Castles in the Sand - Spidery(J) vs MrKane(A) no MrKane please

[Spidery]

January 23rd 1942

Air Losses: 23 Japanese, 4 Allied, 19 Pilots (mostly MIA)
Japanese occupy: Babo, Polillo (auto), Rossel Island, Woodlark Island, Shortlands, Shaoyang, Babo
Japanese land at: Ambon, Puerto Princesca, Shortlands, Buin

Allied VP increase by 200 on the turn. I think this is because I suspended the bombardment attack against Manila and that dropped the supply demand for the base.

China

The shock attack is joined by the attackers in the hex and the parachute unit survives. The objective is achieved, the hex side opened, and the road can now be used to move forces to Ankang - however, there is no supply route. Losses aren't too bad:

Attacking force 39877 troops, 419 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 1042

Defending force 29197 troops, 191 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 488

Japanese adjusted assault: 764

Allied adjusted defense: 1138

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1420 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 129 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 44 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
720 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)

At Shaoyang the bombers run into LRCAP from the AVG and suffer. However, they delay the retreating forces and allow a ground attack to render two Chinese corps useless.

Attacking force 15345 troops, 307 guns, 141 vehicles, Assault Value = 454

Defending force 15716 troops, 81 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 413

Japanese adjusted assault: 428

Allied adjusted defense: 31

Japanese assault odds: 13 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Shaoyang !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
5884 casualties reported
Squads: 281 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 243 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 51 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 19 (16 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units retreated 2

An engineer unit makes a careless attacks across the river into Chengteh and is wiped out !

DEI

The first attack is launched at Batavia. A 1:1 result is achieved with forts reduced to 2. Losses are about equal. Disruption in the infantry forces reaches the 20's so will suspend attack for a day.

One xAK is damaged landing at Ambon but not badly.

Babo is taken without damage.

Philippines

The minefield at Bataan has been cleared and the next BB strike is 2 days from Manila.

Pacific

A sub fails to penetrate the screens to attack a force of 2xAK and 6DD near Horn Island and presumably heading West from Port Moresby. There is a chance to get them from Koepang but do need to take care avoiding any CAP.

[Spidery]

The situation in China around Ankang and Sian. The arrow is the route on the road that is now open.

[Spidery]

Planned moves in the Ankang area are to:

1. Move forces through the opened road and try and get to the road junction in the mountains first.
2. From the road send forces into the woods on either side to prevent the Allies cutting the road.
3. Pull forces back from the main road to Sian, send them to the contested hex on the Ankang road, overstack and try and force the Chinese back. As can be seen, the Allies are trying to reinforce the hex so will also try and move into the woods West and South-West from it.

If I can establish a strong position on the road, and get a supply path through, then it will cut the Chinese forces in half leaving a large number starving around Sian.

[witpqs]

however, there is no supply route.

Not sure if you know this already - supply can move through hexes which contain enemy units. What matters for supply flow is control of the hex sides.

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

however, there is no supply route.

Not sure if you know this already - supply can move through hexes which contain enemy units. What matters for supply flow is control of the hex sides.

Thank-you, witpqs [&o]. No I didn't realize that. That makes it a different ball game. I can ignore the blocking force, block the road, and move forces up to the mountain passes.

He is moving troops from Sian into the woods between Sian and Ankang so I probably can't get into Sian from the back but we can contest those hexes.

[Spidery]

January 24th 1942

Air Losses: 3 Japanese, 2 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Puerto Princesca, Buin, Kweilin, Ramree Island (auto)
Japanese land at:

China

Sweeps over Chihkiang fail to encounter any fighters.

Hudsons from Sian try a ground attack on forces on the Ankang road.

A Chinese unit has appeared on the road between the key hex and Ankang so now I need to take the river crossing the other way.

Kweilin is taken unopposed - this means the Chinese have lost about a third of the supply generation they started with.

DEI

Attack at Ambon reduces forts and achieves a 1:1.

Philippines

Starting clearing some of the remaining isolated forces.
Weather prevents attacks at Manila.

Australia

KB sinks two small AVP off Bundaberg.
As a trial, some Kates city attack the resources at Bundaberg, and some Vals try a night city attack at Toowoomba - 24 Allied strategic VP losses are reported. That looks promising for raids to accumulate a good amount of VP.

Recon of Darwin is poor but shows 7 units present.

Engineering

Allies expand Pearl Harbour port to 8.

[Spidery]

January 25th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 1 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Mandalay(auto), Shwebo(air-drop)
Japanese land at: Sorong

Allied VP drops suggesting they have only 60% of the VP value for Manila, so supply must be dropping, this may be a good clue as to when supply has run out.

China

Quiet

DEI

Attack at Ambon reduces forts again and achieves a 1:1.

Philippines

3 BB bombard Manila:

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Fuso

Allied ground losses:
865 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 55 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Manpower hits 5
Light Industry hits 1
Resources hits 1
Fires 3959
Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 17
Port hits 6

The BB rearm at Batangas and will attack again tomorrow. However, this is using up my supply as well as his. Will carry out bombardments until the end of the month from air, sea, and land and see how that is progressing. Looking for reported AV and number of guns to drop, for counter-bombardment to tail off, and for flak to die down.

Pacific

The last few turns there have been reports of Allied task forces East of the Marshall Islands but no confirmed sightings. It is possible he is poking around the edges here.

India

SS I-6 has another chance against an xAK near Karachi and misses again.

Australia

2 BB bombard Maryborough, although reported as only a single LI hit the allied strategic lost VP jumps by 34 suggesting 17 points of industry damage.

Engineering

Singapore airfield expands to 7.

[Spidery]

The economics of attacking Australian industry

I don't see many attempts in AARs to use the KB and shore bombardment to systematically destroy Australian industry. There are about 4000 points of industry along the Australian East coast and not far inland (including Sydney but not Melbourne). This includes about 2400 points of supply generation (although the HI might be turned off).

If half of that can be destroyed that equates to 4000 VP and a reduction of Allied supply in Australia of nearly 2 million over the game.

4000 VP means the Allies need 8000 more VP to get auto-victory and need 1000 more VP at end 1942 to avoid defeat.

Late game it seems the Allies might be shipping 1 million supply per month into theatre. If 2 million in-theatre supply is removed that represents a 2 month delay in the Allied time table (except it is not quite that straightforward as supply is only one factor).

The main cost to achieve this seems to be opportunity cost, including that of making the KB visible, but that seems to be better than using the opportunity to expand into some territory that can't be held.

[Spidery]

January 26th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 7 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Sorong, Ambon, Katha (air-drop), Magwe (auto), Tawau (air-drop)
Japanese land at: Denpasar

Burma

Magwe is captured undamaged. 53 aviation support and 16 8cm AA guns are in place, another 24 guns can arrive in the next couple of days but Allied bombing of the oil field is highly likely,

China

Hudsons try and interfere and meet some CAP, 2 Hudsons are shot down.

Some more damage to a Chinese corps fleeing from Changsha area.

DEI

Batavia attack doesn't go too well. Forts are reduced to 1 but disablements in the 21st Division take it out of action.

Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 65439 troops, 598 guns, 161 vehicles, Assault Value = 1955

Defending force 37972 troops, 418 guns, 164 vehicles, Assault Value = 621

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 747

Allied adjusted defense: 661

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
4194 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 294 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Guns lost 35 (2 destroyed, 33 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1892 casualties reported
Squads: 60 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 81 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 27 (4 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Vehicles lost 29 (16 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Ambon is captured and the defenders surrender.

New Guinea

Port Moresby is bombarded by cruisers:

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-4 Catalina: 2 damaged
PBY-4 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CA Aoba
CA Myoko

Allied ground losses:
234 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 45
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Philippines

The BB bombardment of Manila fails to take place, probably insufficient ops point following rearming - it just moved to Bataan.

R&D

Nakajima Ha-45 is accelerated to 8/43 [8D]
First 30 point Ki-49-1a factory fully repairs and is changed to research the Ki-49-IIa [:)]. Engine bonus won't be available for this until mid March.

[Spidery]

January 27th 1942

Air Losses: 20 Japanese, 1 Allied, 17 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Munda (auto), Denpasar, Loewoek(air drop)
Japanese land at:

India

I-6 continues its poor performance, it takes a shot at CV Indomitable near Karachi and misses[:(]. Still it is nice to have a sighting of an Allied CV.

China

Moving troops

Australia

Cruisers bombard Darwin inflicting damage but nothing serious. I forgot to set any spotters.
Air strikes by mini-KB fail to be launched due to bad weather.

Vals hit Toowoomba inflict 49 resource hits.

Brisbane is also attacked, Zeroes on sweep suffer losses as they are bounced but the Allied fighters are too high to interfere with the Kates that score 28 manpower hits and start fires.

In total, another 180 strategic VP gained for the day plus fires may do some more.

DEI

Quiet

New Guinea

Quiet

Philippines

Another naval bombardment hits Manila and does quite well.

Engineering

Nanyang airfield expands to 2.
Allies expand Diego Garcia port to 2, Bombay airfield to 5

Reinforcements

CVL Shoho arrives.

[Spidery]

January 28th 1942

Air Losses: 3 Japanese, 2 Allied, 2 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Treasury Islands (auto), Yenan, Maumere, Donggala(air drop)
Japanese land at:

Burma

2 Chinese corps have moved into Lashio. Currently have two tank regiment defending it plus another one and a engineering regiment arriving next day by strategic movement. I hope this should be enough to hold.

China

Shock attack across the river pushes the Chinese back and secures the Ankang road[:)]. The 20th Engineer Regiment lost all its engineer devices, half its support and the rest was disabled[:@].

Ground combat at 82,43 (near Ankang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 26656 troops, 283 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 672

Defending force 12742 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 278

Japanese adjusted assault: 875

Allied adjusted defense: 394

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1747 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 47 destroyed, 11 disabled

Allied ground losses:
6027 casualties reported
Squads: 179 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 254 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 10 (6 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 1

An attack against the Heavy Industry at Sian destroys 5 of them.

New Guinea

Bombardment at New Guinea by 2 CA is good enough to stop fort building. Disablements inflicted are mostly support so there may be a lack of Allied combat units defending the base.

Australia

Hiei and Kirishima bombard Rockhampton but only inflict a single industry hit.

Philippines

At Manila, it seems the BB can only attack every other day. Will move the AKE to Bataan and see if can bombard daily.

Bombardment attack at Manila does better than usual.

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

Allied ground losses:
132 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Reinforcement

DD Makigumo arrives.

[Spidery]

January 29th 1942

Air Losses: 2 Japanese, 2 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Serasan (auto)
Japanese land at: Wyndham

BB Bombardment at Manila is very good.
BB Bombardment at Batavia is disappointing.
Recon of Darwin shows more troops than last time.

Engineering

Changsha expands airfield to 4
Allies expand Hyderabad airfield to 4

[Spidery]

January 30th 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 1 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Wyndham, Tamdjoengpinang(auto)
Japanese land at:

An HDML is sunk by a sub near Ceylon.

Air strikes at Manila encounter no flak.

Bombers in China are mostly grounded to reduce plane fatigue.

Engineering

Bangkok expands airfield to 7
Shimushiri-Jima expands airfield to 1

[Spidery]

Invading Darwin

Whenever I have invaded Darwin I have lost some transports to coastal gun fire.

I'm thinking of landing on the coast and walking to Darwin - will that work? The landing at Wyndham creates a supply source that should be able to resupply the forces overland.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

Invading Darwin

Whenever I have invaded Darwin I have lost some transports to coastal gun fire.

I'm thinking of landing on the coast and walking to Darwin - will that work? The landing at Wyndham creates a supply source that should be able to resupply the forces overland.

Should work but you lose lots of time. Add a couple of BBs and Darwin shouldn't be much of a problem

[Spidery]

Thank-you GreyJoy,

It is two clear hexes to cross so that is 10 days lost. However, at the moment I'm not sure what I would do with that time. I expect to have taken everywhere (critical), outside of China and the Aleutians, that I want to target by the end of February. If I also include some armour then I may be able to trap the defenders of Darwin - which would be nice.

By regular bombardment of Darwin I can deter him from basing aircraft there.

My experience with putting BB (or CA) in a task force is that it protects the first unloading phase but in later phases they are out of ammo and there is little protection.

I'll think about it.

[Spidery]

January 31st 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 1 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: New Hanover Island (auto), Sintang (air drop), Akyab(air drop), Palopo
Japanese land at:

Same old... Bombard Manila, use air in China, chase fleeing Chinese, take miscellaneous bases.

Engineering

Allies expand Calcutta airfield to 6.

Tomorrow I'll post a round up of the month.

[Spidery]

Overall progress in January 1942.

Philippines has been reduced to Manila and some cut-off units slowly starving. Manila is out of supply.

DEI - Batavia holds out and is proving a tough nut to crack. There are various hold out troops to be hunted down and quite a lot of the Southern bases still need to be taken.

New Guinea - little progress so far, however the Port Moresby attack is only days a way. There are a lot of little bases to take here.

Australia - Wyndham has been taken and Derby and Brome landings are on the way. Raids on the East coast have damaged some industry.

Burma - nearly completely secured against no opposition. However, there are nowhere near enough troops to defend this.

China - Chinese forces continue to retreat with little chance to attack them. Wenchow fell but the industry was destroyed.

Pilot training - reasonably skilled pilots are coming out. 30 Navy pilots were transferred to TRACOM.

Economy - resources, oil and fuel are all flowing well. However, there is still concern over supply.

Aircraft pools - the low losses have not put a strain on them but there is a shortage of Oscars to upgrade to and of float planes.

Sub war - still very quiet

[Spidery]

Intel picture for end January 1942. VP ration is 1.7 to 1.

[Spidery]

Overall economy