JFB in charge of the USN??? BtS Lite ver. 4.5 Kitakami (A) vs Falken (J)

[Kitakami]

Ok... report for Dec 9, 1941:

2 CarDivs from KB are 5 hexes NW of Midway. 1 CarDiv is 6 hexes east of Manila (trying to keep tabs on them).

A dreadful day for the thundering herd. Between subs, surface forces, and a CarDiv from KB, the Allied losses were 12 xAKL, 10 xAK, 4 xAP, 1 TK, 1 AO, 1 AG, 1 AGP, 1 AVD, 2 AS, 2 AM, 2 SS, 1 DD (the damaged one from Hong Kong, the second one is still running).

Besides that, Davao, Kota Bharu, Port Blair, Ocean Island, Tarawa, and Guam were lost. In Kota Bharu the 8th Indian brigade was destroyed, so the 9th Indian Division will not be reconstituted. That is an inconvenience. Also, I had sent a British fighter unit to Port Blair, hoping that it would protect the place from air assault. Alas, that was not to be, and the unit was lost along with the base.

In Malaya, only Victoria Point and Kota Bharu have beeb lost, and no other bases have been reached by Japanese forces so far. In Borneo, only Miri and Brunei have been invaded, although they have not been lost yet. In the Philippines, Davao and Laoag have been lost, and Vigan, Aparri, and Naga will fall this turn. In the DEI, Sorong will fall this turn. There are Japanese troops in Kavieng now, and Rabaul was bombarded. In the Pacific, Wake was bombarded, and there are Japanese troops moving that way.

It seems that China will be quiet for a while (except for air bombardments), which is fine with me. There are enemy troop movements, but most of them are away from the front lines, at least for the time being.

In the air, if it had not been for the loss of the British fighters, it would have been a decent turn. These are the turn's losses: 17 Betty, 17 Huricane Ib Trop, 11 P-40E, 10 Zero, 8 Nell, 8 Val, 7 Sally, 4 Blenheim I, 3 Kate, 3 P-40B, 2 Topsy, 2 Lodestar and a number of sigletons. I do not think I can sustain that tempo in the Philippines, but I will do my best. Total pilot losses so far are 1 MIA, 28 WIA, 24 KIA. Losses for the turn were 7 WIA, 4 KIA.

Unescorted transport ships of all types are moving everywhere. Las turn my highest-numbered TF was 899. I think there a few less this turn, but the seas are still full of Allied shipping scrambling for cover. We will see how much of that can be saved.

Will post again as soon as I have word of turn 3.

[BBfanboy]

Re: the TF numbers - you share them with the Japanese so you did not have 899 TFs in operation!
The key thing is that from game start TF 1 is KB. Once you get one of your TFs with TF 1 number, it means KB has disbanded somewhere ... useful info.

[Kitakami]

Ok... just ran the turn 3 combat report. Turn is not here yet, but this is what I see:

IJN CVLs attack British ships near and at Palembang. I lost one xAP and maybe one more (out of six). I also may have lost CL Mauritius. But I did transport 223 RAF group (or most of it) and an engineer unit to Palembang, so it was not a total waste. Will need to adjust my forces there (like... RUN! ;p).

Kuantan finally sees enemy troops landing. I had evacuated everything but a token force from there, and will rail those troops to Singapore in a few days. The one thing I reared, a Mersing Landing, did not materialize, at least not in time to matter.

The thundering herd seems to have had far less losses this turn. Will post numbers when I have them. On the other hand, Wake and a number of minor bases all around were lost. Only one attack in China, plus Hog Kong, which will fall soon (forts down to 1, last Japanese attack at 2-1).

Ten brave torpedo boats faced the blockading ships off Manila. Even though combat started at 2k yards, all I got was a hit on one of the boats, and zero hits on the enemy, sadly.

At least one CarDiv (maybe 2) from KB is 4 hexes or so west of Midway. This tells me my esteemed opponent might want to try and grab it right from the start. Another one is east of the Philippines, but did move south a bit (now NE of Mindanao). It is probably following the thundering herd.

In the air, the Allies are giving about as good as they are getting, especially in the PI. Losses are way down on both sides, which actually helps me, as my damaged planes have time to get repaired. Need to check fatigue though, as I am doing LRCAP at range 2 from 3 airfields.

More when I get the turn.

QUESTIONS:

- Is it worth to try and hold on to Midway?
- If so, how should I go about it?

Thanks!

[John 3rd]

Did Wake hold any better with the change in Forts?

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Did Wake hold any better with the change in Forts?

Not really, as the Japanese application of force was great. An Assault Division is too much for the Wake garrison:

Dec 11:

Night Naval bombardment of Wake Island at 136,98

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga

Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

BB Hyuga firing at 141st USN Stn Base Force

Dec 12:

Pre-Invasion action off Wake Island (136,98) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

18 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
DD Hayate
DD Oite
AMC Kongo Maru

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

CL Yubari firing at Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion
Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion firing at CL Yubari
DD Hayate firing at Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion
Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion firing at DD Hayate
DD Oite firing at Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion
DD Hayate fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

- - - - -

Pre-Invasion action off Wake Island (136,98)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

18 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Borneo Maru, Shell hits 2
PB Kohuku Maru
PB Fukui Maru
xAK Havana Maru

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

5in Mk 15 CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Borneo Maru at 5,000 yards
PB Fukui Maru firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
5in Mk 15 CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Borneo Maru at 5,000 yards
PB Fukui Maru firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
PB Kohuku Maru fired at enemy guns
PB Fukui Maru fired at enemy guns
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

- - - - -

Amphibious Assault at Wake Island (136,98)

TF 56 troops unloading over beach at Wake Island, 136,98

Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

17 troops of a SNLF Inf Squad 41 accidentally lost during unload of 1st Maizuru Assault Div /3
17 troops of a SNLF Inf Squad 41 accidentally lost during unload of 1st Maizuru Assault Div /4
15 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 1st Maizuru Assault Div /4
15 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 1st Maizuru Assault Div /5
15 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 1st Maizuru Assault Div /6
- - - - -
Invasion Support action off Wake Island (136,98)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
AMC Kongo Maru, Shell hits 3
CL Yubari

5in Mk 15 CD Gun battery firing at AMC Kongo Maru

- - - - -

Invasion Support action off Wake Island (136,98)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Borneo Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
PB Fukui Maru
PB Kohuku Maru
xAK Havana Maru

5in Mk 15 CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Borneo Maru at 10,000 yards
PB Fukui Maru firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards
5in Mk 15 CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Borneo Maru at 10,000 yards
PB Fukui Maru firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards
PB Kohuku Maru fired at enemy guns
PB Fukui Maru fired at enemy guns

- - - - -

Invasion Support action off Wake Island (136,98)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

16 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Borneo Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Fukui Maru
PB Kohuku Maru
xAK Havana Maru, Shell hits 1

5in Mk 15 CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Borneo Maru at 7,000 yards
5in Mk 15 CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Borneo Maru at 7,000 yards
PB Fukui Maru firing to suppress enemy battery at 7,000 yards
5in Mk 15 CD Gun Battery engaging xAK Borneo Maru at 7,000 yards
PB Kohuku Maru fired at enemy guns
PB Fukui Maru fired at enemy troops
5in Mk 15 CD Gun battery firing at xAK Havana Maru

- - - - -

Ground combat at Wake Island (136,98)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 5828 troops, 96 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 190

Defending force 1595 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 22

Japanese adjusted assault: 472

Allied adjusted defense: 2

Japanese assault odds: 236 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Wake Island !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 8 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
264 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2280 casualties reported
Squads: 38 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 91 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 23 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 22 (22 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
1st Maizuru Assault Division

Defending units:
141st USN Stn Base Force
Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion

[traskott]

ORIGINAL: Kitakami}


Besides that, Davao, Kota Bharu, Port Blair, Ocean Island, Tarawa, and Guam were lost. In Kota Bharu the 8th Indian brigade was destroyed, so the 9th Indian Division will not be reconstituted. That is an inconvenience. Also, I had sent a British fighter unit to Port Blair, hoping that it would protect the place from air assault. Alas, that was not to be, and the unit was lost along with the base.

I think you can rebuild any unit if you have, at least, one fragment or subunit.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: traskott
I think you can rebuild any unit if you have, at least, one fragment or subunit.

Sadly the British fighter unit did not have fragments anywhere else. Will take 80 PPs to rebuild. As for the Indian Div, I made the mistake of rebuilding the brigade and saving the game. I just could not go through doing the whole turn again (I do land units last), so it will stay as it is.

Ok, while we wait for turn 3 to be processed, these are the results of turn 2. First, naval loses, which were light.

[Kitakami]

Pilot losses were higher than turn 2, but nothing compared to what I have gone through playing the Japanese side:

[Kitakami]

Air losses continue to favor me. I guess it is because I know what Japan should do, and try to make my opponent pay for it:

[Kitakami]

The CarDiv from KB that was attacking Manila and the Herd seems to have moved towards Java. I do not have anything that can face it. Also, the two that were NE of Midway are now W of Midway by 13 hexes. Let's see if they go back to reload and attack somewhere else, or if they stay there. If they do stay, it means Midway is the next target of 1st Maizuru Assault Division.

Combat report received as I wrote. Will take a look.

[Kitakami]

Ok... just ran the turn 4 combat report. Turn is not here yet, but this is what I see:

IJN CVLs near Palembang do not attack, and back up a couple of hexes. I guess my esteemed opponent expected me to contest his invasion of Northern Borneo. I am unwilling to risk my meagre naval forces on the ff-chance that I catch his units at night. The good thing is that the xAPs probably finished downloading in Palembang, and some full tankers might have escaped towards Perth.

Kuantan is taken, and the base unit there is destroyed. Everything else is either in Temuloh, or close to getting there.

The thundering herd seems to have lost only 2-3 ships. Will post when I know more. In China, only Hog Kong is attacked and, although forts are now at zero, it held for one more turn. Losses have begun to mount up, though.

The 2 CarDivs from Kido Butai that were west of Midway sank AM Penguin. That means they continue moving west. The other one is in the Celebes Sea, where it sank a couple of stragglers.

In the air, the Allies seem to have given about as much as they took.

More when I get the turn.

[John 3rd]

Your aerial fighting is encouraging.

Where have you moved your surface assets? Having PofW, Repulse, Renown, plus the extra American vessels could allow for a PAIR of strong STF to use for causing complete chaos.

[Kitakami]

I may be totally wrong (and lose all at the worst possible moment), but I gathered all the surface forces of the region in Soerbaja, as it has plenty of fuel, and cruisers can reload their magazines. When the KB CarDiv started to move south I sailed all the fighting ships in two task forces, divided by speed. Thus, one is much more powerful than the other. They are out of harm's way for the time being, bidding their time. This will hopefully make my esteemed opponent much more careful in his advance, thus giving me more time.

The two Lexington-class carriers, the CLV's and their escorts, plus the Australian and New Zealander navies are gathering in Australia. I want to explore short and quick counterattacks with them, something I would not be able to do from Pearl. In Pearl (wich is well protected by fighters at this point) I will gather the CVEs and the Yorktown-class carriers, along with the repaired old battlewagons... or at least that is the plan. No plan survives contact with the enemy, however

My objective right now is not destroy enemy materiel. It is to keep his pace of advance as slow as possible. I have shut down all the refineries in the DEI, so that if and when he takes them, he has to ship oil back to the Home Islands, not only fuel. Since in this scenario refineries produce no supply, I lose nothing by it.

Any and all thoughts are welcome, of course. I am but a n00b

[John 3rd]

Your gathering of the CVs and CLV/CAVs sound quite promising. There could be a real chance to put a bloody nose on your opponent if he is not careful.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Kitakami

I may be totally wrong (and lose all at the worst possible moment), but I gathered all the surface forces of the region in Soerbaja, as it has plenty of fuel, and cruisers can reload their magazines. When the KB CarDiv started to move south I sailed all the fighting ships in two task forces, divided by speed. Thus, one is much more powerful than the other. They are out of harm's way for the time being, bidding their time. This will hopefully make my esteemed opponent much more careful in his advance, thus giving me more time.

The two Lexington-class carriers, the CLV's and their escorts, plus the Australian and New Zealander navies are gathering in Australia. I want to explore short and quick counterattacks with them, something I would not be able to do from Pearl. In Pearl (wich is well protected by fighters at this point) I will gather the CVEs and the Yorktown-class carriers, along with the repaired old battlewagons... or at least that is the plan. No plan survives contact with the enemy, however

My objective right now is not destroy enemy materiel. It is to keep his pace of advance as slow as possible. I have shut down all the refineries in the DEI, so that if and when he takes them, he has to ship oil back to the Home Islands, not only fuel. Since in this scenario refineries produce no supply, I lose nothing by it.

Any and all thoughts are welcome, of course. I am but a n00b

Hardly a noob ... you know the IJ inside and out. Let me put it this way ... if this is a tactic you don't like to see from your allied adversaries, then this is likely a good one.

With respect to the oil, ... Unless your opponent pooches his economy badly, this will only result in a few days delay. Once he captures Palembang, he turns on the refineries, and after a few days he is exporting fuel. Now if he is tardy in taking the DEI, well then, that could be another story. So chicken soup: might help your effort, can't hurt.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Your gathering of the CVs and CLV/CAVs sound quite promising. There could be a real chance to put a bloody nose on your opponent if he is not careful.

That is the idea. We will see if I see a worthwhile opening.

[Kitakami]

Hardly a noob ... you know the IJ inside and out. Let me put it this way ... if this is a tactic you don't like to see from your allied adversaries, then this is likely a good one.

With respect to the oil, ... Unless your opponent pooches his economy badly, this will only result in a few days delay. Once he captures Palembang, he turns on the refineries, and after a few days he is exporting fuel. Now if he is tardy in taking the DEI, well then, that could be another story. So chicken soup: might help your effort, can't hurt.

Pax,

I am trying to get as much fuel to Perth as I can. I have lost a number of ships because of this, but what is getting through will help Australia until American fuel begins to arrive.

As for how long it will take for him to take the DEI, we will see. He knows Allied capabilities far better than I do. But I think he is being far more careful in his advance than I would have been, perhaps a holdover from his Allied play.

I will try to defend Palembang in force. I may not have enough time, but at least I will try. At the very least, I will try to damage/sink as many transports as possible with the British torpedo bombers. I know it will eventually fall. The question is... how long will it take?

We will see.

[Kitakami]

Another turn of light losses at sea. Still, there are too many damaged Allied ships in several ports, ships that will eventually be lost. Trying to get them to safety, but many of them will sink.

[Kitakami]

Pilot deaths are still too high for my taste, 5 pilots dead and 3 wounded out of 9 planes lost is too much. I know it is a result of the low quality of the current pilots, but training takes time, and I do not see better pilots coming in in numbers before 2 months or so.

[Kitakami]

Plane losses are light, fortunately, and Japanese losses are higher than Allied ones. It will take months to erode pilot superiority, but I am trying my best to start early. Note the number of Zeroes lost.