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

[racndoc]

12/16-12/19/42




SUBS



SS Sealion is hit by 2 DCs from IJN ASW near saigon.

SS Sculpin puts a torpedo in AK Nissyu Maru off Wenchow.




CHINA


Havent said much about China for awhile...suffice it to say that we are both manuvering massive numbers of troops in attempts to gain local advantage on smaller armies...I will post more later with a map screenie.

The Chinese capture Ichang gain for the 3rd time in the war. Im beginning to think that StoneAge doesnt have an overall strategic plan here in China...
I think that he is just manuvering in an attempt to create overwhelming odds on individual Chinese armies.

In the far south, StoneAge realizes the danger from OPERATION COBRA and the Allied attempt to open a link between Indochina and China....he has been attacking Chinese troops in the border city of Lang Son in an attempt to close the border in 3x terrain before the Allied armor can break thru. In
addition...StoneAge has sent a 20,000 strong army from Canton to help secure his border at Lang Son.



DEI


Japan surprises us and bombards Koepand with a cruiser force:


Naval bombardment of Koepang at 68,116

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya
CL Tenryu
CL Kiso
DD Umikaze
DD Yamakaze
DD Asashio


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


Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 19

CA Kumano firing at 55th British Brigade
CA Suzuya firing at 54th British Brigade
CL Tenryu firing at Koepang
CL Kiso firing at Koepang Base Force
DD Umikaze firing at Koepang
DD Yamakaze firing at 4th RAAF M/W Sqn
DD Asashio firing at 4th RAAF M/W Sqn


Japan destroys a couple Allied AC on the ground. I had been worried about a surprise IJN carrier attack on Koepang since 3/42 and had kept Admiral Doorman's Dutch SAG back at Darwin under heavy Allied CAP. Now with the destruction of IJN carrier airpower and this brazen bombardment I will move the Dutch SAG up to Koepang to prevent future depredations. Im a bit surprised that my Koepang based A-24 divebombers and USN torpedo bombers with a range of 8 hexes never said boo to the IJN SAG on the way in OR the way out...looks like in AE that bombardment TFs still have the "Romulan cloaking device" that they had in stock WitP.



GOTTERDAMMERUNG IN INDOCHINA


Japanese resistance has just completely collapsed in Indochina over the last 2 days.

III Indian Corps has driven down the west coast of Indochina and captured Kratie, Kompong Trach and Rachgia.

1st Australian Corps overruns Saigon:


Ground combat at Saigon (60,71)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 39186 troops, 805 guns, 694 vehicles, Assault Value = 1540

Defending force 4158 troops, 67 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 188

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 1631

Japanese adjusted defense: 95

Allied assault odds: 17 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Saigon !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
2209 casualties reported
Squads: 25 destroyed, 76 disabled
Non Combat: 50 destroyed, 62 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 23 (22 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2


Allied ground losses:
238 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (0 destroyed, 5 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
7th Australian Division
2nd British Division
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
6th Australian Division
23rd British Brigade
2/9th Field Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
Eastern Army
8th Medium Regiment
XXXIII Indian Corps
2/13th Field Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
IV Indian Corps
27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
137/155th Field Regiment

Defending units:
Cape St.Jaques Fortress
3rd RTA/A Division
Imperial Guards/A Division



The tattered remnants of the IJA Saigon defensive forces retreat into the malarial hell of the Mekong Delta....unfortunately I will have to send one of my brave Aussie divisions into the treacherous swamp to route them out.


Dozens of IJN transports and their escorts sit in Saigon harbor to witness this horrific event...I just wish that the Allies had a few decent level bombers available to send the sitting duck IJN targets a message.


Meanwhile, Burma Corps mops up on an IJA manuver group in southern Thailand:


Ground combat at 60,63

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14119 troops, 204 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 555

Defending force 852 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 42

Allied adjusted assault: 275

Japanese adjusted defense: 9

Allied assault odds: 30 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
334 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 5


Allied ground losses:
223 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
22nd (East African) Brigade
15th Indian Brigade
2nd Burma Brigade
22nd Indian Brigade
16th Indian Brigade
85th British AT Gun Regiment

Defending units:
6th RTA/A Division
6th RTA/B Division
4th RTA/C Division
2nd RTA Division
1st RTA/A Division



Farther north, the armor of OPERATION COBRA captures Hanoi after an ill fated banzai attack by the Viet Minh:


Ground combat at Hanoi (68,56)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1401 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 69

Defending force 9427 troops, 107 guns, 752 vehicles, Assault Value = 550

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 457

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99

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

Japanese ground losses:
1177 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 74 disabled
Non Combat: 43 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled


Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
1st VM Division

Defending units:
7th Armoured Brigade
3rd Carbiniers Regiment
254th Armoured Brigade
268th Motorised Brigade


Ground combat at Hanoi (68,56)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9419 troops, 107 guns, 752 vehicles, Assault Value = 550

Defending force 420 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 204

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 204 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Hanoi !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
432 casualties reported
Squads: 30 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1



Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
254th Armoured Brigade
7th Armoured Brigade
3rd Carbiniers Regiment
268th Motorised Brigade

Defending units:
1st VM Division



The 267th Armored Brigade shock attacks their way into Haiphong:



Ground combat at Haiphong (68,57)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 2241 troops, 18 guns, 254 vehicles, Assault Value = 194

Defending force 2460 troops, 57 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 100

Allied adjusted assault: 29

Japanese adjusted defense: 38

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (0 destroyed, 12 disabled)


Assaulting units:
267th Armoured Brigade

Defending units:
1st VM Division
2nd VM Division
Haiphong Fortress

[racndoc]

12/20-12/21/42




SUBS


SS S-40 puts a torpedo in AK Naruto Maru by Balikpappan

SS Halibut sinks AK Totori Maru off Ominato



CHINA


Chinese recapture Pingsiang.

Three big IJA armies....three offensives.

In the north, 70,000 IJA troops invest Chengchow while another IJA group attempts to outflank Chengchow to the south. The Chinese have 4000 AV at Chengchow behind level 5 forts.....the daily IJA artillery bombardments we can afford...but its using up all our supply and I cant seem to draw any supplies to northern China. There are only 20 supplies at Chengchow, 20 supplies at Loyang and maybe 100 supplies at Tsiaotso....this with Tsiaotso cranking out 1200 supplies per month. If we lose Chengchow then Japan will be able to take Loyang, Tsiaotso, Nanyang. Sinyang and break the seige of Hankow.

In the center, Japan has 100,000 troops NW of Hankow attempting to isolate the Chinese army currently besieging Hankow. The Chinese have 5400 AV at Sinyang and 4850 AV just E of Ichang. In addition Ive pulled out 5 Chinese artillery regiments from Changsha and they are just outside of Ichang now. Im going to try to catch the 100,000 IJA army outside of Hankow in the clear terrain hex where it currently sits with both Chinese armies with an aggregate AV over 10,000 and also the 5 artillery regiments. I can draw supply into Ichang but not into Nanyang or Sinyang or any point farther north.
By pulling supply into Ichang I should be able to supply Chinese armies outside of Hankow...if I can catch the IJA stack here outside of Hankow with 10,000 Chinese AV I think we have a chance to decimate it.

In the south. another 100,000 strong IJA army that had been threatening Changsha is now moving west apparently threatening Kukong.We have 1000
AV of Chinese troops loaded up in the railyards of Hengchow and Changsha ready to reinforce kukong by rail if needed.

[racndoc]

12/22-12/23/42



NAVAL BATTLE OF KOEPANG


After an IJN SAG led by CA Kumano bombarded Koepang a week ago I decided to move Admiral Doorman's Dutch cruiser force up from Darwin to help protect Koepang. My multiple Catalina patrol groups couldnt seem to spot the IJN raiders coming or going and the Japanese attack was unmolested by US divebombers, torpedo bombers and level bombers based at Koepang.

On the night of 12/22-12/23/42 the IJN SAG came calling at Koepang again:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 68,116, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 2
CA Kumano, Shell hits 5, on fire
CL Kiso, Shell hits 1
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Asashio
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Umikaze, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Java, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 9, heavy fires
CL Tromp, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Banckert, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
DD Van Nes, Shell hits 3
DD Witte de With
DD Evertsen, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 8, and is sunk



Poor visibility due to Rain with 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 100% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 5,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 5,000 yards
Tanaka, Kikumatsu crosses the 'T'
CL De Ruyter engages CA Kumano at 5,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Sumatra at 5,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CL Java at 5,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages CA Kumano at 5,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages DD Kortenaer at 5,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Witte de With at 5,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Banckert at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Java at 3,000 yards
CL Sumatra engages CA Suzuya at 3,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CL Sumatra at 3,000 yards
CL Java engages CA Kumano at 3,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Piet Hein at 3,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Kortenaer at 3,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Evertsen at 3,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Witte de With at 3,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Banckert at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
DD Piet Hein collides with DD Kortenaer at 68 , 116
CA Kumano engages CL Tromp at 6,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages CA Suzuya at 6,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CL Sumatra at 6,000 yards
CL Java engages CL Tenryu at 6,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Asashio at 6,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Witte de With at 6,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Evertsen at 6,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Witte de With at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CL De Ruyter at 4,000 yards
CL Sumatra engages CL Tenryu at 4,000 yards
CL Kiso engages CL De Ruyter at 4,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Banckert at 4,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Yamakaze at 4,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Piet Hein at 4,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Banckert at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Tromp at 3,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CL Java at 3,000 yards
CL Kiso engages CL Sumatra at 3,000 yards
CL Kiso engages CL Java at 3,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Umikaze at 3,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Yamakaze at 3,000 yards
DD Piet Hein sunk by DD Asashio at 3,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages DD Asashio at 3,000 yards
DD Banckert engages DD Yamakaze at 3,000 yards
CL Sumatra engages CA Kumano at 3,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages CL Tenryu at 3,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CL De Ruyter at 3,000 yards
CL Java engages CL Kiso at 3,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Evertsen at 3,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Evertsen at 3,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Witte de With at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Java engages CA Kumano at 2,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages CA Suzuya at 2,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CL Sumatra at 2,000 yards
CL Kiso engages CL Java at 2,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Kortenaer at 2,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Evertsen at 2,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Asashio at 2,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Van Nes at 2,000 yards
DD Banckert engages DD Asashio at 2,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL De Ruyter at 2,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages CL Tenryu at 2,000 yards
CL Java engages CL Tenryu at 2,000 yards
CL Kiso engages CL Java at 2,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Kortenaer at 2,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Evertsen at 2,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Van Nes at 2,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Banckert at 2,000 yards
CL Tromp engages CA Suzuya at 2,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CL De Ruyter at 2,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CL Sumatra at 2,000 yards
CL Kiso engages CL De Ruyter at 2,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Umikaze at 2,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Evertsen at 2,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Kortenaer at 2,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Van Nes at 2,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Banckert at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Tromp at 4,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CL Tromp at 4,000 yards
CL Kiso engages CL Sumatra at 4,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Umikaze at 4,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Evertsen at 4,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Kortenaer at 4,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Van Nes at 4,000 yards
DD Banckert engages DD Asashio at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CL Tromp at 3,000 yards
CL Java engages CA Suzuya at 3,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CL Sumatra at 3,000 yards
CL Sumatra engages CL Kiso at 3,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Witte de With at 3,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages DD Umikaze at 3,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Asashio at 3,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Van Nes at 3,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Banckert at 3,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Tromp at 3,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages CA Suzuya at 3,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages CL Tenryu at 3,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Java at 3,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Kortenaer at 3,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Yamakaze at 3,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Kortenaer at 3,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Banckert at 3,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages CA Kumano at 3,000 yards
CL Tromp engages CA Suzuya at 3,000 yards
CL Sumatra engages CL Kiso at 3,000 yards
DD Kortenaer sunk by DD Umikaze at 3,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages DD Yamakaze at 3,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages DD Umikaze at 3,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages DD Asashio at 3,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Banckert at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL De Ruyter at 4,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages CA Kumano at 4,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CL Java at 4,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages CL Kiso at 4,000 yards
DD Banckert engages DD Umikaze at 4,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages DD Yamakaze at 4,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Tromp at 4,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CL Tromp at 4,000 yards
CL Java engages CL Tenryu at 4,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages CL Kiso at 4,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages DD Umikaze at 4,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages DD Asashio at 4,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Evertsen at 4,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Banckert at 4,000 yards
Tanaka, Kikumatsu orders Japanese TF to disengage
CL Tenryu engages CL Tromp at 4,000 yards
CL Tromp engages CA Suzuya at 4,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CL Tromp at 4,000 yards
CL Kiso engages CL De Ruyter at 4,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Evertsen at 4,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Witte de With at 4,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Van Nes at 4,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Banckert at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CL Tromp at 10,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CL De Ruyter at 10,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages CL Java at 10,000 yards
CL Java engages CL Kiso at 10,000 yards
DD Umikaze engages DD Van Nes at 10,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages DD Yamakaze at 10,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages DD Banckert at 10,000 yards
Task forces break off...



The Dutch forces got the worst of it having only the smaller caliber guns of the CLs present. CL DeRuyter, DD Piet Hein and DD Kortenaer are all sunk.

However the IJN SAG is slowed down by the surface engagement and the US flyboys are able to get into the battle when the sun rises:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Larantoeka at 68,112

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes


Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 18


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 14 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano, Torpedo hits 2, on fire



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



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Endeh at 66,114

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes


Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Umikaze



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Larantoeka at 68,112

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 10


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson III (LR): 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kiso
CA Kumano, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Larantoeka at 68,112

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 6
A-24 Banshee x 14
P-40K Warhawk x 6


Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano, on fire
CA Suzuya, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kiso



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Suzuya


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Endeh at 66,114

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 25
P-40K Warhawk x 12


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 10000 feet
25 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 10000 feet



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Endeh at 66,114

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes


Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 9


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Umikaze



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


Intel reports CA Suzuya and CL Agano as sunk. It looks as if the damaged IJN ships are withdrawing NW towards Soerabaja...over a half dozen subs will be placed in position to intercept.


CL Sumatra is a floating hulk and is tied up pierside at Koepang along with CL Java, DD Banckert and DD Evertson effecting repairs. Looks like we will need to transfer some CAs from India and SOPAC to help protect the waters off Timor.



INDIA


IJN CVLs and CVEs conduct a raid on shipping off Diamond Harbor:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Diamond Harbour at 52,38

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
B5N1 Kate x 6



Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged


Allied Ships
AMc Agra, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Calcutta, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
No.5 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35600
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
No.5 Sqn RAF Det with Hurricane IIc Trop (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 35600
Raid is overhead


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Calcutta at 52,37

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
B5N1 Kate x 8



Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 5


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
AMc Lahore, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Chandbali, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
No.5 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 35600
Raid is overhead
No.5 Sqn RAF Det with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35600
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes




CHINA


OPERATION COBRA breaks through to relieve China as the armor combines with Chinese infantry to capture Lang Son on the Indochia/China border:




Ground combat at Lang Son (70,56)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7346 troops, 72 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 248

Defending force 22279 troops, 193 guns, 669 vehicles, Assault Value = 964

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



Assaulting units:
21st Ind.Mixed Division
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment

Defending units:
254th Armoured Brigade
31st Chinese Corps
64th Chinese/C Corps
7th Armoured Brigade
268th Motorised Brigade
64th Chinese/A Corps
52nd Chinese/C Corps
35th Group Army


Ground combat at Lang Son (70,56)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21257 troops, 193 guns, 669 vehicles, Assault Value = 953

Defending force 7099 troops, 72 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 235

Allied adjusted assault: 751

Japanese adjusted defense: 63

Allied assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Lang Son !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1484 casualties reported
Squads: 57 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 62 destroyed, 55 disabled
Engineers: 25 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 27 (27 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (10 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2


Allied ground losses:
150 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
64th Chinese/C Corps
254th Armoured Brigade
64th Chinese/A Corps
7th Armoured Brigade
31st Chinese Corps
268th Motorised Brigade
52nd Chinese/C Corps
35th Group Army

Defending units:
21st Ind.Mixed Division
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment


OPERATION COBRA has now opened a highway from Burma-Indochina-China....supplies and modern artillery from SE Asia can now move to reinforce China.


Here is a look at the 3300 AV IJA army NW of Hankow:


Ground combat at 84,49

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 90266 troops, 847 guns, 225 vehicles, Assault Value = 3338

Defending force 48 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 5129

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 5129 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker: shock(+)


Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)


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

Defending units:
89th Chinese/C Regiment


Next turn Chinese troops from the 5400 AV army at Sinyang and the 4800 AV army E of Ichang will begin to converge on the IJA stack outside of Hankow...we are hoping to be able to get a 2:1 attack on this stack in clear terrain.

[racndoc]

12/24-12/25/42



SUBS


SS KXIII puts a torpedo in AK Yohozo Maru off Salajar.

SS Silversides sinks AK Nikki Maru near Rota.

SS Silversides puts a fish in AK Tokosims Maru near Rota. Silversides skipper LTCMDR Burlingame seems to be at the top of his game.

SS KXIV sinks AK Kazan Maru by Tinian.



CHINA/SE ASIA SUPPLY SITUATION


As Ive mentioned before China has been literally starving for supplies since we installed the 1096 and 1097 patches.....especially in northern China. China has lost none of her 12/7/41 cities producing supplies/HI/LI/Oil/Refineries with the only exception of Wenchow. The main reason I launched the Allied offensive into Burma from India in 7/42 was an attempt to bring more supplies into China. China has a lot of its HI concentrated around Chungking(324 HI), Chengtu(160 HI) and Kunming(100 HI). I think that one of the problems I am seeing in regards to supply production in China is the inability for Chengtu and Chungking to draw fuel from Urumchi to power their HI. Urumchi with a small Refinery(20) now has stockpiled over 25,000 fuel.

Kunming has 2000 supplies....one of the few Chinese cities with more than 20 supplies....and I think that is because it is drawing fuel down the Burma Road from Magwe to power its HI. Magwe with a large Refinery(100) capable of producing 900 fuel/day has a stockpile of 13,000 oil but only has a stockpile of 1 fuel...so obviously its being drawn elsewhere....my guess is to China and especially Kunming.

Rangoon....with a 57 Refinery(143 are damaged) has a stockpile of 11,700 oil and 4000 fuel. The only other refinery in Allied control in SE Asia is at Bangkok(20).

Together, Magwe, Bangkok and Rangoon have a combined Refinery capacity of 177/day......capable of producing 177 supplies/day and 1593 fuel/day.
This fuel in turn will power 796 HI/day to produce 1592 supplies/day....easily more than enough fuel to power the HI at Bangkok(20), and Saigon(10).
The key here is to get the surplus 1533 fuel produced/day into China to power the HI at Kunming(200 fuel/day), Chengtu(320 fuel/day) and Chungking
(648 fuel/day). Every drop of fuel is being sucked out of Magwe so hopefully the newly opened main highway running from Burma thru Indochina to
China will enable the surplus fuel produced at Rangoon to be drawn into China.

I had been considering using USN CVs and CVEs to cover a massive resupply of some 300,000-400,000 supply points from Noumea into Saigon but now I wonder if that is really necessary. I cant move any supplies by sea from India to Rangoon due to the presence of IJN CVLs and CVEs in the Andaman Sea near Port Blair. But with the capture of nearly all of Burma/Thailand/Indochina Im thinking that the supply situation in SE Asia is more self contained now.

Rangoon with 40 HI and 57 Refineries produces 97 supplies/day. Magwe with 100 Refineries produces 100 supplies/day. Bangkok with 60 LI, 20 HI and 20 Refineries produces 120 supplies /day. Phnom Penh with 20 LI produces 20 supplies/day. Saigon with 40 LI and 10 HI produces 60 supplies day. That makes a grand total of about 400/day or 12,000/month. The fuel apparently being drawn from the Magwe refinery is powering HI in China to the tune of 900 supplies/day or 27,000 per month.

Hostilities are winding down in Indochina so the supply usage there should be minimal. I was able to draw another 65,000 supplies from Indochina/Thailand to Hanoi this turn and Ill see if I can get that supply to be drawn into southern and central China next turn.

I have 100 C-47s and 25 DC-2s, DC-3s and Lodestarts at Ledo that are flying supplies over the hump into Chengtu vevery day. I could base these transports at Chittagong to fly supplies into Rangoon to repair the 143 damaged refineries there but that would really only yield one extra supply/turn for each 1000 supply points expended....same as repairing LI and it appears that the Allies wouldnt need the 9 extra fuel per turn as they already have more than enough fuel for all their HI.

Now if I could only figure out how to draw supplies into northern China.



INDOCHINA


The 7th Australian Division captures Soc Trang as it shock attacks across a finger of the Mekong Delta. The 6th Australian Division will assault Dalat tomorrow while the 23rd British Brigade advances on Cam ranh Bay.

Farther north, 4 Burma Corps Brigades will assault the last significant remaining IJA battlegroup left in SE Asia next turn.


Meanwhile, after a long 6 month campaign stretching from India to the South China Sea, Eastern Army Command sits down for a well deserved Christmas dinner at the Saigon Sheraton.

[racndoc]

12/26-12/27/42



SUBS


SS Trigger spots an IJN SAG with BB haruna and 4 CAs near Ontong Java....looks like they are on their way to bombard an Allied base in the Solomons.

SS I-17 sinks SS S-44 near Moa....thats the 2nd USN sub Ive had torpedoed by an IJN sub.




SOPAC


The large IJN SAG spotted by SS Trigger bombards the airfields on Feni Islands:


Naval bombardment of Feni Islands at 108,126

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Chokai
CA Atago
CA Takao
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
CL Jintsu
CL Naka
CL Sendai


Allied ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 22
Port hits 1

BB Haruna firing at Feni Islands
BB Kongo firing at Feni Islands
CA Chokai firing at Feni Islands
CA Atago firing at 3rd RNZAF Base Force
CA Takao firing at 12th USN Naval Construction Battalion
CA Chikuma firing at 821st Engineer Aviation Battalion
CA Tone firing at Feni Islands
CL Jintsu firing at 3rd RNZAF Base Force
CL Naka firing at 16th USN Naval Construction Battalion
CL Sendai firing at Feni Islands


CV Saratoga ties up pierside at Noumea to complete repairs from the constant action off New Britain, the Admiralties and Bismarcks over the past 2 months. Sara will be out of action for a couple of weeks.


CV Yorktown completes repairs at Sydney and rejoins CV Enterprise at Noumea so the US Navy still has 2 operational carriers in the Pacific.




SWPAC


The Americal Division captures Wewak.

The next objective is Aitape.



INDOCHINA


The 6th Australian Division captures Dalat.


Burma Corps maul remnants of multiple RTA regiments outside of Udon:


Ground combat at 61,63

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12729 troops, 200 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 485

Defending force 625 troops, 73 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 33

Allied adjusted assault: 142

Japanese adjusted defense: 6

Allied assault odds: 23 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
219 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (12 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 4


Allied ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
22nd Indian Brigade
15th Indian Brigade
22nd (East African) Brigade
16th Indian Brigade
85th British AT Gun Regiment

Defending units:
6th RTA/A Division
4th RTA/C Division
6th RTA/B Division
2nd RTA Division
1st RTA/A Division



OPERATION COBRA continues to clear the China/Indochina border of IJA units:


Ground combat at 69,55

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17662 troops, 161 guns, 669 vehicles, Assault Value = 823

Defending force 4957 troops, 53 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 144

Allied adjusted assault: 626

Japanese adjusted defense: 53

Allied assault odds: 11 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1953 casualties reported
Squads: 57 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 69 destroyed, 41 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2


Allied ground losses:
247 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (0 destroyed, 14 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
254th Armoured Brigade
268th Motorised Brigade
31st Chinese Corps
7th Armoured Brigade
52nd Chinese/C Corps

Defending units:
21st Ind.Mixed Division
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment




CHINA


The stage continues to be set for the "Mother of all battles" outside of Hankow in central China. StoneAge knows we are coming and has reinforced his army NW of Hankow to 135,000 troops, 800 guns and 305 tanks...there's over 3000 AV here in clear terrain. Opposing this, the Chinese have an army with 4800 AV and 5 artillery regiments approaching from Ichang and another 4700 AV arrmy with 2 antitank regiments approaching from Sinyang...we are trying to catch the IJA army in a vise with over 9500 Chinese AV.

This time around however StoneAge will be facing Allied airpower over China unlike anything he has seen to date. Its still not too late for us to call this thing off but sometimes operations seem to take on a life of their own. Im drawn to this engagement like a moth to the flame and StoneAge is just sitting there waiting for me to commit.

Meanwhile with things approaching a climax in central China the IJA army of the north sits quietly and bombards away at us in Chengchow while the IJA army of the south has again disappeared from aerial view.

Our attempt to draw 65,000 supply from Hanoi into central China failed miserably so I will reset all the supply draw arrows and try again.

[racndoc]

12/28-12/31/42



SUBS


SS Narwhal fires 19 shells into AK Taito Maru by Tohohara before she runs out of ammo.

SS Halibut is hit by 10 DCs from IJN ASW off sapporo.



INDOCHINA


23rd British Brigade overruns Cam Ranh Bay.


The Chindits crush the remnants of Imperial Guards and 55th Divisions outside of Pisanuloke.



CHINA


Scores of Allied bombers pound the now 138,000 IJA troops NW of Hankow as some 9300 Chinese AV invest the hex. After literally starving for supplies
for months China now has drawn 65,000 supplies to Ichang to provision the nearly 400,000 Chinese hordes NW of Hankow.

Chungking had been over 35,000 for the entire war until we installed v1096....then supply dropped at Chungking to about 11,000. Now that the Alies have overrun the refineries in SE Asia and there is plenty of fuel for HI in China(along with the 125 transport AC at Ledo flying supplies into Chengtu) Chungking now has 42,000 supplies and its growing every turn with no use of the supply draw arrows...and this in the face of scores of 4Es flying combat missions.

We are going to bombard the Japanese telephone pole NW of Hankow with the Chinese telephone pole this turn.....then we will rest one turn to draw attack supply and then we will launch a massive deliberate attack.

May the biggest stack win......

[racndoc]

OPERATIONAL PLANNING 1943



SWPAC


During November/December 1942 SWPAC advanced over 300 miles from Lae to Wewak. For the first half of 1943, SWPAC will continue to advance along the north coast of New Guinea to Aitape and eventually to Biak, Noemfoor and Sorong. A series of large airfields(level 7-8) will be constructed along the northern shore of New Guinea to cover an eventual invasion of the Paulaus and Carolines in the latter half of 1943. The Paulaus and carolines will need to be secured prior to a CENTPAC advance into the Marianas currently scheduled for late 1943-early 1944.




SOPAC


During November/December 1943 SOPAC advanced over 500 miles from Feni Islands in the Solomons to Manus in the Admiralties. SOPAC is primarily a naval command and has nearly run out of map area to invade. SOPAC now has 2 operational carriers....CV Enterprise and CV Yorktown. CV Hornet, CV Lexington and CV Saratoga are all currently repairing battle damage/undergoing routine maintenance and will eventually complete their 10/42 upgrades before heading back out to battle.

SOPAC has one more offensive operation left...the invasion of Rabaul....currently scheduled for the later half of January 1943. Following that operation the troops and ships of SOPAC will be reassigned to either MacArthur's SWPAC command for the New Guinea operations or Nimitz's CENTPAC command for the advance across the central Pacific.

Level 8 airfields(level 10 with Air HQs) will be constructed at Manus and Mussau Island and used to base heavy bombers for the neutralization of the great Japanese naval base and airbase at Truk. Truk also needs to be suppressed prior to the CENTPAC advance into the Marianas.

[racndoc]

OPERATIONAL PLANNING 1943



CHINA

Ive pretty much accomplished my objectives here....southern China at least has ample supplies flowing in. Northern/Eastern China(everything east of Sian) is starving and there's not too much I can do about it save raising hell in southern and central China. Ive offered another ceasefire to StoneAge for China....if accepted hostilities will cease immediately. If declined.....Eastern Command will attempt to retake the crown colony of Hong Kong.



BURMA/THAILAND/INDOCHINA


It will require a couple more months to mop up Japanese resistance in Thailand/Indochina. The main objective here is to open up the railroad from Saigon to Hanoi/Haiphong to China and keep the supplies flowing. Its a vast theatre to defend.

A major resupply operation is on the way to Burma. Five USN CVEs have been sent from SOPAC to the Indian Ocean to cover massive Allied resupply convoys from India and Capetown to Rangoon. Once ashore....this supply can flow throughout SE Asia and beyond to China.

Of course there is a very good chance that we may see CVE on CVE carrier combat in the Andaman Sea if StoneAge keeps his CVLs/CVEs off Port Blair.



CENTPAC


SOPAC will transfer all carrier assets to CENTPAC following the capture of Rabaul in January 1943.

CENTPAC will attempt to keep at least 3 CVs operational at all times as the 5 USN CVs complete repairs of battle damage and undergo their 10/42 upgrades. All the APs and AKs will be transferred to CENTPAC following the Rabaul operation.

CENTPAC will secure the Gilbert Islands in February 1943 with landings at Tarawa, Makin and Nauru.....these islands are believed to be lightly defended. Large airfields will then be constructed on Makin and Tarawa atolls to soften up Japanese bases in the Marshalls.

Following the Gilbert ops all APs will go back to Pearl Harbor for their 3/43 conversion to APAs. All five USN carriers will be completely repaired/updated and ready for use by 4/1/43.

In April 1943 CENTPAC will invade the Marshall Islands...at this time we are planning on securing Mili, Maloelap and Kusaie atolls. Strongly defended Kwajalein, Jaluit and Eniwetok will be bypassed and neutralized from airfields on the neighboring islands. Im expecting opposed atoll assaults for the Marshall ops and I want the amphibious transports to be as highly upgraded as possible.

Between Pearl Harbor and the US west coast there are currently two 100,000 capacity supply convoys on autopilot to build up supplies on Oahu to hopefully 3,000,000 by the end of 1943. CENTPAC plans on a late 1943-early 1944 assault on the Marianas to construct massive aerodromes for the planned B-29 bomber air assault on Japan itself. This B-29 bomber offensive will consume unbelieveable amounts of supply so we intend to accumulate as much supply as possible in forward bases to sustain offensive operations.

[racndoc]

1/1-1/2/43




SUBS


As 1943 begins US Navy torpedo effectiveness basically doubles as the dud rate decreases from 90%-80%:


SS Guardfish sinks SC CHa-31 off Koshiki-jima.

SS Gato sinks DMS W-8 near Utsonomiya.



CHINA


The "mother of all battles" begins NW of Hankow as 9300 Chinese AV square off against 3000 IJA AV"


Ground combat at 84,49

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 234673 troops, 1467 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9432

Defending force 93392 troops, 844 guns, 344 vehicles, Assault Value = 3246

Japanese ground losses:
1524 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 91 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 111 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 56 (3 destroyed, 53 disabled)


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


Assaulting units:
51st Chinese/C Corps
98th Chinese Corps
9th Prov Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese/C Corps
38th Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
28th New Chinese Division
39th Chinese Corps
71st Chinese/A Corps
58th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese/A Corps
46th Chinese/A Corps
24th Chinese/C Corps
84th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
24th Chinese/A Corps
76th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
51st Chinese/B Corps
21st Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese/B Corps
91st Chinese Corps
22nd Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese/B Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese/C Corps
57th Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
46th Chinese/B Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
60th Chinese/B Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
40th Chinese Corps
46th Chinese/C Corps
11th Group Army
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
4th War Area
Jingcha War Area
7th War Area
3rd War Area
22nd Artillery Regiment
1st Artillery Regiment
Red Chinese Army
7th Artillery Regiment
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment

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


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

Ground combat at 84,49

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 235373 troops, 1523 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9442

Defending force 92436 troops, 845 guns, 345 vehicles, Assault Value = 3198

Japanese ground losses:
1998 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 130 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 60 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 37 (1 destroyed, 36 disabled)


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


Assaulting units:
38th Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
55th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese/A Corps
58th Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese/C Corps
47th Chinese Corps
24th Chinese/A Corps
26th Chinese Corps
60th Chinese/B Corps
46th Chinese/B Corps
71st Chinese/A Corps
57th Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese/B Corps
40th Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese/B Corps
24th Chinese/C Corps
9th Prov Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
51st Chinese/B Corps
48th Chinese Corps
46th Chinese/A Corps
28th New Chinese Division
32nd Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
39th Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
21st Chinese Corps
22nd Chinese Corps
51st Chinese/C Corps
4th Chinese/C Corps
84th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
46th Chinese/C Corps
1st Artillery Regiment
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
7th War Area
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
Jingcha War Area
3rd War Area
22nd Artillery Regiment
57th AT Gun Regiment
11th Group Army
Red Chinese Army
7th Artillery Regiment
4th War Area
56th AT Gun Regiment

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


Japan suffers 3500 casualties over a 2 day period...payback for the early war artillery bombardments. Im a bit surprised that StoneAge did not fire back with his 850 guns...makes me wonder if Japan is short of supplies here....that would be strange as Japan can ship in supply by xAKs directly next door to Hankow. The 5 artillery regiments will fire next turn but all the infantry will rest as they draw attack supply from Ichang.

Meanwhile a huge air battle rages on over the hex. Japan puts some 81 A6M3s, Oscars and Tojos on CAP over the hex and they engage scores of Allied fighters and bombers. Unfortunately our Vengeance divebombers and Blenhein VDs go in without their escorts and are decimated.

When the smoke clears the Allies have lost 58 AC in A2A combat over the hex to 16 Japanese AC. Overall the Allies lose 78 AC this turn vs 27 Japanese AC. Losses include 22 Vengeance, 12 Blenheim VD, 11 Hurricanes, 10 Oscars, 10 P-40Es, 8 Vanguard, 7 P-38Gs, 6 A6M3s, and 4 Beaufighter VI. The cost is high but the bombers do their job....over 1000 IJA casualties are inflicted.

All of the 4E and most of the 2E bombers are flying out of Chungking...it is a level 8 airfield with a radius 3 Air HQ so its at the "magic" 10 level but unfortunately I only have about 150 aviation engineers there....so flight ops will never be as robust as needed to continue a massive bombing campaign. I can project enough air power from Chungking for another 2 days of rest for the LCUs by Hankow and then 2 more days of attack...then the bombers will need some R&R. If we launch an assault the turn after next it will have to be successful...or we will need to withdraw.


In the far south Japan moves some 20,000 troops on Kwangchowan. StoneAge will probably take the city but we are massing some 1000 AV of infantry and another 300 AV of modern armor(General Lee and Stuart I tanks) to retake the city.

I offered StoneAge another truce in China. If he refuses Eastern Command will begin planning ops for the recapture of the British crown colony at Hong Kong.



INDOCHINA


OPERATION COBRA completes its mission by capturing Haiphong:


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

Ground combat at Haiphong (68,57)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8845 troops, 107 guns, 723 vehicles, Assault Value = 568

Defending force 2169 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 86

Allied adjusted assault: 323

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 107 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Haiphong !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1181 casualties reported
Squads: 68 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 66 destroyed, 82 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 26 (26 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Units destroyed 1


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


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd Carbiniers Regiment
268th Motorised Brigade
7th Armoured Brigade
267th Armoured Brigade

Defending units:
2nd VM Division
Haiphong Fortress



Farther south the 6th Australian Division advances on Quinhon. Eastern Command's objective here is to open a rail line from Saigon to Haiphong/Hanoi
to open a supply line into southern China.

The rest of III Indian Corps and 1st Australian Corps is engaged in garrison duty and mop up of small battlegoups of IJA stragglers.

[racndoc]

1/3-1/6/43



SUBS


SS Salmon sinks TK Tennan Maru by Toyohara.

SS Sargo sinks AK Ada Maru off Pescadores.



DEI


B-25s based at Koepang land a 500 lb bomb on AK Gosei Maru.


Dutch held Soerabaja is now out of supply. A massive Allied supply convoy covered by 5 USN CVEs reaches Darwin en route to Soerabaja.



SOPAC


CV Hornet completes pierside repair of SYS and minor flotation damage and goes into the shipyard at Sydney to repair major FLT and ENG damage and complete her 10/42 upgrades.







CBI


Burma Corps captures Pakse.


Last turn I offered StoneAge another ceasefire in the CBI for the 5th or 6th time. Here is his response:



Ground combat at Kwangchowan (73,60)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16142 troops, 157 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 553

Defending force 2264 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 68

Japanese adjusted assault: 485

Allied adjusted defense: 3

Japanese assault odds: 161 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kwangchowan !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
187 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Allied ground losses:
2267 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 83 disabled
Non Combat: 82 destroyed, 93 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 5 (4 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Assaulting units:
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
104th Division
41st Infantry Rgt /1
21st Mortar Battalion
23rd Army
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
93rd Chinese Division


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

Ground combat at Chengchow (88,44)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 48188 troops, 437 guns, 134 vehicles, Assault Value = 1788

Defending force 115648 troops, 508 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3978

Japanese adjusted assault: 849

Allied adjusted defense: 1000

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
8840 casualties reported
Squads: 68 destroyed, 432 disabled
Non Combat: 34 destroyed, 391 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 46 disabled
Vehicles lost 21 (1 destroyed, 20 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1597 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 116 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 170 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled


Assaulting units:
15th RGC Temp. Division
36th Division
59th Infantry Brigade
35th Division
32nd Division
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
1st NCPC Infantry Brigade
12th Army
15th AA Regiment

Defending units:
92nd Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
3rd Construction Regiment
42nd Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
16th Chinese/A Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
5th New Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
7th New Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
69th Chinese/B Corps
87th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
16th Chinese/B Corps
7th Construction Regiment
36th Chinese Corps
16th Chinese/C Corps
7th Group Army
39th Group Army
24th Group Army
36th Group Army
10th Chinese Base Force
1st War Area
4th Group Army
8th Group Army
Lusu War Area
13th Construction Regiment



I dont care about Kwangchowan....I have over 1000 Chinese and 300 Allied armor AV on the way. I am concerned about Chengchow however. I have 4000 AV there behind level 5 forts but without supplies the adjusted AV is only 1000 and Japan narrowly misses a 1:1 attack. If Chengchow falls then Loyang and Tsiaotso will be lost also.

All I can do about this is to continue the offensive in southern China. Next turn the 9600 Chinese AV outside of Hankow are ordered to attack.

[racndoc]

1/7-1/10/43



SUBS


SS Hake sinks PB Nishho Maru off Sanghai.

SS Scamp sinks PB Fuji Maru by Aogashima.



CBI


After several turns of aerial and artillery bombardment the Chinese launch a bloody 2 day assault on the Japanese army NW of hankow:


Ground combat at 84,49

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 243666 troops, 1574 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9682

Defending force 91365 troops, 846 guns, 344 vehicles, Assault Value = 3135

Allied adjusted assault: 3576

Japanese adjusted defense: 2523

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
8934 casualties reported
Squads: 211 destroyed, 561 disabled
Non Combat: 209 destroyed, 452 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 45 disabled
Guns lost 10 (0 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 98 (37 destroyed, 61 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
22027 casualties reported
Squads: 120 destroyed, 2045 disabled
Non Combat: 69 destroyed, 1075 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 107 disabled
Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Assaulting units:
84th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese/C Corps
9th Prov Chinese Corps
21st Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
39th Chinese Corps
28th Chinese Corps
46th Chinese/B Corps
10th Chinese Corps
60th Chinese/B Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
55th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
46th Chinese/A Corps
24th Chinese/A Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese/B Corps
3rd Prov Chinese/C Corps
4th Chinese/B Corps
94th Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
51st Chinese/C Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
98th Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
22nd Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
51st Chinese/B Corps
40th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese/A Corps
71st Chinese/A Corps
24th Chinese/C Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
58th Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
28th New Chinese Division
48th Chinese Corps
46th Chinese/C Corps
4th War Area
1st Artillery Regiment
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
22nd Artillery Regiment
Red Chinese Army
57th AT Gun Regiment
3rd War Area
11th Group Army
7th Artillery Regiment
Jingcha War Area
7th War Area
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
56th AT Gun Regiment

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



Ground combat at 84,49

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 224004 troops, 1574 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8027

Defending force 82156 troops, 846 guns, 294 vehicles, Assault Value = 2594

Allied adjusted assault: 1320

Japanese adjusted defense: 1040

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), supply(-)
Attacker: disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
10199 casualties reported
Squads: 158 destroyed, 356 disabled
Non Combat: 89 destroyed, 325 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 39 disabled
Guns lost 10 (0 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 82 (60 destroyed, 22 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
17118 casualties reported
Squads: 105 destroyed, 843 disabled
Non Combat: 51 destroyed, 1044 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 102 disabled


Assaulting units:
10th Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
4th Chinese/C Corps
57th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
84th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese/A Corps
3rd Prov Chinese/B Corps
37th Chinese Corps
39th Chinese Corps
22nd Chinese Corps
9th Prov Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
46th Chinese/A Corps
90th Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese/C Corps
47th Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
21st Chinese Corps
60th Chinese/B Corps
48th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
26th Chinese Corps
24th Chinese/C Corps
98th Chinese Corps
28th New Chinese Division
4th Chinese/B Corps
51st Chinese/C Corps
28th Chinese Corps
58th Chinese Corps
46th Chinese/B Corps
55th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
51st Chinese/B Corps
71st Chinese/A Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
24th Chinese/A Corps
76th Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
46th Chinese/C Corps
22nd Artillery Regiment
1st Artillery Regiment
57th AT Gun Regiment
11th Group Army
Red Chinese Army
7th Artillery Regiment
4th War Area
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
Jingcha War Area
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
3rd War Area
7th War Area
56th AT Gun Regiment

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


The losses rival those on the Somme in WWI....the Chinese suffer nearly 40,000 casualties vs 19,000 Japanese. Even though the Japanese are low on supplies here its just another stalemate for us.


Over in Indochina the 1st Australian Corps captures Quinhon.



SOPAC


CV Enterprise and CV Yorktown cover a major reinforcement convoy headed to Mussau island....30,000 supplies, additional construction and aviation engineers and an Air HQ...the sooner we can build up Mussau into a level 10 airfield the sooner we can neutralize Truk.

At Noumea, CV Saratoga completes repairs and sails north to join the other carriers in the Bismarks. APs and AKs begin loading up the 37th Infantry Division and a couple of tank battalions....as soon as the Mussau reinforcment operation is complete SOPAC will invade at Rabaul.

[racndoc]

1/11-1/12/43



SUBS


SS S-30 puts a torpedo in AK Anyo Maro off Balikpappan.

SS Swordfish sinks PB Akitsui Maru by Hong Kong.


USN subs seem to make their encounters more lethal now but they seem to have much fewer encounters. On top of that many of the USN subs are coming back to port pretty banged up...this with no combat reports of ASW/SUB interactions. I should pay more attention to the operation reports but it looks as if Japanese ASW AC are becoming much more effective in spotting Allied subs....suppressing them...and even dropping ordnance on them.

I may have to pull my subs farther out to sea to keep them out of renge of the ASW AC....that means fewer shoreline patrols.



CEASEFIRE IN CHINA


StoneAge consented to a ceasefire in China. If StoneAge had agreed to a ceasefire the 1st time I offered.....right after the Allies reopened the Burma Road....he would still own Thailand and Indochina. As it is, a ceasefire now stops Eastern Army from invading China with lots of artillery and supplies to reduce and capture Canton/Hong Kong. I'm letting StoneAge determine all parameters of the ceasefire....frozen units...duration of ceasefire etc. I offered to withdraw from Hankow if Japan withdraws from Chengchow. I will attach a map of the ceasefire line once everything is finalized.

Its strange but he almosts acts like he is doing me a favor with the current ceasefire. In addition....StoneAge only wants a ceasefire in China....not in all of SE Asia. Maybe he thinks he is going to recapture all of Indochina, Thailand and Burma. As it stands now the Allies could assault Malaya instead of China.

But Im done in this theatre...I opened a major highway from Thailand into China and was able to draw over 100,000 supplies into southern China already. Im not interested in retaking Malaya. I also dont plan on any strategic bombing or aerial naval interdiction from my Thai/Indochinese bases until 1944 at the earliest.

The Australian 9th Division arrived in Aden last turn. I will probably send this division along with the Aussie 6th & 7th divisions to Timor for an eventual thrust by the 1st Australian Corps into the DEI. All the Brits currently in SE Asia will remain along with III Indian Corps and Burma Corps.The Indian LCUs in particular will be stacked with HQs in well supplied cities to take on the hordes of Indian replacements.



SUPPLY IN INDOCHINA


I currently have an operation in progress where 5 USN CVEs are escorting a large supply comvoy to Soerabaja.

After completing the Soerabaja resupply op, I had been planning on sailing the 5 CVEs to the Andaman Sea to cover a massive resupply of SE Asia through the port at Rangoon.

However now I dont think this will be necessary. Last turn I maxed out the supply draw for Myitkina and Shwebo and Ive attached a screenshot of the results...now there are 100,000 supplies in Myitkina and 34,000 supplies in Shwebo...all pulled thru the jungle from India. Ledo is a bit short on supply now(Ledo had over 50,000 supplies 2 turns ago for the transport AC aerial resupply into Chengtu) as is Imphal but Ill take that. This turn I reset the supply arrows to flow the supplies to Rangoon and Moulmein....it really looks to me like you dont need naval transport of supplies from India into Burma with the way the supply draw thru the jungle is working right now.

[DanielAnsell]

Just out of curiousity, why are you not interested in retaking Malaya/Singapore? I'd think you could hold it pretty well now, and it would make at least as good a springboard into the DEI as SWPAC/Oz. You've got a solid army within striking distance, and little risk of significant Japanese land-based counter attack from China.

[racndoc]

Carny....you are absolutely correct....I could probably have easily overrun Malaya and Singapore if I had chosen to.

My initial objective in 7/42 when I crossed the Indian border into Burma was to reopen the Burma Road as China was literally starving post patch v1096 and v1097. After reopening the Burma Road and destroying the IJA Imperial Guards and 55th Divisions I was surprised at how few IJA troops StoneAge
had commited for the defense of Burma....maybe 400 AV of SNLF and Naval Guards in addition to the 2 aforementioned divisions. I was frustrated with Japan conducting 3 seperate offensives in northern, central and southern China while leaving SE Asia hang out to dry so I continued the Eastern Army offensive into Rangoon and Moulmein in an attempt to force StoneAge to commit more troops to Se Asia. StoneAge didnt ever commit any more troops....all there were were RTA and Viet Minh troops and before I knew it the Allies had overrun all of Thailand and Indochina. Then I decided to open a main highway into southern China for additional supply purposes. My original intention in 7/42 was never to overrun all of SE Asia.

I still hold Batavia with over 1300 AV behind level 5 forts in 3x terrain with 50 P-38s flying CAP. If I had wanted to end this game as quickly as possible I could have sent an Air HQ to Batavia along with 200 4E bombers and 2 more P-38 squadrons and systematically nuked Palembang, Soerabaja, Balikpappan etc and ended the war by the end of 1942. I really didnt need SOPAC, SWPAC, CENTPAC or campaigns to take the Solomons/Bismarcks/Admiralties/New Guinea/Gilberts/Marshalls/Marianas/Philippines etc.

However, I want to win the war and the game by:

1) Massive strategic bombing against Japanese home island cities and
2) Strangulation of the Japanese economy by interdicting convoy routes from the DEI and the SRA back to Japan.

Im having a lot of fun with the Silent Service now and Id really like to see if they can come anywhere close to their RL achievements of sinking 80% of Japanese naval and merchant shipping during the war. Im really impressed so far with how the sub/ASW/merchant ship war has been modeled and Id like to see how this plays out.

Besides, StoneAge just reinforced Tavoy and is on the offensive now in SE Asia. Maybe my troops will need to dig in.

[racndoc]

1/13-1/18/43



SUBS


SS Growler sinks PB Akitsu Maru off Hong Kong.

SS Hwerring sinks AK Hokutai Maru near Oki Shoto.

SS Grayback takes 4 DCs from IJN ASW by Mason.

SS Finbacxk sinks AK Kinsyo Maru off Tokara Retto.




SOPAC



The 1st Amphibious Corps.....US Army 37th Division, 193rd Tank Battalion, 754th Tank Battalion, 147th Regiment and the 14th NZ Brigade....completes
loading and leaves Noumea for the assault on Rabaul.

Medium bombers based at Port Moresby step up their ground attacks on the IJA garrison at Rabaul.

Cv Hornet completes repairs at Sydney and will join CV Enterprise, CV Saratoga and CV Yorktown on station in the Bismarck Sea.



CBI


Japan finally marches some reinforcements into the CBI....56th Division arrives at Tavoy. Allied bombers based at Rangoon and Bangkok hit the IJA troops at Tavoy just as they launch an assault:


Ground combat at Tavoy (54,60)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17791 troops, 157 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 727

Defending force 8220 troops, 52 guns, 106 vehicles, Assault Value = 260

Japanese adjusted assault: 331

Allied adjusted defense: 1090

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
364 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Allied ground losses:
207 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Assaulting units:
7th RTA Division
56th Division
1st RTA/B Division
25th Army

Defending units:
46th Indian Brigade
8th Indian Brigade
XV Indian Corps


Meanwhile, Allied troops continue mop up operations throughout Thailand and Indochina.

[DanielAnsell]

I look forward to seeing how this plays out, then, Admiral. Could be quite the campaign, before all is said and done. Thanks for the answer, it was very illuminating of your thought processes.

[racndoc]

1/19-1/22/43



SUBS


SS Herring lands 11 shells on AKL Ina Maru off Oki Shoto.

SS S-39 sinks AK Eizan Maru by Tawi Tawi.

SS Haddock sinks CMcMa 2 near Kushiro.

SS Pompon puts a torpedo in AV Kamoi by Torishima.

SS Herring sinks AK Tohuku Maru off Matsue.

SS Haddo sinks off the coast of Japan by ASW AC.

SS Sculpin sinks AK Uma Maru off Wenchow.

SS Trout sinks AK Azuma Maru near Naga.



SOPAC...INVASION OF RABAUL


On D-Day minus one USN Bombardment TFs give Rabaul a "Spruance Haircut":


Naval bombardment of Rabaul at 106,125

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Warspite
BB Indiana
BB South Dakota
BB Washington
BB North Carolina
CA Canberra
CA New Orleans

Japanese ground losses:
1485 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 119 destroyed, 57 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 17 (12 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)



Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 15
Runway hits 482
Port hits 2

BB Warspite firing at Rabaul
BB Indiana firing at Rabaul
BB South Dakota firing at Rabaul
BB Washington firing at Rabaul
BB North Carolina firing at Rabaul
CA Canberra firing at Rabaul
CA New Orleans firing at Rabaul


Naval bombardment of Rabaul at 106,125

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Idaho
BB Tennessee
BB Pennsylvania
CA Australia
CA Houston
CA Portland

Japanese ground losses:
572 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 66 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 33 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 6 (3 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)



Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 185
Port hits 1

BB Idaho firing at Rabaul
BB Tennessee firing at 3rd JNAF AF Unit
BB Pennsylvania firing at Rabaul
CA Australia firing at Rabaul
CA Houston firing at Rabaul
CA Portland firing at Rabaul


1st Amphibious Corps is scheduled to storm ashore at daybreak tomorrow.



PANAMA CANAL


CV Victorious arrives at Cristobal. Historically CV Victorious filled the void in the Pacific for the Allies in early 1943 when CV Enterprise...the last operational USN CV in the Pacific in late 1942....was forced to return to port to effect repairs from damage suffered during the Battle of Santa Cruz.

With IJN carrier power crushed and 4 operational USN CVs in the south Pacific, the RN CV is no longer needed in the to ward off Japan in the east. instead, CV Victorious is ordered to Port Stanly in the south Atlantic and thence to Capetown. Eventually CV Victorious will be sent to India to form the nucleus of a RN air combat Task Group.



CBI


An IJN SAG hammers Allied AC on the ground with a surprise bombardment at Bangkok:


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 21, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Bangkok at 56,62

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed on ground
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed on ground
Mohawk IV: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
CL Yura
CL Isuzu
CL Nagara
DD Oite
DD Yuzuki
DD Mochizuki
DD Kikuzuki
DD Sazanami
DD Oboro
DD Sagiri
DD Isonami
DD Usugumo
DD Shinonome
DD Fubuki
DD Nenohi
DD Hatsuharu
DD Suzukaze
DD Hagikaze
DD Arashi
DD Maikaze


Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Airbase hits 38
Airbase supply hits 14
Runway hits 648

CL Yura firing at Bangkok
CL Isuzu firing at Bangkok
CL Nagara firing at Bangkok
DD Oite firing at 63rd Indian Brigade
DD Yuzuki firing at Bangkok
DD Mochizuki firing at Bangkok
DD Kikuzuki firing at Bangkok
DD Sazanami firing at Bangkok
DD Oboro firing at Bangkok
DD Sagiri firing at Bangkok
DD Isonami firing at Bangkok
DD Usugumo firing at Bangkok
DD Shinonome firing at Bangkok
DD Fubuki firing at Bangkok
DD Nenohi firing at Bangkok
DD Hatsuharu firing at Bangkok
DD Suzukaze firing at Bangkok
DD Hagikaze firing at Bangkok
DD Arashi firing at Bangkok
DD Maikaze firing at Bangkok



Japan suffers heavy losses in another assault at Tavoy:


Ground combat at Tavoy (54,60)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17443 troops, 157 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 693

Defending force 8085 troops, 52 guns, 106 vehicles, Assault Value = 250

Japanese adjusted assault: 404

Allied adjusted defense: 1318

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
893 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
249 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)


Assaulting units:
56th Division
7th RTA Division
1st RTA/B Division
25th Army

Defending units:
46th Indian Brigade
8th Indian Brigade
XV Indian Corps


The Allied troops here will withdraw 1 hex to the north to get under the air cover of Rangoon based fighters.

Just east of Tavoy the elite Chindits crush an RTA formation:


Ground combat at 55,60

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 10987 troops, 225 guns, 187 vehicles, Assault Value = 431

Defending force 1540 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 79

Allied adjusted assault: 498

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 498 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1905 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 48 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Allied ground losses:
302 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
111th Chindit Brigade
44th Indian Brigade
77th Chindit Brigade
2/9th Field Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
137/155th Field Regiment

Defending units:
1st RTA/C Division


The Allies may rule the ground and the skiies in SE Asia but without any carriers Japan still rules the seas...or at least the South China Sea. With the poor anti-ship capabilities of Allied level bombers in AE we will be forced to pull our air groups back from Bangkok to Ayuthia....Ayuthia is now a level 6 airfield as opposed to the level 4 airfield at Bangkok....and with an air HQ it will soon reach the "magic" 10 level.

Meanwhile 1st Australian Corps continues to mop up the IJA kampfgruppe remnants throughout Indochina.

[Xxzard]

Regarding the "magic ten" number, does the base's airfield information (# of groups and planes that shows up in the AF info screen) show up as having unlimited stacking?

In my game I have a number of airfields that are large enough and have HQs, but still show up with stacking information, though I can't attest to the penalties themselves. When I finally built one airfield close to the front up to 9, (which took very long) that stacking information went away, and stacking is clearly unlimited.

[racndoc]

Xxzard.....good question. To be honest.....most of my "magic" level 10 airfields show up as red in base airgroup screens....ie overstacked. However, when I found out that Tinian and Guam were only configured as level 7 max airbases I questioned the developers and they ASSURED me that I would be able to stack unlimited # of AC and conduct unlimited flight ops if an Air HQ with a sufficient command radius brought the airbase up to level 10. Havent done any testing but my "magic" level 10 airfields seem to be able to put most of the AC into the air.....even if the attacks are fragmented....
and the AC seem to repair/conduct maintenance normally.






1/23-1/24/43



SUBS


SS O19 is hit by 4 DCs from IJN ASW off Djemadja.

SS Finback sinks AK Arimason Maru by Tokora retto.

SS Tautog puts a torpedo in AK Sumanoura Maru near Toyohara.



SOPAC

1st Amphibious Corps storms ashore at Rabaul. Two weeks ago, recon showed some 9000 troops dug in at Rabaul. Now, around the clock naval and aerial bombardments show the defenders to be highly disrupted and attritioned. As the first assault waves go ashore the US Army and Kiwi troops have more to fear from the heavy surf than the IJA defenders:


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 23, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Rabaul
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Concord
CL Raleigh
CL Adelaide
DD Humphreys
PG Tulsa
SC-741
APD Waters
AM Cairns


Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


CL Concord firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
CL Raleigh firing at I/66th Naval Guard Unit
CL Adelaide firing at III/84th Naval Guard Unit
DD Humphreys firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
PG Tulsa firing at enemy troops
SC-741 firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Rabaul

TF 86 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul, 106,125


Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 14th NZ Bde
10 Support troops lost overboard during unload of I US Amphib Corps /2
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad 42 accidentally lost during unload of 37th Infantry Div
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad 42 lost overboard during unload of 37th Infantry Div /8
37mm M3 AT Gun accidentally lost during unload of 37th Infantry Div /2


Invasion Support action off Rabaul
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
PG Tulsa
SC-741
APD Waters
AM Cairns



PG Tulsa firing at enemy troops
SC-741 firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Rabaul
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
SC-741
APD Waters
AM Cairns



SC-741 firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards



Invasion Support action off Rabaul
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
SC-741
APD Waters



SC-741 firing at enemy troops


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

Ground combat at Rabaul (106,125)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1152 troops, 5 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 39

Defending force 19961 troops, 296 guns, 566 vehicles, Assault Value = 784

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


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


Assaulting units:
I/66th Naval Guard Unit
III/84th Naval Guard Unit
Maizuru 1st SNLF /1
3rd Naval Construction Battalion
Southeast Area Fleet /3

Defending units:
37th Infantry Div /11
147th(Sep) Infantry Rgt /9
193rd Tank Bn /9
14th NZ Bde /9
754th Tank Bn /9
I US Amphib Corps /9



Next turn 1st Amphibious Corps will order an "All out" shock attack as we want to send the IJA defenders out into the malarial jungles of New Britain without hope or a clue.


At Sydney, CV Lexington completes repair of all its SYS and minor FLT damage. Lady Lex still has 32 major FLT damage and since her tonnage exceeds the capacity of the Sydney shipyards she will be sent back to Pearl to complete repairs. I estimate that Lady Lex will be out of commission until late April or May 1943.

[racndoc]

1/25-1/26/43



SUBS


SS O16 lands a fish on AK Daigen Maru off Bungaran.

SS O20 puts a torpedo in AK Misaki Maru by Iriomote.

SS Herring sinks CM Nasami near Oki Shoto. The Herring is on a roll...thats 3 IJN ships she has sunk in the last week.



CBI


RTA and viet Minh troops launch a suicidal banzai attack at Hue:


Ground combat at Hue (66,64)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1369 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 68

Defending force 2458 troops, 42 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 121

Japanese adjusted assault: 90

Allied adjusted defense: 225

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
227 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled


Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
4th VM Division
1st RTA/A Division

Defending units:
23rd British Brigade


The 23rd British Brigade crushes them in the ensuing counterattack:


Ground combat at Hue (66,64)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 2373 troops, 42 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 113

Defending force 1158 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 56

Allied adjusted assault: 174

Japanese adjusted defense: 23

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Hue !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
830 casualties reported
Squads: 86 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2


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


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
23rd British Brigade

Defending units:
4th VM Division
1st RTA/A Division


The Allies continue to mop iolated pockets of IJA troops throughout Thailand and Indochina.



SOPAC


The 1st Amphibious Corps captures rabaul in an overwhelming shock attack:


Ground combat at Rabaul (106,125)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 18167 troops, 296 guns, 566 vehicles, Assault Value = 781

Defending force 1549 troops, 6 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 30

Allied adjusted assault: 2890

Japanese adjusted defense: 21

Allied assault odds: 137 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Rabaul !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
874 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 81 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 5


Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
37th Infantry Division
14th NZ Brigade
I US Amphib Corps

Defending units:
III/84th Naval Guard Unit
I/66th Naval Guard Unit
Maizuru 1st SNLF /1
3rd Naval Construction Battalion
Southeast Area Fleet /3


This concludes SOPAC offensive operations....SOPAC has basically run out of map to roam. The fast carriers of TG 58....CV Enterprise, CV Hornet, CV Yortown and CV Saratoga......are detached from SOPAC along with the fast BBs and sent to the central Pacific under CENTPAC command. Here they will be assisting CENTPAC's first offensive operation of the war....the Invasion of the Gilberts.

In less than a year SOPAC has adavanced nearly 1700 miles from Noumea to the Admiralty Islands.

Some of the slow BBs and CVEs will be transferred to MacArthur's Navy......SWPAC..... here they will cover the flank of SWPAC's advance up the northern coast of New Guinea.