BACK IN BUSINESS - PzB goes East again(st) Andy Mac

[PzB74]

Thx for the support guys and good to see you here again Pauk! [:)]
- Not sure you would have been so confident if you played this Burma game, Allied concentrations are huge.
And yes, I'm strengthening the flanks and as long as KB rules the waves an amph op would be most welcome! [8D]

Andy knows that KB was near Rangoon a few days ago, so now we need to make it dissappear again.
We may win on point one rainy day, but a phyrros victory beneath bombed out base hexes isn't very appealing.
The next big big thing is to crush Allied sea power one more time, that would be the nail in the coffin.
Until then we just have to slug it out in Burma and prepare the other fronts for action.

Rest assured, Rangoon et al have been thoroughly closed, just look at todays bomb rain.
Even though one base operates at minimum capacity damaged ac are not repaired and will be destroyed on the ground.
I do keep my bombers in different bases, seems to be jinxed by weather [:(]

A ground assault north of Toungoo achieves a 1-1 odds and our smaller LCUs takes a heavy beating.
Massive air assaults in Rangoon area. We continue to reorganize our air armies in the rear areas.

All our offensive air ops were shut down by poor weather; strange, never seen this happen to Allies.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 15, 44

Surface Combat

We hunt down a single AK west of Palmyra.
In return a hunter is hunted by a sub....

Night Time Surface Combat, near Palmyra at 163,132, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Urukaze

Allied Ships
xAK Colac, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub Attacks

ASW attack near Palmyra at 163,132

Japanese Ships
APD Hagi, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
APD Tade

Allied Ships
SS Tambor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on Bassein , at 54,52
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 94

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 3 damaged

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

Airbase hits 47
Airbase supply hits 19
Runway hits 437
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Bassein , at 54,52
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 88 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 12
B-24J Liberator x 30


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 251

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 24th JAAF AF Bn , at 54,52 (Bassein)
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 113 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 52

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
375 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 24th JAAF AF Bn , at 54,52 (Bassein)
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 101 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 28
B-25G Mitchell x 12

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
224 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25G Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
16 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 24th JAAF AF Bn , at 54,52 (Bassein)
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-25G Mitchell x 16

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
90 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x B-25G Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 90th Infantry Regiment, at 54,52 (Bassein)
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 116 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 12

No Allied losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at 57,49 (near Toungoo)
Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 38773 troops, 742 guns, 347 vehicles, Assault Value = 1586
Defending force 13481 troops, 211 guns, 836 vehicles, Assault Value = 575

Allied adjusted assault: 1089
Japanese adjusted defense: 985

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1300 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 88 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 86 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled

Allied ground losses:
510 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 52 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled

Assaulting units:
23rd Indian Division
18th British Division
XV Corps Engineer Battalion
5th Chinese Corps
56th Heavy AA Regiment
97th Field Artillery Battalion
15th Indian Heavy AA Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
134th Field Artillery Battalion
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd AA Bde
6th Medium Regiment
35th Light AA Regiment
17th Indian Light AA Regiment
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Burma Corps
29th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
14th Indian Light AA Regiment
2nd Indian Heavy AA Regiment
6th Heavy AA Regiment
XV Corps RIASC Base Force

Defending units:
42nd Infantry Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment
2nd Tank Division
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
39th Road Const Co
101st Machine Canno AA Battalion
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Burma

The northern part of the front is made up by smaller regimental size LCUs that won't last in major ground battles against larger sized units.
Seems like we have no choice but falling back to a line just north of Rangoon; if we are to hang on to this we need to get ~2000 AV in each hex of the front.

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: PzB
Not sure you would have been so confident if you played this Burma game, Allied concentrations are huge.

All our offensive air ops were shut down by poor weather; strange, never seen this happen to Allies.

Obviously i was misguided by the promises of Gods of AE who all were determined and kept yelling all around the forum, "AE will make Burma overland offensive impossible" [:D]

well, you have no other choice than relocate/relase divisions from other theaters to
Burma. It seems pretty clear (at least for me) that Andy put his cards there.



And wow for you, you are member of this forum for more than a 11 years. I really think that Matrix should/must reward you with a, lets say, a free copy of the War in the East!

[witpqs]

Overland offensive in Burma should be very difficult, not impossible. And it does seem very difficult.

[khyberbill]

And it does seem very difficult.

Yes, supply makes it very difficult to maintain an attack in Burma. And in reply to Pauk above, Andy appears to using mostly Indian units for the heavy lifting and they are larger than US divisions with a good replacement rate to start which increases every year. Thus I suspect mostly Indian cards are here at the moment.

[Fishbed]

Hey PzB.
Hope I will soon have a scanner of mine, drawing silly stuff eludes me for months!

Hey, just wondered: how developed are the enemy defenses in southern India? Is there any real allied air force presence over there? Any naval asset?

Just saying, if you already have an idea of how Ceylon is defended, and if it isn't much, well I'd gladly invade the place, or some other place along the coast. Because he probably believes you forever on the defensive, because you most probably don't have a huge navy facing you, and because it would be kinda fun, don't you think? You definitely lack any side theater where Andy could use his precious 4Es, and setting foot on Indian territory sounds like one he could pick. It's all about using few resources for big results.

With all this stuff in Burma he is probably running low on troops in the backstage.

Another thing: it's been a long time since you've last been seen raiding his rear in the Pacific. Any plan to dispatch a small CVE TF to look for trouble on the open ocean lanes?

[Fishbed]

ORIGINAL: pauk

And wow for you, you are member of this forum for more than a 11 years. I really think that Matrix should/must reward you with a, lets say, a free copy of the War in the East!

Don't you dare kill that AAR with your dangerous suggestions, Pauk!!! Ask Canoerebel about Qball's performance in the East for instance [:D] [;)]
Btw, I'd rather wait for them to fix a couple mishaps first before seeing Pzb migrating away, if ever...

And, btw, just a gut feeling, but I just don't find the same atmosphere there and over here. It nearly sounds like we're not the same kind of wargamers seomtimes.

[PzB74]

Haha, the forum has missed your Allied Edition campaign Pauk! [:D]
Hm, you've been a jolly member of this forum for ~10 years yourself - you deserve a t-shirt too!-)
"Sulky old warbirder"...

It's been a long but fun haul indeed, I've found it more and more challenging to find time to write an AAR as work and family easily may suffer.
But the great people and interest in WitP makes it difficult to stay away [&o]

- Unfortunately the game against Al (Wobbly) is more or less on hold for a period as sleep deprievation over difficult strategic decisions takes its toll [;)]
My slight addiction to a certain tank game and pull towards War in the East make me wish they would invent cloning soon..

But back to da game; Unfortunately I've sent a lot of reserves to Burma and many of our divisions have now been routed without many replacements coming forth.
If I wish to send in more troops they will have to come from strategic bases like a) Victoria Point b) Medan c) Java
The division in Singapore is currently rebuilding and I've sent the Bangkok division north to anchor the right part of the front.

The large Brigade in Rangoon will switch places with a division in need of R&R and move to the front.
Except for all these mentioned available reserves the only large size LCUs available are Brigades that I currently assign to the Marianas, PIs and SRA.
So there's not a lot of available troops to invade anything now as we need to garrison so many key strategic areas.

There is a large division prepping for release at Port Arthur, within a couple of weeks it should be on its way.

The way you draw propaganda posters I think I will have to send you a scanner Fish [:)]

Yees, we need to do something "fun" to entertain Andy again soon; just want him to become a little complacant and find an opportune time and place.
Andy is playing a great game on the ground in Burma and there's not much joy to be had there among hundred LCUs and thousands of bombers....

[Rainer79]

With the allied army near Prome wouldn't it be time to abandon the positions near Lashio and Taung Gyi? If the allies break through and get to Pegu there would be a sizeable haul of prisoners waiting for them.

[PzB74]

Taung Gyi is easy to "abandon" with a fast road leading south; for now I'm content with marching some troops south.
Remember that we tie up quite a few Allied troops in this region and pose a threat to the Allied flank.

Lashio and the northern line is held by 3 single regiments; alone they can hold a division worth of troops each.
If I withdraw them they will have limited value. They also keep a small window of opportunity open for our isolated division further to the north.
A small relief force will try to open a hex side for it to escape.

A behind the line tank regiment has now also moved to the west coast just south of Akyab. This combined with our division and troops in the north may reduce the flow of supplies to Allied troops. Can anyone confirm / repudiate this?

The next big question is to what degree we can manage to stabilize the front south of Prome.
I would really like to stall Andy for some time there!

[PaxMondo]

I don't think I would commit any more reserves to Burma. It's '44 now and you're getting deeper into it. The allies have all the advantages; more power per squad, 4E's, and more reserves coming online. Putting more into Burma is falling into Andy's plan. He likes ground combat, his strength is in India, and he still has no Navy; so he has REALLY nothing else to do.

I'm with Fishbed. If you can come up with a low cost operation that would force Andy to react with greater forces, this would be a good time to do so.

Otherwise, you are simply in a trading space for time. With his 4E's, really no position can be held indefinitely irregardless of the terrain. [Personally, I thnk this is an area the game model still needs a tweak (higher fort levels, >6, should be almost immune to standard 500lb bombs), but that is for another thread.] That said, your current layered defense is what you need to do and keep doing for the next 2 years of game time. Start prepping your next 3 or 4 defense lines now and keep going. Gotta a lot of war left yet. [:D]

Don't get depressed over the withdrawals. That plays into Andy's hand. You're doing great. Just remember, he can't win like this, he can only progress. It's taking him more than a week to advance 40 miles. At that rate, he doesn't get to Singers until '45. That means the HI in '48. [:D] That would put you somewhere near DECISIVE VICTORY or higher. [&o]

[beppi]

PzB for me it still seems strange why Andis 4E Air attacks are so much stronger than in my game. I have massive problems to damage enemy troops in rough terrain (mountains, dense jungle) or in cities with more than 6 forts. The only real difference is that in our game 4E are restricted to 15k altitude minimum.

An result with around 250 4E @ 15k feet resulted in (no B-29 in that attack)

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

losses in Lashio with lvl 7 Forts. Even constant air attacks of 20 or 30 turns with 250+ 4E resulting in almost no killed ground troops and disruption < 15 for the enemy. The only difference i can see are the 15k feet. Possible you could negotiate such a rule if 4E are really that big problem. The allied offensive works without nuking ground troops by 4E too, so just little more challnge for Andy. 2E and FB can be killed by flak at a good rate, and even with 15k supply and airfields can be killed quite good.

[janh]

I think PaxMondo and Fishbed are right.  Don't think there is any way to hold, but at least you make your ground expensive to Andy and sell it slowly.  The only thing I don't like about this is that we will sooner or later close to 4E range on Singapore and other major ports (even Palembang will hurt).  I wouldn't discount Andy's naval arm though: Likely his CV are still not on par with your strength yet, but he must have enough repaired and new replacement decks by now to stage a nice ambush in return if you are not cautious.

If you want to force Andy to deploy significant LCU and LBA in reaction to an operation against his communications, hmmh, I wonder whether there is any target left for such an exploit?  Do you have any recent recon from Ceylon?  OZ must be buzzing with troops anyway, and any trouble there would probably not require him to send reinforcements from India.  But at least it could disrupt any move from OZ to DEI, if he so plans.  Same if you'd target any of the islands in SO or CENTPAC, in case he is preparing something there.  However, both options would face LBA, if not even his CV, and could turn out costly... 

[PzB74]

Yes, you're right Pax; Burma has to do with what it got.

Not sure there is a low cost - low risk operation that can be conducted in 1944...
Sending an invasion force anywere would mean:
a) Stripping a major garrison of troops
b) Changing unit prep target (will take 90 days)
- An invasion with ill prepared troops = cripling losses
c) The KB needs to support an amph invasion
- This will bring us within LBA range and attrit our CAG and Navy

The best offensive in 1944 is counterattack when Allies attack!
Then we need to be ready with 4-5 divisions and our entire air and naval fleets! [:D]

We have an "arrangement" that 4Es is not to be used "overly" against ground targets.
Andy use some before ground attacks...it's mostly medium bombers that cause havoc on our
troops in clear hexes and units in strat or move mode.

Troops in Bassein are protected by 4 fort levels and yet ground attacks cause the same amount of losses
as against units in a clear hex without forts. This is not right and should be tweaked me thinks.

Recon indicates that most Allied bases now holds 10-20-30 units; very hard to tell what kind of units this is Jahn.

This turn our troops north of Toungoo were forced to retreat. I honestly don't understand how odds are calculated - or ground combat in general.
In a jungle hex with relatively fresh troops our AV was reduced from 500 to 250; usually it's doubled or more [&:]

Our Army bombers hit Prome and Allied ground troops with some effect today but even when bombing from 11k feet casualties were high and ca 35 bombers
were lost to AA. When Allies bomb from 7000 feet and we have 4 AA Regiments we manage to damage 2-3 ac.... [8|]

The good news is that our troops will march out of clear hex hell of Prome next turn.
Now we should be able to gather 1500 AV in the 2 threatened hexes as indicated on the attached screen.
The question is whether this is enough; only time will show. I will siphon troops from the north to reinforce the flanks and create reserves.

I'm tempted to send the Victoria Point division to Moulmein just as a precaution.
Should be able to find a reinforcement for VP in due time.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 16, 44

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on 25th Indian Division, at 55,50 (Prome)
Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 94 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 10
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 45

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 3
Spitfire VIII x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 4
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M2 Jack: 2 destroyed
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 3 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 26th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 32nd Infantry Division ...
Also attacking 2nd Indian AA Bde ...
Also attacking 25th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 26th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 25th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 26th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 25th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 2nd Indian AA Bde ...
Also attacking 26th Indian Division ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 25th Indian Division, at 55,50 (Prome)
Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 98 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 16
Ki-30 Ann x 19
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 21

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 2
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 2
F4U-1 Corsair x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 2 destroyed by flak
Ki-30 Ann: 10 damaged
Ki-30 Ann: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 9 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied ground losses:
131 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
21 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
13 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 45th Indian Brigade ...
Also attacking 2nd British Division ...
Also attacking 25th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 45th Indian Brigade ...
Also attacking 25th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 45th Indian Brigade ...
Also attacking 25th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 45th Indian Brigade ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 19th Indian Division, at 55,50 (Prome)
Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 4
Ki-30 Ann x 5
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 42
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 43
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 5
Ki-84a Frank x 35

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 1
F4U-1 Corsair x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 2 destroyed by flak
Ki-30 Ann: 3 damaged
Ki-30 Ann: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 16 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 destroyed by flak
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 4 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
103 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 29 (2 destroyed, 27 disabled)

Also attacking 7th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 5th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 75th IAC Regiment ...
Also attacking IV Corps RIASC Base Force ...
Also attacking 5th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 75th IAC Regiment ...
Also attacking 19th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 7th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 5th Indian Division ...
Also attacking IV Corps RIASC Base Force ...
Also attacking 5th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 75th IAC Regiment ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 26th Indian Division, at 55,50 (Prome)
Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 9 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2nd Tank Division, at 57,49 , near Toungoo
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter TF.X x 18
Hurricane IIc Trop x 24

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter TF.X: 4 damaged
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 99 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 12
P-51A Mustang x 9
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 69

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 4 damaged

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

Airbase hits 22
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 177
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2nd Tank Division, at 57,49 , near Toungoo
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 13
Liberator B.III x 14
Liberator B.VI x 3
Liberator GR.III x 12
Wellington GR.XIII x 15
P-40K Warhawk x 5
F6F-3 Hellcat x 4

No Allied losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Liberator B.VI bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x Liberator GR.III bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 250 lb GP Bomb
12 x Wellington GR.XIII bombing from 10000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 250 lb GP Bomb
14 x Liberator B.III bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Wellington GR.XIII bombing from 10000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 250 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 2nd Tank Division ...
Also attacking Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 2nd Tank Division ...
Also attacking Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 2nd Tank Division ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 101st Machine Canno AA Battalion, at 57,49 , near Toungoo
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 16
Beaufighter TF.X x 5
Hurricane IV x 16

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIc: 1 damaged
Beaufighter TF.X: 4 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Beaufighter VIc bombing from 7000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
5 x Beaufighter TF.X bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
16 x Hurricane IV bombing from 7000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 22nd Recon Regiment ...
Also attacking 101st Machine Canno AA Battalion ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 22nd Recon Regiment ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 101st Machine Canno AA Battalion, at 57,49 , near Toungoo
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort I x 5
Hurricane IIc Trop x 10

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort I: 1 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Beaufort I bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Beaufort I bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Pegu , at 55,53
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 76

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 4 damaged

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

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 308
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Pegu , at 55,53
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 12

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 40

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Pegu , at 55,53
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 34

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged

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

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 249
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 90th Infantry Regiment, at 54,52 (Bassein)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 63 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 15

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
51 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 24th JAAF AF Bn ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 54 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 14
B-17F Fortress x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 59
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 90th Infantry Regiment, at 54,52 (Bassein)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 114 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 52
B-25G Mitchell x 16

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
157 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Also attacking 18th JAAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 24th JAAF AF Bn ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 18th JAAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 24th JAAF AF Bn ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 18th JAAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 24th JAAF AF Bn ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 18th JAAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 24th JAAF AF Bn ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 18th JAAF Base Force, at 54,52 (Bassein)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 28

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
16 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 24th JAAF AF Bn ...
Also attacking 18th JAAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 24th JAAF AF Bn ...
Also attacking 18th JAAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 24th JAAF AF Bn ...
Also attacking 18th JAAF Base Force ...
Also attacking 24th JAAF AF Bn ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 90th Infantry Regiment, at 54,52 (Bassein)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25G Mitchell x 12

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-25G Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at 57,49 (near Toungoo)
Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 38290 troops, 742 guns, 347 vehicles, Assault Value = 1546
Defending force 12271 troops, 211 guns, 836 vehicles, Assault Value = 503

Allied adjusted assault: 757
Japanese adjusted defense: 221

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2751 casualties reported
Squads: 62 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 172 destroyed, 88 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 27 (13 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 296 (165 destroyed, 131 disabled)
Units retreated 6

Allied ground losses:
471 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 48 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
XV Corps Engineer Battalion
18th British Division
23rd Indian Division
5th Chinese Corps
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
56th Heavy AA Regiment
15th Indian Heavy AA Regiment
29th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Burma Corps
134th Field Artillery Battalion
14th Indian Light AA Regiment
6th Heavy AA Regiment
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
35th Light AA Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
97th Field Artillery Battalion
17th Indian Light AA Regiment
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
23rd AA Bde
2nd Indian Heavy AA Regiment
XV Corps RIASC Base Force

Defending units:
42nd Infantry Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment
2nd Tank Division
39th Road Const Co
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
101st Machine Canno AA Battalion
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Burma

[PzB74]

Ok we got lucky this turn. I'm going away on teambuilding tomorrow, so will complete and return this turn on Thursday.
We need to make some very very important decisions, so please come with your best advice ever! [&o]

I set 200 Jap fighters on LRCAP over Bassein to get the Allied ground pounders last turn.
Somehow they only intercepted ac attacking Rangoon this turn [&:]

In the last part of the turn enemy para and air landing troops started landing at Bassein - THEN our fighters intercepted but made few kills (opposed to what Allied fighters on CAP did with our transports).
After taking an unreasonable punishment the Bassein garrison was severly weakened but we were lucky and the 3-1 odds wasn't enough to capture the place.

Next turn I will drop Jap paras and conduct heavy air strikes on Allied troops in Bassein.

In Prome our army marched out promptly hours before a massive Allied assault by 3500 AV set in.
So we got away in the nick of time this turn!

If you look at the situation map (included road and rails so a bit messy) our forces have been dispersed.
In total we have some 1400 + 1400 + 1000 + some dispersed and worn down LCU units between Taung Gyi and Rangoon.
Any of these stacks are hardly adequate to face the full force of Allied air power and a 4500 AV assault for long.

Our current position will delay Andy but we can't allow him to route our troops.

The question is therefore; should we stand and fight or should we fall back.
- If we are to fall back, were should we fall back to?

Handing over Rangoon and all of Burma to Andy isn't very tempting but it's better than getting our army routed.
Our only tenable defensive line is the Moulmein - Rahaeng line. Here we could mass 3000 AV in Moulmein and 2000 on the flanks as well as strongly garrison the coast to the south.
Andy would then have to deal with Port Blair and the Andamans to open up for further advances.

I'm more or less in favor for a slow withdrawal of the Burma Army to Moulmein.
What do you say?

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 17, 44

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Prome (55,50)
Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 96013 troops, 1902 guns, 1652 vehicles, Assault Value = 3531
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3
Allied adjusted assault: 1956

Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 1956 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Prome !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker:

Assaulting units:
26th Indian Division
16th Chindit Brigade
19th Indian Division
Gardner's Horse Regiment
75th IAC Regiment
32nd Infantry Division
4th Marine Regiment
268th Motorised Brigade
7th Indian Division
25th Indian Division
2nd British Division
45th Indian Brigade
5th Indian Division
16th Indian Heavy AA Regiment
8th Belfast Heavy AA Regiment
20th Indian Heavy AA Regiment
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Indian AA Bde
101st RAF Base Force
IV Indian Corps
14th Army
22nd Light AA Regiment
IV Corps RIASC Base Force
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bassein (54,52)
Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1749 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 138
Defending force 3623 troops, 49 guns, 73 vehicles, Assault Value = 74

Allied adjusted assault: 51
Japanese adjusted defense: 13

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 3)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
243 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
50th Indian Para Bde /2
77th Chindit Bde /2
1st Specl Svc Force /1

Defending units:
90th Infantry Regiment
25th Field AA Machinecannon Company
18th JAAF Base Force
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Burma

[Cribtop]

Question: Are the two enemy concentrations you mention (3500 and 1500 AV respectively) his only concentrations or does he have additional significant ground forces in theater? I suspect you'll have to withdraw either way, but if he has 5000 AV total there's a chance if you can pull your disparate forces together.

[Mynok]

Your retreat is sound. You'll just need to hold Pegu and the hex two NE of it to keep the road open for your guys or they'll be crawling through jungle. Your stuff north of Taung Gyi is dead. Mark it off.

[Cribtop]

PS - As you move to the new line, comfort yourself that it is Feb 14 - monsoon isn't far away!

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Mynok
Your stuff north of Taung Gyi is dead. Mark it off.

Ouch ...

[Rainer79]

A line going from the hex NE of Moulmain to Chiang Mai is a very nice defensive position. It can (and will) eventually be flanked but that costs a lot of time and there are many lovely JR hexes to make a stand in if the flankers aren't strong enough. There is no need to fall back on Rahaeng immediately.

Mynok's assessment may be harsh but I agree. Get out whatever you can and be thankful that you can rebuild destroyed LCUs in the betas.

[janh]

A slow fall back to the Moulmein-Rahaeng-Giang Mai line is probably due.  I am sure you already have thought of anchoring the left flank of this line proper on the coast (I'd jump from Rangoon to Tavoy, if I were Andy, and grind my way into Bangkok).  Hopefully you can march some units north of Taung Gyi back to your lines -- if not, perhaps they will bind more of his men than of yours.

The only thing I quite dislike about this withdrawal (besides a fighting withdrawal being an inherent risky thing) is the loss of the air bases and the end of cutting down his fighters.  Besides the nuking bombing raids on your airfields, the one to suffer most in the air was Andy. He apparently (FOW) has lost a good number of Corsairs, Mustangs, Thuds and commonwealth types, not to mention the number of 2E and 4E machines downed (it would be interesting to compare his total losses to the historical pools now...).  Your losses in modern Frank and Georges seem to be almost acceptable in contrast, especially since almost half of your losses are planes bombed to dust, and since you saved a lot of pilots fighting over own turf.  Not sure whether these losses should leave a significant dent in Andy's air capacities for later bombing campaigns, though? But at least point-wise it seems worth continuing.

I thought some more about the economy-of-force distraction for Andy.  Indeed it will take prepping time, but why actually ever completely execute it?  Binding some of Andy's unit is just enough.  Even better: a ruse might induce Andy, in his previous habit, to prematurely launch an operation of his own. 
Say for example you prep 3-5 div worth of good units for a strategically reachable, valuable target on his communications.  Something that he will need to take care of before advancing, that does threaten his convoy lines, or staging areas.  Nothing that can be "bypassed and dealt with later" (which probably he would do in case of Ceylon).  How about Diego Garcia?  Or perhaps something in South Pacific, west of OZ?  Prep some units, hope it is being detected and organize recon flights, or even send a carrier raid to gather intel into the general area (as if by coincidence).  After 6-8 weeks, start loading the troops up and hope that will be detected as well.  Maybe move an empty convoy with some AP to the general area later, to enforce the impression, perhaps with a covering force consisting of some battlewagons -- just needs to be detected, and seem as if KB was hiding nearby.  By that time I would have KB loitering somewhere between Rabaul and Christmas island, and see how Andy reacts...