[font="Times New Roman"]3 - 4 May 1944[/font]
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S/SW PAC:[/font] Several air groups snuck behind the lines striking in New Guinea and the Solomons at Allied naval forces. On the 3rd Judys from Hollandia hit 3 AKs loaded with troops this time, likely sinking them, and the Jills did even better putting two TT in the BB Alabama! No extra damage reports were event, but again, this means a fast BB out for a few months most likely.
The next day I popped them over to the Solomons. I can do this from at least 6-7 bases that are in range of the Bismark and Solomon Seas transport routes. I was hoping for something juicy, but both the Jills and the Judys hit empty transports, sinking a total of two LSTs for about 15 planes lost. I flew in a small amount of AV to help get a few damaged planes back in the air, and sent the 4 groups' flyable planes back to safety after these strikes.
Decent results, but this is more of a strategic and psychological rather than a tactical move, hopefully making him have to defend this area and work to close and keep closed ALL of the bases. There is still a bunch of supply in the area, and one torp enabled HQ in the Solomons, which is great. Also, as my withdrawn fighters have now returned, Rabaul will be a tough place to suppress if he concentrates on other bases as well. Moving forward quickly has been great for him in some ways, but now I can work on his underbelly as his defenses are stretched out and there are so many untaken bases to use.
At Biak the Allies tried a DA and got a 1:2. Allied troops took twice as much damage and will not be attacking again for a while. This is fantastic, and gives me the chance to add more troops, plus pull the air HQ out (to Sorong). I have a garrison unit ready to fill in here and add to the problem. Supply is still decent at about 12k.
My CLs also met up with a massive fast BB SAG near Biak and survived! Quite a feat. I still have no idea why these ships did not get creamed here. Maybe this TF was set to bombard, and so didn't fight as well or as long? The battle went down to 4k, and maybe the US was so busy dodging long lances that we managed to sneak away. Not sure. On the way back the Kinu was hit by one TT from the Lapon and will try to make Ambon with 45 float damage. No bombardment took place at Biak, likely helping achieve the results we got there.
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S DEI: [/font] The continued build-up of Darwin shows about 15 PT boats now there, plus some DDs, all protecting transports and tankers, with 200+ fighters now supporting. I'll keep looking for opportunities. I have a two CA, one CL 4 DD SAG hovering near Lautern.
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BURMA: [/font] Another big strike at Rangoon meets around 50 fighters in the air, only the Irvings dedicated night fighters, and still manages to inflict major damage to the fields and the airframes on the ground. The bombers also shoot down about 20 fighters in the air. At night.
Today the fields were not overstacked at all, being at around 420 planes on a level 9 base. This pretty much confirms that the kinds of night attacks allowed in game can shut a massive field complex in two days, and here destroy over 200 fighters in the process. This doesn't seem quite right to me, but I also feel weird asking Jocke for a stop to this, as it's a valid Allied tactic.
I have to figure out some way to adjust and combat the use of night bombing missions now. Improved night fighters are a long way off, so this will rob ably mean Ill have to keep most planes far back from the front and use surprise tactics in moving them forward.
In other distressing news a pile of Allied troops has moved from Mandalay toward Lashio, or most likely to combat the troops dug in on the yellow road from Taung Gyi to Lashio. Looks like about 60k, likely meaning about 2-3k AV, which if ti moves toward my position will most likely push us back with high losses. The troops on the road one hex from Lashio will attempt a move toward Taung Gyi to add to that position. More will file down from Lashio on the other yellow road to also join in. I'll abandon Lashio if he moves that way. The line in the sand is in front of Paoshan, and there is little hope of him moving through the mountains into China. I can put 3k AV there with 6 forts in mountain territory and hold forever, most likely.
Some Peggys bombed his stack to try to slow them, but not sure if only 8 planes will do enough there.
Also, I moved one tank regiment into the supply line from Ramree, which Jocke had for the second time left unoccupied. By the time they arrived he also had another unit in the hex. I'm not sure if this will inhibit supply flow or not, but it was worth a shot.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR April 1, 44
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Biak at 87,110, Range 12,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Shell hits 1
CL Naka, Shell hits 1
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 2
CL Kinu, Shell hits 1
CL Kiso, Shell hits 2
DD Yuzuki
DD Hakaze
Allied Ships
BB Indiana
BB Massachusetts, Shell hits 1
BB Alabama, Shell hits 1
DD Gwin
DD Aaron Ward, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Buchanan
DD Farenholt, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Gillespie
DD Sims
DD Hammann
Improved night sighting under 82% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 82% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 12,000 yards
BB Alabama fires at CL Kiso at 12,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Aaron Ward at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CL Naka engages BB Alabama at 4,000 yards
DD Gwin engages DD Hakaze at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...
Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes
Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 13
N1K2-J George x 10
Ki-84a Frank x 17
Allied aircraft
Liberator B.VI x 11
Liberator GR.III x 14
Wellington GR.VIII x 5
Wellington B.X x 8
B-24D Liberator x 13
B-24D1 Liberator x 5
B-24J Liberator x 40
B-25C Mitchell x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 2 damaged
J1N1-S Irving: 1 destroyed on ground
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-84a Frank: 3 destroyed, 13 damaged
Ki-84a Frank: 5 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
N1K1-J George: 3 destroyed on ground
E15K1 Norm: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-61-Ic Tony: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
Liberator GR.III: 4 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged
Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 11
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Liberator GR.III bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 250 lb GP Bomb
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Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes
Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 4
N1K2-J George x 7
Ki-84a Frank x 13
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 14
B-29-1 Superfort x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 1 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 3 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 damaged
Light Industry hits 2
Runway hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bombs
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Sub attack near Manokwari at 86,108
Japanese Ships
CL Kinu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Naka
CL Sendai
DD Yuzuki
CL Jintsu
DD Hakaze
Allied Ships
SS Lapon
SS Lapon launches 4 torpedoes at CL Kinu
CL Jintsu fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Hollandia at 93,114
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 17
B6N2 Jill x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 15 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 6 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
BB Indiana
BB Alabama, Torpedo hits 2 [8D]
BB Massachusetts
Aircraft Attacking:
21 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Hollandia at 93,114
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 12
D4Y3 Judy x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y3 Judy: 3 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
SC PC-1082, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AK Lynx, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Serpens, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Sterope
AK Leonis, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
11 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AK Lynx
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AK Serpens
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AK Leonis
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 4, 44
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Morning Air attack on 22nd Tank Regiment, at 54,49 , near Ramree Island
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
Wellington GR.VIII x 16
Wellington B.X x 31
Wellington GR.XIII x 10
B-25C Mitchell x 57
B-25D1 Mitchell x 25
B-26 Marauder x 16
B-26B Marauder x 14
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 17 (3 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Wellington B.X bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bombs
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Afternoon Air attack on 1st New Chinese Corps, at 60,46 , near Mandalay
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 8
No Japanese losses
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-67-Ia Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 3 x 250 kg GP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on 53rd Infantry Brigade, at 87,110 (Biak)
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 23
B-24D Liberator x 12
B-24D1 Liberator x 34
B-24J Liberator x 74
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 21
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bombs
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Manus at 101,119
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 18
B6N2 Jill x 23
Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 6 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 7 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
LCM 532E
DD William Porter
DMS Palmer
LST-85
LST-81, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
22 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Umboi Island at 100,125
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 12
D4Y3 Judy x 20
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed
D4Y3 Judy: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
LST-471
LST-469, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Talbot
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
14 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
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Ground combat at Biak (87,110)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 13863 troops, 241 guns, 339 vehicles, Assault Value = 612
Defending force 14454 troops, 83 guns, 98 vehicles, Assault Value = 392
Allied adjusted assault: 460
Japanese adjusted defense: 599
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
668 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 66 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
1376 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 88 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 33 disabled
Guns lost 32 (7 destroyed, 25 disabled)
Vehicles lost 36 (1 destroyed, 35 disabled)
Assaulting units:
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
110th Combat Engineer Battalion
1st Cavalry (Spec) Cavalry Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
51st Marine Defense Battalion
98th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd RAA Jungle Regiment
Defending units:
53rd Infantry Brigade
9th Tank Regiment
8th Garrison Unit /2
1st Indpt SNLF Coy
49th Infantry Regiment
Kure 2nd SNLF
I/84th Naval Guard Unit
3rd South Seas Gsn
4th South Seas Gsn
49th Infantry Rgt /1
24th Field AF Construction Battalion
66th JNAF AF Unit
13th Air Fleet
3rd FF Const Unit
37th JAAF AF Bn
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Ground combat at Aitape (95,118)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 11196 troops, 330 guns, 275 vehicles, Assault Value = 394
Defending force 14715 troops, 136 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 471
Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
38th Infantry Division
148th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
1st Medium Regiment
2nd Medium Regiment
Defending units:
Yokosuka 1st SNLF
6th Guards Inf. Regiment
4th Brigade
Maizuru 1st SNLF
3rd South Seas Gsn /2
23rd Field AF Construction Battalion
2nd Naval Construction Battalion
58th JNAF AF Unit
52nd JNAF AF Unit
44th Road Const Co
12th JAAF AF Coy
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Reinforcements: This is great. The float plane unit that had been converted to A6M3a before being withdrawn actually shows up again on the Kamikawa Maru, empty. I just moved it to Nagasaki and it's filled back up again.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]MGB G-238 arrives at Sapporo
958 Ku T-2 arrives on Kamikawa Maru[/font]
Losses: none.
Ships Sunk: Alabama is reported sunk, but it is decidedly not after only two TT.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]SC PC-1082 is reported to have been sunk near Hollandia on May 03, 1944
AK Lynx
AK Serpens
AK Sterope
AK Leonis
LST-81 is reported to have been sunk near Manus on May 04, 1944
Previous report of sinking of CVL Cowpens incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service[/color][/font]
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]The first strategic bombing took place at Rangoon on the 3rd, where B-29s hit the light industry, destroying all 40 points in one night! Hmmmmm. Not much to do about that. [/font]
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"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
