VICTORY AT SEA: CHS 158;sjohnson(J)vs Spruance(A)

[racndoc]

DECEMBER 28TH-29TH, 1942


SEAC:

The RAF and USAAF heavy bombers based at Mandalay excecute another high altitude raid on Hanoi at 31,000 feet. This time we send 2 squadrons of P-38Gs along on a sweep at 30,000 feet hoping to knock out the Tojos. Unfortunately our P-38s get get into a huge dogfight with the entire CAP flying over Hanoi:

Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
A6M3a Zero x 29
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 37
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 11
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 1
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 21

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 147
P-38G Lightning x 48
B-17E Fortress x 10
B-24D Liberator x 64

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 18 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 15 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 19 destroyed, 10 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 17 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
247 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 18


Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
A6M3a Zero x 28
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 27
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 8
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 3
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 9

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 128
P-38G Lightning x 19
B-17E Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 47

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 6 destroyed, 10 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 2 damaged
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 15 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported

Runway hits 13


29 P-38Gs are lost in the sweep but Japanese losses both on the ground and during A2A total 62 AC....losses include 31 Tojos, 10 Nick KAIas, 1 NickKAIb(first time Ive seen these planes in combat....better look up their stats), 7 A6M3as, 5 A6m2s, 6 Tonys, 6 B-24Ds and a single Liberator III(thse Liberators seem to take fewer losses than all my other B-17s and B-24s).




SOUTH PACIFIC:

7TH Air Force heavy bombers based at Thursday Island hit Hollandia for the first time:

Day Air attack on Hollandia , at 52,81

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 7
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 24

Allied aircraft
PB2Y Coronado x 4
B-24D Liberator x 199

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 2 destroyed, 21 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 56 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
1031 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 44


Hollandia....the only operational Japanese level 4 airfield in the South Pacific is now 41% damaged.


Meanwhile, 5th Air Force heavies based at Lunga continue to keep Rabaul suppressed:

Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 62,90


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 3
B-24D Liberator x 62


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 7 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
309 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 24


Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 62,90


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 4
B-24D Liberator x 55


Allied aircraft losses
F-5A Lightning: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
151 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 50




With complete air superiority over the Solomon Sea, the Bismarck Sea and the Coral Sea for over a month, Japan has been moving men and materiel around his isolated bases with barge TFs. The Allies premier "barge buster" so far has been the Beaufighter VIC fighterbomber with its long 540 mile range. Today they find several barge TFs approaching Rabaul:

Day Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 62,90


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 14


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-5051, Shell hits 28, Bomb hits 9, heavy damage


Day Air attack on TF at 61,89


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 10


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-5031, Shell hits 4
AG AG-5142, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-5188, on fire, heavy damage


Day Air attack on TF at 61,89


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 2


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-5050, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Green Island has just been enlarged to a level 3 airfield. With 3 barge TFs approaching Rabaul, 32 Beaufighter VICs and 100 P-39D "barge busters" are staged into Green Island.

[racndoc]

DECEMBER 31ST, 1942


Ive attached a map of the current situation as we close out 1942. The red line shows the maximum expansion of the Japanese empire which was reached around August 1942. It also show the advance of current Allied offensives in Australia, the Solomons and Papua/New Guinea.

Its hard to believe that Japan controlled over half of Australia at one time.


7th Air Force closed out 1942 with another massive B-24 raid on Hollandia....now the only Betty capable airfield in the South Pacific (other than Rabaul ) has 80% damage.....the offensive in New Guinea can now go forward. The airfield at Buna becomes operational today and 50 Allied fighters are immediately staged in to cover the transports currently unloading there.

The "Barge Busters" at Green Island get a few licks in on the AGs approaching Rabaul:

Day Air attack on TF at 61,88


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-2068, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-2066
AG AG-2067, Shell hits 12


Day Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 62,90


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 9
P-39D Airacobra x 5


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-5188, Shell hits 8, heavy damage
AG AG-5048, Shell hits 4


Day Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 62,90


Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 5


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-2082, heavy damage
AG AG-5052


Day Air attack on TF, near Kavieng at 62,88


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 23
P-400 Airacobra x 20


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-2063, Shell hits 24, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-2059, Shell hits 4
AG AG-2066, Shell hits 32, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

[racndoc]

JANUARY 1ST-4TH, 1943


SWPAC:

Covered by LRCAP flying from Buin and Kiriwina and 8 Allied CVs, the US Army stages its largest amphibious assault of the war as the 7th and 40th Divisions storm ashore at Lae:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/03/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Lae, at 56,90

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma
BB Idaho
BB New Mexico

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported

Runway hits 27
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1012 troops unloading over beach at Lae, 56,90


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1132 troops unloading over beach at Lae, 56,90



Allied ground losses:
771 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1132 troops unloading over beach at Lae, 56,90



Allied ground losses:
619 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1171 troops unloading over beach at Lae, 56,90



Allied ground losses:
41 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1176 troops unloading over beach at Lae, 56,90



Allied ground losses:
26 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1190 troops unloading over beach at Lae, 56,90



Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1200 troops unloading over beach at Lae, 56,90



Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1202 troops unloading over beach at Lae, 56,90



Allied ground losses:
41 casualties reported



I came in here with overkill. Recon had shown over 6000 IJA troops here for months. My LRCAP has been intercepting Tabbys over Lae and recon now shows only 1200 IJA troops so Japan got nervous about the noose tightening around the Solomon Sea and has been using her transport AC to withdraw troops.... but I had to be prepared for the eventuality that Japan would use her transport AC to reinforce Lae during the invasion.....so I prepped the 2 divisions and an Army and corps HQ for 3 months just in case. Lae has enormous importance strategically.....not only can it be built up into a level 7 airfield but it dominates the Solomon and Bismarck Seas and will allow the Allies to shut down the Jap airfield at Admiralty Island and project airpower nearly over half of all New Guinea.

Buna is now a level 2 airfield and LRCAP flies from here and Kiriwina to protect the invasion TFs.

Engineers also go ashore at Merauke as we will build that up into a level 4 airfield in the battle for air supremacy over New Guinea.



SOPAC:

Things momentarily are relatively quiet here but the Beaufighter VICs at Green Island continue to bust up Jap barges at rabaul and Kavieng:

Day Air attack on TF, near Kavieng at 62,88

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 14

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-2067, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-2064, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-2065
AG AG-5052, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Day Air attack on TF at 63,90


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 13


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-2059, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-5087



AUSTRALIA:

The Australian 1st Army launches its first assault at Tennant Creek and it is exceptionally bloody:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tennant Creek

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 179644 troops, 2000 guns, 493 vehicles, Assault Value =
4123

Defending force 88619 troops, 484 guns, 239 vehicles, Assault Value =
1764

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied max assault: 3871 - adjusted assault: 2323

Japanese max defense: 1874 - adjusted defense: 2250

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2


Japanese ground losses:
3640 casualties reported
Guns lost 96
Vehicles lost 6

Allied ground losses:
8143 casualties reported
Guns lost 244
Vehicles lost 41


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ground combat at Tennant Creek

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 167761 troops, 1704 guns, 377 vehicles, Assault Value =
3427

Defending force 83599 troops, 370 guns, 231 vehicles, Assault Value =
1613

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied max assault: 2140 - adjusted assault: 1133

Japanese max defense: 1498 - adjusted defense: 1290

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 1)


Japanese ground losses:
3450 casualties reported
Guns lost 76
Vehicles lost 10

Allied ground losses:
1987 casualties reported
Guns lost 65
Vehicles lost 36


The fortifications are reduced to level 1 but the losses are unacceptable.....guess we will just need to wait until we can bring up the massed artillery to turn this into a more even battle of attrition.

[racndoc]

JANUARY 5TH-10TH, 1942



MALAYA:

Japan continues to wear down the defenses at Singapore with a couple of deliberate assaults:

Ground combat at Singapore

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36728 troops, 52 guns, 186 vehicles, Assault Value =
573

Defending force 44266 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 587

Japanese max assault: 532 - adjusted assault: 406

Allied max defense: 523 - adjusted defense: 113

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3


Japanese ground losses:
1438 casualties reported
Guns lost 19
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
893 casualties reported



Ground combat at Singapore

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34728 troops, 31 guns, 184 vehicles, Assault Value =
468

Defending force 41792 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 528

Japanese max assault: 409 - adjusted assault: 329

Allied max defense: 465 - adjusted defense: 91

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2


Japanese ground losses:
1116 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 7

Allied ground losses:
486 casualties reported


The fortifications are reduced to level 2 at Singapore.....the end is near.



AUSTRALIA:

Stalemate at Tennant Creek as Japan has reinforced:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tennant Creek

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4830 troops, 146 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2470

Defending force 174181 troops, 1634 guns, 506 vehicles, Assault Value =
3393



Allied ground losses:
175 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tennant Creek

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 149373 troops, 1552 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value =
3392

Defending force 125742 troops, 599 guns, 239 vehicles, Assault Value =
2470


Japanese ground losses:
331 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Our corps artillery will arrive during the next week and that should improve our attrition effort....we stage airfield attacks every couple days to keep Japan from entrenching here.



SOPAC:

Buka and Green Island are now level 4 airfields. Subs are spotted in port at Rabaul and are hammered by the medium bombers:

Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 62,90


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 43
A-29 Hudson x 15
P-38F Lightning x 21


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
A-29 Hudson: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
SS I-5, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
SS I-123, Bomb hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
182 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Port supply hits 7


Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 62,90


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 39
A-29 Hudson x 12
P-38F Lightning x 21


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
A-29 Hudson: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
SS I-123, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
SS I-5, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port hits 3
Port supply hits 1


Beuafighter VICs based at Green Island continue to pound the Jap barge TFs:

Day Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 62,90


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 41


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-2068, Shell hits 12, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-2082, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-110, Shell hits 24, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Day Air attack on TF at 60,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 2

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-5088, Shell hits 4

Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Beaufighter VIC attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Emirau Island at 61,86


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 38


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-2051, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-2054, Shell hits 8, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-5188, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


The 1st & 2nd USMC Divisions as well as Army and Corps HQs had been prepped for Buin for the last month and a half. With SOPAC controlling 2 bases in the southern Solomons, 2 bases in the central Solomons and 2 bases in the northern Solomons the invasion of Buin is cancelled. Instead, SOPAC will capture and build 2 bases farther forward on New Britain itself to help suppress the Jap airfield on the Admiralty Islands and control the Bismarck Sea.

6 USN CVs, 4 USN CVEs and 2 RN CVs cover the withdrawal of Seabee formations from Green and Buka Islands for further duty on New Guinea.



SWPAC:

Lae has been captured and is now a level 3 airfield as is Kiriwina Island. Goodenough Island had been captured but is now so far behind the front lines that the airfield development here has been cancelled.

Finschafen and Salamaua convert to SWPAC control thru osmosis.

I spent several months building up supply and fuel levels at Noumea, Luganville, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane before launching the twin SOPAC and SWPAC offensives in mid September. Now after huge advances across the Solomons and eastern New Guinea Allied fuel and supply levels have been largely exhausted...especially fuel. The 8 Allied Cvs, 4 CVEs, 13 BBs and all the support ships suck up 150,000 fuel points every time they come into port. This expenditure is in additon to the exhaustion of the 200,000 fuel capacity of the replenishment TFs. The hundreds of APs and AKs with all their support ships suck up even more. The Allies have enough fuel and supply to support one additional 300-400 mile advance and then this area of the Pacific will become quiescent as the logistical base is rebuilt. The massive Japanese sub effort in the eastern Pacific between Hawaii and California has exacerbated the logistics problem here.

This isnt necessarily a bad thing.....Allied BBs and CVs have been at sea for nearly 3 months continuously and are in need of maintenance and upgrades. Also, even though Hollandia and Madang are largely neutralized, the Jap airfields at Wewak, Aitape and especially the level 3 airfield at Admiralty Island must be shut down before further offensives can be launched.

Truk is holding hundreds of Japanese AC.....probably similar to my base at Pearl Harbor. Truk must be reduced before the Allies can invade the Admiraly Islands. Our intent now is to establish a ring of airfields around the Solomon Sea...with new bases and airfields to be captured and built on New Britain itself...then Rabaul will be completely isolated and the Solomon Sea will become an "Allied lake".

[racndoc]

JANUARY 11TH-16TH, 1942


SOPAC:

SOPAC becomes established on New Britain as the 4th USMC Raiders captures Sag Sag.

Japan has been training its fighter squadrons in China and the Philippines throughout the entire war. Now that the Allies have have isolated several Jap bases in both the Solomons and New Guinea, the US and Australian fighters have begun training programs for over 500 fighters. Initially, many Allied fighter squadrons had experience levels in the 50s....now nearly all the fighter squadrons have experience in the 60s and several have made it to the 70s.



SWPAC:

Aviation engineers and seabees are landed at Finschafen and the airfield there is now operational.

Japan has a level 5 airfield at Biak now.....this appears to be the major jap airfield on New Guinea. The Jap troop levels at Port Moresby.....formerly 30,000 troops is now down to 17,000....the troops are probably being withdrawn by transport AC flying out of Biak. We will start flying LRCAP over Port Moresby to interdict the transports....and fly recon over Biak in preparation for a new heavy bomber offensive.

Lae is now a level 5 airfield.

[wneumann]

From what I see you did well in Burma. I'm having a much smaller battle in progress to defend Myitkyina, but with possibly the same results. Supply seems to be hell for the Japs in Burma, especially once they get into the interior. The jury is still out on bombing heavy industry in Rangoon but it might be showing some value.

[racndoc]

wneumann....

With all the the Allied airfields on the Indian border with Burma you should have complete air superiority over Myitkina.....then your transport AC can fly in supply and reinforcements from India at will.....transport AC based at Dacca and Chittagong saved the SEAC position at Mandalay in this game when the issue was in doubt in mid 1942. Its tough for Japan to keep large armies supplied in Burma if the Allies can control the sky over the ports at Rangoon and Moulmein.....in this game Japan must use either barges or transport AC based at rear area airfields to move anything in or out of Burma. BTW neumann....nice raid on Kwajalein in your game with Jolly Pillager!


JANUARY 17TH-20TH, 1942


MALAYA:

After 13 months of siege, the British and Commonwealth troops holed up in Singapore surrnder en masse:

Ground combat at Singapore

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36303 troops, 52 guns, 182 vehicles, Assault Value =
544

Defending force 42095 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 536

Japanese max assault: 504 - adjusted assault: 404

Allied max defense: 467 - adjusted defense: 77

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Singapore base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
1230 casualties reported
Guns lost 15
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
52345 casualties reported
Guns lost 5


Some 50,000 survivors are marched off into the jungle to help Japan construct a railroad into the interior of Burma.

The only remaining pockets now of Allied resistance in the entire SRA are a few isolated islands in the Philippines.



SOPAC:

The 1st USMC Raiders make the 2nd SOPAC invasion on New Britain at Gasmata where they encounter resistance on the beaches. The assault was reinforced today with the New Zealand 8th Brigade and an all out shock attack will be ordered for tomorrow.

Allied bombers continue to suppress Japanese airfields at Munda, Buin, Torokina, Rabaul and Kavieng while the Beaufighters work over Jap barge traffic in the Bismarck Sea.



SWPAC:

Lae is now a level 5 airfield and Milne Bay has been enlarged to level 6. SWPAC continues to unload supplies and engineers at Finschafen and Sag Sag under the watchfull eye of Task Group 58.

SWPAC bombers continue to pound Japanese airfields at Wewak, Aitape, Madang and Hollandia. The level 5 Jap airfield at Biak is ordered to be hit by heavy bombers for the first time tomorrow.



THE CARRIER WAR:

Relative parity currently exists between Japanese and Allied carrier groups. The Allied carrier group.... Task Group 58.....is joined by an additional 3 new CVEs today and now totals 6 USN CVs, 2 RN CVs, and 7 USN CVEs. The balance of carrier air power should begin to shift irretrieveably in favor of the Allies in 3 weeks when CV Victorious arrives in Panama along with the first of the new USN CVLs....CVL Independence. Another 2 CVLs will arrive in the ensuing 2 months and then we will receive the first of the new Essex Class CVs a month later.

I had subs spotted by Kates and Vals off Truk, Kwajalein and Tokyo Bay last turn so KB could be anywhere. Unfortunately, KB is now able to hide behind a wall of very long ranged naval search AC.....so Japan will decide both WHEN and WHERE the big carrier vs carrier engagement will occur. We must assume the possibility that KB could suddenly appear to challenge any one of our offensive thrusts.

Unfortunately, Allied carriers have been continuously at sea on the front line for over 3 months now supporting the SOPAC and SWPAC offensives in the Solomons and New Guinea. I had originally anticipated taking the Allied CVs off the line in Mid January 1943 for R&R when the Corsairs began to arrive in force. However, it looks now as if the Allied offensives will continue into late March or April 1943 so it will be some time before the CVs can undergo routine maintenance and upgrades. CV Lexington and CV Saratoga both have accumulated around 10 system points of damage but overall the rest of the CVs have held up pretty well for such an extended period of time at sea.

[wneumann]

Pillager has quite a few Jap aircraft based in Burma, though few of them are flying (assuming they're still there).

He also marched a relatively small ground force (one division, one tank rgt, one combat engineer rgt, and an army HQ) against Myitkyina - they reached Myitkyina, made one ground bombardment attack, after that nothing. I'm flying supply into Myitkyina daily - Dakotas are getting intercepted with many damaged (virtually none destroyed) so I've had to rotate fresh transport squadrons into the effort to keep the airlift going.

The only possible explanation that's reasonable is that Pillager doesn't have enough supply in Burma to keep Japanese ops going. I have the heavy industry in Rangoon 50-60% knocked out - if the heavy industry damage is actually putting a crimp on his supply situation in Burma (hard to say, can't prove it is one way or the other) my plans are to knock it out completely. With nearly 100 Liberators at a time hitting Rangoon (and more on the way), knocking it out 100% is a matter of when more than if.

RE: the carrier raid on Kwajalein. If my TF's had moved the full distance towards Kwajalein on the final approach (ending their movement 2 hexes from Kwajalein base instead of the 5 hexes away they actually did), it would have been a very nasty surprise attack. Pillager had 140 disbanded ships at anchor in Kwajalein as my carriers approached undetected, including at least most of the KB's carriers plus many surface warships and other vessels. I had no SBD's or TBF's flying naval search (there was no need to)... every plane on deck from all six U.S. carriers would have hit the place. Pillager had most of his aircraft on ASW patrol chasing my submarines.

If it hadn't been for (automatic) at-sea refuelling - I thought I had it factored in, but guess it didn't factor as I had planned.

[racndoc]

wneumann...

Even though your raid on Kwajalein didnt work out exactly as planned it was still a gutsy move. I probably would have waited until I had Hellcats.



JANUARY 21ST-24TH, 1943


SEAC:

Heavy bombers based at Akyab put a hurt on Bangkok. For some reason Japans' high altitude fighters didnt scramble on the first day so our attack at 31,000 feet was a "milk run":

Day Air attack on Bangkok , at 29,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31
A6M3a Zero x 8
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 10

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 161
B-24D Liberator x 66

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-57-II Topsy: 4 destroyed
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
225 casualties reported
Guns lost 17

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 44


The next day the Tojos and Nicks decide to fly CAP:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bangkok , at 29,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
A6M3a Zero x 6
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 17
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 14
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 26

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 158
B-24D Liberator x 64

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 14 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 5 destroyed, 17 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed
Ki-57-II Topsy: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 24 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 19 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
389 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 48


Bangkok now has 41% damage.



SWPAC:

SWPAC consolidates their hold on New Guinea's Huon peninsula as Finschafen is enlarged to a level 2 airfield. Buna grows to a level 4 airfield.


Heavy bombers based at Thursday Island launch their first attacks on the massive Jap airfield at Biak from 15,000 feet:

Day Air attack on Biak , at 48,77

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 11
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 44
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 6

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 181

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed, 37 damaged
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 3 destroyed, 111 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
273 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Airbase hits 27
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 111


Day Air attack on Biak , at 48,77

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 3
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 4

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 111

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 5 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 11 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
222 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 73

Biak now has 71% damage.


Heavy bombers based at Milne Bay continue to suppresss Wewak:


Day Air attack on Wewak , at 54,84


Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 12
B-17E Fortress x 32
LB-30 Liberator x 48
B-24D Liberator x 60


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
371 casualties reported
Guns lost 17

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 133




Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 5
B-17E Fortress x 23
LB-30 Liberator x 27
B-24D Liberator x 38


Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
234 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 40


All of the Japanese airfieds on the north coast of New Guinea.....Madang, Wewak, Aitape, Hollandia and Biak are now heavily damaged. SWPAC is now ready to launch another offensive thrust forward.

I addition, Japan has lost 156 AC over the last 2 turns compared to 70 Allied AC. Losses include 43 Tojos, 28 Tonys, 20 A6M3as, 20 Bettys and 10 Nicks.



SOPAC:

Kiriwina Island has been enlarged to a level 4 airfield.

Gasmata is captured by the USMC Raiders and the New Zealand 8th Brigade. With the establishment of a fighter strip at Sag Sag the Allies have now encircled the Solomon Sea with bases and it is indeed an "Allied lake".

[wneumann]

That raid on Kwajalein was basically taking what Pillager was giving me, an opportunity... He left the place wide open, if it had been a trap, my carriers would have been detected well before they reached the point they did. I had a one-time chance for a surprise attack there, had to take it, win or lose.

With our PBEM now in early '43, any carriers I lost would be quickly replaced with brand-new Essex and Independence. Not to mention my sunk CV's from this action "resurrecting" later on as brand-new Essex themselves. Any Jap carriers Pillager would have lost in Kwajalein from that attack are gone for good, anything I lose in the process I get back. Any kind of exchange in this situation (short of a stupid mistake) is a winning formula in my book.

Once my carrier force off Kwajalein was detected short of its attack range, taking another game turn to move the last three hexes after being detected (and under the inevitable attacks) would have been a stupid mistake. Failing to pull off the opportunity is far less regrettable than not taking it. And there will be other opportunities.

Unless the air-to-air combat was a fluke, the F4F didn't do that bad. Much better than expected.

[racndoc]

JANUARY 25TH-28TH, 1943



SWPAC:

With an assist from USMC paratroopers, General MacArthur leapfrogs up the northern coast of New Guinea as SWPAC advances another 240 miles.

On the 25th, the 1st USMC Paratroops dropped at Saidor and secured the beaches for the arrival of massive SWPAC reinforcements on the 26th. The buildup at Saidor is being covered by Task Group 58....currently 8 CVs and 7 CVEs.

On the 27th, SWPAC leapfrogs around the Japanese garrison at Madang as 3rd Marine Paratroops capture Hansa. The Japanese troops at Madang are now isolated as SWPAC has total air supremacy over the area. Hansa and Saidor will both be built up into level 5 airfields. Large numbers of US Army troops will be landed at Hansa where they will eventually assault Madang from north to south.

2 huge convoys just arrive in the Southwest Pacific and badly needed fuel and supplies begin to flow into Milne Bay and Lae.

[racndoc]

After a RL 3 week hiatus the war resumes:



JANUARY 29TH-FEBRUARY 3RD, 1943



NEW GUINEA:

Less than a week after Saidor is captured the seabees have constructed a level 2 airfield there and now nearly 100 land based fighters are flying CAP overhead. Meanwhile, the Allied CVs continue to cover the transports unloading their cargoes on the beach there.


Sag Sag and Finschafen have both been enlarged to level 2 airfields......the ring of Allied airpower begins to close the approaches to the Bismarck Sea.


USAAF heavy bombers flying from Thursday Island completely neutralize the major Japanese aerodrome at Hollandia:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hollandia , at 52,81


Allied aircraft
PB2Y Coronado x 6
B-24D Liberator x 180


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
618 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 163


USAAF heavy bombers flying out of Lae and Milne Bay inflict massive damage on the Japanese airfield in the Admiralty Islands:

Day Air attack on Admiralty Islands , at 59,84


Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 12
B-17E Fortress x 38
B-24D Liberator x 38


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
75 casualties reported

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 70


Day Air attack on Admiralty Islands , at 59,84


Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 11
B-17E Fortress x 33
LB-30 Liberator x 45
B-24D Liberator x 61


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
74 casualties reported

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 130

Japanese airfields on the northern coast of New Guinea at Madang, Wewak, Aitape and Hollandia are all largely neutralized as the heavy bombers rotate their targets every couple of days.



SWPAC and SOPAC had been running dangerously low on supplies and fuel only a week ago but with the arrival of several massive convoys from Aden and the US west coast the situation has been somewhat alleviated.

[racndoc]

FEBRUARY 4TH-7TH, 1943



SWPAC:

The US Army 40th Infantry Division and 762 Light Tank go ashore at Hansa as seabees begin work on building a major airbase here.

Allied CVs stand by offshore to cover the landings.

USAAF heavy bombers continue to suppress all the Japanese airfields on the north shore of New Guinea.

The Allies invade and capture Dobodura.....now Port Moresby is the sole Japanese base remaining in SE New Guinea.



SEAC:

250 RAF and USAAF heavy bombers hit the Japanese airfield at Bangkok leaving it 40% damaged.

[racndoc]

FEBRUARY 8TH-17TH, 1943


SWPAC:

As the transports complete offloading men and materiel at Hansa, the airfield there has reached level 3 and now supports 150 fighters. The new level 4 airfields at Saidor and Sag Sag now allow the Allies to base B-25s within range of Hollandia and the Admiralty Islands.

Once Saidor and Hansa reach level 5 airfields the USAAF will be able to interdict the entire northern coast of New Guinea through Biak nad Noemfoer with B-24s.

MacArthur's offensive now grinds to a halt after 5 months of continuous advance while fuel and supply stockpiles are replenished. Lae and Milne Bay will be built up to 400,000 supply and 150, 000 fuel apiece for the next leg of the offensive which will take the Allies to the edge of the DEI and the Philippine archipelago. In 5 months, SWPAC has advanced 800 miles from Cooktown to Milne Bay and then another 700 miles to Hansa.

Once ground troops from Hansa capture Madang, SWPAC will be able to base 750 AC in 3 contiguous bases to cover the next leap forward.


After nearly 5 continuous months at sea covering the SWPAC and SOPAC advances, the Allied CVs are withdrawn for redeployment, rest and refitting.

[racndoc]

FEBRUARY 18TH-27TH, 1943


CENTPAC:

CENTPAC launches its first amphibious assault of the war as Task Group 58 supports the invasion of Nauru:

Naval bombardment of Nauru Island, at 77,95

Allied Ships
CL Enterprise
CL Caledon
CA Cornwall
BB Maryland
BB Nevada
BB Tennessee

Japanese ground losses:
186 casualties reported

Port hits 7
Port supply hits 9

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Nauru Island, at 77,95

Allied Ships
CL Capetown
CL Columbo

Port supply hits 2



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Nauru Island, at 77,95

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1169 encounters mine field at Nauru Island (77,95)

TF 1169 troops unloading over beach at Nauru Island, 77,95


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1245 encounters mine field at Nauru Island (77,95)

TF 1245 troops unloading over beach at Nauru Island, 77,95


Allied Ships
DMS Lamberton
DMS Chandler
DMS Perry
DMS Dorsey
DMS Hopkins


Allied ground losses:
532 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1245 encounters mine field at Nauru Island (77,95)

TF 1245 troops unloading over beach at Nauru Island, 77,95



Allied ground losses:
259 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Nauru Island

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3450 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 129

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied max assault: 230 - adjusted assault: 169

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 169 to 1 (fort level 7)

Allied forces CAPTURE Nauru Island base !!!


Japan must have been using transport AC to evacxuate their troops from Nauru during the invasion.




NORTHERN AUSTRALIA:

Still a stalemate in northen Oz at Tennant Creek as 190,000 Allied troops face off against 140,000 Japanese troops:

Ground combat at Tennant Creek

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 14928 troops, 355 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value =
2642

Defending force 194986 troops, 2108 guns, 556 vehicles, Assault Value =
4191



Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tennant Creek

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 177378 troops, 2108 guns, 31 vehicles, Assault Value =
4191

Defending force 140545 troops, 860 guns, 240 vehicles, Assault Value =
2642


Japanese ground losses:
318 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

[racndoc]

FEBRUARY 28TH-MARCH 11TH, 1943


CENTPAC: THE GILBERTS OFFENSIVE


The USN supports the assault and capture of Abemama in the Gilberts. A level 5 airfield will be established here as Makin atoll is captured and also built up into a forward airfield. Then, the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions stand poised for a major assault on the level 3 Japanese airbase at Tarawa. The 2 Marine Divisions have been prepping and filling out to max TOE since their last assaults in the Solomons in fall 1942. The 2nd Marine Division now stands at max TOE but the 1st Marines are still short a few 50 caliber machine guns.

The limiting factor for CENTPAC at this point in the war is assault shipping. The RCT that was landed at Abemama had only 9 LSTs and 6 LCIs available so several APs were included in the mix. Most of CENTPACs amphibious assaults over the next 9 months will be over atolls so many more LSTs will be needed. Just landing one USMC division requires over 30 LSTs...and about 30 LSTs are currently in transit to the central Pacific from Portland, San Francisco and the Panama Canal. Several APs will probably be required to support the Tarawa invasion in April and I shudder to think of what might happen if some undisrupted Japanese CD guns remain intact on that atoll on D-Day.

The first of many USN CVLs reached Canton yesterday and should join the rest of the CVs on station off Abemema in a few days.

[racndoc]

MARCH 12TH-19TH, 1943



CENTPAC:


The Gilberts offensive continues with the landing and capture of Makin atoll by the US Army 159th RCT. Seabees start laying out the tarmac for a new airstrip as the 71st Base Force debarks.

At Abemama, seabees have now built a level 3 airfield and a level 1 port.

With the arrival of CV Victorious and CVL Independence from the Panama Canal the Allies have completed a fleet reorganization. The CVEs have been detached to provide CAP for amphibious assault forces while the fast CVs have been grouped together in Task Group 58.


There are now 25 LSTs and 9 LCIs at Canton with another 10 LSTs due to arrive within the week.




SWPAC:


The US 7th Infantry Division has now completed 48 miles of the 60 mile march from Hansa to Madang(New Guinea) and should arrive at the Japanese base in a week.

[racndoc]

MARCH 20TH-23RD, 1943

CENTPAC:

The Allies build up Makin into a level 2 airfield and Abemama into a level 3 airfield and level 2 port.


Over 30 LCTs have arrived in Canton.




SEAC:

The RAF and USAAF launch a new bomber offensive from Mandalay into Bangkok. First, over 200 4E bombers hit Bangkok from 31,000 feet:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/20/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 16
A6M3a Zero x 18
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 28
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 15
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 19

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 179
B-17E Fortress x 27
B-24D Liberator x 62

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 2 destroyed, 12 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 destroyed, 25 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 55 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 3 destroyed, 21 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 20 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
175 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 28



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 11
A6M3a Zero x 18
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 15
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 12
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 13

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 156
B-17E Fortress x 13
B-24D Liberator x 40

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 destroyed, 11 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 7 damaged
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 25 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 7 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 15 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
148 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 14




Then, after staging in fresh 4E bomber groups, 2 squadrons of P-38s escort the 4Es to Bangkok at 22,000 feet:

Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 9
A6M3a Zero x 12
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 11
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 11
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 15

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 122
P-38G Lightning x 48
B-24D Liberator x 75

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 11 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 10 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 5 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 22 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 8 destroyed, 16 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 15 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
493 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 78


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/23/43


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 4
A6M3a Zero x 5
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 11
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 4
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 7

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 95
P-38G Lightning x 25
B-24D Liberator x 70

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 4 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 9 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 18 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 20



13 Allied AC are lost in A2A combat vs 15 Japanese AC. Altogether, 70 Jap AC are destroyed vs 32 Allied AC.


Hitting Hanoi at lower altitude with P-38 escort allowed us to finally incur some significant damage on the airbase and hurt the morale of the defending Japanese airgroups. We will rotate out the P-38s and the fatigued 4E bombers from Mandalay tomorrow and rotate some fresh 4E groups in for a high altitude attack. As long as the good weather hold here we will try to hit Hanoi on a continuous basis to see if we can finally shut the airfield down.



AUSTRALIA:

There are now 200,000 Allied troops facing off against 123,000 IJA troops at Tennant Creek:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tennant Creek

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 98728 troops, 742 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value =
2283

Defending force 206625 troops, 2204 guns, 570 vehicles, Assault Value =
4462



Allied ground losses:
49 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tennant Creek

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 187073 troops, 2204 guns, 31 vehicles, Assault Value =
4462

Defending force 122778 troops, 829 guns, 239 vehicles, Assault Value =
2283


Japanese ground losses:
254 casualties reported
Guns lost 8


Ive purchased just about every available USA LCU on the west coast and Panama and sent them to OZ but still cant assemble enough troops to break through here. Looks like Japan can stay in northern Australia as long as they want to.

I suppose that the Allies will just need to continue to advance along the New Guinea coast to threaten the DEI to get Japan to withdraw voluntarily from Australia or eventually face being cut off and isolated.

[racndoc]

MARCH 24TH-29TH, 1943


SEAC:


Now that the Allies have received 48 additional 4Es in India they can bomb Indochina around the clock:



AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/28/43


Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
J2M Jack x 14
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 21
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 9

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 149
B-17E Fortress x 8
B-24D Liberator x 74
IL-4c x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 16 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 1 destroyed, 24 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 5 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 26 damaged
IL-4c: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
179 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 41


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
J2M Jack x 8
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 10
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 4

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 129
B-17E Fortress x 9
B-24D Liberator x 54
IL-4c x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 6 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 6 damaged
IL-4c: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
92 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 18


Hanoi is now 87% damaged. Allied 4Es will now target resources and HI here with P-38 escort tomorrow.

[racndoc]

HAPPY APRIL'S FOOLS DAY, 1943.....4-1-43


The US Army 7th Infantry Division overruns Madang after a months' march through the steaming hell that is New Guinea:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Madang

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16855 troops, 217 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 415

Defending force 20 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4

Allied max assault: 368 - adjusted assault: 370

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 370 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Madang base !!!


Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
L2D2 Tabby: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
1664 casualties reported


There were over 8000 IJA troops at Madang 2 weeks ago. Japan is playing a "Sir Robin" strategy and evacuating defensive positions with their transport AC just before the Allies bring overwhelming force to bear.

I guess thats ok....I was going to withdraw the Allied CVs for R&R after the Gilberts Campaign but the Marshalls are so lightly defended that I may overrun them before refitting the US Navy.

Within a couple of weeks the Allies will now be able to mass 750 AC in a 3 hex area in New Guinea...giving us complete air superiority over the Bismarck Sea in addintion to the Solomon Sea.....and all of New Guinea will be within the range of our B-24s.


FIGHTING A WAR vs PLAYING A GAME:

I made a decision 6 months into this that I would "fight a war" rather than "play a game". To that end, I have lost 10-20 AC per day keeping Japanese airfields suppressed as the Allies would have done in RL.

Japan currently holds a 20,000 to 10,000 point advantage on the Allies....10,000 of that is from killing Allied troops in the conquest of the SRA.
I have actually completed a game of WitP....read "THEY WERE EXPENDABLE". The game ended with an Allied victory on 1/1/45....70,000 Allied to 30,000 Japanese points...with 10,000 points gained from strategic bombing of Japan. This mod, with the whacked AA hardcoded, will prevent the Allies from strategic bombing Japan effectively. Without the points for bombing Japan....and I WILL overrun ALL of SE Asia and Malaya and most of the DEI....the Allies will not "win".

Nevertheless..we go forward and will "win" the war anyway if not actually winning in points. As far as subs, Ive lost 35 subs to date....26 from AP bombs. Id be surprised if the Allies even lost half a dozen subs from AP bombs during the entire war in RL. IMO this is one of the worst aspects of WitP and hopefully this is fixed in AE. Im almost tempted to leave all the subs in San Diego but instead I do use them for transport and mine warfare missions...supposedly making them less detectable than "patrol" missions but they are still "sitting ducks" for Japanese land based air.


Having played several games of CHS....and with a game going currently as Japan....I find that the weak point for the Japanese economy is resources. Even John 3rd told me that the Japanese economy crashed in his game from a lack of resources. To that end, I will concentrate on destroying Japanese resources and attempt to defeat Japan on an economic basis.