AE TOURNAMENT REDUX: ERSTAD(J) VS ADM SPRUANCE(A)

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 11:58 pm

6/6/42

I decided to stay and fight with the Allied carriers at Guadalcanal. At the end of the day there didnt seem to really be a choice. My supply level dropped from over 20,000 at Lunga to about 14,000 in a week from all the B-26 bombing missions and all the base building....so my fighters cant use drop tanks and dont have the range to leave. Instead of losing another 150 fighters on the ground.....I staged in an additional 100 fighters to Lunga from New Caledonia so now there will be a total of 225 fighters on CAP over Lunga on the 2nd day of the turn.

This is one of my most convoluted naval moves of all time. Ive attached a screenshot of my carrier track for next turn and my estimated track of the IJN carriers. Dave doesnt seem to want to engage both Lunga and my carriers at the same time....so I think he will launch his Lunga air strike from somewhere in the Solomon Sea.....he wants to keep Guadalcanal between his carriers and the US carriers.

The key here is to avoid destruction of my carrier and surface TFs on day 1 and set up for an attrition battle. I have some cripples at sea at Lunga to draw in IJN carrier strikes and all my intact surface TFs will sortie with LRCAP to the south on day 1 but will be back at Lunga before dawn on day 2. Besides trying to set up an attrition battle on day 1.....Ive split up my carrier forces. Im sending CV Formidable(with her Martlets) and CVE Long Island to Lunga where they will be sitting under a 225 AC CAP on day 2. Not only do I want to attrition the IJN carrier AC but Im trying to set up a split strike situation on the 2nd day. Dave's standard 100 A6M2 escort seems to be getting through my CAP regardless of how many fighters I put up. If I can attrition and then split up his escorts my CAP should be able to overwhelm his escorts and then his Kates....both over my main carrier force and at Lunga.

Meanwhile.....Im counterinvading at Vanikoro with the 8th Marine Regiment(it had been loaded on amphib transports previously for Guadalcanal) and also airlifting portions of the 138th Sep Regiment...these troops should arrive before Japan can launch an assault there. I have 2 xAKs with 7000 supplies currently unloading at Lunga and another 2 xAKs with 10,000 supplies will arrive during the turn. An amphibious TF with 4 AKs loaded with 2 tank battalions and 12,000 supplies will depart Luganville and arrive at Lunga on day 2.

Since my AC are at normal range at Lunga my fighters only have a range of 5 hexes.....so I staged 1 Avenger squadron to CV Hornet and 2 TBD squadrons to Lunga. I decided not to stage in the A-24 DBs to Lunga with the 5 hex range of my fighters.

The Allied carriers may take a beating next turn....but if I can cut KB down by half then Lunga should be able to stand up against the remainder.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 1:27 pm

6/7-6/8/42

SOPAC/SWPAC

Dave decided to withdraw KB this turn so there was no massive carrier exchange.

The Allied transport and amphib TFs made it safely to Guadalcanal and are currently unloading. Lunga now has over 20,000 supplies and 2 fresh tank regiments are unloading.

SS S-28 torpedoed and sank SS I-159 near Lunga.

The only bad news this turn is that BB Warspite.....our 2nd best ship in the Pacific....was hit by a torpedo south of Guadalcanal.

At Vanikoro......our amphib TF didnt arrive until after the Japanese assault troops attacked and my airlifted reinforcements werent enough....so Dave captured the island in a 4:1 assault. The 4Es didnt hit Munda this turn so the base there was able to repair its damage.

Japanese troops are repulsed ina 1:4 assault on Tulagi:

Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5004 troops, 57 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 188

Defending force 5917 troops, 146 guns, 184 vehicles, Assault Value = 208

Japanese adjusted assault: 72

Allied adjusted defense: 307

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4

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

Japanese ground losses:
331 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Assaulting units:
44th Naval Guard Unit
1st Ind. Engineer Regiment
89th Naval Guard Unit
65th Naval Guard Unit
7th Base Force

Defending units:
182nd Infantry Regiment
108th Infantry Regiment

I moved some APDs to Tulagi last turn so Im gonna try to pull out some cadres of the 108th and 182nd regiments nest turn.

Depending on what the map looks like when I get the file back from dave....I will try to retire the Allied carriers to the south next turn.

NORPAC

Dave tried to sneak in an amphib assault on Adak but USN ships were waiting for him:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Adak Island at 162,52, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAKL Hinode Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
SC CHa-2, Shell hits 3, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Astoria
DD Tucker

Japanese ground losses:
637 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 33 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 13 (13 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
SC CHa-2 sunk by CA Astoria at 6,000 yards
CA Astoria engages xAKL Hinode Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Tucker engages xAKL Hinode Maru at 6,000 yards
xAKL Hinode Maru sunk by CA Astoria at 6,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

CBI

Sigint reports that the 5th Division is loaded ujo on transports heading to Singapore and additional troops are loaded up heading for Moulmein.

Im still trying to surround the IJA troops at Katha but my moment may have passed in Burma. A bombardment is ordered at katha:

Ground combat at Katha (61,43)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 190 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1218

Defending force 15957 troops, 196 guns, 169 vehicles, Assault Value = 530

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

Assaulting units:
45th Indian Brigade
16th Indian Brigade
13th Indian Brigade
2nd Burma Brigade
9th Burma Rifles Battalion
Rangoon BAF Battalion
1st Burma Brigade
46th Indian Brigade
44th Indian Brigade
13th Burma Rifles Battalion
48th Gurkha Brigade
Tenasserim BAF Battalion
Railway BAF Battalion
4th Burma Rifles Battalion
BFF Brigade
36th Chinese Division
27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
14th Tank Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
55th Cavalry Regiment
43rd Const Co
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
4th RF Gun Battalion
34th Field AA Battalion
21st Ind.AA Gun Co
6th RF Gun Battalion
14th Naval Construction Battalion

In China....its all quiet in the north....no further Japanese moves on Sian. Dave has a large number of LCUs breaking out to the west now from Hangchow..... Im very overextended here after the Chinese drive to the sea and Im pulling back now towards Nanchang.

At Canton....the former 51 LCU IJA telephone pole is now only 39 LCUs and all the shipping has left port. Looks like Dave pulled out his panzer korps by ship and its about to be redeployed elsewhere.....Burma would be my guess. Three of the armor units were shipped to Foochow but the whereabouts of the other 9 is unknown at this time.

PHILIPPINES

Dave has about 20,000 troops attacking me at San Fernando now. The Allied defensive line in central Luzon is not yet seriously threatened but for some reason I just cant draw any supplies into san Fernando. Instead....Im rotating the units in and out of Lingayen to pick up additional supplies. I hesitate to withdraw from San fernando as there doesnt seem to be any good defensive terrain to the south.

A Japanese LCU captured Aparri last turn so Dave is slowly enlarging his beachead on Luzon. Sigint reports that 38th Division is loaded on ships heading to Vigan. 38th Division isnt enough to turn the tables in Luzon by itself so it remains to be seen if Dave is bringing any additional reinforcements.

Even though the bulk of my blockade running xAKs didnt make it through las month.....the supply level seems to be holding at around 70,000 supplies on Luzon. The key here is Manila as it can crank out 100 supplies per day and also has over 80,000 stored resources.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 3:15 am

6/9-6/10/42

SOPAC/SWPAC

Allied surface and carrier TFs begin to withdraw from from the Solomons towards Luganville and Noumea. ASW TFs patrol in front of all withdrawing TFs under heavy naval and ASW search but to no avail.

BB Resolution takes 2 torpedoes from SS I-7 near Ndeni and is sunk. CL Capetown takes a torpedo and is sunk.

CV Saratoga is torpedoed. During the Solomons campaign..... IJN subs have now sunk 2 BBs, a CL and damaged CV Lexington and CV Saratoga.

Dave's surface TFs have been thrashed by Allied surface TFs in the Solomons campaign. In addition....Dave seems to want to avoid combat with Allied carriers even though he has a substantial advantage both in carriers and carrier AC. But IJN subs have just devastated the Allies surface and carrier TFs.

In fact...I cant justify remaining in the waters off the Solomons any longer. Every carrier and surface TF will now withdraw towards Luganville and Noumea.

I pulled 100 AC out of Lunga this turn....I left several squadrons to LRCAP a massive reinforcement of Russell Is. but next turn Lunga AF will be evacuated as well as all surface TFs. Two turns ago.....Lunga had a mere 14000 supplies. Now Lunga has over 30,000 supplies and over 600 AV. Lunga is on 2x terrain so the defense ther should total at least 1200 AV. Add in 1st Amphib Corp HQ and SWPAC command HQ and Lunga could have 2400 AV depending on the die roll....and it would take all of the SAA to get 2:1 odds on Lunga.

Im pulling out all my AC next turn from Lunga and will let Dave shut Lunga down. My trying to close Shortlands was a loser program....basing 70 B-26s at Lunga consumed an enormous amoount of supplies and Dave has plenty of engineers to repair the damage. The B-17s at Luganville will continue to suppress Munda...it is currently 54% damaged. I have a level 1 AF at Rossel Is. 47% complete and a level 1 AF at Rennell Is. 74% complete. In addition...Ive used APDs to fast transport engineers into Russell Is. and the level 1 AF there is 100% repaired. APDs have both resupplied 108th and 182nd regiments at Tulagi and have pulled out cadres. In my 1st game of AE I converted a majority of the Wilkes and Clemson class DDs to DEs but this game Im converting the majority to APDs...and the APDs may turn out to be one of my most important ship classes.

Ive been building up Vanua Lava....2 hexes N of Lunga....and the AF there is 64% complete. I invaded at Ndeni this turn and will assault it next turn. Ndeni is the only base between Vanua Lava and Lunga with a port rating >0 and when I build up the AF there I will be able to project medium range bombers into the central Solomons. The Japanese base at Tulagi is currently a level 1 AF and Ive been bombing it on a daily basis for over a month...I cant afford to let it reach level 2.

Ive attached a screenshot of the southern Solomons....what really stands out here is my need to secure Kirakira.....if I can build level 2 AFs at Kirakira and Rennell I should have mastery over the southern Solomons and the approaches to it. Besides....once Rossel/Rennell/Russell/Kirakira are up and running it will be physically impossible for Japan to shut all the AFs down. I have plenty of construction troops for all these projects but I am critically short aviation personel....Ive been cannibalizing my bases on Fiji and New Caledonia to bring in aviation personel into my bases farther north.

Ndeni is critically important...it lies almost halfway between Luganville and Lunga. Once I get a level 1 AF here I will stage in my expert ASW RNZAF Hudson III(LR)s......average 70 experience and 70 ASW skill level. Im currently losing the sub/ASW war and I cant recommit my carriers and surface TFs into the Solomons until I get the IJN sub threat under control. The Hudson III(LR)s will be able to almost completely cover the seas between Luganville and Lunga.

Ive got 36 subs currently in the waters around the Solomons including all of the S class subs....supposedly their torpedoes work but all I seem to sink is sampans and the occasional TK/AO. Ten more subs will enter the Solomon Sea next turn. Its almost ridiculous how many subs are concentrated in this area....you could almost walk on top of Allied subs from Lunga to Rabaul without getting your feet wet and hopefully even though Im not sinking IJN capital ships......even the severely damaged Kongo class BBs from 2 turns ago.....Ive given Dave pause to commit his carriers in the middle of this maelstrom.

One piece of good news this turn is that BB Yamato is currently bombarding Wenchow....Dave is building up its experience before committing it to combat. Im just glad BB Yamato is not in the south Pacific and Im only facing 4 IJN BBs at the present. I wont be in a hurry to capture Vanikoro...I will use it to train up my USN BBs.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 2:02 am

6/11-6/12/42

ASW/SUB WAR

Here is a highlight of the ASW/SUB struggle from 6/10/42:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jun 10, 42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Reef Islands at 120,140

Japanese Ships
SS I-21, hits 1

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Isaac Sweers

SS I-21 launches 2 torpedoes at CV Saratoga
DD Isaac Sweers attacking submerged sub ....
DD Isaac Sweers fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Isaac Sweers fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Isaac Sweers fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Isaac Sweers fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Ndeni at 117,145

Japanese Ships
SS I-7

Allied Ships
BB Resolution, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
DD Le Triomphant

SS I-7 launches 6 torpedoes at BB Resolution
I-7 diving deep ....
DD Le Triomphant attacking submerged sub ....
DD Le Triomphant cannot reach attack position over SS I-7
DD Le Triomphant fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Le Triomphant fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Le Triomphant fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Le Triomphant attacking submerged sub ....
DD Le Triomphant loses contact with SS I-7
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Ndeni at 117,145

Japanese Ships
SS I-7

Allied Ships
CL Capetown, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

CL Capetown is sighted by SS I-7
SS I-7 launches 6 torpedoes at CL Capetown

Note that SS I-7 fired 12 torpedoes at the same surface TF near Ndeni and sank BB Resolution and CL Capetown in the same attack.

Well this turn my old friend SS I-7 sailed from Ndeni to a position just N of Luganville and fired another spread of 6 torpedoes at an Air Combat TF just as it left Luganville port:

Sub attack near Santa Maria at 120,148

Japanese Ships
SS I-7

Allied Ships
CVE Long Island, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Worden
DD MacDonough

SS I-7 launches 6 torpedoes at CVE Long Island
I-7 diving deep ....
DD Worden fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD MacDonough attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-7 eludes DD MacDonough by diving deep
DD Worden fails to find sub and abandons search
DD MacDonough fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD MacDonough fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD MacDonough attacking submerged sub ....
DD MacDonough fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Thats 18 torpedoes in 3 attacks. I have to believe that SS I-7 is at least out of front fired torpedoes and hopefully she has to go back to port to reload. Nevertheless....hitting a BB , a CL and a CVE with 5 torpedoes in consecutive turns is quite a feat...makes me wonder of Tanaka is the skipper of SS I-7.

Luckily....CVE Long Island was just outside of port and made it back to anchor with 80 FLT damage. I cannot begin repairs on her this turn as she is still burning but Im sending 2 ARs from Noumea to Luganville and hopefully if Long Island doesnt sink this turn(and the ARs arent sunk by IJN subs) I can still save this valuable CVE.

On a better note.....CV Saratoga was hit by a torpedo 2 turns ago and she made it back to port at Luganville this turn with 8 SYS 14 FLT 13 ENG. I emptied out the repair yards at Noumea and put her on critical pierside repair........ she should repair her minor damage in 9 days and rejoin the fleet with 7 FLT and 12 ENG damage. She will be slow but Ill put her in a TF with CV Lexington (which can only make 27 knots due to the patch on her hull fron a previous IJN sub launched torpedo).

BB Warspite was hit 3 turns ago but only has 2 FLT damage so it must have been a dud.

The info screen reports that I sank SS I-168, SS I-4 and SS I-157 last turn and I hope its not FoW but the ASW/SUB battle has been an extremely violent battle over the last few turns.

This turn Im putting nearly 400 medium bombers/DB/TB/PBY on search and ASW over the waters around New Caledonia and the New Hebrides. Im very concerned about committing my carriers or BBs to battle unless I can get a better handle on the IJN sub menace.

IJN subs also sank a CM near Guadalcanal and an AD SE of Noumea so the waters seem to be infested with subs everywhere.

They say that turnabout is fair play and I now have over 45 subs in the waters around the Solomons so hopefully I can return the favor to IJN capital ships if they come out to play.

Over in the DEI SS-O23 sinks AO Shiriya off Miri.

SOPAC/SWPAC

Allied troops capture Ndeni and a USN BF is immediately dropped on the island. Construction engineers will be landed at Ndeni this next turn and we should be able to build a level 2 AF pretty quickly.

This turn we completed a level 1 AF at Rennell Is. and next turn should have level 1 AFs at both Rossel Is. and Vanua Lava.

So Japan's main bases at Kavieng/Rabaul face off against the Allies main bases at Luganville/Noumea. In between....Japan has level 4 AFs at Munda and Shortlands and the Munda AF is currently 40% damaged with 2 recon AC present. Japan also has a level 1 AF at Tulagi which is 30% damaged and holds no AC. The Allies now have a level 5 AF at Guadalcanal and by the end of next turn wil have level 1 AFs at Russell/Rennell/Rossel/Vanua Lava and will have a level 2 AF at Ndeni in less than 2 weeks. The Allies also have a level 2 AF at Aoba.

I think the next 2 weeks will demonstate a different kind of battle between Japan and the Allies in the Solomons....it will be a battle of the engineers as both sides try to expand their bases. Ive just landed multiple amphib TFs with supplies, BFs and construction engineers at all my bases in the Solomons. The Allied base building effort will really ramp up over the next 2 weeks.

At Lunga....we now have a level 5 AF/level 2 port/level 3 forts and some 37.000 supplies. We will complete the withdrawal of combatant ships from Guadalcanal next turn even as a small xAK TF arrives with another 8,000 supplies. Guadlacanal is now the most heavily mined objective in the Pacific with some 547 mines spread over a dozen minefields. The minefields at Guadlacanal caught their 1st victim this turn:

TF 437 encounters mine field at Lunga (114,138)

Japanese Ships
SS I-123, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

The only ships we will leave behind at Lunga are ACMs. Some 630 AV is now on the ground and we are just starting to land the 32nd Division there. Im using the small but fast NZ xAPs to bring up small portions of the 32nd Division at a time....800 troops and 900 cargo per xAP.....they will stand off at 7 or 8 hex range from Lunga and then race in at 20 knots to unload their cargoes and get away all in the 1st day of a turn. ive pulled out most of the Cactus AF at Lunga....only about 70 AC remain...nearly all fighters. Some fighters have been dispersed to Russell and rennel but most have been pulled back to New Caledonia.

With the withdrawal of Allied bombers from Lunga and the withdrawal of Allied carrier and surface TFs from the Solomons....Japan can send in naval bombardment TFs at will and try to close my bases if he wants to brave the Allied subs and the extensive minefields. The Allies suffered heavy ship losses in trying to reinforce and build up their bases in the Solomons Japan can face off against the same risks if they decide to reinforce their positions.

The rest of the Allied carriers will withdraw to Noumea next turn. CV Wasp appeared on the map last turn and should reach New Caledonia in about 14 days.

Im going to R &R everthing.....several of my ships took damage in the surface battles around Guadalcanal. A few ships still need upgrades. Ive got some 150-250 AV at all my bases surrounding Guadalcanal.....so it will probably take 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 IJA divisions to take Russell/Rossel/Rennel/Ndeni and that means probably 2 months of prep before Dave could realistically assault any of my bases(with the notable exception of Guadalcanal since Dave owns Tassafaronga). In the interim......Im considering sending CV Lexington back to Pearl to fix the torpedo damage in her hull and complete her 6/42 upgardes as I dont think that Dave can launch a serious invasion here until late August at the earliest....and my multiple expanding bases should be able to mutually support each other while Im shorthanded on CVs.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 2:06 pm

6/13-6/14/42

CBI

All quiet in northern China. Im regaining my original defensive line in the mountains just W of Taiyuan and it looks like Dave has completely abandoned his offensive here.

In south central China.....Dave had a single armor LCU manuver around and behind a 1300 AC Chinese army at Chuhsien. The lone armor unit cut our retreat orders, cut off supply...and cut off out retreat route along the highway to the W. Dave launched two 1:1 assaults this turn to try to destroy the Chinese army:

Ground combat at Chuhsien (88,56)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 69072 troops, 570 guns, 195 vehicles, Assault Value = 2627

Defending force 32703 troops, 181 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1301

Japanese adjusted assault: 1615

Allied adjusted defense: 1444

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
2742 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 99 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 178 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2636 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 148 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 85 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled

Assaulting units:
15th Division
4th RGC Route Brigade
28th RGC Temp. Division
56th Infantry Brigade
34th Division
17th Division
13th Tank Regiment
Kyuko Naval Guard Unit
22nd Division
116th Division
17th RGC Temp./A Division
29th Field AA Machinecannon Company
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
3rd New Chinese/C Corps
4th Chinese/B Corps
50th Chinese/C Corps
28th Chinese/B Corps
100th Chinese/B Corps
21st Chinese/B Corps
100th Chinese/C Corps
4th Chinese/C Corps
21st Chinese/C Corps
50th Chinese/A Corps
50th Chinese/B Corps
28th Chinese/C Corps
23rd Group Army
3rd War Area
32nd Group Army

Ground combat at Chuhsien (88,56)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 66463 troops, 570 guns, 195 vehicles, Assault Value = 2875

Defending force 30745 troops, 181 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1142

Japanese adjusted assault: 645

Allied adjusted defense: 628

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
2020 casualties reported
Squads: 28 destroyed, 107 disabled
Non Combat: 36 destroyed, 116 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1865 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 78 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 97 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 5 disabled

Assaulting units:
4th RGC Route Brigade
6th Division
17th Division
56th Infantry Brigade
22nd Division
13th Tank Regiment
28th RGC Temp. Division
15th Division
Kyuko Naval Guard Unit
116th Division
34th Division
17th RGC Temp./A Division
29th Field AA Machinecannon Company
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
28th Chinese/B Corps
3rd New Chinese/C Corps
50th Chinese/C Corps
4th Chinese/B Corps
21st Chinese/C Corps
100th Chinese/C Corps
21st Chinese/B Corps
4th Chinese/C Corps
50th Chinese/B Corps
100th Chinese/B Corps
50th Chinese/A Corps
28th Chinese/C Corps
23rd Group Army
3rd War Area
32nd Group Army

We had a pretty good sized air battle this turn over Chuhsien as I sent a lot of RAF bombers in with AVG sweepers and Chinese Lancer escorts. I saw the A6M3 in combat for the first time here. Japan lost 53 AC this turn vs 25 Allied AC. Individual plane losses include 24 Oscars, 12 A6M2s and 2 A6M3s.

Ive got some 700 Chinese AV on the way to Chuhsien to reopen the cut highway and reinforce but they wont arrive for 2 more turns at the earliest. If I lose the battle here and am retreted SW into the bush...the road to Nanchang and Changsha will be open. Ive got troops all over southern China marching to railheads and am beginning to redeploy some 1500 AV from the north back to the south as the threat to Sian has passed.

Never a dull moment in China.

In Burma.....Im shutting down my bomber base at Imphal for a bit and withdrawing all the bombers. I guess that since it is now monsoon season I cant draw enough supplies into Imphal any more to keep the bombers supplied. I will build up the AFs at Dimapur and other bases on the main highway to see if this helps to speed up the flow of supplies into Imphal.

PHILIPPINES:

I mispoke about the situation in Mindanao a few weeks ago. My troops that were defending Cayagan were not killed but were retreated to Mandalaybay where they are out of supply but still under siege...at least they are still tieing down some 15,000 IJA troops.

Sigint reports that 5th Division is now at Vigan and that 38th Division is on the way. With some 3 1/2 IJA divisions at Vigan I will begin to withdraw from San Fernando.

SOPAC/SWPAC

Level 1 AFs are completed at Rossel Island and vanua Lava and fighters are immediately staged in.

Lunga increased the size of its port to level 3 and the supplies continue to pour in..... we are up to 41,000 supplies now.

At Noumea....CV Saratoga will have all her minor torpedo damage repaired in 7 days and will leave port with 7 FLT 12 ENG damage. Shipyards at Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland begin to fill up with Allied combatant ships in need of repairs and upgrades.

At Luganville...CVE Long Island survived and even started repairing her damage. She has 48 SYS79 FLT 11 ENG and with critical pierside repairs she will complete repair of all her minor damage in 20 days...then she will be sent to Sydney to finish repairs of her major damage.

No Allied ships were lost to IJN subs for the 1st turn in quite some time. In fact.....it appears as if Dave is withdrawing his subs now from the waters around the New Hebrides.

The Japanese threat level seems to have diminished greatly in this theatre as we embark on a phase of massive base building. The war is becoming more industrial in nature now in the south Pacific as Allied combatant ships lick their wounds in port and rebuild their depleted air groups. Even though the port at Rabaul is full of IJN combatant ships.....there's nothing bigerr than an IJN DD in the entire Solomons chain.

Even from a logistical standpoint...things are improving greatly for the Allies here. My offensive was launched on a shoestring in April with inadequate supplies and fuel....and the Allied TKs/AOs couldnt keep up with the demands of the massed carriers and BBs. I resorted to using massed xAKs to ship in fuel to SOPAC from the US. Dave intercepted one xAK fuel transport comvoy with KB off Fiji and sank all 29 ships. However....3 additional 25-30 xAK convoys are currently arriving with over 200,000 fuel.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 9:08 pm

6/15-6/16/42

SOPAC/SWPAC

Relatively quiet turn as both sides appear to be licking their wounds and rebuilding.

The Allies complete both a level 1 port and a level 1 AF at Ndeni and also a level 1 port at Vanua Lava. Most of the Allied amphib TFs are returning to port at Luganville and Noumea after dropping off supplies/BFs/construction engineers at half a dozen bases in the Coral and Solomon Seas.

The 20 knot NZ xAP dropped off a portion of the 32nd Division at Lunga and got safely away......another 20 knot NZ xAP will load more of 32nd Division at Noumea this turn and head off to reinforce Guadalcanal. Guadalcanal now has over 700 AV and over 45,000 supplies. I believe that the crisis has passed now for the Allies in the Solomons......I dont see how Dave can evict me completely from the Solomons now and in fact....I think that each base building improvement that is completed each turn is just another nail in the Japanese coffin that is the Solomons. What started in April as OPERATION WATCHTOWER and then became OPERATION SMASH AND GRAB but actually morphed into Operation Shoestring has finally gained a fairly secure foothold on the southern Solomons. As the half dozen or so Allied bases to the west, north and south of Guadalcanal eventually enlarge to level 2 and then levels 3 and 4 there will be a tipping point where Dave begins to consider getting his troops out of the Solomons as opposed to bringing more IJA forces in.

All hell broke loose on Luzon this turn and it appears that the Japanese Phase II will be spent securing their positions in the Philippines and Burma.......Australia and India appear to be safe and apparently there wont be many SAA formations redeployed to the south Pacific.

Now,,,,the primary Japanese objective in the south Pacific seems to be the destruction of the US Army 182nd and 108th regiments stranded in the unsuccessful Allied assault on Tulagi. Ive been bombing the port and AF at Tulagi every turn with Luganville based Hudson III(LR)s and B-25s since they have 14 hex range. Currently there is about 40% AF and 15% port damage at Tulagi....Im going all out to prevent the Japanese from building a level 2 AF at Tulagi. This turn Dave ambushed me with 20 A6M2s on LRCAP over Tulagi....and my P-38F escorts didnt fly for some reason....and the Hudson III(LR)s were ravaged. I lost maybe 15 of the Aussie and NZ Hudson IIIs and it reminded me that I should be using these extremely valuable AC EXCLUSIVELY for ASW as they carry an ASW radar device. In fact....my 2 best ASW squadrons on the map are a single Aussie and NZ Hudson III(LR) based in the New Hebrides. Im going to stand all the Hudson III(LR)s from AF bombing down for a bit and start training all of them for ASW and low naval. So Dave is reinforceing Tulagi every turn with additional troops by transport AC. He is also bombarding my troops on Tulagi to exhaust their supplies. With over 9000 IJA troops on Tulagi he cant resupply it with transport AC but must bring in the Tokyo Express to resupply both Tulagi and the 9000 IJA troops dug in at Tassafaronga.

I left a token A-24 HQ squadron with 5 AC at Lunga and last turn they sank 2 PBs. Even Hudson III(LR)s on naval attack based at Luganville have scored hits on IJN shipping off Tulagi the last few turns.

Next turn I will send sweeps from Russell and Lunga over Tulagi and also sweep with the P-38Fs at Luganville over Tulagi. I cant send in supplies to my troops at Tulagi via PBYs with all the Japanese CAP so I first have to knock the CAP down. In additon....I have a minelaying TF with 280 mines about 240 mi south of Lunga....I will put 240 mines at Tulagi and 40 mines at Tassafaronga to interdict the Tokyo Express and then send in 4 APDs on fast transport with supplies to Tulagi.

I was ready to write off the US Army troops at Tulagi after the 1st time I was forced to withdraw my fleet from the Solomons...in fact I even sent APDs to extricate cadres from each regiment. Now I think that not only can I save the 2 regiments but use them as a foothold until I can bring in overwhelming force.

I had to withdraw some 8-10 B-17 squadrons at Mohave(one of my favorite gas stops on the way to the eastern Sierras) a couple of turns ago and received some 35-40 B-17s in the pool. That allowed me to flesh out 2 new 13 plane B-17 squadrons in Oz and I was able to stage them to Luganville..... last turn I was able to put up 75 B-17s over Munda and now the AF there is over 60% damaged.

The Allied carriers reach port at Noumea this turn and begin to take on replacements for their squadrons. CV Saratoga now needs only 5 more days to repair the minor damage from her torpedo hit. I put the AR at Noumea on repair mode with BB Warspite to remove her 2 FLT and 2 ENG damage from the faulty IJN torpedo. Only 1 or 2 IJN subs appear to remain in the waters off New Caledonia and the New Hebrides so Im putting a significant number of my DBs, TBs and medium bombers on ASW training exclusively.

At Luganville.....CVE Long Island miraculously repairs her FLT damage from 79 to 49 FLT in 1 turn.....looks like a gremlin in the game but Ill take it. Or maybe the AR at Luganville got a lucky die roll.....Ill never know. Nineteen more days and CVE Long Island will head to Sydney to complete repair of her major damage.

BB North Carolina completes her traverse of the Panama Canal and heads out into the vast emptiness of the south Pacific with a brand new CLAA and 3 DDs....all covered from stem to stern with the advanced 20mm Oerikilions(sig) and they represent the most advanced ships in the US Navy. They should arrive at Noumea by the middle of July.

Everything in theatre is now resting, replacing or building so I will wait a couple of weeks for the arrival of CV Wasp before we make our next move in the Solomons.

PHILIPPINES

My withdrawal orders for the troops at San Fernando last turn was probably 2 turns too late as nearly half of the SAA show up this turn:

Ground combat at San Fernando (80,74)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 45767 troops, 601 guns, 239 vehicles, Assault Value = 1786

Defending force 12667 troops, 190 guns, 271 vehicles, Assault Value = 585

Japanese adjusted assault: 999

Allied adjusted defense: 279

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE San Fernando !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1768 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 115 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 67 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Vehicles lost 25 (8 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3827 casualties reported
Squads: 70 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 281 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 53 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 65 (64 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 233 (224 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Units retreated 10

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
5th Division
33rd Division
16th Division
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
90th Infantry Regiment
48th Division
38th Div /6
4th Div /2
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
14th Army
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
30th JNAF AF Unit
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th JAAF AF Bn /1

Defending units:
4th Marine Regiment
51st PA Infantry/C Division
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment
192nd Tank Battalion
51st PA Infantry/B Division
194th Tank Battalion
51st PA Infantry/A Division
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
31st PA Infantry/B Division
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

So that puts the IJA 5th, 33rd, 16th, 48th Divisions and part of the 4th and 38th Divisions on Luzon....about 1/3 of the SAA.

I need to withdraw now in good order to Manila and Clark. I was originally planning on withdrawing to Clark and have level 3 forts there....but Manila generates 100 supplies per turn and if I think that I have enough force to hold out for more than 3 months I may make my final stand there.

At least 1 IJN Air Combat TF with at least 1 CVL shows up off Luzon so it looks like the big KB death star in the south Pacific has been reduced.

CHINA

Dave orders a shock attack this turn at Chuhsien and defeats the undersupplied Chinese defenders:

Ground combat at Chuhsien (88,56)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 77870 troops, 664 guns, 289 vehicles, Assault Value = 2795

Defending force 29539 troops, 181 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1054

Japanese adjusted assault: 1950

Allied adjusted defense: 763

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Chuhsien !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
2182 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 117 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 118 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled

Allied ground losses:
13261 casualties reported
Squads: 284 destroyed, 179 disabled
Non Combat: 342 destroyed, 174 disabled
Engineers: 37 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (13 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 15

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
13th Tank Regiment
28th RGC Temp. Division
4th RGC Route Brigade
17th Division
34th Division
56th Infantry Brigade
6th Division
22nd Division
Kyuko Naval Guard Unit
116th Division
15th Division
17th RGC Temp./A Division
29th Field AA Machinecannon Company
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
21st Chinese/B Corps
21st Chinese/C Corps
50th Chinese/B Corps
50th Chinese/C Corps
50th Chinese/A Corps
4th Chinese/B Corps
28th Chinese/B Corps
4th Chinese/C Corps
100th Chinese/C Corps
3rd New Chinese/C Corps
100th Chinese/B Corps
28th Chinese/C Corps
23rd Group Army
3rd War Area
32nd Group Army

The Chinese army is halved from 1300 AV to 650 AV and is retreated into the bush towards Wenchow. Paradoxically... this Chinese army is now in full supply from Wenchow.

Wenchow begins the game as an amazing supply source for China...20 HI, 80 LI and 80 intrinsic supplies per turn. Dave's BB bombardments have destroyed all the HI and 48 of the 80 LI but Wenchow still puts out 112 supplies/turn....and I will fight to hold it until the bitter end. In fact...Im getting over 300 supplies per turn from Wenchow/Loyang/Chengchow/Tsiatso....thats over 60% of the supplies normally received from the Burma Road. I had been worried about supply in China all game after Dave cut the Burma Road and captured Loyang/Chengchow/Tsiatso but now that I have these 3 supply sources back it makes me think that Dave's aborted northern offensive towards Sian was a mistake.

Ive attached a screenshot of the current situation in China. I have a 2900 AV Chinese army E of Nanchang and I will be moving 2/3rds of it to the forest hex 2 hexes NW of Chuhsien to make the next defensive line.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 4:18 pm

6/17-6/18/42

CBI

We were busy trying to close the hole in the Chinese defenses after the defeat at Chuhsien. Im starting a new defensive line in a forest hex 2 hexes NW of Chuhsien

Quiet throughout the rest of China.

In Burma......Dave withdrew his forces from Swebo and withdrew across the Irrawaddy River into Mandalay. A British armored unit captures Swebo.

Dave has let me basically surround his 20,000 troops at Katha and has shown little concern over it. I was about to assault Katha with over 2500 AV but Im finding now that the 7000 supplies Ive drawn into Kalemyo is not making its way to my troops a mere 2 hexes away....so basically my entire force is low on supplies and I cant seem to draw any more supplies to them.

My first game of AE was one of the early versions of the game and I was able to pull supply easily from India into Myitkina. Now I have all my transports flying supplies into Myitkina and they still can barely keep up with demand. Im not sure if my current situation is due to monsoon season or if the supply issues are always like this in Burma now.

At any rate.....without sufficient supplies.....Im calling of my offensive in Burma and will pull Burma Corps back to Myitkina while the other 2000 AV withdrawa to Kalemyo. I dont think that I will be able to go on the offensive here until I have at least 150-200 more transport AC to fly in supplies.

SOPAC/SWPAC

It looks as if Dave is staging in several TFs into the Solomons for a big turn next turn. Ive spotted a suspicious 7 ship TF at Munda and another 9 ship TF at Shortlands that could be surface TFs.....but Im not able to ID them. There are multiple small transport TFs in the area and I think at a minimum Dave will be tring to resupply his troops at Tulagi and Tassafaronga next turn. For some reason my larger minelying TF didnt sail to Tulagi last turn...but the smaller minelaying TF did drop off mines at Tassafaronga. I was going to try to send the larger minelaying TF into Tulagi this turn along with 4 APDs on fast transport bringing in supplies......but with the IJN TFs out there I will hold everything back this turn.

Ive basically evacuated the majority of the Cactus air force from Lunga this turn as I suspect dave will hit Lunga with possibly 1 or 2 bombardment TFs. Ive left 18 A-24 DBs and 16 fighters for escort in case anything comes into range of Guadalcanal during daylight hours. I spotted 2 damaged IJN subs in port at Munda so Im putting the A-24s on naval/port strike and Im also targeting the port at Munda with about 30 B-17s.

I will LRCAP Lunga from both Russel and Rennell islands and halt all unloading activities at Lunga. Im thinking that if I am indeed facing 2 IJN bombardment Tfs one will hit the 1st night and then the other one the 2nd night of the turn.

CV Wasp is closing in on New Caledonia so Im sending CV Lexington with her 27 FLT 2 ENG damage back to Pearl for repairs and her 6/42 upgrades.

I decided not to contest Daves move next turn in the Solomons as my carrier and surface TFs have all just made it back to port and are currently replenishing and completing minor repairs. If Dave does attempt to shut down Lunga with naval bombardments his ships will have to run the gauntlet of USN subs and the extensive minefields off Lunga.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:19 pm

6/19-6/22/43

SOPAC/SWPAC

The Tokyo Express never materializes as Dave is content to only resupply his bases in the central and northern Solomons.

We are able to drop off more of the 32nd Division at Lunga via small xAPs and now have over 800 AV at Lunga. A 240 mine minefield was dropped at Lulagi.....not only will this help to interdict Japanese reinforcement of Tulagi but any IJN TFs coming down the "slot" to bombard Lunga from the north will also have to traverse this minefield. APDs on fast transport drop off sorely needed supplies to the 108th and 182nd regiments at Tulagi.

Aoba builds a level 1 port and Luganville has grown to a level 8 AF.

CV Wasp will reach Noumea in 2 turns while CV Lexington is about 4 turns out from Pearl.

An eerie calm has developed over the Solomons with no ship bigger than a DD present for either side. Allied ships continue to repair and upgrade at Noumea, Luganville, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. Allied air and naval ASW ops continue at a high pace and the IJN subs for the most part have left the waters around New Hebides and Newe Caledonia.

B-17s continue to hit the port and AF at Munda...no subs were present in port.....only a couple of PBs which were quickly sunk. The AF at Munda remains over 50% damaged and no AC are present. The Cactus air force at Lunga remains small at around 40 AC while Japan has reduced its air groups at Shortlands to around 70 AC.

Within a week we will be launching a major ampib assault and reinforcement operation in the southern Solomons.

CBI

The IJA 13th Tamk Regiment pursued the retreating Chinese army SE of Chuhsien and it was decimated by a Chinese shock attack:

Ground combat at 88,57

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 19586 troops, 164 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 715

Defending force 430 troops, 0 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 52

Allied adjusted assault: 812

Japanese adjusted defense: 64

Allied assault odds: 12 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 51 (44 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
288 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
50th Chinese/A Corps
4th Chinese/B Corps
21st Chinese/B Corps
100th Chinese/C Corps
3rd New Chinese/C Corps
4th Chinese/C Corps
100th Chinese/B Corps
21st Chinese/C Corps
50th Chinese/B Corps
50th Chinese/C Corps
28th Chinese/B Corps
28th Chinese/C Corps
3rd War Area
23rd Group Army
32nd Group Army

Defending units:
13th Tank Regiment

Sigint reports that the IJA 38th Division is planning for Akyab while the 2nd Division is loaded on AKs heading towards Rangoon. Things would appear to be heating up here shortly.

PHILIPPINES

Japan captures Lingayen as Allied troops continue to withdraw to Clark and Manila. Im trying to pull all the supplies I had dispersed over central Luzon as the troops withdarw and it appears that I still have some 55,000-60,000 supplies on Luzon.

The IJA stack has about 1660 AV...opposing bthat will be about 1300 Allied AV at Clark and another 800 AV at Manila.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:12 pm

6/23-6/24/42

CBI

The 2800 AV IJA army in south central China drives towards Wenchow:

Ground combat at 88,57

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 78157 troops, 664 guns, 195 vehicles, Assault Value = 2827

Defending force 21337 troops, 164 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 707

Japanese adjusted assault: 1697

Allied adjusted defense: 1735

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
2279 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 184 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 70 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2648 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 180 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 80 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Assaulting units:
17th Division
34th Division
56th Infantry Brigade
15th Division
Kyuko Naval Guard Unit
22nd Division
6th Division
116th Division
17th RGC Temp./A Division
29th Field AA Machinecannon Company
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
100th Chinese/C Corps
100th Chinese/B Corps
28th Chinese/B Corps
21st Chinese/C Corps
21st Chinese/B Corps
50th Chinese Corps
3rd New Chinese/C Corps
4th Chinese/C Corps
4th Chinese/B Corps
28th Chinese/C Corps
23rd Group Army
3rd War Area
32nd Group Army

Im trying to withdraw these troops into Wenchow.....if they make it intact I will have about 1300 Chinese AV in Wenchow. It will take probably a couple more turns tp exit the hex and I dont know if I will have that much time.

All quiet thoughout the remainder of China.

In Burma the Allied troops continue their withdrawal towards Kalemyo and Myitkina.

Sigint reports that the 1st Recon Regiment and the 2nd Tank Regiments are on AKs heading to Rangoon. Ive had sigint reports over the last few weeks that over a half dozen IJA tank regiments are prepping for Chittagong. I didnt really believe the reports but this turn SS KVIII intercepted a massive Japanese troop convoy off Rangoon:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jun 24, 42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Rangoon at 53,56

Japanese Ships
CL Abukuma, Torpedo hits 1
CA Furutaka
CL Isuzu
CL Nagara
CL Jintsu
DD Kamikaze
E Kunashiri
SC Ch 10
CM Okinoshima
DMS W-8
DMS W-4
DMS W-2
APD Hagi
APD Fuji
APD Matsukaze
LSD Akitsu Maru
AK Azumasan Maru
AK Ayatosan Maru
AK Tosan Maru
AK Sasako Maru
AK Sakura Maru
xAP Shanghai Maru
xAP Kongo Maru
xAP Koan Maru
xAP Buenos Aires Maru
xAP Tatsuta Maru
xAK Asakasan Maru
xAK Tokyo Maru
xAK Myoko Maru
xAK Nankai Maru
xAK Hokkai Maru
DD Shiokaze
DD Akikaze
DD Okikaze
DD Sawakaze

Allied Ships
SS KVIII

SS KVIII launches 4 torpedoes at CL Abukuma
DD Shiokaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Akikaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Okikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sawakaze attacking submerged sub ....
SS KVIII eludes DD Sawakaze by diving deep
DD Okikaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Sawakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sawakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sawakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sawakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sawakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sawakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

If Dave really does make a major Phase II effort in Burma it appears that he will send his armor down the coastal road in Burma towards Akyab and Cox's Bazaar. If he really is redeploying most of his armor to Burma I will need to airlift the British AT regiments from China back to India.

SOPAC/SWPAC

Rennell, Rossel and Ndeni all complete level 2 AFs this turn. Now I have 4 bases I can operate DBs from in the Coral Sea as opposed to just 1 base last turn.

I will be sending an air HQ to Rennell and then I will have a 2nd base in the Coral Sea that can handle torpedo bombers.

A-24s at Lunga sink an IJN APD near Tulagi:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 4
A-24 Banshee x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 4

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
APD Hakaze, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APD Hakaze

Ive redeployed a RN sub to the Coral Sea to help build up the minefields off Tassafaronga and now I can make use of the extensive RN mine pool.

Ive attached a screenshot of the Coral Sea. This turn I staged in one of my best ASW squadrons..... HudsonIII(LR)...... to Ndeni and it can almost completely cover the sea lanes from Luganville to Guadalcanal.

CV Wasp will arrive at Noumea next turn and then we will start setting up for the next offensive push into the Solomons. I need to sweep the waters around New Caledonia and the New Hebrides with a massive naval and aerial ASW effort before the CVs and BBs put out to sea.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 4:37 pm

6/25-6/26/42

SOPAC/SWSPAC

Ironically....we have been fighting a bloody campaign in the south Pacific for the last 2 months without a SOPAC HQ. SWPAC in fact was relocated from Australia to Luganville for direct control over operations. Finally.....SOPAC HQ is activated this turn and arrives at Pearl. Im sending an xAP to pick up the HQ and as soon as SOPAC HQ arrives at Luganville SWPAC HQ will be redeployed to Australia.

Fairly quiet in the Solomons except for numerous sub/ASW encounters. The B-17s at Luganville continue to suppress the Japanese airfield at Munda.

The IJ Navy sank half of my PTs at Lunga and sent the other half of the PTs back to Luganville with heavy damage in the surface battles off Guadalcanal earlier in the month. My force pools are out of PTs but I staged the PTs from Pearl Harbor to Ndeni and this turn they reached Lunga.....I hope that this is the start of a permanent naval presence in the Solomons.

CV Wasp arrives at Nomea this turn and CVs Hornet, Enterprise and Saratoga complete pierside repairs. CV Sara has residual 7 FLT 12 ENG damage from her torpedo hit but she will rejoin the fleet and fight until CV Lexington returns to the south Pacific. It was a good thing that Cv Lex was sent back to Pearl as her temporary flotation repairs began to fail this turn and she started taking on water. She should make Pearl still in about 4 days but there is no way she could have remained on duty in the Solomons.

BB North Carolina, CLAA San Juan and escorts are about 14 days out of Noumea as they cross the Pacific.

Amphib TFs will begin loading at Noumea and Luganville this next turn as we prepare for the next thrust into the Solomons.

PHILIPPINES

IJA troops begin to invest Clark as the rest of the Allied troops complete their withdrawal from Cabanatuan to Clark and Manila.

We should have about 1300 AV at Clark and about 800 AV at manila when everything is sorted out.

CHINA

Dave continues his offensive in south central China with his 2700 AV army:

Ground combat at 88,57

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 76785 troops, 664 guns, 194 vehicles, Assault Value = 2714

Defending force 19329 troops, 164 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 531

Japanese adjusted assault: 1508

Allied adjusted defense: 1237

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1982 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 138 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 112 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2832 casualties reported
Squads: 106 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 78 destroyed, 67 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
6th Division
116th Division
22nd Division
34th Division
56th Infantry Brigade
Kyuko Naval Guard Unit
15th Division
17th Division
17th RGC Temp./A Division
29th Field AA Machinecannon Company
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
3rd New Chinese/C Corps
21st Chinese/B Corps
100th Chinese/C Corps
4th Chinese/B Corps
50th Chinese Corps
28th Chinese/B Corps
21st Chinese/C Corps
100th Chinese/B Corps
4th Chinese/C Corps
28th Chinese/C Corps
3rd War Area
23rd Group Army
32nd Group Army

Ground combat at 88,57

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 74996 troops, 664 guns, 193 vehicles, Assault Value = 2572

Defending force 17262 troops, 163 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 474

Japanese adjusted assault: 1420

Allied adjusted defense: 826

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1327 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 78 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 64 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1880 casualties reported
Squads: 49 destroyed, 98 disabled
Non Combat: 32 destroyed, 106 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
6th Division
15th Division
34th Division
116th Division
56th Infantry Brigade
17th Division
22nd Division
Kyuko Naval Guard Unit
17th RGC Temp./A Division
29th Field AA Machinecannon Company
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
4th Chinese/C Corps
28th Chinese/B Corps
3rd New Chinese/C Corps
4th Chinese/B Corps
100th Chinese/C Corps
21st Chinese/C Corps
21st Chinese/B Corps
50th Chinese Corps
100th Chinese/B Corps
28th Chinese/C Corps
23rd Group Army
3rd War Area
32nd Group Army

What was once a 1350 AV Chinese army has now been reduced to about 400 AV. It will take one more turn to evacuate the hex but Dave wont give me that much time. His assault next turn should halve the defenders and retreat them back into Wenchow.

Im not sue if Dave will then assault Wenchow......but I have another 3100 Av Chinese army approaching that should be able to take Chuhsien in his rear before he can react....and that should affect the supply situation of his army outside of Wenchow.

The rest of China is quiet. I had some 800 AV and 3 British anti-tank regiments being railed to Tuyun for a march on Kunming. I had thought that Dave was preparing for an assault out of Lashio towards either Myitkina or Paoshan so I was trying to reinforce Paoshan and withdraw Burma Corps to Myitkina.

This turn Dave assaulted India so there wont be an assault on either Myitkina or Paoshan. I will still keep the British anti-tank marching on Kunming where they can be airlifted back to Ledo if necessary.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 3:56 pm

6/25-6/26/42.......CONTINUED

BURMA/INDIA

Dave caught me completely by surprise this turn with an invasion on Akyab:

Pre-Invasion action off Akyab

53 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CL Natori
CL Isuzu
CL Nagara
CL Jintsu
DD Shiokaze
DD Sawakaze
DD Kamikaze
LSD Akitsu Maru
APD Hagi
DD Akigumo

Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

CA Furutaka firing at 75th Indian Brigade
CL Natori firing at 63rd Indian Brigade
CL Isuzu firing at 75th Indian Brigade
CL Nagara firing at 75th Indian Brigade
CL Jintsu firing at 63rd Indian Brigade
DD Shiokaze firing at 63rd Indian Brigade
DD Sawakaze firing at 75th Indian Brigade
DD Kamikaze firing at 63rd Indian Brigade
DD Sawakaze fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Akyab

TF 14 troops unloading over beach at Akyab, 54,45

Japanese ground losses:
82 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 38th Div /13
10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of 38th Div /15
10 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 38th Div /24
10 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 38th Div /30

Invasion Support action off Akyab

79 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CL Natori
CL Isuzu
CL Nagara
CL Jintsu
DD Shiokaze
DD Okikaze
DD Sawakaze
DD Kamikaze
APD Hagi
DD Akigumo

Japanese ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

CA Furutaka firing at 63rd Indian Brigade
CL Natori firing at 63rd Indian Brigade
CL Isuzu firing at 28th Gurkha Brigade
CL Nagara firing at 63rd Indian Brigade
CL Jintsu firing at 63rd Indian Brigade
DD Okikaze firing at 63rd Indian Brigade
DD Sawakaze firing at 63rd Indian Brigade
DD Kamikaze firing at 63rd Indian Brigade
DD Okikaze fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

Ground combat at Akyab (54,45)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 9129 troops, 72 guns, 60 vehicles, Assault Value = 380

Defending force 12055 troops, 124 guns, 67 vehicles, Assault Value = 421

Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
75th Indian Brigade
6/18th Royal Garwal Battalion
5/14th Punjab Battalion
2/15 Punjab Battalion
28th Gurkha Brigade
63rd Indian Brigade

Defending units:
38th Div /4

I think that this invasion required major huevos to invade under my air umbrella without any carrier support. My torpedo bombers were caught quietly training at Calcutta and missed out on the action.

In conjunction with the amphibious landings at Akyab.....dave dropped paratroopers at 4 key road/rail junctions and bridges in the Ganges delta:

Ground combat at Tezpur (60,36)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 19 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 2

Allied adjusted defense: 1

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tezpur !!!

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

Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF /3

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

Ground combat at Rangpur (58,34)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 19 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 4

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Rangpur !!!

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

Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF /4

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

Ground combat at Silchar (59,39)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 102 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 4

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Silchar !!!

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

Assaulting units:
1st Raiding Rgt /1

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

Ground combat at Dimapur (62,38)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 95 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Defending force 999 troops, 0 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 24

Japanese adjusted assault: 2

Allied adjusted defense: 53

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 26 (fort level 0)

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

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

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

Assaulting units:
1st Raiding Rgt /2

Defending units:
2nd Assam Rifles Battalion
823rd Engineer Aviation Battalion

I think that Dave's plan here was to quickly take Akyab with 38th Division and then have the IJA panzerkorps speed though Akyab along the coast road to take Chittagong....his armored regiemnts have been planning for Chittagong for several months. Dave used extraordinary means to achieve complete surprise. Although he has quietly built up level 4 AFs at Magwe, Mandalay and Lashio....they have been virtually devoid of AC for weeks and he has let me bomb those AFs at will. I imagine next turn I will see hundreds of AC staged into these 3 AFs.

So the paratroopers were dropped all along the single rail line that snakes around the Ganges delta from calcutta to Chittagong. Not only do these paratoopers cut my rail and highway connections for strategic movement but they also cut supply to all Allied forces in Burma and NE India. My troops in Burma were already starving when I began to withdraw them a few turns ago. Imphal was critically short of supplies a couple of weeks ago and I was forced to withdraw my bombers. Now Im pulling out virtually all my fighters from Imphal and I will need to shut down my supply transport AC in a few turns at Ledo if I dont get the rail line reopened.

Id be much more concerned about this if Dave didnt have 6 of the SAA divisions tied down on Luzon. I have the 1400 AV of Burma Corps withdrawing to Myitkina and the 2000 AV of my Eastern Army in Burma is withdrawing to Kalemyo. I have 370 AV at Akyab and I bet that Dave was expecting a much weaker defense there. Instead of racing through Akyab to take Chittagong....the IJA panzerkorps will be needed to help capture Akyab so that should delay them a bit. I have at least a half dozen armored regiments at Calcutta that have been resting and upgrading to new devices and they will begin to reopen the critical rail lines and highways next turn. I also have a SWPAC tank destoyer unit on the way about 90 miles out from Akyab.

At Arnhem....the Allies inadvertantly dropped paratroops right next to the resting and rebuilding 9th SS Panzer and 10th SS Panzer Divisions. Here....I dont have any SS panzer divisions but one of the IJA drop zones was in the hex adjacent to the 18th UK Division and the IJA paratroops will feel like they were hit by a panzer division in about 2 turns.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 1:55 pm

6/27-6/28/42

SOPAC/SWPAC

Allied amphibious TFs, surface TFs and carriers rendezvoused off Luganville. Next turn the multiple amphib TFs will be combined and sail as a single TF to Ndeni....I want it to look as if its a simple transport TF on a resupply Ndeni mission......while the carriers and surface Tfs remain at Luganville.

On the following turn....the amphib TFs will spli up. Amphib TFs will resupply the 108th and 182nd Regiments on Tulagi, resupply forward bases at Russell and Rennell Islands....and invade Kirakira. This operation should almost be a "milk run" as at least part of KB was spotted off Akyab this turn.

The invasion of Kirakira will be the final nail in the Japanese coffin in the southern Solomons. Following these amphib ops I will be able to withdraw all the USN carriers for repairs and 7/42 upgrades....the ground troops should be able to fend for themselves under substantial land based air cover. CV Saratoga will be able to join CV Lexington at Pearl to repair torpedo damage while Hornet/Yorktown/Enterprise all upgrade their AA and radar.

The next Allied objective will be to evict the IJA 65th Brigade and friends from Tassafaronga as soon as all of the 32nd Division has been landed at Lunga. Lunga now has 57,000 supplies and 6000 fuel points.

The Coral Sea is now ringed by Allied bases and the next wave of Allied advances....scheduled to start in late September/early October.... will see SOPAC advance into the central Solomons while SWPAC advances into the Solomon Sea and New Guinea.

PHILIPPINES

Japan launches its 1st assault at Clark and is thrown back with heavy losses:

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 40316 troops, 555 guns, 240 vehicles, Assault Value = 1589

Defending force 45945 troops, 610 guns, 557 vehicles, Assault Value = 1607

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese adjusted assault: 779

Allied adjusted defense: 2830

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
5838 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 280 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 158 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 43 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 75 (7 destroyed, 68 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
833 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 93 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Assaulting units:
16th Division
48th Division
5th Division
33rd Div /1
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
14th Army
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment
21st PA Infantry/C Division
192nd Tank Battalion
93rd PA Infantry Regiment
11th PA Infantry/A Division
51st PA Infantry/C Division
194th Tank Battalion
51st PA Infantry/A Division
81st PA Infantry/C Division
Subic Bay Defenses
41st PA Infantry/A Division
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
21st PA Infantry/A Division
61st PA Infantry/C Division
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
81st PA Infantry/B Division
31st PA Infantry/A Division
11th PA Infantry/C Division
11th PA Infantry/B Division
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
4th Marine Regiment
1st/45th PS Inf Battalion
31st PA Infantry/B Division
81st PA Infantry/A Division
31st PA Infantry/C Division
14th PS Engineer Regiment
21st PA Infantry/B Division
2nd/45th PS Inf Battalion
51st PA Infantry/B Division
41st PA Infantry/B Division
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
USAFFE
1st USMC AA Battalion
1st PI Base Force
201st PA Construction Battalion
II Philippine Corps
Manila USAAF Base Force
Far East USAAF
Provisional GMC Grp
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

Looks like there are only 4 SAA divisions on Luzon now......the other 2 that were spotted at San Fernando were merely fragments to confuse my sigint.

I still have over 50,000 supplies on Luzon and should be able to hold out for several more months.

CBI

As I thought .....a massive Japanese air forcce was staged into Burma last turn. Akyab was swept by over 150 A6M2s and Oscars while another 70 A6M2s and Oscars flew LRCAP over the invasion beaches. To top it off....at least a portion of KB appeared offshore to cover the landings.

The Allied fighters and bombers were all flying from Chittagong....10th Air Force and 2 RAF HQs were present at Chittagong so the 1st massive Allied air strike on Akyab got through with good fighter escort. Subsequent Allied air strilkes went in piecemeal and were butchered. When the smoke cleared....the Allies had lost 52 AC in A2A combat vs 6 Japanese AC....a stunnimg defeat. Worse....the majority of the Allied AC lost were RAF medium bombers and it will probably take 2-3 months to replace these losses. All the RAF bombers will now be withdrawn to Calcutta as they just cannot operate in the face of massive Japanese air superiority.

Still.... the 1st RAF strike got through and so did the USAAF 4Es....who always get through....and 38th Division was in no condition to launch an assault:

Ground combat at Akyab (54,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12121 troops, 124 guns, 67 vehicles, Assault Value = 425

Defending force 9684 troops, 72 guns, 60 vehicles, Assault Value = 380

Japanese adjusted assault: 9

Allied adjusted defense: 509

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 56 (fort level 1)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1032 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 61 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled

Allied ground losses:
125 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
38th Division

Defending units:
75th Indian Brigade
5/14th Punjab Battalion
2/15 Punjab Battalion
28th Gurkha Brigade
6/18th Royal Garwal Battalion
63rd Indian Brigade

The 38th Division is going to need a lot of help to clear out Akyab.

Over in south central China......the 2700 AV Japanese army was only able to launch 1 more assault on my retreating Chinese before they got away:

Ground combat at 88,57

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 74124 troops, 664 guns, 193 vehicles, Assault Value = 2502

Defending force 15548 troops, 163 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 373

Japanese adjusted assault: 1261

Allied adjusted defense: 643

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1340 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 61 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled

Allied ground losses:
397 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 9 (8 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
17th Division
22nd Division
Kyuko Naval Guard Unit
56th Infantry Brigade
116th Division
15th Division
34th Division
6th Division
17th RGC Temp./A Division
29th Field AA Machinecannon Company
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
21st Chinese/B Corps
3rd New Chinese/C Corps
100th Chinese/B Corps
28th Chinese/B Corps
21st Chinese/C Corps
100th Chinese/C Corps
4th Chinese/B Corps
50th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese/C Corps
28th Chinese/C Corps
23rd Group Army
3rd War Area
32nd Group Army

The Chinese were able to withdraw into Wenchow and I now have over 900 AV there. Another Chinese army entered Chuhsien and Dave was forced to evacuate....we will retake Chuhsien next turn.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:48 pm

6/29-6/30/42

CBI

All quiet in China.

In Burma, Dave bombards Akyab with BB Yamato and 4 CAs. That leaves only 4 BBs and 10-11 CAs available for duty in the south Pacific.

In India, 18th UK will launch an assault on IJA paratroops at Dimapur next turn. Allied armor bears down on IJA paratroops blocking the Calcutta/Chittagong rail line/highway.

SWPAC/SOPAC

As SOPAC HQ will be arriving at Luganville in a couple of weeks Ive split up the Coral and Solomon Seas into seperate areas of operation for both SWPAC and SOPAC.

SOPAC will be landing 5 amphib TFs in the Solomons next turn covered by 5 USN CVs and 3 RN CVs. There will be amphib TFs to resupply Russell Is. and the 108th and 182nd Regiments on Tulagi, amphib resupply and reinfocement TFs to Rennell Is. and Lunga and an amphibious assault on Kirakira.

This will complete amphib ops in the southern Solomons and should provide some breathing room for the USN CVs to all upgrade and/or repair accumulated
damage. CV Lexington will arrive at Pearl next turn and begin repairs of her 27 FLT damage from a sub launched torpedo. After these current amphib ops have been completed CV Saratoga will aslo be sent back to Pearl to repair her 7 FLT12 ENG damage from also from a sub launched torpedo. With the industrialization of the war in the south Pacific....Allied air combat and surface TFs will not need to be constantly exposed every turn to maintain the status quo. Ive staged in 140 fighters to the level 6 AF at Lunga and another 160 fighters to the level 2 AFs at Rossel, Russell and Rennell Is. to help cover all the amphib ops next turn.

SOPAC will then quiet down a bit as LCUs prep for the next offensive thrust.....this time into the central Solomons.....probably in early fall 1942.

SWPAC now has a level 2 AF at Rossel and has a level 1 port 30% completed at Deboyne Is. SWPAC is currently prepping LCUs for an offensive thrust in late summer 1942 to capture island bases off the SE tip of New Guinea and also re-establish itself on the New Guinea mainland.

In this game....the shortest road to Tokyo will be Solomons/New Guinea/Paulaus/Philippines/Okinawa.

NAVAL ATTRITION

As the first phase of the Solomons campaign winds down I thought it be a good time to list combatant ship losses for both sides in this theatre for the last 10 weeks.

Japan has lost 4 BBs, 5 DDs, 1 APD, 1 DMS, 15 SS and 8 PB.

The Allies have lost 2 BB, 4 CAs, 3 CLs, 5 DDs, 1 APD, 2 DMS and 12 PTs.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 3:27 pm

7/1-7/2/42

PHILIPPINES

The Japanese army on Luzon is again thrown back with heavy losses in a 1:2 assault on Clark:

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 49255 troops, 610 guns, 267 vehicles, Assault Value = 1689

Defending force 44591 troops, 588 guns, 567 vehicles, Assault Value = 1543

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1052

Allied adjusted defense: 2788

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
4966 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 331 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 137 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 71 disabled
Vehicles lost 35 (2 destroyed, 33 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1038 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 67 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 146 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Assaulting units:
48th Division
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
21st Division
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
5th Division
16th Division
90th Infantry Regiment
33rd Division
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
14th Army
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
4th Marine Regiment
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
31st PA Infantry/B Division
93rd PA Infantry Regiment
61st PA Infantry/C Division
194th Tank Battalion
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
81st PA Infantry/B Division
Subic Bay Defenses
1st/45th PS Inf Battalion
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
11th PA Infantry/A Division
81st PA Infantry/C Division
14th PS Engineer Regiment
21st PA Infantry/A Division
192nd Tank Battalion
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
81st PA Infantry/A Division
2nd/45th PS Inf Battalion
31st PA Infantry/C Division
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment
11th PA Infantry/B Division
11th PA Infantry/C Division
21st PA Infantry/B Division
51st PA Infantry/A Division
51st PA Infantry/C Division
31st PA Infantry/A Division
41st PA Infantry/A Division
51st PA Infantry/B Division
41st PA Infantry/B Division
Manila USAAF Base Force
1st PI Base Force
Provisional GMC Grp
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
Far East USAAF
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
II Philippine Corps
USAFFE
201st PA Construction Battalion
1st USMC AA Battalion
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

The Allies have abundant supplies and large reserves here so I dont see this situation improving for Japan without additional reinforcements.

SOPAC

Allied amphib TFs land supplies at Russell and Rossel Is. and also at Tulagi to the 108th and 182nd Regiments. I was originally planning on dropping off the 192nd Tank Battalion at Tulagi but felt that it could be better used in the assault on Tassafaronga so it was dropped at Lunga instead. Dave doesnt have near enough on Tulagi now to defeat my two regiments.....and conversely I dont have enough prepped units available to defeat Japanese forces on Tulagi....so the troops on Tulagi will be kept well supplied while Allied bombers suppress the ports and AF there and Tulagi will be bypassed for the moment.

Amphib TFs also dropped off troops and supplies at Rennell and Lunga.

Admiral Draemels amphib TF assaulted the Japanese on Kirakira this turn with the 160th Regiment.....I held the 145th Regiment in reserve and with the recent developments off the coast of Burma I may elect to keep the construction engineers and BFs loaded in reserve for an amphib assault farther up the Solomon Islands chain.

Intel this turn informed us that Japan has committed 6 CVs, 2 CVLs, 3 BBs and 4 CAs to its invasion at Akyab. With the IJN carriers out of position in the Bay of Bengal I am considering advancing my next offensive in SWPAC/SOPAC from fall 1942 to July 1942. The only problem is that Dave has garrisoned virtually every dot hex in the area and my LCUs are just beginning to prep for the next round of advances. Im reconiing all the dot hexes off New Guinea and in the Solomons now.

The Allied carriers move north in the Solomon Sea to a point W of Munda....Im hoping to draw in some Betty naval strikes here and also disrupt IJN shipping in the central Solomons.

Rennell and Ndeni both complete level 3 AFs this turn.

CV Lexington reaches Pearl this turn as do BBs Idaho, New Mexico and Missisippi. CV Lex was paced on "high shipyard" repair but it will still 85 days to upgrade her and repair her 27 FLT damage. The BBs will also upgrade at Pearl and will be there for a month. The BBs still repairing damage from the 12/7/41 attacks are removed from the shipyard and will be sent to the US west coast to complete repairs.

CBI

Quiet in China.

Dave commits BB Ise and BB Fuso to the bombardments at Akyab...that leaves a max of 2 BBs available for ops in the south Pacific.

Dave CAPed his invasion fleets at Akyab with fighters from 6 CVs and 2 CVLs:

Morning Air attack on 38th Division, at 54,45 (Akyab)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 50
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 5

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 11

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
Genzan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 12 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 31000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 31000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 24000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 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 31000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
Junyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
5th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes

Japanese troops also invade and capture Ramree Island off the coast of Burma.

18th UK overruns IJA paratroops at Dimapur:

Ground combat at Dimapur (62,38)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15183 troops, 239 guns, 111 vehicles, Assault Value = 800

Defending force 180 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 11

Allied adjusted assault: 552

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 552 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
192 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
18th British Division
96th Chinese Division
22nd (East African) Brigade
2/3rd MG Battalion
2nd Assam Rifles Battalion
19th Indian/A Division
823rd Engineer Aviation Battalion

Defending units:
1st Raiding Rgt /2

The Allied armor reserve from Calcutta reaches Rangpur this turn and will assault the IJA paratroops there next turn. Then the armor and 18th UK will close in on the last 2 paratrooper pockets at Tezpur and Silchar and the railroad from Calcutta to Chittagong will be reopened.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:06 pm

7/3-7/4/42

CBI

Quiet in China.

Japan again bombards Akyab with BB Ise and BB Fuso and CAs:

Night Naval bombardment of Akyab at 54,45

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Fuso
CL Kitakami
DD Minazuki
DD Urakaze
DMS W-17
DMS W-5

Manpower hits 1
Fires 549
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7
Port hits 1

E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Ise
BB Ise firing at Akyab
BB Fuso firing at Akyab
CL Kitakami firing at 63rd Indian Brigade
DD Minazuki firing at 63rd Indian Brigade
DD Urakaze firing at 63rd Indian Brigade
DMS W-17 firing at 2/15 Punjab Battalion
DMS W-5 firing at 63rd Indian Brigade

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Akyab at 54,45

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Atago
DD Fubuki
DD Hagikaze

Manpower hits 1
Fires 625
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 26
Port hits 11
Port supply hits 3

E7K2 Alf acting as spotter for CA Mikuma
CA Mikuma firing at 63rd Indian Brigade
CA Atago firing at Akyab
DD Fubuki firing at Akyab
DD Hagikaze firing at Akyab

Dave also heavily bombards Akyab from the air but the results of the ground battle are the same as last time:

Ground combat at Akyab (54,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12751 troops, 124 guns, 67 vehicles, Assault Value = 431

Defending force 9438 troops, 72 guns, 60 vehicles, Assault Value = 353

Japanese adjusted assault: 137

Allied adjusted defense: 253

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
597 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Allied ground losses:
545 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
38th Division

Defending units:
75th Indian Brigade
2/15 Punjab Battalion
5/14th Punjab Battalion
6/18th Royal Garwal Battalion
28th Gurkha Brigade
63rd Indian Brigade

My troops are becoming fatigued and disrupted from the aerial and naval bombardments so I ordered the Indian forces to withdraw on Chittagong.

Another IJN bombardment TF shows up at Chittagong:

Night Naval bombardment of Chittagong at 55,41 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

3 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Nagato

Allied ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Yamashiro
BB Yamashiro firing at 2nd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
2nd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at BB Yamashiro
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Nagato
BB Nagato firing at RAF 223 Group Base Force

So now Dave has all 5 of his operational BBs deployed in the Bay of Bengal along with virtually all the IJN flattops.

Some 800 AV of Allied armor overruns the IJA paratroops at Rangpur. Unfortunately....the RAF medium bombers that had been bombing IJA troops at Rangpur were then retargeted....by the game.... to attack Akyab without escorts. I lose another 30 or so RAF medium bombers...thats another 2-3 months of replacements. Most of the RAF bomber squadrons are at less than 50% strength now.

18th UK close in on the IJA paratroops at Silchar while the armor will now close on the paratroops at Tezpur.

SOPAC

Allied carriers sortie to the middle of the Solomon Sea and attack IJN shipping off Munda and Shortlands....several PBs and barges are sunk with many more damaged.

USN F4F-3s and F4F-4s sweep Shortlands. Munda has been put out of action by the B-17s and now Dave withdraws most of his AC from Shortlands after the sweep. I will sweep Shortlands again next turn and then I will probably stage the B-17s up to Lunga to shut down Shortlands.

Elements of the 2nd Marine Regiment capture Vanikoro.

The 108th and 182nd Regiments stranded on unfriendly Tulagi are heavily resupplied while the amphib escorts work over the IJA garrison there. I have 202 AV at Tulagi......growing every turn.... while Japan has about 140 AV there. My troops on Tulagi now have thousands of supplies and should be able to hold out for the duration. The IJA garrison however is undersupplied by transport AC and my LRCAP over Tulagi is turning back Thalias every turn.

Lunga now has over 1100 AV and over 75,000 supplies after the amphib reinforcement. Im now prepping 32nd Division, 8th USMC Regiment, the combat engineers and all the tank battalions at Lunga for Tassafaronga. The advance on Tassafaronga will begin in about a week.

When the cat's away the mice will play. When KB was deployed in the DEI in March and April 1942 I was able to establish a foothold in the southern Solomons. Now that KB...and all the BBs...have been deployed to the Bay of Bengal... Ihave a golden opportunity to overrun the central Solomons... and maybe even more than that.

Its ironic....Japan has near total air and naval superiority over the Bay of Bengal.... yet lacks the ground forces to really pursue an Indian invasion. In the south Pacific..... the Allies have near total air and naval superiority yet lack the _prepped_ ground forces to really pursue a thrust up the Solomons. I will have to be creative and take a few risks here to advance as rapidly as possible in the south Pacific. The carriers will delay their 7/42 upgrades and will now stay on the line.... including CV Saratoga with 7 FLt 12 ENG torpedo damage.....as the Allies will attempt to take advantage of the opportunity that presents itself.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 1:48 pm

7/5-7/6/42

PHILIPPINES

IJA troops are repulsed with heavy losses yet again at Clark:

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 47149 troops, 571 guns, 225 vehicles, Assault Value = 1588

Defending force 44123 troops, 589 guns, 575 vehicles, Assault Value = 1482

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 632

Allied adjusted defense: 3454

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
6471 casualties reported
Squads: 71 destroyed, 239 disabled
Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 237 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 124 disabled
Vehicles lost 70 (9 destroyed, 61 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
734 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 47 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
21st Division
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
5th Division
33rd Division
16th Division
90th Infantry Regiment
48th Division
4th Div /2
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
1st/45th PS Inf Battalion
1st PA Constabulary Regiment
2nd PA Constblry HW Regiment
11th PA Infantry/B Division
192nd Tank Battalion
31st PA Infantry/B Division
81st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry/A Division
21st PA Infantry/B Division
21st PA Infantry/A Division
93rd PA Infantry Regiment
11th PA Infantry/A Division
11th PA Infantry/C Division
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
51st PA Infantry/C Division
51st PA Infantry/A Division
61st PA Infantry/C Division
Subic Bay Defenses
194th Tank Battalion
4th Marine Regiment
31st PA Infantry/A Division
51st PA Infantry/B Division
31st PA Infantry/C Division
2nd/45th PS Inf Battalion
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
14th PS Engineer Regiment
41st PA Infantry/B Division
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
II Philippine Corps
Provisional GMC Grp
201st PA Construction Battalion
1st PI Base Force
Far East USAAF
Manila USAAF Base Force
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
1st USMC AA Battalion
USAFFE
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

Ive got 1000 additional AV resting at Manila(and guarding the 100 light industry there). I will reinforce Clark with another 150 AV from the Manila garrison.

SOPAC/SWPAC

Japan sends repeated airstrikes over the Allied carriers that are decimated. USN F4Fs sweep Shortlands but Dave is no longer flying CAP there. Allied carrier bombers sink some more PBs(carrying troops) and barges in the central Solomons.

I staged medium bombers and 4Es into Lunga this turn. The medium bombers will continue to suppress Munda while the 4Es will hit Shortlands. The Cactus air force at Lunga now has nearly 300 AC.

Most of the air combat losses this turn occur in the south Pacific. Japan loses 92 AC vs 39 Allied AC. In A2A combat....Japan loses 56 AC vs 20 Allied AC. Individual plane losses include 32 A6M2s, 30 Bettys, 21 Oscars, 9 SBD-3s, 5 Hurricane IIbs, 5 F4F-4s and 4 Kittyhawk Is.

The 2nd Marine Regiment mops up the remaining IJA stragglers on Vanikoro.

I think that we may have reached that tipping point in the southern Solomons where Dave becomes more concerned with pulling his troops out rather than reinforcing. Recon show only 5500 IJA troops on Tulagi.....prior to the amphib resuuply Japan had over 8000 troops there.

US tank battalions begin to drive through the jungle on Guadalcanal from Lunga towards Tassafaronga.

CBI

IJN bombardment TFs continue to pound the Indian troops at Akyab.

The British anti-tank regiments in China will reach Kunming next turn and then will be withdrawn by transport AC to Ledo.

18th UK Division bears down on IJA oaratroops at Silchar while Allied armor drives on the IJA paratroops at Tezpur.

I accumulated enough PPs to buy another regiment of the US Army 27th Divsion currently in reserve at Capetown. They will be sent on fast xAPs to Karachi.

yubari · Post by **yubari** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:24 am

ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
6471 casualties reported
Squads: 71 destroyed, 239 disabled
Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 237 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 124 disabled
Vehicles lost 70 (9 destroyed, 61 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
734 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 47 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Ouch, that is the best part of a division destroyed pretty much there. If I was playing as Japan here then I would be extremely concerned that the Philippines would not in fact fall at all and would be directing the lions share of my ground units towards the battle as well as a large number of IJAAF air units on airbase surpression and supply destruction. Making a big effort at Akyab seems a very strange thing to do. At the very least I would move some units into Manila which I think would stop the factory there from producing supply. You must be starting to receive P-38s now or in the near future. Is there any way to get them into Clark? 100 or so of them on CAP and I don't think Japan would ever be able to take Clark.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 11:29 pm

yubari...you make a lot of good points. Why indeed attack Akyab with insufficient forces to overrun NE India when there is a massive Allied garrison in Luzon in your rear with good supply? I dont have any P-38 replacements at the moment and I have 1 P-38 squadron at Calcutta and 1 P-38 squadron at Guadalcanal....both under 50% TOE. Your point is well taken regarding staging P-38s into Clark/Manila but even though the P-38 is the longest ranged Allied fighter it is not robust enough to perform in a CAP role due to its service rating. It is much better suited for the occasional long range sweep or escort at high altitude. If I had enough replacements it would probably be a better idea to stage P-40Es from China into Luzon and that could be a real possibility in the near future.

7/7-7/10/42

CBI

Japan launches another 1:2 deliberate attack on Akyab on 7/7/42 and suffers heavy losses. I assumed that Dave would rest his troops at Akyab for one turn.... and I had 1 Indian brigade that had fallen behind the rest of the withdrawing troops so I gave it "move" orders.... and then wouldnt you know it but Dave ordered a shock attack this turn and barely achieved 2:1 odds:

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

Ground combat at Akyab (54,45)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 12166 troops, 124 guns, 67 vehicles, Assault Value = 403

Defending force 8533 troops, 72 guns, 59 vehicles, Assault Value = 271

Japanese adjusted assault: 374

Allied adjusted defense: 181

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Akyab !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
947 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Units pursuing 2

Allied ground losses:
2176 casualties reported
Squads: 97 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 151 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 24 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (12 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 49 (49 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 6

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
79th Garrison Bn /3
38th Division
9th Armored Car Co /3

Defending units:
5/14th Punjab Battalion
6/18th Royal Garwal Battalion
28th Gurkha Brigade
75th Indian Brigade
2/15 Punjab Battalion
63rd Indian Brigade

These Indian trops have been cut in half. Everyone is retreating now towards Chittagong.

Allied armor overruns Tezpur and now the Allied armor and 18th UK Division are racing against time to eliminate the final IJA paratroop roadblock at Silchar.

SWPAC/SOPAC

Its been a quiet few days in SOPAC as Ive been busy trying to rebuild all my LCUs scattered around the theatre. I had so many ad hoc invasions and emergency reinforcements and then...... in the darkest days.....withdrawals of cadres from Russell/Lunga/Tulagi that I have fragments of combat units spread arouns that I need to consolidate them before I can conduct further offensives.

B-17s staged into Lunga hammer Shortlands and now the airfield there is a smoking ruin with 84% damage. Allied medium bombers staged into Lunga/Ndeni/Rennel pound Munda and keep it suppressed. Now we have finally achieved the original goal of OPERATION WATCHTOWER with all the Japanese airfields in the Solomons captured or neutralized. The only remaining operational Japanese airfield in the theatre is the level 4 AF at Rabaul... and Dave has pulled all of his Netties out of there, At Rabaul...there only remains 150 fighters for air defense and 150 Aux AC to transport troops and supplies around the Solomons. And the port at Rabaul has also been evacuated...last week there were over 150 ships at Rabaul...now there are fewer than a dozen.

Im seeing the effects of this already. A couple of turns ago Dave was trying to resupply his troops on Tulagi with Thalias....but my LRCAP was turning then back. Now my LRCAP over Tulagi is turning back long ranged Mavis transports from Rabaul.

Its hard to believe that just a month ago I was about to throw in the towel on the Solomons and attempt evacuation of cadres. In late May...the best battlewagons in the Imperial Japanese navy were running wild through the Solomons and I had no solution for them. The BBs combined with the 7 CVs/3 CVLs/2CVEs of KB forced me to completely withdraw my navy from the waters of the Solomons and let the IJN bombardment TFs pummel Lunga and Russell Island at will over multiple days....leaving both airfields 100% damaged with over 100 AC destroyed on the ground. In fact....when I was down to 4 USN CVs..... KB pursued me all the way back to Luganville....forced me to evacuate the port at Luganville and withdraw to Noumea. And then KB annihilated 2 dozen xAKs in a transport TF off Fiji.

Now....the smell of cordite and the sounds of desperate naval gunnery duels have been replaced by the smell of diesel fuel and the sound of heavy construction equipment as US construction engineers and seabees carve runways, roads, ports and infrastructure out of the formerly inhospitable malarial jungles of the Solomons. I didnt want a fair fight....mano a mano.....ship vs ship in the Solomons so I turned it into an industrial battle that the Allies were destined to win. Japan may have surface/carrier equality/superiority at this time but is hopeplessly outclassed by the Allies' industrial/construction/logistical capabilities. Dave decided to withdraw his carriers and BBs from the Solomons and now I have the chance to race back up the Solomon chain and re-establish a presence on New Guinea.

The 1st order of business is for SWPAC to regain a foothold on New Guinea. In early 1942....Dave captured Port Moresby, Horn Island and Merauke and cut off Darwin from resupply. I had originally heavily reinforced Darwin at the start of the war but eventually ran out of supplies by March 1942 and was forced to withdraw most of my forces. Bettys based on Timor and IJN subs prevented me from getting xAKs through to Darwin from Perth but I have been able to get the occasional xAK through to Darwin from Townsville.

The highest prepped LCU for the US is the 22nd Marine Regiment...its been prepping for Milne Bay since before it arrived in San Diego. Currently it is unloading at Noumea from xAPs but the troops wont get to R&R on New Caledonia.....in a couple days the 22nd Marine Regiment will begin loading on assault transports for an invasion of Milne Bay. This will be our initial foothold on New Guinea.

In addition....Aussie construction engineers are on their way to Portland Roads to build up the AF there to at least level 2. Then AC from Portland Roads and Milne Bay will cover an invasion of Port Moresby. Its absolutely critical for the Allies to take Milne Bay, Port Moresby, Horn Island and possibly even Merauke to reopen the sea lanes to Darwin. Port Moresby must be enlarged into a massive aerodrome and Rabaul must be suppressed before we can advance around the SE tip of New Guinea and recapture all of Papua.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:20 pm

7/11-7/14/42

SOPAC/SWPAC

SOPAC HQ is just arriving on an xAP in the south Pacific and Im rerouting it to Guadalcanal rather than Luganville. Luganville is almost a sleepy backwater now and it appears that Lunga will be the new hub of operations for the Solomons. I will soon be sending an AS to Lunga and turning it into a forward sub base so that I can extend the range of the S class subs.

The 2nd Marine Regiment wipes out the remaining Japanese stragglers on Vanikoro. The 160th Regiment captures Kirakira and overruns the remaining IJA defenders. I almost cancelled the Kirakira operation in mid invasion when I realized that KB had redeployed to the Bay of Bengal and I would have an opportunity to expand into the central Solomons. As it was I didnt offload the seabees and BFs at Kirakira. Instead of building a new base to help cover Lunga....I need the seabees and base forces for the new bases we will shortly capture in the central Solomons that will isolate Munda and get us closer to Sortlands.

Ndeni and Russell Is. both enlarge their AFs to level 4 and many of my medium bombers are now operating out of Russell. Shortlands and Munda are now both 100% damaged and are devoid of Japanese AC.

BB North Carolina goes into battle for the fist time with naval bombardments of Kirakira and Tulagi....I need to build up her experience before she squares off against the remaining IJN BBs.

CVE Long Island completes repair of her SYS damage and will be sent to Sydney to complete repair of her 49 FLT damage. She ate 2 IJN sub launched torpedoes and lived to tell the story.

The 22nd Marine Regiment begins loading on assault transports at Noumea for the invasion of Milne Bay.

PHILIPPINES

Dave is content to bomard at Clark as both sides reinforce. Japan now has 1755 AV at Clark vs Allied AV of 1685. The combat is really eating up my supplies....Ive gone from over 70,000 supplies to about 40,000 supplies in just a few weeks.

The fortifications at Clark are enlarged to level 2.

CBI

Dave doesnt seem to be following up his victory at Akyab. The Indian troops defeated at Akyab are withdrawing towards Chittagong but there has been no pursuit.

Instead....it looks as if Japan is now moving on Myitkina. The IJA 15th Army has been planning for Myitkina since january but now I get sigint that the Southern Army is now planning for Myitkina. I have 1350 AV at Myitkina behind level 6 forts so we will see what happens.

The Japanese army at Lashio has more than doubled in size over the last 2 turns...its increased from 7 LCUs to 16 LCUs and appears to be heading to the Chinese border. My Chinese border troops will now withdraw towards Paoshan and reinforcements are on the way....including some British anti-tank regiments.

Im beginning to wonder if the invasion at Akyab and the dropping of paratroopers over NE India was just a ruse......and if the real effort here is not an invasion of India but an assault on Myitkina and a new offensive against China....that would certainly make more sense.

The 18th UK Division and 2 Indian armor regiments are closing in on the lasat pocket of IJA paratroops at Silchar. The 2000 AV of Allied troops 90 miles N of Shwebo will stop their withdrawal towards Kalemyo and rest for a bit.... they are now able to drw supplies from Kalemyo at a 1 hex range and they can certainly cut the Japanese supply line if Japan assaults Myitkina.

racndoc · Post by **racndoc** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:26 am

7/15-7/18/42

CBI

No Japanese followup on the invasion at Akyab. KB appears to have withdrawn towards Singapore.....maybe they will redeploy back to the south Pacific. I think that Dave sent KB to the Bay of Bengal to sell me on an amphib invasion of India. BB Fuso and BB Ise remain in the Bay of Bengal to bombard Allied troops on the coast.

Japanese troops continue to mass near Myitkina. I believe that believe that Dave had his multiple armor brigades prep for Akyab to throw off my sigint and now they are racing towards Myitkina.

I airlifted 4 British anti-tank regiments into Myitkina this turn so we have a pretty formidable anti-tank trap in place with 3x terrain and level 6 forts.

PHILIPPINES

Japan is content to bombard at Clark.

Sigint reports that additional troops including more of the 33rd Division is loaded on xAKLs heading for Iba.

SWPAC/SOPAC

The attached screenshot shows Admiral Draemel's amphib TF carrying the 22nd Marine Regiment....they will land at Milne Bay next turn. The Allied carriers are just to the south of the screenshot and they will sail north to cover the invasion. After 2 months of slowly building up at Rossel and Deboyne Is. via PBYs and SSTs....thousands of troops, engineers and aviation personel will be disembarked at Milne Bay over the next 4 days in a massive escalation for SWPAC.

farther south.....Admiral Hill's amphib TF is carrying the 132nd Regiment and they will invade at Woodlark in a couple of turns.

Allied bombers based at Lunga and Rennell Is. continue to shut down the Japanese airfileds at Munda and Shortlands. A couple of weeks ago Dave had over 300 AC at Rabaul and over 150 ships in port. Now there are 70 fighters and 30 bombers at Rabaul and only 4 ships in the nearly deserted port. Most of the IJN shipping in the south Pacific has withdrawn north to Manus in the Admiralty Islands.

CVE Long Island started taking on water this turn....FLT increased from 49 to 54 and she is still 2 turns out of Sydney.

On Guadalcanal.....the Ist Amphibious Corps......32nd Division, 8th Marine Regiment, 5 tank battalions and 2 engineer regiments....will begin arriving at Tassafaronga next turn after marching through the jungle from Lunga.