13 Feb 42
I-18 spotted CL Achilles and 3 DDs east of Sydney. With KB spotted to the east, they were probably headed to Sydney. Can't see them going towards Noumea at this point. 6 torpedoes missed Achilles.
Enemy ships were spotted at Singkawang. Two small Japanese carriers are to the northeast, but are carrying only fighters, and are with a heavy cruiser task force. An invasion force for Singkawang with an escort of 4 slower Japanese BBs are a bit further to the northeast, coming from Cam Ranh Bay. 21 Bettys missed DM Thracian and DM Stronghold in the morning. The Bettys tried again in the afternoon, spotting and sinking AM Jan van Amstel but again missing the 2 DMs. Good chance that there are mines at Singkawang now. I'm considering invading Pontianak, to the south of Singkawang.
With KB now just west of Noumea, all bombers were ordered to hit Noumea's airfield. Catalinas were damaged and moderate damage was done to the airfield. No CAP. Haruna will bombard Noumea tonight. An AKE is returning to Koumac. Why do have the suspicion that the AKE will be sunk by an "S" sub at Koumac? Because it's an important ship and those are the ones that keep getting hit by subs sitting at my ports. DDs will patrol Koumac looking for the subs.
I-164 sank AMc Salak with a torpedo at Oosthaven. I still suspect that oil is being drawn out of Sumatra at Oosthaven. Minesweepers there support that theory. But other smaller ports on the west coast could be used also.
Umnak's airfield went to level 2. This is the first indication of any enemy activity in the Aleutians. I plan on blitzing the islands from Adak to the west soon. My goal is just to threaten another area and not advance further. I'll build and dig in with minimal forces.
Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
14 Feb 42
I-124 spotted a big task force of ships returning to Auckland after the great escape. 2 torpedoes hit big AMC Monowai, causing heavy damage and setting it on fire. No indication of sinking and it only has to go 2 hexes to safety at Auckland.
Haruna and escorts bombarded Noumea, causing 437 casualties and minor base damage. S-39 took a shot at an escorting destroyer when the ships got back to Koumac, but missed.
Dutch sub KXI hit xAK Meiu Maru with a torpedo near Groot Natoena. The ship is carrying men for the next Borneo invasion. The ship is badly damaged and burning and will sink tomorrow. The other 3 xAKs will continue on towards Pontianak.
Sallys made a surprise raid on Sian, hitting most of the refineries there. I figure that it is a valid strategy to take out the Chinese refineries and prevent supply from being created. There aren't that many Chinese refineries. Sian and another base to the north. Don't know of others but they may exist. I won't be taking Sian anytime soon, so might as well.
Troops will attack at Singapore again. I'm sure that the forts have been rebuilding.
I-124 spotted a big task force of ships returning to Auckland after the great escape. 2 torpedoes hit big AMC Monowai, causing heavy damage and setting it on fire. No indication of sinking and it only has to go 2 hexes to safety at Auckland.
Haruna and escorts bombarded Noumea, causing 437 casualties and minor base damage. S-39 took a shot at an escorting destroyer when the ships got back to Koumac, but missed.
Dutch sub KXI hit xAK Meiu Maru with a torpedo near Groot Natoena. The ship is carrying men for the next Borneo invasion. The ship is badly damaged and burning and will sink tomorrow. The other 3 xAKs will continue on towards Pontianak.
Sallys made a surprise raid on Sian, hitting most of the refineries there. I figure that it is a valid strategy to take out the Chinese refineries and prevent supply from being created. There aren't that many Chinese refineries. Sian and another base to the north. Don't know of others but they may exist. I won't be taking Sian anytime soon, so might as well.
Troops will attack at Singapore again. I'm sure that the forts have been rebuilding.
RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
15 Feb 42
A few enemy subs took some depth charge hits today. Two were in shallow water near Singkawang. The other was in shallow water at Tulagi. Probably none were sunk though.
Bettys flew from Malaya to Palembang to attack 3 tiny HDMLs, and the Zeros with them did not fly. Bad. Many lost to Buffalos and Hurricanes. Had to keep the Bettys on duty in case the British cruisers came back to the Singapore area.
Japanese bombers hit Changsha's airbase, causing major damage. I'll keep hitting here and there. The goal is to deplete enemy supply. It's a long term plan, hopefully culminating in a big Japanese offensive later on.
Pontianak was invaded. The defenders are surprisingly stronger than what I just landed. 4 Japanese battleships will bombard and hopefully help the Japanese take the base. Bettys will support with bombing.
Singapore. What a meat grinder. Going to have to wait for 2 fresh reinforcing divisions. One is coming from Luzon, the other from Manchuria.
Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 50010 troops, 582 guns, 466 vehicles, Assault Value = 1438
Defending force 47168 troops, 582 guns, 401 vehicles, Assault Value = 595
Japanese adjusted assault: 930
Allied adjusted defense: 1107
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
2476 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 224 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 20 (3 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 50 (1 destroyed, 49 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1953 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 78 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 34 disabled
Guns lost 43 (2 destroyed, 41 disabled)
Vehicles lost 37 (10 destroyed, 27 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Bataan will be deliberately attacked for the first time today.
A few enemy subs took some depth charge hits today. Two were in shallow water near Singkawang. The other was in shallow water at Tulagi. Probably none were sunk though.
Bettys flew from Malaya to Palembang to attack 3 tiny HDMLs, and the Zeros with them did not fly. Bad. Many lost to Buffalos and Hurricanes. Had to keep the Bettys on duty in case the British cruisers came back to the Singapore area.
Japanese bombers hit Changsha's airbase, causing major damage. I'll keep hitting here and there. The goal is to deplete enemy supply. It's a long term plan, hopefully culminating in a big Japanese offensive later on.
Pontianak was invaded. The defenders are surprisingly stronger than what I just landed. 4 Japanese battleships will bombard and hopefully help the Japanese take the base. Bettys will support with bombing.
Singapore. What a meat grinder. Going to have to wait for 2 fresh reinforcing divisions. One is coming from Luzon, the other from Manchuria.
Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 50010 troops, 582 guns, 466 vehicles, Assault Value = 1438
Defending force 47168 troops, 582 guns, 401 vehicles, Assault Value = 595
Japanese adjusted assault: 930
Allied adjusted defense: 1107
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
2476 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 224 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 20 (3 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 50 (1 destroyed, 49 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1953 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 78 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 34 disabled
Guns lost 43 (2 destroyed, 41 disabled)
Vehicles lost 37 (10 destroyed, 27 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Bataan will be deliberately attacked for the first time today.
RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
16 Feb 42
Haruna bombarded Noumea again, doing good work on the non-combat troops there, and minor base damage to Noumea. Haruna will return tonight. An AKE is resupplying at Koumac.
Battleships Hyuga, Ise, Fuso and Nagato bombarded Pontianak, hoping to sway the battle between 2 small ground units. Minor base damage was done and the troops weren't even targeted. Additional supply was unloaded at Pontianak.
The attack at Pontianak failed. Another unit will be brought there in about a week.
Ground combat at Pontianak (56,90)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 903 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 30
Defending force 1177 troops, 5 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 37
Japanese adjusted assault: 6
Allied adjusted defense: 16
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)
Japanese ground losses:
62 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
III/124th Infantry Battalion
Defending units:
W Borneo KNIL Battalion
DMS went to Singkawang and found no mines, surprisingly. The 2 British DMs spotted there may have been extracting troops. I love Abdiel. I wonder if it was one of it. It would help explain why the Bettys didn't get any torpedo hits the other day. Abdiel is such a fast ship. It can mine. It can carry troops.
Enemy troops were bombed at Bataan, with very limited results. Japanese forces deliberately attacked for the first time, just missing 2 to 1 odds. Forts were reduced and the enemy losses were tremendous.
Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 37511 troops, 490 guns, 614 vehicles, Assault Value = 1163
Defending force 40903 troops, 511 guns, 177 vehicles, Assault Value = 396
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese adjusted assault: 1084
Allied adjusted defense: 551
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1421 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 85 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 34 (1 destroyed, 33 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
4143 casualties reported
Squads: 112 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 48 destroyed, 89 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 59 (26 destroyed, 33 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (5 destroyed, 15 disabled)
A day of rest is ordered, except for the artillery, which will continue firing.
Question: Does over-stacking increase troop losses in combat? I don't remember ever reading this, but it sure seems to do so. Enemy losses, by artillery bombardments or by deliberate attack, seem way higher than expected. The enemy is severely over-stacked. The base still seems to have supply though. Flak is still firing on my bombers.
Haruna bombarded Noumea again, doing good work on the non-combat troops there, and minor base damage to Noumea. Haruna will return tonight. An AKE is resupplying at Koumac.
Battleships Hyuga, Ise, Fuso and Nagato bombarded Pontianak, hoping to sway the battle between 2 small ground units. Minor base damage was done and the troops weren't even targeted. Additional supply was unloaded at Pontianak.
The attack at Pontianak failed. Another unit will be brought there in about a week.
Ground combat at Pontianak (56,90)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 903 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 30
Defending force 1177 troops, 5 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 37
Japanese adjusted assault: 6
Allied adjusted defense: 16
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)
Japanese ground losses:
62 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
III/124th Infantry Battalion
Defending units:
W Borneo KNIL Battalion
DMS went to Singkawang and found no mines, surprisingly. The 2 British DMs spotted there may have been extracting troops. I love Abdiel. I wonder if it was one of it. It would help explain why the Bettys didn't get any torpedo hits the other day. Abdiel is such a fast ship. It can mine. It can carry troops.
Enemy troops were bombed at Bataan, with very limited results. Japanese forces deliberately attacked for the first time, just missing 2 to 1 odds. Forts were reduced and the enemy losses were tremendous.
Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 37511 troops, 490 guns, 614 vehicles, Assault Value = 1163
Defending force 40903 troops, 511 guns, 177 vehicles, Assault Value = 396
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese adjusted assault: 1084
Allied adjusted defense: 551
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1421 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 85 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 34 (1 destroyed, 33 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
4143 casualties reported
Squads: 112 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 48 destroyed, 89 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 59 (26 destroyed, 33 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (5 destroyed, 15 disabled)
A day of rest is ordered, except for the artillery, which will continue firing.
Question: Does over-stacking increase troop losses in combat? I don't remember ever reading this, but it sure seems to do so. Enemy losses, by artillery bombardments or by deliberate attack, seem way higher than expected. The enemy is severely over-stacked. The base still seems to have supply though. Flak is still firing on my bombers.
RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
17 Feb 42
Haruna and escorts bombarded Noumea again. S-41 missed destroyer Natsushio at Koumac, and Gato was seen at Noumea.
Japanese cruisers bombarded Singkawang, doing minor base damage but also 572 casualties.
I-7 hit big xAP Santa Paula with a torpedo just east of Christmas Island. There are troops on the ship, and the ship went to the island. The sub will risk mines and follow.
S-23 hit xAKL Tenposan Maru with 2 torpedoes at Tarawa, sinking the ship. The S subs continue their outstanding work.
Bataan will be attacked today.
Haruna and escorts bombarded Noumea again. S-41 missed destroyer Natsushio at Koumac, and Gato was seen at Noumea.
Japanese cruisers bombarded Singkawang, doing minor base damage but also 572 casualties.
I-7 hit big xAP Santa Paula with a torpedo just east of Christmas Island. There are troops on the ship, and the ship went to the island. The sub will risk mines and follow.
S-23 hit xAKL Tenposan Maru with 2 torpedoes at Tarawa, sinking the ship. The S subs continue their outstanding work.
Bataan will be attacked today.
RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
18 Feb 42
I-7 followed xAP Santa Paula into Christmas Island, and hit it with another torpedo. Audio suggests that the ship sank just after combat, and it was loaded with troops. No escorts with it.
Zeros swept Norfolk Island but no ships spotted there in task forces. 2 ships are spotted in port, and now there are non-combat aircraft there, probably the Catalinas that had been at Noumea. 40 Vals hit the airfield and did minor damage. There is no port there, so it can't be bombed. A battleship and 2 heavy cruisers are broken off from the carriers and will bombard Norfolk tonight. The carriers will move a bit north.
Haruna will bombard Noumea and Japanese troops, augmented with most of the 4th Infantry Division, will attack.
Bataan was attacked. Results were mixed. Progress made but casualties taken.
Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 36653 troops, 489 guns, 615 vehicles, Assault Value = 1082
Defending force 37522 troops, 490 guns, 163 vehicles, Assault Value = 309
Japanese adjusted assault: 616
Allied adjusted defense: 483
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1351 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 66 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 32 (2 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1158 casualties reported
Squads: 129 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 42 destroyed, 71 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 30 (8 destroyed, 22 disabled)
A very disrupted division will move out of Bataan to Clark, while a fresh division moves into Bataan. The division had very high fatigue and disruption, and a moderate number of disabled squads, so an attack would have had to waited for several days anyhow. The attack will resume when the replacement division arrives. In the mean time, the artillery will continue pounding the over-stacked enemy.
I-7 followed xAP Santa Paula into Christmas Island, and hit it with another torpedo. Audio suggests that the ship sank just after combat, and it was loaded with troops. No escorts with it.
Zeros swept Norfolk Island but no ships spotted there in task forces. 2 ships are spotted in port, and now there are non-combat aircraft there, probably the Catalinas that had been at Noumea. 40 Vals hit the airfield and did minor damage. There is no port there, so it can't be bombed. A battleship and 2 heavy cruisers are broken off from the carriers and will bombard Norfolk tonight. The carriers will move a bit north.
Haruna will bombard Noumea and Japanese troops, augmented with most of the 4th Infantry Division, will attack.
Bataan was attacked. Results were mixed. Progress made but casualties taken.
Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 36653 troops, 489 guns, 615 vehicles, Assault Value = 1082
Defending force 37522 troops, 490 guns, 163 vehicles, Assault Value = 309
Japanese adjusted assault: 616
Allied adjusted defense: 483
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1351 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 66 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 32 (2 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1158 casualties reported
Squads: 129 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 42 destroyed, 71 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 30 (8 destroyed, 22 disabled)
A very disrupted division will move out of Bataan to Clark, while a fresh division moves into Bataan. The division had very high fatigue and disruption, and a moderate number of disabled squads, so an attack would have had to waited for several days anyhow. The attack will resume when the replacement division arrives. In the mean time, the artillery will continue pounding the over-stacked enemy.
RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
19 Feb 42
Battleships Kirishima and cruisers Chikuma and Tone bombarded Norfolk Island. Whatever was there yesterday probably fled. No ships sighted in port and no planes seen there. Moderate base damage done. Kirishima still has about half of its ammunition left, and it moved near Noumea on the way to Koumac, so it will bombard Noumea tonight.
Haruna and escorts did bombard Noumea in support of an attack, and will return to bombard again tonight. Minor base damage and 135 casualties.
The curse of the subs continues. O24 hit LSD Shinshu Maru with a torpedo near Pescadores. The fast ship is part of a big transport convoy carrying an infantry division from Manchuria to Bangkok for Singapore. A chunk of the division is on the damaged ship. Fortunately, the ship is just one hex from Pescadores and should survive if it travels the one hex. Shinshu Maru is SYS 16/FLOT 43-30/ENG 2-0/FIRE 8. The rest of the convoy will continue on to Bangkok. Shipping at nearby Takao is ordered to Pescadores to pick up the infantry fragment after it unloads from the damaged ship.
OPilot has been lucky (or good) hitting important transport convoys. He got hits on the ships with the 4th Infantry Division at Port Moresby. That resulted in a loss of part of the divison and a delay getting the division back to Rabaul. The support for the 4th is just now going south from Rabaul to join the division fighting at Noumea. Now he's hit an important reinforcement for Singapore. The Allies couldn't have broken the codes and know where the ships are, could they?
Speaking of the 4th Infantry Division, it attacks at Noumea.
Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 17945 troops, 174 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 660
Defending force 8112 troops, 110 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 202
Japanese adjusted assault: 219
Allied adjusted defense: 178
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1632 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 136 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
367 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Assaulting units:
4th Division
III/66th Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
II/66th Naval Guard Unit
51st Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 8th SNLF
40th Field AA Battalion
32nd Special Base Force
7th Port Unit
Defending units:
164th Infantry Regiment
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion
4th Marine Defense Battalion
2nd Pioneer Battalion
6th Port Maint Engineer Battalion
2nd Marine Air Wing
Noumea Base Force
Poor result. We attack again tonight, with battleship bombardments again. An armor unit at Kwajalein is now loading to reinforce Noumea. Two SNLF units are loading at Tokyo to come south, possibly to join the fight at Noumea. Noumea has become our Guadalcanal. Koumac is a size 1 airfield. Once it gets to size 2, Japanese bombers can support the fight at Noumea.
Battleships Kirishima and cruisers Chikuma and Tone bombarded Norfolk Island. Whatever was there yesterday probably fled. No ships sighted in port and no planes seen there. Moderate base damage done. Kirishima still has about half of its ammunition left, and it moved near Noumea on the way to Koumac, so it will bombard Noumea tonight.
Haruna and escorts did bombard Noumea in support of an attack, and will return to bombard again tonight. Minor base damage and 135 casualties.
The curse of the subs continues. O24 hit LSD Shinshu Maru with a torpedo near Pescadores. The fast ship is part of a big transport convoy carrying an infantry division from Manchuria to Bangkok for Singapore. A chunk of the division is on the damaged ship. Fortunately, the ship is just one hex from Pescadores and should survive if it travels the one hex. Shinshu Maru is SYS 16/FLOT 43-30/ENG 2-0/FIRE 8. The rest of the convoy will continue on to Bangkok. Shipping at nearby Takao is ordered to Pescadores to pick up the infantry fragment after it unloads from the damaged ship.
OPilot has been lucky (or good) hitting important transport convoys. He got hits on the ships with the 4th Infantry Division at Port Moresby. That resulted in a loss of part of the divison and a delay getting the division back to Rabaul. The support for the 4th is just now going south from Rabaul to join the division fighting at Noumea. Now he's hit an important reinforcement for Singapore. The Allies couldn't have broken the codes and know where the ships are, could they?
Speaking of the 4th Infantry Division, it attacks at Noumea.
Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 17945 troops, 174 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 660
Defending force 8112 troops, 110 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 202
Japanese adjusted assault: 219
Allied adjusted defense: 178
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1632 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 136 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
367 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Assaulting units:
4th Division
III/66th Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
II/66th Naval Guard Unit
51st Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 8th SNLF
40th Field AA Battalion
32nd Special Base Force
7th Port Unit
Defending units:
164th Infantry Regiment
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion
4th Marine Defense Battalion
2nd Pioneer Battalion
6th Port Maint Engineer Battalion
2nd Marine Air Wing
Noumea Base Force
Poor result. We attack again tonight, with battleship bombardments again. An armor unit at Kwajalein is now loading to reinforce Noumea. Two SNLF units are loading at Tokyo to come south, possibly to join the fight at Noumea. Noumea has become our Guadalcanal. Koumac is a size 1 airfield. Once it gets to size 2, Japanese bombers can support the fight at Noumea.
RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
20 Feb 42
Haruna and others bombarded Noumea again. 411 casualties and minor base damage. Repeat.
I-15 just got to its patrol station near Melbourne. Right away it spotted huge xAP Mount Vernon, unescorted, but 2 torpedoes missed. I-17 sank PG Isabel in the passage going from Makassar to Kendari. It was escorting a tanker.
A better attack at Noumea. A fresh SNLF unit joined the fight. Another attack is ordered and the base may be captured.
Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 15288 troops, 152 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 566
Defending force 7635 troops, 109 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 149
Japanese adjusted assault: 281
Allied adjusted defense: 118
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
561 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
625 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Task forces are leaving Tokyo for the Kuriles, where they will refuel and then move to invade the western Aleutians. Four bases will be invaded. Support is meager. A few light cruisers and destroyers are escorting. There will be some light carrier support, and Junyo just appeared at Nagasaki, and it will support also.
Haruna and others bombarded Noumea again. 411 casualties and minor base damage. Repeat.
I-15 just got to its patrol station near Melbourne. Right away it spotted huge xAP Mount Vernon, unescorted, but 2 torpedoes missed. I-17 sank PG Isabel in the passage going from Makassar to Kendari. It was escorting a tanker.
A better attack at Noumea. A fresh SNLF unit joined the fight. Another attack is ordered and the base may be captured.
Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 15288 troops, 152 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 566
Defending force 7635 troops, 109 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 149
Japanese adjusted assault: 281
Allied adjusted defense: 118
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
561 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
625 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Task forces are leaving Tokyo for the Kuriles, where they will refuel and then move to invade the western Aleutians. Four bases will be invaded. Support is meager. A few light cruisers and destroyers are escorting. There will be some light carrier support, and Junyo just appeared at Nagasaki, and it will support also.
RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
21 Feb 42
Cachalot fired 4 torpedoes at cruiser Atago and missed, then fired 4 more at cruiser Takao and missed, at Noumea. The 2 battleship task force then bombarded, doing minor damage. Haguro was hit by a shell from the 4th Marine Defense Battalion. Minor SYS damage.
Empty dot base Laysan Island, southeast of Midway, was invaded and taken by the tiny 7th JNAF Coy. I want to show interest here when I have none. I may not bother putting search planes here. Not enough to go around at the moment.
The daily bombing of Bataan showed no enemy flak firing for the first time. The division switch will take place today, so the next ground attack at Bataan will be tomorrow. Maybe the enemy is out of supply.
Another attack at Noumea. Bloody battle. Will rest for a day.
Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 15750 troops, 156 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 526
Defending force 7091 troops, 110 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 109
Japanese adjusted assault: 112
Allied adjusted defense: 100
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
591 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
489 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Cachalot fired 4 torpedoes at cruiser Atago and missed, then fired 4 more at cruiser Takao and missed, at Noumea. The 2 battleship task force then bombarded, doing minor damage. Haguro was hit by a shell from the 4th Marine Defense Battalion. Minor SYS damage.
Empty dot base Laysan Island, southeast of Midway, was invaded and taken by the tiny 7th JNAF Coy. I want to show interest here when I have none. I may not bother putting search planes here. Not enough to go around at the moment.
The daily bombing of Bataan showed no enemy flak firing for the first time. The division switch will take place today, so the next ground attack at Bataan will be tomorrow. Maybe the enemy is out of supply.
Another attack at Noumea. Bloody battle. Will rest for a day.
Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 15750 troops, 156 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 526
Defending force 7091 troops, 110 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 109
Japanese adjusted assault: 112
Allied adjusted defense: 100
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
591 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
489 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)
RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
22 Feb 42
Nothing unusual today. Bombed Bataan and Singapore, and some places in China. Starting an offensive to threaten south of Changsha, having moved many divisions from the north to the area. Probably not enough to take Changsha and protect the flanks, but may be enough to scare OPilot into fleeing from Changsha. We'll see.
Bataan will be attacked today, using a fresh division. Noumea will be attacked today. A reinforcing division for Singapore has landed at Bangkok. Another on the way.
Thinking. No sign of the US carriers after they fled from Auckland. There has been heavy SigInt at Melbourne, and yesterday at Perth. Could the US carriers be moving to the Java area? Could be. If I were the Allies, I wouldn't want to run into a full KB at this point. That almost happened with my Auckland raid. Do I have to say that weather prevented what could have been a war-changing strike? Yes, it still hurts.
So, are the US carriers still in the South Pacific, or are they headed to Java. If I were the Allies, I know that invasions of Sumatra, Java and Borneo are coming, and that KB is near Noumea. The US carriers could cause a lot of damage with a surprise showing for those landings. Do I send KB? Don't know yet. If Noumea falls soon, maybe I send them after refueling from some enroute AOs. It would be hard for KB to surprise the US carriers there. Thinking.
Nothing unusual today. Bombed Bataan and Singapore, and some places in China. Starting an offensive to threaten south of Changsha, having moved many divisions from the north to the area. Probably not enough to take Changsha and protect the flanks, but may be enough to scare OPilot into fleeing from Changsha. We'll see.
Bataan will be attacked today, using a fresh division. Noumea will be attacked today. A reinforcing division for Singapore has landed at Bangkok. Another on the way.
Thinking. No sign of the US carriers after they fled from Auckland. There has been heavy SigInt at Melbourne, and yesterday at Perth. Could the US carriers be moving to the Java area? Could be. If I were the Allies, I wouldn't want to run into a full KB at this point. That almost happened with my Auckland raid. Do I have to say that weather prevented what could have been a war-changing strike? Yes, it still hurts.
So, are the US carriers still in the South Pacific, or are they headed to Java. If I were the Allies, I know that invasions of Sumatra, Java and Borneo are coming, and that KB is near Noumea. The US carriers could cause a lot of damage with a surprise showing for those landings. Do I send KB? Don't know yet. If Noumea falls soon, maybe I send them after refueling from some enroute AOs. It would be hard for KB to surprise the US carriers there. Thinking.
RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
23 Feb 42
Finally a turn that felt like what an early war turn should feel like for the Japanese.
Kirishima and Haruna and friends bombarded Noumea. After returning to Koumac, escorting destroyers sank Pickerel in the shallow water. First US fleet sub that was sunk without a doubt.
The fight at Noumea is over.
Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 18309 troops, 184 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 509
Defending force 6852 troops, 109 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 92
Japanese adjusted assault: 325
Allied adjusted defense: 91
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Noumea !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
546 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Allied ground losses:
6914 casualties reported
Squads: 222 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 545 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 21 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 116 (116 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 55 (55 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 7
Assaulting units:
III/66th Naval Guard Unit
4th Division
51st Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
II/66th Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 8th SNLF
40th Field AA Battalion
32nd Special Base Force
7th Port Unit
Defending units:
164th Infantry Regiment
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion
2nd Pioneer Battalion
4th Marine Defense Battalion
2nd Marine Air Wing
6th Port Maint Engineer Battalion
Noumea Base Force
Bombers hit Bataan again, with some Lilys hitting ARD Dewey with a bomb. I was wondering what was still in port there.
And Bataan is taken. The enemy had just run out of supply. Just about every Allied unit that started on Luzon had withdrawn to Bataan, and they were all destroyed today. I don't like to list long combat report entries, but there were so many Allied units destroyed that I had to show them.
Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 34905 troops, 452 guns, 613 vehicles, Assault Value = 1081
Defending force 35118 troops, 478 guns, 158 vehicles, Assault Value = 266
Japanese adjusted assault: 1113
Allied adjusted defense: 325
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Bataan !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1220 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 21 (4 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
40666 casualties reported
Squads: 938 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2345 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 125 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 544 (544 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 229 (229 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 38
Assaulting units:
16th Recon Regiment
56th Division
4th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
38th Division
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th RF Gun Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
14th Army
6th RF Gun Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd RF Gun Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
Defending units:
91st PA Infantry Division
31st Infantry Regiment
57th PS Infantry Regiment
41st PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
21st PA Infantry Division
2nd Constabulary Regiment
51st PA Infantry Division
192nd Tank Battalion
45th PS Infantry Regiment
1st PA Infantry Division
4th Constabulary Regiment
I Corps
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
4th Marine Regiment
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment
1st Constabulary Regiment
24th PS FA Regiment
86th PS Field Artillery Battalion
Manila Bay Defenses
Nichols Field AAF Base Force
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
Clark Field AAF Base Force
Bataan USN Base Force
1st USMC AA Battalion
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
301st Construction Battalion
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp
11th PAAC Avn Sup
194th Tank Battalion
I/Prov'nl SPM Grp
4th PAAC Avn Sup
II Corps
US Forces Far East
Asiatic Fleet /1
Planning for Japanese troops on Luzon has begun. Some will need some rest at Manila. Others will start the advance towards Java soon.
Finally a turn that felt like what an early war turn should feel like for the Japanese.
Kirishima and Haruna and friends bombarded Noumea. After returning to Koumac, escorting destroyers sank Pickerel in the shallow water. First US fleet sub that was sunk without a doubt.
The fight at Noumea is over.
Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 18309 troops, 184 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 509
Defending force 6852 troops, 109 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 92
Japanese adjusted assault: 325
Allied adjusted defense: 91
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Noumea !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
546 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Allied ground losses:
6914 casualties reported
Squads: 222 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 545 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 21 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 116 (116 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 55 (55 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 7
Assaulting units:
III/66th Naval Guard Unit
4th Division
51st Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
II/66th Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 8th SNLF
40th Field AA Battalion
32nd Special Base Force
7th Port Unit
Defending units:
164th Infantry Regiment
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion
2nd Pioneer Battalion
4th Marine Defense Battalion
2nd Marine Air Wing
6th Port Maint Engineer Battalion
Noumea Base Force
Bombers hit Bataan again, with some Lilys hitting ARD Dewey with a bomb. I was wondering what was still in port there.
And Bataan is taken. The enemy had just run out of supply. Just about every Allied unit that started on Luzon had withdrawn to Bataan, and they were all destroyed today. I don't like to list long combat report entries, but there were so many Allied units destroyed that I had to show them.
Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 34905 troops, 452 guns, 613 vehicles, Assault Value = 1081
Defending force 35118 troops, 478 guns, 158 vehicles, Assault Value = 266
Japanese adjusted assault: 1113
Allied adjusted defense: 325
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Bataan !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1220 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 21 (4 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
40666 casualties reported
Squads: 938 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2345 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 125 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 544 (544 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 229 (229 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 38
Assaulting units:
16th Recon Regiment
56th Division
4th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
38th Division
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th RF Gun Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
14th Army
6th RF Gun Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd RF Gun Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
Defending units:
91st PA Infantry Division
31st Infantry Regiment
57th PS Infantry Regiment
41st PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
21st PA Infantry Division
2nd Constabulary Regiment
51st PA Infantry Division
192nd Tank Battalion
45th PS Infantry Regiment
1st PA Infantry Division
4th Constabulary Regiment
I Corps
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
4th Marine Regiment
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment
1st Constabulary Regiment
24th PS FA Regiment
86th PS Field Artillery Battalion
Manila Bay Defenses
Nichols Field AAF Base Force
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
Clark Field AAF Base Force
Bataan USN Base Force
1st USMC AA Battalion
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
301st Construction Battalion
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp
11th PAAC Avn Sup
194th Tank Battalion
I/Prov'nl SPM Grp
4th PAAC Avn Sup
II Corps
US Forces Far East
Asiatic Fleet /1
Planning for Japanese troops on Luzon has begun. Some will need some rest at Manila. Others will start the advance towards Java soon.
RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
A Very nice point harvest for sure.
RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
24 Feb 42
8 Japanese DMS's went to work sweeping mines at Bataan. Many mines were swept, but as often happens, the last mine was a doozy and it sank DMS W-4. Sailfish is at Bataan also but it missed DMS W-5 with 4 torpedoes.
I-168 spotted 2 task forces at Norfolk Island. One had light cruisers Achilles, Helena and Perth, and destroyers Voyager and Vendetta.
45 Zeros from Johore Baru swept Palembang, shooting down 22 Buffaloes and 10 Hurricane IIb Trops for the loss of 4 of their own.
8 Japanese DMS's went to work sweeping mines at Bataan. Many mines were swept, but as often happens, the last mine was a doozy and it sank DMS W-4. Sailfish is at Bataan also but it missed DMS W-5 with 4 torpedoes.
I-168 spotted 2 task forces at Norfolk Island. One had light cruisers Achilles, Helena and Perth, and destroyers Voyager and Vendetta.
45 Zeros from Johore Baru swept Palembang, shooting down 22 Buffaloes and 10 Hurricane IIb Trops for the loss of 4 of their own.
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RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
25 Feb 42
Continued to sweep mines at Bataan and Manila. Many swept at Bataan, and still some there. Worse, 2 more DMS were sunk by mines there today, making it a total of 3 lost in the last 2 days. I sent 8 DMS there. I have 5 left. If it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all.
Gudgeon hit a mine at Hakodate as it was passing by Ominato. Probable sinking.
I-26 spotted 2 xAPs and destroyers Le Triomphant and Stuart near Auckland. 2 torpedoes missed Stuart. Auckland is still in use.
I-168 spotted the Allied cruiser force, and another small task force, still at Norfolk Island. 3 days straight. If KB hadn't moved north for fuel, these ships would have been hit. But I've made the decision to move KB to support the landings on Sumatra and Java. I can't risk having the US carriers show up there while KB is in the South Pacific. Those targets must be taken and that is no secret.
I reinforced Pontianak on Borneo with another ground unit. Attack today.
Continued to sweep mines at Bataan and Manila. Many swept at Bataan, and still some there. Worse, 2 more DMS were sunk by mines there today, making it a total of 3 lost in the last 2 days. I sent 8 DMS there. I have 5 left. If it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all.
Gudgeon hit a mine at Hakodate as it was passing by Ominato. Probable sinking.
I-26 spotted 2 xAPs and destroyers Le Triomphant and Stuart near Auckland. 2 torpedoes missed Stuart. Auckland is still in use.
I-168 spotted the Allied cruiser force, and another small task force, still at Norfolk Island. 3 days straight. If KB hadn't moved north for fuel, these ships would have been hit. But I've made the decision to move KB to support the landings on Sumatra and Java. I can't risk having the US carriers show up there while KB is in the South Pacific. Those targets must be taken and that is no secret.
I reinforced Pontianak on Borneo with another ground unit. Attack today.
RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
26 Feb 42
I had 3 xAKs and a PB headed to Sorong from Babeldaob, carrying a small airbase support unit. I want to put some search planes at Sorong. I routed them a bit indirectly, considering the number of enemy subs in the area. They stopped at the enemy dot base just east of Sorong yesterday. That was unfortunate, as OPilot got a coast watcher report, and moved Dutch sub KIX to Sorong. First, the sub hit xAK Kyokuzan Maru with 2 torpedoes, sinking it. Later, it hit xAK Kinmo Maru with 2 torpedoes, the second of which was a dud. Despite shallow water, the patrol boat couldn't find the sub.
A groups of big and fast xAPs was headed to Batangas to load up troops from Luzon. Bataan wasn't clear of mines yet. I figured that Batangas would be safer, figuring that the approaches to Manila would be covered with subs. They were, and the approach to Batangas was too close. Dutch sub O21 hit xAP Asama Maru with a torpedo. The ship should survive, disbanding at Batangas for now, but it won't be carrying troops soon. The sub plague continues.
Chinese A-29s have been doing hit and run bombing raids in China, usually hitting Japanese troops in clear terrain. I moved the 9 Tojos to a base to cover the advance near Pingsiang and finally ran into the Hudsons. 4 bombers were shot down.
I reinforced Pontianak and took the base, with the enemy retreating north towards Singawak.
I had 3 xAKs and a PB headed to Sorong from Babeldaob, carrying a small airbase support unit. I want to put some search planes at Sorong. I routed them a bit indirectly, considering the number of enemy subs in the area. They stopped at the enemy dot base just east of Sorong yesterday. That was unfortunate, as OPilot got a coast watcher report, and moved Dutch sub KIX to Sorong. First, the sub hit xAK Kyokuzan Maru with 2 torpedoes, sinking it. Later, it hit xAK Kinmo Maru with 2 torpedoes, the second of which was a dud. Despite shallow water, the patrol boat couldn't find the sub.
A groups of big and fast xAPs was headed to Batangas to load up troops from Luzon. Bataan wasn't clear of mines yet. I figured that Batangas would be safer, figuring that the approaches to Manila would be covered with subs. They were, and the approach to Batangas was too close. Dutch sub O21 hit xAP Asama Maru with a torpedo. The ship should survive, disbanding at Batangas for now, but it won't be carrying troops soon. The sub plague continues.
Chinese A-29s have been doing hit and run bombing raids in China, usually hitting Japanese troops in clear terrain. I moved the 9 Tojos to a base to cover the advance near Pingsiang and finally ran into the Hudsons. 4 bombers were shot down.
I reinforced Pontianak and took the base, with the enemy retreating north towards Singawak.
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RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
27 Feb 42
18 Bettys with 34 Zeros from Noumea went after shipping at Norfolk Island. 12 Wildcats intercepted. 8 Zeros were shot down while downing 2 Wildcats. The Bettys were protected but missed AP Barnett and 4 destroyers with bombs. No HQ on New Caledonia yet so no torpedoes. The Bettys pilots were trained in bombing also but missed at 6000 feet.
First attacks today in the new offensive in China, south of Changsha.
18 Bettys with 34 Zeros from Noumea went after shipping at Norfolk Island. 12 Wildcats intercepted. 8 Zeros were shot down while downing 2 Wildcats. The Bettys were protected but missed AP Barnett and 4 destroyers with bombs. No HQ on New Caledonia yet so no torpedoes. The Bettys pilots were trained in bombing also but missed at 6000 feet.
First attacks today in the new offensive in China, south of Changsha.
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RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
28 Feb 42
I-169 fired 2 torpedoes at DD Alywin at Norfolk but missed. All shipping at Norfolk then seemed to leave to the south. There was an xAP with AP Barnett, so there are undoubtedly troops on Norfolk Island now.
The US Navy reappears at Sorong. I had 2 xAKs there with a PB. One xAK was hit yesterday by a sub, so I disbanded both cargo ships into port and leave the patrol boat to hunt the sub. The US Navy appeared during the night and was gone by daybreak.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Sorong at 82,107, Range 7,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
PB Keiko Maru, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CA Houston
CL Marblehead
CL Boise
DD Alden
DD Barker
DD Bulmer
DD Edsall
DD John D. Edwards
DD Stewart
DD Pillsbury
KB is refueling at Rabaul and will head north. It's so tempting to stay in the South Pacific, but the oil fields must be taken. No way of knowing where the US carriers are.
Four islands in the Aleutians are invaded, as displayed in yesterday's graphic. All were undefended. Ulak falls to a shock attack. Japanese shipping near Adak were spotted by enemy aircraft, probably Catalinas from Umnak or Dutch Harbor. Umnak is a size 2 airbase. A cruiser force is breaking off from the carriers to bombard Umnak tonight.
Follow-up shipping for the invasion spots are headed that way.
In China, the offensive south of Changsha begins.
Ground combat at Pingsiang (82,54)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 38976 troops, 336 guns, 181 vehicles, Assault Value = 1263
Defending force 14935 troops, 79 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 349
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese adjusted assault: 1183
Allied adjusted defense: 497
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
525 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Allied ground losses:
812 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 106 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Assaulting units:
39th Division
70th Division
12th Tank Regiment
26th Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Army
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
Defending units:
88th Chinese Corps
28th Chinese Corps
16th Construction Regiment
10th Group Army
and
Ground combat at 81,55 (near Pingsiang)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 45604 troops, 331 guns, 131 vehicles, Assault Value = 1465
Defending force 21585 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 671
Japanese adjusted assault: 759
Allied adjusted defense: 363
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1628 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 176 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Allied ground losses:
7339 casualties reported
Squads: 180 destroyed, 161 disabled
Non Combat: 205 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 8 (3 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 3
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
60th Division
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade
17th Division
3rd Division
15th Tank Regiment
Defending units:
70th Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
32nd Group Army
I-169 fired 2 torpedoes at DD Alywin at Norfolk but missed. All shipping at Norfolk then seemed to leave to the south. There was an xAP with AP Barnett, so there are undoubtedly troops on Norfolk Island now.
The US Navy reappears at Sorong. I had 2 xAKs there with a PB. One xAK was hit yesterday by a sub, so I disbanded both cargo ships into port and leave the patrol boat to hunt the sub. The US Navy appeared during the night and was gone by daybreak.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Sorong at 82,107, Range 7,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
PB Keiko Maru, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CA Houston
CL Marblehead
CL Boise
DD Alden
DD Barker
DD Bulmer
DD Edsall
DD John D. Edwards
DD Stewart
DD Pillsbury
KB is refueling at Rabaul and will head north. It's so tempting to stay in the South Pacific, but the oil fields must be taken. No way of knowing where the US carriers are.
Four islands in the Aleutians are invaded, as displayed in yesterday's graphic. All were undefended. Ulak falls to a shock attack. Japanese shipping near Adak were spotted by enemy aircraft, probably Catalinas from Umnak or Dutch Harbor. Umnak is a size 2 airbase. A cruiser force is breaking off from the carriers to bombard Umnak tonight.
Follow-up shipping for the invasion spots are headed that way.
In China, the offensive south of Changsha begins.
Ground combat at Pingsiang (82,54)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 38976 troops, 336 guns, 181 vehicles, Assault Value = 1263
Defending force 14935 troops, 79 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 349
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese adjusted assault: 1183
Allied adjusted defense: 497
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
525 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Allied ground losses:
812 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 106 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Assaulting units:
39th Division
70th Division
12th Tank Regiment
26th Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Army
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
Defending units:
88th Chinese Corps
28th Chinese Corps
16th Construction Regiment
10th Group Army
and
Ground combat at 81,55 (near Pingsiang)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 45604 troops, 331 guns, 131 vehicles, Assault Value = 1465
Defending force 21585 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 671
Japanese adjusted assault: 759
Allied adjusted defense: 363
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1628 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 176 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Allied ground losses:
7339 casualties reported
Squads: 180 destroyed, 161 disabled
Non Combat: 205 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 8 (3 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 3
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
60th Division
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade
17th Division
3rd Division
15th Tank Regiment
Defending units:
70th Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
32nd Group Army
RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
1 Mar 42
Umnak is bombarded by 3 Japanese cruisers. Minor base damage and a P-40E destroyed. Base has the 1/30th Coastal Artillery Battalion. Landings continued in the Aleutians. All four invaded islands were undefended and have been captured.
13 Sallys with 15 Zeros made the first strategic bombing raid of Chungking. 8 I-16s and 3 I-15s defended. The Zeros bugged out early and the enemy got to the bombers. 4 Sallys were downed while an I-16 was shot down. Maybe one heavy industry hit. Another 70 or 80 Sallys didn't fly.
Zeros swept Norfolk Island from Noumea but found no CAP. The Wildcats that were there may have left, having been there to cover the task forces. Has to be enemy troops on Norfolk now, but I don't see them yet. Babs recon planes are moving to the south Pacific but it'll take a few more days.
Umnak is bombarded by 3 Japanese cruisers. Minor base damage and a P-40E destroyed. Base has the 1/30th Coastal Artillery Battalion. Landings continued in the Aleutians. All four invaded islands were undefended and have been captured.
13 Sallys with 15 Zeros made the first strategic bombing raid of Chungking. 8 I-16s and 3 I-15s defended. The Zeros bugged out early and the enemy got to the bombers. 4 Sallys were downed while an I-16 was shot down. Maybe one heavy industry hit. Another 70 or 80 Sallys didn't fly.
Zeros swept Norfolk Island from Noumea but found no CAP. The Wildcats that were there may have left, having been there to cover the task forces. Has to be enemy troops on Norfolk now, but I don't see them yet. Babs recon planes are moving to the south Pacific but it'll take a few more days.
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RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
2 Mar 42
Lae and Salamaua were both invaded. There is an enemy unit at each, probably weak.
Will attack at Pingsiang again. Hoping to break through there and threaten Changsha from the south. Bigger enemy fighter presence at the Chungking after my ineffective heavy industry raid.
Follow-up units landing in the Aleutians.
Small enemy craft spotted at the island base just southeast of Singapore. The last time they were there, enemy cruisers came in and bombarded Johore Baru. The small craft may be there as a possible naval strike target, a target less valuable than the bombardment force. I moved my aircraft out of Johore Baru just in case. Bettys are still set up for naval strike from Kuala Lumpur.
Lae and Salamaua were both invaded. There is an enemy unit at each, probably weak.
Will attack at Pingsiang again. Hoping to break through there and threaten Changsha from the south. Bigger enemy fighter presence at the Chungking after my ineffective heavy industry raid.
Follow-up units landing in the Aleutians.
Small enemy craft spotted at the island base just southeast of Singapore. The last time they were there, enemy cruisers came in and bombarded Johore Baru. The small craft may be there as a possible naval strike target, a target less valuable than the bombardment force. I moved my aircraft out of Johore Baru just in case. Bettys are still set up for naval strike from Kuala Lumpur.
RE: Deja Vu All Over Again - apbarog(J) vs OPilot(A)
3 Mar 42
Lilys with Nates attacked Chinese troops near Kanhsien. 4 H81s were on some type of ranged CAP. 3 Nates were lost. The bombers hit the troops. Sallys followed, and 3 were downed, but again, they hit the troops.
The attack at Pingsiang went off at 2 to 1, and lowered the forts to 1. Need to resupply before attacking again. Good attack though. 1500 enemy lost to 225 Japanese. 3 tank regiments helped. Air transports from Formosa continue to drop supply here.
Near Wuchang, our attack went at 1 to 1 but didn't miss the 2 to 1 margin by much. Over 800 casualties on both sides. Here too, we need to resupply before continuing.
Similar story with an attack near Kanhsien. 1 to 1, not far from a 2 to 1, with about 900 casualties on each side.
Sambas, just west of Kuching on Borneo, was attacked and taken. The enemy retreated to Singawang, where there are other enemy units. Japanese units are now advancing to there from both Sambas and Pontianak.
On New Guinea, both Salamaua and Lae were taken. Tiny enemy units were defending. They retreated inland with starvation looking inevitable.
On an "Off Topic" topic, I purchased the new Matrix game Gary Grigsby's War in the East 2. I've been a big fan of the work of Mr. Grigsby, as well as that of Mr. Billings. My life as a computer wargamer was formed by them, going all the way back to my high school days playing Computer Bismarck against my dad on an Apple II computer, chasing the letter "B" across the map. (If only I had purchased Apple stock then instead of an Apple computer!)
And then all of the SSI games that they produced.
I had purchased the original War in the East but never played it. I've been too committed to War in the Pacific to be playing both. Now I have War in the East 2. I plan on playing it against the AI. Maybe someday PBEM. But for now, I'm supporting Matrix and those who created the game. WITE2 looks like a great creation.
Lilys with Nates attacked Chinese troops near Kanhsien. 4 H81s were on some type of ranged CAP. 3 Nates were lost. The bombers hit the troops. Sallys followed, and 3 were downed, but again, they hit the troops.
The attack at Pingsiang went off at 2 to 1, and lowered the forts to 1. Need to resupply before attacking again. Good attack though. 1500 enemy lost to 225 Japanese. 3 tank regiments helped. Air transports from Formosa continue to drop supply here.
Near Wuchang, our attack went at 1 to 1 but didn't miss the 2 to 1 margin by much. Over 800 casualties on both sides. Here too, we need to resupply before continuing.
Similar story with an attack near Kanhsien. 1 to 1, not far from a 2 to 1, with about 900 casualties on each side.
Sambas, just west of Kuching on Borneo, was attacked and taken. The enemy retreated to Singawang, where there are other enemy units. Japanese units are now advancing to there from both Sambas and Pontianak.
On New Guinea, both Salamaua and Lae were taken. Tiny enemy units were defending. They retreated inland with starvation looking inevitable.
On an "Off Topic" topic, I purchased the new Matrix game Gary Grigsby's War in the East 2. I've been a big fan of the work of Mr. Grigsby, as well as that of Mr. Billings. My life as a computer wargamer was formed by them, going all the way back to my high school days playing Computer Bismarck against my dad on an Apple II computer, chasing the letter "B" across the map. (If only I had purchased Apple stock then instead of an Apple computer!)
And then all of the SSI games that they produced.
I had purchased the original War in the East but never played it. I've been too committed to War in the Pacific to be playing both. Now I have War in the East 2. I plan on playing it against the AI. Maybe someday PBEM. But for now, I'm supporting Matrix and those who created the game. WITE2 looks like a great creation.
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