Awakening of the Sheep! - JocMeister (A) vs. Richard III (J)

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Grollub

Good luck! I'll (as always) follow your proceedings. [:)]

Thanks! Always nice to have you here. [:)]

[topeverest]

I've never been able to buy in to the Manila DEI KB focus. I think it helps you tremendously in the long run.

It is a bummer to lose the two best naval assets in that theater so early.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: topeverest
It is a bummer to lose the two best naval assets in that theater so early.

I think you really need to make a short run and disband into a port somewhere. Or disband into Singers port, and then make a full speed run out on the following day. Really tough saving them from a Japan that wants them sunk.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: topeverest
It is a bummer to lose the two best naval assets in that theater so early.

I think you really need to make a short run and disband into a port somewhere. Or disband into Singers port, and then make a full speed run out on the following day. Really tough saving them from a Japan that wants them sunk.

Lowpe, PoW and Repulse were sunk on the first turn. See post #30.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: topeverest

I've never been able to buy in to the Manila DEI KB focus. I think it helps you tremendously in the long run.

It is a bummer to lose the two best naval assets in that theater so early.

I might start to see some really positive effects in 43 and onward when the old BBs will become really useful! If I were playing the Japanese I would keep the KB in the DEI though. It guarantees a successful Mersing landing and speeds up the entire DEI campaign with at least a full month. Probably more. And it also guarantees no disasters as the Allied surface fleet is rendered almost useless over night.

The biggest allied benefit from a non PH strike is the abundance of CATs that will be available in 42. The BBs are pretty much useless (IMO) at this stage of the war. They are too slow, drink too much fuel, can barely stand up to even Japanese CAs let alone Long Lances.

[JocMeister]

BB, I think Lowpe was speaking in a general sense on how to avoid them being sunk. [:)]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]8th December 1941[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Pretty quiet for a 2nd turn!

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DEI
------------------------
Haruna and Kongo bombard Mersing causing significant damage. Probably unnecessary though as I doubt allied troops could have held anyway.

Night Naval bombardment of Mersing at 51,82

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Atago
CA Takao
CL Jintsu
DD Hibiki
DD Akatsuki
DD Arashio
DD Oshio
DD Asashio

Allied ground losses:
215 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 13 (8 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (6 destroyed, 4 disabled)

This is followed up by a brutal shock attack in the morning.

Ground combat at Mersing (51,82)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 7713 troops, 76 guns, 74 vehicles, Assault Value = 525

Defending force 3151 troops, 48 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 66

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 323

Allied adjusted defense: 29

Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Mersing !!!

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

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

Allied ground losses:
1492 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 44 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 24 (19 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
42nd Infantry Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
5th Recon Regiment
5th Engineer Regiment
11th Infantry Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
5th Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
5th Field Construction Battalion
20th AA Regiment
84th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
22nd Australian Brigade
113th RAF Adv Base Force

Next turn I should be able to rail some AA into Singers but no combat troops will make it in time. Instead they will head for the interior and make a stand in good terrain.

The Japanese also secure Kota Bahru and Singkawang. KB is on station South of Singers making sure nothing gets in or out. Allied planes sortied at the Mersing landings but despite a good packaged no hits were scored.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 51,82

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
E13A1 Jake x 2
E7K2 Alf x 1
E8N2 Dave x 1
F1M2 Pete x 2

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 3
Blenheim IF x 5
Buffalo I x 56
Swordfish I x 7
Vildebeest III x 13
Hudson I x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 1 damaged
Buffalo I: 3 destroyed
Vildebeest III: 1 damaged
Hudson I: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
xAK Osaka Maru
CA Chokai
DD Hibiki
BB Haruna
xAK Aobasan Maru

10 Vildebeest get through the CAP completely untouched and launch 10 TTs at Kongo and Haruna. Sadly there were no hits.

------------------------
Philippines
------------------------
Bettys flying from Formosa finish up the ships still at Manila that was unable to leave the port. Richard cleverly put up a minefield at Bataan. Most of the "thundering heard" makes it through alright but one TF gets badly mauled.

TF 229 encounters mine field at Bataan (78,77)

Allied Ships
AM Finch
AM Whippoorwill
PG Asheville, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
AO Pecos, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
TK Gertrude Kellogg, Mine hits 1

SS Sealion also hits a mine and will probably sink.

First positive result of the war is also in!

Sub attack near Calayan at 83,70

Japanese Ships
xAK Akiura Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
SC Ch 3
DMS W-15
xAK Keiyo Maru
PB Taiko Maru
PB Kamitsu Maru
SC Ch 15
SC Ch 14

Allied Ships
SS S-36

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

------------------------
China
------------------------
No action here besides airstrikes.

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CENTPAC
------------------------
Japanese land on Makin! Japanese subs are leaving the PH vicinity. Probably to get out of search range. Allied subs have also left PH with destination Soerabaja.

[ny59giants]

Minefield at Bataan - ALWAYS form the first TF at Manila with your minesweepers, set at Full Speed, and change home port to Bataan. Why?? The AI will still move the TF with the lowest numbers first. I don't get my "thundering herd" hit this way. Yes, they may suffer from SC TF in the area, but not from the minefield. [:D]

Singapore - With KB off shore, the "thundering herd" will head NW through 'Straits of Malacca' to Ceylon. Set them at Full Speed with some to stop at Medan as needed. Lots and lots of single ship TF going that way. Minefield goes in at Batu Pahat (2 NW of Singapore) to prevent you being pursued.

CL Boise goes to 113, 79 and set to Patrol Zone of 6 hexes down to 113, 85. That is due south of Tokyo and will try to get a transport TF before retiring to Dutch Harbor.

PP - I would leave just 2 PBYs at West Coast and get the rest out asap. The rest will head to Seattle, Dutch Harbor, Midway, Pearl, and beyond. VP-44 is the first to get the PBY-5A, then VP-43, and last will be VP-42 (43 & 44 stay on WC). This allows a little extra in PBY-5s going back into pool to ensure you can use them more at extended range and you can keep up with op losses.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

BB, I think Lowpe was speaking in a general sense on how to avoid them being sunk. [:)]

Correct![:)] Although the idea of shutting down the boilers on the front is pretty hard to rationalize...but a Dutch destroyer Captain gave his crew liberty hours before the invasions of Java so you never know.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Minefield at Bataan - ALWAYS form the first TF at Manila with your minesweepers, set at Full Speed, and change home port to Bataan. Why?? The AI will still move the TF with the lowest numbers first. I don't get my "thundering herd" hit this way. Yes, they may suffer from SC TF in the area, but not from the minefield. [:D]

Singapore - With KB off shore, the "thundering herd" will head NW through 'Straits of Malacca' to Ceylon. Set them at Full Speed with some to stop at Medan as needed. Lots and lots of single ship TF going that way. Minefield goes in at Batu Pahat (2 NW of Singapore) to prevent you being pursued.

CL Boise goes to 113, 79 and set to Patrol Zone of 6 hexes down to 113, 85. That is due south of Tokyo and will try to get a transport TF before retiring to Dutch Harbor.

PP - I would leave just 2 PBYs at West Coast and get the rest out asap. The rest will head to Seattle, Dutch Harbor, Midway, Pearl, and beyond. VP-44 is the first to get the PBY-5A, then VP-43, and last will be VP-42 (43 & 44 stay on WC). This allows a little extra in PBY-5s going back into pool to ensure you can use them more at extended range and you can keep up with op losses.

Yeah, kind of forgot...knock on wood though. Most got past it undamaged. The Singers "Thundering herd" should make it relatively unscathed unless Richard sent the KB up the straights.

The Manila herd I already consider a write off. I´ll send them in 2-4 ship TFs at every direction and hope at least a couple of ships make it. Richard have a CVL on station as well as at least a couple of CAs and BBs moving in. Some of the faster ships might make it but its unlikely.

Boise has joined up with Houston and the 4 stackers. They are refueling at Balikpapan and will then head south into safer waters. I don´t think I´ll keep any combat ships around the DEI this time. I tried that against Tom and its impossible to keep them close enough to interfere with something while staying out of KB range. Even moving at normal speed the reach of the KB is 4+4+6 hexes = 14 hexes.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]9th December 1941[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Another relatively quiet turn.

------------------------
DEI
------------------------
The KB hits the troops forced out of Mersing. Not sure if this was by accident but it shifts them out from move mode and the tanks will now catch up to them next turn.

The ships fleeing from Singers scurry in under a small CAP at Sabang. Might catch some Betties here tomorrow as they are striking at the ships fleeing.

Richard has swept Rangoon since the beginning of the war. This turn I had enough PPs to buy out the two restricted AVG squadrons. The entire AVG will CAP Rangoon tomorrow. Lets see if numbers can overwhelm the Oscars and Zeroes.

KB is still on station in the same hex. Subs will close in tomorrow. All of them have a 10/10 DL but I might get lucky.

------------------------
Philippines
------------------------
Finch is trying to clear the mines in the channel but Japanese ships are approaching. Doubtful I´ll be able to clear them all before they arrive. Then again those Japanese ships will have to brave the 990 allied mines at Bataan.

Japanese land at Aparri. Allied forces are withdrawing to Clark and Manila.

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CENTPAC
------------------------
Lex and Ent join up and VMF-211 leave Midway to enhance the fighters on Enterprise. Hornet set sails for SF where she will escort a big convoy to PH. Still no sign of the Japanese AMCs so I´ll have to keep a solid escort for now.

Not yet decided what to do with my CVs. No point in sending them towards the DEI. Might move them to CT. That way they can move to either India or OZ when needed.

------------------------
China
------------------------
The usual slaughter in the central plains begins as Japanese forces catch up with the exposed Chinese running for better terrain. Two medium corps wrecked this turn alone. Will try and move them onto Japanese rail lines and be a nuisance.

Forgot to take a screen so you guys will have to live without it! [:D]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]10th December 1941[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Pretty good day actually. For being the third turn that is... [:D]

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DEI
------------------------
KB abandons its prior location to aid in the sinking of Thanet, Scout and Tracian. These poor guys was hopelessly boxed in against the Sumatran coast. [:(]

Morning Air attack on TF, near Miri at 64,87

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
B5N2 Kate x 10
D3A1 Val x 47

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Thanet
DD Scout, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DM Thracian

Thracian sink in the follow up attacks and Scout and Tracian are disbanded at Miri with heavy fires. No hope for them. My subs miss the KB but have it pretty boxed in...you never know!

------------------------
Burma
------------------------
Our ambush at Rangoon works far better then expected. [&o]

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 28

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 47
Blenheim IF x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IF: 1 destroyed

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 40
Blenheim IF x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses
[X(]

Some smaller strikes are also met with good numbers. We shoot down 13 Japanese planes for only 2 own losses. Total for the day is 9 Allied for 20 Japanese. Extremely good day. Expecting heavy sweeps tomorrow the AVG moves back into the interior.

------------------------
China
------------------------
A big Chinese corps is caught in the open outside Changsha. This was my bad as I simply missed it as I went through the 1st turn. Bummer.

Ground combat at 83,51 (near Wuchang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12009 troops, 102 guns, 75 vehicles, Assault Value = 367

Defending force 7944 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 158

Japanese adjusted assault: 187

Allied adjusted defense: 22

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

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

Allied ground losses:
3632 casualties reported
Squads: 103 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 128 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (6 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
13th Tank Regiment
40th Division

Defending units:
20th Chinese Corps

------------------------
CENTPAC
------------------------
A Japanese sub nails

Submarine attack near San Francisco at 204,90

Japanese Ships
SS I-26

Allied Ships
xAP Matsonia, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

xAP Matsonia is sighted by SS I-26
SS I-26 launches 2 torpedoes at xAP Matsonia

Took a chance here and sent her out without escort. Payed the price for it. She will divert towards PH. Escorts have sortied to meet her half way. Unless attacked she should make it. She was carrying a 1/4th of a little surprise I´m planning. Quite annoying!

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]11th December 1941[/font]
______________________________________________________________________________

Soooo close. Again. Some day...some day.

------------------------
DEI
------------------------
The KXI finds Kaga in its crosshair...and misses! Dang.

Sub attack near Singkawang at 54,87

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
BB Kirishima
CA Chikuma
CL Abukuma
DD Urakaze
DD Kasumi
DD Arare
DD Tanikaze
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
SS KXI

SS KXI launches 4 torpedoes at CV Kaga

Singers is now cut off as armor enters the hex North of Singers stopping all strat move into the City. I only have 350 AV there. The fall will come very quickly.

Bombers hit my troops fleeing Kuantan. Managed to sneak a AA unit in with very good result.

Morning Air attack on 22nd Indian Brigade, at 51,79 (Kuantan)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 7 damaged
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 2 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 5000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb

Overall a VERY good day in the air as 14 Japanese planes are lost to AA and OPS. 0 allied losses. [:)]

I see an invasion TF moving in on Manado. Two huge TFs plus a small CV TF. Not sure what to make of it. Also lost track of the KB after the Kaga encounter. Did he move East to meet up with this TF?

------------------------
China
------------------------
Not much to report. The 40th ID is approaching Changsha. I´m scrambling to get troops in between in the x2 terrain. Not sure I´ll get there in time.

Roadblock south of Sian is shaping up. Still need to get the other 3 in place.


------------------------
CENTPAC
------------------------
The I-25 sinks Matsonia sending a 1/4th of my little surprise to the bottom. Dang.

Sub attack near Lahaina at 201,95

Japanese Ships
SS I-25

Allied Ships
xAP Matsonia, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

SS I-25 launches 2 torpedoes

Overall things are feeling somewhat under control. I think its because I recently went through the shock of the first months.

[Encircled]

One of those "What if?" moments

Wouldn't stop him, but would have him bothered

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

One of those "What if?" moments

Wouldn't stop him, but would have him bothered

Yeah, certainly would have made Richard a bit annoyed. [:)]

[JocMeister]

No update tonight. RL is being very hectic right now. I´ll try and get a double one for you tomorrow. Should be some surface action next turn!

[JocMeister]

Sorry, no update tonight again. [:(] Another work emergency. Just got home after 6 hours overtime. Very late dinner and then sleep.

[HansBolter]

Joc, I wanted to get back to you on the supply to China issue since I was the one who brought up shipping supply into Singapore (correction: Rangoon) as a solution.

Frankly I felt rather sheepish myself after posting that idea and having no response to explain how I get it to work.

It was Castor Troy who first put me on to trying it as he claimed it worked and I have found also that it does.

All I do is increase the supply draw incrementally at each base along the road from Singapore (correction: Rangoon) to Chunking and the Chinese rail head base south of it (forget the name).

I set Rangoon to retain 7k so it will try to hold on to 20k for air replacement and upgrade needs. The rest flows.

Every new shipment that pushes Rangoon up to 50k soon disappears into the interior with Rangoon dropping back to 20k.

I see a steady accumulation of supply in China.

Then again, the difference in our experiences may well be attributable to the fact that I play the AI, which doesn't bomb Chinese supply into oblivion allowing me to witness an actual accumulation.

[BBfanboy]

Singapore is a long way from China with a lot of enemy in between. I presume you mean Rangoon where you say Singapore, Hans?

[HansBolter]

Yea thanks for the correction.

I actually got distracted by work while I was typing that......