Where the Chrysanthemums Grow - DesertWolf101 (J) vs ITAKLinus (A)

[Lowpe]

What is that![X(] 1-2 American Carriers in the area? 24 Devastators has to come from at least 2, right? Maybe 3? Can you get 3 there this early? What is your reinforcement setting at?

What opportunity![:)] Time to go JohnIII with your carriers if you want to.[:D]

[DesertWolf101]

Elsewhere on the map, a couple of dozen Kate bombers loaded with 250kg bombs struck some nice ships off Rangoon. Among the ships they sunk were a couple of nice AMCs.

The KB also arrived close to Noumea and found a loaded Allied convoy about to dock. Two strikes later and the entire convoy was sunk (likely some kind of base force on board). This is the first strike:

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

What is that![X(] 1-2 American Carriers in the area? 24 Devastators has to come from at least 2, right? Maybe 3? Can you get 3 there this early? What is your reinforcement setting at?

What opportunity![:)] Time to go JohnIII with your carriers if you want to.[:D]

Our reinforcement settings are +/- 15 days so it must be two American fleet carriers (undoubtedly reinforced with extra squadrons) and the Hermes with those Swordfish.

I think I have indeed put a significant dent into American CV dive/torpedo bomber pools during the turn for sure. I don't think they get that many replacements so it will take awhile to make up the losses.

The KB is near Noumea/Australia at the moment. I am mostly trying to take the SRA without its help.

[DesertWolf101]

The Turn Results

Ok here is the bill for the turn.

On the minus side, I have unfortunately lost three Fubuki class destroyers (ouch), a loaded coastal convoy wiped out, and 25 oil wells damaged at Palembang. I also lost a torpedo boat and have one heavy cruiser with relatively modest damage from a bomb hit.

On the plus side, I have wiped out one of Francesco's loaded convoys near Noumea and sank a couple of juicy ships near Rangoon. I have heavily battered light cruiser Perth, moderately damaged another, and sank a Clemson class destroyer. Perhaps best of all I have heavily hit Francesco's pool of dive and torpedo bombers.

So in terms of VPs alone I am clearly ahead, but tbh I hate the fact that I lost three destroyers and I am concerned at how fragile the Palembang oil fields are. Only a few oil hits and they are down 25 wells damaged. I would have loved to have had my anti-aircraft convoy safely arrive to help defend the place.

So all in all, maybe a tactical Japanese victory. Would be sweeter if I finish off CL Perth next turn.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

If the other ships picked up survivors, get them to port ASAP and you might be able to save more of the units.

Yes, they are only one hex away from Palembang and will head there immediately.

If any unit is "destroyed" at sea in that all ships carrying it were sunk, maybe some survivors were picked up by other ships. So if the unit is not bought back until those ships make it to a port, the unit may reform there instead of having to be bought back out. That happened to someoe but I forget whom.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

What is that![X(] 1-2 American Carriers in the area? 24 Devastators has to come from at least 2, right? Maybe 3? Can you get 3 there this early? What is your reinforcement setting at?

What opportunity![:)] Time to go JohnIII with your carriers if you want to.[:D]

I agree. That is most of the striking force from 2 aircraft carriers. Sink them or heavily damage them.

[Dili]

Can be land based

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Dili

Can be land based

Yes but not in this case. I saw during the replay that the strikes came from task forces off Sumatra.

[Lowpe]

Very interesting! What he does next with them will be a telling.

Incredible opportunity for Japan.[:)]

[DesertWolf101]

December 28, 1941

Francesco pressed on the attacks on Palembang today. I am detecting substantial naval traffic moving towards Batavia as well so my assumption is that he is trying to pave the way for a naval foray. To counter such a move and given that his dive/torpedo bomber threat has been somewhat reduced, I decided to reinforce the Palembang sector with a battleship task force even if the big ships cannot make it up the river to the base itself. The problem is that Francesco has flooded the area with tiny task forces fleeing or minesweeping or what not. Not only do these ships cause me to waste precious ammo, but they also act like chaff to my Nell/Betty bombers. I may have to detach some DDs to do some clearing.

During the night, DD Vendetta charged at the task force unloading the 38th Division at Kota Bharu which thankfully had already pretty much finished unloading. It damaged one of my AKs before it was sunk by the escorts. My Nells also finally struck true during the day phase, sinking the damaged light cruiser Hobart with a flurry of torpedoes. No sign of CL Perth in the Central/South Pacific though... I also got a good torpedo shot into heavy cruiser Northampton close to Soerabaja. She is in no danger of sinking but she might at least be out of action for the coming fights.

In terms of the air offensive on Palembang, my Zeros did a stellar job knocking out the incoming enemy waves but the B-17Es have a bad habit of slipping through without being heavily engaged. I lost another 15 or so oil wells damaged as a result. Here are the air losses for the turn:

[DesertWolf101]

Japanese forces also crossed into Singapore today. The result was not too bad - I did lost a lot of squads disabled and the 5th Division's AV was zeroed out, but I was pleased to see the forts being knocked down by two levels to 1. Disruption/fatigue is very high so I will wait for the rest of the reinforcements to arrive from Malaya and attack again.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Japanese forces also crossed into Singapore today. The result was not too bad - I did lost a lot of squads disabled and the 5th Division's AV was zeroed out, but I was pleased to see the forts being knocked down by two levels to 1. Disruption/fatigue is very high so I will wait for the rest of the reinforcements to arrive from Malaya and attack again.

Wow, that was a nice result! What formations did you send in?

[Lowpe]

Looks to me that the Allies have given you permission to do whatever you want over the next 30-45 days.

Sinking a fleet carrier, around Java, Australia, or off the West Coast should be a high priority, but not the highest.

Makes you wonder if there are any slow battleships at sea heading for harms way?

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Japanese forces also crossed into Singapore today. The result was not too bad - I did lost a lot of squads disabled and the 5th Division's AV was zeroed out, but I was pleased to see the forts being knocked down by two levels to 1. Disruption/fatigue is very high so I will wait for the rest of the reinforcements to arrive from Malaya and attack again.

Wow, that was a nice result! What formations did you send in?

I sent in five divisions, the Imperial, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 18th. I have the 38th and the broken down 56th (missing on regiment) following close behind. In addition various artillery/engineer/armor are heading into the city as well. I will try to keep the airfields damaged while the reinforcements arrive and also to give time for the assaulting formations to recover from terrible disruption and fatigue.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Looks to me that the Allies have given you permission to do whatever you want over the next 30-45 days.

Sinking a fleet carrier, around Java, Australia, or off the West Coast should be a high priority, but not the highest.

Makes you wonder if there are any slow battleships at sea heading for harms way?

Francesco is defending well forward, I think he may have brought the entire USN and RN to Java. Couldn't detect the carriers this past turn though and the carrier planes flew in from Batavia, so I am thinking he dropped them off there and headed somewhere else.

[DesertWolf101]

China

This is the critical sector in China right now. Getting my troops all the way to ankang is pretty much assured, but beyond that it might be a bit of a struggle. I would love to at least get to the naval guard unit currently cutting off the road between Sian and Chungking before it is driven back.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101
Japanese forces also crossed into Singapore today. The result was not too bad - I did lost a lot of squads disabled and the 5th Division's AV was zeroed out, but I was pleased to see the forts being knocked down by two levels to 1. Disruption/fatigue is very high so I will wait for the rest of the reinforcements to arrive from Malaya and attack again.

You might want to get the 5th outta there to split and R&R in Johore. Units recover far faster when there is no enemy around

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101
I would love to at least get to the naval guard unit currently cutting off the road between Sian and Chungking before it is driven back.

This unit appears to lack any movement indicator though as far as I can see. Are you sure your love was well-received there? [:)]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

China

This is the critical sector in China right now. Getting my troops all the way to ankang is pretty much assured, but beyond that it might be a bit of a struggle. I would love to at least get to the naval guard unit currently cutting off the road between Sian and Chungking before it is driven back.

Why? Make him attack you. It is a naval guard unit in great terrain. You can ambush bombers there, and you might be able to bomb the troops moving to attack them.

I think you should probably be airlifting as much as you can into Ankang. Engineers, Aviation support, small artillery, some AA and troops.

If you can hold that mountain pass road you have significantly increased the speed at which China will fall.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

This unit appears to lack any movement indicator though as far as I can see. Are you sure your love was well-received there? [:)]

I assume you are referring to the Naval Guard unit at the very top? Yeah it is holding in place while the rest of my forces race to reinforce it. I am about to deliberate attack on the selected contested hex in the image, which should drive the Chinese units there out of the way. Then I will march through the paratrooper unit holding the hex beyond that and then through angkang and hopefully all the way the Guard.

[DesertWolf101]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

China

This is the critical sector in China right now. Getting my troops all the way to ankang is pretty much assured, but beyond that it might be a bit of a struggle. I would love to at least get to the naval guard unit currently cutting off the road between Sian and Chungking before it is driven back.

Why? Make him attack you. It is a naval guard unit in great terrain. You can ambush bombers there, and you might be able to bomb the troops moving to attack them.

I think you should probably be airlifting as much as you can into Ankang. Engineers, Aviation support, small artillery, some AA and troops.

If you can hold that mountain pass road you have significantly increased the speed at which China will fall.

Oh he will be attacking that Naval Guard for sure sometime in the next few turns. What I am saying is I am racing to get there as quickly as I can with the rest of the forces to reinforce it before it is overwhelmed. The Naval Guard itself was airlifted in and I am doing the same with other units. It costs PP though since the base is currently under Southern Army control (due to the paratroopers who took it) and will have to be changed to China Army command as soon as I can.