IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:18 pm

2/1/42

Now here are the Allied plane losses so far in the war. Overall the Allies have lost 702 AC vs 534 Japanese AC. In A2A combat its 469 Allied AC vs 273 Japanese AC or approximately a 5:3 loss ratio.

If you subtract out all the bombers and look at just the fighters, its 249 P-40Es, P-40Bs, P-35s, Buffaloes and H81-A3s vs 105 A6M2s and Nates ....so the Allies are losing fighters at about a 2.5 to 1 ratio to Japan. This reflects a lot upon StoneAge's fighter tactics. Instead of sweeping major airbases at Singapore, Manila and Clark StoneAge will normally attack a hex 40-80 miles away and counts on Allied CAP "leaking" to the adjacent hexes...then he gets something like 25:1 odds on the leakers and kills them off...very effective when you have the time AND the advantage in quantity but this will change within the next 3 months.

One other note....excessive Allied bomber losses.The Allies had their torpedo bombers ravaged (lost 63 Swordfish and Vildebeests) attacking Japanese shipping off Kota Bharu and Mersing in the first month of the war but scored hits on 2 BBs and a CA. I believe that the sacrifice of the torpedo bombers has changed the operational tempo of the war for Japan(along with Allied subs). After attacking in multiple locations in Malaya and the PI in the first month of the war and suffering heavy losses to Allied subs and torpedo bombers Japan has only conducted one major invasion...on Mindanao(but against lightly defended Dadjagas) and this was with the support of CV Akagi and CV Kaga. The more recent invasions have been small and lightly escorted with surface ships...such as Japan is doing now on New Guinea and the Admiralties. Japan wont attack any heavily defended targets without the support of at least a part of KB. Ive noticed this with the Allied subs also...the first 4 weeks of the war the Allies were making sub attacks every day but the last couple weeks have been slow...it seems as if Japan has restricted their convoys and instead have put a lot of ASW out.

And thats fine with me. It means that Japanese expansion has been slowed down dramatically...the Allies still control 90% of Borneo and the Celebes along with Amboina and Koepang. Each day Festung Java grows stronger with more supply and more reorganized squads. And ABDA waits for Japan to appear in the southern DEI with Pow, Repulse, 3 CAs and over a dozen CLs.

The other AC note is the Dutch 139WH-3 bombers....we trained them for 4 weeks and then threw them in mass against the IJN TFs at Mersing only to lose 61 while scoring maybe a half dozen hits and sinking but a single APD.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 4:53 am

[2/1-2/4/42/b]

SUB WAR

Things seem to be heating up again:

SS Gar puts a torpedo in AK Shinkoku Maru off Manus.

SS Cuttlefish puts another torpedo in and sinks AK Shinkoku Maru.

SS I-7 receives a DC from USN ASW off Johnston Island.

SS I-8 receives a DC from USN ASW off Oahu.

SS I-3 torpedoes and sinks DMS Southard near Johnston Island.

The Allies attempt a massive resupply of Luzon from the south but IJN subs are waiting:

SS I-123 sinks AKL Anakan near Busuangus.

SS I-122 sinks AK Corregidor off Zamboanga.

SS I-123 sinks AKL Princess of Negros off Puerto princessa.

Allied subs get in a few licks:

SS Thresher sinks PB Zosen Maru off Amanmi Oshima.

SS Triton sinks AKL Malacca Maru off Nauru.

PRODUCTION

February 1942 comes around and USN Clemson class DDs are able to convert to DEs.....just bolt on two 6 K gun dispensers and SE SS radar and now you have an ASW rating of 8.

BURMA

Japan captures Magwe.

SOPAC

Allies construct a level 1 airstrip at La Foa.

Japan captures Shortland.

DEIS

IJA troops invade at Siace and Sangike.

Japan captures Talaud Island.

CHINA

Allies suffer mightily from the most devastating 1:2 attack of the war at Tsiaotso:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Tsiaotso (88,42)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 56083 troops, 468 guns, 111 vehicles, Assault Value = 1469

Defending force 22123 troops, 118 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 272

Japanese adjusted assault: 364

Allied adjusted defense: 469

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
551 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2135 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 112 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 131 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled

Assaulting units:...
110th Division...
59th Infantry Brigade...
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade...
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade...
36th Division...
32nd Division...
12th Army...
11th Field Artillery Regiment...
...
Defending units:...
80th Chinese Corps...
27th Chinese Corps...
96th Chinese Corps...
5th New Chinese Corps...
8th Group Army...
4th Group Army...
36th Group Army...

The Chinese defense here is seriously in doubt.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 4:57 am

2/5-2/8/42

SUBS

SS KXIII sinks AKL Bokuhe Maru off Bintan.

SS Plunger puts a torpedo in AK Nittai Maru off Manus

SS S-36 sinks DD Kuri off China

DEI

Japan captures Siace and Sangihe.

PHILIPPINES

IJA troops capture Oroquita and Baybay.

The Allies are making continuing efforts to bring in supplies to Luzon. Last turn IJN subs sank 3 individual AKLs just south of Bataan. This turn 5 Allied AKLs , escorted by an AM, make it to Bataan and offload supplies. 2 of the AKLs are hit by Bettys but still 5000 supplies are offloaded.

CHINA

StoneAge reinforced Kweisui by railroad but we did too and Japan suffered horrific casualties:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Kweisui (92,35)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 24617 troops, 178 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 713

Defending force 27433 troops, 143 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 690

Japanese adjusted assault: 463

Allied adjusted defense: 1657

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
3862 casualties reported
Squads: 49 destroyed, 198 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 193 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 35 (0 destroyed, 35 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1586 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 61 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 92 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:...
54th Infantry Brigade...
2nd Ching An Tui Brigade...
60th Infantry Brigade...
12th Indpt Infantry Regiment...
1st Cavalry Brigade...
3rd Ching An Tui Brigade...
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment...
4th Cavalry Brigade...
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment...
1st Ching An Tui Brigade...
26th Engineer Regiment...
21st AA Regiment...
Mongol Garrison Army...
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment...
...
Defending units:...
35th Chinese Corps...
3rd Prov Chinese/C Corps...
81st Chinese/B Corps...
22nd Chinese Corps...
11th Chinese/A Corps...
83rd Chinese Corps...
3rd Prov Chinese/A Corps...
9th Seperate Brigade...
81st Chinese/C Corps...
13th Group Army...
17th Group Army...

The Chinese have suffered unbelievable casualties from the shock attacks so far but Japan has suffered too.

Meanwhile, Chinese troops put the hammertime on IJA forces attempting to flank Chengchow:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 87,45

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 19665 troops, 211 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 598

Defending force 6798 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 207

Allied adjusted assault: 848

Japanese adjusted defense: 71

Allied assault odds: 11 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2608 casualties reported
Squads: 55 destroyed, 81 disabled
Non Combat: 53 destroyed, 41 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
2079 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 133 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 48 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:...
3rd Chinese Corps...
95th Chinese Corps...
1st Chinese Cavalry Corps...
2nd Group Army...
21st Group Army...
...
Defending units:...
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade...

At some point in time the massive IJA casualties in China have to impact their offensive potential.

EAST COAST USA

CV Hornet slips out of the Brooklyn Naval Yard on her maiden voyage to the Panama Canal. When CV Hornet joins up with the other USN CVs in the south Pacific we should achieve virtual carrier equality with KB. Once CV Hornet reaches the south Pacific the Allied CVs WILL be commited to resist a Japanese amphibious assault at Port Moresby.

SOPAC

Japan captures Manus in the Admiraties and Shortlands in the Solomons.

Farther east Japan captures Abemama in the Gilberts.

On New Caledonia, Allied engineers open a new airfield at La Foa and will begin construction of a new airfield at Koumac within a week.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:14 pm

[2/9-2/10/42/b]

SUBS

SS Tuna surfaces to sink AKL Amakasu Maru off the China coast.

BURMA

Japan captures Meiktila.

PHILIPPINES

IJA troops capture Mandalay Bay on Mindanao.

DEI

Japan captures Morotai and Bintan.

SOPAC

IJA Troops capture Buka and Torokina in the Solomons.

CHINA

China has kind of quieted down over the last few days.....sure we still have 80,000 IJA troops shock attacking away at Tsiaotso. I think the Allies have suffered 40,000 casualties at Tsiaotso vs 30,000 IJA troops....a veritable meatgrinder. The Chinese have 4 corps totally wasted at Tsiaotso. But otherwise the front line in China has been ominously quiet...I think that Japan has been worn down with all the casualties here....its not a supply issue.

There has been no advance on Changsha from the south....and the brief respite we have gained has allowed Chinese troops to dig in and undisrupt their squads.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:15 am

2/11-2/14/42

SUBS

SS Thresher surfaces to sink AK Kinsyo Maru off the home islands.

SSI-9 torpedoes and sinks AKL Mauna Ala near Midway Island.

SOPAC

In the Gilberts a small IJN TF captures Kuria.

Over in the Bismarck Sea there is a lot of Japanese naval activity. One IJN TF assaults and captures Kavieng while other TFs stand by as IJA troops storm ashore at Rabaul. IJN carriers are covering both actions but with both CV Akagi and CV Kaga being spotted in the DEI today it appears that again KB has been split....it looks as if it is time for USN CVs in the south Pacific to sortie and seek combat with the dispersed IJN carriers.

MALAYA

The remainder of the Malaya army holds tough at Temuloh. After several unsuccessful shock and deliberate attacks Japan seems content to stand back and fire ground and aerial bombardments here....thats fine with the Allies......Japan has had 2 division equivalents roughed up here and at least 2 more divisions are tied up surrounding the Allied troops...and as we hit 2/15/42 next turn the Malaya army has held on longer than in RL.

PHILIPPINES

Japan continues to bombard away at Allied troops at Clark. AKLs bring another 3000 supply into Bataan through the Japanese air/naval net.

CHINA

Japan launches a deliberate attack at Hankow suffering 3600 casualties vs 2200 Chinese.

The meatgrinder continues at Tsiaotso...two 1:1 attacks cost the Chinese another 3100 casualties vs 1100 IJA casualties. Its very difficult to reinforce here for China with all the rough terrain....if the troops at Tsiaotso can just hold out for another 4 days the Allies should be able to reinforce with 3-4 fresh corps.

DEI

Lots of action in the DEI. Over off northern Sumatra Japan captures Bintan and Langsa.

In the eastern DEI Japan captures Ternate. Several IJN transport and surface TFs show up in the Ceram Sea apparently headed from Babeldaob to Ambon. PTs are rushed to Ambon along with Dutch bombers but amazingly the IJN TFs wheel to the west at the last moment and invade at Kendari instead of Ambon. USN, Dutch and RN surface TFs were considered for intercepting the IJN TFs but were called off when seach planes discovered CV Akagi and CV Kaga covering the invasion.

As a sidenote, we received confirmation that BB Kongo was escorting the invasion TFs off Kendari so obviously she wasnt sunk in the early war torpedo attacks off Malaya.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:26 pm

2/15-2/16/42

SUBS

SS Perch torpedoes AK Nicheron Maru near the Home Islands.

SS 020 gets hit by 4 DCs in ASW attack near Kompong Trach but damage is minimal.

SS Finback puts a torpedo in Hague Maru off the Japanese coast.

SS S-40 takes a DC from ASW off Menado.

SS I-121 sinks AKL Benkolen near Tawi Tawi...this was another one of our supply ships trying to sneak through to Bataan...over 50% are making it through.

SOPAC

Japan captures Rabaul but not before the CD guns there heavily damage nearly a dozen IJN ships.

CHINA

Another 1:2 attack at Tsiaotso results in 2800 Chinese casualties to 1400 IJA casualties. Another 2 Chinese corps arrive there today as reinforcements but at this casualty rate the Chinese cannot sustain these levels of losses forever.

DEI

Japan invades Sumatra at Bengkalis.

Kendari is captured as an aggresssive IJN surface TF chases the PT boats back to Timor before sinking one.

The IJN CVs here move SW into the Banda Sea looking for additional targets. All remaining Allied shipping near Soerabaja is evacuated.

We have set up a CV ambush at Koepang with 30 A-24s, 20 P-40Es(drop tanks) and 20 B-339s set to attack at 6 hex range.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 3:56 pm

2/17-2/20/42

SUBS

SS Silversides is hit by 2 DC from IJN Air Combat TF just south of Rabaul(hex 108, 126). SS Silversides is slightly damaged but manages to send a high priority message to CINCPAC at Pearl: " Have spotted IJN carrier believed to be CV Zuikaku".

SS I-122 sinks AKL Soerabaja and SS I-121 sinks AKL Belawan off Tawi Tawi...these are more of the Allied relief ships trying to run the Japanese blockade and resupply Bataan/Clark.

SS Cuttlefish is heavily damaged while being depth charged by IJN invasion fleet off Gasmata.

SS I-9 sinks AKL Honomu near French Frigate Shoals.

SS I-155 is hit by 4 DCs from British DDs near Batavia.

SS Tautog sinks AK Gennei Maru near Gasmata.

DEI

Our divebomber trap at Timor comes up empty as CV Akagi and CV Kaga reverse course and disappear into the vast Pacific.

CVL Ryujo and CVL Zuiho bomb targets both on Sumatra and NW Borneo. The A-24s will be staged up to Batavia where maybe they can go CVL fishing.

Japan captures Medan, Bengkalis and Ketapang while invading at Batjan.

BURMA

IJA troops overrun Mandalay and Tavoy.

The 5 battalions in the Allied rear guard that Japan attempted to surround at Taungoo finally withdrew to Taung Gyi....here one battalion will fight a rear guard action while the other 4 will witdraw towards Lashio.

PHILIPPINES

The resupply effort continues to beleagured Allied troops on Luzon. IJN subs sink 2 AKLs while Bettys sink another AKL near Bataan but 6 AKLs and 2 AKs make it through. 4000 supply is delivered this turn so Bataan now has 21,000 supplies.

Tomorrow will be critical as the Allies attempt to unload another 9000 supplies....2 AKs will unload at Bataan while 3 AKLs will unload at Clark...3 empty AKLs are stacked in a single TF to soak up the Betty and Ida bombers.

SOPAC

We may be approaching the critical point of the war here. IJN transports are unloading at Rabaul, Gasmata and Shortlands and are covered by an IJN Air Combat TF known to include CV Zuikaku, CV Shokaku and CV Hiryu.

Meanwhile, four USN Air Combat TFs cover Allied landings at Efate and Luganville in the New Hebrides.

The positive sighting of CV Zuikaku just south of Rabaul is reported back to Pearl and sets the wheels turning at CINCPAC.

CVL Ryujo and CVL Zuiho were ID'ed today off Sumatra. CV Akagi and CV Kaga were ID'ed off Kendari 4 days ago but have since disappeared.

CV Zuikaku, CV Shokaku and CV Hiryu have been spotted lingering south of Rabaul for the last 4 days. No sign of CV Soryu but something is bombing and strafing Wake with Vals and A6M2s...either CV Soryu or a couple of CVEs.

Extra recon is staged into Port Moresby and an AVD races up to Tulagi so Cats can be staged there to give us a better picture of whats in the area. CINCPAC believes that CV Akagi and CV Kaga are on their way to join the other IJN CVs south of Rabaul...there is an opportunity here for 4 USN CVs to intercept 3 or maybe 4 IJN CVs before all of KB can link up and become invinceable once again. The Allies have 4 CVs with with their normal AC complement of 108 fighters, 146 divebombers and 60 torpedo bombers. Unfortunately CV Lexington has not been able to upgrade their VF-2 fighters from the pathetic F2A-3 Buffaloes. This is offset however as the USN CVs were ferrying 3 Marine air squadrons to reinforce Allied air at the 3 airfields on New Caledonia....Noumea, La Foa and Koumac. These 3 Marine squadrons were kept on board the CVs and consist of the 14 F2A-3 Buffaloes of VMF 221, 12 F4F-3s of VMF 211 and 17 SBU-2 Vindicators of VMSB 231.

CINCPAC ordered Admiral Halsey to detach the 4 USN CVs from escorting the Luganville operations. They headed due north...staying well to the east of the Solomons and Ontong Java to avoid detection by IJN search AC. The 4 USN CVs are currently positioned 80 miles NE of Ontong Java. Tomorrow, they are ordered to close on the IJN CVs by moving 240 miles due west to a position 80 miles NE of Shortlands. We hope to engage the IJN CVs in the vicinity of the Feni Islands...at a range of approximately 160 miles. Secondary targets will be the IJN transport TFs unloading at Gasmata, Shortlands and Rabaul.

The weather is bad...thunderstorms....but this is a one chance opportunity to catch KB split up.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:14 am

CARRIER BATTLE OF THE NORTHERN SOLOMONS.......2/21/42

The IJN CVs moved due east during the night of 2/20-2/21/42 and at daybreak ended up 80 miles due north of the USN CVs. There were actually 4 IJN CVs....Zuikaku, Shokaku, Hiryu and undetected Soryu so it was a 4 on 4 carrier battle. The morning IJN strike had remarkable combined arms and cohesion....probably due to the extremely close range:

Even though the opposing carriers were at 80 mile range the incoming IJA strike was detected at 120 nm and with 45 minute warning every one of the 27 F4F-3As made it up to form the CAP:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,129

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
B5N2 Kate x 72
D3A1 Val x 67

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 27
F4F-3 Wildcat x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 12 destroyed, 22 damaged
D3A1 Val: 9 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Hammann
CA New Orleans, Torpedo hits 1
BB Maryland, Torpedo hits 2
CV Saratoga
CA San Francisco
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
BB Colorado, Torpedo hits 6, and is sunk
CL Detroit, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Astoria, Bomb hits 1
DD Hughes

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
13 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
16 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
19 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
14 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
20 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-3A Wildcat (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(27 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 16 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-211 Det with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-3 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 32000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers

Allied CAP, although ineffective against the A6M2s, butchered the Vals and Kates. The 4 USN CVs were each arranged in its own Air Combat TF with 1 BB and several CAs/CLs as AA support. Only 1 torpedo finds a USN CV. Remarkably the BBs and cruisers soak up almost all of the IJN torpedoes...even more than Ive seen in stock WitP.

The Allied counterstrike seemed to have even more cohesion...even the obsolete Devastators delivered decisive blows. The Japanese detected the raid at 40 nm and had only 15 minutes to get their CAP up:

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Green Island at 110,127

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 32
F4F-3 Wildcat x 24
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 7
SBD-2 Dauntless x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 86
TBD-1 Devastator x 39

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 3 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 2 damaged
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shiranui, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CL Abukuma, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Akigumo
CA Tone, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Tanikaze
CA Chikuma, Bomb hits 1
DD Urakaze

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
17 x SBD-2 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
18 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
18 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
18 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
7 x SB2U-3 Vindicator diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 12 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 13 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Soryu...
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hiryu...
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Zuikaku...
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Abukuma...
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Shiranui...

If the pilots combat reports are to be believed every IJN CV is hit. The A6M2s punish the USN escorts without losing a single plane but most importantly the bombers get through.

The remaining morning attacks go in piecemeal. One squadron of SBDs targets the IJN transports at Shortlands:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 109,131

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 31

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Nissen Maru #3, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
xAK Hokuzyu Maru, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
PB Nigitsu Maru, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Kusuyama Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

One squadron of Kates attacks the USN CVs without fighter escort and most end up aborting:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,129

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 18

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 11
F4F-3 Wildcat x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed

The opposing carriers retrieve their aircraft at mid day and launch much smaller afternoon strikes. Again the incoming IJN airstrike is detected at 120 nm and the USN CVs have 45 minutes to put up CAP and vector their AC:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,129

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
B5N2 Kate x 18
D3A1 Val x 22

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 14
F4F-3 Wildcat x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 11 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Warspite
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires

CV Enterprise is hit hard and is so severely damaged that she is incapable of conducting further flight ops.....her returning aircraft are dispersed to the other CVs and also an abandoned airstrip at Finschafen.

USN CVs get revenge in their afternoon strike on the IJN flattops. Again the IJN CVs detect the USN airstrike at 40 nm and have only 15 minutes to get their CAP up. A6M2s again savage USN escorts without losing a single fighter but the bombers come in unscathed:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Green Island at 110,127

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 26
F4F-3 Wildcat x 15
SBD-2 Dauntless x 15
SBD-3 Dauntless x 100
TBD-1 Devastator x 32

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 4 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 3 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Zuikaku, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Tone
CL Abukuma, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Akigumo
DD Isokaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Hamakaze
CA Chikuma
DD Kagero

The after effects of the massive air battles are stunning. Regarding torpedo bombers, Japan loses 66 Kates....56 to A2A and 4 to flak. Regarding dive bombers, Japan loses 54 Vals....44 in A2A and 6 to flak. Regarding fighters, Japan loses 9 A6M2s in the ENTIRE Pacific today....and only 6 from A2A....so how many of these were from the carrier battle?

On the other hand, the Allies lose 18 F2A-3s total out or 41 in the battle...and 17 of those were from A2A. The Allies also lose 15 F4F-3s....14 from A2A. The F4F-3As did better....there were 27 of those aboard CV Enterprise and only 2 were lost from A2a...but 10 more were lost operationally when CV Enterprise's flight deck was closed. Regarding divebombers, the USN lose only 1 SBD-2 and 2 SBD-3 all from A2A. Regarding torpedo bombers the USN loses 5 TBDs...4 from A2A.

BB Colorado and CL Detroit sink immediately. BB Maryland suffers 45 system, 66 flotation, 35 engine and 6 fire damage and is attempting to limp out of the battle zone at 5 knots. CA New Orleans absorbs 11 system, 13 flotation and 17 engine damage but continues to throw up a huge anout of flak over the carriers.

CV Yorktown suffers 6 system and 27 flotation damage but is able to continue air ops and leave the battle zone at good speed.

CV Enterprise sustains 12 system and 46 flotation damage....her deck is closed with no further flight ops and her air complement is dipersed. Dead in the water for a few hours as much of her machinery spaces are flooded, the damage control teams douse the fires, complete temporary flotation repairs and Enterprise is finally able to relight her boilers and make 16 knots out of the battle area...Captain Buckmaster has performed a major miracle today.

There is a screenshot of the battle area posted below. With 2 day turns, both the IJN CVs and USN CVs retired by the computer on day 2. I dont know about StoneAge but I had my CVs set to "remain on station"....yet they are now south of Lunga on their way to Noumea. I dont know if it was the low fuel levels in the DDs, the CV damage.....or MOST probably the lack of 5" ammo on any of the USN ships but they countermanded my orders and are retiring. Im ok with that...with 2 damaged CVs I think the USN would have concentrated on getting the cripples back to port...especially when everyone is low on fuel and ammo. I reset the Air Combat TFs destinations from Noumea to Sydney....Enterprise and Yorktown will gwt their minor flooding stabilized in Sydney before they go back to Pearl for refit.

With FoW on I wonder how the IJN CVs are doing. The combat reports show great damage to all four CVs but with only 9 destroyed A6M2s(3 from ops/ground) I wonder if all are conducting normal flight ops. The Intelligence screen shows NO sunk CVs but list BB Kirishima and DD Shiranui as sunk.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:24 am

CARRIER BATTLE OF THE NORTHERN SOLOMONS....DAY2.....2/22/42

USN CVs retire to the south as the cripples are escorted out of the battle area. Along the way the CVs are intercepted by RO-62 off Shortlands:

ASW attack near Shortlands at 110,132

Japanese Ships
SS RO-62, hits 3

Allied Ships
CA Astoria
DD Hughes
DD Farragut
DD Phelps
DD Walke
DD O'Brien

DD Farragut fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Phelps fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Walke attacking submerged sub .......
DD O'Brien fails to find sub and abandons search...
Escort abandons search for sub...

Farther south the USN CVs are again intercepted by SS I-159 near Guadalcanal:

Sub attack near Lunga at 111,138

Japanese Ships
SS I-159, hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Honolulu
CA San Francisco
CL St. Louis
DD MacDonough
DD Aylwin
DD Monaghan

Heavily damaged BB Maryland and CL Detroit were detached from the the Air Combat TFs and left behind with an escort of 2 DDs. Today they suffer the full wrath of the IJN bombers:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ontong Java at 113,129

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
D3A1 Val x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Detroit, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 16, heavy fires, heavy damage

Morning Air attack on TF, near Ontong Java at 113,129

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
B5N2 Kate x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hull
CL Detroit, heavy fires, heavy damage

CL Detroit sinks with heavy casualties. BB Maryland battles the fires and is able to coax 5 knots out of engines as she struggles to leave the area.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:24 am

Ive been at sea aboard xAP Disney Wonder the last 4 days so I havent been able update the AAR due to a poor internet connection.

2/21-2/24/42

SOPAC

Things seem to have quieted down a bit here over the last few days. The flotation damage on CV Enterprise and CV Yorktown appears to have been stabilized and they should make port at Sydney in about 4 days.

BB Maryland is still making 5 knots as she retires towards Noumea. Noumea has just been enlarged to a level 4 port and an AR is being rushed there to help with BB Maryland when she limps in.

Farther south, Auckland has been enlarged to a level 7 port.

SUBS

SS perch sinks AK Hakedate Maru off the home islands.

SS 019 sinks PB Edo Maru off Peleliu.

SS Tarpon receives 3 DC hits from IJN ASW TF off Shaoing but damage is minor.

SS I-122 sinks AKL Bintoehan near Taytay.

Allied ASW TFs put 3 DCs on RO-62 near Shortlands and 1 DC on SS I-159 near Guadalcanal.

SS I-123 sinks HDML 1096 near Osthaven but receives 3 DCs in return.

SS I-9 sinks AKL Manini near Eureka...a brazen daylight attack off the California coast.

CHINA

The Chinese massively reinforce Tsiatao and now have 61,000 troops there opposing 55,000 IJA. Japan can now only manage a 1:6 shock attack there and loses 5600 troops to 1600 Chinese.

At Kweisui there are now 24,000 Chinese troops facing 27,000 IJA and in a 1:2 shock attack Japan loses 2600 troops vs 2500 Chinese.

MALAYA

Japan captures Kuantan.

The remnants of the Malaya army continue to hang tough at Temuloh.

DEI

Japan captures Batjan, Hollandia and Vanimo.

CENTPAC

Japanese carrier air and surface TFs continue to pound away at Wake Island.

Japan captures Tabiteuea in the Gilberts.

PHILIPPINES

Bettys and Idas sink 2 AKs at Bataan and 2 AKLs at Clark but not before the Allies unload another 5000 supply. The Allies lost around 2 AKs and half a dozen AKLs in the resupply operation but were abble to deliver some 11,000 supplies total and Bataan now has over 26,000 supplies.

P-26s based at Cayagan have exacted a measure of revenge scoring bomb hits on AKL Hakuyo Maru and sinking AKL Kumakawa Maru.

Japan captures Butuan and Dumaguete. Now most of Mindanao lies in Japanese hands outside of Cayagan.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 5:49 am

2/25-2/28/42

SUBS

SS 020 takes 4 DCs from IJN ASW TF near the Celebes....she will need to go back to Soerabaja for repairs.

SS Gato puts a torpedo in BB Kirishima near Truk....again the Intelligence screen had reported BB Kirishima to be sunk but here the Allies are still pumping ordinance into a ghost ship.

SS I-23 takes a DC from USN ASW near Hawaiian Islands.

SS RO-33 takes a bomb hit from a Seagull float plane near Guadalcanal.

SS KXVI lands a torpedo on TK Terukawa Maru of Miri...looks like she had just loaded up on fuel as she is immediately afire from stem to stern.

USN ASW TF scores 2 DC hits on SS I-20 near Noumea.

IJN ASW TF scores 2 DC hits on SS Sturgeon off Cam Ranh Bay.

SOPAC

Damaged CV Yorktown and CV Enterprise make port at Sydney and begin repairs. The Allies are down to CV Indomitable in the Indian Ocean and CV Lexington and CV Saratoga in the south Pacific. CV Hornet is currently making her way west across the south Pacific in the vicinity of French Polynesia and should reach New Zealand in 8-10 days.

Intel shows CV Shokaku to be sunk but it also showed BB Kirishima to be sunk and I just put another torpedo in her today so with FoW Im not sure what to think....I know that 4 IJN CVs were hit and will need at least some repair...that leaves Japan with CV Akagi and CV Kaga plus 2 CVLs and assorted CVEs against 3 USN and 1 RN CV. CV Lexington and CV Saratoga are ready for their major 3/42 upgrades to replace the 8" guns with massive AA improvements.....I will probably keep these CVs at sea until CV Yorktown becomes fully operational again as the 3/42 upgrades will keep them in port for nearly a month apiece.

The Allies continue their buildup at Efate and Luganville.

Japan captures Namatanai in the northern Solomons.

BB Maryland sinks east of Shortlands.

BURMA

Japan captures Taung Gyi. The 5 Burma Army battalions that had been defending Taung Gyi are retreating in good order towards Lashio.

IJA troops capture Mergui.

DEI

Japan captures Kolaka in the Celebes and Tandjoengbalai on Sumatra. Japan now controls all of northern Sumatra.

Sinkep is invaded.

Bettys based at Kendari sink AKL Lepus retreating form the PI after the resupply operation.

Hollandia on New Guinea is captured.

CHINA

As we reach the end of February things are looking much better for the Chinese. At the start of the month China was in serious danger of losing Tsiaotso in the center and the southern front had basically crumbled. I think the turning point was the introduction of massive air reinforcements into China from India.

Four squadrons of B-17s were staged into Chungking and were hitting IJA troops at Tsiaotso every day in addition to a squadron of Hudson IIIas and A-10s and the resulting disruption of IJA troops prevented them from attaining 1:1 odds until reinforcements could be marched in. Japan at one time had over 80,000 troops at Tsiaotso but they are now outnumbered 61,000-57,000. In addition, a level 1 airfield was constructed at Tsiaotso and a level 2 airfield at Chengchow...this allowed the Allies to both fly CAP and sweeps over Tsiaotso on a daily basis to ensure air superiority. The entire AVG and 3 Hurricane IIb squadrons were commited to China to ensure Allied air superiority and now not only can Allied bombers hit any target they wish but Japanese bombers are restricted to hitting Chinese targets on the periphery away from Chinese airfields. Blenheim IVs and Hudson Is are also bombing secondary Japanese targets on a daily basis.

Four Chinese corps were basically destroyed at Tsiaotso but they have been withdrawn to bases in the rear to rebuild and now 5 fresh corps with 1300 AV are entrenched in the 3x defensive terrain.

Japan is still hurting us at Kweisui even though the Chinese outnumber them 26,000- 23,000...in a 1:4 shock attack last turn China suffered 1800 casualties vs 900 IJA casualties thanks to the Botanko Heavy gun regiment and and a medium gun regiment. China has also had 3 corps decimated here but 2 more corps are on the march and should be able to replace the decimated troops in a few days.

In the culmination of a 2 month operation. 3 Chinese corps crush the IJA 138th IR and the Ankei SNLF 80 miles SE of Wuchang and 80 miles W of Anking:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 86,52

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 23199 troops, 151 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 578

Defending force 2543 troops, 45 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 67

Allied adjusted assault: 582

Japanese adjusted defense: 11

Allied assault odds: 52 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2000 casualties reported
Squads: 55 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 65 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Allied ground losses:
108 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:...
70th Chinese Corps...
30th Chinese Corps...
84th Chinese Corps...
3rd War Area ...
10th Group Army...
...
Defending units:...
Ankei SNLF...
138th Infantry Regiment...

After 2 months of manuever and fighting Wuchang and Hankow are now surrounded and 32 IJA LCUs are cut off from supply.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 3:30 pm

3/1-3/2/42

SUBS

Dutch AM scores a DC hit on SS I-66 near Balikpappan.

CM Krakatau is sunk by SS I-123 near Tilitjap.

SS S-37 sinks AK Yamadori Maru near Djailolo.

SS KXVI surfaces off Borneo to pump 5 shells into AKL Hakata starting serious fires.

SHIP REPAIRS

CV Enterprise is placed on "critical" priority repairs pierside at Sydney to repair all her minor flotation, system and engine damage. CV Yorktown is also placed on pierside repair to fix all her minor damage while CA New Orleans goes into the shipyards there. CV Yorktown and CV Enterprise will head to Pearl Harbor in a couple of weeks to complete their major repairs and then undergo the 4/42 upgrades so they will be out of the war for some time.

I havent even begun to repair the air groups for CV Yorktown and CV Enterprise...there arent even enough naval aircraft to replace losses on CV Saratoga and CV Lexington so I will worry about Enterprise and Yorktown air groups in a few months after they are repaired. I was able to fill out all the SBDs on Sara and Lex but CV Lexington has only 22 F2A-3 Buffaloes...10 of which are currently operational.....F2As have a service rating of 3 so evidently repairs will take some time and I dont know how many will be writeoffs. Lex only has 10 TBD-1s for torpedo bombers.....replacements are pretty tight. Only 22 of Sara's F4F-3s are operational at this time.

Fortuinately CV Hornet is on the way across the Pacific with a full complement of aircraft.

BB California had all her minor repair work completed and left Pearl a few days ago to head to Bremerton Naval Yard to repair her 24 major flotation damage.....just got a message last turn that the temporary flotation repairs are failing.....she now has 28 flotation damage so hopefully she makes Seattle before sinking if the flotation damage continues to increase.

SOPAC

Pretty quiet here now. The Allies continue their buildup at Efate and Luganville as another major convoy arrive off Noumea from the west coast.

Japan invades at Choiseul Bay in the northern Solomons.

BURMA

Japan captures Shwebo.

CHINA

Japan assaults a few Chinese corps still in their rear....StoneAge has pretty much secured all the rails/roads in his rear areas now....but the frontline is quiet....just a few bombardments.

StoneAge gave up on the 3 month battle for Tsiaotso...the 41,000 remnants of his army there retreated east today. I bet StoneAge had a lot more trouble getting supply to his troops there than the Chinese did. Looks like instead of Tsiaotso Japan will attempt to breakthrough the mountain pass on the road just north of Tsiaotso....we have 2 Chinese corps in the mountain pass with 2 more on the way.

DEI

This is where all the action is now. Japan captures Sinkep and Sibolga in northern Sumatra.

IJA troops also overrun Vanimo on New Guinea.

StoneAge drops paratroopers from the 2nd Raiding Regiment onto Praboemoelih(next to Palembang) and secures an airhead while Palembang itself is hit by multiple naval and aerial bombarments. Several amphibious assault TFs standing just offshore now at Palembang.

The Allies stage some 60 fighters, 30 A-24 divebombers, 11 torpedo bombers and 10 level bombers into Palembang to interdict the IJN TFs tomorrow. Another 30 long range Dutch level bombers stand by at Batavia hoping to get in a few licks. CVL Ryujo and Zuiho are somewhere in the area to lend air support but are not directly covering the invasion TFs at Palembang. I have Admiral Doorman standing by with the Dutch cruisers and DDs at Tilatjap but in order for them to intervene at Palembang they would have to sail the LONG way around Bangka Island and expose themselves to the Netties based at Singapore and Singkawang....a suicide mission in my opinion so Admiral Doormans forces will stay in reserve for the big show upcoming on Festung Java.

StoneAge gives me an interesting choice...he has unsupported paratroops sitting in Praboemoelih while his amphubious troops float offshore Palembang. I think he wants me to move some of my forces out of Palembang to attack his paratroops...making it easier for his amphibious troops to get ashore. To do that, my toops would have to shock attack across a river to get out of Palembang and then shock attack across the river again to get back into Palembang.

If I do nothing he will simply air transport base units and reinforcements into Praboemoelih and then base fighters there to cover his amphibious TFs.

Im not falling for it...everything will stay home at Palembang and I will set some 25-30 fighters on LRCAP to shoot down the transports. Japan is not going to be able to land enough AV at Praboemoelih to cross the river into Palembang and make a difference. Besides, Palembang is like an island fortress with level 3 forts, protected by a river and some 500 AV(all Dutch) and 77,000 supply so the threat of isolation is not consequential. I have 8 base forces at Palembang to handle the air groups and hopefully they will damage the refineries a bit when the end comes. The Medan CD unit at Palembang suffered some damage last turn but the 120mm guns are still functional...hopefully they can deal out some punishment next turn on the assault troops.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 10:54 am

3/3-3/4/42

SOPAC

Japan captures Choiseul Bay.

DEI

IJA troops capture undefended Djailolo(near Ternate).

The battle for Palembang begins. The Medan CD guns do their job...not only the 150mm but several of the 75mm guns survive from the Japanese bombardments of the previous turn and wreak havoc with the IJN amphibious TFs:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 03, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Palembang

23 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
AK Hirokawa Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
DMS W-18, Shell hits 2, on fire
CM Kamome
DMS W-17
DMS W-14
DMS W-13
DMS W-3
DMS W-2, Shell hits 3, on fire
DMS W-1

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

75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Hirokawa Maru at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
DMS W-18 fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards...
DMS W-18 firing at enemy troops...
150mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS W-18 at 2,000 yards...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS W-18 at 2,000 yards...
DMS W-17 firing at enemy troops...
DMS W-14 firing at enemy guns...
DMS W-13 firing at enemy guns...
DMS W-3 firing at enemy troops...
DMS W-2 firing at enemy troops...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS W-2 at 2,000 yards...
DMS W-1 firing at enemy troops...
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Palembang

29 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
AK Hirokawa Maru, Shell hits 2
DMS W-18
CM Kamome
DMS W-1
AK Sado Maru
DMS W-17, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DMS W-14
DMS W-13
DMS W-3
DMS W-2, Shell hits 2, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

150mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Hirokawa Maru at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards...
DMS W-18 fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Sado Maru at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Hirokawa Maru at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
DMS W-17 firing at enemy troops...
150mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS W-17 at 2,000 yards...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS W-17 at 2,000 yards...
DMS W-14 firing at enemy troops...
DMS W-13 firing at enemy troops...
DMS W-3 firing at enemy troops...
DMS W-2 firing at enemy troops...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS W-2 at 2,000 yards...
DMS W-1 firing at enemy troops...
150mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS W-1 at 2,000 yards...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS W-1 at 2,000 yards...
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Palembang

23 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
AK Kyushu Maru, Shell hits 1
DMS W-18
CM Kamome
AK Hirokawa Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
AK Sado Maru, Shell hits 1
DMS W-14
DMS W-13, Shell hits 1
DMS W-3
DMS W-1

Japanese ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

150mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Kyushu Maru at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards...
DMS W-18 fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Sado Maru at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Hirokawa Maru at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
DMS W-18 fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards...
DMS W-14 firing at enemy troops...
DMS W-13 firing at enemy troops...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS W-13 at 2,000 yards...
DMS W-3 firing at enemy troops...
DMS W-1 firing at enemy troops...
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Palembang

25 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
AK Tosan Maru
DMS W-18
CM Kamome
AK Hirokawa Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS W-14
DMS W-13
DMS W-3
DMS W-1, Shell hits 2

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

150mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Tosan Maru at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards...
DMS W-18 fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
5" CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Hirokawa Maru at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Hirokawa Maru at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
DMS W-18 fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards...
DMS W-14 firing at enemy troops...
DMS W-13 firing at enemy troops...
DMS W-3 firing at enemy troops...
DMS W-1 firing at enemy troops...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS W-1 at 2,000 yards...
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 04, 42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Palembang

26 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
AK Hirokawa Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS W-18
CM Kamome
DMS W-14
AK Sado Maru, Shell hits 3
DMS W-13
DMS W-3
DMS W-1

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

150mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Hirokawa Maru at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards...
DMS W-18 fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Hirokawa Maru at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Sado Maru at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
DMS W-18 fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards...
DMS W-14 firing at enemy troops...
DMS W-13 firing at enemy troops...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS W-13 at 2,000 yards...
DMS W-3 firing at enemy troops...
DMS W-1 firing at enemy troops...
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invasion Support action off Palembang
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft

26 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
LSD Shinshu Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS W-18
CM Kamome
DMS W-1
AK Kyushu Maru, Shell hits 1
DMS W-13
DMS W-3, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

150mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LSD Shinshu Maru at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards...
DMS W-18 fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging AK Kyushu Maru at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging LSD Shinshu Maru at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
DMS W-18 fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards...
CM Kamome fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards...
DMS W-13 firing at enemy troops...
DMS W-3 firing at enemy troops...
150mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS W-3 at 2,000 yards...
75mm CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging DMS W-3 at 2,000 yards...
DMS W-1 firing at enemy troops...

Allied AC also get in a few hits on the IJN assault TFs but for the most part their aim was terrible:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 48,91

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
CW-22 Falcon x 6
75A-7 Hawk x 4
Hurricane IIb Trop x 1

Allied aircraft losses
CW-22 Falcon: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
LSD Shinshu Maru
DMS W-2, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 48,91

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 2
CW-22 Falcon x 3
75A-7 Hawk x 5
Hurricane IIb Trop x 3
A-24 Banshee x 17
P-40E Warhawk x 5

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Sado Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS W-13
LSD Shinshu Maru
AK Tosan Maru, Bomb hits 1
DMS W-14, on fire, heavy damage

Morning Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 48,91

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 6
B-339D x 5
CW-22 Falcon x 4
75A-7 Hawk x 4
Hurricane IIb Trop x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 1

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Sado Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
LSD Shinshu Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Muntok at 50,90

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
139WH-3 x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
APD Fuji
AMC Saigon Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 48,91

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
139WH-3 x 7
B-339D x 9
CW-22 Falcon x 7
75A-7 Hawk x 3
Hurricane IIb Trop x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 4

Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DMS W-14, heavy damage
AK Tosan Maru
DMS W-3
LSD Shinshu Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 48,91

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 6
75A-7 Hawk x 3

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Tosan Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

After 2 days Japan has offloaded 13,000 troops at Palembang....most of the 33rd Infantry Division. This wont be enough to take Palembang.

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13023 troops, 60 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 517

Defending force 13422 troops, 120 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 422

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

Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:...
2nd Garrison Battalion...
Zuid KNIL Battalion...
Riouw KNIL Battalion...
Sabang Garrison Battalion...
Pakanbaroe Det. ...
So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion...
Padang Garrison Battalion...
Van Aaran Garrison Battalion...
West Borneo KNIL Battalion...
Tapanoeli Gsn Battalion...
Korps Marechausee Battalion...
Medan Coastal Gun Battalion...
Medan Garrison Battalion...
Sarawak Force ...
Teloekbetoeng Base Force...
Sambas Base Force...
Bengkalis Base Force...
Padang Base Force...
Pontianak Base Force...
Langsa Base Force...
Palembang Base Force...
106th RN Base Force...
...
Defending units:...
33rd Division...

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:33 am

3/5-3/6/42

MALAYA

Japan is still trying to finalize their conquest of Malaya but the isolated Allied troops at Temuloh refuse to surrender:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Temuloh (50,78)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 15972 troops, 184 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 524

Defending force 6150 troops, 92 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 201

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 463

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
277 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:...
56th Infantry Regiment...
42nd Infantry Regiment...
21st Infantry Regiment...
Sasebo 8th SNLF...
Yokosuka 4th SNLF...
12th Engineer Regiment...
Sasebo 3rd SNLF...
III/81st Naval Guard Unit...
5th Mortar Battalion...
...
Defending units:...
3rd Cavalry Regiment...
27th Australian Brigade...
2nd Loyal Battalion...
2nd Gordons Battalion...
1st Malay Battalion...
1st Manchester Battalion...
1st Hyderabad Battalion...
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment...
5th Field Regiment...

For this kind of result I think that the UJA forces must be out of supply.....now 25th Army is behind the RL time schedule.

DEI

Japan invades at Sarmi and captures Muntok and Kuching.

At Palembang, IJN TFs retreat to avoid the punishment from CD guns and Allied bombers. Japan attempts to bomb the hell out of Palembang but their fighters dont fly and their bombers take horrific losses. This turn Japan loses 40 AC vs 16 Allied AC. Over Palembang Japan loses 15 Sallys and 12 Lilys to Demon/Hawk/HurricaneIIbTrop/P-40E Cap.

Now the 13000 IJA troops of 33rd ID are out of supply and basically PoWs of the Dutch forces at Palembang. Japan will need to destroy _ALL_ Allied air here and land 2 more divisions and 20,000 supply to have any chance of capturing Palembang.....meanwhile Dutch supply at Palembang is now over 80,000.

STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS

We now have confirmation of the IJN loss of CV Shokaku and CV Hiryu....plus we know that CV Zuikaku and CV Soryu are at least moderately damaged. This effectively ends Japan's hopes of amphibious conquests outside the SRA.....ie India and Australia are now off the table. We had reinforced Ceylon with 5 brigades and 2 armored Hussars( I felt that the best defense for Diego Garcia and the sea lanes from Capetown was a defense of Ceylon) but now the Allies can reallocate these forces to the Indian mainland for direct support of Calcutta and the eastern border.

18th UK ID with considerable Aussie troops is guarding Darwin so an invasion of northern Oz is also off the table.

New Caledonia and the New Hebrides continue their buildup and Japan will be hard pressed to even complete conquest of the Solomons.

I had written off Port Moresby at first but now with KB severely attritioned Port Moresby can be held and reinforcements will now be sent.

Its not the beginning of the end for Japan but it is certainly the end of the beginning.

CHINA

I really think that Japan has shot their bolt here in China....IJA troops have simply suffered too many casualties to keep up their offensives.....the southern front has been quiet for a few weeks. In the center Japan has withdrawn from Tsiaotso. In the north we have a stalemate at Kweisui....and at Paotow the Chinese have several corps resting and rebuilding to enter the meatgrinder at Kweisui. Japan can still order 1:6 attacks at Kweisui and thanks to the Botanko Heavy Gun Regiment and the 20th Medium Gun Regiment can still inflict some casualties:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Kweisui (92,35)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21934 troops, 209 guns, 210 vehicles, Assault Value = 571

Defending force 28848 troops, 200 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 644

Japanese adjusted assault: 218

Allied adjusted defense: 1318

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 6

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

Japanese ground losses:
721 casualties reported
Squads: 34 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 52 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (5 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1250 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 66 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:...
54th Infantry Brigade...
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment...
2nd Ching An Tui Brigade...
1st Ching An Tui Brigade...
3rd Ching An Tui Brigade...
5th Mongol Cavalry Division...
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment...
1st Cavalry Brigade...
60th Infantry Brigade...
4th Cavalry Brigade...
15th Tank Regiment...
12th Indpt Infantry Regiment...
26th Engineer Regiment...
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment...
Mongol Garrison Army...
21st AA Regiment...
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
...
Defending units:...
81st Chinese/B Corps...
83rd Chinese Corps...
35th Chinese Corps...
11th Chinese/A Corps...
9th Seperate Brigade...
56th Chinese Corps...
3rd Prov Chinese/C Corps...
3rd Prov Chinese/A Corps...
81st Chinese/C Corps...
13th Group Army...
17th Group Army...

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:35 am

3/7-3/8/42

SUBS

SS KXIV suffers 2 DC hits from IJN ASW TF near Wenchow....time to go back to Soerabaja for repairs.

SS S-36 sinks PB Fukkai Maru near Batjan.

SS Sculpin surfaces off Kochi to shell AK Denmark Maru but is hit in return and set afire.

DEI

Japan captures Sarmi.

The air battle rages on over Palembang. Japan sweeps Allied fighters and then tries to fly in transport AC to reinforce 33rd Infantry Division but CAP turns most of the transports away.

The Allies have 3 ABDA command P-40E squadrons that must be withdrawn in 6 days...these are flown into Palembang for CAP and aircraft losses wont matter as the groups will be withdrawn anyway. With IJN shipping gone from the area, the A-24 divebombers are set to ground attack on the 33rd ID while level bombers are all moved to Batavia where they will ordered to bomb the airfield next to Palembang at Praboemoelih.

SOPAC

CV Hornet should arrive in Auckland in a few days....here she will refuel and meet up with CV Saratoga and CV Lexington off Noumea......after rendezvousing the 3 USN CVs will move north to cover the buildup at Luganville and Efate.

BURMA

Japan seems to be reaching the end of their rope here as everything in Burma has been captured except Myitkina, Lashio and Akyab. IJA LCUs in northern Burma are now in range of Alied bombers and fighters flying from Indian airfields.....Japan doesnt have many AC in Burma at this time and their ground losses from the daily bombings are strting to add up.

Japan is starting its drive on Lashio....the Allies have about 140 AV at Lashio with level 3 forts. No Japanese thrust toward Myitkina yet....here we have 600 AV with level 3 forts in 3x terrain plus air superiority so it will take a considerable IJA effort to dislodge us.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:00 am

3/9-3/10/42

SOPAC

Japan captures Arorae in the Gilberts.

The Allies open a level 1 airstrip at Luganville. Koumac is enlarged to a level 2 airfield and Pago Pago airfield is enlarged to level 5.

Ominously, Japan enlarges its airfield at Shortlands to level 3. We must assume that Japan is now capable of flying A6M2 escorted Bettys/Nells throughout the Solomons.

PHILIPPINES

Japan launches a 1:5 deliberate attack at Clark....Japan suffers 2600 casualties vs 2100 Allied.

IJA troops overrun Bacolod.

DEI

StoneAge flies in Oscars to Praboemoelih. The USAAF ABDA command air groups suffer heavy losses of P-40Es and A-24s in the ensuing series of battles but the Japanese transport AC are again turned away. Fortunately the depleted ABDA air groups will be withdrawn next turn.

CHINA

Just when I think that Ive been able to stalemate China some 800 IJA AV break through the Chinese line 80 miles SE of Yenan....of the 4 Chinese corps defending 2 are vaporized and 2 depleted corps are retreated to within 40 miles of Yenan pursued by an IJA tank regiment. I had thought this was a backwater and neglected to upgrade the Chinese corps commanders here.....when the Japanese started massing and bombing here 4 days ago I ordered combat mode movement to 3x terrain from their 2x terrain but Japan executed their assault before the 4 Chinese corps could retreat. The bombing evidently really demoraized/disorganized the Chinese troops.

Sian is in no danger...reinforcements have been on the move for a few days and there is a lot of good defensive terrain east and NE of Sian....but Yenan will probably be lost now.

On a better note, Japan launches another 1:3 attack on Kweisui and suffers 2000 casualties to 790 Chinese.

40 miles SE of Sinyang, a full strength IJA mixed brigade pursues Chinese guerillas one hex too far....4 Chinese corps move on top of the mixed brigade and will give them a taste of shock attacks next turn.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:06 am

3/11-3/12/42

SUBS

SS Salmon takes a DC from IJN ASW near Shanghai.

SS Skipjack receives 2 DCs from IJN ASW near Loaog.

SS KXII takes severe damage from 5 DCs from IJN ASW near Billiton. Im not sure if she will make it back to Soerabaja from this one.

SS KXVI sinks PB Jokuja Maru off Miri.

The last few days the Allied subs have been receiving more damage than they have meted out. The Allies have lost 2 subs so far in the war and have sunk 2 TKs and over a score of AKs/AKLs...not to mention PBs, DMS TBs and other small escorts.

Japan has lost 9 subs....5 to mines and 4 to ASW TFs with 1 SSX lost to grounding on Oahu.....but basically the only transports lost to Japanese subs have been the "suicide" AKLs sent to resupply Bataan. Our transport convoys for the most part have been massive 80-100 ship TFs with both internal ASW and CLs with float planes on ASW search and external attached ASW TFs....the TFs from US west coast have kept far to the south and for the most part have avoided Hawaiian waters.

With the recent lack of success with the Silent Service the Allies will undergo a complete reorganization of the sub fleets. Most of the USN fleet submarines need to undergo upgrades in 4/42...mostly getting air and surface radar. The subs will be brought back from their current patrols for repairs and upgrades....and their patrol areas will be altered to reflect the increased distances the IJN merchant marine will be traveling... we wil try to stretch the IJN ASW forces as much as possible.

CHINA

The IJA 5th Independent Mixed Brigade ventures too close to Sinyang and is hammered by a Chinese shock attack:

Ground combat at 87,48

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 33275 troops, 184 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 837

Defending force 6758 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 203

Allied adjusted assault: 1055

Japanese adjusted defense: 23

Allied assault odds: 45 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
4613 casualties reported
Squads: 55 destroyed, 155 disabled
Non Combat: 67 destroyed, 112 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
583 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:...
12th Chinese Corps...
7th Chinese Corps...
13th Chinese Corps...
29th Chinese Corps...
31st Group Army...
...
Defending units:...
5th Ind.Mixed Brigade...

Chinese shock attacks have so far decimated 3 mixed brigades, an infantry regiment and a SNLF that were left out in clear terrain.

The IJA 14th Tank Regiment attempts to exploit the Japanese breaktrhough SE of Sian. Even at 1:37 odds following massive aerial bombardment by the Allies the tank regiment only loses 1 tank while inflicting 270 casualties on the Chinese:

Ground combat at 89,38

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1284 troops, 0 guns, 142 vehicles, Assault Value = 73

Defending force 8248 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 185

Japanese adjusted assault: 7

Allied adjusted defense: 265

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 37

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
279 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:...
12th Tank Regiment...
...
Defending units:...
19th Chinese Corps...
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps...
6th Group Army...

We are going to need to commit a lot of Allied air forces here to stem the red tide until reinforcements can be brought up.

The surrounded Japanese forces at Hankow continue their daily bombardment of the Chinese siege forces:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Hankow (85,50)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 57265 troops, 567 guns, 53 vehicles, Assault Value = 1712

Defending force 89688 troops, 450 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2209

Allied ground losses:
160 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:...
13th RGC Temp. Division...
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade...
34th Division...
58th Infantry Regiment...
57th Infantry Brigade...
9th Armored Car Co ...
13th Division...
13th Tank Regiment...
14th RGC Temp. Division...
61st Infantry Brigade...
11th RGC Temp. Division...
18th RGC Temp. Division...
1st Mortar Battalion...
51st Road Const Co ...
2nd Ind. Engineer Regiment...
22nd AA Regiment...
8th Ind. Engineer Regiment...
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment...
52nd Road Const Co ...
54th JAAF AF Bn ...
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
11th Army...
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion...
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion...
Hankow Special Base Force...
67th JAAF AF Coy ...
...
Defending units:...
2nd Chinese Corps...
8th Chinese Corps...
45th Chinese Corps...
67th Chinese Corps...
68th Chinese Corps...
18th Chinese Corps...
59th Chinese Corps...
75th Chinese Corps...
6th War Area ...
20th Group Army...
26th Group Army...
33rd Group Army...

The "quiet" south of China appears to be heating up also...a stack of 8 IJA LCUs is spotted just crossing the river 3 hexes south of Changsha. We have several thousand AV resting in and around Changsha so Im not overly concerned but resrves will be moved to the MLR.

MALAYA

Japan continues to bombard the remnants of the Malaya Army at Temuloh:

Ground combat at Temuloh (50,78)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15454 troops, 183 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 562

Defending force 6084 troops, 92 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 197

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

Assaulting units:...
56th Infantry Regiment...
22nd Recon Regiment...
Sasebo 8th SNLF...
Yokosuka 4th SNLF...
12th Engineer Regiment...
Sasebo 3rd SNLF...
42nd Infantry Regiment...
21st Infantry Regiment...
III/81st Naval Guard Unit...
5th Mortar Battalion...
...
Defending units:...
1st Manchester Battalion...
2nd Gordons Battalion...
2nd Loyal Battalion...
27th Australian Brigade...
1st Malay Battalion...
3rd Cavalry Regiment...
1st Hyderabad Battalion...
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment...
5th Field Regiment...

The Malayan troops are almost out of supply but Japan's last attack here had very little AV so for some reason their supply situation is worse than ours.

PHILIPPINES

StoneAge continues to bombard away at Clark:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2167 troops, 130 guns, 76 vehicles, Assault Value = 809

Defending force 48549 troops, 767 guns, 444 vehicles, Assault Value = 1336

Allied ground losses:
187 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:...
Tanaka Detachment...
48th Recon Regiment...
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment...
65th Brigade...
16th Engineer Regiment...
16th Recon Regiment...
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment...
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment...
20th Infantry Regiment...
Kanno Detachment...
4th Tank Regiment...
7th Tank Regiment...
47th Field AA Battalion...
14th Army...
48th Field Artillery Regiment...
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion...
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment...
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion...
45th Field AA Battalion...
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion...
...
Defending units:...
26th PS Cavalry Regiment...
31st PA Infantry Division...
Subic Bay Defenses ...
41st PA Infantry Division...
51st PA Infantry Division...
21st PA Infantry Division...
1st PA Constabulary Regiment...
4th Marine Regiment...
192nd Tank Battalion...
31st Infantry Regiment...
11th PA Infantry Division...
194th Tank Battalion...
1st PA Infantry Division...
71st PA Infantry Division...
91st PA Infantry Division...
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment...
Manila USAAF Base Force...
14th PS Engineer Regiment...
USAFFE ...
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment...
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment...
Clark Field USAAF Base Force...
Far East USAAF ...
Provisional GMC Grp ...
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment...

We have some 2100 AV and 25,000 supplies stockpiled between Bataan and Clark We are putting several of the higher quality units(US Marines and US Army 31st IR) into reserve mode at Clark or we rotate them to Bataan for rest from the daily bombardments. I think we can hold out here at least until RL 5/5/42.

Japan captures undefended Surigao.

Over on Mindanao Japan bombards every day at our last outpost at Cayagan:

Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4207 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 208

Defending force 11090 troops, 63 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 332

Assaulting units:...
8th Tank Regiment...
16th Infantry Regiment...
16th Army...
...
Defending units:...
3rd PA Constabulary Regiment...
102nd PA Infantry Regiment...
103rd PA Infantry Regiment...
102nd PA Infantry Division...
Cagayan USAAF Base Force...
III Philippine Corps...

SOPAC

Japan continues to expand throughout the Solomons by capturing Rekata Bay and Ontong Java.

CV Hornet joins up with CV Saratoga and CV Lexington off Noumea and heads north to cover the massive US buildup in the New Hebrides.

We will again sortie the USN CVs north into the Solomons if IJN transports become further overextended.

Allied base forces, construction engineers and combat troops wade ashore at Wallis Island and Funafuti to secure our mutually supporting chain of island bases and fortify our forward line of search plane bases respectively. The airfield at Wallis Island will be greatly expanded to prevent any further Japanese expansion south from the Gilberts.

DEI

Dutch troops entrenched at Palembang and the IJA 33rd ID continue to bombard away at each other every day:

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13103 troops, 67 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 508

Defending force 13128 troops, 120 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 413

Japanese ground losses:
135 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:...
Korps Marechausee Battalion...
Pakanbaroe Det. ...
Zuid KNIL Battalion...
Van Aaran Garrison Battalion...
So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion...
2nd Garrison Battalion...
Padang Garrison Battalion...
Medan Coastal Gun Battalion...
Medan Garrison Battalion...
Riouw KNIL Battalion...
Tapanoeli Gsn Battalion...
Sabang Garrison Battalion...
West Borneo KNIL Battalion...
Sarawak Force ...
Padang Base Force...
Pontianak Base Force...
Bengkalis Base Force...
Teloekbetoeng Base Force...
Palembang Base Force...
Langsa Base Force...
Sambas Base Force...
106th RN Base Force...
...
Defending units:...
33rd Division...

Im not sure how much supply StoneAge can airlift into Palembang but we have nearly 90,000 supply and its growing faster than we can burn it.

The air war rages on over Palembang and Praboemoelih but Japanese fighters seem to be getting the upper hand on Allied fighters and bombers. We withdrew 7 of the 8 USAAF ABDA P-40E and A-24 squadrons today (that gave us enough PPs to but the 164th IR in SF and load it up for shipment to Noumea to reform the Americal Division) and we are now woefully short of AC over Java and Sumatra. One squadron of ABDA P-40Es was left at Palembang and whatever is left of it next turn will be withdrawn.

Farther east Japan invades Namlea and transport TFs appear off Kendari. An IJN carrier force is spotted heading SW into the Banda Sea....posibly to cover landings at Ambon or Koepang. I wish StoneAge would have done this a couple of weeks ago when we still had all the ABDA P-40Es and A-24s.

If the recon is to be believed, the IJN Air Combat Tf has 17 fighters, 92 fighters and 52 auxilliaries....probably not CV Akagi and CV Kaga but a combination of CVL/CVEs and CSs.

Opposing this, ABDA actually has a massive surface force in the Indian Ocean lying just outside the Malay barrier....3 BBs, 1 BC, 4 CAs, 18 CLs but their only air cover is CV Indomitable. CV Formidable is currently in transit from Capetown to the DEI and should reach the map edge in 2 days.
If CV Formidable can join up with the rest of the ABDA naval forces before Java is invaded we may have a real battle here.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:07 am

3/13-3/14/42

SUBS

SS I-165 takes 4 DCs from RN ASW TF near Tilatjap

SS I-162 gets 1 DC from USN ASW TF near Loemadjang. These 2 spottings just south of Java indicates StoneAge is trying to locate our ABDA naval forces in the Indian Ocean.

SS S-39 fires a torp at an IJN AirCombat TF near Ternate but misses....more importantly she gets a positive ID on CV Akagi....so the carrier force we spotted last turn was probably Akagi and Kaga...but for whatever reason as soon as we spotted them last turn near Kendari they are retreating to the NE and are out of search plane range by the 14th. SS S-39 then gets 2 Dcs for her efforts from IJN ASW near Djailolo.

SS Pollack puts a torpedo in AK Tatuha Maru off Honshu.

SOPAC

Japan captures Nonouti in the Gilberts. One of the CLs covering our buildup on Funafuti is detached with 2 DDs to look for IJN transports up in the Gilberts.

Rekata Bay in the Solomons is captured.

On New Guinea Japan captures unoccupied Aitape.

CHINA

Looks like the IJA 12th Tank Regiment joined the 14th Tank Regiment in attempting to exploit their breakthrough SE of Yenan.

Our Chinese defenders there should be able to withdraw this turn before the big IJA divisions show up.

I plan to have a few surprises for the 12th and 14th Tank Regiments in about a week.

37mm surprises.....

DEI:

Japan captures Buguran in the South China Sea.

Billiton is invaded and Toboali is captured by osmosis.

As mentioned earlier CV Akagi was ID'd in the carrier force near Kendari and then inexplicably withdrew.....no offensives at Ambon or Koepang for awhile I guess.

StoneAge has been flying a lot of small bombing missions over Tilatjap....perhaps he is reconning for an eventual invasion here. Tilatjap is probably the weakest link in our coastal defenses at Festung Java...but I would welcome an invasion here as it would allow our ABDA naval forces to intervene.

The last ABDA P-40E fighter group is withdrawn from the DEI. More P-40E and P-39 fighter squadrons are railroaded from eastern Australia to Alice Springs to start the journey north into the DEI.

The IJA 1st Raiding Regiment is dropped on Djambi and easily forces our avaition engineers out of the hex. Unfortunately 247 out of 250 oil are captured intact. Now StoneAge owns airfields directly north and south of Palembang. While our fighters have interdicted Japanese transport AC at Praboemoelih, Djambi is too far away for effective LRCAP and Japan can reinforce here with as much supply and ground troops as he chooses.

Still, its gonna take at least 1-2 more divisions for Japan to capture Palembang and I dont see StoneAge airlifting that much supplies or troops. Ive attached a screen shot...the only IJN TF is view is a solitary minesweeper.....no carriers or transports in the area...not even at Singapore.

Back at Palembang the Medan CD unit has fully repaired all its 150mm and 75mm guns so we wait for another amphibious assault if it comes.

Streptokok · Post by **Streptokok** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:01 am

Very interesting AAR, you are one of those allied players that does not cry about China [:)]
I think most allied players "play" China the wrong way, you shure are proving them wrong about Japs being so much overpowered in China.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:08 am

Steptokok....hey in China u r only as good as your last battle...I feel like the little Dutch boy that kept plugging the holes in the dike to stop the leaks....only I wish I could stick some T-34s in the holes instead of my finger. Seriously...if you sit back in your front line cities as China and entrench u will get slaughtered...China needs to advance into the frontline Japanese cities and use their favorable terrain for defense because forts seem almost useless in AE. And on the first turn China needs to get as much as possible into Kweisui because if Japan advances west from Kweisui there is nothing but open terrain and Lanchow and the rest of northwestern China will be lost. And you need to hold Wenchow with your prepped 300 AV corps with unlimited supply and make Japan commit 2-3 divisions to root u out. In stock WitP I used the AVG EVERYWHERE but China...in AE you need to use the AVG IN China....and move in as many Hurricane Trop IIbs as possible as they become available. I moved all the B-17s from the PI over to China and a lot of Blenheim IVs and Hudsons from India into China. Supply isnt that bad in China if u shut down ALL the industry repairs. I was generating a supply surplus in China until I committed all my air force and now it is negative but dont tell my opponent that. You need the Allied air forces to stop Jap aerial bombardments and initiate those of your own.

Its kind of funny...the constant Jap bombardments at Kweisui and Hankow and a couple other locations in my game have trained up some 4000 Chinese AV to 55-65 experience....now they are some of the best trained troops in the entire Allied OOB.

Having said all of that I have to commend my opponent for not stacking 17 artillery units in a single hex...even now that I have a prepared defensive line a stack of 17 artillery units could blow a hole through my line big enough to drive Arnold's H-1 thru. My opponent commented a couple of turns ago that he noticed that a lot of Japanese players were stacking enormous anounts of Kwangtung artillery in the front lines to break thru but he said that he "had better uses for the artillery" so I assume he will use the artillery to take Allied strong points like Clark and Palembang and Java which is fine with me.

3/15-3/18/42

SUBS

SS KVXII surfaces off Singkawang to shell AKL Niseyo Maru but instaed takes 8 shell hits and is set afire....this commander will be replaced when the sub comes back in for repairs.

SS I-30 puts 2 torpedoes in CA Pensacola near Noumea and she immediately sinks with heavy loss of life ...this is by far the worst sub loss of the war for the Allies.

SOPAC

Last turn the Allies detached a raiding force of CL Achilles and DD Selfridge from their covering force at Funafuti to raid the IJN invasion forces in the Gilberts. CL Achilles strikes paydirt by intercepting an IJN transport TF at Nonouti:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Nonouti at 136,133, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Toyotsu Maru, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PB Kyo Maru #7, Shell hits 33, and is sunk
PB Shonon Maru #11, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Katsura Maru, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
PB Kaito Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
xAKL Tenposan Maru, Shell hits 18, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Achilles
DD Selfridge

Japanese ground losses:
207 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!...
Japanese TF suspends loading operations and begins to get underway...
Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight...
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 0% moonlight: 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards......
Range closes to 6,000 yards......
Range closes to 3,000 yards......
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 3,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 3,000 yards...
CL Achilles engages PB Toyotsu Maru at 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CL Achilles engages PB Kaito Maru at 2,000 yards...
PB Shonon Maru #11 sunk by CL Achilles at 2,000 yards...
CL Achilles engages xAKL Tenposan Maru at 2,000 yards...
Range increases to 4,000 yards...
DD Selfridge engages PB Toyotsu Maru at 4,000 yards...
DD Selfridge engages xAKL Katsura Maru at 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
PB Toyotsu Maru sunk by CL Achilles at 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CL Achilles engages PB Kyo Maru #7 at 2,000 yards...
xAKL Tenposan Maru sunk by CL Achilles at 2,000 yards...
CL Achilles engages xAKL Katsura Maru at 2,000 yards...
Range increases to 4,000 yards...
xAKL Katsura Maru sunk by CL Achilles at 4,000 yards...
DD Selfridge engages PB Kaito Maru at 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
PB Kaito Maru sunk by CL Achilles at 2,000 yards...
PB Kyo Maru #7 sunk by DD Selfridge at 2,000 yards...
PB Kyo Maru #7 sunk by DD Selfridge at 2,000 yards...
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk......

Last turn we had released CV Hornet, CV Lexington and CV Saratoga from close support duty at Luganville to move 80 miles north to investigate IJN activity at Rekata Bay....well this turn they found some "activity" and disposed of it:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rekata Bay at 113,134

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 13
F4F-3 Wildcat x 21
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAKL Katsuragisan Maru, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
PB Sento Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Daitei Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
190 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Katsuragisan Maru...
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Daitei Maru...

Japan captures Talasea on New Britain.

MALAYA

Japan finally eradicates the last Allied pocket of resistance in Malaya at Temuloh.....11,000 Allied troops are marched off into captivity but at least they held out longer than in RL.

PHILIPPINES

At Clark Japan conducts a 1:3 deliberate attack suffering 1900 casualties vs 2500 Allied.

Farther south, Japan executes a 1:2 deliberate attack at Cayagan with even casualties.

CHINA

Japan appears to be manuvering to launch a full scale offensive from the south towards Changsha...Chinese troops are on the move to blunt this and Allied air reinforcements are flown in to pound IJA troops on the ground.

Chinese troops capture Luchow far to the Japanese rear.
n CL

DEI

Lots of activity here.

The IJA 1st Tank Regiment captures Sawahloente and 5th Recon Regiment captures Pakanbaroe ....apparently Japan is marching its troops from northern Sumatra south to attack Palembang...thats ok with me I still havent seen any forces capable of taking Palembang. The 33rd ID at Palembang hasnt conducted a bombardment attack in the last 4 days...I think that there is a lack of supply issue here.

StoneAge send a SAG with 2 CAs and 2 CLs into Batavia harbor and sinks 3 AMcs in a night raid....daylight finds the SAG in range of torpedo bombers at Batavia and Albacores put a torpedo in CL Kinu inflicting heavy damage.

Japan captures Madang on New Guinea.

Japan invades at Taliaboe , Babo, Boela and Gorong. CV Kaga and Akagi reappear to support these lastest landings. Japan is rapidly gobbling up all the undefended bases but seems almost reticent to attack our defended bases...especially those with pre-war CD guns.

IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

CARRIER BATTLE OF THE NORTHERN SOLOMONS

RE: CARRIER BATTLE OF THE NORTHERN SOLOMONS

RE: CARRIER BATTLE OF THE NORTHERN SOLOMONS

RE: CARRIER BATTLE OF THE NORTHERN SOLOMONS

INVASION PALEMBANG

RE: INVASION PALEMBANG

RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

RE: IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)