Hi all,
Another day's frenetic action in India.
Surprisingly Admiral Dadman did not order a full retreat and we had another round of intense air combat today.
BAd weather prevented all CV borne operations in the morning but cleared by afternoon. It started off with a funny air raid by
CS Chiyoda's Jakes escorted by Zeroes (I forgot to turn off the Jakes from Naval attack LOL):
Day Air attack on TF at 17,9
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
E13A1 Jake x 14
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
E13A1 Jake: 4 destroyed, 6 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CV Illustrious
CL Birmingham
CL Glasgow
A couple of large strikes were then launched against my screening CVE force. They were opoorly escorted though and my Zeroes on CAP had a field day in shooting down 60 x SBD, 5 x TBF and 5 x Wildcat for the loss of 3 x Zeroes. There were too many enemy bombers though and the following were hit:
CVE
Unyo - 1 x bomb - 14 SYS
CVE
Hosho - 12 x bombs - 94/89/39. Will not make Panaji but will try.
CVE
Chuyo - 1 x torpedo - 30 SYS
CVE
Taiyo - 7 x bombs and 2 torpedoes - SUNK
You may think not good but i'm happy with this. My screening force did it's force whilst KB launched 1/3 of it's planes against
CV Wasp:
Day Air attack on TF at 17,10
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 90
D3A Val x 43
B5N Kate x 39
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 17
F4F-4 Wildcat x 38
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 28 destroyed, 2 damaged
D3A Val: 9 destroyed, 20 damaged
B5N Kate: 5 destroyed, 9 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 17 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 23 destroyed
Allied Ships
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 14, on fire, heavy damage
BB North Carolina, Bomb hits 4
A fragmented raid got smashed but put a bomb into
CV Enterprise:
Day Air attack on TF at 17,10
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
D3A Val x 19
B5N Kate x 21
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 17
F4F-4 Wildcat x 38
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
D3A Val: 17 destroyed
B5N Kate: 9 destroyed, 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 damaged
Allied Ships
CLAA Atlanta
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 1
Wasp was not confirmed sunk but I doubt she'll make it. This is it gentleman. The time for Dadman to either stand or run back to Karachi. I hope he stands since my plan has goen OK so far - attrite with LBA (heavy loss but has depleted his fighters), CVE decoy force (packed with Zeroes and worked a treat in shooting down 70 enemy planes for 3 losses) and now KB is at 80% capacity and will move 240 miles NE tomorrow.
At the same time i've order 3 x SC TF to move on Madras to shell the place and search for any enemy shipping in case he decides to skulk there.
BANZAI!! BANZAI!! BANZAI!!
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Progress was also made on the ground today. Dimapur was taken by 5 x Division against stout enemy resistance:
Ground combat at Dimapur
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 106465 troops, 915 guns, 155 vehicles, Assault Value = 2124
Defending force 31771 troops, 190 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 439
Japanese max assault: 1924 - adjusted assault: 1486
Allied max defense: 432 - adjusted defense: 671
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Dimapur base !!!
Japanese ground losses:
2039 casualties reported
Guns lost 52
Vehicles lost 3
Allied ground losses:
864 casualties reported
Guns lost 29
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
We rest for a day or 2 before advancing to the NW against the enemy.
Amazingly my Madras forces are still in supply and fighting hard! Help is on the way lads hold on. I am moving 35,000 tonnes of supply from Bombay (asuming I win the CV battle and gain control of the seas there again). LCU's are also moving through South China Sea/Singapore area towards Bombay.
I feel slightly happier with India again now since I have 600 AV south of Madras with more arriving all of the time. Madras is safe (for now at least). I have taken Dimapur androuted the enemy (3 more new LCU's the the NW as well though). Thus far in the sea battle:
CV Hornet - Sunk
CV Wasp - A wreck
CV Lexington - torpedo hit
CV Indomitable - torpedo hit
CV Enterprise - bomb hit.
In return:
CVE Unyo - 1 x bomb
CVE Hosho - Will sink
CVE Chuyo - 1 x torpedo
CVE Taiyo - Sunk
