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

[Walker84]

Feb 17, 1942

A further Allied MTB is sunk near Palembang while, further south, Triton manages to torpedo and sink a PB escort near Kolaka.

Morning air attacks on the usual suspects.

As the landing force approaches Denpasar it is attacked by waves of Dutch planes - 139WH-3s, B-339Ds, and T.IVas. Very fortunately, as the LRCAP is not yet in place, they go for the CL and DD escorts, and no hits are scored.

Katherine in northern Australia, Port Blair, and Palembang all fall to assault this day.

[Walker84]

Feb 18, 1942

A flotilla of six Dutch MTBs attack near Denpasar but are driven off and troops start to unload on the beach.

An Allied carrier force is detected near Oosthaven in the morning and 15 Nells based at Singkawang launch an attack but fail to cooordinate with their escorts and at least 9 are lost. The CAP indicates a joint US/UK strike force:
Sea Hurricane Ib x 6
F4F-3A Wildcat x 22
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14

A second attack goes in with fighter escorts but is met by heavy CAP again.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Oosthaven at 46,95

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 62 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes


Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
G4M1 Betty x 9

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 6
F4F-3A Wildcat x 21
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVL Hermes
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

Nine Dutch bombers then attack transport ships unloading at Palembang but are met by Oscars now based there and five are shot down.

Finally, the sledgehammer arrives and there is little that the Oscars can do to protect their charges against the overwhelming attack that has been assembled:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 48,91

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 6
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 15

Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 9
F2A-3 Buffalo x 27
F4F-3 Wildcat x 27
SBD-2 Dauntless x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 54
TBD-1 Devastator x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ia Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Yodogawa Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Kosin Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kirishima Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Toa Maru, Bomb hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kagu Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
xAK Nitisan Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Tacoma Maru, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Eiko Maru #2, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Kamitsu Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
819 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 8 (5 destroyed, 3 disabled)

The attack continues in the afternoon:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 48,91

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 6
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 12

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 20
F4F-3 Wildcat x 23
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 2 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
AK Tosan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Kinka Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
TB Manazuru
DD Asagiri, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

So, a highly effective Allied coup-de-main at this stage in the war. By concentrating the US and British carrier assets in one place and achieving total surprise (no detection levels obtained on the previous turn), Roger has bagged a good haul of transports and pretty much annihilated a base force and port unit that were about to debark at Palembang.

It would have been much worse if the invasion force was still approaching Palembang as both it and the heavy cover force would have taken a beating notwithstanding the CAP I had covering them. Fortunately, the bulk of our forces had already rebased to Singapore as I have a policy of not hanging around to unload supplies and provide sitting duck targets once an invasion has been successful.

It's hard to avoid this type of attack - would the existence of more Mavis planes at Singapore have pushed my naval search out better? I think he must have come in from the direction of Cocos Is or perhaps further to the south and made a fast approach to avoid being detected. At least I can now build up an early warning system based around Palembang hopefully to avoid being surprised when I take Java proper.

[Walker84]

Feb 19, 1942

The Allied carrier TFs disappear as quickly as they arrived. No DL on them this turn, so I guess they have headed out due west at flank speed. There are no further Allied air strikes so we are able to continue restoring our CAP and augmenting air search capabilities. Mavis's are deployed to Palembang, Makassar and Koepang. It will be interesting to see if the carriers come back in again for a second attack. I suspect not, but will need to keep on high alert nonetheless.

KB moves from its current location in preparation for the next campaign. Shokaku is nearly repaired at Yokohama after taking a torpedo during the Port Moresby campaign.

As some consolation, Denpasar falls at the first assault and will receive an air support bn very soon. Kokoda is also captured by Sasebo 2nd SNLF, evicting the remnants of the Allied defenders of Port Moresby who now retreat towards Terapo.

Japanese Bombardment attack at Clark Field fails to achieve anything much: preparing for a long war of attrition here...

Attacking force 32691 troops, 438 guns, 137 vehicles, Assault Value = 1064

Defending force 19092 troops, 286 guns, 167 vehicles, Assault Value = 626

Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

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

[Walker84]

Feb 20, 1942

The sea lanes south of Java are becoming congested with Allied subs. SS KXVI spots a convoy but elects not to fire torpedoes at the escorts for a change. Then SS O21 finds a bigger fish to fry - CV Kaga, Torpedo hits 1 near Denpasar after six fired. For the second time in this war, IJN destroyer escorts fail miserably to shield one of their charges from submarine attack. Of course, I probably shouldn't be using fleet carriers at all in the confines of the Java Sea, but what the heck...

On the positive side, you should have seen the surprised expressions on those Dutch pilots' faces when they flew straight into the CAP!

Morning Air attack on Denpasar , at 58,108

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft
139WH-3 x 15
B-339D x 3
T.IVa x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 4 destroyed
B-339D: 1 destroyed
T.IVa: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x 139WH-3 bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 3 x 300 kg GP Bomb
3 x 139WH-3 bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 3 x 300 kg GP Bomb
2 x T.IVa bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 3 x 250 kg GP Bomb
1 x T.IVa bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 3 x 250 kg GP Bomb
2 x 139WH-3 bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 3 x 300 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 12000.
Raid is overhead
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 12000.
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Denpasar , at 58,108

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19

Allied aircraft
139WH-3 x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 8 destroyed

CAP engaged:
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 12000.
Raid is overhead
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 99 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 76 minutes
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Raid is overhead

With 31 points of flotation damage, Kaga will make a run straight to Balikpapan, shielded by 22 ASW points worth of the finest IJN ASW defence. Hope those Dutch subs have almost run out of torpedoes!

[Walker84]

Feb 21, 1942

A cruiser force patrols the channel north of Denpasar running into Dutch MTBs and sinking one.

As it nears Balikpapan, the Kaga group is intercepted by SS KXIII which launches 2 torpedoes at DD Natsushio. The Dutch sub is then on the receiving end of some ASW hits. I took the precaution of flying the Kaga's air groups off last turn but with luck the ship will make port tomorrow although a larger port will be required for full repairs.

A naval air bn starts unloading at Denpasar. Elements of the 16th army are being assembled to launch the assault on southern Java. Fortunately, many Dutch planes have been destroyed during the campaign so I shouldn't need to use the carriers for support, although they will need to be kept close by in case of further Allied carrier incursions.

A few Chinese units are spotted in Burma, at Myitkyina and the dot base north of Shwebo. I wonder if this presages a counterattack or could be simply an attempt to shore up the rickety Burmese defences. I have begun redeploying forces in theatre for the next phase of the offensive. Lashio should fall in days and I will push as far as Shwebo but in addition to protecting the oilfields at Magwe, I am mainly interested in Akyab at the moment.

[Walker84]

Feb 22, 1942

SS I-4 is located patrolling near Sydney by Dutch destroyer Kortenaer but nothing comes of it. Lillies based at Darwin bomb the retreating Australians near Daly Waters.

Dutch airpower launches four unsuccessful shipping attacks near Denpasar which still awaits the arrival of CAP.

Another inconsequential bombardment attack at Clark; must keep the pressure up though.

Attacking force 32642 troops, 436 guns, 137 vehicles, Assault Value = 1061

Defending force 19039 troops, 286 guns, 167 vehicles, Assault Value = 619

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

Allied ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

The 1st Raiding Rgt paradrops on Derby in NW Australia and captures the vacated base.


Oh, and shipping is now massing at Singapore for a new and Top Secret operation, codenamed Open Door [ オープンドア ].

[Walker84]

Feb 23, 1942

Night Time Surface Combat, near Denpasar, range 2,000 Yards. A flotilla of 5 Dutch MTBS manage evade the surface task force and surprise the small task force which has just finished unloading the air support bn. PB Hirotama Maru takes 1 torpedo hit and is sunk. AK Victoria Maru suffers 5 shell hits and 2 torpedo hits but miraculously stays afloat throughout the day, despite being on fire with heavy damage. The cruiser cover force is set to patrol the straits again next day. I need to run more supplies in to Denpasar now that Zeros are based there.

Another naval bombardment of Wenchow causes 175 casualties and plenty of infrastructure damage. No more fort building there for a while now. My land forces are almost in position to mount a probing attack.

A screen shot of Burma and Eastern India where I am pondering the set up for Operation Open Door. I plan to develop a defensive line running West to East between Shwebo and Lashio while pushing up the coast to threaten Akyab and Cox's Bazaar, which recon indicates currently hold one unit apiece (although clearly this could change quickly).

If my opponent reinforces either/both bases so much the better, as the plan is to mount a seaborne invasion behind them, either at Chittagong or Diamond Harbour. I know that both ports have CD guns in DBB so will need to go in with strength and the KB in support. Diamond Harbour is a tad more risky, especially if it has been reinforced and forts built up, but once taken will pose an proximate threat to Calcutta. Taking Chittagong will help to enfilade his defensive line in Burma, but will mean a much longer slog across the river delta to invest Calcutta.

Any advice out there on the wisdom of hitting Chittagong vs Diamond Harbour (or other points in India for that matter?)

[Walker84]

The next screen shot provides a better view of the options for the operation currently being planned...

[Walker84]

Feb 24, 1942

A TF consisting of CA Nachi, CA Ashigara, CL Tama and four DDs is tasked with cleaning out the vipers nest of MTBs around southern Java, and encounters 5 boats near Banjoewangi, sinking TM-15 with a single shell hit. From the number of MTBs clustering around southern Java it appears that my opponent thinks an invasion is imminent. So far it does not appear that there are any larger surface assets in the vicinity, although there is still quite a lot of airpower concentrated at Batavia and Soerabaja.

I want to get more subs operating in the waters around southern Indis and Ceylon. SS I-123 encounters a convoy consisting of two PGs and 3 AKLs near Trivandrum but fails to obtain a firing position.

The forces tasked with capturing Wenchow are now in position and a preparatory bombardment reveals satisfactory odds. The plan is to take the city quickly as it appears that reinforcements are now heading south from Chuhsien.

On Luzon, the 65th Brigade captures Subic Bay, destroying the defences there and competing the encirclement of Clark Field and Bataan.

[Walker84]

Feb 25, 1942

The Nachi TF is ordered to Loemadjang during the night and sinks two Allied MTBs in separate actions before withdrawing to Denpasar.

The British sub SS Trusty launches 2 torpedoes at DD Yomogi near Balikpapan. At least that means fewer Allied subs in Burmese and Indian waters.

Having lost several floatplanes to CAP over Batavia and Soerabaja in recent days I decided it was time to sweep both bases with fighters based at Palembang, Singkawang and Makassar. The results were pretty impressive.

[Walker84]

Lillies continue to bomb Darwin RAN Base Force and 19th Australian Battalion on the road to Daly Waters. Alice Springs is still a level 1 airbase so it will be a while before the Allies can mount any useful air interdiction in northern Australia.

Sallies then bomb W Borneo KNIL Battalion at Praboemoelih as our forces prepare to consolidate in Sumatra.

The first supply convoy heading to Rangoon encounters SS KXII in the confined Straits of Malacca, xAK Yahiko Maru takes a torpedo hits and will probably sink. The sub takes 3 ASW hits.

The ground combat result at Wenchow is promising enough...

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31097 troops, 274 guns, 175 vehicles, Assault Value = 937

Defending force 12774 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 390

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 328

Allied adjusted defense: 622

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
943 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 19 disabled

Allied ground losses:
597 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
24th Ind Engineer Regiment
15th Division
6th Division
13th Tank Regiment
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
100th Chinese Corps
25th Group Army

In Burma, the 33rd Division shock attacks across the river and captures Shwebo, annihiliating Upper Burma BAF Battalion in the process.

Screen shot showing the Allied concentrations in Java. I haven't decided where to land yet, and want to focus on neutralising his air strength and MTBs first.

[Walker84]

Feb 26, 1942

The remaining mines at Rangoon are cleared, which is pretty handy as a supply convoy is en route. A supply run to Port Blair will be detached so that I can base some naval search there.

For some reason Dutch fighters decide to sweep Denpasar which allows the Zeros based there to shoot down 2 B-339D and 2 CW-21B Demon for no loss. My opponent may be wondering where the invasion of Java is, but it will come soon enough once I have finished some redeployments. I plan to land in the south and push towards Soerabaja which is now low on CAP and does not appear to be been extensively reinforced with ground troops.

I attack at Wenchow again, and the engineers reduce the fortifications to 1. The city should fall within the next two days, securing my south China front and gaining the useful additions of Wenchow's HI and LI.

[Walker84]

Feb 27-28, 1942

The only combat activities on the 27th were assorted bombing missions, plus a further DA on Wenchow dropping the fortifications to 0. Otherwise, a lot of deployments going on. I am moving my tankers into position in the DEI to start transporting the oil, and marshalling the escorts that go with them. Denying the Java bases to the Allies now becomes a priority.

Wenchow falls on Feb 28th. I'm surprised that my opponent split his forces between Wenchow and Chuhsien as this will have weakened his defence of both. On the other hand, my regular naval bombardments probably meant that Wenchow was untenable in the end.

Ground combat at Wenchow (89,58)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29261 troops, 274 guns, 168 vehicles, Assault Value = 837

Defending force 11312 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 255

Japanese adjusted assault: 705

Allied adjusted defense: 133

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Wenchow !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
450 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3547 casualties reported
Squads: 170 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 67 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 6 (5 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
6th Division
15th Division
13th Tank Regiment
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
100th Chinese Corps
25th Group Army

In Sumatra, Praboemoelih, SW of Palembang falls to a shock attack across the river. And, S of Mindanao, the island of Talaud-eilanden is captured.

[Walker84]

Mar 1 - 2, 1942

Sallies and Sonias bomb Bataan on both days but achieve minimal damage and two planes are shot down. I think I'll concentrate on Clark from now on until I am in a position to assault it. Due to stacking limits I'm actually now in a position to move some units that are surplus to requirements and these will be deployed to support the invasions of DEI and Oz.

Air attacks are also launched against the Chinese forces retreating from Wenchow and the Palembang ML Base Force, which is now at Lahat.

I have decided to establish a forward base at Attu in the Aleutians and a TF is assembling at Yokohama tasked with this mission.

[Walker84]

Mar 3 - 4, 1942

Ground combat at Clark Field reveals the state of the opposing forces lined up:

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 32672 troops, 423 guns, 180 vehicles, Assault Value = 1061

Defending force 19054 troops, 286 guns, 166 vehicles, Assault Value = 626

Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
48th Division
21st Division
4th Tank Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
192nd Tank Battalion
194th Tank Battalion
1st Constabulary Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
45th PS Infantry Regiment
21st PA Infantry Division
2nd Constabulary Regiment
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
I/Prov'nl SPM Grp
II Corps
I Corps
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
24th PS FA Regiment
86th PS Field Artillery Battalion
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
Far East USAAF
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp

I want to keep attriting the defenders, rather than launching outright attacks for now and hopefully the supply situation will become much worse for the Allies as the campaign wears on.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Banjoewangi, range 11,000 Yards. For some reason the Allied AMc Merbabo sails into the path of my patrolling cruiser force, takes 2 shell hits and is sunk in 96% moonlight conditions.

The occupation of Northern Australia is almost complete. I want to move some long range air search to Broome which has a size 3 airbase as soon as possible to keep a watch for any Allied naval incursions. I probably won't progress farther south of Daly Waters as my forces are already stretched. If my opponent wants to recapture the bases he will probably have to come by sea as the desert supply route is highly problematic in the game. At least the southeast flank of DEI has been buttressed for the time being - or will be once enough Netties arrive!

[Walker84]

Mar 5-6, 1942

Lahat falls on the 5th and an amphibious assault makes landfall at Jolo, however Bandasan SNLF only gets 1:2 odds when it attacks the Jolo Constab Bn next day.

SS Trigger torpedos an AKL near Toyohara then attacks on the surface but fails to sink any further vessels. I check and for some reason the TF has no ASW assigned so I route a PB to meet the TF when it arrives at the port.

An armoured regiment starts to unload at Palembang, tasked with making a quick advance across country towards Oosthaven which appears to be very lightly held.

[Walker84]

Mar 7-9, 1942

Clark Field is bombed on the 7th with satisfactory results - the intent being to ensure that the airfield always remains damaged and forts cannot be built up too quickly. I rest my assault troops at Jolo after yesterday's indifferent combat result.

I have been building up my submarine presence off the coast of SE Australia and SS I-169 launches 2 torpedoes at AS Otus on the 8th near Port Kembla scoring one hit with heavy damage. Jolo is assaulted again and falls this time.

Nookanbah, one of the last unoccupied bases in NW Australia falls on the 9th.

Meanwhile, an invasion fleet sails closer to java...

[Walker84]

Mar 10, 1942

Our game was held up briefly when I had to reinstall on a different PC and was using DBB-B Scen 28 v14 for a bit while Apbarog was still on v13. I subsequently reinstalled v13 and everything seems to be working as normal. It's never advisable to be on different versions in a PBEM any case. I then had flu and fell behind with the AAR so this will be a bit of an omnibus update


The last time we encountered SS Trigger, the US sub had torpedoed an AKL near Toyohara. Today, the Attu landing force stumbles across Trigger close to the island itself. I presume from this that the sub was returning to base rather than being on picket duty. After missing with a few torpedoes and taking a few damage hits Trigger fails to impede the landing on Attu itself.

As a prelude to the invasion of Java, I have been running cruiser TFs into the strait south of Soerabaja in a search and destroy effort against the Dutch PT boats that are the only Allied naval forces left in the area. Today, there is an added bonus as the Dutch Air Force decides to intervene and runs into the Zero CAP based at Denpasar with 5x 139WH-3s and 3x B-339D's shot down.

Bombing in S China switches to Pucheng as forces advance to consolidate our control on the whole region.

[Walker84]

Mar 11, 1942

Night time surface combat, near Probolinggo as Nachi, Abukuma and Tama sink two Allied HDMLs. There are still quite a few TFs around but by setting tight patrol zones I seem to be catching any attempts to leak PTs closer to Denpasar. The only downside has been with several naval patrol planes from the cruisers straying in range of Soerabaja's CAP. Later in the day, more Dutch planes on naval attack appear overhead and several fighters and bombers are shot down.

SS Trigger hangs around near Attu Island but only encounters the cover force and takes a further hit.

I have landed a Naval Guard, Air Force Bn and Construction unit on Attu. The plan is to set up a tripwire/early warning base here, plus cause Apbarog some useful distraction in the theatre for minimal outlay to myself. In previous games my Allied opponents have generally built up the Aleutians pretty heavily, which can threaten the Kuriles eventually. I want to be aware of such developments and holding Attu will help. Attu will be supported by the base I am improving at Paramushiro-jima, and I don't really plan to move any further East along the island chain as this would commit forces and resources that I would prefer to deploy elsewhere.

[Walker84]

Mar 12/13, 1942

The long awaited Java campaign is launched with an amphibious assault at Banjoewangi at the southern tip of the island. The first wave comprises an infantry regt, an armoured regiment and a recon regiment, tasked with making a quick advance up the peninsula towards Malang, securing the lightly-defended bases along the way. The main force, built around the 4th division will land several days later and invest Soerabaja as soon as possible. CAP from Denpasar will protect the beachheads until the size 4 airbase at Loemadjang falls.

Banjoewangi falls on the 13th. On the same day, a Naval Guard unit lands at Tandjoengbalai to start the process of consolidation of Sumatra.

A TF heading north through the Strait of Malacca encounters a newly laid mine field at Batu Pahat. I will have a lot of shipping passing this way in the coming weeks so will need to keep the straits swept. I have also reinforced the ASW air presence in the area to keep tabs on the inevitable Allied SS build-up.

On Luzon, I want to push the defenders back to Bataan so launched an exploratory attack on the 13th. The results were mixed. Not many squads destroyed but a lot of disablements, although the forts were successfully reduced to 1. I will set the artillery to bombard next turn, rest the other units, and decide what to do next. Any thoughts anybody?

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34218 troops, 423 guns, 327 vehicles, Assault Value = 1056

Defending force 19138 troops, 286 guns, 162 vehicles, Assault Value = 627

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 821

Allied adjusted defense: 805

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2296 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 174 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
345 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 93 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
9th Infantry Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
48th Division
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
21st Division
7th Tank Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
21st PA Infantry Division
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
192nd Tank Battalion
31st PA Infantry Division
1st Constabulary Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
45th PS Infantry Regiment
2nd Constabulary Regiment
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
II Corps
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
86th PS Field Artillery Battalion
Far East USAAF
I Corps
I/Prov'nl SPM Grp
24th PS FA Regiment
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp