RIDERS ON THE STORM-THANK YOU

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/21/42
 
The Ambush over Changsha went perfect! 16 enemy bombers shot down! Now my MAF force is back to Chungking in perfect shape and with high morale! This will force him to be more carefull with his bombing campaign in China! We'll keep on trying ambushes and surprise attack, making a kind of guerrilla air war in this theatre[;)]
 
In India Karachi was badly hit again, both by sea and by air.
The only good news is that one of his escorting DD hit a mine and took severe damages[8D]
 
The intel says he has a naval unit prepping for Wake Island...a RCT is being ready to be moved here from SF just in case...[;)]
 
We lost Lyngayen...the PI division was unable to pull back in time...[:(]
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 110 encounters mine field at Karachi (21,3)
 
Japanese Ships
DD Oboro, Mine hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage[:D]
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 91st Chinese Corps, at 45,37
 
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-II Sally x 12
Ki-49 Helen x 17
Ki-15 Babs x 2
 
Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 40 My MAF!!!![:D]
 
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-II Sally: 3 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 6 destroyed, 5 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 10 damaged
 
 
Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 7th Chinese Air Base Force, at 45,37
 
Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 15
Ki-15 Babs x 1
 
Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 40
 
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged ....light bombers....yes, what a easy shot for my guys[8D]
 
 
 
Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 19,6
 
 
Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 2
 
 
Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 2 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 2 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 
Ohhhh...risky![:D]...my last 2 swordfish tried their last sortie from Karachi...we were close[;)]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Karachi , at 21,3
 
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 35
Ki-49 Helen x 96
Ki-46-II Dinah x 2
 
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 2
P-40B Tomahawk x 1
 
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 1 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-43A Lancer: 1 destroyed
Vildebeest IV: 1 destroyed
 
 
Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 49
 

 
As you can see...no AA fire at all...[:@]
 
 

[Gen.Hoepner]

BTW, 19 enemy units at 60 miles from Malir...these bastards are running fast!!! General Evacuation order delivered to the last units at Malir...everybody is going back to Karachi for the final stand! BONSAIIII[:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/22/42
 
Finally the mines do their bloody job at Karachi...BB Fuso and another DD ate one of those explosive beauties[:D]...the BBs came all the way back to bomb Karachi, along with huge raids from Calcutta and Ademabad...the flak is now completely useless[:(]...
 
After the ambush of yesterday he came to Hangchow with a HUGE raid escorted by 80 zeros...just to find the base empty[8D]...
 
Lost completely any contact with the KB...with Karachi now completely blind it's quite hard to tell where the dreaded KB is...[:o]
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 104 encounters mine field at Karachi (21,3)
 
Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Mine hits 1,  on fire[:D][;)]
DD Arare, Mine hits 1,  on fire[:D]
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Karachi, at 21,3
 
 
Allied aircraft
no flights
 
 
Allied aircraft losses
A-20B Boston: 1 destroyed
C-47 Dakota: 1 destroyed
P-43A Lancer: 2 destroyed
C-60A Lodestar: 1 destroyed
Vildebeest IV: 1 destroyed
Swordfish: 1 destroyed
 
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Hyuga
BB Mutsu
BB Kongo
 
 
Allied ground losses:
6359 casualties reported[:o][:(]
Guns lost 16
 
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 82
Port hits 1
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Karachi , at 21,3
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
Ki-21-II Sally x 180[X(]
Ki-46-II Dinah x 17
 
Allied aircraft
no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 1 destroyed
C-47 Dakota: 1 destroyed
Lockheed 212: 1 destroyed
P-43A Lancer: 1 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 1 destroyed
C-60A Lodestar: 1 destroyed
 
 
Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
 
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 57
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hengchow , at 44,37
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 80[:D]
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 33
Ki-21-II Sally x 43
Ki-48-I Lily x 63
Ki-49 Helen x 34
Ki-15 Babs x 5
 
Allied aircraft
no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-I Lily: 4 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 destroyed
 
 
Allied ground losses:
68 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 101
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52
 
so the Manila bombing has finally started....[:(]
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
G3M Nell x 47
G4M1 Betty x 24
E13A1 Jake x 4
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 36
Ki-49 Helen x 24
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4
 
Allied aircraft
no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 21 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 1 destroyed
 
 
Allied ground losses:
137 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1
 
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 31
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Karachi , at 21,3
 
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 Helen x 91[:(]
Ki-46-II Dinah x 2
 
Allied aircraft
no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 1 destroyed
Lysander I: 1 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 1 destroyed
 
 
Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 51
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Karachi , at 21,3
 
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 93[:@][:(]
G4M1 Betty x 55
H8K Emily x 1
 
Allied aircraft
no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 1 destroyed
Lysander I: 1 destroyed
C-47 Dakota: 1 destroyed
 
 
Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 60
 
 

[Gen.Hoepner]

I'm trying to give some more life to my support units. I'm moving them 1 hex north of Karachi to try to avoid the naval bombings...the HQs however should effect the units even if not in the same hex...so it should work...HQs, AAs and Eng will now be moved there...let's see[;)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

My fear is that he can use his paras to scrumble the retreat towards Karachi...mmmm...do not know what to do...is it worth to move my HQs to the road 1 hex north of Karachi? is it worth the risk?.....mmmm....
Anyway, i'm planning to set up another CV ambush with my british carriers...Let's see if this time we can shoot down some unescorted betties/Nells on extended range...[8|]
 
For the rest he has 27 units approaching Changsha...quite a HUGE mass of people! wonder if my poor guys will be able to hold against these great odds...as soon as i come home i'll post some more screeshots explaining the overall strategic situation on the different theatres.
 
 

[Fishbed]

GH, I know your ressources are scare... but you definitely need to open a front elsewhere!!

Don't you want to start offensive air operations against SRA?
You said there are still some people fighting on Timor right? Why not re-take the island for good, and build up the base? Kendari and everything in the range will hate your 4-E's!

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

I'm trying to give some more life to my support units. I'm moving them 1 hex north of Karachi to try to avoid the naval bombings...the HQs however should effect the units even if not in the same hex...so it should work...HQs, AAs and Eng will now be moved there...let's see[;)]

I wouldn’t do this G. H., ground combat and bombardments work in a row. In other words the left-most unit takes the most damage, the next in line a little less, the next even less, etc. until the units far to the right take little or no damage at all. Even though your HQ and base forces are heavily disabled, they are protecting the units further to the right from taking heavier damage. This is why a lot of players fight with their land units divided, the more units in the row the harder it is to damage stuff all the way on the right.

Usually those are your combat units, so protect them at the cost of the HQ’s and base forces until they are completely destroyed if necessary. Your goal is for your combat units to last long enough to get to 70+ experience levels and 60+ morale. If you can manage to last that long I doubt he’ll be able to take the base after that.

So sacrifice the non-combat units for now as a protective cushion, once your land units start performing well, then cycling units out for rest will be a good option.

Also I’d keep one AAA unit on accept replacements if/when his battleships leave. Don’t bother turning it on now since BB nukes will just destroy all the new shiny guns, but if he leaves the area with his BB’s you’ll want at least some AAA coverage.

Jim

P.S. Have you pulled fragments of all your units out to Aden by sub? I'd be sure to do that ASAP so you can rebuild a lot of these units should they be destroyed. Combat units are the most critical. You don't have to rebuild them, but it's nice to have the cadre's around if your replacement pools begin to grow. I have about 5 Indian brigade cadres from Singapore sitting at Delhi with replacements off since I'm short Indian squads, but if the pools ever do grow, I can perhaps rebuild one or two at some future time.

[Mistmatz]

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

GH, I know your ressources are scare... but you definitely need to open a front elsewhere!!

Don't you want to start offensive air operations against SRA?
You said there are still some people fighting on Timor right? Why not re-take the island for good, and build up the base? Kendari and everything in the range will hate your 4-E's!

Geeeez Fishbed, its Mar/42 there are simply not enough troops/suplies/anything for fighting everywhere. I'd say GH is doing very well with his current achivements. Securing these achivements is far more important than opening another front.
Of course some stings here and there will help to lower opponents morale and raise own morale but I'd strongly discourage any further major operations at the moment.

[Gen.Hoepner]

No guys, sorry but i really do not have anything to open a new front in the Southern SRA...the units that in stock are scheldued for that theatre are now reinforcing my positions in central Pacific and i'm not planning to send to Darwin nothing more than subs, supplies and some planes .
At the moment at Darwin i have 600 AVs (only oz troops), 30 4Es, 32 Kittihawks and some more 30 patrol craft, along with 10 subs and an AS that are arriving in place.
I'm planning only to conduct a sub war here for the moment.

However i made another bad mistake. the last 3 units (90 AVs) left in Malir weren't ordered to march to Karachi (fearing the catapult effect if he had used his paras) and now are reached by an enemy tank rgt which has stopped completely their movements...[:@]----

At Changsha he reached with his first unit our positions. We have now 3200 AVs under 6 forts...let's hope[&:]

[Gen.Hoepner]

Yes...only 3/42 and India is already lost,...[:(]..think i made a negative record[:@]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/23/42
 
Quiet day. We managed to evacuate Malir just few hours before his advanced troops entered in the town...now it's only Karachi left...soon his bombers will pound Karachi from a very close base...exactly like in Luzon, where he has estabilished an advanced base at San Fernando...
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 19,7
 
Japanese Ships
PC Ch 32
PC Ch 18
PC Ch 17
PC Ch 13
PC Takunan Maru #5
PC Shonan Maru #17
PC Shonan Maru #6
PC Kyo Maru #12
PC Gamitsu Maru #1
 
Allied Ships
SS Narwhal, hits 3,  on fire[:@]...he came out of Bombay hunting for my subs...
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 19,7
 
Japanese Ships
PC Ch 32
PC Ch 18
PC Ch 17
PC Ch 13
PC Takunan Maru #5
PC Shonan Maru #17
PC Shonan Maru #6
PC Kyo Maru #12
PC Gamitsu Maru #1
PC Fumi Maru
APD Patrol Boat No. 39
APD Patrol Boat No. 38
APD Patrol Boat No. 37
APD Patrol Boat No. 36
 
Allied Ships
SS Narwhal, hits 17,  heavy damage
 
And the Narwhal took several hits...incredibly the ship is still afloat...[:(]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Malir
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 10690 troops, 257 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4893
 
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
 
Japanese max assault: 13 - adjusted assault: 15
 
Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1
 
Japanese assault odds: 15 to 1 (fort level 2)
 
Japanese forces CAPTURE Malir base !!![:o]
 
 

[Gen.Hoepner]

Ok gentlemen, now we'll see how these guys at Karachi will fight for their own lifes. There's no retreat route, no more. Now fight or die!

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/24/42

Ok, we managed to pull back everything at Karachi. Nearly 2600 AVs...not that bad indeed...if only my CD guns were worth a dime...[:(]

Anyway, nothing much to report...Calcutta is coming to the end...he brought in 2 divisions...no wonder the base is falling quickly...


A little surprise in China is scheldued for tomorrow...let's see if it works out[;)]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Karachi , at 21,3

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 31
Ki-49 Helen x 89

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 44 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 1 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
257 casualties reported
Guns lost 14

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 47

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Karachi , at 21,3

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
G3M Nell x 81
G4M1 Betty x 62
H8K Emily x 1

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed, 19 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged
H8K Emily: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses

Allied Ships
AK Borgfred, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Fairfield City, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Jalarajan, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Nightingale, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
519 casualties reported
Guns lost 14
Vehicles lost 1

Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Calcutta

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 39582 troops, 148 guns, 334 vehicles, Assault Value = 899[X(]

Defending force 10396 troops, 63 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 176

Japanese max assault: 1140 - adjusted assault: 573

Allied max defense: 161 - adjusted defense: 213

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2) [:(]

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
397 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
782 casualties reported
Guns lost 18
Vehicles lost 2


In the screenshot you can see the combat troops ready to defend Karachi...

[heenanc]

A can't imagine he will ever take Karachi with all them troop certainly he will have more troops but the bonus's will surely bring give you the advantage!!

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/25/42

2 more bombing run against Karachi, but he also landed a suicide unit at Karachi, in order to recon my forces...from what he said in his mail he had been quite astonished by the composition[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D].
Can't say i like these suicide missions...but i can live with them.

Turn isn't arrived yet. Just the reply and the combat txt...so we'll wait to comment...





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Karachi, at 21,3


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 1 destroyed
Blenheim IF: 1 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
CA Maya
CA Atago
CA Takao
CA Chikuma
CA Tone

Allied Ships
AK Empire Lake, Shell hits 3, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
10453 casualties reported[X(][X(][X(][:o]
Guns lost 191
Vehicles lost 8

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 23
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Karachi, at 21,3

Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CA Kinugasa
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
CA Ashigara
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
CA Myoko

Allied Ships
AK Empire Lake, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
3468 casualties reported
Guns lost 54
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 11
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 126 encounters mine field at Karachi (21,3)

Surely he wanted also to clear some mines....[:o]

TF 126 troops unloading over beach at Karachi, 21,3


Japanese Ships
MSW W.18
MSW W.15
MSW W.12
MSW W.9
MSW W.7
MSW W.4
MSW W.3
PG Kure Maru #5, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PG Hirotama Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PG Idzumo
AP Rozan Maru, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
PG Iwate

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Karachi, 21,3, firing at TF 126
509 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Rozan Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
PG Iwate, Shell hits 5
PG Idzumo, Shell hits 6

Japanese ground losses:
104 casualties reported



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 71
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
I-153c x 9
I-16c x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
I-153c: 4 destroyed
I-16c: 7 destroyed

A sweep mission over Chungking...lost some useless chinese fighters...no problem...my MAF was all down[;)]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 25
G4M1 Betty x 24
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 32
Ki-48-I Lily x 20
Ki-49 Helen x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 7 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-48-I Lily: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 6


At Manila my Flak does his job[8D]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Calcutta

Calcutta finally fell.....[:-]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 38899 troops, 142 guns, 334 vehicles, Assault Value = 861

Defending force 9040 troops, 33 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 128

Japanese max assault: 1058 - adjusted assault: 712

Allied max defense: 102 - adjusted defense: 133

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Calcutta base !!![:(][:@]


Japanese ground losses:
365 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
755 casualties reported
Guns lost 10
Vehicles lost 2


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Changsha

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7716 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7876

Defending force 144577 troops, 660 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 3470

Ouch...he has nearly 8000 AVs....too much i fear...[:(][:(][:(][:(]

[Gen.Hoepner]

He has so placed a huge army at Changsha. He's surely has the numerical advantage, but his supply lines are thin and exposed...i've organized some guerrilla ops against his back lines...let's see if the trick has worked out...can't wait for the turn...

[Gen.Hoepner]

In China i must stabilize the front before the Burma road gets closed.....If...and i underline the word IF, Changsha holds, then he will be off balance somehwere else in China...in the north maybe...let's see...anyway he has exactly the double AV i have there...and my supplies are running low...plus he has tons of bombers hitting my troops everyday....gonna be on the edge...

[castor troy]

Karachi is urban and I have yet to see someone taking an urban hex against 2500 assault points that have 300.000 supplies. Impossible I think... and you even get autosupply, don´t you?

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

Karachi is urban and I have yet to see someone taking an urban hex against 2500 assault points that have 300.000 supplies. Impossible I think... and you even get autosupply, don´t you?

Once i've taken Chungking against 10.000 AVs!Aftern months of air bombing, obviously, but however it's possible. Consider that he can bomb the hell out of Karachi both by sea and by air...those supplies won't last forever!...Anyway i do agree it won't be so easy, nor fast...

[Gen.Hoepner]

Still no sign of the KB...could be sailing back to the pacific right now...it's help it's not needed anymore now that he has closed down Karachi and Malir is full of Japanese Bombers...so from now on we have to pay a LOT of attention using my fleet in the pacific...especially for what concerns operation SummerBird (the conquest of Marcus Isl.)...
Saratoga is finally safe at PH...however her damage is quite huge...50 sys[:(]...at least 6 months at full repair speed...[:@] damned subs!! We sunk yesterday the I-124 at Kwalajein however...it gives me such a good feeling to sink those damned hunters!
Lady Lex has been upgraded, while my other 2 CVs are coming back to PH, along with my BB fleet. All of them need to be upgraded in April!...leaving in the Marshalls some 25 DDs and 6 CA/CLs...just in case, along with a consistent merchant fleet (40 AKs and 12 APs, plus some 10 MWSs, 10 PC/PGs and some other minor vassels)