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Now that are two bad days...[:)]
Almost as bad as the spanking Dixie gives me [:D]

My P-40E's over their own base get bounced for the 4th day in a row by Nates and now this 2 day turn by Oscars. I now can relate to Castor Troy and his "rants" about getting bounced. [:D][:D]

1/26/42 & 1/27/42

Land:
Hollandia is invaded and falls
Toboali is invaded
Bombardment attacks continue at Singapore and Manila (more on Jon Mark's combat style later).

Air:
The last 2 day turn I had a squadron of P-40E's flying LRCAP from Hengchow over Changsha (1 hex) and now have assigned them at CAP over Hengchow for these 2 days. Each time they have been bounced. [&:] This last time was by 34 Oscars against 8 P-40's. It is only during the initial bounce that I suffer any losses (2 vs 0 Oscars). Is this normal or am I doing something wrong??
In 2 days over Soerbaja, 30 Zeros, 82 Nells cause the loss of 12 and then 21 planes (obsolete Dutch planes & a few B-17). This results in the 3 squadrons of B-17's continuing to India to join "friends."
Singapore, Manila, & Cagayan get their normal air raids.

Naval:
I-7 is hit by 5DD ASW TF 2 hexes NE of Pearl. I had switched the 2 ASW TF at Pearl with those from San Fran (Clemson/Wilkes Class with an ASW of 8 each [&o]). The ones at San Fran had repaired their sys damage after their upgrade at the beginning of the month and Jon Mark had lost 1 sub when they came out to sweep the shipping lanes. [;)] After a week of finding no more subs off the West Coast, I sent these 2 groups to Pearl and those from Pearl to WC since they were not repairing sys damage fast enough (BB's and other high durability ships were taking all the points). Plus, those subs from the WC had moved to Hawaii to bring their number over 6.
I lost two AK's - a sub off of Kendari as I try to get supplies to Darwin & a second to 10 Betty's at Akyab (they are based at Moulmein)

Sync problem fixed during turn for 1/24/42 & 1/25/42. [:D]

Somehow, my notes and Combat Reports are missing.

Jon Mark and I have agreed to have a side show in the air war over Honan. It will be Nates vs. I-16c. I need it since my Chinese pilots experience "suck" (35). Unfortunately, I only get 1 plane per month as replacements. I do get the P-66 Vanguard in 6/42. Are they any good??

1/28/42 & 1/29/42

Land:
Tobolia falls
Samarinda falls
Bombardment attacks at Singapore, Manila, and Singkanang. An advantage of games vs AI rather than PBEM is I can hit the "esc" key to get through the long bombardment attacks in land combat. [:D]

Air:
The normal attacks on Hengchow, Singapore, Cagayan, and Chinese Guerrilla LCU's continue.
The Dutch Martins have attempted to hit the shipping around Palembang and Toboali without success. He has been using both Zero's and Oscar's on CAP to protect them. Plus, my morale has started to always stay south of 50. [:(]

Naval:
Another AK sinks under the weight of my Dutch subs. [:D]

This turn was the "calm before the storm." [&o][&o]

The Storm - All the Japanese CV's come out to play!!

1/30/42 & 1/31/42

Naval:
Mini KB (Hosho, Zuiho, Ryujo, Shoho) attacks the 2 British CV's (Formidable & Indomitible) along with 3CA, 10CL, 7DD divided amoung 2 AC TF. Thankfully, the distance is 5 hexes between them.
Round One -
Day Air attack on TF at 6,50
Japanese aircraft: A6M2 Zero x 5 B5N2 Kate x 10
Allied aircraft: Sea Hurricane x 16 Fulmar x 35
Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 8 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses:
Sea Hurricane: 1 damaged
Fulmar: 4 damaged
Allied Ships CV Indomitable

Round Two -
Japanese aircraft: A6M2 Zero x 23 B5N2 Kate x 58
Allied aircraft: Sea Hurricane x 16 Fulmar x 35
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 7 destroyed, 25 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Sea Hurricane: 3 destroyed, 6 damaged
Fulmar: 6 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Formidable, Bomb hits 1 (only 1 sys damage)
CL Columbo
CA Dorsetshire
CL Mauritius
CL Caledon
The British did well!! [&o][&o] I'll be glad when I can upgrade the Fulmars to Sea Hurricanes.

KB showed up 2 hexes off of Soerabaja and knocked the base out.
Round 1 -
Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 62
D3A2 Val x 158
B5N2 Kate x 158

Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 3
Brewster 339D x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 8 destroyed, 40 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 15 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
CW-21B Demon: 4 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 9 destroyed
T.IVa: 1 destroyed
Martin 139: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Balikpapan, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
SC OJR-4, Bomb hits 4, heavy damage
AS Janssens, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
492 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 75
Port hits 13
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2

Round 2 -
Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 53
D3A2 Val x 123
B5N2 Kate x 149

Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 1
Brewster 339D x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 4 destroyed, 34 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
CW-21B Demon: 1 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 4 destroyed
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed
Martin 139: 3 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed
T.IVa: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AS Janssens, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

The port, runway, and service all had over 40 damage.

I found out that I had left no Patrol LBA on either Point Blair, Kuala, or Medan to allow mini-KB to go around the northern tip of Sumatra and into the IO to see if it could sink any shipping. [:-] [:-] Needless to say, that has been fixed.

The rest of the two day turn on the next post.

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

My P-40E's over their own base get bounced for the 4th day in a row by Nates and now this 2 day turn by Oscars. I now can relate to Castor Troy and his "rants" about getting bounced. [:D][:D]

1/26/42 & 1/27/42

Don´t know how the replacement rate of radar for base forces looks like in CHS but if it is the same like in stock (30 IIRC) then in two months all your base forces should have radar, which means pretty much all of the map is covered and then you will see the bounce on your side for perhaps 80-90 % of the time... [:D]

The rest of 1/30/42 & 1/31/42

Land:
Bombardment attacks on Singapore, Manila, & Cagayan
Djambi falls
Deliberate attack on Pontianak
Intel reports 33 Division is planning for Ragoon.

Other Naval:
Dutch sub KXII is DC at Toboali and will sent to port for repairs
Japanese AP torpedoed at Muntok
I-18 torpedoes PC Doomba 3 hexes off of Brisbane (I have no ASW assets in the area!). I have the Clemson Class DD's from the SRA down in Sydney finishing their 1/42 upgrade and the Aussie ASW force up near Townsville & Port Moresby hunting the 2 or 3 RO subs that keep popping up.
British Withdrawl: 1CV & 2DD I will send 2 old S class DD's [;)]

Air:
Henchow get 34 Oscar, 42 Sonia, 9 Lily
Singapore get 6 Lily & 3 Babs loss of 2 each to flak [:D]
The 62 Nells out of Kuching hit Singkawang

Next will be revealing of my strategy and observations to date.

End of Month review:

Philippines: I have been under siege at two bases - Manila and Cagayan.

At Cagayan, I have the 102 Reserve Division, 2 Phillipines Rgt, and a BF (fort 2 and AV 163). Japanese forces have steadily increased to now having 56 Bde, NLF x5, SNLF x3. He has consistently bombarded daily, had LBA from Jolo bomb the base, and have a BB TF use it for target practice. At this base and at the others that continue to have strong resistance, he has yet to launch any deliberate attacks. I find this strategy strange. [&:][&:] Why doesn't he launch any attacks to weaken my defenses?? Someone answer why he operates this way.

At Manila, I have 11,700 supply, fort 2, and AV of 1651 in an urban hex. [:D] He has 16 Division, 48 Division, 65 Brigade, 4 Tank, 8 Tank, and multiple Engineer and Artillery units. There is not enough here to do anything, even when my supply is gone, IMO.

Last Ground combat at Manila
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 66934 troops, 471 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1613
Defending force 80224 troops, 588 guns, 325 vehicles, Assault Value = 1718
Allied ground losses:
431 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

On Malaya, I have been pushed back to Singapore.

At Singapore, I have 13,500 supply, fort 5, and AV of 693. He has 2 Division, 5 Division, 18 Division, and 56 Division along with artillery units (no engineers). This will fall before Manila, IMO.

Last Ground combat at Singapore
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 57217 troops, 301 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1505
Defending force 65063 troops, 309 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 774
Allied ground losses:
603 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Final place that I will be able to hold up for some time is Soerabaja. There I have 41,700 supply and growing [:D] fort 6 with it still being built up, AV 480.

In other areas of the SRA, he has all but the west coast of Borneo. He has captured Manado on Celebes and placed Zeros and Nells there which have sunk numerous amounts of small AK's trying to get supplies/resources out of Kendari.

He has taken Moulmein in Burma with Guards Division, 55 Division, and 4 Tank Regiments.

China, has me pulling back from the SW coast.

He has not taken any of New Guinea or Solomons bases. He has only taken Baker Island in the Gilberts as an extra base.

Hints & Observations for CHS

I know a lot of player have played stock and when it comes to switching over to CHS, there are some adjustments. Thus, I will spell out a few things that you should not overlook, IMO.

Naval:
Naval Shipyards (WC) - The first thing you should do is set all those shipyards on the WC to expand. Don't overlook the use of Portland, port 6 & shipyard 50, to knock off the few sys damage of your AK/AP as the return to the WC. I also use San Diego for this. I don't disband AK/AP in San Fran as I don't want to use my shipyard repair points on them. [:D] The two Canadian ports are useful. Victoria, port 6 & shipyard 40, I use for the CL's damaged at Pearl and then for AK/AP. Vancouver, port 6 & shipyard 20, is more an overflow collector.
I have most of the ships damaged at Pearl making improvements, but still have 3BB's at Pearl (Tennessee - 92, Maryland - 68, California - 47). I just moved the Tennessee & Maryland to Lahaina so I can get California's sys damage down enough (speed over 10) to be escorted back to WC to finish repairs. Instead of having shipyard repair points spread out over three BB's, only one gets them.

Clemson & Wilkes Class DD's - these short legged DD's get their upgrade in 1/42 and thus end up with ASW values of 8. [&o] [&o] Thus, I would be careful with those that start in the SRA. I lost 2 there to mines. [:(] The rest are now in Sydney finishing their upgrade. There are 3 Taney Class PG's with an ASW of 8, Endurance of 9500, speed 19, too. It is now 2/1/42 and I found the 5 Northhampton Class CA's far away from home with their 2/42 upgrades due. YIKES!!

Panama - You will need to start routing AP/AK's there as you receive significant reinforcements, but not enough shipping.

2 AO's start in Singapore and I lost both. Try to save them as the British don't have any and their warships have short legs.

Warp Speed AP's - You get some high capacity & high speed (over 18) in India. Consider sending them via Australia to the WC. There are almost 10 of them total.

MLE - you get only 1 at start in Columbo. Use it wisely!!

Air:
The Canadians have two squadrons of Blenheim IV that can use PDU's to upgrade to Beauforts I's (TB's which arrive in 1/42). These are the only planes that can do so. Thus, they are worth the less than 200 PP to change their command to SW Pacific. Then, take a few AKs and ship them to Australia. [;)]

LB-30's - Don't make the same mistake as I did and upgrade them from B-17's before they island hop there way to India. Now with ops losses, I have only 3 in the pool. [8|]

Land:
There are 2 BF's on Tasmania that could be used elsewhere. Use the 200 or so PP and switch them to SW Pacific and transport them to Sydney to fill out their TO&E. Then consider sending them to Cookville or to a dot base, Portland Road - AF7 potential & 6 hexes from Port Moresby. [;)][;)]

I have found that the Allies have a shortage of Aviation Support, so saving BF and Aviation Regiments from the SRA is helpful. I pick up the 3 British BF's in northern Borneo from day one with AK's in the area and bring them to Broome to build up forts/AF.

Hope this was helpful.

2/1/42 & 2/2/42

This was a slow day for action.

Naval:
I-15 comes into Pago Pago harbor and puts a torpedo into an TK, but it survives. I have some Aussie ASW's there, but they were docked. Need to have them undocked and set to "patrol/do not retire" to have a chance if he does this again.
2 DD's sink 3 British barges in Batavia. They were running to southern Sumatra to pull out the troops there.
A BB TF (2Ca, 2CL, 6DD) hits Cagayan - this small garrison continues to hold out!!
KB is spotted 2 hexes ENE of Batavia!!

Air:
Continued bombing of Changsha and the troops around there by LBA. No serious damage done.
Sinagapore gets its usual compliment of Sallys and Helens. My flak here has destroyed more LBA than my own LBA ever did. [;)]

Land:
Land bombardment attacks continue at Cagayan (where he now has 56 Bde, 5x NLF, 3x SNLF), Singapore, and Manila

2/3/42 & 2/4/42

Naval:
I-23 is sighted off the coast at Sydney!! I have said haow much I hate those Glen carrying subs that sneak around my ports to gather intel. It's like the Soviet navy in the 80's following the USN around with their little spy ships. Just pest!!
2 more subs are sighted off of Canton Island. 2 ASW Hunter Killer groups from Pearl are dispatched to get rid of this anoyance.
KXVIII at 21,55 misses torpedo attack on CV Soryu. I have had various attacks against his CV's and BB's without a hit to date. I could understand if it was with my American subs with their defective torpedoes, but these are my good subs. [&:]
I-155 at 32, 72 torpeodes and sinks an AK.

Air:
KB hits Batavia with two attacks - 14Z, 67V, 79K and 33Z, 109V, 107K. Thus, this base is shut down.
The India/Burma Allied LBA comes out, finally!! I hit a Tank Regiment coming uo the road towards Mandalay with 11 A-20B Bostons and 25 Blenheim IV. Not much damage done, but now he knows I'm there. [:D]
2 waves of my Martins put 5 250kg bombs on a APD in the Java Sea.

Land:
Ragoon falls - I had withdrawn all but part of the CD, which is now over at Port Blair.
Meiktila (Burma) falls - a Tank Regiment successfully attacks.
Teloekbetoeng (Borneo) falls - another base across from Soerabaja.
Bombardment attacks at Singapore, Manila, and Cagayan.

I took a look at the reinforcement schedule for engineer units with aviation support. The British supply coming into Aden early in the war with 270 and 90 is very good. The Americans, don't get much until around 5/42. Why??[:(]

2/5/42 & 2/6/42

A very quite day from the standpoint of Japanese LBA. Almost all of it is standing down. [:(][:(] It this the "calm before the storm?"

Naval:
A sub is spotted 3 hexes SE of Johnson Island. Another one of those pesky Glen carrying subs.[:@]
I-10 sinks a TK 3 hexes west of Pago Pago. I have only 1 ASW TF of Aussie MSW (ASW value of 5) in the South Pacific. However, an ASW TF made up of 4 Clemson Class DD's (ASW of 8) has been dispatched from San Fran (he has left the WC after my upgraded and repaired DD's came out and sunk 1 sub earlier[:D]).
An AK hits a sub layed mine at Darwin (this is the second time ships have hit mines here). I have only 3 MSW in port, but no ASW assets. [8|]

Air:
The air war continues over China. He launches 47 Sally, 23 Val, 10 Lilly, and escorted by 32 Oscars at Hengchow. The nuisance raids on my LCU's around Hendchow continues.
Jolo launches Ann's at Cagayan.
No air attacks at Java, Manila/Bataan, Singapore, or in Burma/India. Why??[&:]

Land:
Deliberate attacks launched at Bataan and Pontianak (Borneo)
Bombardment attacks at Singapore, Manaila, Cagayan
Magwe (Burma) and Bandjermasin (Borneo) fall.

Weather is my friend...at least today. [:D] I had two large Transport TF land at Calcutta (Aviation Regiment with 270 aviation support plus supplies) and a TF at Chittagong (BF with 90 aviation support and AA LCU's) under overcast skies. This prevented any possible LBA attacks with his Betty's at Moulmein. I had LRCAP up and CAP of 70% just in case.

2/7/42 & 2/8/42

The pace picks up as Java is Invaded!!
Intel reports that 7 SNLF is planning for Admiralty Island and is loading on an AP. A S-class sub is near and is re-routed to go there.

Naval:
RO-68 sinks an AK at 58,97 (off southern tip of New Guinea) with 2 torpedoes.
Mines - DD Voyager hits a mine at Darwin (for the second time) after destroying 2 previously when part of a Minesweeping TF. I guess 3 times is "not" the charm. [:D] A Japanese PG hits a sub layed mine at Baker Island.
Batavia: 2 BB TF (2BB, 3CA, 2CL, 6DD & 3BB, 4CA, 1CL, 6DD) prep for the invasion. An AK hits 2 mines while landing troops even though 2 Minesweeping TF had been sweeping mines for 2 days. The few remain Dutch Martins fly mission after mission and 2 AK's are each hit once with 250kg bombs (I wish they would not go after the BB's, but they act like moths to the flame [:D]).

Air:
Batavia is hit by 42 Zezo & 119 Nell from Kuching
Kendari get a sweep of 35 Zero & then 22 Nell from Manado (Celebes)
The 1st & 2nd Para Rgt are dropped on Bankha (Sumatra) from Kota Bharu
The usual raids in China continue.
However, none over Singapore or Manila
I begin the strategic bombing campaign in Burma by hitting the Resources at Meiktala (8 damaged). He will not get any free supplies in Burma, if I can help it. I want him to have to ship them in.

Land:
Batavia is invaded by elements of the 4 Div and 35 Bde
Bombardment attacks continue at Singapore and Manila.
Deliberate attacks at Cagayan
Taung Gyi (Burma) - captured
Bankha (Sumatra) - captured
Sawakhloento (Sumatra) - captured

I start to monitor the replacements needed for my 2 Aussie BF's that I have at Sydney from Tasmania filling out there TO&E (planned to go to Cooktown to build AF's or to Portland Roads). They both need SCR-270 Radar and I only get 5 of those a month. They have all their aviation support and engineers. They could use more of their infantry, but that is not a major concern right now. They are assigned to SW Pacific (HQ at Brisbane), but have the Australian HQ at Sydney. I am at 2/17/42 as I write this and may need to turn of replacements for all BF's until I get one here.
If there is another way, please let me know, guys.[:)]

2/9/42 & 2/10/42

Jon Mark states in his e-mail that this a "black day" for Japanese subs. [:D][:D] However, I see the dreaded "sync bug" return and don't get one of the ASW attacks to show up on Combat Replay. We figure out later, that he had too many programs running in the background and with those off, the following turns are OK. Just not this one. [:(]

Intel states that 21 Div is loading for Batavia. That will leave only the 33 Div unaccounted for.

Naval:
At Batavia, KXI torpedoes DD Usugumo. [:D] The 2 large BB TF hit me again. More troops are landed.
Landings at Admirality Island, Kavieng, and Cagayan (I guess this small force is continuing to give him headaches [:D]).
I-166 at 14, 26 (off Trincomalee) is DC
I-177 at 48, 120 (off Brisbane) is DC, but sinks a Aussie MSW first
I-16 at 109, 92 (off Palmrya) doesn't show on my Combat Replay [:(]
I-4 at 110, 90 (off Palmrya) is DC
However, I don't know the true amount of damage. I tell JM that 2 direct hits of a Japaneses sub usually sinks it, 1 direct hit depends on the damage and how far from a large port. Hopefully, I got 3 out of 4.
BB TF hit Cagayan with 10 DD's & another of 2CA, 2CL, 6DD while Makassar gets 4 DD's

Air:
Batavia gets another raid from 47 Zero, 117 Nell
Madioen (Java) gets 24 Zero, 18 Nell from Balikpapan
Manila gets 26 Betty, 21 Nell, and 27 Liz (the first appearance of the Japanese 4e bombers)
Normal LBA attacks on Henghow, Honan (where the I-16c vs Nates training continues), and Wuchow. Medan gets some Lilly's to pave the way for the 2 Para Regments moving north up the east coast of Sumatra
I lost 5 Martins and 3 Brewsters trying to hit shipping at Batavia and the surronding hexes by from a small CAP of Zeros and Oscars. 1 AP was hit by the Martins.
2 AK's are hit by 21 Zero and 9 Nells at Kendari. I was trying to use my small AK's to run in and pick up supplies. However, there is not enough engineers on the base to fix the damage done many days ago by KB. Thus, they cannot load supplies fast enough to avoid this. I guess I will shut down this type of operation.

Land:
Bombardment attacks at Batavia, Cagayan, Singapore, and Manila
Shock attacks are launched at Singapore (second day only as 2 Engineer Rgt move in), Nanchang (he gets 1:2 odds and later states it should only have been a deliberate attack), and Bataan (1:4 odds with only a Tank Rgt).

Notes: With Java being invaded, the current levels at Soerabaja are: 47,200 supply and growing; fort 6 (23%) - I hope he allows me to get to 7; AV 497 and growing with over 100 more on the island. With Singapore being the easier of the other two (Manila), I don't understand why he did not use those two divisions to take Singapore first and thus free up the 4 divisions he has already committed there. Comments guys....[&:]

Weather is my friend, part 2. [&o][&o] I had some small capacity AK's disbanded in Tjilitjap and run in 3 British AK's (5000 capacity/each) to port last turn (I had to wait to change the command as I did not withdraw the 2 British DD's last month and was in the hole for PP [:-]). I wanted to evac the remains of the 1 NEIAF Aviation unit to northern Australia (I am short of aviation support all over Oz). [:(] When I go to do my orders for the next 2 day cycle, most of the forecast is for T-storms over Java. [&o][&o] This is important because KB was spotted two hexes away on the other side of Java (I felt he was going to hit Soerabaja again...and he does [;)]).

2/11/42 & 2/12/42

Jon Mark stated that it was pay back time for my subs to get hit...and 2 of them do.
Intel states that China Expeditionary Army is planning for Changsha.

I had said that I wanted to play PBEM to have fun, which I have [:)], and to learn, which will be discussed in the following post.
This is what I did to myself after the last few series of turns.

Naval:
I correctly position the SS Porpoise 3 hexes away from Soerabaja at 24,64 and KB moves there. [&o][&o] I get a shot at CV Hiryu and my torpedoes miss. I get a direct hit from the escorting DD's and will have to go to Soerabaja to get the flooding under control before heading to Oz for further repairs, I hope.
KXIII gets a DC hit while at Batavia. Back to Soerabaja and then beyond.
Landings are underway at Rabaul and Buin.
S-38 gets 2 torpedoes into an AP at Wewak
S-35 gets a torpedo into a MSW
BB TF of 3BB, 3CL, 7DD hit Rabaul
22 Zero and 28 Nell from Balikpapan hit 3 AK's at 23, 66 with 6 torpedoes total. They were sent as bait from Soerabaja to enable the various 2 ship TF's carrying the 1 NEIAF BF to escape from Tjilitjap, which they did. [:D]

Air:
KB hits Soerabaja with 52 Zeros, 139 Vals, 153 Kates. He loses 8 val and 1 Kate to my 9 Dutch planes. Even trade. [:)] He hits only the AF as the port was empty.
Medan (Sumatra) gets 59 Lilly's to continue paving the way for LCU's
Bataan gets 23 Sally, 4 Helens
The few remaining Martins get 1 hit on a PG

Land:
Batavia is captured
Kavieng is captured
Admirality Island is captured
Bombardment attacks at Singapore, Manila, Nanching

Deliberate attack:
Ground combat at Cagayan
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 22929 troops, 61 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 438
Defending force 6220 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 169
Japanese max assault: 371 - adjusted assault: 230
Allied max defense: 107 - adjusted defense: 232
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese ground losses:
542 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Allied ground losses:
198 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Lesson Learned:

Earlier in the game I had stationed 2 CV TF at Tulagi as a possible ambush for JM trying to bombard Rabaul again. He did with the same BB TF - 3BB, 3CL, 7DD. I was unable to get my timing down and they were able to retire back to Truk without an air attack. I was frustrated with them only going the 7 hexes towards Rabaul (to position themselves 2 hexes south and set to retire). I then posted a thread about the different naval movement speeds. Both the Enterprise and Lex ended up at Brisbane. The Yorktown and Sara TF's were over at Suva.

I checked to see when my CV's and various cruiser were due for update and noticed that the 5 Northampton Class were already due and the Lex and Sara would be due 3/42. However, I did not have enough fuel at Brisbane to refuel both, so Lex and escorts got it and started the long trip to the WC. Meanwhile, I decided to send the Yorktown and Sara back to Pearl as some of the ships were building up system damage. Plus, the fact that CV TF eat up fuel while cruising around.

Thus, when intel and patrol aircraft spotted the coming invasion of southern New Guinea, Rabaul, and Solomons, I had only Boise at Noumea ready to intervene. [:(][:(]

He had not spotted my first attempt to ambush him. So why didn't I go back to set it up again. [&:] With all 4 CV's or just 2 CV's, I could have seriously hampered his conquest here. One reason was my approach of spreading out where I dropped off fuel in the Pacific. I had give little bits to places like Canton Island, Johnson, Palmyra. Then instead of making either Pago Pago or Suva my southern fuel source, I split my supply between both. Second, I did not use my AO's to fuel the CV's only and used them as TK's. [:-] Third, I was more focused on saving LCU's from Java and building up my defense of Burma/India. Finally, while KB and mini-KB where busy in SRA, I could get my upgrades done easily.

In hindsight, I should have build up just one fuel stockpile in either Suva or Pago Pago and then in Brisbane (or Sydney) and used my AO's for the fleet only. I should have kept at least 2 CV TF around the Solomons/New Guinea area since KB was over off the coast of Java.

Not an expensive lesson, but a lost opportunity. Thankfully, we are both relatively new to PBEM and are going through growing pains. [:D]

I have been neglectful of my AAR and just noticed that 3 months game time has gone by (currently at 5/16/42). YIKES!! Thus, I will give brief descriptions of what has happened in each Allied Command area starting with the North Pacific which is the quietest.

In the last 3 months....nothing has happened. Absolutely nothing. [X(]
My opponent sent out a few recon flights, but even those have stopped. [&:]
However, my stealth build up continues as reinforcements for the North Pacific (NP) slowly continue to come in. My focus has been the fortification building on Umnak Island and Dutch Harbor along with the preparation of forces to be landing on Adak Island after the 2nd RCT arrives.

Umnak Island: AF 4(5) 99% AV - 165 (will go up another 172 when 2nd RCT arrives) Forts 5 (74%) - plans to build forts up to max before switching back to AF construction
2 x AA, 1 x Eng Rgt, 11 AF HQ, 1 x Rgt (another at Seattle to be transported), 11 Av Rgt (270 av support) being transported from Anchorage, 11 BF (90) prepping for Adak

Dutch Harbor: Port 4(3) Fort 5 (20%) - plan to continue fort building
1 x CD, 1 x BF (30), 1 x RCT, 2 x AA. AS in port to support 3 Barracuda SS being used as pickets on Attu & Kiska Islands

Adak Island: unoccupied, but have plans to place 3 x BF (150 av support), 2 x RCT, 1 x EAB within the next 45 days as the 2nd RCT arrives at Seattle. Will focus on fort building until discovered, then switch over to AF build up.

Air - 48 x B25, 16 x B26, 48 x P40E, 72 x P-39, 24 x PBY, 24 x P-36. Not much, but enough to take on what I'm facing...nothing!!

Naval - 1 x BB (Colorado), 2 x CL (St Louis, Helena), 4 x DD all at Anchorage

Plans are to build up these three bases and launch possible offensive ops in '43.

?? - Why has my opponent done absolutely nothing in this area?

Next is the Central Pacific (CP). No activity here either. Baker Island was taken early in the war and nothing afterwards (AF there is only level 1). I get occasional Emily recon flights over Midway and/or Canton Island. Sub patrols stopped by end of 1/42 after my Clemson Class DD's had finished their upgrades and sanitized the area. [:D]

My forces are as follow (please feel free to question my lack of or too much at a particular base):
Midway: Forts 6 (max level for an atoll per HR); Mines - 1173; Port/AF - max; AV - 50 due to 1 x CD, 1 x BF (30), 1 x BF (90) with 39 P-36, 12 PBY. I have 1 RCT at San Fran, but need PP to change commands. This was not high on my list to reinforce from the start.

Johnson Island: Forts 4 (90%), AF 4, AV - 45 due to 1 x CD, 1x AA, 1 x BF (30), Mines - 1693, 1 PT TF of 6,

Palmrya: Forts 4 (73%); AF 4, AV -278 due to 2 x AA, 1 x CD, 1 x RCT, 1 x BF(30), 1 Para; Mines - 1827; 12 PBY; this may be too lightly held, but no indication of a move in this direction.

Canton Island: Fort 7 (89%), Port 3(2); AF 4(2); mines - 1646; AV - 258 due to 2 x AA, 2 x FA, 1 x CD (another at sea along with Lt Tank), 1 x BF (30), 1 x EAB, 1 x Av Rgt (270), 1 x RCT (another at San Fran and next on list to have command changed); 12 B25, 72 F4F-4, 12 Kingfisher, 24 P-40E, 24 PBY (I had B-17's here, but they are over at Cooktown until I start getting B-24's in 6/42). This is to be one of my strong points and will get higher priority in near future.

Christmas Island: Fort 5; Port 3 (1) 73%; AF 3; AV - 45 due to 1 x CD, 1 x BF (30), 1 x EAB. This got early attention as I have read too many AAR's about quick strikes towards the Line Islands. [;)] Now to be used as a way point to the SP and have a PBY squadron for ASW work.

Lahaina, Hilo, Kona: Each have a BF (30) and are building up their forts.

Pearl Harbor: Fort 8 (23%); Supply - 123k; AV - 976 due to 2 x division, 1 x CD, 1 x BF (360), 2 x AA, CP HQ, AF HQ, 1 Raider Bn, 1 x Eng Rgt, 1 x FA; 50 P40B, 24 P-39, 24 P-400, 12 B25, 16 A24, 36 SBD, 12 PBY, 12 PB2Y (I might be a little light on bombers due to commitments in SW). 3 CV TF (Sara, Lex, Hornet) have just arrived from San Fran after refit. 2 CV TF are missing (see action in SP). [:(] [:(]

Onto the South Pacific (SP). First I will cover where I am now and then a second posting of what has happened (great ASW by me [:D] and not so good vs. KB & mini-KB [:(][X(][:(]).

I am making Suva as HQ for SP. I have read in the "must read" thread section about having the Command HQ and base have the same command. It will only cost me 100PP to change this over. [;)]

Suva: Port 5 (this helped to save some ships after previous battles without an AR present [:D]); AF 5(3); Fort 7 (98%); AV - 529 due to SP HQ, III Corp, Americal Division, MAW (270), EAB, Eng Rgt, 3 x FA, AA (this is the 70th and comes from Panama with 3 Radars!!), CD, Tank Bn, and at sea 37 Division (3 x AA at San Fran needed PP to change command); 12 B-17, 32 B-25, 48 B-26, 16 Hudson, 32 P-40B, 24 P-40E, 12 PBY, 12 PB2Y. One highly decorate ASW TF operates out of here. [:D][&o][:D]

Nandi: Port 1; AF 2(2); Fort 6; AV - due to BF(90), EAB, Eng Rgt, Inf Bde; 32 B-26, 12 P-40B (some CV airgroup fragments are here, but those will be in next post)

Pago Pago: Port 3; AF 2; Fort 4 (40%); AV - 17 due to Samoan BN, Eng Rgt, 2 x CD, 2 x AA; 12 PBY

Savaii: Port 1(2); AF 1(3); at sea and within 1 week arrival time from Panama - 2 x AA, BF (180), Eng Rgt, RCT, SB. The Samoa island group will be a series of interlocking islands for support.

Noumea: in CHS, this base is non-malaria!! Port 4(4); AF 4(4); Fort 5 (16%); AV - 606 due to AA, 3 x Eng Rgt, BF(90), 2 Marine Division, RCT, Inf Bn, at sea 1 Marine Division & CD; 12 B-25, 24 P-39, 24 P-40E, 12 PBY. With the amount of engineers here and the arrival of a 2nd Marine Division, if he wants this place, he will pay heavily for it!![:D]

Just got a call for work, and have to leave. Will finish later.

Bump  [8|]

Now that I'm down to only this PBEM game, I need to resurrect this AAR and update it (current game date is 19 Jan 43).
That will be done over the next few days, I hope.

I'm getting into uncharted waters as an Allied player planning and then launching invasions throught the Pacific. I've only done so against the AI and I know a human opponent will be "slightly" more challenging. [:D]