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23 December 1941: The Empire Strikes Back! Imperial fighters and bombers descended on Singapore en masse, nailing a couple dozen planes on the ground and messing up the base badly. I've scheduled a retaliatory raid, again on Kuching, for Christmas Eve.

In China, I see forces massing both in the south, near Changsha, and in the north, near both Yenan and Sian. He tries to encircle me; I try to encircle him (or at least avoid encirclement). He has the advantage of rail. But I continue to be puzzled over whether he means to attack both in the north and south simultaneously. I don't think he has the forces to do both at once.

Christmas Eve, 1941: My Christmas present to the Empire was a generous dollop of bombs dropped on Kuching. I again caught a couple dozen Imperial fighters and bombers on the ground. The Imperials returned the favor by bombing two of my subs parked at Manila, where they were trying to shed heavy FLT damage before heading for a safer harbor. I left them there one turn too long.

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Day Air attack on Kuching , at 27,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 9

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 6
B-17C Fortress x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 4 destroyed
B-17C Fortress: 3 destroyed, 10 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
72 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 6000 feet [etc]

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Day Air attack on Kuching , at 27,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7

Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 destroyed
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed
C5M Babs: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 16

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet [etc]

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Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 14
Ki-21 Sally x 79
Ki-15 Babs x 5

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed

Allied Ships
SS S-37, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
SS S-39, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage [sunk]

Allied ground losses:
365 casualties reported
Guns lost 11
Vehicles lost 2

Port hits 7
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 11000 feet [etc]

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In China, I continue to hold Yenan, Sian, and Changsha, and he continues to mass troops near all three cities. Here's a look.

Christmas Day, 1941: Not a very Merry Christmas for the Allies, as Japanese forces push forward in Malaya, the Philippines, and the DEI. Today Darth Gown invaded Singkagawan, on the NW coast of Borneo, and Palembang is looking increasingly isolated. It didn't help that Cap Vader also launched a massive air strike on Singapore, turning the base into rubble. What's more, enemy troops have moved into the city of Manila. I've ordered some units from Clark to reinforce the city, and at the same time units from Bataan are moving to Clark.

At least it looks like I might get my Bataan reinforcements, now due in 9 or 10 days. And at least I'll hold Singapore into January. But I look at my reinforcement table, and I wonder: how am I supposed to hold India and Australia? I guess the answer is to fight hard in the DEI. Honestly, my main strategic goal is to delay him long enough so that I can hold and reinforce India, Australia, Pearl Harbor, and Chungking. Counterattacks will have to wait until I have supply and forces in place, which currently I don't.

One bright spot in the day: My daily air raid on Kuching bagged another dozen enemy planes on the ground. I'm pleased with our relative number of air losses, in general.

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Day Air attack on Kuching , at 27,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 11

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 6
Martin 139 x 8
Hudson I x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
G3M Nell: 4 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 3 destroyed
Martin 139: 1 destroyed
Hudson I: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Martin 139 bombing at 6000 feet
[etc]
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December 26, 1941: The enemy has advanced into Manila but remains outside Clark Field. I'm trying to hold both for now, with the bulk of my forces at Manila. At Bataan, I have the CD unit plus one Philippine Army division as a garrison until the final set of Bataan replacements arrive in 8-9 days. I fear his plan is to occupy both Clark and Manila, shutting down my supply production at Clark, and preventing me from moving between the two bases. But it hardly seems wise to abandon Clark altogether, since it's my supply center; nor does it seem wise to abandon Manila, which has the best defensive terrain. My plan is still to make my final stand at Manila. Is that wrongheaded? Should I be trying to pile everything into Clark now?

Another question: Darth Gown has asked whether he can place Alfs on his subs in place of Glens. That would significantly increase the range of his eyes and ears in the Pacific. But my understanding is that the Alf would not have readily fit on submarines, and that even the Glen wasn't used as much as we used it in WITP. Do you all have any thoughts on how I should respond to Cap & Gown's inquiry?

Incidentally, yet another successful air raid on Kuching today. As the attached intel report shows, I keep catching upwards of 20 planes on the ground. Indeed, the air losses ratio favors me, given that he needs 4:1 to gain auto-victory. Here's a look.

27 December 1941: I conducted yet another successful air raid on Kuching, though less successful than before. And this time he got bombers off the ground, striking back at Balikpapan and other Allied air bases. At the same time, I see an invasion force approaching Kendari.

In Malaya, his forces have taken Kuala Lumpur. My next line of defense is Johore. Level 5 forts there; dunno whether I should try to make a big stand there or just retire to Singapore. In China, I still hold Yenan, Sian and Changsha, to my continuing surprise. In the Philippines, we exchange bombardments at Manila. Perhaps his main thrust will come from the north, at Clark.

One other interesting development: I spotted CV CV CA today (and CA CA CA CV yesterday) northeast of Kavieng. KB preparing to mess up my airfield at Rabaul?

28 December 1941: Sound the alarm! Imperial warships descending on Canton Island! Today four or five subs launched Glens to recon my base at Canton Island, and then I spotted two TFs about 7 or 8 hexes to the northwest, one with transports, the other with surface ships. He means to take Canton Island, and there's nothing I can do about it.

It's not a disaster. My supply ships have been taking the long route anyway, east of Christmas Island and south of Tonga and Fiji. But it will deprive me of an important air-search base, and obviously limit my freedom of movement more. Not good news in the short term. In the long term, I hope to turn it into a prison camp.

I wonder if he will "go deep" like this elsewhere -- Noumea, Australia, India? Of those possibilities, the one I worry about most is India. How the heck do you defend India? I have a few small brigades scattered around the continent. I'm trying to fly one or two units from China/Burma to Chandpur/Diamond Harbor, but that takes forever. The 18th UK division arrives shortly. I've heard people say I should put it on Ceylon, but that looks like a death trap to me. I've moved SEAC to Diamond Harbor, and I'm more inclined to keep the 18th on the continent too -- maybe Madras or some such.

Hi,

My take on the Alf's is that he shouldn't be allowed to upgrade Glens to Alfs UNLESS you are both ok for a 'gamey game'. Its one thing upgrading Petes to Alfs but the Glen was specifically built for the subs and an Alf just wouldn't be able to be stored and launched from an I boat.

Just my 2 cents mind you [:)]

Regards,

Steven

Thanks for your reply, Speedy. I'm inclined to agree. We've actually been striving for a somewhat historical game, and that has me leaning toward vetoing the Alfs. Incidentally, I posted a similar question in the main forum before I saw your note, so I apologize for posting the question twice.

29 December 1941: Imperial forces are still approaching Canton Island, but I had enough advance warning that I was able to evacuate most of the Aviation Support personnel yesterday via PBY, and today I'll be able to get still more of the base force unit out. I'll move this unit to the South Pacific, where I'm sorely in need of bases to support air search.

In addition, I have confirmed that the carriers near Rabaul are indeed the Imperial Death Star. The Star's death ray hit Rabaul hard today, as enemy transports began unloading there. My Hudsons made a couple futile air strikes. I had just moved some Beaufort torpedo bombers to Port Moresby with the intention of moving them to Rabaul, but I was a turn too late. My biggest self-criticism in this game is that I have not put my torpedo bombers in the right place at the right time.

In the Philippines, he has moved into both Clark and Manila now, and we are bombarding each other. Already my supply situation is of concern. I can't imagine holding out until April or May. At this stage I'd settle for mid-February. (sigh)

30 December 1941: The Empire's Land Death Star has begun its move into Changsha. Only one unit moved in this turn, but a dozen are behind it on the railway. My guess is that his move up north was a feint and that he has at least 10 or 11 divisions here. Nonetheless, I've ordered my 20 corps in Changsha to conduct a Deliberate Attack while his forces are still gathering. I upgraded a number of leaders for the occasion. I debated about a Shock Attack, but in the end I decided I needed more info on what he's brought to the party.

I sure wish my recon were better. Even flying recon every day, all I see is "11 units" on the RR to Changsha, and another 10 on the road southeast of it. But I now see very little elsewhere, so I'm operating on the assumption that he has not split his forces. If he's got a dozen divisions in Changsha, I'll stick it out as long as I can hold forts there, but if things look bad, it'll be time to bail toward Chungking or Kungming. I've got units on both RR exits out of Changsha, protecting my escape route -- for now at least.

A gloomy New Year's Eve elsewhere. He captured a number of small bases in the Philippines, plus Tarakan and Amboina. My daily bombing of Kuching brought mediocre results. His troops will land at Canton Island tomorrow. I have supply convoys churning toward Australia and the South Pacific, but they are taking forever. It's going to be a long war.

31 December 1941: The first big victory of the war for the Allies! All 20+ Corps in Changsha launched a Deliberate Attack on the Japanese units that moved into the city, winning a 3:1 victory and retreating all enemy units. He had nine units, comprising three divisions, a brigade, and arty. I had been worried that he had upward of 10 or 11 divisions. Perhaps he does, and most didn't make it in to the hex on time; I see a half-dozen or more units southeast of Changsha. In any case, I expect this defeat will force him to halt and regroup.

It was a busy turn elsewhere too. I won a ground battle southeast of Changsha. He also failed to get 1:1 odds in his first Deliberate Attack on Clark Field. He moved into Johore Bhatu; I'm hoping the level 5 forts there will allow me to stand and defend a few turns. And he landed at Canton and Baker Islands.

I don't usually fill my AAR up with combat reports, but these are more interesting than usual, so here they are. I've also attached a screenshot of the action at Changsha.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/31/41

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Naval bombardment of Canton Island, at 100,100

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CA Aoba
CA Kako
CA Kinugasa

Allied ground losses:
199 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1

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Day Air attack on Kuching , at 27,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 6

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 7
Hudson I x 5
B-17C Fortress x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed
Hudson I: 3 destroyed
B-17C Fortress: 13 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 16

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17C Fortress bombing at 6000 feet [snip]

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Ground combat at Clark Field

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 94413 troops, 1015 guns, 214 vehicles

Defending force 24276 troops, 252 guns, 105 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese ground losses:
931 casualties reported
Guns lost 24
Vehicles lost 7

Allied ground losses:
554 casualties reported
Guns lost 32
Vehicles lost 5

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Ground combat at Baker Island

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1818 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 114 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Baker Island base !!!

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Ground combat at Changsha

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11007 troops, 213 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 195613 troops, 1367 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
286 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

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Ground combat at 46,38

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7981 troops, 123 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 11412 troops, 59 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
200 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Kuantan

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14981 troops, 182 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 4145 troops, 42 guns, 3 vehicles

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Japanese ground losses:
387 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported

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Ground combat at Manila

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 43786 troops, 497 guns, 6 vehicles

Defending force 55510 troops, 524 guns, 103 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Manila

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 9717 troops, 196 guns, 2 vehicles

Defending force 54539 troops, 502 guns, 147 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
57 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at Changsha

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 155033 troops, 1223 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 82517 troops, 942 guns, 20 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
1105 casualties reported
Guns lost 24

Allied ground losses:
4409 casualties reported
Guns lost 140

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

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Ground combat at Lamon Bay

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 96 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lamon Bay base !!!

[Luke blows up his first TIE fighter.]

Luke: Got 'im! I got 'im!

Han Solo: Great, kid! Don't get cocky!

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1 January 1942: Darth Gown sent me the above quotation after I threw his troops out of Changsha. A good reminder! I took the advice to heart and did not attack when his troops entered Yenan this turn. Perhaps I should have; so far I see only one division and two brigades, while I have six corps. But more Japanese are on their way in. I'm also reinforcing with troops from the west.

I'm puzzled by what he's doing at Canton Island. Yesterday I reported here that he was landing there, but I have to correct that: all I've seen is repeated bombardments and, today, a carrier strike featuring 82 Kates. That must be several CVs or CVLs, no? This has me confused because I spotted KB just south of Rabaul only 3 days ago. At least, I think I did. Anyway, he has clearly landed at Baker Island, but no landings yet at Canton. Perhaps he got worried about my promise to turn the place into a prison camp for his garrison.

Overall, the New Year dawns with mixed news for the Rebel Alliance. We still hold Johore Bhatu and Singapore, as well as Clark, Bataan and Manila, but I doubt we'll hold any of that by the end of the month. In China, I'm amazed that I still hold all the supply-producing cities, and even more amazed that I retreated 3 IJA divisions last turn. My CVs are intact, for now. Indeed, I've lost precious little shipping, and I've done OK in the air war. The most frustrating thing is that useful materiel is sitting uselessly on the West Coast of the USA. Empty transports are slowly making their way to the USA to haul some of the fuel, supply, troops and aircraft to the front. As is, great swaths of territory lie undefended: the South Pacific is his for the taking, Burma won't last long, and even India needs more defense. (Where does one defend India? On the coast?) If my guys in Malaya and the Philippines can buy me a bit more time, I will be more ready to fight.

Here's a look at Han Solo telling me not to get cocky.

2 January 1942: The big news of the day: Imperial Stormtroopers finally land on Canton Island, seizing Princess Leia and destroying two damaged B-17s that were damaged in transit. Fortunately, the two droids with the secret plans to the Imperial Death Star escaped. Here's a screenshot of Darth Gown interrogating the commander of my defeated forces at Canton.

I've got a good Stars Wars joke.
PS Hope you don't mind me typing it up. If you don't want it here I can delete it.


The Empire Strikes Back: Extra Special Edition.

Bespin Gantry.

A furious lightsabre duel is underway. Darth Vader is backing Luke Skywalker towards the end of the gantry. A quick move by Vader chops off Luke's hand! It goes spinning off into the ventilation shaft. Luke backs away. He looks around but realised there's nowhere to go but straight down.

Darth Vader: Obi Wan never told you what happened to your father.

Luke: He told me enough. He told me you killed him!

Darth Vader: No... I AM your father!

Luke: NO. It's not true!. It's impossible!

Darth Vader: Search your feelings... you know it to be true.

Luke: NO!

Darth Vader: Yes, it is true. And you know what else? You know that brass droid of yours?

Luke: Threepio?

Darth Vader: Yes... Threepio... I built him... when I was seven years old....

Luke: NO...!

Darth Vader: Seven years old! And what have you done? Look at yourself, no hand, no job, and couldn't even levitate your own ship out of the swamp.

Luke: I destroyed your precious Death Star!

Darth Vader: When you were 20! When I was 10, I single-handedly destroyed a Trade Federation Droid Control Ship!

Luke: Well, it is not my fault...

Darth Vader: Oh, here we go..."Poor me... my father never gave me what I wanted for my birthday... boo hoo, my daddy is the Dark Lord of the Sith... waahhh waaahhh!"

Luke: Shut up...

Darth Vader: You're a slacker! By the time I was your age I had exterminated the Jedi Knights!

Luke: I used to race my T-16 through Beggar's Canyon.

Darth Vader: Oh, for the love of the Emperor... 10 years old, winner of the Boonta Eve Open... only human to ever fly a pod racer... right here, baby!

{Luke looks down the shaft. Takes a step towards it.}

Darth Vader: I was wrong... You're not my kid... I don't know whose sin you are, but you sure ain't mine.

{Luke takes a step off the platform, hesitates, then plunges down the shaft.}

{Darth Vader looks after him.}

Darth Vader: Get a hair cut!




thanks. Hope I didn't break your AAR too much.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!!

ROFL, I loved it! And Darth was right about the haircut.

3 January 1942: A decent day for the Alliance. In China, the enemy is bombarding at Yenen, but so far this has had the effect only of increasing the experience of my troops. I count four divisions and a couple mixed brigades in Yenen itself, with possibly another division or two attempting to encircle the city. That may be enough to take it, but it does confirm my working theory: he divided his forces in an attempt to take Changsha and Yenen at the same time, and that's why I continue to hold both.

In the DEI, my torpedo bombers once again refused to fly, this time at Kendari, which was bombarded by several BBs today. I've changed to a more aggressive air squadron leader, added 10% naval search, tweaked altitude, you name it -- no flights. Grrr.

In the Central Pacific, the immediate question is: do I establish an air-search base at Christmas Island (to replace Canton), or do I use the precious base-force unit for its original intended purpose, more aviation support in the South Pacific? More BF units arrive in a couple weeks at San Francisco. For now I'm inclined to open more bases in the SOPAC, which is almost completely undefended. Or at least to bolster my air defenses in New Zealand.

Finally, in the Philippines, I repulsed an attack at Clark Field; the enemy failed to achieve 1:1 odds and took casualties. Here's a look.

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Ground combat at Clark Field

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 93160 troops, 968 guns, 208 vehicles

Defending force 23265 troops, 218 guns, 102 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
1829 casualties reported
Guns lost 52
Vehicles lost 12

Allied ground losses:
489 casualties reported
Guns lost 37
Vehicles lost 4
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4 January 1942: A fairly quiet day. The enemy is trying, slowly, to encircle me at Yenen, but I have 3 or 4 corps sitting on the road between Yenen and Sian, and he'll have to eject those to eliminate my lifeline. In the meantime, he bombards me daily at Yenen, where I have 80,000 troops slowly gaining XP from the bombardments.

Elsewhere, I'm moving lots of stuff around. A resupply TF arrives at Akyab today; we'll see if the IJN bombers in Bangkok spot it. Likewise, a TF with a base force, AA unit, and supplies approaches Noumea. I'm ready to airlift another base force from Fiji to Noumea or Luganville. Cargo TFs are slowly steaming toward Oz from Karachi and LA.

My uncle Owen says I should forget this whole war thing and concentrate on my farm here in the outback. He points out that the Empire is stronger than ever: it now has *two* Rising Suns. Check it out.

5 January 1942: Now I'm more worried about encirclement at Yenen, as two Japanese units appeared out of nowhere one hex southeast of Sian. I'm responding by moving some units back from the Sian-Yenen road to Sian, but he can move faster to Sian via RR than I can via road. If he brings a serious force to Sian, I may have no choice but to abandon Yenen. To that end, I ordered about half the forces there to start moving west in case I have to abandon ship. It sure would help if my recon would tell me something more than "2 units" were present southeast of Sian.

I've moved the AVG into Sian to give him a surprise if he bombs it this turn. I hope he does.

6 January 1942: More maneuvering around Sian and Yenan. I now see three units one hex southeast of Sian, but recon shows only 13,000 troops or so. If that's right, the city is safe for now, especially since he must shock attack when he crosses the river to enter it. I've nonetheless shifted one corps from east to west, from Yenan to Sian, just in case my recon is way off. The extra corps should arrive at Sian tomorrow.

One of his Glen-carrying subs spotted a cargo TF not far from San Francisco. I've given it a zig-zag course to try to confuse the enemy, and I have a couple ASW TFs prowling in the area. Wish I could do more.

Meanwhile he continues to bombard Clark Field, Manila, and Singapore.

I've moved some PBYs into Luganville, and a base force and AA unit is due to arrive at Noumea this turn. Noumea is relatively undeveloped, with only 100 supply onhand at start (at least on Andrew's map) and a size 2 port. I like the fact that I'm going to have to build it up. That is, if he lets me. For all I know, half the Combined Fleet could be sailing for Noumea now; until today, I've had no air search at all between Port Moresby and Fiji. Something tells me he's not gonna concede Noumea to me.

7 January 1942: At last I have PBYs running search missions out of Luganville, and today I started unloading an AA unit, a base force unit, and supply at Noumea. At the same time, 78 Kates attacked my air base at Koepang, and the sighting report indicates there is CV CV CV CV 7xCA there. So maybe that's KB -- but I'm still not sure whether it's all of KB, or whether he's split KB, or whether it's a mix of CVs and CVLs. I last spotted KB near Rabaul, and I was wondering whether it had wandered south or back to the DEI.

I'm surprised he hasn't done more to raid my shipping to/from Pearl Harbor and the USA, and my shipping to Australia. Not that I'm complaining.

In China, he's still trying to encircle my guys at Yenan. He's got one unit on the Yenan-Sian road; I am moving to kill it now. In the meantime, we're both moving pieces around this area with the dogged intensity of two chessplayers. Here's a screenshot.