Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walker (J) DBB-B Scen 28

[Walker84]

December 31 1941

The year does not end well for SC Ch 9 which sinks after hitting a mine at Singkawang. The minefield is swept and the invasion fleet gets underway to return to port, having come off pretty lightly overall. A6M2s take up position on the airbase immediately and the newly installed forces prepare to move out overland to capture the adjacent bases.

My opponent has also mined the approaches to Osaka where, fortunately, a regular local miesweeping patrol has been in operation since early on in the war so no surprise hits achieved on departing TFs (so far).

An Allied SCTF finally makes an appearance near Kendari and CL Java takes a torpedo from the I-160 which has been screening my Manado invasion.

Then its the turn of the Betties based at Manado to get a slice of the action...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Kendari at 71,105

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
G4M1 Betty x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CL Tromp, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL De Ruyter
DD Piet Hein

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

We have a second attempt in the afternoon, but our planes are almost out of torpedoes and these smaller ships make tough targets for level bombers. At least this should discourage any bolder incursions for the time being.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kendari at 71,105

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
G4M1 Betty x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 12000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

[Walker84]

In China, abandoned Chengchow falls to the 32nd division and two other attacks are successful: one to mop up fragments of two shattered Chinese corps near Kaifeng; the other a preparatory attack for the assault on Kukong:

Ground combat at 79,58 (near Kukong)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12507 troops, 108 guns, 62 vehicles, Assault Value = 381

Defending force 5515 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 177

Japanese adjusted assault: 354

Allied adjusted defense: 103

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
267 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1844 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 53 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 6 disabled
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
38th Division
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
63rd Chinese Corps

Various bombing missions in the Philippines and Malaya are unopposed; the fighters have now been pulled out of Singapore - temporarily or permanently who knows.

Finally, 2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy pushes back 108th RN Base Force to capture Jesselton.

[Walker84]

January 1, 1942

SSs I-159, I-160 and I-164 fire 16 torpedoes at various Dutch light cruiser and destroyer TFs around Kendari without success. I'm not sure whether the Dutch were planning to make a run up to Manado or just waiting to interdict any moves further south.

Sharp intake of breath when Soryu appears in the sights of SS Salmon near Milne Bay. Fortunately the four torpedos launched go wide. Soryu is part of of the covering force for the imminent invasion of Pt Moresby.

Continuing the sub saga, SS I-15 spots Allied ships including several xAPs and DDs near Fanning Island but misses a big juicy AP with two torps and suffers light damage to depth charges. I wonder what is being transported and where it will end up going..

The USAAF tries a low level naval attack at San Fernando with P-26As packing 100 lb GP bombs. There is no repeat of the earlier success however as my warships shoot one fighter down and CAP accounts for another four.

Amphibious Assault goes in at Tarakan. Troops are ashore but xAK Kansai Maru is on fire after being engaged by a 75mm CD Gun Battery. Thinking of renaming any Japanese merchant ships on amph assault duties Ronson Maru having already had an AMC sink on me at Wake after having been on fire for 4 days.

And finally in the China update, another day, another fine victory...

Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20697 troops, 208 guns, 21 vehicles, Assault Value = 918

Defending force 8564 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 255

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 530

Allied adjusted defense: 23

Japanese assault odds: 23 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Nanyang !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
338 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3906 casualties reported
Squads: 61 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 75 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 19 (9 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
6th Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
36th Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
85th Chinese Corps

[Walker84]

January 2 1942

Overkill at Port Moresby?

We have just landed at Port Moresby and from the bombardment report it looks like Roger was busy vacating rather than reinforcing the place. So I may not have needed the entire 4th div but I wanted to make sure, plus I'll soon be able to free up the unit for it's next operation.

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 893 troops, 22 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 5

Defending force 14870 troops, 114 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 431

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

Assaulting units:
13th Fld RAA Regiment
D Coy/NG Rifles
Papuan Inf Battalion
Moresby RAN Stn Base Force
Lark Force /3

Defending units:
4th Division
32nd Special Base Force

On the other hand my landing at Tarakan just looks too weak as a shock attack by Sasebo 3rd SNLF and 8th SNLF only achieves 1:2 odds, no fort reduction and more disablements for the Japanese than the Dutch.


At sea, both sides subs continue to expend torpedoes without hitting any targets (WAD).

There is no ground combat in China for a change. The developing situation can be appreciated from the map where the race is on for the Chinese to establish an MLR in the rough to impede my push towards Sian.

[Walker84]

January 3rd 1942

As might be expected the 4th division completely steamrollers the remnants left in Port Moresby. It feels good to have this base ready to develop as early as this. Now I just need to close off the Torres Strait so that the Allies will have to sail the long way around Oz to get into the DEI, plus backfill Buna and Lae etc.

In Malaya, we capture Port Swettenham. Singapore is still devoid of Allied airpower. I'm about to get a bead on Palembang now that Dinahs are operating out of Kuching. In the meantime I transfer a unit of Oscars (1cs) to Pisanloke to support my land units entering Burma. As this is PDU off the 1a and 1b units will still be around for a while but have been largely relegated to bomber escorts as they are less effective against armoured Allied fighters.

In south Luzon the 21st div has almost completed debarking at Atimonan and will be ready for the push on Manila in a few days time. Batangas and Mauban are already taken and part of the front line as is Lingayen in the north.

[Walker84]

January 4 1942

Allied bombers are more active this turn. DB-3Ms and A-29As hit targets in northern China while B-17s bomb the airfield at Moulmein for the first time. The latter were in China a few days ago so I guess they will be rotated between fronts now.

My push into the forest/rough north of Nanyang runs into a strong Chinese force dug in. I manage to breach the stacking limits as extra IJA units move into the hex just before the attack goes in. Japanese assault odds are an eyewatering 1 to 99. Fortunately not too many squads are destroyed, although one unit of engineers is rendered squadless as a result. I'll need to pay a lot more attention to stacking limits from now on.

Ground combat at 85,44 (near Nanyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25319 troops, 256 guns, 46 vehicles, Assault Value = 1033

Defending force 39483 troops, 157 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1030

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 2140

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99

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

Japanese ground losses:
717 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 29 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 24 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
6th Division
110th Division
36th Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
55th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
3rd Group Army
21st Group Army
22nd Group Army
31st Group Army

Elsewhere, my Tarakan attack fails to drop the forts again. I will hold up here as I have a reserve unit steaming in to improve the odds.

In Burma, I'm hoping to push across the river into Pegu in the next few days before my opponent manages to build the base up too much. If my regimental-sized units can't prevail, the 33rd div is a few more days out on the trail.

[Walker84]

January 5 1942

Eighteen Zeros from Yamada Det S1 based at Bangkok sweep Rangoon, downing 3 Blenheim IFs and 2 Buffalo Is for no loss. Two B-17Ds bomb Moulmein airfield again for 1 measly supply hit. Meanwhile, the 11th Air Fleet is en route to Thailand to enable torpedo-carrying Netties to be activated within range of Port Blair and Rangoon. My land units are still assembling for the assault on Pegu.

In Malaya, Roger's speed bumps continue to impose delays. Today the 14th Tank Regiment captures Malacca from the 1st Manchester and 1st Malay Battalions.

Now that Sinkawang is operational, Nells range as far as Batavia, torpedoing and sinking three Commonwealth HDMLs - good accuracy on such small craft! The B-339D CAP gives a good account of itself, downing 3 Nells for 1 lost to the 9 escorting A6M2s. At least that's 24 fewer ASW points to harry my subs in the confined waters off Batavia.

In Borneo, II/4th Infantry Battalion starts landing at Tarakan to support the flagging attackers.

[Walker84]

January 6 1942

In Malaya, 1st Tank Regiment captures Temuloh from 1st Hyderabad Battalion. I need to keep chasing down the fragments or Roger will plonk them down on the railway lines to impede my moves southwards.

A shock attack at Tarakan finally achieves 1:1 and the forts are dropped to 1. My xAKs take a few more shell hits from the plucky defenders 120m and 75mm guns. I learned a good lesson at Tarakan after one of my xAKs caught fire and sank after being shelled. I subsequently realised that some ships can load a limited amount of fuel at the same time as taking on the combat load. In future I will not use this type for amph ops at all (unless the base is undefended) and have even gone as far as to unload another TF in order to redeploy the troops.

In China, a probing bombardment attack at 86,41 (near Loyang) reveals that Chinese reinforcements have begun appearing in strength. The picture shows how the front line is starting to stabilise now that I have secured the plains. With stackng limits it looks like Sian will be a long hard slog, which is how it should be, I guess.

Attacking force 23214 troops, 225 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 651

Defending force 47242 troops, 196 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1273

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
37th Division
41st Division
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
42nd Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps

[Walker84]

January 7 1942

Allied subs active near Tawi Tawi and Tarawa but my escorts manage to keep them at bay and the torpedoes go wide. My PBs manage a few hits on the Dutch sub but I can't tell how bad the damage is.

My forces finally liberate Tarakan after a 3:1 shock attack. The base is a bit trashed and will need more engineers to repair the oil (36 damage)52, the port (36) and airbase (32).

The 42nd Infantry Regiment expels the remnants of 8 Indian bde from Port Dickson. Escorted Sallies commence bombing Singapore from 15k, losing one plane to AA.

In China the vacated Loyang is captured and a few more Chinese fragments are swept from the plains.


January 8, 1942

Third sub vs sub incident of the war: SS I-9 attacking SS Swordfish near Torres Islands. Also the third time we have missed!

Ground attack reveals that the 1st Burma division is holding Pegu. I have 208 AV - various regiments - ranged against them across the river but might as well wait a few more days for my reinforcements as it doesn't look like Pegu will be reinforced further by the Allies.

Wenchow suffers its third night naval bombardment by Ise and Nagato. Chinese bombers are in operation again near Nanyang and one A-29A Hudson is destroyed by flak.

Betties operating from Manado sink xAKLs Benkalis and Benkoelen near Balikpapan.

Manila is being bombed round the clock as my forces enter the outskirts of the city from the south.

[Walker84]

January 9, 1942

A quiet turn. Bombing runs proceed against Pegu, Singapore and Manila. My opponent is certainly conserving his airpower for now as CAP is rarely in evidence anywhere. I suspect that he will try to hit me with a CAP trap at some point so I am careful to rotate my missions as much as I can. I also have an SOP which states that bombers must never fly unescorted as I lost a fair few in previous games e.g. when the AVG pops up suddenly in China. Of course, even when escorts are ordered its still eminently possible that the bombers and escorts will become separated at some point.

Manus is captured.

[Walker84]

January 10, 1942

Sub attack near Milne Bay. SS S-39 gets a torpedo hit on xAK Lima Maru, carrying an air support bn to reinforce Pt Moresby. The damaged ship is detached from the convoy and, escorted, should still make port in two days. Fortunately no fuel on board so no fire this time. Having reembarked after capturing Pt Moresby, the 4th division is now going back the other way and has not encountered any subs, so far...

Amphibious assault goes in at Kendari, well supported by SCTFs and a carrier air group. However, have I erred on the side of bringing too few troops again?

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 753 troops, 6 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 29

Defending force 2149 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 54

Assaulting units:
Kendari KNIL Cdo
Kendari ML Base Force

Defending units:
Miura Det
44th Field Const Co
9th JNAF Coy

The first Japanese Bombardment attack at Manila reveals what we are up against.

Attacking force 27692 troops, 242 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 1005

Defending force 11463 troops, 79 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 317

Assaulting units:
113th Infantry Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
21st Division
9th Infantry Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
16th Engineer Regiment
56th Engineer Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
27th Avn Sup
2nd PA Infantry Regiment
1st PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
2nd Constabulary Regiment
Nichols Field AAF Base Force
Cavite USN Base Force

Mopping up operations continue against Allied fragments in Malaya and China.

[Walker84]

January 11, 1942

Allied SSs are becoming increasingly feisty. Firstly, SS S-23 launches 4 torpedoes at CA Furutaka near Port Moresby. One hits but fails to explode. Then, near Cape Gloucester, SS Seadragon evades all of Shokaku's escorts and hits the carrier with a single torpedo. Fortunately, the damage is restricted to 16/13/1 and the carrier can still make 29 kts, enabling it to keep up with the KB as it heads north to refuel and refit.

B-17Ds waste no time in launching an afternoon air attack on Port Moresby. Raid is spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Eight Zeros intercept the flight of six bombers and two B-17s are reported shot down. The airfield suffers 2 hits and 10 runway hits.


Elsewhere, two good land results indicate that Manila and Kendari should soon fall:

Ground combat at Manila (79,77)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32152 troops, 256 guns, 88 vehicles, Assault Value = 1009

Defending force 11481 troops, 79 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 316

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 481

Allied adjusted defense: 357

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1022 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 94 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1009 casualties reported
Squads: 42 destroyed, 157 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 16 (3 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Assaulting units:
20th Infantry Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
21st Division
148th Infantry Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
16th Engineer Regiment
56th Engineer Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
1st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Infantry Regiment
71st PA Infantry Division
27th Avn Sup
2nd Constabulary Regiment
Nichols Field AAF Base Force
Cavite USN Base Force


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

Ground combat at Kendari (70,106)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1925 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 54

Defending force 1076 troops, 13 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 29

Japanese adjusted assault: 37

Allied adjusted defense: 15

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

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

Allied ground losses:
127 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Miura Det
44th Field Const Co
9th JNAF Coy

Defending units:
Kendari KNIL Cdo
Kendari ML Base Force

[Walker84]

January 12, 1942

During the night, Allied sub S-37 is spotted twice at Kendari by my escorts and suffers 7 hits in two separate ASW attacks. I also noticed a Dutch sub icon loitering near Wenchow so it looks like my opponent is trying to interdict the Wenchow bombardment express. Perhaps I will send an ASW TF in on its own next time.

More Allied sub action, and it's all getting a bit nerve-racking for Admiral Nagumo, i/c of the KB. First, SS Plunger launches 4 torpedoes at Akagi - and misses. Then....SS Plunger comes back to launch 4 torpedoes at the previously-damaged Shokaku. One hits, but it is a dud. Both times, the 9 escorting DDs completely fail to locate the sub. That's 16 ASW pts sitting around looking pretty and doing precisely squat to protect my carriers!!


After that scare, the rest of the day brings nothing but positive news. Lae and Buna are occupied and, as predicted by yesterday's results, the assaults on Manila and Kendari are successful, netting a good crop of points in terms of base values and Allied squads destroyed.

Ground combat at Manila (79,77)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31512 troops, 256 guns, 88 vehicles, Assault Value = 946

Defending force 10091 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 179

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 792

Allied adjusted defense: 173

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Manila !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
347 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 36 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
4196 casualties reported
Squads: 275 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 290 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 20 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 53 (49 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 4
Units destroyed 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
16th Engineer Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
21st Division
16th Recon Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
56th Engineer Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
71st PA Infantry Division
1st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Infantry Regiment
27th Avn Sup
2nd Constabulary Regiment
Nichols Field AAF Base Force
Cavite USN Base Force


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

Ground combat at Kendari (70,106)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1902 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 52

Defending force 957 troops, 12 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Japanese adjusted assault: 36

Allied adjusted defense: 7

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kendari !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Do-24K-1: 1 destroyed

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

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

Allied ground losses:
485 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (8 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
Miura Det
44th Field Const Co
9th JNAF Coy

Defending units:
Kendari KNIL Cdo
Kendari ML Base Force

Netties and Zeroes will be deployed to Kendari in a few days time making it easier to control the approaches to Ambon, Balikpapan, Makassar and Koepang, our next primary objectives in the DEI before the assault on Java and Sumatra proper.

[Walker84]

January 13, 1942

After the usual night time shadowplay of escorts and subs in different locations, Hudson Is launch a morning air attack on Miura Det at Kendari, only to discover that the base is already CAP'd. Zeroes shoot down three bombers and I am left wondering if the mission was accidental as the cost/benefit of sending 1/2 dozen or so Hudsons on a ground attack mission doesn't really add up.

Then bingo! The hunter becomes the hunted as S-38 tries to attack my TF landing the 65th Bde at Lingayen. Good to see my ASW getting it together for a change.

Submarine attack near Lingayen at 79,75

Japanese Ships
DD Akikaze
SC Ch 11
xAP Kamo Maru
xAP Terukuni Maru
xAK Brisbane Maru
DD Nokaze

Allied Ships
SS S-38, hits 15, and is sunk

SS S-38 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Akikaze
DD Nokaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Akikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nokaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Akikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Akikaze attacking submerged sub ....
SS S-38 forced to surface!
DD Nokaze firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Akikaze firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Nokaze firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Nokaze firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Akikaze firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

Kuantan is captured and then a higher-than-usual speed bump is encountered at Kluong in Malaya. I wonder if Roger was expecting me to continue probing southwards in regimental size but, having already clocked that it was the 22nd Australian Brigade in residence, I made sure that the Imperial Guards division was now in the van. At least by the time Kluong falls the Aussies won't be in much shape to contribute to the defence of Singapore.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13290 troops, 104 guns, 54 vehicles, Assault Value = 420

Defending force 2911 troops, 44 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 86

Japanese adjusted assault: 196

Allied adjusted defense: 97

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
142 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards Division

Defending units:
22nd Australian Brigade

[Walker84]

January 14th, 1942

We go in at Horn Island and it seems that Horn Island CD guns have been added to the DBB inventory - at least I can't remember any being there in stock. Consequently, two APs and a DD get fairly badly shot up and set on fire, which is never a good thing with the limitations of Japanese damage control.

Pre-Invasion action off Horn Island (91,128) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

52 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DD Hasu, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAP Keihuku Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
CM Itsukushima
DD Shigure
xAP Kasado Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Shiratsuyu
APD Nadakaze
CS Mizuho

Japanese ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Torres Strait Fortress firing at DD Hasu
DD Hasu firing at Torres Strait Fortress
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Battery engaging xAP Keihuku Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Shigure firing to suppress enemy battery at 13,000 yards
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Battery engaging xAP Kasado Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Shigure firing to suppress enemy battery at 13,000 yards
CM Itsukushima firing to suppress enemy battery at 13,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu firing to suppress enemy battery at 13,000 yards
4.7" CD Gun Battery engaging xAP Keihuku Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu firing to suppress enemy battery at 13,000 yards
155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAP Keihuku Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Shigure firing to suppress enemy battery at 13,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

On the plus side, the landing creates a shock attack and takes it with ease. Assaulting units were Kure 2nd SNLF + 3rd JNAF Coy. Defending units: Torres Str Lt Inf, Torres Strait Fortress, Horn Isl Base Force. My opponent later admits that he never saw the attack coming and lost six Aussie Cats as a result so I can't really complain.

Quiet day elsewhere. I-23 takes a hit near Pearl as the USN gets its ASW TFs together. We bombard the Aussies dug in at Kluong while waiting for reinforcements to arrive. Mopping up operations continue around Nanyang.

[Walker84]

January 15 - 17, 1942

B-17Ds fly against the newly-captured Horn Island airfield and score one hit point but three are damaged by my LRCAP flying out of Port Moresby and one may be an ops loss. Need to get some CAP over the base quickly.

My offensive near Canton stalls as a ragtag force of infantry regiments, artillery and engineers only achieves 1:10 odds against 65th Chinese Corps in forest terrain. I'll go back to bombing them for now.

Better results are obtained further north, where 15th Chinese Corps are pushed out of the rough hex to the NE of Nanyang with heavy losses (see battle indicator on the map). Fighters are spotted at Sian, AVG elements probably.

In Malaya, the 22nd Aussie bde are ejected from Kluong. Nearly there now...

Ground combat at Kluong (50,82)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21402 troops, 194 guns, 54 vehicles, Assault Value = 666

Defending force 2813 troops, 44 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 79

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 315

Allied adjusted defense: 95

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kluong !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
225 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1069 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 15 (13 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
21st Infantry Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
42nd Infantry Regiment
5th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
22nd Australian Brigade

[Walker84]

Jan 18 - 20, 1942

Turns have been happening, but I've been too busy with work to update the AAR.


China

Probing bombardment attacks as well as air recon reports show that Roger has managed to reinforce his positions to the south and east of Sian pretty well.
One ground combat at 86,41 (near Loyang) reveals Chinese Assault Value = 1294 vs. IJA Assault Value = 698
My forces: 37th Division,41st Division, 6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Chinese units: 57th Chinese Corps,1st Chinese Corps, 42nd Chinese Corps, 76th Chinese Corps, 4th Chinese Cavalry Corps.

No way through there and, with stacking limits, its going to be pretty hard to bludgeon my way through to Sian. So, although this will allow time for the Chinese to dig in, I have decided to pause the offensive in order to redeploy my forces more effectively, including adding more air support as I think that airpower could be the key to tipping the balance.

My other China offensive pushing north east from Canton also looks set to stall as I don't really have any reserves to call on in this theatre and the Chinese have been reinforced with 11 units now dug in at Kukong.

The rest

Shortlands falls on Jan 19. I intend in time to build up a complex of bases here to protect the SE flank of Rabaul. The base turns out to be mined so I will make sure to always bring along AMcs to these events.

On Jan 20, Kure 1st SNLF captures Butuan on Mindanao, pushing out the 103rd PA Infantry Regiment and Agusan Constab Battalion. Most of the remaining Allied forces are now holed up in the mountain stronghold of Malaybalay but ejecting them is not a priority for now.

Bombing raids on Clark Field and Singapore continue. No CAP and the flak is only downing the occasional Sally at the moment although plenty are taking damage along the way.

The naval war is confined to subs taking potshots at TFs - and missing.

[Walker84]

Jan 21-22, 1942

The fall of Johore Bahru on Jan 21 brings the first phase of the Malaya campaign to a close. Roger's use of 'speed bumps' in many of the towns clearly delayed my progress south. My hope now is that the forces remaining in Singapore have been sufficiently degraded to make a quick capture possible.

In the DEI, an invasion TF is closing on Koepang while the 21st Air Flotilla, newly landed at Kendari has enabled torpedo-carrying Betties to fly in and provide air support. I have bypassed Ambon temporarily, favouring a quick assault on Koepang so that I can exert control over the western approaches to Darwin now that possession of Horn Island and Port Moresby has closed off the eastern route.

Two options are now presented: an assault on Darwin itself, and a left hook round towards Java. The timing of the latter will depend on the outcome in Malaya as I will feel able to commit the reserves I have assembled once I find out how much strength the Allies have left at Singapore.

[Walker84]

Jan 23, 1942

The Koepang invasion force goes in. It looks as if the base has not been reinforced so it should fall easily on the next day.

My reinforced column finally enters Pegu, shock attacking across the river and the 1st Burma division is shattered and pushed back towards Rangoon.

Ground combat at Pegu (55,53)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 29326 troops, 258 guns, 39 vehicles, Assault Value = 914

Defending force 9051 troops, 59 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 262

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 870

Allied adjusted defense: 30

Japanese assault odds: 29 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Pegu !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
235 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled

Allied ground losses:
4412 casualties reported
Squads: 180 destroyed, 51 disabled
Non Combat: 191 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 38 (29 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
55th Engineer Regiment
33rd Division
143rd Infantry Regiment
1st RTA Division
112th Infantry Regiment
RTA Cavalry Division
1st RF Gun Battalion
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
15th Army
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
1st Burma Division

Digos on Mindanao is also captured from 101st PA Infantry Regiment.

Meanwhile, troops are loading in various locations as the next phase of the plan unfolds...

...and finally, I got round to installing Chemkid's fantastic topographical map mod. Nicely laid out and easier on the eye - it almost feels like playing a brand new game!

[Walker84]

Jan 24, 1942

Belatedly fleeing Koepang, AVP Bellatrix runs into the IJN cover force, takes 9 shell hits, and is sunk. The base is taken easily, Timor Cdo being the only defending unit. I suspect that my opponent has been pulling out the more valuable assets ahead of the advancing tide. I have resolved to hit Darwin next and fly some Dinahs in immediately to recon the base. Anything trying to flee Darwin should hopefully run into one of my SCTFs sent to prowl the area.

Today's screenshot shows the front in southern China as it begins to stabilise. I have just pushed a Chinese corps out of a hex after a week of sustained bombardment. Even if my opponent realises that the forces ranged against him are weaker than his own numerically, I'm fairly confident that he won't try to push back towards Canton. My priority in the south is to hold the line for the moment while assembling assets for a push on the useful industrial base of Wenchow.