Racing the Sunrise: RA 4.0--Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

SS Operations
The Japanese Sub force has ben amazingly lucky to this point in the war. Hardly any casualties in return for sinking nearly Allied 150 ships. This period of time has seen less activity but victories continue being chalked up by my veteran boat commanders. Nearly everyone has been replaced with a decent to good commander and this seems to really have helped.

Operations:
6-28 I-168 sinks PC Jackson at Pago Pago

7-1 I-3 sinks AK Coast Trader way down south near Stewart Isle, NZ

7-2 I-165 hits TK British Commodore with a Torp near Cochin---It then hits TK Ferncastle with another Torp---FINALLY it sinks TK British Colonel with 2 TTs. Two TKs hit and one SUNK: NICE! [:'(]
I-3 sinks another ship near Stewart with CM Karkatau going down after a single TT hit

7-4 I-169 sinks DD Mugford AND DMS Elliot at Pago Pago

No Japanese SS takes any serious damage during this time.

Engineering
6-24 Phnom Penh AF-5

6-25 Efate AF-2, Sabang Pt-2

6-27 Darwin Pt-4, Christmas IO Pt-2

6-28 Rangoon AF-7

6-30 Changchun AF-8

7-1 Sapporo Pt-8, Truk AF-6

7-2 Manila Pt-6

7-3 Prome AF-3

7-4 Port Augusta AF-2, Tennant Creek AF-2

Reinforcements
CL Yahagi arrives on June 25th

There are a BUNCH of ships coming within the next 60 Days: BB Musashi, CVL--CVE, CL Sakawa, and 8 DD are all slated to arrive by the end of August.

[John 3rd]

Reluctant Admiral 4.5
Racing the Sunrise
SS Sinkings/Damaged

July 4, 1942

The Japanese Sub Arm continues to have excellent success in preying on Allied shipping to this point of the war. As long as the Subs keep getting moved along to differing areas they do pretty well. The best hunting grounds are pretty obvious from the list below. There are two Ro- and seven I-Boats that are ACES presently! Ro-33 is the CHAMPION of the war right now with 8 successful attacks.

Only 2 Japanese SS has been sunk at that point. Have been lucky to get a number of boats home that were severely damaged but lived to fight another day.

Here are the numbers:
Midgets
AG Antares Pearl Harbor 12-08-41

Ro-Class
Ro-33
AP Bloemfontein (D) Iliolo 12-08-41
ACP Niagara Iliolo 12-08-41
AKL Joan Moller Lucena 12-11-41
AKL Chengtu (D) Lucena 12-11-41
AK Hailzones Cocos 01-22-42
AK Empire Curlew (D) Cocos 02-18-42
AK Mahsud Cocos 04-05-42
CL Colombo Cocos 04-09-42

Ro-34
AP Republic Iliolo 12-08-41
S-41 Balbac 01-02-42
AP Glenapp Sabang 01-16-42
AK Katrina (D) Sabang 01-16-42
AP Van Imhoff (D) Trivandrum 04-21-42

R0-61
AK Castor Canton 03-22-42

Ro-65
CL Adelaide Port Moresby 12-09-41

Minelayer SS
I-121
AKL Nam Young Malacca 12-10-41

I-122
AK Steel Worker Horn Isle 01-04-42

I-123
AKL Mangellanes Tawi Tawi 12-09-41
AK Bengalen Cocos 05-05-42

I-124
AO Tan 1 Tandjoenselor 12-08-41
AG Albatross Tandjoenselor 12-08-41
AP Rochussen Tjilitjap 12-23-41
AK Timber Rush Sinabang 06-04-42

I-Boats
I-2
AK Skagerak Newcastle 01-05-42

I-3
AK Steel Age Newcastle 01-06-42
AP Idomeneus Invercargil 04-13-42
AK Coast Trader Stewart Isle 07-01-42
CM Krakatau Stewart Isle 07-02-42

I-4 (Sunk 4-14-42)
AP Kota Agoeng Channel Isles 01-22-42

I-5
AP Kota Baroe Channel Isles 01-23-42

I-6
AKL Ngakuta Burnie 03-25-42
DD Perkins Waippakauri 05-05-42

I-9
TK Mobilstation (D) Channel Isles 12-17-41

I-10
AK Steel Ranger (D) Pago Pago 12-30-41
AK Salamaua Gau 01-16-42

I-15
TK California Standard Channel Isles 12-16-41
TK Mobilfuel Channel Isles 12-17-41
AM Cessnock Channel Isles 03-29-42
AKL Meroendoeng Cocos 04-23-42
AK Ho Kiang (D) Benkoelen 06-01-42
CL Raleigh Benkoelen 06-03-42

I-16
TK Herborg Port Kembla 12-16-41

I-17
AK Royal T. Frank Pago Pago 02-03-42
AP President Jackson Pago Pago 02-03-42

I-19
AK San Gabriel (D) X-Mas 02-04-42
AK Mormacman X-Mas 02-05-42

I-20
AP Montoro (D) Stewart Isle 04-10-42
AP Idomeneus Stewart Isle 04-12-42

I-23
TK Osthaus Sydney 03-20-42
AP Darvel Canberra 03-23-42
TK Ostlav Newcastle 03-24-42

I-25
AK Mary Livanos Sale 02-21-42
AKL Kailua Mauke 03-26-42

I-28
AK Utahan Dutch Harbor 03-12-42

I-153
DD John Ford Balikpapan 12-10-41
AP Rajula (D) Cocos 01-01-42
AK Gandara Cocos 01-01-42
AP Clan Macgillioray Koggala 06-19-42

I-154
AKL De Hoan Cocos 04-17-42
TK L. P. St. Clair Cocos 05-23-42
CV Indomitable Cocos 05-23-42
AK Industria Benkoelen 06-04-42

I-155
AK Demosthenes Oosthaven 12-13-41
AKL Belawan Oosthaven 12-14-41
AK Khandalla (D) Cocos 01-25-42
AK Empire Condor (D) Cocos 02-16-42
AK Empire Peregrine Cocos 02-21-42
AK Adrastus Cocos 03-20-42
CL Colombo (D) Cocos 04-08-42

I-156
AKL Lematang Cocos 04-30-42
AK Michael Livanos Cocos 05-12-42
AK City of Agra (D) Benkoelen 05-31-42

I-157
AP Australia Star Koggala 12-10-41
TK Peik (D) Albany 01-19-42
AK Gorgon (D) Busselton 03-27-42
AKL Buijskes Cocos 04-22-42
AKL Elout (D) Cocos 04-26-42
TK Gulf King Cocos 05-23-42
TK British Commodore Cochin 07-02-42

I-158
AK Silverteak (D) Koggala 12-30-41
AK Charon Geraldton 01-20-42
AKL Proteus Albany 03-27-42
AK Hermion Cocos 04-22-42
AKL Elout Cocos 04-26-42

I-159
CMc Pro Patria Muntok 12-09-41
TK British Judge (D) Oosthaven 12-13-41
AKL Tatung Oosthaven 12-13-41
AP Camphuys Oosthaven 12-14-41

I-160
AK Ellenga Tambelan 12-12-41
AP Doumer Colombo 03-23-42

I-162
AK Empire Raja Trivandrum 01-10-42

I-164
AK El Madina Trivandrum 04-01-42

I-165
TK Angelina Esperance 04-13-42
TK British Commodore (D) Cochin 07-02-42
TK Ferncastle (D) Cochin 07-02-42
TK British Colonel Cochin 07-02-42

I-166
CM Willem vd Zoor Toboali 12-10-41

I-168
AP President Coolidge (D) Pago Pago 12-11-41
AP Hugh Scott Pago Pago 12-11-41
CA Louisville (D) Suva 01-11-42
DD Clark Christmas 03-19-42
PC Jackson Pago Pago 06-28-42

I-169
AG Bridge Suva 01-14-42
AK Alabaman (D) Suva 01-14-42
AK Steel Trader (D) Suva 01-15-42
AK Santa Rita Suva 02-11-42
DD Mugford Pago Pago 07-04-42
DMS Elliot Pago Pago 07-04-42

I-170
AP Etolin X-Mas 01-06-42
TK H.M. Storey (D) X-Mas 01-06-42
TK Mobilgas X-Mas 01-06-42
AK Lillian Lucken (D) Palmerson 04-05-42
AK Iron Warrior (D) Palmerson 04-05-42

I-173
AK Corinda Sale 03-24-42
TK British Motorist Sale 03-25-42

I-175
AVP Reiger Coff’s Harbor 03-22-42
AP Sarpedonia (D) Newcastle 03-23-42

Japanese Losses
I-166 Mine Batavia 12-14-41
I-4 ASW West Coast 04-14-42



Allied Ships Sunk/Damaged---116 Total
CV Indomitable
CA Louisville
CL Adelaide, Colombo, Raleigh
DD John Ford, Clark, Perkins, Mugford
SS S-41
DM(S) 2
PC 1
AG 3
ACP 1
AVP 1
CM 2
CMc 1
AO 1
TK 18
AP 20
AK 41
AKL 15

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
July 4, 1942

As a proud Japanese player, I am always willing to help the Americans celebrate their Independence Day. In a very small way, Japan helps this along quite nicely.

North Pacific
Last of my supply convoys leaves Attu. I've not got every major base (Umnak, Amchitka, and Attu) at 20,000+ supply.

CVE Unyo arrives at Paramushiro Jima to pick-up a Daitai of Vals to transport over to the Aluetians. This unit rounds out my air commitment up there: 54 Zero, 27 Val, 54 Kate, and 12 Mavis/Emily.

Central Pacific
Quiet.

Order damaged CVL Nisshin to Japan for repairs and bring Junyo west to join the other CVs at Singapore.

South Pacific
At Pago Pago my 2nd Jaliut Striking Force puts on a great show as old CL Kuma (a Training Cruiser in this Mod) and 4 DD run into DDs Mugford and Walke with DMS Elliot. Several slight hits are scored on the CL but Walke is sunk and the other two left in a crippled condition. Amazingly, I-169 moves in and KILLS BOTH of the cripples! For next to no damage the Japanese sink a pair of DDs and a DMS: NICE!

Australia
The stack of units forced to retreat from Townsville and then again from SE of Townsville is pushed back AGAIN at hex 92,145. A 53-1 result gets a surrender from 1 unit and over 1,000 casualties from the other units present.

Start loading the 18th ID from Townsville by AP to send to Soerabaja.

Port Augusta gets the 9th Air Fleet HQ this turn and its AF goes to 2 as we prepare for the assault on the interior of Australia.

Tennant Creek also goes to AF-2 this day and I shall now Sweep Alice Springs and hit it with 27 Kates.

DEI
Benkoelen is hit by over 200 bombers, DD Nestor sinks in Port, 212 Casualties are inflicted, and 32 vehicles damaged/destroyed. Just a normal day at Benkoelen...

All Japanese CVs will be at Soerabaja or Singapore next turn. CarDiv5 (Sho-Zui) are about 5 days from finishing their upgrade. My two CVLs are nearly done repairing and Akagi isn't too far away either. Everyone will get about 10 days of R&R before setting out to punch the pogees out of Cocos prior to the landing there.

Burma
Nothing

China
All the Chinese units in SE China are now concentrated in a forest hex west of Chuhsien (86,56). They are being bombed by about 100 planes every turn and three Inf Div and 2 TK Reg are trying to force another retreat.

Economy
Tojos just advanced a month to August! Have nearly 150 factories ready to begin their production at that point.

[obvert]

Your subs are doing very well! Nice work.

[John 3rd]

It is the lack of SS losses that has surprised me. The I-Boats are doing well with very few sunk. It is a lovely combination!

[ny59giants]

Lew has lost how many DDs from air attacks and/or surface action?? This is probably a significant reason why your subs are surviving so well.

OT - somebody is up early this morning! [;)]

[John 3rd]

OK. Just checked the DD Sunk totals and they are STAGGERING!

To Date: US 61, Brit 12, Dutch 6, Aust 6, and France 1 = 86

Japanese Losses (DD and TB) are 28 with only 10 of that total being more modern/new.

Thoughts?

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
July 5, 1942

Fairly calm turn but saw something not seen in quite a while. There was air-to-air combat in Australia!

North Pacific
Unyo sends her 27 Vals to Attu and heads back for Tokyo along with CL Yahagi and a DD.

Central Pacific
Nothing

South Pacific
Calm

Australia
Japanese troops enter Cairns. Order a Deliberate Attack not knowing what is there. Recon has placed 5 units and a very low troop count so I expect the attack to carry the town easily.

Alice Springs has seen recon going on regularly for about 2-3 weeks and it has regularly shown 5 units (17,000) troops and about 180 planes. The plane number I discounted but after this turn I may be more inclined to pay attention. With Augusta and Tennant Creek moving to Sz-2 AF I order a Sweep by 27 Zero to see what is there. My Zeros come in and get the jump on 35 Allied P-40 and Kittyhawks! The Daitai does well shooting down 11 for 2 planes. Four more crash at Tennant when they land. A strike with 12 Oscars and 27 Kates follow and they brush aside the 5 Fighters to hit the AF. Results are fairly impressive: 1 TR, 4 SBD, 4 B-17, 1 Lib, 2 Hudson, and 3 P-40. That AF must be TRULY overcrowded!

Move 54 more Kate from Java to Koepang where they can join the fun within a couple of days.

DEI
BB Fuso and CA Ashigara bombard Cocos and sink a PC, do 101 casualties, and shoot-up the AF. A Daitai of 22 Betty follow in later in the day.

Benkoelen is hit by well over 250 bombers as Japanese troops ENTER the hex. Ordered a bombardment to get a picture of things here. I don't think there is any supply left for the Allies. Should find this out pretty quickly...

Elsewhere
Take Morotai and Talaud this turn as I finish up cleaning the bases left behind the steamroller.

Reinforcements
DD Naganami arrives at Pt Arthur and is sent on to Tokyo.

[janh]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Thoughts?

Crippeling... This will put real restraints on what you could be facing for next 24 months.

Poor Hiyo, btw. It's Murphy again, but I often scratch my head when hundreds of duds hit AKs or PBs, but in that one encounter with your CV, it's not going to be a dud...

[John 3rd]

Got that right! Losing a CV in a brawl with other CVs is acceptable. Losing one (and your first of the war) to a single SS Torp and then two 500lb bombs BLOWS! Ahh, well...C'est la Guerre.

[John 3rd]

Here are the latest total with bases, ship sunk, and total score highlighted:

[John 3rd]

Here is the current 'global' economics screen. Due the heavy war effort I held off stockpiling HI until June 1st. Right now I am banking about 2,500 points a day.

There are two large TK TF unloading at Melbourne and Sydney. Between them they are unloading 150,000 fuel. This should get all my HI in Aussieland running and easily add another 5-700 HI until that fuel is gone.

Goal is to be near 500,000 HI banked by January 1, 1943.

[John 3rd]

Here is the current build of all CVs and Capital Ships:

[John 3rd]

CAs, CLs, and DDs:

[John 3rd]

On July 6, 1942 Japanese troops finally arrive at the Benkoelen area and get a chance to thoroughly examine the composition and strength of the Allied Forces sitting around the Port. What is seen present a big, fat cherry ready for the picking! There has been no AA fired at Japanese planes for a week so orders are sent out for aircraft to reduce their attack altitude by 5,000Ft and strictly attack ground troops tomorrow. The freshly arrived infantry shall conduct a Deliberate Attack to see just how weak the Allied Force is...

Here is what's there:

[ny59giants]

As Patton said in the movie just after Kasserine Pass, " A fine waste of infantry." As the artillery shelled the German troops. [:D]

Observation - He is losing too many Aussie and British troops with both their infantry replacement rates too low to rebuild this units in a timely manner. Thus, any counterattack out of India will need to be Indian and American based.

[Q-Ball]

That's a bad composition to land. The only flak is in the base force, so feel free to drop to a low altitude. And not alot of AV support either, there is no reason another base force or two couldn't have been dropped there.

That is alot of AV though, and will take time to reduce; looks to be nearly 2000 or so

And michael is right, those Brits will never get replaced. The most expendible at this stage are the US Army troops, I would have used more of those; US troops can easily be replaced

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

As Patton said in the movie just after Kasserine Pass, " A fine waste of infantry." As the artillery shelled the German troops. [:D]

Observation - He is losing too many Aussie and British troops with both their infantry replacement rates too low to rebuild this units in a timely manner. Thus, any counterattack out of India will need to be Indian and American based.

"Rommel...you magnificent bastard. I read your BOOK!"


There is no AA shooting at my planes whatsoever. The major Infantry units (Two ID and three of the Brigades) were all forced to retreat 2-3 times losing bunches of men. Many others are at partial strength due to being lost while on ships that were sunk by the Fleet or IJNAF. The bombardment only showed about 1,000 Assault Strength. My bet is this bunch surrenders within an attack or two...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
July 6, 1942

Action today centers around Australia for the most part.

Australia
Alice Springs is swept again by 20 Zero who then dogfight 27 P-40s. The attack goes poorly as 7 Zeros are lost for 5 Allied Fighters. The Sweep does manage to drop all the CAP so the AF attack arrives without facing any opposition. A group of 16 Oscars escort in 22 Kates and they destroy 1 B-17, 3 SBD, 2 Trans, 1 A-29, and a Liberator. Move in two groups of 27 Kates as well as pull a fresh Daitai of Zeros. We'll get rid of these fighters...

Cairns is hit by bombers and then attacked by a damaged Japanese ID and Brigade. The attack comes in at 1-2 just barely missing a 1-1. No Forts present. The base will fall on the next attack.

Just SW of Cairns I have 3 TK Reg strike a pile that has retreated repeatedly and it surrenders. Three units wiped from the face of the map.

The small armor unit that retook Bundaberg is crushed by the Imperial Guards Brigade and surrenders.

The 2nd Parachute Regiment drives back a Base Force as it works to approach that southern dot base south of Alice Springs.

DEI
As shown above the troops arrive at Benkoelen after it is pummeled by two BC TF during the night. All 4 BC deliver 14" fire onto the base and then head for home.

The Kaigun
Time for some Fleet R&R and repairs. Order about 70% of the units present to go to Singapore while the remaining head for Soerabaja. I've expanded the repair yards at both locations significantly so they can handle 1-2 Capital Ships without issue. Want to let everyone sit for 10-14 days prior to the invasion of Cocos.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
July 7, 1942

BIG News!

North Pacific
Nada

Central Pacific
At Christmas Isle, I-7 raises its periscope and spots an American flattop! It launches a full spread and sees a single Torp smash into the USS Wasp's side. An AMMO explosion (guess the ship IS prone to that) follows and I-7 gets away without any ASW damage. How 'bout that? BANZAI!

A small STF of 4 DD are presently halfway to paying X-Mas Isle a visit...

South Pacific
Clear

Australia
Troops moving to totally surround Cairns. There will be no movement from here. It shall be a surrender.

A group of 13 Oscars Sweep ahead of the Zeros hitting Alice Springs and they face 21 P-40s. Morale among the Allied pilots is low as many breakoff very quickly. One Oscar is lost in exchange for a pair of Allied planes.

At Tennant Creek two more Daitai of Kates arrive to bring the total to 81 Kates present. They will hit Alice's AF tomorrow.

The 18th ID departs Townsville for Soerabaja and then Cocos.

DEI
At Benkoelen, the base is attacked from a freshly lowered altitude (about 4,000 Ft) by about 250 bombers. There continues to be NO AA! The Army launches an explorative attack along the Allied perimeter and is stunned to make easy progress against the battered Allied Force. The attack goes in and scores a 1-1 lowering Forts to 1! The Japanese (an Inf Div, Rgt, and 2 Brigades) take 2115 casualties in exchange for just 295 Allied troops, however the AV is 169-131. A 2-1 shall be easily scored next attack! Set everyone to rest for 2 days while the planes pound the Allied troops. This will be a big surrender when it happens!

The entire Fleet is now either at Singapore or Soerabaja. CarDiv1 began their big upgrade where they gain the 3.9" AA guns. CarDiv5 shall be available in about 5 days as it completes its upgrade. CarDiv2 goes in August. Though always tempted to use them I will leave the warships in Port until the 15th or later. Want to allow for System Damage to come off as well as give the crews some R&R.

3rd Air Army arrives as a reinforcement at Saigon and I order it to prep for Port Blair. Three Troop AKs depart Singapore with 5 good ASW ships with pick them up and deliver them to their new home.

China
Attack hex 86,56 and score a 1-1 with a Deliberate Attack. Little disruption so I shift it to a Shock Attack for tomorrow and we'll see if we can get that Chinese stack to vacate the hex.

Other:
Did a Pilot Reserves check and found that I now have over 100 Navy and 75 Army pilots in TRACOM. The reserve has nearly 700 Army and 400 Navy Pilots with at least a 70+ score in their most important training area.

Plane production looks pretty good. I've stopped the M2 (waiting for the auto M5 Upgrade), Emily, Jake, and Glen. Oscars are off as well.

Stockpiled over 3,000 HI last turn as Australia is now humming along with enough fuel to last 6-8 weeks.

Here is I-7!