When Animals Attack - Threadwar 3x3: Humans Strike Back

[rtrapasso]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/19/42 – Not as much action today...

1) The Animals (Squirrels, I think) unload more troops at Noumea, and MSW Tasei Maru takes three shell hits.

2) AP Yamato Maru SINKS!!! She took at least 7 x 500 pound GP bomb hits from Blenheims and B-17s on the previous 2 days. [8D]

3) Niceguy strikes at Koepang... 43 B-17s vs. 3 Oscars and 11 Zeros... total losses are 1 Zero, 2 Oscars, 2 Tinas, 1 Topsy, and 2 Nells destroyed (mostly on the ground) vs. no B-17s shot down.

4) The KB strikes Noumea - or part of the KB does... it seems only about ½ of it is using its planes, so we decide that only about ½ of the is present... the deception plan takes further shape, and Speedy moves the carriers faster.
A6M2 Zero x 11
B5N2 Kate x 68 – AI-3 Daitai, , BI-3 Daitai, EI-3 Daitai
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 13 damaged
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 24
Aircraft Attacking:
66 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 15000 feet

5) Another green dot in danger: Ormoc is invaded. [X(] [:D]

6) Broome falls:
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 5416 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 149 – 23rd Engineer Regiment, Yokosuka 3rd SNLF, Sasebo 3rd SNLF, 3rd NLF
Defending force 880 troops, 0 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1 – No. 107 RAAF Base Force
Japanese max assault: 95 - adjusted assault: 46
Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 2
Japanese assault odds: 23 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Broome base !!!
Allied ground losses:
624 casualties reported – No. 107 RAAF Base Force surrenders [:(]

7) There are the usual failed sub attacks, back and forth artillery exchanges, and Chinese troops getting attacked from the air. [>:]
*********

[rtrapasso]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/20/42 – The action picks up a bit... [8D]
1) Another Allied green dot invaded: Buru Island sees the onslaught of more Animals.

2) More Animals land at Ormoc and capture it... and Rekata Bay is also captured.

3) Near Rangoon, S-36 hits AK Burma Maru with 2 torpedo hits, and there are 69 Japanese casualties reported among the troops onboard.

4) Bruce tries another sweep at Rangoon - its 45 Ki-43-Ib Oscars of the 24th Fighter Sentai and 50th Fighter Sentai vs. 12 Fulmars, 61 Hurricanes and 7 x P-40B Tomahawks... 10 Oscars are shot down vs. 1 Hurri and 1 Tomahawk. [:)]

Bruce then sends in consecutive waves of bombers:
First, 70 Oscars escort 59 Lilys from Tavoy, and are met by 12 Fulmars, 60 Hurris and 4 Tomahawks... 8 more Oscars and 4 Lilys are shot down vs. 1 Fulmar, 9 Hurricanes and 6 Tomahawks destroyed (some on the ground). [:(]

Then 25 Zeros escort 17 Sallys and are met by 11 Fulmars, and 43 Hurricanes... 2 Zeros are shot down vs 16 Hurricanes destroyed (again, some on the ground).

5) Forty Allied B-17s bomb Rahaeng.

6) Bombers from Koumac raid Noumea, and one Sally is shot down by flak. The KB follows up with a raid by 71 Kates by 4 different daitais. Again, it doesn't appear that the whole KB is present...

7) Kiska is bombed from Adak.

8) Various Chinese units are bombed.

9) SS KVII hit by a patrolling Japanese bomber.

10) AP Hokuriku Maru sinks 60 miles west of Tavoy - she had taken 1 x 500 pound bomb on 16 April, and 3 x torpedoes from Albacores on 17 April.
AK Sasako Maru sinks with her commanding officer at Victoria Point... a near replay of Hokuriku Maru, she had taken 1 x 500 pound bomb on 14 April, and 1 torpedo from Albacores on 17 April.

11) East of Hanoi, the 1st and 2nd Yobi Eki Regiments drive back around 3500 Chinese defenders.

12) Various artillery exchanges in China, Noumea, Rangoon...

13) The hapless Allied base force unit that had been defending at Wyndham continues to be attacked by Japanese armor and driven back across the desert.

[rtrapasso]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/21/42 - more action in Burma, and around New Caledonia...

1) Speedy’s sub scores - attacking on the surface near Tavoy!!
AK Ceylon Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage – sinks with her commanding officer
Allied Ships
SS S-36

2) Nagato and Ise bombard Rangoon. Later in the day CA Kumano, Suzuya, Mogami, BB Haruna
and Kongo join in the festivities and also bombard the city.


3) CL Yubari, Tatsuta, Tenryu, Katori and BB Hyuga bombard Noumea.

4) AK Burma Maru sinks - TF65 rescues men from 91st Naval Guard Unit. She had been hit by S-36 the day before, so it’s a twofer for S-36. [8D]

5) Another green dot in jeapardy: TF 101 troops unloading over beach at Stewart Island, 69,102 - and it falls this turn.

6) Forty-three Ki-43-Ib Oscars try a sweep against Rangoon, but the Brits and friends don’t show up to play. So, the Bruce sends in his bombers from Tavoy: Thirty-four Lilys under heavy escort bomb from 15000 feet, with scant results. One Lily is shot down.

Then, the main effort: 57 Sallys and 112 Lilys from Bangkok bomb the airfield, getting 16 runway hits and some airbase hits as well. One already damaged Hurricane is destroyed, but 3 Lilys are shot down by flak.

7) Fifty Kates from the (portion of the from Kido Butai bomb troops at Noumea, and this is followed by an attack from Koumac by a few Sallys, then 15 heavy Liz’s attack from Luganville.

We know where the KB is, and we like it that way... we are planning to get it! Whether or not our plan will work is another matter. [:D]

8) The Allies aren’t sleeping around Rangoon, though, they still have at bite, coming from Moulmein are 15 Albacores under escort, and penetrate a CAP of 8 Oscars.
AP Tamatsu Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PG Kyo Maru #8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
There are 58 casualties reported from these two ships.

9) Some more Chinese get attacked from the air or by artillery.

10) A couple hundred troops defending Ormac are overwhelmed and surrender.

11) There are a few other artillery exchanges, notably at Rangoon and Noumea.

[rtrapasso]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/22/42 - The slaughter of Japanese AKs and APs abates for a bit while the slaughter on the ground intensifies:

1) The struggle for Rangoon city intensifies... Bruce starts with his usual wave attacks of aircraft... there is are a lot of AA guns stationed in Rangoon, which means that Bruce’s planes are bombing from about 3 miles up, while mine are bombing from about 1/3 of that... the results on both sides are somewhat anemic...
First, there are 22 Lilys from Bangkok of 8th Light Sentai, 67th Light Sentai, 75th Light Sentai: They achieve ONE runway hit and manage to destroy a damaged P40B.

The second attack is more serious, and comes in the form of 52 Sallys and 27 Helens from Victoria Point... these guys score 8 runway hits and 1 airbase hit, and destroy 1 (damaged) Hurri on the ground at the cost of 1 Sally and 1 Helen.

The Allies counter with B-17s from Calcutta, which bomb dog soldiers inflicting a few hundred casualties...


2) Kiska is bombed from Adak, with meager results. [8|]

3) Various Chinese units are bombed, and there are the usual artillery exchanges.

4) The 51st Base force at Noumea is bombed by air units of the (partial) KB, and by heavy bombers from Koumac... stick around a bit longer boys, and you can play with our carriers! Of course, with the distances involved in the Pacific, this is taking a lot of time to set up the ambush... [>:]

5) The main excitement for the day is the first Animal attack at Rangoon in the form of a deliberate attack by 77256 yipping dogs with 324 guns and 99 tanks, against 56142 stalwart defenders with 288 guns and 18 tanks... one fort is taken out, and about 2500 dogs are needing veterinary attention, and 7 tanks and KO’d, compared to 1300+ Allied casualties... 37 guns are lost on each side.

6) Cebu Island is invaded as well. [X(] [X(] [:D]

**************

[rtrapasso]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/23/42 –
After being in hibernation a week or so, we return to the action:
1. The Animals “clean up” more at Cebu Island and Reef Island.

2. A heavily escorted attack by 37 Lilys attack Moulmein... about 1/3 are damaged by flak.

3. Another heavily escorted attack by 35 Sallys and 17 Helens attacks Rangoon... another 1/3 are damaged by more flak.

4. A bunch of hapless Chinese get bombed by Squirrelish fliers.

5. The Kido Butai (or parts thereof) and bombers from Koumac bomb Allied troops at Noumea.

6. Niceguy’s bombers out of Darwin locate some Canine ships:
Day Air attack on TF at 30,83 – overcast
Three Hudsons bomb AK Shinshu with a dud which still manages to cause 19 casualties among the troops being carried.
Another TF protected by 10 Zeros is attacked by 6 Hudsons and 6 B-17E’s...
PC Ch 12 is hit by a 250 pound GP bomb and set on fire, and heavily damaged.

7. The Squirrels attack at Hangchow, and the out of supply Chinese are forced to retreat.

8. The Squirrels also attack at Noumea, but only get a 0 to 1 result... each side looses about 1800 casuaties.

9. There are the usual artillery duals around the map.

[rtrapasso]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/24/42 – a lot of action around Rangoon and Northern Oz.

1. AP Tamatsu Maru sinks at Tavoy (along with her skipper) - she had been damaged 21 April 1942 by Albacores that made 2 torpedo hits. Previously, she had been at Kuching, Borneo, at the start of the war when REPULSE attacked her task force.

2. I-123 attacks on the surface, and torpedoes AO Cuyama which starts to burn along with her fuel cargo. I-123 is hit once by return fire.

3. Rangoon is attacked in waves again: first is a fighter sweep from Rahaeng by 11 Oscars from the 50th Fighter Sentai which runs into its own recon flight... the CAP is heavy, however, and 76 Hurricanes and 7 Tomahawks shoot down 10 Oscars and 1 Babs. One Hurri is shot down.

A second attack by 32 Sallys and 17 Helens (escorted by 7 Zeros) results in 6 Zeros, 2 Sallys and 2 Helens destroyed for the loss of 1 more Hurri. The attackers achieve 1 hit on the airbase.

4. In a counterblow, Allied 4-engined bombers hit Rahaeng:
10 Ki-43-Ib Oscars of the 50th Fighter Sentai. Their morale apparently was shattered from the failed sweep at Rangoon, all these defending fighters turned back when one was damaged.
Allied aircraft (44 B-17s) hit the airbase 4 times, airbase supply 12 times, and the runway 10 times. One Babs is reported to be destroyed on the field.

5. A heavy day Air attack on TF at 31,85 by Allied aircraft from Darwin by 7 x OS2U-3 Kingfishers, 3 TIVa’s, 10 Hudsons, and 3 B-17Es (under escort) scores heavily:
AP Teiun Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire – 250 pound GP bomb from Kingfisher
AP Tsutsukami Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire – 500 pound GP bomb from B-17
AP Santos Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire – 250 pound GP bomb from Hudson
AP Kisaragi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire – 500 pound GP bomb from TIVA
101 casualties reported, and 1 gun was lost.

6. Another attack on a TF by 3 B-17Es near Wyndham at 30,85 is intercepted by 12 Zeros.
AK Norfolk Maru is hit by one bomb.

7. Yet another day air attack on an Animal TF at 31,84 from Darwin by 5 Kingfishers hits
AP Kiyama Maru with a bomb. There are 41 casualties reported.


8. An LB-30 Liberator spotted PC Ch 12 at 30,85 and she was reported HIT – she SINKS!!! Her Captain goes down with her... she was presumably hit by 500 pound GP bomb, but had been previously damaged by a Hudson with a 250 pound bomb hit on 23 April 1942.

9. An Allied sub attack near Tavoy at 28,37 by S-36 on AK Kinai Maru puts 2 torpedoes into her, causing fire and heavy damage, with 1 gun lost and 56 casualties. S-36 is damaged by 4 hits later in the day.

10. Another IJN sub attack at 100,107 (Approximately 420 miles south of Canton Island) by
I-25 hits DD Worden with three torpedo hits – SINKS!!! Three hits are obtained on the I-25 in return, but she does not report heavy damage.

11. AP Hokuhi Maru sinks at Koepang.- damaged 11 April 1942 by 2 x 250 pound bombs hits from a Kingfisher attack out of Broome.

[rtrapasso]

The pace of action slows a bit, so i'll do a two-fer this time:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/25/42 – Action heats up around Noumea as Mike increases his efforts to take the bastion.

1. BB Hyuga and CLs Yubari, Tatsuta, Tenryu and Katori shell the port, inflicting modest casualties and damage. Twice! They are obviously not afraid of the non-existent air strength, and they hang around and offer fire support to the Squirrel troops ashore. Of course, air strength can be brought in, but Zeros can offer LR-CAP support. This will prove to be more interesting in the next few weeks.

2. A lot of bombing of various Chinese troops, and the Allies counter using 4-engined-death from above on the invaders at Rangoon and in Northern Oz. Bruce has got the following formations ashore at Rangoon: 21st Mixed Brigade, 4th Mixed Regiment, 16th Division, 48th Division, 4th Tank Regiment, 31st Division, Guards (2nd) Division, 2nd Tank Regiment, 71st Division, 21st Engineer Regiment, 18th Heavy Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Engineer Regiment... it is only a matter of time until he can push out the defenders with this pace of buildup... if it can be sustained.

3. SS KXII is hit by IJ Helen aircraft.

4. There are some artillery duals in China, Rangoon, Noumea.

5. The Chinese try a counterattack at Pucheng... although there are plenty of troops, they are very short on supply and the adjusted AV falls short of achieving anything useful. Supplies are going to be a big concern in China for the foreseeable future.

6. The IJA 7th Tank Regiment pursues the No. 109 RAN Base Force across the desert, pushing the Aussies back towards Katherine.

Onto day 2:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/26/42 - Bruce continues to up the pressure at Rangoon.

1) BBs Ise and Nagato bombard Rangoon, followed a bombardment by CAs Kumano, Suzuya, Mogami and BBs Haruna and Kongo with nuclear results: over 10 thousand casualties with over 100 guns knocked out... this will prove (like at Singapore) to be the decisive event in the collapse of the defenses at Rangoon. Unlike Noumea, though, these IJN ships don’t stick around to test Allied air power (for good reason).

2) BB Hyuga and her consort CLs bombard Noumea again.

3) Speedy’s subs continual to exact a toll on the doggies moving up to Burma: AK Siberia Maru takes two torpedo hits from HMS Rover, is set on fire with heavy damage and SINKS!!! TF 50 rescues troops from 10th Mountain Gun Regiment. There are 65 reported casualties, and any equipment they had went to the bottom.

4) As a counterpunch, an Allied attempting to flee from Darwin Day Air is attacked by 9 Nells from Koepang(?) of G1/1st Daitai... they punch through a CAP of Dutch fighter refugees from Darwin, and lose one Nell, but they torpedo AK Adelong twice - she is reported on fire with heavy damage.

5) The Animals continue to clean up some “dot” bases, and there are Chinese troops that get bombed, and various artillery duals in China, Rangoon, and Noumea.

6) In Southeast China, some 14000 Chinese push back some 7000 Japanese who retreat toward Ningpo.

[rtrapasso]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/27/42 –
1) Coastal Guns at Noumea, 66,117, firing at TF 46 – I am not sure these guys are unloading - I think the game gives the same message if guys are trying to get onto a ship:
TF 46 troops “unloading” over beach at Noumea, 66,117
67 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
PG Oi Maru, Shell hits 5 – 171 casualties reported

2) An Allied ASW TF finds and damages an I-boat:
ASW attack at 111,88 – 120 miles NE of Palmyra
Japanese Ships
SS I-22, hits 3

3) A pair of Animals merchies give up the ghost after prolonged struggle with flooding:
AP Nichiro Maru sinks at Koepang! She had been hit by a pair of 250 pound GP bombs from Hudsons near Darwin on 16 April 1942.

AK Tasmania Maru sinks at Kuala Lumpur - from effects of a single 500 GP pound bomb hit from a Blenheim suffered on 12 April 1942.

4) AK Adelong sinks from the torpedo hits she took on the 26th April 1942.

5) A Chinese attack at Pucheng fails - not enough supplies, and morale is in the pits.

6) 21st /B Division of the Animals crushes the remnants of the 5th USAAF Base Force which surrenders at Cebu (444 men and 2 guns lost, about half of them were ineffective.)

7) The Yokosuka7th SNLF captures Ndeni.

8) Bruce starts unloading troops at Moulmein... the Allies fire at troops on the beach ineffectively.

9) There are the usual air bombardments, artillery exchanges, ineffective sub attacks and ineffective ASW actions.
***************

[rtrapasso]

I’ve been remiss in keeping this up, so multiple days will be in this post:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/28/42 –
Bruce continues to land troops in Burma, and the British/Aussies/Indian/Commonwealth/Dutch polyglot forces continue to resist... first a Dutch sub on a minelaying mission takes a moment to hit one of the invading troop transports:

1. O-20 makes a sub attack near Moulmein at 30,34 and AP Saipan Maru, is hit by a 533 mm W1 torpedo, inflicting 13 casualties on the troops she was carrying... O-20 evades the escort and gets away clean.

2. Troops continue to land at Moulmein, and are shelled in the process.

3. A British attack by 3 Blenheims from hits MSW Rikusen Maru, with three 500 pound GP bombs – and she SINKS!!! The bombers come in at only 1000 feet. In another attack by 9 Blenheims, AP Izumo Maru, Bomb is hit with a 500 pound GP bomb and set aflame, with 13 more troop casualties. A third attack numerous Blenheims, Wellingtons and Hudsons (also originating from Mandalay) manages to hit AK Shinamogawa Maru, Bomb with 2 x 250 pound GP bombs causing another fire and inflicting heavy damage.

4. A deliberate attack at Rangoon from 21st Mixed Brigade, 4th Mixed Regiment, 16th Division, 48th Division, 4th Tank Regiment, 31st Division, Guards (2nd) Division, 2nd Tank Regiment, 71st Division, 21st Engineer Regiment, 18th Heavy Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Engineer Regiment runs up against heavy opposition and 4 forts... the Animals have almost 73000 troops vs. around 36000 Allied troops, and losses are around 1665 to 1300 (respectively), but the forts hold.

5. The Allies mount a counterattack at Moulmein against the 11th NLF, 1st Tank Regiment, 23rd Engineer Regiment, but only manage 1 to 1 odds... both sides lose around 150 troops.

6. Off Northern coast of Oz: PG Kure Maru #5 hit by Empire patrol aircraft

7. There a bombings on both sides of troop concentrations, as well as artillery exchanges... the only notable effect in these is the loss of 3 Japanese bombers to flak.

############################

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/29/42 – Things heat up:

1. More landing at Moulmein, and thre troop carrying AP Yamafuku Maru, hits a Mark 10 submarine mine.

2. Ise and Nagato shell Allied defenses at Rangoon, inflicting almost 1200 casualties.
CAs Kumano, Suzuya, Mogami, with fast BBs Haruna, and Kongo then shell Rangoon some more inflicting another 100+ casualties. These attack also damage the airstrip and port facilities.

3. Another of the transports runs across a sub, this time it’s the HMS ROVER: AK Honan Maru is hit by a 21" Mark VIII torpedo.

4. Patrol aircraft on both sides mount up their toll:
SS KXII HIT by air attack (already had 90+ flood) - sinks!
Nekka Maru is reported HIT- by Hudson (250 pound GP bomb)

5. American 4-engined bombers hit Rahaeng, destroying a few aircraft on the ground.

6. Numerous Allied air attacks on IJN shipping are thwarted by heavy LR-CAP from Japanese fighters with 3 Buffalos and 1 bomber lost vs. 1 Oscar shot down.

7. There a bombings on both sides of troop concentrations, as well as artillery exchanges... the only notable effect in these is the loss of 2 Japanese bombers to flak.

8. Another deliberate attack by the Animals at Rangoon fails, getting 0-1 odds, and no forts fall... casualties ~65 to ~175. An Allied attack at Moulmein similarly fails with a couple of dozen casualties on both sides.

9. Mike’s squirrels attack at Noumea, failing to dent the 7 forts there... casualties are around 1300 (attackers) to 500 (defenders).

10. Niceguy’s airboys bomb Koumac in New Caledonia - each side loses a fighter, and a scouting Catalina is also shot down.

11. Several deliberate attacks in China... all fail except one where a Guerilla force of under 1000 is chased off by around 51000 Japanese.

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/30/42 - More landings in Burma, but the Japanese seemingly take a breather.

1. The landings at Moulmein continue: PG Tatsumiya Maru takes a shell hit, and AP Tainichi Maru hits another sub-laid mine... over 1000 casualties reported among the landing troops.

2. Some delayed action sinkings reported:
AP Yamafuka Maru sinks! (Hit mine 29 April 1942)

AP Hokusui Maru sinks! (Hit by Swordfish torpedo 17 April, and a 500 pound bomb from a Blenheim on 18 April 1942)


3. SS RO-33 is damaged by a group of Allied DDs near Amchitka Island.

4. Some minor actions in China and North Oz where minor Allied contingents of under 1000 troops are forced to retreat by superior attacking forces.

5. There a bombings on both sides of troop concentrations, as well as artillery exchanges... again, the only notable effect in these is the loss of at least 4 Japanese bombers to flak.

Next time, we’ll have the month-end box scores, as well as more about the slowly unfolding plan to attack the KB.

[rtrapasso]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/01/42 –
A long delayed update:
First, the action of the day, followed by the monthly update. Actually, I have TWO different reports of action this day, I guess as a result of a SYNC error... I THINK this is the correct one (although they didn’t have terribly different results:)

1. The Animals continue to unload at Moulmein, and the Allies can do little to stop them, although over 2000 casualties are reported among the landing troops... of course “casualties” in landing reports are a flexible term, and don’t necessarily mean KIA, MIA or wounded.
AK Kirikawa Maru, hits a VH2 mine (sub laid), and PG Tatsumiya Maru is hit by 3 shells in the landings.

2. Landings continue at Rangoon: AK Seiko Maru, hits a Mark 10 mine (sub laid), and
PC Ch 31 is hit by 2 shells.

Some heavies from Calcutta and long range tactical 2E bombers strike at the invaders:
16 x Blenheim IVs, 3 x Hudson Is and 5 x B-17s hit DD Arashi with a 250 pound GP bomb, from a Hudson, and AK Dainichi Maru, Bomb takes 2 hits from 500 pound GP bombs, one from B-17, one from Blenheim IV. She is reported to have been set on fire with heavy damage.

Another attack from Calcutta later in the day is more successful. A total of 13 x Blenheim IVs
2 x Hudson Is, and 3 x B-17E Fortress hit A K Montreal Maru, with a 250 pound GP bomb (from a Hudson), AK Kayo Maru, takes a hit from a 500 pound GP bomb, from a B-17, and AK Brisbane Maru, is whacked with a 500 pound GP bomb, from a Blenheim.

3. Off the coast of Oz, AK Takachiho Maru is reported HIT by a 250 pound GP bomb from a patrolling Hudson bomber.

Also, some systematic attacks are made: Three Hudsons attack near Wyndham taking advantage of the very cloudy weather. AK Kanju Maru, is hit by a 250 pound GP bomb - 3"/40 Type 88 AA gun knocked out.

Another attack in the same hex by 3 x T.IVa aircraft and 10 x Hudson I x 10 and
AK Kurohime Maru is struck by a 250 pound GP bomb, from a Hudson.

A third attack by three more Hudsons:
AK Jinmu Maru suffers a 250 pound GP bomb, and a AAMG is knocked out.

4. The defenders of Noumea manage to mount some attacks on the naval forces running troops and supplies: three A-29 Hudsons attack PC Sonan Maru #5 and hit her with 250 pound GP bomb causing heavy damage and fire.

5. Speedy’s subs score again: SS Finback fires 2 x 21" Mark 14 torpedoes launched near Koumac, and AK Kinugawa Maru takes a torpedo hit : reported on fire, with heavy damage. Finback escapes unscathed.

6. Various and sundry units (mainly Chinese) are bombed.

7. Bruce mounts a deliberate attack on Rangoon with nearly 74000 troops (vs. around 40K defenders), and it is bloodily repulsed... (1621 to 931 casualties), but the 4 forts are unaffected.

8. Various artillery duels around China, at Moulmein and at Noumea.

Now, onto the monthly update:

The Animals lengthen the score a tad, but at a price: they are now losing aircraft and ships at a greater rate than the Allies are, although the Allies are losing troop points faster.

A list of aircraft losses is also attached.

Meanwhile, the slow motion trap for the KB is slowly coming together... through nefarious means, we “leaked” a plan to invade Port Moresby to put the Animals off scent, and gather forces into the SW Pacific...

BTW, i try to plan to stay 2 months behind actual events... this will allow the Animals to read the AAR without jeapordizing operational security.

[rtrapasso]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/02/42 – After an intermission caused by a family vacation, I will try to catch us back up to 2 months behind the actual game.

We start with Moulmein - Bruce keeps pouring doggies over the beaches there, and they keep getting shot at... it only slows them a bit, though. Despite our best efforts, this is the only notable damage:

AP Genoa Maru, Shell hits 1

2. There were a lot of attacks on Japanese shipping around Rangoon and Moulmein by unescorted Allied bombers with only one positive result: Twelve Blenheim IVs, 3 Hudsons and 3 B-17Es attack and managed to hit AK Montreal Maru near Rangoon with a 500 pound GP bomb. She was reported to be heavily damaged on on fire.

3. A bit of delayed action on this front:
AK Kinai Maru sinks (at Georgetown) - hit by 2 torpedoes by S-36 on 24 April 1942


4. AV Kinagawa Maru was hit by 250 pound bomb from a patrolling Hudson! This happened off the north coast of Oz by Niceguy’s flyers.

5. There are the usual air attacks on Chinese troops, and artillery exchanges in China and Noumea.

6. Bruce’s doggies attacked at Moulmein with a deliberate attack... this (seemingly) half-hearted effort produces a very few casualties on both sides, and the forts remained intact.


Onto 3 May 1942:

1. Bruce unloads a bunch more dog soldiers at Moulmein. MSW Toshi Maru #8 takes 1 shell hit and is set on fire.

2. USS Pike hits AK Kayo Maru with a torpedo near Rangoon, causing heavy damage and the usual fire... Kayo Maru had been damaged on 1 May by a 500 pound bomb, and she SINKS!! Unfortunately, Pike has worse luck when she spots the Nagato and friends inbound on a bombardment run: all four torpedoes apparently run deep. The Nagato and her buddies nuke Rangoon, thoroughly disrupting the defenders with several thousand casualties reported.

3. Some Blenheims and Hudsons manage to avoid the CAP, coming in at 1000 feet, and AK Nanka Maru, takes 2 500 pound bomb hits from the Blenheims, and she is set on fire with heavy damage.

In a separate attack, aircraft from Calcutta and Dacca including 5 Blenheims and 3 B-17Es hit AK Kamikaze Maru and DD Kuroshio with one 500 pound bomb each... both bombs were from the low-flying Blenheims. Again, these ships were attacked without a CAP. A bunch of other piecemeal attacks are broken up by the CAP that does manage to intercept them... flying at maximum range tends to fragment these attacks, and they are consequently ineffective.

4. Back on the Noumea front, Speedy’s subs score again near Koumac: S-45 puts 2 torpedoes into
AK Goshu Maru who is now in critical condition!

5. There are the usual air attacks on Chinese troops, and artillery exchanges in China and Noumea.

[rtrapasso]

A brief interlude (i've duplicated this post in the BOB thread); i've been listening to Jethro Tull the past couple of days....


With apologies to Little Milton:

You can SORT of listen to the song it goes with at this URL, but this performance is abridged, and i've written this to fit the original album):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PcX_D5Z_CA
****************************************

Really don’t mind if you sit this one out.

My words but a whisper -- your deafness a shout.
I may make you fight but I can’t make you sink.
My plans in the gutter -- your planes in the drink.
So you write your thoughts over email and
You make all your Animal deals and
Your wise men don’t know how it feels to be thick as a brick.

And my sand-castle plans are all swept away in
The tide of destruction
The total melee.
The elastic retreat rings the close of play as the last wave uncovers
Some newfangled planes.
But your new troops are worn but don’t feel and
Disruption does rapidly heal and
Your wise men don’t know how it feels to be thick as a brick.

And the bases that I had are so far away:
And that bad turn that I just had today -- and you
Shake your head and
Say it’s a shame.

Spin me back down the years of misspent gaming youth.
Draw the lace and black curtains and shut out the whole truth.
Spin me down the long ages: let them sing the song.

See there! a plan is born -- and we pronounce it fit to fight.
There are black-marks in the margins, but I doubt we’ll get it right.
We’ll
Make a go of it
PP’s we will trade
Teach us
To play this game and
To grit teeth through the pain.

The penguin and the Bettys casting shadows on the water --
As the sun plays on the infantry returning from the sea.
Speedy and the penguin: no allowance for the other --
As the failing light illuminates the mercenary’s creed.
The Burma fire’s burning: the kettle almost boiling --
But the Niceguy of the game is far away.
His troops feet are a stamping -- their warm guns steaming
In the sharp and frosty morning of the day.
And the penguin types his plans and doggy unsheaths his sword.

And generals in S.E.A.C. are moving with authority.
Building forts a’by the sea, they dare the Animals to wash them all aside.

The troops are quietly gazing on the grass down by the river
Where the swelling mountain water moves onward to the sea:
The builder of the forts renews defensive purpose
And contemplates the lack of poly points that is his need.
The young men of the household have
All gone into service and
But are not to be expected for a year.

The innocent ship master -- thoughts moving ever faster --
Has formed the plan to foil the sub he’s seen.
And the penguin makes his plans while the squirrel lifts his sword.

Animals are moving with authority.
Coming from across the sea, they challenge the Allies who promptly start to run.

What do you do when
The old plan’s gone ?-- do you want see it? and
You rec planes overfly Haiphong.
Do you want to free it?
No one to help you get up steam --
And the execution turns you `way off-beam.

I’ve come down from India to mend your rotten ways.
My Generals are men-of-power whom everyone obeys.
So come on all you dog and squirrels!
I’ve got to put you straight just like I did with my old plans --
That led me to this fate.
My bread and water’s going cold.
Victory points too short and spell defeat.
I’ll try to thrash you all and make damn sure that no-one thrashes me.

You taunt your foes in fun as you smile at everyone -- you meet the stares.
You’re unaware that your war has just begun.
And you laugh most ruthlessly as you tell us what’s to be.
But how are we supposed to see where we should run?

I see you shuffling your aircraft
You count them on your flippers and
Your downed IJ fliers and
Your sunken silver ships
Playing at the hard case, you follow the example of all the forum idols
Who let you bend the rules.

So!
Come on ye forum heroes!
Won’t you rise up from the Thread now
You strategists
And show us all the way.
Well! make your will and testament. won’t you?
Join your local government.
Well have fabertong for president
Let Speedy save the day.

You put your bet on number one and it comes up every time.
The other players have all backed down and they put you first in line.
And so you finally ask yourself just how big you are --
And take your place in a wiser world of planes that reach the stars.
And you wonder where your units are...

So! where the hell was Soryu when you needed it last saturday?
And where were all the penguins who always pulled you though?
They’re all resting down in Burma --
Writing up their memoirs for a paper-back edition
Of the AE manual.

See there! a plan is born -- and it surely give us peace.
There’s a load lifted from our shoulders with the discovery of their CVs
We’ll
Take the plan from him
Put it to the test
Teach it
To be a wise one
How to fool all the best.

(We will be geared to the average rather than the exceptional
War is an overwhelming responsibility
We walked through the maternity ward and saw 218 puppies wearing nylons
Planes are on the upgrade
Upgrade? Downgrade. oh, man...)


In the clear white circles of the monitor’s we wonder,
In time and space and we tilt at windmills.
And our blue-eyed soldiers stand slightly discoloured (in neat little rows)
Sporting useless frills.
With their jock-straps pinching, they slouch to attention,
While queueing for rations at the off-base canteen.
Saying -- how’s your granny and
Good old Solli: he coughed up a tenner on a premium bond win.

The legends (worded in the ancient forum hymns) lie cradled
In the penguin’s call.
And all the promises they made are ground beneath the squirrel’s fall.
The penguin and the wise dogs stand behind the gun, (behind the gun...)
And at the crack of dawn.
Attack out of the sun, (of the sun...)

Do you believe in the day? do you?
Believe in the day! At dawn creation of air raids has begun.
Soft Betty (lonely maiden) bombs our guns (bombs our guns)
Do you believe in the day? Do you? Believe in the day.
The flaming Zero has just crashed to the right (to the right) -- and fully pregnant with the day,
Wise dogs align their artillery sights.
Do you believe in the day? do you? believe in the day!

Let me tell you the tales of your life: of
Your move and the frown of your wife
The tireless obsession
The wisdom instilled
The desire to kill or be killed.
Let me sing of the losers who lie in the street as the last tanks goes by.
The pavements are empty: the gutters run red -- while Bruce
Toasts his dogs in the sky.

So come all ye young men who are building forts now!
Kindly state the time of the year as enemy artillery joins into in a hellish chorus.
Marks the precise nature of your fear.
Let me help you pick up your dead as the sins of your folly are fed
With
The blood of the fools and
The thoughts that weren’t wise and
From those plans that came out your head.

Let me make you a present of song as
As the penguin breaks wind and is gone while
The fool in Mandalay is cooking his goose and
The slow wartime march winds along.

So! come all ye young men who are building forts now!
Kindly state the time of the year and join your voices in a hellish chorus.
Mark the precise nature of your fear.
See! Low flying Bettys casts its torps upon you
And the hour of judgement draweth near.
Would you be
The fool up in his super-bomber or
The wiser man who rushes clear?

So! come on ye forum heroes!
Won’t your rise up from the pages of the Thread now
Your strategists and
Show us all the way?
Well! make your will and testament.
Won’t you? join your local government.
We’ll have fabertong for president
Let Speedy save the day.
So! where the hell was Soryu when you needed it last Saturday?
And where were all the penguins who always pulled you through?
They’re all resting down in Burma -- writing up their memoirs
For a paper-back edition of the AE manual.

So you write your thoughts over email and
You make all your Animal deals and
Your wise men don’t know how it feels to be thick as a brick.

[rtrapasso]

Well, I guess I bit off a bit more than I could chew with that last one... or we don’t have many Jethro Tull fans here (or both)... anyway let’s move onto the AAR:
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/04/42 –

1. Bruce unloads a bunch more dreaded hounds at Moulmein... we shoot at them, but it doesn’t do much to slow them. AK Iwashiro Maru does take one shell hit.

2. There are a LOT (well, 4) of failed sub attacks... and two successful ones:
SKIPJACK hits the AP Genoa with a torpedo, and follows up with a successful attack on AP Hakusan Maru which is heavily damaged with a (almost always fatal) “Listing, counterflooding” message.

3. A bunch of Chinese get bombed (but not in a good way).

4. There are the usual artillery exchanges in the usual places...

5. After nuking Rangoon last turn with naval bombardment, Bruce mounts a deliberate attack on Rangoon, knocking down a fort. Assaulting are the 21st Mixed Brigade, 4th Mixed Regiment, 16th Division, 48th Division, 4th Tank Regiment, 31st Division, Guards (2nd) Division, 2nd Tank Regiment, 71st Division, 21st Engineer Regiment, 18th Heavy Field Artillery Regiment, and 4th Engineer Regiment.

6. About 180 miles East of Shanghai, 60K+ squirrels force some Chinese (outnumbered 10 to 1) back.

BELOW: Bruce's Demon Dogs (aka Guards (2nd) Division) attack at Rangoon!* [X(]




*Artist's rendition.

[rtrapasso]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/05/42 – Let’s get right into the action, here
1. More fun and games at Moulmein: Bruce as more TFs unload more dog troops... we shoot at them, but achieve little.

2. We have a little bit more luck with opposing his landings at Rangoon: AK Junpo Maru hits a Mark 10 sub laid mine, causing some casualties among the troops she still had on board, and she is severely damaged and set aflame. Alerted by a flaming transport, the artillery opens up on the landings and MSW Toshi Maru #5 takes a shell hit, and AK Oyashima Maru takes two. She also brews up, and the flames further light up the battlefield.

The flames act as a beacon for oncoming aircraft flying from Calcutta: 21 Blenheim IVs, 7 Hudson Is, and 9 B-17s are unescorted and jumped by four A6M2 Zeros of the F1/Tainan Chutai and 2 Oscars of the 77th Fighter Sentai. Between fighters and intense flak (the bombers attacked at 1000 feet), 3 Blenheims are lost, but they hit AK Shunsei Maru with a 500 pound bomb from a Blenheim IV, AK Junpo Maru is hit with a 500 pound bomb from a B17e, AK Kamoi Maru take hits from two 250 pound bombs from Hudsons, and AK Clyde Maru is also hit by a 250 pound bomb from a Hudson. This inflicts more casualties, and sets more ships burning, adding to the hellish scene along the beaches.


3. Meanwhile, at Kuala Lumpur, AK Tatebo Maru sinks from the effects of a aerial 18" torpedo... oddly, I have no record of her in my records (which I thought were complete).

4. In a rare successful sub attack by a USN fleet boat: Skipjack fires 4 torpedoes at AK Dainichi Maru. One of them hits, and she rolls over and sinks! She had been damaged by some 500 pound bombs on 1 May.

5. There are the usual air raids on the usual Chinese units, and the usual artillery duals. No major assaults this turn.

Moving onto 6 May 1942

1. More landings at Rangoon, and the scene gets wilder still:

AK Junpo Maru hits another mine this time a VH2 sub mine, and loses more of her troops. She is set alight once again, allowing the artillery to range in on the landing TFs: AK Ryoyo Maru is hit five time, MSW Toshi Maru #1 is hit twice, and MSW Toshi Maru #5 is hit 9 times, and is reported to be heavily damaged and on fire. Junpo Maru finally sinks after this. Later in the day, AK Chikuzan Maru, hits another VH2 (sub laid) mine. Attracted by the large explosion, artillery ranges in on her and hits her twice more.


2. Yet more landings at Moulmein, but these meet only tepid opposition by ground forces. It’s a different story from the air forces: 12 Oscars flying LR-CAP including planes from 11th Fighter Sentai, 50th Fighter Sentai, and 65th Fighter Sentai try to turn back an Allied attack from Calcutta, but the Allies will not be denied. Despite lack of fighter cover, 10 B-17s and 9 Hudsons punch through and MSW Toshi Maru #8 is hit from a 500 pound GP bomb from B-17d.

3. AK Kuwayama Maru sinks from a from torpedo from Vildebeest 11 April 1942.
AK Nanka Maru SINKS - hit by 2 x 500 pound bombs from Blenheim IV attack on 3 May 1942

4. The slow-motion trap for the Kido Butai now starts to swing shut with the speed of a constipated hippo: A diversionary TF is aimed at Port Moresby and is soon detected. Swarms of fighters and bombers descend on the sacrificial lambs including 13 Zeros, 15 Nells from G1/Genzan Daitai and
18 G4M1 Betty of the G4/Yokosuka Daitai.
AK Straat Malakka, takes 4 torpedo hits 4 and SINKS!!!
AK Barwon, eats 6 torpedo hits and likewise SINKS!!!
This diversionary action was put into place to rivet the Animals attention to Port Moresby to try to assure they did not bring these units down to the Noumea front where they could have an effect on the upcoming battle.

5. Meeting only tepid opposition in Moulmein (the Allies had withdrawn their combat units across the river, Bruce launches a shock attack: The attacking forces have 48308 troops, 192 guns, 63 vehicles, from Ikaiei SNLF, 1st Tank Regiment, 23rd Engineer Regiment, 11th NLF, 9th NLF, 10th Mountain Gun Regiment, 18th Division, and 33rd Divisions, and face 3746 troops, 22 guns, 2 vehicles of some rear guard engineers. They easily destroy the 4 remaining forts and push out the defenders, but not before the defenders destroy most of the resources.

6. Rangoon had been nuked, and a fort fell... the Allies made a similar maneuver (as they did in Moulmein), withdrawing combat units out of the city, but leaving in the engineers. In a deliberate attack by 79313 troops, 238 guns, 99 vehicles from 21st Mixed Brigade, 4th Mixed Regiment, 16th Division, 48th Division, 4th Tank Regiment, 31st Division, Guards (2nd) Division, 2nd Tank Regiment, 71st Division, 21st Engineer Regiment, 18th Heavy Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Engineer Regiment, 21st /A Division, and 14th Tank Regiment against a defending force of 8884 troops, 41 guns, 7 vehicles... the remaining forts are destroyed and the defenders are pushed out... Rangoon FALLS!! [:(]

7. Once again, there are the usual air attacks against the Chinese, and artillery duals around the map.


Since fabertong had said (after “my” song about Rangoon Blitz)

“I hope Bob is working on 'The fall of Rangoon'.......'The fall of Nomea'.........'The fall of Australia'.....he'll be needing these soon...”

Here is the song he requested... I think I’ll hold off on composing songs for the fall of Noumea and the fall of Australia!! [:'(]

To this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc86_Weoye0

Well we retreated from Singapore
Same as Mersing and at old Jahore
You hardly ever saw the Japs round here
But that ‘fore we lost those towns this year
We sank ‘bout a hundred ships and had a fine time
Til’ they started landing doggies by the pale moon shine
Now the Animal man wanted Rangoon bad
He loaded up with APs with everything he had
I wasn’t there but I've been told
He said “We’ll push them back up Mandalay Road”

Now our troop formations were a real hodgepodge
But they could still put up a real good barrage.
We had some forts and planes that were on our side
Just shot up all the doggies - they just just couldn’t hide.
Well all the big artillery really mowed them down
I still remember that rumblin' sound
Well their big old ships came ‘round in middle of the night
We saw there cruisers comin’, knew something wasn't right
They was headed towards our airfield with their nuclear load:
You could smell our planes a burnin' down Mandalay Road

The first fort fell ‘bout the very next day
They burned the docks down here anyway
Old Bruce clocked a good one to our brainpan
And we need to come up with a brand new plan
We’ll defend Meiktila and Lashio
Try to keep dogs comin’ up Mandalay Road
Well Bruce the dog got Bettys in the air
My troops are retreating much faster than a hare
I learned a thing or two from this one don't you know
But we’re gonna have to march up Mandalay Road

Mandalay Road
Mandalay Road
Mandalay Road

*************