Always with them negative waves... Aaffins/Cheesesteak v. RADM Yamaguchi

[BBfanboy]

He has an AV with his western force, probably to operate Jakes for longer ranged search. Not sure if it can operate Mavis aircraft. He clearly is trying to envelop NZ where he suspects your carriers are.
You might have an opportunity to use next turn to approach a bit closer (say 12 hexes) to ambush the AV and CVLs, but you need an absolutely safe bolt-hole to escape before the full KB comes. At this point, the western map edge to Capetown is your only safe exit and you will need fuel to make the journey. If you have any AOs with fuel on the west side of Oz, you might be able to manage it. Otherwise, stay out of trouble and conserve your fuel.

[aaffins]

Thank you guys for the feedback, I should clarify the intent was to close during this turn with the intention of potentially engaging with one piece next turn...unfortunately that did not work out...

Our routing didn't work out and our CVs were detected, presumably by Jakes flying from Lord Howe I. Luckily Hornet remains undetected, as do several high value TFs fleeing southward.

Meanwhile the enemy's western TF concentrated with the central just north of NZ, while the eastern TF move to the SE between Auckland and Raoul I. Air search indicates the two groups are roughly equal size in terms of aircraft. Map below.

The only action was a strike flown against some empty transports I was hoping would disband in Auckland harbor before they could get hit:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Auckland at 115,185

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 116 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 43 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 50
B5N1 Kate x 17
B5N2 Kate x 85
D3A1 Val x 41

Allied aircraft
P-40B Warhawk x 25
P-40E Warhawk x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Warhawk: 4 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAP Maori, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
DD Fox, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Lurline, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Westralia, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires
DD Brooks, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Rangitiki, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Duntroon, Bomb hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Rangitata, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage

Our troops at Raoul get 1:2 and fail the eliminate the enemy forts.

Nanning falls, a moderate disappointment. It will be interesting to see if he uses that 1,400 AV of unrestricted units he used to move us out of Nanning to push forward or if he pulls them back for other duty elsewhere. If he pushes forward it significantly increases the challenge of defending Changsha.

[BBfanboy]

Detection of your CVs could not come from Jakes at Raoul Island - Jakes only have a range of 10 hexes. I expect that the detection comes from Glen subs just north of your CVs.

I don't like the route you have selected for your CVs. It assumes the Japanese will withdraw to the North or Northeast. Having spotted your CVs he will likely come at flank speed due west. You should be headed for the western map edge, IMO. If you stick around NZ, he can win the chase-down because he will have AOs nearby to go this deep into the southern oceans.

[Anachro]

With your CVs detected, you already know that your best option now is to retire safely as any chance of surprise has been lost. Depending on how much fuel you have and the fuel at your bases, I'd flank due west towards Melbourne. Let him burn precious fuel chasing you: it's not easy to replace for Japan! If you have a decent amount of fighters at Auckland, keep trying some CAP traps to wear down his fighters if possible. If I were your opponent and felt confident in my main KB, I'd have a a secondary force of surface vessels or CVLs/CVEs hang back to cut off retreat from Auckland while KB attempts to chase or at least head-off the sudden appearance of Allied CVs.

This has all the hallmarks of a raid to me; it does not look like your opponent is planning to invade Auckland. So focus on saving what you can and in the medium-term strengthening your LoC through French Polynesia to NZ and then Aussieland to begin getting supply/fuel setup there. Make sure to have a chain of nav search to spot raids trying to hit your LoC. How strong is your opponent's push on Townsville?

[aaffins]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Detection of your CVs could not come from Jakes at Raoul Island - Jakes only have a range of 10 hexes. I expect that the detection comes from Glen subs just north of your CVs.

I don't like the route you have selected for your CVs. It assumes the Japanese will withdraw to the North or Northeast. Having spotted your CVs he will likely come at flank speed due west. You should be headed for the western map edge, IMO. If you stick around NZ, he can win the chase-down because he will have AOs nearby to go this deep into the southern oceans.

We were 9 hexes from Lord Howe when detected (it's just off map to north in the above screenshot). We will probably withdraw next turn, but should be able to stay out of range on this routing and can collect Hornet so she does not get isolated. We believe the 'real' KB is the one east of Auckland, so it will be tough for him to chase us down if he's dragging along CVEs.

[Anachro]

KB alone can overwhelm your CVs. He doesn't need to bring his CVEs along to drag him down. A flank speed run by CV's alone can see him move ~15 hexes in one turn or thereabouts. I agree with BB that it was probably recon plan-equipped subs that spotted you.

[aaffins]

ORIGINAL: Anachro
How strong is your opponent's push on Townsville?

He has actually stopped one hex away and not entered. He has what appears to be a cruiser force approaching so we've moved our aircraft safely inland to Charter Towers. This has given me slight pause...perhaps this is a diversion and he plans to strike somewhere else now that we've deployed forces forward? SigInt tells us the IJA 2nd Inf Div and 77th Inf Regt are embarked somewhere.

[BBfanboy]

Everything above Brisbane can be ceded to the Japanese and they will eventually have to withdraw, with losses as you kick them out.

One line below Brisbane is the hex line that triggers activation of substantial emergency reinforcements for Australia, including some US air units IIRC. But you need supply to get them up to TOE and to engage in combat.

Japan can still take most of Oz if it concentrates on that but the deep push into SOPAC indicates they are not all-in for OZ. For this reason I think you will be able to hold everything from Brisbane south. That does not mean you absolutely have to abandon Townsville but he can easily push you out of there and then your troops must find a way south with tanks probably pursing them. Fortunately the Aussies have some A/T guns (Tank Attack units).

[aaffins]

Yes, I think unless he commits significantly more forces (the 3 divisions of 21st Army he's using in China perhaps...) we should not cede Townsville.

4/9/42

Here is that "cruiser force"

Night Naval bombardment of Townsville at 92,144 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 6 damaged
Catalina I: 1 destroyed on ground

1 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso

Allied ground losses:
227 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 26 (5 destroyed, 21 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (3 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 32
Port hits 11
Port fuel hits 5
Port supply hits 1

BB Hyuga firing at A/B Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment
A/B Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at BB Hyuga
BB Ise firing at C/D Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment
C/D Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at BB Ise
E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Yamashiro
BB Yamashiro firing at Townsville
BB Fuso firing at Townsville

Rather than pursue aggressively he concentrated all of his carriers in one hex 9 hexes NE of Auckland, so no combat to speak of this turn. We have no intention of taking on that death star of course, but we flew 2 squadrons of USMC fighters into Auckland to attempt a CAP trap.

[Anachro]

Personally, unless he commits a LOT of forces, I would try hard to hold Townsville. You know better than us with all the info you have if you CAN hold it, but from my perspective it's very useful to hold on to Townsville for future operations into Guinea, the DEI, etc. It also makes a good staging point for pushing him out further north up towards Portland Roads if he's taken those places.

[aaffins]

Yes, at this point we're fairly committed to defending Townsville. Obviously if he dumps in 3-4 divisions we'll have to withdraw, but he would have to do some major shifting to accomplish that. We have pushed forward the 7th Aus Div in along with the 1st Motor Brig, which we've fully upgraded with AIF squads and Matilda tanks. We also have 2 battallions of US Army tanks deployed with plenty of Arty and AT.

We've had a whirlwind weekend of turns, I just sent the 4/14 turn out. Quite a bit of action, but no carriers engaged. Summaries below.

4/10/42

A Dutch SCTF clashes with IJN CLs off Port Hedland:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Hedland at 57,129, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
CL Isuzu
CL Yura, Shell hits 1
CL Kinu
DD Murakumo
DD Nagatsuki
DD Mochizuki
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
CL Java, Shell hits 1
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With
DD Evertsen, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Hedland at 59,128, Range 21,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
CL Isuzu
CL Yura
CL Kinu
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 1
DD Nagatsuki, Shell hits 1
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
CL Java, Shell hits 4
DD Banckert, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With, Shell hits 3, on fire

Unfortunately we're not able track down the two APDs, Hishu and Hagi, before they land an SNLF Co. despite running into them 5 times. Looks like the IJN lookouts came through.

KB does not appear to be sticking around, moving north. Our carriers link up off the coast of the South Island.

We detect several TFs in the Aleutians, so our BB TF (Arizona + Tennessee) moves in to investigate

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

April 11, 1942

Fairly quite turn. The KB (if he has all his carriers together is that the super KB?) continues moving away to the north. We move around the southern tip of the South Island, heading to Auckland for gas.

That SNLF Co. is unable to dislodge our entrenched base force at Port Hedland.

In the Aleutians our BBs get within 7 hexes of Adak without being detected. There are enemy TFs at Atka and Adak so we route through Atka first.

A sub posted to intercept traffic between Hokkaido and Sakhalin encounters an enemy convoy for the first time that I can remember in this game. Seems surprising to me he would only now start pulling those resources and oil to the Home Islands. Wonder what kind of state his economy is in.

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

April 12, 1942

Actions starts to pick up. In the Aleutians our BBs make it to Atka but miss the enemy TFs. Vals (25) from Adak bounce a few bombs off their armor, but no significant damage. The enemy TFs appear to be scattering, so we set our boys to bombardment since we're just two hexes away.

Aussie DDs clash with the IJN CLs off Port Hedland but not much comes of it.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Hedland at 57,129, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
CL Isuzu
CL Yura
CL Kinu
DD Murakumo
DD Nagatsuki
DD Mochizuki
DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Napier
DD Nestor
DD Nizam
DD Norman, Shell hits 1

The Super KB is stopped at Norfolk I. Our carriers are off Chistchurch.

At Raoul I. the enemy lands 4 SNLFs and tries to wipe out our troops:

Ground combat at Raoul Island (128,177)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 4223 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 212

Defending force 2112 troops, 26 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 64

Japanese adjusted assault: 126

Allied adjusted defense: 52

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
369 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
287 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd Indpt SNLF Coy
47th Naval Guard Unit
42nd Naval Guard Unit
43rd Naval Guard Unit
61st Nav Gd /1
34th JNAF AF Unit
6th Air Defense AA Rgt /1
7th Air Defense AA Rgt /1

Defending units:
1st Marine Raider Battalion
2nd Marine Raider Battalion
N Force Detachment

We're in trouble but there's not a great deal we can do tomorrow. Many forces are closing but obviously with the KB just a day's sail away at Norfolk we have to tread carefully.

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

April 13, 1942

He surprises us by sending a SCTF in to counter our BBs. Between us being set for bombardment, 7% moonlight, Razio Tanaka and the IJN's advantage in night fighting he's able to beat us back pretty well:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Great Sitkin Island at 163,52, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 3, on fire
CA Furutaka
CA Kako, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Kamikaze
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze

Allied Ships
BB Arizona, Shell hits 6
BB Tennessee, Shell hits 9, on fire
DD Bagley
DD Helm, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
DD Perkins, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Preston, Shell hits 1, on fire

Reduced sighting due to 7% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 7% moonlight: 9,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Tanaka, Raizo crosses the 'T'

I doubt any of that damage would have been all that serious, but it left us just 5 hexes away from Adak at daybreak...and now those Vals have been joined by Nells and Kates:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sagigik Island at 166,50

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Arizona, Torpedo hits 1
BB Tennessee, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sagigik Island at 166,50

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N1 Kate x 5
D3A1 Val x 8

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 4, on fire
BB Tennessee, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Vals dropped another 8 bombs on Arizona on top of that. She's at 59 sys damage with 41 fires...don't think her chances are very good of escaping this.


In Burma our two divisions are almost to Akyab, just have to clear out the remnants of the units he air dropped into Akyab then we can make our way across the river. He has not contested air superiority in this theater for a few weeks and we've been bombing his units, albeit ineffectually. The IJA 56th Div has pushed up the road from Lashio over the Chinese border...is he going to commit another unit unrestricted unit to China?


At Port Hedland the BB Resolution delivers a powerful bombardment:

Naval bombardment of Port Hedland at 57,129

Allied Ships
BB Resolution

Japanese ground losses:
252 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

BB Resolution firing at 8th Indpt SNLF Coy

In SoPac one enemy carrier group moves towards Lord Howe, the other disappears from our search. He was keeping his AOs near Noumea so they could have moved out of our range to refuel, or we may simply have lost them, weather is poor. At Raoul I. his forces only get a 1:2 so we can probably hold out a bit longer. We send the CL Nashville in at max speed to try to take out the enemy PBs. The CVs move to Auckland for gas. The CA Vincennes moves towards an enemy TF near Hoorn I.

Ground combat at Raoul Island (128,177)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 5385 troops, 58 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 185

Defending force 1966 troops, 26 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 49

Japanese adjusted assault: 39

Allied adjusted defense: 49

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
652 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
152 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
47th Naval Guard Unit
42nd Naval Guard Unit
2nd Indpt SNLF Coy
43rd Naval Guard Unit
61st Nav Gd /1
7th Air Defense AA Regiment
6th Air Defense AA Regiment
34th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
1st Marine Raider Battalion
2nd Marine Raider Battalion
N Force Detachment

[aaffins]

April 14, 1942

The Arizona is finished off by Nells from Adak.

The CA Vincennes attacks an enemy TF that was doing something near Hoorn Islands...unloading a unit perhaps?

Night Time Surface Combat, near Hoorn Islands at 138,157, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Aso Maru #3
PB Busho Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
PB Chitose Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
PB Choko Maru #2
PB Eifuku Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
PB Eiko Maru
PB Fukui Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
PB Kenkon Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes, Shell hits 1
DD Gwin

Air search is now showing both large carrier groups 2 hexes from Lord Howe I. presumably the 'Super KB'. We position ourselves to strike Raoul while we know the enemy is a couple days away.

In Burma we'll need one more day to clear the way to Akyab.

[Anachro]

Seems to me like a haphazard usage of your battleships in vulnerable places without air cover. Conserving your slow BB's is nice for the future grind of amphibious assault.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Anachro

Seems to me like a haphazard usage of your battleships in vulnerable places without air cover. Conserving your slow BB's is nice for the future grind of amphibious assault.

+1. Large caliber tubes are essential in the later war for the Allies. Make all kinds of offensive things simpler, while under solid CAP.
In general, waiting and having the assets on idle is one of the hard things for the Allied player in the earlier part of the game. It seems like you are wasting time, while you can have them used here or there to cause harm to Japan. But the risks are rarely worth it, unless you keep what you invade or you force an advantageous CV battle. And it is hard to do either of those in the first half of 42

[Cheesesteak]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: Anachro

Seems to me like a haphazard usage of your battleships in vulnerable places without air cover. Conserving your slow BB's is nice for the future grind of amphibious assault.

+1. Large caliber tubes are essential in the later war for the Allies. Make all kinds of offensive things simpler, while under solid CAP.
In general, waiting and having the assets on idle is one of the hard things for the Allied player in the earlier part of the game. It seems like you are wasting time, while you can have them used here or there to cause harm to Japan. But the risks are rarely worth it, unless you keep what you invade or you force an advantageous CV battle. And it is hard to do either of those in the first half of 42

Yep. The situation around Adak was unfortunate and our fault. I think we had gotten used to foul weather working to our advantage up there. Lord Howe is another story. We actually just chatted about this today prior to you're entries. It reinforces the message we told ourselves.

I am !00% guilty of "We need to strike somewhere" Syndrome. It's cost us in VPs and future assets. Fins has a legit excuse of not playing the Allies so much, I can't play that card.

There isn't too much to be optimistic about. Townsville will be tough to defend, but if he keeps the KB there to cover bombardments, that's a consolation prize.

We were aggressive with our CVs, and his immediate reaction was to consolidate all forces together rather than strike out and risk his assets. It'll be very tough to get him out of position.

On the plus side, a local place by us had an incredible gin drink: Some shrub, blueberry puree, egg white, and lots of gin. Made us remember: it wasn't over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor, and it ain't over now!

By the way the AAR should be up to date with our turns.

[Anachro]

There's nothing wrong with striking somewhere. I would never advocate a passive Allied strategy in '42. Just make sure you strike where KB is not, or if KB is gonna be in the area, make sure its near heave LBA assets of your own. I am looking forward to your partnership as you drive back the good Admiral and his aggressive expansion into the SoPac which I find can be quite porous and too large an area to adequately defend.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Anachro
There's nothing wrong with striking somewhere. I would never advocate a passive Allied strategy in '42.

It was not about being active vs passive - active is always better, you need to keep Japan honest. It was about types of assets you use while being active - those you can risk vs those you better not. The 1st type you get much more later, but their usefulness declines or is outshined with something else as war progresses. The 2nd type you get not that many, and the usefulness increases to the point of being key assets late war. E.g. CA/CL/DDs fall into the 1st type - run them around, do not be overly afraid to lose them. CVs/BBs/AKAs are the 2nd, shepherd them to the point of hiding away through 42, unless you are absolutely sure you are in the clear (and that's rare).

Specifically BBs' primary role in the war is shore bombardment and amphibious support. Mass usage (with AKEs and air cover) rapidly makes any particular shore base untenable for Japan mid/late war, can punch through high forts and bad terrain, is resistant to whatever CDs and mines (more bombardment distance helps), helps to rack up defenders' disruption like no other thing Allies have so that you can have your 2:1 earlier. And upgraded BBs are also excellent AA platforms for the Death Star to boot. Old BBs are just as good in the primary role as new ones. But they are mediocre in the battles of the early war - they are slow, they are torp magnets, and their bombardments are not decisive because you will not follow through. They add little value early, and cost a lot in potential future returns if you lose them early

[aaffins]

I think it's worth noting that in both of the instances where we've lost BBs recently we were using them for shore bombardment is apparently advantageous circumstances, but the enemy made clever maneuvers that worked out. Not that that excuses it, but we're under not illusions that the USN BBs are great SCTF assets. We also had a pretty light PH raid, but have had fairly heavy cruiser losses, which is certainly coloring my valuation of the BBs. That said, clearly giving 200 VP gifts and hampering future operations is not a sustainable practice so we'll be cutting way back on BB deployments. At present the only USN BB in action is the New Mexico, which is under the cover of our CVs.

Tax Day, 1942

A trio of Japanese CAs deliver a fairly effective strike against Townsville:

Naval bombardment of Townsville at 92,144 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
CA Myoko
DD Tachekaze
DD Kasumi
DD Arare
DD Asagumo
DD Yamagumo
DD Natsugumo
DD Arashio

Allied ground losses:
212 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 52 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Light Industry hits 3
Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 13
Runway hits 53
Port hits 17
Port fuel hits 6
Port supply hits 1

CA Nachi firing at Townsville
CA Haguro firing at Townsville
CA Myoko firing at Townsville
DD Tachekaze firing at 18th Australian Brigade
DD Kasumi firing at 18th Australian Brigade
DD Arare firing at 21st Australian Brigade
DD Asagumo firing at C/D Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment
C/D Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at DD Asagumo
DD Yamagumo firing at 21st Australian Brigade
DD Natsugumo firing at Townsville
DD Arashio firing at Townsville

Note the hits on the 18th and 21st Aus Brigades, if our opponent's attention to detail is high, and all evidence this far suggests it is, he can now confirm he's up against at least some elements of I Australian Corps. Interesting to see how he interprets that info. This TF was covered by what appears to be a couple of CVL/CVEs as Zeroes also swept Townsville in force. All of our fighters have been pulled south to cover Brisbane and Sydney against possible enemy carrier raids.

Air search is now showing a large grouping of TFs just off Lord Howe I. Definitely the full KB, I'm guessing supplemented. Not sure what their objective is just sitting there...unless it's just to keep our air assets south...we do know at least one IJA division is embarked based on air search. If he were to try an aggressive landing at Bowen or Rockhampton it might put us in trouble but we have decent garrisons at both. We'll see, that would really be out of character for his gameplay to this point.

With the knowledge of the enemy carriers' whereabouts we push forward at Raoul I. BBs Warspite and New Mexico to bombard, all 5 CVs to launch air strikes and sweep those stupid looking Rufes from the skies. Evac convoys in to get our boys out. Cruiser SCTF to screen against any incursions.

My turn to do something dumb in China...got overconfident and his forces tripled overnight:

Ground combat at 85,46 (near Nanyang)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 45224 troops, 278 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1581

Defending force 6959 troops, 0 guns, 1034 vehicles, Assault Value = 578

Allied adjusted assault: 572

Japanese adjusted defense: 653

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 92 (2 destroyed, 90 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
5082 casualties reported
Squads: 28 destroyed, 510 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled
Guns lost 27 (2 destroyed, 25 disabled)

Assaulting units:
32nd Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
26th Group Army
33rd Group Army

Defending units:
8th Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment

[CaptBeefheart]

At the risk of piling on, slow BBs are best parked in 1942 as in real life. I like using CLs a lot. The Brits have plenty and so does everyone else. CAs I use a bit more judiciously. CLs and CAs can hit quick and skedaddle, and they are not too bad at avoiding torps and bombs if they get caught in an airstrike.

Unless you have pretty good air superiority, which is rare in '42, slow BBs are a liability.

That drink you guys stumbled upon sounds almost as good as a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster.

Cheers,
CB

[Encircled]

Thats a long, single, coastal rail/road supply route up to Townsville.

Japanese can cut it at any time.

No point in sending substantial forces up there at the moment, until you are sure the KB isn't around.