The willing Admiral - RA 4.6 - Allies Dan Nichols(A) vs Cavalry(J)

[Dan Nichols]

Jan 24-25, 1942

I lost Wake Island finally. He also took Kendari.

CL Caledon had the bad luck to run into a second sub launched torp and sank. [:@]

I got a report in Tracker that CA Kinugasa sank 12/11/41 near Truk from an 8in/50 gun.
It doesn't show up in the game sunk list, so I really don't know what is happening there.

I bit the bullet and replace both Percival and Heath. Cost a total of 275 PPs to do, but
I think it will be worth it when he crosses the river.

[Dan Nichols]

Whew, last post on page 1.

Jan 26-27, 1942

I think he tried to land a force at Terapo, but I had sent some PTs there and they
actually did something:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Terapo at 96,127, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Ryoyo Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Nittai Maru, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAKL Heiwa Maru, Shell hits 2
PB Kosin Maru #3
PB Sento Maru

Allied Ships
PT-40
PT-43
PT-44
PT-45, Shell hits 1
PT-46
PT-47

Japanese ground losses:
983 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (4 destroyed, 2 disabled)
----
Nothing landed and the TF remains moved back towards Raboul.

There was a small SCTF around also and I was able to hit one of the CLs with a 1000# bomb.
The ship is on the sunk ship list.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 97,131

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 4


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Tatsuta, Bomb hits 1, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Tatsuta
-----
He did a Bombardment mission on Samarinda and damaged the oil a bit.
He did the same at Tarakan.
-----
Here is a picture of Borneo, Celebes, Mindanao, Java and Southern Sumatra. There are a lot of important
bases he has not taken or even tried yet. I'm feeling pretty good about things right now.
And I apologize for the size of the screen shot.

[Dan Nichols]

A fairly quiet turn, but it looks like Midway is on his menu.
The interesting thing is I seem to see both MiniKB and KB in that mix
I have my 3 operational CVs near Kodiak Island. It will be interesting
to see what he does after he invades and takes Midway. There is no way I
can contest it, he has brought the hammer for sure.

[John 3rd]

How are those A-24 working out? Looks like they are doing pretty good work.

[Dan Nichols]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

How are those A-24 working out? Looks like they are doing pretty good work.

The ones that started in Darwin are still in Soerbaja training. The HQ portion is in Port Moseby
and they scored a hit the turn before. I am moving two additional P-40E squadrons to Java to help
support the A-24s. I have been expecting him to invade either Sumatra or Java but he seems to be
somewhat behind schedule. Most of my A-24 pilots are 45+ with some in the high 60's. I hope to
give him a warm welcome.

[Dan Nichols]

Very little to report. He used KB again to bomb Midway. There is nothing much there but what starts there. I am still waiting to see what happens and if he move KB away after taking Midway. I sent my CVs to Prince Rupert to refuel.

[Dan Nichols]

Feb 1-2, 1942

Midway fell this turn. One of the ground units was the 24th Inf Rgt, which is one of the regiments of the 2nd Inf Div.
Maybe I will not see them at Singapore and for sure the Division will not be reconstituted.

My mouse over shows 20 units at Johoe Bahru which has a stacking limit of 75,000. I wonder if he is overstacked there?

I have DD Nowaki on my sunk ships list, due to grounding at Kendari.

CL Tatsuta has been removed.

It looks like he has subs between the HI and the East Map edge. I lost an escorted tanker a few turns ago and this turn
I sank I-19 in the area.

Still waiting to see what happens at Midway. It has a 6,000 stacking limit so it can't be protected very well. He will
have to send supplies and possibly fuel there to maintain it. That could mean some good practice for my guys.

[Q-Ball]

Your opponent is really behind in the SRA. To not even be in range of Java on Feb 1 is not good, and Palembang needed to fall over a month ago. He should be squeezing you against Java right now.

[Dan Nichols]

Feb 3-4, 1942

No action in the DEI. A small surface action at Dutch Harbor

Day Time Surface Combat, near Dutch Harbor at 171,50, Range 16,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Kako, Shell hits 11, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Helena, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Gridley, Shell hits 1, on fire


My ships are a bit dinged up, I sent a single CV TF to investigate.
-----
I think I got another sub
ASW attack near Bundaberg at 97,154

Japanese Ships
SS I-20, hits 11, heavy damage

Allied Ships
APD Edsall
APD Stewart
APD Whipple
APD Parrott
APD Paul Jones
------
I lost Clark Field, down to just Bataan.

I got a sigint that the 5th Recon is planning an attack on Singapore. That would seem to indicate that the 5th Inf Div is
still in pieces.
Still no movement into Singapore that I can detect.
--------------
My opponent seemingly has decided that high altitude sweeps are in. I will have to find a way to counter. Most of my best
high altitude fighters, Hurricane IIb, are in Palembang training and waiting.

[Dan Nichols]

Feb 5-6, 1942

Still no new activity in the DEI. I did find out one thing I was surprised about. I thought that
because the DBB team did some work on this mod that the refineries did not produce any supply. I was
wrong about that. Palembang now has more than 75,000 supply. I have about 550 AV there with level 3
fortifications. It may be a bit tough for him and the damage could be extensive.

In other news, he has landed a force at Laysan Island. I have a surface force set for full speed that
will get there in one turn, 2 days, and attack. Since the force did not attack and take the island, the
TF that took them will probably stay there. If it does, I should be able to sink some ships. I am a bit
unsure what he is doing, but I have diverted two TFs taking troops to the South Pacific to Pearl Harbor.

I have lost sight of KB, so I have moved my CVs back to Kodiak Island to await information.

I have completed moving the 9th Australian Infantry Regiment to Port Moseby. I am moving the 6th RAA Coastal
Artillery Regiment now. I will be moving the two Infantry Battalions of the 1 Australian Infantry Division next.
It would be nice to hold Port Moseby if possible. At lest it will be expensive for him to take.

[JocMeister]

Keep up the good work! I don´t think your opponent is very happy about his start. [:)]

[Dan Nichols]

Hi Joc, I am a bit surprised that Java and Sumatra are still mine. This is from the RA intro:

The foresight of the Admiral paysoff during 1942 and early-1943 as new ships, aircraft, and ground units enter into the Japanese Order-of-Battle, however, the cost is steep. Though expanded and using modern aircraft many Japanese Naval Air units start with their experience lowered to reflect the dilution of the experienced pilots into new units. Supply and fuel reserves start at a much reduced state. The Japanese MUST take the DEI as fast as possible.



It remains to be seen what he is planning on doing next. The Hawaiian Islands will be no picnic for him.

[Dan Nichols]

I have a question and I am looking for advice. He crossed into Singapore with a small force and was torched.
My mouse over of Johure Bahru shows 20 units but no movement arrows, I have a detection of 1/3. I do see
a movement arrow on the units in Singapore pointing back to the Northeast. Given the following combat report
should I do a deliberate attack as a counter attack?

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 20471 troops, 172 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 696

Defending force 56942 troops, 640 guns, 603 vehicles, Assault Value = 1404

Japanese adjusted assault: 212

Allied adjusted defense: 3761

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 17 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
5955 casualties reported
Squads: 153 destroyed, 279 disabled
Non Combat: 87 destroyed, 91 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 49 (31 destroyed, 18 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
499 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 29 (1 destroyed, 28 disabled)

[Dan Nichols]

I find it interesting that not one person had anything to say about this. I will have to do what I think is right.

In addition to the above, his CA Aoba strayed too close to Kodiak Island and the air groups from CV Enterprise sank it.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Chirikof Island at 178,45

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 8
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10
SBD-2 Dauntless x 12


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
--------
Still seeing nothing in the DEI yet.
-----
He was bombing some of my Dutch units in the North of Sumatra, I move a Huricane IIb unit up there. They gained a lot of experience.
Morning Air attack on NS KNIL Territory Regiment, at 46,74 (Langsa)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 45



Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 8


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 12 destroyed, 2 damaged

No Allied losses


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


Aircraft Attacking:
19 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 7000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
10 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 7000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.232 (P) Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

Also attacking WS KNIL Territory Regiment ...
Also attacking Korps Marechausee Battalion ...
Also attacking NS KNIL Territory Regiment ...


---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on NS KNIL Territory Regiment, at 46,74 (Langsa)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 30



Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 13 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 7000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 7000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.232 (P) Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (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
-------
I have one poor Chinese Corps that was not able to get into good terrain and is blocked now. It has taken a beating. I have 3 or 4 other Corps that have been retreated, but not that many. I am still confident about China.

[BBfanboy]

Just read your question - I think you could shock attack and smash him good. He lost 2/3 of his AV killed or disabled and has not had time to build any forts. Since no vehicles were lost his 32 vehicles are probably trucks, not tanks. Not sure what kind of terrain Singapore is but that would be the only bonus he gets. He will have fatigue and disruption and a morale hit. Kick his butt!

[CaptBeefheart]

I wouldn't do the attack at Singapore. I've had my arse handed to me doing just such a thing in Japan--a bunch of units showed up just before I attacked. With detection of 1/3 I wouldn't be too confident in him not having guys headed your way. Of course, I don't know what the potential gain for you is since I don't know what units came across the causeway.

Cheers,
CC

[Dan Nichols]

I decided to do a Deliberate Attack and my Japanese opponent has had disaster fall upon him.
More of his troops did cross, shock attack with bad results, my DA then retreated them and then
the rest of his troops crossed and shock attacked with terrible results. I will be doing a deliberate
attack next turn. Here are the three combat reports:
Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 2160 troops, 6 guns, 111 vehicles, Assault Value = 408

Defending force 56571 troops, 639 guns, 603 vehicles, Assault Value = 1377

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 4095

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1164 casualties reported
Squads: 59 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 59 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 90 (77 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Units destroyed 1



Assaulting units:
33rd Division
5th Recon Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
42nd Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
1st Malay Battalion
3rd Cavalry Regiment
SSVF Brigade
2/17 Dogra Battalion
2nd Gordons Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
2nd Loyal Battalion
1st Manchester Battalion
11th Indian Division
27th Australian Brigade
2nd Malay Battalion
9th Indian Division
2nd ISF Base Force
223 Group RAF
Singapore Fortress
112th RAF Base Force
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
Malaya Army
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
III Indian
AHQ Far East
224 Group RAF
1st ISF Base Force
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
111th RAF Base Force
Singapore Base Force
109th RAF Base Force
Malayan Air Wing
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
109th RN Base Force


---------------------------------------------


Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 41222 troops, 528 guns, 308 vehicles, Assault Value = 1377

Defending force 15050 troops, 151 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 316

Allied adjusted assault: 1489

Japanese adjusted defense: 63

Allied assault odds: 23 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
6337 casualties reported
Squads: 187 destroyed, 63 disabled
Non Combat: 111 destroyed, 42 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 48 (24 destroyed, 24 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (15 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 4


Allied ground losses:
380 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 81 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2/17 Dogra Battalion
11th Indian Division
3rd Cavalry Regiment
2nd Loyal Battalion
2nd Gordons Battalion
SSVF Brigade
2nd Malay Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
1st Manchester Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
1st Malay Battalion
9th Indian Division
III Indian
224 Group RAF
Singapore Fortress
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
Malayan Air Wing
112th RAF Base Force
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
109th RAF Base Force
AHQ Far East
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
111th RAF Base Force
Singapore Base Force
223 Group RAF
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
1st ISF Base Force
2nd ISF Base Force
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Malaya Army
109th RN Base Force

Defending units:
33rd Division
41st Infantry Regiment
42nd Infantry Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment


---------------------------------------------


Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 25043 troops, 250 guns, 91 vehicles, Assault Value = 837

Defending force 56268 troops, 639 guns, 603 vehicles, Assault Value = 1335

Japanese adjusted assault: 57

Allied adjusted defense: 5475

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 96 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
7892 casualties reported
Squads: 176 destroyed, 316 disabled
Non Combat: 172 destroyed, 63 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 198 disabled
Guns lost 75 (31 destroyed, 44 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
661 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 87 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)


Assaulting units:
11th Infantry Regiment
56th Infantry Regiment
5th Ind. Engineer Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment
55th Infantry Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment
5th Engineer Regiment
55th Engineer Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Army
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
4th Ind. Engineer Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
2nd Gordons Battalion
1st Manchester Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
2nd Malay Battalion
3rd Cavalry Regiment
SSVF Brigade
2nd Loyal Battalion
11th Indian Division
2/17 Dogra Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
1st Malay Battalion
9th Indian Division
Singapore Base Force
Singapore Fortress
Malayan Air Wing
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
2nd ISF Base Force
1st ISF Base Force
224 Group RAF
AHQ Far East
III Indian
Malaya Army
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
111th RAF Base Force
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
109th RAF Base Force
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
223 Group RAF
112th RAF Base Force
109th RN Base Force

I count 575 squads destroyed which is about 1.5 division.

[Dan Nichols]

Feb 9-10, 1942. I hope I didn't put anyone off with my comment above.

I am going to do another Deliberate Attack this turn. I should force him to retreat again. This is going
to push the conquest of Singapore out at least another 3-4 weeks.

I lost Clark Field as expected. Luzon will be his in a week or so.

Nothing else of great importance.

[BBfanboy]

Well done! Big mistake on his part to shock attack into such a large and well fortified force.
Are your troops getting fatigued by the constant combat?

[Dan Nichols]

February 11-12, 1942.

The DA at Singapore went well for me:
Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 40614 troops, 527 guns, 308 vehicles, Assault Value = 1288

Defending force 18910 troops, 229 guns, 155 vehicles, Assault Value = 180

Allied adjusted assault: 1364

Japanese adjusted defense: 175

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
3140 casualties reported
Squads: 219 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 255 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 72 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 47 (29 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 43 (23 destroyed, 20 disabled)
Units retreated 15


Allied ground losses:
1089 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 118 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)
--------------------
CL Sumatra engaged an ASW TF East of Kendari, sinking at least 2xPB and 1xPC.

SS Seadragon put a torpedo into CA Suzuya. It was listed as having heavy damage and then showed up on my sunk ship list?

SS KXVII put a torpedo into DD Yamagumo. It was listed as having heavy damage and on fire. It also showed up on the
sunk ship list.

I lost more xAKLs off of Rangoon to subs and some to Bettys. Time to end that operation. I moved about 150,000 supply
to Rangoon. k I can't cover Rangoon with CAP since he is sending in multiple A6M2 and Ki-43 Ic sweeps at high altitude.
This is what it looks like in the air over Rangoon
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
24 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 25000 feet



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
16 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 27



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-43-Ib Oscar sweeping at 25000 feet



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 25000 feet



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
2 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet



---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 3



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-43-Ib Oscar sweeping at 25000 feet
-------

In China he is bombing troops that I can not put CAP over because of the distance fro a suitable air base.

-------
He finally landed in Balakipapan. Not sure what he brought, but I am sure it is enough.