Sailing in harms way: InHarmsWay (J) vs Andav (A) Scen2

[InHarmsWay]

I have been bombing them daily, the flying tigers finally showed up and ambushed 6 Sallys' but that has been the only resistance. To date, I have retreated 5 units, and taking care not to kill them and have them return. Initial goal is to surround Chengchow, but Adm Was is wise and will abandon it once he sees the pincers. Thefore want to set it up so the slow moving Chinese cannot retreat fast enough. I have bought out 4 tank regiments and will mass them to the south, while pushing toward Sian from the north. In about a week I expect the tanks to be moving. Here is the snapshot, with my direct attack at Wenchow going in tomorrow. I am hoping to take it without much damage to the industry.

Dec 14 1941 China.jpg (770.19 KiB) Viewed 674 times

Also, Hong Kong fell today, about in line with normal, I did not shock attack so the 38th division is still pretty fresh (438AV)

[InHarmsWay]

Dec 14 1941 Malaya situation.jpg (465.87 KiB) Viewed 670 times

Here is the Malaya campaign. Japanese troops have done well, Georgtown just fell, and tanks are motoring south to Singapore. I am sending most of the 5th Division into Alor Star to finish off two trapped Inf Brigades (Indian 6th and 16th). They will then board trains to catch up to the tanks running south, hopefully meeting up at Kuala Lumpur.

Worried about Force Z, but 1/2 KB plus heavy cover and CA cover are north of Batavia (a dash south and port attack on Batavia last turn only netted a half dozen transports... was hoping for bigger fish....

Elsewhere, saw two US CVs transiting toward Australia south of Tarawa. Good to know where they are as I was worried a raid on the HI shipping may have been planned...

[InHarmsWay]

So my current plan is to pocket Chinese troops before Sian, take Sian, and press on into the interior from the north. What is everyones thoughts on the best way to crack China? Last game I was able to do it by end of November 42, but it would be nice to get it done September timeframe.... Would going after Russia (surprise attack) after that be a bad idea? Thoughts??

[RangerJoe]

I would suggest that if you want to corral the Chinese you might want to bomb every moving Chinese unit. Be prepared though for some quick "dash in and dash out" enemy CAP traps. You might want to start night bombing of enemy airbases, especially ones on railroad lines. LRCAP those airbases as well.

[InHarmsWay]

I have never tried night bombing of enemy rail lines, is the base bombing to reduce supplies or to slow land unit movements? Yes, will watch out for the flying tiger CAP trap. I have brought in a detachment of zeros and will start selectively sweeping the next day.

[RangerJoe]

I have never tried night bombing of enemy rail lines, is the base bombing to reduce supplies or to slow land unit movements? Yes, will watch out for the flying tiger CAP trap. I have brought in a detachment of zeros and will start selectively sweeping the next day.

You can't bomb the rail lines but you can bomb the airfields at bases with rail lines. Doing damage to the airfields can damage any aircraft that are there, reduce the supplies at the base if there is a supply hit, plus the damage to air bases and ports need to be repaired before any work on base fortifications are done. Another reason for bombing the air bases on rail lines is to render them unusable so the enemy is much less likely to move aircraft there, especially fighters such as the AVG to conduct a CAP ambush on your attacking aircraft.

You might want to convert some of your Nate fighter equipped units to Oscars and use those. You will get many more IJA pilots than IJN pilots. Also, use up the older Oscar Ia and Ib models as well. Concentrate your good pilots in those sweeping fighter units.

[InHarmsWay]

It has been a whirlwind 9 days since the start of the war. Adm Harmasaki looks over the maps and situation reports littered across his war room. This will be his home the next few years, hopefully less if the Allies can come to the realization that their situation is hopeless, at least in the first year or two. He is under no illusions that after the first year, it will get tougher, and by '44 he will be up against a juggernaut. His dreams indicated that much and scared him to the point of pushing in a new direction than what his staff initially proposed, he thought.

"Enough of dwelling on the far future, where are we today!" With that, he gets up and strides to master plots showing the current situations in each of the theatres... Lets see, China, where it all started...

[InHarmsWay]

China Status - early morning December 17: The Southern coast of China has progressed well, a bit slow at Hong Kong but the fortress did fall on Dec 14th, with minimal losses for the IJA, and negligible damage to the all importing HI, resources and industry facilities!. Currently minesweeping is occuring, and the 38th Division will load onto transports to Mersing to hopefully add another fortress to their battle honors. A quick push on Wuchow as well is currently in progress, hoping to capture more of the Chinese supply infrastructure intact if possible. Adm Wa abandoned Wenchow and it fell to a quick landing by the 21st Division. Once a garrison unit can arrive, the 21st will reembark and transit to Luzon to lay siege to Manila and/or Clark Field. Yes, south China is according to plan to date.

Now to visit Northern China where most of the action is taking place:

Dec 17 1941 North China ToO.jpg (797.01 KiB) Viewed 596 times

Operation Sunday Drive (Phase 1) is in the final stages of preparation. Col Goto of the 9th Tank Rgmt will be leading a spearhead of 400AV across the southern flank of Chengchow and in a pincer move cut off the Chinese defending the two cities. Care will be taken to not enter Chengchow proper until the pincer is complete so as to allow the Chinese a place to retreat to. Phase 2 will have LtGen Mamoru of the 110th Division make a delayed attack into Loyang to complete the encirclement. To the north along the rugged hills, LtGen Yuichiro of the 37th Infantry Division is pushing straight for Sian. Finally, a clearance of Chinese units in the plains outside of Nanyang are progressing. Several tank units are in the area and hope to pocket more chinese units. Already underway is a staff study to consider the feasibility of pocketing and leaving as many Chinese units to wither on the vine as possible.

[InHarmsWay]

Admiral Harmasaki turns his attention to the crown jewel of the British Empire in the Pacific. Yes, Singapore is the linchpin of the defense and attack across the DEI and beyond. Daily briefings have been a must on this critical area. Haste is required and the lead IJA regiments have performed admirably. Two Indian brigades were pocketed in Alor Star and a third was routed in the second day of the war at Kota Bharu. Singapore will still be a tough nut, but overwhelming force should do the trick.

Dec 17 1941 Malaya status.jpg (431.41 KiB) Viewed 593 times

Some tricky logistics and timing are required for the second wave of invasions in the DEI since there have been no sign of Force Z, Boise, Marblehead or Houston. Singkawang and Toboali have been taken with air base units landed at each, but that is much less than required for the next stage. 9 days of heavy activity has the two KB halves low on munitions, so it will reform at Cam Ranh Bay to replenish, and escorted by heavy cover TF, will push back to Batavia area, allowing units to land on Sumatra (Oosthaven- bypassing a sea invasion of Palembang) and an Air HQ onto Toboali. KB will then round Borneo and support further landings at Balikpapan / Bandjermasin. Manado and Ternate and Sorong have been taken and are being developed to support further incursions toward Darwin.

As always, what is Adm Wa up to. The recent sir robin running is not his style, and I expect it is due to KB in the area.
He will try for a spoiling attack at some point. Latest intel had CVs headed to Australia, but a recent sighting had 1 or 2? CVs headed back to Pearl.... need to be careful until firm intel is received...

[InHarmsWay]

The PI area is also been a hot spot the last week. It will slow down soon while awaiting the allies to run out of supplies...but for now, still constricting the perimeter...

Dec 17 1941 PI theatre.jpg (399.21 KiB) Viewed 589 times

I worry the most about allied surface TFs in this area and to the south around Ambon and Sorong, and have several CA groups patrolling and guarding amph. TFs.. Note to my command staff, need to build out mini KB soon, as it has been operating in pieces in support of the 1/2 KB that was in the area.

[InHarmsWay]

Dec 21st update in Malaya. Things are surprisingly going according to plan. Shocking actually. I have been able to destroy outright two Indian Bde at Alor Star, and am halfway down the peninsula with 2 rgts of tanks. Landing at Mersing ongoing and hope to pocket several other units shortly. I am wondering why Adm Wa neglected to retreat those units back to fortress Singapore? I would like to cross into Singapore before the New Year. Elsewhere, KB has reformed and is escorting to Oosthaven several land units to take Palembang from behind. I have been periodically bombing palembang to keep forts down in the hopes of a damage free liberation! There is no detection level on the Oosthaven TFs... Elsewhere Davao fell and PI is slowing being liberated from the decandant democracies....

Dec 21 1941 Malaya status.jpg (480.48 KiB) Viewed 565 times

[InHarmsWay]

Elsewhere, the US navy may be getting frisky??? What looks like a landing TF is headed toward the Marshall Islands... could be a feint. I expect it is a spoiling attack of some sort.... I am not allowing it to try and distract KB from important work in the DEI. I have quite a few Subs in the Area (20+), and will use those as a screen, may get lucky and bag a ship or two....

Dec 21 1941 Centpac shenanigans.jpg (294.95 KiB) Viewed 563 times

[InHarmsWay]

so something is going on, still think it is a spoiling attack here, hope to get more intel. Had two sub attacks in the area this last turn, one of the TFs looks to be a CV one. Will continue to flood the area with subs in the hopes of getting lucky. Yes, that is a valid strategy right??

Dec 22 1941 centpac possible CV TF.jpg (147.27 KiB) Viewed 534 times

Elsewhere, China is coming along nicely except for the armor attack in had, ended up obliterating 3 chinese units so they will come back at some point. Was hoping they would retreat into the soon to be Kessel.

Malaya had a setback, thanks to my poor order giving, the lead TF going into Oosthaven was a amphib TF (was the slowest one), and it was met by a small surface TF that trounced it... the 2BBs, 2CAs, and 4 DDs that were dutifully following, did not do anything but retreat with everyone else... ugh! another lesson learned!

[InHarmsWay]

Forgot to add, nothing was lost when the AK was torpedoed near Johnston Island, so I think they may be empty of troops??? more a supply run?

[InHarmsWay]

December 27th, - Singapore has been isolated. Will march in around new years. I am curious as to how much land AV factors Adm Wa has there, as I have tried hard to minimize him extracting units from further up the peninsula. I need Singapore conquered quickly to keep the momentum going. Several days ago, the KB transited the Oosthaven / Batavia straights, caught several empty APs in the area, and is now going radio silent for a bit. A bit bad news during the Oosthaven landings, as Dutch subs were able to sink the slow CL Kashii that was leading one of the TFs. The CA Suzuya took a torp also and is now in port with 22float. A call went out across the DEI for able ASW captains to show up and sweep the evil Dutch Subs from menacing the peace-loving Japanese transport ships...

Dec 27 1941 Malaya status.jpg (469.54 KiB) Viewed 491 times

The main PI island of Luzon has now been liberated with the exception of Manila, Clark and Bataan.. that may take longer.

Nothing has come of the Centpac CV sightings except for several sub attacks.... Adm Wa did complain that his "surprise" did not go off... That may be what he was talking about?

China is going well, almost too well as my Armor attacks have consistenly destroyed Chinese units, not retreated them into a cauldron as hoped. I guess we will meet those units again outside Chunking...

[RangerJoe]

Do you mean that those evil dutch pirates are sinking your cruise ships full of Japanese tourists?

[InHarmsWay]

Ranger Joe, That is EXACTLY what is happening! Made me so upset at the injustice of it all, I told Adm Wa I was going on vacation to catch a concert and baseball game. Back now and getting ready to see what evil plans he has sent my way....

[InHarmsWay]

Late December, (Dec 28) situation in China. Despite trying to just retreat units, the armored group of 5 Rgmts, has consistently eliminated several corps of Chinese infantry. Moving fast, China Command has surrounded and taken (only trapped 1 unit) Chengchow. The victorious IJA is now moving on Nanyang, and will push up toward Sian. Goal is to take Sian ASAP to stop supply generation in that location. Several units have or will soon be pocketed outside SE of Nanyang as well..

Dec 28 China situation.jpg (787.93 KiB) Viewed 428 times

For those gentle readers out there, the Armored group is currently in Nanyang....

[InHarmsWay]

Admiral Harmasaki looks over the maps in the war room. Things are progressing well, significant allied resistance has been slight, and if it wasn't for the annoying Dutch subs, almost non existent. "What is that crafty Adm Wa up to?" he quietly says to no one in particular. Naval losses have been slight, with only a single destroyer, and the old CL Kashii lost to date, a few transports, and the midget subs that were always a long shot. A few CAs have taken bomb hits but are currently enroute to Saigon for repairs. Corresponding allied surface ship losses have also been slight with only the CL Mauritius and a half dozen destroyers being reported sunk. The allied sub forces were decimated at Manila, with currently 26 subs reported sunk, 2 of which are the dangerous Dutch subs. The lack of pushback by the allies is troubling, but rest assured, they will show themselves at likely the most inopportune time... A quick glance over the mysterious "score card" his highly efficient staff compile every days shows the allies in the lead, but the Japanese position improving...

Jan 1 1942 score.png (738.69 KiB) Viewed 400 times

Now to look over each of the regions....

[InHarmsWay]

China January 1 1924 -

Phase 1 is coming along well, the last week has seen a very quick thrust to the south of Chengchow by 350 armor AV literally rolled over several Chinese Corps and shattered the formations. With momentum on their side, they quickly liberated Nanyang and moved well into the more dense forested and hilly road to Sian. The 32nd Inf Division is trying to catch up to lend weight to the thrust to Sian (~800AV total along the road). I cannot believe Adm Wa has left this road weakly defended. The northern pincer is through the rough terrain and will encircle Sian and begin the siege here. A total of ~1500AV is pushing along this northern route.
I will also send a couple divisions along the parallel path west of Sian and Nanyang to see what level of defense Wa has set up there. I would like to take Sian quickly, but also being able to get units into the backfield behind Sian (via Ankang), is the ultimate goal. I missed a trick and wish I had sent one Armored rgmt along the north flank to blitz to the mountain pass three hexes WNW of Sian... The south china theater is relatively quiet, with just the daily bombings occurring. The AVG has shown its face here several times and about 15-20 planes have fallen to those mercenaries. In contrast, the AVG has lost over 30 planes to date, and a rumor has even been heard that the notorious Pappy Boyington was lost to allies.

Jan 1 1942 China.jpg (780.73 KiB) Viewed 398 times