Last installment of the replay... March 1942 starts with the Japanese having a foothold on Java, but the ABDA HQ still present in Batavia, and Java pretty much packed full of one-step units that can be used to delay the Japanese advance. Since the scenario as printed lasts 2 weeks less than the historical campaign and therefore has no CP allotments for March, I decided to give 20 points to the Japanese, 10 to the Allies for March. These are very low allotments, basically they allow the Japanese to do mopping up and the Allies to react, but they don't allow large fleet operations. In addition I decided to allow no reinforcements or replacements beyond what's left from previous months. (This represents the Allied opinion that the area is lost and the Dutch, who will likely be the last remaining, will simply have to fight it out alone together with whatever remnants are on their islands, and the Japanese IGHQ stance of "we gave you all this, now use it and don't whine for more"). In the replacement Phase, the 5 Division breaks down into 2x7-1 battalions and the original division, which now has a mere 4 steps remaining. The 18 Division breaks down into a 6-3 regiment and the 3-step rest of the division. The Japanese bid 14 points, first activating the 18 Division, 2 DDs and 2 CAs for transporting the 13 Marines from Sumatra to Teloekbetoeng, and for bombardment purposes, a DD and CL for bringing the 10th Marines to Amboina, and a single DD for the 228th Infantry's final assault on Kendari. The Allies interrupt after the 2nd movement segment, and launch their subs from Batavia, as well as activating the units outside Batavia. The subs immediately sink 2 DDs in the Batavia hex, losing one sub in return. On the first Battle Cycle, March 2 [Dusk], Batavia is bombarded, causing the 11 Indian division to break and the Dutch division to lose a step. In ground combat, things begin OK. The assault on Batavia succeeds [7/4:2B/2, DR6->5, 1:2]. In the disadvantage movement phase, the Australian SF brigade moves to Batavia. Another DD is lost to the subs. The Japanese activate the Infantry Regiment and one Infantry Battalion for the next turn. On March 4, the 13 Marines are landed west of Kragan on Java, and the 228Inf lands at Kendari. The Kragan, Kendari, and the Aus. SF in Batavia are bombarded. The defenders of Kendari break. In ground combat, the Australians are eliminated at Batavia, but at the price of the 7TQ Infantry Battalion [7/4:4/1, DR9->8, 1MR:1, TQC7/0]. In particular, there is no Allied retreat (if there were one that would allow the Japanese to pursue and get out of Batavia). At Kendari, things do not go well initially either, but at least the Japanese remain ashore [3A/3:2B/1, DR8->7,2MR:0, TC6/4]. In the disadvantage movement phase, the Allied subs score two hits on the Japanese cruisers at Batavia. The Australian GF Brigade takes up a blocking position in Soebang. The Japanese activate the 18 Div and the second 7TQ Infantry Bn. On March 6, the 10 Marines land at Kendari, and the 18th division accompanied by the Infantry battalion moves to Soebang. Batavia and Kragan are bombarded, breaking the defenders of Kragan. In Ground Combat, the Japanese win at Soebang (albeit the desired pursuit escapes them again) [7/5:4/1, DR6->4, 1:1]. At Kendari, the Marines attack and eliminate Dutch resistance [7/1:2B/1. DR3, 0:1MR]. The Dutch unit at Tjilatjap moves to Soebang. This all but guarantees the survival of Java to the end of the operation, since the two units in Soebang will spend their attack of the second week on this unit. On March 8, it is attacked and eliminated along with the spearheading 13 Marines [7/4:3/4, DR7->5, 1:1]. Two more DDs are lost to subs. On 10 March, the subs score two hits on the BB Haruna for the price of a lost sub. Another sub is lost on the next turn. On 12 March, the 5th division moves to Soebang for a last attempt at clearing the impasse. The defenders of Soebang are bombarded, losing a step. In ground combat, the Dutch hold. [7/3:2B/2, DR8, 1:1]. The game ends with Soerabaja and Tjilatjap still in Allied hands, and a single Dutch ground unit surviving in a victory hex (Soerabaja). In summary, even on Java it was fairly close, but the game was lost earlier. I did not risk a battle without carrier support in January only to have to do it again with limited carrier support (they withdrew after two attacks to avoid the subs) in February. Risky handling of the troop transports and some not so hot dice meant multiple landing failures on Java and this together with truly awful attack dierolls prevented the Japanese from making the time limit in March. I also saw the most effective use of the Allied naval forces in our games yet, Doorman and Phillips would have been proud. Apart from Java the historical schedule was kept or exceeded despite the fact that the first two months the Japanese had been saddled with a restrictive rule interpretation that we later got rid of, so they should do better the next time. I'll post a summary of the whole game later. Looking at the Japanese naval losses, I think we still have to do something about the submarines. March dierolling and losses: Allied average sub dieroll: 4.6(in 15 attacks) J avg ASW DR 4.5(8) J avg ground combat DR 6.7(7) A rally DR 3.3(3) J TQC DR 2(2) A TQC DR 5.8(6) A ground losses: 9000 men, Japanese losses 7000 men. Japanese lose 11 ship steps (including 7 destroyers), Allies lose 3 submarines.