There is only War... Castor Troy vs Mundy - DBB Scen 28

[Mundy]

[:D]

30 January 1942

I thought Castor said he'd be out all week, but I'll take more turns.

Mississippi arrives at Pearl. Idaho has departed San Francisco. Once they arrive, I'll have 13 BBs at Pearl. 25 days until Hornet shows. I won't see Wasp until early June. Lots of xAKs are arriving in Panama each turn, so I'll quite the transport flotilla pretty soon.

Not everything is going real smoothly at his end. I've beaten off one invasion at Bandjermasin, in SW Borneo.

Ground combat at Bandjermasin (60,99)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 79 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Defending force 1538 troops, 5 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 33

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 34

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

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

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

Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 1st SNLF /4

Defending units:
S Borneo KNIL Battalion
Oelin ML Base Force

Japanese Unit(s) Wiped Out at Bandjermasin by attrition!!!

I guess the lesson here is not to try and take everything on the map with minimal forces. Other than that, he's working very efficiently in the DEI. He's landed at the next base down south of Batavia. Cruisers bombarded Batavia and I thought this was another landing, but it was just harassment. I don't know why my aircraft there aren't going after his ships. I can't wait until he finishes, so I don't have to look at this part of the map. I'm going to start withdrawing air groups in Batavia next turn. They're fairly beaten up now.

Somehow, he got troops ashore at Lae. I'm suspecting a fast transport group and quickly dropped off a minimal force. Reinforcement are trying to arrive, but my A-24s at Port Moresby are making a mess of this.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Finschhafen at 100,126

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 7

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Seattle Maru
xAP Shanghai Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Naval Attack: 4 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



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

Morning Air attack on TF, near Finschhafen at 100,126

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 11
P-40E Warhawk x 8

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Daijukyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Manila Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Ukishima Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Kirishima Maru

Japanese ground losses:
445 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Manila Maru


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

Morning Air attack on TF, near Finschhafen at 100,126

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Kirishima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
208 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Surprised KB isn't escorting them.

Elsewhere, I'm packing more reinforcements into Port Blair and turning it into a tough-ish nut to crack. I'd like to pack more troops into Ceylon, but unrestricted units in India are fairly rare right now.

In the SoPac area, I'm going to start off beefing up Pago Pago and they slowly work outwards from there, eventually getting Noumea up to strength. I want a fairly strong rear area over there to base out of, without having to ship lots of stuff directly over from Pearl or the States.

[Mundy]

03 February 1942

He's ashore at Ambon now. Coast arty dealing in the hits.

Pre-Invasion action off Ambon (76,109) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

60 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Konan Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAK Cheribon Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Macassar Maru
xAK Meisho Maru
xAK Tosei Maru
PB Toko Maru #4

Japanese ground losses:
119 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Amboina Defenses firing at xAK Konan Maru
150mm CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Cheribon Maru at 10,000 yards
xAK Konan Maru fired at enemy troops
xAK Macassar Maru fired at enemy troops
xAK Meisho Maru fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

Pre-Invasion action off Ambon (76,109) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

60 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Konan Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAK Cheribon Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Macassar Maru
xAK Meisho Maru
xAK Tosei Maru
PB Toko Maru #4

Japanese ground losses:
119 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Amboina Defenses firing at xAK Konan Maru
150mm CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Cheribon Maru at 10,000 yards
xAK Konan Maru fired at enemy troops
xAK Macassar Maru fired at enemy troops
xAK Meisho Maru fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

CT is probably one of the most efficient opponents I've seen in wrapping these initial things up.

I'd love to reinforce Rabaul more, but Netties have made this very difficult right now. I wish I had a few CVEs to escort these in. At the rate this game is going, I may. I'm going to get more troops and base forces routed to Port Moresby to head off any issues there. First priority is getting more USAAF base units in.

I was starting to get angry with him bombing and attacking things in China, until I realized it's February already. He has a house rule for no action in China until then. Again, time flies.

5th AF has unloaded in Sydney SWPAC forces are unloaded in Brisbane. I should be able to bring some B-17s to deal with Kavieng and Lae. I'm running anyone else from those theatres out there as soon as I can. SPAC forces, mentioned earlier are staging at Pago Pago first. I'm going to have to dedicate some transports to that base. Several xAKs at San Francisco are converting to xAPs, so that should help. I've been spoiled as in my Bottleneck game, PPs accrue faster than in this scenario, so this is taxing my patience.

[Mundy]

12 February 1942

CT had a sub parked at Port Blair, which claimed a few of my transports. Got my revenge today. Neat watching an AMC opening fire on her.

Submarine attack near Port Blair at 46,58

Japanese Ships
SS I-155, hits 21, and is sunk

Allied Ships
xAP Dunera
KV Hollyhock
KV Nigella
AMC Corfu
xAP Tjitjalengka

SS I-155 is sighted by escort
I-155 bottoming out ....
KV Hollyhock fails to find sub, continues to search...
KV Hollyhock attacking submerged sub ....
KV Hollyhock attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-155 forced to surface!
KV Nigella firing on surfaced sub ....
AMC Corfu firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Tjitjalengka firing on surfaced sub ....
KV Hollyhock firing on surfaced sub ....
KV Nigella firing on surfaced sub ....
AMC Corfu firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Tjitjalengka firing on surfaced sub ....
KV Nigella firing on surfaced sub ....
AMC Corfu firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Tjitjalengka firing on surfaced sub ....
KV Nigella firing on surfaced sub ....
AMC Corfu firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Tjitjalengka firing on surfaced sub ....
KV Hollyhock firing on surfaced sub ....
KV Nigella firing on surfaced sub ....
AMC Corfu firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Tjitjalengka firing on surfaced sub ....
KV Hollyhock firing on surfaced sub ....
KV Nigella firing on surfaced sub ....
AMC Corfu firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Tjitjalengka firing on surfaced sub ....
KV Hollyhock firing on surfaced sub ....
KV Nigella firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

He seems to have and endless supply of Sallies and Lillies. They're pounding my final holdout at Manila. Bataan has already fallen. I'm turning the final battle into a Stalingrad type fight. In China, I'm probably losing 1,000 troops a day to bombing. I think he's phased out most of the little crappy one-engined bombers.

I'm packing Port Blair with troops and airplanes. I'm going to get the air HQ at Colombo over to help alleviate the plane population problem there.

Rabaul is difficult to resupply right now, as Netties tend to swoop in. I need some very fast transports to move more troops in.

Another 7 squadrons from II Fighter command, 5th AF are departing Pearl along with some A-24s from V Bomber command. All headed to Brisbane. Once they arrive, I'll probably have all the 5th AF present in Australia. Recon P-38s departed San Francisco and will prove very useful also.

Likewise, any SoPac assets are enroute to Pago Pago.

I've shipped some excess xAPs from Calcutta to Brisbane to help there. I want some dedicated transports in Samoa also. Provided I get enough fuel sent, I'll probably send a couple battleships to help things there.

Speaking of... Prince of Wales finally made it to Pearl a couple days ago. She'll be in the yard for about a month and is also getting her first upgrade in the process.

[Mundy]

06 March 1942

Sorry about the delay. This game isn't a lot of fun right now. Fortunately, we're cranking turns out at a good rate, so we'll be into 1943 in no time.

Where to start...?

CT is polishing up the DEI. Soerabaja fell a couple days ago. He's been grabbing all the little bases in the Celebes. I told him there may be some operations research guru who may find a way to defend the DEI, but he ain't me.

I'm thinking about Rabaul. The way Chris plays, that base has become a liability. Any other opponent of mine, I could have been successful with this, but he's pretty much evil. I have several xAPs arriving in Brisbane in a few days, which I'm sorta short of in Australia. I could probably pull off an evacuation, but I'll have to time it with a bombardment on Kavieng. I've been able to go in at will, from time to time and splatter that base.

KB has been an issue. They were last seen near Pago Pago. Of course, they caught my two battleships, Nevada and Oklahoma, one day away from reaching there. I had them anchored there a few days. KB decided to park one hex away. I sortied them out hoping to catch his carriers, but ran into a battleship force instead, ending the matter. KB has since vanished, no clue where. They did catch one transport group headed to Australia. I did re-route two other convoys to pass south of New Zealand. They're carrying 5th AF aircraft and SWPac troops.

Townsville's finally got enough air support. The next move is to get more into Port Moresby, hopefully with an air HQ with it. One squadron of useful Beaufighters has arrived, but with two aircraft, they'll be useless for awhile.

Hornet arrived on map a couple days ago. Escorts have reached her. I haven't seen a lot of sub activity between Pearl and the States lately, but I'm sure they're out there. First thing I'll do is replace her two SBC squadrons with Dauntlesses. The rest of my carriers being gone has allowed the naval pool to grow. I've thought about re-routing Indomitable from India to Pearl, but she's due to withdraw in about 150 days, so it's not worthwhile. Any new RN carriers, I'll probably send that way, though.

CT has sent a massive stack of troops up Malaya towards Burma. They've taken Pegu and are advancing on Rangoon. I'm moving everyone north to get away. He's had battleships and cruisers bombarding continuously at Pegu and Rangoon, so my fit aircraft count is low. I've moved the aircraft north to Prome, where there's no support. They're coming from Rangoon. Hopefully, before he goes north, I can repair enough to ship to India. Two RN battleships are enroute to Colombo to meet the one I already have there. The one is repairing its torpedo damage from the last visit to Burma. One bombardment hit Port Blair, whose coastal artillery unit did nothing about it.

In China, I'm dealing with genocide by air, with his bombers flying daily. I have my own bombers at Changsha, hitting his troop from time to time, but I have to rotate targets, since he will put a CAP up where I hit.

Manila's been holding out. They're also getting bombed daily and he's bombarding right now. Not sure why is isn't finishing this yet.

Lots of supply from Cape Town and Fuel from Abadan are reaching India, so overall they're in decent shape. Lots of Australians are enroute from Aden.

That's pretty much the world right now.

One thing I've learned as the Allies. Don't bother trying to make game plans at the start of the game. Just react and survive.

[Mundy]

20 March 1942

Ever changing...

I sent a convoy to Rabaul to try and evacuate my troops there. Accompanying them was a cruiser force. My intent was to bombard Kavieng as my transports reached Rabaul. Normally this would give them breathing room to do their job without any interference from his air. Unfortunately, he had a larger cruiser force sitting at Kavieng which completely wrecked my force. Airplanes then hit my transports. Fortunately, I didn't lose many transports and the rest are out of range now. I essentially have no real navy in Australia now. I'm considering sending a battleship force over from Pearl, but I'm not sure the fuel situation in Oz will support that very well. It could be a nasty surprise to the cruiser shenanigans he's doing around there.

Elsewhere, he's invaded Darwin. I did get enough hits in to make it painful, but he has enough troops there to handle what I had. The whole Australian starting setup is just asking for this. KB is sitting 2 hexes N of Darwin.

Pre-Invasion action off Darwin (76,124) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

157 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Kashii, Shell hits 6, on fire
CL Kashima, Shell hits 10, on fire
CL Katori, Shell hits 1
xAKL Nichizui Maru
xAKL Nanko Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
PB Hakakisan Maru
PB Eiko Maru #2
PB Akagane Maru
PB Naruto Maru #3
PB Choko Maru #5
PB Aso Maru #7
PB Sozan Maru
PB Shotoku Maru
AMC Saigon Maru

Japanese ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

CL Kashii firing at Darwin Fortress
Darwin Fortress firing at CL Kashii
CL Kashima firing at Darwin Fortress
Darwin Fortress firing at CL Kashima
CL Katori firing at A/B Hy Cst Arty
A/B Hy Cst Arty firing at CL Katori
CL Kashima firing to suppress enemy battery at 8,000 yards
CL Kashii firing to suppress enemy battery at 8,000 yards
6" Mk V/VII Gun Battery engaging xAKL Nanko Maru at 8,000 yards
CL Kashii firing to suppress enemy battery at 8,000 yards
CL Kashima firing to suppress enemy battery at 8,000 yards
PB Hakakisan Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Eiko Maru #2 fired at enemy troops
PB Akagane Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Naruto Maru #3 fired at enemy troops
PB Choko Maru #5 fired at enemy troops
PB Aso Maru #7 fired at enemy troops
PB Sozan Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Shotoku Maru fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

Amphibious Assault at Darwin (76,124)

TF 90 troops unloading over beach at Darwin, 76,124

Japanese ground losses:
106 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Type 97 Medium Tank lost overboard during unload of 6th Tank Rgt
Type 97 Medium Tank accidentally lost during unload of 10th Tank Rgt
Motorized Support lost in surf during unload of 6th Tank Rgt /2
10cm T91 Howitzer damaged beyond repair during unload of 55th Div
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost overboard during unload of 55th Div
17 troops of a IJA Engineer Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 55th Div /4
15 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 55th Div /4
15 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 55th Div /5
15 Aviation Support troops lost in surf during unload of 15th Base Force
15 Naval Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 15th Base Force /2
15 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 55th Div /6
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 55th Div /7
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost overboard during unload of 55th Div /8
15 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 55th Div /9
15 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 55th Div /9
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 55th Div /10
15 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 55th Div /11
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost in surf during unload of 55th Div /13
15 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 55th Div /14

nvasion Support action off Darwin (76,124) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

147 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Katori, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
AMC Saigon Maru, Shell hits 3
AMC Bankok Maru
xAKL Nissyo Maru
PB Eiko Maru #2
xAKL Nanko Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kashima, on fire
xAKL Nissen Maru #2, Shell hits 2, on fire
PB Hakakisan Maru
PB Akagane Maru
PB Naruto Maru #3
PB Choko Maru #5
PB Aso Maru #7
PB Sozan Maru
PB Shotoku Maru
CL Kashii, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
99 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

CL Katori firing at Darwin RAN Base Force
Darwin RAN Base Force firing at CL Katori
AMC Saigon Maru firing at Darwin Fortress
Darwin Fortress firing at AMC Saigon Maru
AMC Bankok Maru firing at A/B Hy Cst Arty
CL Katori firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
PB Eiko Maru #2 firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
9.2" CD Gun Battery engaging xAKL Nanko Maru at 5,000 yards
CL Katori firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Battery engaging xAKL Nissen Maru #2 at 5,000 yards
PB Eiko Maru #2 firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Battery engaging xAKL Nanko Maru at 5,000 yards
PB Eiko Maru #2 firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
PB Hakakisan Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Eiko Maru #2 fired at enemy troops
PB Akagane Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Naruto Maru #3 fired at enemy troops
PB Choko Maru #5 fired at enemy troops
PB Aso Maru #7 fired at enemy troops
PB Sozan Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Shotoku Maru fired at enemy troops
AMC Bankok Maru fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


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

Invasion Support action off Darwin (76,124)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

30 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAKL Nichizui Maru
CL Kashima
PB Akagane Maru
PB Naruto Maru #3
PB Choko Maru #5
xAKL Nissen Maru #2, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Aso Maru #7
PB Sozan Maru
PB Eiko Maru #2
PB Shotoku Maru
AMC Saigon Maru

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

CL Kashima firing to suppress enemy battery at 8,000 yards
PB Akagane Maru firing to suppress enemy battery at 8,000 yards
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Battery engaging xAKL Nichizui Maru at 8,000 yards
PB Choko Maru #5 firing to suppress enemy battery at 8,000 yards
6" Mk V/VII Gun Battery engaging xAKL Nissen Maru #2 at 8,000 yards
PB Naruto Maru #3 firing to suppress enemy battery at 8,000 yards
6" Mk XI/XII Gun Battery engaging xAKL Nissen Maru #2 at 8,000 yards
PB Aso Maru #7 firing to suppress enemy battery at 8,000 yards
PB Sozan Maru firing to suppress enemy battery at 8,000 yards
CL Kashima firing to suppress enemy battery at 8,000 yards
PB Eiko Maru #2 fired at enemy troops
PB Akagane Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Naruto Maru #3 fired at enemy troops
PB Choko Maru #5 fired at enemy troops
PB Aso Maru #7 fired at enemy troops
PB Sozan Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Shotoku Maru fired at enemy troops

Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16306 troops, 122 guns, 286 vehicles, Assault Value = 642

Defending force 11743 troops, 137 guns, 83 vehicles, Assault Value = 162

Japanese adjusted assault: 261

Allied adjusted defense: 61

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
132 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 31 (9 destroyed, 22 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2165 casualties reported
Squads: 70 destroyed, 83 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 63 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 26 disabled
Guns lost 41 (22 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Assaulting units:
10th Tank Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
55th Division
11th Tank Regiment
18th JAAF AF Bn
15th Base Force
24th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
Sparrow Force
Gull Force
19th Australian Battalion
2/2nd Ind Coy
Darwin Fortress
North Territory Cmd
Darwin RAAF Base Force
Darwin RAN Base Force
Wyndham RAAF Base Force
Broome RAN Stn Base Force
Derby RAN Stn Base Force
Tennant RAAF Base Force
1st RAAF Base Wing
A/B Hy Cst Arty


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


Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3116 troops, 62 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 43

Defending force 19958 troops, 150 guns, 291 vehicles, Assault Value = 597

Assaulting units:
Gull Force
19th Australian Battalion
Darwin Fortress
2/2nd Ind Coy
Darwin RAN Base Force
Darwin RAAF Base Force
Derby RAN Stn Base Force
Sparrow Force
Wyndham RAAF Base Force
North Territory Cmd
Broome RAN Stn Base Force
1st RAAF Base Wing
Tennant RAAF Base Force
A/B Hy Cst Arty

Defending units:
6th Tank Regiment
55th Division
10th Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
15th Base Force
18th JAAF AF Bn
24th JAAF AF Bn

In Burma, my forces are making their way to Mandalay and from there to Imphal. More units in India are headed there also, so it will be a major air hub.

I have four battleships at Colombo, but two are under repair. Estimated two months to heal both of them, due to tonnage limits. Air units are arriving at Aden almost daily. Mostly transport lately.

My gut feeling is that he'll be satisfied with Burma and not push on towards India. I doubt he'll try a complete Australian invasion also.

Forgot to mention he also took Terapo, a few hexes NNW of Port Moresby on the southern coast. Must have been paras. Not sure what he thinks he'll do with that, as supporting it will be difficult for him.

Ground combat at Terapo (96,127)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 52 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 3

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Terapo !!!

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

Assaulting units:
1st Raiding Rgt /1

[Mundy]

26 April 1942

The game's plodding along, though at a quickish rate. We're usually getting 15-20 turns a week in -- mostly on the weekends.

China's been a back and forth affair. He'll take something and then I'll take something. I think I have something resembling a front line set up, mostly along the Yangzi river. I have a big 4000-ish AV stack making its way towards Canton. He had a single unit at the city before that which pulled out before I got there. I think he knows it's a lot of troops, but not sure if he knows *quite* how much. He has recon squadrons everywhere here.

After rending Rabaul useless to me, he finally lands troops this turn. Several hundred went down just getting ashore

Amphibious Assault at Rabaul (106,125)

TF 41 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul, 106,125

Japanese ground losses:
238 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

15 Aviation Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 34th JNAF AF Unit /2
12 troops of a IJA HMG Section lost overboard during unload of 8th Div
17 troops of a IJA Motorized Squad accidentally lost during unload of 8th Div /2
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost overboard during unload of 54th Div
12 troops of a IJA HMG Section lost overboard during unload of 54th Div
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost overboard during unload of 54th Div /4
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 54th Div /5
20 troops of a IJA Hy Inf Sqd 41 lost in surf during unload of 8th Div /7
20 troops of a IJA Hy Inf Sqd 41 lost from landing craft during unload of 8th Div /8
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost overboard during unload of 54th Div /8
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 54th Div /9
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 54th Div /10
15 Engineers lost from landing craft during unload of 54th Div /12
20 troops of a IJA Hy Inf Sqd 41 lost overboard during unload of 8th Div /11
20 troops of a IJA Hy Inf Sqd 41 lost overboard during unload of 8th Div /12

Pre-Invasion action off Rabaul (106,125) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

261 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Kinu
CL Yura
CL Natori
CL Nagara
xAKL Shinrei Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAKL Korei Maru
PB Teimei Maru
PB Santos Maru
PB Sansei Maru
PB Syozui Maru
PB Senyo Maru
PB Sinko Maru
PB Ronsan Maru
PB Kogane Maru
xAK Syoryu Maru

Japanese ground losses:
128 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

CL Kinu firing at 28th Australian Brigade
CL Yura firing at 9th Australian Brigade
CL Natori firing at Sydney RAN Base Force
Sydney RAN Base Force firing at CL Natori
CL Nagara firing at 9th Australian Brigade
6" Mk V/VII Gun Battery engaging xAKL Shinrei Maru at 9,000 yards
CL Yura firing to suppress enemy battery at 9,000 yards
6" Mk V/VII Gun Battery engaging xAKL Korei Maru at 9,000 yards
CL Yura firing to suppress enemy battery at 9,000 yards
PB Teimei Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Santos Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Sansei Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Syozui Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Senyo Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Sinko Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Ronsan Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Kogane Maru fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

Invasion Support action off Rabaul (106,125) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

237 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Kinu
CL Yura
CL Natori
CL Nagara
xAKL Korei Maru
PB Teimei Maru
PB Santos Maru
PB Sansei Maru
PB Syozui Maru
PB Senyo Maru
PB Sinko Maru
PB Ronsan Maru
PB Kogane Maru
xAK Syoryu Maru
xAK Yamayuri Maru

Japanese ground losses:
153 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

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

CL Kinu firing at 28th Australian Brigade
CL Yura firing at 9th Australian Brigade
Sydney RAN Base Force firing at CL Natori
CL Natori firing at Sydney RAN Base Force
CL Nagara firing at 9th Australian Brigade
CL Yura firing to suppress enemy battery at 7,000 yards
CL Natori firing to suppress enemy battery at 7,000 yards
PB Teimei Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Santos Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Sansei Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Syozui Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Senyo Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Sinko Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Ronsan Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Kogane Maru fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


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

Invasion Support action off Rabaul (106,125)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

297 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
PB Santos Maru
PB Sansei Maru
PB Syozui Maru
PB Senyo Maru
PB Sinko Maru
PB Ronsan Maru
PB Kogane Maru
xAK Syoryu Maru
CL Kinu
PB Teimei Maru

Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

PB Santos Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Sansei Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Syozui Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Senyo Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Sinko Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Ronsan Maru fired at enemy troops
PB Kogane Maru fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

I did get a bonus out of the deal, putting a torpedo into Akagi. A severe engine damage message came up. I doubt it's fatal, though.

Sub attack near Rabaul at 106,124

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi, Torpedo hits 1
BB Kirishima
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
DD Nenohi
DD Akizuki
DD Ariake
DD Yugure
DD Wakaba
DD Hatsushima

Allied Ships
SS S-47

SS S-47 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Akagi
DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yugure fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Wakaba fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hatsushima fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ariake fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hatsushima fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsushima fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsushima fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsushima fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

This sub took some hits approaching the invasion convoy, so I'm getting her out. Two more are moving in to replace her. This was the ocean hex just north of Rabaul.

[Mundy]

30 April 1942

Almost into May. Avengers will start coming off the production line.

Some transports are rounding the corner off Lae, with KB in tow. I've a feeling this is bound for Port Moresby. He's been grabbing all the little islands off the New Guinea coast. He's extremely thorough.

My forces at Rabaul have been bombarding every turn and getting good hits in, killing 100-200 Japanese every day. I only got 50 this turn, so I'm hoping the corner isn't turning now. Coast artillery are hammering his xAKLs good.

All the fugitives from Burma are getting close to Imphal and aren't being pursued. I've lots of troops and base forces there already, so it'll be a strong point soon. I'm hoping to move more air in when it becomes available.

I have a force prepping to evacuate Port Blair, or most of it anyway. Three RN carriers will accompany to chase away any bombers. A 3 battleship group from Colombo will also come along to protect against any surface groups. A cruiser force just bombarded this turn. They were in and out quick enough to not be spotted by my PBYs at Chittagong.

[Mundy]

First strike at Rabaul. Beat him off.

Ground combat at Rabaul (106,125)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28305 troops, 250 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 871

Defending force 18965 troops, 220 guns, 198 vehicles, Assault Value = 521

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 401

Allied adjusted defense: 569

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
2257 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 169 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled

Allied ground losses:
509 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled

Assaulting units:
54th Division
8th Division
13th JNAF AF Unit
34th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
14th LH MG Regiment
Lark Force
28th Australian Brigade
16th LH MG Regiment
18th LH MG Regiment
9th Australian Brigade
7th LH Cav Regiment
30th Australian Brigade
New Guinea Force
Rabaul Base Force
4th RAAF Base Sqdn
1st RAA Med Arty Regiment
3rd RAAF Base Sqdn
Sydney RAN Base Force
4th Aus Lt AA Regiment


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


Ground combat at Rabaul (106,125)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13797 troops, 152 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 477

Defending force 29217 troops, 270 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 698

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

Assaulting units:
14th LH MG Regiment
7th LH Cav Regiment
18th LH MG Regiment
Lark Force
28th Australian Brigade
16th LH MG Regiment
9th Australian Brigade
30th Australian Brigade
Rabaul Base Force
Sydney RAN Base Force
3rd RAAF Base Sqdn
New Guinea Force
1st RAA Med Arty Regiment
4th RAAF Base Sqdn
4th Aus Lt AA Regiment

Defending units:
54th Division
8th Division
13th JNAF AF Unit
34th JNAF AF Unit

I've finally dealt with all that partisan crap at the un(der) garrisoned bases. Troops are enroute to all of them now, so his free VP will dry up.

All the rest of my SoPac forces at Pearl are now enroute to Pago Pago. Likewise, anything belonging to SWPAC is enroute to Australia.

Watching KB closely. if they decide on an Indian Ocean adventure, the Marshalls are mine.

Pago Pago is beefing up fine. I can probably shrug off any KB raid at this point.

[Bif1961]

Go watch the new Midway movie and get inspired for June of 42.

[Mundy]

04 May 1942

Landings at Port Moresby a couple days ago. Expected, as I've been watching that fleet awhile.

As evilly thorough as he is, he's just taken Dobadura, Kokoda and Buna as well. He's taken his hits from shore guns, but not as much as at Rabaul. Things at Rabaul are quiet right now as he probably doesn't have enough troops to totally take that base right now, and my supply situation there is still decent.

I gave him a present near Moresby...

Sub attack near Port Moresby at 97,131

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Torpedo hits 1
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
CA Chikuma
DD Naganami
DD Ariake
DD Yugure
DD Wakaba
DD Hatsushima

Allied Ships
SS KXV

SS KXV launches 6 torpedoes at CV Kaga
DD Ariake fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Yugure fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Wakaba fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hatsushima fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsushima fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsushima fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsushima fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

That'll probably be a month in the yard. Too bad all six couldn't have hit. Two more subs are moving in to help.

My Port Blair pickup force is about 2 days away. Some of them are spotted now. I have the three RN carriers for air cover and a three battleship force to guard against his cruiser runs. I'll probably pull everyone back to Ceylon. Most of my opponents seem to like taking that base, and I want to keep it this time.

[Mundy]

05 May 1942

The Port Blair op is scrubbed. Betties ventured out and had a sizable escort. I guess they're on their own.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Blair at 44,57

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 78
G4M1 Betty x 21

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 4
Fulmar II x 17
Sea Hurricane Ib x 3
Martlet II x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 6 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar II: 2 destroyed
Sea Hurricane Ib: 1 destroyed
Martlet II: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Enterprise
BB Ramillies, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CV Indomitable
BB Resolution
CV Illustrious

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
AVG/1st Sqn with H81-A3 (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
No.800 Sqn FAA with Fulmar II (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 3 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
No.803 Sqn FAA with Fulmar II (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 4 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
No.881 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 4 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
No.888 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 6 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes



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

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Blair at 44,57

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 55
G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 4
Fulmar II x 8
Sea Hurricane Ib x 1
Martlet II x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar II: 1 destroyed
Martlet II: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Indomitable
xAP Dunera, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Illustrious
AMC Corfu, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
xAP Australia Star, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
26 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
AVG/1st Sqn with H81-A3 (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
No.800 Sqn FAA with Fulmar II (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
No.803 Sqn FAA with Fulmar II (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 2 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
No.881 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
No.888 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 3 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes



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

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Blair at 44,57

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 64 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
G4M1 Betty x 25

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 3
Fulmar II x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar II: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAKL Fortuna
CV Illustrious
xAKL Princessa, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CV Indomitable
xAP Takliwa
xAK Delawarean
CV Formidable
xAK Texan, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
8 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
AVG/1st Sqn with H81-A3 (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
No.803 Sqn FAA with Fulmar II (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes

[Mundy]

23 December 1942

Uggh... this one...

Yeah, it's been awhile. This game has seriously gone south.

Grand Strategic Overview:

China is mostly overrun. Chungking fell some time ago. I still have some troops stuck at Canton, unable to escape. My gripe with this game is even when I outnumbered him at better than 2-1, I was still unable to exit the hex. Despite a big advantage over me, he's still simply bombing and bombarding them. Don't know why he doesn't just finish them off. I have another large stack at Sian, which just tried an attack, but he has two heavy divisions there, and the attack floundered. I'm trying to get everyone to the northern nether-regions to hole up until the Russians come in.

India is also getting overrun. Calcutta fell long ago. Despite going no further north that Jodphur, he managed to trigger the Indian reinforcements at Aden. 3+ divisions and a convoy completely loaded with equipment showed up. I don't have enough transport to get everyone over quickly. Regardless, I'm doing what I can to evacuate everyone out to Ceylon. That island is turning into a giant armed camp, with my entire regional air force based there. With what the Allies have there at the start, I'm not sure how anyone can stop any serious invasion of the subcontinent.

As mentioned back in May, Port Moresby did fall. I've developed Cooktown into a major air base and have been harassing PM. He's since pulled his aircraft out of there. If I could round up enough transports, I could probably make a go of it. I've been bombing the airfield there for a few days.

KB has been MIA since July when my sub put a torp into Kaga. My dream is that they would cruise the Indian Ocean. If they showed up there, I'd kick off my Marshalls invasion. Either that or visit Pago Pago. Pago Pago, Savaii and Upolu have been developed into major air bases with loads and loads of aircraft present. They could likely challenge KB if they showed up. I can probably springboard some offensive out of there at some point, with all the resources I have in the area.

Overall the Pacific has been quiet. China and India is where the war is at for the most part.

Castor Troy is probably the most Evil player I've faced. Probably worse than KenchiSulla/Cannonfodder. Give him an inch and he'll take 10 miles. I've tried too many harebrained schemes in this game, including reinforcing Rabaul and Port Blair. I've learned to no longer try any "plans" early in the war. Just react and stay safe. My fight against SierraJuliet is how this should have gone. Wish I learned my lesson from that one better.

It'll be mid-1943 before I start anything real. The rate we're going (12-15 turns per week), things should happen fairly quickly. I still have 2 CVs left and have accumulated about 6 CVEs.

Also... I'm populating Shemya island up in the Aleutians. PBYs can now cover the extreme Kuriles right now. Another route to Japan's periphery if I choose to try it. If I get some PB4Y based there, I can hit some of his cargo runs to his islands.

[Mundy]

25 December 1942

A few new tings.

Bombay's already under siege. I guess I wont be evacuating anyone else out.

Ground combat at Bombay (36,24)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12294 troops, 521 guns, 712 vehicles, Assault Value = 5178

Defending force 37252 troops, 267 guns, 623 vehicles, Assault Value = 909

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

Allied ground losses:
141 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
21st Division
38th Division
48th Division
16th Division
18th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Division
2nd Tank Regiment
4th Division
14th Tank Regiment
56th Division
23rd Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
22nd Tank Regiment
19th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
1st Tank Division
15th Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
5th Division
13th Tank Regiment
61st Division
17th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Air Defense AA Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
25th Army
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
12th Air Defense AA Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
38th Field AA Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
15th Air Defense AA Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
39th Field AA Battalion

Defending units:
7/17th Dogra Battalion
3/4 Ghurka Rifles Battalion
Madras Police Battalion
Bombay Fortress
267th Armoured Brigade
3/6 Ghurka Rifles Battalion
75th Indian Brigade
9/1st Punjab Battalion
255th Armoured Brigade
1st Somerset LI Battalion
3rd Indian Brigade
28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
167 RAF Base Force
169 RAF Base Force
1st Central India Base Force
23rd Base Group
1st Hyderabad Base Force
165 RAF Base Force
3rd Central India Base Force
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
168 RAF Base Force
24th Indian Engineer Battalion
23rd Indian Engineer Battalion
Southern Command
2nd West Coast Base Force
341st Base Group
73rd Motorised Bde /3

I misspoke about Aden. I have 3 infantry divisions and a gin-u-wine armored division, festooned with Valentine tanks. That could put some hurt on him.

I've a bunch of xAKs at Cape Town converting to xAPs. I need people movers bad right now.

My troops at Sian got kicked out. (to the south) I'm trying to route them around to go north.

[Mundy]

Mostly quiet except for India and China.

More western Indian bases are falling. I had a four BB bombardment group headed to Bombay, but they finally fell, so I'm sending them back to Trimcomalee. I'll have them in range if/when he gets to Madras. Base units and other forces are unloaded at the southern base on Ceylon. Motorized transport is so slow to unload. These are all the transports I've got in the area, so it will take multiple runs to get the forces in Aden moved over. This group was the only survivors from Bombay.

Some forces are holed up at Madras. I'm getting plenty over, but have to leave behind motorized transport, heavy guns, etc. Salvaging any units is good. 5 transport squadrons are doing the work. One is a big USAAF squadron with 25 transports.

I figure if I can keep Ceylon up and strong, it can keep things sorta in check from here on out. Plenty of fighters are covering my main bases there, and I have bombers a-plenty there too, including most of the Dutch Air Force.

I still feel in any game, India is particularly vulnerable to a serious Japanese invasion. Just not enough troops around, and garrison requirements simply add to the burden.

We're very close to 1943, like a few days out. Sub torps will kick into higher gear at that point.

Home from work tomorrow. I had to eat a 5% pay cut to curtail any layoffs where I work (defense contractor). In return, we get a day's extra vacation every 3 weeks, so I'm probably slightly ahead in the deal. If CT's still cooped up at home (and not at his girlfriend's) we can probably crank out a weeks worth of turns.

[Mundy]

11 January 1943

The troops that were at Bombay had retreated to the hex NW of there and are getting finished off.

The remaining Indian forces have gone to Madras. About 6 transport squadrons are at Trincomalee and are moving those troops over. Everything except motorized transport and the like. I'm happy that the "core" element of the Indian 25th division has transferred over to Ceylon now. They just upgraded their OOB and will become a much stronger unit as a result. Them, some anti aircraft and some base forces are being pulled over. Just about everything that can be pulled has been brought over.

Lots of xAKs at Cape Town and Aden are converting to xAPs. I need them badly to get my new forces pulled in.

4 more months until an Essex shows up. I could really use them now. As it is, I only have Hornet and Wasp. Once I have half a dozen or the equivalent, I'll make a move for the Marshalls. Kwajalein will give me a much better sub base to operate from.

A number of LSTs and LCI are showing up and going to Pearl. Very useful for my first invasion.

[Mundy]

12 February 1943

Quiet turns lately.

Since he's pretty much wrapped China up, I'm not enduring the constant bombing missions turn after turn, and we're flying through the turns.

He hasn't really advanced any further in India. It's been status quo for awhile now. I'm finally getting lots of xAPs in Aden, and I'm getting all my forces there moved to Ceylon. That island will be a very tough nut to crack, should he try it. Airpower is very dense there also. All that's left in Aden right now are some base and flak forces and some minor aircraft squadrons. Some of the divisions I hauled out consumed a lot of people space.

In Madras, everything that can be airlifted over pretty much has been. Heavy flak and motorized transport is mostly what's left.

Elsewhere, the Samoa area is built up pretty strong. It could possibly handle KB, should it show. Two squadrons of Wildcats there flipped to Corsairs.

Pretty much waiting for my new carriers to arrive. Once I get a large pack of them, I'll make my move on the Marshalls. Should KB show up in like the Indian Ocean, I'll make my move earlier. I have something like 15 battleships at Pearl, though several are getting upgrades right now. Lots of more amphibious dedicated ships have arrived there. Pretty much every xAK in the states has been converting to xAPs or regular AKs. People transport has always been at a premium in this game.

[Yaab]

Uhm, Castor Troy really steamrolled you in China and India.

While defending China is really hard for the Allies, you could have done better in India.

Bombay has the biggest port in India, thus ALL India's surplus of supply/resources accumulates there. You can actually cede all India to your invading opponent and hole up in Bombay on a HUGE pile of supply and defend the city. Developing Bombay's port to level 7, you get a huge boost to rearming ships. You can use it to bombard Japs units in Bombay hex with your BB/CAs, rearm in Bombay and repeat etc.

Basically, Castor Troy can now go after Soviet Union or Australia. You need to identify biggest ports in both economies, to see how much supplies have accumulated there so far. For SU it is Vladivostok. Check your supplies there and see how much supply is there compared to what Vladivostok needs. Also, see how easy it is to surround Vladivostok for the Japs. In Australia, you have Sydney with lots of HI and LI. It is a great base to serve as your last stand in Australia. However, notice how it is dependent on resources produced in bases around it. See how much Sale, a base in Southern Australia, produces resources and how exposed it is as a base. If Sale is empty and some Jap units takes it, it really cuts into your supply production in Australia.

Hope you somehow can stop the juggernaut Castor Troy unleashed on you.

[Mundy]

Yeah, things got out of hand.

I've always had "issues" with the ground war. The pace it moves makes it hard to monitor.

I've also made some questionable moves early in the game. My forward defense of Rabaul being one. Likewise with Port Blair. Just managed to trap a bunch of troops in both. On top of that, I got too adventurous with my carriers. (thought KB was far away) My game with SierraJuliet is more an example of playing the right way. I've learned to never attempt any kind of plan early in the game. Just roll with it.

I'm feeling that if the Japanese make a real go of it, it's extremely difficult to keep them out of India. Just not enough resources there. China is probably my issue. Cannonfodder did the same thing to me there in that game.

I think Australia's fairly secure. I'm loaded with aircraft there. Don't know if he's mentioned it, but he's pulled out all aircraft out of Port Moresby. It's currently 100% trashed by my bombers. I got a massive amount of supply hits there last turn. I've got a big stack moving NW from Normanton to retake Darwin. Plenty of troops at my other bases.

I've never come across an opponent who took the IJN staff's plans of moving through New Caledonia to Suva and the Samoan Islands. Pago Pago is a massive air park right now and could probably beat off KB if they showed.

I'm up to three carriers now, with Victorious showing up at Pearl.

All those Helens he had in China giving me grief seem to have been re-tasked. They seem to be mostly on ASW work around the Home Islands. Doing a decent job, too.

Ceylon has turned into an armed camp. I've been running the reinforcements from Aden there and now have about 800 AV on each of the four coastal bases there. Air power is pretty dense there, too. Enough search planes are going to help prevent any surprises. I've been moving most of my remaining forces in India to Madras, where my massive C-47 fleet has been bringing them over. Pretty much nothing but motorized transports left there.

He's had his fun. In a few more months, I'll have a credible carrier strength going. This should move quickly as we average about 15 turns a week. I plan to take the Marshalls by August. It'll be my new sub base which will help things. I could probably take the Gilberts with the forces I have at Samoa. My transport situation pretty much restricts me to one job at a time right now. Eventually, I can probably make a move from Ceylon to India proper.

Every xAK coming in every turn is converting to xAPs. I've enough at Pearl for their future tasks. I'll eventually start moving them to the far east to support the Indian campaign.

CT will have his own issues in the near future. He's mentioned that the Japanese will be unable to replenish pilot losses before too long. Something with this version of Babes. The air pendulum will start to swing before too long.

[BBfanboy]

CT seems to play like John III - aggressive and putting all his strength forward. That leaves some holes and weak rear areas that you should try to find and exploit. See Canoerebel's AARs against John III to see how that goes. The big thing Canoerebel focused on was Intel from Nav Search and recon, intel by bombing and intel by DD TF probes of the perimeter (watching for D/L).

I also recall that in Greyjoy's game (against Rader, IIRC) the Japanese conquered all of India except Bombay and Karachi, which became bastions with lots of aircraft and enough ships to protect reinforcement/supply convoys from time to time. The LBA kept KB at a distance and subs protected the whole west side of India. That was when Greyjoy (with coaching from Nemo) invaded Hokkaido and cleared it before his opponent could get his forces back from India. That game was Stock or DBB IIRC, so this game is more challenging - but you do have some assets too. You must stop reacting to his moves and decide how you can hurt him the most.

[Cheesesteak]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

CT seems to play like John III - aggressive and putting all his strength forward. That leaves some holes and weak rear areas that you should try to find and exploit. See Canoerebel's AARs against John III to see how that goes. The big thing Canoerebel focused on was Intel from Nav Search and recon, intel by bombing and intel by DD TF probes of the perimeter (watching for D/L).

I also recall that in Greyjoy's game (against Rader, IIRC) the Japanese conquered all of India except Bombay and Karachi, which became bastions with lots of aircraft and enough ships to protect reinforcement/supply convoys from time to time. The LBA kept KB at a distance and subs protected the whole west side of India. That was when Greyjoy (with coaching from Nemo) invaded Hokkaido and cleared it before his opponent could get his forces back from India. That game was Stock or DBB IIRC, so this game is more challenging - but you do have some assets too. You must stop reacting to his moves and decide how you can hurt him the most.

and now I need to go back and read that AAR!