Gen.Hoepner vs. Hawker, Mare Nostrum

[Gen.Hoepner]

anyway, it's a shame that Russia doesn't even have any decent CD unit....[:@]

[Arstavidios]

You should have at least acouple of weeks before those units in Port arthur reach the front.

[Gen.Hoepner]

06/22/42

Hawker has made a very good fake!
At Canton there are 40 units, yes, but most of them are SNLF and Naval guard units!!!![:@] That means that the divisions of the Southern Army Area are at port Hartur...so in Russia![:(]

Well, at least this means that, part from the 2nd division at PM, there are no big units in the pacific[:)]

Zeros appeared again in China, shooting down 7 aircobras. Time to get back and stop training i guess....

In Russia the situation looks horrible. I do not know how to handle the south against his 10BBs, hundreds of bombers and zeros and what appears to be a strenght of 30 divisions...what i can do is to gain time...more time...Summer will be decisive. I need to distract some of his crack units from Russia....

1 empty AK coming back from Noumea to Sydney was torpedoed by a jap sub and sunk. We need some ASW in this area i guess...

KB is moving back to Japan from the Aleutinas...some fuel wasted[:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/23/42

Hawker told me he has 28 divisions in Manchuria. A gran total of. 1,000,000 men[X(][X(][X(]

How can i hope to stop him?

Ok, here's my plan:

feeding 1,000,000 men moving and fighting isn't exactly the easiest task to accomplish. I have 96 B-17s and 96 B-24s, plus 128 B-25, 64 B-26 50 Wellingtons and 300 Russian medium bombers based in Russia ( my fighter force here is something around 600 fighters). I'll use them to burn as much supplies as possible hitting his AF and sometimes his resources centeres and HI. If he wants russia, well the price to pay will be a deserted Manchuria!

Tomorrow another BB run will come in. No hopes here[:@]

Another Ak was torpedoed and sunk near Noumea....[:o]

Marines and Australian units are getting ready. The beginning of the next operations is scheldued for the end of July.

At Canton there's no real threat, so i'm rediverting some forces in China.

Anyway...it's gonna be damned hard to hold the actual score...



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Sub attack at 56,118

Japanese Ships
SS I-31

Allied Ships
AK Empire Moonbeam, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
PG Cyclamen
PG Genista
PG Warrego
MSW Kalgoorlie
AK Senang
AK Jalarajan

[aztez]

Do you think you can capture Canton in Southern China?

I think you plan for Russia is solid as It can be. Hit his resources with everything you got and hopefully you can score some hits on Japanese transport ships!

Good Luck!

[Gen.Hoepner]

No Way, Canton would be already at level 9 forts, with Urban terrain bonus. I will just stay there, laying siege, so that he cannot produce any supply or HI. At the same time i'll try to threaten his Army group Center...let's see what i can do.

In Russia, the problem is that with 30 divisions he will steamroll Vladivostok, considering that every 2 days 10 BBs will hit the place. However i'm fairly safe in the north with no BBs and the skies colonized by hundreds of my planes.
The only thing that makes Southern Russia unholdable is the absence of any decent CD unit and his BBs...

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/24/42

Jap BBs arrived today divided in two battle groups. They both didn't achieve great results, also because i've moved all my Art and Support units back to Imam. As you know these types of units are the most voulnarable to the shore bombardments,while normal infantry isn't that much.
His newly arrived units are already marching towards Harbin, on the main manchurian railway.
We started bombing Russian inland with decision, hoping to burn some precious supplies...

One 250kg bomb, from an IL-4 based at Imam, managed to destroy one of the Hiei BB main gun. This is the second achievement of this kind, after that last week one 500lb bomb from a wellington destroyed one of the 6Y Yamato's main cannons.


There's a thing to be noticed: his bombers and zeros are not flying anymore. Resting probably. However the problem is that he doesn't really need to use them:-([:@]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Vladivostok, at 65,33

Japanese Ships
DD Asagiri
DD Hayate
DD Minekaze
DD Okikaze
DD Yukaze
DD Nokaze
CL Kuma
CL Natori
CA Mogami
CA Atago
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
BB Haruna
BB Kongo


Allied ground losses:
376 casualties reported
Guns lost 24

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Heiho , at 66,25


Allied aircraft
I-16 Type 24 x 5
LaGG-3 x 5
Yak-1 x 8
IL-2 Shturmovik x 8


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tsitsihar , at 64,26


Allied aircraft
Beaufort I x 24


No Allied losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiamusze , at 66,29


Allied aircraft
SB-2 x 89
Pe-2 x 40


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 101

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mutankiang , at 64,31


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 64
B-17E Fortress x 38
LB-30 Liberator x 48


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 7 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 6 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
250 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 229

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Harbin , at 63,29


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 1
B-25C Mitchell x 21


Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hailar , at 63,22

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 7
B-26B Marauder x 25
SB-2 x 23
Pe-2 x 88

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-II Dinah: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged
SB-2: 3 damaged
Pe-2: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
194 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 114

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Vladivostok, at 65,33

Japanese Ships
DD Isonami
DD Hatsushima
DD Natsugumo
DD Tanikaze
DD Hagikaze
DD Urakaze
BB Ise
BB Yamato
BB Nagato
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei


Allied ground losses:
329 casualties reported
Guns lost 19

[bbbf]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

06/22/42

Hawker has made a very good fake!
At Canton there are 40 units, yes, but most of them are SNLF and Naval guard units!!!![:@] That means that the divisions of the Southern Army Area are at port Hartur...so in Russia![:(]

What's more, I'd reckon most of those units are headed for garrison duty. He should be able to free another 1 or 2 divisions out of China.

[Gen.Hoepner]

Yes, yes, surely. However in China he cannot feel that safe. Chinese Army if well supplied and experienced can be a pain in the ass for the japs.

Anyway, with 1,000,000 of combat men there's no way i can hold Russia, but it will be hard anyway for him and not so short. I'll fight for every meter of ground, for every hill, for every river. It's going to be bloody. And, as for Java, he will have his main armies stuck here, very far from the places where i'll be conducting my offensives, which is really really good.

How many men can defend Lunga or PM under these conditions? Nothing more than the 2nd Division( which is already reported at PM). His zeros cannot be everywhere. If he wants Russia, he needs first his airspace and so he needs zeros.

....and remember that i haven't started the bombing campaign against Japan yet....

I'm still confident guys. Still far from 3-1 ( 19000 to 9000)...which is damn good!

[Sneer]

if you want to achieve anything during this time and I assume you can't win there you must conduct heavy strategic bombing -
long term campaign aimed in supply basis is strongest weapon in arsenal every player has -both allied and in limited version japanese (china).
japan has low margin for supply in 42 - if you concentrate on resources (only)it will bring not visible at once but very strong results
I recently tested it against allied player in china and effect were faster than expected

[Gen.Hoepner]

After a very good week end of skiing on mountains, i'm back.

Pauk told me hawker has some problems with his internet connection, so the game will probably be slowed down for a bit.

hope to get back soon!

[Jean Bart]

According what I saw on your sit map, and what I read regarding % of chance for submarine to spot/attack ennemy TF, shouldn't you regroup all your subs in one TF if in same hex.... ?

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Jean Bart

According what I saw on your sit map, and what I read regarding % of chance for submarine to spot/attack ennemy TF, shouldn't you regroup all your subs in one TF if in same hex.... ?

I have 20 subs operating in the Sea of Japan. 10 of them are packed in a single TF, while the others are spread around in single-ship TFs....but none of the above systems seem to work[:(]

[Gen.Hoepner]

I've been experiencing heavy problems with my system. Had to format everything[:@]...a pain!

Anyway, now everything should be fine, so war goes on.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/26/42

With June 1942 ending, the situation looks like being on the edge. Hawker is throwing everything he has in Russia. BBs, divisions, planes...everything.

Today another bombardment run of his BBs didn't achieve any significant results. I've moved back inland those units who suffer more from bombardments ( eng, supports and Arty).

Nothing much more to report

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Naval bombardment of Vladivostok, at 65,33

Japanese Ships
DD Asagiri
DD Hayate
DD Minekaze
DD Okikaze
DD Yukaze
DD Nokaze
CL Kuma
CL Natori
CA Mogami
CA Atago
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
BB Haruna
BB Kongo


Allied ground losses:
230 casualties reported
Guns lost 12

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/27/42

The bombing campaign of Manchuria keeps going on. Hordes of Japanese divisions are moving along the rail line from Port Hartur towards Harbin. Hawker tells me he has 1,250,000 men ready for Russian campaign...really too many to handle[:(].
However i'll face the threat and try to do whatever i can. It won't be easy to feed that mass of men in a prolonged campaign.



The typical russian bombing activity:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Heiho , at 66,25


Allied aircraft
I-16 Type 24 x 52
LaGG-3 x 37
Yak-1 x 81
IL-2 Shturmovik x 63


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 77

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tsitsihar , at 64,26


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 25


No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiamusze , at 66,29


Allied aircraft
SB-2 x 88
Pe-2 x 44


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 119

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mutankiang , at 64,31


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 55
B-26B Marauder x 3
B-17E Fortress x 63
LB-30 Liberator x 80


Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 1 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
205 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 294

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/29/42

Another bombardment run. This time Nakhodka was the target. Luckly i was able to move by railway all the wrecks of my planes from there yesterday...
Anyway: Harbin is now full of troops. 15 units spotted, plus 55 more around Mutakiang and some more 10 near Port Hartur.....it's gonna be bloody[:(]

Nothing more to say.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Nakhodka, at 66,34 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

3 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Nokaze
DD Yukaze
DD Okikaze
DD Minekaze
DD Hayate
DD Asagiri
DD Isonami
DD Hatsushima
DD Natsugumo
DD Tanikaze
DD Hagikaze
DD Urakaze
CL Kuma
CL Natori
CA Mogami
CA Atago
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
BB Kirishima
BB Nagato
BB Yamato
BB Hiei
BB Haruna
BB Kongo


Allied ground losses:
984 casualties reported
Guns lost 36
Vehicles lost 3

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7
Port supply hits 5

[Gen.Hoepner]

Yes, i know i've been quite lazy in these last days. The point is that i'm having quite a great time with a new girl and my mind isn't that concentrated on anything else.

However...while 1250000 japanese men march towards Vladivostok, the Birtish have started the first counteroffensive in southern Burma and the chinese, the australians and the americans are ready to start their own offensive in the next 15 days. Soon the whole pacific will be on flames![:)]

I hope next week to find the time to post some screen shots and some decent aars...

ciao!

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/05/42

Ok, few minutes free for a overall report.

The time for Russia has finally come. a never-seen-before number of units is massing North of Vladivostok. The city is defended by 2900 APs, while the north-eastern flank of my defensive line is held by 2200 APs...nothing much if you think that Hawker probably has more than 13,000 APs...[:(].
However, we're gonna fight as long as we can, killing as many enemies as possible and trying to do always our best.

At the same time the bombing of Manchuria goes on. Hundreds of medium bombers every day hit his empty bases, destroying supplies and gaining experience, while 192 4E bombers, divided in 4 squadrons, destroy the industrial center of Harbin.
He keeps using his BBs to hit Vladivostok and Naghoya, while my bombers aren't able to score any significant hit on the fast moving sea-monsters.
What really makes me mad is the inability of my subs to score a single hit...i've lost so far 2 subs around russia and 10 more have been badly damaged...with not a single torp fired!!!![:@][:@][:@]

Tomorrow, however, we'll try a little surprise for him[8D]

Lost contact with KB...[X(]

At Moulmein, the 3rd IND Corp has begun the attack against 2 japanese divisions ( 33rd and 55th). We will probably be able to push them back in the next 10 days ( the first assault ended with a 1-1 ratio)

In China, the 3rd US Corp is leading an army of 3500 APs towards Nanchang...let's see if i can threaten his chinese positions a bit...

In DEI and in Pacific everything is ready for the next 3 operations...

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/06/42

Finally a little good news. Today american 4engines managed to put 13 500lbs bombs into jap BB Hyuga, docked in the port of Seikoshin ( Korea). The big ship was left burning....hopefully she'll be out of order for some weeks!

American 4th Regiment unloaded at Amchitka Island, in the Aleutinas: time to create some pressure on his flanks![8D].Let's see what pops up now, if a KB or a baby kb...

in China we're on our way.

in Burma tomorrow the british, supported by a brand newly arrived canadian brigade, will try again to attack moulmein japanese positions.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Seikoshin , at 61,34


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 61
LB-30 Liberator x 83


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 13, on fire[:D][:D]

Port hits 2
Port supply hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:

[Gen.Hoepner]

I realized i didn't say anything about the British forces, that in fact are the first allied forces that are trying to counterattack the dreaded japs somewhere...

The III Indian Corp, and the Burma Corp, are joined togheder at Rangoon, and are composed by:

- 2nd UK division
- 7th Armoured tank bde and the 255th Indian Tank Bde
- 14th Indian Division
- 16th and 13th Indian Bdes
- 1st and 2nd Burma Bdes
- BFF Bde
- 1st and 2nd Burma rifle Bdes
- six chinese divisions
- 3 UK artillery regiments
- 133rd ( if i remember well) Canadian Bde

these units are trying to face the 15th Japanese Army, at Moulmein, composed by the 33rd and the 55th Divisions...