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

[Walker84]

Agreed! I have known for some time that there would be some pain in leaving but hopefully it won't provide my opponent with too great an opportunity to capitalise on in India and Burma.

[Walker84]

Oct 22-23, 1942

India / Burma

On the Burma front I capture two hexes from minor Allied units to straighten out the lines a little but it can't detract from events further north at Diamond Harbour. My opponent rests his ground forces on Oct 22 - although the bombing continues - and the main attack falls on the 23rd.

Ground combat at Diamond Harbour

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 57106 troops, 710 guns, 762 vehicles, Assault Value = 1727

Defending force 29124 troops, 344 guns, 256 vehicles, Assault Value = 455

Allied adjusted assault: 1144

Japanese adjusted defense: 202

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Diamond Harbour !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 5 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
4972 casualties reported
Squads: 92 destroyed, 128 disabled
Non Combat: 150 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 112 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 104 (70 destroyed, 34 disabled)
Vehicles lost 103 (103 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
800 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 151 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Vehicles lost 54 (5 destroyed, 49 disabled)

Assaulting units:
7th Armoured Brigade
7th Indian Division
18th Australian Brigade
Waziristan Division
11th Indian Division
19th Indian Division
5th Chinese Corps
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
Burma Corps
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
XV Indian Corps
2/9th Fld RAA Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
94th Coast AA Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment

Defending units:
18th Division
5th Division
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
10th RF Gun Battalion
8th Port Unit
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
25th Army
11th RF Gun Battalion
92nd JAAF AF Bn
39th Field Const Co
91st JAAF AF Bn
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
27th JAAF AF Bn /1

Interestingly, the Japanese forces don't surrender and approx 200 AV are still present in the hex on the 24th even though it is under Allied control. I had all of my transports active airlifting troops out in the last few days so cadres have been extricated for most units. I also moved most pilots into the reserves so losses were restricted to a few airframes. It certainly wasn't a great day for the Japanese military, but the front line in Burma has been reinforced and fortified significantly in the interim. I have also landed a unit at Ramree Island which seems to be a common gambit for Allied players looking to flank Akyab.

[jwolf]

The survivors at DH presumably have no forts (??) and will be easy prey for the Allied units there. Maybe they can hold long enough to delay the Allies from reinforcing near the India-Burma border and you might have a free hand there for a little while longer.

[Walker84]

Well, they are actually still behind level 2 forts but I can't see this prolonging the end by much in clear terrain. I don't think that I am going to be able to push along the Burma border very fast in x3 defensive terrain with stacking limits - but this works in my favour as well when I go over to the defensive.

[Walker84]

Oct 24 - 26, 1942

Ground combats continue at Diamond Harbour, Cebu and Bandoeng. The last Dutch outpost on Java falls on the 26th and the following units surrender:

Allied ground losses:
6681 casualties reported
Squads: 101 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 811 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 89 (89 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 18

Defending units:
I Marechausse Cdo
IV KNIL Battalion
III/IV Barisan Cdo
4th KNIL Regiment
Groep Zud
Makassar RK Cdo
Tjiitjap KM Base Force
IX KNIL Battalion
HQ II KNIL Division
VLG-IV Sup Groep
Andir ML Base Force
PBg-Ld AA Afd
I/II Barisan Cdo
III Landstorm Cdo
XV KNIL Battalion
Tjilitjap Cdo
Cheribon Defenses
3e-VLG-V Sup Afd

Balanced against this are the egregious losses being suffered by my forces stranded on the beaches at Diamond Harbour. I'm not even going to post those losses here, but no doubt my opponent will in his AAR!

To break the impasse at Cebu I have had to load up a reserve infantry division which will land in a few days time.

There is a lot of Allied activity in the Aleutians, so far unopposed by me. I expect the whole chain, bar Attu, to be taken within the next few months. I have to decide whether to oppose this development with force, but I fear moving the KB north again as this will leave the Solomons and the DEI vulnerable. I have already started fortifying the Kuriles and I will use interior lines and proximity to the Home Islands if any threat develops in this direction. Meanwhile, if he is massively fortifying the Aleutians that means a lot of units that will not be deployed on other important fronts any time soon.

[Walker84]

Oct 27 - 30, 1942

India / Burma

The last residual fragments of Japanese units wither away under Allied attacks at Diamond Harbour, finally ending a 'what-if' or, perhaps, 'what-might-have-been' chapter for a Japanese route into India in this particular campaign. In subsequent discussions, my opponent has revealed how close he was to evacuating Calcutta after my forces stormed DH. He got lucky however when a transiting Indian division ended its move in the hex just before I attacked. The urban heavy terrain did the rest. In hindsight, of course, I should have packed more firepower. I could also have taken Chittagong as Plan B instead but the lights of Calcutta were too mesmerising at the time...

So, the last few days have seen our fighters jousting along the border with sweeps launched at points between Cox's Bazar in the west and Ledo in the east. I found that Roger has been experimenting with variable heights for his CAP and my Tojos came a bit of a cropper at Ledo, failing to get the better of a mixed force of Lancers, Vanguards and Warhawks. So much for my flyboys' new toy.

Aleutians

B-24s have started bombing my base at Attu - not in enough strength to cause serious damage yet but I have a unit of A6M2s in transit to run interference.

Sub war

Allied subs have been more active of late around the DEI and HIs, scoring with a few duds but no hits (something that caused my opponent to complain about using 'recon' torpedoes). This will change to live firing soon enough I'm sure. Meanwhile, large oil and fuel convoys continue to plough the China Seas unimpeded.

DEI

I have decided to reinforce Cocos Is heavily to forestall any early attempt to grab this location. Forces are also now being redeployed on Java and Sumatra to defend the limited number of possible entrepots on the western coasts.

SW Pac

Plenty of airpower in theatre now and many bases are nicely built up, especially around Rabaul, Port Moresby, Lae, Buna, Shortlands and Torokina. I was late developing the Marshalls but have now installed Netties and Zeroes at Tarawa. My opponent seemed to make an abortive play towards Ocean Island and Nauru a month or so ago but his APs disappeared when they were spotted. I have a sixth sense that he might head this way again as these islands are less well-supported by air cover than my Rabaul-Shortlands-Port Moresby 'defensive box'. However, he could just as easily head round Oz and move north past Perth so I have to be prepared to respond flexibly in many directions...

[jwolf]

I like the phrase "recon torpedoes" to describe US subs in 1942. Both ironic and accurate. [:)] Good luck with your defense!

[Walker84]

Thanks! Although I'm no longer really planning any big offensives I hope to mount counterattacks where there are opportunities - especially as the Allies do not have as much firepower as they will accumulate later on.

[Walker84]

Oct 31 - Nov 2, 1942

Quiet days as I focus on bringing up reinforcements and entrenching my units all around the Imperial perimeter.

In the Philippines I am still working on capturing Cebu. The 4th division lands but suffers a fair number of disablements. Somehow Cebu's artillery is almost as effective as CD guns. I will attack in a few days after the troops have rested. Meanwhile, more Allied forces walk out of the jungle to capture Butuan again. Strange behaviour as in the open terrain they are sitting targets.

Japanese sigint rarely delivers precise info but the following nugget is received on the 2nd Nov:

[Walker84]

With that number of ships in port at Sydney, including APs, I have to assume that some kind of Allied offensive may not be far off. I'm going to send some subs in closer to nose around, plus increase my air patrols to ensure that I get enough early warning of any moves...

[Walker84]

Nov 3 - 5, 1942

DEI

My bombers pinpoint Del Monte AAF Base Force at Butuan on Mindanao, presumably the unit that has made its way down from the mountains to the coast. As up to four Allied subs are also nosing around I guess a rescue mission is in progress. Tempted to let it go if it survives. I have my hands full with Cebu at the moment and no other units are within easy intercept range.

I manage to destroy a Dutch remnant battalion in the jungle near Tarakan.

SW Pacific

B-17Es bomb Horn Island but lose two of their number to A6M2 CAP, while failing to hit anything. According to my recon, the NE coast of Oz is being reinforced - more fighters and bombers have been arriving at Townsville and Cairns. It may presage the advent of regular raids on Horn Island and Port Moresby. The latter has a full division entrenched and is a size 8 airfield, well-supported with LBA from Buna and Lae. I'm going to have to stand to for now in case of further bombing raids.

Rabaul also hits size 8 which means I can position a ton of Netties there and still redeploy some surplus AF units around nearby bases.

[Walker84]

Nov 6, 1942

SW Pacific

Couple of minor events. Firstly, an ASW attack near Bundaberg north of Brisbane sees SS I-166 launch two torps at an Allied TF comprising:
APD Ward
APD Waters
APD Colhoun
APD Fox
APD Hatfield
APD King
APD Humphreys
APD Brooks

Secondly, I-26 spots a small Allied TF (3 ships including a PC) south of Funafuti in the Ellice Islands. Possibly part of an Allied move to build up one or more of these islands in order to threaten my bases in the Gilberts. I have increased naval search and detached a cruiser force which was loitering near Tarawa to investigate.

Thirdly, ASW attack near Sydney as SS I-25 is stalked by two Allied Ships, SC-709 and SC PC-578.Escort abandons search for sub which will continue to probe for Allied shipping following the mega SigInt report from Sydney a few days ago.

Fourthly, B-26s bomb Ontong Java the scene of an abortive USMC paradrop last month.


DEI

TF 389 encounters mine field at Merak (48,97)

Allied Ships SS Seal, Mine hits 1

I like to mine narrow straits and choke points such as at Merak as eventually Allied subs are bound to pass through.


Repairsville

Joy of joy - Kaga finally completes her repairs at Kobe and joins Akagi to steam south and rejoin the KB. In the meantime, Kaga's air groups have been providing air cover for my naval ops in the Marshalls and Gilberts as well as training rookie pilots.

[jwolf]

Rookie question about the Sigint at Sydney: just from the reports of "heavy radio traffic" does the game figure out -- somehow -- that you would know there are 102 ships there, including a certain number of CA, DD, etc? I'm wondering how you make the leap from "a lot of activity there" to some relatively specific data (whether they are actually true or not is another question).

[Walker84]

Good question. Japanese Sigint is far more basic than the Allied which will say things like 'the Japanese 4th division is loaded and heading for Luganville...'

Taking the following as an example:

SIG INT REPORT FOR Oct 29, 42

Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Luganville (120,150).
Radio transmissions detected at Kunming (69,48).
Radio transmissions detected at Ledo (65,38).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Sydney (90,167).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Sydney (90,167).
Radio transmissions detected at Dutch Harbor (171,50).

Where it says 'Radio transmissions detected at...',you can be fairly sure there is at least one Allied unit there. I take 'Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected...' to mean multiple units of indeterminate amount and size.

In the case of Sydney, I hovered the cursor over the base and it reported 102 ships, including CAs and APs. Now this was Detection Level 1 so there is a lot of fog of war in that report. The most I feel safe deducing is that there is a fair amount of Allied naval activity there and its worth sending a few subs down to nose around. Of course, Sydney is a major naval base so it could just be standard traffic. On the other hand, it could be a fleet collecting for the next Allied foray into the Solomons...

[jwolf]

Apparently you're getting the "heavy radio traffic" message about Sydney over multiple days, suggesting that something really is going on there. The intel could include any or all types of units, right? I mean, ground, air, and naval?

[Walker84]

I think so... although it's difficult to read with any accuracy, this may mean some kind of build-up or it could be a lot of units and supplies off-loading in Oz to garrison the place, and prepare for a further push in 1943. I am wary, however, as my opponent has already launched an offensive in the Solomons, so there is every reason to expect him to look for further gains even though it is relatively early in the war for the Allies to go on the offensive.

[Walker84]

Nov 7 1942

NW Australia

Sub attack near Carnarvon. SS I-122 torpedoes xAKL Schouten, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage. Australia has been incredibly quiet and this minor action does not seem to presage a major development. Carnarvon has not been developed as a base and I still hold Port Hedland which means that my Mavis 5s can range as far as Perth in their naval search capacity. On the downside, apart from Darwin and Koepang, I do not have much of a defence in place if my opponent decides to attack in strength.


SW Pacific

Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Sydney and also at 100,165, which is a sea hex east of Sydney. This is indicative of Allied forces on the move but I have yet to spot anything or determine where they might be headed.

Tarawa, Makin and Shortlands airfields all reach size 3 which may be timely. B-26s bomb Ontong Java for the second day running. I do not put up any LRCAP, largely because I have noticed that Lunga's fighter establishment has grown to 120 recently and I am half expecting a sweep of Shortlands imminently with the B-26s creating a diversion.

[Walker84]

Nov 8, 1942

Picket subs encounter Allied TFs in two separate locations: south of the Gilberts and east of Brisbane...

Sub attack near Nanumea at 139,141

Japanese Ships
SS I-24

Allied Ships
CVE Copahee
CL Concord
CL Java
CL Leander
DD Lansdowne
DD Laffey
DD Caldwell
DD McCalla

SS I-24 launches 6 torpedoes at CVE Copahee
I-24 diving deep ....
DD Caldwell fails to find sub and abandons search
DD McCalla attacking submerged sub ....
DD McCalla fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Brisbane at 102,161

Japanese Ships
SS I-15, hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Sims
CL Trenton
CL Detroit
CL Raleigh
DD Mustin
DD Anderson

SS I-15 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Sims
I-15 diving deep ....
DD Mustin attacking submerged sub ....
DD Anderson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Mustin fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Anderson attacking submerged sub ....
DD Anderson fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Subsequent search reveals multiple Allied TFs concentrated in both locations. Interesting that an Allied escort carrier is present in one TF, this may imply that transports are present being escorted. No sign of the Allied fleet carriers. Here is the position in the Gilberts...

[Walker84]

...and the Coral Sea.

[Walker84]

During the day, 36 F4F-4 Wildcats from Lunga sweep Shortlands encountering 27 Oscar IIs. Six Wildcats are lost in combat or written off, however the Oscars receive double this number of losses and will be rotated out next turn to be replaced by Zeroes.

A squadron of Hudson Is then bomb a small unit occupying the undeveloped base on Munda. I can't help thinking that this is a sideshow designed to divert my attention from moves happening elsewhere.

I have a feeling that tomorrow will be an interesting day!