Aug 19-Sept 2, 1942:
REAL WORLD: I have been able to do only 1-2 turns a day due to work really picking up. I'm grateful to be working, so can't complain, but it is slowing this down, and making it difficult to keep up on the AAR. Thus, the long absence.
Air Wars over India: The last two weeks have been continuous air fights. They kind of go like this: Tojos sweep P-38s, and usually score 2-1 over them. I really want to attrite P-38s. B-17s bomb my airbases, though, and usually get a bunch of planes, though I usually shoot down 1-2 per trip using NICKS. Occasionally, Dan has brought in P-40s or Hurricanes, which get absolutely slaughtered by Tojos. Overall, I am probably ahead 2-1.
India on Ground: I am re-arranging my forces, to cut-off the troops facing me near Bombay. I have no intention of attacking Bombay; I hope to create a stalemate through 1942, then get out pretty quickly, as India cannot be held, and the only reason to do so is for Auto VPs.
I have pulled 4 Infantry Divisions total for other areas. I have, though, dropped off 2 Tank Divisions; that makes 3 Tank Divisions and a Tank Bde. Panzer Armee India!
Other Plans: I have another operation cooking that potentially can yield enough VPs for Auto Victory, particularly if Dan brings out the fleet, which I hope he does.
Surface Fight off Karachi: I have had a small TF lurking, and making night runs into the channel off Karachi. A few days back, they found and sank 2 KVs and some MTBs. Finally, though, they hit some paydirt:
Day Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 38,7, Range 5,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 1
DD Yudachi, Shell hits 1
DD Samidare, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
DD Nenohi, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
DMS Southard, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AP Harris, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AP Hunter Liggett, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Monterey, Shell hits 3
AK Fomalhaut, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Alhena, Shell hits 5
xAK Autolycus, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Kiangsu, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
Not the greatest result; they were set on RETIRE, not sure why they hung around and attacked during the day. They expended enough OPS points that CL ISUZU was caught and sunk by bombers from Karachi. Apparently she struck a mine. Another DD is on fire, and probably about 50/50; the OPS damage is only 42 so far.
It is nice to sink the Harris-class APs which convert to APAs. I think I sank the HUNTER LIGGETT.
A sub finished off the xAK ATOLYCUS, which was left without an escort.
