21st-28th March 1942
Burma
Japanese guard brigade captured Lashio. All forces move north except few base force that will join Allied troops in China.
Java
Bandoeng fights on. Dutch armored brigade from Batavia moved south and routed Japanese infantry battalion in Kalidjati. Dutch forces will continue their advance south.
Ground combat at Kalidjati (50,99)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 1107 troops, 3 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 88
Defending force 1241 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 39
Allied adjusted assault: 37
Japanese adjusted defense: 17
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), preparation(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)
Japanese ground losses:
500 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
1st Regt Cavalerie
Defending units:
III./4th Infantry Battalion
Australia Command – North
Darwin air cover is depleted by constant sweeping attacks from Timor. Additional naval invasion allowed capture of Derby. Australian Cavalry Brigade is on the way to clear region.
Australia Command – West
Perth was partially evacuated. Two Japanese Divisions are storming city and after 3 day attack HQ expects that Perth will fall into enemy hands before end of the month. New Zealand armor battalion and Indian brigade were sent as reinforcements to Port Augusta. They diddn’t make on time.
Australia Command – East
Bowen is still holding. More enemy divisions landed. Base is besieged by 4 Japanese Divisions and artillery units. At least one more division surrounds countryside.
4th Division
9th Division
38th Division
55th Division
7th RF Gun Battalion
3rd RF Gun Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
On 22th March 1942 Intelligence decrypted information that at least one Japanese unit was loaded on ship and it is moving towards Port Augusta. Japanese carrier group was detected few days earlier, but TF was moving suspiciously slow. Allied HQ expected that enemy will try to attack convoys unloading supplies in Adelaide. But when it didn’t happened all troops were put on alert. 2 US Brigades, artillery unit and tank Battalion from reserves were ordered to move to Port Augusta defended by single Australian Brigade. In Port Augusta heavy cruiser Astoria with escort of 3 DD’s was put on alert and sail away from port to hunt enemies carrier group.
All of this was futile.
On 24th March Astoria TF attacked Japanese convoys but it was destroyed by heavy Japanese naval task force. Even though two DD’s from supporting TF attacked carrier TF, enemy withdraw without scratch.
On the same day Port Augusta was invaded by two divisions.
Allied HQ moved all B-17’s bombers to support defense, but Carrier group providing air cover was hard as rock. Losses among 4E bombers were high and unfortunately enemy was not weakened enough.
On 27th March 1942 Port Augusta fallen and allied troops withdraw to the west (worst option).
Ground combat at Port Augusta (75,159)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 28724 troops, 278 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 874
Defending force 14606 troops, 200 guns, 196 vehicles, Assault Value = 325
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese adjusted assault: 436
Allied adjusted defense: 102
Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Augusta !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
990 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 84 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Allied ground losses:
4118 casualties reported
Squads: 152 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 280 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 39 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 143 (114 destroyed, 29 disabled)
Vehicles lost 92 (86 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 7
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
Sasebo 8th SNLF
5th Division
6th Guards Division
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
1st JAAF Base Force
Defending units:
132nd Infantry Regiment
8th Australian Brigade
182nd Infantry Regiment
193rd Tank Battalion
1st Middlesex Battalion
RAAF OTU Augusta
2nd Medium Regiment
Air battle was raging over Port Augusta. Japanese carrier fighter cover is depleted but also allied dive bombers and fighter squadrons.
If the enemy move south he will activate emergency reinforcements that will be used for counteroffensive in Burma. If he will move east there is not to enough land forces to hold him. Also if the Bowen fall Australia will be lost.
In New Zealand additional units are awaiting to move to Australia, but I afraid that they will meet returning carrier force. Or they will not return… Just resupply at newly captured Port Augusta.
Also convoy with planes, marines regiment, and US Army Division sailed away from San Francisco. Protected by US Navy Carriers. They must get to Australia.
But I forget that I'm playing Iron babes scenario, so in Australia I'm facing at least 9 divisions. Enemy landed at Port Augusta. I prepared there 2 US Regiments, one Australian, artillery and tank battalions. Base fallen in 3 days...
