Matrix Games Forums

April 16-17, 1942

Submarines

S-34 sinks AK Melbourne Maru at Suva, taking Japanese troops down with her. Reinforcements or a withdrawal?

Singapore

The Singapore garrison holds against another Japanese attack. 54 Japanese combat squads destroyed and 277 disabled for 19 Allied combat squads destroyed and 39 disabled.

Burma

Through the combination of pinning attacks and the fast moving 7th Armoured Brigade, three Thai divisions are successfully encircled at Moulmein. RM Viper Force is dispatched on a raid deep into Thailand towards Chiang Mai. The 6th Australian Division in the meantime is reaching the front line here.

S/SW Pacific

P-39 Airacobra fighters sweep Suva from Nadi one hex away. They do a good job, shooting down 15 Zero fighters for 8 losses. The Japanese retaliate the next day with a large carrier air raid on Nadi, knocking out 10 allied fighters in the process.

Java

A large Japanese air raid successfully catches a number of Dutch squadrons on the ground at Batavia and inflicts significant damage. A dozen aircraft are lost and many others damaged.

The Japanese shell Soerabaja while waiting for additional forces. In the meantime, other Japanese units take Djokjakarta.

Sumatra

The Meda garrison forces hold on against the attacks from the 22nd Recon Regiment and the Yokosuka 4th SNLF.

China

6 Japanese heavy cruisers shell Kiukiang in China. They shell the advancing Chinese armies on Wuchang after that.

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The Helen bomber makes its first appearance over China. Fun to see new aircraft variants coming into play!

April 18-19, 1942

S/SW Pacific

With the enemy presence at Suva dropping from 3 units to 2, I finally realized that this is indeed a Japanese withdrawal. Allied forces race forward from Nadi in an attempt to hit the Japanese before they fully withdraw.

Java

The Japanese attempt to replicate their successful raid on Batavia with a fighter sweep but the Dutch are ready this time. 16 Zeros are destroyed for 6 Dutch fighters.

Sumatra

British Hurricane fighters intercept incoming Japanese bombers that were attempting to intervene in the battle of Medan. 27 of the bombers are sent down in flames. Having blunted the Japanese air support and with the Medan garrison reinforced, I launch an attack on the Japanese in an effort to drive them into the sea. The first attack does well and will be followed with more.

China

The massed Chinese army of 3,503 AV attacks Wuchang and reduces fortifications to level 3. The 1 to 2 assault odds in my opponents favor however result in severe Chinese losses of 162 combat squads destroyed and 1,123 disabled. I decide against continuing the attack.

Meanwhile, a Japanese force lands at Kiukiang. Sneaky – didn’t really dawn on me that my opponent would go for an amphibious landing in the middle of China. I attempt to send reinforcements to prevent a Japanese foothold.

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Smith E.B. of the British No.67 squadron is my new top gun with 19 kills. The top Dutch pilot, now riding a P-40E, has 8 kills.

April 20, 1942

Submarines

Grayback sinks the Boston Maru in a daring attack on the surface just south of Tokyo.

S/SW Pacific

Having reached Suva, the Americans attack and take it! Although only a thousand Japanese were left behind to be dispatched with the rest having escapade, this is nevertheless a very sweet and hard fought victory.

Java

The Japanese finally get their reinforcements at Soerabaja and attack. Although the odds are 1 to 2 in my favor, the Japanese attack inflicted unaffordable Dutch casualties.

Sumatra

The Dutch attack at Medan destroys the Japanese 22nd Recon Regiment.

China

Having rested his units from previous battles, my opponent combined them into a large army that drove into and attacked Sinyang. Although we had parity in AV at 2,600 Japanese to 2,800 Chinese, my forces were very well experienced and were well positioned behind level 3 forts. The Japanese attack therefore failed with heavy losses – 248 destroyed Japanese combat squads for only 11 Chinese.

The Chinese forces hold their ground at Kiukiang against the first Japanese attack with 1 to 1 odds.

The encircled 52nd Division and 66th Infantry Regiment attempt to break out as I withdrew some forces over the previous turn. The attempt fails with heavy losses for the Japanese.

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Fiji is liberated! Tokyo is next [:D]

April 21-23, 1942

Submarines

I-170 hits and sinks DD Sims that was escorting a troop convoy to Australia. I get some payback when submarine KIX sinks the AS Nagoya Maru near Java.

Burma

Still annoyed at my opponent’s rough handling of my merchant shipping near Burma, I finally get my payback against his raids. I lace Rangoon with even more mines and dangle some merchant shipping with low threat tolerance at the base. Sure enough two Japanese destroyers, DD Yamagumo and DD Isonami, come racing in for some more kills. Isonami hits a mine however and this slows the task force enough to be finished off by my Vildebeests during the day.

Singapore

Another attack – Only 20 Japanese combat squads destroyed but 345 disabled. 10 Allied combat squads destroyed and 123 disabled. Supply is starting to be critical here as my B-17D numbers dwindle due to ops losses.

China

The Japanese attempt a second attack at Kiukiang but additional Chinese reinforcements arrive in the hex just in time to devastate it with 1 to 19 odds in my favor. The shattered survivors are subsequently evacuated by the IJN.

Another medium sized Japanese army of 25,000 men attempts to retake Kweiteh but the Chinese defense twice holds its ground with 1 to 1 odds and a third time does even better with 1 to 2 odds in its favor.

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Australian troops cross the Burmese-Thai border on the approach to Rahaeng.

April 24-26, 1942

Submarines

Tambor wrecks AK Hokuzyu Maru with two topedoes and numerous deck gun hits near Okinawa.

Singapore

Fort levels are reduced to 1 in the latest assault. Things are looking grim.

Java

Soerabaja suffers another damaging assault with 1 to 1 odds. One more Japanese attack could take it.

Sumatra

The last Japanese troops are pulled out by the IJN from Medan. The Dutch defense has thwarted the assault.

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A Flying Tiger ace, Martin, N., achieves ace in a day in a swirling dogfight over China. This places him second place with 18 total kills. Unfortunately, Martin won’t be scoring any more kills as Zero fighters shot down his Warhawk on the same day. [:(]

April 27-29, 1942

S/SW Pacific

American carrier aircraft catch a Japanese AK loaded with troops (probably a base force) and send it to the bottom.

Thailand

The 6th Australian Division seizes Rahaeng. Meanwhile, the 7th Armoured Brigade is racing south towards Tavoy and the RM Viper Force is approaching an abandoned Chiang Mai.

Singapore

With allied troops converging on Bangkok, my opponent launches a desperate shock attack and suffers devastating losses. 9,214 casualties, 124 combat squads destroyed, and 438 disabled. The defense sustains 2,187 casualties, 3 combat squads destroyed, and 68 disabled.

Sumatra

Over the last several turns, I maneuvered a British carrier task force composed of the Indomitable and the Formidable to within range of Palembang on the west coast of Sumatra. The carriers then launched their aircraft for a strike on the tanker traffic in the area that my floatplanes had been keeping a close eye on.

To help with the strike, brave Dutch pilots in outdated B-339 fighters swept over Palembang from Batavia, encountering 46 Zero fighters. Despite heavy losses, they helped tire out the Japanese CAP and reduce its numbers.

By the time the carrier strike of 30 Albacore I torpedo bombers and 19 Martlet II escort fighters arrived, the Japanese CAP was down to 37 fighters and low on ammo. The Martlets did a great job protecting the Albacores, allowing all of them to launch heir torpedoes before suffering considerable losses on the way out.

As a result of the attack, 5 large Japanese tankers were sunk, including two of the Tonan Whaler class.

Java

Japanese forces assault and reduce fortifications to 0 at Soerabaja. They assault again the next day and take the city.

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The latest failed Japanese assault gives new life to the Singapore defense - it should hold for some weeks to come.

Message from Imperial Headquarters

"I think Im going to surrender. There's something just not right
about this game. Im all about recognizing skill and all but I dont know
if its the patch or what but the combat resolutions are just beyond
ridiculous. Vastly superior forces getting kicked around obtaining
ludicrous odds,CAPS of 40-50 planes with 80 skill pilots being blown
away by chinese junk,and you have an incredibly unique abitlity to
attack hexes by "random" containing assets that just that turn Ive
parked and to cover hexes with CAP that in game terms are irrelevant (I
checked previous turns to check detection lvls).

I have played around 10 or 11 games as Japan against seasoned players
and have never had a game generate an absolute bias against one side as
this one. I have not had a successful turn since the start."

--------

The campaign concludes with the surrender of the Japanese forces.

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Message from Imperial Headquarters

"I think Im going to surrender. There's something just not right
about this game. Im all about recognizing skill and all but I dont know
if its the patch or what but the combat resolutions are just beyond
ridiculous. Vastly superior forces getting kicked around obtaining
ludicrous odds,CAPS of 40-50 planes with 80 skill pilots being blown
away by chinese junk,and you have an incredibly unique abitlity to
attack hexes by "random" containing assets that just that turn Ive
parked and to cover hexes with CAP that in game terms are irrelevant (I
checked previous turns to check detection lvls).

I have played around 10 or 11 games as Japan against seasoned players
and have never had a game generate an absolute bias against one side as
this one. I have not had a successful turn since the start."

--------

The campaign concludes with the surrender of the Japanese forces.

I am not surprised the IJ side had to surrender. It was going off the rails everywhere because of its scattered approach to the expansion.
The one thing that I thought was unusual in the Allied favour was the number of working Mk 14 US torps. Seeing a sub get two exploding hits on occasion is understandable but you seemed to get that result about 10X more than usual. Of course, we were not seeing your unsuccessful attacks to complete the picture.

Anyway, well played. You used your forces with skill and finesse, jabbing and retreating as required. Thanks for sharing the narrative! [&o]

[/quote]

I am not surprised the IJ side had to surrender. It was going off the rails everywhere because of its scattered approach to the expansion.
The one thing that I thought was unusual in the Allied favour was the number of working Mk 14 US torps. Seeing a sub get two exploding hits on occasion is understandable but you seemed to get that result about 10X more than usual. Of course, we were not seeing your unsuccessful attacks to complete the picture.

Anyway, well played. You used your forces with skill and finesse, jabbing and retreating as required. Thanks for sharing the narrative! [&o]
[/quote]

Thank you BBfanboy!

I do actually have an answer for your Mk14 query. I often skipped over some of the submarine reports where a sub was either depth charged to no effect or a submarine shot at a less exciting target and missed or got duds.

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Message from Imperial Headquarters

"I think Im going to surrender. There's something just not right
about this game. Im all about recognizing skill and all but I dont know
if its the patch or what but the combat resolutions are just beyond
ridiculous. Vastly superior forces getting kicked around obtaining
ludicrous odds,CAPS of 40-50 planes with 80 skill pilots being blown
away by chinese junk,and you have an incredibly unique abitlity to
attack hexes by "random" containing assets that just that turn Ive
parked and to cover hexes with CAP that in game terms are irrelevant (I
checked previous turns to check detection lvls).

I have played around 10 or 11 games as Japan against seasoned players
and have never had a game generate an absolute bias against one side as
this one. I have not had a successful turn since the start."

--------

The campaign concludes with the surrender of the Japanese forces.

2 Observations:

I. Well done on the AAR! You put up an hard resistance and managed to force your enemy to surrender in early 1942.

II. Your opponent's message is in poor taste: it almost seems like an accusation.

ORIGINAL: CV10

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

Message from Imperial Headquarters

"I think Im going to surrender. There's something just not right
about this game. Im all about recognizing skill and all but I dont know
if its the patch or what but the combat resolutions are just beyond
ridiculous. Vastly superior forces getting kicked around obtaining
ludicrous odds,CAPS of 40-50 planes with 80 skill pilots being blown
away by chinese junk,and you have an incredibly unique abitlity to
attack hexes by "random" containing assets that just that turn Ive
parked and to cover hexes with CAP that in game terms are irrelevant (I
checked previous turns to check detection lvls).

I have played around 10 or 11 games as Japan against seasoned players
and have never had a game generate an absolute bias against one side as
this one. I have not had a successful turn since the start."

--------

The campaign concludes with the surrender of the Japanese forces.

2 Observations:

I. Well done on the AAR! You put up an hard resistance and managed to force your enemy to surrender in early 1942.

II. Your opponent's message is in poor taste: it reads like an accusation of cheating.

Thank you for reading along and commenting CV10, I appreciated it!

On my opponent's message - I would ascribe that to the frustration of the moment. He did congratulate me in a follow up email and told me that I played well so it's all good as far as I am concerned.

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101
On my opponent's message - I would ascribe that to the frustration of the moment. He did congratulate me in a follow up email and told me that I played well so it's all good as far as I am concerned.

I'm glad to hear it!

And if I can add: I hope you'll do another AAR soon.

Aw man...

Sad to see this end so soon.

I have some annoyed thoughts about your opponent giving up so soon. He might have learned some things by continuing the fight...

On my opponent's message - I would ascribe that to the frustration of the moment. He did congratulate me in a follow up email and told me that I played well so it's all good as far as I am concerned.

Did you tell him that you had managed to flow major amounts of supply into China? I think more than anything else, his loss is due to the failure to move on Rangoon.

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

On my opponent's message - I would ascribe that to the frustration of the moment. He did congratulate me in a follow up email and told me that I played well so it's all good as far as I am concerned.

Did you tell him that you had managed to flow major amounts of supply into China? I think more than anything else, his loss is due to the failure to move on Rangoon.

And putting priority on Luzon ahead of Singers.

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

On my opponent's message - I would ascribe that to the frustration of the moment. He did congratulate me in a follow up email and told me that I played well so it's all good as far as I am concerned.

Did you tell him that you had managed to flow major amounts of supply into China? I think more than anything else, his loss is due to the failure to move on Rangoon.

I completely agree - my opponent's lack of attention to Burma was crippling in so many ways. Supplies into China, using Rangoon to destroy the MKB, using Rangoon to air supply Singapore are the most important facets of this.

I did not tell him directly but I think he will now see that from the AAR [:)]

ORIGINAL: DanielAClark

Aw man...

Sad to see this end so soon.

I have some annoyed thoughts about your opponent giving up so soon. He might have learned some things by continuing the fight...

It was unfortunate that it ended so quickly but to be honest I do see how the situation was becoming untenable. Hard to expect a JFB to continue the fight with Bangkok about to fall in May 1942.

ORIGINAL: CV10

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101
On my opponent's message - I would ascribe that to the frustration of the moment. He did congratulate me in a follow up email and told me that I played well so it's all good as far as I am concerned.

I'm glad to hear it!

And if I can add: I hope you'll do another AAR soon.

Thank you - I am in fact considering doing an AAR on my second AE campaign. This time it is a currently ongoing one (we are in February 1942) with my playing as the Japanese. In comparison to the Allies, I have found the Japanese side to be quite complicated and would benefit from advice on production and research issues especially.

Mike Solli and Kull both posted information on Japanese production and setup.

ORIGINAL: DesertWolf101

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

On my opponent's message - I would ascribe that to the frustration of the moment. He did congratulate me in a follow up email and told me that I played well so it's all good as far as I am concerned.

Did you tell him that you had managed to flow major amounts of supply into China? I think more than anything else, his loss is due to the failure to move on Rangoon.

I completely agree - my opponent's lack of attention to Burma was crippling in so many ways. Supplies into China, using Rangoon to destroy the MKB, using Rangoon to air supply Singapore are the most important facets of this.

I did not tell him directly but I think he will now see that from the AAR [:)]

I don't think it was that at all. You can easily ignore Burma till April without a problem...only taking it earlier if Allies Sir Robyn away.

In a scenario 1 game, Japan is always on a knife's edge. They have to destroy large numbers of Allied troops quickly to keep momentum going -- which generally means a focus.

Japan didn't focus, and they never destroyed Allied troops instead they lost theirs. In addition, they used a lot of very doubtful shock attacks, frittering their troops away. And finally, they never really established air superiority.

It would be interesting to look at the save game, I suspect Japan failed their personal morale check when the artillery train was destroyed in China.

A solid victory, congratulations.