Racing the Sunrise: RA 4.0--Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

...not Oregon...Australia!

There are no Ports left for the Allies in Northern, Western, or Southern Australia. All that remains is Townsville north...

[Cribtop]

I meant when does the lose 1000 men and re-spawn bug happen? Sounds nasty.

[John 3rd]

Sorry. Michael can explain it better then me but the simple side is if you land with an Air flotilla or Air Division (anything with TTs). The unit fragments and you cannot have Torps until the frag re-appears in Tokyo 30-60 days later. It REALLY sucks!

[seille]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Sorry. Michael can explain it better then me but the simple side is if you land with an Air flotilla or Air Division (anything with TTs). The unit fragments and you cannot have Torps until the frag re-appears in Tokyo 30-60 days later. It REALLY sucks!

I hope Michael did NOT run into that bug so far, but i told him about that problem. It happened in my game which is scenario 2 now 4(!!) times when i tried to land a Air HQ in first attack wave.
What happens ? All i saw are the usual landing losses, things like "10 support troops lost in accident", but i ALWAYS lost the complete torpedo support for the Air HQs. What i had left was
a fragment containing the aviation support with the main unit respawning in Tokyo 30+ days later.

As i wrote that bug screwed some otherwise good landings and took away my chances using miss Betty and Nell with good effect in early game.
Manado, Singkawang, Rabaul and Koepang. In Rabaul the "victim" was the 4th fleet. A naval HQ that can deliver torp support.

MichaelM already confirmed that bug and that he fixed it for the next patch, but for now it can be a game breaker. Little workaround is to land the air HQ AFTER the target base is secured.
This seems to be the key.

[seille]

And thats the same Air HQ after it landed. You see it is pretty useless for my naval bombers. No torps !

Sorry for highjacking your thread a bit John.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: seille

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Sorry. Michael can explain it better then me but the simple side is if you land with an Air flotilla or Air Division (anything with TTs). The unit fragments and you cannot have Torps until the frag re-appears in Tokyo 30-60 days later. It REALLY sucks!

I hope Michael did NOT run into that bug so far, but i told him about that problem. It happened in my game which is scenario 2 now 4(!!) times when i tried to land a Air HQ in first attack wave.
What happens ? All i saw are the usual landing losses, things like "10 support troops lost in accident", but i ALWAYS lost the complete torpedo support for the Air HQs. What i had left was
a fragment containing the aviation support with the main unit respawning in Tokyo 30+ days later.

As i wrote that bug screwed some otherwise good landings and took away my chances using miss Betty and Nell with good effect in early game.
Manado, Singkawang, Rabaul and Koepang. In Rabaul the "victim" was the 4th fleet. A naval HQ that can deliver torp support.

MichaelM already confirmed that bug and that he fixed it for the next patch, but for now it can be a game breaker. Little workaround is to land the air HQ AFTER the target base is secured.
This seems to be the key.

Good to know about this. I was wondering why my HQ was split and had the torp part showing up in a month. I thought it was something I had missed about that unit previously. Crap. Sucks!

[Cribtop]

Yikes. Thanks for the info on that bug. At least there is a workaround.

[John 3rd]

Glad to help get the word out on this issue. It sucks! Thanks Obvert and Seille.

[John 3rd]

OK. I have a few days to catch-up the AAR but I had to Post this screenshot. We've reached May 1, 1942 and Lew launches a little surprise. Luckily a set of convoys had just gone by to the south.

Zeros and Kates move into Marcus. Emily to Saipan, from Kure, and Wake now fly air search. CVs Junyo and Nisshin are already headed for a point between Johnston and Palmyra. They will advance NW and cutoff a retreat pending on the size of the force...

Take a look:

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
April 27-May 3, 1942

Typical of life is the fact that I was disparing of just how slow turns were coming and NOW I can barely keep up with them! It is a nice problem but has also led to falling behind on my AARs.

With the HUGE exception of the now-you-see-it and now-you-don't American CV Raid, I could not imagine the 'War Plan' going any better. The list of bases falling in Australia simply rolls on and now I am cleaning up behind the lines as well. The CV Fleet is nearly intact for the first time since I took Palembang and there are substantial reinforcements due within the month.

North Pacific
Nothing major. Several small Cargo TF are up here. There are six I-Boats operating from the north along the Canadian--WC Area and those damned Canadians have been doing pretty well with their ASW. Haven't sunk anything but they have damaged a pair of boats.

Central Pacific
The American CVs disappear without a trace. Absolutely mind-boggling. The day after they launched that tiny raid on Chichi Jima, Why he chose to reveal their presence by launching a strike boggles the mind. They were perfectly placed to nail some convoys moving between the Home Islands and Truk--Tabitueau. Glad he lit off that small raid. Lose no ships and become hyper-aware that Air Search needs to redone.

I moved 24 Emily and 36 Betty into the area for Air Search. Could I see them? NO! Have no idea how many CVs, numbers of vessels, ANYTHING about that TF whatsoever. 'Tis a puzzlement...

Jaliut's CVs have now moved to spot equally between Johnston and Palmyra. On the 3rd I order them to light-off their Search Planes and enter the waters north of the Line Islands. I can raid a bit TOO! With just the two CVs this will be short. Don't want to risk them more then for a quick sting.

South Pacific
Have pulled two Daitai of Zeros and 1 of Bettys to begin forming my 'response force.' Need another Betty/Nell and some other assets.

Australia
This game is done here. The list of bases and hexes falling tells the story of total victory in Australia. Who would have thought it?? Total bases (including dot hexes) can be done on LESS THEN TWO HANDS!

NW Australia
Bomb Tennant Creek and the 3rd Aussie ID everyday. The base falls on May 2nd to a 146-1 Attack by the 65th Brigade and 2 TK Reg. The 3rd Aussie ID and 3rd Inf Brig cease to be effective combat formations. Immediately order in 48 Topsy to begin shuttling in supplies to keep my units functional. Will sit a few a days and then drive south on Alice Springs.

Continue bombing troops as they flee the area.

Western Australia
Drive shattered troops away from Perth into the desert.

Kalgoorlie takes bombing raids each day and then FALLS on May 3rd to a 7-1 attack.

The only base left in Western Austalia is Meeratharra. It is the dot hex NW of Kalgoorlie.

Nothing else is left...Western Austrlia: DONE!

Southern Australia
There is an occasional air rad on Sydney but there are roughly 50 Zero/Oscars protecting it.

Portland FALLS on the 28th.

Mildura and Bourke FALL on the 30th.

Coff's Harbour is taken by Fast TF on the 3rd.

All that is left in South Australia is Broken Hill and it takes a 201 attack dropping Forts to Zero on the 3rd. It will fall on the next turn.

Southern Australia: DONE!

Eastern Australia
Fighting goes strong here as this is the last area that hasn't been seriously taken. Move three Inf Div by rail and begin the drive north out of Rockhampton.

The Townsville Bombing Raids net ships and aircraft through May 1st. How he is replenishing aircraft amazes me. My Zeros are continuing to climb in experience. I harvest out over 30 fighter pilots with experience of 80+ on the 2nd.

Have troops driving on Charlville, Emerald, and Bowen.

Begin Sweeps and AF Attacks on Bowen May 2nd and bag a good number of planes.

Not much left in the way of troops here. Just have to drive north and take the remaining bases from Bowen north.

DEI
Begin cleaning up the dot hexes and bases left behind by the Japanese Tsunami. Take Pamakasan, Enggano, Bima, and Mataram.

Cocos is now getting bombarded by 2 BB TF and a CA TF. Over the week of this report, it is hit on the 29th, 30th, 1st, and shall be hit again over the next three nights. Have destroyed BUNCHES of planes of the ground and now that Christmas Island IO is at Lvl-2 AF I have Zeros Sweeping the sky everyday. Notice is served that the only way to slow this process is to commit his Fleet in a major way.

Hopefully this Operation forces the issue within about a week. I now have CarDiv2 back together with Zuiho. Ryujo will be completed within 3 days. At that point the 4 CVs shall move out and SINK ENEMY SHIPPING coming into Cocos. The Fleet has been hamstrung for nearly 3 months with damaged carriers. That period is--thankfully--coming to a rapid close.

Burma
Grab Car Nicobar and Trinkat.

Two TK Regiment drive the BFF Brigade away from the hex NE of Katha on the 30th.

Akyab FALLS to a TK Reg dropped off by 4 AKs. No aerial resistance.

China
We are now stalemated near Sian. Have accepted the fact that the war of movement within China is done.

Have shifted gears to driving out troops behind my lines. It took a couple of weeks to create 4-5 2-3 Division-sized units before I could really get this started but now the Japanese are driving the Chinese out of thei lines and causing quite a bit of casualties.

SS Ops
I-156 sinks AKL Lematang on the 30th at Cocos.

Am hearing the occasional mine go off and that must mean he is tangling with my MF at Cocos. Have noticed at least six explosions.

Engineering
Umnak AF-2
Lunga AF-3
Christmas IO AF-2
Changchun AF-6
Geraldton AF-4
Adak AF-4
Wyndham AF-4
Milne bay Pt-2
Darwin AF-5
Rockhampton AF-4
Chengchow AF-4

Have turned off all AF--Port expansion in Australia. Don't need it and this will save on supply.

Reinforcements
28th AV Akitsushima
29th 301-303rd Inf Bn and Ichiki Detachment (deploy them to Kuriles and Attu) plus 2 Nvl Garrisons at Singapore and an SNLF at Tokyo
30th 17th Army and 5th Air Div at Tokyo---BB Yamato finishes repairs and heads back for the fight.



This is a comprehensive review of and Post. Australia is nearly complete and then we can launch the final phase of Operations ained at either destroying large numbers of troops and/or a 'decisive' engagement with Allied Naval Forces.

Comments?

[John 3rd]

Here is the screenshot for the only active area of Aussie Operations:

[pws1225]

Thanks for the detailed reports in your AAR, John. I really enjoying this ride!

[John 3rd]

Thanks. This has gone far better then I would ever have imagined. We'll see if we can keep the momentum UP with the moves against Cocos and the Line Islands.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
May 4-10, 1942

Things proceed with mopping up in Australia and the Fleet begins a redeployment towards the Central Pacific

North Pacific
Delightfully quiet. Ever since sinking those two BBs up here we have not heard a sound from the Allies and this is GOOD!

Central Pacific
The Jaliut CVs move into a blocking position between Hawaii and the Line Islands and stay there for 4 days without being spotted. Detach a small Strike Force to hit Christmas and recon bases around it. CVs moving further east and will do a JEB Stuart move before heading home to Jaliut.

South Pacific
No major commentary other then I continue to form-up my aerial response force in Noumea.

Australia
NW Australia
Have several Base Forces heading for Tennant Creek. Order the 65th Brig and 1 TK Reg to move on Alice Springs. He has about 24 medium bombers flying out of Alice so I'll base some fighters at TC once my BF get there.

Western Australia
Take the LAST BASE in Western Australia on the 9th. Meekathaara falls and there is now NOWHERE for the Aussie troops to retreat to. Get a surrender on the 10th. We'll see if there is a pattern that now emerges regarding actual surrenders....

Southern Australia
It IS DONE! No Southern Australia cities are left: BANZAI! Broken Hill FALLS on the 7th. The dot hex of Condamine FALLS on the 8th.

Kido Butai: The Fleet's job is finished here. On the 10th I form-up CarDIv5 and Kaga with all 4 BC, some CAs, and lesser ships (25 warships) and send them to Jaliut. Everyone is repaired and looking tough. Akagi continues to be repaired at Sydney and will be done in about 3 weeks.

Eastern Australia
The Fat Lady is singing. Japanese Infantry Divisions begin moving into the last Australian defenses during this week. Emerald FALLS on 5-5 and Normanton goes away on the 10th. Four Inf Div now are moving in the Theatre and this should make short work of the remaining Aussie Troops.

Townsville is the focus of aerial action where British Spitfires make their first appearance---ONLY TO DIE! My high quality Zero Daitai make short work of them... Zero Sweeps and 3 Daitai--Sentai of Bombers crush the AF and Port. Dutch SS 023 goes down and numerous Fighters, Medium Bombers, and B-17s are destroyed on the AF.

DEI
Cocos Island is the gift that keeps on giving! My regular bombardment runs net a nice bonus this week as CL Newcastle, 2 modern Brit DD (Panther and Paladin), and 2 AK are sunk for no loss on Nippon's side of the ledger. Zeros and Netties are now flying out of Christmas Isle IO and they begin to wear down the AF and its aircraft even as the bombardments bring about many destroyed and damaged aircraft.

Taking lots of the little bases left behind as we rushed to Australia: Trinkat, Great Nicobar, Komodo, Memboro, Ruteng, Sinabang, Waingapoe,

Sumatra is getting strengthened by Engineers and Base Forces. I've got a Regiment or Brigade at every major northern and western base.

KB-2 gets the addition of Ryuho on the 7th. Form-Up CarDiv2, Zuiho, and Ryuho at Soerabaja to conduct an offensive sweep above Cocos.

Burma
Driving out of Katha going due east and as well as up the road to the NE.

Second lift of troops going to Akyab will arrive in 2-3 days.

China
Am clearing out the Chinese Throughout the Nanchang area as well as west of Loyang in the Central Plains.

SS Ops
Mines are doing quite well at Cocos with six explosions heard during the days.

5-5 I-6 BAGS a US DD (Perkins) NE of New Zealand
5-5 I-123 SINKS AK Bengalen at Cocos
5-6 ASW SINKS KXV near Singkawang

Engineering
X-Mas Isle IO AF-3
Norfolk AF-3
Tabiteuea AF-1
Manila AF-4

Reinforcements
Load-Up 3 Inf Regiments and a Garrison Unit at Shanghai to begin the garrisoning of Australia. Each one of those four units allows me to reconstitute a Cocos-Bound Infantry Division.



Noticed Lew has restarted his AAR. He had told me that he wanted to now that things were 'calming down.' They ARE NOT! He only THINKS SO...

Cocos and Line Islands are next BABY!

[John 3rd]

Here is the current VP Situation:

[janh]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Noticed Lew has restarted his AAR. He had told me that he wanted to now that things were 'calming down.' They ARE NOT! He only THINKS SO...

Cocos and Line Islands are next BABY!

[8D] Waiting for great news... hopefully good news... I am a bit lost about Cocos, to be honest. It must have been a staging base for his withdrawals from the DEI, perhaps planned to be a base for some raids against IJ DEI in due time, or perhaps planned to be build up as another unsinkable carrier to protect the sea lines between OZ, IN and SA. Seems like it is turning into an American "Guadalcanal", though. I would have bet Sara and Hornet are somewhere near, as Enterprise alone did seem a bit suspicious. Hmmh. Well.

Lew has a sister AAR here? I didn't notice. What his forum name?

[John 3rd]

He is Adm. Nelson. The companion AAR is named the same as this one.

[MateDow]

You were wondering about offensive opportunities for Allies somewhere on the last page...

If I wanted to mount an offensive in their situation, I would use the extra divisions that were activated by your invasion of Australia to be very aggressive in Burma. Use those divisions to isolate your Port Blair garrison, and threaten in Indochina.

That would allow for the use of the shorter range aircraft that are also a part of the reinforcement package.

Of course, that doesn't match his withdrawals. I would be using those units to bleed yours as much as possible and pin them so I could move my forces in without combat mode.

Just my two cents worth.

[John 3rd]

It is the LOGICAL choice. This is why I am moving units to garrison Sumatra and will--eventually--add to Port Blair. All of the Imperial Guards are present there now plus some artillery so it appears to be OK for the moment. Need to blast those troops out of Cocos and then bring 3-4 ID into Burma,

[John 3rd]

May 15, 1942

Here is an example of an 'average' Bombardment of Cocos Isle these days: