Jorge's(A) crusade to the fabled kingdom of PresterJohn(J) DBB-C --- Allied AAR

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Then CAs bombed Batavia:
- As usual.. my coastal batteries did nothing
- CA Mogami hit a mine
- No naval assets lost; I evacuated Batavia a couple turns ago, this evacuation includes the damaged PoW, the AR repairing it
- Airframe losses look more serious. to be updated once I get the turn.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 11 encounters mine field at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Mine hits 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Batavia at 49,98 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 31 damaged
139WH-3: 1 destroyed on ground
B-339D: 6 damaged
B-339D: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
Vildebeest III: 4 damaged
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed on ground
Swordfish I: 2 damaged

20 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami

Allied Ships
ARD Tandjong Kv-2, Shell hits 2, on fire
HDML P 16, Shell hits 1, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
742 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 72 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 24 (2 destroyed, 22 disabled)

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 45
Port fuel hits 1

CA Kumano firing at Batavia
Batavia Defenses firing at CA Suzuya
CA Suzuya firing at Batavia Defenses
CA Mikuma firing at Batavia
CA Mogami firing at Batavia

[Mike McCreery]

If baby seals caught on fire and exploded after you hit them I think it might be more fun to watch. Especially if there was collateral damage :]

[Jorge_Stanbury]

The situation in Java is not looking pretty.

Lets start on my initial plans:

- I decided to move all the British bombers and torpedo bombers out of Singapore to Java after Mersing. I saw no point in keeping them there once Mersing was succesful. And no point in letting close CAP slaughter them after he took nearby airbases.
- I took RAF HQs 223 and 224 from Singapore. 224 to India, 223 was originally intended for Koepang, as that is a good base that starts without any air support.
- No additional LCUs to Java
- Java is a source of fuel and supply: nothing goes in, as much as possible go out
- Soerebaja was main naval base of ABDA
- Around 3 turns ago, I decided, rightly so, to move out all non essential ships. this include the heavily damaged POW, all support vessels, and many damaged submarines.

The idea was to build a credible deterrent based on mines, CAP, torpedo bombers and SCTF. Obviously not to stop, but at least delay a bit the inevitable conquest.

This didn't work:
- RAF HQ 224 got destroyed by a Japanese cruiser TF. So Koepang is out of the equation.
- There were two Vildebeest attacks against heavy cruiser. The only result was damaged planes.
- He even naval bombarded Batavia! There was a mine hit, but I guess Dutch mines are punny. He left with no visible damage to any of his ships. I certainly overestimated the potential of defensive minefields

So what is next? my ideas are:
- Move out all British air squadrons, this to be done gradually, using Air Transport TFs
- Do one last sortie from Soerabaja, then surface TF moves to a different base. Keep Soerabaja as the place to rearm, but do not stay there too long.
- Only seriously damaged or soon to be repaired ships remain in Soerabaja shipyard. Everybody else leaves.
- Start getting more aggresive with Dutch air squadrons, I won't be able to use them once Java is gone, so no point in being conservative.

Any thoughts? I think he can start the invasion as soon as he wants to, and a naval bombardment on Soerabaja is also possible.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

and the Celebes:

I still own Makassar, Kendari, Ternate, Balikpapan, Ambon and Tarakan. But other than giving me good "search" cover, they are for all purposes already in Japanese waters...

I will try to sneak a British TF to take some revenge for yesterday's raid... so far their detection level is zero.. which of course will likely change the closer I move to Manado.

Probably a high risk mission, I hope it wreck some havoc on the Japanese lines

[Mike McCreery]

There is a base on a mountaintop south of Batavia. That base cannot be bombarded by ship. A bunch of units with good AA and some good supply could last there a long time.

Having your forces spread out on every city on Java will not protect you much and will hasten your downfall as he smashes small unit after small unit and drives them into the next unfortunate victim.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Yes, you are right... the land deployments on Java are a mess... I guess I am not used to defending.

I will set up defense points on Batavia, Soerabaja and Bandoeng (the mountain top). I think it is also important to fight on those places he wants, as to increase the chances of damaging the industries/ refineries/ shipyards. Moreover, Bandoeng is a good defense point, but he can decide he doesn't need it and let it starve. Bandoeng has the same problem of Bataan: really nothing interesting there as to rush for conquering it, he can keep one "resting" LCU on Batavia + daily bombing at high altitude; then come back later when supply is gone.


Problems with defending Java:
- There are really few engineers in the DEI (DBB-C), thus building forts is very difficult
- Troop quality is really poor
- AA is mostly short ranged (Bofors).
- Time was already short. This compounded by the fact I am starting late.

Your advice will be very helpful on India... There I have much better tools for building defenses and more important, enough time to build a serious fortress. More to come on that in the next couple of turns, as I am in the middle of a top secret operation [;)]

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Dec 26 was a good day for the Allies; yesterday's massacre is now avenged on the waters of Mersing

From the last week or so, I had a "fleet in being" of several cruisers in Singapore. Up until this turn, this was working as "bomber bait", to attract naval attacks on Singapore, ideally unescorted, so that Buffalo's CAP can do their thing. I actually had good results doing that, moreover, the level 50 shipyard at Singapore comes handy when one of the cruisers gets hit.

So last turn I noticed few, small ships on Mersing, I was expecting DMS, but it turned out there were 4 Fubukis.

There was 2 engagements, the first at night, with very little to report.

The second was great, with all DDs sunk:


Day Time Surface Combat, near Mersing at 51,82, Range 15,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
DD Shinonome, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
DD Usugumo, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
DD Shirakumo, Shell hits 17, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 2
CA Exeter, Shell hits 2
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 2
CL Ceres, Shell hits 6

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 15,000 yards
Imamura F. crosses the 'T'
CA Exeter engages DD Shinonome at 15,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Shinonome at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Shirakumo at 8,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Usugumo at 8,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Shinonome at 8,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Shirakumo at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Shirakumo at 5,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Shinonome at 5,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Shirakumo at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Shinonome at 6,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Usugumo at 6,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Shinonome at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Shirakumo at 9,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Usugumo at 9,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Shinonome at 9,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Fubuki at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Shirakumo at 10,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Usugumo at 10,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Usugumo at 10,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Usugumo at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
DD Fubuki collides with DD Usugumo at 51 , 82
CA Exeter engages DD Shirakumo at 11,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Usugumo at 11,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Shinonome at 11,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Fubuki at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Shirakumo at 12,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Usugumo at 12,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Fubuki at 12,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Shinonome at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Shirakumo at 10,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Fubuki at 10,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Shirakumo at 10,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Usugumo at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Shirakumo at 7,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Usugumo at 7,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Shinonome at 7,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Usugumo at 7,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Shirakumo at 7,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Usugumo at 7,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Shinonome at 7,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Fubuki at 7,000 yards
Imamura F. orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Shirakumo at 8,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Shirakumo at 8,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Usugumo at 8,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Usugumo at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Fubuki sunk by CA Exeter at 5,000 yards
DD Usugumo sunk by CA Cornwall at 5,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Shinonome at 5,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Shirakumo at 5,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Shinonome at 5,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Shirakumo at 5,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Shirakumo at 5,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Shirakumo at 5,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Shinonome at 5,000 yards
DD Shirakumo sunk by CL Ceres at 5,000 yards
orders Japanese TF to disengage
CA Cornwall engages DD Shinonome at 5,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Shinonome at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Shinonome at 13,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Shinonome at 13,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Shinonome at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Shinonome at 17,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages DD Shinonome at 17,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

[Jorge_Stanbury]

This is the situation of Luzon on Dec 26th

Key point is, he is taking his time, thus I think I can hold Manila until new years eve and Clark until sometimee in January

[Jorge_Stanbury]

This was the situation of my Moluccas operation on Dec 26th

Key was the fact that for 2 turns, I was not spotted

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Results were 4 *AKs and 2 PBs sunk [:)]
now I need to think about how to escape!!

By the way, this is the end of th good news for Dec 27... the other naval battle was not good




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Morotai at 84,99, Range 21,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Hakata Maru #2, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
PB Gamitsu Maru #1, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Himalaya Maru, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Hokusei Maru, Shell hits 28, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Oridono Maru, Shell hits 37, and is sunk
xAK Mitimei Maru, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Danae
CL Mauritius
DD Electra
DD Encounter
DD Express
DD Isis
DD Jupiter

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 23,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
CL Mauritius engages xAK Himalaya Maru at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards
CL Danae engages xAK Himalaya Maru at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards
CL Danae engages xAK Himalaya Maru at 18,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages xAK Mitimei Maru at 18,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages xAK Himalaya Maru at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Mitimei Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Hokusei Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Himalaya Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Himalaya Maru at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
DD Jupiter engages xAK Mitimei Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Jupiter engages xAK Oridono Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Hokusei Maru at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages xAK Mitimei Maru at 10,000 yards
CL Danae engages PB Gamitsu Maru #1 at 10,000 yards
DD Jupiter engages xAK Mitimei Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Oridono Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Hokusei Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Himalaya Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Mitimei Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages PB Gamitsu Maru #1 at 7,000 yards
CL Danae engages xAK Mitimei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Mitimei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Oridono Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Jupiter engages xAK Hokusei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Himalaya Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Electra engages PB Hakata Maru #2 at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
PB Gamitsu Maru #1 sunk by CL Mauritius at 6,000 yards
CL Danae engages PB Hakata Maru #2 at 6,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Mitimei Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Oridono Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Mitimei Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Jupiter engages xAK Himalaya Maru at 6,000 yards
xAK Himalaya Maru sunk by DD Electra at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
Massive explosion on PB Hakata Maru #2
CL Mauritius engages PB Hakata Maru #2 at 7,000 yards
CL Danae engages PB Hakata Maru #2 at 7,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Oridono Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Hokusei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Hokusei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Oridono Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Hokusei Maru at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages PB Hakata Maru #2 at 6,000 yards
DD Jupiter engages xAK Oridono Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Mitimei Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Mitimei Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Hokusei Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Mitimei Maru at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
PB Hakata Maru #2 sunk by CL Mauritius at 7,000 yards
CL Danae engages xAK Mitimei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Jupiter engages xAK Mitimei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Hokusei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Hokusei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Encounter engages xAK Mitimei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Hokusei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Oridono Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Danae engages xAK Hokusei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Oridono Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Oridono Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Hokusei Maru at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Oridono Maru at 8,000 yards
CL Danae engages xAK Hokusei Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Oridono Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Oridono Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Jupiter engages xAK Hokusei Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Oridono Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Oridono Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Hokusei Maru at 8,000 yards
CL Danae engages xAK Oridono Maru at 8,000 yards
xAK Hokusei Maru sunk by DD Express at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages xAK Oridono Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Danae engages xAK Oridono Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Jupiter engages xAK Oridono Maru at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages xAK Oridono Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Jupiter engages xAK Oridono Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Oridono Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Oridono Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Oridono Maru at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Oridono Maru at 17,000 yards
xAK Oridono Maru sunk by CL Danae at 17,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

[Jorge_Stanbury]

If you go to post 107 you will see that my British "fleet in being" caught 4 Japanese destroyers on Mersing..

this time the hunters become the hunted, as they were caught by 2 Kongos + escorts near Singapore



Last turn I ordered them to go back to Singapore at full speed... I think it was just poor luck they were ambushed

I have no regrets for the decisions I made, technically, I should had reached Singapore before the Japanese intercepted me I was closer and running at full speed (27knt).
With very good luck, the Japanese might even strayed into Singapore to be pummeled by mines and coastal guns..

I guess there are chances and there are stakes and sometimes you have to accept things not always go according to plan

I lost CA Cornwall and CL Dauntless. CL Ceres is on fire. More to come once I get the turn

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Singapore at 51,84, Range 9,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna, Shell hits 4
CA Takao
CA Atago
CL Jintsu
DD Asashio, Shell hits 1
DD Oshio
DD Michishio
DD Arashio, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 37, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CA Exeter, Shell hits 1
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Ceres, Shell hits 8, heavy fires


Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 64% moonlight: 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
Japanese launch Long Lance torpedoes at 9,000 yards before allies detect Japanese presence
BB Haruna fires at CA Cornwall at 9,000 yards
BB Haruna fires at CA Cornwall at 9,000 yards
CA Atago launches Long Lance Torpedoes at CL Ceres at 9,000 yards
BB Haruna fires at CL Dauntless at 9,000 yards
DD Arashio launches Long Lance Torpedoes at CA Cornwall at 9,000 yards
DD Oshio launches Long Lance Torpedoes at CA Cornwall at 9,000 yards
Lowther, W.D. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range closes to 5,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Dauntless at 5,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CA Cornwall at 5,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Ceres at 5,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Dauntless at 5,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Arashio at 5,000 yards
DD Asashio engages CA Cornwall at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Exeter at 2,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Cornwall at 2,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Ceres at 2,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Dauntless at 2,000 yards
CL Dauntless sunk by CL Jintsu at 2,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Arashio at 2,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Michishio at 2,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Oshio at 2,000 yards
DD Asashio engages CA Cornwall at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Exeter at 3,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Cornwall at 3,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Ceres at 3,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CL Jintsu at 3,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Oshio at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Cornwall at 6,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CA Cornwall at 6,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Ceres at 6,000 yards
CA Takao engages CA Cornwall at 6,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CL Jintsu at 6,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Arashio at 6,000 yards
CL Ceres engages DD Asashio at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Cornwall at 9,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CA Cornwall at 9,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Ceres at 9,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Arashio at 9,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Michishio at 9,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Oshio at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Cornwall at 12,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CA Atago at 12,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CA Takao at 12,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Asashio at 12,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Exeter at 12,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Cornwall at 12,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CA Atago at 12,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Arashio at 12,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Michishio at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Cornwall at 9,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Ceres at 9,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Arashio at 9,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Michishio at 9,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Oshio at 9,000 yards
CA Atago engages CA Cornwall at 9,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CA Cornwall at 9,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Michishio at 9,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Asashio at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CA Cornwall at 8,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Ceres at 8,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CA Takao at 8,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Oshio at 8,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Asashio at 8,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CA Cornwall at 8,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Ceres at 8,000 yards
CA Takao engages CA Cornwall at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Exeter at 10,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Cornwall at 10,000 yards
CL Ceres engages CL Jintsu at 10,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Michishio at 10,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Oshio at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Takao engages CA Exeter at 8,000 yards
CA Atago engages CA Cornwall at 8,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CA Takao at 8,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Michishio at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Cornwall sunk by BB Kongo at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CL Ceres at 7,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Asashio at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CA Exeter at 10,000 yards
CA Takao engages CA Exeter at 10,000 yards
CA Exeter engages CL Jintsu at 10,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Arashio at 10,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Oshio at 10,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Asashio at 10,000 yards
Task forces break off...

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Dec 27th brought the first Japanese attempt at capturing Manila.
It looks like Luzon will fall sooner than I expected it, as he is commiting a one of his 3 mainland "reserve" divisions : the 4th
Assaulting units:
48th Recon Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
65th Brigade
20th Infantry Regiment
4th Division
9th Infantry Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion




Ground combat at Manila (79,77)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32242 troops, 265 guns, 293 vehicles, Assault Value = 1069

Defending force 28027 troops, 209 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 833

Japanese adjusted assault: 507

Allied adjusted defense: 433

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1797 casualties reported
Squads: 34 destroyed, 68 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (3 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1075 casualties reported
Squads: 36 destroyed, 118 disabled
Non Combat: 24 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 35 (10 destroyed, 25 disabled)

Assaulting units:
48th Recon Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
65th Brigade
20th Infantry Regiment
4th Division
9th Infantry Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
I/43rd PS Inf Battalion
91st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry Division
27th Avn Sup
71st PA Infantry Division
57th PS Infantry Regiment
1st PA Infantry Division
51st PA Infantry Division
2nd Constabulary Regiment
4th PAAC Avn Sup
Nichols Field AAF Base Force
II Corps
Cavite USN Base Force



On a different front; after succesfully destroying a transport TF (4 *AKs, 2 PBs, empty). The British raiding TF needs to withdraw,
problem is Japan is already covering the short routes, thus they will need to attempt the risky Makassar strait; I am betting he will use his best forces to cover the obvious escape routes, thus I will have a day's advantage.
Moreover, by moving on direction to Tarakan, I would delay for at least a day or two the invasion timetable or better yet find it!



Let's see how many ships survive! I am not too confident about CLs but the DDs have a good chance

[Bullwinkle58]

I think the 4th has about 9037 EXP points, so . . .

[Jorge_Stanbury]

So... one day left? [:(]

[IdahoNYer]

Enjoying this AAR.

You can still fall back to Bataan, right? Surprised to see the 4th ID committed there too - but at least you know where it is!

How is China faring?

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Thanks!!
and yes IdahoNYer, I can still fall back to Bataan, although I am worried I have too many troops as I am playing DBB-C with stacking limits:

Bataan has a maximum of 45,000
Clark has a maximum of 40,000

I am currently at:
Bataan: 11,173
Clark: 40,076 (slighly over)
Manila: 30,252

So my worries is not to loss Manila, as it will happen regardless, my issue is what will happen to those troops that withdraw. Clark is already slighly over, and there is nowhere else to run once they retreat.

Should I move some troops from Clark to Bataan now?
I don't want to lose tons of supply due to overstacking



As per commitment of troops, I am keeping a tally of each "big& nasty" Japanese Division

- 4th div is at Luzon, this is good news for the overall campaign
- Imperial Grds: I don't know where they are, but a turn ago, I got intelligence they are preparing for Singapore. My guess: they will soon move by rail to Johore Bahru, then assault Singapore
- 33th div: at Palembang... Prester John like overkill [X(]
- 21th division: no clue
- 144 Inf regiment: Assaulted Guam... so I give it another couple turns before they will ready for Rabaul or Pt Moresby
- 38th division: in China, close to Wuchow, commited

[Jorge_Stanbury]

China:

good question: I am not sure [X(]

Lets back a bit, for this game I asked for a game not focused on China. This was for several reasons, key ones are:

- I have read enough AARs to know China is kind of hopeless for the Allies if the Japanese player decides to push hard there.
- I am historically oriented, I am not into a game that goes very ahistoric. "Blitzkrieg in China" is too ahistoric for my taste. To put it simple: If Japan couldn't steamroll China in the years before WW2.. when all Japanese troops and resources were available and high priority for China...then it is hard to believe thar that in 1941-1942 a proficient Japanese player can steamroll and capture most of China while at the same time he conquers the British, American and Dutch colonies.
- I have even read in some AARs that one option to change this is to devote all bombers to supply transport to China... in other words, to move all B-17s, B-26s, Blenheims, etc to Ledo/ Kohima/ Dimapur etc. and use them as tranport to salvage China [8|] This is uber ridiculous, China was at most a secondary theatre. Roosevelt/Churchill would not care if it falls or not, better if it hold of course, but there would not be any surrender or AV if not.

- Because I don't think China is well modelled, well balanced, or fun to play, I have simply decided to not put a lot of attention to it.
Other than giving orders to (usually) run away from danger, and/ or move LCU into bases I am building forts, there is very little else I am doing about China.
- Before starting this game I asked for a HR on not focusing a lot in China, thus if he is steamrolling too much, I will ask him to go slow, or at the very least to go slow enought to guarantee there is not auto-victory early on.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

By the way I got the turn, Manila didn't fall

moreover, it did increase forts to L1 after last battle[:)]


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Ground combat at Manila (79,77)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31357 troops, 286 guns, 306 vehicles, Assault Value = 1141

Defending force 26463 troops, 201 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 715

Japanese adjusted assault: 501

Allied adjusted defense: 453

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 afterwards fort level was built back to L1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1191 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 128 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 18 (2 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1298 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 92 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 24 (2 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
4th Division
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
48th Recon Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
16th Engineer Regiment
65th Brigade
2nd Tank Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
14th Army
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
27th Avn Sup
71st PA Infantry Division
1st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry Division
57th PS Infantry Regiment
51st PA Infantry Division
91st PA Infantry Division
2nd Constabulary Regiment
Nichols Field AAF Base Force
I/43rd PS Inf Battalion
II Corps
4th PAAC Avn Sup
Cavite USN Base Force


No ships were lost on last turn:
- Ceres is in Singapore shipyard, hopefully I will be able to fix all its damage before Singapore fell
- Exeter is on Palembang; next turn I will get 2 DDs fully repaired there, thus I will have another small raiding force ready
- British TF (Mauritius, Danae, 5 DDs) was not intercepted, although it is fully spotted now... it is running full speed to Balikpapan to refuel. It is great to still have Tarakan and Balikpapan!!
- DeRuyter, Boise and friends are getting into position to keep causing trouble and delays to the Japanese timetable

[Mike McCreery]

I will ask him to go slow, or at the very least to go slow enought to guarantee there is not auto-victory early on.

So, you are playing a game where you are asking the Japanese to not try to win?

I might have a problem with that as your opponent but if he doesnt care then it is all good ;]

[kkoovvoo]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury


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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

This might be stupid question - but in past wasnt it necessary to achieve 2:1 odds to reduce forts? And with 1:1 odds forts stay untouched? (unless combat eng reduced it)

Or my memory doesnt serve me well?