Never Thought I'd Start Another One - tc464 (A) vs. Mike (J)

[RangerJoe]

I would consider putting all of the KB bombers on ASW searches or maybe have a few on Naval searches with the rest on ASW, then invade Port Moresby. Maybe have the fleet use Cairns as a destination but then redirect them to Port Moresby.

[Mike Solli]

Too late, Joe. I pulled KB a little farther north but did trash the P-40s and CL Adelaide too. I landed the troops at Buna. That area makes me nervous with KB. Last game I lost Hiryu there in Jan 42. The game before I lost Kaga there around the same time. Both were to subs. I'm not going for the Triple Crown. Ted inundates that area with subs every game.

[PaxMondo]

21 Jan 42
Yes, I lost an AV and 2x xAPs, but that's well worth what I will gain.

I know, and agree, but I still hate losing AV's. They are so useful ASW .... and hard to replace.

Yeah, I agree, Pax. There are some xAK classes that convert. I'm going to convert some. I never have in the past. Another first for this game.

I think xAK Husimi does in stock ... and I convert all of them to AV's.

[Mike Solli]

I know, and agree, but I still hate losing AV's. They are so useful ASW .... and hard to replace.

Yeah, I agree, Pax. There are some xAK classes that convert. I'm going to convert some. I never have in the past. Another first for this game.

I think xAK Husimi does in stock ... and I convert all of them to AV's.

Kyushu and Husimi in this mod. Husimis are nice ships. Guess I'll pull them out before I lose too many...

[PaxMondo]

Kyushu and Husimi in this mod. Husimis are nice ships. Guess I'll pull them out before I lose too many...

They are both nice ships, but I use the Husimi as their speed works with most of my cargo convoys (12/14 range). Kyushu are just too valuable for higher speed runs, like landings etc.

One Husimi AV brings along just a hand full of FP's, but on ASW they seem to make a lot of difference. Then a circling TF ASW (or 2 if convoy is large), and that's what my convoys look like. With enough independent ASW (both air and TF) from bases along the way of my convoy routes, I can keep them pretty clean. Don't kill too many though ... the AIR ASW chases them away.

[Mike Solli]

Sorry for the delay. We're on a family vacation and the kids and grandkids are sucking up my time. Little time for turns and updates...

23 Jan 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

My Pt. Moresby invasion force landed at Buna.

KB, as a parting shot, swept Pt. Moresby shooting down 4 P-40Es for no loss.

A couple of Do-24s attempted to harass the Pt. Moresby invasion force, doing no damage and losing one to flak.

SRA

Malaya

25 Army will arrive at Singapore tomorrow. Let's see what happens...

Philippines

A deliberate assault of Clark Field trashed the Allies, taking the base and causing 20,800 enemy casualties (to 799 Japanese losses). Four enemy formations were destroyed. I'll let my troops rest a day or so then send them to Bataan to finish off the Americans.

Borneo

The Miri and Brunei invasion forces are sailing from CRB tomorrow and should arrive in a few days.

Sumatra

Paratroopers landed at Benkoelen and Praboemoelih taking both bases in advance of the Palembang assault force marching north from Oosthaven.

Java

Buitenzorg was liberated and Cheribon will be attacked tomorrow. I'm ashore in Northern Java in force with 3 divisions, armor and artillery. Now to spread out and invest Batavia.

Burma

15 Army is still advancing north killing all in its path.

China

Nothing exciting to report today.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[Mike Solli]

24 Jan 42

Sub War

A Dutch sub launched a couple of torpedoes unsuccessfully against the Buna invasion force and took some minor damage for its efforts.

5 Fleet

RO-33 is only one day out of Paramushiro-jima. Finally.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

KB swept Pt. Moresby again, shooting down another 4 P-40Es for no loss.

Three Do-24s put a couple of bombs into an xAK off Buna today. The damage was relatively minor and she was able to get away.

A dozen Vals caught CL Adelaide at Terapo and put 7x 250 kg bombs into her leaving her heavily damaged and burning fiercely.

Thirteen Kates sank 2x xAPs off Pt. Moresby but unfortunately lost one to flak.

SRA

Malaya

The shock attack against Singapore occurred and was as expected. The 1:2 attack against level 3 forts managed to destroy one enemy formation. Only 56 Division was damaged badly. The other 3 divisions took minor losses but have high fatigue and disruption. The six artillery units and bombers will continue to pummel the Brits while the infantry rests for the next attempt.

Philippines

14 Army started marching from Clark Field to Bataan today.

Borneo

The Miri and Borneo assault forces are moving toward their targets. The Balikpapan and Tarakan assault forces are gathered at Jolo and are waiting a little longer to attack.

Sumatra

Armor and independent engineer regiments are landing at Oosthaven for movement northwards.

Java

Cheribon was liberated today. Bandoeng will be attacked tomorrow.

Burma

Ted is sending some Burma Rifles battalions to try and cut my supply lines. Pain in the ass, but I'm killing them off one by one.

China

Nothing exciting to report.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[RangerJoe]

You don't need to capture Bataan, just bottle up the enemy and finish it off later. Especially if there were a few units left there and they were not at Clark/Manila.

[Mike Solli]

25 Jan 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

RO-33 finally got refueled and is on its way to Yokohama. She'll arrive in 5 days and then be rebuilt.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

I landed at Buin and will liberate it tomorrow.

SRA

Malaya

Bombing/bombarding Singapore and resting the infantry.

Philippines

14 Army is marching toward Bataan.

Borneo

The Miri and Brunei invasion forces are moving in tomorrow.

Sumatra

Paratroopers are moving toward Lahat to capture.

Java

Ryujo is playing bait to the Dutch Air Force. Today, several bombers were shot down and another was lost to flak. No damage was done to the Japanese. It'll be worse tomorrow.

I barraged Batavia today to see what was there. There are quite a few battalion sized units, but no larger units. I currently have a division, a regiment and an artillery regiment there right now. I'm going to wait until I have 3 divisions there then will attack. I anticipate a quick demise. The current Japanese AV is 518 to 228 for the Dutch.

Burma

Still working on two small Burmese battalions trying to slow me down.

China

Herding cats...

Other Stuff

Reinforcement:
CVL Shoho - Upgraded Claudes to Zeros and increased to 21 aircraft.

[Mike Solli]

You don't need to capture Bataan, just bottle up the enemy and finish it off later. Especially if there were a few units left there and they were not at Clark/Manila.

I agree. I'm in no hurry but I'll give it a shot just because most of the combat troops have been mauled. There are currently 42 units in Bataan.

[Mike Solli]

26 Jan 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

RO-33 is finally moving more than 1 hex a day.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

KB is one day from Truk. When they arrive, they will modify the aircraft complements. More on that later.

SRA

Malaya

More bombing/bombarding of Singapore while the infantry rests.

Philippines

14 Army is about 3 days out from Bataan.

Borneo

Landings occurred at Miri and Brunei. Liberation will happen tomorrow.

Sumatra

Still crawling toward Palembang. Most of the Dutch Air Force is being mauled (see below) so it's time to take the oil fields.

Java

The Dutch Air Force launched 3 attacks totaling 18 bombers (no fighters!) with Ryujo's fighters shooting down half and driving off the rest. Ryujo's fighters are killing it! They have 30 pilots and have shot down 55 enemy planes for the loss of 1 early in the war. They have 3 aces including one who shot down 6 planes and 3 elite pilots. Only 8 pilots have yet to shoot down a plane. Only one pilot hasn't gained any experience this month. Very nice!

4 Division unsuccessfully attacked Bandoeng today. I'm really surprised that happened. I'm giving them another chance to rectify their mistake and will attack again tomorrow.

Burma

One of the pain in the ass battalions (Railway BAF Battalion) was destroyed near Prome today.

China

More herding cats.

Other Stuff

Reinforcement:
Makigumo - Yugumo class - assigned to KB

[d0mbo]

Good to see these updates, the World wondered for a while!

KUTGW, and keep on liberating the pacific

[Chickenboy]

We're on a family vacation and the kids and grandkids are sucking up my time.

Priorities man! Priorities! Update your AAR first, THEN kids, grandkids and family.



ETA: Ryujo's fighters are still, presumably, A5Ms? What is your 'take' on when to swap out these early war fighters for the more capable A6M line(s)?

[Mike Solli]

We're on a family vacation and the kids and grandkids are sucking up my time.

Priorities man! Priorities! Update your AAR first, THEN kids, grandkids and family.



ETA: Ryujo's fighters are still, presumably, A5Ms? What is your 'take' on when to swap out these early war fighters for the more capable A6M line(s)?

Ryujo's fighters were updated to the A6M2 long ago. No frontline IJNAF fighters are Claudes except for those out in Cent Pac. They're just training though. The Ryujo's fighters are killing it aginst the Dutch Air Force, well, what's left of it.

[PaxMondo]

Ryujo's fighters were updated to the A6M2 long ago.

+1

I never risk any IJ CV type without the latest fighter on board. In general, they upgrade before any LBA, but in any case stay in port until they have the latest fighter embarked. In a very early game, I got anxious and sent my CV's into battle without the latest and got my A___ handed to me big time ... losing several CV's. Lesson learned very painfully.

[Chickenboy]

I never risk any IJ CV type without the latest fighter on board. In general, they upgrade before any LBA, but in any case stay in port until they have the latest fighter embarked. In a very early game, I got anxious and sent my CV's into battle without the latest and got my A___ handed to me big time ... losing several CV's. Lesson learned very painfully.

Agreed.

I know that I use A5Ms in the early early war, when I have no choice in the matter. But I'm gritting my teeth while doing so. I don't think I go longer than mid-December for A5M service in any front-line units, exigency or no.

[Mike Solli]

27 Jan 42

Sub War

Just NE of Cairns, the I-174 caught an ASW TF and sank an AM at the cost of being hit by a DC causing 15-16(7)-6(6)-0. She's ok, but she'll have to head to the barn for repairs.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Paratroopers landed on and took Merauke. That's the first time I ever took Merauke in this game. (Lots of firsts this time around.) The paratroopers caught 3 Do-24s and 2 PBY-5 Cats on the ground as well. Excellent! I'm flying in some engineers then I'll pull out the paratroopers for use on Horne Island.

SRA

Malaya

Bombing/bombardment of Singapore while the infantry rests a little longer.

Philippines

14 Army is still a couple days march from Bataan.

Borneo

The attacks on Miri and Brunei were both successful. The infrastructure was as follows:

Miri:
Oil - 122(178)
Refinery - 122 (178)

Brunei:
Oil - 8(12)

The refinery is staying on, mainly to produce supply to assist in the oil repairs. Both oil centers will be repaired but the refinery won't. That's 190k supply I'll need there. I'm sending a string of small supply TFs to supply work on the oil centers. The refinery will supply 21k supply over the 6 months needed to repair the oil fields.

Sumatra

I made a mistake. The paratroopers who landed at Praboemoelih marched next door to Lahat and took that base. Unfortunately, the remnants of that garrison retreated northeast to the hex just NW of Praboemoelih, on the road the Palembang assault force will march to get to Palembang. They will have to shock attack across the river. It's not much of a unit, but it'll cause disruption and possible losses to the attackers. I have landed 7 Tank Regiment at Oosthaven and will Strat move them north and use them to shock attack the defenders to preserve the Palembang assault force.

Java

The 4 Division attacked the garrison at Bandoeng again today getting only 1:1 odds but they did beat up on the garrison pretty well and reduced the fort level to 0. Tomorrow, they'll try a shock attack. That should do the trick.

The 4 Tank Regiment will attack the Semarang garrison tomorrow.

More bombardment of Batavia while the troops there wait for the remainder of 16 Army to arrive.

Burma

15 Army is still moving northward.

China

Nothing exciting to report.

Other Stuff

Reinforcement:
Ch-27 - ASW

R&D:
Ha-43 engine advances to 8/45.

[PaxMondo]

Sumatra

I made a mistake. The paratroopers who landed at Praboemoelih marched next door to Lahat and took that base. Unfortunately, the remnants of that garrison retreated northeast to the hex just NW of Praboemoelih, on the road the Palembang assault force will march to get to Palembang. They will have to shock attack across the river. It's not much of a unit, but it'll cause disruption and possible losses to the attackers. I have landed 7 Tank Regiment at Oosthaven and will Strat move them north and use them to shock attack the defenders to preserve the Palembang assault force.

If the unit is disrupted enough, it may not impact your forces much. Fingers crossed .....