Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat)

[John B.]

It was not without potential cost. I did not lose any ships, but the BB and two CAs are going to be tough to rescue. I may get the BB out as it can run along the north coast to the sheltering arms of the KB. The CAs are kind of stuck there for now with more land based air trying to fly shelter over them (and continue to take down allied aircraft I hope). If all three ships wind up sunk I still think the whole result works in my favor given the magnitude of the allied carrier air losses. I was fine with trading my torpedo bombers for 2-3 CVEs. Scott sinking a BB and two CAs comes out on the losing end of that trade if it keeps his carriers off line for awhile. If the BB gets out then the VP gain is a big win for me.

[John B.]

And, the bombardment by the two TFs (which is why they stayed in the first place) messed up two US regiments and made them retreat away from Soerebaja (and gave me a nice VP bump for the turn). I think we each face supply problems right now. Scott only has zero level ports at Java so unloading supplies will be a nightmare for him. soerebaja is besieged and it's at 11K supply right now. The transport sub bucket brigade can bring in supply from Balikpapan for awhile but I'll need to see if I can get a supply convoy into there.

I am bringing an infantry division in piecemeal from Singapore to Batavia. I think Scott has now hit my MLR. The Philippines and Java. He can push me out, but I need to keep the oil flowing as long as possible.

[John B.]

The most recent turn saw the air battle swing against Japan. I lost 55 planes and Scott was reported to have lost 15. My losses including 17 Betties (honestly, they blow themselves up if they see enemy fighters) but still, not a good trade over Soerebaja which saw a lot of allied sweeps. So, the stuff that could fly headed back to Batavia.

Scott also adopted the Joseph Stalin method of clearing a mine field by sending the PT Boats into Soerebaja harbor. There were reported hits on at least 10 PT boats and lots of sinking sounds. I'd imagine most of them are dead since I can't see PT boats really handling mine hits that well.

My BB is making a dash from Soerebaja. Wish it luck!

[GetAssista]

I think you can disband and pump out CAs at Soerabaja just fine. With all the CV striking power losses plus kicking him out of the hex looks like you've earned yourself some peace and quiet.

[John B.]

GetAssista,

Sadly, I can't maintain air cover over soerebaja. He flies in the heavies, wrecks the airfield, and then pounds away on my hexes. Once he does that, he can bomb the port and destroy the CAs. It really only takes a few turns for him to do that. Scott has his vast task forces gathered at the east end of Java including the CVs which still have a healthy fighter contingent plus he has corsairs and P-47s on the land bases at that end of the island. If he leaves me alone for a couple more turns I might be ok, but I am happy that I got the BB out of there since it was worth twice as much as the two CAs combined.

[John B.]

The fighting on Java continues. The KB is heading back to Singapore to replenish and Scott is concentrating on Soerebaja (naturally as that will give him a level 7 port near the oil fields). I've moved a division into the island and it is set to launch its own counterattack at the base near Batavia. Meanwhile, the liquids continue to flow out of my remaining oil fields. the HI have 4.2 million tons of oil (about 1 million more than they started the war with) and the fuel stockpiles are pretty high, but that won't last too long once he can shut Palembang down. Right now, I consider each load of fuel that head's north to be a victory.

[John B.]

I'm not sure how long Soerebaja can hold out. The amount of ordinance he puts on the base is huge. This one raid had 150+ 4 engine bombers. He's shut down the airfield so I can't oppose and the only thing I have to shelter my troops is level 4 fortifications. Scott does only have one division there right now so I'm not sure when he'll launch an assault.

Sadly, the two CAs that were damaged there did not get away. I think I only have 3 of them left in my navy. The BB, however, did make it back to Singapore and a dry dock. Given that Scott lost 200+ carrier planes to sink those two CA's I think that's a win for me. He can restock, but it will take awhile.

[John B.]

Well, Soerebaja survived it's first assault. Even with all of the battering Scott was only able to get a 1-2 and he did not reduce the fort level (still at 4). The loss ratio was about 2-1 (not in my favor) but he did take a whole lot of disruptions. So, it may be a couple of turns before he tries again. He's basically using 2 divisions to spearhead his attack.

In the meantime, the KB has made it back to Singapore and it is heading south with 3 BBs in tow, including the Mushashi. If they can get close enough, the BBs can run in for a nice bombardment of their own.

[John B.]

Soerebaja lived another day. Scott's forces must have sustained a lot of damage from disruptions because he did not even bombard me. He did fly in waves of additional 4 engine bombers but that can't be helped at this point. I'm flying out parts of units to reduce my ultimate losses and to save on PP.

But, we're still of an offensive bent. This turn, the KB will move to the indicated spot. With it are three BBs that, next turn, will attempt to bombard the allied forces outside the city to further increase their disruption and, hopefully, kill a few squads. Scott may attempt to interfere with scads of PT boats but, again, that can't be helped. This is not an anti ship operation so the fighters are at high CAP and the planes at minimum range.

In central Java I've moved in an infantry division from Singapore and it wills shock attack the one unit. All I know is that it's an armored regiment but I have no idea of its strength. Scott has never attacked with it or bombarded with it. We'll see how an elite shock attacking IJA inf. division does. If it does well I'll push on towards the coast to, at least, attempt to draw pressure away from Soerebaja.

[John B.]

Meanwhile, in Burma, Scott is scooping up all of the clear terrain hexes which he is welcome to. They're not worth much and I can't defend them. His spearhead seems to be a regiment broken off from an Indian infantry division. If he heads to Tuang Gui there may be a bit of a surprise waiting for him as I have an armored division heading north. If I time it right, he'll run into it before his airpower can neutralize the division.

[John B.]

Not too much going on this turn. Scott started bombing in China but nothing that seemed to have much purpose (which makes me curious). More bombs over Soerebaja and more SSTs delivering supplies there. I have the KB set up north of Java and this turn I'm sending in two BB TFs one of which includes the Musashi. Sometimes shore bombardments are amazing and sometimes they leave a lot to be desired. We'll see what, if anything, this one produces.

The counter attack went in near Batavia and it was fine. I killed some devices/squads and now I'll follow up. My main hope is to divert attention from Soerebaja and lengthen the battle for Java.

[John B.]

A few more non-eventful turns have passed (save some negative air attrition to Scott's fighter sweeps over Batavia and Manila) but Soerabaja just fell. That will be a VP hit for the lost troops, but, worse, it gives him a major port near Palembang so expect lots of action to keep some form of fuel flowing to the HI. At least I have singpore and the oilfields to keep the IJN in the fight.

I'm launching a shock attack on Tjiltitap (sp?) this turn. He has a brigade and a regment there but it did just take bombardment from three BBs and the KB will put a ground strike in so there is a chance of success. Either way, the division will then head back to Bataiva to hold up there.

Sadly, the KB tried to rush south to catch the American CVEs off guard but one DD had a collision (which resulted in 97 engine damage) so every ship got held up. Such are the fortunes of war.

[John B.]

In Burma Scott has conquered the open areas so the fight should get harder from here for him. Or, at least I hope it does! At Tuyan Gyi I have an armored division set to shock attack his infantry regiment. I'll have to endure heavy aerial bombardment this turn but I think I have a better prospect of success than my attack in Java. We shall see.

[John B.]

Sadly neither attack went anywhere. It was the air waterfall in Burma that disrupted my division and drained away its supply. I'm pulling back a hex and I'll see if it can hold out. Armor seems to do worse under air attack than infantry. In Java it was the same story. Time to hunker down in Batavia and keep trying to get fuel/oil out of Palembang.

But, in one piece of good news, on RO boat put a fish into the Lexington and got an ammo locker explosion. The ship won't sink but that should knock it back a bit. The RO boat paid the price but that's a win for the IJN these days.

[John B.]

Well, Scott and I have now made it to March 1st. He's taken the easy parts of Burma. I managed to extricate my armored division from Tuang Gye and it regained all of its supply points. I think Scott may be having supply problems of his own since he has not attacked my airforce support unit that stays in that hex. Scott is also advancing towards Lashio but I don't think he's at a point to make a big push into China over the mountains. Next to Prome we have a stand off as I have three divisions and he has two. Scott has also put a US unit South of Rangoon. I'm not sure what it's supports to be doing.

[John B.]

In Java I continue to mourn the loss of Sorebaja. It's the first major port Scott has taken near my oil fields and it gives him far more interdiction capability as well as a source of fuel for his fleet since he never bombed the oil wells or the refineries. Batavia is building up and my division is heading back that way. We've had some air battles and sometimes I shoot down more of his corsairs and sometimes he shoots down more of my planes. He has been sending surface ships near Vietnam and I'm trying to interdict him.

Fuel is still getting through and every ship load of it is a victory.

[John B.]

One bright spot. There was a heavy strategic raid over Chungking. And, from the looks of things, Scott lost around 25-30 heavy bombers. Lots of VP and everyone of these that dies is one less that will be bombing the HI for VP when he gets closer.

[John B.]

The next turn was equally as nice in the air. I had CAP over my infantry division on Java (which is trying to get back to Batavia) and Scott paid a heavy price for his bombing. On the downside, he snuck into Palembang and caught 4 big tankers (28 VP each) in the dock. Sigh. About and equal VP exchange for the turn but that works in my favor! And, at some point my tankers will be worthless anyway once Palembang gets shut off but he needs his planes and pilots up until the end. At least, that's how I'm rationalizing it to myself.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: John B.
The next turn was equally as nice in the air. I had CAP over my infantry division on Java (which is trying to get back to Batavia) and Scott paid a heavy price for his bombing. On the downside, he snuck into Palembang and caught 4 big tankers (28 VP each) in the dock.

Now that he has large airfields in the vicinity of your many active ports you have to pay more attention to where you can leave your ships disbanded.

Again a nice sub action against CV by the way! How many this makes it, I've lost count?

[John B.]

Get Assista,

I know about disbanding the ships. Unfortunately, both Singapore and Manila are in range of the heavies and a number of ships are disbanded there and being repaired.

As for CVs, I know the subs took out one CV on their own and helped take out to Brit CVs and they've sent a number of CVs and CVEs to the dry dock. But, in all the confusion I kind of lost track myself.