Noob vs dastardly Jap AI

[John Lansford]

If you can build up the base at Horn Island, a squadron of fighters there will make any Betty airstrikes very expensive for the AI and help reduce your TF's exposure.  Your TF path will run very close to the east side of Australia once the Bettys start flying, and I've found that there's only a short distance where they are in danger.

[OldCoot]

Thanks for the tip about Horn. Should I ever have a spare fighter sqn available, I'll consider Horn

[OldCoot]

[align=center]15-18 December 1941

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[align=center]Intelligence
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Operations reports

SS Tuna assigned to offensive patrol 133, 98 - 134, 96 off Wake Island

No additional repairs possible on DD Gilmer
 using currently assigned resources at San Francisco - Repair changed to pierside repair time 1 day

No additional repairs possible on xAK Dorothy Philips
 using currently assigned resources at San Francisco - Repair changed to pierside repair time 1 day

Repairs completed on CL Honolulu at Pearl Harbor, ship returned to service - Cruisers are good!
Repairs completed on DD Allen at Pearl Harbor, ship returned to service - DDs are better!
VMF-111 takes F4F-3A Wildcat replacements
35th PG/Hq Sqn takes P-40E Warhawk replacements
VCS-3/3 converting to OS2U-3 Kingfisher aboard Trenton
AM Townsville arrives at Cairns
xAK Makawao arrives at Balboa
50th PG/11th PS arrives at Eastern USA
2nd USMC Tank Battalion arrives at San Diego

Sig Intel

4/52nd Division is loaded on a Japanese xAK moving to Jolo.
6/24th Infantry Regiment is loaded on a Japanese xAK moving to Davao.
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF is loaded on a Japanese xAK moving to Jolo.
6/25th Division is loaded on a Japanese TK moving to Kota Bharu.
3/16th Infantry Regiment is loaded on a Japanese TK moving to Davao

Location of Japanese Carrier forces:

KB - dunno, probably going back to her spawning grounds.
Little Brother - Am expecting mini KB to show up supporting Japanese landings at Borneo. We'll see.

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I was afraid that, once Rabaul fell, Betty would immediately start slaughtering my little lambs bugging out from the DEI. But I guess it takes time to bring those torps down from Truk.

The bulk of Philippine refugee shipping has arrived at Soerabaja and is being sorted out and sent to Cape Town or Perth as appropriate.

Rangoon

2nd Burma Brigade has embarked onto transports at Rangoon and sails today. This will end the Rangoon evacuation. So far, the only losses have been part of the Sikh Bn. AVG has provided stellar CAP.

Cape Town

Convoy WS.12/OS 13 Supply Convoy arrives at Cape Town. I now have 192,000 supplies and  183,000 fuel there. I have more than enough shipping there, or on the way there, to load this stuff. It will, of course, go to Java. 18th UK Division will arrive on map tomorrow. Guess where it's going?

Wake Island

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Elsewhere

Alor Star captured
Victoria Point captured
Taiping captured
Japanese landings at Miri

BBs Pennsylvania and Nevada sink at PH while awaiting repair - Why does this info not show up in ops report?

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[OldCoot]

[align=center]19 December 1941
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Operations report

Repairs completed on DD Gilmer at San Francisco, ship returned to service
Repairs completed on xAK Dorothy Philips at San Francisco, ship returned to service
Repairs completed on CL Raleigh at Pearl Harbor, ship returned to service
VF-2 takes F2A-3 Buffalo replacements
VP-11 takes PBY-5 Catalina replacements
No.115 Sqn RCAF takes Bolingbroke IV replacements
54th PG/57th PS takes P-39D Airacobra replacements
51st PG/Hq Sqn takes P-40E Warhawk replacements
AP Crescent City arrives at Alameda
xAK La Cordillera arrives at Perth
TK British Trader arrives at Abadan
GVT-16 arrives at Batavia
27th Infantry Division arrives at March Field - Thanks a lot! Restricted unit
108th Infantry Regiment arrives at Los Angeles  Ditto
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment arrives at Bataan

Sig Int

I./4th Infantry Battalion is loaded on a Brazil Maru class xAP moving to Kuching.
II./90th Infantry Battalion is loaded on a Japanese xAK moving to Guam.
5th Tank Regiment is planning for an attack on Cotabato.

Location of Japanese Carrier Forces

KB - Unknown
Little brother - unknown. I expect to see these guys turn up at Borneo


Dutch East Indies

No 27 Sqn RAF with 10 Blenheims arrives at Batavia
No 21 Sqn RAAF with 21 Buffalos arrives at Bavaria

Christmas Island

34th Infantry, 111th USN BF arrive - 47th Const Regt two days out
VP-12 arrives from PH

Elsewhere

Japanese forces CAPTURE Georgetown !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Miri !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Oroquieta

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[OldCoot]

[align=center]20-21 December 1941

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Operations report

Repairs completed on AV Curtiss at Pearl Harbor, ship returned to service
Japanese forces CAPTURE Wenchow !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Finschhafen !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Tuguegarao !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Bayombong !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Cotabato !!!
Singapore expands fortifications to size 3
193rd Tank Battalion arrives at San Francisco
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment arrives at Fort Ord
35th Infantry Division arrives at Fort Ord - Restricted
140th Infantry Regiment arrives at Fort Ord - Restricted

Sig Int

12th JAAF Base Force is planning for an attack on Makassar.
44th Road Const Co  is planning for an attack on Shortlands.


Location of Japanese Carrier Forces

KB - Unknown
Little brother - unknown. I expect to see these guys turn up at Borneo

Malaya
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Philippines
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Dutch East Indies

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[AttuWatcher]

I can't wait to see what happens to Java, and where KB rears it's head.

[OldCoot]

[align=center]22 - 23 December 1941
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Operations report

VB-2 converting to SBD-3 Dauntless aboard Lexington
Sighting report: 2 Japanese ships at 153,143 near Canton Island , Speed 12 , Moving East
Repairs completed on DM Preble at Pearl Harbor, ship returned to service
Japanese forces CAPTURE Ternate !!!
2/3rd Ind Coy  arrives at Sydney
2/4th Ind Coy  arrives at Sydney

Sig Int

7/12th Division is loaded on a Kyushu Cargo class xAK moving to San Fernando.
3/12th Division is loaded on a Yusen N Cargo class xAK moving to San Fernando
2/12th Division is loaded on a Std-C Cargo class xAK moving to San Fernando.

Location of Japanese Carrier Forces

KB - Unknown
Little brother - unknown. I expect to see these guys turn up at Borneo



Dutch East Indies

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Southwest Pacific

114th and 115th USAAF Bfs arrive at Cairns.
Rabual air base is still not operational, so I'm sending the 115th to PM

South Pacific

Noumea - 3rd Marine Def Bn arrived today

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[/align]Canton - Japanese invasion TF shows up at Canton!! I have a CA and some DDs patrolling in this area, so nailing that TF should be like shooting fish in a barrel. I'm bringing down a regt from PH to evict the Japanese ground force.

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[John Lansford]

Be warned; sometimes there's a covering force with that Canton invasion TF.  Also, there's three battalions of NZ troops down in Suva you can use that are a lot closer than Pearl if you need troops.
 
Oh, and another warning; the AI doesn't like losing Canton.

[Andy Mac]

Ummm John that counts as a spoiler why post it let him find out for himself ?

[OldCoot]

Andy:

I've been  reading other AARs, so this attack at Canton wasn't a big surprise.
My goal at this point is to learn the game.  Winning is secondary.

[Andy Mac]

ok [:D][:D]

[John Lansford]

ORIGINAL: OldCoot

Andy:

I've been  reading other AARs, so this attack at Canton wasn't a big surprise.
My goal at this point is to learn the game.  Winning is secondary.

Neither Andy nor I were referring to "this" attack at Canton...

[OldCoot]

[align=center]24 - 25 December 1941

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[align=left]Operations report
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Repairs completed on BB Warspite at Seattle, ship returned to service
Repairs completed on DD Dewey at Pearl Harbor, ship returned to service
YP-116 arrives at Mare Island
27th BG/16th BS arrives at Brisbane - A-24 Banshees unrestricted
27th BG/17th BS arrives at Brisbane
27th BG/91th BS arrives at Brisbane
27th BG/Hq Sqn arrives at Brisbane
168th Field Artillery Regiment arrives at San Luis Obispo - restricted
181st Field Artillery Regiment arrives at San Luis Obispo - restricted
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment arrives at San Francisco
xAK Barjora arrives at Abadan
xAK Birchbank arrives at Aden
xAK Empire Rani arrives at Aden
xAK Governor arrives at Aden
30th BG/21st BS arrives at Mojave
30th BG/27th BS arrives at Mojave
30th BG/38th BS arrives at Mojave
30th BG/2nd RS arrives at Mojave
10th BS PAAC arrives at Manila
30th BG/Hq Sqn arrives at Mojave
95th Coast AA Regiment arrives at San Francisco
Japanese forces CAPTURE Kuala Lumpur !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Canton Island !!!
Batavia expands fortifications to size 3

Sig Int

5/12th Division is loaded on a Yusen A Cargo class xAK moving to San Fernando.
10th Tank Regiment is planning for an attack on Lingayen.


Location of Japanese Carrier Forces

KB - Unknown
Little brother - unknown. I expect to see these guys turn up at Borneo

Pearl Harbor

Base force and marine defense bn loading for Lugarville

Canton

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[OldCoot]

[align=center]26 December 1941

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Operations report

Repairs completed on DM Ramsay at Pearl Harbor, ship returned to service
xAP Maui arrives at Los Angeles
AK Almaack arrives at Cristobal
xAK Mormacrey arrives at Balboa
xAK San Anselmo arrives at Balboa
xAK City of Hereford arrives at Abadan
xAK Empire Glen arrives at Aden
AVD Casco arrives at Seattle
TK British Energy arrives at Abadan
27th BG/16th BS arrives at Cairns
27th BG/17th BS arrives at Cairns
27th BG/91th BS arrives at Cairns
27th BG/Hq Sqn arrives at Cairns

Sig Int

6/25th Division is loaded on a Japanese xAK moving to Kota Bharu.
7/52nd Division is loaded on a Gozan Cargo class xAK moving to Jolo.
24th Infantry Regiment is planning for an attack on Cagayan.

Location of Japanese Carrier Forces
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[align=left]Hmm. 40 fighters, 97 bombers, and  57 auxiliaries. This has got to be at least a chunk of the KB.
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Canton Island - Astoria and friends greet Japanese invaders

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Naval bombardment of Canton Island at 153,143
Allied Ships
      CA Astoria
      DD Worden
      DD Hull
      DD Farragut
      DD Phelps
      DD Selfridge

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

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 1

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Dutch  East Indies

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[/align]Still unloading troops at Merak and Batavia. Hope to get them off in time

Japanese Landing at Kuching

Australia 

ATC Squadron is being sent to Batavia via Darwin and Seorabaja. Once there, it will start ferrying AHQ units from Singapore. Nothing like having a lot of aviation support around just in  case some aircraft show up.

[OldCoot]

[align=center]27 - 29 December 1941

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Operations report

Japanese forces capture Temuloh
Japanese forces capture Cagayan
Japanese forces capture Kuching
Japanese forces capture Tarakan
Japanese forces capture Cabanatuan
Japanese forces capture Malacca
Japanese forces capture Morotai  
125th Infantry Regiment arrives at Los Angeles Restricted
2/151st Combat Engineer Battalion arrives at Seattle
Waikito (Mtd) Rifle Regiment arrives at Gisborne
1st Irish Fusiliers Battalion arrives at Victori
Repairs completed on xAP Wahine at San Francisco, ship returned to service
CV Yorktown arrives at San Diego


Sig Int

2/2nd Engineer Regiment is loaded on a Japanese AMC moving to Kuching.
16th Engineer Regiment is planning for an attack on Legaspi.
69th JAAF AF Coy  is loaded on xAK Kinkai Maru moving to Canton Island. Bring it!
207th JAAF AF Bn  is planning for an attack on Legaspi.
10th Tank Regiment is planning for an attack on Lingayen.

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Dutch East Indies

The last of the purloined Indian and British ground units have arrived and are settling in. I now have  1210 AV at Batavia and  463 AV at Soerabaja. All units are digging in.

Java has 158 excess air support and I am flying in more from Singapore. Just before Singapore goes down, I'm going to bring aircraft down from there. I am also going to try to move one or more P-40 units in from Australia.

Malaya

Operation turtle is being implemented. With the exception of the two Australian brigades at Johore Bharu, all units have left the peninsula. 223 Group RAF is being evacuated by air to Batavia.

Southwest Pacific Command

Japanese airport at Rabaul is still not operational. I'm going to pull the Whirlagigs from PM and replace them with A-24s. Maybe I can interfere with Japanese landings at Fischhaven.  I really regret that I didn't bring more fuel out of the DEI. I have about 40 ships at Cairns and no fuel.

Canton Island

I think I'll let the Japs sit on Canton for awhile and see if I can't nail supply TFs. I have cruiser/destroyer squadrons at Baker and Palmyra ready to ponce. (or run like hell as the case may be). These units will also get in some bombardment practice in  the meantime.

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[align=center]Status of LOC Bases   (*** indicates units enroute)
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KB and little brother made mincemeat  of those Dutch AMcs.

[OldCoot]

[align=center]30 December 1941 - 1 January 1942

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Operations report

Repairs completed on CA San Francisco at Pearl Harbor, ship returned to service
Japanese forces capture Brunei
Japanese forces capture Lae
Japanese forces capture Malaybalay
Japanese forces capture Manado
Japanese forces capture Pucheng
Japanese forces capture Lingayen


Sig Int

No significant intel

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Dutch East Indies

I was expecting the KB and little brother to work over Java, but KB just sailed by headed east. Maybe PM area. Little brother dropped out of sight.

Philippines

Bad news here! After two days of deliberate attacks, the Japanese launched a shock attack on 1 January and captured Lingayen. I had hoped the five PA divisions there could dig in and hold. The Japanese cut them to pieces!

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Ground combat at Lingayen (79,75)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 16409 troops, 185 guns, 303 vehicles, Assault Value = 469
Defending force 16366 troops, 345 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 562
Japanese adjusted assault: 1133
Allied adjusted defense: 63 
Japanese assault odds: 17 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lingayen !!!

Japanese ground losses:
     768 casualties reported
        Squads: 0 destroyed, 47 disabled
        Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 37 disabled
        Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
     Vehicles lost 12 (0 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Allied ground losses:  Jeez!!!
     7259 casualties reported
        Squads: 625 destroyed, 146 disabled
        Non Combat: 455 destroyed, 136 disabled
        Engineers: 44 destroyed, 0 disabled
     Guns lost 300 (284 destroyed, 16 disabled)
     Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
     Units retreated 4
     Units destroyed 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
   1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
   3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
   21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
   2nd Formosa Inf. Regiment
   4th Tank Regiment
   48th Engineer Regiment
   48th Recon Regiment
   7th Tank Regiment
   14th Army
   15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
   8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
   9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
   1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
   48th Field Artillery Regiment
   3rd Engineer Construction Battalion

Defending units:
   71st PA Infantry Division
   31st PA Infantry Division
   86th PS Coastal Artillery Battalion
   11th PA Infantry Division
   21st PA Infantry Division
   91st PA Infantry Division

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Conservation between General Cassidy and Admiral Sundance

Sundance: "It looks like the Japs used a bicycle battalion and a messkit repair unit to attack five Philippine Army divisions dug in at Lingayen and cut them to pieces"

Cassidy: "They can't do that."
Sundance: "Tell them that."
Cassidy: "They're beginning to get on my nerves. Who are those guys?"
Sundance: "Like I said, it's the Japs."
Cassidy: "I couldn't do that. Could you do that? Why can they do it? Who are those guys?"

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Southwest Pacific Command

Japanese airport at Rabaul is still not operational!
Banshees are scoring some hits on Jap ships

Canton Island

Just as predicted by sigint, xAK Kinryu Maru showed up to resupply Japanese garrison at Canton - Didn't work out too well for them.

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Canton Island .
Japanese Ships
     xAK Kinryu Maru, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
     CA Portland
     DD Henley
     DD Patterson
     DD Mahan
     DD Cummings
     DD Drayton

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[AttuWatcher]

Looks like the Jap foothold in New Guinea / Melanesia is coming together. Who are those guys? [:o]

[Blackhorse]

An informative, and fun! read.

Q: Did you have a Corps HQ within range (1 hex) of your divisions defending at Lingayen?

[OldCoot]

ORIGINAL: Blackhorse

Q: Did you have a Corps HQ within range (1 hex) of your divisions defending at Lingayen?

Nope! Another noob mistake! Thanks!

[OldCoot]

[align=center]2 - 4 January 1942
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Operations report

Japanese forces capture Iba
Japanese forces capture Sambas
Japanese forces capture Namlea
Japanese forces capture Clark Field
Japanese forces capture Kuantan
Port Moresby expands fortifications to size 3
49th PG/7th PS arrives at Eastern USA
49th PG/8th PS arrives at Eastern USA
49th PG/9th PS arrives at Eastern USA
49th PG/Hq Sqn arrives at Eastern USA

Sig Int

III./4th Infantry Battalion is planning for an attack on Balikpapan.

Location of Japanese Carrier Forces

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Philippines

Another bad day! Japanese captured Clark Field, and have cut LOC between Manila and Bataan.

Manila

AS = 914
Supplies = 25675

Bataan

AS = 418
Supplies = 4438

Dutch East Indies

Japanese are pretty well established on north Borneo. Theyt have taken Tarakan on the east coast and it looks like Balikpapan is next


Cairns - Port Moresby

Managed to land a USAAF BF at PM dispite MS Betty's objections. Rabaul airbase is still not operational, and the Bettys are unescorted, so I assume they're from Truk.  I really need a fighter squadron at PM.

In about a week I'm going to have that fighter squadron and a bunch of others;  75 P-40s arrive at Brisbane in 7 days; also a TF carrying a P-39 fighter group and some B-26s are about 10 days out.

My first priority is to build up supplies and fuel at PM and Cairns so I can start getting replacements and upgrades. Also a slew of support wouldn't hurt. Maybe even a few troops. Anything will do.