Gen.Hoepner vs. Hawker, Mare Nostrum

[Gen.Hoepner]

Probably Yes^_^

I have at the moment 32 Hurricanes,70 P-40E,26 P-40B and something like 100 different ducth fighters

While the Java garrison is so composed:

Troops assigned to the defence of Java. Last man standing match;-)
For a grand total of 1200/1300 Assalut points.

INFANTRY:
Divisions:

-18th UK Division
-23rd Indian Division

Regiments:

-2th KNIL Regiment
-4th KNIL Regiment
-6th KNIL Regiment
-Barisan Regiment

Bns:

-Lark Force Battallion
-Sparrow Forc Battallion
-Gull Force Battallion
-Mollucche Garrison Battallion
-1st Timor Garrison Battallion
-Kendari Garrison Battallion
-1st WS Garrison Battallion
-SouthEast Borneo Garrison Battallion
-Prajoda Garrison Battallion


ARTILLERY:

Heavy Field Artillery:

-15th UK FA Regiment
-24th UK mnt. Arty Regiment
-A'Indian FA Regiment

Anti Aircraft Arillery:

-A-I-ld-AA-Battallion
-A-II-ld-AA-Battallion
-A-III-ld-AA-Battallion

Costal artillery:

-Batavia CD guns Battallion
-6th CD Gun Battallion
-4th CD gun Battallion

Tanks:

-3rd Carabineers Regiment


Engeneers:

13 various ducth base forces


HQs:

-ABDA HQ ( LGEN. W.C. Short )
-222nd Group RAF Air HQ

[anarchyintheuk]

Unfortunately your dutch fighters are kind of a one shot deal against KB. They do tire out those cap zeros pretty well.

[Kereguelen]

ORIGINAL: anarchyintheuk

Unfortunately your dutch fighters are kind of a one shot deal against KB. They do tire out those cap zeros pretty well.

If he employs lots of fighters against KB CAP they should be able to give his bombers the opportunity to strike. Especially if there're some 2E and 4E bombers included, against them the Zero bonus does not matter much. Any large strike may hurt KB[:D]. If hawker dares to come into striking range, throw all you have on him and don't forget the B-17s (even if they don't hit anything, they'll work wonders against CAP).

And if he puts all CV's in one TF, you may see a rather fast end of Japanese carrier power.

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/23/42

Nothing to report for today, except that 3 chinese corps reached the coast east of Canton. Swatow now is under siege:-)
I love this game[:D]

KB has been spotted again. Seems that only one big CV TF is stationed at Balikapan...waiting for what i do not know...
However...i know i cannot count much on my fighters...but even a single torpedo or a bomb can ruin Japan's day. And he'll have to decide if striking those juicy DDs,CLs,MLs,AKs and APs waiting for him at Sosarbaja or to go for the Airfields...but i have 3 different operational AFs...very close to eachother...and PTs boats and subs ready to get out of sosarbaja...
If only i could have the time to get in my CVs...but they are in southern Oz right now...too far away i guess.

Anyway...Singapore holds, Manila Holds,Ichang and China hold, Burma holds....so he doesn't have any free division to be sent to Java for the moment...i'll probably have more time[:D]

My B-17s cannot fly from AF< than level 5...they're been built however...in 1/2 weeks they should be ready.

[Kereguelen]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

My B-17s cannot fly from AF< than level 5...they're been built however...in 1/2 weeks they should be ready.

House rule? Otherwise they can fly from level 4 AF with reduced load.

[Gen.Hoepner]

yes, house rule proposed by me. 4Es need some limitations...otherwise they become too fast the queen of Asian and pacific skies Imho.
I'm also planning not to convert the 2Es into 4Es and to limit myself in the use of the monsters. It's too easy to close everything in range and if you start converting every american 2E groups you'll end up with 2000 active 4Es by 1943... and this unbalances the game too much imho

[Gen.Hoepner]

however Hawker will be away till tomorrow evening...so we gotta wait and hold the breath

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/24/42

We're back in action.

Another good turn. Jap CVs keep stationing at Balikapan. My air force in Java is ready to face the incoming slaughter. The defensive perimeter is growing stronger and with some more weeks it will be a real pain for the them to attack my positions in Java.
Singapore repulsed another frontal assault. Losses are heavy and supplies are getting low, but the morale is high and the Tommies are willing to give till their last sip of blood.
Manila...the same. Another frontal attack and another victory for the americans. Forts tand still and McHartur doesn't want to leave[:D]
China holds every single meter of ground. Ichang garrison pushed back another assault and near Homan we managed to get another 0-1 to the japs. his casualities are very high and my supplies are far from being very low. He's not using his IJAF en masse in China...which is quite strange indeed.
Burma...well he's taking forever to get to Mouleim an the chinese units attached to SE-Asia are almost at Lashio.
CVL Hermes is going to Sumatra and the whole RN is assembling at Colombo...if...if...if i manage to get the KB a little wounded....i can think about the idea of sending to Java everything i have...and force him to an early war of attrition.

What else? oh, yes..a jap sub sunk near Palmyra by my DMs mining the island.
Darwin is already well fortified. in 2 more weeks i'll be able to have here more than 1000 Assault points...if Java can hold for some time i'll probably be able to use Darwin and Timor as a hammer and Java as envil during the upcomming spring[8D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 111,88

Japanese Ships
SS I-168, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage*sinks*

Allied Ships
DM Gamble
DM Montgomery
DM Ramsay
DM Breese
DM Tracy
DM Preble
DM Pruitt
DM Sicard



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 135020 troops, 1003 guns, 525 vehicles

Defending force 89724 troops, 739 guns, 200 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3) [:D]


Japanese ground losses:
8453 casualties reported
Guns lost 149
Vehicles lost 17

Allied ground losses:
2225 casualties reported
Guns lost 43
Vehicles lost 8


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Singapore

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 116878 troops, 994 guns, 11 vehicles

Defending force 67034 troops, 481 guns, 22 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 6) [:D]


Japanese ground losses:
2306 casualties reported
Guns lost 83

Allied ground losses:
1378 casualties reported
Guns lost 51


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

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 110988 troops, 887 guns, 144 vehicles

Defending force 28934 troops, 31 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 1) [:D]


Japanese ground losses:
2205 casualties reported
Guns lost 51
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
534 casualties reported
Guns lost 8


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 50,32

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 55040 troops, 548 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 41654 troops, 275 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 [:D]


Japanese ground losses:
1665 casualties reported
Guns lost 36

Allied ground losses:
166 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

[Gen.Hoepner]

Two screenshot updates:

This is the actual Chinese front

[Gen.Hoepner]

and this is the VP status

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/25/42

And so the day has come.
The mighty DS has come out of Balikapan and is now moving towards Sosarbaja!.
The defence plan is approved by the ABDA command.
PTs leaded by DDs will go out and look for a lucky shot[:D].
Decoy single Ship TFs will spread out in the nearby waters.
A 10 DDs TF leaded by a CL will remain at Sosarbaja acting as a bait.
35 p-40 and 32 hurricanes will LRCAP over Sosarbaja along with some ducth fighters.
The bulk of ABDA air forces are at Medioen, ready to strike back!
All my subs in the area are moving...

It's all or nothing...but he's risking a lot! I risk a pair of old ships and some useless planes, while he's risking his KB!

[mc3744]

I have to admit that it sounds like a very good plan. [8D]

Not bad for a Japanese Fan boy [;)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

It's a pleasure to see you here MC[;)]

Thanks...i do not expect much, but when you have nothing important to lose it's very satisfying even only playing it[:D]
If i get lucky i'll damage the KB.
If not...i'll lose none of my capital naval or air assets in the area

[Tom Hunter]

I think your going to get your head handed to you, it's too early and the Zero bonus has too big an effect.

Nothing personal, but that is what your forces are going to look like soon.

[Gen.Hoepner]

Yes Tom...it's very probable. But what else could i do? Every chance i have to threaten, even if with VERY inferior forces, the health of the KB i'll take it! You never know...lucky is always behind the corner for those who dare[;)]
Just think that in the other match with MC at the first clash of CVs i had sunk his 2, but he managed to put a torp on Kaga with a damaged CL that survived the CV battle....Fortuna Audaces Adiuvat
On the other hand...if the KB is fully engaged in SRA...it means it's not somewhere in central pac...so in these areas i can dig and get ready for the future.

[Gen.Hoepner]

He broke my *ss[:D][:D][:D]
Tom was right[:)]...however there are 40 crack IJN pilot minus after the slaughter of today...150 vs 40 is a bad ratio, but not the worst one i've seen. He sank 5 DDs and 1 CLs that were my bait. Unluckly my P-40Es did not engage...forgot to change their range[:@]...2 bombs placed on Kaga but for no damage... c'est la vie[;)]
A bombardment TF is approaching Batavia...nothing to destroy up there however[:D]
What else can i say? Java is toasted?..not at all![:D] He still has to take Singa and Manila before facing my 1300 APs at Sosarbaja...it's a long long way[8D]
My CVs are moving towards Sidney and Perth. Few weeks and Wildcats and SDBs will be based at Java. He will have to commit his KB for a long long time here to deal with this threat and the B-17s are waiting for their strips at Java[;)]

Nothing is lost my dear allied fanboys... be confident and belive in the final victory!

HEIL...mm...no, sorry this was the other face of the moon[:D]

[Mike Solli]

First of all, keep in mind that I play the Japanese, have always played the Japanese and will always play the Japanese.[:D]

Knowing the power KB wields this early in the war, I'd look for opportunities to "hit em where he ain't". You know where KB is. The central Pacific is wide open. You have 3-4 CVs. Give them a little training. So, you may lose some planes and pilots. It doesn't matter. You may kill some Japanese planes and pilots. The planes really don't matter, but those pilots are irreplaceable. He'll never replace them with the same experience pilots ever. Every pilot you kill is a victory for you. Don't send your assets where he has 400 pilots waiting for you. Send your assets where he has 40 pilots and kill a few.

[Gen.Hoepner]

A Pair of Betty Daitai with a chutai of Zeros can easily get thorugh my CAP...no, i'm not gonna risk my CV in that way, also because now i just want to secure my first perimeter in the pacific....and also because i'm having lots of fun in Java and want to add some more ....let's say pepper[:)]
Losses are inevitable, but those guys were spendable. Darwin is already well garrisoned and as soon as i get some good Base forces it will be a hell for him in Souther SRA.... the longer Java holds, the better for the Darwin-attacking-route[8D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/27/42


Well...lost 72 planes today. He lost 42 crack KB pilots...but above all Kaga took 2 torpedoes under the belt and one more 433mm Ducth Torpedo was delivered on Yamashiro BB[:D] ( critical damage)
The day started with his nasty bombers bombing Sosarbaja Harbour,...he sank 4 more DDs, 3 Subs and 1 CL...but suffered heavily from my flak...27 vals destroyed[8D]
Then we striked back...and the last AVG planes did a great job covering my little unarmed bombers....but courage and gamble paid this time!
Now the KB is wounded and will have to go back at Balikapan[;)] hoping not to lose 2 capital ships[:'(][:'(]
First objective of the Eagle operation is gained[&o]

Very good.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 43
D3A Val x 135
B5N Kate x 108

Allied aircraft
Hawk 75A x 12
CW-21B Demon x 1
Hurricane II x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
D3A Val: 23 destroyed, 56 damaged[:D][:D][:D]
B5N Kate: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hawk 75A: 8 destroyed
CW-21B Demon: 1 destroyed
Hurricane II: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 11 destroyed

Allied Ships
SS KVIII, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
CL Sumatra, Bomb hits 16, on fire, heavy damage
DD Isis, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
ML Rigel, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AS Colombia, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Witte de With, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Piet Hein, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
SS KVII, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


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

Port hits 11
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 22,69

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 58

Allied aircraft
T.IVa x 9
Martin 139 x 14
Hudson I x 12
Beaufort V-IX x 8
P-40B Tomahawk x 8
P-40E Warhawk x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
T.IVa: 5 destroyed
Martin 139: 4 destroyed, 6 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 5 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 7 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CV Kaga
BB Yamashiro, Torpedo hits 1
BB Hyuga
BB Ise

[Gen.Hoepner]

...good good...very good.
Now these two fishes on Akagi shoul give Java some more time. It's also true that my air assets are just gone, but i really hope to manage to get my CV-WildCats up there in time. Closing down Sosabaja AF won't be enough for him cause i have 3 operational level-4-AFs there and many engeneers...and above all my Flak is doing a grat Job!
With some luck he will go back licking his wounds and i'll be able to move more forces to Sosarbaja. RN is ready at Colombo. As soon as the American CVs will be on the upper west of of Australia the british BB will move to I.O.
India will be left undefended, i know...but without all those forcs i brought to Java it will be an easy target anyhow...
Now my problem is called AVG. Do not have enough plane for it. 2 operational at the moment[:@]...and i cannot divide it because Japan has occupied every single slot!

...but now it's Hawker turn of taking important decisions...let's see what will he do