The Elephant Vanishes : obvert (J) vs Historiker_SqzMyLemon_Canoerebel (A)

[ny59giants]

Break down the divisions at Singapore into their three components and spend the PPs to place good leaders in them to speed up the recovery process.

Southern Army HQ - Have you switched her from Singapore over to Palembang for prepping?? Having her at Singapore with over 20k in supplies will enable those troops there to take replacements daily vs once every three days if she is too far away.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Break down the divisions at Singapore into their three components and spend the PPs to place good leaders in them to speed up the recovery process.

Southern Army HQ - Have you switched her from Singapore over to Palembang for prepping?? Having her at Singapore with over 20k in supplies will enable those troops there to take replacements daily vs once every three days if she is too far away.

Good thoughts. I never break divisions to do that. I'll try it with two of them.

The Southern HQ, she is in Johore Baru. Supply in Singers is well over 20k. I have started the Palembang preps. And that of the other two HQs, one for Soerabaja and one for Palembang also.

[ny59giants]

I broke some divisions down after two failed attempts to take Changsha (no more planned [:D]). I followed their rebuilding efforts vs a couple of divisions that I didn't via Tracker. There is a big difference. [X(]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]22 February 1942[/font]
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[font="Verdana"]DEI: [/font] Ambon has big guns. The fast transport pounds back, absorbs the blows and lands the troops. No ship has more than 12 damage, so they'll head back for a rest but nothing serious. The troops are nearly undisrupted, but the AV is only half of the Dutch forces, so more will have to be used here. BBs hit in a few days.

[font="Verdana"]CHINA: [/font]Massive attacks hit Changteh today, nearly closing the airfield. The AVG must have been LR CAPing the other direction, as from Changsha two hexes away none took part to stop the raids. I'll switch it up but leave a sweep on tomorrow.

[font="Verdana"]BURMA: [/font] A mass of CAP was over Mandalay today and our zeros did surprisingly well, especially considering we have no limit to CAP altitudes. He had 8 groups staggered from 8k to 28k in even increments. It should have been a massacre, but instead it turned into a minor victory. We lost only 7 planes to 23 for the Allies! No radar must have helped a bit, as there was only a 9 minute warning of the attack.

I learned two things from this result:

1. He is focusing heavily on the Burma region. He feels it will be difficult for me to make an amphibious assault behind him into India without the full KB, and he believes he might be even able to hold onto parts of the Northern areas if he plays his cards right. The inclusion of several US groups here in addition to the AVG is telling.

2. The DEI is a roadblock but he doesn't want to break his strength holding me there. He has chosen a few crucial spots where he will fight all-out. One is likely to be Northern OZ. Another is Port Moresby. He may even be thinking of an early landing in Malaya or Sumatra once my forces have moved to conquer Burma and the last of the DEI, possibly a few islands in the Pacific.

[font="Verdana"]MALAYA:[/font] There are still some mines at Singapore.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Ambon (76,109) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

64 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Nachi, Shell hits 2
DD Asagao
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Samidare, Shell hits 1
DD Yudachi
DD Usugumo
DD Yugao
DD Akikaze

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

CA Mogami firing at 4th Coastal Gun Battalion
4th Coastal Gun Battalion firing at CA Mogami
CA Nachi firing at 4th Coastal Gun Battalion
4th Coastal Gun Battalion firing at CA Nachi
4th Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DD Asagao
DD Asagao firing at 4th Coastal Gun Battalion
DD Okikaze firing at 4th Coastal Gun Battalion
4th Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DD Okikaze
DD Samidare firing at 4th Coastal Gun Battalion
4th Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DD Samidare
150mm CD Gun Battery engaging DD Yudachi at 8,000 yards
DD Yugao firing to suppress enemy battery at 8,000 yards
150mm CD Gun Battery engaging DD Samidare at 8,000 yards
DD Yugao firing to suppress enemy battery at 8,000 yards
DD Asagao fired at enemy troops
DD Samidare fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

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Invasion Support action off Ambon (76,109) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

42 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Nachi, Shell hits 1
DD Yugao
DD Asagao
DD Usugumo
DD Samidare, Shell hits 1
DD Yudachi, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Karukaya

4th Coastal Gun Battalion firing at CA Mogami
CA Mogami firing at 4th Coastal Gun Battalion
4th Coastal Gun Battalion firing at CA Nachi
CA Nachi firing at 4th Coastal Gun Battalion
4th Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DD Yugao
DD Yugao firing at 4th Coastal Gun Battalion
DD Asagao firing at 4th Coastal Gun Battalion
4th Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DD Asagao
4th Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DD Samidare
4th Coastal Gun Battalion firing at DD Yudachi
DD Yudachi firing at 4th Coastal Gun Battalion
150mm CD Gun Battery engaging DD Samidare at 17,000 yards
DD Karukaya firing to suppress enemy battery at 17,000 yards
DD Yugao fired at enemy troops
DD Samidare fired at enemy troops


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TF 242 encounters mine field at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Ships
DMS W-20
DMS W-2

14 mines cleared

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Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 40
Hurricane IIa Trop x 13
Hurricane IIb Trop x 27
P-39D Airacobra x 22
P-40E Warhawk x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 3 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 7 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
AVG/1st Sqn with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters to 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
No.21 Sqn RAAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 28000 , scrambling fighters to 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
No.135 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
No.232 (P) Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 22000 , scrambling fighters to 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
No.243 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 28000 , scrambling fighters to 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
No.258 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIa Trop (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 21000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
No.453 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
35th PG/40th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 31
Hurricane IIa Trop x 12
Hurricane IIb Trop x 22
P-39D Airacobra x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

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Ground combat at Ambon (76,109)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 451 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 118

Defending force 1479 troops, 19 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

Assaulting units:
Manado Garrison Battalion
Molukken Garrison Battalion
4th Coastal Gun Battalion
Ternate Det. Base Force
Ambon Base Force

Defending units:
Maizuru 2nd SNLF

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]The P-39s did not fare well in today's battles, with more than half of the Allied losses coming in this plane. In my other game they did well en masse, but not in small groups.[/font]
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]23 February 1942[/font]
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[font="Verdana"]DEI: [/font] The first torp carrying Cats noticed so far in the war hit and sink an empty xAP heading toward Singapore. I was lazy with the LR CAP thinking no torpedo bombers were left. My bad.

Ambon is crushed by BB bombardment. More troops are on the way.

[font="Verdana"]CHINA: [/font] Night attacks hit Liuchow and Changsha today. These were moderately successful, getting some hits on the fields and damaging some H81-A3. Sian is also hit hard in daylight raids.

[font="Verdana"]PACIFIC: [/font] Banshees let loose and take out a PB in one of our fast transport TFs near New Guinea. I chose to LR CAP the wrong one, it appears. Betties get revenge, taking out a PG and an xAK at Port Moresby.

[font="Verdana"]BURMA: [/font] The Allies take back Prome, which had been evacuated by airlift.

[font="Verdana"]MALAYA:[/font] More mines cleared at Singapore. Nearly done there. Troopships are nearing the port.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 23, 42
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Madang at 97,123

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes


Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 11


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PB Suyozai Maru
PB Ginyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
PG Moresby, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Mobile City, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Billiton at 54,94

Weather in hex: Overcast

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


Allied aircraft
PBY-4 Catalina x 2

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAP Kashima Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x PBY-4 Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

Massive explosion on xAP Kashima Maru

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Naval bombardment of Ambon at 76,109 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

1 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Fuso, Shell hits 1


Allied ground losses:
352 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)


Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 19
Port hits 12
Port supply hits 5

BB Hyuga firing at Ambon
BB Ise firing at Ambon
BB Fuso firing at 4th Coastal Gun Battalion
4th Coastal Gun Battalion firing at BB Fuso


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Ground combat at Soerakarta (53,103)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3957 troops, 38 guns, 146 vehicles, Assault Value = 202

Defending force 227 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 125

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 125 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Soerakarta !!!

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


Allied ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
8th Tank Regiment
Kure 3rd SNLF
Sasebo 1st SNLF

Defending units:
Djojakarta Base Force

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Banshees must be stopped![/font]
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[JocMeister]

Wow, Great picture of a Banshee! [:)] Beautiful airframe!

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]24 February 1942[/font]
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[font="Verdana"]DEI: [/font] Now that IJA bombers have been freed up I'm hitting both the fields and the troops at Palembang. A good number of support troops are being hit every day, so hopefully this wil begin to take it's toll. Yes, if you haven't read this in a while, Palembang is still in Allied hands. I'm not happy about this, but since there is 1000 AV of Dutch troops in the hex, I have to wait for reinforcements.

My forces there are recovering back to around 1000 AV as well, and I will first move a bunch of arty units into the base and commence bombardments. Two divisions will be landed at Oosthaven, but I am very wary of the presence of Allied CVs in the area. If I were him they would be waiting around Cocos and would be there to wipe out my invasion fleet at least by day two of the landings. I'll extend search from Java and see if I can spot anything out there.

[font="Verdana"]CHINA: [/font] Ichang is captured. He only had a single Corps worth about 80 AV still there, and it was completely destroyed by the shock attack. A Brigade and an engineer unit will stay and the rest will swing around toward Changsha.

The troops are starting to arrive across the river near Sian and pressuring the flank of the base. I also have about 3000 AV moving toward the Changsha area that will at least try to feint and occupy the KMT forces in the area while air raids continue to work on supply and interdict fort building.

[font="Verdana"]PACIFIC: [/font] No action around Port Moresby today. Fighters are listed here now though, so the Bettys will be turned off for attacking this area.

[font="Verdana"]BURMA: [/font] After our various small para-drops, now comes the one I hope will stick. Meiktila is empty. This could be a trap, and he might have plenty nearby to move in. I will attempt it, as I also have the 14th Tank Rgt moving within two hexes of Taung Gi.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 25, 42
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Morning Air attack on Palembang , at 48,91

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 60

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 27 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak

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


Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
20 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
20 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking Padang Base Force ...
Also attacking Palembang Base Force ...
Also attacking 2nd KNIL Regiment ...

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Afternoon Air attack on Kalidjati , at 50,99

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 33

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 1 damaged
FK-51: 2 damaged
FK-51: 1 destroyed on ground


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


Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 40

Aircraft Attacking:
33 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Ground combat at Ichang (83,48)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 24674 troops, 206 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 889

Defending force 1572 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 74

Japanese adjusted assault: 1246

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 1246 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Ichang !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
359 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Allied ground losses:
2169 casualties reported
Squads: 93 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 69 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Assaulting units:
57th Infantry Brigade
34th Division
61st Infantry Brigade
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
11th Army
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
39th Chinese Corps

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Hankow is the main airbase in China and is currently at level 6 and rising. Four Sally groups are based here and can hit either the Changsha area or Sian. [/font]
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[SqzMyLemon]

Glad to hear you had a good time in New York. I'm hoping to get out that way at some point.

How many Ha-34's are you producing a month and have you had any trouble stockpiling engines. With Sally production halted, how many Ha-32's do you now produce? I'm guessing you're still needing them for the Betty?

With PDU on I'm just trying to gage my numbers so I don't over/under produce. With PDU off I had to produce a little of everything so it wasn't a concern. I want to avoid any production mistakes that require HI and supply to fix.

[obvert]

Hi Joseph. I'll answer this in my other thread, as I think you're more interested in what happens after getting the Tojo and Helen in production.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]25 February 1942[/font]
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[font="Verdana"]SUBS: [/font] Some ASW ships finally made Allied subs pay a price for sitting around at Singapore, as Pompano takes a pounding. Mines are on the way to add to their pain if they stick around.

[font="Verdana"]DEI: [/font] Damn his subs! They've been laying mines all over the DEI and at Singkawang this is the 3rd set I've had to clear. This time two got cleared by DDs the hard way. They might both make it, but Nowaki has 65 flotation damage and is still 8 hexes from Singapore.

Nells take out a few more worthless Dutch planes at Kalijdati. Troops are moving toward Soerabaja. About 800AV will form the first van of attack.

[font="Verdana"]CHINA: [/font] Sian is plastered again and the Chinese stack continues to bombard our troops daily near Sian. I'm sure he's trying to raise their experience, but at what cost to supply?

[font="Verdana"]BURMA: [/font] Meiktila is captured by paratroops. Now we'll see if we can hold it. A naval guard will fly in followed by a division if there is time.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 25, 42
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TF 2 encounters mine field at Singkawang (56,88)

Japanese Ships
DD Nowaki, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage [:@]
DD Hayashio, Mine hits 1

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Afternoon Air attack on Kalidjati , at 50,99

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 3 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 33



Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
FK-51: 7 damaged
FK-51: 2 destroyed on ground
SOC-1 Seagull: 1 damaged


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


Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 31

Aircraft Attacking:
33 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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ASW attack near Singapore at 50,84

Japanese Ships
CL Oi
SC Ch 8
AMC Saigon Maru
xAP Hie Maru
xAP Brazil Maru
DD Numakaze
DD Shiokaze

Allied Ships
SS Pompano, hits 3

SS Pompano is sighted by escort
Pompano bottoming out ....
DD Numakaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Shiokaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shiokaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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Sub attack near Singapore at 50,84

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-3
SC CHa-15

Allied Ships
SS Pompano, hits 11

SS Pompano launches 2 torpedoes at SC CHa-3
SC CHa-15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-15 attacking submerged sub ....
SC CHa-15 is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub


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Ground combat at Meiktila (58,47)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 475 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 29

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

Japanese adjusted assault: 8

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Meiktila !!!

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

Assaulting units:
1st Raiding Regiment


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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Nowaki won't be moving this fast for a while, if she makes it at all.[/font]
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]26 February 1942[/font]
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[font="Verdana"]SUBS: [/font] Near the coast of Cali the I-19 gets lucky with an unescorted xAK sighted in the periscope. It surfaces to attack and sends two torps into the K.I. Luckenbach. My DDs continue to take a pounding, with Hatsuhara going under due to a Dutch torpedo today.

[font="Verdana"]DEI: [/font] Troops ships have the okay to move into Singapore harbor now to load up for Sumatra. Madoien will be attacked tomorrow on Java. This level 4 base will be the destination for an air HQ hoping to surprise any shipping or better targets South of Java in the next week.

[font="Verdana"]CHINA: [/font] Not much going on other than bombing and banking near Sian. The Chinese stack continues to grow as it bombards, which must mean it has good supply and is taking reinforcements.

[font="Verdana"]PACIFIC: [/font] A few Banshees hit near Cape Gloucester.

[font="Verdana"]BURMA: [/font] Now the fun of supplying by air and getting troops into Meiktila fast. It'll be a tight schedule. There are some bigger Chinese units in the Burma area, so I know they'll be heading this way. I just had a thought though. Are those units restricted? Can any that start in the mountain area be bought out? I believe we didn't make any concessions for Chinese units in Burma in our HRs, and we do have a PPs for border crossing rule. Hmmm. I'll have to look into this.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 26, 42
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Sub attack near San Clemente Island at 223,83

Japanese Ships
SS I-19

Allied Ships
xAK K.I. Luckenbach, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


xAK K.I. Luckenbach is sighted by SS I-19
SS I-19 attacking on the surface
Chiyoshima B. decides to submerge SS I-19 due to damage

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ASW attack near Semarang at 55,99

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuharu, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AMC Bankok Maru
AV Sanyo Maru
E Kunashiri
E Shimushu

Allied Ships
SS O19, hits 1

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

SS O19 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Hatsuharu
O19 bottoming out ....
E Kunashiri fails to find sub and abandons search
E Shimushu attacking submerged sub ....
E Shimushu fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Shimushu fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Cape Gloucester at 101,124

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14



Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 2


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed



CAP engaged:
4th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (14 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]K. I. Luckenbach. A big strapping transport sent under.[/font]
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[JocMeister]

There is a Chinese Corps starting in the mountains near Burma. It might be one of those HUGE ones with almost 800 squads. Its several divisions that needs to be combined.

[Empire101]

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Sub attack near San Clemente Island at 223,83

Japanese Ships
SS I-19

Allied Ships
xAK K.I. Luckenbach, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


xAK K.I. Luckenbach is sighted by SS I-19
SS I-19 attacking on the surface
Chiyoshima B. decides to submerge SS I-19 due to damage

I-19 Strikes again. Huzzah!!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Empire101

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Sub attack near San Clemente Island at 223,83

Japanese Ships
SS I-19

Allied Ships
xAK K.I. Luckenbach, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


xAK K.I. Luckenbach is sighted by SS I-19
SS I-19 attacking on the surface
Chiyoshima B. decides to submerge SS I-19 due to damage

I-19 Strikes again. Huzzah!!

I'm hardly paying attention to it, but it keeps on doing its job. Maybe that's the key to sub ops. Set them up and forget about them until they hit something. [:)]

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ORIGINAL: JocMeister

There is a Chinese Corps starting in the mountains near Burma. It might be one of those HUGE ones with almost 800 squads. Its several divisions that needs to be combined.

I have to check the buyout possibility. I just wonder if he has several of these in Burma, how he could have bought them already, (if they're even able to be bought out).

[JocMeister]

Oh, yes that one can be bought out. Thats why I mentioned it! Should have pointed that out! [:)]

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It looks like the total units that can be bought out from China are below:

EDIT

The Chinese 54th Corps;

Paoshan

- 36th Division - 247 AV (TOE)
- 88th Division - 247 AV (TOE)

Tsuyung

- 96th Division - 247 AV (TOE)
- 22nd New Div - 194 AV (TOE)
- 200th Division - 247 AV (TOE)

Mengtze

- 2nd Reserve Div - 90 AV (TOE)

66th Chinese Corps - 952 AV (TOE)

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- 2224 AV (TOE)

So now I have to sift through what is in Burma that I've seen and figure out what he has. Then I'll do the same for Indian units. This will determine a lot of what I'm able to do with my free divisions in the next month.

EDIT:

With the newly discovered division that can be bought out from Chunking, this makes a large possible addition to the Burmese Defense. If he has made use of all of these units there, which I would wager he has considering his commitment to the area, I could be in for a real fight. After the SRA Burma is the most important region on the map for me, and I'll do everything I can to take everything to Katha by June. If these large Chinese units are indeed in Burma this could open the door to the mountains in a flanking move as well. I'll have to investigate that possibility further.

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[font="Times New Roman"]BURMA[/font]
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The cards are on the table now. After several probing attacks using paratroops, this one I hope to make stick. The bulk of Torsten's forces are in Prome and Moulmein. The Moulmein stack is about 1100 AV and bombards my troops daily, with moderate success. Not much I can do there, it's just a stalemate until more troops arrive.

A Naval Guard will join the paratroops in Meiktila, and then the newly arriving 21st division will be flown in as well. If I get a window of a few weeks, I could possibly hold this base. The 18th division is recuperating in Singapore and will rail out in 7-10 days. Meanwhile two of the best zero groups will try to hold the airspace and supply will be flown by bombers while the transports take care of the troops.

The 14th tank regiment will invest Taung Gi in hopes of staling any move on Meiktila. It should hold its own in good terrain there. If knocked out it will attempt to reach the Lashi area if it is still a viable fighting force, hoping to draw forces from Mandalay. If all of the Chinese are in Burma, maybe there aren't many troops up the road to China? We'll see.

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]I've not faced a strong attempt at the defense of Burma yet, so this will be interesting.[/font]
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[font="Times New Roman"]CHINA[/font]
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The Sian area is the main goal for the IJA currently. A big Chinese stack is blocking the road, but our flanking troops will try to gain access to the city across the river. This will be risky. Sian will have forts level 3-4, about 120k troops, (assuming he does not move any back from the current positions other than those trapped across the river). If the big Chinese stack moves back it will be in a clear hex at Sian and thus exposed to bombing. We should have a numbers and quality edge, but it will most likely take a while to show, and there will probably be some bloody losses before any breakthrough occurs.

In the center the SE Army of about 2500 AV will move into the spot on the rail to Changsha, also threatening river crossings to Henyang and Siantang as well as a move to Changsha. With current dispositions Siantang is very vulnerable, but I'm sure he will even things out soon. The Northern Central Army will move to within one hex of Changsha before any further decisions are made. If the river crossings are protected I will invest Changsha with 4000 AV and open the roads from three sides, thus allowing my troops to pass through the city from the central side. I'll then move this consolidated army back to threaten both river crossings again and another move back to Changsha.

The 2E pool is now slowly starting to grow. I should be able to attack both Sian and Changsha with good numbers soon. Chungking will have to wait until I can again use the IJN here. Right now Burma and Java are more important.

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]If about 5k AV of Chinese are near Sian, and 350k are in the Changsha region, how much is left elsewhere? It will be a while before I could even try for Liuchow, but I'd like 3-4 divisions to head there eventually. [/font]
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[font="Times New Roman"]DEI[/font]
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The fall of Singapore allows several divisions to move immediately to Sumatra and Java, as well as freeing up many artillery units that will go to Palembang. I'm toying with the idea of simply surrounding and bombarding the troops into oblivion there. I don't really fancy attacking and getting half of the oil/refineries destroyed. So why couldn't I isolate it and work the small Dutch units for a month with artillery, at the same time cutting them off from any resupply and solidifying the rest of the island so no reinforcements could be landed. I'm leaning toward this strategy, which could lose me a month or two and save lots of supply and many years of oil production if it works.

On Java Soerabaja will be the first goal, then Batavia. I'm hoping both will be done by the middle of March. Then I can see if there is a chance to make one last landing at either Wake, Port Moresby or even somewhere in Burma/India to isolate troops in Burma. Not much time now to decide, so I have to move fast. I'm fine if none of these options materialize, but it would be great to get one more solid goal completed. It'll all depend on what is at Soerabaja and what happens in Burma. Port Moresby is definitely being built up, and that will be a thorn, but I might have until June to remove it, while Burma is more urgent. I can live with Wake in Allied hands, as an advance through the Gilberts/Marshalls is preferable to trouble in Burma or New Guinea. Soon I might be able to isolate it better once my air strength in the area grows and combines with surface and submarine elements.

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]I haven't gotten as much search into the Java Sea and Allied subs are boldly wiring in shallow water areas to plague our convoys. Soon this should be remedied as some 20 plane Jake groups will move to the area. [/font]
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