Aussies vs Amis - World Defence(no Joe or Nik)

[jrcar]

25-26 Dec 1942

Subs
We have put a lot of aircraft on ASW patrol off Biak-Hollianda to help protect the CV's which are retiring on Rabaul, they do the job and detect and supress sevarl subs in the area.

SESAIA
We deliberate attack at Bangkok... reducing the forts, but looks like we need some more forces...

Ground combat at Bangkok (56,62)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 64063 troops, 1065 guns, 1051 vehicles, Assault Value = 1467

Defending force 26282 troops, 295 guns, 67 vehicles, Assault Value = 769

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied adjusted assault: 1735

Japanese adjusted defense: 1905

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1792 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 84 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 90 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
2570 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 152 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 130 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled


Assaulting units:
21st Australian Brigade
19th Australian Brigade
16th Australian Brigade
17th Australian Brigade
18th Australian Brigade
25th Australian Brigade
41st Infantry Division
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
13th Indian Brigade
IV Indian Corps
27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/13th Field Regiment
30th Field Artillery Regiment
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
XXXIII Indian Corps
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
35th Light AA Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
1st RTA Division
33rd Division
2nd RTA Division
1st Mortar Regiment
Royal Thai Army
3rd Mortar Battalion
Thai Aviation Coy

Otherwise the usual. More forces are slowly marching into the area.

SWPAC
The troops begin unloading at Sorong and are not molested. The 24th Inf Regt looks to be fully ashore. The 3rd Army Tk bde is unloading, but lots of vehicle became disabled in the process. Not have the turn yet to see how bad. But I think it is time to attack again...

Otherwise it is quiet.

Phillipines
Intel reports lots of forces moving to the Phillipines, in particular air base forces.

CENTPAC
No change on our side. Intel is reporting lots of traffic at Saipan... looks like they are up to something... maybe a counter invasion? But where... Making me a bit nervous and I think we need to reduce our profile in the area a bit...

China
Massive air attacks, here is an example:

Morning Air attack on 65th Chinese Corps, at 80,58

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 109
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 28
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 35
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 34

Looks like they are getting as much experiance up as they can...

Cheers

Rob

[jrcar]

Currently in Orlando, off to San Diego this weekend

27-28 Dec 1942

Indo China
Shock attacks all failed, otherwise forces moveing around at the moment.

Ground combat at Bangkok (56,62)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 63579 troops, 1078 guns, 1163 vehicles, Assault Value = 1444

Defending force 24972 troops, 295 guns, 66 vehicles, Assault Value = 687

Allied adjusted assault: 1772

Japanese adjusted defense: 2545

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
619 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 127 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 91 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Allied ground losses:
2902 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 118 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 220 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 95 disabled
Vehicles lost 69 (8 destroyed, 61 disabled)


Assaulting units:
18th Australian Brigade
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
25th Australian Brigade
41st Infantry Division
19th Australian Brigade
16th Australian Brigade
7th Hussars Regiment
17th Australian Brigade
21st Australian Brigade
13th Indian Brigade
2/9th Field Regiment
30th Field Artillery Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
XV Indian Corps
2/11th Field Regiment
27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
35th Light AA Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/13th Field Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
XXXIII Indian Corps
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
IV Indian Corps
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
1st RTA Division
33rd Division
2nd RTA Division
Royal Thai Army
3rd Mortar Battalion
1st Mortar Regiment
Thai Aviation Coy


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

Ground combat at 60,55

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1051 troops, 8 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 40

Defending force 971 troops, 2 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 47

Allied adjusted assault: 16

Japanese adjusted defense: 28

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

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


Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
2nd King Own YLI Battalion

Defending units:
55th Cavalry Regiment
6th Tank Regiment

SWPAC
After a naval bombardment and max air attacks the shock attack worked, the enemy retreats into the dot hex next door to starve for the rest of the war.

Ground combat at Sorong (82,107)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 17175 troops, 177 guns, 286 vehicles, Assault Value = 573

Defending force 6554 troops, 16 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 108

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 821

Japanese adjusted defense: 143

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Sorong !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
2478 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 85 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 67 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 5


Allied ground losses:
899 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 75 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Vehicles lost 21 (3 destroyed, 18 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
3rd Army Tank Brigade
8th Australian Division
6th RAA Coastal Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
78th Infantry Regiment
146th Infantry Rgt /1
44th Road Const Co
6th Naval Construction Battalion
5th JAAF AF Bn

The rest is all pretty quite.

Cheers

Rob

[Flying Tiger]

and then....??

[jrcar]

We are waiting on Joe and Nik, RL is impacting on them a lot at the moment

Cheers

Rob

[jrcar]

Ok have done the turn.

Key Notes.
Sorong
The 24th Sep Inf Regt is 2/3rds disabled, it had low prep when it was landed. It is now resting.

The base itself has light damage to the airfields and moderate to the port. There are 115 engineers there so that will clear quickly. Two units of P40k have arrived, and the II Fighter Command is being airlifted in.

A large troop convoy is on the way in, it has:

233rd USN BF
10th SEEBEE
12th SEEBEE
Australian Medium Regiment

The convoy is protected by a BB TF.


Next Step
Two para regiments are almost 50% prepped for Morotai (which is currently well banged up still from the CV raid).

Once Sorong is up and fully operating we will attack Morotai, followed by Ternate and Manado. This should then seal off the route out of the DEI on this side.

CV's
All our CV's are currenty concentrated with 3 CVE at Rabaul. 3 more CVE are now leaving PH on a transit to Rabaul. We have 1 damaged CVE (Sub attack) at BIAK. It will stay there as there are a number of subs off the NE coast of PNG.

Ponope
Over 200 engineers are now working on PONOPE to improve the port and airfield to beging the (long term) reduction of TRUK.

Bangkok
Bangkok is now surrounded.

[jrcar]

Just for something different I've been planning

Reviewing my objectives, forces and preperation in the SWPAC.

Mission
The Japanese are denied the ability to send resources via the southern route to Japan.

Outline Plan
Four phases...

Phase 1
Manado is seized via air and sea while Sorong is built up as a major logistics base.

Ambon is seized via sea assault - 25th Inf Div and 8th Marine Regt.

Phase 2
Forces from Townsville seize Manado and Talaued Island.

Air bombardment of Babeldoab begins, CV's also raid.

Davao is supressed.


Phase 3
Australian forces land at Tarakan.

Babeldoab is invaded.

Phase 4
American forces (to be determined) land Jolo- Mindanao.


Phase one should be complete within 21 days, Phase 2 will follow only a week or two behind. Then ther will be an operational pause to phase 3 and 4.

[Flying Tiger]

ORIGINAL: jrcar

We are waiting on Joe and Nik, RL is impacting on them a lot at the moment

Cheers

Rob

fair enough. RL can do that at times!

[LoBaron]

Rob great to know that one of the most interesting AARs (at least from my perspective) is still alive and well.

[jrcar]

29-30 Dec 1942

Subs
Sub attack near Sorong at 82,107

Japanese Ships
SS I-25, hits 11

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Chicago
DD Bancroft
DD Phelps
DD Selfridge

Submarine attack near Sorong at 82,107

Japanese Ships
SS I-25, hits 20, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Monssen
BB Warspite
CA Portland
CL Concord
DD Perkins, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Aaron Ward
Not sure how bad the damage is, at least we got the I-25.

We are getting lots of sub contacts between Sorong and Hollianda. Our fleet is basically safely tucked up in Rabaul, apart from a couple of TF off Sorong.

Indo-China
We bomb Bangkok, and the ground troops in the jungle.

We take Udan Thani.

Ground combat at Udon Thani (61,59)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9959 troops, 86 guns, 59 vehicles, Assault Value = 391

Defending force 6360 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 227

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 176

Japanese adjusted defense: 40

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Udon Thani !!!

And hit one of the stacks retreating in th jungle, the remains move to join the Imperial guards who are slowly marching out towards Vietnam, a historical march if ever there were one!

Ground combat at 60,55 (near Uttaradit)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4203 troops, 38 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 153

Defending force 947 troops, 2 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 43

Allied adjusted assault: 113

Japanese adjusted defense: 16

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
189 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 15 (14 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 2


Allied ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd King Own YLI Battalion
48th Ghurka Brigade

Defending units:
55th Cavalry Regiment
6th Tank Regiment

Lots of new troops, including a Brit Para Bde, have arrived in theatre.

SWPAC
Largely covered in the sub section. Our air is harassing ground targets here there and everywhere. the enemy airforce is absent.

Forces are gathering in Townsville for the next lot of moves.

CENTPAC
Moving stuff around.

Wake is prep bombed by LB-30.

China
Forces are moving into position to assault Vietnam from the east and establish another land link.

Cheers

Rob

[Alfred]

Ah, good to see the cavalryman could afford some time away from encircling Leningrad to spend on the latest turn against Japan.[:)]

Alfred

[jrcar]

Yes he is currently a bit distracted!

Cheers
Rob

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Ah, good to see the cavalryman could afford some time away from encircling Leningrad to spend on the latest turn against Japan.[:)]

Alfred

[jrcar]

Have the turn and done it. Nothing dangerous detected on the horizon...

Cheers
Rob

[jrcar]

31 Dec 1942-Jan 1943

We are crossing into Allied territory game wise now, should start recieving new toys...

Subs
Ours are getting hammered in the northern resourse area. Not loosing any but they get damaged.

We detect 5DD's of Makassar, and take a hit for our troubles.

We detect a CV in the Philipines, near Manila...

Otherwise quiet. Our subs are mostly in a picket line role, not hunting. But those that are hunting look like they need to move.

Indo China
Our air hammers away at Nakhon Ratchasima, Bangkok and the IMperial guards. Key combat results are:
Ground combat at Nakhon Ratchasima (58,61)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 10077 troops, 77 guns, 535 vehicles, Assault Value = 389

Defending force 4949 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 178

Allied adjusted assault: 473

Japanese adjusted defense: 20

Allied assault odds: 23 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Nakhon Ratchasima !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
2202 casualties reported
Squads: 42 destroyed, 56 disabled
Non Combat: 48 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 28 (2 destroyed, 26 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd Carbiniers Regiment
2nd Royal Tank Regiment
268th Motorised Brigade
42nd Cavalry Regiment
3rd Cavalry Regiment

Defending units:
7th RTA Division


Ground combat at Udon Thani (61,59)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11267 troops, 98 guns, 119 vehicles, Assault Value = 386

Defending force 3176 troops, 107 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 84

Allied adjusted assault: 268

Japanese adjusted defense: 12

Allied assault odds: 22 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1299 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 24 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 9 (9 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (3 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 4


Allied ground losses:
253 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd Burma Brigade
26th Indian Brigade
14th British Brigade
45th Recce Regiment

Defending units:
5th Division
RTA Cavalry Division
35th Fld AA Gun Co
94th JAAF AF Bn


This now clears central Thailand, only Bangkok to go. We will soon pass into Vietnam, and link up with Chinese forces pushing from the East.

SWPAC
Still hitting Ambon, it is closed down and an invasion force is preparing. It is a target of opportunity, not a must have.

Our para forces should be now concentrated at Sorong for the next step. The shipping is almost ready at Aru for the follow-on forces, once it is underway the paras will execute.

Otherwise trying to sort out units and a defence. Most of our bases are very lightly held, with a couple of "super bases".

Reconnoning around the place.

CENTPAC
Ponope makes level 3 airfield.

Forces are preparing for Wake and Marcus.

Wake is being hit by LB30.

Continuing to sort out the troops and defences.

China
South of Kukong Tony comes out to play. The enemy air concentrates and attacks, but the battle is not in doubt... the best sort! Another 40 armoured vehicles destroyed!

Ground combat at 80,58 (near Kukong)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 62820 troops, 249 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2038

Defending force 360 troops, 0 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

Allied adjusted assault: 1640

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 1640 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 40 (40 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Allied ground losses:
175 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
18th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
29th Group Army

Defending units:
8th Armored Car Co

[jrcar]

02-03 Jan 1943
Subs
Off Pagan (near Saipan) the SS Swordfish does good

Sub attack near Pagan at 108,89

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Kumano
CL Naka
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Ayanami

Allied Ships
SS Swordfish

Sub attack near Pagan at 109,86

Japanese Ships
xAK Kuwayama Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
SC Ch 13
SC Ch 3
xAK Hiyama Maru
xAK Ryuun Maru
xAK Hokumai Maru
xAK Durban Maru
E Ishigaki
E Shimushu

Allied Ships
SS Swordfish

It confirms Saipan as a major fleet base, plus this intel:

17th Army is located at Saipan(108,93)
Southeast Area Fleet is located at Saipan(108,93)

Indo China
Bangkok is almost cracked...

Ground combat at Bangkok (56,62)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 81823 troops, 1199 guns, 2242 vehicles, Assault Value = 2270

Defending force 23948 troops, 295 guns, 66 vehicles, Assault Value = 622

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 4140

Japanese adjusted defense: 1659

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1075 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 90 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 131 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled


Allied ground losses:
2463 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 237 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 194 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 38 disabled
Vehicles lost 242 (13 destroyed, 229 disabled)

Ground combat at Bangkok (56,62)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 77299 troops, 1199 guns, 2233 vehicles, Assault Value = 2088

Defending force 21454 troops, 294 guns, 66 vehicles, Assault Value = 496

Allied adjusted assault: 3239

Japanese adjusted defense: 1211

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
1270 casualties reported
Squads: 166 destroyed, 49 disabled
Non Combat: 61 destroyed, 59 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled


Allied ground losses:
1817 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 166 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 106 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 33 disabled
Vehicles lost 69 (4 destroyed, 65 disabled)

SWPAC
We hit Ambon. It is held by:
5th JNAF AF Unit
43rd Naval Guard Unit

China
They are hitting Kukong (probably because it is a level 5 airbase now). Supply is moving in quiet nicely. The Army is in motion heading towards Vietnam...



The rest is quiet, bad weather affects a lot of potential action in the SWPAC area.

Sigint and ship movements indicates enemy forces are in transit to Jolo and Davao.

Our CV airgroups have just upgraded and they are about to move out on the hunt...

Cheers

Rob

[Flying Tiger]

looks like RL hit this again??

who's to blame this time??

[jrcar]

Not us [:)]

[:(]

Joe is really caught up at the moment... something about managing some crummy computer game, the cheek!

Cheers

Rob

[Flying Tiger]

Will this come back? Or is it dead and buried? Hard to restart after a long break, but it would be sad to see this one die before the end...

[jrcar]

I'm not sure, Joe and Nik have had some work/life issues that have slowed them down... we would like to keep going, but would prefer to wait until they can comit rather than limp along...

Cheers

Rob

[Flying Tiger]

Fair enough.

I'm enjoying the AAR because a) this one has followed a different path than so many AARs, b) the actual AAR is very readable with good summaries and all the non critical guff removed, and c) its nice to see the Aussies kick the Amis butt!!

Will be very interesting to see how this plays out going on into 1943. I hope it continues.

[CaptBeefheart]

Just want to let you guys know this is one of my favorite AARs. You guys rock. Would be great to see it reactivated once RL issues are sorted.

Cheers,
CC