Beware the Dorniers! Scen 17 Tier 3 (Lowpe vs AI (Spoilers))

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

Do you have recon over Palembang?

I wonder what kind of opposition you will find there... swamp terrain

6 units, 10.6K troops, 77 guns, 4 afvs...

[Lowpe]

March 17, 1942

Rabaul falls. The waters around here are dangerous, thanks to Beaufighters and their 3" rockets. They are beasts strafing. Lost a nice xak-t to of all things a 40mm Bofors while it was landing troops at Rabaul.

Interesting to note how the battles really changed with the arrival of the HQc even though it was only prepped 33%.

I plan on building up Rabaul, but all other bases in the area will not exceed size 2 runway.

[Lowpe]

Lots of action here. Night bombings by Allies, Allied bombers make very unpredictable attacks on shipping...we need to pull off a Palembang landing (3 divisions) and also get established on Java in the next two weeks. Plus need to start clearing up the Philippines. Lots to do.

[Lowpe]

The Platte is a big oiler...

[Andy Mac]

Hmmmm this is starting to look like a cakewalk time to get back to hatching master plans to thwart the next player

[PaxMondo]

Well this is tier 3 and he hasn't taken Palembang yet. In your Nasty, Nasty version that you only had up for a few days and then pulled down, I know what a huge mistake that is …. That he can take it, there is little doubt. But at this point I doubt he can take it relatively undamaged. Palembang seriously damaged is a real problem for any IJ player. In this scenario, with the tempo required, it may not be recoverable. It will mean losing the KB effectively in '43.

Having said that, IF there is a player who could pull out a win as IJ without Palembang, Lowpe is the player to do it.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo
Well this is tier 3 and he hasn't taken Palembang yet. In your Nasty, Nasty version that you only had up for a few days and then pulled down, I know what a huge mistake that is …. That he can take it, there is little doubt. But at this point I doubt he can take it relatively undamaged.

Time does not really matter for the potential damage. It's engineers and RNG, and disabled-at-start engineers will recuperate anyway by the time you get there be it a month or three months. Given the forces in PB as reconned by Lowpe, there is not that many troops for a huge battle (that one throws RNG around in my experience and can result in a complete destruction).

Thanks, Andy, that you did not build a Fortress Palembang. Now that would be Nasty x4

[PaxMondo]

Nasty, Nasty has a big surprise in Palembang … I thought (think) it might also be there in this Nasty version. But, I haven't played this in years, so not sure...

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo
Nasty, Nasty has a big surprise in Palembang … I thought (think) it might also be there in this Nasty version. But, I haven't played this in years, so not sure...

I personally would dislike anything that makes the gamble for 1mil supply worse for Japan than it is already (like e.g. adding a horde of engineers in PB). It's kind of outcome that is inescapable, completely out of your control, happens very early and impacts the whole game. Not a good design choice in my book

[PaxMondo]

Well, Palembang is also a x3 defensive terrain. it doesn't take much to require multiple attacks to conquer, each attack has damage potential …

as I say, I play the Nasty, Nasty version. This version may or may not have the same Palembang script(s).

I've been watching for ideas and I have definitely gotten some. But one thing he has done is NOT go after Palembang early, and that gives him some real leverage in terms of choices. If you play safe and go for Palembang early, it definitely constrains your options. For example, going to Ambon early because your forces are out of position to support that thrust due south. Anyway, this is a great AAR and has been very interesting to date for me.

[Lowpe]

March 20, 1942

KB moves up and stirs up a hornets nest of air attacks...they come in all sizes and altitudes, but those darn Beaufighters get thru and the 3" rockets cause havoc along with the bombs.....

Lots of enemy planes shot down, and half the KB's fighter wing is knocked out.

Carrier Division 2 will speed run to Singapore, while Carrier Division 1 will reverse course and seek protection at Balikpapen.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Sampit at 56,98

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 50

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIc: 3 destroyed, 15 damaged
Beaufighter VIc: 2 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Shell hits 1, Bomb hits 1
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 1
CV Soryu
DD Oshio, Shell hits 3
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 4, on fire
DD Nowaki, Shell hits 22
CV Akagi
DD Urakaze, Shell hits 28, on fire
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 2
DD Maikaze, Shell hits 14, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Beaufighter VIc bombing and strafing from low level
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb, 8 x 3" Rockets
3 x Beaufighter VIc bombing and strafing from low level
Naval Attack: 2 plane(s) with no ordnance
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb, 8 x 3" Rockets
1 x Beaufighter VIc bombing and strafing from low level
Naval Attack: 1 plane(s) with no ordnance

[Lowpe]

In other news...

Those crafty Allies lay a minefield at Balikpapen and it sinks an 8vp xap...

Nauru Island taken in the South Pacific...

Elite Dornier pilots must be in low supply now...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sampit at 56,98

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
Do-24K-2 x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Do-24K-2: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, on fire
CV Akagi

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Do-24K-2 launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 21in Mk VIII Torpedo

[Lowpe]

Surcouf is still being hunted around Pescadores...

An empty supply ship for Miri sunk on her return trip to Cam Ranh Bay...

Sub attack near Cam Ranh Bay at 64,74

Japanese Ships
xAK Mikasa Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PB Kinsyo Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS Mangonel

SS Mangonel launches 6 torpedoes at xAK Mikasa Maru
Mangonel diving deep ....
PB Kinsyo Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kinsyo Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kinsyo Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kinsyo Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kinsyo Maru #2 attacking submerged sub ....
SS Mangonel eludes PB Kinsyo Maru #2 by diving deep
SS Mangonel eludes PB Kinsyo Maru #2 by diving deep
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Pescadores at 85,62

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 3
SC Ch 4

Allied Ships
SS Surcouf

SS Surcouf launches 2 torpedoes at SC Ch 3
SC Ch 4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 4 attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

[Lowpe]

Quiet day as the Carrier Divisions head to their respective ports safely.

Fires out on Kaga.[:)]

[Lowpe]

March 21, 1942

Task Force Haguro kept hunting these ships, this is the fourth day on their trail...the supporting Escort Carrier Division had to retire to refuel (it simply had no chance of catching the enemy).

[Lowpe]

March 23, 1942

The IJN muscles their way into Palembang...oh, my![X(]

A destroyer squadron sweeps aside some motor torpedo boats, a small minelayer and then reinforcements unloading at the dock!

Night Time Surface Combat, near Palembang at 48,91, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Minekaze, Shell hits 3
DD Yakaze
DD Hokaze, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
xAKL Ipoh
DD Ardjoeno, Shell hits 1, on fire
PC Tydeman
DD Christchurch, Shell hits 1
AKA Dundee Victory
AMC G.E. Pickett, Shell hits 7, heavy fires

Allied ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway

[Lowpe]

The invasion fleet avoids a MTB squadron without collisions, and then encounters the minefields.

TF 334 encounters mine field at Palembang (48,91) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

42 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DMS W-15, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS W-8, Shell hits 5, on fire
DMS W-7, Shell hits 3, on fire
DMS W-6, Shell hits 1, on fire
DMS W-4

Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DMS W-15
DMS W-15 firing at Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion
Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DMS W-8
DMS W-8 firing at Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion
Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DMS W-7
DMS W-7 firing at Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion
Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DMS W-6
DMS W-6 firing at Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion
DMS W-4 firing at Palembang Base Force
19 mines cleared

[Lowpe]

The bombardment task force runs into more ships unloading at the dock....

Night Time Surface Combat, near Palembang at 48,91, Range 9,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SO3C-3 Seacat: 16 destroyed
Hurricane 1F: 17 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Mogami
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
DD Okikaze
DD Hakaze

Allied Ships
xAKL Ipoh, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
DD Ardjoeno, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
PC Tydeman, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
DD Christchurch, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AKA Dundee Victory, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
AMC G.E. Pickett, Shell hits 23, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
1866 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 123 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 59 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!

Brushes aside the MTB squadron, and then bombards:

Night Naval bombardment of Palembang at 48,91 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Ic: 39 damaged
Beaufighter Ic: 1 destroyed on ground
Buffalo I: 28 damaged
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed on ground
Blenheim IV: 9 damaged
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed on ground
Hudson I: 13 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground
Vildebeest III: 3 damaged
Hurricane IIb Trop: 13 damaged
Hurricane IIa Trop: 13 damaged

7 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya
CA Mogami
CA Takao
DD Hakaze
DD Okikaze

Allied ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 37
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1

CA Kumano firing at Palembang
E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for CA Suzuya

[Lowpe]

The defenders are ready for us...

Pre-Invasion action off Palembang (48,91) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

353 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CL Oi, Shell hits 1
CL Tama
CL Abukuma
CL Yura
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 4
CL Jintsu
DD Tsuga, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Matsukaze
DD Ushio
DD Hatsushima
xAK Saiho Maru, Shell hits 6
xAK Alaska Maru, Shell hits 8, on fire
xAK Awajisan Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
PB Eiko Maru
AMC Saigon Maru
DD Sazanami
DD Namikaze
xAP Dairen Maru

Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Palembang Coastal Gun Battalion firing at CA Mikuma

[PaxMondo]

OK, late March attack on Palembang.