Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Cannonfodder

You have to remember that everything you take and consider building up into an airbase needs to be protected by surface ships. One good bombardment run with battleships can destroy a lot of airframes..

Sure, I've thought about this a LOT, especially since my game with Jocke and the Moppo scenario there. [:)]

A move on the Marianas would need several fighter groups moving with the transports, in AKVs, and it would need enough cover to as you say cover the LOC as the first stages were accomplished. If I embarked on something like this I'd prepare for the whole op but I'm sure the first stage would be all it would take to get GJ very interested and we'd see some serious surface forces and the KB moving back quickly.

Before Nimitz took over, the Navy was working on plans to take Wake back....

Boy, would the PI Gambit be an eye opener against an aggressive Japanese player like here! Thrust and counter thrust

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Before Nimitz took over, the Navy was working on plans to take Wake back....

Boy, would the PI Gambit be an eye opener against an aggressive Japanese player like here! Thrust and counter thrust

I think they may have pulled the plug before Nimitz took over, too. Can't remember, and I just read a book on the first 6 months of the USN in WW2 not 2 months ago. Shame on me.

[font="Times New Roman"]Jan 23 - 25, 1942[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]Interesting. Midget subs are trying to infiltrate Calcutta. Is he using them to make the minefield DL go up to prepare for a bombardment? There are only a few small xAK here.

Around 6-8 subs are at Penrhyn, so getting out is looking like a difficult proposition in the near term. Mines arrive though and two IJN subs promptly hit them, likely mortally, as it's a long way from home here.

Speaking of mines, Merak now has some, and O23 hit one. It has around 80+ float damage and might not make it. So far the Allies have lost one sub.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Pacific: [/font]I'll start sending some feelers across the central Pacific, mostly subs, but I might also send an exploratory raid out to test air search and defenses. A few longer range DDs and an old CL.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] The Ankang mission was a bust, but these are lost units anyway, so no biggie. Wenchow is holding strong and making positive supply. The new defensive lines are forming to the NW of Sian, and pulling back around the city itself. A Claude sweep showed up on the 25th! Wish my Chinese bi-planes were still around, but they're all in India. [;)]

The Pingsiang block is still holding stronger than ever. No other spot is really challenged right now.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PI:[/font] Another DA went in at Clark, achieving a 1:2 and dropping forts to level 1. The IJA took 3x the losses this time though, but mostly just disablements. Still, it's going well and after the armor foray south Antimonan is still in Allied hands and resources continue to flow to Manila. I flew 10 P-40s back in and got a few Nates, but the Tojos showed up and damaged the lot, so I started a shell game between Clark and Manila. Five are repaired now and going to Manila to see if we can catch some boomers before the sweeps.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI:[/font] The CL Sumatra which just arrived made it out of Soerabaja and is heading toward Cape Town. Most other action has slowed way down since India. This fine by me, as half of Borneos oil and al of Java's is still in Allied hands.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA:[/font] Calcutta is bombed heavily on the 23rd. The Allied heavy AA group doesn't shoot down a single bomber. [&:]

Units move to break through the paradrop blockade of certain rail lines to Calcutta. Others move back to escape.

Some small TFs, two of four ships, appear along the South Indian coastline. I send a TF of 6 RN CL and 5 DD against ten, but find nothing. Now I'll race these ships down toward Karachi just in case and get search on Addu and Diego Garcia. I think by it's move toward Singers that the KB may also be on it's way.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] Interesting.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]a Japanese SS is moving to 210,73.[/font]

Another near India.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Radio call sign of SS I-153 detected at 28,44.[/font]

The KB? Or more troops. Both?

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at 48,68.
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at 47,63.

14th Division is planning for an attack on Calcutta.[/font]

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR January 25, 42
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TF 78 encounters mine field at Penrhyn Island (168,159)

Japanese Ships
SS I-172, Mine hits 1, heavy damage


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TF 74 encounters mine field at Penrhyn Island (168,159)

Japanese Ships
SS I-168, Mine hits 1, on fire

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TF 35 encounters mine field at Penrhyn Island (168,159)

Japanese Ships
SS I-20, Mine hits 1, heavy damage

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Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32341 troops, 368 guns, 247 vehicles, Assault Value = 921

Defending force 25799 troops, 304 guns, 262 vehicles, Assault Value = 703

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 540

Allied adjusted defense: 1357

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1560 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 148 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 19 disabled
Guns lost 46 (2 destroyed, 44 disabled)
Vehicles lost 24 (2 destroyed, 22 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
407 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Guns lost 24 (6 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (3 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Assaulting units:
16th Division
48th Division
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
Kure 1st SNLF
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
14th Army
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
4th Marine Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
192nd Tank Battalion
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
14th PS Engineer Regiment
45th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
2nd PA Constabulary Division
21st PA Infantry Division
Far East USAAF
I Philippine Corps
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
202nd PA Construction Battalion
301st Construction Battalion
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
1st PI Base Force
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
Clark Field AAF Base Force
201st PA Construction Battalion
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]How many are here now? Wow![/font]
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How many mines are on the way to Penrhyn?

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

How many mines are on the way to Penrhyn?

About 130 made it there on the 25th, and as shown in the CR sections, three IJN subs hit. [:)]

SIGINT: Interesting.

a Japanese SS is moving to 210,73.

Another near India.

Radio call sign of SS I-153 detected at 28,44.

The KB? Or more troops. Both?

Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at 48,68.
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at 47,63.

14th Division is planning for an attack on Calcutta.

Hi. I want to tell that im still here, reading every post. Rally interesting game.
But i decide to stay in shadows because i reading both sides.

As for all those intel information. So far You only play dark side so You have no experience but You can be sure that things You get from Allied intel in single turn will be more that Japan get in month[:)]

ORIGINAL: koniu

SIGINT: Interesting.

a Japanese SS is moving to 210,73.

Another near India.

Radio call sign of SS I-153 detected at 28,44.

The KB? Or more troops. Both?

Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at 48,68.
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at 47,63.

14th Division is planning for an attack on Calcutta.

Hi. I want to tell that im still here, reading every post. Rally interesting game.
But i decide to stay in shadows because i reading both sides.

As for all those intel information. So far You only play dark side so You have no experience but You can be sure that things You get from Allied intel in single turn will be more that Japan get in month[:)]

Yeah, it's kind of amazing. I hardly look when playing the AI, so this is really the first time I've been able to start putting SIGINT and Ultra into actual practice. It's fun!

Good to hear from you koniu!

Also, just a short note to say we're on hold for a day or two until we get a new map file without the false river crossing into Calcutta. Symon has offered to rework this part, and I'm fine with it, as there is clearly no river there in actuality. It'll be a tougher defense, but actually has still given me a few extra days to prepare, so not too bad for the Allied side either.

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[font="Times New Roman"]December 16, 1941

Near Cape Torokina

John hadn’t really thought the Japanese would be interested in these islands so far to the South of their possessions in the Pacific. When he noticed a deep, resonant sound of engines in the distance this hot morning in December he wondered first if a float plane was bringing visitors to the mission down by Torokina Point. As he came to a clearing he looked up to see a massive flying boat unlike any he’d noticed before. This was much bigger than the RAAF Catalinas that sometimes patrolled the area, and as it neared, flying close enough to see it’s markings, a chill went down his spine in spite of the heat.

He had heard defenses were being prepared at Port Moresby and Rabaul, but had thought of those as precautionary and unnecessary. A few hours later the big plane droned past again, this time on it’s return journey, farther out to sea, but still this gave John an ominous feeling of dread.

That night he walked the mile and a half to the Brown’s homestead and they talked over the developments in the Pacific.

“They’re getting coastwatchers trained up at Port Moresby and Rabaul. Men with radios, who know the land, who have good relations with the islanders. Thought we might consider it. I’m not going to sit by if the Japs start messing around down here.” Dean was a wiry, taught man who’d obviously spent most of his life working hard, but he was also shrewd and resourceful, like most men in the Australian frontier.

“I’d definitely get involved if need be. Who do we speak with?”

“I’ll get in touch with the officials at Port Moresby and see if they’ve got anyone around here. In the meantime lets start talking to the village leaders and get them on board. If something does happen down here we’ll need everyone on the same page.”

“Sounds good.”

John walked back thinking of the future. He’d built a life here. He enjoyed the work, if it did get lonely at times. In one respect though he was glad he didn’t have a family to worry about now. He could see the strain in Dean’s face during their talk. There was so much at stake for him now.

That night several Japanese transports passed close by Cape Torokina on their way down the islands toward Guadalcanal.
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[/u]

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[font="Times New Roman"]December 20, 1941

Near Cape Torokina

Two days ago word arrived through a broadcast from Port Moresby that the Japanese had landed troops at Kavieng on New Ireland and at Tulagi far to the South near Guadalcanal. The war had come to the South Pacific.

John had spent the past days meeting with village elders to form local defenses and information networks. Due to the good working relationships already established they were able to easily form plans for the area and get information to communities farther inland. The native tribes were aware that the Japanese were the aggressors in this war and that the their presence would not likely have positive outcome for their people.

The news from elsewhere was not good. Hong Kong had fell, Singapore was being surrounded and the speed of the Japanese advances was almost unbelievable. There was proof very nearby though, so no one was taking the warnings lightly. Dean Brown sent his family to Port Moresby from whence they would move back to Brisbane to stay with relatives. The mission reduced it’s staff to only reverend Reginald Sharp, who would stay and manage the building until the extent of the threat was known.

John and Dean had volunteered as coastwatchers. Their days were now spent climbing the hills beyond their plantations to look out over the open sea and skies. Each night they radioed back any ship sightings or plane movements. Most of the time nothing was seen, but yesterday two transport sailing north nearly on the horizon were spotted. They didn’t know if these were Japanese or not, but made a report. In the evenings they would sit and talk, study the Japanese ship and plane identification books they'd been sent with the last planes pulling families out a few days before.

Although they felt useful, the days were tense. They strained to see out into the tropical haze and the heat of the open clearing from which they looked was almost unbearable. It would be days before they would pass on something useful, but the network was now in place and functioning, and this would prove crucial to later events.
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ORIGINAL: obvert
About 130 made it there on the 25th, and as shown in the CR sections, three IJN subs hit. [:)]

Aren't there more enroute? Or is that group heading back to Pearl. Putting down the mines was a stroke of genius, wish I would have originally thought of it.[:D]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: obvert
About 130 made it there on the 25th, and as shown in the CR sections, three IJN subs hit. [:)]

Aren't there more enroute? Or is that group heading back to Pearl. Putting down the mines was a stroke of genius, wish I would have originally thought of it.[:D]

That shot is from the 24th. They dropped on the 25th. Now they're headed back to Christmas Island to get some more from the AKE that just arrived there, and hit it again. [;)]

Now they're headed back to Christmas Island to get some more from the AKE that just arrived there,

Can mines be loaded from an AKE? I think the manual indicates not.

Good question. You know, I'm probably totally wrong there. On the Japanese side i always had my go to ports and didn't use AKE too much anyway, so this is all new. I'll have to read over the port load section and what naval support and an AKE of different sizes will provide.

Thanks for the head's up. Maybe they'll head back to Pearl! At least it's on the way. [:)]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Good question. You know, I'm probably totally wrong there. On the Japanese side i always had my go to ports and didn't use AKE too much anyway, so this is all new. I'll have to read over the port load section and what naval support and an AKE of different sizes will provide.

Thanks for the head's up. Maybe they'll head back to Pearl! At least it's on the way. [:)]

Page 286 shows that AKEs don't affect mine reloading. Naval support can, but port size is most important. Save the fuel and head for Pearl.

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: obvert

Good question. You know, I'm probably totally wrong there. On the Japanese side i always had my go to ports and didn't use AKE too much anyway, so this is all new. I'll have to read over the port load section and what naval support and an AKE of different sizes will provide.

Thanks for the head's up. Maybe they'll head back to Pearl! At least it's on the way. [:)]

Page 286 shows that AKEs don't affect mine reloading. Naval support can, but port size is most important. Save the fuel and head for Pearl.

Thanks Steve.

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

How many mines are on the way to Penrhyn?

About 130 made it there on the 25th, and as shown in the CR sections, three IJN subs hit. [:)]

That's a really high success rate. Nice!

Rather those subs die on mines than take pot-shots at your carriers.

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

How many mines are on the way to Penrhyn?

About 130 made it there on the 25th, and as shown in the CR sections, three IJN subs hit. [:)]

That's a really high success rate. Nice!

It looks like 6-8 in the hex, and the various CR messages support that, so it seems about right, I'd say! [:D]

After a lot of hits the minefield will become known, and less effective, so I'd like to make one more drop to fully discourage subs in the hex. Still they will most likely hang around it. Three APDs with their 6 DC will be there in a few days also.

hi obvert,

I recall an earlier GJ AAR (I'm not reading his side of his current game w/ you) where he got creamed in India, got pushed all the way back to Karachi(!) & was having poor results from offensive forays making spoiling attacks out of Karachi against the IJA advance on that bastion. W/ 6 divs at Diamond Harbor, he may be trying to replicate that action. Keep Recon & NavS to observe any add'l forces arriving at Diamond Harbor. Looks like he's determined to take Calcutta, keep him under observation to see if BFs & planes are moving in.
As Albert noted, he'd be making a major mistake if he goes all out for India before reducing your Philippine bastion. I think you should make a big effort to ship supply to Bataan & Manila, build forts & minefields there, bring in some capable airgroups if your airfields are tenable - Fighters, NavS & a group of torp-capable PBYs w/ high NavT skill. These guys won't do well if their target is covered by fighters, but they can wax an undefended convoy.

You can defend against an IJ AV by building up bases in CONUS - while I applaud your efforts to improve the Aleutians, you are in Winter there, & your base-construction is at half-value. Use your engrs to max the size/value of your CONUS bases.