Wait... What! (NO Chris)

[Uncivil Engineer]

Feb 20

IJA troops landed at Mataram and Kendari. Pegu was captured -

Ground combat at Pegu (55,53)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13224 troops, 102 guns, 167 vehicles, Assault Value = 653

Defending force 6014 troops, 43 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 162

Japanese adjusted assault: 232

Allied adjusted defense: 34

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Pegu !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
136 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2867 casualties reported
Squads: 150 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 71 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 31 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 14 (12 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 32 (31 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 5

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards/A Division
33rd/C Division
Imperial Guards/C Division
10th Tank Regiment
Imperial Guards/B Div /2

Defending units:
2nd Burma Brigade
4th Burma Rifles Battalion
48th Gurkha Brigade
Burma Command
108th RAF Base Force

A deliberate attack at Bataan reduced forts to 0! I'm going to risk a shock attack tomorrow, hoping to get lucky.

In China, 2 Chinese straggler units moved onto the Kukong-Hengyang highway from the east, but as discussed in the previous post, I'm going to leave that hex to give control of the hexsides to the Chinese, then move back in and force their retreat into the woods to the west. Within a few days there should be more than 2000 IJA AV pushing toward Chihkiang and Kweilin.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Feb 21

The shock attack at Bataan did nothing; 1:2 and forts remain at 0 with some airfield damage. Parts of 1 Div are unloading at Iba, so it will be bombardment attacks until one of the infantry regiments arrive. The three divisions at Bataan (4, 16, and 48) are highly fatigued and disrupted, so need a rest.

Batavia was attacked at 1:1 and forts were reduced from 3 to 2. The only retreat from Batavia is to adjacent Buitenzorg, which is a mountain hex. 2 Tank Rgt and 2 Recon Rgt will enter Buitenzorg in 2 days, cutting off the possibility of retreat. Merak flipped some weeks ago and has been occupied by a battalion of 2 Div.

Kendari, Mataram, and Green Is. were captured; the defenders at Kendari and Mataram surrendered; Green Is was empty.

In China, Shaoyang was easily captured, as 5 of the 6 defenders moved out; the 55 Chinese Corps surrendered.


The image above shows the one attack for Feb 22 (star); 216 AFV (not much infantry) against a Chinese corps. If unsuccessful, reinforcements are inbound from the east. I'd prefer this corps retreat NW before 3 and 36 Divs advance to block it. The 104 Div stack 2 hexes south will move NE this turn giving that rough terrain hex to the Chinese (temporarily). 104 Div will immediately move back and attack to force retreat west into the woods. Kweilin is the next major objective in this sector.

Imperial Guard Div will enter Rangoon tomorrow from Pegu, as reinforcements continue to arrive at Pegu by sea and by road from Moulmein. 1 Raiding Rgt will fly from Moulmein and drop on Bassein tomorrow also.

[RangerJoe]

You may be overstacked at Bataan. Bring in artillery and air units to bomb. Try to have as many different bombing attacks as is possible to use up supplies as each attack increases the supply usage by 10%. Don't forget to bomb the airfield and port to help prevent fort construction. Bomb at night as well, even if it is just Idas.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

You may be overstacked at Bataan. Bring in artillery and air units to bomb. Try to have as many different bombing attacks as is possible to use up supplies as each attack increases the supply usage by 10%. Don't forget to bomb the airfield and port to help prevent fort construction. Bomb at night as well, even if it is just Idas.

There are no stacking limits at Bataan in Scenario 1. Betties, Nells, Sallies, and a few land-based Vals have been bombing airfield and troops forever (seems like forever, anyway). The last attack, even though unsuccessful, showed that the Allied defenders are likely in worse shape than 14 Army. IRL they held out til May; that's not going to happen here.

[RangerJoe]

My mistake, I play with stacking limits. No more than two females with me on a full sized bed . . .

[Uncivil Engineer]

Feb 22 Batavia captured!

Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28814 troops, 336 guns, 376 vehicles, Assault Value = 989

Defending force 9779 troops, 138 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 157

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 567

Allied adjusted defense: 173

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Batavia !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
232 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3825 casualties reported
Squads: 91 destroyed, 78 disabled
Non Combat: 307 destroyed, 56 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 113 (111 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 7
Units destroyed 2 [AA Bn and one of the base forces]

Defeated Allied Units Retreating southwest to Buitenzorg!

Assaulting units:
18th Division
38th Division
8th Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
20th AA Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
1st KNIL Regiment
Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion
4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion
ML-KNIL
1st KNIL AA Battalion
KNIL Army Command
Batavia Base Force
Merak Base Force
Bandoeng Base Force

The Imperial Guard Div bombarded at Rangoon, as the defenders head out. Meanwhile, overhead, 1 Raid Rgt dropped on, and captured, Bassein.

At Nagoya, Rufe research reached 30(0), the second Rufe facility to be fully researched. At Soerabaja, the RSY reached 10(0), and will likely stay at that level.

In China, the rough terrain hex in the middle of the contested area between Kukong and Hengyang was evacuated by IJA troops, temporarily, giving control of the hex and all hexsides to the Chinese. 104 Div(+) will return in 2 days to reclaim and evict the current defenders. The armor attack west of Hengyang was 1:15, but the Chinese suffered disablements 6 times higher than the IJA. However, 13 Div arrived to renew the effort. The defending 79 Chinese Corps will be surrounded tomorrow, as 3 and 36 Divs move west to block retreat.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Feb 23

IJA troops land at unoccupied Buka by sea, and unoccupied Bima by airdrop.

Ha-44 engine research advanced from May 43 to Apr 43.

The attack in China (see the starred hex on the map on post #201) succeeded in ejecting the sole Chinese corps, except it retreated SW across the river, as all other retreat routes were blocked. So, that's another unit out of the fight for awhile.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Feb 24 & 25

A brigade of 21 Div landed at Choiseul Bay on Feb 24 and captured the vacant base on Feb 25. A naval guard unit captured vacant Ontong Java on Feb 24.

Mines were encountered at Rangoon and Tulagi on Feb 24; minesweeping began at Rangoon and Batavia on Feb 24 and concluded on Feb 25.

Rangoon was captured on Feb 25 by a reinforced Imperial Guard Div. This capture increased the victory point ratio to over 2:1 (13860 - 6087). The base facilities are greatly damaged, with the refinery over 50% damaged. No repairs will be initiated until Magwe is captured; if Magwe is secured with minimal damage to the oil fields, then some refinery repair at Rangoon will be undertaken. In any event, a significant amount of oil will likely need to be shipped out.

On Java, Buitenzorg was captured and the defenders surrendered. All bases on Java are now in Japanese control. There is one stack of Allied units near Tjilatjap, but without supply it is not a significant problem.

Manila's port has been ungraded to level 7, and the Allied mines appear to be gone, although Bataan is still mined.

Ha-45 engines advanced another month from Jul 43 to Jun 43. These advance every 17 days, so I expect them to begin producing in August 42.

Availability
May 43 ~ Mar 15, 42
Apr 43 ~ Apr 2, 42
Mar 43 ~ Apr 19, 42
Feb 43 ~ May 6, 42
Jan 43 ~ May 23, 42
Dec 42 ~ Jun 10, 42
Nov 42 ~ Jun 27, 42
Oct 42 ~ Jul 14, 42
Sep 42 ~ Jul 31, 42
Aug 42 ~ Aug 17, 42
more or less

In China, the penetration west of Changsha is being expanded. Several Chinese units are essentially trapped in the woods, and several more may end up being trapped in Changteh if they don't evacuate soon.



Japanese units east and south of Sian are starting to advance again to fix Chinese units there and prevent them from retreating to Chungking. Currently, there are only 9 units at Chungking. Few Chinese units have been destroyed, and those that have do not appear to have respawned yet.

[RangerJoe]

I personally would not repair Rangoon's refinery. You probably have a surplus of refining capacity anyway plus Magwe's oil is subject to intense bombing.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I personally would not repair Rangoon's refinery. You probably have a surplus of refining capacity anyway plus Magwe's oil is subject to intense bombing.

I somewhat agreed. Here's what I'm thinking (as I type this).

Rangoon's refinery is at 90(110). If I spend 10,000 supply to repair it to 100(100), what do I get? An extra 90 fuel and 10 supply per day, as long as the 100 oil is available. The fuel will likely be used locally, the supply surely will. The 100 oil won't have to be shipped out to another refinery.

If Rangoon can be held 2 years (til Mar 44 and the 100 oil is available daily the entire time), I've produced an extra 65,700 fuel, 7300 supply, and avoided transport of 73,000 oil (6+ tanker loads). That's less than 1 tanker PER QUARTER (big deal). The question, as Ranger Joe pointed out, is, will the oil be available from Magwe - as it certainly WON'T be shipped IN.

Calcutta - Magwe is only 10 hexes, so the Allies can surely bomb the crap out of Magwe whenever they want. With enough AA and CAP in place to defend it, will they make the effort? I surely would. The Allies would just as surely bomb the crap out of Rangoon's refinery, so I guess I agree with Ranger Joe - it's a waste of 10k supply to make any repairs.

[RangerJoe]

Not only that, but surplus fuel can be destroyed when ports are bombed and/or bombarded. Oil does not. If your supply ships coming in have liquid capacity, they can haul out the oil along with any excess resources if they don't otherwise make it to Bangkok. If you haul fuel in tankers to Rangoon, they can haul the oil out.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Feb 26

Vacant Treasury Island was captured.

CA Aoba took a torpedo while at Lae escorting an Amphib TF picking up 144 Rgt. With 51 flotation damage it will be escorted back to Truk, and probably all the way to Yokohama. The offending sub took 3 hits.

The first B-17 attack on Rabaul occurred, with little damage (and 2 B-17s destroyed).

Over the last few days, the airbase damage at Bataan has been steadily increasing, indicating to me that Allied supply was insufficient for repair. A deliberate attack was ordered, but unsuccessful (close, but nonetheless, unsuccessful) -

Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 44949 troops, 528 guns, 558 vehicles, Assault Value = 1097

Defending force 23897 troops, 401 guns, 432 vehicles, Assault Value = 263

Japanese adjusted assault: 639

Allied adjusted defense: 371

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
1115 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 59 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 28 (11 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1384 casualties reported
Squads: 150 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 127 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 49 (42 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 28 (1 destroyed, 27 disabled)

Assaulting units:
5th Tank Regiment
48th Division
4th Division
16th Division
1st Recon Regiment
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
65th Brigade
4th Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
14th Army
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
48th Field AA Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
30th Fld AA Gun Co
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment

Defending units:
31st Infantry Regiment
21st PA Infantry Division
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
4th PA Constabulary Regiment
1st/45th PS Inf Battalion
4th Marine Regiment
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
14th PS Engineer Regiment
USAFFE
Bataan USN Base Force
3rd/45th PS Inf Battalion
Manila Bay Defenses
I Philippine Corps
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
Asiatic Fleet
1st USMC AA Battalion
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment
Manila USAAF Base Force
Far East USAAF
2nd/45th PS Inf Battalion
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
301st Construction Battalion
Provisional GMC Grp
201st PA Construction Battalion
1st PI Base Force
202nd PA Construction Battalion
803rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
Subic Bay Defenses
Cavite USN Base Force /3

Allied supply was low and the Allies' KIAs were much higher than the IJA. More 1 Div elements arrive within a day or 2, so we'll bombard until they arrive, then shock attack.

The third Rufe research facility reached 30(0), and it looks like Rufes will arrive a little before April 1. At 17% researched now, 100% should be achieved in 27.6 days, or March 27th. It's not much, but 4 days early is better than 4 days late!

In China, 116 Div entered Kweilin along with tanks and heavy artillery. The 10 Chinese units show movement west. Other IJA columns are approaching Chihkiang and Changteh, and are advancing toward Sian on 2 axes.

[RangerJoe]

You can now put the Rufe factories researching the A6M5 version if that is what the Rufe upgrades to. [:D]

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

You can now put the Rufe factories researching the A6M5 version if that is what the Rufe upgrades to. [:D]

Good idea. It never dawned on me that I could change the Rufes to A6M5 before ALL research was complete. Three A6M5 factories will advance research 93% during March, plus 2 days in February, for 99% by April 1, for a one month advance. Much better than getting Rufes 4 days early!!! [:)]

[RangerJoe]

If you haven't done so, crank up production for the Ha-35 engine since once you get more than 500 of them, you will get two research points instead of one research point at the cost of an engine. It might sound expensive and in one way it is, but the savings in aircraft survivability plus being able to shoot up more enemy aircraft is worth it, in my opinion.

Also, stockpiles of engines that you will need lots of in the future will not hurt. But don't expand the engine research factories about 30 since they don't appear to add to research until they are completely repaired AND it appears that no more research points are generated above 30 for them. Expand them when they do start producing.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Feb 27

As discussed above, 3 Rufe research factories convert to A6M5 research. I anticipate the first research advance to occur around April 1.

CL Natori was sunk by 2 sub torpedoes at Treasury Is.

IJA troops land at Panggoe and Ramree Is., both vacant.

In China, Changteh will be entered tomorrow; Chihkiang via river crossing in 4 days (I changed the movement of the assault to include 2 more divisions, thus the slight delay). Kweilin will get a tank heavy deliberate attack tomorrow, as a second division reinforces. In the north, bombardment attacks south and east of Sian, perhaps followed by deliberate attacks, as a distraction.

Imperial Guard Div, just north of Rangoon, continues to attack, while two tank regiments attack again at Toungoo. I need to figure out a way to envelop these British/Burmese/Indian troops to annihilate them. I have some paratroopers available, but have yet to find a good place (base) to drop them.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Feb 28

Vacant Panggoe and Ramree Is. were captured.

144 Rgt unloads at vacant Buna (moved from Lae and will be replaced by an SNLF).

The attack at Kweilin was marginally successful; it didn't reduce forts, but the Chinese sustained a lot more casualties, and 13 Div arrived -

Ground combat at Kweilin (76,54)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15586 troops, 131 guns, 397 vehicles, Assault Value = 940

Defending force 27743 troops, 126 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 873

Japanese adjusted assault: 532

Allied adjusted defense: 1049

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
348 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1631 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 98 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 78 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 21 (2 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Tank Regiment
13th Division
9th Tank Regiment
116th Division
8th Armored Car Co
23rd Tank Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Division
60th Chinese Corps
38th New Chinese Division
1st Group Army
9th War Area
2nd Chinese Base Force
27th Group Army
7th War Area
18th Chinese Base Force

Up in Burma, the tank attack at Toungoo reduced forts to zero, and the attack north of Rangoon forced 1 defender to retreat. The other should retreat tomorrow.

A 4th Rufe research factory (at Tokyo) switched to A6M5, so the research advance will now be in 25 days.

A sub was lost to 2 Brit destroyers near Ceylon.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Here's the current situation in Burma -

[Uncivil Engineer]

Mar 1 Bataan falls!

Since airfield damage has been steadily increasing, an indication that supply is low or out, a shock attack was ordered at Bataan -

Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 50042 troops, 557 guns, 558 vehicles, Assault Value = 1281

Defending force 22069 troops, 355 guns, 430 vehicles, Assault Value = 212

Japanese adjusted assault: 953

Allied adjusted defense: 261

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Bataan !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
2519 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 114 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Guns lost 21 (4 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
23782 casualties reported
Squads: 335 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2913 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 81 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 365 (365 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 490 (490 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 32

Assaulting units:
1st Infantry Regiment
1st Engineer Regiment
16th Division
4th Division
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
1st Recon Regiment
65th Brigade
48th Division
5th Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
30th Fld AA Gun Co
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
48th Field AA Battalion
14th Army
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment

Defending units:
4th Marine Regiment
4th PA Constabulary Regiment
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment
31st Infantry Regiment
202nd PA Construction Battalion
21st PA Infantry Division
Asiatic Fleet
14th PS Engineer Regiment
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
803rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
Manila USAAF Base Force
1st USMC AA Battalion
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
I Philippine Corps
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
1st/45th PS Inf Battalion
301st Construction Battalion
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
Provisional GMC Grp
Subic Bay Defenses
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment
3rd/45th PS Inf Battalion
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
Bataan USN Base Force
Manila Bay Defenses
1st PI Base Force
USAFFE
Far East USAAF
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
2nd/45th PS Inf Battalion
201st PA Construction Battalion
Cavite USN Base Force /3

Unoccupied Shortlands and Buna were captured. Troops landed at Vella Lavella (also unoccupied).

Zeroes had a good day against B-17s over Rabaul, shooting down 2 of 5, while flak got another.

Ha-35 engines are being expanded from 310 to 360. Current inventory is about 178 and production of some aircraft using these engines is temporarily suspended (C5M2 Babs [13], B5N2 Kate [40], Ki-48-Ib Lily [24], and A6M2 Zero [60]). The number in [brackets] is the current inventory.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Mar 2

Undefended Vella Lavella was captured. In Burma, our tanks finally overcame the ragtag collection of defenders at Toungoo and captured the base. The 5 defenders split 2-3; 2 retreating NW toward Magwe and 3 retreating NE toward Meiktila.

The 3+ divisions on Luzon need some rest and refit before undertaking a new mission. 1 Rgt (of 1 Div) took the brunt of the casualties capturing Bataan. Another regiment and the artillery are loading at Shanghai for Iba. The division will form there before proceeding. 14 Army HQ and divisions (16 Div & 48 Div) will join 21 Div in SOPAC, with the mission to capture Milne Bay, Tulagi, Tassafaronga, and Lunga. 4 Div will join 5 Fleet HQ and nibble at the Aleutian Islands. None of the 5 Fleet ground reinforcements have yet to arrive.

In Burma, 15 and 25 Armies consist of 5 Div, 18 Div, 33 Div, 55 Div (-), Imp Gd Div, and 56 Div (still on Java). 2 Div is tasked with the defense of Sumatra and Java. 38 Div is on transports bound for Ambon, then the rest of the southern DEI.

In China, the Chinese defense has fallen back to the point where their defensive AV plus terrain bonus makes further advance difficult (ie. high in Japanese casualties). A cross river shock attack at Chihkiang will occur tomorrow (~1300 AV against 19 unknown Chinese units, at least half of them beat up from previous combat). At Kweilin, Changteh, and south and east of Sian, the opposing forces have approximately equal strength.