An AAR between DHRedge and myself (Allies).
December 7th, 1941
Pacific: KB hits PH, sinks 1 BB. The rest are damaged.
DEI/ PI: Mini-KB and assorted LBA hit Manila port. A few ships sunk, but the Sub arm is basically still intact. Para's take Ternate.
Malaya: No landings at Kota Bharu, most of the troop ships land at Singora/Padang. Para's take Victoria Point
Thoughts: Ships sighted south of the PI - looks like the first thrust is going to come through Ambom/Kendari. Given location of enemy CV's, various SCTF's moving to this area.
Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
Welcome back to page 1. Never saw your Downfall AAR conclude.
Looks like Force Z eluded the usual traps for now?
Looks like Force Z eluded the usual traps for now?
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
Deleted:
Double post due to timeout/slow server.
Double post due to timeout/slow server.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
Ya the downfall game fizzled. There were about 10,000,000 mouseclicks per turn in that game.
Force Z is alive and well, and searching for targets. I had it to react and set it 6 hexes from Kota Bharu (sp), but since nothing showed up there, it didn't react and stayed out of range. I also think that my opponent moved some of the Netties in Saigon over to Formosa. The LBA attacking Manila seemed heavy in those planes, but I don't know if that's an RA thing or not.
Force Z is alive and well, and searching for targets. I had it to react and set it 6 hexes from Kota Bharu (sp), but since nothing showed up there, it didn't react and stayed out of range. I also think that my opponent moved some of the Netties in Saigon over to Formosa. The LBA attacking Manila seemed heavy in those planes, but I don't know if that's an RA thing or not.
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
Dec 8th
DEI: Force Z engaged the enemy, and engaged well. Z was sitting at a hex within reaction range of Kuching. It reacted to Japanese ships approaching Kuching/SIngkawang. First, it took on an invasion transport covering force of a CA, CL, and 4-5 DD/DMS types. Lost a DD but heavily damaged the CA and CL. After Force Z blew through that force, it went after a big juicy transport fleet and pretty much left it all burning. I confirmed at least 4 AK sunk, couple of escorts suck, everything else (20 or so ships) damaged and burning. Repulse has 20 sys damage but that’s the only damage of note. A small 2 CL 4 DD force of mine tangled with his other escorts (an SCTF with 2 BB’s and other escorts). I lost a CL but that was about it. Force Z will retire to rearm. The 4 DD’s from the CL/DD force broke off and are going to look for targets of opportunity in the Kuching region.
Elsewhere in the DEI – enemy tf’s sighted south of PI. Looks like the Rabaul snatch and grab is on, and it appears that the first thrust by the enemy is through the Balikapapan/Ambon channels. Boise/Houston tf should be formed up this turn and ready to strike at targets of opportunity.
Phillipines: No attacks or landings yet.
CV's: KB is retiring to Kwaj. Mini-KB went south along Mandano.
DEI: Force Z engaged the enemy, and engaged well. Z was sitting at a hex within reaction range of Kuching. It reacted to Japanese ships approaching Kuching/SIngkawang. First, it took on an invasion transport covering force of a CA, CL, and 4-5 DD/DMS types. Lost a DD but heavily damaged the CA and CL. After Force Z blew through that force, it went after a big juicy transport fleet and pretty much left it all burning. I confirmed at least 4 AK sunk, couple of escorts suck, everything else (20 or so ships) damaged and burning. Repulse has 20 sys damage but that’s the only damage of note. A small 2 CL 4 DD force of mine tangled with his other escorts (an SCTF with 2 BB’s and other escorts). I lost a CL but that was about it. Force Z will retire to rearm. The 4 DD’s from the CL/DD force broke off and are going to look for targets of opportunity in the Kuching region.
Elsewhere in the DEI – enemy tf’s sighted south of PI. Looks like the Rabaul snatch and grab is on, and it appears that the first thrust by the enemy is through the Balikapapan/Ambon channels. Boise/Houston tf should be formed up this turn and ready to strike at targets of opportunity.
Phillipines: No attacks or landings yet.
CV's: KB is retiring to Kwaj. Mini-KB went south along Mandano.
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
Dec 9th, 41
DEI: Force Z retires past the blockade undetected. POW and Repulse main gun ammo at 20%, and are going back to base to re-arm. A flight of unescorted Netties on Naval Attack decides to attack shipping at Singapore - and that’s 13 Netties that aren’t going home. South of Mandano a CL/3DD force of mine tangles with a Jap invasion fleet which includes the 2 CS’s. Shots exchanged, hits landed, nothing too serious. The Boise and Houston tf is 2 days out from being able to interdict anything coming down the Ambon/Ternate pipeline. Mini-KB moved east off of Mandano. Various Nkp air attacks at fields in northern Malaysia.
PI: No landings yet. In strange “only something a human would do”, it appears that my opponent diverted his PI invasion forces and have landed on the beach 1 hex east of Hong Kong. I don’t understand this move. Units in Canton are more than enough to take out HK, and by the time he lands, marches over a river hex to the NW, then marches along the road SE to HK, Hong Kong would be wiped out by then anyways. Oh well – this early war respite lets me build forts at key hexes in the PI (Manila-Clark-Bataan triangle)
Pacific: Enterprise was headed to Wake to pickup those Cats – but the KB is too close. Ent is diverting south – about 10-15 hexes east of the Marshalls. Lex is moving up into the Gilberts too see if anything shows up unexpectedly (as a player playing the AI is want to do). They’ll join forces and go raiding where the KB ain’t. A couple of CA’s and DD’s of mine are going hunting along the northern coast of New Guinea – to catch any small amphib forces headed to Hollandia, Wewak, etc.
DEI: Force Z retires past the blockade undetected. POW and Repulse main gun ammo at 20%, and are going back to base to re-arm. A flight of unescorted Netties on Naval Attack decides to attack shipping at Singapore - and that’s 13 Netties that aren’t going home. South of Mandano a CL/3DD force of mine tangles with a Jap invasion fleet which includes the 2 CS’s. Shots exchanged, hits landed, nothing too serious. The Boise and Houston tf is 2 days out from being able to interdict anything coming down the Ambon/Ternate pipeline. Mini-KB moved east off of Mandano. Various Nkp air attacks at fields in northern Malaysia.
PI: No landings yet. In strange “only something a human would do”, it appears that my opponent diverted his PI invasion forces and have landed on the beach 1 hex east of Hong Kong. I don’t understand this move. Units in Canton are more than enough to take out HK, and by the time he lands, marches over a river hex to the NW, then marches along the road SE to HK, Hong Kong would be wiped out by then anyways. Oh well – this early war respite lets me build forts at key hexes in the PI (Manila-Clark-Bataan triangle)
Pacific: Enterprise was headed to Wake to pickup those Cats – but the KB is too close. Ent is diverting south – about 10-15 hexes east of the Marshalls. Lex is moving up into the Gilberts too see if anything shows up unexpectedly (as a player playing the AI is want to do). They’ll join forces and go raiding where the KB ain’t. A couple of CA’s and DD’s of mine are going hunting along the northern coast of New Guinea – to catch any small amphib forces headed to Hollandia, Wewak, etc.
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
Dec 10th
Another good day for the Allies
DEI: A Dutch CL/3DD tf lead by the De Ruyter aquitted itself well in the Ambon/Ternate region. First, it tangles with a much larger CL/DD – it sinks 2 DD’s, damages the CL and a few other ships, but loses a DD. It’s not finished yet, as apparently that was an invasion fleet covering force, and my Dutchies engages the invasion fleet right after brushing aside the covering force. The Dutchies do good damage, sinking 2 AK, a couple of PB’s, a TB before retiring.
Following in the wake of the Dutch, the Houston/Boise tf engages the same transport TF. Houston does most of the work and sinks a couple more AK’s. Boise didn’t engage. My tf disengaged due to low ammo.
More Japanese invade the north coast of Borneo (Kuching, Singapawek, Jesselton/Miri) and a couple of bases around Ternate.
Pacific: CV Lexington launches against a couple of ships carrying troops to Ocean Island, sinking them. The IJ was already ashore – but at least another transport will have to make it’s was to Ocean to pick those guys up and move them.
CV Enterprise, trolling east of the Marshalls, sinks a couple of picket boats.
Japan lands and takes Luganville. Quite the stretch, but something easily done against the AI. If I have any combat troops in the region, I'll try and retake the island - but I don't think I have much.
KB: Retiring to Kwaj.
Mini-KB: moved by Ternate to cover various invasion fleets. I’ll modify my tf’s in the region into my beloved Fast Raider sctf which will consist of 2-4 CL/DD as these seems to have much greater survivability in the face of enemy air.
Another good day for the Allies
DEI: A Dutch CL/3DD tf lead by the De Ruyter aquitted itself well in the Ambon/Ternate region. First, it tangles with a much larger CL/DD – it sinks 2 DD’s, damages the CL and a few other ships, but loses a DD. It’s not finished yet, as apparently that was an invasion fleet covering force, and my Dutchies engages the invasion fleet right after brushing aside the covering force. The Dutchies do good damage, sinking 2 AK, a couple of PB’s, a TB before retiring.
Following in the wake of the Dutch, the Houston/Boise tf engages the same transport TF. Houston does most of the work and sinks a couple more AK’s. Boise didn’t engage. My tf disengaged due to low ammo.
More Japanese invade the north coast of Borneo (Kuching, Singapawek, Jesselton/Miri) and a couple of bases around Ternate.
Pacific: CV Lexington launches against a couple of ships carrying troops to Ocean Island, sinking them. The IJ was already ashore – but at least another transport will have to make it’s was to Ocean to pick those guys up and move them.
CV Enterprise, trolling east of the Marshalls, sinks a couple of picket boats.
Japan lands and takes Luganville. Quite the stretch, but something easily done against the AI. If I have any combat troops in the region, I'll try and retake the island - but I don't think I have much.
KB: Retiring to Kwaj.
Mini-KB: moved by Ternate to cover various invasion fleets. I’ll modify my tf’s in the region into my beloved Fast Raider sctf which will consist of 2-4 CL/DD as these seems to have much greater survivability in the face of enemy air.
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
I don't know about this scenario, but in stock GC, the Japanese have two AMCs cruising NE of Suva. They are scouting with their float planes and looking for the initial unescorted xAPs/xAKs to sink. They can also be used to carry troops if they are allowed to survive. If they are in this scenario I hope you can nail them! [:)]
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
I think DHRedge diverted his Wake Island invasion fleet to Lungaville. I'll have to recheck the unit and where it was located at wars start. It's too early for a standard amphib force to get there.
Which is all great news to me, I'll divert a marine Arty unit that was headed to Midway - over to Wake.
Which is all great news to me, I'll divert a marine Arty unit that was headed to Midway - over to Wake.
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
Dec 11th:
PI: No landings on the main island as of yet. DHRedge intercepts a number of fleeing ships from Manila. He invades a beach hex in the southern island. I typically play the "only invade dot hexes" HR, but that's fine to me to land anywhere. It only opens up more options for me come mid-42
DEI: In yet another great interception - the Boise and 5 DD's engage a large amphib TF near Ternate and wax the floor with it. Japs lose 8 xAK, 6PB, 3AMc to no damage to the Boise tf. A Dutch sub parks 3 torps into the CL Nagara south of Davao. Mini-KB shows up 2 hexes south of Jolo and contributes to sinking various Manila ships. Singkawang, Kuching, Beaufort, and Sorong all fall.
South Pacific: As expected at this point - DHRedge is invading whatever bases he can with whatever ships available. This is apparent from the tf composition of the tf's I've been engaging over the last few days. I suspected he'd make the move to the north coast of New Guinea with those xAKL's (only ones available) and he's landed at two of them. I'll separate my CA/CL tf based at Madang and go after both of those xport fleets. Should be easy pickings.
China: Pakhoi gets invaded by the 4th ID. I guess this means the 4th ID isn't coming for Port Moresby in late December or January. This gives me the time to throw some troops there, build forts, and make it more painful to take.
So recapping, my opponent threw one of the PI invasion fleets to the beach hex east of Hong Kong, and the 4th ID to Pakhoi.
This has been DHRedge's best day of the war, and it comes without another amphib fleet of his roughed up by my small Fast Raider tf's.
PI: No landings on the main island as of yet. DHRedge intercepts a number of fleeing ships from Manila. He invades a beach hex in the southern island. I typically play the "only invade dot hexes" HR, but that's fine to me to land anywhere. It only opens up more options for me come mid-42
DEI: In yet another great interception - the Boise and 5 DD's engage a large amphib TF near Ternate and wax the floor with it. Japs lose 8 xAK, 6PB, 3AMc to no damage to the Boise tf. A Dutch sub parks 3 torps into the CL Nagara south of Davao. Mini-KB shows up 2 hexes south of Jolo and contributes to sinking various Manila ships. Singkawang, Kuching, Beaufort, and Sorong all fall.
South Pacific: As expected at this point - DHRedge is invading whatever bases he can with whatever ships available. This is apparent from the tf composition of the tf's I've been engaging over the last few days. I suspected he'd make the move to the north coast of New Guinea with those xAKL's (only ones available) and he's landed at two of them. I'll separate my CA/CL tf based at Madang and go after both of those xport fleets. Should be easy pickings.
China: Pakhoi gets invaded by the 4th ID. I guess this means the 4th ID isn't coming for Port Moresby in late December or January. This gives me the time to throw some troops there, build forts, and make it more painful to take.
So recapping, my opponent threw one of the PI invasion fleets to the beach hex east of Hong Kong, and the 4th ID to Pakhoi.
This has been DHRedge's best day of the war, and it comes without another amphib fleet of his roughed up by my small Fast Raider tf's.
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
Dec 12th
New Guinea: CA Canberra /CL Perth sink 2 xAKL's off of Aitape, and 1 DD / 2 xAKL off of Hollandia, but they both fall to the troops already there. No biggie, they are stuck there until my opponent sends more xAKL, so I will send a couple subs to patrol off these hexes.
DEI: BB Mutsu shows up near Cayagan and sinks 2 xAKL with it's monster guns. More fleeing Manila ships get sunk. BB Fuso and a small escort sink a 6 ship fleeing transport fleet. My 48 A-24 Banshee's based at Kendari and Ambon get into action and park a 1000lb bomb into CA Haguro, 2 into DD Kurisho, and 1 into an xAK. Pontianak and Boleo are invaded. Boleo's invasion fleet is not protected, so I order a lurking fleet of 2 CL and 5 DD into the hex.
Malaysia: No invasions of my hexes yet. He's landed all his troops at his bases and is marching them, Kota Bharu is still mine. I'm building a redoubt up north. It'll be stocked with 300-400 AV and engineers to build forts. I hope to hold out here for a few days and let him throw himself against a fortified forest hex - then retreat back to Singapore while my units are still fairly intact. We'll see.
Pacific: Efate is invaded. CV Lex, just north of Tulagi, is sent south to investigate. Tulagi, Lungaville, and Efate have all been invaded by the same unit. I'm going to send my New Zealanders based at Suva to counterattack as soon as feasible. hopefully the invasion ships will depart in 4-5 days.
China: First attack at Hong Kong occurs (but my opponent did not wait for the troops landing at the beach hex. This doesn't make sense to me, but it's his supply loss so I won't complain. Either way, I successfully defend Hong Kong against his shock attack but lose more troops then him. Phyrric victory.
KB: Out of sight.
Mini-KB: moved a couple hexes west, closer to Balikapapan.
My CV's: As stated, the Lady Lex is moving to engage ships at Efate. Enterprise was sitting east of the Marshalls about 15 hexes in front of the KB, so she moves south to Pago Pago. If the opportunity is there, these two ships will cover the Lungaville/Efate invasion. Saratoga is sitting at San Deigo waiting for escorts. CVL Hermes has formed up with other Brit DD's and is moving south to the DEI.
His TFs: His opening turn is obvious. Whatever ships were in port at that time, were intstructed to load transports. That's why I'm seeing tf's with 18knot xAK's and 10knot xAKL's covered by AMc's (yes, little c there). I know that by spending 3-4 turns organizing tf's, you can run the time-table much quicker. This is readily apparent, as all of his BB's are in the DEI. One BB is floating around with a single DD for escort. I'd love to catch that sucker with 4-5 torp laden DD's! Other BB's are in sctf's that comprise, for ex, a CA and 2 DD.
New Guinea: CA Canberra /CL Perth sink 2 xAKL's off of Aitape, and 1 DD / 2 xAKL off of Hollandia, but they both fall to the troops already there. No biggie, they are stuck there until my opponent sends more xAKL, so I will send a couple subs to patrol off these hexes.
DEI: BB Mutsu shows up near Cayagan and sinks 2 xAKL with it's monster guns. More fleeing Manila ships get sunk. BB Fuso and a small escort sink a 6 ship fleeing transport fleet. My 48 A-24 Banshee's based at Kendari and Ambon get into action and park a 1000lb bomb into CA Haguro, 2 into DD Kurisho, and 1 into an xAK. Pontianak and Boleo are invaded. Boleo's invasion fleet is not protected, so I order a lurking fleet of 2 CL and 5 DD into the hex.
Malaysia: No invasions of my hexes yet. He's landed all his troops at his bases and is marching them, Kota Bharu is still mine. I'm building a redoubt up north. It'll be stocked with 300-400 AV and engineers to build forts. I hope to hold out here for a few days and let him throw himself against a fortified forest hex - then retreat back to Singapore while my units are still fairly intact. We'll see.
Pacific: Efate is invaded. CV Lex, just north of Tulagi, is sent south to investigate. Tulagi, Lungaville, and Efate have all been invaded by the same unit. I'm going to send my New Zealanders based at Suva to counterattack as soon as feasible. hopefully the invasion ships will depart in 4-5 days.
China: First attack at Hong Kong occurs (but my opponent did not wait for the troops landing at the beach hex. This doesn't make sense to me, but it's his supply loss so I won't complain. Either way, I successfully defend Hong Kong against his shock attack but lose more troops then him. Phyrric victory.
KB: Out of sight.
Mini-KB: moved a couple hexes west, closer to Balikapapan.
My CV's: As stated, the Lady Lex is moving to engage ships at Efate. Enterprise was sitting east of the Marshalls about 15 hexes in front of the KB, so she moves south to Pago Pago. If the opportunity is there, these two ships will cover the Lungaville/Efate invasion. Saratoga is sitting at San Deigo waiting for escorts. CVL Hermes has formed up with other Brit DD's and is moving south to the DEI.
His TFs: His opening turn is obvious. Whatever ships were in port at that time, were intstructed to load transports. That's why I'm seeing tf's with 18knot xAK's and 10knot xAKL's covered by AMc's (yes, little c there). I know that by spending 3-4 turns organizing tf's, you can run the time-table much quicker. This is readily apparent, as all of his BB's are in the DEI. One BB is floating around with a single DD for escort. I'd love to catch that sucker with 4-5 torp laden DD's! Other BB's are in sctf's that comprise, for ex, a CA and 2 DD.
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
PS No DHREDGE!
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
Dec 13th:
DEI: My Dutch SCTF (CL Java, CL Tromp, DD's DD Van Nes, Evertsen, and Van Ghent), sent to interdict at Boleo, perform admirably. They sink 5 transports and 2PB, before engaging the CA Haguro and 3 DD. Dutchies put 4 shells into Haguro and retire from battle. Then, they get engaged by the BB Nagato and 1 DD, and put a shell into the venerable BB and retreat. In they daytime, the engage the Nagato again, and put 3 shells into it, for three shells taken (no main guns from the BB hit my ships). Pontianak falls. A24's out of Kendari and Ambon hit 5 transports with 1000lb bombs.
South Pacific: Japs invade Efate. These troops are to far away for support. The only means Dhredge can prevent their loss is by putting the KB close by. I must assume it's going to be in this region, until noted otherwise. I will move AV's and Engr's into bases to smother the area with PBY's. This will take a couple of weeks tho... Good thing is the Lex shows up and sinks 2 xAKL's at Tulagi, and his unit is stranded till further notice. A sub will park here and wait until it spots enemy xports while the LEx retires south towards Efate, then away to Oz or Pago Pago. Either way, I know I have a 2 day lead on the KB. I can sneak in and maybe get the rest of this advance Japanese amphib fleet.
Phillipines: Japs invade over the beach near Cayagun. B17's port attack Ternate and hit 2 DD's.
Malaysia: Japs have been bombing Kota Bharu, Alor Star, and Georgetown since Dec 7th with lots of bombers. Luckily, I don't make my redoubt at these bases, and all they are bombing is shells of units. A para attack on Taiping fails, but it reveals my northern redoubt. 350AV are building forts - up to 2 already. Coupled with the jungle, this should be good for a speed bump.
DEI: My Dutch SCTF (CL Java, CL Tromp, DD's DD Van Nes, Evertsen, and Van Ghent), sent to interdict at Boleo, perform admirably. They sink 5 transports and 2PB, before engaging the CA Haguro and 3 DD. Dutchies put 4 shells into Haguro and retire from battle. Then, they get engaged by the BB Nagato and 1 DD, and put a shell into the venerable BB and retreat. In they daytime, the engage the Nagato again, and put 3 shells into it, for three shells taken (no main guns from the BB hit my ships). Pontianak falls. A24's out of Kendari and Ambon hit 5 transports with 1000lb bombs.
South Pacific: Japs invade Efate. These troops are to far away for support. The only means Dhredge can prevent their loss is by putting the KB close by. I must assume it's going to be in this region, until noted otherwise. I will move AV's and Engr's into bases to smother the area with PBY's. This will take a couple of weeks tho... Good thing is the Lex shows up and sinks 2 xAKL's at Tulagi, and his unit is stranded till further notice. A sub will park here and wait until it spots enemy xports while the LEx retires south towards Efate, then away to Oz or Pago Pago. Either way, I know I have a 2 day lead on the KB. I can sneak in and maybe get the rest of this advance Japanese amphib fleet.
Phillipines: Japs invade over the beach near Cayagun. B17's port attack Ternate and hit 2 DD's.
Malaysia: Japs have been bombing Kota Bharu, Alor Star, and Georgetown since Dec 7th with lots of bombers. Luckily, I don't make my redoubt at these bases, and all they are bombing is shells of units. A para attack on Taiping fails, but it reveals my northern redoubt. 350AV are building forts - up to 2 already. Coupled with the jungle, this should be good for a speed bump.
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
How do you like those A-24s? NASTY planes from the Japanese perspective!
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
They are about the only allied bomber in the region that can do anything thanks to their 1000lb bombs... but their pilot exp sucks so bad that it takes 2 full groups ~50 a/c to get hit 4-5 ships.
I'm extremely happy with my sctf's. Turn's out that my opponent was having his sctf's follow his amphib fleets and so I'd engage the amphib fleets first, and use up most of my ammo. Then when I'd engage his sctf's, my ships typically had a speed in the low 30's, his fleets were a mismash of combat capable vessels, often including mid-20 speed ships.. and I'd be able to disengage.
I'm extremely happy with my sctf's. Turn's out that my opponent was having his sctf's follow his amphib fleets and so I'd engage the amphib fleets first, and use up most of my ammo. Then when I'd engage his sctf's, my ships typically had a speed in the low 30's, his fleets were a mismash of combat capable vessels, often including mid-20 speed ships.. and I'd be able to disengage.
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
Dec 14th, 1942:
DEI: Good cleanup day for the Japs as they wipe out multiple transport/escort/smallship/etc fleets fleeting the PI/DEI. More jap troops land in the Phillipines southern island. Japs land at Manado and Ambon - my early suspicions on the first thrust were correct.
Here is the invasion action at Ambon over a couple of phases:
Phase 1:
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1
CA Furutaka
DD Kagero, Shell hits 1
xAK Kaimei Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAK Tyoyo Maru, Shell hits 3
DD Karukaya
PB Kaikei Maru
PB Ikunta Maru
PB Hakkaisan Maru
PB Fukui Maru
AMC Kongo Maru
DD Kikuzuki
Phase 2:
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 2
CA Furutaka
xAK Tyoyo Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PB Kaikei Maru
PB Ikunta Maru
PB Hakkaisan Maru
PB Fukui Maru
AMC Kongo Maru
DD Kagero
DD Kikuzuki
After the day turn, the action continues:
Phase 3:
PB Kaikei Maru
PB Ikunta Maru
PB Hakkaisan Maru
PB Fukui Maru
AMC Kongo Maru
Phase 4
BB Nagato, Shell hits 5
CA Kako, Shell hits 1
DD Uzuki
APD Nadakaze
DD Hatsukaze
DD Yuzuki
He lands, but my CD did well in parking a few large caliber shells into the BB.
China: IJAF is performing the usual training actions targeting LCU's in the open terrain. My guys are all marching for the woods. Main thrust is coming off of Hong Kong/Canton. All of the LCU's from Formosa and Pescadores that typically land in the PI landed at Pakhoi and on the beach next to HK. Also included in these invasions was the Nip 4th ID.
Malaysia: As the Northern Redoubt has been revealed, my opponent sends his bombers into Taiping. Thunderstorms over the airfield make all of his strikes ineffective, and the field remains operational and forts continue to build.
Pacific: IJ troops that landed at Tulagi a few days ago have finally recovered disruption to take the base. My bad earlier, I thought he had taken it but he hadn't.
DEI: Good cleanup day for the Japs as they wipe out multiple transport/escort/smallship/etc fleets fleeting the PI/DEI. More jap troops land in the Phillipines southern island. Japs land at Manado and Ambon - my early suspicions on the first thrust were correct.
Here is the invasion action at Ambon over a couple of phases:
Phase 1:
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1
CA Furutaka
DD Kagero, Shell hits 1
xAK Kaimei Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAK Tyoyo Maru, Shell hits 3
DD Karukaya
PB Kaikei Maru
PB Ikunta Maru
PB Hakkaisan Maru
PB Fukui Maru
AMC Kongo Maru
DD Kikuzuki
Phase 2:
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 2
CA Furutaka
xAK Tyoyo Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PB Kaikei Maru
PB Ikunta Maru
PB Hakkaisan Maru
PB Fukui Maru
AMC Kongo Maru
DD Kagero
DD Kikuzuki
After the day turn, the action continues:
Phase 3:
PB Kaikei Maru
PB Ikunta Maru
PB Hakkaisan Maru
PB Fukui Maru
AMC Kongo Maru
Phase 4
BB Nagato, Shell hits 5
CA Kako, Shell hits 1
DD Uzuki
APD Nadakaze
DD Hatsukaze
DD Yuzuki
He lands, but my CD did well in parking a few large caliber shells into the BB.
China: IJAF is performing the usual training actions targeting LCU's in the open terrain. My guys are all marching for the woods. Main thrust is coming off of Hong Kong/Canton. All of the LCU's from Formosa and Pescadores that typically land in the PI landed at Pakhoi and on the beach next to HK. Also included in these invasions was the Nip 4th ID.
Malaysia: As the Northern Redoubt has been revealed, my opponent sends his bombers into Taiping. Thunderstorms over the airfield make all of his strikes ineffective, and the field remains operational and forts continue to build.
Pacific: IJ troops that landed at Tulagi a few days ago have finally recovered disruption to take the base. My bad earlier, I thought he had taken it but he hadn't.
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
Dec 15th
PI: Most ships fleeing Manila have been eliminated. In one interesting action, DD Pope fights a three ship tf of the BB Ise and 2 DD and gets sunk. BB Mutsu, CL Yura, and 1 DD engage the DD Thanet and sink it. Davao is invaded. That's the typical tf composition running around the Kendari/Ambon axis.
DEI: ~100 Bombers hit the Northern Redoubt in Malaysia and do insignificatn damage. Japs capture Mandano and Oroquieta. A Japanese shock attack at Ambon comes off at 2-1 odds, but the Allies hold. Forts fall to 0 from 1. This was nice, I was hoping to hold out from at least one delib attack, and I hold out a shock.
Pacific: CV Lex finds the IJN fleet near Efate, and sinks it: 1xAK and 4xAKL. The Lady has had quite a little opening jaunt to the war. Great stories are told in the US press about it's exploits against all odds in face of superior Jap force. Nauru island is invaded and captured.
Mini-KB: Mini-KB remains parked 3 hexes north of Jolo, his Kates have switched to bombs. She is at least 2 days out of position to help against any combat in the Ambon region.
KB: Whereabouts unknown. I sense two options for the KB. 1) It is transiting to the DEI to help complete this operation. 2) It is moving towards the New Caledonia to cover a suspected invasion of Noumea and get my Lexington. The Lex started by sinking the invasion fleet at Ocean Island. Then it moved over and sank the Tulagi fleet. Now it's moved to Efate and sunk those ships. Nothing says "I'm here" more than these actions do, and if DHRedge is angry, he'll try and bag the Lex. Either way, I can not assume the KB is heading to the DEI, as i find it hard to fathom that a SoPac thrust wouldn't have some CV support - given the fact that I have 2 CV's in the region and he knows it - and these CV's have shown themselves a bit.
Either way, the Lex and Enterprise (between Pago Pago and Suva) are swinging south to Aukland and over to Oz. I can't afford a CV fight, and if I can draw his CV's down here then they aren't elsewhere and are burning fuel chasing will-o-the-wisps.
PI: Most ships fleeing Manila have been eliminated. In one interesting action, DD Pope fights a three ship tf of the BB Ise and 2 DD and gets sunk. BB Mutsu, CL Yura, and 1 DD engage the DD Thanet and sink it. Davao is invaded. That's the typical tf composition running around the Kendari/Ambon axis.
DEI: ~100 Bombers hit the Northern Redoubt in Malaysia and do insignificatn damage. Japs capture Mandano and Oroquieta. A Japanese shock attack at Ambon comes off at 2-1 odds, but the Allies hold. Forts fall to 0 from 1. This was nice, I was hoping to hold out from at least one delib attack, and I hold out a shock.
Pacific: CV Lex finds the IJN fleet near Efate, and sinks it: 1xAK and 4xAKL. The Lady has had quite a little opening jaunt to the war. Great stories are told in the US press about it's exploits against all odds in face of superior Jap force. Nauru island is invaded and captured.
Mini-KB: Mini-KB remains parked 3 hexes north of Jolo, his Kates have switched to bombs. She is at least 2 days out of position to help against any combat in the Ambon region.
KB: Whereabouts unknown. I sense two options for the KB. 1) It is transiting to the DEI to help complete this operation. 2) It is moving towards the New Caledonia to cover a suspected invasion of Noumea and get my Lexington. The Lex started by sinking the invasion fleet at Ocean Island. Then it moved over and sank the Tulagi fleet. Now it's moved to Efate and sunk those ships. Nothing says "I'm here" more than these actions do, and if DHRedge is angry, he'll try and bag the Lex. Either way, I can not assume the KB is heading to the DEI, as i find it hard to fathom that a SoPac thrust wouldn't have some CV support - given the fact that I have 2 CV's in the region and he knows it - and these CV's have shown themselves a bit.
Either way, the Lex and Enterprise (between Pago Pago and Suva) are swinging south to Aukland and over to Oz. I can't afford a CV fight, and if I can draw his CV's down here then they aren't elsewhere and are burning fuel chasing will-o-the-wisps.
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
Dec 16, 1941:
DEI: Nippon invades Tandjoengselor. Japan captures Samarinda. Force Z and various other split off DD's CL's (the ones wreaking havoc in the Ambon/Kendari/Boleo triangle) - have rearmed and refueled at Sorejaba (sp). Given the previous days intel on the enemy CV's they will head towards Ambon and go hunting. Ambon falls to a second 2-1 shock attack. I was one stinking AV away from a 1-1 dangit.
Malaysia: Major airstrike at Taiping. 80 1E/2E Bombers escorted by 20 Nates/Oscars meet 30Buffs and 6 Hurricanes. Enemy loses 5 a/c at no loss to me, and an ineffective bombing attack.
PI: Davao falls. The southern island, due to multiple beach hex landings, is going to fall quickly. Still no move in the main island - my triangle of love is building forts.
China: HOng Kong holds on against a deliberate attack.
Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 57350 troops, 636 guns, 276 vehicles, Assault Value = 1957
Defending force 6733 troops, 130 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 162
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese adjusted assault: 1244
Allied adjusted defense: 497
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
718 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 76 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1461 casualties reported
Squads: 88 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 37 (20 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 19 (2 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Assaulting units:
104th Division
65th Brigade
38th Division
21st Division
66th Infantry Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd RF Gun Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
5th RF Gun Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
Defending units:
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion
Rifles of Canada Battalion
Kowloon Brigade
102nd RN Base Force
1st Middlesex Battalion
Hong Kong Fortress
------------------------------
Ground combat at Ambon (76,109)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 5137 troops, 104 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 182
Defending force 3221 troops, 65 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 49
Japanese adjusted assault: 99
Allied adjusted defense: 49
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Ambon !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), fatigue(-)
Japanese ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
4187 casualties reported
Squads: 116 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 115 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 93 (93 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 3
Assaulting units:
I./90th Infantry Battalion
1st Maizuru Assault Division
Defending units:
Molukken Garrison Battalion
4th Coastal Gun Battalion
Ambon Base Force
DEI: Nippon invades Tandjoengselor. Japan captures Samarinda. Force Z and various other split off DD's CL's (the ones wreaking havoc in the Ambon/Kendari/Boleo triangle) - have rearmed and refueled at Sorejaba (sp). Given the previous days intel on the enemy CV's they will head towards Ambon and go hunting. Ambon falls to a second 2-1 shock attack. I was one stinking AV away from a 1-1 dangit.
Malaysia: Major airstrike at Taiping. 80 1E/2E Bombers escorted by 20 Nates/Oscars meet 30Buffs and 6 Hurricanes. Enemy loses 5 a/c at no loss to me, and an ineffective bombing attack.
PI: Davao falls. The southern island, due to multiple beach hex landings, is going to fall quickly. Still no move in the main island - my triangle of love is building forts.
China: HOng Kong holds on against a deliberate attack.
Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 57350 troops, 636 guns, 276 vehicles, Assault Value = 1957
Defending force 6733 troops, 130 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 162
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese adjusted assault: 1244
Allied adjusted defense: 497
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
718 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 76 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1461 casualties reported
Squads: 88 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 37 (20 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 19 (2 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Assaulting units:
104th Division
65th Brigade
38th Division
21st Division
66th Infantry Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd RF Gun Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
5th RF Gun Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
Defending units:
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion
Rifles of Canada Battalion
Kowloon Brigade
102nd RN Base Force
1st Middlesex Battalion
Hong Kong Fortress
------------------------------
Ground combat at Ambon (76,109)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 5137 troops, 104 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 182
Defending force 3221 troops, 65 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 49
Japanese adjusted assault: 99
Allied adjusted defense: 49
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Ambon !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), fatigue(-)
Japanese ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
4187 casualties reported
Squads: 116 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 115 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 93 (93 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 3
Assaulting units:
I./90th Infantry Battalion
1st Maizuru Assault Division
Defending units:
Molukken Garrison Battalion
4th Coastal Gun Battalion
Ambon Base Force
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
Dec 17th:
PI: A pair of IJN DD's tangles with my PT force at Laoag and now I don't have a PT blocking force. Tandjoengselor falls
Malaysia: More air attacks on the Northern Redoubt at Taiping. My HurriBuffs come out 4-1 against assorted IJA aircraft, but I'm being whittled down to nothing.
Pacific: Ndeni is invaded. I counterinvade Efate by the Free French forces sitting in Noumea. If the enemy is on shore with too much force, I'll withdraw the unit.
China: Kweiteh falls. Hong Kong finally falls.
Mini-KB: Still chillin north of Jolo
KB: unknown.
PI: A pair of IJN DD's tangles with my PT force at Laoag and now I don't have a PT blocking force. Tandjoengselor falls
Malaysia: More air attacks on the Northern Redoubt at Taiping. My HurriBuffs come out 4-1 against assorted IJA aircraft, but I'm being whittled down to nothing.
Pacific: Ndeni is invaded. I counterinvade Efate by the Free French forces sitting in Noumea. If the enemy is on shore with too much force, I'll withdraw the unit.
China: Kweiteh falls. Hong Kong finally falls.
Mini-KB: Still chillin north of Jolo
KB: unknown.
RE: Reluctant Admiral vs. the Willing Commander
Dec 17th:
Mostly quiet, except Hong Kong falls. Kweiteh in China and Tandjoengselor also falls. Usual training attacks around China.
Force Z (POW, CA Houston, 4 CL, 5 DD) has reached Ambon. Full search coverage by my Dutchies have shown multiple transports fleets within a hex or two, and a few combat tf's hanging around. Orders are given to engage any and all shipping in the area. Chances of survival are not great as any place I can get to by the end of the day is still covered by Netties that just arrived at the Mandano and another base in the region.
30 Hurribuffs tangle with 90+ bombers escorted by 9 Oscars over Taiping in Malaysia. I down 4 ac at no loss to mine.
Troops unload at Efate in a probing counterattack. The available Free French forces based in Pago Pago and Noumea to start the game are 2 days out. Depending on what's at Efate, depends on if I follow through with these guys.
No sign of KB. Mini-KB sends its planes against troops at Cayagan.
Mostly quiet, except Hong Kong falls. Kweiteh in China and Tandjoengselor also falls. Usual training attacks around China.
Force Z (POW, CA Houston, 4 CL, 5 DD) has reached Ambon. Full search coverage by my Dutchies have shown multiple transports fleets within a hex or two, and a few combat tf's hanging around. Orders are given to engage any and all shipping in the area. Chances of survival are not great as any place I can get to by the end of the day is still covered by Netties that just arrived at the Mandano and another base in the region.
30 Hurribuffs tangle with 90+ bombers escorted by 9 Oscars over Taiping in Malaysia. I down 4 ac at no loss to mine.
Troops unload at Efate in a probing counterattack. The available Free French forces based in Pago Pago and Noumea to start the game are 2 days out. Depending on what's at Efate, depends on if I follow through with these guys.
No sign of KB. Mini-KB sends its planes against troops at Cayagan.