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11th-12th Feb 1942

Ouch.

My regular recon/nuisance/training Nate sweep/airfield attack on Hengchow met some unexpected opposition this turn. In addition to the usual Cpt. Liu Super-Hero in his tubby Russian fighter we met 20 P-40s of the AVG. Result: 20 Nates down for no P-40s lost. Grr ...

Revenge is on its way however - every single plane in China is going to descend on Hengchow next turn. This is 200+ fighters (including 10 Oscars) and 100+ level bombers. Knowing my luck the Americans will have transferred out but at least I should make a bit of a mess of the airfield.

Elsewhere, my suspicions of a counter-invasion at Amboina seem unfounded. The Lexington and Enterprise have disappeared, last seen heading west to the south of Timor.

In Burma the first air attack on Mandalay was disappointing. The c.50 Sonias only destroyed one Hurricane on the ground, with about 30 odd runway hits. This is not good enough, so I have transferred another 50 dive bombers in to Pagan. Orders to build airfield to size 3 have been given to properly accomodate the extra planes. Hopefully this shouldn't take too long, there are 300+ eng squads at the base (33rd/55th Divs, 2 base forces + 3 AF construction units).

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Production Note

I received two completely new divisions in China this turn, the 58th & 59th. Pleasingly they arrived at full strength, which means that my armament pool was big enough. Less pleasingly the pool is now utterly empty. There are still loads of base forces and naval infantry units on their way so I increased armament factories yet again at several places. In particular I expanded Seoul from 75 to 150, those supplies aren't needed in Korea ...

The plan is to have 700+ armament factories eventually.

I forgot to mention. After last turn's debacle I turned R&D back on for the Oscar II. Tonys and Tojos were already running since they arrive a bit sooner.

Gotta get rid of the useless Nateys ASAP! I just received another group of 36 this turn as reinforcements FFS. Meanwhile my Oscar I pool climbs uselessly above 120 ...

A very interesting read. Btw, do you have any suggestions as to where there would be a good place to train pilots in china? Some place out of the way that has little support for allied airforce?

ORIGINAL: String

A very interesting read. Btw, do you have any suggestions as to where there would be a good place to train pilots in china? Some place out of the way that has little support for allied airforce?

Thanks for the response [:)]

The trouble with training in China, as the "AVG in Hengchow" episode shows, is that a base can be empty one turn and then full of fighters the next.

If you just want training a better option is to attack ground units that are not in a base. The chinese infantry units have no AA guns ...

13th-14th Feb 1942

Well, Hengchow got bombed but as I suspected the AVG sub-group had moved out to Kweilin. Still, we destroyed lots of tubby Russian biplanes and made a mess of the field. No doubt Cpt. Liu survived though ...

In Burma, 96 Sonias managed to only slightly improve on the results at Mandalay. Now this is a battle we can and must win but it's going to be hard work. Every single Sonia group in the IJA is now on its way. They can rotate in and out of Rahaeng. A newly arrived group of 36 Oscars will also be committed, replacing the existing Nates at Pagan. I may even commit part of Sally Force at some point. Luang Prabang should be at size 4 within a week or so and it's destined aviation unit is steadily trudging up the coast road from Camranh Bay.

I had been debating exactly when to move the 15th Army (33rd/55th Divs) over the river. They are a bit knackered after taking Rangoon and marching to Pagan. However, once installed at Mandalay they will stop the Resources producing supplies. So it's probably worth moving them sooner rather than later, in theory. However, this theory does not take into account the unexpected arrival of 40,000+ Chinese troops. Recon shows 70,000+ troops (up from 30,000 odd) and the icon has turned yellow ...

Given all this I might just wait until I can ship a couple of extra divisions from Singapore before attacking Mandalay.

Speaking of Singapore, I think I started bombardment attacks there this turn. Also, Sallies out of Kuantan started bombing the airfield in order to reduce supply and prevent building of fort. Surprisingly they even caught some Hurricanes and Blenheims on the ground too. Late replacements?

Out in the wilds of New Guinea undefended Lae has fallen to the brave marines of the Maizuru 1st SNLF. I am sticking to the plan outlined above, so the 13th Base Force (previously allocated for Emirau Island) is on its way via Rabaul. It will eventually be joined by the 25th Special Base Force, recently arrived at Tokyo and currently enroute to Truk. This will give c.200 aviation support to start with. Malaria will quickly erode this of course. Southeast Fleet eventually gets some actual aviation units, so one of these may get sent to Lae too. Who knows, maybe if I also install every construction unit in the IJA and IJN the base might actually be tenable. UV players will know what I mean ...

Also in the Bismarck archipelago region the 14th NLF, 14th Base Force and 14th Coastal Gun unit are now happily installed at Kavieng. They have been joined by the P1/14th and P2/14th Chutais of Mavises, who will be performing Naval Search/ASW Patrol once they have recovered from the long flight down from the Home Islands. I do like to keep similarly numbered units together lol

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Strategy Notes

Primary Objectives remaining to be taken (these are mostly all supply/resource/oil producers):-

Burma: Mandalay
Philippines: Clark Field (under siege), Manila, Bataan
Malaya: Singapore (under siege)
DEI: Bankha, Medan, Palembang, Batavia, Soerabaja, Balikpapan, Tarakan, Kendari
China: Homan (under siege)

Palembang op should be ready to go soon, preceded by the inevitable Bombardment of Batavia.

I fully intend to leave a few Allied "salients" sticking into my lines (Timor, New Guinea, Solomons, Southern China). As long as there are no supply-producing bases in these areas this should provide some good opportunities for destroying over-eager Allied men and materiel. A risky strategy perhaps, but then you're always going to be engaged with the enemy somewhere ...

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P.S. If I sometimes seem a bit vague this is because I do the AAR on a different PC from where I play the game. It's all done from memory and this turn was actually played last Friday ...

15th-16th Feb 1942

This would have been a good turn apart from one thing.

China - Homan falls, woop! Chinese troops retreat into the countryside rather than up the rail line, excellent. They left us loads of supplies too

Burma - Mass dive bomber raids on Mandalay again, slightly more successful. Supplies must be getting inadequate, especially as there are now apparently 80,000+ troops there. However, some of the Sonia pilots are complaining about getting shot at so next turn will just be a harassment. I have finally seen sense though and committed the 47th Sentai with its 9 Tojos to the battle. It had previously been sitting on its arse guarding Hanoi.

Philippines - Clark Field falls, more woop! 5 - 1 odds with fort level 3, clinical ... Allied troops have retreated to Manila (next objective), leaving behind a nice amount of supplies, plus the Resources "factories" are in good shape. I have re-set the objectives on all units, they will get a couple of turns rest before marching down the rail line to Manila. In the meantime, Lily Force will start pounding Manila airfield (and supplies) to dust.

Malaya - The artillery bombardment of Singapore continues. I'm waiting for river-crossing disruption to fall before trying any deliberate attacks. In the meantime, part of Sally Force based at Kuantan had a go at Medan (a plane icon had appeared there). Well, we got lucky and took out several Hurricanes on the ground. I guess they were just transiting through and therefore not bothering to fly CAP ...

DEI - Ouch.

Three night-time bombardments arrive at Singkawang and make a total mess of the place - 10+ Zeros destroyed on the ground. I had seen some "BB CA DD" approaching but the old clunker battleships Fuso & Yamashiro couldn't make it round from Kuching in time. They are now sitting there and guarding but I doubt this will discourage the redoubtable ABDA commander. I have diverted part of the IJA transport fleet (about 60 Topsies) from Khota Baru to Kuching in order to airlift the 23rd Eng Regt in to help with repairs.

The whole episode makes me wonder why I had stood down the Betties at Kuching. Oh well. This is the fourth time Alikchi has caught me tactically napping BTW.

OK I have a dilemma. Now Homan has fallen I was planning to just sit on my ass in China, with occasional bombing raids on his industry in Chungking and so on. However, it now occurs to me that maybe I could use my current advantage to go clear up some more real estate. The question is: North or South?

North: Lanchow with its 125 Oil beckons. It's a long walk up those roads but I kind of like the idea of "taking the Communists out of the war".
South: Hengchow is sitting on the rail line but it is miles from the nearest supply source (Chungking) and is unlikely to cause any serious problems for a while. However, clearing the rail line from Canton would allow oil deposited in Hong Kong to feed the whole of China. I suppose I have just about enough Brigade units to garrison the rail line once taken.

Thoughts?

FYI these are the former Chinese bases under my control:

Wuchow, Changsha, Homan, Sian, Yenen

OK, after digesting all the comments (sic) I've decided to go for the Commies [:)]

3 or 4 Divisions, tanks and some arty now have Kungchang set as their objective. They won't actually move out for a while though, I want to be sure I can deal with any counter-attack on Sian or Homan before the forts get built up. In addition, the entire Mongol army of 9 cavalry brigades is heading out for Lanchow via the northern route and the "crossroads", which is still occupied by the Chinese. This is more of a diversion/pinning operation, I doubt the horse boys can blast a way through without support.

17th-18th Feb 1942

And now on to the latest turn.

Mandalay can wait. Part of the AVG has turned up to join forces with the Hurricanes and Buffalos. My poor old Oscars just can't deal with this. The Tojos did OK but I still lost two of them. 10+ Sonias went down too. So ... I'm going to hang fire and just defend until a) I can apply some large blows from 250 Sallies out of Luang Prabang, b) Pagan gets to size 3 for maximum effect and c) I get some more Oscars to fly escort.

In Borneo, Singkawang is recovering well from the bombardments. I should be in a position to take Pontianak within a few more days. Not long after that the Palembang op will be go.

Most interestingly, this turn we finally had some activity in the North Pacific. A convoy arrived at Kiska Island (spotted by Glens from subs) to be greeted by some Type 88 mines I had laid earlier. Now, this base can go to 5/5 but, as I have seen in the Kuriles and Manchuria, the Cold Zone rules really slow down construction. I'm not too worried as long as I can see what's going on ...

19th-20th Feb 1942

Speculative port attack on Soerabaja by Betties out of Kuching - recon was showing "CA CA CA" in port. Result: BB Colorado eats 4 x 800kg bombs and CL Leander gets 2 of the same. Nice

Also in Kuching, troops are loading up for Palembang (2 x SNLF + 1 x NLF). Batavia bombardment force is on its way from the now completely repaired Singkawang. I don't think there's actually that many planes at Batavia but we still must suppress those that are ...

Elsewhere not much occuring.

21st-22nd Feb 1942

Singapore falls with little effort and 70,000+ Allied troops go into the bag. The points are now at 2 -1 in Japan's favour.

The Palembang invasion is on its way. I've decided to cancel the Batavia bombardment though and hence avoid the nasty minefield there. Most of the Martins seem to be operating out of Soerabaja and Tjilitjap anyway.

Out in the Pacific recon is consistently showing a TF comprising "BB CA DD" and similar at Canton Island. I am still somewhat concerned that the impetuous Americans will make an early play for Baker Island. We shall see ...

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Production Note

My Heavy Industry pool is approaching 200,000 points. Is this normal? I'm building everything I can ...

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I hope to produce some more piccies soon.

Just a question: which units are operating in Malaya area? It seems it took u quite a long time to take Singapore

The forces below took Singapore:

5th, 8th & Imp Gds Divs
23rd Mixed Brigade
4 Tank Rgts
4 Arty units
25th Army HQ

I like to minimise casualties so I take things slowly and never shock attack (other than on atolls where I have no choice). 2 days bombardment, 2 days deliberate attack until the enemy gives up

My play is extremely defensive. The game is not about territory it's about destroying the enemy. As long as I can secure my primary objectives by the end of April I'm not worried.

Primary Objectives still remaining:-

Burma - Mandalay
DEI - Medan, Bankha, Palembang (invasion soon), Batavia, Soerabaja, Balikpapan, Tarakan, Kendari (invasion soon)
Phillipines - Manila (soon to be under siege), Bataan

Oh, that's quite a strong force. So where will u re-deploy those strong Divisions? In the invasion of Java? or u'll go for Northern Burma Area?

18th Div will go to Burma. 5th and Imp Gds to Java.

23rd-24th Feb 1942

A quiet turn, nothing happened of note.

In the DEI the Palembang and Kendari invasions are finally on their way. Ryujo, Shoho & Zuiho will provide far cover north of Kendari in case of possible Allied surface interception. Zeros will fly LRCAP out of Amboina.

25th-26th Feb 1942

DEI

The Palembang invasion force is one hex east of its objective. Landings and bombardment start tonight ...

Amboina is on the cusp of becoming a size 3 port. The Kendari invasion force is fully loaded up and sets out tonight. CVLs are jigging about to the north-east of Kendari (def. - "jigging about" means moving one hex per turn in order to make it more difficult for enemy to vector subs in).

All the above mentioned TFs are spotted but so far have come to no harm. I am a little concerned that some Allied CVs are going to pop up and spoil the party though. The Palembang force in particular has no air cover. I got impatient ...

Some successful Betty attacks today. Allied shipping is congregating at Darwin and Soerabaja. 5 AKs were torpedoed at Darwin, of which 2 are known to have sunk. A major port attack on Soerabaja is scheduled for the next turn ("CA CA CA DD APD SS SS" etc. reported to be in port).

PI

Deliberate attack on Manila scheduled for next turn. We have a small numerical superiority - I am hoping that the constant airfield attacks have depleted supplies somewhat.

China

Allied deliberate attacks at Nanning and Wuchow. Not successful - forts (at 3 and 2 respectively) were not reduced, lots of Chinese casualties ...

Japanese forces are now strung out along the south and east roads leading into Kungchang. I'm sure I can take this base, however there is the small matter of the forces that were kicked out of Homan to deal with before we can proceed. One unit has turned up in Sian today and will be attacked. Hopefully it is just on its way elsewhere to get some supplies ...

Central Pacific

I have been mulling this over and have decided to play it uber-defensively. A serious fight will only be made for the Marianas, all else will just be delaying actions with no commitment of major forces. I have even come up with an off-the-wall plan for Saipan that might just work. Construction of the Musashi has been re-started and the smaller naval shipyards expanded yet again.

So, I have some re-arranging of forces to do. I will try and detail this when I get round to doing some pictures again.

South Pacific

SNLFs continue to be landed on the eastern coast of lower New Guinea via fast transport. These are just base denial/tripwire ops, I have no intention of using any of these bases except Lae. The absence of activity at Port Moresby is puzzling me though. There is no CAP and seemingly no Naval Search either.

From the Japanese perspective, Allied losses may actually be worse than this ...

The sunken Allied BBs represent 7 old US clunkers and the Repulse. I am personally responsible for only one of these - the Pennsylvania.

27th-28th Feb 1942

Wow, what a turn! Loads happening, some good some bad.

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Palembang

As I had feared the Lexington & Enterprise popped up behind Sumatra (one hex to left of Teloektebang to be precise) and had a go at the invasion force whilst it was unloading. Fortunately for me the strike was at maximum range so a) no torpedo bombers and b) the SBDs were only dropping 500lbers. Results: 1 DD sunk, 1 CL damaged but hopefully retrievable and 4 or so APs on the way out. I have ordered all warships to retreat to Singapore at full speed whilst the transports will proceed one hex eastward to Muntok (taken unopposed a few turns ago) to unload their remaining troops and supplies. This is just within range of Oscars at Singkawang for CAPping purposes ...

Meanwhile, my "regional Betty Force" at Kuching was otherwise occupied bombing ships in Soerabaja port. A reasonable raid (damage to CA Australia, a DD, AD and transports) but in retrospect I would have been better off leaving them on Naval Attack. The US CVs are exactly 11 hexes away, just within Zero range. Oh well.

Just in case the CVs don't do a runner (as they always have in the past) I have transferred some fresh Nells & Betties from Malaya & Burma to Kuching. Probably closing the stable door but there you go.

Back on the actual invasion beaches my SNLF & NLF marines are mostly landed but have precisely no supplies. Therefore they will just sit in defend stance until the heat is off and I can ship some to them. From the automatic Allied bombardment attack report I doubt they will have much trouble taking the base once "activated". There are only about 2,000 Dutch troops present, and they are poor quality garrison/base force units at that.

Kendari

Troops have landed and are being guarded by a light bombardment force which serendipitously rolled over a lone Australian AP on the way in. Deliberate attack scheduled for next turn ...

Amboina

Betties once again successfully sank AKs and a TK at Darwin. More Wirraways shot down too.

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New Guinea

Gili Gili falls, followed automatically by Goodenough Island. Kiriwina is next, Yokusuka 7th SNLF will be fast transported in next turn.

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Burma

Massive air battle over Pagan as Allied air forces try their first offensive op in the area, a combined fighter sweep from Akyab and Mandalay. 30 P-40s, 18 or so Hurricanes with a few Buffalos making up the numbers. Results definitely in the Allies favour, with 19 Oscars and 4 Tojos going down for 3 P-40s, 8 Hurricanes and 3 Buffalos in return. Ouch.

I have removed the decimated Tojo unit and the smaller of the Oscar units back to Saigon in order to get some replacements. Oscars should be good to go immediately, Tojos will have to wait until August. That leaves only a single Oscar Sentai at Pagan. Instinct told me to remove that too but I must leave something there in case some bombers turn up.

There is a plan for dealing with Mandalay and the AVG: I may have mentioned it before but basically it involves dealing a decisive blow with 200+ Sallies/Helens flying out of Luang Prabang (currently 67% of the way to size 4). This will be combined with the return of Sonia Force to Pagan. I have no doubt losses will be heavy but I hope to "trap" the AVG on the ground at Mandalay. Well at least destroy most of it's planes anyway Timetable for this is estimated at turn after next.

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Central Pacific

Well, my theory about an early riposte at Baker Island was entirely correct. The 2nd USMC Div landed accompanied by a single cruiser bombardment force (presumably the escorts were told not to bombard). Not that it mattered since I had evacuated the place immediately after taking it anyway.

I was a bit gutted that the invasion force had not been spotted by my "extensive" naval search covering the area, including 2 subs with Glens. Still, we know they are there now so it's time for the response.

The 6 CVs of the KB have been quietly minding their own business sitting to the NE of Tarawa, passing the time of day with a replenishment TF. This was where I put them after the cancellation of the Canton Island op (Flagellate). Well they are now on their way to annihilate the ships at Baker Island - they will be 3 hexes to the west at first light. I am reasonably sure the transports will still be unloading at that time since they have an entire division plus supplies to unload at a size 1 port. Still, my bigger hope would be that the remaining 3 US CVs are lurking about so we can sink them instead. If not then I intend to form a blockade until such time as ground troops can be brought to bear. The destruction of an entire super-duper US Marine Div is a prize too great to ignore.

Strategy Note

This "Baker Island Honeypot" operation illustrates precisely my strategy of allowing the Allied player to put his "head in the noose" by moving too early and in unsustainable places.

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North Pacific

Shipping is still present at Kiska Island. Also, I had forgotten - Winter ends in March so building will revert to taking a standard amount of time in the Aleutians.

I have no idea what my enemy has planned for this zone, and although I have taken precautions it still worries me somewhat.

great move in the Baker island area I hope you'll shoot him up good..