Today we suffered our first major setbacks. I ventured with my CVE-taskforce too close to the Lae-invasion site and we paid a heavy price for that. Then, the invasion of Java went off to a disasterous start when one invasion TF went in too soon, for some reason, 8 TFs had their orders cancelled, and a single TF went on as planned. As a result, several cargo ships went in completely unescorted and without aircover.
Losses were disasterous this turn. Very very annoying since one TF was lost due to carelessness and one because of an order-screwup.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 29, 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Manado at 75,99
Japanese Ships
xAP Katori Maru
Allied Ships
SS S-39
xAP Katori Maru is sighted by SS S-39
SS S-39 launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Katori Maru
Lucky...the xAPs are worth their weight in gold, and it would have hurt to loose one to a pesky submarine while unloading.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Kendari at 70,106
Japanese Ships
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Runway hits 4
Port hits 5
CA Nachi firing at Kendari
CA Haguro firing at Kendari
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Lae
TF 20 troops unloading over beach at Lae, 99,126
8 Naval Support troops lost overboard during unload of 15th Base Force /5
15 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 15th Base Force /10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Kendari
TF 107 troops unloading over beach at Kendari, 70,106
Japanese ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
7.7mm T99 AAMG lost overboard during unload of Kure 2nd SNLF
13.2mm T93 AAMG lost overboard during unload of Kure 2nd SNLF
17 troops of a SNLF Squad lost overboard during unload of Kure 2nd SNLF
17 troops of a SNLF Squad lost in surf during unload of Kure 2nd SNLF
15 Support troops lost in surf during unload of Kure 2nd SNLF
15 Support troops lost overboard during unload of Kure 2nd SNLF
15 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 1st Ind. Engr Rgt
8 Engineers lost in surf during unload of 1st Ind. Engr Rgt
15 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 3rd Base Force
13.2mm T93 AAMG dropped into water during unload of 3rd Base Force
8 Engineers accidentally lost during unload of 3rd Base Force
8 Engineers lost overboard during unload of 3rd Base Force
15 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 3rd Base Force
8 Naval Support troops lost in surf during unload of 3rd Base Force
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Lae
TF 129 troops unloading over beach at Lae, 99,126
8 Engineers lost in surf during unload of 144th Infantry Rgt
15 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 144th Infantry Rgt /3
15 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 144th Infantry Rgt /7
Apparently we continue in the finest traditions of the Imperial Navy and simply throw the army troops over the sides of the ship when we reach the invasion beaches. If anyone wonders if the historical army-navy animosity is coded in the game...look no further.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 15th Indian Brigade, at 50,74
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 75
G4M1 Betty x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
344 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 5 (4 destroyed, 1 disabled)
My airunits are causing real damage to the Malaya defenders.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Morotai at 80,101
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
139WH-3 x 3
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 2 destroyed
CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1 Det B with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 23000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Manado at 75,99
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 4
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
xAK Neikai Maru
In the lower NEI, Zeros based at Menadao manage to keep the Dutch and Australian bombers off my transport ships.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lae at 99,126
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 1
Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 26
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 6 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CS Chitose
CS Mizuho
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x A-24 Banshee diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
13 x A-24 Banshee diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x A-24 Banshee diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Taiyo-1 with A5M4 Claude (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Raid is overhead
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Taiyo
I thought the Claudes would be enough to cover the Lae landings. Unfortunately this proved to be completely wrong. Instead of finding ourselves attacked by Hudsons, we were hit hard by A-24s from Port Moresby. To make things even worse, our CAP only manages to put a single fighter into the air. The CAP is completely ineffective, and all the dive bombers make it through. Taiyo is hit hard. And sinks later in the afternoon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Gull Battalion, at 98,130 (Port Moresby)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5M1 Mabel x 8
B5N1 Kate x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
B5M1 Mabel: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
7 x B5M1 Mabel bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
Bombers from Taiyo hit Port Moresby in a completely pointless attack. I am surprised to see the lack of CAP over the base.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lae at 99,126
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 24
Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 6 damaged
Japanese Ships
CS Chitose, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Umikaze
CS Mizuho, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Suzukaze
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x A-24 Banshee diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x A-24 Banshee diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Taiyo
A second strike hit the crippled taskforce. CS Chitose is lost.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 32087 troops, 268 guns, 429 vehicles, Assault Value = 912
Defending force 14317 troops, 240 guns, 442 vehicles, Assault Value = 350
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0
Japanese adjusted assault: 964
Allied adjusted defense: 676
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
681 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Vehicles lost 37 (4 destroyed, 33 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
2011 casualties reported
Squads: 155 destroyed, 56 disabled
Non Combat: 106 destroyed, 87 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 11 (3 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 131 (22 destroyed, 109 disabled)
Assaulting units:
4th Tank Regiment
Kanno Detachment
48th Engineer Regiment
Tanaka Detachment
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
48th Recon Regiment
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
65th Brigade
2nd Tank Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
48th Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
14th Army
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
Defending units:
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
21st PA Infantry Division
11th PA Infantry Division
194th Tank Battalion
192nd Tank Battalion
14th PS Engineer Regiment
Subic Bay Defenses
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
Far East USAAF
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
North Luzon Force
1st USMC AA Battalion
Our spearhead on Luzon has reached Clark. The base should fall tomorrow.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 30, 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Manado at 75,99
Japanese Ships
xAP Katori Maru
Allied Ships
SS S-39
xAP Katori Maru is sighted by SS S-39
SS S-39 launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Katori Maru
S-39 is foiled again. The Katori Maru seems to be a lucky ship.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 137/155th Field Regiment, at 50,74
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 45
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 9
Ki-51 Sonia x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 3 damaged
Allied ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
<-- !!
Vehicles lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kalidjati at 52,96
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
139WH-3 x 21
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAK Hokusho Maru
xAK Kuritake Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Seisyo Maru
xAK Victoria Maru
xAK Kusuyama Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
271 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x 139WH-3 bombing from 6000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
9 x 139WH-3 bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 3 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
9 x 139WH-3 bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 3 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
For some reason, all the other ships in all the other invasion TFs had their orders cancelled or were delayed for whatever reason. The result is that this TF went ahead completely alone and unescorted. They were supposed to be under the protective umbrella of the entire KB, instead they were alone.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kalidjati at 52,96
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-339D x 8
CW-22 Falcon x 9
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAK Koyu Maru
xAK Hikosan Maru
xAK Victoria Maru
Japanese ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x CW-22 Falcon bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kalidjati at 52,96
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
L-212 x 9
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAK Zuiko Maru
xAK Seisyo Maru
Japanese ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x L-212 bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb
Only the poor performance of the Dutch pilots prevent this from being an enven greater disaster.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lae at 99,126
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes
Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 24
Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 10 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Kazan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Kunitu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Ryunan Maru
xAKL Tateyama Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Yae Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CL Kashima
Over at Lae, the slaughter continues. The empty AKs are hit by the Port Moresby dive bombers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kalidjati at 52,96
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Allied aircraft
139WH-3 x 9
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAK Koyu Maru
xAK Zuiko Maru
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x 139WH-3 bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 3 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
Imagine if the Dutch pilots had been able to hit anything...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kalidjati at 52,96
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
139WH-3 x 21
Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Koyu Maru
xAK Kusuyama Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Zuiko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Victoria Maru
xAK Gokoku Maru #2
Japanese ground losses:
148 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x 139WH-3 bombing from 6000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
9 x 139WH-3 bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 3 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
9 x 139WH-3 bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 3 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Kusuyama Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kalidjati at 52,96
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
139WH-3 x 9
B-339D x 8
CW-22 Falcon x 8
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAK Kusuyama Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Konzan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Ryujo Maru
xAK Victoria Maru
xAK Gokoku Maru #2
Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x 139WH-3 bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 3 x 300 kg SAP Bomb
8 x CW-22 Falcon bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Kusuyama Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kalidjati at 52,96
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Allied aircraft
L-212 x 9
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAK Gokoku Maru #2
xAK Ryujo Maru
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x L-212 bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb
Poor AKs... this proves to be a very costly misstake. After the turn I looked at what had happened. All my escort TFs were ordered to follow the main invasion TF, TF92. Unfortunately TF92 were still in port trying to load more supplies (I had forgotten to click the "load troops only" button). Since the base did not have enough supplies to load the ships, they remained in port. This TF was heading to another invasion site, and went ahead alone and without the cover of Akagis and Kagas Zeros who were tasked to provide aircover.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lae at 99,126
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 19
Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 7 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Eizan Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kunitu Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tatuharu Maru
xAK Ryunan Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Kotobuki Maru #5, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x A-24 Banshee diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x A-24 Banshee diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Kunitu Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Eizan Maru
Sigh...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 31515 troops, 268 guns, 426 vehicles, Assault Value = 879
Defending force 10328 troops, 225 guns, 417 vehicles, Assault Value = 231
Japanese adjusted assault: 632
Allied adjusted defense: 97
Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Clark Field !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
712 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 18 disabled
Vehicles lost 15 (0 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
2460 casualties reported
Squads: 79 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 414 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 62 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 100 (93 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 306 (303 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units retreated 12
Units destroyed 1
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
Tanaka Detachment
Kanno Detachment
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
48th Recon Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
65th Brigade
48th Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
48th Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
Defending units:
Subic Bay Defenses
21st PA Infantry Division
14th PS Engineer Regiment
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
11th PA Infantry Division
192nd Tank Battalion
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
Far East USAAF
North Luzon Force
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
1st USMC AA Battalion
Some good news though...with the fall of Clark, Manilla is just one hex away. Some of the US units retreated to Bataan instead of Manilla aswell...a very good thing for me.
