Defenseless: Between the Storms Japan

[John 3rd]

....continued...

Philippines
Luzon
Batangas and Subic Bay fall.

He appears to not be sure where to defend. Most of the troops are at Clark with five units in Manila and five units in Bataan. Am bombing all three locations to keep Forts from building.

Malaya
Singapore
A Japanese Shock Attack comes with 25 assault points of 2-1! Crap. The three IDs are tired so I will let them sit for two days before trying again.

Troops are driving north and south to smash the Allied troops caught in Central Malaya.

Think I will pull one ID from going north and bring it down to Johore Bharu just in case I need it.

Australia
My KB--Pite moves due east and will link-up with two Kongo's tomorrow. The TF is nearly out of fuel and has ZERO sorties left within it. Ooops...

[John 3rd]

South China

Here are southern China operations:

We have three ID, 3 Art, and 1 Corps HQ moving in on Kweilin. Only one unit there currently.

Have 3 ID and 2 Engineer units about to crossover the river and take Hengyang. Only two units are defending it but he is trying to move troops there.

China 1-1-42 South.png (1.28 MiB) Viewed 312 times

[John 3rd]

North China

North China sees a massive pincer movement occurring. From the south come 3 ID and 2 TK Reg, the Center has Loyang invested with 15 China unit in it, the north sees a drive from east and north east threatening Sian.

Just launched an attack at Loyang and scored a 1-1 dropping the Forts to 2. Have an ID coming from the west to close up any hope of escape. A surrender here would be BIG.

Have scored several surprising victories over Chinese troops up here and if I had known this would happen, I might have chosen to assault here with most of what I have in the south. C'est la Vie!

China 1-1-42 North.png (1.31 MiB) Viewed 308 times

[ny59giants]

Got to build up AF at Ichang and bomb Chungking to destroy supply, Admiral. Cannot allow him to have enough supply there to take about 12 to 13 rifle squads per day into LCUs there.

[John 3rd]

Notes! Excellent notes...

[PaxMondo]

Singapore
A Japanese Shock Attack comes with 25 assault points of 2-1! Crap. The three IDs are tired so I will let them sit for two days before trying again.

Ahhh crap is right!! Sometimes I really hate GG and his die rolls ...

[PaxMondo]

South China

Have 3 ID and 2 Engineer units about to crossover the river and take Hengyang. Only two units are defending it but he is trying to move troops there.

Did these troops come west from Nanchang or North from Kanhsien?

[PaxMondo]

North China
Have scored several surprising victories over Chinese troops up here and if I had known this would happen, I might have chosen to assault here with most of what I have in the south. C'est la Vie!

No, I think you are right in choosing the southern route. My experience is that the northern route terrain will slow you up considerably once you are past Sian ....

[PaxMondo]

Got to build up AF at Ichang and bomb Chungking to destroy supply, Admiral. Cannot allow him to have enough supply there to take about 12 to 13 rifle squads per day into LCUs there.

I prefer Changsha or Hengyang for this. I don't like to move my air units off of an RR line. Plus, the number of CHI units at Ichang .... I prefer to wait and take those AFTER CK ...

[John 3rd]

Got to build up AF at Ichang and bomb Chungking to destroy supply, Admiral. Cannot allow him to have enough supply there to take about 12 to 13 rifle squads per day into LCUs there.

I prefer Changsha or Hengyang for this. I don't like to move my air units off of an RR line. Plus, the number of CHI units at Ichang .... I prefer to wait and take those AFTER CK ...

It surprises me that he has not moved any of the AVG into China. I keep expecting to see disaster with each turn. I have two Sentai of Oscars there right now but Oscars vs. P-40 AVG is not a nice combination.

Michael--What should I bomb at Changsha? Is it just hitting the AF??? Don't think I can Strat Bomb...course...I do have about 50% of a LIZ Daitai working out of Shanghai. Could use that...

[ny59giants]

Just bomb the AF to destroy supplies. He gets 350 Chinese Rifle Squads per month. You have to get the math in your favor (destroyed squads in combat vs those 350/mo).

[PaxMondo]

Just bomb the AF to destroy supplies. He gets 350 Chinese Rifle Squads per month. You have to get the math in your favor (destroyed squads in combat vs those 350/mo).

Or, lack of supply to purchase said 350 squads/month ... hence, bomb AF's to destroy supply with added benefit of delaying forts in key bases that you want to attack ....

either way or both, get the math in your favor as best you can ...

[RangerJoe]

Just bomb the AF to destroy supplies. He gets 350 Chinese Rifle Squads per month. You have to get the math in your favor (destroyed squads in combat vs those 350/mo).

Or, lack of supply to purchase said 350 squads/month ... hence, bomb AF's to destroy supply with added benefit of delaying forts in key bases that you want to attack ....

either way or both, get the math in your favor as best you can ...

Not to mention that supplies are needed to "repair" the already disabled Chinese devices.

Actually, any large stack that can draw supplies should be bombed if there is no risk of enemy fighter CAP. That increases the supply usage not to mention slowly increasing the damaged devices.

[John 3rd]

I have been bombing all the AFs running along the railroad from Changsha down southwest to its terminus. Will need to move another fighter unit in if I am to attack Changsha. Will look around and see what can be done. Appreciate the advice from everybody. Will advise with more China updates...

[John 3rd]

Got another turn. LOOK OUT!

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 2, 1942

NoPac
The two small STF are spotted moving east of Amchitka. I decide to see what might be up here...

CenPac
Kido Butai 2 now consists of Akagi, Kaga, Karasu, Shoho, and Zuiho. The CVs carry a little over 250 planes.

Everything else continues to approach, arrive and meet at Midway and Wake.

Tabiteuea falls.

SoPac
Kido Butai 1 has Hiryu, Soryu, Shokaku, and Zuikaku with nearly 300 aircraft. The TF sweeps south of Norfolk and approaches New Zealand. Got to protect my sorties so I pull the carriers back towards Noumea.

The Imperial Guards Brigade (starting in Tokyo) is currently passing Truk heading SE. Decide that I need a real harbor for the Fleet (until Tulagi can be expanded). Orders are cut on the fly for the Brigade to take Rabaul. There are two DD and some PB/PG as escorts here. Not enough. Add a CL from Truk and divert a CA and 3 DD to rendezvous before the landing in several days.

Noumea is finally repaired from several US bombardments and the AF begins to expand. Have already got 36 Zero and 54 Betty/Nell flying from here. They are on Naval Attack/Port Strike (LaFoa) to a range of 14 hexes. Two groups of Vals are unloading at Luganville and will be added to the base when ready. Need some more Zeros here...

DEI
Billiton falls

Singkawang finally falls

A STF of 3 CA, 3 CL, and 8 DD find a group of Allied ships fleeing Java. The STF sinks an AK, DD Iris, 9 TM, an AG, and an AMc about 12 hexes SSE of Soerbaja. Search planes pick-up two more TF trying to flee. Order the STF to split and pursue.

The first Tankers depart Palembang carrying 50,000 Fuel and 50,000 Oil for the Home Isles.

Land at Boela

SS Operations
I-2 puts a single TT into CL Adelaide near Sale, Australia

[ny59giants]

Gilberts - Tabby get a full division at some point and for the Marshall, Ailinglaplap gets the same treatment.

[PaxMondo]

Combat Report
January 2, 1942

Noumea is finally repaired from several US bombardments and the AF begins to expand. Have already got 36 Zero and 54 Betty/Nell flying from here. They are on Naval Attack/Port Strike (LaFoa) to a range of 14 hexes. Two groups of Vals are unloading at Luganville and will be added to the base when ready. Need some more Zeros here...

DEI
Singkawang finally falls

The first Tankers depart Palembang carrying 50,000 Fuel and 50,000 Oil for the Home Isles.

Lotta nice progress here. Your plan is working so far .... BANZAI!!!

[John 3rd]

With the southward thrust through Noumea--more or less--accomplished, I think Japan will try to grab the three islands that recon can be flown from: Norfolk, the one to the west nearer Aussieland, and the one to the SE. If I can grab those, then Japan should be able to launch raiders into the deep south Pacific without being seen...this could be very enjoyable...

Take them and then place a CD unit and Base Force on each and extend recon all the way to near the edge of the map.

[PaxMondo]

With the southward thrust through Noumea--more or less--accomplished, I think Japan will try to grab the three islands that recon can be flown from: Norfolk, the one to the west nearer Aussieland, and the one to the SE. If I can grab those, then Japan should be able to launch raiders into the deep south Pacific without being seen...this could be very enjoyable...

Take them and then place a CD unit and Base Force on each and extend recon all the way to near the edge of the map.

Good idea. Keep a reaction force nearby as these will definitely be targeted early. You'll want to reinforce/re-take them ASAP.

(guessing that you mean Lord Howe Island and Raoul Island in addition to Norfolk Island?)