So Dec 7th 1941 is in the books, USS Arizona has detonated with all hands, battleship row is in shambles, airfields all shut down by damage. Things don't look great on this opening day of a long war to come. So far enemy task groups have been sighted all up and down the Malayan coast, north of the Philippines, taking Batan island. Their air forces have closed the airfields at Kota Bharu, Kuantan and Iba. Ships fleeing Hong Kong have been attacked with one transport sunk. Dutch Submarines have struck at a troop convoy off of the Malayan coast and reportedly sunk a transport with heavy loss of life for the IJA. A cloud of enemy submarines has been sighted around Hawaii and in the immediate vicinity of Singapore. Force Z has already put to sea and its escorts reportedly sunk I-122 in an hour long depth charge attack. This submarine damaged on the surface was later spotted by Hudson's flying out of Singapore in the evening and attacked with 500lbs ordinance, reportedly detonating on the surface after a direct hit on ammunition stores. All around the world shock is felt at this opening blow in yet another war, we go live to our correspondents at the US capitol where the president is set to give a speech..... And just like that ive finally pulled the trigger on a war that will probably last me IRL years to complete. My goal is at least one turn per day, there will inevitably be days I cant do that, so I will also be doing multiples on the days I can in order to keep ahead of the pace. If there is interest I will do a full AAR with photos, if not I plan on this being my running log I can reference for past events/plans that I might misplace in my notebooks. "Dec 7th 1941, A day which will live in Infamy...."
Dec 8, 41 This day opened up with the IJN providing fire support to the Army ashore at Kota Bharu with nothing happening but wasted ammo on both sides in the pre dawn action. Then on the east coast of the Philippines the CA Houston found a CVL task group that had the previous day harried infantry units on Mindanao to little effect: Night Time Surface Combat, near Catbalogan at 84,84, Range 9,000 Yards Japanese Ships CVL Ryujo CA Myoko CA Haguro CA Nachi DD Kuroshio DD Oyashio DD Hatsukaze DD Natsushio DD Hayashio DD Amatsukaze Allied Ships CA Houston, Shell hits 5, on fire Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight CA Haguro collides with DD Hayashio at 84 , 84 (Nothing else happened to the IJN this fight) Force Z sallied forth to the invasion beaches too late to prevent an orderly landing but did sneak past the heavy escort to get into the transport group: Day Time Surface Combat, near Kota Bharu at 51,75, Range 14,000 Yards Japanese aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed Japanese Ships CL Sendai, Shell hits 19, and is sunk DD Isonami, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage DD Uranami, Shell hits 15, and is sunk DD Shikinami, Shell hits 24, and is sunk DD Ayanami, Shell hits 3, on fire DMS W-2, Shell hits 5, and is sunk DMS W-3, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage PB Tatsumiya Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk SC Ch 7, Shell hits 9, and is sunk SC Ch 9, Shell hits 5, and is sunk AK Sakura Maru, Shell hits 11, and is sunk AK Sasako Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk xAK Ayatosan Maru, Shell hits 13, and is sunk xAK Asakasan Maru, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk xAK Awajisan Maru, Shell hits 13, and is sunk Allied Ships BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 2 BC Repulse, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1 CL Danae CL Mauritius, Shell hits 2 DD Vampire DD Vendetta DD Stronghold, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Tenedos DD Electra DD Express DD Jupiter Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching! Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway Poor visibility due to Rain Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards Range closes to 20,000 yards... Range closes to 17,000 yards... CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards BC Repulse collides with DD Express at 51 , 75 In a surprise meeting, three british DD's fleeing Hong Kong ran into a task group just north of the Philippine coast near Laoag: Day Time Surface Combat, near Laoag at 81,69, Range 16,000 Yards Japanese Ships DMS W-9, Shell hits 3, on fire DMS W-10, Shell hits 1 DMS W-11, Shell hits 3, heavy fires DMS W-12, Shell hits 1 DMS W-17, Shell hits 11, and is sunk DMS W-18, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk PB Kyo Maru #12, Shell hits 3, and is sunk PB Kyo Maru #13, Shell hits 1, and is sunk SC Ch 4, Shell hits 1 SC Ch 5, Shell hits 4, on fire SC Ch 6, Shell hits 1 SC Ch 10, Shell hits 1, heavy fires SC Ch 11, Shell hits 1, on fire SC Ch 12 SC Ch 16 SC Ch 17, Shell hits 4, and is sunk SC Ch 18, Shell hits 2, heavy fires xAK Brisbane Maru xAK Hawaii Maru xAK Sanko Maru, Shell hits 2 xAK Takao Maru xAK Bunzan Maru xAK Shinko Maru xAK Oigawa Maru Allied Ships DD Scout, Shell hits 2 DD Thanet, Shell hits 2 DD Thracian, Shell hits 1, on fire Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards Range closes to 16,000 yards... CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 16,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 16,000 yards Powers, A.L. crosses the 'T' Unfortunately the defenders at Kota Bharu were forced to retreat South after nearly being annihilated by the Assaulting IJA. Half a dozen units in Malaya have boarded trains bound for Singapore, while Force Z limps back along the coast hoping to avoid Airborne attention, or pursuit from the Covering force they avoided today....
Paused for a day, waiting on a review of strategy from an experienced player and receiving tips regarding general gameplay.
Dec 9, 41 Today was a quieter day on the Sea, under it however the Allied sub flotilla in SEA struck at landing flotillas north of Luzon and East of Malaya again, scoring no hits, but recieving several damaging depth charge attacks reducing the subs available to 2/3 of the starting force. Wake has been invaded, with the Marines inflicting 2-1 casualties, and damaging a few of the invasion ships. However, they are not going to resist this for long. Incidentally a small CoY has landed on an empty Tarawa, and KB has been spotted near Laysan Is., south east of Midway. In the Air over Luzon the airwar heated up as my flyboys tried to protect the merchants fleeing Hong Kong, but singularly failed in that task. None of the 12+ starting civilian ships survived this day, with several taking 4+ torpedoes before going down. Our Pilots lose 19 Warhawks, 5 PBY Catalinas, and 4 Peashooters on this day. We did manage to take out over a dozen Zero's today, so not all black spots, but this is going to get a whole lot darker before we start setting the Tempo....
Dec 10, 41 Units are on the move on Malaya towards Singapore, with most having reached the city. The first IJA Divisions are ashore on Luzon and the Philippines prepares for large scale combat around Clark/Bataan, leaving Manilla open hoping to spare the civilians. Off the eastern shore of Luzon, the CL Boise ran into a CL/DD group led by the IJN Sendai. The IJN had the surprise and crossed the Boise's T. Sadly the first hit was to the bridge, and the second to her Fire control. She scored no hits on her assailants and failed to disengage. After 40 hits and 1 torp, she went down. IJA ashore on Wake continue to unload and bombard the Marines, but are taking more casualties at 318 to 114, with most being disablements for both sides. A large Light cruiser and DD element are assembling at Balkipaan, trying to find an opening, while awaiting the repair of CA Houston. US Army units are staring to arrive in force around LA and Seattle, ive ordered them to train and rest while preparing for future objectives. Convoys have started on their long journeys from LA to Melbourne. Our three active US CV's are set to meet up in Pearl tomorrow. Lost alot of aircraft today, 41 to 11, with most of the IJA/JN aircraft shot down were unescorted bombers, where as today their Zero's were invicible.
Dec 11-14, Wake falls after four attacks on the 14th, Guam falls right after. More units are unloading on the Philippines, and Malaya. Most units have loaded up on rail and made it to Singapore. Several convoys are beginning their long journey across the Pacific to supply Australia and NZ with fuel and supplies. Several US units are starting their trek to the ports in order to be stationed in the Aleutian islands. Three CVs are assembled in PH, while the IJN CVs are still hanging around Wake. A large naval force has assembled at Balikpapan and prepare for delaying action against landing in the SEA islands. Two large supply convoys are assembled and supplied to attempt to offload in Singapore in order to help with the inevitable siege. Air combat was muted for the past several days, but two b17s managed to make the xAK Shinkyo Maru dead in the water with a single 500lbs hit. She was mopped up as the SS Permit was heading towards Midway from Manilla.
Dec 15-17 Still tracking the KB I think as it slowly moves back to mainland Japan. Keep getting aircraft attacks away from typical aircraft ranges, and found one of the Kongo's, but missed with 4 torps. FIRE 6 NEXT TIME! In china I have been ejected from one of the central hexes, while see saw combat takes place in the north. They keep knocking down forts in two locations, but only to such a degree the next phase I put them back in place. I have delt in the last few turns 4000 casualties while sustaining around 2200. This looks awesome, but I'm going to be losing supply production soon. Then the real pain begins. I have nearly all of the starting herd of ships in and around SRA out of the area, unless they are waiting to load a combat unit, suicide supplying Singapore/Clark or loading more fuel to bring to India/Australia. My ABDA naval forces are still waiting for an opening that isn't shielded by BB's, but in the next three days I'm either going to launch or withdraw them. Aircombat has been in my favor 108/74 with 18 of them being Zeros and another 15 being A5m's. They also did a dumb and set a low level bombing run around Changsha at 1000ft suffering 40 dead light bombers if the replay is to be believed. My flying tigers are almost in China, just waiting on a few stragglers to be repaired and move forward.
17-18 Dec 41, Holding our ground proudly in China, inflicting 4000 casualties for only 200, most of theirs were destroyed support/engineers, ours were disabled support. Third time ive got these favorable results. Not sure when the AI is going to fix their lack of leaders/supply during their shock attacks. Had our first attack on shipping near the West coast outside SF, sinking a small xAKL. Trying to find something other than the DD's up at Seattle to help with this problem. I need them to escort Warspite when she gets finished with her repairs. Moving Houston from Balkipan south now that her non major engine damage is completed. Repulse and PoW will be ready to move again in a week as long as the IJAF/NF leave them alone for that long. Got 8 DD's to escort them once they are ready to go. Managed to get another 80k supply into Singapore, and 10k into Bataan.
19-20 Dec 41, Found that pair of SS off the west coast and despite aircraft attacking them, and patrol craft being nearby, they managed to grab a large AP that was hugging the coastline attempting to get into SF Harbor. The Siege of Manilla/Clark/Bataan is about to begin as the first armored forces arrived in hex with the Manilla garrison. Tried to launch some naval strikes on nearby task forces, but none of the strike aircraft flew despite clear detection levels on the targets. My escorts did fly towards these targets and engaged their CAP of Nates decimating them at a rate of 16/3. In china I made the mistake of attacking the Jap Division that mauled its self, but thankfully didn't over commit to the attack. The result was 1000/45 in their favor because two more divisions and a brigade arrived in the hex as the attack went off. Poor luck on the timing prevented a possible rout. Most of my casualties are disablements, and I am withdrawing that unit from the hex to a nearby base to recuperate, while sending in a new Corps to fill the absence. India/Burma is preparing for the inevitable invasion, lots of reinforcements are arriving from bases in Africa into Karachi, Colombo and Calcutta. Several Indian Bde's are moving via ship to Rangoon to combine into Div's. Luckily the IJAF didn't attack any of the convoys until the evening and the troops had disembarked with only supplies left on ship. I now have most of a dozen critically damaged transports floundering in the harbor waiting for a miracle or death. In better news, I now have 2 of 5 Corps/Divs from China moved into Burma where they can take advantage of the increased supply availability to fill out and stand before the IJA on more even footing. The first of the convoys from Aus/NZ is about to reach California, then it will take a few days to load up before turning around. Debating on standing them down to repair the system damage they have got so far, or wait till they get to Aus to take care of it. In Malaya/Singapore, the IJA makes a steady inevitable advance, with Singapore advancing to forts 3. In Java/Celebes/ Borneo Palembang/Batavia/Soerabaja/Tarakan/Makassar/Medan/Koepang all expanded forts to 2. I am hoping to keep up the supply to these areas and have the time to reach level 3 before the IJA/IJN arrive to take them from me to inflict greater casualties. Nearly every ship that isnt a combatant or small suicide cargo ship has been evacuated to southern Aus. I have gathered 3 CA/5 CL/23 DD at Balikpapan, Preparing to launch a few of them at a pair of Aoba class CA that sank one of the suicide supply ships heading to Bataan. Their only escort is a pair of Kamikaze dd's, wont get a better opportunity to inflict early loss on major IJN ships. God go with my Pixel sailors on this mission. And the USS Houston is about to set off for Aus to fix the major system/engine damage that only a shipyard/drydock can fix. Restricted to only 14 knots atm because of the damage. Debating sending her with some of the British destroyers because of their superior depth charges + radar. However that Radar might be very useful in the coming hunt for the IJN surface force.
Was going to update, was updating. Then SSD crashed. Lost post. And had a corrupted save on 1 Jan, gone back to 21 Dec. The first one is worse, instead of running into the twin Aoba's, I ran into a Myoko and Hygua with my CA force. I inflicted Heavy damage/Heavy fires on the BB, and got a torp into the CA but it lost me Pensacola a CL, 2 DD and Canberra who ammo detonated to a 14in shell at 10k yrds. I also nabbed a CVL near Midway, no clue why he was scouting with only a single CA and 2 DD as escort but their loss was my gain. Thats gone now. Now back to the current timeline: 21 Dec 41, CA Houston is on her way to Perth to use the repair yards there, I've discovered 9 SS off the East coast of Australia, so I no longer want her to go to Sydney. Seadragon hit CL Kashima with 2 torps of 2 (LAUNCH MORE YOU FUCKS) and both were duds. Escaped with no damage. A wave of 10 unescorted Torp bombers tried to hit my CV's near Midway, going to hunt that CVL again. They died. A large formation of bombers got unescorted over Clark and Singapore, both were mauled with -25 IJA bombers. At Sinyang managed to Maul the IJA tank Regiment, destroying 2 and disabling 34. 208/54 casualties in my favor. Lots of disabled on my side, lots of dead on theirs. Nanning my lvl 1 fort managed to turn back an assault by a couple mixed indpt Bde's. 490/49 in my favor. Had an APD find a SS off the west coast by plowing through 3 torps, down she goes. My CA force managed to evade the BB this time, but didnt find her prey either. Returning to Balk.
22 Dec 41, Kitakami and friends ran into my CA force retiring, Light damage recieved to Louisville/Canberra/Thanet but CL Kashima/Kitakami are left with heavy damage/fires. The TF reacted into a landing force, decimating it. Unfortunately the troops already offloaded onto Miri, hopefully I destroyed their supplies before many could be offloaded. Seadragon then put 4/4 torps into a large xAK with the first being a dud, sinking her. A second force centered on CL Dragon/Danae/Durban patrolled the Celebes hoping to catch something, found the CM Itskushima and a couple PB. Sinking them with only light damage. Groups of bombers came in unescorted over Singapore again, splash 19/30. IJA Shock attack on Chuhsien 1478/39 my favor, please continue. They captured Miri/Lucena. My other SEA forts are expanding nicely. Abandoning the search for the CVL in this timeline, returning to PH.
23 Dec 41, More quiet this turn, only notable things really Lost an xAP due to blundering into a friendly mine outside a port in India, Another attack went in on Chuhsien 800+/42 my favor again, and another wave of bombers unescorted over Singapore were mauled with -12 more betties.
24 Dec 41, CA Houston is diverting to African waters instead of Aus, sighted two SS off the Western short after they made surface gun attacks on a couple of my xAK's fleeing the SEA area. Her escort will break off and return to Indian ports to be used for ops that don't need to wait on her to be fixed. My CA's in the SEA are going to have to find a bigger port to rearm at, I sent the ammo ship away with the thundering herd, oops. More landings in the Phi, with the first IJA units arriving at clark today. Bombardments on the enemy don't amount to much thus far. No enemy armor present beyond a recon Coy. However I did manage to get 4 supply ships into Bataan/Clark and add another 11k to my supply total. The Chinese theater has once again surprised me with the IJA stymied by stubborn CNA Corps refusing to die. A supply convoy from Cape Hope is about to arrive at Rangoon and drop off an experienced Indian Bde that has been fighting in North Africa.
I am playing on my laptop. but I cant post on the website from there (wont let me accept cookies). And the file size of the map/large screen shots wont transfer via email. Trying to work out how to put it in my Drive and get it off again now. There is a page floating around on how to post in the forum right? I have a defunct link to the previous forum how to.
Alot of the subs i sighted during the turns don't stay showing after the combat portion is finished. Don't know if that represents low confidence or lack of detection.
