War is FUBAR - 1EyedJacks (J) VS NY59Giants (A)

[John 3rd]

Well done and bagging CLV Charlotte. I need a bit of luck with getting a flattop. Did you sink her by SS?

The Americans have four of this class. Each can be converted into a CVL mid-way through 1942.

[1EyedJacks]

Well the run of merchies heading from the PI/Mindanao area has pretty much cleared up.

At Cotabato a fast transport TF arrives with 3k of supplies. I'm loading the remainder of the para unit @ Peleliu and transporting it to Cotabato by ship. Also en route to Cotabato is the 90th Infantry Rgt.; I'm onboarding troops to Mindanao to march about and capture all of the bases.
Once the 1st Para Div. is consolidated at Cotabato I'll find the next place to drop it. I'm thinking Tarakan, on top of an amphibious assault.

Miri falls, and my troops land at Brunei. A D-Atk is planned for the 13th.

In the PI, Aparri is mine and troops are marching on Tuguegarao and Laoag.

Hollandia falls to amphibious assault and in China, so does Hong Kong. I softened up the allied troops with several G-Atks, followed by the D-Atk of my LCU. China is still a cluster as I try to cover all of the garrison duties, but I'm close to having an offensive front to strike at Chengchow while another smaller front forms at Paotow so I can drive north for the oil of Urumchi. I'm sending minesweepers to Hong Kong.

Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34343 troops, 397 guns, 201 vehicles, Assault Value = 934

Defending force 7694 troops, 132 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 211

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 773

Allied adjusted defense: 145

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hong Kong !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
459 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled

Allied ground losses:
7565 casualties reported
Squads: 265 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 359 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 147 (147 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 79 (79 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 6

Assaulting units:
19th Ind Com Engineer Regiment
38th Division
66th Infantry Regiment
104th Division
20th Ind Com Engineer Regiment
2nd RF Gun Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
5th RF Gun Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
Rifles of Canada Battalion
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion
1st Middlesex Battalion
Kowloon Brigade
102nd RN Base Force
Hong Kong Fortress
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12DEC41 Hong Kong.png (1.91 MiB) Viewed 566 times

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Airframe factories are slowly growing. Zeroes and Oscars along with Sallies, Betties, and the Liz are my initial focus for the present.

In Malaya, Michael is pulling back to Singapore, and I'm sure he's trying to move troops to Palembang. Deeper into Java, I'm sure he must be trying to establish defenses in and around Soerabaja. It's a race.

Alor Star changes flags; it's abandoned by the allied forces.
Kanoya-4 Ku T-3 sub-groups COMBINING at Naha

PG Asheville is reported to have been sunk near Taytay on Dec 09, 1941
SS Searaven is reported to have been sunk near Manila on Dec 08, 1941
SS Seawolf is reported to have been sunk near Manila on Dec 08, 1941
ACM Colonel Harrison is reported to have been sunk near Balikpapan on Dec 12, 1941
xAK Catrine is reported to have been sunk near Ulan Melintang on Dec 07, 1941
xAKL Corregidor is reported to have been sunk near Jolo on Dec 09, 1941

Michael's SS-019 launches fish at the BB Fuso; miss.

[1EyedJacks]

Well done and bagging CLV Charlotte. I need a bit of luck with getting a flattop. Did you sink her by SS?

The Americans have four of this class. Each can be converted into a CVL mid-way through 1942.

I softened her up in the morn and finished her off in the afternoon.

Combat Report - 7DEC41
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Jolo at 73,91

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
B5N2 Kate x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CVL Charlotte, Torpedo hits 1
CL Boise <--- Sucks that I missed the Boise. At least you got her in your game - lol.

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Jolo at 73,91

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
B5N2 Kate x 18

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 8 destroyed
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVL Charlotte, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 1
CA Houston, Torpedo hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..

[1EyedJacks]

Some more nice ships sunk!

Remember, the Kates carry two bombs each and can sink the Allied ships in the Philippines with no problems so you might as well use up your sorties on your carriers unless (wink) you are going to fly the torpedo aircraft to a land base while your carriers go to restock sorties. The air units might also be able to have replacement aircraft flown in as well. Meanwhile, some of the CV escorts can also go to play if they have not yet done so while other surface combat vessels which used up their ammo can join with the CVs as escorts. Rotate the ships as is needed.

Tank units can lower fortification levels even if the odds are less than 1:1. Rotate as needed. The infantry and artillery can bombard, saving the combat engineer units for the large attacks.

If I have not yet suggested this . . .
Not having downloaded this scenario, I don't know what is in any stockpiles. Remember to use up all older engines for antique aircraft for training purposes, even if that is using 1E bombers to hit Chinese land targets. The HI cost is already paid for so you only have the airframe cost. If those engines are not used now, when will they be used? For older and slow kamikazes?

Also, I don't know what your rules are for expanding naval air units but the torpedo units if expanded can use a lot of the older aircraft to train lots of pilots in Naval Bombing, Search, and ASW. If the pilots switch from TBs to another type such as DBs, Bettys, and/or Nells, the pilots lose a little experience but NO skill. The Claudes also make good trainers, freeing the A6M2s for offensive and defensive usage. Otherwise, if needed, the Claudes work well at 6000 feet against Allied torpedo aircraft. The Jakes can be used to train fighter pilots in expanded float plane units as well as Low Naval for use now and kamikazes later. Also, expanded Jake units can be split into thirds and placed with an AV for aerial ASW along important convoy routes.

Yup - I've already set my training groups with Claudes, Nates, Susies, etc. I'm trying to dig through my notes on overstacking the pilots VS the airframes in a training group. I seem to remember that I could go 2:1 pilots to AC and still get good results from training. Now if I can just find that post or write-up... lol.

[RangerJoe]

Some more nice ships sunk!

Remember, the Kates carry two bombs each and can sink the Allied ships in the Philippines with no problems so you might as well use up your sorties on your carriers unless (wink) you are going to fly the torpedo aircraft to a land base while your carriers go to restock sorties. The air units might also be able to have replacement aircraft flown in as well. Meanwhile, some of the CV escorts can also go to play if they have not yet done so while other surface combat vessels which used up their ammo can join with the CVs as escorts. Rotate the ships as is needed.

Tank units can lower fortification levels even if the odds are less than 1:1. Rotate as needed. The infantry and artillery can bombard, saving the combat engineer units for the large attacks.

If I have not yet suggested this . . .
Not having downloaded this scenario, I don't know what is in any stockpiles. Remember to use up all older engines for antique aircraft for training purposes, even if that is using 1E bombers to hit Chinese land targets. The HI cost is already paid for so you only have the airframe cost. If those engines are not used now, when will they be used? For older and slow kamikazes?

Also, I don't know what your rules are for expanding naval air units but the torpedo units if expanded can use a lot of the older aircraft to train lots of pilots in Naval Bombing, Search, and ASW. If the pilots switch from TBs to another type such as DBs, Bettys, and/or Nells, the pilots lose a little experience but NO skill. The Claudes also make good trainers, freeing the A6M2s for offensive and defensive usage. Otherwise, if needed, the Claudes work well at 6000 feet against Allied torpedo aircraft. The Jakes can be used to train fighter pilots in expanded float plane units as well as Low Naval for use now and kamikazes later. Also, expanded Jake units can be split into thirds and placed with an AV for aerial ASW along important convoy routes.

Yup - I've already set my training groups with Claudes, Nates, Susies, etc. I'm trying to dig through my notes on overstacking the pilots VS the airframes in a training group. I seem to remember that I could go 2:1 pilots to AC and still get good results from training. Now if I can just find that post or write-up... lol.

They will all train to a certain extent but also consider having some experts with experience 80+ and the necessary skills 70+ to increase the averages for those things that you are training for. This is also a good way to "hide" those pilots without them going to Tracom. You can use those pilots later when the Allies are on the offensive by putting them into your best dog fighters and have them cut down on the Allied sweeps. It seems to me that the pilots will train the most when their experience is less than 50 and they do not have skill more than 5 points higher than the average skill level. Those experts thus raise the averages and increase the speed of the training. You also have very few of those expert pilots in your TBs, DBs, and Betty/Nell sections so this keeps them available for those types without losing any experience. Once the enemy has a Death Star and/or Deadly CAP, you might want your bombers to try night attacks and the highly experienced bomber pilots in radar equipped planes may actually hit occasionally. Hopefully that could either slow down a TF or even have a crippled ship making its way to a base which your submarines might be kind enough to give them some attention.

[John 3rd]

Looks pretty positive so far.

[BBfanboy]

The other reason to do occasional night attacks is to force the enemy to put a squadron or two on Night Fighter duty - which means they are not available to fight in the daytime.

[1EyedJacks]

Reports for 16DEC41.

[1EyedJacks]

At Hong Kong I'm removing the mine fields. Damn but there are a lot of mines!

At Manado I dropped part of my para division on Sidate, the dot-hex next to Manado. That prevents his troops from escaping as my ground forces at Manado do a deliberate attack; both allied units at Manado are destroyed.

16DEC41 Manado falls.png (974.38 KiB) Viewed 472 times

In the Pacific I captured Tabiteuea, which was undefended. I went after this isle for its increased size so I can provide better defense and air operations within that chain of isles.

16DEC Tabiteuea falls.png (868.43 KiB) Viewed 472 times

In Malaya I've got Georgetown and have barges running supplies to Tandjoengbalai, the base I captured in Sumatra.
And on the road past Kota Bharu I've got aircraft attacking three enemy LCU to soften them up. They've been doing that to slow them down also. My ground forces finally caught up and I got in a deliberate attack at 4:1 odds, forcing the enemy LCU to retreat. I've got armor chasing behind and it's my hope that I can merge things together to keep the enemy units retreating all the way to Singapore and allow me some of my units to follow under the pursuit mode, thus crossing the river without forcing a shock attack.

16DEC - Ground Action in Malaya.png (1.2 MiB) Viewed 472 times

I got a little sub on sub action in the Sulu Sea. I always enjoy those engagements, and the gurgling sounds confirmed the kill.

16DEC - Ro-33 VS SS Snapper.png (1.65 MiB) Viewed 472 times

In China my air operations are engaging enemy troops in open terrain and tapping airfields here and there to slow down fort building. Michael is still drawing back and will build his defenses on good terrain in an effort to protect the heart of China.

[1EyedJacks]

I'm keeping the scare on the allied troops in China and Malaya with ground attacks. Plot skills are going up but my operations losses are bumming me out.

Pilot killed in landing accident of A6M2 Zero from Chitose Ku S-1
A5M4 Claude from Sapporo Ku S-2 is damaged on landing
A6M2 Zero from Yamada Det S-1 is damaged on landing
A6M2 Zero from Yamada Det S-1 crashes on landing
H6K4 Mavis from Yokohama Ku T-1 at Maloelap grounded due to maintenance
H6K4 Mavis from Yokohama Ku T-1 at Maloelap grounded due to maintenance
A6M2 Zero from 3rd Ku S-1 Det A crashes on landing
G3M2 Nell from 1st Ku K-1 Det at Babeldaob grounded due to maintenance
Ki-48-Ib Lily from *6th Sentai crashes on landing
G4M1 Betty from Kanoya Ku K-1 is damaged on landing
Damaged G4M1 Betty from Bihoro Ku K-1 crashes on return leg, pilot reported killed
G3M2 Nell from 1st Ku K-1 at Takao grounded due to maintenance
G4M1 Betty from Kanoya Ku K-2 crashes on landing
A6M2 Zero from 3rd Ku S-1 Det B crashes on landing
A6M2 Zero from 3rd Ku S-1 Det B is damaged on landing
Ki-15-II Babs from 4th Sentai Det A is damaged on landing
Ki-43-Ic Oscar from 54th Sentai Det A crashes on landing
Ki-15-II Babs from 50th I.F.Chutai is damaged on landing
G3M2 Kai Nell from Sendai Ku T-4 is damaged on landing
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18DEC - Liz.png (797.06 KiB) Viewed 440 times

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Hwaiyin fell to a D-Atk.

At Wuchow I threw my 13th Division at four enemy LCU behind level 3 forts. They knocked the fort level down to 2 but my troops took the short end of the stick.

Near Paotow I sent four tank regiments against the 11th Chinese Corps in open terrain. 1:2 odds and light losses to the Chinese. None to my tanks, but the engagement slows him down while my infantry slogs up the road in an attempt to catch up.

In Northern Borneo I land at Jesselton.

West of Babeldaob, I land troops at Talaud-eilanden.

At Manado I'm consolidating the 1st Para Division again so I can throw them at a new target.

Dumanquilas is occupied by the Japanese

And in Malaya I was able to capture Taiping.
5/14th Punjab Battalion RETREATING towards Ulan Melintang
3rd SSVF Battalion RETREATING towards Ulan Melintang

I have barges running between Georgetown and Tandjoengbalai to bump up supplies.

xAK Biwa Maru arrives at Tokyo

[1EyedJacks]

18DEC Reports

[RangerJoe]

I suggest that you check your air units for the pilot and aircraft fatigue. If necessary, put some pilots on Group Reserve to rest them specifically and have a rest percentage for the unit if that is needed for the pilots and aircraft. Also increasing the reserve number of aircraft can let some aircraft be worked on while the reserves are used. Also check to see if there is enough air support as well.

[John 3rd]

Good Day Sir.

You are a couple of weeks into the Mod. Have you found anything major that I should check or look at? Michael and I are having a Conference today to talk about any changes needed for either side.

Thanks!

[1EyedJacks]

Does anyone see a reason why I can't strat-move a division from Suchow to Shanghai?
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11JAN42 China Roads.png (837.88 KiB) Viewed 253 times

[RangerJoe]

Check the railroad line using "Y" since the bridge may be out for unit movement.

[1EyedJacks]

So I see the rail line - should be good...
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11JAN42 - China Bridge.png (1.03 MiB) Viewed 239 times

[RangerJoe]

So I see the rail line - should be good...
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11JAN42 - China Bridge.png

No, the rail line does not cross the river. There is no repair option in the game. Just think of how long it would take to bridge a river that 15k ton ships can travel on.

[BBfanboy]

Must be something John modded in. The rail line is continuous in Stock.

[JanSako]

It is in Stock 26; in 27b the rail line is broken, as was the historical state. IRL there were ferries only in that part of the river.

[RangerJoe]

Someone modified the map to represent the real situation after the flooding earlier. So this would be the updated map. It does not change the flow of supplies, fuel, resources, nor oil.