Ein Bisschen Grieg: Cannonfodder (Allies) vs Chris H (Japan)

[KenchiSulla]

Singapore

The only action around Singapore: Bomber intrusions.. Chris is making a mistake here by focussing on Rangoon. I'm letting CAP fly at Rangoon not to protect assets or shoot down bombers but to keep the attention of his A6Ms while I'm reinforcing and resupplying Singapore. Next turn the forts should go up to one.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Singapore at 50,84

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 11

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 5 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
No.21 Sqn RAAF with Buffalo I (4 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
No.243 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
No.453 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
No.488 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes

[Quixote]

Looks like you're off to a relatively favorable start in almost every theater. Solid play on your part so far!

[KenchiSulla]

Combat phase 12-dec-1941

Philippines

Well, that's it for the dutch cruisers. They went in ok, made the intercept. Not the greatest performance as the TF leader was not that great and the cruisers left the destroyers behind (fuel shortage):

Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 74,90, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Tsuta
DD Yomogi
DMS W-1
DMS W-6, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
AV Kamikawa Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAK Kyokusei Maru
xAK Nansin Maru
xAK Nittei Maru, Shell hits 3
xAK Ryugi Maru, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
CL Java, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 2
CL Tromp, Shell hits 1

In the day phase they stumbled on Ryujo and Taiyo (strange move by Chris if you ask me, looks like he was withdrawing the carriers NW). Cruisers did ok and managed to place a couple of hits. Unfortunately no major damage. On top of that, Java takes another long lance and sinks.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 73,91, Range 21,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
C.XI-W: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Shell hits 6
CVE Taiyo, Shell hits 1
CA Myoko
CA Haguro, Shell hits 2
CA Nachi
DD Kuroshio, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hayashio
DD Amatsukaze

Allied Ships
CL Java, Shell hits 24, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 4
CL Tromp

Due to the slowdown by damage sustained in the first fight and the action during the day phase the remaining cruisers ended up in range of B5N1s. The carriers have no torpedoes left but apparantly these are the sharpshooters of the IJN and they manage to place a lot of hits..

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tawi Tawi at 70,93

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 15
B5N1 Kate x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Tromp, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
7 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Both Tromp and De Ruyter sink..

[JocMeister]

Better then nothing! [:)]

[KenchiSulla]

Pacific

Enterprise makes the intercept and cripples both AMCs.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Baker Island at 144,139

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 11
SBD-2 Dauntless x 17

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AMC Aikoku Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Hokoku Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
1 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AMC Aikoku Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AMC Hokoku Maru

The turn after (just watched the replay) Salt Lake City, McCall and Balch finish of Hokoku Maru, gaining some night fighting experience..

Night Time Surface Combat, near Nikunau at 142,135, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AMC Hokoku Maru, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
DD McCall
DD Balch

[KenchiSulla]

Ship losses (3 day report)

Losses are relatively light so far, with at least two AS and two AO escaping the Philippines carnage..

[KenchiSulla]

Air war

Chris H still has a lot to learn on the air war. The results of the 12th show this. His fighters dominate when engaging allied fighters but on more then one occasion bombers are intercepted and massacred.. He is losing valuable pilots..

[KenchiSulla]

Rabaul

Chris reaches deep and occupies Shortland. Canberra and Perth are ordered in..

[KenchiSulla]

Singapore

[zuluhour]

I might try a recon flight to the northwest of Kota Bharu.

[KenchiSulla]

Does it really Matter Zulu? What do you think I would find there? I'm not going to defend much up north. As you can see the more valuable units have been moved to Singapore...

[zuluhour]

It's always nice to know......how much time you have to work with. Plus it's a cheap mission.[;)] ...and if he's not he is not there, he's coming somewhere else.

[Encircled]

Thats not a Jap unit in Sabang, is it?

[dennishe]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Thats not a Jap unit in Sabang, is it?

Indeed, the colors are a bit weird...

[KenchiSulla]

Hey guys, no those are KNIL units. I am using a graphics mod as you can see.

[KenchiSulla]

13-16-dec-1942

Singapore

Chris got his act together in this theatre and has been sweeping and bombing Singapore for two days now. Casualties are high on both sides with PoW, Repulse and Danae trying to get through the Zeroes based at Kuching..

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kuching at 58,88, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kashii
CL Isuzu
DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hatsuyuki
E Shimushu
E Saga
TB Kari
xAK Awazisan Maru
xAK Koei Maru
xAK Kinsyo Maru, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAK Daigen Maru
xAK Ryuyo Maru, Shell hits 2
xAK Meiu Maru
xAP Hakusan Maru
CM Kamome

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BC Repulse
CL Danae, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Tenedos
DD Electra
DD Express

Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Poor visibility due to Rain with 10% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 10% moonlight: 2,000 yards

In a close range battle Danae is toasted by DDs escorting troopships (expected that TF to withdraw when Chris saw the BBs coming). PoW sinks an xAK in the same battle. The battleships withdraw without bombarding but are ordered in again on the 16th and manage to get through..

Night Naval bombardment of Kuching at 58,88

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BC Repulse

Japanese ground losses:
463 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 8
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

BB Prince of Wales firing at Kuching
Walrus II acting as spotter for BC Repulse
BC Repulse firing at Kuching

SIGINT reports troopships moving on Mersing so that explains the high activity. Chris has hit my torpedo bombers so thinking about getting them out of range for now - until I see ships on the horizon!

Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 65

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 4 destroyed


Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 47

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 8 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 16000 feet

Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
G3M2 Nell x 51
G4M1 Betty x 25

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 9 damaged

Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

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

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 13

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed by flak

Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 3 destroyed

Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 25
G4M1 Betty x 14

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 6 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak
G4M1 Betty: 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 20 damaged
Buffalo I: 2 destroyed on ground
Blenheim IV: 7 damaged
Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed on ground
Hudson I: 22 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground
Vildebeest III: 6 damaged
Vildebeest III: 2 destroyed on ground
Catalina I: 1 damaged
Wirraway: 1 damaged
Wirraway: 1 destroyed on ground
S.19 Singapore III: 2 damaged
Swordfish I: 1 damaged

Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
G3M2 Nell x 27

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 8 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 2 damaged
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed on ground
Blenheim IV: 5 damaged
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed on ground
Catalina I: 1 damaged
Hudson I: 3 damaged

[KenchiSulla]

Ship losses

Last couple of days saw the allied merchant fleet thinned out a bit trying to flee the onslaught. In addition, three warships are lost (Danae as mentioned, KXI to air attack at Singapore and Witte de With to a mine)

The allies managed to sink a few xAK (wiped out the small group at Shortlands) and a lone PB in return..

[KenchiSulla]

DEI

[KenchiSulla]

Singapore and Borneo

[KenchiSulla]

17-dec-1942

Singapore

Intel still reports IJA moving on Mersing. Torpedo bombers are redeployed to Palembang for now and held in reserve..