Dec 24, 1941
Not a creature was stirring....
But first, a non sequitur
I've always been partial to the music in WitP, so it was with rather pleasant delight when I noticed there was a new "soundtrack" in AE, I do so like sound file 1034, best track so far imho.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
The map ran nearly the entire length of the wall that is was on, the Pacific Ocean took up nearly half of it, the west coast buttressed it on one end and Asia the other, spilling over into the Indian Ocean and the Middle East. At it's base sat a rather long table with trays of different coloured pins separated and arranged in boxes of their own.
LTJG Crompton placed a red pin on Luganville in the New Hebrides, it had taken a while for the young man to find the place, about 3 minutes, about par for a new location, one thing about this part of his job, the past 3 weeks was like a never ending Geography spot quiz. He took a step back to admire his handiwork, the convoys were 2 days out of Frisco, as indicated by their location pins, the larger one leading from the second by about a day, they would put in at Pearl to top up their bunkers before continuing their run towards Pago Pago. Further west, a replenishment group of 3 AOs escorted by 4 DDs was trailing the carriers by about a day, it would hold east of Pago Pago in relative safety ready to top up the carriers should the need arise.
Pago Pago and Fiji were still reporting no threats imminent and strangely enough, Noumea hadn't yet been invested, the Free French garrison there reported ships on the horizon but they just seemed to stand just out of range of the guns, just waiting. A little unnerviing to be sure. The Pensacola had detached from the group of merchies she had been escorting and had joined up with 2 DDs and was awaiting the arrival of the ANZAC cruisers, word was that they would close in on Noumea when that had happened and either shoot up whatever was out there or get blown to bits by KB.
Up near Darwin, reports had come in confirming the destruction of the Holland, an IJN surface force had hunted it down in the night and picked off the Pillsbury before catching up with Holland in the morning. The good news was that the other merchies and Darwin seemed to have dodged a bullet as there were no air strikes carried out on either, the handful of B17s out of Darwin that managed to get off the ground bombed 2 IJN TFs and positively identified at least 2 CVs (Shokaku and Zuikaku) and 1 CVL (Ryujo), good to have picked them out, now to find the other 4 CVs....
A 3rd IJN TF was spotted in the Banda Sea as it sailed past the north of Timor heading west, if the TF continued into the Java Sea a couple of PTs were waiting for it, hiding out in the islets just south of Makassar. While the Intel guys were agreed that it seemed KB had indeed been split into their separate carrier divisions, depending on who you talked to either all known IJN CVs were currently north of Darwin or at least 1 carrier division was still lurking around north of Noumea, the Allied cruiser force south of Noumea would be sailing into harm's way to test that theory.
In the PI, the combined American and Filipino forces continue to hold off the advancing IJA, inflicting casualties at a higher rate than what they suffered for a second day in a row. Feeling somewhat frisky, Mac has ordered a general attack on Christmas morning.
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 47571 troops, 410 guns, 237 vehicles, Assault Value = 1232
Defending force 51091 troops, 678 guns, 557 vehicles, Assault Value = 1436
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0
Japanese adjusted assault: 487
Allied adjusted defense: 1714
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 0)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
4995 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 127 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 151 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 75 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 36 (0 destroyed, 36 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
2587 casualties reported
Squads: 30 destroyed, 126 disabled
Non Combat: 32 destroyed, 150 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 9 (4 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 71 (16 destroyed, 55 disabled)
Assaulting units:...
Tanaka Detachment...
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment...
16th Engineer Regiment...
48th Engineer Regiment...
20th Infantry Regiment...
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment...
Kanno Detachment...
48th Recon Regiment...
4th Division...
47th Infantry Regiment...
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment...
65th Brigade...
9th Infantry Regiment...
7th Tank Regiment...
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
45th Field AA Battalion...
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion...
14th Army...
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion...
56th Const Co ...
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion...
48th Field Artillery Regiment...
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
9th Field AF Construction Battalion...
3rd Engineer Construction Battalion...
...
Defending units:...
71st PA Infantry Division...
31st PA Infantry Division...
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team...
194th Tank Battalion...
51st PA Infantry Division...
41st PA Infantry Division...
31st Infantry Regiment...
4th Marine Regiment...
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion...
26th PS Cavalry Regiment...
Subic Bay Defenses ...
14th PS Engineer Regiment...
1st PA Infantry Division...
1st PA Constabulary Regiment...
45th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team...
91st PA Infantry Division...
21st PA Infantry Division...
192nd Tank Battalion...
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment...
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment...
Clark Field USAAF Base Force...
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment...
Provisional GMC Gp ...
1st USMC AA Battalion...
North Luzon Force ...
USAFFE ...
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment...
In other miscellaneous news, a midget sub snuck into Melbourne harbour and put one into the side of an AP, talk about a rude surprise. Allied submarines continue to report widespread failures of fish, either running too deep or just plain duds. Fighter sweeps of Singapore claimed a couple of Buffalos but careful husbanding of spares meant that there were at least 20 spare airframes still available for the defence of Singapore. Any day now the bulk of the IJA will reach the Straits of Johor. Java and Sumatra continue their buildup of the limited forces at their disposal, going into rest mode where it was reasonably safe to do so.
Widespread but largely ineffective bombing of targets in China were the order of the day but on the ground it was an altogether different matter, an attack on Chinese forces just south of Nanyang resulted in well, a catastrophe, Nanyang itself suffered a deliberate attack by 4 divisions, strength was about equal on both sides but the Japanese made gains into the outskirts of the city, breaking down the initial layer of fortifications (read, lvl 2 to 1) while suffering about half of the 4700 casualties reported by the Chinese. Worse still, the city of Loyang had fallen, the defenders taking massive casualties in a botched attempt to turn the flanks of the advancing IJA forces, (hey, someone's got to explain the 25 to 1 casualty ratio)
Attack just south of Nanyang
Attacking force 19122 troops, 175 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 564
Defending force 14187 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 230
Japanese adjusted assault: 483
Allied adjusted defense: 73
Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 14 (0 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
6784 casualties reported
Squads: 137 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 266 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:...
13th Tank Regiment...
13th Division...
58th Infantry Regiment...
11th Army...
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment...
...
Defending units:...
12th Chinese Corps...
29th Chinese Corps...
3rd Group Army...
31st Group Army...
Attack on Nanyang
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 57670 troops, 450 guns, 180 vehicles, Assault Value = 1918
Defending force 61967 troops, 305 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1490
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese adjusted assault: 1289
Allied adjusted defense: 559
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
2296 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 99 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 63 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
4709 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 194 disabled
Non Combat: 36 destroyed, 147 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Assaulting units:...
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade...
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade...
27th Division...
32nd Division...
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade...
110th Division...
5th Ind. Engineer Regiment...
10th Tank Regiment...
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion...
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment...
12th Army...
11th Field Artillery Regiment...
...
Defending units:...
13th Chinese Corps...
30th Chinese Corps...
41st Chinese Corps...
92nd Chinese Corps...
90th Chinese Corps...
55th Chinese Corps...
4th Construction Regiment...
2nd Group Army...
5th War Area ...
22nd Group Army...
Loyang falls
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 66180 troops, 578 guns, 422 vehicles, Assault Value = 1900
Defending force 49447 troops, 165 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1227
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese adjusted assault: 1148
Allied adjusted defense: 155
Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Loyang !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1022 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 16 (0 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
25764 casualties reported
Squads: 477 destroyed, 168 disabled
Non Combat: 839 destroyed, 114 disabled
Engineers: 90 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 17 (16 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 11
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:...
17th Division...
15th Tank Regiment...
35th Division...
15th Division...
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade...
36th Division...
9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
North China Area Army...
22nd Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment...
China Expeditionary Army...
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion...
68th JAAF AF Coy ...
...
Defending units:...
93rd Chinese Corps...
80th Chinese Corps...
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps...
9th Chinese Corps...
27th Chinese Corps...
5th New Chinese Corps...
15th Group Army...
Jingcha War Area ...
36th Group Army...
14th Group Army...
4th Chinese Base Force...
Climbing down the library ladder carefully, he took one last look at the map and decided that if he hurried he might find a couple of people to get drunk with at the BOQ, he hurridly tidied up the assorted coloured pins and walked out the door, plunging the room into darkness as he walked past the light switches, it was just past 10pm on the 24th of December 1941, it didn't look like it was going to be a Merry Christmas.
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Annnnnnd that was my attempt to break the monotony for the loyal readers of this AAR, yes, all 3 of you :p.... apologies in advance if it fell flat, have taken a bit of creative license with the level of detail in the story but I wanted to present the AAR a little differently and yet still put the main points across, no way in hell a LTJG would know that much eh?
What does this button do? - Hyphara (J) vs Arnhem (A)
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
Dec 25, 1941
Dec 25, 1941
The stars are brightly shining...
SUMMARY
Noumea is invaded. The defenders of PI give as good as they get.
CENPAC and CONUS
An I boat catches an unescorted convoy returning to PH near Palmyra and sink an xAK.
SWPAC
Christmas Day of '41 sees Noumea invaded, the coastal defences give a good account of themselves damaging a couple of transports and escorts but it isn't enough to dent the landings in any significant way. An Allied SAG consisting of 3 CAs, 1 CL and 2 DDs moves to intercept the invasion fleet.
In the PI, the operational P-40s and P-35s (10 of the former and 3 of the latter this turn) operating out of Bataan making a real nuisance of themselves, doing a fairly decent job of protecting the airfield so the engineers can continue on building up defences. The defenders of CF are giving as good as they get, losses are about equal for both sides.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Singapore continues to be visited by fighter sweeps and bomber raids, the Beer Barrels are being slowly worn down until I can't put than 10 fighters in the air, am being really stingy with the reserves as I intend to extricate as much airpower out of Singapore when the time comes. The bombers out of Singapore caught a group of DMS near Mersing and sank one, 13 torpedo bombers and 22 level bombers and all I got was 1 fish on target.
CBI
Sub activity off Colomkbo sees an xAKL going down to an I boat.
Nanyang is attacked and the fort level drops to 0 but we're still hanging in there.
Chengchow in China is heavily bombed although not much damage is done, pretty obvious it's the next significant target as it's right next to Loyang which fell a couple of turns ago. Kukong looks to be a secondary target as well as it's been visited by fighter sweeps.
The stars are brightly shining...
SUMMARY
Noumea is invaded. The defenders of PI give as good as they get.
CENPAC and CONUS
An I boat catches an unescorted convoy returning to PH near Palmyra and sink an xAK.
SWPAC
Christmas Day of '41 sees Noumea invaded, the coastal defences give a good account of themselves damaging a couple of transports and escorts but it isn't enough to dent the landings in any significant way. An Allied SAG consisting of 3 CAs, 1 CL and 2 DDs moves to intercept the invasion fleet.
In the PI, the operational P-40s and P-35s (10 of the former and 3 of the latter this turn) operating out of Bataan making a real nuisance of themselves, doing a fairly decent job of protecting the airfield so the engineers can continue on building up defences. The defenders of CF are giving as good as they get, losses are about equal for both sides.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Singapore continues to be visited by fighter sweeps and bomber raids, the Beer Barrels are being slowly worn down until I can't put than 10 fighters in the air, am being really stingy with the reserves as I intend to extricate as much airpower out of Singapore when the time comes. The bombers out of Singapore caught a group of DMS near Mersing and sank one, 13 torpedo bombers and 22 level bombers and all I got was 1 fish on target.
CBI
Sub activity off Colomkbo sees an xAKL going down to an I boat.
Nanyang is attacked and the fort level drops to 0 but we're still hanging in there.
Chengchow in China is heavily bombed although not much damage is done, pretty obvious it's the next significant target as it's right next to Loyang which fell a couple of turns ago. Kukong looks to be a secondary target as well as it's been visited by fighter sweeps.
Dec 26, 1941
Dec 26, 1941
SUMMARY
The rest of KB is found, Noumea is as good as gone, the game's afoot.
SWPAC
Koumac is invaded this turn so it looks like my opponent is playing for keeps. In an object lesson about mission speeds the Allied SAG falls short of it's target and is 2 hexes south of Noumea when daylight comes and the airgroups of KB find it in the open sea. The results are predictably ungood for me, the CAs Pensacola and Australia as well as CL Leander and the sole French representative till '43, the DD La Triomphant going under. At least I know where the other 4 CVs are now, it is interesting to note that these are the "Midway 4", my opponent choosing to separate the carriers thus so as perhaps a subconscious nod to history? Not that I'm saying I'll catch his decks full of planes as they're rearming anytime soon, just saying.
The first Japanese shock attack at Noumea reveals I'm up against a Bde+ worth of troops so it looks like goodbye Noumea, the question now is will my opponent try for Fiji and Pago Pago or consolidate his gains, if I were him I'd go great guns seeing I can easily project more local air combat power at the moment. Have diverted a couple of Catalinas from PH to make the trip south to cover the approaches to Fiji so I can at least get a headsup if he comes my way.
Ryujo continues westward towards Java, now just slightly south of Makassar, her airgroup catches 3 xAKLs at Pamakasan and sinks them, these were actually carrying the remaining elements of the Barisan Regiment to Soerbaja but some sort of bug prevented them from leaving the hex even after I had tried everything and anything including reforming a new TF, changing missions and the like. Nothing could get them to move out of the hex. So the previous turn, I made them unload and would have gotten them to try reloading again this turn, so the LCU is saved but the xAKLs pay the price for dawdling. The MTBs/PTs I have waiting to catch Ryujo if she passes too close have been spotted by my opponent but I'm hoping he still barrels westwards, have tried for a night time interception a couple of hexes NW of Makassar, hope I timed it right.
In the PI, the latest round of combat at CF brings some pleasant surprises, although I have lost half of the AV I started with it seems I have also put the hurt on my opponent, note the odds and the modifiers. In his email to me for this turn, my opponent has indicated he has perhaps misjudged the strength of the forces arrayed against him in the PI, pity, the PI is the most remote of the strongholds the Allies start out with otherwise I could resupply and give him a real headache this early in the game. Couple of the more badly hit units have been placed in reserve in a bid to get them combat worthy again, I get a couple of regiments and a division at the end of the month, hoping to use them to hold the line and give the units engaged since day 1 a turn at the rear.
Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 40994 troops, 407 guns, 213 vehicles, Assault Value = 994
Defending force 41663 troops, 674 guns, 542 vehicles, Assault Value = 890
Japanese adjusted assault: 268
Allied adjusted defense: 619
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: disruption(-)
Japanese ground losses:
2834 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 106 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 103 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 21 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 26 (17 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
2302 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 104 disabled
Non Combat: 55 destroyed, 108 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 37 (17 destroyed, 20 disabled)
CBI
Chengchow continues to get worked over by bombers this turn, everything that isn't engaged in the north is pulling back to Yenan and Sian to make their last stands. Nanyang has been reduced to fort level 0 and the casualty ratio is rapidly climbing in my opponent's figure, just hope that when I get booted from the hex I don't pay too high a price.
I-BOAT activity
I-9 and I-122 stand out for consistently being a thorn by my side, they both add to their kills this turn, 122 sinking it's second xAK off Trivandrum and 9 sinking 2 xAKs off that same unescorted convoy on it's way back to PH.
SUMMARY
The rest of KB is found, Noumea is as good as gone, the game's afoot.
SWPAC
Koumac is invaded this turn so it looks like my opponent is playing for keeps. In an object lesson about mission speeds the Allied SAG falls short of it's target and is 2 hexes south of Noumea when daylight comes and the airgroups of KB find it in the open sea. The results are predictably ungood for me, the CAs Pensacola and Australia as well as CL Leander and the sole French representative till '43, the DD La Triomphant going under. At least I know where the other 4 CVs are now, it is interesting to note that these are the "Midway 4", my opponent choosing to separate the carriers thus so as perhaps a subconscious nod to history? Not that I'm saying I'll catch his decks full of planes as they're rearming anytime soon, just saying.
The first Japanese shock attack at Noumea reveals I'm up against a Bde+ worth of troops so it looks like goodbye Noumea, the question now is will my opponent try for Fiji and Pago Pago or consolidate his gains, if I were him I'd go great guns seeing I can easily project more local air combat power at the moment. Have diverted a couple of Catalinas from PH to make the trip south to cover the approaches to Fiji so I can at least get a headsup if he comes my way.
Ryujo continues westward towards Java, now just slightly south of Makassar, her airgroup catches 3 xAKLs at Pamakasan and sinks them, these were actually carrying the remaining elements of the Barisan Regiment to Soerbaja but some sort of bug prevented them from leaving the hex even after I had tried everything and anything including reforming a new TF, changing missions and the like. Nothing could get them to move out of the hex. So the previous turn, I made them unload and would have gotten them to try reloading again this turn, so the LCU is saved but the xAKLs pay the price for dawdling. The MTBs/PTs I have waiting to catch Ryujo if she passes too close have been spotted by my opponent but I'm hoping he still barrels westwards, have tried for a night time interception a couple of hexes NW of Makassar, hope I timed it right.
In the PI, the latest round of combat at CF brings some pleasant surprises, although I have lost half of the AV I started with it seems I have also put the hurt on my opponent, note the odds and the modifiers. In his email to me for this turn, my opponent has indicated he has perhaps misjudged the strength of the forces arrayed against him in the PI, pity, the PI is the most remote of the strongholds the Allies start out with otherwise I could resupply and give him a real headache this early in the game. Couple of the more badly hit units have been placed in reserve in a bid to get them combat worthy again, I get a couple of regiments and a division at the end of the month, hoping to use them to hold the line and give the units engaged since day 1 a turn at the rear.
Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 40994 troops, 407 guns, 213 vehicles, Assault Value = 994
Defending force 41663 troops, 674 guns, 542 vehicles, Assault Value = 890
Japanese adjusted assault: 268
Allied adjusted defense: 619
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: disruption(-)
Japanese ground losses:
2834 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 106 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 103 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 21 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 26 (17 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
2302 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 104 disabled
Non Combat: 55 destroyed, 108 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 37 (17 destroyed, 20 disabled)
CBI
Chengchow continues to get worked over by bombers this turn, everything that isn't engaged in the north is pulling back to Yenan and Sian to make their last stands. Nanyang has been reduced to fort level 0 and the casualty ratio is rapidly climbing in my opponent's figure, just hope that when I get booted from the hex I don't pay too high a price.
I-BOAT activity
I-9 and I-122 stand out for consistently being a thorn by my side, they both add to their kills this turn, 122 sinking it's second xAK off Trivandrum and 9 sinking 2 xAKs off that same unescorted convoy on it's way back to PH.
Dec 27, 1941
Dec 27, 1941
Headlines: Japs take Noumea!
SUMMARY
SWPAC
The defenders of the PI hang tough in the air, smashing 4 of a 6 plane fighter escort and then running riot among the assorted Lilies/Anns/Sonias, claiming 5 destroyed and 8 damaged out of 38 bombers.
On the ground, in a hint that I've possibly given him a rough time, my ground units get bombarded instead of attacked but I'm not a happy camper with regards to the numbers....
Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 32216 troops, 389 guns, 87 vehicles, Assault Value = 902
Defending force 39257 troops, 672 guns, 525 vehicles, Assault Value = 781
Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
605 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (6 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Noumea is overrun this turn, looking at the combat reports it's the Kimura Detachment, an SNLF unit and an engineer unit together with a construction bn, 140 AV, I have oodles more than that in the convoys at sea but I can't bring 'em in unless I somehow can draw the portion of KB that's covering Noumea away.
Which is where the DEI comes in, it seems that the Japanese CVs in the DEI have formed up into one TF, 30 Kates and 49 Vals visited Soerabaja port and sank the CL De Ruyter in addition to sinking an SS and setting about half a dozen ships on fire, 2 of them seriously. As I have no idea of the Japanese OOB haven't never gone past turn 1 as the Japanese I have no clue as to how many carrier's worth of bombers that constitutes, anyone can clue me in? I had expected the CVs to turn north towards the Makassar Straits or back out east from where they came but they continued their penetration of the Java Sea. I intend to make him pay dearly for this intrusion as I'm sortieing anything that floats and can shoot in an attempt to make contact with the carriers, would be worth losing everything I've got if I get a couple of hits on a flattop or two. The main attempt would be 2 SAGs out of Batavia and Soerabaja with a division of 4 Dutch DDs as follow up, subs are moving to block both the north and east ends of the Java Sea and the bombers out of Singapore are still active if he continues to move in that direction as I'm hoping he will.
Oddly enough, there seems to be at least one carrier (B17s say she's the Ryujo) hanging around somewhere to the NE of Darwin just south of the coast of PNG, I'm wondering if this TF is covering for an attempt at invading PM from the south.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Singapore continues to be worked over by fighter sweeps and a 76 strong Netties raid. Damage to the airfield is considerable and I only have 2 operational fighters on last count, looks like it's time to move what I can out of the soon to be deathtrap, from here on end the bombers will keep up the assault from the air, both to inflict casualties as well as to prevent me from building up my fort level.
The last turn saw the Aussie Bdes defending JB move out of the hex just as a bombardment attack up, the movement begun a couple of turns ago was timed perfectly. A cursory look at the units sees the Imperial Guards Div, maybe 2 regiments of Infantry, another bde worth of naval infantry, 2 tank regiments and 3 artillery regiments (should be bn strength) along with quite a handful of base forces and there are a couple more units still making their way south, my opponent looks to bring Singapore up to speed as soon as he overruns it.
CBI
Quite a few places get worked over by LBA, Rangoon is visited by a 30 plane bomber raid, Kukong pounded by several waves of bombers and a big fighter sweep of 51 Zeros. Chengchow and Chuhsien also get visits from bombers. Nanyang falls...
Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 62805 troops, 488 guns, 417 vehicles, Assault Value = 1737
Defending force 52244 troops, 303 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 985
Japanese adjusted assault: 799
Allied adjusted defense: 102
Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Nanyang !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1407 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 59 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 74 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Vehicles lost 32 (2 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
20477 casualties reported
Squads: 640 destroyed, 100 disabled
Non Combat: 527 destroyed, 109 disabled
Engineers: 155 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 58 (58 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 10
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:...
13th Tank Regiment...
5th Ind. Engineer Regiment...
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade...
32nd Division...
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade...
110th Division...
27th Division...
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade...
10th Tank Regiment...
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment...
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion...
12th Army...
11th Field Artillery Regiment...
...
Defending units:...
41st Chinese Corps...
30th Chinese Corps...
13th Chinese Corps...
55th Chinese Corps...
90th Chinese Corps...
92nd Chinese Corps...
2nd Group Army...
5th War Area ...
22nd Group Army...
4th Construction Regiment...
The Chinese regain some of their dignity with a somewhat spirited defence of Chuhsien
Ground combat at Chuhsien (88,56)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 13127 troops, 102 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 383
Defending force 8921 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 164
Japanese adjusted assault: 168
Allied adjusted defense: 220
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(+), leaders(-) - wut? my eyes deceive me, a (-) on the Japanese side?
Japanese ground losses:
278 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
241 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Assaulting units:...
22nd Division...
...
Defending units:...
88th Chinese Corps...
16th Construction Regiment...
3rd War Area ...
10th Group Army...
Headlines: Japs take Noumea!
SUMMARY
SWPAC
The defenders of the PI hang tough in the air, smashing 4 of a 6 plane fighter escort and then running riot among the assorted Lilies/Anns/Sonias, claiming 5 destroyed and 8 damaged out of 38 bombers.
On the ground, in a hint that I've possibly given him a rough time, my ground units get bombarded instead of attacked but I'm not a happy camper with regards to the numbers....
Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 32216 troops, 389 guns, 87 vehicles, Assault Value = 902
Defending force 39257 troops, 672 guns, 525 vehicles, Assault Value = 781
Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
605 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (6 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Noumea is overrun this turn, looking at the combat reports it's the Kimura Detachment, an SNLF unit and an engineer unit together with a construction bn, 140 AV, I have oodles more than that in the convoys at sea but I can't bring 'em in unless I somehow can draw the portion of KB that's covering Noumea away.
Which is where the DEI comes in, it seems that the Japanese CVs in the DEI have formed up into one TF, 30 Kates and 49 Vals visited Soerabaja port and sank the CL De Ruyter in addition to sinking an SS and setting about half a dozen ships on fire, 2 of them seriously. As I have no idea of the Japanese OOB haven't never gone past turn 1 as the Japanese I have no clue as to how many carrier's worth of bombers that constitutes, anyone can clue me in? I had expected the CVs to turn north towards the Makassar Straits or back out east from where they came but they continued their penetration of the Java Sea. I intend to make him pay dearly for this intrusion as I'm sortieing anything that floats and can shoot in an attempt to make contact with the carriers, would be worth losing everything I've got if I get a couple of hits on a flattop or two. The main attempt would be 2 SAGs out of Batavia and Soerabaja with a division of 4 Dutch DDs as follow up, subs are moving to block both the north and east ends of the Java Sea and the bombers out of Singapore are still active if he continues to move in that direction as I'm hoping he will.
Oddly enough, there seems to be at least one carrier (B17s say she's the Ryujo) hanging around somewhere to the NE of Darwin just south of the coast of PNG, I'm wondering if this TF is covering for an attempt at invading PM from the south.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Singapore continues to be worked over by fighter sweeps and a 76 strong Netties raid. Damage to the airfield is considerable and I only have 2 operational fighters on last count, looks like it's time to move what I can out of the soon to be deathtrap, from here on end the bombers will keep up the assault from the air, both to inflict casualties as well as to prevent me from building up my fort level.
The last turn saw the Aussie Bdes defending JB move out of the hex just as a bombardment attack up, the movement begun a couple of turns ago was timed perfectly. A cursory look at the units sees the Imperial Guards Div, maybe 2 regiments of Infantry, another bde worth of naval infantry, 2 tank regiments and 3 artillery regiments (should be bn strength) along with quite a handful of base forces and there are a couple more units still making their way south, my opponent looks to bring Singapore up to speed as soon as he overruns it.
CBI
Quite a few places get worked over by LBA, Rangoon is visited by a 30 plane bomber raid, Kukong pounded by several waves of bombers and a big fighter sweep of 51 Zeros. Chengchow and Chuhsien also get visits from bombers. Nanyang falls...
Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 62805 troops, 488 guns, 417 vehicles, Assault Value = 1737
Defending force 52244 troops, 303 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 985
Japanese adjusted assault: 799
Allied adjusted defense: 102
Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Nanyang !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1407 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 59 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 74 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Vehicles lost 32 (2 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
20477 casualties reported
Squads: 640 destroyed, 100 disabled
Non Combat: 527 destroyed, 109 disabled
Engineers: 155 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 58 (58 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 10
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:...
13th Tank Regiment...
5th Ind. Engineer Regiment...
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade...
32nd Division...
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade...
110th Division...
27th Division...
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade...
10th Tank Regiment...
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment...
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion...
12th Army...
11th Field Artillery Regiment...
...
Defending units:...
41st Chinese Corps...
30th Chinese Corps...
13th Chinese Corps...
55th Chinese Corps...
90th Chinese Corps...
92nd Chinese Corps...
2nd Group Army...
5th War Area ...
22nd Group Army...
4th Construction Regiment...
The Chinese regain some of their dignity with a somewhat spirited defence of Chuhsien
Ground combat at Chuhsien (88,56)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 13127 troops, 102 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 383
Defending force 8921 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 164
Japanese adjusted assault: 168
Allied adjusted defense: 220
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(+), leaders(-) - wut? my eyes deceive me, a (-) on the Japanese side?
Japanese ground losses:
278 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
241 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Assaulting units:...
22nd Division...
...
Defending units:...
88th Chinese Corps...
16th Construction Regiment...
3rd War Area ...
10th Group Army...
- Attachments
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- 271241.jpg (165.44 KiB) Viewed 537 times
Dec 28, 1941
SUMMARY
I give my opponent a near heart attack as the IJN Fifth Carrier Division goes three rounds in the dark with ABDA SAGs.
CENPAC and CONUS
All is quiet, Yorktown arrives next turn, she'll be putting out to sea ASAP to meet the other 2 CVs, stopping at PH to pick up some CAs/CLs .
SWPAC
Nothing much to report in the PI, bombing raids on Bataan and a bombardment attack on CF, artillery borked much?
Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 31185 troops, 373 guns, 87 vehicles, Assault Value = 942
Defending force 38821 troops, 671 guns, 519 vehicles, Assault Value = 765
Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1432 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 28 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 20 (4 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (9 destroyed, 9 disabled)
SOUTHEAST ASIA
All 3 SAGs I routed to intercept the IJN carriers made contact on the night phase of the turn as planned. Results, on the other hand were mixed, it turns out it was only just the Zuikaku and Shokaku escorted by Hiei and Chikuma as the heavies, I'm claiming a DD sunk, Chikuma got smacked around a little, at least 2 6inch shells and a trio of smaller caliber rounds so I'm hoping for some yard time for her there. No torpedos on either side found their mark, the only hit I had on the carriers was on Zuikaku which registered a pair of hits from the 4inch guns of an American DD. On my end, a couple of ships got hit but nothing major with the exception of the Tenedos which got shot up badly enough to require some major yard time if I can get her into Soerbaja safely. All three TFs got away cleanly and were well out of range of the enemy carriers when morning came around. I didn't get to sink anything major but everything I sortied is still afloat so I'm still ahead.
The reduction of Singapore is well and truly underway, 100 bomber raids are a daily occurence, my fighter squadrons have been grinded down to shadows of themselves and I'm torn between moving my bombers out and letting them stay in the hopes of catching an invasion fleet headed into the Java Sea area.
CBI
Rangoon is bombed, Victoria Point has been overrun so the invasion of Burma has begun for all intents and purposes, am thinking of pulling out the troops from Rangoon and making a fighting withdrawal towards India as I can't really hope to stop whatever is going to be coming at me although strangely, Victoria Point was taken by a unit of the Thai Army, if he continues coming north with just non IJA units I might well give him a bloody nose with what I've got in country.
I give my opponent a near heart attack as the IJN Fifth Carrier Division goes three rounds in the dark with ABDA SAGs.
CENPAC and CONUS
All is quiet, Yorktown arrives next turn, she'll be putting out to sea ASAP to meet the other 2 CVs, stopping at PH to pick up some CAs/CLs .
SWPAC
Nothing much to report in the PI, bombing raids on Bataan and a bombardment attack on CF, artillery borked much?
Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 31185 troops, 373 guns, 87 vehicles, Assault Value = 942
Defending force 38821 troops, 671 guns, 519 vehicles, Assault Value = 765
Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1432 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 28 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 20 (4 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (9 destroyed, 9 disabled)
SOUTHEAST ASIA
All 3 SAGs I routed to intercept the IJN carriers made contact on the night phase of the turn as planned. Results, on the other hand were mixed, it turns out it was only just the Zuikaku and Shokaku escorted by Hiei and Chikuma as the heavies, I'm claiming a DD sunk, Chikuma got smacked around a little, at least 2 6inch shells and a trio of smaller caliber rounds so I'm hoping for some yard time for her there. No torpedos on either side found their mark, the only hit I had on the carriers was on Zuikaku which registered a pair of hits from the 4inch guns of an American DD. On my end, a couple of ships got hit but nothing major with the exception of the Tenedos which got shot up badly enough to require some major yard time if I can get her into Soerbaja safely. All three TFs got away cleanly and were well out of range of the enemy carriers when morning came around. I didn't get to sink anything major but everything I sortied is still afloat so I'm still ahead.
The reduction of Singapore is well and truly underway, 100 bomber raids are a daily occurence, my fighter squadrons have been grinded down to shadows of themselves and I'm torn between moving my bombers out and letting them stay in the hopes of catching an invasion fleet headed into the Java Sea area.
CBI
Rangoon is bombed, Victoria Point has been overrun so the invasion of Burma has begun for all intents and purposes, am thinking of pulling out the troops from Rangoon and making a fighting withdrawal towards India as I can't really hope to stop whatever is going to be coming at me although strangely, Victoria Point was taken by a unit of the Thai Army, if he continues coming north with just non IJA units I might well give him a bloody nose with what I've got in country.
RE: Dec 28, 1941
Anyone following this AAR and want to see it continued? Reason I'm asking is cos I haven't gotten any feedback and I don't know if I'm boring people to tears with my style. I also have another PBEM game coming up and both sides will probably do an AAR, that and I'm going document my misadventures as I try my hand at the Ironman scenario so that's a total of 3 AARs to juggle. Yea? Nay?
-
Deathtreader
- Posts: 1058
- Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2003 3:49 am
- Location: Vancouver, Canada.
RE: Dec 28, 1941
ORIGINAL: Arnhem
Anyone following this AAR and want to see it continued? Reason I'm asking is cos I haven't gotten any feedback and I don't know if I'm boring people to tears with my style. I also have another PBEM game coming up and both sides will probably do an AAR, that and I'm going document my misadventures as I try my hand at the Ironman scenario so that's a total of 3 AARs to juggle. Yea? Nay?
For all 3............and the style works fine for me.
So we're at war with the Russkies eh?? I suppose we really ought to invade or something. (Lonnnng pause while studying the map)
Hmmmm... big place ain't it??
- Sir Harry Flashman (1854)
Hmmmm... big place ain't it??
- Sir Harry Flashman (1854)
Who's doing what now?
SUMMARY OF PERIOD FROM 29 DEC 1941 TO 16 JAN 1942
It's not easy (and feels terribly like work) trying to summarise about 2 weeks of gameplay but here goes. Patch 2 was applied on Turn 41, 16 Jan 1942.
CBI
The big news in China is that I've been pushed out of Sian so that leaves Chungking exposed to an attack from that direction as the forces that survived the rout can barely string together 300 AV. Patch 2 has kind of made my opponent stop in his tracks, probably due to the tweaked garrison requirements but that won't stop him for long, if I were him I'd be pushing forward with that stack that took Sian and try and take Chungking from the east (relative to the position of the map)
Burma is defintely next on the cards, troop movements from the Thai border show significant numbers of units moving north toward Pegu after having secure Tavoy. I'm not really sure how I'm going to approach the defence of Burma and by extension, India. I have about 2.5 divisions worth of troops around the Burmese/Indian border region but of those barely a third could be considered anywhere near combat worthy with the majority tied up defending Indian territory proper. The Burmese Division has fallen back to Mandalay in an attempt to slow the oncoming advance without getting bottled and destroyed in Rangoon.
DEI
Singapore fell about 4 turns ago and Sinkawang and Palembang followed in quick succession. Many people bitch about how quickly Singapore falls in the game but I'd bet that most if not all Allied players do not send the 18th Brit Inf Div, 44th and 45th Indian Bdes into Singapore as was historically the case. Considering that's a good 1/3 of the historical strength of the garrison it's not surprising that what remains will not hold for long.
I don't have an SS but what looks like half the IJN inventory is anchored off Palembang right now, my opponent has brute forced his way into the Java Sea area, the actions of a fortnight ago probably spooked him and he is being very deliberate in his movements, sending in the Dutch Airforce only resulted in the loss of 30odd bombers spread over 2 days for the odd bomb hit or two on a small warship.
Every sub I have is now massing on the west end of the Java Sea and a SAG comprising whatever is left that can shoot and isn't damaged too badly is lurking around Soerabaja. The Dutch Air Force has been stood down for The Decisive Battle (probably last two turns if I'm lucky). My only chance to really hurt the IJA/IJN is before they hit the beaches, once they secure a foothold the game's over so I'm looking to the Air Force and naval components of ABDA to put up a respectable showing.
LCUs are about as ready as they're going to be, the Brit 18th Inf Div has been brought in to stiffen resistance but other than the Brits the burden of the defence falls on the 5 Dutch Regiments who have been resting for quite a while now in a bid to get disabled squads back into play. All told I have slightly over 1000AV spread out all across Java, some guy named Fred once said he who defends everything defends nothing and the thought just keeps nagging me as I've elected for forward defence, garrisoning most ports on the north half of Java. I don't really know if pulling everything into a hex would be a better option as I'm electing to delay his taking over of the DEI's resources for as long as possible so I reckon if I'm spread out to hell and breakfast it's just going to take him that much longer to suppress my units.
SWPAC
I've been unmolested in my efforts to reinforce Pago Pago and Suva thus far, KB is probably among the units supporting operations in the DEI. Yorktown has joined Lex and Enterprise as long range cover for the reinforcement convoys but they're basically marking time steaming in circles and training their squadrons. Am pulling in 2 full Pursuit Groups from stateside so once those establish themselves the CVs are heading back to PH for some rest and refit.
SHIPPING LOSSES
Nothing worth talking about really, of major note is that I've lost 2 DDs to submarine action in the vicinity of Pago Pago in the past 5 turns. Other than that, the odd xAKL or two is about as exciting as it gets.
PILOTS AND PLANES
I'm liking the new pilot management system, it gives me more to do and I'm not really sure I should be happy about that but the micromanager in me rejoices. The ability to pull pilots to where I want them is gold, that and setting up stateside squadrons as "training squadrons" to keep the front line units manned is nice, am keeping to same plane types (ie. fighter pilots go from fighter squadron to fighter squadron) in an effort to keep some semblance of realism.
It's not easy (and feels terribly like work) trying to summarise about 2 weeks of gameplay but here goes. Patch 2 was applied on Turn 41, 16 Jan 1942.
CBI
The big news in China is that I've been pushed out of Sian so that leaves Chungking exposed to an attack from that direction as the forces that survived the rout can barely string together 300 AV. Patch 2 has kind of made my opponent stop in his tracks, probably due to the tweaked garrison requirements but that won't stop him for long, if I were him I'd be pushing forward with that stack that took Sian and try and take Chungking from the east (relative to the position of the map)
Burma is defintely next on the cards, troop movements from the Thai border show significant numbers of units moving north toward Pegu after having secure Tavoy. I'm not really sure how I'm going to approach the defence of Burma and by extension, India. I have about 2.5 divisions worth of troops around the Burmese/Indian border region but of those barely a third could be considered anywhere near combat worthy with the majority tied up defending Indian territory proper. The Burmese Division has fallen back to Mandalay in an attempt to slow the oncoming advance without getting bottled and destroyed in Rangoon.
DEI
Singapore fell about 4 turns ago and Sinkawang and Palembang followed in quick succession. Many people bitch about how quickly Singapore falls in the game but I'd bet that most if not all Allied players do not send the 18th Brit Inf Div, 44th and 45th Indian Bdes into Singapore as was historically the case. Considering that's a good 1/3 of the historical strength of the garrison it's not surprising that what remains will not hold for long.
I don't have an SS but what looks like half the IJN inventory is anchored off Palembang right now, my opponent has brute forced his way into the Java Sea area, the actions of a fortnight ago probably spooked him and he is being very deliberate in his movements, sending in the Dutch Airforce only resulted in the loss of 30odd bombers spread over 2 days for the odd bomb hit or two on a small warship.
Every sub I have is now massing on the west end of the Java Sea and a SAG comprising whatever is left that can shoot and isn't damaged too badly is lurking around Soerabaja. The Dutch Air Force has been stood down for The Decisive Battle (probably last two turns if I'm lucky). My only chance to really hurt the IJA/IJN is before they hit the beaches, once they secure a foothold the game's over so I'm looking to the Air Force and naval components of ABDA to put up a respectable showing.
LCUs are about as ready as they're going to be, the Brit 18th Inf Div has been brought in to stiffen resistance but other than the Brits the burden of the defence falls on the 5 Dutch Regiments who have been resting for quite a while now in a bid to get disabled squads back into play. All told I have slightly over 1000AV spread out all across Java, some guy named Fred once said he who defends everything defends nothing and the thought just keeps nagging me as I've elected for forward defence, garrisoning most ports on the north half of Java. I don't really know if pulling everything into a hex would be a better option as I'm electing to delay his taking over of the DEI's resources for as long as possible so I reckon if I'm spread out to hell and breakfast it's just going to take him that much longer to suppress my units.
SWPAC
I've been unmolested in my efforts to reinforce Pago Pago and Suva thus far, KB is probably among the units supporting operations in the DEI. Yorktown has joined Lex and Enterprise as long range cover for the reinforcement convoys but they're basically marking time steaming in circles and training their squadrons. Am pulling in 2 full Pursuit Groups from stateside so once those establish themselves the CVs are heading back to PH for some rest and refit.
SHIPPING LOSSES
Nothing worth talking about really, of major note is that I've lost 2 DDs to submarine action in the vicinity of Pago Pago in the past 5 turns. Other than that, the odd xAKL or two is about as exciting as it gets.
PILOTS AND PLANES
I'm liking the new pilot management system, it gives me more to do and I'm not really sure I should be happy about that but the micromanager in me rejoices. The ability to pull pilots to where I want them is gold, that and setting up stateside squadrons as "training squadrons" to keep the front line units manned is nice, am keeping to same plane types (ie. fighter pilots go from fighter squadron to fighter squadron) in an effort to keep some semblance of realism.
17 JAN to 18 JAN 1942
Nothing much these 2 turns so I'm combining them.
SWPAC
The first of 2 big convoys has reached Suva, unfortunately I seem to have picked up 2 I-boats on the way in and they're currently camping the hex in order to try sink a merchie or two, they already took a bite out of an xAP and I'm desperate to get that ship into the hex, it's got flood damage of 98 and I'm one hex out of Suva, on board is a USN base force that I really don't want to lose. The good news, if it could be called that, is that with the convoy came the 31st PG, which comes in the nick of time as unescorted Betties out of Noumea visited the convoy on the latest turn, hope to give my opponent a bit of a surprise if his Betties come back.
CBI
Wenchow falls as the IJA straightens out it's internal LOC in China.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Kuantan and Bataan have been under attack for the past 2 turns, in Kuantan's case I have an Indian Bde vs a Jpn Rgt and I must say the Bde is holding it's own so far, trading casualties at a decent ratio. Bataan on the other hand has been steadily reduced and is currently at fort lvl 0, about 200odd AV left, won't be long now. The IJA stopped for a couple of days before resuming offensive ops in the PI so I'm hoping that in my brief stand in the PI I managed to maul a couple of his formations badly enough they'll need some serious refit time before they're ready for operations again.
In the DEI, Toboali falls as the IJA consolidates in the Palembang area, the great mass of red ships lies static just off Palembang's coast, his recon planes have scouted Batavia and it's environs pretty well these past couple of turns so it's a good bet that's where the hammer is going to fall. Tension is killing me, just come on in already so I can send the Dutch forces to their glorious deaths.
SUBWARS
The first of several subs detailed to stalk shipping in within sight of the shores of Japan proper struck an xAK with torpedos and gunfire. I mean to tie down as many patrol craft as I can while scalping as many merchies as possible.
SWPAC
The first of 2 big convoys has reached Suva, unfortunately I seem to have picked up 2 I-boats on the way in and they're currently camping the hex in order to try sink a merchie or two, they already took a bite out of an xAP and I'm desperate to get that ship into the hex, it's got flood damage of 98 and I'm one hex out of Suva, on board is a USN base force that I really don't want to lose. The good news, if it could be called that, is that with the convoy came the 31st PG, which comes in the nick of time as unescorted Betties out of Noumea visited the convoy on the latest turn, hope to give my opponent a bit of a surprise if his Betties come back.
CBI
Wenchow falls as the IJA straightens out it's internal LOC in China.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Kuantan and Bataan have been under attack for the past 2 turns, in Kuantan's case I have an Indian Bde vs a Jpn Rgt and I must say the Bde is holding it's own so far, trading casualties at a decent ratio. Bataan on the other hand has been steadily reduced and is currently at fort lvl 0, about 200odd AV left, won't be long now. The IJA stopped for a couple of days before resuming offensive ops in the PI so I'm hoping that in my brief stand in the PI I managed to maul a couple of his formations badly enough they'll need some serious refit time before they're ready for operations again.
In the DEI, Toboali falls as the IJA consolidates in the Palembang area, the great mass of red ships lies static just off Palembang's coast, his recon planes have scouted Batavia and it's environs pretty well these past couple of turns so it's a good bet that's where the hammer is going to fall. Tension is killing me, just come on in already so I can send the Dutch forces to their glorious deaths.
SUBWARS
The first of several subs detailed to stalk shipping in within sight of the shores of Japan proper struck an xAK with torpedos and gunfire. I mean to tie down as many patrol craft as I can while scalping as many merchies as possible.
RE: 17 JAN to 18 JAN 1942
Hey Arnhem,
Don't worry, there are people reading your AAR, though a lot will be lurking quietly.
You say Bataan is at the point of falling, is there any other force you still have on Luzon ? What did he bring to take the island, end January seems like a quick capture. You certainly seem to be playing a very aggressive opponent.
Don't worry, there are people reading your AAR, though a lot will be lurking quietly.
You say Bataan is at the point of falling, is there any other force you still have on Luzon ? What did he bring to take the island, end January seems like a quick capture. You certainly seem to be playing a very aggressive opponent.
The AE-Wiki, help fill it out
RE: 17 JAN to 18 JAN 1942
ORIGINAL: Smeulders
Hey Arnhem,
Don't worry, there are people reading your AAR, though a lot will be lurking quietly.
You say Bataan is at the point of falling, is there any other force you still have on Luzon ? What did he bring to take the island, end January seems like a quick capture. You certainly seem to be playing a very aggressive opponent.
Hey Smeulders,
ORBAT of the forces of the Empire of Japan in Bataan, my opponent is nothing if not ballsy, that much I'm sure of after 42 turns!
65th Brigade
Kanno Detachment
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
16th Engineer Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
48th Engineer Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
48th Recon Regiment
33rd Division
4th Division
7th Tank Regiment
48th Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
56th Const Co
9th Field AF Construction Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
45th Field AA Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
3rd Engineer Construction Battalion
Bataan is the last hold out of the Allies in the PI, basically a combination of bombardment attacks and my own rashness did me in. I let Manila fall without a fight and concentrated everything at Clark, even moving up units like the 4th Marines which had 100 prep pts for Bataan into Clark.
The initial rounds of combat saw about equal losses, deliberate attacks at Clark Field which was fort 3 at it's highest saw losses of about 1:1 ratio, I even attempted a couple of attacks, all was well up till the bombardments started, the odds rapidly swung the other way. I didn't help things by continuing with deliberate attacks cos I figured if I was going to die under the guns on the wrong end of a 1:500 loss ratio I might as well take some of them with me rather than sit there and be grinded down to nothing.
On hindsight, it's really hard to judge what effect actively attacking will have on prolonging Allied resistance, I might have hastened my end by needlessly throwing away what AV I had left into pointless attacks but sitting under the guns wasn't doing me any favours either, if anything, arty attack loss ratios were so skewed I'd rather suffer combat losses, at least those had better loss ratios.
I have yet to see what Patch 2 has done to artillery effects so hopefully the effects would have been toned down a little otherwise when it's my turn to invade Okinawa I'm bringing 20 arty bns to level Surabachi into a parking lot. Thanks for reading the AAR.
RE: Dec 28, 1941
ORIGINAL: Deathtreader
ORIGINAL: Arnhem
Anyone following this AAR and want to see it continued? Reason I'm asking is cos I haven't gotten any feedback and I don't know if I'm boring people to tears with my style. I also have another PBEM game coming up and both sides will probably do an AAR, that and I'm going document my misadventures as I try my hand at the Ironman scenario so that's a total of 3 AARs to juggle. Yea? Nay?
For all 3............and the style works fine for me.
Ta for the vote of confidence! and thanks for reading.
RE: Dec 28, 1941
As another newbie to this game, i always read and compare 'horror stories" and such of other newbies. I have enjoyed your AAR very much!
RE: Dec 28, 1941
ORIGINAL: Frandoxx
As another newbie to this game, i always read and compare 'horror stories" and such of other newbies. I have enjoyed your AAR very much!
Thanks for reading Frandoxx, playing a PBEM game is just electric knowing there's someone else halfway across the world plotting death and destruction on my pixels.
18 JAN 1942
Rather quiet day, I like quiet days.
SWPAC
The first 2 convoys to reach Suva are in the process of unloading more base units and engineers that you can shake a stick at, as an indication of just how many, Suva now has 219 points of aviation support. What was supposed to be spread out at Noumea, Luganville and Fiji is now disembarking at Fiji, I guess I might as well use 'em to build up Nadi as well. On Pago Pago, the 8th Marine Rgt is now ashore together with a Marine Defence Bn.
I did lose an AP to a submarine so it wasn't all smooth sailing. I think I have 2 I boats in the Suva hex, it's annoying and I don't know if they're going to try and take a shot at the merchies, the escorting DDs don't seem to be able to do anything to them and I'm running low on depth charges, a DMS squadron out of Pago Pago is making flank speed for Suva in an attempt to flush the I boats out of the hex.
Followup LCUs about a week out include 2 Inf Rgts and another Pursuit Group of P-40s. I'm thinking of dragging the dozen PTs at PH into the area as well. Also looking for a suitable Bombardment Group to send down to Suva but no meaningful numbers of medium bombers will be available for quite a while and I'm thinking of pulling a couple of Marine squadrons in as a backstop.
As I hoped, the P-39s of the 35th Pursuit Group flying out of Suva pounced on a flight of unescorted Betties splashing 6 of 8, that ought to stump him for a while.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Lost a DD to another I boat today, the Pope was escorting an AP into Soerabaja when it got pounced on.
Zeroes out of Palembang strafed one of my MTB squadrons at Batavia, didn't manage to hit anything as far as I can see but the more annoying takeaway from this news titbit is that Batavia and it's environs are now within enemy LBA aircover and presumably striking range. I expect Betties within the next turn or two.
There goes any thought of the Dutch Air Force playing a role in repelling any invasion. Am going to have to be more circumspect in deploying my SAG which is currently holding just off Soerabaja, probably have to dash in and out for night raids, can't afford to be caught on the western end of Java come daylight.
SWPAC
The first 2 convoys to reach Suva are in the process of unloading more base units and engineers that you can shake a stick at, as an indication of just how many, Suva now has 219 points of aviation support. What was supposed to be spread out at Noumea, Luganville and Fiji is now disembarking at Fiji, I guess I might as well use 'em to build up Nadi as well. On Pago Pago, the 8th Marine Rgt is now ashore together with a Marine Defence Bn.
I did lose an AP to a submarine so it wasn't all smooth sailing. I think I have 2 I boats in the Suva hex, it's annoying and I don't know if they're going to try and take a shot at the merchies, the escorting DDs don't seem to be able to do anything to them and I'm running low on depth charges, a DMS squadron out of Pago Pago is making flank speed for Suva in an attempt to flush the I boats out of the hex.
Followup LCUs about a week out include 2 Inf Rgts and another Pursuit Group of P-40s. I'm thinking of dragging the dozen PTs at PH into the area as well. Also looking for a suitable Bombardment Group to send down to Suva but no meaningful numbers of medium bombers will be available for quite a while and I'm thinking of pulling a couple of Marine squadrons in as a backstop.
As I hoped, the P-39s of the 35th Pursuit Group flying out of Suva pounced on a flight of unescorted Betties splashing 6 of 8, that ought to stump him for a while.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Lost a DD to another I boat today, the Pope was escorting an AP into Soerabaja when it got pounced on.
Zeroes out of Palembang strafed one of my MTB squadrons at Batavia, didn't manage to hit anything as far as I can see but the more annoying takeaway from this news titbit is that Batavia and it's environs are now within enemy LBA aircover and presumably striking range. I expect Betties within the next turn or two.
There goes any thought of the Dutch Air Force playing a role in repelling any invasion. Am going to have to be more circumspect in deploying my SAG which is currently holding just off Soerabaja, probably have to dash in and out for night raids, can't afford to be caught on the western end of Java come daylight.
19 JAN 1942
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Bataan falls and with it the last organised resistance in the PI apart from Mindanao where a division and a half worth of troops is still holding out at Cayagan. Bataan's fall me made take a real good luck at my numbers for the first time in the game and boy was it a sobering picture. I'm especially unhappy with the points lost from LCUS. That's pretty lopsided for about 5 weeks of game time but that's the way the ball rolls for now.
A CL and 4 DDs makes a night run into Batavia from Palembang and sweeps the MTB squadrons I have there, between the night and day turn I've lost all the 6 boats of MTB Squadron 3 (TF caught by surprise, in the day no less) and 1 Dutch MTB. Have moved fighters from Soerabaja to Batavia in preparation for the start of the fighter sweeps and bomber raids.
Bataan falls and with it the last organised resistance in the PI apart from Mindanao where a division and a half worth of troops is still holding out at Cayagan. Bataan's fall me made take a real good luck at my numbers for the first time in the game and boy was it a sobering picture. I'm especially unhappy with the points lost from LCUS. That's pretty lopsided for about 5 weeks of game time but that's the way the ball rolls for now.
A CL and 4 DDs makes a night run into Batavia from Palembang and sweeps the MTB squadrons I have there, between the night and day turn I've lost all the 6 boats of MTB Squadron 3 (TF caught by surprise, in the day no less) and 1 Dutch MTB. Have moved fighters from Soerabaja to Batavia in preparation for the start of the fighter sweeps and bomber raids.
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NormS3
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RE: 18 JAN 1942
Arnhem,
[:)]Good AAR, I just caught up. I like the summary format as well as adding the pics for cleaner understanding.
Don't get discouraged, those are land units that your suposed to lose. You almost have to enjoy the challenge of the struggle now and keep aiming to whittle your opponent down, because come 43, you get to turn the tables.
I definately agree about the bombardment attacks, at the moment they are just too powerful. I'm confident that the AE crew will figure it out though.
Keep it up!
[:)]Good AAR, I just caught up. I like the summary format as well as adding the pics for cleaner understanding.
Don't get discouraged, those are land units that your suposed to lose. You almost have to enjoy the challenge of the struggle now and keep aiming to whittle your opponent down, because come 43, you get to turn the tables.
I definately agree about the bombardment attacks, at the moment they are just too powerful. I'm confident that the AE crew will figure it out though.
Keep it up!
JAN 19-23, 1942
Not much happening these past few turns so I'll just lump the lot together, the 2 areas of action for the game at this point in time are the DEI and Noumea/Fiji/Pago Pago, in the former, I'm basically waiting for the hammer to fall, judging by what's gone by in the past 40 odd turns, my opponent is of the "gather everything I've got and overwhelm the target" school of thought so when the invasion of Java comes it'll be fast and furious.
The other area of contention is where a sharp battle occurred the last turn, see below for more details, I'm thinking of fortifying the area just enough that it would take a lot for my opponent to overwhelm Fiji and Pago Pago but no more than that, I'll be leaving the entire PNG and Solomons area and aiming straight for the Marianas once I gather enough material for a serious effort, probably sometime in '43. In the meantime, I'll probably demonstrate in the Solomons area just to keep him focused, with perhaps an attempt to take and hold Timor as well if I have enough resources to do so.
SWPAC - AIR BATTLE OVER KORO ISLAND
In an object lesson about the importance of properly setting up search arcs, KB (or at least part of it) pounced on 2 large convoys just outside of Suva, I paid dearly for leaving a hole in my search arcs, losing 7 xAKs, 3 APs and 1 DD, all the merchies were of the larger capacity type.
In return, the 35th PG gave a good account of themselves, in exchange for 12 P-39s lost to A2A and 1 due to ops losses, from the combat report numbers, they're claiming 22 kills and about a similiar number damaged, aircraft losses tab for the day reports 37 Kates, 7 Zeroes and 2 Vals lost to A2A action, taking 50% off the numbers due to FoW it's a decent effort for P-39s flying what was essentially LRCAP and against the IJN A-Team. The IJN raids were relatively easy to penetrate due to the light fighter escort (note the number of Allied fighters directly vectored onto the bombers) but I'm not taking away anything from pilots with xp in the 50s and flying P-39s going up against the varsity.
One of the convoys escaped relatively unscathed so that's making like a bat out of hell towards Pago Pago, hopefully KB won't chase me in that direction, the more heavily damaged ships are heading back towards Suva and it's protective CAP, I may yet lose more ships but my opponent will be made to pay for them too.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Koro Island at 133,159
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
B5N2 Kate x 26
D3A1 Val x 13
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 41
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 12 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD Preston
xAK Ruth Alexander, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Crescent City, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Exmoor, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Henley, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Barbara Olson, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP U.S. Grant, Bomb hits 5, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
11 x D3A1 Val diving from 1000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
35th PG/40th PS with P-39D Airacobra (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
35th PG/41st PS with P-39D Airacobra (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
35th PG/Hq Sqn with P-39D Airacobra (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Henley
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koro Island at 133,159
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
B5N2 Kate x 38
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 28
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 14 destroyed, 11 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD Stuart
DD Henley, on fire
xAK Agwimonte, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
KV Edmundston
xAK Shooting Star, Torpedo hits 1
AMC Prince Henry
AP Henry T. Allen, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
7 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
4 planes vectored on to bombers
35th PG/40th PS with P-39D Airacobra (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
6 planes vectored on to bombers
35th PG/41st PS with P-39D Airacobra (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
35th PG/Hq Sqn with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koro Island at 133,159
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
B5N2 Kate x 35
D3A1 Val x 30
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 damaged
D3A1 Val: 7 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD Smith
xAK Henry S Grove, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Jarvis, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Wharton, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AP Crescent City, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DD Stuart, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Crown City, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Patterson, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Steel Trader, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP President Jackson
xAK Alcoa Prospector, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Exmoor, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Prince Henry, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
DD Ralph Talbot, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Ward, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Agwimonte, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x D3A1 Val diving from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
18 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
17 x D3A1 Val diving from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
17 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
35th PG/40th PS with P-39D Airacobra (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
35th PG/41st PS with P-39D Airacobra (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
SUB ACTION
In the past couple of turns, US subs catch and sink the Nichiren Maru and Nitiai Maru off the Pescardores, the DD Crosby is sunk just outside Dutch Harbor, I'm claiming I-1153 lost to mines at Batavia and I-170 lost to DCing in Fijian waters.
The other area of contention is where a sharp battle occurred the last turn, see below for more details, I'm thinking of fortifying the area just enough that it would take a lot for my opponent to overwhelm Fiji and Pago Pago but no more than that, I'll be leaving the entire PNG and Solomons area and aiming straight for the Marianas once I gather enough material for a serious effort, probably sometime in '43. In the meantime, I'll probably demonstrate in the Solomons area just to keep him focused, with perhaps an attempt to take and hold Timor as well if I have enough resources to do so.
SWPAC - AIR BATTLE OVER KORO ISLAND
In an object lesson about the importance of properly setting up search arcs, KB (or at least part of it) pounced on 2 large convoys just outside of Suva, I paid dearly for leaving a hole in my search arcs, losing 7 xAKs, 3 APs and 1 DD, all the merchies were of the larger capacity type.
In return, the 35th PG gave a good account of themselves, in exchange for 12 P-39s lost to A2A and 1 due to ops losses, from the combat report numbers, they're claiming 22 kills and about a similiar number damaged, aircraft losses tab for the day reports 37 Kates, 7 Zeroes and 2 Vals lost to A2A action, taking 50% off the numbers due to FoW it's a decent effort for P-39s flying what was essentially LRCAP and against the IJN A-Team. The IJN raids were relatively easy to penetrate due to the light fighter escort (note the number of Allied fighters directly vectored onto the bombers) but I'm not taking away anything from pilots with xp in the 50s and flying P-39s going up against the varsity.
One of the convoys escaped relatively unscathed so that's making like a bat out of hell towards Pago Pago, hopefully KB won't chase me in that direction, the more heavily damaged ships are heading back towards Suva and it's protective CAP, I may yet lose more ships but my opponent will be made to pay for them too.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Koro Island at 133,159
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
B5N2 Kate x 26
D3A1 Val x 13
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 41
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 12 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD Preston
xAK Ruth Alexander, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Crescent City, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Exmoor, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Henley, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Barbara Olson, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP U.S. Grant, Bomb hits 5, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
11 x D3A1 Val diving from 1000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
35th PG/40th PS with P-39D Airacobra (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
35th PG/41st PS with P-39D Airacobra (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
35th PG/Hq Sqn with P-39D Airacobra (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Henley
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koro Island at 133,159
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
B5N2 Kate x 38
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 28
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 14 destroyed, 11 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD Stuart
DD Henley, on fire
xAK Agwimonte, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
KV Edmundston
xAK Shooting Star, Torpedo hits 1
AMC Prince Henry
AP Henry T. Allen, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
7 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
4 planes vectored on to bombers
35th PG/40th PS with P-39D Airacobra (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
6 planes vectored on to bombers
35th PG/41st PS with P-39D Airacobra (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
35th PG/Hq Sqn with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koro Island at 133,159
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
B5N2 Kate x 35
D3A1 Val x 30
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 damaged
D3A1 Val: 7 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD Smith
xAK Henry S Grove, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Jarvis, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Wharton, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AP Crescent City, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DD Stuart, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Crown City, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Patterson, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Steel Trader, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP President Jackson
xAK Alcoa Prospector, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Exmoor, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Prince Henry, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
DD Ralph Talbot, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Ward, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Agwimonte, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x D3A1 Val diving from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
18 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
17 x D3A1 Val diving from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
17 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
35th PG/40th PS with P-39D Airacobra (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
35th PG/41st PS with P-39D Airacobra (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
SUB ACTION
In the past couple of turns, US subs catch and sink the Nichiren Maru and Nitiai Maru off the Pescardores, the DD Crosby is sunk just outside Dutch Harbor, I'm claiming I-1153 lost to mines at Batavia and I-170 lost to DCing in Fijian waters.
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JAN 24, 1942
Generally quiet turn, am forming up long term options for this game, will post them when I figure out what I want to do.
CBI
In China, Wuchow and Pucheng are being softened up for follow up attacks. In Burma, Rangoon is under siege and should fall rapidly as I've withdrawn most of the AV in country to points further north.
SUB ACTION
Leander takes 2 torpedos in 2 attacks just outside Nadi and sinks. xAP Ruth Alexander, already heavily damaged in the previous days air attacks is finished off just a hex off Suva as she limps her way back into port. On the Allied side, KXI takes a shot at Fuso but doesn't connect, she next puts one into the side of Kumano. Perch adds to the toll by putting another into an xAK.
An RO boat appears off Colombo marking the appearance of the first IJN ship to make it this close to India, she announces her presence by sinking a PG
CBI
In China, Wuchow and Pucheng are being softened up for follow up attacks. In Burma, Rangoon is under siege and should fall rapidly as I've withdrawn most of the AV in country to points further north.
SUB ACTION
Leander takes 2 torpedos in 2 attacks just outside Nadi and sinks. xAP Ruth Alexander, already heavily damaged in the previous days air attacks is finished off just a hex off Suva as she limps her way back into port. On the Allied side, KXI takes a shot at Fuso but doesn't connect, she next puts one into the side of Kumano. Perch adds to the toll by putting another into an xAK.
An RO boat appears off Colombo marking the appearance of the first IJN ship to make it this close to India, she announces her presence by sinking a PG