RIDERS ON THE STORM-THANK YOU

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/17/41

Some good news today.
Another BB run against Singapore. This time the minefields did the job and again another BB and a DD were hit and got back to Pelembang licking their wounds. 2 BBs are now out of action for a couple of weeks at least! The surviver BBs got through but my CD guns shot back and the Yamashiro got back in flames! No damages to the AF or to the port! good. One more day gained.
At Java we're waiting for the inevitable....[:o]
In Malaya the main japanese Army finally entered in the Peninsula and conquered Georgetown.
In China he started to clean his backlines from my partisans...but it's gonna be a long run[:D]
At Luzon we conquered Tanguanaro (Sp????), in order to get some resources. His SNLF unit/fragment was just to weak to fight back and retreated to Aparri.
Still no sign of the Land Based Zeros...this can surely be a sign that the Russian campaign is ready to begin.
What else? ah, one ducth sub was badly hit near Kragen (Java), while an enemy's sub near Colombo was hit twice by the PGs patrolling those waves....nothing special

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 9 encounters mine field at Singapore (22,51)

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Mine hits 1,  on fire[:D][:D]
DD Yugiri, Mine hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage[:D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 11,26

Japanese Ships
SS I-157, hits 2

Allied Ships
PG Jumna
PG Indus
PG Hindustan
PG Sutlej

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Kragen  at 22,64

Japanese Ships
PG Edo Maru
PG Taiko Maru
PG Nanpo Maru
PG Okuyo Maru
PG Saiko Maru
PC Ch 1
PC Ch 2
PC Kyo Maru #2
PC Kyo Maru #11
PC Kyo Maru #12

Allied Ships
SS KXIV, hits 6[:(]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Singapore, at 22,51 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

11 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 6,  on fire[:D][8D]
BB Fuso
BB Hyuga
BB Mutsu


Allied ground losses:
465 casualties reported
Guns lost 11


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Ground combat at Georgetown






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Ground combat at Tuguegarao

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4239 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 129

Defending force 80 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Allied max assault: 124 - adjusted assault: 124

Japanese max defense: 2 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 124 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Tuguegarao base !!!
 

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!


However, now the intelligence screen says: 215 Allied ships sunk...1200 Vpoints...[:(]...that's quite a lot of shipping, especially considered i'm using a straight Sir Robin tactic...

[Gen.Hoepner]

More good news Guys!!!!



AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/18/41


Last night another BB raid against Singapore...and what...???? Well, 3 more BBs are out of action!!! 2 BBs hit mines during the approach and the other one was massacred by Singapore Costal guns!!! YES![:D]
We lost a Sub today in the Malacca strait...a bad news, but it's ok, i can handle it as long as i saved most of the damaged subs in Manile (those who were not directly sunk are now afloat).
Koepang has been invaded. Now, with Timor in his bloody hands, SRA and DEI are cut off from Oz... plus the whole japanese air army attacked my forces at Medioen (Java), disabling most of my men...Java's fate is already written[:(]
However, If he comes for Darwin now i'm still in trouble...my defences are far from being ready:-(

What else? In China he keeps fighting against my partisans, while at Canton my units started the bombardment activity...he has 1 division and a half of a mixed brigade...he cannot push me back:-) Southern flank of China is now secure.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Singapore at 22,51

Japanese Ships
DD Minegumo
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Samidare
DD Akatsuki
DD Inazuma

Allied Ships
SS S-36, hits 4, heavy damage *sinks*....[:o]

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TF 43 encounters mine field at Singapore (22,51)

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Mine hits 1, on fire[:D][8D]
BB Kongo, Mine hits 1, on fire[;)]

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Naval bombardment of Singapore, at 22,51 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

27 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage[:'(][:D]
BB Hiei, Shell hits 4, on fire
BB Nagato


Allied ground losses:
286 casualties reported GOOD GUYS[:)]
Guns lost 7

[Kereguelen]

Hi General,

nice to see that you returned to the forum!

Don't know why your opponent is bombarding Singapore (actually this is quite strange), but last turn result means that Haruna, Kongo, Hiei and Kirishima are damaged and probably out of action (= all fast Japanese battleships). Whatever your opponent is up to, he paid a heavy price - and maybe one of your subs will be lucky...

K

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Kereguelen

Hi General,

nice to see that you returned to the forum!

Don't know why your opponent is bombarding Singapore (actually this is quite strange), but last turn result means that Haruna, Kongo, Hiei and Kirishima are damaged and probably out of action (= all fast Japanese battleships). Whatever your opponent is up to, he paid a heavy price - and maybe one of your subs will be lucky...

K

Thanks mate!

i moved away my subs from the Singapore area 'cause the presence of the KB at Pelmbang was a mortal threat to them. So many of my precious subs got hit and, having lost so many of them at Manila, i cannot efford to throw away those boats in the swallow waters of the Malacca Strait...
However i would never risk my precious BBs against the Singapore Fortress...you could easily do that job using the bombers...[&:]

[Gen.Hoepner]

What really puzzles me now it's China. What appeared to be a general evacuation of everything that wasn't strictly necessary (in order to move to Manchukoku), now seems a major assembling in the northern area of China (around Pejiin).
It really doens't make sense. He moved back his units just to move them back again to the starting positions?!?! What's the point here? So the Russian operation is not anymore on scheldue and now i have to face a massive attack in China???
My northern perimeter, as stated in previous posts, is my weakest.While i feel quite safe in the south and in the center i dunno if i can handle a coordinated strike against Honan-Yenan-Sian area... Supplies are now flyin' to Sian, hopefully we could hold him when he will cross the yellow river east of Honan...

In the image below what seems to be the japanese plan for China:

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/19/41
 
The Japs invaded Ambonia and Lungaville...well, i think a southern pacific counterattack will be a must, cause Noumea gives too many VPs to the japs...
 
 
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Sub attack at 34,64 Near Balikapan
 
Japanese Ships
AK Fumishima Maru, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire[:D]
PC Takunan Maru #7
PC Takunan Maru #6
PC Shonon Maru #11
PC Shonon Maru #10
PC Shonon Maru #3
PC Kyo Maru #7
PC Kyo Maru #6
PC Fumi Maru #3
PG Toyotsu Maru
PG Chokai Maru
 
Allied Ships
SS O16, hits 4
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Koepang
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 5422 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 146
 
Defending force 614 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 16
 
Japanese max assault: 270 - adjusted assault: 45
 
Allied max defense: 10 - adjusted defense: 1
 
Japanese assault odds: 45 to 1 (fort level 2)
 
Japanese forces CAPTURE Koepang base !!!
 
 
Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
 
Allied ground losses:
106 casualties reported
 
 
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
 
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Ground combat at Davao
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 5033 troops, 28 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 176
 
Defending force 2891 troops, 27 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 87
 
Japanese max assault: 272 - adjusted assault: 162
 
Allied max defense: 75 - adjusted defense: 13
 
Japanese assault odds: 12 to 1 (fort level 2)
 
Japanese forces CAPTURE Davao base !!!
 
 
Japanese ground losses:
218 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
 
Allied ground losses:
5373 casualties reported
Guns lost 17
 
 
So Also Davao has gone...the end of the SRA-DEI is near...only Luzon is not giving up the fight. Now i have 1600 Assault points there...not bad

[Gen.Hoepner]

It puzzles me a lot...now he almost abbandoned Nanchang (only 1 unit)...it seems that he's getting back[&:]...while there are now 20 units at Mutakiang..only 3 hexes north of Vladivostok...so...probably i was wrong about boyzra...

[Gen.Hoepner]

Ok Guys...i really need your help here...I cannot understand what he's doing[&:][&:][&:]
Look at the Chinese map...he's abbandoning Ichang, Nanchang and it seems that the whole Japanese army is going otherwhere...

Does it make any sense to you???

[Gen.Hoepner]

Anyway, with this mess in China, that i do not know if it's to be consider a poisoned gift, the war goes on. We're approachin quickly christmas 41.
By the new year Russia could be in flame and the final courtdown will be brought on Java (after 4 days of air bombarment i doubt my guys could stand even a virtual defence). Then it will be Singapore Time. Today a great force took off from Palembang and run havoc among my men at Singapore. No way to hold the field defence after this kind of bombing...
Wake is being filled with engeneers, AA guns, CD companies and soon the marines will come in.
Canton Is. willbe the other stronghold of the americans in the pacific. The idea is to flank the marshall and threaten his supply lines here.
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/20/41
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ASW attack at 32,64
 
Japanese Ships
AK Ryotoku Maru
PC Takunan Maru #7
PC Takunan Maru #6
PC Shonon Maru #11
PC Shonon Maru #10
PC Shonon Maru #3
PC Kyo Maru #7
PC Kyo Maru #6
PC Fumi Maru #3
PG Toyotsu Maru
PG Chokai Maru
 
Allied Ships
SS KXI, hits 1
 
another sub is hit (26 flt. damage) and must go back to India...and my opponent is complaining about ASW...[:o]
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Singapore , at 22,51
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
G3M Nell x 67
F1M2 Pete x 1
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 34
Ki-21-II Sally x 125
Ki-15 Babs x 1
 
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 15 damaged
 
 
Allied ground losses:
290 casualties reported
Guns lost 11
 
Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 16
Runway hits 66
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Luganville
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 607 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21
 
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
 
Japanese max assault: 36 - adjusted assault: 10
 
Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1
 
Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 0)
 
Japanese forces CAPTURE Luganville base !!!
 
 Well...this isn't exactly what i call and invasion force...600 men...[:-]
 
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Ground combat at Canton
 
Allied Bombardment attack
 
Attacking force 24858 troops, 137 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 797
 
Defending force 68857 troops, 292 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1099
 
 He brought in another division...[:'(]
 

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
Does it make any sense to you???

My guess is he's feeling overwhelmed in China right now due to the claustrophobic feeling he gets with so many guerilla Corps in his rear. He's apparently over-reacting and pulling back to consolidate.

Seize the opportunity and take whatever you can. My opponent held firm in a very similar China situation and he methodically began hunting down my Guerilla Corps and easily re-opened his supply lines. So Japan doesn't need to be pulling back.

Once your opponent realizes his mistake he'll be back, so take advantage of the opportunity while you can. Of course it takes so long to move in some areas, he may be back before you’re even half way there.

Jim

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Jim D Burns

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
Does it make any sense to you???

My guess is he's feeling overwhelmed in China right now due to the claustrophobic feeling he gets with so many guerilla Corps in his rear. He's apparently over-reacting and pulling back to consolidate.

Seize the opportunity and take whatever you can. My opponent held firm in a very similar China situation and he methodically began hunting down my Guerilla Corps and easily re-opened his supply lines. So Japan doesn't need to be pulling back.

Once your opponent realizes his mistake he'll be back, so take advantage of the opportunity while you can. Of course it takes so long to move in some areas, he may be back before you’re even half way there.

Jim

Thanks Jim.
Well, if it's like that he's crazy! Those little units can be driven away using a fragment of a division...with a brigade and a pair of tank units you are able to keep your back lines free...seems strange to me that he pulled back 6 units from Nanchang only for this...however, i'll take what i get. I was hoping to encircle some of his most advanced units, but he flows back every time i flank him...this is a pity but if i manage to gain 2 bases (ichang and Nanchang) without a single shot of carabine...well...why no?[:D]
Let's hope it's not a trap...

[Nemo121]

The other thing he could be doing is consolidating forces for a drive on the Honan/Sian axis.

To be honest though I wouldn't even bother playing this guy as it seems clear to me he is going to bail the first time he runs into trouble complaining that Japan can't win --- sure, it can't but winning isn't the point.

As to China: If he is withdrawing in order to gather his forces together the natural place for him to deploy these forces is into Honan and then Sian. I'd try to guard against that.

[Gen.Hoepner]

Thanks Nemo. Well, Trollelite is playing really good imho. He has made a single mistake (well, maybe those BB against Singa...) and he's really challenging my abilities, so i like this game. When and if there will be the first japanese "lost victory"[:)] i hope he'll behave correctly considering how much time you need to play this game.
 
However, Yes, Honan- Sian is my best bet too and i'm consolidating my forces there. The rivercrossing can be bloody[8D]
But even if he drives me out of Sian and Yenan...well...if i can take the center of China the exchange is in my favour Imho...if Nanchang will be taken, then Shangai will be in some danger considering the number of men China can master....[;)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

I'm gonna post some summary screenshots taken at 21st of Dec. 41.
As you can see Japan is pretty ahead on the normal scheldue, having conquered almost SRA and DEI, leaving back Luzon which is now completely sorrounded.... The conquest of Timor and Ambonia now puts a serious threat on Darwin and Northern Oz...

[Gen.Hoepner]

In Java there are 400 AVs, badly supplied and mostly disabled by the constant bombing activity of enemy bombers...

[Gen.Hoepner]

While Luzon is completely another thing.
Here Japan attacked only with paras fragments. After the liberation of Naga, few days ago, now we'll try to push the japanese paras back to Aparri.
At Clark and Manila we're consolidating our positions. Supply for the moment isn't a problem and forts are coming up, while the PI troops are gaining firepower (even if the exp. remains very very low..) We're also doing a good job saving those badly shaped units that are left on the isles in the Leyte gulf...they will be usefull when the final days of Luzon will arrive.

[Gen.Hoepner]

And this is the general perimeter...Wake and Canton isl. are my strongholds in the pacific.
As you can see Japan, by the end of the year will have finished his initial objs. in SRA and DEI. Luzon is left back. He'llhave then the chance of choicing which way to go...India,Oz, Pacific, China (which isn't likely) or Russia...

[Gen.Hoepner]

And this is the ship lost screen... Despite the great losses in terms of bases and men, the fleet isn't in a bad shape, having lost only 3 major ships and couple of DDs...

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/23/41

So Medioen finally fell. After huge bombings at my poor ducth men lined at Medioen in the last defence of the Java Capital could not stand a chance against the waves of japan.
He broght in more than 3000 AVs...simply impossible to resist. The KB helped the advance bombing with his kates my troops, while Sallies, Nells and betties kept on pounding the ducths from Batavia... Now Sosarbaja willfall in the next 5 days i guess...

The expansion of the japanese Empire goes on. Tavoy and Victoria points were taken by paras, while Port Blair (Bay of Bengal) was so conquered with a para-drop. This new advance, with the abnormal sub activities around Cylon (not less than 3 subs were spotted around Tricomalae) suggest that he's probably going to extend the range of his torpedo bombers here...gotta pay much more attention now in moving the RNin these waters...[:(]

At Singapore my men were bombed heavily but at least this time we shot back and a lot of japanese planes came down or went back badly damaged.
In Malaya there are 2 jap divisions advancing towards Singa...probably not enough to take it.

In China we conquered an abbandoned Nanchang...very strange...still have no clue about his plans here...seem skitzofrenic!!![&:][&:]


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Day Air attack on 4th KNIL Regiment, at 22,65 (MEDIOEN)

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
B5N2 Kate x 122

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 31 damaged


Allied ground losses:
151 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 4th KNIL Regiment, at 22,65

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 42
G4M1 Betty x 29
Ki-21-II Sally x 55

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 4 damaged


Allied ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Guns lost 2



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Ground combat at Madioen

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 124093 troops, 569 guns, 256 vehicles, Assault Value = 2948[X(][X(][X(][X(][X(][X(]

Defending force 32593 troops, 251 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 454

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese max assault: 5664 - adjusted assault: 3864

Allied max defense: 422 - adjusted defense: 239

Japanese assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Madioen base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
1749 casualties reported
Guns lost 32
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
3739 casualties reported
Guns lost 70
Vehicles lost 12


Defeated Allied Units Retreating![:(][:(]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Nanchang

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 57094 troops, 335 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 1780

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied max assault: 1769 - adjusted assault: 2419

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 2419 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Nanchang base !!![:D][:D][;)]


Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-15 Babs: 1 destroyed

[Gen.Hoepner]

This is the situation in China...very fluid i'd say.
After the fall of Nanchang, a brave new scenario opens up in front of the allies...the march trough Shangai!
While at Ichang 2 japanese units are sorrounded...they have only a little hope to escape...the hope is rapresented by the huge force coming down from the Manchukoku (i really think now the Russian campaign has been aborted. Their intent is to brake my perimeter at Honan and open the so called Hankow pocket. I'm assembling a great army to face them. Let's see what we can do. If it turns bad we always have the choice of marching back to Sian-Yenan line...will be interesting