"insert funny title here" DBB-C Jorge(A) vs Runnersan(J)

[Jorge_Stanbury]

then..
is he going to invade Rennel???
might get interesting

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Jul 27.42
Lots of boring turns in July; not a lot happened up until last turn

so what is new:

He totally surprised me with a carrier raider strike north of Suva... I will need to check my naval search, as it obviously left some gaps; I was not really paying too much attention to that area as it is very far away from action. Empress Australia was a good ship! It will likely sink tomorrow, taking 31st port maintenance with it

Palembang reached fort level 7, and enemy troop remains around 2.5 divisions; it will be fun to watch the next assault

Talking Palembang, we had a curious artillery exchange... my counter battery attacks were deadly, while my normal barrage hit nothing

Finally, if he is greedy he might lose his carriers (again).. stay tuned as there is a storm brewing



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Nukufetau at 131,146

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
B5N2 Kate x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAP Empress ' Australia, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Jumna, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

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

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
5 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

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

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 37110 troops, 496 guns, 197 vehicles, Assault Value = 1216

Defending force 33214 troops, 457 guns, 341 vehicles, Assault Value = 1106

Japanese ground losses:
586 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 30 (8 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
56th Infantry Regiment
16th Engineer Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
65th Brigade
5th Division
2nd Tank Regiment
48th Division
6th Tank Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
Yokosuka 1st SNLF
25th Army
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
Padang Cdo
46th Indian Brigade
Palembang Cdo
2/15 Punjab Battalion
18th British Division
44th Indian Brigade
Lahat Cdo
5/14th Punjab Battalion
9th Indian Division
Palembang ML Base Force
PBg-Ld AA Afd
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
Djambi Cdo
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment


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

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31386 troops, 447 guns, 339 vehicles, Assault Value = 1105

Defending force 42311 troops, 493 guns, 559 vehicles, Assault Value = 1126

Assaulting units:
2/15 Punjab Battalion
46th Indian Brigade
44th Indian Brigade
18th British Division
Palembang Cdo
Padang Cdo
Lahat Cdo
5/14th Punjab Battalion
9th Indian Division
PBg-Ld AA Afd
Palembang ML Base Force
Djambi Cdo
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
6th Tank Regiment
48th Division
5th Division
16th Engineer Regiment
65th Brigade
8th Tank Regiment
56th Infantry Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
Yokosuka 1st SNLF
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
25th Army
2nd Field Artillery Regiment

[Jorge_Stanbury]

turn sent... storms in the horizon!
I am a bit sad that this will likely delay my planned offensive

[RangerJoe]

If you ca get some DDs to that transport, they may be able to pick up some survivors to rebuild the unit.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

There is nothing too close and tomorrow, if there is a carrier battle, this loss will be very irrelevant compared to probably trying to save very damaged capital ships

[Jorge_Stanbury]

I couldn't get him [:@]
and for some reason, maybe fuel?, the carriers were delayed farther south

And I guess he is now less greedy on raider forays
unless he does something stupid, he will escape; I can't pursue as most of the TFs run out of fuel; with just barely enough left to reach Luganville

[Jorge_Stanbury]

This is the results of the 1st deliberate assault (2nd if we count the shock river crossing fiasco)

I don't think he will capture Palembang in 42




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

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 84979 troops, 861 guns, 537 vehicles, Assault Value = 2636

Defending force 33304 troops, 457 guns, 343 vehicles, Assault Value = 1103

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 6

Japanese adjusted assault: 1113

Allied adjusted defense: 7843

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 7 (fort level 6)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
14559 casualties reported
Squads: 661 destroyed, 328 disabled
Non Combat: 89 destroyed, 66 disabled
Engineers: 62 destroyed, 49 disabled
Guns lost 105 (58 destroyed, 47 disabled)
Vehicles lost 73 (46 destroyed, 27 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
523 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 57 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 28 (1 destroyed, 27 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards Division
113th Infantry Regiment
48th Division
5th Division
2nd Tank Regiment
16th Engineer Regiment
21st Division
11th Division
12th Engineer Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
65th Brigade
6th Tank Regiment
56th Infantry Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
Yokosuka 1st SNLF
25th Army
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
56th Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
18th British Division
Lahat Cdo
Palembang Cdo
5/14th Punjab Battalion
Padang Cdo
44th Indian Brigade
46th Indian Brigade
2/15 Punjab Battalion
9th Indian Division
Palembang ML Base Force
PBg-Ld AA Afd
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
Djambi Cdo
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

[Lowpe]

You lowered forts.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

he lowered forts [;)]
I am Allies

[Lowpe]

My bad, I look at everything from Japanese perspective.[:D]

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Lowpe how long do you think Palembang can survive?

he (still) has total control of the sea lanes, he can easily bombard with cruisers daily, plus LBAs
would you say reasonably 3 months?

[Q-Ball]

I think your opponent is in serious trouble.

I am not Lowpe, but IIRC you have a mountain of supplies there. It's going to be at least 10 days between attacks, and he'll need 6 if they all succeed, but I don't think they will unless he rotates fresh divisions in. He'll need the entire mobile IJA basically to take it in a reasonable time.

Bombarding with cruisers risks hitting the Oil; I have done that as Japan. That defeats the point of taking it. It's safer to bomb.

I think it's going to hold out for many months.

This is why priority #1 for Japan in 1941 is taking Palembang; don't pour troops into Malaya until you are at the gates of Singapore; the Allies will withdraw down the peninsula anyway.

My last opening move was a landing at Singkawang on Dec 9th, followed immediately by a convoy with Air HQ and supplies, to base Betties there as a Force Z deterrent; I also grabbed Sinabang, a lvl 1 airbase nearby that is unoccupied, and good enough to base Zeros to provide CAP. I had 2 IJA divisions heading to Palembang for a landing on approx. Dec 18th. My opponent already had shipped in those 2 Indian Bdes, but we defeated them; had I delayed, he was smart enough to do what you are doing, I just didn't give him time.

But Japan MUST take Palembang directly and quickly. The other Oil centers are on clear terrain or impossible to defend; Palembang is the one that has to be taken. If Force Z exists, you have to commit the surface fleet and take the risk, and prepare to have aircover available.

As a bonus, taking Palembang early give you a good airbase that isolates Singapore, can supress Batavia and cover a landing on Java, and basically give you control of the important stuff in the SRA.

Anyway, I think you've won the game. He's going to have to really economize on fuel to make up for Palembang. You won't notice right away, but his economy is going to collapse in 1944.

I would still like to hear what Lowpe says, he has more experience than I do....but that's my 2 yen

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Yes, Singkawang is the key. once it is taken, the Allies no longer control the sea lanes needed to reinforce and resupply it. His key mistake was to leave these lanes open for January and most of February; which meant that fat transports, in the dozens, were able to unload at both Oostaven and Palembang. I would had never committed the 18th Division if there was a significant risk of getting it destroyed by LBAs or mini KB; after all it is one of the few (the only?) good division available in early 42; really silly to send it to the bottom of the sea.
Those Indian brigades most likely came from Singapore, there is very little that can be done to avoid those early landings because you can't really control the Singapore waters so early on, but that said, these are really poor troops that won't stand a change against good IJA divisions or regiments, even in the swamp terrain of Palembang

I typically use the Hong Kong division or one of the 2 independent brigades in North Vietnam to storm Palembang. Against a human player it is wise to go over the top, commit more troops than needed


With regards to the game, he has lots of problems now: in order of severity: he lost KB which is the shield against early offensive, he couldn't capture Palembang,
and now he has to commit lots of troops for it and bombard the oils wells. The date is August 42, and the 1st Allied offensive is coming soon... and we are now talking division size invasions, no longer small raiding forces, the troop besieging Palembang, these many thousands of AV worth of troops, won't be available for counter strikes when the invasions start. Finally, he has been using his battleships extensively, which tells me he is not (yet) economizing but most likely eating his reserves.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

With regards to the game, he has lots of problems now: in order of severity: he lost KB which is the shield against early offensive, he couldn't capture Palembang,
and now he has to commit lots of troops for it and bombard the oils wells. The date is August 42, and the 1st Allied offensive is coming soon... and we are now talking division size invasions, no longer small raiding forces, the troop besieging Palembang, these many thousands of AV worth of troops, won't be available for counter strikes when the invasions start. Finally, he has been using his battleships extensively, which tells me he is not (yet) economizing but most likely eating his reserves.

I even forgot about the loss of KB....he's really toast. At least those CVs won't be burning any fuel!!!

If KB is gone and you have CV superiority, I would go for the jugular and land in the SRA. Maybe Java. I wouldn't try Java if he had Palembang cleared, but now...if he is to counter your landing, he'll have to pull troops OUT of Palembang, which will doom any effort to take it. If things go well on Java, you can even support the Palembang forces, making it impossible to take.

Taking Java would have risks, but if successful I think would end the game. Fully cleared you'd be able to bomb the oil on Borneo, and coupled with occupying Palembang would crash the japanese economy in 1943

[Lowpe]

He could take it in a month, if he wants to.

You have no air support, so bombing by air to keep forts from building, plus gradual wearing down of your forces morale

He doesn't need to bombard with cruisers, just enough aerial bombing to keep you from building forts, plus incidental wear and tear on your troops. He could really allocate a lot of bombers to wear the troops down.

He should have an strong HQ advantage with both corp and command.

He should be able to rotate troops in and out for rest. He needs more artillery and needs to lose the smaller troop units.

On the negative side is his personal morale is probably low.

Four of 5 divisions there are strong...and the pace of attacks can accelerate as the forts are ground down.

It is an easy place for Japan to reinforce quickly. Usually.

[RangerJoe]

Even DDs could bombard to keep up the fatigue and disruption but probably do little or no damage to the base or infrastructure.

But the enemy is definitely overstacked which will cause problems.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

thanks a lot to all, really good perspective

Although totally possible for a highly experienced player, I don't think he can capture it in one month; I mean, he let it grow to fort level 7 in the 1st place, which is not something that should had happened

In any case, I need to hurry up with my invasion, I was originally planning to wait for CVE Copahee, but that might be too long of a wait, and Palembang might had fallen by then

I don't have a significant advantage in carriers; I mean he lost the KB by I also lost 4. He still have those Hosho, Shoho, Ryujos, etc. which means that while he has more flattops, I am barely superior in strike pack, an advantage that can be negated with LBAs.

Java is one of the candidates, but probably too risky compared to somewhere like the Pacific (even deep in the Pacific) or the Andaman area
I think I will have this going next weekend, assuming we do 2 or 3 turns a day

[RangerJoe]

Go somewhere that will either provide risk to his sea lanes or risk to his industries.

Of course, Iwo Jima may not be defended by much with few if any forts . . . [X(]

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Lots of naval bombardments, then the second deliberate attack... notice it didn't reduce forts [:)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 05, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Palembang at 48,91

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CL Natori
CL Nagara
DD Yukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Inazuma
DD Samidare
DD Asagumo
DD Natsugumo
DD Tokitsukaze

Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

CA Mikuma firing at 18th British Division
CL Natori firing at 18th British Division
CL Nagara firing at 9th Indian Division
DD Yukaze firing at 18th British Division
DD Matsukaze firing at 18th British Division
DD Inazuma firing at 18th British Division
DD Samidare firing at 18th British Division
DD Asagumo firing at 9th Indian Division
DD Natsugumo firing at 9th Indian Division
DD Tokitsukaze firing at 9th Indian Division


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Palembang at 48,91

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CA Maya
CL Oi
CL Tama
CL Kuma
CL Naka
DD Yugao
DD Karukaya
DD Yugiri
DD Asagiri
DD Shirakumo
DD Shinonome
DD Murasame
DD Arashi
DD Maikaze

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

Fires 9
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 23
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

CA Ashigara firing at 18th British Division
CA Maya firing at 9th Indian Division
CL Oi firing at Palembang
CL Tama firing at 18th British Division
CL Kuma firing at 18th British Division
CL Naka firing at 18th British Division
DD Yugao firing at 9th Indian Division
DD Karukaya firing at 18th British Division
DD Yugiri firing at Palembang
DD Asagiri firing at 18th British Division
DD Shirakumo firing at 18th British Division
DD Shinonome firing at 18th British Division
DD Murasame firing at 18th British Division
DD Arashi firing at 18th British Division
DD Maikaze firing at Palembang


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Palembang at 48,91

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CL Kitakami
CL Kiso
DD Asagao
DD Sanae
DD Mikazuki
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Kawakaze
DD Yudachi
DD Harusame

Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 8 (7 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Fires 10
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 14
Port hits 5

CA Kumano firing at Palembang
CL Kitakami firing at 18th British Division
CL Kiso firing at Palembang
DD Asagao firing at 18th British Division
DD Sanae firing at 18th British Division
DD Mikazuki firing at 18th British Division
DD Hatsuyuki firing at 18th British Division
DD Kawakaze firing at 18th British Division
DD Yudachi firing at 18th British Division
DD Harusame firing at 18th British Division

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 46th Indian Brigade, at 48,91 (Palembang)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Palembang , at 48,91

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
5 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Palembang , at 48,91

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 16
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 7 damaged
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 7000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 7000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 7000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 46th Indian Brigade ...
Also attacking 44th Indian Brigade ...
Also attacking Palembang ...
Also attacking 44th Indian Brigade ...
Also attacking Palembang ...

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

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 66388 troops, 714 guns, 430 vehicles, Assault Value = 2113

Defending force 32474 troops, 447 guns, 345 vehicles, Assault Value = 1038

Japanese adjusted assault: 766

Allied adjusted defense: 2371

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 6)

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

Japanese ground losses:
11963 casualties reported
Squads: 446 destroyed, 129 disabled
Non Combat: 95 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 81 destroyed, 24 disabled
Guns lost 53 (37 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Vehicles lost 70 (44 destroyed, 26 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
525 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Assaulting units:
20th Infantry Regiment
77th Infantry Regiment
16th Engineer Regiment
48th Division
6th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
21st Division
113th Infantry Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
11th Division
9th Infantry Regiment
56th Infantry Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
5th Division
65th Brigade
12th Engineer Regiment
Yokosuka 1st SNLF
25th Army
56th Field Artillery Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
2/15 Punjab Battalion
18th British Division
44th Indian Brigade
5/14th Punjab Battalion
Palembang Cdo
Padang Cdo
Lahat Cdo
46th Indian Brigade
9th Indian Division
Palembang ML Base Force
PBg-Ld AA Afd
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
Djambi Cdo
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Aug12.42
Christmas island on the Indian Ocean captured; it was already empty

I had the British fleets trying to intercept the amphibious ships returning to port or maybe a Cocos Island invasion; They were, however, spotted, with good DL on all 3 TFs.. so probably it will be wise to abort