CLOSED The old world vs the new: Cannonfodder (Allies) vs Quixote (Japan)

[KenchiSulla]

2-april-1942

China

[KenchiSulla]

Pacific

KB is refueling, rearming (repairing?) at Luganville. Quixote makes extensive use of Kates on ASW duty and this lights up KB as if it were a Christmas tree.

Pago Pago receives the 2nd marine regiment (was bound for Suva). 7th regiment is loaded up and on the way to reinforce the area even more. Thinking about getting a fragment of the 8th marine regiment out of Suva. That should speed up the rebuilding of the 2nd marine division if/once Suva falls.

Quixote is moving in further reinforcements (unloading at Nadi). Four carriers, soon to be joined by Hornet are within striking distance but the fish now present are small and I smell a trap. Going to linger outside patrol plane range and see how the situation develops.. Auckland is about to receive Americal and a US tank battalion, prepped for Noumea.

Fleet news

Clemsons are being converted to the DE role..

[KenchiSulla]

India

With the IJN occupied in the pacific and the Indian divisions progressing nicely in training I feel confident enough to venture outside of Karachi/Bombay.. Quixote has been taking bases around Calcutta and Madras with small regiment size forces (1/3 of a division).

Time to challenge the IJA with forces able to do actually do some damage..

[KenchiSulla]

The bright side of getting bombed...

[zuluhour]

The 66th is my favorite at start corp. I have been using it to reinforce the 21st AG every game as scale tipper. Their going to need new shoes after this march.

[KenchiSulla]

3-april-1942

Pacific

Still a lot of shipping activity at Fiji, with a couple of miners now moving towards the captured section of the islands. No strike ordered for my carriers, the gains are low and the risks are large.

[KenchiSulla]

4-7-april-1942

Pacific

Coastal guns and submarines sink a bunch of AMc's trying to clear the minefield at Suva. The only reason I can think of is that Quixote is trying to clear it for close support by DDs (battleships do not seem to be bothered by the mines in the hex).

Mines strike two Asashio class destroyers. Perhaps they reacted into the hex..

TF 169 encounters mine field at Suva (132,160)

Japanese Ships
DD Kasumi, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asagumo, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

So far I lose about 30 mines, with more then 250 left so the attempts are not effective while 3rd defense battalion stands guard (it only lost two of its guns in the withdrawal).

I've had my fleet carriers ready to strike outside the enemies visual range for a good while now. I seem to have lost the fix on KB (Luganville carriers are of the escort type according to my patrols) so not going to risk it unless the target is really valuable. Quixote keeps sneaking in troops by using small transport groups and perhaps even air transport.

India

I-164 is sunk after attempting to attack AKVs moving a couple of patrol planes and Wellington bombers to Karachi.

Submarine attack near Karachi at 37,6

Japanese Ships
SS I-164, hits 12, and is sunk

Allied Ships
AKV Athene
DD Nizam
DD Nestor
DD Napier

On the 7th my air offensive against Madras opens up. Bangalore airfield increases to five and it can support such a move. Plan is to clear the fighters and then suppress the airfield at Madras. 20.000 troops are reported to be present. Probably the Imperial Guards, maybe a tank regiment and baseforces to support at least a fighter group (now half destroyed in the first series of sweeps.

Morning Air attack on Madras , at 35,40

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 42

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 4 destroyed

CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 29 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes



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Morning Air attack on Madras , at 35,40

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 25

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 2 destroyed

CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
21 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 56 minutes



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Morning Air attack on Madras , at 35,40

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 11

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Hurricane IIb Trop sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
10 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 78 minutes

Morning Air attack on Madras , at 35,40

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Hurricane IIb Trop sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes

[DOCUP]

I love when CD guns hit something.

[KenchiSulla]

China

Good news from China

Ground combat at Chihkiang (78,50)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 142402 troops, 1306 guns, 661 vehicles, Assault Value = 5057

Defending force 93558 troops, 633 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2785

Japanese adjusted assault: 1818

Allied adjusted defense: 5950

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
26240 casualties reported
Squads: 204 destroyed, 1885 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 281 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 260 disabled
Guns lost 185 (3 destroyed, 182 disabled)
Vehicles lost 211 (45 destroyed, 166 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3998 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 473 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 216 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Guns lost 68 (5 destroyed, 63 disabled)

Assaulting units:
13th Tank Regiment
8th Recon Regiment
13th/B Division
104th Division
13th/A Division
13th/C Division
17th Division
51st Recon Regiment
61st Infantry Brigade
102nd Infantry Regiment
34th Division
58th Infantry Regiment
39th Division
116th Division
27th Division
40th Division
15th/A Division
22nd Division
15th/B Division
8th Armored Car Co
15th/C Division
China Expeditionary Army
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
23rd Army
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
11th Army
2nd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
20th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
3rd New Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
21st Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
46th Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
100th Chinese Corps
6th Construction Regiment
3rd War Area
6th War Area
29th Group Army
33rd Group Army
12th Group Army
7th War Area
25th Group Army
2nd Chinese Base Force
7th Chinese Base Force



It will not save the theatre but it's good for morale and it will slow this army down a bit! A bombardment attack two days after show what he has kept in the city and what he has retreated..



Ground combat at Chihkiang (78,50)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 9202 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2481

Defending force 132055 troops, 1305 guns, 869 vehicles, Assault Value = 3170

Allied ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
20th Chinese Corps
3rd New Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
100th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
21st Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
46th Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
6th Construction Regiment
12th Group Army
33rd Group Army
2nd Chinese Base Force
3rd War Area
6th War Area
29th Group Army
7th War Area
25th Group Army
7th Chinese Base Force

Defending units:
13th Division
15th Division
27th Division
39th Division
22nd Division
8th Armored Car Co
8th Recon Regiment
17th Division
51st Recon Regiment
34th Division
61st Infantry Brigade
104th Division
40th Division
116th Division
13th Tank Regiment
102nd Infantry Regiment
58th Infantry Regiment
11th Army
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Mortar Battalion
China Expeditionary Army
23rd Army
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion

[Encircled]

Fascinating read

I'm surprised he didn't try to take all of India after that start

Do you think the crisis has passed?

[KenchiSulla]

No, the allies are from from safe. But they get to fight back now, which makes it more difficult for Quixote to advance. The Chinese stack that stopped the assault towards Chungking from the south now has a lot of 50+ experience infantry Corps.. They are not easily brushed aside..

In a recent e-mail Quixote told me that his decision to go for autovictory (and not the conquest of India) was based on not finding the british 18th infantry on Ceylon. He says he was worried about getting decimated when trying to take Bombay/Calcutta. His recent moves seem to support this story, he is not really committing in India...

The allied supply lines into India are secure, especially with the KB so far away around Luganville. Quixote does have strong interior lines so he can easily reinforce India with the infantry released from the Luzon campaign but it will be difficult for him to secure the entire area. The allies now have around 4000 AV in India, with more coming and the training of the Indian units progressing nicely!

Aden is developed into a strong port with plenty of troopships. If Quixote releases the emergency reinforcements now he'll have a major problem at his hands as it will take me about 2 weeks to reinforce the critical area in India...

If he had tried to take Bombay from the sea with what he used to take Calcutta there is no doubt he would have succeeded. But he didn't, so no need to keep hanging in the past..

[KenchiSulla]

8-9-april-1942

India

Quixote pulls back his fighters from Madras. Sweeps do not got in on the 8th but they do on the 9th (no resistance) followed up by 48 Blenheims. The strike is succesful and leaves the Madras airbase damaged.

Wellingtons are moved into position as well. With no fighters or flak (not a shot fired at the Blenheims at 10k feet) present I'm determined to level Madras airbase and burn supply there.

Troops are prepping for Madras now (6th, 7th Australian and elements of british 70th division and 7th armoured brigade). If Quixote does not reinforce Madras any further (and does not threaten Bombay) I'll try to take it with around 1300 AV and 17th Indian in reserve...

Morning Air attack on Madras , at 35,40

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 48

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 24
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 44

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Blenheim IV bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
16 x Blenheim IV bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
16 x Blenheim IV bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

Chittagong falls after bombardment by Hyuga, Mogami, Maya and Tone..

[KenchiSulla]

Pacific - What do you think?

Would appreciate some feedback guys... weather is predicted as clear but that doesn't really mean anything ofcourse...

[Crackaces]

From my humble experiences ..I noted that you have advanced weather=on ... this is a euphuism for "the earth's weather is more like the planet Hoth, and it is highly probable for grounding sea based float patrol planes "[8D]. The KB sailing so far away from IJN patrols puts you at a great advantage with your land based patrols. The advanced weather = on also means that the KB has to allocate planes for search [which seem to me unaffected by the advanced weather option]

If the IJ are relying solely on float planes in this sector and have overlooked using CV based platforms for search the results could be better than anticipated ... [8D]

[Encircled]

Will he make that kind of mistake though?

Does he know that your carriers are around?

[KenchiSulla]

I'm sure he uses B5Ns to patrol. One of those hit a DM I had escorting transports at Norfolk Island. I'm not sure if he is aware of the location of my carriers. I've never seen them detected and he is getting rather cocky with his ships. He left most of his shipping at Suva covered by one group of A6M2s with his carriers resting at Luganville.

As far as I can Judge I'm up against a striking power of 100+ A6Ms (if he lingers he'll bump up his CAP so I'm keeping around 55 F4Fs on escort duty) 100+ D3A1s and 120+ B5Ns.. Thats a lot of aircraft so I'm going to lose ships. Thats ok, as long as I get a good strike into KB and manage to bleed his airgroups sufficiently to make a second strike on my carriers ineffective. A 100+ fighters on CAP should be able to bleed his air..

The allies also have radar. That should help me get above the package...

Also vectoring subs to the area. He is a long way out from a fairly safe port (Luganville). If he docks at Noumea or Koumac with damaged ships I'll have 5 groups with 40 4e's with plenty of reserves (50+ B17Es and 10+ early liberators in the pool) in range (flying from level 5 Norfolk Island).

[KenchiSulla]

Quixote is aggressive but is he gambler? A large chance that he will withdraw after the dash to Norfolk Island..

[Crackaces]

I'm sure he uses B5Ns to patrol. One of those hit a DM I had escorting transports at Norfolk Island

How close was this strike? Many IJ players put platforms on ASW patrol and they find stuff .. I wonder if this was a full 7 hexes away ??

Anyway .. you have the right expectations in my opinion that you hope to have some sort of exchange ...

[KenchiSulla]

The range was at 6. Quixote usually has Kates on ASW duty but if he lingers he probably keeps them at naval attack.

Anyway, the die is cast. If Quixote lingers and the weather is clear we fight...

[Crackaces]

I'm very interested in the results ...