The Shipwreck of Our Hopes: Japanese Side

[Q-Ball]

Nice image of Kawachi!

Not sure I would want to be manning the AA mounts forward and aft though when the main guns are firing........

[bklooste]

Nice encounter John ...Love it when cruisers do ok vs Battleships like THe Deutsland vs the POW.
 

CRISIS!!! I found out last night while turn was with Allies that BB Nagato and BB Matsu were out of 41 cm main gum ammo (bombardment of Ambon). Babeldoab is not large enough nor does it have enough naval support to reload them. I have 6 Lima Class converting over to AKEs, but in will be the end of the month before their done. I found 2 large AKEs (capacity of 5620) - Kwajalien and Camrahn Bay. One is needed for KB, so I formed a Transport TF with CL and 2 DDs to head to Takao before heading to Babeldoad.

 
Your going to leave the BBs in the area with no Ammo [&:]   You can send them to Singapore you may have it in a few weeks and you can use the BBs at Palenbang. You can send the ships at Malaysia to Ambon , unless your going for Palembang early , itsa bit of fuel but AKEs are so slow.
 
Speaking of which you dont really need many resources in Malaysia now,  the allies will just all run leaving a few battalions to delay you , you can bomb them but unless you do it for experience its pointless since they will end up as POWs soon. Any chance of a screenshot of the Singers area ?   Any follow up forces for Mersing ?
 
 

[ny59giants]

The 2 BBs out of Ammo are at Ambon and headed back to Babeldaob. The large AKE, Kaga Maru. has a speed of 18.

Southern Malaya:
Johore Bahru - 4 units, 12,740 troops, 65 guns, 64 AFV
Hex due west of Mersing - 2 units, 3700 troops, 10 guns, 2 AFV
Malacca - 4 units, 3640 troops, 41 guns, 20 AFV

Mersing Reinforcements:
TF 106 (fast transports - speed 17) - 33/A Division (highlighted) 37 hexes away
TF 4 (2 hexes SW of Camrahn Bay) - speed 12 carrying 3 artillery, 2 AA, and 22 Recon/18 Division.
TF 84 - 33/B Division in 48 hexes away (speed 17)
TF 25 - 33/C Division is 55 hexes away (speed 17)
Two Infantry Rgt of 56th Division are on slow xAKs just entering South China Sea (started game at Hiroshima)

[John 3rd]

I detailed the rather exciting encounter between my CAs and the British led BB TF yesterday but didn't get around to KB and Canton Operations:

KB
I detach Zuikaku the pervious day to 'deal' with survivors from the attacks on the 11th. This her air group does by flying a morning and afternoon set of strikes. The morning sees 8 Zero, 14 Val, and 19 Kate hit CA Pensacola (3B), AP Holbrook (8B), and an AK (1B). The afternoon (8 Zero, 8 Val, and 18 Kate) features CA Pensacola (5B) crushed, the AK gets further punishment, and a different AP takes one bomb. I expect the CA, Holbrook, and the AK to sink. Two Vals are lost during the attacks. Order a slow movement NW with refueling at Baker the day after.

The remaining CVs move south of Canton and see nothing. Tomorrow they move to within striking range of Pago Pago. If nothing appears then they will retire towards Baker and refuel.

Canton
The Naval Guard that took Baker begins to be lifted off. The SNLF destined for Canton to start with rendezvous with the Baker TF and combines. They will have a CA and 2 DD added to add to CD suppression. The Bombardment Force shall gain the massive help of Nagumo's two new BC. That force shall total 2 BC, 1 CA, 2 CL, and about 6 DD.


Follow-on forces are moving to put a BF onto Baker as well as add another at Canton. The 144th Regiment moves away from the Marshalls as the fighting reserve of the entire region. The loading for my Savaii Operation also begins...

My AOs arrive at Canton and are carrying over 75,000 fuel. This is more then enough to take care of all ships. My large AKE moves to Jaluit in preparation to reload the KB. LOGISTICS!

[John 3rd]

Things continue smoothly in the Solomons, New Britain, New Ireland, and New Guinea. Landings begin at Lae and are about to happen at Lunga. The Rabaul Invasion Force and Escort are halfway to their target. Follow-On Base Forces have left for Lae and are loading for Rabaul. I've ordered the Shipping Regiment and two Construction Battalions to prepare to move to Rabaul for Base expansion. SE Fleet and the 21st Air Flotilla will move in follow-on convoys.

Shipping shall be re-arranged with the Port Moresby Invasion Force loading around the 16th. That convoy shall depart with heavy escort and Carrier Support.

I expect the very real prospect of American CV appearing since they have not been seen around Canton...

The Imperial Guards Brigade in Tokyo has been bought for SE Area Operations and the 2nd Air Division HQ at Port Arthur is presently loading for Port Moresby.

[Smeulders]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I guess the supposed cease fire in the China theater is now "null and void." I had seen the small arrows from some LCUs for the last few turns. I used the lessons learned from my PBEM game vs FatR (Stanislav) to start moving troops in this theater from turn 1.

You probably talked this over with the Allied side already, but if not, you should, there is a pretty good explanation for the shock attack here that they posted on their AAR.

[bklooste]

Dec 12: An over aggressive Admiral falls on his sword after Surface Combat results are know at Admiral Benoit's HQ. See Admiral Cochran's next posting for details.

So who is the commander and what was the action ??

[John 3rd]

The commander refers to the senior Captain of those two CAs.  Michael appears to think that he should be ordered to commit Seppuku.  Personally, I think he was brilliant in being able to chase all those 15" shell splashes and NOT GET HIT! 
 
You know...I was bragging about deciding to NOT be aggressive with those ships when I chose not to enter into Balikpapan's hex.  Well---by choosing to be conservative and AVOID risk, I ran right into a very bad situation.  It was only through superior Japanese skill that those two CAs are still afloat!
 
Banzai!
 
PS  For some reason we got no turn action today.  I didn't ask why since I sort of badgered the guys a couple of days ago when we hadn't seen a turn in two days.
 

[bklooste]

I expect the very real prospect of American CV appearing since they have not been seen around Canton...

Interesting , since he knows where your CVs are, though he must expect a mad dash to Truk. Also so many IJN players go for PM early. If so was he expecting to stop you at Rabaul or PM with maybe Australian assictance. My guess would be PM and he may be gathering all his CVs.

Taking Lae and Lunga is good as you can put up your search arcs btw what are they. Lunga probably surprised him but he has prob seen you now . i certainly wouldnt be keeping anything bigger than a CL there this turn .

[John 3rd]

Our Allied opponents have had some sort of email issue that has comsumed two days.  Got an email from Fishbed saying he had the turn and was working on sending it. 
 
Now that I am playing again, this very slow pace is driving me nuts so I am thinking about starting a Scenario 1 1x1.  Would look at similar HR as the ones we have for this one.  Don't really think I can commit for a couple of weeks but am actively thinking about it.  My wife and I are going to Lost Wages (Las Vegas) to do our part in ingnoring the President by spending money there fairly soon!  [:-]  Once back I think I am ready and willing to let her rip! 
 

[ny59giants]

Dec 13: after a four day delay in getting a turn, we are back at it. Communication problems between the Allied leaders (sounds like real life [;)]), the turn came in and John is running the official version and then doing his orders, but I did so and will post my part of the turn (which is about 85 to 90%).

Surface Combat:
240 miles (6 hexes) ESE of Camrahn Bay, a transport TF is ambushed at night. Since its been four days since the last turn I'm wondering what troops I have on the transports. It's the 1st Raiding Rgt. I have plans for them in northern Malaya.

DD Kamikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 1
xAK Amagisan Maru
xAK Tokai Maru
xAK Hiyoshi Maru
xAK Senyo Maru

Allied Ships
DD Scout, Shell hits 3, on fire

I took over the various SC TF John had been using in the Sula Sea and north Celebes Sea last turn. I ordered a series of meet and merge of them as they were ordered to head back to Babeldoab to replenish. That was a wise move. They met the rest of Force Z 40 miles SW of Jolo.

Japanese Ships
CA Ibuki
CL Suzuya
CL Sakawa
DD Usugumo
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Sagiri
DD Sazanami

Allied Ships
CA Houston
CL Mauritius
CL Omaha, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Phoenix, Shell hits 1
DD Bulmer
DD Paul Jones
DD Parrott
DD Isis

Round twos -

Japanese Ships
CA Ibuki, Shell hits 2
CL Suzuya, Shell hits 4
CL Sakawa
DD Usugumo
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 1
DD Sagiri
DD Sazanami

Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Mauritius
CL Omaha, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Phoenix, Shell hits 8, on fire
DD Bulmer, Shell hits 1
DD Paul Jones
DD Parrott, Shell hits 1
DD Isis

Both of these rounds took place below 10,000 yards. The early war advantage of Japanese night naval combat showed. [&o] Unless John's official replay shows something different, then all damage is less then 10 system and quickly repairable at Babeldoab.

The pesky British DD Scout chases after the xAKs and 2 DD escort for another 80 miles.

DD Kamikaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Okikaze, on fire
xAK Amagisan Maru
xAK Tokai Maru
xAK Hiyoshi Maru
xAK Senyo Maru

Allied Ships
DD Scout, on fire

ASW/Subs:
SS Spearfish is operating between Formosa and Luzon. She misses a DMS with 4 torpedoes. [:)]
Just off Toboali, I-162 puts 2 torpedoes in xAP Hong Peng.

Carriers:
Mini-KB is 40 miles off Ambon
KB2 is still operating east of Mersing, but her Kates did not attack Johore Bahru last turn.

Malaya:
Kuantan -
2 more BFs unload.
45 Nell with escort hit the 2 LCUs prior to the assault.

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 8642 troops, 65 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 275

Defending force 2685 troops, 42 guns, 35 vehicles, Assault Value = 91

Japanese adjusted assault: 272

Allied adjusted defense: 49

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kuantan !!! Base is undamaged and I have over 100 aviation support.[:)]

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

Japanese ground losses:
320 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses: another brigade is made ineffective!
1036 casualties reported
Squads: 36 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 69 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 34 (34 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 31 (31 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
55th Infantry Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment
15th Ind. Engineer Regiment
91st JAAF AF Bn /5
54th Const Co
34th Field AA Battalion
18th JAAF Base Force
53rd Const Co
21st JAAF AF Bn
92nd JAAF AF Bn /5

Defending units:
22nd Indian Brigade
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
1st ISF Base Force

Georgetown -
With the normal escape down the west side of the peninsula possibly cut off, the Allies offer up some treats to Ms Nell and Ms Betty. 9 Zero escort in 18 Nell and 13 Betty to face only 2(1) Buffalo on CAP.

Allied Ships
xAK Ellenga, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Wing Sang, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Demosthenes, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
xAP Hong Siang, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
251 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (4 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (3 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Alor Star -
is where the 6th Indian Brigade is retreating from. 22 Nates, 45 Sally, 29 Lily, and 16 Ki-51 Sonia inflict minimal casualties.

Malacca -
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment is targeted by 16 Lily and 36 Sally escorted by 32(1) Oscar. There is some CAP in the form of 9 H81-A3 and 4 Buffalo. This is a good result as 2 Tank Rgt driving from Mersing will probably be sent here.

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled)

China:
Hong Kong -
The Fortress unit is hit by LBA from Canton, but no damage is done.

Philippines:
Manila -
69 Betty cannot see through the rain well enough to hit any ships in port. [:@]

Clark Field -
15 Zero are more than enough of an escort for 25 Nell as only 1(1) P-35A and 4(1) P-40B Warhawk are on CAP. Another P-40 is destroyed on the ground. Damage is - Airbase hits 7; Runway hits 37.
23 Sally and 19 Lily then find the skies empty. 3 more planes are destroyed on the ground including a B-17. Better aim results in damage of Airbase hits 3; Airbase supply hits 1; Runway hits 25.

Atimonan -

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9600 troops, 87 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 331

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 170

Allied adjusted defense: 1

The 16th Division will now march north towards Manila.

Tuguegarao is captured by Sasebo 1st SNLF

SRA (east):
Ambon -
2 xAK and another PB are sunk by 150mm CD guns. [:(]

Notes/Plans:
The Singkawang invasion TF (part 1) is now one day out of Camrahn Bay.
A Rgt at Kuantan will load for the short hop to Mersing.
5th Division has marched 13 of 46 miles due west while the two tank rgt have gone 25 miles. 1/3 of 33rd Division is 4 days away. AF is 29% to level 1 (only one days worth).
Alor Star is empty and 1st Raiding Rgt will unload at Soc Trang in two days. Then para here. Imperial Guards is at Singora, but I think I will risk it and keep her in Strat. Hopefully the infantry rgt at Singora can march one hex to the west and along with the paras capturing Alor Star over the next four days.
Delieberate attack at Ambon

[John 3rd]

I asked Santa Benoit for several units to help sustain the offensive out of Truk and Rabaul today.  As everyone knows, it is PRIOR planning that makes all the difference.  Units requested were 1 Large Artillery unit, 2-3 small JAAF/JNAF BF, another Shipping Engineer Regiment (REALLY like those), and several Construction Bat.  He is currently looking around the map but promises me that Christmas will come again with great speed.
 
Mister OCD couldn't wait for me to run the turn so he did his and then started doing orders.  While that took place I ran my version and in THAT turn our Bettys sank 2 SS and hit another as well as AS Holland in Manila Bay...     People say the Combat Reports are the same when you run them but I have seen many differences in a 2x2 Game.
 
The four day wait SUCKED!  Due to it Michael, Juan, and I are now working to create the 4th Circle Mod I've talked about for ages.  Hopefully we will have that done by the end of the month or so.  When complete Michael and I are going to square off and field test the Mod.
 

[Cribtop]

The Shipping Eng. Regts. and the large base forces with nav support (i.e. the 1st - 8th BF and 15th BF), are critical and must be placed carefully. I was thinking one SER in Miri and one in Palembang in my game. Where are y'all placing these units?

[John 3rd]

At the moment I plan to have one of these valuable units at Truk and another at Rabaul. May leapfrog the Truk one to another destination as things continue to develop within the campaign.

Michael is doing quite well and I am picking off shipping wherever I can in the Philippines/Borneo area. They are being aggressive which is great. It keeps us on out toes while at the same time providing an opportunity to bag more warships. We'll see how long they can afford to keep up their apparent strategy.

[ny59giants]

Dec 14: Pay Back!

ASW/Subs:
SS S-36 is at Laoag (Luzon) and claiming victims. Two xAK are sunk with 2 torpedoes each. An xAP is her next victim, but only one torpedoes hit and she may be able to limp into Takao.

Off the southern tip of Java, I-158 is able to get a shot at BB Jellicoe, but misses with 6 torpedoes. [:(] The crew is well trained and after a quick reload, she is able to get another shot at BB Jellicoe. This time a single torpedo hits out of the 6 launched!!

Surface Combats:
Off Taytay, at night CL Mogami & 2DDs sink 1 of 3 PT Boats!

Carriers:
Mini-KB is one hex off Ambon supporting invasion
KB2 is slowly drifting south to support Singkawang invasion. 27 Val sink an xAKL between Singapore and Palembang.

Malaya:
Malacca -
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment is again the target of 45 Sally escort in by 22 Ki-43-Ib Oscar to sweep past 3 Buffalo. Another 10 guns and 6 vehicles are destroyed.

One hex west of Mersing -
3/16th Punjab Battalion is targeted by 27 Lily while another 7 Lily target 5/2nd Punjab Battalion. Good news for the arriving two Tank Rgt (5th Division has traveled 25 miles in two days and should be there in two more days).

Johore Bahru -
27th Australian Brigade is targeted by KB2. 13 Zero are enough escort for 54 Kate to push aside 2(1) Buffalo on CAP.

China:
Ichang - woods near base
17(3) Nate escort in 9(2) Ann to be surprised by 19(0) H81-A3 from AVG!

Hong Kong - Close to 2:1, but will try again after a day of rest.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24517 troops, 337 guns, 217 vehicles, Assault Value = 749

Defending force 5673 troops, 118 guns, 77 vehicles, Assault Value = 199

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1177

Allied adjusted defense: 685

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Philippines:
Manila -
54 Betty are needed to sink SS Salmon and get a single hit on a tanker. However, through the heavy rain, only 15 Betty are needed to sink SS Searaven and SS Pike (total is now 9).

Clark Field -
28 Nell, 26 Sally, and 19 Lily hit the AF. Total AF damage is 50.

SRA (east):
Ambon -
27 Kate from Mini-KB target ground troops before shock attack.

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 3960 troops, 51 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 137

Defending force 1943 troops, 23 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 49

Japanese adjusted assault: 158

Allied adjusted defense: 25

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Ambon !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

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

Japanese ground losses:
206 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3182 casualties reported
Squads: 120 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 173 destroyed, 68 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 39 (36 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units destroyed 3

Assaulting units:
Kimura Det
Kure 1st SNLF
1st Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
Molukken Garrison Battalion
4th Coastal Gun Battalion
Ambon Base Force

Notes/Plans:
27 Zero, 27 Betty, and 18 Mavis are moved to and resting at Babeldoab as an Air HQ and 2 BF will unload from transports waiting one hex off Ambon, but now ordered in.
Mini-KB and SC TF (BB Kaga & BB Toga 6 DDs) are ordered to move north of Ambon to meet Kendari invasion TF making its way from Babeldoab.
Mersing has its AF at 57% to level 1 (another 2 days needed). The train of transports will be coming in almost daily.
Georgetown shows 44 fighters. After Mersing gets her AF up, my Zeros will relocate to Kota Bharu to sweep before 1st Raiding Rgt paratroops into Alor Star (unloading at Soc Trang).

[bklooste]

What are the 2 allied fleets just N of Kuching and at Singkawang. Also is he evacuating Singapore by air ?

[ny59giants]

What are the 2 allied fleets just N of Kuching and at Singkawang.

Those are single ships, probably subs.

Also is he evacuating Singapore by air ?

I haven't done any sweeps or LRCAP to see if this is so. I need to get the AF at Mersing up first. I'm still LRCAP Mersing from Kuantan.

[FatR]

I don't think that paradropping 1st Raiding Rgt in Alor Star is a good use of it. The obvious early target for a paradrop is Port Blair. Allies cannot fly fighters from Burma and India to DEI without using its airfield.

[ny59giants]

I don't think that paradropping 1st Raiding Rgt in Alor Star is a good use of it. The obvious early target for a paradrop is Port Blair. Allies cannot fly fighters from Burma and India to DEI without using its airfield.

Very true. However, I need to capture Alor Star and Taiping to get the Imperial Guards Division into action. I also have to capture and/or get the Allies to abandon Tavoy and Victoria Point. As long as there are BF there, they can use those routes. I have troops marching on both those bases. Even if I only use the paras to capture Alor Star (saves me a few days of marching), I can then use the RR to get them to Bangkok.

[John 3rd]

On December 15, 1942, the atoll of Canton finds itself surrounded by a Japanese Invasion Force sending ashore an SNLF and the Naval Guard that captured Baker Isle. Providing devastating funfire support are 2 BC, 1 CL, and 8 DD. The defenders--recently reinforced by a group of FA units surrender within hours and the Japanese capture 116 Guns, 87 Vehicles and a few actual troops (733).

WOW---Wiping out those three FA units will certainly help for the next couple of months. How about that!