Clear-Cutting AE (No Treespider)

[witpqs]

Reversals

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1942-04-22

Normanby Island fell today. 44th Indian Bde got beat good and will withdraw to India to recover after making Myitkyina. An (hopefully) opportunistic shock attack by the Chinese army near Wuchang went poorly, although casualties were not great.

Now this is the strangest thing. This turn I decided to do a mouse-over on Palembang just for the heck of it. Mind you I have no assets in the area that could improve the information from the last couple of turns. Now the facilities state looks like this:

[witpqs]

Beating Feet in the Jungle

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1942-04-23

No bases fell today. The Allies continue beating feet in Upper Burma, ahead of air strikes slowing down the pursuit. Various air strikes in China (normal). Heavy strikes on Clark. Of course the Imperial air that was hitting Palembang can now go elsewhere, but where?

New Caledonia:

[witpqs]

Clark Waning

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1942-04-24

No bases fell today. Noumea is again invested by Imperial troops, but their strength is unknown.

Today saw the first IJN submarine attack in some time. xAK West Camargo was sunk by 1 torpedo bar GR198,110. For the Allies part, Most USN subs have finished or are in refit. A number are already well on their way to patrol stations after refit. Several Imperial ships have been torpedoed and sunk west of the Kra Peninsula.

The defenders at Clark Field held off an attack today with better than a 4 to 1 favorable ratio in casualties.

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 46440 troops, 516 guns, 301 vehicles, Assault Value = 1373

Defending force 56506 troops, 712 guns, 294 vehicles, Assault Value = 1595

Japanese adjusted assault: 1035

Allied adjusted defense: 2470

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
5572 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 396 disabled
Non Combat: 43 destroyed, 444 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Vehicles lost 120 (20 destroyed, 100 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1393 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 57 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 128 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Vehicles lost 19 (8 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Assaulting units:
38th Division
16th Division
65th Brigade
48th Division
7th Tank Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
14th Army
2nd RF Gun Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
51st PA Infantry Division
192nd Tank Battalion
41st PA Infantry Division
4th Marine Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
1st PA Infantry Division
3rd/45th PS Inf Battalion
91st PA Infantry Division
2nd/45th PS Inf Battalion
21st PA Infantry Division
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
4th PA Constabulary Regiment
1st/45th PS Inf Battalion
31st Infantry Regiment
11th PA Infantry Division
31st PA Infantry Division
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
71st PA Infantry Division
14th PS Engineer Regiment
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment
Far East USAAF
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
1st USMC AA Battalion
PAF Aviation
II Philippine Corps
Asiatic Fleet
USAFFE
1st PI Base Force
I Philippine Corps
202nd PA Construction Battalion
Nichols Field AAF Base Force
301st Construction Battalion
Clark Field AAF Base Force
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
Cavite USN Base Force
201st PA Construction Battalion
Provisional GMC Grp
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

In the aftermath of that attack more units are without supply or very low on supplies. With no more in stores to hand out the situation will only get worse, and fairly rapidly.

A possible sighting 80nm from Karachi:

xAKL Hermod observes Japanese Float Plane at 38,7 near Karachi

This could merely be a misreported sighting of one of our own search planes, but there are no float planes on duty in the area. So, is it a sub based float plane, or a surface ship based float plane? There is a bunch of ASW sweeping the path to and from the wormhole. Beyond them, there is fairly little for surface raiders or even carriers to catch. If there were carriers on their way in that deep, likely there would have been some clue in SigInt, so I doubt carriers are involved. Surface raiders? Possibly, but unlikely as well. Given that, a float place equipped sub seems the most likely possibility.

Here is an overview.

[Capt. Harlock]

This turn I decided to do a mouse-over on Palembang just for the heck of it. Mind you I have no assets in the area that could improve the information from the last couple of turns. Now the facilities state looks like this:

Must be gremlins! [;)]

[aprezto]

Very destructive gremlins [:D]

[witpqs]

Recon Wrecked

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1942-04-25

Bhamo fell today. Loyang was liberated. Noumea is under attack by the 4th Ind Mixed Rgt, but held them off at 1 to 2 odds today despite the Empire having more than a 2 to 1 advantage in AV. ASW forces attacked I-30 near Karachi, possibly knocking off a single barnacle.

Two large fighter sweeps came over Darwin, the first of 35 Zeros and the second of 45 Zeros. If daily losses are to be believed the Zeros beat the P-40Bs 10 to 9, including ops losses. However, those losses put the coming odds heavily in the Zeros' favor, plus Darwin has very limited resupply. Aircraft at Darwin are pulling back to Katherine.

The 56th Recon Rgt crossed the river near Myitkyina onto the road in an effort to stymie the Allies withdrawal. All they found were heavy combat units:

Ground combat at 63,42 (near Myitkyina)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 920 troops, 4 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 38

Defending force 21540 troops, 251 guns, 132 vehicles, Assault Value = 773

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 515

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99

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

Japanese ground losses:
658 casualties reported
Squads: 30 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 42 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 49 (39 destroyed, 10 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
56th Recon Regiment

Defending units:
44th Indian Brigade
18th British Division
1st Burma Division

Unfortunately, staying to finish off the unit would put the Allies in danger of being caught by powerful IJA forces, so on to Myitkyina.

Here is a view of Upper Burma.

[witpqs]

Air Waves Abuzz

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1942-04-26

Yen-cheng was liberated today.

British sub Truant brought down the xAP Dairen Maru with 2 torpedoes near Phuket but paid a price with 39(31) flooding and is heading back to Colombo.

This is a whole lot of radio traffic:

[witpqs]

Next Steps

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1942-04-27

No bases fell today. Yesterday the Imperial troops at Noumea were scouted to be withdrawing, but today they appear static. A TF or convoy has been spotted heading toward New Caledonia at GR107,143.

Darwin was swept again with our fighters refusing to fight (as they are at Katherine). But it was followed by a well executed raid in heavy rain, delivering:

Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 85

Fortifications just made level 4, and there are 78 AV present. Supplies were good, but they just took a big hit with this raid and are now in the yellow.

The IJA 146 Inf Rgt planning to attack Derby, an AA unit and a Naval Guard unit loaded on ship at Rabaul, A radio contact at GR6,154 - some items of useful SigInt today.

Here is a view of Upper Burma. You can see that the Allied combat units have made Myitkyina and the IJA recon unit that ran into them is now headed back down-road, presumably to rest & rebuild.

[witpqs]

Double Redux

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1942-04-28

La Foa was liberated today. At Darwin, the base and supply depots were pummeled again.

Airbase hits 21
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 175

Due to the work of the solo combat engineer with the Australian Commando Coy, Noumea completed building level 1 fortifications before combat. Then, the 4th Ind.Mixed Regiment changed its mind and went all out:

Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 3067 troops, 29 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 86

Defending force 1034 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 38

Japanese adjusted assault: 56

Allied adjusted defense: 85

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
241 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment

Defending units:
2/7th Ind Coy
New Caledonia Det

With La Foa now in Allied hands, the 4th will not be receiving supplies via land. For now, that is. The Empire again appears to be withdrawing.

[witpqs]

Arrivals

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1942-04-29

Fang-chen fell today. Several land units arrived today, pretty well all over the map. They include another Commando Coy which will be shuttled to Noumea just as fast as possible.

The situation in the defensive lines at Clark is past desperate. One unit was destroyed just by the artillery bombardment today.

Here is an overview map.

[witpqs]

Day of Duds

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1942-04-30

Yen-cheng fell today. Several attacks by USN subs resulted in several safe Imperial merchant ships. That float plane is buzzing Karachi again.

The supply situation at Darwin is suddenly as bad as that at Clark Field. Two units are at 0 supply and there is none at the base. Resupply by sea is a fantasy, and overland simply can not keep up with that level of aerial destruction.

Imperial troops have shown up on the doorstep of Paoshan, the first Chinese base inside the China-Burma border. Aggressor strength is unknown, defenders have 770 AV behind 3(+78%) fortifications in mountainous terrain.

[witpqs]

The Supply War

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1942-05-01

No bases fell today. Garyling got a tanker near Saishu. Suddenly Rabaul's harbor is reported empty. I-30 got an xAKL near Karachi. Darwin was hammered yet again.

Morning Air attack on Darwin , at 76,124

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 51 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
G3M2 Nell x 26
G4M1 Betty x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 110
Port hits 34
Port supply hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
26 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
42 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

A total of 17 supply hits!

Clark Field resisted a deliberate attack, but now the list of units with trivial supplies on hand is long indeed.

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 40262 troops, 516 guns, 334 vehicles, Assault Value = 1848

Defending force 53112 troops, 706 guns, 275 vehicles, Assault Value = 1420

Japanese adjusted assault: 454

Allied adjusted defense: 1705

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 0)

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

Japanese ground losses:
3613 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 226 disabled
Non Combat: 46 destroyed, 147 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Vehicles lost 122 (58 destroyed, 64 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
779 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 82 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Assaulting units:
16th Division
7th Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
21st Division
4th Division
62nd Naval Guard Unit
65th Brigade
63rd Naval Guard Unit
48th Division
38th Division
67th Naval Guard Unit
2nd RF Gun Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
5th RF Gun Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
71st PA Infantry Division
4th PA Constabulary Regiment
1st/45th PS Inf Battalion
4th Marine Regiment
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
14th PS Engineer Regiment
21st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry Division
194th Tank Battalion
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
2nd/45th PS Inf Battalion
51st PA Infantry Division
11th PA Infantry Division
1st PA Infantry Division
91st PA Infantry Division
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
31st Infantry Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
3rd/45th PS Inf Battalion
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment
202nd PA Construction Battalion
Far East USAAF
Cavite USN Base Force
Provisional GMC Grp
Asiatic Fleet
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
Clark Field AAF Base Force
PAF Aviation
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
201st PA Construction Battalion
Nichols Field AAF Base Force
USAFFE
1st USMC AA Battalion
II Philippine Corps
301st Construction Battalion
I Philippine Corps
1st PI Base Force
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

Here is the situation at Clark, sorted by supply.

[witpqs]

Turning Upper Burma

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1942-05-02

No bases fell today. The strong Imperial forces in Upper Burma are maneuvering around Katha, and while our forces might be able to defend Katha, they can not do so when cut off in Katha. They are withdrawing through Warazup to the Indian border.

[witpqs]

Hiatus End

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1942-05-03

Sipora and La Foa fell today. The Imperial bomber force returned to Burma, hitting the withdrawing Allied army at Myitkyina. While the fighters remaining on station did their best to disrupt the onslaught, flak did account for nearly a dozen bombers and fighters shot down. The Empire also managed an aerial recon of Bombay, no doubt by submarine launched aircraft.

Slightly more significantly, a convoy unloading engineer units at Dutch Harbor was spied. They are two combat engineer units slated for the liberating of the captive Aleutians. The 0(0) airfield is up to 0+56% and I'm trying to get it ready for a fighter squadron before the large amphibious convoy arrives with troops for Umnak. Lexington and Saratoga will be on hand to provide cover as well, but I prefer they remain hidden unless needed.

Back in Burma, note that at least one of the two units across the river from Myitkyina is believed moving parallel to the river. As the Empire has sufficient forces moving on Myitkyina itself from the same side of the river, this must be a flanking maneuver aimed at Paoshan, in China.

[witpqs]

Transitions

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1942-05-04

No bases fell today. Allied subs continue to do well, with today seeing an xAK brought down by the British SS Trusty. The last Allied unit on Sumatra was caught and destroyed this day as well. Darwin took another beating, which at this point is merely moving around the same rubble and filling one crater while creating another. Clark Field defense is fading fast. While AV is still over 1,300, supplies are going from catastrophically horrible to worse than catastrophically horrible, and Imperial troops boast greater AV now too. A double dose of very heavy radio traffic at Singapore, meaning unknown.

Here is an overview map.

[witpqs]

Clark Holds!

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1942-05-05

No bases fell today. Clark Field held yet again. This is surprising because the supply situation is so bad. Of course, defending an attack burns supplies even faster. There are still a bunch of infantry formations with supplies in the hundreds, and by looking at their supply requirements that could last them roughly 10 days. Aerial bombing will likely reduce that further. It's also surprising that no Allied units were destroyed in today's attack as many have zero supply.

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 53223 troops, 614 guns, 314 vehicles, Assault Value = 1550

Defending force 51658 troops, 697 guns, 269 vehicles, Assault Value = 1350

Japanese adjusted assault: 898

Allied adjusted defense: 1342

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
6749 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 416 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 334 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Vehicles lost 52 (12 destroyed, 40 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2248 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 141 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 159 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Vehicles lost 18 (6 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Assaulting units:
38th Division
48th Division
64th Naval Guard Unit
4th Division
21st Division
63rd Naval Guard Unit
4th Tank Regiment
62nd Naval Guard Unit
67th Naval Guard Unit
5th RF Gun Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
14th Army
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd RF Gun Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
1st PA Infantry Division
194th Tank Battalion
2nd/45th PS Inf Battalion
11th PA Infantry Division
51st PA Infantry Division
91st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry Division
1st/45th PS Inf Battalion
2nd PA Constabulary Regiment
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
14th PS Engineer Regiment
4th PA Constabulary Regiment
4th Marine Regiment
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
31st Infantry Regiment
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
21st PA Infantry Division
3rd/45th PS Inf Battalion
71st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment
USAFFE
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
Clark Field AAF Base Force
201st PA Construction Battalion
1st PI Base Force
PAF Aviation
Cavite USN Base Force
1st USMC AA Battalion
Nichols Field AAF Base Force
Provisional GMC Grp
202nd PA Construction Battalion
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
Far East USAAF
II Philippine Corps
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
Asiatic Fleet
301st Construction Battalion
I Philippine Corps
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

As you can see some hurt was put on the Imperial troops. While Allied forces performed well for the circumstances, the performance of the Imperial units is an open question. Was it just an unfavorable die roll or some unreported status like morale? At least one unit is seen leaving Clark, probably 2 or 3 units mauled and needing to recover.

The Imperial unit appears to have left La Foa for Koumac.

[witpqs]

The Grind

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1942-05-06

Siberoet fell today. In China, the Empire is heavily reinforcing Ichang and, separately, moving forces past Pingsiang to the south toward the area of Kukong. Unhappily, supplies in China are running out due both to the loss of Burma and the constant bombing of bases by Imperial air forces, which keep scoring supply hits. Save for one damaged fighter plane, Allied forces have cleared Myitkyina just in the nick of time as Imperial troops arrived. It will be more difficult to achieve the same at Warazup as there is no road to India.

TF Northern Fire has been spotted by an IJN sub as it moves into position to cover the convoys to Umnak. The carriers have not been spotted, although it's unknown if any of their aircraft have been seen. The air base at Dutch Harbor is building too slowly to be of use during this operation.

[witpqs]

The Grind Goes On

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1942-05-07

Myitkyina fell today. The Allied heavies will hit the Imperial troops there to slow them down while the mediums take a swipe at the base, mostly with an eye toward closing what will surely become a forward fighter base for the Empire, but also to start an attrition campaign against Imperial supply stores.

The Empire pulled a significant number of troops out of Clark Field as evidenced by the AV displayed in the ground combat bombardment report at 778. It was well over 1,200 after the rebuffed attack, and well over 1,500 before the attack. More Imperial troops appear to be leaving.

I suppose that something must be up at Rabaul:

[witpqs]

The Grind Goes On and On

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1942-05-08

No bases fell today. Zeros from Koepang swept Katherine, finding P-40Bs and P-35As. The P-35s got hit hard, but so did the Zeros. Several Zeros were also shot down over Myitkyina by those experienced AVG pilots sweeping in P-39Ds, so the number lost in the two engagements are mixed together, although it seems the greater number of Zeros went down over Katherine. 19 Zeros and 8 Oscars went down on the day. See today's air losses below. There were 6 supply hits made on Myitkyina and airfield damage is seen at 12%.

The landings are underway at Umnak and the airbase construction has already begun. Two more convoys are on the way. A P-40E squadron is now on the line at Imphal and is taking over sweep duties from the AVG P-39Ds, which will fly escort.

[witpqs]

The Grind Goes On and On and On

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1942-05-09

Rekata Bay fell today. There are at least 3 IJN subs threatening shipping in and around Umnak. I-boats are also seen in the shipping lane near Adelaide and south of Pago Pago. Oscars swept Chittagong, downing 5 x Hurricane IIa and losing 13 of their own. Hurricane Ias from Dacca participated in the defense. Likewise, 13 x Zeros were lost in a sweep of Katherine that was met by P-40Bs with the aid of 2 x P-40Es from Daly Waters. There were no Allied losses in that fight. Heavy cloud prevented Allied air attacks on Myitkyina. Rain is forecast tomorrow.

AV is dropping quickly at Clark Field. Here is the supply situation: