11/3-11/4/43
CBI
The Georges swept Pegu on their regular 3 turn interval last turn but this time the newly upgraded P-47D2 squadrons were waiting for them:
Morning Air attack on Pegu , at 55,53
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 44,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 42
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 18
Hurricane FR.IIb x 3
Spitfire Vc Trop x 3
Kittyhawk IV x 2
A-36 Mustang x 3
P-40N1 Warhawk x 1
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 26
F4U-1 Corsair x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 6 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 7 destroyed
Hurricane FR.IIb: 1 destroyed
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed
A-36 Mustang: 2 destroyed
P-40N1 Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 2 destroyed
CAP engaged:
VMD-254 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36800
Raid is overhead
VMF-311 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36800
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
No.6 Sqn IAF with Hurricane FR.IIb (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
No.14 Sqn RCAF with Kittyhawk IV (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
No.30 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35600
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
No.60 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35600
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
No.135 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35600
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
No.136 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 35600
Raid is overhead
No.258 Sqn RAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 37000
Raid is overhead
No.261 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35600
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
23rd FG/76th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 42000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
80th FG/88th FS with P-40N1 Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
311th FBG/528th FBS with A-36 Mustang (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
51st FG/16th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 11 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 42000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
23rd FG/75th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 42000
Raid is overhead
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 04, 43
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Morning Air attack on Pegu , at 55,53
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 46,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 24
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 15
Hurricane FR.IIb x 1
Kittyhawk IV x 2
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 20
F4U-1 Corsair x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 6 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 3 destroyed
Hurricane FR.IIb: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 2 destroyed
CAP engaged:
VMD-254 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36800
Raid is overhead
VMF-311 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36800
Raid is overhead
No.6 Sqn IAF with Hurricane FR.IIb (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 36000
Raid is overhead
No.14 Sqn RCAF with Kittyhawk IV (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
No.5 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
No.11 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
No.17 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000
Raid is overhead
No.30 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35600
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
No.60 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35600
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
No.135 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35600
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
No.136 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35600
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
51st FG/16th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 42000
Raid is overhead
23rd FG/75th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 10 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 42000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
This time the Georges get jacked as Japan loses an astounding 33 Georges. The Allies lost another 15 Hurricane IIcs and 7 F4U-1s but at least the Georges were finally bloodied.
The Allied fighters over southern Burma covered another supply convoy arriving at Rangoon but Im almost considering evacuating Allied air groups from southern Burma for the time being and ceding the skies to Japan. Ive completely exhausted my RAF fighter pilot pools during the aerial combat over the CBI the last month and Ive lost over a score of RAF aces in their obsolete Hurricanes. The RAF is getting the Thunderbolt II in early 1944 and I want to make sure that some experienced RAF pilots are still alive by that time. The VMY pilots have also exhausted their fighter pools and Ive lost over a dozen Marine aces in Burma over the last month.....even though they are flying their cutting edge F4U-1s.
My thinking here is that Ive got enough supply to last in Burma and China for awhile and my future reinforcements to Burma and China can march overland from India. The monsoon season also has ended so maybe I can draw supplies into Burma again across the border and I dont need to sacrifice ther Allied air forces to CAP and LRCAP shipping in the Andaman Sea.
Also by April 1944 I will be receiving brand new P-47D25 in large numbers so the USAAF should be able to shoulder more of the air superiority responsibility in this theatre.
In China.....large Chinese armies continue their advances towards Loyang and Sinyang as the main Japanese army in northern China bogs down outside of Ichang. Tenth Air Force heavy bombers operating out of Chungking are interdicting the movement of the Japanese army outside of Ichang by carpet bombing the clear terrain hex to the east.
PACIFIC COMMANDS
The USN CVLs finally enlarge their fighter squadrons from 12 AC to 24 AC so now the USN fast carriers can put up over 500 Hellcats on CAP. The CVEs continue to repair and upgrade as do the 3 Yorktown class CVs. We are undergoing a complete reorganization of VF fighter squadrons for the CVs, CVLs, CVEs and even the 15 or so VP squadrons that are traing future fighter pilots in Kingfishers. There are 70 exp/70 fighter skill fighter groups on the non Essex CVs and some CVLs that are on "general training" to increase their defensive skills, 60 exp/70 fighter skill fighter groups on some Essex class CVs and some CVLs that are on "strafing" training to increase their exp and some 60 exp/60 fighter skill fighter groups on "sweep training" to increase both their exp and fighter skill. This reorganization includes some 50 exp/70 fighter skill fighter squadrons on VP Kingfisher squadrons that are on "strafe" training to increase their exp. All the fighter squadrons will be able to train for another month before they go back into action as the 3 Yorktown class Cvs complete their upgrades.
CENTPAC will complete loading of the 1st and 2nd Marine Regiments at Makin this turn and will be able to invade at Kwajalein in 2 turns. Ponape AF is now 100% damaged and all the tac and medium bombers in the Marshalls and the Gilberts are now ground bombing the hapless Japanese defenders on Kwajalein.
II AUSTRALIAN CORPS
Allied troops capture the AF on Babar after a pair of shock attacks:
Ground combat at Babar (76,117)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 3444 troops, 21 guns, 46 vehicles, Assault Value = 135
Defending force 1248 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 56
Allied adjusted assault: 120
Japanese adjusted defense: 19
Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 3)
Allied forces CAPTURE Babar !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
678 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (5 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
344 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Assaulting units:
2/4 MG Battalion
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
2/2nd Ind Coy
Gull Battalion
Defending units:
80th Garrison Battalion
28th Div /1
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80th Garrison Battalion Wiped Out at Babar by attrition!!!
Ground combat at Babar (76,117)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 3219 troops, 21 guns, 46 vehicles, Assault Value = 118
Defending force 651 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 24
Allied adjusted assault: 97
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 97 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
420 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Assaulting units:
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
2/2nd Ind Coy
2/4 MG Battalion
Gull Battalion
9th RAAF M/W Sqn /2
NW Australia Base Force /7
Defending units:
28th Div /1
The Japanese were nice enough to build a level 4 AF for us here at Babar and this turn landing craft will start dropping off construction engineers and BFs. A squadron of brand new Aussie Spitfire VIIIs is staged in to cover the unloading operations.
Dave left the invasion alone last turn but went all out to close the Australian AF on Bathurst Is:
Morning Air attack on Bathurst Island , at 76,123
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 41
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 52
Allied aircraft
Boomerang C-12 x 8
Kittyhawk IA x 7
Kittyhawk IV x 8
Spitfire Vc Trop x 20
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 13 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 7 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
Boomerang C-12: 1 destroyed
PB4Y-1P Liberator: 1 destroyed on ground
Hudson III (LR): 1 destroyed on ground
PV-1 Ventura: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Airbase hits 28
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 63
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
25 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
No.82 Sqn RAAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
No.83 Sqn RAAF with Boomerang C-12 (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
No.84 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk IV (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
No.85 Sqn RAAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
No.86 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
Morning Air attack on Bathurst Island , at 76,123
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 62 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 20
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 54
Allied aircraft
Boomerang C-12 x 7
Kittyhawk IA x 7
Spitfire Vc Trop x 20
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 7 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
Boomerang C-12: 1 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 7
Runway hits 10
Aircraft Attacking:
26 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
No.82 Sqn RAAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
No.83 Sqn RAAF with Boomerang C-12 (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
No.85 Sqn RAAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
No.86 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
In the swirling air battles over the CBI and the DEI....Japan loses 111 AC this turn vs Allied losses of 58 AC. In A2A.....Japan loses 82 AC vs Allied losses of 38 AC. Besides the aforementioned 33 Georges.....Japan loses 22 A6M2s, 52 Oscar IIas, 8 Oscar IIbs, 7 Helens and 5 Tojos. The Allies lose 15 Hurricane IIcs, 7 F4u-1s, 3 A-36 Mustangs and 3 Boomerang C-12s.
Next turn we will hit the Japanese AFs at lautem and Dili.
