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Night Time Surface Combat, near Atka Island at 163,51, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Oi, Shell hits 1
DD Umikaze
DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Hatsushima, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Le Triomphant, Shell hits 2
DD Delphy
DD Woodbury

You engaged Kitakami and Oi at 1,000 yards and didn't take any Long Lances? Impressive karma.

I guess that hitting a bear would be worse than hitting a deer, especially a coastal Brown Bear.

@Capt. Harlock I, too, was wondering about that. I was thinking maybe John had changed the configuration of Oi or Kitakami as part of his mod, but they appear to still have a lot of torpedoes.



Feb 11-14, 1942

John lands at Tulagi, Guadalcanal, and Ndeni, but then moves northeast towards Truk or Kwajalein, perhaps to refuel or get his carriers out of search range to setup some new surprises. In the mean time, I have been taking ships and bombarding the areas he is no longer covering to cause disablements/destruction that degrades the troops he is using for his cheap invasions and eat up supply. If I do this enough, this could slow him down somewhat in the SoPac and in the Aleutians. I imagine John will try for Port Moresby soon enough. He is bombing it every day and bringing my airbase/runway damage up to 100 and my fighters can no longer cover the area. Eventually, I plan to use my carriers to provide air cover while I reinforce with some supply and perhaps some AA.

ight Naval bombardment of Vaitupu at 138,145

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
CA Astoria
CA Portland
CL Jean de Vienne
CL Eendracht
CL Mauritius
DD Kelvin
DD Le Hardi
DD Le Casque
DD Flusser
DD Fanning
DD Dunlap

Japanese ground losses:
193 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Night Naval bombardment of Adak Island at 162,52

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
CL Honolulu
CL St. Louis
DD Mugford
DD Helm
DD Blue
DD Bagley
DD Mustin
DD Hammann
DD Anderson
DD Sims

Japanese ground losses:
679 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 71 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1
Port hits 1

In the Aleutians, John seems to have designs on Umnak Island.

7th Division is planning for an attack on Umnak Island.

As for elsewhere, I continue to see a buildup of troops in Singapore based on Signal Intelligence and I speculate that he is planning his Burma/India invasions. As for China, I am being pushed back in Sian or should I say the situation is precarious and I'd rather setup a better defensive line in good terrain in the interior rather than try and defend a clear hex like Sian.

I did say I am still learning land combat. What are the requirements for a land unit to be surrounded in-hex and prevent retreat? Is it a ratio of AV?

If there is no path (however convoluted) for supply to reach the enemy from any of his bases, the troops will not retreat. Great enough distance from his bases may in itself mean no supply flow over tough terrain. Use the 5 key to see the relative supply flow out of a base. If the numbers run out before they reach the trapped troops, they are too far away.

Edit: You can also close all the hexsides by keeping troops in the hex to pin the enemy there while sending a few other units to go around the perimeter and enter the hex to close the hex side. They can then leave the hex and to the next hex side to close it.

Hexside control can be seen by hitting the w key. This determines where troops retreat. They retreat based on easiest hex to move and towards friendly base. Even if you have it 40 miles in another direction it will go towards terrain it could move towards quickly.

Chinese Situation: This group is trapped. I tried to relieve from hexside by attacking a single division in it, but failed. I now retreat to mountainous interior. Units that can be rebuilt will be bought out and sent to India.

Feb 15, 1942

My carriers are back in Pago Pago, refueling and doing some "ready" repairs while waiting for additional opportunity. In the mean time, large convoys are being setup from the east coast of the USA to Port Stanley / Capetown from which will come the majority of supply heading to Australia.

As there is a dearth of fuel currently in Australia, major naval forces consisting of American/British heavies (battleships/cruisers) will be moved to India/USA where there is an abundance pending a major reorientation of ships to India to ready for the coming fight. Remaining behind in Australia will be light forces (cruisers/destroyers) to harry his forces that have landed and look for additional opportunities. The carriers at Pago Pago will remain for a little while before moving to join the Yorktown at Capetown. I might make one more appearance with them to make John believed they are committed to the SoPac community before moving them to India. Harassment bombardments continue apace at the moment.

In the SoPac, I believe the next major push is for Luganville, Suva, or Noumea, or all three. All are being reinforced with regiments from the west coast. The Marine regiments are currently at Christmas Island, but will be re transited further west shortly. Additional American regiments are due to appear in Australia over the coming weeks. Oh, and I am sending small units (paras, raiders) to retake Canton and Baker Islands. They are not occupied given I sank his transports heading there.

In the Aleutians Umnak Island is being heavily reinforced with troops, engineers, and supply over the next week.

Only major combat for the day:

Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138

Allied Ships
CL Dragon
CL Danae
CL Java
DD Rathburne
DD Stuart
DD Porter
DD Reid
DD Conyngham

Japanese ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Port hits 11
Port supply hits 4

CL Dragon firing at 1st Sasebo Assault Division

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23518 troops, 202 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 612

Defending force 11835 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 313

Japanese adjusted assault: 266

Allied adjusted defense: 301

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
691 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
314 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
27th Division
35th Division

Defending units:
85th Chinese Corps
4th Construction Regiment

Feb 16, 1942

Another day, nothing really big of note. John is consolidating the gains he has made so far and his carriers are out of view, going to where I do not as of yet know. He might be consolidating all of them for his push into India, or he can simply be refueling or recuperating for a deeper push into the SoPac, or he could be bringing them up to the Aleutians to cover his planned invasion of Umnak Island. A few things of note happen this turn: 1) he attacks in China in a hex with good terrain and my forces come off the better; 2) the AVG planes find some unescorted bombers.

I am worried about the Aleutians as I have transports moving up there without surface escort and he has spotted them by float plane. Sending some surface raiders from the Kuriles could disrupt things. I have ~200AV on Umnak, but I need to get supply in desperately. I'll send some stuff up from Pearl Harbor once I can.

Afternoon Air attack on 28th Chinese Corps, at 84,54 , near Nanchang

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-36 Ida x 6
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 9

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-36 Ida: 1 damaged
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 6 destroyed

No Allied losses

Afternoon Air attack on 3rd New Chinese Corps, at 84,54 , near Nanchang

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 6

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12565 troops, 102 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 353

Defending force 14929 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 404

Japanese adjusted assault: 144

Allied adjusted defense: 775

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 5

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

Japanese ground losses:
1118 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 98 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
122 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
40th Division

Defending units:
59th Chinese Corps

Getting a victory with Chinese troops in clear terrain is always nice!

The whole leaders(+) and leaders (-) that John got reminds me of a line from Gettysburg: "Half the regiment charged and the the other half retreated. You had your choice."

Feb 17-22, 1942

It's been awhile since I've updated, but I'll give the basic rundown up to the present. For me, most things have been moving back to backwater bases as I plan my logistics and get them setup. I simply don't have the fuel to conduct extended operations in the front and will need to get it there. In the mean time, I must wait while things get setup between the USA, Capetown, and Port Stanley. This means ships are slowly pulling back. My carriers are heading to India. In India, I notice that John is recon'ing my bases on Ceylon and, anticipating a port strike from raiding carriers, I move most of my surface ships back to Bombay. Unfortunately, I had a bunch of subs still there I was planning to move out to their patrols in a few days when his carriers strike and a few are sunk and a lot of badly damaged. Luckily, no more sink over the next few days as I get them to safer ports. I even manage an unsuccessful sub strike on the the CV Soryu.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 20, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Koggala at 29,53

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu
BC Chichibu
BC Kirishima
BC Hiei
BC Haruna
BC Kongo
DD Amatsukaze
DD Oyashio
DD Oshio
DD Asashio
DD Hagikaze

Allied Ships
SS O19

SS O19 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Soryu
O19 diving deep ....
DD Oshio fails to find sub and abandons search

So the result of this is that things will move very far back until I can get adequate naval search craft in. I have 3 USN PBY units currently transiting to Capetown. Soon, I will have all 5 USN CVs and 3 British CVs all at Capetown. THis is really my best area to operate with them currently given the easy logistics of fuel transport from the middle-east to India. I am also moving British surface units in SoPac to Capetown through the Panama Canal. They go this route because they need fuel, were doing bombardment missions in the SoPac and are currently there, and the only fuel they can have is further west.

In China, John continues his Northern Offensive. In particular, he has pushed up with his tanks into the cities north of Sian and manages to take two, taking Lanchow, etc. I don't consider these vitally important, but John in his email to me says upon their taking "The whole point of my Northern China Offensive was achieved today." I don't consider them that vitally important to my goal of conducting a holding defense in the interior for as long as possible, but perhaps someone else can fill me in.

India Plans

There continues to be a buildup of Japanese forces at Singers and...Sabang.

ORIGINAL: Anachro
In China, John continues his Northern Offensive. In particular, he has pushed up with his tanks into the cities north of Sian and manages to take two, taking Lanchow, etc. I don't consider these vitally important, but John in his email to me says upon their taking "The whole point of my Northern China Offensive was achieved today." I don't consider them that vitally important to my goal of conducting a holding defense in the interior for as long as possible, but perhaps someone else can fill me in.

Please take my comment with caution, especially as I do not have the mod installed. My impression from my stock games is that loss of Lanchow chnages supply situation in China from bad to very bad. One major reason may be that in stock, Lanchow is the base that provides oil and refineries to keep Chungkings HI going; a second one is that it may constitute a relevant supply source for bases in the region NE of Chungking, including Sian due to the supply generation of the refineries in stock. Without Lanchow, keeping troops in that region reasonably supplied can be difficult.

Hartwig

ORIGINAL: modrow

ORIGINAL: Anachro
In China, John continues his Northern Offensive. In particular, he has pushed up with his tanks into the cities north of Sian and manages to take two, taking Lanchow, etc. I don't consider these vitally important, but John in his email to me says upon their taking "The whole point of my Northern China Offensive was achieved today." I don't consider them that vitally important to my goal of conducting a holding defense in the interior for as long as possible, but perhaps someone else can fill me in.

Please take my comment with caution, especially as I do not have the mod installed. My impression from my stock games is that loss of Lanchow chnages supply situation in China from bad to very bad. One major reason may be that in stock, Lanchow is the base that provides oil and refineries to keep Chungkings HI going; a second one is that it may constitute a relevant supply source for bases in the region NE of Chungking, including Sian due to the supply generation of the refineries in stock. Without Lanchow, keeping troops in that region reasonably supplied can be difficult.

Hartwig

Right, and even further north in Urumchi and Hami area there is some industry and resources. Now he has the roads that allow it to flow south.

Well, what's lost is lost. I'm not going to bother trying to take it back. Let's hope he makes a mistake and the Soviets get involve ala Lowpe's game. I will slowly but surely retreat west to the mountainous regions and cities. Chinese units that can be bought out will be sent to India.

ORIGINAL: Anachro

Well, what's lost is lost. I'm not going to bother trying to take it back. Let's hope he makes a mistake and the Soviets get involve ala Lowpe's game. I will slowly but surely retreat west to the mountainous regions and cities. Chinese units that can be bought out will be sent to India.

Trust me, you don't want that.

I really don't understand the desire to move Yank carriers to Capetown? [&:] I mean, it is Feb of 1942 after all and you have a super, super aggressive Naval opponent -- so mere speculation here if Japan sees the CVs all the way west..well you will pretty much need to abandon all of the Pacific, north south and central.

India - what to send there from USA??

During '42, I send 2 to 4 Marine DB groups (you have a few TBs, but no DB in India), 2 to 4 Marine fighter groups that can upgrade to Corsairs or Hellcats in '43, EABs (Seabees stay in Pacific), 2 Marine CD units (you will need them when you march along the coast to boost the small Indian mobile CD, and the 40th & 41st Divisons.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe
I really don't understand the desire to move Yank carriers to Capetown? [&:] I mean, it is Feb of 1942 after all and you have a super, super aggressive Naval opponent -- so mere speculation here if Japan sees the CVs all the way west..well you will pretty much need to abandon all of the Pacific, north south and central.

You might be right. It's more accurate to say that a good portion of my CVs are still in the South Pacific at Pago Pago, with only the Yorktown currently at Capetown. However, I believe his main thrust will be India. I'm not entirely sure yet as to if I want to commit my carriers to its defense. I would love to see if he continues to operate his KB in a divided form or if he will combine all his CVs for an Indian operation. I continue to believe based on sigint on planned attacks and unit buildups that his thrust will be towards India.

If he divides his carriers, there might be an opportunity. If he doesn't it might be better using my CVs to conduct something where he is not. As for my defenses in the Pacific. He knows that's where my carriers were last and he is being more careful there. His operational tempo has slowed considerably and I am using the time to buildup my defenses. It won't be easy for him to shift and do shoestring ops in the future for significant gain there. Regardless, before they do anything, I'll probably want to get my 3/42 and 4/42 upgrades.

ORIGINAL: ny59giants_MatrixForum

India - what to send there from USA??

During '42, I send 2 to 4 Marine DB groups (you have a few TBs, but no DB in India), 2 to 4 Marine fighter groups that can upgrade to Corsairs or Hellcats in '43, EABs (Seabees stay in Pacific), 2 Marine CD units (you will need them when you march along the coast to boost the small Indian mobile CD, and the 40th & 41st Divisons.

I have 4 US Army fighter wings and 2 US Army DB Banshee wings heading to Capetown and set to arrive there in 2-5 days. 2 PBY units and 2 medium bomber units are also arriving. I'll probably send some VMF units and VMB units eventually but seem to be lacking them at the moment. As for CD units, 2 Cst Art Rgt and 1 Cst Art Btln are currently heading to Capetown, as well as one Cst AA Rgt.

As for infantry and armor, I have 4 US Army Regiments, 2 Canadian Battalions, and 1 US Army Tank battalion are heading to Capetown, adding a total of ~540 AV. A US Army division will be bought out and sent to Capetown shortly.

Feb 23, 1942

Fuel is starting to flow into Australia through Perth and I am feeling a tiny bit better about the situation. My carriers will undergo their 3/42 and 4/42 refits, but I am still speculating where I want to do it. Sydney offers a good location from which they can be sent either east or west, but it is also subject to danger from a Japanese carrier raid until I get enough fighter and nav search assets in place. Nonetheless, with what I have there currently, achieving an unseen raid would be hard.

Also, 2 US Army regiments, a CST Art units, a CST AA unit, a Tank battalion, and 2 Aviation Engineer battalions arrive at Melbourne. The 2 army regiments are part of the future Americal Division. Unfortunately, I have been unable to buyout the third regiment sitting in San Francisco as I devote PP's to sending reinforcements to India.

Only thing of note today is a Japanese sub is caught snooping around my transports at Umnak Island. John has had recon on these transports for awhile now from his nav search craft, so I am moving most of them away this turn as the majority of troops have been offloaded. Umnak now has ~350 AV and various Engineer units to build it up.

Submarine attack near Umnak Island at 169,51

Japanese Ships
SS I-172, hits 11, and is sunk

Allied Ships
xAK Don Isidro
xAK Admiral Cole
xAK Virginian
PC Onondaga

SS I-172 is sighted by escort
I-172 bottoming out ....
PC Onondaga attacking submerged sub ....
PC Onondaga cannot establish contact with SS I-172
SS I-172 forced to surface!
PC Onondaga firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

SS I-172 is reported to have been sunk near Umnak Island on Feb 24, 1942

Feb 24-27, 1942

Part of the KB once again makes an appearance southeast of Ceylon and this time, though unspotted by naval search aircraft, there appears to be an invasion force of some kind following in its wake, based on a sighting by a submarine. Over the past week, there has been a large amount of sigint activity stating Japanese troops moving to Sabang by ship. I don't really know why this would be the case, other than a staging ground for other ops or misinformation with the actual destination of the ships hidden.



The Submarine Seadragon spots the BB Fuso, as well as a number of transports, destroyer, and minesweepers. This looks very similar to the fleet that previously invaded Port Blair. There are a number of destinations it could be heading to, such as Ceylon, Diego Garcia, etc. Or, perhaps, the sigint could be right and it's moving to Sabang, though it was spotted in the wrong hex for that to be the case. I'm guessing Diego Garcia for now, which is lacking reinforcements until my new batch of infantry arrives at Capetown in a week or so.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 27, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Great Nicobar at 44,67

Japanese Ships
DMS Kunashiri
BB Fuso
CL Jintsu
PB Chitose Maru
SC Ch 4
SC Ch 1
DMS W-3
DMS W-2
DMS Ishigaki
xAK Ayato Maru
xAK Yomei Maru
xAK Yamabato Maru
xAK Okuyo Maru
xAK Hakubasan Maru
xAK Mikasa Maru
xAK Tamashima Maru
xAK Eihuku Maru
xAK Sydney Maru #2
xAK Seian Maru
xAK Asahisan Maru
xAK Daido Maru
xAK Kirikawa Maru
xAK Fushimi Maru
xAK Kosei Maru
xAK Koei Maru
xAK Teiyo Maru
xAK Kenyo Maru
xAK Kazuura Maru
xAK Asosan Maru
xAK Kansai Maru
DD Shiokaze
DD Akikaze
DD Okikaze
DD Minekaze

Allied Ships
SS Seadragon

I would imagine with the initial wave of invasions done and undergoing consolidation, and with April fast approaching, John will stage his next round of invasions soon. I'm guessing India, but I could be wrong.

I also spot a smaller Japanese cruiser force Tabiteuea, not too far from my carrier currently at Palmyra. Will move closer and see what nav search spots tomorrow. They were heading for their refits. In China, my troops are moving back to better defensive terrain. Once again, my AVG squads manage to down ~17 Japanese bombers according to the intelligence stat numbers.

Morning Air attack on 64th Chinese Corps, at 74,53 , near Kweilin

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-30 Ann x 21

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann: 7 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
AVG/3rd Sqn with H81-A3 (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead