Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A)

[Wirraway_Ace]

15 Feb 42.

Rangoon falls. My understanding is the Burma Road is now closed, though the manual refers to Ledo as an alternate source (erroneously according to threads that go back to 2011). The enemy may look at the combat report and see both the Imperial Guards and 33rd Division with only 250AV each and draw the wrong conclusion that the divisions suffered heavy losses. The other half of these divisions will catch up in about a week.

The KB has withdrawn out of the enemy's sight. His last spotting showed it moving into the Celebes Sea from the Coral Sea. I will now send all the CSs back to Japan to await their chance to be reborn as CVLs. The three available CVLs are full of fighters and will augment the CAP, leaving their torpedo bombers on shore duty.

Five SNLFs/Nav Guard units will now work their way around Borneo taking the oil centers now that the enemy has very limited options for attacking them. He could fly B17s from Australia into the Level 3 bases at Tarakan, Balikpapan or Samarinda, so we will have Zeros prepared.

[Q-Ball]

Just curious, but why not keep the CS with KB for now? Extra floatplanes for search, the CHITOSE class have DP guns that can provide area AA coverage, and you can even throw some fighters in when you get some Rufes. (MIZUHO is too slow and should be parked)

Yes, there is some risk of loss, but they are typically not targeted and live

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Just curious, but why not keep the CS with KB for now? Extra floatplanes for search, the CHITOSE class have DP guns that can provide area AA coverage, and you can even throw some fighters in when you get some Rufes. (MIZUHO is too slow and should be parked)

Yes, there is some risk of loss, but they are typically not targeted and live

Good points, Q-ball. Mizuho's air groups are dedicated to training for time being. I plan to pair her with little, slow Hosho as a ASW hunter/killer group as a way to get some utility from these two ships before they are eventually sunk in port at the end of the war.

I may keep the CSs with the KB at moment since my submarines south of Pearl have engaged tankers and transports (xAKs and xAPs) moving towards SOPAC. There is a potential window to slip the KB south and perhaps catch these convoys before the reach there destinations (Suva or New Zealand are my guesses). With the KB operating beyond my air search coverage, the additional float planes are a likely advantage.

[Wirraway_Ace]

17 Feb 42

Most of the action is on the ground today.


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Ground combat at 84,42 (near Sian)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 37387 troops, 425 guns, 611 vehicles, Assault Value = 1404

Defending force 44669 troops, 287 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1291

Japanese adjusted assault: 833

Allied adjusted defense: 1318

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
783 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 36 (1 destroyed, 35 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2545 casualties reported DW feeds three new corps into the meat grinder south of Sian. Meanwhile the northern pincer has broken out of the mountains onto the Sian plain. We will see if these units stay and fight with the emerging threat to their rear.
Squads: 7 destroyed, 223 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 62 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
8th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
116th/B Division
13th Tank Regiment
116th/A Division
6th/B Division
15th/A Division
15th Tank Regiment
116th/C Division
12th Tank Regiment
15th/B Division
6th/A Division
15th/C Division
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Army
1st Mortar Battalion
25th Field AA Machinecannon Company
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
47th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
14th Group Army
39th Group Army
24th Group Army
1st Artillery Regiment
7th Artillery Regiment
18th Artillery Regiment
4th Group Army
22nd Artillery Regiment
1st War Area
20th Artillery Regiment
34th Group Army
56th AT Gun Regiment


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Ground combat at 90,42 (near Anyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2252 troops, 14 guns, 45 vehicles, Assault Value = 74

Defending force 589 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 26

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 26 to 1 This Chinese unit has been sitting on this road hex for 3 days, getting attacked with results in the 20:1 range, but it won't retreat. I checked, and there are multiple open hexsides.

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

Allied ground losses:
87 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
8th Recon Regiment
15th RGC Temp. Division

Defending units:
7th Chinese/C Corps


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Ground combat at Wenchow (89,58)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27957 troops, 322 guns, 312 vehicles, Assault Value = 881

Defending force 20817 troops, 118 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 327

Japanese adjusted assault: 841

Allied adjusted defense: 250

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Wenchow !!! This is good news. This frees up four divisions, armor and heavy artillery to begin the advance in western China.

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

Japanese ground losses:
440 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units pursuing 1

Allied ground losses:
3564 casualties reported
Squads: 378 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 180 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 56 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 30 (20 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Units retreated 8

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
22nd/B Division
7th Tank Regiment
39th/A Division
22nd/A Division
39th/B Division
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
12th Indpt Infantry Regiment
39th/C Division
22nd/C Division
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
13th Army
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
88th Chinese Corps
28th Chinese Corps
100th Chinese Corps
10th Group Army
25th Group Army
3rd War Area
14th Chinese Base Force
16th Construction Regiment


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Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10366 troops, 175 guns, 146 vehicles, Assault Value = 536

Defending force 25617 troops, 213 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 686

Japanese ground losses:
291 casualties reported US artillery!!! We have an artillery regiment fighting its way through the jungle a few days away. We are also bringing to regiments of T96 guns (not howitzers) from China. These are about the only guns Japan has that can match the enemy in range.
Squads: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
2/2nd Ind Coy
2/1st Ind Coy
2/3rd Ind Coy
8th Australian Division
30th Australian Brigade
17th MG Battalion
2/4th Ind Coy
Torres Strait Battalion
2/4 MG Battalion
19th MG Battalion
Port Moresby Brigade
131st Field Artillery Battalion
Eastern Command
15th RAAF Base Force
147th Field Artillery Regiment
148th Field Artillery Battalion
Rabaul Det. Base Force

Defending units:
4th/B Division
4th/A Division
78th Infantry Regiment
40th Brigade
Maizuru 1st SNLF
4th/C Division
16th Army
II/66th Naval Guard Unit

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

Good points, Q-ball. Mizuho's air groups are dedicated to training for time being. I plan to pair her with little, slow Hosho as a ASW hunter/killer group as a way to get some utility from these two ships before they are eventually sunk in port at the end of the war.

IMO, HOSHO is a fleet carrier and should be treated like one. Yes, the AA suite is terrible and she has no durability, but she can make 25 Kts.....as long as you are using the JUNYOS, you may as well use HOSHO which has the same speed. Only 20 planes, but every bit helps......

MIZUHO is too slow and has limited utility. Probably best use is to sit in port and re-size floatplane groups. May as well convert her to CVL when the time comes, by then the lack of speed may not matter as much as just getting more planes in the air.

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

Good points, Q-ball. Mizuho's air groups are dedicated to training for time being. I plan to pair her with little, slow Hosho as a ASW hunter/killer group as a way to get some utility from these two ships before they are eventually sunk in port at the end of the war.

IMO, HOSHO is a fleet carrier and should be treated like one. Yes, the AA suite is terrible and she has no durability, but she can make 25 Kts.....as long as you are using the JUNYOS, you may as well use HOSHO which has the same speed. Only 20 planes, but every bit helps......

MIZUHO is too slow and has limited utility. Probably best use is to sit in port and re-size floatplane groups. May as well convert her to CVL when the time comes, by then the lack of speed may not matter as much as just getting more planes in the air.

Thanks, Q-Ball. I will reassess once the Junyos arrive. Yes, Mizuhu is moving about on a resizing tour, though our house rules limit resizing to doctrinal sized units, so I am not going above 9 for the float plane chutai.

[Wirraway_Ace]

19 Feb 42

Most of the fighting is around Sian as our two armor pincers approach to within one hex from the south and east.


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Morning Air attack on Sian , at 83,41

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32 --5th Air Division in Hankow gets the sweeps into the air ahead of the bombers. The airfield has been largely suppressed for a month, and no CAP today. He has 66 fighters sitting at the level 1 airfield at Tienshui, 200 NM to the north.

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 24000 feet *



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Morning Air attack on 15th Group Army, at 84,41 , near Sian

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 10

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet *



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Morning Air attack on Balikpapan , at 64,97

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 44,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 27 --We bombed his ground forces yesterday without escorts in preparation for landings. He still has about 5 P40Es hiding in his last few bases in Sulu Sea, but he did not choose to jump them in(or may not have been able to use drop tanks due to supply).

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 38000 feet



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Morning Air attack on Sian , at 83,41

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 22

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x Ki-43-Ib Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet



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Morning Air attack on Sian , at 83,41

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 24000 feet *



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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 23000 feet



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Morning Air attack on Sian , at 83,41

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 30
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 33
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 36

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 5--Always nice to see this in China.
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
29 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 62 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 5 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on 15th Group Army, at 84,41 , near Sian --His rear guard east of Sian is a HQs.

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 47

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
135 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
21 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb




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Morning Air attack on 69th Chinese Corps, at 86,50 , near Hankow

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 24 --Close air support for a the 11th RGC that is training-up fighting an isolated Chinese Corps stuck south of Hankow.

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Sian , at 83,41

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 17 --One of the four sentai of Sallys from Hankow suppressing the Sian airfield in preparation for ground attacks tomorrow on his retreating troops in the open.

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Sian , at 83,41

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 20

No Japanese losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb




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Ground combat at 84,42 (near Sian)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 48504 troops, 518 guns, 642 vehicles, Assault Value = 1915

Defending force 20168 troops, 96 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 524

Japanese adjusted assault: 1252

Allied adjusted defense: 1117

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2059 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 188 disabled --His rear guard, without artillery or AT guns, puts up a good fight
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 21 (1 destroyed, 20 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2933 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 318 disabled --But lose 2/3rd of their remaining strength. These were three fresh corps with over 300 AV each just a couple days ago.
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled

Assaulting units:
116th/C Division
35th Division
15th/B Division
6th/A Division
13th Tank Regiment
6th/B Division
116th/A Division
116th/B Division
15th/C Division
2nd Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
15th/A Division
12th Tank Regiment
32nd/B Division
25th Field AA Machinecannon Company
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
11th Army
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units: --The enemy is withdrawing his troops south of Sian to the rough terrain north of the city. Two days ago, he had twice this many troops supported by AT guns and artillery (though the outcome was the same)
9th Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
1st War Area


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[Wirraway_Ace]

20 Feb 42

KB is fully formed with the three CVLs all carrying a full complement of Zeros (27, 27, and 45), having landed their small Kate datais. The fleet carriers at this point in the war still have their anemic fighter complements of 18 each. I typically have Zuikaku and Shokaku provide escorts to the strike aircraft while the rest provide CAP, giving me about 170 aircraft over the fleet. I also have the Hosho fighter sentai that I can split to fill up unused capacity on Akagi and Hiryu, 18 to Akagi and 9 to Hiryu--the Hosho airgroup was resized to 27 and has been operating out of Buna. That will get me to 200 fighters over the CVs at peak.

I am also buying out all the 24cm howitzer units. These are about the only guns in the inventory that can take out a Matilda or Valentine and have decent range. The T89 guns can knock out Grants/Lees. My upgraded 47mm AT guns are only good against Stuarts. The Australians get 2 Matildas per month during 42, while the Indians/Brits get 6 Valentines per month beginning in March and 6 Lees per month beginning in July. Given this, the T89s will go to Burma along with a few 24cm howitzers, while the remaining big howitzers will go to Australia if I decide to land there.

[Wirraway_Ace]

20 Feb 42 Continued

Two Allied CLs catch and sink a couple of AKLs trying to pick up an SNLF Company from Nanumea in the South Pacific. The transports and SNLF company are lost.

B17s from China hit the port of Takao and sink a 2pt Tanker. All the valuable shipping had moved on from this port a month ago. Flak caused no damage. The crews on the 10cm AA guns must have been sleeping.

The three Chinese Corps south of Sian are down to 100 AV total while 70,000 enemy troops dodge bombs from Sallys and Lillys as they retreat north from Sian. Our sweepong fighters and bombers do not encounter any enemy fighter cover above the retreating army. If I were those corps and army commanders, I would have something to say about the air force not being willing to put its lives on the line.

The lead elements of the Imperial Guards and the 5th Division advance into central Burma with two armor regiments. The enemy is retreating to Lashio. The 33rd Division is holding Rangoon and taking replacements.

[Wirraway_Ace]

21-25 Feb

In China, Sian falls. His rear guard was combat ineffective, as I suspected, so I left the 12 armor regiments resting one hex south and one hex east.

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Ground combat at Sian (83,41)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 39751 troops, 340 guns, 89 vehicles, Assault Value = 1586

Defending force 12389 troops, 144 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 146

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1658

Allied adjusted defense: 196

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Sian !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1074 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 65 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Units pursuing 1

Allied ground losses:
6800 casualties reported
Squads: 264 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 374 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 43 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 47 (46 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 6
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
116th/A Division
6th/B Division
32nd/A Division
35th Division
15th/B Division
116th/B Division
116th/C Division
15th/C Division
6th/A Division
32nd/B Division
25th Field AA Machinecannon Company

Defending units:
61st Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
8th Route Army
98th Chinese Corps
7th Group Army
15th Group Army
_____________________________________________________

I will now continue with 1st Army, made up for five type b motorized divisions, supported by 6 tank regiments, 4 artillery regiments, and AA units, along the single avenue of advance north. Meanwhile, a corps made of of divisions without any motorized transport accompanied by mountain guns strikes out due west through the mountains to take Ankang and turn the enemy defense of the river hex SE of the city.

13th Army is advancing west from Wenchow towards Kukong. The enemy is moving his forces from the Changsha area to block this advance. At the same time, 11th Army is massing in Wuchang and will attack Changsha itself, fully prepped. Both the Army HQs and the Command HQs have been planning for months.
________________________________________________________
On Java, the enemy sent a Dutch regiment and a mobile BN out of his mountain redoubt at Bandoeng to chase off a divisional recon battalion. He likes to jump these lead units, however finding the enemy is their job and this provided an opportunity to defeat the forces he committed in turn. We slipped 38th Div, 18th Div and an armor regiment into the hex.
Ground combat at 50,101 (near Tjilatjap)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29383 troops, 252 guns, 213 vehicles, Assault Value = 1043

Defending force 3860 troops, 66 guns, 83 vehicles, Assault Value = 184

Japanese adjusted assault: 735

Allied adjusted defense: 67

Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
267 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1409 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 50 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 22 (11 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 60 (33 destroyed, 27 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating! They retreated south to Tjilatjap and were destroyed two days later.

Assaulting units:
2nd Engineer Regiment
38th Division
18th Division
6th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
4th KNIL Regiment
________________________________

In the Malaya,
The starving British are making a gallant last attack. They came boiling out of the jungle and surprised a garrison battalion at Kuala Lumpur. I was not able to fly in enough of the 41st Regiment to hold the otherwise empty base. All the losses came from the garrison battalion and there was no supply so this is not a concern.
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Ground combat at Kuala Lumpur (49,79)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 9416 troops, 72 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 386

Defending force 2071 troops, 28 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 96

Allied adjusted assault: 209

Japanese adjusted defense: 89

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Kuala Lumpur !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1297 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (4 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Allied ground losses:
647 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
1st Mysore Battalion
5/14th Punjab Battalion
3rd SSVF Battalion
11th Indian Division
223 Group RAF
109th RAF Base Force

Defending units:
41st Guard Battalion
41st Infantry Rgt /1
6th JAAF AF Coy
______________________________________________

One Regiment is not going to be enough to take Padang...I have another about two days behind, but that likely won't do it either.

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Ground combat at Padang (44,85)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3227 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 120

Defending force 6217 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 251

Assaulting units:
112th Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
Korps Marechausee Battalion
Medan Coastal Gun Battalion
NS KNIL Territory Regiment
WS KNIL Territory Regiment
West Sumatra Base Force
____________________________________________

Overkill at Balikpapan. The SNLFs take the base mostly undamaged, assisted by preparatory bombing by naval bombers over the past couple of days.



Ground combat at Balikpapan (64,97)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5908 troops, 75 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 305

Defending force 2047 troops, 36 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 29

Japanese adjusted assault: 179

Allied adjusted defense: 8

Japanese assault odds: 22 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Balikpapan !!!

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

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

Allied ground losses:
677 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 44 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 31 (24 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
Kure 2nd SNLF
Sasebo 2nd SNLF
Sasebo 1st SNLF
16th Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
VI KNIL Battalion
Balikpapan Base Force

[Wirraway_Ace]

26 Feb -1 Mar

In China, the 1st Army has begun its advance north and west of Sian. In southern China, the enemy has committed about 75,000 troops around Kukong as the IJA units from the siege of Wenchow move east into that sector. He has also committed most of his recon aircraft in China to this area. This is good news. The longer his eye is off the corps moving through the mountains west of Sian, the better. Also, he is drawing off units from around Changsha just as we are massing for a drive on the city.

In Burma, our scattered divisions are just about reassembled and will resume the advance on Lashio and Myitkyina.

On the Malaya, the bulk of the Thai army will get some much needed combat experience supporting the IJA forces deployed to destroy the isolated remnants of the British army there.

On Java the remaining Dutch forces are now encircled at Bandoeng. He has about 600 AV in x3 terrain behind some forts. We will destroy the British on the Malaya, then the 200AV of Dutch forces at Pandang first with the three divisions and armor that are available, then reinforce the two divisions on Java for the storming of his mountain fortress.

On Borneo, with both Balikpapan and Samaranda taken intact, the veteran SNLFs (now approaching 80 exp) are loaded on transports to assault Tarakan. Meanwhile, 5 inexperienced naval guard units will attempt to clear Cebu, then Panay.

At Port Moresby, we are a few days from having enough AV (and corps artillery) to test his defenses. Max stacking is only 35,000, so it will likely be a grind as we rotated units out of the fight in the miserable terrain along narrow trails.

[Wirraway_Ace]

2 Mar

One of our submarines scores after missing at first.

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Sub attack near Karachi at 38,7

Japanese Ships
SS I-162

Allied Ships
TK British Dutchess

SS I-162 launches 2 torpedoes at TK British Dutchess


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Submarine attack near Karachi at 38,7

Japanese Ships
SS I-162

Allied Ships
TK British Dutchess, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage The tanker was loaded with fuel, which immediately began to burn

TK British Dutchess is sighted by SS I-162
SS I-162 launches 4 torpedoes at TK British Dutchess


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The 11th Indian Division was moving along the coast foraging for food, so the IJN thought it would be useful to test fire the 16" in guns off Mutsu and Nagato.

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Naval bombardment of Kuala Lumpur at 49,78

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato
CL Oi
CL Kitakami
CL Tama

Allied ground losses:
94 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

BB Mutsu firing at 11th Indian Division
BB Nagato firing at 11th Indian Division
CL Oi firing at 11th Indian Division
CL Kitakami firing at 11th Indian Division
CL Tama firing at 11th Indian Division
No spotter aircraft was noted. I have been having trouble in this game, for the first time in my experience, getting the spotters to function. I have tried setting the float planes only to recon, tried setting recon with range 0, but nothing seems to work. My old settings with the aircraft set to recon the target while still 50% navsearch seemed to at least mostly work. The float planes are not set to the wrong day/night cycle. This has been a head scratcher.

[BBfanboy]

When multiple TFs are bombarding the same hex in the same turn, only the first one shows launch of a Recon FP. It is unclear whether the others set to do Recon actually launch or not. I think they do, but keep forgetting to check the pilot mission count before the turn to compare with mission count after the turn.

And of course, weather may also ground the FPs. Perhaps the presence of NFs will also do that?

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

When multiple TFs are bombarding the same hex in the same turn, only the first one shows launch of a Recon FP. It is unclear whether the others set to do Recon actually launch or not. I think they do, but keep forgetting to check the pilot mission count before the turn to compare with mission count after the turn.

And of course, weather may also ground the FPs. Perhaps the presence of NFs will also do that?

Thanks BB.

Weather could be the culprit. DW does not have any CAP, night or day, at the base. His tactic is to fly in 150 fighters for a turn on 100% CAP, then jump them out the next turn to a rear area base.

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Just curious, but why not keep the CS with KB for now? Extra floatplanes for search, the CHITOSE class have DP guns that can provide area AA coverage, and you can even throw some fighters in when you get some Rufes. (MIZUHO is too slow and should be parked)

Yes, there is some risk of loss, but they are typically not targeted and live

Good points, Q-ball. Mizuho's air groups are dedicated to training for time being. I plan to pair her with little, slow Hosho as a ASW hunter/killer group as a way to get some utility from these two ships before they are eventually sunk in port at the end of the war.

I may keep the CSs with the KB at moment since my submarines south of Pearl have engaged tankers and transports (xAKs and xAPs) moving towards SOPAC. There is a potential window to slip the KB south and perhaps catch these convoys before the reach there destinations (Suva or New Zealand are my guesses). With the KB operating beyond my air search coverage, the additional float planes are a likely advantage.

Q-ball, thanks for making me chew on this. I am going to keep the three steam-turbine powered CSs with the KB and load them up with Rufes. The float fighters are plenty fast enough to deal with Swordfish, Albacores and Devastators, so they will be set to low CAP in case the enemy tries to sneak these obsolete aircraft in below the regular CAP fighters. Also, Nisshin has a decent DP suite.

[Wirraway_Ace]

5 Mar 42

There are three active Theaters at the moment, China, Burma and New Guinea, not including the DEI where I am round-robin style taking the oil sites on Borneo and reducing his isolated troops in their various fortresses. In the PI, I am just letting him starve for another couple months.

In China, the main effort remains in the North with 1st Army, whose 8 divisions and 8 tank regiments have just begun the fight around Tienshui. The enemy has chosen the best terrain available to defend, but that did not work south and east of Sian, and I expect a similar outcome. I takes about a week to grind down his forces in a hex, then he will feed in his reserves. I expect it will take about a month, depending on how many fresh corps he has. I count eleven corps in sector. My initial goal over the next two weeks is to defeat the five corps he has east of the river trying to hold the road for fuel to get from Lanchow to Chungking.
In the south, I have five divisions and 1 armor regiment moving to Canton, where they will join the division there for the push on Kwelin. Supporting forces will occupy the vacant Nanning, Luichow, Pakhoi and take Kwangchowan to further limit his supply. I did not take these bases before, because I had inadequate troops to hold them, and DW likes nothing better than to counter attack against an exposed regiment or brigade.
In the center, 11th Army is mopping up some bypassed units at Tsiotso, the wooded/rough hex with both LI and Resources north of Kafeng, with 8 armor regiments, siege guns and a few separate brigades for support. The bulk of the army's infantry is meanwhile massing at Wuchang for the attack on Chansha. Once Tsiotso falls, the armor can rail to Wuchang. He should be short of supply at Tsiotso. A separate brigade had been in the hex since the first week of the war to keep the resource center from producing.

In Burma, the 5th, Imperial Guards and 33rd Divisions are all at 95% strength and are moving behind two armor regiments. The tanks will take Mandalay in a couple of days, then the army will begin isolating the 1st Burma division at Lashio. I won't take Magwe until all by AA is in position. DW is certain to hit the oil with his B17s from India, and I want to make that as expensive for him as possible. I have 3 flak regiments upgraded with radar and 4 flak battalions en route.

On New Guinea, we are a about four days away from having all the troops and artillery in place to open the attack on Port Moresby in earnest. All the artillery, including the precious T89 guns, made it safely. Sally's of the 4th Air Div operating from Lae and Nadzab, have kept the airfield suppressed for more than a month. Supply is going to be a constant issue. The 16th Army logistics plan includes using the Kokoda Trail, barges from Milne Bay and transport aircraft to keep the attack supplied.

[Wirraway_Ace]

DesertWolf(Omar) is an excellent player. As the Allies, he does not give you any easy victories on he ground, in the air, or at sea.

[Wirraway_Ace]

Ship losses for the IJN have been very light and we have completed all the original plans for expansion. I don't work too much about losing transports except the high value AKs, LSDs and those xAKs that can convert to AKs. I figure that by the end of the war, nearly all the Japanese ships will be sunk. Combat ships, though, are mostly irreplaceable for the IJN. I lost a CL in the Aleutians and four good DDs (hate to lose Hibiki!) in the melee with the entire ABDA near Palembang. The rest have been small DDs.

[Wirraway_Ace]

The PH strike had a very poor mix of torpedoes, so didn't sink a thing except an SS. Follow-up strikes pounded the Pacific Fleet, but did not send anything to the bottom. The IJN came out significantly ahead during the running battles off Palembang. PoW, Houston and Mauritius all went down against the loss of 3 Fubukis and a Kagero.

[Wirraway_Ace]

Here is the situation in Northern China as the Phase II advances begin.