Australia Invaded!! NY59Giants (A) vs Olorin (J)

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

First counterattack is being planned. I recently received the 32nd Division at San Fran (loaded and headed for OZ). 6th Aussie Div is almost to Cape Town. Both are heading for or will be in days to reinforce Australia. However, John 3rd has been a 'bad' influence on me and they have started prepping for GERALDTON. I have some additional support troops also prepping. The WHOLE Allied fleet will be there to support (5 American CVs, 3 Brit CVs, 1 CVL). I know a lot of things need to happen before then, but it is an idea as it would not take place till mid-June.

What say you?!?

The counter-landing makes PERFECT sense. It will take quite a while to grab the continent (I KNOW all about this READ: Racing the Sunrise AAR) and if Michael fights a solid delaying action he will stand an excellent chance of tying down the bulk of the IJA for ages. If enough time goes by then there might be a true chance of defeating the IJA in detail.

Your opponent made a huge mistake in that he didn't go all in with this campaign's opening moves. He should have landed much further south and grabbed either Melbourne or Sydney. Not doing that makes this a dicey gamble at best.

Michael: Don't forget Tasmania. You can begin building it up and it can be used to support your mainland defense.

Agree with John here. It's like India. You need to go directly for the jugular (AKA Karachi). If you fail, then you risk of find yourself alone among strangers very very far from home...and in oz you don't even have your flanks covered by the edge of the map...you are voulnerable on all fronts!

[ny59giants]

April 27, 28, 29: Sydney is on FIRE & Subs act as Minesweepers...once[:D]
Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft;

Subs:
S-39 @ Geraldton gets a TT into an xAK
KXVII @ Brisbane hits an xAK with single TT
Snapper @ Brisbane hits THREE mines and sinks like a rock!![X(][:@]
KXVII @ Brisbane hits more mines on the 28th as I forgot to move her out. Damage is bad [61-91-4].
Cuttlefish gets hit by DC while in a Minelaying sub TF @ Noumea
S-40 sinks a PB @ Noumea with single TT. However the next day she hits a mine is limping back to Aukland.

CVs:
3 days until Saratoga and Lexington are finished upgrades. [:)]

India/Burma: [>:][>:]

China:
Yenan - up to 27 Sally hit AF daily

SE of Ankang - over 70 1e bombers hit troops on trails 2 and 3 hexes away with almost no success;

Ground combat at 83,45 (near Nanyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack on 28th

Attacking force 45105 troops, 499 guns, 156 vehicles, Assault Value = 1312

Defending force 23918 troops, 150 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 530

Japanese adjusted assault: 655

Allied adjusted defense: 886

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
2976 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 133 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 34 disabled
Guns lost 24 (1 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Vehicles lost 71 (31 destroyed, 40 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1104 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Assaulting units:
6th Division
15th Tank Regiment
2nd Ind Engineer Regiment
34th Division
35th Division
3rd Division
12th Tank Regiment
58th Infantry Regiment
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
2nd Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps

A fresh Corp has moved in from SW during the night to keep this hex in my hands.Another is days away to replace one that is down to less than 10 AV [:D]

Sieges:
Batavia - 8 Zeros sweep and 7 Lily hit AF daily

Manila - up to 40 Sally/Lily hit AF daily followed by bb attacks, the AV is now down to 1203 and there is ONLY 38 supply in ALL the LCUs.

Western Australia:
Perth - one hex outside sees 22 Sally hit my small BF retreating; on 28th they hit fortress unit in Perth; on 29th the Sally hit the AF [5b, 2s, 14r]

Ground combat at 50,147 (near Perth)

Japanese Shock attack on 27th

Attacking force 1752 troops, 12 guns, 334 vehicles, Assault Value = 183

Defending force 6234 troops, 130 guns, 64 vehicles, Assault Value = 132

Japanese adjusted assault: 166

Allied adjusted defense: 34

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 24 (1 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1116 casualties reported
Squads: 79 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 42 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 40 (21 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (14 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 6

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd Tank Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
7th Ind.Tank Brigade

Defending units:
13th Australian Brigade
3rd Australian Brigade
2/16th Field Regiment
108th Anti Tank Regiment
10th Avn Sup Afd
1st RAAF M/W Sqn

Since they retreated back into Perth, they will now to be added to the garrison. Over the next two days, both the Aussie brigades are able to upgrade to the "AMF Inf Sect 42" which is good for the added Anti-Armor values.

Eastern Australia:
Sydney -
27th - 25 Zeros sweep and another 29 follow.
28th - 25 and then 29 Zeros sweep, but are followed by 132 Betty that get 155 hits on my Heavy Industry, OUCH!! (thankfully, it has been turned off the whole game, 80 Sally/Helens then come in to get another 61 hits on my HI, with 36 Helens finding their way to get more HI hits (28).
29th - 67 Zero escort in 107 Betty = Manpower hits 50 & Fires 4583; then 25 Betty = Manpower hits 27 & Fires 7733; then 29 Sally & 61 Helen = Manpower hits 151 & Fires 21883; and finally 24 more Helen = Manpower hits 52 & Fires 28236.

1 SW of Toowoomba - 15 Betty attack 2nd Aussie Div on 27th;

Newcastle - 42 Oscar escort in 118 Sally/Helens to hit AF [28b, 13s, 76r] on 27th;

South Pacific: [>:][>:]

Notes:
This is the first time I've been on the receiving end of strategic bombing. It doesn't feel good. Reinforcements and a AA unit moved into Sydney has raised the AA to 54 heavy and 14 medium guns. More to be shipped in over next few weeks.

[ny59giants]

Besides stopping his bombers from burning Sydney to the ground, is there any way to slow down the effects of the fires??

I do have AA units on the way and my reinforcement TFs are about one month away.

[JocMeister]

Sorry for again showing my ignorance! [:D]

But does the FIRE damage actually do? Burn manpower? And what are the consequences of this strategical bombing?

If you loose the Air Research will it repair or is it like on the WC that its gone for good?

[witpqs]

My understanding is that fires destroys factories. Not damages. Destroys. No repair. No rebuild (for the Allies).

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Besides stopping his bombers from burning Sydney to the ground, is there any way to slow down the effects of the fires??

I do have AA units on the way and my reinforcement TFs are about one month away.

I've never heard of a way to increase firefighting. I do know that in the Downfall scenario I had peak fires of 132,000 at Osaka and next day's recon showed them down to about 6600. Don't know if population/Manpower affects the fire suppression. Would be interested to see what the fire level in Sydney is next day.

[JocMeister]

I tried going through the manual but the only thing I found was this a single line:

"Industry can only be destroyed by firestorms and A-bombs"

Not a lot of information but it looks like you are correct witpqs. But when does fires turn into a firestorm?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I tried going through the manual but the only thing I found was this a single line:

"Industry can only be destroyed by firestorms and A-bombs"

Not a lot of information but it looks like you are correct witpqs. But when does fires turn into a firestorm?

Dunno. If industry is being destroyed, you should see that on your display, or at least see it, uh, missing!

[ny59giants]

April 30, May 1, 2: Sydney is still on FIRE

Subs:
Geraldton - Perch and Porpoise can hit a PB, but with faulty torpedoes....[:@] Perch gets enough near miss DC hits to cause her to return to Melbourne for repairs.
Noumea - local minesweepers are busy clearing sub laid minefield.
Adak - S-28 gets a TT hit on a PB and sinks her.

CVs:
5 American CVs leave Pearl on 3rd

India/Burma: [>:]
With new month, Many of the BF are headed for large bases with Command HQs for upgrades (18 Aviation Support to 32 and increase in support troops).

China:
Yenan - up to 28 Sally hit AF daily

3SE Ankang - up to 65 1e bombers hit the troops, but often don't inflict any casualties. [:D] Two fresh Corps have moved in.

Sian - 70 1e bombers hit AF = 7r on 2nd

Sieges:
Batavia - 9 Lily hit AF followed by 8 Zeros on sweep daily

Manila - over 40 Lily/Sally hit AF followed by bb attacks daily; AV is down to 1169

Western Australia:
Perth -
30th - 22 Sally hit AF = 2b, 1s, 15r;
1st -

Ground combat at Perth (49,147)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 44938 troops, 386 guns, 100 vehicles, Assault Value = 1457

Defending force 22810 troops, 350 guns, 178 vehicles, Assault Value = 592

Japanese ground losses:
324 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
1st Engineer Co
48th Division
Imperial Guards Division
20th Infantry Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
4th Guards Division

Defending units:
3rd Australian Brigade
Freemantle Fortress
7th RAA Coastal Artillery Regiment
13th Australian Brigade
18th British Division
III Australian
4th RAN Base Force
108th Anti Tank Regiment
10th Avn Sup Afd
2/16th Field Regiment
1st RAAF M/W Sqn

The first actual assault will be interesting.

2nd - 25(2) Sally hit AF = 1b, 1s, 22r
Status - 78.3k supply, 600AV, Forts 4 (68%)

Eastern Australia:
Sydney -
30th - 67 Zeros escort in 62 Betty = Manpower hits 59 & Fires 19994; 42 Oscar with 56 Sally, 47 Helen = Manpower hits 151 & Fires 51509; 36 Helen = Manpower hits 31 & Fires 76127;
1st - weather prevents any enemy aircraft over the city. I get a chance to put some fires out and repairs continue on AF.
2nd - 36 Zeros sweep; 31 Zero escort in 41 Betty = Manpower hits 42 & Fires 9802 (nice to see how much they had gone down in one day without raids); 14 Betty = Manpower hits 31 & Fires 6605; 42 Oscars, 58 Sally, 86 Helen = Manpower hits 155 & Fires 4110 (my flak gets a few kills).
Status - Fires @ 15512 and base @ 0-12-0

Tamworth - 33 Nicks straf the AF on 2nd. No damage.

South Pacific:
2 Brit CVs, CVL, and Force Z are escorting a large TF with 4x AA and 184k in fuel from Wellington, NZ to Melbourne. They are staying far south to avoid detection.

Notes:
Australia - Armoured Regiments upgrading to either Matilda II or M3 Grant/Lee tanks. BFs headed for Sydney for upgrades.
Cape Town - CV Illustrious leaves (11 days to map edge for Australia). 6th Aussie Div leaves and is 16 days to Australian map edge.

[BBfanboy]

He has units going due west from Brisbane but it appears he doesn't want them to enter the line of death hex [next south]. Can he get to Alice Springs going west and not crossing the LOD?

I am hesitant to send valuable ships to Melbourne early in the war [before July 42 ASW upgrades] because the Japanese always seem to post several subs at the entrance to the Tasman Sea or even in the sea itself. Would Adelaide be more risky/too long unloading or too long on the rails for your units?

[ny59giants]

I've felt for some time that he doesn't want to trigger those Emergency Reinforcements. I have support units heading south from Cairns and Townsville that should be able to give me warning as they get to Bourke. I have two Armored Rgts at Sydney getting tank upgrades that will head up there to give me warning. He could drive due west and try to take bases without triggering those reinforcements.

[ny59giants]

May 3, 4, 5: Turns are settling into a routine
Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft;

Subs:
Geraldton - Shark survives ASW attacks, but system damage is over 20 and heads for Melbourne for repairs.
Colombo - I-153 is off base and is not hit by ASW attacks from 2 DDs
S-23 @ Adak sinks a PB with 2 TT hits

CVs:
5 American CVs are @ 182, 134 (11 NE Christmas Island)
CVs spotted at Soerabaja on 5th

India/Burma: [>:][>:]
It looks like this is a quiet front for some time

China:
Yenan - up to 26 Sally hit AF daily

Sian - 27 Oscars sweep daily;

3SE of Ankang has been quiet for a few days now and I have over 700AV in WR hex and another Corp in route.

Sieges:
Batavia - up to 8 Lily daily hits AF followed by a sweep from 8 Zeros

Manila - up to 54 Lily/Sally are hitting troops daily; AV down to 1117

Western Australia:
Perth -
3rd - 19 Sally = 5b, 12r;
4th - 22(2) Sally = 1b, 2s, 8r;
5th - 45 Sally = 2b, 2s, 7r;
Status - 74.8k supply, 608 AV, Forts 4 (64%)

Ground combat at 51,151 (near Albany)

Japanese Shock attack on 5th

Attacking force 264 troops, 0 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 34

Defending force 300 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 56

Allied adjusted defense: 2

Japanese assault odds: 28 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+)

Allied ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
8th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
9th Avn Sup Afd

Geraldton - 9x TF with none larger than 5 ships.

Eastern Australia:
Sydney -
3rd - 36 Zeros sweep; 31 Zero escort in 115 Betty = Light Industry hits 15 & Fires 6204; 57 Sally & 58 Helen = Heavy Industry hits 59 & Fires 6514; 42 Oscar escort in 27 Helen = Heavy Industry hits 23 & Fires 6204;
4th - 36 Zeros sweep; 31 Zero escort in 77 Betty = Mosquito FB.40 factory hits 7, Refinery hits 3, Light Industry hits 4, Fires 1388; 36 Betty = Light Industry hits 4 &
Fires 645; 42 Oscars with 52 Sally & 82 Helen = Heavy Industry hits 89 & Fires 566;
5th - 36 Zeros sweep; 31 Zero with 92 Betty = Mosquito FB.40 factory hits 2, Light Industry hits 3, Fires 186; 19 Betty = Refinery hits 3 & Fires 172; $2 Oscars with 55 Sally & 85 Helen = Heavy Industry hits 71 & Fires 169;
Status - Fires down to 63 and Forts @ 3 (86%)

Ground combat at Charleville (88,154)

Japanese Shock attack on 3rd

Attacking force 384 troops, 0 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 40

Defending force 1830 troops, 16 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Japanese adjusted assault: 72

Allied adjusted defense: 10

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Charleville !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), leaders(-), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+)

Allied ground losses:
572 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 14 (12 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
9th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
2nd RAN Base Force

Line of Death - Screenshot shows he is staying at the line, but not going over. My troops will get hit again and again by his tanks, but they will survive and be rebuilt.

South Pacific: [>:][>:]
Nothing but logistics and base expansions.

Notes:
On 5th, we upgraded to the new Beta Patch.

Pearl - My multiple convoys now have the base just over 1 million supply with over 700k in fuel and forts @ 7.

2nd transport TF with supplies from Cape Town now on map at bottom of map. No sign of enemy interference.

Transports escorted by Brits is 2 days south of Melbourne. Contains 4x AA and fuel.

Gilberts Island group - these remain undeveloped and are a 'possible' invasion target for fall '42.

[ny59giants]

May 5th - North China is static with forces now covering flanks to his recent attacks 3 SE of Ankang.

[ny59giants]

May 5th - India/Burma border is quiet. We are within days of our Monsoon rules and I don't have any spare PPs to get troops over here. I will need to do something over here by early fall.

[ny59giants]

May 6, 7, 8: Sydney attacked in various manner!
Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft;

Subs:
S-28 @ Adak dukes it out on the surface with an xAK. All her torpedoes miss or don't explode! She returns to base without any sinkings.

Sub attack near King Island at 78,173 on 7th

Japanese Ships
SS I-10, hits 2

Allied Ships
CV Indomitable
CA Exeter
CA Cornwall
CL Mauritius
DD Nestor
DD Jupiter
DD Nizam
DD Napier

SS I-10 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Indomitable [X(][X(]
I-10 diving deep ....
DD Jupiter fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Nizam attacking submerged sub ....
DD Napier fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Nizam fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nizam fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nizam fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nizam fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nizam fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

In response, I use 150 PPs to allow two Wirraway groups to upgrade to Hudson (LR). These groups have been training and patrolling using a very good ASW skill.

CVs: [>:][>:]
American CVs are now 4 east of Penrhyn Island

India/Burma: [>:][>:]

China:
Sian - 30 Oscars sweep; 62 1e bombers hit AF on 7th with slight damage done;

Yenan - up to 22 Sallys hit AF daily;

Changsha - 21 Sonia hit AF on 7th;

Sieges:
Batavia - 6 Lily hits AF followed by the tardy Zeros sweep. [;)]

Manila - up to 56 Sally/Lily hits troops and/or AF daily; daily bb attacks have brought the AV down to 1071

Naval bombardment of Manila at 79,77 on 8th

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
O-47A: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
CA Atago
DD Tatsuyuke
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Amatsukaze
DD Hatsukaze

Allied ground losses:
1060 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 69 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 30 (12 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (8 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Resources hits 2
Manpower hits 14
Light Industry hits 2
Repair Shipyard hits 3
Fires 1663
Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 45
Port hits 21
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 2

OUCH!!

Western Australia:
Perth -
6th - 44 Sally hits AF
7th - 48 sally hits AF and troops

Albany - 17 Zeros sweep on 7th;

Eastern Australia:
Sydney -
6th - 27 Zeros sweep, then 25(1) Betty = Fires 28; 20 Betty = Refinery hits 1 & Fires 28; 28 Sally & 22 Helen = Light Industry hits 10 & Fires 16; 42 Oscars with 27 Sally & 25 Helen = Light Industry hits 4 & Fires 16; 36 Helen = Light Industry hits 7 & Fires 28;
7th - 93(1) Betty hit port in multiple strikes = 2x AM, 4x xAKL, 2x ACM sunk; 30 Sally & 34 Helen = Light Industry hits 4 & Fires 4; 18 Helen = Light Industry hits 2 & Fires 4; 21 Sally = Light Industry hits 4 & Fires 4;
8th - back to hitting Manpower and starting fires; 26 Betty = Manpower hits 21 & Fires 1235; 55(1) Betty = Manpower hits 35 & Fires 5607; 17 Betty = Manpower hits 10 & Fires 4766; 25 Helen = Fires 6957; 58 Sally = Light Industry hits 1 & Fires 6464; 27(1) Helen = Light Industry hits 1 & Fires 6464;

Alice Springs - up to 15 Hudson hit the Recon unit one hex out daily

South Pacific:[>:][>:]

Notes:
Three days with not much happening.

[ny59giants]

May 9, 10, 11: First attacks at Perth and Manila
Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft;

Subs:
O16 off Tavoy sinks an xAKL with 1 TT
I-168 is off Sale (SE of Melbourne) on 10th and cannot get a hit on the DDs trying to drop DC on her three times
Porpoise is hit once by a DC from 3 DDs while trying to get into the harbor @ Geraldton

CVs:
American CVs end up one east of Vava'u

India/Burma:[>:]
I'm just moving BFs back and forth to Calcutta to get an upgrade.

China:
Sian - 30 Oscars sweep; up to 64 1e bombers hit AF;

Yenan - up to 26 Sally hits AF daily;

Changsha - up to 5 1e bombers hit AF; 6 Oscars are assigned as escort on 10th;

Afternoon Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 12
Ki-51 Sonia x 13

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb

Getting to predictable can get your pilots killed. [:D]

Sieges:
Batavia - 6 Lily hit AF followed by a sweep of 8 Zeros

Manila - up to 57 Lily/Sally hit the AF and/or troops daily

Ground combat at Manila (79,77) on 10th

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 40145 troops, 446 guns, 461 vehicles, Assault Value = 1112

Defending force 50563 troops, 465 guns, 131 vehicles, Assault Value = 1033

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1304

Allied adjusted defense: 469

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
2570 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 244 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 30 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1642 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 74 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 67 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 32 (2 destroyed, 30 disabled)

Assaulting units:
23rd Division
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
14th Division
10th Garrison Unit
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Fleet
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
6th RF Gun Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
48th Field AA Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
14th Army
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
45th Field AA Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
1st PA Infantry Division
31st Infantry Regiment
71st PA Infantry Division
4th Marine Regiment
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
4th PA Constabulary Regiment
45th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
51st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
91st PA Infantry Division
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry Division
102nd PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment
Cavite USN Base Force
Far East USAAF
PAF Aviation
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
Clark Field AAF Base Force
14th PS Engineer Regiment
Asiatic Fleet
21st PA Infantry Division
192nd Tank Battalion
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
USAFFE
II Philippine Corps
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
Nichols Field AAF Base Force
301st Construction Battalion

Believe it or not, but this is the first deliberate attack here!! [X(]

Western Australia:
Albany - 22 Zeros sweep;

Perth - 24 Sally get one hit on the damaged CL in port on 9th; 45 Sally hit the AF on 11th;

Ground combat at Perth (49,147) on 9th

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 50826 troops, 436 guns, 292 vehicles, Assault Value = 1670

Defending force 23749 troops, 377 guns, 203 vehicles, Assault Value = 624

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese adjusted assault: 1079

Allied adjusted defense: 630

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
2156 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 106 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2190 casualties reported
Squads: 69 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 102 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 33 disabled
Guns lost 77 (35 destroyed, 42 disabled)

Assaulting units:
20th Infantry Regiment
1st Engineer Co
7th Ind.Tank Brigade
Imperial Guards Division
9th Infantry Regiment
4th Engineer Co
48th Division
4th Guards Division

Defending units:
3rd Australian Brigade
13th Australian Brigade
7th RAA Coastal Artillery Regiment
Freemantle Fortress
18th British Division
108th Anti Tank Regiment
10th Avn Sup Afd
2/16th Field Regiment
4th RAN Base Force
III Australian
1st RAAF M/W Sqn

Some concerned looks are exchanged at Allied HQ when a report comes in about that attack. The ability of this base to hold for another month may be in jeopardy as the 'dice gods' did not look kindly on the Allies. [X(] [:(] Rather than be 67% towards a level 4 fort, we are back to just a level 3 fort.

Eastern Australia:
Sydney -
9th - 28(1) Betty = Manpower hits 25 & Fires 6674; 13(1) Betty = Manpower hits 10 & Fires 8614; 78 Helen = Manpower hits 112 & Fires 15028; 30(1) Sally = Manpower hits 17 & Fires 44584;
10th - 41(1) Helen = Manpower hits 46 & Fires 19316; 27 Sally = Manpower hits 11 & Fires 24861; 33(1) Helen = Manpower hits 6 & Fires 26526;
11th - no air attacks!! Fires are down to 1488

Alice Spring - one hex out, up to 16 Hudsons hit Recon unit daily;

Cooktown - a BF lands on 10th and base falls on 11th

South Pacific:
Allied transport TF are still heading for Wellington for re-fuel and then to be guarded by CVs to Australia.

Notes:
Melbourne - first reinforcement TF reaches here (BF & 3x AA)and some head up (TKs) to Adelaile to unload fuel.

Sydney - the 3x AA units reach here on 11th. I now have 132 heavy AA guns and 113 medium AA guns. Bring on the bombers!!

[ny59giants]

May 12, 13, 14:
Another attack at Perth. [:(]
Massacre over Sian!! [:D]
Tank Battle!!

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft;

Subs:
S-23 @ Adak exchanges gunfire with an xAK. No TT are fired! [&:]
I-2 is 5 SW of Melbourne and my 3 PC ASW TF is unable to hit her
KXVIII @ 3 NW of Geraldton hits an xAK with troops with 1 TT (no sinking sounds)
KXV off Geraldton gets 2 TT hits on xAK (sunk)

CVs:
Mini-KB is spotted 3 hexes NW of Geraldton on 12th. She is probably there to ensure the safe passage of the Guards Tank Division unloading @ Geraldton. She is only seen for one day.
American CVs had re-fueled at Vava'u and are now 24 hexes slight north of due east from Aukland (should arrive in 2 1/2 days).

India/Burma: [>:][>:]

China:
Yenan - up to 28 Sally hit AF daily

Sian -
12th - 27 Oscars sweep; 70 1e bombers hit AF in multiple strikes= 13b, 9s, 49r; 3 Oscars sweep;
13th -

Japanese aircraft
Ki-30 Ann x 12
Ki-32 Mary x 4
Ki-36 Ida x 25
Ki-51 Sonia x 3

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 43
P-43A-1 Lancer x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann: 5 destroyed
Ki-36 Ida: 7 destroyed

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 11

17 Mary come in second wave with 7 shot down; 2 of 9 Sonia are lost in third wave;
14th - no attacks or sweeps

Changsha -

Changsha , at 82,52 on 12th

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 10
Ki-51 Sonia x 12

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 8

The set up...

13th - 27 & 3 Oscars sweep an empty sky!![:)]
14th - 27 & 3 Oscars sweep

Sieges:
Batavia - 4 Lily hit AF followed by 8 Zeros on sweep

Manila - up to 57 Lily/Sally hit AF and/or troops daily; daily bb attacks have the AV is down to 836

Western Australia:
Perth - 44(1) Sally = 1s, 16r; 12 Zero with 45(3) Sally = 9b, 1s, 18r;

Ground combat at Perth (49,147) on 13th

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 50191 troops, 436 guns, 292 vehicles, Assault Value = 1650

Defending force 22698 troops, 357 guns, 210 vehicles, Assault Value = 562

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1296

Allied adjusted defense: 1255

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), preparation(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1078 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 78 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
2025 casualties reported
Squads: 50 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 91 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 32 disabled
Guns lost 68 (40 destroyed, 28 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th Engineer Co
7th Ind.Tank Brigade
Imperial Guards Division
1st Engineer Co
9th Infantry Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
48th Division
2nd Tank Regiment
4th Guards Division

Defending units:
13th Australian Brigade
7th RAA Coastal Artillery Regiment
3rd Australian Brigade
Freemantle Fortress
18th British Division
2/16th Field Regiment
4th RAN Base Force
10th Avn Sup Afd
III Australian
108th Anti Tank Regiment
1st RAAF M/W Sqn

I changed the leaders of the 18th UK Div and 3rd Corp HQ after the first attack. It seemed to help here, but the forts are reduced to 2. Intel on 9th had indicated that Guards Tank Division was in route (loading on xAKs) and with results like this, it may not be needed. Crap!![:(] I had pulled in over 75k in supplies expecting a long siege. He will not get most of it in a few days to couple of weeks. He had moved troops in and out so i have no hexsides to retreat out through.

49 Sally hit AF on 14th (Geraldton AF is now at 4 so no more reduced bomb loads); Base is at 0-18-13

Eastern Australia:
Bourke -
12th - 42 Oscars with 21 Helen hit a BF still in 'Move' Mode = 54c; followed by another 27 Helen = 135c; 23 more Helen = 76c; 11 Sally & 35 Helen = 165 c;
13th - 41 Oscars with 29(1) Sally & 22(1) Helen vs Aussie Cav Bde = 175c; 27(2) Helen = 19c; 22 Helen = 45c; 36(1) Helen = 33c;

Ground combat at Bourke (86,160) on 13th

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 2928 troops, 0 guns, 544 vehicles, Assault Value = 308

Defending force 20045 troops, 138 guns, 710 vehicles, Assault Value = 600

Japanese adjusted assault: 259

Allied adjusted defense: 254

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 123 (30 destroyed, 93 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1130 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 118 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 95 (16 destroyed, 79 disabled)

Assaulting units:
23rd Tank Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
10th Tank Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
5th Guards Cav Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Aus Cav Brigade
754th Tank Battalion
4th Aus Cav Brigade
2/10th Armoured Regiment
Torres Strait Battalion
2/5th Armoured Regiment
2/9th Armoured Regiment
2/1st Ind Coy
49th Australian Battalion
46th Construction Regiment
38th Base Group
1st RAAF Base Force
14th RAAF Base Force
49th Base Group
6th RAN Base Force
4th Australian Lt AA Regiment

My new M3 Grant/Lee tanks did very well!

Outside Alice Springs - up to 13 Hudsons hit Recon daily

South Pacific: Just transports and subs leaving Aukland after repairs and/or 4/42 upgrades.

Notes:
Air losses on 13th were Japan 68 to Allies 1.

After a short mourning period over the multiple ground battles at Perth, I have to decide how to deal with this set back. 6th Aussie Div TF will enter western map edge in 4 days. I have the 254th & 255 Armored Bde at Karachi to be loaded for Cape Town and eventually Australia. The last part of Americal Division is headed for Wellington with 32nd Div (multiple TF about 6 days out from Wellington). These TF will make southern Australia strong enough to resist anything thrown at it.

I'm in uncharted waters and I think most players who read this AAR are on how to defend southern Australia when you're pretty sure the Japanese players will NOT cross the line to trigger Emergency Reinforcements. He will need to keep some troops (how many is unknown in western Australia) and then a good number from Brisbane north to prevent reconquest.

I need suggestions from the readers on this area.

Subs and Tasmania - I think the screenshot shows a significant commitment of subs for a partial blockade.

[BBfanboy]

I am not very experienced so take anything I say with a slug of good Scotch ...
It seems to me that he is not intent on conquering the whole country, he is taking the half above the emergency reinforcement line and using bombers to get VPs and attrit/delay your troops. He may dig in and just try to hold his conquests.
You are already bringing all the AA you can to bear. You need to bring in fighters and 4E bombers to hit his airfields. KB cannot hang around all the time and once his LBA is beaten back you can bring in more troops - perhaps land at Townsville. It may be late 1942 before you have the aircraft and troops to do anything concrete.
Of course, mine his ports as often as you can. He needs safe ports and rail lines to feed his army and bombers.
Meanwhile, harass him with bombardments and raids wherever KB isn't.
Cheers mate!

[JocMeister]

Micheal,

I will try and give my thought on this but I´m not very experienced either as you know! [:)]

Its a shame you will loose Perth. But given the bigger view of things I don´t think it will matter much in the end. I have given it some though lately and his invasion of OZ might actually be something good for you in the long run. In all essence as long as you can starve off auto victory (if you are playing for that)he has brough his troops to a place where you can fight them. With equally long supply chains! [:D]

I find I´m really starting to dislike this whole "invasion trigger line" mechanics. There should be a randomness to it to avoid situations like this.

Anyway, its clear he is intending to cut of the "south hump" from the rest of OZ. He can continue to move west until he has cut off the rail 1 hex south of Port Augusta. If you want to stop that I think Broken Hill or the hex SE of Port Augusta is the place to do it. This would only be neccecary if you can/want to keep on to the rail line between Kalgoorlie and Port Augusta. Then again it might be worth it just to deny him the use of the line. You could also easily exploit his unwillingness to move south of the line. You know he won´t move there so any units south of the line is "safe". Its a long rail line for him to guard... [:D]

I think he has made a mistake by being so obvious in his intentions to not trigger any reinforcements. This could free up troops for you and give you the opportunity to concentrate your own forces! He has put up a much better defense of Sydney for you then you could ever do yourself! [:)] I think the question for you now is wether or not you should try and keep on to Kalgoorlie and Port Augusta.

You could also just sit back, let him have everything north of the trigger line and just fight defensively for now. But as BBfanboy says you need to get your fighters to OZ right away to try and stop the strat bombing.

Will you seek battle with the KB if given the opportunity? If you can knock the KB out of the equation his position will be very problematic. I would say go for it...You can afford to gamble a bit but he can´t! I think its the Jap players that should fear the allied carriers and not the other way around. Having carriers as the allies are nice but you can do without them. Not so for the Japanese! [:'(]

[Crackaces]

I find I´m really starting to dislike this whole "invasion trigger line" mechanics. There should be a randomness to it to avoid situations like this.

I have suggested this months ago ...[;)] Actually my thought is random lines to stop withdrawals from that theater with the thought that the IJ start looking more dangerious than Hitler .. then a second set of random lines that trigger interventions .. the IJ are more dangerious than Hitler ... I believe this needs to be only known by the game to prevent gameyness

I guess we can reason that a Marta Hari has inflitrated the Allied command and the exact points that trigger this concern are known to the IJ [:'(]