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I was able to salvage the B-17's.

Scouting report on Johore Bahru:




Next turn may be interesting:

I'd start worrying about Singapore when you see movement tabs pointed your way from Johore. Even then, you most likely have enough to hold out for at least a few weeks. Based on what recon is giving you now, he seems to have more small units in Johore (JAAF, JNAF, etc) than real combat units. When the number of IJA units suddenly decreases, and counts on AFVs and guns significantly increases, that's about when he'll be coming. (Most Japanese divisions start the game fragmented into 5 or 6 pieces. If he re-combines them like he should before crossing to Singers, that's where you'll see the sudden decrease in number of his units.)

ORIGINAL: Quixote

I'd start worrying about Singapore when you see movement tabs pointed your way from Johore. Even then, you most likely have enough to hold out for at least a few weeks. Based on what recon is giving you now, he seems to have more small units in Johore (JAAF, JNAF, etc) than real combat units. When the number of IJA units suddenly decreases, and counts on AFVs and guns significantly increases, that's about when he'll be coming. (Most Japanese divisions start the game fragmented into 5 or 6 pieces. If he re-combines them like he should before crossing to Singers, that's where you'll see the sudden decrease in number of his units.)

Well, I hope he takes his time, I wouldn't mind being at forts 5 by the time he shows up.

18 January 1942
Screenshots Galore

Except for a lone submarine in the Java Sea, the Japanese have apparently withdrawn, and await the KB I imagine.

The Aleutians continue their torturously slow buildup, but once the weather breaks it will speed up. Since this is a long term operation I am in no hurry.

The 6th Australian Division is getting ferried from Aden to Bombay as units and transport become available. I continue to eye the map to determine the best place to insert them. I am seriously considering landing them in Burma for a small land counterattack down the peninsula. This attack would serve no other purpose than to keep up pressure on the Greater Co-Prosperity Sphere perimeter with another annoyance attack.

I am very curious to see what happens off the north coast of Oz this turn. If the IJN BB TF continues its arrogant drift eastward I will blood it. I only sent about half of my SBD’s to Koepang to hit the BB’s, my reasoning was:
1) I don’t want to risk them all in a bombardment attack on Koepang, although I think this is unlikely until after the SBD’s attack. The Japanese have shown no interest in Timor to this point, but frankly I am not sure why two IJN surface fleets are trolling the coast at such a leisurely pace. What I do know is that they have given me the opportunity to move forces in that can hurt them. Now, I am under no illusion that this small number of SBD’s are likely to sink the BB’s, but to my way of thinking at this stage of the war sending them into the yards would be a huge victory for me.

Speaking of the planes I sent to Koepang, I now regret sending the TBD’s. They will not load torpedoes for an attack, and are therefore next to useless in this scenario. Given the opportunity, I will fly them out and use them to train pilots in Oz.





The rest of my land bound SBD’s are on Horn Island awaiting orders on which direction to go. If need be, they can fly to Darwin to reinforce the north coast, or they can fly to Port Moresby if the IJN look to repeat their recent bombardment of the base:

Night Naval bombardment of Port Moresby at 98,130

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
CA Myoko
CL Abukuma

Allied ground losses:
179 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 21
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 2

CA Haguro firing at Lark Battalion
CA Myoko firing at Port Moresby
CL Abukuma firing at Port Moresby

I do not intend to further reinforce PM with LCU’s, all of the available units in New Britain and New Guinea have been sent to PM, but no others. Building Timor is a greater priority for me, but make no mistake, I would like to maintain my control of the sea lanes northeast of Oz, but I don’t have the strength to defend everywhere.

I will end this update with some screenshots of various strongpoints:

You have some PT boats in the pool. They can be good little harassers at this stage. Bataan can't re-arm them at this point I believe. Port M. might be a thought. Others. Looks like you have some Dutch models available too. Soerbaja can be made large enough to re-arm them without an AGP. Maybe Batavia. Couple of other options.

When you have PT TFs and the base is about to be lost you can move them or you can disband back into the pools with a 30-day transit penalty.

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

You have some PT boats in the pool. They can be good little harassers at this stage. Bataan can't re-arm them at this point I believe. Port M. might be a thought. Others. Looks like you have some Dutch models available too. Soerbaja can be made large enough to re-arm them without an AGP. Maybe Batavia. Couple of other options.

When you have PT TFs and the base is about to be lost you can move them or you can disband back into the pools with a 30-day transit penalty.

I like harassers.

I received one PT boat.
[8|]

Interesting things are afoot in the game I believe. I will update in a little while.

ORIGINAL: AU Tiger

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

You have some PT boats in the pool. They can be good little harassers at this stage. Bataan can't re-arm them at this point I believe. Port M. might be a thought. Others. Looks like you have some Dutch models available too. Soerbaja can be made large enough to re-arm them without an AGP. Maybe Batavia. Couple of other options.

When you have PT TFs and the base is about to be lost you can move them or you can disband back into the pools with a 30-day transit penalty.

I like harassers.

I received one PT boat.
[8|]

Interesting things are afoot in the game I believe. I will update in a little while.

You can see how many (but unfortunately not which models, to my knowledge) by going into the intelligence screen and clicking on Ship Availability. The number outside the parentheses is the number currently available, while that within the parentheses are those with a delay before becoming available (typically less than 15 or 30 days).

ORIGINAL: AU Tiger

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

You have some PT boats in the pool. They can be good little harassers at this stage. Bataan can't re-arm them at this point I believe. Port M. might be a thought. Others. Looks like you have some Dutch models available too. Soerbaja can be made large enough to re-arm them without an AGP. Maybe Batavia. Couple of other options.

When you have PT TFs and the base is about to be lost you can move them or you can disband back into the pools with a 30-day transit penalty.

I like harassers.

I received one PT boat.
[8|]

You have the PT button available at both a US base and a Dutch base. They're different models. I don't know if the DB keeps them segregated by model. Never checked it. But try to form at the base you didn't already.

19 January 1942
Timor Pin Sticks

The Japanese BB TF closed on Koepang this turn, moving to within 2 hexes, and my former carrier borne strike groups did fly, but before their attacks hit home, the KB launched at Koepang:

Afternoon Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
D3A1 Val x 58

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 11 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-4 Catalina: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 17
Port hits 2



Afternoon Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
B5N2 Kate x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 7



Fortunately the SBD’s and TBD’s were in the air at the time. At first this attack surprised me because I have done nothing to draw attention to Koepang, and the Japanese have paid no attention to it that I have seen, but now I am beginning to think that the Japanese intend to invade Australia. I will come back to that in a second, here are the results of the three strikes on the Japanese BB’s:

First in were 15 divebombers

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Roti at 66,115

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-2 Dauntless x 15

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 3 damaged
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 1
BB Mutsu

The pilots claimed a hit on the Yamashiro, but this could be FOW, no fires are reported. Next in were the TBD’s who rearranged some deck fittings with their GP bombs:


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Roti at 66,115

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBD-1 Devastator x 8

Allied aircraft losses
TBD-1 Devastator: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 2
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 2



And the coup de grace:



Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Roti at 66,115

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 8

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 1, on fire

The Japanese finally got around to bombing Singapore, and the AA units made their presence known:


Afternoon Air attack on Singapore , at 50,84

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 25
Ki-27b Nate x 16
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 27

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 13 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 2 damaged
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 7


Looking at the following screen shots I will explain why I believe the Japanese may be clearing invasion routes to Japan.





Prior to Japanese landings at Kendari, the KB “cleansed” the base with strikes, and has also done so to Ambon. Not it is Koepang’s turn. Following the geography back north, the LBA ready bases have either been taken or deemed “sanitized”. The Japanese have made no attempt at taking the big oil producing sites in the DEI, including Balikpapan; their conquests trace a path directly towards northern Oz. Additionally, Rabaul has seen many TF’s come and go, and they are now making overtures at wanting PM, which would clear a path to eastern Oz from Truk.

I do not have the strength to contest landings in Oz with any significance, but I can try to make it costly for him, both in Oz and elsewhere, and with that in mind I am planning what I am calling Operation Trifecta, which if successful, will hurt his Singapore Operation. The Operation will take about 7-10 days to put together.

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: AU Tiger

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

You have some PT boats in the pool. They can be good little harassers at this stage. Bataan can't re-arm them at this point I believe. Port M. might be a thought. Others. Looks like you have some Dutch models available too. Soerbaja can be made large enough to re-arm them without an AGP. Maybe Batavia. Couple of other options.

When you have PT TFs and the base is about to be lost you can move them or you can disband back into the pools with a 30-day transit penalty.

I like harassers.

I received one PT boat.
[8|]

You have the PT button available at both a US base and a Dutch base. They're different models. I don't know if the DB keeps them segregated by model. Never checked it. But try to form at the base you didn't already.

I just tried that at the PI in my game save and it worked. I flew some float planes in to Bataan last turn, so if I can find any likely candidates for harassment, the PT boats will be conjured immediately.

ORIGINAL: AU Tiger

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: AU Tiger




I like harassers.

I received one PT boat.
[8|]

You have the PT button available at both a US base and a Dutch base. They're different models. I don't know if the DB keeps them segregated by model. Never checked it. But try to form at the base you didn't already.

I just tried that at the PI in my game save and it worked. I flew some float planes in to Bataan last turn, so if I can find any likely candidates for harassment, the PT boats will be conjured immediately.

Except you don't have Manila and Bataan is a Port 2, right? Makes PTs a one-shot weapon.

Just a suggestion about northern Oz. Let him have it. Tar Baby meet briar patch. He hasn't taken any of the first phase gotta haves except Rabaul. He's in danger of never getting Singers or PBang in 1942. So he gets Darwin--what does he get? In AE you can't drive supply up the road from Alice Springs, and he can't drive much down from Darwin. Completely different log. model than WITP. Is he going for an auto-vic? Pretty weird way to do it if he spends many LCUs and his navy on Oz while he hasn't got the oil, or a start on Burma, or much of a China strategy, etc.

In the first half of 1942 he chooses the dance music and you nod. If he wants Aussie disco point him at the juke box. His funeral.

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Just a suggestion about northern Oz. Let him have it. Tar Baby meet briar patch. He hasn't taken any of the first phase gotta haves except Rabaul. He's in danger of never getting Singers or PBang in 1942. So he gets Darwin--what does he get? In AE you can't drive supply up the road from Alice Springs, and he can't drive much down from Darwin. Completely different log. model than WITP. Is he going for an auto-vic? Pretty weird way to do it if he spends many LCUs and his navy on Oz while he hasn't got the oil, or a start on Burma, or much of a China strategy, etc.

In the first half of 1942 he chooses the dance music and you nod. If he wants Aussie disco point him at the juke box. His funeral.

I don't know how the supply model really works in AE, at least not very well, but I came to a similar conclusion. If he wants Oz, there isn't a lot I can do to stop him, but I can hurt him elsewhere, and intend to.

As to the PI PT boats. If I can use them, I am planning to "de-conjure" whatever ones expend their torps. There really isn't anywhere else I can use US PT boats right now.


EDIT: Actually I can "port hop" them to Soerabaja. I just looked at the map.

ORIGINAL: AU Tiger


I don't know how the supply model really works in AE, at least not very well, but I came to a similar conclusion. If he wants Oz, there isn't a lot I can do to stop him, but I can hurt him elsewhere, and intend to.

As to the PI PT boats. If I can use them, I am planning to "de-conjure" whatever ones expend their torps. There really isn't anywhere else I can use US PT boats right now.


EDIT: Actually I can "port hop" them to Soerabaja. I just looked at the map.

Don't worry, nobody knows how the supply model works. [:)]

He can try for OZ, but northern gets you few VPs, and even if he can take the rest it gives you emergency reinforcements, plus he has to spend many divisions garrisoning. If all he takes is Darwin plus the lateral bases, and you eject him in 1943, what was it all for? He expands his perimeter and has to supply it, and does nothing with all those men in the long run.

You can port hop, yeah. Even a little system damage caused by running out of fuel can be fixed very quickly. I have often hopped the British MTBs out of Hong Kong on the first day and driven them over to the PI. They are red/out of fuel for several turns, arrive at Manila with about 50% damage, but are good to go in about three days or less.

Or he may be feinting at Oz, hoping to divert your efforts in the DEI.

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Or he may be feinting at Oz, hoping to divert your efforts in the DEI.

Maybe so, but it is having the opposite effect. "Hit him where he ain't!"

[8D]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

You can port hop, yeah. Even a little system damage caused by running out of fuel can be fixed very quickly. I have often hopped the British MTBs out of Hong Kong on the first day and driven them over to the PI. They are red/out of fuel for several turns, arrive at Manila with about 50% damage, but are good to go in about three days or less.

Actually, Moose, they are good to go as soon as they refuel because even though they picked up a little system damage they are still carrying their fish. I send them straight across to the port just above Vigan, they refuel and are ready to hit the Vigan invasion hex immediately after arrival. It's also the shortest distance to a refuel port so they pick up less system damage than from a trip all the way to Manila. After messing with the Vigan invasion, then I send the survivors on to Manila.

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

You can port hop, yeah. Even a little system damage caused by running out of fuel can be fixed very quickly. I have often hopped the British MTBs out of Hong Kong on the first day and driven them over to the PI. They are red/out of fuel for several turns, arrive at Manila with about 50% damage, but are good to go in about three days or less.

Actually, Moose, they are good to go as soon as they refuel because even though they picked up a little system damage they are still carrying their fish. I send them straight across to the port just above Vigan, they refuel and are ready to hit the Vigan invasion hex immediately after arrival. It's also the shortest distance to a refuel port so they pick up less system damage than from a trip all the way to Manila. After messing with the Vigan invasion, then I send the survivors on to Manila.

Huh. Never thought of that. I couldn't do it this game as they were sunk, but against the AI it might work. It always wastes time on Batan I., then goes for Apari.

20 January 1942
Damned Subs

First off, the BB TF bombarded Koepang and then the mKB(?) hit the base for little damage. I am very happy that I pulled the SBD’s and the TBD’s out:

Night Naval bombardment of Koepang at 68,116

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-4 Catalina: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Mutsu
CL Oi
CL Kitakami

Allied ground losses:
318 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 41 (5 destroyed, 36 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 32
Port hits 9
Port supply hits 3

BB Yamashiro firing at Koepang
BB Mutsu firing at Koepang
CL Oi firing at Sparrow Battalion
CL Kitakami firing at Koepang



Afternoon Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 9
A6M2 Zero x 59
B5N2 Kate x 26
D3A1 Val x 57

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
TBD-1 Devastator: 2 damaged
PBY-4 Catalina: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 2
Port hits 1


9 AKL’s in individual TF’s are making a run for Singapore and ran into the I-15. The sub sank one and damaged another, and the two ASW patrols in the vicinity waved at it.

Beyond that, not much happened other than lots of movement behind the lines. I am working on getting some of my P-40E’s up to the North Coast, but unfortunately I moved the interior BF’s early in the game, although one is near a suitable base and is heading for it.

More largely ineffectual air attacks on Singapore. Forts 4 +12%, 70,198 supply.

After a recon mission Operation Trifecta is now Operation Bifecta, and after next turn may become Operation Monofecta.

Isn't that just a Fecta?