Making Allied Lemonade-Chickenboy (IJ) vs. SqzMyLemon (AD)

[Chickenboy]

Pacific:

4th ID has reloaded onto ships for the Port Moresby assault. They may move towards Rabaul and await further developments.

Christmas island: KB, 3 heavy SCTFs and the diaspora SNLF units pass east of Canton island en route to Christmas island, 17 hexes distant. None of these units are spotted. [:)]

I send a small Cl + 3 DD TF ahead to Christmas island. During the day, they (and a couple AMCs returning from Tahiti, en route back to Truk) spot a TF of Allied xAKs. None are engaged, but both of my TFs are spotted near Christmas island. These units will be reordered to sweep Christmas island and the surrounding sea in an effort to bag the Allied TF. Intel of Christmas island indicates they are flying PBY-5s in a recon capacity from the island. One of the AMC's float planes will fly recon tomorrow over the island to see what we're dealing with here.

In the meantime, I hope he's thinking "raiding forces" and constructs a heavy SCTF to hang around Christmas island to deal with these raiders. Maybe he'll detail a singleton CV to hang out there too. Well, a fella can hope, can't he? [;)]

[Chickenboy]

China:

Chaos incarnate. A scrambled mess clamboring for the exits.

The SW (Chinese R flank) theatre is suddenly interesting. Japanese troops at Changsha have the SE hexside opened up and leave through that open venue. This force will supplement others making for the Kukong rail line to the West. If I can make that road before he falls back across the river, these troops will be-for all intents and purposes-cut off from falling back to the northern MLR.

[Chickenboy]

December 28, 1941-January 2, 1942:

Updates to follow. Mid-page 2 ignominy! This what I get for taking a week off to go to Texas for Spring Break! [;)]

[Chickenboy]

12/28/41-1/3/42:

DEI:

Sumatra: Japanese troops push back the former Dutch defenders from Palembang to the SW and West. Djambi falls to an armored recon unit. Negligible damage to oil production 245(5) means that on Sumatra alone, I have 955(95) oil production, with refinery status at 804(216). This is sufficient to support the Empire's war goals.

Java: A number of SCTF, ASW and Minesweeping TFs scour the NE coast of Java on the Java Sea side. I'm trying to obscure my ultimate destination a bit, but it's probably obvious I'm coming. On January 2, two heavy SCTFs (2BB, CA, multiple DDs) enter the Java sea, supported by mini-KB. They take station one hex North of Kalidjati.

Several days of recon have shown Merak and Kalidjati ungarrisoned. Inexplicable, really. Why provide a foothold for me unchallenged?

Tomorrow the 15th Guards hit the beach at Kalidjati. 4380 troops.

Another day out sees the 4th and 2nd SNLF landing in support. In two days, the Yokusuka 1st and 3rd para (-) will arrive. Admixed within the latter two landings are a number of base force, construction engineer and aviation support units. In three days, the 81st Naval Guard arrives Kalidjati.

Bangkok: The newly arrived 17th Independent guards regiment will load transport in two days and make way towards Java. ETA 7-8 days.

Saigon: 22nd Air Flotilla loads amphibious transport for Java. ETA 6 days.

Singakawang (Borneo): 23rd Air Flotilla loads amphibious transport for Java. ETA 3 days.

Luzon: The polyglot units comprising the 16th division are reformed at Manila.

Orders are issued for the 48th and 21st IDs to break from the siege of Clark Airbase and make way towards Batangas' size 3 port. They will be accompanied by 2 armored regiments and several artillery units. These units will be embarked there and transported to Java. ETA 10-12 days.

Tarakan: Reinforced Japanese efforts finally dislodge the defenders of Tarakan on January 2, 1942. This was a stout and admirable Dutch defensive effort. Also, not a great show on my part. Units from Tarakan will be retasked to Balikpapan and Menado.

[Chickenboy]

Pacific:

P/NG: Buna falls to Maizuru SNLF units on 1/1/42.

In the 'main show', 4th ID will land Port Moresby tomorrow. There's no indication that this amphibious TF has been spotted since departing Truk and routing through Rabaul. There's just not much Allied naval search here to spot any of my units. That may be 'expensive'. We'll see.

Escorts are light for the 4th ID-two SCTFs of about 7 destroyers plus some embedded Cls into the TF to mitigate shore fire. I do have a hefty submarine screen in the area, but this is certainly permeable.

I'm taking a real risk here. KB is probably 2000 miles due East near Christmas island (more information below), as are the 'heavies'. Lae isn't built up to level 2 yet, so it can't do much to support the PM landing. I'm out on the 'bleeding edge' of my capabilities here. But I want PM-badly-before he has an opportunity for reinforcement or to reconsider his turtling behavior.

[Chickenboy]

P/NG 1/3/42:

[Chickenboy]

Pacific, continued:

Christmas Island (Pacific):

Nighttime bombardments by 4 BBs soften the defenders effectively on 12/31 and 1/1/42. KB (- Kaga) fast moves around the SE side of the island, sweeping toward the NE.

A 4xCA TF arrives Christmas island to defend against possible Allied incursion during the unloading process. CA Aoba and DD Uzuki are both mined. Uzuki sinks. Aoba will be escorted to Truk. Otherwise, the unloading process on 12/31-1/1 goes well.

A clean unload sees 4646 Japanese marines thrown against the disrupted defenders.

Allied defense crumbles and all units are liquidated.

Ground combat at Christmas Island (174,141)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 4646 troops, 40 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 182

Defending force 3148 troops, 105 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 35

Japanese adjusted assault: 49

Allied adjusted defense: 10

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Christmas Island !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
557 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
2846 casualties reported
Squads: 36 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 382 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 127 (127 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 48 (48 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 8


Assaulting units:
53rd Naval Guard Unit
61st Naval Guard Unit
Maizuru 2nd SNLF
51st Nav Gd /1

Defending units:
114th USAAF Base Force
Christmas USN CPNAB
131st Field Artillery Battalion
147th Field Artillery Regiment
148th Field Artillery Battalion
3rd Marine Defense Battalion
115th USAAF Base Force
E Det USN Port Svc


The 53rd and 51st Naval guard units are disrupted and have suffered disproportionate casualties. They will stay and 'defend' the badly damaged island for the time being. 61st NG and Maizuru 2nd SNLF reload transports on 1/2/42 and will return to the Rabaul-Truk region. There's more booty to be collected before the Allied defense can gel.

Noumea: I want to see what the Allies have cooking down Noumea-way. After PM, this is my proximate deep goal for the region. I'd like to get here before he has an opportunity for massive reinforcement. I send two Cl training cruisers to sniff out anything unusual there. They find something interesting on 1/2/42.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Noumea at 115,160, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Katori
CL Kashima

Allied Ships
AM Wollongong, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
xAKL Lorinna, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
xAKL Caledon, Shell hits 6, and is sunk


No troops were involved, so this could either mean a mere supply run to New Caledonia or a possible reinforcement effort that was happened upon after the fact. More surveillance will be needed here.

[Chickenboy]

January 4 update:

Landings at Port Moresby and Kalidjati (Java) go well. At the latter, troops land in repose, with no disruption or other impediment. Port Moresby sees 417 AV of the 4th ID unload (all troops, basically). Supply unloading continues through the day. A deliberate attack is ordered for tomorrow.

[Chickenboy]

Whoops. I should update more often. [:D]

Ten more days in the war have elapsed. It's mostly been about positional consolidation, upgrading of airframes and the pause before the next 'push'.

China:

Generally speaking, China is consolidating for the Allies. He's immediately pulled back many of his troops to defensible terrain and, with one exception, is fleeing Southern China as fast as possible. The battle of Sian is shaping up for a February conclusion. Two large stacks of infantry clash two hexes South of the city. The attack goes off at 1:1 odds for the Japanese in the wooded hex, so that will be a problem for the Allies moving forward. They simply cannot provide the needed supply to fend off the Japanese troops.

To the Southwest, Changsha is still held in strength. I've bypassed it to seize the triad of cities to its immediate west and will attempt to move in behind it.

Japanese efforts to prevent a mass exodus of Chinese troops into Kukong failed with sizeable casualties for outmatched Japanese regiments (2) that stood in the way of the Chinese horde.

A few straggler Chinese units stayed behind to make a nuisance of themselves on the rail lines in the area of South China. They are immaterial.

[Chickenboy]

1.14.42:

Sumatra / Java:

Kalidjati landings (Java)and enlargement of the bridgehead are unopposed. Two Air HQ and a number of base forces make Kalidjati the largest (best supported) airbase in the Empire. SNLF units spread out and lay astride rail and road lines. The island is cut in half.

I'm going to need some additional help in reducing Batavia in a timely fashion. The troops from Sumatra will be helpful here.

Troops on Sumatra have cleared the southern rail lines and roads to Oosthaven. Two SNLF units and an armored recon unit are being amphibious combat loaded. They will land Merak 1.16.42 and capture that hex.

[Chickenboy]

Malaya:

The move down the western rail line to Johore Bahru goes well. Elements of the 5th ID and the 18th Division recombine there along with the Imperial Guards. 5th ID will lead the way into Singapore with the other divisions and combat elements in tow.

Since Clark Field is bottled up, I am bringing two additional divisions from Luzon to help offset losses and replace disrupted troops. They loaded at Batangas and are en route to Mersing on 14 January.

That should make 6 division equivalents + artillery + engineer support for the assault. That should be sufficient.

[Chickenboy]

Elsewhere:

Mindanao sees Cagayan fall shortly after the new year. The defenders retreat into the center of Mindanao where they are bombarded by IJNAF bombers newly rotated into the area.

Assault troops are gathering at Davao for the amphibious assault on Balikpapan. Ambon, Menado and Southern DEI islands will follow. I'm starting to think about Timor now as well, with Java already well in hand, but that's still a month or so off.

South Pacific: Christmas island (Pacific) ships begin returning to Truk for rearmament and refueling. Two air HQs have relocated here. One will likely be shipped to Noumea. In the meantime, this is a good time to upgrade odds and ends from a number of air units in the area.

[Cribtop]

Glad to see this back! Seems like things are going according to plan so far.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Glad to see this back! Seems like things are going according to plan so far.

Wow! Someone posted in my AAR! [;)] Thanks Cribtop!

SqzMyLemon is proving most uncooperative in a number of areas-particularly China, where he's bloodied a number of my early movers. The Japanese are certainly not invulnerable to large numbers of well-supplied and undisrupted Chinese corps.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Malaya:

The move down the western rail line to Johore Bahru goes well. Elements of the 5th ID and the 18th Division recombine there along with the Imperial Guards. 5th ID will lead the way into Singapore with the other divisions and combat elements in tow.

Since Clark Field is bottled up, I am bringing two additional divisions from Luzon to help offset losses and replace disrupted troops. They loaded at Batangas and are en route to Mersing on 14 January.

That should make 6 division equivalents + artillery + engineer support for the assault. That should be sufficient.

More than sufficient I'd say!
Surely without stacking limits the game plays out very differently!
The 11th Division is re-built in Singapore as far as u know? If so, I guess 2 more divisions won't hurt[;)]

[GreyJoy]

Just don't send into the forge those two single regiments without first combining them into their parent LCUs...they will get mauled in the shock attack

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Just don't send into the forge those two single regiments without first combining them into their parent LCUs...they will get mauled in the shock attack

The 41st and 143rd? Alas, their other components are scattered across the DEI. They'll have to take their lumps on the way in.

I did take some time to change leadership in some of the regiments and the Imperial Guard division. The default general for that had something like an inspiration rating of 30. He's been sacked. The LCUs going in to Singapore have very solid leadership, which is probably not the case with the British units now trapped there.

[Chickenboy]

January 18:

Troops cross into Singapore.





Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 61151 troops, 711 guns, 472 vehicles, Assault Value = 2071

Defending force 33139 troops, 428 guns, 305 vehicles, Assault Value = 803

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1306

Allied adjusted defense: 1095

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:
9550 casualties reported
Squads: 25 destroyed, 661 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 53 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 225 disabled
Guns lost 60 (1 destroyed, 59 disabled)
Vehicles lost 41 (2 destroyed, 39 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
3253 casualties reported
Squads: 94 destroyed, 160 disabled
Non Combat: 74 destroyed, 118 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 35 disabled
Guns lost 75 (4 destroyed, 71 disabled)
Vehicles lost 44 (11 destroyed, 33 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Assaulting units:
18th Division
23rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
4th Ind. Engineer Regiment
56th Engineer Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
5th Division
55th Engineer Regiment
15th Ind. Engineer Regiment
143rd Infantry Regiment
6th RTA Division
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
7th Field AF Construction Battalion
2nd Fleet
3rd Mortar Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd AA Regiment
8th Field AF Construction Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
56th Field Artillery Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
2/17 Dogra Battalion
2nd Malay Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
1st Malay Battalion
2nd Gordons Battalion
1st Manchester Battalion
2nd Argylls Battalion
28th Gurkha Brigade
SSVF Brigade
3rd Cavalry Regiment
3/16th Punjab Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
2nd Loyal Battalion
5/2nd Punjab Battalion
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
2/215th Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
Singapore Base Force
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
AHQ Far East
III Indian Corps
224 Group RAF
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
111th RAF Base Force
Malaya Army
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
5th Field Regiment
Malayan Air Wing
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
Singapore Fortress
112th RAF Base Force
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
223 Group RAF /2

We let out our collective breath. There will be no 1:2 shock attack disruption and losses. That's huge. It bodes for an early fall of Singapore.

Casualties are, by and large, light with mostly disruptions. The 6th RTA and 18th IJA Divisions took disproportionate Japanese casualties. They will be removed from Singapore to recover. 6th RTA will take up a defensive position somewhere in the Malaya-Burmese theatre. 18th ID will go to Manila to recover and free up other troops currently garrisoning Manila. 18th ID will start prepping for Clark Field and will assume duties there upon its recovery (60 days or so).

Singapore forts are only at level 2. That's great! The daily AF bombing campaign paid off handsomely. Either the next attack or the one following should take the city.

To replace the 18th ID and 6th RTA, the 48th and 21st Divisions (+ armor and artillery support) are inbound to Mersing. They will arrive tomorrow. 5th Guards engineers and 14th guards regiment will follow 3 days hence.

[Chickenboy]

Two questions for the audience (both of you [;)]):

1. Switch to ground bombing now to continue the LCU disruption or stick with AF attacks?

2. With the lion's share of my LCUs and AV across the causeway onto Singapore now, can I move in additional LCUs without triggering a shock attack?

I'd like to feed in the two arriving IDs and regimental support one at a time when they arrive before the next attack. I recall some occasions where this triggered a shock attack (even though it wasn't 'supposed to') back in the day. Is this WAD?

[Chickenboy]

January 18:

DEI: Java:

Troops transported from Oosthaven to Merak successfully. In spite of being pored over by Dozens of AMc and DMS craft over the last two weeks, no one saw the massive minefield there apparently. [8|] A submarine, APD and three transports are damaged. The APD and a transport sink, the others successfully disband at Oosthaven. They'll survive.

Merak (N. Java) falls on January 16. 2nd Infantry division reformed from constituent elements at Merak and moves on Batavia along with an armored regiment and 2 SNLF units.

To the South of Batavia, 15th guards and 17th independent guards move North towards Batavia. Paratroops will take the (ungarrisoned) mountain hex to Batavia's SW and Batavia will be cut off.

Philippines: Units gather at Davao for next goals. Amphibious assaults on Menado and Ternate begin loading. After liberating Menado, assault forces will move (with mini-KB support) to Balikpapan.

Burma: 33rd ID heads west from Pegu. It will arrive in a lightly defended Rangoon (5 units; 5300 troops) tomorrow.

Even though I don't have Singapore yet, I've run 5 submarines around the Indian Ocean side of Sumatra and refueled them at Alor Star (Georgetown is still mined, otherwise it would have been my preferential refuel station). These 5 IJ submarines will take up patrol positions west of Diego Garcia, around Colombo and Trincomalee and around the tip of India.