Newbie Allies vs. Experinced WitP

[DOCUP]

Do you have any subs up by Palemburg?  I'd try and bag some of those TKs making supply runs back to the HI.  I think its the dot base Southeast of Batavia makes a nice nice place to hold up for awhile.  Are you trying to get your ENG to Soerabaja, to up forts and if its lost to damage industry there.
 
What about flying some of the stranded Dutch INF units back to Java to help in the defense.
 
doc

[Crackaces]

What the picture below shows is the Trusty laying some mines at Palembang .. I have some USN subs lines up to deposit joy there too ..

The Dutch subs are on the other side of Borneo waiting for their opportunity to sink a capitol ship .. two near misses ...

Now as far as Air Transport. I have not been too successful at this .. I guess I did not wait long wnough but very early on I set air transport and my forces in stratgic mode. It seemed not to error but no forces seemed to move

But I have plenty of subs in the area at least scouting and this fits putting a SCTF in there to at least bombard ..

One other thing one might notice Singapore is still ours .. just not for long

[DOCUP]

I keep my troops in combat mode.  Remember you have 2 different transport types.  One will pick up the troops and the other will deliver them to a destination.
 
doc

[Crackaces]

Ahhhh That might be the ticket ... keep them in combat mode and keep picking up troops. I think it is too late at this point. The blitzkrieg is at Java and the invasion has begun ...

My mining of Palembang did not go well .. 2 IJN DD's crippled the Truant before she could mine. She is 60 hexes away from Colombo at 1 hex per day .. maybe she will make it back ..

I am now seeing submarines around Columbo but there is a lack DD's in the area. A 4 torp attack on a xAKL missed. Now a mad scramble to avoid the patrol area. The Cat's will ASW will bombs for now and try and provide support.

The next week I will be very busy with life but I will do my best to keep up a summary until things get exciting. A British SCTF is asmebling off the coast of Perth and maybe we will try some bombardment missions of Java landing sites after the big boys leave for refit. Palembang might be a target too... Also this coordinates with some USN SCTF planning to harress forces in the Marshals. Its a game of hit and run until the USN forces are ready to deal with the Japananse onslaught.

[Crackaces]

I held the AVG back and now I have moved them into position after I have seen the IJ air deployment in China. We pulled off a little surprise:

Morning Air attack on 53rd Chinese Corps, at 81,50 (Changteh)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 20
Ki-36 Ida x 6


Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 24


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 2 destroyed
Ki-36 Ida: 4 destroyed


"Four out of Six aint bad ...." I should not be hearing from these boys for awhile.

The whole KB is not in the middle of the DEI ...6 hexes away from Soerabaja .. that creepy "The main force!" still sends chills down my spine. From suggestions in this thread I prepared a SCTF wiht the Mississippi leading 4CA's and 4CL escorted by 8 DD's just upgraded with Radar. The Big E and escorts are not far behind. Time to raise some mischief off Tulagi:) The eventual plan is to retire the BIG E toward Aukland.

The Saratoga and Lexington will have a 28 day refit at the end of this month. They will join the festivties when the Hornet comes into theater. The Yorktown will join the BIG E as a second CVTF as the DD's come on line from their +30 AA upgrade.

To support this operation I am now transferring 12 Cats to Nedei and I have the AVD's in place to support. That will be 24 Cats with interlocking air sweeps of the Lower Solomans ...should be no surprises and our choice of which fight to pick.

Nidei now have 30 AV along with supporting engineers building an airbase like thier life depends on it ... because it does! I have units 3 days from Luganvillle and they will begin the construction at a rapid pace ...

I shall see what Feb 08 1942 brings.

[Crackaces]

Along with the usual game turn details, this week will be spent with a focus on logistics. Just like the UPS commercial .. Logistics Logistics Logistics ..

I am a pretty busy person and this game would suck all the availiable waking time in my life . Given a limit of time, I have to focus on parts and then let them run while I focus on other parts. Given that I have looked at the Arrivals for Abadan abd Aden.

Right now, I have a 4 TK back up at Abadan. Meaning after sending fuel to Cape Town, Colombo, Bombay, Karchi, and Perth, the return trips are sitting on the dock waiting to fuel because Abadan right now is only a level 5 port. IN addition, 4 more TK's are comming to Abadan this month as reinforcement. I will send 2 TK's with Fuel to CT and then back door to LA. This will balance distribution over the next 180 days.


I sent 136K units of capacity to Aden. However, only 36K of units of cargo space is required over the next 90 days. That is 100K even 80K with safety of exceess shipping at Aden. These AP's will be moved to Bombay.

[Crackaces]

The DEI is pretty much a loss. Over 4 days I have shot 20 torps with no joy. Those opportunites are now long gone as the concentration of forces and dispersing to their respective invasion sites. A air raid by the KB finished off any hopes of a low percentage naval attack.

China is an interesting proposal. I moved my AVG forces to Changsha:

Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 12
Ki-36 Ida x 9
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9
Ki-51 Sonia x 9



Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 21


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 4 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed

The problem .... Each raid defended puts more aircraft into maintinance. 1/2 of the aircraft are in maintinace due to a shortage of support and supplies. One more raid and we will have to stand down for awhile. The average repair time is 6 days per plane and 10 planes are down right now ...that is 60 days ...The AVG withdrawl in July.

An intersting situation as illistrated below has started to develop. I have moved mostly support and engineering forces to Ndeni -- About 2K support troops. A look at the picture shows that the IJ player has moved 2K troops to counter. I beleive I will win the buildup war, although he can shut down Ndeni at will. Luganville has a similar make up. The key I think is that I started building first, and devoted more engineers -- at a brisk 3% pace we will have a level 1 port and level 1 airfield mid March.

Just off the southend of the map is the CVTF "Big E" & Yorktown along with a SCTF lead by the Missisippi. About 40 combat ships in all. As I get PA covering deeper into the area I will nudge these forces forward. Maybe executing a Bombardment Raid on Tulgi. In order to build this base he will need to supply. My subs shoot blanks but they do let me know what targets are in the area. This might be the oppournity to execute that raid.

[Crackaces]

A little update after my one week of intensive work with school

On the tatical front we are getting our licks in attriting airpower. I move 30 aircraft to Prome and LCAP over Ragoon. Thus far 8 Nates, 2 Oscars, 2 Sonia's, and 2 Ann's have met their fate. He is still on recon where the aircraft are coming from. I have stopped the bombing of Chingsha by downing 8 Kates and 4 Sally's losing zero aircraft. This turn I am sweeping IJ bases near Chingsha ..

Singapore and Manilla are on their last legs but ... are taking 1K Japanese a day with them ..

Otherwise ...

The IJ player continues to press on Java. The KB is raiding everyday reducing forces and ports to rubble. The USN CVTF consisting of the Big E and Yorktown is patrolling south of Suva. I plan to make a raid on naval forces invading PM.

I have decided to maintain a defensive line at Luganville and Ndeni. By that I mean I have decided not to follow history and invade Tulgi. Right now both sites have level 2 airfields and 50 P39's are on their way. The P40's will follow. I simply want to engage in a defensive feint and attrite the IJ airforce.

Most of the 1 AUS is in Perth. Once the last of the forces arrive in March I will start positioning forces to defend a possible invasion.

Now .. rather than fight in the Solomon Islands I have started preperation for Tarawa. My thought is for a MAY 9th invasion consisting of a AMPB force of 5 BB's, 3CA's, 6 CL's DD's and 10 AP's carrying 9K troops. This backed with 2 CVTF's. (5 CV's) Baker Island is being built up and forces prepped. Right now submarines are patrolling the area and observing the traffic. [No swooooosh sounds ]

The overall strategic plan has changed from a DEI slugfest to pursuing Adm King's and Nimitz island hopping plan to Formosa. This means no Solomon's No PI .. but a pure and focused strategy of getting to Formosa by 1945, while containing the IJ advances toward India, the Land of Oz, and Kiwi's ...

[DOCUP]

Nice to see you back.

[Crackaces]

It looks like from the recon I have set up at Baker Island that both Tarawa and Ocean Island are getting reinforcements this turn. We both must have come to the same conclusion or the IJ player might be just setting up his perimeter. So he is not going to let me have an easy landing. This is key because the Allies do not get APA conversions until 3/43. I just cannot see a defended landing being successful using AP's and AK's.

My response is to set up a base at Tabituea 2 hexes away and use the forces I already have patrolling to provide escort for the landing (CVTF + a SAG). I will land a Marine Rader Bn and a base at first then follow up with shore batteries and aircraft. Total mission time is 15 days to execute. Everything I need to at PH now including the AP's and LCU's. At the very least this is going to draw some attentiion to this area. The IJ has to guess if Ndeni or Tabituea my real base forward. Then again right now he can sail up and take out whatever he wishes ...:/

[Crackaces]

By my opponets reactions we have scored a moral victory over the skies of Ragoon.

First some escorting Nates got lost in the T-storm and flew to Ragoon to meet our CAP:

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

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

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 7



Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 1
Buffalo I x 8
Hurricane IIa Trop x 11
Hurricane IIb Trop x 2


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 2 destroyed

Then the Bomber forces arrived and the Brits and "Flying Tigers" made a day of it:

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 5
Ki-30 Ann x 19
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 20
Ki-51 Sonia x 17



Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 5
Buffalo I x 8
Hurricane IIa Trop x 11
Hurricane IIb Trop x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed
Ki-30 Ann: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed

For one Buffalo we scored 3 Nate's. 2 Ann's, 4 Oscar's and one Sonia. Ten Aircraft down in an area that lacks air support right now. I suspect some of the damaged planes will be written off. I will get Intel the next 2 or so raids as to numbers. Plus we have news for home. FO. Everand becomes an ace shooting down 4 planes in one day!:

FO Everard, H.J. of No.17 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2

.....

.....

FO Everard, H.J. of No.17 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3

FO Everard, H.J. of No.17 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 4

FO Everard, H.J. of No.17 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 5


Singapore and Manilla hold out yet another day!

If air power is indeed supressed I might think about some reinforcements into Ragoon.

As far as tatical operations go .. I moved the Big E and a SAG between Baker Is and Tarawa. They will patrol there while I reinforce my newly founded bases.

Ndeni and Luganville continue to build. I have decided to put 3 small 1 AUS Bn on these bases and move the rest of the 1 AUS to the East Coast.

Today is more focus on beans, butts, and bullets. Logistics is the name of the game and we need to move a lot of stuff quickly before the IJ respond.

[Crackaces]

A very dark day in the history of the Empire.

Replacing Percival takes 150 PP's. I strongly sense that the algorithum makes a morale check or some kind of die roll and Percival's numbers do not help things. With the same supply and AV situation as Manilla ... Suddenly all of the Commonwealth surrenders. Is 150 PP's worth maybe geting another 2 - 3 weeks? I will never know.

I was hoping for another couple of weeks while the British are building up bases at Prome and Mandalay. Now a lot of forces are probably headed toward Ragoon. The other possibility to Sumantra and the rest of the DEI.

Also, I tried a ground attack at Ragoon but .. the reverse my fighters get lost and now my bombers go in unescorted losing 2 and 3 more damaged.

Its the Ebb and Flow of war...

Looking at all the combat reports from Dec 8th 1941 to 23 Feb 1942 there are very strong indications that the main KB has been running steady without refit. Just looking at my SYS/Engine damage crusing around for 2 -3 weeks with a CV it takes a week or two to refit. Yet for example, strike plans from the Akagi has been experinced with no more than 5 days span between attacks. One can refuel and rearm in that time, but that is not enough time to repair the wear and tear damage. I have to think the KB has accumulated some damage and I highly suspect a refit for a week or two off soon. If things have gotten into the 20's that is a month.

On the US front, March has the Lexington and Saratoga in the shop for AA refit .. that takes 27 days. The American CV forces will consists of the Hornet, Big E and Yorktown. Then in April the Big E and Yprktown get their refits. Also 27 days. That brings us to May being the first opportunity for 5 operational CV's. The Wasp is scheduled to arrive the may making Jun the month of 6 CV's. That all said in the light of no CV losses

It feels like Kursk. I have a pretty good idea where the thrust is coming from and I continue to build defensive layers while waiting for my opportunity to start the offensive.

More later ..

[Crackaces]

So I am thinking of trapping some Oscars on LCAP over Ragoon. I cannot sweep as they are too far away. So I concoct a plan. Bomb his troops using bombers stationed at Manalay and escort those bombers with Fighters from Prome. Very Bad Idea as the algorithums in the game have a sense of humor ..:

Morning Air attack on 112th Infantry Regiment, at 54,53 (Rangoon)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 13



Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 8
Hudson IIIa x 10


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson IIIa: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged

In the animation the fighters show up just after the Oscars have Hudsons for desert ..

Ok No time to get cute. I have stood down the bombers and the fighters are back on CAP.

The rest of the world is still quiet. The KB is still right off the coast of Java and my 2 ship CVTF is patrolling 400 miles East off of Tarawa. More stuff is dropping off at my targets.

One other disturbing trend this turn was the discovery of 4 IJN submarines around PH. I have agressvely well-led ASW patrols but they are not engaging these contacts -- rather just sitting in the same hex. It can be pretty frustrating to contact-track-ID .. and then you forces refuise to target..... I have lots of escorted forces in the area doing thier best to avoid an unintended swim ... but ...[8|]

I suspect we will have more next week as this situation develops.

One other screw up this turn .. I had a AP required to withdrawl this turn and I forgot about it .. 20 PP's wasted. [:@] I know these details provide an advantage in teh game and the game itself is all about details .. but .. it is sometime a real pain to remember all these details. Sometimes it can be overwhelming ...[8|]

[Crackaces]

Another dark day ...

What I have been doing to counter the IJN submarine force is to meet convoys between 400 - 500 miles off the coast and escort them in. Its busy work for sure. Also, I noted an add behavior of forces asked to meet a convoy just staying in port [X(] Needless to say this is not good ... So I have DD's do ASW and when a convoy arrives cancel the patrol and meet & merge with the task force. This turn this plan failed miserably.

Now before the gallery suggests leaderrhip agressiveness or some leadership attribute ... TF leader 71 Agressiveness 64 ..

With that set up .. my ASW reacts away from the sub and lets the Convoy get killed ...

Submarine attack near Brisbane at 97,160

Japanese Ships
SS I-29

Allied Ships
xAK Corinda, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage



xAK Corinda is sighted by SS I-29
SS I-29 launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Corinda


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

Submarine attack near Brisbane at 97,160

Japanese Ships
SS I-29

Allied Ships
xAK Cycle, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage



xAK Cycle is sighted by SS I-29
SS I-29 attacking xAK Cycle on the surface
SS I-29 low on gun ammo, Izu, Juichi breaks off surface engagement and submerges

Its like the the software has an algorithum .. "The IJ has not sunk enough stuff .. so here goes this opporunity!" Clear weather no moonlight and the ASW forces react away and so not merge with the TF. They did realize the cargo ships are sunk because they started thier return home since nothing was there to merge with ....One thing is that the DD's cannot escort all the way from SF or even PH to the Land of OZ. What is more frustrating is that the software does not move fuel or supplies very well in the Land of OZ. Even along rail lines. So it forces submarine encouters.

Both ships sank BTW [8|]

Ok that venting session is over with ..

The plan is this turn to turn loose B-24's on Tulgi on a port attack. There is a AK unloading ... also I have the BB New Mexico bombarding Tarawa at 15KM. This will give me some experince with this mission.

Otherwise I continue to land engineers on Baker Is to build up the airfield there. I have taken the operational strategy of building up the supporting cast first, then the more forward bases. This allows for some place to fall back and have bands of availible airbases if he forces this front. The Big E and Yorktown continue to patrol nearby.

More as things develop

[Crackaces]

One thing for the Allied newbie are the teasers ... If you look at forces on the Intellgence page you might think you are getting a huge force and start planning for its arrival. But ... a closer look by clicking will show "West Coast" in RED which I think means pernament restrcited. That means no ability to pay any PP's to get these forces. It is just a teaser!

Just to say, I do not think it is bad UI programing, that is program for the fewest clicks and set the experiece for most efficiency. Rathert the algorithums and experince is set for the most attention to detail. For example aircraft arrive at extended range, movement orders stay on Move Op after arrival, ships do not default to best repairs but require extra clicks to get major damage repaired, etc. I beleive this paradigm is on purpose -- reward the player that can manage strategic and extreme details the best. In this case a player could look at the arivals and think "hey I got a huge reinforcement" and not click again to find out it is a pernamently restrcited force. The problem is that it makes the game experince frustrating for someone just learning the game.

Note the white restricted command ...

[Crackaces]

I found the 41st Divison at Tacoma, its trained to level 50 and it can be converted to be moved into theater ... It will take about 23,000 Load Points .. 6911 Troops 16351 Cargo That is 5 AP's and 4 AK's to move. Plus at least 4 - 6 DD's. More than that is a committing 1800 PP's. But ... with my units currently at PH we could invade Tarawa. And with the KB very busy in the DEI would offer the first step in executing our strategy -- Island Hoping to Formosa ..

I will start the process to this strategy. Moving the platforms to Seattle. It will take 2 weeks to get there. And then Loading and moving to PH is another 2 weeks. That puts us at the end of March. Rememeber the Big E and Yorktown will be in the shop during April .. so the first time we have an oppournity to get this rodeo going is May...

If the 3-1 odds ratio holds in this game ... and Tarawa has 4.8K troops [how many are real boots and how many are support troop?] I see a 6 CV's working as 3 CVTF's supporting 20 AP's and 20 AK's landing 12,000 troops on Tarawa. I am not sure how much 5 BB's can damage but the Mississippi killed 200 troops on a trial bombardment run -- I assume that amphib support and using recon planes will increase lethality. I assume 1 big carrier strike to soften the landings and save sorties for the impending reaction.

In the meantime Forces are landing at Tabitiueua engineers, aviation support, and naval support. 2 CD guns are folowing in 7 days. Baker Island just improved to level 1 airbase. It will be the fall back with fighters if things go south ...

Suva is now a submarine base stocked with an AS. All my S class subs are working out of there and patroling around Ndeni. Pango Pango is building up also but these are defensive postions and a place for the offensive air war. Hopefully I can keep the IJ player busy while I take Tarawa and Ocean Is. in 1942.

I have stopped teh bombing of Ragoon .. probably tempoary as air forces in Malay find there way into the Burmese front. 2 more Hurricane sqd are headed to Prome and Mandalay .. it wil be a building battle the next 2 months.

Should be beans bullets and butts the next few days as the front shapes up ...

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

... If the 3-1 odds ratio holds in this game ... and Tarawa has 4.8K troops [how many are real boots and how many are support troop?] ...

The relevant game ratio is 2:1 adjusted assault value (plus what ever the fortification level is).

With the nature of the various assault value modifiers plus the impact of firepower, the initial raw unadjusted assault value can "favour" the defenders but still result in a successful attack and capture of the base.

Those Tarawa figures are very typical for a size 1 island where the stacking limits are 6k troops. Tarawa is actually a size 2 island so your opponent is very much undergarrisoning it. Anyway, the current Tarawa garrison would be in the vicinity of 160 unadjusted assault value.

Alfred

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

... If the 3-1 odds ratio holds in this game ... and Tarawa has 4.8K troops [how many are real boots and how many are support troop?] ...

The relevant game ratio is 2:1 adjusted assault value (plus what ever the fortification level is).

With the nature of the various assault value modifiers plus the impact of firepower, the initial raw unadjusted assault value can "favour" the defenders but still result in a successful attack and capture of the base.

Those Tarawa figures are very typical for a size 1 island where the stacking limits are 6k troops. Tarawa is actually a size 2 island so your opponent is very much undergarrisoning it. Anyway, the current Tarawa garrison would be in the vicinity of 160 unadjusted assault value.

Alfred

Thanks Alfred! this helps understand. Yes this island is way under garrisoned right now as 30K troops are allowed and so is Ocean Island in the same state about 4K troops. .. and why I want to take it very soon ..

But it will take at least a month to get forces there ...

In the meantime I have surrounded the island(s) [Tarawa and Ocean Island] with submarines. At the very least I will get intel if he is reinforcing. Also the Big E and Yorktown CVTF hovers between Baker Island and Tarawa taking the opporunity to strike at reinforciment attempts. I am also planing another bombardment raid .. this time Ocean island.

Ok given 160 unadjusted value the trick is calculating the adjusted value and matching 2:1 to get the best economy of forces. Economy of forces is key because anything landing in 1942 is subject to more Ampib attrition leaving the boats [APA's do not happen until 1943], and will be stuck there for awhile until recovered and taken off the island using ADP's. The 41st Division has 327 AV. The 19th, 21st, and 34th regements combine for 379 AV. This will be an all Army operation. After unlaoding naval support, I also will accolate the 192 Tank Bn and 3 FA regements as follow on support. The Army can also follow up on Ocean Island with the 41st Division or the 132nd, 164, 182nd regement group. I have another experinced regement group belonging to the 25th Inf Division at PH also.

I am going to plan for 5 BB's, and 4 CA's supporting the assult. So far 1 pre-war BB took out about 100 men, I will figure 500 disabled troops after the intial ampib bombardment. An Air raids from the CVTF's, and continual air support form Tabitueua.

The next step is concentrating enough AP's and AK's at PH. Each regement takes at least 2.5 AP's and 5 AK's and I am thinking of 5 AP's and 10AK's to spread out the load to as many ships as possible, Without an Amphib bouns, I am only offloading 400 points per turn. 5AP's/10 AK's unload in one day two pulses. That also means planning for dock space and time to get the men on the boats corrdinated with weather etc .. what logistics fun!

There is a second reason I think to have overwheling odds. Tarawa is an Atoll. I am not sure how this affects things beyond what the documentation states about an automatic shock attack and greater casualties. A shock attack requires at least 1:1 adjusted AV and anything less I assume will result in failure. Edited for spelling and thought about Tarawa as an atoll

[Crackaces]

The air war over Ragoon is producing plenty of press for the people back home


2LT Michelson, E. of AVG/1st Sqn is credited with kill number 5

1LT Prescott, R.W. of AVG/1st Sqn is credited with kill number 5

FO Everard, H.J. of No.17 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 10

This days combat:

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 22 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 10
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 5



Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 4
Hurricane IIa Trop x 10
Hurricane IIb Trop x 2


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIa Trop: 1 destroyed
..............................................................

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 6
Ki-30 Ann x 21
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 10



Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 5
Hurricane IIa Trop x 3
Hurricane IIb Trop x 2


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 2 destroyed
Ki-30 Ann: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Small losses in the big picture but anyday we take down Oscar's and Ann's for a single hurricane is a good day
======================================================

The submarine warfare continues to be deadly. I am very dilligent about escorting in but have been lazy on the way out. I did not set up waypoints and paid the price:

Submarine attack near Exmouth at 47,128

Japanese Ships
SS I-169

Allied Ships
xAK Congella, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage



xAK Congella is sighted by SS I-169
SS I-169 launches 2 torpedoes
....
This has to frustrate my opponet because it has cuased must angst the past three turns .. escorted stuff getting whacked now its our turn ...We get a full IJN xAK ...

ASW attack near Madjene at 64,101

Japanese Ships
PB Kyo Maru #12
PB Kyo Maru #13

Allied Ships
SS Trusty



SS Trusty launches 2 torpedoes at PB Kyo Maru #12
PB Kyo Maru #13 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #13 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #13 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #13 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #13 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Next animation ....

Sub attack near Madjene at 64,101

Japanese Ships
xAK Taifuku Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
xAK Yasukawa Maru
PB Kyo Maru #13

Allied Ships
SS Trusty



SS Trusty launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Taifuku Maru

We hear the gurgling bubbling sound of a ship sinking and men swiming for their lives ...

A very disturbing set of air patrols .. he is flying stuff over Luganville. I would assume that is his next invasion point. Right now I have 100 AV and 6 guns. No aircraft beyond Cat's yet. No ships found .. could be long range Bombers acting as Recon or sir patrols off of subs .. or a SAG could be operating in this area. No aircraft type yet ...

[Crackaces]

We smash yet another raid on Ragoon. yesterday it was 21 Anns' and 25 Oscars today 18 Ann's and 19 Oscars. The Oscars simply did not participate and the Ann's took it on the chin. These are very small victories in the scheme of things but better than a stick in the eye!

Afternoon Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

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

Japanese aircraft
Ki-30 Ann x 18
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 10
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9



Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 3
Hurricane IIa Trop x 7
Hurricane IIb Trop x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann: 8 destroyed, 3 damaged


I have a SAG now patrolling off of Baker Island and I can maneuver toward Pango Pango to support any IJ SAG intentions. So far the KB remains off of Java and my Cat's show no surface activity in the Ndeni area. But Ndeni and Luganville keep getting scouted by "float Planes" which can be from S"ubs to a BB ..

More later ..