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Wob:

Here is a brief history on the Sumatra. Evidently an old WWI era ship that had been decommed and recommisioned to run for it before the end in Java. I guess that is why they start her with the 20 sys damage, to reflect this.

http://leden.tref.nl/~jviss000/Default.htm

<edit to add> Nurtz...the link takes you to the start page for the website. You can find her under the ships listing, along with any other RNN ship that you might think of.

Somewhat belated this report - I had connection issues. As those that are following this battle will know PzB has opened his gambit for Java and Sumatra with a massive bombing and fighter sweep campaign against ports and airbases.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/25/42

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Night Air attack on Batavia , at 19,59

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 34
G4M1 Betty x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Sibolga, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Senang, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Modjekerto, Torpedo hits 1
AP Van Diemen, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Poelau Tello, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Sipora, Bomb hits 1
SS KXVII, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage - sinks


Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Runway hits 1
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

This attack is just plain ridiculous!!!
These Nells pilots are not the dambusters. The training required to do a port attack with torpedos has been hotly debated on the forums - but doing it at NIGHT!!!!!!! Basically the whole support fleet I had at Batavia, slowly taking out resources and oil, is now damaged.
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Night Air attack on Tjilitjap , at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 11 damaged

Allied Ships
AP Camphuys, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Elout, Bomb hits 1, on fire

More of the same at Tjilitap - fortunately the PoW is miles away now so isn't burdened with more damage.
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Night Air attack on Soerabaja , at 22,65

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 40

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 5 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied Ships
AP Van Overstraten, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Bengalen, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Port hits 1

Well I have already posted my disgust at this night attack ability - not quite as painful as at batavia, the damaged AP is a problem though - I have so few of them.
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Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 44
G4M1 Betty x 14
Ki-21 Sally x 72
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5
Ki-15 Babs x 1

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 11 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
Blenheim IF: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Catalina I: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
SS KX, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Lake, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 4
Port hits 7
Port supply hits 4

With 44 zeros in this band of the evil empire it will be very difficult for the AVG to make a dent - they still only have 21 servicable aircraft and it looks like I will have to pull them out in order to make them strong enough to resist the up and coming Burma invasions - more on this later. Very little actual damage on the ground - for all the supply hits I haven't lost the same amount of supply you used to in UV. I still have 15K there.
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Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 22,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
H6K4 Mavis x 1

Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 8
Brewster 339D x 3
Buffalo I x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
CW-21B Demon: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Brewster 339D: 7 destroyed
Buffalo I: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged

Fighter sweeps to Dutch airfields continue to down the flimsy defenders. No change here.
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Day Air attack on Zuid Garrison Battalion, at 20,55

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 23
Ki-21 Sally x 30
Ki-48 Lily x 28

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged


Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

This attack was the one I really wanted to repulse - the Warhawks are no match for his oscars though and the bombers heavily effect the Zuid garrison force - they have a combat value of zero in the ground combat they take part in later in the day. The P-40s are in the air to meet his bombers and this time they are at 11K feet, they are still completely ineffective at stopping the bombers - very hard to know a way to combat this.
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Day Air attack on Tjilitjap , at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft
Hawk 75A x 9
CW-21B Demon x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hawk 75A: 16 destroyed

I actually only loose 4 Hawks during the day but he is forcing my fighters out of the air so his bombers can get a completely free run.
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Ground combat at Macassar

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1575 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1602 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles

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


Japanese ground losses:
56 casualties reported

PzB gets an unfortunate rebuff at Macassar - not that I am complaining - the amount of bombardment he did this turn has previously proved successful.
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So the end of a turn that was very hard to stomach. I had fallen into a false sense of hope that the worst had past until the main invasion of java was about ot begin. Well it looks like that has come earlier than expected. This time surprise is not as total as Pearl Harbour but it doesn't matter - his pilots and aircraft are so superior that I am battered out of the way.
The hurricanes in Batavia and Soerboja are put on night duty - there are already night fighters up at Rangoon. This is an almost pointless exercise as they find none of the incoming aircraft anyway. At least they wont be blown up on the ground this way and morale checks of the incoming bombers may fail if they are flying. I am in a quandary, PzB wants to remove my fighters from above his targets during the day, so me putting up nightfighters has effectively worked into his hands; however I can hardly ignore night raids that TORPEDO my ships in port.

To effectively defend Java I really need alot more defensive firepower. I have it in the form of the two carrier Wildcat wings but they are still only 50 aircraft with capable pilots. I would have to back this up with ground troops. Therefore I think it is time to sortie them on an attack against the ships at Palembang - I may be a little too late here though. He has some serious shipping coming down from Sinapore, under their guns the troops may not last very long (especially when I can't defend them in the air). From here they can retire and then LRCAP a bombardment mission against tavoy - he has masses of bombers there and as long as I can give them fighter support they may be able to make him think twice. The major problem with this idea is the 44 zeros we know he is already aiming at Rangoon (Wildcats aren't THATgood). Another is the lamentable 'highest speed' of the royal navy BBs - 21 knots. They will be in range of his Betties for some time.
Maybe that is a good way to cull them?
PzB has a fair idea I have carriers in the Indian ocean. I will obviously tip the case by attacking Palembang - but better to do that then to use them as LRCAP to the bombardment mission first!

The P-40Es are moved back to Batavia - I had planned on LRCAPing Palembang from there but it is too far. With this large surface fleet rolling in I don't want to be caught on the ground again. I notice my 'defend one location with all you have' tactic should not have included base forces. Now I can't base planes at one location while defending another.

There are japanese subs all over the place around batavia and Soerboja so retiring the freshly damaged transport shipping is going to be fun. Most of my bombers at Soerboja have been on ASW duty for four days now - so far they have found one sub...
Thanks for the info tadpub - makes sense now. I thought maybe it had been damaged and i had missed it. Well she is not going to stay in the bomb alley that is Soerboja - she is going to face the subs instead!! Sumatra sorties form port to try and escape - i have no available escorts...

The AD Blackhawk finds the temperature too hot at Tilitjap and retreats to Perth and will eventually take part in South Pacific duties. I think many of the other ships are going to have to follow its lead soon. I do want to provide some retreat capability to a few of the dutch base units however. I suppose that once he gets a foothold on Java his range will make loading and clearing these units difficult in the extreme. Realising this I earmark two for evacuation.

Enemy scout planes notice my surface group below Timor. My hudsons refused to attack Kendari anyway so the trap was never going to insight anything to move into it. These ships continue West but I think they will have to come back to the South Pacific.

Further south 2 large contingents of transport ships arrive in Derby and Darwin dropping off oil and resources. Australia is starting to get the resouces she requires.

I move a sqd of beauforts to PM as I notice some surface units roving across the Northern shore of New Britain - are they aiming at Lae perhaps? My supply mission is now 1 day out of Port Moresby. The new Aussie brigade, earmarked for PM is now about lined up with Brisbane.

In Auckland the 3rd division load onto ships and head for Noumea.

B-17s in Johnson Island move to Canton island (10 damaged in this move!). They are attached to the South east asia Headquaters and I would love to get them all the way to India while I still have bases - chickens are not given much chance of hatching.

Nothing happening on the West Coast of USA. I did note a sub was sighted and this prompts the ASW boys to go hunting. His subs are a far more endangered species when my surface groups can actually take to water (unlike the SRA!)

That wouldn't be any fun now, would it?[;)]

I am enjoying the story as well.

He is definitley one of the savvier UV opponents I have had (still have a PBEM going with him). He is most certainly giving you a hard time[:'(]

ORIGINAL: wobbly

Thanks for the feedback RAM.

I was always going to continue the AAR i was just wondering whether I try and coordinate with PzB when we post our AARs or something. I would think the best way to view it is to open two windows, one with his AAR and one with mine, and that way you could glean what we are talking about more easily. Also, it should be more obvious when we are going to run into each other - even if we don't know.

As you say though, there is always a possibility that you give something away...

hell yes - he is indeed a canny man. he is also a student so has a bit of extra time to really mull over his turns (although when he is knee deep in exams I have it over him). My morning turns especially are very hurried. i often press 'end turn' and start to return email to PzB and then remember something. I write stuff down but it is by no means fool proof.

The sacrifices we make......

I managed to turn around a turn a day while on vacation to the British Ilses as the Allies in a WitP PBEM vs Sonny. Some of those were hurried, so I know what you mean....

Give em hell Wob...

ORIGINAL: wobbly

hell yes - he is indeed a canny man. he is also a student so has a bit of extra time to really mull over his turns (although when he is knee deep in exams I have it over him). My morning turns especially are very hurried. i often press 'end turn' and start to return email to PzB and then remember something. I write stuff down but it is by no means fool proof.

Unfortunately Densinh - hell is what he is giving me!

Air assaults above Rangoon smash the AVG on the ground and my attempt to evacuate airbase units from Java were not CAPed - doh! Two days in one turn in this AAR

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/26/42
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TF 92 encounters mine field at Palembang (20,55)

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya, Mine hits 1, on fire

A very good mine strike apparently - not really of my doing again. She will be out of the war for a few months getting repaired.
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Night Air attack on Soerabaja , at 22,65

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied Ships
MSW Colac, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
TK Augustina, Bomb hits 1
AK Sipirok, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
AS Zuiderkruis, Bomb hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 fee

Well the report is torps but as you can see they were mainly bomb hits - I hadn't remembered to put a fighter unit on night CAP here.
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Naval bombardment of Palembang, at 20,55


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Atago
CA Suzuya, on fire
CA Kumano
CL Tatsuta
DD Urakaze
DD Hibiki
DD Fubuki
DD Shirayuki
DD Uranami
DD Yakaze


Allied ground losses:
653 casualties reported
Guns lost 18
Vehicles lost 5

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 32
Port hits 9
Port fuel hits 8
Port supply hits 5


The air forces are evacuated but look at the damage these big boys do to my ground pounders!!! Not having air superiority, or not even being able to contest it means these guys can do as they please. Ground forces are ordered to retreat south.

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Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
Ki-21 Sally x 89
Ki-48 Lily x 29

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 7 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Empire Lake, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage - scuttled
SS KX, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage - Sinks


Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 23
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

The AVG may be all powerful in other people's games but they are hopeless in mine. This is not entirely their fault as I did upgrade them to P-40Es and now there are not enough to stop the massive armada that he is throwing at me. However they refuse to engage the bombers! I loose 10 P-40Es on the ground this turn. This forces me to abandon the air above Rangoon. The AVG retreats to Mandalay. From there I may have to retreat further to replenish their numbers (there are currently still 50 planes in the group but they are being smashed to pieces on the ground).
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Day Air attack on Batavia , at 19,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 11 destroyed, 1 damaged

The pilots in my fighter airgroups are just too poor to take on the zeros. I have changed them to Naval attack and hopefully they can get some experience without being blown out of the sky.
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Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 22,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
H6K4 Mavis x 1

Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 4
Brewster 339D x 3
Buffalo I x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
CW-21B Demon: 1 damaged
Brewster 339D: 5 destroyed
Buffalo I: 2 destroyed

He repeats the same treatment in Soerboja. He is trying to clear the skies before he arrives. I think I am going to have to change tactics on him - maybe starting naval attacking and then move the planes on naval attack to new locations so he has a hard time bombing them.
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Day Air attack on Zuid Garrison Battalion, at 20,55

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 30
Ki-21 Sally x 12
Ki-48 Lily x 15

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
38 casualties reported

A pounding - I am suffering a pounding - how do I make it stop? I feel like a migraine sufferer at a disco!
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Day Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 20,55

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 6

Allied aircraft
T.IVa x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
T.IVa: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
MSW W.12, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Here in lies the attack that is causing PzB to have kittens. Personaly I would rather be able to get my fighter aircraft aloft and able to shoot down planes then a few pitiful float torpedo bombers and the MSWs they like to target. You would think the pounding he is metting out is not sufficient for him!!!
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Day Air attack on TF, near Djokjakarta at 20,63

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 15
G4M1 Betty x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AP Siberg, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Rooseboom, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Mega pissed at this one. As I wrote in a previous issue I was going to try and lift some of the DAV units. I forgot to CAP the lift force. Not only does he find, hit, sink one and badly damage the other, but he doesn't need to have fighter escort!

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Ground combat at Iloilo

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10605 troops, 48 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 3024 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Iloilo base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
6328 casualties reported
Guns lost 30

A whole lot more Phillipineos go into the bag
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Ground combat at Macassar

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8762 troops, 70 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 1554 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
83 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Well the Macassar defenders continue to resist. As usual it shouldn't be a continuing phenomenon though.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/27/42

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TF 40 encounters mine field at Palembang (20,55)

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Sub attack at 23,68

Japanese Ships
SS RO-33

Allied Ships
AP Van Overstraten, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Ah crap - had to happen some time - his subs find an AP trying to escape Java
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Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
Ki-21 Sally x 80
Ki-48 Lily x 35

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 10 destroyed, 10 damaged
Blenheim IF: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 36
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2

For the third day in a row the local thunderstorms refuse to cover Rangoon - I desperately need some downtime. All the P-40Es used by the AVG are just getting despatched on the ground! As long as I don't loose the pilots all is not lost but the points PzB is getting for nothing is very disappointing!
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Day Air attack on TF, near Bali at 24,68

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 15

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 damaged


Allied Ships
MSW Lark, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AS Otus, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

He has submarines in every hex around Soerabaja so I have to have a pittance of defense. I put planes on LRCAP and I pray. Don't know why I bother.
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Day Air attack on TF, near Djokjakarta at 20,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
G3M Nell x 4

Allied aircraft
Hawk 75A x 3
Brewster 339D x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hawk 75A: 8 destroyed

Allied Ships
AP Le Maire

This time I make sure I have CAP above the ships loading my DAV unit. They do absolutely nothing to keep the bombers away (notice how fighters come along this time) only extremely rare poor shooting saves the ships.
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Ground combat at Macassar

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 8725 troops, 66 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 1502 troops, 10 guns, 1 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Macassar base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
99 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Guns lost 4


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

As expected teh Macassar defenders just cannot continue to resist.
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Ground combat at Palembang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15977 troops, 138 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 5188 troops, 57 guns, 2 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Palembang base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 3 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
160 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Allied ground losses:
265 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

Well that is that. A whole swag of Fuel, supplies, oil and resources given to the Jap. My units were already retreating but I have left it too late and they will now be completely shattered and incapable of resisting the units that will follow them.
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My hat is off to those players that actually manage to crimp the style of the Jap invader. I am making a few mistakes but they aren't really mistakes of massive import. I think I have been a little too aggressive in places but I have made it my business not to retreat pell mell like others do. I do understand why you would do this though:

You cannot resist! It is so heartbreaking. Why leave your virtual men to face the overwhelming odds that are put against you?

I am reading a book about the British Generals in WW1 sending the cream of their generation into the machine guns. I truely feel like I am one of those generals when I try to create a road block. I pour troops planes and supplies into a location and they get swept aside like they aren't there. I had a glimmer of hope when I upgraded the fighter units in my possession to P-40Es and threw them at the Japs. It all makes no difference. This is why people use their carrier forces! You just want to fight on an even playing field somewhere - of course that is a fools errand as well - look what happens when that attempt at parity is intercepted by the KB!!

OK, my despair has been aired. As stated I have moved the AVG to Mandalay, well of course Mandalay does not have enough supplies to replace the smashed ACs now buring on the ground at Rangoon. I retreat them further to Calcutta and allow them to accept replacements. Despite the destruction of their aircraft the pilots have not been killed so if I can replace their planes I may be able to use them like others have done.

I move some more Hurricanes into Rangoon just to try and help with defense - without a doubt they will only become targets.

Spruance and the US carriers have put to sea. My good sense screams at me that this is a fools errand (alluded to earlier) but I know the KB will not be on the scene for some time and I should make hay while the sun shines. I desperatly want some good news. He is conducting operations in the sure knowledge that nothing can stop him - I want this feeling to be shown up as victory desease.

Java is hell on earth. Any ship that moves - any plane that flies - any unit on the ground, all are pounced on like mouse in the clutches of a particularly cruel cat. The only glimmer is the aerial attack by bombers on the sub I-161. She is reported hit twice but I don't know the damage.

I create a TF of the ships in batavia that aren't hurt and head them to India. I create about 5 single ship TFs there as well - all are damaged. They begin loading resources and oil. If they are sunk well so be it.

A few other ships are trying to evacuate Soerboja. I just cannot escape from here without wearing enemy aircraft and subs. I will have to try fast transport missions from the other side of the island.

The AP that survived attacks at Djokjakarta begins loading the DAV unit there, now attached to South West Pacific. Hopefully they can load and be long gone before the sun comes up. I move 12 Warhawks to help in the defense in case they don't. Well actually, if they aren't gone they are toast as Warhawks aren't about to become suddenly potent for any reason are they.

Another like effort is launched from Darwin to Timor to do the same before it becomes impossible.

In PM the supply mission continues to unload.

The Kiwi 3rd are on their way to Noumea.

China is still quiet as I continue retreating.

Saratoga is now 16 days out.

Damn, no kidding Wobbly.

The fact that he is going through you so fast compounds the problems.

Managing upgrades far from the front is the way to go, as you have lost way too many aircraft from new upgrades at frontline bases. That seriously marginilized the AVG.

But there are some lessons to be learned. I fully believe that defending forward is not a bad idea. Just playing PzB[:D]

Denisonh - he is spanking me - S&M apparently does it for some people, can't say I am one of them. I have moved the units I want to upgrade back from the front as you suggest. You hit the nail on the head at the speed he is crushing me. I had hoped the AVG would be in better shape by the time PzB turned North. Unfortunately I was so quickly dispatched that I was wrong there.

Rangoon continues to be lambasted from the sky. Is medan next on the list?

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/28/42

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TF 110 troops unloading over beach at Medan, 20,45


Japanese ground losses:
148 casualties reported

Three lots of troops unloading. I contemplated attacking the troops he had already landed, however i have done that against the AI and the dutch units seem completely incapable of damaging Jap units, so in the end I chicken out of this move.

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Sub attack near Pamakasan at 24,66

Japanese Ships
SS I-160

Allied Ships
MSW Toowoomba, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

I tried to take different routes out of the hotly contested area around Soerbaja but it is to no avail as the MSW Towoomba is found and sunk with one torp.
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Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
Ki-21 Sally x 73
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5
Ki-15 Babs x 1

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 13 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Blenheim IF: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
57 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 24
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 2

I get the message and retire all flyable aircraft from Rangoon to Calcutta. Hopefully the engineers on the ground can keep up with the damage - so far they have kept the runways completely open, but services are starting to suffer. With the services taking hits I will not be able to repair the damaged aircraft. Through some repairs and the destruction of most, there are now only 15 P-40Es at Rangoon. At Calcutta a further 7 have been delivered. Most of all the priceless 51 pilots must get out alive.
As you can see the brand new hurricane squadron may as well have just crashed on takeoff from Akyab for all the good they do.
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Day Air attack on TF at 22,54


Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 15


Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 12
CL Kashii, Shell hits 4

A change in tactics. The reason my P-40Es are so crap is because of the calibre of the pilots. I need to get a few combat missions under their belts.
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Naval bombardment of Cebu Island, at 42,58 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged

2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Hasu
DD Numakaze
DD Okikaze
CL Oi
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 1
CL Tama
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
BB Nagato


Allied ground losses:
286 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 34

Cebu Island instantly has no supplies. The units stationed here still have some but the PBYs are all destroyed or damaged in the first bombardment attack.
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Most of the DEI has now taken on a decidedly red tone. Bloodshoot eyes dominate the map and the trend only looks to continue.

Spruance is ordered to go to full speed. I think PzB is going to try and take the base in the South of Sumatra - just North of Batavia. The units retreating from Palembang are heading there. He will therefore come down and hammer Batavia to try and save losses when he does so. Spruance is going to line himself up to be there - or close - when they do.

The large unit previously at Batavia made it through the straits between Sumatra and Java and will head to India.

The DAV unit I was worried about last turn is successfully loaded aboard two APs and heads West and will then turn South. The ultimate goal is Darwin.

The surface unit that came through between New Guinea and Oz lines itself up to be a fast transport mercy mission. The previous garrison units at Amboina, have made it to the little base to the south of the same island (now in the hands of the enemy). If PzB notices it is likely they will be destroyed, but just in case he doesn't I am going to try and get them out. Once again they will be relying on AAA only - no fighters can reach.

The supply mission to PM has all but emptied her cargo - 1500 to go and PM is now at 14K.

Down the West Coast of Oz many of the transport missions to Oz have emptied their cargos and line themselves up to return to the US.

The Mississippi and New Mexico make it to Pearl - they start to repair the damage incurred on their trip across.

The KB has completely disappeared off the radar.

Medan holds on while Cebu falls. A quiet day as PzB gathers his forces to assault.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/29/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Medan, at 20,45


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
CW-22 Falcon: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Atago
CA Kumano
CL Tatsuta
DD Urakaze
DD Hibiki
DD Fubuki
DD Shirayuki
DD Uranami
DD Yakaze


Allied ground losses:
419 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Vehicles lost 5

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 78
Port hits 1

With that sort of firepower off the coast I am likely to loose the place next turn. He has a large majority in infantry.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 44
Ki-21 Sally x 68
Ki-46-II Dinah x 6

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged


Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 20
Port hits 6

Rangoon is really starting to feel the heat. I can't understnad it - more thunderstorms and he still keeps flying. Only 5 P-40Es left. What happens to getting all the pilots out if no planes are left?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
Ki-21 Sally x 55
Ki-48 Lily x 10

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed, 6 damaged


Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 50

See what I mean this happens every day despite the weather...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 20,55

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 9

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
AP Oigawa Maru
CA Chokai, Shell hits 4
AP Nagano Maru, Shell hits 8

Japanese ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Well the P-40Es from Batavia are getting more experience and they manage to kill some of the units that I think PzB is aiming to come south with. Sprunace is at full speed but is still a very long way away.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Medan at 20,45


Allied aircraft
T.IVa x 4


Allied aircraft losses
T.IVa: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
PG Kongosan Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x T.IVa launching torpedoes at 200 feet

My love affair with the TV.1a cannot continue - it was too good. Two new pilots allocated to the sqd went form 25 to 41 and 43 with this attack.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Cebu Island

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5511 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 3008 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 138 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Cebu Island base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
PBY Catalina: 5 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
4702 casualties reported
Guns lost 28

That was a Phillipino infantry division - so the odds are amazingly high - this must be the effect of no supplies. The Philipines is all but his. one of my wandering infantry units is going to capture another of his locations unless he watches out but apart from that it is all over.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Medan

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12697 troops, 89 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 3328 troops, 19 guns, 3 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2 - this is the kicker


Japanese ground losses:
315 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Allied ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 1

What pluck. The odds are so against me that they cannot survive another turn - it just isn't possible.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As stated PzB is going to hammer Medan again next turn - Spruance will be too late. I actually want to use him at the southern tip of Sumatra but I think I will be too late.

This turn the Martins there will night bomb Palembang's oil fields. I want him to be in a quandry about defense of the fields as opposed to defense of his invasion under the nose of Batavia.

The Chinese are going to try the same thing.

Further South my surface force has manage do creep closer to Amboina and the units trapped there. I notice PzB has some transports in port at Amboina - this may be a chance at a bit of retribution. I move some fighter to the southern tip of Timor to defend the surface forces.

The PM supply attempt has almost finished and another unit of Aussies is about to arrive. I hope I am not building the place up to loose them all.

Little else of note about the place.

Oh and back at Los Angeles two of the BBs damaged at Pearl are down to 18 and 21 sys damage. And the Cornwall, hit by bombers trying to Fast transport a unit out of Georgetown - loosing an 8 inch turret, has had it repaired and is also down to 9 sys damage.

I am sure i could find this on the boards but if someone could enlighten me: are the repair facility sizes you start the game with, as the allies, destined to stay the same all the game through?

Medan falls, my surface group is found and the New Orleans crippled. Transports loaded at Batavia are found by planes out of Palembang.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/30/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Palembang , at 20,55


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 7


No Allied losses

Oil hits 1

He must be shaking in his little space booties about this!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
Ki-21 Sally x 42
Ki-48 Lily x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12

He destroys no more planes at Rangoon - none are repaired there either. Again he manags the same trick of flying through the clouds - the game better give me the same courtesy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on TF at 20,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
B5N Kate x 22
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Poelau Tello, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

The transports I loaded at Batavia actually fully loaded and set off on there way to india. Of coure the decide to head up between Sumatra and Malaya - sigh. Interesting though, he has kates here now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Teloekbetoeng at 19,58

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Sibolga, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

3 planes - 3 hits.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 37,78

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
G3M Nell x 7
G4M1 Betty x 29

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 8 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 15 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 10 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Minneapolis
DD Patterson
CL Raleigh

Well I rolled the dice and came up snake eyes again. I really need another set of dice, the current pair are not doing me any favours. New Orleans is in a bad way. She may make Darwin if she doesn't have to contend with more air attacks. I give her a DD escort and turn the rest of the group around.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Medan

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 14327 troops, 77 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 3135 troops, 10 guns, 2 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Medan base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
CW-22 Falcon: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
542 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Allied ground losses:
695 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

They did very well and now, hopefully, weather permitting, they will have baited the trap to allow me a little retribution.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK. the highlight of this turn should be Spruance arriving off the West coast of Sumatra, opposite the new Jap stronghold of Medan.

I have moved the P-40Es up to the little base below Medan and they are LRCAPing the carriers. I have my two F4F-4 sqds on 70 and 90 CAP. The scout planes are at 100 naval search.

I figure he is going to load the troops ships and move up or down th coast to the next target. He has also retired his BBs so they should soak up the bombers attentions.

I am at extreme range for his level bombers and oscars based at Singapore. I think he will not be able to reach from Bangkok either.

Nope, it is all up to the weather, and with my luck so far, it will completely fudge me up.

My Ap has made it to Timor, I convert the DAV unit there to South west command and being loading. P-40Es flying CAP.

PM has finished its top up of supplies. The next CAV unit of Ozzies will start unloading tomorrow.

the Kiwis are unloading in Noumea. I have a bit of a problem here - masses of aircraft and not enough support to get them repaired. I am trying to remedy that with units form the states.

ANother large supply mission leaves the US bound for Sydney.

3 damaged ships at Sydney set out for San Francisco. Hopefully they will be there in time to repair and be ready to get an AAA upgrade.

Alright fingers are crossed

This is not the AAR, this is a plea for help - why can't I do this?

As expected my carrier forces do not work. They all decide not to find the target and it is up to my T.V1a's to actually hurt PzB. The frustration value is huge.

Anyway I sigh deeply and get ready for plan B. As I expect PzB is trying to take the base at the bottom of Sumatra. So he has a large force moving int hat direction.

I want to unload the carrier plans to Batavia to fly from there. When I go to fly them off this is what I get: please please please someone tell me what I am doing wrong.

The -r switch means they have to be crated - why and more importantly - how - how the hell do I crate them form the middle of the ocean??

Bastard Carrier weenies get the good weather and refuse to fly. PzB mounts a massive air offensive against Batavia and Soerabaja

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/31/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 16,26

Japanese Ships
SS I-164, hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Whipple
DD Stewart
DD Banckert
DD Parrott
DD Paul Jones

I noticed a sub off the coast of Trimcommalee and it appears PzB forgot about it - glug glug
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on Palembang , at 20,55


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 10


No Allied losses

Oil hits 1

These guys fly out and put another miniscule hurt on Palembang and pay for the fact they are night flyers during the day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 118,68

Japanese Ships
SS I-26

Allied Ships
DD Farragut
DMS Elliot
DMS Boggs
DMS Southard
DD Phelps
DD Henley

PzB says he looses two subs today - well this is the only other one I attacked - as you can see, no reported hits.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on Batavia , at 19,59

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 90
G4M1 Betty x 26

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 6 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged
Martin 139: 5 destroyed, 13 damaged
Brewster 339D: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
CW-22 Falcon: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 70

Holy mother! What a mess. All of the Martins that flew during the night are now damaged. Everything else is heavily debilitated.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Medan at 20,45


Allied aircraft
T.IVa x 3


Allied aircraft losses
T.IVa: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Achou Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Back to their winning form. They are retreated to batavia where hopefully we can give PzB a surprise [:)]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 21,58

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 9

Allied aircraft
Hawk 75A x 7
Brewster 339D x 4
T.IVa x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hawk 75A: 13 destroyed, 3 damaged
Brewster 339D: 2 damaged
T.IVa: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Shell hits 4
CA Mikuma

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Even a few bullets can kill men.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
Ki-21 Sally x 69
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Ki-15 Babs x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

The pounding continues but the air service boys manage to get 4 more planes operational - they all fly out to Calcutta.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja , at 22,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 50
G3M Nell x 39
G4M1 Betty x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 6 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 7 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Sipirok, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Paz, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 1

A massive attack against Soerabaja as well - both ships have to be scuttled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
PT PT-40, Shell hits 44, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Even the PT boats at Rangoon are not exempt of a thrashing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Batavia at 19,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
G3M Nell x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Modjekerto, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Oh well - another crippel loaded with resources goes to the bottom.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Moulmein

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3295 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 216 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Moulmein base !!!

I had retreated from Moulmein - he takes it without a fight.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OK, I found that the -r on the carrier transfer, unlike from land base to land base, does not mean the planes get disrupted.
Therefore the 4 sqds of Dauntlesses are waiting at Batavia to hunt the impending invasion on the base at the Southern tip of Sumatra.

The Carriers themselves head back out to see at full speed.

The plan, such as it is, is to fly against the invasion forces tomorrow - be in the air rather than on the ground if he attacks the airfields again.

If he night attacks I will be toast. He will probably out guess me again.

In other news my sub pick up is going very well with the miniscule remains of 2 USAF base units being completely picked up and now heading to Darwin. An RAF unit picked up, the beginnings of the unit previously at Rabaul has bits of itself on board subs now. Also two DAF units are onboard singular APs and heading to Darwin.

The new Oz infantry unit is landing at PM - it has an assault value of 210 now.

Noumea has an assault value of 847 and must truly be getting unassailable. I do need some other bases to make this so.

More landings - this is rapidly coming to a boil. First landings on Java. As expected he has not landed at a major centre.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/01/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Changsha , at 47,36

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 15

Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Apparently this crashed PzB's game - no problems for me.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Batavia at 19,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
G3M Nell x 16

Allied aircraft
Hawk 75A x 3
CW-21B Demon x 3
Brewster 339D x 5
Hurricane II x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hawk 75A: 2 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Senang, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

The last hapless transport at batavia - loading supplies - goes to the bottom
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
Ki-21 Sally x 68
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Ki-15 Babs x 1

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses


Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 22
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 1

I am trying to get a load of Blenheims back to India - the only way is via Rangoon. So they are all set to Naval search, hopefully they wont be at home when the bombers come knocking.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As you will notice the SBDs did not attack. This will be because he stayed further away than 2 hexes - where I had set the bombers. I extend this to 3 this turn but I think the horse has bolted.

I wonder where he is aiming at if not where I thought. He defiantely feinted towards teh bottom of Sumatra. The Forces retreating there out of Palembang will begin to arrive next turn. If he does not attack then I will move some transports there and start ferrying troops across the straits.

My carriers move back out of range.

I think the Cruiser New Orleans is for it - it is one hex out of Darwin but has 97 float damage - very unlikely to survive.

Another Betty attack on Darwin - no sport for the SBDs and naval low flying attackers hit his retreating FT TF.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/02/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Batavia , at 19,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Hawk 75A x 4
CW-21B Demon x 4
Brewster 339D x 5
Hurricane II x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hawk 75A: 2 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Hurricane II: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged

While I have the SBDs here I have to take the lumps. I don't want him sending in the bombers to hit them on the ground.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 21,66


Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 16
Buffalo I x 14
Blenheim I x 9
Martin 139 x 2


Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 damaged
Blenheim I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Oshio
DD Arashio, Bomb hits 1
DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 8
DD Nowaki
DD Hagikaze
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 12

Well a few bullet holes and a bomb on the Arashio. Better than nothing but hardly a deterant from him doing it again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 6
G4M1 Betty x 16

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 18 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Reid
CL Raleigh, Torpedo hits 1
DD Helm

Bugger - he flies all the way from Amboina I think to hit both cruisers I still have in the area. Fortunately they aren't too badly damaged - the Minneapolis is the worst with 22 SYS - Raleigh is only at 11.
On the really bad side of the ledger I lost New Orleans - she seccumbs to her wounds. I get her namesake in 555 days.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bankha

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 4508 troops, 44 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1039 troops, 8 guns, 4 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 18 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Bankha base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported

Northern Sumatra is all his now. Just alot of homeless units trudging around the trails. I will do my best to get them out but subs are the only vehicles that have been able to do the job and they take a very long time to do it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I ummed and arred about moving the SBDs last turn, didn't and missed out on hitting his retreating FT mission. They will not be in range tomorrow so I continue to chance my arm and stay where I am. In my included map you can see some transports heading in. If they are on their way to Java then this wil have been the wrong move. I may still have time to mend my ways though.

Their porable homes are still moving out West but PzBs Mavis scout ACs continue to find me. I cannot afford to have him know exactly where I am. I want the SBDs to fly and then I will move them back out to the carriers.

A CD unit in Sydnay is changed to South Western headquaters and heads to Port Moresby.

Rangoon got its reprieve today - don't know why - the weather was beautiful as usual. Still have 3 P-40Es there though. 35 flayable back at Calcutta.

the day the SBDs died.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/03/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Batavia, at 19,59

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 44 destroyed, 51 damaged
Martin 139: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
Hawk 75A: 6 destroyed, 5 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 23 destroyed, 14 damaged
Hurricane II: 18 destroyed, 12 damaged
T.IVa: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
Brewster 339D: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Usugumo
BB Kongo
DD Isonami
DD Shirakumo
BB Hyuga
DD Kisaragi
DD Asagumo
CL Isuzu
DD Yayoi, on fire
DD Mutsuki
DD Asagiri
DD Shinonome
DD Inazuma
DD Isokaze
BB Ise
BB Haruna


Allied ground losses:
5053 casualties reported
Guns lost 21
Vehicles lost 3

Well, I stayed in one place too long and I paid the most severe price I have seen on the boards yet. I have not managed to do that sort of damage, against the AI, in the tutorial, with all the BBs they start with.

5000 men dead, 143 aircraft destroyed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Batavia , at 19,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Hawk 75A x 3
CW-21B Demon x 3
Brewster 339D x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hawk 75A: 7 destroyed
CW-21B Demon: 7 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Batavia , at 19,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 58
G3M Nell x 79
G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied aircraft
Hawk 75A x 3
CW-21B Demon x 2
Brewster 339D x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hawk 75A: 2 destroyed
CW-21B Demon: 2 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 29 destroyed, 10 damaged
T.IVa: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Hurricane II: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 28

Nope, I just don't know quite what to do. Every single thing I try he second guesses me.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 50,31

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 68493 troops, 781 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 40609 troops, 280 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
443 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

Allied ground losses:
455 casualties reported
Guns lost 27

To add insult to injury he has managed to magically surround a whole swag of chinese. Now I managed to do this, as the japanese, against someone else and they didn't surrender despite getting 200 to 1 odds against. This of course will not happen for me in this game because nothing since the lady lex's escape from around Palua has done so.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The dauntlesses, which I left on accept replacements, now have another 18 aircraft each, all damaged, all ready to be captured.

I am not going to write any more - too sick to the stomach

Nasty stuff... but, don't you get those squadrons back sometime in the future?

All you have to do is hold out a year or so..

If you need cheering up wobbly, go back and play a turn of UV against me, that'll cheer you up[:D]

This dual AAR stuff is great
hang in there, top game.
One thing to remember, all those BBs screaming around, just how much fuel does Japan have?, not enough for this level of operations for 6 months.

Well when you are down PzB puts the slipper in. More dauntlesses lost while parked on the tarmac. Lunga also falls.

String - the dauntlesses aren't actually dead yet. I still have about 50 at batavia! The problem is they are all damged and at a base that has a service damage level of 92 and no functioning engineer squads! So getting them out is more than a problem. If I can get remnants out I may be able to rebuild them faster than PzB thinks - there are plenty in the reserves.

Herb - thanks mate. I don't think UV is that much of a remedy - it is not as if I have dominated that game. I don't think he has too much to worry about. Residents of Palembang were filling their swimming pools with fuel at palembang when it was taken.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/04/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Soerabaja, at 22,65 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Lockheed 212: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
CW-21B Demon: 4 destroyed

43 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Usugumo
BB Kongo
DD Isonami
DD Shirakumo
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1
DD Kisaragi
DD Asagumo
CL Isuzu
DD Mutsuki
DD Asagiri
DD Shinonome
DD Isokaze
BB Ise
BB Haruna

Allied Ships
AS Zuiderkruis, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Paz, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
MSW Abraham Crijnssen, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Liran, Shell hits 2, on fire


Allied ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10
Port hits 2

Now it is Soerabaja's turn. I had moved most of the aircraft I could out though.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 25,65

Allied Ships
SS S-36

This has also been the story of my game - my subs just refuse to attack anything. Let alone hit anything. Even the dutch subs will not engage. The water around these landing zones is thick with subs that do nothing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kragen at 22,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 13 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano

So, I set my aircraft to strafe the invaders - they choose the surface units which they can't hurt, and the most heavily defended ones as well. This trend is repeated ad naseum this turn. It is too damned frustrating.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Batavia , at 19,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 37
G3M Nell x 81
G4M1 Betty x 34

Allied aircraft
Hawk 75A x 2
CW-21B Demon x 2
Brewster 339D x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hawk 75A: 4 destroyed
CW-21B Demon: 4 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 26 destroyed, 47 damaged
Hurricane II: 8 destroyed, 7 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 59

Wallop - 20 more dauntlesses become a funeral pyre. The only good news is that one is in flyable condition and despite all this punishment the runways are still open. It gets out and I will try and nurse it to Oz. That is my only hope. Get them to Oz to meet the carriers; which without their divebombers are staying well away from the action.
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Day Air attack on TF at 27,69

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
G3M Nell x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
TK Augustina, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

This guy had filled up with oil and managed to sneak some distance towards safety. All to naught though, she will surely end up on the bottom.
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Ground combat at Pomala

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3754 troops, 34 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 838 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Pomala base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
1215 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

The last units in Mindano are tracked down and captured.
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Ground combat at 50,31

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 148855 troops, 1706 guns, 158 vehicles

Defending force 38969 troops, 237 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 17 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1744 casualties reported
Guns lost 44
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
1800 casualties reported
Guns lost 39

A small ray of sunshine to a frost bitten man. How much longer can they survive? The cavalry are at least another turn away from opening them a way out.
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Ground combat at Lunga

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 618 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 18 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lunga base !!!

Is this the opening moves to a foray south?
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OK, my poor battered ego, now crushed and broken somewhere around the soles of my feet has to be rekindled somehow. I laughed when PzB offered the Phyrric good news of the damage I will cause the home Islands in '45 - great thats only 1400 turns or so away!

So, looking at the way I was destroyed leaves me to come to a few conclusions:

You shouldn't overfill an airbase in close proximity to the enemy especially if they have BB bombardment groups.

There were too many aircraft there for the base size. Huddled together they provided an easy target (although the destruction metted out was unbelieveable - this reasoning does not count for the loss of 5000 men).

I shouldn't have had the planes at the front line. Again they were open to attack from the sea. In this I relied on the CD unit to caution him, well it did nothing but act as a target. They should have been at a base on the West coast of Java. This criticism is tempered by the need to have them fly together (from the same base) - in dribs and drabs they would only have been crushed in the air rather than on the ground.

So this leaves me with the problem of getting them out. Bouyed by his success PzB is likely to speed up the invasions and I need enough stepping stones on the way south to get a remnant of each squad out. The biggest problem though is the trained navy pilots. If I can't save them I really have suffered a major blow. For this to work though I require the charity of the enemy - something PzB hasn't given me in any amount at all in this game.

Elsewhere the AVG and their 50 high experience pilots have made it out of Rangoon and to their new home of Calcutta. I have 35 P-40Es there now but there is no way in hell I am exposing those aircraft to danger until their numbers are up again. then it will be judicious use in and out of hot spots.

Downing Street requires a BB and 2 DDs back in the Atlantic. I read that I cannnot use the PoW in this way, which made it to Trimcomalee this turn by the way, as it's damage is still at 65. I also still have 2 Flush deck DDs so they are on their way to Karachi.

The most powerful Dutch land unit I have is now situated North of Soerabaja. PzB has landed in the 1-1 base North of Soerabaja so if he now decides to attack Soerabaja as a marine invasion he will have to reload his troops. At present I think the 2 units he has in the same hex with me are too small to take me out, but another 5 have landed.

Ships still located at Tilitjap put to sea - about 5 of them have made a run for it including an AS. this will leave about 4 AKs at Tilitjap. I may have to try and use these to get short legged aircraft out - very dangerous with subs and now CVLs around Java.

2 more base units make it to Darwin. It is turning into quite a base. This bouys and scares me. PzB has shown the disdane the Japs can show are allied bases. I send the Aussie 2nd Division to Darwin from Brisbane. It will take the better part of a month to get there but it might be prudent.

Back in China I still have 3 armies on their way to try and spring the cut off units out of the trap they have found themselves in.

In the US 2 Divisions begin loading, the Americal Division along with another base unit head to Noumea; the 40th heads to fortress Pearl.

What were SBDs doing in Java?

That is the wrong place for valuable aircraft, as the DEI is a deathtrap. Use what is there, but no need to throw away good forces for something you can't hold.

With your CVs denuded, he will REALLY start to eat your lunch. Now THAT is a scary thought[X(]

ORIGINAL: denisonh

What were SBDs doing in Java?

That is the wrong place for valuable aircraft, as the DEI is a deathtrap. Use what is there, but no need to throw away good forces for something you can't hold.

With your CVs denuded, he will REALLY start to eat your lunch. Now THAT is a scary thought[X(]

Simple enough - I wanted to catch his invasion with the only aircraft that could do him damage while not endangering the aircraft carriers.
I wanted one nasty attack and then bug out to Oz where the planes would meet with their flat tops.

Consideration were thus:

He did not appear to have his carriers in the area.

He was using his zeros on escort and sweep missions not CAP above his TFs

If he had been hit with the SBDs he would need to reassess the speed and way in which he was attacking Java.

Where I went really wrong was the location of them - Batavia was the deathtrap more than Java total - his BBs smashed me.

If I can get the remnants of the dauntlesses out via stepping stones down to Oz the SBDs will be replaced very quickly. The plan, after he surmised I was in the Indian ocean anyway, was to have one strike and then move AROUND Oz back to the South Pacific.
The Carriers are out of the fight while they do this anyway - they have suffered a bit of sys damage in all their movement.

As I stated in the AAR - what I need is a bit of down time in Batavia to get at least one plane from each sqd out of this deathtrap.