Gen.Hoepner vs. Hawker, Mare Nostrum

[Gen.Hoepner]

And this is the condition of the USSR fighter air force.

Not that bad....at least i'll have some numbers on my side

[Tom Hunter]

It's actaully the strongest airforce the Allies have until some time in late 42.

I am still concerned that Mogami will try to get his auto victory in Russia so I have been looking at the ariforce there and moving it around. It is a powerful force, used properly I believe it can make a big difference in the outcome even in the Lunacy game where the Soviets cannot re-deploy.

[Arstavidios]

I think the Russian army is more important than Vladivostok. Vladivostok can be turned into a death trap by the Japanese, moreover Russian units will be cut from their supply sorces even though they have large stocks.

The Russians have lots of replacements and unlike the Chinese they have some supply to actually use them, so you have to keep them fighting as long as possible so that they can kill as many Japanese troops as possible.

Just my 0.02 EUR though

[Gen.Hoepner]

04/09/42

Again nothing special to report.

a total of 39 units spotted in Java...the whole Japanese army is marching towards my brave boys....gonna be bloody[:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

Yes, i'll defentely do my best to keep the Red Army Alive as long as possible....but it won0t be easy..ya know[;)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

It's actaully the strongest airforce the Allies have until some time in late 42.

I am still concerned that Mogami will try to get his auto victory in Russia so I have been looking at the ariforce there and moving it around. It is a powerful force, used properly I believe it can make a big difference in the outcome even in the Lunacy game where the Soviets cannot re-deploy.

Yes, the problem is: how to use properly those short legged fighters? It'snot that easy...Hawker will surely send 400+ bombers, escorted by the bulk of the IJAF/IJNF....i'm still puzzled. Probably the best way to go is not to mass every egg in the same basket. Try to remain flexible and be able to move in and out fresh and depleted squadrons....but again...wont be easy

[Arstavidios]

The Russian army is about as strong as the Kwantung army. The probem is that you have a long border to defend and you can't be strong everywhere.

[Gen.Hoepner]

Well...37 units on my southern border can mean only he's going for Vladivostock. I won't overcommit there immediately. Don't wanna be caught off guard somewhere else. The word will remain the same as for China: flexibility. Both with air and ground assets.
Still wonder if a chinese counterattack so early in the game is possible...[&:]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/10/42

Yes, the day has come! SOVIET UNION HAS BEEN ACTIVATED!!!!
Everything is on the move there....we have 30 days to get ready...on the 10th of May the Japanese will launch their attack!!!!....

We started the operation to annihilated those two sorrounded brigades in China...88-1 the odds of today...not bad even if the casualities are on his side as expected.



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Ground combat at 44,39

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 45678 troops, 382 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 11687 troops, 89 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 88 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
377 casualties reported
Guns lost 11

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/11/42


Another Jap Sub went down ( SS I-1 ) today[:)].

35 units are advancing towards Medioen. Soon the final day for Java will be written.
In Russia i'm getting ready with my fireestinguisher groups[:D]...and i'm reorganizing my air force, trying to defend but also be able to attack somewhere...29 days to go!!!!

I'm both exited and scared about russia...



We tried to shock attack those two Bdes of yesterday...again...Odds on my part but higher casualities on my side[:(][:@]
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Ground combat at 44,39

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 45208 troops, 371 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 11648 troops, 86 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 83 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Allied ground losses:
291 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/12-13/42


In the last two days he managed to ambush me twice both in Burma and in China. I lost a total of 11 planes in these two days in A2A combat vs. his only one zero... but however i'm not complaining cause the IBC situation looks very good.
We keep hitting those 2 Ind.Bdes sorrounded south of Changsha...sooner or later those 25,000 japs will be destroyed![8D]

The assault for Java will probably begin in two days. He clearly wants to finish the Java campaign before the Russian countdown begins...while i need to pinn him there as long as possible. He declered he has 5,000 APs in Java...let's see how much i can hold. In the meanwhile Sosarbaja is daily hit by 400 enemy Bombers....[:o]

New Caledonia is a fortress. In 2/3 months the base will be ready to launch some offensive operations from there.

The problem with my CVs isn't solved....anyone has an idea?!?!?!?!?![:@]
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Ground combat at 44,39

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 44620 troops, 357 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 11398 troops, 78 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 71 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
203 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Allied ground losses:
191 casualties reported
Guns lost 14

[anarchyintheuk]

It may be a waste of pps but you could always try transferring the squadron to the closest command hq.

BTW, good luck with Russia. I'm interested to see what happens.

[Gen.Hoepner]

It may be a waste of pps but you could always try transferring the squadron to the closest command hq.

You mean the Wildcat squadrons with 13 a/c instead of 27?

[mc3744]

I wish I could help you with the CV problem.
I had similar problems in the past, that's why now I never disembark or tamper with the official carrier squadrons. There's too big a risk of screwing up.

One possibility could be to take the carriers back to PH or SF and see if this works.

Even in our game some of my CVs did not upgrade to 36 fighters if not in PH or SF, even if the upgrade indicator stated that they had been upgraded. I had them in Sidney, but they did not upgrade the fighter squadron until back in the states.

It could be worth a try ... it's not like you can use them any time soon anyway [;)]

[anarchyintheuk]

My advice was based upon a time I had a fighter squadron assigned to australia command on a cv in PH stuck on 27 planes well after the reconfiguration to 36 should have happened. I assigned it to central pac, next turn it expanded. Not the same situation that you're in and its a waste of pps, but if your desparate, its about the only thing I can think of.

[Gen.Hoepner]

mmm..ok guys, thanks. I'll try to do that, even if i'm not very incline to move back my CVs...I need them if i want to counterattack somewhere while he's engaged in Russia[:(]...
But cannot do that with 13 wildcats[:D]!

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/15/42

While 40 japanese units are massing at Medioen, The KB and the Jap BBs have left Java....this means that i can try something before the final courtain comes down on Sosarbaja.....

At the same time he's pushing for Sian in China. He managed to get the forts down from 7 to 6...but guess what? Forts are back at 7[8D][:D]...i don't think he'll manage to get Sian anytime soon...and while we keep on fighting those 2 damned Japanese isolated Bdes south of Changsha ( who never give up), time is running out for Russia...we'll soon see some real action!!

Noumea is becoming a major HUB with lots of assets based there.

Everything calm in the pacific and in Burma...


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Ground combat at Sian

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 178306 troops, 1871 guns, 151 vehicles

Defending force 89112 troops, 524 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 6

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


Japanese ground losses:
5736 casualties reported
Guns lost 142
Vehicles lost 8

Allied ground losses:
1702 casualties reported
Guns lost 24


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Ground combat at 44,39

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 43974 troops, 319 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 10832 troops, 62 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 62 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
104 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
340 casualties reported
Guns lost 15

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/16/42

Another quiet day. But soon the whole map will be on fire! He's almost ready to smash my last defences in Java, while he's troops are getting nervous on the Russian borders...my defences in Russia are not ready yet, but i finally made up my mind. He's gonna attack Vladivostok. almost 40 enemy units are massing on the border, 2 hexes from Vlad. I will try to keep my flanks clear, so to be always able to keep an exit door open. My rescue army is ready at Imam.
IL-2 Sturmovicks and Pe-2s are ready to attack his ships if he dares to come too close to my coastal border. The bases for my 4Es are ready, full of supplies and AV supports. 2 Canadian fighter squadrons, 4 british suqadrons and 2 americans groups are ready to jump into Russia and give a hand to the red allied.

In China he keeps on pushing towards Sian. My defences are getting stronger and i really think i will be able to hold here.
His 2 sorrounded Bdes are really a pain in the **s!! No way to force them to surrender! I'm sending in more units to finish this hated job!

I've sent my CVs back to Pearl...let's hope that base will fix the problem[:(]

In the Aleutinas he's advanced very fast towards Ducth Harbour. I've let him do what he wanted. Now he's overextended and my B-25s will use these bases as a training field[:D]. I plan a major offensive in late summer in this northern theatre...if i manage to keep Russia alive it could be a great idea to joing the russians passing through the Aleutinas.....[8D]


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Day Air attack on TF, near Atka Island at 98,38


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Shinai Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/18/42

Yes, the final mortal combat for Java has begun. 280,000 yellow devils started the initial bombardments today at Medioen. This is the last allied fortified position before Sosarbaja. We really have few hopes of holding the ground for a resonable time. He has simply put everything he had here[:(]. Altough my men are very well supplied, the costant bombings have reduced a lot their spirit....it will only be a matter of "when" and not "if"....those guys are doomed.

But, we're not giving up.This incredible concentration of men and various assets that Japan has put in Java, leaves me some space to move and advance in other theatres.

In the Aleutinas today our B-25s finally laid their first bomb on a Japanese MSW. A good start i'd say. Soon more planes will join the northern theatre, which is taking in my mind a precious place....

In Southern Pacific, japanese activities have ceased completely, except for some sub recon missions near Brisbane...nothing to be really worried about.
Noumea is becomming a great base! Soon we'll start thinking about an early advance in the Solomons...

China and Burma are well supplied and well defended. The front is everywhere stable, except for Sian, where he keeps massing men...but i'm not that worried.

Russia...oh well...Russia remains a big question Mark.



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Day Air attack on TF, near Atka Island at 98,38


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 1, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage[:D]

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
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Sub attack near Batavia at 20,60

Japanese Ships
MSW Togo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Wa 9
MSW Himejima Maru
MSW Misago Maru #11
MSW Tomozono Maru #3
MSW Senyu Maru #2
MSW W.13
MSW W.9
MSW W.7

Allied Ships
SS O21


GOOD BOY!!!![8D]

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Ground combat at Madioen

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 219140 troops, 2348 guns, 64 vehicles[X(][X(][X(][X(][X(][X(][X(][X(][X(][X(]

Defending force 88610 troops, 983 guns, 508 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
121 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/20/42

20 days to go for Russia...

Today the battle for Java started.
The Japs are pushing hard, supported by hundreds of bombers. The outnumber us 4-1, but managed only to pull down a fort ( from 6 to 5). Our losses however are very high and it will be difficult to do much better than that...
His bombers are having however hard times over Sosarbaja...today 12 jap bombers were destroyed by my flak[:D]

In China the attacks against the 2 japanese sorrounded Bdes have started back again. Now i can count on one more tank unit. However, despite the odds, we managed only to obtain a 1-1 kill ratio[:(].
I sent in support some wellingtons, b-17s and some IL-4s from Changsha. He sent in 18 zeros to intercept my bombers.he managed to score 4 hits on my old russian planes, but the fortress managed to defend themself really well and the jap bdes were badly hit.


In the Aleutinas our B-25s found and attacked 2 APs that were moving troops back to Attu Island...4 bombs found their targets and now he has to worry about this sector of the map, cause i'm growing faster than him here!


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Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 52
Ki-21 Sally x 236
Ki-48 Lily x 91
Ki-49 Helen x 54
Ki-46-II Dinah x 8

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 3 destroyed, 11 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
PBY Catalina: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
285 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 37
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 300

12 Sallies destroyed by flak fire[8D]

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Day Air attack on 12th Ind. Brigade, at 44,39

The sorrounded Bdes....


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
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Day Air attack on 12th Ind. Brigade, at 44,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 36
IL-4c x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
IL-4c: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
151 casualties reported[;)]
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x IL-4c bombing at 6000 feet
36 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 96,36

See map...

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 8


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Shirashika Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Shinai Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
73 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
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Ground combat at Madioen

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 286720 troops, 2755 guns, 642 vehicles

Defending force 94833 troops, 974 guns, 509 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 5

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5)


Japanese ground losses:
8715 casualties reported
Guns lost 218
Vehicles lost 24

Allied ground losses:
5007 casualties reported
Guns lost 88
Vehicles lost 15


OUCH! my losses are terrible!!![:(]

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Ground combat at 44,39

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 45327 troops, 291 guns, 76 vehicles

Defending force 10522 troops, 50 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 159 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
305 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
331 casualties reported
Guns lost 11
Vehicles lost 1


These bastards japanese never give up!!!!!!!![:@]

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