Tilting at Windmills - Adm Bonnie (& ctangus) vs. Quixote

[ctangus]

1/25 - 1/27/42

I'll try to do a bit of a comprehensive update.

North Pac

It's cold!!!

Besides that not much has been happening here. The Japanese took Attu & Shemya in the first week of the war but nothing has happened there since. I think Quixote's move was merely defensive. I have no intentions - at this time at least - of doing anything but slowly building up along the Aleutian chain.

I just launched Operation Rope-a-Dope. I stationed a small SAG (2 Omaha-class CLs, 3 4-stacker DDs) in the area in response to my opponent's moves but they've been sitting in port for weeks. That SAG is on its way to bombard Attu. Combined with email disinformation maybe I can force my opponent to divert some resources to this area. Umnak Island will hit level 2 airfield just about the same time the bombardment hits.

At the very least my ships will gain a little experience.

West Coast

I've been doing a better job at avoiding IJN subs with my transports but as of this date 11 have been sunk near San Diego. My ASW efforts have been completely ineffective so far. I'm ordering my convoys on more convoluted routings and a Canadian ASW TF will shortly be on station here to (hopefully) show the Yanks how to do things.

Cent Pac

My troops are enjoying the sun, sipping Mai Tais & have become expert hula-dancing judges. Not much else going on.

South Pac

KB hasn't been spotted for @ 10 days.

The ships I spotted during my last update weren't a heavy invasion - it was a fast transport convoy that landed a mere company at Koumac. Koumac fell with the loss of one damaged Catalina. I can't say I'm all that worried about it though.

Last turn I saw a movement arrow showing the company marching down New Caledonia. The arrow wasn't there this turn. Dunno. In the meantime I'm slowly slipping more troops into Noumea.

Just spotted is some sort of reinforcement of the Japanese position on Luganville. The NZ cruisers, escorted by 1 French & 2 US DDs, will try for a day-time intercept.

[ctangus]

Java

This is the most active theater in recent days.

On the 25th USAAF P-40Es on Australia finally received their drop tanks and had pretty good success flying CAP over some transports unloading at Tjilatjap. Some 40+ Netties were shot down. Sigint (opponent's email) told me that "bombers fail to link up with escorts" but I'll take it.

That's the only good news on Java though. On the 26th Japanese paratroopers effectively split the island in half and destroyed about 30 planes in the process. What makes it especially painful is that most of those losses were A-24s. I had just - that turn - flown them into Semarang in preparation for an ambush the next turn.

On the 27th the Japanese bombarded Malang. The victors of Hong Kong - 38th IJA Div - are in attendance and the odds don't look great...

[ctangus]

Burma

Two Japanese tank regiments cross the Salween river and almost route a force nearly 10X their size in a shock attack. Burmese troops really do suck...

Ground combat at Pegu (55,53)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1550 troops, 4 guns, 122 vehicles, Assault Value = 84

Defending force 10927 troops, 84 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 416

Japanese adjusted assault: 80

Allied adjusted defense: 64

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
290 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
252 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
22nd Recon Regiment
14th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
BFF Brigade
1st Burma Division
107th RAF Base Force

China

Lots of little action & maneuvering.

East of Nanchang a relatively strong Chinese roadblock was defeated and so I started to withdraw my training force at Nanchang. Looks like they'll make it.

Biggest news is that my Sinyang training force is completely safe now. My Hankow training force is joining them. I may have a good opportunity to beat up on some IJA tanks.

[ctangus]

1/28 - 1/29/42

I'll start of with some good news.

China

On the 28th while a Chinese deliberate attack near Nanning only got 1:2 odds the deliberate attack outside Hankow curshed 2 IJA tank regiments:

Ground combat at 84,49 (near Hankow)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 64538 troops, 406 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3011

Defending force 1560 troops, 0 guns, 234 vehicles, Assault Value = 132

Allied adjusted assault: 1468

Japanese adjusted defense: 10

Allied assault odds: 146 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 249 (128 destroyed, 121 disabled) More vehicles lost than were there! [:)]
Units retreated 2

Allied ground losses:
583 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

I've ordered a couple AVG CAP traps for the 30th.

Burma

IJA forces are rapidly chasing Burma Corps forces fleeing to Rangoon and the hinterlands.

Malaya

On the 28th the Japanese continued to whittle away at our defenses on Singapore:

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 54412 troops, 672 guns, 211 vehicles, Assault Value = 1558

Defending force 32526 troops, 457 guns, 267 vehicles, Assault Value = 431

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1 [:(] But they got back up to 2 on the 29th!

Japanese adjusted assault: 1299

Allied adjusted defense: 1055

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2140 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 127 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 88 disabled
Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1699 casualties reported
Squads: 82 destroyed, 78 disabled
Non Combat: 80 destroyed, 64 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 55 (12 destroyed, 43 disabled)
Vehicles lost 51 (25 destroyed, 26 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Java

Still a big mess but no major action these last 2 turns. More of an update later.

SW Pac

A new invasion TF is spotted 40 nautical miles east of Horn Island. I'd like to think my brave defenders will perform as well as before but Quixote is sure to be bringing enough force to the party.

So Pac

On the 28th the NZ cruisers, despite being on full speed, moved a mere hex. I don't yet have a handle on the vagaries of TF movement in AE... [:(] Anyway on the 29th they do engage IJN forces off Luganville. It's pretty inconclusive (see the screenshot). On the plus side: the 5 ships involved gained an average of 2 day and 15 night experience.

On the 28th a large Japanese transport TF was spotted headed east. From its location and direction I suspect support forces for Ndeni but it could be a new invasion too. That TF disappeared on the 29th.

On the 29th some IJN carriers showed up. Initial intel on the plane strength would suggest a single carrier division. I don't know if I want to trust that yet however. Last time I spotted KB it was operating with 5 CVs (less a damaged Kaga). Potentially Kaga could be operational now too. The 4 USN CVs could sprint & intervene in a day or two but for now they're keeping their distance.

There is one allied TF potentially in danger at Noumea. It just arrived and refueled (oops - error in orders). I don't think I can get it out of danger even if sprinting so I decided to keep it there & unload. I do have a bunch of naval support at Noumea now so I should be able to get most of the CD unit aboard ashore.

[BBfanboy]

Unless there is a bug that I am not aware of, the one-hex movement of the NZ cruiser could have three explanations:
1. The DDs needed fuel and drawing from the CLs used up nearly all their ops points.
2. The "Retirement Allowed" was left on and the ships moved to the target destination, found nothing and immediately retired on the same route.
3. The ships reacted to reported enemy TFs within their react range but failed to make contact and returned to their originally ordered course. This happens fairly often with high-aggression commanders, sometimes known as "loose cannons".[:-]

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Unless there is a bug that I am not aware of, the one-hex movement of the NZ cruiser could have three explanations:
1. The DDs needed fuel and drawing from the CLs used up nearly all their ops points.
2. The "Retirement Allowed" was left on and the ships moved to the target destination, found nothing and immediately retired on the same route.
3. The ships reacted to reported enemy TFs within their react range but failed to make contact and returned to their originally ordered course. This happens fairly often with high-aggression commanders, sometimes known as "loose cannons".[:-]

Thanks! Probably 3 best I can tell after looking at the prior save. Bunkers were full, retreat destination was Suva so they certainly never made it to their destination. The TF did have a high-aggression commander.

[geofflambert]

I haven't seen this discussed before, but Noumea is just outside the malaria zone, and troops in Koumac and marching south will contract it and lose efficiency compared to yours. To me, that means an amphibious assault is called for, so be as ready as you can for that. I see you're unloading naval guns there and you have a minefield there.

[ctangus]

I forgot about the malarial effects but I've been doing what I can to prepare Noumea. Quixote appears to be marching overland from Koumac so far but that may be a bluff. In the Philippines and Malaya he successfully drew my defending forces forward then landed behind them.

One oopsie - the CD unit I landed withdraws in 27 days! All part of my grand strategy... [8|]

I'm working on the 2/2 turn now. I have 1 Arty unit loaded ready to rush in once KB retires. You got me thinking & I just decided to load another in reserve at Auckland. I can't remember from WITP if they help against amphibious assaults or not but they can't hurt.

More of an update in a bit.

[ctangus]

1/30 - 2/1/42

Largely 3 turns of major setbacks for the Allies.

North Pac

Two old allied cruisers bombard both Attu & Shemya. Experience gain was minimal. No Japanese reaction noticed at least yet.

Cent Pac

Hula girls remain popular but surfing & marlin fishing are becoming troop favorites as well.

South Pac

On the 30th USMC fliers on Noumea launch against the carriers spotted on the 29th. Every available IJN flattop seems to be there - KB & Mini-KB both - and the Marines are inevitably slaughtered.

Their sacrifice wasn't entirely in vain. Magic intercepts (Quixote's email) suggest that IJN high command is reconsidering aggressive use of their carriers. "I know it didn't work out, but seeing Allied carrier planes attacking last turn still gave me quite a jolt.... (I don't need any unnecessary holes in any of my carriers, you know - just stick to making swiss cheese out of my CAs and we'll be fine.)"

[ctangus]

South Pac (cont)

I pulled all undamaged planes off Noumea on the 31st expecting the airfield to get plastered by Japanese carrier air. It was plastered but is remarkably still open. No attacks occurred on Feb 1st and engineers filled in 8 of the 49 holes on the runway.

In the meantime the IJN carriers have been providing close cover to a troop convoy unloading at Koumac. I think I have enough strength to withstand anything short of a divisional + assault. Plus the KB can't stick around forever. Tulagi at level 2 and Lunga at level 1 are the two closest Japanese airfields.

[ctangus]

SW Pac

The bad news is still to come, but there was one bright spot: Horn Island survived a second Japanese invasion on the 30th:

Ground combat at Horn Island (91,128)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1466 troops, 18 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

Defending force 1348 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 56

Japanese adjusted assault: 10

Allied adjusted defense: 52

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 5 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
322 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

The Japanese were evacuated before I could counter-attack but still it's a bright spot.

Java

Ugh. Malang falls on the 31st.

I'm abandoning Soerabaja. Forces on eastern Java are mostly consolidating at Madioen while two units will try to open up a retreat path through Japanese paratroopers at a dot base.

In a fit of revenge everything and the kitchen sink is thrown against Japanese shipping in the area on the 1st. Most attacks achieve nothing and 20+ Dutch planes are lost. One attack does find its mark though and a new IJN CL is on the sunk list. (FOW or not it has to be hurting.)

Hopefully the picture makes this clear:

[ctangus]

Malaya

Ugh again.

On the 1st Singapore falls. Don't think I ever lost Singers this early in WITP. With this loss the Japanese victory points outnumber the allies for the first time in the game:

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 54169 troops, 668 guns, 210 vehicles, Assault Value = 1531

Defending force 31368 troops, 454 guns, 248 vehicles, Assault Value = 383

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 1450

Allied adjusted defense: 533

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Singapore !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
4183 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 230 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 54 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 19 (5 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
42381 casualties reported
Squads: 647 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3419 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 196 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 454 (454 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 369 (369 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 35

Burma

Japanese forces invest Rangoon.

Philippines

Clark Field falls on the 30th. While Bataan retains level 3 forts it is down to 0 supply. About half the units there have supply in the red already too. [:(]


Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 53605 troops, 617 guns, 346 vehicles, Assault Value = 1528

Defending force 24522 troops, 479 guns, 384 vehicles, Assault Value = 432

Japanese adjusted assault: 1754

Allied adjusted defense: 523

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Clark Field !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
5209 casualties reported
Squads: 49 destroyed, 227 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 201 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 20 disabled
Guns lost 47 (13 destroyed, 34 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
4882 casualties reported
Squads: 426 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 872 destroyed, 102 disabled
Engineers: 107 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 158 (136 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Vehicles lost 217 (208 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Units retreated 24
Units destroyed 1

China

I'll end on a little more good news. This theater's quieted down a little as the IJA and Chinese reshuffle their forces. However on the 30th the AVG stages two CAP ambushes & shoots down 32 Japanese planes. They've put on a good show so far this war:

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: ctangus

One oopsie - the CD unit I landed withdraws in 27 days! All part of my grand strategy... [8|]

The 56th, I know, I sent that to PM once and wondered what the heck happened to it when I needed it. 27 days at Noumea will be a long time, I think, and if it's lost, I don't think you are charged any PPs.

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

The 56th, I know, I sent that to PM once and wondered what the heck happened to it when I needed it. 27 days at Noumea will be a long time, I think, and if it's lost, I don't think you are charged any PPs.

That's the one. You're right - 27 days at Noumea is a long time right now. The way the game's playing out I'll either need it soon or it will be irrelevant.

[ctangus]

2/2 - 2/3/42

I'll see how much I can update before I get the next turn back. Pats up 14-3 in the 2nd quarter, just recovered a fumble! [:)]

South Pac

KB's still loitering around here though hasn't attacked anything since Jan 31st. The IJN transports either finished unloading at Koumac or my PBYs failed to spot them. Which reminds me I meant to order recon of the hex.

KB's presence in this area is a bit of a PITA. I have a number of troop & supply task forces loaded for Noumea and/or Suva. After Quixote's carrier raid against the Fijis in early January I'm trying to keep all shipping outside of KB sprinting radius. That also means I (mostly) sent all shipping out of Auckland this last turn which has become a bit of a hub.

30 P-40Es of the 35th Pursuit Group are flying CAP over Auckland. The 49th Pursuit Group just made it to Fiji (shipped to Pearl, island hopping from there.) They have now taken on replacements and swapped out their rookie pilots for (relatively) well-trained ones. In a few days that'll be 80 operational P-40Es.

[ctangus]

Java

The Dutch are trying to evacuate from eastern Java and the Japanese are trying to prevent it. On the 3rd both sides launch unsuccessful shock attacks.

The Dutch shock attack was launched while the units were still in movement mode. Admiral Bonnie disapproves. [:-]

I should be able to get most/all of the eastern Java troops out without further losses. I'm also trying to evac supplies. There's over 18K at Madioen and still 1700 at Soerabaja. I'm playing with supply arrows but don't have a feel for that yet.

[ctangus]

Burma

Rangoon falls. We're playing the latest beta so that means the China road is now closed.

The Japanese are sending a couple tank units on a flanking movement. I believe - knock on wood - that we'll be able to halt it for a little while at least.

[ctangus]

2/4/42

I can't quite figure out my opponent's thinking here. Quixote doesn't need the turn back for a few hours - I may nurse both the turn and a couple beers while double-tasking and watching football. Anyway...

So Pac

Japanese fast transports land troops at Tanna. That makes sense - I've had a forward patrol plane base there for a while & Quixote must have spotted it.

The IJN also land a Naval Guard Unit at La Foa. Why do that? Both the ships & troops took a little damage that they could have avoided by unloading at Koumac. If the IJN was trying for a coup de main the logical choice of a target would be Noumea. He'd need more troops to be successful there though.

KB launched a second airfield/port attack against Noumea this turn as well. The airfield is now closed.

There is also a small IJN TF heading east. Don't know why. A feint maybe?

My opponent's strategic goal here is pretty obvious: take New Caledonia. His tactical moves have me scratching my head. Any thoughts?

[ctangus]

2/4 - 2/8/42

The game's moving along swiftly. This was nice to see:

[ctangus]

South Pac

The battle for the French crepe restaurants at Noumea continues.

The IJN carriers are still loitering around New Caledonia. Two more air raids have been launched against the airfield & port but the airfield is in relatively good shape. (0 runway, 19 service damage.) Next turn I'll fly in 2-3 USAAF fighter squadrons if the airfield remains open. (I've been waiting for pilots to arrive to their squadrons.)

In the meantime Japanese naval infantry were repulsed at La Foa on their first attempt to take it. They did take it on Feb 6th however.

Japanese raw AV is roughly twice allied AV but the allies have 3X terrain & level 3 forts. Supplies are distressingly low but both reinforcements & supplies are loaded & ready to rush in once KB retires.

Task Force 16 also remains at sea ready to rush in if there's an opportunity. Hopefully Zuikaku needs some time in the body & fender shop. Kaga may or may not be there as well from an earlier torpedo hit.