Command Decisions: Yeomen vs. Samurai RA 6.4

[larryfulkerson]

It looks like I was terribly wrong about the supply level at Cape Town. I've ALREADY run Cape Town out of supplies. D'oh.

[larryfulkerson]

I'm going to move the Dominion Monarch to Sydney so it can go into the shipyard there and get some fixup done. This ship is due to
be withdrawn by 2/2/42 and it's badly damaged and I'd like to turn it in fixed.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the situation w/ the boats around the Singapore area. Lots of Jap traffic and some of it is deadly. I've got ships at Singapore
that I need to evacuate but I daren't when there's so much deadly force nearby. So the ships sit at Singapore and make good use of
themselves as targets for Jap air power.

[larryfulkerson]

This is the first of two carrier air strikes on Christmas Island and the shipping there. J3 is doing a job on my ships there.

[moore4807]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 30, 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm still chasing 3-4 IJN subs around LA/SD...

ASW attack near San Clemente Island at 225,80
Japanese Ships
SS I-4

Allied Ships
PC Cahoone
PC Diligence


The End of Palmyra Is as a US possession... for now!


Pre-Invasion action off Palmyra (170,133) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CL Oi
SC Ch 27
SC Ch 25
xAP Ukishima Maru
DD Shigure

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

Allied ground losses:
125 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Amphibious Assault at Palmyra (170,133)
TF 56 troops unloading over beach at Palmyra, 170,133

Japanese ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of Guards Mixed Bde /2
37mm Type 01 AT Gun lost overboard during unload of Guards Mixed Bde /2
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of Guards Mixed Bde
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of Guards Mixed Bde
12 Support troops lost in surf during unload of Guards Mixed Bde /4
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of Guards Mixed Bde /5
12 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of Guards Mixed Bde /7
12 Support troops lost in surf during unload of Guards Mixed Bde /12
12 Support troops lost overboard during unload of Guards Mixed Bde /21


Invasion Support action off Palmyra (170,133)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 27
SC Ch 25
xAP Ukishima Maru
CA Kako

One of Larry's AP's gets sunk, not sure where it was going...

Day Time Surface Combat, near Palmyra at 170,133, Range 21,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CL Kitakami
DD Yugure
DD Ariake

Allied Ships
xAP Matua, Shell hits 14, and is sunk


Morning Air attack on TF, near Palmyra at 170,133
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
PBY-5 Catalina x 5

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Lisbon Maru
CA Kinugasa


Invasion Support action off Palmyra (170,133)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Asakaze Maru
CL Oi
CA Kako
SC Ch 27
SC Ch 25
xAP Ukishima Maru


And the final blow... depressing but not permanent!

Ground combat at Palmyra (170,133)
Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 6902 troops, 39 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 244
Defending force 799 troops, 12 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 6
Japanese adjusted assault: 16
Allied adjusted defense: 4

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Palmyra !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 4 destroyed

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

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

Allied ground losses:
894 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 43 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 18 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 17 (17 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
Guards Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
Palmyra USN CPNAB
Palmyra (Det.) Defense Battalion


A little good news - but not much...

ASW attack near Midway Island at 158,91
Japanese Ships
CM Asama, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Sakito Maru
xAK Kyosei Maru
xAK San Francisco Maru
xAK Chile Maru
xAK Nichiryo Maru
xAK Tusima Maru
PB Nagata Maru

Allied Ships
SS Argonaut

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)Submarine attack near Midway Island at 158,91


Japanese Ships
CM Asama, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Argonaut

CM Asama is sighted by SS Argonaut
SS Argonaut launches 4 torpedoes

Combat Report enclosed

[moore4807]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 31, 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Slight advantage to me in a nighttime encounter... says me! [8D]

Night Time Surface Combat, near Palmyra at 170,133, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Shell hits 4
CA Kinugasa
CA Kako
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Oi, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Shigure, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Yugure
DD Ariake, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
CL Concord, Shell hits 3
CL Honolulu, Shell hits 1
DD Litchfield, Shell hits 1
DD Talbot
DD Dent, Shell hits 1
DD Crosby, Shell hits 1
DD Kennison
DD Crane


WHY does this CM keep drawing my torps? Like its a magnet and there's no other ships are around to shoot at?
Submarine attack near Midway Island at 158,91
Japanese Ships
CM Asama, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Thresher

CM Asama is sighted by SS Thresher
SS Thresher launches 4 torpedoes


IJN +1... USN -1...(raspberry sounds)

Sub attack near San Francisco at 218,72

Japanese Ships
SS I-5

Allied Ships
PC Daphne, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
PC Ariadne


I evacuated everyone I could from Bataan into Manila. We'll see how that works out...

Ground combat at Subic Bay (78,76)
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13911 troops, 137 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 461
Defending force 838 troops, 30 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 27

Japanese adjusted assault: 410
Allied adjusted defense: 9

Japanese assault odds: 45 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Subic Bay !!!

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

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

Allied ground losses:
298 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 26 (26 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
48th Division

Defending units:
Subic Bay Defenses


* Because Larry commented on it - I haven't been posting what my TF's are doing... So I have made up a short synopsis of significant movings/shakings...

* CVTF of Saratoga/Lexington arrived at S.D. on the 30th - I put into port because of some minor repairs to Sara and the CA's - will have mini-Death Star by Jan 5th. I also only have 2 additional Marine Fighter groups at/near S.D. for 3 CV's... They will shove off for Palmyra to provide cover for the Amb TF I have going there from S.F.

* Created a 5 DM MLTF out of Pago Pago - I sent them to Baker Is to create some harrassment value and some recon what he might have there.

* Created a Amp TF in S.F. and loaded it with 2 Reg's of the 24th ID & a Tank Batt. to go take back Palmyra. I sent a 2CA/6DD Bmbmt TF to scout Palmyra - they will hold up for the CV TF too.

Combat Report enclosed

[larryfulkerson]

* Created a Amp TF in S.F. and loaded it with 2 Reg's of the 24th ID & a Tank Batt. to go take back Palmyra. I sent a 2CA/6DD Bmbmt TF to scout Palmyra - they will hold up for the CV TF too.

Cool. I'm gonna watch closely this time.

Um......I'm running out of airplanes at Singapore and here I've found some at Aden and I'm guessing I'll have to get some kind of AVD to
convey them to Karachi. I'll look through my inventory and see if I've got one of those. If not I'll just be forced to "borrow" one from Jim.

[Encircled]

Larry, you can just stick that on a normal Cargo vessel and transport it as freight.

[FOW]

AVD - supports the operations of seaplanes and floatplanes - no transport ability
AKV - aircraft transport - transports an air unit whole
AK/xAK - carries an air unit as crated cargo

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: Encircled
Larry, you can just stick that on a normal Cargo vessel and transport it as freight.

and

ORIGINAL: FOW
AVD - supports the operations of seaplanes and floatplanes - no transport ability
AKV - aircraft transport - transports an air unit whole
AK/xAK - carries an air unit as crated cargo

Thanks to you both. I must admit that I've read the manual through twice now and MUST have come across that info
both times and STILL forgot it. I'm getting too old to play games I guess.

[pws1225]

Nonsense! The older you get the less you care about forgetting stuff. Since you still care, you must have some years to go yet, punk.[:D]

[moore4807]

ORIGINAL: pws1225

Nonsense! The older you get the less you care about forgetting stuff. Since you still care, you must have some years to go yet, punk.[:D]

[:D][:D][:D] YEAH!!! What he said!!! [:D][:D][:D]

I'd happily lend/send you the AKV, its in Cristobal now and it would take two weeks to get it to the East Coast, then another two weeks to get it to Aden... so thier advice is golden!

[moore4807]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 01, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Courtesy of the USN silent service [8D]

TF 103 encounters mine field at Christmas Island (174,141)
Japanese Ships
DD Hamakaze
CL Abukuma, Mine hits 1

2 mines cleared

TF 103 encounters mine field at Christmas Island (174,141)
Japanese Ships
DD Hamakaze
CL Abukuma, Mine hits 1

1 mine cleared


Submarine attack near Hakodate at 120,54
Japanese Ships
xAK Kyokuzan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Seal


Submarine attack near Hakodate at 120,54
Japanese Ships
xAK Sansho Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Seal


Awesome for the IJN position report, not so good for survivability purposes!

Day Time Surface Combat, near Christmas Island at 181,138, Range 20,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Akagi
CV Kaga
CVL Zuiho
CS Chiyoda
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Tone
DD Akizuki
DD Teruzuki
DD Akigumo
DD Kagero
DD Isokaze
DD Urakaze

Allied Ships
xAP Mataroa


I just gotta remember to send these boys back to Manila. They're toast anyway, but deserve so much better...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Iba at 78,75
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
MTB 27
MTB 9, Shell hits 2
MTB 11, Shell hits 1
MTB 26
MTB 8
MTB 10

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x Ki-27b Nate bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb



[:D][:D] Ruh Roh ReRoy!, They're on to our secret weapon!

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Iba at 77,75
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 1

Allied aircraft
SOC-1 Seagull x 2

No Japanese losses
No Allied losses


Remember that poor AP from earlier? Well it did NOT get lucky...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Christmas Island at 180,138
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
D3A1 Val x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAP Mataroa, Bomb hits 13, and is sunk


Ouch! Easy there Tojo! We'll be back!

Sub attack near Midway Island at 158,91
Japanese Ships
DD Sazanami
DD Yunagi
DD Asanagi

Allied Ships
SS Thresher, hits 6


Combat report enclosed

[moore4807]

Some snapshots from 12/31/41... Palmyra Is. here

[moore4807]

TF242 @ S.F. 12/31/41 - theyre going to take back Palmyra Is.

[moore4807]

TF 176 with supplies for Gas Station/Grocery Store

[Encircled]

Any air cover planned for the attack? (Apologies if its on the screen shots!)

[robinsa]

May I ask what resolution youre playing in? I like the size of your counters!

Oh, and great AAR btw!

[ny59giants]

6.3.3.3.2.1 OVER THE BEACH

This is for assault unloading over the beach.

» Beaching Craft. Beaching craft unload completely in one turn.
» Attack Amphibious Ships. (APA/AKA plus LSD, LSV and British equivalents)
in Amphibious TFs, unload at a Rate of 3000 points per ship, per turn.
» Regular Transport Ships. (Commissioned Naval AP/AK) in Amphibious
TFs, unload at a Rate of 600 points per ship per turn.
» Merchant Ships. (xAP/xAK) in Amphibious TFs, unload
at a Rate of 250 points per ship per turn.
» Special Japanese early war bonus of 1200 for all AP/AK and xAP/xAK types.

IMO, I think the slow unload rate for those ships listed with the number of troops you are trying to use will give John too much time to react at Palmyra. You need to be able to unload the TF in one day.

[EHansen]

My limited experience indicates that your Palmyra assault will fail badly. I would expect your opponent to detect it 2 or more turns before it starts unloading and will react.