Wait... What! (NO Chris)

[Uncivil Engineer]

Feb 11

On Java, Banjoewangi was captured without casualty; the 3 Dutch defenders surrendered.

China

The counterattack south of Hengyang was a success -

Ground combat at 80,54 (near Hengyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11292 troops, 110 guns, 44 vehicles, Assault Value = 426

Defending force 8338 troops, 71 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 171

Japanese adjusted assault: 272

Allied adjusted defense: 15

Japanese assault odds: 18 to 1

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

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

Allied ground losses:
3814 casualties reported
Squads: 96 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 83 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 17 (7 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating back to Hengyang!

Assaulting units:
22nd Division
11th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
46th Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps

These 2 beat up corps are now the only defenders in Hengyang, as the 3 units there yesterday have withdrawn westward. 116 Div(+) will cross the river into Hengyang in a few days. 22 Div turns its attention to the south and the coming stampede of Chinese units fleeing north from Kukong.

Bataan

A second day of attacks was not much better than the first, but it did reduce forts again (to 2). Fatigue and disruption are both high in 14th Army (now reinforced by 4 Div), so a few days of bombardment from land and air will allow some recovery. Naval bombardment would be a welcome addition, but the Allied mines at Bataan are still too plentiful.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Feb 12

Java

38 Div landed at Kalidjati; defended by a KNIL Rgt and base force; should be easily captured tomorrow. Due to fatigue, 18 Divs trek from Tjilatjap to Bandoeng will take a day longer than expected.

Malaya

8 Indian Bde wandered into Kota Bharu from the jungle a couple days ago, disrupted, fatigued, and likely out of food. A few more attacks by the Sasebo 3rd SNLF should do them in.

China

Kukong was captured. There are now 15 Chinese units, mostly combat ineffective, trapped north of Kukong. I intend to get them off the road and into the woods where they'll be out of the fight. Two IJA divisions will cross the river from Changsha to Siangtan tomorrow, followed by the 116 Div(+) stack crossing into Hengyang the following day. Both of those bases, in clear terrain, are being bombed from the air.

Back up near Hankow, the 7 Chinese Corps was attacked and retreated SW across the river into a swamp next to Wuchang. A regiment from Wuchang will move to attack them.

SOPAC

21 Div/A will land at Torokina tomorrow, escorted by a BB TF and LRCAP provided by CarDivs 1 & 2.

Celebes

16 Rgt entered Makassar and will attack the surrounded base tomorrow.

Burma

33 Div/A will unload at Moulmein tomorrow, as 112 Rgt enters overland from the SW.

[RangerJoe]

If you really want to take Chungking, try to eliminate as few Chinese units as possible. Just render than combat ineffective and isolated, maybe by surrounding them with a unit with them, then walk in all of the hex sides to close them, then leave a decent unit to watch them. Or leave a long, convoluted supply path so there is lots of wastage to reduce the Chinese supplies even further. The main objective is to have fewer Chinese units in Chungking as well as fewer units spawning there while you try to capture it.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

If you really want to take Chungking, try to eliminate as few Chinese units as possible. Just render than combat ineffective and isolated, maybe by surrounding them with a unit with them, then walk in all of the hex sides to close them, then leave a decent unit to watch them. Or leave a long, convoluted supply path so there is lots of wastage to reduce the Chinese supplies even further. The main objective is to have fewer Chinese units in Chungking as well as fewer units spawning there while you try to capture it.

That's exactly my plan.

[Uncivil Engineer]

And this -

Sub attack near Niihau at 174,111

Japanese Ships
SS I-4

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Indianapolis
CL Honolulu
DD Mugford
DD Blue
DD Walke
DD Mustin
DD Worden
DD Cassin
DD Dunlap
DD Patterson

Ammo storage explosion on CV Lexington
SS I-4 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Lexington

[Bif1961]

Japanese subs are huge force multipliers. In my current game they are the most effective Japanese weapons.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Friday the 13th (Feb 13, 1942)

Long Island flipped (the one near Lae, not New York).

IJA troops landed at Moulmein and Torokina. Moulmein has largely been abandoned by the British; Torokina is vacant. Both should be captured without difficulty.

Kalidjati was easily captured after bombardment by sea and air -

Ground combat at Kalidjati (50,99)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13184 troops, 117 guns, 66 vehicles, Assault Value = 455

Defending force 1357 troops, 34 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Japanese adjusted assault: 389

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 389 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kalidjati !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
646 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 39 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 18 (15 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
38th Division
14th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
2nd KNIL Regiment
Kalidjati Base Force

38 Div will continue to Batavia while 14 Tank Rgt stops between Bandoeng and Batavia; this should prevent the Dutch troops at Bandoeng from quickly joining those at Batavia, enabling their defeat in detail.

A brigade of the Imperial Guard Div will land at Port Blair tomorrow.

The Rufe research facility at Osaka reached 30(0), the first of 8 Rufe research sites to do so.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer



The Rufe research facility at Osaka reached 30(0), the first of 8 Rufe research sites to do so.

In a stock Scen 1, I like Rufe also and tend to build a fair number of them.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Feb 14

If you're expecting a Valentine's Day massacre, you came to the wrong AAR.

Anyway, Torokina flipped as 21 Div(-) prepared to attack. IJA troops landed at Port Blair (IG Div(-)), Misool (SNLF Co), and Pamekasan (5 Div).

The oil facility at Soerabaja has been repaired to 10 and repair has stopped; I may restart depending how the oil facility at Magwe holds up when captured. Repair of the RSY at Soerabaja has begun.

In China, troops crossed the river into Siangtan and Hengyang, but an attack occurred only at Siangtan (1:1 and reduced forts to zero). The lone Chinese corps at Hengyang is moving west, so I guess that's why a shock attack did not happen (although I would have preferred that it did). The encirclement between Hengyang and Kukong continues to tighten. A second encirclement around Changteh may develop over the next week, depending on whether the Chinese delay their withdrawal or hasten it.

[Uncivil Engineer]

The situation in south-central China before the Feb 15 turn -

[Uncivil Engineer]

Feb 15

Misool flipped.

IJA troops landed at Denpasar. Nearby, off the Java coast, 5 Div suffers 4 disablements while accepting the surrender of a Dutch regiment -

Ground combat at Pamekasan (57,105)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13609 troops, 130 guns, 68 vehicles, Assault Value = 481

Defending force 2263 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 94

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 457

Allied adjusted defense: 17

Japanese assault odds: 26 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Pamekasan !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
53 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3077 casualties reported
Squads: 104 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 80 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
5th Division

Defending units:
Barisan KNIL Regiment

Across the Java Sea, 16 Rgt suffers 8 disablements accepting the surrender of the Makassar garrison -

Ground combat at Makassar (65,106)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4227 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 155

Defending force 1414 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 48

Japanese adjusted assault: 120

Allied adjusted defense: 10

Japanese assault odds: 12 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Makassar !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1923 casualties reported
Squads: 49 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 69 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
16th Infantry Regiment
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF

Defending units:
Makassar Garrison Battalion
Makassar Base Force

At Port Blair, IG Div(-) suffers 2 disablements capturing the base -

Ground combat at Port Blair (46,58)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4050 troops, 31 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 145

Defending force 354 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Japanese adjusted assault: 124

Allied adjusted defense: 3

Japanese assault odds: 41 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Blair !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
330 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 34 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards/B Division

Defending units:
Port Blair RN Det
5/14th Punjab Battalion

Across the Andaman Sea, 33 Div(-)+ suffers 2 disablements capturing Moulmein -

Ground combat at Moulmein (55,55)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7552 troops, 62 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 274

Defending force 1383 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 59

Japanese adjusted assault: 150

Allied adjusted defense: 13

Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Moulmein !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
651 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (3 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
112th Infantry Regiment
33rd/A Division

Defending units:
2nd Burma Brigade

And in China,

some things didn't go as expected. From north to south (see the map on post # 189) -

1 - The attack east of Wuchang was successful, but the Chinese corps retreated NE, not SW. My guess is the circuitous supply path back to Sian is shorter than the circuitous supply path back to Changteh?! Whatever, I didn't check.

2 - At Siangtan, 3 Div crossed the river but did not shock attack. Again, the defenders were moving, so that may have been a factor.

3 - At Hengyang, the combat ineffective 46 Chinese Corps retreated NW (this one I got right!!) It was trying to move west.

4 - South of Hengyang, 12 Bde is not quite strong enough to move the 4 defending Chinese corps, so there was no retreat.

5 - Just north of Kukong, I thought the Chinese defense would be adequate to withstand the IJA attack, but it wasn't, and retreated NW into the woods. A brigade of 104 Div moved NW along the minor road to prevent the Chinese from retreating west onto the road.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Feb 16

A 1:1 attack at Bataan reduced the forts to 1. Elements of 1 Div are enroute from Shanghai to reinforce before another deliberate attack (in a few days).

Siangtan, Bandoeng, and Denpasar were captured with minimal disablements. At Siangtan there was 25% damage to resource and light industry, as the defenders withdrew westward to Shaoyang. At Bandoeng there was no damage to resource and light industry, and the combat ineffective defenders retreated west (and not toward Batavia). At Denpasar the defending base force surrendered.

33 Div's and IG Div's brigades, on transports, are assembling at Tavoy for an assault landing at Pegu. CarDiv 3 is nearby. Battleship escorts are enroute.

5 Div is reloading transports at Pamekasan and will head for Burma when loaded. 18 and 38 Div will march into Batavia within a day or 2.

The port at Saigon has reached level 6. Since battleships can't go up river to replenish I see no need to increase it further.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Feb 17

I've seen slow days before, but this is insane!

Palopo flipped (I don't know where it is either).

Heavy Industry at Soerabaja has been repaired to 10 and will not be expanded further.

A big attack along the road from Kukong to Hengyang tomorrow; should push the Chinese stack into the woods.

Elements of 33 Div and IG Div will land at Pegu tomorrow; defended by one British/Burmese/Indian(?) unit.

[RangerJoe]

At Saigon, I build up the shipyard to 15 so it can repair any IJN CAs.

As far as HI goes, build it up in China/Manchuria where it will work and not be subject to Allied VPs due to strategic bombing.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

At Saigon, I build up the shipyard to 15 so it can repair any IJN CAs.

As far as HI goes, build it up in China/Manchuria where it will work and not be subject to Allied VPs due to strategic bombing.

I think I've got Saigon past 15, but I don't have the game open. I usually take it to 30. Singapore is at 15 cause it was damaged down to 1 during capture; that 15 may eventually be increased when supply is a little more plentiful.

Some HI in China has been increased; right now Port Arthur is the only place being worked on. I also try to limit HI increases to ports so that if fuel runs low I can get some in quickly.

[RangerJoe]

HI will demand fuel and it will get there if it is available.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

HI will demand fuel and it will get there if it is available.

The operative phrase in that sentence is "if it is available". My experience with places like Harbin is you dump fuel on the coast and you get a trickle at Harbin, but not enough to support HI. Fuel rarely flows FROM Port Arthur (in my experience). If my HI increase point is a port I dump fuel there, store it so it won't leave, and I'm good for several weeks.

I do the same on Hokkaido - store fuel at Sapporo, Hakodate, and Muroran, as they all produce HI - and try to minimize refueling of xAK when they load resources.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Feb 18

Little Andaman flipped.

Feb 19

Nias Flipped. IJA troops landed at Pegu in force; parts of 33 Div and Imperial Guard Div. First bombardment attack at Batavia disclosed Allied AV ~220; waiting for the other division before conducting a deliberate attack (in a day or 2).

The oil facility at Djambi has been fully repaired to 250.

In China, west of Changsha a big push to the west by IJA is developing. South of Hengyang more Chinese troops have been forced into the woods, and the few Chinese stranglers still east of the road are trying to move west onto the road and sure annihilation.


Edit: In the map legend, Feb 22 attack should be Feb 20 attack

[RangerJoe]

Yes, kill the Zombies. Then they will resurrect and be normal . . .

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Yes, kill the Zombies. Then they will resurrect and be normal . . .

It's not that I want to kill them, it's that the 31k Chinese troops east of the Kukong-Hengyang highway are trying to move into a hex that they cannot retreat from (under current conditions). What I've decided I need to do is move my 675 AV stack NE or SW and give that rough terrain hex to the Chinese (once they move into it). Then I move back in along the road and force their retreat west to the 44k Chinese stack. They live and do not respawn, but are essentially out of the fight for weeks.

I should be able to get the 48k and 46k Chinese stacks to retreat west and northwest to Chihkiang (sp?). There are only 2 weak units in front of my 584 AV stack between me and Kweilin.