Sailing in harms way: InHarmsWay (J) vs Andav (A) Scen2

[InHarmsWay]

Ah, Singapore, the jewel in the DEI. Every effort has been made to quickly take this fortress! The equivalent of 7 divisions have been sent to reduce this feared fortress. I am also not taking Palembang just yet, more encircling and reducing it before attack. It will continue to build up oil and I want to take as many bases in the area that in can to stop admiral Wa from bombing the facilities. I expect I will attack in a month or so. I have ~440 AV marching up from Oosthaven, and should encircle Palembang in ~10 days. Sallys' out of Singkawang are periodically bombing the airfield to prevent buildup of forts.

Jan 1 1942 Singapore.jpg (506.33 KiB) Viewed 689 times

I have an air HQ at Toboali, and am building up the airfield there, currently at lvl 1.

[InHarmsWay]

Looking south from Singapore, Admiral Harmasaki begins to think about options in Australia. KB and Mini KB will combine to shield landings on Timor. I expect to start landing on Timor in 3-4 days. Getting an effective base at Koepang up and running, with an Air HQ is something necessary prior to moving directly onto the Australian mainland.

Jan 1 1942 North Australia status.jpg (421.55 KiB) Viewed 686 times

I likely will keep KB in the area here, or over by Truk the next little bit, to support landings at Rabaul and begin the isolation and eventual conquest of Port Morseby. I want to be more aggressive here this game, and push the Allis further back here. My gut feel is that Adm Wa will push up in this area in '43 given he moved through Timor and Java last game and knows I will try and cover that better.

[InHarmsWay]

January 1 1942

PI theatre

Over in the Philippine Island area, I have bottled up the allies in the Bataan/Manila/Clark triangle, and am bombing all three to use up supplies quickly. A bit rough on the aircrews but they are loyal Japanese and will do the Emperors bidding.

Home Islands

I have finally flown all those almost worthless Theresa Transports to Honshu and they will be busy ferrying the 63rd, 64th, and 67th Infantry Groups up to Sakhalin and Hokkaido for the next 3 months... Thank you to whoever had posted that pro tip a while back, saves from having to buy out those units as long as they are going to a General Defense base. PPs are valuable!

Central Pacific

Nothing of note at this time

[InHarmsWay]

Somewhere way in the South Pacific

Raiders did have a big win the last turn! Admiral Wa was over at the house last night for our weekly ASL game and he lamented about how that stupid raider was lucky, evidently the TK Connecticut outright sank from the one shell. I did not tell him that the two shell hits on the raider ended up with both her bow and aft guns shot out. She will be heading back to Toyko for some repairs. Hopefully Adm Wa spends times searching for her the next few weeks...

Jan 02 Raiders.png (731.78 KiB) Viewed 653 times

[InHarmsWay]

January 4, 1942....
Banzai!!! The Lead battalions of the Imperial Guards Division yell as one voice as they cross into Singapore. In front of them, the demoralized allied troops put up a fight, but there are too many Japanese and too few brave defenders willing to sacrifice themselves to stem the tide. Rumors had been rampant among the allied troops for days now as it became apparent the Allied high command had written them off as just another speedbump. Dismay transitioned into anger that Adm Wa had left them there and did not event attempt to fight. Some select few had been pulled out over the past few months, but this was no consolidation to the brave defenders of Singapore.
After only a few hours fighting the lead Japanese, the writing was on the wall and Lt Gen A. Perceival called for a ceasefire to formally surrender the jewel of the British Empire. This was the second fortress to fall to the Japanese after Hong Kong just 3 weeks earlier. Shame was evident as the Japanese formally accepted the surrender after only a single shock attack was made. Cheers for the Emperor were heard throughout the IJA forces as a bloodbath and tough fight had been expected.

Jan Singapore shock attack.jpg (611.5 KiB) Viewed 638 times

I expect I will be seeing more of the Australian combat units that he was pulling out. Hopefully I will find them before they get far, as I expect he was pulling them out by air for a while.... KB and mini KB have been in the DEI since day one, so maybe they were not taken out by sea??

[InHarmsWay]

Here is the Ground Combat Report:

I am happy that although several regiments took casualties, for the most part the assault force is in good condition. I really got a good roll on this attack. I should be ready for phase 2 once my AP/AK-t ships arrive. First need to sweep the harbor. DMS's were sitting in CRB, but the speed of the assault has caught me not a prepared as I should have been. I spent quite a bit of time sending TFs to Singapore this turn. So, where the gentle reader think Adm Wa has pulled his singapore units to? I am thinking Padang as that is where I caught some APs a week ago....

Good day indeed!

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 81546 troops, 822 guns, 336 vehicles, Assault Value = 2742

Defending force 21645 troops, 268 guns, 172 vehicles, Assault Value = 410

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 2743

Allied adjusted defense: 579

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Singapore !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
2965 casualties reported
Squads: 55 destroyed, 464 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Guns lost 52 (2 destroyed, 50 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
22850 casualties reported
Squads: 556 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1538 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 50 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 343 (343 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 123 (123 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 26

Assaulting units:
18th Division
2nd Recon Regiment
33rd Division
56th Recon Regiment
16th Infantry Regiment
5th Recon Regiment
11th Infantry Regiment
4th Infantry Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
56th Engineer Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
4th Division
148th Infantry Regiment
15th Ind. Engineer Regiment
4th Ind. Engineer Regiment
24th Infantry Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
56th Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Argylls Battalion
1st Malay Battalion
2nd Gordons Battalion
1st Mysore Battalion
2nd Loyal Battalion
SSVF Brigade
22nd Australian Bde /1
28th Gurkha Brigade
2/17 Dogra Battalion
2nd Malay Battalion
1st Manchester Battalion
27th Australian Bde /1
29 Battery/3 HAA
Singapore Base Force
111th RAF Base Force
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Malayan Air Wing
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
AHQ Far East
III Indian Corps
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
Singapore Fortress
223 Group RAF /1

[InHarmsWay]

January 7 1942
With Singapore falling so quickly, and most of the allied PI holing up in Manila, that really brings up the question of where should the Japanese strike next. Here are my thoughts, and please comment as my phase 2 plans are still a bit in flux given Singapore fell so quickly.

First off, need to complete the encirclement of Palembang, that should occur in the next 7-8 days. Seal off any retreat possibilities here before attacking. I want to minimize damage to the facilities.

Second, take the rest of Sumatra island to allow unfettered access into the Indian ocean. Also conquer Timor and south DEI to get jump off bases to invade the North Australia area. Both of these should happen in the next 2 weeks.

Third, I have the Guard Mixed Brigade enroute to Rabaul (8 days out), and a rgmt prepping for PM. That probably is not enough for PM, but currently KB is 1 day away from being south of PM on short term interdiction duties. I am hoping to get Rabaul up and running in 10 days, then will consolidate there for a month or so before pushing onto PM. I will move KB out of contact in a week and it will go radio silent to keep Adm Wa guessing.

I currently have ~2 divisions tagged for taking Java, not in a huge rush here as most of my newly free divisions will go either towards Australia or India area. Both have their + / - 's I doubt I can conquer either fully, so really want to damage his counterattack as much as possible. I have tentatively decided which way to jump and have begun prepping but if there is an obvious route I have missed, would love to hear. Stock Scen 2 and he has avoided a fight so far so should have all his assets available.... Thoughts all?

[RangerJoe]

Bomb Bandoeng and any other base in the mountains on Java to keep them from building fortifications and also destroying supplies there.

[InHarmsWay]

Good advice, since I am not moving there quickly, that could end up being an ugly fortress if I let him get the forts up. I got airfields now at Oosthaven and Toboali, will start send a couple of the girls (Sally and Lilly) over for visits.

[RangerJoe]

Good advice, since I am not moving there quickly, that could end up being an ugly fortress if I let him get the forts up. I got airfields now at Oosthaven and Toboali, will start send a couple of the girls (Sally and Lilly) over for visits.

If you do it at night as well, there should be fewer fighters on CAP!

[InHarmsWay]

Status Jan 11th:
I have moved quickly and am trying to clear the Strait of Malacca ASAP to allow unhindered raider movement into the Indian Ocean. Thanks to the info from RangerJoe, I am moving my invasion of Java up to try and minimize any fortress Java attempts. With Singapore falling so quickly, I think I can nip it in the bud with judicious use of bombing and invading early. I started loading out about 700AV to land next to Batavia. Depending on what I see in batavia, the IJA could try a Inchon style landing halfway down the island to cut it in two if Adm Wa decides on a forward defense... Here is the status:

[RangerJoe]

Personally, I would have used the armoured regiments in Java. They are faster and in the open terrain against the Dutch units there, so the armoured units effectiveness would be enhanced. Meanwhile against Sumatra, your bombers could get some good experience bombing those units that don't have much if any AAA protection nor do they have a lot of aviation support squads there either. The short ranged bombers would be very effective in that situation against those small units.

[InHarmsWay]

Adm Wa Springs a trap, but for who???

KB was covering my Horn Island landing, and fishing south of PM, while I had several small preparatory landings on New Britian before the Rabaul landing in a few days. Glad his trap was sprung on a small naval detachment (15AV) vs something more meaty. Challenge now will be to try and catch these pesky raiders. The Amph TF to the east has a CA, CL, and 3 DDs so should be fine if he tries to hit that group on his way out. I am hoping he does, as that will slow his surface units and allow KB to enter the fray. He only has a 2/10 detection on it so may not know what it is.... turn sent so awaiting the outcome!

I have set two flights of Kates to general recon, and all KB and Mini KB units to Naval first, port second attacks in case he tries to disband anywhere close... not sure if that will work...

Jan 12 1942 Adm Wa Lae trap.jpg (492.11 KiB) Viewed 516 times

[InHarmsWay]

So how did the ambush and counter ambush go, gentle readers are asking themselves....

Status on Jan 13 shown below. In the end, I lost three small AKs total (two from the initial ambush), one during the counter ambush, and was able to bag a allied CL. I consider it a win as I had no idea he was there and was able to recover. Adm Wa likely will be a bit more cagey knowing the IJN is still escorting with CA's.

Jan 13 1942

Jan 13 1942 post ambush.jpg (444.36 KiB) Viewed 476 times

Over the next three days, my Sub line had two shots at the Achillies but missed both. Opportunity lost there! KB is now heading to Truk for fuel and new planes and will join mini KB. Now to start assembling the pieces for phase 2!

[InHarmsWay]

Currently at Jan 18, 1942.

Initial landings at Merak went well, currently marching on Batavia, with a landing soon behind his lines. Idea here is to keep him guessing where else I will land, which "should" keep him from trying to slow me down too quickly. Goal is to create a buffer so when Palembang does fall, I will not have allied 4Es over it bombing it. I have taken most of the other bases on Sumatra outside of Padang, Sabang and Langsa. All oilfields have come through undamaged except for 2 points of damage at Medan. Very happy with this.

Jan 18 1942 Batavia.jpg (565.08 KiB) Viewed 475 times

Still no sign of allied surface or CV assets yet. I am wary but comforable as I have Air HQ based in Singapore and Toboali, and my long legged ladies based at both airfields as well. Mavis watching out of Oosthaven.

[InHarmsWay]

Jan 18th Rangoon.

Allies have yet to form any sort of defensive perimeter, I am hoping he starts here. Either Rangoon or Akyab area. He held just north of Akyab in the previous game so hoping that is his general plan here as well... So far all I have caught here in the Indian ocean are small AKL and small AKs. I expect most of his surface combatants are in Colombo. May need to lure them out?? Need to think how to do that!

Rangoon Jan 18 1942.jpg (654.02 KiB) Viewed 470 times

First step is closing the Burma Road. I want to starve China ASAP, and everything I have done there has been to minimize supply generation within China, and supplies into China... If I close the road with minimal units, I may tempt him into committing here!

[InHarmsWay]

Jan 18 China front

China has gone surprisingly smoothly. I think Adm Wa has pulled back as fast as he can so I don't think I have hit the MLR yet. That is ok with me as I have grabbed multiple supply generating bases, and will shortly cut the Burma Road. One question I am toying with is either do enact my "Phase 2" through Ichang, or just keep reinforcing success via Sian and the north route? Thoughts gentle readers? I have 3300 AV in/around Sian at the moment. I still am gathering the forces for phase 2 in Hankow.

Jan 18 1942 China.jpg (784.94 KiB) Viewed 467 times

As with most days, bombing of the Chinese continue unabated. The AVG last showed up ~2 weeks ago. I have 2 Zero formations and the Tojos flying random sweeps and have really mixed up the bombing campaign. Adm Wa complained that his "whak a mole" operation there in trying to guess bombing locations had been a failure!

[RangerJoe]

If you go through Sian, you can cut Chungking and Chengtu from any Chinese fuel while capturing it for Japan.

[InHarmsWay]

Jan 23 1942 -

The 1st Army Lt. General Iwamatsu stepped out of his tent on the outskirts of Sian and stared back at the smoking city. Who would have thought he would be here less than two months after Admiral Harmasaki unleashed his troops on the Chinese forces. The gloves were now off and no more needing to play nice while international "observers" harassed his troops. "Well, now we need to take Sian, to free up the northern approaches to Chungking" He thought.

A few minutes later Maj. Kumanaka ran up and began briefing Lt Gen Iwamatsu on the progress. "Sir, our frontal river crossing attack has been bloodied but we have succeeded in breaking through some of the frontal fortification lines and are now in the city streets! Fortified buildings are still causing problems on key city intersections but indications are the Chinese have suffered significant casualties. The staff feel that one more push may be enough!" Here is a summary of the attack for your review!

"Thank you Maj. Carry on but do not attack again until I give the order. I have been ordered to halt temporarly while we replenish and refit our fighting formations, this will allow us fully push the offensive into the mountains and beyond. My explicit orders are to tie up the enemy here and thereby allow our other mobile units to exploit this opportunity. Duty to the Emperor comes before individual glory. Remember that Major..."

Ground combat at Sian (83,41)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 51923 troops, 408 guns, 691 vehicles, Assault Value = 2324
Defending force 41068 troops, 268 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 992

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1260
Allied adjusted defense: 911

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
2573 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 181 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Vehicles lost 74 (2 destroyed, 72 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
4061 casualties reported
Squads: 153 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 157 destroyed, 106 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 19 disabled
Guns lost 36 (8 destroyed, 28 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
37th/B Division
36th/A Division
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
37th/C Division
110th/C Division
8th Armored Car Co
10th Tank Regiment
37th/A Division
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th Tank Regiment
110th/B Division
32nd Division
41st/C Division
36th/B Division
36th/C Division
1st Army
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment

Defending units:
38th Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
23rd Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
43rd Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
8th Route Army
16th Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
Red Chinese Army
34th Group Army

Jan 23 1942 Sian surrounded.jpg (270.47 KiB) Viewed 420 times

[InHarmsWay]

First attack went in at Palembang. Will rest a few days and try again. I expect the second attack will carry the base, as forts have fallen to 0, and I have an additional 120 AV coming in over the next several days. bombing will continue to ensure no forts are built as well.

Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9024 troops, 91 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 322
Defending force 4377 troops, 53 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 172

Japanese adjusted assault: 166
Allied adjusted defense: 85

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
691 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 99 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
438 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
Pakanbaroe Det.
Padang Garrison Battalion
Riouw KNIL Battalion
Zuid KNIL Battalion
So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion
Palembang Base Force