Where'd I put that sword again? Erkki(evil IJ) vs Iroquois(A) no Iroquois

[Erkki]

IJAAF also hit Batavia's port with Ki-48s. Some small ships were hit but we'll see if my opponent now puts up a stronger CAP(just 4 were airborne and they didnt engage) that my sweeps could inflict casualties on in a day or two.

[Erkki]

Dec 30 1941


Lets go to the most important action of the day first:

CarDiv I with Akagi, Kaga, Ryujo and BBs Hiei and Kirishima approached the coast of Australia, with a CS scouting nearby. Weather allowed to send all float planes and targets were found quickly: an enemy CVTF 5 hex away between CarDiv I and Townsville, a big SAG 8 hex to the South, an xAK TF hugging the coast near Townsville, a small TF of probably warships also near Townsville.

IJN strikes flew on the PM phase. AARs follow:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Palm Island at 95,142
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
B5N2 Kate x 40
D3A1 Val x 48

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CVL Charlotte, Bomb hits 1
CL Boise, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
24 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-4 with F4F-3 Wildcat (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters to 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes

My thoughts: the enemy CAP engaged the escorts only briefly before getting to shoot the strike aircraft. Not many were lost but the fighter interference combined to crap weather over target area made all but 2 attacks miss. It was horrible to watch. Such an opportunity utterly wasted!!!! D3As flew at 14 kft and B5Ns at 9 kft but that didnt stop the escorts from letting the CAP through. A series of really bad die rolls, just like all the Netty and submarine torpedo duds on various warships including BC Repulse.

The Allies also launched, but their tiny attack force was shattered by the layered Zero-CAP and all SBDs plus 3 Wildcats were shot down:


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Palm Island at 98,143

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD-1 Dauntless x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-1 Dauntless: 4 destroyed

CAP engaged:
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
11 planes vectored on to bombers

The Allies also lost a Seagull over the CarDiv I.

For whatever brainfart idea the CV commander thought it was a good idea to also attack the SAG 8 hex away with bomb-armed B5Ns only:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rockhampton at 98,151

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
B5N2 Kate x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Houston
CL Tromp
DD Kortenaer
CL De Ruyter
CL Java, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

This was just a waste of good planes and aircrew. The bomb hit on CL Java failed to penetrate belt armor.

There was also a B-17E sighted over the fleet, and one shows as lost as on OPS loss today. The Allies are probably using them for naval search.

Tactical thoughts:

I havent finished the turn yet and I'm thinking about committing the two BBs. The area is unlikely to have enemy submarines, the USN CVs are near Hawaii, Commonwealth torpedo bombers have been shot down and the A-24s are most likely still in Ambon. The 2+ SAGs in the area do remain a threat. Fuel might become an issue.

I think most likely the enemy TF will flee to Townsville where they'll put up a CAP of Wildcats and P-40s. Charlotte can probably still reach 30 knots, but I'm pretty sure that the Boise cant. Any other way and he risks getting caught by the CarDiv I without more than a handful of Wildcats for protection and no means to hit back.

He also cant be sure that CarDiv I is alone. B-17s found the CS nearby though. This turn he 95% likely sighted CarDiv III in Cam Ranh Bay(and 100% sure he saw it in the area 3 days ago) but he doesnt know where the other half of IJN carriers is. I know that he kept track of the CarDiv I earlier during the Rabaul operation, but he lost track of it for 4 days and probably thought it returned to Truk, which is why he has these TFs sailing on the Coral Sea.


Strategic thoughts:

So what the heck are Boise, Houston, Perth and what looks like the entire Dutch East Indies Navy doing here? Allies have been VERY aggressive with their air force so far and also made some hit & run attacks with heavy surface units where it was safe, but kept the distance where IJN has been present. (Actually IJ carriers almost caught his BBs near Wake, he just doesnt know it... Maybe I'll get to bloody his nose at some point) Perhaps the absolutely overwhelming force I gathered for the operation to take Palembang scared him away: he thinks that I will use overwhelming force including BBs and CVs wherever I go step by step within the DEI and his surface assets can achieve little in there. Thus he moves them all where he thinks they are safe or might possibly achieve something. Maybe he is expecting landings in New Caledonia or Fiji and is preparing to committ force against such IJ operations?

If the above is true, then not keeping the KB together was a mistake to me. From now on he'll likely be much more cautious and I missed an opportunity to hurt his navies. If he does again raid elsewhere I may be able to hit back next time though. He doesnt know where the second half of my carriers are. On the other hand the information on his fleet's position will allow me to advance faster in the DEI: 2 further landings with only surface units for support are go.


China: 3 inconclusive battles, casualties slightly favor the IJ.

Burma: Allies keep bombing IJ troops in Moulmein despite yesterdays casualties. Derp. Ki-43s sweep Rangoon and shoot down 3 H81s and a Hurricane for no loss.

Malaya: Alor Star falls! Allied troops dont surrender though but retreat to roadless forest hex.

DEI: Dutch bombers from Batavia sortie to attack IJN SAG near Palembang. 2 bombers are shot down. This TF is not even a CAP trap but the Allies still choose fly unescorted strikes to targets under the fighter umbrella. 3 USN Flushdecker DDs engage unloading IJ Ambhip. TF near Manokwari and destroy a small xAP. Manokwari falls to IJ hands.

South Pacific: IJ reinforcements make it to Rabaul.

Submarines: IJN subs destroy a small ship near Soerabaja. Dutch submarine hits 2 mines in Camh Ranh Bay and is sunk.

[Erkki]

Dec 31 1941


Now again, who it who said the BBs are useless outside of bombarding and bomb sponge CV escorts?


Coral Sea: IJN BBs Hiei and Kirishima dash to Townsville and find out that the enemy had detached the wounded CL Boise and a DD from the CVTF that apparently ran for its life. AAR follows:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Townsville at 92,144, Range 5,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Shell hits 1
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 1
DD Akizuki
DD Teruzuki

Allied Ships
CL Boise, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
DD Peary, Shell hits 3, and is sunk

Reduced visibility due to Rain with 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 96% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 5,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 5,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CL Boise at 5,000 yards
DD Peary engages BB Kirishima at 5,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Teruzuki at 5,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Peary at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CL Boise at 4,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CL Boise at 4,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Peary at 4,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Peary at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CL Boise at 5,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Akizuki at 5,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Peary at 5,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Peary at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages CL Boise at 4,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Peary at 4,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Akizuki at 4,000 yards
Blake R. orders Allied TF to disengage
CL Boise sunk by BB Kirishima at 4,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages DD Peary at 4,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages DD Peary at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Peary at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Peary at 6,000 yards
DD Peary sunk by BB Hiei at 6,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...


Banzai!!!!!

In daylight, CarDiv I destroys an xAK convoy that was probably unloading:

xAK Age, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Asphalion, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Tambua, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Aeon, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Herstein, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Barwon, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk


Wirraways attempt to hit CS Chioyda twice(14 individual attacks) but as expected, fail.


China: in the North the big KMT force is routed again with massive losses. The Chinese are turtling within the 2 cities.

Malaya: air attacks on Singapore dont go very well... First the fighter sweeps fail despite superior IJ numbers, and then they get through the escorts AGAIN and shoot down lots of bombers. Aerial recce reported Singapore to have 2 submarines in the port for 3 days so the port was hit, but alas, no submarines, just motor launches, AMs and such.

On ground, the Allies still havent retreated to Singapore... Another 250 AV is found in Temuloh! This strategy will probably delay the fall of Singapore somewhat, but think I need to use less troops that I would have had the British retreated to Singapore with everything asap.

DEI: Ki-43s sweep Batavia and shoot down 5 Buffalos. Zeros shoot down 3 bombers on a naval attack mission near Palembang. A medium sized hurt xAP retreating to Bedeloap is lost.

PI: On Luzon IJ troops have cut off over 300 AV worth of PI and US troops!! And on Mindanao rowboat corps and paratroopers(marching) capture the last Allied-held bases! Theres still some troops left though, and they're out of supply and take very heavy losses to the IJ attack. They might all surrender tomorrow.

Submarines: Dutch sub destroys an xAK with supply aboard near Palembang. IJN sub gets hurt badly by ASW near Ceylon but its sister destroys a small xAP and an xAKL. Another submarine enters Townsville hex simultaneously with the IJN BB SAG and destroys a big Dominion L class xAK.

Air losses: Today 29 IJ loss to 16 Allied. However the total figures are 269 IJ for 534 Allied, approximately 2:1 to IJ advantage. The good thing about todays air losses are that very few experienced fighter pilots were lost.

[Erkki]

Now heres a good question for all the readers: some IJNAF and IJAAF fighters carry both bombs and droptanks in XT position. I know for sure that droptank in CT position excludes CT bomb(for example Vildebeest has this problem at least), but what happens if both the ordnance and droptanks are XT mounted?

For example A6M8 has 2 x 250 kg in XT and for extended range 2 x 100 kg. Similar thing for late N1Ks, Ki-43 and late Ki-61s and Ki-100 too. I ask this because I without thinking it through expanded an A6M2 Sen Baku R&D factory to size 30 already to accelerate A6M7. I may build some Sen Bakus too, who knows. Intending to use those Army fighters for late war kami and kami escort role and the A6M7 in the same stuff + fleet defence(most heavily armed Zero) + possibly actual non-kami LowN anti-invasion shipping strike duty. The A6M7 has longer range with the single 250kg + DT than other Zeros or most other Navy fighters without, and I'd prefer single 250kg over 2 100kg bombs(or even lighter ones) espcially at extended range.

However if A6M8 can carry both DT and 250kg bombs to 7 hex(8 for CV version) then the M7 will be more or less useless as theres no M7 capable units that couldnt also fly the other Zeros.

edit: well, it does use the Ha-35 for engine, unlike the other late Zeros, and Japan starts with an overkill production capacity of 410/month. There will be plenty of them for all kinds of crap aircraft. [:D] And theres always that extra CT mounted heavy machine gun, even if it lacks in top speed compared to A6M8...

[Erkki]

Can anyone answer to the question above?



Jan 1 1941


China: Kukong falls! And the KMT stack retreats to the wrong direction. [:D] Wuchow falls! Wenchow falls! In the north the Chinese are all retreating to Loyang and are soon more or less trapped. I wonder if my opponent realizes that he'll probably go over the stacking limit there?

Burma: Moulmein is found out to have about 200 AV and forts 2. We should have the strength to get the place within a week... Maybe.

Malaya: -

DEI: Hudsons attack Manado again and Zeros shoot down 5. [:D]

Submarines: A field day for the IJN sub force! IJN subs destroy xAKL south of Sydney and xAK near Brisbane. a French frigate is destroyed near Suva while a big xAK is destroyed near San Diego. These ships all carried either just supplies or were empty.

[Spidery]

With the Ki-45 KAIa, when drop tanks are enabled (in XT position) the bomb load (also XT) is removed. Does that answer the question? (DBB-C database)

[Erkki]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

With the Ki-45 KAIa, when drop tanks are enabled (in XT position) the bomb load (also XT) is removed. Does that answer the question? (DBB-C database)

Thanks! Didnt realize that about the Ki-45. I've never considered using them for attack role. [:)] So that'll make both the A6M2 Sen Baku and the A6M7 after all somewhat useful - an armored CV capable single-engine fighter/kami that carries a 250kg bomb to 7 hex and the unarmored M2 sen baku to 11 hex.

D4Ys are of course better but they are more vulnerable, lack 1 hex range(until late war) and fighter units cant fly it which alone makes these FBs worth it if one looks for attack range too IMHO.

I'll build these 2 CV FBs in limited numbers and use the single R&D factory to get M7 earlier. Gotta still find a factory for the M2 sen baku though.

[Erkki]

Jan 2 1942

Another good day... I suppose.


China: The 6-unit KMT stack in the center near Sinyang that was deepest within the IJ lines is routed with great casualties. This is very good news and their current position allows me to flank them(using paved road, the Chinese have no roads at all) with the same 550-AV army that routed them. IJ regiment enters Pakhoi in the South... Should be a piece of cake. BBs will help by bombarding tomorrow.

Burma: The RN BB force bombards Port Blair again but doesnt achieve much. I think these bastards use Calcutta for reloading. Over Moulmein, Ki-43s fight the RAF and shoot down 4 Hurricanes and 3 Blenheims for the loss of 2 Ki-43s and 1 pilot MIA(the other Ki-43 was ops loss). Ki-21s bombard the airfield to prevent forts building.

Ground attack goes as follows:

Ground combat at Moulmein (55,55)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13770 troops, 116 guns, 132 vehicles, Assault Value = 508

Defending force 10145 troops, 90 guns, 33 vehicles, Assault Value = 295

Japanese adjusted assault: 189

Allied adjusted defense: 189

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
269 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled

Allied ground losses:
196 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards Division
14th Tank Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
4th Burma Rifles Battalion
1st Burma Division
107th RAF Base Force

I dont know where that supply(-) came from. The troops are well supplied today. We'll do another deliberate attack in a few days and hope to further reduce the forts... And shock attack as soon as the 2nd full division and a regiment have reinforced the available assault value to 950-ish.

Malaya: Singapore is mass-bombed at 18,000 ft by about 100 bombers. Not a single bomb hits but the AA is still very lethal and shoots down several bombers. I'm still very worried about the new modded flak... Seems to be extremely lethal even in small numbers of the early war and even to high altitudes. On ground, Allied troops are routed again and 2 units(base force and arty) surrender. Temuloh still has 300 Allied AV.

DEI: Tarakan invasion tomorrow. Massed Allied submarines are found in the southern PI. B5Ns from Jolo destroy a motor gunboat in Tarakan's port.

PI: On Luzon, the enemy troops finally start to retreat towards Bataan. Too late for the cut-off 300 AV(including an armored regiment) in Bayonbong though. On Mindanao the surviving enemy troops manage to retreat to an IJ-held base hex, and if they can attack, they'll take it tomorrow. IJ is in pursuit though and will easily destroy this force within a week as we have a tank unit here too. Mindanao is in practice fully in IJ hands and I can start moving troops out soon.

South Pacific: Buna invaded! I didnt include air cover or BBs though and Banshees from Port Moresby get a free shot at the unloading transports. I lose an xAK and probably a medium size xAP. Troop losses are minor though, and all but a few squads of the 1/3 division are ashore. These strikes were all unescorted and I'll try to provide LRCAP with CVs tomorrow, keeping the TF where it is to bait them in. Downing some of these strike aircraft should make invading PM in the future easier.

Submarines: another good day for IJN submarine force: a big-looking xAK is destroyed near Ceylon, and one submarine destroys a medium xAK and an xAP near Hawaii.

[Erkki]

Jan 3 1942


China: Paotow falls! Before the land action, BBs Mutsu and Nagato bombard the already mauled KMT Corps. They also take out half of the manpower, resources and light industry. Oopsie! [:D]

Burma: Ki-43s sweep Rangoon and score 1-0 against Hurricanes. On ground, the British are on retreat from Moulmein. I rather fight at Moulmein before my reinforcements arrive than cross the river so we'll do a deliberate attack tomorrow. We'll see if they retreat in combat mode or something else...

Malaya: IJ armor spearhead will probably enter Malacca tomorrow. Theres about 350 AV worth of British troops + several support units that are about to be cut off. Singapore bombed to little effect.

DEI: the Tarakan invasion force enters Tarakan hex but the ####### captain thinks he wants to return to Saigon. CA squadron takes out 5-ish HDMLs and such. There was nothing wrong with the orders... A CA received a dive bomber hit all for nothing. There'll be a fighter LRCAP on the fleet tomorrow.

PI: Over 310 AV of PI and US troops completely cut off on Luzon. They will probably surrender as soon as the rest of the IJ troops get to the hex and attack.. Which is in 2 days.

South Pacific: CarDiv I turns back and launches an 8-hex strike from near Milne Bay. The target is an xAK convoy in the middle of the sea. Its reported heading East but they werent carrying troops. If they were bound for PM they carried supplies(or were evacuating PM), I dunno. Bad weather probably ground enemy air attacks on unloading IJ at Buna, which is secured today. An xAK and a xAP from yesterday's attacks are lost.


Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 95,130

PC Wilcannia, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Dumosa, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kekerangu, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Yunnan, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kauri
xAK Empire Hamble, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Yochow, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
attack 2:
xAK Kekerangu, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Empire Hamble, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Dumosa, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
xAK Kauri, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

That should make 5 medium size xAKs and the PC destroyed. 2 more ships are reported in the hex ("CMs"), probably PCs and/or xAKs.

Submarines: a Dutch sub is hit near Tawi Tawi while IJ subs are also hit near Hawaii and another near Ceylon. The 2 subs are RTB with moderate damage.

[Erkki]

Jan 4 1942

China: IJ armored units near Loyang(or what is it, one of those 2 cities on the plains in North China) attacks a KMT corps on the road and scored 3 destroyed inf squads and 49 disabled for no loss. [:D] However thats about as long as the fun lasted, as theres an absolutely massive stack arriving to stack hex tomorrow, the Chinese attempting to escape the forming pocket now.

Burma: The RN BBs bombard Moulmein and raise disruption levels so high that the ground combat doesnt go very well(IJ still loses only 4 destroyed squads in total compared to 15 british + some guns and support squads). In the air Ki-43s tangle with H81s that apparently perform LRCAP from Toungoo and/or Rangoon. 5 Ki-43s(1 ops) and 2 pilots are lost for 9 H81s. Boyington's H81 was shown as destroyed in the animation!! I hope hes gone now.

Before I have Singapore I cant do much about those bombardments. I could move subs in the area but that would take some time and I like my subs harassing the enemy and scouting elsewhere. In the meanwhile, 60 torpedo-armed G4M1s in Rangoon have to do. Air HQ providing torpedos arrived only today so I was a day late. [:(]

Malaya: Singapore bombed again, not great hits. 2 Dutch Catalinas attack Singkawang and despite the CAP, they are both only "damaged" and arent listed as even OPS losses. Dang.

DEI: 144th Inf. Reg. has unloaded at Tarakan and lost only 1 squad as destroyed.... Great. A-24s and 139WHs strike the unloading TF, finding a wing Zeros in CAP. The aerial samurais perform superbly and shoot down 9 A-24 Banshees(!!) and 4 Martins. So there was more than 1 kill per fighter interception. [:D]

Zeros from Palembang swept Batavia and destroyed a B-339. Dutch strike to Palembang(naval attack... dont ask me why) also lost 1 of its escorts to the same Zeros. No Japanese losses.

South Pacific: somehow the Allies can keep even the sea South of Truk and East of Rabaul patrolled with their aircraft... They must be using B-17s and those Hudsons in naval search too. They sure dont have air bases left.

Also interestingly Tarawa was reconed by "float planes". That was clearly an assigned recon mission so I think it was Catalinas from Baker or actual float planes from a ship.

Submarines: no luck for IJN subs today. A second Dutch submarine gets attacked at Tarakan and is hit twice.

Air war: the air war is going well. IJNAF and IJAAF have managed to score about 3:1 vs. enemy fighters. We have 25 confirmed H81 kills which should be AVG's reserve of 18 planes + half a squadron. IJAAF will continue to wear them down today with sweeps and LRCAP over Moulmein.

Fighter losses so far are

Japan, 58(includes 8 Ki-27s)
Allies, 308(includes 11 Blenheim IFs, 15 P-26s and 12 Wildcats lost on Wake Island)

So between more or less modern fighters Japan has been able to score about 2,5 to 2,75 to 1 in battles for air superiority. As soon as Pisanuloke's airfield gets expanded a bit more I'll start a bombing campaign against AVG and RAF in Burma.

[witpqs]

Check for AV/AVD type ships at dot bases.

[Erkki]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Check for AV/AVD type ships at dot bases.

Hey thanks! That sure is one possibility. I just moved a fresh H8K unit in 3 divisions to the area for keeping PM recce'd as my actual recon aircraft are all stuck in Malaya and Indochina and it'll take a while for them to arrive... bad planning on my part. Didnt think about using them to recce all bases for AV/AVD/AVP. I should have the units to check them all out within 3 turns or so as long as the planes can fly.

[witpqs]

Which reminds me, it doesn't have to be ship support. A small base force at a dot base can support patrol aircraft too.

[Erkki]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Which reminds me, it doesn't have to be ship support. A small base force at a dot base can support patrol aircraft too.

True but he'd have had to move that unit in at some point knowing its basically lost. Especially as it seems that he hasnt reinforced PM... 4 units still. Should be a piece of cake for 2/3 of the 53rd Div. No idea where the planes patrolling the Bismarcks and North from there originate from, but in the South I actually I did see a single ship in the Solomons a week ago or so. I didnt pay attention then because I had the very strong KB nearby with no Allied planes flying and I thought it was just something boldly still using the direct Pearl-Brisbane route or maybe an AMC. Could have been an AV after all. If yes, then its somewhere in the Munda area because Bougainville, Tulagi and Guadalcanal are already learning Japanese...

[witpqs]

In general, not specifically with regard to this situation, a unit could be flown in by the patrol planes, then the patrol planes fly in. Even part of a unit as long as it includes the air support. Radars and such could be left at another base for later reunion.

[Erkki]

Jan 5 1942


China: the MASSIVE Chinese stack leaves Loyang empty and occupies the hex with my 3 armor and recon units... The hex has stacking limit of 85,000 and there are 120,000 Chinese reported. [:)]

Burma: bad weather grounds IJAAF sweeps and bombers.

Malaya: IJ recon enters Malacca. Depending on what movement mode the 300+ AV of British units moving from Temulos use, they'll tomorrow either become completely cut off, end up to Malacca in strat mode or end up in one of the non-base rail hexes in strat mode with an IJ Inf. regiment. Singapore gets bombed; Singapore and Johore Bahru no longer have fighters or bombers.

DEI: Dutch bombers sortie to Tarakan yet again and lose 3 of their number. I dont understand why these strikes are flown... Allies are quickly depleting their 139WH force. Not that they are very good planes granted, but they could rather keep training NavB or LowN now and attempt to swarm the IJN once I do the eventual invasion of Java or Kendari. Only reason I can come up with is that he wants me to have fighters everywhere.

At Tarakan an xAK is lost to coastal guns and I'll probably lose a 3rd xAK too but the troops are now ashore with plenty of supplies.

Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4119 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 134

Defending force 3308 troops, 67 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 63

Japanese adjusted assault: 115

Allied adjusted defense: 52

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
144 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
144th Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
VII KNIL Battalion
Tarakan Coastal Gun Battalion
Tarakan Base Force

Looking good I'd say.



PI:

Ground combat at Bayombong (80,75)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 27307 troops, 259 guns, 429 vehicles, Assault Value = 950

Defending force 6994 troops, 30 guns, 54 vehicles, Assault Value = 303

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1145

Allied adjusted defense: 748

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
784 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 98 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 14 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1454 casualties reported
Squads: 70 destroyed, 151 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 14 (4 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Assaulting units:
21st Division
2nd Tank Regiment
65th Brigade
4th Tank Regiment
48th Recon Regiment
48th Engineer Regiment
Tanaka Det
7th Tank Regiment
6th Shipping Engineer Regiment
3rd Construction Battalion
14th Army
56th Const Co
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
9th Field AF Construction Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
40th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
4th Marine Regiment
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
803rd Engineer Aviation Battalion

I've slightly overstacked the hex but its IMHO looking pretty good. Deliberate attack ordered for tomorrow. These US units are completely cut off.

South Pacific: Tabiteuea invaded! Namatai falls!

Submarines: The French subs have moved around Truk from Rabaul area. Some ASW TFs are formed and sent after them.

ORIGINAL: witpqs

In general, not specifically with regard to this situation, a unit could be flown in by the patrol planes, then the patrol planes fly in. Even part of a unit as long as it includes the air support. Radars and such could be left at another base for later reunion.

Aye, I use that myself too quite often... Those H6K2-L transports are very useful. I in general too I think that I use transports planes more than most others, to boost the supply flow where the lines are stretched. Ie. at Burma front I have transports flying from Bangkok to Rahaeng - no risk of enemy CAP and the troops get some 30 points of supply more a day.

------

But heres another question: I found that I have 2 large G3M groups, part of the 9th Air Fleet, that have their names writen in BLUE in the air units menus... And these units also cant seem to fly recon, naval search and a couple of other sortie types at all. Only training(training options also very limited), navattack, gattack, airfield attack and stood down. Also when set to nav attack with some search % they still show up as "training" in the ground air groups menu. Whats going on? I stood down them both for this turn and I hope they'll get reset or something.

[witpqs]

I assume that those are dedicated training groups. I don't know much about them, maybe someone else will chime in?

[Erkki]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

I assume that those are dedicated training groups. I don't know much about them, maybe someone else will chime in?

Yeah could be. I wasnt aware the game engine could restrict air unit missions like that.


Heres what I have for air production now, sorted by engine type. Or almost, as this turn I turned H6K production off and expanded H8K factory by 6 to 30 and Ki-56 by 2 to 6. I left the engine production unexpanded except for those engines used by aircraft types not yet available... Every engine type has a surplus except Ha-31 which is fine at 5/month with 230 engines in the pool. It'll only be used by Ki-46-II and Ki-57-II and of course Ha-5 which will see the entire engine pool used for Ki-57-I(currently under production).

[Erkki]

And heres the engines. Dont call me crazy, the factories were like that. [X(] Couldnt but stop them from being repaired. Ha-35 production especially is overkill... I'll never produce enough planes to use 410 a month. It doesnt help that in this scenario the later Zeros, first available in 1/43 and I'll R&D it closer, use the Ha-33 engine.

[Erkki]

Jan 6 1942

China: the massive stack from Loyang(which gets occupied by IJ by the way!) attacks... While 800 AV of IJ troops move in from the adjacent hex, half in movement, half in reserve.. But see:

Ground combat at 86,43 (near Loyang)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 53223 troops, 233 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1532

Defending force 37739 troops, 304 guns, 266 vehicles, Assault Value = 1287

Allied adjusted assault: 749

Japanese adjusted defense: 869

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
413 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 47 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 49 (43 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
5197 casualties reported
Squads: 170 destroyed, 278 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 67 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 40 (14 destroyed, 26 disabled)

Assaulting units:
92nd Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
9th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
43rd Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
5th New Chinese Corps
Jingcha War Area
30th Chinese Corps
14th Group Army
36th Group Army
2nd Group Army
22nd Group Army
15th Group Army
5th War Area
4th Chinese Base Force
4th Construction Regiment

Defending units:
9th Armored Car Co
17th RGC Temp. Division
5th Armored Car Co
RGC Capital Brigade
13th Tank Regiment
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
110th Division
32nd Division
12th Army
11th Field Artillery Regiment


YYYYEEEESSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [&o][&o][&o] I lost the recon units and could only buy out the other but who cares? The Chinese now have 100,000 troops in an open stacking limit 85 hex, with massed disruption and fatigue, under constant aerial bombardments and probably without supplies. There will be a FRESH INF DIVISION joining the IJ stack tomorrow. I want to be 100% sure that I can absolutely smash this stack so I'll wait a day for the extra division and more supplies. Theres another big stack of KMT units cut off at Chenghow - I know for sure that at least 2 corps in it are already hurt.

In the South, Kanhisien falls easily.


Burma: IJ bombers strike Moulmein, RAF bombers strike also Moulmein without fighter escorts... And Ki-43s prompty reduce their number by a good 4 or 5.

Malaya: Malacca falls!!! And the British are now trapped! Singapore is reported to have only 8 units with 21,800 men.

DEI: Tarakan attack results slightly favor Japanese, trying again tomorrow.

PI:

Ground combat at Bayombong (80,75)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26633 troops, 259 guns, 429 vehicles, Assault Value = 884

Defending force 5617 troops, 25 guns, 54 vehicles, Assault Value = 131

Japanese adjusted assault: 487

Allied adjusted defense: 289

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
330 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
815 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 75 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (5 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
48th Recon Regiment
65th Brigade
2nd Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
Tanaka Det
48th Engineer Regiment
21st Division
7th Tank Regiment
14th Army
3rd Construction Battalion
9th Field AF Construction Battalion
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
6th Shipping Engineer Regiment
56th Const Co
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
40th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
4th Marine Regiment
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
803rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
1st PA Constabulary Regiment

Much better than yesterday, lots of squads gone! Fatigue isnt super high yet so another DA ordered for tomorrow. Not much these Allied troops can do. IJ has Clark secured so the Allied forces on Luzon are effectively cut into 3 parts.

South Pacific: IJ convoy gets attacked by Banshees and an xAK is hit badly. Damn. I thought they'd be in range only tomorrow.

Submarines: A large Allied tanker in fuel load is destroyed near Ceylon and an YP(!) receives 2 torpedo hits near San Diego. Latest ASW tech!