3x3: Latin Empire stopping Croatian Samourais

[AmiralLaurent]

(of course, this is an Allied eyes-only AAR)

Well a new war had begun in the Pacific. I'm the CINCPAC and will comment/post about my responsability area

Evening report, 7th December 1941, Pearl Harbor time

Today the Japanese military forces hit heavily Malaya with LBA raids and landings in Khota Bharu and a CV raid on Singapore that dispatched most of Force Z. Luzon was also attacked by LBA, landings and paratroopers.

In Pacific area, the main attack targetted Wake. Last report of the garrison was received at 2300, PH time, and indicated that after the island had been pounded by 4 Japanese CAs (that hit 238 men and 6 guns), Japanese troops landed, suffering 171 casualties. CD guns claimed 4 hits on a CA, 1 on a CL and 1 on a AP but none was reported on fire or heavily damaged. The last report indicated that the garrison was overwhelmed at 6 to 1 and will forced to surrender soon. Reply of the CINCPAC was to leave liberty of action to the local commander. There was no more message. Wake fell with the dozen of Marine Wildcats based here.

The only other Japanese attack in CINCPAC area was against Guam. Only the MSW Penguin was there and local people reported to them that a Japanese convoy was unloading troops on the other side of the island. The MSW captain reported it and received orders to try to escape towards Alaska.

[Fishbed]

C'est ça que j'attendais, I see the good guys took their time to reach an agreement on who will get the AAR dirty job... Well no wonder why naturally the big bunch is always given to the French, but this time I will really not complain [:D]
[;)]
Are your latin allies gonna make an appearance anytime soon too? [:)]

[AmiralLaurent]

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

Are your latin allies gonna make an appearance anytime soon too?

I believe so. We are still much not knowing what Japan will do, and so what we must do... still discussing a lot.

Here is my first set of instructions given to my forces:

CINCPAC Memorandum 1, Pearl Harbor, 19411207:

The above Command will lead operations in the following area: everywhere east from a line starting from New Zealand (included) to Aleutians (included). Noumea and nearby islands are included in this command, Solomons and Rabaul are not.

Given the fact that the Japanese Army seems to be more powerful in the current Japanese political sphere, and that KB, or at least a strong CV TF, is off Singapore, the Pacific theater will probably be quiet for a time.

Main threats are Japanese submarines, a possible CV TF raiding sealanes or covering Wake Island to ambush an USN CV (only half of the Vals available to KB were used against Singapore) and small landing convoys.

The first goal of the Allied forces in this area will be to build a forward warning with patrol planes, to chase Japanese submarines, especially those with Glens and to start preparing strong defensive positions in the Pacific. Also part of the forces of the Command will be sent to Australia or India to support these theaters. Most Allied ships won't leave port until the position of Japanese CVs is better known.

Here are the precise orders given this turn:

New Zealand: all bases were given orders to expand fortifications, Auckland will also expand port. Hudsons were ordered to fly naval search in Auckland, to train elsewhere. Three 7000-ton AK load fuel in Wellington and will bring it to Suva under escort by a PG, other AK from this port will sail to USA, as will do all transports and two PG from Auckland. Both CL from Auckland were sent to Suva.

New Caledonia: the local base force receives orders to build fortifications and will receive reinforcements. VMR-252 arrived from Suva with 12 C-47s, just to have an AC symbol in the base. Two AK leave the port for Luganville and will load all fuel and supplies there to bring it back to Noumea. The AP was sent to Tongatapu (see below).

Fiji: all troops will be gathered in Suva, and receive order to march to it and to prepare for it. Fortifications will be expanded in Suva. The RAF BF in Tongatapu will be brought here as soon as the AP from Noumea arrives. The convoy heading for Suva will go there and unload, then go tu Upoulu (NW of Pago-Pago) and load troops here, all are also preparing for Suva.

Pago-Pago: the local BF was allowed to receive reinforcements and ordered to build fortifications. The BF of Palmyra and Canton will be brought here.

Johnston Island: the local BF will hold it and will build fortifcations too. The TF of the Lexington, Enterprise and Indianapolis will gather south of the atoll.

Midway: forts are built, the SS Argonaut will lay a minefield here and return to PH. The SS Trout will patrol W of the atoll.

Wake: one submarine was sent N of the atoll (on the path to Tokyo), another south (toward Kwajalein)

Guam: the MSW Penguin will try to escape in the direction of Alaska.

Hawaii: the 9 American submarines in the area sailed west, 6 will form a patrol line on both sides of Bonin, 1 will go NW Kwajalein, other (shorter range) will patrol near Midway and Johnston. The AVD sailing to Hawai was diverted to Palmyra. All fighters were ordered to fly CAP, all bombers and PBY to fly naval search, 5 VP left for Canton, 2 will continue to Australia, 3 will go to Noumea, Suva and Pago-Pago.
Forts will be built in PH and Lahaina, the only two bases that will be defended.
South Pacific HQ receive orders to prepare for Noumea, North for Anchorage.

Alaska: Kodiak will be undefended and troops here are preparing for Dutch Harbor, as is one of the RCT of Anchorage. This one will move as soon as the troops from Nome arrived there by rail or road. The PBY of Kodiak moved to Dutch Harbor immediatly.

Canada: forts are expanded in Pricne Rupert, the port in Vancouver. All AC will fly naval search.

West Coast: all base will build fortifications. Fighter units were ordered to fly CAP, bombers to fly naval search or training (local supply transport). Four modern DD left San Francisco for San Diego and will join Saratoga, that is waiting for his air complement to be complete to sail. 3 ASW groups of oldest DD will patrol off Seattle, SF and San Diego. No orders were given to ground units yet.

[Gen.Hoepner]

Hi, I'm in command of the British forces and the Chinese ones in this war.

As you've seen Japan decided to use its best weapon against me and my poor Singapore fleet. Z force has been annihilated and the overall situation in Malaya looks grim.
I face Hawker and i know him fairly well: he's gonna bomb the hell out of Singa! So i'mnot going to reinforce Singapore with men, planes or ships. My guys in Malaya will do their best to slow down the japanese steamroller, but i've already asked to the ABDA and USAFE command some subs to evacuate fragments of my units when their fate will be decieded.

With the KB near Malaya it can mean Japan wants to speed up the operations in this area and possibly going for India after the fall of Burma, so i'm acting as consequence: the plans for a defence of India have been delivered to London for the final approvation. Let's hope Mr. Churchill will sign them[;)]

In China, with this ugly map, i consider the North of China almost undefendable. Anyway i'll try to act as usual: flexible and mobile defence.

Burma...well...burma is a damned problem with a railway running through it. As for Malaya: i will play a flexible defence, but i'll be ready to move back my units to India if the situation will look desperate.

[String]

Actually, on this map, Yenen is quite hard to take. The original japanese forces in the north aren't sufficient if you move down 3 of the 4 units north of Yenen too. (leave 1 in north so japs cant outflank you undectected).

From Homan it's easy to strike at the crossroads and beyond when the japs concentrate elsewhere. Changsha is the decision point. It has clear terrain and if the japs undercommit there you might have the chance to shock attack them out.

[Gen.Hoepner]

That's interesting Roman..... so you're basically sayin' the enemy is throwing everything he has against me????[X(]
Tell me: how this statement could make me smile?[:D]

Well, at least Amiral will be busy attacking while our 2 butts will be kicked out of the map[:)]

[AmiralLaurent]

ORIGINAL: Roman Jr.

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
Well, at least Amiral will be busy attacking while our 2 butts will be kicked out of the map[:)]

But will he be busy enough, that is the question. He mentioned that he intends to keep all of the PH battleships either in PH or at the West Coast at least until their first upgrade. Are those BBs really so bad that they're useless for attacks even if there's no KB or serious LBA around?

Actually I sent four BB to West Coast and kept 4 on PH just in case. I recalled Cvs to PH to complete/convert air groups before using them. I sent a force of 4 CA and 3 CL + DDs south and will use this to counter small Japanese landings in the Pacific.

As for attacking... I can plan to take back Wake but other than that I will be limited to raiding, and in both cases slow BB will be useless. They move only 3 hexes a phase at full speed and have not enough AA at this stage to resist even a weak LBA (that may easily be 54 Nell/Betties with 27 Zeroes...).

My main target in my area will be Japanese shipping if I manage to find some in range. But my main goal is to be the "arsenal of democracy" and to send both of you as much troops, ships and AC I can. First reinforcements are on the way.

On another note, I have also prepared Soviet troops in case. My plan will be an invasion from Manchouoko from Iman with a fighting retreat elsewhere. I used this plan against moses in a test PBEM and almost succeeded, despite knowning far less the combat model than now and having never played Soviet before. I have made some changes and I am quite confident I can do it.

[Gen.Hoepner]

Plus consider the fact that those old BBs have exp ratings that suck!!!
I've tried to use them in a very aggressive way with Hawker in Java: if you don't train them up they won't put a single hit into enemy ships!

I'm with Amiral here Oleg, He will have to costantly raid the advanced jap positions and kill what he can, but it would not be a good idea to lose our CVs so early. You and me we'l have to slow them down as much as we can and probably we'll be the first who will be in conditions to start a limited counteroffensive,

[Fishbed]

Why didn't you give General another chance in the East Indies? Fear another Java gangbang? [;)][:D]

btw General didn't tell you yet but please be sure we your dear supporters in the Mare Nostrum game are sharing your unfinite pain about the Java case - all of us are more or less culprit by encouraging you in going on with your initial plan... [:(]
Now that Ive apologized, let's give you some more of our brilliant cunning ideas for this upcoming game [:D] [:'(]

[AmiralLaurent]

I personnaly thought at start that the Java plan was a bad idea but its results were very good. If I remember correctly almost the whole Southern Army was needed on Java until the end of May 1942. The Gen's error was to try to use old BBs, as he said himself, but otherwise he traded troops for time and was IMOO the winner of the trade.

I have myself always been impressed with the Gen's successes in China and so I am quite confident that he will win victories on Asia land, so he has the perfect command to do that.

[Gen.Hoepner]

Roman, in Java i've tried to use my old BBs against the jap CVs....i think we've had some 5 meeting engagements with our TFs....my BBs barely didn't get a single hit into enemy's ships[:(] It was depressing. You first need to train their crews against soft targets, then, after few upgrades you can use them more aggressively.
We've already lost Z force...i would not like to lose our PH fleet...

Anyway, it's Amiral's job and i do not interfer[;)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

I personnaly thought at start that the Java plan was a bad idea but its results were very good. If I remember correctly almost the whole Southern Army was needed on Java until the end of May 1942. The Gen's error was to try to use old BBs, as he said himself, but otherwise he traded troops for time and was IMOO the winner of the trade.

I have myself always been impressed with the Gen's successes in China and so I am quite confident that he will win victories on Asia land, so he has the perfect command to do that.

Yes, 10 divisions with every single arty regiments available and still it took him till 30th may!!
I used my BBs in a very stupid way...i did not think they were so bad!. Anyway:i've gained much much time with that operation and that was worth more than the 3000 ground troops VPs lost.

[String]

They make great invasion killers if the japs don't bring their carriers to play. But against the japanese surface fleet I'd use british ships with their superior night exp and torpedo quality

Night Time Surface Combat at 34,71

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CVL Zuiho, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Taiyo
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 8, on fire
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Murasame, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Ikazuchi, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Danae, Shell hits 1
CL Dragon, Shell hits 1
CLAA Ceres
CLAA Columbo
DD Kortenaer
DD Piet Hein
DD Tenedos
DD Thracian
DD Express, Shell hits 1
DD Isis
DD Jupiter

[:D]

edit:

Anyway, in case of the american old BB's it's imperative to get them into a small light scale night action before any serious commitments, if they are to be used in a surface combat role. A single night action with ships hit will bring their night exp up to 50's which is quite good already.

[Fishbed]

Yes, 10 divisions with every single arty regiments available and still it took him till 30th may!!
I used my BBs in a very stupid way...i did not think they were so bad!. Anyway:i've gained much much time with that operation and that was worth more than the 3000 ground troops VPs lost.

I do not say the opposite boss [:D] It is just that you gambled and lost your BB also partly because of our ill-advising. Next time I'll seat and watch rather [;)]

[AmiralLaurent]

The American BB are slow, not very well protected by AA, have low experience and are worth a lot of points. And they won't be replaced if they are lost. Their only use at this time would be to bombard Japanese bases, but they will have to spend 2 days in torpedo range on the way in and 2 other on the way out. So either there are few Japanese aircraft and it is not worth the effort or there are many and they may sink one of the BB.

Not that USN won't be active, but I will use a TF of CA/CL/DD to chase Japanese shipping and eventually bomb atolls, under cover of CVs.

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

The American BB are slow, not very well protected by AA, have low experience and are worth a lot of points. And they won't be replaced if they are lost. Their only use at this time would be to bombard Japanese bases, but they will have to spend 2 days in torpedo range on the way in and 2 other on the way out. So either there are few Japanese aircraft and it is not worth the effort or there are many and they may sink one of the BB.

Not that USN won't be active, but I will use a TF of CA/CL/DD to chase Japanese shipping and eventually bomb atolls, under cover of CVs.

I do agree.

[AmiralLaurent]

The game has been so slow. It's now 11 Dec 1941 and the first Japanese activity had been detected (outside Guam and Wake) in my area, a submarine 300 miles SE of Tarawa.

And one Allied pilot scored a victory. The hero if the LT C Alford of.... VP-102, a PBY unit based in the PI, that shot down an A5M4 Claude that was too curious.

I continue to send troops, supplies, fuel, ships and AC from West Coast to PH and towards Australia, while organizing the various areas.

[Gen.Hoepner]

For what concerns the British empire in SouthEast Asia, there have been some discussion with the ABDA command who strongly requested some help. At the end Mr. Churchill agreed to send the AVG to Java,via Sumatra, but with the promise to have it back before the door towards Burma gets closed by japanese advance in Malaya and Southern Burma.

In China it seems the Japanese are massing troops in the center with the clear objective to conquer Changsha and the main central chinese railine. The north of the continent seems to be quiet stable for the moment.

[AmiralLaurent]

Still little to report in my area (Pacific): base building, troop transport, supply and fuel carrying (as an usual Japanese player, I am always shocked to see how much supply and fuel are shippable from West Coast...).

My main contribution of the war to date is to send reinforcements to Australia: allready 24 PBY and 12 C-47 arrived, a B-17E group (currently reduced to 12 AC) will arrive in 2 days, 1 AR, 1 AD and 1 AV are sailing from PH.

In my own area, submarines are sailing to patrol in the triangle Japan-Palau-Kwajalein. An AVD will arrive tomorrow in Baker Island and PBY will be based here to provide early warning (it usually works well: when the AVD is sinking, the enemy is nearby).
The CA Pensacola is sailing north from Suva and will cruise in Gilbert waters, ready to pounce any small invasion TF.
Two CVs are in PH, completing and upgrading air groups, the third is coming from West Coast.

Here is a map of the PI-Borneo area: