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

[Mike Solli]

5 Feb 42

Sub War

RO-34 took some minor damage (up to 9 sys now) off Adak. She's almost out of torpedoes but she's staying put for now.

5 Fleet

RO-34 is the only assets I have in the Aleutians right now. RO-33 ran out of fuel and paddled back and will be repaired at Yokohama tomorrow. I got a reinforcement (see below) but need more stuff there.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Shipping AS, Engineers, fuel and supply south from Truk as I can.

SRA

Malaya

Going to add something to the daily Bataan & Singapore bombing/bombardments. I'll show the AV for both. It'll look like this:

Japanese AV (change from previous day) - Allied AV (change from previous day)

Singapore 1198 (+67) - 864 (-2)

Philippines

Bataan 781 (+19) - 658 (+6)

Borneo

Three Dutch fighters swept Tarakan and were met by 4 of Shoho's Zeros. Apparently they just looked at each other.

Balikpapan was liberated with little damage to the infrastructure:

Oil: 296(6)
Refineries: 392(8)

In an unusual decision, I will repair the damaged refineries. That way, all of the oil here and at Samarinda will be converted. The fuel produced here (108k monthly) is going to be shipped to Truk to fuel the SE Fleet and 4 Fleet AOs. Twelve Manzu TM class TKs (7950 capacity) escorted by 6 To'su PBs (until better escorts are available) split into 3 TFs will be used to move the fuel. Supply produced here (12k monthly) will be used locally.

Sumatra



Java

Batavia was liberated today! Twenty Dutch units were destroyed and 5 planes were caught on the ground. The infrastructure was captured intact:

Manpower: 3(0)
Resources: 60(0)
HI: 21(0), I increased it to 25.
LI: 80(0)

Burma

I haven't mentioned this before, but the Flying Tigers (2 big squadrons of 22 & 23 aircraft) are stationed at Mandalay and sweeping Tongoo (Japanese controlled) every day. I'm not opposing this. He's getting experience out of it but is slowly losing aircraft to op losses (4 lost so far). Neither of us has fighters with long enough range to do much. I have 66 Ki-43-Ics (Chiang Mai) and 8 Ki-44s (Rangoon) there. Just a standoff right now.

China

Nothing exciting to report.

Other Stuff

Reinforcement
SS I-28, Glen sub, assigned to 5 Fleet to help with recon in the Aleutians.

[Mike Solli]

That's lovely news, Pax. This mod makes it really difficult to build up bases.

Yes it does, but that was their intent. The allies suffer as well from this, but not nearly as many laborers. Suspicious to me!

AFBs no doubt.

[Mike Solli]

6 Feb 42

Sub War

The I-9 torpedoed an xAK off the coast of Pt. Moresby but she didn't sink. I did hear sinking sounds afterward, so I suspect she went down.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

An 8 plane Zero sweep over Pt. Moresby netted both P-40Es that rose against them for no Japanese loss.

SRA

Malaya

Singapore: 1225 (+27) - 867 (+3)

Philippines

Bataan: 792 (+11) - 659 (+1)

Borneo

144 IR is moving from Balikpapan to Samarinda to take that place.

Sumatra

The 7 Tank Regiment reached Djambi and will assault it tomorrow.

Java

The 16 Army is loading on trains at Batavia and will move to Semarang to push south from there.

Burma

15 Army is still moving north.

China

Nothing exciting to report.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[Mike Solli]

7 Feb 42 - Pretty quiet day today, for the most part.

Sub War

Nothing exciting.

5 Fleet

Nothing

4 Fleet

Nothing

SE Fleet

I was dropping off troops at Buna (shallow hex) and located a Dutch sub there. My escorts beat her up a bit and she disappeared after that. I'm sure she didn't sink.

SRA

Malaya

Singapore - 1260 (+35) - 864 (-3)

Philippines

Bataan - 799 (+7) - 670 (+11) - Good, they're spending supply on repairing disabled units.

Borneo

Nothing.

Sumatra

The 7 Tank Regiment captured Djambi with little damage to the oil:

Oil: 245(5)

Java

Nothing.

Burma

Nothing.

China

Beat up a few Chinese units. There still are 9 Chinese units in 2 stacks in the South Central area I'm trying to catch.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[RangerJoe]

So unless the units are in combat and need padding, stockpile the laborers when you give those units replacements.

[Mike Solli]

8 Feb 42

Sub War

The I-2 sank PC Haida off Pearl Harbor. Another of the multitude of small ships sunk. There are a LOT of them.

5 Fleet

Nothing going on up here.

4 Fleet

Nothing exciting.

SE Fleet

I dropped some paratroopers on Horn Island. I didn't take it (and didn't expect to) but I plan on dropping more there tomorrow. I'd really like to take that little island.

SRA

Malaya

Singapore - 1292 (+32) - 866 (+2)

Philippines

Bataan - 805 (+6) - 675 (+5)

Borneo

Nothing to report.

Sumatra

Getting closer to Palembang.

Java

About half of 16 Army is at Semarang and is unloading from trains. The remainder has completed loading at Batavia and will arrive at Semarang tomorrow, but will take a couple more days to unload.

Burma

Nothing exciting to report.

China

Beat up a couple more Chinese units and killed one off, which is counterproductive.

Other Stuff

Reinforcement
21 Port Unit - SW Fleet - Not sure where it's going, but it'll be the SRA.

[Mike Solli]

9 Feb 42

Sub War

The I-10 put a torpedo into an xAK a little south of Noumea heavily damaging her and later in the day put 2 more torpedoes into her putting her down for good.

5 Fleet

No sight of the enemy.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

The paratroopers at Horn Island didn't attack. Unfortunately, that was because they were bombarded to oblivion by PoW, Repulse and CAs Canberra, Australia and Pensacola. There still are some there, but they're all disabled with no supply. That was a quick offensive. By the way, that was the first time I even saw PoW and Repulse. I had to ask Ted early in the game if they were around or were sunk before the game started.

SRA

Malaya

Singapore - 1300 (+8) - 867 (+1)

Philippines

Bataan - 810 (+5) - 676 (+1)

Borneo

144 IR should cross the river and shock attack Samarinda tomorrow.

Sumatra

Still crawling toward Palembang.

Java

16 Army is at Semarang and will be completely unloaded from the trains in 3 days.

Burma

33 Division is moving to liberate Taung Gai, which should happen in a week or so. That base has 4200 troops. Here's what the others have in the area:
Meiktila: 820
Magwe: 700
Shwebo: 600
Mandalay: 38,540(!)

Now that's interesting. Did Ted buy out some Chinese troops?

Note that there is a squadron of Flying Tigers at Mandalay as well. The other squadron is at Lashio, which has 2060 troops.

China

Nothing exciting to report.

Other Stuff

Reinforcement
Misawa Ku K-1 (27 Betties), 13 Air Flotilla - Training

[PaxMondo]

So unless the units are in combat and need padding, stockpile the laborers when you give those units replacements.

exactly. I would never turn them on ...

[PaxMondo]

That's lovely news, Pax. This mod makes it really difficult to build up bases.

Yes it does, but that was their intent. The allies suffer as well from this, but not nearly as many laborers. Suspicious to me!

AFBs no doubt.

They're everywhere!!!

[PaxMondo]

Mandalay: 38,540(!)

Now that's interesting. Did Ted buy out some Chinese troops?

Yeah, I bet he walked those units out that start west of Kunming ....

[Mike Solli]

So unless the units are in combat and need padding, stockpile the laborers when you give those units replacements.

exactly. I would never turn them on ...

Never dawned on me. Also, I missed Joe's comment on it. So, thanks Joe for mentioning it and Pax for slapping me and pointing it out.

[PaxMondo]

... and Pax for slapping me and pointing it out.

Always happy to lend a "helping" hand!

[RangerJoe]

So unless the units are in combat and need padding, stockpile the laborers when you give those units replacements.

exactly. I would never turn them on ...

Never dawned on me. Also, I missed Joe's comment on it. So, thanks Joe for mentioning it and Pax for slapping me and pointing it out.

You are most welcome!

[Mike Solli]

10 Feb 42

Sub War

Nothing at all.

5 Fleet

A few ASW ships are up here.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

I've been sweeping Pt. Moresby with 9 Zeros daily. That was a mistake. Ted few in a squadron of P-40Es and 20 of them overwhelmed my Zeros shooting down 6 (5 KIA, 1 WIA, ouch) at a cost of 5 Warhawks. That brings the total of Warhawks lost this month to 9. I really want to kill >35 a month to reduce his reserves. I pulled out the chutai that got chewed up and replaced it with 3 Ku S-1, with 31 Zeros. They have only 7 kills so far but haven't lost a pilot. Let's see what they do to the Warhawks tomorrow.

SRA

Malaya

Singapore - 1322(+22) - 866(-1)

Philippines

Bataan - 815(+5) - 680(+4)

Borneo

Samarinda was liberated in a shock attack across the river from Balikpapan. A Dutch bomber and 3 Dutch fighters were caught on the ground. The oil fields took some damage: 80(20). Once Balikpapan is fully repaired (3 days), I'll shift the excess supply from there to begin repairs on the oil here. It'll need a supply convoy to complete the repairs.

Borneo is all mine except for the 2 inland bases and the SW corner of the island (Ketapang, Sampit and Bandjermasin (with 60 resources)).

Sumatra

Still maneuvering to capture Palembang. The assault force will reach the hex just NW of Palembang tomorrow.

Padang, Sibolga, Tandjoengbalai and Medan are still enemy controlled, in addition to Palembang, of course.

Java

Ryujo withdrew a couple of days ago to CRB (they'll reach it tomorrow) because they ran out of sorties. The rest of MKB (mini KB), composed of Zuiho, Shoho and Hosho, are rounding the southern tip of Borneo and will be in position to support operations in Java tomorrow.

Burma

33 Division is 40 miles west of Taung Gai, the next objective.

China

Still herding cats in south central China.

In the far north, Mongol Army, composed of 1 and 4 Cavalry Brigades and 1 Ching An Tui Brigade, have liberated Kiuchuan a day or so ago (resources 16(4)) and are heading north to Ansi, Hami and then Urumchi, their goal.

Other Stuff

Reinforcement
38 JNAF AF Unit (Southern Army) - assigned to SE Fleet

[Mike Solli]

11 Feb 42

Sub War

Nothing of note.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

3 Ku S-1 sent 26 Zeros to Pt. Moresby meeting 19 P-40Es and shot down 11 for no loss. Banzai! That brings the total of P-40Es shot down this month to 20. Banzai! Another pilot reached elite status. That makes 6 in this unit. Soon, I'll begin pulling out excess elite pilots for TRACOM. My goal is to have 3 elite pilots per daitai and 1 per chutai.

SRA

Malaya

Singapore - 1354(+32) - 874(+8)

Philippines

Bataan - 824(+9) - 683(+3) - Still seeing AAA so they aren't out of supply.

Borneo

Balikpapan has assigned 3 TFs each with 4x Manzyu TM class TKs (7950 capacity) and an escort of 2x To'su PBs, each with a capacity of 31,800 fuel. The first of these has filled and will begin the 10 day trip to Truk.

Sumatra

The Palembang assault force is 1 hex NW of Palembang, finally. I forgot to send them into Palembang.

Java

I had a bit of a dilemma at Batavia. I control the base and want to use its very nice level 6 port, but there are mines there and also an enemy ship. Not knowing what ship type it was, I was reluctant to send my BB TF in and have ships hit mines, but I had only 3 DMS available to sweep mines and didn't want to send them in unescorted and have them blown out of the water. Well, a mistake on my part resolved the issue. The minesweepers went in and the BBs didn't. They ran into the Dutch PC there, a little thing with 2x 7.5 cm guns, vs. the 3 DMS, each with 2x 12cm guns. They blew the PC out of the water and were never even shot at! On top of that they swept all the mines too! Banzai!

Later in the day, MKB caught an AG, AVP and xAP in Soerabaja harbor and sank all three. Easy experience for them.

Burma

Nothing exciting...

China

Herding cats.

Other Stuff

Reinforcement
42 IF Chutai (IFC), 12 Ida, 1 Air Division, Home Islands, will train ASW.

[Mike Solli]

12 Feb 42

Sub War

The I-25 caught an unloaded xAP off San Francisco and put a torpedo into her. Later I heard sinking sounds and assume she went down but there was no confirmation.

5 Fleet

There's an ASW TF running around south of Adak and another TF in Adak.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

My Zeros swept Pt. Moresby again downing the two P-40Es that rose to meet them for no loss. That's 22 P-40Es for the month.

SRA

Malaya

Singapore - 1367(+13) - 871(+5)

Philippines

Bataan - 837(+22) - 676(-4)

Borneo

I lied yesterday. Jesselton is still Allied controlled. I'm offloading some troops to take it.

Sumatra

I finally remembered to give the Palembang assault force orders to move there.

There are ~17k oil at Oosthaven. I sent a large TK there to grab it.

Java

MKB got a little more experience sinking 3x AMcs and an AG at Soerabaja.

Burma

Still moving toward Taung Gyi.

China

Wuchow was liberated today with the infrastructure practically intact:

Manpower: 1(1)
Resources: 57(3)
LI: 57(3)

Other Stuff

Reinforcement
TK Okinawa Maru, Type-1 TM, 8150 capacity, 14 kt speed. This is the first of this class. I like them a lot! She was accelerated as are 9 more. These 10 will head to Palembang to keep that base as empty as possible. I'll have 3 more in a month and the 5th in 3 months. I'll have all 10 by the end of July 42.

[Mike Solli]

13 Feb 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

My Zeros shot down all 3 P-40Es that rose to meet them over Pt. Moresby for no loss. That's 25 this month.

SRA

Malaya

Singapore - 1385(+18) - 868(-3)

Philippines

Bataan - 850(+13) - 671(-5)

Borneo

Nothing to report.

Sumatra

I decided to start taking the remaining Allied bases with paratroopers. Tanejoengbalai was unoccupied and easily taken by paratroopers.

Java

MKB sank two more AMcs at Soerabaja.

I just noticed something interesting. I just landed the Sasebo 2 SNLF in Batavia as its garrison. I happened to hover over it and learned that in 24 days, it will be renamed the 32 Naval Garrison Unit. Huh. Wonder if its TOE changes.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Herding cats.

Other Stuff
Reinforcements
62 NG - Marcus Island garrison
63 NG - Eniwetok garrison
64 NG - Ponape
65 NG - to Truk for now
67 NG - to Truk for now
12 Naval Construction Battalion - to Truk for now
12 Base Force - Soerabaja
12 Port Unit - Soerabaja

[PaxMondo]

12 Feb 42
Reinforcement
TK Okinawa Maru, Type-1 TM, 8150 capacity, 14 kt speed. This is the first of this class. I like them a lot!

This is also one of my favorite TK classes. Really good bang for the buck in my opinion. Use them to move oil first, fuel second.

The Type 1 TL is just too $$$$. I like them, but I won't build them.

The Type N TL is my AO fleet. I convert all of them to AO's. I only build some if I have losses ... I hate building them as they are so $$$$$, but I have to have AO's as long as I have a KB ....

[PaxMondo]

SE Fleet

My Zeros swept Pt. Moresby again downing the two P-40Es that rose to meet them for no loss. That's 22 P-40Es for the month.

Mike, you played this perfectly. Ted did a really good CAP trap on you, you did the right recovery, and Ted fell completely into it. I wonder if he just forgot about them after the first turn? Whatever the reason, really good result for you!!! Congrats!!!!

[Mike Solli]

SE Fleet

My Zeros swept Pt. Moresby again downing the two P-40Es that rose to meet them for no loss. That's 22 P-40Es for the month.

Mike, you played this perfectly. Ted did a really good CAP trap on you, you did the right recovery, and Ted fell completely into it. I wonder if he just forgot about them after the first turn? Whatever the reason, really good result for you!!! Congrats!!!!

At first, I thought Ted just forgot about them too but I'm having second thoughts now. I'm still 5 or 6 turns ahead of the AAR and Ted keeps throwing new squadrons in. I'm sure a good number of his pilots survive, but he's losing a lot of airframes. The intel screen says he's lost about 100 P-40Es. That's basically his entire production to date. (Yeah, my pilots are still racking up kills.). He's going to run out of them soon. Then what, the P-39?