Wild Sheep Chase - obvert (J) vs JocMeister (A)

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Air Losses[/font]
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Our Air to Air numbers are very good. We have a ton more ops losses than the Allies currently. As the mission numbers show the ops lsses are partly due to constant use, party due to flying over enemy bases consistently for 5 months, and somewhat because Japanese planes are delicate little machines at this point in the war (and most likely for the rest of it).

The Nick is coming online this next month, and the A6M3 the next. We'll produce 25 Nicks to start, and place maybe 4 groups in choice locations, probably 2 in So Pac and 2 in Burma.

Most of the A6M3 research will be turned over to the A6M3a, but we'll make about 30-40 of these for use with at least one if not two of the big land-based groups. Getting above 20,000 ft (our HR is second best maneuver band for sweeps and CAP) will help in Burma and So Pac. Strange we've seen no P-38s yet. Tojos likely won't arrive until August.
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Ship Losses[/font]
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Ships keep coming off of the list for the Allies. It's now down to 4 BBs sunk at PH. Plus the Prince of Wales went off of the list and didn't come back, so this most likely made it out of the DEI with it's 3 torpedo holes.

Here is the past month. It looks like we're doing well with subs, and we are. Not sure all of these will stay on though. Shark did get really nailed, so that seems one that might stay. We've only lost a few transports to subs, two big, two small.

Overall the sub kill numbers look decent. I'd like to start seeing more from Air ASW, and that will probably happen as the Helens get online with their bigger bombs (than the Lily, our main ASW plane up until now).
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]14th Tank Rgt[/font]
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This unit has been involved in the entire Burma campaign, and has just finished pushing up to take Katha. It is currently pushing up to Paoshan to join troops heading to the pass into China. I'd better change the prep to Kunming!
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]PB Nagato Maru[/font]
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After several journeys back and forth to the HI the PB is on the return again after escorting xAKs dropping a base force in Dili.

I'd like to actually trace these ships from now on (and estimate a track from the past few months based on saves and earlier reports) to give a clear idea of just how much certain ships move around the map over time. We'll see how long I can keep it up!

You can just see here that we've begun to build a few bases specifically for ASW air, including Talaud-eilanden and Ternate.
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]xAK-t Oregon Maru[/font]
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After a recent trip to the Gilberts, then a stop to pick up resources in Truk, Oregon Maru is back in Tokyo awaiting another base force to transport.
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Tainan Ku S-1[/font]
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This group has been in the PI, Malaya, the DEI and China. It's now guarding our most vulnerable resource location, the oilfields at Magwe. Another group of 30 Oscars is also here.

The settings (30% CAP - 30% LR - CAP 30% rest) reflect our interest in protecting the entire area through using many groups mutually supporting, and at normal 7 hex range the fatigue stays low.

With 140 kills this group is ultra-elite, but many of the better pilots are being taken out for TRACOM to make sure we keep some around for later and of course to help with acceleration of training, if indeed it really works. Either way this also gets decent pilots a chance to be in the group that still contains our most elite pilots. In this way I hope they will be able to get kills and survive to fight again, gaining experience themselves.

A6M3s will go to this unit first when they come online in June. We'll start by making 30-40, so it'll be mid-July before we can switch them over.
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]I-25[/font]
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This sub has moved from it's cushy patrol between PH and Midway, and is now stationed off of Puget Sound. It's patrol takes it close in and then far out away from air search to keep the DL down. So far in a few weeks here nothing has been seen.
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Shiranhui[/font]
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This DD is with the KB on its raid mission to the east coast of OZ (pic from before they left Tulagi). After these ships get back to Tulagi, this and 4-5 other Kagero class DDs will head to either Soerabaja or Yokohama to get their 5/42 updates, moving up to 4 ASW.
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]China[/font]
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In the north we've got tanks in Sining and the rest of the army on the way. Once this point is captured, most of the army will head south. At least one Division will be forced to stay here to keep the base safe. A few tanks might push NW toward Hami. We'll see as we go if this makes sense or seems like a waste of time.

In the south 3,400 AV are leaving Liuchow to push north toward Tuyun. The armies in the center will continue to occupy vacated Chinese cities, solidify them, and then await garrison and base forces before pushing on. The troops entering Loyang should take that base back soon and either destroy or banish the Chinese troops there back into the forests.

Now that we've got the rail linked up, what is the best way to get things flowing all the way to Port Arthur or hopefully Fusan?
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Burma[/font]
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Our air forces have set up for a long defense. There will be few offensive missions flown into India from these bases, at lead until the Tojo arrives, or unless there is an opening by Jocke. So far we're facing about equal numbers of Allied planes at Chittagong, Imphal, Dimapur and Calcutta. 4Es are among them, but are used sparingly so far. most fighters are some version of Hurricane. Occasionally a P-40E will appear, but that's it.

The plan is to push to Myitkyina and dig in everywhere. The troops going over the mountains will try to get to Kunming.
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]No Pac[/font]
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Most of the Aleutians have been conquered and occupied. We're setting up one Air HQ in the middle three bases centered on Yunaska, and Adak is the main support and logistics area. Cold Bay will be very vulnerable to air strikes and quick amphibious assaults. The goal is to hold through the summer months while building defenses and getting trainng air groups here. If the Allies come in after June, the defenses should be able to get a chunk out of any forces that get close.

If this string of islands remains intact into the winter, depending on developments across the map, a decision will be made for how much to keep or where to pull back.
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]30 April 1942[/font]
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subs: Before this turn Jocke informed me that one of my subs was going to get a pounding. I guessed it must be near Karachi, as this is one of the only locations where I have subs close in consistently. Sure enough, DD Nizam and DD Arrow put four hits on I-162 near Karachi. The sub commander thought it would be a good idea to circle and launch a spread against the two DDs, and after missing with two shots took another direct hit from the DC attack.

The sub is now not critical, surprisingly, with float damage in the 30's. It'll cruise back to Singapore barring anymore encounters.

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So Pac: No DL rise yet for the KB. The oilers made it through the sub zone and are into the open ocean.

China: In Loyang troops shocked and got a 1 to 1 result with 3 times the damage to Chinese troops. For now we'll keep this going as more troops arrive.

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Ground combat at Loyang (87,43)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 9197 troops, 67 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 324

Defending force 17602 troops, 121 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 182

Japanese adjusted assault: 67

Allied adjusted defense: 59

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
290 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Allied ground losses:
669 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 32 (5 destroyed, 27 disabled)


Assaulting units:
58th Infantry Regiment
57th Infantry Brigade
2nd Raiding Rgt /1

Defending units:
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
27th Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
8th New Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Base Force
Jingcha War Area
14th Group Army
5th New Chinese Corps
69th Chinese Corps
15th Chinese Corps
39th Group Army
24th Group Army
15th Group Army
1st War Area
36th Group Army
10th Chinese Base Force

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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]1 May 1942[/font]
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Another month arrives. The days are rolling by in terms of the period of Japanese dominance. We are entering the period of parity, which many say is the most interesting part of the game, between June 42 and June 43, when Allied force begins to become more dominant and the Essex CVs change the game in the Pacific.

subs: SS Truant hits Kamai Maru with one torpedo near Phuket. Doesn't look good for this xAK.

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Kamei Maru was laid down in hong Kong as a WWI B-type standard cargo ship (5030 grt., 412 x 52 ft, single screw, 11 knots. double deck). She was sold to the Japanese in 1941. In WW2 the ship was sunk by USS Gar off the coast of Honshu in 1942.

Burma: A base force lands at Car Nicobar and another is nearing Little Andaman. When one of the IJA Air HQs becomes available, it'll go out here.

PI: Nells hit a leftover band of US troops in Oroquieta just as we land a small invasion to take this last outpost on Mindanao. We'll attack tomorrow.

At Bataan AV for the Allies hits 1017. The roving Brigade has returned and is railing over. Once it arrives the attack is on.

China: At Sining we get a good result. This forces the remaining Chinese troops into the mountains of oblivion. There are no bases to run to from here that will provide any supply to rebuild them. I'm hoping they just slink away and wither. We'll have to leave a division here just to make sure nothing funny happens, but these Chinese forces look pretty well done.

Resources are almost intact here, with a 16 (4) LI to provide a little support for our garrison.
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Ground combat at Sining (80,32)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 58401 troops, 446 guns, 1215 vehicles, Assault Value = 2331

Defending force 37492 troops, 254 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 424

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 1335

Allied adjusted defense: 667

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Sining !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
730 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 86 (1 destroyed, 85 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
12742 casualties reported
Squads: 707 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 560 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 83 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 105 (72 destroyed, 33 disabled)
Units retreated 15


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
9th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
34th Division
10th Tank Regiment
8th Recon Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
36th Division
11th Tank Regiment
15th Division
37th Division
12th Tank Regiment
26th Recon Regiment
11th Army
12th Army

Defending units:
3rd Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
82nd Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
17th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Base Force
1st Construction Regiment
5th Chinese Base Force
2nd War Area
8th War Area
2nd Construction Regiment

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Trying to fight off and make useless a group of Chinese refugee troops from the Yenan area, we shocked across a river near Kungchang into a nice clear hex. I'd hoped for better, but the kill numbers are good and we didn't lose much. This also forces this bunch into the mountains where we'll have time to block them further.

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Ground combat at 83,37 (near Kungchang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 12679 troops, 90 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 464

Defending force 10459 troops, 73 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 360

Japanese adjusted assault: 220

Allied adjusted defense: 169

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1624 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 182 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Allied ground losses:
1341 casualties reported
Squads: 45 destroyed, 96 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 32 (1 destroyed, 31 disabled)


Assaulting units:
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
12th Indpt Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
33rd Chinese Corps
22nd Chinese Corps
23rd Chinese Corps
83rd Chinese Corps
18th Group Army
12th Chinese Base Force

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[/font]
Tanks move into Kiuchuan. We'll DA tomorrow as supply looks good.

At Loyang we get another 1 to 1. A few more troops arrive soon.

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Ground combat at Loyang (87,43)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 2780 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 310

Defending force 15716 troops, 116 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 128

Japanese adjusted assault: 64

Allied adjusted defense: 33

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
280 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
234 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled


Assaulting units:
171st Cavalry Regiment
58th Infantry Regiment
57th Infantry Brigade
2nd Raiding Rgt /1

Defending units:
27th Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
8th New Chinese Corps
24th Group Army
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
39th Group Army
1st War Area
15th Chinese Corps
14th Group Army
5th New Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
36th Group Army
69th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Base Force
Jingcha War Area
15th Group Army
10th Chinese Base Force

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[/font]

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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]2 May1942[/font]
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subs: Drum attacks a SCa near Kagoshima. These little ships keep getting sighted and attacked, but not hit. Maybe that is their best role. They NEVER get off a return DC attack. A waste of those racks.

PI: We attack at Oroquieta and take the base. Now it's only Cebu, Tacloban, Busuanga and Bataan left in the PI. AV to 1000 at Bataan with today's BA.

So Pac: Long range search from the KB, most likely the Jakes, find a number of ships loitering around Lord Howe Island. Most likely these are either taking off or adding more troops to the base. The KB is in range to hit these tomorrow if they remain or are slow and can't make it out of range.
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China: Tanks take Kiuchuan. At least a remnant of a CAF fighter unit is destroyed here as well.

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Ground combat at Kiuchuan (82,26)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1985 troops, 4 guns, 186 vehicles, Assault Value = 120

Defending force 1902 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 82

Japanese adjusted assault: 109

Allied adjusted defense: 28

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kiuchuan !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
I-15-III: 4 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
899 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1


Assaulting units:
20th Recon Regiment
13th Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
34th Separate Brigade

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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]3 May 1942[/font]
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subs: Off of Christmas Island DD Downes hits RO-64 with one DC and 3 near misses. The sub has 24 float damage and will head back home. I-2 finds a great fat convoy of APs but can only get two shots off at DD rathburne, and is hit with two damaging near misses.

Gar and Grouper both attack small AKL convoys near the HI, but dud. That's got to be almost as frustrating as my ineffectual DCs.

So Pac: The KB does indeed get there in time to hit the ships around Lord Howe Island. The captains wait for the PM phase, which makes me nervous, and then only the Vals attack. Odd. but we can't complain, as it looks like 1 or 2 DDs and the CL Marblehead are in a bad way.

The setting are all correct, but the Kates had Naval/Port attack selected, as the KB was nearly in range of Sydney, but no attacks were made. Tomorrow we'll test Sydney's defenses.
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lord Howe Island at 100,169

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
D3A1 Val x 37

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Fanning, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Marblehead, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Cummings
DD Mahan
DD Dunlap, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
14 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Marblehead
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Dunlap


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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lord Howe Island at 100,169

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
D3A1 Val x 15



Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Mahan
CL Marblehead, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Marblehead

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China: Troops moving toward Tuyun destroy a Chinese base force on the way. 3 hexes to go.

DEI: Troops move into Tilityap in force. Tomorrow we'll DA.

An SNLF also moves into Benkolen.

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[SqzMyLemon]

Hi obvert,

At least you got a decent strike of 37 Val's. I wish there was a little more understanding for what the AI uses in determining a strike package, target priority and why so many planes don't tend to fly. Weather seems to be the biggest culprit most often.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Hi obvert,

At least you got a decent strike of 37 Val's. I wish there was a little more understanding for what the AI uses in determining a strike package, target priority and why so many planes don't tend to fly. Weather seems to be the biggest culprit most often.

Yeah, this was okay, and not in a critical situation like in your game. This also probably means other ships are around, so we might have a few more chances.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]4 May 1942[/font]
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subs: Triton spotted by a CHa near the HI. No shots fired.

So Pac: The KB attack on Sydney has to wait a day as the naval/port strike setting pays off today with one convoy almost completely wiped out. You'd think the KB Kate pilots could manage more than 2 torpedo hits from 39 aircraft, on slow merchant vessels no less, but at least the Vals are doing well. Weather wasn't too bad, so seems strange.

Maybe tomorrow we'll hit the ports.

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Newcastle at 92,166

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
B5N2 Kate x 39
D3A1 Val x 57



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
xAK Royal T. Frank, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Mangola, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
APD Whipple, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Van Rees, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Paul Jones, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAP Morinda, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Malaita
xAP Van Neck, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage


Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
12 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Mangola
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Royal T. Frank
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APD Whipple
Massive explosion on xAK Royal T. Frank
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Van Neck
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Van Rees
Massive explosion on APD Paul Jones

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It was good to see a few of the versatile APDs getting knocked out here. They are some of my favorite Allied early war ships, especially considering their DC rating.

China: Another good combat against the straggling Chinese troops. 111 infantry squads destroyed in the north. We're trying NOT to knock them out, but to push them into the mountains in a weak state so they can disappear slowly.

The AVG showed up in the air over Chunking to challenge our sweep by the 3rd Ku S-1, the other elite IJN zero group. 40 A6M2s vs 34 P-40s in the first big fight, but it wasn't much of a contest. 9 P-40 variants were shot down plus 7 ops losses, to 1 ops loss for the IJN on the day. This group now has almost 90 kills.

DEI: Ground forces finish off Java by taking Tillityap and forcing all units to surrender. Now some healing and prep time, and then off to N OZ.

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[Historiker]

Obvert, can you please come to my AAR to aid me?
I am impressed by your performance, but I know my sneaky opponent reads everything I write outside my own AAR [;)]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]5 May 1942[/font]
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So Pac: The KB let loose on the coast of Australia today. Several ports were attacked. Only Kates flew today by design as we wanted to assess the strength of AA before sending Vals hurtling to their destruction over Sydney harbor, and because we thought there could be the possibility of some SCTF dashes toward the KB. 4 DDs were broken off the two main TFs to deal with PTs, and other surface elements, and as another deterrent to the undersea threat.

Not a bad day overall, and flak was very light. Tomorrow the Vals will fly. There are PTs in the area, but we can stay back from their range by moving south today, as well as having a look at the Melbourne area to see what's stirring there. Anytime a sub can be destroyed in port is cause for celebration! I'm also assuming this must be a different US CL, as after 10 250kg hits I can't imagine the one hit yesterday lasting out the night and/or making it back flank speed to Sydney.

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Afternoon Air attack on Sydney , at 90,167

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
B5N2 Kate x 66


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Trenton, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Noora, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
SS S-38, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage
AM Bunbury, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Goolgwai, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires


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


Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
24 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
17 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on Newcastle , at 92,166

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
B5N2 Kate x 17


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged



Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on Portsea , at 81,171

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
B5N2 Kate x 25



No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAKL Ngakuta, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Burwah, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Hetton Bank, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Coolana, Bomb hits 1, on fire


Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

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xAKL Burwah is an old port hopping coastal vessel built in 1913. An odd duck, but a strangely good looking ship as well. Hard to imagine her surviving a 250kg bomb hit. Destroying these vessels won't probably change the course of the war much, but if something needs to be shipped out and there are no ships left here to do it, then some other probably bigger more valuable ones will have to move in.

DEI: At Benkolen our AV is 64 to 30. We'll attack after a bit more softening from the air.

China: Our troops DAed at Loyang again and this time took the base easily. All of the 17 Chinese units were forced to surrender, unfortunately. They'll be back! Although at least this gets them out of our hair in the rear of our lines, and they'll suck up more supply at Chunking but be completely low on experience and moral again when they return. That's a positive.

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Ground combat at Loyang (87,43)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12899 troops, 81 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 470

Defending force 13536 troops, 102 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 90

Japanese adjusted assault: 295

Allied adjusted defense: 11

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Loyang !!!

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

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


Allied ground losses:
18002 casualties reported
Squads: 358 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2460 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 61 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 139 (139 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 17


Assaulting units:
57th Infantry Brigade
2nd Raiding Regiment
58th Infantry Regiment
171st Cavalry Regiment
13th RGC Temp. Division

Defending units:
98th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
8th New Chinese Corps
15th Chinese Corps
14th Group Army
15th Group Army
36th Group Army
69th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
39th Group Army
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
Jingcha War Area
5th New Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Base Force
1st War Area
24th Group Army
10th Chinese Base Force

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Here is a look at what we're facing on the road to Kienko through the forests and hills. We should soon be able to double the Chinese force in raw AV, but if they stay and build forts, it could be tough to dislodge them in this terrain unless supplies get low. The bombing of Chunking will begin soon.
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Ground combat at 81,40 (near Ankang)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 30224 troops, 220 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 1139

Defending force 86349 troops, 506 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2884

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



Assaulting units:
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
59th Infantry Brigade
5th Ind.Mixed Brigade
27th Division
1st Engineer Regiment

Defending units:
41st Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
8th Route Army
95th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
11th Chinese Corps
42nd Chinese Corps
81st Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
2nd Group Army
22nd Group Army
Red Chinese Army
7th Group Army
4th Group Army
5th War Area
34th Group Army

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