Olorin (J) vs Sdhundt (A) --- GC (No Sdhundt please)

[Olorin]

I was planning to convert the factories, not the air groups. Change them to A6M3 in a couple of months, repair them and when the A6M3a arrives upgrade the factories for no cost. I want to start producing it immediately.

Is it worth it to convert the air groups now? I will lose 1 hex in range for a small gain in speed. If I do it, it will be the two air groups of the 23rd Flotilla in the Solomons, since I am on the defensive there and I don't need the range so much. That's 90 Zeros.

[Mike Solli]

I plan on only upgrading a few daitai of A6M2s to A6M3s, very similar to what you plan. I'll probably do it in Burma. I think I am going to convert a second factory to A6M2, one of ~66 and one of ~34 planes. I'll eventually upgrade the larger one to A6M3 and upgrade as you described. As I said before, it requires some thought and a lot of tracking.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Olorin

I was planning to convert the factories, not the air groups. Change them to A6M3 in a couple of months, repair them and when the A6M3a arrives upgrade the factories for no cost. I want to start producing it immediately.

Is it worth it to convert the air groups now? I will lose 1 hex in range for a small gain in speed. If I do it, it will be the two air groups of the 23rd Flotilla in the Solomons, since I am on the defensive there and I don't need the range so much. That's 90 Zeros.

A6M3 has a bit better everything: guns, ceiling, speed, in exchange for range. Kinda a wash, but I do find them better on CAP.

So, I agree, build some, but really you are waiting for the A6M3a ...

[Olorin]

Jul 26, 42

SW Fleet
Imphal is trashed. Chittagong and Akyab are kept damaged to prevent fort building.

SE Fleet
In a surprise move, the enemy pushes a pair of CVs between Ndeni and Tulagi. I had a minelaying TF there, returning from Ndeni after having laid 20 mines. All ships were sunk [:(]
My Betty daitai launches a retaliatory strike... on a lone transport TF near Lakatore...scoring no hits.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Stewart Island at 117,139
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 5
F4F-3 Wildcat x 16
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 34

No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
CL Tatsuta, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CM Saishu, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shiratsuyu, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DMS W-15, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Tatsuta
Saishu dead in the water ...
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CM Saishu
W-15 dead in the water ...
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DMS W-15
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Shiratsuyu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Stewart Island at 117,139
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 12

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Shiratsuyu, on fire, heavy damage
CM Saishu, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Tatsuta, heavy fires, heavy damage

Saishu dead in the water ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lakatoro at 119,151
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 107 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
G4M1 Betty x 15

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 17

No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAK Bundaleer
xAK Arkaba
xAK Barossa
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I landed another SNFL on Ndeni, the TF carrying it escaped a carrier strike, but it will most likely go down in the next turn. I won't LRCAP it, as I need all available fighters to CAP Tulagi. CruDiv8 and a refueling TF are resting there and they need all the fighter cover they can get. I trust that 45 Zeros in Tulagi and another 45 in Lunga will do the job.

He launched another deliberate attack, but the extra SNFL probably saved Ndedni for this turn:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ndeni (120,143)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 9221 troops, 209 guns, 227 vehicles, Assault Value = 286
Defending force 5008 troops, 69 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 128

Allied adjusted assault: 104
Japanese adjusted defense: 151

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
280 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
103 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Assaulting units:
145th Infantry Regiment
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
22nd Marine Regiment

Defending units:
88th Naval Guard Unit
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF /1
82nd Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 5th SNLF /1
17th Naval Construction Battalion
37th JNAF AF Unit
47th JNAF AF Unit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Olorin]

Jul 27, 42

Terrible turn.

SE Fleet
They launched a carrier strike on Tulagi, where CruDiv8 and a replenishment TF were resting, safely I thought, under the CAP of 90 Zeros. However, most of the zeros based in Lunga did not fly and here is the result:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 55

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 12
Swordfish I x 13
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
SBD-3 Dauntless x 65
TBF-1 Avenger x 12

No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Albacore I: 1 destroyed by flak
Swordfish I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 7 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hishu
AO Ken'yo Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Furutaka, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
AO Shinkoku Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AO Toho Maru, Bomb hits 1
DD Hatsushima, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AO Toei Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CA Aoba, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Hatsuharu
DD Nenohi
AO Nippon Maru
DD Kiku
DD Minegumo, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(20 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers
Tainan Ku S-1 Det A with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
Tainan Ku S-1 Det B with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
5 planes vectored on to bombers
3rd Ku S-1 Det A with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
6 planes vectored on to bombers
3rd Ku S-1 Det B with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers

Massive explosion on CA Kinugasa
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AO Ken'yo Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Kinugasa
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Hatsushima
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AO Toei Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Furutaka
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AO Shinkoku Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another strike in the afternoon, this time without escorts. Still, their bombers scored a coupled of hits:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 26

No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, on fire
AO Nippon Maru
CA Furutaka, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AO Kyokuto Maru, Bomb hits 1
DD Hatsuharu, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Kiku
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CA Kinugasa and 4 good oilers were sunk. [:(]
CA Furutaka has 46 sys, 22 flot, 17 eng. CA Aoba has 29/6/8. Fires are less than 10 on both ships.
No DDs were lost, but most of them are heavily damaged.

This was the TF that got the SNFL unit on Ndeni last turn. As predicted, it was annihilated today. strangely the DD was not hit:
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 5
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBC-4 Helldiver x 17
TBD-1 Devastator x 15

Allied aircraft losses
SBC-4 Helldiver: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Kobe Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Kanaiyama Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Makinami
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Another failed deliberate attack against the Ndeni garrison. Fortunately, today the enemy bombers attacked a naval guard unit in Vanua Lava, for whatever reason. This unit is doomed anyway. My own bombers are causing disruption to the enemy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ndeni (120,143)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 9106 troops, 207 guns, 227 vehicles, Assault Value = 267
Defending force 5500 troops, 69 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 135

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 30
Japanese adjusted defense: 211

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
121 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
209 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled

Assaulting units:
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
145th Infantry Regiment
22nd Marine Regiment

Defending units:
88th Naval Guard Unit
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF
82nd Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 5th SNLF
17th Naval Construction Battalion
37th JNAF AF Unit
47th JNAF AF Unit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Currently there are enough supplies for 3-4 days of battle. Ndedni is unlikely to hold for much longer.

All Zeros will be moved to Tulagi to salvage whatever can be salvaged. The healthy ships will return to Rabaul. Where the **** are my carriers?! KB has just left Balikpapan with 3 carriers (Akagi, Zuikaku, Shokaku) and is one week away. Soryu and Kaga are being refitted.



SW Fleet
Operation "Ghandi" is about to begin. The 16th Army begun boarding on transport ships. It will take 2 more days before the loading phase is complete and another 3 for the invasion fleets to reach their targets. More details will be revealed soon.

Meanwhile, the 3rd Air Div continues to soften up the enemy ground troops and trashing the airfields between Akyab and Calcutta. the 22nd Air Flotilla in Ceylon is fighting against the AVG above southern India, where all the enemy fighter force is concentrated:
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Morning Air attack on Madras , at 35,40
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 4
Hurricane IIc Trop x 17
P-40E Warhawk x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Madras , at 35,40
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 27,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 4
Hurricane IIc Trop x 15
P-40E Warhawk x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


China
11th Army still on the march. Mopping up Chinese leftovers near Yenan and Nanning.

[Olorin]

Jul 28, 42

SE Fleet
A large battle fleet nukes Ndeni and drops supply to 200 units. Fortunately, the enemy doesn't follow with a ground attack:
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Night Naval bombardment of Ndeni at 120,143
Allied Ships
BB Royal Sovereign
BB Warspite
BB North Carolina
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico
BB Colorado
CA Australia
CA San Francisco
CA New Orleans
CA Louisville

Japanese ground losses:
533 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 45 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 6 (5 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 38
Port hits 14
Port supply hits 3
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Morning Air attack on Sasebo 5th SNLF, at 120,143 (Ndeni)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 28
LB-30 Liberator x 5
B-26 Marauder x 3
B-26B Marauder x 6

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 1 damaged

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


SW Fleet
Diamond Harbor trashed:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Diamond Harbour , at 52,38
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 64 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 42
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 70

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wapiti IIa: 1 damaged

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

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 55
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


China
It won't be long until these strugglers are beaten:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 88,38 (near Yenan)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 19985 troops, 192 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 566
Defending force 20307 troops, 120 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 347
Japanese adjusted assault: 259
Allied adjusted defense: 201
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1014 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1318 casualties reported
Squads: 45 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
12th Indpt Infantry Regiment
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
11th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
129th Red Chinese Division
120th Red Chinese Division
115th Red Chinese Division
42nd Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
18th Group Army
12th Chinese Base Force
13th Group Army
2nd War Area
1st Construction Regiment
2nd Construction Regiment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Olorin]

Jul 29 - Aug 2

SE leet
After the bombardment of Ndeni in the previous turn, its supplies run almost to zero, but the enemy did not launch any attack. It seems that the daily ground attacks by 31 Helens and 27 Sallies is taking its toll on the three allied regiments that are on the island.

A new allied transport fleet is spotted near Numea along with a big CV fleet, heading northeast. It looks like the Allies will make an effort to reinforce/resupply Ndeni. 6 Betties launched a naval attack that sneaked past the allied CAP and sunk an APD. 400 allied troops drowned.
Kido Buttai is near Rabaul, two days away from where it needs to be. A small xAKL delivered 500 tons of supplies to Ndeni before sinking.

SW Fleet
Operation "Ghandi" has been given the green light. The loading phase took longer than anticipated, but finally, 3 divisions are loaded to 3 invasion flotillas, escorted by mini KB, heading to Chittagong. They will invade tomorrow morning! Details of the operation will be revealed after the first wave hits the shores.

China
The first division of the 11th Army reached one hex south of Chungking, which is defended by 70.000 Chinese. The rest of 11A (5 divisions) is still marching. I decided to redirect two divisions south to encircle the Changsha-Hengyan-Changteh triangle, to defend against the 300.000 Chinese troops there. One will be left near Chungking to defend against that stack and the other 3 will head to Tuyun (defended by 170.000 Chinese).
The combined strength of the 11th and the 23rd Armies (6 divisions) will take Tuyun and destroy its defenders. Then the 23rd will head to Kumming and the 11th north to Chungking.

The basic assumption I am making is that the entire Changsha region will remain isolated.

[Olorin]

Operation A “Gandhi”

2nd Area Army
- 2nd Tank Rgt
- 14th Tank Rgt
2nd Army
- 1st Div
- 14th Div
- 56th Div
16th Army
- 2nd Div
- 38th Div
- 1st Tank Div
- 2nd Tank Div
- 18th Tank Rgt

Burma Area Army
- 21st Ind. Mixed Bde
- 58th Rgt
- 138th Rgt
- 15th Tank Rgt
15th Army
- 33rd Div
- 55th Div

General Reserve:
4th Div, 21st Div, 1st Raiding Rgt , 19th Tank Rgt (in transit)


Air-Naval forces:
2nd Fleet
Kido Buttai 2 (Junyo, Hiyo, Ryujo, Zuiho, Hosho)
5 BB (including Yamato), 8 CA, 5 CL, 35 DD, plus smaller escorts and the majority of IJN’s troop transports
3rd Air Div
205 fighters, 121 level bombers



Phase 1:
The 16th Army will invade Chittagong with 2 infantry divisions (2nd & 38th) and small tank elements. After a few days rest, the attack will be launched.

Phase 2:
The 2nd wave of the invasion consists of the two tank divisions of the 16th Army, along with heavy artillery, engineers, aviation support, supplies and fuel. The exploitation phase will begin shortly after unloading. Objectives: Commila - Rangpur – Darjeeling. The 1st Raiding Rgt will be airdropped in Tezpur.

Phase 3:
The 2nd Army will invade Diamond Harbor and advance to Calcutta. This will necessitate the abandonment of Jaffna, currently held by the 56th Div.

Phase 4:
The destruction of the allied forces facing the 15t Army in Burma is the final goal. The 15th Army will advance to Imphal, Dimapur and Akyab to pin the enemy forces. The 16th Army will swing to the southeast with all its armor and crush the enemy. Priority is given to Akyab.

I hope that the operation won’t last for more than two months.
The strategic reserve (16th Army) will be committed for the duration of this operation, which will leave the DEI and the Pacific without a serious reserve. I don’t think that the enemy will launch any offensive as long as he knows that KB is in the area. My guess is that if he attempts an invasion, it will be in the Solomons. If he wants to attack the DEI he needs to retake northern Australia or use Perth for a deep strike, in which case I will call off Operation A “Gandhi”. In any case, I will be keeping an eye on Perth and his bases in SoPac.

[Olorin]

Operation “Gandhi”

Three months ago, I decided to launch an offensive against the British in India. I initially intended to invade Madras, therefore most of my units were preparing for that. Two months ago, I changed the initial landing to Chittagong and Diamond Harbor, but I did not change the preparation of my units. As a result, I achieved a fair degree of strategic and operational surprise: 50.000 troops, 700 guns and 500 AFVs sitting in Madras for months. The entire AVG is based there as well. Only 18.000 troops (most of them support troops) in Chittagong. 65.000 troops and over 1200 AFVs in Akyab.
The drawback is a large amount of disruption after the landings occur.


Aug 03, 42

The operation opens with three naval bombardments in Madras, Chittagong and Diamond Harbor.

The 1st Battleship Flotilla hits Madras. 50 Zeroes and 50 Oscars from Trincomalee offer fighter cover, but in the end it is not needed, as the TF is 7 hexes off Madras and 9 hexes off Tanjore when the naval movement phase ends:
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Night Naval bombardment of Madras at 35,40 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
C-47 Skytrain: 87 damaged
C-47 Skytrain: 10 destroyed on ground
P-40E Warhawk: 27 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
Hurricane IIc Trop: 40 damaged
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed on ground
Martlet II: 20 damaged
Martlet II: 1 destroyed on ground
DC-3: 1 damaged
DC-2: 1 damaged

16 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato, Shell hits 1
CA Maya
CA Takao
CL Kiso
DD Asagiri
DD Ayanami
DD Murakumo
DD Shirayuki
DD Isonami
DD Shinonome
DD Hamakaze
DD Naganami

Allied ground losses:
327 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (4 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Resources hits 3
Manpower hits 1
Heavy Industry hits 1
Fires 126
Airbase hits 71
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 103
Port hits 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 2nd Battleship Flotilla hits Chittagong. No CAP is provided, since all enemy airfields in the area are trashed and KB2 is covering the invasion flotillas:
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Night Naval bombardment of Chittagong at 55,41 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
80 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. (This probably means trouble for my amphibious TFs)

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Shell hits 3 (10 sys damage)
BB Kongo
CA Mogami
CA Haguro
CL Nagara
DD Usugumo
DD Fubuki, Shell hits 1 (12 sys damage)
DD Inazuma
DD Hibiki

Allied Ships
HDML 1100, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
AMc Patna, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
HDML 1103, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
HDML 1104, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
HDML 1101, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
HDML 1102, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
309 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 44 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 9 disabled
Vehicles lost 13 (5 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Manpower hits 1
Fires 157
Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 44
Port hits 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The 2nd Cruiser Flotilla hits Diamond Harbor:
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Night Naval bombardment of Diamond Harbour at 52,38 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
64 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 3
CA Myoko, Shell hits 3
CA Chokai
CL Oi
DD Fumizuki
DD Minazuki
DD Maikaze
DD Hayashio

Allied ground losses:
83 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After the bombardments, three amphibious TFs carrying 2 divisions and some tank elements hit the shores of Chittagong. As predicted, disruption is awful and 160 coastal guns do their best to cause havoc among the landing forces.

The 3rd Air Division opens the day with a ground attack:
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Morning Air attack on 1st Madras Construction Battalion, at 55,41 (Chittagong)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 31
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 27
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 72

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 3 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 18 damaged

Allied ground losses:
82 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the afternoon, Kido Buttai 2 launches its own ground attack on Chittagong:
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Afternoon Air attack on 42nd Cavalry Regiment, at 55,41 (Chittagong)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 109 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 46 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
B5N2 Kate x 60
D3A1 Val x 14
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 8 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

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

At the end of the first day, the enemy bombards the forces that just landed. His strength is consistent with previous intelligence reports. It should be no problem to beat them. We are disrupted, but so are they:
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Ground combat at Chittagong (55,41)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 4262 troops, 64 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 115
Defending force 15178 troops, 150 guns, 107 vehicles, Assault Value = 526

Assaulting units:
42nd Cavalry Regiment
Chittagong Fortress
1/4 Central Detach.
1st Indian Light AA Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
RAF 223 Group Base Force
1st Madras Construction Battalion
77th Heavy AA Regiment
823rd Engineer Aviation Battalion

Defending units:
2nd Engr Rgt /2
24th Infantry Rgt /1
38th Div /8
16th Infantry Rgt /2
1st Tank Rgt /3
1st Mobile Infantry Rgt /3
146th Infantry Rgt /2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The first elements of the 15th Army entered Imphal. The enemy bombarded:
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Ground combat at Imphal (60,40)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 13172 troops, 168 guns, 177 vehicles, Assault Value = 620
Defending force 9182 troops, 119 guns, 21 vehicles, Assault Value = 316

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

Assaulting units:
Mandalay BMP Battalion
20th Indian Division
4th Assam Rifles Battalion
26th Indian Brigade
108th RAF Base Force
1/2 Central Detach.
104th RAF Base Force
4/4th Det NW Front
4/1st Det. NW Front
221 Group RAF
2/1st Det. Peshawar
2nd Central India Base Force
Burma Corps
2/2nd Det. Peshawar

Defending units:
143rd Infantry Regiment
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
55th Engineer Regiment
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Olorin]

Aug 06, 42

Two of the three amphibious TFs finished unloading on the 5th of August, one TF remained at Chittagong to complete the unloading phase. Overall losses are almost 6000 troops, most of them disabled squads. The 38th Division suffers the most, losing 200AV. In terms of ships, lost to coastal guns are 3 APs, 3 AKs and 3 Kyushu-class xAKs, which I stupidly included in the invasion force.

I will give my lads one more day of rest before a deliberate attack is launched. They should have no trouble taking the base.

The 2nd wave of the invasion will be launched after Chittagong is taken. I don’t want to face those coastal guns again.

Allied reaction so far:
- The enemy is trying to move a few units (among them are 26th Indian Div, 255th Arm. Bde) from Akyab to Chittagong, but they are attacked by my level bombers, slowing their movement.

- Two days ago, enemy ground troops in Madras begun moving NE. Today, only 30.000 troops are reported in the city, which means that the other 20.000 are going to reinforce Chittagong, using the railroads. Kido Buttai 2 will try to interdict them. I will put the float planes in recon duty and order my bombers to ground attack.

- The enemy pushed a transport TF 8 hexes off Colombo and it was naturally annihilated by the 22nd Air Flotilla. A CV is spotted further west. Are they trying to resupply Ceylon? Or test our awareness in the region?

[Olorin]

Aug 07, 42

I attack Chittagong, unsuccessfully. The tank regiments are in reserve mode. Tomorrow, a shock attack will be launched and the tanks will take part in it, as I really need the base ASAP. The 2nd wave of the invasion is waiting 5 hexes away, in the Bay of Bengal:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chittagong (55,41)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 17499 troops, 170 guns, 68 vehicles, Assault Value = 725
Defending force 9878 troops, 205 guns, 251 vehicles, Assault Value = 115

Japanese adjusted assault: 103
Allied adjusted defense: 157
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1399 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 87 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
118 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2nd Engineer Regiment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
146th Infantry Regiment
16th Infantry Regiment
1st Mobile Infantry Regiment
38th Division
1st Tank Regiment
24th Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
42nd Cavalry Regiment
Chittagong Fortress
RAF 223 Group Base Force
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
1/4 Central Detach.
77th Heavy AA Regiment
1st Madras Construction Battalion
1st Indian Light AA Regiment
823rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The good news is that my forces at Imphal are able to hold their ground and pin the enemy there:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Imphal (60,40)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 19192 troops, 258 guns, 202 vehicles, Assault Value = 619
Defending force 9173 troops, 119 guns, 21 vehicles, Assault Value = 315

Allied adjusted assault: 313
Japanese adjusted defense: 715
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
415 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled

Allied ground losses:
788 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 93 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 29 disabled

Assaulting units:
Mandalay BMP Battalion
20th Indian Division
4th Assam Rifles Battalion
26th Indian Brigade
104th RAF Base Force
1/2 Central Detach.
108th RAF Base Force
2nd Central India Base Force
Burma Corps
221 Group RAF
4/1st Det. NW Front
2/1st Det. Peshawar
4/4th Det NW Front
2/2nd Det. Peshawar

Defending units:
143rd Infantry Regiment
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
55th Engineer Regiment
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Olorin]

Aug 08, 42


Today Chittagong fell to the might of the Imperial Japanese Army!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chittagong (55,41)
Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 20005 troops, 198 guns, 194 vehicles, Assault Value = 633
Defending force 9644 troops, 198 guns, 251 vehicles, Assault Value = 109

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese adjusted assault: 713
Allied adjusted defense: 106
Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Chittagong !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Wapiti IIa: 2 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
1017 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 63 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 33 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2756 casualties reported
Squads: 44 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 689 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 81 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 164 (160 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 244 (244 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 7
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
38th Division
146th Infantry Regiment
2nd Engineer Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
1st Mobile Infantry Regiment
16th Infantry Regiment
24th Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
42nd Cavalry Regiment
Chittagong Fortress
1/4 Central Detach.
RAF 223 Group Base Force
1st Indian Light AA Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Madras Construction Battalion
77th Heavy AA Regiment
823rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had to use the tank regiments in the attack to make sure that I take the base. It would be
nice to have them pursuing the enemy to the NW, but I can’t have it both ways.

The 2nd wave is ordered to proceed to Chittagong. In two days from now, I will have two tank divisions ready to advance to Comilla.

The 1st Raiding Regiment is airdropped in Tezpur. There it will stay until relieved by my exploitation forces:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tezpur (60,36)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 317 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 22
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 10
Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tezpur !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
1st Raiding Rgt /1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Enemy reaction:
3rd Carabiniers Regiment is spotted making its way into Chittagong from NW. It will be bombed in order to slow it down.

The enemy forces redeploying from Madras to Chittagong are caught by KB2 near Vizagapatam. The victim is one tank brigade; hopefully it’s forced out of its train:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 50th Tank Brigade, at 43,37 , near Vizagapatam
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38
B5N2 Kate x 60
D3A1 Val x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Olorin]

Meanwhile…

SE Fleet
Ndeni fell on the 4th of August, following a bombardment by 4 US battleships and the usual ground attacks by 4E bombers. KB arrived at the scene the same day, only to sink a troop transport TF, after it unloaded another regiment in Ndeni. The enemy retreated immediately with full speed, but his job was done.


N.Australia
Worrying development: the enemy is pushing 2 Australian divisions to Nookanbah, which is undefended and another division to Exmouth, which is defended by one regiment and one SNFL. I also have one reinforced division at Derby/Broome and one division in Timor.
I soon have to take a decision regarding this theater. As I see it, I have three options:
- Reinforce Exmouth and hold my ground at Derby/Broome
- Invade Carnavon or possibly go as far as Perth, which is lightly defended
- Withdraw the 14th Army to Timor/Java

China
An interesting war of maneuver is taking place in China. My bold move with the 11th Army surprised the enemy and his reaction is now too late. He is moving half his forces from the Changsha-Hengyan-Changte region to the NW (Chihkiang). I already blocked the escape route with one division NW of Chihkiang and one mixed brigade at Chihkinag, but I failed to take the base despite launching a shock attack against inferior opposition.
Anyway, the intent here is just to pin the enemy and prevent his escape, while the rest of the 11th Army moves against Tuyun, to join forces with the 23rd.

The 13rd Army, facing a weakened enemy in Hengyan, will try to take the base and tighten the ring around Changsha.

In addition, the Chinese are redeploying massive forces from the Sian region, allowing the 1st Army to advance unopposed.

My next objective is Tuyun. 150.000 enemy troops are spotted there. If/when they are destroyed, the next target is to advance to Chungking and Kumming.



Overall, I am very happy with my progress in China, especially considering the fact that, not only did I not reinforce the Chinese Exp. Army, but I redeployed two infantry regiments to Burma.

After Operation “Gandhi” is finished, I will consider proceeding to Operation B and C (see post #99) or using my strategic reserve against the Chinese, in order to finish them off. This will hopefully take place before the end of the year. I hope that the Allies are so kind as to not launch a major offensive in the DEI. If my plans are realized, I will free nearly 12000 AV for use in India!

[Olorin]

Aug 11, 42

Burma
The exploitation phase begins problematically.
Firstly, unloading was slower than predicted. Secondly, one tank regiment landed one hex SW of Chittagong by mistake. Thirdly and most importantly, the 26th Indian Division entered Chittagong; I naturally attacked it and put 4 tank regiments in reserve; sadly, the enemy retreated to the south instead of the north and the 4 tank regiments find themselves in the wrong hex.
This mishap will definitely cause a delay of 4-5 days.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chittagong (55,41)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 16168 troops, 212 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 808
Defending force 8851 troops, 116 guns, 136 vehicles, Assault Value = 347

Japanese adjusted assault: 519
Allied adjusted defense: 90
Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
585 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units pursuing 4

Allied ground losses:
2497 casualties reported
Squads: 98 destroyed, 98 disabled
Non Combat: 100 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 16 disabled
Guns lost 35 (17 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 36 (21 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
38th Division
16th Infantry Regiment
24th Infantry Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
18th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
2nd Recon Rgt /2
146th Infantry Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
2nd Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Rgt /3
2nd Field Artillery Regiment
16th Army /3
16th AA Rgt /1
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Bn /1
1st Mobile Infantry Rgt /1

Defending units:
26th Indian Division
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

British 2E bombers appeared today, operating from the only functioning enemy airfield in the area: Dimapur. They bombed the 1st Tank Rgt and the 1st Mobile Inf Rgt, which moved NW of Chittagong and were waiting for the rest of the tank regiments.


N.Australia
The enemy brought 1700 AV to empty Nookanbah. I am glad I pulled everyone back to Derby. I now must pull even further back to Broome; all in all I will have 700 AV behind level 4 forts and another 550 AV in Timor.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Nookanbah (66,130)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 37391 troops, 563 guns, 987 vehicles, Assault Value = 1707
Defending force 755 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Allied adjusted assault: 505
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 505 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Nookanbah !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-)
Attacker: op mode(-)

Japanese ground losses:
777 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 74 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

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

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2/8th Armoured Regiment
25th Australian Brigade
3rd Motor Brigade
5th Australian Division
2/6th Armoured Regiment
1st Australian Division
2/7th Armoured Regiment
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
7th Aus Div Cav Regiment
8th Australian Division
1st Motor Brigade
2/9th Armoured Regiment
21st Australian Brigade
3rd Australian Brigade
2nd Medium Regiment
1st Medium Regiment
21/22 Field Regiment
13th Australian Hvy AA Regiment

Defending units:
46th JNAF AF Unit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Olorin]

Aug 12, 42

Interesting turn.

Burma
- The enemy retakes Tezpur, using one armoured brigade to push back my brave parachuters.

- My tank regiments begun repositioning themselves in order for the exploitation to begin in earnest. Forward elements are being bombed by British 2E bombers. KB2 offers fighter cover, lots of bombers downed, but disruption is slowly rising. Oscars from Mandalay are ordered to use drop tanks and cover the spearhead.
I am also somewhat short in supplies in Burma, but this is remedied by a cargo TF that is currently unloading 20.000 tons of supply at Rangoon. Another 50.000 are on their way from Honshu.

- An allied CV TF is spotted 18 hexes east of Port Blair, heading east! I seems to be containing at least 2 carriers. KB2 is ordered back to Port Blair in full speed and 100 Nells at Trincomalee are put on alert.


China
The ring around the Changsha pocket is tightened. The 13th Army is marching into Hengyan. I noticed a lack of supplies in the pocket, by attacking a small Chinese stack in front of Changsha, so I feel confident in taking the town with one determined shock attack. The few bombers in this theater are softening them up.

[Olorin]

Aug 13, 42

Burma
The allied carriers disappear, probably to the south towards Sumatra. KB2 reached Little Andaman, but it's low on fuel and will return to Port Blair.

China
The 13th Army takes Hengyang. The 11th Army is still marching, split in small fragments all over the forested area between Ichang and Chunging.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Hengyang (80,53)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 37241 troops, 366 guns, 99 vehicles, Assault Value = 1343
Defending force 34639 troops, 241 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1248

Japanese adjusted assault: 1168
Allied adjusted defense: 223

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hengyang !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
5804 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 329 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 81 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 62 disabled
Guns lost 70 (2 destroyed, 68 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
13938 casualties reported
Squads: 420 destroyed, 207 disabled
Non Combat: 231 destroyed, 138 disabled
Engineers: 84 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 30 (15 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Units retreated 15

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
22nd Division
17th Division
116th Division
4th Mortar Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion

Defending units:
65th Chinese Corps
70th Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
63rd Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
11th Chinese Base Force
32nd Group Army
13th Chinese Base Force
2nd Chinese Base Force
7th War Area
12th Group Army
16th Group Army
18th Chinese Base Force
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Olorin]

Aug 14, 42

The second carrier battle of the war occurred today.
I thought the enemy CVs retreated for good, but they surprisingly made a come back today, suddenly showing up southwest of Port Blair, despite knowing(?) that KB2 was in the area and that I had over 100 Nells in Ceylon. The enemy counted on KB2 being low on sorties and its pilots fatigued, neither of which was true. However, he did have an unforeseen advantage: my strike was cut 50% in strength due to KB2 being in a friendly port hex [:@]

Yamaguchi launches the first strike:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Little Andaman at 43,60
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
B5N2 Kate x 30
D3A1 Val x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 63

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 8 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 8 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1
BC Repulse, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Salt Lake City
CV Lexington

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
12 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
5 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
6 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 17 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (8 airborne, 17 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
17 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-221 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Considering the small size of the strike, I should be happy with these results.
The enemy retaliates:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Blair at 46,58
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 39

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21
SBD-2 Dauntless x 10
SBD-3 Dauntless x 42
TBF-1 Avenger x 30

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 9 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVL Zuiho, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CVL Ryujo, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Atago

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Junyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 8 on standby, 6 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 6 on standby, 6 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers

Ammo storage explosion on CV Junyo
Fuel storage explosion on CV Junyo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Junyo
Fuel storage explosion on CVL Shoho
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the afternoon, only the enemy manages to put another strike in the air:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Blair at 46,58
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9
TBF-1 Avenger x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Junyo, heavy fires
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yugumo
DD Oshio

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 11000
Raid is overhead
Junyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 11000
Raid is overhead
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 11000
Raid is overhead
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes

Ammo storage explosion on CVL Ryujo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Ryujo class CVL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Junyo is lost
Ryujo: 73 sys, 51 flt, 17 eng, 55 fires
Shoho: 67, 72, 22, 99
Zuiho: 51, 94, 10, 4

Saratoga and Repulse appear to be sunk for the second time in the war. I do not trust the report yet. They also lose over 130 of their carrier based aircraft, while my CAGs rebased to Port Blair almost intact (well except 5 Zeros, 18 Kates, 7 Vals and 15 pilots).

[Olorin]

Aug 15, 42

Aftermath of the battle of the Andaman Sea
CVL Shoho sinks in port, the other two CVL are still on fire and Saratoga is definitely still afloat. However, this battle is far from over. The allied TF moved only 5 hexes to the west today and it's still inside the range of 120 Nells at Trincomalee. The nearest friendly base for them is Colombo, but they might choose to go to East Africa.

Hiyo and Kaga were repairing/upgrading at Singapore and were unable to help in the battle.
Hiyo just finished repairs of minor damage from its shakedown trip from Kobe. Kaga will be operational in two days. I wonder if I should send Hiyo alone to clash with Saratoga and Lexington. Since I downed more than 130 of their carrier aircraft, I think that Hiyo maybe will stand a chance to finish them off, in combination with a strike from Trincomalee. It's a gamble though. Perhaps it's better to wait for Kaga. It will depend on how many hexes the enemy TF moves today.

Burma
- The enemy deployed more than 100 fighters at Calcutta and has recently started operating his 2E bombers from Dimapur, mainly against my spearhead, which has not yet started its advance to the NE, and the 55th Div at Imphal, which is low in supplies. The 3rd Air Div is occupied protecting the spearhead and the transports at Chittagong.
- A British unit is spotted at Comila, possibly a division.
- Following the loss of Tezpur, I detected units moving from Dimapur to the west, possibly via rail. I will try to intercept them, but it looks like a portion of his forces will escape encirclement.

[PaxMondo]

from the ac losses, it looks like at least one CV cannot operate a/c.  prolly sara.  so not sunk, but she is out of the fight.  Lex is still there though, and she will have ~90 ac to fight with, mix unknown (she will have recovered as many of sara ac as she could).
 
Hiyo + 120 Netties should be able to kill the Lex ... if you can get the hiyo between the Netties and the lex so her Zeke have a chance to fly escort for them ... I would trade a lot of Netties for the Lex ... not the Hiyo though.  Once the Lex is gone, then you can kill the Sara.  That's a big deal.  Shoho for the Lex and Sara is a good trade for you (30 ac .vs. 180 ac).  Hiyo (53) is one of your big CV's that you cannot afford to lose this early ...

[Olorin]

Well, I also lost Junyo yesterday and the other two CVL are still on fire [:(] so I must retaliate now that I have the chance. The problem is that Netties did not launch when they had the chance, probably because the Zeros could not escort due to range.

But I will follow your advice and try to get Hiyo between his CVs and Ceylon.

I also have about 50 operational Zeros in Port Blair (from the damaged or sunk carriers). Not sure how much help they can give, LRCAP over carriers is pretty ineffective, but it will be a small boost.