Beans, Bullets and Black Oil :: obvert (A) vs Lowpe (J)

[obvert]

Almost ...

This is the KB. Moving toward Indochina. Wow. Some guts here. Does he think the Allied CVs have completely lost their punch?

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]July 16, 1942[/font]

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The depleted KB moves boldly into danger. Subs will close, but I'll also begin to look for opportunities to use the Allied CVs again.

First things first though, the CVs and the attack transports will combine to hit Alor Star next turn. The goal is to isolate an Id and many supporting units to the South of this position in the contested Taiping hex and at Georgetown. I hope to also move to cut the rail on both sides of Malaya if possible. Follow on troops are ready and loaded should these be able to take Alor.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 16, 1942
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Sub attack near Iba at 75,70

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
DD Hokaze

Allied Ships
SS Haddock

SS Haddock launches 6 torpedoes at BB Kongo
Haddock diving deep ....

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Morning Air attack on Utan Melintang , at 48,77

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 33

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 8
P-40E Warhawk x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

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Sub attack near Amami Oshima at 98,63

Japanese Ships
xAP Manzyu Maru, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-37

Japanese ground losses:
81 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

SS S-37 attacking on the surface

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Ground combat at Taiping (49,75)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11544 troops, 294 guns, 191 vehicles, Assault Value = 555

Defending force 18614 troops, 163 guns, 112 vehicles, Assault Value = 531

Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2/7th Armoured Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
6th Cav Recce Regiment
Kowloon Brigade
132nd Infantry Regiment
18th Australian Brigade
2/5th Armoured Regiment
193rd Tank Bn /2
97th Field Artillery Battalion
New Guinea Force
21/22 Field Arty Regiment
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
2/2nd Hy AA Regiment
2/9th Fld RAA Regiment
198th Coast AA Regiment
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment
Aus II Corps
IV Indian Corps /1

Defending units:
14th Tank Regiment
21st Division
Ichiki Det.
6th RTA/A Division
9th Field Construction Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
12th Base Force
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]July 17, 1942[/font]

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Alor Star is invaded!! The landings are successful, the troops are minimally disrupted with good morale and ready to strike next turn. The qualitative and quantitative advantage will be on the Allied side, but the terrain and possible forts will of course go to the Japanese. The RN CAs will bombard in the night before all amphjbs and fleet TFs will retreat quickly out of the danger zone. the follow on TFs will move under protective CAP at Medan.

So far so good. The KB continues to move SW, now nearing the IndoChinese coastline. The big BB TF recently terrorising the PI is also moving in this direction, with three big gnarly IJN BBs ready to rumble. This may present some new opportunities, but it will also slow next stage landings if Alor does fall.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 17, 1942
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Pre-Invasion action off Alor Star (49,73)

38 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Royal Sovereign
BB Revenge
AP Crescent City
KV Fritillary

Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 15 (5 destroyed, 10 disabled)

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

BB Royal Sovereign firing at 3rd RTA/A Division
BB Revenge firing at 41st Infantry Regiment

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Amphibious Assault at Alor Star (49,73)

TF 1 troops unloading over beach at Alor Star, 49,73

Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

15 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 44th Indian Bde
Motorized Support damaged beyond repair during unload of 182nd Infantry Rgt


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Invasion Support action off Alor Star (49,73)

56 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Royal Sovereign
BB Revenge
AP Crescent City
KV Fritillary

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

BB Revenge firing at 51st JNAF AF Unit
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

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Morning Air attack on 51st JNAF AF Unit , at 49,73 (Alor Star)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
B-17E Fortress x 19
LB-30 Liberator x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Ground combat at Alor Star (49,73)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2543 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 110

Defending force 10042 troops, 120 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 370

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

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

Assaulting units:
3rd RTA/A Division
III/124th Infantry Bn /4
93rd JAAF AF Bn
51st JNAF AF Unit
41st Infantry Rgt /36

Defending units:
10th LH Cav Rgt /1
44th Indian Brigade
182nd Infantry Regiment
17th Australian Bde /2
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The details of this air losses report are telling. Several types of transports lost to ops; this is most likely groups moving to transport in extra troops to Alor and/or pull pieces of divisions out of both ends of Malaya. Some Nells lost to ops; moving groups into strike range of ships unloading at Alor Star and around the West coast of Malaya. One Mavis lost A to A; increasing search range into known danger zones because something is up.

I predict some response from the air, with added fighters also spotted at Kota Baru, Patani and Temuloh.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]July 18, 1942[/font]

---

Alor Star is in Allied hands!! This should put some pressure on. The base falls quickly and easily to the three Allied units and the defenders retreated toward Georgetown. From here any path is two hexes to the next base by yellow road. So it'll take a while to cut off other paths, and I need a few more units to land to do this effectively. I sense though that all naval strike planes will be on next turn. The KB is near enough to hit, so it makes sense to take a day or two and see how things develop.

The surface forces took a hit as CL Perth suffered two torpedoes from a midget sub. She limped to Medan and is disbanded. Hopefully not seen for now.

The KB is near Cam Ran Bay. The BBs look to be moving this way as well, but noticing 100+ fighters at Kota Baru, I sent a surface force to Mersing to get in bombardment range. I think I can squeeze them through before the rest of the IJN appears. I'm going to try it.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 18, 1942
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ASW attack near Georgetown at 49,74

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-16, hits 3

Allied Ships
BB Revenge
DMS Boggs
AP Crescent City
AP Fuller
AP Leonard Wood
AK Alcyon
KV Fritillary
DMS Trevor

SSX Ha-16 launches 2 torpedoes at BB Revenge
Ha-16 bottoming out ....

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ASW attack near Georgetown at 49,74

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-21

Allied Ships
DMS Boggs
DMS Lamberton
AP Crescent City
AP George F. Elliot
AK Alcyon
KV Fritillary
DMS Trevor

SSX Ha-21 launches 2 torpedoes at DMS Boggs
Ha-21 bottoming out ....

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Sub attack near Alor Star at 49,73

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-27

Allied Ships
CL Perth, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Achilles
DD King
DD Hotspur

SSX Ha-27 launches 2 torpedoes at CL Perth
Ha-27 bottoming out ....

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Sub attack near Miri at 63,82

Japanese Ships
DD Arashi
BB Hyuga
BB Fuso
BB Kongo
CA Kako
CL Tenryu
CL Katori
DD Shiranui
DD Hokaze
DD Akikaze
DD Harusame

Allied Ships
SS ShCh-116

SS ShCh-116 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Arashi
ShCh-116 diving deep ....

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Night Naval bombardment of Alor Star at 49,73

Allied Ships
CA Exeter
CA Cornwall
CA Devonshire
CA Canberra
CL Mauritius
DD Isis
DD Arrow
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Arunta

Japanese ground losses:
477 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 60
Port hits 13
Port fuel hits 6

Walrus II acting as spotter for CA Exeter

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ASW attack near Groot Natoena at 61,81

Japanese Ships
DD Naganami
BB Hyuga
BB Fuso
BB Kongo
CA Kako
CL Tenryu
CL Jintsu
CL Katori
DD Arashi
DD Hokaze
DD Akikaze
DD Harusame

Allied Ships
SS ShCh-122

SS ShCh-122 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Naganami
DD Hokaze fails to find sub, continues to search...

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

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 17

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 32
P-39D Airacobra x 4
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 7 destroyed, 5 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA Astoria

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

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Ground combat at Malaybalay (80,90)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8426 troops, 95 guns, 54 vehicles, Assault Value = 235

Defending force 6979 troops, 28 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 139

Japanese adjusted assault: 68

Allied adjusted defense: 76

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
381 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
303 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
85th Naval Guard Unit
18th Naval Guard Unit
86th Naval Guard Unit
88th Naval Guard Unit
89th Naval Guard Unit
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
101st PA Infantry Division
3rd Constabulary Regiment
Mindanao Force
2nd PA Infantry Regiment
Agusan Constab Battalion

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Ground combat at Alor Star (49,73)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10086 troops, 120 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 373

Defending force 4493 troops, 34 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 105

Allied adjusted assault: 290

Japanese adjusted defense: 17

Allied assault odds: 17 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Alor Star !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1277 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 56 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (6 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
189 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
10th LH Cav Rgt /1
182nd Infantry Regiment
44th Indian Brigade
17th Australian Bde /2

Defending units:
3rd RTA/A Division
III/124th Infantry Bn /4
51st JNAF AF Unit
93rd JAAF AF Bn
41st Infantry Rgt /36
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Nice to pick off some Nell strikes!

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]July 19, 1942[/font]

---

Kota Baru is hit by USN cruisers and they manage to get away under the cover of night. The RN also hits Georgetown.

All of this happens as the IJN BBs reach the Malaya coast. The KB is unseen, possibly having disbanded in Cam Ran Bay or another port. Tense moments when it goes dark.

The 4Es meet some unexpected resistance at Brunei and Miri, and 3 are lost. I'll turn them off for a few days in anticipation of needing them for the next phase on Malaya. Once Yorktown fixes it's last system damage I'll head out with the CVs and a lot of surface forces to escort amphibs toward the next destinations. Right into the south of the beast! [X(]
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 19, 1942
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Night Naval bombardment of Kota Bharu at 51,75

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 16 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 56 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 10 destroyed on ground
A6M2 Zero: 30 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 70 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
CA Astoria
CA Louisville
CA Northampton
DD Dewey
DD Dale
DD Monaghan
DD Aylwin
DD Clark

Japanese ground losses:
1122 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 89 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Airbase hits 34
Airbase supply hits 12
Runway hits 107

SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Astoria

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Night Naval bombardment of Georgetown at 49,74

Allied Ships
CA Exeter
CA Cornwall
CA Devonshire
CA Canberra
CL Mauritius
DD Isis
DD Arrow
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Arunta

Japanese ground losses:
607 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 60 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Manpower hits 3
Fires 363
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 31
Port hits 24
Port fuel hits 6

Walrus II acting as spotter for CA Exeter

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ASW attack near Kota Bharu at 55,76

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Fuso
BB Kongo
CA Kako
CL Tenryu
CL Jintsu
CL Katori
DD Hokaze
DD Shiranui
DD Akikaze
DD Harusame

Allied Ships
SS Truant, hits 2

SS Truant is sighted by escort
Truant bottoming out ....

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Morning Air attack on Brunei , at 65,87

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 16
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 12

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 18
LB-30 Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 7 damaged
Ki-57-I Topsy: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 5 damaged

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

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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This is the picture from a day ago, and the KB is now missing completely. The BBs are between Kota Baru and Patani. I'l be seeing more of them soon I think.

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: obvert

[font="Times New Roman"]Sept 19, 1944[/font]

---

Holy cow!! I didn't think this thing would get to 1944!! [X(] Or is this all just a dream... [:'(]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

ORIGINAL: obvert

[font="Times New Roman"]Sept 19, 1944[/font]

---

Holy cow!! I didn't think this thing would get to 1944!! [X(] Or is this all just a dream... [:'(]

Good to see someone's paying more attention than I am! [:D]

I use several templates, and copied the one from another game here. It'll be really interesting to see what happens when I've got a game in 42, another in 44, and a third in 45! There'll be a day I'm sure where I'll flip every one around! [;)]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]July 20, 1942[/font]

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A very quiet turn today. Some Lightning sweeps do well hitting the Patani fighters that are operating out of a damaged field.I've now got the CVs repaired and ready. Troops are loaded and the whole mess should leave tomorrow from Singers. It'll be a slow journey as I want to see how the IJN and air forces will react.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 20, 1942
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Sub attack near Taytay at 76,82

Japanese Ships
xAK Hokumai Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PB Hokutai Maru

Allied Ships
SS ShCh-132

SS ShCh-132 launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Hokumai Maru
ShCh-132 bottoming out ....

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Morning Air attack on Kota Bharu , at 51,75

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 28,500 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Ic: 3 destroyed

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Morning Air attack on Kota Bharu , at 51,75

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 16 NM, estimated altitude 40,550 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38E Lightning: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x P-38E Lightning sweeping at 34550 feet

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Sub attack near Taytay at 76,82

Japanese Ships
xAK Hokumai Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PB Hokutai Maru

Allied Ships
SS ShCh-132

SS ShCh-132 launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Hokumai Maru
ShCh-132 bottoming out ....
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Saratoga will be joining the CVs in spite of a bit of float damage. I'm rolling the dice here. Gotta have more deck space and I need her right now. here we go!

[Macclan5]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Saratoga will be joining the CVs in spite of a bit of float damage. I'm rolling the dice here. Gotta have more deck space and I need her right now. here we go!

Its been a time.. last we heard was Lady Sara patrolling the Artic as I recall ?

But... you lost a couple of carriers early (Enterprise ?)

Is it worth putting Sara in harms way given the date / further unsinkable Carriers in Singapore ?

[ny59giants]

P-38s do enjoy their time in the sun through '42 when sweeping at max altitude. Not until George comes out in '43 do they start to suffer. Enjoy!!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Macclan5

ORIGINAL: obvert

Saratoga will be joining the CVs in spite of a bit of float damage. I'm rolling the dice here. Gotta have more deck space and I need her right now. here we go!

Its been a time.. last we heard was Lady Sara patrolling the Artic as I recall ?

But... you lost a couple of carriers early (Enterprise ?)

Is it worth putting Sara in harms way given the date / further unsinkable Carriers in Singapore ?

Sara has been down here for a good while and took part in the recent KB strike (hence the damage from a single torpedo). She still makes 27 knots though, so hangs with the fleet for now until I see what happens with this remnant of the KB.

Early on Lex and Enterprise joined forces to harass Japanese moves in the Central Pacific, then raced to the DEI. They did some damage and started the ball rolling on hitting the oil, plus were involved the major bombardment that crippled Japanese air power for a few months. They were lost when unseen surface forces arrived and got in close. Good moves by Lowpe and bad decision by me to keep them in close quarters too long.

It is completely IMHO worth putting Sara in harms way right now as the IJN has only a few operational decks. The more I have the more I can defend against strikes and protect all of the CVs. This is not a game in which saving for later makes sense. The Japanese have 130 F and 100 DB-TB, so about 3 fleet CVs worth, but probably a mix of two CVs and a few CVLs. Some of them will have damage still from the last battle as well, as nearly all the KB were hit, and there hasn't been enough time to repair those ships in the weeks since that happened (June 26-28), especially since they've been sailing around for the last week or so.

I also have a huge advantage in surface forces right now. The IJN has only about 3-4 BBs here and 2 CAs (now in the Sulu Sea). That's it!! (As far as I can see, of course, but the Allied search and recon have been reaching farther and farther, with more accuracy every day).

The Allies are bringing POW and North Carolina plus all four "R" class RN BBs. We have Boise, Helena and St Louis in one SCTF, 3 x CA in another, and two more RN CA/CL TFs. All of these ships have decent night experience of 60-75. (except the newly arrived North Carolina).

If the CVs win again, or even get an even exchange now, the Allies would control the South China Sea, be able to support the PI as much as necessary, and possibly land even more deeply into the Japanese held territory. I'll go over the next stage plans in a bit here. A lot of prep has been happening in the background and is ready to be used now.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants_MatrixForum

P-38s do enjoy their time in the sun through '42 when sweeping at max altitude. Not until George comes out in '43 do they start to suffer. Enjoy!!

Thanks! This group has been enjoying, that's for sure. It looks like a late war group of vets by the pilot numbers.

This is the second P-38E group after the first withdrew in mid June. So for the last month it's gotten 32 kills for only 1 pilot KIA and 2 MIA. Only 4 A2A and 4 Ops losses. August starts the two month P-38F production run, so 40 more/month. Then the G with 60/month!

With the P-40K also starting in Sept there will be a huge increase in Allied fighter quality.

[inqistor]

WOW! 92 exp! And this is only mid 1942!

Have you noticed, that some of those pilots have quite low Defence? And it doesn't seem, that it increases during combat. Can be serious problem, when better Japanese planes arrive.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: inqistor

WOW! 92 exp! And this is only mid 1942!

Have you noticed, that some of those pilots have quite low Defence? And it doesn't seem, that it increases during combat. Can be serious problem, when better Japanese planes arrive.

It is!! The issue was that they've just not had time off to train sweep at 100ft. These have been the top pilots all game and so have either been on high CAP or sweep since they were in the AVG or in the PI groups. Some of the lower defensive ratings were the pilots starting at 50-60 exp and getting lots of easy kills early to push them up.

I've been slowly getting some of the better ones trained in defensive skills as my pilot pools have gotten deeper.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]July 21, 1942[/font]

---

So again this turn nothing really happened. The KB is nowhere to be seen and the Allied CVs seem to be under a big cloud. They've only moved a few hexes out from Singers though, and are waiting for Hornet to be available after an upgrade to move further.

Altogether it'll be Sara, Hornet, Yorktown and Wasp with Formidable and Illustrious.. I left Hermes back at Singers since she's just a bit slower and only gives an extra 20 planes for her trouble. I'll get in position for a bombardment run at one of several Malayan destinations next turn. I have troops about half prepped for several spots, and some more follow ons not prepped at all. So I need to hit the landing sites hard and disrupt them, take a base a load more on. A risky plan, but it should be helped by the recent addition of two Marine para units, one must landed at Sabang and the other at Singapore.

Possible invasions on Malaya/Thai Eastern coastline include: Patani (showing only one unit that is obviously a base force, since fighters are based there), Chumpon (only one unit, unknown type) and Nakhon Ratchasima (unknown, but assumed lightly defended as it's so far back).

Possible invasions on Indochinese coastline include: Kampong Trach (empty), Soc Trang (empty) and Rascgia (empty). All units designed for these have only 30ish prep, but if they're empty ... that should be okay.

Tojos swept a few bases but suffered at Batu Palat as it looks like I've figured out some good defensive CAP settings there. Either that or the Allies just have better pilots at this point. Tomorrow is the attack at Johore following another bombardment there. Fingers crossed.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 21, 1942
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Night Naval bombardment of Taiping at 49,75

Allied Ships
CA Exeter
CA Cornwall
CA Devonshire
CA Canberra
CL Mauritius
DD Isis
DD Arrow
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Arunta

Japanese ground losses:
285 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 20

Walrus II acting as spotter for CA Exeter

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Alor Star at 49,73

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 13
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 23

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 13
Hurricane IIc Trop x 7
P-38E Lightning x 5
P-39D Airacobra x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 9
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Express
CL Achilles

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 26000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Batu Pahat , at 49,82

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 32

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 13
P-400 Airacobra x 9
P-40E Warhawk x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Tandjoengbalai , at 47,78

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 21

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 32000 feet

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

Ground combat at Malaybalay (80,90)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8381 troops, 95 guns, 54 vehicles, Assault Value = 227

Defending force 6669 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 125

Japanese adjusted assault: 103

Allied adjusted defense: 115

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
427 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 46 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
268 casualties reported
Squads: 24 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
18th Naval Guard Unit
88th Naval Guard Unit
86th Naval Guard Unit
85th Naval Guard Unit
89th Naval Guard Unit
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
101st PA Infantry Division
3rd Constabulary Regiment
2nd PA Infantry Regiment
Mindanao Force
Agusan Constab Battalion

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

Ground combat at Jesselton (68,86)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4323 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 182

Defending force 1587 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 48

Japanese adjusted assault: 50

Allied adjusted defense: 25

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
422 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 51 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
103 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
302nd Ind.Infantry Battalion
48th Naval Guard Unit
301st Ind.Infantry Battalion
23rd Nav Gd Unit /1
23rd Port Unit /2

Defending units:
2/3rd Ind Coy
2/8th Ind Coy
Gull Force /1
20th RAAF Base Sqdn

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

Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 21438 troops, 241 guns, 236 vehicles, Assault Value = 1255

Defending force 26809 troops, 245 guns, 106 vehicles, Assault Value = 797

Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Cavalry Regiment
11th Indian Division
18th British Division
9th Indian Division

Defending units:
56th/A Division
56th/B Division
56th/C Division
2nd/A Division
2nd/B Division
2nd/C Division
4th/C Div /1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[ny59giants]

What are those CAP settings that your seem to be doing so well with?

[CaptBeefheart]

ORIGINAL: inqistor

WOW! 92 exp! And this is only mid 1942!

That's Pappy Boyington. He along with a number of other famous pilots (Butch O'Hare, Jimmy Thach, Joe Foss, Ira Kepford, Dick Bong et al.) starts out with pretty high numbers.

Cheers,
CC

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants_MatrixForum

What are those CAP settings that your seem to be doing so well with?

It's a mid-level layered CAP. Good pilots and a layered CAP in the best maeuver zones for these early war fighters, which only really work under 20k.

Here it's P-40E at 15k, P-39D at 12k and Kittyhawk I at 10k.

It's surprising me that it's working so well, but at those altitudes the manuever differences are not huge between attacker and defenders, and these are all nearly as fast as the Tojo as well.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]July 22, 1942[/font]

---

The CVs move out and so do the IJN BBs but clouds seem to cover everything. No sign of the KB. No strikes.I'll move back a few hexes tomorrow to have a better look and wait for the right moment.

The big news is that Johore Baru falls on the first attack! The units don't retreat, probably having no where to go as Kluong is invested by Allied armies. This will be two more IDs destroyed.
[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 22, 1942
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34850 troops, 492 guns, 425 vehicles, Assault Value = 1256

Defending force 26606 troops, 245 guns, 106 vehicles, Assault Value = 783

Allied adjusted assault: 1010

Japanese adjusted defense: 369

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Johore Bahru !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
2970 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 146 disabled
Non Combat: 62 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 67 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 108 (97 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 40 (40 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1354 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 141 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 24 disabled
Guns lost 40 (1 destroyed, 39 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
18th British Division
11th Indian Division
3rd Cavalry Regiment
9th Indian Division

Defending units:
56th/A Division
56th/B Division
2nd/A Division
56th/C Division
2nd/B Division
2nd/C Division
4th/C Div /1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[BBfanboy]

Fort level 0 at Johore Bahru - your bombardments really did shut down his effort there! Well done!