Newbie Allies vs. Experinced WitP

[Crackaces]

********************************************* 15 DEC 42 ************************************


BURMA:

The IJAAF try a long ranged night raid on Swebo .. there are 3 Hvy flak units here along with 5 light batteries:

Night Air attack on Shwebo , at 59,45

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 12 damaged
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 2 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 3000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb

Then in Severe storms the IJAAF strategically attack Akyab at night:

Night Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 damaged

Manpower hits 1
Fires 798

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 5000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

When the dawn breaks the USAAF & RAF go to work. There is a distict IJ disadvantage is they lose control of the skies. Opposed raids yield "reasonable" results. Home rules that restrict Allied ground attacks also restrcit the ability for the Allies to project power into cler terrain. Absoutely unopposed raids with 2E's and 4E's are exteremly destructive in clear hexes. We turn loose every single platform toward Magwe ..

Morning Air attack on 124th Infantry Regiment, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 32
Wellington Ic x 26
B-25C Mitchell x 32


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
388 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

......................
Morning Air attack on 1st Raiding Regiment, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16
Hurricane IIc Trop x 20
B-25C Mitchell x 32


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
158 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
..................
Morning Air attack on 41st Infantry Regiment, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 8
Liberator II x 15
B-24D Liberator x 24


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
484 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)
.....................
Morning Air attack on 58th Infantry Regiment, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 12


No Allied losses

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

......................
Morning Air attack on 6th Tank Regiment, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 16
P-40K Warhawk x 24

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 13 (1 destroyed, 12 disabled)

................
Morning Air attack on Imperial Guards/A Division, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 8
Vengeance I x 48


Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese ground losses:
222 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
.....................
[We also sweep with 100 fighters unopposed]


1505 casualties .. about 10% of the forces here attrited this turn.

The IJAAF bomb China ..

I suggested in Email that the IJ cannot hold a line of clear terrain without Air Superority, and that a line occupying Jungle hexes would at least have less attrition from the air.

I do think the IJ are conserving pilots for better airframes to come, and this is a temporary situation.

More later ..

[crsutton]

I highly recommend that you take and build up that dot base south of Akyab. Once the monsoons hit you are going to run out of supply in Burma but you can run supply to that base and it will flow into Burma and it works great. However, it is tough to do until you get some LSTs and LCTs. I would move a dozen LSTs to the Indian Theater as soon as you can.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

I highly recommend that you take and build up that dot base south of Akyab. Once the monsoons hit you are going to run out of supply in Burma but you can run supply to that base and it will flow into Burma and it works great. However, it is tough to do until you get some LSTs and LCTs. I would move a dozen LSTs to the Indian Theater as soon as you can.

Absoutely I have Ramree Island in the plan, but it is more than difficult not only in landing stuff [LST/LCT] but landing stuff where the IJ has some air superoirty [:(] Ramree Island is 2 hexes from Prome and CAP would dominate the area of operations let alone the torpedo bombers ... But I think you are right .. ASAP move some LCT's into theater ..

I might very well fail so close to victory in Burma ... [:(] .. but rather than a huge attack at one point .. I am looking to pin down the forces in Mandalay and while hitting Magwe with a combined arms attack ... once Magwe is secure.. then cut the North/South Roads and secure Mandalay .. if I can get this done before the Monsoon I think I can hold the summer ...

The Strategy in Mandalay is all about committing enough forces that movement out of Mandalay puts that position at risk. This strategy could fail if the IJ can simply move more stuff from out of theater to match my movements ..[&:] But I am thinking that if the IJ get fixated on holding these postions that I can create a Stalingrad containing 100,000 IJA .. with the Allies having air superiority here and the IJ occupying clear terrain ...

Its about to get bloody in '43 ...

[Crackaces]

***************************** 16 DEC 42 *************************************

This turn is somewhat decisive for the Allies as the IJA try and attack at Mandalay ...[X(]

BURMA:

The air action heats up as the IJ decide to project power and are very effective ..

Morning Air attack on 14th Indian Division, at 59,46 (Mandalay)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 31
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 29
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 22
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 26

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 6 damaged
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
240 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

The Allies keep the pressure on Magwe ..

Morning Air attack on 1st Raiding Regiment, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 16


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
..................
Morning Air attack on 6th Tank Regiment, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

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


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 32


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 31 (5 destroyed, 26 disabled)
..............
Morning Air attack on Imperial Guards/A Division, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 36
Wellington Ic x 26
B-25C Mitchell x 16


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
493 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
....................
Morning Air attack on Imperial Guards/C Division, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 63


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
225 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


There are 25,000 troops in Magwe about 830 AV .. we took out about 30 AV this turn ...

In a very bold move the IJA attempted to attack our forces there: ..[X(]

Ground combat at Mandalay (59,46)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26163 troops, 265 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 1038

Defending force 43616 troops, 627 guns, 1554 vehicles, Assault Value = 1973

Japanese adjusted assault: 149

Allied adjusted defense: 1192

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 8

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
4801 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 522 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 68 disabled


Allied ground losses:
228 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (3 destroyed, 6 disabled)


Assaulting units:
55th Division
54th Division
138th Infantry Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
73rd Motorised Brigade
3rd Cavalry Regiment
267th Armoured Brigade
2nd British Division
255th Armoured Brigade
150th RAC Regiment
16th Light Cavalry Regiment
7th Armoured Brigade
45th Recce Regiment
14th Indian Division
17th Indian Division
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

"As the IJA approached their attack postions the Allied armor engaged the infantry formations in the open ....the result was 20% losses in effectives .."


I have no clue why the IJA would be adjusted so far downward? More so, would they still be adjusted this far downward on the defense? The fort level is 4 here ... I am fully prepped for this target as is the HQ units so it would be very very intresting for me to try a 1:1 odds attack .. A second note is that my recon had 49,000 troops in this hex but only 26,000 are reported in the combat report I am going to assume these account only for effective troops ..

CHINA:

In China the IJAAF attacked an Army defending a swamp in front of Ichang ..

Morning Air attack on 59th Chinese Corps, at 84,48 , near Ichang

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 3 damaged


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

CENPAC:

The dutch run and hide ..

ASW attack near Aogashima at 113,66

Japanese Ships
CS Mizuho
DMS W-12
DMS W-10
TK Shinetsu Maru
TK Bushu Maru
DD Hasu
DD Minazuki
DMS W-22

Allied Ships
SS O24
........
SS O24 is sighted by escort
O24 diving deep .... [8|]


Ok more later ..

[Crackaces]

This turn we are going to find out how HQ bonus works .. I am doing a deliberate attack on Mandalay with the Eastern Army, IV & XV Corps fully Prepped also and units belonging to one of these HQ's. At the same time the Hvy Bombers and Medium Bombers hit Magwe ..

Intel says there are xAPs & xAK's at Rangoon bringing in more stuff ... The IJ might be looking to relieve Mandalay and thus my thought of attacking 4 turns earlier than desired. Out of the box this is 1900AV vs. 1000 AV Fort level 4, Allies fully prepped, 10 armor units in the hex .. the die is cast ...

[Crackaces]

*********************************** 16 DEC 42 ***************************************

Its another interesting turn ..

CENPAC:

We duck .

ASW attack near Manado at 75,96

Japanese Ships
CL Katori
E Kiji
E Hayabusa
E Hiyodori
TK Itukusima Maru
TK Huzisan Maru
TK Gen'yo Maru
DD Tsuga
DD Yuzuki
E Kamo

Allied Ships
SS Grunion

SS Grunion is sighted by escort
Grunion diving deep ....

Our long range bombing attack was very costely in operational losses ..

Morning Air attack on Kwajalein Island , at 132,115

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 22


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Port hits 1
...................
Morning Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 20
B-17F Fortress x 23
B-24D Liberator x 35


No Allied losses

Port hits 16
Port supply hits 7
.....................
Morning Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 9

No Allied losses

Port hits 1

Morning Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 9


No Allied losses

Port hits 2
.............
Morning Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 8

No Allied losses
...............

Morning Air attack on Roi-Namur , at 132,114

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 9

No Allied losses
.................
B-17E Fortress from 11th BG/26th BS crashes on landing
B-24D Liberator from 30th BG/38th BS crashes on landing
B-24D Liberator from 30th BG/38th BS is damaged on landing
B-17F Fortress from 5th BG/31st BS is damaged on landing
Pilot killed in landing accident of B-17E Fortress from 5th BG/394th BS

BURMA:


The IJ come out at night ...

Night Air attack on Shwebo , at 59,45

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 51 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 15


Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 7 damaged
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 damaged
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed on ground

Runway hits 1


We trade a Trop IIc for 2 Lilly's ...

As Dawn comes Magwe is busy ..

Morning Air attack on 58th Infantry Regiment, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes


Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 63

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
..............
Afternoon Air attack on Imperial Guards/C Division, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 15
Wellington Ic x 26

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
104 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
orning Air attack on 124th Infantry Regiment, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16
Kittyhawk III x 12
B-25C Mitchell x 64

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
77 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


P-40K Warhawk from 23rd FG/75th FS is damaged on landing
P-40K Warhawk from 23rd FG/75th FS crashes on landing
Kittyhawk III from No.111 Sqn RCAF is damaged on landing
Hurricane IIc Trop from No.34 Sqn RAF crashes on landing
Hurricane IIc Trop from No.79 Sqn RAF crashes on landing
Pilot killed in landing accident of Hurricane IIc Trop from No.67 Sqn RAF
Pilot killed in landing accident of Kittyhawk III from No.111 Sqn RCAF

Time for a standown .. we will need a big raid pn the turn we attack ..

We do the deliberate attack with mixed results ..


Ground combat at Mandalay (59,46)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 43392 troops, 627 guns, 1551 vehicles, Assault Value = 1996

Defending force 25115 troops, 291 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 574

Allied adjusted assault: 987

Japanese adjusted defense: 535

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
2342 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 163 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Guns lost 18 (5 destroyed, 13 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
926 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 116 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled
Guns lost 33 (3 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Vehicles lost 85 (8 destroyed, 77 disabled)


Assaulting units:
255th Armoured Brigade
70th British Division
3rd Cavalry Regiment
14th Indian Division
45th Recce Regiment
16th Light Cavalry Regiment
73rd Motorised Brigade
267th Armoured Brigade
150th RAC Regiment
2nd British Division
7th Armoured Brigade
17th Indian Division
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
54th Division
55th Division
138th Infantry Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

[color]

This game perplexes me ... I thought fully prepped and having HQ's in range that are also fully prepped will help .. my adjusted value goes down??
1996 -> 987 [&:]

I have no clue why?

Bombing in China ...

[Crackaces]

I think I have figured out why my AV is getting adjusted to a lower amount, but it is too late to fix it. I am thinking there is a difference between the Eastern Army connected to ABDA and the Eastern Army connected to .. well Eastern Army .. thus no bonus? [&:] The good news is .. we are both perplexed ..[:'(]

If this is a problem It will take over 5000 PP's to fix this mess for all units.. so I will slowly change HQ's to Corps level over time as if a bonus exists ... I will need it to bust through the Jungle between Prome and Taung Gvi.

Meanwhile the map below shows the situation. Where combat has occured I am using "adjusted AV' and where it has not .. Unadjusted AV. Right now, Mandalay IJA has 535 Adjusted AV that has been reduced this turn. Magwe will be engaged next week in game terms. Until then I will use aircraft regularly to ground attack and reduce the defense in Magwe.

I am not sure of the merit of a two pronged approach, but to me it forces the IJ to decide what to defend rather than lumping everything in one hex and rolling the dice. Once Magwe and Mandalay have been taken the forces can consoldate the positions and engineers start working on building forts and airfields as a breakthough breeching the jungle I think would be impossible in the Monsoon. One thing that can be done is change commands on a couple of units to III Corps and start moving toward Prome, and then when I have PP's change some Units to IV Corps and use those to breech Taung GVI.

The situation below:

[Crackaces]

*********************************** 18 DEC 42 ******************************

The bombing in China has shifted to a ground attack campaign. We hit Tulagi and Munda with the HB's ...

BURMA:

The ground campaign is mixed. We fight the first battle of "Verdun" at Magwe:

Ground combat at Magwe (57,47)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 41591 troops, 544 guns, 608 vehicles, Assault Value = 2035

Defending force 17726 troops, 218 guns, 130 vehicles, Assault Value = 550

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 836

Japanese adjusted defense: 276

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
2060 casualties reported
Squads: 39 destroyed, 152 disabled
Non Combat: 51 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 26 disabled
Guns lost 39 (17 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Allied ground losses:
2060 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 316 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 31 (1 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)


Assaulting units:
53rd British Brigade
84th Indian Brigade
26th Indian Brigade
18th Canadian Brigade
159th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
23rd Indian Division
87th Mountain Regiment
25th Indian Division
54th British Brigade
26th Indian Division

Defending units:
3rd Raiding Regiment
Imperial Guards/A Division
124th Infantry Regiment
58th Infantry Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
1st Raiding Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
Imperial Guards/C Division
5th Mortar Battalion
34th Field AA Battalion


A few more destroyed stuff on the IJ side but I sense we will have to rest and recover rather than continue the offense after capturing Magwe.

Now Mandalay ...


Ground combat at Mandalay (59,46)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 47531 troops, 820 guns, 1668 vehicles, Assault Value = 1835

Defending force 23410 troops, 290 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 415

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 1722

Japanese adjusted defense: 209

Allied assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Mandalay !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
9957 casualties reported
Squads: 319 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 252 destroyed, 63 disabled
Engineers: 114 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 204 (201 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4


Allied ground losses:
1007 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 146 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 42 disabled
Guns lost 55 (3 destroyed, 52 disabled)
Vehicles lost 73 (3 destroyed, 70 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
Allied forces CAPTURE Mandalay !!!

Assaulting units:
7th Armoured Brigade
150th RAC Regiment
45th Recce Regiment
14th Indian Division
267th Armoured Brigade
70th British Division
2nd British Division
255th Armoured Brigade
73rd Motorised Brigade
16th Light Cavalry Regiment
3rd Cavalry Regiment
17th Indian Division
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
54th Division
55th Division
138th Infantry Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment


Given the numbers of destroyed squads and assuming equal distribution of casulties, the 54th & 55th Divisions are at 50% strength, with the other 50% disabled. These two divisions will have to undergo refit. In hindsight, I do believe the IJA held on to Mandalay too long. Allied armor in clear terrain is even more effective than heavy bombers in clear terrain.

Depending on how many losses Magwe encouters -- the next part of this offense will focus on Prome and Toungoo while opertional bombing reduces
Meiktla. I think that will take us to the Monsoon ...

[Crackaces]

**************************** 19 DEC 42 ***********************************

We are going to have to hurry up our offense .. 1000 AV is headed to support Magwe.

BURMA:

Morning Air attack on 124th Infantry Regiment, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 4
Vengeance I x 63
Kittyhawk I x 12

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
.................
Morning Air attack on 41st Infantry Regiment, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 23
Kittyhawk III x 12
B-25C Mitchell x 64


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
154 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 7 (3 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
.................
Morning Air attack on 58th Infantry Regiment, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 8
Liberator II x 23
B-24D Liberator x 36

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
113 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 21 (7 destroyed, 14 disabled)
................

About 300 casulaties .. mostly support groups and not Squads ..for these ops losses:

Hurricane IIc Trop from No.34 Sqn RAF is damaged on landing
P-40K Warhawk from 51st FG/26th FS crashes on landing
B-24D Liberator from 7th BG/492nd BS crashes on landing

IJAAF Bombing in Oz:


Afternoon Air attack on 2/7th Armoured Regiment, at 74,126 , near Fenton

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 12

No Japanese losses

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

and China at Ichang ..

CENPAC:

Sub attack near Sansapor at 86,104

Japanese Ships
TK Seiwa Maru
SC CHa-36
SC CHa-5
TK Nanrei Maru
TK Tatibana Maru
DD Matsukaze
DD Shiratsuyu

Allied Ships
SS Grunion, hits 1
SS Grunion launches 4 torpedoes at TK Seiwa Maru

This torp dud thing puts the subs at risk ...Grunion is heading in for refit .. I suppose the commander will be giving me an earfull ..

More later ..

[Crackaces]

*********************************** 20 DEC 42 *********************************

This turn we trade butts for time and space. A bloody battle at Magwe ..

BURMA:

We start from the air ....

Morning Air attack on 124th Infantry Regiment, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim VD x 12
Hurricane IIc Trop x 7
Kittyhawk I x 3
Kittyhawk III x 12
P-40K Warhawk x 50

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
....................
Morning Air attack on Imperial Guards/A Division, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 8
B-25C Mitchell x 48

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
253 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

....................
Morning Air attack on Imperial Guards/C Division, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 19
Vengeance I x 63
Kittyhawk I x 12

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
89 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled)
......................

Morning Air attack on Imperial Guards/C Division, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 29
Kittyhawk I x 3
B-25C Mitchell x 16


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
82 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

The IJAAF reply:

Morning Air attack on 26th Indian Division, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 27

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 23
Kittyhawk I x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 3 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied ground losses:
92 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

.....................
Afternoon Air attack on 87th Mountain Regiment, at 57,47 (Magwe)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 18

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 15
Kittyhawk I x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

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



Then we decide to shock this turn and push the IJ out ...


Ground combat at Magwe (57,47)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 49150 troops, 659 guns, 744 vehicles, Assault Value = 1962

Defending force 15151 troops, 198 guns, 270 vehicles, Assault Value = 362

Allied adjusted assault: 1272

Japanese adjusted defense: 60

Allied assault odds: 21 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Magwe !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
5090 casualties reported
Squads: 146 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 393 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 21 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 164 (164 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 182 (182 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 10


Allied ground losses:
1939 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 272 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 42 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 32 (1 destroyed, 31 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating! Allied forces CAPTURE Magwe !!!

Assaulting units:
26th Indian Brigade
53rd British Brigade
159th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
268th Motorised Brigade
23rd Indian Division
84th Indian Brigade
18th Canadian Brigade
87th Mountain Regiment
54th British Brigade
25th Indian Division
26th Indian Division

Defending units:
41st Infantry Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
124th Infantry Regiment
58th Infantry Regiment
Imperial Guards/A Division
8th Tank Regiment
Imperial Guards/C Division
5th Mortar Battalion
34th Field AA Battalion
1st Raiding Regiment

Though this offense is exceeding expectations .. it will be years before these units are back to full strength. I have 2 more divisions comitted for a March offense and we have to consolidate our holdings building up airbases/fortifications for supplies to stockpile for the monsoon.

Ok more later ..

[Crackaces]

Things have changed enough in just a couple of turns that I thought I would post a map. The IJ have been pushed into a corner. We have captured Mandalay and Magwe. I suspect the remnants will strategically redeploy to Rangoon leaving behind whatever viable forces. Taung Gvi forces are completely fresh. The Allies have one division at 80% and the rest range from 30 - 70% strength. It has been a costly campaign. We need to secure the valley before the Monsoon ..

[Crackaces]

*********************************** 22 DEC 42 ******************************

The Tide Ebbs and flows ...


Sub attack near Vizagapatnam at 42,38

Japanese Ships
SS I-32, hits 4

Allied Ships
CL Dauntless, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Loss of CL Dauntless on Dec 22, 1942 is admitted
BB Revenge
CA Hawkins
CA Devonshire
DD Foxhound
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Van Galen
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Arunta
DD Nestor
DD Napier
DD Inconstant
DD Hotspur


Worse than the loss of the Dauntless is calling attention to my surprise fleet in being .. I sense I huge sea contest soon ..


Mandalay:

The IJAAF attack at night ..

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 6
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 6

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 3
..........
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 4

No Japanese losses
............
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 5


No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3


We try and attack Rangoon at night and every flight strayed and missed the target [:@]

The plan this day should have been a huge raid on Meiktila clear skies and we finish off the army ..instead we just use DB's and our escorts do not fly ..[:@]

Morning Air attack on 53rd Division, at 58,47 (Meiktila)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 31

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
316 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

..............
Morning Air attack on 54th Division, at 58,47 (Meiktila)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 3
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 32
Kittyhawk I x 12


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
289 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


We lost way too many DB's for such little gain here .. much more comittment to escorts and sweeps are needed for our attacks ..

Bombing in China ,.[>:]

More later ..

[Crackaces]

The Trusty gets off a sub attack and misses ..

Sub attack near Donggala at 68,97

Japanese Ships
PB Akitsui Maru
SC Ch 34
TK Hofuku Maru
TK Fukko Maru
TK Ose Maru
PB Hakozake Maru

Allied Ships
SS Trusty

SS Trusty launches 2 torpedoes at PB Akitsui Maru

As the night progresses the IJAAF come calling at Mandalay ..

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

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

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 4 damaged

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


Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 8
................

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 damaged
Runway hits 1
..............

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 damaged

The IJAAF keep coming and keep bombing . I would that eventually operations losses would curtail this activity .. but it has not .. I realy do not want to committ to staging CAP at night with my "day" fighters . I find them to be ineffective at best .

Instead we sweep ..

Morning Air attack on Meiktila , at 58,47

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 12
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses
............
Morning Air attack on Meiktila , at 58,47

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses



Followed up with a 2E bombing run ...

Afternoon Air attack on 53rd Division, at 58,47 (Meiktila)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 27
B-25C Mitchell x 64


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
265 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 54 (13 destroyed, 41 disabled)

Here are what the airboys are claming:

Damaged F-4 Lightning from 8th PRS is missing, pilot reported killed
Damaged Hurricane IIc Trop from No.79 Sqn RAF is missing, pilot reported killed

PO Parson, P. of No.67 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2
PO Parson, P. of No.67 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3

PO Macpherson, J. of No.67 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2

SLDR Wigglesworth, J.S. of No.67 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3

WCDR Milward, R.A. of No.67 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 6

WO Cutfield, P.T. of No.67 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2
WO Cutfield, P.T. of No.67 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3

SLDR Lambert, J.F. of No.67 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2

WO Hewitt, E.B. of No.67 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2

FO Bingham-Wallis, P.M. of No.67 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2

PO Storey, W.J. of No.135 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 6

WCDR Reid M. of No.79 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3

SLDR Trenchard V. of No.135 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 5
SLDR Trenchard V. of No.135 Sqn RAF attains ace status!

I think we have to find where these Oscars are being staged and attack the airfields ..

More bombing in China [>:]

More later ..

[Crackaces]

***************************************** 24 DEC 42 **********************************************

Christmas Eve '42!

One of my USN subs greets a ASW TF .. it duds ..

Sub attack near Eniwetok at 130,104

Japanese Ships
PB Hirotama Maru
SC Ch 27

Allied Ships
SS Shad
SS Shad launches 2 torpedoes at PB Hirotama Maru

The IJ have decided on Strategic bombing at Mandalay ..

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 12



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 damaged
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 destroyed by flak

Manpower hits 3
Fires 985
.........

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 4



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 damaged
..................

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 6



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged

Manpower hits 3
Fires 1394
...................

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 6



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 4 damaged

Manpower hits 4
Fires 2606
......................

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 7



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged

Manpower hits 3
Fires 3515
......................
Fires causing damage to Resources at Mandalay!

I left an attack on that was cancelled two night in a row .. I forgot about the Wellingtons ..

Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 8
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6

Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 7


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 1 damaged

Port supply hits 1
................

Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 8
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6

Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 8


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 2 damaged

Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 5
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 5

Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 1 damaged

Damaged Wellington Ic from No.215 Sqn RAF is missing


To add insult to injury .. the attacks ordered for the day were cancelled ..[:@]

More bombing in China ..[>:]

Lots of bean counting this turn ... more later ..

[Crackaces]

****************************** 25 DEC 42 ************************************

The IJAAF come again at night ..

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 14
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 3 damaged
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 4 damaged
..............
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 3 damaged

Manpower hits 2
Fires 3016

Even with repair off .. the attacks are killing supply ..

One has to be very very careful to check every single base with ol' operations . especally if they did not fly the turn before ..


Morning Air attack on 53rd Division, at 57,50 (Toungoo)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 15

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 64

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed

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


Morning Air attack on Tulagi , at 114,137

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 13
B-17F Fortress x 11
B-24D Liberator x 12

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

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

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 35


This attack is mainly to inhibit the building of an airfield ..

More attacks in China ..[>:]

More later ..

[Crackaces]

The day after Christmas and "Skilled Hook" has accomplished its mission. The core of Burma is secure. Now it's hard fighting and rough/jungle that lies ahead. Add to that units that will withdraw, and things will desculate over the next two weeks. I suspect the IJ will lick their wounds and proceed to invest in our defeat [;)]

It takes about 1.5 months to move anything from India into Burma. We have a chance for another quick operation "Angry Shower" .. everything we can do before the monsoon .. [8D]

[Crackaces]

************************** 26 DEC 42 ****************************************

They come at night ..

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 11
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 3 damaged

Manpower hits 34
Fires 18912
......................

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged

Manpower hits 5
Fires 23865


Bombing in China ..[>:]

Here is one frustrated Submarine commander ..
The APD Tachikaze took a torp at Roi Namur you know the deal critical flooding fires .. well she is sailing to Japan ..

Sub attack near Wake Island at 129,96

Japanese Ships
APD Tachikaze, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Seawolf

APD Tachikaze is sighted by SS Seawolf
SS Seawolf launches 2 torpedoes

Submarine attack near Wake Island at 129,96

Japanese Ships
APD Tachikaze, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Seawolf

APD Tachikaze is sighted by SS Seawolf
SS Seawolf launches 2 torpedoes


That is not a duplicate .. 4 torps hit this cripple and none went Kaboom ..[8|]

But at least I know the first torp did not sink her ...[:'(]

More later ..

[Crackaces]

******************************************* 27 DEC 42 ***********************************

We strike Milli and find out just how tough the IJ are going to be in '43 ....[&o]

Submarines:

The Plunger runs into an xAK and of course duds .. but ...

Sub attack near Peleliu at 88,100

Japanese Ships
xAK Nitii Maru

Allied Ships
SS Plunger

SS Plunger launches 2 torpedoes
...............

Sub attack near Peleliu at 88,100

Japanese Ships
xAK Nitii Maru, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
SS Plunger

xAK Nitii Maru is sighted by SS Plunger
SS Plunger attacking on the surface

One can always get on the surface and plant some low caliber rounds to scratch the paint ... the emperor is not going to like that !!

BURMA:

The IJAAF continue the night STRAT raids 31 airframes with Sally's joining this turn ...

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 damaged
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 destroyed by flak
................


Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 damaged

Manpower hits 3
Fires 4067
...........

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 3 damaged
.............
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 8



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 5 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak

Manpower hits 2
Fires 5322
.............

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 4


No Japanese losses

Manpower hits 6
Fires 6835
.............
ight Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 damaged

Manpower hits 7
Fires 8223

What I am noting is less and less bombers making this run and more squadrons .. probably damaged aircraft being repaired rather than pernament ops losses but I suspect this night after night bombing campaign has to be wearing the IJAAF thin ..


We Sweep in Burma:

Morning Air attack on Toungoo , at 57,50

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 14

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 3 destroyed

Kittyhawk I from No.14 Sqn RCAF is written off


Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Kittyhawk I sweeping at 20000 feet
.................

Morning Air attack on Toungoo , at 57,50

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses
Kittyhawk I from No.118 Sqn RCAF is written off
............

Morning Air attack on Toungoo , at 57,50

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 14

No Allied losses
..............

Morning Air attack on Toungoo , at 57,50

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 14

No Allied losses
............

Morning Air attack on Toungoo , at 57,50

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 4
Kittyhawk I x 2

No Allied losses
..........

Morning Air attack on Toungoo , at 57,50

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 2

No Allied losses


My aces arrive after the young boys get into a tussle .... 3 Oscars for 5 Kittyhawks [3 a2a and 2 scrapped].
PO Kershaw L. of No.118 Sqn RCAF is credited with kill number 2


CENPAC:

We invade Milli!!

Very badly timed as we arrive in the afternoon phase rather than the night phase ..

Pre-Invasion action off Mili (136,121) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

225 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Nevada, Shell hits 31
BB Colorado, Shell hits 10
BB Maryland, Shell hits 4
CL Achilles, Shell hits 3
CL Leander
DD Helm
DD O'Bannon, Shell hits 1
DD Chevalier
AP U.S. Grant
DD Jarvis

Japanese ground losses:
163 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 31 (13 destroyed, 18 disabled)

BB Nevada firing at Mili Naval Fortress
Mili Naval Fortress firing at BB Nevada
Mili Naval Fortress firing at BB Colorado
BB Colorado firing at Mili Naval Fortress
Mili Naval Fortress firing at BB Maryland
BB Maryland firing at Mili Naval Fortress
CL Achilles firing at Mili Naval Fortress
Mili Naval Fortress firing at CL Achilles
CL Leander firing at Kure 5th SNLF
DD Helm firing at Kure 5th SNLF
Mili Naval Fortress firing at DD O'Bannon
DD O'Bannon firing at Mili Naval Fortress
DD Chevalier firing at Kure 5th SNLF
DD Helm fired at enemy troops
DD O'Bannon fired at enemy troops
DD Chevalier 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
........................
Pre-Invasion action off Mili (136,121) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

103 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DD Fanning
DD Dunlap, Shell hits 1
DD McCalla
AP President Hayes
DD Conyngham


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


DD Fanning firing at Mili Naval Fortress
Mili Naval Fortress firing at DD Fanning
Mili Naval Fortress firing at DD Dunlap
DD Dunlap firing at Mili Naval Fortress
Mili Naval Fortress firing at DD McCalla
DD McCalla firing at Mili Naval Fortress
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

My gut feel was to bring in 2 more BB's but I thought 3 would be enough to supress the guns ...

Invasion:

Amphibious Assault at Mili (136,121)

TF 179 troops unloading over beach at Mili, 136,121


Allied ground losses:
79 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

81mm M1 Mortar accidentally lost during unload of 24th Infantry Div /2
Motorized Support dropped into water during unload of 24th Infantry Div /12
.....................
Amphibious Assault at Mili (136,121)

TF 189 troops unloading over beach at Mili, 136,121

Allied ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 32 (0 destroyed, 32 disabled)

Ok we are on the beaches ..


Ground combat at Mili (136,121)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1914 troops, 49 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 79

Defending force 12438 troops, 208 guns, 348 vehicles, Assault Value = 389

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


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

Assaulting units:
Kure 5th SNLF
Mili Naval Fortress
41st JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
24th Infantry Div /1
175th USAAF Base Force /1

.....................


Ground combat at Mili (136,121)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 10903 troops, 196 guns, 287 vehicles, Assault Value = 386

Defending force 2767 troops, 59 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 74

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 80

Japanese adjusted defense: 66

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
470 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 24 (1 destroyed, 23 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
976 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 93 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 26 (2 destroyed, 24 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (6 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
24th Infantry Div /1
175th USAAF Base Force /1

Defending units:
Kure 5th SNLF
Mili Naval Fortress
41st JNAF AF Unit


This fight will be more like the real life Tarawa .. certainly I think 2 more days of shock attacks .. The problem is all my poor planning for this operation. I did not use my DB's and aircraft to prepare this target enough. Plus this fortress requires at least 6 BB's to absorb the punishment of the 6" and 4" guns here. I also had a false sense of secuirty given how well the other invasions went off. Now the
USAAF and USN will have to support this mission much more rigorously and I suspect the KB will come calling ..

[Crackaces]

The picture below shows the story. We hit Milli and now have to egress out from under a picket line of submarines. It takes the KB 2 days total to get into theater so at least our CV assets have to get into the safe arms of the Patrol arcs.

The AP's have one more full day to unload .. no supplies went off so we defend for a turn while the hvy's bombard the Island from above ..

[Crackaces]

********************************** 28 DEC 42 *******************************

The night comes and teh IJAAF continue their bombing of Mandalay ..

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 13
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 6 damaged
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 6 damaged

Manpower hits 12
Fires 7021

.............

The when dawn comes the RAF go hunting ..


Toungoo:

Morning Air attack on Toungoo , at 57,50

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 14
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 11


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses
......
Morning Air attack on Toungoo , at 57,50

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 4
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed

Prome:

Morning Air attack on Prome , at 55,50

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 4
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 8

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed
.............

Morning Air attack on Prome , at 55,50

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 2
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 4
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses
...............

Morning Air attack on Prome , at 55,50

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 1
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed

Damaged Hurricane IIc Trop from No.136 Sqn RAF does not return
Hurricane IIc Trop from No.67 Sqn RAF is written off
Hurricane IIc Trop from No.67 Sqn RAF is written off

So an additional 3 Trop's are lost .. 13 IJ aircraft down to 7 RAF ...

CENPAC:

In the monrning .... We let the dogs loose ...[:D]

Morning Air attack on Kure 5th SNLF, at 136,121 (Mili)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 50
B-24D Liberator x 72
P-40E Warhawk x 5
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 11

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
837 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 23 destroyed, 72 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (11 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
.................

Morning Air attack on Kure 5th SNLF, at 136,121 (Mili)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 23
P-40E Warhawk x 7


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
164 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled)
......................

Morning Air attack on Kure 5th SNLF, at 136,121 (Mili)

Weather in hex: Overcast

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


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 12
P-40E Warhawk x 12


No Allied losses

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


Then in the afternoon we follow up with our dive bombers ..

Afternoon Air attack on 41st JNAF AF Unit , at 136,121 (Mili)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

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

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 161
SBD-3 Dauntless x 202

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
138 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)



Pilot killed in landing accident of P-40K Warhawk from 51st FG/25th FS
Pilot killed in landing accident of PB4Y-1 Liberator from VP-51
Pilot killed in landing accident of F4F-4 Wildcat from VF-2

Then the rest of the invasion lands ..

Invasion Support action off Mili (136,121) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

10 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Washington, Shell hits 1
BB Nevada
BB Colorado
BB Maryland
CA San Francisco
CL Achilles
CL Leander
DD Jarvis
DD Helm
DD O'Bannon
DD Chevalier
AK Libra
DD Morris
AP U.S. Grant

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

Invasion Support action off Mili (136,121)

3 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
BB Tennessee
CA Minneapolis
CA Portland
DD Conyngham
DD Dunlap
AP President Hayes

Japanese ground losses:
248 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 8 (4 destroyed, 4 disabled)



The 24th division does its job ..


Ground combat at Mili (136,121)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 527 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4

Defending force 12095 troops, 224 guns, 347 vehicles, Assault Value = 294

Japanese ground losses:
322 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 29 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1



Assaulting units:
Mili Naval Fortress
Kure 5th SNLF
41st JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
24th Infantry Division
175th USAAF Base Force


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


Ground combat at Mili (136,121)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 10521 troops, 212 guns, 284 vehicles, Assault Value = 294

Defending force 725 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Allied adjusted assault: 444

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 444 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Mili !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1007 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 46 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 20 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 23 (23 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2


Assaulting units:
24th Infantry Division
175th USAAF Base Force

Defending units:
Mili Naval Fortress
41st JNAF AF Unit


Milli is ours! Now we need to bring the PBY's forward and begin looking deeper into the Marshall's ... I suspect the KB is a'coming ..


We has some ASW encouters around MIlli ...

More bombing in China ...[>:]


OK more later ..