The Fleet the Gods Forgot: ALLIED Perspective

[Capt. Harlock]

Another advantage in attacking is potentially capturing more supplies. In grabbing San Fernando this turn I picked up 10,000 supply. NOT BAD.

Not bad at all! A gutsy move rewarded.[&o]

I've always thought that a properly designed game should allow the Allies to make a much better stand in the PI. The disaster to Allied air was largely luck (the delayed Japanese strike caught the Allied planes on the ground after thaey had returned from sortie). And MacArthur should have forced the IJA to fight for Manila (they bombed it anyway, so his attempt to avoid civilian casualties came to naught).

[John 3rd]

Thank you Captain. 

Should note that I have also changed up the air units there.  Since the Japanese aren't flying many fighters here I have moved the Swordfish, several Hudson groups, and the American FB into active operations here.  They have been scoring several hits a turn and it has been nice to see...

It appears that a landing at Mersing might be a possibility.  I've been watching a ground of convoys slowly moving down the west side of the Philippines and are now on a direct line for this port city.  I've moved 8 SS into their line of travel and will see what happens.  Additionally have about 100 bombers (Swords, Vildebeest, Hudson, and Dutch Bombers) tan rested and ready for an attack if needed. 

Have moved 6 Brigades into the mountain hex in Central Malaya.  Will attempt a stand here with troops holding the west coast town next door.  Don't hold out too much hope against 3 reinforced Japanese Inf Div but will try.

Spotted the Burma Invasion Force this turn advancing along that damned trail SW of Moulmein.  Will fight at Moulmein and see what sort of mischief I can create.  He might be surprised with the strength I have present!  Have a reinforcement convoys about to enter Rangoon with 2 Tank Regiments and want them to land without issues...

[flaggelant]

causing more havoc by the day [:D]


the 2 armor units you'r shipping into rangoon come onto the map at about half strength in the stock game i believe
are they reinforced in the mod your using? or will you be using them for a while & then do the R&R when the time comes? (if it comes at all, since the japs will keep pushing for over a year)

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: flaggelant

causing more havoc by the day [:D]


the 2 armor units you'r shipping into rangoon come onto the map at about half strength in the stock game i believe
are they reinforced in the mod your using? or will you be using them for a while & then do the R&R when the time comes? (if it comes at all, since the japs will keep pushing for over a year)

They had a bout a week at Karachi before loading but that didn't do too much. I will build them once they have done some work in Burma. Am being careful here as I don't want to over-commit my forces too far down into this theatre. Once the Tanks arrive then there will be no more.

Will fight at Moulmein, Meiktila (have 3 BF working on Forts there), and then Mandalay. I figure the normal 2 Inf Div, 3 TK Reg, and an Aviation Reg crossing on that damned trail.

[John 3rd]

Isn't the North a lovely place to go, visit, bombard, and attack?

[John 3rd]

Current situation in the Rabaul--Milne Bay--PM area:

[John 3rd]

One has to love Yamaguchi Tamon and HATE him...

[John 3rd]

The Allies make their first major 'guesstimate' of the war. We are HOPING for a Mersing Landing with a bunch of fireworks!

I love fireworks and so do my boys...

[flaggelant]

Aren't the Japanese using Kuching as a main airfield?
 
looking at how close you're moving past it to get to Palembang i'd say not?
 
It's a big airfield and can supply loads of aircover for the landingforce moving to Mersing, with part of the AVG being in Malaya you can
make a stand, but i'd expect a very heavy airbattle over those TF.
 
Have you taken into account that he knows your troop count trough recon and that he has seen Singapore is nearly empty?
if he has some MSW / BB support he might even try a direct landing (not trying to scare you, but it could be a serious setback if he'd try)

[John 3rd]

Good thoughts.  He could try but I'd like to see what those 15" guns do to any landing attempt he makes.

He is using Kuching but there are not a lot of planes in it.  My STF got hit by 9 Zero and 11 Nells on the 23rd.  I had a CAP of 16 Fighters but no one shot anybody (Japanese and Allied alike!).  The last group of planes put a single Torp into Prince of Wales and that sucks.  Disband her in Palembang and will pull her out in a few days and send her to Aden I guess.  Still have 4 CL and 8 DD to attack with and I shall.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
Christmas Day 1941


A rather interesting turn. My opponent swerves away from Mersing and heads NW towards Kuantan or Kota Bharu. Don't know if he changed his mind or that was the plan all along. It caused us to miss a knock-down/drag-out fight!

Malaya
The Japanese are moving into the mountain hex at the center of the peninsula. I will try to hold it with the 6 Brigades that are present: two Indian, two Aussie, and two Malayan. Rest of the troops are falling back along the west coast to the mid-point also. If there is no longer a southern invasion threat we'll have to see what the plan is. Probably just brute force...

Palembang
Well...the Prince of Wales is a target sitting in Port. A Betty/Nell raid of 20 Zero and 33 Bombers managed to plant 3 800 Kg bombs on her. I had two Squadrons of fighters set to CAP her but they didn't do their job. Not a good thing but we'll see what happen tomorrow.

Good news with this is that the Dutch Squadron didn't get hurt at all. All his bombers flew Port Attack and so the 3 CL and 8 DD swing up to Mersing, find nothing, and return to Palembang.

CarDiv2
Multiple Personalities strikes me with this group everytime! I am proud of Hiryu/Soryu doing a highly effective job and HATE IT! Boldly Ken brings them just NE of Koepang where they savage a pair of TK. Order everything to move more to the west and we'll see just how bold he is.

THE KB
Been sort of wondering where they might be...

CA Houston finds out the hard way. It was slowly moving (due to damage) towards Lae and was about 9 hexes NW of there when 87 Vals and 96 Kates appeared! All it took was 1 Bomb and 4 Torps...

Good news is that everything else has made it to safety and this (for certain Former Economics Ministers) does mean Boise got away with the 2 British DDs. Supplies and troops off-loading at Port Moresby that come direct from the Philippines. CRAZY!

Aleutians
There are two small TF unloading at Attu and Saratoga moves to intercept. She is finally spotted after loitering in the area for the last 4 days. Expect some sinking tomorrow and then order her home to Dutch Harbor.

Philippines
The big news of the turn sits squarely here! I Shock Attack at Vigan and get an astounding 3-1!!! This offensive has the Japanese highly concerned. I ran into the 1st and 2nd Paras when I attacked. Bet they were flown in to provide emergency troops! HUZZAH!

So...now what do I do? The Japanese will have to expect for me to continue the attack but I am thinking something different. I could move all my attacking troops into Baguio and drive out the Japanese Inf Div present there. Could force it to retreat and THEN decide (with an Assault Force of nearly 1,000 AV) what to do.

I will take any and all suggestions please...

[Hornblower]

I'd move back to clark.  the PS/USA RCT's, Armor and the 4th Marines are your elite units can't loose them -not yet, to early.  He'll have to keep a brigade at least at San Marcelno now to keep you from doing another end around.  When he lands at legaspi - which he will - try to sneak a Armored Bat, and the 26th PS into Lamon Bay before he gets to Manilla, then swing around block his supply.  And, now this is the sweet part, if he tires himself out on shock attack and you can hold him at Manilla, you can counterattack.  leave a holding force at Clark, counterattack from Manilla with the PS and Armored in his line of retreat, and bag them all..  the Armor gives you mobility.  must keep that mobilty in play.  don't use them up now for temporary Gains... 

[Alikchi2]

Keep attacking and demolish as many units as you can WHILE you still can!

[John 3rd]

I've already destroyed one invasion at Legaspi.  It was only an SNLF but it was completely wiped out.

Will move my troops to Baguio as planned and will force the Inf Div to retreat out of the hex.  I will then pull 4th Marines, 2 TK Reg, and the Scouts back to Manila to restore and grow them some.  At least this has served to give them some experience and about 18,000 bonus supply.  Grabbed 10,000 first and then added another 8,000 with the most recent addition.
 
Still looking for thoughts.  It will take some time for the boys to move to Baguio.  If there is any sort of new thought, I will seriously look at it.

[John 3rd]

Ken has been pretty busy the last two days so this is the first turn we have gotten in during that time. It was pretty wild and FUN!

I detail the heavy aerial combat over Singapore and Palembang in the screenshot.

USS Saratoga announces her presence beautifully by sinking the old CL Tama, hitting CL Kiso, crippling 2 DD, sinking an AP, and damaging another. No losses for the day and the CV will stay to pick-off anything more that she can find. NICE!

The Allied Air Force is beginning to get its feet under it:
1. Laoag, Phil 7 Swordfish and 2 FB put a Torp into an AP and 2 Bombs into an AK
2. Singakawang flies small groups of Martins into Kuching and hit 2 AK with a bomb each.

Mines cripple another Japanese DD off Laoag also.

Will reshuffle Fighters for the next turn and move some TB and Bombers around for more pickings.

Don't know if it is because of Saratoga being spotted or not but CarDiv2 hightails it from just off Timor to NE of Kendari. Maybe I can draw them off and then bring my real CV Strike Force into play. That would be even more fun!

[Q-Ball]

Interesting counterattack in the Phillipines John! Interesting because our landing on Luzon was similar, although it was a little stronger; an entire division at Legaspi, not just an SNLF, but otherwise similar. It's easy to underestimate the Allies there, but they start wiht a huge amount of AV. You're helping yourself by taking all those supplies.

You should know, however, not to get too close to Ms. Nell.[:-]

[Hornblower]

Got to Love the AVG.. Most effective fighter unit that side of the international date line...

[John 3rd]

Darned RIGHT!

This is why it was so big that Brad and I destroyed them in Burma early in our 2x2.  HUGE impact by shooting down nearly 60 in one engagement.

Glad that hasn't happened here...YET...

[desicat]

John, What is more fun to play - the 2x2 vs Sir Robin or taking on the Japanese here?

Any way you can sneak in some supplies to the PI from OZ while the Japanese are off balance?

[John 3rd]

THIS is FUN! 

That is a good idea regarding supplies.  IF the CVs are pulling back a bit I just might do that through Balikpapan/Tarakan. 

My aerial battle in the Philippines lasts only so long as I can retreat my fighters safely.  The moment Tarakan looks to be in trouble I will have to pull them back.  Might check my range but I think that is what I'll have to do.  Still have all of Mindanao except Davao so my transit range starts from there.  Can a P-40 jump from there to Lautem?  Need to look.

That was only your 5th post Desicat.  Welcome!