Stalking the Wolf. Mundy (A) vs GrauWolf80 (J) - LST's Bottleneck Mod.

[Mundy]

Greetings.

I've found a brave IJN player to try out the Bottleneck in the Pacific scenario. GrauWolf80 is actually another Wisconsinite like me, so staying in touch should be easy.

There's plenty of curveballs in this one as you get going.

For starters, the game technically starts in the PM segment of the turn. Pearl has already been hit, like a Dec 8 scenario, and KB starts about 10 hexes north of Pearl. He's departing as it is right now. Enterprise is about 2 hexes from Pearl also and Lexington is probably 8-10 away from Midway.

For the US, an awful lot of the land units which come in are already in-country, although on the East Coast. For LCUs there, LST has them defaulted to hitting the railroad to San Francisco, which is nice.

Pretty much every naval vessel in the game has damage at the start. Usually anywhere from up to 5 sys, plus maybe 1 or 2 to the engines. Being as anal retentive as I am about only deploying healthy ships, I tend to get everyone repaired first.

Lots of ports have a number of landing barges there. For places like the US West Coast, that's a pain in the butt, so I've spent time disbanding them all to the pools.

Almost all the subs in Manila were set up in their separate TFs, to forestall the Japanese wiping them out with an early air raid. While it was nice not having to make them myself, I still spent nearly as much time getting all their patrol zones set up. The S boats will cover the northern coast, while all the named subs will carpet the area between Japan proper and Formosa. I'm hoping most of my shipping there can get away this time -- especially Langley, as I always seem to lose her. It may go better this time, as LST has really curbed the number of Japanese TFs which have their extra "super move".

Lots of the far flung bases have an "engineer" units which consists of nothing by civilians, which serve as a supply sump. I'll probably pull all the real troops out of there, leaving the civvies to their fate.

Looking at China, I only see a bunch of spots before my eyes. Pretty much the whole country is nothing but dot bases. On top of that, there are minimal ground units in most of them, consisting of civilian "admin" troops, and usually about 2 guerilla squads as well. Everything is going to be a fight there, plus the Japanese will get seriously bogged down with the garrison requirements. Probably about 10 each.

I've got a good bunch of the map up and moving. It'll take about a week for everything to resemble some kind of normal, but I have to get all the logistics networks set up and get my forces more consolidated. After how my other game with Dave has gone, I won't quite knee jerk withdraw all the planes from the Philippines right away.

Oh yeah... I have zero PPs to start with, so lots of stuff won't be moving from the start.

My USN carriers are moving SW to Suva to start with, and probably Australia from there. They'll probably visit Sydney to get fixed up as it is.

A lot of spots in the Philippines and the DEI have ARD there. The one in Manila is a nice 20,000 ton type, which I hope gets away.

A ship LST added is the humble tugboat. They are labeled as YP type craft, but their name is preceded with an underscore to show what they are. They can help short ranged craft cross the ocean by serving as fuelers for them. Babysitting ARDs also works for them.

Here's the page for LST's mod: He's got a document file attached, which makes interesting reading.

Bottneck in the Pacific

We'll probably be giving him some feedback on how this plays, or he can check it too. I don't plan to fret over anything and will just enjoy the ride.

Ed

[BBfanboy]

Interesting concept.

In stock, Australia is desperately short of fuel at game start - not ready to host carriers. I hope you have taken care of that.

I am not sure it is a good idea to disband the barges on the WC. In my games the first couple of months feature bottlenecks at the ports because of the number of ships coming from far-flung places and needing both repair and loading. The barges can speed the loading aspect and allow you to use smaller ports like Alameda when SFO gets jammed. You won't likely need them for amphib ops until eight months into the game.

Good luck, and thanks for bringing us this new adventure! [:)]

[Mundy]

Sydney has about 150 k in fuel right now, so as long as I don't overstay my visit, I should be alright. At this point, they'll probably cruise the DEI. Any whiff of KB and they'll be gone. I'm determined not to lose any CVs this time. Ganging up on something like Ryujo I'm in favor of.

08 Dec 1941

LST really did slow the game down, as there was one air event for the whole turn. That was my Walruses in Hong Kong attacking his troops.

Morning Air attack on 38th Division, at 78,60 (78/60)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Walrus II x 8

No Allied losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Walrus II bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
2 x Walrus II bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb

Never experienced that before. The turn just flew through and was over.

I'm not messing with Pearl much right now. Every ship there is eligible for repair, which means that going through the statuses brings the game to a crawl. Not sure why that overloads my computer like that. If anyone has a cure for it, I'd love to hear it.

I'm trying to get through China, but the pic there is taxing my attention span. I figure the entire war wasn't planned in a day, so I'm not sweating it for now.

The most activity right now are Commonwealth troops all going to Singapore and everything in Luzon heading to Bataan. My subs there are an exception to my damage pickiness, as I've got them all heading out.

It'll probably be day 5 before I start getting active with my shipping. A bunch of ships from England are making their way to San Francisco. It'll be a month before they get to Panama. I think my usual early war lack of xAPs won't be as bad in this game, as between England, East US and San Fran, I'll have a lot more available in this scenario. That and the early presence of US troops mean I can start reinforcing bases much more quickly.

Newcastle, north of Sydney, has an ARD there. Once she's fixed up, I'll have to decide where to send her. I'm thinking a forward base like Suva right now.

[John 3rd]

Want to see how this plays out as I really like the Mod Work and am thinking of adapting it into my Mods.

How did his PH Strike go?

[Lowpe]

Stacking limits in this game?

So many more bases, I bet the game does need a bit stronger processing.

Really intriqued![&o]

[Mundy]

Yep, this uses the extended map with stacking limits. Map is a bit custom with some symbology over the bases.

[Mundy]

09 December 1941

Landings
Batan Island
Bukit Besi - Dungun (52,77)
Makin
Wenchow

Losses
Batan Island
Makin
Tuguegarao

I'm assuming the Yokosuka 1st SNLF are paras, as they grabbed Tuguegarao.

This game feels like its in slow motion. The usual stuff isn't getting grabbed on turn 1/2.

Supply may not be shipping too quickly from the US mainland. This mod is set up like Babes C where refineries don't produce supply. Also, heavy industry doesn't either. To compensate, light industry's production rates are doubled. Something about not scoring double victory points for bombing heavy industry. Unfortunately, with light industry in the US, anywhere from 50% - 90% of the light factories are broken, needing repairs. This means it will take some time for the US supply engine to completely ramp up. Fuel looks like it's mostly OK, though.

If I'm struggling to get things moving, its the same with GW right now also. He feels like he's dragging an anvil around too.

It feels like everything's broken right now. With the ships, it's literally true.

[Mundy]

10 December 1941

Landings
Aparri
Kuantan
Ocean Island
Tarawa
Wenchow

Losses
Bukit Besi - Dungun (52,77)
Ocean Island
Tarawa

Things are starting to pick up on his side. All the usual landings.

Subs near Rabaul are catching some of my xAKLs. These happen to be sailing ships. Look more like junks.

One weird thing. Near Canton, I found a single cargo ship enroute to Manila with supplies. Back to Pearl with you...

Lots of air fighting over Clark with me suffering losses. My fighters there are about spent, and I'll probably pull them soon.

I'm slowly getting things organized in India and China. I can only handle a little at a time in these places.

I'd like to adjust ship repairs in Pearl, but with all the ships, it takes forever to change one ship's status. In 2-3 days, a bunch of them should be off the repair list, which should speed things up. I'm figuring about a week and I can get better up to speed.

I'm hoping most of the shipping from Manila escapes. Nobody's touched them so far, so it looks good. No bonus movement to cut them off. Langley is rated as an AKV, so she'll be very useful.

I have a big flotilla of Chinese river combatants from around Chungking heading downstream for a bombardment. Many of these have very credible armament, so we'll see. There's about 10 of them in this TF. River movement is very opened up in this game and you can send stuff all over in India, Burma and China. I think the tonnage limit for this is a hard fixed one, so only the smaller stuff can do this. I do have lots of smaller xAPs and the like in these inbound ports, so they can make a difference if I gather them up. Much of my time is spent trying to get these consolidated.

[Mundy]

Here's a sample of some of the PGs from Chungking. There were 9 of them. I also noticed all the sampan LBs there, which can help with supply in China.

[Mundy]

11 December 1941

Landings
Aparri
Wenchow

Losses
Aparri
Kuantan

A cruiser force caught my ARD fleeing Manila. So much for that.

I took this turn to get the Russian training regimen in order.

A little at a time...

[Mundy]

12 December 1941

Landings
Guam
Legaspi
Wenchow

Losses
Victoria Point
Wenchow

Saratoga was unfortunate enough to get hit by a sub while enroute to Pearl from San Diego. She's about 12 hexes NE of Pearl. GW seems to have found the sweet spot on the routes in. The downside to setting up there is that it'll be easy enough for me to avoid the area with a dog-leg on the route.

Damage is serious, but providing that sub doesn't pursue, she should make it. Like her namesake, she seems destined to sit out the war from sub strikes.

[Mundy]

13 December 1941

Landings
Miri-Lutong
Guam
Mersing
San Fernando

Losses
Guam
Hong Kong

One thing in this scenario is that lots of the place names here have been changed somewhat, noting Miri above. Same for Japanese aircraft designations, with favor shown for more native terms. Sometimes the US code name is used and sometimes it isn't. Maybe a suggestion to be more consistent with this. I prefer that they be there, as I'm so used to them.

I've pulled the USAAF out of Luzon via withdrawal. The B-17s are on Mindanao, and I'll probably buy them out. One PBY squadron is at Manila yet, but I'll keep the searches up for awhile. I have PTs forward deployed in the hex North of San Fernando, so they'll be going in next turn.

Likewise, my Chinese craft should bombard next turn. An unusual event in that part of the country.

A bunch of small transports got caught trying to leave Manila. That's okay, as all the good stuff has long since fled. This was just the chaff.

I'm just now starting to get supply runs out from various bases to feed the starving small ones.

In about 3 days, I'll be able to forward deploy Force Z to Celebes to jump on the Balikpapan invasion when it comes. PoW is totally fixed now and the rest soon after.

Below is typical of the xAKLs scattered all over the map. They move at a whopping 6 knots. If I can gather up a bunch of these, that can be useful in a landing barge type of role to feed the smaller bases around.

[Mundy]

14 December 1941

We're cruising along pretty good. We'll be to the good part of the war in no time at this rate.

Landings
Mersing

Losses
Miri-Lutong
Mersing
San Fernando
93/41 (93,41) dot base 2 hexes W of Tientsin

My Chinese flotilla strikes. Lots of smoke and flame signifying nothing.

Night Naval bombardment of Ichang at 83,48

Allied Ships
PG Yung Sui
PG Mei Yuan
PG Ying Hao
PG Ying Teh
PG Ying Shan

PG Yung Sui firing at 34th Division
PG Mei Yuan firing at 34th Division
PG Ying Hao firing at Ichang
PG Ying Teh firing at 34th Division
PG Ying Shan firing at Ichang

Wonder if it's experience...

I sent up my airpower at Singapore, mostly hitting the ships at Mersing. About half went after the TFs a few hexes east of there, which I wish they would have left alone. The Mersing strike got some hits, some with torpedoes. The ones at sea did nothing.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 51,82

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 7

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
DD Fubuki

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Hudson I bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 51,82

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 8
Buffalo I x 9

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAKL Yoshinogawa Maru
xAK Mogamigawa Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Blenheim IV bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 51,82

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 10
Vildebeest III x 11

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Tosan Maru
AK Sagami Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Vildebeest III launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo



---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 51,82

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 15
Hudson I x 6

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Hudson I bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb



---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 51,82

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 10
Blenheim IV x 8
Buffalo I x 10

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAKL Yoshinogawa Maru
xAK Yahiko Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Blenheim IV bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb



---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 51,82

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 11

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Sagami Maru, on fire
AK Hirokawa Maru
AK Tosan Maru, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Vildebeest III launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Reisen x 9
Ki-27b Setsu (Nate) x 5
Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa x 14
Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa x 10

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 8
Buffalo I x 41
Hudson I x 14
Wirraway x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed by flak
Buffalo I: 3 destroyed
Hudson I: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Wirraway: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
DD Michishio
CL Kinu

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Hudson I bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
6 x Hudson I bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
6 x Blenheim I bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Wirraway bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 100 lb GP Bomb
2 x Buffalo I sweeping at 10000 feet
5 x Buffalo I sweeping at 10000 feet
7 x Buffalo I sweeping at 10000 feet

CAP engaged:
Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Reisen (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
1st Sentai with Ki-27b Setsu (Nate) (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(17 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 5000.
Raid is overhead
59th Sentai with Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa (14 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 8000.
Raid is overhead
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Reisen x 2
Ki-27b Setsu (Nate) x 1
Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa x 12
Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa x 4

Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 3 destroyed
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed by flak

CAP engaged:
Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Reisen (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 86 minutes
1st Sentai with Ki-27b Setsu (Nate) (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 143 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 130 minutes



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Reisen x 1
Ki-27b Setsu (Nate) x 1
Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa x 12
Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa x 2

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Blenheim I bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Reisen (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
1st Sentai with Ki-27b Setsu (Nate) (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 2 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Reisen x 1
Ki-27b Setsu (Nate) x 1
Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa x 3
Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa x 1

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
CA Atago

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Blenheim I bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Reisen (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 109 minutes
1st Sentai with Ki-27b Setsu (Nate) (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 118 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Reisen x 1
Ki-27b Setsu (Nate) x 1
Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa x 1
Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa x 1

Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed
Vildebeest III: 2 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kongo

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Vildebeest III launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

CAP engaged:
Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Reisen (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
1st Sentai with Ki-27b Setsu (Nate) (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 115 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Reisen x 1
Ki-27b Setsu (Nate) x 1
Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa x 1

Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish I: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
Swordfish I: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kongo

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Swordfish I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

CAP engaged:
Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Reisen (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
1st Sentai with Ki-27b Setsu (Nate) (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 8

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
CA Chokai

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Blenheim IV bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb



---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Reisen x 7
Ki-27b Setsu (Nate) x 5
Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa x 12
Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa x 9

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 4
Buffalo I x 26
Hudson I x 9
Wirraway x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Reisen: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 1 damaged
Buffalo I: 3 destroyed
Hudson I: 6 damaged
Wirraway: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Yura
BB Kongo
CA Chokai
BB Haruna

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Hudson I bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Blenheim I bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
2 x Wirraway bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 100 lb GP Bomb
5 x Hudson I bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
1 x Buffalo I sweeping at 10000 feet
3 x Buffalo I sweeping at 10000 feet

CAP engaged:
Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Reisen (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 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
1st Sentai with Ki-27b Setsu (Nate) (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(16 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 5000.
Raid is overhead
59th Sentai with Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 8000.
Raid is overhead
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead



---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Reisen x 1
Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa x 4
Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa x 1

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Blenheim I bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Reisen (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 163 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ib Hayabusa (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 246 minutes



---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Reisen x 1
Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa x 1

Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 3 destroyed
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CL Yura

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Vildebeest III launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

CAP engaged:
Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Reisen (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 110 minutes



---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa x 1

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
BB Kongo

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Blenheim IV bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
59th Sentai with Ki-43-Ia Hayabusa (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 65 minutes

They way this game goes, there's no instant supply armada at the start. Not helped by the US not being the land of bounty that it normally is in regular games.

[Mundy]

15 December 1941

Landings
<None>

Losses
<None>

Looking over Intel Monkey, I'm not seeing anything unusual about any of GW's destinations, which is sorta comforting. He's been making the usual landings, so I'm guessing this particular scenario ties our hands somewhat as to the best place to go.

Supply in the States still sucks. San Francisco is sitting at around 98,000, with less everywhere else. At Pearl, drydock capacity is at about 88,000 tons.

Langley's safely at Soerabaja. I'm getting her fixed up and then eventually to the US West Coast to help ship planes out. Saratoga's still enroute to Pearl after making a southern dog-leg. some of her flt damage repaired a bit, so I think she's out of danger of sinking. She'll be sitting drydock quite a while, I think. I would guestimate at least 4 months.

Lots of transports and tankers are upgrading already. In this scenario, many of them are completely unarmed, so I'm guessing their getting their first loadouts.

I've got the Australians out of Singapore, and most of the aircraft are going next. I'm getting them all to Burma to shore up that end. I have no clue at this point if he'll make a serious push that ways or not. With this scenario, I probably won't have to worry about some massive invasion of India, but I've been deploying some forces to the usual landing spots. KenchiSulla has bred much paranoia within me about that. Thanks Roel...

This game does have a slow-motion feel to it, which I don't mind as I feel I can take more time thinking about things.

Looking at his ships, I'm guessing Puerto Princesa is probably next on the landing list.

I'm pulling the last PBY squadron in Manila out to Calcutta for now. The can make it all the way to Diego Garcia, if I wanted. He's been busy bombing Clark, which is fine with me as it leaves my troops alone.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Hi Mundy,

Have been out of town for a few days and coming back I'm positively surprised to see a Bottlenecks game with two AARs advancing well.

I will surely follow both AARs to take note of your comments and to provide feedback.


I'll jump straight in :

Lots of ports have a number of landing barges there. For places like the US West Coast, that's a pain in the butt, so I've spent time disbanding them all to the pools.

The barges named "PABx" and "YFN" are not landing barges, they are "storage lighters". They are not intended to be used in amphib operations, but for shuttling to and storing supplies at undeveloped bases with few if any port and storage facilities. The "PAB" barges belong to PanAm, which was busy expanding facilities at certain bases for diverse flying boat connections ("Manila Clipper", "Hong Kong Clipper" etc.).

Almost all the subs in Manila were set up in their separate TFs, to forestall the Japanese wiping them out with an early air raid. While it was nice not having to make them myself, I still spent nearly as much time getting all their patrol zones set up.

They should have patrol zones already assigned - S-boats mostly around Luzon, fleet boats around Formosa, of CRB and Japan.

Lots of the far flung bases have an "engineer" units which consists of nothing by civilians, which serve as a supply sump. I'll probably pull all the real troops out of there, leaving the civvies to their fate.

You are cruel and cold-hearted! The most noble mission of the military is to protect civilians - not to flee and to abandon them to their fate. My intention was to force the Allies to fight and delay the Japanese in order to be able to evacuate a max of civilians. Actually, IRL the evacuation of civilians started before war broke out, but was far from finished. Many merchants, planters, oil field engineers, administrators, missionaries etc. elected to stay, and so did many family members. Some managed to escape when the shooting started, many were lost trying, others became prisoners of the Japanese. Civilian "devices" destroyed also yield VPs to the Japanese - so, you should try to get them out.

In this context - there is the sad and largely unknown story of the KPM steamer "Van Imhoff" which was tasked to evacuate German civilan internees (German citizens living in the DEI, interned when Germany invaded Holland in 1940) from Sumatra to Bombay. Leaving Sibolga on Jan 18, 1942, the ship was bombed and sunk a day later off Sumatra by Japanese planes. The Dutch crew took to the ship's boats and reached Sumatra, but they left 478 Germans behind. Some Germans managed to survive the sinking of the ship on rafts. A Dutch flying boat spotted the rafts and the Dutch steamer Boelongan was sent to rescue survivors, but finding only Germans on the rafts, the captain refused to take them aboard or to provide rations and water. It was found later that the captain had received instructions from the DEI government not to rescue any Germans. 65 Germans managed to reach the island of Nias where they were interned once more. The entire affair was covered-up, a Dutch court ruled in 1956 that there was no sufficient reason to prosecute anyone, and a Dutch documentary made in 1964 was not broadcasted, fearing "negative reactions". Tellingly, the Wikipedia article about the sinking of the Van Imhoff exists only in German, Indonesian and Japanese.

Looking at China, I only see a bunch of spots before my eyes. Pretty much the whole country is nothing but dot bases. On top of that, there are minimal ground units in most of them, consisting of civilian "admin" troops, and usually about 2 guerilla squads as well. Everything is going to be a fight there, plus the Japanese will get seriously bogged down with the garrison requirements.

It looks worse than it is - most dots can be left alone "as is". I would have loved to cover the whole country with dot bases, but there are only so many base slots. So I have just covered the most likely areas and routes where Japan might try to advance. Each dot will require a Japanese garrison. By juggling garrison troops around to optimize coverage the Japanese player may find a few "puppet" units that can be split to provide garrison troops for new conquests, but there shouldn't be enough to allow Japan to conquer all of China. The Chinese "admin" ground units prevent auto-change of ownership of the hexes. The admin units on-map are static, but if destroyed can be purchased back as mobile units, so they can be moved to "garrison" areas liberated by the Chinese - if any. I would have preferred to give the Chinese "admin" units a different nationality and thus color, but that is not modable.

there was one air event for the whole turn. That was my Walruses in Hong Kong attacking his troops

An oversight, but no biggie. They should be set to naval search, or stood-down as well.

I'm not messing with Pearl much right now. Every ship there is eligible for repair, which means that going through the statuses brings the game to a crawl. Not sure why that overloads my computer like that. If anyone has a cure for it, I'd love to hear it.

Guess it is the same for everyone, I see this on the three different computers I'm running AE on. At start, I don't access the repair screen at Pearl, I set the repair options on the individual ship screens.

How did his PH Strike go?

There is none - initial air attacks on PH, Clark, Wake and Malaya are considered over and done, with the historic damage already in the scenario.

Yep, this uses the extended map with stacking limits. Map is a bit custom with some symbology over the bases.

Yes, SL are being used and also have been changed at some places, for example upped at Bataan. There are also some undocumented pwhexedat changes of terrain values, for example from light urban to heavy urban. The basic map is the Pacifica Bellum map v2. There was no extended version of this map available when I did my map work, so I made one myself. Then V3 came out, with better visibility for roads and railroads and with an extended version. I decided to stay with V2, since I did not want to redo all my changes again. Furthermore, in a few hexes the roads on the map do not correspond to my pwhexedat file, and the lower visibility in v2 makes the discrepancies less intrusive than the bright yellow roads of V3. My modifications not only include map symbols, but also reflect road/railroad network changes, the Yellow River flood area, modifications in Malaya (two rivers added, Penang Island / Butterworth coastline modified) and the Central Solomons (spacing / location of islands to allow bases to be added - a request form the DBB folks. I believe MakeeLearn has used my modif for his V3 map). You should use the different keyboard shortcuts "1" "w", "r" and "y" to check the terrain, hexsides, road and rail modifications.

Also, heavy industry doesn't either. To compensate, light industry's production rates are doubled. Something about not scoring double victory points for bombing heavy industry. Unfortunately, with light industry in the US, anywhere from 50% - 90% of the light factories are broken, needing repairs. This means it will take some time for the US supply engine to completely ramp up.

Nothing to do with VPs. It is about reducing the impact of "two flies with one swat" when bombing HI - which in stock is affecting HI point generation AND supply generation. The damage to and ramp-up of US production is of course entirely desired in this mod. Jsut do not forget to set a supply level at 4k - 6k to keep the bases above the 10k supplies level needed to effect repairs.

It feels like everything's broken right now.

You mean in the mod and not the mod itself, I hope

Subs near Rabaul are catching some of my xAKLs. These happen to be sailing ships. Look more like junks.

These are local "small fry" - inter-island traders, mission schooners, government craft etc. used by local merchants, clergy and administration personnel to go places in an area without a road network. They were of a variety of designs and sizes - dugout canoes, motor boats, luggers, yawls, schooners, pleasure boats, fishing boats etc, trawlers. pp. My mod includes six generic classes of "small fry". They can be used to evacuate civilians and troops, and as cheap (VP-wise) means to supply frontline bases under enemy air and naval threat. Btw, the Japanese get more Daihatsus, sampans, junks and "pearling luggers" for the same purpose.

One weird thing. Near Canton, I found a single cargo ship enroute to Manila with supplies. Back to Pearl with you...

Not so weird, the US had convoys ("Pensacola convoy") and single ships en route to the PI with reinforcements and supplies. I have an interesting book about that topic ("Racing the Sunrise: Reinforcing America's Pacific Outposts, 1941-1942").

I have a big flotilla of Chinese river combatants from around Chungking heading downstream for a bombardment. Many of these have very credible armament, so we'll see. There's about 10 of them in this TF. River movement is very opened up in this game and you can send stuff all over in India, Burma and China. I think the tonnage limit for this is a hard fixed one, so only the smaller stuff can do this.
[...]
My Chinese flotilla strikes. Lots of smoke and flame signifying nothing. Wonder if it's experience...

Most rivers are limited to ships of 100 tons displacement and below by using the "reefs" hexside code. Exception is the Yangtze which supports 15k up to Hankow. IRL some river craft actually displaced more than 100 tons but I have set their displacement to 100 tons in order to allow them to operate in the game where they did IRL.
The lack of results for your bombardment could be lack of experience and lack of DL - did you recon the target hex?
IMO the Chinese "Navy" is better used to escort sampan / junk convoys carrying supplies and to defend against Japanese incursions by river craft. The Japanese player may buy-out and thus unrestricted units in China or send unrestricted reinforcements in order to stage amphib assaults via river craft in your rear...

One thing in this scenario is that lots of the place names here have been changed somewhat, noting Miri above. Same for Japanese aircraft designations, with favor shown for more native terms. Sometimes the US code name is used and sometimes it isn't. Maybe a suggestion to be more consistent with this. I prefer that they be there, as I'm so used to them.

Yes, some place names have changed since one hex may contain several places of historical significance. Miri was the location of the oil field while Lutong was the location of the refinery (which was linked by pipeline to the Seria oil field in neighboring Brunei Bay - you may have noticed the gray "pipeline" map art and the "rail" line which actually stands for the pipeline).

They way this game goes, there's no instant supply armada at the start. Not helped by the US not being the land of bounty that it normally is in regular games.

Which of course is exactly what is desired in this mod.

Lots of transports and tankers are upgrading already. In this scenario, many of them are completely unarmed, so I'm guessing their getting their first loadouts.

Authorization to arm US merchant ships was given only three weeks before Pearl Harbor, with priority for shipping facing the U-bots in the Atlantic. In stock / DBB, all merchies in the Pacific do start armed - I don't find this very likely.

So much for now and here - will try to check the other thread this afternoon. Have fun and keep the ARRs coming!

[Mundy]

Hey LST, thanks for chiming in. If I'm grumbling, it's not about the mod per se, but just dealing with my situation.

I know GW isn't thrilled with squadrons arriving at 100% training, but I'm actually happy with this. All I do further is set their ranges to 0.

I've been airlifting troops out of Rabaul, supplementing this with xAK(L)s to get the heavier stuff out. To placate the masses, I'll haul the civvies out too. [;)] Lots of remote areas will simply be SOL, though. I'm happy for those two transport squadrons at PM. One of Junkers 52s and the other of Dragon Rapides. I'm fetching all those stray troops from Lae now to get everyone recombined.

17 December 1941

We're keeping a good pace up lately managing 3-4 days a turn as of late. I skipped the late one last night as I was watching the Brewers winning.

Landings
Atimonan
Iba
Kwangchowan
Subic Bay

Losses
Atimonan
Kluang

Looking through China, Chungking looks more beefed than in other Scenarios. Some of the corps there are a bit "heavy" at about 580 AV, which is good for this theatre. There's tons of artillery there too, including flak. I'm getting most of them moved south towards Liuchow. I'm slowly getting a grip on this area.

GW's first bold move is landing at Subic Bay (where my wife was born). Hopefully the guys to the north don't get cut off.

I have two ARDs at Sydney and Newcastle, which I'm sending up to Townsville (with escorts, of course). Being a more "forward" base, they'll be more useful there. I have a big 20,000 tonner at Soerabaja, which I hope to have underway in a couple days. The last of my Force Z/Dutch/US ships, including Repulse are enroute to Celebes to their trapdoor spider hiding spot. When he makes his go for Balikpapan, I'll pounce and then run. After that, Force Z will meet up with my USN carriers and serve as fast escorts. Speaking of... they should be nearing Sydney before too long. I'll likely send them to the DEI where at worst, I'll be facing his lighter carriers. I can throw a wrench into that operation when it comes.

Indian troops are unloading at Rangoon. I'm funneling as much as I can there right now. No real movement that ways as of yet, which gives me time. The Australians from Singapore will be a big help there.

[Mundy]

18 December 1941

Landings
Wake Island

Losses
Kwangchowan
Lingayen
Subic Bay
Wake Island

Wake fell quickly. The escorts seemed to be leftovers from the last war, but he brought enough troops for the job.

Amphibious Assault at Wake Island (136,98)

TF 85 troops unloading over beach at Wake Island, 136,98

Japanese ground losses:
265 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

12 troops of a IJA Inf Squad 41 lost overboard during unload of 56ID 113th Infantry Rgt /1
12 troops of a IJA Inf Squad 41 lost from landing craft during unload of 56ID 113th Infantry Rgt /1
12 troops of a IJA Inf Squad 41 lost in surf during unload of 56ID 113th Infantry Rgt
12 troops of a IJA Inf Squad 41 lost in surf during unload of 56ID 113th Infantry Rgt
12 troops of a IJA Inf Squad 41 lost from landing craft during unload of 56ID 113th Infantry Rgt
12 troops of a IJA Inf Squad 41 accidentally lost during unload of 56ID 113th Infantry Rgt
12 troops of a IJA Inf Squad 41 accidentally lost during unload of 56ID 113th Infantry Rgt
12 troops of a IJA Inf Squad 41 accidentally lost during unload of 56ID 113th Infantry Rgt
12 troops of a IJA Inf Squad 41 accidentally lost during unload of 56ID 148th Infantry Rgt
12 troops of a IJA Inf Squad 41 lost from landing craft during unload of 56ID 148th Infantry Rgt
12 troops of a IJA Inf Squad 41 lost from landing craft during unload of 56ID 148th Infantry Rgt
12 troops of a IJA Inf Squad 41 accidentally lost during unload of 56ID 148th Infantry Rgt
12 troops of a IJA Inf Squad 41 lost in surf during unload of 56ID 148th Infantry Rgt
12 troops of a IJA Inf Squad 41 lost from landing craft during unload of 56ID 148th Infantry Rgt
10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 56ID 148th Infantry Rgt
12 troops of a IJA Inf Squad 41 lost in surf during unload of 56ID 148th Infantry Rgt /2
10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 56ID 148th Infantry Rgt /2
17 troops of a IJA Engineer Squad lost overboard during unload of 56ID 56th Engr Rgt

---------------------------------------------

nvasion Support action off Wake Island (136,98)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

24 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Seattle Maru, Shell hits 1
CL Kiso
CA Yakumo
xAP Huzi Maru, Shell hits 1
CA Iwate
xAP Taizan Maru-
DD Hatsushimo

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

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

5in Mk 15 CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Seattle Maru at 7,000 yards
CA Yakumo firing to suppress enemy battery at 7,000 yards
5in Mk 15 CD Gun Battery engaging xAP Huzi Maru at 7,000 yards
CA Iwate firing to suppress enemy battery at 7,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


---------------------------------------------

Invasion Support action off Wake Island (136,98)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

7 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAP Atsuta Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Kiso
CA Yakumo
xAP Taizan Maru-

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

5in Mk 15 CD Gun Battery engaging xAP Atsuta Maru at 7,000 yards
CA Yakumo firing to suppress enemy battery at 7,000 yards

---------------------------------------------

Pre-Invasion action off Wake Island (136,98) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

52 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Yakumo
CA Iwate
CL Kiso
CL Tama
DD Nenohi
DD Hatsuharu
xAP Taizan Maru-
DD Hatsushimo

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

Allied ground losses:
137 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

CA Yakumo firing at Wake Is. NAS Base Force
W Det. 1st Marine Defense Battalion firing at CA Iwate
CA Iwate firing at W Det. 1st Marine Defense Battalion
W Det. 1st Marine Defense Battalion firing at CL Kiso
CL Kiso firing at W Det. 1st Marine Defense Battalion
CL Tama firing at W Det. 1st Marine Defense Battalion
W Det. 1st Marine Defense Battalion firing at CL Tama
DD Nenohi firing at Wake Is. NAS Base Force
DD Hatsuharu firing at W Det. 1st Marine Defense Battalion
W Det. 1st Marine Defense Battalion firing at DD Hatsuharu
DD Nenohi fired at enemy guns
DD Hatsuharu fired at enemy guns
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

---------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Wake Island (136,98)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 5269 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 221

Defending force 2063 troops, 42 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 19

Japanese adjusted assault: 208

Allied adjusted defense: 5

Japanese assault odds: 41 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Wake Island !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed

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

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

Allied ground losses:
1987 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 180 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 28 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 57 (57 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 3

Assaulting units:
56ID 113th Infantry Regiment
56ID 148th Infantry Regiment
56ID 56th Engineer Regiment

Defending units:
W Det. 1st Marine Defense Battalion
Wake Is. NAS Base Force
CPNAB Det W

Sweeps happened over Rangoon, which I took the worst of. I've moved the rest of the AVG in and staggered their altitudes, so we'll see...

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Reisen x 26

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 26
Buffalo I x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Reisen: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 3 destroyed
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x A6M2 Reisen sweeping at 15000 feet *

CAP engaged:
AVG/3rd Sqn' with H81-A3 (3 airborne, 11 on standby, 10 scrambling)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
No.67 Sqn RAF~ with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Reisen x 3

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 6
Buffalo I x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 1 destroyed
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
AVG/3rd Sqn' with H81-A3 (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
No.67 Sqn RAF~ with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 19140.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes

I think I'm finally getting into my logistics groove now, as many of my ships are leaving drydock and getting active.

I've been dealing with his subs. Near Pearl, he's hitting my incoming oilers. I've two ASW groups out sweeping the area, but they're not doing much yet. Other problem spots for subs are the Australian Coast, the DEI and one off Rangoon. I've a big carpet of them off Japan going out to Formosa. More covering Northern Japan are on the way and I'm putting one right off Pusan (Fusan). Port Arthur is getting a couple, too.

[Mundy]

19 December 1941

Landings
<None>


Iba
Johore Bahru
Malacca / Gemas
85/51
94/41

Malaya's now officially cut off. There are about 2 or 3 units still north of the bases he took. Not quite the chaotic mess as in my other game.

Saratoga made it to Pearl last turn, finally. I'm looking at about 4-1/2 months in the yard, which sucks.

Another squadron of P-40s arrive in East Canada. Unfortunately I can't fill out the slots as Canada has already run out of pilots.

Not a whole lot going on except for some harmless sub encounters. I'm due for a USN hit anytime soon. Singapore is getting bombed, and so are Clark and Bataan.

I have 8 transports enroute to Sabang to pick up the 8 Dutch units I've gotten there. They'll help bolster Burma. In that part of the world, I'm sending everyone there I can. I'll eventually be able to pack it with Australians when they finally arrive, since I know Australia won't be overrun here like in my other game.

[Mundy]

20 December 1941

Landings
Mauban

Losses
81/75 (China)
89/51 (China)
Somewhere along the line, Manila fell. Don't remember that.

I've a few units at Clark making their way to Bataan. I've built up about 80,000 in supply there, so we'll see how long that lasts. Regardless, it will be a tough nut to crack. As it is, I think every twin engined bomber in the Japanese inventory is working over Luzon.

My carriers are two and a half days from Sydney. I'll have to tread carefully, as his subs have been around.

I've pulled the B-17s from Cagayan out to Soerabaja. I can pretty much fly them anywhere I want, but I'll use them against the Japanese when they finally show. I am re-locating the more pristine Dutch AF squadrons out to Burma. I was able to flip them to 223 Squadron RAF HQ for a pittance. I've noticed that those air HQs are at Singapore, so I'm sending transports up to pull them out.

[Mundy]

21 December 1941

Landings
Laoag

Losses
Cabanatuan
Jerantur
Lucena

I'm starting to get the mess in China organized. I'm hoping to for a solid like along the SW/NE river from Kiukiang going westwards. I'm also building up troops in the Kaifeng area with those cities.

The CAF strikes for the first time, for little effect. I'm switching to a new target in case he decides to CAP the last one.

Morning Air attack on Ichang , at 83,48

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
A-29A Hudson x 3
DB-3M x 5
I-15-III x 6
SB-III x 8

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x DB-3M bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 100 kg GP Bomb
3 x A-29A Hudson bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
3 x DB-3M bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 100 kg GP Bomb
3 x SB-III bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 3 x 100 kg GP Bomb
5 x SB-III bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 3 x 100 kg GP Bomb



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Ichang , at 83,48

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
A-29A Hudson x 4

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x A-29A Hudson bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb

Nells and Betties try to brave the CAP at Rangoon to get to the shipping. The last raid slips through but fails to hit.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Chukou (Nell) x 9
G4M1 Rikko (Betty) x 3

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 38
Buffalo I x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Chukou (Nell): 3 destroyed
G4M1 Rikko (Betty): 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
AVG/1st Sqn' with H81-A3 (16 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(16 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
16 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
AVG/2nd Sqn' with H81-A3 (6 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
AVG/3rd Sqn' with H81-A3 (4 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
No.67 Sqn RAF~ with Buffalo I (2 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Chukou (Nell) x 4
G4M1 Rikko (Betty) x 6

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 35
Buffalo I x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Chukou (Nell): 2 destroyed
G4M1 Rikko (Betty): 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
AVG/1st Sqn' with H81-A3 (13 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 61 minutes
AVG/2nd Sqn' with H81-A3 (3 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
AVG/3rd Sqn' with H81-A3 (3 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
No.67 Sqn RAF~ with Buffalo I (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Chukou (Nell) x 9

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 30
Buffalo I x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Chukou (Nell): 2 destroyed, 5 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAP Rajula
xAK Nirpura, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G3M2 Chukou (Nell) bombing from 13000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
AVG/1st Sqn' with H81-A3 (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
AVG/2nd Sqn' with H81-A3 (5 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
AVG/3rd Sqn' with H81-A3 (3 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
No.67 Sqn RAF~ with Buffalo I (2 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes

In the Makassar strait, one of my subs gets a shot at Haruna, but misses. [:@] I catch a transport a little north of there.

Sub attack near Tawau at 70,92

Japanese Ships
xAK Iwaki Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KX

SS KX launches 2 torpedoes

At this point, it looks like he's making a move on Tarakan. It's a little far for Force Z to pounce on, so I'll bide my time. PoW is easily a match for any of the Kongos. Repulse along can only help things.

GW confided that his economy is near collapse. I'm not sure yet if he's building a lot of factories or what. If the US starts de-nutted as far as supply, I can only wonder what Japan is dealing with right now. I did suggest getting all those resources in Hokkaido shipped over as soon as possible.