Olorin [J] vs JocMeister [A]

[SqzMyLemon]

Hi Olorin,

I can never remember with the DaBabe's scenarios, but is this a Scenario 1 or Scenario 2 equivalent for Japan?

Very bold and aggressive opening, but necessary if going for AV. Well thought out so far and looking forward to how you progress. [8D]

[Olorin]

This is the Scen 2 equivalent, so Japan gets extra supplies and fuel, an extra air flottila, an extra 4 divisions later on and Shinano is a CV. [:)]

[Olorin]

Dec 9 1941

Pearl Harbor:
- KB lingers for a third day, but this time bombers were reserved for naval strikes (none occured). Three Zero sentais swept Pearl against 68 allied fighters. They shot down 30 for the loss of 8 Zeros.

- Main Battle Line, consisting of 6 BBs, made a full speed run from 20 hexes north of PH to 7 hexes north of PH, in order to join KB and conduct a naval bombardment of PH at dawn tomorrow.

- The massive transport fleet carrying the 14th Army moves closer (17 hexes north of PH), still undetected.

Malaya:
- Mersing falls. Only one of 5 divs attacked the meager garrison, the rest were in pursuit. 5 tank regiments entered Johore Bharu.
- Kota Bharu falls. Airfield is damaged and can't be used tomorrow except for CAP.
- Haruna and Kongo expended most of their ammo against a CM and a PG and will head to Cam Ranch Bay for partial replenishment.
- 3rd Yokosula Para SNFL ,made a failed air landing in Malacca, hoping to find it empty and cut off rail movement to the south. Only 1/3 of the avialable AV was dropped. Tomorrow they will be wiped out
- Two allied tankers are sunk by subs patroling off Palembang

Ground combat at Mersing (51,82)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 13806 troops, 259 guns, 62 vehicles, Assault Value = 2306
Defending force 568 troops, 10 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 2
Japanese adjusted assault: 377
Allied adjusted defense: 3
Japanese assault odds: 125 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Mersing !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units pursuing 27

Allied ground losses:
215 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (13 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
12th Engineer Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
56th Infantry Regiment
42nd Infantry Regiment
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment
11th Infantry Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
55th Infantry Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
4th Division
5th Recon Regiment
33rd Division
4th Tank Regiment
21st Division
5th Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
31st Field AA Battalion
18th JAAF Base Force
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ship Engineer Regiment
25th Army
1st RF Gun Battalion
55th Const Co
35th Field AA Battalion
202nd Ship Eng Coy
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
53rd Const Co
54th Const Co
5th Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
26th Fld AA Gun Co
15th Const Co
5th JAAF AF Coy

Defending units:
30 Battery/3 HAA
113th RAF Adv Base Force

Aleutians:
48 Div lands on Cold Bay, Dutch Harbor and Adak. One xAKL is hit by coastal artillery and will sink.

Phillipines:
- Kaga and Ryujo move to the north and south of Mindanao respectively. 3-4 enemy transports are sunk.
- Landing on Jolo in the evening, covered by a strong cruiser force. No opposition. Force Z, Boise and Houston are hiding.
- Sweeps over Manila meet no enemies.
- Four B-17s attack Taytay doing no damage.
- Three small allied DD TFs are spotted heading towards Indochina. DD Thanet enters Cam Ranch Bay(!) hits a mine and is then sunk by a Betty. Where will the rest of them go?

[Olorin]

So... no Luzon landings, 14th Army is diverted to Hawaii. Together with the Mersing gambit, these two are the main features of my opening.

Now that we've got this out of the way, I can tell you that the big screw up in my T1 was that the 14th Army transports ended up 10 hexes north of where they were supposed to. It caused a 2 days delay in the Eastern Operation, which could prove vital, in terms of KB sorties and a possible intervention by 3 enemy carriers instead of just 2. Saratoga has had enough time to join the others now. They could interfere with the Hawaii landings, if Jocke was so inclined.

[ny59giants]

Make sure your BBs are set to bombard from very, very long range and no escorts try to. Those CD guns at Pearl are nasty!!

[Olorin]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Make sure your BBs are set to bombard from very, very long range and no escorts try to. Those CD guns at Pearl are nasty!!

Ah, my orders were to bombard from 6k feet away. Here is the result, before I post the whole report:

Night Naval bombardment of Pearl Harbor at 180,107 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 37 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 2 destroyed on ground
P-36A Mohawk: 15 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged
C-33: 1 damaged
C-33: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 13 damaged
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
B-17D Fortress: 12 damaged
A-20A Havoc: 3 damaged
A-20A Havoc: 1 destroyed on ground
B-18A Bolo: 8 damaged
B-18A Bolo: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-1 Dauntless: 5 damaged
SBD-1 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground
O-47A: 5 damaged
O-47A: 1 destroyed on ground
R3D-2: 1 damaged

79 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise, Shell hits 1
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato
CL Kitakami
CL Kinu
CL Yura
CL Naka
DD Tadeshiwa
DD Inazuma
DD Ikazuchi
DD Shiranui
DD Isokaze
DD Kagero
DD Akigumo

Allied ground losses:
433 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 40 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 36 (15 destroyed, 21 disabled)
Vehicles lost 42 (6 destroyed, 36 disabled)

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 44

E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Hyuga
BB Hyuga firing at Oahu Harbor Defense
Oahu Harbor Defense firing at BB Hyuga
BB Ise firing at Oahu Harbor Defense
Oahu Harbor Defense firing at BB Ise
E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Yamashiro
BB Yamashiro firing at Pearl Harbor
BB Fuso firing at Oahu Harbor Defense
Oahu Harbor Defense firing at BB Fuso
BB Mutsu firing at Oahu Harbor Defense
Oahu Harbor Defense firing at BB Mutsu
BB Nagato firing at Oahu Harbor Defense
Oahu Harbor Defense firing at BB Nagato
CL Kitakami firing at Oahu Harbor Defense
Oahu Harbor Defense firing at CL Kitakami
CL Kinu firing at Oahu Harbor Defense
CL Yura firing at Oahu Harbor Defense
Oahu Harbor Defense firing at CL Yura
CL Naka firing at Pearl Harbor
DD Tadeshiwa firing at Pearl Harbor
DD Inazuma firing at Oahu Harbor Defense
DD Ikazuchi firing at Oahu Harbor Defense
Oahu Harbor Defense firing at DD Ikazuchi
DD Shiranui firing at Oahu Harbor Defense
Oahu Harbor Defense firing at DD Shiranui
DD Isokaze firing at Oahu Harbor Defense
Oahu Harbor Defense firing at DD Isokaze
DD Kagero firing at Pearl Harbor
DD Akigumo firing at Pearl Harbor

Good news: no damage from CD guns or mines.
Bad news: the airield isn't completely closed, which was the main goal.

Still, PH can't launch any naval strikes tomorrow and that will be important for the safety of the landings at Nihau and Lihue.

[Olorin]

Dec 10 1941

Eastern Operation:
- The results of the night bombardment can be seen above. I'm still not sure if PH airfield is in a state to launch strikes. Mouse over says 71 airfield damage, but it can't be trusted.

- Afternoon KB strike does minimal damage to the airfield. Sorties about 60%.

- Transport TFs to invade Lahaina, Nihau and Lihue move 8 hexes north of Lihue.

- BatDiv1 (Nagato, Mutsu) low in ammo and can only be rearmed in the Home Islands (size 7 port), but it will remain in the area to cover the landings and draw attacks from the air or sea. The other BBs can be rearmed by AKE Kushiro which is 5 days from Kwajalein.

Afternoon Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 116 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 50 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 99
B5N1 Kate x 10
B5N2 Kate x 110
D3A1 Val x 85

Allied aircraft
P-36A Mohawk x 13
P-40B Warhawk x 33
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 25 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
DD Ward
BB California, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 11

Aleutians:
Adak and Cold Bay fall. Dutch Harbor attack inconclusive, forts drop by one.

Malaya:
- Johore Bharu falls. The armored spearhead brushes aside 27th AusBde. Now it's just a question of marching the infantry into Singapore. I don't think any allied units from the north made it inside.

Ground combat at Johore Bahru (50,83)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 3634 troops, 7 guns, 432 vehicles, Assault Value = 279
Defending force 5608 troops, 82 guns, 90 vehicles, Assault Value = 84
Japanese adjusted assault: 298
Allied adjusted defense: 57
Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Johore Bahru !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 1 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1798 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 204 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 60 (56 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 62 (61 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 5
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
6th Tank Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
5th Recon Regiment
7th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
27th Australian Brigade
III Indian Corps
29 Battery/3 HAA
113th RAF Adv Base Force
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
111th RAF Adv Base Force

Borneo:
Miri invaded. An enemy DD tries to interfere but is sunk by the escorts.

Philippines:
- A transport TF moving support units and supplies to Busuanga is attacked by 11 Vilderbeasts from Manila. One xAK is sunk, 5 Vilderbeasts destroyed by LRCAP (based at Taytay).
- MKB sinks another two small ships. Will rebase to Badeldaob for now.

[Olorin]

Question:
What are the chances of Jocke being tempted to commit his 3 carriers? PH airfield is marginally operational with perhaps 40-50 fighters left. Would you do it at this stage?

[ny59giants]

Since 14th Army is in eastern Pacific, what are your plans for conquest of Luzon??

Allied CVs - Their fighter groups are at 21 until re-sizing to 27 on Jan 1st (up to 36 on July 1st, 42). So, unless Jocke learned from me, he needs to 18 plane Marine groups on them. He doesn't have them on Lex or Enterprise right now, but should on Sara. Figure about 75 fighters for all 3 CVs...not enough, IMO. 15 plane Devastator TBs per CV are in need of training and better torpedoes. [:(] Your main concerns are his SBDs 36 x 3 = 108.

[Olorin]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Since 14th Army is in eastern Pacific, what are your plans for conquest of Luzon??

First I will capture everything as far south as Darwin and Horn Island. Then 2 divs will be diverted to Luzon, plus another 2 prepped divs from Manchuria. I expect a landing somewhere around early March. Until then, it will be suppressed by air.

[Encircled]

Don't think he will commit for a while yet

He'll be around though at a guess. Maybe a fast sprint away, waiting for an opportunity

[Lowpe]

I have never contemplated taking Pearl; good luck.[:)] We now have two games with that as a goal.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Sounds like some moves I'm facing vs John 3rd. Midway is a pain in ass as he has an AS there and subs off USA. [:(]

BANZAI! Looks like something I would try!

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Olorin

This is the Scen 2 equivalent, so Japan gets extra supplies and fuel, an extra air flottila, an extra 4 divisions later on and Shinano is a CV. [:)]

I would love those extra IJA troops for what I am doing in taking Hawaii! BTS (Reg/Lite) doesn't change the Army OOB so I have the historical starting forces. Those 4 divisions certainly will help your cause. Good Luck.

[Olorin]

Thanks guys [:)] I'm going to need all the luck I can get.
John, these divisions arrive a bit later, I think in April/May. They will be useful for Phase II, especially the Guards Tank Division!
The extra air flottila though is available at the start.

[Olorin]

First thoughts on China:

In my previous game against Michael (ny59giants) he managed to stall me pretty early and produce an endless stalemate. The reason (except from the skill of the opponent ofc) was my MLR mentality. I want to try something more drastic this time, i.e. giving absolute priority to the Yangste river. It's an asset. Keeping Hankow and Shanghai is paramount. They are enough to support a major offensive the the Ankang-Lanchow axis. Sian-Peiping are backwaters to be sacrificed in case of a Chinese offensive there.

This is the first axis of advance.

The second is Hanoi-Liuchow-Kweiyang. This rail line can support another offensive in May, using Southern Army forces. Amoy area will be sacrificed if necessary.

This is it, very briefly.
I'll post a screenshot when things start to materialize, as our forces are way out of position to do anything important right now.

[Encircled]

Joc hates China. Really hates it.

You should be able to take advantage of that as I think his mindset on China probably affects how he plays it.

[ny59giants]

Always look at things from logistical point of view. In China, what will help your economy and make China's worse?? Northern China (Sian, Lanchow, and further north) offer you oil and fuel and deny it to China to run their small Heavy Industry. Thus, less organic supply generated. If you come through the very SW corner of China (Hanoi-Liuchow-Kweiyang) along with a push from Burma, you can cut off AFs for supplies to be flown in. You don't want enough supplies in China to allow an Allied player to soak up those 300 plus squads of infantry per month. You did with me and some of those Chinese Corps were getting up over 600 AV by early 44.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Joc hates China. Really hates it.

You should be able to take advantage of that as I think his mindset on China probably affects how he plays it.

Is there any Allied player that doesn't hate it? Any kind of Japanese offensive makes China into a boondoggle. Only a "quiet China" isn't a thorn in your side. And even that has consequences, as the IJ player can just use all those LCUs elsewhere, because it doesn't take nearly as many IJA to just make sure the Chinese are sitting tight.

[Olorin]

I'm not fond of China myself either tbh. This early stage especially is a chore, until armies move into position and garrison requirements are properly handled.