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In the DEI, the Japanese landed at Makassar and Kendari, closing in on Java. On Sumatra, the allies have created a redoubt at Padang with many of the surviving elements of the Sumatra army.



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Ground combat at Padang (44,85)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3910 troops, 40 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 137

Defending force 4491 troops, 33 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 154

Assaulting units:
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
Zuid KNIL Battalion
WS KNIL Territory Regiment
So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion
West Sumatra Base Force
Palembang Base Force
110th RAF Base Force

Jan. 26th.

Some allied victories.

In the straights of Malaysia, the SS Trusty spots a Japanese sub on the surface near Medan and scores a hit.

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Sub vs Sub: SS Trusty attacking SS I-156 at 46,75 - near Medan

Japanese Ships
SS I-156, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Trusty

SS Trusty launches 2 torpedoes at 3,000 yards

And near Nagasaki, the Salmon scores on a nice Aiden-class cargo ship.

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Sub attack near Fukue-jima at 100,59

Japanese Ships
xAK Belgium Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Takunan Maru #8

Allied Ships
SS Salmon

SS Salmon launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Belgium Maru
PB Takunan Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Takunan Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Takunan Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Takunan Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Takunan Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

In the South Pacific, SS I-22 spots this TF off the coast of southern Australia. Where could they be headed and what could they be up to? The Salt Lake City, Honolulu, and Phoenix? Looks like the escort flotilla for a U.S. CV or two to these eyes.

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ASW attack near Bundaberg at 101,154

Japanese Ships
SS I-22

Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
CL Honolulu
CL Phoenix
DD Hughes
DD Phelps
DD Selfridge
DD Downes
DD Cassin

Daylight and the string of allied successes continue. B-17s operating out of Burma find some planes on the ground at Victoria Point, without any CAP.

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Morning Air attack on Victoria Point , at 51,66

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed on ground
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

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

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 13

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

I missed the increase in detection level at this base the other day and did not realize that Bob saw the bombers here. They transferred up here, expecting their squadron of A6Ms to join them the next day. Unfortunately, that squadron had to fix some damaged aircraft from the naval bombardment at Oosthaven and have been late arriving. So, nicely done by the allies.

Despite these setbacks, the empire continued forward. Makassar and Kendari both fell on the initial assault.

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Ground combat at Kendari (70,106)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3252 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 118

Defending force 887 troops, 10 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 23

Japanese adjusted assault: 47

Allied adjusted defense: 13

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kendari !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
152 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
214 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
143rd Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
Kendari Garrison Battalion
Kendari Base Force


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Ground combat at Makassar (65,106)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2579 troops, 22 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 75

Defending force 1394 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 53

Japanese adjusted assault: 39

Allied adjusted defense: 9

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Makassar !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
635 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 33 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
1st Ind. Engineer Regiment
Kure 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
Makassar Garrison Battalion
Makassar Base Force

The Irving S isn't much to write home about, but the SA version is a lot better. It's radar activates I recall in June of 44. The extra cannon gives it longevity in fights.

The thing about night fighters is that quantity counts. There is only 21 or so squadrons that can convert to night fighters which isn't enough if you get embroiled in a night bombing campaign.

I would highly recommend that you look at accelerating the Irving-SA a few months to coincide with the radar activation.

In the South Pacific, SS I-22 spots this TF off the coast of southern Australia. Where could they be headed and what could they be up to? The Salt Lake City, Honolulu, and Phoenix? Looks like the escort flotilla for a U.S. CV or two to these eyes.

Your subs seems to be everywhere. Can't remember an unescorted ship that made it to destination port.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

The Irving S isn't much to write home about, but the SA version is a lot better. It's radar activates I recall in June of 44. The extra cannon gives it longevity in fights.

The thing about night fighters is that quantity counts. There is only 21 or so squadrons that can convert to night fighters which isn't enough if you get embroiled in a night bombing campaign.

I would highly recommend that you look at accelerating the Irving-SA a few months to coincide with the radar activation.

I think that you are probably right, and I may just go ahead and put one 30-factory to work on the Irving now. The number of nightfighters concerns me, and getting them going is a priority, in my opinion. I may just use the last 4 of my factories that I am considering for R&D. I will decide once the oil from Java is taken, and I can assess the damage, if any, to the oil wells there. If I do not need substantial supply to repair the Java oil, I am considering two 30-factories on the Irving as I review Tracker and upgrade paths. 4 or 5 squadrons upgrade to the SA, so it is an important aircraft.

The H-6 radar comes online in June of 1944, and the Irving SA in October, so moving it up seems like a good investment, especially now that I have examined the situation more carefully and see that the Irving S has no radar of any kind.

Jan. 27th

The allied submarine streak of successes continues.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 27, 42
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ASW attack near Madjene at 65,104

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kinu
CS Mizuho
DD Kawakaze
DD Yamakaze

Allied Ships
SS S-38

SS S-38 launches 4 torpedoes at CL Kuma
DD Kawakaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Then, he targets the Kinu as well, but misses


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Sub attack near Madjene at 65,104

Japanese Ships
CL Kinu
DD Shigure
DD Yamakaze

Allied Ships
SS S-38

SS S-38 launches 4 torpedoes at CL Kinu
S-38 diving deep ....
DD Yamakaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yamakaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Yamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

The RO-34 has a chance to even the score, but misses.

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Sub attack near Madioen at 53,106

Japanese Ships
SS RO-34

Allied Ships
CL Sumatra

SS RO-34 launches 2 torpedoes
Sub escapes detection

Some ships are upgrading now to the modified type 2s. The upgrade cannot come quickly enough. If only it were April when the subchaser SCs finally get the real depth charges. Why the Japanese allowed about half of their DDs to go much of the war without the the modified racks to use the Type 2s is a mystery to me. The Mutuki-class DDs have all arrived at port for their February upgrades, when they get depth charges. They are mostly useless until then, and even with the uggrade, they still will be unable to engage subs in deep water effectively, because they do not get the modified racks. In fact, they never do.

The De Ruyter and Java come in support of the allied redoubt at Padang on Sumatra.

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Night Naval bombardment of Padang at 44,85

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter
CL Java

CL De Ruyter firing at 21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
CL Java firing at 21st Ind.Mixed Brigad

ORIGINAL: 821Bobo

In the South Pacific, SS I-22 spots this TF off the coast of southern Australia. Where could they be headed and what could they be up to? The Salt Lake City, Honolulu, and Phoenix? Looks like the escort flotilla for a U.S. CV or two to these eyes.

Your subs seems to be everywhere. Can't remember an unescorted ship that made it to destination port.

Jajaja... I know the allied shipping lanes pretty well for someone who has never played as the allies.

Dutch medium bombers try their hand on a cover and screening SCTF in the Java Sea. The Java Sea swarms at the moment with Zeros, however.

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Makassar at 63,105

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
139WH-3 x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 4 damaged
139WH-3: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo


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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Makassar at 63,105

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
139WH-3 x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 3 destroyed

CAP engaged:
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 7080.
Raid is overhead
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes


Yes... that is the Shokaku and Zuikaku in the Java Sea... just as the Japanese did historically.

I made a mistake on my CAP settings. I wanted layered CAP over the carriers, but placed only the higher altitude CAP on long range. Lesson learned.

So, I picked up a second game as the allies, against Tomamars (which in Spanish means "Take the Seas"). I liked the name. I will not be doing an AAR, since Japan is my first love, but I have been thinking about playing as the allies for some time. He wants a historical first turn... so this should be interesting. I have never played a historical first turn, but I imagine it will not be good for TF Z.

With some luck PoW or Repulse may survive.

ORIGINAL: 821Bobo

With some luck PoW or Repulse may survive.

You have no idea what I am watching right now... . It is the most amazing thing. I am watching the combat replay from Dec. 7th in my new game as the allies I will post sections of the combat report when I get it. 6 BBs sunk at Pearl... yes 6... and 6 DDs sunk at Pearl... and CLs... CAs hit with torpedos. The most amazing Pearl Harbor attack that I have ever seen.. and I have run about 70 Pearl attacks with all games and sandboxing the first turn.

Ok... Look at this, Bob... this is the combat report from my new game as the allies for the Pearl Harbor attack. Have you ever seen anything like? Has anyone?

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Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 51 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 68
B5N2 Kate x 144
D3A1 Val x 126

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 12 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed by flak
B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 9 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 52 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 4 destroyed on ground
A-20A Havoc: 22 damaged
A-20A Havoc: 4 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 48 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 7 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 91 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 15 destroyed on ground[X(]
B-17E Fortress: 12 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
B-18A Bolo: 41 damaged
B-18A Bolo: 2 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 10 damaged
O-47A: 2 destroyed on ground
SBD-1 Dauntless: 23 damaged
SBD-1 Dauntless: 8 destroyed on ground
C-33: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 6 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed on ground[:'(]
P-36A Mohawk: 33 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 5 destroyed on ground
R3D-2: 1 destroyed on ground
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 8 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAP St. Mihel
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 10, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk[:(]
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk[:(]
CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage[X(]
DD Dale, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk[:@]
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk[&:]
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk[:@]
AV Curtiss, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage[:(]
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk[&:]
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 6, and is sunk[:@]
DM Montgomery
DM Pruitt
CL Helena, Bomb hits 2, on fire
BB California, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk[&:]
AV Wright, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAKL Manini
CL Detroit, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AM Vireo, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL St. Louis, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage[:@]
CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 4, on fire[&:]
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Honolulu, Torpedo hits 1
AM Grebe, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AV Tangier, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
SS Narwhal, Bomb hits 1
DD Helm, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Cassin, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage[8|]
AR Medusa, Torpedo hits 1
SS Tautog, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk[:@]
AK Castor, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DM Preble, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
PC Reliance, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS Perry, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hull, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Bagley, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Case, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk[&:]
DD Litchfield, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Cummings, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Dewey, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Selfridge, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AD Whitney, Bomb hits 1
DD Aylwin, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk[:-]
CM Oglala, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Repair Shipyard hits 4
Airbase hits 36
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 89

For those counting at home, that is 60 torpedo hits from 70 Kates carrying torpedos and 64 bomb hits from 92 aircraft using bombs on the port. This is a 1 in a million attack... literally. Oh... and from the historical start... Repulse took 4 torpedoes. The great news is that PoW only took 2 torpedos and now constitutes the only allied capital ship in the Pacific Theater.

wow....[X(] As an AFB my stomach got sick just looking at it

That is one heck of a start!

Ok... Look at this, Bob... this is the combat report from my new game as the allies for the Pearl Harbor attack. Have you ever seen anything like? Has anyone?

Not really [X(]

But I was right with Force Z [:D]

I may be ending my Passover break up

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

Jan. 25th. Recon showed that the allies had pulled their airforce back from Batavia to Buitenzorg. A squadron of Zeros was sent in. The sweep was undetected until the last minute and curiously, there were no allied aircraft airborne, but a dozen on standby.


Morning Air attack on Buitenzorg , at 48,99

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 24
P-40E Warhawk x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 4 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed

CAP engaged:
No.21 Sqn RAAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
No.453 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
No.488 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
24th PG/17th PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes

Why was it so good ?