The Accidental War Obvert vs Lowpe

[Lowpe]

Nov 25, 1942

We hold and inflict some nice damage, but the base is almost surrounded. Allies have so many units infiltrating everywhere.

[Lowpe]

Nov 28, 1942

Japan continues to fall apart in China & barely holding on in Manchuko.

Allies surge entire fleet against the KB, which had been hanging around the sub infested waters near Brunei.

The KB decides to withdraw, anticipating another multiple small task force surge but the Akagi takes a torpedo, but is otherwise outside of the Allied fleets.

[Lowpe]

Send two large SAGs against PT boats along the Chinese coast...and do pretty poorly.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kwangchowan at 73,60, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma
CL Tama
CL Kiso
DD Akizuki
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Hibiki
DD Uzuki
DD Sawakaze
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Shiokaze

Allied Ships
PT-67
PT-68
PT-74
PT-75
PT-76
PT-78

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms with 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 78% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
PT-75 engages CL Kiso at 1,000 yards
CL Kiso engages PT-74 at 1,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages PT-75 at 1,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages PT-75 at 1,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages PT-75 at 1,000 yards
DD Yudachi engages PT-75 at 1,000 yards
DD Harusame engages PT-75 at 1,000 yards
DD Kagero engages PT-74 at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages PT-78 at 2,000 yards
DD Yudachi engages PT-75 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CL Kiso engages PT-78 at 4,000 yards
CL Tama engages PT-78 at 4,000 yards
CL Kuma engages PT-78 at 4,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages PT-75 at 4,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages PT-74 at 4,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages PT-75 at 4,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages PT-78 at 4,000 yards
DD Kagero engages PT-75 at 4,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages PT-74 at 4,000 yards
Parish, M.H. orders Allied TF to disengage
Task forces break off...


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Kwangchowan at 73,60, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
DD Yugure
DD Ariake
DD Ikazuchi
DD Shirakumo, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yuzuki
DD Yugao

Allied Ships
PT-120
PT-121
PT-124
PT-125

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms with 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 78% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 2,000 yards
DD Yugao fires at PT-124 at 2,000 yards
DD Yugao engages PT-125 at 2,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages PT-125 at 2,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages PT-125 at 2,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages PT-125 at 2,000 yards
DD Ariake engages PT-124 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages PT-125 at 6,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages PT-124 at 6,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages PT-125 at 6,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages PT-124 at 6,000 yards
DD Ariake engages PT-125 at 6,000 yards
Task forces break off...


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Kwangchowan at 73,60, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
DD Yugure
DD Ariake
DD Ikazuchi
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
PT-31
PT-33
PT-36
PT-37, Shell hits 1
PT-44

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms with 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 78% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages PT-37 at 2,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages PT-37 at 2,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages PT-33 at 2,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages PT-31 at 2,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages PT-44 at 2,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages PT-44 at 2,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages PT-33 at 2,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages PT-31 at 2,000 yards
Berg N. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 3,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages PT-37 at 3,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages PT-33 at 3,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages PT-31 at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages PT-44 at 6,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages PT-37 at 6,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages PT-36 at 6,000 yards
Berg N. orders Allied TF to disengage
Task forces break off...


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Day Time Surface Combat, near Kwangchowan at 73,61, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma
CL Tama
CL Kiso, Shell hits 2
DD Akizuki
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Hibiki
DD Uzuki
DD Sawakaze
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 2
DD Shiokaze

Allied Ships
PT-67
PT-68
PT-74, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-75, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-76, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-78, Shell hits 2, and is sunk

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 4,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
Parish, M.H. gains tactical advantage
CL Kiso engages PT-78 at 1,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages PT-68 at 1,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages PT-78 at 1,000 yards
PT-78 sunk by DD Uzuki at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
CL Tama engages PT-76 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
PT-68 engages DD Shiokaze at 5,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages PT-76 at 5,000 yards
DD Yudachi engages PT-76 at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CL Kiso engages PT-74 at 6,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages PT-68 at 6,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages PT-68 at 6,000 yards
DD Hibiki engages PT-76 at 6,000 yards
Parish, M.H. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages PT-74 at 7,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages PT-67 at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages PT-76 at 12,000 yards
CL Kiso engages PT-67 at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
PT-76 sunk by CL Kuma at 11,000 yards
CL Kiso engages PT-67 at 11,000 yards
CL Kiso engages PT-68 at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages PT-67 at 10,000 yards
DD Kagero engages PT-67 at 10,000 yards
DD Akizuki engages PT-68 at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CL Kiso engages PT-75 at 9,000 yards
DD Hibiki engages PT-75 at 9,000 yards
DD Yudachi engages PT-74 at 9,000 yards
Parish, M.H. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 10,000 yards
PT-75 sunk by CL Kiso at 10,000 yards
CL Kiso engages PT-68 at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
PT-74 sunk by CL Kiso at 12,000 yards
CL Kiso engages PT-67 at 12,000 yards
DD Harusame engages PT-68 at 12,000 yards
Parish, M.H. orders Allied TF to disengage
Task forces break off...

[RangerJoe]

With all of this Soviet attention in this theater, the Germans must be running rampant on their Eastern From. Oh, that is right, they were!

[Lowpe]

Nov 30, 1942

Hankow falls today, we retreat across a river into no mans land...more units out of the war forever.

Not really sure what happened here.[&:] I guess bombers caught loaded trains or or a depot somewhere.

[RangerJoe]

I noticed when the airfield is overrun, that the planes show up as ops losses and not ground losses.

[Bif1961]

That is a painful lose with all those destroyed planes and squadrons.

[Lowpe]

End of Nov, 1942

Elements of the 3rd Tank Division show up in Peiping.[:)]

Big battle with Soviets...

[Lowpe]

Dec 2, 1942

After a brief time away for an unexpected funeral, and then a planned wedding that son #1 marry (full military wedding, sword arch) we are back to this very depressing war.

China is cut off by rail from Manchuko, the Soviets are pivoting their main assault again.

I stupidly threw away 3 fighter squadrons and 1 fb squadron just recently, robbing me of good pilots and Japan's best plane models. Doesn't look good.

Miri invaded today, subs show up off Sakhalin in heavy concentrations. Really, nothing positive to report.

[Lowpe]

Dec 4th, 1942

Allies move on Miri after having taken Brunei.

[Lowpe]

Dec 13, 1942

Trying to slow the Allied conquest of China...not really doing well.[:(]

[Lowpe]

Assault collapses!

I guess this was a probing attack by one armored unit supported by artillery?

[Lowpe]

Dec 17, 1942

Night bombing has started on Hokkaido...

2 AA regiments, severe storms, and some Petes manage to disrupt the attack so that 0 points are scored, but a small fire lingers from at least one manpower hit.

The DB-3T has a range of 11/13 making them quite dangerous.

Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete x 4

Allied aircraft
DB-3M x 15

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 1
Fires 135

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x DB-3M bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 100 kg GP Bomb
9 x DB-3M bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 100 kg GP Bomb
3 x DB-3M bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 100 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose-2 /C with F1M2 Pete (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete x 4

Allied aircraft
DB-3T x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
DB-3T: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x DB-3T bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose-2 /C with F1M2 Pete (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete x 4

Allied aircraft
DB-3T x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x DB-3T bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose-2 /C with F1M2 Pete (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Severe storms

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

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete x 4

Allied aircraft
DB-3T x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
DB-3T: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x DB-3T bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose-2 /C with F1M2 Pete (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes

[Lowpe]

A rare success west of Kalgan, the Soviet artillery is incredibly powerful. I broke the IJA divisions down here to dig in faster, and to provide more targets for the Soviet bombardments. Worked so far.

[Lowpe]

Chinese troops fighting alongside the majority of the Allied air force and Allied troops are unstoppable.

[Lowpe]

Luzon falling, not that I ever had it.

[Lowpe]

Dec 18, 1942

Kuma evacuating troops from Luzon takes two weak Dutch torpedoes and is still afloat, but speed knocked down to four knots.

[Lowpe]

Canton holds on, but is doomed.

Ground combat at Canton (77,59)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 122122 troops, 790 guns, 97 vehicles, Assault Value = 3800

Defending force 53177 troops, 435 guns, 148 vehicles, Assault Value = 1355

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 3530

Japanese adjusted defense: 4085

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1774 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 110 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 52 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 35 disabled
Guns lost 31 (1 destroyed, 30 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
8593 casualties reported
Squads: 38 destroyed, 997 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 83 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 27 disabled
Guns lost 45 (15 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Vehicles lost 62 (21 destroyed, 41 disabled)

Assaulting units:
14th Chinese Corps
60th Chinese Corps
7th Cav Recce Regiment
65th Chinese Corps
Mobiele Battalion
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
31st Chinese Corps
25th Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Corps
6th Chinese Corps
16th Group Army
20th Artillery Regiment
7th Artillery Regiment
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
18th Artillery Regiment
1st Artillery Regiment
57th AT Gun Regiment
22nd Artillery Regiment
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
56th AT Gun Regiment

Defending units:
66th Infantry Regiment
51st Engineer Regiment
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
20th RGC Division
22nd/B Division
102nd Infantry Regiment
104th/B Division
104th/C Division
104th/A Division
1st Ind.Inf.Group
2nd Raiding Regiment
Sasebo 6th SNLF
22nd/C Division
23rd Army
21st Mortar Battalion
32nd JNAF AF Unit
47th JAAF AF Bn
Canton Special Base Force
4th Air Div /1
8th Field Const Bn /2

[Lowpe]

Hangchow is also doomed despite naval bombardments aiding the defense. Restricted Chinese units means no naval transports to aid the defenders...

Ground combat at Hangchow (90,55)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 80476 troops, 623 guns, 500 vehicles, Assault Value = 2292

Defending force 27424 troops, 202 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 755

Allied adjusted assault: 1315

Japanese adjusted defense: 987

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2374 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 157 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 42 (5 destroyed, 37 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2464 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 358 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Vehicles lost 24 (1 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Assaulting units:
78th Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
1st KNIL Regiment
3rd Marine Division
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
37th Chinese Corps
1st USMC Tank Battalion
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
79th Chinese Corps
209th Field Artillery Battalion
203rd Coast AA Regiment
9th Air Advn Base Force
6th Heavy AA Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment
2/3rd Light AA Regiment
30th Port Maint Engineer Battalion
23rd Group Army
Albany RAN Stn Base Force
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment
7th Chinese Base Force
21/22 Field Arty Regiment
2nd Base Maint Engineer Battalion
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
7th USN Special Construction Battalion

Defending units:
34th Division
Kyuko Naval Guard Unit
2nd Ind.Mixed Regiment
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th Garrison Unit
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Bn /1

[Lowpe]

More Russian night air attacks...

Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete x 4

Allied aircraft
DB-3T x 10

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x DB-3T bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose-2 /C with F1M2 Pete (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Toyohara , at 124,46

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 23 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
TB-3 x 6

Allied aircraft losses
TB-3: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x TB-3 bombing from 5000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete x 4

Allied aircraft
DB-3M x 4

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x DB-3M bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 100 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose-2 /C with F1M2 Pete (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 60 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete x 4

Allied aircraft
DB-3M x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x DB-3M bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 100 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose-2 /C with F1M2 Pete (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete x 4

Allied aircraft
DB-3T x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
DB-3T: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x DB-3T bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose-2 /C with F1M2 Pete (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 60 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete x 4

Allied aircraft
DB-3M x 5

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x DB-3M bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 100 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose-2 /C with F1M2 Pete (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Sapporo , at 120,51

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete x 4

Allied aircraft
DB-3T x 5

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x DB-3T bombing from 7000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose-2 /C with F1M2 Pete (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 53 minutes