Scenario 116 (Andrew's), Allies vs AI - the war so far.

[bradfordkay]

I started this game in January, after both v1.4 and Andrew's mods coincided. It was my fourth restart, but I'm still overlooking some details foolishly. I have continued this one into v1.5, as it has reached an interesting part of the war. I don't know if I will continue it to the end, but I thought that I would share the story so far.

This will be posted in multiple posts, to bring the game up to present turn (May 21, 1942).




Dec 8, 1941 San Francisco

Due to massive mismanagement by various Naval and Military commanders throughout the Pacific on the opening day of the war, a unified command has been created to coordinate the fight across the whole expanse of the struggle with Japan. President Roosevelt has requested that I take the reigns, though I fear that it is a horse too wild to control. I am to report to the Secretary of Defense, but shouldn’t be surprised if I recent frequent requests for information from the President.

Ordered MacArthur to concentrate Luzon forces in Clark Field/Bataan/Manila area. If all the reports I have received are true, his half-assed attempt at a forward defense on the beaches of Luzon is the pipe dream of a delusional man. We are going to concentrate forces around Manila, on Jolo and Mindanao, with Davao as the main base there. In the DEI, I have suggested that the Dutch army concentrates their defense on major ports (Palembang, Batavia, Kuching, Soerabaja, Balikpapan, Kendari, Amboina, and Koepang. I would like to have their isolated forces moved into these bases as quickly as possible, but I can see that it might take some time to convince the Dutch authorities of the sensibility of the plan.

The Asiatic fleet is too small on the surface to provide much resistance. I’m sending the support ships back to the DEI and Australia, while the combat forces will join ABDA command in Balikpapan. I understand that the Filipinos have many freighters that can help the war effort. Orders have been issued to send some of them to collect supplies for Manila wherever supplies can be found. Due to the overwhelming Japanese command of the air, it is to be suggested that most of these ships travel alone. Naval escort is to be provided only for naval assets.

Lexington and Enterprise are to move WSW from Pearl Harbor, towards Wake Island. The severity of the attack on Pearl Harbor suggests that the IJN has easily twice as many aircraft carriers in Hawaiian waters as the USN can bring into the area, so I would prefer that the ones we have avoid contact if at all possible.

I have had no contact with Chiang Kai Shek as of yet. I will need to send a strong character to be my contact with the Chinese, but I can’t expect to have too much influence there until their armies start to see the fruit of US industry. I am moving Claire Chennault’s AVG to cover the Burma road and Calcutta area. This area is of more importance to the Chinese Army than any one of their central cities.

The British haven’t welcomed my posting with open arms, but the official reception (military attache at the local consulate) appears to be one of conciliation. I have suggested that SEAsia HQ move into the Chandpur area to better coordinate the defense of Burma and India I have also requested that extra forces be moved towards the Siam border, around Alor Star. I asked about RN assets in the area, but no answers have been forthcoming.

The Australians and New Zealanders have offered complete cooperation, with only a request that their forces be used foremost to protect their own territory. Surely they can understand that the oil fields of the NEI are vital to the defense of their nations, can’t they?

[bradfordkay]

Dec 9

I know why the British were reticent in answering my question about RN dispositions. Force Z from Singapore, consisting of the modern battleship HMS Prince of Wales, the battlecruiser Repulse, and six destroyers met with Japanese invasion forces at Khota Bharu on the night of Dec 8-9. This is the base closest to Siam on their northeast coast. In the combat, the Repulse was hit by a Jap torpedo, but is not significantly damaged. No significant damage to the enemy ships has been reported, but all their shipping has withdrawn, leaving a few thousand men ashore, unsupported. The Indian troops have pinned them within a beachhead for now, but don’t appear to have the moxey to annihilate the landed force. So, a tactical loss and strategic victory? We could use some good news right now.

Air squadrons are being withdrawn from Clark Field to undamaged bases further south, until they can be brought back up to strength. Batan Island north of Luzon was invaded with overwhelming force, and has fallen.


Dec 10

Japanese carrier air forces struck at Midway Island, destroying supplies and the AK Regulus. On the same day, a Jap invasion force appeared off Wake Island. The Marine gunners performed admirably, and the aircraft of the USS Lexington joined the fray, sinking two light cruisers. We shall have to watch those Japanese carrier forces north of Midway, they are not far from this fight.

Jap carrier air forces have also struck at shipping in the Philippines. How many carriers do they have? Enemy transports have been sighted north of Aparri, Luzon. Did Douglas listen to my orders to withdraw the advanced forces in this area?


Dec 11

Lexington group remains in Wake area, claims to have sunk another CL (reports said the explosion was nearly as spectacular as one of the previous day’s sinkings). 19th BG B-17s out of Davao have sighted an IJN CVL northeast of Davao, are claiming to have put a 500lb bomb into her deck. When these reports are combined with British claims of hits against shipping at Songkhia, Siam (NW of Khota Bharu), things might not be looking so bad. It looks like we have been able to stop their invasions so far. The one at Aparri worries me, as Clark Field is still too heavily damaged to allow for offensive operations.
There have been no effective airstrikes on this invasion force.

With an excess of aircraft mechanics on Luzon, the relatively inexperienced PAF has been ordered to Cooktown, which will be the SWPAC headquarters. Here, they should be able to get some good training before their experience (or lack thereof) becomes a liability.

Hong Kong fell today. Just two days ago I was assured that the lines there were secure. It looks to me like too much gin was drunk in drawing up plans for the city’s defense. As a consolation, the RN was sharp enough to send their three DDs based in Hong Kong to join ABDA naval forces in Balikpapan.

[bradfordkay]

Dec 12

Japanese forces land on Makin Atoll.

Enterprise joined Lexington, both launch strikes on withdrawing Wake invasion forces. Two DDs are said to have exploded. I think my pilots are a little optimistic. Admiral Halsey was definitely too optimistic, as his task force followed the Jap transports into range of their air units on Kwajelein. 8 Nells attacked the carriers, 6 were shot down.

Japanese forces land at Davao. The south Philippine bastion depends upon the fighting qualities of the Filipino infantry. Can they hold the city? Douglas assures me that they can. I have my doubts. Official inspection reports I have seen of his training program before the war do not instill a lot of confidence on my part. However, I have ordered the 19th BG from Davao to Soerbaja as a precaution.

Jap troops have also reached Alor Star. Our troops got there first. We shall see what happens.

Makin and Aparri have fallen.



Dec 13

Japs invade Tarawa. Jap troops enter Moulmein. Tarawa falls.


Dec 14

Japs land at Legaspi and Laoag. Air search claims to have seen CVL Ryujo headed east towards the Bonin Islands, trailing smoke.

Operation Suck it Dry begins. It appears obvious that the Japs want the oil and resources of what they call the Southern Resource Area. It is my intention to ship as much of these valuable resources as I can to allied industry, whilst trying to get supplies into my defensive bastions.

Chiang Kai Shek has agreed to send a few divisions of Chinese troops to Mandalay and Myitkyina to protect the Burma Road.

Dec 15

Last night USN forces (CA Houston, CL Boise, 4 DDs) hit the Japanese transports at Davao. Serious damage is claimed, one AP sunk.

Jap air forces bomb Rangoon, Tavoy and Clark. Clark Field heavily damaged again. AO Pecos is torpedoed by Betties whilst loading fuel in Manila harbor.

Japs land at Butuan. Legaspi, Laoag fall.

Dec 16

Commencing Operation Lotus Blossom: the mining of the ports at Palembang, Kuching, Balikpapan, Kendari and Menadao. Unfortunately I am informed that while the Dutch have so many minelayers in the NEI, they have no mines other than the ones presently loaded aboard ship. I feel like a blind man in an absurd maze. The Dutch MLs are to withdraw to Singapore and Australia when done.

A major Japanese attack at Alor Star was repulsed with heavy losses for the Japanese, but light losses for the Commonwealth forces. Ordered one of the 24th FG squadrons to Singapore.

[bradfordkay]

Dec 17 to 31

More Japanese advances in Luzon and Mindanao. Alor Star and Khota Bharu continue to hold for awhile against heavy pressure. Troops withdrawn from Alor Star on Dec 23. New Britain has been invaded at the main port of Rabaul. Japanese forces reach Naga, between Legaspi and Manila. Philippine Army forces hold the line. Burma is invaded. The British counsel a withdrawal from what they call the Rangoon death trap towards Mandalay. They feel that they can hold the river line at Mandalay.

USS Marblehead and 5DD find a Jap transport near Jolo. Hammer it.

19th BG returned to Clark Field, from which it lightly damaged a couple of Japanese transports before losses required its withdrawal once more. 93rd BS is also shuttled in and out of Clark Field during this time period, with similar results.

The 18th UK Infantry Division arrives in India. It appears that the British are taking the Japanese war seriously now.

Admiral Ghormley’s SoPac HQ has been loaded aboard transports for Noumea, New Caledonia. I intend for this port to become the lynchpin of the defense of the supply line to Australia. Johnson, Palmyra, Christmas and Canton Islands will be the outposts between Pearl Harbor and Pago Pago in Samoa. The Kiwis have a couple of bases in Fiji which will help cover the route from Samoa to New Caledonia. They also suggest that we start to build up bases in the New Hebrides, preferably Luganville and Efate Port Villa.


January, 1942

Once the Japanese defeated the commonwealth forces at Georgetown, the forces at Khota Bharu were cut off and forced to retreat into the jungle of the Malaysian highlands. A temporary line was tried at Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan, while the defenses at Johore Bahru were developed. By the end of the month, all forces had been withdrawn into Fortress Singapore. I no longer believe the British insistence that Singapore “cannot” fall. The Malaysian air forces have caused little damage to Japanese forces, mainly because the main Jap effort came by land from southern Siam. Therefore, they have been withdrawn into the DEI and India.

In the DEI the initial Japanese landings were at Kuching. Some idiot had sent the Dutch torpedo bombers to a small airfield in southern Borneo, from which they could not take off while loaded. The invasion of Kuching is a rousing success, for the IJN. This is followed with landings at Jolo. Tarakan and Balikpapan, all of which come off with light losses. Allied air forces are heavily attritted in this area, mainly by Zeros operating out of Kuching and Davao.

When Japanese forces land at Palembang during the last week of January, air units out of Toelekbotoeng and Batavia strike hard. The invasion TF is repulsed. A month later, a new invasion arrives at Palembang, supported by the main Japanese carrier fleet. The dutch air force is mauled by the IJN. The USAFFE units attached to ABDA had been too weakened during the Philippine and Borneo campaigns to participate in this fight. Palembang finally falls on March 6, oil industry nearly intact.

NoPac forces are being moved into the Aleutians. The first bases to be constructed are Dutch Harbor and Umnak Is.

Some USAFFE and Dutch base forces are shipped from their minor bases to Port Moresby and Milne Bay, providing enough mechanics to service about 50-75 a/c at each airfield.

[bradfordkay]

February, 1942

With Palembang, Borneo, most of Malaya and the Philippines under Japanese control, the defense of the Southern Resource Area is not going well. Both sides have lost heavily in transports, while combat naval losses have been light. The Manila/ Clark/Bataan fortress continues to hold out. Landings in Manila Harbor are shattered by coastal defenses at Corregidor.

Japanese submarines are showing up off the Queensland coast, playing havoc with supply convoys in this area. The Australian minesweepers and patrol boats do not appear to be up to the task of ASW patrols, as nearly a dozen are lost to submarine attack in this area. Of better use are the ancient US four pipers withdrawn from the NEI with USS Marblehead, accompanied by the remains of the NEI naval forces.

The campaign for Java starts slowly, but heats up as the Kido Butai (as I understand the IJN callls its main carrier striking force) moves into the Java Sea. US B17s claim multiple hits on IJN carriers, but it doesn’t seem to slow them any. The first landing is at Merak, which was undefended, as its forces had been withdrawn into Batavia. Djokjakatra is next, dividing the Javan defenses. Soerabaja is invaded Feb 25. The 150mm CD guns take a tremendous toll on the invasion force, but the ships keep coming.

Singapore falls on Feb 28. Prior to its fall, all naval units had been withdrawn, Repulse to Columbo. The 22nd Australian Infantry Brigade is also evacuated to Ceylon, being deposited in Trincomolee.

One regt of the US 40th Infantry Division is sent to Wake Island, Yorktown and Hornet escorting.



March, 1942

Burma front is quiet. After Rangoon, Meiktila and Taung Gyi are captured by the Japanese, the enemy seems to have gone to sleep. Perhaps they need troops from elsewhere to continue their advance?

Soerabaja falls on March 12, forces withdraw to Madioen where they are forced to surrender. At least the engineers were able to perform their duty at Soerbaja, heavily damaging the industrial sites there. Enemy transports are thrashed by Dutch AF units based at Batavia, but the overland campaign continues. On March 21, Jap troops land at Kendari. Dutch PTs fight hard at Batavia and Kendari and are decimated. One survives to be withdrawn to Koepang.

Japanese troops invest Lashio, cutting the direct route from Mandalay to Kunming. Two Chinese divisions had reached Mandalay before the road was cut. The rest are divided between Lashio and Myitkyina.

The Luzon fortress continues to hold, but supplies are getting low. Many ships have been lost trying to sneak in crucial supplies.


April, 1942

The defensive line at Clark Field is broken on April 3, with retreating troops streaming into Bataan. Kendari falls on the 4th, and Batavia surrenders on the 6th. Manila and Lashio both fall on the 11th. Mandalay is invested by Japanese troops on the 10th of April and falls on the 17th. So much for our hopes to hold the line there. Allied forces in Bataan finally surrender on May 4th.

A new line of defense is being created at Akyab, Imphal and Ledo, though we still hold Myitkyina with substantial force (was enough to hold Mandalay more than a week!). In early April 135 RAF Squadron is sent to Akyab, where they will create a legend for themselves. By mid-May they will have claimed 175 kills over Akyab as the Japanese start a bombing campaign in preparation for an overland assault.

The KB takes a sweep between New Guinea and the northern Australian coast. US B25s try to attack it out of Port Moresby and are slaughtered. The KB withdraws towards Soerabaja, however.


May, 1942

Myitkyina falls on May 2nd, and the Japanese mop up in Java and the Philippines. Amboina falls on the 6th. On May 11th the Japs invade the last Dutch bastion at Koepang, but the Dutch air units maul the invasion force. Australian and US bombers out of Darwin engage the KB in the Banda Sea during this time. The KB fails to cover the transports, but does attract a lot of attention, reducing the damage to those transports. At the time of writing, May 21, Koepang has held off three invasion attempts, though there are
remaining Japanese forces in Koepang. Several transports are sunk, mostly by torpedo bombers.

On May 16, a second invasion of Wake is attempted. Results are similar to the first one (hammered by shore batteries – a regiment of 155mm guns had been offloaded there in February), without intervention by USN carriers. The Lexington and Saratoga arrive too late, as the defeated japanese ships withdrew towards Saipan. A Jap carrier TF had been seen heading towards Wake from Truk, but the S-44 claimed to have put a torpedo into the CVL Shoho and the TF never came near Wake.

[bradfordkay]

June 14, 1942

There are three major areas of contention at the moment: Akyab, Koepang, and eastern New Guinea.

A major Japanese army is marching up the coastal raod towards Akyab, and the Japanese air units based at Rangoon have been attacking it regularly. 135 Squadron, AVG/B, and a rotation of lesser experienced units have been chewing up these formations, having claimed well more than 600 aircraft shot down during this period. Allied bombers based in Dacca, Calcutta, Chandpur and Diamond Harbour have been constantly bombing the advancing column. I have sent the 18th UK Division as well as one Indian DIvision, 2 Armoured units, multiple artillery units to Akyab. WE shall see how well this works.

The fight for Koepang continues. Neither side can land more troops without the loss of the shipping. Japanese carriers have remained in the area to support this attack, but have been unable to prevent the sinking of their own ships (they seem more interested in attacking the allied convoys).

A major operation has developed in New Guinea. After the initial landings at Lae and Buna, a TF of DDs was sent to bombard Milne Bay. This TF was driven away by the Beauforts, Hudsons and A24s based at Milne Bay and Port Moresby. A second TF of cruisers was being sent forward, apparently for the same purpose, so Halsey's TF of Enterprise, Hornet, and Yorktown were sent from Noumea to intercept. As Halsey approached New Guinea, a TF consisting of the 1st Carrier Division (Shokaku, Zuikaku, and Zuiho) came over from the Banda Sea and launched an airstrike on Port Moresby. The next morning (June 11), multiple strikes were launched by both sides. Halsey kept about 80% of his fighters over his carriers, and so the only damage was one torpedo hit and one bomb hit on the Yorktown (32sys, 17flot, 11fire). Numerous 1000GP hits were scored on the Japanese carriers, being out of range of the Devastators. The next day, Halsey continued west to chase, and passed the Japanese TF in the rain (no strikes launched). Halsey reversed course, and June 13 found him 60 nm sw of the damaged Japanese carriers. More strikes launched, and Shokaku and Zuiho are confirmed sunk, while the pilots see no way that the Zuikaku will reach Rabaul or Truk.

[bradfordkay]

June 22, 1942

The battle for Koepang continues, possibly edging in our favour. After the loss of the Shokaku and Zuikaku off Port Moresby/Milne Bay (yes, I am counting my chickens before they are hatched), the remaining Japanese CVs seem to be pulling out of the Banda Sea area, though this could be a ruse.

A very interesting development occured in the DEI this week. When the Japanese captured Amboina back on May 6, the Molukkan Garrison Brigade and the accompanying base force withdrew into the hills, determined to cut a path to Bula. On June 8, a small Japanese unit arrived in Bula to take over. On June 19th, the Molukkan Garrison Brigade came pouring out of the hills to destroy the Japanese occupying troops, regaining control of Bula. Bully for them!!! Small victories can be very satisfying sometimes.

[bradfordkay]

When I started this game, I was alt-tabbing out to write up reports in MS Word. That took so much time and effort that it was reducing my enjoyment of the game itself. I switched for awhile to taking extensive notes in a small spiral notebook, and have since reduced it to taking the occaisional notes of important happenings. My reports here will be of major operations and surprises by the AI (if any).


August 1, 1942

At my last post, the KB was pulling out of the Banda Sea area. I thought that they might be headed up to support a new attempt at Wake, but it apparently was only to go to Palau for refueling and rearming. The KB returned to continue the blockade of Koepang throughout the month of July and is now pulling back again. Unfortunately, I don't have any supply ships nearby to sneak into Koepang whilst they're gone. I'll try, but I'll bet that the resupply effort will be caught in port when (if)the KB returns. I've been using three squadrons of C47s to resupply Koepang out of Broome and Wyndham, but they can barely keep up with ammo expenditure for the Dutch AF. I would also like to send either Sparrow or Gull force in as reinforcements, but am loathe to lose troops at sea.

All US carriers are in Pearl at the moment, having undergone the June/July upgrades (except for Yorktown, which is still over 30 sys damage). They have all also upgraded their torpedo squadrons to Avengers (the Wasp is due in SF in two days, by which time there will be enough Avengers to upgrade her as well).

The fight in Burma has stalled. The Japanese have over 90000 troops 60 miles from Akyab which I have been pounding with all available bombers on a daily basis. I do not know if this bombing has caused them any real trouble, but they've been one hex out of Akyab for nearly two months now, so I think that the interdiction is working (it must be causing enough disruption and fatigue to slow their advance).

Betties out of Rangoon put a torpedo into Exeter, a member of an SCTF that I was keeping in Akyab to discourage invasion. I've pulled that TF back to Diamond Harbor.

The fight in New Guinea is getting interesting. The Japs keep sending Heavy Cruisers and Battleships forward to Buna/Salamaua, for what reason I am unsure. They once sent a DD TF to bombard Milne Bay, which TF was sorely damaged by my air. They have not attempted to run a bombardment with the cruisers/battleships as of yet. Maybe they're trying to refuel them at Buna before making the run. The Australian bombers out of PM and MB have been getting good practice on the Japanese fleet. Now I have not only No 100 Sqd RAAF carrying torpedoes, but No 7 Sqd RAAF is also launching them. The score so far: Hyuga, 4 torpedoes; Ise, 2 torpedoes; Mutsu, 1 torpedo; and Yamato, 3 torpedoes; Mogami, 1 torpedo. These are not the results of any single attack, but rather multiple attacks as the ships withdraw from the first damage.

I do have to periodically withdraw those sqadrons from New Guinea for R&R. It usually takes two-three weeks for their morale to rebuild to where I am comfortable with bringing them back up. I try now to alternate between No100 and No7 Sqds on R&R, hoping to keep one sqd of torpedo launching a/c in New Guinea at all times.

The 1st Marine Division is in Noumea with about 85 Prep points for Lunga. While the Japanese have yet to invade Lunga/Tulagi, I am planning to send my troops forward once they've got 100PP for it. This should take some heat off of the Port Moresby area and finally give my SoPac command a/c some combat. Their area has been way too quiet.

In the CenPAc area I have placed a small base at French Frigate Shoals to provide a transfer base for a/c headed to Midway/Wake. Wake is slowly being built up into a major base now. For the first three/four months of the war I did not expect to hold Wake, so I only had a squadron of PBYs flying out of there (and only built fortifications). I now have sent a larger base force (am withdrawing the small one so that it can upgrade from its "sound detector"), an RCT, a CD Atty units (155mm) and a CD AAA unit forward, as well as a second PBY sqd, an F4F sqd and a SBD sqd. Maybe the "decisive battle" will be for Wake. I have kept the Lexington/Saratoga TFs in the area to respond to invasion attempts.

I am close to opening Baker Island as a base. The first troops to go in will be SeaBees, but the other troops won't be far behind.

I have been slowly building bases in the Aleutians, mainly because there are so many NoPac command forces I feel that I have to do something with them. There's no room for them in SoPac or SWPac area (not enough HQs to provide support at the moment), so they may as well occupy Adak, Umnak, etc. Besides, I'm getting some cheap VPs for building up those bases.