Hello. This is a standard stock scn 1 game between myself as the Allies and Mind_Messing (MM for short) as the Japs. As I have neither the time, energy or artistic talent to do a proper AAR, this will be just a collection of updates on the games as it progresses. We are currently at 23rd Jan 42 but a lot of action has already happened in the game up to now.
First of all the Allied strategy:
I intended from the start to play an aggressive defence. It may have seemed like a "Sir Robin" at first, but I would soon dispel that thought. My early moves by region:
Cenpac: Sent both US CVs out of harms way to Sydney to fill out the airgroups and from there onto Perth to await MM's moves in the DEI.
PI: Ordered everything to move to Clark field apart from a few units at Bataan.
Malaya: Ordered almost everything on the peninsular to Singapore. Diverted 18th Brit Div to Perth to await future deployment. Ordered the Indian Brigades en route to Singapore back to Karachi. Sent Force Z to Batavia to link up with ABDA ships/Boise/Houston etc.
India: Nothing much really, just moved a couple of ground units to the Calcutta area. Sent the few British cruisers that start at Ceylon to Batavia to beef up Force Z.
China: Abandoned all bases South of Kweilin and East of Nanyang (except Yenan). Terrain is king in China. Basically just trying to get a few large stacks in x3 terrain at key areas, SE of Changsha and SE of Sian.
DEI: Just shuffled a few units and airgroups around, try and build up the key bases ready for the invasion in Feb/Mar time....
Aus/NZ: Rebuilding smaller units into Divs/Bgdes where possible, not much else.
Aggressive pilot training started from turn 2 all over the map.
Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
7th-14th Dec 41
Cenpac:
His air attack on PH is very poor, looks like only one Kate sqd uses torps. All BBs damaged but none seriously. An expected follow up attack the next day fares little better. KB retires the day after. All BBs should be fully repaired by mid 42.
His landing at Wake fails, the marines hold despite facing two naval guard units. The Vindicator sqd I transferred there sinks a couple of big transports and possibly the old CL Tenyru. Enterprise is attacked by a sub en route to Sydney but it misses. Tarawa is captured.
PI:
Manila port is not attacked on turn 1 so I sortie everything there the next day. I lose ships to his roving CLs and DDs but a good number survive to reach Java. P40s tangle with his bombers and escorts over Manila and Clark and I get a 1:1 ratio over the first week. Most of the ground units reach Clark during this time. His landings on Mindanao meet no resistance from me.
Malaya:
The usual landings in the north, he does not try a "Mersing Gambit", which I am happy about as it allows me to retreat everything towards Singapore without them being cut off. I leave a few small blocking forces to hold up his advance. As I need to build up forts quickly I set every available Buffalo to CAP and send the whole of the AVG there as well. Can't build forts if my troops are too busy repairing the airfield! He sweeps with Zeros and Oscars but due to superior numbers I achieve parity in kills and his few early bombing raids cause no damage.
India/Burma:
Forgot to mention my Burma strategy. Sent the fragments of the Burma 1st Div to Rangoon to recombine, I will make a stand here with them but nothing else. No action here so far.
China: All troops busy moving to where I want them to be. Hong Kong fell early. I sent the three old crappy British DDs and some MTBs from there to Formosa and they sank a few transports but lost most of them in return.
DEI:
Force Z bombards Singkawang and sinks a few invasion transports in the process. Enemy landings at most of the bases on northern Borneo.
That's about it for the first week of the war.
Cenpac:
His air attack on PH is very poor, looks like only one Kate sqd uses torps. All BBs damaged but none seriously. An expected follow up attack the next day fares little better. KB retires the day after. All BBs should be fully repaired by mid 42.
His landing at Wake fails, the marines hold despite facing two naval guard units. The Vindicator sqd I transferred there sinks a couple of big transports and possibly the old CL Tenyru. Enterprise is attacked by a sub en route to Sydney but it misses. Tarawa is captured.
PI:
Manila port is not attacked on turn 1 so I sortie everything there the next day. I lose ships to his roving CLs and DDs but a good number survive to reach Java. P40s tangle with his bombers and escorts over Manila and Clark and I get a 1:1 ratio over the first week. Most of the ground units reach Clark during this time. His landings on Mindanao meet no resistance from me.
Malaya:
The usual landings in the north, he does not try a "Mersing Gambit", which I am happy about as it allows me to retreat everything towards Singapore without them being cut off. I leave a few small blocking forces to hold up his advance. As I need to build up forts quickly I set every available Buffalo to CAP and send the whole of the AVG there as well. Can't build forts if my troops are too busy repairing the airfield! He sweeps with Zeros and Oscars but due to superior numbers I achieve parity in kills and his few early bombing raids cause no damage.
India/Burma:
Forgot to mention my Burma strategy. Sent the fragments of the Burma 1st Div to Rangoon to recombine, I will make a stand here with them but nothing else. No action here so far.
China: All troops busy moving to where I want them to be. Hong Kong fell early. I sent the three old crappy British DDs and some MTBs from there to Formosa and they sank a few transports but lost most of them in return.
DEI:
Force Z bombards Singkawang and sinks a few invasion transports in the process. Enemy landings at most of the bases on northern Borneo.
That's about it for the first week of the war.
RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
15th-22nd Dec 41
Cenpac:
A forest of subs surround PH. They find nothing as I have no need to send any damaged BBs back to the WC. However they do sink a couple of ASW DDs, grr... Wake continues to hold, with a lone supply ship en route...
PI:
Every ground unit is now at Clark or Bataan. I continue to resist in the air but my fighters are worn down by weight of numbers. My subs in the area SW of Formosa are doing a fine job sinking several transports despite dud hits aplenty. Mindanao is mostly under Jap control now.
Malaya:
Singapore forts reach lvl 3 and most of the retreating ground units are nearing there. Still trading 1:1 in the air war but the Buffalos are taking heavy losses.
India/Burma:
The Japs capture Tavoy and Pegu, otherwise quiet.
China:
Still a mass retreat by my troops into better terrain. He takes several empty bases in the south. He is bombing from the air at various locations but I have nothing here to oppose him with.
DEI:
The main action over this period of time is here. Force Z, by now composed of POW, Repulse and a dozen or so CLs and DDs tangles with a Jap force of 4 CAs and 4 DDs. I lose POW and a CL to torpedoes but not before she sends the CA Suzuya under and badly damages another two of them. The next day Dutch Martin bombers flying from Palembang sink the two cripples in Singkawang port. Three Jap CAs down in Dec 41! Excellent result! An ABDA fleet tangles with Kongo and Haruna and is lucky to only lose a couple of DDs.
Cenpac:
A forest of subs surround PH. They find nothing as I have no need to send any damaged BBs back to the WC. However they do sink a couple of ASW DDs, grr... Wake continues to hold, with a lone supply ship en route...
PI:
Every ground unit is now at Clark or Bataan. I continue to resist in the air but my fighters are worn down by weight of numbers. My subs in the area SW of Formosa are doing a fine job sinking several transports despite dud hits aplenty. Mindanao is mostly under Jap control now.
Malaya:
Singapore forts reach lvl 3 and most of the retreating ground units are nearing there. Still trading 1:1 in the air war but the Buffalos are taking heavy losses.
India/Burma:
The Japs capture Tavoy and Pegu, otherwise quiet.
China:
Still a mass retreat by my troops into better terrain. He takes several empty bases in the south. He is bombing from the air at various locations but I have nothing here to oppose him with.
DEI:
The main action over this period of time is here. Force Z, by now composed of POW, Repulse and a dozen or so CLs and DDs tangles with a Jap force of 4 CAs and 4 DDs. I lose POW and a CL to torpedoes but not before she sends the CA Suzuya under and badly damages another two of them. The next day Dutch Martin bombers flying from Palembang sink the two cripples in Singkawang port. Three Jap CAs down in Dec 41! Excellent result! An ABDA fleet tangles with Kongo and Haruna and is lucky to only lose a couple of DDs.
RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
23rd-31st Dec 41
Cenpac:
Nothing of note other than he lands another unit at Wake that auto-shock attacks and takes heavy losses for no gain. Amazed the marines have held on for so long.
PI:
Clark under daily air attack now. Only a handful of fighters still available to the defenders....
Malaya:
Heavy sweeps by Zeros and Oscars, still getting 1:1 in kills but AVG just about worn out now. Most of the retreating ground units have reached Singapore and have been rebuild, 9th and 11th Indian Divs are the main defenders.
India/Burma: Nothing of note.
China: Still running!
DEI:
Another big naval battle as I send Force Z back into action. Repulse and company find 3(!) Jap BBs (Fuso, Ise and Hyuga). In the ensuing battle Repulse goes under but scores hits on all 3 enemy BBs. The next night I send a US and British TF after these damaged BBs and they attack but are unable to finish them off. Next morning they are caught by Nells and I lose a couple of old CLs and the next night a couple of modern British CLs are sunk by a Jap heavy cruiser TF. However intel suggests that Hyuga goes under so at least the Repulse is avenged.
Elsewhere:
"So what has the KB been doing?" I hear you ask. Well, after PH it vanished for ten days or so until it showed up in support of the invasion of Rabual, which fell without a fight. Since then no sighting of it. The mini-KB is hanging round to the west of Mindanao not doing much either......
Cenpac:
Nothing of note other than he lands another unit at Wake that auto-shock attacks and takes heavy losses for no gain. Amazed the marines have held on for so long.
PI:
Clark under daily air attack now. Only a handful of fighters still available to the defenders....
Malaya:
Heavy sweeps by Zeros and Oscars, still getting 1:1 in kills but AVG just about worn out now. Most of the retreating ground units have reached Singapore and have been rebuild, 9th and 11th Indian Divs are the main defenders.
India/Burma: Nothing of note.
China: Still running!
DEI:
Another big naval battle as I send Force Z back into action. Repulse and company find 3(!) Jap BBs (Fuso, Ise and Hyuga). In the ensuing battle Repulse goes under but scores hits on all 3 enemy BBs. The next night I send a US and British TF after these damaged BBs and they attack but are unable to finish them off. Next morning they are caught by Nells and I lose a couple of old CLs and the next night a couple of modern British CLs are sunk by a Jap heavy cruiser TF. However intel suggests that Hyuga goes under so at least the Repulse is avenged.
Elsewhere:
"So what has the KB been doing?" I hear you ask. Well, after PH it vanished for ten days or so until it showed up in support of the invasion of Rabual, which fell without a fight. Since then no sighting of it. The mini-KB is hanging round to the west of Mindanao not doing much either......
RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
Lots of favorable surface fighting from your perspective! Well done.
RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
Started reading your AAR and your opponents AAR today. Seems a few days ago you two had a big carrier battle! Planning to do an update for that? I'm guessing the Saratoga and Hermes didn't make it based off the combat report your opponent posted but at least you put some heavy fires into the Japanese carriers. Can't say if they went down of course! But generally heavy fires = bad news for any Japanese CV.
Also nicely done with that CAP trap in Singapore catching a bunch of Betties. Don't get too cocky though; don't want all of those good fighter frames to get damaged and stuck in Singapore after heavy Zero sweeps.
Also nicely done with that CAP trap in Singapore catching a bunch of Betties. Don't get too cocky though; don't want all of those good fighter frames to get damaged and stuck in Singapore after heavy Zero sweeps.
RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
ORIGINAL: Sangeli
Started reading your AAR and your opponents AAR today. Seems a few days ago you two had a big carrier battle! Planning to do an update for that? I'm guessing the Saratoga and Hermes didn't make it based off the combat report your opponent posted but at least you put some heavy fires into the Japanese carriers. Can't say if they went down of course! But generally heavy fires = bad news for any Japanese CV.
Also nicely done with that CAP trap in Singapore catching a bunch of Betties. Don't get too cocky though; don't want all of those good fighter frames to get damaged and stuck in Singapore after heavy Zero sweeps.
Don't worry, I will get to that soon enough.
RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
1st-10th Jan 42
An excellent period for the Allies!
Cenpac:
Wakes continues to hold. A lone transport arrives and begins unloading much needed supplies to the marines. He takes Baker and Canton Is, nothing else of note.
PI:
The bulk of his troops arrive at Clark. He has 2000 AV there to my 1200, behind level 3 forts, so it will take a while to wear my troops down. He has not tried a deliberate attack yet. He bombs daily unopposed by me, I only have search and recon a/c left in the area.
Malaya:
Sweeping and bombing continue of Singapore, still opposed by the AVG who I have upgraded to P39s. Forts up to level 4, they wont get any higher. All his troops are about to cross the river by the looks of it.
India/Burma: Zzzzz..
China:
Thanks to a combination of luck and use of blocking forces I manage to get the bulk of the cut off Chinese corps at the start of the game into one of two main areas of action. We both have large stacks at Nanyang and in the Changsha area. The troops at Nanyang are heading north into the x3 terrain where they will stand and fight. He takes Yenan to the east but that is no real loss. I did manage a CAP trap over Changsha with the crappy Chinese fighters that shot down a good number of his single engined bombers, but the next day a Zero sweep pretty much kills them all lol.
DEI:
The main area of action. The mini-KB is covering his invasions of Tarakan, Balikpapan, Manado, Ternate and Ambon. The old Dutch sub KIX manages to hit Ryujo with 3 torps, not once, but twice! And down she does, taking half the min-KBs strike a/c with her.
A couple of days later and acting on sig intel I received that the KB was not in the area, I sent the Lex and Enterprise, which had been hovering south of Timor undetected, on a high speed run into the area the mini-KB is operating. They make short work of the Japs, sending Zuiho, Hosho and Taiyo to the bottom. A small counter strike puts a torp into Enterprise, but she is still battle worthy. Further strikes the next day as I retreat manage to sink the CL Nagara and 3 modern DDs covering his invasions. I detach a couple of small CA/DD TFs to attack his invasion fleets off Ternate and Manado and sink a few APs in the process. Not wishing to push my luck I then retreated everything to Soerabaja.
So an excellent result, however he was to have his revenge, but at a cost....
An excellent period for the Allies!
Cenpac:
Wakes continues to hold. A lone transport arrives and begins unloading much needed supplies to the marines. He takes Baker and Canton Is, nothing else of note.
PI:
The bulk of his troops arrive at Clark. He has 2000 AV there to my 1200, behind level 3 forts, so it will take a while to wear my troops down. He has not tried a deliberate attack yet. He bombs daily unopposed by me, I only have search and recon a/c left in the area.
Malaya:
Sweeping and bombing continue of Singapore, still opposed by the AVG who I have upgraded to P39s. Forts up to level 4, they wont get any higher. All his troops are about to cross the river by the looks of it.
India/Burma: Zzzzz..
China:
Thanks to a combination of luck and use of blocking forces I manage to get the bulk of the cut off Chinese corps at the start of the game into one of two main areas of action. We both have large stacks at Nanyang and in the Changsha area. The troops at Nanyang are heading north into the x3 terrain where they will stand and fight. He takes Yenan to the east but that is no real loss. I did manage a CAP trap over Changsha with the crappy Chinese fighters that shot down a good number of his single engined bombers, but the next day a Zero sweep pretty much kills them all lol.
DEI:
The main area of action. The mini-KB is covering his invasions of Tarakan, Balikpapan, Manado, Ternate and Ambon. The old Dutch sub KIX manages to hit Ryujo with 3 torps, not once, but twice! And down she does, taking half the min-KBs strike a/c with her.
A couple of days later and acting on sig intel I received that the KB was not in the area, I sent the Lex and Enterprise, which had been hovering south of Timor undetected, on a high speed run into the area the mini-KB is operating. They make short work of the Japs, sending Zuiho, Hosho and Taiyo to the bottom. A small counter strike puts a torp into Enterprise, but she is still battle worthy. Further strikes the next day as I retreat manage to sink the CL Nagara and 3 modern DDs covering his invasions. I detach a couple of small CA/DD TFs to attack his invasion fleets off Ternate and Manado and sink a few APs in the process. Not wishing to push my luck I then retreated everything to Soerabaja.
So an excellent result, however he was to have his revenge, but at a cost....
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Canoerebel
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RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
Good luck Paul. Are you playing two-day turns? I assume you are, as you are the Chief Proponent of Two Day Turns. 
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
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JocMeister
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RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
Good luck Paul. Are you playing two-day turns? I assume you are, as you are the Chief Proponent of Two Day Turns.
Hi Dan, good to see you back. One day turns for this game. I'm happy with either as long as the pace keeps up.
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Canoerebel
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RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
As a small aside (hoping not to hijack your thread), I've never left. I'm still reading the forums pretty often. But I am finished playing AE. It's the best game ever, but I'm the world's worst at moderation. Since I can't self moderate, I just have to avoid the game totally. Like crack and women other than my wife.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
As a small aside (hoping not to hijack your thread), I've never left. I'm still reading the forums pretty often. But I am finished playing AE. It's the best game ever, but I'm the world's worst at moderation. Since I can't self moderate, I just have to avoid the game totally. Like crack and women other than my wife.
I have a wife and she PROVIDES me my CRACK! [:D]
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
Good luck with the game Miller. Good to see you with an AAR!
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
As a small aside (hoping not to hijack your thread), I've never left. I'm still reading the forums pretty often. But I am finished playing AE. It's the best game ever, but I'm the world's worst at moderation. Since I can't self moderate, I just have to avoid the game totally. Like crack and women other than my wife.
That's a pity.
RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
11th-19th Jan 42
Another good period for the Allies.
Cenpac:
He now has 4 units at wake, all out of supply as he is dropping it by air over the island[:D]
PI:
The siege of Clark continues. I have plenty of supply there (for now).
Malaya:
He crosses the river and takes heavy losses. His 2200AV against my 1000AV and 4 forts. He suffers roughly 200 sqds destroyed and 600 disabled to my 50. He is going to have to bring more troops....
India/Burma:
Looks like troops massing to move into Rangoon. He has a single tank unit probing north that takes Toungoo.
China:
He attacks two of my large stacks to the north and north east of Nanyang and takes heavy losses. He will have to find another way to Sian. Looks like the troops that captured Yenan are heading west to Sian. I have diverted some reserve corps from Sian to meet this new threat. In the south he has a big stack forming a few hexes south of Changsha. Kweilin is also under siege but holding with 3 forts.
DEI:
O20, which was lurking near Sinkawang, hits BB Fuso with 2 torps, and follows that up two days later by putting another 3 into her as she flees back to Cam Rahn Bay. RIP Fuso... An American cruiser force tangles with a transport convoy at Sinkawang, sinking the CL Kashi, Nettys hit the Salt Lake City on the way back but she will survive. As expected the KB finally shows up in the area. A port strike on Soerabaja sinks a dozen or so low value transports, I had moved my CVs north to Batavia several turns earlier, joined by the Saratoga who finally arrived in the area after a long voyage round the far side of Aus. The scene was set for a CV battle the next day...
Elsewhere:
He took Adak Is in the Aleutians in late December. No activity in the area since then. In Sopac area he took Port Moresby in early Jan, unopposed by me. Shortlands, Tulagi, Luganville, Koumac and Noumea are also his, but I don't imagine he will make any real effort to defend the last three mentioned.
Another good period for the Allies.
Cenpac:
He now has 4 units at wake, all out of supply as he is dropping it by air over the island[:D]
PI:
The siege of Clark continues. I have plenty of supply there (for now).
Malaya:
He crosses the river and takes heavy losses. His 2200AV against my 1000AV and 4 forts. He suffers roughly 200 sqds destroyed and 600 disabled to my 50. He is going to have to bring more troops....
India/Burma:
Looks like troops massing to move into Rangoon. He has a single tank unit probing north that takes Toungoo.
China:
He attacks two of my large stacks to the north and north east of Nanyang and takes heavy losses. He will have to find another way to Sian. Looks like the troops that captured Yenan are heading west to Sian. I have diverted some reserve corps from Sian to meet this new threat. In the south he has a big stack forming a few hexes south of Changsha. Kweilin is also under siege but holding with 3 forts.
DEI:
O20, which was lurking near Sinkawang, hits BB Fuso with 2 torps, and follows that up two days later by putting another 3 into her as she flees back to Cam Rahn Bay. RIP Fuso... An American cruiser force tangles with a transport convoy at Sinkawang, sinking the CL Kashi, Nettys hit the Salt Lake City on the way back but she will survive. As expected the KB finally shows up in the area. A port strike on Soerabaja sinks a dozen or so low value transports, I had moved my CVs north to Batavia several turns earlier, joined by the Saratoga who finally arrived in the area after a long voyage round the far side of Aus. The scene was set for a CV battle the next day...
Elsewhere:
He took Adak Is in the Aleutians in late December. No activity in the area since then. In Sopac area he took Port Moresby in early Jan, unopposed by me. Shortlands, Tulagi, Luganville, Koumac and Noumea are also his, but I don't imagine he will make any real effort to defend the last three mentioned.
RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Good luck with the game Miller. Good to see you with an AAR!
Thanks!
RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
20th Jan 42
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
CV battle takes place east of Batavia. The full KB vs 3 CVs (Lex, Ent and Sara) and CVL Hermes. He has more a/c but I hope to even the odds with my LBA on Java.
Morning phase:
His alpha strike of 54Z, 117K and 80V goes in against my tiny CAP of 22 fighters (I had hoped the fighters based one hex away at Batavia would help but none showed up). I knew the outcome would be a forgone conclusion. All 3 CVs are obliterated in short order. Several CAs are also badly hit. My strike of 40F and 82DBs meets a CAP of only 24Z(!) and does well. Hiryu looks to be sunk, Shokaku and Kaga take major damage. A couple of straggling SBD sqds score a hit each on Zuikaku and AKagi, leaving only Soryu untouched. None of my Java LBA (about 40 A24s, 20 Brit TBs and enough escorts) sorties[:@]. Likewise 45 TBDs don't fly due to the 6 hex range and die with the CVs[:(].
Afternoon phase:
Greatly reduced strikes by the KB finish off the crippled Hermes and hit more CAs, although none are sunk. A24s from Java fly but achieve nothing despite only a few Zeros remaining on CAP.
Final Analysis:
I'm down 3 CVs and Hermes, several CAs very badly damaged but all make port. He losses Hiryu for certain, Shokaku has "Heavy fires", so with no major port nearby she looks to be in danger of sinking. Kaga looks like she will be out of action for a while at least. So 3 v 1 is a poor exchange, 3 v 2 whilst not great would certainly be more agreeable to me, considering the mini KB is sunk so he will only have 3 CVs to hand to cover his upcoming Java invasion.
I welcome readers thoughts on the this battle......
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
CV battle takes place east of Batavia. The full KB vs 3 CVs (Lex, Ent and Sara) and CVL Hermes. He has more a/c but I hope to even the odds with my LBA on Java.
Morning phase:
His alpha strike of 54Z, 117K and 80V goes in against my tiny CAP of 22 fighters (I had hoped the fighters based one hex away at Batavia would help but none showed up). I knew the outcome would be a forgone conclusion. All 3 CVs are obliterated in short order. Several CAs are also badly hit. My strike of 40F and 82DBs meets a CAP of only 24Z(!) and does well. Hiryu looks to be sunk, Shokaku and Kaga take major damage. A couple of straggling SBD sqds score a hit each on Zuikaku and AKagi, leaving only Soryu untouched. None of my Java LBA (about 40 A24s, 20 Brit TBs and enough escorts) sorties[:@]. Likewise 45 TBDs don't fly due to the 6 hex range and die with the CVs[:(].
Afternoon phase:
Greatly reduced strikes by the KB finish off the crippled Hermes and hit more CAs, although none are sunk. A24s from Java fly but achieve nothing despite only a few Zeros remaining on CAP.
Final Analysis:
I'm down 3 CVs and Hermes, several CAs very badly damaged but all make port. He losses Hiryu for certain, Shokaku has "Heavy fires", so with no major port nearby she looks to be in danger of sinking. Kaga looks like she will be out of action for a while at least. So 3 v 1 is a poor exchange, 3 v 2 whilst not great would certainly be more agreeable to me, considering the mini KB is sunk so he will only have 3 CVs to hand to cover his upcoming Java invasion.
I welcome readers thoughts on the this battle......
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Mike McCreery
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RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
ORIGINAL: Miller
20th Jan 42
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
CV battle takes place east of Batavia. The full KB vs 3 CVs (Lex, Ent and Sara) and CVL Hermes. He has more a/c but I hope to even the odds with my LBA on Java.
Morning phase:
His alpha strike of 54Z, 117K and 80V goes in against my tiny CAP of 22 fighters (I had hoped the fighters based one hex away at Batavia would help but none showed up). I knew the outcome would be a forgone conclusion. All 3 CVs are obliterated in short order. Several CAs are also badly hit. My strike of 40F and 82DBs meets a CAP of only 24Z(!) and does well. Hiryu looks to be sunk, Shokaku and Kaga take major damage. A couple of straggling SBD sqds score a hit each on Zuikaku and AKagi, leaving only Soryu untouched. None of my Java LBA (about 40 A24s, 20 Brit TBs and enough escorts) sorties[:@]. Likewise 45 TBDs don't fly due to the 6 hex range and die with the CVs[:(].
Afternoon phase:
Greatly reduced strikes by the KB finish off the crippled Hermes and hit more CAs, although none are sunk. A24s from Java fly but achieve nothing despite only a few Zeros remaining on CAP.
Final Analysis:
I'm down 3 CVs and Hermes, several CAs very badly damaged but all make port. He losses Hiryu for certain, Shokaku has "Heavy fires", so with no major port nearby she looks to be in danger of sinking. Kaga looks like she will be out of action for a while at least. So 3 v 1 is a poor exchange, 3 v 2 whilst not great would certainly be more agreeable to me, considering the mini KB is sunk so he will only have 3 CVs to hand to cover his upcoming Java invasion.
I welcome readers thoughts on the this battle......
I think it was too early to commit your carrier forces in direct conflict with the KB.
RE: Miller (A) vs Mind_Messing (J) No M_M!
21st-28th Jan 42
Cenpac:
A jap supply convoy approaches Wake but losses 2 AKLs to Vindicator bombs before it can begin to unload, then losses another to CD guns. I wager very little supply got ashore.
PI: Quiet. He is starting to land on the bases in the Leyte area.
Malaya:
I manage to get a turkey shoot of Jap bombers over Singers when his sweepers arrive late, looks like 50-60 go down, mainly Nells hopefully carrying high exp nav attack pilots. A deliberate attack gets 1:32 odds but strangely manages to knock down a fort level (to 3). Perhaps it was an engineer unit crossing the river?
India/Burma: Troops arrive at Rangoon, similar AV (300) to the defenders, no attack yet.
China:
He achieves a breakthrough south of Changsha, his stack of 1700 AV defeating mine of 800 AV and inflicting heavy losses, almost 500 sqds destroyed....I will have to move quickly here to prevent any more serious losses.
DEI:
The wounded KB heads north back to its base at Cam Ranh Bay. I transfer the fragmented remains of the CV sqds to Singapore to try and catch them but a few small strikes achieve only a dud hit on Zuikaku. A dutch sub hits Soryu with a single torp just outside the harbour but MM says it was just a scratch....shame it wasn't fired against one of the more wounded ships.
Most of my cripples are located at Batavia, which he has started sweeping. Thankfully I recently transferred a 100 or so P40s into the region from Aus, so I am putting up a strong resistance. Hurricanes from Aden are also enroute, along with a convoy carrying the 6th Aus Div and 7th Armoured. The 18th UK div is also due to arrive soon from Perth. I am going to try a "Fortress Java" defence.....
The Japs commence landings on Timor at Lautern, some SBDs flying from Koepang sink a couple of big APs and bounce some bombs off the covering BB Nagato.
Cenpac:
A jap supply convoy approaches Wake but losses 2 AKLs to Vindicator bombs before it can begin to unload, then losses another to CD guns. I wager very little supply got ashore.
PI: Quiet. He is starting to land on the bases in the Leyte area.
Malaya:
I manage to get a turkey shoot of Jap bombers over Singers when his sweepers arrive late, looks like 50-60 go down, mainly Nells hopefully carrying high exp nav attack pilots. A deliberate attack gets 1:32 odds but strangely manages to knock down a fort level (to 3). Perhaps it was an engineer unit crossing the river?
India/Burma: Troops arrive at Rangoon, similar AV (300) to the defenders, no attack yet.
China:
He achieves a breakthrough south of Changsha, his stack of 1700 AV defeating mine of 800 AV and inflicting heavy losses, almost 500 sqds destroyed....I will have to move quickly here to prevent any more serious losses.
DEI:
The wounded KB heads north back to its base at Cam Ranh Bay. I transfer the fragmented remains of the CV sqds to Singapore to try and catch them but a few small strikes achieve only a dud hit on Zuikaku. A dutch sub hits Soryu with a single torp just outside the harbour but MM says it was just a scratch....shame it wasn't fired against one of the more wounded ships.
Most of my cripples are located at Batavia, which he has started sweeping. Thankfully I recently transferred a 100 or so P40s into the region from Aus, so I am putting up a strong resistance. Hurricanes from Aden are also enroute, along with a convoy carrying the 6th Aus Div and 7th Armoured. The 18th UK div is also due to arrive soon from Perth. I am going to try a "Fortress Java" defence.....
The Japs commence landings on Timor at Lautern, some SBDs flying from Koepang sink a couple of big APs and bounce some bombs off the covering BB Nagato.