Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)

[BBfanboy]

3 months and you think Dewey will make it before the Japanese raid SOPAC? You are an optimist! [8D]

[apbarog]

7 Feb 42

The enemy 4th Infantry Division continues to land at Port Moresby. KB, unseen, is lurking nearby, spotted by sub detection levels.

Haruna and Kongo hit Ambon again doing moderate damage.

RO-66 spotted AVP Arend at Tulagi. Arend was supporting Catalinas there, and is now loading supply to move to hide at Rennel Island and support Cats there. Tulagi is now known as an Allied base, so time to move. Best to keep eyes on the area as long as possible.

Cleanup of trapped Chinese corps continue near Sinyang. The Chinese are about gone now, but the 3 corps here have survived behind the lines for 2 months, tying up enemy troops. They tried to move to the lines, but couldn't get through.

Langsa is lost. Clark has built forts to level 2 now. Clark had been heavily damaged from the first day of the war, and stayed that way until an engineer unit moved from Bataan.

[apbarog]

8 Feb 42

28 Anns attack Bataan for the first time. Very minor port damage. There is an ACM here, which is probably the intended target.

Enemy bombers in the usual spots.

Port Moresby is lost. Enemy carriers are not seen but still detected by subs. They seem to be closer to Milne Bay today.

The Imperial Guard Division continues cleaning up north of Singapore, pounding 4 Allied units near Temuloh today.

Ambon is attacked. The Dutch continue to hold, but are weakening quickly. A 2 to 1 attack lowers the forts to 1. 210 Dutch lost, 101 Japanese. The base is about to fall.

Umboi Island, west of Rabaul, flipped to the enemy, immediately exposing the sub mines that I dropped there recently.

Concerns around Christmas Island. When I watched the replay, and saw the repeated enemy planes spotting my task forces near Christmas Island, I braced myself for the expected carrier strikes on my ships. I didn't know exactly what task forces were near there today. It's a very busy area, and some huge convoys are gone through here recently.

I don't know if very bad weather saved my ships at Christmas and nearby, and hid the enemy carriers, or if there are just a bunch of Glen subs here. I will find out very soon. I disbanded some ships that were unloading at Christmas. I have no fighters here yet. Some P-39s are inbound on ships.

[apbarog]

9 Feb 42

At Naga, sub Trout moved into the shallows and fired 2 torpedoes at xAK Nako Maru, getting one hit, and it's not a dud. The ship is on fire.

Near Manus, sub Thresher fired 2 torpedoes at xAK Brasil Maru and got a hit, but it was a dud.

Dutch sub O21 fired 2 torpedoes at xAK Igasa Maru near Obi, which is just north of Ambon, but torpedoes missed. I'd noticed a couple of task forces in that hex for a couple of days. I think they are follow-up task forces for Ambon, but Ambon hasn't fallen yet. OPilot is waiting for those coastal guns to go away. The sub remains in that hex, patrolling only that hex. Ambon is bombed, and deliberately attacked again, but the attack falls just short with a 1 to 1 attack and lowers the forts to 0. The base is about to fall, but the Dutch have done a good job defending as long as they have.

Cheribon on Java is lost.

Near Nanyang, the enemy makes a big push and attacks:

Ground combat at 85,43 (near Nanyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 39322 troops, 290 guns, 213 vehicles, Assault Value = 1281

Defending force 37103 troops, 153 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1031

Japanese adjusted assault: 888

Allied adjusted defense: 2194

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1191 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 214 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 23 (3 destroyed, 20 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2006 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 207 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
36th Division
27th Division
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
80th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
4th Group Army

This is a good showing for the Chinese despite far more casualties. It is unclear if the Chinese will hold here. The enemy appears to now want to cycle units in and out from the east. I'm bringing a fresh corp in from the north. I have to hold here. There's no reserve in the immediate area.

British carrier Indomitable has arrived at Melbourne from Ceylon, and is now headed to Auckland to join the 4 US carriers there. A careful use of the carriers may then be possible, having 5. Very careful. The planes and pilots are still poor, but OPilot does not sit right on his invasions, so I'm thinking that they might be useful if moved carefully.

[apbarog]

10 Feb 42

Dutch sub O21, on patrol in the one hex north of Ambon where ships have been loitering, finds xAK Igasa Maru, fires 2 torpedoes and hits with one. Heavy damage is reported, and there are troop casualties. Ambon is lost today, so whatever shipping has been sitting here, it will move to Ambon now.

26 Sallys bombed Kweilin's airfield. I've had 8 Chinese SB-IIIs here for awhile, and OPilot had seen them. I should have moved them but didn't. One bomber was lost on the ground. I move the squadron out today.

Lots of enemy bombing here and there. Nothing consequential. The only big news today is losing Ambon finally. The Dutch did as well as could be expected defending it.

There's been no sign of anything around Christmas Island since the scare a few days ago. No sign of the probable subs, or of a possible, although unlikely, carrier task force. I've left the half dozen or so ships in Christmas' port, waiting out the threat, but I'll get them on their way tomorrow.

[jwolf]

Heh, I like the spirit of the Dewey's captain!

[apbarog]

11 Feb 42

Enemy bombers hit here and there: near Kota Bharu, near Iloilo, near Hwainan, near Langsa, and Bandoeng.

Sallys and Sonias hit troops at Kukong, unescorted. This could be baiting me to move fighters in, or just a one-time attack expecting me to move fighters in. But I decide to move the P-40s in to CAP Kukong. I haven't used them for awhile.

Near Hwainan, the enemy continues cleaning up a couple of Chinese corps. Same situation near Kweisui, where a Chinese corp is destroyed. These are all units that have been behind the lines from the start.

Soerakarta Java falls.

I purchase 4 large US base forces on the West Coast. They are less than half-filled, and when filled out, have 72 air support each. They'll go to Australia, mostly.

Enemy CVEs are spotted west of Victoria Point, with a minesweeping task force. The sweepers are headed to Rangoon to sweep Allied mines. This is the first known foray into the Indian Ocean. Port Blair is on alert, but is not defended by much, just the base force that starts there.

It will be interesting to see how CL Sumatra does tonight.

[BBfanboy]

In stock, the USN BFs have 36 Air Support and the USAAF BFs have 60. The USA BFs are only 16. There are a few Air BFs that have nothing but 75 AS.

Was the AS changed for this Babes scenario to give some BFs 72 AS?

[apbarog]

I moved 4 of these units from March to San Francisco, to eventually be purchased and sent out. I don't know if they are different in a stock game.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: apbarog

I moved 4 of these units from March to San Francisco, to eventually be purchased and sent out. I don't know if they are different in a stock game.

Interesting. Even the name is different - I don't recall seeing anything called a "Base Group" in stock. Not objecting to the mod - there is certainly a need for more air support in the larger bases in the game.

[apbarog]

12 Feb 42

Light cruiser Sumatra, just built at Soerabaja but with 20 SYS damage, runs towards Tjepoe at night. Enemy task forces scatter with its approach, and Sumatra tangles with CL Sendai and 8 destroyers. Many enemy torpedoes are fired at Sumatra, but all miss. No damage to any ships. During the day, the same ships reengage just outside of Tjepoe. Sumatra lands a hit on DD Shinonome, setting it on fire, and there's a minor hit on Sendai. Sumatra is hit with a shell causing 1 FLT damage. Sumatra heads back to Soerabaja but doesn't quite get there at the end of the day. It will now sprint full speed down past the eastern tip of Java, passing danger close to the enemy base at Denpassar, and head to Australia. One day of full speed should get it to safety, as long as there aren't patrolling ships near Denpassar. A single Dutch PT boat (all that is left) heads to the strait to help if needed.

Near Kolaka in the Celebes, S-40 spots a couple of cargo ships and a patrol boat. 2 torpedoes are fired at xAK Misaku Maru, and one hits, causing fire and heavy damage. In a later attack, S-40 spots abandoned Misaku Maru, fires 4 more torpedoes, and 3 more hit, sinking the cargo ship.

Near Kendari, sub Tarpon fires 4 torpedoes at patrol boat Shinko Maru #3. One hits but is a dud.

In China, the P-40 trap fails, as the enemy doesn't show up today. I move the P-40s to Changsha.

A Glen was shot down over San Francisco. It is reported that Capt. Wild Bill Kelso got his first kill.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: apbarog

A Glen was shot down over San Francisco. It is reported that Capt. Wild Bill Kelso got his first kill.

Now he can finally light up that cigar he has been chomping on for two months!

[apbarog]

13 Feb 42

Dutch sub O24 fires 4 torpedoes at destroyer Ariake near Munda, but misses.

Enemy DMS start to sweep mines at Rangoon.

Enemy invasion of Tulagi. A chunk of the 56th Coastal Artillery Regiment fires on the ships, but does little. I notice that there's just one 155mm gun here. Most of the smaller stuff unloaded, but the 155s were last to unload, and just one did before I had to leave. The rest are scattered between Luganville and Auckland. The entire unit will be withdrawing within weeks anyhow. Better to have gotten some use out of the unit. Enemy carriers are nearby to the west.

The enemy is landing the 82nd Naval Guard, the 1st Indpt SNLF Coy, and the Bandasan SNLF. Hopefully Lark Force can hold out for awhile.

The enemy clear a hex on Java northwest of Bandoeng.

The reinforcement of Johnston Island is complete.

10 days until Hornet arrives in Panama. Indomitable is a few days west of Auckland and inbound. 4 US carriers are still at Auckland.

[apbarog]

14 Feb 42

Tulagi has more Allied troops than the enemy bargained for. Today 4 enemy cruisers bombarded the troops doing minimal damage. AMC Kiyosumi Maru continued to unload troops, and did take a hit from a 155mm coastal gun, the only coastal gun there.

Bettys bombed Tulagi's port. There are no ships there. The Catalina support ship moved a few days ago. KB is 2 hexes to the south of Tulagi, guarding.

Near Tavoy, Dutch sub KXVIII fired 2 torpedoes at xAK Fusemi Maru, and hit it with one torpedo. Fire and heavy damage are reported, and guns and vehicles are lost. The ship is not seen sinking, nor does audio imply a sinking, but the ship still may sink. The task force was probably headed to Rangoon.

No enemy air activity in China. P-40s move back to Kukong.

[apbarog]

ARD Dewey

[apbarog]

15 Feb 42

Sub Permit spots light cruiser Naka and 5 destroyers near Phuket, Thailand. 4 torpedoes are fired at destroyer Natsugumo, but all miss. This task force is not the CVE task force that is still in the area.

Singkep, an island near Palembang, is invaded. Not defended.

25 Bettys from Rabaul bomb the port at Tulagi. Minor damage.

Besides the usual bombing on Sumatra, Java, and the Philippines, there were a couple of notable attacks. 48 Sallys bombed 2 Dutch units at Sabang, and caused over 400 casualties. Clear terrain and clear weather. Near Taiping, 42 Lilys bombed an Indian battalion and caused over 230 casualties. I note these effective strikes in clear terrain because it will be returned many times over later in the war.

The enemy attacks at Tulagi:

Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2760 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 93

Defending force 1674 troops, 35 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 40

Japanese adjusted assault: 38

Allied adjusted defense: 40

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
123 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
82nd Naval Guard Unit
1st Indpt SNLF Coy
Bandasan SNLF

Defending units:
Lark Force
56th Cst Art Rgt /2
***********************

Lark Force may hold until the enemy reinforces. This will undoubtedly bring more enemy ship bombardments, and may tie KB to the area for longer than OPilot intended. Lark Force is doing its job.

I'm considering a sneaky plan. I may move a sizable force north from Noumea and have them wait just south of Koumac, in a non-base hex. A small unit could move to Koumac and prepare forts, but would appear to be a weak defense, inviting a landing with less than would arrive if Koumac was heavily defended. If my timing was right, as the enemy approached Koumac, the defenders would move into the base and be waiting. It would be less likely that my troops would be spotted waiting south of Koumac rather than in Koumac.

La Foa would be defended somewhat also.

If OPilot comes to New Caledonia, he's in for a rough battle as things stand already. 2/3 of the 2nd Marine Division is there, and 2/3 of the Americal Division is enroute. Lots of engineers and base support at Noumea already, with plenty of supply. And the fleet is in New Zealand just waiting for the right time.

OPilot has to deal with Tulagi first, and probably then Luganville before considering New Caledonia.

2 turns completed for each of us both today and yesterday. Very nice. Not expected, but appreciated. We pretty much figure on one turn a day each, but more is better.

[apbarog]

16 Feb 42

Lilys have been bombing Tjilatjap's port, seeing that there's something docked there. After a few days trying, they hit tiny HDML P 4, sinking her.

Sonias with Nates bomb Chinese troops in the woods northwest of Ichang. Recon bombing no doubt.

Sabang's troops are bombed and badly hurt in the clear terrain again. Enemy troops are approaching and that will end that.

12 Oscars sweep Kukong. 27 Sallys bomb separately. The P-40s had just left. They now return.

Bettys from Rabaul with Zeros from KB hit Tulagi's port, doing minor damage. KB has moved a bit to the northeast of Tulagi now. Since I put troops on Tulagi, OPilot is acting like he expects the US Navy to show up. KB started out west and southwest of Tulagi, but has moved north of the Solomons since, in a more defensive posture. The US fleet isn't coming.

Sub Sailfish spots an AO task force north of Buin, fires 4 topedoes at DD Ushio, and misses. The AO's had been at Shortlands.

Djokjakarta on Java is lost. Only a couple of hexes still Allied controlled on Malaysia. Kota Bharu is one. The Imperial Guard Division is approaching.

Auckland has become the main US Navy base in the South Pacific. All of the US carriers and most of the combat ships are there. I've arbitrarily picked the number of 300,000 for what I want in fuel and supply at Auckland. When a West Coast convoy is approaching, if I have my 300,000, the ships will unload in Australia. Supply is over that goal right now. Fuel is about to meet the goal.

Bombay has become a level 7 airfield. One of the Flying Tigers squadrons moves there to upgrade to P-40Es. Another will do so when that one returns to Calcutta. The 3rd squadron will use up the H-81s. In a PDU OFF game, you use what you have. P-40Es are limited in number anyhow. The serious fighting hasn't started in Burma or the South Pacific yet, but when it does, the P-40Es will be in high demand.

[apbarog]

17 Feb 42

The enemy lands at Puerto Princesa near the Philippines, and also at Boela.

The enemy also lands at Port Blair, with a regiment. All that is defending is most of a base force. As shown below, the enemy light carriers move well north of Port Blair.

Bettys again bomb Tulagi, but no enemy attack yet. Not enough to do the job.

Soerabaja is swept by Zeros, then 54 Bettys bomb the port and airfield. No ships or planes here to hit. Damage is moderate, and the repair shipyard takes a couple hits also.

Most of the ships that helped take Ambon are still at Kendari. There are tankers there. Maybe they needed fuel. Or just waiting for the next objective. Could be Timor. Horn Island has been getting recon from Port Moresby, so I'm sure that is on the agenda too.

The most interesting development today is that KB is spotted still moving to the northeast, toward Nauru Island. It was northeast of Tulagi, and is still going northeast. My guess is that it is headed to Kwajalein to help with a Wake invasion. Wake has been reinforced, and has over 150 mines, but no air protection. It'll fall, given enough ship bombardments and bombings, but it'll take an effort. Let's see if it gets the full treatment.

[edit: Oops, I put my message right over the enemy carrier position. They are about 4 hexes due north of Port Blair.]

[apbarog]

If KB is headed to Kwajalein, I wonder I spooked OPilot a bit by doing a recon of Kwajalein from Wake with Catalinas a few days ago. He knows that I had activity around Wake, and my carriers have been missing and unseen for a long time. In fact, I don't think he's seen my carriers since the early Truk raid.

[apbarog]

18 Feb 42

Southwest of Kendari, S-40 spots xAK Glasgow Maru, and it is unescorted. This is very unusual. OPilot escorts his convoys. Going after the easy pickings, S-40 surfaces and gets into a short gunfight with the cargo ship. Both sides land a shell hit, and a set of the sub's torpedo tubes is damaged. The sub decides to dive, without firing a torpedo. The cargo ship did have troops on board, but the single shell hit didn't do much damage.

Bettys bomb Tulagi's port, again.

Port Blair falls to the enemy. Enemy carriers have circled around Port Blair, moving from north of the base to a position to the west now. Just a forward defensive move, guarding the invasion.

The invasion of Puerto Princesa isn't going as smoothly.

Ground combat at Puerto Princesa (73,83)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1207 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 43

Defending force 387 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17

Japanese adjusted assault: 7

Allied adjusted defense: 46

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 6 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
I/81st Naval Guard Unit
III/81st Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
Palawan Constab Battalion

With more Philippine casualties, the base will still fall, just not immediately.

Battlecruiser Repulse is completely repaired at Pearl Harbor, and has joined a troop convoy heading to New Zealand.

Koepang got enemy recon today.