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My bad, the piccies aren't loading...

Been having problems with that elsewhere on the board as well...[&:]

Naval forces cleverly edited out by Imperial General Headquarters.

Nice job on posting that image! (And congrats on getting serious with your aipower in Saigon.)

Nice job on posting that image! (And congrats on getting serious with your aipower in Saigon.)

Thanks! I wish I was better at Paint Shop Pro -I had planned to add a few sweeping, dramatic arrows pointed at Manila, but no dice. [:D] I don't know how Captain Mandrake does all of his art in -paint- .. he's amazing.

Re: Saigon - Yes, it's well past due time that I let them loose on Malaya. They may become "knackered" (to steal my honorable opponent's word) but it's necessary.

I'm slowly getting a grip on Malaya - I certainly set myself up for a bad time, considering this is the first time I've played Japan!

Speaking of getting a grip -

12/30/41

We are increasing the pressure on all across the Pacific in preparation for Hirogetai.

Malaya comes first as always. Following up on yesterday's raid, Georgetown was smashed by the largest Japanese bomber strike in the war as of yet - 121 Nells, 48 Lizzies and 56 Zeroes. The few Hurricanes buzzing about were summarily shot down by our elite Navy pilots, and the bombers had clear runs. We believe a dozen or more bombers were destroyed on the ground and the airbase has been severely damaged. Georgetown is effectively closed for now. We'll finish the job tomorrow.

[center]
A6M2 Zeroes wing their way over northern Malaya. These aircraft are actually "orphans" from the sunken carrier Chuho.[/center]

Farther south, the enemy has spotted the Kido Butai north of Borneo. [remainder of paragraph deleted by IGHQ]

In the Philippines a large Zero sweep destroyed 4 P-40Es over Manila this morning - confronted by 40+ Japanese aircraft, they never had a chance. In addition to this, B-17s displayed their inability to hit anything today when they missed our transports off Lingayen repeatedly. (We're unloading support troops and engineers to solidify our presence in Luzon). MacArthur appears to have concentrated his troops in central Luzon around Manila - we have only met disorganized Filipino troops thus far; no Americans yet. General Homma confidently expects San Marcelino to fall within three days and Naga is looking good too.

[center]
Filipino reserve troops are no match for our China veterans.[/center]

The Manado operation is still developing but we expect news from Tanaka tomorrow - he can't just sit a few hundred miles off forever, can he?

P.S. - The enemy is still being annoying at Kuching. We're going to have to wait until Singapore falls before we might attempt to reopen the airbase. Grr..

Big surface battle, Kido Butai in position, transports churning their way towards Malaya - we're back in business.

12/31/41

Admiral Tanaka, with Fuso, Yamashiro, light cruisers Aoba, Kinugasa, Furutaka and Kako, along with 9 destroyers, have been nosing around northeast of Manado for a few days now - covering the invasion convoy.

[center]
Admiral Raizo Tanaka, Commander of both the 2nd Southern Expeditionary Fleet (Dutch East Indies Force) and more directly BatDiv2.[/center]

C5M recon aircraft from Davao reported two dozen fighters and bombers in place on Manado and a large enemy task force offshore, including multiple capital ships. Tanaka hesitated after one aircraft reported a carrier in the force - perhaps the British or Americans put a CV into ABDA? - but after steaming for a few days with no airstikes and no reaction by the enemy, the Admiral turned his force towards Manado at full speed, intending to force a night battle and bombard the airstrip.

As it turned out, there was no Allied CV in the area - only a large surface combat force under the command of Admiral Karel Doorman. This included the battlecruisers Wilem Warmont, Van Brakel, light cruisers Eendracht and Ijseelmer, and 11 assorted destroyers. Admiral Doorman was asleep in his cabin, his forces divided into patrol groups, when the destroyer Asasho fired the first shot of the battle, a 4.7" shell, at destroyer Van Nes.

Whereas Doorman's force was dispersed into several small groups around the island, with the battlecruisers and a few destroyers serving as a floating reserve, Tanaka concentrated his force and began to shove a way through. Doorman awoke and ordered his forces to concentrate on the his location but it was too late for the RNN light. The first patrol group of 1 light cruiser and 3 destroyers - Kijkdruin, Banckert, Van Nes and Witte de With, was caught completely off guard by Tanaka's screen. Van Nes and Kijkduin immediately succumbed to multiple Long Lances and the other two destroyers were dealt with by the Japanese light cruisers. The refitted Furutaka - class cruisers bristle with 5" DP guns and plenty of armour - designed as CLAAS, they are unintentional destroyer killers.

[center]
Dutch Destroyer Van Ghent opens fire on a Japanese destroyer.[/center]

Encountering a second group of Dutch light ships in the night at close range, the Japanese took more damage. Destroyers Haragumo and Piet Hein knocked each other out of the fight (Haragumo later succumbing to two torpedo hits from a Dutch submarine while limping towards Palau) while Mikazuki actually had her decks sprayed with 12.7mm fire from Vlieland before the Dutch ship was sunk by 2 Long Lances. A few 14" salvoes from Yamashiro forced most of the remaining Dutch destroyers to the south.

At this point Tanaka decided to withdraw - having inflicted disproportionately heavy losses on the enemy and with the battlecruisers sure to be closing in, there was no reason to risk his ships in the face of 13.8" guns. Tanaka fell back to cover the convoy, which was lagging a few hundred miles behind. A few attacks were launched by T.IVa torpedo bombers from Manado at the invasion force and Tanaka's BatDiv - most missed, but one torpedo doomed an already-damaged Japanese destroyer.

[center]
A 1920s aircraft performing 1941 duties.[/center]

In Malaya another, different reckless gamble did not pay off. We had been reconning Taiping airbase on the east coast of Malaya for some time now and troops numbers were showing as fairly low - about 3000, consistent with a large base force. Our two elite parachute regiments should have been able to overwhelm such a force. Somehow Intelligence missed the entire 28th Indian Brigade! The actual drop was a disaster. Bad weather drove back many of the aircraft carrying the 1st Regiment, while the 2nd's Tabbys and Tinas were completely unable to take off. The aircraft that managed to make it through the Buffalo CAP haphazardly spread their cargo across the landscape. As a result only a small fragment of the 1st Regiment was able to land at Taiping successfully.

[center]
Doomed Japanese paratroopers land north of Taiping.[/center]

Finally - and this is extremely important - our spies in Singapore report that the Royal Navy has left the harbour. A Dinah spotted what looked like enemy aircraft carriers heading north through the Malacca Strait. Perhaps they feared a strike on their fleet in port like at Pearl Harbour? We can only hope they stay away, if our intelligence can even be believed.

Overall, a good day. Tomorrow the landings begin.

It wasn't the weather that drove the paratroop transports away, it was the heroic Buffalos on CAP

The T-IVs weren't completely useless either, they sank another damaged destroyer limping away from Manado.

Obviously I cannot say anything about the location of the Royal Navy, but would you put them up against 6 Japanese fleet carriers?

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

It wasn't the weather that drove the paratroop transports away, it was the heroic Buffalos on CAP

The T-IVs weren't completely useless either, they sank another damaged destroyer limping away from Manado.

Obviously I cannot say anything about the location of the Royal Navy, but would you put them up against 6 Japanese fleet carriers?

Ack, I've made myself into a propagandist! Post edited.

Point taken about the RN .. oh well, I'll sink the bastards someday. ;p

I just ran and sent the next turn to you - if anything it's even more full of surface combat than the last one. Major sinkage in all corners ... we loves us a good old-fashioned surface battle.

Great AAR guys lots of fun.

How are the Sea Hurricane pools holding out Cruft and when do you get Seafires to really ruin Alikchi's day

The Sea Hurricane pool is looking a bit dry. As are the Albacore and Swordfishes. I have quite a lot of Seafires but of course I can't upgrade to them until May, by which time the whole shebang should be over and done with.

We don't intend to play past the fall of Malaya. Or should I say the abject defeat of the Japanese invasion

I won't be able to do the turn until tomorrow. Will watch the combat now though

One thing I forgot to mention: Jan 1st is British Withdrawal day. Guess what Winnie wants, despite the war in the Med not existing anymore? One CV (!) and two DDs. Bah! He's getting the damaged one ...

Happy New Year, Baka Gaijin

1/1/42

The Invasion of Malaya began today! And this time we mean it [:D]

The remainder of the 18th and 34th divisions, along with 2 new divisions (soon to be followed up by two more, along with dozens of supporting units), are unloading over the beachhead, unopposed by enemy air or naval attack. They are supported offshore by 4 battleships along with multiple cruisers and destroyers. Air cover is provided by Zeroes from Kompong Som.

Farther south - roughly 300 miles dead east of Kuantan - the Kido Butai (CarDivs 1, 2, and 4) lurks, in position to prevent any air attack north from Singapore. None seems forthcoming.

In fact, so far we have had no enemy attacks whatsoever. The enemy looks to have withdrawn his aircraft to Singapore and the Royal Navy to .. somewhere. (We are nervous about this.) Intelligence believes that our decadent Western opponents may be too inebriated to fly or sail today.

[center]
The Brits take a day off. Well, two days.[/center]

In the south, it's not all peaceful - Manado again. Tanaka once again left the transports behind during the night, this time to deliver a heavy bombardment with the guns of Fuso and Yamashiro - shutting down the airbase and completing the victory scored yestereday. Read Admiral Struble, commanding a combined Dutch/American task force, had other ideas.

BatDiv 2 and Struble's force clashed at roughly 1 AM as the Japanese closed in. Struble was quite a bit more alert than Doorman was and brought his ships - CLs Boise, Marblehead, Tromp, De Ruyter, Java, and Celebes, plus seven old American destroyers - into range as one force instead of dispersed scouting groups.

[center]
Tanaka v. Struble[/center]


The battle did not start off well for the Japanese. Light cruiser Boise closed in on Kako, catching the older cruiser off guard. Boise's forward 6"/47 guns threw dozens of shells into the forward superstructure, smashing fire control and destroying "B" turret. Kako veered wildly out of line as Boise switched targets to Kasasagi.

[center]
USS Boise, showing her teeth.[/center]

As the American and Dutch ships sliced through Tanaka reacted slowly. (Even the best of admirals react slowly when they haven't slept in three days.) Fuso's main guns caught the old cruiser Java at the end of her turn. 14" shells detonating inside the boiler room gutted the ship. She quietly rolled over and sank. Destroyers John D. Edwards and Paul Jones, trailing Struble's line, were caught by the Japanese - Paul Jones heavily damaged by 5" shells, John D. Edwards hammered under by Yamashiro's secondaries and a torpedo.

However these losses did not stop Struble, who did not care about the IJN covering force. He was here for the transports, full of elite SNLF troops.

The invasion convoy - 3 APs, 3 AKs, 2 PGs, 2 MSWs - was covered by the scraps Tanaka found leftover at Palau. Light cruiser Nagara (sister of the already-sunk Natori) and three outdated destroyers. Outnumbered and outgunned, they still put up a fight. Boise once again led the way, closing in on Nagara like a shark and shattering her with a barrage of 6" shells. (She would later be sunk by a T.IVa's torpedo.) The destroyers were another matter though. Uzuki was ablaze from stem to stern, being smothered by the opening salvoes - drawing the American and Dutch fire onto herself.

Kikuzuki and Shiokaze swept past the sinking hulk, launching Long-Lances as they went, and two struck home - one heavilly damaging Marblehead and the other blasting Paul Jones into three pieces. Finally, in perhaps the luckiest shot of the night, a 4.7" shell from Kikuzuki penetrated the lightly armored cruiser Tromp's magazine. The resulting massive explosion convinced Struble to retire when the transports were at their most vulnerable.

Even though the transports were saved, our ships are exhausted and we do not have enough ammunition aboard to suppress Manado's airfield. The invasion fleet and covering force turn back.

We will keep vigilant for the Brits - and we will have Manado, and soon.

[center]
Mavis "E-2" of P1/Toko Daitai on patrol roughly 700 miles southeast of Saigon - looking for any sign of the Royal Navy.[/center]

ORIGINAL: Alikchi

Finally, in perhaps the luckiest shot of the night, a 4.7" shell from Kikuzuki penetrated the lightly armored cruiser Tromp's magazine.

I'll say![;)]

I'm sick of digging up photos for today, so you get screenshots. [:D]

1/2/42

Another fine January day in the Southern Resource Area.

For once, the night was peaceful - no night Long Lancings or air raids. The Allies did open the day up with a dawn raid on Bangkok by the AVG and Blenheims based at Tavoy (a level 4 airbase). Three transports (already damaged in previous raids) took a bomb each at the cost of a few damaged Blenheims. Nates can't stop these raids .. the Army needs to step up R&D.

At about this time landing operations recommenced for the day at Kota Bharu. The beaches are absolutely clogged with transports. Most of the infantry is safely ashore (support weapons, artillery, and tanks are still unloading) and tentative attacks will begin shortly.

[center]
Japanese and Commonwealth forces at the beachhead.[/center]

One thing that should be noted - empty transports and their escorts, returning to Komprong Som, were attacked by Swordfish and Sea Hurricanes from Kuantan today. Only one hit was scored (on empty Huso Maru), but it looks like the British carriers have transferred at least a few squadrons of their aircraft to ground-based airfields ..

Over in the Philippines, the Far Eastern Air Force is still in okay shape. Manila is -extremely- difficult to shut down. 10 B-17s (Es and Ds), escorted by 11 Warhawks, attacked San Marcelino from medium altitude today. We had anticipated this and provided long-range CAP from the Tainan Daitai - the result waws 2 downed Warhawks and some very inaccurate bombing.

[center]
NAP/2C Kosuke Yasue leads Zeroes on the attack.[/center]

Our ground troops scored another victory in this theatre today when Naga finally fell, the Filipino troops retreating towards Manila in disarray. We're doing better against the Americans than we'd ever have dreamed! Manila and Clark are next..

[center]
Naga falls, and central Luzon is ripe for the taking. Legaspi, by the way, became a level 2 airfield today.[/center]

Finally, in the south, an exhausted Tanaka brings BatDiv 2 and all ships capable of 29 knots into Palau today. Ammunition is almost gone, fuel is "in the red" and damage is severe. These ships need a break.

The unlucky ships that weren't capable of keeping up with Fuso and Yamashiro enjoyed the attention of the Dutch Brewsters and T.IVas based at Manado today, along with Hudsons from all all over the region. No torpedo hits were made by the evil, evil T.IVas today, but the Brewsters made up for it - a bomb knocked out MSW Wa 14's depth charge launcher and left her listing, while CL Kako (already shelled by Boise and torpedoed by a T.IVa!) endured 4 100lb bomb hits. We're not sure if she will make it home..

[center]
Ships confirmed sunk so far in the battle off Manado. Several not yet on the list probably will sink or will be out of commission for months ...[/center]

Overall though we are pleased with progress - our safe landing in Malaya is well worth any number of failures in the East Indies. As always, it's only a matter of time. Hakko ichiu!

You won that battle on points...

Evil T-IVas

Love it. I started with 10 and there are now 7 left. Their average experience is in the mid 50s. Fear them!

The Battle of Manado was a surprising victory for the Allies. It was the first time I have ever seen the US Asiatic Fleet perform well at night. Hats off to Adm Struble and the gang, especially CL Boise, as has been mentioned

Yes Manila is hard to shut down. What's even better is that I am only using it until Clark recovers Of course the Japanese infantry might spoil that party but I must try. No running away! Except for the Royal Navy in the face of the KB anyway ...

You won that battle on points...

I did sink more ships! But as Cruft says it's still a win for the allies. Their surface forces (especially the USN) performed much better than I expected and, well, Japan can't afford to exchange her destroyers for cruisers. For that matter, Japan can't afford to lose anything at all.

It was interesting to play and see, though - an attrition battle at sea.

Love it. I started with 10 and there are now 7 left. Their average experience is in the mid 50s. Fear them!

The Battle of Manado was a surprising victory for the Allies. It was the first time I have ever seen the US Asiatic Fleet perform well at night. Hats off to Adm Struble and the gang, especially CL Boise, as has been mentioned

Yes Manila is hard to shut down. What's even better is that I am only using it until Clark recovers Of course the Japanese infantry might spoil that party but I must try. No running away! Except for the Royal Navy in the face of the KB anyway ...

Re: the T.IVas - I hate them! Hate!

I was surprised about Manado as well - Boise et al definitely performed far beyond their usual ability. think I may retire Tanaka to 4th Fleet for a bit. ;p

==

Running the final turn for today - I may or may not update the AAR again (if only to set a personal record).

Oh and guess how I came up with the name "Kosuke Yasue"

1/3/42

The defenders of Kota Bharu didn't get much sleep last night. Battleships Nagato and Mutsu indiscriminately raked the battlefield with their 16" guns, hitting supply dumps behind the lines and causing hundreds of Allied casualties.

[center]
"A" and "B" turrets of Mutsu.[/center]

The landings here are proceeding well, with the transports unmolested. Unforunately, Harima received an 18" torpedo from Albacores today. Damage is light but the ship will still retire to Saigon. CAP will be increased yet another notch again for tomorrow... We eliminted Kuantan as a threat (at least for a couple of days) by knocking it out today, but the Brits have plenty of good-sized airfields within torpedo range to attack from. Difficult difficult...

[center]
Today's Saigon Raid.[/center]

In fact, recon reports that the enemy has transferred a significant number of fighters and "auxilliaries" (probably torpedo bombers) back to the northern airfields. Don't think we haven't noticed! We absolutely cannot allow them to stay within torpedo range of the beachhead until an airfield is captured and aircraft flown in. Attacks will continue.

In the Philippines, our SNLF troops are struggling against a small Filipino "division" (about 2000 troops) on Iloilo. Reinforcements have been dispatched but this is embarrasing - we need to stop undercommitting...

Finally in the south our Manado stragglers began succumbing. First was the old, heroic destroyer Shiokaze, limping away after some nasty shell hits. She was caught in the night, easily visible with her fires still burning, by KXIV. Two torpedo hits quickly sent her to the bottom. minesweeper Wa 14 suffered a similar fate the next morning - strafed and bombed by Brewsters, her reduced speed left her vulnerable to a T.IVa's well-aimed torpedo. The small ship's bottom was ripped out by the explosion and she quickly
slipped under.

Most regrettable is the Kako. In fact, we're surrprised the she's lasted this long! Kako participated in both night battles off Manado, first in a secondary role, while in the second she was heavily damaged by Boise, losing her "B" 5" turret and shattering her superstructure. Still, she managed to sink destroyer John D. Edwards with a Long Lance.

Immediately afterwards, she was torpedoed by a T.IVa, opening up the hull to even more flooding, and yesterday she was strafed an dbombed by Brewsters, causing heavy topside casulalties. Still, the ship managed to stay long en ough for all survivors to be rescued today, and the ship was finally scuttled late this afternoon a few miles north of Morotai.

[center]
CL Kako's condition at the time of her scuttling. She was rebuilt from Heavy to Light Cruiser configuration so new CAs could be built under the London Treaty. The 8" single gunhouses were replaced with twin 5/40" guns and the fixed torpedo tubes replaced with two above deck mounts.[/center]

===

Some OOC comments.

So far I'm pretty pleased with the way Malaya is going although I still worry about my vulnerability to his LBA. He just has so damn much of it, it's hard to pin down. At the same time though I'm not going to divert any of the KB's Zeroes to LRCAP duty. We tried that last time and it didn't work out for the best. [:'(]

Still, my forces are on the ground and I expect Kota Bharu to fall shortly, unless he reinforces it (which he may well do; 3rd Armoured showed up at Singora a few days ago). Once Kota does fall I can fly in supplies and troops by Tabby if I have to.

I am very happy with the Philippines! His PT boats haven't done anything other than loiter off Manila, and his air attacks haven't hit anything damaging for a while. My ground troops are advancing rapidly. I just need some good-sized airbases, better supply flow and all my troops ashore, then I can move into the Luzon Triangle.

The DEI concerns me. I'm sure Cruft is funneling troops and resources into the area - I know I would in his place! Singapore, the Kuching bombardments, and the Manado reversal ll constitute delays to my plans for the DEI and time is on his side not mine.

In the Pacific, I have some plans, we'll see how they do. A sub spotted "CA CA CA CA CA" heading towards San Francisco - think it's the surviving Pearl BBs, anyone? Or a carrier group? I forget when Yorktown arrives, exactly...

More later today, perhaps. I'm a bit tired.. thank God for Labor Day!

It's really interesting to see the twist the Malaya campaign has taken, although I'm surprised that Cruft has decided to retire his carriers. Is he out of carrier aircraft replacements, mayhap?

ORIGINAL: Alikchi

I'm sick of digging up photos for today, so you get screenshots. [:D]

As if screenies are second rate![;)]

Keep'em coming , it's good advertising![&o]