A Japanese Debacle - Sqz (J) vs. fcharton (A)

[SqzMyLemon]

I've been notified that I won't be receiving a turn tonight, or possibly even tomorrow, as Francois requires some thought on recent events. Apparently, he needs time to figure out how to punish me moving forward and sounds quite confident. I hope to introduce the threat of AV rather than allow him an opportunity to act offensively. [:D]

Advancing in Burma, China and the DEI is crucial over the next few months. I'm currently stalled in the DEI at Ambon and Balikpapan, which is unacceptable. The siege of Singapore is about to begin and capturing the base will restore operational freedom to both army and naval forces. In my experience, once Singapore falls the flood gates open and events in the DEI move quickly. A priority is to get the Japanese navy operating in the Indian Ocean and shut down any reinforcement of Australia via Cape Town.

I haven't gotten into a groove in China yet, but that is always the case for me. Once I get garrisons sorted out and units redeployed the campaign starts to take shape. I am finally addressing the deployment of B-17's to Chungking. Three B-17D's were shot down on 1 Jan 42. The plan remains to hold in the north and advance in the east. I will bypass Chinese positions that have no source of supply and press forward. I will let the recovery of disabled Chinese squads and the resulting increased consumption of supply, do the heavy lifting for me in China. To minimize my supply footprint in the theatre, I will focus on advancing on a narrow front while establishing local air superiority at the point of attack. This will be a blitzkrieg style advance. I want to test how effectively I can advance while ignoring large portions of the Chinese army, and dealing with them by containment rather than direct confrontation.

Burma, I hate Burma. I'm not sure how to tackle this theatre yet.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon
I want to test how effectively I can advance while ignoring large portions of the Chinese army, and dealing with them by containment rather than direct confrontation.

I understand the sentiment and am interested in how your approach fares moving forward. I would just offer that, if you are striving for autovictory (it seems you are at least tacitly acknowledging its possibility), dead Chinese LCUs in 1942 will help enormously.

Dead Chinese units in 1943, Chinese units that retreat into favorable defensive terrain and disrupted (non-dead) Chinese units in 1942 won't be as helpful. The easiest (and most efficient) way to ensure the windfall of VPs from liquidated Chinese LCUs is to cut them off early (particularly in the central plains) before they can fall back.

I don't know how a point source offensive-particularly if its goal is not to envelop, but to penetrate-will accomplish the destruction of Chinese troops en masse that you probably need for a January 1, 1943 AV.

ETA: This may just be more my penchant for smashing and grabbing. It will be interesting to see how your campaign plays out...

[SqzMyLemon]

Received the next turn from Francois. I won't be able to run it until late tonight. I'm anxious to see how the first ground assaults go at Newcastle and Port Kembla. I also committed KB to a number of air attacks and wonder what resistance they'll encounter.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

I don't know how a point source offensive-particularly if its goal is not to envelop, but to penetrate-will accomplish the destruction of Chinese troops en masse that you probably need for a January 1, 1943 AV.

The Chinese forces have already withdrawn into better defensive terrain. I'm mopping up what I can in the central plains, which isn't much. I still plan on eliminating Chinese forces, but not by simply pushing them back. I don't have the time. I need to counter an early Allied investment in Burma with the aim of supporting China. The only way I see to counter this is a deep penetration within China to first isolate large numbers of Chinese forces from supply, then backfill and destroy them piecemeal after they've been out of supply for months. It's a risky tactic and may not work, but I don't think simply bludgeoning my way forward will work. Time is definitely my enemy and I think a single decisive drive into the heart of China could achieve victory. I will still destroy large numbers of Chinese units for the VP's, but I'll be going about it slightly differently. I have learned in our game how to let the lack of supply work for Japan, rather than engage in costly combat in good defensive terrain.

[SqzMyLemon]

Jan. 2/42:

Australia:

Rockhampton:

Australian cruisers Australia and Perth continue to wreak havoc. AAR follows:

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Rockhampton at 95,152, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
E Hashidate, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
xAK Seia Maru, Shell hits 42, and is sunk
xAK Yamakaze Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires

Allied Ships
CA Australia
CL Perth

However, perhaps they should have been put to better use bombarding Japanese ground forces at Rockhampton. AAR follows:

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Ground combat at Rockhampton (95,152)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 4074 troops, 25 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 38

Defending force 3201 troops, 14 guns, 34 vehicles, Assault Value = 85

Japanese adjusted assault: 41

Allied adjusted defense: 14

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Rockhampton !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), leaders(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
132 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1140 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 63 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 35 (35 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
8th Port Unit
8th Base Force
6th JNAF AF Unit
8th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
15th LH MG Regiment
16th LH MG Regiment
Rockhampton RAN Base Force

I have reinforcements en route by sea, but will they arrive before an Allied counterattack? It's now a race. The Japanese air bridge to Port Kembla is open. I should be able to deploy five air units (3 bomber, 1 troop transport, 1 fighter) to Port Kembla by the 6th.

Newcastle:

In hindsight, I should have used KB to smash the airbase at Sydney, but I did not want 1st & 8th Australian Bde.'s to withdraw to Sydney intact.

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Morning Air attack on Newcastle Fortress, at 92,166 (Newcastle)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
D3A1 Val x 117

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 5 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied ground losses:
162 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Newcastle falls easily to deliberate attack. AAR follows:

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Ground combat at Newcastle (92,166)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19409 troops, 168 guns, 45 vehicles, Assault Value = 1091

Defending force 6119 troops, 110 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 158

Japanese adjusted assault: 331

Allied adjusted defense: 11

Japanese assault odds: 30 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Newcastle !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), leaders(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
198 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1552 casualties reported
Squads: 83 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 168 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 44 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 85 (59 destroyed, 26 disabled)
Vehicles lost 55 (55 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
148th Infantry Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
56th Engineer Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
4th Division
33rd Division
56th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
8th Australian Brigade
1st Australian Brigade
Newcastle Fortress

Port Kembla:

Port Kembla falls just as easily to deliberate attack.

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Ground combat at Port Kembla (90,168)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32398 troops, 253 guns, 262 vehicles, Assault Value = 1127

Defending force 3756 troops, 101 guns, 49 vehicles, Assault Value = 95

Japanese adjusted assault: 534

Allied adjusted defense: 55

Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Kembla !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
418 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
828 casualties reported
Squads: 38 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 95 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 20 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 87 (67 destroyed, 20 disabled)
Vehicles lost 39 (38 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
24th Infantry Regiment
16th Engineer Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
16th Infantry Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
21st Division
2nd Tank Regiment
1st Raiding Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
23rd Air Flotilla
48th Field AA Battalion
8th JAAF AF Bn
47th Field AA Battalion
1st Base Force
16th Army
11th Air Fleet
16th AA Rgt /3

Defending units:
28th Australian Brigade
Port Kembla Fortress
4th Aus Lt AA Regiment


The Allies have committed aircraft from two American carriers to Australia. A Japanese sweep encountered fighters from Enterprise and Lexington. AAR follows:

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Morning Air attack on Sydney , at 90,167

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17

Allied aircraft
Seagull V x 1
F2A-3 Buffalo x 24
F4F-3A Wildcat x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seagull V: 1 destroyed
F2A-3 Buffalo: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet

KB attacks a small number of Allied ships that sortie from Sydney. AAR's follow:

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Sydney at 90,167

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 14 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 31

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 9
F4F-3A Wildcat x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide, Torpedo hits 1
AMC Westralia, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AM Wollongong
AM Doomba, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AM Whyalla

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sydney at 90,167

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
B5N2 Kate x 31

Allied aircraft
Seagull V x 1
F2A-3 Buffalo x 3
F4F-3A Wildcat x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Seagull V: 1 destroyed
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AM Wollongong, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Voyager
AMC Westralia, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk


What next?

Jan. 3rd has me worried. There are 81 enemy ships at port in Sydney including a number of CL and DD's. I do not know where the CA's and DD's of the two American carrier TF's have been deployed and if they are in Melbourne, or New Zealand, that spells potential trouble. I expect an all out air and naval attack from Allied forces against KB and my amphibious taskforces. I've decreased the number of amphibious taskforces to cover by consolidating the ships into a few larger ones. I have KB and three supporting SCTF's available to engage whatever the Allies may throw at me tomorrow. Two Japanese carriers are set to naval strike, while the remaining four are ordered to knock out Sydney's airbase. I am extremely nervous.

Screenshot follows:

[FeurerKrieg]

Looking good to me! Nice to see Rockhampton go down even in the face of the landing difficulties. I'm reading the other AAR, so I can't offer suggestions of a tactical nature, but thanks for keeping us posted and good luck!

[PaxMondo]

So, have you trapped a couple of CV's at Sydney? maybe .... you've got to close the door now, stop reinforcements from getting into Sydney ... fast fast fast ... [;)]

[Lokasenna]

Nice bagging the Westralia. She turns into a LSI(L) later, as I'm sure you know.

It looks to me like he only has about a division+ at Sydney... can you cut that last rail line?

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

So, have you trapped a couple of CV's at Sydney? maybe .... you've got to close the door now, stop reinforcements from getting into Sydney ... fast fast fast ... [;)]

Hi Tony,

I don't think the American CV's are in Sydney. My guess would be Melbourne. I doubt Francois would have his CV's hiding in Fiji or New Zealand without easy access to his carrier groups. I'll Just have to wait and see how things develop in that regard.

The way things panned out, I'm only one day off schedule in terms of the paratroop assault against Katoomba. Waiting a day and ordering the shock attack against Rockhampton turned out to be the right call. The transports can be deployed to Port Kembla on the 4th allowing the air assault to be mounted against Katoomba on the same day. Neither Bathurst or Katoomba are garrisoned at start, so unless Francois has reinforced, the paratroops should face no opposition from either base. I have three armoured regiments racing for Goulburn where the Australians start with two weak armoured regiments as garrison. If my armour can reach the base in two to three days, there's a good chance I can capture Goulburn, providing it's not reinforced, to open a rail line to Katoomba and relieve the paratroops. I'll have an infantry regiment in strategic mode standing by at Port Kembla.

Sydney will be a tough nut to crack, but currently there are 18 units at the base, 16 of which garrison at start. The two extra units are 28th Australian Bde. and 4th LT AA Rgt. which just arrived after being routed from Port Kembla. The remnants of 1st & 8th Australian Bde.'s will also reinforce Sydney bringing the total to 20 LCU's. Here's the starting OOB at Sydney:


If the airborne and ground operations somehow goes according to plan, and my navy doesn't get routed in the next few turns, there's a great chance Sydney can be isolated with less than 700 Allied AV present. I'll have roughly 2000 AV.

[FeurerKrieg]

Did you do a screen shot of the TOE % on those units? I suspect they start pretty low, but I've never really looked that far south in Australia. I realize they've had 30 days to build up, but that still isn't enough to fill out from 50%.

[PaxMondo]

The units there are no problem, just don't want any more getting in ... if you can get your block setup, I would hazard a guess that you will have Sydney within a week. Those units won't take more than 2 or 3 attacks.

[Chickenboy]

What OP report notification have you received about the activation of Allied emergency troops?

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

What OP report notification have you received about the activation of Allied emergency troops?

I believe it's something like "Australia invaded! Counter-invasion forces (somethingsomething)" or "emergency reinforcements released" or something like that.

[SqzMyLemon]

Just ran the last turn. The AI can kiss my ass, I'm tired of constantly suffering bad rolls. This game has been pretty one sided so far in the luck department.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Just ran the last turn. The AI can kiss my ass, I'm tired of constantly suffering bad rolls. This game has been pretty one sided so far in the luck department.

Yeah, its not like you just landed a big chunk of the IJA a couple of miles from Sydney for the loss of some transports and a couple of escorts. No luck at all.

No operation is without losses. Considering what you are trying to do your losses have been extremely light. You should be quite happy with things as it could have been much worse for you.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Just ran the last turn. The AI can kiss my ass, I'm tired of constantly suffering bad rolls. This game has been pretty one sided so far in the luck department.

Yeah, its not like you just landed a big chunk of the IJA a couple of miles from Sydney for the loss of some transports and a couple of escorts. No luck at all.

No operation is without losses. Considering what you are trying to do your losses have been extremely light. You should be quite happy with things as it could have been much worse for you.

Don't assume I'm talking about my Australian operation. I can vent in my own AAR and you don't know all the details. I've played this game long enough to know when I'm having extremely bad luck in some aspects of the game. Why the need to post a snide comment? I've seen you complain in your AAR's when things don't go your way.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon
Don't assume I'm talking about my Australian operation. I can vent in my own AAR and you don't know all the details. I've played this game long enough to know when I'm having extremely bad luck in some aspects of the game. Why the need to post a snide comment? I've seen you complain in your AAR's when things don't go your way.

It wasn´t meant as a snide comment.

Some things are out of our control in the game and all we can do is set things up as well as we can. S**t happens. Don´t let it get to you or it will drain the enjoyment out of the game.

[Lowpe]

Cliffhanger![:D]

What happened?[&:]

Talk about leaving us hanging![:-] I want to hear more about Jocke complaining![:D]

[SqzMyLemon]

I missed an update for Jan. 3rd, so I'll just press on.

Jan. 4/42:

Sub Ops:

This is a microcosm of the submarine war to date. If it's an xAKL, chances are my submarine sinks it. If not...

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Submarine attack near Brisbane at 96,161

Japanese Ships
SS I-22

Allied Ships
xAKL Sjobris, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

xAKL Sjobris is sighted by SS I-22
SS I-22 launches 2 torpedoes at xAKL Sjobris

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Submarine attack near Hobart at 83,182

Japanese Ships
SS I-1

Allied Ships
TK Anders Jahre

TK Anders Jahre is sighted by SS I-1
SS I-1 launches 4 torpedoes at TK Anders Jahre

Australia:

In an effort to raise morale, Sydney's port is targeted. AAR's follow:

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Morning Air attack on Sydney , at 90,167

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
G3M2 Nell x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AG Pulganbar, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Aeon, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Voyager, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Macedon, Bomb hits 1, on fire
TK Sunchaser, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Asphalion, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CL Adelaide, Bomb hits 3, heavy damage
xAK Wanaka, Bomb hits 1
xAP Murada, Bomb hits 1
AG Wanaka, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Herstein, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AMc Uki, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Carroo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Port hits 2

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Afternoon Air attack on Sydney , at 90,167

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 39
B5N2 Kate x 130
D3A1 Val x 124

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 6 damaged

Allied Ships
xAK Kauri, Bomb hits 1
TK Falkefjell, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AG Pulganbar, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
CL Adelaide, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Gylfe, Bomb hits 2
CM Bungaree, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKE Lillian Luckenbach, Bomb hits 1
xAK Asphalion, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
TK Vardaas, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Cycle, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Skagerak, Bomb hits 1, on fire
TK Seirstad, Bomb hits 1
xAK Koomilya, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Mangola, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Time, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK John Lykes, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Age, Bomb hits 1
xAK Chios, Bomb hits 2, on fire
TK Vera, Bomb hits 1
AG Wanaka, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Voyager, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

At least I hit more ships at Sydney, than I did at Pearl Harbor.

At Katoomba, 1st Raiding does what is asked of it. AAR follows:

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Ground combat at Katoomba (88,166)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 259 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 20

Defending force 5553 troops, 58 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 185

Japanese adjusted assault: 8

Allied adjusted defense: 38

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
83 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Raiding Rgt /1

Defending units:
8th Cav Recce Regiment
2nd Australian Brigade
4th LH Cav Regiment
26th LH MG Regiment

Thoughts:

The easy part was landing in Australia, but now there are months of hard work ahead. I have limited resources available and there are just too many problems developing and my current methodology is proving inadequate. I had hoped that my LBA would be more effective, but the poor performance during the first four weeks has contributed to substantial delay and heavy losses. The DEI is turning into a total fecal show, compliments of my LBA being completely useless. The Australian campaign is actually going well and is the success story so far.

Current situation at Sydney:

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

It wasn´t meant as a snide comment.

Fair enough. I took it the wrong way. I'd just like to share some of my luck with my opponent.