Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)

[apbarog]

My concern is that I haven't yet formed a line in the jungle to protect India. I'd like to do so, but not until absolutely necessary. I can't rule out an amphibious landing somewhere else. In the game, I'm more heavily defending Ceylon. It would take a major commitment to clear the island. Probably more than 3 divisions. I could, and may need to, move some units from Ceylon to the mainland if the threat from Burma continues to increase.

There are divisions missing for quite awhile. I mentioned the Imperial Guard Division. If I could get some good SigInt, I'd be able to plan a little better. I do have a couple of US infantry regiments forming soon. They will be sent to Capetown. I've sent few troops to India from the US so far. The next division to appear may go also.

My plan is to fight whatever kind of land war that develops in India. I'm not sending the carriers. I have limited British naval assets in the area. If there isn't an amphibious landing, there's less need for the navy.

Note that as far as I know, the big enemy carriers are in the South Pacific. Some seen in the Solomons just a couple of days ago.

[apbarog]

12 Apr 42

34 Sonias with 30 Nates show up at Changsha. I finally guessed right! But no P-40s flew. What happened? I checked their settings and discovered that they were still set to 0%. Medals are given for following orders.

Imphal is bombed for the first time. 54 Sallys with 42 Oscars escorting. Heavy damage to the airfield. But he's going to have to take it with troops, not planes.

Loewoek on Celebes is lost.

The first USN subs come out of refit, but with the same torpedoes.

More xAKLs at Akyab. Looks like more units unloading there also. The Chittagong area will have to be reinforced. Sub mines will be placed south of Chittagong, and others at the entrance to Rangoon, in about a week.

[Bif1961]

Imagine their frustration with higher HQ who ordered them grounded with all that easy prey flying above and dropping bombs at will. Curses all around as they lay in the bomb dugouts wondering what moron is running this war. [:D]

[apbarog]

13 Apr 42

Light cruisers and destroyers spotted southeast of Rabaul. May be returning there after lots of activity at Lunga and Tulagi.

Dutch sub KVIII has been patrolling Siberoet, off the coast of Sumatra, awaiting an invasion that was mentioned in SigInt. The sub is spotted by a destroyer. There are other ships there, but the sub doesn't see them, or attack. The sub is ordered to Ceylon, the original destination. Siberoet falls.

Oscars sweep Changsha, looking for my P-40s that were there yesterday but didn't fly. The Warhawks redeployed to the capital.

Bettys with Zeros bomb Broome's port, for some reason. Nothing of interest there, and no supply.

Myitkyina in Burma is lost. Defenders retreat southeast, toward China, instead of toward India. Unfortunate. Escape is less likely and would take much longer now.

Once again, KB is spotted. Still a couple of weeks until the Allied ships are done with refit at Auckland. The Brit carrier only has 2 days to go, and the US carriers are done, but the cruisers and destroyers are still being worked on. These are significant upgrades and worth the wait, in my opinion. If OPilot rushes towards New Caledonia, I'll scramble what I have to defend. If not, I'll wait till the ships are ready. A carrier battle around New Caledonia gives my friendly airbases, and these airbases are growing quickly.

When I spring the Allied carriers, I want it to be quick, decisive and a surprise. At Auckland I have 5 US carriers and 2 British ones. A 3rd British carrier recently left Capetown to head to Melbourne to join the others. This group would have a fighting chance against KB, even without US torpedo bombers. Something to look forward to and not to rush.

[apbarog]

14 Apr 42

British sub Trusty spots an xAKL task force near Mergui, but misses xAKL Uragami Maru.

Gorontalo on Celebes is invaded. OPilot is cleaning up bases behind the lines.

Near Manado, Dutch sub O21 spots a couple of AOs with a patrol boat. 6 torpedoes are fired at big tanker AO Tsurumi. 2 torpedoes hit and the ship is loaded with fuel. The fuel is burning, the ship is burning, and sinking audio is heard later in the day. It is sunk. O21 hit xAK Igasa Maru in mid-February, but probably did not sink the ship.

I figured that Cox's Bazar was an easy target for bombing, with Akyab heavily protected. I sent some Blens and bombed the port. Minimal damage. Nuisance bombing.

Dutch sub KXI spots 2 light cruisers and 2 destroyers passing Milne Bay. The sub escapes depth charges.

Near Wuchow, a Chinese corp is slowly being ground down. An enemy division attacks at 1 to 3 odds but causes 304 casualties and takes only 199. I'm moving another corp into the hex that the enemy came from, which would cut off its supplies. This will only work if the Chinese corp gets into that hex before the other corp is defeated.

Every day is an enemy bombardment attack at Bandoeng. Today's had unusually heavy losses for the enemy attackers.

Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 29265 troops, 467 guns, 238 vehicles, Assault Value = 1195

Defending force 23625 troops, 227 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 474

Japanese ground losses:
180 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

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

Must have been a bad die roll. Nothing different with today's attack, as far as I can tell.

KB still spotted, now moving west. Maybe sweeping south of a move past Milne Bay.

[apbarog]

15 Apr 42

Snapper moved to Babo when Dutch seaplanes spotted ships there. It spots a patrol boat, and fires 2 torpedoes at PB Saiko Maru. One torpedo hits but it is a dud. This is the third ship that Snapper has hit so far. Previous hits were on an AMC and a PB. Unfortunately, all 3 hits have been duds.

Near Mergui, British sub Trusty again spots a task force, finding transport xAP Shanghai Maru. 4 torpedoes are fired at the ship but all miss. I have a feeling that the ship is loaded and headed north.

South of Chittagong, P-40s sweep the contested hex but find no fighters. A few Allied bomber units then hit the enemy troops in the jungle, but do very little damage. Just mixing things up here.

Bandoeng is heavily bombed. I've lost track of how many deliberate attacks the enemy has tried at Bandoeng. Today's is the 3rd or 4th, I think, and all have gone badly. The mountainous terrain is the key, along with enough defenders and plenty of supply. Today's attack was probably the worst so far. OPilot added another division for the attack, and promptly lost about a division's troops. From his emails, I know that Bandoeng has been frustrating for him. He thinks that supply has to be low, but it isn't. Instead of hoarding it at Batavia and Soerabaja, where it is inevitably lost, I gathered it at Bandoeng. His best choice is just to isolate the base and pin it with minimal forces, in my opinion.

Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 43513 troops, 569 guns, 248 vehicles, Assault Value = 1201

Defending force 23642 troops, 227 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 477

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 632

Allied adjusted defense: 976

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
5204 casualties reported
Squads: 181 destroyed, 204 disabled
Non Combat: 32 destroyed, 48 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 36 (19 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
736 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 17 (2 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (3 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Assaulting units:
47th Infantry Regiment
16th Division
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
2nd Formosa Inf. Regiment
48th Engineer Regiment
21st Division
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
48th Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
2nd KNIL Regiment
Mobiele Battalion
1st Cav Regiment
1st KNIL Regiment
IV Landstorm Cdo
4th KNIL Regiment
A-III-Ld AA Battalion
ML-KNIL
3e-VLG-V Sup Afd
KNI Zeemacht
HQ I KNIL Division
KNI Leger
ABDA
Andir ML Base Force
2e-VLG-V Sup Afd
VkA-1 Sup Afd

Bandoeng is wrecking enemy units and keeping them from being elsewhere.

KB not seen today with lots of bad weather in the Coral Sea by Milne Bay. Ships spotted at Port Moresby, and heavy recon of Horn Island occurring.

[Bif1961]

When I assaulted there I had the same problems, well defended and supplied. I started with 3 Divisions and a few other units a Regiment and 2 tank Regiments. I had to bring in two other Divisions and slowly reduced it until i was able after 6-8 weeks to take it. This is where history diverges from this game. Historically you take most of the DEI mmjor cities and they surrendered. In the game the Dutch can hold out like they are end of the war Japanese and you have to dig them out from every base they hold. Just something the Japanese player has to account for if the Allied player does the defense you have chosen. By the way when I am the allies I have done the same as you.

[Macclan5]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

....This is where history diverges from this game. Historically you take most of the DEI mmjor cities and they surrendered. In the game the Dutch can hold out like they are end of the war Japanese and you have to dig them out from every base they hold. Just something the Japanese player has to account for if the Allied player does the defense you have chosen. By the way when I am the allies I have done the same as you.

Agreed and your observations are spot on.

ABDA was officially disbanded on or about March 1 and if I recall correctly the entire DEI surrender was early March (7th / 8th/ 9th ?) although there were some Australian units fighting gorilla tactics in Timor and some action still in Sumatra as I recall.

I guess the question is could have ABDA worked ? Worked better ? Worked at all ? I once read a study (??) that in essence simply stated ABDA was a terrible idea but the lessons learned paved the way for future Allied cooperation. Nothing else came of it but losses and grief.

Our resident AAR author has provided 'the answer' almost all Allied Players probably choose. Concentration / Defense / Supply.

The most fundamental flaw in my opinion with ABDA was Wavell's strategic plan to defend a line from Darwin to Rangoon - with a special interest in Singapore above all. No concentration of forces - no build up of defenses - instead spreading thin everywhere. ABDA was doomed because of poor strategic plans.

While the game differs it is because of this very hindsight.

[BBfanboy]

Macclan5: ...there were some Australian units fighting gorilla tactics

What gorilla tactics would those be? Gluing the Japanese commander's shoes to the floor while he slept? Putting invisible tape on the arming levers on Japanese grenades?
Perhaps it would be more effective to have them use guerilla (little war) tactics ?

[apbarog]

There is a counter to it though. The Japanese can close all the hexsides to it and pin the Dutch troops there indefinitely. Leave just enough troops that the Dutch won't attack. And they won't. The Japanese would get the benefit of defending in the mountains.

OPilot has closed all but one of the hexsides. The one to the coast without a trail is still open. The Dutch aren't going anywhere, and if they can't leave the hex, they will eventually starve. It just might take a long time. A rescue invasion by the Allies probably won't happen, or happen in time.

The Japanese can also use Bandoeng as bomber pilot training. Since it is getting bombed every day, OPilot may be doing this.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: apbarog

There is a counter to it though. The Japanese can close all the hexsides to it and pin the Dutch troops there indefinitely. Leave just enough troops that the Dutch won't attack. And they won't. The Japanese would get the benefit of defending in the mountains.

OPilot has closed all but one of the hexsides. The one to the coast without a trail is still open. The Dutch aren't going anywhere, and if they can't leave the hex, they will eventually starve. It just might take a long time. A rescue invasion by the Allies probably won't happen, or happen in time.

The Japanese can also use Bandoeng as bomber pilot training. Since it is getting bombed every day, OPilot may be doing this.

Bombing will have the additional benefit of destroying some supply, but it also gives the troops being bombed an experience boost, no?

[apbarog]

Don't know if being bombed improves experience. I doubt that it matters for the Dutch at Bandoeng. I can't see how they survive in the long term.

16 Apr 42

Ndeni is invaded by enemy fast transport. 2 APDs unload about 520 men. The 2nd Marine Raider Battalion is defending there, with limited supply. The Marines attack today, hoping to push the enemy back into the sea. US APDs start loading supply at Auckland for Ndeni. Catalinas from Suva can fly some in also.

Near Wuchow, the enemy attacks again, with fairly even losses but closer to a 2 to 1 attack. A Chinese corp has just cut off the enemy unit's supply line.

The enemy attacks with decisive results near Yenan. A breakthrough is about to occur. Chinese units are scrambling to fall back to the west and be in defensible terrain. This is a real problem. Chinese east of Sian are vulnerable to being flanked.

[Bif1961]

My opponent had about 350 Dutch AV in the mountains and if he wanted to he could have attacked down one avenue I was blocking with most of that so I would have had to surround the at least 6 hex sides with a RGT each or leaving 2 divisions plus behind just to guard one hex. Seems in the long run the Japanese benefit more from biting the bullet, bombing and assaulting at least that will eventually kill them all and eliminate a huge stack of enemy units in your rear that has to be surrounded and isolated for several months as they slowly starve to death.

[apbarog]

To pin the Dutch at Bandoeng, one division would be more than enough. Instead of the Dutch benefiting from the mountain terrain, now the Japanese would. Less than a division would be enough. Just make sure to have control of all of the hexsides first.

[apbarog]

17 Apr 42

Just dropped some mines at the approaches to Rangoon. DMS W-20 finds them and sweeps one. The minesweeper is probably at Rangoon. Then AO Gen'yo Maru hits a mine, and heavy fires are reported. Sinking audio follows the combat. I'll take an AO sunk any day.

Near Bassein, on the convoy route to Rangoon, Dutch sub KXVI spotted a big xAKL task force and torpedoed PB Nishho Maru. The patrol boat is sunk. A little later, the sub fired 2 torpedoes at a sub chaser but missed.

A big sweep of the contested hex south of Chittagong. 60 Oscars. There's no CAP there. Sallys bombed Indian troops afterwards.

B-17s bombed Yenan's airfield, doing moderate damage. No CAP.

The enemy barely (243 to 121) gets a 2-1 attack near Wuchow. The Chinese HQ retreats to the east, but the infantry stands its ground. 624 enemy casualties and 323 Chinese. The supply line to the enemy is cut now.

The ongoing pummeling of the fleeing Burma troops is, ongoing. A 1 to 1 attack causes 776 Burma troops lost, with only 140 Japanese casualties.

American troops in action!

Ground combat at Ndeni (120,143)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1021 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 43

Defending force 420 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 16

Allied adjusted assault: 16

Japanese adjusted defense: 13

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
2nd Marine Raider Battalion

Defending units:
6th Indpt SNLF Coy

Enemy combat ships spotted at Tulagi. I expect Ndeni to be bombarded soon to try and help the enemy troops. The Marines are ordered to attack again.

[Bif1961]

I will have to try that next time, either as the Allies or the Japanese and see how it turns out.

[apbarog]

Sorry I wasn't clear Bif1961. What I meant to say was that if the Japanese moved into Bandoeng from every direction, they would then control those hexsides. The Dutch could not move out of the hex in any direction unless they defeated whatever the Japanese leave in Bandoeng. So I'd leave enough to withstand any possible attack, and I consider that to be less than a division. You wouldn't have to keep units in the hexes around Bandoeng. You control the hexsides and the Dutch are trapped.

[apbarog]

18 Apr 42

South of Milne Bay, Dutch sub KXI is spotted by a combat task force with cruisers Chikuma and Abukuma and 6 destroyers seen. The sub is hit by a depth charge and has moderate damage, and will head to Townsville for patching up and then to Brisbane for complete repairs. If this task force does not have carriers, it's interesting to see it south of Milne Bay, in a forward guarding position, if that is what it is doing.

The Japanese sweep Dacca in India for the first time. I'd withdrawn my fighters from Chittagong, but there were still 12 Hurricane IIb's at Dacca. About 40 Oscars sweep at 23,000 feet. The Hurris are flying CAP at 11,000 feet. I expected a slaughter but results were 4 Oscars lost for the cost of 2 Hurris. Today I move 2 P-40E squadrons to Chittagong, trying to guess that an attack could be flown to there today.

Catalinas have completed flying everything out of Wake Island that can be moved by plane. There's very little combat value left. Newly converted sub transports are on the way with supply, to keep the coastal guns operational even if there aren't any troops on the beach to protect them.

The big enemy stack near Yenan attacks, with expected results. Northern China is in trouble. Most Chinese are falling back to hold some type of defense, but some are staying forward in order to cut supply lines and make this huge stack break up to protect multiple locations.

Ground combat at 87,38 (near Yenan)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 47102 troops, 378 guns, 79 vehicles, Assault Value = 1450

Defending force 14686 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 292

Japanese adjusted assault: 1561

Allied adjusted defense: 189

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
536 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 134 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
5556 casualties reported
Squads: 309 destroyed, 49 disabled
Non Combat: 183 destroyed, 90 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 36 (25 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Units retreated 5

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
12th Indpt Infantry Regiment
110th Division
12th Tank Regiment
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th Division
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
Mongol Garrison Army
11th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
19th Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
6th Group Army
13th Group Army
18th Group Army

Near Wuchow, the enemy also attacks and gets better odds than yesterday, but oddly terrible results. The enemy is cut from their supply, but lack of supply is not noted.

Ground combat at 77,56 (near Wuchow)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 12243 troops, 104 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value = 316

Defending force 5334 troops, 42 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 110

Japanese adjusted assault: 414

Allied adjusted defense: 127

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
607 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
104th Division

Defending units:
62nd Chinese Corps

In Burma, the survivors of the Burma defense get hit again, with over 2200 casualties. The retreat is a bit more favorable, but an escape to China is not going to happen. At least it's taking time and supply to chase down the remnants.

At Ndeni, the Marines get another 1 to 1 attack. The Japanese take 55 casualties while the Marines take none. 2 enemy ships arrive during the daylight, and there is no bombardment nor landing of additional troops. I expect that they are there to evacuate the rest of the 6th Indpt SNLF Coy. PT boats based at Luganville don't have enough fuel to go to Ndeni and back, but I move them to within 4 hexes of Ndeni today, and if there's a reason to go to Ndeni after that, they will and will do so at night.

[apbarog]

19 Apr 42

The enemy finishes clearing the mines at the entrance to Rangoon.

TF 210 encounters mine field at 54,54

Japanese Ships
PB Yamabato Maru
PB Shonan Maru #8
xAK Zyuyo Maru, Mine hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

4 mines cleared

Sinking audio is heard.

Some Allied bombers are hitting enemy troops in northern China. They haven't run into any fighters so far. B-17s target Yenan today, hoping to discourage its use as a forward airbase.

Bettys bomb Wake Island almost every day now. Wake is now barely manned and out of supply, with 2 sub transports on the way with supply. It's interesting that SigInt today says that the Guard Mixed Brigade is preparing for Wake Island. Allied combat value at Wake is now less than 10, so that unit would be quite the overkill. I expect the kitchen sink to be thrown at Wake when the enemy attacks, since the first attack failed. That's why I've pretty much left.

And another enemy attempt at Bandoeng. If this keeps up, the Dutch are going to win the war on their own.

Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35204 troops, 517 guns, 248 vehicles, Assault Value = 900

Defending force 23637 troops, 229 guns, 76 vehicles, Assault Value = 458

Japanese adjusted assault: 463

Allied adjusted defense: 766

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
3306 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 114 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 79 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 17 (4 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
557 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (3 destroyed, 13 disabled)

[apbarog]

20 Apr 42

Near Tavoy, sub Trusty fired 2 torpedoes at destroyer Yukikaze. Both miss. It's a big task force, with seaplane carriers Chiyoda and Chitose, a few cruisers and a bunch of destroyers. No carriers spotted, but they could be there. Immediately after this, Trusty is hit by a depth charge from destroyer Suzukaze. Trusty has moderate damage and will retire to Colombo.

2 P-40E squadrons swept Akyab from Chittagong. The first sweep goes better for the defending Oscars. The second sweep goes better for the Warhawks. Total losses are 17 Oscars and 14 Warhawks. Not really good enough for the Allies at this point in the war, with limited aircraft pools.

Horn Island is invaded by the Japanese and captured. 6 inch coastal guns do well, getting 4 hits on light cruiser Tatsuta, 2 hits on light cruiser Tenryu (on fire), and 2 hits on destroyer Yugure (on fire). The assaulting troops are 1/3 of the 4th Infantry Division which is at Port Moresby.

This has some meaning for me. If an invasion of Australia was imminent, I'd think that the 4th Division would have been kept together for that, not split up to take Horn Island. Just a theory.

The BFF Brigade in Burma is eliminated near Lashio. The 1st Burma Division is still on the run but won't get away.

Just 2 days left for the Allied fleet to mostly come out of refit at Auckland. Just 3 light cruisers will have a few days left there then. I'd like to reinforce Luganville and Ndeni but I don't want to draw down the defense on New Caledonia. Not yet. It's still early. At some point I'll replace the divisions on New Caledonia with brigades and regiments, maybe Australian units. But I need to know that Australia will not be invaded, and I don't know that yet.

I'm itching to get the Allied carriers into action, but I need to make it worthwhile. I think I've been getting a lot of benefit in keeping them hidden while they did refits. I can expect a belt of enemy subs in and south of the Solomons.