Tales from the First Time -DanSez (J) vs Przemcio231 (A) - no Przemcio231 please

[DanSez]

But before I get all excited patting myself on the back as the Mighty Sub Killer, I made a major screw up over the next couple of turns and escaped major disaster only because my opponent DIDN'T aggressively follow thru, which was an unexpected change.

This is a lesson for me and for those who can learn from the bad and good examples of others.

I let the game turns continue until I got all that could be salvaged back safely to base before posting. Now I can post the sad tale of the Charge of the DOH Brigade.

This action occurs around Lunga and south. I had suspicions that this area was going to be raided: Increased radio traffic in New Zealand/New Caladonia and some other elint from Allied High Command.

I set up the AMC (with a float plane) as a forward picket and put subs into intercept patterns. I had CruDiv4 and DesDiv2 on station to intercept what I hoped would have been a surface raider force.

CruDiv4:
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
DD Hayashio
DD Amatsukaze
DD Oboro
DD Kamikaze
DD Asanagi

DesDiv2:
CL Tatsuta
DD Asagao
DD Karukaya
DD Fuyo

That is the situation and thoughts on 11th Feb, 1942 - moving forces into position and preparing to intercept and fight a raiding force/small carrier group.

[DanSez]

1st Battle of Lunga Feb 12-14 1942

Feb 12th, 1942
The AMC was caught in an air attack by what looks to be a small British carrier force:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kirakira at 116,141

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 2
Sea Hurricane Ib x 2
Swordfish I x 11

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AMC Aikoku Maru, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk


On the map was a small group south of this attack. Arrow-over report was 5 ADPs, no CVs, no CVLs, no CAs...

My thoughts at this point:
Allied High Command has previously used the small Brit Carrier to do an air raid which preceeded a surface task force raiding a port or landing site. I was hopeful that limited DL on my own surface forces would mask the counterattack. CruDiv4 had some small DL and DesDiv2 was dark.

I gave orders for Full Speed, Direct, Absolute Threat to rush toward what looked to be a surface group approaching Lunga.

The ONE thing I forgot to look at was the remaining fuel levels of these two task forces who had been loitering on station for about a week already… (Guess what happens next) DOH.

[DanSez]

Feb 13th, 1942

CruDiv4 makes a move but then tries to turn toward home (Truk) – at Full Speed – and runs completely out of fuel to the North of the action.

DesDiv2 makes a partial run but also tries to turn for home (low on fuel) but remains in range of the Brit Carrier which lands a couple of heavy blows on ships that can’t maneuover.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Kirakira at 115,139 - Attack 1
Weather in hex: Heavy rain (but not heavy enough to save my ships) [:(]

Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 12
Sea Hurricane Ib x 2

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CL Tatsuta, Torpedo hits 1
DD Asagao, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk


Attack 2
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 10
Sea Hurricane Ib x 2

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Tatsuta, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Morning Air attack on TF, near Auki at 120,136
Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 2
Swordfish I x 1

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish I: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba

Aoba dead in the water ... [X(]

Even though it was further away, I thought this whole group was doomed.

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: DanSez


I gave orders for Full Speed, Direct, Absolute Threat to rush toward what looked to be a surface group approaching Lunga.

The ONE thing I forgot to look at was the remaining fuel levels of these two task forces who had been loitering on station for about a week already… (Guess what happens next) DOH.

Heh. Well I've certainly been guilty of this as well, especially a panicked full speed run from danger that left a valuable ship out of fuel and a sitting duck. I got away with it because at least it fled beyond recon range so was out of sight. But to run out of fuel on offense is pretty much suicide (and I've done that, too).

[DanSez]

Feb 14th, 1942
I expected more air attacks, but nothing happened.
I scrambled subs into position to screen CruDiv4 while a BB group, a fleet oiler and some ASW assets rush to recover the stranded ships.


CruDiv4 took a lot of system damage from running out of fuel and the one air strike. I detached two DDs that had some fuel to meet up with another small taskforce. These ships are completely dead in the water and I am very lucky that more strikes where not ordered or that no heavy surface raiders where close by to finish them off.

Snapshot of TF on 15th Feb:

[DanSez]

Over the next 4 days, these two battle groups were extricated out of the war zone back to Truk for repairs. An ugly lesson to always monitor the finer details of the game.

This type of attack had worked for me in the Guadalcanal campaign and the 1000 mile, both resulting with CV/CVL losses to the enemy. This time my luck ran out as well as exposing that I still have a lot to learn.

Overall Situation on 15th Feb, 1942.

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

ORIGINAL: DanSez


I gave orders for Full Speed, Direct, Absolute Threat to rush toward what looked to be a surface group approaching Lunga.

The ONE thing I forgot to look at was the remaining fuel levels of these two task forces who had been loitering on station for about a week already… (Guess what happens next) DOH.

Heh. Well I've certainly been guilty of this as well, especially a panicked full speed run from danger that left a valuable ship out of fuel and a sitting duck. I got away with it because at least it fled beyond recon range so was out of sight. But to run out of fuel on offense is pretty much suicide (and I've done that, too).

It makes for a sour dessert after planning to feast on an unsuspecting strike force.
Thanks for the kind words. Lessons at a cost, but not as tragic as it could have been.

[DanSez]

In other news and to tie in some other messages above.
On the 11th/12th my relief force was marching on Palembang and the questions about the ability to move into Palembang. Gaining control of Praboemoelih allowed my forces to move forward (another small lesson coming there...)

Feb 13th, 1942
Big News of the Day
Japanese forces CAPTURE Praboemoelih !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Namlea !!!
Aircraft G4M3a Betty advances R&D

Invasion of Cotabato lands.
I have noticed a dispersal of Allied forces, small units at a couple of places with air fields, possibly used for annoying surveillance. As time permits, I am now starting to kill these weeds.

Bombing Singapore and Bombarding Johore Bahru continues...

And...

Sub Screeners at work around Lunga
Sub attack near Kirakira at 117,140

Japanese Ships
SS RO-60, hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Danae
DD Napier
DD Le Triomphant
DD Nizam

This might have deterred a shelling at Lunga and saved two DDs for future surface. Good job RO-60.

[DanSez]

Feb 14th, 1942

Best News of the Day
Japanese forces CAPTURE Cotabato !!!

CarDiv2 Back In Action
Announcing her presence with an attack on the Air Fleas of Batavia
Afternoon Air attack on Batavia , at 49,98

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 51
D3A1 Val x 39

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 12 damaged [:@]
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 1 damaged
139WH-3: 1 destroyed on ground
T.IVa: 3 damaged
Vildebeest III: 3 damaged
L-212: 1 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground

I don't like to do this often, just enough to keep it in Allied High Command's calculations.

Killing Weeds
Ground combat at Cotabato (78,90)

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 3037 troops, 38 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 124
Defending force 232 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10

Japanese adjusted assault: 59
Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 59 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Cotabato !!!

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

Allied ground losses:
205 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
Yokosuka 4th SNLF

Defending units:
1st /101st PA Battalion

An Ugly Exchange to the West of Bataan.
There are a nest of PTs/MTBs/MGBs flitting and skirting around Manilla for some time now.
I have a small fleet (8 boats) or MTBs, some PCs and DDs I have set to flush out the swarm.

Over time it has had a little effect with air units also flying low nav. Killing some, damaging some, and others now fleeding toward remaining bases at Tarakan. But then I got unluck one moonless night...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Busuanga at 77,80, Range 1,000 Yards ** Round 1 **
Japanese Ships
DD Shigure
DD Fubuki
DD Usugumo, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
PT-31
PT-32
PT-41
PT Q-111, Shell hits 1
PT Q-113, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight

Night Time Surface Combat, near Busuanga at 77,80, Range 1,000 Yards ** Round 2 **
Japanese Ships
DD Shigure
DD Fubuki
DD Usugumo, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
MTB 7
MTB 8
MTB 9
MTB 27

Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight

Not a fair exchange this time...

[DanSez]

Force Arrivals Update:
Feb 12th - 16th Guard Rgt arrives at CRB. (upgraded/supplied/to be shipped toward Palembang)
Starting 15th Feb -- a series of Naval Guard units arrive in Tokyo.
Any suggestions for their posting?

I was actually thinking of using them all in a single force to invade Midway Island once the KB repairs
45 days repair time (Soryu torpedo damage)
10 days to gather forces:
Projected invasion date: April 10th-15th, 1942.

Or I could move toward New Caladonia.
Over the past week a bunch of B-17s, B-24s have started bombing Lunga.
Killing those with a surprise surface/carrier strike would be very sweet.

[DanSez]

Feb 15th, 1942

More Weed Killing
Ground combat at Oroquieta (78,88) ** the last remenants of Allied Ground Forces on Mindanao (hopefully for the next couple of years at least) **

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 4000 troops, 44 guns, 176 vehicles, Assault Value = 160
Defending force 671 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 36
Japanese adjusted assault: 67
Allied adjusted defense: 4

Japanese assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Oroquieta !!!

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

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

Allied ground losses:
625 casualties reported
Squads: 39 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 38 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
1st Ind. Engineer Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
16th Naval Guard Unit
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
4th/101st PA Battalion
4th PI Base Force

Air War over Burma
I spotted fighters again massing in Rangoon and decided to try and sweep again.
Morning Air attack on Pegu , at 55,53 ** Round One **

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 24

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 17
Hurricane IIa Trop x 9
Hurricane IIb Trop x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Morning Air attack on Pegu , at 55,53 ** Round Two - Stragglers from the Same Base? **
Weather in hex: Severe storms -- maybe because of storms

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 13
Hurricane IIa Trop x 8
Hurricane IIb Trop x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

Morning Air attack on Pegu , at 55,53 ** Round 3 -- Another unit from the same base arrives later **
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 30

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 13
Hurricane IIa Trop x 8
Hurricane IIb Trop x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Not too bad, but my Ki-43-Ic stocks are low.

Amphib Invasion of Gasmata Lands
To isolate Allied units that were kicked out of Rabaul but are still lingering in the jungle.

[DanSez]

Feb 15th, 1942 (cont)

Siege of Palembang

Once I cleared Praboemoelih, I set the 38th Inf Div and friends (Artillery Units), to march into Palembang, hopefully establish a flow of supply from Oosthaven and continue to grind down the forces holding the city.

Crossing the river hex triggered a Shock Attack:
Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 25332 troops, 313 guns, 204 vehicles, Assault Value = 838

Defending force 15416 troops, 187 guns, 75 vehicles, Assault Value = 503

Japanese adjusted assault: 30

Allied adjusted defense: 2914

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 97 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
4336 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 442 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 35 disabled
Guns lost 32 (2 destroyed, 30 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
147 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
38th Division
Guards Mixed Brigade
2nd Tank Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
31st Field AA Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
11th Special Base Force

Defending units:
Zuid KNIL Battalion
So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion
18th British Division ---- DIE DIE DIE ----
Teloekbetoeng Base Force
Djambi Base Force
Cavite USN Base Force
224 Group RAF
Palembang Base Force

/* *********************
38th Infantry took the brunt of the damage. I will pull the 38th back to Praboemoelih and restock. More units are coming.

Hopefully now that I have crossed that hex-side, I hope I don't trigger another shock attack moving back to Palembang.

The bombardment continues for the foreseeable future. I haven't had any spare bombers to use to attack, I am hoping artillery bombardments will slow down any fort building.

Probably not...[:(]

[Lowpe]

Artillery bombardments won't really slow fort building...you may disrupt the engineers a little or disable them or give them high fatigue, but you need to damage the runways!!!!

Find the bombers...this is high priority here. His AA is probably not that great...

Shock attacks are triggered by AV percentage...if the reinforcements are too great a percentage of the resident troops you may trigger another shock attack. Given the AV you posted, I bet it would trigger another shock attack.

[DanSez]

Feb 16th, 1942

Malaysia
Allied units complete their withdraw from Johore Bahru into Singapore.

Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)

Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 42192 troops, 531 guns, 227 vehicles, Assault Value = 1538
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0 ** Shooting Up Jungle **

Assaulting units:
5th Division
56th Division
14th Tank Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
23rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st RF Gun Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
55th Const Co
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
43rd Const Co
44th Field AA Battalion

I have two more Divisions I want to finish forming up before making the cross into Singapore.

Is it better to move Everything at the same time (suffering the Shock Attack) or open up the hex with a couple of divisions and follow with the rest and the artillery to cross a day later?

Southern Army HQ is at 81% prepared for Singapore
25th Army HQ is a 100% prepared for Singapore.

It is going to be about two weeks before I can get the other two divisions combined and in place to cross. By then Southern Army HQ will be very very close to 100%.

Should I hold off a couple of extra days to help in the bloody Shock Attack into Singers?

[DanSez]

Feb 17th, 1942

Johore Bahru is occupied by the Japanese
(flips ownership on its own)

Sub Wars Update
Submarine attack near Kalidjati at 50,99

Japanese Ships
xAK Koto Maru
DD Shikinami
PB Sinko Maru
PB Ronsan Maru

Allied Ships
SS O21, hits 20, and is sunk

SS O21 is sighted by escort
O21 bottoming out ....
DD Shikinami attacking submerged sub ....
DD Shikinami attacking submerged sub ....
DD Shikinami is out of ASW ammo
SS O21 forced to surface!
PB Sinko Maru firing on surfaced sub ....
PB Ronsan Maru firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Shikinami firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

A Lost Opportunity
Sub vs Sub: SS I-153 attacking SS Sealion at 57,103 - near Soerabaja

Japanese Ships
SS I-153

Allied Ships
SS Sealion, heavy damage

SS I-153 launches 2 torpedoes at 3,000 yards (And Misses)


In Other News
KB finally arrives at Hong Kong for refit and resupply. Soryu goes into the shipyard for 25+ days. [:(]
This gives me an idea.
There is a nasty infestation of Chinese in Wenchow. Terrible terrain. I have been lightly bombing it and there is a good siege force there, but not powerful enough to push thru the swampy muck and kick their sorry arses down the road.

So... I now have a couple of battleships and 3 or so Heavy Cruisers sitting around doing nothing for a couple of weeks. Why not run over and say hello?

If I can pull a couple of milk runs on Wenchow, that might just knock the starch out of their defense.

That is the plan, but first I will let the BBs and CAs recover a few points of system/engine damage (minor stuff from running around).

[Lowpe]

Divisions and Artillery (I would hold back the AT unit) can cross at once all together as can the Tanks. The 0 AV construction engineers should follow, and the low AV infantry troops will only suffer losses and not add much to the combat at all. Send them elsewhere.

Bombing Wenchow with BB/CA is very popular and a good thing to do. Very fun...fly night time recon on Wenchow.

[DanSez]

Feb 18th, 1942

Very Interesting Arrivals
63rd Naval Guard Unit arrives at Tokyo (heading -- where?)
64th Naval Guard Unit arrives at Tokyo (heading -- where?)

12th Base Force arrives at Saigon (heading -- where?)

21st Army arrives at Cam Ranh Bay (heading -- Palembang)
6th Guards Division arrives at Cam Ranh Bay (heading -- Palembang)

I have a Naval HQ planning for Palembang, that was the best I could do at the moment, so it made great sense to put the 21st Army on the path to Palembang. It is going to be a long bumpy road...

In Other News
Invasion Force closing in on Kendari
covered by CarDiv4 (Zuiho/Shoho) fleet approaches an Air Fleabag Infestation.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kendari at 72,106

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13

Allied aircraft
139WH-3 x 3
B-339D x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 2 damaged
B-339D: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Ise


After the immediate effects of the shock attack at Palembang, back to bombardment:
Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11451 troops, 190 guns, 135 vehicles, Assault Value = 491

Defending force 15202 troops, 188 guns, 75 vehicles, Assault Value = 486

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

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

Assaulting units:
38th Division
Guards Mixed Brigade
2nd Tank Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
31st Field AA Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
11th Special Base Force

Defending units:
So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion
Zuid KNIL Battalion
18th British Division
Cavite USN Base Force
224 Group RAF
Teloekbetoeng Base Force
Djambi Base Force
Palembang Base Force

Action at Wenchow
Ground combat at Wenchow (89,58)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19020 troops, 195 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 515

Defending force 12796 troops, 52 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 440

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 99

Allied adjusted defense: 1627

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 16 (fort level 1)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1580 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 150 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled

Allied ground losses:
257 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
22nd Division
2nd Ind.Mixed Regiment
4th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
100th Chinese Corps
25th Group Army
14th Chinese Base Force

That is why I am mostly just bombarding Wenchow -- hopefully the battleships will land a big punch in a week or so and I will rest up the troops and hit them with another DA right after the naval attack.

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Artillery bombardments won't really slow fort building...you may disrupt the engineers a little or disable them or give them high fatigue, but you need to damage the runways!!!!

Find the bombers...this is high priority here. His AA is probably not that great...

Shock attacks are triggered by AV percentage...if the reinforcements are too great a percentage of the resident troops you may trigger another shock attack. Given the AV you posted, I bet it would trigger another shock attack.

I am bombing Singers and Manila with 8 or 9 large sentai. I have two I could move South (one from Malaysia, one from Borneo) but they are currently being used for other things. I have refrained from using Naval bombers from doing land/city attacks. I have a large Nell and Betty group I could easily put over Palembang.

I will research, thanks

[DanSez]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Divisions and Artillery (I would hold back the AT unit) can cross at once all together as can the Tanks. The 0 AV construction engineers should follow, and the low AV infantry troops will only suffer losses and not add much to the combat at all. Send them elsewhere.

Bombing Wenchow with BB/CA is very popular and a good thing to do. Very fun...fly night time recon on Wenchow.

I have pulled much of the armor North toward Burma. I thought the armor would not be of much use cross the seaway and in the urban warfare.

I will hold the lower AV infantry units back to arrive a day or two later.
thanks for the advice

For the BB/CA force, I have both day and night recon, not sure if it will be a night bombing as there are no Chinese air units present.

[DanSez]

final post for a few days - I am almost caught up to real time:
Feb 19, 1942

Not much going on except the usual:
Bombing Singers, Bombing Bataan, Bombing Changsha, Bombing Wenchow
(not bombing Palembang... not yet)

Invasion force lands at Kendari

And a note from the North China Front: Blitz toward Lanchow
Ground combat at 86,33 (near Ningsia)

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 7220 troops, 66 guns, 244 vehicles, Assault Value = 370
Defending force 815 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 37

Japanese adjusted assault: 238
Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 238 to 1

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

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

Allied ground losses:
1173 casualties reported
Squads: 63 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 46 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
12th Indpt Infantry Regiment
1st Cavalry Brigade
12th Tank Regiment
1st Recon Regiment
4th Cavalry Brigade
26th Recon Regiment

Defending units:
22nd Chinese/B Corps
22nd Chinese/C Corps

I put two of those mobile/armor units in Persuit mode. I wonder if that helped with the destruction of the less mobile corps fragments.