Gen.Hoepner vs. Hawker, Mare Nostrum

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/17/42

He's kicking my butt in China. Honan fell today and everywhere i'm retiring...or redeploying ( a matter of words[:D])

Seems that he hasn't spotted yet my convoys going for Java...[;)]

No B-17 raid at Balikapan today...bad weather[>:]

Another day gained[8D]

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Ground combat at Honan

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 12984 troops, 155 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 990 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Honan base !!!

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/18/42

The Balikapan high-altitude raid was a success. 3 bombs hit the target ( blowing up 3 APs). I did not lose a single B-17s and now he surely feel less safe there[;)]. I won't go on however, cause it would be a bit gamey to keep on hitting a place knowing he simply cannot reach me[:o]. However i'm happy i managed to send the right message to him: " DO NOT BE TOO CONFIDENT"[8D]
However at Balikapan there are 250 fighters, 60 bombers and 450 Aux[X(][X(][X(]...OMG...!!!! Let's hope my ships will manage to get thorugh the net and arrive at Sosarbaja .... if they will be caught that force will sink every singl ship!!!
I Upgraded a BG of b-17 to the LB-30s...the liberators prooved to be very effective in their first combat mission: 2 of them went looking for a Jap Convoy near Balikapan...58 zeros engaged them[X(]...but, even if bounced badly ( they were at 6000ft), they managed to shoot down 3 zeros before being shot)...these a/cs are just too powerfull IMHO!


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Day Air attack on Balikpapan , at 31,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 56

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 7
B-17E Fortress x 84

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Shinano Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Horai Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Tarushima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

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Day Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 31,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 56

Allied aircraft
LB-30 Liberator x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 2 destroyed


Anyway...everything is going as planned. Hawker will have some real troubles with Java and the pacific, on the other hand, is growing easily without being dirctly threatened[;)]

[Andrew Brown]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
Now i've upgraded and everything should be fine...just my defensive plan in Burma is screwd[:D]...i based it of the supposition that Moulmein was defended by a river...well...that river has changed its course and now it's gonna be hard to get back[:@]

Sorry about that Gen.Hoepner. Moulmein is now in the right spot...

[Gen.Hoepner]

Sorry about that Gen.Hoepner. Moulmein is now in the right spot...

Thanks Andrew. You're always kind!
But was my fault not to understand the upgrading map process...now i'll pay for my mistake[;)]
War is not an easy buisness, you know[:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

02/19/1942

While the struggle for Manila goes on, today we spotted the KB...at Singapore![X(]...can mean two different things: he's going for India or he's going for Java ( so the pacific is rather safe at the moment).
While i'd be quite happy if he'd go for India, i'm sure he's not so mad: he's coming to Java. He's probably waiting the fall of Manila to get enough troops.
If i was him i'd land in th middle of Java...but he'll be forced to ket his KB too close to Sosarbaja and its 1000 planes[:D]...so probably he'll go directly for Batavia , that has been reconned for weeks now.
I let only 1 Ducth regiment there, but i'll place some 130 AV support points in a base level 3 which cannot be bombarded by sea. At the moment i only keep a Catalina squadron there...but as soon as his CVs and APs will come close enough i'lll ambush him with wildcats,P-40s, SDBs and something like 100 Torpedo Bombers, while my B-17s at Sosarbaja will be free hunting in naval attack mode.
My BBs are lingering some 1000 miles west of Java in the Indian Ocean....my troops with a LOT of supplies are just 1 week far from Sosarbaja and i feel quite confortable...think i can hurt him...i will surely lose huge number of ships and planes, but maybe a fish or two will be eaten by the KB[:D]...and if i manage to get my BB there while he's landing....ooohhhhh[;)][;)]

Ambonia fell today. More jap ships going for Timor. Nothing i can do about that.

Tomorrow some 30 buffalos will ambush his bombers over Moulmein from Rangoon...

Will be a bloody spring, i promise[:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/20/42

A very good performance over Moulmein[8D]! 49 Buffalos ambushed japanese bombers escorted by 7 nates and managed to shoot down 9 enemy planes losing none of ours[:D]!
Now he'll be forced to put some zeros in escort role if he wants to be safe and that means less zeros to fight with near Java[;)]
Tomorrow we'll try to ambush unescorted Sallies over Changsha in China, usinng 20 p-40Es.


KB spotted near Palembang....my PTs boats moved to Batavia, while my planes are ready to dance!
Reinforcements almost arrived at Sosarbaja[8D].
He started to recon Merak. I bet he'll land here first. I'm just waiting for the KB to come closer....[;)][;)]

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Day Air attack on Moulmein , at 30,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 7
Ki-48 Lily x 50
Ki-49 Helen x 15

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 49

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 6 destroyed, 11 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 5 damaged


Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 22

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/21/42

The invasion of Java is near.
Today Batavia was bombed by hundreds of Japanese planes taking off from Palembang. The AF is closed, but i wasn't planning to use it anymore, so no problem.
Hawker seems to be a bit overconfident...[:D] He keeps telling me that Java will be annihilated and destroyed as soon as he puts a foot on it with his units...well...probably, but i can just say that it won't be so easy. Today one more Indian Bde unloaded at Batavia with 2 more UK Arty regiments. In 2 days 1 more Indian Division with a Tank Bde and 1 more Arty unit will be ashore, along with 100k more supplies[;)]
Now i gotta be patient. Cannot hurry and play my cards too fast. I have to wait for his KB to come closer supporting the landings...then i'll move my planes! I have just one chance...so i gotta wait for a good weather day.
Do the beauforts launch topoedos from a level 3 AF? Do not think so...right? While the Devastators do...right?

However, the ambush over Changsha worked. 5 unescorted sallies shot down. Nothing special but i need to feed my morale!


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Day Air attack on Batavia , at 20,60

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 93
B5N Kate x 104
G4M1 Betty x 32
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 39
Ki-49 Helen x 19
Ki-46-II Dinah x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 4 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 15
Runway hits 133

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/22/42

Another day of heavy raids over Batavia. He's clearly trying to close my AFs in the north of Java.
Tomorrow we'll try to LRCAP Batavia and Badoleng from Jakarta. His last raid wasn't heavy escorted...only a bunch of zeros and some 40 oscars....maybe we can shot down some bastards[:D]. I'll give a try.
The last troop convoy is unloading at Sosarbaja. in the last days 2 Indian Divisions,1 Indian Bde, one Indian Tank Bde and 3 Arty units have been unloaded at Sosarbaja. Now we're close to 2000APs[8D].
My BBs are arriving. Major problem now is the fighters pool....we're low!
However i'm still confident. If he wants he can have Java...but he'll need to bring in everything he has....my goal now is to hold as long as i can and at the same time try to hurt and wound his major assets.

Also thinking of an early attack in the pacific... I'll probably start fortifiying Canton Island in the next days...

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Day Air attack on Batavia , at 20,60

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
D3A Val x 94
B5N Kate x 63
G4M1 Betty x 33
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 47
Ki-21 Sally x 27
Ki-49 Helen x 22
Ki-46-II Dinah x 15

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 164

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/25/42

ALLARM ALLARM!
KB spotted moving from Palembang. Going south. That means the invasion is coming!!!!
My Sub fleet is ready at Sosarbaja. 4 BBs plus some CLs,CLAAs,DDs are my actual naval fleet fo Java. More BBs,CAs and DDs are on their way. Do not have anything else to send to java at the moment.
Main threat will be the zeros. He can destroy my air force within 3/4 days of costant fightings, so i must keep it safe unitll the chance of hurting him arises.
Tomorrow 100 4Es will try to strike Balikapan. The goal is to close the AF for few days. I would like to have my hands free during the first days of the invasions and Balikapan is his major AF in the area, from where he can close Sosarbaja AF down. Let's see how many zeros i'll find on CAP....a bit scared i gotta admit[:'(]
The plan remains the same: try to damage the KB in some ways, so forcing his CVs to go back. Then strike with BBs and surface assets, along with LBbombers his beachheads.
One thing is sure: it's gonna be damned bloody[8D]

[Arstavidios]

Looks like the next few weeks are gonna be intense.....
You might stop the Japanese offensive in Java, but if you don't you're in for some trouble in India.[8|]

[Sneer]

I doubt if you manage to withdraw troops from Java - no matter the outcome of this battle

[Gen.Hoepner]

I know Java cannot be held forever. Sooner or later he'll come with 10> divisions and i'll be lost. But...the aim here is to try to destroy some japanese main assets in early 42...a CV...a BB...something like that, and at the same time to slow Japan's advance in the pacific.
India can be lost. PzB has conquered it but hasn't gotten the final victory...so....
And, above all...i want some bood!!!
I simply cannot stand on the defensive for one year...i need some fight to feed my blood-thirst(sp?)

[:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/26/42

Nothing happened today. Seems his CVs are going to Singapore...[&:]

Manila holds another day.

No raid over Balikapan altough morale is high, weather perfect...[&:]

[Sneer]

take japan if you need bllod[:D]
see my aar vs Raver - it is really bloody

[Tom Hunter]

I have not got a lot of blood out of Mogami anywhere but China, we do see a lot of Aluminum down in the South Pacific, and recently some battleship grade steel, but not much blood.

This hold Java move is very bold. It has certainly worked against some Japanese players, but I would be concerned that a really good player can use your defense as the start of a Judo move that ends with the Allies flat on their backs, losing something even more important than Java.

In a way your gambling that your a consideably better player than Hawker. If your right then this will be a move of genius. If your wrong your going to have a very exciting game.

[Gen.Hoepner]

I have not got a lot of blood out of Mogami anywhere but China, we do see a lot of Aluminum down in the South Pacific, and recently some battleship grade steel, but not much blood.

This hold Java move is very bold. It has certainly worked against some Japanese players, but I would be concerned that a really good player can use your defense as the start of a Judo move that ends with the Allies flat on their backs, losing something even more important than Java.

In a way your gambling that your a consideably better player than Hawker. If your right then this will be a move of genius. If your wrong your going to have a very exciting game.

Well, some of you probably remember how the MC's defence of Timor ended up against me in the other AAR....a great debacle for the allies. I perfectly know Java will fall at 95%...sooner or later. And when Java will fall India will be almost undefended. But the plan is to delay Japan's advance in the pacific, where his KB makes the difference, while in this area i can fight at least with some weapons.
I do not care too much about India. I mean...it will be a damned pity to lose her, but my goal is to have fun, make the one who plays with me have fun too and enjoy a bloody game[:D].
The "Java" move gave me already the time to build up Darwin and make Northern Oz almost untouchable. Now base forces and planes are unloading at Sidney....coming from the US. In few weeks we'll be able to open the new darwin front! And if he doesn't run very fast for Java he's gonna be in real troubles in southern DEI-SRA.
I'm not a genius and i do not look for anything genial. I just wanna try to defend everywhere i can. The allies should play like that, IMHO.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/27/42

Today finally we bombed Balikapan AF. lost 35 planes in the process, but his losses are even higher...81 planes![8D]..so, for the rule that everything below 4-1 is an allied victory in 1942...this is an awesome result!
However his zeros are tough as expected. I don't plan to use 4Es in a "buggy" way. Just very few bombing missions of this kind...maximum once a week and with maximum 3 BGs . Balance and fun, that's the key!

His CVs are coming...he bombed Bandoeng from Palembang...he's a wise player and knows the threat[;)] However the AF isn't closed at all and he'll need many more runs if he wants to keep Batavia and Badoeng closed!
A HUGE surface fleet is ready at Sosarbaja. I hope i can use it...but everything depends on IF i'll be ready to force his KB to get back...like one month ago[8D]

Gotta say that it's very exiting!

In China we're both reorganizing our men.

First Convoy loading for Canton Island[:'(]

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Day Air attack on Balikpapan , at 31,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 70

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 6
B-17E Fortress x 88
LB-30 Liberator x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 30 destroyed, 10 damaged
G3M Nell: 7 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 25 destroyed, 38 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 4 destroyed, 10 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
701 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 53

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Day Air attack on Bandoeng , at 19,61

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 26
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 66
Ki-21 Sally x 26
Ki-49 Helen x 24
Ki-46-II Dinah x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 36

[Gen.Hoepner]

03/01/42

March has begun. One more zero-bonus-point gone[;)]
Java is officially under threat. The invasion is coming. The whole combined fleet has been spotted[8D].
He's probably going for Merak, which is deliberately undefended. If i want to stand a chance i need to have his troops massed in a single little base. Everything is ready. I got only few ducth PTs at Batavia and i do not count that much on them. He bombed Bandoleng again...now the AF is almost closed. That's surely a problem for me. I'll have to use my 4Es on naval attack...but i know they risk to get slaughtered....I'll keep some of them to suppress his advancing troops when they'll be ashore...i'll sacrifice my BBs....if i manage to get close enough....i need a pair of bad weather days.....
I'm risking so much....[:D]
If he plays conservative i don't stand a chance...i need him to make a mistake...i need some luck...a lucky sub attack...a lucky 500lb bomb hit...something like that...

Will the God of War listen to my prayers?

[mc3744]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

Will the God of War listen to my prayers?

Let's hope he won't [:D][:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: mc3744

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

Will the God of War listen to my prayers?

Let's hope he won't [:D][:D]

Aren't you supposed to be an "allied fanboy"???
Now you joined the "Hoepner's enemies fanboy club"?

[:D]

[mc3744]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

ORIGINAL: mc3744

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

Will the God of War listen to my prayers?

Let's hope he won't [:D][:D]

Aren't you supposed to be an "allied fanboy"???
Now you joined the "Hoepner's enemies fanboy club"?

[:D]

Of course! You are my favourite 'Public enemy' [;)]
[:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

Of course! You are my favourite 'Public enemy'

Yes, ok ok...as you like...you want me to dress like a dark lady? or d'you prefer a policeman suit?[:D][:D]


..but above all.... where's my turn?[;)]

[:'(]