Gen.Hoepner vs. Hawker, Mare Nostrum

[patrickl]

Hi Gh,

Ok, I am calm down, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in...[:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/24/41

The RN gives to the world a clear message today: "we are here and we'll stand and fight!"

A bombardment TF sailed from Diamond and hit Tavoy, recently conquered by the 55th Jap Division.
Not that much damage, but it's the moral effect that counts![;)]

In China he's using the 21st Div to push me back from Hanoi to Nanning...that's a mistake imho, cause that div could be sent somewhere where its combat power would be much more usefull.
However china is longer from being safe, but i'm confident.In 2 days we'll enter at Canton with 6 corps[:D] Just to bother him a bit
Planes from Batavia and Pelmbang took off today in several raids but manage to score only 2 hits ( 1 250kg bomb on Jintsu CL and one more bomb on an AP)

Nothing else.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Tavoy, at 28,37

Allied Ships
CL Durban
DD Express
DD Electra
DD Vendetta
DD Tenedos
CLAA Columbo
CLAA Capetown
CL Dragon
CL Danae
CA Cornwall
CL Glasgow
CLAA Ceres
CL Dauntless
CA Exeter
BB Revenge

Japanese ground losses:
510 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 12
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 7

[patrickl]

HI GH,

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/24/41

The RN gives to the world a clear message today: "we are here and we'll stand and fight!"

A bombardment TF sailed from Diamond and hit Tavoy, recently conquered by the 55th Jap Division.
Not that much damage, but it's the moral effect that counts![;)]

In China he's using the 21st Div to push me back from Hanoi to Nanning...that's a mistake imho, cause that div could be sent somewhere where its combat power would be much more usefull.
However china is longer from being safe, but i'm confident.In 2 days we'll enter at Canton with 6 corps[:D] Just to bother him a bit
Planes from Batavia and Pelmbang took off today in several raids but manage to score only 2 hits ( 1 250kg bomb on Jintsu CL and one more bomb on an AP)

Nothing else.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Tavoy, at 28,37

Allied Ships
CL Durban
DD Express
DD Electra
DD Vendetta
DD Tenedos
CLAA Columbo
CLAA Capetown
CL Dragon
CL Danae
CA Cornwall
CL Glasgow
CLAA Ceres
CL Dauntless
CA Exeter
BB Revenge

Japanese ground losses:
510 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 12
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 7

Hehe..Bet your opponent did not know what hit him

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/25/41

For Christmas i have a couple of nice presents for these yellow bastards[;)]

At Canton he moved out N-E through the ricefields and i managed to enter into the city. I know i won't have a change of conquering it, but still it will be a pain in the *** for him...and that's my goal.
The chinese front is still very unstable. He's making pressure on my western flank at Nanning. I'll have to use the river to stop his powerfull 21st Division..but if i manage to move my 5 corps comming from the North at his shoulders he'll be out of supply and will have to stop his attack.
At Canton i'll try to play smart: The objective is to keep on threatening his supply lines

In Malaya he finally entered with 6 units in the hex where i want to defend first. We'll see...not so many hopes of holding.
Kongo BB appeared in the strait of Singapore...where is she going?? My bombers and Torp bombers from Palembang tried to get her, but with no luck.
My subs are starting to rock!! a lot of attacks today and one good 533mm hit on an Oiler[:D]
Clark Fields is ready to be conqered by his men.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near San Marcelino at 43,50

Japanese Ships
AK Oyashima Maru
PG Unkai Maru #1
PG Tosho Maru
PG Shosei Maru
PG Shinko Maru #1
PG Nishho Maru
PG Hayakafuku Maru
DD Hasu

Allied Ships
SS Swordfish

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near San Marcelino at 43,50

Japanese Ships
AK Tokuwa Maru
PG Unkai Maru #1
PG Tosho Maru
PG Shosei Maru
PG Shinko Maru #1
PG Nishho Maru
PG Hayakafuku Maru
DD Tsuga

Allied Ships
SS Swordfish

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 34,51

Japanese Ships
DD Usugumo
MSW W.5

Allied Ships
SS KXIV

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 37,57

Japanese Ships
AO Notoro, Torpedo hits 1, on fire[8D][8D][8D]
DD Harusame
DD Natsugumo

Allied Ships
SS KXVIII

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/26/41


Clark field fell today. Nothing unexpected.
In Malaya soon it will be very very hot! Waiting for his next push towards Johre Baru.
In China we moved to Canton with a considerable force. he'll need to dispatch some good divisions to push me out[;)]...divisions that won't be used elsewhere.
At Tavoy recon says there are more than 250 jap planes...surely he will attack Rangoon. The AVG has only 20 planes left...hope to kill some crack zero pilots.
Repulse is now safely docked at Colombo. 30 sys damage. Not that bad[8D]
PoW is still struggling to get to Sri-Lanka....35 flt..

Moving some B-17 groups from PH to Manila...from there to China and then Eastern India. MC thought me something[;)]
Still waiting for the 4th Carrier to start raiding his communication lines.
KB has vanished...do not know where it is. mini-KB is out of sight too....

He's moved 2 BBs and some CAs towards Western Burma. He's probably going to use Tavoy as a naval base for the Bengal Bay.

He's very cautios in China...strange indeed.[&:]


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Ground combat at Clark Field

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 67438 troops, 311 guns, 459 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese assault odds: 1068 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Clark Field base !!!

[String]

Is the singapore airfield still open? If it is then move in the AVG and B-17's, be sure to send supplies and then level all japanese airfields within 7 hexes, after that bomb the advancing troops in malaya to increase their disruption and slow them down.

[Gen.Hoepner]

Singa's AF is closed. And so Rangoon now....

In the last couple of turns he managed to wipe out the AVG at Rangoon...40 fighters lost in exchange of 8 zeros[:(]
But i won't give up.[8D]
My subs are doing a great Job and the last 2 PT boats at Manila managed to inflict some losses at S.Marcelino. His Tankers are already begin to suffer from the attentions of the US navy[;)]
In China is basically a big mess...Canton is a continuous flowing of troops in and out.
In Malaya with the help of his bombers he managed to break throuh my first perimeter...now the last defence of Singa will be made at Johore Baru...but with the skies in his hands is quite hard to obtain anything...





AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/27/41

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 101
Ki-27 Nate x 10

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 34
P-40B Tomahawk x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-27 Nate: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 29 destroyed[:@]
P-40B Tomahawk: 10 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 40,46

Japanese Ships
TK Itukusima Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire[:D]
MSW Banshu Maru #51
MSW Aoi Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-41


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 22,49

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 84169 troops, 1021 guns, 23 vehicles

Defending force 40782 troops, 309 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1917 casualties reported
Guns lost 29
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
730 casualties reported
Guns lost 13


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/28/41

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 50,43

Japanese Ships
AK Hokuroku Maru, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage[;)][:D]

Allied Ships
SS Narwhal

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near San Marcelino at 43,50

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsushima
MSW Choyo Maru #2, Shell hits 5
MSW Himejima Maru, Shell hits 2
TK Akatsuki Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage[:D][8D][:)]
TK Hokki Maru
AK Brisbane Maru
AK Cuba Maru
AK Yae Maru

Allied Ships
PT PT-34
PT PT-41, Shell hits 43, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 22,49

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 81597 troops, 925 guns, 17 vehicles

Defending force 14462 troops, 88 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
461 casualties reported
Guns lost 17

Allied ground losses:
585 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Now the door for Singapore is open...

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/29/41

CHINA:
At Canton he manged to get 2 units between my troops at Canton and my rearlines towards Wuchow...my mistake here:-( However my 40,000 chinese
managed to hold on the first jap assault and inflicted many losses to the imperialists. Now a rescue force is comming down from Hengchow...maybe we can save the day
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 96678 troops, 1046 guns, 22 vehicles

Defending force 44913 troops, 306 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
2039 casualties reported
Guns lost 79
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
211 casualties reported
Guns lost 5



My subs are doing a simply great job! His transports, but above all his tankers are going down like stones*_*
If he doesn't decide to put some good escorts with his TKs soon he'll be in trouble^_*
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 40,47

Japanese Ships
AP Haisho Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Usugumo
MSW W.5

Allied Ships
SS Sailfish

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near San Marcelino at 43,50

Japanese Ships
TK Akatsuki Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Swordfish

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

Sub attack at 42,49

Japanese Ships
TK Hokki Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire



Allied Ships
SS Stingray


My last PT boat at Luzon managed to put on fire a Jap DD using its cal.50:-)
----------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near San Marcelino at 43,50

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsushima, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Kuri
DD Tsuga, Shell hits 1
DD Hasu
DD Hiyodori


Allied Ships
PT PT-34, Shell hits 5, and is sunk



Singapore is daily bombed and so Rangoon, but the B-17s are arriving in India and soon he'll be forced to committ his zeros en masse in Burma to face the threat of my fortress^_^

6 hexes from Rabaul a jap Tf is spotted....the fall of the Base is near.

The first base force is arriving at Daily Waters...soon Darwin will be in a safer position.

If i manage to hold Darwin i'll start from here to attack the Japanese empire.

Java isn't threatened directly yet by now.

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/30/41

Today, officially, the ABDA Staff has been ordered, by the exilied Ducth Gov in London, to not to evacuate and to resist till the last man in the colonies!
The operation has been called EAGLE and its aim will be to mass every single survived ducth INF unit at Sosarbaja. What remains of the ducth fleet has been moved to Timor and to Southwestern Borneo to pick up the units sieged there.Will be a rush against time. Let's see.

At Rangoon Daves and Alfs spotted my ships...means that his surface fleet is closer than 4 hexes...tavoy probably. The intel says the 15th Army HQ is in there....Moving back my ships to Akyab.

My subs managed to sink one TK and one MWS today...the first sub campaign will end withing 3 weeks and we're very pleased of the actual results, even if too often the torps go dude[:o][:-]

3*48 B-17s are repairing at Dacca.[:D]

Malaya is almost lost imho...he's using his LB bombers to destroy my troops.... however we scored 11 hit with the flak today[8D]

the 25th division is going for Palmyra.

the 2nd Marine division is loading at SF.

Enemy carriers are spotted near Rabaul...

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/30/41

He started to look for my subs with ASW TFs....the more ships he will employ in this warfare the less will be used elsewhere[;)]

He's BBs are approaching Rangoon...

Rabaul has been bombed by a TF composed of 1 BB and several CAs

In China we repulsed another attack at Canton and at the same time we free the hex that was closing the exit gate for my troops...now 3 jap divisions are pinned down at Canton[:'(]

He massed 23 units in front of Ichang. i'll make some pressure on his flanks[;)]
Let's see if i can hold Ichang...


2 para drops. At Kuala, that was undefended, and at Victoria Point.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 101569 troops, 1053 guns, 18 vehicles

Defending force 44569 troops, 296 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
2210 casualties reported[:D][:D]
Guns lost 39
Vehicles lost 5

Allied ground losses:
159 casualties reported
Guns lost 3




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 43,40

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7816 troops, 61 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 3918 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 20 to 1 [;)][:D]



Allied ground losses:
48 casualties reported


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/01/42


EAGLE operation has started. Loading the first 3 ducth regiments spread around the DEI.
A big supply convoy is loading at Karachi, destination JAVA.
Troops are ready to be loaded at Darwin. I gotta run! Menado is in danger: 3 big TF spotted comming down from Mindanao. Palembang will be bombed by a strong naval force tomorrow. My Martins from Batavia managed to give some noises to the japs comming there, even if not a single bomb hit the targets.

Jap BBs lingering in front of Mouleim. PT boats arrived at Rangoon[8D]

As soon as PH will be ready enough we'll send the first big base force to OZ. It will be placed at Daily waters.

First enemy landings at Rabaul. Will probably fall in tomorrow.

He's a bit late with southern DEI and SRA....probably i'll be able to get some good ducth boys at Sosarbaja before he can smash me. P-40s comming from Manila via-Cebu Island. I plan to move the whole wirraway Australian force in Java if Timor holds for some 3 more weeks...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Rabaul, at 62,90

Japanese Ships
CL Kinu
CA Myoko
DD Shigure
DD Shiratsuyu
CL Yura
CL Nagara
CA Haguro
BB Mutsu


Allied ground losses:
128 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 14
Port hits 9
Port fuel hits 8
Port supply hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 10 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul, 62,90


Japanese ground losses:
732 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
Ki-27 Nate x 15
Ki-21 Sally x 49
Ki-48 Lily x 32

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 3 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses


Allied ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 68

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 22,54


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 34


Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma
CL Isuzu
CL Natori
CA Chokai
DD Sagiri
CL Naka
CL Sendai
DD Asakaze
DD Hatakaze

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 23,54

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 3
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 18

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Siantar

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 22,54


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Hakka Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire[:D][8D][;)]

Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 22,54


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 25


Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CA Maya
CL Naka
CA Chokai
CL Sendai
CL Isuzu

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/02/42

At Rangoon his BBs sunk 2 of my AKs that were so brave to keep on unloading their goods even under direct threat of enemy BBs!
At Rabaul he landed a HUGE force...overcommitted imho[:D]( see screenshot) 1 division and the S.S.D.....probably he's going for the whole south Pacific Area...
The KB should be near Kwalajein. A Val attacked one of my subs there and considering that the KB isn't in DEI nor at Rabaul i guess he's getting ready for something there...

A huge bombardment at Palembang preceeds the landings. We won't hold the base for long.
In the meanwhile operation EAGLE goes on. Loading up a Indian Division at Madras along with some Arty pieces[;)] If i manage to get there in time he's gonna have a bad surprise[:'(]
The first 16 hurricanes are being ferried from Perth to Sosarbaja.
40 P-40s are comming from Menado tomorrow...i only hope his BBs that are approaching the base won't destroy every single fighter... i need some time!

However i think he hasn't understood what's going on yet...very good!
What i'm lacking now are PPs.....

Rabaul fell at first strike. No surprise indeed cause i've already sent to Java the INF force that was present here...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 29,33

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
CL Jintsu
DD Maikaze
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi
DD Hagikaze
DD Michishio
DD Hibiki

Allied Ships
AK Floridian, Shell hits 49, and is sunk
AK Trieste, Shell hits 11, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Palembang, at 20,55 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

3 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Fumizuki
CL Kuma, Shell hits 1
DD Matsukaze
DD Asakaze
DD Isonami
CL Natori
CA Maya
DD Amagiri
DD Sagiri
DD Shinonome
CL Naka
CA Ashigara
DD Hatakaze
DD Shirayuki
DD Shirakumo
DD Samidare
CL Isuzu
CL Sendai
CA Chokai


Allied ground losses:
497 casualties reported
Guns lost 13
Vehicles lost 3

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 37
Port hits 17
Port fuel hits 15
Port supply hits 15


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Palembang, 20,55, firing at TF 14
TF 14 troops unloading over beach at Palembang, 20,55


261 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Asagiri
DD Satsuki, Shell hits 1
DD Yugiri
PG Seisho Maru, Shell hits 2
PG Myoken Maru, Shell hits 3

Japanese ground losses:
1254 casualties reported........clearly a division!
Guns lost 6


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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rabaul

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9990 troops, 105 guns, 4 vehicles

Defending force 1650 troops, 13 guns, 2 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Rabaul base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
63 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
158 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

[Gen.Hoepner]

Ok...some more thoughts waiting for the turns to come in...

The early fall of Palembang can be a nasty trick for me. It will enable him to get his units to Java sooner than what i expected and the whole Eagle op could go to hell. However he will have to pay attention, cause i can move 100 B-17s to Batavia and destroy his oil resources there....
I hope...think..that untill Singapore holds the ground and Manila drains some more Jap units he won't be able to land at Java...not with the 16th army busy at Rabaul. I need fighters. I need good fighters asap to defend Java from his zeros. I can bring in the AVG probably, using Singapore...but i've already run dry with P-40Bs and i'm a bit confused on how to use it...if to defend Eastern India and Northern Burma or to move in into the Java gamble...
Another option could be to sail with my 3 CVs towards Oz...then move to Perth and fight there...but it's dangerous....however this idea is somehow licking my mind....let's see if i find the courage or the madness to do that[;)]

[jwilkerson]

Looks like your playing CHS which version ? You might check when you can upgrade some Hudsons to beauforts - they are nasty. Also Carriers West is great option if you know KB is East, but timeframe is far enough out that you can't be sure at this point. If you will build hedgehog at Soerabaja then AVG there is logical component, every decent plane you have there is logical component ... P38s are nasty as well - and you should be able to get the few of them that exist over there in time.
Nit pick all the resource/oil points you can - try to spread him out - he can't defend them all - as you say.

[Gen.Hoepner]

we're playing the stock scenario on the latest AB's map mod, so no p-38s around for the next 10 months[:'(]

i'll try something really aggressive...but the risk is enourmous...if he wants to go for India i'm toasted

[doktorblood]

GH .. You changed your icon! Is this your actual, RL visage gracing your posts?

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: doktorblood

GH .. You changed your icon! Is this your actual, RL visage gracing your posts?

Yes it's me, 3 years ago[:D]

But the other one was my face too...just cut and pasted over a Rommel portrait, but it's actually still me[:'(]

[doktorblood]

Lol ... Are you wearing a Toga in this photo? You look like you could be in that TV series. Rome!

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: doktorblood

Lol ... Are you wearing a Toga in this photo?

No, was just a sweatshirt tied up in that way because it just more cool than put it simply on your shoulders[:D]

However i was in an environement that could easily worth a Toga ( a fantastic parc of a villa( not mine unluckly), in front of a riff in Sardinia)

[jwilkerson]

The first shot was him on duty - this is him on R&R !