Am I correct in reading the last page that you faced both P-40Bs and P-40Es at Palembeng?? If so, then this mod allows the Allies to use PP to buy out some of those from Luzon and you will face them again. Be prepared!?!
GreyJoy, it seems you are a prolific player who moves very fast with his games.
I have an idea for Japan and maybe you could try it out (I am still bogged in December 1941 in all my games against AI).
Basically, me idea is to create a MTB/SSX festung on Umboi Island. This island sits between New Guinea and New Britain in the Solomons. The purpose of the festung is to continually harass Allied shipping with MTBs and SSXs, even if the Allies bypass you in the Solomons by hugging the cost of New Guinea. Even though Japanese MTB have torpedoes with ranges of just 2,000 yards they should still get close enough to release their torpedoes, even in 100% moonlight, provided the weather is Overcast.
Basically, build forts on Umboi, put Naval HQ (with 223 NavSupport) for torpedo rearm, some unit with DP guns (possible canidates are Combined 8th SNLF, 13th BF or 3rd Special BF - all three units are reinforcements). Put lots of AA units on Umboi to create a flak trap. Put two divisions on Umboi, some crack fighter unit for added protection and hold out. The Allies can be even in the Phillipines but if you hold DEI islands and Rabaul, their only ship route should be through Finschafen - Umboi Island hexes.
Granted, the MTBs will be useless during the day, but you could still harass the Allies with SSXs during the day and MTBs during the night.
I would love to try this strategy myself, but with the sluggish pace I play WITP:AE, that would be 2017 at earliest.
The idea is interesting!
I just don't think the MTB/SSXs will do much. Once the allies arrives nearby, they can bomb the Island to oblivion, simply using hordes of Fletcher TFs. They don't even need the big guys for that. I'd need to put there at least the Wake Det. CD guns and several hundreds of mines to deny them that tactic... and i'm just not so sure it is wise to place those valuable defensive assets so far from the internal perimeter...
But i'll think about it! For sure i'll place there something...[;)]
Thanks!
Am I correct in reading the last page that you faced both P-40Bs and P-40Es at Palembeng?? If so, then this mod allows the Allies to use PP to buy out some of those from Luzon and you will face them again. Be prepared!?!
You're BACK!!!!!!!
Very glad to hear you're feeling better Micheal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
The 25th Army rests at Singa, while my bombers keep on pounding the city (Flak losses are really high...5 more today at 15K feet!).
The 38th ID is arriving from Mersing. Should be at Jaore Baru in 2 days.
We are ready to land at PM and Menado, while Lungaville and Efate fall into japanese hands.
At Palembang 18 B17-Ds arrive immediately to pound the AF. Find 15 A6M2s and 10 KI-43b to wait for them. We lose 3 planes, in Exchange of 3 fortresses...not bad!Damage is minimal.
An I-boat places another torp into the AMC Prince William near Ducth Harbour and the ship goes down. That one is a valuable one!
enemy subs sink 4 more ships near Palembang (basically those damaged during the landings), but mines are almost all swept there and the bay should become safer in few days with the arrival of ASW dedicated bombers and some SCs.
The 16th ID is rebuilt at the gates of Manila. Now only the 56th and the 55th IDs need to be rebuilt.
No sign of the american CVs. my glen-subs are scattered everywhere from Alaska to Oz, but they do not spot a single ship!!
This morning, studying the map, i got very tempted in grabbing New Caledonia and Suva early, immediately. But that would mean to divert assets that are scheldued to be used against Northern Oz (4th ID, the 144th Inf. Rgt and the Guards Mixed Bde).
I don't wanna get diverted from my original plans too much, cause i know how easy it is to get your plans screwed because of a lack of discipline in following the original plans. But, at the same time, i do also know that the further South you push the allies, the more time they'll need to come back biting you in your inner perimeter.
Decisions, decisions....
Also thinking about not using the 5th ID for the next deliberate attack against Singapore.
The big division still has 50% of its elements disabled and it won't recover that fast. An attack right now could mean see a big % of those 90experienced squads lost for good.
The 38th ID may be at singa in 5/6 days, so to take the 5th's place in the line. but that would mean losing a precious week in my timetable...mmmm
decisions, decisions...once again
In PDU on, I would have said that Suva and New Caledonia put you more at risk of being cut off later. But in a PDU off where pace of operations is slower for the allies, particularly in 42/43 before they really get lots of toys, I don't know how it would work out. It might really help slow them down or just be bypassed all the same. Not easy.
Let the Allies try to build up the SoPac at this point as you can overwhelm whatever that have there. Hopefully, when you do go in you can destroy some LCUs.
American CVs - They get Yorktown at end of month, so by late January you could face all four somewhere.
Another day of rest at Singa, waiting for distruption and fatigue to get low.
In Burma an RTA Div crosses the river north of Moulmein and pushes out two small Burmese battallions.
Rangoon has been evacuated. Nothing is left there. Erik is running away. Very good, considering that I'm not even using the 33rd ID for Burma.
Landings occur at Port Moresby and Menado. Both places are strongly garrisoned and i'll probably need some reinforcements if I want to grab those bases. The 4th ID is waiting 2 hexes off PM. Will see if the 144th rgt and a SNLF unit can overtake the defenders. If not, the 4th will land. a CL is damaged, along with some xAKs, by the CD fire...
More mine sweeping at Palembang.
Another cargo is blown out of the water by one of my subs near Victoria (CND).
We conquer Manus, Efate, Groot Nanotea, more bases near Biak and other empty islands in the DEI. Usual stuff.
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Pre-Invasion action off Port Moresby (98,130) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
32 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Kashima, Shell hits 1
CL Katori
xAK Hokkai Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
TB Sagi
DMS W-10
xAP Kashima Maru
CL Kashima firing at 15th RAN Base Force
15th RAN Base Force firing at CL Kashima
15th RAN Base Force firing at CL Katori
CL Katori firing at 15th RAN Base Force
6" Mk V/VII Gun Battery engaging xAK Hokkai Maru at 9,000 yards
TB Sagi firing to suppress enemy battery at 9,000 yards
6" Mk V/VII Gun Battery engaging xAK Hokkai Maru at 9,000 yards
DMS W-10 firing to suppress enemy battery at 9,000 yards
6" Mk V/VII Gun Battery engaging xAK Hokkai Maru at 9,000 yards
TB Sagi firing to suppress enemy battery at 9,000 yards
TB Sagi fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards
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Submarine attack near Victoria at 206,51
Japanese Ships
SS I-5
Allied Ships
xAK American Star, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
xAK American Star is sighted by SS I-5
SS I-5 attacking on the surface
Ground combat at 89,38 (near Yenan)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 13090 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 396
Defending force 7648 troops, 45 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 174
Assaulting units:
33rd Division
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
18th/B Division
18th/A Division
21st/B Division
5th/A Division
18th/C Division
5th/B Division
5th/C Division
21st/A Division
1st Tank Regiment
21st/C Division
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
25th Army
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
Defending units:
SSVF Brigade
2/17 Dogra Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
1st Manchester Battalion
3rd Cavalry Regiment
2nd Loyal Battalion
2nd Gordons Battalion
1st Malay Battalion
27th Australian Brigade
AHQ Far East
112th RAF Adv Base Force
Malaya Army
III Indian Corps
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Singapore Base Force
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
Singapore Fortress
Malayan Air Wing
111th RAF Adv Base Force
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
113th RAF Adv Base Force
5th Field Regiment
Attacking force 2488 troops, 33 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 107
Defending force 6407 troops, 61 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 194
Assaulting units:
Lark Bn /1
Papuan Inf Battalion
49th Australian Battalion
A Coy/NG Rifles
49th Australian Bn /2
13th Field Regiment
15th RAN Base Force
Rabaul Base Force
Veji, Micheal, I still don't know what to do. I agree with both of you to be honest, even if I do believe that Noumea and Suva can be usefull only if I invest quite a lot in building up those bases with forts and AFs and placing there some crack TB and fighters. If not, they can be easily overrun.
Let's see how it develops. In the meanwhile I'm sending the Guards Mixed Bde to Truk, along with several base forces.
Another day of rest at Singa, waiting for distruption and fatigue to get low.
I've noticed that disruption recovery does not seem to be linear. I often see a big drop in disruption at some point, but IIRC it's not always after the same number of days of rest.
Another day of rest at Singa, waiting for distruption and fatigue to get low.
I've noticed that disruption recovery does not seem to be linear. I often see a big drop in disruption at some point, but IIRC it's not always after the same number of days of rest.
True. Distruption levels, for example, of the three rgts of the 18th IDs have dropped of 50 points in 3 days!
Guess that in 2 more days we may be able to launch another attack without getting any distr penalty (-)
What I mean is that I will see some (sometimes little, sometimes decent) reduction for one or more days, and then - BAM! - disruption will drop 30 to 50 or more % in one day.
There are a lot of rolls that go into disruption recovery I bet: supplies, leaders, weather (probably), base size, terrain, malaria zone, cold zone, overstacking, actions, hqs, bigger hqs, prep (?)... so I have never been surprised to see such swings.
I definitely have noticed big swings...about the only constant in this game is production given enough raw materials (HI, LI, planes, engines, etc).
Menado falls easier than expected.
CD guns at PM took an heavy price (two more big xAKs hit badly).
In China, on the road towards Sian, another defeat, but we're getting there. The chinese northern front is falling apart there.
Assaulting units:
15th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
41st Division
12th Tank Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
37th Division
110th Division
5th Armored Car Co
15th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Field Artillery Regiment
Defending units:
61st Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
5th New Chinese Corps
7th Group Army
8th Group Army
At Singapore we're ready to go. Fatigue has dropped to 15/18 everywhere around my INF units and distruption is not bad now (dropped really fast to be honest!). We've ordered all my units to rebuild and in two days we'll attack.
Assaulting units:
1st Tank Regiment
5th/B Division
5th/A Division
5th/C Division
21st/A Division
18th/B Division
21st/B Division
33rd Division
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
18th/A Division
18th/C Division
21st/C Division
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
Defending units:
1st Malay Battalion
3rd Cavalry Regiment
1st Manchester Battalion
SSVF Brigade
2/17 Dogra Battalion
2nd Gordons Battalion
2nd Loyal Battalion
22nd Australian Brigade
27th Australian Brigade
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
112th RAF Adv Base Force
Malayan Air Wing
113th RAF Adv Base Force
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
Singapore Base Force
III Indian Corps
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
AHQ Far East
Singapore Fortress
111th RAF Adv Base Force
Malaya Army
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
5th Field Regiment
Allied ground losses:
1437 casualties reported
Squads: 57 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 91 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 23 (23 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2
Assaulting units:
1st Engineer Co
4th Engineer Co
1st Ind Engineer Regiment
Bandasan SNLF
Sasebo 2nd SNLF
2nd JNAF Coy
Defending units:
Manado Garrison Battalion
Del Monte AAF Base Force
Manus, Sidate, Waigeo, Hansa Bay, Suriago, Batu Pahat are conquered. The Whole eastern coast of New Guinea is in our hands. Biak is already building forts and AF
The KB have bombed PM. without any clear result unfortunately. We'll attack Tomorrow with the two regiments present there. Let's hope i won't need the 4th ID...
However is PM has all those units, Horn Island must be more or less unguarded.
13 AKEs are now ready in Japan. Will be loaded and sent half to Rabaul and half to the DEI. Need to support the pace of my operations.
in the DEI, enemy's subs are seen moving back to the Bay of Bangal.
Confirmed: Burma is evacuated. Find it very strange, but hey: i won't complain if i can take it with RTA units [:D]
Think we may be able to get to Oosthaven in a week or so. Hopefully, when we will get there, Singapore would be already in my hands. Once Oosthaven is taken, shouldn't be that difficult to land at Merak and march towards Batavia under the umbrella of the LRCAP from Oosthaven.
In North Sumatra, the very usefull indipendent regiment (exp 90!) belonging to the 31st Div, is marching from Langsha to Medan. I already have a couple of SNLF units waiting at Georgetown. Once Singa's strait is clear, we'll move ships up there and we'll grab Sebang pretty fast (only 2 tiny ducth units there).
Your rapid advance is now paying dividends as the usual Allies "sacrificial lamb" naval forces have expended themselves (obtaining good results in doing so it must be said). The enemy will now either lick his wounds while you play out Phase I or commit more. Be ready.
The first attack at PM goes well. 1-1 and forts down to 1. Tomorrow we should get there. The help of the KB is, once again, very important. I hate giving out the KB's positon so easily, but in SOPAC, at the moment, i cannot but use the KB if i want to keep up the pace of ops. LBA cannot do much as only Rabaul has a decent AF in the area and it's a level 3...
The attack for Singa is ready now. Tomorrow (dec 30) we'll resume it and we won't stop untill the city is ours.
Not much else to report.
Glens equipped subs are reporting lots of activities near Dutch Harbour. Gotta pay attention up there and think i need to divert some forces to Hokkaido earlier than what i had hoped.
Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 6494 troops, 61 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 195
Defending force 4621 troops, 52 guns, 51 vehicles, Assault Value = 103
Defending units:
Lark Battalion
A Coy/NG Rifles
49th Australian Battalion
Papuan Inf Battalion
15th RAN Base Force
13th Field Regiment
Rabaul Base Force
The 25th Army, composed of the 5th, 18th, 33rd and 21st Infantry Division will attack Singapore Tomorrow. Hopefully the city will fall.
The Imperial ID will march towards the last pocket of British units in middle Malaya.
The 38th and the 2nd IDs are in reserve at Jahore Baru, with elements of the 56th ID.
So, by the first week of Jan 1942 i should have 7 Divisions and most of the 56th ID ready for phase two (the last regiment of the 56th ID will be available to combine as soon as the last bastion in Mindanao falls into my hands).
Two Mixed Bdes and one Ind. Inf. Rgts are already operating in Sumatra.
The 16th ID should be available in 3 weeks i think.
With all these units, Java could be finished very easily and very fast...say by Feb 1942...By that time i should have enough PPs to buy out the 20th ID too...
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