IN HARM'S WAY...AE VERSION: STONEAGE(IJ) VS SPRUANCE(A)

[racndoc]

7/13-7/14/42



SUBS


SS Sailfish surfaces to get 3 hits on AKL Fukuyo Maru off Malacca.

SS I-8 is hit by 7 DCs from USN ASW TF near Luganville.




CHINA


Thinga are really heating up again in China.

In the north, Japan launches a 1:10 deliberate attack at Kweisui....casualties are 2674 Chinese vs 1100 Japanese...the artillery is starting to murder us here....even with the newest patch and 3x terrain.....not much the Chinese can do about it except hold until the last man's standing.
Even though the Chinese control Paotow next door to Kweisui we just cant draw supply here. Once we are forced out of Kweisui we will fall back on Lanchow and Hami...and then Japan will have their own issues with extended supply lines.

Japan lays seige to Tsiaotso again with 8 LCUs....we saw this coming 2 or 3 months ago via SIGINT and we are ready for it.....China has 1350 100% prepped AV at Tsiaotso on 3x terrain behind level 3 forts. Next door in the mountain hex we have another 850 AV 100% prepped for Tsiaotso ready to be fed into the inevitable meatgrinder.

In the south things are rapidly devolving from a steady state of fixed defenses to a war of manuver. The Chinese have 2 columns marching from Wuchow and Kukong towards Canton. At Nanchang the 7 corps, 1 division and 3 artillery regiments of the newly named Chinese 1st Shock Army cross the south fork of the Yangtze and invest the city:

Ground combat at Nanchang (85,54)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 5680 troops, 142 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2543

Defending force 19287 troops, 214 guns, 224 vehicles, Assault Value = 420

Allied adjusted assault: 110

Japanese adjusted defense: 1427

Allied assault odds: 1 to 12 (fort level 4)

Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
147 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Allied ground losses:
491 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
74th Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
38th New Chinese Division
23rd Group Army
30th Group Army
22nd Artillery Regiment
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment

Defending units:
12th RGC Ind. Brigade
55th Infantry Brigade
17th Division
Kyuko Naval Guard Unit
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade
23rd RGC Temp. Division
17th JAAF Base Force
China Expeditionary Army
32nd JNAF AF Unit


The 38th Division leads the cross river attack and absorbs most of the casualties....they are now at 71% disruption and 21% fatigue. The remaining 2300 AV of the 1st Shock Army are at zero fatigue and 4 disruption and they are all ordered to shock attack Nanchang next turn...backed up of course by nearly the entire Allied air force in China.

StoneAge is responding to the battle of manuver in kind. SE of Pingsiang he moved his main manuver army...some 1300-1500 AV onto a 400 AV stack of Chinese troops in 2x terrain...Japan will probably rout those Chinese troops next turn. We, in turn, are directing another 1400 Chinese AV to envelope that force. On top of that, StoneAge strips his defenses at Wuchang leaving only a single LCU defending...and then sends 3 LCUs marching on Changsha. All of southern China could turn into a battle of who shock attacks whom with the "firstest and the mostest" to paraphrase a Civil War general.



DEI

Japan invaded Kai Island and recon showed 2 IJN DDs to be covering. Not having air superiority at kai Island Admiral Doorman send only a single CL and 2 DDs to intercept.....the Dutch get the worst of the engagement:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Kai Island at 81,115, Range 16,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Katori, Shell hits 3
DD Yamakaze

Allied Ships
CL Java, Shell hits 1
DD Banckert, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Van Nes



Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 21,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Goerk T. crosses the 'T'
DD Banckert engages DD Yamakaze at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CL Katori engages CL Java at 12,000 yards
CL Katori engages DD Van Nes at 12,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Banckert at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CL Java engages CL Katori at 11,000 yards
DD Banckert engages DD Yamakaze at 11,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Banckert at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Java engages CL Katori at 8,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages DD Yamakaze at 8,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Banckert at 8,000 yards
Goerk T. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Katori engages CL Java at 10,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Van Nes at 10,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Banckert at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 15,000 yards
CL Katori engages CL Java at 15,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Van Nes at 15,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Banckert at 15,000 yards
Task forces break off...


DD Banckert gets the worst of it.....27 sys and 21 flt damage and will have to make yard in Sydney for repairs.





SWPAC


Australian troops and supplies continue to offload at Mine Bay. Task Group 58 stands by to cover the operation.




SOPAC


Taking adavantage of the departure of the USN CVs for SWPAC ops off New Guinea, Japan sends some CVEs towards Guadalcanal to interdict Allied shipping. Fortunately most Allied convoys have left the area but a solitary USN ASW TF that is out hunting IJN subs is caught at Lunga by IJN bombers. The newly arrived F4F-4s of Cactus Air Force go into combat for the first time ravage the IJN bombers:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 3
D3A1 Val x 6



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed


Allied Ships
DD Stewart



Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A1 Val diving from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMF-121 with F4F-4 Wildcat (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes



Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 4



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed




CAP engaged:
VMF-121 with F4F-4 Wildcat (5 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes



When the smoke clears Japan has lost 13 Vals and 3 Kates with no USN ships being hit.

Another 8 Mabels were lost in A2A over China so in total Japan loses 31 AC this turn to 13 Allied.

The airstrip at Lunga is now 72% of the way to level 2 and as soon as we reach level 2 a SBD squadron will be flown in.

[racndoc]

7/15-7/16/42



SUBS


SS KVIII is hit by 2 DCs from IJN ASW TF at Kragen

SS O21 lands a torpedo on AK Chowa Maru near Ketapang.

SS Pike puts 2 shells in AK Teisen Maru by Saishu.

SS S-37 takes 4 DCs from IJN SAG off Java.





DEI


IJA troops on Java capture Djokjakarta.

Japan invades and captures Pamakasan.




CHINA


A Japanese 1:25 deliberate attack at Kweisui results in 2050 Chinese casualties vs 1300 IJA. As usual we get killed by the artillery but at least the newly arrived antitank regiment takes out 48 IJA vehicles.

The Chinese 1st Shock Army overruns Nanchang and its level 6 fortifications in an 8:1 shock attack. Japanese troops are retreated and suffer 4130 casualties vs 2880 Chinese.

StoneAge launches a 1:4 deliberate attack at Tsiaotso resulting in 2150 Japanese casualties vs 900 Chinese.

Japan's 1300 AV manuver group SE of Pingsiang routs 3 Chinese corps in a shock attack before we can reinforce....China suffers 5050 casualties vs 689 Japanese. Im trying to pin this IJA manuver group with about 1400 Chinese AV to stop it from rampaging.

StoneAge has another large manuver group trying to outflank Sinyang...this turn we pin it with a Chinese shock army with some 1300 AV and a shock attack is ordered for tomorrow.




BURMA


The Allies are launching their largest offensive of the war in an attempt to recapture Burma. The Eastern Army Command overseeing this operaton consists of 3 corps....Burma Corps, !st Australian Corps and III Indian Corps.

Burma Corps, with 1000 AV, has been engaging 2 regiments of the Imperial Guards as it drives westward from Myitkina.

!st Australian Corps, with some 1500 AV, has been driving south from Imphal through the jungle and is currently crossing the upper reaches of the Irrawaddy River. Lead elements of 1st Australian Corps are now within 80 miles of Schwebo and we intend to catch the Imperial Guards regiments in a vise between Burma Corps and !st Australian. Then 1st Australian Corps along with Burma Corps will assault Mandalay.

III Indian Corps, with 1800 AV , is racing down the coast road from Akyab. Their job is to capture Rangoon and prevent Japanese reinforcement of Burma by sea.

Opposing this are the IJA 55th Division, the heavily attrited Imperial Guards Division and an undetermined number of garrison troops.

[racndoc]

7/17-7/18/42



SUBS


SS O21 sinks AKL Suez Maru by Billiton.

SS I-15 sinks AV Tangiers near Stewart Island.

SS KX is hit by 10 DCs from IJN ASW near Singapore.....gonna need yard time for sure.

SS Drum sinks PB Tokihima Maru by Guam.

SS Seawolf takes 3 DCs from CVL Ryujo's escorts near Kragen.




SOPAC


A level 2 airfield is completed at Lunda and a squadron of SBDs are staged in from Lugamville. If those IJN CVEs are still in the area they will be sitting ducks for the Marine divebomber pilots.


Farther north at Munda, an Allied ampbibious assault force disembarks 2nd Marine Regiment at Munda. The carriers and SAG of Task Group 58 again cover the amphibious landings. An airfield here at Munda will put our F4Fs and SBDs within range of the big Jap base at Shortlands.





BURMA


Burma Corps launches a shock attack on Imperial Guards B Regiment:


Ground combat at 62,42

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6558 troops, 156 guns, 91 vehicles, Assault Value = 541

Defending force 513 troops, 23 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 11

Allied adjusted assault: 236

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 236 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
343 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
Railway BAF Battalion
BFF Brigade
1st Burma Brigade
2nd Burma Brigade
28th Gurkha Brigade
16th Indian Brigade
Burma Corps
2/13th Field Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
Imperial Guards/B Division


The B Regiment was basically destroyed at Myiykina and only a shell remains. The Imperial Guards B & C Regiments are now both at Katha and Burma Corps is also on the move towards Katha.

I dont think that StoneAge has spotted any of the 1st Australian Corps or the III Indian Corps as they have been marching through the jungle. The vanguard of 1st Australian Corps should be exiting from the jungle into clear terrain next turn and has a chance of reaching Schwebo before the Japanese.

We have such an advantage in ground force in Burma that Im staging 3 squadrons of medium bombers from India into China...a critical battle is going to take place in China next turn and I will need every bomber in China that I can get my hands on.



NORThERN CHINA


Japan orders a shock attack at Kweisui:

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 37230 troops, 416 guns, 250 vehicles, Assault Value = 1202

Defending force 32243 troops, 350 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 917

Japanese adjusted assault: 697

Allied adjusted defense: 2671

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
4348 casualties reported
Squads: 83 destroyed, 82 disabled
Non Combat: 57 destroyed, 153 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 31 (9 destroyed, 22 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
2418 casualties reported
Squads: 52 destroyed, 101 disabled
Non Combat: 41 destroyed, 85 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Assaulting units:
12th Indpt Infantry Regiment
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
1st Cavalry Brigade
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
4th Cavalry Brigade
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
60th Infantry Brigade
110th Division
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
26th Engineer Regiment
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Mongol Garrison Army
NCPC Army
21st AA Regiment
1st Army
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
34th Seperate Brigade
3rd Prov Chinese/C Corps
81st Chinese/A Corps
56th Chinese Corps
35th Chinese Corps
22nd Chinese Corps
82nd Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
11th Chinese/A Corps
83rd Chinese Corps
81st Chinese/B Corps
13th Group Army
17th Group Army
57th AT Gun Regiment


The antitank guns snag another 31 vehicles. I think StoneAge would be better with continuing his low odds deliberate attacks here and let his artillery do the talking.


We ordered a Chinese shock attack on the IJA forces on the Sinyang/Chengchow Higthway but since Japan always moves 1st they get to shock attack us first:

Ground combat at 87,46

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1024 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 621

Defending force 35755 troops, 253 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1261

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 1004

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
1464 casualties reported
Squads: 61 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 29 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)



Assaulting units:
35th Division
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
Shanghai SNLF
6th RGC Division
24th NCPC Route Brigade

Defending units:
29th Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps


The Chinese troops then return the shock attack favor when its their turn:

Ground combat at 87,46

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 35755 troops, 253 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1261

Defending force 15217 troops, 177 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 569

Allied adjusted assault: 993

Japanese adjusted defense: 309

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
6505 casualties reported
Squads: 141 destroyed, 102 disabled
Non Combat: 84 destroyed, 94 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 19 (12 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (7 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Units retreated 4


Allied ground losses:
1791 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 134 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 126 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
13th Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps

Defending units:
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
Shanghai SNLF
6th RGC Division
35th Division
24th NCPC Route Brigade


In the far north 3 Chinese LCUs rout a Mongolian Division that had been trying to outflank us:


Ground combat at 92,33

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4354 troops, 27 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 196

Defending force 636 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 27

Allied adjusted assault: 296

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 296 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
453 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1


Allied ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd Prov Chinese/B Corps
115th Red Chinese Division
81st Chinese/C Corps

Defending units:
7th Mongol Cavalry Division

[racndoc]

7/17-7/18/42.....continued



SOUTHERN CHINA


The front lines have become very fluid here in the south. Japan moves on Wuchow and Kukong while Chinese troops move on Canton.It looks to me that the 22,000 IJA troops on the road junction NE of Wuchow are cut off from supply but you are just never sure.


One hex east of Pingsiang 64,000 IJA troops are marauding through our rear areas. Two turns ago they thrashed 3 Chinese corps there causing some 5000 casualties. I had ordered 1400 AV to enter the hex but the rates of road movement varied too much and only 880 AV made it...another 500 AV should make it in 2 days. StoneAge will launch a shock attack here next turn and if successful he will rout another 5 corps...and then another 500 AV would arrive the next day and get routed in turn. It looks again to me that the IJA troops must be out of supply here....I have then completely surrounded by Chinese troops. Every bomber in China is set to ground attack this 64,000 strong army next turn....including another 45 medium bombers just staged in from India. I cant let StoneAge get 2:1 odds on my troops here.

Just in case, the Chinese drive to the sea from Nanchang has been halted and most of the 1st Shock Army is ordered back towards Pingsiang.

[racndoc]

7/19-7/20/42



SUBS


SS Drum is hit by 7 DCs from IJN SAG by Truk. SS Drum gives a good sighting report of 3 CAs and 2 CLs in the IJN SAG.

SS Wahoo sinks AK Tsukuba off Toyohara.

SS S-44 puts a torpedo in and sinks previously bombed DD Shirayuki near Long Island.




CHINA

Japan gets 2:1 odds on our 880 AV stack outside Pingsiang....causes 6869 Chinese casualties vs 1618 Chinese. We have had 1400 AV of Chinese troops trashed here over the last 3 turns....12,000 casualties and another Chinese corps enters the hex at the end of the turn so it will be killed tomorrow. At least all the trashed Chinese corps retreated into Pingsiang so they can all start recovering their disruptions.

The Chinese offensive in the south is cancelled with this expensive debacle outside Pingsiang. The IJA stack seems to be able to shock attack every turn with no supply issues even though it is surrounded by Chinese LCUs. Three more bomber squadrons are transferred from India to China....we are going to bomb the heck out of that IJA stack now.

StoneAge launches a 1:3 shock attack at Hankow....Chinese adjusted AV is over 4500 with the terrain bonus and Japan suffers 2643 casualties vs 977 Chinese.

And of course in the far north Japan goes back to low odds deliberate attacks with heavy artillery support...this turn a 1:12 attack causes 1575 Chinese casualties vs 588 IJA.





DEI


Japanese troops enter Soerabaja and conduct aerial and ground bombardments every turn. We only have 150 AV here so Soerabaja shouldnt be anything more than a speed bump for Japan.






SWPAC



Additional RAF engineers and supplies are disembarked at Minle Bay as the buildup continues.

SBDs based at Port Moresby land 2 bomb hits on DD Shirayuki off Long Island(only to be torpedoed and sunk by SS S-44 later in the day).





SOPAC


2nd Marine Regiment captures Munda and the seabees now go to work.

More engineers and supplies are on the way to Lunga as multiple USN ASW TFs patrol the waters.

[racndoc]

7/21-7-22-42




SUBS


SS I-28 sinks AVD William Preston by Kirakira...thats the 3rd AV/AVD Ive lost trying to move to Lunga. And it was in an ASW TF with another ASW TF as escort. Sigh....well at least it wasnt another CV being torpedoed.

SS O16 is hit by 2 DCs from IJN ASW off Bintan.

SS I-28 finally gets 2 DCs in retribution by an USN ASW TF near Kirakira.

SS RO-61 takes 4 DCs from USN ASW TF by Rennell Island.

SS Grayback sinks PB Isshin Maru off Kume-jima.





CHINA


Chinese troops crush the 4th Mongol Calvary Division in the far north.

A 1:3 deliberate attack at Kweisui results in 1338 IJA casualties vs 2189 Chinese.....its kind of funny....I get all bummed out about suffering 14,000 casualties from shock attacks in 6 days near Pingsiang yet that is normal attrition from IJA artillery at Kweisui in 2 weeks.

Speaking of Pingsiang....another Japanese shock attack next door crushes another Chinese corps...2369 Chinese casualties vs 305 Japanese.

We catch an IJA stack on the Sinyang/Chengchow Highway just SE of Chenchow...we order a Chinese shock attack in retribution for next turn.

StoneAge has a lot of manuvering going on in southern China....he seems to be massing for a shock attack on either Changsha or Nanchang. I admit that I had become a little overconfident after winning some 2 dozen shock attacks in a row but the recent debacle near Pingsiang with some 1400 Chinese AV reduced to 600 AV has reminded me how powerful the Japanese Army is vis a vis the Chinese Army.

Maybe clubbing a couple of defenseless baby seals would make me feel better about things. Oh wait...I think I found a couple of baby seals in Burma...ie the Imperial Guards Division and the 55th Division.




PHILIPPINES

I had forgotten about this theatre. We get the first action in several months as StoneAge captures our last outpost at Zamboanga.

At least this wont trigger kamikazies now.





DEI


Japan captures Madioen on Java.

The daily ground and aerial bombardments continue at Soerabaja.






BURMA SHAVE


Ive attached a map of the current situation in Burma. The Burma Corps is pursuing 2 regiments of the Imperial Guards Division into Katha but we wont attack...dont want to force the IJA troops closer to Schwebo.

Next turn the leading elements of 1st Australian Corps....including 7th Australian Division....will emerge from the jungle 40 miles from Schwebo.

This will be spotted by StoneAge and should alert him to the gravity of his position in northern Burma and also the integrity of the Imperial Guards Division.

But he still cannot yet see the movement of III Indian Corps down the coastal road. This movement will not yet be spotted for another 4-6 days until they emerge from the jungle NW of Rangoon. Until this thrust is spotted StoneAge will not realize the strategic catastrophe that is about unfold for the Japanese Empire......not just in Burma but also Tavoy and Victoria Point and even Thailand.

[racndoc]

7/23-7/24/42


Lots of action this turn in several theatres.




SUBS


SS KVIII is hit by 4 DCs from IJN ASW TF by Kragen.

SS Tautog sinks PB Uchide Maru off Hachijo-jima.




DEI


Japan continues aerial and ground bombardments at Soerabaja while reinforcing.

Allied transports transporting a portion of 18th UK Division from darwin to Koepang are attacked by Bettys:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Koepang at 68,116

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 18



Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 7


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged


Allied Ships
CL Sumatra
CL Tromp
CL De Ruyter



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
5 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes



Morning Air attack on TF, near Koepang at 68,116

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 8



Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 3


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged


Allied Ships
xAK Autolycus, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Wulin, Bomb hits 1



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead

Autolycus caught transferring cargo ...
Wulin caught transferring cargo ...



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koepang at 68,116

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9



Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 7


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged


Allied Ships
xAP Thomas Barry, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes

Thomas Barry caught transferring cargo ...


17 Bettys were shot down by the P-39D CAP but AK Thomas Berry was hit pretty hard.





BURMA


StoneAge somehow gets an extra regiment into Katha and attempts to attack the leading elements of Burma Corps before the entire force can mass....fortunately another 300 AV of Burma Corps enter the hex before the deliberate attack is launched:


Ground combat at Katha (61,43)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7549 troops, 79 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value = 238

Defending force 17108 troops, 231 guns, 167 vehicles, Assault Value = 671

Japanese adjusted assault: 3

Allied adjusted defense: 585

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 195

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: disruption(-), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
3066 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 135 disabled
Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 142 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 24 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (3 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
146 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Assaulting units:
112th Infantry Regiment
Imperial Guards/B Division
55th Engineer Regiment
Imperial Guards/C Division
15th Army
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
28th Gurkha Brigade
1st Burma Brigade
2nd Burma Brigade
44th Indian Brigade
BFF Brigade
Railway BAF Battalion
16th Indian Brigade
2/11th Field Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
Burma Corps
2/13th Field Regiment
27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment


All of Burma Corps is ordered to shock attack at Katha tomorrow.


If StoneAge wasnt aware of the presence of 1st Australian Corps in northern Burma he certainly is now. The vanguard of 1st Australian Corps....7th Australian Division.....emerges from the junghle at the outskirts of Shwebo and cuts the rail line into Katha. The IJA troops in Katha are now cut off. 7th Australian Division is ordered to adavance on Shwebo tomorrow.

The armored spearhead of III Indian Corps should reach the outskirts of Prome tomorrow.

[racndoc]

7/23-7/24/42...CONT



SOPAC


StoneAge sends CV Hiyo and some CVEs on another shipping raid in the south Pacific. On the 1st day they attack Allied shipping at Lunga and Cactus Air Force is there to greet them:



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,139

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
B5N2 Kate x 6
D3A1 Val x 16



Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 8
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Leander, Bomb hits 5, on fire
DD Aylwin, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Benham, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x D3A1 Val diving from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VMF-121 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
No.111 Sqn RCAF with Kittyhawk I (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Stewart Island at 120,138

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
SBD-3 Dauntless x 16


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Yamato



Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Hiyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes


In the morning attacks IJN bombers sink DD Aylwin and DD Benham. The Marine divebomber pilots fail to score any hits on the Japanese TF.


In the afternoon round of combat the IJN bombers target the transports while the Marines miss yet again:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Stewart Island at 120,138

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato



Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Hiyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,139

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
D3A1 Val x 12



Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2


Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged


Allied Ships
CL Leander
AP Fuller, Bomb hits 1, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x D3A1 Val diving from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMF-121 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
No.111 Sqn RCAF with Kittyhawk I (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes



The next day the IJN air combat TF pursues the Allied transport TF as it withdraws towards Noumea:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kirakira at 114,146

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
B5N2 Kate x 5
D3A1 Val x 11



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Leander, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Monaghan
DD Cushing



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x D3A1 Val diving from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Leander


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kirakira at 117,144

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1
SBD-3 Dauntless x 3


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1



Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Hiyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes



CL Leander continues to get pummeled while the Marine pilots manage a hit on BB Hiei.


In the afternoon round the IJN bombers score a hit on AM Kalgoorie:



Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kirakira at 114,146

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
B5N2 Kate x 3
D3A1 Val x 11



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Leander, on fire, heavy damage
DD Cushing
AM Kalgoorlie, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x D3A1 Val diving from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
3 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Leander
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AM Kalgoorlie



CL Leander is virtually a floating hulk with 67 SYS, 75 FLT, 19 ENG and 22 Fire.

After 2 days of combat 12 A6M2s are lost in A2A vs 11 F4F-4s. Altogether Japan loses 56 AC vs 39 Allied AC.


As wounded CL Leander and the transports withdraw back towards Noumea B-26s and Marine divebombers are placed on naval attack at Lunga, Luganville and Koumac....StoneAge had better tread carefully with his air combat TF here.

Meanwhile.....farther north off Munda, Task Group 58 is split up in an effort to catch the IJN carrier force. CV Enterprise, CV Yorktown and CV Wasp are sent east towards Ontong Java to block the most like retreat route for the IJN carriers. CV Saratoga and CV Hornet move directly south to block a less likely western avenue of escape for the Jap CVs.

Lunga is upgraded to a level 3 airfield and Munda completes a level 1 fighter strip.

[racndoc]

7/23-7/24/42....CONT.



CHINA


Unbelieveably the war in China becomes even bloodier as StoneAge steps up the tempo. I dont usually post all the combat reports for ground combat but with Japan suffering over 20,000 casualties this turn I though it migh be appropriate.

Starting from north to south, Japan launches another deliberate attack at Kweisui:



Ground combat at Kweisui (92,35)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35029 troops, 424 guns, 254 vehicles, Assault Value = 2019

Defending force 30812 troops, 364 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 855

Japanese adjusted assault: 225

Allied adjusted defense: 1672

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 7

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2365 casualties reported
Squads: 25 destroyed, 85 disabled
Non Combat: 45 destroyed, 100 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 14 (4 destroyed, 10 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
130 casualties reported
Squads: 42949651 destroyed, 85 disabled
Non Combat: 28 destroyed, 42 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)


Assaulting units:
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
60th Infantry Brigade
12th Tank Regiment
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
1st Cavalry Brigade
37th Division
41st Division
110th Division
15th Tank Regiment
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
12th Indpt Infantry Regiment
4th Cavalry Brigade
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
26th Engineer Regiment
21st AA Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
NCPC Army
Mongol Garrison Army
1st Army
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
34th Seperate Brigade
3rd Prov Chinese/C Corps
115th Red Chinese Division
82nd Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
56th Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese/B Corps
35th Chinese Corps
81st Chinese/A Corps
83rd Chinese Corps
22nd Chinese Corps
11th Chinese/A Corps
81st Chinese/B Corps
13th Group Army
17th Group Army
57th AT Gun Regiment


Next at Tsiaotso its more of the same:



Ground combat at Tsiaotso (88,42)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 37762 troops, 365 guns, 110 vehicles, Assault Value = 1299

Defending force 38168 troops, 243 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1343

Japanese adjusted assault: 853

Allied adjusted defense: 3004

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
3929 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 197 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 242 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
487 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 66 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 72 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled


Assaulting units:
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
59th Infantry Brigade
36th Division
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
32nd Division
15th AA Regiment
12th Army
11th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
42nd Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
36th Group Army
4th Group Army
8th Group Army
4th Chinese Base Force



Now its China's turn to shock attack SW of Chengchow:


Ground combat at 87,45

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 25956 troops, 174 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1105

Defending force 11583 troops, 173 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 397

Allied adjusted assault: 965

Japanese adjusted defense: 226

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
5394 casualties reported
Squads: 119 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 183 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 15 (12 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 19 (5 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Units retreated 4


Allied ground losses:
511 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
40th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
39th Group Army

Defending units:
Shanghai SNLF
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
35th Division
6th RGC Division


And then at Hankow it gets REALLY bloody:



Ground combat at Hankow (85,50)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 45945 troops, 576 guns, 121 vehicles, Assault Value = 1484

Defending force 78422 troops, 445 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2383

Japanese adjusted assault: 1630

Allied adjusted defense: 7053

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
7135 casualties reported
Squads: 62 destroyed, 297 disabled
Non Combat: 51 destroyed, 335 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (0 destroyed, 6 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
833 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 90 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 139 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
13th Division
58th Infantry Regiment
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th Tank Regiment
61st Infantry Brigade
14th RGC Temp. Division
13th RGC Temp. Division
11th RGC Temp. Division
57th Infantry Brigade
34th Division
18th RGC Temp. Division
52nd Road Const Co
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Hankow Special Base Force
51st Road Const Co
8th Ind. Engineer Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Army
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
54th JAAF AF Bn
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
22nd AA Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind. Engineer Regiment
67th JAAF AF Coy

Defending units:
45th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
31st Group Army
2nd Group Army
26th Group Army
6th War Area
20th Group Army
3rd Group Army
21st Group Army
33rd Group Army


StoneAge surprised me by shock attacking his way back into Nanchang...my troops were in rest mode but with the river crossing Japan was able to launch an immediate shock attack:


Ground combat at Nanchang (85,54)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 5297 troops, 48 guns, 35 vehicles, Assault Value = 554

Defending force 13204 troops, 70 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 402

Japanese adjusted assault: 164

Allied adjusted defense: 149

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
343 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
616 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Assaulting units:
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade
55th Infantry Brigade
Kyuko Naval Guard Unit
23rd RGC Temp. Division
12th RGC Ind. Brigade
17th Division
Ankei SNLF
138th Infantry Regiment
17th JAAF Base Force
32nd JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
94th Chinese Corps
38th New Chinese Division
23rd Group Army


Since I moved the 1st Shock Army out of Nanchang to defend against the marauding stack of 75,000 IJA troops Nanchang is a bit under garrisoned and could be lost next turn.



And finally in the south near Kukong we have another IJA shock attack:


Ground combat at 80,58

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 7127 troops, 105 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 172

Defending force 8598 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 299

Japanese adjusted assault: 122

Allied adjusted defense: 424

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
557 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
64 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
22nd Division
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
46th Chinese Corps


Im bringing in reinforcements to Kukong by rail and I intend to repay the IJA 22nd Division in a couple of turns.

Again it appears as if Japan is suffering an unsustainable casualty rate in China.

[racndoc]

7/25-7/26/42



SUBS


SS RO-34 puts a torpedo in badly damaged CL Leander to finish her off.

SS I-33 sinks DD Barker.....part of an ASW TF....near Anatom.

SS I-15 sinks DD Monsen....an escort in the CV Hornet Air Combat TF

The next day SS I-15 scores a hat trick by scoring torpedo hits on CV Hornet and CA Salt Lake City.
CV Hornet's escorts force SS I-15 to the surface and sink her with gunfire.



BURMA


Burma Corps shock attacks 5 IJA regiments in Katha causing 2702 IJA casualties and forcing them to retreat into the jungle. Burma Corps had 113 casualties. Most of Burma Corps is sent Shwebo.


The armored spearhead of III Indian Corps has reached the outskirts of Prome and is ordered to assault the city.



CHINA

Things calm down a bit this turn.

Japan manages to get a 2:1 attack at Nanchang and recaptures the city causing 5184 Chinese casualties and 343 IJA casualties.

Another deliberate attack at Kweisui results in 2828 Chinese casualties vs 1865 Japanese.




SOPAC


The IJN carriers disappear into the vast reaches of the south Pacific. CV Yorktown, CV Enterprise and CV Wasp remain on station east of Ontong Java.




DEI


A large IJN SAG with 6 CAs engages PTs at Lautem to no effect and them bombards the base.

IJA troops capture Malang on Java and now control most of the eastern half of the island.

Japan captures Endeh.

[Sardaukar]

You should use Follow-command, if you wish troops to arrive the hex during same turn. Usually, what works for me, is to set units to follow HQ to enemy hex, if you have one in stack. If you do not have HQ, artillery unit is second-slowest, I think. This minimizes the delay and maximizes the chance to arrive to hex as one stack.

Other than that, I think you are doing very well. [8D]

[racndoc]

Thanks Sardaukar......good point on having stacks set to follow an HQ unit. Although my biggest problem in China has been getting units to coodinate in entering a hex together when starting from separate hexes....even when they are traveling on the same types of road or non-road hexes.



7/27-7/28/42



SOPAC


We finally intercept the IJN raiding carrier force(or at least a portion of it) off Nauru as they tried to make good on their escape.

It wasnt a fair fight at all...3 USN fast carriers against IJN CV Hiyo. The clouds over the CV Hiyo affected our targeting but overall US divebomber accuracy was horrible.

CV Hiyo got in the first shot but it was easily repulsed:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Nauru Island at 126,130

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
B5N2 Kate x 5



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 25
F4F-4 Wildcat x 25


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed




CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 17 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
17 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (8 airborne, 17 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
16 planes vectored on to bombers


In the return strike the US aviators scored but a single hit on CV Hiyo:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Nauru Island at 128,128

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD-3 Dauntless x 68


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 22 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1
BB Yamato
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Hiyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes



Morning Air attack on TF, near Nauru Island at 128,128

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
SBD-3 Dauntless x 8


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
CV Hiyo, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Hiyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead



Morning Air attack on TF, near Nauru Island at 128,128

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3



Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 3


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Hiyo, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
Hiyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead



In the afternoon attack the SBD pilots score another hit on CV Hiyo:



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Nauru Island at 128,128

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
SBD-3 Dauntless x 59
TBF-1 Avenger x 3


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 10 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Hiei



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Hiyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hiyo


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Nauru Island at 128,128

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
SBD-3 Dauntless x 8


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
CV Hiyo, heavy fires



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Hiyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hiyo


Finally on the next day the US Navy pilots were able to put CV Hiyo out of her misery:



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Nauru Island at 124,125

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5



Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
SBD-3 Dauntless x 56


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 2
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1



Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 20000 feet
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x F4F-3 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Hiyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Nauru Island at 124,125

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes


Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 4


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..



Morning Air attack on TF, near Nauru Island at 124,125

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
SBD-3 Dauntless x 3


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..



Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Nauru Island at 124,125

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
SBD-3 Dauntless x 51


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 15 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 1
BB Hiei
DD Tanikaze



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Soryu class CV



Scratch one more Jap flattop!

[racndoc]

7/29-7/30/42



DEI


Two 1:1 deliberate attacks at Soerabaja reduce the forts to level 2.

Japan captures Tilatjap and Probolinggo on Java.




SOPAC


CV Hornet has 21 SYS and 24 FLT damage after being struck by a sub launched torpedo. She wil make port in Sydney next turn where she will effect repairs and go offline for her 7/42 upgrades.

CV Lexington meanwhile has fully completed her repairs from the 3/42 sub fired torpedo damage and she is currently making her way across the south Pacific to rejoin the other 4 fast carriers of Task Group 58.

The airfield at Lunga is enlarged to level 4 while Munda is now at level 2 and capable of putting up divebombers.

Japan opens a new airfield at Torokina and Tenth Air Force at Port Moresby immediately goes to work on neutralizing it.



CHINA


The 22 unit "telephone pole" of Japanese troops at Kweisui launches consecutive 1:1 shock attacks. When combined with the deliberate attack from the previous turn Japan has amassed 7400 casualties in 3 days while inflicting 4600 Chinese casualties. There are over a half dozen Chinese corps in Kweisui and Paotow that are chewed up and at the end of their rope. After holding up the Japanese here for 7 months the end is near...possibly as soon as next turn.

Farther south a Chinese shock attack W of Kaifeng results in 900 Chinese casualties while forcing the IJA troops to retreat into Kaifeng and inflicts 3150 casualties. Look at the number of destroyed IJA squads vs disrupted....the entire Japanese stack must be heavily disrupted:

Ground combat at 88,45

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 25251 troops, 174 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1036

Defending force 8432 troops, 172 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 261

Allied adjusted assault: 1336

Japanese adjusted defense: 121

Allied assault odds: 11 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
3149 casualties reported
Squads: 114 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 102 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 12 (7 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 19 (14 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 4


Allied ground losses:
916 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 56 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 56 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
48th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
39th Group Army

Defending units:
Shanghai SNLF
35th Division
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
6th RGC Division



As an interesting sidenote we see the first Banzai attack of the war in southern China as the 23rd RGC Division takes on the Chinese 1st Shock Army:



Ground combat at 84,54

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 502 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17

Defending force 78445 troops, 546 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2580

Assault collapses, attacking force wiped out

Japanese ground losses:
251 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)



Assaulting units:
23rd RGC Temp. Division

Defending units:
99th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese/B Corps
94th Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese/A Corps
78th Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
38th New Chinese Division
85th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese/C Corps
23rd Group Army
30th Group Army
22nd Artillery Regiment
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment



In the far south a Chinese corps shock attacks and recaptures Kanhsien.

[racndoc]

7/31/42

Now that we have reached the end of July its time for another bi-monthly comaprison of ship and aircraft losses and top pilots and replacements.

Attached is a screenshot of the point totals on the info screen.

Probably the most interesting point total on this screen is the comparative Army point losses....at this point early in the war Japan has barely a 3.3:1 advantage in Army point losses.....due mainly to IJA losses in Burma and especially China.

[racndoc]

7/31/42



AIRCRAFT LOSSES


Overall the Allies have lost 2699 aircraft vs 2274 Japanese aircraft. Earlier in the war there had only been a differential of 100 AC between the two sides but Allied AC losses have skyrocketed with the prolonged air battle over Java and the destruction of the Dutch air force.

In A2A its 1462 Allied AC vs 1058 Japanese AC.

Here is a screenshot of Japanese AC losses. Both A6M2 and Oscar losses have ramped up over the last 2 months but especially in the losses of the KI-43-Ic Oscars due to their attritional air battles against AVG P-40Es and the RAF Hurricane IIb Trops.

[racndoc]

7/31/42



AIRCRAFT LOSSES


Here is a screenshot of Allied aircraft losses. Appearing high on the list for the first time are the Hurricane II Trop and P-39D losses. The Hurricane IIb Trops represent the opposite side of the Oscar KI-43-IC equation and the P-39Ds have finally gotten into combat over Java and the SWPAC.

Also notable are the Wellington losses...one of the Allied medium bomber mainstays in the CBI....and notice how nearly 40% of their losses are operational.

[racndoc]

7/31/42



THE AIR WAR


Ive attached a screenie of the top Allied pilots of the war. This is a much more impressive roster than it was even 2 months ago.

Notable is that 6 of the top 10 ACEs are Dutch....testament to the ferocity of the air war that went on over Java. The Ambon Patrouille Squadron was one of the few squadrons able to upgrade to Hurricane IIb Trops so they were kept in Java until the bitter end. As such they were routinely face with odds of 10:1 and worse when confronting A6M2s. Ace F. E. Broer was probably the last to die before the squadron was withdrawn.

The Allies top Ace is Dutch pilot W. J. Blans with 9 kills....he just kept going up at 36,000 ft and the Japs couldnt ever get him. Cant wait until his unit comes back in Australia.

The 4 US Army pilots in the top 10 were all P-40 drivers in the AVG. They were reassigned to other front line squadrons just before the AVG had to withdraw.

[racndoc]

7/31/42



SHIP LOSSES


Allied capital ship losses have ramped up a bit as the IJA subs sink a CV, 2 CAs, 1 CLAA and a CL. Total Allied ship losses so far are:

1 CV; 2 BB; 2 CA; 2 CL; 1CLAA; 9 DD; 1 xAP; 15 xAK; 21 AKL; 6 TK; 5 AO; 5 SS; 3 AVP; 3 AG; 1 AS; 1 AV; 3 AVD; 2 AVP; 1 AGP; 1 CMc; 4 CM; 3 AM; 16 AMc; 3 DMS; 3 ACM; 8 MTB; 11 HDML; 12 PT; 12 ML, 1 PC.


Japanese ship losses dont yet reflect the demise of CV Hiyo due to FoW but currently are:

4 CV; 3 CL; 6 DD; 3 APD; 1 TB; 41 xAK; 3 AK; 23 AKL; 7 TK; 23 SS; 2 SSX; 4 AMc; 1 AV; 7 DMS; 3 AMc; 2 AMC; 1 CMc; 36 PB; 4 SC.

The IJN ship losses that really jump out at me (besides the obvious CVs) are the 23 SS and 36 PB. At this rate by the time we reach 1944 Japan will be woefully short of subs for harassing Allied convoys and warships. And Japan will be short of escorts for their own convoys......so USN subs should have a field day once their torpedo performance improves.

Also the IJN BB I previously thought had sunk in the Carrier Battle of the Northern Solomons obviously made it back to port.





PILOT REPLACEMENT POOLS


Now I have over 10,000 US Navy pilots that I never want to see get their tailhook status:

[racndoc]

7/31-8/1/42




DEI


Two 1:1 deliberate attacks reduce the forts at Soerabaj to zero.

US Army A-24s based at Koepang hit CL Katori with 2 bombs near Raba.



CHINA


Two 1:1 deliberate attacks at Kweisui inflict 3160 IJA casualties vs 2481 Chinese. Chinese AV at Kweisui is down to about 300.




BURMA


III Indian Corps armor captures Prome.

!st Australian Corps orders an attack on Shwebo tomorrow.

[Sardaukar]

Also, start of 1943, your Mk 14 torpedoes have their dud rate reduced from 80% to 60%. So, you should start to see about double exploding hits with US fleet sub torps. And in Sept 1943 is the big one, reducing the duds to 10%.