Back and Better Than Ever Vettim 89(A) vs Greasylake(J)

[RangerJoe]

So you don't forget to do so, build Karachi's fortifications. It is the easiest port on the west coast of India to resupply from Aden and Abadan. Consider hauling supplies to Abadan if he invades India.

[vettim89]

Game is now mostly aerial bombardment of Bataan and Singapore.

Midget sub tried to sneak into PH on the 11th and was snagged in the anti-submarine nets.

Big news. Rabaul seems to finally be getting some attention

[vettim89]

Almost 200 a/c it Singapore today. About out of anything that can oppose this onslaught.

As expected BBs hit Rabaul today

Night Naval bombardment of Rabaul at 106,125 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Fuso
BB Nagato
CA Takao

Allied ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 42
Port hits 12
Port supply hits 1

bbs at rabaul.jpg (122.15 KiB) Viewed 195 times

PM got hit by the same all Kate air assault I saw at Wake. Is this just all the CVLs all bunched up in one TF. Mouse over intel says one CV present.

Afternoon Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
B5N1 Kate x 11
B5N2 Kate x 58

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Lost an xAKL to sub attack just north of Soerobaja. This is the first sub loss in quite a while.

B-17s hit the oil at Miri again. Two IJN TFs are seen at that local. Perhaps some AS to allow fighters to be based there?

The first RGT of the Americal Div is unloading at Noumea

[vettim89]

IJN CVs remain north of PNG. I included the mouse over to give you an idea of what I am seeing. Troops finally land at Rabaul

cvs off PNG.jpg (160.79 KiB) Viewed 169 times

Air bombardment continues at Singapore and Bataan.

I did the math and I have 148 Hurricanes in or near the CBI. In addition there are three poorly trained USSAF FS arriving at Cape Town in 6 days. I could also bring the AVG back after upgrading to P-40s.

I Have the 18th British and both the 6th and 7th Aussie Divisions in the area. Seriously now toying with the idea of trying to hold Burma. My concern is there is over 2000 IJA AV at Johore right now. If my opponent brought all that to Burma I doubt if I could hold. Then again, he hasn't taken any of the DEI yet either. I have a week or so to decide. Perhaps I'll wait to see how quickly Singapore falls

[vettim89]

Rabaul falls. He brought some AS so that is going to be an issue now

Ground combat at Rabaul (106,125)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6892 troops, 64 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 211

Defending force 251 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5

Japanese adjusted assault: 68

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 68 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Rabaul !!!

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

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

Allied ground losses:
201 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
82nd Naval Guard Unit
Kure 3rd SNLF
83rd Naval Guard Unit
12th Naval Construction Battalion
10th Special Base Force

Defending units:
Rabaul Det. Base Force

I had a well escorted convoy about the land at Sydney and an I-boat took out two of the xAK. My ASW capabilities suck. This convoy i carrying various engineer units attached to the SWPAC.

The IJN CVTF is now deep in the Coral Sea. Expect a raid on Townsville next turn. All my fighters are protecting Brisbane and Sydney

CVs off Oz.jpg (196.82 KiB) Viewed 154 times

First IJA units have arrived at Bataan

[vettim89]

Now this was a bad turn.

IJN subs sink an xAK SW of LA, a TK just south of Tjilatjap, and then sneak in PH and sink AO Neosho (that one hurt). While the first two were relatively unprotected, at PH I have three dozen AC on ASW patrol plus three ASW TFs and they can't stop anything. Not to mention the mines. There is also a sub off Colombo and two ASW TFs take a crack at it for no hits. This is the worst game I have ever had regarding the effectiveness of the IJN subs. I have put TF commanders with good naval skills in my ASW TF and convoys. Nothing seems to make a difference

As expected, CV AC attack Townsville. The TF is now about 300 NM ESE of the base.

Afternoon Air attack on Townsville , at 92,144

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 62 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
B5N1 Kate x 11
B5N2 Kate x 58

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged

B-17s hit Miri oil again and have reduced the function oil field to 90. I guess I have to take the wins when I can get them

IJA Shock Attacks across the Johore Strait. The enemy is on the island; the issue is in doubt

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 79401 troops, 887 guns, 517 vehicles, Assault Value = 2614

Defending force 29807 troops, 341 guns, 158 vehicles, Assault Value = 633

Japanese adjusted assault: 1165

Allied adjusted defense: 709

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
4062 casualties reported
Squads: 73 destroyed, 589 disabled
Non Combat: 45 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 21 destroyed, 158 disabled
Guns lost 53 (11 destroyed, 42 disabled)
Vehicles lost 56 (28 destroyed, 28 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
4982 casualties reported
Squads: 51 destroyed, 284 disabled
Non Combat: 106 destroyed, 83 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 33 disabled
Guns lost 52 (21 destroyed, 31 disabled)
Vehicles lost 35 (11 destroyed, 24 disabled)
Units destroyed 3

SIngapore Shock.jpg (211.47 KiB) Viewed 147 times

Also, First bombardment attack at Bataan. I have the AV advantage but almost no supplies

Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 35562 troops, 369 guns, 66 vehicles, Assault Value = 1476

Defending force 57113 troops, 898 guns, 803 vehicles, Assault Value = 1946

Japanese ground losses:
754 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 9 (5 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
127 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (6 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
48th Recon Regiment
20th Division
7th Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
65th Brigade
2nd Tank Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
Kanno Det
Sasebo 1st SNLF
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
48th Engineer Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF
48th Field Artillery Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
192nd Tank Battalion
Subic Bay Defenses
41st PA Infantry Division
Provisional GMC Grp
11th PA Infantry Division
4th PA Constabulary Regiment
21st PA Infantry Division
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
2nd/45th PS Inf Battalion
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
14th PS Engineer Regiment
Manila Bay Defenses
3rd/45th PS Inf Battalion
51st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
1st/45th PS Inf Battalion
91st PA Infantry Division
194th Tank Battalion
1st PA Infantry Division
4th Marine Regiment
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
1st/43rd PS Inf Battalion
31st Infantry Regiment
71st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment
803rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
Asiatic Fleet
Bataan USN Base Force
Far East USAAF
301st Construction Battalion
201st PA Construction Battalion
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
Manila USAAF Base Force
II Philippine Corps
PAF Aviation
Cavite USN Base Force
USAFFE
I Philippine Corps
202nd PA Construction Battalion
1st USMC AA Battalion
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

[BBfanboy]

For ASW TF combat it seems less is more. With much experimentation I have found that 3 vessels is the best ASW TF size and no more than two ASW TFs per hex helps. More than that and they seem to get in each others' way. I am guessing that the algorithm has trouble processing too many die rolls in the same place for the same purpose.
For Air ASW, I have no idea on numbers, but it does seem to work best if you have enough patrollers on Nav Search to first spot the sub and some on ASW to localize/attack the subs. Air ASW might get lucky and in any case they will raise the D/L of the sub for the ASW TFs.
Once the Allies have radar (and working torps) on their subs, they have a reasonable chance of ambushing IJN subs.

[vettim89]

Well it doesn't help that even now my pilots have crap EXP levels. Will modify my ASW TF as suggested. At this point, anything helps.

Quiet turn. Just bombardment attacks at Singapore and Bataan.

The IJN CVs disappeared but a BB based SCTF is out in the middle of the Coral Sea. Suspect a Bombardment of Noumea is in the offing. TF still unloading the 164th Inf RGT there. They will stop offloading and head south

A few turns ago, mouse over intel said only one unit at Bangkok. In hind sight a counterattack that direction with 2000 AV in the south of Malaya may have been a good spoiling attack. Opportunities lost

[chaos45]

Play Scen 2 as Japan and im finding trying to enter any allied ports with mines to basically be a dead Japanese sub, so must be some miracle luck his sub made it into PH.

[RangerJoe]

ASW needs to fly very low . . .

Naval search should fly around 6k . . .

[vettim89]

IJN CVTF spotted in northern Coral Sea heading NE (back toward Rabaul). The SCTF is still loitering in the Middle of the Coral Sea heading SW. I think I am being baited

Only Bombardments at Singapore and Bataan.

[vettim89]

Deliberate Attack at Singapore

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 74497 troops, 883 guns, 475 vehicles, Assault Value = 2200

Defending force 26829 troops, 326 guns, 147 vehicles, Assault Value = 359

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 1107

Allied adjusted defense: 455

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
3600 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 274 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 20 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2837 casualties reported
Squads: 63 destroyed, 224 disabled
Non Combat: 45 destroyed, 117 disabled
Engineers: 38 destroyed, 44 disabled
Guns lost 59 (10 destroyed, 49 disabled)
Vehicles lost 30 (11 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Units destroyed 3

Well I am four day past the historical fall. Doubt I will make to a week late

Bombardment attack at Bataan

Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 32043 troops, 430 guns, 135 vehicles, Assault Value = 1590

Defending force 56710 troops, 894 guns, 789 vehicles, Assault Value = 1892

Japanese ground losses:
373 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
125 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

If it weren't' for the supply issue I feel I could hold out for a while here. Larry is concerned about the AV disparity but he should be. WIll probably take 3-4 weeks at most to finish it off which still takes it into perhaps Mid-March

[BBfanboy]

Further on the Air ASW - don't forget that the range set for the aircraft on this mission is halved to simulate an intensive search. So if you set four hex range, you get two hex (beyond home base hex) search. And, as always, the wedge of the search arc gets wider as you go farther out, so your chances of detection get diluted.
I hear you on the crappy skill levels of your pilots, but the lower they start the faster they gain. I usually set something like 40% search or ASW, 40% training and 20% rest for each squadron then modify subsequent turns as required for found sub, aircraft fatigue or pilot fatigue.

[vettim89]

The IJN CVTF is now just east of New Ireland. Will wait one more turn before restarting supply efforts to PM.

The 164th Inf RGT is still unloading at Noumea. Should have sent them to Auckland and then used a AMPH TF to transport them to the final destination. Lessons learned.

The first two of four 10th AF FS arrived at Cape Town. They are bound for India already. I reconsidered the reinforcing Burma idea. Too many level 4 AB in range of Rangoon. If I were to make an issue of it, I think Larry has the air strength to win air superiority at this point. Not forgetting how he took Rangoon to 99 runway/99 service damage in just a few days a month ago

Bombardment attack at Singapore. The base will fall within the next two or three turns

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 24163 troops, 479 guns, 85 vehicles, Assault Value = 2416

Defending force 24339 troops, 318 guns, 142 vehicles, Assault Value = 169

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
125 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Deliberate Attack at Bataan pushes the IJA back but there is a grand total of 17 supply in the hex

Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 45018 troops, 483 guns, 464 vehicles, Assault Value = 1577

Defending force 56587 troops, 893 guns, 789 vehicles, Assault Value = 1880

Japanese adjusted assault: 425

Allied adjusted defense: 3329

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 7 (fort level 5)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), preparation(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
9818 casualties reported
Squads: 127 destroyed, 395 disabled
Non Combat: 63 destroyed, 69 disabled
Engineers: 28 destroyed, 51 disabled
Guns lost 43 (9 destroyed, 34 disabled)
Vehicles lost 127 (14 destroyed, 113 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1983 casualties reported
Squads: 87 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 23 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 69 (34 destroyed, 35 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (6 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Somewhat frustrated that even at this point I have not rebuilt my PBY squadrons. Upgrading all the squadrons that can to PBY-5A as soon as enough AC accumulate in the pool, but it is a slow process. The P-40s and A-24s that historically were supposed to go to the DEI are in Oz. They withdraw in a few weeks which will fill up that pool. Still one P-26 squadron at PH but the pilots have EXP in the 30s so no rush to give them better planes.

[chaos45]

Hes giving you a decent amount of points from Japanese Ground losses....almost 9k men on one assault in the Philippines is huge Japanese losses IMO...bombing and bombardment are much safer/lower cost methods to strip your supply so your lucky he is giving u free points.

[vettim89]

Remember how I was lamenting the condition of my patrol SQN (like this morning)? Well I got Death Starred at Noumea. He must have wriggled these TFs through my patrol ranges because they just appeared.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 115,160

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 79
B5N1 Kate x 12
B5N2 Kate x 114
D3A1 Val x 90

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
AP Tasker H. Bliss, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAP Santa Barbara, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP Henry T. Allen, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk
AM Bittern, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Quail, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hammann
xAP Monterey, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Case
xAP Etolin, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AVP Pelican, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AP Hugh L. Scott, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Whippoorwill, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Cummings, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Santa Inez, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Cushing
xAP Matsonia, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Lark, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AVD Ballard, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Tanager
AVP Teal

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

and

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 115,160

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 79
B5N2 Kate x 57
D3A1 Val x 61

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Perkins
DD Cummings, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AP Hugh L. Scott, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Cushing
DD Preston
DD Hammann, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Monterey, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Smith, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Wharton
AVP Teal
DD Case
xAP Matsonia, Bomb hits 9, and is sunk
AVD Ballard, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
AP Tasker H. Bliss, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 21 (4 destroyed, 17 disabled)

and

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 115,160

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
B5N2 Kate x 43

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Hammann, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Case
xAP Monterey, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

KB found.jpg (346.96 KiB) Viewed 64 times

Most of the 164th Inf RGT was already ashore. The BF is about half unloaded. No point in running so the unload continues. The "good" news is that just a little ways to the east a convoy with all of the II Fighter HQ's FS was moving toward Brisbane. Losing those planes would have hurt a lot. Running SE now

luck I guess.jpg (157.68 KiB) Viewed 64 times

Deliberate attack at Singapore reduces forts to 0

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 86703 troops, 997 guns, 475 vehicles, Assault Value = 2549

Defending force 25112 troops, 325 guns, 167 vehicles, Assault Value = 200

Japanese adjusted assault: 668

Allied adjusted defense: 363

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
2423 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 199 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled

Allied ground losses:
4078 casualties reported
Squads: 363 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 231 disabled
Engineers: 60 destroyed, 32 disabled
Guns lost 84 (62 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Vehicles lost 27 (6 destroyed, 21 disabled)

Bombardment at Bataan shows how bad the IJA suffered last turn

Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 26496 troops, 394 guns, 135 vehicles, Assault Value = 985

Defending force 54660 troops, 866 guns, 781 vehicles, Assault Value = 1717

Japanese ground losses:
602 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (5 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
98 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (7 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Life of an AFB in February 1942

[vettim89]

The carnage continues. KB slipped south and found a convoy returning from Oz

Morning Air attack on TF, near Lord Howe Island at 106,173

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 80
B5N2 Kate x 48
D3A1 Val x 61

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged
D3A1 Val: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
xAP President Taylor, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Panaman, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DD Brooks
xAP President Buchanan, Bomb hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Crown City, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
DD Gilmer, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Fox, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Susan Luckenbach, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Virginian
xAK Don Isidro, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Clevedon, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Chatanooga City
AP U.S. Grant, Bomb hits 3, on fire
xAK Horace Luckenbach, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Hatfield, Bomb hits 1
xAK Utahan, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAP President Coolidge, Bomb hits 1

and

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lord Howe Island at 106,173

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 80
B5N1 Kate x 12
B5N2 Kate x 110
D3A1 Val x 88

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged
D3A1 Val: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
xAK Chatanooga City, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
AP U.S. Grant, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk
DD Hatfield
xAK Don Isidro, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
DD Fox, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Horace Luckenbach, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
xAK Utahan, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Brooks, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Panaman, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAP President Coolidge, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
DD Gilmer, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Virginian, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

At least all the merchants were empty. I am going to miss the APs and AKs I lost here eventually

Only a bombardment attack at Singapore. I suspect the base will fall next turn

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 36843 troops, 605 guns, 117 vehicles, Assault Value = 2435

Defending force 21699 troops, 281 guns, 159 vehicles, Assault Value = 80

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
160 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

B-17 hit Miri again. Oil now at 48. Larry is going to miss those resources.

I am really annoyed at myself for letting this happen. I was so obsessed with getting my PBY squadrons to full strength before deploying them. In hind sight even a partial strength squadron could have seen this coming. To be honest with the lackadaisical approach my opponent has been using, I fell into sloppiness. That ends now.

[vettim89]

The Death Star remains in the southern Coral Sea mopping up the remnants of the three TF I had in the area. The important stuff is now well to the east so hopefully is out of danger.

More importantly, Singapore fell. I had out exactly one week longer than history. At this point I will take that small victory

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 86247 troops, 996 guns, 475 vehicles, Assault Value = 2515

Defending force 22015 troops, 281 guns, 157 vehicles, Assault Value = 107

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 772

Allied adjusted defense: 329

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Singapore !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
515 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 36 disabled

Allied ground losses:
28715 casualties reported
Squads: 271 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1988 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 136 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 362 (362 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 174 (174 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 31

Keep telling myself, "Its February '42, its supposed to be going this way"

[vettim89]

After some climatic turns things calm down. A few damaged ships sink from the damage applied by the IJN. Only One CVTF in still present in the central Coral Sea. A SCTF has been spotted east of Tarakan. That is all for now

[CaptBeefheart]

Ouch regarding New Caledonia. I feel your pain.

I like to put an AV or AVD or whatever at one of the Channel Islands (off LA) to host a Kingfisher squadron on ASW. With a three hex radius, that covers the LA approaches pretty well.

Regarding the deployment of your AUS and UK divisions, is your opponent known for doing end arounds? You'd hate for them to be hanging in Burma while he lands somewhere in India.

Good luck.

Cheers,
CB