Bloody Pacific: Undercovergeek (Japan) vs. Yank (Allies)

[undercovergeek]

Sub Combat & Naval Combat:

SS Skipjack is stalking the resource convoys between Port Arthur and Honshu - she misses 2 xAKs off Saishu and Moppo, and finally bags an xAP just off Moppo - nearby ASW is alerted.

I-121 is sighted by her old foe DD Thracian between Noumea and the Isle of Pines but no attack is carried out.

SS S-46 comes to the surface at Lahaina but is hit first by the defending xAK and retires due to damage. She tries again later against another xAK in the harbour and receives 2 quick shots from the transporter before she can open fire and retires again due to damage - quick fire Merchant fleet at Lahaina!!

The KB finds the same single xAK that scared her off last time and true to form she runs like a girl from the area - i hope this doesnt shut down Air Ops again.

Air Combat:

Passing Sampit now the 55 North bound transporters are attacked from Batavia - 8 139s manage to hit an xAK and cause heavy damage - the Oscar CAP is out of range, the ships will run the gauntlet for one more turn before hitting Singapore. In the afternoon 8 more 139s come past and hit one more xAK.

The fleet at Kalidjati comes under attack from Soerbaja - 8 139s, 4 L-212s and a 3 fighter escort - the 16 Oscar CAP gets there and destroys /damages 5 bombers and 1 fighter for no loss. In the afternoon 16 139s and 3 L-212s try again - 8 are lost for no loss to the Oscars - the AA fire from the Kongo providing excellent cover.

At Pearl 18 Zeros intercept 4 B17s going for the SCTF DDs outside the harbour to intercept incoming transports - 3 bombers are damaged for no loss. 43 Zeros intercept 4 more bombers in the afternoon - 1 is destroyed and 2 damaged for no loss.

Near Pago Pago the mini KB on replensishment duties launches its attack of 10 Kates and 11 Vals against the shipping at the island - 23 P40s and 13 F4F-3s intercept!! 4 Kates and 8 Vals are destroyed - the rest turn back - not a good start here.

Then the mini and the grown up KB combine their powers against the shipping at Pago and launch 94 Kates and 115 Vals escorted this time by 42 Zeros - an attack of Pearl Harbour proportions - 18 P40s and 10 wildcats come up on CAP. In the end 7 xAKs, 2 xAPs and 2 DDs are sunk, the xAPs in the process of unloading tanks [:)] - it costs 4 destroyed Kates and 9 destroyed Vals with 15 more bombers damaged, 2 Zeros were also lost as were 3 P40s but the carnage at Pago is immense and there is another unbombed transport TF here too with another 9 or 10 ships in and no air cover to speak of and the CVs are still at Noumea - lets see what happens next turn.

Landings & Combat:

The 65th Naval Guard lands at Den Passar - the last Javan Island - it is defended, and more naval guards will be dropped here next turn.

Undefended, unbuilt Lunga is occupied by the 5th Inf Reg - it will fall next turn

Troops start to land at Savaii nr Pago Pago - it is defended and will be attacked next turn.

The 115th Inf Reg occupies undefended Buna - it will fall next turn.

The 90th Inf Reg shock attacks at Badoeng - the Mobiele Eenheid Btn retreats towards Batavia.

The 1st Raiders land at Georgetown and capture the fortress - 823 troops surrender, not 1 IJA casualty is reported.

In China the envelope begins to close and the 13th Chinese Corps and 7th Artillery Reg are all but destroyed as the steamroller attacks them and approaches the base at Nanyang

[undercovergeek]

Long wait, sorry readers - 3 turns will be posted consecutively today - have just moved house and had to wait for broadband-

Sub Combat:

I-171 finds and sinks an xAKL leaving Noumea heading east, in the afternoon she comes to the surface and puts 23 shells into another xAKL.

I-121 also spots an xAK and sinks her leaving Noumea eastbound, in the afternoon she finds another xAK and sinks her too.

Refuelled and rearmed subs leave Kwajalein to prowl the waters between Noumea and Fiji.

Air Combat:

Above Den Passar 19 bombers attempt to spoil the landings at the last island before the Javan mainland is attacked - this is one target too many for the Oscar CAP and no fighters patrol here - fortunately all the bombers miss and 2 go home damaged by the TFs AA fire. In the afternoon 15 return and without losing a plane manage to hit a 1 xAK causing heavy damage but the ship is already empty.

6 v 2 at Lautem - 1 B17 is actually destroyed - the other is damaged for no loss to the IJAF

At Lahaina a 54 Zero CAP intercepts 4 Havocs and 2 B17s attempting to bomb shipping here - 2 B17s return home damaged - the Havocs flee before they get there, in the afternoon 35 Zeros intercept 4 Havocs and destroy 2 for no loss. There are 120 Zeros in the pool now and new Zeros are on hand in Hawaii, as the air power here seems to be surpressed again, i will start to split some of the squads and send them back West for the Oz landings.

2 B17s bomb the unloading 115th regiment at Buna but they miss and return to Port Moresby unopposed - the Zeros for CAP are still on their way.

The large 55 ship transport TF is passing Billiton and receives its final attack from Batavia - 1 xAK is hit and will sink before it reaches Singapore, in the afternoon another xAK is picked off as the TF passes Toboali - more Oscars required!

15 Marauders attack Rabaul - 3 are damaged by AA from the ships in the harbour

Another Pearl style attack goes in at Pago Pago - 89 Kates and 117 Vals escorted by 35 Zeros attack a huge transport TF in the harbour - 9 xAPs, 8 xAKs, 2 AMs and an AK are sunk for the loss of 16 bombers. Im tempted to strike the airfield but im unaware of the AA presence and im not suffering the loss of pilots like at Pearl.

Landings & Combat:

Undefended Madang in New Guinea is occupied and will fall next turn.

Undefended Buna falls, the 115th load back into their ships and will head to Tulagi.

Undefended Lunga falls - engineers immediately set to work on the airfield.

At Savaii the Samoan Detachment on garrison duties is shock attacked and surrenders easily - Savaii falls to the IJA and engineers start on the airfield instantly, recon is redirected to the nearby Pago Pago to get more idea of the troops here.

Den Passar is attacked and the garrisoning base force here gives up without much bloodshed - the Naval Guard units here will start to occupy the southern bases of the mainland to block off any escape routes when the Soerbaja garrison falls.

In Malaya the 3rd Yokosuka drops on to Alor Satr and retakes the base.

Summary:

The 38th Division at Singapore is fully loaded and is waiting for the other north bound transport TFs to load the other 4 divisions and then all 5 will head to Semerang. The 41st regiment should land in two days at Merak to seal in the Batavian defenders.

Tfs are headed to Hoorne Island and Upolo in the SoPac to take the bigger of the airfields surrounding Fiji and Pago Pago - recon will be flown in to get a picture of the troop build up on both islands and then the 4 divisions at Canton will come and take them from the Allies.

The KB has run out of targets at Pago Pago i think, she will hang around for a day or two and then head west to pass close by Suva and then Noumea before heading north past Rabaul and into Truk for fuel and reinforcements.

[undercovergeek]

Naval & Sub Combat:

SS O16 stalks the reloading transport ships at Den Passar but misses an xAP

Passing Lihue an escort TF of crippled ships is heading back to Japan for repairs - among those ships is the minorly damaged AO Toho Maru - she takes a torp from SS Silversides but will still make the journey home.

At Iriomote SS Pike fires 6 torps at a passing xAK - she misses

During the night a sneaky Allied bombardment TF approaches Moulmein and pounds the base - the Royal Sovereign and Revenge head the attack with 4 cruisers in support - 150 casualties are caused and 27 points of damage are inflicted on the airbase/runway.

The massive minefield at Singapore is cleared away with only one casualty - a PB that will be repaired at the base.

Air Combat:

Oscars CAP the unloading ships at Den Passar this time and 8 of the fighters destroy/damage 5 of the 7 139WH-3s - no ships are hit. In the afternoon Hawks, Flacons and Demons turn up but the CAP destoys 1 Hawk for no loss and the rest return home.

Allied bombers return to Kalidjati now that the big transport TF headed for Singapore is out of range - the CAP here destroys 3 bombers and no ships are damaged here either. In the afternoon 2 more are damaged and 2 destroyed for no loss to the CAP.

5 v 3 at Lautem and the Oscars win again - 1 bomber goes home damaged and no bombs are dropped.

10 Marauders revisit Rabaul and inflict no damage on the ships in harbour.

Landings & Combat:

Undefend Banjoewangi on the Javan mainland is occupied - it will fall next turn

Madang falls - troops here will reload and start to occupy the bases closer to Rabaul

In China the 13th RGC Temp Div crosses a river and bumps into 4 Chinese Corps - the shock attack causes 171 casualties for 93 losses to the temp. division - in effect its a defeat - this was the southern most part of the encirclement around Henkow - and i imagine it will be attacked next turn and it will retreat - opening up a path of retreat for the forces here.

Summary:

The KB finds no new targets near Pago Pago, she will stay for one more turn to cover the landings at Upolo and Hoorne Islands and will then take the route described last turn.

Christmas Is is fortified with the 1st Formosa Inf regiment and more engineers.

The 4 Divisions in the SoPac are now all in one large TF at Canton Island, when engineers are added to this TF they will embark for Pago Pago - recon shows 25k troops on the island - i would like to bomb the island some to stop forts been built but the bombers at Lahaina are too far away.

The other 4 divisions at Singapore start to load along with combat engineers - i estimate Java will be entirely Japanese within 2-3 weeks. 1 div and combat troops will stay to mop up Sumatra - the others are headed for Darwin and the east coast - which should coincide with the KBs refuelling at Truk to provide cover from the AF at Port Moresby.

[undercovergeek]

Sub & Naval Combat:

I-10 is sighted by DD Thracian at Noumea but she escapes before any attack is planned.

I-171 spots an xAKL leaving Noumea and heading west but misses with her torp attack. She then rises to the surface to attack the next xAKL in the convoy - hits the ship once and retires on low ammo.

Disaster strikes at Buna!!!! From out of the night come 4 Cruisers led by the CA Lousiville and 4 DDs to attack the completely undefended loading 115th regiment - no CAP, no escort - no nothing - all my fault i just assumed there would be no naval presence here - 10 of 13 xAKs/xAKLs are sunk fully loaded with the regiment - a tragedy that will not go unavenged. The 3 escapees head North but are caught again by the merciless Allies - however, they are not sunk and limp slowly but deliberately to Rabaul - worst of it is - i have no idea where the SCTF came from or went - i have a sub picket right across the corridor here and nobody saw a thing [:@]

Air Combat:

11 bombers attack the approaching TF carrying the 41st Regiment to Merak - the Oscar CAP takes down 7 of the bombers but 1 gets through and hits one of the ships - she will make it but 60 casualties are inflicted on the troops. In the afternoon 8 more bombers are lost attacking the TF but no more ships are hit.

Further South at Den Passar 18 bombers escorted by Hawks attack the reloading ships here again - 2 bombers are lost, no ships are hit and the Oscar CAP returns unharmed. 2 more bombers are lost in the afternoon for no loss and no hits on the ships.

65 Nells and Bettys strike Darwins port for the first time - this is part recon, part terror bombing - i want to see what happens with regards to air support and ships leaving harbour to assess how well defended Darwin is. There was no CAP - the airfield will be hit next time as recon shows 25 bombers that will be sat on the ground.

Landings & Combat:

Undefended Malang in Java is occupied - it will fall next turn

Undefended Loemadjang in southern Java is occupied - it will fall next turn

Banjoewangi falls - this is the southern most base on the mainland - all the other bases south and west of Soerbaja will be occupied and taken within 3 days.

In China the expected counter-attack to break the encirclement occurs and the 13th Temp Div retreats back across the river - 2 Divs are diverted from Singyang to occupy this space in the encirclement.

Summary:

The 115th regiment is all but destroyed but elements should make it back to Rabaul for reinforcements.

Upolo should be occupied within a turn or 2 and then the invasion of Pago Pago which i suspect to hold a division or at least a few regiments and a lot of supplies and fuel can begin.

The KB heads west - the Allied CVs are out here somewhere - i have no torps but all the planes are fit and well.

I need to develop a proper strategy for the Solomons - im a bit half hearted about it at the minute - there is no Allied presence and its just not high on my priority list.

By end of March goals - Java is Japanese, Pago Pago has fallen, and landings are happening at Suva or at least Fiji. Stripped of these islands the SoPac will be under IJA control and the divisions here can be set to either garrison duties or Noumea - unless Noumea is bypassed and these divs also head to Oz.

[undercovergeek]

Sub Combat:

I-10 off Noumea comes to the surface to take on an AO leaving the base and heading east - she is hit 3 times by the sub before it submerges again with low ammo.

SS S-39 decides not to attack an xAKL passing Gasmata (!)

Air Combat:

61 Nells and Bettys attack the airfield at Darwin this time - 23 are damaged, the base takes 21 hits and the runway takes 114 hits, a Hudson is destroyed on the ground - they will go again next time - recon shows still no fighter presence.

At Den Passar the xAP here finally succumbs to the bombers - the Oscar CAP fail to keep away the aircraft and the ship is hit twice and 99 casualties are suffered. In the afternoon the xAP is attacked again but the bombs miss - the CAP again failing to do its job.

The CAP at Merak is more successful destroying 3 bombers attempting to destroy the 41st regiment landing at the Northern base. 3 more are destroyed in the afternoon for no loss to shipping or aircraft.

CAP also keeps away 5 bombers, destroying/damaging 2 at Malang as they try to bomb the 65th Naval Guards landing here. In the afternoon, an xAK is hit once but it is empty already.

5 v 3 at Lautem, the Oscars win again and 2 bombers go home damaged.

At Madang in New Guinea, 10 Liberators attempt to sink loading ships at the port, 1 is damaged for no loss to shipping.

Landings & Combat

The undefended Hoorn Island is occupied by the 2nd Formosa Inf Reg and the 48th Recon, it will fall next turn.

Undefended Merak on the northern tip of Java is occupied by the 41st Inf Reg - it will fall next turn.

Undefended Probolinggo on the southern tip of Java is occupied by the 83rd Naval Guard - it will fall next turn.

Undefended Upolo is occupied by the 24th Inf Reg and 2nd Eng Regiment - it will fall next turn

Malang in Java falls - more retreat reduction for Soerbaja troops.

Loemadjang also falls here for the same reason - these bases will remain occupied to provide no path of retreat for the 19 units soon to be trapped at Soerbaja who will face the might of 5 divisions.

Summary:

There is no sign of the raiders that destroyed the 115th Regiment, i assume theyre either from an Oz base or Port Moresby - i will find them later.

The landings all round Pago Pago will have the airfields expanded and they are all close enough together to benefit from a HQ with a range of 4. Recon is constantly looking at the island to gauge the troops here.

The massed divs at Singapore should embark this turn under heavy escort and then the Java mission is on - Batavia first.

2 or 3 TFs head east out of Noumea - im unaware of the composition but they are on a collision course with the KB.

[undercovergeek]

Sub & Naval Combat:

The sneaky naval bombarders of Moulemein return in the night - this time however the results are a little less devastating - the same team only cause 10 casualties and 63 points of damage to the runway.

Air Combat:

58 Nells and Bettys attack the airfield at Darwin - 1 bomber is destroyed on the ground and the runway takes 106 points of damage - they will go in again next turn - i want to keep any potential fortification construction down and prevent the airfield been used against the invasion force leaving in a 2-3 weeks time.

Oscars protect the unloading ships at Malang, for no air loss 3 bombers are destroyed, but 1 empty ship is hit.

Banjoewangi is also attacked but there is no CAP here - 1 ship is hit and 11 casualties are suffered as a result. A small CAP turns up in the afternoon but the 10 bombers and 6 fighters are too much for the 4 Oscars - they destroy 1 fighter for no loss and manage to detract the bombers from their target.

10 Marauders attempt to sink the loading ships at Madang, 2 are damaged for no hits on the TF.

At newly acquired Savaii a Liberator and a Wildcat come by - nothing happens and they go home again - it points out the complete lack of air presence here without the KB - i need to reduce the Zero count at Lahaina and bring some south and west.

Landings & Combat

Undefended Tulagi is occupied by the 5th Inf Regiment - it will fall next turn

The entire might of the Chinese Army is unleashed again at Nanyang - 10 units Alled units are wiped from the map and the force moves southwest where a stack of 12 more Allied units are holding west of Singyang - the encirclement procedure starts again

The 2nd Formosa Inf Reg and the 48th Recon take Hoorne Island - they will reload and head towards Upolo where all the Pago Pago invasion forces will rendevous prior to the attack.

The 24th Inf Reg and 3 engineer regiments take Upolo - the airfield construction program commences instantly.

The 41st Inf Reg take Merak at the top of Java - they will rest and reinforce and hold this base.

The 83rd Naval Guards take Probolinggo at the bottom of Java

Summary:

The SoPac is moving along steadily - the 4 divs will leave Canton Island next turn - stragglers from the 4th Div have been holding up procedures - and head to Upolo to meet up with the other invasion groups - i want a smash and grab, knock down the forts and cause a mass surrender here as quick as possible in order to move west on Fiji and then Noumea.

The KB rounds Suva and finds no targets, she is given a route west past Noumea and then north to Truk - we are actively seeking the Allied CVs now.

The Soryu is repaired and will wait at Truk with the mini KB and then the entire force will merge and head west to cover the Dariwn invasion.

8 Naval Guard units are dispatched from Tokyo and head towards the new SoPac territories, a number of AV companies and battallions are here too and they will follow the combat troops.

Java is just a waiting game - waiting for the southbound divisions to land at Semerang and then journey north to Batavia - Lilys will land at Kalidjati and Semerang and start bombing ground troops here to bring up the disruption.

[CapAndGown]

have you been able to recon Pago-Pago? This idea of smash and grab seems optimistic. My experience at Pago-Pago is that it takes a whole lot to grab the place. My opponent had the equivalent of perhaps 2 reinforced regiments there and it took like 3 divisions worth of stuff to take it. Jungle terrain is tough.

Even if you take it, I would think that as you progress west you will run into even more resistance. Noumea seems especially likely to have a bunch of stuff.

Have you considered going to Noumea first after Pago-Pago? if you have those two, you can lay on a siege of Fiji until your troops are ready to take that on. Alternatively, you could go for Fiji instead of Pago-Pago since Fiji offers two landing spots and it is less likely that both are heavily defended unlike the single hex bastions of Pago-Pago and Noumea.

At any rate, I am thinking that by going for PH early on, you have forced you opponent to divert forces elsewhere, forces which you are now likely to run into down in the South Seas.

Good to see you going for Darwin this early. I have reached May 1 in my game and have still not made a lunge south to Darwin, et. al.

[undercovergeek]

C & G - Darwin starts after Java is conquered. There are 25k troops at Pago Pago according to recon and 4 Divs and 4 regiments and 4 engineers regiments heading her way - i hope its enough - i would prefer Pago first just to be a thorn in Yanks side and then head west.

There is a possibility we may be restarting the game - the new patch has destroyed my supply levels at some bases which were bought and paid for with many lost ships and casualties.

[undercovergeek]

ok then, Yank and I are having a restart - its a mutual decision, noones really complaining or been upset about it, i suppose in reality as we both get used to AE this was always going to be a training exercise as we get used to new features, coupled with this i object to the supplies movement in the last patch - i have lost a lot of ships and men securing islands and bases to move supplies around, only to find overnight that the new patch has moved this all back again - CAP protecting invasion forces suddenly find themselves without supply, while the base noone wanted now has all the supplies because it has the biggest port....... anyway, its back to square 1 - a different strategy (or will I), a different AAR - Yank and i have learnt so much from just this game - the next one should be a more refined clash

Lessons for me:

Air HQ, and the right Air HQ is vitally important, i rushed into this game assuming old WitP rules and sent planes and HQs all over the place - now none can replenish properly

Carrier TF V Surfaces TFs - never try and get an intercept with a carrier force

Sweep not escort

Build more Bettys, always more Bettys

And take with these bettys torpedoes!

I would like to understand why my no fatigue, no disruption forces on Pearl suffered a massive, nay huge reduction in AV from 3000 to 700

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: undercovergeek


I would like to understand why my no fatigue, no disruption forces on Pearl suffered a massive, nay huge reduction in AV from 3000 to 700

If you get this answer, please post. Probably the biggest item I've read to date in all of the AAR's.