PBEM from May 42: Mogami-san VS Capt. Ron

[Ron Saueracker]

Spitfires live up to their name the second day.

I was a bit shocked to see 25 Heavy Industry hits at Hanoi. He had no fighters but geez, this seems rather on the high side.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/02/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 72


No Allied losses

Heavy Industry hits 25

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Burma Brigade, at 28,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 6
Ki-21 Sally x 55
Ki-49 Helen x 18

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 9 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 19 destroyed, 7 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

[Ron Saueracker]

Hanoi gets a visit both night and day today. I wonder what the fireworks will be like on the 4th of July, what?[X(][:D] These 4E bombers are just too brutal it would seem. No maintenance headaches, flush pool available with no end in sight, hammer of Thor like power (only thing that seems too low is their air to air ability), overly generous bomb loads. Hopefully the tweaks in the CHS will aleviate some of this stuff.

A large furball over Changsha serves to solidify my feeling that Changsha and perhaps Ichang are the next objectives of the IJA.

Despite desperate efforts by the LBA on Java, the Battle for Soerabaja takes a turn for the worse. Reinforced, the IJA shock attack and deal a 2:1 blow to the defenders, dropping their fortification in half and dooming them to certain destruction. Somehow, the starving remnants of the 2nd Div IJA at Malang still project a donut shaped ZOC over their vanquishers and as a result, the Soerabaja forces most likely will surrender as Malang is somehow Japanese for all intents and purposes. This draconian ZOC has got to be amended...perhaps base it on assault value or something where overwhelming AV is required to negate movement. There is no way I can rationalize this situation. I pounded on the 2nd Div and achieved 33:1 odds repeatedly over a month ago but could not finish Gary's supermen off yet my troops in Soerabaja will surrender because there are some stick men dying on the beach at Malang. As is, this land combat model really needs some work.

Japanese are massing artillery at Tavoy...could it be that this could be the beginning of a possible ground offensive in Burma?[&:][;)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/03/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 3


No Allied losses

Heavy Industry hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 69


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Heavy Industry hits 29

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Changsha , at 47,36

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
Ki-30 Ann x 47
Ki-32 Mary x 20
Ki-48 Lily x 17
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 17
P-40E Warhawk x 19
I-16c x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 17 destroyed
Ki-30 Ann: 32 destroyed, 8 damaged
Ki-32 Mary: 16 destroyed
Ki-48 Lily: 17 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 7 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
I-16c: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 35


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 48th Division, at 22,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 32
Kittyhawk I x 3
Martin 139 x 19
Hudson I x 16
Beaufort V-IX x 21
P-39D Airacobra x 12
P-40E Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
Martin 139: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 56th Division, at 22,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 4
Martin 139 x 9
Hudson I x 8
Beaufort V-IX x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 2 destroyed
Martin 139: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 14th Mortar Battalion, at 28,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 13
Blenheim I x 24
Beaufort V-IX x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 2 destroyed
Blenheim I: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Soerabaja

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 112474 troops, 701 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 22283 troops, 168 guns, 95 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 5

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 5)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 5


Japanese ground losses:
2063 casualties reported
Guns lost 68
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
469 casualties reported
Guns lost 17
Vehicles lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Soerabaja

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8961 troops, 112 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 109640 troops, 616 guns, 0 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

[Ron Saueracker]

I could not resist one more day's holiday over Hanoi. Mogami says the raids over Hanoi do not concern him in the least. Well, my FOW must be on full bore then (probably is [X(]). Burn baby, burn!! I'm enjoying 99% operation readiness with B-17's based at Rangoon, despite near constant ops. This needs to be rectified to get the B-17s service in the war, especially the Pacific, into the correct context.

Another bloody air battle over Changsha sees the Allied air power overwhelmed by a IJA concentration of force. Going to take advantage of this and hit targets where the presence of enemy air power must be thin to nil. The mysterious loss of over 30 P 40Es at Singapore when the squadron was lost (was very understrength but when captured I think it drew aircraft out of the pool to bring it up to full strength for it's arrival in a year or so) is hindering my ability to sustain combat ops with the AVG...not enough P-40Es to free up P40Bs through upgrades.

The enemy has entered Rahaeng...making the Japanese drive into Burma a two pronged one. Hopefully my defences are up to the task. Friendly LBA pounds the enemy at both Tavoy and Rahaeng.

Soerabaja get's a breather today as Japanese forces rest for another shock attack no doubt.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/04/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 80


No Allied losses

Resources hits 23

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Changsha , at 47,36

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
A6M3 Zero x 27
Ki-21 Sally x 139
Ki-48 Lily x 55
Ki-46-II Dinah x 7

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 14
P-40E Warhawk x 16
I-16c x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 38 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 11 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 50 destroyed, 10 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
I-16c: 7 destroyed, 5 damaged


Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported

Airbase hits 27
Airbase supply hits 16
Runway hits 137

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 25,67


Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 12


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PT Gyoraitei #4, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PT Gyoraitei #3

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Wirraway attacking at 100 feet
4 x Wirraway attacking at 100 feet
4 x Wirraway attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7323 troops, 256 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 27507 troops, 240 guns, 1 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20810 troops, 226 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 58354 troops, 494 guns, 261 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Soerabaja

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7153 troops, 106 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 121593 troops, 748 guns, 0 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
84 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

[Ron Saueracker]

Deck Log USS Tarpon SS 175
Location: On third war patrol.
Date: July 4, 1942.

Yet another day devoid of contacts. Running out of bum wad due to to rampant intestinal infection.

D.D. Rivers, Lt. USN.

[Ron Saueracker]

What's what so far.

[Ron Saueracker]

Of the 211 kills this squadron has recorded, 145 are credited to active pilots. These guys are going to be brutal with Corsairs! Probably rotate out by then, though. Hopefully they don't get lost in the pilot pool/leader fiasco and come back for another tour!

[Bradley7735]

Ummm... Does the AVG upgrade to Corsairs?

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Bradley7735

Ummm... Does the AVG upgrade to Corsairs?

Actually, I don't think so.[8|] I was thinking of BaaBaa Black Sheep Squadron. "Herro Boingtun, I get you now! "Sorry Riceball, today's not a good day to be the Iceman. Turn on the heat, boys!"[:D]

[Bradley7735]

Right. Boyington upgrades to the Corsair. I think AVG should upgrade to dissolution at some point. [;)]

[Grotius]

I like the look of that map mod. Whose is it?

What do the little green, white and red icons beneath each base mean? Also, how does that map handle the railroad in Australia?

[Tristanjohn]

ORIGINAL: Grotius

I like the look of that map mod. Whose is it?

What do the little green, white and red icons beneath each base mean? Also, how does that map handle the railroad in Australia?

The map is from Subchaser. You can get it at Spooky's site. The colored icons indicate resources/industry. The railroad in northern Australia is still there--the map is cosmetic only, no changes to the hex data. I use it and like it. (Especially the color of the water is more pleasing to my eye, but also those colored icons make it a lot easier to track all that.)

[tabpub]

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker

Deck Log USS Tarpon SS 175
Location: On third war patrol.
Date: July 4, 1942.

Yet another day devoid of contacts. Running out of bum wad due to to rampant intestinal infection.

D.D. Rivers, Lt. USN.

Maybe we should run surfaced once in awhile to improve our spotting chances.....

[ADavidB]

This is exactly the problem. I'm not a fanboy and I don't need to win or I throw a fit. Why don't we see USN CVs getting sunk outright by I boats? Because subs in general are too vulnerable!

ZonkerH must be doing something right - he sunk the Enterprise despite my having 5 top level ASW DDs with it and a half dozen search planes in the area with overlaping coverage and the Big E's Dauntless groups on search too. And his sub got clean away. And that was in the Aleutians.

Dave Baranyi

[Ron Saueracker]

Somehow yet another shock attack by massed Japanese divisions is withstood at Soerabaja.

I suspect the battles for Tavoy and Rahaeng will develop into long drawn out affairs. I believe I now have superior air, at least numerically, and the quality is rapidly improving. I don't feel threatened by amphibious hooks in Burma as the recent losses of Japanese sea lift capability and the strength of the Northern Burmese and continental Indian defences should preclude this.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/05/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rahaeng , at 31,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
Ki-21 Sally x 70
Ki-49 Helen x 68

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 21st Mixed Brigade, at 31,35


Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 5
Hurricane II x 9


No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 14th Mortar Battalion, at 28,37


Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 16
Blenheim I x 18
Beaufort V-IX x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 59,46

Japanese Ships
TK Ogura Maru #2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
TK Ose
PC Takuna Maru #7
PC Takuna Maru #6
PG Kamitsu Maru

Allied Ships
SS Plunger


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Soerabaja

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 122441 troops, 756 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 21508 troops, 163 guns, 68 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 5)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3


Japanese ground losses:
1743 casualties reported
Guns lost 50

Allied ground losses:
945 casualties reported
Guns lost 23
Vehicles lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rahaeng

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15894 troops, 178 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 37897 troops, 307 guns, 4 vehicles

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7306 troops, 253 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 27397 troops, 238 guns, 1 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20827 troops, 228 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 58398 troops, 500 guns, 261 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rahaeng

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 32480 troops, 299 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 25322 troops, 178 guns, 279 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Soerabaja

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6688 troops, 92 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 119506 troops, 674 guns, 0 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported

[Ron Saueracker]

Soerabaja falls! As expected, the beaten Japanese 2nd Div at Malang somehow exerts total ZOC effects over it's vanquishers and causes the Soerabaja defenders to surrender as somehow they blocked a retreat path into Malang. Had the defenders been able to retreat, perhaps the Japanese completion of their invasion could have been delayed another week or two. Java campaign is all but over but in a sense is a victory for the Allies, despite losing the island. The Japanese were bled heavily and will not recover from their transport losses.

Speaking of bleeding the Japanese, I expect Burma to be a butcher shop.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/07/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 63,63

Japanese Ships
AK Saiko Maru, Shell hits 13, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Grayback

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rahaeng , at 31,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
Ki-21 Sally x 72
Ki-49 Helen x 68

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 9
Spitfire Vb x 11
P-40E Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 29 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 12 destroyed, 2 damaged
Spitfire Vb: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 18


Ground combat at Soerabaja

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 121551 troops, 693 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 20524 troops, 152 guns, 46 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese assault odds: 13 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Soerabaja base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
1298 casualties reported
Guns lost 50

Allied ground losses:
12038 casualties reported
Guns lost 89
Vehicles lost 22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rahaeng

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15801 troops, 174 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 37886 troops, 313 guns, 4 vehicles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7427 troops, 259 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 27094 troops, 229 guns, 1 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
112 casualties reported
Guns lost 6


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20532 troops, 212 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 58736 troops, 512 guns, 264 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rahaeng

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 32453 troops, 304 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 48046 troops, 430 guns, 296 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

[mogami]

Hi, The beaten 2nd Div is in 2 parts. The part in Java has an assault stength of over 150.
It contains 61 percent of the Div with 51 percent (of div) active and ready to fight.
Something that was overlooked by Ron was the div did not land all at once.
In fact the 3 units that landed in the first wave were all destroyed (well the components that landed were destroyed. Parts of the units that did not land or that were diverted to other island when transorts were hit and then later lifted off by FT remain)
The 2nd DIv was landing the entire time it was being attacked. I stopped moving reinforcements when Ron stopped attacking there and moved the units north.
(the part of 2nd Div not in Java has an AV of 105)
Silly Ron never caught on to fact that new Japanese were landing everyday (and being killed) After he quit attacking the Japanese were made stronger.
What the Japanese did not have was supply. The Java 2nd Div element was down to 70 supply points before Soerabaja was captured.

[Ron Saueracker]

Air and graound battles rage in Burma...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/09/42


Day Air attack on Bangkok , at 29,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 21
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 51

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 91

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 13 destroyed, 22 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 36 destroyed, 22 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 5 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 5 destroyed, 127 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
210 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 59


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rahaeng , at 31,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
Ki-21 Sally x 58
Ki-49 Helen x 52

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 8
Spitfire Vb x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 5 damaged
Spitfire Vb: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 23

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th Division, at 31,35


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 38


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 14th Mortar Battalion, at 28,37


Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 7
Hurricane II x 9
Blenheim I x 19
Beaufort V-IX x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rahaeng

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 70599 troops, 673 guns, 306 vehicles

Defending force 37886 troops, 306 guns, 4 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 5

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5)


Japanese ground losses:
649 casualties reported
Guns lost 35
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
603 casualties reported
Guns lost 24


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8128 troops, 282 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 26545 troops, 207 guns, 1 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20072 troops, 196 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 59572 troops, 544 guns, 266 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rahaeng

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31987 troops, 272 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 68341 troops, 603 guns, 300 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
3 casualties reported

[Ron Saueracker]

And the war grinds to a snails pace. I think between renovating my beer rep buddy's kitchen on weekends (now there is a guy you help out at all costs!!!) and Mogami perhaps discovering life beyond WITP, turns have been scarce.[>:][8D]

[mogami]

Hi, They get that way when you don't send them back. I'm wating on you.

Back to your subs.
Near as I can tell on 1 May 1942 Japan had lost to all causes (not just submarine)
23 warships and 67 non combat ships.

[Ron Saueracker]

Grrrrr...not again!