Revenge of the Enterprise

[DesertWolf101]

The second page:

[DesertWolf101]

February 15-16, 1942

Submarines

I-22 heavily damages an AP near Pago Pago.

S/SW Pacific

The KB and two other task forces (looks like battleships/cruisers and transports) are nearing Fiji.

Burma

Having sighted my shipping near Rangoon, my opponent sends in a SAG of 6 heavy cruisers and obliterates 22 AKs and a bunch of small escorts. Most of the AKs were relatively small but still, ouch!!

Ceram Islands

The Japanese seize Ambon.

China

The northernmost Japanese army (referred to as the Mongolian Army henceforth for clarity) seizes Paotow and marches towards Lanchow.

Having taken Wuchow, the Japanese 52nd Divison appears to be heading towards Kukong.

Another Japanese army arrives at Nanchang and tests the defenses there with a bombardment. The danger here would be if they link with the battered Japanese army next to Pingsiang that I currently am trying to encircle from all sides.

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Not a great couple of turns for me. A heavy blow to my cargo fleet, the KB coming in to wreck havoc once more, and endless Japanese armies on the move in China. Things can quickly turn in this game.

[DesertWolf101]

February 17-18, 1942

Submarines

SS KX launched four torpedoes at a Japanese destroyer next to Tarakan but missed.

S/SW Pacific

I attempted to reduce some of the KB’s strike capability by positioning two AKLs in the Nadi hex and CAPing it with Wildcats. Sure enough, two raids from the KB came in and my Wildcats shot down ten Zeros for the loss of four fighters but could not make it past the escorts to get to the bombers.

Central Pacific

Wildcat fighters from the Lexington task force ambushed the daily Nell bombing raids on Wake Island, knocking 20 of them down into the sea.

Philippines

Another Japanese attack on Bataan further weakens the battered defenders and takes down the fortification levels to zero. Just one more Japanese attack and the defenders would likely give in.

China

The Flying Tigers push past escorting Zeros to ravage Sally bombers that were attempting to attack Nanchang. 30 Sallys and about ten Zeros were lost for four H81-A3 fighters.

Just as I was about to encircle the Japanese army next to Pingsiang, it slides away at the last second towards the hex next to Nanchang. There is a real threat now that it could link up with the new Japanese army besieging the town.

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With my clear picture of the KB’s location, I feel comfortable using my carrier task forces aggressively elsewhere.

[DesertWolf101]

February 19-20, 1942

Submarines

Grayling gets a beating from enemy destroyers as it attempts to hit some Japanese ships (suspected replenishment tankers for the KB) in the shallow waters of Nauru Island.

The Truant puts a big hole on the side of AK Kinka Maru off Dadjangas.

S/SW Pacific

It looks like the Japanese near Fiji are transporting the 4th Division from Gau Island to Suva – this could spell trouble for my tenuous beachhead at Nadi. The enemy is in front of them and the sea is behind them – if they don’t hold they die.

Singapore

I sent in Blenheim Ifs into Singapore again for another ambush on my opponent’s bombers as I noticed he had stopped escorting them for several turns. The lumbering British fighters manage to down only two Bettys but the city’s flak did a great job this turn knocking out about half a dozen.

Burma

Enemy cruiser SAGs find yet more of our cargo convoys, sinking almost ten AKs, fourteen AKLs, and some small escorts.[:@] [:-]Unfortunately, my torpedo bombers that were on station to ambush such a strike did not fly. I realized later that the Wildebeest cannot carry a torpedo while equipped with drop tanks.

China

The Japanese Mongolian Army continues its advance towards Lanchow, forcing me to divert some forces to meet it.

Having sufficiently weakened the Japanese pocket at Nanyang with daily deliberate attacks, I transition my forces into shock attacks for added combat punch.

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The first Japanese unit is wiped out in the Nanyang pocket. This is only the weak 16th RGC Temp. Division, but it's a start!

[DesertWolf101]

February 21-22, 1942

Submarines

Nothing of note

Philippines

The Japanese take Bataan! This is the end of all organized Allied resistance in Luzon, and a disappointment for me that I couldn’t hold for longer. Unfortunately this also means that a whole bunch of Japanese units are now free to strike elsewhere.

China

In an attempt to slow down the Japanese Mongolian Army, I bring in Blenheim IV bombers into China for the first time and position them at Yenan from where they begin their attacks.

A Flying Tiger sweep wipes out 9 Oscar 1c fighters that were on CAP over the Japanese army next to Nanchang.

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Supply is rapidly becoming a major issue with the daily massed attack at Nanyang. The issue in particular is that I have enough supply at Chungking but it is not flowing well enough to the battezone around the Japanese pocket. I bring in 25 transports and 35 bombers into Chungking to push more supply directly to Chengchow and from there towards the frontline.

[DesertWolf101]

February 23-24, 1942

Submarines

Sargo duds against an AK off Japan.

S/SW Pacific

With the KB next to Fiji, I sneak in the Yorktown carrier task force to conduct a lightening strike on a Japanese convoy (one that just delivered a base force to Suva) of an AP and and AK escorted by two PBs. All ships are sunk and the Yorktown bugs out before the KB could arrive on the scene to sink it and its escorts.

Singapore

A Japanese deliberate attack at Singapore is defeated with heavy losses (186 squads destroyed and 373 disabled vs only 20 allied squads destroyed and 188 disabled). A small measure of payback for the loss of Bataan.

China

Responding to the Blenheim IV threat from Yenan, the Japanese launch a Sally raid that destroys one of the bombers on the ground. I begin transferring the Blenheims to Lanchow from where they can more safely strike.

I further secure myself against a potential Japanese relief effort of the Nanyang pocket from Hankow when I maul a medium sized Japanese army at Sinyang.

Within the pocket meanwhile, the next Japanese unit to be destroyed is the 7th Independent Mixed Brigade. This is followed the next day by the collapse of the 12th Tank Regiment. I persevere with the daily shock attacks, rotating in units to relieve exhausted ones as needed.

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A large portion of my Chinese forces have come a very long way from the beginning. These are battle hardened veterans now, with experience in the high 50s and morale in the high 70s. Bring it on Imperial Japan!

[DesertWolf101]

February 25-26, 1942

Submarines

I send in several S-boats to try to intercept the Japanese shipping around Fiji. S-28 attempts an attack on a cruiser task force but is detected and suffers minor damage from depth charges.

South of Shikoku, Silversides launches 4 torpedoes at CA Kinugasa. 1 torp duds but another hits and damages the heavy cruiser. The cruiser is right next to the major shipyards of the home islands however – it will probably reappear soon somewhere.

Duth sub KXIII sinks a Japanese AK north of Jesselton with an attack on the surface.

Singapore

Another sneaking in of Blenheim IF fighters leads to positive results, knocking out 5 Japanese bombers during the incessant raids on Singapore.

China

The Japanese 52nd Division has arrived in the hex next to Kukong. Anticipating its arrival, I pulled some of my units out of Kukong to intice it to go into the hex. This is because I am hoping to spring another trap – a small Chinese army is waiting out of sight two hexes away behind the 52nd Division to follow it into Kukong and hopefully close the door behind it.

A Japanese army has crossed the river south of Chengchow and has marched into the city. I can’t spare any forces to reinforce the Chengchow defenders at this time as all available forces in the northern front are either directly besieging and attacking the Nanyang pocket or ensuring that no Japanese forces arrive to break it out. Hopefully the high forts I have built up at Chengchow will be enough.

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My list of aces continues to grow. I now have 40 pilots with at least 5 kills, the top ace having 13 kills.

[DesertWolf101]

February 27-28, 1942

Submarines

A number of my S boats launch attacks against the Japanese warships around Nadi but they all miss.

Central Pacific

Wake is under attack! A Japanese bombardment force of a battleship and four heavy cruisers sting the defenders. A Japanese landing force is undoubtedly on its way here – unfortunately none of my carrier groups are within range.

S/SW Pacific

Looks like my opponent is finally in position to make his move on Nadi. It begins with a bombardment by two Japanese battleships (Hyuga and Ise), a heavy cruiser, and a light cruiser. Casualties to my regiments are minimal, but disruption is significant and a few of my fighter planes are destroyed on the ground.

This is followed up the next day by four more Japanese battleships (Fuso, Nagato, Haruna, and Kongo) and this time the damage is more extensive. Some ten fighters are lost on the airfield and disruption gets even worse.

A 101 Val dive-bombers escorted by 47 Zeros then brush off the dazed American pilots that still had airframes to meet them and pound the troops for some more destruction. Meanwhile I can see that the Japanese forces at Suva are marching towards Nadi.

China

The two Japanese armies around Nanchang finally link up. I am heavily dug in here however and have bought up my artillery regiments for more support.

The next Japanese unit to be wiped out at the Nanyang pocket is the 6th Independent Mixed Brigade.

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Both Nadi and Wake are now threatened by what looks like the bulk of the Imperial Japanese Navy heavy units - Things are starting to heat up in the Pacific.

[DesertWolf101]

March 1-2, 1942

Submarines

More S-boats attempt to engage Japanese warships around Fiji. S-27 achieves the first success with a successful torpedo hit into the Japanese destroyer Nowaki, sending her to the bottom.

S/SW Pacific

Yet another bombardment by four Japanese battleships slams the Americans at Nadi.

A Zero sweep clears out remaining allied fighters over Nadi before another massive KB strike goes in to pound the defenders. The same massed raid is sent in again the following day on March 2nd. Finally, the 4th division and the 144th regiment then bombard to test out the defenses.

Celebes

Japanese troops land and take Makassar. Dutch bombers attempt to interfere from Java but are warded off by Zero cover from light carriers in the area.

China

My opponent appears determined to claim back the air over China as he brought in a huge number of Zero fighters. In the first significant defeat for the Flying Tigers, 10 H81-A3 aircraft were lost when 41 Zeros and 7 Ki-43-1c fighters swept over Nanchang. Fortunately, as the Tigers were flying over a friendly base, only one ace was lost.

With their two armies assembled at Nanchang – the Japanese launch an assault in an effort to take the town. The Japanese reduce the fortifications to two but suffer much higher casualties in the 1 to 2 odds result in the Chinese favor. 48 Japanese combat squads were destroyed and 575 disabled.

The 138th Infantry Regiment is wiped out in the Nanyang pocket. This leaves only the 5 enemy divisions remaining in the pocket.

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The Japanese assault on Nadi is imminent. With the KB in the area I am powerless to intervene.

[DesertWolf101]

March 3-4, 1942

Central Pacific

Japanese forces land at Wake! Four Naval Guard units storm the atoll but are stopped cold by the defenders behind level 4 fortification levels.

In the meantime, Wildcat squadrons from Wake jump into action, putting a bomb into AP Kanzyu Maru and leaving her on fire.

S/SW Pacific

My opponent’s heavy warships must be running out of ammo. Only two battleships fired during the March 1st bombardment. The KB however still has plenty of sorties, as another massed raid hits the defending troops. Even my opponents Betty bombers joined in on the action.

Having been blasted from the sea and pummeled from the air, my troops at Nadi must have welcomed the chance to fire back at the Japanese. Nevertheless, the Japanese attack reduced the fort levels to 0 with a 2 to 1 odds result in my opponents favor. Things are looking grim for my ten thousand troops at Nadi.

Singapore

Another Japanese attack is repulsed with heavy losses. My forces at Singapore are holding to the bitter end.

China

Concluding that my Flying Tigers needed reinforcement, I sent in a squadron of Hurricane IIb fighters into China. Their first action was over Chihkiang where they ambushed a force of Betty bombers and shot down 13 of them.

The 52nd Divison accompanied by the 66th Infantry Regiment enter Kukong and bombard. I now spring my attempt to trap them there – Chinese forces rush back into the base to ensure it holds and another detachment is moving in to cut the Japanese off from the rear.

Finally, one of the Japanese divisions, the 116th, is annihilated at the Nanyang pocket!

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A carrier task force is on the way to Wake Island, but whether it can do anything to change the battle there is doubtful.

[DesertWolf101]

March 5, 1942

Central Pacific

The Japanese battleship Mutsu and four heavy cruisers pound Wake Island. This greatly helps the turn’s shock attack, as the Japanese get 1 to 1 odds and knock the fortifications down a level to 3.

3 Wildcats attack AP Yoshino Maru and hit her with four bombs, leaving her with heavy fires. They follow this up in the afternoon by placing another 3 bombs into the already damaged AP Kanzyu Maru, leaving her in sinking condition.

S/SW Pacific

His battleships completely out of shells, my opponent sends in the cruisers – three heavy cruisers and even 7 DDs join in on the shelling. This is accompanied by another massed KB raid (typically involves at least 200 Kate and Vals).

With fortifications down to zero and suffering from another long night and day of shelling and bombing, I thought that my Nadi defenders were done for. They came through in today’s Japanese attack however, holding the line with 1 to 2 odds in my favor! [&o][&o][&o]

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The gods of war smiled upon me this turn, but will Nadi continue to hold?

[DesertWolf101]

March 6-7, 1942

S/SW Pacific

B-26 Marauder bombers were pounding Lae for the last tend days. My opponent finally ambushes them with 19 Zeros and shoots down 10. I should have known to not be so predictable for so long.

Philippines

Completely out of supply, my troops at Cagayan finally fold as the Japanese attack. Mindanao is now completely under the control of the Japanese.

China

The Japanese attack at Chengchow, likely not realizing I had built my forts there up to level 4. As a result, they get a devastating drumming with 310 combat squads destroyed and 314 disabled. This is the opening I was waiting for to counterattack.

In a stunning two turns, all remaining Japanese troops in the Nanyang pocket are eliminated. Four divisions (15th, 32nd, 35th, and 110th) are added to the list of Japanese units destroyed in this momentous battle. Victory!

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The KB pulls away from Fiji towards the north - could it be running short of fuel?

[DesertWolf101]

March 8-9, 1942

North Pacific

Japanese troops from the 7th Division land and capture Attu Island. This is a new front, as nothing has happened here from the start.

Central Pacific

Mutsu and her four cruiser friends visit Wake for another bombardment. This proves decisive, as the Japanese attack this turn takes down the fortifications from 3 to 0 and paves the way for what seems to be an imminent fall of Wake. Too bad, my carrier is just now arriving on the scene.

S/SW Pacific

A final failed Japanese assault conclusively demonstrates that the Americans will hold Nadi. I keep a sharp lookout for an opening to reinforce the defenders in the hope of eventually taking back Fiji.

Singapore

Another Japanese attack on Singapore meets the usual fate. Excellent leaders and accumulated combat experience behind good terrain and fortifications seems to have been a clear winning combination here.

China

44 Zeros sweep the skies over Nanchang, encountering 15 Hurricane IIbs. Four Hurricanes are lost for 7 Zero kills. Also near Nanchang, the Flying Tigers intercept and shoot down a dozen Sally bombers.

Several deliberate attacks are launched at the weakened Japanese army at Nanchang for 1 to 1 odds and hundreds of squads disabled/destroyed on both sides. In the meantime, I attempt another large encircling move here with a smaller army. Unfortunately, it seems my opponent has noticed the danger and began to pull out in time.

The collapse of the Nanyang pocket suddenly freeds up masses of battle hardened Chinese troops. These forces rush forward to reinforce and relieve beleaguered Chinese defenders elsewhere. The first fruit to fall is Loyang, which is recaptured by Chinese troops.

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Something seems to be up in the Indian Ocean - lots of IJN traffic up the Malacca Strait.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

How many divisions did he commit to Singapore?
did you reinforced it with anything other than starting Malaya troops?
did he capture Palembang?

late March seems a bit too late for capturing Singapore

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

How many divisions did he commit to Singapore?
did you reinforced it with anything other than starting Malaya troops?
did he capture Palembang?

late March seems a bit too late for capturing Singapore

In total he has about 4 divisions worth of troops at Singapore. I was not able to reinforce the defenders since he captured Sinkawang and had excellent air cover over the approaches. Palembang is firmly in Japanese hands although I continue to pound it occasionally with bombers from Java (can't hit the oilfields however as our House Rule prevents strategic bombing until 1943).

[DesertWolf101]

March 10-11, 1942

Submarines

Tautog duds against an AK near Japan.

Central Pacific

36 SBD dive-bombers from the Yorktown, finally arriving at the battle scene, drop their loads on the Naval Guard units at Wake. The bombing seems to have been disruptive enough to weaken the Japanese attack to 1 to 1 odds. I attempt to hit the Japanese troops again the next day but it seems weather prevents my strike from going in.

China

My opponent senses the danger his troops at Kukong are in and sends in two infantry battalions to open up new routes into the hex from different sides. I have anticipated this however and sally out units from the town to block out the different approaches. The 52nd division’s attempt to withdraw from the hex on the other hand is delayed by Chinese bombers just enough to allow my encircling move to work. The 52nd Division and 66th Infantry Regiments are now trapped at Kukong.

Chinese troops surge into Chengchow and launch an assault on the Japanese troops attempting to withdraw from the hex. The recapture of Loyang also cuts off their escape route. Yet another Japanese Army, smallish one of 18,000 troops is trapped, at least for now.

At Nanchang however, a battered but much larger Japanese army slips through my grasp and retreats towards Hangchow – so close!

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The Chinese theater is incredibly active. The Japanese Mongolian Army is still on the march towards Langchow under daily Blenheim bombardment, the north is a fluid scene of roving armies with a decisive Chinese edge, a Japanese army is retreating from Nanchang, and then there is the Kukong encirclement. I will post a screenshot to illustrate.

[DesertWolf101]

Situation in China

[DesertWolf101]

March 12, 1942

Central Pacific

The Yorktown’s aircraft are still prevented from flying by the weather, but the Japanese attack still fails to take Wake with 1 to 1 odds.

Indian Ocean

Having had enough of my opponent’s roving cruisers – I brought in a force of heavy battleships in an attempt to ambush his next foray. My chance finally arrived during tonight’s turn. Four British battleships (Revenge, Royal Sovereign, Ramillies, and Resolution) escorted by six destroyers and a CLAA encounter the Japanese heavy cruiser Maya, the light cruiser Sendai, and two destroyers.

During the night engagement, Maya takes 8 shells and is on fire while the Japanese destroyer Asashio is hit with a torpedo. The Japanese night fighting capability shines through however as Resolution takes two torpedoes and Ramilies is hit with one.

In a second night engagement, the Sendai is caught on its own and is damaged with a torpedo and three good shell hits from the battleships. It is then finished off during the day with four more battleship shells even as it gives a parting gift of a torpedo into the Royal Sovereign.

Singapore

Encouraged by the performance of the Hurricanes in China. I sneak in another squadron into Singapore where they do good work by knocking out 10 Nettie and 14 Lily bombers during the daily Japanese raids.

Meanwhile, I also sent in a squadron of Vildebeest torpedo bombers into Singapore as my intelligence alerted me to the imminent arrival of Japanese reinforcements at Mersing following the Japanese victory at Luzon. Unfortunately, the 10 Vildebeests only score a single torpedo hit on a Japanese AP in the morning raid and another on an AK during the afternoon.

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With three battleships damaged, I elect to withdraw to Ceylon instead of pursuing the Japanese. I content myself with the loss of a Japanese light cruiser and a destroyer. All my warships make it safely back to port for repair.

[BBfanboy]

You have already done very well on land, sea and air compared with the usual drubbing the Allies take. Part of it seems to be your opponents shotgun expansion, hitting a lot of places but not concentrating his forces enough to finish off yours. He rectified his mistake in Luzon at the cost of leaving Singapore in your hands.

Priorities! I don't know why any IJ player would assault Suva and Nadi before securing Wake and New Caledonia.
Anyway, it is heartening to see how much can be achieved on the Allied side by exploiting IJ mistakes and opening in their conquered areas.

[DanielAClark]

I too am surprised that he has gone all the way out to Fiji.

What is the long term benefit of such a move?

Is it really that beneficial to be able to hit convoys out that far...at the cost of having to supply your own forces that far?