Matrix Games Forums

Alfred,

I think your concerns mirror mine.

1. Alfred, I honestly don't know. I've even looked that force up in the database but can't find any reason.

2. Re: Katherine... Yeah, suffice it to say that given what I see happening in China in Troll's game with Hoepner my threshold for certain operations has fallen. I won't do BS things like dropping paras to stop movement BUT if he doesn't garrison something then, yes, he should expect me to paradrop onto it [:D]. Essentially though these are tiny pinprick landings which aren't decisive etc BUT which will F with his mind --- which is, IMO, the true target of most strategic manoeuvres.

3. Alfred, I think you might be right. Being strong and having the initiative allows one to pursue one's own plans and requires little strategic ability. It is only when on the back foot that true ability comes out. Well, in this game, Troll will be on the back foot. I actually DO wish him well as I would like to have a long-term, interesting game as Japan.

Well Troll dropped me a line and tells me I'll get a turn at the end of the week. So, things will continue, albeit slowly.

Excellent

At this rate, it will take about 7.5 years just to reach 1 Jan 1943 and the possibility of auto victory.  I suppose the rate might quicken if Nemo121 agreed to (1) not attack in China, or Burma, or Australia, or India, or DEI, or Philippines, or New Guinea, and (2) for fighters produce only Nates and Claudes.
 
Alfred

Whats up with this ? either troll plays or he doesn't ? , maybe in2010 we will see 1943 , until then his bubble bursting ?

Personally I doubt we'll see January 1943 BUT if we do I've already told Troll ( when he asked ) that I intend to play through to 1946 and not play for autovictory or pay attention to it if it happens.

Today basically boiled down to my well-balanced surface forces ( I chose most force mixes with great care... and the benefits showed ) trouncing Troll's surface strike forces in the DEI. In the Pacific ( where I have committed only light forces ( apart from KB ) his surface strike elements did better but even there the wearing down has begun in earnest and will continue until PH etc are isolated.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/09/41

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Mersing [Malaya], 23,50, firing at TF 4
TF 4 troops unloading over beach at Mersing [Malaya], 23,50


212 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Muro Maru
ML Katoku

Japanese ground losses:
488 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Mersing [Malaya], 23,50, firing at TF 5
TF 5 troops unloading over beach at Mersing [Malaya], 23,50


102 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DE Hashidate

Japanese ground losses:
92 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Dutch Harbor [AK], 102,37, firing at TF 24
TF 24 troops unloading over beach at Dutch Harbor [AK], 102,37


20 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Kagi Maru

Japanese ground losses:
153 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Palembang [Sumatra], 20,55, firing at TF 30
TF 30 troops unloading over beach at Palembang [Sumatra], 20,55


24 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
283 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Kuching [Sarawak], 27,56, firing at TF 35
TF 35 troops unloading over beach at Kuching [Sarawak], 27,56


4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
81 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Kendari [Celebes], 33,71, firing at TF 37
TF 37 troops unloading over beach at Kendari [Celebes], 33,71


41 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DM Aotaka
AK Nankai Maru
DE Kuri, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
92 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Rabaul [New Br], 62,90, firing at TF 88
TF 88 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul [New Br], 62,90


Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Rabaul [New Br], 62,90, firing at TF 98
TF 98 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul [New Br], 62,90


2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
APD Minekaze

Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Balikpapan [Borneo], 31,64, firing at TF 105
TF 105 troops unloading over beach at Balikpapan [Borneo], 31,64


7 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AK Tarushima Maru

Japanese ground losses:
50 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Rabaul [New Br], 62,90, firing at TF 135
TF 135 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul [New Br], 62,90


Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Rabaul [New Br], 62,90, firing at TF 184
TF 184 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul [New Br], 62,90


Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Dutch Harbor [AK], 102,37, firing at TF 186
TF 186 troops unloading over beach at Dutch Harbor [AK], 102,37


Japanese ground losses:
226 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 117,70

Japanese Ships
DD Tanikaze
CV Kaga

Allied Ships
SS Pollack

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 22,44

Japanese Ships
SS RO-68

Allied Ships
CL Danae, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

The subs covering the escape route from Singapore to India continue to have a field day.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 21,47

Japanese Ships
SS RO-64

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 21,47

Japanese Ships
SS RO-64

Allied Ships
MSW Maryborough

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 21,47

Japanese Ships
SS RO-64

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Soerabaja [Java] at 23,66

Japanese Ships
SS I-155

Allied Ships
AK Batak, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Singora [Thailand] , at 24,43


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF-NF x 7

No Allied losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Mersing [Malaya] at 23,50

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asashio

Allied Ships
SS KXIII, hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kendari [Celebes] at 33,71

In the first major action of the night IJN surface forces won a one-sided victory whereing, over the course of the engagement, a Dutch CL and 4 Dutch DDs were sunk in return for extremely light damage to an IJN CL and DD.

Japanese Ships
CA Maya
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 1
CL Natori
CL Kuma
DD Yamagumo
DD Satsuki
DD Minazuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Banckert, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Witte de With, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Piet Hein
DD Alden
DD Edsall
DD John D. Edwards
DD Whipple, Shell hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Palembang [Sumatra] at 20,55

The two CLs which had been berthed at Palembang at the beginning of the war --- and heavily damaged by my carrier-based port attack --- attempted to escape. My SAG was waiting and despatched them without too much effort. It is, however, good training.

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CL Isuzu
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi

Allied Ships
CL Durban, Shell hits 9, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Palembang [Sumatra] at 20,55

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CL Isuzu
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi

Allied Ships
CL Dragon, Shell hits 46, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kendari [Celebes] at 33,71

Japanese Ships
CA Maya
CA Ashigara
CL Natori
CL Kuma, Shell hits 3
DD Yamagumo
DD Satsuki
DD Minazuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
DD Witte de With, Shell hits 30, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Alden
DD Edsall
DD John D. Edwards, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Whipple

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kenai [Alaska] at 112,29

Japanese Ships
CL Akagi Maru

Allied Ships
AVD Gillis, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Palmyra [LINE] at 110,90

I had rated it as unlikely that a USN SAG would try to strike my forces at Palmyra but likely enough that Katori was assigned as escort. She proved her worth fighting off the first attack of the night and keeping my transports safe.

Japanese Ships
CL Katori, Shell hits 4, on fire
AP Kaito Maru
AP Kotobuki Maru #3
AP Shintoku Maru
AP Uji Maru
AK Tatuharu Maru
AK Canton Maru

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis
DMS Elliot
DMS Southard, Shell hits 2, on fire
DMS Long
DMS Hopkins
DMS Dorsey

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lihue [Kauai] at 112,71

Japanese Ships
AV Kinagawa Maru, Shell hits 31, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Ukishima Maru

Allied Ships
PT -21
PT -27
PT -28
PT -30
PT -42

Pests.

Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Palembang [Sumatra] at 20,55

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CL Isuzu
DD Asagumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi

Allied Ships
AK Khoen Hola, Shell hits 23, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 35,71

I had spotted Houston yesterday and felt a mid-ocean intercept was worth attempting. It worked and in return for two non-penetrating hits Houston was removed from the enemy fleets in DEI.

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC/SO3C Seagull: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 2
CA Suzuya
DD Shikinami
DD Ayanami
DD Sagiri

Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Tarakan [Borneo] at 34,60

Allied Ships
SS KXVI

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Mersing [Malaya] at 23,50

Japanese Ships
DD Amagiri
DD Yugiri
DD Asagiri
DD Murakumo
DD Uranami
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Isonami
DD Shirayuki

Allied Ships
SS KXIII, hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 23 troops unloading over beach at Cold Bay [Alaska], 105,36


Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported

TF 23 troops unloading over beach at Cold Bay [Alaska], 105,36


Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Mersing [Malaya], 23,50, firing at TF 4
TF 4 troops unloading over beach at Mersing [Malaya], 23,50


134 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PG Saga

Japanese ground losses:
220 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Mersing [Malaya], 23,50, firing at TF 5
TF 5 troops unloading over beach at Mersing [Malaya], 23,50


28 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DE Uji

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Dutch Harbor [AK], 102,37, firing at TF 24
TF 24 troops unloading over beach at Dutch Harbor [AK], 102,37


36 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AK Wales Maru, Shell hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Palembang [Sumatra], 20,55, firing at TF 30
TF 30 troops unloading over beach at Palembang [Sumatra], 20,55


71 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Meisho Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
AK Johore Maru

Japanese ground losses:
157 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Kuching [Sarawak], 27,56, firing at TF 35
TF 35 troops unloading over beach at Kuching [Sarawak], 27,56


8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Kendari [Celebes], 33,71, firing at TF 37
TF 37 troops unloading over beach at Kendari [Celebes], 33,71


10 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Rabaul [New Br], 62,90, firing at TF 88
TF 88 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul [New Br], 62,90


Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Rabaul [New Br], 62,90, firing at TF 98
TF 98 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul [New Br], 62,90


4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Teikyo Maru, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Balikpapan [Borneo], 31,64, firing at TF 105
TF 105 troops unloading over beach at Balikpapan [Borneo], 31,64


12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Miike Maru
AK Tsurugisan Maru

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Rabaul [New Br], 62,90, firing at TF 184
TF 184 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul [New Br], 62,90


Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Dutch Harbor [AK], 102,37, firing at TF 186
TF 186 troops unloading over beach at Dutch Harbor [AK], 102,37


Japanese ground losses:
184 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 22,44

Japanese Ships
SS RO-68

Allied Ships
MSW Bendigo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 22,44

More attacks on shipping attempting to run to India.

Japanese Ships
SS RO-68

Allied Ships
PG Scorpion, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 22,44

Japanese Ships
SS RO-68

Allied Ships
AE Poyang, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Los Angeles [CAL] at 146,51

Japanese Ships
SS I-4, hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

Damn, I-4 sinks. My attempt to interdict his naval forces on the coast of the USA has failed costing me two subs sunk and one seriously damaged. Lesson learnt.

Allied Ships
AVD Ballard, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kilty
DD Crane
DD Kennison
DD Crosby
DD Dent
DD Talbot
DD Waters

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tavoy [Burma] , at 28,37

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 5

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Singapore [UK] , at 22,51

Japanese aircraft
G3M2/Ki-42 Nell x 97

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2/Ki-42 Nell: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo/F2A: 10 destroyed
Vildebeest IV: 1 destroyed
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed
Swordfish I: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 32

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-32/30 Mary/Ann x 54
Ki-21-II Sally x 279

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-32/30 Mary/Ann: 6 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed
Vildebeest IV: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 22
Runway hits 150

Vildebeesten? Hmm, he must have thought I'd be slack and not focus on keeping Manilla etc suppressed to prevent fortifications and attacks on my own forces.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Angeles/Clark [PH] , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-I Lily x 38

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-I Lily: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 22

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Angeles/Clark [PH] , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
Ki-32/30 Mary/Ann x 51
Ki-48-I Lily x 71
Ki-21-II Sally x 8

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-32/30 Mary/Ann: 2 damaged
Ki-48-I Lily: 1 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-35A Hawk: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 66

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pearl Harbor [Oahu] , at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 8
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 6
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 45

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14
P-36A Mohawk x 9
P-40B Tomahawk x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe-FF: 3 destroyed
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate: 15 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 destroyed
TBD Devastator: 2 destroyed
B-18A/B-23 Bolo: 1 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 1 destroyed
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed

Runway hits 21

A costly and indecisive strike. Later in the day the G3Ms I've based at Johnston will intervene and that should help things along immeasurably in terms of keeping PH closed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 23rd Field Army , at 50,39

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 31

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on CW Hong Kong Fortress, at 43,42

Softening up prior to the ground assault.

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 7
Ki-27 Nate x 19
Ki-51 Sonia x 50

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val/Ki-52: 1 damaged
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on CW Hong Kong Fortress, at 43,42

Japanese aircraft
E8N2 Dave x 38
E7K2 Alf x 46
E13A1 Jake x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Palembang [Sumatra] at 20,55


Allied aircraft
Hudson IV x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Sunten Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kuching [Sarawak] at 27,56

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 2

Allied aircraft
Hudson IV x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Kinugawa Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kendari [Celebes] at 33,71

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 2

Allied aircraft
Hudson IV x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Nittai Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 22,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 77

Allied aircraft
Martin 139/B-10 x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139/B-10: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AO Notoro

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 22,62

Mini-KB is traipsing along down the eastern coast of Java with a view to inviting the Dutch airforce to impale itself on my CAP long before the main invasion fleet ( which would be vulnerable to strikes ) appears. Troll is, obligingly, being over-aggressive and wasting his resources when he should be husbanding them. To be fair though I doubt he has seen anyone willingly risk CVEs and CVLs like this before so it probably wasn't something he was expecting.

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 77

Allied aircraft
Martin 139/B-10 x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139/B-10: 5 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AO Sensai Maru II
AO Tsurumi

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kenai [Alaska] at 112,29


Allied aircraft
B-18A/B-23 Bolo x 8
P-40B Tomahawk x 17


Allied aircraft losses
B-18A/B-23 Bolo: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Akagi Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 25,52

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 2

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 15
Vildebeest IV x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 2 damaged
Vildebeest IV: 3 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CA Takao, Bomb hits 1
CL Isuzu

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 25,52

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 2

Allied aircraft
Hudson IV x 9

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CA Takao

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pto Princesa [PLWN] at 39,55

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 27

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Fortuna, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 39,54

Japanese aircraft
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Peary, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 39,54

Japanese aircraft
B4Y1 Jean x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Peary, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 37,55

Japanese aircraft
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 9
Ki-51 Sonia x 17

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AS Holland, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 24
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 13
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 11

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
P-36A Mohawk x 8
P-40B Tomahawk x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke: 3 destroyed
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 5 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 9, heavy damage

He has put all his BBs, CLs etc out in single-ship TFs with a view to maximising my FlAK losses. Fine, I can replace pilots and planes more easily than he can replace BBs so I'll take that trade.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 22

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
P-36A Mohawk x 1
P-40B Tomahawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 19

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
P-40B Tomahawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val/Ki-52: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 12, on fire

Most of these bombs didn't penetrate. Still, torpedo bombers will get Tennessee at some stage.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 18

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
P-40B Tomahawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val/Ki-52: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 16

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
P-40B Tomahawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Nevada, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 15

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
P-40B Tomahawk x 5

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
BB California, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 23

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
P-40B Tomahawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania, Torpedo hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 15

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
P-40B Tomahawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val/Ki-52: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DMS Zane
DMS Chandler, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage

DMS are priceless. He really should be trying to have such irreplaceable and fast assets escape.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 105,93

Japanese aircraft
G4M1/Ki-50 Betty x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1/Ki-50 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Indianapolis pays for its fun at Palmyra last night with a solid torpedo hit this morning.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Cagayan [Mndno] at 43,59

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AP Luzon, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 38,56

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 27

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Soochow, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 38,56

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Don Jose, Bomb hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 38,56

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK St. Quentin, Bomb hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pto Princesa [PLWN] at 39,55

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Morazan, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Cebu [Cebu] at 43,57

Japanese aircraft
B4Y1 Jean x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Ravnaas
AK Norse Carrier

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Changkufeng [Chosen] , at 63,34


Allied aircraft
LaGG-3 x 12
Pe-2 x 7

Allied aircraft losses
Pe-2: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 1

Pe-2s again. Ok, I've asked nicely on three occasions so now I'll convert a unit to Ki-109s and just shoot them down. It'll be a while yet as my priority in terms of Ki-109s is the squadron of Ki-27s on their way to PH which will convert to Ki-109s the day they land. But my 2nd Ki-109 squadron will go to taking out these Pe-2s.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mersing [Malaya] , at 23,50

Japanese aircraft
Ki-46-II/C7M2 Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pearl Harbor [Oahu] , at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 23
C3N1 Kate x 1
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 50

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 12
P-36A Mohawk x 3
P-40B Tomahawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke: 3 destroyed
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate: 9 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
PC Ontario, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port hits 5
Port supply hits 1

This was done just to make sure that no valuable ships were still in PH harbour. Since the only ship hit was a PG I'm fairly sure there's nothing of greatl value there.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pearl Harbor [Oahu] , at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
G4M1/Ki-50 Betty x 78

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
P-36A Mohawk x 1
P-40B Tomahawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1/Ki-50 Betty: 7 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 13 destroyed
B-18A/B-23 Bolo: 1 destroyed
TBD Devastator: 5 destroyed
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 55

The FlAK hurt me but that's a good haul of SBDs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Palembang [Sumatra] at 20,55


Allied aircraft
Martin 139/B-10 x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Nissyo Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 112,30


Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 12


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Ujina Maru
AK Tsukuba Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 22,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 74

Allied aircraft
Martin 139/B-10 x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139/B-10: 4 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kenai [Alaska] at 112,29

Allied aircraft
B-18A/B-23 Bolo x 5

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Akagi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan [Borneo] at 31,64


Allied aircraft
T-IVa x 8

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Taiho Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Tenryu Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 110,32


Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 4

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AS Yasukuni Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan [Borneo] at 31,64

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VII x 6

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VII: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Beauforts... These are effective ship-killers in the early months. Unfortunately for Troll tomorrow will see my rolling CAP move forward to most of my forward bases and effectively protect them.

Japanese Ships
BB Ise

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kendari [Celebes] at 33,71

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 2

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VII x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pto Princesa [PLWN] at 39,55

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 7
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 26

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Pope, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Taiping [Malaya] at 22,45

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 16
B4Y1 Jean x 4
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Jupiter, Torpedo hits 1

Another escaping DD from Singapore gets tagged.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Singapore [UK] at 22,51

Japanese aircraft
G3M2/Ki-42 Nell x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
ML Kung Wo, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 105,93

Japanese aircraft
G4M1/Ki-50 Betty x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DMS Hopkins

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul [New Br] at 62,90

Japanese Ships
AP Nichibi Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul [New Br] at 62,90

Japanese Ships
AK Tokuhei Maru, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Kenai [Alaska] at 112,29

Japanese Ships
CL Akagi Maru, on fire

Allied Ships
AVD Gillis, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul [New Br] at 62,90

Japanese Ships
AV Kiyokawa Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Kashima, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
APD Minekaze, Shell hits 1
APD Sawakaze
APD Okikaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
APD Yukaze
APD Nokaze
APD Namikaze
APD Numakaze
APD Patrol Boat No. 31, Shell hits 1
APD Patrol Boat No. 32
APD Patrol Boat No. 33
APD Patrol Boat No. 34, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
APD Patrol Boat No. 35, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Asaka Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Saigon Maru
AP Teikyo Maru, on fire
CL Syoka Maru
AK Kowa Maru
AK Tateyama Maru

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 29, on fire, heavy damage

Now this really was hilarious. The Adelaide went into my convoy around Rabaul --- which is extremely lightly protected --- but the AMCs did their job and absolutely pulverised it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Tarakan [Borneo] at 34,60

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Torpedo hits 1
BB Fuso

Allied Ships
SS KXVI

I have about 20 flotation damage but system damage is only about 5 so Yamashiro will be back in action in no time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Colombo [Ceylon] at 11,25

Japanese Ships
SS I-159, hits 9

Allied Ships
MSW Cromarty, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Romney
SC Auricula
SC Freesia
MSW Cromer
SC Hollyhock
SC Aster
SC Nigella

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese Ships
SS I-10

Allied Ships
MSW Seagull

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese Ships
SS I-10

Allied Ships
CL Phoenix
DD Dale
DD Blue

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Soerabaja [Java] at 23,66

Japanese Ships
SS I-155

Allied Ships
AK Benkalis, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Mersing [Malaya] at 23,50

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 3
PC Ch 18
PC Ch 17
PC Ch 16
PC Ch 15
PC Ch 14
PC Ch 13
PC Ch 2
PC Ch 1
DE Uji
DE Hashidate
DD RTN Puket

Allied Ships
SS KXI

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese Ships
SS I-10

Allied Ships
DD Mugford


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Hong Kong [UK]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 60552 troops, 950 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 1595

Defending force 8927 troops, 149 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 258

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese max assault: 3218 - adjusted assault: 7596

Allied max defense: 153 - adjusted defense: 1501

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hong Kong [UK] base !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest IV: 1 destroyed
Walrus: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
1356 casualties reported
Guns lost 45
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
11471 casualties reported
Guns lost 71

An excellent result. I have major convoys waiting just offshore to transport 4 of the divisions involved in the attack to the Phillipines where they will try to bring the siege of Manilla to a quick end.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Amboina [Ambon]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 4590 troops, 97 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 150

Defending force 1592 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 35

Japanese max assault: 308 - adjusted assault: 226

Allied max defense: 32 - adjusted defense: 21

Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Amboina [Ambon] base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
1078 casualties reported
Guns lost 14


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Balikpapan [Borneo]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 6641 troops, 130 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 136

Defending force 1209 troops, 15 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 23

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese max assault: 260 - adjusted assault: 327

Allied max defense: 21 - adjusted defense: 13

Japanese assault odds: 25 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Balikpapan [Borneo] base !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D/F2A: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
620 casualties reported
Guns lost 10


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Palembang [Sumatra]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 4514 troops, 33 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 116

Defending force 987 troops, 21 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 22

Japanese max assault: 198 - adjusted assault: 116

Allied max defense: 22 - adjusted defense: 22

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Palembang [Sumatra] base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
157 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

The oilfields fell into my hands perfectly intact. Its nice when a plan and force composition works out so nicely.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rabaul [New Br]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 12519 troops, 180 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 218

Defending force 1359 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 38

Japanese max assault: 444 - adjusted assault: 347

Allied max defense: 38 - adjusted defense: 27

Japanese assault odds: 12 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Rabaul [New Br] base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
466 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Allied ground losses:
449 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Sinyang [Cent China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15961 troops, 242 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 477

Defending force 11306 troops, 157 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 512



Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tarakan [Borneo]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 5640 troops, 65 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 193

Defending force 3299 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 23

Japanese max assault: 382 - adjusted assault: 213

Allied max defense: 21 - adjusted defense: 63

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Japanese ground losses:
146 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Allied ground losses:
51 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Tomorrow.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Mersing [Malaya]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 47150 troops, 355 guns, 1113 vehicles, Assault Value = 1095

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese max assault: 1850 - adjusted assault: 1977

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 1977 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Mersing [Malaya] base !!!

The Brits are running for Singapore... That's fine and won't yield quite the results Troll is expecting.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Singkawang [Borneo]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1925 troops, 12 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 88

Defending force 828 troops, 9 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 23

Japanese max assault: 190 - adjusted assault: 112

Allied max defense: 22 - adjusted defense: 16

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Singkawang [Borneo] base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kuching [Sarawak]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1351 troops, 8 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 39

Defending force 7519 troops, 85 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 164



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tarakan [Borneo]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2995 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 12

Defending force 5409 troops, 56 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 185



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kendari [Celebes]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 489 troops, 8 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 16

Defending force 10171 troops, 129 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 166



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Pomala [Celebes]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 80 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese max assault: 4 - adjusted assault: 4

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Pomala [Celebes] base !!!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Blair [Andaman]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 29 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese max assault: 2 - adjusted assault: 3

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Blair [Andaman] base !!!

This is really just to freak him out a little [:D]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kenai [Alaska]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 129 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese max assault: 4 - adjusted assault: 2

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kenai [Alaska] base !!!


At the end of this day I've lost 2 subs, 1 AK and 1 DD ( the one damaged by Boise yesterday ) but have sunk 104 enemy ships. In the air my losses are heavy but aerial resistance in Malaysia and the Phillipines has been crushed and the reduction of the US Pacific fleet is continuing apace. In addition my bomber streams and fighters are proceeding to their Phase 2 bases on schedule. Phase 2 will begin, on schedule, within one day either side of the 14th December as planned.

And here's the next port of call of "Mini-KB's tour of Java".

Enemy shipping appears to have turned away from the Jolo route of egress from the Phillipines and is heading for the straits near Singapore. With Kuching about to fall into my hands and G3Ms basing out of Palembang ( as well as B5Ns etc basing out of Mersing ) I don't think the Phillipine naval forces are going to have much luck in escaping. Importantly though I mustn't forget that Dutch naval forces could also be looking to escape and this move by mini-KB is designed to cut these forces off and ensure their annihilation.

Nemo121,
 
Normally I find AAR based on CR to not be very interesting but this situation does not apply here.  You have considerably enhanced the CR by 2 simple actions: (a) adding a geographical descriptor eg Sinyang [Cent China] which makes it much easier to conjure up a mental map of the location, and (b) annotating the significant confrontations to place them into a strategic context.  These actions may increase your workload in writing up the AAR but I do appreciate your effort.
 
If you have no objections (I disregard whatever views your opponent has on this point as being immaterial and believe that you will not be bullied) there are some points that I would like to hear your comments on.
 
1.  Are the Allied ships fleeing to India doing so via the Malacca Straits.  If so, I always believe this to be a great error as these ships remain in range of Nells/Bettys from Bangkok and Saigon.  The far safer option is to egress on 8 December via the Sunda and Lombok Straits.  Of course once Kuching and Balikpapan house Nells/Bettys these routes also become dangerous but never as much as the Malacca Straits.
 
2.  Recently I noticed in another thread attacks by Pe-2 also under Soviet inactivation.  I wonder whether the Pe-2 and LaGG-3 attack on Changkufeng is because some bug allows those units to be changed from Soviet command to another command?  Surely if those "Soviet" units were stood down, the bug would be worked around.  After 3 notifications I refuse to accept that your opponent is not compliant in their continuing sorties.
 
3.  Why did you use Kates on AF suppression at PH?  Personally I always consider dive bombers are better tasked for that mission and torpedo bombers should be left to deal with ships whether in TF or anchored.
 
4.  Did the guns of your AP/AK at Palmyra and Rabaul significantly return fire?  I am always amazed when I see in other mods Japanese merchantmen landing significant hits on Allied DD/CL.
 
5.  Not being fully cognizant of your mod, could you please advise which map you use?  It doesn't seem to be one of AB's variants but I could be much mistaken.
 
6.  It is possible the Vildebeest you encountered in Manila may have been fleeing from Hong Kong, but if so why would your opponent still leave some Vildebeest and Walrus there.  If on the other hand they were moved to Manila specifically to commence operations from that locality, then again I fear that discloses the lack of strategic skill of your opponent (cf earlier post).  Vildebeest are too short legged to be used other than at choke points, which Manila is not, and would consume too many valuable supplies at Manila which could be better used by other units.
 
7.  You were much too generous to your opponent in rationalising his use of Martin bombers against the mini KB.  If those bombers had been escorted by fighters, that would be one thing, but being unescorted again demonstrates that he is overly aggressive when the strategic situation demands husbanding of resources.
 
8.  I am not certain that I entirely agree that the placing of his capital ships into single ship TF at PH was the best response as it maximises flak damage done to your aircraft.  By doing so he allowed them to be attacked and destroyed piecemeal whereas if they were consolidated into bigger TF your aircraft would drop sufficient ordnance to sink a ship 4 or 5 times in the TF but this overconcentration on the target allows the other BB to escape attention whilst still contributing their flak.
 
9.  I assume that you paradroped onto Port Blair.  If so, you really are being true to your word to use small paradrops to freak his mind.[:D]  Personally my view is that any base in the war zone which is left ungarrisoned deserves to be captured by para or even sub borne commandos.
 
Keep up the good work, you are off to a good start.  On these fora, too many players are accorded high reputations because people mistake verbal bluster or computer skills for strategic ability.  I too fully agree with you that good strategy will defeat gameyness.
 
Alfred

Alfred, interesting comments. I'll address them in turn.

1. Yes, you are correct in assuming that I will tend to do what I think is reasonable even should my opponent have a different viewpoint regarding my writing of an AAR [8D]. This AAR will only stop if my opponent quits the game. It's that simple.

2. Re: fleeing Allied ships... Well the initial group (those from Singapore) have been using the Sumatra/Malaysia channel. To be fair he had to make this decision on the second turn when all he knew was that mini-KB was hanging out south-east of Palembang and that I was attacking Palembang ( a level 5 airfield at game start ). The Malacca straits looked like a good option as I only had 2 Level 2 airfields there and only 30 aviation support points to support aerial operations. Unfortunately he didn't really join up his thinking IMO and so his ground forces abandoned Alor Star in response to my landings at Mersing long before his ships had fully cleared the Sumatran/Malaysian channel. The end result is that as of 11th December 1941 I have paradropped and taken Alor Star and based slightly over 100 G3Ms there to complete the butchery of his ships from Singapore. Jagdfluger or I would have understood that we needed to sacrifice a Bde to hold Alor Star for another 2 days to allow the shipping to escape, Troll didn't seem to make that assessment. Initially the Jolo passage was most heavily interdicted but I planned it such that I was interdicting with planes with long ferry ranges ( B5Ns, floatplanes etc ) such that the redirection of the enemy flight could easily be compensated for by flying planes to bases in Boreo/Sumatra or Malaysia as appropriate. He would, IMO, have been better just mobbing the escape route in between Sumatra and Java ( although it would have availed him nothing as this is what I was expecting and so I'd brought along enough fleet oilers to refuel mini-KB many times over ) and had the ships from the Phillipines mob Amboina and Kendari.

3. Pe-2s. Aye. Still, if discussion doesn't work then I'm perfectly happy to resort to non-verbal communications.... by shooting them down and continuing to shoot them down until such time as they are stood down. I don't really tend to sweat the details as, IMO, wars and campaigns are decided by the overall logistical competencies and situations of the opponents ( and to a much smaller extent their maximisation of the technical-tactical characteristics of their weapons systems ) and far less by any operational and tactical niceties.

4. Kates on AF attack... Well I didn't want to lose all my D3As to the murderous FlAK over PH so I refuse to commit divebombers to the FlAK there. In any case I don't plan to land my major invasion forces for another 3 or 4 days yet so I have plenty of time to attrit the forces at Pearl. There is one other reason --- My Kates were going to take fewer losses and FAR less of a morale hit in that AF strike than my Vals would and I was hoping that his CVs might show up today IF he thought I had all my Kates on AF/Port attack missions. So, there was a maskirovka at work also wherein my anti-CV strikes today were preserved relative to what they would have been had my Vals had the AF duty. He didn't take the bait though.

5. APs/AKs. No, the Armed Merchant Cruisers ( with 6 inch guns but paper-thin armour ) did the damage to the Allied CLs. At Palmyra my CL accomplished little but at Rabaul several AMCs and AVs ( also with 5 or 6 ich guns ) proved more than a match for the Oz CL).

6. I had thought of this afterward. Looking back that Vildebeest was obviously from Hong Kong. Sometimes we draw the right conclusion for the wrong reason .

7. Oh I hadn't intended to imply that placing all his ships in single ship TFs at PH was his "best" response. His best response would have been to run for it. This would have saved a portion of his ships. As it is now he stands to lose them all and no matter how hard my pilots are to replace he can replace BBs and CAs/CLs etc far less readily than I can replace those pilots. He has, IMO, chosen poorly. One other interesting thing I've noted today is that he has formed the same "defence" at Singapore and Soerabaja. From jagdfluger I'd know there was a well-thought out reason and be looking for a trap. I think, however, that in Troll's case this is simply a knee-jerk response.

Bear in mind though that since his TFs are docked each individual BB gets supported by ALL the FlAK at PH ( which is far more than is carried by even 4 or 5 BBs). So, mathematically he has actually maximised the number of guns which fire at each of my planes per attack run and has increased the number of attack runs I require. Still, I think it isn't the best choice he could have made but we'll have to see how it turns out.

8. Hehe, indeed. Today brings more of it - most particularly at Alor Star as he abandoned it precipitously. Tomorrow will bring more again, including at least one more significant base he really should have reinforced already.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/10/41

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Kuching [Sarawak], 27,56, firing at TF 35
TF 35 troops unloading over beach at Kuching [Sarawak], 27,56


13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Hikade Maru, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Kendari [Celebes], 33,71, firing at TF 37
TF 37 troops unloading over beach at Kendari [Celebes], 33,71


12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DE Kuri

Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Dutch Harbor [AK], 102,37, firing at TF 186
TF 186 troops unloading over beach at Dutch Harbor [AK], 102,37


4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
118 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 74 encounters mine field at Hong Kong [UK] (43,42)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.14

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 22,44

Japanese Ships
SS RO-63

Allied Ships
AK Darvel, Torpedo hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 21,43

Japanese Ships
SS RO-67

Allied Ships
AK Pangkor, Shell hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 21,43

Japanese Ships
SS RO-67

Allied Ships
AE Poyang, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Soerabaja [Java] at 23,66

Japanese Ships
SS I-155

Allied Ships
AK Ban Ho Guan, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Singora [Thailand] , at 24,43

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF-NF x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val/Ki-52: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IF-NF: 3 damaged

Runway hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Balikpapan [Borneo] at 31,64

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuharu
DD Nenohi
DD Hatsushimo

Allied Ships
SS KXVIII

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Soerabaja [Java] at 23,66

Japanese Ships
SS I-155

Allied Ships
AVD Mercel
PC Albatros
MSW Eland Dubois
MSW Abraham Crijnssen

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Sydney [Australia] at 38,125

Japanese Ships
SS I-175, hits 5, on fire

Allied ASW is deadly from day 1.

Allied Ships
DD Voyager
PC Doomba
MSW Wollongong
MSW Whyalla
MSW Toowoomba
MSW Bathurst
DD FF Le Triomphant

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Tarakan [Borneo], at 34,60 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

7 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Chidori
DD Manazuru, Shell hits 1, on fire
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro


Allied ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Diamond Harbour at 28,23

Japanese Ships
SS I-121, hits 1

Allied Ships
PG Jumna
PG Hindustan
PG Indus

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 15 encounters mine field at Lanai [Hawaii] (114,73)

TF 15 troops unloading over beach at Lanai [Hawaii], 114,73


Japanese ground losses:
90 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 141 troops unloading over beach at Niihau Island [HW], 112,72


Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Kuching [Sarawak], 27,56, firing at TF 35
TF 35 troops unloading over beach at Kuching [Sarawak], 27,56


8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Hikade Maru, Shell hits 2

Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Kendari [Celebes], 33,71, firing at TF 37
TF 37 troops unloading over beach at Kendari [Celebes], 33,71


7 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AK Koryu Maru

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Dutch Harbor [AK], 102,37, firing at TF 186
TF 186 troops unloading over beach at Dutch Harbor [AK], 102,37


10 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 64 encounters mine field at Hong Kong [UK] (43,42)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 34,62

Japanese Ships
DD Manazuru, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXVI

This DD is running from Tarakan to Balikpapan where it will dock under cover of friendly fighters. I have Zeroes covering it today and tomorrow Oscars will cover Balikpapan.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 22,44

Japanese Ships
SS RO-63

Allied Ships
DD Tenedos, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Mersing [Malaya] at 23,50

Japanese Ships
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asashio
DD Oshio
DD Michishio
DD Arashio

Allied Ships
SS KXI, hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wuchow [C China] , at 42,39

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 18
Ki-51 Sonia x 51
Ki-15II/C5M2 Babs x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Singapore [UK] , at 22,51

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 12
Ki-43-I Oscar x 5
Ki-46-II/C7M2 Dinah x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 2 damaged

Port hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-32/30 Mary/Ann x 51
Ki-21-II Sally x 247

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-32/30 Mary/Ann: 5 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 5 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
PBY-5 Catalina: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 21
Airbase supply hits 13
Runway hits 259

These strikes are costly but necessary in terms of keeping the airfield closed and preventing the building of forts. Tomorrow my Ki-21s will move out and split with 50% going to Hawaii to suppress PH and the other 50% going to Palembang to close the route of egress for enemy freighters. The blockade will look as follows:
Brunei: Floatplanes and a few D3As and Sonias.
Saigon: Ki-48s
Palembang: A few B5Ns and about 150 Ki-21s in addition to a CAP of roughly 40 Oscars.
Mersing: A horde of D3As and B5Ns/B4Ys
Alor Star: 150 G3Ms and a horde of D3As and B5Ns.

A you can see from the picture below his ships truly are hemmed in. I don't expect many to survive at all AND, in the dying, they provide excellent training. I could have killed them much more quickly but only if I hadn't allowed the 250+ trainee dive, torpedo and floatplane pilots to be forward based and, quite frankly, I'm a training fanatic so preferentially basing my trainees forward for some live fire training took precedence over quickness of the kill. In any case I don't have any major need for the Ki-21s and Ki-48s for the next few days and so that was factored in.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Angeles/Clark [PH] , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
Ki-32/30 Mary/Ann x 38

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-32/30 Mary/Ann: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 27

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Angeles/Clark [PH] , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
Ki-264 Angel x 2

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 75th Guerilla Regiment, at 47,41

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 64

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Naga/Pili/Daet [PH] at 44,53

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 5

Allied aircraft
OS2U-3 Kingfisher x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Kiri Maru, Bomb hits 1

USN floatplanes nibble around the edges of my landing forces. I should point out that the vulnerability of my transports has increased markedly as those which have unloaded are on their way back to the Home Islands and China for follow-on forces with minimal escorts ( I am concentrating my escorts on those ships which still have troops onboard for obvious reasons ).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kendari [Celebes] at 33,71

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 2

Allied aircraft
T-IVa x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
T-IVa: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AK Nittai Maru
AK Koryu Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kendari [Celebes] at 33,71

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 2

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VII x 8
Hudson IV x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VII: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Kenyo Maru
AP Nissen Maru #2
AK Raizan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kenai [Alaska] at 112,29

Allied aircraft
B-18A/B-23 Bolo x 6

Allied aircraft losses
B-18A/B-23 Bolo: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Ujina Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 25,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 54

Allied aircraft
Martin 139/B-10 x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139/B-10: 2 destroyed

More Martins fly to their doom against what is an overwhelming CAP given the lack of escorts.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 110,32

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Akagi Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 110,32

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 17

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Akagi Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan [Borneo] at 31,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 17

Allied aircraft
Hudson IV x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson IV: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Bomb hits 1

'Twas non-damaging.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kendari [Celebes] at 33,71

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 2

Allied aircraft
T-IVa x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
T-IVa: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Well, well, Mikuma gets clobbered. Well, that's OK, tomorrow I'll have Zeroes in the air over Kendari and will put a stop to this sort of attrition of battleline units. Mikuma should survive but will be docked at Kendari as a precautionary measure.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kenai [Alaska] at 112,29


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 8


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Fukushu Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 115,74


Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 10


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DMS Shumushu, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Oops, I forgot to give Shumushu instructions to remain under KB's CAP and it paid the price. All 3 hits were by 1000 lbers so Shumushu sank immediately.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Manila/Cavite [PH] at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Princess of Negros, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Malacca [Malaya] at 22,48

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 27

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
MSW Goulburn, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

And the escapees from Singapore continue to learn that they have chosen a poor route of egress.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Makassar [Celebes] at 30,70

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 11
G3M2/Ki-42 Nell x 8
E13A1 Jake x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
TK JMG den Hartog, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 21,42

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 3
B4Y1 Jean x 5
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CL Manoora, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 14

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 23
P-36A Mohawk x 2
P-40B Tomahawk x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate: 14 destroyed

Hmm, no escorts despite the abundance of escorts later in the day. Ah well, that's life.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 29
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 22
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 23
P-36A Mohawk x 2
P-40B Tomahawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke: 3 destroyed
D3A2 Val/Ki-52: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 9 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 15, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 14

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
P-36A Mohawk x 2
P-40B Tomahawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val/Ki-52: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 6, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 16

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
P-36A Mohawk x 2
P-40B Tomahawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val/Ki-52: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 6, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
G4M1/Ki-50 Betty x 8

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
P-36A Mohawk x 2
P-40B Tomahawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1/Ki-50 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DMS Zane
AVD Hulbert

He still hasn't evacuated those DMS. This is a major strategic error.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Singapore [UK] at 22,51

Japanese aircraft
G3M2/Ki-42 Nell x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
PC Bellatrix, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Cebu [Cebu] at 43,57

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 6
Ki-51 Sonia x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Norse Carrier, Bomb hits 12, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Singapore [UK] at 22,51

Japanese aircraft
G3M2/Ki-42 Nell x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Kinta

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pearl Harbor [Oahu] , at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
G4M1/Ki-50 Betty x 80

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
P-36A Mohawk x 2
P-40B Tomahawk x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1/Ki-50 Betty: 12 destroyed, 13 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 2 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 2 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Runway hits 10

Until the Ki-21s arrive and can take the brunt of the losses I am forced to accept extremely heavy Betty losses. By the end of the first week though I'll be able to properly husband my Bettys.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 111,34


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
ML Saishu

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kendari [Celebes] at 33,71

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 1

Allied aircraft
Martin 139/B-10 x 3
T-IVa x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
T-IVa: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DE Kuretake
AK Muroran Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 25,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 53

Allied aircraft
Martin 139/B-10 x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AO Sensai Maru I

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 110,32

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 17

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Akagi Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kendari [Celebes] at 33,71

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 1

Allied aircraft
Martin 139/B-10 x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139/B-10: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan [Borneo] at 31,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 16

Allied aircraft
Hudson IV x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson IV: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AK Tokiwasan Maru, Bomb hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Jolo [Jolo] at 39,59

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 2

Allied aircraft
OS2U-3 Kingfisher x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 38,56

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Pope, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 34,48

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-I Lily x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
PG Moth, Bomb hits 9, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 22,49

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 15
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 27
Ki-43-I Oscar x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Dayak

And the prize for luckiest ship in the Allied force goes to Dahak.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Cebu [Cebu] at 43,57

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Norse Carrier, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,70

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 15
G3M2/Ki-42 Nell x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2/Ki-42 Nell: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
TK Angelina

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 37,55

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Baron, Bomb hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 39,54

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
TK Gertrude Kellogg, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 37,55

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Bisayas

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 30
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 12
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 26

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
P-36A Mohawk x 1
P-40B Tomahawk x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 7 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB California, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 8

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5
P-40B Tomahawk x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val/Ki-52: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 5, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 10

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5
P-40B Tomahawk x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val/Ki-52: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 4, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor [Oahu] at 114,72

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 10

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5
P-40B Tomahawk x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val/Ki-52: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 6, heavy damage

I haven't really been keeping a proper count BUT it looks to me like his battleline is pretty much scuppered now and the time approaches where my 2 BBs and 2 CAs will be sufficient to withstand what remains.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 31,51

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-I Lily x 21

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AP Ariadne Moller

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Kenai [Alaska] at 112,29

Japanese Ships
AK Tsukuba Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
AK Ujina Maru, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Kane

Japanese ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Norfolk I [AUST] at 60,123

Japanese Ships
AP Nichiryo Maru, Shell hits 6
AP Teizui Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Leander
CL Achilles

Ah, Leander and Achilles come out of the woodwork but only to inconclusive effect.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Tarakan [Borneo] at 34,60

Japanese Ships
AK Kogyo Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-39


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kendari [Celebes]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 11283 troops, 134 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 161

Defending force 721 troops, 13 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 16

Japanese max assault: 330 - adjusted assault: 246

Allied max defense: 14 - adjusted defense: 13

Japanese assault odds: 18 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kendari [Celebes] base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
735 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kuching [Sarawak]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 8076 troops, 101 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 166

Defending force 1348 troops, 8 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 38

Japanese max assault: 358 - adjusted assault: 134

Allied max defense: 39 - adjusted defense: 77

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Japanese ground losses:
550 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Allied ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Reinforcements will land tomorrow and then we'll try again.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Sinyang [Cent China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 16040 troops, 244 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 480

Defending force 11350 troops, 156 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 513



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tarakan [Borneo]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 5490 troops, 59 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 187

Defending force 2965 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9

Japanese max assault: 378 - adjusted assault: 164

Allied max defense: 7 - adjusted defense: 29

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tarakan [Borneo] base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
6142 casualties reported
Guns lost 8


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Dutch Harbor [AK]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 4010 troops, 45 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 68

Defending force 670 troops, 12 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese max assault: 134 - adjusted assault: 27

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 13

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Dutch Harbor [AK] base !!!

Allied ground losses:
788 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Norfolk I [AUST]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 539 troops, 4 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 25

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese max assault: 25 - adjusted assault: 4

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Norfolk I [AUST] base !!!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kuching [Sarawak]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1254 troops, 6 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 32

Defending force 7357 troops, 86 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 134



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lanai [Hawaii]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1097 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 42

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese max assault: 66 - adjusted assault: 33

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 33 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lanai [Hawaii] base !!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Niihau Island [HW]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 285 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 16

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese max assault: 28 - adjusted assault: 16

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Niihau Island [HW] base !!!

There's no real reason behind this except that it gets the troops off a sinking AV --- and hopefully confuses Troll a little as to what my true plans are.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Victoria Point [BMA]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 772 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 41

Defending force 510 troops, 14 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese max assault: 38 - adjusted assault: 18

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 7

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

This really is a pity, I had hoped to take Victoria Point by surprise. As it is I'll only take it tomorrow. Still, it is a nice paraborne assault and shows what can be done. Once I upgrade all of my transports to Tabbys and my patrol planes to transport versions of the Mavis I should really be able to put some big paraborne landings in.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Taiping [Malaya]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 40 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese max assault: 0 - adjusted assault: 2

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Taiping [Malaya] base !!!

He's withdrawn so quickly that even Taiping is clear of Allied troops. I christen thee Sir Robin [8D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at San Fernando [PH]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1184 troops, 64 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 61

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese max assault: 8 - adjusted assault: 3

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE San Fernando [PH] base !!!

And here you can see the invasion force for Hawaii. It features 3 Bdes of infantry but a lot of engineers, AAA and aviation support troops. The idea is to pick up a couple of bases and then simply bomb Hawaii into submission with a committment of no more than 80 fighters and 220 bombers ( including G4Ms dedicated to naval interdiction). In short, I'm trying to "do Hawaii" on the cheap.

KB will then disappear and mini-KB will be reinforced by CVA Yamato and cover the invasion of India in 6ish weeks time.

Good to see this AAR continuing Nemo , thank you.

Death to the evil Torricans,Trollish and the Truch [;)]

And here you can see the invasion force for Hawaii. It features 3 Bdes of infantry but a lot of engineers, AAA and aviation support troops. The idea is to pick up a couple of bases and then simply bomb Hawaii into submission with a committment of no more than 80 fighters and 220 bombers ( including G4Ms dedicated to naval interdiction). In short, I'm trying to "do Hawaii" on the cheap.

Adm.Laurent's style indeed seems most indicated... Good luck Nemo!

Nemo121,
 
Do you think your opponent (re his tactical withdrawals in Malaya) considers himself to be emulating Heinrici and is withdrawing to the Seelowe Heights (oops, mean Singapore [:D]).  Of course on 16 April 1945, Heinrici only withdrew a short distance to his second defence line, not some 240 miles!  If moving back to his Seelowe Heights was his intention, then he could have created some Fast Transport TF out of his ships fleeing through the Malacca Straits.  Nah, that would presuppose on his part too much clear planning and analysis of his opponent's actions- your assessment of knee jerk reaction seems closer to the mark.
 
Alfred

*chuckle* I seriously doubt that he's familiar enough with the Seelowe Heights to be able to argue that this is a fallback to a second line in order to avoid a crushing, prepared blow a la Seelowe, nevermind the fact that there is a massive difference between withdrawing to prepared positions to avoid a Soviet firestrike and running headlong to an unprepared position.
 
He will try to hold at Johore Bahru and, for a time, I'll let him as it suits my purposes. More of that anon.
 
 
As to using FT TFs to withdraw fragments for rebuilding. No, he hasn't taken the opportunity to do that - I can tell because none of the ships I've sunk in the Malacca Straits have been carrying any personnel. He'll get a second bite of the cherry using flying boats out of Rangoon once he realises his forces in Malaysia are utterly and irrevocably trapped and about to be overrun but, again, I have a plan for dealing with that by adjusting the strategic situation more quickly than he can adjust to changes. I can't stop him saving the fragments entirely but I can increase the cost and reduce his return on his losses such that it won't be worth it in the long-term.

I wasn't suggesting he might use FT TF to evacuate cadres to India.  I meant using them to pick up whole units (or as large a contingent as possible) from Kuala Lumpur, Malacca etc to bring them into Festung Seelowe Heights (oops again, Singapore[:D]).  The distance involved would mean he could do the whole trip within 24 hours thus minimizing the chances of aerial interception.  It isn't necessarily a maneouvre I would personally follow, but if his strategy is to run to to Singapore then at least it would be more efficacious and at least get some value out of his doomed ships.
 
I am pleased to see that you did not claim to have a "cunning" plan - much as I admire Blackadder, I don't think emulating him is the way to victory in WITP.
 
Alfred

Nemo121,
 
I don't wish to antagonise anyone but is the silence due either to you being too busy to update the AAR, or your opponent's muse not inspiring him to send you a turn?  I rather suspect the latter is the case.
 
Alfred

Alfred , you got my hopes up that a new post had happened [;)]

I wonder much the same too

Agreed.

here too!

Well, it would appear that my opponent's muse has led him to conclude that after 3 days of combat ( and all the time I spent on the setup for the first turn ) that he doesn't have the time for this game at this time.

I think that this decision puts the game vs Gen. Hoeppner into proper perspective given that it appears to be continuing.