Star Wars Episode 7: Revenge of the Allies (Grotius v. Cap)

[Grotius]

(As Grotius practices with his light saber, Ben suddenly turns away and sits down.)

Grotius: Are you all right? What's wrong?

Ben: I felt a great disturbance in the Force . . . as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.

Grotius: Pfft, a little rioting at Wake Island. I'm sure it will blow over.

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Ground combat at Wake Island

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1320 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1867 troops, 39 guns, 2 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Wake Island base !!!

[Grotius]

8 December 1941: I had expected Lord Gown to conduct another Death Star attack on Pearl Harbor, but I was wrong: KB was spotted steaming away to the northwest. Here's a look:



The Imperial Death Star banged up many of my ships, but nothing has been lost yet, though a couple might go down yet. Here's a look at ships docked in Pearl as of December 9:



In other news, I had started to move troops *north* in Malaya, toward Singora, since I saw no landings there on turn 1. I thought it might complicate his supply situation to cut the rail line to Kota Bharu. But today he did indeed land troops there, so I ordered my boys back to Alor Star.

Finally, I have actually drawn first blood in the sunken-ships tally. Swordfish sank two APs off Kota Bharu; a sub sank an AK off the coast of the Philippines; and my ASW got one of his subs near Borneo.

[Grotius]

9 December 1941: Well, I was right the first time: Lord Cap *did* come back for another Death Star strike. He turned around and revisited Pearl Harbor. Unfortunately for him, weather messed up his plans, and he got off only a single strike with Vals. He had also set some planes (Kates?) to Naval Attack, anticipating that I might sortie some surface ships. But the only surface ships I've sent out are pesky PT boats, one TF of which stumbled upon the dread Death Star!

PT Boat commander: That's no moon.

Grotius: Turn the ship around.

Too late! Mighty surface combat:

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Day Time Surface Combat at 112,69

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Akagi
CA Tone
CA Chikuma
DD Akigumo
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
DD Shiranuhi
DD Urakaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Arare
DD Kasumi

Allied Ships
PT PT-20
PT PT-21, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT PT-22
PT PT-23, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT PT-24
PT PT-25

As for the Death Star's latest attack, it was less impressive. Grand Moff Tarkins' torpedo bombers were asleep.

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Day Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 62
D3A Val x 121

Allied aircraft
P-26A x 2
P-36A Mohawk x 2
P-40B Tomahawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
D3A Val: 9 destroyed, 44 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-26A: 2 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 2 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB California, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 6, heavy damage
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 4, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 8, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 5
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 7, on fire
CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 3, on fire
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 5, heavy damage
ML Oglala, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Detroit, Bomb hits 1
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 6, heavy damage
DD Worden, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DMS Perry, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 1
CL Honolulu, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
48 casualties reported

Port hits 10
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet [etc]

In other news, Cap began bombing Yenen, Wuchow and Changsha, focusing on Heavy Industry (to my surprise) and Resources (not such a surprise). I'm moved one subgroup of the AVG into China to give him a surprise of his own.

Here's a look at the surface combat, such as it was, at Pearl Harbor.

[Grotius]

10 December 1941: The Imperial Death Star moved away from Pearl Harbor again, this time a few hexes west. It does not look like a Task Force that has decided to retire to Tokyo. It looks like one that is giving its pilots a turn to rest. So I expect a third Pearl Harbor strike tomorrow. I have kept my ships docked in port. I thought about creating a Surface TF force to divert some attacking planes, but I decided that might just expose ships that would not otherwise be attacked. I'll just hope for the best.

In other news, the Empire's mini-Death Star sank a couple fleeing AKs and a MSW east of Borneo. An Imperial submarine also got an AS in the same area. I fear his CVL will do more damage this turn, but so far I'm pleased with how many ships I've already gotten out of the Philippines to Darwin.

In China, I'm still not sure where he's amassing his forces. I see one big force gathering near Yenen, and another near Ichang, which finally received some supply today. I'm flying recon every day, but there's no two ways about it, he can move faster than I can.

[Grotius]

11 December 1941: KB inched a bit further away from Pearl Harbor; it's about eight hexes west now, in the vicinity of the French Frigate Shoals. I still don't believe it's departed permanently, but we shall see. In the meantime, the exodus of Allied shipping from the Philippines continues. Lord Gown sank several transports, a DD, and an AS today, but I continue to be pleased that most of my ships have sneaked through his net. Also, I continue to hold Alor Star and points south in Malaya.

My main concern is China. He's trying to encircle Yenen, and I'm responding by moving troops around the city, but I don't have a lot of troops up there, and that's a tough area to defend -- a lot of open ground. I'm not sure what to do.

I'm even more uncertain about what to do at Ichang. Ichang is not crucial in itself -- there are no resources there -- but nothing stands between it and Chungking. He's moving a stack of 14 units there; one just arrived. I'm not even sure whether to shock attack the one, since the remaining 13 may well be right behind. My 4 corps at Ichang have 100 prep points, and the city has a size 3 fort, but if he's got 9 or 10 divisions, I have no hope, no? Should I try to withdraw now to save supply, avoid casualties, and secure Chungking, or should I stand and fight? Any advice, China experts?

[Grotius]

12 December 1941: KB inched further westward still, now about 3 hexes southwest of the French Frigate Shoals, but still within about 11 hexes of Pearl Harbor itself. I'm not sure whether he's (1) resting and recovering morale, (2) hunting for the US CVs, or (3) retiring slowly to conserve fuel. I'm still betting on (1), and so I'm not permitting much surface traffic in or out of Pearl Harbor other than ASW and PT-boat task forces.

In China, now my worry is Yenen. He's occupied the three hexes east of the city and is probably trying to encircle it altogether. I've responded by putting four corps on the road hex just west of Yenen, and another four corps are slowly making their way from the north. (On Andrew Brown's map, these four corps can't beat the IJA to Yenen. Also, Yenen itself is CLEAR terrain on Andrew's map, which makes defending it harder.) I only count 8 or 9 enemy units in the area, so I'm not sure he can completely surround me and amass enough troops to take Yenen at the same time. He's also brought a unit or two into Linfen, just southeast of Yenen, where I intend to stand and fight for now.

As for Ichang, I'm relieved to see that my garrison there will probably escape safely before the hordes arrive. I've sent a number of reinforcements to Chungking, so my capital should be safe. On Andrew's map, there is road (not "trail") from Ichang to Chungking; I don't remember if the stock map is this way. Anyway, I see Chungking and Changsha as my top defensive priorities, and I will concentrate my defense in one or the other depending on which direction he moves next. I think I can beat him to either target in a ground-race.

Here's a look at KB's latest maneuvering. I'll post a shot of China tomorrow.

[Andrew Brown]

In China, now my worry is Yenen. He's occupied the three hexes east of the city and is probably trying to encircle it altogether. I've responded by putting four corps on the road hex just west of Yenen, and another four corps are slowly making their way from the north. (On Andrew Brown's map, these four corps can't beat the IJA to Yenen. Also, Yenen itself is CLEAR terrain on Andrew's map, which makes defending it harder.) I only count 8 or 9 enemy units in the area, so I'm not sure he can completely surround me and amass enough troops to take Yenen at the same time. He's also brought a unit or two into Linfen, just southeast of Yenen, where I intend to stand and fight for now.

I am aware of some problems with this part of China on my map, and I will be revising the map soon to make some modifications to this area (amonget other things).

[Andrew Brown]

On Andrew's map, there is road (not "trail") from Ichang to Chungking; I don't remember if the stock map is this way.

It is a road on the official map as well.

[Grotius]

I am aware of some problems with this part of China on my map, and I will be revising the map soon to make some modifications to this area (amonget other things).

Sounds good. I'm not an expert on Chinese topography, but I always had the impression that Yenan and its surrounding area was rather hilly. I seem to recall reading about Mao holed up in the Yenan hills, in nice defensive terrain. I know WITP doesn't have a "hilly" terrain type, but maybe there should be more wooded areas there, as on the stock map. I spent some time trying to find a good topographic map of China, though, and I just ended up more confused.

The biggest problem in China is that the 3+ million members of the Chinese army aren't all on the map. Your map can't fix that. I wonder if the CHS scenario does.

[Grotius]

13 December 1941: I forgot to mention that Hong Kong fell yesterday, and today two other bases followed suit: Davao and Linfen, a base southeast of Yenan in China. I left Linfen's starting garrison in place to see if, with 100 prep points in wooded terrain, it could hold the line for a bit against two IJA divisions. Nope; it wasn't even close.

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Ground combat at Linfen

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 35138 troops, 423 guns, 14 vehicles

Defending force 8945 troops, 65 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Linfen base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
674 casualties reported
Guns lost 25
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
225 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

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Meanwhile KB continued its curious slow movement southwest. It's now 13 hexes or so southwest of Pearl Harbor, within plain sight of my patrols from Midway. Maybe he's waiting for Zeroes to repair? Or is he hunting my CVs? Pearl Harbor remains on alert, continuing to expect a third airstrike there.

The flight of my shipping from the Philippines continued today without incident, except that an AS hit a mine at Kendari. I've had two or three AS's hit in the theater.

My main immediate concern continues to be China. With the fall of Linfen, my position at Yenan is yet more precarious. And the quick collapse at Linfen doesn't fill me with confidence about the prospects for my troops at Yenan. I have only three corps in Yenan; 1 more is approaching from the west, 3 more two hexes west of there, and two more approaching from Sian. Plus 4 corps in the north, slowly wending their way toward Yenan, but they'll be too late unless Cap tries to surround the city. I had thought intiially he was going to try to encircle it, but now my gut tells me he's just gonna move his four divisions in, shock attack, and boot me out. Even with 100 prep points, I don't think 3 or 4 corps are gonna stand up to 4 IJA divisions in clear terrain. I'll probably withdraw toward Sian. Here's a look.

[Andrew Brown]

ORIGINAL: Grotius

13 December 1941: I forgot to mention that Hong Kong fell yesterday, and today two other bases followed suit: Davao and Linfen, a base southeast of Yenan in China. I left Linfen's starting garrison in place to see if, with 100 prep points in wooded terrain, it could hold the line for a bit against two IJA divisions. Nope; it wasn't even close.

In addition to possible future map changes, and the correction of the fort at Linfen, both in CHS and my scenarios the Linfen garrison is going to be beefed up by the addition of a corps and a HQ. In the meantime it is interesting to see results such as this one...

[Grotius]

I'm loving the map, Andrew. For one thing, it's much clearer than the stock map. I never really used to have a clear idea whether I was on swamp, mountains, urban, whatever. On your map, it's all crystal clear. Good work!

[Grotius]

14 December 1941: The strange adventures of KB continue. Today the Imperial Death Star decided to attack ... Johnston Island? I had stationed a half-dozen Catalinas there, and one MSW was in port. I actually thought he might be headed that way, so the MSW put to sea in time -- so in fact no ships were in port at the time of the attack. My guess is that Lord Cap wants to shut down my air search so that he can move KB around a bit more quietly. Well, I could've kept operating the Catalinas (they only need water and air support, right?), but he got so many supply hits that the base is completely out of supply -- zero supply. So I had to move them out.

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Day Air attack on Johnston Island , at 104,78

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
D3A Val x 46
B5N Kate x 72

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 16
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x B5N Kate bombing at 12000 feet
24 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet

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Anyway, I'm quite happy if he wants to use KB to bomb undefended islands for the rest of the game. Somehow I don't think he will.

In other news, he's landed at Brunei and is headed toward Kuching as well. So far my torpedo bombers haven't hit anything. In China, he's got 2 or 3 divisions headed toward Sian and 4 units just outside Yenan; I guess he's trying to encircle one or the other city. I probably should mass my force in one or the other city. The trouble is, Sian is easier to defend (and escape from if I lose), but Yenan is the supply source. I'm not sure at which one I should concentrate my defenses.

[Grotius]

15 December 1941: For the first time since the Galactic War began, I've lost sight of the Imperial Death Star. Yesterday it bombed the daylights out of Johnston Island (standing off just one hex to the west); today it disappeared. My guess is that it disappeared west to refuel, but I worry that it may be trying to circle around Hawaii to mess with my shipping lanes. I am starting to think that he doesn't want to eat another big chunk of flak from Pearl Harbor. In any case, I'd like to get some supply back into Johnston so I can restore air search there. For now, I've got PBYs operating out of Midway, Pearl Harbor, Canton, Palmyra, Pago Pago, and Hudsons flying air search at Suva.

He took Miri and Brunei today, and I'm going to reward him by bombing the oil at Miri today. At least, my B-17s out of Balikpapan are going to try. He's also got a transport TF moving slowly toward Kuching; I've assembled torpedo bombers there for another welcome party.

He caught a tanker trying to bring oil into Singapore to support supply production there. He thinks I was evacuating fuel; nope, trying to make supply. Scratch one tanker.

The most amusing development of the day was this heroic Surface Combat at Jolo:

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 39,59

Japanese Ships
DD Nenohi
DD Hatsushima, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Fubuki, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Isonami, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
PT PT-31
PT PT-32
PT PT-33
PT PT-34
PT PT-35, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT PT-41

[Grotius]

16 December 1941: A relatively quiet day today. I bombed Miri's oil centers but only damaged a couple. Also, his paratroopers have taken Victoria Point and Tavoy, and I see the enemy approaching Moulmein.

I again failed to spot KB, which makes me nervous. I'm going to allow a couple transport TFs to try to dock at Pearl Harbor; we'll see if they run into any aircraft carriers. I'm running small ASW TFs around Hawaii to test the waters; all is quiet. More likely KB is heading toward Kwajelein to refuel, but it might have headed southeast to hunt my shipping, or might be circling around the north with the same idea. How will I ever fight that thing?

[Grotius]

17 December 1941: The quietest day yet. Still no sign of KB; I hope it's retiring to Japan and the DEI and not prowling SE or NE to plague my shipping to/from Hawaii. My own CVs remain carefully hidden. I hope at least to make it to 1942 with all my CVs intact. [:'(]

He has, however, started his move down the Malaya peninsula. At last I have to order most troops south of Kuala Lumpur to avoid being cut off by his RR-bound force emanating from Khota Baru.

Similarly in the Philippines, I managed to beat back one attack at Teguegaro, but I'm in danger of being cut off by his troops entering Lingayen, so again I'm pulling back toward Bataan/Clark. I'm still not sure how much to try to defend here. I'd say bag Bataan and Clark, except that Bataan gets two loads of reinforcements, one arriving in five days, the other in 17. Are those worth dividing my forces for?

Things in China look a bit brighter. He's withdrawn his force that was approaching Sian because he saw that I was able to reinforce the city quickly. He is increasing his force on the outskirts of Yenen, but my recon still doesn't spot that many troops there. Also, I've been massing troops NW of Ichang to scare him there, and to take pressure off Yenen. Actually, I'm more interested in attacking his two divisions parked two hexes east of Changsha, and I've been trying to disguise my movements to that end...

[Grotius]

18 December 1941: I had left a small delaying force southwest of Kota Bharu, in the mountains; I intended to move out the moment he made his move. One of the two units did get out, but the other was forced to retreat. (Remember, on this version of Andrew's map, there's a RR that runs straight from Kota Bharu to Singapore.) I'll try to make a stand in a woods hex a couple of hexes southwest, to buy time for the rest of my troops to retreat to Singapore. But if I can't do that, worst case I'll leave behind one brigade (now heading south from Taiping) and one or two base force units. Plus the brigade in Kuantan: though it's been trying to move since game start, it's only halfway to the railroad, and it's almost certain to be cut off.

I don't see how I can hold Singapore past early January at this rate. If you gave me the historical mid-February fall date, I'd snap it up.

In China, amusing cat-and-mouse around Ichang. Now he's withdrawing back toward the RR to Changsha. I'll move some troops forward to retake the city, and the rest back to defend Changsha again.

He bombarded Kuching, to almost no effect. Invasion force incoming. Torpedo bombers will greet it.

I have a question about the Phillippines, where my delaying tactics have been somewhat more successful than in Malaya. I know it's a bad idea to split forces among Bataan-Clark-Manila. Ideally I'd like to make my stand at Manila. But Bataan gets two sets of reinforcements that would be handy. I'll keep Bataan long enough for the first set of reinforcements, due in 4 days; but I'm not sure about the second, due in two weeks. Here's my question: If Bataan falls first, those PA Army reinforcements never appear? Are they reason enough to maintain a garrison in Bataan rather than evacuating to Manila?

[Grotius]

19 December 1941: Landings at Kuching today, and my torpedo bombers at the closest base didn't fly, probably because they're low on morale. I've added some better fighters to encourage them to go this turn. The base is already overstacked. Anyway, the upshot is that my torpedo bombers have flown only once or twice, and they haven't hit anything. The only good news is that I haven't lost many, so they'll be available for the defense of Java.

Japan took San Marcellino today, and so he's approaching the Clark-Bataan line. He's also moved into Naga; I will try to stand and fight. We'll see what happens. I just hope he doesn't retreat me. I've got woods, size 3 forts, troops prepped for Naga, and he seems only to have moved in one division. Meanwhile, reinforcements arrive in Bataan in two days, and another batch in 10 days. I still wish I knew what would happen to that second batch of reinforcements if I pull back to Clark/Manila before the 10th day.

Japan continues to roll forward in Malaya, capturing Alor Star and moving south on the parallel railroad track to the east. I'm sure he'll be in Singapore before the month is over. I predict it will fall in early January. Here's a look.

[Grotius]

20 December 1941: A valiant Allied sub commander put one torpedo in the BB Haruna off Kuching today. The sub was depth-charged, though, and may or may not make it back to port. My torpedo bombers again refused to fly, but at least we are still capable of delivering torpedoes underwater.

We also had an amusing PT-boat face-off near Jolo, followed by a DD vs PT battle. Here are the earth-shaking results:

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 39,59

Japanese Ships
PT Gyoraitei #3
PT Gyoraitei #4, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
PT Gyoraitei #5
PT Gyoraitei #6, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
PT PT-32, Shell hits 2

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 39,59

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuharu
DD Wakaba
DD Shirayuki

Allied Ships
PT PT-32, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
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My first wave of reinforcements have safely arrived at Bataan. Here's hoping my second, due in another ten days, will also arrive. Meanwhile, he bombarded me at Naga; no attack yet. I'm holding my ground for now. We fight! Here's a look at the overall situation in the Philippines.

[Grotius]

21 December 1941: I launched my most successful air raid of the war thus far, against Kuching. Dozens of bombers from Singapore, Batavia and Balikpapan caught 12 Nells on the ground there and left the place with about 50% runway damage. Some of that was probably from his naval bombardment before he took the base.

In China, I see about a dozen units east and southeast of Changsha, but also 9 or 10 in the Yenan area. Has he split his forces? I hope so. I'm pleasantly surprised that as of December 22, I still hold both Yenan and Changsha. I've got about 18 corps in or around Changsha, and 8 or 9 around Yenan.

In the Phillipines, he has been besieging Naga for the past two days, and I've been pleased that my troops have held the base and inflicted heavy casualties on him. But he's reduced the fort to zero, and it's time to get out. They started moving yesterday, so I hope and expect them to be out of the place tomorrow.

In Malaya, I'm still holding to my prediction that Singapore will hold in early January, but I'm pleasantly surprised that I've delayed him long enough to get all of my troops out of the north. Delay, delay, delay has been the watchword. My objective is to keep him out of Singapore proper until the first week of January; perhaps I can slow him at Johore for a few days. The ultimate outcome, however, is not in doubt. Here's a look.