To Prome and Back Again... Xargun (J) vs Admiral DadMan (A) [No Admiral DadMan]

[Xargun]

Malaya Theater



IJA troops are moving along good, supported by Sally, Nell and Betty bombers on major attacks. Alor Star just fell and the AF at Georgetown is around 50% damaged. The first wave at Alor will move down to Taiping while some of the troops behind them will break off to Georgetown to take the island base. Not a huge number of troops on Malaya yet, but they are moving forward and I doubt there are enough Brit / Aus troops in Malaya to stop them until perhaps Johore Bahru - where they will all congregate before retreating to Singapore.

The second wave is bringing several more Inf Rgts, more artillery and more tanks. The 2nd waves is south of Saigon and will make landing at Kota Bahru in 2 days.

Behind those reinforcements are more troops (including the 33rd Div) for Burma.

Small invasions TFs are littering the South China Sea heading for multiple locations in Borneo. Kuching just fell and the Sinkawang Invasion lands tomorrow. I have a SC TF and CVL Taiyo supporting the invasion.

Reinforcements just landed at Brunei and that base should fall tomorrow as well. I am starting to prep invasions for the east coast of Borneo and the important oil fields of Tarakan, Samarinda and Balikpapan. Not sure what troops I have for this, but I will find some. These may have to wait a week or so for support troops to catch up as I do not want to take these important bases without the ability to base fighters there on the same turn to protect the valuable oil deposits.

Xargun

[Xargun]

Luzon Theater



IJA troops slowly moving across Luzon kicking allied troops ahead of them as they go. The 65th Inf Bde is at Lingayen and it should fall tomorrow. Then the Bde will move to Clark Field while follow up troops (prob some tanks) will head west to Iba. My 100 or so paratroopers are still at Bataan, but there are at least 5 enemy units there now and no chance to take the base - I will need to remember that idea of using paratroopers to take Bataan quickly in future games as I think it could work.

Troops in the south are moving up beating up the enemy as we go. Troops in the east are moving through the dot-base Bayombong and will head to Cabanatuan.

Dutch subs have been harassing my landings at Vigan and Miri damaging and sinking a few ships. Is it Port level 3 that stops enemy subs from entering the port itself ?

IJA Construction crews are moving from Aparri to Tuguegarao to build a level 2 air field to support air ops.

Xargun

[Xargun]

South Pacific



Well I am positive. At least 2 US CVs are just SW of Juluit sinking a lone xAK at Kwajalein that was dropping off some supplies. Intel on the units show 2 TFs, each with a CV and aircraft so I am fairly sure on the location of all 3 US CVs since one was spotted indirectly east of PH (via CV aircraft harassing my subs there). The RN carriers are coming out to play as well moving through the Solomons chasing what is left of my Tulagi Invasion TF.

With all the carriers in one spot, I am seriously thinking of redirecting the KB from their undisclosed location into the South Pacific to take the chance of finding these carriers and saying hi. Only problem is it will consume a lot of fuel for the attempt. KB is probably a week away at best speed.

With this overwhelming power in the South Pacific it will put a hamper on any future expansion plans in this area for a while.

Xargun

[Xargun]

Celebes Sea Theater



I have made a single landing on Mindanao with only a SNLF with not a ton more troops to throw here yet. Allies only know what I attacked Dadjanges with unless he has recon aircraft in the area which I do not think. The SNLF is moving toward Digos which I hope is undefended. Patrol aircraft show several TFs sitting at Davao and Butuan, so I am sending a dual CA TF to bombard Davao, which should hit the TFs there too - killing the ships is the target and I couldn't remember if a SC TF could penetrate the harbor or not to get them.

A base force just landed at Sorong and will being building an airfield there to support further ops in the area.

2 CVLs and a CVE are providing escort for the Ternate Invasion, along with a small, but powerful SC TF.

CVL Shojo will arrive in Babeldaob next turn and refuel, rearm and then join the baby KB.

Xargun

[Xargun]

I think the war is going fine so far, but I am worried a bit about my HI output. I am currently only +1200 or so HI a day and have no idea how I will pay the 100k HI I need for training pilots on 1/1/42. Will my HI go negative if I cannot cover it? What are the consequences? I am trying to weed through my pilots as fast as I can, but no way I can empty the replacement pools in time.

Xargun

[RangerJoe]

Don't put CVLs or CVs in a base, their air capabilities are reduced. CVEs are fine.

Next time, take Singkawang first and put an Air HQ with torpedoes there. Move in Nells and Zeroes for escorts.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe
Next time, take Singkawang first and put an Air HQ with torpedoes there. Move in Nells and Zeroes for escorts.

To me, this is one of the first things the Empire should do down there; no reason not to land Dec 9th or 10th. Include an Air HQ right in the invasion fleet, and have Netties flying missions by the 11th.

That should clear the waters all the way to Batavia of anything but DDs

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe
Next time, take Singkawang first and put an Air HQ with torpedoes there. Move in Nells and Zeroes for escorts.

To me, this is one of the first things the Empire should do down there; no reason not to land Dec 9th or 10th. Include an Air HQ right in the invasion fleet, and have Netties flying missions by the 11th.

That should clear the waters all the way to Batavia of anything but DDs

Wish I would have thought of that a while ago Oh well.

Xargun

[Xargun]

Managed to get a few turns in over the Thanksgiving holiday so time for some updates. The ever victorious Japanese Empire is expanding with nearly no opposition so far. A few allied subs sitting in ports have sunk a few ships and damaged the BB Kaga, but I have damaged 1 sub and sunk at least one other.

So far the allies are not engaging me in the air over China nor Malaya for that matter - other than some limited bomber runs against Kota Bharu which are getting shredded by Nates and Oscars. I have been sweeping with Zeros over Clark and Bataan and killing P-40 Warhawks every time. He can't have too many of these guys left unless he is dumping them elsewhere and funneling them into Luzon. B-17s attempt to hit my baby KB at Babel and lose more aircraft to fighters and ops. Overall I think I am doing good in the air war.

[Xargun]

The combat war on Malaya is also going good with my troops slowly moving south. Over a 1000 AS is in Malaya and slowly heading to Singapore. Not many more reinforcements for the Malaya theater left to drop off just need time to march and fight their way to Singapore. Northern Borneo is ours with troops landing on the island of Balabac this past turn - they should take the Island unopposed next turn, while another amphib TFs lands at Sandakan. The troops taking Balabac will then return to their transports and assault Puerto Princessa next.

Oil wells are Miri are slowly repairing as are ones at Brunei. I took Brunei but with half the oil damaged (10/20). Right now I am thinking of repairing the oil at Miri only up to around 150 (maybe less) as I don't want to dump too much supply into it. With the Invasion of Palembang on the near horizon (about a week away) this may change, depending on how badly the oil there gets damaged.

A lone TF is carrying 2 Construction units and an arty unit to Bangkok for the Burma theater as well.

[Xargun]

The Luzon Theater is also going well. I have 360+ AS at Clark Field and will be attacking this next turn supported by every bomber within range - mostly LR bombers from Formosa. 40+ Zeros will sweep Clark first (I hope) followed by LR CAP provided by locale Nate and Zero units. In total this is about 1000 AS in Luzon currently. It will be interesting which way the defenders from Clark will retreat - to Bataan or Manila.

The Palembang invasion TFs are heading west past HK and are about a week away from Palmebang. I have directed a full division to the invasion and hope I can capture it in one attack and minimize any disruption to the all important oil fields there. BB Kaga will arrive in HK tomorrow and being repairs from the 2 allied torpedoes she took escorting invasions forces in Luzon. I am hoping she will be repaired in about 2 months.

A special base force will be landing at HK tomorrow, freeing up the engineering units there for combat duty elsewhere.

I took Hong Kong several days ago and it is in perfect shape - nothing was damaged at all. Some merchies and MTBs escaped and disappeared but I have located them and last turn sunk 4 of the MTBs. I hope to clean more of them up this turn as well.

[Xargun]

So the South pacific - not much of a hot spot for this early in the war, but interesting events going on. As I mentioned earlier there is a Brit CV TF and 2 US CV TFs in the area. Now a third US CV TF has showed up east of Kwajalein Island. I spotted it last turn and it doesn't seem to have moved much this past turn. So what is my opponent up to? Putting all 3 US CVs in the south pacific plus the two small Brit Carriers. I am wondering if he is planning an deep raid on Truk? But really not much to gain there. I can easily move the ships out of his way before he gets there and in fact have been moving most ships away from the south.

I understand wanting the US carriers at OZ but why would have bring them so close to me that I easily spot them? What is the point in that? Unless he is thinking of doing a raid on Japan itself with his 4th US CV which he either has now, or will in a day or two.

[Bif1961]

I wouldn't put the damaged BB in HK for repairs as there are several Chinese airfields in easy reach that can host allied bombers to attack your BB in HK dry docks.

[Xargun]

Forces keep moving in Luzon but 600+ Allied strength at Clark holds my attackers at bay before level 1 forts. Am simply bombarding and bombing the airfields until the rest of my troops arrive. I am also bombing the Manila Airfields to prevent fort building there too.

Balabac and Sandakan fall to my troops but the Wake invasion is forced to retreated as they are spotted a day away. I pull them back and was correct, the US CV TF near the Marshalls sprinted north to sit 6 hexes off of Wake - my invasion TF and its escort would have been slaughtered by those carrier aircraft. I will simply put off the Wake invasion for a while until either I can support with carriers of my own or all of his are not in the area.

The Palembang invasion is approaching CRB and should invade in 6 days if everything goes right (and I can count hexes correctly). With KB backing up the invasion I don't see the allies having anything able to stop the invasion, unless they get lucky with some subs or such.

Once Palembang is secured, I am tempted to use the KB to hammer Singapore airfields and port - both are showing 60+ aircraft and 30+ ships. Just not sure if its worth the losses to my naval air power to do so.

Xargun

[RangerJoe]

Well, now you know where to vector your submarines.[:D]

Not to mention breaking off fast SC TFs to race in an attack carriers . . . [X(]

[Bif1961]

Discretion is the better part of valor when it comes to invading Wake. As long as you have eyes on it you can always invade it later.

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Discretion is the better part of valor when it comes to invading Wake. As long as you have eyes on it you can always invade it later.

Thats what I was thinking. I don't want to lose a Bde of troops on a mistake. I have a lone PB sailing around Wake looking for enemies Mostly a sacrificial lamb, but PBs are expendable.

Xargun

[Bif1961]

Gunboat diplomacy on the cheap.

[Xargun]

Troops continue to march onward in Malaya and on Luzon. I have landed an air HQ in Luzon to provide support for fighters and bombers there. This will allow me to use my Anns, Sonias and Sallies instead of using LR Bombers (Nells & Betties).

Davao fell to my invasion and troops are moving in Mindanao pushing north (top of the map).

Palembang invasion should land this next turn. He finally got good recon on the TFs and 20+ bombers attacked in multiple waves from Singerapore. The first set came in and got smacked by my CAP, but somehow the second wave avoided the cap all together (they came in at 2-3k altitude). They picked one of the amphib TFs and hit 3 transports with 500 pound bombs putting some hurt on them. 300+ IJA troops were lost in the attack. Luckily the ships were not too crippled and all 3 should make it to Palembang and be able to at least partially unload before they sink.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Muntok at 52,89

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 52

Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
xAK Achou Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Kosei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Okiyu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
351 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled

I am moving KB closer to Palembang, while the amphibs invade. I am flying LRCAP over Palembang to try to protect the landing ships. I also spotted several allied TFs at Batavia - one reports a CB - so this might be where Force Z ran off to. I alerted my Vals and Kates and set them to range 6 - enough to try to nail them, but not enough to risk flying into Singapore harbor and into a cap trap there. I set a few zeros to escort, but the bulk is flying cap over the invasion TFs and KB itself.

Learned a couple turns ago that Babeldaob is not large enough to replace torpedoes on carriers so my baby KB has like 8 torpedoes between all 3 ships I have my one and only AKE on its way there and it should arrive in a couple days. Though to be honest, I plan on turning those little carriers into floating fighter bases mostly but don't have the zeros to do that yet.

I am diverting the Wake invasion force to Luzon to speed up the fighting there, then we will take Wake once I have some CVs available for escort. And while I'm there, maybe strike at Midway too.

Just got my first batch of LCU reinforcements - mostly base forces in the marshalls, but as always I will take any and all LCUs I can get.

Organizing the debacle that is china is coming along nicely and I should have the south and the bases around Shanghai all set in another couple turns, while troops pile up at the Korean/China border waiting for orders to cross (have to spend PPs). A few large arty units and some tanks have already received orders. I will probably blow my 1000 PPs on more Artillery units over the next turn or two.

Xargun

[Xargun]

More turns and more progress by the every victorious Japanese Empire.

Let's start with some Air Losses



This is a first for me. Usually I am falling behind in the air losses, but so far I am ahead 2:3. I am routinely clearing the skies of P-40s with my sweeping zeros over Luzon. In the last few turns I have mauled the allied bomber force with KB. KB moved next to Bangka island (just east of Palembang) while covering itself and the Palembang invasion TFs with CAP. I was honestly surprised at the numbers of bombers we attracted. Over 40 allied bombers (mostly 139WH-3s) attacked in multiple waves against the invasion TFs. My CAP did a perfect job of not allowing a single bomber through its defensive curtain and shot down 40 of those bombers in one day !! That turn alone saw 44 allied bombers shot down by CAP. This amazing feat allowed me to unload my forces at Palembang without any interference.

Xargun