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February 22, 1942

No SS activity. My 3 DD ASW TF have taken station in the Strait of Malacca.

Air
China
Chungking 52Z and 134B damage 20 Res

Merak, Java sweeps Badoeng with 29 Oscars and they shoot down 5 of 10 Demons

ABDA Strike! 7F and 5B put a TT into an AP.

Sing is hit by 13B, lose 2Pl, inflict 13 Cas, and hit AF

DarRuf get 34B and lose 38 cas

Ground
DarRuf hit by 16th ID get 114-1 and take out 86 Cas

Capture Aru Island, Bali (FINALLY--1200 POWs), and Kragen, Java

Land at Broome, Aust

Bombard Chang for 136 Cas

Bombard Sing for 69 Cas

Navy
Lose BB Hiei from the 2TT from Brisbane Raid! [:o] She sinks just 4 hexes from Noumea...

KB1 and Sydney, Aust
20F and 8B attack KB1 36Z are on CAP Down fall 13F and 1B! I lose 3Z. They all attack Zuikaku again and MISS! KB1 Strikes with 26Z, 20V, and 23K vs. 31F. I lose 4Z, 5V, and 2K for 11F and sinking 2MSW. SPOT 116 SHIPS IN PORT! Holy Cow!! Found WHERE Wolfpack has retreated too in atleast one area...don't like the losses so I return them to Noumea.

4BB Bombard Broome, Aust and do damage--find out that there are NO troops there!

Rabaul goes to Port of 5

DH Invasion Force is now well on its way. Cover Force there with 1BB, 3CL, and DDs.

February 23, 1942

No SS Action

Air
China
Yenen gets 8Z and 44B doing 9 HI Damage
Rest Chang Planes

Merak, Java Oscars attack and shot down 2 Demons for no loss.

DarRuf get 34B and lose 54 Cas

New Guinea troops (those kicked out of PM) get attacked by 32B for 58 Cas

ABDA Strike! 4F and 3B hit an AP for 3bombs

FIGHTER BRAWL OVER DACCA, INDIA! 72Z vs 46 P-40s/Hurricanes--things start well as plane-after-plane falls to Zeros but then balances out--lose 15Z for 21F. Range and eghaustion a factor I think. Will rest them and try again in a few days.

Ground
Bombard Sing for 151 Cas

Bombard Chang for 62 Cas

Capture Broome, Australia

February 24, 1942

No SS Activity--I see a group of SS appraoching my ASW TFs...

Air
China
Chungking hit by 54Z and 154B--lose 1 of each--shot down 2 Hurricanes and hit 54 HI
Rest Yenen Planes

Badoeng is hit by 2 groups of fighters--Oscars and Zeros--shot down 5F.

DarRuf 41B do 47 Cas

Soerabaja swept by 24Z and they shot down 2 Brewsters.

Ground
16th ID hits DarRuf and does 106 Cas

Bombard Chang for 66 Cas

Singapore Attack--Drop Forts to 4--get 4-1 1515 Jap vs. 2118 Allied. THE END IS COMING!

Hanoi, Indochina AF goes to 2

February 25, 1942

No SS activity

Air
China
Yenen hit by 8Z and 44B hitting 12 HI
Chungking hit by 51Z and 155B--lose 1Z--shot down 3Hur and do 36 HI

ABDA Strike! 3B hit an AP with 3Bombs

Ground
SINGAPORE FALLS! Shock Attack--Forts to 3--816 Jap for 86,444 POWs!!!!! YUMMYYYY! [8D][8D]

Chang Bombard for 52 Cas

Landing at Macassar and Tenimbar

Navy
Bombard Macassar for 46 Cas.


NOW--the strategy thread that has been running in the War Room comes to fruition. I have troops to rest and then use for new targets!

The frequency of attacking in Changsa is dependant on what kind of odds your getting. I know that you're getting 0-1. But the adjusted attack and defence values are very important.

If you have an adjusted attack value of 2000 and he has an adjusted defence value of 5000 then you have a long fight ahead and should just bombard and maybe attack every 5 or 6 days to speed the reduction of his artillery.

If you have 3000 to his 3400 then victory is just around the corner. A shock attack will put you over the top if you are willing to take the risk. More likely a couple more deliberate attacks will give you 1 to 1 odds. Once you have one to one its all over because you no longer take the disruption penalty and so can attack every other day or even every day.

If you have 500 to his 5000 something is seriously wrong and you need to reconsider the whole attack. Rest, bombard for a long time and bring in more troops.

Deal! I will try a Deliberate Attack tonight and see what results I get. This will be written down and I will put it out to you for imput.

I will shift my aircraft back to Changsha since I have been hitting Chungking REAL hard!

February 26, 1942

SS The fall of Singapore made Wolfpack pull his SS back. My ASW TFs will stay where they are for a few days in case he tries to move them back in.

Air
China
Resting planes at Wuhan and Chenting.
First Southern attack occurs when 25F and 20B hit Kumming and damage 4 Res

Dar Ref hit by 32B doing 34 Cas

PM Ref hit by 32B doing 41 Cas

Dacca, India FTR SWEEP 72Z vs 2 Hurricane--both Hurricanes shot down. Where did AVG go?

ABDA Strike! From Derby, Aust 3B fly out and put 1TT into an AP.

Ground
Landing at Makassar, Sula

Capture Tenimbar

Bombard Macassar for 31 Cas

Bombard Chang for 96 Cas--Order Deliberate Attack for tomorrow--see what happens...

Will start landings at Dutch Harbor and Suva tomorrow. Invasion and Cover Groups moving in. Change Cover Group assignments to bombardment.

Naval
KB1 will dock at Noumea tomorrow and then rest some.

KB2 has slipped into the IO for a raid. I am sending them to the south portion of the map and then due north to come in on the western side of India. Perhaps I can surprise something...

KB3 Hiryu/Soryu passing Saipan en route for Tokyo and meeting Junyo. They will stay in Japan for a week or so and repair minor system damage. Once that is done, they head for Kwajelein.

PLANNING I am waiting to finish the month before publishing detailed operational planning for the next phase of the war.

Orders already given:
1. 16th ID returning to Darwin after chasing Darwin Survivors will assualt Palmyra. Planning already begun. APs on the way to pick up unit and a large Base Force.
2. 2nd ID will capture Suva withina day or two. It will then begin operational planning for Johnson Island.
3. Singapore Victors resting for next week or so. Some will be sent to Java and others (the bulk) will travel to Kwajelein for 'eastward' operations.

February 27, 1942

Subs
Wolfpack has moved all of his subs elsewhere in the IO. My carefully planned ASW Groups appear to have nothing to do. I will leave then there for a few more days and return them to Saigon.

Shift my Betty's in Rangoon to ASW Attack at 30%. See if that helps with my Sub hunting.

Air
Yenen is hit with 8Z and 66B They hit the AF and did 8 Resource hits.

My Bombers hit Khota Bharu from Kuantan 144B nail the forces there (about 10,000 troops) doing 49 Cas and severe AF damage.

Manila is hit by 10F and 36 DB. They hit intense FLAK and lose 9 [:@] planes!

Ground
Landing at Macassar, Dutch Harbor and Suva

Deliberate Attack at Changsha and make NO progress--Fort 9--221,000 vs. 166,000. I lose 9747 Jap for 5217 Chinese. Knock his artillery down again from 668 Guns by 115.

Navy
BB Bombardment at Dutch Harbor causes 67 Cas

BB Bombardment at Suva destroys 4 Planes and 552 Cas

KB2 has slipped into the IO without being noticed. They are heading out for trouble.


I will do a monthly update after the next turn!

ORIGINAL: John 3rd



Deliberate Attack at Changsha and make NO progress--Fort 9--221,000 vs. 166,000. I lose 9747 Jap for 5217 Chinese. Knock his artillery down again from 668 Guns by 115.

Adjusted attack and defence????? Still taking out one sixth of his guns is good. How many do you have?

Moses,
I didn't get the exact values. My internet chose to kick off at that moment and reduce the game. I got most of the stats but not that. I will attack again in about 5 game turns and get the specifics at that point.

Am moving 3 Artillery Regiments, an Armored Regiment, and a rested Inf Div back for the next attack. Have 6 Inf Div that will move back for the assault after that. Am taking the LONG view and we'll see if it works as you CLAIM it will!
J

Wolfpack was rather unavailable for the weekend so we only got three turns in. I will cover those turns and then do an end-of-February status report.

February 28, 1942

Subs Numerous Betty attacks on SS near Rangoon.

Air
China
Yenen 8Z and 65B do 8 HI damage
Kunming 17B no damage--lower altitude from 10,000 to 5,000Ft hadn't noticed altitude...

Dar Ruf 29B do 28 Cas

PM Ref 29B do 39 Cas

Ground
Capture DUTCH HARBOR! 195-1 MSW is scuttled and 766 POW Gained

Capture Macassar, Sula and gain 2080 POW

Landing at Suva

Bombard Changsha for 33 Cas

Naval
Bombard Dutch Harbor for 14 Cas

Bombard Suva for 1 Plane and 205 Cas


Dili-Dili, TI AF expands to 2

March 1, 1942

SS
SS Seawolf sinks from LBA damage at Diamond Harbor
More Betty attacks on SS near Rangoon

Air
China
Yenen 26Z and 64B for 9 HI
Changsha 90B paste the AF and do 23 Cas
Kunming 29F and 13B do 1 Resource Damage

Dar Ref 14B for 17 Cas

PM Ref 23B for 30 Cas and lose 2 Planes!

ABDA Strike 3B hit an AK with 3 Bombs

Ground
New Britain My Infantry catches up with his forces fleeing Rabaul 30-1 Attack 141J for 51Allied

Bombard Chang for 60 Cas

CAPTURE Suva, Fiji 50-1 63 Jap for 118 US and 6 Planes His forces (an Art Reg and BF) retreat to Nandi ad mine pursue.

Starting to move troops from Singapore to differing locations. One Inf Div to Java and one Inf Div-Eng Reg-Tk Reg heading for Kwajalein for operations around Hawaii.

Navy
Hiryu and Soryu reach Toyko and get a rest. They will stay in port about 10 days and then leave with Junyo for Kwajalein.


Toboali goes to Port 2.

HAWAII OPERATION--Am now watching for his bases to grow. Lahaina gows to Sz-4 AF.


March 2, 1942

Subs
I-162 near Bombay makes 2 attacks and sinks AK-Bhima with 3TT

Air
China
Changsha 88B hit AF and cause 49 Cas
Kunming 29F and 17B do 6 Resources damage

Batavia is hit from 10,000Ft with 73 Betty hitting AF and causing 6 Cas for 1 Plane

Manila gets 16F and 23B doing 93 Cas and 1 Plane

PM Ref get 34B lose 1 Plane

Ground
Attack at Naga, Phil and get a 2-1 attack, reduce Fort to 2--lose 142 Jap to 36 Phil

New Britain 26-1 92 Jap for 34 Allied

Batavia--3 Brigades have moved into the hex and started a bombardment--there are 2 Brigades and 8 support units there.

Bombard Chang for 181 Cas

Naval
Sho-Zui-Shoho return to Noumea and get a rest.


Lunga moves to AF-4

Wolfpack and I now have three months of WWII in the book. There has been a HUGE swing in Victory Points since the February report. Let me cover the statistics to begin with:

Score Japan 11,765 to Allies 4,049 Near the Magical 4-1...

Ships Sunk
Allied 143 VP 1898 Warships--2CV, 1BB, 6CL, 20DD, 16 PT, and 8SS
Japan 55 VP 542 Warships--1BC (Hiei), 1CA (Suzuyu), 3DD, and 8SS

My losses have come up but are not bad whatsoever! Suzuyu was lost due to a freak mine blowing it up! 53 Warships to 13 is a GOOD exchange! Need to find more and SINK them...

Industry Totals

Supply 1,964,614
Fuel 3,717,680
Manpower 809 (205,258)
Hvy Ind 13,680 (65,706)
Resources 17,201 (1,630,518)
Oil 2,323 (1,709,379)

Armaments
Naval Shipyards 1,262 (22)
Merchant Shipyards 967 (7)
Shipyard Repair 884
Armament 588 (35,561)
Vehicles 132 (443)
Aircraft Engines 1,392
Aircraft Assembly 798 (134-Rd)

ANYONE HAVE COMMENTS ON THESE STATISTICS??? The big picture sometimes eludes me with industry...

Shipbuilding
My warships are moving along nicely--I got Junyo and Shoho without any issue. Yamato's numbers are coming down nicely. I have accelerated the "Moon-Class" DDs, Taiho and 1st two Unryu's, and will begin a slow expansion of Naval shipyards and repair facilities.

My 1st AR/MLE/etc... and support ships will be finished within a few days. They will help on the repair and supply fronts. I should be getting in a batch of these ships about every month...

Overall Picture:

China
Things contuinue to be bogged down in Changsha. I was going to bug-out but Moses convinced me to keep it up. I will give it another month. My bombing offensive continues with good success. He has lost a lot of fighters over China and seems to have pulled them out. I am bombing Kunming, Yenen, Changsha, and Chungking. This will be kept up for the rest of the month going after resource centers.

Burma
I have all of Burma with the exception of Akyab. This has been done at no cost. My fighters and bombers are regularly attacking targets there. It is not my intention to take anything more in this region. I will start a bombing offensive there as well with the intention of hitting Resources and HI.

DEI
I have ALL of it except for Java. Java will fall within the month. I have almost all of NW Australia. Supplies are rolling without issue. The Philippines are limited to just Clark and Naga. They can wither for all I care.

SE Pacific
There is no major island that I do not have. Luganville, Efate, ALL of New Caledonia (Noumea), Suva, Canton, Pago-Pago, Norfolk and Baker have all fallen.

Northern Pacific
I have Kiska and Dutch Harbor. Operational Planning is rolling along for the capture of Anchorage. Once I have that, then I am done to the north.


PLANNING
Operation Eastern Wind
After that long thread discussion of strategic planning in February 1942, I have opted to make an attempt to take Hawaii. I already have divisions planning on capturing Palymra, Christmas, Johnson, and Hilo as initial objectives. I hope to have several of these prior to the Invasion Bonus ending.

I will begin a gradual transfer of Zeros and Betty's to Kwajelein and Baker to support this.

The ENTIRE KB will be used in several sweeps around Hawaii in an effort to force more US Navy ships to battle and start the encirclement of the objective.

Thoughts???

As your official China advisor I recommend you stay in Changsa to the end. With all the damage you are doing to his industry I suspect his supply situation is getting very bad. Plus a lot of supply is burned when it transfers by road to Changsa.

One key point to consider is that it does not really matter where you fight as long as you are fighting and forceing him to burn as much supply as possible. Changsa is a great place as it is closer to your supply sources than his and is clear terrain.If you leave Changsa to fight elsewhere he will just shift to meet you and you will be fighting the same battle somewhere else.

His supply situation must be getting bad which means his offensive capability is wanning. You can start to shift forces that were needed for defensive duties to Changsa to up the force ratio.

As for Hawaii be careful with the initial invasion. The key is to get a foothold somewhere easy and then build up a couple airbases. I would not attack Oahu for a long time until it had been bombed to the stone age. See WITP_Dude vs. Zeta AAR for direct attack on PH. Very frightening.

Moses,
You most definately ARE my China advisor since you have crushed my soul in China within our Campaign! Am waiting another day and then shall launch another attack at Changsha and THIS TIME will get those force ratios!

My plan is to take Palymra and Johnson Island so I have a pair of forward bases and then land on the largest, southern Island. Pending how that goes, then I move to the northernmost to isolate PH. This plan will be carried out in three phases:

Phase 1: Capture outlying Islands as already described.
Phase 2: Take two of the Hawaiian Islands directly.
Phase 3: Land at PH after a LONG seige!

If any phase badly miscarries, then I have to ability to withdraw. I will not gut my forces here if I cannot do it!

Have ordered 3 Inf Div with support units towards Tarawa and Kwajelein in preparation for the operation.

Wolfpack and I did something rare yesterday, we got two turns in!

March 3, 1942

Subs
I-8 hits DD Pillsbury with a TT near Brisbane and gets a DC in return
SS Spearfish put a TT into an AK near Singapore

Air
China:
Yenen hit by 29Z and 72B damaging 9 Resources
Chansha gets 89B who crush the AF and get 67 Cas
Kunming has 27F and 12B damage 5 Resources. Have another BF headed there so I add another Bomber Daitai to this southern attack.

Khota Bharu has 172B nail the AF and do 67 Cas

Batavia gets 68B, lose 2 planes, and hit AF.

Manila 16F and 15B, lose 1 Plane, hit AF and get 36 Cas

Dar Ruf hit by 34B, lose 3 planes, and they lose 51 Cas

PM Ref get 31B doing 107 Cas

Ground
Landing at Kendari, Sula

Naga, Phil attacks nets 2-1, reduce Forts from 2 to 1, 221J for 10 Phil

New Britain Ref 30-1 attack and one BF surrenders while the two small ground units hold on! 85J for 1780 POW.

Attack at Batavia, Java for 1st time! Reduce Forts from 6 to 5 385 Jap for 352 Dutch. I have an enture Inf Div about to arrive at Merak to finish this attack.

Bombard Changsha for 270 Cas

Paramushiro Jima AF1

Had to hop off for class.

March 4, 1942

No significant SS activity

Air
China
Yenen is hit by 29Z and 65B, lose 1 plane, and damage 10 Resources
Kunming gets 22F and 8B for 2 Resources damage

Noticed planes moved into Changsha. Set two Daitai of Zeros and two Daitai of Oscars to support next attack there. Bet he is getting desperate there...

Batavia 41B AF and 6 Cas

Manila 15F and 7B AF and 55 Cas

PM Ref 33B for 75 cas

Dar Ref 27B for 54 Cas

Ground
Landing at Tjilitjap, Java

New Britain (60,89) 34-1 51J for 21Aussies

Capture Derby, Aust for 40 Cas ALL NW Australia is in my hands.

Kendari, Sula Captured 6-1 33J for 1716 POW

Navy
Have had considerable supply and TK groups forming and heading for Kwajalein and Tarawa to begin stockpiling for Hawaii Operation.

Moving Naval Units to Japan for light maintenance and/or Kwajalein for same reasons.

KB2 has reached the western edge of the board and is now moving northwards towards India looking for targets...once done, it will head for Japan.


Hawaiian Operation

Reconn Palymra and Christmas Island and spot little-to-no troops there. Decide to improvise taking Palymra with two SNLF and a BF from Pago-Pago. If I can get it east then GREAT! With small forces, it might not alert Wolfpack to the GRAND PLAN...

Load Imperial Guards Div, 1st Hv Artillery, and 15th Eng Regiment for Johnson Island. They are prepping as they go with a stop at Kwajalein.

AUTO-VICTORY: For the first time, I have reached the magical 4-1 spread! I haven't taken Philippines or Java YET! How about that??!!

March 5, 1942

SS Nothing exciting.

Air
China
Have Yenen and Changsha Bombers rest. Set all Wuhan Fighters to Sweep Changsha.
Kunming 21F and 10B do 3 Resource damage

CHINESE Counter-attacks
Hong Kong 11 IL-4c attack the port and are intercepted by 32 Nates. The Nates shoot down 2 and damage 7 others. No damage
9 SB2c attack at Changsha and have 9 Hurricanes over the target. They do 10 Cas. I WANT those Hurricanes!

Khota Bharu is hit by 165B, they paste the AF, and do 92 Cas.

Manila 21F and 10B hit AF and do 15 Cas

Ground
Dispatch 6 new Base Forces from Tokyo to Kwajalein in preparation for the Hawaii Operation

New Britain--that little fragment continues to hold out. 40-1 79Jap for 39 Allies

Bombard Batavia for 21 Cas

Bombard Changsha for 10 Cas

Timor remnants attacked at 6-1 (32, 78) 18J for 42 Dutch

Navy
A lot of forces moving to Kwajalein and Japan for upcoming operation.

John, are you sure you really want to invade Hawai? Ouch, chances are not that good...

Good Sir! I figure that I can stop at ANY point if things look insane. Shoudl get a feel for things based on his reaction to my taking of Palymra and Johnson Islands. If there isn't much, then I will take one of the Hawaiian Islands and see. If that goes well...

One step at a time for Eastern Wind. We'll see...

How are things going in your campaign?

How I know Wolfpack he won´t care much about Palmyra and Johnson! [:)] He will just think: "Hey I can bomb this place with my 4E bombers and if there aren´t too many fighters and I can avoid losses I´ll do it!" But I think he has to defend Hawai for sure! He won´t come with his Navy, perhaps with limited efforts, as he knows he would lose probably much more than you but I think he will bring in every plane he can get. And there will be ground troops in place. With guns of all calibres. I think you would have to bomb for a looong time to take those heavy guns out that will beat up your APs. That´s what I would think about how Wolfpack will react, but I could be wrong as I learned in 230 turns against him that he´s still up for a surprise!

Our game went just back for 8 turns as we have this "no bombardment result - bug" or however I should call that. But I´ve taken Diamond Harbour with paras and can bring in troops now without taking losses, so that was quite a good move! [:D] If my bombardments aren´t working in general in the future we´ll have to quit our game I fear. If it´s just related to Baker Island then Wolfpack has agreed not to station 4E bombers there as I can´t do something against them. But we´re not happy with the overall situation. Perhaps it helps to redo all those last turns and it works again. If not,...

But good luck for your operation, looking forward to reading your AAR!

Combat Report for March 6, 1942

SS
He has a couple of SS at Batavia, Java and I am going to send an ASW Group to cause some trouble.

Additionally, he has a sub NW of Kwajelein that I have spotted several times. Another ASW Group will go there.

I have recalled all my eastern Pacific SS to Kwajelein to prep for Operation Eastern Wind. My intention is to let them rest a week or two and then send them in a wind circle to the north and south of Hawaii to take up blocking positions for any ships going back and forth. This group of SS are nearly 30 in total.

Send one SS to Recon Johnson Island with its' Glen.

Air
China:
Yenen 29Z and 74B damage 18 Res
Changsha A total of three raids hit the area. 54Z and 138B hit the AF, shoot down 4 Hurricanes, and cause 247 Cas

Raid Dacca, Ind with 103 Betty's for a disappointing 7 Resources damaged

Manila gets a small raid of 9F and 7B doing 27 Cas

Ground
Attack at Tjilitjap, Java, get 0-1, Fort 3--226 Jap for 156 Dutch

Shock Attack at New Britain, get 24-1--35 Jap for 68 Aussies (Lark and NGVR Battalions)

Bombard Batavia for 22 Cas

32, 78 Timor gets 10-1 for 7 Jap and 12 Dutch

CHANGSHA Deliberate Attack 0-1 Fort 9
Japan 234,955 1889 Guns 297 Vehicles Attack Value ONLY 1,374
China 170,164 630 Guns 0 Vehicles Defense Value 10,476 [X(]

Casualties
Japan 6,985 160 Guns 28 Vehicles
China 4,435 86 Guns 0 Vehicles

MOSES!!?? Thoughts...it looks like a LONG way to go. I checked my supply and some units are OK and others are short. Is there a reason for that?

Navy
Lose an AP at Wyndham from earlier damage by ABDA planes.

Somethings wrong??!! A few checks.

1.) Supply--You need a nearby base with a big load of supply. (30,000 plus). Otherwize units will draw on an intermittant basis.

2.) You do have HQ in hex???

3.) Look at leader of the HQ. Is he a dud.

4.) Withdraw any unit with less then half of artillery ready. Bring them back when they have 100% of arty.

5.) Do you have all four ENG units in the hex.

Looks like you have a ways to go. But your crushing his industry. He has to be getting near the end of his rope. I'd keep at it but I don't understand why his forts aren't going down.

I'll go through all those notes and see. Wuhan is where I am drawing my supplies from. I have an army HQ at both Wuhan and Changsha. Should I have them both at Changsha? I only have three Eng Reg at Changsha. I'll look aournd the map for the 4th and MOVE it! Got a feeling it is NW of Hong Kong...