Tales from the First Time -DanSez (J) vs Przemcio231 (A) - no Przemcio231 please

[ny59giants]

Singapore - Do you have an Army or Corp HQ nearby 100% prepped?? Next, is the Southern Command HQ 100% prepped for this base and also nearby?? You need to get the extra Adjust AV bonus from these two. DON'T send over the little SNLF unit. It will get wiped out if you do. Nothing smaller than a division goes across. [:-]

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: DanSez

What does he have now at this time of the war. If he collected everything he could in one spot, and he has had time to do it by now, I think it would be:
CV Enterprise
CV Lexington
CV Saratoga
CV Hornet
CV Yorktown
CV Indominable
CVL Hermes

Edit: oops forgot to write in my part. [:o]

The Hornet appears at the East Coast around March 1. No way it could be in action yet in the SoPac. Wasp doesn't come in until around June 1 I believe. Oh, with your 15 day variability I think the best case for Hornet is it could have reached Pearl by now. Just my guess.

The Brits also get another CV at Capetown about March 1 but it will take a while to reach the main part of the map.

Also Enterprise is presumably crippled. My guess is that the other CVs (whatever he has there) are covering Enterprise's retreat and no further Allied offensive moves are planned for a while.

I wonder how he got all those ground troops for Lunga?

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Singapore - Do you have an Army or Corp HQ nearby 100% prepped?? Next, is the Southern Command HQ 100% prepped for this base and also nearby?? You need to get the extra Adjust AV bonus from these two. DON'T send over the little SNLF unit. It will get wiped out if you do. Nothing smaller than a division goes across. [:-]

I paid heed to your's and Lowpe's earlier advice.[&o]
Southern Command is within range of Singapore (100% prepared for Singapore) at Malacca
25th Army (100% prepared for Singapore) is at Johore Bahru

Only the full Infantry Divisions, Art and Armor are making the initial crossing. I have a few smaller Inf plus the Engineers which will cross a couple of days later.

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

ORIGINAL: DanSez

What does he have now at this time of the war. If he collected everything he could in one spot, and he has had time to do it by now, I think it would be:
CV Enterprise
CV Lexington
CV Saratoga
CV Hornet
CV Yorktown
CV Indominable
CVL Hermes

Edit: oops forgot to write in my part. [:o]

The Hornet appears at the East Coast around March 1. No way it could be in action yet in the SoPac. Wasp doesn't come in until around June 1 I believe. Oh, with your 15 day variability I think the best case for Hornet is it could have reached Pearl by now. Just my guess.

The Brits also get another CV at Capetown about March 1 but it will take a while to reach the main part of the map.

Also Enterprise is presumably crippled. My guess is that the other CVs (whatever he has there) are covering Enterprise's retreat and no further Allied offensive moves are planned for a while.

I wonder how he got all those ground troops for Lunga?

Thanks for the info. Initial reports on ship names sunk can be unreliable. That is why I am calling it 'Enterprise' at the moment.

I was looking at worst case possibility here. I got a couple of Mavis units concentrated in narrow searches to get as much info as I can before I decide to fight or feint.

Priority at the moment is to get the small CVEs out of danger and 'lost' so they can help the KB out if needed. Also getting the BB/SCTF undented for some later action. I can reinforce or escavate the troops from Trassafaronga afterwards.

[DanSez]

Mar 11th, 1942

The Hunt for the 'Enterprise'
Here is the preturn resolution snap shot of the area

I have 6 subs in the area. The task force is only moving 1 hex per turn.

If this is a ruse to protect another undetected TF running off the field directly East, then it is masterly done.
I am buying all in that this task force is sheparding a wounded carrier.

[DanSez]

Mar 11, 1942 - cont

Solomons - Worst News of the Day
Allied forces CAPTURE Lunga !!!

not a surprise:
Ground combat at Lunga (114,138)
Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1281 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 45
Defending force 7395 troops, 180 guns, 238 vehicles, Assault Value = 269

Assaulting units:
53rd Naval Guard Unit
10th JNAF AF Unit
11th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
2nd Marine Rgt /3
Americal Infantry Division
193rd Tank Bn /2
43rd Const Rgt /1
1st USMC Air Wing Base Force
136th USA Base Force
46th Const Rgt /1

Ground combat at Lunga (114,138)
Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6140 troops, 170 guns, 178 vehicles, Assault Value = 269
Defending force 2620 troops, 30 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 45

Allied adjusted assault: 56
Japanese adjusted defense: 9

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 1)
Allied forces CAPTURE Lunga !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1475 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 54 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (6 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Allied ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

jwolf asked about how Allied High Command got so many troops here:
Maybe he just bought out partial units (see the fragments listed above)

That means I might have the opportunity to isolate and destroy these parts with forces after the taking of Java.
Maybe... looking at the bright side... wishful thinking at this point.

Other Solomon Notes:
Previous report of sinking of CV Enterprise incorrect. Ship sighted and engaged at 120, 145

That location is one square to the SE of it's location in the snap shot above. My I-boats confirm a carrier is in this 5 ship task force.

And More Intel
Sub attack near Lunga at 113,139

Japanese Ships
SS I-159, hits 1

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown
CA Salt Lake City
CL Honolulu
DD McCall
DD Phelps
DD Selfridge

SS I-159 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Yorktown

Missed, but it's bound to raise the blood pressure in the Command Bunkers of Allied High Command.
Damn, that would have been SWEEEET---
I estimate there is at least 3 Carriers here (wounded 'Enterprise') and the big Air Strikes that sank 2 CAs indicated 2+ US Carriers launched.

Also it looks like he is operating his Carriers in smaller task forces - maybe not concentrated in the same hex. That gives me an opportunity to hit one group with the KB hammer and then maybe take out the rest in a second pulse.
Maybe... looking at the bright side... wishful thinking at this point.


Final notes on this theater:
2 days before KB and Akagi can merge West of Truk.
CarDiv and SCTF97 North of Rabaul, safe and faiding from Detection.
No bombing of Rabaul.

[DanSez]

Mar 11, 1942 - cont

Sorry -- even more Solomons notes:
Gloming thru the Combat Report, I see some more info that helps define what is going on

Amphib actions continued until the moment Japan was kicked out of Lunga
8 More Pulsed -- so maybe some of those units above are not just fragments.

Allied Command Decided to Bombard
Night Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico
BB Idaho
BB Colorado
CA Indianapolis
CA Portland
CL Helena
CL Trenton

Japanese ground losses:
315 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 20
Port hits 10
Port supply hits 3

That gives me more ship names to consider. Way too much for my little single BB SCTF to handle. Good thing they are 3/4th the way back to Truk.

This does give me some good intel on how Allied High Command does invasion.


Regular stuff happening over the rest of the map...

[DanSez]

Mar 12, 1942

Solomons

No lucky strikes on the crippled carrier task force.[:(]

Other Sub Actions:
ASW attack near Lunga at 114,138

Japanese Ships
SS RO-68

Allied Ships
CL Concord
DMS Long
DMS Lamberton
AK Betelgeuse
AK Bellatrix
xAP Klipfontein
xAP Queen Elizabeth
xAK Iron Chieftan
xAK Hauraki
DD Gilmer
DD Fox

ASW attack near Lunga at 114,138

Japanese Ships
SS RO-68, hits 3

Allied Ships
BB Warspite ** Is the whole Allied Fleet here?
CA Astoria
CL Raleigh
DD Ellet
DD Clark
DD Balch
DD Fanning

CarDiv3 and SCFT97 now 'dark' and moving toward Nauru Island. AO tfs also moving into position to refuel and support.
AO's meeting Akagi and KB East of Truk.

Unfurtunately still too far away from any meaningful replies.
Hunt the damaged carrier and gather as much intel as I can is the primary goal for the next couple of days.

Will Allied High Command hang around long enough or will they slip out of range or into safe harbor at the last moment?

[DanSez]

Mar 12, 1942

Battle of Singapore

the canal has been crossed...
Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 69716 troops, 750 guns, 522 vehicles, Assault Value = 2482
Defending force 46705 troops, 587 guns, 368 vehicles, Assault Value = 1178

Japanese adjusted assault: 1632
Allied adjusted defense: 2599

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
7116 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 605 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 64 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 76 disabled
Guns lost 47 (1 destroyed, 46 disabled)
Vehicles lost 46 (3 destroyed, 43 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2443 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 423 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 143 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 44 disabled
Guns lost 64 (12 destroyed, 52 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (3 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Assaulting units:
56th Division
Imperial Guards Division
18th Division
2nd Division
5th Division
1st Tank Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
11th Indian Division
5/14th Punjab Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
SSVF Brigade
3rd Cavalry Regiment
2nd Gordons Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
1st Manchester Battalion
2nd Malay Battalion
1st Malay Battalion
2nd Loyal Battalion
2/17 Dogra Battalion
3rd SSVF Battalion
9th Indian Division
Malaya Army
FMSV Brigade
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
Singapore Base Force
30 Battery/3 HAA
29 Battery/3 HAA
11 Battery/3 HAA
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
110th RAF Base Force
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
2nd ISF Base Force
AHQ Far East
223 Group RAF
112th RAF Base Force
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
109th RAF Base Force
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
111th RAF Base Force
Malayan Air Wing
III Indian Corps
Singapore Fortress
1st Hyderabad Battalion
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
109th RN Base Force

The 56th Ind Div took the brunt of the damage. I am going to pull it back to reinforce. The smaller units are sent across the canal with the Engineers to help cut down the forts.

Level 4... that is going to take awhile.

[DanSez]

Mar 13, 1942

Something Happened in the Night....

Looking at the in game Aircraft Lost Daily Total
A Carrier full of ships are now listed.

[DanSez]

Mar 13, 1942

Something Happened in the Night - cont

and the in game Sunk Ship list now says 'Lexington' as the name 'Enterprise' is no longer here.

[jwolf]

Yeah it sounds like that CV (Lex or E, whichever) finally went down. I was surprised he wasn't able to transfer the air groups beforehand. But your initial combat report was 3 torpedo hits ... and that's going to be bad news for any ship at this point in the war. His surface force looks impressive, but 1) they are highly vulnerable to subs and 2) if they stick around for the KB to strike they will be toast.

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

Yeah it sounds like that CV (Lex or E, whichever) finally went down. I was surprised he wasn't able to transfer the air groups beforehand. But your initial combat report was 3 torpedo hits ... and that's going to be bad news for any ship at this point in the war. His surface force looks impressive, but 1) they are highly vulnerable to subs and 2) if they stick around for the KB to strike they will be toast.

I believe if Sys Damage is high enough the carrier can not launch plane. He could have transferred them to a port if he made it there. I don't think this carrier participated in the strike that sunk my 2 CA/2 DDs, so there are at least 2 more US carriers in the area.

I like those odds better. KB and Akagi, refueled and reunited, are given it one Full Speed pulse to try and get to the action before he retires.

[DanSez]

Mar 13, 1942

Solomons Errupts

KB Report
Just South of Truk and given the Full Speed orders, I get this note from Combat Reporter:
TF 1 followed by Allied Recon at 113,125 near Feni Islands

Maybe he will think it is CarDiv3 (CVEs) as it has no DL.

4E Bombing of Rebaul Resumes
Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 2
B-17E Fortress x 7
LB-30 Liberator x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 2 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17

Allied aircraft
LB-30 Liberator x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 2 damaged -- Love this bit

Not sure what his air pools are at this point, but hope it keeps it up. I am a little concerned about the planes being crushed on the ground. Here is Rabaul snap shot before the turn resolved on Mar 13:

[DanSez]

Mar 13, 1942

Singapore Slinging

Air Assaults continue:
Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 27,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 47
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 5 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7

Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1

Ground Pounding Starts:
Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)
Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 52544 troops, 637 guns, 235 vehicles, Assault Value = 1792

Defending force 44283 troops, 576 guns, 365 vehicles, Assault Value = 883

Japanese ground losses:
143 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

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

Pretty ugly results. I am going to keep this up for a week/10 days or so while 58th Inf pulls out/divides/and reinforces.

When they get back I am going to try a Direct Assault.

[DanSez]

Tomorrow the KB will be in its first major action since Pearl Harbor.

here is a little video/music blast from the past from the best Horror/Survival game evah...
Silent Hill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOoFpJMjqSc

[ny59giants]

The 56th Ind Div took the brunt of the damage. I am going to pull it back to reinforce.

If you are pulling it back from Singapore, divide the ID, and double check the leaders to help ensure speedy recovery, adequate supplies, and HQs close by will help the process.

Lower Solomons - I would consider cutting the snake head off by focusing attacks and possible invasions on his vulnerable lines of supplies/communications at Luganville and/or Santa Cruz island group. Unless the Allies have this secure, he should pay for this move, IMO.

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

The 56th Ind Div took the brunt of the damage. I am going to pull it back to reinforce.

If you are pulling it back from Singapore, divide the ID, and double check the leaders to help ensure speedy recovery, adequate supplies, and HQs close by will help the process.

Lower Solomons - I would consider cutting the snake head off by focusing attacks and possible invasions on his vulnerable lines of supplies/communications at Luganville and/or Santa Cruz island group. Unless the Allies have this secure, he should pay for this move, IMO.

Thanks, I need to check my commanders more often but especially in this case I will look for a good Assault Commander with high Admin scores.

and yes, that is a good idea on cutting off his invasion forces. I wish I were closer to closing out Singapore or Palembang. Still so much of the DEI to clear out I am not sure where I would find the troops before one or the other are accomplished. I will research it. The bunch of Nav Guard units (all in the 50-60 AV area) are offloading at Siapan at the moment. I suspect I could use them with some base support and take Luganville, depending on how heavily it is defended.

I am seriously thinking about a heavy raid on Noumea.

[Encircled]

You hold all the aces here.

He's taking a hell of a risk landing there this early

[DanSez]

Mar 14, 1942 - the Plan

I wasn't completely sure what I was facing, but the Allies were down at least one fleet carrier.
The intel was a bit sketchy, but it did not look like all the rest were in the same sea square.

I plotted a point for KB and CarDiv3 to follow down within striking distance.

CruDiv3 is a little behind but I didn't want to wait another turn for Allied Intel to solidify and then they would gather all their carriers into the same hex or they would flee South out of strike range.

The time is Now.