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Fortress Bataan, it just rolls off the tongue. My opinion is that with your garrison and the fortification level it will be hard for the Japanesse to take it by assault. BUT THEY HAVE NOTHING BUT TIME. I'd suggest attempting to evacuate those units that have little combat value. They eat supply, could count as losses if Bataan falls and don't contribute much.

If they are lost during the evacuation, well the prognosis for Bataan is not all that positive, is it?

Regards

At this point in time I can't evacuate anybody - I'll explain in detail why when I post the next turn. Plus, frankly, I don't want to evacuate. Who am I going to send home? Engineers, who are there to repair forts after the first Japanese assault takes it from 6 to 0? Filipino infantry, who is bound to soak most of the damage? If anything, I am truly tempted to send more troops in - but that might come at too high of a price ticket attached to it.

Nothing happens this turn.

Bataan is as reinforced as it can possibly be. Parts of one base force are sunk; 2 support squads are still on Cebu.

And a good third of the Philippine Reserve division still en route.

With strengthening Japanese blockade of Bataan and Manila, the task force is rerouted to Taytay to come in to Bataan from the West. And - why not - a group of destroyers is dispatched to rendevouz with it.

And come nightfall all hell breaks loose.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/21/22

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Night Time Surface Combat at 42,52

Japanese Ships
CA Kasuga, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Nisshin, Shell hits 1
CA Adzuma, Shell hits 4
CA Aso, Shell hits 2
CA Idzumo, Shell hits 1
DD Momo
DD Kashi
DD Yanagi

Allied Ships
DD Rathburne
DD Dorsey
DD Southard, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Hovey
DD Long, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
DD Alden, Shell hits 1
DD Smith Thompson, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Barker
DD Zane
DD Pruitt
DD William B. Preston

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Night Time Surface Combat at 42,52

Japanese Ships
CA Kasuga, Shell hits 31, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Nisshin
CA Adzuma
CA Aso
CA Idzumo
DD Momo, Shell hits 1
DD Kashi
DD Yanagi

Allied Ships
DD Rathburne
DD Dorsey, Shell hits 1
DD Hovey
DD Long, and is sunk
DD Alden, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Smith Thompson, on fire
DD Barker
DD Zane, Shell hits 1
DD Pruitt
DD William B. Preston

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Night Time Surface Combat at 42,52

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 25, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Matsu, Shell hits 3
DD Kashiwa, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Rathburne, Shell hits 1
DD Dorsey
DD Hovey, Shell hits 1
DD Alden, on fire
DD Smith Thompson, on fire
DD Barker
DD Zane
DD Pruitt, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD William B. Preston

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Sub attack near Bataan at 42,51

Japanese Ships
SS No. 43

Allied Ships
DD Pruitt, on fire

-------

2 DDs sank.
Two at 39 and 42 damage and in Bataan.
One more at 24 and still with the main group by Taytay.

So this is what Bataan's harbor looks like right now.

Japanese are already on the islands; there is no stopping that. That's why my SSs are en route to Singapore and other neutral points to sink some enemy cargo.

So Filipino Navy is as good as dead anyway.

So why not go out with a blast?

Anything that can move is en route to 40,51 to provide the maximum protection possible for the last troop transport in: 4 DD 3 PG 4 MSW 4 AK from Bataan, 2 DM from near Manila - they are not going after the Cebu squads anymore, 4 AK from Taytay, and 8 DD from near that.

May Neptune have mercy on those souls.

(I meant the Japanese ones ^_^)

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/22/22

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Sub attack near Kwajalein at 79,79

Japanese Ships
ML Ninoshima Maru

Allied Ships
SS R-19

This is not good - I expected Japanese to mine Eniwetok only. This means my troops will have to establish a temporary base before the main invasion, such as Wotje, to allow short-range MSWs to accomplish more.

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Sub attack at 41,51

Japanese Ships
SS No. 42

Allied Ships
AK Princess of Negros
MSW Avocet
MSW Heron
MSW Bittern
MSW Finch

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Sub attack near Kwajalein at 79,79

Japanese Ships
ML Katsuriki, Torpedo hits 2

Allied Ships
SS R-19

One down =)

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/23/22

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Sub attack at 41,51

Japanese Ships
SS No. 42

Allied Ships
AK Palawan, Torpedo hits 1
DM Hart
DM Rizal
PG Sacramento
MSW Avocet
MSW Heron
MSW Bittern
MSW Finch
DD Rathburne
DD Zane


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

This is a major success for Allied fleet - it is able to group at 40,51 and then 30-some ships charge east into Bataan... 6 casualties of more than a thousand troops on board? It's nothing. So at this point the only troops from PI that did not make it to Bataan are:
- 6 dead from PI reserves (sank)
- 166 dead from Naga base (sank)
- 20 deserters from Cebu base (one day there were 2 disabled supports... then one... then none... they just vanished!)


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Sub attack at 41,51

Japanese Ships
SS No. 42

Allied Ships
AK Corregidor
DM Hart
DM Rizal
DD Barker
DD Zane
DD Hovey
MSW Avocet
MSW Heron
MSW Bittern
MSW Finch

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Sub attack near Bataan at 42,51

Japanese Ships
SS No. 43, hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
AK Sagoland
DM Hart

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/24/22

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Sub attack at 32,54

Japanese Ships
AK Awazisan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-8

PI subs are lining up outside of Singapore and the other two ports. Let's see what happens.

In the meantime everything I own is being concentrated in PH and objectives are being distributed...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/25/22

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Sub attack near Eniwetok at 76,74

Japanese Ships
ML Ninoshima Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS R-18

This is the ML we missed a day earlier. So now two Japanese MLs have to crawl back home with a couple of torpedo holes... But can it be that I am catching Kwajalein-bound ones and missing Eniwetok-bound ships?

Since my luck with connecting to the forums has not been good recently, I thought I'd upload some battle maps to keep everyone entertained if I am offline for the next couple of days again

There are 4 major fronts in this campaign. 1 - South China Sea (SCS); 2 - PI; 3 - Palau - Guam - Truk - Marshalls (PTM); 4 - PH.

SCS

As you can see, I still have all 11 subs. One of them has recovered from a major flooding about 2 weeks ago which goes to say: you really can't sink a submarine.

10 are already placed as intended; the last one still underway. They are to catch Japanese shipping outbound of these 3 ports.

PI

Japanese are still closing in, concentrating at Clark Field. My intel is counting as many as 18 units in the area; but I don't know which ones they are, and the intel from previous battles such as capture of Manila is outdated. I am assuming 5-6 divisions with Wake and Guam ones on the way to reinforce, total being 175,000 men?

In the meantime, this is my roster:

My longer-range subs are making runs for Eniwetok and Kwajalein out of PH. Only 2 are still monitoring Midway and Wake.

My shorter-range subs are going from PH to Baker to Jaluit - this way I am covering all 3 ports size 2 and up in the Marshalls. Baker island is a gamble; short-range subs, AS MLE AD TK. I expect Japanese not to notice this tiny American base right next to the Marshalls.

My BB fleet is on the way to park between Kwajalein and Eniwetok, helping to intercept those pesky MLs.

I am giving up on Eniwetok; but I can minimize damage taken when assaulting Kwajalein. That is why 2nd Marine Bde transported by DDs will take Wotje - a level 1 port very unlikely to be mined by the Japanese - which will in turn host MSWs to clean out Kwajalein.

No actions.

Japanese are starting to bypass Bataan moving south - I guess they chose to starve the garrison rather than fight it. No problem; I got 86,000 supply on the ground and 1,700 still on AKs in the harbor. And at least 10,000 scattered across islands nearby. And with no bombardments and assaults...

I am just surprised that Legaspi minefield did not catch any ships. I should have used the 80 mines in Lingayen.

No major actions, only a naval bombardment of Davao. Japanese are training their crews - the base is long empty.

PH is at port level 3.97. My goal is to hit 9 this year so I don't have to reload torpedoes at West Coast.

The victory points breakdown to date:

Calm, peaceful.

Relatively.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/28/22

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TF 37 troops unloading over beach at San Jose, 41,53


Japanese ground losses:
272 casualties reported

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TF 37 troops unloading over beach at San Jose, 41,53


Japanese ground losses:
182 casualties reported

A potential site for a major airfield?

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/29/22

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TF 37 troops unloading over beach at San Jose, 41,53


Japanese ground losses:
133 casualties reported

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TF 37 troops unloading over beach at San Jose, 41,53


Japanese ground losses:
44 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Naga

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7016 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese assault odds: 144 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Naga base !!!

They are spreading all over Luzon - but they are ignoring Bataan completely. I'm sure my troops don't mind. I do, though - that means Japanese divisions are entrenching rather than taking casualties.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/30/22

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TF 37 troops unloading over beach at San Jose, 41,53



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Ground combat at San Jose

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1782 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 47 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE San Jose base !!!

It feels like he wanted me to thwart San Jose attack - instead 8 of my DDs charged west to prey on some of Japanese shipping... didn't happen. At this point in time I know the convoys are hugging shorelines; I am moving my SS to account for that. It's quite a pity my surface ships didn't catch anything - even enemy warships just off Bataan. He removed the blockade?

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/01/22

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Sub attack near Singapore at 23,50

Japanese Ships
AK Atutasan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS S-3

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Sub attack at 108,68

Japanese Ships
SS U-46 (O2)

Allied Ships
BB Connecticut, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

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ASW attack at 108,68

Japanese Ships
SS U-46 (O2)

The day is "made" for Americans when BB Connecticut eats a torpedo. 3 hexes away from PH. Did it come from Wake?

Forget the daring plans to reinforce Bataan using DDs.

Delay the invasion ideas of Wotje.

It's time to take things slower.

Patrol Cutters are ordered in a line from Frigate Shoals and to the southwest, 1 per hex; 3 more are sent to Baker. (Cutters are a class introduced in this scenario; think of a typical US DD with fewer teeth) 18 DDs are en route to Johnson Island; this is going to be a base now; eventually my float planes will arrive there.

In the meantime 25 Japanese units are spotted on Clark Field. Let the invasion of Bataan begin?

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/02/22

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Sub attack near Singapore at 23,50

Japanese Ships
AK Borneo Maru, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
SS S-3

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ASW attack near Niihau at 110,68

Japanese Ships
SS U-46 (O2)

Allied Ships
PC Eagle 1

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Ground combat at Legaspi

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7072 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 74 to 1 (fort level 6)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Legaspi base !!!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/03/22

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Sub attack near Bataan at 42,51

Japanese Ships
SS No. 40

Allied Ships
DD Barker

Connecticut makes it to PH but keeps taking on damage. 33... 41... I guess this settles the concept of lonesome rangers - groups of BBs sailing into the unknown by themselves. I guess it's time to pull back the other 9 from Kwajalein?

In the meantime the offending submarine makes it to PH as well. You'd think that among 81 aircraft and 15 MSW in ASW role someone would have scored a hit last turn...

July 3rd.

Nothing major.

July 4th.

SS-17 torpedoes TK Toei Maru east of Singapore.

Several DDs hit SS UB-125 (O6) at Johnston island - the sub is speeding home? - avenging Connecticut, whose condition is stable, but it won't see action until August.

25 Japanese units arrive in Bataan.

July 5th.

SS-16 torpedoes TK Tennan Maru at Singapore.

SS-6 gets hit at Kwajalein - minor damage.

The first assault of Bataan takes place.

Naval bombardment of Bataan, at 42,51

Allied Ships
BB Monadnock

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported

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Ground combat at Bataan

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 184422 troops, 930 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 72488 troops, 501 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 6

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 6)

Japanese ground losses:
7264 casualties reported
Guns lost 142

Allied ground losses:
1035 casualties reported
Guns lost 26

-------

Ground combat at Bataan

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49563 troops, 440 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 185852 troops, 690 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported

930 Japanese guns - 142 lost - 690 still able to reciprocate allied bombardment = 98 Japanese guns are disabled? Ouch.

I don't know whether to consider the situation to be grim or not. On one side, Japanese are on track to bombard my garrison into bits and pieces. On another, this is pretty much the best they got. Sure, there are a couple more artillery regiments back home... but I don't see many more troops arriving. And if I could easily hold these folks off while there were 7000 more of them...

Sorry I couldn't post earlier, for some reason forums don't connect for me as often

The game is over - it turns out that Bataan defenses were no match for the whole IJA... so further adjustments were required to the scenario. I'll be back with another AAR once everyone on the testing crew is happy with the final product.

Once again, thanks to Joe (Jwilkerson) for the amazing scenario =)