Atlantic 10 championship: UR (cap_and_gown) vs GWU (grotius)

[CapAndGown]

This will be a dual AAR between Grotius (allies) and myself (japanese) using Andrew Brown's map and his scenario 115 (version 3c)

Here are the ground rules and starting settings:

Sub doctrines off
Damage control on
Advance weather on
FOW on
Surprise on
Historic first turn off
variable reinforcements
User defined upgrades on

Turn 1 restrictions:
For the Japs:
The intent of these restrictions is to mostly redo the historic first turn but allow me to get my fleet assets into an organization that I understand instead of scattered hither and yon.
No invasions anywhere except where they would occur if historic first turn were on
Bombardments of beaches where they would occur if historic first turn were on except for the 2 DD bombardment of Bataan (I want to use the first turn to reorganize my forces some, and these 2 DDs are more micromanagement than I want). The bombardment TFs can have a different composition, but they must be present.
Invasions cannot include any units that would not have been included were historic first turn on.
Invasions must occur where they would have occurred using the units that would have been used. The one difference I want in invasions is that I would like to load the entire combat unit into the TF and not leave part of it behind, thus adding to my micro-management headaches.
Additional supply TFs cannot be created to send along with the invasion TFs. They should get no more supply initially than is provided in the historic first turn. Nor can supply TFs be created on turn 1 with the intent of supplying these invasions later.
No unit that will be used for an invasion later can be loaded on turn 1. (I would have said no units can be loaded at all, but there are 2 units at Taan that I want to send to Hanoi.)
The Wake invasion TF cannot be reorganized or supported by a bombardment TF.
The Mankin invasion TF cannot be reorganized although its target can be changed to Tarawa.
Except for one group of fighters that I want to use to fill out a CVL, I will not rebase any AC
Manila can't be bombed. Clark Field will be bombed as per the historic first turn
In Malaya, I want to change my bombing targets since in AB's map, Singapore is out of Zero range.
Japan is free to send its subs and other ships where ever it wants as long as the above restrictions on invasions are fulfilled.

For the allies:
1) cannot form new TF
2) cannot transfer air unit
3) can give order to TF that already exist (i.e. subs and carriers Lex and Enterprise)
4) can give order to Squadron (i.e. can change altitude, mission, etc., just not rebase)
5) 1 and 2 are not applicable for India, China, U.S. West coast, Australia, and Canada
6) can move all ground units.

As for general house rules, so far I can only think of two
1) Night air attacks can consist of only 1 unit unless it is to bomb manpower.
2) Sub borne invasions can only target base and beach hexes. This is so 20 men with carbines cannot cut off the retreat path of an entire army but will force the players to garrison their bases

[CapAndGown]

Initial productions changes

Production changes for
Kyushu/Honshu/Shikoku
supply at start: ~948,000
Expansion costs: 16,600*
Supply needed per day for repair of facilities: 33,000*
Supply generated per day with HI and resources: 14,600
Daily deficit: ~18,500

Nissan and Ishikawajima engines converted to Hitachi
Hitachi converted to Nakajima
Most Kawasaki engines converted to Nakajima except 3 size 10 factories

Merchant shipyard points reduced to 895
Naval shipyard points expanded by 226
Armament expanded by 55
AFV expaned by 8
*HI expanded by 5 - will be expanded a further 10 when supply delivered to Matsuyama and Nogaoka
---------------------------------------------------------
Nagasaki
Claudes convert to Zeros, expand from 4 to 16
Armament expanded from 12 to 24

Sasebo
Petes converted to 15 Alfs

Kitakyushu
40 merchant shipyard convert to naval shipyard

Hiroshima
30 merchant shipyard convert to naval shipyard
Armament expanded from 12 to 24

Matsue
HI expands from 5 to 10

Takamatsu
2 merchant shipyard convert to naval, expand to 8
2 naval shipyard expanded to 8

Maizuru
Armament expanded to 8
40 Kawasaki engine converted to Nakajima

Osaka
Armament expanded to 8
Mavis transport converted to 1 Tina, expanded to 4

Kyoto
Lilly converted to 26 Helen

Ise
Armament expanded from 5 to 10

Nagoya
10 merchant shipyard converted to naval, expanded to 20
40 Kawasaki convert to Nakajima

Kanazawa
Armament expanded from 10 to 20
AFV expanded to 8

Hamamatsu
9 Nissan converted to Hitachi

Shimizu
3 merchant shipyard converted to naval, expanded to 12
3 naval shipyard expanded to 12
7 Nissan converted to Hitachi

Gumma
Nate converted to 29 Oscar Ib
Nell halted

Tokyo
Thora converted to 3 Tina
Hickory converted to 23 Zero
Ida converted to 19 Topsy
10 Nissan to Hitachi
20 Ishikawajima to Hitachi
120 Hitachi to Nakajima *note: 120 Hitachis is too much, I have changed things so that I will be producing 46 Hitachis a month

Sendai
2 merchant shipyard converted to naval, expanded to 8
1 naval shipyard expanded to 8

------------------------------------------------------------------
Hokaido

Hokadate
15 merchant shipyard converted to naval
5 naval shipyard expanded to 20

Sapporo
3 merchant shipyard converted to naval, expanded to 12
3 naval shipyard expanded to 12

Asahigawa
5 HI will be expanded to 10 when supply available

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sakhalin

Toyohara
5 HI expanded to 10

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Korea/Manchuria

Harbin
Nates converted to 20 Oscar Ib

Tsitsihar
10 HI expaneded to 20

[Grotius]

We're going to maintain separate AARs, but Cap said I could visit his thread once to look at his production choices and to verify the ground rules. I've never played the Allies in a PBEM -- I've had Japan in four other PBEMs -- so I fully expect to have my clock cleaned. But I wish Cap luck anyway. [:'(]

And with that, I'll bow out of this thread. I'll start my own thread in the next day or so; I don't have much to say yet.

[CapAndGown]

I have sent off the first turn to Grotius after a marathon weekend setting it up. [X(] Don't want to do that again. I have saved the turn just in case I ever want to do this again. [;)]

Mostly this is a historical first turn opening with some changes here and there.

KB: Kates set to port attack, Vals set to airfield, Zeros set to escort. I stripped out the two Kongo class BBs. Their extra AAA is not going to save me at this stage and I feel I have better uses for two fast BBs.

I will have two fast BB TF's, one operating in the South China Sea (initially supporting the invasion of Kota Bharu), and one operating in the Celebes Sea (for support of my drive on Timor). I am also bringing the main battle line of slow BBs south to support the drive on Timor.

Most of my surface combat TFs are composed of about 10 ships. I have decided I like smaller TFs but more of them rather than fewer large ones. What has surprised me about the Japanese OOB is the paucity of CAs. I have lots of CLs, but not many CAs and none are building. What were the Japs thinking?!

I sent both my CVLs and my 3 CSs to Tainan to regroup into one TF and to fill out their fighter squadrons with zeros. I plan on disbading existing groups of Claudes into their groups then upgrading rather than drawing pilots out of the pool. The existing pilots in these groups have higher experience, generally, than the highly trained pool pilots.

I spent a lot of time getting escorts and APs to various ports around Asia. On turn 2 I am going to be loading all kinds of troops on to ships!

I also consolidated my navy (those parts not already committed to various invasions) at Naha so I could sort things out. I sent 8 BBs, 7 CLs and 44 DDs there to be sorted out next turn. I did the same with AKs and TKs. I sent the large majority of my AKs to Osaka and Tokyo. My TKs went to where there is fuel so they could bring it forward: Shanghai, Osaka, Tokyo, Port Arthur.

I am going to bring a few NLF forces into China. I find I have a bunch of divisions sitting on the coast that could be used in the interior but I need units to garrison these bases so I don't get hit with partisan attacks that drain my supply. (Actually, I am trying to garrison all my bases to some extent to guard against raiders of various sorts.) The Mongols will be invading China again since these divisions are perfect for garrison purposes. Ichang is my first target since it is very vulnerable. Hanoi, OTOH looks rather vulnerable. I wonder what those Vietnamese militia forces are like and when they are triggered. Anyway, I sent 2 large naval guard units to Haiphong to help defend the place. I would like to pull that division in Hanoi out for use in the DEI or Malaya.

My subs move away from PH. No sense in losing them all right away. My Glen equipped subs set up a picket line along the Date Line to watch for his carriers while the other I boats are infesting the Line Islands and the approaches to Canton and Pago Pago.

Most of my airforce is standing down this turn to reduce their fatigue in preparation for rebasing. I don't like rebasing high fatigue units since that means lots of op loses. I have the usual airfield attacks set up against Clark and in Malaya against Alor Star and Kuantan.

This will be a slow moving game, probably, so I don't expect to have much to say for a few days.

Oh, I should also mention that I spent a bunch of PPs on changing leaders and bases. I changed many of the Ryuku and Kurile Island bases to Home Defense force so that I could rebase my patrol planes on the home islands to these places. I want to get a comprehensive search and asw network set up. I also changed a bunch of my TF leaders to folks who were highly skilled by not very agressive:
Kuwabara
Hirata
Miwa
Yoshida
Matsuyama
Koboyashi
Imamura
Kira

For the Wake invaion I picked Ishikawa since he has a land skill of 44. Maybe that will help ensure a successful invasion. In several tests I have run he usually succeeds, but not always.

I also went through all the ship captains of my active TFs (not the ships being sent to Naha on the first turn) and changed anybody with low skill numbers to someone who was at least in the 60's.

[CapAndGown]

My main strategy for tackling the DEI will be to isolate Java from reenforcements, particularly air reinforcements. So I am going to drive straight down to Timor and capture that before going after Java. Borneo can wait too. I have seen too many AARs where Jap players save Timor for last. I think this is a mistake. The 35th Brigade at Palau is going to be a major participant in this action, first taking Davao, then onto Ambion and then Timor.

[CapAndGown]

In the PI, I plan on bringing in a lot of force quickly to try to eliminate this threat as fast as possible. (1) I have seen how Blackwatch is being gnawed away at by Tom Hunter from allied air assets based in the PI. I don't want or need that. (2) I want to deprive him of intelligence about my moves. Patrol planes flying out of the PI gain lots of experience very fast (in fact, I would recomment setting the B-17s there to naval search to quickly boost their experience level before using them to attack shipping) and can provide the allied player with lots of warning about japanese movements.

On Borneo, I am going to get established at Brunei first before going for Kuching. Historically, the Japs went for Kuching first, but I don't want to risk by BBs (which will be in support) to torpedo bombers flying out of Singkwang. So Brunei will be used as a fighter base to LRCAP my invasion of Kuching.

[CapAndGown]

On the Kra Isthmus it is no longer a quick walk into Tavoy and Victoria point using Andrew Brown's map. I am afraid Grotius may try to quickly build up these bases and station air assets there. So I am moving all my paratroopers to Bangkok where they will drop on those bases.

I am also going get Bangkok and Kota Bharu set up for staging Nells and Betties out of to interdict shipping in the Malaca strait and Bay of Bengal.

Overall, I would say my strategy is to isolate then destroy. I want to rope off the Maylay barrier from reenforcements as quick as possible.

[Captain Cruft]

I doubt the Brits can get any serious air to Tavoy or Moulmein before your troops get there. Lack of aviation support would be the major factor. Plus, the Nells at Saigon can already reach that area for naval interdiction.

Still, on the other hand you've got find some use for those paratroops. I always wonder what to do with 'em

I'm not sure about rushing for Timor. The place is a malarial hell-hole which is virtually impossible to supply if you establish Nells 'n' Betties at Kendari or Amboina. On the other hand I assume this scenario still has the "super-Darwin" supply-generation feature so it might well be prudent

The overall strategy of isolate and destroy at leisure is one I heartily approve of though.

[CapAndGown]

Thanks for your comments.

The map I am using is the same one you are using for your CHS game. Nevertheless, Timor can be used as a stepping stone to stage AC into and out of Java. I am fairly sure Grotius will fight for Java with whatever he can get his hands on. I would like to stop air assets coming in. And for those that get in, I would like them to die there. How long does it take for an eliminated AC group to respawn? Quite a while I imagine.

I have also been following Tom Hunter's game (as I am sure Grotius is doing) and have seen him evac a good number of troops from Malaya. I want to stop that if I can. Most importantly, any troops evac'ed from Malaya are only a short distance from Tavoy and Victoria point where they could be dropped off. So I want those bases quickly. They will also help me isolate Malaya from air reinforcements. It will be interesting to see if I can beat you to Victoria point with my paratroopers versus your decision to go overland.

[Captain Cruft]

Yes the map is one reason I will be following this one closely

I don't remember when Victoria Point fell in our game. For some reason (my usual forgetfullness probably) I didn't report it on the thread. At a guess I would say it was about Dec 15. The 55th Div is still about 3 days out from Tavoy as at Dec 21.

[CapAndGown]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

Yes the map is one reason I will be following this one closely

I don't remember when Victoria Point fell in our game. For some reason (my usual forgetfullness probably) I didn't report it on the thread. At a guess I would say it was about Dec 15. The 55th Div is still about 3 days out from Tavoy as at Dec 21.

Wow! I would have thought that walking through all that jungle would have taken forever. Maybe I don't understand the movement mechanics well enough.

[Captain Cruft]

ORIGINAL: cap_and_gown

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

Yes the map is one reason I will be following this one closely

I don't remember when Victoria Point fell in our game. For some reason (my usual forgetfullness probably) I didn't report it on the thread. At a guess I would say it was about Dec 15. The 55th Div is still about 3 days out from Tavoy as at Dec 21.

Wow! I would have thought that walking through all that jungle would have taken forever. Maybe I don't understand the movement mechanics well enough.

I think I can explain it (Victoria Point that is).

The Imp Gds approaches the hex from the east, which is a Lc hex (clear). Therefore it will travel towards the hex at "clear" rate, which is fast. As soon as it reaches the edge of the hex it is considered to be "in the hex" and can therefore attack. However, to leave the hex via the south east it must traverse the hex itself, which is Lw (woods/jungle) so it travels at that rate which is slow.

Basically you only pay the move costs on the way out of a hex, not on the way in.

[Tom Hunter]

I evacuate Malaya because I don't know how to defend it.

In the 3x3 game (Fear and Loathing) the Japanese are pounding the Philipines, that is causing a different Allied strategy to be developed.

My opinion is that the best thing for the Japanese is if the Allies run away.

Second best is if you can trap them and defeat them in detail.

Most difficult is if they fight hard but intelligently. Fighting hard but stupid is probabley the same as second best. Anyway thanks for boosting my ego [:)]

[CapAndGown]

Well, I think I had a good 1st turn, though I can't be sure. Wake was captured, so now I can skedaddle before his carrier shows up. I was worried that I would have to waste time trying to reinvade.

My Pearl Harbor strike seemed to have really done a lot of damage. Lots of torp hits; 3 datais of Kates launched torps. Lots of penetrating bomb hits too. And I hit a bunch of his CLs. But nothing is listed as sunk yet. Don't know if I should do it again. Certainly not this next turn, the airgroups are pretty shot up. I am pretty sure that, however, that even if I don't go back, those BBs are going to be out of the war for a long time to come. In some ways I am even happier about blasting his CLs.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/07/41

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Alor Star , at 24,44

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 24
Ki-21 Sally x 22
Ki-48 Lily x 54
Ki-15 Babs x 5

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kuantan , at 24,48

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
G3M Nell x 98

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 3 destroyed

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 23
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Clark Field , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 53
Ki-15 Babs x 3

Allied aircraft
P-26A x 3
P-35A x 2
P-40B Tomahawk x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-26A: 8 destroyed
P-35A: 7 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 4 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed
B-17C Fortress: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported

Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 70
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Clark Field , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
G3M Nell x 33

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 6 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Clark Field , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 37
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 66
D3A Val x 135
B5N Kate x 143

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1
P-26A x 3
P-36A Mohawk x 3
P-40B Tomahawk x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 13 destroyed, 45 damaged
B5N Kate: 11 destroyed, 36 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
P-26A: 6 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 10 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 29 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 17 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 9 destroyed
B-18A Bolo: 8 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 2 1 penetrates, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 5 3 penetrate, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 5 3 penetrate, 1 is a dud, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 6 5 penetrate, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB California, Bomb hits 7 5 penetrate, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CL Honolulu, Bomb hits 1
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 3 2 penetrate, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 4 4 penetrate, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 5 4 penetrate, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 1
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Castor, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Detroit, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DMS Wasmuth, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL St. Louis, Bomb hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
132 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 32
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 125
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wake Island , at 85,72

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 32

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1 well that didn't do much

His own air attack accomplished nothing
Invasions as per historical:
Legaspi
Vigan
Apari
Bataan Is
Kota Bharu
Guam
Wake
Singora

[CapAndGown]

Man, this was a lot work. Seems like the entire nation of Japan got onto ships this turn. I hope the turns get shorter.

I formed up a baby KB with Ryuho, Zhuiho, Chitose and Chiyoda. For the CVLs, I disbanded some Claude chutais into the existing CV datai, reloaded them onto the boats and then upgraded to Zeros. I only have 8 Zeros left in the pool now, but the CV squadrons are filled out with highly experience pilots. For the CS's, I upgrade the larger float plane datais to Jakes and set them on naval attack, while the smaller datais were upgraded to Alfs and set to naval search. I am now going to head out into the South China sea to support landings on Borneo and perhaps hunt down some fleeing AKs from the PI.

I have two BB TFs headed in the direction of Palau to support landings at Davao and Menado. One TF is made up of the 6 slow BBs plus escorts. The other is made up of 2 Kongo class BBs, 2 CLs and a bunch of DDs.

Most of my airforce is standing down to reduce fatigue from turn 1 action. When I have avaition support closer to the front line they will be able to engage in more continuous action.

KB is retiring this turn to rest up its planes. I doubt I will be going back to PH. I am thinking of using them to support operations in the South Pacific. I am thinking about using force currently at Kwajalein to capture Canton and Pago Pago. Those islands are an awful long way away from Japan, but I may be able to defend them more through the threat of the KB rather than its actual deployment.

My problem right now in moving things around is lack of escorts. Despite the laments about the high dud rate for USN torps, I have seen them score quite a bit. I am quite paranoid about all those subs he has based at Manilla.

[CapAndGown]

Ships sunk: Allied - 0; Japanese - 4 [:(]

I would say this turn was relatively quiet. I had large portions of my airforce resting.

In Malaya Grotius's airforce launched multiple attacks on my invasion forces at Singora and Kota Bharu. In addition to the usual motley assortment of Blenheims and Hudsons, he employed his Swordfish as well. Not sure why he didn't bring in the Wildebeasts. Maybe they are over in Borneo? Still in Singapore? Well the Swordfish scored against 2 AP. Fortunately, the troops had already gotten off. Their attempt to get the Haruna, however, failed. [&o] I have landed all the troops and there is 12,000 supply there for them. It must have come down the rail line from Bangkok or something. Anyway, the transports and the surface fleet are clearing out. At Singora the transports continue to unload. Kota Bharu was captured without a fight.

I lost a sub b/w Borneo and Sumatra. It was headed to the strait b/w Java and Sumatra to lay some mines. Unfortunately, a TF fleeing from Singapore decided to take the same route. [:(]

In the PI Grotius has sortied everything from Manilla. He has a gazillion subs currently at Lingayen no doubt headed into the strait b/w Formosa and the PI. One of my search planes reportedly hit one. Good! I hate the little buggers. One of his S boats put two torps into an AK at Appari which promptly sank. [:@] Vigan and Appari captured against light resistance from the base forces there. Legaspi also taken with no resistance. I think a better move on his part here would have been to move a unit in from Naga rather than just bugging out the base force. The AKs that start at Naga all headed east into the Philipine Sea. I don't have anything to go after them with. (oops, now that I think about it, I have a CS at Tainan that I could have chased them down with. Oh well, too late now.) I guess they will get away. Hopefully, some of the stuff fleeing from Manilla will not be so fortunate. I am sending the baby KB into the Sulu Sea for hunting season and also to swing around and support and invasion of Davao.

Guam captured. Penguin sortied and promptly got lost in the wide Pacific. I wonder if it will get away too? The South Seas Detachment has gotten back aboard ship and is now headed for Rabaul.

The KB is going back for another whack at PH tomorrow. This second strike is actually meant more as an intelligence gathering mission than because I want to cause more damage, though, of course, I would like to cause more damage too. [:D] I put some serious hurt on Grotius with my Dec. 7 attack, but nothing shows up as sunk. I want to find out if all the BBs are still there or if some are missing. If I sink some that are still afloat, or hit some CAs and CLs, that will be gravy. The Kates have been set to port attack at 13,000 feet. The Vals have been set to naval attack with a secondary mission of port attack. If there are any surface TFs around they will get hit by the Vals. Meanwhile, weather permitting (and this is rather iffy) the Kates will hit PH regardless. I don't want my port attack to get cancelled on the off chance that he sorties a number of single ship TFs.

[CapAndGown]

Well the repeat performance at PH was a dud. The Kates got scrubbed due to weather, but the Vals flew in the afternoon. I hit some additional CLs and CAs, but I found out that all the BBs are still there. [:(] And of course the Vals hardly scratched them, although they did knock of some more ordinance. Well I have had enough. I have lost a bunch of Vals to Flak now and it is time to go home, restock, and start supporting other operations. Currently I have one chutai and one understrength datai of highly skilled Vals hopping their way toward Kwajalein where they will be used to fill out the KBs squadrons. After that, I am going to use the KB to support the capture of Canton Island and Perhaps Pago Pago.

Day Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 62
D3A Val x 121

Allied aircraft
P-26A x 2
P-36A Mohawk x 2
P-40B Tomahawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
D3A Val: 9 destroyed, 44 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-26A: 2 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 2 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB California, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 6, heavy damage
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 4, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 8, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 5
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 7, on fire
CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 3, on fire
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 5, heavy damage
ML Oglala, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Detroit, Bomb hits 1
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 6, heavy damage
DD Worden, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DMS Perry, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 1
CL Honolulu, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Grotius sortied some PTs from PH just in case I came back. Had me worried that he might get a lucky shot. But a daytime surface action against PTs *should* have meant their death, and it did.


Day Time Surface Combat at 112,69

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Akagi
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
DD Akigumo
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
DD Shiranuhi
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Arare
DD Kasumi

Allied Ships
PT PT-20
PT PT-21, Shell hits 1, and is sunk don't take much to sink a PT, do it? [;)]
PT PT-22
PT PT-23, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT PT-24
PT PT-25

The Penguin also sank 3 hexes from Guam. So now the ship sunk tally is: Allies 3; Japan 4. [:(]

In China I am escalating a campaign against his supply generating facilities, i.e. resources and HI. Grotius has not yet twigged to the fact that he is draining resources by leaving these facilities repair status to on. They show up as being repaired on the rollover. So that is draining 1000 supply per facility. I wonder if he will twig to that fact this turn and turn off repair?

Day Air attack on Yenen , at 50,28

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 19
Ki-30 Ann x 21

Allied aircraft
I-16c x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Heavy Industry hits 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Changsha , at 45,37

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 7
Ki-27 Nate x 6
Ki-30 Ann x 12

Allied aircraft
I-153c x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
I-153c: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Heavy Industry hits 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wuchow , at 42,39

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 4
Ki-51 Sonia x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Resources hits 6

I found out that I could convert all my IJA dive bombers to Sallys. So I did that this turn. Hopefully, that will mean fewer losses as I bomb from higher altitudes. In conjunction with this change I change around my production some more.

All Sonia production was converted over to Hellens. When fully repaired, I will be producing 66 Hellens a month.
Meanwhile, I converted one factory producing Sallys to Zeros. (Now that I think about it, I wonder if this was a mistake. Would they have auto converted to Hellens on Jan. 1? Oh well, I got so excited by the ability to change Sonias and Anns to Sallys that I didn't stop too think too much. [8|]) Anyway, when fully repaired I will be producing 158 Zeros a month.

In the SRA, not much is happening at the moment. Lots of transport TFs are in transit but until they and their support (for invasions) arrive at their destinations, activity will remain low. I finally got some AC support into Appari. Not enough, found out the transport TF had left part of the 21st aviation regiment behind. [:@] Anyway, I tranfered in recon, Sallys, and a sqdrn of Zeros. They are resting this turn (well, not the Zeros which are providing CAP) and then we can begin a concerted bombing campaign against Clark and Manilla.

The divisions that start on the Thai border are now 90 miles past Bangkok on their way to Moulmein. I took the southern route since there is a clear hex that way and may speed up movement. Nevertheless, I imagine it will take them a good long while to get there.

[Captain Cruft]

Yes the Sally factory would have converted over to Helen at some point. I never manually change large aircraft factories that will auto-convert to a current model, it uses loads of supplies.

BTW it's funny how the box around Rangoon just makes it seem all that more desirable ...

[CapAndGown]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/10/41

Finally, the ships sunk score is starting to swing my way. The baby KB enter the Celebes sea and found a number of targets

Allied Ships
AK Paz, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
MSW Tanager, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage sunk
AK Corregidor, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage sunk

Allied Ships
AK Don Jose
AK Princess of Negros

Allied Ships
DD John D. Ford
AS Canopus missed with the air attack, but see below

Allied Ships
AK Capillo, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage sunk


There are also sub actions going on all over the place. I am not going to include most of them, just the ones where one side or the other scored

ASW attack at 44,47
Japanese Ships
PC Ch 32
PG Kure Maru #5
PG Chohakusan Maru
PG Chiyo Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-37, hits 2, on fire sunk

Sub attack at 34,63
Japanese Ships
SS I-154

Allied Ships
TK Gertrude Kellogg, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Pillsbury

Sub attack at 34,63
Japanese Ships
SS I-154

Allied Ships
AS Canopus, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage sunk. You got to know that hurt
DD John D. Ford


My first deliberate attack at HK went well. Very low disruption

Ground combat at Hong Kong

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 32140 troops, 284 guns, 16 vehicles
Defending force 13117 troops, 114 guns, 4 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 5

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 5


Japanese ground losses:
162 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
203 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Tarawa was also taken this turn

The KB is mating up with the replenishment TF and then heading back to Kwajalein

This turn was still mainly about getting troops in position for invasions and getting support to where it is needed.

Oh, and I had a very favorable movement bug happen. My divs on the way to Moulmein just zipped through and trail hex as if they were on rails. I think what happened as that they had already traveled 30 or 45 miles inside the hex that had rails. The carry over was then applied to the hex with just a trail and the movement costs of only the hex they were leaving was taken into account, not the one they traversed through. There's one bug that worked for me rather than against me. [8D]

[CapAndGown]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/11/41

Another eventful turn highlighted by tons of sub action

ASW attack at 47,47
Japanese Ships
DD Kuri
DD Nagatsuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Minazuki
DD Satsuki

Allied Ships
SS Seal, hits 2, on fire

and a little later

ASW attack at 47,48

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 13
PG Kamitsu Maru
PG Aso Maru

Allied Ships
SS Seal, hits 2, on fire, heavy damage sunk. ya think? [:D]

Sub attack at 35,62
Japanese Ships
SS I-156

Allied Ships
AS Otus, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage sunk. another AS!

ASW attack at 44,62 thank goodness the sub didn't score before buying the farm [&o]

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki
DD Nenohi
DD Hatsuharu
DD Wakaba
DD Hatsushima
DD Shirayuki
DD Isonami
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
BB Nagato
BB Fuso

Allied Ships
SS KXVI, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage yeah, just a tad. [;)] sunk

Sub attack at 25,45 payback time for Grotius

Japanese Ships
AP Teia Maru, Torpedo hits 1 Carrying and aviation regiment, no less. [X(]
PC Shonan Maru #7
PG Eifuku Maru
PG Uji
PG Saga
MSW W.6
MSW W.5

Allied Ships
SS KXII, hits 1 but at least we made him go away for awhile

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Sub attack at 24,67

Japanese Ships
SS I-123

Allied Ships
DD John D. Ford, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage one torp, one dead DD [8D]

Actually, the 123 had just laid a mine field at Bali and was on the way back to Saigon. Interestingly, Grotius found both my mine fields on the same turn they were laid. No damage either.

TF 1004 encounters mine field at Bali (24,69)

Allied Ships
DD Evertsen
DD Banckert

TF 1172 encounters mine field at Merak (19,59)
Allied Ships
MSW Maryborough
MSW Goulburn
MSW Burnie
DD Stronghold

The Baby KB raced ove to Davao to help support the landing that are going in tomorrow, but on the way managed to score on more ships fleeing the PI.


Day Air attack on TF at 45,66

Allied Ships
AK Si Kiang, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage need I say? sunk
AK Taurus, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage y tu tambien

Day Air attack on TF at 47,65

Allied Ships
AK Governor Wright

Meanwhile, Grotius's bombers strike back at the baby KB which is well guarded by a Zero CAP.

Day Air attack on TF at 44,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 2 destroyed

And the HK attack continues to progress well. Still low disruption

Ground combat at Hong Kong

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 23393 troops, 281 guns, 16 vehicles
Defending force 12961 troops, 105 guns, 4 vehicles

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 4


Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Allied ground losses:
380 casualties reported
Guns lost 26

Grotius also move 3 units up towards Canton. I wonder if he will attack the City? I have one div and one brigade there. Another div is on the way from Suchow. I got a naval guard unit there this turn to take over garrison duty. the div is still 90 miles away. should take 3 days, while it will take Grotius 1 day to get into Canton (maybe even 2?) and another before he can attack. I should be fine.

1 of my divs entered Ichang out of a massive army. The rest are following behind. I thought I had picked the slowest unit, but the others are now 20 miles behind. Lets hope they make it there next turn before Grotius can shock attack me out of there.

I am not starting to advance on Yenan. It will be awhile before I can assault the city. I want to get the mongolian divisions set up doing garrison duty so that I can bring in more heavy divisions. Right now I am setting up a blocking position just outside the city to try to head off reenforcements from the northeast. I am also going to take Linfen next turn in order to threaten Sian in his rear.

I moved a bunch of Sallys, Recon, and 2 Datais of Zeros into Kota Bharu this turn. The aviation support will arrive next turn. (In fact, it was the aviation unit I mentioned above and which was torpedoed that was heading for Kota Bharu.) So (a) I want to provide CAP for the transports and (b) plan on attack one of his airfields to try to suppress his strike. I picked Georgetown because it is close enough that it might have Wildebeasts.

I am having supply problems at Appari. I think this is why an airfield strike against Manilla that I set up did not go off. I have 3 chutais of Tabbys flying in supply. Some supply currently unloading. And more on the way from a barge TF and 2 different AK TFs.

Finally, aviation support arrived at Legaspi. I have put some Nells and Zeros there. 2 divsions are also on the way with supporting troops are also on the way

Next turn will see even more action as we start unloading in Davao.