Wedge Donovan Wins the War: Apbarog(A) vs Aurorus(J) DBB-B

[Bo Rearguard]

ORIGINAL: apbarog

Here's the big fast xAP that escaped from the Philippines and is almost to safety.

Are you sending an ASW escort out to meet her? Nothing more excruciating than getting to the doorstep of safety and tripping. [:D]

[apbarog]

Yes, an escort will meet up. Escorts are few and far between right now, with high priority convoys already formed, but I should be able to manage a short ranged escort from Pearl.

I document this xAP because it is the only ship (so far) to make it out of the Philippines to the east. I do now have a couple others that more recently left, and it looks like Aurorus discontinued his patrols to the east, figuring that he'd gotten just about everything. Which he has. I do have an AS making the run now though.

It's always a challenge to save the ships from Manila. It's more difficult with the non-historical start, giving the enemy an extra turn to set up a blockade. Aurorus did an excellent job. Just a few escapees to the south, southeast, and the one to the east. I did better evacuating Java. I had more time, and started almost immediately. I did fill up with supply and fuel with what I could. I estimate about 60,000 fuel escaped Borneo and Java and made it to Australia.

[apbarog]

18 Dec 41

South of Java, I-165 targets xAKL Mauban, but misses with 2 torpedoes. Mauban is by itself, running away from Java towards India. This is the first confirmed sub sighting south of Java.

Japanese minesweepers start clearing mines at Hong Kong.

Aurorus is determined to sink every last miscellaneous ship out there. The tiny tanker La Estrella Caltex, with 2 yard oilers, delivered fuel to Pakhoi from Manila. On the way back, today, BBs Nagato and Mutsu, with 5 destroyers, found and eliminated them. This area is a sideshow now. No reason to have battleships out here roaming around.

The usual daily bombing in China and Malaysia. It is worth noting that 50 Helens completely eliminated an AT gun regiment near Malacca, in clear terrain, today. This is noted, and as said before, when the Allies start doing this later in the war, the results will be ten times worse.

Enemy task forces are arranged near Banjermasin, Borneo. The Dutch Air Force sortied today. The first strike was the best, when 15 bombers were escorted by 12 fighters, going up against 22 Zeros. The fighters tied up the CAP sufficiently so that 6 B-339D bombers dropped on CV Shokaku. All bombs missed, but it was exciting to watch, and I'm sure was a tense moment for Aurorus.

Followup attacks were unescorted and fragmented, and many Dutch bombers were lost. Total losses for the day were 27 bombers and 12 fighters. Only 1 Zeros was lost. There were a few bombs dropped near BB Haruna, but all missed.

Bombers from the enemy carriers here sank 4 AMs that made it to Balikpapan, then sank some patrol craft at Soerabaja.

Ternate was lost. An enemy bombardment attack at Johore Bahru shows that the defenses are weak.

I've extracted parts of a few airbase support units from Malaysia and the Philippines.

Aurorus got intel on my huge reinforcement convoy that left the West Coast a few days ago. I split the convoy up, hoping that it doesn't happen again.

Catalinas will be setting up patrols in the Solomons in a day or two.

[Nami Koshino]

I was curious if you currently have plans for the future disposition of the passengers of the Pensacola Convoy? That's the transport TF that starts the war near Canton Island escorted by the CA Pensacola. If I recall it consists of some field artillery and air support personnel. Historically they were intended for the Philippines.

They usually seem to end up landing in either Fiji or Australia in the games I've started. Not terribly imaginative but safe.

[apbarog]

Yes, this convoy will be arriving at Sydney in the next turn. I figured it was safer there than to land on one of the South Pacific islands. The artillery units are nice, but aren't going to hold an island by itself.

[apbarog]

19 Dec 41

More enemy minesweepers arrive at Hong Kong and work on the minefield there.

Subs, mostly Dutch, target enemy task forces north and east of Java. No torpedoes hit. No significant damage to the subs.

Miri is invaded.

Johore Bahru troops are bombed, and the base is lost.

Nells from Borneo target patrol boats near Muntok, but miss in missions in the morning and in the afternoon. The TMs will move close to Singapore today to stir up a little trouble.

More of the clear terrain bombing in China. A few units are pocketed south of Nanyang. Nothing that could be done. Persistent bombing slowed the units, preventing an escape. Just one big corp in the group that will eventually be lost. The enemy seems to be headed toward Nanyang. Will have to wait and see if Aurorus pauses to eliminate the encircled enemy, or pushes north. Chinese units are scrambling to form a line in the woods.

Sallys from Malaysia bomb Dutch troops at Medan. Clear terrain means over 100 casualties. If it keeps up, I'll be force to evacuate the base because of the terrain.

A few Dutch bombers go after BB Haruna north of Soerabaja. One bombs but misses. Claudes shoot down most if not all of the planes. The bulk of the Dutch bombers were set to rest today. Most are at Soerabaja. Hoping that the transports to the east come closer, they are set to attack today, and are reinforced (hopefully) with two fighter units that had been resting. Maybe, with some escorts, they can get lucky. It almost happened yesterday.

Bettys from Koepang bomb the port at Broome. No doubt looking for shipping in port. None there.

Malacca and Johore Bahru are lost. The badly damaged destroyer that has been in the shipyard at Singapore, and had been regularly targeted and hit early one, will come out of the shipyard for a final attempted run to safety. 3 days to start that run.

US carriers will start to move south from Hawaii to escort the many troops and cargo ships coming from the West Coast. The US combat TF with Boise and Houston made it to Sydney, and will start repairs, that will take about a week. BB Prince of Wales is approaching Sydney from Melbourne. I did spot an enemy sub southeast of Sydney today. It's too soon to have planes on ASW, since no units start with pilots trained in ASW, so it's a nervous time around the ports. I do have some small ships doing ASW in the area.

[apbarog]

20 Dec 41

A small landing force hits Semarang on Java. Semarang hits back.

TF 62 encounters mine field at Semarang (53,102)

Japanese Ships
DD Yudachi, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
xAP Kamo Maru, Mine hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 101 encounters mine field at Semarang (53,102) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

28 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DMS W-20, Shell hits 4, on fire
DMS W-19, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DMS W-12, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
DMS W-11, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Semarang (53,102) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

56 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
DD Samidare
DD Yudachi, heavy damage
xAP Kamo Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy damage (hit again in a later round)
DD Murasame

There's undoubtedly more to come, but maybe not at Semarang. I had juggled Dutch units on Java, reinforcing some bases that start basically empty. I think that Semarang was one of those.

Near Christmas Island in the South Pacific, I-20 has a good day, finding xAK Ludington by herself, hitting her with a shell and a torpedo, sinking her. Then, in the same hex, I-20 hits tanker Eidsvold with a torpedo, sinking her. Ludington had unloaded supply at Christmas, and was moving to rendezvous with Eidsvold's TF, which was headed back to the West Coast. Both sunk ships were empty.

Near Exmouth, on the northwestern tip of Australia, I-153 finds the very last convoy from Java. AN xAKL was moving with a large number of tiny AMc, helping fuel them on the way to safety. It was a long and slow trip. I-153 hit xAKL Van Diemen twice, sinking her. The AMc's do have enough fuel to make it to Carnavon now. A noble sacrifice.

US sub Pike fires 4 torpedoes at xAK Tatukami Maru near Makassar, but misses.

40 sweeping Zeros down a bunch of P-26s flying CAP at Bataan.

27 Bettys bomb ground troops at Singapore. I had moved every AA unit that I could in Malaysia to Singapore. 11 Bettys are downed by flak. A great result.

More enemy bombing in China and Malaysia.

Near Bandjermasin, Java, 6 Dutch bombers and 7 Hawks escorting attack an enemy carrier TF. 37 fighters fly CAP. 1 bomber gets through and drops bombs on CV Soryu. And misses. Followup attacks do poorly, and most Dutch bombers are shot down. It would be worth the entire Dutch air force to hit a carrier. Instead, the attempts are costing the entire Dutch air force.

Bettys with Zeros fly from Koepang and bomb Derby's port. No ships here either.

KB Kates bomb Semarang's troops, which aren't many.

Davao is lost. The enemy advances in a few places in China. Georgetown is lost. Miri is lost. Sidate is lost. Dili is lost. Autobombardment at Semarang shows that only the Kure 1st SNLF unit has landed there.

[apbarog]

21 Dec 41

Lots of enemy minesweepers clearing recently dropped mines at Singkawang. No success for me there.

Allied subs are active between Java and Borneo. Some don't get to fire. S-38 fires 4 torpedoes at CM Shirataka but misses. Lots of xAKs in this task force. Shirataka probably has troops on board. Dutch sub KXI fires 4 torpedoes at DD Hishu, escorting at least one xAP near Pontianak, but misses.

Zeros sweep Darwin from Timor. No CAP. No fighters anywhere in Australia, for that matter. Just how the war starts. Squadrons are on the way, but it will be awhile.

Nells bomb Palembang's airfield, doing moderate damage.

The sneaky supply route into Pakhoi is officially closed. Petes, likely stationed on Hainan Island, bomb xAKL Sagoland near Hainan as it round the island for Pakhoi. Lots of 30kg bombs sink the ship. Another xAKL turns around to return to Manila. No use wasting 1000 supply.

The usual clear terrain bombing in China.

KB Vals sink an HDML at Soerabaja.

Many KB Kates bomb Dutch troops at Semarang.

A Chinese corp is destroyed south of Nanyang.

The interesting news for today is activity at Christmas Island in the South Pacific. I moved in Catalinas for search and Bolos for ASW today, and spotted subs east and west of the island. But the big surprise was seeing 2 AMCs sitting right on Christmas Island. They were probably hoping to run into the convoy that was attacked by subs yesterday. I expect the AMCs to leave to the northwest. Excellent French destroyer La Triomphant leaves its convoy to the southwest of the island, and will set up a patrol to the west and northwest of Christmas Island. An eastbound convoy will divert to the south of Christmas. US carriers are inbound from the northeast, but are several days away.

Interesting that Aurorus put the AMCs in harm's way. I expect him to run now that he's been spotted.

[apbarog]

South Pacific

[apbarog]

China

[apbarog]

22 Dec 41

3 undamaged DMS start to clear mines at Semarang. The damaged ones are not seen. One is probably sunk. The enemy 4th Infantry Division starts to land.

South of Hawaii, I-169 fires 2 torpedoes at xAP Maori, but misses. Maori is part of a 3 ship task force of fast xAPs, without escort. They'll get to Pearl today.

The usual daily bombing in China. Eventually, my troops will have left the clear terrain. One way or the other. Nanyang is bombed. Many enemy units headed here.

Puerto Princesa and Taytay are invaded.

Enemy deliberate attack at Nanyang. Goes at 1 to 1 and reduces the forts to 1. 595 enemy casualties and 724 Chinese. With so many enemy approaching, the base may hold another day or two, no more. The wood line awaits to the north.

An enemy attack at Pontianak, Borneo fails. Didn't bring enough. Equal casualties.

The AMCs at Christmas Island disappear today, but a convoy to the south reacted away from them, so they went at least somewhat to the south. I'll keep looking.

I'm happy to report that AS Otus and xAP Elcano successfully escaped the Philippines, going southeast, and then south, between Babeldaop and Truk. Also, AS Canopus has successfully escaped also, going east, passing north of Iwo Jima, and will get to the Aleutians soon, providing needed sub support there.

DD Scout, barely floating for days in Singapore, being bombed daily for awhile, and with 99 SYS for a number of days, is leaving Singapore today. It's still badly damaged, but can make 6 hexes a day normally. It will make a short run up the west coast, and hopefully duck into a port, then make a high speed run toward Sabang. I could have done the high speed run today, but it wouldn't have gotten out of bomber range, so I'll take the chance on the first day, and then hopefully be out of range on day two.

10 days until a P-40E squadron appears at Brisbane. (Probably with terrible pilots though)

SigInt reports the previously unseen Imperial Guard Division adjacent to Georgetown, so it is in Malaysia.

[apbarog]

I think that I need to be a bit careful around Christmas Island. Those AMCs could be just bait. There's lots of enemy carriers at Java now, but I can't say that ALL of the carriers are there. I have to remember Allied rule number one: don't lose the carriers. I'm probably being paranoid but Aurorus is an excellent player, and Christmas can be approached from the NW without being seen. Time for caution.

[apbarog]

23 Dec 41

More enemy troops land at Semarang.

Northeast of Soerabaja, 3 TMs sortie out and run into battleships Kongo and Haruna, and friends. Despite the range closing to 3,000 yards, which was maximum visibility, no torpedoes are launched, and 2 of the three TMs are sunk.

Near Geraldton, Australia sub I-166 finds and sinks tiny AMc Bonthorpe. One onf the tiny minesweepers in the last convoy heading down the coast.

West of Christmas Island, I-24 fires 4 torpedoes at destroyer Le Triomphant, but misses. The French ship is looking for the enemy AMCs but doesn't find them today.

Off the Java coast near Tjepoe, Dutch sub KIX spots 2 destroyers, fires 2 torpedoes at DD Murasame, but misses. The sub avoids significant damage. Just west of Makassar, Dutch sub KX finds a couple of DMS, and hits with a torpedo out of four fired. The DMS is almost surely sunk. KX then reattacks the other DMS, but misses with four torps.

China bombing etc. 2 squadrons of AVG are redeploying to China. The bombing is getting closer to where they can be useful. And the defense is becoming more urgent with time.

Earlier in the day, sub KIX engaged a task force but missed. Later, it spots a big transport TF, fires 4 torps at the big ship AV Kunikawa Maru, and gets one hit. Certainly not sunk, but any torpedo hit is worth celebrating at this point.

In Malaysia, Port Dickson is lost.

The enemy bombards at Nanyang, and finds almost no one home. Most headed into the woods. Here's the order of battle to show the largest stack Aurorus has moving in China at the moment. He can add to this stack also, with more nearby.

Assaulting units:
2nd Ind Engineer Regiment
35th Division
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
9th Armored Car Co
110th Division
41st Division
12th Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
13th Tank Regiment
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
1st Mortar Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
11th Army
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
12th Army
11th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
29th Chinese Corps

Semarang, the enemy invasion point on Java, is lost. Puerto Princesa is lost also.

I'm hoping that the minefield laid off shore of Semarang finds some customers today. I'm also hoping to track down the 2 AMCs near Christmas Island. The lone xAP that reacted yesterday headed east today, and it reacted away from the enemy again. So the AMCs are approximately south or southeast of the island. A US carrier is coming south to try an intercept, but the carrier TF was spotted today, but only with a detection level of 1. Aurorus could flee if he sees a carrier, or he could move toward the TF if he thinks it might be a juicy target.

Regardless, if I don't get the AMCs today, the carriers and shipping will move to consolidate and move more safely together.

[apbarog]

24 Dec 41

Lots of mineclearing and troop landing at Semarang. And a bunch of enemy ships are disbanded in the port. Instead of flying all of the Dutch bombers on naval strike, with poor skills, today they will hit the port, with mediocre skills.

AVP Heron, moving to Tarakan as part of an escape plan, runs into a big invasion task force, with 4 cruisers, 4 destroyers, and 3 xAKs. Both sides decline combat. The invasion convoy moves to Tarakan and engages 3 small HDML ships, sinking all easily.

A couple of Dutch subs are damaged in the shallow waters near Java. O19, having already dropped mines near Semarang yesterday, takes some moderate damage and will head to Brisbane for repairs. Soerabaja is very close, but is an easy target for KB, which still sits in range to the north.

I-22 fires 2 torpedoes at Le Triomphant but misses. The destroyer was hunting for the AMCs but no luck today.

The Dutch air force does sortie in numbers. Lots of bombers are downed, and escorting fighters too. About 25 total, for no enemy air lost. Bombers drop on transports at Semarang and battleships off shore. And the Dutch get a hit! 3 T.IVa's drop on xAP Tango Maru, and get a single bomb hit. The ship has guns loaded on it, and a few are destroyed and disabled. At least it's something.

87 Kates then hit Dutch troops at adjacent Djokjakarta. Damage is moderate, not too terrible this time.

Tarakan is then invaded.

China. Bombing. More. The push north of Nanyang isn't starting yet. Enemy units there seem to be turning east and south to clean up the isolated Chinese uints. Could be just a couple of units. Too soon to say where the big push will be. There's definitely growing enemy strength far up in the northeast, where it's incredibly difficult to get Chinese troops to. I expect an enemy push there to the northwest, hoping to cut China in two and isolate the oil production. And maybe conquer the oil. I'm moving what I can but a defense of this area won't be a forward defense. Not enough units. If I stay close to the bases, I can deploy some Allied bombers and hit the enemy in the clear, far from his own bases. That's my plan anyhow. I haven't faced this problem before.

2 squadrons of AVG and a squadron of B-17s are now in China. They'll rest a day and look to hit something tomorrow. You can bet the bombers will hit some enemy in clear terrain.

Nanyang is lost to the huge enemy army. One corp is practically eliminated, with 439 destroyed squads.

The picture tells the story of the hunt for the enemy AMCs. I'll keep hunting as long as it is done in a way that continues to protect the vital convoys nearby.

[apbarog]

25 Dec 41

Enemy troops continue to unload at Tarakan.

Sub Skipjack misses xAK Kiyozumi Maru with 2 torpedoes near Samah. Later, sub Pike misses BB Kirishima southwest of Kendari. I certainly can't complain about US torpedo duds yet. I haven't had a US torpedo hit so far! The Dutch have done somewhat better though.

Singapore's port is bombed, first time in awhile. Only one point of damage, which is repaired immediately, and the forts go to level 2. Forts were stuck at 0 for a long time, with the base being bombed daily, but in the last week, troops have been digging in.

Enemy bombing in China. Today one squadron of AVG is setup to catch some unescorted bombers. 2 B-17 squadrons are set to bomb enemy troops in the clear at Nanyang. Some of the enemy units will be in move mode.

The Dutch make another maximum effort. Every time I've done this, the Dutch lose 20 to 30 planes. No different today. They go for Semarang's port. Just a few bombers make it to drop bombs, and no ships are hit there. Later it still looks like there are ships there though. 2 Dutch fighters sweeps of Semarang kill their first Zero, at a high cost to themselves.

A few Hudsons from Bandjermasin go for a DMS nearby, but miss.

Zamboanga is invaded. A Japanese shock attack at Tarakan fails at a 1 to 2 odds and fort level 1. The base may get to fort level 2 today. 212 enemy losses and 104 Dutch.

Good news in the South Pacific! Carrier aircraft find the 2 enemy AMCs and SBDs sink both ships. The AMCs moved little from yesterday, which I found odd, since they were spotted yesterday.

[apbarog]

Here's a look at the area around Java.

[BBfanboy]

Looks like those AMCs were looking for your convoy routes to feed Pago-Pago and Suva. Nice job catching them. Carriers clean up enemy riff-raff really well! [:)]

[Yaab]

Apbarog, did you augment your PP pool with early withdrawals?

[apbarog]

No Yaab, I did not add to my PP pool by doing early withdrawals. Some probably makes sense. I like to get every air unit doing some kind of training, if it makes sense.

So far, my PP spending has been on the Chinese air transports and the Chinese divisions that can be purchased and reformed as a corp. I'm already getting them out of China and moved to India.

Also, I've bought out just about every Chinese air unit, and flown them to India for long term training.

That's been the bulk of it. I did buy out some B-17s in the Philippines. I am considering buying out P-40s in the Philippines and getting them to India through China. Not sure if it is worth 50 points for units that withdraw in June '42, but as the points accumulate after the Chinese purchases, I may.

I don't mess many naval and air leaders till later. Ground unit leaders replaced as needed, but not yet.

[apbarog]

26 Dec 41

Enemy troops start to land at Namlea, adjacent to Ambon. No defense there.

More troops land at Tarakan, and the 120mm CD gun there gets 3 hits on xAK Aobasan Maru.

More enemy bombing in China, but today the AVG shows up. Near Nanchang, 29 or so Anns go to bomb Chinese troops. 12 H81s appear, and shoot down 20 of the bombers. A handful of bombers survive to drop their bombs. 16 Sonias then appear, and are intercepted by 5 H81s, but the fighters can engage only briefly, and the bombers get through.

This surprise happens in just about every game. But it only happens once. Aurorus will be more careful, no doubt, and may end up committing some Zeros to China. Today the AVG squadron that flew from Changsha will CAP Changsha. The other AVG squadron moves to a nearby town and will LR CAP a possible target today.

The other planned surprise, 2 B-17s squadrons hitting ground troops near Nanyang, didn't occur today, due to weather. They try again tomorrow.

Bettys with Zeros bomb Darwin's airfield. 2 days in a row. Time to pull the air units out. No fighters anywhere around to protect.

Zamboanga was lost. An enemy bombardment at Djokjakarta finds a stronger defense.

Not a bad day. 20 Anns shot down and no friendly aircraft shot down today. Need to take these small victories when we can get them, at this point.