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You know, I hadn't really considered buying anything for China. In fact, I've given precious little consideration to China at all (you may note I never mention it in my AAR...I simply don't think about it!)

As for PP expenditure, remember we get 50pp per day. I like being able to plan ahead my expenditures, and that 50pp actually accrues pretty quickly. The division ny59 mentions is the 20th, it consists of two big Infantry units (40th Brigade & 78th Inf Reg); 20th Recon Regiment; 20th Engineer Regiment; and 26th FA Regiment. The Infantry units have 80 Exp, and the Recon regiment has 90! I have a sheet detailing the cost of these I made up, but it's at home. These guys are high on my list, and I like the organization how it is so don't intend to group the Division back together.

Another unit to add to your list of things to consider releasing is the Karafuto Mixed Brigade up in Toyohara. It doesn't have great experience, but a tremendous AV of 251. As I recall he's about 950 PP to Release, only about 20 days worth of PP!

Something else I'm spending a lot of points on is Engineers from Manchuria. I have no interest in building up Manchuria so I'm buying them out (they're pretty cheap) and using them to accelerate growth, particularly in the islands all over creation I want to get some airfields and forts built up in.

Just food for thought!

ORIGINAL: Malagant

You know, I hadn't really considered buying anything for China. In fact, I've given precious little consideration to China at all (you may note I never mention it in my AAR...I simply don't think about it!)

...

Something else I'm spending a lot of points on is Engineers from Manchuria. I have no interest in building up Manchuria so I'm buying them out (they're pretty cheap) and using them to accelerate growth, particularly in the islands all over creation I want to get some airfields and forts built up in.

Just food for thought!

A number of players don't like heavy focus on China. I think it needs proper attention to pull supplies, resources, oil and in the 'historical' aspect, the IJA believed that the China Situation had to be solved before the USSR, the USA or anything else.
...
on the Manchurian units -- good point, I just bought out a support unit transferred to 5th Fleet and will send it to Hokkaido first to help build up air fields/ports, then to the Kurile Islands.
Thanks [&o]

Big Fat Doh Moment on the game replay of Jan 03 1942 orders:

Amphibious Assault at Serasan (57,86) ** WTF IS THIS **[:@]

TF 272 troops unloading over beach at Serasan, 57,86 ** AAARRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!! **

Japanese ground losses:
95 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of III./124th Infantry Bn
10 Support troops lost in surf during unload of III./124th Infantry Bn
17 troops of a SNLF Squad accidentally lost during unload of 15th Nav Gd
17 troops of a SNLF Squad accidentally lost during unload of 15th Nav Gd
17 troops of a SNLF Squad lost in surf during unload of 15th Nav Gd
10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 15th Nav Gd

My 'crafty' invasion fleet formation wound up dumping the troops on a God Forsaken coconut plantation off the coast of Borneo when the orders I sent clearly said 'Invade Singkawang'.

NOOB DOH MOMENT ---
If you are trying to be 'crafty' and not reveal your task force destination, move units into position before the final move, or other freaking elephantine ballerina manuevors, BE SURE to make the task force orders are DO NOT UNLOAD, or else those boys will bail out on any dot junk box, jip joint, strip club your task force ends it current movement section at.....

Oops. I guess the Emperor is not pleased.

The full - sad picture:

Units were supposed to gather just off Kuching, gather some LRCAP from Kuching and KB-2 and then swing down on Singkawang next turn and unload - voila, no more invasion fleet getting jumped and dumped or if he tried it, there would be some serious whooping going on.

But NOOOOOOOOO, not so fast.

ORIGINAL: jwolf

Oops. I guess the Emperor is not pleased.

I would go spank myself, but that just doesn't sound right....

ARRRGGGG...

I wanted to pull up at this po-dunk location to get into position and allow CruDiv 2 to catch up. Plenty of time now for that!

Allied High Command is reported to be laughing in the Officer's Club.
Deservedly So.

ORIGINAL: DanSez

I would go spank myself, but that just doesn't sound right....

ARRRGGGG...

The Japanese tradition was rather more ... permanent. Anyway, as a fellow newbie, just one month into my game, I have already made many bungles as bad or worse than that. Truth is, I need about 5 staff officers to keep me out of trouble! [8|]

This AAR, much as my invasion of Singkawang, has been sidelined while I took some quality time snuggling up to Tracker and look at the trends of the past month of game play.

One thing I did notice, I have to get more resources flowing into the Home Island. All the other major categoies: Supplies, Fuel, Oil - are also dropping but Resources are dropping at twice the rate. I set up a few more task forces to slow the drop.

The troops are finally reloaded back on the transports and we can move forward.

This turn was a good one in the air. I spotted his fighters staging back into Singapore trying to jump my bombers, so I sent in stiff sweeps - resting the bombers a turn and got a good day's total

Does anyone ever restart the Babs recon plane lines?
Few spares and I was not paying attention and let one unit stay too long flying into stiff air cover or flak, losing 5 or 6 planes over a week's time.

I upgraded one unit to Dinahs but those are 2 engine planes and Babs are single engines.

While my invasion fleet was milling around picking up stray soldiers from the infamous bars and brothels of Soebi-besar [8|], an infestation of submarines gathers. I have 6 different tasks forces in 2 sea squares and I look to be pounding or hounding his subs with the density of destroyers -- so far so good.

In fact the only ships sunk this turn by submarines this turn were Allied:
CL Leander
TK Iris

Hope the luck holds out one or two more turns - so I can drop my boys off on the right shore and get some air units into Singkawang.

After than, a much tougher nut to crack.

Wow, big suicidal task force slaughtered off the coast of Borneo.

If I can kill his carriers like I am killing his surface tasks forces, then 42/43 are going to be very interesting years.

Tracker says 2 CAs, 1 CL,7 DDs exchanged for 1 DD, 1 DMS and 2 xAPs (with troops)
Yes, he blew up the landing force again, but there was a whipping waiting for the spoilers.

In the actual replay, I believe another CA and CL were either sunk or close to sinking.

I will give more info later ...

Apologies for the long silence - I have been trying to take the lessons of the first month and feedback from the wise council received and applying it to my plans and methods.

Some good, some bad news - the worst is that I feel I am moving very slowly, that I should be two or three steps ahead of where I am currently.

But I am taking a break from spreadsheet reviews and posting some of the recent results.

Top of the News reports:

9th Jan 1942
Dadjangas is occupied by the Japanese
Japanese forces CAPTURE Kuala Lumpur !!!

10th Jan 1942
Lubang is occupied by the Japanese
Japanese forces CAPTURE Moulmein !!!

11th Jan 1942
Mersing is occupied by the Japanese

12th Jan 1942
Tawi Tawi is occupied by the Japanese
Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Blair !!!

13th Jan 1942
Tioman Island is occupied by the Japanese
Japanese forces CAPTURE Loyang !!!

Meanwhile the boys from the ill fated invasion of Soebi-besar have a sorry tale to tell:

SitRep Singkawang - morning of Jan 09 1942.
Finally got the boys out of the bars, for some of them their last chance to drink and drive the pink.

Milling around Soebi-besar, out of position waiting for the troops to reload are the following:
CarDiv 1: 182 aircraft: TF 127
CV Kaga, Akagi
CVL Ryujo
CL Yura
CS Chitose
DD Yugumo, Shiratsuyu, Shigure, Yudachi, Jatsutade, Uryuke

BatDiv 1: TF 5
BB Kongo, Haruna
CL Jintsu
DD Hagikaze, Asashio, Arashio, Asagumo

CruDiv 2: TF 12
CA Takao, Atago
CL Kashii
DD Maikaze, Arashi, Oshio

DesDiv 2: TF 220
CL Isuzu
DD Murasame, Harusame, Akatsuki, Hibiki

Singkawang Invasion Fleet: TF 272
CL Tama, Oi
DD Michishio, Tachikaze, Numakaze, Yugao
DMS W-4
5 xAPs
15th Nav Guard
II/24th Inf Bat
III/24th Inf Bat
10th JAAF AF Coy
8th JNAF AF Coy

more than enough to take Singkawank with some air support units included
At least that is what I thought

The Plan - for what it was worth.

What I didn't expect, after days of such a force display was a suicidal blitz:

Two very strong SCTFs charge, Absolute Threat into the teeth of the ships I gathered:

This is the report from the smaller enemy task force:

Sea Battle 1:
It blows past my picket forces directly to the Invasion Task Force[X(]
Night Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 56,87, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Tama, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Oi
DD Michishio, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Tachikaze
DD Numakaze
DD Yugao
DMS W-4, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Mizuho Maru, Shell hits 4
xAP Kitano Maru
xAP Kobe Maru, Shell hits 1
xAP Ural Maru, Shell hits 1
xAP Tango Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Perth, Shell hits 1
CL Hobart
CL Danae, Shell hits 2
CL Durban
CL Caledon, Shell hits 1
DD John D. Ford
DD Paul Jones
DD Parrott
DD Pillsbury
DD Whipple
DD Stewart
DD Vendetta, Shell hits 1
DD Stronghold
DD Tenedos

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Howden, H.L. crosses the 'T'
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

Sea Battle 2: WHERE are my surface combat forces?
Night Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 56,87, Range 13,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Shell hits 4
CV Akagi
CVL Ryujo, Shell hits 1
CS Chitose, Shell hits 2
CL Yura, Shell hits 1
DD Yugumo
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Shigure, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yudachi
DD Katsutade
DD Uruyuke

Allied Ships
CL Perth
CL Hobart
CL Danae
CL Durban
CL Caledon, Shell hits 2
DD John D. Ford
DD Paul Jones
DD Parrott
DD Pillsbury
DD Whipple, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Stewart
DD Vendetta, on fire
DD Stronghold
DD Tenedos

Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 13,000 yards -- yeah, we were all surprised.
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

Fortunately all the damage was superficial.

Sea Battle 3: Another go at the Invasion Fleet. [:@]
Day Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 56,87, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Oi, Shell hits 24, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Michishio, Shell hits 3
DD Tachikaze
DD Numakaze, Shell hits 1
xAP Mizuho Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAP Kitano Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAP Kobe Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Ural Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Tango Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Perth
CL Hobart, Shell hits 2
CL Danae
CL Durban
CL Caledon, Shell hits 1
DD John D. Ford
DD Paul Jones, Shell hits 3
DD Parrott, Shell hits 1
DD Pillsbury
DD Whipple, Shell hits 1
DD Stewart, Shell hits 2
DD Vendetta, Shell hits 2
DD Stronghold, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tenedos

Japanese ground losses:
878 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 46 disabled
Non Combat: 24 destroyed, 70 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled

They have got to be running out of ammo at this point, when a small ASW force rushes to the defense of the fleeing Carrier Fleet.
Sea Battle 4:
Day Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 56,87, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shikinami
DD Ayanami
DD Sagiri, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Perth
CL Hobart
CL Danae
CL Durban, Shell hits 2
CL Caledon
DD John D. Ford
DD Paul Jones, on fire
DD Parrott, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Pillsbury
DD Whipple
DD Stewart
DD Vendetta
DD Stronghold, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tenedos

DD Parrott sunk by DD Ayanami at 17,000 yards

And when I open the game turn from this disaster to try and pick off his wounded strays - this task force has disappeared.
I have pretty good search all the way down to Batavia (Betties and Nells) - I just don't get how he does it.

This is the battle reports of the 2nd enemy task force - much stronger
and this is what was engaging my other SCFTs.

Sea Battle 1: BatDiv 1 in action
Night Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 56,88, Range 11,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Seagull V: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 1
BB Haruna, Shell hits 3
CL Jintsu
DD Hagikaze, Shell hits 2
DD Asashio
DD Arashio
DD Asagumo, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Canberra, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
CA Exeter, Shell hits 2
CL Leander
CL Achilles, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Glasgow, Shell hits 1
DD Alden, Shell hits 1
DD Bulmer
DD Edsall
DD John D. Edwards
DD Thanet, Shell hits 1
DD Thracian
DD Electra, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Encounter
DD Isis, Shell hits 1
DD Jupiter

Palliser, Arthur FE crosses the 'T' - oh great, this bastage. Hope he drowns.
CA Canberra sunk by BB Haruna at 12,000 yards

Sea Battle 2: CruDiv 2 in action
Day Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 56,88, Range 24,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Seagull V: 1 destroyed
Walrus II: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CL Kashii, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Maikaze, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Arashi, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Oshio, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Achilles, Shell hits 23, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Electra, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Encounter, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Isis, Shell hits 1
DD Jupiter, Shell hits 10, and is sunk

I hope the mighty Palliser had his T crossed here.
CA Australia sunk by CA Takao at 14,000 yards
CL Achilles sunk by CA Atago at 9,000 yards
DD Jupiter sunk by DD Oshio at 20,000 yards

Sea Battle 3: DesDiv 2 Come Get Some
Day Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 56,88, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu
DD Murasame, Shell hits 1
DD Harusame, Shell hits 1
DD Akatsuki
DD Hibiki

Allied Ships -
DD Electra, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
DD Encounter, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Isis, Shell hits 16, and is sunk

DD Encounter sunk by DD Murasame at 4,000 yards
DD Isis sunk by DD Murasame at 4,000 yards
no official claim on DD Electra in the battle reports...

and finally one last report on the first enemy task force, the one that scared the crap out of the CarDiv 1:

DesDiv 2 catches them in retreat

Day Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 56,88, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 5
DD Murasame, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Harusame
DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hibiki

so at the end of this turn, the dead list was show back in post # 212. In the subsequent days, CL Oi and a xAPs also sank.
Not sure what else of his sank, only that they disappeared somewhere. I have since been reconning local ports - nothing there. Where did they go?



Allied Ships
CL Perth, Shell hits 1
CL Hobart, Shell hits 1
CL Danae, Shell hits 1
CL Durban, Shell hits 2
CL Caledon, on fire
DD John D. Ford
DD Paul Jones, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Pillsbury, Shell hits 1
DD Whipple, Shell hits 1
DD Stewart, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Vendetta, Shell hits 2
DD Stronghold, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tenedos, Shell hits 1

Meanwhile the invasion of Mersing goes by with just general molestation by small air units.
And the 2nd hammer approaches.

I pull back the remnants, sort out the survivors, reform the task forces, send the rest back to Hong Kong for yard time and now turn to Palembang, where my evil nemesis has promised me 'a surprise'.

12 Jan 1942 -
Bit of good news from Tracker and Combat Reporter:
CA Houston is reported to have been sunk near Zamboanga on Dec 17, 1941

so that WAS the flash observed off in the distance.

Meanwhile over Singapore - continual bombardment

Air Battle 1:

Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 46
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 17
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 34
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 4

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 11 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
Buffalo I: 1 damaged
Blenheim I: 1 damaged
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 8

Air Battle 2:
Morning Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 18

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 1