Focus Pacific: down with the Wulf ( no durnedwolf please)

[BillBrown]

Dec 18, 1941. Same as above.

[BillBrown]

Dec 19, 1941. More of the same. There is at least 1 sub off the San Diego/Los Angles coast. It sunk a small empty tanker off LA today.

I have decided to go ahead and start evacuating Burma. What I have there is ill prepared to do battle.

[BillBrown]

Dec 20, 1941. Nothing to report.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: BillBrown
There has been some action in China.

I see what you did there [:D]
Took me some time to find the lively place. Great development for the Chinese, those guys would surely appreciate some quite time they can spend on running for the hills and buiding forts

[BillBrown]

Dec 21, 1941. Not much happened. I lost a Dutch sub that started heavily damaged and had to try to exit on the surface and was caught.
I put a torpedo into a CL, probably will not sink, but you never know.
Sub attack near Miri at 63,85

Japanese Ships
CL Kumotori, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Soragumo
PB Seki Maru #3

Allied Ships
SS O20

SS O20 launches 4 torpedoes at CL Kumotori
DD Soragumo fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Seki Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Seki Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Seki Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Seki Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Seki Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Seki Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
----------------------------------------------
I did put up the AVG in China and they did good.
I also tried using the Dutch Fighters against the Zeros
at Miri, not a pretty outcome. Maybe later we will try again
after more training.

[BillBrown]

Since there is not a lot of action I though I might show a few items in this mod.

This is a picture of the Chinese devices. Notice that I get 1050 squads per month and
note the large amount of heavy weapons available. I will be moving at least 10 - 12 of
the large Chinese Corps to India for refit and training. If the wulf presses hard in
China, I will move even more corps to India. I will not lose the game by him taking
China as long as I do not lose too many troops. Moving them to India keeps them from
providing him with VPs.

[BillBrown]

Dec 22, 1941. A little bit of action.

He landed at Wake, but he did not time it well, only landing troops in the last
unload phase. He kind of took it in the shorts.

Ground combat at Wake Island (136,98)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1629 troops, 19 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 60

Defending force 3796 troops, 42 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 32

Japanese adjusted assault: 8

Allied adjusted defense: 80

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 10 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
413 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Assaulting units:
Maizuru 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
Wake USN CPNAB
1st Marine Defense Battalion



-------------------------------
SS Tambor sank a PB at Wake.
--------------------------
He took Kavieng, which was undefended.
--------------------------------------
I do not know why, but for several turns he has been bombing
the port at Jesselton. He has destroyed over 5000 fuel he could
have had easily. There is only a small base force there.
-------------------------------------------------------
Got a number of turn he has been hanging out around Sonong. I do not know
why, probably trying to get me to investigate, so I will. I am sending in
a fast BC TF to see if they can stir up something.

[BBfanboy]

Sorong is probably heavily mined, being the turning point where ships might pass through at the end of NG.

[BillBrown]

It could be, but I am not going to land. I have found that mines are not that effective against SCTFs or even BBTFs.
But if I run into a mine or 5, such is luck.

[BillBrown]

Dec 23, 1941

Two engagements at Sorong, first was fine, the second was not as good as I would have liked.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Sorong at 82,107, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Yugure, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Ariake, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BC King William, Shell hits 1
BC King Frederick, Shell hits 1
DD Slamat, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Tjerimai
DD Kawi
DD Ardjoeno

Reduced sighting due to 25% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 25% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
Doorman, Karel WFM crosses the 'T'
BC King Frederick engages DD Yugure at 6,000 yards
DD Slamat engages DD Shiratsuyu at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Ariake engages BC King Frederick at 2,000 yards
DD Yugure engages DD Tjerimai at 2,000 yards
DD Ardjoeno engages DD Ariake at 2,000 yards
DD Yugure engages DD Kawi at 2,000 yards
Yoshimura, Matake orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 5,000 yards
DD Ariake engages DD Ardjoeno at 5,000 yards
DD Tjerimai engages DD Yugure at 5,000 yards
DD Ardjoeno engages DD Shiratsuyu at 5,000 yards
DD Kawi engages DD Yugure at 5,000 yards
DD Tjerimai engages DD Yugure at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
DD Ariake engages BC King Frederick at 6,000 yards
BC King William engages DD Shiratsuyu at 6,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DD Ardjoeno at 6,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DD Slamat at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
DD Ariake engages BC King Frederick at 9,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DD Slamat at 9,000 yards
DD Slamat engages DD Ariake at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD Slamat engages DD Ariake at 10,000 yards
BC King William engages DD Ariake at 10,000 yards
DD Ariake engages DD Kawi at 10,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DD Tjerimai at 10,000 yards
Yoshimura, Matake orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Ariake sunk by BC King Frederick at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BC King Frederick engages DD Shiratsuyu at 12,000 yards
BC King William engages DD Shiratsuyu at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DD Slamat at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
DD Kawi engages DD Shiratsuyu at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
BC King Frederick engages DD Shiratsuyu at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...


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

Night Time Surface Combat, near Sorong at 82,107, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DMS W-7
DMS W-8
PB Ataka Maru, Shell hits 1
PB Kyo Maru #1
PB Takasago Maru
PB Edo Maru
PB Myoken Maru
PB Saiko Maru
PB Gamitsu Maru #1, Shell hits 1
PB Nichi Maru #1
PB Showa Maru #3
PB Showa Maru #5, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AO Hayamoto
TK Matsumoto Maru
xAK Myoko Maru
xAK Shinanogawa Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Shinryu Maru
xAK Kanko Maru
xAK Yasukawa Maru
xAK Hasuna Maru
xAK Meigen Maru
xAK Yamafuku Maru, Shell hits 1
xAKL Kakyu Maru
xAP Haruna Maru
CA Iwate, Shell hits 2
DD Hitonose
E Kurotori, Shell hits 1
E Haiirotori, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Shirosakana
AMC Hiyo Maru

Allied Ships
BC King William
BC King Frederick
DD Slamat, on fire
DD Tjerimai
DD Kawi
DD Ardjoeno

Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Reduced sighting due to 25% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 25% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 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
Doorman, Karel WFM crosses the 'T'
TK Matsumoto Maru collides with PB Ataka Maru at 82 , 107
BC King Frederick engages CA Iwate at 11,000 yards
DD Hitonose engages BC King Frederick at 11,000 yards
DD Ardjoeno engages DD Hitonose at 11,000 yards
DD Hitonose engages DD Tjerimai at 11,000 yards
BC King William engages PB Gamitsu Maru #1 at 11,000 yards
BC King Frederick engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Hitonose engages BC King Frederick at 11,000 yards
BC King William engages CA Iwate at 11,000 yards
DD Tjerimai engages E Haiirotori at 11,000 yards
DD Hitonose engages DD Tjerimai at 11,000 yards
DD Hitonose engages DD Slamat at 11,000 yards
BC King Frederick engages xAK Yamafuku Maru at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
BC King Frederick engages CA Iwate at 10,000 yards
DD Hitonose engages DD Slamat at 10,000 yards
BC King Frederick engages E Haiirotori at 10,000 yards
BC King William engages E Kurotori at 10,000 yards
PB Showa Maru #5 sunk by BC King William at 10,000 yards
BC King William engages PB Edo Maru at 10,000 yards
BC King William engages PB Ataka Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Iwate engages BC King Frederick at 7,000 yards
CA Iwate engages BC King William at 7,000 yards
DD Kawi engages DD Hitonose at 7,000 yards
CA Iwate engages DD Tjerimai at 7,000 yards
DD Slamat engages PB Ataka Maru at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CA Iwate engages BC King Frederick at 9,000 yards
CA Iwate engages BC King William at 9,000 yards
DD Hitonose engages DD Ardjoeno at 9,000 yards
BC King William engages E Haiirotori at 9,000 yards
BC King William engages E Kurotori at 9,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...
-------------------------------------------------
The 2 hits on CA Iwate were a 28cm and a 12cm hit. It is reported
to be sunk, but I doubt it. there were no aircraft listed as destroyed
on field, but I am not sure it carries float planes.
---------------------------------------------------------
This makes unhappy, but fortunately AP Hugh L. Scott should repair fine.
She does have a single fire, hopefully it gets put out this turn.
Submarine attack near San Diego at 226,79

Japanese Ships
SS I-26

Allied Ships
AP Hugh L. Scott, Torpedo hits 1

AP Hugh L. Scott is sighted by SS I-26
SS I-26 launches 2 torpedoes at AP Hugh L. Scott
----------------------------------------------------------------
He is really pushing to take Wake, this but no ground attack.

Night Naval bombardment of Wake Island at 136,98 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
BB Yashima
BC Ishitaka

Allied ground losses:
344 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 35
Port hits 13
Port fuel hits 4

F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Musashi
BB Musashi firing at Wake Island
BB Kirishima firing at Wake Island
BB Hiei firing at Wake Island
BB Yashima firing at Wake Island
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BC Ishitaka
BC Ishitaka firing at 1st Marine Defense Battalion
1st Marine Defense Battalion firing at BC Ishitaka
------------------------------------------------------------
He tried to take Kuching with an airborne attack, did not work.

Ground combat at Kuching (58,88)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 205 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 16

Defending force 2811 troops, 27 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 44

Japanese adjusted assault: 8

Allied adjusted defense: 29

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(-), preparation(-)
fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 1st SNLF /1

Defending units:
Sarawak Force
2/15 Punjab Battalion
106th RN Base Force
-----------------------------------------------------------------
It appears from this picture that he will be attacking into the Sian
area.

[BillBrown]

One really good thing about the surface combat last turn was that all of the ships involved gained from 15 to 25 experience.

[BBfanboy]

Congrats on the battles! Knocking off some of the IJ destroyers always makes my day. The fewer good DDs the more chances for Allied subs later on.
Odd there were no troop casualties in that big TF - has to be a transport TF with that CA embedded. Perhaps it was just empty.

[BillBrown]

Looks like I skipped a day, but Dec 24, 1941 was pretty quiet. There was a small incursion in Eastern China, I will be detailing that
more in further posts.

[BillBrown]

Dec 25, 1941. What a great Christmas day.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kuching at 58,88, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Hakaze, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Sinsei Maru, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AMC Saigon Maru, Shell hits 32, and is sunk
xAK India Maru, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Victoria Maru, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
xAP Argentina Maru, Shell hits 18, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Baikal Maru, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Ibi, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Danae, Shell hits 1
CL Dragon
CL Durban, Shell hits 3
CL Mauritius, Shell hits 1
DD Stronghold
DD Jupiter, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
5596 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 93 disabled
Non Combat: 143 destroyed, 165 disabled
Engineers: 103 destroyed, 19 disabled
Guns lost 62 (36 destroyed, 26 disabled)
Vehicles lost 123 (64 destroyed, 59 disabled)
----------------------------------------------------
That will slow him down a good bit.
My ships have a bit of damage, but in this mod Soerbaja starts
with a size 60 repair shipyard.
-------------------------------------
He is still struggling to take Wake.
Ground combat at Wake Island (136,98)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1502 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 84

Defending force 3398 troops, 40 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 26

Japanese adjusted assault: 6

Allied adjusted defense: 10

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
230 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled

Assaulting units:
Maizuru 2nd SNLF
61st Nav Gd /3

Defending units:
Wake USN CPNAB
1st Marine Defense Battalion
------------------------------------------

[BBfanboy]

Nicely done! In stock and against the computer, the scripts always seem to put BB Nagato and a good supporting cast in support of the invasions on N. Borneo. I learned at Kuching that POW and Repulse were no match for the experienced Japanese and long lances. [:(]
Looks like your opponent was too optimistic that you would play "Sir Robin".

PS - I really like those old British CLs as a raiding force. Good experience and working torps!

[BillBrown]

Dec 24, 1941, Eastern China.

I hope that someday my map notation can come a bit closer to CRs, his are a thing of beauty, mine
suck.

In position A, there are two Japanese units moving NW. If they are the normal starting units, they
might get themselves in trouble. I have 4 four units in the area. I will stop one of them at location
A1 and one at location A2. I will see about leaving one to the East to maybe close the door on them
and enable me to eliminate them.

At location B, he has about 1150 AV. In Yenan I have about 540 AV, level 3 forts and +2 terrain. I think
that I will not be able to prevent him from taking the hex. But, I will have 8 small infantry units to
try and harass his supply line.. We will see what happens.

Location C is new. He has just taken Tsiaotso with 2000 AV. I am not sure which direction he will take.
I have units in the area, but I am not sure if I have enough to hold him. I would like to maintain Sian,
it produces a lot of supply ( 200 daily, 80 LI, 30 HI, 50 refinery, 100 oil, and 160 resources ).
But the terrain surrounding Sian is not the best to provide a defense.

[Bif1961]

Yes punishing him as he tries too, at the same time, move forward on several fronts leaves him with some amphibious TFs lightly escorted. The challenge is to identify them, as you did, and attack them. He will have lost some high value units in that TF.

[BillBrown]

No new units were at Kuching and I heard the sinking ship sounds right after the combat. So I think that xAP Argentina Maru also sank.

[BBfanboy]

I think Dan (CR) might have some higher-end software since he is the publisher of a magazine. It might be easier for him to make all those dialogue boxes and stick everything on the map capture.

[BillBrown]

Dec 26th, 1941, another quiet day, no fireworks.