Sleepless on Samoa, the Sequel (wneumann vs Pillager) Allies only

[wneumann]

Summary of Operations 3/20/43

East China Sea: US sub patrol in multiple actions near western entrance to Tsushima Strait. SS Tunny also reporting attack by Ki-49 Helen air patrol. AAR’s follow.

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Sub attack near Saishu To at 100,56 (SE of Saishu To)

Japanese Ships
xAK Yuri Maru, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage (sunk)

Allied Ships
SS Tunny

xAK Yuri Maru is sighted by SS Tunny
SS Tunny attacking xAK Yuri Maru on the surface

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Sub attack near Saishu To at 100,56

Japanese Ships
xAK Kozan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage (sunk)

Allied Ships
SS Tunny

SS Tunny launches 2 torpedoes

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


US West Coast: Unidentified Jap submarine detected SW of San Luis Obispo (hex location 219, 77), intercepted radio transmissions from this sub also reported in a Sigint entry for 3/19. No Allied shipping is currently near or projected to pass through the Jap sub’s detected position.


Central Pacific: Sigint entries for 3/19 report intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Baker Is and Majuro. Detected status of Baker Is shows unidentified Jap aircraft based there. Another Sigint entry for 3/19 reported Yokosuka 6 SNLF now located at Majuro, this LCU a new addition to the known Japanese OOB. No other visible Japanese forces or activity at Baker Is or Majuro.

Heavy volume of intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Truk reported in another Sigint entry for 3/19. Detected status at Truk shows unidentified Jap aircraft based there, also ship(s) in port – both as expected. No other visible Japanese forces or activity.


South Pacific: Daily coastwatcher entries from 3/19 Operations report follow.

Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Tulagi
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Hansa Bay
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Lae
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Milne Bay
Coastwatcher Report: xAP Takatiho Maru reported in port at Rabaul
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Woodlark Island
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Belep Islands
Coastwatcher Report: 7 ships reported in port at Rabaul
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Kavieng
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Woodlark Island


Burma: Detected status of Jap base in Rangoon from British aerial recon – no Japanese ships anchored in port (-9 from last report), 2 Jap TF in harbor (+1 from last report), 59 aircraft (41 fighters, 18 bombers), 10 Jap LCU’s.


China: No activity at Chungking this game turn.

[wneumann]

Summary of Operations 3/21/43

East China Sea: US sub Tunny reporting attack by Ki-49 Helen air patrol W of Kagoshima. No hits or damage.


Formosa: Sigint entry for 3/20 reports intercepted radio transmissions from unidentified Jap TF(s) at hex location 88, 68 north of Batan Is, no reported movement heading. My estimate is the unidentified TF are likely to be transports. If true, the report is significant in that Pillager could be diverting Japanese merchant transport traffic through the main part of the Formosa Straits rather than the western sea passage between Formosa and mainland China to avoid US sub patrol interception. US sub patrol movement in the Formosa area is being re-routed appropriately.

US sub Steelhead reporting attack by Ki-49 Helen air patrol near Pescadores. No hits or damage.


US West Coast: Unidentified Jap submarine detected at hex location 204, 53 WSW of Victoria, intercepted radio transmissions from this sub reported in a Sigint entry for 3/20. No Allied shipping is currently near or projected to pass through the Jap sub’s detected position.


South Pacific: Transport convoy WP-45 (one AS, 33 transports) arrives in Auckland from the mainland US. Cargo arriving aboard the convoy includes 131K supply and 150K fuel, no LCU or air units. The AS arriving with the convoy is planned to remain in the South Pacific theatre.

Daily coastwatcher entries from 3/20 Operations report follow.

Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Lunga
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Finschhafen
Coastwatcher Report: xAK Zuiko Maru reported in port at Rabaul
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Kavieng
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Woodlark Island
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Koumac
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Luganville
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Shortlands
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Ndeni
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Buna
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Hansa Bay
Coastwatcher sighting: 3 Japanese ships at 114,138 near Lunga, Speed unknown


Burma: Detected status of Jap base in Rangoon from British aerial recon – no Japanese ships anchored in port, 2 Jap TF in harbor, 70 aircraft (46 fighters, 24 bombers), 10 Jap LCU’s.


China: No activity at Chungking this game turn.

[wneumann]

Summary of Operations 3/22/43

East China Sea: US sub Tunny under attack by several Jap surface ASW TF west of Tsushima Straits. AAR’s follow.

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Sub attack near Nakadori-jima at 101,56 (W of Tsushima)

Japanese Ships
E Ukishima
E Kyosai
E Wakataka

Allied Ships
SS Tunny

SS Tunny launches 2 torpedoes at E Ukishima
E Wakataka fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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ASW attack near Nakadori-jima at 101,56 (two reported ASW attacks by this Jap TF)

Japanese Ships
DD Harukaze
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
SS Tunny, hits 1 (minor damage, sub remains on patrol)

SS Tunny is sighted by escort
Tunny diving deep ....
DD Harukaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Yuzuki attacking submerged sub ....
DD Yuzuki is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub

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US patrol sub reports contact with Jap surface ASW west of Kyushu. SS Grayback also reports attack by Ki-49 Helen air patrol. AAR follows.

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ASW attack near Tokara Retto at 99,63 (WSW of Kagoshima)

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-17

Allied Ships
SS Grayback

SS Grayback is sighted by escort
SC CHa-17 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Formosa: US sub Steelhead reporting attack by Ki-21 Sally air patrol at southern entrance of Formosa Straits. No reported hits or damage.


Central Pacific: Sigint entry for 3/21 reports heavy volume of intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Kwajalein. Detected status of Kwajalein shows the expected unidentified Jap aircraft based there, also ship(s) anchored in port. Current detected port size at Kwajalein is 3(2), airfield size 1(0). No other visible Japanese forces or activity at Kwajalein.

Intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Wake Is reported in another Sigint entry for 3/21. Detected status of Wake shows unidentified Jap aircraft based there – current airfield size 3(0), port size 1(0). No other visible Japanese forces or activity.


South Pacific: Heavy volume of intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Rabaul reported in a Sigint entry for 3/21. Detected status of Rabaul shows the expected unidentified Jap aircraft based there, also ship(s) in port. Current detected port size at Rabaul is 4(4), airfield size 4(6). No other visible Japanese forces or activity.

Daily coastwatcher entries from 3/21 Operations report follow.

Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Lunga
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Shortlands
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Finschhafen
Coastwatcher Report: harbor at Rabaul is reported empty
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Woodlark Island
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Noumea
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Hoorn Islands
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Buna
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Lae
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Luganville
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Japanese ships at 114,138 near Lunga, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 101,133 near Milne Bay, Speed 3, Moving Southwest
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 107,126 near Rabaul, Speed 10, Moving Southeast
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Japanese ships at 114,136 near Thousand Ships Bay, Speed 4, Moving Northwest


Andaman Sea: Dutch sub O-21 on patrol near Phuket reports contact with two Jap TF’s – one a probable transport TF (7 ships moving north, including at least one TK), the second Jap TF not identified (2 ships moving south, one ship an APD). No reported combat occurred between the O-21 and either Jap TF.

US sub Kingfish on patrol north of O-21 engaged by Jap surface ASW. Jap TF shown in this action is possibly one of the TF reported by O-21. AAR follows.

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ASW attack near Mergui at 50,61 (NW of Victoria Point)

Japanese Ships
DD Numakaze

Allied Ships
SS Kingfish

SS Kingfish is sighted by escort
DD Numakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Burma: Detected status of Jap base in Rangoon from British aerial recon – no Japanese ships anchored in port, 2 Jap TF in harbor, 78 aircraft (53 fighters, 25 bombers), 10 Jap LCU’s.

Attempted night air strike by USAAF and RAF bombers against oil facilities in Magwe aborted. Entries from 3/21 Combat Events report follow.

6 x 7th BG/9th BS B-24D Liberator stray due to night
4 x 7th BG/492nd BS B-24D Liberator stray due to night
4 x 7th BG/493rd BS B-24D Liberator stray due to night
5 x 7th BG/492nd BS B-24D Liberator stray due to night
5 x 7th BG/493rd BS B-24D Liberator stray due to night


China: No activity at Chungking this game turn.

[wneumann]

Summary of Operations 3/23/43

East China Sea: US sub has contact with small Jap transport, does not open fire. SS Tunny also reports contact with Jap surface ASW in the same location. AAR follows.

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Submarine attack near Fukue-jima at 100,58 (adjacent hex W of Fukue Jima)

Japanese Ships
xAKL Shoyu Maru

Allied Ships
SS Tunny

xAKL Shoyu Maru is sighted by SS Tunny
Captain of SS Tunny elects not to launch torpedoes at this target

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South Pacific: Operational fuel reserves stockpiled in the South Pacific theatre area now reaching 1 million fuel points after the arrival and unloading of transport convoy WP-45 in Auckland. This represents available fuel points on reserve to support offensive naval and amphibious missions launched in the South Pacific. Estimated current level of operational supply reserves stockpiled in the South Pacific is about 1.75 million supply points. These figures exclude on-hand fuel and supply quantities needed to support bases and rear-area functions within the South Pacific area, also excludes separate fuel and supply stockpiles on-hand in Australia held for SW Pacific.

Daily coastwatcher entries from 3/22 Operations report follow.

Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Shortlands
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Thousand Ships Bay
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Hansa Bay
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Milne Bay
Coastwatcher Report: AGP Tofuku Maru reported in port at Rabaul
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Belep Islands
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Noumea
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Efate
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Shortlands
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Milne Bay
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Salamaua
Coastwatcher Report: xAK Akitsushima Maru reported in port at Rabaul
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Noumea
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Luganville
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Tanna
Coastwatcher sighting: 6 Japanese ships at 106,125 near Rabaul, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Japanese ships at 97,123 near Madang, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Japanese ships at 114,137 near Tulagi, Speed 2, Moving Southeast
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 120,143 near Ndeni, Speed 13, Moving Southeast


SW Pacific: Current levels of operational fuel and supply reserves on-hand in Australia for SW Pacific theatre now at approximately 500K fuel and 3.5 million supply, these reserves for SW Pacific theatre correspond to those described above for the South Pacific.


DEI: Sigint entry for 3/22 reports intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Palembang, this report likely the result of Japanese activity to repair damaged oil production facilities and/or reinforcing defensive forces at Palembang. Detected status of Palembang shows unidentified Jap aircraft based there, also ship(s) in port – both these as expected. Oil production in Palembang is now at 561(340), it’s certain that repair of damage to oil production from US carrier air strikes is underway. No other visible Japanese forces or activity in Palembang.


Andaman Sea: Dutch sub O-21 attacked and damaged by two Ki-49 Helen air patrols near Phuket. Damage levels of O-21 is system damage 17, float 32, engine 1. O-21 is returning to base at 13 kts speed for repair.

US sub patrol intercepts Jap transport TF, torpedoes one xAK. AAR follows.

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Sub attack near Victoria Point at 48,65 (NW of Victoria Point)

Japanese Ships
xAK Nanko Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
xAK Kosei Maru
PB Shonon Maru #10

Allied Ships
SS Kingfish

SS Kingfish launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Nanko Maru
PB Shonon Maru #10 attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

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Burma: Detected status of Jap base in Rangoon from British aerial recon – no Japanese ships anchored in port, 2 Jap TF in harbor, 75 aircraft (43 fighters, 32 bombers), 10 Jap LCU’s.

Night air strike by USAAF and RAF bombers against oil facilities in Magwe was launched again – parts of this strike reached and hit Magwe, some planes aborted. Estimated results from this strike is minor damage if any to oil facilities. Current detected status of Magwe shows oil production at 25(276) – repair of damaged oil production is underway. Entries from 3/22 Combat Events report and AAR’s follow.

6 x 7th BG/492nd BS B-24D Liberator stray due to night
4 x 7th BG/493rd BS B-24D Liberator stray due to night

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Night Air attack on Magwe, at 57,47

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 12
B-24D Liberator x 6

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Night Air attack on Magwe, at 57,47

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 5

No Allied losses

Oil hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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


China: No activity at Chungking this game turn.

[wneumann]

Summary of Operations 3/24/43

East China Sea: US sub patrol in night action against Jap surface ASW west of Kyushu. AAR follows.

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Sub attack near Fukue-jima at 99,59 (WSW of Fukue Jima)

Japanese Ships
DD Sazanami
DD Harukaze

Allied Ships
SS Tunny

SS Tunny launches 4 torpedoes at DD Sazanami
DD Harukaze attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

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Japanese Home Islands: Jap transport convoy intercepted by a TF of five US patrol subs enroute to assigned patrol areas south of the Home Islands. The Jap TF attacked by two different US subs in separate actions (both attacking subs in the same TF). AAR’s follow.

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Sub attack near Chichi-jima at 118,71 (ENE of Chichi Jima)

Japanese Ships
PB Kembu Maru
xAK Yosida Maru #3
xAK Unkai Maru #3
xAK Tokusima Maru
xAK Tempei Maru
xAK Sumiyoshi Maru

Allied Ships
SS Haddock

SS Haddock launches 2 torpedoes at PB Kembu Maru
Haddock diving deep ....
PB Kembu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Sub attack near Chichi-jima at 118,71

Japanese Ships
xAK Yamura Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
xAK Unkai Maru #3
xAK Tokusima Maru
xAK Tempei Maru
xAK Sumiyoshi Maru
PB Kembu Maru

Allied Ships
SS Shad

SS Shad launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Yamura Maru
PB Kembu Maru attacking submerged sub ....
PB Kembu Maru attacking submerged sub ....
PB Kembu Maru is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub

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Formosa Strait: US sub Steelhead attacked by Ki-21 Sally and Ki-48 Lily air patrol. SS Steelhead was hit and damaged in the air attacks (system damage 14, float 1, engine 1), now returning to base for repair at 19 kts speed.


South Pacific: Unidentified Jap submarine detected off Suva. Allied surface ASW dispatched to locate and attack the sub.

US patrol sub routed through Tulagi during its return to base for replenishment. A Sigint entry for 3/22 indicated Japanese ship(s) were at Tulagi, the sub was in the area, so it paid a visit to Tulagi. In this particular action, the “thought” exceeded the size of the target. It’s still one less landing barge in the Japanese pool. AAR follows.

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Submarine attack at Tulagi 114,137

Japanese Ships
LB-103, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

Allied Ships
SS Triton

LB-103 is sighted by SS Triton
SS Triton attacking LB-103 on the surface

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Daily coastwatcher entries from 3/23 Operations report follow.

Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Tulagi
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Ndeni
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Buna
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Milne Bay
Coastwatcher Report: 5 ships reported in port at Rabaul
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Woodlark Island
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Koumac
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Hoorn Islands
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Shortlands
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Lae
Coastwatcher Report: harbor at Rabaul is reported empty
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Woodlark Island
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Noumea
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Tanna
Coastwatcher sighting: 5 Japanese ships at 106,125 near Rabaul, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Japanese ships at 97,123 near Madang, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Japanese ships at 114,137 near Tulagi, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 114,136 near Thousand Ships Bay, Speed 8, Moving Southwest


Burma: Detected status of Jap base in Rangoon from British aerial recon – no Japanese ships anchored in port, 2 Jap TF in harbor, 79 aircraft (50 fighters, 29 bombers), 10 Jap LCU’s.

Night air strikes by USAAF and RAF bombers against oil facilities in Magwe continue, only a few planes aborted, most of the strike reached Magwe. Aircraft Losses display in the Intelligence Report indicates 2 Ki-44 Tojos destroyed (both ops losses after hit by return fire from Allied bombers). Entries from 3/23 Combat Events report and AAR’s follow.

5 x No.146 Sqn RAF Wellington Ic stray due to night

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Night Air attack on Magwe, at 57,47

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6

Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 7
B-24D Liberator x 15

No Japanese losses
No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
47th I.F.Chutai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 2 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000, scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes

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Night Air attack on Magwe, at 57,47

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

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

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 3

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
47th I.F.Chutai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000, scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes

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Night Air attack on Magwe, at 57,47

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2

Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 5

No Japanese losses
No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
47th I.F.Chutai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000, scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes

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China: No activity at Chungking this game turn.

[wneumann]

Summary of Operations 3/25/43

East China Sea: US sub patrol in night action against Jap transport, also reporting attack from Ki-48 Lily air patrol. SS Drum is now returning to base for replenishment -- nearly all torpedoes were used in its patrol. AAR follows.

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Submarine attack near Saishu To at 98,55 (adjacent hex W of Saishu To)

Japanese Ships
xAK Taijima Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage (sunk)

Allied Ships
SS Drum

xAK Taijima Maru is sighted by SS Drum
SS Drum attacking on the surface

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Central Pacific: Intercepted radio transmissions from unidentified Jap TF(s) reported in a 3/24 Sigint entry at hex location 128, 125 (NE of Nauru Is). No information available on number of Jap TF(s), composition or movement. No US sub patrols in the immediate vicinity of this contact.


South Pacific: Sigint entry for 3/24 reports heavy volume of intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Rabaul. Detected status of Rabaul shows unidentified Jap aircraft based there, also ship(s) anchored in port. No other visible Japanese forces or activity observed in Rabaul base hex.

Dutch sub K-XV on patrol in southern sea approaches to Rabaul spots unidentified Jap TF at hex location 106, 127. Detected composition of the spotted Jap TF is 4 ships including one LB – given that the Jap TF contains four ships, it's also possible this TF could be surface ASW. No available information on the Jap TF’s movement.

Daily coastwatcher entries from 3/24 Operations report follow.

Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Lunga
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Shortlands
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Buna
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Milne Bay
Coastwatcher Report: xAK Yamafuku Maru reported in port at Rabaul
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Woodlark Island
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Efate
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Luganville
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Buna
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Hansa Bay
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Lae
Coastwatcher Report: AV Sagara Maru reported in port at Rabaul
Coastwatcher Report: 5 ships in port at Noumea
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Luganville
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 114,138 near Lunga, Speed 6, Moving Southwest
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 120,143 near Ndeni, Speed unknown


Burma: Detected status of Jap base in Rangoon from British aerial recon – no Japanese ships anchored in port, 2 Jap TF in harbor, 81 aircraft (49 fighters, 32 bombers), 10 Jap LCU’s.


China: No activity at Chungking this game turn. 46 Japanese LCU detected in Chungking base hex.

[wneumann]

Summary of Operations 3/26/43

Very uneventful day on the front lines... the pilots kept training, ships moved a few hexes, everyone saved their ammunition. Somewhere there was paint drying and grass growing.

South Pacific: Daily coastwatcher entries from 3/25 Operations report follow.

Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Lunga
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Milne Bay
Coastwatcher Report: 7 ships reported in port at Rabaul
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Efate
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Luganville
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Hoorn Islands
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Shortlands
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Tulagi
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Madang
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Gasmata
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships reported in port at Rabaul
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Woodlark Island
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Noumea
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 114,136 near Thousand Ships Bay, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 114,138 near Lunga, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 120,150 near Luganville, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Japanese ships at 106,125 near Rabaul, Speed 8, Moving Northwest


Burma: Detected status of Jap base in Rangoon from British aerial recon – no Japanese ships anchored in port, 1 Jap TF in harbor (-1 from last report), 70 aircraft (45 fighters, 35 bombers), 10 Jap LCU’s.


China: No activity at Chungking this game turn.

[wneumann]

Summary of Operations 3/27/43

East China Sea: US patrol sub in action against Jap surface ASW west of Kyushu. AAR follows.

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Sub attack near Kuroshima at 99,61 (adjacent hex W of Kuroshima)

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 41

Allied Ships
SS Grayback

SS Grayback launches 2 torpedoes
Grayback diving deep ....
SC Ch 41 attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

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US West Coast: Intercepted radio transmissions from unidentified Jap submarine at hex location 214, 77 (SW of San Francisco) reported in Sigint entry for 3/26. No Allied ships in the immediate area of this contact.


Central Pacific: Sigint entry for 3/26 reports intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Baker Is. Detected status of Baker Is shows unidentified Jap planes based there, no other visible Japanese forces or activity.


South Pacific: Transport convoy PW-41A intercepted by Jap submarine in the Cook Islands – convoy is returning to the US West Coast from Suva with empty ships. The convoy has no ASW escort during this stage of its movement – normal practice being long-range convoys only having ASW escorts near departure and destination points. This part of PW-41A’s movement route is through a sea area not normally travelled by convoy traffic. AAR follows.

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Submarine attack near Mangaia at 159,178 (SE of Rarotonga)

Japanese Ships
SS I-22

Allied Ships
xAK Utahan, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

xAK Utahan is sighted by SS I-22
SS I-22 launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Utahan

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Daily coastwatcher entries from 3/26 Operations report follow.

Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Shortlands
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Lae
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Port Moresby
Coastwatcher Report: harbor at Rabaul is reported empty
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Woodlark Island
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Belep Islands
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Koumac
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Tanna
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 114,138 near Lunga, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Shortlands
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Thousand Ships Bay
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Lae
Coastwatcher Report: harbor at Rabaul is reported empty
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Kavieng
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Manus
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Noumea
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Luganville
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 107,126 near Rabaul, Speed 6, Moving Southeast
Coastwatcher sighting: 3 Japanese ships at 106,125 near Rabaul, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 114,136 near Thousand Ships Bay, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 114,138 near Lunga, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 120,150 near Luganville, Speed unknown


Andaman Sea: US sub Kingfish on patrol reports contact with possible Jap transport task force NW of Victoria Point (hex location 50, 64). Jap TF contains 6 ships including one TK, moving southbound. No reported combat between SS Kingfish and the Jap TF. SS Kingfish also reports contact with Ki-21 Sally air patrol at the same location.


Burma: Detected status of Jap base in Rangoon from British aerial recon – no Japanese ships anchored in port, 1 Jap TF in harbor, 69 aircraft (38 fighters, 31 bombers), 10 Jap LCU’s.


China: The quiet time is over after 16 days. Japanese ground bombardment at Chungking. AAR follows.

3 detected Japanese LCU in hexes adjacent to Chungking.

** below indicates Japanese LCU reinforcements arriving this game turn. (no new arrivals since the last ground combat action at Chungking)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking (76,45)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 266508 troops, 2599 guns, 1348 vehicles, Assault Value = 9088
Defending force 548758 troops, 2834 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17675

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

Allied ground losses:
217 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
32nd Division
22nd Division
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
39th Division
36th Division
15th Division
59th Infantry Brigade
37th Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
8th Armored Car Co
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
58th Division
15th Tank Regiment
40th Division
23rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
70th Division
17th Division
3rd Tank Division
26th Division
13th Division
104th Division
35th Division
41st Division
116th Division
34th Division
110th Division
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
38th Division
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
12th Army
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
21st Mortar Battalion
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
23rd Army
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
11th Army
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
North China Area Army
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
87th Chinese Corps
11th Chinese Corps
9th Prov Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
71st Chinese Corps
115th Red Chinese Division
85th Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
65th Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
50th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
69th Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
30th Chinese Corps
16th Chinese Corps
39th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
81st Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
1st New Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
35th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
52nd Chinese Corps
79th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
22nd Chinese Corps
120th Red Chinese Division
62nd Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
129th Red Chinese Division
60th Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
70th Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
19th Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Cavalry Corps
44th Chinese Corps
100th Chinese Corps
97th Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
9th Separate Brigade
84th Chinese Corps
46th Chinese Corps
31st Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
51st Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
15th Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
42nd Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
63rd Chinese Corps
7th New Chinese Corps
21st Chinese Corps
7th Chinese Corps
303rd Brigade
41st Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
14th Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
17th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
89th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
25th Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
1st War Area
23rd Chinese Corps
259th Brigade
10th Chinese Base Force
83rd Chinese Corps
37th Group Army
4th Group Army
7th Group Army
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
8th Group Army
20th Chinese Base Force
12th Group Army
39th Group Army
98th Chinese Corps
10th Construction Regiment
49th AA Regiment
Jingcha War Area
7th Construction Regiment
13th Construction Regiment
16th Chinese Base Force
2nd War Area
China Command
30th Group Army
12th Construction Regiment
6th Chinese Base Force
3rd Construction Regiment
17th Group Army
6th Construction Regiment
2nd Chinese Base Force
9th Group Army
18th Chinese Base Force
14th Construction Regiment
32nd Group Army
5th Group Army
24th Group Army
17th Chinese Base Force
2nd Construction Regiment
41st AA Regiment
5th War Area
8th War Area
3rd War Area
31st Group Army
4th Chinese Base Force
23rd Group Army
26th Group Army
9th War Area
1st Artillery Regiment
9th Chinese Base Force
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
58th Chinese Corps
1st Group Army
34th Chinese Corps
36th Group Army
13th Group Army
16th Construction Regiment
Lusu War Area
4th War Area
11th Group Army
27th Group Army
8th Construction Regiment
19th Group Army
20th Group Army
5th Construction Regiment
33rd Group Army
14th Group Army
11th Construction Regiment
13th Chinese Base Force
48th Chinese Corps
18th Group Army
17th Construction Regiment
25th Group Army
6th Group Army
35th Group Army
22nd Artillery Regiment
18th Artillery Regiment
Red Chinese Army
15th Chinese Base Force
11th Chinese Base Force
3rd Group Army
29th Group Army
7th War Area
6th War Area
15th Group Army
1st Chinese Base Force
22nd Group Army
57th AT Gun Regiment
16th Group Army
7th Chinese Base Force
CAF HQ
38th Group Army
34th Group Army
Central Reserve
21st Group Army
56th AT Gun Regiment

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

[wneumann]

Summary of Operations 3/28/43

Game Question: I have a number of Indian and Australian divisional-size LCU drawing replacement elements for a variety of reasons (reasons likely don’t matter within the context of this question). All these LCU are located in major bases with large quantities of supply available plus ample numbers of needed replacement elements in the pools. Most of these divisions are drawing only support/motorized support elements to reach full TOE strength - the LCU already containing full complements of infantry, vehicle and heavy equipment elements. For the most part. these divisions are distributed in different locations, though several of the largest bases have two divisions drawing replacements at the same location.

I do not have a deadline for getting these LCU to full TOE strength but I’m looking at possible methods to accelerate the speed at which the divisions are drawing replacement elements. I currently have the divisions drawing replacements as single LCU's. Is there anything to gain by dividing these divisions into A/B/C sub-units (keeping sub-units together in the same location now occupied by the full division) with each of the A/B/C sub-units drawing replacements separately? If this method is feasible, existing supply and replacement pool situation at these bases would probably support doing this easily.

The divisions as single units are all receiving replacement elements each game turn – it’s just the process occurs at a rather slow rate and looking to speed it up.


East China Sea: US patrol sub in action against Jap surface ASW west of Kyushu. AAR follows.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Fukue-jima at 99,57 (W of Fukue Jima)

Japanese Ships
xAK Wakatu Maru (one dud torpedo hit)

Allied Ships
SS Tunny

xAK Wakatu Maru is sighted by SS Tunny
SS Tunny launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Wakatu Maru

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


Japanese Home Islands: Separate attacks by two US patrol subs (one night, one daylight) at the same hex location in the sea passage between Amami Oshima and southern Kyushu. AAR’s follow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Amami Oshima at 98,63 (night action, N of Amami Oshima)

Japanese Ships
xAKL Boko Maru, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

Allied Ships
SS Wahoo, hits 3 (no damage)

xAKL Boko Maru is sighted by SS Wahoo
SS Wahoo attacking on the surface
SS Wahoo low on gun ammo, Kennedy, M.G. breaks off surface engagement and submerges

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Amami Oshima at 98,63 (daylight action)

Japanese Ships
xAK Takao Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Grayback

SS Grayback launches 2 torpedoes

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

US sub patrol spots possible Jap transport TF northeast of Chichi Jima at hex location 115, 72. The sighted Jap TF contains 5 ships (including one SC), moving southward. No reported combat.


Eastern US: Transport convoy EX-34 (31 ships) departing this game turn from Eastern US to Australia via Capetown. Cargo loaded aboard the convoy includes four LCU (HQ Seventh Fleet, 39 Aviation Base Force, 258 USAAF Base Force, 150 USA Base Force), 127K supply and 65K fuel. The convoy also includes a number of upgraded AKA, APA and LSI(L) ships transferring out for use in future amphibious operations.


Central Pacific: US sub patrol attacks unknown Japanese TF near Kwajalein. The Jap TF in this action is known to contain 4 ships (including the PB below) and moving southward. My initial estimate is the Jap TF probably surface ASW, though several other possibilities have to be considered. AAR follows.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Ailinglaplap at 132,118 (S of Kwajalein)

Japanese Ships
PB Sureboko Maru

Allied Ships
SS Haddo

SS Haddo launches 2 torpedoes at PB Sureboko Maru
Haddo diving deep ....
PB Sureboko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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


South Pacific: Pillager is now employing H6K4 Mavis planes on Jap naval air search patrols in the sea areas south of Suva – this confirmed by a 3/27 Operations report entry indicating a contact between a Mavis naval search flight and a small Allied transport TF northwest of Tongatupu. My estimate of this being Pillager has taken interest in Allied ship traffic entering and leaving Suva, mainly (at least for now) to coordinate Japanese forces being employed for interdicting Allied ship movements at Suva – possibly also as an early warning mechanism to spot possible Allied amphibious operations routed through Suva. The latter item could provide a future opportunity for creating additional FOW and disinformation above and beyond that already provided by the AE game system. Have bait will travel.

Daily coastwatcher entries from 3/27 Operations report follow.

Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Lunga
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Shortlands
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Thousand Ships Bay
Coastwatcher Report: harbor at Rabaul is reported empty
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Woodlark Island
Coastwatcher Report: 6 ships in port at Noumea
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 114,138 near Lunga, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Madang
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Milne Bay
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Noumea
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Tanna
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 114,138 near Lunga, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Japanese ships at 109,131 near Shortlands, Speed 3, Moving East


New Guinea: Sigint entry for 3/28 indicates component LCU of Jap 32 Special Base Force have been combined to form the parent LCU and this unit is now located at Lae. Sasebo 2 SNLF which is one of the two component LCU combined into 32 Special Base Force had been located in Lae.


Andaman Sea: Sigint entry for 3/27 reports heavy intercepted radio transmissions from unidentified Jap TF(s) at hex location 48, 65 W of Victoria Point. The hex location is between two Allied sub patrol areas – if the Jap TF(s) are moving between Singapore and Rangoon in either direction, this estimate of Jap movement will likely bring the TF into contact with one of the two Allied sub patrols. No information available as to number of Jap TF in this contact, composition or movement.


Burma: Detected status of Jap base in Rangoon from British aerial recon – no Japanese ships anchored in port, 2 Jap TF in harbor (+1 from last report), 74 aircraft (35 fighters, 39 bombers), 10 Jap LCU’s.


China: Japanese ground bombardment at Chungking continues. AAR follows.

3 detected Japanese LCU in hexes adjacent to Chungking.

** below indicates Japanese LCU reinforcements arriving this game turn. (no new arrivals)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking (76,45)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 267176 troops, 2599 guns, 1348 vehicles, Assault Value = 9155
Defending force 548996 troops, 2831 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17710

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

Assaulting units:
22nd Division
3rd Tank Division
37th Division
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
116th Division
35th Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
32nd Division
59th Infantry Brigade
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
8th Armored Car Co
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
40th Division
70th Division
15th Division
104th Division
41st Division
39th Division
58th Division
34th Division
36th Division
17th Division
23rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
26th Division
13th Division
110th Division
38th Division
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
12th Army
11th Army
23rd Army
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
North China Area Army
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
21st Mortar Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
79th Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
52nd Chinese Corps
69th Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
31st Chinese Corps
87th Chinese Corps
303rd Brigade
100th Chinese Corps
120th Red Chinese Division
9th Prov Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
25th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
12th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
17th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
39th Chinese Corps
21st Chinese Corps
14th Chinese Corps
63rd Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
129th Red Chinese Division
89th Chinese Corps
50th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
35th Chinese Corps
42nd Chinese Corps
1st New Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
16th Chinese Corps
65th Chinese Corps
51st Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
30th Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
76th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
19th Chinese Corps
9th Separate Brigade
94th Chinese Corps
115th Red Chinese Division
26th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
22nd Chinese Corps
11th Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
97th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Cavalry Corps
49th Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
81st Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
70th Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
71st Chinese Corps
46th Chinese Corps
15th Chinese Corps
84th Chinese Corps
7th New Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
7th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
44th Chinese Corps
60th Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
Red Chinese Army
2nd War Area
16th Chinese Base Force
13th Construction Regiment
23rd Group Army
10th Construction Regiment
3rd War Area
9th Group Army
98th Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
7th Construction Regiment
10th Chinese Base Force
12th Group Army
22nd Group Army
6th War Area
14th Group Army
2nd Construction Regiment
16th Group Army
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
17th Construction Regiment
1st Group Army
Lusu War Area
Jingcha War Area
30th Group Army
39th Group Army
7th Group Army
5th Group Army
38th Group Army
1st Chinese Base Force
4th War Area
31st Group Army
1st War Area
5th Construction Regiment
48th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Base Force
35th Group Army
14th Construction Regiment
13th Group Army
4th Chinese Base Force
32nd Group Army
17th Chinese Base Force
25th Group Army
11th Group Army
259th Brigade
16th Construction Regiment
Central Reserve
37th Group Army
9th War Area
58th Chinese Corps
7th Artillery Regiment
8th War Area
18th Group Army
20th Chinese Base Force
13th Chinese Base Force
83rd Chinese Corps
China Command
4th Group Army
18th Artillery Regiment
29th Group Army
7th War Area
19th Group Army
27th Group Army
15th Group Army
3rd Group Army
49th AA Regiment
20th Group Army
6th Construction Regiment
5th War Area
21st Group Army
57th AT Gun Regiment
41st AA Regiment
7th Chinese Base Force
33rd Group Army
3rd Construction Regiment
CAF HQ
34th Group Army
11th Chinese Base Force
26th Group Army
15th Chinese Base Force
17th Group Army
8th Construction Regiment
22nd Artillery Regiment
6th Chinese Base Force
12th Construction Regiment
23rd Chinese Corps
36th Group Army
1st Artillery Regiment
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
2nd Chinese Base Force
18th Chinese Base Force
6th Group Army
8th Group Army
11th Construction Regiment
24th Group Army
56th AT Gun Regiment

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

[BBfanboy]

I remember reading that splitting units helps them recover from disruption and fatigue faster. Perhaps this would also apply to receiving supply? It can't hurt to try it out - take one of the divisions that is in the same base with another division filling out, and split it. Then monitor to see if there is a difference in device uptake. It would only require making notes on two units for a half-dozen turns or so.
I am not sure if being co-located with the unit's HQ helps - perhaps being able to get the HQ clerk to stamp the requisitions right away speeds things up! [;)]

About the Chungking bombardments - at 84 casualties per turn it's gonna take some time to affect your stack. Can this game go until 1962?

[wneumann]

BBfanboy,

Thanks for your response.

I remember reading that splitting units helps them recover from disruption and fatigue faster. Perhaps this would also apply to receiving supply? It can't hurt to try it out - take one of the divisions that is in the same base with another division filling out, and split it. Then monitor to see if there is a difference in device uptake. It would only require making notes on two units for a half-dozen turns or so.

I've been tempted to do that. At the least it's an interesting experiment. Given what you stated about recovering from disruption and fatigue, there's a decent chance it could work.

I am not sure if being co-located with the unit's HQ helps - perhaps being able to get the HQ clerk to stamp the requisitions right away speeds things up!

I wasn't really looking at keeping A/B/C sub units in the same hex in terms of using the unit's HQ - I was planning to re-combine the sub units when the process is complete, making little point in not keeping all three sub units together unless there absolutely was a reason to move them. If a unit's HQ does help in its sub units drawing replacements, all the better.

About the Chungking bombardments - at 84 casualties per turn it's gonna take some time to affect your stack. Can this game go until 1962?

1962 at Chungking would be fine. As long as I finish the rest of the game in 1945.

[BBfanboy]

Right - I wasn't suggesting sending sub-units away, just trying to get your intact units [or all the sub units] in range of the HQ to help with filling out. The HQ is supposed to speed up experience gains too, when the units are in rest/train mode. I am not sure where the cap on experience gains through training is [before you need combat experience to go further].

[wneumann]

Summary of Operations 3/29/43

Game Question (continued): Thanks to BBfanboy for the response. I broke down three of Australian divisions into A/B/C sub-units. Two of these divisions are in Sydney, the third in Cooktown – the three divisions now at 85%, 87% and 95% TOE strength. All three Australian divisions I divided are in the late stages of TOE upgrade (to 42 AIF infantry) drawing mainly support elements with a small number of infantry still needed in one case.

Three Indian divisions drawing replacement elements (all at Madras) were also broken down into A/B/C sub-units. All three of the Indian divisions are in TOE upgrade (to 42 infantry sections) and in a condition similar to the Australian divisions above. The three Indian divisions are now at 84%, 85% and 91% TOE strength.

Several other Australian and Indian divisions are candidates for break-up to draw replacements but were left (for now) as single LCU units pending a result of the experiment.

The one factor I could see posing a siginificant problem with dividing LCU's for drawing replacements is that dividing LCU for this purpose considerably increases the number of LCU (and fragments of LCU) simultaneously drawing elements from the replacement pools. This potential problem would likely result from something in the AE game mechanism that directly or indirectly restricts the number of LCU (for either a side or nationality) alllowed to draw replacements at the same time.

Of course, requirements for LCU drawing replacements at the same time would have to include - (1) each individual LCU drawing replacements has adequate supply points available, and (2) there are sufficient quantities of needed replacement elements present in the pool(s) for all the LCU to draw from. Within the context of my particular situation, both these requirements are or should be satisfied. The only other thing that may need to be looked at is leaders in the LCU's drawing replacements - I should be okay, but who knows.


Central Pacific: Sigint entry for 3/28 reports intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Iwo Jima. Detected status at Iwo Jima shows no visible Japanese forces or activity.

US sub patrol east of the Marianas tangles with surface ASW escort of a Jap transport convoy. AAR follows.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Saipan at 115,94 (E of Saipan)

Japanese Ships
E W-22
AK Seattle Maru
xAK Nansin Maru

Allied Ships
SS Sculpin

SS Sculpin launches 2 torpedoes at E W-22
Sculpin diving deep ....
E W-22 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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

Sigint entry for 3/28 reports intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Baker Is. Detected status of Baker Is shows unidentified Jap aircraft based there, no other visible Japanese forces or activity.


South Pacific: Daily coastwatcher entries from 3/28 Operations report follow.

Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Shortlands
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Finschhafen
Coastwatcher Report: 5 ships in port at Milne Bay
Coastwatcher Report: xAK Akitsushima Maru reported in port at Rabaul
Coastwatcher Report: 6 ships in port at Noumea
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Hoorn Islands
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 120,143 near Ndeni, Speed 6, Moving Southeast
Coastwatcher sighting: 1 Japanese ship at 114,138 near Lunga, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Lunga
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Ndeni
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Buna
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Madang
Coastwatcher Report: harbor at Rabaul is reported empty
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Manus
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Japanese ships at 106,125 near Rabaul, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Japanese ships at 97,123 near Madang, Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Japanese ships at 114,138 near Lunga, Speed unknown


Andaman Sea: US sub Kingfish on patrol NW of Victoria Point attacked and hit by Ki-49 Helen air patrol. SS Kingfish received moderate damage (system 24, float 5, engine 3) and is returning to base at 18 kts speed for repair.

US sub Gunnel on patrol S of Rangoon also reporting attack by Jap patrol bomber (Ki-21 Sally).


Burma: Detected status of Jap base in Rangoon from British aerial recon – no Japanese ships anchored in port, 2 Jap TF in harbor, 68 aircraft (40 fighters, 28 bombers), 7 Jap LCU’s (-3 from last report).

Five identified Jap LCU’s were known to be in Rangoon – including 14th Infantry Division, 55 Mountain Gun Rgt, 47 Field AA Bn and two HQ (2nd Fleet & 15th Army). Other than HQ 2nd Fleet, the three Jap LCU leaving Rangoon could include any of the other four identified Jap units and/or the five which had not been identified.


China: Japanese launch deliberate assault on at Chungking. Perhaps a chance this may not drag out until 1962. AAR follows.

3 detected Japanese LCU in hexes adjacent to Chungking.

** below indicates Japanese LCU reinforcements arriving this game turn. (no new arrivals)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking (76,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 268360 troops, 2599 guns, 1430 vehicles, Assault Value = 9224
Defending force 549403 troops, 2820 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17761
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
Japanese adjusted assault: 2593
Allied adjusted defense: 12525
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
9992 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 1169 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 92 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 132 disabled
Guns lost 123 (3 destroyed, 120 disabled)
Vehicles lost 88 (2 destroyed, 86 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
31820 casualties reported
Squads: 563 destroyed, 2908 disabled
Non Combat: 163 destroyed, 1737 disabled
Engineers: 63 destroyed, 51 disabled
Guns lost 226 (116 destroyed, 110 disabled)
Units destroyed 3

Assaulting units:
37th Division
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
70th Division
39th Division
104th Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
59th Infantry Brigade
22nd Division
36th Division
8th Armored Car Co
34th Division
17th Division
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Division
35th Division
23rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
40th Division
116th Division
32nd Division
13th Division
26th Division
110th Division
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Division
15th Division
58th Division
38th Division
21st Mortar Battalion
11th Army
23rd Army
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
12th Army
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
North China Area Army
2nd Mortar Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
3rd Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
19th Chinese Corps
39th Chinese Corps
50th Chinese Corps
7th New Chinese Corps
100th Chinese Corps
51st Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
84th Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Cavalry Corps
40th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
70th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
9th Prov Chinese Corps
115th Red Chinese Division
20th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
87th Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
129th Red Chinese Division
89th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Corps
63rd Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
97th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
46th Chinese Corps
71st Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
16th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
17th Chinese Corps
35th Chinese Corps
65th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
25th Chinese Corps
303rd Brigade
76th Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
9th Separate Brigade
69th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
14th Chinese Corps
81st Chinese Corps
52nd Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
41st Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
31st Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
42nd Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
9th Chinese Corps
60th Chinese Corps
15th Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
1st New Chinese Corps
120th Red Chinese Division
7th Chinese Corps
44th Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
21st Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
22nd Chinese Corps
30th Chinese Corps
11th Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
China Command
3rd Group Army
18th Artillery Regiment
23rd Group Army
41st AA Regiment
17th Construction Regiment
49th AA Regiment
7th Construction Regiment
35th Group Army
5th War Area
6th Group Army
5th Group Army
4th War Area
22nd Artillery Regiment
6th Chinese Base Force
259th Brigade
39th Group Army
13th Group Army
13th Construction Regiment
3rd Construction Regiment
30th Group Army
7th Chinese Base Force
29th Group Army
1st Artillery Regiment
34th Chinese Corps
5th Construction Regiment
33rd Group Army
24th Group Army
1st Group Army
18th Chinese Base Force
32nd Group Army
2nd Chinese Base Force
27th Group Army
4th Group Army
11th Chinese Base Force
15th Group Army
37th Group Army
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
1st Chinese Base Force
15th Chinese Base Force
9th Chinese Base Force
17th Group Army
20th Chinese Base Force
Central Reserve
23rd Chinese Corps
26th Group Army
38th Group Army
34th Group Army
18th Group Army
20th Group Army
8th War Area
1st War Area
4th Chinese Base Force
Red Chinese Army
16th Group Army
7th Group Army
14th Construction Regiment
16th Chinese Base Force
8th Construction Regiment
36th Group Army
16th Construction Regiment
9th War Area
8th Group Army
83rd Chinese Corps
14th Group Army
13th Chinese Base Force
10th Chinese Base Force
21st Group Army
25th Group Army
12th Group Army
6th Construction Regiment
CAF HQ
57th AT Gun Regiment
98th Chinese Corps
Lusu War Area
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
58th Chinese Corps
6th War Area
Jingcha War Area
2nd Construction Regiment
3rd War Area
12th Construction Regiment
9th Group Army
22nd Group Army
11th Group Army
19th Group Army
7th Artillery Regiment
7th War Area
11th Construction Regiment
31st Group Army
17th Chinese Base Force
10th Construction Regiment
2nd War Area
56th AT Gun Regiment

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[BBfanboy]

Re: leaders' effect on filling out units - that may be one situation where high admin skill is useful. Gotta know how to work the system!

[johnjohn]

John--my experience with sub dividing units. I did that with the 40th Inf Div in 1942. Each element attacked one of the Ellice Islands. When I collected them up to reform the division it would not reform because one of the sub units did not upgrade while the other two did. It is mid 1944 and the one sub unit still has not upgraded. I have put the 40th in the rear to hold an important base, but not one likely to be hit. As a result I have NOT divided any other divisions and they have taken replacements well, including the 8th Aussie which lost its two components at Singapore. For what it is worth. John

[BBfanboy]

Right johnjohn - I know that the units cannot be reformed if they have different equipment, and with your battle on an isolated island you likely had that situation develop. When all the sub-elements are together on a rear base with lots of supply, they should all get the same TOE stuff.
I also know that a united division does better in attack than usiing the separate regiments, but recovers better when split. If there are concerns about upgrades to sub units while resting at the front, I just turn upgrades off until the division is re-formed.
Man, the stuff you gotta remember to do each turn keeps compounding so that you need a computer to keep track of it - oh, wait .... [:'(]

[wneumann]

Again... thanking both BBfanboy and Johnjohn on their responses.

I think Johnjohn had a good point. It's known that AE requires A/B/C sub-units to have the same level of equipment when combining to form the divisional LCU (also that all three A/B/C sub-units be in the same command). His experience falls completely within those restrictions.

That being said... dividing a division into A/B/C sub-units to accelerate an upgrade of its elements needs to be approached carefully. Several principles come to mind (though there could be more). Item (3) below might address Johnjohn's experience.

(1) Timing of when the division is broken up compared to the time the upgrade process begins. In order for this kind of LCU upgrade to work correctly, the upgrade almost has to be started while the division is a single LCU and the division divided into A/B/C sub-units only after the upgrade has begun. It appears that once a division starts upgrading as a single LCU, it could be broken up into A/B/C sub-units at any later time in the process without significant penalty.

(2) All three sub-units should upgrade together for best results. While this does not require the three A/B/C sub-units to be together in the same base or hex location, it does require that upgrade is underway in all three sub-units. It probably does help if the sub-units are together as all of them have access to a common supply source, have equal access to the replacement element pools, and otherwise likely to all upgrade at the same (fast or slow) rate. The closer you are to having the three A/B/C sub-units upgrading at equal rates, the quicker the upgrade process is completed for the entire division.

(3) Before a division is divided into A/B/C sub-units for any reason other than upgrade, care should be taken to ensure the upgrade option in the LCU Information display is turned off (set to "No upgrade") in all three sub-units and that the upgrade option remains turned off in all three sub-units during the entire time the division remains divided into its sub-units. Doing so ensures all sub-units of a division remain at the same level of equipment during the entire time the division is split up. There is no problem with A/B/C sub-units individually drawing replacements, the key here is that none of the sub-units accidently starts an upgrade when it is drawing replacements. Basically, either all sub-units in a division should be set to upgrade together or upgrade needs to be turned off in all sub-units. Due diligence...

John--my experience with sub dividing units. I did that with the 40th Inf Div in 1942. Each element attacked one of the Ellice Islands. When I collected them up to reform the division it would not reform because one of the sub units did not upgrade while the other two did. It is mid 1944 and the one sub unit still has not upgraded. I have put the 40th in the rear to hold an important base, but not one likely to be hit. As a result I have NOT divided any other divisions and they have taken replacements well, including the 8th Aussie which lost its two components at Singapore. For what it is worth. John

I think re-uniting 40th Division is possible, though the fix may not be easy or quick. Probably the two most important steps is (1) turning on upgrade in the sub-units that have not yet upgraded, and (2) having the sub-units in location(s) where they can all draw replacement elements to complete their individual upgrades.

For item (1), upgrade should be turned off in the sub-unit (or units) that already updated.

For item (2), I don't think all three sub-units have to be in the same place while upgrading but proximity could help. More likely than not, the process will take awhile but should be doable. I'm also assuming all three of 40th Division's sub-units are in the same command.


One final point... The LCU upgrade option in the Ground Unit Information display was added in an AE game upgrade (which version not really important for this discussion). I had multiple instances where I ran afoul of this as Pillager and I started our PBEM before the upgrade appeared, then discovered that some of my (previously full TOE strength) LCU's "shrank" and began upgrading. Much of my LCU upgrade process leading to this discussion is related to the later stages of climbing out of this hole. Fortunately, this happened to me in 1942 when the divisions were parked in reserve instead of later on when I actually needed them in combat operations. The moral of the story - read the readme.

[BBfanboy]

Re: the shrinking units - I think that has to do with the available pools of equipment, doesn't it? e.g. if an Aussie unit upgrades its tanks to Shermans, but there are only two in the pool, it could shrink a good deal from the size it had with full-strength Marmon Harringtons. A good injection of supply from the USA might be needed to get enough tanks to fill out.

Good point about the same HQ - I learned the hard way when I was trying to get all the units of 2nd Marine division together and I had wasted points setting one of the restricted regiments to SouthWest Pac instead of Pacific Fleet/ Pacific Ocean Areas. This was done before transport to PH, so it took a while for me to realize what a blooper that was. Now I check the HQ affilliation of sub-elements before spending PP on them. I also learned to reset their planning target at the time I decide to combine them, even if they are months away from being co-located and bought for the merge.

All this stuff makes me feel like General Marshall - building armies is not a simple job!

[wneumann]

Re: the shrinking units - I think that has to do with the available pools of equipment, doesn't it?

It could. What appears to happen is old elements are taken out of the division immediately (the division "shrinks"), then new elements in the upgrade gradually come into the division through the normal game turn replacement phase process. A shortage of new elements in the replacement pools would certainly stop or delay the upgrade process and keep a division in a "shrunken" state until there were enough of the new elements available.

Good point about the same HQ...

For the most part, I've held back LCU's that are sub-units of a US division in the mainland US until all the division's sub-units are in the game. The sub-units are collected and combined to form the parent division in the mainland US before any of it ships out.

I did deviate from this rule with 2 Marine Division, sub-units already in the game on 12/07/41 needed to go forward. Just had to keep track and make sure all 2nd Division's sub-units were in the same command as they shipped out. I had planned from the start that 2 Marine Division was going to the South Pacific to cover Suva/Samoa initially - my plans included shipping all of the division's sub-units to that theatre and combining them later on in the South Pacific to form the parent LCU of 2 Marine Division. Until other US forces could arrive in the South Pacific, it was necessary 2nd Division's sub-units were dispersed across multiple locations in the South Pacific to cover different bases. As US reinforcements arrived in the South Pacific, I gradually collected 2 Marine Division's sub units in Auckland and eventually combined them there to form the divisional LCU sometime in mid-1942.

FYI - As a majority of 2nd Marine Division's sub-units starting or entering the game in non-restricted commands were attached to Pacific Ocean Areas, sub-units of the division in restricted commands were reassigned to Pacific Ocean Areas as they shipped out and the full division was combined in that command.

[wneumann]

Summary of Operations 3/30/43

Japanese Home Islands: Immediately after automatically starting its voyage home from the East China Sea to replenish (refuel), SS Grayback jettisoned most of its remaining ordnance into a large (12 VP) Japanese TK. AAR follows.

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Submarine attack near Amami Oshima at 100,65 (E of Amami Oshima)

Japanese Ships
TK Otoriyama Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 7 **, heavy fires, heavy damage (sunk, fuel cargo burning)

Allied Ships
SS Grayback

TK Otoriyama Maru is sighted by SS Grayback
SS Grayback attacking on the surface

** most hits were not duds

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Central/South Pacific: Sigint entries for 3/29 report intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Funafuti (Ellice Islands) and Abemama (Gilberts). Detected status at Funafuti shows unidentified Jap aircraft based there, otherwise no visible Japanese forces or activity in these two locations.


South Pacific: Daily coastwatcher entries from 3/29 Operations report follow.

Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Finschhafen
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Hansa Bay
Coastwatcher Report: 5 ships in port at Milne Bay
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Woodlark Island
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Luganville
Coastwatcher Report: 3 ships in port at Shortlands
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Ndeni
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships in port at Milne Bay
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Port Moresby
Coastwatcher Report: 4 ships reported in port at Rabaul
Coastwatcher Report: 1 ship in port at Manus
Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Japanese ships at 114,138 near Lunga, Speed unknown


DEI: US sub patrol at southern exit of Sunda Straits intercepts unescorted Japanese transport. Hard to determine exactly where this Jap xAK was going, my estimate is that it was delivering cargo to an undetermined Jap base somewhere on the southern coast of either Java or Sumatra. AAR follows.

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Submarine attack near Oosthaven at 46,97 (S of Oosthaven)

Japanese Ships
xAK Hakodate Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

Allied Ships
SS Amberjack

xAK Hakodate Maru is sighted by SS Amberjack
SS Amberjack attacking on the surface
Massive explosion on xAK Hakodate Maru

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Andaman Sea: US sub patrol in action with Jap surface ASW. The Jap DMS may have been an escort for one of two identified Jap transport TF’s now spotted in Rangoon (see below). AAR follows.

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ASW attack near Rangoon at 53,56 (SW of Moulmein)

Japanese Ships
DMS W-10

Allied Ships
SS Gunnel

SS Gunnel launches 2 torpedoes at DMS W-10
DMS W-10 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Burma: Detected status of Jap base in Rangoon from British aerial recon – no Japanese ships anchored in port, 4 Jap TF in harbor (+2 from last report), 52 aircraft (32 fighters, 20 bombers), 7 Jap LCU’s. Both the two new Jap TF’s spotted in Rangoon are probable transport convoys – one containing 7 ships (including 3 xAK, 1 AP), the second TF containing 8 ships including 5 xAK.


India: Jap air recon flights have been active on a regular basis over Ledo and the Calcutta area.


China: Quiet this game turn in Chungking.