On the 12th though masses of Beaufighters and B-25 go for the recently arrived AK's carrying supplies into Singapore. 3 AK are lost along with about 1/3 of the supplies... the cost however is high. In addition B-29 bomb Ayuthia, and our CAP does fairly good.
Attachments
194400512_airlosses.jpg (57.51 KiB) Viewed 357 times
Japanese Ships
AK Sakito Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires AK Sakura Maru, Shell hits 2, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Kaga Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AK Kinka Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Singapore at 50,84
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 46
A6M5b Zero x 21
N1K1-J George x 25
N1K2-J George x 12
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 33
Ki-84r Frank x 75
Allied aircraft
Beaufighter TF.X x 2
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 34
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 6
13 May 1944
Today the B-29 go after or Helens whcih destroyed the two armoured units over the last 7 days, and have been hitting his troops in the open outside Bangkok. We loose 48 Helen on the ground.
In an interesting event we loose about 30 fighters as they return in bad weather from LRCAPing Tf's off Singapore. All are lost on landing!
Indicators and Warnings
Shipping movements continue in the DEI, our forces on alert.
Enemy CV's at Sabang (north tip of Sumatra). Expecting a jump to Malaya "soon".
Subs
TF 16 encounters mine field at Merak (48,97)
Allied Ships
SS Flier, Mine hits 1
Thailand
We cause about 500 Casulties to the 7th indian Div siting outside Bangkok with our Helens. Then our airbases are smashed by the 4E in particular B-29. We are able to fly out about 90% of the bombers deep into Vietnam.
More of our forces get out of Uttradit in the centre, bit of a walk to Vietnam but the retreat continues in fair order.
Sumatra / Malaya
North Sumatra is alsmost clear of Japanese troops. Soon he will be moving into the south and Palembang will be lost. He has stopped bombing the place, and we continue to pull fuel out of Oosthaven. There is about 20k in Fuel in south Sumatra. We are using xAKL to pull it out to Batavia.
Singapore has 1600 AV, 6 forts and about 50k in supplies.
East DEI
KB is in strike range of any hostile movement. It will be reinforced with CV Zuikaku in about 7-8 days (almost fully repaired at Manila). CV Katsuragi is about 40 days away.
Reinforcements from the SWPAC area continue to arrive and get depoyed.
Several bdes are almost ready in Japan to be shipped out as well. The DEI will soon have an extra 500-600 AV.
OZ
We continue to hold from Port Hedland to Darwin.
Pacific
Pulling out of Tulagi / Lunga.
Rabaul is getting down to basics now.
Will start to pull back from Port Moresby.
China
Almost in position to take Urumchi and its oil. Flying in BY units from Japan (buying them out first).
Force is building nicely on the Vietnam / China border as China is thinned out and shattered units from Burma are rebuilt.
Andrew has gone away for 10 days, so a chance to catch up!
14 May 1944
Indicators and Warnings
Enemy CV's stll off Sabang, nth tip Sumatra.
Enemy convoys in the East DEI, just logistical movements or prepping for next invasion. Hard to Tell... KB is in LOC and will soone be joined by Zuikaku our of repair from Manila.
Subs ASW attack near Pagai-eilanden at 42,89
Japanese Ships
SS I-185, hits 2, on fire
Allied Ships
DE Carlson
DD Remey
DD William Porter
Sub attack near Hengchun at 84,68
Japanese Ships xAK Yamafuku Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage [SUNK]
xAK Teishun Maru
xAK Teikin Maru
xAK Zenoa Maru
PB Seki Maru #3
Allied Ships
SS Pilotfish
Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled) [BF moving to the Phillipines, spread over two ships so OK]
Thailand
We are pulling out of Uttradit, he is trying to get in behind us to stop us!
Sumatra / Malaya
Andrew is sending in PT's to sweep Singapore at night trying to catch our TF bringing in supplies.
TF 183 encounters mine field at Singapore (50,84)
Allied Ships PT-365, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
PT-361, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
Oosthaven is swept for light losses on both sides. Then he hits the port:
Morning Air attack on Oosthaven , at 48,96
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25H Mitchell x 27
PBJ-1D Mitchell x 14
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships xAKL Sunten Maru, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
AMc Shuko Maru #5, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
Port hits 18
The Oil at Djambi (north of Palembang) is destroyed.
He continues to rout our troops around Medan, we are pulling as many out as we can with float transports.
Thailand
Ayuthia next to Bangkok is swept by 300 odd fighters, no point in putting up CAP.
He then bombs with 300-400 strike aircraft. Being open hex, and still only level 5 forts losses and disruption is moderate. Soon he will cross... we will be lucky to hold out aday. Will try to move fighters up in a couple of days and try a mass defence... Will only last a day or two though.
Sumatra / Malaya
East DEI
He is sending unescorted B-24 types to hit Ambon, will try to Ambush them...
OZ
Pacific
Continue to pull troops frm the SWPAC back to the DEI / Philipines
China
Getting close to taking the last couple of bases in far north China.
Thailand
The air assault continues on Ayuthia. We suffer over a 1000 casulties a day. Have begun to focus a force of 300-400 fighters, mostly Frank, to have a go at defending the place...
A couple of divs have pulled out of Uttrradit, and are now in a hex with the Chindits, who have tried to work our flank. The Chindits have been battered several times in the past... Will send in bombers and try for an attack...
Ground combat at 59,57 (near Pisanuloke)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2970 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 147
Defending force 30921 troops, 356 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 1078
Djambi is hit again, almost no oil left. the refineries at Palembang only get enough oil every couple of days. We continue to pull fuel out through Oosthaven.
East DEI
OZ
Pacific
China
We finally att in the north. 3 oil are permenatnly destroyed, but 50 oil, about 20k in fuel and 20k in oil are a nice catch. Fighters are immediately flown in to provide some airdefence.
Ground combat at Urumchi (79,11)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 2777 troops, 4 guns, 290 vehicles, Assault Value = 169
Defending force 1572 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 41
Thailand
We sweep over the Chindits in the air and on the ground This is good as I'm always concerned about these guys being dropped on our retreat route to China. Now our divs will have to continue to march out...
Ground combat at 59,57 (near Pisanuloke)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 30993 troops, 356 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 1085
Defending force 2907 troops, 35 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 142
The troops in Ayuthia are again hit hard. He sweeps Bein Hoa, an airbase near Saigon suprising some of our fighters doing training. Then B-29 turn up:
Morning Air attack on Bien Hoa , at 61,70
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 6
Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 38
Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIb Helen: 6 destroyed on ground
B6N2 Jill: 4 destroyed on ground
Japanese ground losses:
234 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 29 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
4th Armoured Brigade
Defending units:
65th Construction Battalion
1st Guards Div /3
East DEI
OZ
Pacific
China
The deep raids by B-29 is annoying, now have to redeploy aircraft around. A significant lack of airsupport is hampering our abiity to house and defend all the aircraft we have...
Japanese Ships xAK Enzyu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage [SUNK full of supplies for Singapore]
xAK Momoyama Maru
PB Ikuta Maru
Allied Ships
SS Tantalus
Thailand
The aircraft we had on sweep over the Chindist last turn now sweep to good effect!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 77th Chindit Brigade, at 58,57 (Pisanuloke)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 42,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-84r Frank x 49
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 8
P-40K Warhawk x 4
P-40N5 Warhawk x 17
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed
Sumatra / Malaya
Another PT boat sweep, our transports evaded.
TF 276 encounters mine field at Singapore (50,84)
Allied Ships
PT-382, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
PT-381, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
East DEI
OZ
Pacific
China
In the mountains on the west flank of the Chinese bastion we have flanked these troops, forcing Andrew to pull some back. With some air support we managed to get the combat results we need even in the mountains...
Ground combat at 70,45 (near Tsuyung)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 8534 troops, 62 guns, 111 vehicles, Assault Value = 348
Defending force 6208 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 184
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 19
Japanese aircraft losses Ki-84r Frank: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4
Our concentration and rest of our aircraft was alsmot complete, but not soon enough to have any impact on the following combat. Our guys retreat to Bangkok.
Ground combat at Ayuthia (56,61)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 76951 troops, 1463 guns, 1749 vehicles, Assault Value = 2949
Defending force 37257 troops, 397 guns, 250 vehicles, Assault Value = 1062
Assaulting units: 24th Infantry Division
9th Australian Division
2nd Marine Division
37th Infantry Division
209th Combat Engineer Battalion
Provisionl Tank Brigade
2/5th Armoured Regiment 27th Infantry Division
6th Australian Division
2/7th Armoured Regiment
503rd Parachute Rgt /1
XI US Corps
181st Field Artillery Regiment
168th Field Artillery Regiment
33rd Medium Regiment
147th Field Artillery Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
Defending units:
2nd Tank Regiment
55th Engineer Regiment
53rd Division
24th Ind.Mixed Brigade
143rd Infantry Regiment
30th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Infantry Regiment
20th Recon Regiment
27th Ind.Mixed Brigade
21st Air Defense AA Regiment
56th Construction Battalion
6th Field AF Construction Battalion
7th JAAF Base Force
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th JNAF AF Unit
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
55th Construction Battalion
54th Const Co
82nd JAAF AF Bn
Sumatra / Malaya
He sends some strike aircraft after one of our resupply convoys, each one is being carefully micro managed...
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Johore Bahru at 50,83
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 7
Ki-84r Frank x 18
Allied aircraft
A-20G Havoc x 13
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses A-20G Havoc: 10 destroyed
East DEI
We finally pull off an ambush over Ambon:
Morning Air attack on Ambon , at 76,109
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 63 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
OZ
Pacific
China
As Andrew doesn't want to trigger Kamis again I suspect he will try to now isolate Bangkok rather than attacking it directly. We have a div in the rough country east of Bankok, which protects the rail and road line, to halt this (or at least force him to do it with a lot of force). This should give us time to pull out shattered units via rail back to northe Vietnam / China border area.
Subs
A sub TF that mines Merauke finds some other targets, but misses twice
Sub attack near Merauke at 89,124
Japanese Ships
SS I-29
Allied Ships
AE Royal T. Frank
AO Saranac
AO Monongahela
AO Tappahanock
DD Nizam
SS I-29 launches 2 torpedoes at AE Royal T. Frank
ASW attack near Merauke at 89,124
Japanese Ships
SS I-174
Allied Ships
AO Saranac
AO Monongahela
AO Tappahanock
AE Royal T. Frank
DD Nizam
Thailand
Figuring that Adrew would be a bit complacent after his victory, but certain of attacking Bangkok from the air, and despite the airfield being moderately damaged we decide to send in around 300 Frank and 100 George... the results are pleasing, our air losses are around 100, abut only 15 pilots, his are higher! Here are some of the combats. We fail to really get into the bomber stream though and loose a lot of aircraft on the ground. The overall loss ratio of 1:1 is acceptable. His losses wold have been higher as he only sent in the B-29 to Bangkok, and used his other strike aircraft to hit other random bases (doing little damage).
Morning Air attack on Bangkok , at 56,62
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 13
N1K2-J George x 14
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-84r Frank x 254
Thailand
The worst units (and the IJNAF, who are low on planes and pilots) are rotated out of the airbattles at Bankok whcih resume. Again losses on both sides are high, however we loose few pilots:
Morning Air attack on Bangkok , at 56,62
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5
Ki-84r Frank x 129
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 13
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 13
P-40K Warhawk x 3
P-40N5 Warhawk x 25
Japanese aircraft losses Ki-49-IIb Helen: 3 destroyed
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Sumatra / Malaya / Borneo
The B-29 catch us knaping. Sinkawang is being bult up as part of the defence of Borneo and to help escort in convoys to Singapore:
Morning Air attack on Singkawang , at 56,88
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 35
Japanese aircraft losses G3M3 Nell: 3 destroyed on ground
D4Y3 Judy: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-57-II Topsy: 2 destroyed on ground
B6N2a Jill: 4 destroyed on ground
Our air combat capability in Thailand has now culminated and aircraft are withdrawn back to the Vietnam / China border. In addition transport aircraft, and training units based around Saigon are withdrawn back to begin the next stage of withdrawel, and to keep our strike capability intact. We need to to a major reorganisation of our fighter force. We have plenty of pilots about to come online to fill out the fighter squadrons. The bomber force has hardly been affected.
Naval Gun Fire at Singapore - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Allied Ships
SS Tantalus, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 376 encounters mine field at Singapore (50,84)
Allied Ships
SS Tantalus, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Iriomote at 88,68
Japanese Ships
E No.17
E No.15
Allied Ships
SS Growler, hits 3
ASW attack near San Fernando at 78,73
Japanese Ships
xAK Zyunyo Maru
xAK France Maru
E W-28
Allied Ships
SS Flasher, hits 5
ASW attack near San Fernando at 78,73
Japanese Ships
DD Shiokaze
DD Numakaze
Allied Ships
SS Flasher, hits 4, heavy damage
Thailand
Continues to focus on hitting our troops around Bangkok. Several units are withdrawing by road, while others are sent via rail. The initial panic is over though.
Sumatra / Malaya
Another attempt to get to transports unloading supplies and Singers:
Day Time Surface Combat, near Singapore at 50,84, Range 15,000 Yards
Allied Ships
PT-367
PT-372
PT-373
PT-374, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-375
PT-376
PT-378
PT-379
PT-380
He sends in lightly escorted B-25 to hit Georgetown, will do a CAP trap.
East DEI
KB remains poised (now with Zuikaku) to intercept any invasion atempt on Java.
OZ
Pacific
Uttradit is still not attacked, Andrew appears happy to just bombard, maybe he is expecting us to withdraw all the force? However there is almost 500AV of Thai's, many of whom go in about 70 days, so we intend to try and hold as long as possible.
East DEI
The mines at Merauke are now cleared, the only victum being the PT boat
An undefended Boela is hit from the air, the first time in many weeks.
Koepang continues to be hit.
Dili is also hit.
OZ
Pacific
China
Despite intervention by Allied aircraft we continue to push through the mountains on the West flank, we have good momentum now, Andrew will need to commit fresh troops to stop us...
Morning Air attack on 11th Group Army, at 71,44 , near Tsuyung
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 10
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 2
Spitfire VIII x 2
F4U-1A Corsair x 2
Japanese aircraft losses Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 49th Chinese Division, at 71,44 , near Tsuyung
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 23
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 25
Ki-84r Frank x 31
Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 1
Spitfire VIII x 1
F4U-1A Corsair x 2
Assaulting units:
18th Tank Regiment
35th/B Division
35th/C Division
Defending units:
71st Chinese Corps
54th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Division
11th Group Army
We continue to pull fuel from Oosthaven, Andrew has made no attempt for several days to try to stop us. There isn't a great deal being made, 10k a day? but some is better than none...
Air Reorganisation
Have started going through our air units. Pulling out fighter pilots, creating an "advanced" training pool of units (for thouse pilots with around 65-70 air skill, 55-60 defence but less than 50 exp). These units will be 50% CAP 50% training to bring the pilots up to front line ready status, while defending the Home Islands.
We have units in China for air defence of the oil centres where pilots can gain exp prior to being deployed into more active theatres. These have been culled and pilots replaced to maintain the flow of good piots.
Importantly we've converted a number of bomber units to FB (mainly to protect depth bases in China from 4E attack). Now have oodles of experianced bomber pilots... have been reluctant to commit them much... but with such a depth of pilots and planes, and plenty of units, we can use them a bit more aggresively...
Have also reorganised our recon units. China had an abundance, so they have been redeployed to look for suitable targets for our bombers to try to hit... maybe even our paras...
The IJAAF is in really good shape, 500 Frank in the pools, about 200 reserve of useful pilots (with around 300 moderatly useful) for the fighters and a similar amount for the bombers.
The IJNAF has no spare pilots, no spare George and only a relatively small pool of A6M5b... The strike aircraft fleet and pilots are now rebuilt back to a useful level, and in a few weeks we should have a useful pool of pilots, although we are still critcally short of Torp capable aircract (Jill, Nell, Frances). KB though is in pretty good shape pilot and plane wise.
As a consequence the IJNAF is largely being kept back in a defensive role over the oil producing sites and Singapore, while the IJAAF is being used offensively or where high losses are expected... the problem is we have lots more IJNAF units... and not enough IJAAF, looks like this balance doesn't change much.
Overall the combat air units have an average exp of low 60's to mid 70's with enough depth to maintain this for a while.
Soon there will be two important changes to our air units. The Torpedo carring Peggy is 2-3 months away. This will require a lot of retraining of aircrew but will take presure off the IJNAF strike capability and will utilise many of our spare bomber units. The Grace is 4-5 months away, this will have less of an impact as we have a decent build up of Torp qualified pilots, most of whom also have similar DB skills, although some retraining of the DB pilots will be required.
The Shinden and Ki-83 research (late war fighters for the IJNA and IJAAF) are progressing well.
Attachments
194400524_airprod.jpg (191.66 KiB) Viewed 357 times
IndoChina
Our withdrawel from Central Thailand is going well. Soon Andrew will relaise that we are leaving a considerable force behind in Uttradit... by then the important units should be out of danger, although some are going to have a tough jungle walk.
Around Bangkok we soon expect him to start moving around Bngkok to isolate the road and rail. This will be too late to stop us gettinhg the divs out, we will leave behind some Mixed bdes which can be pulled out by air.
Most of those forces are going back via Saigon where they then move via Rail to the Vinh on Lang Son line, are shipped to the DEI / Phillipines or air transported to the DEI.
The Vinh line is going better than expect and now the intent is to try to hold this for some time. A couple of reasons, ther are some really battered divs in China that need time to rebuild and train to become combat ready. Recent success in China is also freeing up units to be redeployed to the Lang Son line, therefore allowing Vinh to be held in greater strength. To hold Vinh we need at least 2000 AV, that should be possible now.
Mixed bdes are also on the way towards the China coast.
Attachments
194400524_Indochina.jpg (251.52 KiB) Viewed 357 times
It's great to see you still 're-organizing' and working hard to battle through the inexorable Allied advance. It's gives me some hope and energy when the days ahead seem dark and full of woe.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
