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

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 11:37 pm

Sardaukar...totally agree with u about the subs. Ive only been posting in the thread about when things go KABOOM but on the average there are about 4 sub interactions every turn where spreads of 4-6 torpedoes are fired but nothing hits/detonates. Allied sub experience increases every day they are at sea and every time they have a combat. So once 1943 comes around and and experience and accuracy are elevated and then the torpedo detonation rate "doubles" I think that the Silent Service will become the scourge of the seas....just like in RL. I will take my chances with a spread of 4-6 torpedoes and a detonation rate of 2 out of 5.

Im actually very impressed with how the AE naval team has modeled the sub/ASW combat compared to stock WitP. In CHS Id end leaving most of my subs in port because Helens were sinking every sub in sight with AP bombs no less.

Here in AE USN ASW capability is horrible at the start. No problem...defensive mine all of your ports to make sure that IJN subs cant stick their nose in them. Start training all your ASW AC from day 1...place them on 40% ASW/40% Train/20% rest. I did the same with all my CV torpedo bombers and their ASW ratings have come up significantly. Upgrade the 2/42 Clemsons to APDs and the 5/42 Clemsons to DEs and and watch how the 3x and 4x DC delivery systems start hitting IJN subs just thru raw numbers of projectiles.

My opponent has overwhelmed my combatant ships with IJN subs on 2 occasions where I actually had to withdraw everything because I couldnt ensure ASW integrity...
Ive had 1 CV sunk, 2 CVs damaged, 2 BBs damaged, 2 CAs sunk, 2 CLs sunk, 1 CLAA sunk and numerous DDs and smaller craft from IJN subs. But now virtually all of my DDs have upgraded to SS radar and have an ASW rating of at least 6. And while my opponent can still create havoc with my combatant ships while employing wolf pack tactics Ive been able to sink a significant number of IJN subs in return.

On the other side of the coin....IJN ASW efficiency increases as the war goes on and I foresee a situation by 1944 when USN subs take a terrible toll on Japanese merchant shipping but USN sub losses continually increase...again just like in RL.

8/2-8/3/42

SUBS

SS I-159 sinks AVP Fazant near Munda.

SS S-40 takes 2 DCs from convoy escorts by Kragen.

DEI

IJA troops capture Loemadjang on Java.

BURMA

The 1st Australian Corps captures Shwebo. All of the corps(1500 AV) are ordered to shock attack across the Irrawaddy River en masse into Mandalay.

Farther south, III Indian Corps armor reaches the outskirts of Rangoon. In 1/42 I was astounded at how rapidly IJA armor moved on the secondary roads to encircle my units.

Now the shoe is on the other foot...and I am still amazed at how much faster Allied armor is than infantry on secondary roads. A halt is placed on III Indian Corps armor until the infantry can catch up.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Fri Jan 01, 2010 5:10 pm

8/4-8/7/42

SUBS

SS KXVIII puts 2 fish in CL Katori near Probolinggo.

SS S-31 sinks AK Okiyu Maru in the Marshalls.

SS Grayling sinks SC CHa-7 off nagoya.

DEI

12,000 Dutch troops surrender as japan captures Soerabaja.

The battle for Batavia is about to begin.

Elsewhere in the DEI IJA troops capture Maumere.

CHINA

After 7 months of resistance Japan finally breaks the siege of Kweisui....another 4000 Chinese are casualties and the trashed remnants of what had been 9 corps and over 2000 AV of Chinese troops are retreated to Paotow....now they barely number 290 AV. It was impossible to hold on here as Paotow would not draw any supply and not only were the ground forces unsupplied but no Allied air could fly.

Now that Japan has finally broken our line here it remains to be seen if StoneAge will drive on Lanchow or Hami. Ive released another 1000 AV from reserves at Sian to head north to Lanchow.

I can only assume that since China could not draw supply as far as Paotow that Japan would not be able to draw supply from Kweisui to Lanchow or Hami. Also if Japan does drive on either city then they will be the ones devoid of airpower while China will be able to commit fighters and bombers from close range.

Here is a screenie of whats left of the Chinese defenders of Kweisui:

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 5:18 pm

8/8-8/11/42

SUBS

SS KXVIII is hit by 6 DCs near Muntok and sinks with all hands.

SS S-40 puts 3 shells into AKL Sasago Maru off Bintan but cuts off the action and submerges after taking 1 hit in return.

SS I-160 sinks AK City of Dalhart by Rennell Island.

SS KXVI puts 3 torpedoes in CVL Shoho near Raba causing heavy damage. Allied subs finally hit an IJN capital ship.

DEI

Japan captures Bandoeng and reduces the forts at Semarang to level 2 as the noose tightens around Batavia.

CHINA

So far StoneAge doesnt seem to be following up his victory at Kweisui with a push into Mongolia. Only 9 IJA LCUs are left at Kweisui of the 22 unit telephone pole that was there during the battle.

Instead, it looks as if a stack of 13 LCUs is moving to reinforce Tsiaotso...maybe this will be the site of the next major Japanee attack.

Lots of manuvering by both sides between Changsha and Nanchang as StoneAge is trying to surround the Chinese 1st Shock Army. Looks like the 2nd Shock Army may need to come to the rescue.

SOPAC

StoneAge sends a powerful SAG with BB Hyuga and BB Nagato to bombard Munda. The airfield and docks at Munda are damaged but no AC are destroyed on the ground.

Some 20-30 Allied 2E level bombers have been striking IJN convoys and warships at Rabaul every turn but they cant seem to hit the broad side of a barn. Looks like Im going to have to get SBDs based within range of Rabaul if I want to shut it down.
Getting a bit frustrated with the pathetic performance of Allied level bombers I place a squadron of Beaufighter Ics on naval attack at 100 feet and they got a few shell hits on some Jap DDs at Rabaul.

Looks like SOPAC will need to make an opposed landing at Torokina for the next advance up the Solomon's chain. From here we can then march into Shortland and then capture the 2 main Japanese bases in the central Solomons. Recon show 3500 Japanese troops at Torokina and some 6000 troops at shortlands. Both bases have their airfields completely neutralized so Allied bombers are beginning to hit the ground troops there to soften them up. Since the next amphibious thrust will be opposed we are waiting for all of the USN APs and AKs to complete repairs to maximize our initial lift.

CV Lexington arrives at Noumea to join Enterprise, Sara and Wasp...she has been out of the war since being torpedoed by a sub in March. CV Hornet is under repair at Sydney. Initially I was given a repair estimate of 70 days for Hornet if placed in the shipyard at arrival. Instead, I placed her on critical pierside repair mode and all the sys and minor flotation damage was completed in only 10 days which ended today and now Im placing Hornet in normal shipyard repair which will take only 40 days....so the initial estimate of 70 days for repairs was reduced to 50 days. And at the same time she is repairing her major flotation damage in port she will also be doing her 7/42 upgrades for no additional time penalty.

BURMA

The 1st Australian Corps liberates Mandalay. While most of the 1st Aussie Corps will continue driving south on Pegu, two brigades of 1st Australian corps will wheel 90 degrees to the east and occupy Lashio both to re-open the Burma Road and isolate the retreating IJA Imperial Guards and 55th Divisions.

Farther south 7th Armored Brigade invests Meiktila and will attack next turn.

In the far south of Burma, III Indian Corps armor enters Rangoon. I only have 270 AV of armor here against IJA defenders with 170 AV so Im waiting for some infantry to reinforce. Somehow over 800 AV of III Indian Corps re-routed itself from the coast road to go cross country thru the jungle and now III Indian is spread out over some 240 miles.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 12:58 am

8/12-8/15/42

SS RO-64 sinks AK City of Elwood by Luganville.

SS I-1 sinks AM Mirimichi off Midway.

SS I-27 sinks CM Willwm v d Zaan near Fraser Island.

SS Swordfish is hit by 13 DCs and heavily damaged by arakan.

SS Halibut takes 5 DCs from IJN convoy escorts off Chef.

SS Wahoo sinks TK Ogura Maru near Olga.

BURMA

1st Australian Corps captures Meiktila.

Originally, I wasnt going to attack Burma until after the monsoon season was over in the fall....I was waiting for the 2nd UK Division to arrive and the newly purchased 267th Armored Brigade to undisrupt itself. After it became apparent that Japan was heavily attritioning both Imperial Guards and 55th Divisions in an effort to capture both Lashio and Myitkina I realized that Burma could be taken in a Coup de Main by the available Allied forces in NE India and Assam.

When I made the decision to attack, all of III Indian Corps and 1st Australian Corps
were sent to their respective railheads at Chittagong and Dimapur. There was no time to let the corps concentrate so consequently III Indian Corps is spread out over 240 miles. Because of that I lost the element of surprise in southern Burma but I think that is more than outweighed by the both the application of overwhelming force and the isolation of both Imperial Guards and 55th Divisions.

Now both 2nd UK Division and completely undisrupted 267th Armored Brigade are loaded up on transports at Calcutta waiting to be offloaded for future offensive ops at Rangoon once its liberated.

DEI

Japan captures Banjoewangi and reduces the forts at Semarang to level 1.

CHINA

Japan launches a costly deliberate attack at Hankow....I only mention it because the effective Chinese AV at the battle was an astounding 11,000:

Ground combat at Hankow (85,50)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 53158 troops, 634 guns, 141 vehicles, Assault Value = 1835

Defending force 52859 troops, 311 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1732

Japanese adjusted assault: 1706

Allied adjusted defense: 11193

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 6

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

Japanese ground losses:
6482 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 344 disabled
Non Combat: 35 destroyed, 423 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 28 (2 destroyed, 26 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1131 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 116 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 153 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
14th RGC Temp. Division
12th RGC Temp. Division
34th Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
58th Infantry Regiment
5th Ind.Mixed Brigade
61st Infantry Brigade
13th Tank Regiment
13th RGC Temp. Division
57th Infantry Brigade
13th Division
11th RGC Temp. Division
18th RGC Temp. Division
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
11th Army
51st Road Const Co
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
22nd AA Regiment
Hankow Special Base Force
52nd Road Const Co
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
54th JAAF AF Bn
8th Ind. Engineer Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Engineer Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
67th JAAF AF Coy

Defending units:
18th Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
20th Group Army
26th Group Army
6th War Area
21st Group Army
2nd Group Army
31st Group Army

Its difficult to fully explain the desperate action in southern China so Ive attached a map to show the deadly Texas Two Step the Chinese and Japanese are dancing.

After the Chinese 1st Shock Army captured Nanchang StoneAge made a concerted effort to surround it.....and succeded with the high speed Jap armor. So 2 hexes SE of Changsha we have the 2400 AV of the Chinese 1st Shock Army besieged by 1800 IJA AV in 3x terrain. All of the hexsides surrounding 1st Shock Army were red...ie Jap control so the army was pinned.

Directly SE of Changsha another 1800 Chinese relief army got tied up with some 1200 IJA AV in 3x terrain so no progress is possible.

I moved a corps on the secondary road from Pingsiang onto the 1st Shock Army hex and the SW hexside is no longer red...yet 1st Shock Army cannot exit the hex in that direction and is still cut off....and even the corps that moved form Pingsiang to that hex cannot move back. Im wondering if this is a glitch or is WAD.

So the 2400 AV of 1st Shock Army is cut off and out of supply and the daily IJA bombardments have reduced both its supply and its AV to 2200.

Im moving another 2200 AV from central China....the 2nd Shock Army....from Hankow down to relieve the troops SE of Changsha...I will not tolerate a loss of 2400 AV. And a massive amount of airpower is being staged in from India to Changsha to assist in the relief operations.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 1:09 am

8/16-8/19/42

SUBS

SS KXIII sinks AK Katori Maru near Soerabaja

SS Haddock sinks AMc Wa4 off Kushiro.

CHINA

StoneAge attacks our 2400 AV 1st Shock Army on the Changsha/Nanchang highway and suffers 8300 IJA casualties vs 1453 Chinese.

Directly NW of this battle 1800 Chinese AV stage two 1:1 deliberate attacks against 1200 IJA AV in an attempt to rescue 1st Shock Army....the IJA troops hold their ground and sustain 4100 casualties vs 4700 Chinese.

I alerted StoneAge to my inability to move the 1st Shock Army across the neutral hexside to the Chinese occupied and controlled hex to the SW(see attachment to previous post). We are currently discussing ways to resolve the issue.

BURMA

III Indian Corps launches a shock attack on Rangoon with 3 infantry and 3 armor brigades.....a 2:1 and then a 1:1 attack reduce the Rangoon forts to zero but it was a pyrric victory....the Allies suffer 3000 casualties vs 1000 IJA casualties. I will have to wait on another assault on Rangoon until the 5 infantry brigades currently at Prome can join the battle.

Meanwhile, 1st Australian Corps wins the race against the IJA Imperial Guards and 55th Division by investing Lashio before the Japanese can make good their retreat. The 1st Aussie Corps also enters Magwe and Toungoo. Attacks are ordered at all 3 bases for next turn.

Burma Corps advances on the IJA Imperial Guards and 55th Division and pins them at Bhamo.

We had turned off the supply draw at Myitkina a couple turns ago and activated supply draw at Mandalay and Meiktila and supply is following the advancing troops quite nicely.

Fishbed · Post by **Fishbed** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 1:15 am

Jolly good job in Burma mate!

Xxzard · Post by **Xxzard** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 2:47 am

Yeah, you have em on the run!

Sardaukar · Post by **Sardaukar** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 8:18 am

And you will soon open the "Burma Road" again, adding 500 supply to China every day. I think with all combat going on there, that is major benefit. [8D]

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 12:58 am

Fishbed et al.....thanks for your comments. In retrospect Im glad that I went ahead and launched the Burma offensive without waiting for the arrival of 2nd UK Division.

8/20-8/21/42

SUBS

SS Pollack sinks AKL Anbo Maru off Hong Kong.

BURMA

1st Australian Corps liberates Taungoo, Magwe and Lashio. Next objective for the 1st Aussie Corps is Pegu.

Ive decreased the supply draw for Meiktila and Mandalay and increased supply draw for Taungoo....now there should be plenty of supply for the upcoming assaults at Rangoon and Pegu.

While III Indian Corps and 1st Australian Corps advance down the coastal roads, Burma Corps will continue to engage and reduce Imperial Guards and 55th Division and will drive down the inland road towards Taung Gyi.

DEI

Japan captures Kalidjati and Buitenzang on Java.

Deliberate attacks at Semarang reduce the forts to level 1.

Betts sink AMc Endeh at Batavia.

The noose tightens around the "Dutch Alamo" at Batavia but they have had 8 months to prepare......1300 Dutch troops with 40,000 supply and level 4 forts await the Japanese onslaught.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 3:52 am

8/22-8/23/42

SUBS

SS Grunion is sunk by escorts of an IJN Air Combat TF but manages to signal Pearl of a positive ID of CV Junyo off Truk before she is lost.

SS O20 takes 2 DCs from TK escorts by Singkep.

SS Gudgeon spots CV Junyo TF with BB Hyuga and BB Ise off Woleai...looks like CV Junyo is heading west.

SS Pollack puts a torpedo in AK Sozan Maru by Samah.

SS O20 sinks AK Sugiyama Maru near Singkawang but takes another 2 DCs in return.

SS KXVIII takes 10 DCs from IJN ASW near Kuantan....with 7 SYS 1 FLT damage she will stay on patrol.

SOPAC

Escorted by 5 USN CVs of Task Group 58, an amphibious assault TF leaves Noumea port today....DESTINATION TOROKINA.

The 1st wave that wil land at Torokina will include the US Army 161st Regiment and 147th Regiment in conjunction with the 154th Field Artillery Battalion.

The 2nd wave that will land after Torokina has been secured includes 4 Seabee battalions, an USN Base Force and 2 USN Port Service Detachments to build up the base. The 2nd wave will also unload the assault forces for Shortlands....the US Army 27th Division and 193rd Tank Regiment, the 14th New Zealand Brigade and the USMC 1st Tank Regiment.

CHINA

StoneAge and I reached an understanding regarding the trapped Chinese stack SE of Changsha. I attached a map of this in post 144 but Im attaching another map here to better explain the situation. Basically StoneAge surrounded a stack of 2500 Chinese AV in hex 83,53. I took control of the hex just SW...hex 83,54...and moved a corps from 83,54 to 83,53. My map shows a neutral hexside between 83,54 and 83,53. However I still cant move from 83,53 to 83,54....not even the corps that crossed from 83,54 to 83,53 can move back. What is even more strange is that Japan is given control of 83,53 even though my troops were the sole occupants of the hex for several turns before the Japanese arrived.

83,53 is 3x terrain and the last time StoneAge tried to assault me there the Japanese suffered 8300 casualties vs 1400 Chinese. Neither one of us can move the other due to the terrain. In the hex just W of 83,53 I have 1800 AV against 1100 IJA AV and again in the 3x terrain its tough for either side to make progress.

StoneAge offered to move his 1100 AV stack W of 83,53 out of the way so the Chinese troops in 83,53 could withdraw on Changsha.

I thought that was a very magnanimous offer and in return I offered StoneAge a full or partial disengagement/ceasefire in China to enable him to send reinforcements to other theatres. I pointed out that the SAA 38th Division had stayed in China and if it had been commited to the SRA it would have sped up the Japanese conquest timeline. As it is, Batavia still holds out as of late August and it will take 4 IJA divisions to root out the 1300 AV Dutch anytime soon. In additon I pointed out that there will be 9 Australian/British/Indian/Commonwealth divisions on the Thai border come September.

StoneAge declined my disengagement/ceasefire offer in China so the war continues.
And im not sure how he intends to stem the tide of Allied troops into SE Asia.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 3:13 am

8/24-8/27/42

SUBS

SS KXIV puts a torpedo in TK Toa Maru near Guam.

SS Gudgeon spots the CV Junyo/BB Hyuga/BB Ise TF by Ulithi...apparently this TF is still heading west.

SS Trout putsa fish in AK Mikage Maru off Hamamatsu.

SS KXVI takes 7 DCs from TK escorts by Muntok....yard time for sure.

SS KXIV sinks PB Fumi Maru off Ulithi.

DEI

13 IJA LCUs enter Batavia...the final battle for Java is about to begin.

Semarang continues to hold out against repeated deliberate assaults.

BURMA

In a remarkable counterattack, Japanese troops in Pegu defeat the 7th Armored Brigade and force it to retreat from the city. 7th Armored was fatigued and disrupted from the long march thru the jungle from India and across Burma....in addition it was beyond Allied air cover and was pounded by Japanese bombers. Air power is supreme in AE. Nice counterattack on StoneAge's part in the face of overwhelming Allied ground superiority. Looks like one regiment of the Imperial Guards and 14th Tank Regiment are among the IJA troops at Pegu...and 14th Tank armor appears to have kicked the butt of British armor.

Most of III Indian Corps enters Rangoon.....looks like StoneAge withdrew from Rangoon to Pegu. Allied troops will liberate Rangoon tomorrow.

2nd UK Division is aboard transports in the Andaman Sea and will disembark at Rangoon next turn following its capture. A SAG centered around BB PoW and an Air Combat TF centered around CV Illustrious are covering the troop convoy. CL Danae and CL Durbin are detached fom the BB PoW SAG and will escort the troop transports up the Irrawaddy Delta tomorrow. Albacore and Swordfish torpedo bombers aboard Illustrious and Hermes spot and attack an IJN convoy heading from Port Blair towards Moulmein but no fish are landed.

7th Australian Division will enter Pegu tomorrow and most of 1st Australian Corps is right behind. III Indian Corps will move on Pegu after capturing Rangoon tomorrow...a convergence of some 3000 AV. An RAF aviation unit will enter Rangoon in a couple days and then the Allies will have some much needed air cover.

Burma Corps enters Taung Gyi today and an assault is ordered for tomorrow.

Things are definitely coming to a head in Burma.

SOPAC

The USN Amphibious assault TF will hit the beaches at Torokina in 2 days after a bombardment TF with 4 old BBs softens up the defenders.

CVE Long Island has embarked a Marine VMF squadron and will provide close in air cover for the transports while the 5 fast carriers of Task Group 58 wil interpose themselves between the USN TFs at Torokina and any possible Japanese air or surface threat.

Japanese airfields at Rabaul, Gasmata, Torokina and Shortlands are all 100% suppressed and Japanese land based air will not be a factor in this operation. Some 70 B-17Es from Tenth Air Force at Port Moresby have been rototilling the beaches at Torokina for the last few days so we are expecting massive disruption from the 3500 defenders.

Just read about the sub radar on the Hudson IIIas in another thread and I found a squadron in New Zealand that has been training for ASW for some time....most of these pilots have ASW experience in the 60s....I bought the squadron and staged it to Munda to provide ASW cover off Torokina. In addition, all of my 75 carrier based Avengers are set on 40% search/40% ASW/20% rest....and most of these torpedo bomber pilots have been training for ASW the entire war. Virtually every USN and Aussie DD in SOPAC has been upgraded to the latest and greatest ASW with a substantial number of DEs present. Individual ASW TFs are escorting both the CV TFs and the amphibious assault TFs...should be a lot of fireworks with the IJN subs over the next few days.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 3:51 am

8/27/42

And here is a screenshot of the current action in Burma:

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:55 pm

8/28-8/29/42

SOPAC.....INVASION OF TOROKINA

The fast carriers of TG 58 sweep ahead of the invasion forces to clear the area of IJN shipping:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 109,131

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 36
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Minekaze, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk

Japanese ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 16000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Minekaze caught transferring cargo ...
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Minekaze

The ASW escort TF for TG 58 somehow gets caught up in a surface battle with an IJN DD off Torokina:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 108,129, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
DD Cushing
DD Farragut
DD MacDonough
DD Worden

Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 89% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD MacDonough at 12,000 yards
DD Cushing engages DD Shiokaze at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Cushing engages DD Shiokaze at 9,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Farragut at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD MacDonough at 8,000 yards
DD Farragut engages DD Shiokaze at 8,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Worden at 8,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD MacDonough at 8,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Farragut at 8,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Cushing at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
DD Worden engages DD Shiokaze at 12,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD MacDonough at 12,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Farragut at 12,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

Day Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 108,129, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Cushing
DD Farragut
DD MacDonough
DD Worden, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 108,129, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 27, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Cushing
DD Farragut
DD MacDonough
DD Worden

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 26,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 26,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards
DD Farragut engages DD Shiokaze at 17,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Cushing at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
DD Farragut engages DD Shiokaze at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Worden at 12,000 yards
DD Farragut engages DD Shiokaze at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
DD Worden engages DD Shiokaze at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
DD MacDonough engages DD Shiokaze at 8,000 yards
DD Farragut engages DD Shiokaze at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD MacDonough engages DD Shiokaze at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
DD Worden engages DD Shiokaze at 11,000 yards
DD MacDonough engages DD Shiokaze at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD MacDonough engages DD Shiokaze at 7,000 yards
DD Farragut engages DD Shiokaze at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD MacDonough at 8,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD MacDonough at 8,000 yards
DD Farragut engages DD Shiokaze at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Worden engages DD Shiokaze at 7,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD MacDonough at 7,000 yards
DD Farragut engages DD Shiokaze at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
DD Worden engages DD Shiokaze at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Worden at 7,000 yards
DD Shiokaze sunk by DD Cushing at 7,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

Looks like StoneAge was attempting to fast transport reinforcements to Torokina.

By the end of the day the men of the 161st and 147th Regiments are ashore at Torokina with minimal disruption. It appears as if the support and motorized support is still to be offloaded by the APs and AKs so that is the time consuming part of the process.

The invasion is somewhat FUBAR....we will need to do better next time. I detached the bombardment TF to ensure that it reached Torokina before the assault transports but it is still out at sea even though it has a higher movement rate...must be a refueling issue with the DDs or something. Also, even though I loaded at least 10 APDs with supplies and topped off all the APs and AKs with supplies there is exactly zero supply ashore at Torokina.....and all the APDs are now empty and only 3000 supplies remain to be unloaded off the assault transports. Evidently supplies are lost during an amphibious assault or a lot of supplies are used up during the operation but we will certainly need more supplies by a factor of at least 10 for our next invasion.

IJN subs were waiting for us and our ASW AC were up to the challenge:

TBF-1 Avenger reports shape below surface at 110, 132 near Shortlands
TBF-1 Avenger reports object near surface at 110, 132 near Shortlands
TBF-1 Avenger reports suspected submarine at 108, 131 near Shortlands
TBF-1 Avenger reports object near surface at 110, 132 near Shortlands
TBF-1 Avenger reports possible submarine at 110, 132 near Shortlands
TBF-1 Avenger reports object under water at 110, 132 near Shortlands
TBF-1 Avenger reports shape below surface at 110, 132 near Shortlands
TBF-1 Avenger reports diving submarine at 108, 131 near Shortlands
TBF-1 Avenger reports turbulence in water at 110, 132 near Shortlands
TBF-1 Avenger reports periscope wake at 108, 131 near Shortlands
TBF-1 Avenger reports possible submarine at 110, 132 near Shortlands
SOC-1 Seagull reports oil slick at 110, 132 near Shortlands
SOC-1 Seagull reports suspected submarine at 110, 132 near Shortlands
SOC-1 Seagull reports object near surface at 110, 132 near Shortlands
SB2U-3 Vindicator reports shape below surface at 113, 139 near Lunga
SB2U-3 Vindicator reports submarine at 113, 139 near Lunga
Hudson III (LR) reports shape below surface at 110, 132 near Shortlands
Hudson III (LR) reports shadow in water at 110, 132 near Shortlands
Hudson III (LR) reports turbulence in water at 110, 132 near Shortlands

TBF-1 Avenger reports shadow in water at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger reports submarine wake at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger from VT-5 attacking SS I-27 at 107,127
TBF-1 Avenger reports submarine wake at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger reports periscope at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger reports periscope at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger reports shape below surface at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger reports suspected submarine at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger reports submarine at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger reports object near surface at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger reports object under water at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports shape below surface at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports object near surface at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports shape below surface at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports possible submarine at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports conning tower at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports conning tower at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports shadow in water at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports radio transmissions at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports radio transmissions at 108, 131 near Shortlands
SOC-1 Seagull reports shape below surface at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
PBY-5 Catalina reports possible submarine at 108, 131 near Shortlands
PBY-5 Catalina reports turbulence in water at 108, 131 near Shortlands
PBY-4 Catalina reports diving submarine at 113, 139 near Lunga
Hudson III (LR) reports conning tower at 108, 131 near Shortlands
B-26B Marauder reports radio transmissions at 113, 139 near Lunga

TBF-1 Avenger reports oil slick at 108, 131 near Shortlands
TBF-1 Avenger reports object near surface at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger reports radio transmissions at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger from VT-3 attacking SS I-31 at 108,131
SS I-31 is reported HIT
TBF-1 Avenger reports turbulence in water at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger reports periscope wake at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger reports suspected submarine at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger reports oil slick at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger reports object under water at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger reports submarine at 108, 131 near Shortlands
TBF-1 Avenger reports suspected submarine at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger reports oil slick at 108, 131 near Shortlands
TBF-1 Avenger reports shadow in water at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger from VT-5 attacking SS I-27 at 107,127
SS I-27 is reported HIT
TBF-1 Avenger reports object under water at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger from VT-5 attacking SS I-31 at 108,131
SS I-31 is reported HIT
TBF-1 Avenger reports suspected submarine at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
TBF-1 Avenger from VT-6 attacking SS I-27 at 107,127
TBF-1 Avenger reports diving submarine at 108, 131 near Shortlands
TBF-1 Avenger from VT-71 attacking SS I-27 at 107,127
TBF-1 Avenger reports suspected submarine at 108, 131 near Shortlands
TBF-1 Avenger from VT-71 attacking SS I-31 at 108,131
TBF-1 Avenger reports diving submarine at 108, 131 near Shortlands
TBF-1 Avenger reports suspected submarine at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports possible submarine at 108, 131 near Shortlands
SOC-1 Seagull reports shape below surface at 108, 131 near Shortlands
SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports diving submarine at 108, 131 near Shortlands
SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope at 108, 131 near Shortlands
SOC-1 Seagull reports object near surface at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports periscope at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports object under water at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine wake at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports diving submarine at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine at 108, 131 near Shortlands
SOC-1 Seagull reports submarine at 108, 131 near Shortlands
SOC-1 Seagull reports shadow in water at 108, 131 near Shortlands
SOC-1 Seagull reports radio transmissions at 107, 127 near Feni Islands
SB2U-3 Vindicator reports object under water at 113, 139 near Lunga
SB2U-3 Vindicator reports submarine at 113, 139 near Lunga
SB2U-3 Vindicator reports object under water at 113, 139 near Lunga
SB2U-3 Vindicator reports shape below surface at 113, 139 near Lunga
Hudson III (LR) reports periscope wake at 108, 131 near Shortlands
Hudson III (LR) reports possible submarine at 108, 131 near Shortlands

The ASW experienced Avenger pilots reported 3 hits on subs....may or may not be accurate with FoW.....but unlike USN assaults at Lunga and Munda not one transport or combatant ship was attacked by an IJN sub.....and thats really the important function of ASW air.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 10:02 pm

8/28-8/29/42......CONTINUED

DEI

Japan launches its first bombardment at batavia. Here is a list of the usual suspects:

Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 28691 troops, 267 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1137

Defending force 40176 troops, 436 guns, 271 vehicles, Assault Value = 1339

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
148th Infantry Regiment
2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy
1st Ind. Engineer Regiment
III./124th Infantry Battalion
Sasebo 8th SNLF
16th Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
24th Infantry Regiment
II./4th Infantry Bn /2
II./124th Infantry Battalion
55th Infantry Regiment
I./124th Infantry Battalion
4th Division
16th Infantry Rgt /3
25th Army
3rd Mortar Battalion
22nd JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
4th KNIL Regiment
Prajoda Garrison Battalion
Manado Garrison Battalion
1st Regt Cavalerie
Marinier Battalion
Lijfwacht Cav Sqn
2nd KNIL Regiment
Van Altena Battalion
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Barisan KNIL Regiment
6th KNIL Regiment
1st KNIL Regiment
Kendari Garrison Battalion
SE Borneo KNIL Battalion
Roodenburg Battalion
VII KNIL Battalion
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
Afdeling Ritman
4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Makassar Garrison Battalion
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
ML-KNIL
Batavia Base Force
Soerabaja Base Force
Semarang Base Force
Madion Base Force
KNIL Army Command
ABDA
1st KNIL AA Battalion
Merak Base Force
1 ML-KNIL Aviation
Malang Base Force

I dont think that Japan brought enough to the party...maybe almost 3 division equivalents and a single mortar battalion. Im thinking about returning the bombardment favor next turn.

BURMA

Burma Corps liberates Taung Gyi. Burma Corps will now advance along the inland roads into Thailand.

III Indian Corps captures Rangoon. The 223rd RAF Group Wing and a heavy AAA regiment arrive the next day and 3 squadrons of Hurricanes are immediately flown in. We will now have air cover over Pegu.

The troop transports also arrive upriver at the port of Rangoon and immediately begin to offload the 2nd UK Division. The 267th Armored Regiment has completed loading in Calcutta and should arrive in Rangoon in a couple turns. With the arrival of 2nd UK and 267th Armored we have nearly 4000 AV in Burma between Burma Corps, 1st Australian Corps and III Indian Corps.

SIGINT reports that the IJA 6/21st Regiment in inbound to Moulmein on an AKL so CL Danae is detached to guard the approaches to Moulmein.

7th Australian Division invests Pegu today. StoneAge has over 20,000 troops at Pegu now and Im sure he will shock attack the 7th Aussies as he shock attacked 7th Armored a couple of turns ago. However, virtually all of the 1st Australian Corps is less than 20 miles from Pegu and should enter the base before Japan can launch an assault. If StoneAge attacks 1st Australian Corps after they concentrate in Pegu his troops will be toast.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sun Jan 10, 2010 2:53 am

8/30-8/31/42

SUBS

SS S-47 sinks AK Delagoa Maru off Toyohara.

SS Stingray pumps 4 shells into AK Oigawa Maru near Hong Kong.

DEI

Two IJA bombardments at Batavia result in 120 Dutch casualties.

The Dutch reciprocate with their own bombardments at Batavia causing nearly 500 IJA casualties.

CHINA

Looks like StoneAge isnt going after Tsiaotso any longer. He has shifted the bulk of his troops in the region to Kaifeng....some 18 LCUs.....and they are either targeting Chengchow or will be turning the Chinese right flank at Chengchow. Chinese reserves are on the move from all directions.

Still all quiet in the far north by Kweisui.

BURMA

As we thought, StoneAge attacks at Pegu just after it is massively reinforced.....Japan suffers 1500 casualties vs 285 Allied. Now there are over 2300 Allied AV at Pegu and the order to counterattack is given for next turn.

Hurricanes based at Rangoon intercept IJA bombers over Pegu.....Japan has lost their air superiority over southern Burma.

SOPAC

Japan sends a carrier TF towards Torokina and it is intercepted in bad weather off Kavieng by TG 58:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Kavieng at 107,122

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 17
SBD-3 Dauntless x 72

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVE Unyo
BB Yamato
BB Hiei
DD Tanikaze
CA Maya

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
18 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
18 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 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
2 x F4F-3 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet *
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kavieng at 107,122

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1
BB Yamato
CVE Unyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
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

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kavieng at 107,122

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei

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

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..

Intel screen shows CVE Unyo as sunk but with FoW we need confirmation.

At Torokina, 161st and 147th Regiments are completely ashore and have at least 2x their supply requirements....a deliberate assault is ordered for tomorrow.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:04 am

9/1-9/2/42

SUBS

SS S-47 sinks PB Ryusei Maru near Kunashiri.

SS Tambor puts a torpedo in AK Kotohira Maru off Saishu To.

DEI

Japanese seige troops at Batavia inflict 82 casualties on the Dutch with bombardments.

The Dutch artillery in turn inflicts 330 casaualties on the IJA beseigers.

SOPAC

US Army troops capture Torokina....the demoralized defenders retreat to Shortlands.

Followup amphibious landings with seabees, aviation engineers and the 27th Division will commence next turn.

No sign of IJN subs this turn around Torokina.....maybe they are starting to respect Allied ASW

CHINA

A Japanese stack with over 90,000 troops, 600 guns and 400 tanks leaves Kaifeng and heads SW on the road to Sinyang and Nanyang. Big trouble here....the entire area is clear terrain and we only have a couple of base forces in the region for flying fighters.

If the IJA 90,000 man stack catches a Chinese 80,000 man stack in clear terrain we will suffer 40,000 casualties....we will have to be very careful with manuver here. The Chinese 2nd Shock Army with 2200 AV is making its way back to Sinyang but may not arrive in time to save Nanyang.

BURMA

An Allied naval disaster in the bay of Bengal this turn. IJN bombers from CVL Ryujo and friends sink CV Illustrious and CVL Hermes. The Allied counterstrike finds the IJN carriers in a "cloud" hex and most of the Albacores and Swordfish abort their mission with no hits being scored on IJN carriers. At least a few of the torpedo bombers and some Martlets made their way to bases in Burma after the carriers were sunk.

The only saving grace from this was that CV Illustrious was due to withdraw anyway in a couple of months. But now the Allies have no flight decks in the Far East. And BB PoW and over a dozen cruisers and DDs must make their way back to safety under the threat of IJN torpedo attacks.

Troop convoys continue to unload at Rangoon. The Allies have 2 heavy AAA regiments
and nearly 60 Hurricanes on CAP at Rangoon so at least there is some protection from the sudden appearance of the IJN carriers.

The Allied naval disaster took some of elation out of the destruction of the remaining IJA forces in Burma. 1st Australian Corps and III Indian Corps cause 7000 casualties out of the 20,000 strong IJA force defending Pegu and the ragged remnants are retreated towards Moulmein.

1st Australian Corps and III Indian Corps will pursue the defeated Japanese army across the Salween River into Moulmein. Once at Moulmein the 2 Allied corps will probably part ways with one corps driving on Tavoy and the other corps driving on Rahaeng and then eventually Bangkok.

Burma Corps will take an inland route towards Bangkok to flank defensive positions Japanese troops put up against 1st Australian Corps and III Indian Corps. Burma Corps will also continue to harass the remnants of the Imperial Guards and 55th Divisions near Lashio.

It cost the Allies a CV and a CVL to unload 2nd UK Divison and 267th Armored Regiment at Rangoon so we better make them count in the drive through Thailand.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 12:14 am

9/3-9/4/42

BURMA

The Allies suffer their second naval disaster in as many turns as StoneAge sends 7 IJN cruisers up the Irrawaddy River to bombard Allied transports unloading at rangoon:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,53, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
CL Tama
CL Kiso
CL Tenryu
DD Amatsukaze
DD Asashio
DD Umikaze
DD Hibiki
DD Murakumo
DD Sagiri
DD Oboro
DD Sazanami
DD Kikuzuki
DD Mochizuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Kamikaze
DD Oite
DD Sawakaze
DD Okikaze

Allied Ships
xAP President Madison, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AMC Corfu, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
xAK Bintang, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Van Cloon, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Nord, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Woolgar, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Maridal, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 69 (28 destroyed, 41 disabled)

Reduced visibility due to Rain with 42% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 42% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
Allied ships attempt to get underway
DD Mochizuki engages AMC Corfu at 6,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages AMC Corfu at 6,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages AMC Corfu at 6,000 yards
CA Mogami engages xAK Maridal at 6,000 yards
xAK Nord sunk by CA Kumano at 6,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages xAK Bintang at 6,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages xAK Bintang at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Kamikaze collides with DD Yuzuki at 54 , 53
CA Kumano engages AMC Corfu at 5,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages AMC Corfu at 5,000 yards
AMC Corfu sunk by CA Mikuma at 5,000 yards
DD Kamikaze engages xAK Maridal at 5,000 yards
DD Sagiri engages xAK Woolgar at 5,000 yards
xAK Bintang sunk by CA Kumano at 5,000 yards
xAK Woolgar sunk by DD Amatsukaze at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CA Kumano engages xAP President Madison at 2,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages xAP President Madison at 2,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages xAK Maridal at 2,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages xAP President Madison at 2,000 yards
xAP President Madison sunk by CL Tama at 2,000 yards
DD Sawakaze collides with DD Yuzuki at 54 , 53
xAK Maridal sunk by CA Kumano at 2,000 yards
CA Kumano engages xAP Van Cloon at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Mogami engages xAP Van Cloon at 8,000 yards
xAP Van Cloon sunk by DD Hibiki at 8,000 yards
xAP Van Cloon sunk by DD Hibiki at 8,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...

Looks like 28 tanks and trucks from 267th Armored Regiment end up at the bottom of the Irrawaddy River.

The IJN SAG hangs around to attack some more transports and bombard Rangoon itself:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,53, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
CL Tama
CL Kiso
CL Tenryu
DD Amatsukaze
DD Asashio
DD Umikaze
DD Hibiki
DD Murakumo
DD Sagiri
DD Oboro
DD Sazanami
DD Kikuzuki
DD Mochizuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Kamikaze
DD Oite
DD Sawakaze
DD Okikaze

Allied Ships
xAP Empire Pride, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Poelau Bras, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Reduced visibility due to Rain with 35% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 35% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards
Japanese launch Long Lance torpedoes at 6,000 yards before allies detect Japanese presence
xAP Poelau Bras sunk by CA Kumano at 6,000 yards
CA Kumano launches Long Lance Torpedoes at xAP Empire Pride at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
xAP Empire Pride sunk by CA Kumano at 3,000 yards
xAP Empire Pride sunk by CA Kumano at 3,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...

Naval bombardment of Rangoon at 54,53

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
CL Tenryu
CL Kiso
CL Tama

Allied ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)

CA Kumano firing at RAF 223 Group Wing
CA Suzuya firing at 45th Indian Brigade
CA Mikuma firing at 2nd British Division
CA Mogami firing at 2nd British Division
CL Tenryu firing at 2nd British Division
CL Kiso firing at 2nd British Division
CL Tama firing at 2nd British Division

To add insult to injury, RN naval units in the Bay of Bengal scattered in the face of unopposed Japanese carrier air. Some of the shorter ranged RN DDs ran for rangoon only to meet up with the IJN SAG:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,54, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 1
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 1
CA Kumano, Shell hits 1
CL Tama, Shell hits 1
CL Kiso
CL Tenryu
DD Amatsukaze
DD Asashio
DD Umikaze
DD Hibiki
DD Murakumo
DD Sagiri
DD Oboro, Shell hits 1
DD Sazanami
DD Kikuzuki
DD Mochizuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Kamikaze
DD Oite
DD Sawakaze
DD Okikaze

Allied Ships
DD Thracian
DD Decoy, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
DD Electra, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Low visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Tanaka, Raizo crosses the 'T'
DD Sawakaze engages DD Electra at 12,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages DD Electra at 12,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages DD Decoy at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Electra at 7,000 yards
DD Decoy engages CA Kumano at 7,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages DD Decoy at 7,000 yards
CA Mogami engages DD Electra at 7,000 yards
DD Decoy engages DD Asashio at 7,000 yards
Palliser, Arthur FE orders Allied TF to disengage
DD Electra engages DD Sawakaze at 7,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages DD Electra at 7,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages DD Electra at 7,000 yards
DD Decoy engages DD Oboro at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Electra at 10,000 yards
DD Decoy engages DD Oboro at 10,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages DD Electra at 10,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Decoy at 10,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Decoy at 10,000 yards
DD Electra sunk by DD Hibiki at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Decoy at 11,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages DD Decoy at 11,000 yards
CA Mogami engages DD Decoy at 11,000 yards
CL Tama engages DD Decoy at 11,000 yards
DD Decoy engages DD Asashio at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
DD Yuzuki collides with DD Kamikaze at 54 , 54
CA Kumano engages DD Decoy at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 15,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Decoy at 15,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Thracian at 15,000 yards
Range increases to 18,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Decoy at 18,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages DD Thracian at 18,000 yards
Range increases to 20,000 yards
DD Decoy engages DD Oboro at 20,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Thracian at 20,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Decoy at 20,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages DD Thracian at 20,000 yards
Range increases to 21,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages DD Decoy at 21,000 yards
Range increases to 24,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages DD Thracian at 24,000 yards
Range increases to 25,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Thracian at 25,000 yards
Range increases to 28,000 yards
Range increases to 30,000 yards
DD Decoy sunk by CA Kumano at 30,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,54, Range 15,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
CL Tama
CL Kiso
CL Tenryu
DD Amatsukaze
DD Asashio
DD Umikaze
DD Hibiki
DD Murakumo
DD Sagiri
DD Oboro
DD Sazanami
DD Kikuzuki
DD Mochizuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Oite
DD Sawakaze
DD Okikaze

Allied Ships
AMC Kanimbla, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Low visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 15,000 yards
CA Kumano engages AMC Kanimbla at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages AMC Kanimbla at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
AMC Kanimbla engages DD Kikuzuki at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Kumano engages AMC Kanimbla at 8,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages AMC Kanimbla at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
AMC Kanimbla engages DD Sagiri at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 15,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages AMC Kanimbla at 15,000 yards
Range increases to 16,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages AMC Kanimbla at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CA Kumano engages AMC Kanimbla at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
AMC Kanimbla sunk by CA Kumano at 9,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,54, Range 14,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
CL Tama
CL Kiso
CL Tenryu
DD Amatsukaze
DD Asashio
DD Umikaze
DD Hibiki
DD Murakumo
DD Sagiri
DD Oboro
DD Sazanami
DD Kikuzuki
DD Mochizuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Oite
DD Sawakaze
DD Okikaze

Allied Ships
CLAA Van Heemskerck, Shell hits 2

Poor visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 14,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 14,000 yards
CL Kiso engages CLAA Van Heemskerck at 14,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages CLAA Van Heemskerck at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CLAA Van Heemskerck engages CA Mikuma at 12,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages CLAA Van Heemskerck at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CLAA Van Heemskerck engages CL Kiso at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CLAA Van Heemskerck engages CA Kumano at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CLAA Van Heemskerck at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 18,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CLAA Van Heemskerck at 18,000 yards
Range increases to 22,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CLAA Van Heemskerck at 22,000 yards
Range increases to 25,000 yards
Range increases to 28,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CLAA Van Heemskerck at 28,000 yards
Task forces break off...

DD Thracian was the last to arrive at Rangoon and she salvaged RN pride by sinking her opponent in a one on one gunnery duel:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,54, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Kamikaze, Shell hits 13, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Thracian

Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 35% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Kamikaze engages DD Thracian at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Kamikaze engages DD Thracian at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
DD Kamikaze engages DD Thracian at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Thracian engages DD Kamikaze at 2,000 yards
DD Thracian engages DD Kamikaze at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
DD Thracian engages DD Kamikaze at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Thracian engages DD Kamikaze at 2,000 yards
DD Thracian engages DD Kamikaze at 2,000 yards
DD Thracian engages DD Kamikaze at 2,000 yards
DD Kamikaze engages DD Thracian at 2,000 yards
DD Thracian engages DD Kamikaze at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
DD Kamikaze engages DD Thracian at 3,000 yards
DD Kamikaze engages DD Thracian at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Kamikaze sunk by DD Thracian at 2,000 yards
DD Kamikaze sunk by DD Thracian at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

The 3rd Carbinier Regiment shock attacks their way across the river from Pegu to engage the remnants of the IJA forces in Burma:

Ground combat at 56,54

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 468 troops, 0 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 50

Defending force 5732 troops, 99 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 136

Allied adjusted assault: 37

Japanese adjusted defense: 339

Allied assault odds: 1 to 9

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

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (0 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Carbiniers Regiment

Defending units:
2nd RTA/B Division
143rd Infantry Regiment
2nd RTA/C Division
Imperial Guards/A Division
43rd Const Co
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
47th Const Co
94th JAAF AF Bn

Im hoping StoneAge stops here to engage me....Id like one more shot at these IJA troops before they withdraw across the Salween.

SWPAC

SWPAC command has been relatively quiescent as SOPAC has stormed down the length of the Solomons.....mainly for lack of aviation and construction engineers.

A SWPAC amphibious TF makes its way to Milne Bay to pick up some RAAF engineers which it will then drop on Buna...this will be SWPAC's next major airbase to be developed and will mark the end of the 1st phase of Operation Cartwheel.

The 2nd phase of Operation Cartwheel will involve the capture and development of the Huon Peninsula in Papua New Guinea...this is scheduled for October 1942.

SOPAC

The followup troops go ashore on Torokina and the airfield there is now fully functional
....a squadron of F4F-4s and a squadron of SBDs are immediately staged in. Torokina can now provide its own air cover.

As soon as the 27th Division has completely unloaded we will begin the march through the jungle to Shortlands.

Task Group 58 rendezvous' with fleet oilers to top off their fuel bunkers.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:53 am

9/5-9/6/42

SUBS

SS S-45 turns AK Sunten Maru into Sunken Maru with a torpedo off Sampit and then takes 2 DCs from her escorts.

SS Narwhal is hit by 2 DCs from TK escorts near Kushiro.

SS Tambor puts a torpedo in AP Kanzyu Maru by Moppo...the AP was full of troops some of which are currently treading water.

SS Trusty spots SAG with BB Mutsu and BB Yamashiro west of Port Blair.

RO-63 is hit by 2 DCs from USN ASW and severly damaged off Kirakira.

SS Truant sinks PB Bokuyo Maru off Tarakan.

DEI

Japan attempts a landing on Flores Island with a Fast Transport TF but is intercepted
by A-24 Banshees:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Larantoeka at 67,113

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2

Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Tachikaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Hatakaze

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Japan captures Semarang.

Dutch troops at Batavia continue to dish out more punishment than they receive in the artillery duel there.

BURMA

StoneAge has no more troops to throw into the breech in southern Burma so commits much of his air force in an attempt to slow down the Allied columns streaming south. Hurricanes based at Rangoon drift over the Allied troops at Pegu and inflict grievous casualties on the Japanese.

When the smoke clears Japan has lost 92 AC this turn vs 38 Allied. Losses include 27 Oscar Ki-43-1c, 24 Lily, 12 Sally, 11 Zero, 10 Claudes(over Truk), 9 Hurricane IIc Trop and 8 Hurricane IIb Trop.

The 267th Armored Regiment.... which last turn was seeing some of its shipboard tanks sink to the bottom of the Irrawaddy River....races 80 miles this turn to engage the retreating IJA troops SE of Pegu....again I find the speed of armor on roads to be absolutely amazing:

Ground combat at 56,54

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4310 troops, 56 guns, 68 vehicles, Assault Value = 523

Defending force 6133 troops, 107 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 154

Allied adjusted assault: 32

Japanese adjusted defense: 243

Allied assault odds: 1 to 7

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

Japanese ground losses:
333 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
293 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 27 (0 destroyed, 27 disabled)

Assaulting units:
254th Armoured Brigade
45th Recce Regiment
3rd Carbiniers Regiment
2/15 Punjab Battalion
7th Armoured Brigade
63rd Indian Brigade

Defending units:
2nd RTA/C Division
143rd Infantry Regiment
2nd RTA/B Division
Imperial Guards/A Division
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
43rd Const Co
47th Const Co
94th JAAF AF Bn

An all-out shock attack is ordered for tomorrow with some 2300 Allied AV...after this the Allies will shock attack their way across the Salween into Moulmein.

I assumed that StoneAge would attempt to evacuate the remnants of the Imperial Guards and 55th Divisions next to Lashio back to Indochina in order to rebuild them with the inexhaustable Japanese manpower and vehicle/armaments replacements. Instead, it appears that StoneAge is keeping them parked on the Burma Road as long as possible in order to deny much needed supply to China. It looks as if I will have to physically move them out....we are looking at 8000 IJA troops on 3x terrain so I will need at least 2 divisions. Guess it was a good thing we brought in 2nd UK Division by sea....2nd UK will rail to Lashio with 3 Burma Corps brigades and shock attack the IJA troops on the Burma Road farther back into the jungle. Unfortunately, I think that I will need to keep 3 Burma Corps Brigades near Lashio permanently to keep the Burma Road open.

Well at least the longer the 2 decimated IJA divisions loiter near Lashio the longer it will be before they can begin to rebuild.

SOPAC.....DESTINATION TRUK

I guess if the IJN carriers can sail the Bay of Bengal attacking Allied shipping and ports the USN carriers can sail the Pacific attacking Japanese shipping and ports.

After topping off their fuel bunkers last turn, the 5 fast carriers of TG 58 conduct the 1st Allied carrier raid of the war by striking shipping around the great Japanese naval base at Truk:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Truk at 112,108

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

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

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 11
A6M2 Zero x 2

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
SBD-3 Dauntless x 69
TBF-1 Avenger x 32

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 25 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 4, on fire
xAK Tarayasu Maru
PB Shonon Maru #15
CL Natori, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Takatiho Maru
xAK Mito Maru
CA Maya
CA Ashigara
xAP Rakuyo Maru
xAP Montevideo Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 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
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1 with A5M4 Claude (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 7 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
Zuikaku-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 24 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Truk at 108,111

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PB Busho Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Choko Maru #2, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring PB Choko Maru #2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Truk at 112,108

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 2
A6M2 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 30
TBF-1 Avenger x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
PB Keijo Maru
PB Kiso Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PB Nikkai Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PB Kohuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Urakaze

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
8 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

CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1 with A5M4 Claude (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring PB Kohuku Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Truk at 110,110

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 1

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
PB Kibi Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
7 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
4 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet

CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1 with A5M4 Claude (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring PB Kibi Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Truk at 112,108

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, on fire

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

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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Yamato

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Truk at 112,108

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 53
SBD-3 Dauntless x 98
TBF-1 Avenger x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 22 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
xAP Montevideo Maru
PB Kiso Maru, on fire
PB Shonon Maru #15
PB Keijo Maru
CL Kuma
DD Minazuki
xAK Tarayasu Maru
PB Nikkai Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tanikaze
DD Fumizuki
CL Natori, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
13 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet *
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
13 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet *
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
14 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet *
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet *
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 5000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
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
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 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
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1 with A5M4 Claude (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 7 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring PB Nikkai Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Yamato

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Truk at 108,111

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
TBF-1 Avenger x 11

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PB Chiyo Maru #4
PB Keiko Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Choko Maru #2, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring PB Keiko Maru

Recon shows 85 ships in port at Truk. Next turn Task Group 58 will sail to a position NW of Truk so the SBDs can pick off stragglers fleeing to the north and west. A squadron of F4F-4s will sweep Truk to minimize IJN fighter cover while the Avengers have the option to attack the port at 9000 feet. After all the dispersed shipping has left the area TG 58 will work over everything left in port at Truk.

Hopefully BB Yamato was damaged heavily enough that she is still within range next turn.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:19 pm

9/7-9/8/42

SUBS

SS I-28 sinks TK Camden near Niuatoputapu.

SS Truant sinks AO Kokuyu Maru by Tarakan.

SS O23 is hit by 6 DCs from IJN ASW and heavily damaged by Bintan....with 60% FLT damage Im not sure she will make it back to Oz.

SS Herring sinks AK Nishimi Maru near Toyohama.

CARRIER RAID ON TRUK

Not one of our 175 plus SBDs flies on naval attack this turn even though SBD search planes spot several PBs and other small vessels and even some search AC score isolated bomb hits.

The Japanese launch an attack on TG 58 with naval bombers from Truk:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Truk at 110,105

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 19
G3M2 Nell x 18

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 31
F4F-4 Wildcat x 53

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 8 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 19 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 28300 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers

Our F4F-4s sweep Truk without loss:

Morning Air attack on Truk , at 112,108

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 8
A6M2 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet

CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1 with A5M4 Claude (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
Zuikaku-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 43 minutes

Then another carrier attack is launched from Truk on the 2nd day:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Truk at 110,105

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 10
G3M2 Nell x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 12
F4F-4 Wildcat x 75

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 4 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (16 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
16 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 9 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 28300 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers

When all the dust settles Japan loses 36 Claudes at Truk.

Two Avenger squadrons actually launch port strikes:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Truk , at 112,108

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 2

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 32
TBF-1 Avenger x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Bomb hits 1
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 2
CVE Unyo, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet
7 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet
7 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x F4F-3 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet
9 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1 with A5M4 Claude (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes

Afternoon Air attack on Truk , at 112,108

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 1

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 17
F4F-4 Wildcat x 31
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet
6 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x F4F-3 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet

CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1 with A5M4 Claude (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 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes

Looks like there are still 85 Japanese ships in port. USN torpedo bombers only carry bombs in port attacks so we wont be able to sink BB Yamato but we can sink the CA and the CVE and cause a lot of SYS damage for the BB.

We are going to stick around for another turn and put everyone on port attack.

We are not just trying to inflict a material blow here at Truk...we are attempting to inflict a psychological blow also. StoneAge has been using Truk as a staging base for the south Pacific and the Marshalls and I want him to think twice before he ever uses Truk this way again.

BURMA

Some 2600 AV of III Indian Corps and 1st Australian Corps inflict a crushing blow on Japan's Burma defense forces:

Ground combat at 56,54

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 59484 troops, 934 guns, 1672 vehicles, Assault Value = 2617

Defending force 6047 troops, 107 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 153

Allied adjusted assault: 2306

Japanese adjusted defense: 51

Allied assault odds: 45 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
3149 casualties reported
Squads: 166 destroyed, 46 disabled
Non Combat: 233 destroyed, 44 disabled
Engineers: 28 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 31 (21 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 8

Allied ground losses:
447 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
6th Indian Division
SSVF Brigade
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
12th Indian Brigade
7th Australian Division
2/1 AIF Pioneer Battalion
16th British Brigade
6th Australian Division
7th Armoured Brigade
254th Armoured Brigade
45th Recce Regiment
22nd Indian Brigade
3rd Carbiniers Regiment
23rd British Brigade
2/2 AIF Pioneer Battalion
2/15 Punjab Battalion
8th Indian Brigade
267th Armoured Brigade
44th Indian Brigade
63rd Indian Brigade
XV Indian Corps
85th British AT Gun Regiment
Eastern Army
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
IV Indian Corps
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
137/155th Field Regiment

Defending units:
143rd Infantry Regiment
2nd RTA/B Division
2nd RTA/C Division
Imperial Guards/A Division
47th Const Co
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
43rd Const Co
94th JAAF AF Bn

Japan's 6000 defenders are cut in half and the tattered remnants are retreated across the Salween into Moulmein. Recon show 7000 troops total at Moulemein and another Allied shock attack across the Salween should reduce them to a kampgruppe.

Meanwhile 2nd UK Division and 4 Burma Corps regiments rail up to Lashio to ensure that we can evict 8000 survivors of 55th and Imperial Guards Divisions from blocking the Burma Road.

The air war continues to rage over Rangoon and Pegu. Tojos make their 1st appearance of the war and 3 are destroyed in A2A combat.

Overall, Japan loses 64 AC vs 31 Allied AC this turn including 36 Claudes, 8 Oscars, 7 Blenheim IV, 6 Hurricane, 5 Nell, 4 Zero, 4 Avenger, 3 Tojo and 2 SBD.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 2:06 am

9/9-9/10/42

SUBS

SS Gar sinks AK Yamagiku Maru by Swatow.

SS Herring puts a torpedo in AK Ishikari Maru off Toyohara.

SS S-41 sinks DD Tachikaze by Soerabaja.

SS Grayback lands a fish on AK Hamburg maru near Gunzan.

CARRIER RAID ON TRUK

Task Group 58 spends its 3rd and 4th day off Truk. I know that the weather is bad but a half dozen bomb hits by over 200 carrier bombers over 4 days....not a good showing for USN aviators:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Truk , at 112,108

Weather in hex: Severe storms

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

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 7

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 12
F4F-4 Wildcat x 39
SBD-3 Dauntless x 136
TBF-1 Avenger x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 39 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1
CVE Unyo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hamakaze, Bomb hits 1

Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 16000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
10 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 16000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
17 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 16000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
17 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 16000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
10 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 16000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
7 x F4F-3 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet
17 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 16000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
11 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 16000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 16000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
6 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 16000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 28300 feet

CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1 with A5M4 Claude (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 5 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes

At least I think the USN carrier bombers sank CVE Unyo.....intel shows 19 A6M2s destroyed on the ground.

Task Group 58 is heading back towards the New Guinea next turn to provide cover for the SWPAC landings at Lae. They will hit Truk one more time on the way out. When CV Hornet completes repairs and we have 6 CVs in TG 58 I think that Truk will be revisited.

CHINA

StoneAge has a stack with 90,000 IJA troops, 600 guns and 400 tanks advancing on Nanyang. Unlike southern China, Japan has a major mobility advantage in the north with all the railroads and since he has concentrated more quickly at Nanchang than the Chinese we will basically evacuate the city. The Chinese 2nd Shock Army is moving back north and is now just outside of Sinyang.

Hurricanes and P-40Es based at Chengchow are sweeping the IJA stack daily prior to massive aerial bombardments by medium and heavy bombers based at Chungking, Changsha, Hengyang, Kweilin and Sian.

Overall, Japan loses 64 AC this turn to 30 Allied AC. Losses include 21 A6M2, 7 A6M3, 17 Oscar, 6 Hurricane, 6 Kate, 4 Val, 5 SBd, 4 Wellington Ic, 2 Betty and 2 F4F-4.

Last time we counted aircraft losses on 7/31/42 the Allies had lost 400 more AC than Japan.....that AC differential is now down to 260 AC.

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