Rook749 vs Lam0ttePicquet (DBB028-C)

[rook749]

Seem we lost the Maryland as it was on the way back to the WC for final repairs. Despite overhead Air, eight escort DD's and three DDs in a separate ASW task force. Some days you just can't win....

I tip my hat to I-168 for not stopping....

Sub attack near Lahaina at 192,100

Japanese Ships
SS I-168

Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
DD Allen
DD Dewey

SS I-168 launches 4 torpedoes at BB Maryland
DD Allen fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Dewey attacking submerged sub ....
DD Dewey cannot establish contact with SS I-168
DD Dewey cannot establish contact with SS I-168
DD Dewey loses contact with SS I-168
DD Dewey attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-168 eludes ASW attack from DD Dewey
DD Dewey cannot reach attack position over SS I-168
DD Dewey loses contact with SS I-168
DD Dewey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dewey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dewey attacking submerged sub ....
DD Dewey is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub


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

Sub attack near Lahaina at 192,100

Japanese Ships
SS I-168

Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage
DD Allen

SS I-168 launches 4 torpedoes at BB Maryland
DD Allen fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Allen fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Allen fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Allen fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Allen fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

[rook749]

ASW Around Pearl

Seems Lam0ttePicquet is either very good with his submarines or getting very good advise in his forum and is listening to the advice.[;)] After trying to hunt close into Pearl for the first 20 days it appears his submarines are now siting 13 - 16 hexes from Pearl. All his inital use of submianes lead to was damage to his submarines and some decent EXP for the ASW DDs. After going to ground for three weeks around Pearl they are back.

I suspect there is a shell around the islands and this is what the Maryland ran into on its way to the west coast[:-]. I am looking into this "shell" of submarines now.

Thirteen hexes is outside the ASW range of the B-17D and LB-30 ---- as of today all B-17Ds (24) LB-30 (8) and PBYs (24) are set to just naval search. I now have four groups of 3 DDs on ASW working at these ranges. If we start seeing the sub's move closer to Pearl, the rest of the bombers based at Pearl will be set to ASW (currently training gound attack). If we start to see large number of submarines 13+ hexes out we may move some of the B-17E to Naval Search to help vector in the DDs.

I wish I had more PBY's the ones I have are needed to provide advance warning in other areas.

[rook749]

KB is Back!!!!

Not much going on here that he can interfere with.... His raid is about seven days to late as the units and supplies are ashore. The NZ Force took some damage from the strike but will fall back towards NZ at flank speed and should make their escape.

I hope he makes for a strike on Brisbane where I am staging supply and units to hold the SWPAC as there are now 75 P-40E's all with great leaders and 70 A2A skill pilots plus one Heavy AA ACU and one Light AA ACU.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: rook749

Seem we lost the Maryland as it was on the way back to the WC for final repairs. Despite overhead Air, eight escort DD's and three DDs in a separate ASW task force. Some days you just can't win....

I tip my hat to I-168 for not stopping....

Sub attack near Lahaina at 192,100

Japanese Ships
SS I-168

Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
DD Allen
DD Dewey

SS I-168 launches 4 torpedoes at BB Maryland
DD Allen fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Dewey attacking submerged sub ....
DD Dewey cannot establish contact with SS I-168
DD Dewey cannot establish contact with SS I-168
DD Dewey loses contact with SS I-168
DD Dewey attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-168 eludes ASW attack from DD Dewey
DD Dewey cannot reach attack position over SS I-168
DD Dewey loses contact with SS I-168
DD Dewey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dewey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dewey attacking submerged sub ....
DD Dewey is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub


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

Sub attack near Lahaina at 192,100

Japanese Ships
SS I-168

Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage
DD Allen

SS I-168 launches 4 torpedoes at BB Maryland
DD Allen fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Allen fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Allen fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Allen fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Allen fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

I-168 must have the best sub commander the IJN has. In my game against the AI it is hanging around PH area and although several different ASW TFs have targeted it often, no one can get a hit on it. Meanwhile, I-168 has picked off a couple of AMs, a DM and a DMS. My DDs have been lucky enough to dodge his torps. Good thing the AI does not vary its patrol zone and I can send shipping around it.

[rook749]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I-168 must have the best sub commander the IJN has. In my game against the AI it is hanging around PH area and although several different ASW TFs have targeted it often, no one can get a hit on it. Meanwhile, I-168 has picked off a couple of AMs, a DM and a DMS. My DDs have been lucky enough to dodge his torps. Good thing the AI does not vary its patrol zone and I can send shipping around it.

I would have to agree, one of the reasons I interesting things about playing this game when things like this occur I look into some of the history with the units/ships involved. I hope this stating sub commander has an aggressive setting after reading --- "observing the torpedo hits, I-168 descended to 200 feet and slowed to three knots directly under Yorktown. American destroyers Gwin, Hughes, and Monaghan dropped 60 depth charges before damaging I-168 at 1530. A depth charge exploding near the bow put out the lights, damaged the forward battery room, sprung the hatches to No. 1 torpedo tube and reduced the submerged depth to 60 feet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_submarine_I-168

[rook749]

From
Chief of Staff
to
POTUS

As the war approaches the middle of the month and the carrier taskforces are soon to arrive we wanted to provide an update on the current recommendations for the change in command in the Pacific and the current assessment of the use of the INJ Combined Fleet.

Command Arrangements in the Pacific
After the receipt of the of the preliminary summary report of the air assault at Pearl Harbor, the relief of the General Short and Admiral Kimmel will be required. While not all of the blame lies with them as the commanders on the spot their relief is required if for no other reason to provide a means to reset the moral of the pacific command and possibly the nation.

As soon as the carriers arrive back at Pearl, Admiral King will be conducting a large house cleaning of ship and land commanders throughout the Pacific of commanders that have not met our expectations in this theater. While some of these commanders may be unfairly tarnished as in many cases they simply did not have the support or resources to achieve their assigned objective in these trying times we need officers that are seeking reasons why they can move forward not ones that are explain why something that can’t be accomplished.

Moving forward with the appointment of Admiral Nimitz, he will be the theater commander for all naval, ground and air forces assigned to the pacific. We are looking into further subdividing this theater into area commands reporting to the theater commander but as of this time these arrangements are not finalized.

IJN Combined Fleet

As of this time it appears the IJN maintaining its force density by keeping all of its fast carriers combined in this force. It was last seen on the 11th of January when its air forces slightly damaged the Leander, Pensacola & Achilles at Luganville. That was two days ago and the Combined Fleet (KB) has not been seen after this time.

We are not certain where or what the KB is currently up to and there are several possibilities presented during our last staff study ---

1) This simply could have been a raid into the area that fizzled once the IJN realized there was not any shipping in the area or ports to sink as they did on their Raid of Brisbane. (10%)
2) A prelude to full operations in this area with the occupation of New Hebrides and New Caledonia. (30%)
3) Sleight of Hand, with the KB in route to ambush Force Z and the Dutch Forces at Batavia from behind (10%).
4) Sleight of Hand, with the KB in route to ambush British Forces at Colombo from behind (10%).
5) Sleight of Hand, with the KB in route to ambush New Zealand and American forces at Fiji and Samoa (10%).
6) Sleight of Hand, with the KB in route to ambush Central Pacific Area. (10%)
7) Sleight of Hand, with the KB in route to ambush North Pacific Area. (10%)
8) Sleight of Hand, with the KB in route to support the advance in the NEI. (10%)

As always……

[rook749]

KB & Mini-KB

From
Acting CICPAC
to
All Commands

The staff study prediction for the KB and Mini-KB will move into the area of New Hebrides and New Caledonia for full occupation is correct. At this time the 6th AUS RAAF BF was lost at sea moving to Luganville and a minor supply convoy to New Caledonia has been lost.

All submarine forces in the area are to march to the sound of the guns and the AUS ART Reg in route to Luganville has been re-routed to Port Moresby.
Ground combat at Luganville (120,150)

Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 967 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 36
Defending force 3825 troops, 37 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 126

Assaulting units:
39th Australian Battalion

Defending units:
Sasebo 8th SNLF
Yokosuka 4th SNLF

It is unlikely at this time any additional reinforcements can reach the New Hebrides until the carrier forces retire.

There was an image but having some issued uploading with the ASP page tonight.

[rook749]

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

The plan in the PHI is going ok, not great but ok.

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 29569 troops, 294 guns, 235 vehicles, Assault Value = 938
Defending force 35378 troops, 433 guns, 172 vehicles, Assault Value = 1144

Japanese adjusted assault: 715

Allied adjusted defense: 1066
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1452 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 122 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 28 destroyed, 72 disabled
Guns lost 11 (2 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 19 (6 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1658 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 184 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 42 (4 destroyed, 38 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (2 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
48th Engineer Regiment
65th Brigade
16th Engineer Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
2nd Formosa Inf. Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
14th Army
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
48th Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
57th PS Infantry Regiment
45th PS Infantry Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
51st PA Infantry Division
35th Avn Sup
4th Marine Regiment
91st PA Infantry Division
194th Tank Battalion
192nd Tank Battalion
41st PA Infantry Division
21st PA Infantry Division
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
1st Constabulary Regiment
86th PS Field Artillery Battalion
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
I Corps
24th PS FA Regiment
I/Prov'nl SPM Grp
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
Asiatic Fleet
1st USMC AA Battalion
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp

[rook749]

Ground combat at Loyang (87,43)

Here things are going well, but one hex northeast not so much. Just don't have enough forces to hold everywhere.

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 35162 troops, 323 guns, 76 vehicles, Assault Value = 1058
Defending force 53274 troops, 191 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1232

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 261
Allied adjusted defense: 452

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
3700 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 238 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 38 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1283 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Assaulting units:
37th Division
36th Division
41st Division
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
93rd Chinese Corps
15th Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
4th Chinese Base Force
36th Group Army
Jingcha War Area
14th Group Army
3rd Construction Regiment
1st War Area
15th Group Army
39th Group Army
10th Chinese Base Force

[rook749]

PHI

Will this local counter attack matter in the long run, not at all. But we are advancing in 1942 in the PHI the hope is to slow his resupply, capture some supply and be a general pest.

[rook749]

From
CICPAC-Designate
to
POTUS

As I will be assuming command of all forces in the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) tomorrow, please find a short summary of the updates from the theater as of January 19th 1942. All carriers are currently at Pearl Harbor undergoing some much needed repairs after 45 days at sea.

NEI
We expect this area to fall completely to the Japanese over the next 45 - 90 days. While Force Z won a major naval victory early on and was able to blunt two more quick thrusts for loss of only two Dutch
CL’s, Force Z has been reduced to the Prince of Wales. Force Z has been forced from the area due to the inability to contest the Japanese forces in the air. We are looking at some options to correct this in the short term but over the next 30 days we will lose complete control of the air as additional Japanese forces and bases in the area come online.

PHI
When supplies run out in the next ninety days, it will fall and no relief is possible. While we hold Clark and Bataan it is only a matter of time until our forces are reduced and then fall back on Bataan. Supplies are at 38K between all locations and fortifications are 3 at Bataan and 2 at Clark.

Singapore
We may be able to hold this area longer than it appears, all forces have fallen back to Singapore and are diggings in. Supplies are at 67K and the Forts at 3 and building. The Air Force has been forced to withdraw due to losses but it may take him several days to be certain we are gone for good.

LOC to Australia

The KB has been spotted and is in route to the New Hebrides area again, we assume the Mini-KB is following in its wake. Additional air search in the area has allowed us detect them further out but no naval forces will be able to prevent this raid or further landings at this time.

An additional Infantry Division has been located to reinforce both Fiji and New Caledonia, if these forces can reach the front quickly enough we should be able to hold these areas. However, it will be 25 – 50 days before these forces can arrive and they will have to land when the IJN is not blockading the islands.

Burma
The 1st Burma Division, 17th Indian Infantry Division and server armored ACU’s are forward deployed to Pegu and are fighting the advanced forces of the IJA. The 7th Armored Brigade along some ART and AA ACUS are in route to Rangoon. The AVG along with British ACU’s are providing air cover. We may not be able to hold Burma but we hope to by until May or June until we are forced back into India but this may be overly optimistic.


Offensive Operations
Given the imbalance of Naval Forces we do not foresee offensive options on a general front until the end of August or September of this year. We in the process of identifying small local offensive options in each command that can be launched should the location of the KB be defined. But being honest until the front stabilizes we will not be able to define these.

As always……

[rook749]

Ground combat at Pegu (55,53)

River crossing

Ground combat at Pegu (55,53)
Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 18195 troops, 161 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 566
Defending force 14196 troops, 87 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 349

Japanese adjusted assault: 293
Allied adjusted defense: 193

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
439 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
359 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 58 (56 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
21st Division
112th Infantry Regiment
55th Engineer Regiment
15th Army
55th Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
42nd Cavalry Regiment
43rd Cavalry Regiment
1st Burma Division
107th RAF Base Force
Burma Command
104th RAF Base Force
108th RAF Base Force

-------

Don't think he was expecting the 17th Indian to arrive, it ended the previous turn 4 miles from this hex.

Ground combat at Pegu (55,53)
Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 17844 troops, 161 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 533
Defending force 21924 troops, 171 guns, 60 vehicles, Assault Value = 601

Japanese adjusted assault: 50
Allied adjusted defense: 437

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 8 (fort level 1)

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1083 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 79 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled

Allied ground losses:
542 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
21st Division
112th Infantry Regiment
55th Engineer Regiment
15th Army
55th Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
1st Burma Division
43rd Cavalry Regiment
17th Indian Division
107th RAF Base Force
Burma Command
104th RAF Base Force
108th RAF Base Force

[rook749]

Side note, not sure I updated everyone but Luganville did fall after four days of fighting.

[rook749]

KB?????

Not sure if this is the KB or just a raiding force either way the unloading of support units will stop at Pago Pago and the supply and fuel convoys to New Zealand may hold in route depending on what happens next turn.

[rook749]

Also if anyone has any questions on what is going on in a specific area ask away.

[BBfanboy]

Looks like pretty standard stuff for the opening months. I think you can expect more questions when you start mounting your own offensives.

[rook749]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Looks like pretty standard stuff for the opening months. I think you can expect more questions when you start mounting your own offensives.

Totally agree but I figured it never hurts to ask if anyone has any questions.

[rook749]

SWPAC & SoPAC

The race is on to see where the final line will be in this area, not sure where the final line will be but if he wants to advance far in this area he will have to bring a little more than two SNLF forces he has in New Hebrides so far.

We need additional land forces in New Caledonia and Fiji. I have two US Divisions that are in route but it will be 40+ days until they can get them in place. I am going to look into sending some AUS forces but I need to be careful not to strip too many as my plan is to send the AUS units from the middle east to India.

I am sending two additional PBY ACUs to the area, one will be based at Waipapkauri and Tahiti. These should close any gaps in the supply runs to New Zealand or the SoPAC area. One additional PBY will be needed for Koumac but I need to see if I can hold this area before I look at sending the PBY’s to this location.

Norfolk Island
0P /// 1AF /// 0-20% Fort with 2800 supplies. AUS Light Horse Rgt and the 15th AUS AF Base Force.

Nadi
1P /// 1AF /// 3-23% Fort with 1800 supplies. It is held by 147th FAB, 131st FAB, 2nd Fiji BN, 1st NZ Base Force, 14th NZ BDGE & 37th NZ Bty. One PBY is based out of this base.

Suva
3P /// 2AF /// 3-23% Fort with 7300 supplies. It is held by 148th UIS FAB, 45th Bae Group, 1st Fiji BN, 8th NZ BDGE Suva Navel BF & 35th NZ Bty. One Hudson ACU and one Vincent ACU is based out of this location for naval searches.

Rockhampton
Aus Light Horse Rgt, 17th AUS AF Base Force. One PBY ACU based out of this airfield.


Pago Pago
Pago Pago is 2P /// 1-37%AF /// 3-21% Fort with 38000 supplies. It is held by 11th MAG, 1st Marine Air Wing, 2nd USMC Tank Bn, 20th Cst AA Rgt, 205th FA Bn, 5th Port Maint Engr Bn, 6th Port Maint Engr Bn, 808th Aviation Engr Bn, 104th USN Bae Force, 2nd USMC Rgt, 8th USMC Rgt, 2nd USMC Para BN, 2nd USMC Pioneer BN & 7th USMC Def BN. Additional support services are in route. One PBY ACU is based out of this location for naval searches. There are three P-39 ACU’s based out of this airfield.

[rook749]

Burma

The race is on as another IJA Division joins the combat. I have the 7th Arm Bdge in route the question is can it make it in time. The Forts just went back up to two so that should help.


Ground combat at Pegu (55,53)
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17517 troops, 170 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 868
Defending force 21609 troops, 170 guns, 75 vehicles, Assault Value = 542

Japanese adjusted assault: 186
Allied adjusted defense: 180

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
911 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 49 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Allied ground losses:
149 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
21st Division
112th Infantry Regiment
33rd Division
55th Engineer Regiment
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
15th Army
32nd Field AA Battalion
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
1st Burma Division
43rd Cavalry Regiment
17th Indian Division
107th RAF Base Force
104th RAF Base Force
Burma Command
108th RAF Base Force

[rook749]

Burma, the next day....

The 7th Arm Bdge will start to unload today, the question is can it make it in time? The Engineers dropped the forts to level 0 and that could of hurt but he missed the 2:1 [X(].

The Forts just went back up to one, hope it helps enough.

Ground combat at Pegu (55,53)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 29169 troops, 268 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 802
Defending force 21332 troops, 171 guns, 74 vehicles, Assault Value = 518

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0
Japanese adjusted assault: 485
Allied adjusted defense: 256

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
1313 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 121 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled

Allied ground losses:
506 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (11 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
21st Division
33rd Division
112th Infantry Regiment
55th Engineer Regiment
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
32nd Field AA Battalion
15th Army
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
43rd Cavalry Regiment
1st Burma Division
17th Indian Division
107th RAF Base Force
104th RAF Base Force
Burma Command
108th RAF Base Force