The Journey to Eternal Sleep - Grauwolf80 (J) vs Bilbow (A) = NO Bilbow

[atheory]

Jan 18th 1942

Half of Java is secured. Will look to do an amphibious landing as I think it will be quicker then waiting to slog a unit through the narrow mountain pass in the center of the island.

[atheory]

Jan 28th 1942

Just an quick update as I've been battling a cold for the past week.

Sumatra - Forces continue to push North, securing the areas as they go.

Java - Batavia is close to being assault, maybe a week away as the forces secure the surrounding areas.

Singapore - The army finally moves towards the base, should arrive in a couple days and the bombardment will commence. Hopefully leading to the final assault sometime soon after. I'm thinking my opponent moved any units here that formed a division up to Burma region and left all the small assortment ones behind as a ruse. We shall find out shortly.

Rangoon - Advance of 15th Army is halted south of Pegu. Will have to await the conclusion of Singapore before advancing again. My opponent is investing a lot in this region early on. Akyab is being built up and has a bunch of fighters in place. Land units are also moving into Burma from Akyab as well. I don't think he is risking landing troops in Rangoon itself anymore.

China - surrounded 3 Chinese Corps in the SE, one last assault should fully destroy them. A second encirclement is in the works nearby. The push for Sian is on hold for now. Half the forces will shift south and southern china will be made secure hopefully by Xmas. Additional bombers have been moved in the region to pound large stacks of the enemy.

Manila/Clarkfield - continue to hold out which is expected as minimum attention is given to the area for now. Mindanao is fully secure and the other smaller islands are being mopped up. Leyte is also controlled and the regiment is moving up the peninsula.

Dot Bases - these continue to be made red. From the solomons, gilberts, new caledonia area and throughout the DEI. Between 2 and 5 are turning each day, hopefully painting those regions red by mid February.

Submarine fleet - redeploying most of the fleet whilst learning how my opponent intends to play. Lack of visible cargo task forces suggests alternative routes than what i'm used to against the AI. hawaii is a hub no doubt, but ASW efforts are strong.

Took Christmas Is., then proceeded to Cocos Is. The small TF was sunk by MTB squadron. Sent Surface Fleet with Haruna and Kongo, 2 CA, 2CL and a handful of DD. Sank MTBx5, ASx1, AGx2, AKx1, AKLx1, DDx1 (a 2nd DD severely damaged) Obviously this is/was to be a way station for his fleets between India/Australia or Patroling TFs.

My surface fleet needs some ammo and will resupply at Soerebaja, where an amphibious task force with two SNFL battalions are ready to take Cocos Is.

Other Carriers are in Tokyo as I begin to convert my KBs into 2xCV and 2xCVL composition fleets. I figure to eventually go to 3xCV 1xCVL composition.


Latest intel
Activity at Darwin - unsure what this is, but KB of 4 carriers is moving to bomb the port/naval task forces if any. I'm presuming some minor cargo and submarine activity. Maybe i'll get lucky and get a sub or two based there.

Enemy carrier spotted near Hawaii. Perhaps the Saratoga coming from San Deigo.

[atheory]

Feb 7th 1942

A lot of moving troops about. Making sure I have enough for singapore assault.

Last major pocket blocking my way to batavia has been removed. On to Batavia!

Cocos Is. Things continue to heat up here as both sides throw punches. The Kongo/Haruna TF once again arrive, knocking out a DD and 6 AKs supplying the island. A follow up TF lands 2xSNFL units and are greeted by the 56th Indian Brigade. My guys are simply mauled on the beaches and the remnants withdraw back to the ships.

A KB TF is a couple days away circling the island hoping to catch any enemy TFs nearby.

china - forces move into Wenchow for the inevitable battle to be had. It will be surrounded giving no room for a chinese retreat. All will parish! Will be a bloody affair on both sides due to stacking limits I think, fun fun.


Lessons learned thus far from my first real PBEM game.

1) I think a quicker singapore strike is important. I feel like i'm falling behind schedule now as I have to scrape up the forces I sent elsewhere and bring them back to Malaya. Java still not cleaned up and Batavia will not fall easy/quick I think. I had anticipated bringing those units back for Singapore, but taking Java has taken longer than I expected. AV at Singapore should be 1900 by Feb 10th when two additional regiments arrive.

2) Poor planning of APs. Bought out 54th Div but have no transport nearby with which to ship them. Another week wasted waiting for appropriate transports.

3) Until now I did not realize I could combine a lot of my regiments into divisions. I swear I learn something new with every game, and this being my first true PBEM, it couldn't have come at a better time. Read those AARs people, they hold so much knowledge!

4) Better planning and execution of follow up support forces. (ie air assets, rear area garrisons, base buildup etc)

5) Better use/more efficient use of submarine forces.

[atheory]

March 1st 1942

Been slow to update this and will look to improve the output soon.

Situation

Singapore, Manila, Clark Field, and Bataan are all that remain to be occupied. I have light forces guarding the lines in PI while the bulk of my available divisions head to singapore for what I hope will be the final assault around mid month. Constant artillery bombardments and air bombing runs pound these positions daily.

My opponent strengthened Rangoon right away and the 15th Army (1 division and supporting units) were unable to push through. Rangoon continually gets strengthened the longer I'm delayed at Singapore. I've thought of bypassing Rangoon and testing his strength at ceylon or calcutta. Or just smash through Burma with the might freed up from Singapore.

My interior is secure for now and I've begun building up my supply lines/logistics networks in anticipation for the eventual allied offensive. I've kept my carriers buzzing around Australia hopefully giving the impression I'm looking to invade it. I've got the majority of my resource/fuel/oil convoys running, getting a lot of the stocked up piles to safety before the submarines arrive.

My strategy was always to expand, then defend. Basically counter-punching his moves. If he wants forward air bases, that could threaten the heart of my supply lines, he will have to spend his own time building them up.

So in essence, I am consolidating and building up my logistics network. Once Singapore falls, i'll have the forces to explore additional options.

Objectives up for consideration
Rangoon/Burma region
Darwin/Northern Australia
Port Moresby.
Aleutian Islands (enemy is building up bases here)

Considering a large carrier raid on colombo thinking most of his fighter force is concentrated at Akyab/Calcultta defending his buildup of bases there.

Overall losses have been light. Perhaps a few more plane losses than I'd like but its not too bad. Bombing Singapore takes it toll.

[atheory]

March 9th 1942

First carrier skirmish of the war commences at Colombo. Fearing a port strike, I believe my opponent hastily formed his TFs and rushed them out of port. The previous day I had 4 over zealous kate pilots maximize their range and launched a strike on an AP TF, sinking 2 APs. This definitely let the enemy know I was nearby. I should have limit their range to that of the Val.

Anywho, the next day the enemy was mobilized. 4 Japanese CV launched multiple strikes against the fleeing enemy. First strike was against the british carrier fleet which included the Indomitable and Hermes plus escorts. Hermes took a bomb and a torpedo, but overall it seemed allied Flak did a good job disrupting my attack. maybe I need to go up to 12 or 13k feet altitude.

2nd attack went against the Royal Sovereign TF. 7 bombs and 4 torpedoes struck home. Initial reports indicate the BB is sunk. awaiting confirmation.

3rd attack was another 100+ plane attack against the carrier TF. bombs scattered about, the hermes took another 3 bombs and is reported sunk. awaiting confirmation.

There were counter-sorties against my carriers but had no effect.

Lacking torpedoes, my TF is withdrawing from the area.

[kaleun]

Nice AAR. Will be following

[atheory]

Thanks - I do hope to enhance my AAR as I settle more and more into the flow of things.