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Turkey trots to water.

1942 June 04

INVADED
Amphibious TF 50 offshore of Memboro
Batavia, Changsha, Padang are also invested.

CHANGED OWNERSHIP
Timoeka is occupied by the Japanese



Overall
• No carrier sightings.

• Looking at available assault shipping, I am sure we can invade Roi-Namur, Wotje, and Maloelap in one sailing and maybe Kwajalein too. I have an entire division (USA 27th) assigned to Maloelap and that might be overkill so I can get away with concentrating them into fewer ships and suffering the slower unloading. Mili and Tarawa will have to be a separate sailing. Carnage allowing.


West Coast USA, Alaska, Hawaii
• Enemy sub activity near San Diego.

• The large troop convoy finished loading and is setting out for Pearl Harbor.

• Another convoy with 6 air groups is loading at SF for PH, another is loading the support units remaining at SF for Lahaina (to avoid stacking issues at Pearl Harbor).


Pacific
• The only enemy sub activity seen the last few days is near the Ellice Islands.


New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Solomons, Papua New Guinea, New Britain
• Enemy sub activity near Brisbane.

• Fuel unloading at Melbourne; Fuel and Supply unloading at Sydney.

• Cloncurry airfield is now size 3; in case I omitted this: Alice Springs airfield is size 2.

• No air strikes on withdrawing units in NW Australia today. ☺


Philippines


DEI, Dutch new Guinea, Borneo, Malaya
• The Imperial forces at Padang spotted our other unit coming to severe their LOC. Believing it must consist of more than the token force it is, one of those units has withdrawn from Padang to secure the LOC. Victory!

• Our sub attacked another AO near Dongglala.

• I figured Imperial combat units fresh from the capture of Soerabaja would be marching into Batavia by now. There are a few units seen at Buitenzorg so perhaps they are there at the railway station.


China
• They shall return with many times this strength...

Ground combat at 83,33 (near Ningsia)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 6252 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 159

Defending force 887 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 268

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 268 to 1

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

Allied ground losses:
1144 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 58 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
82nd Chinese Corps

• We are rotating some units outside of Sian and also SW Chihkiang/SE Kweiyang. The units near Sian are recipients of many air strikes and ground bombardments daily (when not also assaulted); the spot described north of Kweilin have recently begun getting far more air strikes and are now getting daily ground bombardments.


India, Burma, Thailand, Indochina
• Enemy sub activity near Karachi.


Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Russia


Complete combat report attached.

My Allied opponent tried to invade the Northern Marshalls from Midway but my long range Search from Wake and the Marshalls spotted him a few days out. I positioned several subs along he projected path and I just a good hit on the Lexington that slowed her and stopped her air ops. He decided to continue with his operation with her limping back to PH via French Frigate Shoal direction. My carriers were East of Noumea bombing it when my search planes spotted him. I guess he figured I was far enough away that I would not be able to interfere with at least his air attacks on Roi Namur and the rest of the Northern Marshalls. I have a Naval Aviation HQ at Roi Namur so I stacked it with fighters to await his airstrikes as my carriers streaked to the Marshalls and I had tankers luckily spreadout in two groups along his bath from Noumea to the Marshalls. My 100+ fighters between Roi-Namur and Kawjaline were able to cause loses to his fighters and especially his dive bombers as they conducted 3 days of attacks. He was now down 90 AC on Lexington because she couldn't conduct air ops from damage and 90+ more from air loses over the Marshalls. As he withdrew my fastest KB element was able to intercept his carriers as they were staring to withdraw. In the carrier battle that ensued I was able to sink the Saratoga and heavily damage the Enterprise. I was also able to catch up to the limping Lexington and sink it as well. His invasion force which looked like fast transports had turned around earlier so from lack of fuel I was unable to chase them all the way to Midway-French Frigate Shoals or Johnson Island.

I got lucky that the Lexington sucked a torpedo but you may be spotted 2-3 days out as he was so he can take counter action and make things hot for you when you do arrive. If you don't know where all his carriers are then your lack of search might lead you into an ambush. Once you start landing you are stuck for a few days. If you know all his carriers are stationed in DEI or Indian Ocean then you are practicing the time honored baseball motto "hit'em where they ain't."

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

My Allied opponent tried to invade the Northern Marshalls from Midway but my long range Search from Wake and the Marshalls spotted him a few days out. I positioned several subs along he projected path and I just a good hit on the Lexington that slowed her and stopped her air ops. He decided to continue with his operation with her limping back to PH via French Frigate Shoal direction. My carriers were East of Noumea bombing it when my search planes spotted him. I guess he figured I was far enough away that I would not be able to interfere with at least his air attacks on Roi Namur and the rest of the Northern Marshalls. I have a Naval Aviation HQ at Roi Namur so I stacked it with fighters to await his airstrikes as my carriers streaked to the Marshalls and I had tankers luckily spreadout in two groups along his bath from Noumea to the Marshalls. My 100+ fighters between Roi-Namur and Kawjaline were able to cause loses to his fighters and especially his dive bombers as they conducted 3 days of attacks. He was now down 90 AC on Lexington because she couldn't conduct air ops from damage and 90+ more from air loses over the Marshalls. As he withdrew my fastest KB element was able to intercept his carriers as they were staring to withdraw. In the carrier battle that ensued I was able to sink the Saratoga and heavily damage the Enterprise. I was also able to catch up to the limping Lexington and sink it as well. His invasion force which looked like fast transports had turned around earlier so from lack of fuel I was unable to chase them all the way to Midway-French Frigate Shoals or Johnson Island.

I got lucky that the Lexington sucked a torpedo but you may be spotted 2-3 days out as he was so he can take counter action and make things hot for you when you do arrive. If you don't know where all his carriers are then your lack of search might lead you into an ambush. Once you start landing you are stuck for a few days. If you know all his carriers are stationed in DEI or Indian Ocean then you are practicing the time honored baseball motto "hit'em where they ain't."

I know! It's a risk and I certainly want to have some Intel on where his carriers are during our approach. There will be NO air strikes on land targets in this operation. The carriers are there to protect the fleet from aircraft (and to that end will launch naval strikes), LBA will be handled by battleship bombardment. It won't be perfect but coupled with immediate landings at all offensive capable airfields it should work out.

The IJN carriers... they are the big problem. Second problem is the IJN surface fleet. I figure I need a minimum of 2 days at each target. I am willing to leave troops on shore especially if they have captured the target, which I do anticipate (always possible some reinforcement will occur before we get there, but ce le guerre). Maloelap and Wotje will get landings first due to their position, and either the following day or at most 2nd day following Roi-Namur and Kwajalein will be invaded.

An Imperial invasion of Perth, with heavy carrier support, would be perfect!

Cool story, BTW, good for you! [8D]

I like the plan. I cannot elaborate but may email, just in case (legitimately ) Francois is reading this as well. Just how much sea
can an optimized KB travel in 24 hours at mission speed? How far at flank and for how long sans AOs?

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

I like the plan. I cannot elaborate but may email, just in case (legitimately ) Francois is reading this as well. Just how much sea
can an optimized KB travel in 24 hours at mission speed? How far at flank and for how long sans AOs?

Truk is 23 hexes from Roi-Namur, 24 from Kwajalein. Add another 5 or 6 hexes for my closest targets. I figure if KB1 is at Truk they can be in striking range of the first invasion targets on the second day, and in range of R-N/K on the first day.

I figure Truk is the worst case scenario. The question strategically is: will we be invading soon enough that the Empire still has non-ambush assignments for the heavy carriers?

I wonder what is the upgrade schedule for the early IJN heavy carriers? Is is possible that right now they are in transit to Japan or other large port to get upgrades accumulated over the last 6 months?

For scenario 1
Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu, and Akagi 7/42
Shokaku and Zuikaku 6/42
1st upgrades

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

For scenario 1
Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu, and Akagi 7/42
Shokaku and Zuikaku 6/42
1st upgrades

Interesting, thanks. For some reason I had it in my head the first upgrades were earlier. So these upgrades correspond with Lexington and Saratoga 6/42 (but 42 days long) and the Yorktowns' 7/42.

I am already delaying those upgrades to get this operation done sooner than later. Will the IJN heavy carriers' upgrade schedule allow me to "sneak in"?

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

For scenario 1
Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu, and Akagi 7/42
Shokaku and Zuikaku 6/42
1st upgrades

Interesting, thanks. For some reason I had it in my head the first upgrades were earlier. So these upgrades correspond with Lexington and Saratoga 6/42 (but 42 days long) and the Yorktowns' 7/42.

I am already delaying those upgrades to get this operation done sooner than later. Will the IJN heavy carriers' upgrade schedule allow me to "sneak in"?

That 42 day upgrade takes off the 8" gun turrets and replaces them with 5" plus beaucoup medium AA, no? Don't Akagi and Kaga also have 8" guns to be removed and replaced - ergo their time in the shop should be similar.

1942 June 05

INVADED
Amphibious TF 50 unloading at Memboro
Batavia, Changsha, Padang are also invested.

CHANGED OWNERSHIP
Kai-eilanden is occupied by the Japanese
Japanese forces CAPTURE Tienshui !!!



Overall
• No carrier sightings.


West Coast USA, Alaska, Hawaii
• Enemy sub activity near Pearl Harbor, San Francisco.

• The large troop convoy bound for Pearl Harbor has been spotted (DL 1/0) 7 hexes out from San Francisco. The convoys leaving San Francisco tonight/tomorrow have been routed accordingly.


Pacific
• Enemy sub activity near Suva.


New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Solomons, Papua New Guinea, New Britain
• Enemy sub activity near Brisbane, Melbourne, Aoba Island.

• Fuel unloading at Melbourne; Fuel and Supply unloading at Sydney.

• NW Austyralia is quiet except for movements already in progress.


Philippines


DEI, Dutch new Guinea, Borneo, Malaya
• Now they are rolling in.

Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 807 troops, 76 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 313

Defending force 16517 troops, 131 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 208

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

Assaulting units:
6th Tank Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
55th Engineer Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
XI KNIL Battalion
I Marechausse Cdo
XIV KNIL Battalion
1st Cav Sqdn
I Landstorm Cdo
X KNIL Battalion
XII KNIL Battalion
IV Landstorm Cdo
ML-KNIL
ABDA
Batavia KM Base Force
2e-VLG-III Sup Afd
1e-VLG-III Sup Afd
Batavia Defenses
3e-VLG-III Sup Afd
HQ I KNIL Division
KNI Leger
KNI Zeemacht
A-I-Ld AA Battalion
2e-VLG-V Sup Afd

• Far in the southeastern Banda Sea; where are they going?

ASW attack near Molu at 79,114

Japanese Ships
DD Nowaki
CA Kinugasa
CL Kitakami
CS Chitose
DD Yudachi
DD Suzukaze

Allied Ships
SS Perch

SS Perch launches 4 torpedoes at DD Nowaki
Perch diving deep ....
DD Suzukaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Suzukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Suzukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Suzukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Suzukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

China
• So we shall try to hold in the next hex, woods-rough, but we might not have enough there in time. If so we do have strong positions across the river.

Ground combat at Tienshui (81,38)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26460 troops, 198 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 716

Defending force 9132 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 270

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 399

Allied adjusted defense: 97

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tienshui !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
457 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2647 casualties reported
Squads: 68 destroyed, 61 disabled
Non Combat: 92 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
26th Division

Defending units:
21st Chinese Corps
69th Chinese Corps
1st War Area

• Low on experience because these troops have not been bombarded constantly, they are dug in deep and dealt out punishment. Only one unit was low on supply so far as I can tell.

Ground combat at 78,51 (near Chihkiang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 60680 troops, 464 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 1883

Defending force 40946 troops, 194 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1200

Japanese adjusted assault: 1270

Allied adjusted defense: 1636

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
5373 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 479 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 41 disabled
Guns lost 31 (4 destroyed, 27 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1005 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 112 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
35th Division
27th Division
6th Division
51st Infantry Brigade
9th Division

Defending units:
46th Chinese Corps
25th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
65th Chinese Corps

India, Burma, Thailand, Indochina
• Enemy sub activity near Karachi.


Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Russia


Complete combat report attached.

1942 June 05

Here is Lexington. An earlier upgrade traded the 8 inch guns for better AA.

1942 June 05

Yorktown.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

For scenario 1
Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu, and Akagi 7/42
Shokaku and Zuikaku 6/42
1st upgrades

Interesting, thanks. For some reason I had it in my head the first upgrades were earlier. So these upgrades correspond with Lexington and Saratoga 6/42 (but 42 days long) and the Yorktowns' 7/42.

I am already delaying those upgrades to get this operation done sooner than later. Will the IJN heavy carriers' upgrade schedule allow me to "sneak in"?

That 42 day upgrade takes off the 8" gun turrets and replaces them with 5" plus beaucoup medium AA, no? Don't Akagi and Kaga also have 8" guns to be removed and replaced - ergo their time in the shop should be similar.

After looking I guess it was the March '42 upgrade that pulled off the 8 inch guns.

For what it's worth, those June IJN CV upgrades (the Shokaku & Zukaku) are pretty important, as they add radar. The remainder get their radar later iirc, so they are not quite so immediately pressing. Your opponent might reasonably hold off on upgrading the latter if his spidey senses are tingling...

Still, seems to be taking an awful risk hoping his CVs are not on station at Truk [X(] Will you wait for confirmation that they are elsewhere before taking the plunge? Also what sort of resistance are you expecting on the Marshall Atolls (other than what sigint has provided)? Naval Guard units and/or base forces only? With the stacking limits there is not much room to play with, but its possible your opponent may have moved some armored car companies etc here if he suspected this was a likely invasion focus.

Should be fun in anycase [&o]

ORIGINAL: JoV

For what it's worth, those June IJN CV upgrades (the Shokaku & Zukaku) are pretty important, as they add radar. The remainder get their radar later iirc, so they are not quite so immediately pressing. Your opponent might reasonably hold off on upgrading the latter if his spidey senses are tingling...

Still, seems to be taking an awful risk hoping his CVs are not on station at Truk [X(] Will you wait for confirmation that they are elsewhere before taking the plunge? Also what sort of resistance are you expecting on the Marshall Atolls (other than what sigint has provided)? Naval Guard units and/or base forces only? With the stacking limits there is not much room to play with, but its possible your opponent may have moved some armored car companies etc here if he suspected this was a likely invasion focus.

Should be fun in anycase [&o]

Tarawa might have a naval guard unit because that is what invaded. The others are a mystery. I doubt there has been heavy reinforcing but I must presume there has been some, so the forces invading are in legitimate strength.

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: JoV

For what it's worth, those June IJN CV upgrades (the Shokaku & Zukaku) are pretty important, as they add radar. The remainder get their radar later iirc, so they are not quite so immediately pressing. Your opponent might reasonably hold off on upgrading the latter if his spidey senses are tingling...

Still, seems to be taking an awful risk hoping his CVs are not on station at Truk [X(] Will you wait for confirmation that they are elsewhere before taking the plunge? Also what sort of resistance are you expecting on the Marshall Atolls (other than what sigint has provided)? Naval Guard units and/or base forces only? With the stacking limits there is not much room to play with, but its possible your opponent may have moved some armored car companies etc here if he suspected this was a likely invasion focus.

Should be fun in anycase [&o]

Tarawa might have a naval guard unit because that is what invaded. The others are a mystery. I doubt there has been heavy reinforcing but I must presume there has been some, so the forces invading are in legitimate strength.

Really looking forward to see how your invasions fare. Do you have an easy way to show a summary of what troops are destined where ?

ORIGINAL: dave sindel

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: JoV

For what it's worth, those June IJN CV upgrades (the Shokaku & Zukaku) are pretty important, as they add radar. The remainder get their radar later iirc, so they are not quite so immediately pressing. Your opponent might reasonably hold off on upgrading the latter if his spidey senses are tingling...

Still, seems to be taking an awful risk hoping his CVs are not on station at Truk [X(] Will you wait for confirmation that they are elsewhere before taking the plunge? Also what sort of resistance are you expecting on the Marshall Atolls (other than what sigint has provided)? Naval Guard units and/or base forces only? With the stacking limits there is not much room to play with, but its possible your opponent may have moved some armored car companies etc here if he suspected this was a likely invasion focus.

Should be fun in anycase [&o]

Tarawa might have a naval guard unit because that is what invaded. The others are a mystery. I doubt there has been heavy reinforcing but I must presume there has been some, so the forces invading are in legitimate strength.

Really looking forward to see how your invasions fare. Do you have an easy way to show a summary of what troops are destined where ?

The post is pretty far back (and might have been updated in the meantime) so I typed it up and saved it this time.

Port - Airfield

Roi-Namur
2 - 4

7 USMC Rgt
108 USA Inf Rgt
1 USMC Raider Bn
2 USMC Raider Bn
3 USMC Raider Bn
168 USA FA Bn
181 USA FA Bn
97 USA FA Bn
--
3 USMC Def Bn


Kwajalein
3 - 1

19 USA Inf Rgt
21 USA Inf Rgt
--
1 USMC Def Bn


Wotje
1 - 3

2 USMC Amph Trac Bn
6 USMC Rgt


Maloelap
1 - 4

27 USA Inf Div
--
4 USMC Def Bn


Mili
0 - 1

24 USA Inf Rgt
147 USA Inf Rgt
58 USA Inf Rgt
148 USA Inf Rgt
1 USMC FA Bn


Tarawa
1 - 0

32 UDS Inf Div

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: dave sindel

ORIGINAL: witpqs



Tarawa might have a naval guard unit because that is what invaded. The others are a mystery. I doubt there has been heavy reinforcing but I must presume there has been some, so the forces invading are in legitimate strength.

Really looking forward to see how your invasions fare. Do you have an easy way to show a summary of what troops are destined where ?

The post is pretty far back (and might have been updated in the meantime) so I typed it up and saved it this time.

Port - Airfield

Roi-Namur
2 - 4

7 USMC Rgt
108 USA Inf Rgt
1 USMC Raider Bn
2 USMC Raider Bn
3 USMC Raider Bn
168 USA FA Bn
181 USA FA Bn
97 USA FA Bn
--
3 USMC Def Bn


Kwajalein
3 - 1

19 USA Inf Rgt
21 USA Inf Rgt
--
1 USMC Def Bn


Wotje
1 - 3

2 USMC Amph Trac Bn
6 USMC Rgt


Maloelap
1 - 4

27 USA Inf Div
--
4 USMC Def Bn


Mili
0 - 1

24 USA Inf Rgt
147 USA Inf Rgt
58 USA Inf Rgt
148 USA Inf Rgt
1 USMC FA Bn


Tarawa
1 - 0

32 UDS Inf Div

Thanks for the summary. How soon is the first D-Day ?

Thanks for the summary. How soon is the first D-Day ?

I haven't calculated a fixed date. Here is a rundown of preparation items remaining.
• Some assault units are in transit to Pearl Harbor now; after arrival they switch from strategic to combat mode.
• Some AK's, many DD's, at least 2x BB's are currently upgrading at Pearl Harbor. IIRC they will be done by June 20-22.
• Most fleet oilers are on the way to Pearl Harbor from Pago Pago. Will all arrive in about a week or less.
• CV Wasp is on the way to Pearl Harbor from Panama Canal; will arrive in about 10-12 days.
• CVE Long Island is on the way to Pearl Harbor from Panama Canal; will arrive in 2 1/2 weeks or so. I might use LI to fly in carrier capable aircraft to captured airfields.
• Search squadrons available for captured bases are in transit to Pearl Harbor and should arrive in about a week.
• Some support units are in transit to Lahaina and should arrive in about a week (others are already at Pearl Harbor).
• Many AE's and AKE's loading at San Francisco will re-position to Pearl Harbor.
• Some AE/AKE will deploy to Johnston Island so that, together with AO's, they can replenish bombardment and surface combat groups in a shorter round-trip than going to Pearl Harbor. I am not 100% certain I can rearm all the battleships this way but we will see.
• 2 battleships are upgrading at San Francisco and will not be available at first but will follow during the operation.
• Conduct final repairs as needed on assigned ships currently at sea.
• Form all remaining TF's/convoys needed.
• Load assault units for the 4 first wave targets.
• Set off for target... in conjunction with Intel concerning whereabouts of IJN heavy carriers. I am very willing to delay departure or even turn around invasion if Intel dictates.

Most or all of this looks to me to be within the next 2 weeks. What do you think?

It looks like it's time to create, plan, and execute a diversion..........somewhere else.
even if recon flights, ghost TFs, etc...