The Long War - Topeverest vs Admiral-Kamikaze (Allied Only)

[topeverest]

The Long War is a privately developed mod that provides the Empire with a large number of a-historical capabilities rooted in some chance of reality. These advantages are more substantial than any public mod of which we are aware. This effort grew out of a desire to develop a more flexible empire war approach, allowing the empire player to better choose his or her produced fleet, and it grew to this broad effort with a substantially augmented empire.

My esteemed opponent, admiral-kamikaze, is not a regular in the forums, but his handle is an accurate measure of his resolve. Expect him to aggressively and relentlessly pursue total empire victory.

To add a little detail, this non-historical scenario speculates that when war with USA and United Kingdom was first seriously considered, the Emperor acts decisively in ways that did not occur historically. Specifically, Hirohito veered away from historical assignment of power and government. To the contrary, in this scenario the Imperial Japanese Navy gains definitive control over both major economic decisions and force development prioritization planning. The IJN also controls all potential joint operations and has broad authority to manage wars in a manner consistent with its mission.

To this end, the IJN secretly and largely successfully prepares for total war without otherwise causing the future Allies to significantly change paths prior to hostilities. This included a massive expansion of the pre-war military spending and identification of incremental sources for war materials. Key changes include:
• Increase of starting Empire production capabilities, including airframes and pilots
• Acceleration of many major reinforcements, including CVL conversions
• Options to build dozens of incremental aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, and destroyers – and the production capabilities to achieve many
• Expansion of existing merchant fleet along with options to build many incremental merchant vessels
• War materials stockpiling prior to start of war
• Development of several forward combat bases in preparation for war, including stocking with supplies and fuel
• Forward deployment of large numbers of troops, ships, and aircraft to these select forward bases for immediate use at start of hostilities.
• Complete flexibility to pursue the war as needed; resulting in the immediate release of most previously restricted units, the elimination of most unit withdrawals, and unprecedented ability to choose airframe upgrade and downgrade paths

Other changes include:
• Incremental bases at various points on the map have been added for potential operational flexibility where bases are not plentiful
• Base SPS’s and starting values have been updated - with some changing
• Modification of certain Empire and Allied automatic supply and fuel sources
• Certain garrison requirements for both sides were added, deleted, or modified
• New and / or larger resource / production type centers
• Other minor additions, deletions, twists to history, and timeline changes that should improve the playing experience, thwarting an ‘autopilot’ game approach from seasoned players

The Allied player basically has an historical start – and a tough first year ahead of him or her. The following key changes have been made:
• Complete flexibility to pursue the war as needed; resulting in the immediate release of most previously restricted units and elimination of some unit withdrawals
• Extension of the allied naval reinforcement train through 1946 with the addition of 'historical' major ships that were 'ordered' but not delivered in time for execution of the war.
• Changes in replacements, mainly for airframe continuity and upgrade path flexibility purposes. Allied forces will experience somewhat higher replacements, the vast majority late in the war.
• No atomic bomb
• Less automatic fuel and supply, generally lower starting base sizes, and minor changes to on-map production centers.

Victory is defined as follows:
1. Empire Decisive Victory if at the end of any calendar month 7 of the following 11 bases are controlled: Vancouver, San Francisco, Pearl Harbor, Auckland, Sydney, Surabaya, Manila, Chungking, Singapore, Rangoon, and Dehli. Note – assumes Russia not attacked by empire. If Russia attacked, Empire can add Vladivostok (so 7 of 12).
2. Decisive Victory if victory points are 4 to 1 on July 1, 1943.
3. Decisive Victory if on July 1, 1944, victory points are 3 to 1.
4. Historical Victory of 1 to 2 VP ratio:
a. Decisive Allied Victory - Before June 1, 1945
b. Tactical Allied Victory – Before October 1, 1945
c. Japanese Remarkable Victory – Before January 1, 1946
d. Japanese Decisive Victory – Any subsequent date, or never

[Captain Cruft]

Can we download this somewhere? It sounds interesting.

Please [8D]

[topeverest]

First, let me describe my esteemed opponent, Admiral Kamikaze. He has been my most regular opponent for the better part of 33 years, and we have knocked heads on perhaps a hundred titles. In WWII naval simulations, AK’s style is most similar to a Bull Halsey. He does not hesitate to commit assets when his objectives are clearly defined, and he practically invented the defensive amphibious counter-pulse. His carrier management style is equally comfortable in decisive battle situations as it is in segmented sealane interdiction. He will not let up the charge until and unless he is unable to carry any offensive further.

I have been described as a very patient and thorough gamer, and I tend to try to shape the battlefield prior to any voluntary engagement occurring. I do not engage the enemy without specific purpose, and I tend not to be rash in movements. In offensive operations, I frequently deliberately mislead my enemy through force actions and / or make them choose between concurrent multiple targets. I firmly believe – and try to adhere – to several key military concepts, the most important being concentration of force at the point of battle. I have found that in this game, like most others, the outcome of the war hinges on a few, or even one, battles relatively early in the war. If the AK can ambush my CV’s in 42, decisive allied victory will never occur. Avoiding this while slowing down his momentum will be my primary goal.

I expect the empire to linger at Pearl Harbor for a week or more to sink as many ships as possible. I will make sure he pays as much as possible. Elsewhere, I will have to look and see what he does.

Keep in mind with the expanded Jap economy, if I do not aggressively apply force against the Empire economy / logistics, I will never have a chance for decisive victory. In the long run, I must go after the booty in the DEI

My initial goals will be to force, supply, and fuel-up Pearl to make her sustainable for a year…about 1 million S&R and 3 more of the later withdrawal division that are allowed to be moved immediately. Second, I will enfore near Kodiac and Anchorage, to deny the Empire the added resources and oil we put there. Third, I do not plan to lose Columbo. 4th, I will build a bastion around Palembang to slow the enemy down. 5th, I need to hold the China – Manchukuo road as long as possible. Sixth, I will attempt to force Port Moresby, and make a big stand there, expending many assets, but I will let Fiji go if he makes a big push for it. Rest assured, I will keep enough there to repulse a typical attack. Finally, I need to pick a series of islands to begin to enforce as a base of future offensive operations, but that will occur after these objectives are completed as they can get. I plan extensive surface raiding to keep the empire’s forces as separated as possible, and I want a major ongoing fight around New Guinea, as these play to the allied strengths early in the war.

With that in mind…lets begin (we already have)

[topeverest]

Please PM me if you want the scenario files

[topeverest]

And we are off…Day 1   The Empire audaciously conducted both the Mersing Gambit and port attacks in Singapore and Manila.  Let me take an aside and say the only HR we are playing is ‘no strategic bombing until Jan 1, 1943.’  Everything else is in-bounds; therefore, his actions are ‘down the middle.’   The results of his decisions were mixed.  Manila saw a dozen or so American subs out or sunk, but Singapore failed to get any hits on material warships.  Pearl saw typical results of 8 damaged BB’s and one sunk, with a couple cruisers damaged.  Perhaps most important, his decisions to overconcentrate on ship attacks damaged far fewer planes – a mere 75 allied losses the first day.  Very few 4e bombers were destroyed.  The empire actually lost more planes due to some freak naval attacks resulting from the Mersing Gambit.    This presents the first of many fighter trap opportunities I will be conducting early in the game.  Since the empire vastly out produces, the allies cannot fight constant attrition battles.  I have set some air traps over some token merchant shipping I have pushed out near some allied bases.  His naval attack settings will undoubtedly send some small amount of planes to attack said TF’s – where my fighters will pounce.  Anyway, so goes the theory.  I am running three this turn.  I want to get 2-1 losses – and keep in mind, these will be his most experienced pilots I will be beginning to attrite.   POW and Repulse reacted to the Mersing Gambit, but didn’t make it to the invasion.  POW got pummeled, but R is still in the game.  I am sortieing the balance of the British fleet into Mersing and setting a fighter trap.  Early to gamble on such assets, but there you go.   Other than that, there is little to report, with it being so early in the game.    ----------   Let me take a moment to talk on a couple of the significant changes made in this mod.  The allied starting base sizes all have been significantly reduced, and all automatic supply awards have been approximately halved.  Some playtesting has proved these settings to be viable and to achieve the desired results – which are: No allied airfield or port is above size two, except for home cities, which will be 3 or 4.  The exceptions are Surabaya and Pearl Harbor.  This has the effect of greatly reducing the allied sea lift capability, reducing the amount of shipping that can load.  We feel it better reflects the early allied war machine difficulties on the whole and forces the allies to be more careful in their early war decision-making.  reducing the auto supply delays the allied war machine buildup by reducing the amount of fuel and supply sitting in key off-map bases.  The amount is far sufficient to run the war, but the amount will build up slower.  We have found this change is less impactful than the base reductions, but it does slow the allies down a bit on its own early on.Virtually all fixed units have been released.  As we understand the myriad of reasons such restrictions exist, we created friendly garrison requirements around the key home cities along with more occupied garrison requirements.  In our playtesting prior to playing, we found this to be an effective, but not overbearing, equal to PP and fixed units.  Not surprisingly, we found this tends to increase Empire early war capabilities, but that is not to say the allies cannot muster masses troops quickly to places they were unable to in stock scenarios.  The limited allied port sizes and supply are effective in keeping the empire strategic surprise going.  In any event, having played the fixed units for many years over the evolution of AE, we decided to try this out.  We will let you know if it works out in a balanced fashion.[/ol]

[topeverest]

I must apologize, but I have traveled 100% of the time in the last month.  That said, we have moved forward to December 20, 1941.  Following are the key activities and events that have occurred.

Hawaii - The KB bombarded Pearl until the last of the american BB's were sunk.  Despite several prior games where I committed all my CV's against KB, I decided to pull everything out that could still steam.  As a result, I saved the Pennsylvania, and all cruisers and destroyers except Helena.  They made the east coast ports, and they were or are repairing.  By February I will have six old battleships in the USA to conduct war against the empire.  more importantly, the Empire is showing that she intends to invade Pearl, or at a minimum blockade it.  The KB is still in the vicinity, looking for naval and merchant targets at sea.  At present, there is no sign of an invasion armada, and much of empire naval assets are accounted for in other parts of the map.  I have managed to sneak in a small amount of fuel, supply, and some ASW assets without incident.  I am preparing a major relief column similar in nature to a traditional Atlantic convoy with the addition that it will be protected by the bulk of the American fleet along with all 4 CV's.  It should be underway before Christmas.  Since it is a dangerous venture if he is still there, I will be cautious and may divert if necessary.

Fiji - A force of thee CVL's and two battlehsips supported an early invasion of Fiji.  Despite being outnumbered and having no carriers, I committed a force of 2 CA, 2CL, and several DD's to naval pulse defense from their hiding place in a nearby port.  In this case, my plan worked in as much as I bagged much of the enemy transports and several smaller combat ships in several hard fought naval combats.  He was forced to retreat, if at least to regroup.  He pulled north and appears to be sailing back to Kwajalean.  The cost, however, was high.  I lost both CA's.  Fortunately, his units that landed are now outnumbered, out of supply, and ripe for my counter invasion with the 1st Australian Division, due in about 14 days.  Again, he may come back by then with more troops, but that is as fast as I can get reinforcements there.

Solomons / New Guinea - Shortland, Tulagi, Rabaul, Gastmata are in Empire hands without much fight.  He is sortieing a third CV and BB group with transports for Port Moresby at this time.  the TF is just 4 hexes short of Gili Gili.  Unfortunately, my defending SCTF of 2CA, 2CL, and 2DD is too close to townsville this turn, and cannot sprint into the straight, forcing a naval fight.  I fear this may be my only window to deliver damage without total loss.  As a result, I may not commit, unless something changes.  As far as strategy, I want to hold or cause major fighting in and around Fiji much more than at PM.  it favors my mix of forces much more.  I still doubt I can hold Fiji, but I sure can attrite some enemy forces.

Aleutions - all quiet.  Too quiet.

Eastern DEI - He has taken Menado and Kendari.  I failed to get a naval force far enough east to stop the relatively light invasions.  I have pooled surface forces nearby, but I have not committed anything, as he is not trying to attack anywhere.

Borneo - I turned back a major invasion at Balikpapan.  He commited four CA and brought more than a dozen transports in an effort to leapfrog and put this under belt.  I sortied half the DEI cruiser force summing up to 25 ships...and gave him a lick'n, even if none of the CA's were reported sunk.  He turned back with heavy losses, and I pulsed my ships back away, awaiting the next effort.  At present, I am prepared to defensively pulse anywhere from Kendari to Palembang.  With two turns warning, I can amass my entire force and commit them (from their hiding ports).

Malaya - Admiral Kamikaze did Mersing on the first turn.  I'm still a bit sore over this (as I did not issue orders on the first turn), but I certainly dont want to restart.  My reacting naval forces got zinged, and one of my BB's was mauled (but made port for repair).  He cut off the peninsula by the 13th, splitting my forces.  It will be a quick end.  I will be lucky to last to January 1.  Don't think I will play a mersing legal on first turn again.  In any event, I have most of my air force, and massed AA at Singapore.  I am waiting for the siege to begin, where I hope to attrite air force.

Philippines - It has been a traditional attack, but with the significant addition of forces at the launch bases, the enemy has made fast progress.  he is closing in on the defensive triangle of clark-manila-bataan.  I have moved the bulk of my forces to bataan, as they have been swept aside elsewhere.  I have managed two other defensive naval pulses with DD's against some of his unescorted or lightly escorted philippine assaults.  that said, I saw more than 50 merchant ships in the Philippine area lose due to ship routing rules.  Literally, ships would get out of the combat zone and then react back into an enemy task force to be destroyed.  I was very frustrated with this.  One of my 'favorites' was 'Task force designated as escort and retouted.'  I think you can guess I lost that one too.  I also had a TF that moved faster than maximum speed pulsing towards spotted enemy to be destroyed.  Seperately, perhaps I do not understand LRCAP.  on Luzon and elsewhere, I set fighter traps to limited success.  In the philippines, for example, I would set a hex over a distant allied base, usually a few hexes distant.  I set 100% LRCAP for that hex.  My esteemed opponent set fighter sweeps for the origination bases from where my fighters launched.  In ever case (in the Philippines but not elsewhere) my fighters never did their 'traps.'  In stead, they were intercepted in their launch hexes and utterly mauled.  What am I missing here.  Should I set sweeps in the destination hexes?

Allied subs - Allied subs are concentrated in the Formosa straights and near fusan.  I intend to keep this into the near future.

Expectations - The next week will tell more about how fast he will go in the DEI and if PH is a bonified target.  I will try to make Fiji a battleground, if I have the time to do so.  I expect to lose philippines and Malaya early.

[topeverest]

Another Game week has passed and Christmas 41 saw the following

Hawaii - no evidence of impending invasion, and I have not sighted the enemy carriers in days.  Just a big question mark if he pulled out.  Neither have I seen any invasion fleets headed for Hawaii.  johnston and Midway and the Line islands are all quiet.  It could just be a ploy.  I ahve yet to commit my large relief TF to PH, as I am contemplating using it on a large and sudden invasion of my own.  I will decide by Jan 1 42.

Aleutions - all quiet still.

Central Pacific - active attacks at Fiji, where he now holds Nandi.  His surface and carrier (4 cvl) forces pulled back north of the islands, but they remain in lurking distance, preventing me from landing forces at this time to take back the island.  A large relief force is nearby, but I dont dare bring it in at this point.  T enemy has initiated operations against Louganville and Efate.  I have a force of cruisers in the vicinity and am planning a night strike on the morrow.

Solomons / NG - In my only unsuccessful naval raid, I aimed a force of 4 cruisers at Rabaul in an attempt to kill the Port Moresby invasion I knew was coming.  Unfortunately, he spotted me.  Quite impossibly, though he had two CVL forces in range as well as nells from Rabaul, he failed to hit any of my cruisers as I high-tailed it out of Dodge.  He later invaded in PM just as I expected.  There was little I could do there, since I had played cards to hit the TF's on the way over.  Oh-well...you gamble, and sometimes you lose.

DEI - A further series of about 5 more cruiser actions against his lightly escorted invasion TF's brought him extremely heavy losses in transport vessals and secured some of the islands to remain in allied possession for some time further.  The major oil producing hexes are all in my hands save the minors on the west side of Borneo.  As I have signaled my intention to fight heavily for these booty generating bases, he will be obliged to bring in big guns and potentially carriers.  I plan a nice reception for when that happens.  If he is thorough and goes slowly but forcefully, he will take my hit-and-run options away...but then he will be going slower and I will still have achieved my objectives.  I plan to expend up to 5 cruisers in defense of eastern DEI.  I have up to 3 BB and seven cruisers for the major booty locations defense.  I also have several CV's in the area available if the situation is right.  That said, december is not the month to commit to a CV engagement.

Philippines - I managed two more naval hit and runs with my even shrinking naval forces.  While little damage was done, it further reinforces my signals to him that I will fight for everything I can...and that should slow him down one step as he is forced to take a few more units in every fight.  That is time I need for my own invasions futures.  On Luzon, he is marching up for Legsapi and down from Aparri.  the golden three bases are sill in allied hands.  At clark, I twice delivered 10 to 1 casualties, as I had pooled my defenses there.  He was absolutely mauled.  I have as much and a some more in reserve at Bataan, along with very large supply reserves to run my subs until finally lost.  I expect this to be a long operation for the enemy.  Elsewhere, he is working on the southernmost islands, has Jolo (and Menado).  All seaborn resupply of the Philippines is done.  Now is the question hold on for how long and occupy how many enemy forces.

Malaya - the enemy delivered me a death blow at Johore Bahru.  This is a direct outcome of the Mersing on turn one.  Singapore will be his by early January.  If I make it to the 15th, that would be a moral victory.  I certainly would have withdrawn to zingers, but there is no way to disengage.  such is life.  On the bright side, I hold all of central and upper Malaya, including the key resource and oil centers (newly added for out mod).  As an aside, I have 50 fighters in Singapore, and for the life of me, they wont fly, despite supply, etc.  I am wondering if this is an air superiority factor.  Anyway...annoying.

Burma - The enemy is approaching Moulmein.  I plan only delaying actions in all of burma, as I am working to save every possible unit and build a strong defense in India and Colombo.  I am pulling as much fuel out of Rangoon as possible (new / more booty for this scenario)

China - as expected, the enemy is working to secure the china / indochina / Manchuria / Manchukou road.  Heavy fighting mostly going as expected...the empire's way.  I have a few strongholds that are giving his trouble.  I hope to hold some portion of the road through march, and then attack to get it back once lost.

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

A note on extra Empire naval assets at start

All four CVL conversions start game as CVL's
All major naval assets are accelerated 180 days and on-map where appropriate.
Extra trasport and cargo and tanker assets commensurate with the incremental booty put out on the map.
a few AE's added that can resupply Yamato class.

[topeverest]

Dec 26, 1941 to Jan 2, 1942.

No surprises this past game week. The empire has slowed down to a deliberate amphibious invasion pace, away from the fast and loose lightly escorted attacks. At least that much is working for the allies. The Empire also has proven unable to close on Singapore or Bataan / Clark Field, being required to bring up additional forces to finish the job. Three large, major naval battles occured in eastern Borneo with the Empire drawing or winning the actual combats. here I must take responsibility for mismanaging my fleet and not bringing the right force. I lost a great opportunity where I had shaped the battlefield but failed to do step 10 of 10 to finish a decisive victory in Eastern Borneo. My loss...and my lesson. Overall, the allies have lost only 390 planes and 123 ships inlcuding three CA and 5 CL and 12 DD. Most impressively though, my subs deployed mostly near formosa and Fusan are getting one or more empire cargos per day. That is better than I have ever done so early in the war.

Aleuts - no action of any type. I am enforcing the Kodiak Anchorage triangle and leaving garrisons further out on the islands. remember there are large resources and oil points to gain. I am banking the empire will want these.

Hawaii - Empire sub pressure has abated, and several had turned up on a course to the WC. One smaller resupply / replenishment task force has been to Hawaii, and a large effort is a close to completion. I will feel much better about my chances of standing up to an onslaught within seven game days.

Fiji / New Zealand - The KB is patrolling the resupply routes to Fiji and the empire landed large number of additional forces. Because of the terrain, my beleagured garrison still holds on barely. it could end at any day. For the sake of Hawaii, I hope it hold three more days. I have moved several additional divisions to Fiji to make Admiral Kamikaze pay should he try NZ. Noumea is still an allied asset. I expect a campaign against it as soon as Fiji clears.

New Guinea & Oz - Port Moresby is now an Empire asset, and the nearby bases are being targeted. I am rapidly building up the ports to keep supplies in.

Burma & Malaya - Empire forces are closing on Pegu near Rangoon. I have conducted about four very successful fighter traps where losses have been 1 to 1 or better for me despite using the antiquated Buffalo. The AVG sqaudrons are giving three to one casulaties.

DEI. Admiral Kamikaze conducted a shrewd and brilliant plan to capture Tarakan. He massed at Jolo five seperate task forces and dared me to commit my surface force into his air canopy, slowing west so he could take Balikpapan or Tarakan or both. I pulsed a surface force to Balikpapan and gave up Tarakan. He sent a surface force only to Balikpapan and another (which I did not spot previously) to sweep Palembang. Here is where I failed my plan and turned a decisive victory to a tactical defeat. I left 8 cruisers and four detroyers in reserve near Soerabaya for some reason that evades me now. Just hit me becasue I certainly deserve it!!! Oh, and the next day as the TF's seperated, I lost several more ships in a meeting engagement. I can confirm only that he lost one CA and three destroyers. Hopefully I can learn from this 'almost' victory, because I had the battle I wanted. I just commited a brain fart...and a big one. results are below.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Balikpapan at 64,97, Range 24,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Maya, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Chokai
CA Ashigara
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 4, on fire
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 3
CL Naka, Shell hits 3
CL Natori, Shell hits 5
CL Kuma, Shell hits 3
DD Yugumo, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Maikaze
DD Arashi
DD Natsugumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo, Shell hits 2
DD Murasame, Shell hits 1
DD Harusame, Shell hits 1
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare, Shell hits 2
DD Sagiri, Shell hits 2
DD Satsuki
DD Minazuki, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Fumizuki
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Hatakaze

Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Shell hits 6
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
CL Danae, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
CL Dragon, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
CL Durban, Shell hits 22, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Boise, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Alden, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Barker, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
DD Bulmer, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Edsall, Shell hits 1
DD Paul Jones
DD Parrott
DD Whipple, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Stewart
DD Vampire, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Vendetta, Shell hits 1
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With, Shell hits 2
DD Stronghold
DD Tenedos, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Electra, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Encounter, Shell hits 2
DD Isis, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Jupiter, Shell hits 2, on fire

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 24,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 24,000 yards

[topeverest]

Jan 3 - 13, 1942

First Major Carrier Clash, continued allied surface raiding, Japan continues to take real estate.

Burma - A major empire army reached and ultimately took Rangoon. Due to his expected flanking maneuver, I pulled out and saved the entire garrison to fight another day. It will become harder to progress now that he cant outflank me, but rangoon is gone. I did pull out nearlt 70K supply before his advance, which I could not stop. I do not plan a huge effort in Burma. As long as the bulk of my forces make the retreat to China and India, I will be satisfied. That said, I would expect that he clears Burma by the end of March. I aggregated my major divisions in India and continue to train them for future contest in the summer.

India - As noted previously, almost all allied ports and airfields started at level 2 or less. Consequently, I have been concentrating considerable force at Karachi, Abadan, Columbo, and Calcutta building bases for future operations, both logistically and militarily. Now that I have level 4 ports and can move enough supplies and fuel to begin more effective operations, I am beginning to think about a counterthrust. I now have to decide what to do with 1 Oz division...India, DEI, Oz? I had expected to use it in Burma, but Admiral Kamikaze concnetrated his forces too quickly. That is probably why Malaya is still hanging on.

Malaya - Admiral Kamikaze threw 4 full divisions at the concntrated singapore defenders while mopping up the inner coast. He has reduced the fortress a bit, but has resorted to bombardments due to the very high cost. I over estimated the force he brough to Mersing. Taht said, I sincerely doubt I can make it to end of January. he will have mopped up the rest of Malaya and been able to throw the entire weight of his army. That certainly will spell doom for Singapore. Still, every day is a bonus that I did not expect to get.

China - As usual, the empire is pushing around the Chinese in an sure and certain attempt to take the China road for ROF transport purposes. With few exceptions, he is pushing me around, and it is merely a matter of time. I am training my air force and positioning troops to make a counterattack in several locations once he finally secures the road. It wouldnt do to let him have that. IMO, I need to keep threatening and reoccupying it to prevent too many resrouces from Malaya / IndoCHina / Burma from moving up the road. I want him to have to use his merchant fleet...which I am continuing to have good success at attriting.

Philippines - I only hold 10 bases in Philippines, but 4 of those I hold very securely. I am running sub operations out of Bataan, and I am using my remaining surface fleet of destroyers and small escorts to continue to harass the booty trail. While more annoying than troublesome to the Empire, it is just one more thing he has to avoid...the easy reach of my vessals. At clark field, he was soundly defeated three more times, despite bringing up 2 more divisions. he has resorted to high level air bombardment with little effect. I also have large supply stockpiles at Bataan and a force 5x the size of Clark. I expect to hold Luzon and continue sub operations from there into April, or if not, he will have to concentrate forces that could be used elsewhere.

DEI - Allies scored major success at Sorong and babo, sinking more than 30 enemy ships, mostly cargo along with five or so destroyers. Unfortunately, I lost a british CA and CL. Those long lance torpedoes are a force to be reconed with. here is one example of that multiple fight battle.

Japanese Ships
DD Hokaze, Shell hits 1
DD Tachikaze, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
TB Chidori, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
TB Tomozuru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CM Yaeyama, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Brisbane Maru, Shell hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hawaii Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
AK Leng Maru, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Colombo Maru, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Madras Maru, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Tone Maru, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Juneau Maru, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 1
CA Exeter
CL Java
CL Hobart
CL Enterprise, Shell hits 1
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 1
CL Ceres, Shell hits 1
CL Mauritius
CL Glasgow
CL Caledon, Shell hits 4
CL Capetown
CL Colombo, Shell hits 2
DD Stewart, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Vendetta
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Express, Shell hits 1

The empire went at Blikpapan again. This time it is going to work. I sent a cruiser force to bypass his surface escort and hit his trailing transport TF's. the trap failed to close when I guessed wrong which hex his TP's would be at and then my TF did not react into the adjacent hex where they were. That was...dissapointing, but I can do nothing about it. I cannot stop it now. Withing the game week, he will be established there. The battles for java and sumatra will be beginning before too long.

I have expended far more assets in DEI than usual. This is due to the nature of the Mod we are playing. There are significantly more booty items there, and I need to deny them for as long as possible. By using cruiser raiding forces as much as possible, hopefully, I am slowing him far from his intended pace, plus I am racking up quite a few cargo vessals sunk. I am holding back POW and repulse as a final counterthrust when the empire is coming for the booty hexes. I will be receiving several more BB's and british cv's within a few days. They too will be committed, should there be an opportunity to deliver damage.

Australia & aleuts - all quiet. I am forcing up both areas to a reasonable degree.

Central Pacific, incluing New Guinea. - The empire is mopping up bases on northen NG. She also completed a major fight and conquered Fiji. As expected, shortly thereafter Noumea fell. I decided not to expend assets there, because the KB was escorting that invasion. I 'bravely turned my head and fled.' Rather, I enforced New Zealand with several divisions and deployed a cruiser fleet to strike should an invasion come. It doesnt seem immediately lilkely, because the empire appears to be pushing towards Pago Pago to the east rahter than NZ in the south.

Hawaii - Line Islands - Johnston - The empire mounted invasions of Palmyra and Johnston Island. Palmyra was the main effort with an escorting CV and BB force. Johnston had little in the way escorts. Quite by chance, my 4 american carriers were in the area, having just completed the escort of the first major resupply of Pearl, where I put forces (AA, ARM, CD, INF) and 300K supply and 250K Fuel. Pearl is officially off the endangered list, if still somewhat vulnerable. Following was an exciting sequence of four days. I pulsed my carriers to Palmyra and BB's with cruisers to Johnston. My operational spotting accurately showed the Johnston Island invasion had no major support. I slammed a small cruiser force into the amphib TF some 8 hexes out, stopping her cold with heavy casualites. It is possible this was a decoy due to the very limited escort. In any event, she never got close to Johnston. I also had several DD forces move to the island succeed in sinking several subs concentrated there. Further south, at Palmyra, I had too far to go to get a surface force there in time to stop the invasion, but my spotting report showed that only 3 CV's were escorting that attack. I decided this was the opportunity I was waiting for...a split KB or just the light carriers. I pounced for all I was worth. I was able to push my 4 CV fleet to within three hexes of the island and cause the first carrier battle of the game at a range of three hexes. It was an allied day to be sure. I got the first strike on the transports three hexes away (in a different direction than his carriers). All my bombers dropped 1000 SAP's and I actually got some TBD hits. As an aside, his forces dont have radar, how were the attacks spotted so far out?

Morning Air attack on TF, near Palmyra at 170,133

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 159 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 63 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 14
F4F-3 Wildcat x 17
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 18
SBD-2 Dauntless x 54
SBD-3 Dauntless x 72
TBD-1 Devastator x 56

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 3 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 3 damaged
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 destroyed by flak
SBD-2 Dauntless: 3 damaged
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBD-1 Devastator: 3 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
AMC Aoba Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Amagi Maru, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Uruzu Maru, on fire
AMC Soryu Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Tone Maru, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Tenryu
AK Hatsuna Maru, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AMC Mogami Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Otsu Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Hatsuake Maru, Torpedo hits 1
DD Mochizuki
CL Tatsuta

He got the next strike on my carriers.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Palmyra at 169,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 158 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 68 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
B5N1 Kate x 21
B5N2 Kate x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 23
F4F-3 Wildcat x 39

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 5 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1
CV Saratoga

I got the last strike on his carriers.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Palmyra at 167,133

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 63 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 4
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 15
SBD-2 Dauntless x 53
SBD-3 Dauntless x 89
TBD-1 Devastator x 40

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged
SBD-2 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
SBD-3 Dauntless: 10 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Yura
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
DD Tawakaze, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Numakaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Namikaze
DD Tadeshiwa

Combat ended for the day. I was credited for all three carriers. Due to the very large number of enemy operational carrier losses, I am confident at least two went down, and likely the third. I was impressed by the number of hits the Mutsu sucked up 12! That's pretty impressive and a huge reason to always have a BB in a carrier TF. Unfortunatly I had to vacate the area due to the loss of the base. I lost my nerve and did not send a CA force to bombard the next night as I retired my fleet towards Pearl. Probably a big mistake and a lost opportunity to get more ships sunk. Strategically, the situation in the line islands is dark. I expect forcing up quickly and an attempt to push to Christmas and use her for an advance sub and raiding base. I expect he will escort the next one with KB and take away any opportunity I have to strike. I certainly would.

I reflect on this victory, because it was important. The empire had 16 active CV / CVE platforms at this time. Taking three out is important to begin to level the field. Hornet doesnt arrive for another 40 days. The British will have three by the end of the game month. I am still very outnumbered. I have to continue the raiding and choose carrier battles where I have a reasonable chance...and KB isnt there.

The three carriers that are undamaged will be restocked and rearmed...and out to hunt that next opportunity again. Lady Lex will be down for about 45 days in the repair yard.

Strategically, I am continuing my force up in the hawaiian islands, forcing up Molokai and Lahaina for an expected push on the islands. The big island and two northern islands are not defendable IMHO, and I wont spend time or build bases there. By holding the three interior bases, I can project airpower to any point in the chain and enhance any tactical situation, should it come to battle. If he does not come the islands, I will use them as the force pool for future invasions.

[topeverest]

January 14 - 31, 1942

Empire Changes Tactics - NZ invaded with massive force - Fiji Falls - China road nears clearing. - Allies launch first invasion

I have been a victim of my own succes sort-o-speak. My esteemed opponent abruptly changed tactics after the loss at Palmyra and the heavy losses I inflicted in raiding through mid Janunary. She is moving deliberately and withing definitive air cover both to shore up and acquire new holdings. This change in strategy has severely limited my raiding ability in western DEI. Indications are the enemy will not run fast and loose anymore. I have hit his pain tolerance for naval losses. This is good...and bad. I will have (and have had) very few raiding opportunities (not that I am not still trying!)

Alaska - I continue to build up modestly in the bases around anchorage and out to Dutch Harbor, developing a multi-base strategy and beaucoups supply. Still no sign of the enemy.

Hawaii - There now is near 500,000 supply and fuel each, two extra divisions, large AA, CD's, and I am enforcing Moloki and Lahaina, the middle bases. An effort against Hawaii seems less likely now, but I am continuing to force up if for no other reason than to be thorough.

Line Islands - American forces are in the midst of taking back Palmyra, or attempting to at this very moment. The enemy allowed me to spot every carrier down in the invasion of NZ, and I immediately launched the impromptu operation. He is not nearby, and I have at least 4 days to take it before he can bring up half of his of carriers. I know for a fact that half his carriers are still at New Zealand defending the assault. The other half are spotted at Fiji. I am sortieing every available ship and transport. This operation is as much symbolic as it is about real estate. not only is Palymyra vital to my early war defenses, the enemy needs to know that I will invade at any opportunity. I really wanted to do an island in the Marshalls, but ultimately, I chickened out...err...decided that judgement was the better part of valor. In any event, I have scoured the area, and he has no ships anywhere near. It remains to be seen if he will commit at all, being CV seperated as it were.

Fiji - The enemy took the islands, and is beginning a undisputed, cautious capture of more islands to the SE. It is clear the enemy will be pushing that way, but how far is the question. I dont particularly want to fight the KB withtout some advantage, so I can only raid, should the opportunity exist. At present, I dont have a naval force in the area because I am invading Palmyra / trying to take it back

New Zealand - The enemy launched an 8 division assault of both islands. The north island is half taken after only two weeks, but he has avoided the fortified strongholds of Wellington and Aukland and Christchurch. I really dont have anything to stop him here...only slow him down. I hope to hold to the end of February, but that is more aspirational than hopeful. He planned the attack well and left little to chance. My hat is off to him for this one. I did sortie my eight cruiser force in the area and ambushed two invasion TF's at Gisborne. I mopped up at least 25 AP's, most of which definately sunk, but it wasnt nearly enough. He bit back with a major air raid against the ships as I was retiring. I lost one CL, and 4 other cruisers are now in the reapir yards. Otherwise, I have used the air forces to spot CV's (for Palmyra) and conduct port raids for ships he is holding certain NZ ports.

Oz - all quiet. I am building up, training, and fortifying as fast as possible.

Eastern DEI - After the thrashing I gave him in the eastern DEI, he is confining his actions to the northern side of NG. Eventually, he will again move towards Darwin, but his fleet is currently heavily engaged in NZ and Mersing. He has limited availability. Also, it is important to note he is not that interested in this real estate at this time.

Wesern DEI (Java and Sumatra) The empire changed tactics. He is engaged in long range air combat, particularly naval air raiding and periodic port attacks as he gradually squeezes my ability to bring in and out shipping. He scored pretty big at one port just last turn. Acutal losses were double what shows in this report.

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
G3M2 Nell x 17
No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAP Hong Kheng, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Van Cloon, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Glenorchy, Bomb hits 1
xAP Poelau Bras, Bomb hits 1
xAP Camphuys, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Siberg, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 8000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

I've been storing ships in various ports to diffuse the grand port attack raid effect. At this point, I only have the fighters to defend two ports from raiding. His tactics definately are working. My next major decision will be how to use my five british BB's, which I want to use in DEI, should he actually invade. that said, his thorough approach makes it less and less possible to hide the ships in ports until needed. It is likely I will be unable to use them unless I have committing them to the grave, which is not terribly attractive to me at this point.

Philippines - Clark field still holds despite the enemy throwing two new divisions into the fight. And I have at least 1500 AV in Bataan and a level 5 fort. I am betting he will just try to starve me out over time. It will take everything he has on the island just to take Clark. I am about to lose my last two bases on the Mindinau.

Malaya - Amazingly, I still have Singapore, despite several close calls. Due to my supply and AA stockpiling there, he has decided it is way too costly to use air units. He lost more than 100 aircraft to AA there before he decided to stop raids. Now that the rest of the penisula is in his hands, there is little hope to last beyond the historical mid February. Realistically, it could fall any day.

Burma - The empire is continuing fighting (and mostly) winning for eastern Burma. he has yet to break out into the plains that are central Burma, but it wont be too long. I am not actively defending the area. it merely is a question of how long it will be to push ot the 'retreating' garrison.

India+ - forces have been aggregated around columbo calcutta and the border in the event of an attack. It does not seem likely with NZ happening.

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

Elsewhere I am training every available LBA in naval attack in preperation for later opportunities. OZ and India are ramping up their supply base quite well. And I am gradually building up airfield and port sizes in key locations. Pearl and San Francisco now are level 9 ports (thank heavens!) My supply push capacity is on track to be at capacity by April.

[topeverest]

February 1 – 23, 1942 THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK!

Palmyra changes hands twice, New Zealand evacuation, Singapore falls, Pearl Harbor Targeted, Mandalay sieged.

With the bulk of February past, the empire has flexed its muscle and accomplished many things, most important of which is to force me to change my strategy. Considering the massive allied holdings losses and the effective isolation of the three main allied powers (Oz, India, and USA), I have reverted to the strategic defensive, the Americans forcing up Hawaii, and the allied minors in India and Australia. I still hold the bulk of the DEI, at least for now.

HAWAII – It is pretty clear from intelligence reports and cumulative spottings that the empire is planning a major offensive here (or at a minimum wants me to think he is). In either event, I cannot ignore these threats. I have moved every available airframe and land unit and surface vessel in the area, including about 4,000 AV, 1M+ supply and fuel, and 800 aircraft, many fairly trained in naval action. I am forcing PH, Molokai, and Laihana as fast as possible to level 9 airfields, etc. I don’t plan on making it easy for him if he indeed comes, which is highly likely. I continue to pour in as much as I can at this point. As a point of reference, I hold Johnston and Midway and all of the Aleuts. He has the Line Islands

Line Islands – In a month filled with amphibious invasions, Palmyra has been the focus of tremendous activity. At the beginning of February, the empire was completely engaged in New Zealand, with most of his carriers in the area. I launched a counterinvasion of Palmyra, which he took in Jan. I reasoned at the time that if I could hold it until summer, I would make it a bastion. I sortied three carriers and a regiment of the 27th Inf division, taking the island with little opposition, as I knew his carriers were far off. As I expected, he parsed his carriers, and he sent a force to Palmyra, arriving long after I had secured the island. I did not think he was so interested in the islands that he would counter-counter invade immediately, but he did. Since I only had three carriers, I stayed out of range of his 9 carrier force and hoped for an opening / mistake by him, but there was none. No carrier battle ensued. I created a wolf pack with a dozen subs and raided the island, sinking a dozen merchant ships over about 10 days, including several of his big AP’s. He followed up with taking Christmas Island and sending a dozen subs in the areas around PH as this goes to press.

Alaska and Aleuts – I continue modest build up from Dutch harbor back, including supply and a few combat units / fortifications. No interest by the Empire as of yet.

CentPac – Admiral Kamikaze has been busy taking mainly unopposed islands south and east of Fiji. He is currently working on Samoa area where I do have some forces to effect minor delays. He has taken most of the others in the area, including Canton. At present I do not have a cruiser force in range, because he does have a three CVL force providing support. I cant linger at this time. When the time is right, I will advance my group and strike again, as I usually do, but I cant say when that is. Also, I am building up select islands in the far eastern Pac, including Cook, Society, and Marqueses islands. Nothing big yet, but a base that could be big depending on how the game plays out. It does appear that he is intent on taking all or most of the Cent Pac Islands. I do think it will be hard to police and hold…but there it is. FYI, all of NG and solomons and New Caledonia and New Hebrides also are under Empire management at this time. There are islands here and there that have not been taken, but none are important / all are isolated / not reachable by the allies.

New Zealand – The allies still have a few bases under siege on both islands. I would expect them all to be in Empire hands by the end of March at the latest. I decided not to die on that hill, so I took a two carrier force and as many transports and surface vessels that I could muster and evacuated more than 1000 AV from NZ back to OZ in a coordinated gamble that actually worked. I assumed correctly that he would react with carriers to Palmyra. I took that opportunity to move in. A week of bad weather and poor spotting efforts got me in under his nose…and out before he even knew I was there. Very, very odd that there wasn’t a carrier fight or surface combat, as he had about 5 CVL’s and 4 BB’s there. Anyway, he spotted me just as I was leaving and bagged three empty AK’s. I was very lucky to be very sure, but the theory behind it was sound. In any event, I will take the results!

Australia – I have transferred all the NZ reaction forces along with the Oz reinforcements from Aden all to Oz. I continue to train, train, train, and build airbases, ports, and fortifications. No American ground forces are in Oz, and none probably will be there through late summer 42. effectively, I have about 11 Oz divisions to defend the homeland along with three NZ effective divisions and one British, but, as said above, the empire has taken absolutely no interest in Oz – not even an air or port raid or recon. Darwin is not a target at this time.

Malaya – Singapore finally fell on Feb 14. After a very poor start, with Mersing gambit on Turn 1, they held on to the bitter end. The entire peninsula is an empire possession.

Eastern DEI – defined as east of Borneo. Since taking Celebes, the empire has turned its attention on the naval isolation of Java. Perhaps still smarting from several tough naval battles in the eastern DEI, the empire has shown absolutely no interest in the area. I have good search patterns in the area and a surface force to react to a moderate attack, but this does not seem to be an interest for the empire.

Java– The empire is showing an intended invasion of Medan or Palembang. I have everything in the local areas protecting those assets, though I have not imported anything. It is doubtful I can hold too terribly long. In my initial planning, I planned to hold Java and Sumatra 90 days without any out of theater reinforcements. After it is all done, I think the average will be about there. His air supremacy in and around Malaya makes a naval confrontation on anything near equal term a real pipe dream, though I do have some hidden naval forces in the area just in case I can get a lick in. My major (5 BB force is protecting Java at this point (in a protected minor anchorage that I move around very frequently). In a game of chicken, I am winning to date, as he has not dared to enter the Java Sea up to this point. I am sure that will change soon. Of disappointment for me has been the inability to get much of the booty off Java. He has been able to project enough air power to make it too costly. He will get a huge stockpile when he takes the bases.

Sumatra – I continue to pull every bit of booty out of Sumatra, and I am building fortifications at every base, not leaving any vulnerable to para assault. In any event, I have imported my only 2nd generation fighters here, including 50 Hurricane IIb. So far we haven’t tangoed, but with 100 total fighters in the area, I hope to catch him off guard in some meaningful way. In any event, I am making my final DEI stand in Sumatra in or around Surabaya. It would be nice if I can keep this thing going until April, but I certainly will not let it go easily no matter the date. I am expending every asset that is there. In this expanded Mod / scenario, it is important that I deny him as much booty for as long as possible.

China – Typical combats in and around the “China road” and for clearing coastal china. Some concentration nearing Sian, but the base isn’t in any danger. Major fighting around Changsha, but he doesn’t nearly have the troops to get me out yet. I thwarted a flanking and surround attack there. Now he must reduce the city. Otherwise, I have yet to launch any major effort. Mainly, I am training as much as possible with the limitation of supply – I pulled all the Burma supply into china, and it was absorbed quickly, like a beer on a hot day. It did allow me to train and replace and build many things.

Manchukuo garrison – The empire is not required to pay PP to take the garrison out. He is in the process of moving it out for sure, including several units in China already identified in clearing the China Road. I cant say for sure what else he is planning, but I expect some to go to Burma to stalemate any allied summer pulse. The remainder certainly will go for Hawaii.

Burma / India – A modest empire force has just arrived at Mandalay. I have not committed any extra forces there except at Akyab, as a result, the empire continues its modest advance. I am taking the position to save as many units as possible and use the India / Burma barrier to my advantage. Inside India, I have a dozen effective divisions under training at various points, and I am building key bases to defend the Burma border and Ceylon.

Allied Subs – Subs continue to be successful, but in this game of move and countermove, the empire has reduced his losses this last month to about 15 vessels by sea. I am sure not to linger too long in any heavily defended zone, but I will enter them briefly (and usually get a kill). I maintain about 25 subs at this point on merchant duty. The rest are under repair upgrade or traveling to / from patrol zones - except for the single wold pack I employed as a test...that was successful.

[topeverest]

Feb 24 - March 5, 1942. Raids and buildup Siege at Pearl Harbor Beginning

The last two game weeks has been interrupted by a hiatus for a cruise vacation through the Caribbean. It's a tough life, but I guess Admiral Kamikaze has to live it. In any event, the last two game weeks has been characterized by finishing old operations punctuated by several new ones. I did a bit of raiding too as I continued my gradual buildups at key areas.

Hawaii - The empire has thrown about two dozen subs into the mix close-in to Hawaii, and began long distance search and recon activity from the Line Islands. I also have picked up signal intel that makes it clear he is coming...or wants me to think he is coming. either way, I have to play my cards like he is. I have taken a few escort and transport losses, but the attrition is about 50/50 from what I can see despite the fact that I am holding back my best air asw assets and a number of subs at this time. I dont want to show my hand, and I would prefer him to come into the area and tango. I have enforced hawaii with more than 1,400 planes (~900 fighter types) and every spare ground force and AA unit and engineer and well over 1M points of supply and fuel. I will continue to push everything and as much supply as possible until and unless Hawaii is not threatened, I have been training every applicable squadron possible in naval attack, many reaching towards 70, inlcuding the HB's, which are mostly massed at San Fran still training / ready to push into theater if he commits. Pearl, Molokai, and Laihana are at or near level 9 airfields and air support is 250+ for all. I also took a 2 CV raid to the line islands recently and scored a number of transport and escort hits. As expected he was planning to use CI and an FOB. It angered him enough that he moved his main CV force from Kwaj. it is now halfway to the LI for protection...or to advance his agenda... FYI, I still hold Johnston and Midway at this time. I expect him to play for Hilo as an FOB if nothing changes in his strategy. I do not plan to defend Hilo with more than a couple batalians. first, I want the fight in Hawaii, and second, that island is perfectly isolated once I use my airpower. In any event, we will see what he actually does shortly.

Centpac - Oz is effectively isolated from USA with the upcoming loss of New Zealand. He has continued his gradual push east in the islands. He sent a sub downto tahiti area and spotted some of realtively small buildup on some of the islands there. Well, that allied surprise is mostly blown. We will see where that goes.

NEw Zealand will be lost by the end of March. His light carrier force and 4 BB's still patrols the area.

Austraila is all quiet. I have moved all Oz and remaining NZ troops, including reaction forces to oz. save a few subs in the Brisbane / Sydney area, there has been absolutely no interest in OZ beyond the isolation that has occured. I have a 6 cruiser force in SE Oz as a raiding party, but nothing has been of interest of late.

Philippines - I only hold Subic Bay / Clark and Bataan. Supply is a getting mighty low. He is doing the airfield attack thing and whitlling down my supply. I'd be lucky to hold either hex by April 1, but perhaps. He has committed four entire divisions to the fight, and he is getting absolutely nowhere. that much I cant complain about.

DEI - eastern DEI is STILL quiet. After the Ambon fight where he was roughly handled, he has pushed no further. in fact, as a reminder he has pulled back entirely from his fast and loose style that allowed me to raid at will, and cause havoc. It also could be that he backpedaled and put the forces back in Bataan to clear his rear, given all the sub havoc I was rendering at the time. He has traded speed for lowser casualties. He is still using the thorough approach of air base, air superiority, and then large surface forces in escort. At the western end, where all the booty is, I still have all Java and Sumatra. he has not yet wrested air superiority at Palembang, Batavia, Oosthaven, Medan, or Soerabaya. Large air battles rage, which of course he will ultimately win, but 90 days out, I have succeeded in my prewar plans of holding 90 dyas without stripping other theaters. I expect he is about to come straight at Palembang. I will commit my BB's if he does. I think I can hold Java on April 1. We will see, but most of the assets probably will be gone. The bulk of the allied minor fleets are in various points of the DEI looking for opportunities to bag anything that moves over the sea. Not much luck lately.

Burma, Mandalay is gone, and I have scant few assets to do more than slow him up at Shwebo. I am building up on the India border and playing the delay game. I have also forced up Celyon with several divisions.

China - heavy typcial fighting has gradually closed in on Sian, but his attacks have bogged down in the rough terrain there. Not must gusto there left. Rather, at Changsha a majot campaign is developing, with me holding the city solid, and the inland wooded approaches. I have decided to play Stalingrad here, because I dont want him to move resources via the China road for as long as possible. I plan to commit the CHinese airforce shortly in a sudden defensive pulse, hoepfully to effect.

Aleuts and Alaska - no interest by the empire. I continue my modest buildup from Dutch harbor and east.

Losses over the first ninety days include 200 allied ships of all types, including 7 of the eight PH BB's. All allied carriers are present for duty. 690 planes and 267 pilots also have been lost. we trade actual total / aggregate losses monthly, so I do know Empire losses at this level - 880 planes and 530 pliots and 170 ships of all types.

in summary, I am on the defensive now more than ever. My enemy has used his incremental forces to great effect, boxing me in at Hawaii and Austraila and India. Over the next 60-90 days, I have few real options but to buildup, defend in force in my primarty defensive zones...and to raid. I must be patient, and fight my battles.

[topeverest]

March 6-8 Large Invasion Force Headed for Hawaii

Of importance and note, the invasion of Hawaii has begun. He is pushing a 9 carrier force with 3 AV TF out front and trailing a BB and further trailing large invasion TF. His currect position is about 600 miles southeast of Johnston Island, and as thought, he is headed for Hilo. I have pulsed in all available planes in anticipation of the event. We r gunna have a ruckus. I bet it will be one to write home about. I have 3 CV, 6 BB, 10 CA, 16 CL, and 60 DD along with 2000 planes and nearly 2 million points of supply. I'd like to think the odds are in my favor...we shall see.

elsewhere, the enemy is continuing the air pressure on the key DEI assets, and he is about to invade with a large TF, probably oosthaven.

All eyes will move to Hawaii, and the building fight. The next week will tell the tale if it is a ruse or the real thing.

[Fishbed]

Good luck with that chap, send them home packing [:)]

[topeverest]

Thanks Fishbed, I dont do mercy. Rest assured on that. I cant afford it with all the extra toys he has.

The plan is to make a sudden, massive pulse of air at the moment he commits to a landing, and follow up with naval and PT combat the next turn. I have virtually every AA unit the Americans have at Pearl, so if he tries to raid there and he somehow gets through the CAP, he will be quite unhappy with his remaining air compliment after the raid. It will be at that moment that I will strike with my CV's...if it goes remotely like I am assuming.

I will find out in a few hours if he struck at Pearl or commited to Hilo this past turn...

[topeverest]

March 9-24, 1942 EMPIRE ABANDONS PEARL HARBOR INVASION PRIOR TO LANDING, Java invaded, Burma action

Well, that about says it all. In what is one of the more amazing events in AE gaming history, my esteemed enemy got within 2 hexes of Hilo with his lead TF, and then he beat the hightail back to Christmas Island. I am left to struggle why he came so close and gave it up, but there it is. Everything else in this report is a bit anti-climatic, compared to the battle that wasnt.

Hawaii & PAC - I now have 3500 AV in pearl and another 1000 spread across the islands, most of which are at Molokai and Lahaina, where level 8 airfields are. Roughly 2500 airframes are there, the bulk of the American LBA force. I am continuning the process to push the bulk of my forces to the islands both to protect and as a staging area for future offensives. I am keeping 'training' squadrons on the WC and pushing modest forces to Alaska / Aleuts/ and extreme EPAC islands, like Tahiti. He has been raiding with subs in EPAC near Tahiti and spotted me, so I assume he is preparing for there. I took the March CV upgrades, so I am down to three CV's. Lexinton is still working off the damage for the CV battle back in Feb. I wont be able to sortie my CV's as a whole until about April 10. Until then I really have few options for raiding, which I have been doing far less of this past month. Shame on me!

New Zealand is empire conquered, save a few rouge NZ units that will linger for a bit.

Austrlaila has 5,000 AV at this time, and most of the units will be in fighting shape by May 1. She will go up towards 6,000 by June. The enemy has not enforced any of the solomons or other nearby islands. Otherwise it is all queit. No enemy on that soil yet.

DEI - Celebes, New Guinea, and Borneo is Empire. I hold all of eastern DEI save what was mentioned. The empire has, for some unknown reason, still not gone after any new holdings. There is active fighting on Java. The current situation on is as follows. The bulk of my forces on the island are besieged at Sorabaja. I still hold the other end of the island. Empire moved in an 8 CVL, CVE force (from NZ) with about 6 BB and more than 100 total merhants. He Invaded in Mersang, attmepting a para drop the prior turn nearby, which was turned back by the garrison. He made landfall 2 hexes SE of Soerabaya after a 2 week air war. I was unable / did not commit my BB's as of this typing because he had more than 100 LBA bombers and 100 LBA fighters in addition to a 100 fighter force by CVL/CVE and all their attack planes. I never had more than 50 fighters on Java, consistant with my commitment not to pull forces needed elsewhere. I did manage to get a good lick in though, and it wasnt your typical source. I mined Sorabaya, which is a straights hex, and the enemy came in with a large force, probably as a part of a bombardment. Anyway, look at these results!

encounters mine field at Soerabaja (56,104)
Japanese Ships
DD Harukaze, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Asagumo, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
DD Minegumo
CA Suzuya, Mine hits 1
CA Mogami, Mine hits 1
CA Chokai, Mine hits 1
CL Kuma, Mine hits 1
CL Kinu, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
CL Naka, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asakaze, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Inazuma, Mine hits 1
DD Harusame, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Natsugumo, Mine hits 1, heavy damage

I later launch my only successful naval air raid of the campaign on this very task force the same turn and put several bombs down several of the damaged ships. The my subs in the area went in for several kills over the next few days. Kuma, Mogami, and 4 DD's are reported sunk. Based on my opponents reaction, I tend to agree the combination of these reports are fairly accurate. That isnt too bad considering his thorough tactics have to date prevented any naval action on my part.

I still hold all of sumatra.

Philippines, I still hold on to Clark and Bataan. he is still pounding away and I occupy about 4 divisions at this time, along with at least 100 bombers.

Burma - The enemy holds all but NWmost Burma. he is moving overland at Akyab, where I have a small force. At the Burma / India Border, I have and am assembling forces with the expectation this will be a main effort, even though he is showing only enough force to finish the Burma job. I have and am building the major bases at the border with Chittigong at level 8 already and well enforced. It will be an anchor in the short run until his intension are more clear.

CHina, we are fighting at Changsha, my last real holdout on the China road. I was able to set a fighter trap a few turns ago and bag about 30 planes. That victory was short lived. He pushed in 40 Zeros the next turn and cemented dominance over all of china. In an ironic event, my CAP failed to engage when his zeros came in, so I didnt lose any. He is pounding away at the city. I am not sure how long I can hold, but I will to the last. I must deny the road for as long as possible.

Other notes - I am forced to fuel Australia by Abadan. Remember that in this mod Abadan's fuel output is only 7K per day. Australia gets supply from Capetown. She has 800K supply and 460K fuel, but it will be hard to keep that up. I decided that it was out of scope / gamey to turn off Oz HI.

Subs - the allied sub campaign has been absolutely viscous in its pursuit of the enemy this month. I have put my non MK14 sub assets in DEI, where his fleets and merhcants are constantly exposed. Thirteen confirmed major merchant sinkings this March with an equal number of likely sinkings (hits). Add that to 4 reported warship sinkings...I bet SDHUNDT would have a caniption if he reads this sub report for march 1942. lets hope he doesnt!

Pilots - my first 70 skill pilots are making their way into the general reserve, signalling the beginning of the allied competancy on a large scale.

Going into April, my esteemed opponent has gone to the trouble to tell me he is planning Operation Viper, whatever that might be. His tactics continue to be deliberate and slow, a far cry from the initial fast and loose that got him quite a few naval losses. I have been quite unsuccessful in naval and raiding combat in a relative sense since he changed tactics. It will be months before i can launch my own bonified attack. Till then, I continue to build up, set traps, raid, and wait...and be patient.

[topeverest]

March 25 - April 1 Allies still hold Batavia, Palembang, Medan. SOrabaja falls to empire.

The most significant event of the last game week was the taking of SOrabaja by overland assault. The empire had previously invaded in extreme SE Java and marched up. The enemy continues to deploy very thorough tactics that prevent me from sending in my British CV's or the allied minor BB fleet. The empire has air superiority in the DEI. I look on the bright side, I have not commited any extra forces of any type to the defense of these islands, and I still have many of the key locations. I have been afforded the time to build up in Oz and India, and I am denying him some of the most booty rich hexes in the game. As an aside, remember this mod puts far more booty on the map and awards the empire more than double the fuel stockpiles at the start, so DEI doesnt have to be taken immediately.

Fleet Sitrep - My allied minor surface fleet is positioned to defend DEI, but I dont have an opportunity to use it at present. With 6 BB and 3 CV types, it is a force to be feared, unless I run up against KB. Not to beat a dead horse, but the enemy has completely moved away from speed tactics in favor of heavily suppoort invasions. The American fleet is mostly in the Hawaiian Islands with 6 total operational BB's and about 2500 airframes. Lady Lex is still repairing but could be used damaged in an operation if needed. Hawaii is about as secure as I can make it, though I am still forcing up, mostly as a forward launching point for future efforts.

The enemy main fleet has gone missing these last 7 days (14 for the main KB). Given that he aborted Hawaii, he definately is up to something somewhere else, but I just dont know what. I continue with my three pronged strategy of buiding Hawaii, India frontier, and Australia as my primary defensive zones. I am training everything and beginning to build up a pilot reserve. I will fight out the DEI as long as I can and use any naval asset I can, when it isnt a one-way death trap.

At present I do not have offensive intentions in April, and it is unlikley I will in May either, but I havent completely ruled the latter out. A total of 129 empire AK types and 5 AO/TK types have been sunk, more than 80% by allied subs. Note we periodically trade delayed actual ship losses by type at a high level.

I expect DEI to accelerate and the key booty hexes to be in empire hands by May 1. BUrma will be mostly taken too, but I do think I will still have a solid hold on the China road. Elsewhere, I believe the empire will show its hand as to which of the three major assets (Pearl, India, Oz) he will make a play for. I dont have a good guess at this time waht it will be.

[topeverest]

April 1 - 7 KB raids between PH and WC. Medan Falls

Not much happening except raiding by the KB. I saw it coming a few days prior, but was helpless to move out of the way. I lost 30 mechant empites and consider my self lucky. I wouldnt fight him with CV's at this point without an LBA backstop, besides I have carriers out looking for the CVE's in thE EPAC where he is active. By summer, I wouldnt hesistate to challenge KB in the dead zone east of Hawaii or launch an opportunistic operation should he go back there again. As I have more than 2M supply and 2M fuel, 4500AV, and 2500 airframes, I wasnt forcing it up anymore, rahter moving to EPAC. I took many of the 4/42 ship upgrades, so I have a few more days until the various fleets are back up to strength.

On Java, I am in full retreat to make my final stand. I hope to hold out till the end of the month. His air supremecy has prevented me from using my BB and british CV fleet from being used even once. It is very frustrating, but on the bright side, my earlier tactics incented him to slow down and launch thorough invasions where I would be - for the most part - foolish to commit against. That I still hold some assets in the DEI is a victory of time, and that is substantial, even if I am not getting shots at his fleet. I expect he will continue to use these tactics to mop up the rest of the dei, but if he doesnt, I probably will get one or two licks in. on Sumatra, he paradroped east of Palembang and now has medan. I foolishly left some of my scarce airforce there and it was destroyed.

Elsewhere, I am still trying to figure out where his main effort will be, as it still is unclear.

[topeverest]

April 8-18 Empire takes Marquesas Islands and invades Society Islands Semerang Falls, Myitkena falls

Empire sortied a good portion of his fleets in the joint operations to take the remaining larger islands in the EPAC. The Marguesas are already in his hands. He commited three full divisions. SImilarly at Society, he has 50% of the islands, and will take the remainder. All the sub ferreting he did in the prior month was in fact a precursor to the invasions. While I had planned to reinforce, I did not have time to get enough there to make even a speed bump for the enemy. I had committed several carriers to the area to raid, but I rerouted them when I realized what I was up against. It unlikely he saw me, or I expect he would have pusued me.

A note on empire strategy. My opponent clearly is intent on taking all the islands in CENTPAC. He is not focused at all on eastern DEI, Aleuts, or Austraila beyond isolating it. He has since stated his effort at Pearl was solely to fight the carriers, which did not happen. I am still unclear what his major campaign will be - India, Hawaii, or Australia.

BUrma, Java, and Sumatra saw the empire successes as noted. Akyab is also under siege. In none of the those places am I more than passively defending. I am still using those zones as a buffer for expected heavy combat. In china, we continue to fight in and around Changsha. I will eventually lost the city due to his concnetration, but I will fight a bit longer. I have taken another nearby hex on the China road, causing him some consternation. It will be a temporary hold, probably not past mid May.

I am advancing my forcing up of the eastern Aleutions. This is as much as a reaction to the recent KB raid on WC as it is the fact that Hawaii is bulging with so many forces. I plan triple base buildup in the Dutch harbor area. I also am continuing to force the Burma India Frontier, Celyon and Austaila. that said, there will be several more months before I am a serious major offensive threat.

[topeverest]

Tactical Situation

Still on the defensive / waiting for empire to wander into my various trap areas, but beginning fortifying Aleuts