Defeat into Victory - Godefroy(A) vs Deaniks(J) - finish

[godefroycz]

April 13, 1942

The Japanese launched major air raids on Singapore in the morning. I expected a ground attack to come, but in the end the Japanese did not attack. Three bombers were shot down over Singapore, but the anti-aircraft guns are also running out of ammunition.The submarine Truant patrolling in the Strait of Malacca was sunk by a Kate aircraft. A surprising loss to me as she has been patrolling here for about a month and has never been attacked. It is possible that Japanese aircraft carriers are near Palembang.
The Japanese landed the 84th Nav Gd at Buna, but I hope it won't be enough for them to capture the base. I have pulled all the troops that retreated from Port Moresby here and I try to supply them with Catalinas from Cooktown.

Air losses (J:A) 6:0

[godefroycz]

April 14, 1942

I am trying to escape with my last forces from Palembang. The Buffalo group flies north to India and the last patrol boats around Oosthaven sail away. Unfortunately, the enemy has moved two battleships and two escorted light cruisers here and 4 MLs are sunk.
Submarines are active again. USS Cachalot torpedoed and severely damaged cargo ship AK England Maru off Lahaina. O-16 strafed the loaded AP transport ship Manzyu Maru off the coast of Borneo with artillery fire. It is not clear to me why the submarine did not attack with torpedoes. A shame about such an opportunity.

Submarine attack near Bandjermasin at 62,102

Japanese Ships
xAP Manzyu Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
SS O16, hits 1, on fire

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

Another submarine near Phukhet reports an enemy alliance, which probably includes aircraft carriers. This is the first time that the Japanese appear on the western side of the peninsula. I don't know what the enemy is up to, but all the big ships are leaving Colombo port.

Air losses (J:A) 2:2

[godefroycz]

April 15, 1942

Telegraphic:

• 70 bombers attacked Singapore. Damage is minimal and 4 bombers are shot down

• USS Salmon damaged AKL Tohuku Maru with a deck gun near Formosa

• Pearl Harbor raised fortifications to 1. After a very long time

• Noumea has increased its port and airport to 3

• Stock in Singapore is 0

• AK Alchiba escaping from Pearl Harbor arrived at Pago

• Air losses (J:A) 8:1

[Lowpe]

You basically don't need Pearl unless AV comes into play. Having it as Japan is one huge logistical nightmare, even in a scenario 2 game. I know from experience.

Set up a sub base with an AS and oilers somewhere south and flood the area with your Sboats and other subs...mines probably won't be too effective.

Your regular subs can run supply in fairly safely as anti sub operation are pretty poor for Japan right now. You might think about running in a squadron of destroyers and have them attempt to disband into Pearl to clear up small ships Japan might have loitering.

Cede the air war there.

Possibly look to raid the supply line leading to Pearl with your carriers/small sags....super risky this...perhaps some range and search specific arcs for PBYs with torpedoes very low. Send a Brooklyn between Honshu and Marianas/Wake from the Aleuts...

Beef up Alaska now!

So in short set up the chance to inflict attritional losses and plan to continue the war without Pearl. Just beef up north and south!

[godefroycz]

April 16, 1942

Telegraphic:
USS Tautog did not hit a transport ship off Sakhalin even a third time
USS Saury damaged the Shinrei Maru near Kyushu with an AKL deck gun. I don't know what this new tactic is to attack with a deck gun now. The captains probably don't believe in torpedoes, and I'm not surprised.
60 bombers attack Singapore again and five are shot down by flak
Pearl Harbor increased fortifications to 2

Air losses (J:A) 5:0

[godefroycz]

April 17, 1942

Today is unfortunately a sad day. After more than four months of siege, Singapore fell. It was expected, but still unfortunate. By their resistance, the defenders made it possible to strengthen and fortify positions in India and Australia. I hope that the troops in Malaya have been greatly weakened, and that rest and replenishment will be necessary. I don't think they will be available before a month.
Now we have the fight for Batavia in Java and especially Palembang in Sumatra. It is strongly fortified, the garrison is similar to that of Singapore, and it has an inexhaustible source of supplies. But according to intelligence reports, the enemy is gathering really impressive forces.
Enemy aircraft carriers appeared 6 hexes from Colombo, Ceylon. There has been no attack yet. As I had already spotted this TF a few days ago off Malaya, all the vessels had left port on time. Only 4 destroyers remain in dry dock and a few smaller ships.

[BBfanboy]

Sub skippers with very high aggression will often use their deck gun on unescorted vessels, usually xAKLs because they are often slower than xAKs.
High aggression skippers are also more likely to get their sub sunk in shallow water because they lack the patience for a slow stalk of their prey and chances of dodging an attack are lower.

[godefroycz]

You basically don't need Pearl unless AV comes into play. Having it as Japan is one huge logistical nightmare, even in a scenario 2 game. I know from experience.

Set up a sub base with an AS and oilers somewhere south and flood the area with your Sboats and other subs...mines probably won't be too effective.

Your regular subs can run supply in fairly safely as anti sub operation are pretty poor for Japan right now. You might think about running in a squadron of destroyers and have them attempt to disband into Pearl to clear up small ships Japan might have loitering.

Cede the air war there.

Possibly look to raid the supply line leading to Pearl with your carriers/small sags....super risky this...perhaps some range and search specific arcs for PBYs with torpedoes very low. Send a Brooklyn between Honshu and Marianas/Wake from the Aleuts...

Beef up Alaska now!

So in short set up the chance to inflict attritional losses and plan to continue the war without Pearl. Just beef up north and south!

Yes, I am concentrating forces elsewhere and if Pearl Harbor falls I will try to cut it off from supplies. For now, submarines can operate from Pearl Harbor, but a replacement is ready. I don't know where the enemy supply lines run, but after the last carrier attack, I came back once more, cruised here for about 14 days and didn't meet any ships. The intensity of shelling and raids has decreased, so now I can build fortifications again.

[godefroycz]

April 18, 1942

After inspecting the allied naval bases (think of it as a family vacation ) we can continue.
USS Salmon damaged small cargo ship AKL Keizan Maru near Formosa.

Submarine attack near Taihoku at 88,62

Japanese Ships
xAKL Keizan Maru, Shell hits 11, heavy fires

Allied Ships
SS Salmon, hits 2

In the morning, Japanese fighter planes appear over Colombo. Since I withdrew all the planes and ships, there was no battle. To my surprise, the Japanese did not fly in that afternoon.

Pearl Harbor increased fortifications to 3
Air losses (J:A) 3:1

[godefroycz]

April 19, 1942

Today is submarines day.

Submarine attack near Batavia at 49,97

Japanese Ships
xAK Tatumiya Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KVII

Submarine attack near Batavia at 50,96

Japanese Ships
xAK Noto Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KVIII

Submarine attack near Batavia at 49,97

Japanese Ships
xAK Tatumiya Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KVII

Submarine attack near Batavia at 50,96

Japanese Ships
xAK Teiyo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KVIII

Submarine attack near Itbayat Island at 83,69

Japanese Ships
xAKL Ina Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-40

Sub attack near Batavia at 49,97

Japanese Ships
xAP Kokuryu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Zinzan Maru
PB Yodozo Maru

Allied Ships
SS KVII

Submarine attack near Itbayat Island at 83,69

Japanese Ships
xAKL Ina Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-40

Three ships are confirmed to have sunk.

Today the Japanese attacked the port of Colombo. 4 destroyers and two small cargo ships are damaged. The enemy lost 13 Kate in the attack. It looks like the enemy is already retreating to the south.

I started Operation Peacock - Phase Red. Group South, composed of the 2nd, 3rd, 32nd and 33rd Army Groups, attacked in the direction of Nanyang. The 44th Division is trying to cut off retreat routes from Nanyang. Unfortunately, the planned northern grouping is blocked. But the enemy began to completely withdraw from the area of Sian.


Air losses (J:A) 18:0

[godefroycz]

April 20, 1942

Telegraphic:
The submarine USS Sailfish torpedoed and sank the cargo ship Ume Maru
Fighters again fly over Colombo, but no raid
Japanese 38th Division captures weakly defended Djambi (Sumatra)
The Japanese have occupied San Jose and the island of Panay is in their hands
Adak raised the airfield to 1. This is the first time the Japanese learn of my presence in the Aleutians
I tried to attack the Japanese retreating from Sian, but it was not a good idea.

Ground combat at 84,43 (near Nanyang)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 59141 troops, 288 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2177

Defending force 28922 troops, 200 guns, 57 vehicles, Assault Value = 988

Allied adjusted assault: 672

Japanese adjusted defense: 2506

Allied assault odds: 1 to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
1667 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 127 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
6344 casualties reported
Squads: 45 destroyed, 538 disabled
Non Combat: 40 destroyed, 41 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled
Guns lost 27 (9 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Air losses (J:A) 0:1

[godefroycz]

April 21, 1942

No enemy activity today. The only combat actions are from my submarines. USS Tautog again missed a freighter off Sakhalin with about 10 torpedoes and damage it with desk gun. I recall submarine to base.
The Dutch KXIV torpedoed a large transport ship in the Java Sea.

Sub attack near Semarang at 54,101

Japanese Ships
xAP Kokuryu Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXIV

SS KXIV launches 4 torpedoes

Air losses (J:A) 1:0

[godefroycz]

April 22-23, 1942

USS Sailfish torpedoed and sank PB Shuko Maru #2 off Formosa.
The only enemy action is a new attack on Pearl Harbor. However, since the opponent allowed me to build a fortification at level three, I think he is not satisfied with the result.

Ground combat at Pearl Harbor (180,107)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 41833 troops, 443 guns, 246 vehicles, Assault Value = 941

Defending force 56584 troops, 987 guns, 1354 vehicles, Assault Value = 749

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 456

Allied adjusted defense: 3205

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 7 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
5565 casualties reported
Squads: 92 destroyed, 315 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 139 disabled
Engineers: 54 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 35 (10 destroyed, 25 disabled)
Vehicles lost 43 (5 destroyed, 38 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
287 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 22 (2 destroyed, 20 disabled)

Air osses (J:A) 7:1

[godefroycz]

April 24, 1942

The Japanese are sleeping. No combat actions.

Air losses (J:A) 1:0

[godefroycz]

April 25, 1942

The Japanese are now passive, but it is not clear if a new operation is in the offing. The Imperial Guards Division has captured Kath in Burma, but is being recon retreated to the west. I have no idea what that means. Chinese forces bypassed Nanyang from the south and the city was captured. The Japanese had to retreat to the northeast. My objective is to try to surround the Japanese on the road north of Nanyang.



Air losses (J:A) 1:1

[BBfanboy]

Moving one hex west of Katha would indicate the IGD is on the railway (strat mode) and repositioning somewhere, perhaps for a thrust along the coast road or toward China if the Burma Road still has Allied troops on it. Long shot would be loading it on ships at Rangoon for an invasion of India or Ceylon.

[godefroycz]

A shift along the coast to Akyab is likely. I do not foresee any action in India or Ceylon, as the opponent is stuck in both Pearl Harbor and Palembang, and I assume that Palembang in particular must be solved as a priority.

[godefroycz]

April 26, 1942

Because the Japanese are now passive, I have to be active. Australian troops landed on Efate and occupied it without a fight. It is the first territory in the Pacific conquered back.

The situation at Nanyag is interesting. The Japanese voluntarily jumped into the city and thus into the encirclement. This will now be closed quickly and I hope supplies will arrive soon. I disbanded supplies at Chunking, Sian, and Changsha ready for defense. There are about 100k supplies, we'll see if they find their way to the fighting units. I expect the enemy will try to break through to Nanyang from the east and free the troops. So it's time to start the "Yellow" phase and prevent the Japanese from concentrating their forces in one place.


Air losses (J:A) 1:0

[godefroycz]

April 27 - 28, 1942

No enemy activity with the exception of air raids on Clark Field. I started the Yellow phase of operation Peacock. Details later.

Air losses (J:A) 5:2

[godefroycz]

April 29, 1942

The Australians continue their advance and land at Luganville. To my surprise, there is a Japanese aircraft carrier nearby. Fortunately, only one transport destroyer is damaged and hopefully it will be able to return to Noumea.

Air losses (J:A) 2:0