::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjoy (J)

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: IdahoNYer

The entire contingent of Dutch ships, which is massive in DBB-C, have moved South toward Perth. The faster ones have already unloaded fuel they carried and are heading for Cape Town. Some even went direct there to top up the stores before all of these ships arrive. Other short range ships, small and very useful xAPs and xAKLs, will move to Adelaide, out of the firing lines.

Don't forget you can use some of these Dutch AK/AKLs for off map. Great way to move fuel into Cape Town from England/NY since off map movement doesn't expend fuel or op damage. Couple of big convoys of short range AK/AKLs can move a lot of fuel over time.


Question on your SO PAC defense - what's your STOP line? With the marines going to NOPAC and CVs in Perth, seems you're giving a free hand in SOPAC?

I've already got some xAK moved to East coast for this. Sending a ton of tankers and others that way after dropping fuel in Perth.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Dec 26, 1941[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]Shark hits an xAKL on the surface and guns her down. The O19 gets an xAK, but there are about ten attacks that missed on ships leaving PB too. The I-9 finishes off the Prince Robert near Dutch.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Pacific: [/font]He's still moving south, taking Efate. Looked for a minute like he was going for Wallis island and I rushed some minesweepers there to intercept, but the TF disappeared. I'm sending another regiment to the So Pac area. I need one for Pago Pago, one for Canton Island, and probably two more for Fiji, and then I'll feel better down there.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI:[/font] Tried a city attack on PB hitting manpower, but couldn't get anything through as a good zero group is put there immediately, as it should be. Only lost 2 planes though.

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 26, 41
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Morning Air attack on Palembang , at 48,91

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
F1M2 Pete x 4
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 9

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
Ki-43-Ia Oscar: 1 damaged
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Palembang , at 48,91

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
F1M2 Pete x 3
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 6

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 4 damaged

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

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Losses:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of AMC Prince Robert on Dec 26, 1941 is admitted[/font]

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]xAK Eihuku Maru is reported to have been sunk near Lingga on Dec 26, 1941[/font]
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[Symon]

ORIGINAL: obvert
Interestingly in DBB-C many of the Chinese Corps have 37mm AT guns. I don't remember this from before, His attacks near Tsiaotso have taken out a few tanks and damaged a bunch already, which is unusual in China.

It all depended on where the troops came from. China had a lot of AT weapons (not represented in game just yet). There was everything from Madsen 20mm on a T-6 mount, Chinese Type-14 37mm IG (a copy of the IJ T-11, in turn a development of the Mle1916), “Swiss” Pak 36s, Chinese Type-30 37mm AT (copy of the German gun), Chinese Type-14 37mm AT (copy of IJ T-11), to an assortment of Italian, British, Russian, Czech, guns that were purchased now and again. In the central area, the Yan Xi Shan armory was a major producer. Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan (and some Anhui/Hubei) units might be considered as moderately well equipped with AT capability.

I think Kereguelen did a good job abstracting this into the Chinese OOB. There’s no way of knowing, of course, which units are which, so one just has to look hard at what one has and use them accordingly.

Just for fun: many IJ weapons captured in the Pacific were captured Chinese weapons that were copies of captured IJ weapons that were copies of this and that. Copies are good because that means one can use captured ammo without rechambering. [8D] Chinese weren't dumb. [8D]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Dec 27, 1941[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] The 016 took out an SC. Every little bit helps!

The I-5 hits an xAK moving up North near Victoria. No good ASW here yet. There will be though.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Pacific: [/font]The quest continues as the Japanese land at Port Moresby. It's all lightning fast and well supported. The only spot I've been able to slow Japanese advances is up North. Some element of the KB is hang in around south of New Guinea. Looks like about four CVs worth still.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI:[/font] The IJN is taking over on both sides of Borneo. With CV air protecting it all the little stringbag and Beest groups have been waiting on the edges of the dance. A few small base forces are moving back and I've enlisted the Chinese transports for getting a few more out of Malaya. They'll all move to Cocos island and have a few small units there with some AV. Then I'd like to take the base forces off if possible and bring them to the other IO islands and to India.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA:[/font] Up in the North I've been sending some units through Kweisui, and to my surprise the IJ built up at this base. The Chinese units have moved through and the IJA is now pursuing. Is he going for the far western bases? Is this a long journey to the backdoor of Lanchow? Is it just an attempt to get at the Chinese troops?

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Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]SC Ch 15 is reported to have been sunk near Tioman Island on Dec 27, 1941[/font]
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[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Symon

ORIGINAL: obvert
Interestingly in DBB-C many of the Chinese Corps have 37mm AT guns. I don't remember this from before, His attacks near Tsiaotso have taken out a few tanks and damaged a bunch already, which is unusual in China.

It all depended on where the troops came from. China had a lot of AT weapons (not represented in game just yet). There was everything from Madsen 20mm on a T-6 mount, Chinese Type-14 37mm IG (a copy of the IJ T-11, in turn a development of the Mle1916), “Swiss” Pak 36s, Chinese Type-30 37mm AT (copy of the German gun), Chinese Type-14 37mm AT (copy of IJ T-11), to an assortment of Italian, British, Russian, Czech, guns that were purchased now and again. In the central area, the Yan Xi Shan armory was a major producer. Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan (and some Anhui/Hubei) units might be considered as moderately well equipped with AT capability.

I think Kereguelen did a good job abstracting this into the Chinese OOB. There’s no way of knowing, of course, which units are which, so one just has to look hard at what one has and use them accordingly.

Just for fun: many IJ weapons captured in the Pacific were captured Chinese weapons that were copies of captured IJ weapons that were copies of this and that. Copies are good because that means one can use captured ammo without rechambering. [8D] Chinese weren't dumb. [8D]

Thanks for all of the info. I'm guessing by your 'not just yet' comment that in later versions we might see more of them. [:)]

[ny59giants]

I use the American restricted bomber HQs (5 planes each) as ASW assets. Train up in ASW and then LowN to try to get those that come too close to a major base. They usually get withdrawn on July 1st 42 or later in 42.

[jmalter]

hi obvert,

thx for your reply wrt my question about your future plans for Dutch forces. I'm really glad to hear that you've been able to evacuate the greater majority of AK & Support ships, & understand that you're using an 'historical' model that dis-allows the conversion of North Oz bases to ABDA command. Please remember to set these guys to 'do not refuel' when they arrive at their destinations, it's really easy to drain Cape Town's fuel early in the game.

Glad to read about how you quickly stomped on GJ's Aleutian incursion. That was probably a feint on his part - he committed a few cheesy BFs, you destroyed them, he'll get them back at Tokyo eventually. But you need those island bases, primarily to support your sub campaign!

Note that the Aleutians are in the cold zone, any base construction you do up there takes twice as long during Nov-Feb. There's some info in this thread tm.asp?m=2885601&mpage=1&key=&#2885601 that will inform you about the max number of engrs you should send to a base-hex. Engrs from SeaBee central (Port Hueneme) should be moved in groups to max out every rail-connected port & airfield size in Can/USA. Heavy base construction in CONUS will help prevent an IJ auto-victory, & you're going to need size 8/9 airfields to support your airgroup training efforts.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I use the American restricted bomber HQs (5 planes each) as ASW assets. Train up in ASW and then LowN to try to get those that come too close to a major base. They usually get withdrawn on July 1st 42 or later in 42.

I'll first get some ground bombing skill pits and then concentrate on some ASW. I'm sure nick will be too! [;)]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: jmalter

hi obvert,

thx for your reply wrt my question about your future plans for Dutch forces. I'm really glad to hear that you've been able to evacuate the greater majority of AK & Support ships, & understand that you're using an 'historical' model that dis-allows the conversion of North Oz bases to ABDA command. Please remember to set these guys to 'do not refuel' when they arrive at their destinations, it's really easy to drain Cape Town's fuel early in the game.

While we're trying to get a more historic feel with the PDU-off, neither of us is interested in a completely historical campaign. The reason not to turn the bases to ABDA is more that I would rather use the PPs to buy out more Allied units with greater replacement potential. I can get some of the US and Brit bases from the DEI and Malaya cheaply and I've been sending them on through as fast as possible toward Java and Cocos.

I actually filled up almost all ships leaving the DEI with fuel and some going to Cape Town will actually bring fuel there, just to make sure nothing goes dry early, as there will be a lot of ships transiting through. I'll soon begin CS convoys from East Coast and UK to top up Cape Town with fuel and supply. A lot of US air groups are sent direct from East Coast too.

Glad to read about how you quickly stomped on GJ's Aleutian incursion. That was probably a feint on his part - he committed a few cheesy BFs, you destroyed them, he'll get them back at Tokyo eventually. But you need those island bases, primarily to support your sub campaign!

One of the BFs was a big IJN Base Force, the 7th I think, which is the best the Japanese have. There are less than ten of these that are mobile until very late in game. So I feel pretty good about knocking that off completely.

Note that the Aleutians are in the cold zone, any base construction you do up there takes twice as long during Nov-Feb. There's some info in this thread tm.asp?m=2885601&mpage=1&key=� that will inform you about the max number of engrs you should send to a base-hex. Engrs from SeaBee central (Port Hueneme) should be moved in groups to max out every rail-connected port & airfield size in Can/USA. Heavy base construction in CONUS will help prevent an IJ auto-victory, & you're going to need size 8/9 airfields to support your airgroup training efforts.

In the Wild Sheep game I held the Aleutians as Japan for almost four years. It is slow going, but it's also not advisable to invade during the winter, so there is time. He could try something while the invasion bonus is still on, but it would still be risky. I plan to continue to send troops and engineers up there.

As for CONUS, I'm not so worried about the building schedule. Groups train just fine at the multitude of big bases already there, and the VP multipliers will keep slowly going up throughout the year. No rush. It's still 41. I only need them to max out in Dec 42. Plenty of time.

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[/u]

[font="Times New Roman"]December 29, 1941

Toungoo, Burma

The air was stifling and the sun bore down on the metal boxes Daniel lifted and placed on the cart for transport. They were shipping out, or railing out, really. A few days ago a Japanese army had crossed the causeway onto Singapore, and the British territory didn’t look to hold long. This had been the fastest and most surprising part of the war to date. Singapore gone.

The Brits were in an obvious state of shock in spite of their efforts to hide it. They too were picking up and moving back to Mandalay. Trucks filled the fields as equipment, stores ammunition and everything else a big air base needed was loaded up. They’d just gotten a massive shipment in from Rangoon, and had just gotten it packed away when the news to move arrived. Chennault was supervising everything himself for the AVG. He was over near the munitions dump making sure all was well. George and Daniel were working with the tools and variously useful spare parts they’d accumulated in their time here.

“Not sure this carburator can be salvaged, Danny. All kinds of jungle dust getting into these things.”

“Keep everything George. You never know what we’ll have to slap together, or when we’ll get anything new, if ever.”

“Guess you’re right.” The spares were crated and loaded with the rest of the parts. They would move out tonight and board a British train for the several day journey. This hadn’t been part of the plan as far as they could tell, but would probably mean they’d be headed to China sooner rather than later.
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[/u]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Dec 28-31, 1941[/font]
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SINGAPORE FALLS!!!

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI:[/font] Nic's blitz in Malaya has set the IJ up for a quick first phase of the expansion. He's played this part flawlessly, separating the peninsula with a well timed paradrop, then landing forces at Mersing to quickly roll into the city and take it. Some useful troops are still sequestered at Kuala Lumpur, which I'l attempt to fly out for Cocos.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]No good hits, but lots of harassment near Manado. I've sent most DEI subs back to Soerabaja for repairs and replenishment. It won't be long before it's not a good idea to have ships repairing here, so I'd like to get what I can done. The next big sub base will be Perth.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Pacific: [/font]The CD guns at Port moresby at least get a few good hits to make the invasion cost. It's interesting to think this way, as it's very similar to the last few years on the Japanese side, making the Allies pay for their advance. I'll keep trying to pick good opportunities to challenge.

Nice intel on the Japanese CVs down here, as they strike Port Moresby troops. This shows at least three here confirmed.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]NO PAC: [/font]This area is shaping up well. No challenge to the fortification has come East yet. It'll take a while to get air bases built in the winter, though. The Sara will head South to Pearl now, since the Japanese have had a look at her. I've not yet decided where the CVs will end up, but four will converge around Southern OZ sometime soon.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font]Learned a few things here in China. With SL the plan for moving units in and out of a hex has to be in place before letting units fortify there, and it's not always a good idea to have lots of forts! Near Tsiatso the IJA prevails and pushes back several wrecked Corps. The level two forts didn't let the troops fail earlier so they were hit harder in the second battle. This'll get interesting.

All along this small road in the North will move back to the Sian area and the MLR will be placed in the mountains to the Northwest on the way to Lanchow as well as around Sian. The key seems also to use hexes that allow smaller numbers. I'd say based on early experience that 40k and under is better. I'm a rookie with SL so I'll have to learn on the fly, and quickly. GJ has played it from both sides and obviously has a system that is proven.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 29, 41
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Afternoon Air attack on 49th Australian Battalion, at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
B5N2 Kate x 63
D3A1 Val x 51
E7K2 Alf x 1

No Japanese losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x D3A1 Val bombing from 16000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
17 x D3A1 Val bombing from 16000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
17 x D3A1 Val bombing from 16000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 30, 41
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Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 53360 troops, 520 guns, 234 vehicles, Assault Value = 1954

Defending force 30236 troops, 367 guns, 241 vehicles, Assault Value = 353

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 1315

Allied adjusted defense: 513

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Singapore !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1585 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 149 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 30 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
26262 casualties reported
Squads: 443 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2414 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 98 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 528 (528 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 281 (281 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 25

Assaulting units:
38th/B Division
33rd Division
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
18th Division
5th Division
38th/A Division
21st Division
1st Tank Regiment
38th/C Division
25th Army
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
34th Field AA Battalion
36th Field AA Battalion

Defending units:
1st Malay Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
3rd Cavalry Regiment
2nd Loyal Battalion
SSVF Brigade
1st Manchester Battalion
2nd Gordons Battalion
2/17 Dogra Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
Malayan Air Wing
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
113th RAF Adv Base Force
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
111th RAF Adv Base Force
112th RAF Adv Base Force
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
Malaya Army
III Indian Corps
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
Singapore Fortress
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Singapore Base Force
AHQ Far East
5th Field Regiment

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Ground combat at 87,41 (near Tsiaotso)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 37484 troops, 402 guns, 422 vehicles, Assault Value = 1138

Defending force 28223 troops, 166 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 409

Japanese adjusted assault: 810

Allied adjusted defense: 706

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
296 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1215 casualties reported
Squads: 41 destroyed, 140 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 56 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled

Assaulting units:
110th Division
5th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
41st Division
3rd Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
37th Division
5th Armored Car Co
1st Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
12th Army
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
15th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
33rd Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
5th New Chinese Corps
7th Group Army
8th Group Army

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Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 6297 troops, 60 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 173

Defending force 4331 troops, 52 guns, 51 vehicles, Assault Value = 78

Japanese adjusted assault: 103

Allied adjusted defense: 19

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Moresby !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
402 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
848 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 83 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 30 (22 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 42 (42 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 7

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
144th Infantry Regiment
Maizuru 1st SNLF

Defending units:
Lark Battalion
49th Australian Battalion
Papuan Inf Battalion
Rabaul Base Force
13th Field Regiment
15th RAN Base Force
A Coy/NG Rifles /1

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Ground combat at 87,41 (near Tsiaotso)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36699 troops, 402 guns, 422 vehicles, Assault Value = 1046

Defending force 26519 troops, 164 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 235

Japanese adjusted assault: 588

Allied adjusted defense: 424

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
153 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 36 (2 destroyed, 34 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1701 casualties reported
Squads: 123 destroyed, 103 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 26 (3 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Assaulting units:
9th Tank Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
41st Division
110th Division
3rd Tank Regiment
37th Division
5th Armored Car Co
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Army
12th Army
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
11th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
61st Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
5th New Chinese Corps
7th Group Army
8th Group Army

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Losses:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of xAKL Chungking on Dec 30, 1941 is admitted
Loss of xAKL Dai Lee on Dec 28, 1941 is admitted
Loss of xAKL Silindoeng on Dec 30, 1941 is admitted
Loss of AM Mildura on Dec 31, 1941 is admitted[/font]

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Force Z made it safely to Cape Town. Looks like a month for P of W and a bit longer for Repulse. [/font]
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[obvert]

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[/u]

[font="Times New Roman"]December 30, 1941 - 07:43

Near Manado

“Clear the bridge. Clear the bridge,” was followed by two blasts of the dive alarm. LT Murrow bounded down the vertical ladder from up top into the control room. Five contacts bearing two-five-zero, sir. Looks like a convoy heading into Manado, just as we’d thought.”

“Thanks Andy.” CM Stewart was calm and had a twinkle in his eye, like there was a joke he knew but wasn’t yet ready to share.

“Blow negative. Level off at 60 feet.” The boat gained a level trim as the planes positioned the bow on a level course under the Celebes Sea.

“All stop. Raise periscope.” The periscope was lowered and Stewart spent a good minute surveying the scene at normal and high power.

“All ahead full, bearing one-five-zero.” They would try to move around the ships to get into position for a shot later in the day. “They’re moving slow, at 7-8 knots. Looks like a troop convoy, three transports and two escorts.”

They would move under water in an end-around to try to get in position. Often this could take an entire day, and luckily today their sighting had been early, and they could take this time. LT Murrow was already down plotting a course to get them in position by late afternoon.

“Andy, you’ve got the comm.”

“Aye, aye, sir.” Stewart often left the running of things to his XO or even other junior officers, making sure everyone felt comfortable in these situations. LT Murrow, being the XO, was already very comfortable with running the boat in any conditions. They’d had several contacts before now, but this looked to be their first chance to get a shot off against the enemy. He was confident and ready for the challenge.

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December 30, 1941 – 16:52

“They’re zigging, sir.” Murrow had the scope and they were close to being in position for a shot. He’d set the course to bring them off the bow of the convoy, but one of the escorts was up ahead of the rest of the ships and would prove to be a problem. “Lead escort is pulling off in our direction, sir.”

“Down periscope.” They didn’t know if they’d been sighted, but wouldn’t take any chances. “Change bearing to one-eight-five, all ahead full. Take us down to eighty.”

As they leveled off the pinging began, like a pile driver through the boat’s hull it was so close.

“Change to one-three-zero.”

Before the boat had changed course a massive crash shook them and pushed men against bulkheads and machinery. A few seconds later another near miss sent men sprawling. The boat began to swing and to its new course and the next crash came from farther, now behind them.

“Bring us to sixty feet.” As Murrow looked through the scope he realized they were now completely out of position for a shot with the convoy steaming behind them at 8,000 yards. “Damn.”

“We’ll get a lot of shots soon, Andy, don’t worry.”

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[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: obvert

[font="Times New Roman"]Dec 28-31, 1941[/font]
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Force Z made it safely to Cape Town. Looks like a month for P of W and a bit longer for Repulse. [/font]
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Not sure if you have finished your repair arrangements yet, but shouldn't Repulse be in drydock to fix the floatation damage? I think the repair time would come down somewhat. There is even room for PoW in dd too.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Not sure if you have finished your repair arrangements yet, but shouldn't Repulse be in drydock to fix the floatation damage? I think the repair time would come down somewhat. There is even room for PoW in dd too.

I've always found the system damage is repaired more quickly at pier side, then I switch them to shipyard when that is finished. Saves space in the docks and might save a few days off of the totals. Also this way I can use a higher priority for the repairs at pier side. If I put them both in the shipyard they'd be at normal priority.

[obvert]

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[/u]

[font="Times New Roman"]January 1, 1942

Dutch Harbor, AK

Things had changed up north. Ships sailed in and out of Dutch Harbor daily, loading and unloading men and supplies. Construction was underway all over the various bases and the waterfront areas, extending the ports and building yet more accommodation for the men moving up from the lower forty-eight. For the engineers of the base, the work seemed endless and the weather continued to throw a wrench in things every few days.

Mike had been working the dredge around new dock locations but ice floes continued to be a problem. They’d set up temporary perimeters of timber around the new construction but the pressure of tides and ice broke through after just a few days of this system, and now they had to repair that as well. In the meantime ships unloaded at the current facilities day and night. Large equipment due to Adak had been sitting in port for over a week, and tankers were still waiting in the harbor for their turn to drop fuel in the new tanks.

The activity had lessened in the past few days after a decision was made to send some of the support ships to Kodiak, including the Vestal repair ship, in order to use the good port there more thoroughly and to keep these ships safer from potential raids. There was still not a working air base near enough to Dutch to give air cover in the event of the Japanese fleet making a raid up north. They were reported to be in the South Pacific moving south of Papua New Guinea right now. Mike had little idea where that actually was located, but he knew it was far away.

As he came in on a break for a hot cup of Joe Danny and Nick were shooting the bull about the war and the state of things for the Allies now. The mood was still positive, but there were a lot of jokes at the expense of the British going around lately after Singapore had fallen, the supposedly impregnable fortress of SE Asia.

“Things are not looking good down south there. I heard the lead limey down there in Malaya, what’s his name, Percipal, hadn’t even had tea in a week! That’s how bad it got!” Danny was jovial these days. The extra activity made it feel less like he was at the end of the world, and the new blood were always a ready audience.

“Yeah, pretty tough. I heard the japs are on their way to India next. They were gonna challenge the Brits to a cricket match to see who got the place. Only thing is, the war might be done before that game was!” Nick was a jovial, good-natured athletic kid from Kansas. He was the kind of yank that gave Mike immediate confidence in their war effort. Everything seemed like an exciting adventure, a challenge to be met. Like football on Friday night against the rival from the next town over.

Mike poured himself a cup and picked up a nearly week old copy of the Anchorage Daily News. The Allies had held at Tobruk. That was positive. The US forces on the Philippines had stalemated the Japanese for now, and there was talk of sending in relief and supplies. There wasn’t much news about the things they really wanted to know, like the location of the Japanese navy, but their own sources might start giving more soon. Dutch was turning into the largest sub base West of San Francisco. There were now more subs based here than at Pearl or even Manila.

Subs were being sent all of the way to Japan itself he’d heard. When those crews got back they’d have stories to tell. There were Yippies (as the requisitioned tuna boats were now being called) half way to the Japanese northern islands, the Kuriles, and several other small boats patrolled far out into the Pacific. Catalina flying boats droned through the skies at every hour of the day and some small float planes were even up at night, hunting for Japanese subs. All of it gave Mike a sense of confidence and urgency. He had one small part in a massive effort, but if he could do that part well, it might make a difference.

He downed the last sip, donned his fur-lined winter coat, and headed back out into the constant chill wind to get back to work.

“Helluva New Year’s Day, huh Danny,” he said on his way out. They’d each had a few shots of whiskey they’d saved up for the occasion, but no one was in the mood to celebrate this year just yet. [/font]

---

[/u]

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[font="Times New Roman"]Jan 1 - 3, 1942[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]Thresher hits an xAK near Shimizu on the surface with it's deck gun.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Pacific: [/font]The Solomons are being quickly snapped up and Milne Bay is taken. Nothing else farther south for now. Two US CVs are almost to Auckland, and surface forces are converging in the area as well.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font]A deliberate attack on Pingsiang takes the forts to two, but only gets a 1:2, and the Japanese take a third more casualties. I'll try to get a new Corps in before the next assault. In the south troops move quickly toward Kweillin where a small Japanese force is threatening the area. I've got to Corps digging in on the hex blocking both Liuchow and Kweilin, but two Japanese units of unknown strength are moving in. Recon Lysanders are assessing the area for more behind. Up in the north it looks like the small army is going to get away scot free to move toward the defense of Lanchow. I like it! [:)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI:[/font] Almost a hundred Sallys hit Padang after finding my transport groups there, but I managed to fly them out the day before the strike. Cats will now drag troops to Cocos, but it may not be enough to make it all worth it. Cocos is an atoll though, so even with only about 30 AV there, it will not be a walkover.

Looks like a move to Java may be in the works. The foot is permanently on the gas for the IJ in the DEI right now. Looks like after stopping to crush Horn Island the KB and friends might be moving that direction too. I have Brit cruisers arriving south of Java and will try to sneak them in for a sortie before things get shut down over there, but I'm not keen to lose the ships, so it's a quick in and out op.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]OZ:[/font] Perth is well defended by two divisions plus tanks now, and is building up forts. All of the ARD dry-docks made it from Java to Perth and will set up shop her to work on subs and other smaller craft as needed. Air units are transiting from the states through Cape Town to provide some cover for the area, but are still at least a month out.

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR January 3, 42
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Ground combat at Pingsiang (82,54)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 38551 troops, 390 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 1153

Defending force 32070 troops, 221 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 911

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 668

Allied adjusted defense: 1023

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1581 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 127 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 22 disabled
Guns lost 13 (1 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
417 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 97 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd Ind Engineer Regiment
39th Division
116th Division
22nd Division
8th Armored Car Co
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
13th Army
4th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
72nd Chinese Corps
63rd Chinese Corps
9th Prov Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
3rd New Chinese Corps

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Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]AK Sagami Maru is reported to have been sunk near Singkep on Dec 26, 1941[/font]
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]All is progressing well up north. Dutch is maxed out for supplies and has almost 500AV and a bunch of support. Adak has a regiment and base force, plus a Marine Defense unit and engineers. Base forces are either at or moving to Ulak, Umnak, Amchitka, Akutan, and Kiska. Kodak is the support base and has two Marine fighter groups training up, slowly. Attu is currently just a seaplane station with an AVP running the show for a group of Cats, but should give decent warning of moves from the Kuriles. [/font]
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[font="Times New Roman"]CHINA[/font]
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Here is a modification to the previous China plan. Sian will still be defended but the space between it and the mountains to the North will I need time for the units moving to the small SL mountain hexes to dig in and for the troops around Sian to get organized. All rebuilding units will be sent back to the areas behind the front lines.

In the center Pingsiang is a contested zone with an obvious build-up and attempt to break through in process. I've allocated units to move in to shore up if a break looks possible. The first attack was defended well, so hopefully we can hold here for a while at least. The AVG can assist from Changsha if the IJAAF is brought in.

Around Kweillin/Liuchow units are racing to get in position. The troops from Kahnsien will stop at Kukong to see what the IJA plans look like for the area. I'd rather hold in that good territory instead of back farther in +1-2 territory.

Wenchow still holds and some production of supply is happening, making it a good jumping off point to get CAP in to the PI, which I'll do now that the fighter cover has moved on from there to the southern DEI. We'll see what kind of surprise we can generate. Wenchow is also being bombed in daily milkruns, and there is no fighter support, so the AVG will try to take advantage while the USAAF P-40E units prepare for a jump to Manila.

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[font="Times New Roman"]Jan 4 - 6, 1942[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]Sargo and Spearfish take out xAKLs with troops on board near Manado. That's about as good as it gets for the Allied subs these days. Lots of missed shots/duds. The KB looks to be moving toward the DEI though, and that is good news for sub commanders.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Pacific: [/font]The two lead US CVs reach NZ. The Yorktown is on the way through the deep South Pacific. The Sara is heading through Pearl and down.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font]The AVG surprise works like a charm, and eight more Sonias plus four Mabels add to the kill numbers of the AVG. The next day the USAAF P-40s moved to the PI where they downed about 25 unescorted bombers over Manila. [:)]

I'll pop some back to China, leave the others on the ground, and maybe switch it up to Clark the next day. We'll see what the response is like.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI:[/font] Oosthaven falls, giving a very good base for hitting Java. A fleet looks on it's way to the Java Sea. We'll see where it ends up. The RN cruisers are nearing Kendari, but with all of the CV activity may have to just bug out. Manado and the Molluccas are captured.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] Got info on a unit moving to Carnarvon. Yikes. Some defense on the way, but this is early for OZ. Glad I thought to start early on Perth. Hopefully some air groups can get to Cape Town soon and move on over before the fireworks start. Some US AA units do arrive soon though which should help.

Love this one too!

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Radio call sign of TK Okayama Maru detected at 172,140.[/font]

This is just odd?!?

[font="Trebuchet MS"]56th Recon Regiment is loaded on a Japanese TK moving to Singapore.[/font]

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR January 6, 42
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Morning Air attack on Manila , at 79,77

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 27
Ki-30 Ann x 27

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-30 Ann: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
17 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Ground combat at 75,55 (near Kweilin)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13729 troops, 143 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value = 425

Defending force 10365 troops, 86 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 287

Japanese adjusted assault: 179

Allied adjusted defense: 244

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
795 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 66 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled

Allied ground losses:
284 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
104th Division
21st Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
31st Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Not a bad day in the air for the second day in a row. [/font]
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[mind_messing]

56th Recon Regiment is loaded on a Japanese TK moving to Singapore.

Tankers being sent to transport tankers and tanks to the frontline?

Makes perfect sense.

At least it's something. It beats my favourite SigInt reports. Who'd have guessed that the Tsushima Fortress was located at Tsushima?

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ORIGINAL: mind_messing

56th Recon Regiment is loaded on a Japanese TK moving to Singapore.

Tankers being sent to transport tankers and tanks to the frontline?

Makes perfect sense.

At least it's something. It beats my favourite SigInt reports. Who'd have guessed that the Tsushima Fortress was located at Tsushima?

[:D]

At least one of those a turn!