Gilles Thibaut (J) vs LittleJoe (A) - Yellow fever!

[LittleJoe]

After my skilled opponent Gilles stopped my offensive dead in its tracks at the island of Java, and destroying my dreams of a long defensive by destroying a large chunk of my Carrier arm in a Midway esque battle, we have switched sides and prepare to go at it again!

Only this time sides have been switched, and we will be playing a non Historical first turn with two day turns.





I have given my orders to my seaborne ships to seek a friendly port other than Pearl Habour, we have noted a large Japanese Taskforce incoming. The next 24 hours could be devastating.

I will give you all an idea of my overall stratergy:


West Coast

I started the daunting tast of assesing my moves in the Pacific at the western part of the map, i assume these bases and cities to be safe from Japanese invasion, i assume my opponent gilles to be wise enough to not want to accelerate my Army build up.

I could give no orders to any taskforce as they where all in port, no taskforces in port can be given orders on this first turn (for obvious reasons)

My plan here is to create several taskforces that will be soon sent to the Central and South Pacific most importantly then perhaps Australia and PM and the DEI. Depending on future actions by the enemy.


Central Pacific

This area is going to be hit very hard, the main importance is to get Pearl Harbour back on its feet and as our main Port of Operations, the speed in which we can do this depends on how long the KB decides to hang around.
I have sent the Enterprise and Lextington south towards Canton
Island where they will stay until the dust has settled in the Central Pacific.



South Pacific

Nothing i can do here, My forces here can mount but a token reistance, will draw my line of action at Port Moresby and Noumea, these ports must be kept open to allow the flow of Supplies, Men, Planes and Resources to and from Australia.



Dutch East Indies

I will try and take a leaf out of Gilles book and make him pay for every yard of soil here, he must concentrate the bulk of his forces here to capture the Oil and resources that Japan needs to conduct further operations in the Pacific. I do not see it possible for him to conduct any Major offensives anywhere esle in the Pacifc until the last town or airfield has been captured here.

The Dutch navy has been co-operative and has taken a offensive stance to keep the Japanese out as long as possible, several taskforces have been sent to places like Palembang, Balikpapan and Batavia to help repel any furture invasion.

We must help our Dutch friends the best we can. It is here Japan will need to strike quickly.


The Philipines

The Japanese will land in force here to allow them a safe passage of there transports carrying oil and resources from the DEI, we will hold a Bataan/Manilla/Clark field defensive line, and hold as long as possible until releif can arrive.

We hope....

The British Empire

Last of all, British Malaysia/Burma/India

Mayaysia must be held as long as possbie as is the case everywhere esle, the British high command foolishly underestimate there Foe and Boast about there "island fortress" Singapore, i feel this place is a lot more vunerable than the British have lead us to beleive.
We hope they will prove us wrong.

Burma is a horrid place, that we cannot see any sense in Japan wanting to invade, apart from the fact they may want to invade India by land and to cut the Burma road, an important lifeline for our new Chinese Allies.

India is worryingly underdefended, Rommel's offensives in North Africa have deprived the "Jewel in the Crown of the Empire" Many units, we must make do best we can, the Powerful Royal Navy is confident it can guard its coasts, they may think differently after witnessing the destruction the IJN is about to unleash on the Pacific imminently.



P.S: I will greatly appreciate any feedback, these are my intial thoughts on defence for the first 6-12 months, i await my turn back from Gilles so i can assess the damage.





Pearl Harbour December 6th 1941

[LittleJoe]

Bye Bye Hiei!

The Order to "first first" in the Usn navy has been in effect for a few weeks now, but it was today that it came into effect with the US and Dutch navies causing damage to attacking Japanese fleets, Dutch submarines reported sighting enemy invasion barges of the coast of Malaya and Borneo, our worse fears where comfirmed the Japanese where attacking.
Both attacks failed, but the USN would soon show there allies how it was done, off the North coast of Luzon a american sub patrol sighted and attack a Troop carrier causing her to "Light up like a candle"
Then at 6:38 am SS Pompano sighted a "Massive" taskforce 120 Miles NE of Pearl Harbour the "Kido Butai" It then whent above and beyond the call of duty, luckily evading a Battleships destroyer escort then firing a spread of torpedos at the massive ship. The crew confirmed one hit, followed a few seconds later by a "awe inspiring" explosion that filled the entire horizon for a few moments leaving a smouldering wreck of what was the once proud Battleship Hiei


The moment of Impact

The confirmation of a hit and sinking of the Battleship was the last radio contact headquarters have been able to make with the now presumed dead crew for the past 48 hours.



Pearl Harbour hit!!!


At 7:30 am this morning Japanese carrier planes delivered a declaration of war to the american people, in bombs and bullets.
Several ships and hundreds of planes where hit and destroyed in the raid, the local airforce was kept napping and wast mostly destroyed on the ground.

The Destroyer Tracy is the only ship confirmed sunk from the strike, but the Battleships Tennessee and Arizona are struggling to stay afloat ater taking several torpedo and bomb hits in the raid.

Hundreds of Sailors, Airmen and some civilians where killed in the raid, Pilots eiether killed in the planes, outclassed by the Japanese carrier fighter the "A6m2 Zero", Sailors died on the decks and in the hulls of there own ships, as they where riddled with bullets and bombs and ships flooded.

Some consolation however can be taken from the Sunken Japanese Battleship earlier in the day, and the fact that beteewn 30 and 50 aircraft where shot down over the now devastated naval base.


Assessing the damage

Malaya and the Philippines invaded!

"Half the godamn Jap army hit as today" Commented a British Major based at Kauntan, the Japanese attacked the British "stronghold"'s western coast today landing on beaches at Khota Barua and Kauntan, the latter seeming to be the main landing point.
British forces are doubtful they can contain the Japanese breakout from Kauntan for another day with the amount of men and material being unloaded here.
If the Japanese capture this base quickly enough, the opperatunity may present its self to cut off the Northern Malaya from the south, cutting off thousands of troops from singapore and accelarating the fall of this british owned country.

For this reason the British high command has ordered a "Tactical retreat" For forces in the North of the country.


Japs landing at Khota Baru under light fire

Singapore airfield was also hit hard although no where near as hard as Hickam field at Pearl, the British remain confident the RAF can hold there own against the Japanese airforce.

Time will tell..

Meanwhile in the Philippines the Japanese landed in force also on the Northern coast of Luzon and the southern coast of Mindanao, details are few and far imbeteewn, but intial reports say the Japanese have landed 60 miles North of Clark airfield, the largley "undertrained" Philipine Garrision are being called to arms in much haste and confusion, it is beleived it will take a few days till the Americans can form a concentrated and co-ordinated defence of this islands.

Meanwhile much like at Pearl Harbour and Malaya the Japanese launched a massive aerial raid on the main airfield of these islands Clark Field, once again the Americans where taken by suprise and the some cap was knocked away easily by the same planes flying over pearl and malaya, it seems this "Zero" is the Japanese's main fighter and has been worringly effect against our planes thus far.
"Nell" and "Betty bombers released there payload onto the parked and empty planes on the ground with little resistance, the damage here is comparable to that at Hickam field a little under a hundered planes have been destroyed and damage.



A initial photo of a small part of the damage inflicted upon clark


Other News...

Wake falls after brave Marine defence

Guam falls

Batan island falls

Narau island falls

Around 3,000 American soldiers are beleive to already be in Captivity, hours after America awakes to its darkest hours.


We must now consolidate our defences, and take heart in the brave actions of the SS Pompano, and fight on fiercly and bravely against this truly evil enemy!

Next post.... December 8th and continued damage assement.

[LittleJoe]

Roosevelt rallies a nation!


"Yesterday, December seventh, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan."

Was part of the heart stirring speach read out to congress early this evening by the president to the congress who voted unaminmously to declare war on the Empire of Japan.
A few hours later Germany and Italy declared war upon the United States, making this war a truly global one.

Hundreds of Thousands of men volunteered themselves for service within hours of this speech, and are being sent for basic training on the Western and Eastern coasts, they will soon be sent to eiether the Pacific or North Africa or Britain.


War is declared


P-40 Aces give hope to Allied war effort!

Just two long days into the war and the Americans can already claim two aces in this War for the pacific.

D. Browning of the 18th fg managed to shoot down 2 "Zeros" 3 vals and 4 kates before landing to refuel on December 7th in his trusty P-40B


D. Browning next to his P-40

And J. Morrison also of 18th fg scored 6 Kills over enemy bombers also at Pearl, with pilots like these defending the skies theres no way we can lose!



Orders Phrase

First thing i did was look at the damage the Pearl Harbour strike had called,in the Port i reckon that Tracy Will be the only ship sunk, the Tennessee and the Arizona should be ok unless he orders a 2nd strike, Which i doubt he will as he took high losses on the first strike, and he will want the KB to help take the DEI quickly.

Retreat!

First turn rule permitted only one port attack, he will hit all the major ports next turn because of this, i have evacuated the Prince of Wales and Repluse due south to Batavia, and all the ships at port throughout the Philipines are likewise retreating to the DEI.

The Philippines and Malaya are simple holding actions, in which time we will build up the poor defences on Java and Northern Australia.





More Retreat!

The Enterprise and Lextington are a few hundreds west of the Line islands and are headed for Canton island for a quick refuel then head to Fiji or Noumea, the KB should only have the fuel to chase my carriers to Canton if he wishes once the two flattops are south of there, i should be safe.

In other Carrier related news, a taskforce containing the Saratoga is ready to sail as soon as the Central Pacific is declared safe.



The Land war begins

The Battles for The Philipines, Malaya and the DEI have begun, and as with most of my moves, it involves falling back to a more favourable position, in the Philipines i am moving a majority of my men on Luzon to Clark and Manilla, meanwhile in Malaya the long march south begins for my me in danger of being cut off.


Malaya


Luzon

Pretty much the idea is to slowly withdraw my forces that can escape (Airforce/Navy) to Java and Northern Aus where will will try to bloody the nose of the IJN.

Little Joe

Commander in Chief of Allied forces

[LittleJoe]

LJN News 9-10th December 1941



Second Pearl Harbour raid! Three Battleships sunk!!


Tennessee succumbs to damage



The Japanese have hit Pearl Harbour again we can confirm first reports from Hawaii, it was presumed the Kido Butai had retired but at 8:12 am the hum of Japanese carrier planes was heard, seconds later Tennessee took the first of several torpedos.

The Japanese had returned to finish the job..

Eventhough the Americans where on high alert, they where still reeling from the previous attack on the 7th and like on that day the fighter planes where mostly knocked down without major losses for the Japanese.

However even more Japanese planes where shot down and destroyed in this raid as the anti air defences where ready this time.

three Battleships are confirmed sunk, the Tennessee being the only name so far given.

The Kido Butai is rumored to be heading back to Japan, as catalina patrol planes sighted the taskforce heading northwest on the evening of the 10th...



Japanese Blitzkreig continues

Davao,Kuching,Kautan,Puerto princesa,Makin.

These are the names of the places now belonging to the Japanese empire after 4 day's of fighting, and the speed and pure number of men the Japanese are throwing into the P.I and Malaya are seriously worrying allied commanders.

"There bloody everywhere, we had to fall back" Cried one British soldier, after the Japanese secured Kautan establishing a solid base on Malaya in which to continue offensives in the area.

The P.I however is much more stable, as the American and Fhilipino forces dig in at Clark field and prepare for a massive assault, the rumble of japanese tanks can be heard clearly at night as they close in.


American troops dig there defences,and enjoy the calm before the storm


Allied Submarines give hope

Dutch and American submarines continue to hurt the Japanese, and have been one of the few successes the Allies can claim thus far in the war.

SS KXII a Dutch submarine attacked a Japanese merchant ship carrying supplies for Japanese troops on Malaya,it fired a spread of torpedos into it scoring one hit.
The captain, Unhappy that the ship had not been destroyed, ordered to surface and hit the ship with the deck gun, the Merchant later sunk after taking several dech gun shells to its side.

SS Pickrel followed this agressive stance in the submarine war,also hit a Japanese AK with a single torpedo, and once again the Captain ordered the sub to be surfaced, the deck gun continued to fire at the ship, while the 50 cal Browning showered the Japanese soldiers on board with bullets, before submerging into the Pacific.



Seige of Hong Kong begins

15,000 Commonwealth Soldiers now have there backs to the sea, as the Japanese move into the doomed city,savage fighting begun on the 9th. Millitary expects beleive that the British and Australian soldiers will fight to the last for survival, and may only consider surrender until there food and water supplies run out.
This would mean this bloody city seige could carry on for many days to come.



PS: Is anyone following this, it takes a while to write out the AAR's like this in a Newspaper style. Then talk about my stratergies, i will continue on regardless as i would like a "History Book" to look back on once our game ends, but it would be nice to think i was writing for someone.

[Grotius]

I'm following it, Little Joe, and I'm enjoying it very much. I love the photos and the headlines! Adds a lot of flavor. Good luck to you!

[LittleJoe]

Cheers Grotius,ive been watching your aar also [;)]


Orders Phrase


With KB headed home, i have created several taskforces to reinforce the Southern and Central Pacific.
He worries me at the number of men he is throwing at the P.I and Malaya he doesnt want to muck around here, perhaps he hopes to have these strongholds wrapped up quickly to free up forces to invade India, Australia, Noumea.
I really dont know, but he wants to get somthing done in a hurry, so i must get what needs to be done at a similar speed.

Saratoga will sail for PH for a short refuel before heading south to Canton, then Noumea. Where it will join with the Enterprise and Lexington, who will guard the supply lines beteewn America and Australia.

161st Regimental Combat Team is loading up, it will arrive at Pearl then possibly Canton island where it will defend this small but vital island, i considered moving the stronger 2nd Marine Div, but in these early days, he could easily cut off the island and eventually destroy a skilled and powerful unit.

Talking of which i plan to move this unit to Noumea, along with 2 tankers full of fuel and 2-3 AK's full of supplies. This should be sufficient to get the port levels up, and make it a "Southern Pearl" For our naval and air forces.

I play to do the same to Port Moresby in the new year, when Transports are easier to come across.

Im also shipping out a couple of bomber groups, whos names and plane types i cant remember. Ill mention it in my next "news" bulletin.


Malaya,P.I the retreat continues, im worried by a lack of Aviation support in the DEI, im shipping out a base force from northern aus, but i may need to evacuate some of these units if possible from Malaya, the P.I is too risky to evacuate by sea, as his mini kb has just begun raiding.


Dark days ahead..

[CapAndGown]

As of this post you have 6 replies and 92 hits. I would say that people are following your AAR. (more than mine. [:(] )

[LittleJoe]

It feels as if half of views are mine [;)]


LJN 11-12th December 1941

Canton Island planned for Invasion!


Calm before the storm over Canton


Codebreakers have broken Japanese naval codes just five days into the war!

But they have discovered a worrying annoucement,a troop transport carrying elements of the 4th division is headed to Canton Island,no other information has been retrieved as of yet.

The island is lightly defened and a full Jap division would have no problems taking the vital island, the thing that worries Allies command is whether they are being escorted by the Kido Butai, Japan's smaller carriers or if it is a "smash and grab" invasion totally unescorted.



Commanders of the taskforce's containing the Lexington and Enterprise where among the first to receive this news and have turned away from the island, and sit paitently a few Hundreds miles off the island awaiting developments.

It is also unclear how far away the invasion is,a squadron of 16 Hudson's where flown in today belonging to the New Zealand armed forces, who recognise and appreciate the strategic importance of the island.


Hudsons in flight to Canton



The submarine war

Allied sucesses contine in the Submarine war SS KXVII hit a previously damaged merchant ship near Saigon,finishing it off with two torpedos.

SS Pickerel had the major sucess of the day, hitting a troop transport full of Japanese soldiers, crippling the ship and killing and wounding many aboard.

On the defensive side of the Sub war,a Japanese submarine was beleived sunk off the coast of Canton island,as it was sunk by destroyers on the coast.



The Air war

Zero fighters continued to destroy all over makes of planes today,as the Dutch Brewster similar to the British Buffalo, couldnt manage to hit let alone destroy the Japanese superplane.

Another plane that has suprised Allied commanders today, is the G4M2 "Betty" and G4M1 "Nell as they have been nicknamed by Allied soldiers.
These planes possess amazing range as the crew of the Repluse and Prince of Wales found out, as these Japanese bombers attacked the ships as they rested and refueled at Batavia,the Bombers flew from SAIGON to the dutch base.
There bomb loads are small when attacking airfield's and ground troops, but there main strength is attacking ships at long range.

The worry is that these Bombers are now operating out of recently captured Kuching and can raid the Java sea, Force Z is moving base to Tijijapt in the Indian sea for this reason.


Survivors of the Philipines

"The USN has escaped untouched from the Philipines with great luck and bravery" A Defense spokesman confirmed today, as a taskforce consisting of a Crusier 2 Cl's and many Destroyers docked at port in Soerbaja,along with the submarines now plaguing the Japanese advance, these ships can fight the Japanese for another day and vow revenge.



American boys leave to fight for freedom!

"How do you feel about leaving your homeland to go and fight the Japs?"

"Gee i just can't wait to kill me some Japanese, and ya know avenge the boys back at pearl"

A young GI proclaimed before he walked onto a AP in San Francisco port,with this kind of fighting sprit in our boys hearts its only a matter of time before the Japanese assualt comes to an end!
Among the troops leaving for the Pacific are:

78th USA coast AA unit headed for Midway

Vp-13 PB2Y patrol boat squadron headed for Canton

161st RCT headed for Canton

If the Japanese truly are hoping to attack Canton they will have to get through these brave warriors first!


Ready to fight!



Supplying Midway

With wake island in Japanese hands, and the increasing agression the Japanese are showing towards islands and bases previously thought out of reach,Central Pacific command has sanctioned fuel and supplies to leave pearl for Midway island.
Around 18,000 tons of supplies are being loaded onto 3 Ak's at a recovering Pearl Harbour,and ship and aviation fuel is being loaded up onto Tankers Neoso and Ramapo.
Along with the 78th anti air unit should considerably strenthen Midway from attck, it is also planned to send a Regimental Combat team to the island.

[LittleJoe]

Orders Phrase

As you can see first wave of reinforcements leaving west coast, to reinforce the South and Central Pacific.

Due to a lack of Destroyers to escort my troop and supply transport,i am sending quiet a few from pearl to the west coast and clear out any possible subs.

My worries about Aviation support in the DEI are not founded,it seems the lack of it is due to disabled units not too small aviation units, so the Dei more specifically Java will be able to hold more and more planes day by day.

I have also created several surface combat groups, one consisting of the Philipines survivors flagship the Houston.
Force Z, another Dutch light cruiser lead one. And this rather small one in Australia.



My subs from Manilla are in the process of spreading out...

Now much to say at present. All my initial planes for the DEI, P.I and Malaya are in action.

On the Canton invasion, theres nothing whatsoever i can do if he shows up with the KB in tow, if its his mini carriers i can fight with the Enterprise and Lexington.
There are no forces, on the the ground to stop the 4th Division. But the intel is very useful none the less.

[String]

Very nice AAR. I like your use of pictures, keep up the good work[:)]

[Rohna]

I totally agree. I like the layout, photos and screenshots. Also you've spared me from having to scroll past miles of useless and boring combat reports. Good job.

[LittleJoe]

Thank you String and Rohna.

I wanted an attractive layout, that i could look back on, and somthing interesting and easy to read for other readers.


News just in!


Initial reports of a Massive Surface combat battle beteewn, British and Dutch forces against a "Devastating" Battleship forc e of the IJN outside Batavia in the Java sea.

Also reports that the "Prince of Wales" has been hit,repeat the "Prince of Wales" has been hit by some sort of aerial torpedo dropped by a "Betty" bomber.

Well have full coverage of this event when the full scale of this battle becomes more clear!




(im off to bed [;)])

[LittleJoe]

LJN 13-14th December 1941


The Battle of Java sea, IJN victory!


Repluse listing after taking 4 torpedos and several 16 inch shells

The defence of the dutch east indies has been severly weakened today,a group of battleships and cruisers beleived to be a invasion force headed for palembang veered southwards bombing into Batavia harbour.
Ferocious surface and air combat took place, making this the largest naval battle of the war thus far.
The day begun with this horribly mismatched surface combat,


The Cl Java already burning from a betty attack fights on

This dutch taskforce, outgunner and outnumbered was soon destroyed the crew of Cl Java abandoning ship shortly after the first shells landed on the ship. The rest of the taskforce was soon destroyed.



A few hours later it is the turn of the Royal Navy to receive punishment, this time from the Japanese Battleships Haruna and Kongo dish out the damage.
Once again the Allies where outgunned and outnumbered, but fought on.

The Royal navy gave out minimal damage to the attacking Japanese, crippling two destroyers. Meanwhile the Royal navy lost several ships including and painfully so for the honor of the Royal navy, the Prince of Wales and Repluse, already damaged from betty attacks before and after the surface combat.
In the midst of the battle the Haruna and Repluse where locked in battle,after a 5inch shell landed just short of the bridge, the captain ordered:

"Fire back at that godammed Jap Battleship that has the audacity to fire at his royal majesty's ship!" The Repluse failed to crack of the armour of the Battleship later confirmed as the Haruna, the Haruna delviered the knock out blow with a 16inch shell with shattered the deck causing several secondary explosions, the Repluse had fired its last shells.

As water gushed through the twisted hulk causing the Prince of Wales to take on a heavy list, many men abandoned ship jumping over the sides, and swimming the few miles to shore or take the risk of swimming to another destroyer which could also be potentially sunk.
Through the carnage, Admiral Philips ordered a Lieutenant to tie him down to the bridge of the ship, the Lieutenant nodded at his commander and tied his hands on the controls of the ship.

"Now go, save yourself" The Admiral spoke gravely,the Lieutenant nodded saluted his commander and sprinted from the bridge.

Moments later water came gushing into the Bridge, and at 5:29 pm Prince of Wales sunk beneath the waves, it was later joined by the Battlecruiser Repluse 33 minutes later.



Flight of the Martin

"There bombs just bounced off like tennis balls" A Dutch pilot commented after returning from his sortie over batavia.


Bounce!
In a day where the Japanese navy and airforce showed how dangerous they where,the allied airforce particually the Dutch has shamed its self in the worst day for Allied forces since the 7th.
"The Dutch pilots need to learn the limits of there limited bomb load, and need to have some ship recognition classes" An American commander of the ABDA forces joked, as the millitary cockup now know as "The flight of the Martins" Gives the dutch a bad name.
They attemped damaging Battleships and Cruisers with 250 lb gp bombs, they did no favours to the already outnumbered and outclassed surface ships down below.

"It just shows how unorganised and green our forces out here are compared to the Japs"



Day of the Betty


Rare footage of the Betty

The G4M2 Betty is and has proven its self as one of the best Naval and Torpedo bombers in the world today.
Its amazing range and weapon load is the main threat to the Allied navy in the Java sea, it is because of this plane that Force Z has been destroyed.And the reason why many other warships are fleeing to get outside of its range.

"Unescorted you can only shoot so many of them down" a Dutch Brewster pilot cried,he managed to shoot 2 down before they attacked Force Z, he feels partialy responsible for the death of many men aboard the POW and Repluse.

"They move fast...very fast for a bomber" He finished before breaking down and ending the interview.

Over the past two days the bomber has inflicted the following damage:

One Torpedo hit to the CL Java

Three Torpedo hits to the BC Repluse

Two Torpedo hits to the BB Prince of Wales

One Torpedo hit to the CL De ruyter.

This bomber is yet another pro Japanese factor in the battle for the DEI.



B17's touch down, Pearl Harbour open for business!


17 coming in to land

Two squadrons of B-17's have landed at Pearl Harbour as the airfield is declared open for buisness. Out of the 70 bombers landing at the base only 2 where damaged on landing, this damage was minimal.



Canton island

Hudsons and submarines around Canton island have sighted no invasion fleet so far. The Cruiser Indianapolis and its destroyer escort has left the island heading southwest to Suva on Fiji as a precaution against a carrier strike on the island.



Other news

Supply convoy loading at San Fran for PH

Jap destroyers, straggling from the battle of Java sea are hit by T-iva bombers, and dutch submarines.

Destroyers Mischco, Natsugumo and Inazume are reported heavily damaged.

Destroyers fleeing Hong Kong are hit south of Borneo, 2 sink.

Last ships flee singapore harbour.


PS: As i said in my post, i did tell force Z and co to flee to Tyijtap but it seems they ignored that order, possibly as they had a react range and decided to engage the Jap force, small thing i overlooked has cost me many ships.

Next post i will do a overview of the war after more than a weeks fighting, lots of screenies from my map, as i have kind of accidentally merged my orders into the news, so next post will be news and a overview of the game so far

[LittleJoe]

After one Week of war i have decided to do an overview of war, i will do these time to time, maybe monthly.

I will post all the intelligence screens, and type my musings and large scale planes, and ask for advice and help from other players.


So here are the screens so you can assess the damage.


Overall losses

All the stats are what you would expect apart from two, the Air to Air losses are suprisingly equal, mainly due to the scores of bombers i managed to get at, at Pearl Harbour and my reluctance to fight the Zero as of yet.
And the points, he has gained on me so quickly in 7-9 days of fighting, his sinking of 5 of my Battleships has attributed to this and his quick assualt in Malaya and the DEI, (hes making slow progress in the P.I,he has just reached Clark)

His uber fast attacks is making me convinced he is going for the 3-1 victory instead of humbly taking what he needs, then digging in.
The only invasions i can really stop with any force at the moment is those of Java and Canton island, Enterprise and Lex wait paitiently off the coast.







Plane losses, by type

Make of this what you will, no big suprises, apart fromt the high entry of the Val and Kate, due to his two pearl Harbour strikes.




Ship losses

Yes high losses to my BB's at Pearl and in the battle of Java sea.



Top allied pilots

Yank pilots dominate the list, espically the elite 18th flightgroup, which took down many bombers over Pearl. Minor celebrities D.Browning and J Morrison top the list.




The Pacific...

Yeah...what can i say...


One serious situation i face that i am worried about is the speed of his advance in Malaya, advice needed asap please!



Now..the troops at Khota Bharu are cut off, the only remainging troops in the north of the country are Aviation and base units, to help the AVG transfer to the DEI, and British planes will eventually be shipped northwards to India/Burma.
But the real question is, do i hold the main bulk of my troops at Malacca to hold the Japanese advance at the Level 3 forts, or do i leave a brigade or so there and fall back to the base above Singapore cant remember the name :S.

Stand and fight?
or
Flee to better defences?

Hold up the japs at a level 3 fort?
or
fall back to a level 5 fort, which would buy me more time?

Its Dec 17th currently, and the speed of his advance worries me!

The amount of troops he has thrown into Malaya grantees a earlier that historical, possibly MUCH easiler fall but i want to survive into the new year!. [X(]



Next post, news from the front 15-16th December 1941!

Off to bed, thanks in advance for any advice, ill post news when im back from school, i already have gilles turn in inbox! its hard to keep the AAR up to date!

[LittleJoe]

LJN news 15-16th December 1941



Hong Kong falls!



Japanese victory march

After 6th days of savage fighting the British garrision has had to "surrender to the inevitable", Prime Minister Winston Churchill praised the defence of the city against "insurmountable" odds, and sent a personal message to the garrision commander saying:

"Everyday that you are able to maintain your resistance, you help the Allied cause all over the world"

With the Japanese breaking through there lines of defence and reducing the defense to small pockets all over the island, the Garrison commander W.Maltby's decided to surrender.

Just under 10,000 British troops are beleived to be walking into captivity.



Singapore airfield "destroyed"



Over 65 RAF aircraft have been destroyed, or put beyond repair in the past two days as Japanese army bombers and Zero's set about destroying the airfield.
This is a major blow to an already weak british Position in British Malaya,and eliminates the RAF of having any hope of competing with the Japanese airforce for anytime soon.

The British confidance of driving the Japs back into the sea has faded away in recent days, this news will further dampen morale.



Japanese step up ASW around Luzon



American submarines have been finding plenty of easy pickings off the coast of Luzon and Taiwan the past week, but today the Japanese looked to put an end to the submarines easy time, American submarines even had the luxury of running surfaced to look for targets, and could often engage there targets surfaced also.
Today, the Japanese PG boats and Destroyers intensified the protection of there convoys, many Subs report being attacked and three submarines the SS Skip, SS Tarpon and SS pike have not replied to there radio check in and are presumed sunk.
This news comes as America intensifies its submarine campaign, sending submarines as far off as Japan its self, the submarine war has been one thing that has gone well for the Allies this could all change..



Other News...

Two previously crippled Jap Destroyers sink

Victoria point falls

Taytay falls

SS Sailfish hits pg boat, later sinks..

Japanese Submarines sighted off Canton island

[LittleJoe]

Orders phrase

To make it easier to read i will now split my Orders phrase posts into parts of the map.


West coast

A B-25 squadron has loaded up along with a destroyer escort due to land at Noumea, this base must be built up to stop Japanese agression in the South Pacific....when it comes.




North Pacific

Not enough troops,resources and planes to go to this "secondary" theatre.


Central Pacific

Arizon, Nevada and Maryland are all begging there long and possibly perilous journey back to San Fran for repairs, these are the three most damaged ships from the raid still floating and i have sent them "zig zagging" back to the West coast to avoid sub attacks.

Saratoga is one day out of Pearl, it will refuel here and go on to cover operation "Halfway" to deliver fuel and supplies and Troops to Midway, it then will go south to eiether help push back the Canton invaders or do somthing esle..

24th USA Division is loading up on ships at Pearl and will land at Suva, Fiji to protect the vital island, two Crusiers and Destroyers will also reinforce the island.



South Pacific

Lex and Enterprise continue to wait for Canton invasion,reading another aar, thaynes i think, it occured to me that this "4th" Division could be some Home guard or Manchuria Division that he has set a future objective to Canton to make me panic and reinforce in one area, when he really strikes in another.

We should soon find out his intentions for the island.


Australia

Nothing..


DEI

Another AVG squadron has touched down at Soerbaja, this fighters will put up a decent resistance against the Zero, not being subject to the Zero bonus, i am also sucking the other DEI islands dry of Aviation support to help Java hold more planes, i may even take a few Base forces from Northern Aus and place them on the important island.

[LittleJoe]

LJN 17-18th December 1941




Busy day at Pearl




BB Arizona, one of the three Battleships hit at on Dec 7th leaving for the west coast today

Sailors,Soldiers and Airmen stood on the bank of Battleship row, cheering,clapping and whopping as three damaged Battleships hit on December 7th and 9th leave port under there own steam with a heavy asw escort.

It was a show of defiance from the American armed forces towards the Japanese, they had failed to sink these Battleships and they will return one day to rain death and destruction upon the Japanese in revenge for the two fateful December days.


Enter Saratoga

A few hours after the Battleships had left, another ship carrying the hope and pride of the American people the CV Saratoga steamed into port for a brief refuel and 12 hours rest for the crew.

When morning comes the CV will be gone, embarking on a top secret operation named "Halfway"

24th leave for Fiji

A less publicsized and celebrated exit/entrance was that by the 24th USA Division, shuffling solemly onto a group of AP's on the edge of PH, heading for Suva,Fiji.

This vital island plays a large role in the defence of the south pacific, and it must be held at all costs.



Subs move on to greener pastures

Two more American submarines, the SS-41 and SS S-36 where sunk by the increasingly agressive asw of the Japanese, a few hours later the Far east command ordered all Submarines on the coast of Luzon to move onto "greener pastures" namely the Dutch east Indies.



Other news

AK's hit off the coast of Borneo carrying planes due for the DEI.

Singapore airfield hit once again




PS: Quiet days in the war....Which is good for the allies [:D]

[LittleJoe]

Orders phrase


West coast

A-20's of the 47th BG is being loaded up to head for Australia eiether Port Moresby or Northern Australia, depending on how the situation develops on thier journey.

Central Pacific

Sara toga has refueled and is on its way to Midway to cover operation "Halfway"
The stuff landing at the island in the next few days are as follows:

15,000 supplies

28700 fuel

and this will be eventually be joined by the 161 RCT which has been diverted from Canton.
Midway will be used as a look out post for the Central Pacific, a exetremly useful submarine port of call and possibly the staging point for a recapture of Wake island.

Im loading a fuel convoy at PH to head for Pago Pago and Fiji, there is a lack of fuel in this area of the map and if the Japanese hit Canton anytime soon we will need to have a lot of ships on station here.

South Pacific

Some destroyers in the Lexing and Enterprise taskforces endurance's are running low so before my Taskforces are reduced to 1 hex a day, the Carriers are retiring to Pago Pago for fuel.

Looking at New Zealand, i noticed a few Hudson I squadrons and a copuple of light Cruisers, these resources could be useful in the South pacific.
Two Light cruisers some destroyers and AK's to carry the Hudsons to Noumea- Fiji.

Philipines

Holding at Clark, sending my subs off the coast of Luzon to DEI, to make sub picket lines in the narrow straights around Kendari and Balikpapan.

Malaya

Due to the lack of help (cheers guys [:@] [;)])
I have come to my own decision to leave two Indian Brigades at Malacca, they should hold out a turn, 2 turns which is 4 days at most. Which helps a bit, but the bulk of my retreating army is heading to Johore Baru, where it will fight to the death a the level 5 forts, then make the final retreat to Singapore.

With Singapore in tatters im evacuating my planes north to Andaman island where they will later by shipped by AK to India, or stay at the Island.
Or flying south to Palembang/Java.


No other orders....

I have a feeling this war wont be over by Christmas [:(]

[LittleJoe]

LJN 19-20th December 1941

The Darkest Day


A nearby Allied sub watches the carnage

One Destroyer sunk, nine AP's and Thousands of men dead and dying in the waters imbeteewn West coast and Hawaii, the Kido Butai had arrived.
The Carrier taskforce had dissapeared off Allied radar around 10 days ago and was presumed heading back to Japan or Truk.
It seemed the taskforce had refueled with some mobile tanker group and turned around to cause more death and destruction.

Patrol planes flew from Pearl harbour and the West coast carrying extra fuel tanks to rescue as many men as possible once the KB had left.

"There where hundreds of men, some dead, some dying, others sitting on flotsam looking shaken to there core, we only saved 3-4 we packed as many in as we could but we most of left behind....hundreds...thousands more"
A PBY pilot cried, the unit lost is presumed to be a Coastal defence/AA unit they have been crossed off the operation unit list this evening.



On the 20th, the fearsome attack group lanuched another 200+ plane raid on another taskforce, a taskforce in which the BB Maryland was sailing back to the West coast, thankfully the planes carried 250 kg gp bombs, which simply bounced off the proud Battleship, it has now survived three strikes from the Kido Butai and is fleeing back to Pearl Harbour along with serveral other taskforces including the two other Pearl Harbour Battleship tfs, in the Pacific ocean beteewn Hawaii and the West coast, are all fleeing towards the nearest ports.

How long it will stay and what it will do next remains a mystery, but we must say a prayer for the men stranded and dying in the Pacific ocean tonight...



Canton island falls..




"I dont godamn beleive it!"

Admiral Nimitz cried in disbeleif as news of a "Massive" invasion of Canton island filtered through, the Lexington had just retired to Pago Pago a few days earlier, and the Enterprise was about to do the same and was caught out of range to hit the invasion.

The land based Hudsons performed "Apallingly" failing to hit a single invasion barge, the island had fallen before the Japanese stepped ashore.
The 114th USN Base force fought bravely and savagely, inflicting "heavy" casualties to the Japanese as they disembarked from there AP's, but they eventually landed, and pushed inland on the tiny island whos garrison soon accepted surrender.


The CV Enterprise is reportedly turning direction towards Canton once again to try and inflict some damage to the ships docked there. With this island in Japanese hands, any buildup to the South pacific will take a lot longer as taskforces will have to add a few weeks to there journey, as they stay out of range of Japanese bombers based at Canton. No offensive or recapture is possible currently with the KB closeby, but this island must be retaken surely.


American soldiers surrender to overwhelming odds

Other news

Tavoy falls

Singa still being attacked from the Air, airfield empty.

Several AK's sunk in the P.I



PS: I cant beleive my luck! Orders phrase later!

[LittleJoe]

Orders Phrase

West coast
Ships fleeing KB to here...nothing i can ship out/do until the KB is gone for certain. He's really thrown a spanner in my buildup of the defences with this raid, he must of set me back at least 2 weeks to a month.

Central Pacific
Submarines arrived at PH today, quick refuel then heading out to Kawajaien(sp) to try and get some hits from the traffic coming in and out of this forward base, and possibly catch his carriers on there way home.

South Pacific
Enterprise is engaging invasion fleet, hope theres no complications...

Australia
Port Moresby is too underdefened and with the speed of his advances esle where, it is probably only a matter of time till he makes a push for this base.

Hopefully i will be transporting the 1st Aussie bridgade in Brisbane to Port Moresby, when the Politcal points become avaialable to me.

DEI
Destroyers and Light cruisers damaged to varing levels are being sent to India or Sydney, the most damaged ships are headed south to the Australian captial, and the lesser ones to Diamond Harbour etc.
More planes touch down on Java from P.I/Malaya.


That is all..

With Canton fallen and KB Raiding imbeteewn PH and the West coast, i can see serve slowdowns in my buildup of my defences, with the KB roaming about i cannot risk sending ANY convoys anywhere until it has gone all quiet for a few weeks to be certain.
My sailors and soldiers will spend one last christmas at home, as i dont see me sending or creating any new convoys until new year, not good news for the war effort, but im sure ive made the correct decision.

Enterprise should bag a few Ap's/AK's next turn, but on the flipside it looks likely that BB Maryland will be rundown by the KB, unless he growns cautious that a group of my B-17s will attack the Carriers, i doubt he will Gilles is a very agressive player and i dont think he will let 200 points slip away into Pearl Harbour.

Look a that, a whole post without a picture!



[:D]