Ivory Hunt: obvert(J) vs. Historiker(A)

[princep01]

Admiral, I have mentioned this before and it comes from the highest of sources. You hurt yourself with your TF composition in the fight with Haruna and Kongo. By putting Adelaide in the force, you really slowed the whole. That is a very bad thing to do. In addition, while less harmful, even putting CLs in a BB TF is not a good idea. I am not a programmer and do not know all the nuiances of this program, but again, no less an authority than Nemo has said that putting ships with guns having much less range than the main guns of you BBs is not good for your TF. The Japanese 8" cruisers fire at a range almost equal to their 14" guns on the BCs, so they can get away with CAs mixed in the group, but you cannot with CLs.

I believe that the ideal formation for BB/BC TFs is 8 ships; 2-4 BB/BC with 4-6 DDs. Whatever you do, do not add slow cruisers to a fast BB TF like you had with Force Z.

[Historiker]

Yes, I remember Nemo's explanations and usually follow them, despite the fact that they are from witp times.

The reason here was, that I needed as much firepower as possible. Should I go in week when I can add a few thousand gun value extra? If the lower range of the CLs' guns would weaken the whole TF, shouldn't the presence of DDs weaken it as well in terms of game mechanics? And btw: this was a night battle with ranges below 12k, IIRC, so gun range should've been no problem.

Adeleide has the same cruise speed, so if I didn't plan to go full speed, I've seen no problem. In the case I felt the need of higher speed, I would've left her behind.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: Historiker
Adeleide has the same cruise speed, so if I didn't plan to go full speed, I've seen no problem. In the case I felt the need of higher speed, I would've left her behind.

Cruise speed is the same but in combat full speed is used and TF is as fast as slowest ships so he slow down rest of ships

[Historiker]

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: Historiker
Adeleide has the same cruise speed, so if I didn't plan to go full speed, I've seen no problem. In the case I felt the need of higher speed, I would've left her behind.

Cruise speed is the same but in combat full speed is used and TF is as fast as slowest ships so he slow down rest of ships

really? Makes sense... So all ships have a lower chance to avoid torpedoes. Not good...

[Historiker]

12/17/41

DEI:
Singkawang got bombarded by three different TFs, but the damage is rather light. I guess Palembang is soon cut off. The TFs retreating to Singapore will hit Singkawang one more time before retreating to Java. Only the three british D-Class CLs will pass the northern coast of Borneo and break through to Manila. There should be some targets in this area and they are perfectly suited for that task:
- with only 29kn as top speed, there are better CLs
- they have torpedoes
- they are all to be withdrawn without coming back, so they are gone anyways.
- they have good experience ratings, even at night.

China:
His airstrikes REALLY hut. But the AVG strikes the first time and takes down 9 bombers with two own planes lost to ops. That should make him more caucious!

Wake:
A sub hits the transport TF two hex off Wake. Luckily it puts a fish into one of the PGs escorting. So while this ship is down, it is no problem.

Burma:
Burma is getting reinforced massively. The 17th Indian division is almost completely in place. day per day ships bring supplies. Let's see what we can do here! Without the full KB, he will have to be carefull. He might have naval supremacy, but thanks to his overall weaker forces, my LBA is much more likely to break through his CAP. This makes Invasions in India VERY difficult and is thus inviting me to try making a stand in Burma.

[Historiker]

12/17/41

PI:
My PT boats take until daylight for just three hex. They are consequently handed roughly by Japanese DDs and a CL. Not many left...
He finally flies some sweeps. Manila is swept with 17-6 lost in his favor. I have the CAP because Manila's repair shipyard still holds a couple of damaged subs I don't want to risk sending to Soerabaja, yet.
MKB spottet at Surigao.

DEI:
Singkawang is bombarded several times, again. With him having two airfields, I still have to retreat as he'll have an air HQ there, soon.

Wake:
The next convoy is attacked by the sub and looses an AM. That's ok, the transports are important!

China:
The Chinese Army attacks Sinyang with results in my favor. The City is seriously in danger but will propably recieve reinforcements by another Division tomorrow. We'll see.
But with him sending his forces to several sides, Wuchang is exposed with just one division in it. Several Chinese Corps rush to attack the city.

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

Ground combat at Sinyang (86,48)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 52079 troops, 276 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1839

Defending force 8054 troops, 74 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 279

Allied adjusted assault: 630

Japanese adjusted defense: 271

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
570 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled


Allied ground losses:
2462 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 303 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Guns lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled)


Assaulting units:
85th Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
7th New Chinese Corps
2nd Group Army
3rd Group Army
31st Group Army

Defending units:
12th RGC Temp. Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
18th RGC Temp. Division
52nd Road Const Co
67th JAAF AF Coy

[Historiker]

12/19/41

China:
My roadblock between Hankow and Nanchang is pushed out of the way. One of the units is pretty much destroyed and will retreat to Changsha to rebuild. The other one stays in place and will either retreat to Changsha is necessary, or march again on the road to block it.
The second attack on Sinyang went fine. He suffers about the same amount of casualties and the forts are reduced to two:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Sinyang (86,48)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 50167 troops, 275 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1600

Defending force 7707 troops, 74 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 236

Allied adjusted assault: 702

Japanese adjusted defense: 429

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
682 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled


Allied ground losses:
666 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled


Assaulting units:
90th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
7th New Chinese Corps
3rd Group Army
2nd Group Army
31st Group Army

Defending units:
12th RGC Temp. Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
18th RGC Temp. Division
52nd Road Const Co
67th JAAF AF Coy

The first two Corps are flown out to India and will train and grow to their maximum size of 243 squads in Calcutta.

Burma:
Burma will be defended by this units + some of those tiny initial Burmese units with 15 to 30 AV:
- 36th Chinese Division
- 88th Chinese Division
- 6th Burmese Division
- 17th Indian Division
The Chinese Corps currently flown out to Ledo will soon be used in Burma as well.
I will also send two more Indian Brigades. Depending on the situation, further reinforcements will also arrive or secure the Indian coast against a possible try to cut off Burma.

Wake:
A Jap subs duds my CA at the Atoll. As it has no escort, I immediately order it back to Pearl Harbor.
His Netties fly a strike against the shipping and drop bombs. Has he forgotten to load his Air HQ with torpedoes? Luckily they miss and the unloading continues. The 3rd Marine Defense Btln is almost completly ashore, about 10k supplies are still on the ships though.
I will order Lexington with a few fighters to the base to send back the planes that were originally on the atoll. This should be sufficiant defense against further attacks once they are there.

DEI:
Damn, my bombardements against Singkawang are effective. The destroy increasing numbers of squads and cause heacy damage in the base. Too bad I'll have to retire as the ships will be in danger of getting Nettie visits, soon. Also, his big guns should be back in place pretty soon. I don't want to have one of my cruiser forces on a bombardement mission meet four of his BBs...
Soerabaja, underway with two AMs, meets a Japanese SCTF with two CAs at night and is surprised. The ships go down without even returning the fire. I still have to see Soerabaja's mighty guns do damage in one of my games. She usually goes down like this or in an air attack [:(]

[Captain Cruft]

As Soerabaja is a PG it starts with dismal experience. I wouldn't try to use it until it has trained up to 45/45 by just sitting somewhere not disbanded for a while.

[Historiker]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

As Soerabaja is a PG it starts with dismal experience. I wouldn't try to use it until it has trained up to 45/45 by just sitting somewhere not disbanded for a while.

I know. But I always use what I have at hand. Defending the DEI, I hardly have the time to let my assets sit around for a year or so. Have you ever achieved something with her?

[Captain Cruft]

I usually play Japan

A quick fix in the editor for the next game methinks ...

[Historiker]

Well, afaik, the experience is accurate. She was half filled with natives who had proven their will not to fight. IIRC, there had even been murders and mutinies the years before. So despite her good armor and those nice two big guns, the Soerabaja should indeed have very limited combat value.

[Historiker]

12/20/41

DEI:
Boise was ordered to attack the fast transport TF at Miri, but found it already gone. She returned to Singapore to rearm and refuel. After that, she was ordered to rejoin the majority of the fleet at Soerabaja. Unfortunately, I ordered her to do a bombardement mission in Singkawang while steaming south. As it is almost ment to be for those "I will throw one more last punch" missions, it ended bad. She met a TF with two CAs and one CL plus DDs. While she really threw out a lot of punch, the first encounter ended with her being heavily damaged and with heavy fires. I had some hopes I might get her to Batavia, but the Jap TF reacted south and finished her [:(].
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Singkawang at 56,88

Allied Ships
CL Boise

Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled



Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2
Port hits 1

CL Boise firing at Singkawang


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

Day Time Surface Combat, near Singkawang at 56,88, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Shell hits 2
CA Nachi, Shell hits 4
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
CL Boise, Shell hits 18, heavy fires, heavy damage



Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
Gallagher T. crosses the 'T'
CL Boise engages CA Nachi at 20,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Natsushio at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
CL Boise engages CA Haguro at 15,000 yards
CL Boise engages CA Haguro at 15,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Boise at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CL Boise engages CA Haguro at 12,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Boise at 12,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Boise at 12,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Natsushio at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 10,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Boise at 10,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages CL Boise at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 7,000 yards
DD Natsushio engages CL Boise at 7,000 yards
DD Hatsukaze engages CL Boise at 7,000 yards
DD Kuroshio engages CL Boise at 7,000 yards
Gallagher T. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 10,000 yards
CL Boise engages CL Isuzu at 10,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 10,000 yards
CL Boise engages CL Isuzu at 10,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Kuroshio at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 11,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Kuroshio at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 12,000 yards
DD Hatsukaze engages CL Boise at 12,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Kuroshio at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 13,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 13,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Boise at 13,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Natsushio at 13,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Kuroshio at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 14,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 14,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Boise at 14,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 14,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Boise at 14,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Hatsukaze at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CL Boise engages CA Nachi at 13,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Boise at 13,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Kuroshio at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 21,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 21,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Boise at 21,000 yards
CL Boise engages CL Isuzu at 21,000 yards
DD Hatsukaze engages CL Boise at 21,000 yards
Range increases to 27,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 27,000 yards
CL Boise engages CA Haguro at 27,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Pontianak at 55,90, Range 25,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
CA Nachi
CL Isuzu, heavy fires
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio

Allied Ships
CL Boise, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk



Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 25,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 25,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Boise at 25,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Boise at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards
CL Boise engages CA Nachi at 20,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages CL Boise at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards
CL Boise engages CA Nachi at 18,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL Boise at 18,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Oyashio at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Natsushio at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CL Boise engages CL Isuzu at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 11,000 yards
CL Boise engages CL Isuzu at 11,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Hatsukaze at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CL Boise engages CA Haguro at 9,000 yards
CA Nachi engages CL Boise at 9,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Kuroshio at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CL Boise engages CA Haguro at 11,000 yards
CA Haguro engages CL Boise at 11,000 yards
CL Boise sunk by DD Natsushio at 11,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...


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

Repulse is in Soerabaja with most of the ABDA fleet, but it turns out she can't reload here. The closes port with sufficiant size is... well - VERY far away! So I either have to get her out (likely permanently), or I have to go for Singapore!
I'm afraid with the pressure he'll have to put on Palembang, I can't risk sending her back to Singapore. So she'll have to retreat to Colombo! Let's hope that she gets out at least undetected so he fears her while she sits in port.

Current dleet strenght in the DEI:
- 1 BC
- 1 CVL (Herme's airgroup will be used at land to fully bring those 18 planes into use, all of them with torpedoes)
- 3 CA
- 13 CL
- 23 DD
Reinforcments for the area, 3 CAs, 4 CLs and 3DDs, are about three days away!


Palembang:
Obvert told me: Getting a bit of flak in my AAR for not countering your Palembang earlier. As I see it it's just some solid play from you.
I am NOT playing Fortress Palembang. So no Indian or British units were sent there to exploit the supply production by the refinery. BUT that doesn't mean I have to neglect every part of the game mechanics and evacuate Palembang! Right now, there are 150 AV in the base and the fortress is at 1/79%. The only non-dutch units there are parts from the recently routed indian unit from Kuching, as well as the Air HQ from Singapore. Further reinforcements will only come from Dutch sources! So Palembang will get to 300 to 400 AV max. This may force him to bring 3 divions, but this will mean he can take the base. I want him to take the base as undamaged as possible with the intent not to break the game. But I want him to take a few months to do so!


Singapore:
The base has reached lvl 3 forts. I got sloppy once more by relying on the lack of air combat and setting ships on "shipyard repair" in a frontline base . I get the well deserved result when he sends dozends of Sallys to bomb the harbor. HMS Dauntless (CL) recieves two 250kg hits and is at 50-37-14-0. The only lucky thing is. that despite being in "shipyard repair" mode and thus offline, she is able to flee as her repairs would've been completed today. She will try to make it to Batavia. The three undamaged D-Class CLs will head to Batavia for later use in Palembang. Being inland, he can't send heavy ships while I'll have a couple of cruisers with well experienced crews and torpedoes. If they aren't sunk by air attack, they'll be really unpleasant there!


China:
Despite a Japanese Division arriving, my DA succeeds and further reduces the forts in Sinyang to one. The base is about to fall, and all my units don't have a higher disruption or fatigue than 25. To make the success more likely,. every chinese bomber in southern and western China will fly ground attacks tomorrow. This may be quite ineffective, but the two or three points disruption caused might make the difference. The first corps in the base has reached 50 XP [&o].


Wake:
Both transports finished unloading and retreat to PH. The base now has 64AV to defend it. 10 6in CD and 20 3in AA guns wait for prey.

[Historiker]

12/21/41

DEI:
CL Dauntless takes a torpedo and is sunk. I didn't have any escorts at hand, so there was no way avoiding this. At least the other three CLs got out unscratched.
Three TKs filled with oil depart for Pearth - and all are sunk within two hex by subs! [:@] I expected losses, but to this dimension? [X(]

Burma:
17th Indian Division has arrived. Moulmein has 370 AV, Rangoon 480. In addition, every base is guarded against paradrops. With good developement in the fortification of Singapore and Palembang, I should be able to stop enough of his troops here to get a decent chance to hold Burma.
I also think about sending my US CVs to India via CT. He is strong enough for an invasion of Ceylon, having 3 CVs and 4 smaller CVs. This should be enough to overpower the British fleet, especially accepting some losses. When Burma is fortified it is likely he'll think about cutting it off by an invasion of India. This would be the chance for a second descisive battle...

Wake:
An incoming SCTF is spotted. 3 CLs and 1 DD are identified, so it is likely to be at least two light cruisers plus escorts. The ships disband in the harbor, as fleeing might cause a reaction of the SCTF and I don't want to loose my two AKs (not xAK!) I have there.
The Lexington TF is 32 hex away, so even running full speed won't be enough. I hope that at least the 71 mines will do their part in defending the atoll.

PI:
While Lingayen changes sides automatically, he doesn't seem to advance at all. I've never seen this, strange. He obviously prefers to have all his intended units on ground first, maybe even building up bases, first.
A fast blockade runner running with 17kn was already past Jolo with 5k supplies, when he was found by a Jap TF. Damn, but I'll keep trying!

China:
His airstrikes are devastating! I guess I'll have to withdraw, soon! He sometimes destroys up to 9 combat squads with one single airstrike!
Sinyang is about to fall. The fort went down to 0!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Sinyang (86,48)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 48275 troops, 274 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1600

Defending force 18390 troops, 177 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 543

Allied adjusted assault: 568

Japanese adjusted defense: 433

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
1110 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 110 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 11 (2 destroyed, 9 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1374 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 204 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled


Assaulting units:
29th Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
7th New Chinese Corps
3rd Group Army
2nd Group Army
31st Group Army

Defending units:
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th Division
12th RGC Temp. Division
18th RGC Temp. Division
52nd Road Const Co
67th JAAF AF Coy

Time to shock attack tomorrow!

[Historiker]

12/22/41

Palembang:
The remaining TKs are sunk with two DDs assigned as escorts by a Jap SCTF sweeping the harbor.
While there are some who can't explain often enough that "Fortress Palembang" is valid (often after having used it themselves), I am still convinced it isn't. In my next game as Japanese player, I will have the HR that Palembang's refinery has to be turned off on day one and remain off. If you have to ship in all supplies for the bastion, it is ok - but not by exploiting the fact that refineries produce supply.
As we didn't have the HR and I didn't prepare for it, I can't use it myself now any more. I already have several units there, which would've never been sent there. Still, "Fortress Palembang" won't really happen. I will have about 300 to 400 AV there, not more. My selfimposed restriction is, that Palembang is defended (almost) only by the Dutch. The only exceptions are routed english units from north Borneo and an air HQ.
Palembang will defenitly fall, but with luck, it will hold out a few months. That time will allow me to fortify Burma to an amount that it might be held.

Burma:
The 36th Chinese Division has reached Lashio. It will rail to Rangoon to reinforce and train there.

China:
The sock attack on Sinyang fails. Heavy bombardement by his bombers disrupt my forces enough to prevent success [:(]. At least it only leads to 1to1 so my units aren't totally trashed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Sinyang (86,48)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 56589 troops, 349 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1439

Defending force 17809 troops, 178 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 475

Allied adjusted assault: 1160

Japanese adjusted defense: 1093

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
1122 casualties reported
Squads: 93 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 8 (7 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
2689 casualties reported
Squads: 196 destroyed, 152 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 52 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
Guns lost 19 (1 destroyed, 18 disabled)


Assaulting units:
29th Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
7th New Chinese Corps
2nd Group Army
3rd Group Army
31st Group Army

Defending units:
12th RGC Temp. Division
18th RGC Temp. Division
13th Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
56th Engr Rgt /1
52nd Road Const Co
67th JAAF AF Coy

[Grfin Zeppelin]

A sock attack.... how cute ^^. Honestly I am not that surprised it failed [:D]

[Historiker]

Wow, there's actually someone reading it!
[&o]

[Historiker]

12/23/41

Subs:
O16 finds the remnants of the KB with its surface forces two hex away from Tokyo. She is detected by the escorts before getting a chance to hit. Still, great news. That means I won't face any CVs off Wake, where he has at least tow TFs. Lexington is in range now and makes a run to the West of Wake to get a shot at those cruisers.

Palembang:
He bombards the base. The damage is fairly light, only one Buffalo destroyed on the ground. He also hits the refinery and damages is 50 points worth. I turn off repairs, that'll be his job.
Luckily, I had removed the torpedo bombers there a few days ago. So they are both unscratched and undetected!

China:
Reinforcements are under way for Sinyang from both sides. I'll have another 1,5k AV there within three to four days. Let's see what we can do...

[princep01]

Admiral, your 12/23 posting leaves me confused. You stated that the O-16 spotted the remanents of the KB off PH. Hummmmm, which PH do you refer to? The O-16 is not likely to be close to Pearl Harbor and, if he values retaining the "remanent" he will be nowhere near that PH. Is the PH referring to Port Hedland? Another unlikely locale. Please clarify what PH you are referring to. Thanks.

Meanwhile, your aggressive deployment of Allied and Chinese assets seems to have him off balance. If this continues, you may grab the strategic initiative from him by April. Quite an accomplishment. Kudos.

Allied tactical loses (Force Z, Boise) have been a bit high in the DEI, but the trade off so far has been good in a strategic sense. As you noted earlier, it appears he is gripped by caution as evidenced by the heavy escorts on even some routine TFs.

[Historiker]

I ment Tokyo. I usually watch movies while writing this, and you know how men are at multi-tasking... [;)]

Sinyang is likely well above 1 fortifications, again. He flys in engineers, so even lvl 2 isn't far off. But the overall situation in the other fronts seems to be under control. I retreat where necessary while I push forward where possible. Wherever he is too strong to be pushed out, I simply leave my forces in his base at "combat", so they dig in there as well.

Sinyang will likely fall within a week, once my reinforcements are there. If I achieve that, I can decide how to proceed. I can either hunt the fleeing forces, as two dislodging will likely trash the units for several months. Or I may take all those units and try rolling down the railway to Changsha and attack Hankow and the other city. We'll see. But while his bombardements are bad, they seem to be withing acceptable size for my forces.

Meanwhile, Burma has four divisions in it, two Chinese(with 30 AV each, so not really somethign worth considering until maybe May or so) 1 Burmese and 1 Indian. The 18th British division will unload in Colombo tomorrow to be reloaded on smaller ships to be sent to Rangoon as well.


As you said it, the losses in the DEI are acceptable in the strategic picture. I had some bad luck in the dice rolls, as I might've had seriously different results as well. But I still have more than enough firepower there. Around 20 cruisers are ready for combat in the DEI! I will likely send the weaker CLs to Palembang, to defend the base. As he can't send in BBs, all they'll face will be CLs and CAs. The ships sent there will be those that are of limited use anyways. Meaning: The Dutch CLs with their laughable range and the British CLs that will have to be withdrawn within the next few months. All ships don't hurt to be lost.

[Historiker]

12/24/41

Not mutch happend. The Lexington finds no prey and retreats to avoid some lucky hits by netties. She leaves 18 fighters at Wake. AMC Monowai is sunk at Ocean Island by a strong Japanese TF with 4 CAs.
The enemy sweeps Clarck Field and Singapore, but my fighters are either standing down or not even there. I intend to only let them face their enemy when they are trained up or when it is necessary.

China:
6 Japanese bomber and one Zero are shot down over Sinyang by the AVG for one loss. I am reshifting troops to reinforce Sinyang.