I’ve given up on planning since the real basis for further operations is achieving naval superiority and it is not clear how or when this can be achieved. The plan, for now, is an ad hoc process of pursuing local advantage on land whilst attempting to resolve the naval situation and move into a major amphibious advance phase.
The first operation is an attempt at an airfield drop in Burma. Unfortunately all allied aircraft have managed to leave the airfield before the Fallschirmjäger arrive. It is probably a little unfair to call it a failed operation but the lesson is clear – don’t ever try this sort of thing just after a reload.
The Kriegsmarine has been camping out in the South China Sea looking for enemy fleets to kill and in no time immense excitement breaks out. At first sight this engagement was slightly worrying due to the size of the enemy fleet but after a quick check concern rises significantly. It turns out that this fleet is the entire US carrier fleet and nothing else with a total of 59 model IV and V carriers. The nighttime combat effectiveness is strongly biased in my favour but I only have 15 carriers in my fleet. After the first hour my fleet closes to minimum range and all the destroyer screens join in. This is a slightly stressful battle as I must stay for four hours and we are just before dawn. Come daylight all hell is going to break loose. Whilst I may have much better combat modifiers their numbers are going to make a massive difference. I cannot afford to fight this for very long.
As you can see the rest of the Kriegsmarine is nearby and immediately sets sail for the vicinity of the enemy fleet. The plan is to send the other CAG fleet in as quickly as possible for a four hour follow up day battle with the enemy fleet whilst the SAGs rendezvous and move to arrive at nightfall. The two CAG fleets should inflict substantial damage on the enemy and hopefully keep them from departing the area before the SAGs can engage.
A bit of analysis is interesting. (this analysis is all post action and not part of the combat decision making process)
At night my CVs appear to have an attack of 1 whilst my DDs have an attack of 2 and their ships all have an attack of 0. This is based on the combat modifiers resulting in rounded down attack strengths. This is all very well but two hours in we get dawn …
Daylight increases my attacks to 8-9 and 5 versus 3-4 for the enemy. This is a ratio of around 200 attack versus 185 for the enemy. A more important issue is the state of target defence on each side. Because of the modifiers my CVs are defence 10 whilst theirs are 3-4 (varying by type IV or V carrier). They will concentrate all their attacks against my 15 CVs giving them a better concentration of fire but my individual attacks all exceed the enemy defence gaining significant additional hits whilst their attacks despite being concentrated fail to score so many additional hits. The overall effect is that I should 20-50% more damage to their fleet than they do to mine but I will lose ships
much more quickly than they will.
This is not good, not good at all BUT I have my wish for some decisive naval combat.
On land my forces continue to advance in southern China. The HQs continue their probes and I am launching a minor encirclement movement through the mountains to pinch of the eastern most end of the Petal Throne lines.
“Substantial Petal Throne troops have already been committed to the defence of both British and Russian territory. In the absence of any significant British or Russian forces the Petal Throne has decided to take control of civilian administration as well as military administration so as to restore order throughout the eastern holdings of the European colonial nations”
“In the light of the loss of all specifically British forces control of all British colonies throughout the world has been ceded to local authorities. The remaining British forces in the far east are transferred to Australian command although the merchant fleet has been sent to assist the Petal Throne in their supply efforts for their widespread forces”
“With the collapse of Russia and Britain all occupied territory has been formally absorbed into the Reich. The civil authorities in territory that is not currently under Petal Throne military administration have been invited to incorporate themselves into the Reich and most have done so.”
The main effects in the game are the relief of German occupation costs, in particular large occupied territory charges on TC for Africa. Also the Petal Throne AI now has full responsibility for the defence of the Asian mainland, which should simplify its choices somewhat. The Petal Throne also has full claim over the industrial capacity of Vladivostok, which represents a significant compensation for the loss of China.
01:00 14th August 1942 b
An entire group of TACs has been dedicated to convoy bombing with rapid but limited results. The bombing was maintained for a week but losses only occurred in the first 2 days indicating the supply terminus is not in the sea zone being patrolled. There is little point in a sustained convoy bombing campaign unless I can attack a sea zone the convoys are forced to use. I remain rather puzzled about where the convoy runs.
After four hours my fleet has fled having sustained substantial damage but no actual losses. I have been fortunate and have managed to sink 2 of their CVs. Their fleet is now badly damaged but there are a few hours to go before the second CAG engages.
02:00 14th August 1942 b
The situation is now developing in a not particularly attractive way. My naval bombers have set upon the US fleet which is definitely a good thing and may have some good opportunities given the number of damaged targets available. My second CAG fleet is heading for the enemy and will arrive in 3 hours. The first SAG group is sailing towards them as well but are not due for 10 hours (nightfall).
Unfortunately a major Petal Throne fleet has truned up and looks like it may be joining in with all the fun and games. I have a smaller CAG fleet just outside Singapore which looks like it may be drawn into battle with the IPTN fleet. Also, Singapore itself is starting to accumulate forces and is beginning to look like it could soon be a threat. The facilities remain heavily damaged and no doubt all those air units are low org but once they become active my fleet may lose its air cover.
02:00 14th August 1942 c
The TACs attacking the IOTN fleet have already inflicted significant damage on their first CV. My 18 ship task force has 5 CVs so should be able to happily engage this IPTN fleet for a while. If they manage to sink all the IPTN CVs then it could get nasty as the CVLs mean that the IPTN can close to gunnery range. This should take time so for now I can let events take their course.
The naval bombers attacking the USN fleet are inflicting some damage but they are laso taking heavy losses. As you can see the USN still has many undamaged CVs in their fleet although there are some more seriously damaged ships further down their list. This USN fleet remains extremely potent and there can be no certainty that this won’t be a rerun of the Kriegsmarine’s last fiasco.
