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

[racndoc]

10/11-10/12/42



SUBS


SS I-170 gets 2 DCs from USN escorts off Buna.

SS Haddock sinks AKL Daiten Maru near Shikura.



SWPAC


112th Regiment storms ashore at Lae. An assault is ordered for tomorrow.



CHINA


In the north, 2800 Chinese AV maul the IJA 110th Division between Sinyang and Nanyang:



Ground combat at 84,47

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 69847 troops, 452 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2846

Defending force 12351 troops, 102 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 451

Allied adjusted assault: 3773

Japanese adjusted defense: 69

Allied assault odds: 54 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
6042 casualties reported
Squads: 143 destroyed, 221 disabled
Non Combat: 122 destroyed, 242 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 32 disabled
Guns lost 15 (9 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Allied ground losses:
2059 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 160 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 152 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd Chinese Corps
28th New Chinese Division
40th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
48th Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
71st Chinese/A Corps
22nd Group Army
5th War Area
Red Chinese Army
56th AT Gun Regiment

Defending units:
110th Division



The 80,000 strong IJA stack in the south changed direction from an attack on Kukong to a move on Pingsiang.




BURMA


The 1st Australian Corps captures Rahaeng:



Ground combat at Rahaeng (58,56)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 45894 troops, 671 guns, 1289 vehicles, Assault Value = 2028

Defending force 10652 troops, 191 guns, 121 vehicles, Assault Value = 385

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 1242

Japanese adjusted defense: 313

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Rahaeng !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
3726 casualties reported
Squads: 160 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 170 destroyed, 55 disabled
Engineers: 103 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 67 (61 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 94 (91 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units retreated 17


Allied ground losses:
1114 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 145 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 222 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 37 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 70 (3 destroyed, 67 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
44th Indian Brigade
28th Gurkha Brigade
22nd (East African) Brigade
7th Armoured Brigade
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
3rd Carbiniers Regiment
254th Armoured Brigade
2/2 AIF Pioneer Battalion
7th Australian Division
6th Australian Division
2/1 AIF Pioneer Battalion
267th Armoured Brigade
48th Gurkha Brigade
IV Indian Corps
2/13th Field Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment
8th Medium Regiment

Defending units:
1st RTA/A Division
2nd RTA/C Division
2nd RTA/B Division
6th Tank Regiment
3rd RTA/B Division
2nd RTA/A Division
Imperial Guards/A Division
30th JNAF AF Unit
55th Const Co
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
8th Field AF Construction Battalion
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
43rd Const Co
93rd JAAF AF Bn
47th Const Co
62nd JAAF AF Bn
29th JAAF AF Coy


Some of the 1st Aussie Corps armor will head south straight towards Bangkok while the bulk of the infantry will assault the 22 unit IJA telephone pole at Pisanuloke.


Farther west, the III Indian Corps brushes aside the IJA defenders on the Moulmein/Bangkok highway:


Ground combat at 55,59

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 10890 troops, 74 guns, 63 vehicles, Assault Value = 693

Defending force 1733 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 44

Allied adjusted assault: 589

Japanese adjusted defense: 49

Allied assault odds: 12 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
747 casualties reported
Squads: 24 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Allied ground losses:
465 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
6th Indian Division
23rd British Brigade
22nd Indian Brigade
SSVF Brigade
16th British Brigade
15th Indian Brigade
45th Recce Regiment

Defending units:
21st Infantry Regiment

[Sardaukar]

Do you have any plans to invade DEI? Koepang, for example?

[racndoc]

Sardaukar.....fair question. I havent said much about the DEI for awhile as Ive been very busy in the other theatres.

In the DEI, the Allies still hold Batavia, Koepang, Balipappan and Ambon. StoneAge has taken all of Java save Batavia but with 1350 Dutch AV, level 4 forts and 24,000 supplies I dont think that I will be leaving for awhile. StoneAge did invade Ambon early on but the CD guns sank several of the AKs before the supplies were unloaded.....Dutch B-25s and RAAF Hudsons disrupted the invading IJA LCUs and we were able to destroy the invaders before reinforcements could arrive.

As per RL, I refuse to commit the USN Pacific Fleet in 1942 to defend Singapore, the DEI or the Malay Barrier. Unlike many of the other AARs, I will only commit the USN CVs for defense of Hawaiian Sea frontier, the west coast of North America, the sea lanes from the US west coast to Australia and for Allied offensives in the south and central Pacific until 1943.....effectively the USN CVs stay east of Darwin and Ive played this way in every game Ive started of stock WitP, CHS, Nik Mod, etc. I also will not commit US combat troops to the DEI or the Malay Barrier until 1944(with the exception of SWPAC in New Guinea).

I did make the decision to try to hold Koepang in early 1942. The 18th UK Division had been shipped early on to Darwin. I attempted to transport the 18th UK to Koepang but IJN naval bombers based at Kendari overwhelmed my fighters and several AKs were lost. I did succeed in moving the 53rd British Brigade to Koepang but the rest of 18th UK still sits in Darwin.

Following the completion of the SWPAC landings in the Huon Gulf off New Guinea, I will very briefly detach the USN CVs from SWPAC/SOPAC operations to cover a reinforcement operation at Koepang.

This reinforcement operation will include the remainder of 18th UK, Aussie construction and aviation engineers and a US Air HQ. The airfield at Koepang will be enlarged and once the Air HQ arrives we will be able to fly torpedo bombers.

Once Koepang is built up we will start to develop offensive airfields at Dili and Lautem. Any Allied offensives into the soft "underbelly" of the DEI from Koepang will be done solely with British/Australian/Dutch/NZ troops until 1944.

I could have easily used the USN CVs to drop off a half dozen US divisions on Java along with AirHQs, aviation and construction engineers, and 1000's of supplies during summer 1942. Java could now be a fortress with a couple hundred 4Es that could have leveled Palembang in less than a month.


But then the war and the game would be over.


This is the 1st game of AE for both StoneAge and myself....we are both learning and we have both made mistakes. In some other AARs the Allied players have left the "gloves on" in Burma. In this game, Ive left the "gloves on" in the DEI....with the exception of Koepang its still there for the Japanese to take.

I chose to continue with the land campaign in Thailand as Im still trying to get my hands around the land combat system in AE. However, I have no plans to conduct any strategic bombing from Thailand/SE Asia, Batavia or Koepang until 1/1/44. I will admit that I am a bit frustrated that Japan continues to wage 2 large offensives in China...we just suffered defeats in both northern and southern China last turn AND Im always feeling that Im only a couple of more setbacks away from a serious reversal in China.....using SAA troops including the 38th Division that could have been used to complete the conquest of the SRA or restore the situation in Burma/Thailand. My patience and passivity in the DEI does have its limits as 1943 approaches.

Here is a screenshot of the southern DEI:

[racndoc]

10/13-10/18/42



SUBS


SS Herring is hit by 3 DCs from IJN ASW off Toyohara.

SS Stingray pumps 3 shells into AK Oigawa maru near Hong Kong.

SS Haddock is hit by 11 DCs from IJN convoy escorts near Truk.

SS KXIII sinks AMc Wa10 off Donggala.



SWPAC


The 112th Regiment captures Lae.

The 632nd Tank Destroyer Regiment advances down the road to Nadzab...an attack is ordered for tomorrow.

The initial amphibious lift is completely ashore and the 2nd echelon seabees and base forces are beginniing to unload at Lae.



BURMA


The advance guard of III Indian Corps reaches the outskirts of Bangkok.

Burma Corps captures Uttaradit and now sits just outside of Pisanuloke opposite the 1st Australian Corps.



CHINA


Japan is winning the war of manuver here with the slower Chinese forces.

in the south, the 80,000 strong IJA stack threatens kukong only to reverse course and rout 550 Chinese AV at Pingsiang....the Chinese are retreated after sustaining 9000 casualties. Now the Japanese threaten both Changsha and Hengyang....Im sending 1500 AV of Chinese via railroad from Kukong to hengyang.

In the north, Japanese armor runs circles around Chinese troops in clear terrain to completely surround 1800 Chinese AV besieging Hankow. A large battle breaks out with 3 regiments of IJA armor between Hankow and Sinyang as we attempt to relieve Hankow...in four days of fighting the Chinese suffer 10,000 casualties vs 4000 IJA casualties...the armor and heavy artillery are killing us in clear terrain as both sides rush in reinforcements to the battle. We have another stack of 3000 AV approaching from the north but Im worried they will arrive a day late and a dollar short.

[racndoc]

10/19-10/24/42



SUBS


SS S-30 pumps 12 shells into AK Meiko Maru by Salajar.

SS O16 sinks AK Kamitsu Maru near Manado.


SS S-38 engages in a surface gun battle with AKL Hokuhi Maru off Kendari. SS S-38 lands 8 shells on the AKL but is forced to submerge after suffering 5 shell hits in return. SS S-38 then puts 2 fish into the stricken AKL to end her career.

SS KXVIII sinks AK Tokutu Maru in Cam Ranh Bay.

SS KXVII puts a torpedo in AK Arizona maru by Jesselton.



SWPAC


The 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion captures Nadzab.

SWPAC troops continue to advance inland from Lae in New Guinea as they move up the Markam River valley towards Madang and Hansa Bay.

Salamaua, Wau and Finschafen all revert to Allied control by osmosis.



BURMA


The 1st Australian Corps captures Pisanuloke in a cross river shock attack. All IJA troops in Thailand are now fleeing back towards Bangkok pursued by elements of the III Indian Corps, 1st Aussie Corps and Burma Corps.

Looks like Japan has reinforced Bangkok as there are about 30,000 IJA troops there now.



CHINA


Things are reaching a head in swirling battles across northern and central China.

The Chinese have 2 shock armies manuvering against the 100,000 IJA troops that have been attempting to cut off the Chinese besiegers of Hankow.
Finally with the help of Allied bombers interdicting IJA troop movements we are able to cut 2 two IJA divisions loose from the herd....the 37th and 110th...and pin them in place just NW of Hankow. The ensuing deliberate attack of the 2600 AV of the 2nd Shock Army routs the two IJA divisions and retreats them to the swamps directly W of Hankow. Meanwhile, the remaing 60,000 IJA troops engage in an 8 day battle with the 3rd Chinese Shock Army as we attempt to concentrate just SW of Sinyang....3 IJA armored regiments and massed artillery inflict over 12,000 Chinese casualties in the open terrain while the Japanese suffer 5500 casualties. Now the 3rd Shock Army has completed its concentration of 2800 AV and a massive shock attack is ordered for next turn....we have a chance here to crush Japanese offensive potential in central China plus reopen the Sinyang/Hankow highway. If this shock attack doesnt crush the 60,000 IJA troops tomorrow the 2600 AV of the 2nd Shock Army will arrive the next day. Every bomber and modern Allied fightetr in China is flying here tomorrow to fix the IJA troops in place for hopefully one more day.

Up north the Chinese are taking a beating at Tsiaotso. The terrain make Chinese reinforcement virtually impossible (unless we want the reinforcements to shock attack acros a river into 60,000 IJA troops on 3x terrain). In a series of 1:2 and 1:1 attacks over the last 6 days the Chinese have sustained over 6000 casualties. Like at Pingsiang, the terrain makes it virtually impossible for the Chinese to draw supply here. We will lose Tsiaotso over the next few days but massive reinforcements are making their way towards Loyang....Im hoping the Japanese exploit their victory at Tsiaotso by shock attacking across the river into Loyang....we will have a large Chinese reception waiting for them to return the shock attack in clear terrain.

[CapAndGown]

Admiral,

I have only recently checked out your AAR. I started at the end and was shocked to see how poorly the Japs are doing. So I went to the first page and read for a while, but you must admit, there is a lot here to try to get up to speed. So I wonder if you could summarize why the Japs are doing so poorly or, conversely, what brilliant strategy you have employed to throw them off their game? Was there a decisive engagement at some point? A misallocation of resources? Or simply a Japanese player who is too slow in his rate of advance?

[Xxzard]

That would be, cap and gown, in part Adm Spruance's good strategy in several areas, and a crucial battle near Green Island in the Solomons. Basically it was like Midway, except earlier. You can read about it on page two, it occured on February 21st, with the losses being much like the losses at RL Battle of Midway, though if I recall correctly, Adm Spruance did not lose any carriers, he just had one or two damaged.

That has forced the Japanese into a far more defensive strategy, and Spruance has enjoyed total control of the seas wherever his carriers are.

[racndoc]

Xxzard...thanks for the comments and nice summary of the "Carrier Battle of the Northern Solomons" in Feb. 1942.

cap_and_gown.....StoneAge split up KB......2 CVs were covering invasions in the SRA while 4 CVs were covering landings on New Britain and the Solomons. After a bit of manuvering I was able to engage the 4 IJN CVs in the northern Solomons in Feb. 1942 with 4 USN CVs...StoneAge lost all 4 CVs while the USN had 2 CVs that were severly damaged but were repaired and are now back in the war. That battle marked the end of Japanese expansion in the south and central Pacific. StoneAge was not able to construct adequate defenses in the Solomons or Papua New Giunea and now SOPAC and SWPAC respectively are both 6-9 months ahead of RL timetable.


On land, StoneAge made a great landing in Malaya behind Allied lines at Kuantan in Jan. 1942. He cut off the bulk of the Malayan Army from Singapore including most of III Indian Corps. Unable to" fight to the last man" in Singapore, I was able to airlift ALL of III Indian Corps out of their pocket at Temuloh to Sumatra and thence by ship to India to rebuild. StoneAge also outflanked the main Allied line in Burma by bypassing Pegu....that forced Burma Corps to retreat en masse to Myitkina where it rebuilt. The rebuilt Burma Corps and III Indian Corps gave the Allies an extra 2000 AV to assault Burma with in summer 1942.....add in all of the 1st Australian Corps, 2nd UK Division and Eastern Command non-restricted units and the Allies have overwhelming force in SE Asia.



10/25-10/26/42



SUBS


SS I-174 sinks SS Seadragon near Munda...thats the 1st sub Ive lost to an IJN sub in the war.

SS Kingfish sinks AMc Tamo Maru off Tanegashima.



BURMA


All IJA units in Thailand are in headlong retreat towards Bangkok. Allied armor gets in the rear of retreating RTA units and a battle of opposing troops in
"move" mode breaks out:


Ground combat at 58,58

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 3719 troops, 77 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 173

Defending force 2998 troops, 44 guns, 410 vehicles, Assault Value = 334

Japanese adjusted assault: 15

Allied adjusted defense: 136

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 9

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker: op mode(-), shock(+), disruption(-), morale(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1344 casualties reported
Squads: 97 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 58 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Assaulting units:
6th RTA/A Division
2nd RTA Division
6th RTA/B Division
1st RTA/A Division

Defending units:
7th Armoured Brigade
267th Armoured Brigade


The Allied advance in Thailand has out ran their air cover from Moulmein and Rangoon. Allied level bombers without fighter escort are hit hard and will now be grounded until forward airfields can be obtained.




CHINA



We catch the 60,000 troop IJA army outside Sinyang with 2800 AV in clear terrain but its the Chinese who suffer horrific casualties:


Ground combat at 85,49

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 74897 troops, 466 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2839

Defending force 34663 troops, 355 guns, 339 vehicles, Assault Value = 984

Allied adjusted assault: 1431

Japanese adjusted defense: 970

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1773 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 113 disabled
Non Combat: 47 destroyed, 225 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 184 (136 destroyed, 48 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
7324 casualties reported
Squads: 51 destroyed, 438 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 406 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 34 disabled


Assaulting units:
89th Chinese/C Regiment
59th Chinese/A Corps
59th Chinese/C Corps
98th Chinese Corps
70th Chinese/A Corps
70th Chinese/C Corps
8th New Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese/A Corps
68th Chinese/C Corps
15th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese/B Corps
68th Chinese/A Corps
47th Chinese Corps
89th Chinese/A Corps
57th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese/B Corps
70th Chinese/B Corps
7th Chinese Corps
88th Chinese/C Corps
68th Chinese/B Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
95th Chinese/C Corps
3rd War Area
10th Group Army

Defending units:
12th Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Division
60th Infantry Brigade
6th RGC Division
1st Army
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Army
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment



Ground combat at 85,49

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 69814 troops, 502 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5016

Defending force 32417 troops, 355 guns, 218 vehicles, Assault Value = 854

Allied adjusted assault: 432

Japanese adjusted defense: 795

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
2514 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 123 disabled
Non Combat: 29 destroyed, 177 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 14 (0 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 34 (24 destroyed, 10 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
6110 casualties reported
Squads: 39 destroyed, 494 disabled
Non Combat: 78 destroyed, 344 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Assaulting units:
55th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese/B Corps
90th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
89th Chinese/C Regiment
28th New Chinese Division
38th Chinese Corps
88th Chinese/C Corps
71st Chinese/A Corps
59th Chinese/C Corps
59th Chinese/A Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
48th Chinese Corps
70th Chinese/A Corps
57th Chinese Corps
89th Chinese/A Corps
95th Chinese/A Corps
68th Chinese/C Corps
15th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese/B Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
7th Chinese Corps
70th Chinese/C Corps
95th Chinese/B Corps
98th Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
68th Chinese/A Corps
70th Chinese/B Corps
8th New Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese/C Corps
Red Chinese Army
10th Group Army
3rd War Area
22nd Group Army
5th War Area
56th AT Gun Regiment

Defending units:
60th Infantry Brigade
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Division
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
6th RGC Division
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Army
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
11th Army
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment



The Chinese suffer some 13,500 casualties. After the 2 Chinese armies merged I was expecting to have some 5300 AV....but after all the losses the Chinese have only 4600 AV and over half is heavily fatigued and disrupted. Ive come to the conclusion that its difficult to shock attack large IJA stacks that have lots of heavy artillery....the Chinese just suffer too much fatigue and disruption beofre they can launch their attacks. Looks like the Japanese and Chinese have reached a bloody stalemate here.

We manage to hold on at Tsiaotso...Japan can launch only a 1:2 attack and the casualties are 1000 Japs to 700 Chinese....these losses are less than half what they had been running so I wonder if IJA artillery is low on supply.

In the far south, the Chinese are launching a minor offensive. 2 Chinese corps will be shock attacking pakhoi next turn while 2 additional Chinese corps march on Kwangchowan.



SWPAC


Ive attached a screenshot of the SWPAC advance here up the Markam River towards Saidor, Madang and Hansa Bay.

[racndoc]

10/27-10/28/42



SUBS


SS Kingfish sinks PB Urobuku Maru off Tanegashima.



CHINA


In the far south, Chinese troops recapture Pakhoi.

Two Chinese corps advance to the outskirts of Kwangchowan.



BURMA


The 1st Australian Corps crushes the Japanese rear guard on the Pisanuloke/Bangkok highway. Advance elements of the 1st Aussie Corps are now within 80 miles of Bangkok.


The Allies had approximately 100,000 supplies at Myitkina at the start of the Burma offensive in July, 1942.

When the Burma Road was re-opened 6 weeks ago(9/15/42) the Allies had approximately 150,000 supplies in Burma.

Now the Allies have approximately 185,000 supplies in Burma/Thailand.

At the same time, supply has dropped precipitously in China. We switched to v.1097 about the same as the opening pof the Burma Road....and I thought that v. 1097 was supposed to improve the Chinese supply. Instead, China has been sucked dry of supply while Burma continues to increase. im wondering if Burma is pulling supplies out of China....EVEN with the Burma Road open.

The Burma Road is supposed to send 500 supplies/day into China or about 15,000 per month. At the same time I thought that the 15,000 supplies per month would be subtracted from Burma. Obviously neither of these is happening.

Three questions regarding the Burma Road:

1) When the Burma Road draws supply from Burma, where is it pulled from(Rangoon? Lashio?)?
2) When the Burma Road sends 500 supplies to China where does it end up?
3) Can supply draw arrows in Burma suck the daily Burma Road supplies in China back to Burma?

[racndoc]

10/29-10/30/42



SUBS


SS Thresher torpedoes AK Asama Maru off Sapporo.

SS O24 is hit by 6 DCs from IJN ASW by Bunguran.

SS Shad sinks AMc Wa6 near Nagoya.

SS Trusty puts a torpedo in AK Kinai Maru off Palembang but takes 11 DCs in return from convoy escorts.



CHINA


Japan's southern army launches a 1:2 attack in wooded terrain outside of Changsha:


Ground combat at 82,53

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 68739 troops, 801 guns, 338 vehicles, Assault Value = 2388

Defending force 51060 troops, 284 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1915

Japanese adjusted assault: 1488

Allied adjusted defense: 1995

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
3804 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 167 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 174 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
Vehicles lost 8 (0 destroyed, 8 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
3968 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 256 disabled
Non Combat: 22 destroyed, 155 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 8 (0 destroyed, 8 disabled)


Assaulting units:
52nd Infantry Brigade
22nd Division
17th Division
115th Infantry Regiment
38th Division
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
69th Ind.Infantry Battalion
39th Division
15th Division
102nd Infantry Regiment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
5th RF Gun Battalion
4th Mortar Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
13th Army
56th Field AA Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
47th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
54th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
3rd New Chinese Corps
44th Chinese Corps
74th Chinese/B Corps
NCAC
9th War Area
29th Group Army
32nd Group Army


A fairly bloody battle as Japan again masses considerable artillery here.

Chinese troops contiue to secure the southeastern corner of China....after capturing Pakhoi they will liberate Kwangchown next turn....that should give the Chinese another 600 supplies per month and the Chinese need every supply they can lay their hands on.

The extremely low level of supply in China that Ive experienced since the last patch has degraded from a being a constant irritant to raising considerable alarm over the possibility of a complete Chinese collapse. Prior to the latest patch I consistently had 35,000 plus supplies in Chungking and 15,000 plus supplies in Changsha. Post patch I have less than 14,000 supplies in Chungking and 4000 supplies in Changsha......it seems as if there is less than 50,000 free supplies (outside of the inboard supplies of the indiviidual units) in all of China.

The supply in Burma continues to grow no matter how fast I try to use it while in China it disappears even as Chinese troops merely defend and AC squadrons are grounded. Ive moved a half dozen AC transport squadrons to Ledo to fly supplies directly into Chengtu. The Burma Road does not appear to be mitigating the supply shortage at all.

Im toying with the idea of sending the Chinese corps at Pakhoi and Kwangchowan to cross the Indochina border towards Hanoi and link up with an armored thrust from central Thailand to be called OPERATION COBRA.



BURMA/THAILAND


Powerful Allied reinforcements including 2 Chindit brigades and the 268th Motorized Brigade are now being railed thru Burma to Moulmein.

III Indian Corps with 1400 AV is ordered to shock attack across the river delta into Ayuthia.

Advance elements of the 2300 AV of 1st Australian Corps and Burma Corps race within 120 miles of Bangkok.

Due to the critical supply shortage post patch in China, Im beginning initial planning for a fast moving thrust across Thailand into Indochina to open up a main highway into SE China. This thrust will be called OPERATION COBRA. OPERATION COBRA will consist of 3 armored brigades(7th, 254th, 267th) and a motorized brigade(268th) with over 600 AV followed by Burma Corps. OPERATION COBRA would be initiated when the Allied troops reach the road junction 40 miles N of Ayuthia....here the 4 mech brigades will wheel 90 degrees to the east and race across central Thailand to Indochina. In Indochina the mech brigades will link up with Chinese forces at Hanoi. Bangkok would be reduced by III Indian Corps and 1st Australian Corps concurrent with OPEARTION COBRA.

Ive attached a map with the proposed axis of advance for OPERATION COBRA.

[Sardaukar]

Consider before crossing to Indochina, Japan will get some sizable reinforcements in form of Vietnamese units. This is representing Vietminh etc. hostile elements.

That in mind, I'd not even bother with Udon Thani and Ubon. But if you have enough troops available, Indochina is of course viable option.

[racndoc]

Sardaukar....Dont the Vietnamese only get 3 units if the Allies violate the border? If the quality of the Vietnamese units is anything like the Thai RTA units they shouldnt be too much trouble.



10/31-11/1/42



SUBS


SS I-174 is hit by 2 DCs from USN ASW near Vella Lavella.



BURMA/THAILAND


III Indian Corps should be entering Ayuthia via shock attack next turn.

1st Australian Corps closes in on Ayuthia from the north.

Meanwhile StoneAge sends a cruiser force to bombard III Indian Corps troops besieging Moulmein:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Tavoy at 54,60

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
CL Tenryu
CL Kiso
CL Tama
DD Murakumo
DD Hibiki
DD Akatsuki
DD Umikaze
DD Yamakaze
DD Arashio
DD Asashio
DD Amatsukaze


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


CA Kumano firing at 12th Indian Brigade
CA Suzuya firing at 12th Indian Brigade
CA Mikuma firing at 46th Indian Brigade
CA Mogami firing at 8th Indian Brigade
CL Tenryu firing at 8th Indian Brigade
CL Kiso firing at 12th Indian Brigade
CL Tama firing at 12th Indian Brigade
DD Murakumo firing at 8th Indian Brigade
DD Hibiki firing at 46th Indian Brigade
DD Akatsuki firing at 12th Indian Brigade
DD Umikaze firing at 12th Indian Brigade
DD Yamakaze firing at 12th Indian Brigade
DD Arashio firing at 8th Indian Brigade
DD Asashio firing at 12th Indian Brigade
DD Amatsukaze firing at 8th Indian Brigade


The opposing forces at Moulmein are numerically even....3 Allied Indian brigades vs 3 RTA brigades. The RTA brigades are much lower quality but I hesitate to assault here with the 3x terrain. As much as I want (and need) a level 4 forward airbase in Thailand I wont be attacking here until after the capture of Bangkok.



CHINA


The lack of supply throughout China is reaching a critical point.

After holding Japan at bay at Tsiaotso for nearly a year the Chinese defenders are rudely evicted:



Ground combat at Tsiaotso (88,42)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35482 troops, 365 guns, 108 vehicles, Assault Value = 1198

Defending force 23707 troops, 137 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 573

Japanese adjusted assault: 1110

Allied adjusted defense: 535

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tsiaotso !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1147 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 107 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
6333 casualties reported
Squads: 274 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 442 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 75 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 20 (20 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 10


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

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

Defending units:
16th Chinese/A Corps
42nd Chinese Corps
16th Chinese/B Corps
61st Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
16th Chinese/C Corps
8th Group Army
7th Group Army
4th Group Army
36th Group Army


Just like at Pinsiang a month earlier the overall lack of supply in China is affecting the combat results. Chinese troops could have held out at Tsiaotso much longer in the 3x terrain but the lack of supply barely nudged the odds to a 2:1. Tsiaotso was producing 40 supplies/day with the LI but I never saw more than 20 free suply in the base at anytime.

The Chinese have 3200 AV and only 20 supplies next door at Loyang and 1500 AV and 20 supplies at Chengchow so I imagine StoneAge could roll up the entire line here if he chose to(and these 2 bases are supposed to be producing 80 supplies per day).

Farther south outside of Sinyang StoneAge has massed 100,000 troops, 600 guns and 400 tanks in a hex with 4600 Chinese AV....its clear terrain so I should probably vacate the hex in case the Japanese get a lucky die roll with their heavy artillery...dont want to see 2000 AV of Chinese casualties in one turn. At least Sinyang is one of the few cities in China with more than 20 supplies(1500 supplies in fact).

In the far south the Chinese capture Kwangchowan. Chinese troops in the area will now mass on the Indochinese border.

[racndoc]

11/2-11/3/42



SUBS


SS I-174 is hit by 2 DCs from USN ASW by Vella lavella.



SWPAC


The 112th Calvary Regiment along with the Americal Divison marches within 40 miles of Madang.

USMC paratoops enter Saidor and an assault is ordered for tomorrow.



BURMA/THAILAND


III Indian Corps shock attacks their way into Ayuthia. An all out deliberate attack is ordered for tomorrow.

Allied armor runs into our old friends....the "A" regiment of the Imperial Guards.....and routs them just north of Ayuthia:



Ground combat at 57,60

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5749 troops, 56 guns, 588 vehicles, Assault Value = 593

Defending force 1936 troops, 35 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 80

Allied adjusted assault: 401

Japanese adjusted defense: 7

Allied assault odds: 57 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1515 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 47 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 6 (5 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (0 destroyed, 6 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
254th Armoured Brigade
2/1 AIF Pioneer Battalion
7th Armoured Brigade
3rd Carbiniers Regiment
267th Armoured Brigade

Defending units:
Imperial Guards/A Division



The armored brigades will now march due east towards Udon Thani while the 1st Australian Corps will continue its march south to link up with III Indian Corps in Ayuthia.



CHINA


StoneAge launches a massive attack on our 4600 AV stack outside of Sinyang:



Ground combat at 85,49

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 71884 troops, 733 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 2524

Defending force 131961 troops, 869 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4547

Japanese adjusted assault: 367

Allied adjusted defense: 2527

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 6

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker: disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
11471 casualties reported
Squads: 77 destroyed, 646 disabled
Non Combat: 111 destroyed, 424 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 28 disabled
Vehicles lost 26 (14 destroyed, 12 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
6225 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 473 disabled
Non Combat: 81 destroyed, 507 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 11 (3 destroyed, 8 disabled)


Assaulting units:
116th Division
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
41st Division
3rd Division
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
51st Infantry Brigade
60th Infantry Brigade
RGC Capital Brigade
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
40th Division
6th RGC Division
11th Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
1st Army
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
59th Chinese/C Corps
38th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese/B Corps
40th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
70th Chinese/B Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
95th Chinese/A Corps
68th Chinese/A Corps
57th Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
70th Chinese/C Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
28th New Chinese Division
59th Chinese/A Corps
48th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese/C Corps
88th Chinese/C Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
98th Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
71st Chinese/A Corps
95th Chinese/C Corps
22nd Group Army
5th War Area
Red Chinese Army
10th Group Army
3rd War Area
56th AT Gun Regiment


The IJA troops suffer 11,000 casualties and Im sure they are horribly disrupted. However, StomneAge is able to to reinforce his stack with another 20,000 troops(one division) on the next day. It looks like a golden opportunity for China to shock attack a heavily disrupted IJA bstack in clear terrain but with another 100,000 IJA troops available next door in Wuchang its just too easy for StoneAge to reinforce. Last time I attacked at 1:1 odds here I suffered 12,000 IJA casualties and anothjer debacle now like that would cause our entire position in central China to collapse.


Ive attached a map of the Burma/China border and AMAZINGLY I was able to use the supply draw arrows to move 53,000 supplies into Paoshan this turn. Now Im setting the supply draw in Paoshan next turn to zero and increasing supply draw in Tsuyung and Kunming to draw the 53,000 supplies farhter east.

I think that the power of the supply draw arrows makes the Burma Road 500 supplies/day feature largely irrelevant.

[CapAndGown]

If I were the Japanese player, this game would be no fun at all. Commonwealth troops overrunning Thailand in 1942? That's insane. I must give it to your opponent: he's got a lot of fortitude to continue playing a game that is clearly going to be lost by the end of 1943. All you have to do is march down to Saigon and Cam Rahn bay and his supply lines to the DEI will be cut.

[Fishbed]

Well if he was ready to give up on China and start to play a defensive war up there, I guess he could have the needed troops to counter Spruance...!

[racndoc]

cap_and-gown...Fishbed was correct. Ive given StoneAge several opportunities for partial/full disengagement/ceasefire in China to allow him to reallocate troops for the defense of Burma/Thailand or for completing the acquistion of the SRA...... but so far he refuses so the war continues.




11/4-11/5/42



SUBS


SS Kingfish sinks AMc Takunan maru near Tanegashima.

SS Blackfish surfaces off Ominato to pump 6 shells into AK Hyuzan Maru.



SWPAC


SWPAC troops capture Saidor.

The airfield at Lae has been enlarged to level 4.



CHINA


We have been able to pull supply from Burma farther into China. Changsha now has 50,000 supplies(2000 a week ago) and Hengyang has increased supply from 20 to 7000. Chungking has had supply increase from 13,000 to 19,000 while Chengtu increased from 20 to 8000...although much of that supply is being flown in by the 120 transport AC based at Ledo.

Even Tsuyung has increased in supply from 20 to 6000 and Kunming has increased from 20 to 5000.

Now if I could only get the supply to flow from Changsha to Ichang-Nanyang-Sinyang-Chengchow-Loyang.

Id just like to know what happened to all the supplies China has been producing for the last 11 months in Tsiaotso, Loyang, Chengchow, Lanchow, Sian, Sining, Urumchi...they alone should be producing 280 supplies/day. Whatever is happening I have virtually no supplies in northern China.



BURMA/THAILAND



III Indian Corps overruns Ayuthia:


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

Ground combat at Ayuthia (56,61)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14603 troops, 256 guns, 146 vehicles, Assault Value = 1330

Defending force 6374 troops, 169 guns, 81 vehicles, Assault Value = 92

Allied adjusted assault: 284

Japanese adjusted defense: 47

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Ayuthia !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
2255 casualties reported
Squads: 83 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 71 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 67 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 71 (69 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 74 (72 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 11


Allied ground losses:
294 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units pursuing 3


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
16th British Brigade
2nd British Division
22nd Indian Brigade
23rd British Brigade
15th Indian Brigade
14th British Brigade
6th Indian Division
26th Indian Brigade
45th Recce Regiment
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
137/155th Field Regiment

Defending units:
21st Infantry Regiment
3rd RTA/B Division
Imperial Guards/A Division
35th Fld AA Gun Co
15th JAAF AF Bn
15th Const Co
1st RF Gun Battalion
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
26th Fld AA Gun Co
3rd Air Division
22nd JAAF AF Bn


Most of III Indian Corps has accumulated fatigue so I will rest them for a few days until the 1st Australian Corps arrives....and then they will attack Bangkok in mass.

the Air HQ
OPERATION COBRA commences as Allied armor pushes hard to the east after reaching the road junction just north of Ayuthia. They are ordered to attack IJA blocking forces on the Bangkok/Udon Thani highway next turn.

Now that supply has been flowing to China....the supply situation in Burma/Thailand is becoming critically scarce. One week ago we had over 185,000 supplies in Burma/Thailand....now there are about 65,000 supplies. We will need to start bringing in supplies by sea to Rangoon if the offensive is to continue.


Allied forces are getting hit hard by the Japanese bombers based at Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima. We had advanced beyond our fighter coverage but now with the capture of Ayuthia we will railroad aviation engineers there next turn from Pisanuloke. Once the airfield is repaired at Ayuthia we will be able to LRCAP our forces asssaulting Bangkok.

Im considering a large aerial operation to destroy Japanese land based air in Thailand.....OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER. The Allied airfield at Moulmein is now 60% of the way to level 7...as soon as it reaches level 7 the Air HQ present will turn it into a "magic" level 10 airfield with unlimited stacking and flight ops...and then OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER can commence.

[racndoc]

11/6-11/7/42



CHINA


Japanese artillery fire absolutely devastates my 4600 AV Chinese shock army outside of Sinyang:



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

Ground combat at 85,49

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 76489 troops, 847 guns, 155 vehicles, Assault Value = 2525

Defending force 126875 troops, 866 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4195

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
6501 casualties reported
Squads: 159 destroyed, 238 disabled
Non Combat: 126 destroyed, 345 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 20 disabled
Guns lost 45 (13 destroyed, 32 disabled)


Assaulting units:
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
51st Infantry Brigade
37th Division
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Division
60th Infantry Brigade
RGC Capital Brigade
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
116th Division
41st Division
40th Division
6th RGC Division
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
11th Army
1st Army
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
55th Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
88th Chinese/C Corps
59th Chinese/A Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
59th Chinese/C Corps
48th Chinese Corps
28th New Chinese Division
70th Chinese/C Corps
95th Chinese/A Corps
47th Chinese Corps
71st Chinese/A Corps
68th Chinese/C Corps
70th Chinese/B Corps
98th Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese/B Corps
90th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese/A Corps
91st Chinese Corps
95th Chinese/C Corps
10th Group Army
Red Chinese Army
22nd Group Army
5th War Area
3rd War Area
56th AT Gun Regiment




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

Ground combat at 85,49

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 76917 troops, 847 guns, 156 vehicles, Assault Value = 2562

Defending force 122439 troops, 857 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3948

Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
5079 casualties reported
Squads: 241 destroyed, 129 disabled
Non Combat: 148 destroyed, 262 disabled
Engineers: 26 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 71 (22 destroyed, 49 disabled)


Assaulting units:
3rd Division
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
37th Division
60th Infantry Brigade
RGC Capital Brigade
41st Division
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
116th Division
40th Division
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
51st Infantry Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
6th RGC Division
11th Army
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
1st Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
38th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
55th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese/C Corps
47th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese/A Corps
40th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
28th New Chinese Division
91st Chinese Corps
70th Chinese/B Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
70th Chinese/C Corps
76th Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese/C Corps
59th Chinese/B Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
88th Chinese/C Corps
71st Chinese/A Corps
59th Chinese/A Corps
48th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese/A Corps
95th Chinese/C Corps
3rd War Area
10th Group Army
5th War Area
22nd Group Army
Red Chinese Army
56th AT Gun Regiment


Not only do the Chinese suffer 11,000 casualties from 2 bombardments but the ENTIRE stack of combat units is at least 80% disrupted....all StoneAge's troops have to do next turn is lean on them and they will crumble. If StoneAge assaults the stack next turn they are dead. If StoneAge doesnt attack next turn he will certainly assault them the turn after next....all Chinese units are put in "move" mode in an attmept to leave the hex(Ive been trying to leave the hex for the last 4 days in combat mode).

Im probably gonna see 40,000-50,000 casualties here next turn....and the Chinese center will probably crumble. After this display of IJA artillery power Im not going to feel too bad about what my 4Es do to Japan in 2 turns.

Chinese supply draw stops at Changsha....I cant seem to get supply tp draw any farther north.



BURMA/THAILAND


OPERATION COBRA armor overruns IJA resistance as they drive on Udon Thani:



Ground combat at 59,60

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6637 troops, 62 guns, 795 vehicles, Assault Value = 560

Defending force 1748 troops, 73 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 99

Allied adjusted assault: 349

Japanese adjusted defense: 17

Allied assault odds: 20 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
697 casualties reported
Squads: 45 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 4


Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
7th Armoured Brigade
3rd Carbiniers Regiment
254th Armoured Brigade
267th Armoured Brigade

Defending units:
6th RTA/A Division
6th RTA/B Division
2nd RTA Division
1st RTA/A Division


The airfield at Moulmein is now 74% to level 7.....OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER should be ready to start in 2 turns.



THE AIR WAR


I think that my biggest strategic mistake so far in the game has been my faillure to adequately reinforce Asia with USAAF air groups from the USA.
My fear of Japan overrunning the central and south Pacific resulted in the commitment of virtually the entire US Army, Navy and Marine air groups to the exclusion of SE Asia.

Now in the central and south Pacific, my air forces are operating in a virtual vacuum...there has been no palpable Japanese aerial resistance since we overwhelmed Jap airfields at Rabaul, Shortlands and Gasmata in July 1942.

Virtually the entire IJA and IJN air forces have been commited to SE Asia where they are facing the RAF, the Chinese and a single USAAF fighter group...the 23rd FG.

Needless to say, the Chinese and the RAF fighter squadrons have been overwhelmed...Im forced to retrofit the RAF fighter groups from Hurricane IIb and IIc Trops to Mohawks and Hurricane Ia due to a shortage of replacements.

When I realized my mistake there were virtually no USAAF fighter groups left in CONUS so Ive sent a Canadian Hurricane squadron and a USMC F4F squadron to Capetown to reinforce.

The Japanese air force is having its way with Allied forces in China and SE Asia now.....especially in Thailand as we have no forward airfields to provide
fighter cover for our troops assaulting Bangkok.


Ive come up with a plan to destroy Japanese land based air in Thailand and potentially ALL of SE Asia.....its code named OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER. USAAF 4E bombers based at Noumea, Luganville and Port Moresby are currently staging to Darwin-Batavia-Moulmein as soon as we have an effective level 10 airfield at Moulmein(2 more turns). In addition, the P-38G has just entered production and the 1st squadron to convert is currently staging from Darwin to Batavia and thence to Moulmein.

In additon to the 4E bomber and P-38G reinforcements, the airfield at Ayuthia should become operational in 2 turns and then we wiull be able to LRCAP our frontline troops in Thailand.



SWPAC


Ive attached a map of Papua New Guinea. SWPAC troops should enter Madang next turn.
The RAF

[racndoc]

11/8-11/9/42



CHINA


StoneAge thankfully bombards the Chinese army outside of Sinyang instead of assaulting it....this turn the casualties are more normal.....not 11,000 casualties like last turn:



Ground combat at 85,49

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 77030 troops, 847 guns, 156 vehicles, Assault Value = 2566

Defending force 118054 troops, 845 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3770

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 26 (3 destroyed, 23 disabled)


Assaulting units:
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
60th Infantry Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
3rd Division
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
51st Infantry Brigade
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
116th Division
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Division
37th Division
RGC Capital Brigade
40th Division
6th RGC Division
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
11th Army
1st Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Chinese Corps
71st Chinese/A Corps
55th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese/A Corps
91st Chinese Corps
59th Chinese/C Corps
40th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese/A Corps
76th Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
70th Chinese/C Corps
90th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese/B Corps
48th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese/A Corps
28th New Chinese Division
68th Chinese/C Corps
38th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
88th Chinese/C Corps
98th Chinese Corps
70th Chinese/B Corps
47th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese/C Corps
10th Group Army
5th War Area
Red Chinese Army
3rd War Area
22nd Group Army
56th AT Gun Regiment




Ground combat at 85,49

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 77498 troops, 847 guns, 159 vehicles, Assault Value = 2603

Defending force 115841 troops, 828 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3670

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


Allied ground losses:
2670 casualties reported
Squads: 68 destroyed, 124 disabled
Non Combat: 52 destroyed, 151 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 11 (3 destroyed, 8 disabled)


Assaulting units:
41st Division
60th Infantry Brigade
RGC Capital Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Division
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
37th Division
116th Division
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
40th Division
51st Infantry Brigade
6th RGC Division
1st Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
11th Army
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
68th Chinese/C Corps
28th New Chinese Division
47th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
48th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese/A Corps
88th Chinese/C Corps
95th Chinese/A Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
59th Chinese/B Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
71st Chinese/A Corps
59th Chinese/A Corps
57th Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese/C Corps
76th Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese/C Corps
22nd Group Army
10th Group Army
3rd War Area
Red Chinese Army
5th War Area
56th AT Gun Regiment


The Chinese army will now be able to exit the hex before IJA troops can again assault or bombard....these guys will now R&R in Sinyang and rebuild their AV...what was once 5300 AV 2 weeks ago is now only 3500 AV...the casualties have become truly catastrophic. StoneAge knew this was a critical battle....he committed several fighter groups to CAP his stack and they took a heavy toll of Allied fighters and medium bombers...the Allies lose 20 AC over the battlefield including 7 Hudson IIIa, 7 Vanguards and 6 Lancers while Japan loses 11 Oscars and 4 Zeros but it was worth it to save the stack.

A few months ago I thought that I could engage any IJA stack in clear terrain as long as the Chinese had an AV advantage....I now know this is no longer true if the Japanese have lots of artillery to disrupt the Chinese troops.

I still cant get supply to be drawn from southern China to central China but I will keep trying.



BURMA/THAILAND


OPERATION COBRA continues as Allied armor drives across the open terrain of central Thailand. The armor will bypass Nikhon Ratchishima and leave it for the infantry brigades while they advance at max speed for Udon Thani.

Meanwhile III Indian Corps and 1st Australian Corps concentrate in Ayuthia...next turn they will begin the advance into Bangkok. Several aviation units reach Ayuthia, repair the damage to the airfield and enlarge it to level 3. Two P-40K and 2 Hurricane squadrons stage into Ayuthia to provide CAP for the troops assaulting Bangkok.

Ever throw a party and no one shows up? This turn 180 4E bombers stage into Moulmein from Batavia. Next turn Moulmein will reach level 7 airfield and with its Air HQ will be a level 10 airfield....but all the Japanese bombers and fighters have suddenly disappeared from Thailand as StoneAge evidently sensed what was going to happen. Im using several squadrons of 4Es to recon all the airfields within 20 hexes of Bangkok to see where all the Japanese aircraft went,

I may have to cancel OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER if all the Japanese AC have left the area. If that happens I may instead try "carpet bombing" of IJA troops in Thailand....the way 4Es were used in France during the RL OPERATION COBRA.


Lst turn I had a couple of AKLs attempt to resupply Rangoon but they were sunk by IJN AC from a collection of CVLs and CVEs hiding off Port Blair....resupply of Burma by sea will be impossible until we can evict the IJN carriers.

[racndoc]

11/10-11/13/42



SUBS


SS Kingfish lands a torpedo on AK Tatsuho Maru by Tanegashima.

SS Sailfish is hit by 5 DCs from IJN ASW near Tioman Island.

SS Sawfish sinks AMc Yoshitomo Maru off Aogashima.



SWPAC


112th Calvary Regiment captures Madang. The Americal Division begins a march on Hansa Bay.



CHINA


Chinese troops clear IJA units from their southern border and drive them back into Indochina.

The Chinese army at Sinyang continues to rest and recover AV....no movement yet by the 135,000 strong IJA army next door. Supply finally is drawn to Sinyang....nearly 9000 supplies now.



BURMA/THAILAND


III Indian Corps and 1st Australian Corps are ordered to shock attack the 30,000 defenders of Bangkok tomorrow.

Japanese fighters sweep the sky over Bangkok and Allied fighters based at Ayuthia rise to meet them...Japan loses 43 AC to 16 Allied AC. Losses include 37 Oscars, 4 Zeros, 7 P-40Ks and 6 Hurricanes. No sign of IJA bombers anywhere.....looks like StoneAge was able to move everyone before we could hit them with the 180 4Es at Moulmein....now a "level 10" airfield .OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER is officially postponed. Instead, the USAAF heavy bombers will "carpet bomb" IJA troops across Thailand.

OPERATION COBRA continues as Allied armor invests Udon Thani...an attack is ordered for tomorrow.

Meanwhile a half dozen brigades from Burma Corps close in on bypassed Nakhon Ratchasima.

[racndoc]

11/14-11/15/42



SUBS


SS Grayback sinks PB Kanko Maru off Saishu To.

SS S-30 sinks AK Hasuna Maru near Kendari.



BURMA/THAILAND


OPERATION COBRA continues as Allied armor captures Udon Thani.

USAAF heavy bombers "carpet bomb" IJA defenders at bangkok:


Morning Air attack on 33rd Division, at 56,62 (Bangkok)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 82
B-17F Fortress x 12
LB-30 Liberator x 3


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
455 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 7 (0 destroyed, 7 disabled)



Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x LB-30 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 2nd Fleet ...
Also attacking 21st Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 15th JAAF AF Bn ...
Also attacking 22nd JAAF AF Bn ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...
Also attacking 12th JAAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...
Also attacking 21st Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...
Also attacking 15th JAAF AF Bn ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...
Also attacking 21st Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 33rd Division, at 56,62 (Bangkok)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 22nd JAAF AF Bn , at 56,62 (Bangkok)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 12


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
77 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 33rd Division, at 56,62 (Bangkok)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 6


Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 1 damaged



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



The III Indian Corps and 1st Australian Corps crush the demoralized defenders of Bangkok in a massive shock attack:



Ground combat at Bangkok (56,62)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 64945 troops, 1071 guns, 841 vehicles, Assault Value = 2564

Defending force 24567 troops, 311 guns, 152 vehicles, Assault Value = 649

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 3208

Japanese adjusted defense: 319

Allied assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Bangkok !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
9660 casualties reported
Squads: 218 destroyed, 133 disabled
Non Combat: 245 destroyed, 199 disabled
Engineers: 60 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 136 (124 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Vehicles lost 169 (149 destroyed, 20 disabled)
Units retreated 14


Allied ground losses:
941 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 175 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 121 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 45 (1 destroyed, 44 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
26th Indian Brigade
45th Recce Regiment
16th British Brigade
2nd British Division
14th British Brigade
7th Australian Division
6th Indian Division
15th Indian Brigade
6th Australian Division
2/2 AIF Pioneer Battalion
22nd Indian Brigade
23rd British Brigade
28th Gurkha Brigade
48th Gurkha Brigade
Burma Corps
2/9th Field Regiment
2/13th Field Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
Eastern Army
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
IV Indian Corps
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
137/155th Field Regiment

Defending units:
3rd RTA/B Division
33rd Division
RTA Cavalry Division
21st Infantry Regiment
3rd RTA/C Division
15th JAAF AF Bn
1st RF Gun Battalion
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
31st Field AA Battalion
12th JAAF Base Force
2nd Fleet
Thai Aviation Coy
26th Fld AA Gun Co
Royal Thai Army
22nd JAAF AF Bn



With the capture of Bangkok and its 60 light industry the Allies secure another 1800 supplies per month in Thailand.

The USAAF heavy bombers at Moulmein are ordered to level the aerodrome at Saigon tomorrow.

Aviation engineers are taking the railroads thru Burma and Thailand to help make the airstrips at Bangkok operational.

Eastern Army calls a halt after securing Bangkok and Udon Thani....the troops of Burma Corps/III Indian Corps/1st Australian Corps are exhausted after advancing from the jungles of India thru Burma into Thailand. Eastern Army will consolidate its gains for a few days and then will overrun Indochina on its way to shore up Allied defenses in southern China....Id really like to see how modern Aussie and British armor and artillery hold up against the massive IJA stacks in clear terrain in China....and of course we will open up a more direct supply path into China. One of our initial objectives in China will be to recapture Wenchow and its 2400 supply production per month.