larryfulkerson wrote: Wed Apr 10, 2024 5:41 pm
Minelayer CM Willem v d'Zaan has 45 mines and is headed for Miri but I doubt that he's going to make it there before the Japs do. Maybe if I go at full speed I can make it. I'll probably lose the CM but I might be able to take one or more of the Japs with me.
temp.jpg
It should be full speed (ahead and damn the torpedoes (mines)) with Direct and Absolute setting, then Auto-Disband to make it there in one day. You are going coastal which will take longer. Have it return and then lay eggs at Kuching after rearming.
You have two Dutch minelaying submarines as well, don't use them for patrols until you are out of mines. This is also the best use for the Argonaut until the mines that it can lay are gone.
Seek peace but keep your gun handy.
I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).” ; Julia Child
RangerJoe wrote: Wed Apr 10, 2024 5:30 pm
Force Z to Miri! Then run away!
There is a way to save most of your units at Hong Kong, at least against the AI.
I'm all ears. (Dumbo*, is that you? ) Do tell I pray you.
explosion-soldiers.gif
The Chinese have a air transport unit, move it in range, divide it into thirds and start removing a part of each possible unit. Take your cargo ships, put them into Amphibious TFs (or one large one or a TF with enough space for each unit and then break it/them down later but before they are fully loaded) and move each ship in its own TF to Kwangchowan where they will unload and disband. The surviving ships can then individually try to make it to Tarakan. The ground units will be needed at Nanning.
The MTBs can refuel at Luzon and join with the American and Filipino PT Boats there.
The destroyers can play on their way to Manila, some of them can carry mines if I recall correctly so they can lay them at Vigan.
You may also want to move an armoured Brigade or more to China along with the Burmese base forces which will also give some AA protection for those bases in the mountains.
*Humor helps to keep any depression away. While some people claim that laughter is the best medicine, they apparently haven't tried a glass of wine.
Seek peace but keep your gun handy.
I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).” ; Julia Child
RangerJoe wrote: Wed Apr 10, 2024 5:30 pm
Force Z to Miri! Then run away!
There is a way to save most of your units at Hong Kong, at least against the AI.
I'm all ears. Do tell I pray you.
explosion-soldiers.gif
There is a British Catalina squadron in Singapore that can assist in evacuating Hong Kong by air. Base the Cats at Jesselton in northern Borneo to use as air transport. Then when you've pulled a unit fragment or two out of HK over to Jesselton, rebase the Cats at Singapore and pull what you air evacuated to Jesselton over to Singapore.
Then get them on a fast boat outta Singers and off to India or Australia or wherever they can rebuild to full strength.
The Japs captured Makin last night and I believe Tarawa will be next and soon. The Japs lost only one AK yesterday and I lost only a handful of ships including a single CL ( USS Detroit ) and one DMS ( USS Perry ).
Here's the entire Combat Report for 08dec41:
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 08, 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Kota Bharu (51,75)
19 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Sendai
DD Uranami
PB Tatsumiya Maru
SC Ch 9
SC Ch 7
AK Sasako Maru
DD Ayanami
CL Sendai firing at 8th Indian Brigade
DD Uranami firing at 8th Indian Brigade
PB Tatsumiya Maru fired at enemy troops
SC Ch 9 fired at enemy troops
SC Ch 7 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Kota Bharu (51,75)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PB Tatsumiya Maru
SC Ch 9
SC Ch 7
AK Sasako Maru
PB Tatsumiya Maru fired at enemy troops
SC Ch 9 fired at enemy troops
SC Ch 7 fired at enemy troops
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 249 encounters mine field at Bataan (78,77)
Allied Ships
PT-32, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub vs Sub: SS Dolphin attacking SS I-3 at 180,108 - near Pearl Harbor
Japanese Ships
SS I-3
Allied Ships
SS Dolphin
SS Dolphin launches 4 torpedoes at 4,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lingga at 51,87
Japanese Ships
SS I-121
Allied Ships
CM Willem v d Zaan
SS I-121 launches 2 torpedoes
I-121 bottoming out ....
CM Willem v d Zaan attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-121 eludes ASW attack from CM Willem v d Zaan
CM Willem v d Zaan loses contact with SS I-121
CM Willem v d Zaan fails to find sub, continues to search...
CM Willem v d Zaan fails to find sub, continues to search...
CM Willem v d Zaan fails to find sub, continues to search...
CM Willem v d Zaan fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Kuantan at 55,78
Japanese Ships
SS I-154
Allied Ships
DD Express
SS I-154 is sighted by escort
I-154 bottoming out ....
DD Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Express fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Patani at 51,73, Range 12,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Shinonome, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shirakumo, Shell hits 1
AK Hirokawa Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AK Sagami Maru, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Kinka Maru, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Tosan Maru, Shell hits 9, heavy fires
Allied Ships
DD Electra, Shell hits 1
DD Express, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses: 2245 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 100 destroyed, 148 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 64 (64 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 85% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Shirakumo at 12,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Electra at 12,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Kinka Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Sagami Maru at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Shirakumo at 11,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Shinonome at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Electra at 7,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Express at 7,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Kinka Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Sagami Maru at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Electra at 6,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Electra at 6,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Tosan Maru at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Express at 4,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Shirakumo at 4,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Tosan Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Kinka Maru at 4,000 yards
AK Sagami Maru sunk by DD Express at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Express at 2,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Electra at 2,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Tosan Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Express at 2,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Shinonome at 2,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Tosan Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Electra at 4,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Tosan Maru at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Express at 6,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Shinonome at 6,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Kinka Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Electra at 6,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Kinka Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Hirokawa Maru at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Shirakumo at 5,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Hirokawa Maru at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Express at 3,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Express at 3,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Tosan Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Hirokawa Maru at 3,000 yards
AK Tosan Maru , AK Kinka Maru screened from combat
- escorted by DD Shirakumo
DD Shinonome engages DD Express at 3,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Hirokawa Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Express at 3,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Electra at 3,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Kinka Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Hirokawa Maru at 3,000 yards
Cartwright, F.J. orders Allied TF to disengage
DD Express engages DD Shirakumo at 3,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages DD Electra at 3,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Tosan Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Kinka Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Hirokawa Maru at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
AK Tosan Maru , AK Kinka Maru screened from combat
- escorted by DD Shirakumo
DD Express engages DD Shinonome at 8,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Hirokawa Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Express engages AK Hirokawa Maru at 8,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hong Kong , at 77,61
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 11
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 3 damaged
Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 5
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hong Kong , at 77,61
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 7
No Japanese losses
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Makin (136,125)
TF 15 troops unloading over beach at Makin, 136,125
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Kota Bharu (51,75)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PB Tatsumiya Maru
SC Ch 9
SC Ch 7
AK Sasako Maru
PB Tatsumiya Maru fired at enemy troops
SC Ch 9 fired at enemy troops
SC Ch 7 fired at enemy troops
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Pearl Harbor at 178,109
Captain of SS I-169 elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
I-169 diving deep ....
DM Sicard fails to find sub and abandons search
DM Tracy fails to find sub, continues to search...
DM Tracy fails to find sub, continues to search...
DM Tracy fails to find sub, continues to search...
DM Tracy fails to find sub, continues to search...
DM Tracy fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Hong Kong at 77,61
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5M1 Mabel x 3
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 10
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
DD Thanet
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5M1 Mabel bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kota Bharu , at 51,75
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 27
Ki-27b Nate x 42
Allied aircraft
no flights
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed on ground
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 5000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kota Bharu , at 51,75
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
G3M2 Nell x 29
Ki-27b Nate x 40
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Blenheim I bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
59th Sentai with Ki-43-Ia Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(29 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
1st Sentai with Ki-27b Nate (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 11 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-27b Nate (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 11 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kota Bharu at 51,75
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 19
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 6
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 4
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 3 destroyed
CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-27b Nate (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 11 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-27b Nate (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 7000.
Raid is overhead
59th Sentai with Ki-43-Ia Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Victoria Point , at 51,66
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 3
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 17000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Wake Island , at 136,98
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 5
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 7000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
G3M2 Nell x 6
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 20
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Blenheim I bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
59th Sentai with Ki-43-Ia Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(29 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
1st Sentai with Ki-27b Nate (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 11 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-27b Nate (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 11 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 109th RN Base Force, at 49,79 (Kuala Lumpur)
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
9 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cebu at 80,85
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5N1 Kate x 13
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
xAK Governor Wright, Torpedo hits 6, and is sunk
xAKL Taurus, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Ravnaas, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
Also, the Japs captured Kota Bharu last night and destroyed some aircraft I couldn't move away soon enough. They have based some aircraft there already and I ambushed them with my two DD SCTF which is escaping to the south.
I flew some Canadaian PBY's to Lingayen and then discovered to my dismay that I couldn't pick up the troops with a Canadian aircraft. D'oh. I don't have enough PP's to buy all those guys but I'd need an ABDA aircraft to lift them at any rate. Lemme look around for one of those.
I tried with an aircraft from the Asiatic Fleet and it said "cannot transport restricted troops" ( paraphrase ). D'oh. I spent 24 of my 64 PP's to move the squadron to 223 Group RAF ( ABDA ) and got the same error message. D'oh.
temp.jpg (278.04 KiB) Viewed 677 times
Last edited by larryfulkerson on Wed Apr 10, 2024 11:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I flew an S.23 Empire transport aircraft to Kavieng to transport the troops there to Port Moresby in order to save them. There's only one
unit there, the 1st Indep. Coy ( A10 ).
larryfulkerson wrote: Wed Apr 10, 2024 11:31 pm
I flew some Canadaian PBY's to Lingayen and then discovered to my dismay that I couldn't pick up the troops with a Canadian aircraft. D'oh. I don't have enough PP's to buy all those guys but I'd need an ABDA aircraft to lift them at any rate. Lemme look around for one of those.
temp.jpg
Try the No. 205 RAF Catalina squadron at Singapore.
There's a Hudson squadron at Rabaul but that aircraft type doesn't have a troop transport mission so I can't move any of the troops there to Port Moresby using it. And that's the only squadron there.
Platoonist wrote: Wed Apr 10, 2024 11:58 pm
Try the No. 205 RAF Catalina squadron at Singapore.
I flew the No.205 squadron up to Manila and tried to transport the HK troops and got the error message "cannot transport restricted troops" ( paraphrase ). D'oh. Well, we had to try.
larryfulkerson wrote: Thu Apr 11, 2024 12:09 am
I flew the No.205 squadron up to Manila and tried to transport the HK troops and got the error message "cannot transport restricted troops" ( paraphrase ). D'oh. Well, we had to try.
Thats's because you are trying to transport Commonwealth troops to what is nominally American territory (Philippines). Set up the No. 205 in northern Borneo (British territory) at Jesselton and you should be able to make a troop air transport out happen. Then from Jesselton you air transport them to Singapore or send a ship to pick them. But you have to work fast as the window gonna close soon. You should be able to get some pieces of those Canadian units out anyway. (Winnipeg Grenadiers and Rifles of Canada)
No. 205 RAF.jpg (78.65 KiB) Viewed 650 times
Last edited by Platoonist on Thu Apr 11, 2024 12:38 am, edited 2 times in total.
Platoonist wrote: Thu Apr 11, 2024 12:31 am
Thats's because you are trying to transport Commonwealth troops to what is nominally American territory. Set up the No. 205 in northern Borneo (British territory) at Jesselton and you should be able to make a troop air transport out happen. Then from Jesselton you air transport them to Singapore or send a ship to pick them. But you have to work fast as the window gonna close soon. You should be able to get some pieces of those Canadian units out anyway. (Winnipeg and Rifles of Canada)
Ah so. I had no idea. I'll try this good idea and see what happens.
b-29.jpg (260.11 KiB) Viewed 624 times
Last edited by larryfulkerson on Thu Apr 11, 2024 3:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
I finally followed your instructions and IT WORKED just like you said it would. I'm going to see if I can find some more PA aircraft and get a pipeline going to get those troops out of there.
; Julia Child
) 
