As to the Dec 9 turn, I see you're employing the old 'death by a thousand cuts' routine.[:D]
Yeah, but death to who? Actually, much of it is the pile of crappy (for the most part) shipping scattered around the SRA. I've read that a lot of AFBs write it all off and are happy with whatever does survive. I'll sink whatever I can reach, but really like when an xAP, TK or AO goes down. And warships, of course. Only the 3 DDs from Hong Kong and 1 US DD have been sunk, unfortunately. The rest have run for the hills. They'll show up later, I'm sure.
The problem I'm having at the moment is deciphering which of the multitude of enemy TFs are merchants and which are warships.
As to the Dec 9 turn, I see you're employing the old 'death by a thousand cuts' routine.[:D]
Yeah, but death to who? Actually, much of it is the pile of crappy (for the most part) shipping scattered around the SRA. I've read that a lot of AFBs write it all off and are happy with whatever does survive. I'll sink whatever I can reach, but really like when an xAP, TK or AO goes down. And warships, of course. Only the 3 DDs from Hong Kong and 1 US DD have been sunk, unfortunately. The rest have run for the hills. They'll show up later, I'm sure.
The problem I'm having at the moment is deciphering which of the multitude of enemy TFs are merchants and which are warships.
The ASs and the float plane tenders, including the destroyer and patrol boat versions, are nice to bag. They give the allies a lot of early flexibility that is, shall we say, undesirable. Watch out for those cagy ship captains that move incrementally south, from port to port, using move/disband, move/disband. They drive me mad, and are thus a distraction the Japanese player can ill afford.
As to the Dec 9 turn, I see you're employing the old 'death by a thousand cuts' routine.[:D]
Yeah, but death to who? Actually, much of it is the pile of crappy (for the most part) shipping scattered around the SRA. I've read that a lot of AFBs write it all off and are happy with whatever does survive. I'll sink whatever I can reach, but really like when an xAP, TK or AO goes down. And warships, of course. Only the 3 DDs from Hong Kong and 1 US DD have been sunk, unfortunately. The rest have run for the hills. They'll show up later, I'm sure.
The problem I'm having at the moment is deciphering which of the multitude of enemy TFs are merchants and which are warships.
The ASs and the float plane tenders, including the destroyer and patrol boat versions, are nice to bag. They give the allies a lot of early flexibility that is, shall we say, undesirable. Watch out for those cagy ship captains that move incrementally south, from port to port, using move/disband, move/disband. They drive me mad, and are thus a distraction the Japanese player can ill afford.
That's an interesting tactic. It never entered my mind that the Allies can do something like that. How do you counter that? Port attacks? Not likely. I guess, the best tactic is to catch them while they're running. Gotta think about that some more...
Yeah, but death to who? Actually, much of it is the pile of crappy (for the most part) shipping scattered around the SRA. I've read that a lot of AFBs write it all off and are happy with whatever does survive. I'll sink whatever I can reach, but really like when an xAP, TK or AO goes down. And warships, of course. Only the 3 DDs from Hong Kong and 1 US DD have been sunk, unfortunately. The rest have run for the hills. They'll show up later, I'm sure.
The problem I'm having at the moment is deciphering which of the multitude of enemy TFs are merchants and which are warships.
The ASs and the float plane tenders, including the destroyer and patrol boat versions, are nice to bag. They give the allies a lot of early flexibility that is, shall we say, undesirable. Watch out for those cagy ship captains that move incrementally south, from port to port, using move/disband, move/disband. They drive me mad, and are thus a distraction the Japanese player can ill afford.
That's an interesting tactic. It never entered my mind that the Allies can do something like that. How do you counter that? Port attacks? Not likely. I guess, the best tactic is to catch them while they're running. Gotta think about that some more...
It is a click-fest for the Allied player. Each turn they set a new home port within their move radius, click return and auto-disband.
Yes, surface ships on patrol with reaction can catch them. Nav Search coverage is the key, though doctrinal organization of your DD squadrons with a CL (with its float plane for organic Nav Search) works very well. The TBs can also do this mission if the area is covered by Nav Search aircraft. Watch out if the enemy is doing this tactic with Houston or Boise--that does not necessarily end well for the IJN squadron if the intercept occurs during daytime.
The 10 Dec turn is back to Mike. Mike is living up to his sig, running. That makes me nervous. I can see a few warships on the edge of my naval search limits. I'm trying to keep warships in support of my invasions, which is difficult. I do have 4 BBs and a couple of tiny carriers entering the SRA. That'll help, but they're not completely in position yet. I'll post the replay later. A few errands to run first.
xAK Tai Sang – sinking sounds after attack
xAP Kelantan – sinking sounds after attack
xAP Neptuna - sunk
xAKL Bust – sunk
xAK Demosthenes – sinking sounds after the attack
That was just the subs.
Unfortunately, Murakumo was hit by a Dutch sub torpedo today as she limped back to safe harbor and went down. Down one Fubuki class.
Off Aparri, the Seawolf was able to hit an xAK with one of those “bad” torpedoes I’ve heard so much intel on. [8|] Not sure I believe my intel folks. She’ll make port unless another of those bad torpedoes hits her.
5 Fleet
The Adak invasion fleet finally completed loading and left Ominato. They’ll arrive at Adak in 6 days.
4 Fleet
KB will arrive off the coast of Wake tomorrow and work over the troops and any shipping in range. The invasion fleet is a day south of Wake and undetected. They’ll go in the day after.
The Ocean island invasion force is 1 day out. It’ll invade, reload and end up at Nauru island.
The 4 Aobas visited Guam on their way to Truk and bombarded. They’ll reach Truk in the next day or two. The Guam invasion force should hit tomorrow.
SE Fleet
The two AMCs that start the war in the far south Pacific visited Tahiti, sinking an xAK and two xAKLs. They’ll continue their tour of the south Pacific before heading back to Truk.
The Kavieng invasion will land tomorrow. Everything else is still flowing to this AO.
SRA
Some of my small combat TFs continued their clean up of the scurrying rats:
xAKL Princess of Negros
xAKL Compagnia Filipinas
xAKL Dos Hermanos
xAKL Taurus
xAK Si Kiang
TK Mindanao
xAKL Sagoland
xAKL Paz
Mainly trash, but killing a TK is always good early in the war.
I landed a battalion at Kota Bharu, but I don’t think it’s strong enough to take the place. I have another battalion marching down from the north. I’ll give it a shot when they arrive.
The second attack on Johore Bahru was a failure. I didn’t really lose anything, but There are a BUNCH of Allied units there now. The infantry regiment that has been pursuing will reach Johore Bahru tomorrow. I’m not attacking tomorrow. We’ll see how things look the day after. The remainder of the Mersing invasion force is still 20 miles from Johore Bahru. The Mersing gambit has failed, I fear. It wasn't for nothing though. These attacks on Johore Bahru are causing significant Allied casualties that probably won't be replaced. Today's attack allegedly destroyed 69 infantry squads. I'll take that.
The Yamada Det swept Singapore today, killing 11 Buffalos for the loss of single Zero. A couple more crashed on the way home, so it wasn’t as one sided as originally thought. A sentai of Oscar Ibs then swept, killing another couple of Buffalos.
Some Nates shot down one of two remaining fighters over Georgetown and damaged the other. Another 4 fighters and a Blenheim I bomber were destroyed on the ground with an additional dozen or more (mainly bombers) damaged in the subsequent bombing. The RAF is being worn down.
I see only 2 bombers at Georgetown and 18 fighters and 73 bombers at Singapore. Tomorrow, I’m starting night bombing of Singapore’s airfield. Once the enemy fighters are gone, I’ll start day bombing.
On a brighter note, paratroopers dropped on Victoria Point and took that level 4 airfield. I was going to fly in the remainder of the paratroopers (from Bangkok) as a staging point to fly them to Pt. Blair when I realized I can fly them from Bangkok directly to Pt. Blair. I’m flying the paratroopers back to Bangkok and will then invade Pt. Blair.
In the Philippines, I’m getting some good intel. Some Nells finally flew from Jolo against some ships at Tarakan, missing Pope and Pillsbury. I can see there are about half a dozen enemy warships there.
Kaga launched her Vals against AO Pecos hitting her 13 times. Sinking sounds were heard immediately after. There’s no way she survived 13x 250 kg bombs.
Over Luzon, there was no air-to-air combat today. I see 70 fighters and 35 auxiliary aircraft still on the island. No bombers are left. I now have 60 Zeros at Vigan and will begin sweeping tomorrow to clear out the enemy fighters (and gain some nice experience). [;)]
Miura det landed at Legaspi and will take that base tomorrow and begin working its way up the peninsula. Tomorrow, Kimura det will land at Atimonan, cutting off that peninsula. Together, they form the 33 Regiment, part of 16 Division, the remainder of which lands at Mauban (Just SE of Manila) in 2 days. This division will clear the southern half of Luzon and push into Luzon. I see 5 units in Manila, none moving. There are 26 in Clark Field moving toward Bataan. There are currently 5 in Bataan. Looks like a long siege is in store. No matter. I have time and my bombers can use the experience.
Burma
I still see the AVG sitting at Rangoon.
My troops are debarking from their trains and beginning he long marches to move into Burma.
I have engineers and AS arriving at Chiang Mai. I will build this to a level 4 airfield and stage my bombers here to support my initial ground campaign.
China
Garrisons are finally beginning to arrive at their destinations, freeing up other forces to allow my offensive to begin, eventually.
I had an initial assault of Hong Kong:
Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 18420 troops, 322 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 567
Defending force 6515 troops, 132 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 225
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese adjusted assault: 388
Allied adjusted defense: 261
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
603 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 37 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Defending units:
Rifles of Canada Battalion
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion
1st Middlesex Battalion
Kowloon Brigade
102nd RN Base Force
Hong Kong Fortress
It looks like they lost ~1.5 battalions worth of infantry. I’m trying another assault tomorrow. It’ll take a while to whittle them down.
Other Stuff
I’m being a little more aggressive with my economy than normal. I never came close to having any supply issues last game. All 11 of my R&D engine factories that weren’t already >30 have been increased to 30. 35 of 77 R&D air factories still have not been increased to 30. That should be done in ~ a week or so.
I’m being a little more aggressive with my economy than normal. I never came close to having any supply issues last game.
I've found from experience that if I keep my total supply stocks above 1.8M, I'm OK. Anything below that and I tend to have trouble finding supply for ground ops.
It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once. Hume
In every party there is one member who by his all-too-devout pronouncement of the party principles provokes the others to apostasy. Nietzsche
I setup all factories in Dec 42 and didn’t run out of supply.
I watched the supply at Tokyo and it did get below 500k there in about Feb 42, before starting to climb again in about Apr 42.
That was about when I started exporting supply from Japan to forward areas.
You can always toggle factory repairs off but I didn’t need to do that.
I setup all factories in Dec 42 and didn’t run out of supply.
I watched the supply at Tokyo and it did get below 500k there in about Feb 42, before starting to climb again in about Apr 42.
That was about when I started exporting supply from Japan to forward areas.
You can always toggle factory repairs off but I didn’t need to do that.
Good to know. I try to minimize pulling supply out of Japan as much as possible. I try to use supply generated in the SRA if possible.
My subs are running out of targets. The I-121 sank an xAK off Oosthaven. I’m moving my subs to locations where enemy warships may move when they come out of hiding. Basically, a screen. So far, he’s only lost 4 or 5 DDs. He has a lot of warships hiding in the SRA. I now have 6 BBs in the area, just in case, along with Kaga, Ryujo, Zuiho and Hosho.
Mike had quite a few subs off Takao, but they disappeared today. Not sure what’s up with that.
5 Fleet
Nothing going on yet. Invasion fleet to Adak still enroute.
4 Fleet
The Wake invasion fleet goes in tomorrow, supported by KB. I suspect Mike pulled the fighters there out. I would.
The Guam invasion occurred today and that assault will happen tomorrow.
Finally, Ocean Island was taken.
SE Fleet
Kavieng was invaded and an assault will go in tomorrow.
Lots of stuff is enroute to this AO. It should heat up soon. [;)]
SRA
I still have a number of small surface TFs running around supporting invasions and cleaning up on enemy shipping. Today, two TFs, one of 4 Fubukis and the other of Nagara and 2 DDs earned their pay sinking 3 PGs and 5 xAKLs. Yeah, pretty much trash, but it’s better than nothing and they’re worth a few points.
I continually shuttle the surface groups back to base to refuel/rearm so there are constantly forces on the frontline. I’m pretty worried about his warships coming in force to trash an area.
I have the original 2 Kongo TF (reinforced with the CA TF that started the war near them) at Singkawang, along with the 22 Air Flotilla, 18 Zeros (+18 more Zeros attached from 23 Air Flotilla), 9 Claudes, 54 Betties, 90 Nells, recon and Mavis (attached from 21 Air Flotilla) all guarding for an enemy thrust north toward Saigon, which is now a Japanese lake.
The other thrust I’m worried about is north from either side of Celebes. There I have Kaga and Ryujo, which will be between Davao and Manado tomorrow. Between Samah and Takao are 2 TF, one of 4 BBs and the other of Zuiho and Hosho. Both are heading south into the same area as the Kaga TF and the carriers will merge, forming a TF of 39 Zeros, 43 Claudes, 26 Vals and 54 Kates. Once Cagayan is taken, I’ll send 21 Air Flotilla HQ there, along with some of their 72 Nells/Betties to scour the area with torpedo laden bombers.
Over Manila, Japanese Zero sweeps shot down 13 US fighters at a cost of 2 Zeros. I now see no enemy fighters at Manila, 15 at Clark Field and 15 at Bataan. I’m sweeping Clark tomorrow.
In addition to the 30 fighters, there are only some auxiliary aircraft in Luzon. Six Catalinas torpedoed an xAK (she’ll survive) and sank an xAKL. These were part of 16 Division, which will land at Mauban tomorrow.
Antimonan was invaded today. Legaspi is now Japanese.
I see 5 enemy units in Manila, 25 in Clark Field (some or all are moving to Bataan) and 6 at Bataan (up 1 from yesterday). It looks like he is going to hole up in Bataan, which is fine with me.
A handful of B-17s visited Jolo today doing no damage and losing one to the Zeros stationed there. I’m pretty sure they came from Cagayan, where they started the war. I don’t have any recon on that base (I will tomorrow). I will have 146 Regiment land at Butuan (next door to Cagayan) tomorrow and the 4 and 7 Tank Regiments land there the day after. Some Betties are bombing Cagayan’s airfield too, just to try and damage some of the bombers so they won’t be able to get away when the tanks arrive.
In Malaya, an Oscar sweep of Singapore (Yamada’s Zeros rested today) shot down 2 Buffalos at a cost of 2 Oscars. I see only 3 Buffalos and 66(!) bombers in Singapore. Mike’s bombers have no real target anymore. My ships have unloaded and are out of range heading home. Mersing’s airfield is at level 1, so I have a sentai of Oscars stationed there on CAP. Any bombing there will shred his bombers with basically no Buffalo support.
The infantry regiment FINALLY reached Johore Bahru. It (along with the 4 armored units) will attack tomorrow, but I don’t expect much. I actually don’t want to push them out. The main body (2 infantry divisions) will arrive tomorrow. All I want to do is to kill and disable some more infantry. That’ll make taking Singapore all that much easier. Right now, I see 14 enemy units in Johore Bahru and 20 more in Singapore. I also see another 13 units in northern Malaya.
I landed a second infantry battalion at Kota Bharu. I’ll try an attack tomorrow to see if I can oust them. I know they aren’t very strong.
The IG Division and 14 Tank Regiment are a couple days rail from Singora where they’ll debark and begin marching down the western coast of Malaya.
I will make a para drop on Port Blair tomorrow. After that succeeds, I’ll fly in some engineers and AS, then fly some Zeros and Mavis there, then some Betties once the airfield size increases.
Burma
Crawling along the trail to Moulmein….
The AVG is still at Rangoon.
China
Maneuvering continues. A couple of attacks did occur. I liberated Kweiteh, killing a Chinese Corps in the process. I also cleared the hex west of Wuchang.
More divisions have been freed from garrison duty and are moving to reinforce the front line in several places where I am attempting to encircle groups of Chinese.
The 38 Division attacked Hong Kong, getting 1:1 (just under 2:1) and reducing the forts from 2 to 1. All 3 enemy battalions are now combat ineffective, but the Kowloon Brigade is still ok. I’ll bombard (air and ground) and rest the 38th for a day then try again.
Reinforcements
xAK Ishikari Maru – Toho – immediately began conversion to a troop carrier, as I’m doing to all my Tohos.
Other Stuff
I’m accelerating 3 Unryu CVs and 3 DDs, along with a CVE with my excess merchant points. I’m still gaining NavShip points so I’m going to accelerate more DDs tomorrow.
Many of the ships used in the Phase I invasions are back in port. I’m loading up some Phase II invasion fleets. Once I push out/destroy the B-17s at Cagayan, I’ll begin to consider taking some of the oil centers.
I have quite a few reserves for Phase II and III missions:
48 Division (-Miura and Kimura Dets in S Luzon) – moving to Cam Ranh Bay
56 Division (-146 Regiment landing at Mindanao) – SW of Formosa
4 Division – just south of Japan and headed to Pt. Moresby
21 Division – loading at Shanghai
33 Division – N of Formosa headed to Burma
38 Division – currently investing Hong Kong
IG Division – will debark soon and move into northern Malay and push south
There are 5 additional divisions available for use in the SRA, along with 16 Division and 65 Brigade on Luzon and 5 and 18 Divisions entering Johore Bahru tomorrow. (55 Division is moving into Burma.)
I may land another division at Mersing to join the divisions assaulting Singapore. I’m not sure if IG Division will make it to Singapore in time. We’ll see.
Initially, 3 divisions will invade Java. One division, and all the armor I can scrounge, will invade Sumatra.
You can see that adds up to more than the number of divisions I have available, hence the Phases.
In addition, I have quite a few SNLFs and companies, along with 3 allocated parachute units to clean up all the little places and oil centers.
I’m toying with the idea of landing 33 Division (along with another division) at Mersing to hasten the demise of Singapore. Then, I’ll sail them up the coast and drop them off at Moulmein (which I should have by then).
Ok, I've been attempting to gather some intel from Malaya to see how successful the Mersing Gambit was.
I do not think any combat units (anything with any type of combat squads) has entered Singapore yet. That will happen when I push the rabble out of Johore Bahru, which will most likely be on 12 Dec. So, the Singapore garrison currently consists of 213(115) AV. *Note, some of the disabled AV will recover. I'm confident it'll be minimal. Anyway, I see 20 units in Singapore, 3 up from what starts there. Nothing in Johore Bahru has been destroyed, but 3 units have disappeared, moved into Singapore: III Cps HQ, 29 Bty/3 HAA & 1 HKS Hvy AA.
There are currently 14 units in Johore Bahru. Here are the combat units:
22 Aus Bde
27 Aus Bde
2 Argyl Bn
5/2 Punjab Bn
112 BF
111 BF
3/16 Punj Bn
Their starting strength is 282(66), but they have been beat up. I estimate their current strength to be in the neighborhood of 87(126), so they've lost about 135 AV. Tomorrow, they will be attacked with 2 armor regiments, 2 recon regiments and an infantry regiment with a combined AV of 306. They have at least level 1 forts. I hope they aren't pushed out because on 12/12, they will be hit by an additional 2 divisions, over 900 AV added to tomorrow's attack. That should shred them, with their remnants adding little to the defense of Singapore.
There are units scattered in various locations totaling 607(154) AV. These guys are doomed and have no way of adding to the defense of Singapore.
My guess is that some of the units in Johore Bahru were in strat mode headed to Singapore but were ensnared in the battle at Johore Bahru.
The battles of Johore Bahru aren't over yet, but I'm confident the Mersing Gambit will definitely speed up the capture of Singapore.
Even if you do push them out on the next attack, they still will be hurting when three IJA infantry divisions would move to Singapore. If that is the case and you do not have your armoured units in reserve pursuit mode, make sure that nothing less than a division moves into Singapore on the first day. Hopefully, you will have the armoured units in reserve/pursuit mode and enter Singapore with no shock attack.
Seek peace but keep your gun handy.
I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
“Illegitemus non carborundum est (“Don’t let the bastards grind you down”).” ; Julia Child
If this next attack doesn't push them out (hoping that is the case ), when the divisions arrive in their regiments, they'll need the two recon regiments to combine. So, there will only be 2 tank regiments for pursuit. I won't pursue. They'll just get attacked and driven back out of Singapore with heavy losses.
I just pack the troops into the cargo holds of xAK if no AP, AK or AK-t are available.
If they’re lucky someone will have hosed the ammonium nitrate out first!
xAK Ishikari Maru – Toho – immediately began conversion to a troop carrier, as I’m doing to all my Tohos.
Have you considered doing so with some Lima's as well. Same speed and can haul about 1/3 more.
I haven't converted any Limas yet. Tohos are small enough to fit nicely into small ports and a 14 kt speed is really nice. I'll check on the Lima size to see what size port they work well with.
I just pack the troops into the cargo holds of xAK if no AP, AK or AK-t are available.
If they’re lucky someone will have hosed the ammonium nitrate out first!
Yeah, I usually do that too, unless I want to get there faster. Then I'll scrounge up some xAPs.
; Julia Child
), when the divisions arrive in their regiments, they'll need the two recon regiments to combine. So, there will only be 2 tank regiments for pursuit. I won't pursue. They'll just get attacked and driven back out of Singapore with heavy losses.