Matrix Games Forums

1942-01-10

Again no bases fell, and again ground action was the most significant. Along with the usual air activity, there was a large sweep of Kukong where a squadron of the AVG has been prowling the skies. The result was around 2 to 1 in our favor. [:)]

Also of interest in the air is that a freighter was spotted by an IJN "float fighter" at Tahiti. Presume this to be from the surface raiders that began the game at sea deep within Allied territory. Port Moresby again witnessed a sweep overhead of 32 Zeros from Rabaul.

In China, the dance continues. The IJA army near Kweilin appears to be withdrawing, moving to the east. Either they've done their job of pulling forces away from the main threat, or EHQ has good recon on the large Chinese formations in the area and is looking toward less dangerous ground. The IJA forces at Wuchang continue moving west, toward Changsha. Chinese Army Group Tennis Shoes carry on scattering in the north, making themselves as much of a nuisance as possible.

Attacks were made at Bandoeng, Clark, and Manila. The IJA deliberate attack at Bandoeng achieved 1 to 2 odds, failed to reduce the forts (level 1), but resulted in about even casualties. Clark was much better. The IJA deliberate attack was repulsed at 1 to 6 odds (level 0 forts) and resulted in 7 1/2 times as many casualties for the attackers! At Manila the Allied deliberate attack went in at 1 to 2 odds, with casualties in favor of the defenders by 3 to 2. In light of the results at Clark, a US Army regiment and a PA Army combat engineer unit are being sent to Manila to reinforce for a shock attack. They will arrive in 2 days, which will allow some time for disabled squads and tanks to recover, but casualties were modest. Allied HQ is optimistic about the prospects.

There were heavy radio transmissions at Kwajalein and some radio hits even further away, but no significant sightings in the Pacific.

1942-01-11

Madioen fell, and with it the defenders of Semarang who had made a fighting withdrawal. The victorious IJA 41 Division appears headed toward Soerabaja. Tjilatjap was invaded from the sea. Land forces were previously consolidated elsewhere so the base will fall tomorrow. Even so, the shore batteries roughed up xAK Hakodate Maru, hitting her several times during the day. The Dutch flew again but for the second day in a row scored no hits on Batavia light industry. The altitude setting might be responsible, as they were all still set at 3,000ft for the shipping raids. Altitude has been adjusted to 8,000ft, after that we will try 6,000ft.

Kukong saw more sweeps, with IJ pilots doing a bit better than the AVG. While that is probably due to numbers and the rotation of the H81-A3 equipped squadrons through there (yesterday and today), it might also signal IJ bringing in better pilots to reduce their own losses. The P-40's will be mostly back on line tomorrow in Changsha and will transfer back to Kukong within 2 days for another go. There are now 4 IJA units sitting one hex E of Kukong, the good news of course is that 2 of them were treated badly a short time ago.

IJA forces continue to approach Changsha. Chinese units have fortified in the forest E of the city.

Singapore flak gunners got another 9 plus ops losses today.

The merchant vessel at Tahiti saw its detection level go from 3/3 to 5/5, and Tahiti itself is now 1/1. Similarly, a small convoy at Christmas Island was spotted by a "Float Plane". As the Catalinas there have spotted no ships, that is presumed to be a sub-launched search.

An invasion convoy - but not the KB - has been spotted headed SW toward the Jomard Passage. Owing to lack of nearby assets, coast watchers have been ordered to pee from high cliffs to deny the Passage. Failing that, a USN s-boat will intercept if the target is indeed Port Moresby as presumed.

1942-01-12

Toungoo and Tjilatjap were seized by the enemy today. Toungoo was empty, Tjilatjap had the stout harbor defense guns giving contest. Weather was bad and the Dutch bombers did not fly. Maybe tomorrow. Soerabaja might only have just that long, as enemy forces have arrived. Rangoon - an open city - has yet to be occupied.

In China Kukong was bombed repeatedly overnight. Damage was all repaired by the end of the day, and one fighter was lost on the ground. Significant numbers of units continue to move towards Changsha, although Chinese defenders in the woods have yet to be reached by the invading hoards. Only numbers of enemy units are seen: are they divisions or battalions?

Port Moresby was visited by the same Zero sweep from Rabaul, but only 31 - somebody's plane must be broken! Significantly, though, the Aussie defenders had another visit:

Afternoon Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
B5N2 Kate x 73
D3A1 Val x 69



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged


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


Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 43

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x D3A1 Val bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
14 x D3A1 Val bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x D3A1 Val bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x D3A1 Val bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x D3A1 Val bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x D3A1 Val bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Several coast watcher sightings put IJN forces near Fergusson Island and also passing Milne Bay. Search assets were pulled back from Port Moresby yesterday and failed to reach the enemy from their base in Australia.

The additional forces arrived in Manila, just when EHQ apparently felt they had only one last chance to push out the prior OOB of Allied troops. Allied troops at Manila:

• 41st PA Infantry Division
• 194th Tank Battalion
• 31st Infantry Regiment
• 51st PA Infantry Division
• 192nd Tank Battalion
• 4th Marine Regiment
• 14th PS Engineer Regiment

The lonely IJA 65th Brigade shock attacked, but suffered from insurmountable handicaps.

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

The attack came in with assault strengths adjusted to 0 and 445, for 1 to 99 odds. The 65 Brigade suffered crippling casualties.

4072 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 182 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 145 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled

Tomorrow, the armor will be in reserve while the remaining Allied forces make a deliberate attack. Our objective is to destroy this unit or render it useless, while sweeping behind the enemy forces investing Clark Field, ultimately threatening Iba. 3 enemy units have long been seen at Iba, but their nature and strength is unknown. If at least 2 of them are support units, Iba could be seized. At least one of the 2 enemy units that were pursuing cut-off Filipino units to the north have made progress moving to plug the gap, so this is a race as much as a battle.

Brutal. Excellent work on the 65th! well done indeed.

Thanks!

---

1942-01-13

The invasion juggernaut is moving; four bases today, but there is some good news! [:)]

1942-01-14

Rangoon, Port Moresby, Namatanai, and Samarinda fell today. Cabanatuan was captured! The enemy invaded Manus, and continued landing troops at the bases invaded yesterday.

After capturing Samarinda, the enemy troops were seen at once setting out for Balikpapan. PT attacks against the transports were unsuccessful. Soerabaja continues waiting for the inevitable, but EHQ might be waiting for the additional combat unit moving in from the west. Recon shows that yesterday's raid against Batavia achieved about 11 hits on light industry, much better than pilot reports. The bombers did not fly today.

Port Moresby fell as anticipated, with some defenders surrendering and others fleeing high into the interior mountains toward Buna. The KB, while thought to be nearby providing cover, is invisible.

In China, enemy forces continue moving toward Changsha and Kukong. However, the forces near Kweilin and Liuchow have moved to the east, now SE of Kweilin and appear to be moving toward Kukong. Kukong did not receive any enemy air attention today, possibly as a result of yesterday's debacle with one Sally raid. In the north, enemy forces are moving back toward contact with Chinese defenders on the eastern route to Sian. This time they have more units, although strength is unknown. They appear to have concentrated units that were formerly probing toward the Yenan route to Sian.

Things went well on Luzon again, this time at Cabanatuan. When slicing into the IJA 65 Brigade, US armor discovered that the IJA 2 and 4 Tank Regiments both had arrived to aid the beleaguered brigade. It didn't matter, probably in part because the tank regiments had just arrived and were still in marching order, but mostly because the American tanks totally outmatched their Japanese counterparts:

Ground combat at Cabanatuan (80,76)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 744 troops, 0 guns, 117 vehicles, Assault Value = 76

Defending force 3648 troops, 29 guns, 142 vehicles, Assault Value = 85

Allied adjusted assault: 55

Japanese adjusted defense: 12

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Cabanatuan !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1083 casualties reported
Squads: 34 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 86 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 127 (122 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 3


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


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
192nd Tank Battalion
194th Tank Battalion

Defending units:
65th Brigade
4th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment

Here is the current situation on Luzon:

1942-01-15

Morotai and Talaud-eilanden fell today. Shortlands was also invaded.

The ex-defenders of Port Moresby have begun the long walk to the coast.

The infantry and engineers arrived at Cabanatuan and most have set off to follow their armor. One PA division has taken the road to Bayombong to block the enemy armored formations. The Yokosuka 3rd SNLF has resumed moving toward the isolated Filipino units. This last observation lobbies that all enemy forces are pulling out of Clark for redeployment, and perhaps reinforcements are being brought in as well. Allied forces at Clark bombarded the enemy today to impede their progress and will continue to do so. Clearly it is a race toward Lingayen.

In China, 2 IJA divisions, an independent mixed brigade, and supporting units have made contact with the Chinese defenders east of Changsha. 2 more IJA units are seen moving in. IJA units also continue massing near Kukong. IJA air returned to Kukong in strength today, and they left a whole lot weaker. The three AVG squadrons have been rotating through Kukong and today was the turn of the P-40E equipped squadron. I know that the squadron "kills" only include current pilots and some of the AVG pilots were drafted from the squadrons in the Philippines. Still, a great number of these kills come from the action in China. As of today, the P-40E equipped squadron has 85 kills, and the other two squadrons have 32 and 30 kills respectively, for a total of 157 for the group. Here is a snapshot of the air losses on the day:

Japanese ground losses:
1083 casualties reported
Squads: 34 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 86 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 127 (122 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 3


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


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
192nd Tank Battalion
194th Tank Battalion

Defending units:
65th Brigade
4th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment

Wow. Not a single US tank (or other vehicle) casualty. The M3 Stuart - the Terror of the Philippines.

So, I take it your peeing Coastwatchers were unable to stop the Port Moresby invasion fleet? [:D]

Yeah know, they were issued a case of Foster's each and still couldn't get the job done! [:D]

My early plan for the Pacific is to put together a few places where the outcome of an IJ invasion is flat out uncertain. Not "IJ wins eventually" or "IJ takes punishment to win" but actually "IJ might not win at all"! The first such place is Christmas Island, which is already a hard target and growing toward the objective. I haven't decided on the second place yet.

Interestingly, I keep seeing recon coming in to Tahiti, and I'm sure there are no ships around (thinking of those two AMC raiders that start the game at sea far in the South Pacific). So the recon is coming from subs, and I'm wondering if Tahiti is being watched as a target or if this is merely a Glen equipped sub looking for juicy targets?

---

1942-01-16

Manus and Sawahloento fell today.

Allied armor arrived at Lingayen, and they plus aerial recon found a total of 5 units there, plus 6 more north at San Fernando. The strategic objective is to stretch out resistance on Luzon as long as possible and to inflict significant damage on enemy forces while doing so. The following infantry units would arrive tomorrow, but only in move mode. If those 4 (5 minus the 65 Brigade) units are strong combat units, then the entire force could be bludgeoned and rendered feeble. The infantry has pulled back to Cabanatuan, and the armor is following in move mode. They should make the trip in one day barring significant air interdiction.

So far on Luzon, we have managed to wipe out two air dropped units, plus maul an independent mixed brigade and two tank regiments. In addition, the forces besieging Clark were pounded hard during two attacks.

The rest of the story this turn is also about Imperial ground attacks. First at Bandoeng:

Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 21359 troops, 196 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 584

Defending force 20363 troops, 276 guns, 92 vehicles, Assault Value = 420

Japanese adjusted assault: 319

Allied adjusted defense: 589

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1134 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 109 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 42 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled


Allied ground losses:
179 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 18 (3 destroyed, 15 disabled)


Assaulting units:
21st Division
33rd Division

The attacking divisions are suffering from disruption and should not be attacking.

This bombardment shows the forces arrayed on the eastern route to Sian:

Ground combat at 87,41

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 50981 troops, 424 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 1564

Defending force 70536 troops, 343 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1798

Japanese ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


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


Assaulting units:
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Division
37th Division
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
26th Division
Mongol Garrison Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
16th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
43rd Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
Red Chinese Army
7th Group Army
8th Group Army

This Bombardment shows the forces now in contact in the woods east of Changsha:

Ground combat at 83,52

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 30420 troops, 242 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 1488

Defending force 70339 troops, 299 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1672

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



Assaulting units:
6th Division
13th Division
14th Ind.Mixed Brigade
18th Ind.Mixed Brigade
40th Division
2nd Ind Engineer Regiment
52nd Field Const Co
15th AA Regiment

Defending units:
20th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese/A Corps
74th Chinese Corps
58th Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese/B Corps
27th Group Army
9th War Area
30th Group Army

In addition to these hot spots, there is the serious massing of troops against Kukong.

1942-01-17

Shortlans and Soerabaja fell today.

On Luzon the Imperial forces are fully withdrawing from Clark Airfield (most are gone already). Indeed, they seem also to have also pulled out of Iba. A number of units that were in Lingayen yesterday are apparently in San Fernando today. One of the Allied armor units made it to Cabanatuan and the other is at 45 miles. Surprisingly, the two IJA tank regiments that had been retreated to Bayombong have moved back into Cabanatuan. They are completely overmatched by the Allied forces in that hex and will be attacked tomorrow. Most likely they were dispatched to block retreat of Allied units from Lingayen, so withdrawal of the Allied armor was timely. With the low experience of the Filipino forces it is impossible for the Allies to destroy all Imperial forces on Luzon, but we have outmaneuvered them and freed Manila and (are about to free) Clark from enemy seige.

The Dutch bombers were socked in by severe storms today. Portions of several units made it out of Soerabaja and are retreating westward. If Imperial forces have left some bases ungarrisoned then perhaps they can open a way to link up with Dutch forces around Bandoeng.

In China the IJA host at 87,41 shock attacked. Adjusted AS of 691 to 1957 was counted as 1 to 2. My math might be weak, but I think that ratio failed to make 1 to 2 (as the game engine is known to truncate, not round). At any rate casualties were about 3 to 5 in our favor, with almost all being disablements on both sides. Our boys were low on supply. Nothing can be done for that. At least they are gaining experience without actual losses.

In the woods between Sian and Nanyang there has been a slow but steady reduction in the number of units in the army that had trailed the Chinese into the woods. Where are they going? Are they moving to another route on Sian, or are they redeploying toward Changsha to reinforce that effort?

Chinese task force TM - Trouble Makers - have arrived at an empty Chuhsien and will capture it tommorrow. Meanwhile, a short distance to the north a Chinese force of almost 400 AS is in the hex next to Anking and is crossing the river next to Nanchang. Eventually the two forces will link up, enemy action allowing.

The big news is at Kukong, with enemy forces continuing to move into the vicinity. The P-40E squadron there now boasts 110 kills and 10 aces (not counting those lost to date). After two heavy raids toady the combat reports claim 14 to 0 for the AVG's star squadron. A look at air losses on the day reinforces that claim, with air to air at 29 to 0!