The Italian Job 2- Gen.Hoepner(J)-vs.-Mc3744

[anarchyintheuk]

I wouldn't call either gamey, although I do restrict night bombing to city attacks.

[Gen.Hoepner]

Dunno if it's gamey, but it's the way we've agreed at the beginning and the rules should not be changed when the race has started.

However, we're back in buisness!

We'd agreed at a kind of little house rule to restric some minor movements on that particular hex where his units are going to come.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/25/42

Today was a good day.
We've conqured Kweyang, a level 5 AF and the heart of chinese internal railways. The war in China is going very well. Hengchow has fallen and 9000 more chinese are now in the bag. Now, while 2 armies will keep the siege laid on Ichang and Changsha, the rest of the units not involved at Chungking will march towards Kunming, in order to lay siege and to stop the supply production.
My bombers now can operate very close to Chungking and this should reduce the ops losses.
Kunming,Chungking,Ichang,Sining,Lenchow and Changsha will be bombed every day till the end of the chinese campaign from now on.
I plan a great pocket in the Nanning area with 90,000 chinese stuck there[:D]...would be tough cause i only have 2 naval guard units closing the door towards Kumming...but i will try.

In Burma my 25th Army arrived at Magwe and tomorrow we'll attack, trying to push back his tanks. 40 Nells will support the action from Bankok.
At Bankok the 38th Division is unloading.
He keeps bombing me but i feel a bit less worried now that i have 4 divisions in Burma, but i must remember to be elastic.

In oz,...well...he has too many troops. Now 3 Full Aus Divs+ 1 Tank Bde are on my eastern flank. I have strenght for 2 divs and 2/3 but it won't be enough, also because my bombers, those bastards, refuse to fly. it's been a week now since they do not attack his units..and the weather is awesome!!! What's happening!!?!?!?!
However i bombarded today...results were fantastic! 500 allies died and many squads disabled!!![:D]
My 16th Div is now ready to be moved to the front. Start the march today from Darwin. Gotta pay attention on my western flank now.

He started to send again his subs at Canton and Baker Isl.

Today i sent back to homeland the first 15 DDs for their upgrades. From now on, each month 15 DDs will be upgraded.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Hengchow

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13148 troops, 120 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 7510 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese assault odds: 27 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hengchow base !!![:D]


Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
9119 casualties reported[8D][;)]
Guns lost 5


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


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 36,90

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 59813 troops, 746 guns, 18 vehicles

Defending force 43967 troops, 335 guns, 139 vehicles*these are the australian troops west of Daily*


Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
494 casualties reported[:'(]
Guns lost 19
Vehicles lost 14

[Gen.Hoepner]

Now that the "bug" problems seems to be worked around, as usual, on saturday, i'll make some considerations about the war.

In my opinion now the chances of a crushing victory in Oz are gone. He's too strong on his flanks for me to be able to defeat him there. 3 Oz Divisions+1 tank bde on the eastern flank and 2 divisions+1 tank bde on the east. Simpy too much. I probably am able to hold at the moment, but in the long run he's going to call in some more units, while i ran out of divisions.
Now i just wanna see what he wants to do, if attack or wait, but the inability of my bombers to attack his troops ( really weird and strange, considering that they've been doing these sort of missions for months) reduces again any hope of victory. One chance could be trying to break his center at Daily. He has 2 divisions there and i probably can bring in my 16th Div as soon as his western flank shows where it wants to go. But with 1200 APs i'm unsure if i will be able to break his line there....However, an evacuation plan is taking shape in my mind. 300 AP/AKs are ready between Manila,Sosarbaja and Darwin. 30 DDs and 10 CA/CLs as supporting force, while my fighters would have, as always, the tougher job.

In China things are going really well. If i consider how depressed i was few months ago, when the first 2 battles for Ichang ended in a crushing defeat, i can really consider myself lucky. He's been very good at the first stages of this chinese war, but then he probably lost his flexibilty when he decided to defend Ichang with 300,000 men, leaving no active reserves in his rearguard. Now a very good supply route from HK to Chungking is open and i threaten directly Kumning, while Changsha and Ichang are completely cut out from any supply route.
The key will be chungking. I think i can get it, if i have patience and perseverance. i calculated something between 1500 to 2000 APs for him there, but with no supply at all these values can be reduced greatly. I'll have 5200 APs in the next 30 days there, so enough in my opinion.
If i manage to hold Burma long untill Chungking falls i can save the whole game. Chungking will bring me beyond 4-1 ratio and with 5000 APs free, i can master to take Kumming easily (80,000 men there) and then march the way trhoug Burma with 10 Divisions that can easily hold the Burma front, while the rest of my units take care of Changsha and Ichang.

The only real problem would be his 4Es....if he decides to attack Chinese AFs he can have a sloughterhouse there.....my CAP is ridiculous and i gotta do something about this. A bit more of balance....

In The pacific there insn't much i can do for the moment. My CVs need rest and some upgrades, as my DD fleet and my Zeros/Kates are training in the PI and at Singapore. I keep on fortifying my inner perimeter ( Tarawa is almost at level 9 forts with 2500 mines![:D]) concentrating on Bouganville, Green Island and the whole Rabaul area.

[patrickl]

Hi GH,

Just to say I love your AARs.[:D] You put in a lot of effort writing narrative in addtion to the reports,etc. I am just starting to read the forum AARs, so got alot to catch up. Yours is already pg 15![X(] Ah, so much to read and learn and enjoy reading![:D][:D] Thanks and keep up the good work!
Cheers!
Patrick

[Gen.Hoepner]

Thanks a lot Patrickl, really appreciate when someone likes what u do[:)]
I do like a lot writing the AAR. It helps to concentrate on the strategy and the exchanged opinions shared here help a lot in alaboratining news tactics and strategies.
I am disappointed only about the level of the writings. When i read the "Fear and Loathing" AAR, or the old Tayne's one, i just got depressed cause i envy(sp??) those who can write in their own mother lenguage. My english is ok, but cannot express any deep concept or create a kind of a novel based upon the combat report as i'd like to do...

But, as this situation won't change, i'm happy like that.

Still thanks for reading and for your kind comment.

Ciao

[Tom Hunter]

Fear and Loathing is fun to read, and fun to write. But no one is going to learn how to play the game from reading them. We leave a lot out when it comes to strategy, and as Adm. Laurent mentioned recently there is not a lot of discussion of defeat, much less the reasons for defeat or victories for that matter.

On the other hand your Italian Job has very good discussions of strategy on both sides. It may not be as funny but people can tell what is going on, so it is much more informative. Keep up the good work.

[patrickl]

Hi AmiralLaurent

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

You have 12 divisions, 5 brigades, 3 regiments at start. In my current PBEM, for phase 1 (until the end of January) I use them like that:

Malaya: 4 Div (Imp, 5, 18, 55) + 1 Rgt
Objectives: take all Malaya (completed around the 20th January).

Burma: 1 Div (33) + 1 Bde + 1 Rgt
Objectives: take S Burma, reach Mandalay and lay siege (completed around the 15th January)

Sumatra: 1 Div (38th after HK) + 1 Bde
Objectives: take Palembang (game is currently 28th January and town will fall before the end of the month)

Borneo: 1 Bde (35th) + naval troops
OBjectives: take Brunei + Miri, later expanded to take Kuching + Singkawang with 35th Bde and Tarakan with naval troops. Both operations completed but I don't like to take Kuching as it is a little too far away from my airfields and was right another time. Force Z attacked at night, sank a BB and very heavily damaged one. It lost the Repulse, 2 CL and 4 DD to naval fire and aerial torpedoes.

Celebes: 1 Bde (56th)
Objectives: take Amboina quickly, so convoys for Australia may transit and refuel here. Then take Kendari to turn it into a powerful airbase. Completed in December. The Bde has since sailed for Mindanao, taking Menado on the fly.

Australia & Timor: 4 Div (all troops starting around Japan)
Objectives: take the whole of Timor and the 4 bases in NE Australia. Destroy as much troops as possible. Completed around 20th January.

PI: 1 Div (48th) + 1 Bde (65th)
Objectives: seizing N of Luzon up to Lingayen, then turn Lingayen into a powerful airbase. Completed in mid-January. Now waiting for reinforcements. Secondary operations in Mindanao with naval forces and (lately) 56th Bde. Davao will fall in some days.

Pacific: 1 Rgt (South Seas) and naval troops
Objectives: take Guam and Wake. Completed in December. Now waiting more troops and the return of CVs to do more.

My own view is that Japan needs Borneo, Java and Sumatra before the end of April, and in the best shape possible, so it is safer to take them before. By this date the oilfields should be out of range of Allied bombers so you should have also Timor and S Burma.

Thank you very much, you are a pal![&o][&o] The Holy Grail.. OOB for Japanese on 7 Dec 41!![X(][:D][X(][:D] Wanted this info for a loooooong time! AARs.. got the read more!! Thanks once again
Kind regards
Patrick

[Gen.Hoepner]

Thanks Tom for your kind words!

Patrickl, AmiralLaurent was surely the one who i have to thank the most for the japanese strategy in this match. Altough i hadn't followed 100% his detailed strategy, i admit that the general idea of going to Oz at the beginning of the war is his!

MC is out for the week end, so no turns till tonight ( European time). However there' s something that i would like to discuss with you readers.

It concerns the planes production.
At the moment, i'll produce ( starting from August) something like 170 Tonies and 120 Tojos each month. With them there are also scheldued 110 OscarsII that are scheldued in the stock scenario. Till now i've let this industry alone and i kept halted the repair of these 110 till 2 weeks ago. Now 10 out of 110 are ready, but the real question is: Would be better to keep the oscarII or better is to concentrate on Tony/Tojo? I do not like the idea of encrease again the Kawasaki engine production, so if i switch the oscarsII i'll switch them to Tojo, but is it worth? Will the oscarsII be usefull? Or better to switch them to something like the George ( for the Navy)??

Any ideas?

[Alikchi2]

I'm not sure.. the Oscar IIs will be useful for escorting long range strikes, so probably at least a small reserve of them would be handy. But compared to the Tony and Tojo they are complete crap. So.. produce a small amountfor the situations they'll be useful in, but your goal should be production of the advanced fighters in the largest numbers possible IMHO.

The George is a good plane! Perhaps you could use some spare Oscar factories to help research it..

[patrickl]

Hi GH,

I have just finished reading your 15 pages AARs. The best I read so far!. I like your detailed running commentaries and arguments on strategies, tactics and operational issues, supplemented by combat reports and perhaps more importantly, screenshots and maps with annotations! A picture tells a thousand words![;)] Your AARs should serve as a textbook guide to playing Sc 15 Japanese - adventures to all theatres with Russia and India yet to come - the best is yet to be? I just have to admire your guts for going over mountains to Chungking that led to MC's fall in China. [&o] Incidentally, what is the score now - near 4 to 1 ? [&:]
Cheers and I will be rooting for you

[Gen.Hoepner]

Wow....do not what to say Patrickl....thanks, really!
India,Russia?...no Patrickl, quite impossible at the moment. I am already on the defence in Burma and Oz and it's not sure wheter i can hold there or not.

However, The question, Alikchi, is wheter is better to convert those 110 oscarII factories or not. If i convert it to Tojos, let's say, i will have to pay ..something like 70,000 supplies in order to get 70 tojos out of those 110 oscarsII and if i want to have a small production of oscarsII i have to convert another smaller factories to that new model...so more supplies burnt! probably...wouldn't be better to let that factory alive and if i need, improove the production of Tojos somewhere else where that model is already in production?

the score is something like 21500 Jap vs 6500 Allies...so something between 3-1 and 4-1...if and when Chungking falls and i do not lose Burma or my divisions in Oz, i'll be somehow above the 4-1, and so he will have to rush during autumn to get back with points

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/26/42

.....2 divisions+2 brigades + 2 tank bdes at Daily....wow...that's a lot of stuff!
He should have 2 more divisions on my western flank and 3 on my eastern. No way to break here or there. Gotta hope for a mistake of MC....

In Burma we manage to push back the armoured Bde from Magwe. The 25th Army prooved to be very very important.

No sign of his heaviests today, both in Burma and Oz...strange.

In China everything is going well. Need some more weeks before starting the attack on Chungking






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Daly Waters

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 46813 troops, 519 guns, 7 vehicles

Defending force 50224 troops, 419 guns, 19 vehicles[:(]



Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Magwe

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 69892 troops, 684 guns, 21 vehicles

Defending force 9663 troops, 34 guns, 495 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 15 to 1 [:D]


Japanese ground losses:
301 casualties reported
Guns lost 13
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
264 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
Vehicles lost 3


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 36,90

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 59749 troops, 744 guns, 18 vehicles

Defending force 42825 troops, 307 guns, 120 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
182 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 4

This is my eastern Flank
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/27/42


Today he started to bomb Daily at night again. Look at the numbers and imagine the result.....15 planes destroyed on the ground. However ( see map), he really has a strong force to take back N.Oz. I need to play it carefully. For the moment he's unable to defeat my eastern flank where the reinforced 16th Army is making him pay a high price in terms of bombings. With only 3 units on the eastern flank ( 20,000 men ) that he has i fell rather safe for the moment. My 16th Division is moving 120 Miles north of Daily and will keep my rearguard clean and safe, while the 5th Div will reinforce my western flank, bringing the APs up to 800.
My fighters at Daily will pay the higher price...i know...but it's a calculated sacrifice.

In Burma he moved one unit southwards from his previous positions north of Mandalay. Now the city is directly threatened. The 38th Division is arriving from Bankok, along with a regiment of the 55th. have to study a counterattack plan here..... he can be vulnerable!

In China everything goes as scheldued.New units arrived at Chungking today and will help the bombing session.
We're slowing advancing in the south of China and the 23rd Army is ready to move towards Kumming.

In The pacific, the only movement is his sub-minelaying activity at Baker and Canton Island...nothing to really be scared about.
Many ships going up and down from and to Bora Bora....thinking of a CV raid in the next future.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Daly Waters , at 35,90

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 54
LB-30 Liberator x 38
B-24D Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 4 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 85375 troops, 1020 guns, 17 vehicles

Defending force 123715 troops, 617 guns, 48 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
147 casualties reported

He has quite a strong force here.....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 36,90

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 59762 troops, 738 guns, 18 vehicles

Defending force 42134 troops, 295 guns, 115 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
333 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 2

This is the eastern flank of Daily waters....i outnumber him in terms of guns, which is damned good!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 36,90

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25676 troops, 170 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 72882 troops, 736 guns, 322 vehicles

And this is his reponse...

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

[Gen.Hoepner]

....

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/28/42

Another round of night raid at Daily. 12 more planes on the ground.
Nothing else moved in N.Oz today.

In Burma he moved an Indian Division southwards, threating directly Mandalay( see map). The 65th Bde, one Art unit and one regiment of the 55th Div will guard the city, but i'd need to find a way to counterattack and unbalance him somewhere here.....
The 38th will move to Rangoon along with an Eng Rgt.
Some AA units placed at Magwe.

In China we're ready to push forwards and close the pocket of Nanning. This would be a boost in terms of points and morale! 80,000 possible pows...[:'(]
LRCAP at Chungking ordered for tomorrow, while 200 bombers will hit the airbase and the supply depots.

4 More DDs upgrading at Hongkong.

No good news from my ASW planes at Canton island and Baker. I'd need some more experienced planes for that task! Already identified 6 minelayer subs in that area.

the 56th Bde and the S.S.D. are coming back to Truk and Kwalajein from Suva. They'll rest and form along with the Imperial Guard Division and the 15th Mortar regiment, the body of the 17th army that will operate in the South Pacific.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Daly Waters , at 35,90

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 30
LB-30 Liberator x 62
B-24D Liberator x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ichang

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 116975 troops, 1363 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 126033 troops, 143 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported

These bastards are out of supplies since 3 months...and are still able to fight back...[&:]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 85561 troops, 1026 guns, 17 vehicles

Defending force 123722 troops, 622 guns, 51 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
71 casualties reported

Need to intensify my air bombing campaign here before starting the real attacks!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Changsha

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 51502 troops, 747 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 83358 troops, 244 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
113 casualties reported

As soon as my 12th Army will take out those 80,000 men in the pocket of Nanning-Pakhoi, we'll take care of Changsha
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/29/42

In China we're moving quite fast towards Kumming. 3 Divisions, 2 arty units, 2 eng rgt and 3 divisional regiment are marching with the 23rd Army. In 2 weeks we should lay the siege and stop the supply production there.
No sign of enemy airlifting at Chungking. My zeros on LRCAP didn't find anything. So far so good.
Tomorrow we'll LRCAP Kumming and will start a heavy bombing campaign against his last chinese bases in western China. No need to waste planes and pilots against Ichang or Changsha now that they're completely out of any supply route.
In the meanwhile the pocket at Nanning is closing in. Tomorrow the 12th Army will move from Wochow and cross the river westewards! BANZAI!!!!

In burma he's making havoc over my troops N of Mandalay. 300 bombers attacked them today, and the losses are very very high. Over 1200 casualities[:(]

In oz, Nothing new.
Usual Night bombing over Daily.
Usual daylight bombing over the advancing allied troops( yes, my bombers are flying again...do not ask me how and why[&:])

What else?
Shokaku arrived today at Tokyo and started to R&R and upgrade.
4 more DDs started their upgrade procedures today at Hosaka.
The solomons are being heavily mined and garrisoned.
Bouganville is now a strongpoint, having 3 AFs at level 4, one Air Army HQ and 500 AV support points divided in 3 bases.

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/30/42


A good day.

Pakhoi fell at the first attempt. Now Nanning will be next. The only problem is that now i only have 2 naval guard units facing 80,000 fleeing chinese that are trying to use the trails to get to Kumming...i have the 23rd army quite close at 45 miles east of Nanning but i doubt 2000 men can stop 80,000 at that crossroads. However the south of China is falling quickly and my 12th Army is very close to Kumming...
And, above all...today 2 big raids over Kumming plastered the airbase and 20 zeros on LRCAP shot down 21 allied transports[:D] Tomorrow we'll stop for one day and soon we'll keep on ambushing his airlift duties from Burma to China.

In Burma he's killing thousands of men each day with his bombers...very depressing[:(] I try to rotate my front units...but it's a damned tough job!

In Oz...nothing new. allied night raids. Japs' reponses during the day.

Thnking of placing the 35th bde at Java ...just in case he's thinking of a landing with the RN here....


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kunming , at 38,32

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 58
Ki-21 Sally x 123
Ki-48 Lily x 20
Ki-49 Helen x 23
Ki-46-II Dinah x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 3 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 3 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
343 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 168[:D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kunming , at 38,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 12
Ki-49 Helen x 35
Ki-15 Babs x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 5 damaged


Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 38


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Pakhoi

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7660 troops, 89 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 4158 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Pakhoi base !!![:D][:D]


Japanese ground losses:
44 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
40 casualties reported


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

[Gen.Hoepner]

From the map above you can eaily see how the situation is fluid in China.
My main goal was to obtain and keep a constant mobility. Till now i managed to have this issue. However now what really counts is that i need to destroy some of his units, in order to be able to mass my troops and destroy him piece by piece. I shoul be able to destroy 20,000 men trapped west of Ichang as soon as those 2 more units you see will be in place and close the gap. Then there's the pocket of nanning, where 80,000 chinese are trapped without supply. I probably won't be able to cut and destroy them, but at least those 80,000 men will arrive at Kumming so fatigued and destroyed that they will not rapresent any real threat.
What is important now is to keep shut the airfields at Kumming,Chungking,Sining and Lanchow, from where he can be able to launch a strong RAF bombing campaign ( he's already told tthis to me in his last mail).
So, LRCAP over his bases, Massive bombing campaigns and keep on advancing.
Probably it will take me another month before i can manage to have at Chungking all my 5200 APs....really too much time! but could not do anything else due to the river crossing rule...
However...i could master in 1 month at least 1200 Aps at Kumming...probablu enough to threaten him. if needed i can send some of these to Chungking and keep just 600 Aps at Kumming in order to keep the resources centers closed.

In Burma...well...with his bombing campaign i start to feel less confortable. Every day i lose 1000/1200 men there due to his raids.....in these conditions, if he comes in force ( and he'll do that!) i'm not so sure i'll be able to hold him....

Any tips or advice?

In Oz?...well...now my hopes rely on my western flank where i can master 2 divisions,1 Mix Regiment and one divisional regiment plus a tank rgt. He has 1 Division, one Cav Bde and one tank Bde....i can do it!

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/01/42

July has begun...and with July my CVs took the bad compositions More useless Vals and less valuable Kates...so stupid!!!!!! But above all i'm *****d off cause i have to add some unexperienced pilots to my carrier trained crews...
Ok, this won't change the course of the war but it's something i really do not understand.
He's upgrading his CVs too now...... from now on i'll have to be extracarefull in the pacific: he can show up everywhere with 6 carriers!!!


Today we bombed Tsuyung( 60 miles)N-W of Kumming....there are 3 units for 30000 men there...and considering that no casualities were reported, probably there isn't any base force there...so 30,000 infantry men.....so to say that he's probably moving 3 corps into Burma using the Burma road....problematic!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tsuyung , at 37,31

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 112
Ki-48 Lily x 18
Ki-49 Helen x 20
Ki-46-II Dinah x 7

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 19
Runway hits 70

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Daly Waters

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 46467 troops, 408 guns, 20 vehicles

Defending force 66106 troops, 596 guns, 7 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
51 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

He tried to bomb Daily with his troops....these were the results[:D] Quite happy about the Oz situation. My 5th Div is now on my western flank, waiting for his tanks to come in...i'll deliberately attack as soon as he comes, supported by 170 bombers from Darwin


Today we expanded another 10 points of Kawasaki engine factory. We're producing now 180 engines each month. Never enough but it's not that bad.
The totat amount of Tojos scheldued for production is now 220. This number, with the 190 Tonies and the 110 Oscars II should allow me to have some 500+ good IJA fighters each month.

2 Eng rgt sent from Manila to Sosarbaja( need to build up the port at 9) and Shortland ( need to have a level 4 AF and a level 5 port, as long as some 9 forts).

My surface fleet is upgrading. Some more AA, but above all some more ASW for my DDs....this will be very usefull from late 42.

Except for those poor bastards that are fighting against the 4Es at Daily ( 4 zeros daitais and 2 oscar sentais), my fighter squadrons are again on an average of 75 exp. Not fantastic, but not bad at all. I have at least 200 IJA fighter pilots in their 80s and some more 150 in their 70s....my Tonies will be quite effective i Hope.

Do you need any specific info?
Production,Maps,something else?

just let me know....

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/02/42

July is a decisive month.
In the next days everything will be decided: Burma,Oz,China.

Today was a very very important day. In Burma he crossed the river north of Mandalay with his army. 1 Indian Division,1 HQ ( probably) , 2 arty units and 1 Tank bde. The shock attack ended in a defeat for the allies, but my troops aren't in a good shape. The 15th Army is suffering both for the costant air bombings and for malaria. Nevertheless tomorrow we'll try to push him back, hoping that those 3 more units that are still to come won't arrive tomorrow. 750 APs i have there. I know tomorrow his bombers will make any effort trying to break my predictable attack. For this emergency i've moved in Burma 130 bombers and some fighters from China, where, however, i'll keep on bombing his bases, even if with less a/cs for the moment. My bombers will try to support the attacking 15th Army...if i succeed the main threat will be over for the time being....if i lose tomorrow he will still have to dislodge me from there and it won't be easy.

In Oz 1 Cav bde and one Tank Bde arrived on my positions on the western flank. The 4th Austr. Div is a bit late probably because of my costant bombing. However, tomorrow 180 bombers from Darwin will try to attack his positions there and 150 fighters at Daily are ut on LRCAP(command discretion)-2 hexes range. I have something like 750 APs there....let's see if it's enough or not. If i manage to route hime there...wow....the whole campaign will be changed!

In China tomorrow, while the siege on Chungking is being laying and while my armies march towards Kumming, my 2 small Naval units will attack 80,000 chinese west of Nanning. I know i'll obtain only a 0-1, but however i will clear the movement of his troops...gaining so time for my army that is approaching nanning. All the bombers remained in the area of Southern China will support this operation.

Nothing new in the pacific.




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Ground combat at 45,34

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6807 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 6388 troops, 53 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
62 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
312 casualties reported

His 7 units trying to get out of the pocket west of Ichang[:D]
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Ground combat at 34,28

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 16562 troops, 113 guns, 469 vehicles

Defending force 48478 troops, 418 guns, 154 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
216 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
1641 casualties reported
Guns lost 41
Vehicles lost 24

The river crossing north of Mandalay....[;)][:D][8D]