Tilting at Windmills - Adm Bonnie (& ctangus) vs. Quixote

[ctangus]

Gobi Desert

Still not sure who's chasing who or who's surrounding who but it's interesting!

[geofflambert]

I recommend you consider doing the following on Java: What squadrons you have left are probably not accomplishing much now. If there are any recruits available, put your best pilots in general reserve, replace them with recruits and withdraw the units. The reserve pilots will be available to Dutch squadrons that appear in Oz. I don't know for a fact if the squadrons themselves reappear in Oz, Capetown or India in sixty days, but it serves no purpose to have them destroyed on the ground.

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

I recommend you consider doing the following on Java: What squadrons you have left are probably not accomplishing much now. If there are any recruits available, put your best pilots in general reserve, replace them with recruits and withdraw the units. The reserve pilots will be available to Dutch squadrons that appear in Oz. I don't know for a fact if the squadrons themselves reappear in Oz, Capetown or India in sixty days, but it serves no purpose to have them destroyed on the ground.

That's a good idea, Mr. Lizard. I've now done so. Don't the squadrons reappear somewhere in the Gorn Confederation?

Most of the Dutch squadrons are permanently restricted at start though. Any idea if they remain so?

[ctangus]

2/22 - 2/26/42

Yikes, 5 turns since an update.

South Pac

No signs of KB.

My resupply efforts of Noumea have some success but not without cost. On the 23rd Koumac became a level 2 airfield (and I didn't notice it). On the 24th the first resupply convoys start to unload but are attacked by Vals based on Koumac. A New Zealand AMC on fast transport duty was sunk outright. A USN xAK was mortally wounded. @3000-4000 supply did get to shore though.

On the 25th now that there were supplies ashore, USMC & USAAF fighters were sent in to provide CAP. Two SAGs (one USN, one NZ) rushed in to provide some cover against a Japanese SAG lurking nearby. The NZ cruisers never found the enemy but the USN did and the slow BBs saw their first action of the war. They inflicted absolutely no damage & received some minor damage in return. It would have been nice to inflict some damage but they kept the IJN away from the transports at least.

The CAP proved modestly effective. Air losses were 12:7 in the allies favor but enough Vals got through to sink 2 more xAKs.

On the 26th the Japanese fly a sweep over Noumea. A2A losses for the day were 12:9 in favor of the Japanese. They also try a deliberate attack and the allies hold:

Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10903 troops, 115 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 379

Defending force 5746 troops, 127 guns, 45 vehicles, Assault Value = 142

Japanese adjusted assault: 253

Allied adjusted defense: 325

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
967 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 81 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 41 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
247 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 11 (3 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
48th Engineer Regiment
Sasebo 2nd SNLF
Kimura Det
53rd Naval Guard Unit
2nd Indpt SNLF Coy
Kure 2nd SNLF
66th Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 8th SNLF
51st Nav Gd /1
16th Army

Defending units:
161st Infantry Regiment
New Caledonia Det
111th USN Base Force
112th USA Base Force
56th Coastal Artillery Regiment
21st NZ Pioneer Coy
B Det USN Port Svc

@9000 supply is on shore at Noumea now. It was down to 7 a few days ago with several units in the red too. I've now loaded an air HQ to send in as a reinforcement. If that gets in safely I'll try to establish air superiority & send in more ground troops. Two regiments of the Americal Div are now on shore at Auckland.

Of course if KB comes back Noumea will be doomed. However that would give more time to build the defenses in Northern Oz & India.

[ctangus]

SW Pac

Looks like the third time might be the charm for the Japanese at Horn Island. This time the IJN comes with 4 naval infantry units:

Ground combat at Horn Island (91,128)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 4755 troops, 56 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 181

Defending force 1489 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 65

Japanese adjusted assault: 69

Allied adjusted defense: 24

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
1278 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 139 disabled They're pretty beat up though!
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
255 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
Kure 1st SNLF
Sasebo 1st SNLF
Maizuru 1st SNLF
II/81st Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
2/3rd Ind Coy
Torres Strait Battalion
Thurday Island Det. Battalion
2/4th Ind Coy
Horn Isl Det.

We're out of supply, the airfield's closed & Netties are flying out of PM. I'd like to get some supply in there but I'd need to commit CVs. It's been nice to slow down the IJN there but I don't think it's worth much further effort.

Java

It's so ugly I don't really want to update it. I will say this: I'm in danger of losing my last base & my last 25K supply on the island. Next update I'll post more.

Philippines

Bataan falls. That ends any allied presence on Luzon.

Allied forces do continue their vain struggle on Mindanao & few other locations in the central Philippines.

Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 53232 troops, 597 guns, 342 vehicles, Assault Value = 1524

Defending force 24117 troops, 378 guns, 326 vehicles, Assault Value = 318

Japanese adjusted assault: 1855

Allied adjusted defense: 235

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Bataan !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-), morale(-)
experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
2927 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 256 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 34 disabled
Guns lost 33 (2 destroyed, 31 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
27684 casualties reported
Squads: 614 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1709 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 138 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 476 (476 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 378 (378 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 36

Burma

My line south of the central plains is holding for now. Even managed to (temporarily) surround the IJA units on my western flank.

South China

The IJA has appeared to abandon a relief effort against the two units I have surrounded near Nanning. Here's the last Chinese attack:

Ground combat at 73,55 (near Nanning)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18922 troops, 221 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 534

Defending force 5530 troops, 68 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 66

Allied adjusted assault: 296

Japanese adjusted defense: 27

Allied assault odds: 10 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
743 casualties reported
Squads: 63 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 15 (3 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
112 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
31st Chinese Corps
14th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
9th Group Army

North China

3 IJA tank units have surprised me in clear terrain near Sian. They have a one-turn window to route 210 AV there. 600 AV reinforcements arrive in 2 turns. I do have an AT gun regiment there so maybe that will help.

Gobi Desert

Chinese infantry successfully withstand an IJA tank attack.

Next replay is in. I may or may not try to do a new map.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: ctangus

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

I recommend you consider doing the following on Java: What squadrons you have left are probably not accomplishing much now. If there are any recruits available, put your best pilots in general reserve, replace them with recruits and withdraw the units. The reserve pilots will be available to Dutch squadrons that appear in Oz. I don't know for a fact if the squadrons themselves reappear in Oz, Capetown or India in sixty days, but it serves no purpose to have them destroyed on the ground.

That's a good idea, Mr. Lizard. I've now done so. Don't the squadrons reappear somewhere in the Gorn Confederation?

Most of the Dutch squadrons are permanently restricted at start though. Any idea if they remain so?

I'll report back as soon as I know. I'm down to only Soerbaja left in the DEI with many sqds due to return in about 40 days. Obviously I haven't tried this tactic before. In a previous game (against the AI) I did evacuate a Dutch HQ and some other LCUs, I failed to this time but don't know if that makes any difference.

[DOCUP]

They will return at Aden as an ABDA unit.  I disbanded them to keep what little I had left from being destroyed and the points going to Koniu.  Next thing I know they are popping up at Aden.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: DOCUP

They will return at Aden as an ABDA unit.  I disbanded them to keep what little I had left from being destroyed and the points going to Koniu.  Next thing I know they are popping up at Aden.

Fighters too? That would be excellent.

[ctangus]

Thanks DOCUP!

2/27 - 3/3/42

Due to the upcoming Mayan Apocalypse this may be this AAR's last update.

South Pac/SW Pac

Most the action is around here.

Near PM/Horn Island/Townsville the KB shows up for 3 days and makes multiple attacks against Aussie cruisers that were trying to get supply into Horn Island. Two cruisers are sunk and one is heavily damaged. To add insult to injury Horn Island finally falls on the 2nd.

At Noumea Japanese troops launch an assault on the 1st and come closer to breaking through the defenders' lines:

Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10574 troops, 114 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 349

Defending force 5258 troops, 83 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 126

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 271

Allied adjusted defense: 277

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
503 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled

Allied ground losses:
322 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled

Then on the 2nd Japanese air at Koumac attacks allied cruisers shepherding an Air HQ into Noumea. CAP shoots down a few planes but CA New Orleans & CL Helena take damage that will keep them out of the war a month or two at least.

Some revenge on the 3rd as the remaining allied cruisers stay on station:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Noumea at 115,160, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Kako, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage Sunk later by a sub
CL Naka, Shell hits 1
DD Suzukaze
DD Shirayuki
DD Mutsuki
DD Yayoi
DD Uzuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Oite
DD Asanagi, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Leander
CL Achilles
DD Le Triomphant, Shell hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Noumea at 115,160, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Naka, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 1
DD Mutsuki
DD Yayoi, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Uzuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Oite
DD Asanagi, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL St. Louis
DD Mustin
DD Russell, Shell hits 2
DD Morris, Shell hits 1

So in 5 days the allies lose 1 CA, 1 CL with 1 CA & 2 CLs damaged. IJN loses 1 CA, 1 CL. Strategically Horn Island wasn't relieved but the Noumea Air HQ made it ashore unharmed. I've flown in 2 DB squadrons to attack Japanese shipping & 2 B-17 squadrons to start attacking the AF at Koumac.

I thought I had spotted KB heading east towards Rabaul but this last turn I spotted a task force allegedly of transports in an odd location for them. Two days steaming from where I last definitely spotted KB. Hmmm...

I'll try to update other theaters later tonight. The little admiral is about to drag me to a Christmas party.

[ctangus]

3/4/42

China

The Chinese finally destroy 2 IJA units near Nanning. It's not decisive in any way but it is a boost to the ally's morale:

Ground combat at 73,55 (near Nanning)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18853 troops, 221 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 525

Defending force 2659 troops, 28 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Allied adjusted assault: 350

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 350 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2580 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 426 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 31 (31 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
14th Chinese Corps
31st Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
9th Group Army

Defending units:
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment

South Pac

At least some of KB is approaching New Caledonia. Wish I had a little more confidence in my patrol planes at the moment. It looks weak but I suspect it's much stronger.

La Foa has been abandoned by the Japanese and was just auto-occupied by the allies. I had already been prepping a USMC para battalion for that base and am now flying them in. Hopefully this will help Noumea hold for a bit.

[ctangus]

3/5 - 3/13/42

The admiral and I were traveling over the holidays. Still got a few turns in but the game slowed a bit and no time for an AAR update.

South Pac

The battle on New Caledonia ended in disaster. I got some paras into La Foa to block Japanese supply and the last Japanese assault on Noumea only got 1:2. (See 2 posts up.) Forts at Noumea expanded back to 2. I thought my troops would hold through at least one more attack so I kept a bunch of air based on Noumea. However air attacks from KB and naval bombardments put a lot of hurt on my troops. On the 6th the Japanese launched a shock attack:

Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 10867 troops, 114 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 383

Defending force 5497 troops, 83 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 123

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 532

Allied adjusted defense: 88

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Noumea !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 2 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 14 destroyed
PBY-5 Catalina: 7 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 4 destroyed
B-17D Fortress: 3 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 6 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 10 destroyed

I anticipated eventually losing the ground units but losing 8 air squadrons hurts: 1 USMC fighter, 2 USMC DB, 1 USN patrol, 2 USAAF 4E, 2 USAAF fighter. OUCH!

KB has now retired. While I haven't spotted it since I spotted some of its planes. On the 11th & 12th Akagi DBs attacked troops stranded near Port Moresby and Hyosho (IIRC) DBs attacked troops stranded near Rabaul. My best guess is that KB is going to support ops against Northern Australia & Baby KB is heading towards Truk.

Northern Australia

On the 12th IJ forces invaded Broome and they took it on the 13th. The III Australian Kangaroo Korps is hastily preparing defenses.

Java

Organized resistance has ended. 3 pockets of troops remain but the IJA is gradually reducing them.

China

Still a big mess. Wenchow is the newest IJA target with support from IJN cruiser bombardments. We're holding for now, here's the latest of 3 attacks:

Ground combat at Wenchow (89,58)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22465 troops, 197 guns, 319 vehicles, Assault Value = 741

Defending force 12989 troops, 57 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 342

Japanese adjusted assault: 465

Allied adjusted defense: 604

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1365 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 101 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1316 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 78 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Burma

Mixed news here.

Things are looking up in the Andaman Sea. A few turns ago I received Sig Int of Japanese troops loaded for Trinkat. Admiral Bonnie ordered the Royal Navy to sail and the Fleet Air Arm performed well. At least 3 IJN ships sunk, several more damaged, a mere 600 Japanese troops unloaded at Trinkat. While the base is lost the IJN will have to reinforce before they can build an offensive airfield there.

On the 13th Bettys launch both against the Royal Navy carriers and a fast transport TF at Little Andaman. 19 Bettys were shot down and there were no hits against my shipping.

In the meantime I've been building at Port Blair and Little Andaman. I can't say they're impregnable but they will require a significant Japanese naval commitment to take them.

However in Burma proper the IJA is concentrating against my western flank which is my weakest. If/when this line is broken I'll retreat to the jungles north of Mandalay.

[ctangus]

Despite the setback at Noumea Admiral Bonnie remains confident. Here she is plotting her revenge:

[ctangus]

[b3/14 - 3/17/42][/b]

Happy New Year to any readers!

South Pac

After the fall of Noumea this theater has quieted down. I'm getting reinforcements to Samoa & Fiji and building Lord Howe, Norfolk & Raoul islands as ferry bases.

Northern Aus

One Japaneses SNLF Coy is chasing Australian base forces retreating from Broome & Derby. On the 17th a large airstrike was launched against Darwin's airfield. I suspect I'll see the next Japanese offensive here, before the end of the month when the invasion bonus expires.

Philippines

On the 15th Cagayan fell. This ends allied presence on Mindanao. The Japanese still have a little mopping up to do on Leyte, Cebu & one more island but all effective resistance has ended.

Burma

The IJA broke through on my western flank and I've ordered a general retreat. I may try to hold at Mandalay for a few turns as I have level 3 forts there but but the next main line of resistance will be in the jungles north of there.

China

Supported by IJN bombardments the IJA launched a shock attack at Wenchow on the 16th. The IJA will take this base - hate to lose the supply generation but c'est la guerre. I'm retreating but doubt my forces can escape before they're forcibly evicted:

Ground combat at Wenchow (89,58)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 22179 troops, 197 guns, 319 vehicles, Assault Value = 710

Defending force 11775 troops, 57 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 208

Japanese adjusted assault: 850

Allied adjusted defense: 259

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
749 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 74 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
621 casualties reported
Squads: 93 destroyed, 57 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Overall

Some random thoughts about the game in general...

With the loss of Cagayan the Japanese have completely secured the SRA. (OK, there's still a little mopping up for them to do in the Philippines & Java.) They're beyond the historical perimeter on New Guinea, the New Hebrides & New Caledonia. Burma is collapsing.

I have had moderate success in China but supplies are becoming problematic.

I also have a decent presence in the Andaman Sea. It would be unwise for the Japanese to invade Ceylon or India before taking care of Port Blair & Little Andaman.

I believe the next main Japanese offensive will be against Northern Aus. He already has a foothold & is starting to bomb Darwin. I won't contest that too much for now.

Further offensives are possible in South Pac but Samoa is much stronger than New Caledonia was & growing stronger daily. New Zealand holds a bunch of troops I had intended to send to New Caledonia and an invasion there triggers reinforcements I think.

Attached is a strategic map:

[ctangus]

3/18 - 3/23/42

The last few turns have largely been quiet but things might be heating up a bit. MAGIC intelligence (Quixote's emails) leads me to believe that we'll see another invasion or two or three before the end of the month & the end of the Japanese invasion bonus.

I'll try to update a few theaters.

North Pac

SS I-9 sank an ACM I was sending unescorted to the theater. Otherwise it's still cold up here & still boring.

Cent Pac

After refits at Pearl I sent a BB division (2 Tennessee class) to South Pac. 4 or 5 turns ago I decided to give them some training by bombarding Tabiteuea en route. I messed up my orders a bit because they arrived during the day, not the night like I had intended. However the timing could not have been more fortuitous - they intercepted a troop-carrying TF that had just arrived:

[ctangus]

South Pac

The Japanese are starting to recon Fiji. I-6 hits a mine at Nadi - it's reported sunk though I doubt that. My defenses here are about as strong as they can be at this point in the game. I'll provide more detail in my next update.

Also in South Pac the IJN seems to be taking interest in my reinforcement of Norfolk Island. There is an IJN TF within sprinting distance. They will be met by two SAGs - the NZ Cruisers and a slow USN BB Division (2 Nevada class).

TF 17 (USN CVs) is also being committed. It's sprinting to a point where it should be able to hit both shipping at Noumea & IJN forces retreating from Norfolk Island.

I don't know where KB is but I'm pretty sure it's not nearby. I have a number of subs near & north of New Caledonia & most are undetected. I'm pretty sure KB is either undergoing some R&R or sailing to support operations on Northern Australia.

[ctangus]

Northern Australia

The Japanese, using light forces, have now taken Broome, Derby, Port Hedland and a dot base. With recon activity all over the place and continual bombing of Darwin I suspect I'll see a larger invasion soon.

I haven't reinforced this area at all yet beyond 2 or 3 Dutch evacuee units. I'm railing a few units to Alice Springs for the moment.

[ctangus]

Java

One pocket of Dutch troops still refuses to surrender but I'm sure they won't last much longer.

Andaman Sea

The Japanese are concentrating a lot of air power to try to close Port Blair with multiple sweeps & multiple AF attacks. I lost a dozen or more Hurricanes with little in return. Currently the AF is damaged but open (39/30). In 2-3 turns I'm going to try to fight a convoy through with an Air HQ so torpedo bombers can be based there.

The airfield next door at little Andaman is gradually growing and hasn't been attacked yet. It's currently 1 + 48%.

Burma

We're not retreating, we're simply consolidating our lines...

China

A mess, but mostly a stalemated mess.

Gobi Desert

The IJA seems to be devoting more & more units to this theater.

[tomomo1996]

I am reading now.

Your dog is very cute!
I look forward to the photograph of your dog.
Of course as for the AAR[:D]

Your opponent is better at an attack than me[X(]

[ctangus]

こんにちは! Thanks for reading.

Maybe I'm just a poorer defender than your opponent! [:D]

[ctangus]

3/24 - 3/25/42

South Pac

My naval maneuvering between New Zealand & New Caledonia had mixed results. I did successfully protect reinforcements & supplies at Norfolk Island but I could have caused a lot more damage.

First at night on the 24th the New Zealand cruisers intercept a small IJN raiding force:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Norfolk Island at 113,170, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 1
DD Urakaze
DD Tanikaze

Allied Ships
CL Leander
CL Achilles, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Alden, Shell hits 1
DD Parrott
DD Le Triomphant

While indecisive it kept the IJN away from my transports. I had sent a BB division there as well but they did not engage.

In the morning a small strike from the USN CVs attacked the same Japanese TF and perform well:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 116,160

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 32
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
SBD-3 Dauntless x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Urakaze, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage Now on the sunk ships list
DD Tanikaze

In the afternoon the USN launches a large alpha strike against shipping at Noumea:

Afternoon Air attack on Noumea , at 115,160

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 27
F4F-3 Wildcat x 39
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
SBD-2 Dauntless x 32
SBD-3 Dauntless x 92
TBD-1 Devastator x 56

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki
PB Kaikei Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
PB Hakkaisan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Shirayuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Uzuki
DD Suzukaze
SS I-23, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage

180 bombers launch, 178 get through CAP and they score a grand total of 4 bomb hits... [:(]

Philippines

The Japanese take Cebu and thus ends the last armed resistance in the Philippines.

Burma

Run away!!!

China

The IJA routes a small rearguard in the Gobi Desert. The Chinese route a Temp RGC Division between Ichang & Nanyang.

Say, does anyone know what RGC stands for? I'm guessing that these troops are ethnic Chinese fighting for the Japanese but don't really know.

Andaman Sea

On the 24th the Japanese closed Port Blair's airfield - roughly two days before I could coordinate a strong fighter defense. On the 25th some IJN light cruisers bombarded Little Andaman but the airfield remains open.

I'm trying to ship in an Air HQ to provide torpedo capability. I originally intended it for Port Blair but I'm now sending it to Little Andaman. (AF 1 + 56%). 1 P-40E squadron, 1 Hurricane squadron & CV Indomitable will be providing CAP. Two Royal Navy SAGs will be providing cover as well.

CVL Hermes just used up all her torpedoes while sinking an AMc at Port Blair. I'm going to swap out her Swordfish for some Fulmars for the moment but she's not in range of the Fulmars so will be out of the fight for a day.

CV Formidable just entered the map from Capetown & can join the party in about a week if I need her.