War in the Pacific as Planned--Allied

[herwin]

March 10/11 1942

It's hard to figure out just exactly what he's doing.

Night Naval bombardment of Pegu at 55,53
 
Allied aircraft
      no flights
 
Allied aircraft losses
      P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground
 
Japanese Ships
      BB Hyuga
      BB Ise
      BB Fuso
      BB Nagato
      CA Furutaka
      CA Kinugasa
      CA Aoba
      CA Kumano
      CA Suzuya
      CA Mogami
      CA Ashigara
      CA Nachi
      CA Haguro
      CA Myoko
      CA Maya
      CA Chikuma
      CA Tone
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      912 casualties reported
         Squads: 2 destroyed, 29 disabled
         Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 80 disabled
         Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
      Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
 
 
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 15
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 3

Apparently he cleared my minefield in the port, one way or another. The airbase there is level 1, so the damage is not meaningful. The bombardment on my units is painful but not major. My air is not challenging him, so I can't drive him out of Moulmein. His Nettie force is operating out of Singapore, so the Eastern Fleet has to keep its distance. What I'd like to do is move some LCUs into the jungle around Moulmein and cut his land lines of communication. At least most of his fleet is concentrating on a minor objective and I have a free hand in the Solomons.

[Sly]

he he yeah hard to say what is yours opponent strategy with this massive bombardment. Got some subs near Singapore?? He have to reload somethere big guns

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: Sly

he he yeah hard to say what is yours opponent strategy with this massive bombardment. Got some subs near Singapore?? He have to reload somethere big guns

There are now four Dutch and RN subs between Moulmein and Singapore... Six of his fast carriers are sitting two hexes south of Pegu, but all they're doing is putting up CAP.

[herwin]

March 11/12 1942

Another day, another bombardment.

Night Naval bombardment of Pegu at 55,53
 
Japanese Ships
      BB Hyuga
      BB Ise
      BB Fuso
      BB Nagato
      CA Aoba
      CA Kumano
      CA Suzuya
      CA Mogami
      CA Ashigara
      CA Nachi
      CA Haguro
      CA Maya
      CA Chikuma
      CA Tone
      DD Harusame
      DD Shigure
      DD Shiratsuyu
      DD Yamagumo
      DD Oyashio
      DD Makigumo
      DD Akigumo
      DD Yugumo
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      91 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
 
 
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Hyuga
BB Hyuga firing at 17th Indian Division
BB Ise firing at 17th Indian Division
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Fuso
BB Fuso firing at 1st Burma Division
BB Nagato firing at 1st Burma Division
CA Aoba firing at 1st Burma Division
CA Kumano firing at 17th Indian Division
CA Suzuya firing at 17th Indian Division
CA Mogami firing at 1st Burma Division
CA Ashigara firing at 1st Burma Division
CA Nachi firing at 1st Burma Division
CA Haguro firing at 1st Burma Division
CA Maya firing at 17th Indian Division
CA Chikuma firing at 17th Indian Division
CA Tone firing at 1st Burma Division
DD Harusame firing at 17th Indian Division
DD Shigure firing at 1st Burma Division
DD Shiratsuyu firing at 1st Burma Division
DD Yamagumo firing at 1st Burma Division
DD Oyashio firing at 1st Burma Division
DD Makigumo firing at 1st Burma Division
DD Akigumo firing at 1st Burma Division
DD Yugumo firing at 1st Burma Division

[herwin]

March 12/13 1942

KB has departed.

Langsa and Oosthaven fall to the Japanese.

[herwin]

Netties show up at Rabaul. I'm wondering about the most efficient way of attriting them. The only Japanese base in the area is Rabaul.

The bombardment force from Pegu shows up at Bengkalis. Where is the fast KB? Singapore? B-26s from Rangoon run into a buzz saw at Moulmein. Lose one. Gotta love that armour.

The Japanese division at Kukong bombards. It's out-numbered 3-1, so it's just a matter of time until my troops are ready to push it out.

[herwin]

March 14/15 1942

Burma invasion force heads towards Pegu.

KB spotted near 51,86

Viper Force annihilated.

[herwin]

Events start to speed up.

Ground combat at 83,55 (near Nanchang)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 12371 troops, 108 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 369
 
Defending force 12825 troops, 144 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 340
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 222
 
Allied adjusted defense: 323
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      1055 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 66 disabled
         Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 54 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      404 casualties reported
         Squads: 6 destroyed, 14 disabled
         Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
 
 
Assaulting units:
    116th Division
 
Defending units:
    49th Chinese Corps
    21st Chinese Corps
    3rd New Chinese Corps
    16th Construction Regiment

Ground combat at Kukong (79,57)
 
Allied Shock attack
 
Attacking force 30669 troops, 154 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 927
 
Defending force 13219 troops, 112 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value = 427
 
Allied adjusted assault: 504
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 451
 
Allied assault odds: 1 to 1
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      484 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
         Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 36 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      1835 casualties reported
         Squads: 9 destroyed, 148 disabled
         Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 93 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
 
 
Assaulting units:
    65th Chinese Corps
    25th Chinese Corps
    10th Chinese Corps
    63rd Chinese Corps
    74th Chinese Corps
    29th Group Army
    12th Group Army
    7th War Area
    11th Chinese Base Force
    18th Chinese Base Force
 
Defending units:
    104th Division

[herwin]

Air operations increase in tempo. Netties noted operating out of Singapore and Rabaul. I have a fast transport convoy headed to Shortlands that the Netties flew past and ignored. I need to get base forces up to the forward bases that I've occupied with raider battalions.

Land ops as usual in China.

Ground combat at 86,53 (near Kiukiang)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 13299 troops, 104 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value = 421
 
Defending force 6862 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 153
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 646
 
Allied adjusted defense: 65
 
Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      21 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      2778 casualties reported
         Squads: 82 destroyed, 10 disabled
         Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 3 destroyed, 7 disabled
      Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
      Units retreated 1
 
 
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
 
Assaulting units:
    39th Division
 
Defending units:
    28th Chinese Corps

Ground combat at 87,56 (near Chuhsien)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 11099 troops, 110 guns, 57 vehicles, Assault Value = 308
 
Defending force 2348 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 54
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 248
 
Allied adjusted defense: 27
 
Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      103 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      1049 casualties reported
         Squads: 47 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Units retreated 1
 
 
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
 
Assaulting units:
    17th Division
 
Defending units:
    100th Chinese Corps

Ground combat at Kukong (79,57)
 
Allied Shock attack
 
Attacking force 30281 troops, 193 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 806
 
Defending force 14365 troops, 115 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value = 453
 
Allied adjusted assault: 650
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 825
 
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      637 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 51 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 44 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      926 casualties reported
         Squads: 48 destroyed, 45 disabled
         Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 35 disabled
         Engineers: 7 destroyed, 11 disabled
 
 
Assaulting units:
    25th Chinese Corps
    65th Chinese Corps
    63rd Chinese Corps
    10th Chinese Corps
    74th Chinese Corps
    29th Group Army
    12th Group Army
    11th Chinese Base Force
    7th War Area
    18th Chinese Base Force
 
Defending units:
    104th Division
    51st Engineer Regiment

[herwin]

Ground operations increase further in tempo. The Japanese commit armoured regiments at Pegu, which will make things problematic as my British forces lack anti-armour weapons. This time, I need to retreat north rather than to Rangoon. A couple of Japanese shock attacks fail in China.

Ground combat at Pegu (55,53)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 63241 troops, 500 guns, 560 vehicles, Assault Value = 2154
 
Defending force 21208 troops, 194 guns, 98 vehicles, Assault Value = 621
 
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 1894
 
Allied adjusted defense: 1430
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
 
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      680 casualties reported
         Squads: 2 destroyed, 43 disabled
         Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 110 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
      Vehicles lost 75 (3 destroyed, 72 disabled)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      2872 casualties reported
         Squads: 20 destroyed, 274 disabled
         Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 347 disabled
         Engineers: 1 destroyed, 34 disabled
 
 
Assaulting units:
    1st Tank Regiment
    33rd Division
    Imperial Guards Division
    4th Tank Regiment
    112th Infantry Regiment
    6th Tank Regiment
    55th Cavalry Regiment
    55th Engineer Regiment
    21st Division
    2nd Tank Regiment
    1st Raiding Regiment
    5th Division
    8th Tank Regiment
    7th Tank Regiment
    15th Army
    21st Fld AA Gun Co
    26th Fld AA Gun Co
    35th Fld AA Gun Co
    55th Mountain Gun Regiment
    21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
 
Defending units:
    1st Burma Division
    17th Indian Division
    Burma Corps
    107th RAF Base Force

Ground combat at 84,52 (near Wuchang)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 14368 troops, 124 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 406
 
Defending force 14330 troops, 81 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 393
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 594
 
Allied adjusted defense: 919
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      858 casualties reported
         Squads: 4 destroyed, 33 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      729 casualties reported
         Squads: 2 destroyed, 27 disabled
         Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 36 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
 
 
Assaulting units:
    3rd Division
 
Defending units:
    37th Chinese Corps
    58th Chinese Corps

Ground combat at 86,49 (near Sinyang)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 6750 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 211
 
Defending force 13214 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 405
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 124
 
Allied adjusted defense: 529
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      881 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 74 disabled
         Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 80 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      144 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
 
 
Assaulting units:
    57th Infantry Brigade
 
Defending units:
    85th Chinese Corps
    21st Group Army

[herwin]

March 18/19 1942

Cruiser bombardment of Pontianak--almost undefended--prior to amphibious landing.

Battleship bombardment of Singkawang, again almost undefended,

Betties hit base at Shortlands, sinking the AVP providing support to a PBY group.

[herwin]

March 19/20 1942

The Japanese expeditionary force in China begins to head up the road to Sian.

Ground combat at 85,44 (near Nanyang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 91749 troops, 860 guns, 87 vehicles, Assault Value = 3215

Defending force 33501 troops, 142 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 757

Japanese adjusted assault: 3128

Allied adjusted defense: 337

Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
     1400 casualties reported
        Squads: 2 destroyed, 137 disabled
        Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 107 disabled
        Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
     Units pursuing 11


Allied ground losses:
     12980 casualties reported
        Squads: 355 destroyed, 153 disabled
        Non Combat: 417 destroyed, 122 disabled
        Engineers: 30 destroyed, 42 disabled
     Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
     Units retreated 12


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
   36th Division
   35th Division
   9th Armored Car Co
   9th Tank Regiment
   10th Tank Regiment
   41st Division
   27th Division
   110th Division
   1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
   5th Tank Regiment
   6th Division
   5th Ind.Mixed Brigade
   23rd Tank Regiment
   15th Tank Regiment
   8th Armored Car Co
   12th Tank Regiment
   3rd Tank Regiment
   5th Armored Car Co
   11th Tank Regiment
   15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
   14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
   51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
   1st Mortar Battalion
   2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
   China Expeditionary Army
   52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
   1st Chinese Corps
   93rd Chinese/A Corps
   41st Chinese Corps
   36th Chinese Corps
   15th Chinese Corps
   93rd Chinese/B Corps
   3rd Group Army
   22nd Group Army
   31st Group Army
   5th War Area
   14th Group Army
   39th Group Army

A couple of oopsies

Ground combat at 84,52 (near Wuchang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 13811 troops, 124 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 363

Defending force 13830 troops, 81 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 362

Japanese adjusted assault: 208

Allied adjusted defense: 895

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4

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

Japanese ground losses:
     573 casualties reported
        Squads: 1 destroyed, 54 disabled
        Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 43 disabled
        Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled


Allied ground losses:
     257 casualties reported
        Squads: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
        Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
        Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
   3rd Division

Defending units:
   37th Chinese Corps
   58th Chinese Corps

Ground combat at 86,55 (near Kiukiang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 11085 troops, 110 guns, 57 vehicles, Assault Value = 307

Defending force 8537 troops, 95 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 184

Japanese adjusted assault: 223

Allied adjusted defense: 383

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
     964 casualties reported
        Squads: 0 destroyed, 68 disabled
        Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 43 disabled
        Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled


Allied ground losses:
     44 casualties reported
        Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
        Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
        Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
   17th Division

Defending units:
   70th Chinese Corps
   86th Chinese Corps
   100th Chinese Corps
   10th Group Army
   32nd Group Army

This will go fast when he finally decides to attack. I only hope I can hold him before Mandalay. I have five Chinese divisions in country and a number of light infantry battalions positioned to move onto his supply routes. The Indo-Burmese border is currently garrisoned with four or five more divisions.

Ground combat at Pegu (55,53)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 53429 troops, 472 guns, 141 vehicles, Assault Value = 2113

Defending force 17255 troops, 188 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 432

Japanese ground losses:
     29 casualties reported
        Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
        Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
        Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


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


Assaulting units:
   112th Infantry Regiment
   21st Division
   4th Tank Regiment
   6th Tank Regiment
   Imperial Guards Division
   55th Cavalry Regiment
   1st Raiding Regiment
   2nd Tank Regiment
   5th Division
   33rd Division
   55th Engineer Regiment
   1st Tank Regiment
   8th Tank Regiment
   7th Tank Regiment
   15th Army
   35th Fld AA Gun Co
   26th Fld AA Gun Co
   21st Fld AA Gun Co
   55th Mountain Gun Regiment
   21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
   9th Burma Rifles Battalion
   1st Burma Division
   17th Indian Division
   Burma Corps

[herwin]

March 20/21 1942

My opponent begins to wonder if his tempo is too slow.

Fast KB hits NW Borneo.

Shock attack at Pegu (about time!) Initial attack ratio 5-1 against a developed fortified zone. Historically, this would have resulted in perhaps a mile gain with the Japanese enjoying something of an advantage in casualty percentage. Of course, given the GG LCU combat model, this produces a 46-mile advance with massive Allied casualties. Such is life in cloud-cuckooland.

Ground combat at Pegu (55,53)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 62651 troops, 500 guns, 557 vehicles, Assault Value = 2133
 
Defending force 17290 troops, 188 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 433
 
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 2498
 
Allied adjusted defense: 370
 
Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)
 
Japanese forces CAPTURE Pegu !!!
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      959 casualties reported
         Squads: 21 destroyed, 48 disabled
         Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 76 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      6113 casualties reported
         Squads: 245 destroyed, 26 disabled
         Non Combat: 322 destroyed, 24 disabled
         Engineers: 74 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 59 (58 destroyed, 1 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 59 (59 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Units retreated 3
      Units destroyed 1
 
 
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
 
Assaulting units:
    55th Cavalry Regiment
    33rd Division
    112th Infantry Regiment
    4th Tank Regiment
    1st Tank Regiment
    2nd Tank Regiment
    Imperial Guards Division
    55th Engineer Regiment
    21st Division
    1st Raiding Regiment
    6th Tank Regiment
    8th Tank Regiment
    5th Division
    7th Tank Regiment
    55th Mountain Gun Regiment
    21st Fld AA Gun Co
    26th Fld AA Gun Co
    35th Fld AA Gun Co
    15th Army
    21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
 
Defending units:
    9th Burma Rifles Battalion
    1st Burma Division
    17th Indian Division
    Burma Corps

Japanese armoured brigade with no infantry support overruns a Chinese army. Again, cloud-cuckooland. 46 Japanese tanks disabled and thousands of Chinese troops killed.

Ground combat at 84,43 (near Nanyang)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 3552 troops, 0 guns, 659 vehicles, Assault Value = 374
 
Defending force 22203 troops, 140 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 382
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 423
 
Allied adjusted defense: 367
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      Vehicles lost 46 (1 destroyed, 45 disabled)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      3041 casualties reported
         Squads: 12 destroyed, 208 disabled
         Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 158 disabled
         Engineers: 9 destroyed, 3 disabled
 
 
Assaulting units:
    5th Armored Car Co
    9th Armored Car Co
    23rd Tank Regiment
    5th Tank Regiment
    8th Armored Car Co
    10th Tank Regiment
    15th Tank Regiment
    3rd Tank Regiment
    9th Tank Regiment
    12th Tank Regiment
    11th Tank Regiment
 
Defending units:
    36th Chinese Corps
    1st Chinese Corps
    41st Chinese Corps
    15th Chinese Corps
    93rd Chinese Corps
    5th War Area
    3rd Group Army
    14th Group Army
    31st Group Army
    22nd Group Army
    39th Group Army

Pontianak falls to Japan.

One of the big issues with the LCU combat model is that the Japanese were extremely good at small unit operations and at best adequate in large-scale attacks. The army-group-scale attack during the previous turn was simply not their style.

[herwin]

March 21/22 1942

Another night bombardment of Singkawang followed by a fast KB strike and a massive Nettie strike. Waste of ammo. Singkawang falls.

[herwin]

March 22/23 1942

Fast KB moves into the Java Sea and fends off Dutch attacks.

Japanese army group forces back a Chinese screen on the road to Sian.

1 Gloucestershire Battalion establishes a roadblock on the Pegu-Moulmein road, and a Japanese tank regiment (with no infantry support) tries to clear it with a shock attack. Note the casualty pattern. The problem I'm having is that very few WWII tanks had much armour on the flanks, rear, or top, so a mounted attack without infantry support (which this was) would necessarily take casualties at close range in addition to those caused by the 2-lb AT guns in the battalion, which would be positioned to fire on the tank flanks. The 2-lb AT gun was a very well-designed light AT gun on a low mount with 360 degree traverse. It was found to be unusually hard for tank crews to acquire. I would basically expect the tank regiment to be wiped out, losing about 30 to the AT guns and the rest to close-range infantry assault. At the same time, the tanks would have to operate buttoned down, so their target acquisition would be seriously degraded, and the defending infantry should not take many casualties--perhaps a couple of platoons. I'm having trouble with my suspension of disbelief.

Ground combat at 56,54 (near Moulmein)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 384 troops, 0 guns, 93 vehicles, Assault Value = 62

Defending force 1144 troops, 16 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 40

Japanese adjusted assault: 56

Allied adjusted defense: 71

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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


Allied ground losses:
     149 casualties reported
        Squads: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
        Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
        Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
   14th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
   1st Gloucestershire Battalion

By the way, Rangoon is declared an open city.

I'm sneaking two xAKLs into Davao, each loaded with 1750 tons of supply. They're almost there--two hexes away. Wish me luck.

[herwin]

March 23/24 1942

Two xAKLs unloading at Davao. Sweet!

14th Tank Regiment rests. Meanwhile no supply to Pegu! In reality, that would result in the Japanese armour coming to a stop shortly due to lack of fuel. German armour had difficulty operating very far from railheads:

"[font="arial"]One of the elder von Moltke's axioms stated that military operations will suffer accordingly if the rail head is more than 60 miles/100 km from the front lines. If this held true for the first world war, it also held true for the second world war. However, due to the many circumstances beyond their control, German military rail planners were often hard pressed to maintain lesser distances from rail head to the front line - especially when German troops were on the attack in the first two to three years of the war. Given that motor transportation methods had now progressed to far greater levels, Moltke's axiom was extended to about 180 miles/300 km." (http://www.feldgrau.com/dreichsbahn.html)

The Japanese assault force is currently 138 miles from Moulmein, along a road currently occupied by a roadblock.
[/font]
The tank regiments north of Pegu are headed towards Prome, cross-country into the jungle. The Burcorps heads up the main road from Rangoon to the same hex. If the tank regiments beat me, I think I'll have a few comments about my disbelief in events.

Although Rangoon has been declared an open city, my opponent has not occupied it.

[herwin]

March 24/25 1942

Night bombardment of Bandjermasin. Another waste of ammo. Followed by amphibious assault.

Japanese tanker convoy spotted two hexes SE of Okinawa.

127 Netties attack the AVP Valk in Sambas.

Sabang falls.

14th Tank Regiment, this time with infantry support, attacks the 1st Gloucestershire roadblock between Moulmein and Pegu.

Ground combat at 56,54 (near Moulmein)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 360 troops, 0 guns, 93 vehicles, Assault Value = 59
 
Defending force 1054 troops, 16 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 33
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 41
 
Allied adjusted defense: 35
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker: shock(+)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      Vehicles lost 21 (2 destroyed, 19 disabled)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      249 casualties reported
         Squads: 3 destroyed, 15 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Assaulting units:
    14th Tank Regiment
    33rd Div /5
 
Defending units:
    1st Gloucestershire Battalion

Rangoon surrenders.

[herwin]

March 25/26 1942

Japanese capture Bandjermasin.

Japanese invasion of Burma seems to be temporarily stalled.

[herwin]

March 26/27 1942

Some ground activity.

Counterattack on my roadblock near Moulmein

Ground combat at 56,54 (near Moulmein)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 312 troops, 0 guns, 93 vehicles, Assault Value = 54
 
Defending force 855 troops, 16 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 17
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 88
 
Allied adjusted defense: 23
 
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      248 casualties reported
         Squads: 10 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 3 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
      Units retreated 1
 
 
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
 
Assaulting units:
    14th Tank Regiment
    33rd Div /5
 
Defending units:
    1st Gloucestershire Battalion

Japanese oops:

Ground combat at 85,49 (near Hankow)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 12167 troops, 102 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 388
 
Defending force 32399 troops, 227 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 792
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 312
 
Allied adjusted defense: 449
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), disruption(-)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      2594 casualties reported
         Squads: 4 destroyed, 127 disabled
         Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 139 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      633 casualties reported
         Squads: 5 destroyed, 33 disabled
         Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Assaulting units:
    32nd Division
 
Defending units:
    30th Chinese Corps
    59th Chinese Corps
    77th Chinese Corps
    94th Chinese Corps
 
 
---------------------------------------------

 
Ground combat at 85,49 (near Hankow)
 
Allied Bombardment attack
 
Attacking force 31943 troops, 227 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 759
 
Defending force 10189 troops, 102 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 266
 
Japanese ground losses:
      9 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
 
Assaulting units:
    30th Chinese Corps
    77th Chinese Corps
    59th Chinese Corps
    94th Chinese Corps
 
Defending units:
    32nd Division

Firepower may be insufficient to follow up here

Ground combat at Kukong (79,57)
 
Allied Bombardment attack
 
Attacking force 31689 troops, 227 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 797
 
Defending force 14289 troops, 115 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value = 452
 
 
 
Assaulting units:
    63rd Chinese Corps
    25th Chinese Corps
    65th Chinese Corps
    10th Chinese Corps
    74th Chinese Corps
    12th Group Army
    7th War Area
    11th Chinese Base Force
    29th Group Army
    18th Chinese Base Force
 
Defending units:
    104th Division
    51st Engineer Regiment

[herwin]

March 27/28 1942

More ground combat

Armoured overrun of an entrenched infantry brigade--a bit strange, but this is what happens with armoured attacks. Not really good tank terrain.

Ground combat at 56,51 (near Toungoo)
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 2172 troops, 0 guns, 426 vehicles, Assault Value = 625
 
Defending force 3198 troops, 6 guns, 44 vehicles, Assault Value = 128
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 166
 
Allied adjusted defense: 375
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+)
Attacker:
 
Japanese ground losses:
      Vehicles lost 36 (1 destroyed, 35 disabled)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      658 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 56 disabled
         Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 59 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
      Vehicles lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled)
 
 
Assaulting units:
    2nd Tank Regiment
    8th Tank Regiment
    21st Division
    6th Tank Regiment
    1st Tank Regiment
    4th Tank Regiment
    7th Tank Regiment
 
Defending units:
    46th Indian Brigade

Japanese shock attack on a position in the mountains. Really lousy terrain for an armoured attack, but the game engine doesn't care. I'd be keeping my armour in more open terrain.

Ground combat at 84,42 (near Sian)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 94262 troops, 860 guns, 751 vehicles, Assault Value = 3167
 
Defending force 82214 troops, 564 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2008
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 2153
 
Allied adjusted defense: 3559
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      4389 casualties reported
         Squads: 8 destroyed, 410 disabled
         Non Combat: 63 destroyed, 422 disabled
         Engineers: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled
      Vehicles lost 187 (51 destroyed, 136 disabled)
      Units destroyed 1
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      9041 casualties reported
         Squads: 270 destroyed, 183 disabled
         Non Combat: 185 destroyed, 309 disabled
         Engineers: 25 destroyed, 27 disabled
 
 
Assaulting units:
    9th Armored Car Co
    110th Division
    8th Armored Car Co
    41st Division
    36th Division
    3rd Tank Regiment
    35th Division
    5th Armored Car Co
    9th Tank Regiment
    10th Tank Regiment
    15th Tank Regiment
    5th Ind.Mixed Brigade
    23rd Tank Regiment
    27th Division
    12th Tank Regiment
    5th Tank Regiment
    6th Division
    1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
    11th Tank Regiment
    China Expeditionary Army
    2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
    1st Mortar Battalion
    14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
    15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
    51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
    52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
 
Defending units:
    36th Chinese Corps
    41st Chinese Corps
    15th Chinese Corps
    29th Chinese Corps
    57th Chinese Corps
    1st Chinese Corps
    3rd Chinese Corps
    7th Chinese Corps
    9th Chinese Corps
    1st Chinese Cavalry Corps
    76th Chinese Corps
    93rd Chinese Corps
    66th Chinese Corps
    36th Group Army
    31st Group Army
    14th Group Army
    34th Group Army
    39th Group Army
    5th War Area
    3rd Group Army
    22nd Group Army
    57th AT Gun Regiment

The Allies turn the tables in this shock attack. Now this is where the Japanese should have been deploying their armour.

Ground combat at 85,49 (near Hankow)
 
Allied Shock attack
 
Attacking force 32000 troops, 227 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 758
 
Defending force 10222 troops, 102 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 269
 
Allied adjusted assault: 318
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 33
 
Allied assault odds: 9 to 1
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), supply(-)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      5024 casualties reported
         Squads: 118 destroyed, 63 disabled
         Non Combat: 132 destroyed, 23 disabled
         Engineers: 8 destroyed, 4 disabled
      Guns lost 11 (6 destroyed, 5 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 12 (8 destroyed, 4 disabled)
      Units retreated 1
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      1792 casualties reported
         Squads: 8 destroyed, 89 disabled
         Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 90 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
 
 
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
 
Assaulting units:
    77th Chinese Corps
    30th Chinese Corps
    59th Chinese Corps
    94th Chinese Corps
 
Defending units:
    32nd Division

And finally, Sambas falls.