Pacific Rim - Ale (A) vs Chris (J) - B-Mod 199 - 12/17/41

[AlessandroD]

Unfortunately I don't have a Mech like this but I will do my best anyway [:)]




Scenario 199 B-Mod (here for further info)
Really a tons of changes in almost every field, China theater is very different and I think it won't be possible to take the whole China anymore (but big mistakes), anyhow here more details.

I play the Allied side and Chris21wen accepted to play the harder side, both we aim for a historical approach.
We quickly agreed on the game settings and HRs:

Game
Fog of War - ON
Advanced Weather - ON
Allied Damage Control - ON
PDU - ON
Historical First Turn - OFF
Dec 7th Surprise - ON
Realiable USN Torps - OFF
Realistic R&D - ON
No Unit Withdrawals - OFF
Reinforcements - Fixed
Turn cycle - 1

HRs (whole match):
No Sir Robin. Islands can be evacuated after the island is invaded
Every restricted unit must pay PPs to move out of it's area with one exception: Akyab
HB cannot bomb naval units below 10K
Only Glen on Jap SS
Sweep altitude one level higher their best performance (max)

HRs (first turn):
1 Port attack
Allied can change units settings only in the China area or already existing TFs


No Chris21wen after this post

[Bif1961]

Good luck, looking forward to your AAR!

[AlessandroD]

Thanks Bif1961 [:)]

Overall Strategy
Stand and fight!
No Sir Robin at all, my main goal will be to delay the enemy advance with the available forces trying to keep the combat ships/air losses at 1.5:1 ratio, not in the first month although.

I have some key bases in mind that will be reinforced early and that will need more effort to be taken by Japaneses, I cannot stop him but I can buy time.

Also I want to fight if the odds are not heavily against, even a battle lost can be a victory if the opponent plays more safe.

I don't know him and his tactics therefore the game will be more interesting.

More details later.

[Bif1961]

n my recent restart game against my long time worthy opponent I bombed OH for 2 days and din't sink anything but 1 DD. My torpedo planes only launched torpedoes once and only 27 Kates total carried them in 2 days. So instead of a historical start where 5 BBs were sunk or ran aground I sank zero, even OK and AZ were never returned to duty. I guess you can always hope that your Japanese opponent has as bad as luck as I did.

[AlessandroD]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

n my recent restart game against my long time worthy opponent I bombed OH for 2 days and din't sink anything but 1 DD. My torpedo planes only launched torpedoes once and only 27 Kates total carried them in 2 days. So instead of a historical start where 5 BBs were sunk or ran aground I sank zero, even OK and AZ were never returned to duty. I guess you can always hope that your Japanese opponent has as bad as luck as I did.

Oh well...my hope will never die [:D]

[AlessandroD]

Here a more detailed view about my initial plans.

Malaya
I hope the 11th Indian Division will reach Singapore almost intact, all other units will do a fighting withdrawal.
Singapore: I need the airfield in good shape for a while, an attrition air war is what I'm looking for.

I'm going to use the Royal Navy for a dynamic defence even if most of them are old vessels.

Burma
The 1st Burma Division has in charge the defence of Rangoon, the 17th Indian Division will fight its last battle at Lashio and Akyab.
1/3 AVG in support, 1/3 in China and with the other third still unsure what to do.

[AlessandroD]

India
Chittagong airfield will be improved to support Akyab.
Madras, Calcutta, Hyderabad e Bombay will be garrisoned by one division each one, 6th and 7th Australian Division will stay here until the enemy plans will be more clear.

I need fighters therefore the Tenth USAAF will be based in India, even if pretty useless at the moment.

The few British modern cruisers will stay at Colombo with the CVL Hermes, Ceylon will be reinforced.

[AlessandroD]

DEI
The Dutch fleet will join the Royal Navy, the submarines have been organized in three divisions.

Again the Air Fleet will try to buy time fighting an attrition war.

Palembang will be bolstered by 46th Indian Brigade (if time permitted), Batavia e Soerabaja the main strongholds.

I will try to save as much supply from forward bases and fuel as possiblle, the latter for the Australian ports.

[AlessandroD]

Philippines
All around four bases: Clark Field, Manila, Bataan and Cagayan.
I have two PS Infantry RCTs with a good experience (60) and a couple of tank battalions, there is a good American RCT but I'd like to ship it out for a more deep defence. Also two BFs and the Far East Air HQ I'm willing to move out.
We will see how the ships onslaught will end (i.e. how many ships will sink trying to leave Manila).

B-17 will flight from DEI airfields, the submarines will form four divisions.

US Navy will form two SAG TFs in this area.

[AlessandroD]

Timor
Koepang will be reinforced by 45th and 46th Indian Brigades, also Dili will be bolstered.
I want to defend Darwin from here.

Australia
Darwin will receive the 18th British Division (two infantry brigades) and more air groups when will be available.
I will try to stand as long as possible here.

Most of the Australian units will reach the North-East coast and Perth, Brisbane and Sydney cities.
I want to support PM from Townsville-Cairns area.

New Guinea
Port Moresby will be another stronghold, the rest of the 18th British Division (infantry brigade and recce battalion) plus the rest of the 30th Australian Brigade.

New Zealand, Australian and US Navy ships will form two SAG TFs.

[AlessandroD]

South Pacific
Noumea, Suva and Pago Pago will receive US Marine and Army units, they will be the ideal wall against the Japanese expansion, again I cannot really held anything but I can force my opponent to invest time, troops and resources to take them, if he will stay focused in few points I can hit him in other places (oh well...this is my plan at least) [:D]

[AlessandroD]

China
What a mess!

Every Chinese base has Resources and Light Industry factories plus a small amount of supply bonus (starting from 20 at least), there are more bases and the garrison requirements are increased respect than stock scenario, therefore I guess it won't be possible to take the whole China without a big effort by Japanese Army.

The most important cities are Sian, Changsha and Chungking, several Corps are ready to defend them, moreover in this theatre I can have some fun too, Ichang can be attacked if not immediately reinforced.

What I really miss are the recon aircrafts!

[AlessandroD]

Hawaii
What I really care here are my Catalinas, better to lose alla capital ships than the whole PA air groups, we will see after the PH attack (I think the Manila attack is strategically inferior but who knows).
Some force will be moved out plus all not Hawaiian USAAF air groups.

I'm going to create CV TFs with 2 CV each one plus 3-4 cruisers and 6 DDs long range, when fast battleships will be available they will join the party.

Aleutian Islands
Umnak Is. and Dutch Habor will be reinforced, the BBs under repair at Seattle will defende this sector if at PH some big ship will be still alive.

Political Points
All 500 points have been already planned buying troops and changing some SS TF commanders, the 2nd Marine Regiment is especially good because is a crack unit but understrenght, therefore is relative cheap at the moment.

Btw: first turn sent this morning, have fun! [:)]

[AlessandroD]

So game on [:)]

Pearl Harbor attack
The whole KB was over PH skies and the airfield has been heavily hit, he sent about 100 bombers (also Kates) and 30 fighters (very effective I'd say) for 70 a/c destroyed on ground (unfortunately several Catalinas too).
Quite the opposite the effectiveness of the port attack, on about 160 bombers he got only 14 damaged ships (no sunk), see below the repair list (BB Utah is 49/39/4 but in this mod she has to be withdrawn in 23 days).
Japanese losses are 4 Kates, 3 Vals and 1 Zero, not much.

I guess another strike will come therefore I will try to set every fighter on CAP, the airfield has 75 runway and 52 service damages but with 193 squads and 22 vehicles engineers I should be able to fly a good amount of aircrafts in the morning.

Also I will send 3 SAG TF, the first with a BB almost intact (a 5in and 3in guns destroyed) + CL/DDs, the second with a CA + CL/DDs and the third with 8 DDs, all at flank speed hoping to catch the KB.
I want to preserve the other warships for TF CV duty.

Malaya
Kota Bharu invaded, lot of actions in the skies with fery few opposition by Allied air force, very low morale in the squadrons. I need to reorganize all stuff. Fighting withdrawal has started. About 12 a/c lost.

Force Z arrives on turn 2.

My SS launched several torpedoes but all missed the target.

Philippines
Like Malaya, several air strikes that lowered the air squadrons morale, again I need to preserve my aircrafts before all airfields will be closed. Some B-17 flew away. About 15 a/c lost.

Batan Island captured and Taytay invaded with a fast TF (4 DDs I gues). Enemy CVL around Legaspi.

The merchant exodus has started, we will see how many will survive [:D]

China
Few air attacks.

Pacific
Midway under naval bombardment.

An AMc has been sunk by Val near PH.

[FlyByKnight]

ORIGINAL: AlessandroD
.

Tell me, what graphics mod is that picture of Pennsylvania from?

[AlessandroD]

I'm using a beautiful mod by Fremen, here another pic: Kaga

[Blackhorse]

AlessandroD,

I will follow your AAR, and this scenario, with interest. I'm particularly keen to see how China plays out differently. Do the Chinese Air Force and aviation base forces start at different locations than in the standard WitP-AE game? or are the Chinese fighters still trapped in northwest China until you march base forces towards the planes?

If I remember correctly, in real life the old BB Utah had its main armament removed, and was being used to test advanced anti-aircraft guns when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Is that how the Utah is equipped in the game?

Good luck!

[AlessandroD]

Thanks Blackhorse! [:)]

ORIGINAL: Blackhorse
...Do the Chinese Air Force and aviation base forces start at different locations than in the standard WitP-AE game? or are the Chinese fighters still trapped in northwest China until you march base forces towards the planes?...

Yes, all fighters squadrons at Hami have been placed in three different bases (Sian, Chungking and Changsha), the bombers still stay there but you can easily move out.

ORIGINAL: Blackhorse
...If I remember correctly, in real life the old BB Utah had its main armament removed, and was being used to test advanced anti-aircraft guns when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Is that how the Utah is equipped in the game?...

Yes only 5in guns are in place, a nice touch by Big B!
In fact the only purpose is to attract enemy fire.

[AlessandroD]

Pearl Harbor
The KB is retreating and seems that he doesn't want to hit again, my fighters will stay in CAP for any event.
My idea that 200+ engineers would be enough to repair several airfield damages was wrong, only 15 points fixed, moreover the squadrons morale is very low.

Unfortunately the TF with only DDs went too far with is hunting and was inside KB range: DD Case, DD Shaw and DD Phelps have been sunk, DD Conyngham is still floating but I'm not sure she can reach PH.

Lucky torpedo hit the unlucky CL Detroit, she will survive at least.

Malaya
First assult at Kota Bharu end 2:1 for him, around 500 casualties for both.
I forget to change a squadron settings and flew unescorted, 4 Blenheim IV lost.

Philippines
Dogfighting over Manila skies in bad weather, 3 P-40 for 2 Zero shot down.
Mine hit AS Holland, serious damage.

China
I got a little revenge here, a PT TF from Hong Kong caught an enemy transport near Samah, for a boat lost I sunk the xAK Tazan Maru with troop inside (800 casualties) and put a torpedo on TB Otori [:)]

Java
Other mines hit CL Java (about 30 damage) and TK Manvantara (sunk), nice job by Chris.

Pacific
Makin is lost.

SS Warfare
I lost the xAKL Tatung, xAP Kepong, xAKL Ipoh and TK Semiramis for a SS attack, three of them by SS I-121!!

Air Warfare
I'm counting all kind of losses but aircrafts destroyed on ground. In this turn the air ratio is 10:12 for the Allied.

[Big B]

ORIGINAL: AlessandroD

Pearl Harbor
The KB is retreating and seems that he doesn't want to hit again, my fighters will stay in CAP for any event.
My idea that 200+ engineers would be enough to repair several airfield damages was wrong, only 15 points fixed, moreover the squadrons morale is very low.

Unfortunately the TF with only DDs went too far with is hunting and was inside KB range: DD Case, DD Shaw and DD Phelps have been sunk, DD Conyngham is still floating but I'm not sure she can reach PH.

Lucky torpedo hit the unlucky CL Detroit, she will survive at least.

Malaya
First assult at Kota Bharu end 2:1 for him, around 500 casualties for both.
I forget to change a squadron settings and flew unescorted, 4 Blenheim IV lost.

Philippines
Dogfighting over Manila skies in bad weather, 3 P-40 for 2 Zero shot down.
Mine hit AS Holland, serious damage.

China
I got a little revenge here, a PT TF from Hong Kong caught an enemy transport near Samah, for a boat lost I sunk the xAK Tazan Maru with troop inside (800 casualties) and put a torpedo on TB Otori [:)]


Java
Other mines hit CL Java (about 30 damage) and TK Manvantara (sunk), nice job by Chris.

Pacific
Makin is lost.

SS Warfare
I lost the xAKL Tatung, xAP Kepong, xAKL Ipoh and TK Semiramis for a SS attack, three of them by SS I-121!!

Air Warfare
I'm counting all kind of losses but aircrafts destroyed on ground. In this turn the air ratio is 10:12 for the Allied.

Wow, ... in my game it's late 1944, and we have begun B-29's bombing over Japan.

How long ago was all this bad news for the Allies....
The Worm WILL Turn... it's a long road. Hang in there...

B