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Malaya

There's been no resistance either on ground or in the air. The 5th div is one day away from taking the last base to clear the rail line and will strat down to join the rest. About 1 week before crossing into Singapore.

Singapore AA is major. Even at 23 thousand feet, 1/2 of my planes are returning damaged. I'm still hitting the airfields and will shift to ground when the 25th Army has crossed the river.

Java

I'm bombarding Soerabaja and Batavia to check the combat strength. Recon shows 14k Allied troops in Batavia and 6k troops in Soerabaja. I'm surprised to be finding my Armor Regiments encountering more troops than I would expect in other the Dutch cities. Considering the lack of defense in Malaya, Luzon and Burma, I would have expected all troops in one or both of these two cities. The 38th Division is about 2 days away from landing at Merak.

SoPac

Operations have begun under the cover of the KB and Mini-KB1. There's a second Mini-KB(2) with 4 CVL and another 3 CVE. They are in Japan right now.

Moresby has an OZ brigade, so I'm committing another Assault Div to it which should bring the force up to bout 360 AV. Rabaul fell easily. Landings at Shortlands and Tulagi. The 1st Maizuru Assault div is moving down for the next invasion, which will be Espirito Santo.

Burma

Multiple divisions moving into area. I'm very surprised to see Rangoon not even defended. Maybe he doesn't realize that it's a supply source.

Luzon

Clark fell easily. Waiting on 33rd Regiment to finish it's march up the peninsula in order to form the 16th Division. Then I'll try a few attacks and see how things go. Daily air bombardments of Manila will continue. There's no Allied air cover at all.

Summary

I'm not sure what to make of my opponent.

In terms of Subs, he's doing a good job overall. He's moving them into ports or around key ports. He dumped some mines in Southern Java which cost me an AO (which shouldn't have been there in the first place, my bad). My float planes are all set to ASW, so I'm finding his subs and moving ASW fleets out to meet him. Overall, I've hit a few subs, but otherwise not much of anything. His subs are concentrated right now around Cam Ranh, Java and SoPac. Otherwise, I'm not even seeing subs and setting my float planes to 100% ASW training.

My ship losses have been light. Air losses are about 200 mostly due to AA and mostly bombers. I lost the minesweepers trying to sweep Batavia and forgetting about the coastal guns.

He's retreating in places where I wouldn't and not retreating in places I would. Doing a good job with Chinese land forces and then forgetting CAP on Sian.

There's been so little air war, but that will change with the AVG. I've shifted some Oscars over to that area because the Nicks will get annihilated.

There's been little surface combat. I haven't seen hardly an allied ship since the first week of the war.

After SoPac, CenPac will be next. Getting all sorts of ENG units into the both SoPac and CenPac.

I'm not sure what I want to do with Phase 3. Northern OZ and a few raids on the coasts of OZ are in order. I'll be taking the Aleutian Islands, just to deny him those bases. My thoughts are Alaska, but I'm really starting to think stop, build up, conserve fuel and supply and form quick reaction forces for defense. The Naval Assault Divs provide for a very good reaction force.

Hi Vic,

Just wanted to drop by and let you know I was following along. Keep up the good work!

Wa

Hey there. I've been following your AAR. Nice try on the charge of the light brigade. I posted on George's AAR that I would have done the same thing.

Damn. I just FOUND this AAR. Read the whole thing.

You really made me laugh regarding some of the early entries about shipping being everywhere you DON'T need it. Hope the Mod is keeping you going. Appreciate the comment that it has forced you to be aware of the changes!

NOTE: Adm Yamamoto is Navy Minister not Vice-Naval Minister. He is the man at the TOP. This is why most of this happens!

No strong manly 'HUZZAH' here. We're talking a grand and powerful "BANZAI!"

January 3rd, 1942

Yamamoto is in a large conference room in Tokyo, sitting at the head of an enormous desk. Economic ministers line the sides, looking nervous and shifting uncomfortably.

The Minister of the Navy, after promotion by Emperor John 3rd, is holding onto a stack of papers, reviewing economic reports. The room is silent except the sound of Yamamoto slamming report after report onto the desk. After reviewing the reports, he pulls a large ball bearing from his pocket and rolls it down the enormous desk. All eyes are on the ball, which moves slowly down the table, veering right and then left and finally falls on the lap of Vehicle Minister Tano. Tano gasps. Everyone else is relieved.

“Well?” Yamamoto raises one eyebrow, glaring at him.

“We’ve converted quite a bit of Sake factories to Vehicles, but paper clips and glue are taking up a lot of HI as well. Our bombers are getting shot to pieces over Singapore by enemy flak. Plus we didn’t have enough supply to expand, requested more supply and the engine won’t stop giving them supply so we’ve had to adjust that and now our supply is below what we need. ” Tano breathes a sigh of relief to be over.

“Better to sit all night than to go to bed with a dragon.” Yamamoto says, still glaring. He nods his head at Tano and looks General Suzaki of Logistics. Tano meekly takes the ball and rolls it in Suzaki’s direction.

Suzaki is white. He ran out of Sake last week and is prone to seizures now. Lieutenant Kurazowa is standing behind him. Kurazowa whispers in his ear. “We set multiple convoys for resources and oil out of Shanghai and Fusan but it looks like we’ve already drained down China stockpiles. We have a half a million fuel in China but at current use, that will last 1 ½ years. We do have 1 million resources yet to be pulled in Hokkaido!’ Suzaki looks around the room hopeful, but realizes what everyone is thinking, becomes white again and start seizing. Kurazowa quickly interjects, “We’ve transferred more convoys over to Hokkaido.”

“One moon shows in every pool, in every pool the one moon.” Yamamoto pauses for effect, seeing the blanks faces, and continues, “We need to hire an accountant to get this economy in order. We need Cannonfodder.” Yamamoto doesn’t care that no one knows who Cannonfodder is. His visions are never wrong and he’s done this war many, many times. “Get the resources into Japan to maintain or expand current HI. Fix the supply situation to maintain oil and fuel levels. Shut off all non-essentials. It’s my plan to invade Alaska and Canada “ The tension in the room increases significantly. “Even a good thing isn't as good as nothing”

The ministers are relieved that the meeting is over and start leaving the room, having no idea what any of his remarks mean.

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Damn. I just FOUND this AAR. Read the whole thing.

You really made me laugh regarding some of the early entries about shipping being everywhere you DON'T need it. Hope the Mod is keeping you going. Appreciate the comment that it has forced you to be aware of the changes!

NOTE: Adm Yamamoto is Navy Minister not Vice-Naval Minister. He is the man at the TOP. This is why most of this happens!

No strong manly 'HUZZAH' here. We're talking a grand and powerful "BANZAI!"

Thanks!

January 4th, 1942.

Not much happening in Air or Sea. Lost another AO doing a stupid move. The TF ran right over a spot with a known sub and the escorts were out of depth charges. Sigh. So much to track in this game.

Lots happening on Land

Soerabaja falls easily. The 90th and Bad-a-san take it on the chin and will do Garrison for a while. All industry captured without any damage. About 40k of Fuel and 5k of oil.


Ground combat at Soerabaja (56,104)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19633 troops, 188 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 511

Defending force 10085 troops, 123 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 142

Japanese adjusted assault: 599

Allied adjusted defense: 56

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Soerabaja !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Do-24K-1: 2 destroyed
PBY-5 Catalina: 2 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
852 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 57 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
4037 casualties reported
Squads: 99 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 86 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 57 (57 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 15
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
90th Infantry Regiment
1st Ind Engineer Regiment
2nd Division
Bandasan SNLF
16th Army
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
Roodenburg Cdo
XIII KNIL Battalion
III Landstorm Cdo
II Marechausse Cdo
II Landstorm Cdo
III KNIL Battalion
3rd Cav Sqdn
Marinier Battalion
NI-MLD
VIII KNIL Battalion
Soerabaja Defenses
Madoeng Defenses
A-II-Ld AA Battalion
HQ III KNIL Division
Soerabaja KM Base Force
5th Cav Sqdn
2e-VLG-II Sup Afd

Madioen falls easily. 34 planes destroyed on the ground.

Ground combat at Madioen (54,104)

Japanese Deliberate attack

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

Defending force 891 troops, 11 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 15

Japanese adjusted assault: 16

Allied adjusted defense: 7

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Madioen !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
75A-7 Hawk: 10 destroyed
CW-21B Demon: 10 destroyed
B-339D: 6 destroyed
L-18 Lodestar: 8 destroyed

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

Allied ground losses:
289 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (4 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Assaulting units:
8th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
6th Cav Sqdn
2e-VLG-IV Sup Afd
1e-VLG-IV Sup Afd
3e-VLG-IV Sup Afd

In China, the 1st Army is still encountering 1-2 or 1-3 attacks but destroying more squads. Attrition may be in order so I'm continuing the 1-2 attacks. If I can break through this defense, he'll be force to pull back on along the entire line defending Sian. The armor regiments continue to push into far northern China and the Mongolians are moving West towards Lanchow. BTS 2.4 lowered some of the garrison requirements. That will free up some more troops for the push on Sian.

Ground combat at 87,41 (near Tsiaotso)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32726 troops, 313 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 682

Defending force 27527 troops, 184 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 392

Japanese adjusted assault: 223

Allied adjusted defense: 517

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1504 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 111 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
693 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
63rd Division
41st Division
37th Division
5th Armored Car Co
North China Area Army
1st Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
33rd Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
43rd Chinese Corps
7th Group Army
8th Group Army

Operation Canada Isn't a Real Country Anyway

This operation name is stolen from a South Park Movie. No offense meant to any Canadians.

I'm considering an invasion of Canada. Going through all the main objects and risk/reward.

To do this, all of Aleutions need to be taken, but first objective would be Dutch Harbor with a deep strike out of Japan. From here, LBA can dominate the area and the airbase could be quickly upgraded to level 4.

Alaska Planning

The second phase would be denying him airbases in the Gulf of Alaska, and like the Aleutions, all bases would eventually be taken, but this would be initial landings. All other US/CW Bases are at 0 air field level currently.

Prince Rupert would be the key for Canada. The port and airbases would have to be built up, require Naval Support, Construction and Air supprt to maintain operations in the region. Surrounding bases taken and built up for Vancouver.

Canada Planning

Without a deep push into Canada for the fuel and supply from Calgary/Edmonton, my guess is that this entire operation could be considered a complete failure as it will cost too fuel and supply from Japan, create POWs from lack of supply and end up shortening the war.

I'm guessing that Vancouver has CD guns. It's definitely mined. Could be an ugly invasion and look at the defensive terrain between Prince Rupert and Edmonton/Calgary. That's ugly also.

The entire 25th Army (all 4 divs at a minimum, more from Manchuko) would be needed, leaving defense of Burma/Singapore very light, plus Armor Regiments, Air and Naval Support, AKEs, Construction Engineers, etc...and of course the KB, which could raid further south than Seattle down to SF possibly LA. I lived in LA and hated it, so I'm happy with that. I worked in SF for a long time, but would love to bomb out a few places there.

To show that this game is much like real life work, I have to do a risk/reward analysis and determine risk management along with a project plan required for this type of operation.

Positives: Big VP, Strategic Initiative forcing Bill to respond and adjust, Damage US/CW Economy. Fuel and Supply source. If I want to take the risk, cross line of death for HUGE VP in Seattle area. Been there, hate the weather, would love to prevent grunge music from ever happening. This could achieve Auto-Victory

Negatives: Calgary/Edmonton not achievable costing huge supply/fuel from Japan, shortening the war. At least 1-2 months to get everything shifted and in place, meaning a March/April time frame to begin the operation. Supply lines could be cut and I have an entire Army now as POWs. Once it's obvious what I'm doing, he could commit his deathstar to SoPac or Burma/Singapore area with only my LBA to defend, which requires build up the airbases in Burma/Malaya/Java area quickly.

Should I? Should I not? Should I? Should I not? Same questions I've asked myself about getting married.

Easy for me to say, but go for it! Banzai!

Whoa! [X(]

Big VP, Strategic Initiative forcing Bill to respond and adjust, Damage US/CW Economy. Fuel and Supply source. If I want to take the risk, cross line of death for HUGE VP in Seattle area. Been there, hate the weather, would love to prevent grunge music from ever happening. This could achieve Auto-Victory

Add in Allies LOSING production of B-17Gs and B-29s "IF" you capture Seattle. Almost thought this was a good thing for you until I looked at the production and replacement numbers. The B-17Gs don't produce until 9/45 and the B-29 factory is just for one model, so its not worth the cost to you by triggering Emergency Allied Reinforcements. Check on Emergency Reinforcements for USA with ChickenBoy. I think he has links to all of them.

Thanks.

Seattle is out of the picture unless I'm going for Auto-Victory or I want to do humanity a service and stop grunge music. Even Auto-Victory may not be worth it. The grunge music might be.

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Whoa! [X(]

Whoa doesn't help me, LOL. This is an all or nothing operation. It's not likely to extricate forces quickly once they are inland. The question is Edmonton/Calgary achievable?

January 5th, 1942

1st Army is still causing more than it's getting.

Ground combat at 87,41 (near Tsiaotso)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31661 troops, 313 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 572

Defending force 27075 troops, 184 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 369

Japanese adjusted assault: 104

Allied adjusted defense: 415

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
1326 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 140 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Allied ground losses:
726 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 57 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Assaulting units:
41st Division
63rd Division
37th Division
5th Armored Car Co
North China Area Army
1st Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
1st Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
43rd Chinese Corps
7th Group Army
8th Group Army

First pop at Moresby
Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11232 troops, 192 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value = 376

Defending force 7927 troops, 92 guns, 39 vehicles, Assault Value = 206

Japanese adjusted assault: 132

Allied adjusted defense: 195

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1168 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 97 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
302 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st China Assault Division
1st Sasebo Assault Division

Defending units:
Lark Force
NG Vol Rifles Battalion
2/1st Ind Coy
30th Australian Brigade
14th RAAF Base Sqdn
Rabaul Base Force
Papuan Inf Battalion
Moresby RAN Stn Base Force
13th Fld RAA Regiment
Port Moresby Coastal Gun Battalion

Far North China
round combat at 85,27 (near Kiuchuan)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 2688 troops, 0 guns, 497 vehicles, Assault Value = 280

Defending force 6154 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 133

Japanese adjusted assault: 331

Allied adjusted defense: 25

Japanese assault odds: 13 to 1

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

Allied ground losses:
2636 casualties reported
Squads: 64 destroyed, 68 disabled
Non Combat: 99 destroyed, 75 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 18 (8 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
5th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
10th Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
11th Chinese Corps
17th Group Army

And this is not good. This mod enables Allies to purchase our airframes in some manner I'm clueless on. looks like the AVG got an upgrade. This little fighter is a monster with a 24 gun rating. My poor little Oscars will take it on the nose. Transfering at least 1 Sentai of Zeroes, possibly two to help out with this new menace

Morning Air attack on Sian , at 83,41

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 17

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-43-Ib Oscar sweeping at 21000 feet

CAP engaged:
No.67 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes