Matrix Games Forums

February 27/28 1942

Combined Fleet heavy surface ships bombard Wenchow.

Tsiatso captured by the Japanese.

February 28/March 1 1942

Naval bombardment of Wenchow continues.

Japanese shock attack on Wenchow results in 1-2 odds.

The KB appears to be sailing east from Singapore.

Allied carrier strikes on the Shortlands.

Otherwise, normal operations.

March 1/2 1942

The KB is hanging out in Singapore, so I run a high-altitude bomber strike to encourage it to move around a bit.

Normal operations. Japan captures Langsa.

March 2/3 1942

Repeat of air actions over Sumatra. Some operations in China, but no significant change in the situation.

Eastern Fleet is supporting forces in Sabang from the Indian Ocean. Remainder of the 18th Division is evacuating from Java. USN is operating around Rabaul. 4E bomber forces operating from Batavia against the Singapore area. Southern Philippines remains under Allied control.

March 3/4 1942

Repeat of air actions over Sumatra. Some operations in China, but no significant change in the situation.

March 4/5 1942

My opponent attached a note to the replay indicating we were both lucky. He decided not to send the KB into the Bay of Bengal, where I had a CVTF waiting for it, and he had an unescorted tanker TF off Medan that survived. He also commented that he was surprised by my last-minute reinforcement of Palembang.

He seems unaware that the CVTF was sailing in company with about 8 SAGs prepared to react aggressively to a movement into the Bay of Bengal.

That's funny--I had combat summaries turned on, but the replay was continuous. Anyone have a clue what might have happened?

Repeat of air actions over Sumatra. British airstrike on ships at Medan. Operations continue in China with no change in the situation.

The KB is coming up the Malacca Strait--it was operating out of Singapore and is currently south of Lingga. I have 7 DDs, 10 cruisers, and the Repulse six hexes WNW of Sabang. I've mousetrapped the KB once before. If it moves 8 hexes (row 80), it can hit me with airstrikes up to one hex beyond Langsa. If it moves 16 hexes (two hexes beyond Langsa), it can engage me up to four hexes beyond Sabang. If it ends up 6 or less hexes from my surface forces, I can engage it or take on its screen. If it ends up 8 or more, I'm safe from his air. I have a history with this opponent of pulling off SAG versus CVTF night actions, and he has learned to be conservative playing me. I don't think I should try for a surface engagement unless he's really fool-hardy.

I'm inclined to position subs in row 80 and two hexes beyond Langsa and form a patrol line of SAGs five hexes from Sabang with reaction set to 6. I'm willing to engage his screen if he doesn't keep it reasonably close to the KB.

ORIGINAL: herwin

That's funny--I had combat summaries turned on, but the replay was continuous. Anyone have a clue what might have happened?

Your settings have no effect on the replay - only Japanese players settings affect both players.

I just found this AAR -interesting approach not hitting pearl -I tried it - let KB lurk un hidden for a while west of kwaljien -and a week later -pay off -two inquisitive allied CVs down.
Lot better than a few BBs that can't do much for lack of fuel in 42 anyway.

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

I just found this AAR -interesting approach not hitting pearl -I tried it - let KB lurk un hidden for a while west of kwaljien -and a week later -pay off -two inquisitive allied CVs down.
Lot better than a few BBs that can't do much for lack of fuel in 42 anyway.

The absence of the KB would have been notable, but you're right--I play the carriers at the beginning like Halsey did in the prewar wargames--whack a mole in the Marshalls. Kimmel wanted the IJN to come out and play, so he planned to send the Battle Fleet out near Wake.

March 5/6 and 6/7 1942

Not a lot of action. The Japanese invade Palembang on the 6/7. The KB remains in close support.

Allied landings and reinforcements of existing bases are being prepared for the Solomons. Strike aviation moves into Port Moresby and the Queensland bases.

March 7/8 1942

Japanese forces ashore at Palembang inexplicably delay their attack. Shortlands softened up for invasion.

March 8/9 1942

Palembang falls to the Japanese. The preinvasion bombardments had destroyed 89 of 900 oil production.

March 9/10 1942

KB pulls back to Singapore. I run a port strike just to stir things up. I'll have to move the patrol line back to account for the distance.

Japanese shock attack at Loyang succeeds in capturing the city.

Allies capture Malaybalay and continue to advance on Davao.

March 10/11 1942

Japanese begin attacking Java from bases at Palembang.

Otherwise quiet.

March 11/12 1942

Sabang captured by the Imperial Guards Division.

March 12/13 1942

A mix of minor engagements. Japanese landing at Bengalis. Four ASW engagements including one sub-vs-sub.

March 13/14 1942

The Combined Fleet revisits Wenchow. That has the advantage for me of being about as far from my bases as possible.

Japanese aircraft finally visit my evacuation port in Java. They also hammer the unused airfield at Port Blair.

Bengkalis and Praboemoelih captured by the Japanese.

March 14/15 1942

Only minor actions. The current situation is that the Japanese hold Malaya and parts of Burma, the Philippines, Sumatra, Borneo, Celebes, and New Guinea. The Chinese are retreating slowly. The Allies hold Pegu, Java and the eastern NEI, the Central Philippines, Rabaul, Tulagi, the Line Islands, and Wake.

March 15/16 1942

Nothing really happening. I'm implementing War Plan Orange on schedule and my opponent appears to be following the preferred strategy of the Imperial Japanese Army by trying to take China. His naval forces aren't aggressive enough, particularly in the east, and I'm about to roll up his base in the Shortlands and reinforce Rabaul with a major base force. That will allow me to suppress Manus and Truk, and then capture Manus as a base, bypassing Truk. I just sailed the Battle Fleet to the Eastern Mandates and got no reaction. My US carriers are operating around Rabaul, and my UK carriers in the Bay of Bengal.