ALLIED ONLY: aztez (A) vs erstad (J) ...2nd ROUND

[Smeulders]

Any ideas as to what the convoy was doing, carrying ? It would have been great if you had caught a Base Force or something similar, though even if it were only resources your opponent won't be pleased by the little cruise of DD scout.

[Zebedee]

Lovely work by the old Scout ably commanded by Hedworth Lambton. Bravo on seeing your bravery rewarded.

[aztez]

traskott: Agreed! I have an feeling that she might in trouble since I noticed 6 enemy destroyers lurking 80 miles east of her.

We shall see when next turn arrives in the inbox.

Smeulders: No idea. The intel screen didn't reveal anything useful. Neither did the combat report txt file.

It might have been an base force but by looking at the TF setup it was most likely just supplies heading towards Miri.

Zebedee: Yeah. That is the last destroyer left there so an brave move indeed. The rest of destroyers have been sunk much earlier.

Add those mine hits and it was an good turn. Now, I don't even want to know whether these reports were FOW [:D]

[jrlans]

I actualy wouldnt be too woried about KB in SoPAC for at least another 10 to 20 days my guess is dave is hurting for fuel in Truk, Rabaul and i doubt he has any significat fuel suppiles in Noumea. With the new out of fuel penalties no player is going to risk any significant assets running out of fuel or being traped in port till they can get fuel there I wouldnt worry. Also if i had to venture a guess as to where KB will show up next my guess would be parked off Java to prep for that invasion

[aztez]

jrlans: Yeah. I think you are correct. There is little to gain in terms operating full KB in southern pacific so the focus must now shift towards ABDA command area. There are indications to that affect already in motion.

I decieded post an overview map which kind of explains a lot regarding this situation.

Orange arrow = Most likely KB heading
Blue arrow = Possible KB heading
Red arrow = Least likely KB heading

I think he wants to sail undetected so common sense would say that he is going via Ambona towards Balikpapan or maybe sail past Kendari.

At the moment he is landing troops at Kendari so the main point is to "FOW" my patrol aircraft so he could sneak into near Java undetected. He will achieve this goal within next few days. Allied signit indicates heavy units moving towards Menado too. I guess this is some sort of an supply hub before jump towards Java.

The "blue arrow" route is likely too and I think we see some carriers here too since it seems he has split them up a bit and I doubt they are going to merge with the main body, This is possible because the early blows to the US carriers.

The "red arrow" route is very unlikely unless he thinks he is going to invade NZ which I see little out of the reach and he really doesn't achieve anything by doing so.

[aztez]

Borneo (january 12th and 13th 1942)


Ok. We were correct by assuming Miri was used to replenish his forces and IJN made slight and accurate adjustments to their tactics.

Instead of landing again at Singakawang he landed just 40 miles east of it. I think he already landed enough troops to capture the base within next turn.

Now he will just move land and seize Singakawang and once he has I think we shall see quite a few fighters and bombers flown into base immediately.

With that aircover he can bring in reinforcements and march into Kuching too.

When that these bases are captured I expect immediate landings to be at Palempang and few surrounding bases there.

This is why he doesn't need KB here at the moment so he is most likely to strike againts Soerebaja and support landings in Balikpapan area.

As jrlans visioned I think we will see these developments within 2-3 weeks time. At the latest early february 1942.

I could try to intercept these landings near Kuching. However if you look at the situation (which is somewhat messy due a lot development) to me at least this 99% certain a trap. He has enough troops to seize the base at "middle". His carrier aircraft will be outside our surface combat TF reach and with no doubt in naval strike orders. Same goes for Nells¨in Miri and malaya peninsula.

So this time around we shall not intervene taking the above conclusions into consideration.

[aztez]

Aircraft replacement pools (January 14th 1942)

I divided these into two pics. The pic A shows fighters available in pools at the moment.

Allies really aren't recieving much in terms of replacement aircraft.

It seems that I have to get along with P39D Aircobra and P40E warhawks for time being. The Hellcat production doesn't become viable option until spring of 1943.

We are seriously lacking decent fighter power for long period of time. I guess I should start "saving" my fighters already but that will speed up the enemy advance.

The pic B shows all sort of bombers available in pools. Notice the even more moderate replacement rates here. There will not be too much coming here either for time being.

I didn't include the soviet replacements here due to the fact that I doubt Dave is foolish enough to assault there and provoke war.

I do hope that he is suffering for some sort of an shortage in these areas. It might not be true though since PDU was/is turned ON, To be honest I would have been much better off leaving this option OFF.

[aztez]

...and the pic B.

[Sardaukar]

Just remember that in AE, you can downgrade air units with earlier aircraft (historical) and Withdraw those air units marked with # to pool (gaining pilots, planes and political points..up to 14 days delay). This will help a lot with P-40Es. 

[jrlans]

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

Just remember that in AE, you can downgrade air units with earlier aircraft (historical) and Withdraw those air units marked with # to pool (gaining pilots, planes and political points..up to 14 days delay). This will help a lot with P-40Es. 

I use my west coast air groups prety much exclusivly for pilot training ever unit on the west coast is set to some form of trainng so that when they withdraw they throw trained (50,60xp) pilots back into my reserve pool sence the pilots you pull from directly out of training are prety awfull.

[seydlitz_slith]

I would consider that he may move the KB along the path of your orange arrow, but instead move it on the south coast of Java, not along the north coast. This would do several things:
1. Give him sea room to retreat if he is surprised by something unexpected.
2. Avoids the submarines and potential PT boat or surface combat TF that you could have waiting in the Java Sea.
3. Good chance that you wouldn't even have search arcs on the south side of Java which would help him maintain surprise.
4. Enables him to engage your obsolete Dutch aircraft on his terms. If spotted, only the Java Based planes would attack him and the zeroes of the KB would take care of that.
5. He would be in a good position to strike merchant ships fleeing to Australia and also surface ships in the Java Sea.

Just trying to look at all of the options that you might want to consider. I normally like sea room when using carriers especially given the intercept capabilities now in the game, and that means south of Java.

[aztez]

We did apply the public beta patch. However the turn I recieved was still showing up as an date of 14th of january when it should have been 16th. So, either Dave send me the wrong files or did the wrong turn. I sent in an inquiry. If I recieve the turn soon I have time to do it but if not than next update will be tomorrow night.

This is because I have my daughters with me this weekend and I'am going enjoy every minute of this.

Sardaukar: Yeah. I will check what is available once the next turn arrives. Definately need to do some downgrading but there really is not much yet in pools.

That withdrawal of aircraft is quite intresting. Some squadrons do give you those PP than again some of them don't. I think it is somehow hard coded into the AE. Also, some withdrawals don't give pilots or anything. Go figure but I guess this is intended.

jrlans: Experience levels are awful that kind of setup is what I have in mind too. Allthough a lot of squadrons are set on ASW effort and some squadrons move into frontlines temporarily.

seydlitz: That is an real possibility and not much I could in that scenario either. Allthough only downside I see is that his tankers/replenish ships would be somewhat vulnerable to attack since these ships must be lacking behind. If Koepang falls or is invaded that this route seems 100% certain to me.

Hmmm.. he could actually blockade the whole Java area and bottleneck my surface fleet there and yes ABDA bombers lack seriously in terms of range. I think I will set 2 squadrons of B17's into naval search to gain more intel. Thanfully I do have Koepang too which is nice recon place to have.

I must say that your points/remarks kind of fit into Dave's playing style. Not much risks and this move gains vital advatanges. Thankfully ABDA reinforcements in terms of bombers and fighters are clear of danger now.

The forthcoming month is going to be intresting in many ways.

[Sardaukar]

B-17 is really nice search plane. I used them for that in my game almost exclusively during first months. And you get nice bomb hits to merchants and even warships now and then. 

[aztez]

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

B-17 is really nice search plane. I used them for that in my game almost exclusively during first months. And you get nice bomb hits to merchants and even warships now and then. 

This is now done. Lets hope they can gather intel to us. With the range of 22 hexes one can always hope for early warnings! [:)]

[aztez]

Borneo (january 14th and 15th 1942)

Things are developing faster than expected here.

Firstly as you can see it was definately an trap planned at Singkawang. The invasion TF retreat towards Miri (Blue arrow) but the carrier TF remained in the area. So, it was definately good decision not to engage here.

There were however landings at Jesselton and Tawau. These bases are overrun quickly and I would assume the vigorous building up airfields starts.

As you can see an carrier supported invasion is about to begin againts Tarakan. This was unexpected since it happened so soon.

This invasion operation is definately well planned. Dave has lba support from Davao, Miri and Menado for this operation. Add around 50 carrier based ac's plus couple surface combat TF's and you can all put congratulete him. Damn, I was hoping for an mistake of some sort. By looking at the map it ain't happening at least not now.

Personally I think that Japanese are able to land faster than in the old witp. No I do not mean unloading routines BUT I base this on the fact that troops do not need as many ships to board.

[aztez]

Situation at Clark Field (january 14th 1942)

Hmmm. I seem to be missing something here or again I might have misunderstood some game mechanic rules.

I have +25 000 supplies stockpiled here but take a look at one of the ground combat units. Notice the low amount of supplies given to these soldiers.

Dave has bombed the airfields here daily. So, the airfield is +95% damaged. Is this eating up my ground unit supply levels or...? I don't have any need to repair the airfield here since I have withdrawn my key ac units here days ago.

Eventhough I do not have much left at Bataan the main focus for the bombings were there! I do not know what is the logic on these raids since I doubt he is going to invade the base via sea.

[jrlans]

The only thing i can think of is that the base supply is in the red and therefor will not distribute supplies to LCUs

[aztez]

jrlans: Unfortunately the base seemed pretty well supplied. Even now units are refusing to take in supplies. Armoured units have now only 0 supplies left. The pic is from previous turn and there are still + 21 000 supply units available.

Luzon (january 16th and 17th 1942)

There is no news like bad news and we got plenty of it coming from Clark Field.

As expected Japanese infantry lauched two shock assauts againts our fortifications here. Yes, there really seems to be no delibirate attacks ongoing anywhere! I guess that is somewhat useless feature or shock assaults are way over powered from the get go.

Here is losses summary from the combat reports:

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 99773 troops, 934 guns, 659 vehicles, Assault Value = 2844

Defending force 35174 troops, 552 guns, 532 vehicles, Assault Value = 1104

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1531

Allied adjusted defense: 1240

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
4816 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 235 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 325 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 43 disabled
Vehicles lost 102 (5 destroyed, 97 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
3752 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 240 disabled
Non Combat: 61 destroyed, 232 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 16 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 77 (43 destroyed, 34 disabled)


Assaulting units:
56th Recon Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
113th Infantry Regiment
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
48th Recon Regiment
33rd Division
Tanaka Detachment
16th Infantry Regiment
24th Infantry Regiment
4th Division
47th Infantry Regiment
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
I./33rd Inf Regt
48th Engineer Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
21st Division
22nd Recon Regiment
65th Brigade
2nd Tank Regiment
Kanno Detachment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
I./4th Infantry Bn /4
48th Field Artillery Regiment
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
1st RF Gun Battalion
56th Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Naval Construction Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
14th Army
6th Naval Construction Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
26th Fld AA Gun Co
48th Field AA Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Field Artillery Regiment
12th JAAF Base Force
31st Fld AA Bn /1

Defending units:
192nd Tank Battalion
51st PA Infantry Division
194th Tank Battalion
41st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
21st PA Infantry Division
4th Marine Regiment
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
71st PA Infantry Division
4th PA Constabulary Regiment
Subic Bay Defenses
14th PS Engineer Regiment
45th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
1st USMC AA Battalion
I Philippine Corps
201st PA Construction Battalion
803rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
Far East USAAF
202nd PA Construction Battalion
Provisional Field Artillery Regiment
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

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

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 95534 troops, 934 guns, 652 vehicles, Assault Value = 2616

Defending force 31369 troops, 548 guns, 473 vehicles, Assault Value = 848

Japanese adjusted assault: 1218

Allied adjusted defense: 382

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
4430 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 278 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 253 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 43 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 96 (6 destroyed, 90 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
4343 casualties reported
Squads: 64 destroyed, 240 disabled
Non Combat: 29 destroyed, 153 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 31 disabled
Guns lost 10 (3 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 40 (6 destroyed, 34 disabled)


Assaulting units:
24th Infantry Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
Kanno Detachment
21st Division
48th Recon Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
4th Division
47th Infantry Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
Tanaka Detachment
148th Infantry Regiment
33rd Division
22nd Recon Regiment
I./33rd Inf Regt
48th Engineer Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
65th Brigade
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
16th Infantry Regiment
I./4th Infantry Bn /4
48th Field AA Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
14th Army
26th Fld AA Gun Co
56th Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Naval Construction Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
12th JAAF Base Force
6th Naval Construction Battalion
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
48th Field Artillery Regimentnk
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
31st Fld AA Bn /1

Defending units:
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
41st PA Infantry Division
21st PA Infantry Division
4th Marine Regiment
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
45th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
51st PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
192nd Tank Battalion
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
14th PS Engineer Regiment
Subic Bay Defenses
4th PA Constabulary Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment
Far East USAAF
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
202nd PA Construction Battalion
1st USMC AA Battalion
201st PA Construction Battalion
803rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
Provisional Field Artillery Regiment
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment


...hmmm, not good! Notice near total of collapse of our defensive av value on day 2. I think this is closely tied up to the supply factor I posted on earlier! There were +21 000 supplies piled up but for some reason or another these were not distributed to the troops! (I noticed similar thing on an base in China too)

Basically the Clark Field is toasted and done for. Yet, the shock ground assaults seems devastating! I think shock assaults vs allied poor exp levels are formula for disaster after disaster.

Another intresting note is the combat modifiers here. If look at the first assault level 3 forts gave (+ forts) ..the next turn with level 2 forts (none given) so It seems that level 2 forts are just waste of time and resources.

Is this just FOW or what? Since there are level 3 forts? BUT units have not drawn supplies and there are plenty to go around!

These were the best leaders I have available in this theatre but where they worth the PP spent remains the issue.

I have looked at the earlier turn and to me it is obvious that airfield bombardments caused the supplies to "freeze", I really do hope that there will be an option NOT to waste supplies into airfield repairs and such when situation is critical.

There are so many bombers flying missions here that I have lost account on them, Basically all the airfields are done for.

Actually noticed that there is similar situation brewing on Manila. Around 25 000 supplies but combat units are short of them. Level 3 forts and building up but really should this have any affect on supply levels of ground troops? Personal opinion is definately no. Airfield and Port is damaged just as it was in Clark Field.

Well.. really bad omen and feeling about this, I think the Manila will be captured at early february latest!

It is quite impossible figure out how much supply you need if the required supply needed levels do not cover repairs + infantry and forts building.

I think this battle would have been over on the 1st battle had I not used PP to change leaders.

[aztez]

China (january 16th and 17th 1942)

Another ground combat defeat here. There are plenty of enemy units moving towards northern china,

Here is the ground combat report from january 16th 1942. I did not get penalized for leaders nor supplies. Keep in mind that I changed propably 85% of combat leaders. Another shock assault too!

Ground combat at 86,47

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 46006 troops, 336 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 1410

Defending force 54624 troops, 308 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1308

Japanese adjusted assault: 1225

Allied adjusted defense: 533

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
3530 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 200 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 176 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled


Allied ground losses:
11514 casualties reported
Squads: 860 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 824 destroyed, 102 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 32 disabled
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 9


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
12th RGC Temp. Division
20th Ind.Mixed Brigade
14th RGC Temp. Division
6th Division
3rd Division
13th/A Division

Defending units:
12th Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
7th Chinese Corps
84th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
3rd Group Army
31st Group Army

..the worse thing about this is my units retreat north which really was not the way I wanted.

I did include and map and you can see he is threatening quite a few cities!

Blue arrow = Chinese retreat
Red arrow = Japanese advance
Red X = Possible enemy targets

[Smeulders]

Maybe and it's a big maybe, the problem is that you put "supplies required" higher then the supplies you have. The system might be trying to get up to that 30000+ supply, but can't find any supply from other bases to pull in so the base saves supply the only way it can, by not giving out any to the units present.