East Wind Gives Me the Chills - Chuck vs. Pat - Allied Side

[ctangus]

Monthly Update

Ship Losses

Allied:

CA - 1
CL - 1
DD - 2
AP/AK - 52 +21 [:(]
TK/AO - 4
SS - 3
Aux - 29 +7, includes in total 10 PT boats

Japanese:

DD - 13 +4
AP/AK - 82 +11
TK/AO - 8
SS - 14 +1
Aux - 25 +3

Plane losses

396 allied vs 374 Japanese. I'll take it. Next month - 1:1 or better!

Summary

Well, I'm still unhappy about Malaya, but overall I'm pleased with my situation.

The Jap invasion bonus is now gone & I still hold over half the DEI (including all of Java, Sumatra & Timor). Some reinforcements have arrived here & major reinforcements are a week or so away.

Manila still holds by a fingernail. The Japanese here have to be pretty beaten up by now. (Those in Malaya too, for that matter.)

China is at worst a quagmire and at best a place to kill tens of thousands of Japanese within the next couple weeks.

Divisional or larger strongpoints are building up at Port Moresby & also in So Pac.

India, though not unassailable, is very strong & can put up a good fight.

Also this month I get F4F4s which will allow me (at least marginally) to improve my carrier air. A lot of ships are also eligible for AA upgrades.

[ctangus]

4/1/42

Waiting for a turn so I'll do a quick update.

So Pac

My intelligence chief, LCDR Bodhi, reported that 15 days ago the South Seas detachment was preparing for an attack on Pago Pago. (Somehow I missed that.) 8 days ago it was reported at Canton Island. I have a full Div, CD guns & AA at Pago Pago - I say bring it on!

SW Pac

The battle over Lae goes well. My planes on sweep flew simultaneously with the planes on escort & AF attack - I don't know that I've seen that before:

Day Air attack on Lae , at 56,90
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 16
Kittyhawk I x 16
Hudson I x 4
Beaufort V-IX x 19
P-40E Warhawk x 71
A-20B Boston x 29
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 21 destroyed 20 A2A, 1 on the ground
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged Per intel screen, actually 7
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged Per intel screen, actually 3
P-40E Warhawk: 9 destroyed, 13 damaged +1 ops loss
Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

Total aircraft losses for the day were 29 allied vs 31 Japanese. I can't keep losing 10 P-40Es a day forever, but I'm happy with the result. The orders remain mostly the same for tomorrow - hopefully I'll get more hits against the airbase.

DEI

The TF that I thought was heading towards Kendari actually landed in the base to the NW. Most of my air was grounded by weather but of 2 SBDs that flew, 1 put a 1000 lb bomb into DD Shikinami. There was no CAP over the TF - hopefully I'll cause some serious damage tomorrow. Pic attached.

China

In the north my troops arrived at Chengting & I've ordered a shock attack. I'm not optimistic, however, as some Japanese reinforcements just arrived & another unit is on its way.

In the south I've ordered the first deliberate attack against Nanchang. It will certainly give me a better idea of what resistence to expect & it will hopefully also bring the forts down a little.

[ctangus]

4/2 - 4/3/42

SW Pac

On the 2nd there was no resistance against my raid against Lae. However, Betties & Nells attacked Port Moresby from Rabaul (without much result). 19 Zeros were on escort so I put my Kittyhawks & P-40Es onto 90% cap. Ouch!

04/03/42
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 54,93
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 86 Where did that many come from?
G3M Nell x 12
G4M1 Betty x 49
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 19
P-40E Warhawk x 41
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 13 destroyed, 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 17 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 13 destroyed, 15 damaged
Wirraway: 1 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6

Total aircraft losses for the day were 45 allied vs 24 Japanese.

There's now 25 damaged P-40s here. I'm going to keep up the fight another day or two as I don't want to lose them on the ground without a fight. I've added some Hurricanes into the mix for tomorrow.

DEI

Presumably due to weather, none of my aircraft in the Celebes take off & the nearby Japanese shipping is escaping unscathed.

A Jap AP hits a mine at Balikpapan & SS Swordfish successfully torpedos an AK 120 miles W of Jolo.

At Pontianak in Borneo 2 Dutch PT boats were sunk by a weak surface combat TF. I've ordered a counter-attack (2 days out).

Malaya

Sigint reports 64 Japanese ships at Singapore & recon reports only about 4 zeros on CAP. I've been waiting for the weather to clear a little. Tomorrow 64 4Es will port attack.

China

In the north my shock attack at Chengting failed (as expected, if not hoped.) I'm moving some troops in order to clear a retreat path for them, but I've mostly resigned myself to losing 3 Chinese Corps. [:(]

Better news in the south, however. On the 3rd my troops near Hankow route a Japanese tank regiment. And my first attack against Nanchang was launched on the 2nd:

04/02/42
Ground combat at Nanchang
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 252910 troops, 1879 guns, 83 vehicles, Assault Value = 7964
Defending force 104616 troops, 1288 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 2036
Allied max assault: 7375 - adjusted assault: 4256
Japanese max defense: 2201 - adjusted defense: 2798
Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2 Good news
Japanese ground losses:
2285 casualties reported
Guns lost 87
Vehicles lost 1
Allied ground losses:
7313 casualties reported
Guns lost 111
Vehicles lost 10

I'm still waiting for more food & ammo to be delivered to the front before I attack again.

[Rob Brennan UK]

Good luck with the port attack [;)], might catch some goodies in there if you are lucky.

[ctangus]

Rob I think you gave me good karma. The raid didn't fly on the 4th (before you posted) but it did on the 5th (after you posted). [:)] It didn't catch any big fish but I'm still considering it a success.

4/4 - 4/5/42

Nothing decisive happening, but a lot of little interesting things are.

So Pac/SW Pac

A base force I forgot about (oops) starts unloading at Pago Pago.

S-44 sinks a barge with a single 4" round in the Slot.

No further airraids against Port Moresby (for now at least). I'm not sure why - I think my opponent had me on the ropes there.

DEI

This was the most interesting theater over the last couple days.

The Lexington air group catches the TF departing from Pomala. Not only do I provide another habitat for the exotic fish of the Banda Sea, but it's also interesting 'cause there's a (small) Wildcat vs. Zero battle:

04/04/42
Day Air attack on TF, near Butung Island at 33,72
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 12
SBD Dauntless x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Shikinami, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage Sinks

O24 puts a torp in a loaded troop ship near Mersing. KXV attacks but misses a barge near Singkawing.

As mentioned, my Batavia-based port attack takes off:

04/05/42
Day Air attack on Singapore , at 22,51
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 8
Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 15
B-17E Fortress x 42
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 10 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-17C Fortress: 5 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 26 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP Tatuha Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kyushu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PG Chohakusan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kenshin Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Yamakisan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AS Tsukushi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Manzyu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Tatsuwa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
291 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
35 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 15000 feet

Certainly none will sink but most probably won't be useful for a while, either. I'll take it.

However, the flak was brutal & I have almost 30 damage 4Es on the ground at Batavia. I'm flying as much CAP as I can (I expect a counter-strike), but I also have the 7th AIF Div unloading at Tjilitjap and I want to protect that. And, it looks like an invasion is heading towards Palembang so I need to escort the Martins I put onto naval attack. See pic.

I was more prepared for the next Japanese moves to be in the DEI to be in the south. A Dutch cruiser TF that was in Koepang has been ordered north. Force Z and my CVs will probably stay uncommitted until Java is invaded.

I didn't get as much into Palembang as I wanted, but I have 2 battalions (about 120 AV) and 3 base forces (prepare those demolition charges, guys!)

Almost forgot - there was a little surface action too:

04/05/42
Night Time Surface Combat, near Pontianak at 24,57
Japanese Ships
DD Arashi
MSW Banshu Maru #52
MSW Banshu Maru #56, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage Sinks
PG Eiko Maru, Shell hits 2
PG Muro Maru
PG Sozan Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
Allied Ships
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 2
DD Van Ghent

It appears that troops will be unloading here soon, too.

A bunch of random air strikes put 1 bomb into a Jap AP at Balikpapan.

Burma

I launched a combined sweep/airfield attack against Central Burma:

04/05/42
Day Air attack on Taung Gyi , at 33,31
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 20
Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 16
Buffalo I x 10
Hurricane IIb x 60
F.K.51 x 3
Blenheim I x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed Definitely different than stock
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
Airbase hits 1

India

At the request of the Admiralty a CL & 2 DDs are returned to the Atlantic. I have 2400 or so PPs worth of ground units I still consider vital to free up. After that I'll probably tell the Admiralty to bugger off. There's also only 1 S-Class destroyer left in theater. I'll send that back when requested but won't send any of the more modern ones.

China

The next attack at Nanchang goes in:

04/05/42
Ground combat at Nanchang
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 244246 troops, 1570 guns, 68 vehicles, Assault Value = 7314
Defending force 102113 troops, 1178 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 1956
Allied max assault: 6787 - adjusted assault: 3494
Japanese max defense: 2109 - adjusted defense: 2452
Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1
Japanese ground losses:
2176 casualties reported
Guns lost 64
Allied ground losses:
9501 casualties reported
Guns lost 264
Vehicles lost 16

Another fort reduction - yea! I'm glad I sent the Marines. However the overall odds were down from 1.51:1 to 1.42:1, despite an earlier fort reduction. Hopefully I'll still take the city in the next week or so, but it might take most of the month.

[ctangus]

4/6/42

First night in ages I don't have at least one turn from this or my other game. [:(] Well, Pat & I got a turn done this am so I'll do another update. Most the action is in the DEI.

Cent Pac

DMS Lamberton, hit by a sub torp about a week ago, finally succumbs a mere 120 miles from Pearl Harbor. [:(]

So Pac/SW Pac

No signs of KB for quite a while now. 2 weeks? 3? I'll have to look back. Also, there have been no airraids against PM for 3 days. One group of B-17s is island-hopping to this theater - slowly to minimize ops losses. Another arrives on the West Coast in 8 days.

DEI

First, some more sub action. KIV suffers a near-miss from a Jap destroyer near Mersing. Off Singkawing KX sinks a barge with two 88mm shells. KIX attacks but misses an AP near Manado.

As expected, a counterraid was sent against Batavia where I have damaged 4Es on the ground. But it came unescorted:

04/06/42
Day Air attack on Batavia , at 20,60
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 38
G4M1 Betty x 23
Allied aircraft
Hawk 75A x 12
Brewster 339D x 16
P-40E Warhawk x 17
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 10 destroyed, 18 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed, 13 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hawk 75A: 4 damaged
Brewster 339D: 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 7 damaged
Runway hits 4

I'll take that! Total air losses for the day were 10 allied vs 36 Japanese. Works for me. [:)] I'd love to strike back & try to destroy some of those damaged planes on the ground, but I don't have the available resources. Particularly since -

A Jap invasion TF is now 60 miles off Palembang. Additionally, 5 BBs & 3 CAs are spotted at Singapore - I expect a bombardment tonight.

122 AV, 6+ forts, some (2) CD guns from a Royal Navy BF, (only) 90 mines, everyone 100% prepped, no more Jap invasion bonus. Depending on how much force Pat brings, I might hold here a week or two. I'd love to hold for the rest of the month.

The majority of the 7th AIF Div has fully unloaded at Tjilitjap and the rest is two days out.

Attached is a pic of the area, including my defense plan of Java. Most of the Java units are in Soerabaja recovering from malaria and flirting with Indonesian girls. I'll likely send them to their final defensive positions once Palembang falls. I'm still debating if I should send the 2nd UK Div - it's currently at Madras with enough APs to ship it if I want.

Burma

The fight over Central Burma, even yesterday, is a little more in my favor today:

Day Air attack on Taung Gyi , at 33,31
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 15
Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 15
Hurricane IIb x 71
F.K.51 x 2
Blenheim I x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Mohawk IV: 2 damaged
Hurricane IIb: 3 destroyed, 12 damaged
Blenheim I: 3 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1

[ctangus]

China

China gets its own post because I'm not sophisticated enough to put multiple pictures into a single post.

The main news here is that Japanese keep advancing from Hankow against my blocking force in the swamps. They're taking a world of hurt crossing the river. Most recently:

Ground combat at 48,36
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 12179 troops, 219 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 227
Defending force 108162 troops, 804 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2917
Japanese max assault: 256 - adjusted assault: 0
Allied max defense: 2931 - adjusted defense: 3040
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
3690 casualties reported
Guns lost 91
Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

It's not all good as they've now twice cancelled movement orders I had to move a secondary blocking force into Kiukiang. If I can do that, I can force the garrison at Nanchang SE and probably force multiple retreats.

The picture will helpfully show it better than I can explain it:

[ctangus]

4/7 - 4/8/42

Manila Falls. Sumatra's invaded. Some sub action.

South Pac

I cleverly gather the intelligence that Bettys are now based on Canton Island:

04/07/42
Day Air attack on TF, near Pago Pago at 96,113
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged
Allied Ships
APD McKean, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD Gregory, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Sinks
APD Little, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Could've been worse - I have a RCT unloading 120 miles away at Savaii. P-39s are now on CAP. It's outside Zero range so they should either deter a attack or at least do well against any low-flying Bettys.

DEI

Again, this is where most the action is.

For the last 2 days, the 5th Japanese Div (some of the conquerors of Singapore) has been unloading at Palembang. No engineers or support troops. I think I can hold here for a while but I'm not certain. I know I'd like to keep those resources/oil from producing for a while.

Palembang's also been bombarded for 2 nights straight by a 4 BB TF. I think they'll be gone tonight & will try to sneak in a Dutch light cruiser.

Pontianak falls and a Royal Navy base force goes into captivity.

I do have some minor success in hitting back. A Jap TK hits a mine at Jolo. A DD hits a mine at Palembang. Also at Palembang SS Trusty puts a torp into an AK (with troops). At Pontianak KX torpedos an AP, but is subsequently sunk by the escort. There were also a couple bombs into transports around the area.

There was more air action, too. On the 8th an unescorted Sally strike against Batavia was slaughtered, with 7 shot down. Then there was this:

04/08/42
Day Air attack on Batavia , at 20,60
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
G3M Nell x 23
G4M1 Betty x 18
Allied aircraft
Hawk 75A x 6
Brewster 339D x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
G3M Nell: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hawk 75A: 3 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6

Air losses for the 8th were 18 allied vs 20 Japanese. I can't sustain the P-40 losses that I'm taking forever, but I'm happy with the attrition rate over the last few days.

Burma

There seems to be a Jap offensive against Lashio. More later.

China

More ammo has gotten to the front so the next attack against Nanchang will go in tomorrow.

Phil

Manila falls on April 7th. While a setback I'm happy with how long it's lasted. There's still a pocket of troops for the Japs to clear up on Bataan.

Japan

SS Finback puts two 4-inch shells into an AP 180 miles from Osaka.

[ctangus]

4/9/42

Quick update, 'cause there's good news today! (Despite being slaughtered in the air.)

China

Operation Rice Bowl is a success and 100,000 Japanese scurry away:

04/09/42
Ground combat at Nanchang
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 234768 troops, 1270 guns, 47 vehicles, Assault Value = 6610
Defending force 99480 troops, 1054 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 1873
Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 0
Allied max assault: 6253 - adjusted assault: 3897
Japanese max defense: 2040 - adjusted defense: 1833
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Nanchang base !!!
Japanese ground losses:
4252 casualties reported
Guns lost 130
Vehicles lost 1
Allied ground losses:
7252 casualties reported
Guns lost 210
Vehicles lost 15
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

8300 supply, 50 working HI & 100 working resources are captured. I also score 172 ground points - that's equivalent to about 3/4 of a Japanese Division.

I'm starting to consider further offensives but I'll probably bunker down for a couple months, monitor the supply situation & see how my opponent reacts.

DEI

The brave defenders of Palembang hold their ground with ease:

04/09/42
Ground combat at Palembang
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 18837 troops, 161 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 346
Defending force 10722 troops, 83 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 130
Japanese max assault: 608 - adjusted assault: 126
Allied max defense: 128 - adjusted defense: 967
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 6)
Japanese ground losses:
625 casualties reported
Guns lost 10
Vehicles lost 1
Allied ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

He'll need to reinforce. Since I'll be buying more time in Sumatra, I've embarked the 2nd UK Div to reinforce Java.

Elsewhere

More sub action, including 2 attacks (1 successful) near Japan. 3 Jap transports hit mines & 1 sinks. Large air battles over both Batavia & Port Moresby. I got the short end of the stick today, but I'm still pleased with the zero losses:

[Rob Brennan UK]

Happy to be of service as a lucky talisman [:D]. Also rice bowl was a major success ! .. the retreat will have cost him 20-25% more troops dead for good. looks like the japanese land deathstar has had a reveral of fortunes [;)]

good luck

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK
looks like the japanese land deathstar has had a reveral of fortunes [;)]

Yep. [:)] I also think that Chinese troops are often underappreciated. Well, back to the war:

4/10 - 4/11/42

Cent Pac/North Pac

A Jap AK hits a mine at Canton Island & SS Gato puts 4 shells into another AK 60 miles off the coast of Japan. (Torps were duds, though.)

So Pac/SW Pac

Ouch! -

04/10/42
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 54,93
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 78
G3M Nell x 13
G4M1 Betty x 36
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 9 Yes I was getting desparate
Hurricane IIb x 7
Kittyhawk I x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 8 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 8 destroyed
Hurricane IIb: 6 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 5 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 1 destroyed
Hudson I: 1 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 1 destroyed
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 9

Total air losses on the 10th were 26 Japanese to 42 allied. On the 11th it was 16 Japanese to 20 allied.

I'm withdrawing for now but will be back in early May. By then I can rebuild my units, the zero bonus will be gone, PM airfield will be up to 5 & I can have 2 B-17 groups on station.

DEI

Japanese land at Makassar. Mines, a successful sub attack & LBA sink 1 AP, and damage 2 APs and a DD.

We also had another small Wildcat vs Zero battle:

04/11/42
Day Air attack on TF, near Makassar at 30,70
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
SBD Dauntless x 28
Brewster 339D x 5
T.IVa x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged Fog of War - only 2 shot down
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 4 damaged Again Fog of War - 2 shot down
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
T.IVa: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP Yamagata Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ayanami
AP Kuroshio Maru
AP Taibun Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Uranami, Bomb hits 1, on fire

I can't hold here, however. The batallion that starts here was long ago shipped to Kendari.

There was also some other minor air & sub action, but nothing of consequence.

Sigint reports Japanese prepping to attack both Dili & Batavia.

Burma

The Japanese 33rd Division had advanced to the hex between Mandalay & Lashio, but has now withdrawn again. ???

There's also been some minor air combat. Tomorrow I'm ordering a large sweep.

China

Depending on what my opponent does, this theater will likely be quiet for a couple months at least. My staff is starting to study further offensive moves, however. Both Operation Whistling Dixie and Operation Choo Choo are in planning stages.

There are 2 small enemy units in the clear near Canton that I should route tomorrow.

[VSWG]

Don't count on your engineers destroying the oil wells at Palembang. I had 5 full base at Palembang when it fell: 0 damage to the oil and resource centers...

[ctangus]

Yea, I noticed that in your AAR. [:(] I'm not counting on it - hoping is the more appropriate word.

Though in a weird way I don't want the engineers to completely trash the place either. I had one game end 2 or 3 turns after Balikpapan was taken by my opponent with 100% damage.

[ctangus]

4/12 - 4/13/42

Quieting down a little.

DEI

A couple more Jap transports sink from earlier damage. More troops unload at Palembang & elements of the Japanese 5th Engineer Rgt are identified.

The waters near Tenimbar & Kai are getting dangerous. Off Tenimbar - one AP was sunk and another damaged by Jap LBA, with a good 50% or so of an Aussie base destroyed. Off Kai an AK was damaged. Both bases are low on supply.

Makassar falls. The only further damage to the enemy was one mine hit against an AP. Baby KB had been supporting this, but is now withdrawing towards the Phillipines.

In the sub war, O16 put two torps into a loaded AP off Palembang. Off Singapore Sealion attacked 2 different transports but missed the first and had duds hit the second.

Burma/India

Air battle over Imphal. On the 12th:

Day Air attack on Imphal , at 34,26
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 28
H6K4 Mavis x 6
Ki-49 Helen x 81
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 14 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 6 destroyed, 6 damaged
Blenheim IV: 3 destroyed
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 9

It wasn't in my favor, but wasn't disastrous either. I reinforced a little for the 13th:

04/13/42
Day Air attack on Imphal , at 34,26
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
H6K4 Mavis x 3
Ki-49 Helen x 80
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 13
Hurricane IIb x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 12 destroyed, 1 damaged Nice!
H6K4 Mavis: 3 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 16 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
Hurricane IIb: 3 destroyed, 11 damaged
Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1

I've destroyed 71 Zeros in A2A combat so far this month. Compared to 33 total in the war before April.

There also seems to be a Japanese drive overland towards Akyab, with at least one division. I currently have 2 base forces but no combat units there. I haven't decided yet if I should contest it. It would be good to tie up a division + there for a while, but to do so I'd have to weaken other areas I consider more vital. Hmmm... Thoughts welcome. Pic attached.



China

On the 12th, near Canton, I routed a couple more small Jap units.

I'd been planning to rest for a while, but am now starting to second-guess myself. I have the initiative in this theater currently and it might be wise to stay on the offensive while I do. I might have a good opportunity to launch Operation Choo Choo (clearing the railline). I'll post a pic when I have a little more time.

Supplies are doing well - they're up 35+K since the beginning of the month despite heavy combat.

[VSWG]

Got a house rule against landing in non-dot hexes? If not and you do decide to reinforce it, you could also cut the supply path for the 55th with a para drop or a naval invasion on the trail. It would force him to supply Akyab via air and sea - good opportunities to attrit his forces.

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: VSWG

Got a house rule against landing in non-dot hexes?

No, but Pat hasn't done that against me, either. He probably could have made Luzon fall a month or more earlier if he had. So I won't do that. (There's certain issues with the game, like this one, I don't care too much about one way or the other. But I think it's only fair to follow my opponent's lead.)

If not and you do decide to reinforce it, you could also cut the supply path for the 55th with a para drop or a naval invasion on the trail. It would force him to supply Akyab via air and sea - good opportunities to attrit his forces.

Despite what I just said, that's a good idea. Thanks! I could also fly something into Magwe & march it to the southwest. The 251st UK Brigade arrives in a month and could replace something currently on map that I'd use for this. I'll think it over for a few turns...

[ctangus]

4/14/42

In truth a boring turn, but I'm starting to plan major counter-offensives.

DEI

SS KIV puts a torpedo into a patrol boat off Palembang.

Burma

The only air combat of the day was a typically high-casualty Nik-mod result:

Day Air attack on Taung Gyi , at 33,31
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 8
Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 7
Buffalo I x 14
Hurricane IIb x 31
F.K.51 x 1
Blenheim I x 9
P-40E Warhawk x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Blenheim I: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 1

China

We trade bombardments in a few locations. I'm still contemplating launching Operation Choo Choo soon.

War Plan Fuschia

My planning staff have informed me that the allies already have a level 9 airfield (Nanchang) within B-29 range of most of the Japanese Home Islands. To utilize it as such, a SLOC would need to be open to supply China.

The goal would be to have Hong Kong opened as a port by April '44 when B-29s come into production. Additionally, a short line-of-communication through Cent Pac would need to be established. I'd also have to take most/all of the Marianas.

The So Pac & Burma theaters would be backwaters. I'd keep them active merely in an effort to attrit Japanese forces and draw in ground forces that I'd later surround.

In the short-term I would need to close Amboina (in order to safely re-supply Tenimbar & Kai - launching points for a drive against the Vogelkep Peninsula [NW New Guinea]). Also I'd need to keep PM secure & close Lae, so that the Torres Strait was safe for me.

Map below. I'm far from decided, but I'd like to have a firm plan in mind before the 1st USMC Div arrives in about a month. I had been planning on using that div defensively in Samoa, but that area seems safe now & I could alternatively use it against Midway, Canton Island, or some base(s) in the Vogelkep.

[ctangus]

More tonight when I do the turn. [8D] (I had to take a break from work to see how I did.)

04/17/42
Day Air attack on TF, near Palembang at 20,55
Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 17
Albacore x 18
Martlet II x 17
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14
SBD Dauntless x 32
Swordfish x 13
TBD Devastator x 18
Allied aircraft losses
Albacore: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 12 damaged
Swordfish: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
TBD Devastator: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Bomb hits 4, on fire
BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire
BB Kongo, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Ise, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CA Myoko
CA Aoba, Torpedo hits 1

[Rob Brennan UK]

I do like using the british CV's in that manner too [;)]. Looks like the ISE is going glug-glug soon. don't know why but japanese aircrew are very reluctant to fly overland ( i.e over sumatra/java when in borneo) maybe they fear the natives are cannibals [:D].

As to akyab , i like VSWG's suggestion. whats your transport capacity in india now? i'd be tempted to fly in a regiment to akyab if the forts are ok i.e 3+ else i think you would get kicked out regardless if thats a full div coming along. He;s got no advance toward Mandalay i noticed either so if you block akyab you might be able to hold burma permanently fingers crossed.

I also like the late war approach you have, looks to be differant from history and i've always wondered if an advance up from darwin is possible on a CHS map with the dire transport network up there compared to stock.

Have fun

[VSWG]

[:D] Did my PBEM infiltrate yours?

You almost outperformed my Canton Island battle... almost... [:'(]

Got some subs in the area?