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13 DECEMBER 1941 - PART 4

DEI


Here things are fairly static in the Malaya-Borneo area. He landed in Mersing few days ago but hasn't reinforced his bridgehead yet. Only the 4th Infantry Division is there.

On my side, I've done few ambushes to his airforces and send B17s to bomb Phnom Penh's light industry (with basically no results). Last turn I bombed Georgetown HIs with little results again.

I suppose these actions will bring massive bomber strikes on Singapore's AF. For the time being, he started sweeping the place. During Mersing landing the Kongo got three air torpedoes in her belly, but I suppose she's not very much damaged given the long distance she did over the course of the subsequent turn.
In line of principle, if she would have been seriously damaged it would have been floating damage and it would have slowed her down much. Instead: she has been seen flying around the area with a huge smile. Hell. Hope I'm just pessimistic and there are tragedies happening on board.


Most of my issues are in the Celebes-Moluccas, where Japanese advance has been quicker than imagined. He landed and took Kendari, something I hoped to delay for a while.

My forces are basically non-existant but I will try to do something. I desperately need to slow him down there.


As mentioned in my opening post after the first turn, I think he's having eastern Java as his target for the theater of operations (after, obviously, Singapore). I'm quite disappointed by the fact that I foresaw that coming and haven't done enough.
Now Kendari is a lvl4 AF straight in my butt. Thanks God, at least, he cannot sweep Soerabaja with A6M2 Zeros (range=14 vs distance of 15). This should leave the port there relatively safe for a while.


I'm not seeing his CVLs/CVEs/CS. Actually, I've never seen one in the entire match so far.

Omar's pliots are for sure very tired after a week of continuous sweep/escort/CAP missions.

Most likely his aircraft are as well.

13 DECEMBER 1941 - PART 5

CBI

Burma hasn't been invested yet and I'm unloading as many supplies as I can in Rangoon, before the Japanese smash the place, ships included.


China is a damn mess. He will take HK tomorrow. Fair enough.

I've messed up in Ichang, where he's been able to reinforce the area with a division and other stuff. Now, my initial plan was to send the troops which start N-W of it in the city and endure the river crossing with the LCU starting on the W, so that I could withdraw the very good tropps coming from N-W quickly via road. I launched various assaults instead, trying to catch the Japanese off balance but he reinforced the place quite quickly.

In the meanwhile, I'm naked SOUTH of Ankang, but troops are converging to the area. Roads to Sian are quite ok.

It's my experience and understanding that divisions (or, in this case, corps) divided build forts in offbase more quickly? Am I mad? Probably, but in any case I'm trying to do the trick in the roads SOUTH of Sian.

Many partisans are moving around in semi-suicidal mission with the target of disrupting Japanese interior lines. Not many successes so far.

I've just finished the airlift of the 88th Chinese Division, which should give me 145AV once filled up in Calcutta. For the time being, I've put stockpile=on for the Chinese infantry squads and I'm filling up units with supports. The theory is that they should be able to 'heal' in an easier manner the many disabled squads rather than drawing replacements.
Troops in Changsha and Sian are currently receiving these support squads.

I've done a couple of decent ambushes with my airforce but nothing special. The other day something like 20 Sallies have been shot down by AVG, but it's a drop in the ocean.

See you later with replies to the many posts of yours! Thanks!

Prince Rupert - I move the Canadian Command here to ensure supplies flow easily and becomes my hub for NoPac. Two hexes away is an EAB that you need to pick up and move.

CenPac - I like to make Christmas island a way point and send troops there to secure. I gather the mid-size TKs (8800 endurance) at LA to move fuel here. An early war trick for Allies is to move fuel and supply and NOT need to refuel at destination before heading back to USA. You have to set the TF to "Do Not Refuel." Those TKs can do this trip and not have to refuel. TFs coming back from OZ/NZ that may need just a little more fuel can stop here and do "Minimal Refuel" to get back to USA.

EAB - most go to India
SeaBees - stay in Pacific. Wait until you see the number of engineers in one of those Regiments. I've had bases with over 1000 combined engineers and engineer vehicles building a new bases. By end of second month, there are completed condos on the beach. [:D]

I agree with stockpiling the Chinese squads. There is no sense in using supplies to feed the disabled squads while also sending in new ones. If you were to send the Chinese units that you can purchase into the combat zone, they can get into combat and then you can buy the unit out much cheaper. Just don't give them any reinforcements until they are purchased.

Depending upon the situation, you might want to leave some Aussie infantry units that need squad upgrades not receiving replacements. That will make it quicker to upgrade them and then you can fill them out later.

you're obscene indeed [:D][:D]

[center]14-15-16 DECEMBER 1941 - TURN 7-8-9[/center]


I. NoPac

Here nothing big is happening. On the 9th DesertWolf101 has landed in further bases WEST of Cold Bay, his easternmost conquest. I have nothing to oppose him in the whole sector.


II. CenPac

KB has pounded PH again and now it's 11hexes SOUTH-WEST of PH. The 4 damaged BBs in PH have taken those awful 800KG bombs in a remarkable manner, gathering just some minor damage.

Since KB is moving through the Plamyra-Johnston Island gap, I think he's willing to employ it offensively in the SoPac area. This is somewhat consistent with the numerous SigInt I'm receiving, which point to several units being shipped to Truk.

I have sent the West Coast - Australia convoys offmap: much slower but safer route, given my very poor NavS in the area and the appreciation from my opponent's side of deep raids with KB.


III. SoPac


Omar is conquering the NORTH coast of PNG. Last turn I've had the opportunity to sink a Japanese xAKL with 350 troops on board but that's all.

My CVs and many surface forces are steaming to Australia.

Here a big dilemma is appearing.
Well, actually, two interconnected dilemmas.

A) I think I should try to find a way to reinforce both Noumea and Suva not to give them on cheap side. It's damn difficult given that the only available troops are the Australian fellas and they are neither in good shape nor easily expendable (due to the low replacement rate). On top of that, I have very few fast ships remaining in Australia and I might not even be able to reach Suva with those reinforcements.

B) My CVs are going to reach Townsville in few turns. I've shown them some turn ago 10 hexes EAST of Tabiteuea. My intent was to make him send the KB in the area for further operations. My plan is to bring them on the WEST coast of Java, however I am not sure whether it's reasonable or if I should keep them in the Australian area in order to threat any bold move from my opponent and make him commit his KB in the sector (rather than in the DEI, where I fear it the most).
I guess I'll try to bring them in the DEI anyway.


IV. DEI

On the 14th of December I've miserably lost the Boise EAST of Legaspi. Sunk by brutal CA-centered SCTF.
On the 15th, though, the evil side strikes back and I engage in protracted naval artillery duels around Ambon.
Omar had indeed placed various TFs one hex from Ambon on the 14th and I decided it was worth the risk.
4 USN DDs open the fight with a low aggression leader (aggression=55) to create some confusion (night fight). They meet a TF of Japanese CAs and DDs and they manage to make them spend ammo and torpedoes.
Then a TF centered around three old Dutch CLs gets in (daylight fight) and they get brutalized by the very same CAs engaged by the DDs during the night.

Finally, however, Force Z (renamed "Force Suicide") gets into the fight with its heavy calibers and smashes the CA Nachi (Takao-Class) and a DD. Then they reach the large number of xAKs of the amphibious convoy and they sink various cargoes (empty).

In a remarkable feat, they even survive the day air phases. Betty/Nell in Manado AF are instead attracted by the survivors of the Dutch TF and they finish off 2 heavily damaged CLs (12 2E get in, 2 hits, targets "dead in the water", not a good performance from Betty/Nell side).

Various cargoes which were disbanded in Borneo and Philippines try to escape and create confusion, going SOUTH in Balikpapan direction. They all miracously survive.


All in all, I think I've sunk CA Nachi (ground losses confirm a CA went down) + 1 DD + 5-6 xAKs for the loss of 2 CLs + 4 DDs.


I'm very satisfied by the performance of my sailors. Impaling the Dutch CL/DD is ok if they provide some kind of remote result. The Japanese CA sunk is a very good result.

Force Suicide is still afloat with no damage whatsoever but with 0 ammo to main guns. They'll try to find their way to Soerabaja in order to replensih ammo and fuel.


Strategically, nothing changes, but it's satisfying to see those pesky IJN CAs going down.


In the rest of the DEI, nothing different from the usual. Malaya is still somehow blocked but I suppose Omar will be able to link the troops in Alor Star area and the ones landed in Mersing. I did a counterlanding in Mersing finding it empty but Omar hasn't been distracted a little bit by that.


Philippines stable.


V. CBI

I've unloaded large quantities of supplies (over 100.000, doing quite well given the period) in Rangoon but reinforcements for China are still far away.

In China itself is a massacre and I think I've messed up a little bit too much in the initial moves, accepting a casualty rate way above my standards.

Last turn he dropped paras in Ankang. Retrospectively, I should have employed a TR group to airlift there some garrison but it's too late now. I hope to be able to retake the place soon.




OTHER

Airlosses are: (J) 211 : 310 (A). It's not a bad ratio for the first ten days of war, I dare to say.


DEI AREA POST 15TH DEC BATTTLE:

[quick question: what do you think of the AAR editing? I'd like to keep the layout of the last post but I'd like to know from readers!]

THE CONFUSED SITUATION IN CHINA:

Answer: I like the layout of that post. I do something kind of similar (I think I like yours better) because it help's me keep track of things in the different areas.

About CV's to Australia, this early I always run into the problem of inadequate fuel for them in that area.

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: ITAKLinus

...Most of the Indian LCUs are moving in Calcutta, where they will receive replacements, repair disabled devices/squads and then be redistributed all around...

This is not necessary. There are several Indian bases, besides Calcutta, where they can do this.

What you prose to do has several con, I won't go into the pro side.

1. Defense of India is ultimately based on trading space for time. For that you need built up interior fortifications with LCUs suitably prepped for their base.

2. To send the majority of LCUs to Calcutta early is guessing that is where the main blow will come. If you guess right, the LCUs will only be of value if they are prepped for defending Calcutta. Sending them off to another base with Calcutta as their planning objective is not good.

3. As the intention is to redistribute them from Calcutta, why lose valuable time by not sending them straightaway to their ultimate destination where they can build up the fortifications and be properly prepped.


India starts off with its dedicated engineer units all broken down into very small detachments. They need to be consolidated into their parent unit in order to have a reasonable number of engineers at work.

Alfred

I start, belately, to reply to the various posts.


Calcutta. I gathered there as much as I could in order to: A) max the number of supports present; B) consolidate BaseForces; C) send some of the units, as soon as ready, to Burma (and from there to China).

I don't plan to gather everyone there permanently. They are all prepping for the assigned objectives and not gathering in Calcutta to just stay there for good.

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: ITAKLinus

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Move the base forces in Burma and the Burmese AAA unit into China. Those base forces also have some AAA plus they are useful in the mountain bases with their engineers.

I am trying to fill them up in Burma: do you think it's advisable to send them in China immediately?

Yes, it takes awhile for those units to get there and they will start to fill out right away. Just move the ones that you don't need in Rangoon plus a base farther north.

You can also set them to take the first upgrades to the 3.7 inch AA guns. The engineers will be useful in the mountain bases and you can base Hurricane squadrons there for air defense. These will also be useful in helping to move the Chinese air force fighters out of China in their I-16s to train in India while also showing up on the enemy recon as fighters. When you get enough pilots trained, then they can go into a unit with the Chinese P-40Bs or other fighters.

Thank you so much for the tips [&o][&o][&o] I haven't thought at sending the Chinese fighters in India. They're currently busy in showing up here and there with their miserable armament and even more miserable range. So far, Omar hasn't caught them.

My basic air tactic is to use the Chinese fighters as harassment fighters, providing random LRCAPs here and there to keep his bombers under pressure.

The other role they do perform is the one of cannon fodder, leaving Flying Tigers fellas to the role of punchers. Typically, I put a LARCAP layer -1k ft from the expected bomber altitude, many layers at the height of enemy bombers and the Fleying Tigers +2-3kft over.
I guess and hope it will work as some kind of low staggered CAP, just like Japanese do late in the war.

The 3.7in guns are useful, but I'm basically shipping what I can without regard to the upgrades. I don't have much time so, I prefer to bring the units which are ready and that's it. Very much less than ideal, but I cannot forecast when he will invest Rangoon. I suppose after the fall of Singapore, but he's already marching there so he might be able to get the place sooner than expected. At that point, it's going to be complex to bring reinforcements in China (instead of moving from Ramree Island and then via rail to the border, I'd have to move from Ledo).


Thanks again for the (always) precious suggestions!

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

You will need those xAK to xAP conversions. The plentiful 12 knot xAKs take 60 days to go round trip from San Fran to Sydney and back. That means just 6 trips a year. You will get more than enough Liberty xAKs throughout the war. I was forming large Cargo TFs at San Fran in 44/45 and loading up 80k in supply every three days.

You need to pull out of service EVERY AP that is able to convert to APA in 3/43. I sent them to Alameda to sit there until then. In '43, you'll need every one of them to keep your counter-offensive rolling.

Every single future APA and every AP/AK are being slowly sent to Balboa. They will take care of East Coast - Cape Town supply runs. Does it make sense? I hope so!


So you are telling me that the allied sealift needs more xAPs than actually available and I need to convert them? I will try to fix that as soon as it's feasible.


I'm a strong proponent of large convoys, so my SOP is to ship many hundred of thousands of supply together. In general, you lose few days in loading/unloading time, but it's not such a big deal. The lowered amount of escorts needed more than compensates this in the big picture. At least, for me.

It's not unusual for me to do 400-ships shipments. But that's something I do in mid-44, now I'm doing what I can with what I have.

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: ITAKLinus

Guys, I got extremely busy days in the last week.

I should be able to update the AAR and reply starting from tomorrow.


For the time being, I can just say that the situation is quite a disaster for the evil side: the Japanese are everywhere! [:D][:D][:D]

Or alternatively, we can head over to the Italian site and read the discussion. Coimbra (sp) is wrong re Midway. Your plan is sound but slow. The proposed infrastructure build up is slow and you won't have many assets for the plan, unless you take them away from other important zones, which would probably be a mistake.

On the positive side, unless it is all a prelude to a Japanese coup de main, it doesn't matter much if it takes time to carry out the plan.

Alfred

Well, "Pacific Rim(Job)" is another AAR for another match but admittedly we got quite carried over by the discussion over this one [:D]


Regarding Midway. I know my plan is slow and that it blocks assets needed elsewhere. The only alternatives that come to mind are:
A) same plan as above with the focus on just isolating Midway and developing the dot WEST of it. Doesn't change much from the proposed one.
B) a typical amphibious assault with CVs cover and all that jazz. Main issue is that it's pre-requisite is to have the KB far away and spotted, while I'd need my CVs, bombardament assets and various amphibious ships to be always ready in the area. I don't find it reasonable, but probably I'm missing something.

An interesting option would be to do a counterattack right now. KB will, for sure, go in the SOPAC and then DEI, so I should have the possibility of landing USMC troops on the atoll and get it back using the fourth USN CV which should be available in short time.
The main issue I do see it's the complete lack of preparation for my troops (cannot credibly prepare them). A well thought and bold plan can do the trick at the end of March, when KB will be for sure busy in exploiting the last days of amphibious bonus. By then, I should have sufficient preparation for a proper landing.



I am not sure whether I can storm the atoll and grab it, though. If he's committed, I'll find lvl6 forts and 150-180AV entrenched there. I don't know whether I can do a very quick operation against such a defense.

Now there is another thing which is somehow tearing me apart ([:D][:D][:D]).

I have four regiments in PH and they are components of two US Army Infantry Divisions.

Currently, I am tempted to send two of them to garrison sensible places, but I might very well be wrong in my idea.

There are four sensitive bases I need to protect somehow more:
1) Palmyra
2) Canton Island
3) Christmas Island
4) Pago Pago

Now, none of them, even if protected in a reasonable manner, can create any problem to the Japanese, given that Omar can simply land nearby, develop the area quickly and not care of those bastions. On top of that, he can simply isolate them loosely and pound tons of iron from his BBs and CAs before landing a fancy IJA InfDiv or whatever.

However, I don't want to give them on the cheap side and they are quite useful in order to "flatten" the SF-Australia sea route.


Therefore, the question is: should I send reinforcements in the form of two US Army InfRegiments from PH to two of these places (I guess Christmas Island and Pago Pago?)_?

This is a relevant subject, since the time window to do that is not going to remain open for long should Omar decide to strike deep in the SoPac.

If you do send units to Palmyra and Canton and he wants them, he has to bring his units a long way and if you have S-boats n the area with working torpedoes, any damaged ships from torpedoes or any other action will take a long time to get to a repair yard. That much force away from other locations can also help slow down any other adventures and/or make them vulnerable.

You seem to be looking mostly at Infantry units because of their Assault Value. You should consider Marine Defence Battalions for their arty and CD capabilities. I think they have reasonable AA values as well. There are some tank battalions on the US west coast that can also be bought out fairly cheaply. The IJA and SNLF/Naval Guard units do not have much in the way of anti-armour value at this stage in the war so tanks are great for atoll defence unless he brings rapid-fire (anti-tank) guns or his own tanks.

Use subs, mines and PTs to discourage bombardments.

ORIGINAL: ITAKLinus

Now there is another thing which is somehow tearing me apart ([:D][:D][:D]).

I have four regiments in PH and they are components of two US Army Infantry Divisions.

Currently, I am tempted to send two of them to garrison sensible places, but I might very well be wrong in my idea.

There are four sensitive bases I need to protect somehow more:
1) Palmyra
2) Canton Island
3) Christmas Island
4) Pago Pago

Now, none of them, even if protected in a reasonable manner, can create any problem to the Japanese, given that Omar can simply land nearby, develop the area quickly and not care of those bastions. On top of that, he can simply isolate them loosely and pound tons of iron from his BBs and CAs before landing a fancy IJA InfDiv or whatever.

However, I don't want to give them on the cheap side and they are quite useful in order to "flatten" the SF-Australia sea route.


Therefore, the question is: should I send reinforcements in the form of two US Army InfRegiments from PH to two of these places (I guess Christmas Island and Pago Pago?)_?

You are correct that any Allied garrison cannot withstand a full on offensive from the IJ in strength at this point in the war.

A US Army regiment of approx. 120 AV is surprisingly challenging to dislodge at the bases you have listed. Two naval guards/SNLF may be equal in terms of AV, but the firepower factor is misleading considering the different TOE's and the number of MMG's in US Army units (to say nothing of artillery largely lacking from the IJN infantry).

Some considerations are:
- the general absence of developed airbases means that carrier aircraft are required to protect amphibious ships.
- generally poor port facilities leads to a dependence on tenders to keep IJ ships in operational conditions. Meanwhile the USN has full advantage of a first rate fleet base at Pearl.
- Catalina patrols should be able to provide ample warning of any incoming fleet given the distances involved.
- A full on divisional landing requires a large consumption of fuel and operation of ships at the end of a long logistics tail.

To put it simply, is a US Army regiment a good exchange for getting IJN CA's, BB's and amphibs lugging a division this far east?

Absolutely.

As BBfanboy suggests, some mines to ruin their day on arrival, PT boats to waste some ammo (long way to Truk to rearm, unless they're lugging tenders along too!) and some USN ships (or even CVs?) waiting in the wings. Midway by another name.

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

If you do send units to Palmyra and Canton and he wants them, he has to bring his units a long way and if you have S-boats n the area with working torpedoes, any damaged ships from torpedoes or any other action will take a long time to get to a repair yard. That much force away from other locations can also help slow down any other adventures and/or make them vulnerable.

That's my vision indeed. Some kind of counter-value strategy. At least, that's the intention...

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
You seem to be looking mostly at Infantry units because of their Assault Value. You should consider Marine Defence Battalions for their arty and CD capabilities. I think they have reasonable AA values as well. There are some tank battalions on the US west coast that can also be bought out fairly cheaply. The IJA and SNLF/Naval Guard units do not have much in the way of anti-armour value at this stage in the war so tanks are great for atoll defence unless he brings rapid-fire (anti-tank) guns or his own tanks.

Use subs, mines and PTs to discourage bombardments.

The two Marine Defence Batallions which begin the war in PH have been loaded yesterday (when KB was 11hexes away and going down SOUTH-WEST) and are moving toward Johnston Island and Christmas Island.

I'm not concerned much by SNLF, rather by all those pesky brigades which start in Onshu. With a little bit more than 200PPs, he can free them up and 252AV ashore are quite tough to hold for my troops.

Tanks would be ideal, same goes with ART, but I have nothing at hand right now. I'm quite worried by the next very few weeks, a timespan in which I wouldn't be able to reinforce those places from the West Coast due to geographical limitations (it's a long trip).


My understanding is that units with AT guns don't have increased anti-armor capabilities, though. As far as I know, AT guns shot only in defense. Have I lived for years under the wrong assumption? It wouldn't be the first time [:D][:D][:D]

ORIGINAL: mind_messing
You are correct that any Allied garrison cannot withstand a full on offensive from the IJ in strength at this point in the war.

A US Army regiment of approx. 120 AV is surprisingly challenging to dislodge at the bases you have listed. Two naval guards/SNLF may be equal in terms of AV, but the firepower factor is misleading considering the different TOE's and the number of MMG's in US Army units (to say nothing of artillery largely lacking from the IJN infantry).

Some considerations are:
- the general absence of developed airbases means that carrier aircraft are required to protect amphibious ships.
- generally poor port facilities leads to a dependence on tenders to keep IJ ships in operational conditions. Meanwhile the USN has full advantage of a first rate fleet base at Pearl.
- Catalina patrols should be able to provide ample warning of any incoming fleet given the distances involved.
- A full on divisional landing requires a large consumption of fuel and operation of ships at the end of a long logistics tail.

To put it simply, is a US Army regiment a good exchange for getting IJN CA's, BB's and amphibs lugging a division this far east?

Absolutely.

As BBfanboy suggests, some mines to ruin their day on arrival, PT boats to waste some ammo (long way to Truk to rearm, unless they're lugging tenders along too!) and some USN ships (or even CVs?) waiting in the wings. Midway by another name.

As mentioned above, SNLF/NavGuards are not my concern. Those damn 252AV brigades are. They're very tough to block and their TOEs are farily good even late in the game. Those small allied units work well against the usual SNLF/NavGuards, but against those IJA brigades it's like stopping a train with a paper sheet...


Indeed, my posture is to make a series of decent strong points so that he has to mobilize his assets in force to capture them.

If you ask me, if I were him I'd do my usual moves that are: landing in Suva and getting the place, setting some kind of forward base there while in various dots around Luganville I disband the train of support ships. Then, with the logistical base in Suva, I can easily dominate the whole sector.

In my current Japanese match, I've fought for an entire month in the area in Feb-42 using just AKEs, AOs, TKs and the like to resupply my ships. And I have a very heavy presence (10xBBs + KB + etcetc), fighting what looks like the entire damn USN.
What I mean is that the support ships can do the trick with relative ease for short campaigns and I suspect Omar is such a good player not to neglect these logistical aspects.


Fundamentally, I'm frightened at the idea of him doing what I would do: arriving in forces with those nasty 252AV brigades on fast cargoes and with an insane train of support ships to mantain operational strength without many issues.
The only thing that creates me issues in the setting above when I play Japanese is the need of having a base with enough supplies to replenish CV airgroups, something not that hard to accomplish also.

The rapid fire guns might only fire in defence (I haven't heard either way), but I presume that if your tanks were operating on the atoll to try and throw the Japanese units back into the sea, they would be attacking the Japanese units.

Check your LCU reinforcement queue - IIRC those tanks should start showing up in early 1942. Japan could try to leapfrog and attack the Line Islands before then, but would leave a lot of islands unconquered in their rear.

As for Suva - the position is indeed good, but most IJ players go for Noumea first because of the high VP multiplier. Also, Suva can be suppressed from Pago-Pago and other islands so it is not a long-term conquest for Japan. The B-17 advantage is a great one, if you can get some airfields built to level 5.