Pacific War Diary: RA 6.0 Dai Nippon

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
December 20-21, 1941

I like to use those 'warp speed' TF on Turn One to move troops and supplies to my major regional bases (Truk, Kwajalein, Babeldoap, Paramushiro Jima, etc...) so I can truly set-up the Japanese steamroller. Due to this belief, my Turn One is always very conservative in terms of landings and invasions. The net effect is a slow opening and then a steamroller that truly begins to hit its stride starting 14-21 days into the war. We are now seeing that in the game with Capt. Sherwood.

North Pacific
The hammer falls here as Umnak, Adak, Amchitka, and Attu are all landed upon the taken.

Two large Convoys leave PJ now carrying 3-4 engineering units each and they will land at Attu and Umnak.

There are no plans to do anything more up here until the weather clears in March. By that time Attu and Umnak will be well expanded for use up in this region.

Central Pacific
Sho-1 is now days away from its landing at Midway. TWO SNLF Assault Brigades will land here and destroy resistance and then back fill at Wake.

KB-1
CarDIv1 moves into a blocking position SSW of Midway. They are not spotted.

Canton
This base easily falls to two Naval Guards on the 20th. A convoy bringing three Engineer/Construction units departs Jaliut for Canton. Expect a Zero Daitai and a large group of Emily to operate from here.

In the game against Dan I didn't do much commerce raiding. That will change in this game. Taking Midway and Canton blows holes open in the Allied line and I-Boats, Emily, and Raiding TF will attempt to sow some serious havoc. (See the South Pacific description)

KB-2
The CVs have waited and waited. I have allowed the Glens to do the air search work and things start to heat-up on the 20th as an I-Boats sinks an AKL about 12 hexes SSW of San Diego.

I slowly move the CTF southwards and strikes fly on the 21st. The carriers sinks 2 AKL, an AK, and a YP. Clearly Sherwood suspected something but a larger TF is spotted and now I will illuminate the whole area with air search tomorrow. Still have plenty of fuel so we cans tay for a bit before retiring for home.

South Pacific
WAAAAAAY down by Tahiti my two AMC attack a large Convoy both at night and during the day. the AMC hit/cripple 4 TK/AO and 4 AK. NICE! This is the kind of thing I want to be doing with Canton and Midway taken.

A FTF of 3 CA, 1 CL, and 3 DD carrying a Construction unit and small Inf Detachment will land at Finschhaven tomorrow.

Philippines
Nothing major to report. Pull all the Betty/Nells from Formosa and redeploy them. Iba gains Lily, Sally, and Nates to carry on the fight there.

Eastern DEI
Kendari
The Invasion Force lands on the 21st and fights its way through six Dutch PT boats sinking them. The 90th Inf Regiment and an Air Flotilla get ashore without issue and we will take the base tomorrow. Bettys and Zeros are ready to immediately come in.

A Squadron of A-24 attack on the 21st and they are met by 9 Zeros (VERY LRCAP from Namlea!) and eight of the 13 are shot down, however, they do hit three AKs sinking two of them. Grrr....

Central DEI
The Tarakan IF is on the way.

Samarinda
We are secure at this base. Order the SNLF Paras (AV 125) to advance on Balikpapan.

Western DEI
Singkawang
Singapore awakens and sends several waves of planes here where they are met by Oscars. Decent results follow with at least 8-10 Blenheim and Hudsons shot down.

Take Merak.

Sumatra
The 4th ID is now at Lahat and will attack the units present it the immediate hex and then move on to Benkoelen. There is a TK Regiment headed for Oosthaven

Paras capture Langsa on the 21st. This will divide his movements using that railroad.

Java
As expected, the chaos from the Palembang Landing makes for an easy landing at Merak. The base falls on the 21st without issue.

KB-3
With Merak dealt with, little remains for KB-3 to cover. Order it home to Cam Rahn Bay to replenish and refuel. We plan on sending them through the Oosthaven--Merak GAP for commerce raiding next. Additionally, CVL Nisshin will arrive in one week. I intend to add this CVL to KB-3 to strengthen it.

Malaya
We are advancing on all fronts. Taiping Falls and Temoluh will be threatened tomorrow. An ID departs the Kuantan hex heading for Temoluh as the 21st ID is now well on the way for Mersing. Will pick-up the 38th ID at Hong Kong and it shall make the 5th and final ID advancing on Singapore.

Burma
TK Regiments advancing on Moulmein and Tavoy.

China
Pingsiang, Wuchow, and Loyang all fall.

SS Operations
I-21 sinks AKL Honomu SW of San Lius Obpisco

Engineering
Jehol AF-4
Shanghai AF-5

[John 3rd]

Here are movements of the Western and Central DEI Steamroller:

[John 3rd]

...and the other side of the DEI.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
December 22-27, 1941

Sherwood and I continue to get in a turn a day and slowly we move forward. The Allied Fleet has totally disappeared and Japan's steamroller is moving relentlessly forward.

North Pacific
Having taken the four desired bases in the Aleutians, a pair of TF now bring in reinforcements. Attu and Umnak will get them and we'll develop the Ports and AF. Nothing more will be sent here for quite a while.

Central Pacific
KB-2 hits those few targets SW of San Diego and moves due north. There are now two rows of 6 I-Boats with Glens providing recon for possible targets. We stay for another day or two and then head for a rendezvous with KB-1 NE of Midway. The six CVs will then move south to Truk and look for serious trouble below Rabaul.

KB-1 is now positioned SE of Midway covering the approaching Invasion Force.

South Pacific
Manus is developing its AF. Should be Lvl-1 in a few days.

Have taken Finschhafen and Infantry is moving towards Lae.

There are a dozen I-Boats assuming patrols between PM and NE Australia and down the coast of SE Aussieland.

Philippines
Luzon
The Iba beachhead is slowly expanding. In a strange move, Sherwood moves in the 4th Marines which I blastg out of the hex and then a few days later a pair of Tank units enter the hex and they get clobbered. Troops about to enter Clark and Subic bay areas.

From the south, the 2nd ID takes Altamoran and is headed for Manila.

Mindanao
Troops are poised to take all the bases north of Davao within a day or two. There is an Inf Div and 2 TK Regiments here. They shall form the backbone (with the 90th Inf Reg) of the NW Australia Invasion Force.

Eastern DEI
Have Namlea and Kendari.

Troops land at Ambon on the 26th and the 1st assault scores a near 2-1 so it will fall on the next attack.

The 90th Inf Reg and the SNLF Assault Brigade will then be lifted and take Timor.

Central DEI
Tarakan falls on the 25th and has no damage to its facilities.

Have troops marching overland from Samarinda to Balikpapan.

Western DEI
All bases near Singkawang have been taken.

Sumatra
Will have Benkoelen in two days. Troops are marching from Palembang to Oosthaven.

Java
Merak looks solid and the ID present there departs and heads for Batavia. No reaction AT ALL from the Dutch AF. A Brigade is presently landing at Merak to buttress the force already ashore.

Malaya
Japanese troops are advancing down the western side (Taiping), have taken the central area (Temoluh), and are about to land at Mersing.

KB-3 is covering the Mersing Landing tomorrow. We've got 42 Oscars from Kuantan and 36 Zero from the CVs flying CAP over the transports. Two full ID will be landing.

The British AF has been in action trying to hit the Japanese TF. Not much damage done to my forces and the strikes are frittering away the available air strength.

On the 27th, Singapore is swept by Zeros and they do pretty well: 27 Zero vs. 8 Hurricane and 20 Buffalo. Tomorrow will see nearly 200 bombers (with Oscar/Nate escort hit the AF and Port.

Burma
Moulmein falls on the 24th. Two TK Reg take that base is ease. They advance on Pegu.

Tavoy falls on the 26th and another TK unit heads further down to grab that last base between Tavoy and Victoria Point.

Bangkok
Have several TF unloading Base Forces and a Air Division. These units will advance north and start on base expansion and help with direct air support.

China
Central Plains
Smash Chinese defenders at Loyang and Chengchow. Inflict over 10,000 casualties in several attacks. I am careful not to force surrenders. I want to inflict massed casualties but NOT let him get those units back at 1/3 strength when they auto-spawn. Keep smashing but let them flee.

Changsha
Invest this rich target, valuable target with 4 ID, artillery and several engineers. Add another pair of ID about to arrive and one can see where the main effort is being waged. Aircraft have been hitting this location nearly everyday and I am stunned when a Deliberate Attack (Dec 27th) scores a 1-4 result and shows Forts are at 4. Gonna be a fairly long seige...

Engineering
Nagasaki AF-5
Ponape AF-3
Hankow AF-7
Iba AF-3

Ship Construction
CVL Nisshin arrives 12/26 at Tokyo. The complement of 21 Zero and 12 Kate are set to rest for a few days. She departs and has 2 DDs for escort. The CVL will be a welcome addition to KB-3.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
North Pacific
Dec 28--Jan 5, 1942

Life has been busy in the Cochran Household. Though Sherwood and I get in a turn a day there hasn't been much time to work on the AAR.

Have decided to do a region-by-region set of reports.

The North Pacific has been totally calm. The initial landings have not been expanded upon yet. Engineers and Base Forces now stack Attu and Umnak. Base construction moves slowly through the winter months. Have a Naval Guard heading up there and will use it to take all the bases from Umnak west.

PLANS
1. Take the little bases as described.
2. The Kawafuto Brigade will be used to capture Dutch Harbor in March.
3. Am interested in going on to Cold Bay/Harbor and that will be the extent of expansion.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
Dec 28-Jan 5, 1942
Central Pacific

Lots of action here as Midway and Wake have fallen.

From December 7th on I have wanted to keep Sherwood from reinforcing the Midway and Wake area. Many Allied players try to make an attempt of this and I wanted to grab the bases as cheaply as possible. We divided the KB into CarDiv1 and CarDiv5 with CarDiv1 prowling the Central Pacific and CarDiv5 interposing itself between the West Coast and Hawaii. This interdiction worked though I was bitterly disappointed to not bag more then the dozen or so ships that CarDiv5 sank near San Diego.

Midway
The island is bombarded by a pair of BC from the CV TF on the 29th and 30th. Another BB added its weight of shells on the 30th. The CVE's launch their small strikes of 12 Z, 12 Val, and 6 Kate on the 30th and 31st. The 31st brought the actual invasion. Two complete SNLF Assault Brigades (AV 420+) storm ashore while 2 BB and 2 BC pound the defenders. Adding to the weight of ordinance falling is a strike by CarDiv1 of 21 Zero and 36 Kates. The marines cannot hold and they surrender in an 84-1 rout.

NICE!

Wake
Luckily the SNLF Brigade that was planning on Wake doesn't take much harm. The troops begin loading back onto their transports the next day and depart for Wake. The 3rd dawns for Wake as the bombing campaign begins. From the 3rd onward anywhere from 18-36 Betty/Nell hit the base. A solitary BB is included in the invasion force. The 5th sees a repeat invasion with 1 BB, the Betty/Nell support, and a strike of 24 Zero with 36 Kates hitting these defenders. Though not quite as one-sided as Midway the result is the same: 19-1 with surrender following.

EXCELLENT!

Planning
Having already departed from Tokyo, a CD unit and two Base Forces are about 4-5 days from Midway. Tankers as well as an AS are also headed there. We'll begin digging in and make this a forward sub base (just like during the war). We'll also use the atoll for AMC Raiders. There will be six of these working out of here. We'll get the garrison right at 6,000 ASAP. Will pull out the SNLF Brigade currently there once these troops unload.

Wake has a pair of Base Forces and two Construction units headed for it.

Kido Butai
CarDiv1 is headed for Kwajalein for R&R. I've recalled CarDiv5 as well and it is about to cross east of Midway tomorrow.

In a frightful moment, SS Pompano puts a WORKING Allied TT into the side of CVL Ryujo. Following the hit is an AMMO Explosion. CRAP! Figure to lose her on the 29th. Surprisingly the CVL holds on and manages to actually repair itself enough to safely almost make it back to Eniwetok. The ship will disband into Port tomorrow. Current damage is SYS 25, FLOT 35, and ENG 30. Initial fires were 51 but were amazingly put out immediately. Whomever is the Damage Control Officer of that ship shall get promoted and asked to write an underwater damage repair pamphlet immediately!

Once the Carrier TFs arrive at Kwajalein they will rest for a couple of days and then sail TOGETHER (4 CV and 1 CVL) for the Coral Sea looking for CV Enterprise and Lexington...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
Dec 28-Jan 5, 1942
South Pacific

After running into initially strong Allied Fleet units, little has been done in the South Pacific. Troops grabbed Kavieng, Manus, and Fincshshaven. Troops advance on Lae while the Imperial Guards Brigade is about to land at Rabaul. There are 3 CA, 1 CL, and 3 DD embedded in the Invasion Force. Am hoping this unsupported landing will draw an Allied response to the area while KB moves into from the NE...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
Dec 28-Jan 5, 1942
Philippines

The advancement into the Philippines has gone according to plan. The goal was to grab Mindanao ASAP and gradually take Luzon.

Luzon
A total of three Japanese ID are present here. The Iba lodgement expands as both ID move out and advance into Clark and also grab Lingayen. From the south advances the 2nd ID who are about to capture Lucena. It appears that the Allies will make their stand at both Clark and Manila. We'll see how long that lasts. Planes bomb Manila and Clark everyday.

Mindanao
The 56th ID captures Malaybalay and then begins to move SE. A pair of TK Regiment are at Cagayan and will attack tomorrow.

The Mindanao units plus two Inf Reg and an SNLF Assault Brigade shall comprise the Australia Invasion Force.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
Dec 28-Jan 5, 1942
Eastern DEI

The eastern end of juggernaut is quickly picking up speed. The advance captures Ambon on the 29th, Dili on the 4th, and Lautem will fall tomorrow. The Koepang Invasion Force is two days away. Over in the Celebes, the 90th Inf Reg is about to capture its last objective before beginning prep on Australia.

No sign of resistance whatsoever...

[Cribtop]

You got lucky with that CVL! What a relief to get her home.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
Dec 28-Jan 5, 1942
Western DEI

Similar descriptions fit into the Western Prong of the Assault.

The quick thrust into Singkawang and Palembang worked well enough. CarDiv2 provides Cover through these attacks and, after quickly replennishing at CRB, it re-enters the fray Covering the landings at Merak and Oosthaven. Oosthaven falls on New Year's Eve and the DMS move into sweep the mines present. While there has been little Allied air activity in the east, a great amount of resistance occurs over the skies of these targets. The Dutch Air Force and a Squadron of A-24s attempt to intervene in landings. With Merak's fall I move in 50 Oscars and they do quite well. Zeros, from the CVs, add to the carnage.

On the 2nd, CarDiv2 sweeps through the strait and enters the IO. This CV TF moves to intervene at Cocos. No enemy ships are spotted as of yet. Racing to join the CarDiv2 is CVL Nisshin. Once they join their 33 additional aircraft to the TF then we shall GO HUNTING BABY!

There are two Brigades already at sea on the way to take Cocos...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
Dec 28-Jan 5, 1942
Malaya

The Malayan Campaign looks solid. Mersing falls and the two Infantry Divisions move down and capture Johore Bharu on January 3rd. Three ID move south to join up with the troops at Johore Bharu. We shall wait until all troops are present and then crossover into Singapore. The garrison will hold for only a few days once this crossing occurs...

We've taken control of the air and there is no aerial resistance and things look pretty solid here as well...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
Dec 28-Jan 5, 1942
Burma

As I had hoped, Burma falls with hardly ANY force commitment! Two TK Reg have taken Moulmein, Pegu, Rangoon, and Toungoo. NO reistance. This small Japanese force commitment could have been stopped by just a BRIGADE of serious resistance.

[John 3rd]

Here is the current score card:

[John 3rd]

Sherwood and I have frozen in our match due to some, I shall delicately state, petulance. It was his understanding that we would have a 'quiet' China and that is exactly what I want, however, he became quite (ahhhhhhhhhh) disconcerted when he saw me move in taking all the territory he was vacating. To him I was breaking what we had agreed upon. Not really sure how since I was simply moving in to locations that were being freely given but OK.

I am ready to jump out of the game due to this attitude. Don't really want to do that, however, so I sent the following email and attachment for his study and comment:


OK. To alleviate this tension how about this for a proposal? Take a look at the screenshot and see if you have any issues with the line drawn.

You keep Ichang since that was a very nice move on your part. I’ll pull back from Changsha. We’ll have a few ‘contested’ hexes where units of both sides are present but that shouldn’t be any big deal. If you have Chhinese units behind this line they shall be given safe passage. Once you tell me everything is clear then I’ll move units up to the agreed upon line.

Thoughts?

[ny59giants]

I would play with a non-quiet China. IRL, this 10 year war now ends on Dec 7th.

Get Real Sherwood!! [:@]

[John 3rd]

Yaaaaa...this is what I thought to...

[John 3rd]

Sherwood appears to be fine so we can get back to it.

[JocMeister]

You accepted a quiet China as the Jap player? [X(]

Kudos for sportsmanship but I suspect you will come to regret giving up all that virtually free industry and VPs!

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Sherwood appears to be fine so we can get back to it.

At least until the next incident...