Hello all,
In addition to my Japanese AAR, Time Flows to Yasukuni,, which I will continue writing up to its present time once I am back on my home pc, I am also starting up an allied PBEM which I will turn into another AAR. I'm not sure exactly yet what kind of AAR this will be. Either it will be a simpler narrative focusing on one ship (I'm thinking either the Boise or Houston) or it will be a simple up-to-date retelling through which I can gather advice on strategy, tactics, and the mechanics of the game.
My opponent is SheperdN7, who has shown himself in our previous run-through of the vanilla game to be rather aggressive in his tendencies, going for Palembang and Midway, etc. in Dec 1941. Of course, I won't let that guide my strategic and tactical situations. Big mistake to make operational decisions on what you expect the enemy to do! The reason why we are restarting is because he finally got DBB working on his computer. Yes, this will be a DBB-C game with all the accompanying refinements and logistical headaches.
My goal is to fight a somewhat forward defense. This does not mean trying to hold the Dutch East Indies, but rather making him pay for taking it. I'm not necessarily sure just what people consider to be a full brave sir robin, but we will see. Perhaps in the end I will be guilty of it.
Setting:
DBB-C December 7th Historical First Turn
First 2 Turn Rules:
1. No carrier hunting
General Rules:
1. No strat bombing until '43
2. No 4-E bombing below 10k feet
3. PP must be paid in full to move restricted units across national borders (Exception: Thailand can go into Burma, Canada can go into USA, etc.)
4. Japanese player is free to alter his shipbuilding production however he wishes.
Some others I'm probably forgetting.
Chasing Tokyo Rose (Allied PBEM) DBB-C (no SheperdN7)
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
Chasing Tokyo Rose (Allied PBEM) DBB-C (no SheperdN7)
"Now excuse me while I go polish my balls ...
" - BBfanboy
" - BBfanboyPlanning
INITIAL PLANS
The above are some initial plans and dispositions I have in mind. No where near to being complete. However, from it you can perhaps gather that I plan to conduct a more traditional defense of the SoPac and CenPac. My goals are simple, hold the Midway/Johnson line if possible in CenPac and then try try to hold Rabaul in SoPac. If this is not possible, I will fall back to Noumea and try to hold that defensive line. Ideally, I will try to use the Asiatic fleet as long as possible in a forward raiding defense of the DEI before moving it south to linkup with forces in SoPac.
As for Malaya and the British theater, however, I am a lot more conflicted and have no plans drawn up. I initially thought that I'd withdraw the Burma Corps from Malaya and reinforce Rangoon, thinking that I could setup a nice defense along the choke point and river line at Pegu going northeast, just adjacent to Rangoon. Is this possible? Is it worth it? Or would my forces be overrun shortly after the fall of Singapore.
My other option which I am considering is, given my opponents tendencies to try and take Palembang, I can try to deny him it as long as possible by moving the Burmese forces in Singapore to Palembang to deny him oil for a few months. I have heard people talk about Fortress Palembang. Thoughts?
In China, I think I will probably move all forces back to a general river line just north of Changsha and the mountains north of Ichang to conduct defense in depth. Or is it advisable to distract him in more forward positions?
What I think he will do:
1. Move for Midway early. (Are there downsides to this, other than that its a long-term commitment that is not defendable?)
2. Move for Palembang early with a reinforced invasion force to make sure it happens.
3. Try to end China early.
Of course, I don't want these to override other considerations. They could very well turn out to be wrong.
The above are some initial plans and dispositions I have in mind. No where near to being complete. However, from it you can perhaps gather that I plan to conduct a more traditional defense of the SoPac and CenPac. My goals are simple, hold the Midway/Johnson line if possible in CenPac and then try try to hold Rabaul in SoPac. If this is not possible, I will fall back to Noumea and try to hold that defensive line. Ideally, I will try to use the Asiatic fleet as long as possible in a forward raiding defense of the DEI before moving it south to linkup with forces in SoPac.
As for Malaya and the British theater, however, I am a lot more conflicted and have no plans drawn up. I initially thought that I'd withdraw the Burma Corps from Malaya and reinforce Rangoon, thinking that I could setup a nice defense along the choke point and river line at Pegu going northeast, just adjacent to Rangoon. Is this possible? Is it worth it? Or would my forces be overrun shortly after the fall of Singapore.
My other option which I am considering is, given my opponents tendencies to try and take Palembang, I can try to deny him it as long as possible by moving the Burmese forces in Singapore to Palembang to deny him oil for a few months. I have heard people talk about Fortress Palembang. Thoughts?
In China, I think I will probably move all forces back to a general river line just north of Changsha and the mountains north of Ichang to conduct defense in depth. Or is it advisable to distract him in more forward positions?
What I think he will do:
1. Move for Midway early. (Are there downsides to this, other than that its a long-term commitment that is not defendable?)
2. Move for Palembang early with a reinforced invasion force to make sure it happens.
3. Try to end China early.
Of course, I don't want these to override other considerations. They could very well turn out to be wrong.
"Now excuse me while I go polish my balls ..." - BBfanboy
" - BBfanboy-
Jorge_Stanbury
- Posts: 4345
- Joined: Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:57 pm
- Location: Montreal
RE: Planning
Hello,
good luck in your game
Notice that Fortress Palembang won't work well in Da-Babes. Refineries do not produce supply, thereby your troops will starve as soon as he gets control of the sea
good luck in your game
Notice that Fortress Palembang won't work well in Da-Babes. Refineries do not produce supply, thereby your troops will starve as soon as he gets control of the sea
RE: Planning
Good luck looking forward to watching the progress.
Dec 7th 1941
December 7th, 1941
Pearl Harbor, the great bastion of American Liberty in the Pacific, reportedly suffered a blow this morning. News trickling in suggests that the Empire of Japan has surreptitiously attacked forces of the Unites States in a dastardly move which shall not soon be forgotten in the hearts of a formerly pacifistic people. Fact is hard to discern from fiction, but this is known: the United States has been wronged in a most grievous way.
A date that shall live on in infamy...the Japanese have attacked us, during the Christmas season no less. Pearl Harbor has suffered a blow for which she should have been prepared. Heads will most likely role and the President is not happy. the CINPAC will most likely lose his job, but as to who will replace him - that is up in the air. Nonetheless, for the moment we must get to the task at hand.
For all the carnage inflicted, our losses are relatively light. Latest news from the front suggests that as of now the Battleships Oklahoma and West Virgina have been sunk, as well as three smaller auxiliary ships. Nonetheless, many other large and small ships of the fleet remain seriously damaged; and it will be some time before they can be expected to participate in the coming fight. Still, this is better news than we could have hoped. The California and the Nevada will require immediate repairs in Pearl Harbor, but once the immediate danger has passed, the other remaining Battleships will limp back to the west coast at an adequate speed for needed repairs. The only worry remains that the air fields at Pearl have been effectively knocked out, while 76 fighter aircraft remain operational, their ability to get airborne is doubtful, on top of general training deficiencies.
In the east, there appears to be an incoming onslaught of Japanese troops, with landings at Khota Baru in Malaya and Bataan Island in the Philippines. We can only expect combat operations to begin in these areas shortly. A piece of good news is that the British fleet's vaunted Task Force Z made it through the first day, showing relatively light damage from attacks brought against it by air power. Both the Battleship Prince of Wales and Battlecruiser Repulse took a torpedo hit, but remain almost fully operational. Their mission has proven unrealistic however, so they shall return to Singapore for immediate repairs before escorting evacuating troops to Burma.
The questions now linger. What to do? War Plan Rainbow has been put into effect in the Philippines and fortifications are being erected at Bataan. All ships that can will attempt to move south to safer bastions in the Dutch East Indies, including the disparate part of the Asiatic Fleet. At Pearl Harbor, we can only hope that the losses already suffered by the Japanese carrier arm discourages it from attacking again without the element of surprise. All fighters will be placed on alert. In Singapore, the various elements of the First Burmese Corps will be extracted to Burma where possible to setup more defensible positions directly adjacent to Rangoon.
The great task begins. An immense effort lies before us, but we shall do our best to defend our people, our religion, our civilization, our very way of life. Now begins the great crusade.
Intelligence
Japanese forces are moving to make landings directly adjacent to Manila, as well as Legaspi. Nothing discerned heading towards the Dutch East Indies as of yet. No landings have been seen further south towards Borneo.
Pearl Harbor, the great bastion of American Liberty in the Pacific, reportedly suffered a blow this morning. News trickling in suggests that the Empire of Japan has surreptitiously attacked forces of the Unites States in a dastardly move which shall not soon be forgotten in the hearts of a formerly pacifistic people. Fact is hard to discern from fiction, but this is known: the United States has been wronged in a most grievous way.
Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 115 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 68
B5N2 Kate x 144
D3A1 Val x 126
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 11 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 12 destroyed by flak
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 17 damaged
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 43 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 2 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 90 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 17 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 17 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-1 Dauntless: 23 damaged
SBD-1 Dauntless: 3 destroyed on ground
A-20A Havoc: 23 damaged
A-20A Havoc: 2 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 6 damaged
O-47A: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 84 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 11 destroyed on ground
B-18A Bolo: 31 damaged
B-18A Bolo: 5 destroyed on ground
C-33: 2 damaged
C-33: 1 destroyed on ground
R3D-2: 3 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 23 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 5 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
AK Castor
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CM Oglala
BB California, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 2
DD Downes, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AV Tangier
CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 2
YO-21, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL St. Louis, Bomb hits 1
CL Helena, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AM Rail, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DD Allen, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AVD Thornton, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Detroit, Bomb hits 1
ARD YFD-2, Bomb hits 1
DM Gamble, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Aylwin, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Repair Shipyard hits 5
Airbase hits 38
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 107
A date that shall live on in infamy...the Japanese have attacked us, during the Christmas season no less. Pearl Harbor has suffered a blow for which she should have been prepared. Heads will most likely role and the President is not happy. the CINPAC will most likely lose his job, but as to who will replace him - that is up in the air. Nonetheless, for the moment we must get to the task at hand.
For all the carnage inflicted, our losses are relatively light. Latest news from the front suggests that as of now the Battleships Oklahoma and West Virgina have been sunk, as well as three smaller auxiliary ships. Nonetheless, many other large and small ships of the fleet remain seriously damaged; and it will be some time before they can be expected to participate in the coming fight. Still, this is better news than we could have hoped. The California and the Nevada will require immediate repairs in Pearl Harbor, but once the immediate danger has passed, the other remaining Battleships will limp back to the west coast at an adequate speed for needed repairs. The only worry remains that the air fields at Pearl have been effectively knocked out, while 76 fighter aircraft remain operational, their ability to get airborne is doubtful, on top of general training deficiencies.
In the east, there appears to be an incoming onslaught of Japanese troops, with landings at Khota Baru in Malaya and Bataan Island in the Philippines. We can only expect combat operations to begin in these areas shortly. A piece of good news is that the British fleet's vaunted Task Force Z made it through the first day, showing relatively light damage from attacks brought against it by air power. Both the Battleship Prince of Wales and Battlecruiser Repulse took a torpedo hit, but remain almost fully operational. Their mission has proven unrealistic however, so they shall return to Singapore for immediate repairs before escorting evacuating troops to Burma.
Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 7 damaged
Allied Ships
BC Repulse
BB Prince of Wales, Torpedo hits 1
Morning Air attack on TF, near Mersing at 52,82
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 18
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 8 damaged
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Torpedo hits 1
BB Prince of Wales
DD Tenedos
The questions now linger. What to do? War Plan Rainbow has been put into effect in the Philippines and fortifications are being erected at Bataan. All ships that can will attempt to move south to safer bastions in the Dutch East Indies, including the disparate part of the Asiatic Fleet. At Pearl Harbor, we can only hope that the losses already suffered by the Japanese carrier arm discourages it from attacking again without the element of surprise. All fighters will be placed on alert. In Singapore, the various elements of the First Burmese Corps will be extracted to Burma where possible to setup more defensible positions directly adjacent to Rangoon.
The great task begins. An immense effort lies before us, but we shall do our best to defend our people, our religion, our civilization, our very way of life. Now begins the great crusade.
Intelligence
Japanese forces are moving to make landings directly adjacent to Manila, as well as Legaspi. Nothing discerned heading towards the Dutch East Indies as of yet. No landings have been seen further south towards Borneo.
"Now excuse me while I go polish my balls ..." - BBfanboy
" - BBfanboyDec 8th 1941
December 8th, 1941
A day of action in the air and landings on the Malaya Peninsula. No landings are seen anywhere else, but surface forces are converging on the Philippines and we expect landings soon at Miri and Beaufort. In the Central Pacific, no efforts have been made yet against Wake or Guam. Maybe we shall be given a reprieve.
Ground Action
Besides a minor skirmish in China, the major action took place at Kota Bharu, where IJA forces successfully secured a beachhead against the British on the Malaya Peninsula. The planes destroyed on ground there had been knocked out of action the previous day and could not be moved.
Air Action
Total Air Losses: 41 Japanese Aircraft, 46 Allied Aircraft
17 Betty's and 11 Zeros lost.
Sweeps over Manila and Clark today aimed at knocking out any airpower I might have. From the look of things, it seems his Zeros will soon do just that. Still, knocked a few Betty's down, which is always good. He managed to sink a few xAKLs moving out of Hong Kong and the Philippines, which I'm not too worried about. However, in Maaya, an xAK which was to be used hauling equipment out of Malaya to Burma was struck near Malacca, which is not fun. It wont sink, but it is damaged, perhaps too much to use for transport.
Discussion
Philippines/DEI
I am worried about the face that he seems to be a lot more focused on attacking my fleeing ships this time than before. Not unexpected, but it will pose problems for my extractions from the Philippines and Malaya. In our previous go, he had let me do this quit unmolested. My main wish is that I just want to get my sub tenders and Asiatic surface fleet safely to the western DEI, but I will need to be careful for his roving CVL TF, which seems to be heading Southwest just off the Southern Tip of Mindanao.
Further west, all available minelayers are being sent to lay mines at Palembang and hopefully cause any quick invasion force some damage.
Malaya
I am trying to establish Malacca and Georgetown as my main two staging points for extracting troops of the III Burma Corps to Burma to establish a better defensive line there. However, as elsewhere, it seems like he will use his planes to harass me. CAP have been placed at these locations to cause his strikes at least some damage. My defense plans for Burmma depend on these troops arriving intact, else I might need to pull back to the Imphal line.
As for defense, I will be pulling all available defenders that will remain to Johore Baru (I think that's what it is called) and Singapore. I suspect he will attempt to make a landing at Mersing as he has sent planes to observe it for Recon; I don't want any troops that can be used for defense to get cutoff. Prince of Wales and Repulse are in docks for some quick repairs before removal to India for more extensive repair. Haven't decided yet how to use them.
Elsewhere
Several operations for South, Central, and North Pacific underway, but we will discuss at a more relevant time. Damaged BBs at Pearl will wait another day or two before moving to West Coast of USA for repair.
Intelligence
Nothing to report through signal intelligence.
A day of action in the air and landings on the Malaya Peninsula. No landings are seen anywhere else, but surface forces are converging on the Philippines and we expect landings soon at Miri and Beaufort. In the Central Pacific, no efforts have been made yet against Wake or Guam. Maybe we shall be given a reprieve.
Ground Action
Besides a minor skirmish in China, the major action took place at Kota Bharu, where IJA forces successfully secured a beachhead against the British on the Malaya Peninsula. The planes destroyed on ground there had been knocked out of action the previous day and could not be moved.
Japanese adjusted assault: 142
Allied adjusted defense: 12
Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Kota Bharu !!!
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 9 destroyed
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), op mode(-), leaders(-), disruption(-)
preparation(-), fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
218 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Allied ground losses:
807 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 55 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 32 (31 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3
Assaulting units:
56th Infantry Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
5th JAAF AF Coy
Defending units:
FMSV Brigade
8th Indian Brigade
3rd ISF Base Force
Air Action
Total Air Losses: 41 Japanese Aircraft, 46 Allied Aircraft
17 Betty's and 11 Zeros lost.
Sweeps over Manila and Clark today aimed at knocking out any airpower I might have. From the look of things, it seems his Zeros will soon do just that. Still, knocked a few Betty's down, which is always good. He managed to sink a few xAKLs moving out of Hong Kong and the Philippines, which I'm not too worried about. However, in Maaya, an xAK which was to be used hauling equipment out of Malaya to Burma was struck near Malacca, which is not fun. It wont sink, but it is damaged, perhaps too much to use for transport.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Manila at 79,77
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3
Allied aircraft
P-35A x 2
P-40B Warhawk x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 31
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed
No Allied losses
Afternoon Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
Allied aircraft
P-35A x 16
P-40B Warhawk x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 2 destroyed
P-40B Warhawk: 4 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 12000 feet
Morning Air attack on TF, near Dadjangas at 78,94
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
B5N1 Kate x 12
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
xAKL Mauban, Bomb hits 8, and is sunk
Morning Air attack on TF, near Hong Kong at 76,64
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
xAKL Yat Shing, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
Morning Air attack on TF, near Malacca at 49,81
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 18
G4M1 Betty x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
xAP Hong Kheng
DD Jupiter
xAP Klang
xAK Neleus, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Vendetta
Discussion
Philippines/DEI
I am worried about the face that he seems to be a lot more focused on attacking my fleeing ships this time than before. Not unexpected, but it will pose problems for my extractions from the Philippines and Malaya. In our previous go, he had let me do this quit unmolested. My main wish is that I just want to get my sub tenders and Asiatic surface fleet safely to the western DEI, but I will need to be careful for his roving CVL TF, which seems to be heading Southwest just off the Southern Tip of Mindanao.
Further west, all available minelayers are being sent to lay mines at Palembang and hopefully cause any quick invasion force some damage.
Malaya
I am trying to establish Malacca and Georgetown as my main two staging points for extracting troops of the III Burma Corps to Burma to establish a better defensive line there. However, as elsewhere, it seems like he will use his planes to harass me. CAP have been placed at these locations to cause his strikes at least some damage. My defense plans for Burmma depend on these troops arriving intact, else I might need to pull back to the Imphal line.
As for defense, I will be pulling all available defenders that will remain to Johore Baru (I think that's what it is called) and Singapore. I suspect he will attempt to make a landing at Mersing as he has sent planes to observe it for Recon; I don't want any troops that can be used for defense to get cutoff. Prince of Wales and Repulse are in docks for some quick repairs before removal to India for more extensive repair. Haven't decided yet how to use them.
Elsewhere
Several operations for South, Central, and North Pacific underway, but we will discuss at a more relevant time. Damaged BBs at Pearl will wait another day or two before moving to West Coast of USA for repair.
Intelligence
Nothing to report through signal intelligence.
"Now excuse me while I go polish my balls ..." - BBfanboy
" - BBfanboyDec 9th 1941
December 9th, 1941
More landings in the northern Philippines, but little molestation of my transports in Malaya. Some cargo vessels fleeing Singapore were bombed by naval aircraft. As expected, his light carrier task forces is moving into the Celebes Sea and potentially down the Makassar Strait. Other than that, landings at Tarawa and Nauru Island.
Ground Action
Japanese Capture: Tarawa, Nauru Island
Good Guys Capture: None
Air Action
The air force at Clark Field and Manila continues to be decimated by superior Japanese fighters. Soon there will be nothing to stop bombers from willfully attacking our ground forces.
Sea Action
The crew of the SS Porpoise had a rough first day to the war and will proceed back to Soerabaja immediately for repair. Sad, but not too great of a loss considering the present condition of our torpedoes. Already, we had a few duds on worthy targets and the ordinance department of the US Navy will be hearing of the CINPAC's wrath soon enough.
Intelligence
Discussion
DEI
As expected, his CVL TF is trying to sink my fleeing ships. I am sending my ASs aroun the long way to try and stay out of range. I am hoping the AI sends his planes in all the wrong places. More importantly, intelligence reveals he is already moving a fleet to land at Palembang. I am considering using the Asiatic Fleet in conjunction with the Prince of Wales to obstruct and hopefully sink this fleet. Meanwhile, I will continue to mine Palembang.
Malaya
I think I'll be able to extract my forces, but I suspect he is transporting his air fleets to Malaya to setup torpedo supply from which to start attacking my convoys heading for Rangoon.
South Pacific
Carriers are moving south to hopefully catch any unescorted invasion fleets he might have going towards Rabaul, et al. If nothing is found, the will proceed due east for San Diego.
Central Pacific
Damaged BBs are being moved back to coastal USA ports for repair.
More landings in the northern Philippines, but little molestation of my transports in Malaya. Some cargo vessels fleeing Singapore were bombed by naval aircraft. As expected, his light carrier task forces is moving into the Celebes Sea and potentially down the Makassar Strait. Other than that, landings at Tarawa and Nauru Island.
Ground Action
Japanese Capture: Tarawa, Nauru Island
Good Guys Capture: None
Ground combat at Nauru Island (127,128)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 1805 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 60
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
Japanese adjusted assault: 50
Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 50 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Nauru Island !!!
Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)
Assaulting units:
51st Naval Guard Unit
Ground combat at Tarawa (136,128)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 1771 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 58
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
Japanese adjusted assault: 104
Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 104 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Tarawa !!!
Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+)
Assaulting units:
53rd Naval Guard Unit
Air Action
The air force at Clark Field and Manila continues to be decimated by superior Japanese fighters. Soon there will be nothing to stop bombers from willfully attacking our ground forces.
Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
Allied aircraft
P-35A x 8
P-40B Warhawk x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 2 destroyed
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
Morning Air attack on TF, near Hong Kong at 76,68
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 9
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
xAK Hai Lee, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Fatshan
xAK Ming Sang
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Hai Lee
Morning Air attack on TF, near Manila at 79,77
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
G4M1 Betty x 10
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AM Bittern
AM Tanager, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AM Finch, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
Sea Action
The crew of the SS Porpoise had a rough first day to the war and will proceed back to Soerabaja immediately for repair. Sad, but not too great of a loss considering the present condition of our torpedoes. Already, we had a few duds on worthy targets and the ordinance department of the US Navy will be hearing of the CINPAC's wrath soon enough.
ASW attack near Laoag at 81,72
Japanese Ships
DD Satsuki
DD Hatakaze
Allied Ships
SS Porpoise, hits 5
SS Porpoise is sighted by escort
DD Hatakaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Hatakaze loses contact with SS Porpoise
DD Hatakaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Hatakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
Intelligence
A Japanese AMC is moving to Wake Island (136,98).
4/22nd Recon Regiment is loaded on a Japanese TK moving to Palembang.
56th Field Artillery Regiment is loaded on a Kujira Cargo class xAKL moving to Patani.
114th Infantry Regiment is loaded on a Ansyu-C Cargo class xAK moving to Singora.
2/2nd Engineer Regiment is loaded on a Japanese CA moving to Naga
3/47th Infantry Regiment is planning for an attack on Lingayen.
2/1st Naval Construction Battalion is planning for an attack on Legaspi.
Discussion
DEI
As expected, his CVL TF is trying to sink my fleeing ships. I am sending my ASs aroun the long way to try and stay out of range. I am hoping the AI sends his planes in all the wrong places. More importantly, intelligence reveals he is already moving a fleet to land at Palembang. I am considering using the Asiatic Fleet in conjunction with the Prince of Wales to obstruct and hopefully sink this fleet. Meanwhile, I will continue to mine Palembang.
Malaya
I think I'll be able to extract my forces, but I suspect he is transporting his air fleets to Malaya to setup torpedo supply from which to start attacking my convoys heading for Rangoon.
South Pacific
Carriers are moving south to hopefully catch any unescorted invasion fleets he might have going towards Rabaul, et al. If nothing is found, the will proceed due east for San Diego.
Central Pacific
Damaged BBs are being moved back to coastal USA ports for repair.
"Now excuse me while I go polish my balls ..." - BBfanboy
" - BBfanboyDec 10th, 1941
December 10th, 1941
Naval Action
As expected, his CVL task force moves down from the Celebes Sea and into the Makassar Strait, intercepting a bunch of fleeing Allied ships along the way. However, the task force breaks off every time with no damage done. I suspect Imperial high command will have the commander's head, as many more losses could have been incurred today. Luckily for us, this was not the case.
On the ASW front, duds, so many duds. Sub commanders are quickly growing exasperated. Today, the Saury caught a merchant sip unescorted south of Saigon and someone managed to unload all 24 of its torpedoes to little effect. It is believed it hit the merchantman 4-5 times without any resulting explosion. Frustrating. It had to resort to its surface guns to at least cause some damage. Elsewhere, some of our own ships suffered at the hands of Japanese subs and their considerably more effective torpedoes. A Dutch sub manages to most likely sink one transport headed for Malaya. The true first blow had been struck.
Air Action
Japanese zeroes continue to decimate their counterparts; and more naval airstrikes hit fleeing Allied boats. In Makassar Strait, the CVL task force manages to sink a CM and AG. In Malaya, they attack some transports but the stil-living Repulse manages to do its jump and eat a bomb with nothing to show for it in damage.
More importantly, the allies have seen their first successful aerial naval attack of the war. B-17's operating out of Mindanao manages to hit a transport with a 500lb bomb near Legaspi. It won't sink the ship, but it's a morale boost nonetheless. Let us hope we can create some more pinpricks in the future.
Land Action
Landings at Legaspi, Miri, and Wake Island. Laoag and Vigan are captured. The Japanese immediately attack Wake, but it holds for now. Maybe not tomorrow.
Intelligence
III/81st Naval Guard Unit is planning for an attack on Brunei.
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment is planning for an attack on Lingayen.
3/16th Engineer Regiment is planning for an attack on Mauban.
3/55th Infantry Regiment is loaded on a Japanese AP moving to Singora.
a Tone class CA is moving to Guam (106,95).
4/16th Engineer Regiment is loaded on a Kujira Cargo class xAKL moving to Atimonan.
5/20th Infantry Regiment is loaded on a Akasi Cargo class xAK moving to Atimonan.
Discussion
It wasn't a surprise where his CVL task force is, but it will be interesting to see where it goes. I suspect it will continue through Makassar and up towards Palembang. There seems to be an invasion force off the eastern Malaya coast heading towards there now and I believe the CVLs will try to support this. It might not be the same force we had intelligence on moving to Palembang yesterday, but I am preparing for whatever might come down.
It puts me in an interesting situation. I'd prefer to protect my Asiatic fleet, but I would like to inflict damage on this invasion force. He is escorting it strongly this time with most likely a BB/CA task force of some sort. He is doing this because in our last game I decimated his unescorted invasion fleets. This time, because Task Force Z is alive, I am thinking of sallying forth with Prince of Wales from Singapore while bringing up the Dutch/American fleet from Batavia to inflict a hammer and anvil attack. We'll see. It might not be worth it. I have mined Palembang as much as I can and only hope it will inflict some damage as well. Meanwhile I have stationed my torpedo bombers in Singapore to try and catch his ships.
Are there any repercussions for trying to take Palembang this early? Any ways I can exploit? What do you think of the above conjecture? It might not be worth it right now to use Prince of Wales.
Naval Action
As expected, his CVL task force moves down from the Celebes Sea and into the Makassar Strait, intercepting a bunch of fleeing Allied ships along the way. However, the task force breaks off every time with no damage done. I suspect Imperial high command will have the commander's head, as many more losses could have been incurred today. Luckily for us, this was not the case.
On the ASW front, duds, so many duds. Sub commanders are quickly growing exasperated. Today, the Saury caught a merchant sip unescorted south of Saigon and someone managed to unload all 24 of its torpedoes to little effect. It is believed it hit the merchantman 4-5 times without any resulting explosion. Frustrating. It had to resort to its surface guns to at least cause some damage. Elsewhere, some of our own ships suffered at the hands of Japanese subs and their considerably more effective torpedoes. A Dutch sub manages to most likely sink one transport headed for Malaya. The true first blow had been struck.
Submarine attack near Soc Trang at 60,74
Japanese Ships
xAK Yahiko Maru, Shell hits 12, on fire
Allied Ships
SS Saury, hits 1
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
xAK Yahiko Maru is sighted by SS Saury
SS Saury attacking xAK Yahiko Maru on the surface
SS Saury low on gun ammo, Burnside, J.L. breaks off surface engagement and submerges
Submarine attack near Soc Trang at 59,74
Japanese Ships
xAK Tatumiya Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS KXIII
Japanese ground losses:
86 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Submarine attack near Billiton at 53,93
Japanese Ships
SS I-153
Allied Ships
xAP Van den Bosch, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Day Time Surface Combat, near Donggala at 68,97, Range 21,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
CVE Taiyo
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CA Nachi
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Amatsukaze
Allied Ships
xAKL Fortuna
xAKL Princess of Negros
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 21,000 yards
Japanese TF attempts to evade combat
Range increases to 26,000 yards...
Range increases to 30,000 yards...
Both Task Forces evade combat
Air Action
Japanese zeroes continue to decimate their counterparts; and more naval airstrikes hit fleeing Allied boats. In Makassar Strait, the CVL task force manages to sink a CM and AG. In Malaya, they attack some transports but the stil-living Repulse manages to do its jump and eat a bomb with nothing to show for it in damage.
More importantly, the allies have seen their first successful aerial naval attack of the war. B-17's operating out of Mindanao manages to hit a transport with a 500lb bomb near Legaspi. It won't sink the ship, but it's a morale boost nonetheless. Let us hope we can create some more pinpricks in the future.
Afternoon Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
Allied aircraft
P-35A x 4
P-40B Warhawk x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 1 destroyed
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
Morning Air attack on TF, near Malacca at 49,81
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Bomb hits 1
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 64,100
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5N1 Kate x 12
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
CM Prins van Oranje, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Van Outhoorn
AG Albatros, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Legaspi at 82,82
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 10
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAK Yamafuku Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Yasukawa Maru
Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Land Action
Landings at Legaspi, Miri, and Wake Island. Laoag and Vigan are captured. The Japanese immediately attack Wake, but it holds for now. Maybe not tomorrow.
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 1935 troops, 19 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 63
Defending force 1541 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 22
Japanese adjusted assault: 18
Allied adjusted defense: 16
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)
Japanese ground losses:
511 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 47 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Intelligence
III/81st Naval Guard Unit is planning for an attack on Brunei.
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment is planning for an attack on Lingayen.
3/16th Engineer Regiment is planning for an attack on Mauban.
3/55th Infantry Regiment is loaded on a Japanese AP moving to Singora.
a Tone class CA is moving to Guam (106,95).
4/16th Engineer Regiment is loaded on a Kujira Cargo class xAKL moving to Atimonan.
5/20th Infantry Regiment is loaded on a Akasi Cargo class xAK moving to Atimonan.
Discussion
It wasn't a surprise where his CVL task force is, but it will be interesting to see where it goes. I suspect it will continue through Makassar and up towards Palembang. There seems to be an invasion force off the eastern Malaya coast heading towards there now and I believe the CVLs will try to support this. It might not be the same force we had intelligence on moving to Palembang yesterday, but I am preparing for whatever might come down.
It puts me in an interesting situation. I'd prefer to protect my Asiatic fleet, but I would like to inflict damage on this invasion force. He is escorting it strongly this time with most likely a BB/CA task force of some sort. He is doing this because in our last game I decimated his unescorted invasion fleets. This time, because Task Force Z is alive, I am thinking of sallying forth with Prince of Wales from Singapore while bringing up the Dutch/American fleet from Batavia to inflict a hammer and anvil attack. We'll see. It might not be worth it. I have mined Palembang as much as I can and only hope it will inflict some damage as well. Meanwhile I have stationed my torpedo bombers in Singapore to try and catch his ships.
Are there any repercussions for trying to take Palembang this early? Any ways I can exploit? What do you think of the above conjecture? It might not be worth it right now to use Prince of Wales.
"Now excuse me while I go polish my balls ..." - BBfanboy
" - BBfanboy
RE: Dec 8th 1941
That invasion force could be headed for Mersing. Do you have any SIGINT on units loaded and headed to either location?
EDIT: I went back and looked - the convoys were last seen moving SE, not SW. Miri, Brunei and Kuching are usually early Japanese targets to secure the oil and establish air bases for search and naval strike.
EDIT: I went back and looked - the convoys were last seen moving SE, not SW. Miri, Brunei and Kuching are usually early Japanese targets to secure the oil and establish air bases for search and naval strike.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: Dec 8th 1941
Yah, I noticed that too. Here is breakdown on signint:
1. Convoy somewhere heading for Palmebang
2. Planning for Brunei, etc.
Additionally, Mersing has been subject to recon.
So all are viable and most likely coming soon. I really hope he comes down towards Palembang with a weaker invasion force I can sink, but I think he's learned his lesson and will have escorts.
1. Convoy somewhere heading for Palmebang
2. Planning for Brunei, etc.
Additionally, Mersing has been subject to recon.
So all are viable and most likely coming soon. I really hope he comes down towards Palembang with a weaker invasion force I can sink, but I think he's learned his lesson and will have escorts.
"Now excuse me while I go polish my balls ..." - BBfanboy
" - BBfanboy-
Jorge_Stanbury
- Posts: 4345
- Joined: Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:57 pm
- Location: Montreal
RE: Dec 8th 1941
"Malaya
I am trying to establish Malacca and Georgetown as my main two staging points for extracting troops of the III Burma Corps to Burma"
Georgetown is a bad idea, it is within Saigon's LBA range... Netties will eat them for breakfast
Malacca is a very inadequate port level 2... and it is very close to Singapore, so at most you save a half day journey.. so my question is
why don't you use Singapore instead????
best port, with extensive naval support, with amazing AA, with CAP, etc.
It can't be too busy
I am trying to establish Malacca and Georgetown as my main two staging points for extracting troops of the III Burma Corps to Burma"
Georgetown is a bad idea, it is within Saigon's LBA range... Netties will eat them for breakfast
Malacca is a very inadequate port level 2... and it is very close to Singapore, so at most you save a half day journey.. so my question is
why don't you use Singapore instead????
best port, with extensive naval support, with amazing AA, with CAP, etc.
It can't be too busy
RE: Dec 8th 1941
Georgetown because it's close and he hasn't shown much inclination in the past to attack it. He has yet to bomb it yet in this game too. Do you think I should just strat everything to Singapore?. He still hasn't launched a strike against it, but we'll see. As for Malacca, I was just thinking about that...and was already considering g oing back down to Singapore, which I will do next turn.
"Now excuse me while I go polish my balls ..." - BBfanboy
" - BBfanboy-
HansBolter
- Posts: 7457
- Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:30 pm
- Location: United States
RE: Dec 8th 1941
ORIGINAL: Anachro
Georgetown because it's close and he hasn't shown much inclination in the past to attack it. He has yet to bomb it yet in this game too. Do you think I should just strat everything to Singapore?. He still hasn't launched a strike against it, but we'll see. As for Malacca, I was just thinking about that...and was already considering g oing back down to Singapore, which I will do next turn.
Jorge is correct. Singapore is where you have the airforce capable of protecting the shipping.
If you set a direct coastal route from Singapore to Oosthaven, your path will run along the coast between Sumatra and the large offshore island which is out of the path of most sub deployments and runs under the CAP at Palembang.
Yes, it means a longer route to Burma, but a far better chance of getting out alive.
Hans
Dec 11th 1941
Hans, Jorge. Thanks for the input. For now, I will move my forces down to Malacca. I will then have some test ships move from Georgetown to Rangoon to test his naval search. We'll see, I might just end up sending everything down to Singapore.
December 11th, 1941
Naval Action
Bad day in terms of submarine strikes against allied ships, etc. To be expected, however.
Air Action
Sweeps over Soerabaja and naval air attacks.
Land Action
Wake holds. Landings at Guam, Brunei and Jesselton, as well as eastern Borneo.
Intelligence
20th Infantry Regiment is planning for an attack on Mauban.
4/16th Recon Regiment is loaded on a Kujira Cargo class xAKL moving to Atimonan.
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment is loaded on a Japanese xAK moving to Singora.
113th Infantry Regiment is loaded on a Japanese TK moving to Patani.
Discussion
His CVL taskforce is moving up towards Palembang. It also conducted sweeps over Soerabaja, meaning it might conduct a strike against any ships I have there. I'm not sure what to do. From my run-ins with it, it seems to have 2-3 CAs escorting. I'm considering rushing my Asiatic Fleet with Houston in the lead to rush it and try and inflict damage on the CVL. Worth the risk?
Note, it hasn't used any torpedoes yet. I suspect it is conserving them for use against my surface ships.
December 11th, 1941
Naval Action
Bad day in terms of submarine strikes against allied ships, etc. To be expected, however.
Ships Lost/Damaged to Submarines:
xAKL Dai Lee, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Anders Jahre, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAKL Palawan, Shell hits 21, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Taurus, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAKL Dai Tung, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Air Action
Sweeps over Soerabaja and naval air attacks.
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Soerabaja at 56,104
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 1,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
Allied aircraft
B-339D x 7
75A-7 Hawk x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
75A-7 Hawk: 1 destroyed
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 64,99
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B5N1 Kate x 12
Allied aircraft
B-339D x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
xAKL Bordvik, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Benkalis
xAKL Duijmaer van Twist
Land Action
Wake holds. Landings at Guam, Brunei and Jesselton, as well as eastern Borneo.
Intelligence
20th Infantry Regiment is planning for an attack on Mauban.
4/16th Recon Regiment is loaded on a Kujira Cargo class xAKL moving to Atimonan.
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment is loaded on a Japanese xAK moving to Singora.
113th Infantry Regiment is loaded on a Japanese TK moving to Patani.
Discussion
His CVL taskforce is moving up towards Palembang. It also conducted sweeps over Soerabaja, meaning it might conduct a strike against any ships I have there. I'm not sure what to do. From my run-ins with it, it seems to have 2-3 CAs escorting. I'm considering rushing my Asiatic Fleet with Houston in the lead to rush it and try and inflict damage on the CVL. Worth the risk?
Note, it hasn't used any torpedoes yet. I suspect it is conserving them for use against my surface ships.
"Now excuse me while I go polish my balls ..." - BBfanboy
" - BBfanboyRE: Dec 11th 1941
Always worth the risk to damage and/or sink Japanese carriers with surface ships so early in the war. However, don't forget about your Dutch subs their torpedoes aren't the dude type like the US subs are plagued with. If he operates carriers in restrictive dutch water chase and surround him with your subs.
RE: Dec 11th 1941
Dude torpedoes? You mean like "DUUUUDE, you drank all my torpedo alcohol again! No wonder all your launches are duds!"ORIGINAL: Bif1961
Always worth the risk to damage and/or sink Japanese carriers with surface ships so early in the war. However, don't forget about your Dutch subs their torpedoes aren't the dude type like the US subs are plagued with. If he operates carriers in restrictive dutch water chase and surround him with your subs.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: Dec 11th 1941
Haha. I have had a large amount of duds from my USN subs, far more than I have in pre previous run-throughs. That SS Saury's action off Saigon yesterday was ridiculous. It launched its ENTIRE stock of torpedoes with 4-5 hits scored ALL DUDS....Even the dutch have has some duds. In our last run through September, I managed to sink 50-60 IJN transports in the first 20 days...and two CLs
EDIT
The die is cast. Asiatic Fleet will sally forth to hopefully intercept the CVL Task Force. Prince of Wales is moving down from Singapore to catch any stragglers further up north of Singapore.
EDIT
The die is cast. Asiatic Fleet will sally forth to hopefully intercept the CVL Task Force. Prince of Wales is moving down from Singapore to catch any stragglers further up north of Singapore.
"Now excuse me while I go polish my balls ..." - BBfanboy
" - BBfanboyDec 12th 1941: Jack in the Box
December 12th, 1941
Not much action today surface wise. Don't have much time, so I'll give the jist of things.
Naval Action
We get our first few successful sub attacks. From the Dutch, no less.
We have a successful ASW attack.
Japanese get some success too. Getting two tankers fleeing the Philippines.
Air Action
The Kido Butai strikes wake, trying to help out its invasion force, which has taken some historical damage from the strafing guns and Wildcats. Successful landings, however, last turn.
Land Action
Successful landings all over the place.
Intelligence
Discussion
Major interesting piece of discussion today. Sadly, there was no major surface action like we wanted yesterday. However, this seems to have inadvertently given us a greater chance of success for the morrow and we can really say now that the trap is set. In other words, Jack is in the box waiting to jump out. Our BB fleet has moved down undetected, whereas our southern CA/CL fleet has has been fully detected and suffered some impotent air attacks, which might very well drive his CVL into the arms of the Prince of Wales.
We can expect some sort of major surface action tomorrow, with the greater likelihood being it involving the Prince of Wales. I suspect this will be in a night action, but I am sanguine about this as the Prince of Wales has rather high night-fighting experience; and I've given every ship and TF their best possible leaders. I don't care how much of my Asiatic fleet is damaged as long as I cause significant damage to the Japs and sink the CVL Ryujo. Given the disparity in forces, I don't think I'll suffer too much inordinate damage.
If the trap is successful and my CA/CL fleet south of the CVL task force isn't involved, I will send it back through Makassar strait where there seem to be some unescorted Japanese invasion fleets, either headed for Tarakan or Mindanao.
Not much action today surface wise. Don't have much time, so I'll give the jist of things.
Naval Action
We get our first few successful sub attacks. From the Dutch, no less.
Japanese Ships
xAK Arima Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS KXI
Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Submarine attack near Patani at 52,72
Japanese Ships
xAK Mogamigawa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
Allied Ships
SS KXVII
Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
We have a successful ASW attack.
ASW attack near Jolo at 74,89
Japanese Ships
SS I-166, hits 1
Allied Ships
AM Lark
AM Quail
ASW attack near Tandjoengpinang at 50,85
Japanese Ships
SS I-158, hits 2
Allied Ships
CL Mauritius
DD Tenedos
DD Express
DD Encounter
Japanese get some success too. Getting two tankers fleeing the Philippines.
Air Action
The Kido Butai strikes wake, trying to help out its invasion force, which has taken some historical damage from the strafing guns and Wildcats. Successful landings, however, last turn.
Land Action
Successful landings all over the place.
Japanese forces CAPTURE Guam !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Miri !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Jesselton !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Hollandia !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Vanimo !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Wewak !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Beaufort !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Brunei !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Aitape !!!
Japanese forces CAPTURE Dagua !!!
Intelligence
2nd Recon Regiment is planning for an attack on Singapore.
56th Recon Regiment is loaded on a Japanese xAK moving to Patani.
114th Infantry Regiment is loaded on a Toho Cargo class xAK moving to Singora.
1/21st Infantry Regiment is loaded on a Japanese xAP moving to Kota Bharu.
2/56th Engineer Regiment is loaded on a Japanese xAKL moving to Patani.
148th Infantry Regiment is loaded on a Akasi Cargo class xAK moving to Patani.
Discussion
Major interesting piece of discussion today. Sadly, there was no major surface action like we wanted yesterday. However, this seems to have inadvertently given us a greater chance of success for the morrow and we can really say now that the trap is set. In other words, Jack is in the box waiting to jump out. Our BB fleet has moved down undetected, whereas our southern CA/CL fleet has has been fully detected and suffered some impotent air attacks, which might very well drive his CVL into the arms of the Prince of Wales.
We can expect some sort of major surface action tomorrow, with the greater likelihood being it involving the Prince of Wales. I suspect this will be in a night action, but I am sanguine about this as the Prince of Wales has rather high night-fighting experience; and I've given every ship and TF their best possible leaders. I don't care how much of my Asiatic fleet is damaged as long as I cause significant damage to the Japs and sink the CVL Ryujo. Given the disparity in forces, I don't think I'll suffer too much inordinate damage.
If the trap is successful and my CA/CL fleet south of the CVL task force isn't involved, I will send it back through Makassar strait where there seem to be some unescorted Japanese invasion fleets, either headed for Tarakan or Mindanao.
"Now excuse me while I go polish my balls ..." - BBfanboy
" - BBfanboyDec 13th 1941
December 13th, 1941
An opportunity missed today, as the Ryujo and her escorts manage to slip around our trap and move to just off the coast of Palembang. She sailed west and up and right past Prince of Wales, which now finds itself with the Asiatic fleet down by Batavia. This is sorely disappointing. However, there is some definitive good news. I suspected that the Ryujo was heading up to support landings at Palembang and, lo and behold, the enemy invasion fleet appears southeast of Singapore in the very same turn! More importantly, it is unescorted by air or sea! Bombers operating out of Singapore manage to cause some significant damage, but the number of ships in the fleet make me suspect he will continue on towards Palembang anyway.
This means two things:
1. The fact that the invasion force is unescorted means that I can definitely send quick DD task forces from Singapore to harass it and hopefully sink many ships. I will do so. I will also re-array my CA/CL Asiatic fleet to come through Palembang and hit it hard.
2. I suspect that the Ryujo will remain off Palembang the next turn and will move Prince of Wales and her escorts up to intercept.
To support this, all available air power is moving to cause more destruction on the invasion fleet. Fighters set to strafe. Hopefully we can cause quite a loss and make Japan realize it cannot so wantonly advance without regard for precaution. Trying to take Palembang so early without appropriate air cover or surface escorts is reckless! Let's teach him a lesson and delay the fall of DEI for at least a few days. Kido Butai is off Midway supporting landings there can can't interfere.
An opportunity missed today, as the Ryujo and her escorts manage to slip around our trap and move to just off the coast of Palembang. She sailed west and up and right past Prince of Wales, which now finds itself with the Asiatic fleet down by Batavia. This is sorely disappointing. However, there is some definitive good news. I suspected that the Ryujo was heading up to support landings at Palembang and, lo and behold, the enemy invasion fleet appears southeast of Singapore in the very same turn! More importantly, it is unescorted by air or sea! Bombers operating out of Singapore manage to cause some significant damage, but the number of ships in the fleet make me suspect he will continue on towards Palembang anyway.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Singkawang at 54,88
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 3
Blenheim IV x 8
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAKL Yagi Maru
xAK Thames Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Azuchisan Maru
Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Morning Air attack on TF, near Singkawang at 54,88
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 7
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAP Hakozaki Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Yubari Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Japanese ground losses:
291 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 40 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 85 (83 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 35 (26 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Singkawang at 54,88
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 7
Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish I: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Uyo Maru
xAK Amakusa Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (8 destroyed, 7 disabled)
This means two things:
1. The fact that the invasion force is unescorted means that I can definitely send quick DD task forces from Singapore to harass it and hopefully sink many ships. I will do so. I will also re-array my CA/CL Asiatic fleet to come through Palembang and hit it hard.
2. I suspect that the Ryujo will remain off Palembang the next turn and will move Prince of Wales and her escorts up to intercept.
To support this, all available air power is moving to cause more destruction on the invasion fleet. Fighters set to strafe. Hopefully we can cause quite a loss and make Japan realize it cannot so wantonly advance without regard for precaution. Trying to take Palembang so early without appropriate air cover or surface escorts is reckless! Let's teach him a lesson and delay the fall of DEI for at least a few days. Kido Butai is off Midway supporting landings there can can't interfere.
"Now excuse me while I go polish my balls ..." - BBfanboy
" - BBfanboyDec 14th, 1941: We Shall not go Silently into the Night
December 14th, 1941
Excerpts from H.S. Percival's Lost Triumphs: The Early Pacific War in the East Indies
...but while the first week of the war had seen almost continuous advance on all fronts, December 14th struck like a thunderbolt upon Japanese military leadership. While pre-war plans had called for the quick establishment of local naval superiority, thereby allowing the uninterrupted projection of power wherever it might be needed, Allied actions immediately following Pearl Harbor seemed to lull Japanese operational planners into a false sense of security. Indeed, the first week of the war had been nothing but a series of strategic withdrawals and delaying actions by allied forces, resulting in relatively unopposed amphibious operations in the Philippines and Malaya; an nothing suggested that allied forces would discontinue their use of such Fabian tactics. As a result, the army and navy made a fatal assumption in believing that local superiority had already been achieved. They were soon disabused of this notion...
...Palembang had long been the jewel of the Dutch oil empire; and the Japanese wanted its oil fields and refineries as soon as possible. Showcasing their well-documented love of complex maneuver, indirection, and sharp timetables in operational planning, the Japanese navy and army developed a operational plan whereby three separate task forces from three separate directions would all converge upon Palembang at the same time. A task force led by Ryujo would come from Babeldaob, working its way through the Makassar Strait and destroying any opposition it found along the way prior to meeting up with the other operational components near Palembang. Meanwhile, a amphibious task force would move west from Takao, eventually linking up with the battleships currently providing support off of Malaya for the final run towards the target.
We need to go into the difficulties and problems associated with such a complex plan, as they are well-explained in literature elsewhere, but we can note their ultimate prerequisite for success: the complete coordination of timing. Invading Palembang so early in the campaign presented risks that could not easily be discounted. The allies would still had significant surface forces operating in the area with ample air support. Thus, if any of the task forces arrived late or without escort, they were in danger of quickly being overwhelmed by the superior concentration of opposing forces. Without a perfect linkup, there was risk of each of the separate components suffering inordinate damage. Moreover, the operation was dependent on the inaction of Allied force, but such assumptions are inherently unsound. These factors should have called the whole operation into question, but Japanese planners pushed forward despite the risks. Ultimately, they paid the consequences for it...
The Prince of Wales and her escorts had intercepted the Ryujo, but the poor night-fighting abilities of allied sailors early in the war showed. Despite, successfully maneuvering so as to cross the "T" of the Japanese task force, Real Admiral Palliser's ships quickly took the brunt of the damage in the night action, culminating in the sinking of the British light cruiser Caledon. For all their effort and skill to threaten the Ryujo, allied forces were able to inflict little damage, not one hitting Ryujo or the unidentified escort carrier with her. The action though was successful, however, in evicting the Ryujo from the immediate vicinity of Palembang, dangerously isolating the Palembang invasion force...
...without surface support, due to the battleships failing to link up earlier, the Palembang invasion force was in anger of surface interception. Subsequently, it was confronted most notably by a British destroyer task force led by the Destroyer Vampire. The ensuing battle would lead to the first loss of Japanese surface forces in the war, with the sinking of two Momi-class Japanese destroyers, as well as many transports. More damaging, large loses were inflicted on the invasion force; and this action was ultimately the first example of a Japanese invasion force being turned back, and was used voraciously for morale-boosting purposes throughout the Allied nations.
...and, inflicting insult on injury, without the needed air cover of the Ryujo, it became victim of of vengeful allied aerial attackng, led by Swordfish torpedo bombers from Singapore, which were already beginning to establish a name for themselves as deadly killers of Japanese merchantman and transports...
Situation
The mop up of the invasion force begins tomorrow. We should be able to avoid the BBs coming down. Hopefully, we can get another chance at Ryujo going back through the Makassar Strait and sink her.
Excerpts from H.S. Percival's Lost Triumphs: The Early Pacific War in the East Indies
...but while the first week of the war had seen almost continuous advance on all fronts, December 14th struck like a thunderbolt upon Japanese military leadership. While pre-war plans had called for the quick establishment of local naval superiority, thereby allowing the uninterrupted projection of power wherever it might be needed, Allied actions immediately following Pearl Harbor seemed to lull Japanese operational planners into a false sense of security. Indeed, the first week of the war had been nothing but a series of strategic withdrawals and delaying actions by allied forces, resulting in relatively unopposed amphibious operations in the Philippines and Malaya; an nothing suggested that allied forces would discontinue their use of such Fabian tactics. As a result, the army and navy made a fatal assumption in believing that local superiority had already been achieved. They were soon disabused of this notion...
...Palembang had long been the jewel of the Dutch oil empire; and the Japanese wanted its oil fields and refineries as soon as possible. Showcasing their well-documented love of complex maneuver, indirection, and sharp timetables in operational planning, the Japanese navy and army developed a operational plan whereby three separate task forces from three separate directions would all converge upon Palembang at the same time. A task force led by Ryujo would come from Babeldaob, working its way through the Makassar Strait and destroying any opposition it found along the way prior to meeting up with the other operational components near Palembang. Meanwhile, a amphibious task force would move west from Takao, eventually linking up with the battleships currently providing support off of Malaya for the final run towards the target.
We need to go into the difficulties and problems associated with such a complex plan, as they are well-explained in literature elsewhere, but we can note their ultimate prerequisite for success: the complete coordination of timing. Invading Palembang so early in the campaign presented risks that could not easily be discounted. The allies would still had significant surface forces operating in the area with ample air support. Thus, if any of the task forces arrived late or without escort, they were in danger of quickly being overwhelmed by the superior concentration of opposing forces. Without a perfect linkup, there was risk of each of the separate components suffering inordinate damage. Moreover, the operation was dependent on the inaction of Allied force, but such assumptions are inherently unsound. These factors should have called the whole operation into question, but Japanese planners pushed forward despite the risks. Ultimately, they paid the consequences for it...
The Prince of Wales and her escorts had intercepted the Ryujo, but the poor night-fighting abilities of allied sailors early in the war showed. Despite, successfully maneuvering so as to cross the "T" of the Japanese task force, Real Admiral Palliser's ships quickly took the brunt of the damage in the night action, culminating in the sinking of the British light cruiser Caledon. For all their effort and skill to threaten the Ryujo, allied forces were able to inflict little damage, not one hitting Ryujo or the unidentified escort carrier with her. The action though was successful, however, in evicting the Ryujo from the immediate vicinity of Palembang, dangerously isolating the Palembang invasion force...
...without surface support, due to the battleships failing to link up earlier, the Palembang invasion force was in anger of surface interception. Subsequently, it was confronted most notably by a British destroyer task force led by the Destroyer Vampire. The ensuing battle would lead to the first loss of Japanese surface forces in the war, with the sinking of two Momi-class Japanese destroyers, as well as many transports. More damaging, large loses were inflicted on the invasion force; and this action was ultimately the first example of a Japanese invasion force being turned back, and was used voraciously for morale-boosting purposes throughout the Allied nations.
...and, inflicting insult on injury, without the needed air cover of the Ryujo, it became victim of of vengeful allied aerial attackng, led by Swordfish torpedo bombers from Singapore, which were already beginning to establish a name for themselves as deadly killers of Japanese merchantman and transports...
Situation
The mop up of the invasion force begins tomorrow. We should be able to avoid the BBs coming down. Hopefully, we can get another chance at Ryujo going back through the Makassar Strait and sink her.
"Now excuse me while I go polish my balls ..." - BBfanboy
" - BBfanboy