WPO Beta AAR: Sprior(IJ) vs Belphegor(Allies) Campaign 1.

[Belphegor]

The Dutch follow through with their promise to assist in the naval defence of Mindanao driving the IJN invasion force away from Davao in a fierce battle. Gunnery from the IJN CLs escorting was fierce and accurate, but unfortunately for the Japanese, too light to penetrate the BB armour. For all the shell hits they took

Allied Ships
BB De Ruyter, Shell hits 16
BB Hertog Hendrik, Shell hits 29
BB De Zeven Provincien, Shell hits 12

This is the resulting damage. I think they'll stick around another turn or so.

[Belphegor]

DDs escorting a torpedo victim back to Shanghai happen across some IJN minelayers near the harbour entrance ... how fortunate for me.

[sprior]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/10/22

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TF 9 troops unloading over beach at Cotabato, 41,60


Japanese ground losses:
384 casualties reported

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TF 11 encounters mine field at Singapore (23,50)

Japanese Ships
DD Ayanami
DD Isonami
DD Kikuzuki
DD Hayate

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ASW attack at 53,40

Japanese Ships
SS No. 19

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Davao at 41,61

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 36, and is sunk
DD Matsu, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
AP Hakusan Maru
AP Hakusika Maru
AP Hakutetsu Maru #13
AP Hakuyo Maru
AK Hamburg Maru
AP Hanakawa Maru
AK Hankow Maru
AP Haruna Maru
AP Hasuna Maru
AK Havre Maru
AP Hawaii Maru
AP Hayo Maru
AP Heian Maru
AP Heiku Maru
AK Heimei Maru
AP Heito Maru
AP Heiwa Maru
AP Heiyo Maru
AP Hie Maru
AP Higashiyama Maru
AP Hikade Maru

Allied Ships
BB De Ruyter, Shell hits 1
BB Hertog Hendrik
BB De Zeven Provincien, Shell hits 34, on fire
DE Z2
DE Z3
DE Z4

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Night Time Surface Combat at 42,62

Japanese Ships
AP Hakusan Maru
AP Hakusika Maru
AP Hakutetsu Maru #13
AP Hakuyo Maru
AK Hamburg Maru
AP Hanakawa Maru
AK Hankow Maru
AP Haruna Maru
AP Hasuna Maru
AK Havre Maru
AP Hawaii Maru
AP Hayo Maru
AP Heian Maru
AP Heiku Maru
AK Heimei Maru
AP Heito Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Heiwa Maru
AP Heiyo Maru
AP Hie Maru
AP Higashiyama Maru
AP Hikade Maru

Allied Ships
DE Z1, Shell hits 32, on fire, heavy damage

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Singapore at 23,50

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Shell hits 1
BB Hyuga
BB Fuso, Shell hits 2
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1
BB Settsu
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Minazuki
DD Hayate, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kikuzuki
DD Urunami
DD Isonami, Shell hits 1
DD Ayanami, Shell hits 4, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Weymouth
CL Yarmouth, Shell hits 14, on fire, heavy damage
DD Douglas
DD Rapid, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
DD Sabrina
DD Truculent
DD Tyrant
DD Raider, Shell hits 1
DD Tarpon, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
DD Tintagel
DD Tribune, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Trinidad, Shell hits 11, on fire
DD Trojan, Shell hits 1
DD Truant, Shell hits 1

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Night Time Surface Combat at 53,40

Japanese Ships
ML Kuroshima Maru, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Chandler
DD Borie
DD John D. Edwards

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Naval bombardment of Singapore, at 23,50 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

163 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Ayanami, Shell hits 23, on fire, heavy damage
DD Isonami
DD Urunami, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kikuzuki
DD Minazuki, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
BB Settsu, Shell hits 15, on fire
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 5
BB Fuso
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 8
BB Ise, Shell hits 2


Allied ground losses:
352 casualties reported
Guns lost 12

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TF 9 troops unloading over beach at Cotabato, 41,60


Japanese ground losses:
349 casualties reported

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Sub attack near Vigan at 44,49

Japanese Ships
BB Hizen, Torpedo hits 1

Allied Ships
SS S-15


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Ground combat at San Marcelino

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6106 troops, 51 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 11802 troops, 147 guns, 0 vehicles



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Ground combat at Lingayen

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8523 troops, 50 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 11452 troops, 71 guns, 46 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
2 casualties reported

[Belphegor]

Oh Dark Day! 2 DD squadrons attacked at Singapore by a roving IJN Battlefleet. Allies get to see the other side of the big gun battle. I didn't see them coming; I have no idea where they've gone. I know my coastal defences worked them over though, as 3 IJN DDs went down to those guns. The Audacity! (hey, that's a great name for a ship... write that down Sir Gerald...) The British DDs gave a good account of themselves, running in a classic night torpedo attack... there were torpedos everywhere! Unfortunately the Japanese BBs were somewhere else, none found their target.

American subs score a hit on a Japanese BB and the Dutch come out for another round. It's been 10 full days of surface combat. I know he's hurt, hopefully as much as I am. Unfortunately he is much closer to reinforcements than I am. And where did that Wake invasion fleet go?

[sprior]

Yeah, those RN DDs were a big surprise to me!

[Belphegor]

They had just arrived that day in Singapore. I brought them in for convoy escorts, and hadn't even had a chance to dock them yet.

[sprior]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/11/22

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Sub attack at 46,48

Japanese Ships
DD Isokaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Amatsukaze

Allied Ships
SS S-7

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Sub attack at 46,47

Japanese Ships
BB Suwo
DD Hamakaze
DD Isokaze
DD Amatsukaze

Allied Ships
SS S-6

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Sub attack at 46,47

Japanese Ships
BB Mishishima, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hamakaze
DD Isokaze
DD Amatsukaze

Allied Ships
SS S-6


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Ground combat at San Marcelino

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6095 troops, 51 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 11963 troops, 146 guns, 0 vehicles



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Ground combat at Lingayen

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8534 troops, 50 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 11530 troops, 72 guns, 47 vehicles


A relatively quiet turn.

This is what a pre-dreadnought looks like after 3 torpedo hits:

[Belphegor]

Very quiet turn indeed, compared to the last week or so.

MY view of the sub attack. [8D]

To date Warships Sunk:

IJN Losses: 1CA, 3CL, 19DDs, 7 other vessels
Allied Losses: 2CL, 5DD, 4PG, 1DE

That is not looking at the damage to French, American, British and Dutch ships still floating.

The plan for the next little while is the same. Attrition, harassment, and the building up and extending of my bases towards the PI and Japan.

[sprior]

The plan for the next little while is the same. Attrition, harassment, and the building up and extending of my bases towards the PI and Japan.

Do I have a plan? Yes, contrary to public perception, I do!

To stymie a US come-back the Wake-Midway line has to be secured, or at least defended strongly enough to make the US build-up very strong forces to re-capture them.

In the South New Britain should be secured as a shield against the ANZAC forces.

To the South-West Hong Kong and Brunei have to be secured to interdict the RNs approach. Have a look here for a good idea of the RNs goals in a war against Japan.

[sprior]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/12/22

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Sub attack near Lingayen at 44,50

Japanese Ships
AP Gokoku Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS S-3

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TF 3 troops unloading over beach at Ormoc, 43,57


Japanese ground losses:
279 casualties reported

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Sub attack at 48,46

Japanese Ships
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
SS S-8


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Ground combat at San Marcelino

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12050 troops, 147 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 6091 troops, 50 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)


Japanese ground losses:
539 casualties reported
Guns lost 22

Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at San Marcelino

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6048 troops, 49 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 11072 troops, 107 guns, 0 vehicles



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Ground combat at Lingayen

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8542 troops, 52 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 22246 troops, 104 guns, 47 vehicles

[Belphegor]

Naval fights are winding down. Most of my ships need repairs. Subs are still getting a few hits. I am looking forward to getting the main American fleet in action; and for the British BCs to arrive.

[sprior]

ORIGINAL: Belphegor

Naval fights are winding down. Most of my ships need repairs. Subs are still getting a few hits. I am looking forward to getting the main American fleet in action; and for the British BCs to arrive.

Me too! Must sink Battle Cruisers...

[sprior]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/13/22


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Ground combat at Lingayen

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22253 troops, 104 guns, 46 vehicles

Defending force 8530 troops, 52 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
722 casualties reported
Guns lost 13

Allied ground losses:
133 casualties reported
Guns lost 9


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Ground combat at Cotabato

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14836 troops, 105 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 73 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Cotabato base !!!



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Ground combat at Ormoc

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1255 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 38 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Ormoc base !!!



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Ground combat at San Marcelino

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6090 troops, 49 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 11071 troops, 110 guns, 0 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at Lingayen

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8176 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 23411 troops, 94 guns, 46 vehicles



First phase of invasions is over. On to phase 2... Meanwhile slugfest continues in PI.

[Belphegor]

Finally getting some transports moving, and supply is starting to shape up. I've withdrawn all my forces from their defeats in the north and am preparing Clark Field for the inevitable attack. Lingayan and San Marcelino are holding, but not by much.

A quick peek at upcoming air reinforcements. I"m going to have to get a little closer to make these guys effective. That should give them enough time to learn about which way to face in the cockpit.

[sprior]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/14/22


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Ground combat at Lingayen

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21088 troops, 83 guns, 49 vehicles

Defending force 8190 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
324 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Allied ground losses:
77 casualties reported
Guns lost 4


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Ground combat at Luda

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2382 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Luda base !!!



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Ground combat at San Marcelino

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6100 troops, 50 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 11131 troops, 109 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
2 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Lingayen

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7960 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 22956 troops, 81 guns, 49 vehicles


A quiet turn...

[Belphegor]

The Chinese area has been quiet since the game started, but now I see some movement. I don't have the supply to support large operations in the area. My focus will be to hold the coastal bases to harass his shipping.

[sprior]

Unlike WiTP there is very little incentive for the Japanese player to move into the interior. Shanghai is worth the highest number of VPs - 600. Chungking, a massive 3600 in WiTP, is worth about 8 in this game. All the VPs are in the PI and places of real interest...

[sprior]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/15/22

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TF 3 troops unloading over beach at Guiuan, 45,58


Japanese ground losses:
203 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Lingayen

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23083 troops, 85 guns, 49 vehicles

Defending force 7995 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
678 casualties reported
Guns lost 14

Allied ground losses:
231 casualties reported
Guns lost 5


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Ground combat at San Marcelino

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6105 troops, 49 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 11243 troops, 108 guns, 0 vehicles



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Ground combat at Lingayen

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7661 troops, 28 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 22072 troops, 65 guns, 48 vehicles


The PI grind continues...

Japanese naval reinforcments for the next 6 months look like this (note only combat usnits are shown, there are transports/auxiliaries too but I filtered them out):

[janushm]

nice to see the dutch fleet under my command is doing fine

[Belphegor]

It certainly is... and I'll be asking great things of you in the next few weeks. Hope you are up to it!