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I'm startingoff behind the curb as ADavidB started his AAR awhile ago,but nomatter.
PH Attack:
I got lucky on the first turn PH attack and sank 2 BB's outright Arizona and Nevada.A sub also joined them on the bottom of the harbor,Dolphin I believe.I also scored alot of spreadout damage on the other BB's and ships in PH.
The PH airbase and squadrons were also shotup,but hey everyone does it so its no major revelation.
What to do after PH with KB? Do I hang around PH and hit it again? Head for Japan? Cut through and try to support Wake and possibly pickoff Enterprise or Lex over there? Head for Kwajelein(no I can't spell it)? Or go on a California cruise?

We did a historical First turn so there is no crazy improvised mass attack/Landings plan.

Invasion of PI:

PI..........normal Invasions at Viggan and Apparri...but I have seen too many bogged down PI invasions,with Clarkfield being a nasty fortress that chopsup Jap formations as they come along the Appari/Tuegero road or make the Lingayan rivercrossing.These attack routes are unacceptable to me,my alternative a 2 Division invasion at SanMarcelino.
Its Dec 17th now and I have the 16th Inf.Div ashore at San Marcelino with the 2nd Inf.Div due to land in a day.I also have 2 Engineer regiments on the way and a baseforce as well.Another 2 arty Batt/Reg will be sent there as well as an armoured rgt.With this force a direct overland along the rail-line attack will be made on Clarkfield.
Airforce in PI........i'm attacking Clarkfield and whacking the airgroups there,runways,supply and baseforce's AA. I'm also running fighter sweeps of Zero's into Manila to weardown his P40's! Every P40 dead here is 1 less I meet in DEI or Australia!
My target is to get PI campaign overwith by the end of January.

Invasion of Malaya:
Malaya...........Nothing special so far.The 18th Inf.Div has taken Khota Baru and is in pursuit of the retreating allied forces.A baseforce and a SNLF has takenover at Khota Baru and is repairing the massive damage I did to the base<OOPS!>!!!
The 5th Inf.Div is still sitting in songieta harbor eyeing the Alor Star allies awaiting reinforcement.
I have my Haruna/Kongo bombardment force making runs on Johore and Kuntan.I'm debating a Brigade level landing at Johore to try and panic the Allies into retreating to Singapore immediatly.
My subs off malaya are basically watching for the allies to make a run at smashing my transport/supply convoys at Khota Baru and Songieta.
AirForce in malaya.........I have been working over all the allied airfields north of Singapore one at a time to do maximum damage and reduce his basing options. I send fightersweeps madeup of Zero's to hit Singapore and we have had some good success there.
I do see alot less RAF activity in Malaya than I should so he's saving his aircraft.

Invasion of Burma:

Burma.........I have an Independent Infantry rgt as spearhead to see how far and how fast he'll run.Currently i'm at Tavoy and it should fall this turn!
Airforce in Burma.......I have been hitting Tavoy because I see aircraft there and his damn night bombers are comingout of there and bombing me in Bangkok.
Immediate objective: keep pushing till he makes a stand,hopefully i can get all the way to Rangoon,but I bet he'll hold at the riverline above Moulein to slow me down and bleed me abit.

AirOps:

Airforce ASW employment.......I'm a very firm believer in using all my airforce assests.The plethora of jap floatplanes just scream to be used for ASW! Those damn U.S subs and their erratic earlywar torpedos always,ALWAYS score some hits! Usually the hit consists of blowing a "BIGHOLE"in a transport crammed with troops or SUPPLIES!!!! Not this time brother,my little floatplanes are going to be buzzing and droppin in on these pesky subs all over the theater.
I have dragooned Vals and Kates not assigned to carrier duty into my ASW force as well.Also army divebombers i haven't got to the front yet.My supplyline has to be protected and ASW is a key.
Future plan is to outpost the entire resource pipeline with some form of ASW airpower. I really think this is having an effect as subs i keep spotting/attacking seem not to shoot at my transport TF's that then pass over them that same turn!


CHINA!! Ah,here is the proverbial can of worms,what to do in China.I've heard how the competant jap player can't be stoped in china,yet in another pbem game i am putting significant losses on my jap opponent.
I look at China in 3 areas North(Yenen),Central(Changsa),South(Wuchow).Currently i am poised to make an attack on Yenen and Changsa while forces are on the move to Canton for the Wuchow assault.
More later as i'm dead tired and its 4:00am!!!!!!!!!!

p.s......my verybland writingstyle shall improve!

p.p.s......all comments,constructive,destructive or simply inane are welcome!

p.p.p.s.......ADavidB,if you are reading this you are a very,very bad man! Muhahahahaha![:-]

Here are some of the operations I have underway:

I am trying to really hit his subs right from the start of the war.This will i hope give me some good ASW experience for when my vital resouce/oil convoys startup in afew months time.
here one of my surface ASW groups gets lucky:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/17/41

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 26,45

Japanese Ships
DD Shirakumo
DD Usugumo
DD Shinonome
DD Fubuki

Allied Ships
SS KXVII, hits 1, on fire


Also I am bombarding targets on the eastern malay coast looking for an opportunity to land and to surprerss his damn aircraft!

Naval bombardment of Mersing, at 23,49

Japanese Ships
DD Hibiki
DD Akatsuki
DD Arashio
DD Michishio
DD Oshio
DD Asashio
CL Jintsu
CA Atago
CA Takao
BB Haruna
BB Kongo


Allied ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 7
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 2


Again in the PI i'm planning the major drive on Clarkfield to come out of San Marcelino:

Coastal Guns at San Marcelino, 43,50, firing at TF 92
TF 92 troops unloading over beach at San Marcelino, 43,50


44 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PG Nanpo Maru

Japanese ground losses:
588 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at San Marcelino, 43,50, firing at TF 92
TF 92 troops unloading over beach at San Marcelino, 43,50


44 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
459 casualties reported
Guns lost 5


my Zero led fighter sweeps in Malay over Singapore and Manila in PI are still eating his avaliable fighter strength:
Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
****This was a screwup on my part,as i'm resting the main zero fightergroup,I had forgotten about these boys but they still came through for me!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed
********More to my liking!!!


My continued suppression of Clarkfield:

Day Air attack on Clark Field , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 25
Ki-48 Lily x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 17

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 7000 feet
9 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 7000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Clark Field , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
G4M1 Betty x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged


Allied ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 28

Aircraft Attacking:

******Finally reducing this base to a total wreck,i'm hopeful the B17's based here are finnished! Or soon will be..........


In the southcentral pacific:

Ground combat at Tarawa

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 405 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 20 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tarawa base !!!

******I'm taking Tarawa to setup a nice airbase for Nells and betty's to interdict the Canton area,forcing his supply convoys to the south.

PRODUCTION:

As if you thought all you needed to do as the japanese was planout and execute a <co-ordinated>or atleast a <coherent>offensive across the pacific.
Who hasn't playing the japanese in Witp looked at the production options open to you and taken a step back? Yes i confess to finding it daunting,but hey a challenge is always interesting right? Anyway I choose to hedge my bet abit by stealing various ideas from those who have gone Jap before me.
My initial production choices:
1) Halt all nate production but wait till the factories retool on their own to take advantage of the free conversion.
2) keep producing Nell's and wait till the factories auto-convert to Betty production.<I like nell's they seem to actually perform well in the first 8 months of the war>
3) Stop and convert Claude production to Zero production.
4) Increase Zero production afew steps in the smaller factories.
5) Forget about the Ida,its junk and i'm not wasting my time with it on general principles.
6) keep 1 factory producing kawasaki engines and increase it slightly.
7) Changeout other engine production in types not being used to Nakajima engines.
8) Increase slightly small plant Nakajima construction.I never bump more than 1,000pt bump.

Armaments:
Increase small armament plants not going over 1,000pt bumps.<gotta not get too carried away spending supplies>

Vehicles:
Same as armaments,small bumps to increase the flow of Tanks to my units.......

Naval production:

1)Increase all small naval yards again not going over a 1,000pt increase.
2) Increase all small merchant yards as well following the above naval policy.
3) Leave the repair yards alone!!!!!!!!!

Now the dirty job,ship production:

1) Halt Shinano NOW!! As of Dec 7th and save the points.......180 or so,I need to check again. So far I am using afew of these points to accelerate a modern jap destroyer,I want the ASW capability.The others I am banking for project "U".
2) Hurry prduction of first CVE<it uses merchant not naval points.>
3) Hurry production of AV and CS...again they use merchant not naval points.I need the ASW capability these provide with their floatplanes.

Future production choices:

I plan on stopping all the RO-type subs,I need the naval points for operation "U".

Just some comments on production. It seems to me that this sentence (I choose to hedge my bet abit by stealing various ideas from those who have gone Jap before me) is telling you have not a great experience of Jap production. Well you will find that shooting down Corsairs with Nates seems sometimes easier than trying to build a heavy war machine in Japan..... (even if I confess I haver seen a Nate shot down a Corsair... but I have seen a Rufe do it ! Probably the American pilot didn't realize how slow the Rufe is and collided with it).

There are a lot of planes I stop on day first as they have huge stocks and won't be needed in such numbers (like Dave for example or Ki-48).

I don't upgrade all my units when I don't think it brings much. For example, Nells are not automatically upgraded to Betty. The main improvement of the Betty IIRC is combat speed, that makes them a little less vulnerable than Nells in A2A. But in the first months of the war, I always use them under escort by Zeroes that are supposed to clear the skies and so Nells perform as good as Betties. Again this allows me to not increase the Betty production at start and have my naval bomber outfit at 100% strength (crew permitting).

Then what is your policy on research ? I think it is a good idea to stop repair AND Production of all research you don't want in the next year (Tony or Oscar II) at once and then come back in 1942 and start to repair them. That will save you 10-25k of supply per turn. And do all the difference between starvation and abundance in the spring.

You seem to say that increase of less than 1000 pts is "small". Do you mean really 1000 ? My planned increase is limited to probably 600 for the whole industry (that is increase of Zero, Mavis (convert to EMily), Kate, Val, Nakajima, ARM, Vehicules and Naval Shipyard) and it seems to me you limit yourself to 1000 in every category....

By the way you don't need more merchant shipyard until 1943 IMHO. Even if you accelerate CVE. While you will always need more naval shipyard.

Something that is lackin in your report is the conversion of 7000-tons AK to AR. I hope you don't forget that in game. If you don't do this before, convert at once 5-10 AKs to AR (maybe 1-2 MLE may be useful too) and accelerate them (or at least part of them). Japanese repair teams are so bad that ARs are a 'must have' and you only have once at the start of the game. They are far more useful than CVE, again IMOO.

Another trick I do sometimes is to stop the Taiho (115 points) and accelerate the 2 first Unryu CVs (68 *2 = 136 points). They will arrive roughly at the time the Taiho is planned, or even before, and will carry more planes.

Thankyou for the input! by stealing good ideas from those that have gone before i simply meant co-opted them into my own plans.Irrelevant has given me more than afew good ideas as have several others.
As far as Nell's go i agree that they are effective,especially in the opening war months.I'm keeping them as is and using them.
As far as research goes i tend to agree that stoping some temporarily can be a good idea.I have not,repeat not done this as of yet.
On to shipyard improvements.Japan starts off with several small naval and merchant yards...i increase these untill the cost to increase hits 1,000pts.That was the small bumpups i was reffering to.
i have a special operation planned similar to what you suggest about the Unryu carriers but on a larger scale....
AR's are very important.......i never thought it through to shoot for converting 10 AK's though!Think i'll change afew more then.

Well now the 16th and 2nd Inf/Div's are both ashore at San marcelino.
Coastal Guns at San Marcelino, 43,50, firing at TF 4
TF 4 troops unloading over beach at San Marcelino, 43,50


26 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
347 casualties reported

Yea,they were abit disrupted but they are ashore vs a weakened PI Inf div......I should have the port today,Dec 20th.
Still attriting the PI Inf/div i'm facing on the beaches:

Day Air attack on 21st PA Division, at 43,50

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
G4M1 Betty x 33
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Then my attack on same Division:

Ground combat at San Marcelino

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21087 troops, 280 guns, 6 vehicles

Defending force 3967 troops, 31 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2



Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported


On the Malay penn......

Naval bombardment of Kuantan, at 24,47

Japanese Ships
DD Hibiki
DD Akatsuki
DD Arashio
DD Michishio
DD Oshio
DD Asashio
CL Jintsu
CA Atago
CA Takao
BB Haruna
BB Kongo


Allied ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 13
Runway hits 29
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 10

i'm blasting the troops he has at Kuantan,the 18th Inf/div will still take 3-4 days to reach this port.I'm contemplating an amphibious assault at Mersing.

My ASW is still proving effective:

ASW attack at 25,47

Japanese Ships
DD Hibiki
DD Akatsuki
DD Arashio
DD Michishio
DD Oshio

Allied Ships
SS KXV, hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

In the PI my Fighter sweeps are now comingup empty,he's laying low or pullingout.

Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 82

No Japanese losses

abit of patience and not getting too far ahead of myself,then things will start falling into place. Its already obvious he's pulling air-assest back,now its a question of how far.

Success!! He has withdrawn from San Marcelino! Now my divisions can recover while they await the arty,engineer and HQ support to arrive.
PI.....

Ground combat at San Marcelino

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21075 troops, 279 guns, 6 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 53 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE San Marcelino base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
P-35A: 1 destroyed

well finnishedoff an outdated fighter remnant here but the key was to secure my base for the Clarkfield assault.

Other news my fighter sweep over Manila has again netted nothing,safe for the bombers to come in now......

Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 58

No Japanese losses

Malaya..............

Naval bombardment of Kuantan, at 24,47

Japanese Ships
DD Hagikaze
DD Arashi
DD Nowaki
DD Maikaze
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami


Allied ground losses:
90 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 27
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 10
Port supply hits 12

i'm softeningup kuantan,but think bombardment here is about at an end,i don't want to devestate the base afterall! I've smacked too many bases i'm now using abit too hard already,but its so satisfying to blast the "WESTERN COLONIALIST MENACE" that i forget myself!

My fighter sweep against Singapore met more success:

Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 6 destroyed

Perhaps he'll take to the boats and try to pullout alot of troops and important base personel.Now that i have Nell's at Songikha and Tavoy the bay of Bengal and road to Ceylon is about to become more exciting!!

*******A movement problem**** My Imperial huard division and the burma assigned Ingantry Division with it as well as the armoured rgt set to go to Victoria point,ALL DIDN"T MOVE A HEX IN TWO FLIPPIN WEEKS!! INFACT THE MILES PROGRESS WAS AT 22 of 60 for the armoured unit and less for the Infantry!!! I have since moved them back along the rail-line to ports for sea transport.
Infact an opportunity for an amphib operation at Johore is presenting itself.

Not a tremendous amount went on this turn,i think things will start heatingup soon though! he thinks he can just backoff and have me unable to really touch him,well we shall see about that.

My ASW Ops are not going as well as I had hoped,but the war is young and my boys are trainingup!

ASW attack at 64,44

Japanese Ships
DD Ariake
DD Shiratsuyu

Allied Ships
SS Trout

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 61,44

Japanese Ships
DD Sazanami
PC Ishigaki
APD APD-31

Allied Ships
SS Tambor

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 78,78

Japanese Ships
PG Kantori Maru
PG Kaiun Maru
PG Ikunta Maru
PG Hakkaisan Maru
MSW Tama Maru #3

Allied Ships
SS Pompano

In the PI i'm still consolidating at San marcelino awaiting followon forces and resupply.Air ops have me hitting Manila and pounding away at Clarkfield.

Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
G4M1 Betty x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged


Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 7000 feet
18 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Clark Field , at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 22
Ki-48 Lily x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 4 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 16

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 6000 feet

Malaya i'm still hitting him at kuantan:

Day Air attack on 15th Indian Brigade, at 24,44

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 27
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 8000 feet

And it seems he is now and probably has been for awhile moving troops out of malaya.....

Day Air attack on TF, near Singapore at 23,50

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 6

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 5

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
AP Ormiston, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G3M Nell bombing at 5000 feet
4 x G3M Nell bombing at 5000 feet

So i'm counting on my forward deployed nells to make life interesting for the Allies now.

12/25/41

Been afew days since my last update,I know you all have been couting the moments...[:D]

HEADLINE SAN FRANCISCO: KB FOUND by CONVOY!!! Details to follow:

Day Air attack on TF at 128,57

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 40
B5N Kate x 60

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Ensley City, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Henry S Grove, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Arkansan, Torpedo hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AK Ohioan, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tuscaloosa City, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Columbian
AK Hawaiian, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Outarde, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Chickasaw City, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Turkey, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Dorothy Luckenbach, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Steel Ranger, Bomb hits 1
AK Trento, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Knoxville City, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Followed by:

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 20
B5N Kate x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Knoxville City, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Hawaiian, on fire, heavy damage
AK Ohioan, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Columbian
AK Trento, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AK Tuscaloosa City, on fire, heavy damage
AK Arkansan, on fire, heavy damage
AK Dorothy Luckenbach, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

That AK Columbian is one lucky ship!!!!!!

Elsewhere in the NEW Imperial Domains:

PI:
The San marcelino beach-head is buildingup well,Engineers are ashore now and so is the baseforce.Artillery,Armour and our HQ are on the way and will arrive in 2 days.Imperial HQ has decided inlight of the fierce chinese resistance to Increase our PI forces by the addition of another division.Its felt with 3 divisions the drive on Clarkfield and hence Battaan will not fail. It also gives more time for the lagging 48th/div and 65th Bde to get into position.Revise timetable to January 10th for taking Clark.
Also in norther PI waters:
Ground combat at Naga

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2714 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 75 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Naga base !!!



In the southern PI our glorous naval forces have defeated the cowardly Yankee colonialist scum torpedo boats!!!!! clearing the way for our victorious ground forces!

Night Time Surface Combat, near Cagayan at 42,59

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
DD Yukikaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Yamakaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Umikaze
DD Suzukaze
DD Shiokaze

Allied Ships
PT PT-31, Shell hits 6, and is sunk

Had a runin with two of these boats yesterday and sank one....day before that they put a torp into 1 of my Bombardment force escorts.

Malaya......

More of the same,i continue to repair damage i did to Khota Baru.The 18th Inf/Div is marching to kuantan.I dropped a para battalion<part of 1st para regt>ontop of kuantan and captured it.Aerial recon showed no-one home there!
The poor 5th Inf/Div is still trying to take ALOR STAR on its lonesome!

Ground combat at Alor Star

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18641 troops, 250 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 2794 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2


Japanese ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

we will break them here yet!!!!!!

CHINA.............

The drive on Changsa and Yenan goes on:

Ground combat at Changsha

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 124788 troops, 1347 guns, 153 vehicles

Defending force 51839 troops, 318 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
2080 casualties reported
Guns lost 62
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
2365 casualties reported
Guns lost 40

We each lost similar amounts of men yesterday as well here....i do have reserves moving into the city though.I think its time to bombard for a day or so first here.

Ground combat at Yenen

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 716 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 30571 troops, 188 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported

We lost about 1,000 each yesterday,I wanted to soften him and await 2 more Independent Brigades to join me.Also i'll let the divebombers work him over some more as well!

To admiralLaurent: I took your advise instead of converting 5 AR's I went for 10!!! i'll most probably need them!

Production: Zero production is at about 150 a month now,it should continue to topout around 155 unless I tweak it abit again.

I'm watching my supply status as i don't want to crimp things during the summer.However I'm well ahead of schedule and think i can wrapup the Maylay Penninsula by the end of January.

Somewhere off the west Coast of the U.S.........

"Time to retire,we smashed a supply convoy,possibly carrying aircraft,but the surprise is over." I had hoped to catch some Infantry heading south or Damaged BB's going to westcoast ports.......but nomatter.
KB will now start the trek home,the gamble in my mind was marginal at best.Even stirringup a hornets nest the amount of time KB will be out of action is too much.Hopefully i'll leave him paralyzed as to convoys for another week or so,but we'll see.

PI FRONT:
Lingayan taken troops continue to land at San Martino.Supplies are now 2 days away from San Martino as well....."ahh supply,Japanse bane".
I have troops landing at Cagayan,next turn I should have it captured.I need to get a baseforce in here and expand my aircoverage as well.Possibly i'll get an AV here in 2 days and use the floatplanes to setup an ASW zone.
Loadup.......move.....aquirebase........setup baseforce.......ASW aircraft.......strike aircraft.......Then repeat.....

The constant grind of air-raids on the groundtroops at Clark continues as well.......i'll be bombing them for atleast another week.

My subs score another hit:

Sub attack at 18,58

Japanese Ships
SS I-164

Allied Ships
AP Westralia, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
MSW Deloraine
MSW Cairns


Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

And I got away with no return damage!!!!! YEA!!!!!!

Malaya...........

Fightersweep over Singapore gets no results,indeed it looks as though the RAF has withdrawn from Malaya now.
Air-raids continue to chewup forces behind Alor-Star:

Day Air attack on 28th Indian Brigade, at 23,45

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 43

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

While at Alor Star:

Ground combat at Alor Star

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18612 troops, 248 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 2700 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

I have reinforcements on the way to the 5th Division.....and i want as many allied units in the north as possible.Wish he'd reinforce Alor Star!!!!

I have an Infantry Brigade,the Imperial Guard division and more assets ready to hit the beach at Mersing!!!!!

China:

Ground combat at Changsha

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 111300 troops, 1264 guns, 11 vehicles

Defending force 48638 troops, 260 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
79 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

i have 2 Ind Brigades moving into Changsa so its time to bleed him abit,then finnish him off here!


In Yenen:

Ground combat at Yenen

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 92227 troops, 1094 guns, 18 vehicles

Defending force 30617 troops, 192 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
105 casualties reported


More troops are due in Yenan as well.........i'm not in a hurry.

3 of my Mongolian cavalry divisions and an Independent brigade have the Chinese force in the north backedup to the soviet border.......Those 3 Chinese corps and Division are prettygood......why is he wasting them there?

Eastern Pacific..........

KB is now withdrawing from the area back toward japan,its a long,long haul! I'll be 15 days out atleast so I can keep pace with my tankers!

PI...........

San Martino beachead continues to fillup with assault troops and now supplies!!! Another Division is amost done embarking and will be proceeding to San Martino!
Southern PI.....i'm about to capture Cagayan now,hopefully I can catch afew of his planes on the field! time to get the 56th Brigade on the wau to Davao........

Malaya..........

Invasion forces for Mersing should be off this turn.Recon still reports no enemy troop so i will not do a naval bombardment! I don't want to wreck this port as well!

Also continuing the aerial attack on his units in the north Alor Star area....

Day Air attack on 15th Indian Brigade, at 24,44

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 10
Ki-48 Lily x 42

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
53 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

And ofcourse the Alor Star attack itself.......

Ground combat at Alor Star

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 18619 troops, 248 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 2560 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


Still Bombarding in China as well......

Ground combat at Changsha

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 112645 troops, 1305 guns, 11 vehicles

Defending force 48978 troops, 269 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
271 casualties reported
Guns lost 5


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Yenen

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 92651 troops, 1097 guns, 18 vehicles

Defending force 30380 troops, 198 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
481 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


So we are awaiting todays developments........

KB...........

heading home slowly.........

PI....

Buildingup for the San Marcelino breakout!

Southern PI:

Ground combat at Cagayan

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6481 troops, 78 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 671 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 21 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Cagayan base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
2 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Malaya.......

My amphiboperation at Mersing is underway......troops land this turn or overnight for next turn.
Ground combat at Moulmein

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6959 troops, 83 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 142 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Moulmein base !!!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Alor Star

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 18681 troops, 248 guns, 6 vehicles

Defending force 2504 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
126 casualties reported
Guns lost 4






China..........

Stll fighting in Changsa and Yenan.........

Ground combat at Changsha

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 120465 troops, 1401 guns, 11 vehicles

Defending force 48834 troops, 263 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
171 casualties reported
Guns lost 6


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Yenen

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 108990 troops, 1272 guns, 143 vehicles

Defending force 29810 troops, 196 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
1081 casualties reported
Guns lost 35
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
1611 casualties reported
Guns lost 15


waiting for the next day to see how it all went.......

Its now 1/2/42'

The KB continues the warcruise between PH and the Westcoast....

I haven't sighted another convoy in days,but I do see a swarm of subs all around me! I see whats labeled as a DE SE of me,but much too far to persue.Might be time to head back to Imperial waters.......and let my subs hurt him when he thinks he's safe from the mighty KB!!


Malaya......

Success at Alor Star.....

Ground combat at Alor Star

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18890 troops, 259 guns, 7 vehicles

Defending force 2012 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 29 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Alor Star base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
250 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!


At Mersing my forces continue to pour ashore and have now taken the port there! I'll move Zeros in for aircover,then his bedamned Vildebeasts will pay!!!!

Night Time Surface Combat, near Mersing at 23,49

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki
DD Shinonome
DD Usugumo
DD Shirakumo

Allied Ships
PT TM-4
PT TM-5
PT TM-6
PT TM-7
PT TM-8, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT TM-9

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Mersing at 23,49

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki
DD Shinonome
DD Usugumo
DD Shirakumo

Allied Ships
PT TM-4
PT TM-5
PT TM-6
PT TM-7
PT TM-9

I need to reinforce my destroyer picket here.....was hoping to get some of his heavier units to come in so my air can "KILL" them!

On the ground there t mersing.........

Ground combat at Mersing

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17390 troops, 254 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 99 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Mersing base !!!

PI.........

My forces in San Marcelino now number 3 full Infantry divisions the 2nd,56th and 38th along with 2 Engineer regemets,3 artillery battalions and an armour regiment.Planning in all forces is now 25 or greater,so its time to make our move.
Carks ground units have been bombed for over a week now.........think afew more days and we force the issue.


China.......

Ground combat at Changsha

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 122451 troops, 1423 guns, 12 vehicles

Defending force 47936 troops, 251 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
378 casualties reported
Guns lost 11


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Yenen

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 107091 troops, 1198 guns, 139 vehicles

Defending force 25266 troops, 167 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)


Japanese ground losses:
858 casualties reported
Guns lost 35
Vehicles lost 5

Allied ground losses:
590 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Wish I had the foresight to get engineers up to Yenen first,ahh well lesson learned.

Its been afew days since i last updated,mainly because due to the Allies virtual abandonment of Malaya and removal of the RAF things are quiet.

My strategy and reasoning are as follows:

In China I plan to take yenan and Changsa fairly early,currently i have large assault forces in both cities.My effort here is twofold:
1)Deny chinese forces the supply and position of these two bases.
2) Force to battle and beatup as many chinese units as possible so it takes him "time" to rebuild.

In Malaya,i'm moving to clear the malay peninsula and aquire Singapore asap.Singapore will be my major fleetbase in the area and a springboard into the DEI.Currently I'm ashore at mersing and moving on Johore Baru.

PI........I am moving on Clarkfield from San marcelino this turn with 3 Infanty divisions,2 engineer rgts,2 armour rgts and 3 Arty batt/rgts.I have 48th Infantry division ready to move in as soon as the first assault divisions arrive.
Its taken awhile and it is jan 8th this next turn,but the final battles for the PI are underway.

Mindinao......the 56th brigade will be going ashore in 1 or 2 days along with a large baseforce.Allies seem to have withdrawn from the beach so the landing will go easy.The 56th will have to huntdown the Pi Inf division that was here,but such is life.i'll pile in beatty's and zero's and prepare for borneo.

I have been very slow in Burma...i'm holding a Inf division and Inf rgt 1 hex from unoccupied rangoon.Why you ask? Because I don't have the baseforce or AA unit I need to help stop the allies from Bombing the hell out of me!!! Also the 2 groups of zeros i want in the are not yet avaliable for deployment.So i wait and Rangoon keeps producing oil,resources and supplies that i will aquire in 8 more days.

I haven't landed in Borneo to take the oil wells on the northcoast yet either.Reason being i plan on driving his air units out first and i'm giving the wells time to pumpout more crude!

I do have the 35th brigade moving toward a landing at kuchin,I also have a baseforce along to enable me to move aircraft in fast.

On the otherside of the Ocean the KB is backedoff to above PH again.I have a baseforce on the way to wake island that I think his subs saw twice. i'm hoping he stages a carrier raid to bleed me....and i can ambush him. Though its very possible he doesn't have any CV's here........he might have kept them down by Canton and Australia.


In China:

Allies are getting bold and chinese airunits are attacking me:


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-153c: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x I-153c attacking at 100 feet

I'll have to take it for now,my airforce is needed elsewhere.

I continue to softenup Allied units at ClarkField:

Day Air attack on 11th PA Division, at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 7
Ki-21 Sally x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 6 damaged


Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 9000 feet
9 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 11th PA Division, at 43,51

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 9
Ki-30 Ann x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged


Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Again in China my ground forces bombard his units while i await reinforcements for both assault groups:

Ground combat at Changsha

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 123875 troops, 1438 guns, 11 vehicles

Defending force 47736 troops, 246 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
140 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Yenen

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 106206 troops, 1186 guns, 10 vehicles

Defending force 24875 troops, 153 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
182 casualties reported


The pace of operations is slow,but if i hurry without gaining airfields and establishing aircover for my forces i invite disaster.

To date my losses have been negligible with 1 sub,1 DD and an AP sunk.......I have 2 DD's damaged along with a CL and 3 SS.

In production news:
The auto-conversion of Nell to Beatty tookplace on the 3rd of January.Beatty production is now uo to 46 a/c per month.
A6M2 Zero production is up to 184 a/c per month.

A side note on China......The allies did something strange. A force of 3 Chinese corps and a Division have attacked east and are along the China/Manchuco/soviet border area.near the town of Tau-Nug.
To counter this Incursion i am moving Mongolian cavalry divisions to contain him.I also freedup and Ind.Inf brigade and the 27th Infantry div. Why these good troops aren't adding to my woe in Yenan i'm not certain.I'm just glad he diverted them,Yenen's given me enough of a headache!

Feel free to comment or ask questions..............this thing is getting hits so presumably someone is reading it. Perhaps abit more zest in my delivery......hmmmn.....

Hi Tophat

Great reading so far. It is obvious David is pulling back to consolidate and get the most out of units that usually die.
I have one cautionary remark to make of your plan to wait on taking oil locations. A good move as the allies is to populate some of the oil locations with engineers - the damage they can do will far outweigh the cost of loosing them. This particularly includes Palembang, which he may be taking units out of Malya to. You really do not want this place badly damaged!

I agree with you on palembang thats why as soon as my transport aircraft are avaliable and my paratroops are relocated to mersing i'm going to recon and airdrop on that port! I'll then move an Ind Inf brigade into it and start my march on palembang.
Johore Baru should fall in 3 days at most unless he moves troops out of Singapore to reinforce it.
Kuching landings take place also in 2 days time,so I should secure it in 4 days.I have a baseforce accompanying the 35th brigade so another airbase will quickly be established.
I'll recon the oil fields and maybe it is time to take possession. I just don't waant his hvy bombers blasting my oilfields,i'm trying to setup bases to wrest airsupremacy from him first.

Makes perfect sense in a perfect world. I would still be more inclined to take the location, suffer the losses in shipping, and then defend the base with your very superior zeros until you have rested air supremacy over Java -et al. You CAN afford to loose a few APs, you cannot afford to have Palembang damaged to 50% or more.
If you have 1Daitai of zeros at low altitude and a Daitai or Oscars at high altitude he will have trouble getting through. I would coordinate this with some heavy bombardment of batavia and toelan-something or other (at the bottom of Sumatra). If these two locations are toast he will not have locations close enough to escort his anti-industry raids and they will have to go bomber only - you will then flatten him.

I always send minesweepers with my Bombardment units when i'm indoubt,but don't BB's stay outside of minefield coverage when they bombard?

If so i will 'push' more now and hurry my tempo......