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

[Encircled]

I'm surprised more Allies don't try an early carrier raid in NorPac. If you know where the KB is, you just know its going to be practically undefended (as it starts off with nothing)

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

I'm surprised more Allies don't try an early carrier raid in NorPac. If you know where the KB is, you just know its going to be practically undefended (as it starts off with nothing)

I think it was a high risk move. As it was I got 10 torpedoes launched at the Enterprise - if one or two of those had hit he could have been in real trouble. Each night after that I had 60 netties that could have attacked and I located the CVs each night.

Only a few days before the attack I had aviation support at Ominato and could have shifted enough zeros and Netties there to get in a good daylight attack rather than trying night attacks all the time that mostly didn't fly.

I misjudged badly in assuming that he would only stay for just one day. Most of my Zeroes were two hops away and I didn't try and bring them back.

However, it has had the same consequence the Doolittle raid had - I will probably now keep too much back in the Home Isles for defense.

[Spidery]

Supply Estimates

Tried to estimate total supply situation.

At the moment I produce 24,600 supply per day. Assume an average of 1100 more days of production gives 27,000,000 supply.

Tracker indicates 1,600,000 manpower for reinforcements which I think also means that much supply for drawing replacements, add in replacements and rebuilt units so assume 2,500,000 supply.

If I build 30,000 aircraft then drawing them as replacements will represent about 4,500,000 supply (depends upon type).

At the moment tracker suggests that I expend 6000 per day for LCU support but that will increase as more LCU are produced so assume 8000 per day times 1400 days that is 11,200,000 supply.

I have about 4000 engineers operating so engineering could be 4,000,000 supply.

Aircraft spend 1/3 of a point per day for training etc. assume about 6000 aircraft gives 2,500,000 supply without combat missions.

So on that basis I have about 2,000,000 supply to cover factory expansion and all combat operations. If I wasn't playing with the older DBB-C I would have another 3,000,000 supply to play with.

[Spidery]

March 6th 1942

Air Losses: 6 Japanese, 0 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Fergusson Island(auto), San Jose, Ketapang
Japanese land at: Pamekasan

NORPAC

Allied forces are now all unspotted.

Pacific

SS Tambor is attacked by an ASW task force at Wake Island, 4 hits from Type 95 DC are scored and it is claimed as sunk but this seems unlikely.

Australia

I-21 locates a tanker force South East from Melbourne, decides not to attack, and is attacked taking 7 hits (21/37/1 damage) and will retire for repairs.

Allies continue to launch air attacks near Katherine.

China

Lots of sweeps fail to find any fighters on CAP. Bombers do damage but also take a lot of flak hits.

On the road towards Kienko the Allies move forces back into the hex cleared yesterday. Including sending a unit across the river to close the hexside. That unit is destroyed but there are now 3 Corps and 900 AV blocking progress and I only have 600 or so AV available.

Chinese forces are moving back to try and take Lanchow. Am flying engineers in to build fortifications.

Philippines

Bombardments continue. Landings have been made on the remaining two islands to try and clear the last few bases.

[Spidery]

March 7th 1942

Air Losses: 4 Japanese, 4 Allied, 3 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Mare'(auto), Pamakesan, Kokoda
Japanese land at:

Australia

Allies continue to launch air attacks near Katherine. This time they meet some oscars on LRCAP from Wyndham and 3 Hudsons are shot down. Then the remaining 1 plane on CAP is shot down by the warhawks.

China

Two disastrous attacks. Crossing the river into Chihkiang:

Ground combat at Chihkiang (78,50)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 120985 troops, 1366 guns, 375 vehicles, Assault Value = 3657

Defending force 43923 troops, 164 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1024

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1045

Allied adjusted defense: 1012

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
17170 casualties reported
Squads: 593 destroyed, 697 disabled
Non Combat: 68 destroyed, 72 disabled
Engineers: 38 destroyed, 58 disabled
Guns lost 116 (49 destroyed, 67 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (7 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1470 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 82 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 44 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)

There were 7 divisions and 3 brigades in the attack and almost all damage has been down to two of the divisions.

Then:

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22811 troops, 242 guns, 233 vehicles, Assault Value = 680

Defending force 33594 troops, 185 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 957

Japanese adjusted assault: 48

Allied adjusted defense: 2035

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 42

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

Japanese ground losses:
445 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 49 (37 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
274 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

The 9th Armoured Car Co is completely destroyed while other units take only a few disablements.

The ops report includes:

9th Armored Car Co isolated with no supply!
9th Armored Car Co DISPERSES!
9th Armored Car Co DISPERSES!!

Which is a bit odd as it is not isolated and the rest of the force still has supply.

That is 102 VP given to the allies for destroyed Japanese devices - not good at all.

Philippines

Bombardments continue.

New Guinea

Finishing off survivors from Port Moresby.

Engineering

Buna expands to level 1.
Tuyun expands to level 5.

Reinforcements

SS I-27.

[Spidery]

I think a rethink in China is needed. It looks like I am temporarily stuck in pushing forward into the central plains.

Therefore, will redirect to:
1. Damage or trap forces from the Sian area.
2. Destroy industry and air power in the remainder.
3. Finish securing the Northern area.

China will have some 760 intrinsic supply generation, plus any they can fly in from India.

I estimate their entire force will have about 1000 daily supply demand when not in combat.

Therefore, with some continuing bombing in about 3 months the Chinese forces should be starving.

The HI is cut off from fuel and the fuel stocks won't last long so he has 520 LI producing supply at the moment that needs destroying

[Spidery]

There will be a pause for the Christmas break soon. I can use it to plan my defenses.

March 8th 1942

Air Losses: 3 Japanese, 1 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Roxas(auto)
Japanese land at:

Australia

Allies attack at Katherine with escorts but I didn't fly any CAP this turn. An Allied armour unit is trying to cut the entrance hex so I will pull out of Katherine. For some reason, supply is not flowing from Wyndham to the division in Katherine.

China

Air strikes damage the airfield at Chihkiang and get some supply hits but not very good.

The base force driven out of Urumchi is eliminated. I want to destroy the units from North of Lanchow to avoid needing to protect bases and to get the VP. That they regenerate in Chungking is a minor annoyance, particularly with base forces as they only get some of their value back.

Philippines

Bombardments continue. Manila AV is down to 1320. I have another division moving in so will have AV parity and with the lack of Allied supply an attack shouldn't be a disaster (also no small units present, except artillery).

The last two occupied bases outside of Manila will be attacked this turn.

[Spidery]

March 9th 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 2 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Lifou(auto), Bacolod, Iloilo, Cocos Islands
Japanese land at: Cocos Islands

Australia

Quiet time.

China

Quiet time.

Philippines

All Filipino forces outside of Manila surrender.

Indian Ocean

I-7 launches two attacks against a DD and misses both times, it is damaged 10/19/1 and will return to Singapore for repairs. The Karachi area seems too dangerous for subs.

Cocos Islands is attacked and turns out to be undefended. A division, an AA unit and an AF Battalion should make for sufficient defense.

Engineering

Wyndham airfield expands to 2.

[Spidery]

March 10th 1942

Air Losses: 5 Japanese, 3 Allied, 3 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Aitape(auto), Wasu, Dobo
Japanese land at:

Australia

Near Katherine moving troops - a bit of a risk here as I have been out manoeuvered.

Recce showed Fenton as empty so tried a small drop there but found a Cav unit.

China

Chihkiang airfield is bombed to prevent fort building and also gets some supply hits.

An attack on the road to Paoshan was no good.

Philippines

Attack at Manila does reasonably well and reduces forts to 2. Result is 2 to 1. Will wait to recover some disabled squads before attack again.

Engineering

Allies expand Suva port to 4, Abadan port to 5, Mojave airfield to 3.

[Spidery]

March 11th 1942

Air Losses: 24 Japanese, 11 Allied, 17 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Tassafarongo(auto)
Japanese land at:

Australia

Sweeps and air combat over Katherine. Allies get the better on the day.

China

Night city attack at Chengtu set fires which destroy some LI.

R&D

A6M5 accelerates to 2/43.

Engineering

Noumea airfield expands to 3. Allies expand Chihkiang to 2, Ledo to 4.

[Spidery]

Some questions about hex sides.

The hex we are both in we entered on the same turn and it seems not to be controlled by either side, no A or J showing. I have entered this hex along the minor road from the East and from Sian. However, it doesn't seem to be showing control of the hex-side.

I think the hex-sides are controlled by me because if I order to move SE from the hex instead I am directed East - which is what I would expect if the Allies controlled the hex-side they entered the hex from.

So, is this just a display issue?



Suppose I move into the hex NW of the contested hex before he does and he carries on across the river. If I then follow him across the river will that trigger a shock attack.

I.e., do you suffer river crossing if entering a hex you control through a river hex-side the enemy controls?

[witpqs]

First off, if a hex has no units, then both sides have unit(s) enter the hex on the same turn, then neither side controls the hex nor any of the hex sides. That's just the way the code works.

Second, the hex side that matters for river-crossing shock attacks is the one inside the hex being entered. Remember that you can only leave a hex via a hex side (within that hex) that you own, so you are always 'leaving' through a friendly hex side. If, when crossing a river, you enter a hex through an enemy controlled hex side (within the hex you are entering) then your forces must shock attack. Upon subsequent crossings, they might still be required to shock attack if the AV that crossed through that hex side is less than 1/3 of the enemy (defender) AV in the hex.

[Spidery]

March 12th 1942

Air Losses: 4 Japanese, 8 Allied, 4 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Dagua(auto)
Japanese land at:

Philippines

BB Bombardments have stopped to send the BB for repair before use against the Aleutians. Air and land attacks continue but mostly just waiting for the divisions to recover so they can attack again.

Australia

More sweeps at Katherine, this time do slightly better. Recce suggests that the Allies have abandoned Katherine airfield.

China

Night city attack strikes at Chungking but many aircraft stray (14% moonlight), some damage to HI.
Fires continue at Chengtu and damage HI.

HI damage is fairly useless at this stage since he is limited to the fuel stored and I can't expect to destroy all the HI before he uses that.

Pacific

The KB partially reveals its location near Japan as it spots two AMC and sinks the AMC Cap des Palmes. However only a few aircraft attacked so this may seem to be only part of the KB. The other AMC was spotted at range 7 and weather may have prevented an attack.

SS I-3 puts two torpedoes into the AP Cuyama off the Northern tip of New Zealand but it is not confirmed as a sinking.

4 enemy task forces are detected in the hex of size 4, 5, 9 and 1 mostly reported as PC.

Burma

This area is very quiet and I am nervous because there I have so few forces present to oppose any attack. Recce intermittently checks for moves but the pilots seem to fatigue quickly.

Engineering

Magwe airfield expands to 5, Rangoon airfield to 6, Rabaul port to 4.

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

First off, if a hex has no units, then both sides have unit(s) enter the hex on the same turn, then neither side controls the hex nor any of the hex sides. That's just the way the code works.

Second, the hex side that matters for river-crossing shock attacks is the one inside the hex being entered. Remember that you can only leave a hex via a hex side (within that hex) that you own, so you are always 'leaving' through a friendly hex side. If, when crossing a river, you enter a hex through an enemy controlled hex side (within the hex you are entering) then your forces must shock attack. Upon subsequent crossings, they might still be required to shock attack if the AV that crossed through that hex side is less than 1/3 of the enemy (defender) AV in the hex.

Thank-you witpqs, be interesting to see how this turns out and whether I can trap the 9 corps and 2 HQ he is trying to get out of here.

[Spidery]

March 13th 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 4 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Tagula Island(auto)
Japanese land at:

Philippines

Continue attacks.

Australia

Recon at Katherine now shows 24000 troops and about 200 guns and vehicles in 17 units. There are also at least 3 other armour units and forces at Darwin. All-in-all quite a large commitment to Northern Australia.

China

A division pushes too far ahead and a counter attack by the Chinese rear-guard is costly.

Pacific

Still tracking a task force near New Zealand but no attack launched.

R&D

Ha-34 stock pile reaches 500+ to provide engine bonus for the Helen.

[Spidery]

March 14th 1942

Air Losses: 5 Japanese, 1 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Tagula Island(auto)
Japanese land at: Darwin

Philippines

Continue attacks.

Australia

I landed at Darwin because my forces in Northern Australia are being out done. Two CL will need some yard time for system damage repairs and 2 xAP have taken some damage one has some fires and may have problems if it can't control them. Forces are all ashore with adequate supply.

To avoid forces being strategic moved into Darwin from Katherine I will drop a small force of paras on the rail line at Fenton.

RO-33 attacks an xAK near Geraldton but fails to hit it.

China

Massive daylight raids hit Chungking manpower. Sweeps proceed and find no defense. About 60000 fires are reported in the combat reports but will have to wait to see how much damage is done.

Forces pushing through a gap in the Chinese line West of Ankang enter a hex at just the same time as the Chinese leaving it uncontrolled. I have two brigades with no idea what kind of strength the Chinese have.

Pacific

Quiet, Aleutian invasions forces are on their way.

Engineering

Fusan port expands to size 7 that should help resource moves. It has taken too long to get there and I won't expand to siize 8.

[Spidery]

March 15th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 1 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Kalao(auto), Darwin
Japanese land at: Singkep

Philippines

Continue attacks.

Australia

Forgot to cancel unload for the task forces at Darwin and took some unnecessary shell hits. Nothing too serious. Darwin falls. The airfield is in reasonable condition and can be used immediately to harass Allied forces.

Air drop at Fenton and wiped out and was not needed as no forces using the railway.

The xAK attacked yesterday by a sub turns into two xAK moving along the North West coast. Not sure why they were there but torpedoes from Mavis based at Broome sunk them both.

China

Quiet day.

Pacific

Quiet, Aleutian invasions forces are on their way.

India

Glens spot a task force just South of Ceylon - looks like an ASW task force but it could be the path finder for something more aggressive.

Engineering

Allies expand Bangalore airfield to 5.

Pilots

I have 110 IJA and 35 IJN trained fighter pilots in reserve (70+ air, 60+ defense, 50+ experience) they will be given some low priority CAP to fly to increase experience.

I have 30 IJA LB available for ground attack and 10 for ASW (I have one group of 27 planes staffed up) and some 10 transport pilots. However, most other pilots are half trained. In particular, IJN pilot training is proving slow. There are lots of pilots trained in one skill but cross training is taking its time.

Still no sight of Allied subs. Will continue to train pilots for ASW duties but beginning to wonder whether it is needed.

Economy

Total supply increased but only because it was a low turn for R&D with only 6 factories repairing. On average that is a fair rate for repairs.

[Spidery]

March 16th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 1 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Nomanby Island(auto), Singkep
Japanese land at:

Have no enemy task forces visible anywhere on the map. No air combat anywhere, all quiet...

Philippines

Continue attacks.

Australia

No Allied air left in North and it seems armour don't have any AA. There are a number of armour units separated from others so will concentrate on attacking them by air. Have about parity in land forces but should have advantage in the air and for supply.

China

Quiet day.

Pacific

Quiet, Aleutian invasions forces are on their way.

AO Cuyama (damaged a couple of days back) is sunk near Auckland by I-171.

Engineering

Djokjakarta airfield to 3. Port Moresby airfield to 4.

R&D

Ki-49-IIa advances to 8/42.

[Spidery]

March 17th 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 1 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Bima(auto), Manila[8D]
Japanese land at:

Philippines

A Deliberate Attack takes Manila[:)], the combat report suggests 7000 devices destroyed. The two divisions and two brigades on Luzon are all in a poor state and need a few weeks R&R. However, it does free a lot of artillery and some AF units for redeployment. VP ratio jumps to 2.977 : 1 but there is no supply at Manila so this will get better when the full base value is realised.

Despite all the bombardments a third of the (33) LI survives. The repair yard and resources are completely destroyed.

I am reluctant to spend supply repairing the yard.

Australia

About a week ago I positioned the Kongo, Haruna and Oi West of Perth with a spread of subs looking for a convoy to attack. A convoy of 4 good British xAK (11 to 14 VP each) blunder into the group and are sunk[:D] but it does blow the whistle on that plan. I had hoped for a more valuable task force, still 47 VP is not to be missed.

The situation around Darwin is a bit of a mess but my air power is beginning to tell.

China

Quiet day.

The fires at Chungking are almost out and so far have destroyed 30 HI and 13 LI.

Pacific

Lots of phantom sightings and more reports of Allied recon but nothing visible happening.

Engineering

Horn Island airfield expands to 2. Allies expand Kalemyo to 3.

R&D

Nakajima Ha-45 advances to 6/43. Aichi Ha-60 advances to 9/42.

[offenseman]

I do not recall.... how are the yards at Hong Kong? I agree, it is tempting to not fix the ones at Manila. If HK were fine, that might be a better option.