I started a scenario 1 mod game with Wargamr...asian roads, limited cargo, Dec 8th start.
Initially, I was shocked to see magic task forces still move the magic amount, which meant a Mersing invasion happened on the first turn with almost no support forces. Luckily, the Allies only had 1/2 of their movement. I did not want to do a turn 1 invasion of Mersing, but a turn 2 invasion.
Careful reading of the above will show that I did not game out any of this and run dummy turns.[;)] Not saying that is a good or bad thing, just what I did.
Initial moves...Johore was defended forward, allowing the IJA to build up troops there and attack with all Armor and many regiments in Reserve Pursuit mode...
The Indian Division formed up and moved into Malacca to attempt take back the base...instead they sealed their doom with a fast transport invasion behind them and a shattering naval and aerial bombardments. Cut off at Malacca they surrendered in a few days.
The IJN used all their cruisers and battleships and most of their destroyers with the fast transport invasion Malacca. Using Alfreds calculation estimate from air recon, there was about 100 AV of troops there...and they were easily smashed with troops fast transported in, naval bombardments, and Sallies.
There was an IJN destroyer squadron (set to low threat tolerance) that shielded the fast transports and the Mersing invasion, and they tangled with Force Z something like four times constantly closing with Force Z as it progressed to the Mersing landings...losing two destroyers but planting a torpedo (for what I could tell almost 0 damage) in Prince of Wales. Meanwhile the fast transports were very close but avoided naval combat. No doubt healthy night time naval search and the proper threat tolerances was key in this.
Force Z withdrew away from Singers...depleted of ammo I calculated. Japan got an AD to Mersing to rearm destroyers, while larger ships had to cycle back to Cam Ranh Bay/Saigon...but by then more Japanese surface ships were arriving.
Meanwhile Allied air power attacked scoring some hits but eventually having to withdraw from the area due to losses.
The fight with Force Z happened on the 2nd turn, the night of Dec 9th. Mersing was evacuated, except for a sacrificial xak unloading needed supplies to support the attack scheduled for the day.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Singapore at 51,84, Range 11,000 Yards
Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1
BC Repulse
CL Danae
DD Vampire
DD Tenedos
DD Electra
DD Express
Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 78% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Yugiri at 11,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages CL Danae at 11,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Murakumo at 11,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Murakumo at 11,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages DD Shinonome at 11,000 yards
DD Vampire engages DD Yugiri at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Yugiri at 5,000 yards
BC Repulse engages DD Yugiri at 5,000 yards
CL Danae engages DD Ayanami at 5,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Express at 5,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Vampire at 5,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Shinonome at 5,000 yards
DD Vampire engages DD Ayanami at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Shirakumo at 4,000 yards
DD Asagiri engages DD Electra at 4,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages CL Danae at 4,000 yards
DD Murakumo engages DD Tenedos at 4,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Shirakumo at 4,000 yards
DD Murakumo engages DD Tenedos at 4,000 yards
DD Vampire engages DD Shirakumo at 4,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Murakumo at 4,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages DD Asagiri at 4,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Vampire at 4,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Shirakumo at 4,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Vampire at 4,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Vampire at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Yugiri at 8,000 yards
DD Asagiri engages DD Tenedos at 8,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Vampire at 8,000 yards
DD Murakumo engages DD Express at 8,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Murakumo at 8,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Shinonome at 8,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Vampire at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Yugiri at 12,000 yards
BC Repulse engages DD Yugiri at 12,000 yards
CL Danae engages DD Ayanami at 12,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Murakumo at 12,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Electra at 12,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Tenedos at 12,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Vampire at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Tioman Island at 51,83, Range 11,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Shinonome, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
DD Shirakumo
DD Murakumo
DD Ayanami
DD Asagiri
DD Yugiri
Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BC Repulse
CL Danae
DD Vampire
DD Tenedos
DD Electra, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Express
Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 78% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Tenedos at 11,000 yards
CL Danae engages DD Yugiri at 11,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Electra at 11,000 yards
DD Asagiri engages DD Vampire at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Shinonome at 8,000 yards
DD Asagiri engages DD Tenedos at 8,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages DD Yugiri at 8,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Vampire at 8,000 yards
DD Asagiri engages DD Tenedos at 8,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages DD Murakumo at 8,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Shirakumo at 8,000 yards
DD Vampire engages DD Shinonome at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Tenedos at 7,000 yards
DD Asagiri engages DD Electra at 7,000 yards
DD Shinonome sunk by CL Danae at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Shirakumo at 9,000 yards
DD Asagiri engages DD Tenedos at 9,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Tenedos at 9,000 yards
DD Vampire engages DD Shirakumo at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Yugiri at 13,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Asagiri at 13,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Express at 13,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Tenedos at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Tioman Island at 51,83, Range 11,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Shirakumo
DD Murakumo
DD Ayanami
DD Asagiri
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BC Repulse
CL Danae
DD Vampire
DD Tenedos
DD Electra, on fire
DD Express
Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 78% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
BC Repulse engages DD Yugiri at 11,000 yards
CL Danae engages DD Yugiri at 11,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Yugiri at 11,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages DD Yugiri at 11,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Vampire at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages BB Prince of Wales at 10,000 yards
BC Repulse engages DD Yugiri at 10,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Electra at 10,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages DD Yugiri at 10,000 yards
DD Vampire engages DD Shirakumo at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Asagiri engages DD Vampire at 9,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages DD Yugiri at 9,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Vampire at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Yugiri at 7,000 yards
BC Repulse engages DD Shirakumo at 7,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Yugiri at 7,000 yards
DD Vampire engages DD Shirakumo at 7,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages DD Shirakumo at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CL Danae engages DD Shirakumo at 12,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Asagiri at 12,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Electra at 12,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages DD Yugiri at 12,000 yards
DD Vampire engages DD Shirakumo at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Mersing at 51,82, Range 11,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
PB Tatsumiya Maru, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAK Nanko Maru, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
BC Repulse, Shell hits 1
CL Danae
DD Vampire
DD Tenedos
DD Electra, on fire
DD Express
Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 78% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages PB Tatsumiya Maru at 11,000 yards
BC Repulse engages PB Tatsumiya Maru at 11,000 yards
CL Danae engages PB Tatsumiya Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Electra engages PB Tatsumiya Maru at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages PB Tatsumiya Maru at 10,000 yards
CL Danae engages PB Tatsumiya Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Express engages PB Tatsumiya Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Electra engages PB Tatsumiya Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
BC Repulse engages PB Tatsumiya Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Express engages xAK Nanko Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Danae engages xAK Nanko Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Vampire engages xAK Nanko Maru at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
PB Tatsumiya Maru sunk by BB Prince of Wales at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages xAK Nanko Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Electra engages xAK Nanko Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Vampire engages xAK Nanko Maru at 8,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages xAK Nanko Maru at 8,000 yards
xAK Nanko Maru sunk by BC Repulse at 8,000 yards
xAK Nanko Maru sunk by BC Repulse at 8,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...
The armor easily crosses the causeways into Singapore...too close to the retreating Allies to cause a set piece defense...they are in Singapore in strength with no shock attack. WITP AE Blitzkrieg, Japanese style.[:)]
With the bulk of the Japanese troops set to cross, the Armor deliberate attacks Singers. Forts are 0. This was a precautionary attack, as I have seen lots of screwy results with river crossing...but the beachhead held, and all troops crossed without have to undergo a shock attack river crossing...they just advanced to the front lines.
Allied ground losses:
32688 casualties reported
Squads: 379 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1614 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 79 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 297 (297 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 125 (125 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 23
Assaulting units:
16th Recon Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
48th Engineer Regiment
55th Infantry Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment
2nd Division
48th Recon Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
33rd Division
16th Engineer Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
2nd Formosa Inf. Rgt /9
4th Division
11th Infantry Rgt /10
3rd Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
5th Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
48th Field Artillery Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Bn /1
Defending units:
SSVF Brigade
2nd Gordons Battalion
1st Malay Battalion
2nd Loyal Battalion
2/17 Dogra Battalion
1st Manchester Battalion
2nd Malay Battalion
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
Malayan Air Wing
3rd Cavalry Regiment
Singapore Fortress
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
Singapore Base Force
29 Battery/3 HAA
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
224 Group RAF
Malaya Army
AHQ Far East
III Indian Corps
113th RAF Adv Base Force
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
111th RAF Adv Base Force
The primary purpose of this series of posts is simply to showcase using armor to exploit a victory in Reserve Pursuit mode in enough force to form a beachhead and avoid the river crossing penalty.
Japan could have been much faster in taking Singapore...instead I was careful to use combat mode in crossing the river in case a river crossing penalty would occur although I was confident that it wouldn't (but I have played enough games to see strange things happen).
To my thinking, this tactic can be used to devastating success by the Allies once their larger tank units arrive and especially by the Soviets.
So, how did you do that (no shock attack)?!? [:'(]
Units in Pursuit mode will not trigger shock attack if they follow a retreat. I am not sure if it also works when the pursuing unit doesn't make it in the same turn.
I do not know what is scarier: that I do understand nothing of this demonic script or that I am starting to see the demons that it evokes.
Me, studying for a PHD entry exam in Applied Mathematics.
