Cruft vs. szmike, Babeslite Scen 1 with 3-day turns

[BBfanboy]

Yes- Singapore is an island and JB is across a strait so it is reachable by large ships. BTW the limit for travel up an estuary is 15K tons displacement.

[Captain Cruft]

30 Dec 1943

The British/Commonwealth armies have crossed the river at Singapore.

This is a much larger force than my bombardment at Johore Bahru had indicated. Still, they should take a while to recover from this assault before having another pop.

He has not attacked Singapore from the air yet, apart from Sweeps by P-38s and P-47s which we just about managed to survive.

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Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 114290 troops, 1905 guns, 2667 vehicles, Assault Value = 3819

Defending force 75417 troops, 682 guns, 395 vehicles, Assault Value = 1984

Allied adjusted assault: 647

Japanese adjusted defense: 20591

Allied assault odds: 1 to 31 (fort level 8)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1858 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 129 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 76 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 61 (4 destroyed, 57 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
19692 casualties reported
Squads: 270 destroyed, 858 disabled
Non Combat: 128 destroyed, 306 disabled
Engineers: 58 destroyed, 364 disabled
Guns lost 331 (66 destroyed, 265 disabled)
Vehicles lost 572 (195 destroyed, 377 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
6th British Brigade
9th Indian Division
2nd Recce Regiment
11th (East African) Division
254th Armoured Brigade
5th British Brigade
11th Indian Division
5th Indian Division
XXXIII Corps Engineer Battalion
Gardner's Horse Regiment
4th British Brigade
26th Indian Division
267th Armoured Brigade
25th Indian Division
150th RAC Regiment
70th British Division
9th Australian Division
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
India Command
6th Medium Regiment
XXXIII Indian Corps
77th Heavy AA Regiment
35th Light AA Regiment

Defending units:
5th Division
56th Division
2nd Guards Division
55th Division
Southern Fleet
27th JAAF AF Bn
29th Army
Singapore Det
3rd Mortar Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
20th AA Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th JAAF AF Coy
5th JAAF AF Coy
7th Field AF Construction Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
5th Field AF Construction Battalion
3rd Air Division
36th JAAF AF Bn
84th JAAF AF Bn
12th Base Force

singcrossing.png (33.82 KiB) Viewed 641 times

[Captain Cruft]

Camranh Bay is now part of the British Empire

The French are displeased ... I had a single division there, to be resurrected of course.

Also in Indochina, Vinh cannot hold out much longer, which opens the way to Hanoi and Haiphong. Being clear hexes these are totally indefensible. So it will likely only be a month or so (however long it takes to march) before he will be knocking on the gates at Canton. This is way earlier than I had hoped.

On the positive side, the doings at Singapore are giving me a Baldrick moment. More to be revealed later ...

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[Captain Cruft]

02 Jan 1944

It's 1944!

I have despatched the Battlecruiser fleet to Singapore to help keep the Brits awake at night. These bombardments of troops outside bases or in your own bases do not generally seem very effective so I class this as a half-decent result.

The Cunning Plan alluded to last turn will be set in motion.

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Naval bombardment of Singapore at 50,84

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Kako
CA Furutaka
CA Kinugasa
CA Aoba
DD Minegumo
DD Yamagumo
DD Natsugumo
DD Michishio
DD Oshio
DD Hamanami
DD Okinami

Allied ground losses:
825 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 102 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 50 (1 destroyed, 49 disabled)
Vehicles lost 39 (6 destroyed, 33 disabled)

BB Kirishima firing at 5th Indian/C Division
BB Hiei firing at 5th Indian/A Division
BB Haruna firing at 11th (East African)/ Division
BB Kongo firing at 9th Australian/A Division
CA Kako firing at 2nd British/C Division
CA Furutaka firing at 11th (East African)/ Division
CA Kinugasa firing at 11th (East African)/ Division
CA Aoba firing at 11th (East African)/ Division
DD Minegumo firing at 70th British/A Division
DD Yamagumo firing at 70th British/A Division
DD Natsugumo firing at 5th Indian/C Division
DD Michishio firing at 5th Indian/B Division
DD Oshio firing at 70th British/B Division
DD Hamanami firing at 70th British/B Division
DD Okinami firing at 11th (East African)/ Division

[Captain Cruft]

Kamikaze Activation

I should add that I now have the capability to form Kamikaze units. This is because Saigon has fallen (the rules are not exactly that, but it's the simple version).

Not sure I need to use this right now, but it's a useful option to have.

[RangerJoe]

Kamikaze Activation

I should add that I now have the capability to form Kamikaze units. This is because Saigon has fallen (the rules are not exactly that, but it's the simple version).

Not sure I need to use this right now, but it's a useful option to have.

Actually, any Allied airfield within 21 hexes of certain bases that are named in the manual.

[Captain Cruft]

Build-up at Biak

There is a lot of activity around Biak, and the base is maxed out on both port and airfield.

He is flying Recon over Babeldoab and Peleliu.

So perhaps he favours this route rather than coming straight at the Marianas from Ponape/Eniwetok?

Not much I can do to stop this if Ye Olde Deathstar is deployed.

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[Captain Cruft]

Truk is a wasteland

After the visit by the lovely US Carrier Fleet he has continued to pound Truk with both 4E bombers and Battleships.

As a result the place is completely shagged (technical term).

truk.png (19.13 KiB) Viewed 597 times

[PaxMondo]

30 Dec 1943

The British/Commonwealth armies have crossed the river at Singapore.

Allied ground losses:
19692 casualties reported
Squads: 270 destroyed, 858 disabled
Non Combat: 128 destroyed, 306 disabled
Engineers: 58 destroyed, 364 disabled
Guns lost 331 (66 destroyed, 265 disabled)
Vehicles lost 572 (195 destroyed, 377 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

That's a lot of vehicles, even if 2/3 are MotSupport, that still leaves about 65 armored vehicles (tanks) that were destroyed. I don't know what the replacement rates are in this mod, but I would suspect that is several months of replacements ... ditto the guns, the brit replacement rates on those are usually pretty slow ...

[PaxMondo]

Build-up at Biak

There is a lot of activity around Biak, and the base is maxed out on both port and airfield.

He is flying Recon over Babeldoab and Peleliu.

So perhaps he favours this route rather than coming straight at the Marianas from Ponape/Eniwetok?

Not much I can do to stop this if Ye Olde Deathstar is deployed.

To me it would suggest an attack on the PI ... Mindanao first, followed by Luzon ... far more dangerous to you than the Marianas ...

[Captain Cruft]

05 Jan 1944

He has still not attacked Singapore from the air. I had been expecting Sweeps and 4E bombing to accompany the river crossing.

Most other areas are quiet. Truk continues to be unnecessarily bombarded.

Operation Soggy Biscuit will commence in two turns.

Note: For American viewers a "biscuit" is a cookie. We like to immerse ("dunk") these in tea to create a lovely soggy texture. Yes it's weird.

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[Captain Cruft]

08 Jan 1944

Massive Sweeps over Singapore, the first of which is shown below.

Although we did not destroy many P-38s and P-47s a substantial number were damaged. So they won't be coming back next turn. He has never done Sweeps over two consecutive turns. So (fingers crossed) our CAP remains unexhausted.

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Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 37,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 96
N1K1-J George x 51
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 33

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 31000 feet

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[Captain Cruft]

You may also note the IL-2 and MiG-3 losses.

I have not seen the Soviet Air Force for months, but this turn it showed up at Harbin, where I have been attempting to bomb the industry. The IL-2s were sent to low level bomb my beleaguered forces at Mutankiang.

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[Captain Cruft]

Landings at Johore Bharu (Soggy Biscuit)

I must have mis-counted hexes or something because the Amphib TF arrived on day 3 of this turn and not next turn as I had thought ...

This is a high-risk move, but as my recon was only showing light forces at Johore Bharu I thought - why not deposit a couple of "spare" divisions there in an attempt to cut off the large Brit/Commonwealth army at Singapore.

It was a messy landing due to lack of preparation, but I hope/think we should be able to prise the base out of the enemy's hands next turn.

This gambit may or may not result in the annihilation of the enemy forces at Singapore, but if he is going to respond it ought to require diverting some of his forces from Indochina, and thereby hopefully delaying the Arrival at the Gates of Canton.

He may also be tempted to send the British Fleet into Singapore, which would mean we actually get to have a decent surface battle. Something which has been lacking thus far in this game.

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biscuit2.png (202.36 KiB) Viewed 498 times

[RangerJoe]

Landings at Johore Bharu (Soggy Biscuit)

I must have mis-counted hexes or something because the Amphib TF arrived on day 3 of this turn and not next turn as I had thought ...

This is a high-risk move, but as my recon was only showing light forces at Johore Bharu I thought - why not deposit a couple of "spare" divisions there in an attempt to cut off the large Brit/Commonwealth army at Singapore.

It was a messy landing due to lack of preparation, but I hope/think we should be able to prise the base out of the enemy's hands next turn.

This gambit may or may not result in the annihilation of the enemy forces at Singapore, but if he is going to respond it ought to require diverting some of his forces from Indochina, and thereby hopefully delaying the Arrival at the Gates of Canton.

He may also be tempted to send the British Fleet into Singapore, which would mean we actually get to have a decent surface battle. Something which has been lacking thus far in this game.


biscuit1.png
biscuit2.png

Now you can shore bombard Jahore Bahru to try and capture it or just park at Singapore and bombard those LCUs!

Now get the enemy troops in both places to bombard your units while trashing their units and using precious supplies at Singapore.

[Captain Cruft]

14 Jan 1944

My ill-prepared divisions at Johore Bahru have failed to take the base, despite the sparse opposition. I was not anticipating a Fort level of 4.

The reports below are from the previous turn. This turn I did not attack, and now a Chinese Corps has arrived at the base so given that it's a JR hex things are not looking good.

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Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20246 troops, 205 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 558

Defending force 6371 troops, 83 guns, 48 vehicles, Assault Value = 25

Japanese adjusted assault: 451

Allied adjusted defense: 103

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
421 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
17th Division
26th Division

Defending units:
48th Light AA Regiment
101st RAF Base Force
121st RAF Base Force

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Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19997 troops, 205 guns, 83 vehicles, Assault Value = 531

Defending force 6319 troops, 83 guns, 47 vehicles, Assault Value = 24

Japanese adjusted assault: 243

Allied adjusted defense: 93

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
246 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
17th Division
26th Division

Defending units:
48th Light AA Regiment
101st RAF Base Force
121st RAF Base Force

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Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19785 troops, 205 guns, 83 vehicles, Assault Value = 509

Defending force 6264 troops, 83 guns, 47 vehicles, Assault Value = 22

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 94

Allied adjusted defense: 97

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
185 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
17th Division
26th Division

Defending units:
48th Light AA Regiment
101st RAF Base Force
121st RAF Base Force

[Captain Cruft]

Battleships ahoy!

This turn, as I had guessed might happen the British battle wagons attacked my fleets at Singapore. I had withdrawn my battlecruisers so the mighty survivors of Jutland only faced light forces of CLs and DDs.

I lost 2 CLs and 1 DD, with many more ships damaged. These are now safely tucked up in Singapore repair yard.

1 British DD was confirmed sunk, and the poor old Queen Elizabeth is looking in bad shape. Will she make it back to the nearest shipyard I wonder?

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Singapore at 50,84, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 2
CL Kuma, Shell hits 1
CL Tama, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
DD Hibiki
DD Ikazuchi
DD Usugumo, Shell hits 2
DD Akebono
DD Minazuki, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Nagatsuki, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
BB Queen Elizabeth, Shell hits 17, on fire
BB Revenge, Shell hits 3
BB Royal Sovereign
BB Ramillies, Shell hits 13
BB Resolution, Shell hits 6
DD Nepal
DD Napier, Shell hits 1
DD Norman, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Scout
DD Stronghold
DD Thanet
DD Jupiter, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Singapore at 50,84, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu
CL Natori, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
CL Kinu, Shell hits 3, heavy damage
CL Tatsuta, Shell hits 1
DD Akatsuki
DD Isonami, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Shirayuki
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Oboro, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
BB Queen Elizabeth, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
BB Revenge, Shell hits 2
BB Royal Sovereign, Shell hits 1
BB Ramillies, Shell hits 3, on fire
BB Resolution, Shell hits 4
DD Nepal, Shell hits 3
DD Napier, on fire
DD Norman, on fire
DD Scout
DD Stronghold, Shell hits 1
DD Thanet

singers.png (73.19 KiB) Viewed 405 times

[Captain Cruft]

14 Jan 1944

Much to my surprise I managed to take Johore Bahru this turn.

However, the base is wrecked so it's going to take a while to build any forts, even if he doesn't bomb me. There are also more Brit/CW/Chinese forces on the way from the north. So who knows how long I can hold? I don't have any more spare substantive units to put there.

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Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19912 troops, 206 guns, 83 vehicles, Assault Value = 516

Defending force 9250 troops, 82 guns, 47 vehicles, Assault Value = 184

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 165

Allied adjusted defense: 63

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Johore Bahru !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1127 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3913 casualties reported
Squads: 73 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 167 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 56 (56 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 38 (38 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
17th Division
26th Division

Defending units:
5th New Chinese Corps
48th Light AA Regiment
101st RAF Base Force
121st RAF Base Force

[PaxMondo]

Kamikaze Activation

I should add that I now have the capability to form Kamikaze units. This is because Saigon has fallen (the rules are not exactly that, but it's the simple version).

Not sure I need to use this right now, but it's a useful option to have.

Well soon, if not already, your regular group pilots will start to kamikaze when they run out of ammo. Once they start to "volunteer" you need to go with the flow ...

[PaxMondo]

14 Jan 1944

Much to my surprise I managed to take Johore Bharu this turn.

WOW!!!

Stunning. Amazing!! WTG!!!!

I've never seen this type of successful counter-attack. Brilliant work!!!