as of turn 2! [:D]

It's really an interesting situation to have to play Japan at a CV deficiency. I have to think twice about each move, and there are certain things I cannot do without the KB at full strength. Because I lost those ships early i've had to give up more to even get normal objectives met.

Wake was one thing crossed off earlier, and by the time I knew the location of his CVs, it was likely built up, mined, and fortified to a point where it becomes too hard a nut.

Deep South Pacific is out of the question.

India is up in the air. I am assembling enough CVs to now challenge 3 US CVs, but I need planes. Still short on zeros. I need to challenge his build-up in Burma, but I have to be able to at least hold off the CVs to get troops into the Indian Ocean. He could also land the strike planes in India and hit from a number of good sized well supported bases there with a LOT of fighters behind them.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]8 March 1942[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Verdana"]DEI: [/font] Soerabaja will be attacked tomorrow. The bombardment shows very little here. It's all in Palembang! [;)] Bombardments there are now destroying troops. The AV is falling each day from a peak just over 1000 and now at 942. Bandoeng will also be attacked tomorrow.

4 Hawks fly up and get one zero flying CAP at Oosthaven for no losses. Must be the cream of remaining Dutch pilots.

[font="Verdana"]CHINA: [/font] Air raids at Changteh and Sian. A small Corps is knocked around near Psingtang.

[font="Verdana"]PACIFIC: [/font] Ndeni is invaded. Now at least he'll have to prep before trying for this base.

[font="Verdana"]BURMA: [/font] Meiktila is attacked today. The base holds with a 1:1! The casualties are about even but he took the forts to 0. Tomorrow will be tense. More troops and supply will keep flying in.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 08, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 34160 troops, 461 guns, 175 vehicles, Assault Value = 1026

Defending force 26677 troops, 362 guns, 152 vehicles, Assault Value = 942

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
214 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

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

Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12272 troops, 136 guns, 65 vehicles, Assault Value = 593

Defending force 6097 troops, 32 guns, 33 vehicles, Assault Value = 49

Assaulting units:
53rd Naval Guard Unit
38th Division
Sasebo 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Afdeling Ritman
Bandoeng Base Force
Loemafjang Base Force
Merak Base Force
Semarang Base Force
Kalidjati Base Force
ABDA
KNIL Army Command
Malang Base Force


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

Ground combat at Soerabaja (56,104)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 14399 troops, 163 guns, 45 vehicles, Assault Value = 827

Defending force 6466 troops, 47 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value = 125


Allied ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
8th Tank Regiment
Sasebo 8th SNLF
Kure 1st SNLF
124th Infantry Regiment
146th Infantry Regiment
Kure 3rd SNLF
Sasebo 1st SNLF
144th Infantry Regiment
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF
16th Army
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
Artilleriecommando Coastal Gun Battalion
Djojakarta Base Force
MLD
Madion Base Force
Commandement Marine
Soerabaja Base Force

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

Ground combat at Meiktila (58,47)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12427 troops, 99 guns, 25 vehicles, Assault Value = 476

Defending force 5677 troops, 104 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 260

Allied adjusted assault: 182

Japanese adjusted defense: 163

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
410 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled


Allied ground losses:
497 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Assaulting units:
13th Burma Rifles Battalion
RM Viper Force
B Sqn 3rd Hussars Regiment
Tenasserim BAF Battalion
66th Chinese Corps

Defending units:
1st Raiding Regiment
91st Naval Guard Unit
21st Div /1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]I hadn't seen the Dutch fighters for weeks until today. Luckily it was only a zero lost. I'll start sweeping near Batavia to see if I can catch them with numbers. [/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Empire101]

ORIGINAL: obvert



[font="Verdana"]BURMA: [/font] Meiktila is attacked today. The base holds with a 1:1! The casualties are about even but he took the forts to 0. Tomorrow will be tense. More troops and supply will keep flying in.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[/font]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you holding on in Meiktila.

Good Luck!![:)]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]9 March 1942[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Verdana"]SUBS: [/font] Sturgeon hits a few mines at Balikpapan, which makes me very happy.

[font="Verdana"]DEI: [/font] Soerabaja falls easily. Bandoeng does not. In spite of a 3:1 adjustment, forts don't fall and the base holds. Merak is taken by paras.

[font="Verdana"]CHINA: [/font] Troops are really starting some subterfuge around Changsha now. I'll be 'moving' toward all three bases i the area tomorrow, but the next day might choose Henyang as the main target, as it's the one I won't actually attack. I just want to create doubt as to where this stack will go. Meanwhile on the other side of Changsha 2200AV is moving into the city.

[font="Verdana"]BURMA: [/font] The Chinese Corps was too strong for the pieces I had been able to fly in to Meiktila. The base fell today in a 2:1 attack. The good thing is that the troops retreated SE on the rail line toward Toungoo. I'll run them into the woods and see if he can push me out. Supply will be critical, but it could be tough for him too if we're blocking the rail.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 09, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TF 161 encounters mine field at Balikpapan (64,97)

Allied Ships
SS Sturgeon, Mine hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 161 encounters mine field at Balikpapan (64,97)

Allied Ships
SS Sturgeon, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

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

Ground combat at Soerabaja (56,104)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20888 troops, 224 guns, 191 vehicles, Assault Value = 828

Defending force 6437 troops, 47 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 117

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 643

Allied adjusted defense: 77

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Soerabaja !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
255 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
3471 casualties reported
Squads: 81 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 198 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 64 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 52 (52 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 25 (25 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 5
Units destroyed 2


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
144th Infantry Regiment
Sasebo 1st SNLF
Kure 1st SNLF
8th Tank Regiment
124th Infantry Regiment
146th Infantry Regiment
Kure 3rd SNLF
Sasebo 8th SNLF
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF
16th Army
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
Artilleriecommando Coastal Gun Battalion
MLD
Madion Base Force
Commandement Marine
Djojakarta Base Force
Soerabaja Base Force


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

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 34254 troops, 460 guns, 175 vehicles, Assault Value = 1033

Defending force 26457 troops, 361 guns, 151 vehicles, Assault Value = 921

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
164 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
4th Division
65th Brigade
33rd Division
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Zuid KNIL Battalion
2nd KNIL Regiment
West Borneo KNIL Battalion
6th KNIL Regiment
Riouw KNIL Battalion
4th KNIL Regiment
1st Regt Cavalerie
Padang Garrison Battalion
1st KNIL Regiment
Lijfwacht Cav Sqn
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Marinier Battalion
SE Borneo KNIL Battalion
Barisan KNIL Regiment
2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Pakanbaroe Det.
Tapanoeli Gsn Battalion
2/15 Punjab Battalion
Palembang Base Force
1st KNIL AA Battalion
Bintan Det. Base Force
Padang Base Force
Bengkalis Base Force
6th Heavy AA Regiment


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

Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13762 troops, 148 guns, 65 vehicles, Assault Value = 595

Defending force 6101 troops, 32 guns, 33 vehicles, Assault Value = 52

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 520

Allied adjusted defense: 172

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
200 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
284 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Assaulting units:
38th Division
53rd Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Afdeling Ritman
Semarang Base Force
Kalidjati Base Force
Loemafjang Base Force
KNIL Army Command
Bandoeng Base Force
ABDA
Merak Base Force
Malang Base Force

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

Ground combat at 47,95 (near Oosthaven)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13464 troops, 123 guns, 68 vehicles, Assault Value = 476

Defending force 1476 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 205

Allied adjusted defense: 8

Japanese assault odds: 25 to 1

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


Allied ground losses:
606 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 65 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Units retreated 2


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
5th Division

Defending units:
ML-KNIL
2 ML-KNIL Aviation


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

Ground combat at Meiktila (58,47)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12035 troops, 98 guns, 25 vehicles, Assault Value = 426

Defending force 6468 troops, 116 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 273

Allied adjusted assault: 347

Japanese adjusted defense: 158

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Meiktila !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
2537 casualties reported
Squads: 60 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 40 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 32 (30 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Allied ground losses:
196 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
13th Burma Rifles Battalion
B Sqn 3rd Hussars Regiment
RM Viper Force
Tenasserim BAF Battalion
66th Chinese Corps

Defending units:
91st Naval Guard Unit
1st Raiding Regiment
21st Div /1

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

Ground combat at Merak (48,97)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 94 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 8

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Merak !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF /1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Chinese troops shouldn't be too tough right now, but these ones were today in Meiktila.[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]10 March 1942[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Verdana"]DEI: [/font] The final Dutch PTs are sunk near Kangean. The CAP at Oosthaven takes down one Hawk for no losses. On the ground, Bandoeng still holds. I'll keep the DA on. It should fall tomorrow.

[font="Verdana"]CHINA: [/font] Major bombing at Sian. Almost 100 hits on the fields.

[font="Verdana"]PI: [/font] At Bataan an xAK is hit by Vals. Interesting. I think he's resupplying Luzon with single ships. I'llpost a SCTF nearby and set Vals to 10k Naval bombing/airfield.

[font="Verdana"]BURMA: [/font] Near Meiktila our LR CAP gets a shot at some Allied bombers today. We reportedly take out 7 total on the day. Torsten seems to be occasionally very reckless with his air forces, not sending in sweeps and throwing the bombers away without even escort to the chance I did not CAP. Good to remember.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 10, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kangean at 59,106, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Oboro
DD Oite
DD Asanagi
DD Yunagi

Allied Ships
PT TM-10
PT TM-11
PT TM-12, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT TM-14

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 42% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 10,000 yards
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 10,000 yards
DD Yunagi fires at PT TM-14 at 10,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages PT TM-14 at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
DD Oite engages PT TM-10 at 12,000 yards
Onderdonck L. orders Allied TF to disengage
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Sepandjang at 60,107, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Oboro
DD Oite
DD Asanagi
DD Yunagi

Allied Ships
PT TM-10
PT TM-11
PT TM-14, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 42% moonlight: 10,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 8,000 yards
DD Yunagi engages PT TM-10 at 12,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages PT TM-10 at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Sepandjang at 60,107, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Oboro
DD Oite
DD Asanagi
DD Yunagi

Allied Ships
PT TM-10, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT TM-11, Shell hits 2, and is sunk

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 42% moonlight: 7,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards
PT TM-10 sunk by DD Yunagi at 4,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 21st Division, at 58,48 , near Magwe

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7



Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 3
Hudson IIIa x 3
Hudson I x 5
B-26 Marauder x 3


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed
Hudson IIIa: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-26 Marauder: 3 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Hudson I bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
1 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

Also attacking 91st Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 21st Div /1 ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 21st Division, at 58,48 , near Magwe

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 8
B-26 Marauder x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 145 minutes

Also attacking 1st Raiding Regiment ...
Also attacking 21st Div /1 ...
Also attacking 1st Raiding Regiment ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 1st Raiding Regiment, at 58,48 , near Magwe

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 2


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 80 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bataan at 78,77

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAK Bellerophon, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x D3A1 Val bombing from 16000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]At least some Dutch PTs in the war were captured by the Japanese and used against the Allies. I wonder which TTs they used?[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]11 March 1942[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Verdana"]SUBS: [/font] Subs laid mines at one of the small islands South of Tokyo. Managed to somehow see them before running into them. Now cleared.

[font="Verdana"]DEI: [/font] Bandoeng finally capitulated with heavy losses for the Dutch troops. On to Batavia!

He's persistently night bombing Oosthaven to kill of a mortally wounded xAP there in port. No hits so far. Only dribs and drabs of Dutch bombers, so I'll be happy for him to hit the ship rather than the oil.

[font="Verdana"]CHINA: [/font] The maneuvering by the IJA is not being met by the KMT in the central China area. I'm not sure why Torsten is not reinforcing Siantang more heavily. Only 48k troops listed. One unit moved from Henyang but no more appear to be en route. That can't be more than 1k AV. I've been pulling troops back and changing direction, but I'm going to let them cross now! They should shock into Siantang in two days. About 2500AV, with a few tanks. I'll have another 2200AV in Changsha by tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

[font="Verdana"]PI: [/font]I forgot to change the Val to a dive-bombing altitude, but they hit the Belerophon again, and it should sink today. Now they will be set to 20% search 10k naval/airfield.

[font="Verdana"]BURMA: [/font] My troops are running for the woods. They're in reserve mode so are healing a bit. They might just make it before another attack in the clear.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 11, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lucena at 79,79

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAK Bellerophon, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x D3A1 Val bombing from 16000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Palembang (48,91) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

380 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Nachi
CL Natori
CL Isuzu
DD Karukaya
DD Akikaze
DD Usugumo
xAK Okiyu Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAK Yamaura Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Kotoku Maru
DD Asagao

Japanese ground losses:
81 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (2 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
192 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

CA Mogami firing at 4th KNIL Regiment
Padang Base Force firing at DD Usugumo
75mm CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Okiyu Maru at 10,000 yards
CA Mogami firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards
5" CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Yamaura Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Akikaze fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

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Amphibious Assault at Palembang (48,91)

TF 99 troops unloading over beach at Palembang, 48,91

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)

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Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 36090 troops, 668 guns, 205 vehicles, Assault Value = 1045

Defending force 25980 troops, 359 guns, 151 vehicles, Assault Value = 884


Allied ground losses:
169 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

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Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 12125 troops, 136 guns, 65 vehicles, Assault Value = 573

Defending force 5758 troops, 29 guns, 31 vehicles, Assault Value = 17

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 698

Allied adjusted defense: 157

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Bandoeng !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units pursuing 1


Allied ground losses:
2239 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 159 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 29 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (6 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 32 (32 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 10


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
53rd Naval Guard Unit
38th Division
32nd Nav Gsn Unit

Defending units:
1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Afdeling Ritman
Kalidjati Base Force
Bandoeng Base Force
Loemafjang Base Force
ABDA
KNIL Army Command
Merak Base Force
Semarang Base Force
Malang Base Force

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Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 16986 troops, 147 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 868

Defending force 36090 troops, 668 guns, 205 vehicles, Assault Value = 1045

Japanese ground losses:
230 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


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[font="Trebuchet MS"]SS Belerophon of the Blue Funnel Line. The blockade runners I'm seeing could have sneaked from OZ, but there is constant shipping south of the Philipenes as well as established air search. I'm going to station small SCTF patrolling between the inner islands South of Luzon. There is the possibility he's stashed a few loaded ships on these islands to use later. I'll also being visiting some of these ports. [/font]
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]12 March 1942[/font]
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[font="Verdana"]DEI: [/font] We're still trading blows at Palembang. Today his was stronger.

[font="Verdana"]CHINA: [/font] Changsha and Sian get the business from the air today. Our troops are nearing Siantang and should cross tomorrow. The Chinese look to be trying to reinforce from Changsha, so if the shock doesn't go well we could get booted out quickly just after. Or, conversely, if it does go well, those troops from Changsha could be in for some hurt. The Chinese don't tend to shock well across rivers into multiple IJA divisions.

[font="Verdana"]PI: [/font] Vals very quickly found another blockade runner and this time nailed it with 4 250kg bombs diving from 10k. Not bad for pilots with average experience of 42 and naval bombing in the 50s. I'm hoping I caught this trend on the front end, or the siege at Clark could be a long one.

[font="Verdana"]BURMA: [/font] Our troops made it into the jungle. Hopefully this will give enough of a defensive bonus to at least hold out for a while and force him to bring reinforcements here.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 12, 42
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bataan at 78,77

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 23 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAK William Luckenbach, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK William Luckenbach

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Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 36038 troops, 668 guns, 205 vehicles, Assault Value = 1037

Defending force 25891 troops, 358 guns, 150 vehicles, Assault Value = 875

Allied ground losses:
120 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

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Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 22135 troops, 264 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 862

Defending force 36038 troops, 668 guns, 205 vehicles, Assault Value = 1037

Japanese ground losses:
352 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

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Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1275 troops, 92 guns, 93 vehicles, Assault Value = 1045

Defending force 61693 troops, 842 guns, 758 vehicles, Assault Value = 2245

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]The William Luckenbach was originally a supply ship for the US Navy named USS Rappahannock, which was built in 1913 and served in WWI. [/font]
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[Empire101]

The 'Fortress Palembang' strategy is a good example of how the game is perceived by many Allied players.

For the Allies it is in my opinion a valid strategic option in their toolkit. All bets are off, and this ahistorical strategy is deemed perfectly valid ( as it most certainly is! )

But turn the tables around, and many Allies don't like ruthless aggressive Japanese players planning a 'valid' strategy in China, and start whining about how 'broke' the game is.

I just find it irritating!!
What are your thoughts Obvert?

[obvert]

The most important thing in the PBEM game is to have good communication with your opponent. Torsten and I have always had decent communication. He told me early on that he had certain rules for himself in putting a lot of troops in Palembang. He would only (at least in the beginning) use Dutch troops, he would turn off the refineries and he would be willing to negotiate a withdrawal instead of ruining the oil there once it appeared the base would fall. I really appreciated his openness about it all.

Once the base was invested we had more discussions and his offer for withdrawal didn't meet my criteria, so we play on without any special rules or conditions there. I am really interested in how it will turn out. I have no expectation of getting a long-term VP win in this game after losing several CVs by turn 3, so it's a good testing ground for me, and a great challenge. I'm taking it as it comes and trying to figure out as I go what the Japanese can still do without KB superiority in 42.

As for China, we also made a 'special rule' knowing that the ground system and supply rules there really inhibit Allied abilities to hold it against persistent and dedicated Japanese efforts. If I should take China and threaten the two re-spawn centers of Chungking and Chengtu, we will call a truce and he can retreat forces to a holding zone in the four central Chinese cities until 1/44. At that point, all bets are off and I can go in and take the rest if I am able.

These special considerations are I think necessary if you want to play a game that is at least somewhat historically plausible, and being a stock scenario 1 game, this is certainly in that potential range. I refuse to find players' views irritating on the subjects of balance, because a more productive route for me is to figure out how to make it balanced enough so that both players can go forward feeling good about the game and having the experience with it they are looking for. It takes some negotiation, but that is fine and usually leads to a better game all around.

[Empire101]

Good points as always. I think 'irritating' was the wrong word that I used in my post.

I should have used 'perplexing'[:D]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Empire101

Good points as always. I think 'irritating' was the wrong word that I used in my post.

I should have used 'perplexing'[:D]

I hear you. I think some can get too caught up in how the game 'should' be, but in reality it is an abstract, and even the parts that work well don't work perfectly.

In the beginning when the KB was being attacked by surface ships if it were a real-life situation there is no way two BBs and two CAs would sit back letting CAs and even a much slower BB put multiple shells into three fleet CVs. Those ships would have expended their ammo and sacrificed themselves to save the CVs.

In the game, the BBs didn't fire more than a few shells, and the CAs in the KB did virtually nothing but take a few hits. Meanwhile the fast CVs didn't run away, they sat and got nailed by even the much slower BB.

I could have started ranting about how the game is broken, that shouldn't happen, it should all be changed. As much as that might be true, I'd prefer to learn how it DOES actually work, and know in the future not to get my CVs into a surface battle (and conversely to try to get those of my opponent caught by surface ships). [;)]