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

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: 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.

35 yards at Hong Kong and 50 at Singapore.

A problem with the Hong Kong yards is the risk of 4E attack.

[Spidery]

March 18th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 0 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Nowhere! Not even an auto-capture[:(].
Japanese land at:

Philippines

Minefields at Manila are cleared but one AMc sinks. Port Damage is 100 and airfield service damage is 81 so will take a while to get the port fixed - 100 engineers are present.

Australia

Try straffing an armoured unit with Ki-43-1c equipped with 15kg firecrackers. As no flak suffer no loss and inflict one disablement. May do this to slow movement but not for damage.

More damage on armour units from bombers.

China

Targeted Chungking, mostly hitting the airfield. No Allied flights. Damaged some aircraft on the ground and got in some supply and runway hits.

Pacific

Quiet.

Engineering

Allies expand VaVa'u port to 4.

[Spidery]

March 19th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 2 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Wewak(auto), Lae
Japanese land at:

Australia

Straffing and bombing to damage armour units and slow them down in the North. Recce shows forces pulling back from Katherine but Daly Waters is well defended.

China

Grounded air as forcast was for thunderstorms and the aircraft could do with some repairs. Noted that Allied fighters gave moved into Kienko.

The 4th Chinese Cavalry Corps is attacked in the open and loses much of its strength.

Near Sian, I have isolated 750 AV made from 9 Corps and 2 HQ. I have about the same AV available to attack but will delay for some reinforcments to arrive and to let supply shortages bite.

Something odd at Chungking, it looks like the Allied industry is being repaired (a) this seems a pointless use of supply as I will just destroy it again (b) it indicates there is at least 10000 supply in the base - supply shortages aren't biting yet.

I suspect he is running supply in over the hump judging by the aircraft at Ledo and the number of ops losses reported. I may try a raid on Ledo when the weather is better.

Pacific

Quiet.

SigInt

Interesting radio signals detected at 25, 3. This is along the coast of Oman - looks like he may be using a coastal routing from Aden to Karachi.

R&D

A6M5 accelerated to 1/43.

[Spidery]

March 20th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 2 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Wetar(auto), Fenton
Japanese land at: Terapo, Galeia

Australia

At Fenton eliminate the 2nd Cav Recce Regiment. Good air attacks against other armoured units - only getting disablements but eventually may get some destroyed devices.

Indian Ocean

Mini-KB will have to retire to fix its aircraft. They are showing heavy plane fatigue. Will head for Singapore, is it better to off-load some aircraft and have the ground facilities repair the aircraft of leave them on board?

China

Bad weather is interfering with air operations and most movement is in the woods and slow.

Pacific

Quiet.

SigInt

Two reports of heavy volume of radio traffic at 181, 124 (roughly due South of Pearl).

Engineering

Singapore airfield to 8, Shimushiri-Jima to 2, Cocos Islands to 1. Allies expand Bombay airfield to 8.

Is it worth expanding Singapore airfield to 9? Seems like a lot of supply needed.

[Spidery]

March 21st 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 2 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Bathurst Island(auto), Padang, Galeia, Terapo
Japanese land at:

Australia

Pursuit continues in the North.

Indian Ocean

I-124 drops a packet of mines outside Karachi. Unfortunately it is spotted and attacked by a British DE that seems a lot better than the earlier ASW ships. It takes 23/13/0/0 damage and should have no problem making for Singapore and repairs.

However, this probably blows any surprise from the mines.

China

Sweeps of Kienko fail to be engaged and the bombers fail to fly both day and night. Forecast is for thunderstorms again.

Pacific

Some of the invasion heading for the Aleutians have low levels of DL - probably intel leaks.

Engineering

Wyndham airfield to 3. Lanchow airfield to 4. Siangtan airfield to 4. Changteh airfield to 6.
These all give good VP increase, VP ratio is now 3.11 : 1.

[Spidery]

Fusan port went to level 7 a week ago and this has made all the difference in its ability to attract resources. It now has 135000 fuel and 240000 resources present. I'll move some bigger tankers there and start seriously shifting fuel.

[Spidery]

Defensive Planning

The expansion phase is almost over so it is time to plan some defenses.

Air HQ

Including all the air headquarters arriving in 1942 I reckon on placing:

Air flotillas at:
Port Blair, Cocos Islands, Roi Namur, Noumea, Broome, Rossel Island, Buna, Tokyo and Saipan

Air Divisions or Armies at:
Adak Island, Rabaul, Prome, Bangkok, Langsa, Ominato, Soerabaja, Koepang, and 2 in China.

Air Fleet at:
Palembang

Strongpoints

Division sized defenses at:
Port Blair, Cocos Islands, Noumea, Adak Island, Amchitka Island, Koepang, Port Moresby, Rabaul

Haven't worked out yet what else to send where.

Need to defend the Malayan, Sumatran and Javan coasts a bit as well as various island bases.

Defensive Plan

Marshall Islands won't make much effort to defend. Noumea and outposts in Solomons and New Hebrides are just road blocks. North Australia will be a somewhat larger road block.

Will build forts and airfields for the next line of defense during 1942 and populate them in 1943.

[Spidery]

March 22nd 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 2 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Japanese land at: Efate

Australia

2/4th Armoured Regiment is attacked near Katherine and fairs badly. There is a supply(-) for the Allies.

Indian Ocean

Quiet.

China

Night strikes on Chungking encounter some CAP, do little damage and take none.

Weather forecast for China is overcast so a good day to try some heavy strikes.

Pacific

The Aleutian invasion heads North. KB is spotted as it finds and sinks the AMC Prince Robert. Allied float planes are seen over various task forces.

Engineering

Hengyang expands airfield to 5. Allies expand VaVa'u airfield to 1.

Intel

Saratoga is removed from the sunk list (I never believed it). SS Tambor is removed (not surprising).

Economy

Total supply has risen every day for the last week. Today it rose by 5000.

Apart from some expansion of the Ha-33 factory there is no engine or aircraft expansion (except R&D aircraft factories randomly repairing).

In April this will change slightly as I convert small factories for the Ki-49-Ia, H6K2-L, A6M2-N.

[Spidery]

Victory Points.

At the moment the intel screen looks like below.

Japanese Army Loss Points (392) + Japanese Aircraft Points Lost (614) + Points for Sunk Japanese Ships (439) are the points the Allies get for my losses that is equal to 1445 and, presumably, accurate as I know what I have lost.

Add the Allied Base Points (4355) to get 5800 VP the Allies should have but they only have 5585.

What causes the discrepancy? Is it the points they have lost from failure to garrison? He did vacate a number of Chinese and Burmese bases that took a few days for me to occupy but it still seems a lot for that.

For my victory points do the equivalent and include also the Allied Strategic Losses to get 7581 + 7122+ 626 + 1319 + 414 for a total of 17062 but I have 17414 so does the 352 difference represent ships I have sunk but don't have on my Ships Sunk total?

[Spidery]

March 23rd 1942

Air Losses: 4 Japanese, 3 Allied, 2 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Sawoe-eilanden(auto), Efate
Japanese land at: Amchitka Island

Australia

Allies continue to retreat in the North, air continues to harass them.

Indian Ocean

Quiet.

China

Daylight strikes hit Kunming, Kweiyang and Chungking manpower and Chungking airfield. Sweeps fail to engage any defense. Airfield attack at Chungking damages but does not destroy any aircraft. 3 Oscars are lost to ops losses.

The 8th Division has marched for 600 miles from Paotow to near Lanchow without a break and is immediately sent to hold the Yellow river East (map) of the city. This will free the armour to move on Sining.

Pacific

Landing at Amchitka Island finds no defenders.

Near Wake a group of 4 PB find an AMC. One PB is lost.

Engineering

Allies expand Chihkiang airfield to 3 (why?).

[Spidery]

March 24th 1942

Air Losses: 2 Japanese, 0 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Amchitka Island
Japanese land at: Adak Island, Siberoet

Australia

Allies continue to retreat in the North, air continues to harass them.

Indian Ocean

Quiet.

China

Thunderstorms again.

Chinese continue to run faster than I can catch them as they retreat to the central plains.

Pacific

Landing at Adak Island finds no defenders.

A small xAK is sunk by I-174 near Wallis Island. The sub was away from its patrol as it headed back for replenishment.

Engineering

Ichang airfield to 3, Loyang airfield to 3, and Shaoyang airfield to 4.

[Spidery]

March 25th 1942

Air Losses: 9 Japanese, 6 Allied, 2 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Adak Island, Siberoet, Ulak Island, Sawahloento
Japanese land at: Ulak Island

Australia

Allies continue to retreat in the North, air continues to harass them.

Indian Ocean

Quiet.

China

Thunderstorms again.

Chinese continue to run faster than I can catch them as they retreat to the central plains.

Pacific

Landing at Ulak Island finds no defenders.

The AMC Westralia that attacked near Wake Island 2 days ago strays close to Roi-Namur and takes a torpedo from a Nell. Engine damage is reported so it may have difficulty getting away.

A task force containing an AR is seen fleeing from the Aleutians. Will try and get a sub attack on it.

Burma

Allies try a sweep of Magwe. I had moved some fighters from there to Rangoon just this day. The defenders do poorly losing 9 old aircraft (Nates and Oscar 1b) for shooting down 4 Hurricane IIa Trop.

Engineering

Allies expand Chittagong airfield to 2.

[Spidery]

March 26th 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 0 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Ambrym(auto)
Japanese land at:

Australia

I try an air drop on Tennant Creek to try and cut supply North. Unfortunately, it doesn't work because I forgot to take the paras out of rest/training mode. They are probably doomed as he will fly fighters in to prevent any resupply and bomb them to pieces.

Indian Ocean

A task force is spotted off the Oman coast.

China

Bad weather grounds flights.

Two divisions attack two Chinese Corps in the woods near Ankang. Defenders have a supply(-). They do well enough and may be able to take the hex before it can be reinforced. However, for the moment the attackers need to get more supply.

Pacific

The AMC Westralia is spotted again but the Nells and Betties fail to attack it. Replace the air group commanders with ones that are more aggressive.

Somewhere in the south pacific two task forces encounter each other at night but no action takes place. Mine was a single AMC, no idea what his was.

KB is spotted in the middle of the Pacific[:(]. I had pulled it away from the Aleutians to try and position it to counter an Allied counter move, now that secret is blown. The Aleutian forces will pull back and allow what has already landed to develop airfields.

A sub-layed minefield has been dropped at Kodiak.

Burma

Quiet

Engineering

Ominato port expands to 8, will stop there. Derby airfield expands to 2. Allies expand VaVa'u airfield to 2 - they are really investing in this.

R&D

First Ki-44 factory is fully repaired.

[Spidery]

March 27th 1942

Air Losses: 21 Japanese, 3 Allied, 16 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Semisopochnoi Island(auto)
Japanese land at:

Australia

The Tennant Creek drop is wiped out.

Indian Ocean

Quiet

China

A massive strike against Chungking by all the 2E bombers in the area finds no fighters and gets many good hits on industry and starts fire but takes heavy losses from flak. A fair trade.

Some of the Chinese forces that are left from Sian area are attacked in good attacks. Supply shortages are seen for the Chinese.

Pacific

The AMC Westralia is spotted again but the Nells and Betties fail to attack it. A small SCTF of a DMS and an obsolete CL are in a position to attack.

A sub misses an ACM in the North. A sub misses an APD near Pearl Harbour.

A sub drops a minefield on the approach to Seattle and then surfaces to engage an xAKL. If fails to sink it using gun fire. Also detects what is reported as a tanker force.

Burma

Allies try a small night attack against Magwe. Zeroes on night CAP and flak fend off the attack for no damage and one Blenheim is shot down.

Engineering

Allies expand Calcutta airfield to 8.

R&D

Second Ki-44 factory is fully repaired.

[Spidery]

March 28th 1942

Air Losses: 3 Japanese, 0 Allied, 2 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Epi(auto)
Japanese land at:

Australia

Quiet

Indian Ocean

Quiet

China

Night strikes hit Chengtu & Chungking and do badly.

Ground combats are so-so with no break throughs but Chinese forces straining.

Pacific

The AMC Westralia is sunk by CL Katori's old guns.

A sub misses an ACM in the North.

Allied search in the North is amazingly good and I can't work out where he is basing his search planes. If I could they would be bombarded.

Burma

Quiet

Engineering

Milne Bay airfield to 2. Benkoelen airfield to 2. Allies expand Alice Springs airfield to 2.

R&D

Mistubishi Ha-43 advances to 6/45.
A6M5 Zero advances to 12/42.

Reinforcements

LSD Akitsu Maru

[Spidery]

March 29th 1942

Air Losses: 27 Japanese, 17 Allied, 4 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Lakatoro(auto)
Japanese land at:

Australia

Cross the river East of Katherine and completely destroy the 2/9th armoured regiment[&o].

Air attack on the 2/4th armoured regiment is just destroying vehicles now and recce reports just two vehicles left - will probably destroy this unit totally from the air.

Indian Ocean

Quiet

China

Target Chihkiang airfield for some damage.

Ground combat against cut off Chinese forces near Sian gets an 8:1 result but they continue to fight on[:@].

Pacific

Try to bombard Umnak Island as that may be where the search is from but comes up empty[:(].

KB moves forward to near Umnak Island and manages to engage some ACM at range 7 and sinks 2 or 3 of them, only a few Val fly and they use 60kg bombs.

I-170 finds ARD-1 West of Pearl Harbour and sinks it[:)].

Burma

Allies sweep Magwe with many aircraft. They shoot down more defenders than they lose but only 4 pilots are lost, with 11 wounded.

I need to move more fighters to the base.

Engineering

Rangoon airfield expands to 7. Allies expand Kalemyo to 4.

R&D

Nakajima Ha-44 advances to 4/43.

[Spidery]

March 30th 1942

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

Australia

Allies are getting isolated at Katherine. Air strikes are targeting Katherine airfield and supplies.

Indian Ocean

I-23 sinks the 4200 ton xAK Silvermaple West of Karachi.

China

Target Chihkiang airfield for some damage.

Chungking factories hit again.

Ground combat against cut off Chinese forces near Sian gets an 11:1 result but they continue to fight on.

Some more attack opportunities in the woods for next turn but supply continues to be a problem near Ankang.

Pacific

Quiet

Burma

Quiet

Engineering

Pescadores airfield expands to 4. Shanghai airfield expands to 5.

[Spidery]

March 31st 1942

Air Losses: 25 Japanese[:@], 3 Allied, 19 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Ouv'ea(auto), Ansi
Japanese land at:

Australia

Disaster in the air at Katherine. Allied flew some kittyhawks in and the Zeros and oscars on escort failed to engage and allowed the CAP through to slaughter some 1E bombers.

Near Tasmania a sub shoots at and misses an xAK in what seems to be a task force containing various support craft.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 31, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Flinders Island at 85,176

Japanese Ships
SS I-22

Allied Ships
DD Voyager
AS Platypus
AVP Fazant
AVP Pollux
ARD Soerabaja Kv
ARD Tjilitlap Kv
AGP Eridanus
AG Willebrord Snellius
AG Pulganbar
AG Wanaka
xAP Tanimbar
xAP Cremer
xAK Mathew Luckenbach
xAK Carolinian
xAK Bengalen
DD Van Ghent
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With

This will move slowly so can try and get a few sub attacks. Interested in seeing which way it heads. If it is heading East then I have a number of SCTF that may be able to intercept.

Indian Ocean

Quiet

China

Chungking factories hit yet again - still no defense.

More attacks pushing at Chinese forces but no massive success.

Pacific

In the north I-29 puts one torpedo into AR Medusa - probably not sunk.
I-19 sinks the AG Aldebaran
I-1 decides not to attack the AG vega.

All of this is in the same slow moving task force and the sharks are gathering.

DEI

A cut off Dutch unit is eliminated on Sumatra.

Burma

Quiet

Engineering

IChang expands airfield to 4 (another base for attacks on the centre). Horn Island airfield to 3.
Allies expand Alice Springs, Suva, and Hyderabad airfields.

R&D

The Ki-49-1a, A6M2-N, H6K2-L become available and create factories of size 15, 15, and 8 respectively.
The Ki-48-IIa also becomes available but not sure it is worth producing - even though it is armoured.

[Spidery]

Progress end March 1942

All key targets for the expansion phase have been acquired. There are still various minor dot bases and a few other bases behind lines.

In Australia, Katherine holds out and I am sending a 3rd division here to acquire it. I am a bit concerned that I am being drawn in here.

There have been some costly oversights tactically on the ground and in the air and MrKane has made no mistakes in the air. I think he may have made some bad tactical moves in China but it is hard to tell.

After the landings on Java the single Allied submarine I have seen was the SS Tambor at Wake Island. I'm not sure why the British and Dutch subs aren't attacking my commerce.

[Spidery]

Intel Screen

Allied air losses are now less than Japanese. No progress on attacking Australian industry.

Edited with correct image