Hell to Pay: BTS--Fleet Faction: Japan

[John 3rd]

The KEY to this operation are the paratroopers. They stop up the retreat from north as the Infantry lands and moves west.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
December 14-15, 1941

NoPac
Three Fast TF are moving eastward towards Attu, Amchitka, and Adak.

CenPac
The Kido Butai moves slowly west protecting its Replenishment TF. After striking at the Midway Invasion TF, the King's Mountain TF moves out of search range. I know that Gregg cannot keep himself away from counterpunches in the opening phases of the war and so I decide to try and catch him coming back into the arena. On the 14th, the KB splits into CARDIV1 (Akagi-Kaga-CVL) and CARDIV5 (Shokaku-Zuikaku-CVL). I hate high speed jumps but decide to leap CARDIV1 SW a full 16 hexes toward Wake. CARDIV5 with the AO's move 9 hexes ESE in case King's Mountain tries to get around CARDIV1.

The 15th dawns clear and bright. I use my Jakes and 10% of Val and Kates on search mode. Sure enough, Gregg has tried to jump eastward at full speed. CARDIV5 spots his TF at an extreme range of 9 hexes. He ALMOST got around me. NOT!

AM Strike
40 Zero, 19 Val, and 27 Kate attack through a CAP of 18 Buffaloes. The damned American skippers do a fantastic job of dodging bombs as King's Mountain only takes one hit. Nearly a dozen old American Fighters are shot down.

PM Strike
40 Zero, 36 Val, and 36 Kate blow past 2 Buffalo. They heel over into their glides or dives...and they SCORE! The King's Mountain take 6 bombs and is crippled, CA Minneapolis takes 8 bombs, CA New Orleans gets 6 bombs, and 3 DDs are hit 1-2 times each. VERY NICE!

BANZAI!

We will, hopefully, finish them off tomorrow.

SoPac
Calm

Western DEI
Hong Kong fell on the 13th and shipping has been trying to get away. Nells sink 2 AK this day.

Palembang's Fall immediately sees 36 Zero and 18 Val takeover the AF. They sink the crippled CL Danae with 5 hits. Two YP are also sunk.

The CVL TF (moving along the southern coast of Borneo launch strikes at and hit the Dutch BB Prins Willem (2TT) and Hendrik (1TT) at Soerabaja. Good job. Would have been even better but each old BB had a DUD hit it. Crap!

Eastern DEI
CL Van Heemskerck is hit by a TT near Balikpapan.

Tandjoengselor falls to the Fast TF carrying two small engineer units.

Tarakan is invaded by the 90th Regiment. Should fall tomorrow.

Philippines
Surigao and Naga fall to Infantry Division landings.

SS Action:
I-125 SINKS the crippled CL Mauritius with a TT outside of Batavia
I-155 hits CA Exeter with a TT near Oosthaven. BB Revange is spotted in this TF as well.

Here is Kido Butai before the split and moves:

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[John 3rd]

Combat Report
December 16-20, 1941

NoPac
All operations go swimmingly up in the Great White North. Attu, Amchitka, and Adak all fall. Each base gets a small Infantry and Engineering unit to begin Forts and AF work. Japan might take a few more islands but this serves as an adequate beginning.

CenPac
NW of Pearl Harbor
Over the course of these days CARDIV5 clean the floor of Allied warships and a few other juicy tidbits! By Day:
12-16 CVL King's Mountain (16 Bombs), CA New Oleans (3 TT), and DD Dale (2TT) SUNK
12-17 DDs Hull, Monaghan, MacDonouggh, Worden, Cassin, and Downes SUNK Add AO Neosho as well.

Though getting low on sorties, the CARDIV moves East to interdict shipping from the WC.

CARDIV1 travels quietly back to Kwajalein where it refuels/reprovisions on the 20th. IT immediately departs and heads for the Line Islands.

A Fast TF of AMC land troops on Palmyra Isle on the 19th. The base falls on the 20th. The AMCs hightail it out of there after dropping off 5,000 supply.

The 18th sees TFs loading an SNLF Assault Brigade for Midway (Marcus) and Wake Isle (Saipan). Both TFs are at sea moving east by the 20th.

SoPac
No real action over these days. American TFs retire tot he south. I simply need to keep them 'interested' for a couple more weeks...

Malaya/Western DEI
The 4 Kongo-Class BC (my favorite RL Japanese ships!) move away from being close cover for Kuantan and Mersing. They intercept and sink CL Danae on the 16th.

A STF built around CA Mikuma sink 4 AKL on the 16th and another pair of AKL on the 17th. A final pair of AKL are sunk on the 20th.

Johore Bharu AND Malacca FALLS on the 17th. Three ID are now headed for this base along with 3 Ind Engineering Rgts. They will crossover into Singers ASAP.

Notice is served on the 18th that Singapore is MINE when the harbor is struck by multiple attacks. Down go 12 or more ships with another dozen damaged in port.

Temoluh falls on the 18th.

Port Dickson falls on the 20th.

Malay will wrap up VERY quickly. We will crossover to Singapore by Christmas. The base might be Japanese by January 1st!

Philippines/Eastern DEI
I have two CTF working here: CARDIV2 (Soryu and 2 CVL) and CARDIV3 (3 CVE). Hiryu took a damned Dutch TT on the 14th! It is disbanded in Cotabato then heading to Hong Kong for repairs. The remaining carriers wreak havoc over the eastern DEI. Several small DB-TB units are also flying out of Manado and Cotabato.

16th: AK and PC sunk
18th: AO, 3 TK, AGP, and AP sunk
19th: 3 AP, 3 AK, AM, PG, and an AMc
20th: AM, 2 AP, 4 AKL

We land at Tarakan on the 16th and it falls on the 18th.

On Luzon and Mindanao: Lingayen falls on the 17th and Laoag falls on the 18th. Surigao falls on the 16th.

SS Operations:
12-19 I-154 SINKS AVP Fazant with 2 TT near Denpasar

This set of turns could not have gone much better. The American DD Force has truly taken it on the chin. My count is approaching TWENTY DDs which only four of them are old 4-Pipers. Other then the attack by King's Mountain delaying the Midway Invasion Force, everything has really gone off without a hitch.

Really, REALLY want to get after Force Z and the Dutch BBs but looks like Force Z has fled and the Dutch are held up in Soerabaja under the umbrella of 60+ fighters. Have to do something about that...

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[John 3rd]

Additional Pictures:

[John 3rd]

Good morning.

Have had a busy, BUSY week here in LaSalle and haven't been able to Post. Plan to fix that today. I don't expect to see a turn from Gregg so we're hoping on doing some Mod work with Co-Writer Benoit as well as AAR updates. We are now at December 31st. Think that this means I am about 10 turns behind so we shall do in-depth regional work.

So far...I haven't found any major scenario issues from the Japanese side. I know Michael has some suggestions on the Allied side so that is good. One of those is moving a Dutch BF into Sumatra to allow for easier withdrawal of the air units in the western DEI to Pt Blair and Burma. Past that--not sure. We shall see...

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
December 20-31, 1941
North Pacific

Very calm here. After a series of Fast TF grabbing the initial island objectives, Not much has occurred. There is Allied shipping here but Japan has not seen it. I sent in three small 2-3 ship supply TFs to load up the captured bases. Each now has 6-7,000 supply, a small Infantry unit, and at least 1-2 engineering units to build up Forts and Bases.

The winter weather element clears in March and then this area will heat up. Have three Brigade-sized units preparing for landings at Unmak and Cold Harbour. Want those two bases and will then simply dig-in and harass the enemy. Plan to place a small STF Strike Force here as well as 7-10 SS working from a tender.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
December 20-31, 1941
Central Pacific

We last left this theatre with Japanese invasion forces loaded and moving out from the Marianas for Wake and Midway. These are standard moves for me as a Japanese player. Each TF is carrying an SNLF Assault Brigade and, in a separate TF, Engineers and a Base Force. Hex limits can be very tough so we strike with the Naval Infantry then garrison with the other units. Each TF has 2 CL and 4-6 DD embedded within it to absorb CD.

A continuous carrier presence is a must. CARDIV5 has had the duty. It is relieved by CARDIV1 midway thru this combat report. Two CV and a CVL is a fairly safe grouping at the moment but I must change that fairly soon. Plan to add another CVL to each CARDIV to enhance CAP. Reinforcements are already on the way in this area as CL Teshio arrives on the 21st and, in an early nice Christmas present, CVL Shoho is ready at Yokohoma on the 25th. They depart, with 2 DD, on the 27th for Kwajalein.

The Invasion Forces move east without interference and arrive at their targets without issue.

WAKE--The 24th sees the Wake landing take place. Initial casualties favor the Japanese but the Shock Attack only renders a 1-2 result. NOT good. With the entire SNLF Brigade ashore on the 25th, I separate the warships into a Bombardment TF that delivers a good result (about 300 Cas) on the Christmas Day. The Marshalls have been hitting Wake every day since about the 22nd with 30+ Betty/Nells. They keep that defender's disruption going up making the final assault easier. The final assault occurs on the 26th with the Allies losing a 7-1 result.

The Assault Brigade is in good shape so we immediately begin loading it relocate to the Marshalls for some R&R then Hawaiian Operations are next for it.

MIDWAY--This base is a MUST for first-time landing, assault, and capture. A pair of CB with 3 DD is pulled from CARDIV5's screen and sent in for a bombardment. BC Ishitaka is pulled from CARDIV1's screen for the same purpose. These two Bombardment TFs CRUSH the enemy as well as destroy 3 PT Boats protecting the base. Air Strikes from the nearby CVs add to the carnage as well. The combination of these three attacks absolutely demoralize the enemy. The SNLF Troops storm ashore to weak opposition and easily capture the base on the 26th as well with a 6-1 result. Nearly 5,000 Americans surrender as I see elements of the Wake Defense LCUs present here as well. The Japanese only lose 400 troops in this landing. EXCELLENT!

After the landing, BC Ishitaka sinks an AG the next morning.

In this Mod, the Hepburn Report is acted upon more quickly then RL. Both bases begin with an additional infantry unit and Forts start at 2 and not 1. The changes mean the Japanese really, REALLY need to make sure they come with overwhelming force to achieve quick capture.

Hawaiian Operation
Troops are now pouring into the Marshalls. Two ID, 3 Brigades (2 are SNLF), and 12-15 units of engineers, BF, AA, and Artillery are sitting at the these bases by the 31st. Figure the GO order will be issued abut January 15th. We will start at each end of the Island Chain.

Line Islands
The 29th sees a large Invasion Force of nearly 13,000 troops depart the Marshalls heading for Christmas Isle. They are protected by the freshly refueled, rested, and repaired CARDIV1. A group of 10 Japanese I-Boats have taken up positions around this target. A small minefield of about 150 mines is laid on the 22nd.

Pearl Harbor
Nearly 20 Japanese SS are on the eastern side of this base. Several TFs arrive from the West Coast on the 27th-28th. Hmmm...cannot have that. Move CARDIV5 to direct interdiction mode. The CTF arrives and takes up station on the 30th.

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[RangerJoe]

Good morning.

Have had a busy, BUSY week here in LaSalle and haven't been able to Post. Plan to fix that today. I don't expect to see a turn from Gregg so we're hoping on doing some Mod work with Co-Writer Benoit as well as AAR updates. We are now at December 31st. Think that this means I am about 10 turns behind so we shall do in-depth regional work.

So far...I haven't found any major scenario issues from the Japanese side. I know Michael has some suggestions on the Allied side so that is good. One of those is moving a Dutch BF into Sumatra to allow for easier withdrawal of the air units in the western DEI to Pt Blair and Burma. Past that--not sure. We shall see...

I saw something on a Facebook Naval page about speculation of the Kongos having 16 100mm or 16 10cm AA guns instead of their assorted secondary and tertiary guns. Since the Japanese could see the new American and British battleships plus reports from Europe, that might be something to consider as an upgrade for even before the 7th of December 1941.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
December 20-January 1, 1942
South Pacific

This is our decoy area. I use a pair of Fast TF to make it LOOK like I am doing a bunch of stuff. Reality is I am doing little-to-nothing. The base building is occurring at Manus, Lae, Buin, and Tulagi. Have a Fast TF currently heading for Kavieng presently. This TF will land its troops in two days.

Once this is accomplished, I will attack Rabaul with a full IJA Brigade. This should continue the ruse because I need Rabaul and want to keep moving.

We'll have to see if the enemy falls for the ruse...

[John 3rd]

Good morning.

Have had a busy, BUSY week here in LaSalle and haven't been able to Post. Plan to fix that today. I don't expect to see a turn from Gregg so we're hoping on doing some Mod work with Co-Writer Benoit as well as AAR updates. We are now at December 31st. Think that this means I am about 10 turns behind so we shall do in-depth regional work.

So far...I haven't found any major scenario issues from the Japanese side. I know Michael has some suggestions on the Allied side so that is good. One of those is moving a Dutch BF into Sumatra to allow for easier withdrawal of the air units in the western DEI to Pt Blair and Burma. Past that--not sure. We shall see...

I saw something on a Facebook Naval page about speculation of the Kongos having 16 100mm or 16 10cm AA guns instead of their assorted secondary and tertiary guns. Since the Japanese could see the new American and British battleships plus reports from Europe, that might be something to consider as an upgrade for even before the 7th of December 1941.

The Kongo's have a major, long-term upgrade in 1942 where they changeover to the 3.9" AA. Is it worth their loss as frontline CV escorts? Hmmm...the player can decide!

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
December 20-January 1, 1942
Malaya

The Malaya Operation cannot go any smoother then it has. The plan has been excecated flawlessly.

A total of EIGHT ID have been used. Two Inf Divisions drive down from the north (with 2 TK Reg), one ID crosses from Mersing west to cut the retreat path while paras hold up the enemy's north and central Malaya troops, and FIVE ID move from Mersing down to Johore Bharu and begin to cross into Singapore directly. Singapore will be Japanese in 2-3 days.

BANZAI!

Day-by-Day Account:
12-20 Port Dickson falls (cutting the peninsula) and first daily airstrike on Singapore occurs
12-24 Georgetown falls
12-27 Pt Swettenham falls
12-29 Taiping falls and Infantry moves out for Singapore from Johore Bharu
01-01 A single ID crosses the hex into Singapore (stupid--should all be together!) and scores an immediate 1-1: NICE! In the north Ulan Melintang falls

A total of 24 units are trapped and surrounded at Kuala Lumpur. The three northern/central Malaya IDs will take care of those units in quick fashion.

The AF and Port have been bombed (at significant cost to aircraft from AA) with about a dozen ships sunk in Port and the AFs are untenable. These strikes have been done entirely with IJA aircraft.

When finished, three of the five IDs in Singapore will be transported to Java for quick work there.

The three IDs will be lifted and dropped at Akyab to make the enemy THINK I might lunge toward India.

The remaining pair will be earmarked for Pearl Harbor itself and begin prepping once Singapore is done.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
December 20-January 1, 1942
Philippines

A total of six Infantry Divisions are being used in the Philippines. Two land in northern Luzon and are besieging Clark, three are tasked with taking Manila (one was bought out from the China ID that took Hong Kong), and one is helping take Mindanao.

With the enemy pulling out the vast majority of the Philippine Air Force, the skies have been Japanese for two weeks Daily Betty/Nell airfield strikes keep the damage at Manila, Clark, and Bataan at near 100%. No Forts get built whatsoever. With hardly any resistance, the five Daitai of Betty/Nell in Formosa see their experience skyrocketing.

At the time of January 1, 1942 the triangle of Manila, Clark, and Bataan is all that is left of Allied control in Luzon. Manila will fall first once my last two IDs arrive. Clark is really, REALLY difficult due to hex limits. The two ID present their have already made one attack and will continue every couple of days until they can begin to rotate with IDs from Manila. Clark will then be reduced and Bataan should be a cakewalk.

Of the six IDs, two are tasked to Pearl Harbor. Three will be involved with NW Australia Operations and the remaining ID will move SE for Port Moresby and Coral Sea Operations.

[John 3rd]

Combat Operations
December 20-January 1, 1942
Java

A bloodbath is occurring south of Java right now. I have Soryu and 2 CAV as well as a pair of CVL rampaging here until they, literally run out of sorties. They are joined by elements from both their screens and the 4 Kongo-Class BC. At least 50-60 ships are sunk during this time.

The Allies start the war with FIVE Capital ships in the DEI: Force Z (Prince of Wales, Repulse, and Renown) and the two old BBs Prins Hendrik and Willem. Force Z bugged out pretty quickly but the Dutch have remained. Surprisingly, Force Z returns December 21st and Prince of Wales takes 5 TT, Repulse and Renown are hit by several bombs but--unfortunately--no Torps. Gregg told me that they were 'hidden' at Cocos and he sent them to Batavia to disband then stage a surprise attack in the Western DEI. NOPE! The 22nd witnesses a single TT hit on both BCs as they run away. Had a DUD on each of them. Too bad. A pair of TTs would have allowed me to catch up with them. Damn! Prins Willem takes pair of TT from I-123 and is hiding in Soerabaja. Prins Hendrik is trying to escape south of Java and has been hit by 20+ 250Kg bombs but I am out of TTs for my carriers. Am vectoring in the Kongos to finish her off.

Caught shipping in Batavia port (this is what triggered the exodus from Java) on the 22nd. Nothing remains there and now we look to Soerabaja. Nearly 60 ships sit in that port STILL! I---WANT---THEM!!! All five carriers/Hybrids will be at Merak on the 2nd and refuel/reprovision. As soon as I can, they combine (with the 3 CVEs) and move on Soerabaja for massed Port strikes.

It will be glorious!

Should note--since this is Java--that I spotted no troops at Merak at Merak on the 22nd and 23rd. Seeing opportunity, I loaded half of an Infantry Brigade about a Fast TF (2 CA, 4 CL, and 4 DD) and captured the free base on the 27th. Have run in the rest of the Brigade and two Base Forces since that time. Must be ready for opportunities team!

[John 3rd]

Combat Operations
December 20-January 1, 1942
SS Operations

My subs have been picking up their game. There are concentrations of about a dozen near Christmas in the Line Islands and 15-18 East NE of Pearl Harbor. Have used my seven ML SS to mine Christmas Isle, the hex SW of Rabaul, and Port Moresby.

Daily Attacks:
12-22
I-123 AK Bellerophon SUNK by 2TT/2Sh near Denpasar
12-24
I-123 AP S'Jacob SUNK by 2TT near Denpaar
12-26
Ro-63 AK Demodocus SUNK by 3TT near Parmekasan
12-27
I-6 AK JK Luckenbach SUNK by 2TT/3Sh near Lahaina
I-122 AK GG VanVollenhoven SUNK by 2TT near Madoien
12-28
I-3 PG Pulaski SUNK 1TT near Pearl Harbor
12-29
Ro-65 DD Van Galen SUNK 2TT near Denapasar
12-30
I-126 BB Prins Hendrik 2TT near Cocos

Losses--I-123 to ASW near Parmekasan

[John 3rd]

OK. We are now fully updated.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 2, 1942

Cornered and SANK a big fish!

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[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 2-5, 1942

Things continue moving at a solid pace. Gregg and I average two turns a day Mon-Fri and a turn a day on the weekend.

We had an email exchange yesterday where he commented on how different this game was to the previous. I answered him honestly:

Yes—Things are different. The truth is that I did not take you too seriously to start with last time. By the time I figured out that you were a serious, GOOD opponent, you had smacked me a number of times. THIS TIME I am trying to be a bit more thoughtful and insightful for what you MIGHT be doing. Lessons learned the hard way.

Absolute truth in that statement. He kicked my BUTT last time!

NoPac
All bases solid. NO plans up here until mid-February.

Central Pacific
We now have CARDIV1 in the north near Pearl Harbor--Just refueled and gained CVL Shoho so we have 2 CV and 2 CVL here.

CARDIV5 just entered the waters near Christmas Isle as the invasion Force closes in. This large TF carries over 13,000 assorted troops. It appears that Christmas has not been reinforced so we SHOULD take it without issues.

With the Line Islands and Midway taken, I have reached my normal stopping line. There are engineers who will be working furiously at these bases to expand Ports and AFs so we can use them as springboards for Hawaii. Goal will be to land with decisive force at Lihue, Lahaina, and the Big Island on the same day, take them all, drop mines, and work to expand the AFs ASAP. We then will see his response and start the reduction of Pearl Harbor.

SoPac
TFs have left the Marshalls to grab Nauru, Tarawa, and the other island down there. Should be all landing at the same time.

Have a Fast TF about to land engineers at Manus. The Kavieng Fore is moving down the island there to take the base on the south end.

Malaya
The enemy proves stubborn taking 1-1 assaults on the 2nd and 4th. Forts are now ZERO. Next attack should give me the base.

The remains of the Allied Malay army are hold up in Kuala Lumpur and I have two IDs that just arrived. They will attack tomorrow.

There is a very real chance that ALL of Malaya will be Japanese on January 6, 1942. NICE!

Philippines
Luzon
In a stunning development, Manila Falls on January 4th! NICE!

The enemy has just Clark and Bataan left. Looking pretty good here.

Mindanao
The 90th ID takes Malaybalay on the 4th as well. All that is left here is Davao.

Have two small TFs begin the mopping up process of taking the Central and outlying Philippines.

DEI
We captured Samarinda on the 1st and troops crossover the river to Balikpapan on the 4th. They score a 3-1 on the 4th and drop Forts to ZERO. The next day, a follow-on attack just get 1-1. Base should fall on the 6th.

Land at Kolaka and take it on the 2nd. A Brigade moves out to get Kendari.

A TF of nearly two dozen Tankers arrive at Palembang. They begin loading for the first BIG oil/fuel run home.

Java
Merak is firmly in Japanese hands and across the Strait, Oosthaven falls on 5th.

The rampaging Japanese TFs begin to gather at Merak for fuel. I really screwed up and have all but one AKE over at Ternate. Bring the other AKE down from Cam Rahn Bay so the carriers can get their sorties restored.

Nearly 60 ships sit in Soerabaja harbor. Once the CVs are ready, I will launch a massed air strike from land and sea to seriously PUNCH this grouping of shipping. I want it!

SS Operations
Ro-33 SINKS an AMc off Exmouth
I-156 SINKS AK Floridian with 2TTs near Karachi

Allied subs are very active. I take a real loss with CA Seiki getting hit by no less then FIVE Dutch TTs at Merak on the 5th. To say that she sinks is an understatement.

[John 3rd]

January 6, 1942
Singapore

As promised. Singers FALLS on January 6, 1942.

Here is a screen shot of all that was in Singapore. Not much infantry made it in before I cut the peninsula. Immediately prep three IDs for Cox's Bizarre, Vizagatapan x 2. One gets prepped for Pearl Harbor... Three decoys and one true for targets.

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[RangerJoe]

Cox's Bizarre? Or are you pulling a Greyjoy with Cox's Bazar?

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
January 9, 1942
Hawaiian Waters

HOLY Cats! I just found the entire American Carrier Fleet. Japanese Sea Eagles cripple/sink Saratoga, Lexington, and CVE Ely while hitting CVE Langley, Yorktown and Enterprise.

Wow...details later when I get back from work...

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