Gen.Hoepner vs. Hawker, Mare Nostrum

[Gen.Hoepner]

I really don't think Java could be held till mid-summer. Without air cover Java is almost lost. However he will need more units and lots of bombardment runs to burn my 250k supplies stocked. So, probably...mid May i'd say.
I do not consider this a defeat. My goal wasn't holding Java ad libitum. My goal was delaying him and possibly hurt his naval assets. It's clear that i've not succeded in the latter, but he's been delayed: that's for sure!
More Wildcats? I've already placed all my wildcats at Java. Just few marine squadrons are in the pacific.
The Hurricanes have already been evacuated the last turn. They've done something against the Oscars, but zeros are really too much to handle for them.
Same for Ducth planes.
Gotta admit that Hawker played this campaign wisely. He has been also a bit lucky ( weather, dude torpedos etc), but i belive he's winning with merit and i'm losing with honour[;)]

How many VPs for Java with all those troops? Do not know sincerly. Probably he will go somewhere between 16.000 and 20.000....so i'll need to do something in the next 6 months.

[Arstavidios]

In a few months it will be your turn to start kicking Japanese butt.
The point in the first few months with the allies is to delay the Japanese as much as possible while minimising your own losses.

[mc3744]

Actually Hurricane's are not so bad vs. Zero's, you only have to wait for the bonus to wear out. Save them for May.
I've shot down hundreds of Zero's with Australian Hurricane's in other games. I have a squadron at 180 kills, it's July '42 and it has just been upgraded to Spit's.
Not before April however.

[Gen.Hoepner]

03/14/42

This day was the final judgment. There's no way to fight, nor on sea, nor in the air. I ordered the ships survived from yesterday air attack to go ahead and try to attack Batavia harbour. 1 Britihs TF and 1 USN TF...a disaster.
Not a single good hit on japanese ships. Not a single torpedo. While my sailors got surprised many many times...losses are awesome!
Look at the CA/CLs lost ships panell.....[:(]
Then my 4Es tried to engage his CVs...but they went for his BBs instead...[:@]...got mauled again.
Seems that the allied iron will be forming the new Emperor's throne [:(]

What can i do?..............many things[:D]
Allied fanboys out there...do not lose your head! GH is still here and ready to fight till last men, last bullet, last sip of blood!

BANZAI![;)]



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Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 20,60

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 2
BB Haruna
BB Hiei, Shell hits 3
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 1
BB Nagato, Shell hits 2
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 1
BB Ise, Shell hits 3
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 4
CA Atago, Shell hits 1
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 1
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
CL Jintsu
CL Natori
CL Kuma
DD Nowaki, Shell hits 2
DD Hagikaze
DD Michishio
DD Samidare
DD Akatsuki
DD Hibiki
DD Shinonome
DD Asagiri

Allied Ships
CA Exeter, Shell hits 2
CL Achilles, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Enterprise, Shell hits 2
CL Dragon, Shell hits 1
CL Dauntless
CL Mauritius
CL Marblehead
CLAA Caledon
CLAA Columbo
DD Clark


6,000 yards...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 20,60

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
BB Nagato
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 1
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
CA Atago
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
CL Jintsu
CL Natori
CL Kuma, Shell hits 2
DD Nowaki
DD Hagikaze
DD Michishio
DD Samidare, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Akatsuki
DD Hibiki
DD Shinonome
DD Asagiri

Allied Ships
CA Portland
CA Australia
CA Canberra
CLAA Ceres, Shell hits 1
CL Detroit
CL Concord
DD Balch, Shell hits 1
DD Alden
DD Barker
DD Bulmer

8,000 yards...the second TF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 20,60


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Walrus: 2 destroyed
SOC-3 Seagull: 3 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 1
BB Haruna, Shell hits 1
BB Hiei, Shell hits 4
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 3
BB Nagato, Shell hits 2
BB Fuso, Shell hits 2
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 1
BB Ise, Shell hits 3
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 3
CA Atago
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano, Shell hits 1
CL Jintsu
CL Natori
CL Kuma
DD Nowaki
DD Hagikaze
DD Michishio
DD Samidare, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Akatsuki
DD Hibiki
DD Shinonome
DD Asagiri

Allied Ships
CA Exeter, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Achilles, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CL Enterprise, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Dragon, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Mauritius, Shell hits 4
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
CLAA Caledon
CLAA Columbo, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Clark, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

The brits got surprised at 4,000 yards....[:@]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Batavia at 20,60


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Walrus: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 4
BB Haruna, Shell hits 6
BB Hiei, Shell hits 2
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 6
BB Nagato, Shell hits 5
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 2
BB Ise, Shell hits 1
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1
CA Atago
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 3, on fire
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
CL Jintsu
CL Natori
CL Kuma
DD Nowaki
DD Hagikaze
DD Michishio
DD Samidare, on fire
DD Akatsuki
DD Hibiki
DD Shinonome
DD Asagiri

Allied Ships
CA Portland, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Australia, Shell hits 1
CA Canberra, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CLAA Ceres, Shell hits 2
CL Detroit, Shell hits 2
CL Concord
DD Balch, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
DD Alden, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
DD Barker, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Bulmer, Shell hits 11, and is sunk


The americans made the same mistake[:(]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Batavia at 20,60

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Hyuga
DD Hibiki
DD Michishio
DD Nowaki
DD Asagiri
DD Shinonome
DD Akatsuki
DD Hagikaze

Allied Ships
SS Swordfish

DUDE TORP[:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@]

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Day Air attack on TF, near Batavia at 20,60

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
Ki-27 Nate x 27
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 15

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 3
B-17E Fortress x 47
LB-30 Liberator x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed, 14 damaged
Ki-27 Nate: 8 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 3 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 9 destroyed, 29 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Hyuga
CA Atago


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Ground combat at Tjilitjap

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 35776 troops, 300 guns, 7 vehicles

Defending force 1042 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 75 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tjilitjap base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
140 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
1750 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

he's getting closer.....




Will only the US CA/CLs come back or also the British ones?

[Tom Hunter]

The allies have a problem in the early war naval gunnery battles. If they send larger TFs not all the ships fire, and if they send smaller TFs the Japanese ships gang up on them and shoot them up.

I am trying building a TF of British ships with high night combat XP, hopefully that will work.

I think the air battle over Java rates, but I am not convinced the shipping losses are worth it.

[Sneer]

in my naval combat australian CAs had excellent performance against Japan CA

[mc3744]

Can you post the Intel screen?

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/15/42

Storms over Batavia forced him to abort the bombing mission over Sosarbaja...i know tomorrow we'll experience the thunder!

However, i'm not complaining. VPs are sill 2-1 for him. ( sorry...intel screen on next post).
He will still need to sweat to get Sosarbaja. That's sure!
My bombers are still flying and what remains of my fighters force is still willing to shoot down as many zeros as possible!

Baby KB spotted near Canton Island. No worries! My ships are already moving away unseen[;)] and if he comes closer to Palmyra he's gonna risk some important assets[8D]

What else?
As a long time japanese player i still think the Java campaign wasn't a disaster. Probably the last attempt of British and American BBs and CA/CLs was a mistake...but i still think i got unlucky: not a single hit seems a bit odd to me.
If i had not fought for Java by this time he will be roaming with his CVs in the Pacific or in the Bengal bay, while he still needs to committ the whole Combined Fleet in SRA-DEI...which is already a marginal victory imho!

[Gen.Hoepner]

I think the air battle over Java rates, but I am not convinced the shipping losses are worth it.

Nor am i tom.
But i really thought i could do something better...a japanese CL/CA badly damaged...a torp in a BB...something like that!...i didn't sink not even a DD[:(]...and the british ships were very experienced at night....

[Gen.Hoepner]

I'm really late this morning!!!!

Just a fast report

We striked Balikapan with 10 Liberators and managed to damage a ML.
HE came with another wave of fighters and bombers. My guys again fought bravely, but enemy fighters were simply too much!
I'm not giving up however. Placed some more fighters in the 2 AFs around Sosarbaja, from where i'll LRCAP. I won't run away!
Last man standing match[:D]
I thank god for all those f4f replacements[;)]

the 2nd UK division arrived at Karachi today[:'(]

...com'on: it's not that bad as it looks!

03/16/42

Day Air attack on Balikpapan , at 31,64


Allied aircraft
LB-30 Liberator x 10


Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
ML Yaeyama, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x LB-30 Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
3 x LB-30 Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 101
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 24
Ki-21 Sally x 175
Ki-49 Helen x 41
Ki-46-II Dinah x 8

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
Wirraway x 1
P-40B Tomahawk x 8
P-40E Warhawk x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 13 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 32 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 35 destroyed
Wirraway: 4 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 9 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 23 destroyed
B-26B Marauder: 1 destroyed
LB-30 Liberator: 10 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 2 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 4 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 3 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 7 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 3 destroyed
Hudson I: 1 destroyed
Catalina I: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
210 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Airbase hits 34
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 194

[Gen.Hoepner]

Intel screen

[Gen.Hoepner]

Few thoughts.

India isn't that undefended. I checked and there are already 1300 APs there. Think in one month there will be 2000.
Already sending fragments of British units from Sosarbaja to Karachi( i'll be able to rebuilt the 18th UK div, one Indian Tank Bde, 4 artillery units and few minor indian units).
Karachi is well built and the british air power is undamaged.

China looks good. He's advancing towards Sian but i have 2400 APs around that city and he will need something more than 4000 APs to take it. He has 15 units involved near Changsha so i think i've basically led him to a standstill point.( i've even sorrounded 2 japanese units south of Changsha[8D].

Oz is well defended. Soon both Cairns/Cooktown and Darwin will become nails in the japanese external perimeter.

Canton Island, Palmyra, Johnston Is. and Christmas Is. are safe for the moment. He would need a major operation with at least 4 divisions to take one of these strongpoints.

After Java where can he go? Well...if i was him i'd probably go for China, where the Japs still have the chances of advancing and conquering cities and industrial centers. But he's lost the initial momentum and now it won't be that easy....

Will be interesting to see where will he attack next, but now he still needs to reduce Java...and that will require quite a good time![;)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/17/42

The ABDA air force ceased to exist[:(]. Another massive wave of bombers, escorted by more than 100 fighters. My CAP over Sosarbaja was ridiculous[:@]....more 100 planes destroyed on the ground. This was my biggest mistake: overstacking at Sosarbaja. Really hoped to do better with my fighters....[:-]
HE now started to attack my ships in Sosarbaja Harbour...the last brave sailors unloading the last supply cargo for the Java disaster.... Those men will be remembered as heroes![&o]

85,000 Japs approached Jakarta today. Tomorrow the capital of Indonesia will fall in enemy's hands.
Now it's all on the shoulders of my brave soldiers: the fate of the war is upon them! Need time!!!!



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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 71
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 14
Ki-21 Sally x 107
Ki-49 Helen x 27

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
Wirraway x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 26 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 11 destroyed
Wirraway: 5 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 4 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 4 destroyed
LB-30 Liberator: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
84 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 86

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Day Air attack on TF, near Soerabaja at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Chaucer
AK Jalarajan
AK Empire Homer, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Empire Puma, Torpedo hits 1, on fire


No CAP at all[:@]

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

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 3
G4M1 Betty x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Edgar Luckenbach, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Edward Luckenbach, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Selma City, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

[mc3744]

The situation is not exactly looking good [:-] ... If I may say so [:'(]

You think too much as a Jap Fanboy ... basically you don't give a damn about your guys because they are Allies! [8|]

....... I love it when they rough you up [:D]

[Arstavidios]

With the Chinese SEAC divisions, British reinforcements, whatever fragments you save from the DEI and West Coast units India should be safe. If the Japanese wants to attack there he'll have to uncover the Pacific and leave open to an early counterattack. So I don't think it's a viable option.

[Gen.Hoepner]

The situation is not exactly looking good ... If I may say so

You think too much as a Jap Fanboy ... basically you don't give a damn about your guys because they are Allies!

....... I love it when they rough you up

[:D]

You're too cautious my friend[;)]
In my War-Philosophy, Men are just pieces on the big chess table of History. The only thing that matters is WHO will write his name in the stone-table of Honour![8D]

...and yes: i think like a Jap fanboy[:D][:D][:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/18/42

Jakarta fell today. more than 100,000 men are advancing towards Sosarbaja. My fighters are still on the Island however...I keep then moving through the remenants 3 AFs in my hands, while he keeps pounding Sosarbaja ( 40 more AFs destroyed today on the ground, but he's starting losing many planes by my Flak which has finally decided to fire sometimes[&:]

Traffic in the Pacific has been halted for the moment, due to the presence of Baby KB lurking around[:@]

I'm sending one more Australian division to India....along with some American fighters...

Thursday Island will fall tomorrow along with Kragen and Medan ( in Sumatra)

The eastern part of the Pacific can be considered safe( which is already a great achievement)

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 11
Ki-21 Sally x 122
Ki-49 Helen x 29

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed, 19 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 5 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 7 destroyed
LB-30 Liberator: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 1 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 74

[Arstavidios]

Well, the next few months will be interesting.
Do you have plans to get units out of Java?

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Arstavidios

Well, the next few months will be interesting.
Do you have plans to get units out of Java?

Absolutely NOT!

My goal remains the same: Delay Japan as long as possible. Those brave men will sacrifice themself for the cause.
It will be a blood bath, but we know since the first day that this time would have come. I just hoped my Air force could last a bit longer and my naval assets could inflict some losses to the japs....

[Gen.Hoepner]

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 11
Ki-21 Sally x 122
Ki-49 Helen x 29

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed, 19 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 5 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 7 destroyed
LB-30 Liberator: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 1 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 74






Attachment (1)

This is the best way to show how tough is to play with Japan. A day with these results should be considered a defeat by anyone, right?
Well, in terms of VPs it's still an allied victory in '42.... Those 10 planes destroyed by allied flak are compensated by those 40 allies planes left burning on the ground, while the 9 more japanese op losses need more 36 allied planes to be compensated...


However,It won't be that easy for him to keep 3 AFs( Sosarbaja,Medioen and ...."don't remember") closed at the same time. 60 Beauforts and 30 wildcats and 100 SDBs are moving around.....waiting for the good moment to come when he finally will show himself in the south of Java with his CVs or BBs.... i just need to be patient!


It's mid march...probably/hopefully JAva will hold for another month. 30 more days that i'll use to reorganize my air force and try to hurt his KB....will be a bloody spring[:)]

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

The situation is not exactly looking good ... If I may say so

You think too much as a Jap Fanboy ... basically you don't give a damn about your guys because they are Allies!

....... I love it when they rough you up

[:D]
...and yes: i think like a Jap fanboy[:D][:D][:D]

Did I tell you guys? did I? That's my man!
[:D] GH, BANZAI!!!!!.. oh wait, wrong AAR[:D]...