PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

Post descriptions of your brilliant successes and unfortunate demises.

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PzB74
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D-Day in Java!

Post by PzB74 »

Byron - I got a size 4 af on Koepang - but Allied bombers are hitting this base regularily. Could put in 30 or so ac here.
My plan is to threaten the Allied fleet with massive naval bomber raids until the KB can sweep in between Java and Oz to deliver a 'coupe de grace'!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/24/42

Surface Combat

Bombardments

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Madioen, at 21,64 - good thing I didn't move Zeros in here....

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses - these transports brought the Air HQ and 50 aviation support to Batavia. Costly, but necessary.
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-57-II Topsy: 10 destroyed, 20 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 7 destroyed, 3 damaged
L2D2 Tabby: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes
CA Astoria
CA Indianapolis
CA Louisville
CA Chester
CA Chicago
DD Voyager
DD Litchfield
DD Dale
DD Porter
DD Lamson
DD Drayton
DD Blue
CL Sumatra
CL Java
CA Pensacola
CA Portland

Japanese ground losses:
959 casualties reported

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 36
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invasions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1082 troops unloading over beach at Waingapu, 27,74 - a small undefended island with 1 af

Allied ground losses:
118 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1008 troops unloading over beach at Madioen, 21,64 - Wobbly goes straight for Madion, a 0 size port will delay his unloading.

Allied ground losses:
438 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Lucknow

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 48614 troops, 295 guns, 290 vehicles

Defending force 24226 troops, 171 guns, 1 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5) - the forts hold me up again. The 2nd Division is marching up from Asansol to reinforce the drive on Dehli.

Japanese ground losses:
441 casualties reported
Guns lost 13
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
655 casualties reported
Guns lost 17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Benares - no enemy troops here.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 882 troops, 0 guns, 61 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Benares base !!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Report

India

In India I've sent the 100% rested 2nd Division from Asansol and towards Lucknow and Dehli. I considered releasing it for Singapore - but decided against it.
We capture India first while the air force and navy smash the pathetic Allied offensive against Java. Then we can move the Indian Army south and vanquish the enemy ground troops.
The troops are making good progress towards both Dehli and Armadabad, I think it'll be possible to block the patch from Lucknow into Dehli.

Found 4 Tabby transports in Bombay today - another bug. Never moved ac in here, doesn't have aviation support in place yet! [&:]

Invasion of Java

Only parts of the Allied transports have reached Java - and they're unloading at Madion. I lost 20 transports in the bombardment, but I've now moved out all but the
damaged ac. Waingapu is a small unsignificant place just north of Timor. I think Wobbly wants to use it to transfer short legged fighters from Oz to Java.

The fleet will be ready south of Java in a week, I don't think the Allied fleet can leave the area that soon. At least not the transports...
I've now mined several hexes around Batavia and 8 subs are moving in to place mines and try to intercept the Allied carriers. I'm putting most of the boats in a picket line behind
the enemy - don't want to loose them to uber efficient ASW. Their main job is to finish of damaged ships.

The AV Kamikawa will stay 5 hexes away from the enemy tf's and project her presence. Perhaps she'll be spotted, her Jake's will anyway.

I've now organized my fighters and bombers - they'll rest until tomorrow, then they'll be ordered to strike. (see map for details)

At Palembang that is 9 hexes away from Madion, there are 135 Betties and Nells.
At Batavia, 5 hexes away from Madion, there are 27 Betties and Nalls + 132 Zeros
At Balikpapan, 10 hexes away from Madion, there re 90 Betties and Nells + 61 Zeros.

I need your helps gentlemen: the next move is so important that we have to make the right decisions!! [X(]

Here are 4 scenarios - which of them shall I execute? (Forecast: cloudy weather for tomorrow)

1. All the Zeros at Batavia are ordered to sweep Madion. There should be a substantial enemy CAP here, the cv's have been stationed only 1 hex away. The bombers rest another day.

2. All the Zeros at Batavia and Balikpapan are put on 10% CAP and ordered to escort only a small number of bombers that are ordered to attack the enemy fleet.

3. 66 Zeros at Batavia are ordered to sweep Madion - the rest are put on 10% CAP to protect the bombers. ALL bombers at Palemband, Batavia and Balikpapan are ordered to hit the enemy fleet.

4. All the Zeros at Batavia and Balikpapan are put on 10% CAP and ordered to escort ALL of the bombers that will attack the enemy fleet.

Option 1 & 2 will attempt to weaken enemy CAP before the bombers are released.
Option 3 & 4 will attempt to smash both enemy CAP AND hit the enemy fleet. A more risky, but more deadly option.

Personally I favor option 2 - here I will put 4 size 9 Betty/Nell Daitais at Balikpapan and Batavia on naval attack and all the fighters on 10% CAP.
(I'm afraid that 152 naval bombers will fly in unescorted and die 'en masse' - collective hara kiri that is so popular in the naval air force [:'(]

In all we got 152 naval bombers and 193 Zeros ready for action. Another 40 Zeros or so will be brought in over the next 1-2 days.


Situation Map: D-Day in Java

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tsimmonds
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RE: D-Day in Java!

Post by tsimmonds »

I'd do 2. Attrit his fighters before you throw in all your Ronsons. Not sure I'd send the A6Ms from Borneo right away though, I'd use normal range only during the first raid or two. Maybe rotate them in to Batavia as needed. And after a day or two, there'll be room at Batavia for more fighters anyway[;)]
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String
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RE: D-Day in Java!

Post by String »

damn.. 200 zeroes, even with 6 allied carriers the cap will probably be only around 100 fighters at best..
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Honda
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RE: D-Day in Java!

Post by Honda »

I think Woblly is in for a beating...
You say he's landing in size 0 port? That's a HUGE handicap! It's still '42 and all he can do is try to offload as quickly as possible. A port so small will do him no favours. This gives you an option to crush his invasion before the bulk of his forces hit the beaches. It is however, a riskier option. If you choose not to use the oportunity you can always bask in the knowledge that he has made his life very complicated. This will be a very interesting campaign...
Good hunting
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Gen.Hoepner
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RE: D-Day in Java!

Post by Gen.Hoepner »

I'll go for option 3. A bit of sweep while the rest escorts. the 10% CAP is useless IMHO, at least at the moment.
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tsimmonds
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RE: D-Day in Java!

Post by tsimmonds »

Well, until he owns the base, he's going over the beach which is all the same no matter what size the port is. And if you bring lots and lots of ships all only partially loaded....well, you will always unload 400 load points per ship per day. That's what my approach would be anyway, 4x more ships than you need, all just 25% full.
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pauk
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RE: D-Day in Java!

Post by pauk »

also #2...

you will see how many fighters W. have... and, maybe your elite LBA can throw a "lucky punch"...
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PzB74
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RE: D-Day in Java!

Post by PzB74 »

When my bombers flew unescorted against the enemy tf's a few days ago - a maximum of 65 fighters intercepted them. Wobbly will most likely increase his CAP setting to 70% during the invasion - this will also increase fatigue. I've told him that he will be hit any day now - something which also is true - just didn't tell him what I would hit him with [;)]

Thx for the advice guys. I'm getting a better and better feeling for option nr 2. Why rush in and risk killing one of my best cards when time is on my side.
I might put an extra Daitai based in Palembang on naval attack - the Zeros in Batavia should rush out to escort them if the 'local' bombers doesn't take to the air.
Got another 60 naval bombers in reserve, so I shouldn't run out before a week or so [:'(]

Victory in the second battle for Java will almost certainly lead to a victorious conclusion to the war..... [&o]

A new turns just arrived - I will get to it in an hour or so! Then Operation 'Sushi' will be initiated!!
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toraq
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RE: D-Day in Java!

Post by toraq »

Surely tomorrow he will attack Batavia with his naval bombers. How about the option of strong CAP over Batavia and sweep mission from Balikpapan or Palembang. (70 Zeroes should be enough)

Both things will surely destroy more enemy fighters, won´t it?
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Hornblower
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RE: D-Day in Java!

Post by Hornblower »

But how big is the airbase? 5,6? It’s a safe bet that wob will also be putting ashore ENG and Ava units. Once he takes the airfield, and I don’t think you have sufficient forces in place at the moment to prevent that, he can station land based fighters. for all we know he could have a cv or cve’s sitting filled to the gunnels with fighters just waiting to fly in. So, in a few days time- if even that long- PZB also going is to have to contend with land based fighters as cap.

As I see it, the outcome of the future battle not with standing, wob has accomplished 4 things 1) he had to anticipate that you’ll commit your carriers. So for the time being he will know what area they are in. That frees up the shipping lanes in the IO, also should he elect to hit another front, he can do so with confidence that PZB’s cv’s won’t be there. 2) your attention is focused by necessity to Java. He could now hit you where your not looking.. 3) You’ve had to pull assists from other fronts to meet his thrust- you’re now more open at those other fronts. 4) He will be bleeding you more now then ever in the pilot front. I know you’ve mentioned that your already noticing exp issues in the replacements. It will only get worse from here.

All that being said- Good luck! Excellent PBEM- on both sides of the house.
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PzB74
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RE: D-Day in Java!

Post by PzB74 »

Good point Toraq, but remember that Wobbly thinks I'm about to hit him with my carriers...would you race of to strike a landbase then?
He would also have to move away from his landing force at Madion, leaving it without protection.

Will he risk this much to strike Batavia? Me not thinks so!
The range from Balikpapan and Palembang to Madion is much to long for sweep missions, and if the Allied cv's move away from Madion - there won't be anything to sweep.
ORIGINAL: toraq

Surely tomorrow he will attack Batavia with his naval bombers. How about the option of strong CAP over Batavia and sweep mission from Balikpapan or Palembang. (70 Zeroes should be enough)

Both things will surely destroy more enemy fighters, won´t it?
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herbieh
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RE: D-Day in Java!

Post by herbieh »

I think you just won the war

By refusing to redirect 21 division in India and continuing to concentrate there, his whole rationale for deflecting defeat- stopping you in India - just went down the drain

INDIA, INDIA. FINISH him there!
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Hornblower
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RE: D-Day in Java!

Post by Hornblower »

But how big is the airbase? 5,6? It’s a safe bet that wob will also be putting ashore ENG and Ava units. Once he takes the airfield, and I don’t think you have sufficient forces in place at the moment to prevent that, he can station land based fighters. for all we know he could have a cv or cve’s sitting filled to the gunnels with fighters just waiting to fly in. So, in a few days time- if even that long- PZB also going is to have to contend with land based fighters as cap.

As I see it, the outcome of the future battle not with standing, wob has accomplished 4 things 1) he had to anticipate that you’ll commit your carriers. So for the time being he will know what area they are in. That frees up the shipping lanes in the IO, also should he elect to hit another front, he can do so with confidence that PZB’s cv’s won’t be there. 2) your attention is focused by necessity to Java. He could now hit you where your not looking.. 3) You’ve had to pull assists from other fronts to meet his thrust- you’re now more open at those other fronts. 4) He will be bleeding you more now then ever in the pilot front. I know you’ve mentioned that your already noticing exp issues in the replacements. It will only get worse from here.

All that being said- Good luck! Excellent PBEM- on both sides of the house.
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PzB74
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RE: D-Day in Java!

Post by PzB74 »

Hi Hornblower! There are always issues, hard to avoid in a war - but I feel fairly condifent.

The Madion airbase is a size 4 field, the same as Batavia! He need another day to capture the base, then another one to transfer fighters in. I don't care much about this, if he has overloaded his cv's with fighters - they'll be vulnerable tomorrow. He only got crap fighters anyway, I'm confident that a massive Zero swoop will clear the skies! [8D]

I don't think he can invade in the South Pacific at the same time as he does Java - and if he wants to try - let him come. I got huge forts and large garrisons on all the key bases there. Only Truk is being stripped of inf units.
The shipping lanes to the IO doesn't exist anymore - he only holds Karachi, and my 5 battleships will prevent anything from entering that pit.

Not sure what other fronts he can threaten me from...he got his hands full in both China and India. I will gladly bleed my pilot pool if I can do it in a war winning encounter. Then I won't need them anymore, will I [:D]
ORIGINAL: Hornblower

But how big is the airbase? 5,6? It’s a safe bet that wob will also be putting ashore ENG and Ava units. Once he takes the airfield, and I don’t think you have sufficient forces in place at the moment to prevent that, he can station land based fighters. for all we know he could have a cv or cve’s sitting filled to the gunnels with fighters just waiting to fly in. So, in a few days time- if even that long- PZB also going is to have to contend with land based fighters as cap.

As I see it, the outcome of the future battle not with standing, wob has accomplished 4 things 1) he had to anticipate that you’ll commit your carriers. So for the time being he will know what area they are in. That frees up the shipping lanes in the IO, also should he elect to hit another front, he can do so with confidence that PZB’s cv’s won’t be there. 2) your attention is focused by necessity to Java. He could now hit you where your not looking.. 3) You’ve had to pull assists from other fronts to meet his thrust- you’re now more open at those other fronts. 4) He will be bleeding you more now then ever in the pilot front. I know you’ve mentioned that your already noticing exp issues in the replacements. It will only get worse from here.

All that being said- Good luck! Excellent PBEM- on both sides of the house.
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RE: D-Day in Java!

Post by Hornblower »

i double posted! Sorry [:(]
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RE: D-Day in Java!

Post by PzB74 »

Hope you're right Herb, but if you're not - this great game will last for another 4 years. How bad can that be [;)]
ORIGINAL: herbieh

I think you just won the war

By refusing to redirect 21 division in India and continuing to concentrate there, his whole rationale for deflecting defeat- stopping you in India - just went down the drain

INDIA, INDIA. FINISH him there!
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PzB74
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The first blows!

Post by PzB74 »

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/25/42

Surface Combat

Bombardments

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Madioen, at 21,64

Allied Ships
DD Fox
DD Allen
DD Farragut
DD Walke
CL Leander
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico
BB Tennessee

Japanese ground losses:
105 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6
Port supply hits 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Madioen, at 21,64

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-57-II Topsy: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Fox
DD Allen
DD Farragut
DD Walke
CL Leander
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico
BB Tennessee

Japanese ground losses:
170 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invasions

TF 1008 troops unloading over beach at Madioen, 21,64

Allied ground losses:
410 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1152 troops unloading over beach at Madioen, 21,64

Allied ground losses:
526 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1152 troops unloading over beach at Madioen, 21,64

Allied ground losses:
603 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1008 troops unloading over beach at Madioen, 21,64

Allied ground losses:
448 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1063 troops unloading over beach at Waingapu, 27,74 - a DAF Base Force and the Sparrow Bat. are unloading here

Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1063 troops unloading over beach at Waingapu, 27,74

Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1037 troops unloading over beach at Tjilitjap, 19,62 - these landings are huge!

Allied ground losses:
3740 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1037 troops unloading over beach at Tjilitjap, 19,62

Allied ground losses:
2533 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub/ASW Attacks

Sub attack at 19,63

Japanese Ships - look at this one!!
SS I-165

Allied Ships
CV Formidable, Torpedo hits 1 - this should put a scare into ole Al [;)] Darned sturdy Brit carriers, but hopefully it got a fair sys damage anyway.
DD Pakenham
DD Norman
DD Inconstant
DD Electra
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Bombay , at 20,10 - first raid against Bombay, nothing on my airfields.

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 23

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 19

Aircraft Attacking:
All B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 56th Division, at 23,10 - I'm not sure these strikes will be enough to stop my massive advance. A LRCAP is ordered for tomorrow!

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 20
Blenheim IV x 8
Hudson I x 10
Beaufort I x 7
Beaufort V-IX x 34

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Aircraft Attacking:
All Beaufort I bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th/B Division, at 24,11 - this one is against my regiment that marches on Dehli.

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 49
P-40E Warhawk x 19

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
126 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Vehicles lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
All Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Merak at 18,59

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 51

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships - unfortunately the Kimikawa is found - the Allied tf's moved one hex towards Tiljitap to support landings there.
AV Kimikawa Maru, Bomb hits 15, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:

Day Air attack on TF at 20,59
All SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 34 - a supply convoy is also moving to slowly and is caught. I've been trying to empty the supply storage at Batavia.

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Muroran Maru, Bomb hits 2
MSW Rikusen Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fuyo, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
All SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 20,59

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
SBD Dauntless x 16

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Fuyo, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Aircraft Attacking:
All SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Pagan - with this attack the offensive in Burma comes to an end.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3085 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 144 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Pagan base !!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lucknow

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 39001 troops, 285 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 28340 troops, 163 guns, 2 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 23,10

Japanese Deliberate attack - an indian arty unit was left on the road to Armadabad. Annoying that 420 troops can hold up 130000

Attacking force 23252 troops, 265 guns, 3 vehicles

Defending force 420 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 348 to 1

Allied ground losses:
186 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Waingapu

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 458 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 46 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Waingapu base !!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Report

India

Until we reach Armadabad, it'll be difficult to say how fast we can march on Karachi. How many forts and troops are waiting for us?
I'm not sending more than a blocking force towards Dehli, it's a mighty army that is now heading into Lucknow - more than enough to deal with Dehli.

The Zeros and army bombers in India are being rested - I'll use em if I have to. If not they can be used against the enemy in Java.

Invasion of Java

Quite surprisingly the HMS Formidable sails straight into the line of fire of the I-165 that gets away with it. I got more than a dozen subs heading into the area
now, I'm slightly encouraged. Going to place 6 loads of mines as well.

Unfortunate that the AV Kamikawa bought it, but perhaps Wobbly thinks I'm going to hit him from the north now.
Surprisingly no enemy attack were launched against Madion today - bought me another day. At Tiljitap several enemy divisions are unloading, I got nothing here.
I can't hold Java aginast such a strong enemy force, but I will do my best to hurt the enemy fleet before Batavia falls.

Today 4 small and 1 large naval bomber Daitais were put on naval attack. They're all rested and have good and aggressive commanders. Most of the Zeros
on Batavia are put on 20% CAP and I hope ca 100 will escort my bombers against the enemy fleets. If this doesn't work, we order more bombers to attack tomorrow.

The 1st Carrier Division is racing towards Tarakan and I hope to join the KB in 6 days outside of Ambonia.

Singkawang in Borneo is close to Batavia and got a size 4 airfield. I'm using long range Tina transport ac to move in a base force. Then I can place Zeros and bombers
here when I have to abandon Java. 50 Sallys and 27 Zeros have also been moved to Kendari and ordered to strike the recently captured island of Waingpau. Without a lot
of engineers, the airfield will be put out of service for quite some time.

Situation Map: Invasion of Java

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"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
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Terminus Est
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RE: The first blows!

Post by Terminus Est »

Can't ... stand ... the ... suspense !

With the battles for India and now Java reaching their crux at roughly the same time, I'm checking both your AAR's hourly to watch the newest developments. Good luck, and thanks to you both for a tremendous AAR [&o]
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PzB74
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RE: The first blows!

Post by PzB74 »

Thx Terminus, that's exactly I feel as well.... How many times have I not stopped working on my thesis to play WitP instead [:'(] Works well under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a trap - that's me!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/26/42

A different approach today, want to focus on the important events around Java and in India:

A major disaster was averted today! A large enemy tf arrived of Batavia [X(] BUT IT DIDN'T BOMBARD [&o] Almost 200 ac on the field, that would have been a disaster! Bad weather over Batavia prevented any strikes going out today, but that might be just as well. I've now moved all the ac back to Palembang and Borneo - still in normal range of the enemy invasion fleet. I just couldn't risk leaving them as cannon fodder for Al's big guns. A tf with a ca and 5 dd's was dispatched from Singapore to Palembang to lessen the risk of bombardment.

This was the day of the torpedo <G>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 17,61

Japanese Ships
SS I-3, hits 2, on fire, heavy damage - had to scuttle her

Allied Ships
CA Portland, Torpedo hits 1
DD Voyager
DD Litchfield
DD Dale
DD Porter
DD Lamson
DD Drayton
DD Blue
CL Sumatra
CA Pensacola
CA Indianapolis
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 19,63

Japanese Ships
SS I-165

Allied Ships
CLAA Caledon, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
DD Pakenham
DD Norman
DD Inconstant
DD Electra
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

48 Sallys bombed Waingapu, 2 Warhawks were destroyed on the ground. Not sure how much damage I inflicted on the runways.

The Allied forces captured Madion - now undefended. Wobbly told me his units that landed here were mauled. Perhaps the penalty for landing in a contested size 0 port hex? 21 transports were lost on the ground here, but there were few pilots among them. Tjiltjap was also captured, 20000 troops didn't meet any resistance. Think I counted 3 enemy divisions - in Tiljitjap. The 2nd Marines are in Madion.

In India numerous Allied bombing sorties against my army south of Ahrmadabad were intercepted by 15 Zeros on LRCAP. Our own losses were moderate and many Allied fighters and bombers were shot down.

One strike from Balikpapan:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Madioen at 21,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
G4M1 Betty x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 21 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire[8D]
BB Tennessee

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Great hit by the Betties, Wobblys surface units have already taken numerous torpedo hits. He must be starting to worry since I've still not committed
the bulk of my force.

For tomorrow I've ordered 50% of my bombers to strike the enemy. My main bases are now in Sumatra and on Borneo. Hopefully we're more lucky with the weather tomorrow. There might be enemy fighers at Java tomorrow, but they'll be fatigued. An ideal time to strike.

I've ordered the Combined Fleet to sprint towards Ambonia - I'm hoping to sail past Timor in 5 days.
Image

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
User avatar
BlackVoid
Posts: 639
Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2003 11:51 pm

RE: The first blows!

Post by BlackVoid »

You could try your elite Betties at night....
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