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Something brewing in Coral Sea , i believe this is the port moresby invasion. What kind of surprises should i find in this one ? [:D]

Harbin should not give you strat points, only the Home Islands.

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Harbin should not give you strat points, only the Home Islands.

You are right! I guess i will go capture a few Manchurian bases with soviets and build them up just in case if i need to bomb home islands [:D]

ORIGINAL: Evoken

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Harbin should not give you strat points, only the Home Islands.

You are right! I guess i will go capture a few Manchurian bases with soviets and build them up just in case if i need to bomb home islands [:D]

In my learning process with the Japanese, that is why I build up Manchuria. It should be relatively safe until the Soviets come in. Unless I attack the Soviets early.

December 14 1941

Morning Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 106,136

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
S.23 Empire x 2

Allied aircraft losses
S.23 Empire: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AKA Grey Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x S.23 Empire bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



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

Morning Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 106,136

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 6
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10
SBD-2 Dauntless x 34
SBD-3 Dauntless x 51
TBD-1 Devastator x 14

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 2 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Eizan Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKA Lama Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Nikkai Maru, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
AKA Lima Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Konsan Maru, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Kunitu Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hokkai Maru, Bomb hits 8, and is sunk
LST Koei Maru, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AKA Jami Maru
xAK Yae Maru, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
xAK Kazan Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST Sento Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AKA Grey Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Tama Maru #2, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Tsuneshima Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
E Abashiri, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AKA Loudon Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kotobuki Maru #5, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk

Japanese ground losses:
1320 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 32 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 43 (32 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Japanese CVL spotted by Guadalcanal , tries to strike without fighter cover

Morning Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 106,140

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N1 Kate x 16

Allied aircraft
F2A-2 Buffalo x 20
F2A-3 Buffalo x 18
F4F-3A Wildcat x 2
F4F-3 Wildcat x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 3 destroyed

December 15 1941
Single CVL Reveals itself and turns out to be Ryujo , Navy sailors welcome the suicide charge into US CV's

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 103,136

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 28

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 6
F4F-3 Wildcat x 23
SBD-2 Dauntless x 34
SBD-3 Dauntless x 51
TBD-1 Devastator x 27

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Nachi, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Sanae, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Asanagi, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yugumo

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
7 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
17 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
13 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A5M4 Claude (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 8 scrambling)
22 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 58 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Ryujo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Nachi
Ammo storage explosion on CVL Ryujo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Asanagi
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Sanae


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

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 103,136

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 12

Allied aircraft
SBD-2 Dauntless x 17

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Sanae, heavy fires
CA Nachi, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yugumo

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A5M4 Claude (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Ryujo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Nachi

Ryujo an Nachi are both gone for sure , DD Yugumo completely disapperaed! IJN has invisibility cloak technology [X(]

We give japanese a taste of their own medicine with heavy artillery [:D]


Ground combat at Manchurian Border (113,43)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12351 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 354

Defending force 30780 troops, 882 guns, 1376 vehicles, Assault Value = 820

Japanese ground losses:
557 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
24th Division

Defending units:
4th Ussurii Tank Brigade
6th Ussurii Tank Brigade
22nd Rifle Division
75th Tank Brigade
45th Engr-Sapper Bde
77th Tank Brigade
111th Region Fortress
236th Cannon Brigade
165th Hvy Howitzer Regiment
115th/129th AA Battalion
22nd/24th AA Battalion
45th/103rd AA Battalion
1192nd BM Howitzer Regiment
225th Cannon Brigade
1st Red Banner Army
43rd/44th AA Battalion
217th Corps Art Brigade
28th/70th AA Battalion
4th/152nd PVO AA Battalion
372nd Hvy Howitzer Regiment
199th BM Howitzer Regiment
1132nd Howitzer Regiment
213th Cannon Brigade
218th Corps Art Brigade
33rd VVS Base Force

December 18 1941
Coral Sea is starting to get real busy. Most of those task forces are subs and one them near Shortlands says there is a BB in task force , given that i havent seen KB yet i think its time for us to leave

Bases lost in the last 5 days


One of the 1300 AV units in Manchuria crosses into Soviet Union teritory

Ground combat at Blagoveshchensk (114,33)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 36870 troops, 366 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1405

Defending force 47919 troops, 926 guns, 683 vehicles, Assault Value = 1393

Japanese adjusted assault: 143

Allied adjusted defense: 3033

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 21 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
6566 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 915 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 94 disabled
Guns lost 108 (6 destroyed, 102 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1096 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 116 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 61 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 27 (1 destroyed, 26 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Assaulting units:
7th Army

Defending units:
2nd Rifle Brigade
204th Rifle Division
3rd Rifle Division
101st Region Fortress
12th Rifle Division
73rd Tank Brigade
74th Tank Brigade
147th Howitzer Regiment
95th VVS Base Force
Trans Baikal Front
114th Hvy Howitzer Regiment
192nd OM Gun Battalion
2nd Red Banner Army
9th/42nd AA Battalion
1129th Hvy Howitzer Regiment
42nd Cannon Regiment
550th BM Howitzer Regiment
1140th Cannon Regiment
411th Howitzer Regiment
1120th Cannon Regiment
96th VVS Base Force
--------
German Raider CB Lutzow shows up at Java December 17th and disappears completely today , i swear axis has cloak technology i am not crazy [X(]

Day Time Surface Combat, near Tjilatjap at 51,102, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CB Admiral Lutzow
TB Z-55
DD Campioni

Allied Ships
TK Talang Akar, Shell hits 14, and is sunk

And a raiding party shows up at San Fran

Soviet Front , hoping to take those 3 bases marked with red arrows

Think of all the men (and women) plus the equipment and supplies that are now not available to be used against Germany. Think of all of the supplies and aircraft now not going to the Soviets through Siberia. Shouldn't the Soviets be handicapped because of that situation?

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Think of all the men (and women) plus the equipment and supplies that are now not available to be used against Germany. Think of all of the supplies and aircraft now not going to the Soviets through Siberia. Shouldn't the Soviets be handicapped because of that situation?

I am pretty sure Soviets are already pretty handicapped as there is a massive army in Manchuria with many 1300-1400 AV units + a massive airforce of close to thousand planes , i doubt i can take those bases but i will try.

Supply Heist [X(] I had declared Manilla open city , IJA fell for it and captured the city with a token force and moved so much supply to repair damage. 2 Tank battalions were ordered to raid the supply storage and steal as much as they can before IJA shows up with a sizeable force , result; Great success [:D]

Air losses so far :
Massive air battles taking place over skies of Vladivostok , Soviet Far East Airforce reinforced with 150 Mig-3's trying to hold against 400-500 fighters from Manchurian airforce usually escorting a strike package around 200 bombers
I have also figured out where the A6M2s are coming from , IJN managed to put a catapult into their AKA's they each store a sizeable wing of A6M2s. Due to missuse of said AKA's 130 of those fighters became coral reefs for the fish.

Major ship losses for each side;
KB strolled through Java sea , gave me a good scare as i had Force Z , Boise and Houston at Sorebaja. They had Yamato class and so many CA's as escort i didnt dare to engage them on surface. Might be a lost oppurtunity but i would rather keep my forces alive. Good news is both Kaga and Hiryu ate a torpedo while passing through , i believe they are ok since i didnt see any ammo or fuel explosion

Victory points and such ;


Top Pilots ;

And strategic map ;

German raider Lutzow shows its face again at Java coast , CVL Hermes is on the hunt with her 12 Swordfish. Lets see if we can cripple her like Bismarck [:D]

Prophecies were true , German ships are weak to Swordfish [&o]

Morning Air attack on TF, near Christmas Island IO at 38,105

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Arado x 1

Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish I: 3 destroyed
Swordfish I: 2 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CB Admiral Lutzow, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Swordfish I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

I have decided to share my save every 30 days just in case if someone wants to play it but doesnt want to deal with earlier setups
Turn 30 Save

CB Lutzow is sunk by Royal Navy heavy cruisers

Night Time Surface Combat, near Christmas Island IO at 38,105, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Arado: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CB Admiral Lutzow, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
TB Z-55, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Campioni, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 16, on fire
CA Exeter
DD Scout, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Thanet, Shell hits 2
DD Thracian

Kido Butai going through Java again , this time i might try to engage it



Kates from a Q-Ship strikes CVL Hermes only to get hit but no explosion [&o] gave me a good scare , time to run back to Colombo with her

Morning Air attack on TF, near Cocos Islands at 34,102

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N1s Kate x 10
A6M2s Zero x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1s Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CVL Hermes

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B5N1s Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo