1922 Grand Campaign: goodboyladdie (A) vs Dixie (J)

[goodboyladdie]

The AE from the China station will be escorted to the new US base by the three remaining destroyers. Hopefully they will not run into trouble on the way. Firm protests have been lodged by the French and British Governments after the bombardment of Shanghai (Dixie forgot they were there as the top unit in the stack was Chinese!). A retaliatory attack will be carried out on the Shanghai SNLF and the French Cruiser Squadron is sailing to come under command of the RN at Singapore. This is the current extent of measures to be taken.

[goodboyladdie]

At Shanghai the B segment of the 3rd Chinese Division has disappeared. It is not on the re-inforcement list and is not listed on the Land Unit tab so it must be gone for good due to the disappearing unit bug. It may be my own fault for fighting with them split up. I have been warned of dangers but have never suffered from them in WitP. I will play it safe from now on as I cannot afford to lose units. There will be a bombardment attack at Tsingtao.

In Northern China I have been an idiot. Because of how I approached I have to shock attack across the river at Mukden. The Corps in postion should be enough to dislodge his light unit, BUT he has his large force one hex to the East and if they move to Mukden I am screwed. I am risking the crossing. It could be very costly...

[goodboyladdie]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/14/22

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Sub attack near Takao at 48,45

Japanese Ships
AK Havana Maru
DD Nashi
DD Nire
DD Shimakaze
DD Nadakaze
DD Yakaze

Allied Ships
SS S-6

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Sub attack near Takao at 48,45

Japanese Ships
AK Asuka Maru
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Hayakaze
DD Nashi
DD Nire
DD Shimakaze
DD Nadakaze
DD Yakaze

Allied Ships
SS S-6

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Sub attack near Takao at 48,45

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Torpedo hits 1

Allied Ships
SS S-6

WOOHOO!


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Ground combat at Clark Field

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31434 troops, 128 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 498

Defending force 300 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1


Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at Davao

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 24045 troops, 210 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 428

Defending force 6985 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 186



Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Tsingtao

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20701 troops, 221 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 438

Defending force 19555 troops, 131 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 524

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
354 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Allied ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Bugger!

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Ground combat at Mukden

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 8101 troops, 66 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 254

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

Allied assault odds: 140 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Mukden base !!!

Well at least this gamble worked...



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Ground combat at Shanghai

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22776 troops, 177 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 550

Defending force 1616 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 49

Allied assault odds: 13 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
251 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

If they will not retreat they will have to die. I cannot leave them there any longer...


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Ground combat at Davao

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6074 troops, 35 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 184

Defending force 24045 troops, 210 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 428


Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported

[goodboyladdie]

The other CA from Seattle is cruising North to join her sister. The first two upgraded DDs were ready at LA and are cruising to PH. The 4 DDs that were escorting the supply convoy to PH that arrived this turn will upgrade at PH. Subs from the first wave have been sent to patrol at Kwajalein, Wake and Midway. Hopefully they'll cause as much trouble as the PI subs have been doing...

PH now has an air group. Unit one:

[goodboyladdie]

And unit 2:

[goodboyladdie]

Most units got to Manila. This is the current state of defences. I am hoping they will build more quickly now that I have more units present. Martin did not enter Manila from the South. I guess he thought I was too strong for the forces he had present. I have supply ships on the way to Manila to try to build up for a siege. There is a lot more fuel on the way too, but I may redirect some as there is no point in leaving too much for Martin. USS Huron is now 99/86.

[goodboyladdie]

He got another unit into Tsingtao when he mined it. I do not have the forces to enter the city without being bounced out, with all the casualties and morale drops that causes. The US RCT, the Chinese cavalry and infantry corps will stay outside the city and dig in. The two fragments of the 3rd Chinese division will go and peform garrison duty while they recover. The China Station HQ will move to the new base at Canton.

Edit: looking at this after I posted I am wondering where the US RCT is. I am hoping they were not detroyed in their third (I think) defeat. Even worse would be for them to still be marching in on their own!

[goodboyladdie]

Bizarre happenings in the North. Mukden has become Russian now I have retaken it! The Corps in Mukden will remain there. The other Corps and the HQ will head back North to try to stop Martin getting around me at the same time as hopefully halting his advance for now.

[goodboyladdie]

Just a couple of extra bits I forgot:

SS S-6 shot off her entire warload on the first night of her patrol. Another sub is moving to cover Takao as S-6 returns to port to rearm. The skipper was going to be replaced after the first two misses, but hitting Hyuga may have saved him. The torpedo penetrated the belt armour, but does not seem to have caused any secondary damage or fires.

At Mukden I could be leaving the unit there exposed to being outflanked and surrounded. I may have to reconsider where I send the other units.

Does anybody have any ideas what the likely Russian reaction would be to Japanese forces moving closer to their borders?

[goodboyladdie]

Ground combat at Clark Field

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 52063 troops, 238 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 930

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

Japanese assault odds: 433 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Clark Field base !!!

I am still not sure I did the right thing abandoning Clark without a fight. I may have needed the time to build up Manila's defences. I am hoping the fact I can get supplies in because of the lack of air power will help me resist against the number of troops he has present. The move from the South would potentially kept my best units from Manila (if he had entered the hex!)



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Ground combat at Davao

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 24204 troops, 213 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 431

Defending force 6934 troops, 35 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 184



Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Lamon Bay

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13505 troops, 77 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 294

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

Japanese assault odds: 278 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lamon Bay base !!!



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Ground combat at Shanghai

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22702 troops, 180 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 532

Defending force 1223 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 28

Allied assault odds: 45 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1785 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Allied ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Well that problem is solved...

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Ground combat at Davao

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6023 troops, 35 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 183

Defending force 24204 troops, 213 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 431


Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

[goodboyladdie]

12 DDs and a pre-Dreadnaught BB are sailing to Seattle to complete repairs now that the yard there is empty. I had a Doh! moment. The first reinforcement convoy for Midway was never getting anywhere so I looked and found that the inclusion of 10 knot ships (now travelling at 9 knots due to sys damage) was making the convoy do only 1 hex a day. The convoy has split. The fast section can do 2/2 and will be escorted in by the CL Chicago sailing from Midway. The 4DDs in the PH yard are now undergoing their upgrade.

[goodboyladdie]

Hyuga only took two damage from that torpedo last turn apparently. The torpedo nets and anti-torpedo bulges obviously did their work well. In a previous 1926 game with Wolfie an 18inch torpedo from an aircraft operating from USS Langley was enough to sink a pre-Dreadnaught. The Japanese Dreadnaughts are obviously tough girls.

Here is the situation in the PI. A minor miracle occurred this turn - Huron is now 99/69. I have formed tfs with most ships that can move to prevent them being scuttled if Manila falls too easily.

[goodboyladdie]

This is the army defending Manila.

[goodboyladdie]

This is the situation in China. The US RCT has gone. I can only assume that the three retreats was too much for it and it disintegrated. I am rushing to try to reinforce Mukden as he has taken up the challenge there. If I had been thinking straight I would have realised that it was obvious. I must keep two eyes on the game rather than think about the AAR while I should be thinking about strategy. I am enjoying this so far. I have not had the opportunity to play this game enough and apologise if any of my glaring errors make the more experienced players wince. Hopefully Mukden will hold long enough for me to reinforce. I am doing a lot of hoping!

[goodboyladdie]

Looking back at the above posts I realise I should have used my political points to change the Asiatic Fleet HQ to South West Pacific. I could have moved them to the new base being built at Canton, where a Naval HQ would have been useful. If Manila holds long enough I shall. Should this be my priority or would LCUs be better in the long term?

[goodboyladdie]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/16/22


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Ground combat at Mukden

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19201 troops, 113 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 406

Defending force 12303 troops, 66 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 255

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


Japanese ground losses:
623 casualties reported
Guns lost 19

Well at least something I hoped for happened!


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Ground combat at Davao

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 24191 troops, 213 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 432

Defending force 6831 troops, 34 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 181



Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Davao

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5951 troops, 34 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 179

Defending force 24191 troops, 213 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 432


Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

[goodboyladdie]

The Pacific Fleet arrives to cover the reinforcement of Midway Island. The old BB sails to cover Canton Island. The second wave of subs has arrived at PH. The R boats are going to Eniwetok, Wake and Midway. The coastal H boats are going to Midway and Johnston.

[goodboyladdie]

The ANZAC squadron has arrived at their forward operating base in Rabaul. More supplies and fuel are on the way. Half a flotilla of subs will arrive next turn. The other half are heading for Darwin.

[goodboyladdie]

Huron is now at 99/72. With a speed of 0 she would never make HK so I will have to leave her at Manila and hope.

The crippled monitor Monadnock is being repaired at Singapore (It is not safe to send her any further!). The two damaged DDs that escorted her are on their way to Bombay and Diamond Harbour. The AE from Shanghai has rounded the point at Takao and will run for Canton. The three DDs escorting her will refuel at Canton and then go back to Shanghai. The AS at Manila will be sent to Canton next turn and the US Far East subs will then be based there.

The corps rushing to Mukden has split. One brigade will head East to cover an encircling move, the other two are heading for Mukden.

The three Chinese CLs fit for duty are on their way to bombard the Amami Group. Hopefully this will be a nice surprsie for Dixie.

[goodboyladdie]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/17/22

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Naval bombardment of Guam, at 62,66 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Vought VE-7SF: 1 destroyed

14 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Hishi
DD Hasu
DD Warabi
DD Tsuta
DD Ashi
DD Nokaze, Shell hits 2
CL Oi
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 3
BC Haruna
BC Kirishima
BC Hiei, Shell hits 1
BC Kongo


Allied ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 38
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1

What makes you think Guam is high on the target list?

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Naval bombardment of Swatow, at 46,42 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

151 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Settsu, Shell hits 12
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 13
BB Fuso, Shell hits 12
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 11
BB Ise, Shell hits 9


Allied ground losses:
24932 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

I really hope that figure is wrong - I can't deal with nuclear weapons until at least 1944...

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Naval bombardment of Amami, at 56,44

Japanese Ships
AK Lisbon Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Nagato Maru, Shell hits 1
AK Nanko Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Rakuyo Maru, Shell hits 1
AK Ryuko Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AP Minryo Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Hai Chou
CL Chao Ho
CL Ying Jui

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

More of his transports damaged

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Sub attack near Naha at 54,46

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-4

Back on form

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Sub attack at 41,51

Japanese Ships
SS U-46 (O2)

Allied Ships
DD Dorsey

I wondered when his subs would get in on the act. This is most likely to be the cause of the war spreading to include other powers...


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Ground combat at Davao

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 24211 troops, 219 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 429

Defending force 6811 troops, 34 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 180



Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Davao

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5921 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 180

Defending force 24211 troops, 219 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 429


Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Guns lost 1