Matrix Games Forums

13-14 Apr 1942
China
At Hankow we continue to hold on. At Nanyang Tony has sent in a unit to cause delay, they shock attack and have a number of units on reserve... which purseu. Will be interesting to see where they pursue to!

Over Haiphong:

Afternoon Air attack on Haiphong , at 68,57

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 14
Ki-44 Tojo x 4



Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 24


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44 Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed

Afternoon Air attack on Haiphong , at 68,57

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9
Ki-44 Tojo x 3



Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 13


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

It would be nice to clear the Tojo's and Oscars so our bombers kit hit ships...


Other News
Suva reaches a level 5 airfield, will build to 6 then move the engineers to Nadi. A single B-17 sqn will arriver here next turn. They will eventually convert to LB-30.

CLAA Atlanta along with a number of AP's arrives at Balboa.


Sigint
Southern Army is loaded on xAK Hakonesan Maru moving to San Fernando.
144th Infantry Regiment is planning for an attack on Port Moresby

Coastwatcher Report: harbor at Rabaul is reported empty
Coastwatcher Report: CA Atago reported in port at Rabaul

Analysis
An Attack on PM still appears to be likley, but is increasinging unlikely to succeed, and will need forces from the Philippines or Java.

Recent ground, air and importantly ship reinforcements is indicating the Kuriles operation is technically feasible. But are they building up in that area... which could be good (by killing ground troops) or bad!

Really happy in Burma, the DEI and in the SWPAC.

15-16 Apr.

Quick report as I'm waiting at the airport to catch a plane from Melbourne to LA, I'm invading the USA for the next two weeks

Burma
not much happening. Weather closes us down. Japanese forces are advancing...

Sumatra
A couple of Japanes units have been slowly cleaning the place up, we stop one outside Padang...

Java
Bandoeng holds again and the forts stay up. Japanese aircraft are slowly attriting.

East DEI
The battle for Selaroe continues mostly in our favour. We hit another DD, and Beufighters get some Zero's but we loose Marauders and Vindicators, but our AV is slowly climbing. Have started laying mines and sent in some PT boats which interfered with the DD run. Our airpower is wearing down, but so is his...

Philippines
No assaulkts yet, supply is getting worse and resources are almost gone...

SWPAC
We hit another CM that was unlaoding cargo at Buna with 6 1000pd bombs... Our subs make repeated attacks on a damaged DD but don't hit.

SOPAC
Quiet, planes should arrive at Suva soon. Airfield almost lvl6 at Suva.

Luganville lvl 3 forts 80 AV. Unloading supply.

NORPAC
We hit a PB twice of Parashimo-jima with 2 torps. Reinforcements are arriving, and stuff is leaving Seattle to make Adak Secure. She is almost a lvl 5 port. The aiur HQ is on the way as well.

Gotta go and board a plane See you iin 18 hours!

Cheers

Rob

17-18 Apr.

Another generally good turn.

Burma
Katha falls (dot base nth of Shwebo).

Our fighters sweep and bombers hit the advancing troops to moderate effect, 60+ Blenheims!

The B-17 sortie and do good work:

Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 33



Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 4
B-17E Fortress x 27


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 4 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-I Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 13 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 41

Java
Air bombardments continue, we hurt a lot of Sally, they don't do much damage.

A deliberate attack at Bandoeng again fails, but our casualties are higher.

East DEI
The Battle for Selaroe continues, a PT boat sqn does good work

Night Time Surface Combat, near Selaroe at 78,118, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
CA Kinugasa
DD Yukikaze
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi

Allied Ships
PT-47
PT-48
PT-59
PT-60
PT-61

They again attack and fail to take the place. An xAP is noted near Kendari, maybe a real invasion force is on the way... I continue to fly in troops and maintain just enough AV to continue.

Philippines
Lots of air attacks, mostly focussed at Clark. It looks like I underestimated though the force ratios, or the air attacks have done their job, as they managed to get two 1:1 attacks dropping the forts each time. I dobt Clark will last... bugger was hoping for a few more days delay.

At Cabuatan they bombard, I have 50% more AV... should I shock attack... that is the question...

SWPAC
Quiet. I continue to put holes in the airfields at Buna and Lae. Two different CA's are identified at Rabaul though (Mogami,Maya).

SOPAC
Suva reaches level 6 airfield.

NORPAC
SS Trigger gets a torp hit (1 from 10!) that goes band on the xAK Sinko Maru. She then surfaces to finish her off. I lay mines at Paramushiro-Jima as well.

But it is reported that Paramushiro-jima now has a level 1 airfield.

Way out to sea one of our piquet subs engages but misses one of their PB's on piquet duty.

China
Lots of air attacks but mostly quiet



Analysis
The Battle for Selaroe has been an outstanding success and has achieved the intent of tying troops up and forcing the Japanese to play within Allied aircover range. I don't think Nik is very happy, something about air transporting in troops...

In NORPAC It looks like actions in the Kuriles will now have to be called off. Even then while our raid cost a CV we have diverted forces and attention and managed to bag some ships as well...

The question is now what to do... looks like I need to wait until 1943.

Ah well I'll secure Adak and build NORPAC for an offensive option later. May move forces to support the DEI campaign.

The big question is where is KB....

Cheers

Rob

19 Apr Key asset locations.

While I wait for a turn here are the locations of key assets.

The CV strength is concentrating at Pearl.

Lexington is doing an upgrade at the moment at Pearl, ready in 24 days.

In 50 days the Wasp arrives

The battlefleet is strong, Two more UK BB will be sent to the Pacific.

We still have a large number of BB damaged.

The CA fleet is largely intact, 1 more is doing an upgrade at Seattle.

The non UK/Dutch CL's. The UK and Dutch ones are nicely concentrated with a few CA's to provide a counter invasion punch at Calcutta and Bombay.

The turn has just come in, will watch and report.

But back to assets, would really love more DD's...

And the ships sunk was interesting last turn, would love to know if it is true!

But compare with the previous one, looks like most of the CA's were only damaged, not sunk... but the two CA listed I'm pretty sure are sunk! As are all the CL's.

Akagi sunk by collision and taking a CL with it, sounds too good to be true. 

Yep I agree, one can always hope though!

19-20 April 1942

Burma
Our air sweeps the skies... against no opposition, in Northern Burma. The bombers come in but the troops are dispersed in the Jungle, and little damage is done

The B-17 fly both days and do good:

Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 24



Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 4
B-17E Fortress x 21


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 6 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 4 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-I Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)



Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 23

Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 13



Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 4
B-17E Fortress x 18


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-I Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 2 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 5 damaged



Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 9

Japanese forces bombard and then land at Port Blair in the Andaman Islands against no opposition.


Sumatra
the blocking position outside Padang holds on day one but falls on day two


Java
Air attacks continue. Bandoeng is given a rest while attention moves to Malang where:

Ground combat at Malang (55,105)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27852 troops, 198 guns, 147 vehicles, Assault Value = 908

Defending force 22517 troops, 193 guns, 134 vehicles, Assault Value = 412

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 487

Allied adjusted defense: 1522

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
2036 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 92 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 83 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled


Allied ground losses:
1208 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 80 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)


Assaulting units:
16th Infantry Regiment
4th/B Division
24th Infantry Regiment
2nd Engineer Regiment
146th Infantry Regiment
4th/A Division
8th Tank Regiment
4th/C Division
16th Army

Defending units:
5th Coastal Gun Battalion
4th KNIL Regiment
Artilleriecommando Coastal Gun Battalion
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
Barisan KNIL Regiment
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
Afdeling Ritman
Semarang Base Force
Banjoewangi Base Force
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
Djojakarta Base Force
Bandjermasin Base Force
KNIL Army Command
Commandement Marine
Malang Base Force
Kalidjati Base Force
Loemafjang Base Force
Soerabaja Base Force
ML-KNIL
Manila USAAF Base Force /2

East DEI
Again lots of air combat, we get at least two zero, but loose 3-5 aircraft. Both sides bomb the ground troops and finally in a shock attack Selaroe falls. This is not the end of the battle though, as now they have to extract the forces... from a level 0 port That is mined and under air attack... should be interesting...

Philipppines
This turn the focus of the attacks is Cabuantan. Supply here is a big issue, and the forts drop. Hopefully the forces have moved back to Manila...

Clark is bombarded, my forces are also pulling back here as well. I was lucky to get a turns reprieve... but will it be enough... I doubt it.

It looks like the war here will wrap up quicker than I anticipated a few days ago. Supply is the big culprit.

SWPAC
All quiet. We put holes in the fields at Lae and Buna.

NORPAC
Adak becomes a level 5 port. More troops are on the way.

China
Is mostly quiet, although one of our forces is knocked back with heavy casualties in the wilderness between Sian and Loyang. A fighter sweep of Oscar gets some AVG


Analysis
The Philippines is going bad at the moment. Not much I can do.

Java is still doing well.

I expect that the Japanese forces in the Philippines will be available in 2-3 weeks... so that is when the next leap forward is possible. the question is where. I'm trying to cram as much into PM as possible and it will be a tough nut (now 450 AV and almost lvl 5 afld, 2 port, plenty of supply). Do we send forces back to fight a Coral sea... or do we go ahead with the Kuriles operation....

More forces have arrived on the West Coast.

Cheers

Rob

21-22 Apr 1942
Burma
A series of sweeps by Hurricanes against Magwe (ie extended range) aren't that successful we loose at least 8 Hurricane for 3 Oscars... even the B-17 don't do as much damage this turn... Elsewhere the attacks of the forward troops do an OK job against no opposition.

After another bombardment Port Blair falls. The place must be fairly damaged.

Sumatra
We hold a Japanese attack on one turn then are forced back the next. Padang reaches level3 forts, so should hold for a few days. We will try to get some troops out to Medan which has lots of supply, but lacks engineers.

Java
3.5 Japanese divisions attack at Bandoeng, drooping the forts on day one and then slaughtering the defenders on day 2. These troops had been battered from the air and were getting low on supply... they have delayed well though. We expect Malang to fall soon, releasing 4-5 divisions for action. This is probably a week earlier than i would have liked, we need to review our plans.

East DEI
Evacuating troops using Dutch flying boats and bombing the forces at Selaroe, beginning to get destruction there, not just disruption. Am moving some forces to Merake (sth coast of PNG from Darwin and from the east coast. Would like to use that as a jump off point against Ambon at some stage.

Philippines
At Clark the troops almost March out before they are thrown out At least they fall back on Manila, but casualties will be heavy.

At Cabuantan we hold on day one, but the forts are dropped to nothing, and all march out to Manila by day two except for the coast defence arty unit, which acting as rearguard is overrun after firing at hordes of infantry over open sights...

The bombing on Manila commences... the airgroups are unescorted, so will send out the last few fighters to try and get some last kills.

Supply here is a big problem, icecream is again low.

SWPAC
A rare Japanese sub attack sees a torp put into an xAK 1 hex from PM. The ship hasn't sunk so the forces (8th Marines I think) should get ashore. PM makes a level 5 Airfield, and a USA aviation Baseforce is being transported in by air. This should give us enough Air support to hold the base, even against KB. We continue to hit Buna and Lae, but I don't have any recon to tell me how badly damaged the fields are...

Rabaul expands to a level 4 port, it is already a 6 airfield.

A ship is detected at Tulagi port, probably has seaplanes based there.

SOPAC
Moving a USA arty unit via ship to Luganville and preparing some NZ forces (basefore and others) to move forward at som stage. AV at Luganville is now 80 with level 3 forts. I've shipped in a fair bit of supply.

The Japanese are quiet here, that will change shortly I think...

Fiji, Suva becomes a level 7 airfield. There are now 3 Marine Fighter units there, a sqn of B-17 and the NZ Hudson’s. With over 400 AV at Nadi and Suva it should be a tough nut...

7 Japanese ships are detected near Palmyra, could be a false report.


Norpac
Forces continue to arrive in the area. I've moved up a lot of coastal minelayers/tenders, to mine and maintain Adak and Dutch harbour with defensive minefields. Adak needs more combat troops, which are en-route, but otherwise is pretty secure.

An S boat sinks a PB piquet SE of the Kuriles, and at Paramushimo-jima a sub surfaces and shoots up an xAK, but is fairly badly damaged in return.


China
Lots of bombardments causing casualties but no major action. I really need Tony to post here on his intentions (hint, hint) but I think they are "try to keep dancing as long as possible".... but he isn't "Dancing with the Stars material"... but doing better than I could.


Analysis
Java and the Philippines won't last long now. That is going to free up at least 6 divisions and up to 9 of troops for use... but where.

PM is still in danger... but I think can hold, even against a 4 division invasion.

Fiji can also probably hold.

NORPAC is Ok but not great.

Darwin can hold.

North Burma is fairly secure (lvl 6 forts 1000 AV).

And at the moment everything else is expendable and won't be defended.

But Joe and Nik can launch at least one 4 division attack somewhere... it will probably be the last action they can safely take... or will they just dig in happy with what they have....

And where is KB. It hasn't been seen for a long time now. Probably resting and refitting. But it could be out raiding.

23-24 Apr 1942

Reasonable sub action and combat in SWPAC.

Burma
Day one sees the B-17 hit Magwe for light damage, and day 2 causes light to moderate damage.

At Port Blair the SS KXVIII (say THAT quickly) hits the DD Ikazuchi with a torp, and later engages a CA led TF to no effect. She does take some damage in return though.

Sumatra
Padang falls far too easily

Java
Malang survives the assault but only just. Forts drop. It should fall next turn. A Dutch armoured unit has headed off to try and recapture some bases and provide an escape route.


East DEI
At Selaroe the bombers from Darwin hit the ground troops to good effect against no opposition

Philippines
No action as the japanese forces move on Manila for the final battles... They rested their aircraft as well.


SWPAC

Day one is as usual at Buna and Lae, but Mitchells launch against the Shortlands hit the supply dumps. Day two however sees a TF off Finschhafen...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Finschhafen at 100,126

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Hayate, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Yugao
DD Oite
DD Kuretake

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Kuretake
DD Yugao

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Yugao, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
DD Kuretake, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Oite, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kuretake, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
DD Hayate, heavy fires


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6
B-26 Marauder x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Oite, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hayate, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 17


Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Hayate, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Oite, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk

All DD's were carrying troops, I doubt the last DD will get home... a good outcome


Off Truk one of our subs surfaces and engages an xAK several times, damage is light to moderate.

SOPAC
Quiet

NORPAC
Quiet. Forces should be unloading at Adak, a USN BF and another infantry regt. This should bring the AV up to around 300.

China
Just bombardments


Analysis
Java is almost finished, as is the Philippines.

SWPAC and Burma are going badly for them so far. The loss of 4 DD's will hurt a bit.

Where of where has KB gone.... I'm not looking forward to its reappearance!

Greetings,

Rob, does this count as the post I promised?

Tony

I will let the masses decide... what do you think?

Rob

It's interesting to see the differences in reporting between the two AAR, especially the propaganda by omission. The attacks on the DD weren't even mentioned and I don't think the FOW is so strong that it tells one player he sunk 2-3 DD while there hasn't even been a battle.

Interesting, it is a mater of perspective, as the Allies at this stage even small victories are important... but I know later as Allies (and when playing Japanese early) if it isn't a CA/CL then it hardly counts... until all those little losses stack up.

Plus Joe and Nik probably think we will mention it anyway

It goes the other way too, not much reporting here in China because I don't see it as important, and Tony isn't literate enough (I have it on good authority that his wonderful wife wrote the message above...)

Cheers

Rob

ORIGINAL: Smeulders

It's interesting to see the differences in reporting between the two AAR, especially the propaganda by omission. The attacks on the DD weren't even mentioned and I don't think the FOW is so strong that it tells one player he sunk 2-3 DD while there hasn't even been a battle.

25-26 April
Burma
B-17 hit Magwe for reasonable effect. The CAP is done to about 9 Oscars, and we get one on the ground, but we don't get many airfield hits.

We continue to hit the advancing Columns.

Chiang Mai expands its airfield.

A Brit sub attacks a convoy heading north towards Burma from Singapore to no effect. Several large convoys are detected. They could be going towards Sumatra though...

Java
Malang is bombed from the ground and air. They are probably waiting for the forces that took Bandoeng to come and guarantee victory.

East DEI
We continue to hit Selaroe, this turn lots of troops are identified as destroyed, which is good.

SWPAC
We hit a DD FT TF going into Madang, sinking 1 DD and damaging another.

We also hit Lae and Buna and again hit the Shortlands, the later is a good strike.

Analysis
Some interesting intel this turn.

Previous report of sinking of CA Maya incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
Previous report of sinking of DD Amatsukaze incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service

Bugger looks like we have only sunk one CA now

Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Lae
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Gasmata
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Buna

The 3 ships at Lae are probably the DD's that we hit, so we will port attack next turn. The one at Buna may also be a ship we have badly damaged.

DD Yayoi is reported to have been sunk near Madang on Apr 25, 1942
xAKL Takegawa Maru is reported to have been sunk near Paramushiro-jima on Apr 25, 1942
CL Nagara is reported to have been sunk near Madjene on Mar 15, 1942

I think these are confirmed kills.


Still no sign of KB, both good and bad, bad in that we have to be cautious everywhere (KB can just about be anywhere on the map now), good in that the convoys at Adak should now be fully unloaded and the base secure. Likewise for troops at Luganville and Fiji.

Hitting the ships at Paramushiron has been good. No reports of troops lost (so they are probably supply ships) although it has occurred to me that they may be using these as bait, and that KB is sitting behind there somewhere... The lack of ground reinforcements is good, but we really need to find KB before offensive action can be considered.

Cheers

Rob