The Hive - Cruft PBEM (Japan, Scen 2 Beta + Stacking Limits)

[pws1225]

I've just come upon this AAR and the Captain's approach is intriguing. I gotta go get some popcorn and beer!

[Captain Cruft]

Thanks pws

Time to take these old girls out for a spin I think.

[obvert]

Alright. Lets see what they can add.

[Captain Cruft]

14 Aug 1944

I lost 88 Oscars today because the unit they were targeting moved from the hex of doom to Hong Kong, where needless to say there is rather a lot of flak. The Peggies on the other hand breezed over without any damage whatsover at 12,000ft. A bit strange ...

Quite a pleasing ground bombardment attack though. His units appear to be deteriorating, for whatever reason.

A recon by bombardment in the hex of doom is scheduled for tomorrow. Although the mouseover is showing an increase in the number of units there, the actual troop number is not very different from that previously reported.

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Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11975 troops, 281 guns, 274 vehicles, Assault Value = 2866

Defending force 177055 troops, 3069 guns, 3329 vehicles, Assault Value = 4411

Allied ground losses:
541 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 33 (6 destroyed, 27 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (4 destroyed, 12 disabled)

[Captain Cruft]

15 Aug 1944

Eek!

He has moved a large proportion of his troops at Hong Kong to the hex of doom. The movement arrow only appeared last turn, so that must mean they managed to travel in Move mode rather than Combat mode, despite suffering daily Bombardment Attacks. Not sure how that happened but so be it ...

Not really sure what to do now except sit tight and see what happens. I don't think I can get a result with a Deliberate Attack in either hex.

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Morning Air attack on 72nd British Brigade, at 78,60 , near Hong Kong

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 49
Ki-61-Id Tony x 32
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 29
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 145

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 35 damaged

Allied ground losses:
255 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 60 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 42 (3 destroyed, 39 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-67-Ia Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 3 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
30 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
32 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
20 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
28 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
5 x Ki-67-Ia Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 3 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
4 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
4 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking Provisionl Tank Brigade ...
Also attacking 23rd Chindit Brigade ...
Also attacking Gardner's Horse Regiment ...
Also attacking 43rd Cavalry Regiment ...
Also attacking 72nd British Brigade ...
Also attacking Provisionl Tank Brigade ...
Also attacking 28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 50th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 50th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking Provisionl Tank Brigade ...
Also attacking 50th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 72nd British Brigade ...
Also attacking Provisionl Tank Brigade ...
Also attacking Gardner's Horse Regiment ...
Also attacking 43rd Cavalry Regiment ...
Also attacking 72nd British Brigade ...
Also attacking Provisionl Tank Brigade ...
Also attacking Gardner's Horse Regiment ...
Also attacking 43rd Cavalry Regiment ...
Also attacking 72nd British Brigade ...
Also attacking Provisionl Tank Brigade ...
Also attacking 23rd Chindit Brigade ...
Also attacking Gardner's Horse Regiment ...
Also attacking 72nd British Brigade ...
Also attacking Provisionl Tank Brigade ...
Also attacking 28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 50th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 72nd British Brigade ...
Also attacking Provisionl Tank Brigade ...
Also attacking Gardner's Horse Regiment ...
Also attacking 43rd Cavalry Regiment ...
Also attacking 72nd British Brigade ...
Also attacking Provisionl Tank Brigade ...
Also attacking Gardner's Horse Regiment ...
Also attacking 43rd Cavalry Regiment ...
Also attacking 72nd British Brigade ...

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Morning Air attack on 50th Chinese Corps, at 78,60 , near Hong Kong

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 36
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 20
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 50

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 18 damaged

Allied ground losses:
162 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 10 (5 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-67-Ia Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 3 x 250 kg GP Bomb
26 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 50th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 50th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 50th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 50th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 50th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment ...

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Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12010 troops, 281 guns, 274 vehicles, Assault Value = 2876

Defending force 57935 troops, 1009 guns, 953 vehicles, Assault Value = 1325

Allied ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
Hong Kong Def Force
66th Naval Guard Unit
Yokosuka 5th SNLF
38th Division
60th Division
15th Tank Regiment
30th Division
2nd Guards Division
104th Division
55th Division
21st Division
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF
Canton Special Base Force
44th Road Const Co
3rd Air Division
11th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
9th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
29th Army
33rd Road Const Co
52nd Field AA Battalion
8th Ind.Hvy.Art. Bn /9
11th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
1st JAAF Base Force
100th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
43rd Const Co
12th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
53rd Field AA Battalion
28th Army
75th Field AA Battalion
25th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
42nd Road Const Co
13th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
10th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
7th JAAF Base Force
47th JAAF AF Bn /1
5th RF Gun Battalion
2nd Shipping Engineer Regiment
Hong Kong Special Base Force
34th Road Const Co
20th RF Gun Battalion
54th Field AA Battalion
18th RF Gun Battalion
16th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Bn /9

Defending units:
82nd (West African) Division
2nd British Division
19th Indian Division
20th Indian Division
60th Chinese Corps
Southeast Asia
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
6th Mixed A/T Mtr Regiment
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Indian Light AA Regiment
77th Heavy AA Regiment
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
17th Indian Light AA Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
XXXIII Indian Corps
5th Field Regiment

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Ground combat at 78,60 (near Hong Kong)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 18425 troops, 158 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 1468

Defending force 132188 troops, 2195 guns, 2806 vehicles, Assault Value = 3605

Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
51st Division
27th Tank Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
4th Tank Division
25th Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
53rd Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
53rd Chinese Corps
254th Armoured Brigade
18th British Division
81st (West African) Division
38th Infantry Division
7th Australian Division
14th Chindit Brigade
23rd Chindit Brigade
Gardner's Horse Regiment
25th Indian Division
Provisionl Tank Brigade
43rd Cavalry Regiment
255th Indian Tank Brigade
72nd British Brigade
73rd Chinese Corps
50th Chinese Corps
28th (East African) Brigade
3rd New Chinese Corps
11th Indian Division
5th Indian Division
32nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
88th Medium Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
3rd West African AA Regiment
163rd Light AA Regiment
31st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
14th Army
20th Artillery Regiment
IV Indian Corps
28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
56th Heavy AA Regiment
22nd Artillery Regiment

[Lowpe]

The best laid plans....don't survive contact with the enemy or perhaps the game engine.

Frustrating. It had been such a coup.

[Captain Cruft]

Although I may have missed out on the "big victory" I think it has certainly messed up his timetable on the mainland quite badly.

Now my only worry is about losing too many troops in the clear terrain of the hex of doom. It is likely he will do an attack there this turn, and I am out-numbered 2 or 3 to 1 without taking firepower into account. Peggies and Oscars will hopefully be bombing but I doubt this will have a material effect given the size of his stack.

[JocMeister]

Ouch, that one turned bad fast! I agree that if he attacks next turn you will be a very bad position!

[Captain Cruft]

16 Aug 1944

No attack!

Perhaps he is waiting for all his guys to vacate Hong Kong, which they have now done.

I cannot get my troops out of the hex in time so will just to take the punishment next turn.

[Captain Cruft]

Here's the Philippines.

The brave defenders at Zamboanga did well today.

I am going to try for his shipping at San Jose next turn. It's a surface combat TF.

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Ground combat at Zamboanga (75,89)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 19877 troops, 413 guns, 447 vehicles, Assault Value = 868

Defending force 12947 troops, 134 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 249

Allied adjusted assault: 748

Japanese adjusted defense: 1663

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 6)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 3

Allied ground losses:
472 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 39 disabled
Vehicles lost 17 (1 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Assaulting units:
104th Combat Engineer Regiment
27th Infantry Division
33rd Infantry Division
706th Tank Battalion

Defending units:
Yokosuka 5th SNLF /1
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF /1
4th JNAF AF Unit /1
22nd Special Base Force
23rd Special Base Force
62nd JNAF AF Unit /1
24th Special Base Force
49th JNAF AF Unit /1
32nd Special Base Force
17th Naval Const Bn /1
51st JNAF AF Unit /1
27th JNAF AF Unit /1

[Captain Cruft]

17 Aug 1944

The attack came today. His guys must really be in poor shape, this was a great result.

No kami attack in the Philippines as his ships disappeared.

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Ground combat at 78,60 (near Hong Kong)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 141808 troops, 2791 guns, 3420 vehicles, Assault Value = 4992

Defending force 42853 troops, 369 guns, 977 vehicles, Assault Value = 1947

Allied adjusted assault: 1507

Japanese adjusted defense: 1576

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
3440 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 272 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 52 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 61 (3 destroyed, 58 disabled)
Vehicles lost 208 (64 destroyed, 144 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
11667 casualties reported
Squads: 562 destroyed, 454 disabled
Non Combat: 48 destroyed, 89 disabled
Engineers: 81 destroyed, 56 disabled
Guns lost 284 (74 destroyed, 210 disabled)
Vehicles lost 165 (67 destroyed, 98 disabled)

Assaulting units:
60th Chinese Corps
82nd (West African) Division
18th British Division
254th Armoured Brigade
14th Chindit Brigade
73rd Chinese Corps
3rd New Chinese Corps
72nd British Brigade
255th Indian Tank Brigade
20th Indian Division
19th Indian Division
43rd Cavalry Regiment
50th Chinese Corps
2nd British Division
Gardner's Horse Regiment
23rd Chindit Brigade
81st (West African) Division
53rd Chinese Corps
7th Australian Division
11th Indian Division
38th Infantry Division
25th Indian Division
Provisionl Tank Brigade
28th (East African) Brigade
5th Indian Division
8th Medium Regiment
XXXIII Indian Corps
3rd West African AA Regiment
Southeast Asia
20th Artillery Regiment
IV Indian Corps
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
17th Indian Light AA Regiment
77th Heavy AA Regiment
31st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
163rd Light AA Regiment
28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
5th Field Regiment
14th Army
88th Medium Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
6th Mixed A/T Mtr Regiment
1st Indian Light AA Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
56th Heavy AA Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
32nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
22nd Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
51st Division
27th Tank Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
4th Tank Division
25th Tank Regiment
49th Division
15th Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
53rd Ind.Mixed Brigade

[obvert]

[Captain Cruft]

More luck than judgement. I also neglected to mention that I lost 90 planes on the day (Oscars and Peggies) as he LRCAPed the hex with lots of P-47s and P-38s.

Still, I ain't complaining.

[Cribtop]

Banzai!

[Captain Cruft]

We'll be back in Singapore by Christmas.

[Lowpe]

He's running away!

[Captain Cruft]

18 Aug 1944

No action today to speak of. The arrow on his stack is still pointing towards Canton.

Shanghai has reached size 9 forts. There is very little base-building going on now anywhere. Supply at Tokyo can perhaps now start to recover from the somewhat depressed level of c.200k. I had to ship a lot out to HK and Formosa to support the recent action.

[Captain Cruft]

Just noticed, he has arrived in Changsha. Not directly over the river obviously.

[JocMeister]

Wow! [X(]

Didn´t expect that result. Wonder whats up with his troops? Adjusted AV from 5k to 1,5k in a clear hex and 560 destroyed squads... Not seen that before!

Congrats on the victory! [:)]

[Cribtop]

I suspect some of his KMT units must still have a lot of disabled squads. I would say it was low supply, DIS and FAT, but the combat report didn't show any such minuses. Very surprising, in a good way.