Bettys in the sky with diamonds- Gladiatt (A) vs John_Smid (J). No John please

[gladiatt]

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE WAR , THE AIR TO AIR LOSSES OF THE JAPS ARE HIGHER THAN ALLIED LOSSES

[gladiatt]

Japs try to complete the conquest of Philippinas


21th april, a jap landing occur at Ormoc, but i think my opponant forget his troops because no capture followed....

On 24th april, CAGAYAN is Captured
on 27th april, Dadjangas is captured

Davao is bombed daily by Kates and Sallys.

[gladiatt]

CENTPAC 21th April - 30th April 1943

Nukufetau
The base is raided 2 times ( 18 sorties of PB4Y), no losses despite a usual CAP of 9 Jack. No results.

Nanomea raided 2 times ( 21 sorties of PB4Y) , no loss despite usual CAP of 9 Jack. Too few results.

Funafuti

On 24th april at Night. CA Chester, Pensacola, Quincy , CL Richmond and 3 DD bump in a jap TF : 12 ML, 2 MSW and 2 PC.
After a few shots (and all torpedoes missed) , 2 MSW and 5 ML are sunk.
Then, US TF conduct a bombardement, scoring 15 hits on runway and 2 on port.

On 25th april, the survivors are attacked by SS Grunion, with no result [8|].

5 raids, gathering 180 sorties, for no allied losses. The damages on base amount to a small 36 hits on runway.

[gladiatt]

DEI and AUSTRALIA 21th April - 30th april 1943

DEI - WAINGAPU captured by japs on 24th april

KOEPANG

Stike on 21th april. 53 allied bombers and 17 P-38 face a CAP of 17 japs fighters. 3 japs are downed for no allied losses. 7 hits on runway.

23th april, 19 P-38 and 53 allied bombers face 14 japs fighters. 1 P-38 downed for 4 japs. 42 hits on runway and 2 on base.

From 24th until 28th april, bad weather prevent any more raid (ohhhhhhh damned bloody weather ).

On 28th, 23 P-38 and 57 bombers face 9 japs fighters. 5 japs are downed for no losses. 16 hits on runway.

29th april, 2 P-38 of 24th FG/C are lost for 4 japs fighters. 18 hits on runway.


TENIMBAR
- 22th april, a raid of 10 Helens is interecpted by 10 dutch Brewster. 3 Helens are downed for 1 brewster.
- 24th april, a raid of 39 zeros and 18 bombers face 8 brewsters. 1 dutch plane is downed, one AK set on fire.
- 27th april, 2 japs raids are launched agaisnt Tenimbar.
First raid, 46 zeros and 23 bombers face my CAP of 12 Spitfie of 452th RAAF sq, a green unit with low experience.
Despite the odds, the australians pilots manage to loose only 4 planes and down 6 zeros. 2 AK are badly hit.
Second raid, 16 japs bombers without escort; 1 sally is destroyed, but 2 subchasers are sunk.

- ON 29th april, lone survivor, SC 647, hunt I-15 without results.

ARU ISLAND
- 21th april, 29 Nick and 13 sally slip through a small CAP of 3 P-70 Havoc of 6th NFS, and sink PT-142.
- 23th april, 32 Nick and 12 Helen encounter no allied planes (bad weather ), sink PT 150 and damage 2 others PT.

BIAK
On 27th april, 42nd Naval Guard Unit land at Biak and capture the base.
On 30th april, seeking prey, SS Albacore attack twice, sinking AP Kyuma, and scoring 1 torpedo hit against AP Minto (no sign of sinking).

[gladiatt]

SOPAC 25th April - 30th april 1943

Confusing situation.
Take also a look at the maps for 24th and 25th april on previous page.

The japs have 3 CV TF surrounding New Britain, attriting my ships, and maybe trying to lure my CV Fleet in battle in range of Bettys (from Truck or Guadalcanal).

In the same time, i scattered my air assets, trying to prevent the building of new bases or to keep Rabaul closed, while hopping for my heavy bombers to attack the japs CV wich are usually in range (but this hope will fail in april).

1 - KEEPING RABAUL AND KAVIENG CLOSED

On 25th april , 190 4E from Port Moresby knock Rabaul airfield, destroying 30 japs planes on ground and scoring 200+ hits on runway.
On 26th april, 130 4E destroy 34 more planes on ground, keeping the airfield size 8 at 100% damaged.
- Kavieng, same day, is bombed by 6 australians Liberators VI scoring 2 hits on airbase.

On 27th, Rabaul is bombed by 60 B-24. The attacking squadrons are rotating to try to keep fatigue moderate.
Seing that my SBD in Gasmata won't have any chance to hit ships in range, i set them on airfield attack, hitting Kavieng.
Sadly, in the same time, no attack by my heavy bombers against japs ships in range, both north and south of Port Moresby.

28th april, Rabaul is bombed by 18 B-24 (others are lost in clouds). Kavieng is hit by 31 SBD, the level of damage or Kavieng raise slowly.

29th april, Rabaul is back at 70%damages (damned, that's quick...). So 56 4E are sent to bomb the place, destroying 2 planes on ground and raising damages level to 85%.
Kavieng is also bombed by 31 SBD, raising damages level to 30%.

2 - SOUTH PART : LOST OPPORTUNITY

25th april, 42 zeros and 10 Helens from Rabaul (thus explaining the numerous raids of my bombers on this base) try to attack my ships in Gasmata. 19 Kittyhawk of 77th RAAF squadron (Kittyhawk I) and 11 others fighters defend the ships.
3 allied fighters are shot for 13 zeros. FLT Waters and FLT Underwood of 77th RAAF sq both reach 23 kills, being equal Ace of Australians Air Force. An allied AK is left burning.

27th april, at Munda , jap SS I-17 hit a mine and sink.
Gasmata is under attack by 27 zeros and 24 Vals facing a CAP of 23 planes. 9 zeros are shot for 1 Corsair, 1 Kittyhawk and 4 obsolete Brewsters. 2 AK are hits badly ( both to sink later).

South of Gasmata, 16 P-38 and 9 dutch B-25J attack a jap TF with a CAP of 28 zeros.
2 zeros are downed for 1 Lightning and 2 Mitchells, for no results;

Same day, Gili Gili is under attack from another jap TF. 16 zeros and 18 Kates face a CAP of 15 Boomerangs.
1 Boomerang is lost to 4 zeros and 3 Kates, but 2 MSW are torpedoed (and will sink in the next days).

At the end of the day, a last attack on Gasmata is launched by 21 Vals without escort. 16 are shot.

28th april, at Gili Gili at night, a TF of 7 japs DD surprise the last 3 MSW cleaning the port. ALL 3 ships are sunk, and the raiders escape without any retaliation [:@].
Munda is bombed by 25 B-17, scoring 1 hit on port ( trying to slow any building of an airfield, level 0 now).

South of Gasmata, 8 B-25J alone attack a jap TF covered by....18 Rufe and 80 Zeros [8|].
All Mitchells are destroyed....but 5 zeros are downed also [X(].
In the afternoon another raid of only 2 B-25 with 11 P-38 and 12 F4U ace the CAP (reduced to 18 Rufe and 68 zeros).
3 Corsairs and 5 P-38 are shot down, but no B-25 is lost. 2 Rufe and 10 zeros are destroyed.
CV Akagi escape unharmed

29th april, in the night , SS Tinosa, one fo several sub hunting the japs CV, shoot at a DD, but the torpedo is a dud [8|].
At Tulagi, DD Oyashio hit a mine (no sign of sinking).

[gladiatt]

SOPAC (next)

3 - INTERLUDE AT LUGANVILLE

28th april, 18 zeros and 12 Bettys target my TF of 2 SC at Luganville. A CAP of 65 allied fighters welcome the japs;
16 zeros and 10 bettys are lost. FLT Koontz, VMF 221, score 5 kills, reaching 11.

4 - NORTH PART : THE HAMMERING OF LAE HARBOR

25th april, 18 zeros, 38 vals and 23 Kate face my CAP of 15 Boomerang. 4 Boomerang are destroyed, 7 AK and 1 AP hit badly, along with 1 hit on Port, 2 on fuel and 2 on supply. The japs loose 6 bombers.
( This attack is described on the map of 25th april in Bismark Sea)

26th, LAE suffer 1 raid from jap CV and 1 from Bettys from Truck.
3 AK are hits in port. FLT Waters of 77th RAAF Squadron (wich had just been transfered from Gasmata) reach his 24th kill, becoming Top Australian Ace.
Only 1 Kittyhawk is lost, for 1 zero, 10 single-engine japs bombers and 5 bettys.

27th, LAE attacked by 20 Bettys from Truck. 1 Kittyhawk of CAP is shot down, for 8 bettys.

28th April, 10 Bettys face 20 allied fighters, and loose 3 planes for no results.

29th April, LAE attacked at night , 13 Bettys bomb the port, with no results.
In the day, 17 zeros, 24 Vals and 18 Kate attack. 19 Australians fighters are on CAP. 4 zeros and 8 Vals are destroyed for no australians losses. But 5 ships are badly hit in port.

30th, Night raid of 14 bettys facing 15 P-70 Havoc of 6th NFS (back from Tenimbar). The A2A give no result, the attack neither.
Withdrawing toward Truck, the jap TF cross a minefield at Emirau Island. DD Sagi hit a mine (and will sink 3 days later).

[gladiatt]

CHINA 1st-8th May 1943

Yunan
1st May, a sweep by 13 P-38 of AVG/B turn badly above Yunan jap airfield. A CAP of 15 Jack and 24 Tojo down 7 Lightning for 2 japs fighters. Sadly, no raid target Yunan airfield for 3 days BECAUSE OF BAD WEATHER

South of Yunan, the isolated chinese warbands (depleted to roughly 200 squads) are still used as training ground for japs planes.
On 6th may, these units are repulsed by japs 6th Bde south, destroying all the efforts to reach a safe base since 5 months...

North West of Yunan, the japs divisions that had crossed Yangtze are bombed by chinese B-25J operating from Myitkyina on 2nd and 3rd may, bad weather preventing more intense bombing.
Small raids resume 7th and 8 th may.


CENTPAC

Nanomea Atoll is shelled by a TF of 3 us CA on 1st may, destroying 3 Jack and 3 Jakes on ground, and scoring 33 hits on runway .
Then, bombed on 4th may by 9 PB4Y despite a CAP of 8 Jack, with no results.

Funafuti
- raid 1st may, 39 B-24. 9 hits on runway.
- 3rd may, raid of 45 B-24D scoring 2 hits on base and 33 on runway.
- 6th may, 39 B-24 score 27 hits on runway.
-7th may, 27 B-24 score 10 hits on runway
-8th may, 36 B-24 score 11 hits on runway.
The airfield seem 65% damaged at end of week

Nukufetau
Despite efforts made at end of april, this base raise to level 1 airfield on 6th may.

Pearl Harbor
Unexpected, a raid of 19 Nells target Pearl in the night of 1st may. 2 are destroyed, 7 damaged, no result scored
On 2nd may, another raid by 14 Nells ( 3 destroyed).
A retaliatory night raid with only 4 PB4Y on Jonhston score no results, so it is ordered to stop.
The japs raids last for a small week.

[gladiatt]

BURMA 1st - 8th May

Andaman
Once more, BAD WEATHER prevent me to launch all the raids i ordered to keep this base closed.

On 2nd and 4 th may, 2 raids (gathering 22 sorties from Trincomalee or Dacca) score a few hits on runway, despite a CAP of around 6 Nick (wich never manage something else than being damaged).
But the airfield seem nearly repaired...
So i ordered a bigger effort.

On 5th may, 15 B-24 and 15 IL4 bomb the place, followed by a second wave of 43 B-17 of 19th BG; 25 hits are scored on runway.
On 6th, 25 B-24 and 16 IL4 avoid the CAP of 7 Nick and score 17 more hits on the runway.
Airfield is supposed at 25% damaged, but an entire week of bad weather could ruin all my efforts.
So i add a bit more:
on 7th may, 43 B-17 repulse the CAP of 9 Nick, hitting airfield with 16 runway hits.


RANGOON
BAD WEATHER IS ON JAP SIDE [:@];
Since last week of april, raids are ordered against Rangoon, but only the sweeps fly !
- 1st may, 9 F4U and 15 P-38 down 1 Tojo of a CAP of 8.

After 4 days of thunderstorms, at last, on 2nd may, 81 B-24 of Dacca bomb Rangoon, scoring 140 hits on runway. But the 150 bombers of Akyab don't fly [:(].
Then, once more, WEATHER TRICK ME BECAUSE IT IS ON THE JAPANESE SIDE [:@] : no raids at all on 3rd and 4th may. The airfield slowly repair...

AT LAST, on 5th may, a raid occur.
Japs try to defend the place, but it's a wrong choice.
A CAP of 93 fighters face my 194 bombers and 108 fighters. A fierce fight follow.
31 allied fighters are downed, but also 2 Jack, 10 Tojo and 75 Tony are destroyed !
A second wave of 77 Liberators from 7th BG and 308th BG add destruction.
The 2 raids gathered 250 hits on runway, 40 on base, 2 on port.
1LT Leach of 34th FS score 3 kills, reaching 21. And FO Porter (23thFG/B) score 3 Kills also, reaching 16.

On 6th may, 3 lones Tony try to defend against 70 allied fighters and 130 bombers. 2 of them are shot down. The bombers score 98 hits on runway.
On 7th may, 64 B-24 from Dacca add more damages. Sadly, the bombers from Akyab are stuck on ground.
ON 7th and 8th may, 270 sorties from Dacca add more damages to both airfield, port, and resources.

Here is a screenshot of 5th may



IRRAWADDY FRONT
Japs bombardement cause 530 allied casualties between 1st and 9th may. In the same time, allied bombardement cause 3200 japs casualties, to add to attacks of 4th and 7th may, both made by 254th Indian Tk Bde and 7 th armored Bde.
The results of these attacks are 1300 japs casualties for 900 allied casualties and 9 vehicules.

[gladiatt]

1st MAY 1943 - 9th MAY 1943


PI
Davao bombed daily by 20 bombers or so. 2 Kates downed by Flak in this week. Several casualties on ground.


KOEPANG

- 3rd may, 15 Liberators VI and 42 B-25 encounter no Jap CAP !! 28 hits scored on runway.
- 4th may, 42 bombers score 25 more hits on runway.
- 7th may, 41 bombers score 17 hits on runway.
At this moment, the base seemed at 100% damages.
But, although raided on 8th and 9 th may (80 sorties), the level of damages seem to decrease slowly.

LAUTERN

On 1st may, a jap unit is spotted on Lautern. Although useless, a small raid of 20 2E bombers aim the unit: 81th Nav Guard Unit;
at the end of the day, THE JAPS CAPTURE LAUTERN.

So i decided to hinder the use of this base by the japs.
Between 3rd and 9th may, 5 raids gathering 80 sorties of Boston and Mitchell slowly raise the damages of the airfield near 20%;

TENIMBAR
Building of this base need supplys and engineers, bring by ships from Darwin (and same thing at Aru Island).
This base, wich started with a port level 1 and an airfield level 0 , is, at 5th may, with a port level 2 and an airfield level 1, and still building.
On 6th may, a raid of 49 Zeros and 12 bombers face my CAP of 37 fighters (18 F4U). 7 Boomerang and 3 Spits are destroyed for 24th zeros and 2 Helens. VMF 223 account for 18 kills this day.
3 AK are left burning.

[gladiatt]

ARU ISLAND 1st- 9th may 1943

Building this base if even more costly than Tenimbar...but for both opponant !

- 2dn may, SC 647 hunt SS I-154 without result.

A raid of 20 zeros, 32 Nick and 34 bombers encounter a CAP of 9 F4U and 7 Brewster. 3 Brewster are downed for 9 zeros, 2 nick and 5 bombers, 2 AK are hit and burning ( 1 will sink later).
A second raid gathering 26 zeros and 10 helens sink an AP and damage an AK, and destroy 2 Brewster, but for the losses of 17 zeros.

3RD MAY IS ANOTHER DAY OF THE CORSAIR. VMF 223 IS THE NIGHTMARE OF THE JAPS PILOTS.

2 japs raids, gathering 94 zeros, 55 Nick, 91 bombers, face a CAP of 7 F4U Corsairs on LRCAP from Tenimbar.
For the loss of 2 Corsairs, 29 zeros, 1 Nick, and 6 Bombers are destroyed. FO Keller score 3 kills, reaching total of 6.
Sadly, as always in this damned game, the bombers get through, scoring no less than 58 bombs hits and 2 torpedos against my convoy, sinking 3 AK, damaging 12 others (3 more ships to sink latter).

- On 6th may, bad weather prevent any LRCAP above Aru Island.
A jap raid of 52 Sally aim the port, scoring 3 hits on supply.

- on 7th may, only 7 dutch Brewster manage to LRCAP the island. They face 2 japs raids gathering 53 zeros and 140 bombers.
3 Brewster are destroyed for no japs planes. A slaughter of ships and mens follow: 20 AK and 2 AP are hits, 2 AK sinking outright, with 1400 mens and 7 guns on board. These were part of a new base force unloaded here.

Despite my heavy losses, at last, Aru Island reach level 1 airfield on 7th may

But the japs keep on raiding the island.
- a raid on 8th may hit 3 AK and 1 AP (at least 1 AK to sink latter). 1 Corsair and 2 Brewster lost, for 13 zeros and 14 bombers.
- 3 raids on 9th may gather 22 zeros, 23 bettys, 57 bombers and 69 Nick. They sink 1 SC, 2 AK and 1 AP; my CAP loose 1 corsair and 2 brewster for 4 zeros, 3 nick and 8 bombers.

My ships losses are really heavy. Despite all my efforts, the bombers always get through, and the VP for ships are far greater than for planes: the attrition is not on my side....

[gladiatt]

SOPAC 1st-9th May 1943

LAE

- 1st May, a night raid of 9 bettys from Truck face a CAP of 10 P-70 night fighters. No result. Others useless raids follow for a few nights.

In the day (1st may), 25 zeros escort 84 Vals and 103 Kate, facing 24 allied fighters. 6 of my planes are downed for 8 zeros and 19 japs bombers, but 3 AP, 5 AK and DM Sicard are heavily damaged in port and threatened to sink.

North of Lae, 5 Beaufighters Mk21 and 45 B-24, at last, attack the japs CV; but the CAP of 110 zeros and 14 Rufe torn my planes, destroying 26 Liberators and all 5 Beaufighters (for the cost of 7 zeros and 40 damaged); CV Zuikaku suffer a bomb hit that did not penetrate it's deck [:(]

- 2nd may, 10 B-24 attack 3 japs CL; CL Oyodo is hit by 3 bombs that do not penetrate [:(].

- 3rd may, 45 zeros+74 vals+91 Kates once more attack Lae harbor, against 7 Boomerang and 25 Kittyhawk I.
9 allied planes are downed for 13 zeros, 6 Kates and 6 vals. Several ships are hits in port.
- 4th may, 18 zeros and 18 bombers sink 1 AP in port. 1 Kittyhawk is downed for 9 zeros and 12 bombers.
The japs TF then retire north

-7th may, 3 AK previously hit sink in Lae port.







RABAUL
- 3rd may, 8 light bombers score a few hits on the runway.
- 4th may, 2 SBD and 6 Boston bomb the place. 1 Dauntless is shot by Flak.
-5th may, 15 SBD and 5 boston destroy 1 Helen on ground but 1 SBD is shot by Flak. Moderate damages on the base, still close for now.

KAVIENG
Raids occur on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th may. On 5th, that's not an usual 30 SBD, but 48 4E striking the base. They encounter a CAP of 5 zeros. Where this CAP is from ??? The base ? Seem not usable, Rabaul neither. A LRCAP from Truck ?

On 6th may, dozens of japs barges are spotted at Kavieng.
On 7th may, 81 B-17 score 2 hits on base and 32 on runway without seing a single zero. 4 dutch B-25 straffe the japs barges, damaging 2 of them (no casualties scored).
On 8th may, 66 B-17 score 67 hits on runway.
On 9th may, despite being damaged 60%, the base host a CAP of 5 zeros. 1 of them is downed with 1 Brewster escorting 12 SBD wich score a few hits on runway. Then the zeros down 1 Dutch B-25 straffing the japs barges ( 2AG damaged, 63 casualties).

Now the QUESTION IS : is the japs evacuating Rabaul ? Seems to be Jan's operative way: evacuating a base when becoming useless, using AG rather than AK easily sinkable. Thus, retiring troops to defend later on another place.

GASMATA
Between 2nd and 9 th may, 4 US APD try to hunt TF of several japs subs , with absolutely NO RESULTS [:@][:(].
Why to have weapons systems if their use is always a failure ??????????
No clue about the japs subs there: laying mines ? did not seen any for now. Evacuating troops ? There are no more japs troops at Gasmata. So what ??

On 6th may, 16 australians Vengeance strike a TF of 4 DD spotted SE of Gili Gili, scoring 2 bombs hits on DD Kuretake. No sign of sinking.

[gladiatt]

TRUCK

On 3rd may, unable to catch the japs TF near Lae, 2 US Subs are sent to Truck, hoping to score something ...

On 4th, SS Runner is hunted all day long by 9 japs PG .

On 8th may, SS Runner intercept the japs TF withdrawing from LAE area... And miss CA Chikuma...[:(];
But, minutes later, SS Albacore (having already sink an AP at Biak on 30th april) shoot at BB Kirishima !
The battleship is hit by 2 torpedoes. No sign of sinking, but should be out of war for some time




teaser for next week: naval attrition will kill the allies hope for victory [:@]

[gladiatt]

Teaser for next update to come in a few days:

THE WEATHER IS MY WORST ENNEMY

Once more bad weather cause lack of coordination in airstrike. Once more, a plan was torn to pieces because only part of my planes took off in the air to attack on the Burma Front
Once more casualties are heavies.

And i don't see any way to handle this [:@][:@][:@]

[gladiatt]

10th - 17th may 1943 CHINA

Yunan

10th may, an allied raid against the japs troops north of Yangtze losse 3 planes to 1 jap. Others raids on 11 may cause very few casualties to the japs.
12th may, a raid of 6 wellington lack escort and loose 3 planes to the japs CAP.

On their side, the japs keep on with a big training party ( 80 to 100 planes each day) on the isolated chineses troops south of Yunan.

On 15th may, japs bombers with heavy escort start harassing my chinese troops that had been thrown out of Yunan, causing heavy casualties ( 400 + ).
On 16th may, a LRCAP of 9 F4U Corsairs of VMO-251 hurt these raids, downing no less than 7 zeros and 14 bombers for 5 corsairs damaged (one op losses)

[gladiatt]

North of Chungking

North of Chungking, 2 japs units cross the Yangtze, breaking the front lines in the moutains, on 15th may, and manage to repulse 2 chinese warbands.
But 3 others still try to defend the lines. Sadly, there is a huge lack of supply for these units, despite the fact that Chengtu is very near.

[gladiatt]

CENTPAC 10th - 17th may 1943

Nukufetau is shelled by 3 US CA on 10th may, destroying 5 patrol planes on ground and scoring 36 hits on runway.

On 14th may, 42 B-24 tangle with a CAP of 3 Rufe. 1 plane is lost on each side.

Shelled once more on 15th may, 6 patrol planes are destroyed on ground, but few hits on the base.
Whyle withdrawing to Pago Pago, CA Pensacola is attacked by 7 bettys from Tarawa. All planes are damaged by Flak and the cruiser escape unharmed, but i swet for a moment...

16th may, another raid with 40 B-24 down a Rufe on CAP for no loss, and score a few 5 hits on runway.


Funafuti
3 raids gathering 110 sorties of B-24 score enough hits on the base to keep it around 50% damages.

Wallis Island
I am building a frowar base here.
On 13th may, 11 Bettys from Tarawa score a bomb hit on an AK.

WEST COAST

10th may, a Jake has spotted one of my convoy only a few hexes away from Los Angeles.
I sent an ASW TF to try to spot and hunt this lurker (cannot be something else than a sub).
But after a new convoy is spotted on 16th may, i still don't locate this pesky jap.

[gladiatt]

BURMA 10th - 17th May 1943

Andaman

This island is raided several times. I usually send a B-24 squadron, rotating between one from Trincomalee and one from Akyab.
The japs CAP used to be a bunch of Nick Ia.

On 12th may, SS KXVIII miss a jap TF , 4MSW+4PC+1APD, and 1 AG wich hit a mine but don't sink !
On 13th may, SS Searaven at last, enter in action. It sink 1 jap PC at dawn, and another one at sunset !

On 17th may, the japs CAP is reinforced with Nick Ib. These planes manage to damage 6 Liberators VI this day.
But the global amount of the week had caused enough damages to the base to keep it at 50% damages.

Rangoon

I still try to keep the airfield closed.
10th may, 36 Liberators VI score 13 hits on the runway, happy not to cross a jap CAP, because there is no escort with them, although it was schedulded.
14th may, 2 new raids face no opposition, 220 sorties of bomber hammer the airfield, and hit also the port.
16th and 17th may, someraids are ordered against Rangoon, but none fly, stuck on ground by bad weather.

Without joke, guys, there had been NO other weather for 1 year and a half but only Thunderstorms or Rain in India/Burma !! [X(][8|].
I tought mooson was between april and october, not between january and january [8|].

Moulmein

HERE THE JAPS AIR ELEMENTALS FIGHT MY PLANES....errr, i mean, bad weather trick me badly [:@].

12th may, 45 B-24 strike at night, without any result: useless.

15th may, a raid turn badly.
First, a sweep schedulded to gather 60 P-38 and 25 P-40 gather only 15 P-38 ! The japs CAP is 6 Jack and 108 Tojo.
Despite the odds, and although loosing 12 planes, my Lightning down 13 Tojo.
One can only imagine the results if all my fighters had flown !
Then came my Heavys. 38 B-17 and 60 B-24 face the jap CAP; my 50 cal gunners know their job, and destroy 10 japs fighters !
But 32 bombers are destroyed, and 40 more damaged.
The result on the base is moderate.

I can't rely on this weather to keep my plans going. I think that i just missed the opportunity to close Moulmein !

[Arstavidios]

Looks like the Japanese is taking some blows.

[gladiatt]

BURMA 10th - 17th may 1943

Irrawaddy front

The artillery dual keep on between british and japanese troups, the allied artillery having the upper hand.
An allied attack with only 254th Tk bde and 7th armored bde fail at 0/1 with 500 casualties on each side, on 11th may.

On 17th may, the jap OOB change !
4 Tanks regiment arrive on the front line. Let's hope my 2 armored bde can keep them at bay.

Now, to resist this new japanese effort, i hope scarcity of supply will help me: no jap AK or AG had been spotted in Rangoon for months. Tactical strikes could help me, but this will reduce my offensive power against the japs airfields.

[gladiatt]

ORIGINAL: Arstavidios

Looks like the Japanese is taking some blows.

Stay tuned, it seem the japanese stike blows against me [8|]