See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

[apbarog]

2 Oct 42

In the Burma jungle near Kalemyo, the Imperial Guard Division easily defeats the 1st Middlesex Battalion. I'm moving units to try to contain this threat. The good news is that there's enough of a jungle buffer here to hold. I hope. I cannot let Chittagong be threatened.

I finished my extensive planning for the next phase. Units have been assigned future objectives, and are or will be soon moving to bases of embarkation. Ships are on the move to accomodate this. Nothing will happen, though, until the US Navy comes out of refit.

Enemy shipping left Diamond Harbour and seems to move to Akyab. Although I have thought this before, and could never see the units actually at Akyab. But I've definitely confirmed that the enemy is still evacuating units from Diamond Harbour, however slowly.

The red circle on the map shows where the Imperial Guard just won the battle. The green circles are positions of Allied strength. Chittagong has a Brit infantry division (amongst a lot of other units), and there's another Brit division just down the road to the south. Inland, I have another strong position on the inland trail.

[jwolf]

How can the Japanese units -- such as the Imperial Guards -- have any supply when they're not connected to the rail and road network? It's hard to believe they could be effective in combat under those circumstances. Historically the Japanese certainly could not supply troops there, and their men starved to death by the thousands when they tried. In game, can they really move through that much deep jungle and actually fight?

[apbarog]

3 Oct 42

Dutch sub KXI takes a pounding at Akyab. It found the xAKs that loaded something at Diamond Harbour, but couldn't get a shot off. KXI should survive. Now it limps west toward Ceylon.

THe big news today is in the SigInt. I have been tracking the 1st Armored Division. It was first spotted at Rangoon. Then I got intel that it was loaded on ships, and then that its objective is Chittagong. Today I got intel that it is at Cox Bazar.

This information is huge. It means that an amphibious landing at Chittagong is less likely, and that a push up the coastal road from Cox Bazar is more likely. Maybe very likely.

I still have to watch the move north inland by the Imperial Guard Division too.

As for supply in the jungle, I'm no expert on how far it works or doesn't work. The distances here, to me, mean that an offensive is possible, but only limited supply will be drawn, and just occasionally. But that is true for both sides.

[apbarog]

4 Oct 42

At Calcutta, I'm seeing movement to Diamond Harbour. My bombardment attack today was much more effective than normal. This tells me that one or more enemy units was in Move mode. This could be the big evacuation of Calcutta. I was tempted to risk a deliberate attack, but the risk is too big. If they aren't in Move mode next turn, an attack in urban terrain would be disastrous. I'll let them move to Diamond Harbour and then follow them in.

I got SigInt that a fragment of the 14 Infantry Division is planning an attack on Calcutta. I figure that this division was or is at Diamond Harbour, and loaded at least partially on ships and went to Akyab.

Now for the action.

Japanese carriers show up in the Aleutians. I was very fortunate that they didn't show up a few days ago, when I had many APs and AKs at Adak, as well as a couple of slow BBs, not to mention a CVE and a CVL.

As it is, I lose a 2 tanker task force that had already unloaded at Adak. These tankers were of the smallest variety, so not a huge loss. 11 Vals did this attack, escorted by 16 Zeros.

Near Umnak, 14 Kates escorted by 32 Zeros sink xAP North Coast, and its AM escort. This transport was empty.

Just east of Adak, I have a couple of xAPs loaded with an infantry unit. It was spotted last turn, but was not attacked. I decide to run at full speed to the north, not wanting to lose the infantry unit.

Adak did just build its airfield to a level 1, so I move in a P40E group. Ships at Dutch Harbor and Cold Bay flee to the east.

So, a good turn for the Japanese, but it could have been much better, so I'm still happy with things. I got Adak fully reinforced and it is building quickly. I do plan on backfilling other bases to the east of Adak, but right now is not the time.

[apbarog]

5 Oct 42

The enemy carriers in the Aleutians move slightly east, but don't find any targets. I spot another task force well to the west. I see a few PBs, but it could be anything. I suspect an invasion task force. Adak is well defended. Nothing else is.

I've been having a blast preparing for the next phase in the South Pacific. Lots of notes, moving stuff here and there, ships needed, etc. It might not work, but it will have been lots of fun planning. We'll see in about a month.

[apbarog]

6 Oct 42

US sub Permit hits an xAK escorted by one PB southeast of Soerbaja, and the torpedo works! No troops were loaded, but the ship is probably sunk.

In other sub news, Shark targets a big TK task force near the northern tip of New Guinea, possibly headed to Truk. One hit is achieved, and it is a dud.

In the Aleutians, the enemy carriers move a bit south and are now south of Adak about 6 hexes. 3 squadrons of Zeros sweep Adak, which is defended by 24 P40Es with excellent (for the US at this time) pilots. The P40s hold their own, with enemy losses for the day being 16 Zeros, and 14 P40Es are lost.

But now the unit is wrecked and is repositioned to the east to recover.

The mystery task force west of the carriers also moved a bit south, and is still due west of the carriers about 8 hexes. All I've ever seen in it were PBs.

The US task force with 3 xAPs loaded with troops, that fled to the north of Adak, is not seen today. It sets a course for Cold Bay to the east.

[apbarog]

7 Oct 42

The big news today is that the long siege at Calcutta is over. The enemy has retreated all units back to Diamond Harbour. There appear to be lots of PBs there to pick up troops. I'm moving most of my Calcutta units to contest Diamond Harbour. I'm leaving 2 Indian divisions at Calcutta. Maybe I'm paranoid, but a devious Japanese player could retreat to Diamond Harbour, wait for the Allied army to move into Diamond Harbour, and then amphibiously land at Calcutta. It's a long shot at this late of a date, but if I saw almost nothing defending Calcutta, I'd do it.

And that big Chinese unit that has moved back and forth across India lately? It's now going to leave Chittagong and move to Diamond Harbour to help with a big attack.

[jwolf]

I sure hope you can bag some IJA units in Diamond Harbor. But it's certainly good news that the pressure is off Calcutta.

[apbarog]

8 Oct 42

US sub Shark tracks down the TKs that were passing the northern tip of New Guinea, but misses with torpedoes. The tankers are on course for the Rabaul area, not Truk.

At Diamond Harbour, enemy transports/cargo ships are spotted, along with lots of PBs. Evacuating, no doubt. My troops moved will move into Diamond Harbour in 2 days.

An added bonus to the enemy leaving Calcutta is that now my troop movement from the west coast of India to the Burma area is simplified. Default movement sends units through Calcutta, which is ok now, but when the enemy was there, the units would get stuck there in Strat mode, and have to move out in Move mode, delaying things significantly. To avoid this, I had to route units way up north to get on the east side of the river, then send them south toward Burma. That isn't necessary now.

In the Aleutians, enemy carriers are spotted and seem to be withdrawing to the southwest. There's still another task force hovering out there, southwest of Adak. It again looks like patrol boats. Maybe just a tripwire task force.

[apbarog]

9 Oct 42

Enemy shipping between Diamond Harbour and Cox Bazar. Parts of units are being pulled out of Diamond Harbour and are going to Cox Bazar. 1st Armor Division is at Cox Bazar. Enemy HQ Southern Army is at Akyab. Imperial Guard Division is now moving west from its inland jungle position, threatening Chittagong. I have units moving to that hex also, and I will bomb his division. It is important that I get there first. Then I must hold that hex.

Interesting little situation on Mindanao. The Allies have been holed up inland, at the mountain base, without supply. The Japanese control all other bases. There are enemy units at Davao, and at the base on the north coast. But northeast of my mountain base, and east of the enemy's, is a base that appeared to be empty. So I sent a small infantry unit out of the mountains, looking for food. Turned out the base was empty, and I captured the base with just a handful of men. The best was that I captured about 800 supply! Not much, but the supply got pulled inland, and now that base is no longer without supply.

Just a footnote in the war, but an entertaining one, for me, anyhow.

At Diamond Harbour, a number of my units will move in tomorrow.

[apbarog]

10 Oct 42

In Burma, there is still movement inland from Cox Bazar, and the Imperial Guard is still moving west. The pressure is rising in the Chittagong area, but I think I'll be ok unless there is a huge simultaneous landing at Chittagong.

The big preview today is at Diamond Harbour. I've moved some units in, including a few Indian infantry divisions. More should move in today, and there's more on the rail lines to Calcutta, including the big Chinese corp.

I hope that the enemy does not attack me. My prediction is that they will bombard with artillery to see what is there. That's fine, and gives me a day to reinforce.

The terrain here is clear. This is bad for both of our armies.

I expect Diamond Harbour to be heavily capped. I see about 40 fighters, but I always see far less than what is there when I show up.

I'm coming with everything I have. Multiple fighter squadron sweeps, including my one P38 squadron, now with excellent pilots. P39s flying at 100ft will attack shipping. A couple of naval bomber units will target shipping. Lots of medium bombers will hit the airfield and troops. All of my B17s in the area will do the same. There will be some escort for every assigned target, but of course, that assumes that all of the planes assigned a target, at the same altitude, actually fly at the same time. That rarely happens. Here's to hoping for the best.

I'm also flying some LR CAP over Diamond Harbour to try and protect my troops.

The enemy army here is in big trouble if I can damage the airfield.

The enemy shipping in the area seems to be all small ships. With my troops there now, I expect bigger ships to show up soon.

I have a 5 destroyer task force arriving at Madras. It will make a run into Diamond Harbour as soon as possible. I'm not as afraid of Bettys with just destroyers.

Fun times. Burma is heating up a bit. And the huge preparations in the South Pacific continue. The US fleet comes out of refit in about 12 days. I'll detail my plans when we get closer to kicking it off.

[apbarog]

11 Oct 42

Dutch sub KXII hits an xAK between Chittagong and Diamond Harbour. No troops loaded.

Battleships Yamashiro and Fuso bombard my troops at Diamond Harbour. 209 casualties, almost all disabled squads. Not bad. More of my troops moved into the base today. The enemy did not attack with artillery. Apparently they feared my attack just as I feared theirs. That battleship group was seen in the middle of the Bay of Bengal last turn. I think they were hovering there and moved in as soon as my troops showed up. I need to figure out where they are rearming. It isn't Rangoon. I suspect Port Blair or one of the ports on the Burma coast south of Rangoon.

I have a Dutch minelayer that will withdraw in a month. I'm not sure if the mines are put back into the pool if the ship is withdrawn, so I'm sending it on a risky mission to mine Port Blair. The ship is very fast, and can move 11 hexes at full speed, so it just might work. We'll see in a few days.

At Diamond Harbour, my very low level P39s flew on their naval attack mission, escorted by Hurris and with P40Ks there on LR CAP. Losses were heavy. Enemy CAP was 27 Zeros, 42 Oscars, and 12 Tojos. I lost 22 P39s, 1 P40K, and 1 Hurri. Enemy losses were 4 Oscars, 3 Zeros, and 2 Tojos. But I hit one patrol boat and it was sunk! Oh well.

To mix things up, I'm going with a maximum effort at Cox Bazar today. I see about 30 fighters there. I suspect that some or all of these are flying LR CAP at Diamond Harbour. Time to find out. If my planes actually fly. Lots of bad weather lately.

[apbarog]

12 Oct 42

P38Fs sweep Cox Bazar, and do a decent job. 5 are lost, but take down 8 Zeros. Better pilots make a huge difference. And the fact that there weren't more enemy planes. Some B25s and B26s hit the airfield, and do decent damage. No enemy planes are lost on the ground, unfortunately. Hopefully I can keep the enemy a little more dispersed with his CAP.

At Butuan, that base on the northern coast of Mindanao that I snuck a small unit into and captured, along with about 800 supply, enemy bombers show up and hit my small unit. Being a clear terrain hex, the unit is effectively eliminated. Every squad is disabled. But it got his attention, and the small windfall of supply was appreciated by my starving troops in the mountains.

B17s from Ndeni bomb Nauru, hitting the airfield, port, and troops. Defending is the 83rd Naval Guard unit and a CB unit, and there is no CAP. Minor damage is done to all targets. I return again today.

At Bandoeng, my mountain fortress on Java, the enemy has now deliberately attacked 2 days in a row. I thought that I could hold given the troops involved, but it appears not to be. Today's attack went at 1 to 2, and lowered the fort to 1. And for the 2nd day in a row, the Dutch take way more casualties than the Japanese. And this is why the attacks will continue.

Japanese ground losses:
916 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 72 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Vehicles lost 54 (6 destroyed, 48 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1669 casualties reported
Squads: 47 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 25 (6 destroyed, 19 disabled)

My troops still have lots of supply, but they are being destroyed. I can do nothing but praise the Dutch defense here, though. It's October 1942 and they still hold a base on Java, and do so with ample supply! These are the enemy units that have been tied down here for months, not counting the single units almost all around the base:

Assaulting units:
2nd Tank Regiment
65th Brigade
8th Tank Regiment
48th Division
2nd Engineer Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

[apbarog]

13 Oct 42

9 hexes southwest of Diamond Harbour, out in the middle of the Bay of Bengal, US sub S-39 spots an AO task force, but is spotted before lining anything up. Wow. For months, months ago, the enemy had ships lurking out here. Carriers back then. Not sure if there are carriers now, I think not, but there's some need for AO's here. My guess is that his Diamond Harbour bombardment forces are topping off the tanks here before running in.

I have more troops there, now. He hasn't done a probe bombardment, and neither have I. I think that I am weaker than he fears. I am waiting for the big Chinese corp to get here, then I'll probe and then hopefully attack. The Chinese unit just arrived at Calcutta in Strat mode, so it will be about a week till it gets to Diamond Harbour.

I have to time any real attack at Diamond Harbour with not being simultaneous with an enemy ship bombardment.

I did no air combat in India or Burma today.

B17s from Ndeni again hit Nauru Island. Sending a message that I am looking this way. All of the bombers then deployed to Australia to rest up for the big ops coming soon.

In the shallows near the entrance to Balikpapan, Dutch sub KXIV torpedoes minelayer Hatsutaka. The sub has been looking for tankers for ages here, but hasn't even seen any. I don't think that Balikpapan is even being used for fuel transport. But I'll take the minelayer! Always nice to remove one of those.

A funny thing has happened in the Borneo and Philippine areas. Since taking an unoccupied Butuan on Mindanao with a starving tiny unit, bombers have shown up in both of these areas, and are hitting my long isolated units. At least 3 bomber groups are involved now, hitting meaningless tiny and starving units.

There was no enemy attack at Bandoeng on Java today. A day of rest before the inevitable attacks continue. The end is near here, despite the ample supply saved up.

[jwolf]

What kind of escorts does he have for the AO in the Bay of Bengal? I wonder if you could engage them with, say, a couple of destroyers or is there just no chance to pull that off safely?

[apbarog]

jwolf, it is tempting to try something like that. I have 5 destroyers that were near Madras, preparing to run into Diamond Harbour. Because they can sprint 10 hexes, I moved them just one hex out of Viz (I think), but they were spotted there last turn. So this turn they ran to port to hide. The enemy shipping in the Bay of Bengal disappeared, and high detection levels were seen west of Rangoon, so I think the shipping pulled back. Port Blair was successfully mined by the one very fast CM though.


14 Oct 42

My small unit at Butuan was completely destroyed by air attack. The Agusan Constab Battalion was a brave unit, and acquired a couple of weeks supply for the army, but sacrificed itself to do so.

Bandoeng on Java is deliberately attacked. Again, a 1 to 2 attack. Forts stay at 1. Casualties were:

Japanese ground losses:
1092 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 81 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1936 casualties reported
Squads: 58 destroyed, 57 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 44 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 23 (8 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


So it is obvious that the Dutch will not survive much longer. At least they are taking a heavy toll on the enemy, even if it is almost all disabled units. It'll keep the enemy units out of any other actions for at least a month, I figure.

I got some good SigInt today:

1st Division is at Port Moresby. valuable intelligence to know that a whole division is here.

3 Tank Regiment and 10 Ind Mtn Gun is at Katha. These units are not moving.

2 Raid Regiment is at 55,43 which is just inland from Cox Bazar. Good to know that it isn't at a base, where it is a para threat. 9 Tank regiment is there also, and I know that the 1st Armored Division is here, or just one hex further inland. I still fear an armored push up the coast road.

Other than that, still waiting for US Navy refits to end. Lots of units on the move moving to embarkation ports for the next offensive. Coming "soon".

[apbarog]

15 Oct 42

Lots of detection levels now out in the Bay of Bengal, and closer to Rangoon. Lots of activity out there, but nothing spotted today.

At Diamond Harbour, I try my first artillery attack, and it doesn't go too well:

Ground combat at Diamond Harbour (52,38)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 26314 troops, 569 guns, 614 vehicles, Assault Value = 1458

Defending force 38277 troops, 400 guns, 264 vehicles, Assault Value = 983

Japanese ground losses:
128 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
176 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 18 (3 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
7th Indian Division
641st Towed Tank Destroyer Battalion
7th Armoured Brigade
19th Indian Division
11th Indian Division
18th Australian Brigade
Waziristan Division
94th Coast AA Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
XV Indian Corps
2/9th Fld RAA Regiment
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Burma Corps
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment

Defending units:
18th Division
5th Division
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
10th RF Gun Battalion
39th Field Const Co
25th Army
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
8th Port Unit
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
91st JAAF AF Bn
11th RF Gun Battalion
27th JAAF AF Bn
92nd JAAF AF Bn

The 2 infantry divisions he has there just moved from Calcutta. He does have a lot of artillery. It'll be about 5 days until the big Chinese corp arrives. I expect to get a big naval bombardment very soon. And the enemy CAP is still at Diamond Harbour, so he doesn't expect me to attack and win right away.

I will grind down the enemy units here. I'm using mostly restricted Indian units, so the losses will be more acceptable.

[BBfanboy]

Any chance he will get low on supply at Diamond Harbour? In that situation the right thing would be to continue the bombardments.

[jwolf]

That sounds like a good approach, and the longer you force him to commit shipping in the area the more chance for some serious losses for the IJN, even if it's just commercial shipping.

[apbarog]

So far, he's been moving ships into and out of Diamond Harbour freely. Once I gave up trying to keep the airfield shut down, he's been bringing in ships regularly. He started with 5 divisions at Calcutta. Now I move into Diamond Harbour, and the only 2 divisions left are the 2 that just left Calcutta. He's successfully evacuated the rest, along with all of the armor he brought originally. And the Southern Army HQ. I decided from the beginning not to commit carriers to the region, and because of that, he's had control of the Bay of Bengal. His bombardment groups run in and run out, giving me no chance at bombing them from land based air.

But that's all ok. I decided to concentrate elsewhere. He's spent many months with all of these troops here doing nothing, and spent the past few months evacuating them. All time wasted, in my opinion.

When my big Chinese corp arrives, I will attack. Unless it goes just absolutely terribly for me, I will keep attacking and eventually eliminate his units here. I don't think he can do a big last-ditch evacuation. If I'm given an opportunity, I will again try a maximum air effort against the Diamond Harbour airfield too.

I am about to lay some sub mines at Diamond Harbour.