My first grand campaign

[HootsMaguire]

So after owning this game for around 8 years and tinkering with it now and again, studying all the occult lore which isn't covered in the manual (just about everything) I've decided to crack on with a campaign against the AI.

Yes, the AI, I'm simply not skilled enough to take on one of you hotshots in PBEM yet.

I'm running the Version 27 with the Andrew M fix. Modded with Chemkid map, the Unified Art modded slightly, and some graphics I cobbled together from Osprey book paintings.

So far I've done the first month of the war, and it's going okay. The AI IJN took Tarawa but my 8th Marine Rgt took it back on December 28th. We're building up to resist in Java and gradually evacuate Singapore if we have time. Resistance around Manila isn't bad either, the AI does banzai attacks with thousands dying.

A more detailed battle log follows...

[HootsMaguire]

8 Dec 1941

On the day after the Day of Infamy, the KB came back for more, but the USAAF was more prepared...

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 17 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-26A: 1 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed

---

An IJN invasion force comes ashore at Makin

Attacking force 1463 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 61

Assaulting units:
51st Naval Guard Unit

---

9 Dec 1941

Japanese invasion of Wake faces tough opposition - the battle will go on for four days.

Attacking force 1516 troops, 19 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 60
Defending force 1083 troops, 25 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 24

Japanese ground losses:
361 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Assaulting units:
Maizuru 2nd SNLF

---

10 Dec 1941

Attack on Hong Kong not going so well for the Japanese, though their engineers are working to clear obstacles

Attacking force 16003 troops, 277 guns, 202 vehicles, Assault Value = 635
Defending force 6605 troops, 126 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 227

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 98

Japanese ground losses:
1017 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 71 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled

Allied ground losses:
297 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Invasion of Wake

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 492 troops, 23 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 22
Defending force 1165 troops, 19 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Assaulting units:
Wake USN CPNAB
1st Marine Defense Battalion
Defending units:
Maizuru 2nd SNLF

---

11 Dec 1941

Invasions of Hong Kong, Wake and Guam continue to be costly for Japan.
Banzai charges across the beaches and on Hong Kong streets are met with hails of fire.

---

12 Dec 1941

Raid on unescorted troop convoy off Northern Borneo near Jolo at 73,87. Adm Doorman's Dutch cruisers sink an estimated 25 troopships.
Estimated 2000 soldiers lost as their ships go down...

Finally Hong Kong and Guam are taken, but the fight at Wake goes on...

---

15 Dec 1941

WAKE CAPTURED
Finally Wake is captured after a prolonged battle when a reinforcement Guards regiment is put ashore.
The Wake Marine garrison had held out for five days under intense fire, naval and air bombardment, outnumbered eight to one.
Finally the US subs catch up and inflict damage on the landing grounds, sinking one and possibly two troopships.

Attacking force 7519 troops, 57 guns, 2 vehicles

Defending force 1096 troops, 25 guns, 10 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
840 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 17 (5 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1391 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 109 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 27 (27 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (12 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
Maizuru 2nd SNLF
Guards Mixed Bde /2

Defending units:
Wake USN CPNAB
1st Marine Defense Battalion

---

THE BATTLE OF SARAWAK

The first surface battle of the war comes off the northern Borneo coast in severe storm force typhoon conditions.
Admiral Freidell seeks the Japanese cruiser force but blunders into them at extreme close range at night.
With no radar the forces encounter each other at 1,000 yards.
The Japanese cruisers get off a salvo of torpedoes which sinks CA Houston.
Freidell is picked up and moves his flag to CL Boise.

1) The night encounter

Night Time Surface Combat, near Miri at 64,87, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 1
CL Tama, Shell hits 2
CL Oi
DD Sawakaze
DD Yukaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Nokaze

Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
CL Marblehead
CL Boise
DD Barker
DD Bulmer
DD John D. Ford
DD Paul Jones
DD Parrott
DD Peary
DD Pillsbury
DD Pope
DD Stewart

Reduced visibility due to Rain with 10% moonlight at 1,000 yards
Wilhelm L. Friedell crosses the 'T'

2) Pursuit in the morning
Japanese withdraw to the northwest and Freidell pursues.
But the Japanese spot the American cruisers first with the rising sun silhouetting the Americans.
Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force, open fire on surprised Allied ships at 14,000 yards.

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 7, on fire
CL Tama, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
CL Oi, Shell hits 1
DD Sawakaze
DD Yukaze
DD Nokaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Marblehead
CL Boise, Shell hits 9, on fire
DD Barker
DD Bulmer, Shell hits 1
DD John D. Ford, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Paul Jones, Shell hits 2
DD Parrott
DD Peary, Shell hits 1
DD Pillsbury, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Pope
DD Stewart

With only one light cruiser unscathed on each side, it seems like a draw.
It's suspected that Isuzu and possibly Tama sink before they reach Saigon.

---

18 Dec 1941

On learning that the UK reinforcements for Singapore were being diverted to Batavia, Java, General Percival proferred his resignation. CIGS Alan Brooke, having lost confidence in his command abilities, accepted gratefully.

There was an immediate general shakeup of command in Singapore, with General Robert A. Cassels taking over as commander of Malaya Army, with General Alan Hartley becoming chief of III Indian Corps, commanding about half of the contingent on the Malay Peninsula. It was decided to enact the Malacca Defence Line. At the same time elements of 18th Australian Division were taken out of Malaya to reinforce Java.

In general Singapore has been weakened by ABDA Command so that a stronger Java will have a better chance of survival. OPERATION MARTINGALE, the setting up of the Fortress Java Zone, is in full effect.

---

A raiding force of light carrier Zuiho and several light cruisers was spotted west of Midway. Carrier groups Enterprise (TFs 406, Halsey) and Lexington (TF 405, Sherman) were dispatched out of Pearl to give chase. All subs in the area were notified to close on the Midway position and all ships at Midway were ordered to evacuate eastward.

Meanwhile CG Saratoga (TF 164, Ramsey), which was sent to cover the OPERATION SUNLIGHT force of 2nd Marine Regt headed for the invasion of Tarawa, reached Johnston. Once the convoy is in a safe staging position near Johnston, and covered by land-based aviation, Saratoga will head north to attempt to converge on the enemy carrier group raid.

---

19 Dec 1941

On this day the Japanese stepped up aerial attacks on all fronts, with raids against Singapore, Clark Field in the Philippines and above all the landings of troop reinforcements in Rangoon harbour. The attacks on Rangoon were particularly massive with around eight distinct waves. Three ships were sunk and around 250 men were lost from the reinforcement

In all cases the outcome can be stated simply: if the bombers were escorted by Zero and Oscar fighters, some got through to make bombing runs. If they came alone, they were slaughtered. In Rangoon the combined efforts of RAF Buffalos and Warhawks of the AVG "Flying Tigers" made huge numbers of kills. But in Clark Field and Singapore the story was similar.

In all, the Japanese were estimated to have lost 52 planes on this day, an eighth of the 400 they lost since the war began. By contrast, Allied losses were half that, though the fewer planes mean losses are harder on the attritional scorecard.

Day's end total saw the following enemy planes destroyed: 11 Zero and 2 Oscar fighters, 12 Lily, 15 Nell and 11 Betty along with a handful of scout planes. The allies lost 6 Buffalo and 2 Warhawk fighters.

The Flying Tiger detachment sent into China also entered action today, with a defence of Chinese airbases at Kunming and Changsa.

---

On the same day, Japanese corsairs Aikoku and Hokuku penetrated deep into the central-south zone of the Pacific, attacking and sinking Greek merchant ship Aspasia Nomikos. Sub attacks on heavy oil tankers have increased in recent days, extending even to Los Angeles and San Diego. Sub attacks are particularly intense off the Australian west coast, particularly between Australia and New Guinea. All large vessels in this area have been attacked and many sunk.

It has been decided that large merchant vessels and especially tankers be taken off all but the safest sea lanes - essentially the Indian Ocean only is considered safe at present - and that all freight be carried by smaller freighters for the foreseeable future. This solution is most unsatisfactory, but until proper escorts can be organized for convoys this is how the supply routes must be implemented.

Shipping escort and trade protection has become the most urgent matter in the war effort.

---

All three carrier groups now headed for the Midway area where Zuiho's group has made an appearance but achieved little.

---

23 Dec 1941

The Zuiho carrier group disappeared into the west without a trace, and likely will return again to harass Midway. A carrier group will be stationed near the island to strike if the group appears again. It was like a hit and run raid but they didn't hit anything" said Admiral Bull Halsey.

Now all three groups have been attached to the OPERATION SUNLIGHT invasion of the recently occupied Tarawa. 8th Marine Regt will land on December 27th supported by a large air group and a pair of heavy cruisers in the landing force, USS Minneapolis and USS Chester.

Slightly to the west, there are sigint reports of an enemy reinforcement convoy headed for Truk. Sub forces have been alerted to converge on routes from the Home Islands to Truk, which is being built up into a formidable naval and air base.

---

Most action is in and around the Philippines and Borneo, where Japanese invasion detachments pop up like moles, and at present a large flotilla of vessels is sailing between Sarawak and Vietnam. Miri on British Sarawak has been taken, and Brunei is suspected as next target. Already the US cruiser force SWP Squadron (TF 401, Friedell) has been badly mauled and is refitting in Singapore. Now the Dutch and British Asian forces are on the scene.

Admiral Doorman's Dutch surface group encounters a cruiser squadron at Tawi Tawi, where the Celebes Sea runs into the Sulu Sea. The flagship Java is sunk but the Japanese force is badly scathed. Though the Dutch are more numerous, the Japanese have stronger units in the Nachi and Aoba, the latter of which is untouched in the fight.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Tawi Tawi at 71,90, Range 22,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Nachi, Shell hits 4
CA Aoba
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
DD Kikuzuki, Shell hits 4, heavy fires

Allied Ships
CL Java, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Tromp, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With, Shell hits 1
DD Kortenaer
DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 1
DD Van Ghent

---

Sustained air attacks continue, above all at Clark Field and Rangoon. At Clark, five separate waves amass a hundred bombers, and many planes are destroyed on the ground as on Dec 7. But losses here and at Rangoon are hideous for the Japanese: no fewer than 31 Lily bombers are reported destroyed, with 7 Sally and a pair of fighters (Oscar and/or Zero).

The attritional air war is going in our favour but the numbers are diminishing dangerously. It's considered that Clark Field is no longer tenable and that units will have to pull back to Bataan peninsula airfields.

---

Plan Fortress Java (OPERATION INDIGO) is underway, with reinforcements scheduled to arrive (British 18th Division) just after Christmas. Some confusion in the paperwork with an Army general being appointed to lead the air forces on Java by mistake, but the error was rectified though not without political cost.

---

OPERATIONS UNDERWAY AS OF 23 Dec 1941

OPERATION SUNLIGHT - invasion of Tarawa

OPERATION LUCKY - buildup of forces in the Aleutians, expansion of Dutch Harbor and above all Attu.

OPERATION LIGHTFOOT - reinforcement of Port Moresby and eastern New Guinea.

OPERATION INDIGO - establishment of Fortress Java based on the strongpoints of Batavia and Sorebaja with a central HQ based in the hills between these western and eastern ends of the island.

OPERATION JUNIPER - phased withdrawal of Philippines based units to the "iron triangle" of Clark Field-Manila-Bataan. Buildup of supplies for last-ditch resistance. JUNIPER II is the further withdrawal to the Bataan peninsula if pressure on Manila and Clark Field becomes too strong and the positions there unsustainable. Stores must be built up to provision the garrison for a long fight.

---

26 Dec 1941

Enemy carrier group approaches the Celebes Sea headed southwest toward the Makassar Strait. All freighters ordered to port. Subs vectored towards the approach route. RN detachment withdraws towards western Sumatra. RNL docks in Soerebaja, and the US group heads north to Singapore. Meanwhile the Australian group remains in Darwin. Thus the four surface groups of the ABDA coalition split up in the face of this superior threat.

USS Minneapolis is hit by enemy torpedo from a Mitsubishi G3M Nell torpedo bomber off Tarawa as the invasion group is approaching. Of the enemy flight of unescorted nine bombers, four were destroyed by CAP and flak. One of the effects of SUNLIGHT is to draw in unprotected land bombers to where they are vulnerable to CAP from the carrier groups.

---

On this day elements of the British 18th Division, III Indian Corps, began landing in Batavia as part of the Fortress Java plan. This brings the strength of Batavia up to 25,000 Dutch and Anglo-Indian troops, mostly infantry.

---

27 Dec 1941

D-Day for OPERATION SUNLIGHT, the liberation of Tarawa by the 8th USMC Rgt, led by Colonel Jeschke. The landings went in at 0725 local time under a bombardment from cruiser USS Chester. Three airgroups from Lexington, Saratoga and Enterprise provide air support and cover.

The initial landing was costly, with 278 casualties reported and 10 Amtracs lost on the beaches. But a lodgement was obtained, and soon the USN air groups went in to even up the score:

Afternoon Air attack on 53rd Naval Guard Unit, at 136,128 (Tarawa)

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 17
F4F-3A Wildcat x 12
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 18
SBD-2 Dauntless x 54
SBD-3 Dauntless x 40
TBD-1 Devastator x 25

Allied aircraft losses
TBD-1 Devastator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
190 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 33 disabled

The day's combat brought success against a weakened and demoralized occupying force, the supposedly elite 53rd Naval Guards.

Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 1843 troops, 75 guns, 21 vehicles, Assault Value = 61
Defending force 1094 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 32

Allied adjusted assault: 21
Japanese adjusted defense: 2

Allied assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese ground losses:
286 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
8th Marine Regiment

Defending units:
53rd Naval Guard Unit

Total losses on D-Day around 350 USMC to 570 IJN troops. USMC has taken control of the island, though mopping up needs to take place. The key aim in the next few days is to provide air cover for expected airstrikes on the landing force from enemy bombers out of Eniwetok and Namur.

A massive morale boost to the folks at home, showing that the US can strike back and prevail against the enemy.

---

29 Dec 1941

At Clark Field, the Japanese conduct an insanely suicidal banzai charge, with an astonishing result:

Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 10572 troops, 110 guns, 137 vehicles, Assault Value = 764
Defending force 23407 troops, 371 guns, 385 vehicles, Assault Value = 840
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 135 (fort level 3)

Japanese ground losses:
4161 casualties reported
Squads: 185 destroyed, 77 disabled
Non Combat: 39 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 78 disabled
Guns lost 29 (1 destroyed, 28 disabled)
Vehicles lost 35 (32 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

----

Meanwhile mopping-up operations continue in Tarawa
Ground combat at Tarawa (136,128)

Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 2743 troops, 75 guns, 21 vehicles, Assault Value = 72
Defending force 713 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 49
Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 49 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), preparation(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
425 casualties reported
Squads: 61 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
8th Marine Regiment
118th USAAF Base Force /1

Defending units:
53rd Naval Guard Unit

Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 137,128

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 13

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 19
F4F-3A Wildcat x 12
F4F-3 Wildcat x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed

53rd Naval Guard Unit Wiped Out at Tarawa by attrition!

---

[PaxMondo]

What Scen are you playing?

[HootsMaguire]

I'm doing Scenario 1 the vanilla grand campaign

I'm following your suggestion in using the V27 with Andrew M patch, by the way - it seems this bug about lack of supply to dot bases is very serious and not to be ignored

[BBfanboy]

I'm doing Scenario 1 the vanilla grand campaign

I'm following your suggestion in using the V27 with Andrew M patch, by the way - it seems this bug about lack of supply to dot bases is very serious and not to be ignored

Not sure what you mean about "lack of supply to dot bases". We know that Naval Support does not work (except in new Beta .1128) at dot bases but you can still unload supply there - amphibiously loaded is best.
If you are referring to supply moving automatically between adjoining bases, you need to have at least a level one port at each base and they must face each other with no barrier (reef, cliff) on their shared hexside.

[Mike Solli]

If you are referring to supply moving automatically between adjoining bases, you need to have at least a level one port at each base and they must face each other with no barrier (reef, cliff) on their shared hexside.

Sorry to interrupt, but BB, this refers only to supply, not oil, fuel or resources, correct?

[BBfanboy]

If you are referring to supply moving automatically between adjoining bases, you need to have at least a level one port at each base and they must face each other with no barrier (reef, cliff) on their shared hexside.

Sorry to interrupt, but BB, this refers only to supply, not oil, fuel or resources, correct?

I think oil, fuel and resources can move that way too. I'm pretty sure the route between Fusan/Tsushima/Fukuoka sends resources southward to Japan and supply northward. The amount is (IIRC) 50 points X the size of the smallest port in the link so something like resources would not be easy to follow amid the overland flow. There seems to be some supply/resource flow between Wellington NZ north island and the port opposite on the south island.

[HootsMaguire]

Yes, you're right, it's naval support that was the problem with V26 + V27 not the supply issue that I said previously.
I wasn't exactly sure about the nature of the bug re the dotbases, only that I didn't want it. It's solved in V28 as you say but there is a plethora of other issues that I don't want to deal with...

Also having tried the V28 map and scenario I knew I didn't want that. I simply didn't like the proliferation of weird bases in strange places.

For the version that suits me, I'm relying on this comment which specifies that the best combo is the original V26 map and scenario with the Andrew exe V28 patched in.
AKA VERSION 1.8.11.27.2 - Jul 31 2022.
This seems to work remarkably well and I've had no strange bugs or untoward issues so far.

https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopi ... 4#p5271264

Also thanks for the hint about adjacent bases. I don't have so many, but the Manila-Clark-Bataan triangle is notable for good supply flow.

Anyway, things are going well. The AAR for action up to January 1942 follows. One thing I notice is that AI Japan often leaves major troop convoys unescorted so I'm taking advantage of that and striking hard.

I'm a more-or-less total noob, certainly for the long scenario, so this seems a good way to make up for my inadequacies.

I've learned a lot in this first six weeks in-game, above all the need to keep spotter planes all over. Plus I'm convinced that Tarawa is a front-line advanced base worth fighting for from the get-go.

My defence of Singapore was lamentable but I console myself that the historical UK's record wasn't any better.

[HootsMaguire]

ACTION UP TO 18 JANUARY 1942

2 Jan 1942

The suicidal attacks in the Philippines continue... how many men can the Japanese afford to lose?

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)
Japanese Shock attack
Japanese ground losses:
1130 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 38 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 49 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Ground combat at Manila (79,77)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Japanese ground losses:
997 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 150 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
295 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

---

4 Jan 1942

Reports of a troops transport near Tarawa see a rapid response squadron of destroyers hit the unescorted vessel, destroying a detachment of SNLF Rikustenai, reportedly the 61st Naval Guard Unit.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Jaluit at 134,120, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Kamikaze Maru, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Jarvis
DD Smith
DD Preston
DD Flusser
DD Aylwin

Japanese ground losses:
1996 casualties reported
Squads: 82 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 56 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (12 destroyed, 0 disabled)

---

Meanwhile the Japanese take Rabaul - but a light cruiser strike on the landing grounds by New Zealand vessels Leander and Achilles sinks a number of troop ships. The enemy has a tendency to be cavalier about escorts for the troop convoys, a weakness we are determined to exploit.

---

Battle is joined in the defence of Singapore with a ferocious and costly banzai charge against prepared positions at Malacca

Ground combat at Malacca (49,81)

Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 15678 troops, 331 guns, 307 vehicles, Assault Value = 744

Defending force 15499 troops, 168 guns, 184 vehicles, Assault Value = 349

Japanese adjusted assault: 277

Allied adjusted defense: 75

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
2393 casualties reported
Squads: 77 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 49 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
684 casualties reported
Squads: 65 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 11 (3 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

But next day, Jan 5, the same tactics succeed with a much larger force amassed, and shockingly the Malacca Line collapses suddenly.
The airfield is overrun and the aircraft destroyed.

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 23757 troops, 405 guns, 292 vehicles, Assault Value = 753
Defending force 14815 troops, 164 guns, 183 vehicles, Assault Value = 325

Japanese adjusted assault: 836
Allied adjusted defense: 27

Japanese assault odds: 30 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Malacca

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 4 destroyed
Buffalo I: 7 destroyed
Blenheim I: 5 destroyed
Buffalo PR.I: 1 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
1265 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
5744 casualties reported
Squads: 287 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 586 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 92 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 115 (109 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 156 (156 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 13
Units destroyed 3

---

8 Jan 1942

The Japanese 5th Carrier Division of Zuikaku and Shokaku, reinforced by CV Hiryu, has come to shield landings in the Indonesian islands. Parked off Batavia, it has paralysed sea traffic and conducted raids on Batavia and Makassar.

The Royal Netherlands Air Force has been ordered to strike, but the bombers stay on the ground, the command citing 'bad weather' as an excuse. In frustration, a flotilla of small ships charges out on a suicide mission to drive through the destroyer screen and strike the carriers.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 50,97, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
DD Shiranui
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Tanikaze

Allied Ships
AMC Corfu, Shell hits 8, heavy fires
AMC Hector, Shell hits 6, on fire
KV Genista, Shell hits 1
KV Freesia, Shell hits 1, on fire
KV Auricula, Shell hits 1
KV Nigella, Shell hits 1
DE Jumna, Shell hits 1
PG Indus
AMC Pansy, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Cornwallis, Shell hits 5, on fire
PG Herald, Shell hits 2

Though of course the attempt fails, it's hoped that this will prick the conscience of the fliers and provoke them to finally laumch bomber strikes gainst the carrier group.

---

16 January 1942

ANZAC ACTION OFF DEBOYNE ISLANDS

IJN forces push an advance party of 2 CLs and 2 DDs through the straits into the western part of the Coral Sea. ANZAC forces under RADM Getting intercept, beginning with RAN cruiser Adelaide and destroyer Vampire. Vampire is sunk and Adelaide badly damaged, but the cruisers are mauled and are badly handled by the main force including heavy cruisers Australia and Canberra.

In the afternoon, dive bombers out of Port Moresby attack and hit hard against the slow-moving ships.

1 Early morning attack
Day Time Surface Combat, near Deboyne Islands at 103,136, Range 15,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Kinu
CL Kuma, Shell hits 1
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Numakaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 7
DD Vendetta

Japanese Ships
CL Kinu
CL Kuma, Shell hits 2
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Numakaze

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide, on fire
DD Vendetta, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage

2 Main body attack
Japanese Ships
CL Kinu
CL Kuma, Shell hits 8, on fire
DD Numakaze
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 8, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Shell hits 2
CA Canberra, Shell hits 3
CL Leander, Shell hits 1
CL Achilles
CL Perth, Shell hits 2
CL Hobart, Shell hits 1
DD Stuart
DD Vampire

3 Air attack
Japanese Ships
CL Kinu, Bomb hits 1
CL Kuma, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x A-24 Banshee bombing from 8000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x A-24 Banshee bombing from 8000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Assessment: CL Kinu still only lightly damaged, main body in pursuit

Next day CL Kuma sinks and the task force catches up with the Kinu and continues to ply her with shells. She withdraws, but will she sink?

---

17 January 1942

A day of great raids on unescorted Japanese troopships. The RN Fast Force Y hit the convoy at Kunming, while Doorman's squadron built arounf RNL cruiser Tromp hit the landing force at Balikpapan. Other sub attacks sank troopships across the ABDA zone. An estimated 10 troopships and 12 escort vessels were sunk with an estimated 2000 soldiers drowned.

[BBfanboy]

Nice job jamming up the Japanese plans. The computer-run IJ has lots of shortcomings and if you exploit them you can win in January 1943, but you don't learn as much about the game as if you have a harder opponent - things like TF makeup and how to defend against air attacks. Nothing wrong with doing what you are doing now since you are still learning basics. Here are some comments you may find useful:

- In the Philippines and Burma/Malaya your biggest problem will be lack of supply and ship fuel. Once it runs out it will be impossible to win battles. If your US subs (except S-# class) have historically bad torpedoes (there is an option to make them reliable but I think it has to be set before turn 1 is run), you can load the US subs with supply and sneak them into ports unless the Japanese have mined them.

- If you haven't already done it, check the leaders on CLs Achilles and Leander. In stock scenario 1 they start out with Ensigns in charge and perform poorly. A cruiser should have a full Captain on the bridge.

- For the carriers parked off of Batavia, consider massing your Dutch subs and the PT boats (TM-#) to do torpedo attacks. If you send air attacks, you must assign fighters to escort the bombers or they will balk at going into the hornet's nest! If AMCs Corfu and Hector have the capacity to be troop carriers (not sure), I would have sent them off map to haul supply to Cape Town; in 1943 they convert to LSI(L)s which is the British version of an APA assault transport. Those are precious in reconquering all those Pacific Islands because they unload much faster than other APs or xAPs.

- For the intercept of those IJN CLs in the Coral Sea, you could have set the Adelaide TF to follow the CA TF. That would make Adelaide TF the clean-up crew instead of the punching bag. Also, when setting TFs to follow another one it is best to have the lead TF have the lowest TF #. If they start out with the lead TF having too high a number, get it in the same hex with the lowest number TF and swap ships using the "Transfer ships to/from TF" order.

- Your Banshees were bombing from 8000 feet which means they did a level bombing attack and were lucky to get any hits. Dive bombing only happens if your DB aircraft are flying at 10K-15K feet or 20K to 25K feet. And of course your DB squadrons should train in NavB rather than ground bombing until the IJN landing/bombardment threat is gone.

- when assessing what went down with enemy transports, also look at the figures for guns and vehicles. Getting rid of Japanese tanks this early in the war is golden, and reducing their artillery and AAA is silver!

Hope that helps with the learning curve!

[HootsMaguire]

Thanks for those hints

Re AMCs Hector and Corfu they're still alive and presently limping back to Colombo - I'll make sure to save them, I was planning to send them corsair-style into the western Pacific west of Truk which seems like a nice spot for corsairing.

The Adelaide was there in front on a separate mission and sort of held the enemy squadron in place until the main body came up. Since she attacked against double numbers I was pleased to see she survived.

Thanks also for the hints on attack altitudes for bombers - I may be wrong but there are no details about altitudes in the official manual? In general I found the manual very long on boring detail and low on useful information.

[PaxMondo]

Yes, you're right, it's naval support that was the problem with V26 + V27 not the supply issue that I said previously.

To clarify:
V27 has the naval support for 0(0) ports fix in it. V27 was released specifically to address that bug.

[BBfanboy]

Yes, you're right, it's naval support that was the problem with V26 + V27 not the supply issue that I said previously.

To clarify:
V27 has the naval support for 0(0) ports fix in it. V27 was released specifically to address that bug.

Ah, thanks for the correction. In that case, I am not sure what the OP's observation about dot bases referred to.

[Seacat54]

So after owning this game for around 8 years and tinkering with it now and again, studying all the occult lore which isn't covered in the manual (just about everything) I've decided to crack on with a campaign against the AI.

Yes, the AI, I'm simply not skilled enough to take on one of you hotshots in PBEM yet.

I'm running the Version 27 with the Andrew M fix. Modded with Chemkid map, the Unified Art modded slightly, and some graphics I cobbled together from Osprey book paintings.

So far I've done the first month of the war, and it's going okay. The AI IJN took Tarawa but my 8th Marine Rgt took it back on December 28th. We're building up to resist in Java and gradually evacuate Singapore if we have time. Resistance around Manila isn't bad either, the AI does banzai attacks with thousands dying.

A more detailed battle log follows...

Would be nice to look at those graphics.

[PaxMondo]

Yes, you're right, it's naval support that was the problem with V26 + V27 not the supply issue that I said previously.

To clarify:
V27 has the naval support for 0(0) ports fix in it. V27 was released specifically to address that bug.

Ah, thanks for the correction. In that case, I am not sure what the OP's observation about dot bases referred to.

BB,

I think just a bit of confusion on the OP's part, or maybe better to state just a little inexperience with the game nomenclature. But, all is good. He is using an exe that has all the known bugs corrected and that's what counts.

To my mind what is strange is how many games are still running the v26 ... it seems somehow that Michael's V27 update was missed by a great many players ...

[HootsMaguire]

Yes you're right, I was somewhat confused about what the bugs were in which version.
I knew that V28 was free of that particular bug but also that I didn't really like the map and scen 1.
I know there are ways to explore which version and which map etc are ideal but I'll leave that for later.

I'm eager to get to grips with really understanding the gameplay, and it seems that only playing it will work since the manual is so very poor at explaining what it's about...

I'm particularly irked at the manual's failure to explain certain gameplay features such as ideal altitudes for air missions, restricted units and how air carrier units can become independent just by hopping on a CV and such stuff.

Though I really enjoy the depth of this game both the UI and the documentation are among the very worst examples ever seen in strategy games.

Right now I took your original recommendation and went for the V27 exe and the V26 scenario and dat files.

All working very well so far, no complaints. I take my misunderstandings about what to do with replacements/upgrades/airgroups and so on as just a role play thing - I'm the allies and they were blundering about just as I am right now.

[PaxMondo]

Yes you're right, I was somewhat confused about what the bugs were in which version.

no worries ... confusion is pretty common for me!

I'm the allies and they were blundering about just as I am right now.

Yes they did ... until they got their intel straightened out ... then ....

[BBfanboy]

To clarify:
V27 has the naval support for 0(0) ports fix in it. V27 was released specifically to address that bug.

Ah, thanks for the correction. In that case, I am not sure what the OP's observation about dot bases referred to.

BB,

I think just a bit of confusion on the OP's part, or maybe better to state just a little inexperience with the game nomenclature. But, all is good. He is using an exe that has all the known bugs corrected and that's what counts.

To my mind what is strange is how many games are still running the v26 ... it seems somehow that Michael's V27 update was missed by a great many players ...

I am playing a game using .1126 and won't switch until the game is over or the new .1128 has a map with NO new bases/land masses nor other extensions. I had issues moving from .1125 to .1126 mid-game. Getting too old to cope with a whole lot of changes.

[PaxMondo]

... Getting too old to cope with a whole lot of changes.

Totally agree with you about changing exe mid-game ... I wouldn't risk it either.

No, what surprises me is that a LOT of games started with V26 after V27 was released ... it's like most people never noticed that update for some reason. Me? I was on "sabbatical" then, but when I returned first thing I did was search up all of MichaelM's postings since I had departed ... found it right away ... I guess it was because it was so unexpected that no one noticed? Maybe? not sure ....

[BBfanboy]

... Getting too old to cope with a whole lot of changes.

Totally agree with you about changing exe mid-game ... I wouldn't risk it either.

No, what surprises me is that a LOT of games started with V26 after V27 was released ... it's like most people never noticed that update for some reason. Me? I was on "sabbatical" then, but when I returned first thing I did was search up all of MichaelM's postings since I had departed ... found it right away ... I guess it was because it was so unexpected that no one noticed? Maybe? not sure ....

First .1127 had all those Caribbean bases that seemed superfluous and add to the Allied player burden so I wouldn't go for it. By the time .1127.2 came along I was already playing my .1126a game.