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Luzon (january 8th - 9th 1942)


The ground battles at Clark Field continued and we got decent odds. Philippine operation is not an cakewalk for the japanese.

He has focused substantial numbers here and our AA guns are damaging quite a few of these squadrons.

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Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 48162 troops, 545 guns, 544 vehicles, Assault Value = 2038

Defending force 44667 troops, 776 guns, 517 vehicles, Assault Value = 1737

Japanese adjusted assault: 754

Allied adjusted defense: 2320

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
3597 casualties reported
Squads: 59 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 44 destroyed, 186 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 50 disabled
Guns lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 94 (3 destroyed, 91 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1654 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 90 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 187 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 76 (6 destroyed, 70 disabled)

Java (january 8th - 9th 1942)


There were no navalstrikes launched by KB. Instead it launched couple of large sweep missions againts Batavia.

Needless to say that our squadrons providing CAP were no match for these elite pilots.

I mentioned that we got reports about forthcoming assault in southern Borneo. Indeed, he landed troops via fast transports. The Bandjermasin airfield seems to have
an important role in his plans.

Also landings reported at Muntok near Palembang.

Generaly if KB is nearby I stand down my duch AF. They will not do anything against KBs fighters and its better IMO to save what limited planes you do have as fighter bait when you want your bombers to acutaly get thru.

jrlans: I agree 100%. It would be just waste of good resources. We will have better use for these pilots.

Things are heating up near Java though and we got some good results.

Luzon (january 10th - 23rd 1942)


There are two things worth of mentioning.

First it seems our AA guns hurt him a bit since the level of lba bomber runs has been significantly reduced.

Another obviously being that we still have firm foothold at Clark Field.

Just one ground was launched and details can be shown below.

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Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 45457 troops, 571 guns, 551 vehicles, Assault Value = 1827

Defending force 47412 troops, 789 guns, 515 vehicles, Assault Value = 1601

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 781

Allied adjusted defense: 3214

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2971 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 135 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 232 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 60 disabled
Vehicles lost 67 (5 destroyed, 62 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1224 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 103 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 122 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (2 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Malaya (january 10th - 23rd 1942)


The japanese have now entered Johore Baru. Allied troops had initial success destroying some enemy armoured units.

Now there are +2500 worth of infantry here so general withdrawal into Singapore has been ordered.

The battles listed below in chrononicle order...

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Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83) ...january 17th 1942.

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18215 troops, 267 guns, 96 vehicles, Assault Value = 738

Defending force 2717 troops, 6 guns, 191 vehicles, Assault Value = 139

Allied adjusted assault: 1140

Japanese adjusted defense: 65

Allied assault odds: 17 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
510 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 56 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 117 (44 destroyed, 73 disabled)
Units retreated 3


Allied ground losses:
663 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 66 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (0 destroyed, 12 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!


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Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83) ...january 22nd 1943

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 41872 troops, 463 guns, 471 vehicles, Assault Value = 1494

Defending force 21263 troops, 332 guns, 192 vehicles, Assault Value = 703

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 776

Allied adjusted defense: 615

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1774 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 78 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 114 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (0 destroyed, 10 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
2338 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 134 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 248 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Vehicles lost 38 (11 destroyed, 27 disabled)

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Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 40626 troops, 463 guns, 471 vehicles, Assault Value = 2575

Defending force 18886 troops, 333 guns, 183 vehicles, Assault Value = 560

Japanese adjusted assault: 291

Allied adjusted defense: 563

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1359 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 88 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 74 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 33 disabled
Guns lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 28 (0 destroyed, 28 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1864 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 108 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 110 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 18 disabled
Vehicles lost 27 (5 destroyed, 22 disabled)

Java (january 10th - 23rd 1942)


KB has stayed in the area and launched sweep missions againts Batavia and Soereabaja. ABDA airforce did not intervene with these missions.

I think he might be a bit frustrated here since I guess he wanted to sweep aside our resistance here.

A few naval missions were launched as well. Those sunk couple of small xAKL's and AMC's. Nothing major either.

Things got pretty ugly for the KB too. Last turn saw CV Soryu being torpedoed by an dutch submarine. I think this was actual hit since an explosion below waterline was
reported as well as heavy fires.

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Sub attack near Sampit at 56,98

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Kirishima
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
DD Tanikaze
DD Kagero
DD Ushio
DD Sazanami
DD Kasumi
DD Arare

Allied Ships
SS KXVII


The carrier is also shown on sunken ship list. Allthough, I'am a bit skeptical on this news though.

Japanese have now completed the capture in northern Borneo. This will give him good airbases once he gets aviation support in place.

The sunken japanese ships reported on íntelligence screen...

Where are you basing your Philippine area subs? DO you have any fuel in Bataan, and, if so, are you going to "top off" the fuel for any of the subs?

Good news about Clark, looks like you will hold there for awhile longer. Do you think you will be able to get the majority of your foces out of Johore Baru before being overun?
 
Also hows are the forts on bataan coming and is it being bombed to prevent you from building them up?
 
Finaly I highly doubt Soryu is sunk, seems like the FOW likes to put anything with a torpedo in it as sunk. Though unless it was a glancing blow I wouldnt expect to see her for at least two months.

ORIGINAL: jrlans

Good news about Clark, looks like you will hold there for awhile longer. Do you think you will be able to get the majority of your foces out of Johore Baru before being overun?

Also hows are the forts on bataan coming and is it being bombed to prevent you from building them up?

Finaly I highly doubt Soryu is sunk, seems like the FOW likes to put anything with a torpedo in it as sunk. Though unless it was a glancing blow I wouldnt expect to see her for at least two months.

Now, if you know which way she's running and base a few dutch/s-class subs on her way.. she might just sink [;)]

Good luck on your guessing on pursuit.

With a hit below the waterline and fire, there's a good chance the major flotation damage is 30ish + minor and system. If he runs at high speed, a good chance of sinking, if not maybe the subs can do more if you guess correctly.
And when fire starts on a Jap CV, who knows what will happen?

PS - did it break out with an escort group?
I guess you can't know yet and aren't likely to if he keeps KB with it to protect it.

wpurdom: I'am basing my submarines in two areas now a) Java and other key bases and b) Home Islands.

That way I think they can get optium amount of targets for their operations. The ship traffic around Luzon has slowed down for obvious reasons.

Bataan is almost at lvl 4 forts which I think is good. The Clark Field still has level 3 forts on it so it is tough nut to crack.

I think Bataan is not optium place for submarine operations so I'am using Soerabaja for this.

I cannot say whether or not that carrier TF got separated. Not 100% for sure though.

The good thing is that it seems we hit yet another carrier. This CV Zuikaku near Singakawang. This did not show up on combat replay BUT katsuragi insisted that it is hit and wasn't too pleased about it.

If so than we have damaged 2 CV's is past few turns with our submarines. That is excellent ratio. Both of these ships are shown on sunken ship list.

There is an submarine around Saigon and Camrah Bay but I don't have my hopes up.

jrlans: Bad news about Johore Baru. We were +40 miles off when forced to retreat. That was close, very very close. Now only Singapore stands and I wonder how long. The operations at Malaya should conclude before february 1942. Fingers crossed on this though.

He hasn't bombed Bataan nor Clark Field recently. I think AA losses were mounting too high. I did pay attention to getting solid AA fire on bóth bases.

I think CV Soryu is definately hit. So, is CV Zuikaku. Thus meaning he has an handicap of 2 carriers for time being.

That is excellent news indeed.

String: I'am trying to intercept those carriers but don't have my hopes up. Not too bad though even if those carriers limp to base.

Well, they might even sunk.. who knows what the damage actually is! [:D]

As to your subs Az if possible i would think about sending some of your shorter range subs with decent cargo capcity to either darwin or sorebaja to start supply runs to bataan. If you want to extended the siege you will need supplys.
 
I also wouldnt build past lvl 4 forts they simply take too long and eat too many supplies past 4, maybe get a 15% into 4 so that if it gets knocked down a level or two you can instanly rebuild. 

jrlans: I will look into that submarine suggestion. These subs have hit a lot of ships so far so not too eager on getting them on supply runs.
 
I did land some 5000 supplies into Luzon with xAKL's few turns back though.
 
This was pure luck since I do not have anykind of fighter cover here.
 
Point taken on the fort levels. I do feel too that Bataan should not be build up too much. The gains of going beyond lvl 4 just aren't there.
 
Appreciated the comments as always.

Java (january 23rd - february 3rd 1942)


Japanese now have seized Singkawang and Kuching area. There are increased recon flights flown againts Palempang.

Now that Singapore has fallen I do expect to see somewhat imminent offensive here.

There has been plenty of sweep missions flown around Java by Zero's. He did catch some Buffalo's near Soereabaja and losses were 8:1 in favour of the japanese.
In general terms though I haven't engaged these raids. Instead I do let him burn supplies and increase his fatigue levels.

There are some +1800av worth of units at Batavia now. The forts are almost level 4 and rising. I did also dump in more supplies so this will not be an issue.

We also did and big surface combat at Balikpapan. Royal Navy suprised an enemy cruiser TF here and toasted it. My opponent stated that this was very much unexpected move in my part. Well this suits me just fine.

I have flown some recon missions and newly seized resource/industrial centers have fallen mostly 100% intact. I hate when this happens. There should be an option to start slowly doing sabotage but once can only wish for this.

The combat report is shown below:

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Balikpapan at 64,97, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 5, on fire
CL Tama, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
CL Kiso, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 25, and is sunk
CL Oi, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Hatsushima, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Sawakaze, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Yukaze, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Exeter, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Dauntless
CL Ceres
CL Boise
CL Caledon, Shell hits 1
DD Stewart
DD Banckert
DD Stronghold
DD Tenedos
DD Electra
DD Encounter
DE Jumna


Nice and job well done for the british naval forces.

I did spot an TF heading towards Java from Celebes. Well, this is either an Mini KB or an BB TF. Recon shows battleships but I'am not convinced. Anyway, I did the match and if this is an invasion fleet than he is most likely landing at Den Pasar.

In order to cause more havoc I did an gamble here and decieded to move in and intercept. Next turn shows whether or not this paid off.

The battle near Balikpapan on ´february 3rd 1942...

Pacific (january 23rd - february 3rd 1942)


An map details the most significant gains in other areas.

Singapore did fall on february 3rd which is quite historical. Too bad we run out of luck at Johore Baru. The allied troops were just couple of miles away from Singapore before forced to retreat.

At Luzon there has been numerous ground assaults made by the japanese. To avoid same kind of disaster that happened aboce I have now ordered our troops to march into Bataan. This objective should be easily achievable.

Those are the main two stories in recap.

Java (February 4th - 5th 1942)


"This game has been very intense"...

Well it really has been. The above stament was made by katsuragi aka warspite.

The PBY search information was rock solid and that unknown TF was indeed filled with battleships and the estimated target was Den Passar.

When adding those two things up the natural conclusion resulted to yet another surface combat action...

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Denpasar at 58,108, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Shell hits 6
BB Fuso, Shell hits 1
BB Ise, Shell hits 3
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1
CA Chokai, Shell hits 5, on fire
CA Kumano, Shell hits 3
DD Hamakaze
DD Tanikaze, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Arare, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Mikazuki
DD Yakaze, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
CA Exeter, Shell hits 8, on fire
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 4, on fire
CL Ceres
CL Boise, Shell hits 1
CL Caledon, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Stewart, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Banckert, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Stronghold
DD Tenedos, Shell hits 1
DD Electra, Shell hits 1
DD Encounter, Shell hits 1
DE Jumna, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage


This was fun to watch in blow by blow action. I must admit that these sailors have seen fair share of action in past few days.

The damage levels were very hard to judge but the end result was that the japanese retreated leaving their escorts in our mercy. Too bad that most of our ships disbanded at Den Passar too after some Betty's showed up.

Next morning though...

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Denpasar at 58,108, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Akikaze
PB Chitose Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Goyo Maru
xAK Teikoku Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Terukawa Maru
xAK Syohei Maru
xAK London Maru, Shell hits 1
xAP Asama Maru
xAP Buenos Aires Maru
xAP Huzi Maru
PB Kinsyo Maru #2, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Ceres
DD Banckert


Not bad but as said it could have been even better. Flip the coin and it could have been worse...

He did land some 4000 men here so they most likely will overrun the our small base force here.

Japanese got some revenge though. There were several Betty strikes flown againts the above combat TF and Soerabaja harbour was hit hard too.

In the end both sides got hit hard and just maybe we sunk few and took quite a few out of action for indefined period of time.

Here is the pic from the battle of Den Passar....

ORIGINAL: aztez


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Balikpapan at 64,97, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 5, on fire
CL Tama, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
CL Kiso, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 25, and is sunk
CL Oi, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Hatsushima, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Sawakaze, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Yukaze, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Exeter, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Dauntless
CL Ceres
CL Boise
CL Caledon, Shell hits 1
DD Stewart
DD Banckert
DD Stronghold
DD Tenedos
DD Electra
DD Encounter
DE Jumna

[:D] Congrats!

What an great victory!

CL Oi with her torpedo capacity i would have been devastated
as the IJN player.