Matrix Games Forums

01-16-1942 thru 01-25-1942

A - As the rest of Netherlands East Indies crumbles, Japanese Marines invade the British port of Kuching. RAF and RDAF light bombers attack the task force, and damage a transport, but they are unable to affect the final outcome. The defenders are quickly over-run and retreat to Pontoniak.

-F-

01-16-1942 thru 01-25-1942

A - Japanese forces complete the conquest of Timor by simultaniously attacking Dili and Koepang. Resistance is spirited but as elsewhere, unable stop the Japanese.

Meanwhile, Japanese air and naval forces pound the port of Darwin. Escorted by several carriers of KB, a large invasion force disgorges two divisions, a reinforced infantry brigade, and a tank brigade. Coastal defence units exact a heavy toll on the invasion fleet, sinking several transports and other light craft. However, after only 2 days, the Austrailian forces must retreat. Austrailian militia forces are called up across the country, and stand ready to defend their homeland.

-F-

01-16-1942 thru 01-25-1942

A - While the daily bombing of Manilla continues, Gen. MacArthur orders a counter-attack to the south. Philipine divisions route the Japanese 156th Brigade, and recapture the city of Naga (including a huge cache of supplies). MacArthur orders that Philipino forces continue their momentum an push south to Legaspi.

-F-

01-16-1942 thru 01-25-1942

A - After nearly a year of only minor border skirmishes, the war in China re-ignites. It is a confusing melee between dispersed Chinese units (trying to form up some kind of front), and Japanese divisions attempting to stop the consolidation. The main thrust of the Japanse attack is to pinch of the salient between Kuenchang and Wenchow. RAF Bostons prove very capable of operating from the rudimentary airfields in China, and provide much needed ground support for the scattered Chinese Corps.

-F-

01-16-1942 thru 01-25-1942

A - The Japanese sub thread has returned to the shipping lanes between the West Coast and Pearl Harbor. Three merchants are lost in only 3 days. Nimitz orders out once again the hunter-killer groups to blunt the submarine threat. While several contacts are appearently damaged, again, the inexperienced crewes fail to confirm the sinking of any submarines.

-F-

ORIGINAL: Feinder

01-16-1942 thru 01-25-1942

A - Japanese forces complete the conquest of Timor by simultaniously attacking Dili and Koepang. Resistance is spirited but as elsewhere, unable stop the Japanese.

Meanwhile, Japanese air and naval forces pound the port of Darwin. Escorted by several carriers of KB, a large invasion force disgorges two divisions, a reinforced infantry brigade, and a tank brigade. Coastal defence units exact a heavy toll on the invasion fleet, sinking several transports and other light craft. However, after only 2 days, the Austrailian forces must retreat. Austrailian militia forces are called up across the country, and stand ready to defend their homeland.

-F-

Now that is one creative way to say the Darwin defenders simply ran away without firing a shot. Feinder just has to be a professional PR guy.

Gripping AAR, and bombing the home islands at this early date? The audacity, the audacity ... [8D]

Japanese Army units tighten their siege at Singapore. The fortress is pounded continually by land-based bombers in the day, and by heavy bombardment forces at night. In a disgraceful logistical SNAFU, the much publicized 15" coastal defense batteries have only been supplied with HE ammunition and are powerless to stop the nightly bombardments by Japanese battleships.

Blast! I've really been hoping to see a good AAR duel between the Singapore guns and the IJN battlewagons.

Nice job with MacArthur's forces, though!

I have no idea why they wouldn't shoot. Those BBs came in nightly vs. Sing, and nary a shot at them. Was very disappointed to say the least. The best BS explanation I could come up with was the wrong ammo, but in game terms, I have no idea why they never fired (plenty of supplies, support, etc).

-F-

Feinder,
 
Seems to me that the Darwin landing might be a tad premature.  With your recapture of Naga and its supply cache, together with possession of Mindanao, suggests that you might be able to base B17 in the Philippines to interdict the resupply lines down to Darwin.
 
Alfred

suggests that you might be able to base B17 in the Philippines to interdict the resupply lines down to Darwin.

Well, yes and no.

Yes, I do have SINGLE size-4 AF in the Philipines, so yes, I could B-17 squadron there (and I certainly have).  But we have a house rule that states

Current AF size
4 = 1 sqdn
5 = 2 sqdn
6 = 3 sqdn (1 group)
7 = 6 sqdn (2 groups)
8 = 9 sqdn (3 groups)
9 = no limit.

And NavAtks only at 12,000' or higher (to accomodate for game issue with Flak or rather lack therof).

I haven't seen anything remarkable from my B-17s (or any of my LBA for that matter) against his shipping.  Frankly, their exp just isn't there yet.  Yes, I do bounce in-and-out some LBA groups from PI AFs (I can't keep them there more than a day or so, or the 250 Helens show up - no we have no rules on 2e bombers, I'm not complaining).

It's alright.  While Prime Minister Ozzy is is mad enough to bite the head off a bat over the loss of the Northern Territy, there are positive things afoot (albeit slowly).

-F-

01-26-1942 thru 02-02-1942

A - RAF Hurricanes dual with IJA Oscars over Rahaeng. In the course of the week, the RAF downs 7 enemy fighters, for a loss of only 3 of their own. While the exchanges seem small to the great scale of the conflict, the Allied pilots gain value experience in the Japanese tactics.
B - A motley collection of Blen IV, Hudsons, and LB-30s continue to attack strategic targets in South East Asia. Also in a dawn raid over the port of the Saigon, 7 Japanese transports are hit; the bombers escape without loss of their own.

-F-

01-26-1942 thru 02-02-1942

A - The IJN blockade at Singapore has destroyed several fleeing vessels with civilians attempting to flee the besieged city. Meanwhile, six Japanese Divisions are poured into the beachhead at Singapore. The first crack in the Allied perimeter appears as the 14th Indian Bde wavers and then breaks. The breach becomes a break-thru as the Japanese 4th Amored Regiment clears an even wider path for the additional onslaught. As the fighting reaches the city center, Gen. Perival surrenders the city, in order to spare further loss of civilian life.
B - Japanese forces land at Sinkep and Palembang. USAAF B-25s attack the invasion convoys and damage a few transports, but are unable to thwart the landings.

-F-

01-26-1942 thru 02-02-1942

A - Philipino forces continue their drive and recapture the southern port of Linguyan. The Japanese send transports to evacuate the trapped 56th Brigade. A-20s attack the convoy, and damage several transports. After a week of fighting, the remaining Japanese die in a futile banzai charge.
B - On the northern end of Luzon, Japanese bombers continue their relentless campaign, and the Allied bastion at Bataan has finally run out of supplies. A few of the garrison are able to cross Manila Bay by small boats, but on the night of February 1st, contact with the command post at Bataan is lost.

01-26-1942 thru 02-02-1942

A - Allied submarines and bombers attempt to intercept the convoys bringing Japanese troops into Darwin. One transport is sunk, and two are damaged, but enemy fighters and ASW forces drive off the Allied interlopers.

Despite the protests of the Prime Minister, Gen. Reed orders a retreat to Tennet Creek. To defend at Katherine or Daly Waters, would mean that the Japanese can reinforce faster than he could - and having is army smashed prematurely would only increase the threat to the rest of Australia.

The Japanese have brought several engineering battalians, and quickly develop a fighter strip at Katherine.

A skirmish by the 1st Austrailian Division determines that at least 2 enemy divisions hold Daly Waters. The 1st Australian is recalled to Tennet Creek before the skirmish turnes into a general engagement. Continuous recons over Daly Waters, Katherine, and Darwin, estimate the enemy troops to be 75,000. Meanwhile, the airstrip at Tennet Creek is also expanded, both to provide needed CAP for the gathering Australian army, but also to host heavy bombers which will support the drive north.

-F-

01-26-1942 thru 02-02-1942

A - Japanese Marines land at Lea. The convoy is struck by a squadron of A-24 dive bombers (the Army verion of SBDs). While two transports are sunk, the invasion cannot be stopped.
B - Japanese Zero fighters skirmish with P-40s of the 20th Fighter Squadron over Port Moresby. Despite the fearsom repuation of the Zero, the P-40s are able to "give as good as they get". Raids by Japanese medium bombers are unable to close the airfield at Port Moresby, and the 1st Provisional New Guinea Division digs in.

-F-

Brief apology for the brevity of these - I'm actually about 4 weeks behind.  I'll try to get caught up (Bilbow is on vacation, turns are slower).
 
-F-

ORIGINAL: Feinder

If I sink Chyoda (probably not), it's just like sinking a CVL (since that's what she's grows up to be!).

I didn't know this!?!

When? How? Why? What? .... [X(]

Talk to me! [;)]

Chitose and Chiyoda, both start the game as CS.  I think it's anytime after 01-43(? - some Japense player can correct me), if you disband them into a shipyard, they are removed and the reappear on the reinfocement track 180(?) days later as CVLs.  They have a capacity of about 30 (nothing spectacular, but every flight deck counts).
 
And yes, Chiyoda did sink (very pleasenetly surprised about that).  Unfortunately, Hosho appearently has -not- sunk, but I'll take Chiyoda.
 
-F-

Thanks!! Didn't know this [&o]

Well, it's not like the Hosho is a very powerful ship [;)]

Keep it up, I read it now and then (time limits [:() ]but I like the style. [8D]