Greyjoy(J) vs. Obvert(A) - The air war in China- DBB, SLs, PDU OFF

[GreyJoy]

Mar 5-10, 1942

Five slow days, where the Empire got a couple of bloody noses.
At Colombo we've tried 3 more DAs with the arrival of the 6th Guards ID... damn, we didn't achieve anything more than a 2-1 and forts got up again after the last 1-1 so we didn't conquer the base. The 5th ID is completely mauled... 10 AVs left [X(]

Near Batavia we're wasting days in reducing the last big Group of Ducth LCUs... again too many days lost[:@]

The good news is that we've conquered Diego Garcia without a problem and we've landed at Samarinda.

The invasion of northern OZ is in place. The KB and the Soho are approaching Derby, along with 5 SNLF units and several base forces.
2 IDs will attack Darwin directly.

In India we're getting close to what will be our furthest advance...Cawnpore and Lanchow!
Ledo is now in sight. Our sweep have managed to take out the chinese fighters defending the base. Slowly we're getting there

We tried to send a midget sub to PH... no luck!

[ny59giants]

Colombo - Did you start prepping a Command HQ for this base along with Corp or Army HQ?? That 90% bonus can come in handy when both pass die rolls. [;)]

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Colombo - Did you start prepping a Command HQ for this base along with Corp or Army HQ?? That 90% bonus can come in handy when both pass die rolls. [;)]

Sure Micheal!
The problem is that the command HQ (Southern Area HQ) is at 45%, while the 25th Army HQ is at 62%...



Mar 11-13, 1942

A SNLF Unit lands at Attu, immediately obtaining a 3-1 and forts down from 3 to 0!!
More Naval units land at Derby and Broome , under the cover of the Soho CVL Group.
The KB is escorting the 26th and the 4th ID to Darwin, while more units are approaching Whyndham.

Colombo remains a HUGE problem...another 1-1 and i had to start to use my bombers to keep distrupted the enemy...i had hoped not to use my bombers, so to minimize the risk of having the Whole city destroyed...but without them there's no way i can get over that bear of a base!

South of Dehli we conquered Lucknow. Immediately fighters are moved there. Will try to push the 4Es back to Karachi (They are based at Dehli!)

Mitykina is finally coming down...

We keep on conquering PI bases....

No sign of enemy's CVs... nor any other allied major warships...

In Borneo, Samarinda is conquered... but, again, with heavy damage to the oilfields (30 points of damage[:@])...not being lucky with this story here... Kendari had half of its Ref and Oil Damaged, Samarinda with 30 points, Calcutta completely destroyed.... [:@]



Ground combat at Lucknow (52,23)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 15642 troops, 184 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 454

Defending force 2598 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 94

Japanese adjusted assault: 668

Allied adjusted defense: 24

Japanese assault odds: 27 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lucknow !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
186 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3585 casualties reported
Squads: 84 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 130 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
55th Division
2nd Mortar Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion

Defending units:
Nowshera Brigade


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Colombo (29,48)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1053 troops, 86 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 800

Defending force 28612 troops, 327 guns, 403 vehicles, Assault Value = 87

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
5th/A Division
6th Guards Division
18th Division
5th/B Division
5th/C Division
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
27th Ind Engineer Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
25th Army
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
Colombo Fortress
2nd Royal Tank Regiment
99th Indian Brigade
100th Indian Brigade
98th Indian Brigade
222 Group RAF
Ceylon Command
Ceylon Base Force
Eastern Fleet
1st RM Heavy AA Regiment
21st Light AA Regiment
2nd Ceylon H AA Regiment
23rd AA Bde
222 RAF Base Force
22nd Light AA Regiment


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Roxas (79,83)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1561 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 42

Defending force 2680 troops, 29 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 54

Japanese adjusted assault: 60

Allied adjusted defense: 2

Japanese assault odds: 30 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Roxas !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1394 casualties reported
Squads: 174 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 162 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 17 (17 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
Kure 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
61st PA Infantry Division
3rd PI Base Force


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Addu (16,52)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1895 troops, 19 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 62

Defending force 1816 troops, 16 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Japanese adjusted assault: 37

Allied adjusted defense: 11

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
221 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
Sasebo 3rd SNLF

Defending units:
Addu RN Base Force


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Myitkyina (64,42)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9324 troops, 90 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 264

Defending force 5784 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 163

Japanese adjusted assault: 159

Allied adjusted defense: 88

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
318 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
92 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd RTA Division
17th Indpt Guards Regiment

Defending units:
4th Burma Rifles Battalion
36th Chinese Division
BFF Brigade
88th Chinese Division

[:@]

[GreyJoy]

Forgot to say that at Java we finally managed to destroy the last big Group of dutch resistance near Batavia. The 32K men who were defending Batavia are now POWs!. The Imperail and the 56th IDs are now free to move out of Java...

[GreyJoy]

Just few days remain of the amphib bonus.
The last landings will probably be at Darwin and Port Hedland. I doubt I can do more unfortunately...

[castor troy]

both your problems at Colombo and Sian earlier remind me of how well the dice rolled for you at Calcutta. Given the terrain and circumstances it seems completely upside down to me. Colombo usually is a cake walk and Ceylon is a death trap in general. The troops you face there should just be a walkover, but then you faced 18th Brit Div at Calcutta and take the town easily.

[ny59giants]

Nic, you know that one of my 'issues' is players not trying to use the Command HQs paired with an Army/Corp HQ when attacking. Getting both to pass the die roll to gain the 90% adjusted Assault Value is a nice benefit.

Just needed to double check that you have been listening to me. [;)]

[GreyJoy]

Mar 14, 1942

At Lucknow rages the first air battle since a long time.
As soon as the Japanese conquer the city, the Allies attack!
50 P-40s sweep the skies from Dehli, tangling with 30 KI-45 and 35 KI-43 Ib.
Results are not good for the Japanese... the americans obtain a good 2-1 (9-18).
Then 36 Zeros counter sweep Dehli...finding just thin air...
Then the B17s arrive... the depleted defenders cannot do anything and several planes are torched or damaged on the ground (3 zero pilots are KIA!). Luckly the engineers already present there managed to repair most of the damage and the strip remains usable...
Tomorrow more zeros and Oscars will arrive. Soon the bombers. Then Dehli will not be holdable (hopefully!)

The Empire conquers Broome and Derby and are ready to land at Whyndam.
At Derby Betties and Nells and Oscars are immediately transferred.

Got another bloody nose at Benjarmais and Attu... need more forces for both!

Bombardments at Colombo but my divisions are recovering very slowly from Fatigue and Distruption...

Mitykina falls!!!![:D]

[GreyJoy]

Mar 16, 1942

INDIA: The Japanese sweep Dehli, but found empty skies. The allies have abandoned the strip and moved the 4Es to Bombay...
Actually from Bombay 40 B17s and 9 B26s took off to bomb the city of Hyderabad (north of Madras). They found 44 A6M2s waiting for them!
We downed 10 monsters and 6 B26s for the loss of 2 Zeros and 1 pilot...not bad!

OZ: we landed at Whyndam and are approaching Port Hedland and Darwin. so far no opposition found, a part from some 6/7 ducth subs hanging around the northern coast of Oz.

The 5th Guards Tank Bde is moving to Singapore. We should be able to send the unit to India to join the rest of the 5th Guards ID within the next 3 days.

We tried two times to send midget subs to PH... they were all sunk by mines[:o]. Think i'll leave these attempts alone... just a waste of resources...

With spring arriving I'm sending more forces to Hokkaido and the Kuriles...just to be sure

Usual bombings in Luzon, while we keep on conquering the empty bases in the PI...

Balikapan falls INTACT!!!![:D][:D][:D]

[GreyJoy]

We have less than 14 days... Port Hedland should fall with no problem and so Exmouth. With the whole Combined Fleet in the area I doubt he'll do anything with any major ship in the area...

Colombo will be attacked again tomorrow...with lots of air support (hopefully).

Castor: I think my problem with Colombo is that I did invade it with a not optimized army. Too few artillery and too few tanks. I bet with 2 or 3 Tank Rgts and 3 more artillery units (150mm at least), Colombo would already be in my hands...

We'll see what he has at Darwin... but don't seem to be that much there anyway

[GreyJoy]

At Balikapan we've captured 200.000 fuel[8D][8D][8D][8D]

[JohnDillworth]

Balikapan from Google Earth

[veji1]

How do you see the next phase of operations ? Once Ceylon is secured and you have created this no man zone in India where he has bottled up all significant forces in Bombay/Karachi but you won't go forward anyway, once Norther Oz is secured, what are you going to do ? Sure there is clean up to be done in the PI and defenses to be planned, but there might be other operations worth a try even without the Amphib bonus : A landing with overwhelming force in Western Oz (south of Perth to try and cut off some forces) ? Using part of the southern army to secure your perimeter in China, ie break the Changsha line, even if it costs lots of supplies ?

To me the question now is knowing that you are playing PDU off, how has one to plan his defense for future years in this environment ? For example maybe with PDU on land forces are less important, ie the decisive battle is for air control where the jap player can use his research airframes to keep air superiority in 43/44 on his turf. Possibly with PDU off the japanese player will not be able to compete as much for air superiority BUT the allied player can't bomb the hell out of land forces as easily either, meaning that the combat of land forces (supporter by surface forces) plays a bigger role. In this context trying to destroy more allied land forces might be a bigger priority in PDU off, because his land forces face a heavier duty ?

I don't know, I am just thinking out loud, what are your thoughts ?

[Cribtop]

I would vote to send about five extra divisions to China to right the ship there. Operation Red Dragon if you read my AAR.

Stabilize and then control the China front, burn out indigenous Chinese supply and make the capture of Assam and Burma count, neuter the KMT and then ship the five divisions plus many more into the perimeter.

[String]

Again I'd suggest against taking any further adventures and only finishing the current one. Set up a strong perimiter and wait for your opponent to get bored, cocky and for him to make mistakes. China seems an okay and good option though.

[GreyJoy]

Hi all,

back from a long week end in Sardinia. Awesome weather, first baths (water was freezing even if it was clean like a crystal!) and lot of sun! Seafoods, white wine and Valentina's love... a very good weekend!

First of all, the results:

Mar, 17, 1942

Colombo is finally captured... 100% destroyed! Pretty sick of these horrendous results in India... had really too many important sites completely wiped out!!

However, the operations in India are almost over now. Ledo is the only site that will be invested in the next weeks, then we'll start thinking about defences.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Colombo (29,48)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 39570 troops, 430 guns, 134 vehicles, Assault Value = 969

Defending force 28703 troops, 324 guns, 402 vehicles, Assault Value = 85

Japanese adjusted assault: 638

Allied adjusted defense: 178

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Colombo !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1950 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 95 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
19560 casualties reported
Squads: 306 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2997 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 86 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 453 (453 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 550 (550 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 15

Assaulting units:
18th Division
5th Division
27th Ind Engineer Regiment
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
6th Guards Division
3rd Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Army
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
100th Indian Brigade
2nd Royal Tank Regiment
Colombo Fortress
99th Indian Brigade
98th Indian Brigade
21st Light AA Regiment
Ceylon Base Force
Eastern Fleet
1st RM Heavy AA Regiment
222 Group RAF
Ceylon Command
2nd Ceylon H AA Regiment
23rd AA Bde
222 RAF Base Force
22nd Light AA Regiment



In OZ, Whyndam falls and we landed at an undefended Port Hedland, while more units are moving to what seems to be an undefended Exmouth. The Allies have fled Darwin[X(][X(]...pretty strange cause they had there 20,000 men last week... well I won't refuse this option: tomorrow the 26th ID will land there, followed by several smaller units and 3 tanks Rgts (paras are arriving too).

To reply to Veji and String...

I have already attempted to dig into a stiff defence right after the first phase against QBall. The results weren't really interesting... I think Japan still has the upper hands for at least 3 months and I wanna try to do my best to exploit these strengths.

Considering what I've found in northern Oz (pretty much empty) I think i'll give a try to Western Oz. I have 3 Divisions that can be sent there immediately and 4 more that can be shifted from India (the 25th Army will be moved to India, while the 33rd, the 38th and the 55th IDs will be shipped back to Singapore, followed by the 21st as soon as Ledo falls).

Why W OZ? Because it's really tough to defend there for the allies (they risk of getting bottled if they keep on defending Perth). Also a perimeter that goes from Western Oz to Ceylon can really make life hard for the allies in 1943 for any attempt to attack Sumatra... they will probably be forced to take the pacific route, which is the easiest one to defend for Japan.

Another point is that I wanna see what I can do with my armies in another environement that I haven't tried yet... think Western Oz could be a very good place to fight Erik in early 1942

[veji1]

Makes sense. Regarding all your 100% results, do you think it is mainly the luck factor or that a different approach might have worked better, ie not send "just the right amount" of troops to capture places, but overwehlming numerical superiority, thus capturing them faster, with less battle phases and therefore (but I might be completely wrong) less damages ?

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: veji1

Makes sense. Regarding all your 100% results, do you think it is mainly the luck factor or that a different approach might have worked better, ie not send "just the right amount" of troops to capture places, but overwehlming numerical superiority, thus capturing them faster, with less battle phases and therefore (but I might be completely wrong) less damages ?

Don't really know. As far as I can say, it seems to depend on the outcome of the last land combat... if you get anything more than a 4-1 the industry gets pretty much intact...a 2-1 for me has always meant 100% destroyed... but at Singapore, for example, I got a very good result with only minor damage suffered, despite the constant bombings... don't really know. B
So possibly it depends on how much overwhelming are the attacking forces... but that's just anectodical so nothing certain

[GreyJoy]

Mar 18, 1942

Landings at Darwin go fine. Erik left there only 2 CD units, so the 26th ID landed unmolested, having 2 BBs that screened the whole amphib TF.
KB is moving towards Exmouth, where we landed without a problem (another empty base).
The Imperail ID and the 56th left Batavia today, while a mini KB is moving to Ceylon with a Cruiser TF.

Bombay has 126 fighters and 80 bombers... thinking about starting an air offensive there but I'm not sure yet.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 18, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Darwin (76,124) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

118 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
CL Kuma
CL Abukuma
CL Yura
CL Kashii, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Shirayuki
DD Kasumi
xAK Awazisan Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Nitiran Maru, Shell hits 1
TB Chidori
PC Ashi
PC Kaki
PC Take
PC Nire
PB Teshio Maru
PB Lushan Maru
PB Saishu Maru
PB Isshin Maru
PB Nichi Maru #1
PB Uruboko Maru
PB Sureboko Maru
PB Mikitade Maru
PB Seki Maru #3
SC Ch 18
AK Sado Maru
DD Uranami

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

Allied ground losses:
544 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 17 (3 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Emery Point Fortress firing at BB Yamashiro
BB Yamashiro firing at Emery Point Fortress
BB Fuso firing at Emery Point Fortress
Emery Point Fortress firing at BB Fuso
Emery Point Fortress firing at CL Kuma
CL Kuma firing at Emery Point Fortress
CL Abukuma firing at Emery Point Fortress
Emery Point Fortress firing at CL Abukuma
CL Yura firing at Emery Point Fortress
Emery Point Fortress firing at CL Yura
Emery Point Fortress firing at CL Kashii
CL Kashii firing at Emery Point Fortress
DD Shirayuki firing at Emery Point Fortress
Emery Point Fortress firing at DD Shirayuki
DD Kasumi firing at Emery Point Fortress
Emery Point Fortress firing at DD Kasumi
9.2" CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Awazisan Maru at 10,000 yards
BB Fuso firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards
4" CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Nitiran Maru at 10,000 yards
BB Fuso firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards
BB Yamashiro firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards
BB Fuso firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards
TB Chidori fired at enemy guns
PC Ashi fired at enemy guns
PC Kaki fired at enemy guns
PC Take fired at enemy guns
PC Nire fired at enemy guns
PB Teshio Maru fired at enemy guns
PB Lushan Maru fired at enemy guns
PB Saishu Maru fired at enemy guns
PB Isshin Maru fired at enemy guns
PB Nichi Maru #1 fired at enemy guns
PB Uruboko Maru fired at enemy guns
PB Sureboko Maru fired at enemy guns
PB Mikitade Maru fired at enemy guns
PB Seki Maru #3 fired at enemy guns
SC Ch 18 fired at enemy guns
DD Kasumi fired at enemy guns
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards




Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1189 troops, 23 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Defending force 19940 troops, 231 guns, 145 vehicles, Assault Value = 597

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

Assaulting units:
Emery Point Fortress
A/B Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
8th Tank Regiment
26th Division
Yokosuka Assault SNLF
39th Field AA Battalion
22nd JNAF AF Unit
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
38th Field AA Battalion
18th JAAF AF Bn




American CVs are nowhere to be seen... my scouts are not finding anything in the pacific...[8|]

[GreyJoy]

Mar 19-20, 1942

Darwin fell like a piece of cake. My units are already marching towards Daily Waters.
The KB is moving to Exmouth, dancing with lots of enemy's subs.
Now everything from Darwin to Exmouth is under my hands. The Geralton invasion fleet is regrouping.
The first wave will be composed of 3 IDs (Imperial, 56th and 4th) with 3 tank rgts, 5 artillery units and 2 para regiments.
4 SNLF units will have to take care of Carnavon.
Base forces and AA units are already moving from Singapore and Java. 10 more days to go... time isn't on my side!

Benjarmais fell. Now the whole Borneo is Japanese.

Ended the last resistance in the PI outside Luzon. Another PI regiment is blown away. Only Manila, Clark and Bataan remain allied.

In India we're approaching Ledo. The 21st Army (2 Divisions and LOTS of artillery and Engineers) will take care of this task.

Wazrup fell. Burma is completely ours except from Lashio. Will wait for more reinforcements before committing here. The 25th Army is already prepping for it.

The 36th and the 41st IDs (completely mauled during the Sian defeat and bought back for less than 1000 PPs) are rebuilding well at Shangai, where the China Command HQ is helping them. Will be very handy soon.