Matrix Games Forums

Sorry for charging in but:

Why would you want to bomb the resources on Java? Unless your opponent has moved a fairly large re-inforcement to Java, the default forces there are only weak. It wouldn't matter if they had a million supplies- they only have weak troops and planes in the area. With only one non-malarial base it is also hard for the Dutch to recover their disabled squads. And their planes' replacements are scarce too. So any resources you reduce won't really help you in the ground/air combat to come. Your conquest of Java will have a hugely superior military force that won't be affected by his supply level. But damaging the resources centres seems to me not a good idea.

When your CA move through the Java Sea you could use your recons on board to check out his bases, and just use the CS to ASW. Also when he sees your fleet coming up from the south, he might move his planes up the northern end of Java (or even off the island) so you might need some LRB to strike the other end.

Again sorry for interrupting- but you never know when an extra boat load or two of resources will come in handy.

Watch out for mines! I make up a Mine Warfare TF of 3/4 fast (20 kts) MSWs and send them in with the bombardment TFs. Set the BB TF to Follow the Mine Warfare TF.

The Dutch mines seem particularly lethal. I have lost cruisers to them ...

I wouldn't bother to bomb the Resources either BTW, it's not necessary. Just trash the airfields and their Supplies.

Watch out for mines! I make up a Mine Warfare TF of 3/4 fast (20 kts) MSWs and send them in with the bombardment TFs. Set the BB TF to Follow the Mine Warfare TF.

Spoilsport! Don't listen to him, cap [;)]

I detect some hostility. Might you two perhaps be involved in some sort of fight with each other? [:D]

I detect some hostility. Might you two perhaps be involved in some sort of fight with each other?

We have a minor disagreement as to the ownership of the Pacific Ocean, its environs, &c, &c [:D]

In any case I'm interested to see how your Java operation goes (so early in January, too!). Good luck either way!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/13/42

The peanut gallery has spoken. I will not attack the resource centers on Java just yet. But if I hear even a rumor about overweight Dutch soldiers, and especially any overweight American, Australian, Indian or British solidiers on that Island, I will not hesitate to reduce the resource centers to smouldering piles of slag. [:'(][:D]

Burma
Hurricanes finally make an appearance. Turns out they are quite flammable. [;)] Even Oscars can light their fires. Of course, these are some of the best army pilots in my airforce.

Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 13
Ki-21 Sally x 63
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged 1 A2A, 1 Flak

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 4 destroyed 3 A2A, 1 on the ground

Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 34

The Philippines
Marching on Manila. A little dose of fort suppression there today. A little at Bataan tomorrow.

Looks like Grotius is trying to supply his forces on Luzon by stealing supplies from outlying bases by sub and transporting it to Manila/Bataan. That is now going to come to an end. Butuan, the last hold out on Mindanao was captured today. Tomorrow, Tatay will be captured. (This is how I found out about Grotius's subs: when my barges transporting a fragment of an SNLF to Tatay showed up, one of his subs surfaced and sank one of the barges with a deck gun. I still have enough troops landed at Tatay to capture that base. Interestingly, I can see 4 subs currently at Tatay and 3 at Bataan. I think it is because I have ground units in those hexes.) After Tatay sinks beneath the red tide, that will only leave Manila, Bataan, Iolo and Cebu in allied hands and he needs supply in all those bases. [:'(]

Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 68

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 6 damaged

Allied ground losses:
79 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 13

Ground combat at Manila
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 44510 troops, 520 guns, 8 vehicles
Defending force 59251 troops, 567 guns, 137 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Ground combat at Manila
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 10119 troops, 201 guns, 2 vehicles
Defending force 55403 troops, 525 guns, 157 vehicles

Malaya
The 23 ind brigade was picked up and is now sailing for Bankha. It will come into range of Palembang tomorrow. I hope he doesn't move any bombers in. If he does, I hope my Oscars at Johore Bharu will provide CAP. Even if I lose a ship or two, big deal, I will still have enough to get the job done. I seriously doubt that he will move any planes back into Singapore. [;)]

Day Air attack on Singapore , at 22,51
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 17
Ki-21 Sally x 105
Ki-15 Babs x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 53

Ground combat at Singapore
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 105298 troops, 1160 guns, 24 vehicles
Defending force 57010 troops, 421 guns, 19 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
459 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Ground combat at Singapore
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 28631 troops, 270 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 139789 troops, 1160 guns, 355 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported

China
Nada. forces on the move to Sian.

Solomons
Admiralty islands and Kanvieng invaded. Will be captured tomorrow.

DEI
Makassar should be invaded tomorrow.

The Undersea War
One of my subs near Java was hit by a B-17. 40 float damage. [:(]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/14/42

Fairly typical turn. I wish to thank everyone who has contributed with their advise. Very good pointers. I especially like the idea of using fast MSWs to prepare his bases for bombardments.

Malaya
Fairly quiet turn. I had a go at Palembang this turn to supress the airfield their as my "Twinkie" force rounds Singapore heading for Bankha. One the subs he is using to supply Sinagapore (and perhaps evacuate cadres) did take a shot at an AK but missed. The TF will be out of torp bomber range of Palembang next turn. I am launching another deliberate attack on Singapore tomorrow. Should bring the forts down to 3 and send disruption up into the 70's. [8|] Such is the price we pay for being world conquerors. [;)] Keeping up this pace should lead to the fall of Singapore on the 24th.

morning sweep
Day Air attack on Palembang , at 20,55
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
C5M Babs x 1

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 1
Brewster 339D x 4
Buffalo I x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 1 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 3 destroyed
Buffalo I: 2 destroyed

afternoon bombing raid
Day Air attack on Palembang , at 20,55
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 19
Ki-21 Sally x 102

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 1
Brewster 339D x 2
Buffalo I x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 2 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 42

Sub attack southwest of Singapore
Japanese Ships
AK Shinamogawa Maru
PC Ch 16
MSW Takashima Maru
MSW Banshu Maru #52
MSW W.10

Allied Ships
SS KXI

Ground combat at Singapore
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 105648 troops, 1171 guns, 24 vehicles
Defending force 57630 troops, 435 guns, 19 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
554 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Ground combat at Singapore
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 26471 troops, 270 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 140281 troops, 1171 guns, 356 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

DEI
Makassar was invade today. Should be captured tomorrow. Hopefully my bombers will agree to fly a ground attack mission.

Grotius has moved all his planes out of Balikpapan. He was obviously expecting an invasion. What is really happening is that I am bringing in surface forces to have a go at the PTs there. I was going to use both PTs and DDs. Because of the threat of mines, I decided to leave the job to the PTs. But first, I let my Zeros at Tarakan have a go at them. 1 confirmed sunk, the other is a probable.

Day Air attack on Macassar , at 30,70
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
G3M Nell x 40
C5M Babs x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 3 damaged

Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

Day Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 31,64
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24

Allied Ships
PT PT-41, Shell hits 4
PT PT-31, Shell hits 24, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-33, Shell hits 20, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

The Philippines
Everyone except one artillery unit has arrived in Manila. I will deliberate attack tomorrow. His fort level can be no higher than two and is most probably 1. I think I can finish Manila and Bataan up rather quickly, freeing up Luzon forces for employment elsewhere.

Taytay was captured today, the last unoccupied base in the PI.

Day Air attack on Bataan , at 42,51
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 71

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 14

Ground combat at Manila
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 45311 troops, 547 guns, 8 vehicles
Defending force 59643 troops, 569 guns, 137 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Ground combat at Manila
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 10170 troops, 200 guns, 2 vehicles
Defending force 132549 troops, 1180 guns, 165 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Solomons
Rabaul should be a size 4 airfield tomorrow. 2 datais of Bettys and 1 datai of Zeros are already there making this position rather secure from carrier and surface raiders.

Kavieng and Admiralty Islands were captured today.

China
Major goof up. Apparently I had set a division to march on Changsa a while ago and forgot to reset it. So now the 22nd division is all alone in Changsa with no hope of support. He will no doubt smack it rather firmly tomorrow. Oh well.

I have decided to target Grotius's Chinese fighters. His replacement rate is rather low for these and if he does take on replacements, this will eat into his supply. Unfortunately, I lost a Tojo operationally. I am down to 7 Tojos now.

Day Air attack on Kweilin , at 42,37
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 7

Allied aircraft
I-16c x 4

Allied aircraft losses
I-16c: 1 destroyed

Burma
Aerial preparation of the Burma theater continues. I hit Rangoon again today. I will hit Moulmein tomorrow. I had intended for some Zeros to sweep Rangoon before the bombing raid, but weather prevented them from flying. So far, however, the Oscars are more than holding their own.

Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 20
Ki-21 Sally x 57
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Blenheim IF: 3 destroyed
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
45 casualties reported

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 44

Major goof up. Apparently I had set a division to march on Changsa a while ago and forgot to reset it. So now the 22nd division is all alone in Changsa with no hope of support. He will no doubt smack it rather firmly tomorrow. Oh well.

I love "oops, well, only a few hundred people will die" moments. [:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/15/42

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DEI
Well, let's start with the good news. Makassar was captured today. Grotius's B-17 were finally set on naval attack after some training using naval search. They didn't accomplish much though, plinked an empty AP at Koepang, but no serious damage. A larger raid on the shipping at Makassar was effectively beaten off by CAP flying from KB-2. I had some nice ground support for the attack on Makassar. Too bad I couldn't say the same for my attacks at Manila and Singapore. [:(]

Day Air attack on TF, near Koepang at 29,77
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 9

Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 3

Allied aircraft losses
B-17C Fortress: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro

Day Air attack on TF, near Koepang at 29,77
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 9

Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 3

Japanese Ships
AP Astuga Maru, Bomb hits 2

Day Air attack on TF, near Macassar at 30,70
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17C Fortress: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Day Air attack on 9th NEIAF Base Force, at Makassar
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
B5N Kate x 64

Allied ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

Day Air attack on 9th NEIAF Base Force, at Makassar
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
G3M Nell x 33
C5M Babs x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 3 damaged

Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Malaya
Ok, on to the bad news. Actually, the attack at Singapore went about as expected. Indeed, I am coming to expect that the damn Sallys won't fly when asked to support a ground attack. [8|] Well, on the bright side: since the game system apparently frowns on ground attacks, this is actually good for me later on when Grotius goes on the offensive. I may not be able to keep my airfields open, but at least my combat troops will be partially immune to his bombers. [8|]

Ok, now for the frustration. When I set destination hex yesterday for the TF heading to Bankha, I chose a coastal hex. I had "do not unload" set, but the game didn't care. It went ahead and unloaded a large portion of the 23 ind brigade. [:@] Well, I am going to invade Bankha with what is still on board the transports and then go back to pick up the other part of the brigade. A paradrop will land on Sabang tomorrow. The day after I am going to use the other para unit at Georgetown to drop on Bankha to help out the now badly depleted 23 ind brigade. My last recon flight reported only 1 unit there, so I still expect to succeed, but the delay in marching north, as well as the need to go back and get the rest of the brigade is very frustrating. [:@]

Ground combat at Singapore
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 129983 troops, 1182 guns, 361 vehicles
Defending force 57527 troops, 448 guns, 19 vehicles
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese ground losses:
2893 casualties reported
Guns lost 56
Vehicles lost 12

Allied ground losses:
1433 casualties reported
Guns lost 30
Ground combat at Singapore
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 25708 troops, 239 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 136004 troops, 1070 guns, 342 vehicles

Philippines
The forts at Manila were 3, not 2 or 1 as I expected. Crap. I guess I wasn't as dilligent in bombing the place as I should have been. The attack today was really nasty as far as the loss ratio goes. Worse, I didn't even drop the forts a level. Well, I will need 2 days rest before resuming the assault. Manila will last at least until Jan. 28 now. Of course, it didn't help that the Sallys decided that ground attack are really not their thing. [8|]

Ground combat at Manila
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 127346 troops, 1249 guns, 164 vehicles
Defending force 59724 troops, 573 guns, 136 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese ground losses:
4314 casualties reported
Guns lost 91
Vehicles lost 8

Allied ground losses:
1024 casualties reported
Guns lost 24
Ground combat at Manila
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 9887 troops, 186 guns, 2 vehicles
Defending force 127295 troops, 1051 guns, 152 vehicles

China
As expected, the 22nd div was spanked.

Grotius is moving from Yenan to Sian along the road. This means moving through a hex where I have 2 brigades and 1 division. Too bad they are not powerfull enough to stop him. The units at Yenan are being really poky about their pursuit, so I can't stop him from that direction. What this means is that he will be able to greatly reenforce Sian. Oh well. It will just take longer to subdue. Once I take Sian, though, that will be the end of my offensive action in the north. He can have Lanchow. After a nice attack on the resources there, he won't be able to support much in the way of air units there, which is all I really want.

Ground combat at Changsha
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 165601 troops, 1303 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 18158 troops, 241 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 118 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
3158 casualties reported
Guns lost 90

Allied ground losses:
731 casualties reported
Guns lost 21

Burma
I have decided to launch the Burma offensive. Grotius has 3 brigades and a base force at Moulmein. At least, that is the way I read the situation. I have 3 divisions, 1 tank regiment, and an HQ. Plus the Burma HQ is one hex behind, still struggling to get out of the Jungle. Fort levels at Moulmein could be rather high since I only started bombing the place today. Plus I have to cross a river, so I will have to shock attack. Also, he may be able to bring in reenforcements from Rangoon. Something of a gamble, especially since I am using the stupid follow command. We shall see.

Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 6

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 5 destroyed

Day Air attack on Moulmein , at 30,34
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 20
Ki-21 Sally x 56

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 18

Solomons
Rabaul airfield reached size 4 today. To celebrate the event, I have ordered an airfield attack on PM by 2 datais of Bettys escorted by 1 datai of Zeros (f1/tainan). [:D] PM airfield is still only size 3. Let's see if we can't keep it that way.

The Production Front
3 factories finished repairing today. This gave me some room, as far as supply consumption goes, to fiddle with my production some more. First, I started the process of repairing the A6M3 factories so they will be fully operational come March when this plane becomes available. Next I decided to launch a small R&D program. One factory producing 79 Tojos was set to repair, and one factory producing 34 Tony's was set to repair. I now have 6 factories/facilities on the Shikoku/Honshu/Kyshu island complex repairing. This consumes 6000 supply points per day, while over 13,000 supply points per day are created for a net gain of over 7,000 supply.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/16/42

Fairly quiet turn.

China
Another sweep against Wuchow, another Tojo lost, this time A2A. I am down to 7 Tojos. Guess I am going to have to change them over to Nates. The I-16's are proving to be a worthy opponent. That is one reason I would like to get rid of them.

Around Sian, my forces persuing his units retreating from Yenan caught up with him. Due to the odd movement rules that prevent units from marching from one contested hex to another, this mean his units can no longer use the road to Sian. They will have to move into the woods northeast of Sian. I feel kinda bad about that, but not too bad.

Day Air attack on Wuchow , at 42,39
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 6
Ki-15 Babs x 1

Allied aircraft
I-16c x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-16c: 1 destroyed

Burma
The follow command was working for my advance on Moulmein. But I decided to halt the units anyway. Upon further reflection, I decided I don't want to start the invasion of Burma yet for several reasons: 1) overland supply is almost impossible. Supply will need to come in ships. 2) Even though Burma is chock full of resource centers that could provide supply, he could target these with 4E bombers from India. So without base forces to support fighters, I don't want to advance into Burma yet. To get the base forces there will, again, require ships. Trying to send them up those trails is a non-starter. 3) Since both the provision of supply and the transport of base forces depend on ships, those ships will need to be protected by either LBA or carriers. The carriers, however, are currently preparing for operation Lemon Drop. Once Lemon Drop is finished, LBA can be used to support my invasion of Java, freeing up the carriers for use elsewhere. LBA support is not possible until both Sabang and Port Blair are captured and built up. My base at Bangkok is too far to support ship movements into the Bay of Bengal. Victoria Point and Tavoy could be used, but again, the only realistic way of getting base forces there quickly is by ship. To capture Port Blair will require the use of carriers. So it all comes down to freeing up KB-2 to support a thrust into the Bay of Bengal before I can invade Burma. Should take another 2 weeks. Until then, I will continue to soften up Rangoon and Moulmein.

Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
Hurricane II x 3

Allied aircraft losses as fun as this is, I think I will give the Zeros a rest [;)]
Buffalo I: 2 destroyed
Hurricane II: 2 destroyed

Day Air attack on Moulmein , at 30,34
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 34
Ki-21 Sally x 54
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 3 damaged

Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 28

Philippines
D@mn, my forces are beat up. Even with the addition of 2 divisions and 2 brigades to Manila, my attack forces are fewer than his defending forces. On a positive note, his supply situation is apparently very poor since he has given up on bombardments. Flak at Manila is still very heavy, though.

Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 65

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 5 damaged

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6

Ground combat at Manila
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 53213 troops, 609 guns, 5 vehicles
Defending force 58276 troops, 517 guns, 136 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
111 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Malaya, Northern Sumatra
Operation Twinkie, as was noted in the last update got off to a rocky start. Sabang was captured by paratroopers. Bankha was invaded by a very small portion of the 23 ind brigade--only 43 assault points. But all he has there is a base force. I ordered a shock attack. To support these elements of the 23 brigade, I will also drop the 1 SNLF on Bankha as well. Plus, the Sallys at Johore Bharu should launch at powerfull attack on the airfield from 6000 feet (the weather is partly cloudy).

Ground combat at Singapore
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 102781 troops, 1080 guns, 15 vehicles
Defending force 55961 troops, 374 guns, 19 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
123 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Ground combat at Singapore
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 25997 troops, 246 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 136659 troops, 1080 guns, 344 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported

The Undersea war
All the whining and moaning about how useless US subs are has always struck me as silly. When I have played the US they have done fine. [&o] When I have played as the japs, they have also done fine. [:@] Fortunately, this AP was empty, is only 3 hexes form Truk, and only has 40 float damage.

Sub attack southwest of Truk
Japanese Ships
AP Kagi Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PG Zuiko Maru
MSW Banshu Maru #8

Allied Ships
SS Gudgeon

The Production Front
For some reason, my repair of R&D factories didn't take. Only one of the factories started repairing. They all had sufficient supply. I jiggled with them some hoping they would start repairing next turn. I also decided to expand my R&D effort. I switched over the two Judy factories to Tony's and Tojo's. I will now be "producing" 92 Tojos a month, when the factories are repaired and 87 Tonys. This should give me a chance every 5 weeks to advance their intro date by one month starting sometime in April. Lord know the IJA could use some decent fighters, though the Oscars haven't been bad when flown by decent pilots.

Repairing of R&D factories doesn't work like normal. The further away the availability date the slower the factory will repair. The large George plant is the best example of this.

Best to maintain low expectations when it comes to R&D

Hmm. I would have thought that factory repair was factory repair, whether it was for R&D or current production. I may have to think about my other big R&D projects that I was considering launching in a month or two (Franks and Shindens). This is especially unwelcome because I wanted to get the A6M3 factories fully repaired by their arrival date in March.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/17/42

Generally uneventful turn.

Burma
Grotius is not flying CAP at Rangoon now. Tired of getting his Hurricanes shot out of the sky to no good purpose.

Day Air attack on Moulmein , at 30,34
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 26
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 23
Ki-21 Sally x 53
Ki-46-II Dinah x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 19

Malaya, Northern Sumatra
Turns out I probably didn't need to drop the SNLF unit on Bankha. That base was captured with 49 to 1 odds. No doubt the airfield attack helped. The Sallys go back to hitting Singapore now. It has been two turns since I hit that base.

Day Air attack on Bankha , at 20,47
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 20
Ki-21 Sally x 108

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 49

Ground combat at Singapore
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 103270 troops, 1085 guns, 15 vehicles
Defending force 56941 troops, 398 guns, 20 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
190 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Ground combat at Singapore
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 24017 troops, 250 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 137329 troops, 1085 guns, 347 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported

Philippines
Still waiting for disruption to come down before another deliberate attack. Despite his apparent lack of supply, the flak at Manila is still heavy.

Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 79

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 7 damaged

Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 21

Ground combat at Manila
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 105209 troops, 1067 guns, 5 vehicles
Defending force 58353 troops, 527 guns, 136 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported

Solomons
My inaguaral attack on PM scored absolutely nothing. No planes, no airbase hits, no casualties. I should probably drop down from 16,000 to 11,000 feet. I will rest for a couple of turns before going again. At least I let him know that the Bettys are in business and that reenforcing/resupplying PM will be a risky venture. Interestingly, there was no CAP.

Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 54,93
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
G4M1 Betty x 50

Production
R&D factories still not repairing well. I certainly wasn't expecting that. Here I am, willing to spend thousands of supply points, and the program won't let me. [8|] I would have tnought any die rolls would have been confined to 100 AC equivalent accumulation stuff.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/18/42

[:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@]
Movement rules obviously do not work as advertised!

The Undersea War
My TF returning from Bankha to pick up the main body of the 23 ind brigade ran into a sub. He hit an empty transport pretty good, but the return salvos were also quite effective. I hope the bloody sub sinks.

Sub attack near Johore Bharu
Japanese Ships
AP Tsuruga Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Takuei Maru
PC Ch 16
MSW Takashima Maru
MSW Banshu Maru #52
MSW W.10

Allied Ships
SS KXV, hits 2, heavy damage

Malaya
Is the fall of Singapore near? I had a very effective airfield attack on Singapore today, though the flak was brutal (I was flying at 11,000 feet). Meanwhile, Grotius did not bombard me. I think that means he is running low on supply, though you could not have told that from the flak. I will deliberate attack tomorrow; disruption is in the 20s or less.

Day Air attack on Singapore , at 22,51
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 14
Ki-21 Sally x 107
Ki-15 Babs x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 13 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 2 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
183 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 59

Ground combat at Singapore
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 103690 troops, 1097 guns, 16 vehicles
Defending force 57273 troops, 415 guns, 21 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
282 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Philippines
The same situation at Manila, though the Sallys flew at 16,000 feet; took even more damage; and did not cause nearly as many casualties. I may have to lower the altitude regardless of the casualties. Deliberate attack tomorrow.

Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 76

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6

Ground combat at Manila
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 105716 troops, 1077 guns, 5 vehicles
Defending force 58568 troops, 546 guns, 137 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
190 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

China
Big frustration. Grotius was able to move a Chinese unit from a contested hex into a Japanese controled hex, meaning he broke through my front line into my rear. This is a bug. I have sent a save to Matrix. This really pisses me off. Now I don't feel guilty at all for trapping Grotius's units at Clark and as I am trying to do at Yenan/Sian.

Grotius's bombers finally make an appearance in China. Fortunately, they decided on a ground attack rather than something more vital. I just upgraded another Claude Datai to Zeros. They are going straight to China. I need to at least be able to contest the air there and there is no way I can do that with Nates against the AVG.

Day Air attack on 10th Ind. Brigade new Sian
Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 12

Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Production
R&D factories still not repairing for the most part, though the A6M3 factories seem to be doing better.

The public demands updates!

In the words of Cornelius Vanderbilt, "The public be damned!" [;)]

(Nota Bene: Vanderbilt was a Robber Barron from the Gilded Age who used all kinds of unethical methods to build up his railroad empire.)

Actually, I would like an update myself. Just as I am about to launch a number of deliberate attacks at Manila, Singapore, and in China, Grotius goes on vacation. [:(] Wish he could have waited one turn. I am dying of suspense to see how they turn out.

No more updates til Aug. 8. I needed a vaction as well. I am moving in a few days, and I have to get my fall syllabi written, and finish revisions to a book I have been working on. WitP is much too addictive. I needed some detox. [:'(]

In the words of Cornelius Vanderbilt, "The public be damned!"

(Nota Bene: Vanderbilt was a Robber Baron from the Gilded Age who used all kinds of unethical methods to build up his railroad empire.)

Actually, I would like an update myself. Just as I am about to launch a number of deliberate attacks at Manila, Singapore, and in China, Grotius goes on vacation. Wish he could have waited one turn. I am dying of suspense to see how they turn out.

No more updates til Aug. 8. I needed a vaction as well. I am moving in a few days, and I have to get my fall syllabi written, and finish revisions to a book I have been working on. WitP is much too addictive. I needed some detox.

It's true, you've left us hanging. Glad to hear you're getting a break though. [:)]

*rubs hands together, marks calendar*

Operation Sword and Shield: Request for comments

Grotius has still not returned, but that doesn't mean I have stopped thinking about the game. Indeed, a great deal of my thinking has been about establishing and defending a defensive perimeter. More or less, I have been thinking about how to give the allies a bloody nose and slow down their counter-offensive. Along these lines, I have been thinking about implementing a version of Operation "A-GO" (hopefully with better results).

The main thrust of this strategy will be to erode allied CAP over his carriers with LBA. Once that has been accomplished, then the carriers will move in to launch the main attack.

Central to this strategy will be the creation of a series of hedgehogs consisting of interlocking and mutually supporting airfields. These airfields will preferably all be size four to be able to support level bombers. These aifield will mainly support Army fighter squadrons to provide CAP and escorts for anti-shipping strikes. The idea here is to provide too many airfields for Grotius to be able to shut them all down. At each airfield will be 2 to 3 Sentais of fighters, and 1 chutai of level bombers. The level bombers are only included as a way to induce the fighters to fly escort and engage the enemy's carrier CAP. I envision a large fighter versus fighter battle, whether over my own bases or over his carriers or both that will erode his fighter strength. Once that is accomplished, the main carrier striking force will close for battle.

In the picture included I have indicated my projected hedgehogs. I am hoping that Grotius will chose a central Pacific route for his counter-offensive so that I can engage his carriers far from home and without having to worry too much about his LBA. I want to make the Solomons a seemingly formidable barrier so that he will chose the centpac route. (Timor will also form a hedgehog, but since we are using AB's map, it is unlikely he will attack from this direction.)

Sword and Shield 1: The Marshals
For this hedgehog the objective will be to strike at Grotius's carriers. Therefore, surface forces will exclude slow BBs, while fast BBs will be used strictly in night battles to hit allied bombardment groups and transport groups. The surface and carrier forces will be based either at Kusei or Ponape depending on the threat from allied LBA. Reserve air units will be based at Truk, Ponape and Kusei to feed into the battle as frontline forces are destroyed. Basing the fleet elements at Kusei and/or Ponape will allow for a quick reaction to allied thrusts towards the Solomons, Marshals or Marianas.

Should the allies try to bypass the Marshals and go directly to the Marianas, then the surface fleet will attempt to break up the landings while the carrier fleet will attack the fleet train between Hawaii and the Mariana.

Sword and Shield 2: The Marianas
For this hedgehog, the objective will be to break up an allied landing. Therefore, all IJN surface and carrier forces will target allied transports. Assuming that allies first take the Marshals before proceding onto the Marianas, then that staging base for the Combinded fleet will be Ulithi. Surface forces will race in at night to the site of the allied invasion and will not retire. Instead, they will attempt at all costs to repell the invaders. IJN carrier forces will also be positioned so as to concetrate their attacks on enemy transports.

Sword and Shield 3: The Philippines
Should the allies procede along the line Marshals, Marianas, Philippines, it will very unlikely that the IJN will have very much strength left by this point since a good deal of this strength will have been expended defending the Marianas. Whatever surface forces are left, however, will be used to try to break up an allied landing, ala Surigao and Samar.

In preperation for the creation of these hedgehogs, all Japanese engineering batallions in the Home Islands, Manchuria and China are currently getting ready for embarkation to the south seas. Overall, we expect to be able to devote some 40 construction battalions to the preparation of the battlefield.

Possible enemy moves:
I expect the enemy to move along the line Gilberts-Marshals as his first counter offensive. This will give him LBA support for a thrust into the Marshals.
It is also possible that the enemy may try to bypass the Marshals and strike directly at the Marianas. In this case, the carrier fleet will strike at the enemy's fleet train, in particular his supply, replenishment, and follow on forces.
The least likely thurst, though most favorable for us, would be to strike directly at the Marshals from Hawaii.

So, has Grotius showed up yet?
I hope this excellent AAR isn't dead in the water...

Last I heard from Grotius he had some health problems. Also, school started last week for him, so that is no doubt sucking up his time. He has not been on the forum for quite a while. I am concerned, but don't want to bother him with something as trivial as a game.