Defeat into Victory - Godefroy(A) vs Deaniks(J) - finish

[godefroycz]

Hi,
next beginner in PBEM on the stage.
I don't know if it's a good idea to write AAR, because English isn't my native language, but I'll try. Hopefully you will survive. I hope that in my first campaign against a live opponent, someone from the General Staff will give me valuable advice or give me psychological help when I'll fight for Bombay, Karachi and Chunking with the Japanese stretched across the Pacific.

FOW ON
Advanced weather ON
PDU ON
Historical First turn OFF
Allied damage control ON
Surprise ON
Realistic R&D ON
Reliable USN torps OFF
No unit withdrawals OFF
Reinforcements Fixed
Auto subs OFF
Turn cicle 1 day

Andy Mac‘s updated scenario 2v9

HR turn 1
- no carrier hunting
- allied may move taskforces that are already out, no creation of new allied task force
- allied may not move or change settings of allied planes, no moving LCU, China is excluded
- 15 hex limit for invasion range
- only carriers can attack ports

HR in general
- 4E's may not naval bomb below 10k feet patrol are excluded
- max fighter altitude limit 30k
- must pay the PP to cross border with a restricted unit, Thai units can move into Mayala/Burma
- the opponent suggested to me - Canada and USA troops may move between each other if restricted, restricted British/Indian troops may move into Burma/Thai/Malaya - I have no plans to use it
- troops can be unloaded only in dots/bases (same for para)
- para units can attack just one target at the time – if the para unit split, it must be rebuilt in one base first before another attack.
- no strategic bombing from/to China until 1944

Summary December 1941
Summary January 1942
Summary February 1942

[BBfanboy]

Good to see another player try his hand at an AAR! Your starting post is excellent English - I think you need not worry about that if you understand as well as you write.

A few things:

- on the HR, you might ask your opponent if Para units can split and use submarine transport to take unoccupied dot bases. Transport subs are very limited in the game and Para units are the only ones that can use them in Combat mode.

- If you haven't read many AARs, be aware that Japan could wreck Allied war industries early on by taking west coast key cities with sacrificial units. Key cities are Portland and Tacoma (CVEs and Liberty Ships), and aircraft manufacturing at Seattle and Los Angeles. You get a lot of restricted land and air units in the USA - move powerful units and AA to those cities as soon as you can. The air units only need to be nearby, not in the cities likely to be invaded. Build every US base you can to level 9 AF - you will need them for hosting and training large numbers of air units and planes.

- Send every Canadian BF on map to Prince Rupert to develop the port and AF to support the Aleutians. Move a Canadian brigade or two there. Once PR is fully developed, send the BFs to other cities to build AFs there. At one point in the early game I found I needed them to host some US air units.

Good luck!

[godefroycz]

The war began.
As expected, the enemy lands on the coast of Malaysia in Kota Bharu, Kuantan and especially in Mersing in order to cut off my ground forces from Singapore. Another landing is launched in Davao. Other areas are quiet.

AVG trapped on the ground is completely eliminated, as are aircraft in Manila, CF and PH. I will try to achieve some symbolic success in Mersing and the Philippines.

It seems that the main operation is still waiting for me. The survey reports transport ships near Hawaii. I need to think about what to do with it.



Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 108 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 102
B5N2 Kate x 143
D3A1 Val x 139

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed by flak
B5N2 Kate: 7 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 15 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-1 Dauntless: 26 damaged
SBD-1 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground
A-20A Havoc: 17 damaged
A-20A Havoc: 2 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 127 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 4 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 10 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 30 damaged
B-18A Bolo: 46 damaged
B-18A Bolo: 3 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 10 damaged
O-47A: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 14 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 23 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 2 destroyed on ground
C-33: 1 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 13 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 2 destroyed on ground
R3D-2: 1 damaged
R3D-2: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 15, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 10, heavy fires
DD Selfridge, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 9, heavy fires
CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 2
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB California, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 3, on fire
PC Taney, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
SS Tautog, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
DD Chew, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DM Sicard, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AV Curtiss, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AS Pelias, Bomb hits 1

Repair Shipyard hits 18
Airbase hits 34
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 89
Port hits 16
Port fuel hits 1

Naval bombardment of Pearl Harbor at 180,107 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Warhawk: 18 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 2 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 26 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 2 destroyed on ground
B-18A Bolo: 21 damaged
B-18A Bolo: 1 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 24 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-1 Dauntless: 8 damaged
SBD-1 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground
P-36A Mohawk: 6 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 6 damaged

28 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 1
BB Hiei
CA Chikuma
CA Tone

Allied ground losses:
124 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 10 (5 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (6 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Airbase hits 10
Runway hits 11

[MateDow]

I will be following this, and don't worry about your English.

I'm not sure that I have seen an AAR with a bombardment of PH before. I am little depressed that the shore batteries were not more effective.

[JanSako]

I think you were quite lucky, you will lose one, at most 2 BB's, nothing else seems too badly damaged.
If he intends to land, he will come back for the second round though.

I would put a carpet of subs in front of the assault force & create a number of 4-6 ship surface TF's to go after it.

Then putting a few small sacrificial TF's into the harbor will cause a lot of his airpower to waste ordinance attacking nimble DD's. Fill the sea with ships & some of your combat forces will get to him!
If you can, sprint a CA-based TF onto the location of KB, they might just decide to auto-withdraw regardless of how the surface action goes. Then hit the assault force with your CV's from 4-5 hexes away.

If the assault is really coming for Pearl (or it looks like it is), dump any mines you have into the hex, dump any sub-mines you can into their path & finally the day before make a surface TF around the least damaged BB or two that you have & see how they do.

[godefroycz]

We'll find out tomorrow if it's an invasion fleet or tankers. In any case, everything goes on the attack with faith in God. There is plenty of time to escape.
BB was not sunk, the biggest damage is Arizona 61/32/8.

[godefroycz]

Dec 8, 1941
Operations are taking place in Malaysia as expected. The Japanese conquered Mersing, but attacks on Kota Bharu and Kuantan were repulsed. They have no nearby air base. The British confiscated all the rickshaws and run south to Singapore. Perhaps they will be able to stay in Johor today, where there are Japanese tanks.
Zera clears the sky over Singapore and the British are trying to attack the landing in Mersing. In the end, partial success was achieved and two Ryujo and Taiyo were damaged.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 51,82

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 9

Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Vildebeest III bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

In Mindanao, the Japanese occupied Davao and some TFs approached Ternate and Manado.

The first relocations are taking place in China, but Japan's plans are not yet clear. Brave Chinese pilots managed a surprise raid on Pescadores.

Morning Air attack on Pescadores , at 84,63

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
DB-3M x 4

Allied aircraft losses
DB-3M: 2 damaged
DB-3M: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
PB Hinode Maru #20, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PB Rokko Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PB Banshu Maru #56, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
ACM Chiyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Musashi Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PB Choun Maru #21, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Port hits 1

And let's go to Hawaii. The entire Pacific Fleet was ordered to sail into battle and inflict maximum losses on the enemy. It soon became clear that this was indeed an invasion, as most of the Japanese surface fleet was gradually detected. First it was necessary to fight for the way out of the port.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Pearl Harbor at 181,106, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Shell hits 3
BB Kirishima
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
DD Sazanami, Shell hits 1
DD Ushio, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Phoenix, Shell hits 1
CL Honolulu, Shell hits 2
DD Cummings
DD Case
DD Conyngham
DD MacDonough
DD Worden


Night Time Surface Combat, near Lihue at 180,102, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Shell hits 7
DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 1
DD Kikuzuki

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis
CL St. Louis
DD Bagley
DD Blue, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Helm
DD Mugford

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lihue at 180,102, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 2
CA Furutaka
DD Oboro

Allied Ships
CL Detroit
DD Shaw, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Reid
DD Tucker
DD Cassin
DD Downes

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lihue at 180,102, Range 10,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1
CA Furutaka
DD Oboro, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Detroit, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
DD Shaw, on fire
DD Reid
DD Tucker
DD Cassin
DD Downes

Some of the ships came within range of transport ships, but were driven away.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lihue at 180,102, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Shell hits 4
CA Kako, Shell hits 3
CM Tsugaru
CL Kinu
DD Uzuki
DD Yuzuki
PB Kyo Maru #8
PB Kyo Maru #10
PB Shoei Maru
PB Shotoku Maru
PB Sonan Maru #5
PB Sonan Maru #6
PB Shuko Maru #5
SC Ch 21
SC Ch 22
SC Ch 23
AV Kiyokawa Maru
xAK Yokohama Maru
xAK Keisyo Maru
xAK Koto Maru
xAK Matsue Maru
xAK Toba Maru
xAK Venice Maru
xAK Kogyoku Maru
xAK Manyo Maru
xAK Nishimi Maru
xAK China Maru
xAK Holland Maru
xAK Hukusei Maru
xAK Kotohira Maru
xAK Yamabuki Maru
xAK Cheribon Maru
xAK Daifuku Maru
xAK Kuraido Maru
xAK Nihonka Maru
xAKL Jokuja Maru
xAKL Kaisho Maru
xAKL Bokuei Maru
xAKL Chosen Maru
xAKL Kokuei Maru
PB Yahonui Maru
DD Tatsukaze
DD Kosugiri
DD Myojinami

Allied Ships
CL Helena, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Henley
DD Patterson
DD Dale
DD Monaghan

The biggest disappointment of the day, but all the ships were damaged since the first raid on PH

Night Time Surface Combat, near Pearl Harbor at 180,107, Range 9,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 3 destroyed
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 4 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 5, on fire
CA Aoba, Shell hits 1
CA Kinugasa
DD Nenohi
DD Hatsushima
DD Wakaba

Allied Ships
BB West Virginia, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
BB Nevada, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
BB Oklahoma, Shell hits 15, heavy damage
BB Pennsylvania, Shell hits 28, and is sunk
BB Tennessee, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Selfridge, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Chew, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Taney, Shell hits 12, and is sunk

The battle continues...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lihue at 178,99, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Hatsuharu, on fire
DD Kikuzuki

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL St. Louis, Shell hits 1
DD Bagley, Shell hits 2
DD Helm, Shell hits 1

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lihue at 178,98, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 3
DD Oboro

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, heavy fires
CL St. Louis
DD Bagley
DD Helm

The most interesting duel was fought by the USS Ralph Talbot

Night Time Surface Combat, near Pearl Harbor at 180,107, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 10, on fire
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 2
DD Nenohi
DD Hatsushima
DD Wakaba

Allied Ships
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 2

The fighting continued even after dawn, and in the end, luck smiled on me.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Pearl Harbor at 179,105, Range 24,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Shell hits 1
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Nenohi, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hatsushima, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 1
CL Raleigh
DD Phelps, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Farragut
DD Dewey
DD Hull, Shell hits 1, on fire

Day Time Surface Combat, near Lihue at 181,98, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AO Shiriya, Shell hits 30, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Reid
DD Tucker
DD Cassin


Day Time Surface Combat, near Lihue at 182,95, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Amagiri, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Akebono
AO Ken'yo Maru, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
AO Kokuyo Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Kyokuto Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
AO Nippon Maru, Shell hits 1
AO Shinkoku Maru, Shell hits 1
AO Toei Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Toho Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Reid, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Tucker, Shell hits 2
DD Cassin, Shell hits 3

I hope that the loss of most tankers to the Japanese will complicate the situation a bit. Unfortunately, the invasion fleet failed to break through, some enemy ships were set on fire, and reconnaissance reports are withdrawing from the battle.

Most american cruisers and destroyers have managed to survive, and I'm now regrouping them out of KB's reach. Submarines and mines must work tomorrow. I also keep aircraft carriers out of reach and wait for the right opportunity. As long as there is their threat, the Japanese must be careful and I will certainly not put them into any risky action.

[godefroycz]

Since I'm at work and can't plan, I can think about the situation. A game against AI probably wouldn't have such a scenario.

I would like to continue attacking the enemy, but I have nothing. Almost all the ships are damaged, I need to retreat and repair them. The Hawaii Air Force is grounded. So far I do not see any AKE or other support vessels and in Lahaina rearming only AA and small caliber. And I assume Lahaina will be the first target.

I could use the aircraft carriers somewhere around Midway and try to disrupt the route to Hawaii. But I don't have the support of any big port, so it's a hit and run event. So I have to decide whether to move to the West Coast or to Australia.

Will anything change for the Allies with possible loss of PH? I don't think so. The routes will be longer, the importance of Australia and southern bases will increase. I must ensure better protection for the West Coast from Japanese invasions and raids. Maybe I can fortify myself in the DEI and the Philippines. There are many tasks, but the capabilities are still limited. But time is running out for the Japanese as well. I will not write my specific steps, if I have any surprising material for AAR. It's certain that the most valuable ships in the next period will be AO and AKE.

[JanSako]

That invasion force can have at most 3 divisions onboard, so up to 1200 or so AV. Maybe 4 divs if they have no support of any sort & they stripped PI invasion bare. What is your AV in Pearl? With so much BB ammo expended, I would highly doubt if they can suppress PH enough to land without horrible losses. If they fail to take it on day one, you will bomb the landing forces to smithereens later on. Set up 2-3 bombardment forces right out of PH, keep dropping mines to 'discourage' them from coming into the harbor & set up 2-3 TF's to engage anything that comes by. Oh, I hope you have some PT boat squadrons waiting for that invasion!

KB simply does not have enough power to suppress all units in PH before they run out of Air missions & planes. Especially if you keep harassing the surface TF's like that.
And remember that all IJN those damaged ships have a long way to go home so I would expect that they lose some on the way!
Also, every CL & CA you lose right now will be replaced anyway! Not so for IJN...

[godefroycz]

If I was Japanese, I certainly wouldn't land in PH. I would occupy Lahaina, bring in the Air Force, AKE, AV, AS, etc., and PH isolated first. There are about 2 divisions and support units on the ships I see.

This will release KB for operations in the vicinity of PH. Occupies the Hawaii and the islands of Johnston and Midway. In the meantime, another 2-3 divisions come in and only then will they try to land in PH.
I already have the move in the e-mail, but the next report will be in the evening.

[godefroycz]

Dec 9, 1941

Only minor news in Malaysia. The Japanese conquered Kota Bharu, but Kuantan still resists. I also retained Johore and the troops can continue to retreat. My attacks on the ships at Mersing are not successful, but the Japanese are defending themselves as best they can.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 51,82

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 33
A6M2 Zero x 7
E13A1 Jake x 14
E7K2 Alf x 2
E8N2 Dave x 12
F1M2 Pete x 34

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 23
Hudson I x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed
E8N2 Dave: 1 destroyed
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
Hudson I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

The target of the invasion is Ternate, where I failed to break through to the transport ships.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ternate at 78,102, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki
DD Usugumo
DD Shirayuki
DD Hatsuyuki

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter
DD Banckert
DD Witte de With
DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 1, on fire

I'm already successful with Miri.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Miri at 64,87, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAP Kobe Maru, Shell hits 21, on fire
PB Nako Maru #2, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD John D. Ford
DD Peary
DD Pillsbury, Shell hits 1
DD Pope, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
256 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

An interesting catch was also made in the South China Sea. I don't know what ships they were or what they were carrying

Day Time Surface Combat, near Culion at 74,76, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
APD Hagi, Shell hits 2, on fire
TB Hayabusa, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAK Atago Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Meiyo Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire
xAK Santos Maru, Shell hits 4
xAK Zyuyo Maru, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Hidaka Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Raizan Maru, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Scout
DD Thanet
DD Thracian

Japanese ground losses:
951 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 60 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 15 (5 destroyed, 10 disabled)

And now Hawaii. The whole day was completely calm. The Japanese appear to have concentrated on one hex and the survey reports that they are heading northwest. So either after the loss of the tankers they canceled the invasion or the next day there will be a landing.
Intelligence also reports that one of the ships, which is demonstrably in the invasion fleet, is heading to Osaka.
We'll see.

[BBfanboy]

By the mix of devices destroyed and disabled, that TF near Culion seems to be carrying a Base Force.

If you forced him to abandon his gambit for a flash invasion of the Hawaiian Islands, that is a very big win. He will be behind schedule at least two weeks on all the other invasions those troops could have been doing.

[JanSako]

He may be rearming the BB's, also I think he is too far out to sprint in & land in one phase. If he lands in the afternoon, you are golden!

I would still launch spoiling attacks into that hex if you have ships that can reach it at night. Even PT-boats will do!
You may get lucky & get to the transports, and even if not, both KB & the invasion force will likely go to a withdrawal mode if you manage to engage them. Not sure if even 'absolute' threat tolerance stops that.

If he makes sprinting attacks to bombard, his ships will be dangerously low on fuel to even get back to Kwajalein.

[godefroycz]

Dec 10, 1941

The situation in Malaysia remains unchanged. Almost all troops retreated to Johor. Now I am trying to move them to Singapore without loss. Unfortunately, all attempts to attack the ships are unsuccessful.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 51,82

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 30
A6M2 Zero x 7
E13A1 Jake x 11
E7K2 Alf x 1
E8N2 Dave x 11
F1M2 Pete x 29

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 24
Vildebeest III x 10
Hudson I x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed
E8N2 Dave: 1 destroyed
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
Vildebeest III: 7 destroyed
Hudson I: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Hudson I bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

I tried to attack the ships at Ternate, but it ended in disgrace. I fixed it after dawn.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ternate at 78,102, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CS Mizuho, Shell hits 1
CS Chitose, Shell hits 1
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Yamakaze

Allied Ships
CL Marblehead
DD Barker
DD Bulmer
DD Paul Jones
DD Parrott
DD Stewart, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Day Time Surface Combat, near Morotai at 82,99, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CS Mizuho, Shell hits 8, on fire
CS Chitose, Shell hits 28, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 12, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 4
CL Boise

Another landing at Sorong was also liquidated.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Sorong at 82,107, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Nittai Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Shinkoku Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Ujigawa Maru, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
xAKL Heiwa Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter
DD Banckert
DD Witte de With
DD Kortenaer
DD Piet Hein

Japanese ground losses:
1101 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 56 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (4 destroyed, 2 disabled)

And now the report from Hawaii. The Japanese are approaching Lahaina step by step. I don't know why it takes them so long, but I try to lay mines and attack with submarines. The USS Gudgeon attacked four times today, once on Shokaku, but always missed. I have no surface forces now and what is left was destroyed today by another Japanese raid on the port. The port and the airfield are badly damaged and the few remaining aircraft are being destroyed by the Japanese in the air.

So far, I'm satisfied. Since most of the Japanese fleet is by PH and Mersing, I manage to attack smaller landings and destroy enemy ships. It seems that Taiyo had to withdraw from Mersing, but I can't find her.

[JanSako]

Do you still have a the cruiser complement of the CV TF's intact? If the IJN is 'crawling around' (could the be so out of fuel?), you could risk sprinting those in! You should not try to attack with your CV's unless you can tell the KB is truly exhausted or you are truly desperate.

[godefroycz]

I don't think he's running out of fuel. My survey tracks a large number of TFs concentrated on two hexes. There are currently 3 hexes from Lahaina. He doesn't seem to retreat, as intelligence has reported. My TFs with CVs are complete and must remain intact as a potential threat. In addition, my style of play is that I intend to risk my ships only if the potential profit is large enough and it is not now.

Losing PH will be more of a nuisance for me without much impact on my strategy. I expect to be able to resist at least two months if they really land. A little Japanese pressure will probably allow me to fortify the Philippines, DEI and Darwin. I hope to retreat to Singapore with most of the troops and the conquest of the base will not work for several days. Because the Japanese need resources and oil, they have to return to DEI and Philippines later. I also hope this precludes a larger invasion of India. My biggest ally is time, so I'm calm, I attack less important landings and I'm waiting for an opportunity.

Since we had no further rules about PH, I expected my BBs to be destroyed in repeated raids. Of the larger vessels, only 1CA, 1CL, 2DDs sank at PH. The Japanese lost some of their fast tankers, which will limit KB on longer trips. I definitely damaged 2BBs, 1CA and several smaller vessels. The only inconvenience is that by sinking the battleships, the Japanese received 1,500 victory points for free.

[godefroycz]

Dec 11, 1941

So far the quietest move. My troops are successfully defending in Johor and Kuantan, otherwise the whole area is quiet. The submarine KXIV, which torpedoed two cargo ships, is successful.

Sub attack near Cam Ranh Bay at 65,72

Japanese Ships
xAK Atago Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXIV

Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Sub attack near Cam Ranh Bay at 65,72

Japanese Ships
xAKL Sasago Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Syoka Maru
PB Heiei Maru #7

Allied Ships
SS KXIV

The Japanese disembark at Lahaina. Their forces form one division and one base force. Unfortunately, my attack torpedo boats are not effective. The submarines did not even attack this time.

Ground combat at Lahaina (182,108)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 987 troops, 12 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 45

Defending force 16811 troops, 131 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 484

Assaulting units:
2nd/298th Infantry Battalion
102nd USN Base Force

Defending units:
56th Engineer Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
144th Infantry Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment
15th Base Force

We can look at China, where nothing is happening either. So far, only a symbolic move forward, which should be stopped soon. The Japanese air force is practically not operating over China yet.

[godefroycz]

Dec 12, 1941

Today, the Japanese are not attacking Malaysia at all. There are no raids either. Singapore completed Fortification 2. The withdrawal of troops across the strait continues.
Hong Kong still holds too.

Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21767 troops, 320 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 577

Defending force 6394 troops, 130 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 124

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 206

Allied adjusted defense: 245

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

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

Japanese ground losses:
999 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 100 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled

Allied ground losses:
276 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)

There is also peace in Hawaii. Only PT boats attack and again without success. KB moved a little to the west. Lahaina fell into the hands of the enemy. Now I expect the remaining bases to be occupied.



Interestingly, when an opponent makes a mistake, my planes choose a pointless target instead of transport ships.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lahaina at 182,108

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-36A Mohawk x 20

Allied aircraft losses
P-36A Mohawk: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Akigumo
DD Shiranui
DD Kagero

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x P-36A Mohawk bombing from 100 feet
14 x P-36A Mohawk bombing from 100 feet

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..

My submarines succeeded again.

Submarine attack near Daito Shoto at 98,68

Japanese Ships
xAKL Atuta Maru, Shell hits 8, on fire

Allied Ships
SS Spearfish, hits 1


Submarine attack near Taihoku at 88,62

Japanese Ships
xAKL Miyati Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Seal

There is nothing to write about yet. The enemy's movements are hidden and I am only shifting forces

[godefroycz]

Dec 13, 1941

Today they fought again on all fronts. In Malaysia, the Japanese cut off the railway to Singapore, so now there is nothing to withdraw. But the miracle is almost everything in Singapore or Johor. In addition, troops in Johor and Kuantan are still defending hard and gaining time for an organized retreat to Singapore. In addition, I will keep both railways heading south, so the Japanese will have to walk on their own, no quick relocation. This does not look like a blitzkrieg yet.



There was a small naval skirmish in the Sulu Sea, and I drove away an alliance that was trying to hunt merchant ships there. The DEI is now quiet. Suplies from Hong Kong have arrived in the Philippines. A total of 11k suplies. Additional suplies (6k) are unloaded in China (Pakhoi). That's not bad.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 13, 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tawi Tawi at 72,92, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
DD Yamagumo
DD Tachikaze, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Java
CL Tromp, Shell hits 1
DD Van Nes, Shell hits 1
DD Evertsen
DD Van Ghent

In China, the Japanese want to get an important railway junction near Kaifeng (88.43), which I defend hard. The situation is the same by Chengting.

Ground combat at 88,43 (near Kaifeng)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1274 troops, 0 guns, 194 vehicles, Assault Value = 385

Defending force 17901 troops, 124 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 548

Japanese adjusted assault: 31

Allied adjusted defense: 357

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 11

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 50 (17 destroyed, 33 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
191 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
5th Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
12th Army

Defending units:
40th Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps

Ground combat at 92,38 (near Chengting)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 3480 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Defending force 12516 troops, 77 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 259

Japanese adjusted assault: 84

Allied adjusted defense: 184

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
775 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
82 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
35th Chinese Corps
83rd Chinese Corps
13th Group Army

The situation in Hawaii is calm. I'm trying to understand the enemy's intentions, but I'm missing something. KB departs to the west. Other ships to the northwest. The Japanese leave an abandoned garrison here in Lahaina. No planes or other support is visible. Interesting. The USS Triton tried to torpedo Soryu, but unfortunately missed again.

The Japanese occupy the empty Manus and land in Guam.

[godefroycz]

Dec 14, 1941

Not much is happening. The Japanese land at Miri for the second time, this time with the support of CV. I will not stop them. Otherwise, there is zero enemy activity in the area.
The airfield in PH is fully operational again, I'm starting to repair planes and I'm immediately bombing the airfield in Lahaina. The enemy lands on Wake and conquers it thanks to massive shelling. The aircraft was previously withdrawn to the aircraft carrier.

Pre-Invasion action off Wake Island (136,98) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

60 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari, Shell hits 1
CL Tatsuta, Shell hits 2
CL Tenryu
DD Oite
DD Mochizuki
DD Yayoi
DD Kisaragi
DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 1, on fire
PB Kaiun Maru
PB Kaikei Maru
PB Ikuta Maru
PB Hakkaisan Maru
PB Fukui Maru
AMC Kongo Maru
DD Hayate

Allied ground losses:
401 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)

I am waiting for further development.