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

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]CAUGHT UP[/font]
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At last I had a few moments to get this game back on track in the AAR. I don't plan to fall a month behind again.

Now come the hard choices.

Where to send my meager mid-42 defensive troops, as Torsten has every advantage and could hit anywhere as of tomorrow?

What lines to hold and what to give up as untenable in a game without the KB?

How to maximize what I have with LBA and organize around the most critical areas a mess of mutually supporting bases?

How to capitalize n the one advantage I have in 42, which is production of more good airframes?

I will post maps this weekend to update all theatres.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]1 -2 August 1942[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] The Allied subs finally got a decent hit, sinking a big 12 knot TK near Balikpapan. ASW DDs are on the way.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI: [/font] Troops moving to defensive positions on Java and Sumatra. Only a few more dots to acquire.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] Big air strikes hit Chikhiang. I'll go for supply here for a while, start bombarding and see what kind of results we're getting.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PACIFIC: [/font] Nothing.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] On the first a set of sweeps went over Cox's Bazaar dealing out pain to the Allied CAP. This was the first concentrated Tojo outing and it was very successful. The follow-up bombing proved ineffective, and I need more air support in the Burma area to really operate enough bombers to make a difference. Still a good day with a total loss count of 25:54, IJ/Allied. The next day saw another night strike at Magwe hitting oil, and one Hurri sweep over Schwebo picking off two bleeding zeros. If he tries that again there will be a surprise in one group of zeros at range 0 on 60% CAP at 22k, just above his sweeps.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR August 1, 42
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Morning Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 42



Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIa Trop x 4
Hurricane IIb Trop x 7
Mohawk IV x 7
Kittyhawk IA x 5
P-39D Airacobra x 20
P-40E Warhawk x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIa Trop: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
Mohawk IV: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet

CAP engaged:
No.17 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIa Trop (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 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
No.67 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (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 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
No.155 Sqn RAF with Mohawk IV (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
No.14 Sqn RNZAF with Kittyhawk IA (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
49th FG/7th FS with P-40E Warhawk (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, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
35th FG/40th FS with P-39D Airacobra (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 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (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, 0 being recalled, 7 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes

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Morning Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 42

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 4
Mohawk IV x 1
Kittyhawk IA x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
33 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet

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Morning Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 93 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 29
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 67
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 25

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 1


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Mohawk IV: 1 destroyed on ground
Lysander II: 1 destroyed on ground


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

Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
29 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23

Allied aircraft
Lysander II x 21


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Lysander II: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged

Oil hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Lysander II bombing from 6000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 100 lb GP Bomb
7 x Lysander II bombing from 6000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 100 lb GP Bomb

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR August 2, 42
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Night Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7


Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 3
Blenheim IV x 19
Hudson I x 9
B-17E Fortress x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Blenheim I bombing from 6000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
9 x Hudson I bombing from 6000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
3 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
City Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
16 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Sub attack near Balikpapan at 66,97

Japanese Ships
TK San Diego Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS W-14
AO Shiretoko
PB Kaiun Maru
PB Eifuku Maru

Allied Ships
SS O21

SS O21 launches 4 torpedoes at TK San Diego Maru
O21 diving deep ....

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Morning Air attack on Shwebo , at 59,45

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 12


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Hurricane IIb Trop sweeping at 20000 feet *

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Here is the situation in Burma. I will not play forward too far, and I'l likely not put the same focus on stopping the Allies on the ground here as he has every advantage in landing behind the front. [/font]
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]South Pacific[/font]
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Not much happening here. My entire strategy here is about a deeper defense.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]S DEI/OZ[/font]
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This NW OZ invasion has moved like molasses, but hasn't been challenged, so I haven't stepped up the effort. We'll be in Darwin in a few days. After conquering the base I'll get enough here to make a stand, build forts and also acquire Port Hedland, but then sit back and build the DEI. This is just a stalling tactic. I want to make him come overland with little supply or go by sea and risk some important shipping and troops.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]3 - 4 July 1942[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI: [/font] The bulk of the fleet is here patching up and refitting. Soon some will head to the Central Pacific to be some threat to anything he might send out there. Very nervous about that area.

Defensive preparations are underway everywhere. With Darwin in Japanese hands it's all about digging in now.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] Chikhiang is mercilessly hit from the air. I'll bombard on the ground soon to see how the troops there respond. If they look in good supply I'll attempt to move around them, heading to Tuyun or up the yellow road between. I'm sending a brigade to head for Mangtze as well. Trouble is I'll need a field there to fly more in if I get it. Maybe I'll wait just outside of range until other troops approach from the North toward Kunming if I can get that far. The main goal is to get the mountains, but it may be too late for that.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PACIFIC: [/font] Nothing happening.

My line across New Guinea and over to Rabaul and Namatani is shaping up with base forces and HQs in place. now the troops are needed. This may be moo though if the Allies simply go for something in the Central Pacific. I'll leave the Gilberts/Marshalls to survive with only a naval guard in each base and get more critical areas garrisoned as soon as possible. The Marianas are first on the list, and base forces as well as big engineer units are on the way. Infantry and tanks will be next. Then whatever guns can be scrounged up. It'll be a few months to get it all in order. I hope I have that long.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Massed strikes go for oil again at Magwe, but hit nothing thanks in large part to thunderstorms and in very small part to one vaunted 12 plane Oscar unit flying at night.

In more exciting news our first offensive air strikes hit Cox's Bazaar. It accomplished little but at least served notice that the airfields of India are not safe.

My defensive strategy is developing here. I would like to stall with a few good units in the jungles until I see what is coming. Most troops will stay in Rangoon and Southern Burma. I have a feeling that with superiority on the seas the Allies will attempt landings behind the front in Burma, possibly as far back as Sumatra. Sabang is already well defended, but other bases in that area are in need of troops. There isn't much to go around in 42. Makes me think that if the Allies get an early offensive going and take a few bases, it would be difficult to knock them out at this point.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 3, 42
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Morning Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 111 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 24
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 63
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 21


Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Mohawk IV: 2 damaged
Mohawk IV: 1 destroyed on ground
Wirraway: 2 damaged
Wirraway: 1 destroyed on ground
Lysander II: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Ground combat at 83,40 (near Sian)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3139 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 40

Defending force 12262 troops, 110 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 426

Allied adjusted assault: 1

Japanese adjusted defense: 527

Allied assault odds: 1 to 527

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+)
Attacker: shock(+)

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


Allied ground losses:
1400 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 69 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (4 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Assaulting units:
40th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps

Defending units:
13th Division

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 4, 42
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Morning Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 116 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 24
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 62
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 21

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 3 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Lysander II: 12 damaged
Lysander II: 3 destroyed on ground


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


Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 20

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 27

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Lysander II: 5 damaged
Lysander II: 1 destroyed on ground


Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 7

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

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Torsten is suing all kinds of crap over in Burma. I'm not sure why but it works for me as it get kills for the fighter pilots, swinging quality in our direction in mid-42.[/font]
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[zuluhour]

Not sure if you have some small camera equiped ac to spare for northern Burma, but I would consider posting some at Lashio and Katha (I think its Katha between mandalay and Myitkyina) setting them on recon 2-3. I have tp check the IJAF OOB but we just had a discussion in John3rd's AAR and I believe there is a short range small photo recon ac available to you. checking....

AhHa Idas

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

Not sure if you have some small camera equiped ac to spare for northern Burma, but I would consider posting some at Lashio and Katha (I think its Katha between mandalay and Myitkyina) setting them on recon 2-3. I have tp check the IJAF OOB but we just had a discussion in John3rd's AAR and I believe there is a short range small photo recon ac available to you. checking....

AhHa Idas

Thanks. Yeah, the Idas and Sonias have cameras, but they also die like flies, are very short ranged and aren't' dedicated recon planes, so the effects of the camera will be reduced.

I'm not too worried about seeing large forces moving around through the jungles. My Dinahs are doing pretty well, and I train up pilots for recon so good skill and experience levels, ~ 45/70.

I'm thinking more of Torsten's approach options. I just don't think he'll waste the time going through jungles when he has dominance on the sea already in mid-42. That's what I mean when I say wait until I see what is coming. It'll likely be something along the coasts or at the least down the Arakan road.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]5 - 8 July 1942[/font]
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An interesting few days with the first signs of Allied offensive moves in the Indian Ocean.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI: [/font] Just solidifying positions and trying to get some engineers and garrisons in place. I keep forgetting how little there is available at this stage in the game. The board seems barren after looking at my '44 map.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] As troops shift toward the SW I've begun persistent bombing of Chikhiang to disrupt troops and lower their moral as well as killing supply. Small Chinese units are still trying to harass behind lines, but I've been simply setting a bombing unit on them and letting it run for days until these small units disappear. He'll have more to feed soon.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PACIFIC: [/font] Nothing happening. I've gotten baseforces allocated to all of the Marianas and engineer units to all of the big ones. infantry will be coming soon.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] It's getting interesting over here. I began offensive missions against Chittagong on the 6th. Many sweeps eventually wore the massed defenders down and got about 1.5:1 on the day in spite of 110+ fighters on CAP. THe poor quality airframes really are hurting him. I also switched out the best pilots from all groups so they wouldn't die over enemy territory and to get some younger fresh jocks trained up and experienced. Worked so far with many new 60+ exp pilots after the day.

On the 8th I repeated the same and met 130+ fighters but did even better getting 2:1 for the day. Some 50 2E flew in (without escort, somehow not lining up) and bombed the fields after, using 7 bombers in the process. Altogether good work and should give us a leg up on both pilots and pools for the coming weeks.

The Allies also made a move, with CVs and surface elements showing up off the Andamans and invading Little Andaman on the 7th. The base had just flipped to our possession, so I sent in troops to defend by airlift in case he didn't bring enough thinking we had no fleet. Sure enough, looks like only base forces. Our paras did well, fighting off the base force units. I now must what to fly in supply and reduce disruption before going all out and trying to get this back. If he really wants it he'll get it, but I'll try to thwart him here.

I sent out two TFs from Singers; one big SAG with all four Kongos and the Yamato, another big SAG with 5 CA and 5 DD. They'll move up to around Sabang and Georgetown to see what happens. Our two CVs are still in port at Victoria Point. A ton of fighters are there and I moved more in, including Nicks for night defense as he's shown a fondness for night attacks so far. There is a DD TF on patrol in the hex in case surface ships move in, and Kates will be on night attack with TT as I can't let any fighters off of CAP duty to escort. Looks like interesting times!
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 6, 42
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Morning Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45


Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 12
Hurricane IIa Trop x 5
Hurricane IIb Trop x 14
Mohawk IV x 16
Kittyhawk IA x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 33
P-40E Warhawk x 25


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar II: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
Mohawk IV: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
No.803 Sqn FAA with Fulmar II (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 2 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
No.17 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIa Trop (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
No.67 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 3 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 23000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
No.155 Sqn RAF with Mohawk IV (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 3 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
No.14 Sqn RNZAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 2 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 23000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
49th FG/7th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 5 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
35th FG/40th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 24000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes


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Morning Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 36



Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 10
Hurricane IIa Trop x 4
Hurricane IIb Trop x 12
Mohawk IV x 13
Kittyhawk IA x 11
P-39D Airacobra x 22
P-40E Warhawk x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk IA: 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 22000 feet

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Morning Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 15 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 30



Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 9
Hurricane IIa Trop x 3
Hurricane IIb Trop x 7
Mohawk IV x 13
Kittyhawk IA x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 14
P-40E Warhawk x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar II: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
Mohawk IV: 2 destroyed
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet

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Morning Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 42



Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 5
Hurricane IIa Trop x 3
Hurricane IIb Trop x 5
Mohawk IV x 9
Kittyhawk IA x 5
P-39D Airacobra x 8
P-40E Warhawk x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar II: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIa Trop: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 2 destroyed
Mohawk IV: 2 destroyed
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet

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Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7583 troops, 51 guns, 146 vehicles, Assault Value = 347

Defending force 772 troops, 3 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 237

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 237 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Darwin !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

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


Allied ground losses:
655 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 72 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Units destroyed 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
113th Infantry Regiment
Maizuru 2nd SNLF
8th Tank Regiment
16th Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
Northern Territory
Emery Point Fortress

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 7, 42
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Amphibious Assault at Little Andaman (44,59)

TF 181 troops unloading over beach at Little Andaman, 44,59


Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Lewis AAMG (x2) lost in surf during unload of 118th RAF Base Force
8 Aviation Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 106th RN Base Force /2

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 8, 42
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Morning Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29

Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 12
Hurricane I Trop x 16
Hurricane IIa Trop x 3
Mohawk IV x 16
Kittyhawk IA x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 50
P-40E Warhawk x 31


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar II: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
No.803 Sqn FAA with Fulmar II (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 7 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
No.17 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIa Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
No.30 Sqn RAF with Hurricane I Trop (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 10 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 29700 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 24000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
No.146 Sqn RAF with Mohawk IV (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 10 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
No.14 Sqn RNZAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
28th CG/11th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 15 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
35th FG/40th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 16 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 23000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 16 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 24000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
23rd FG/75th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 7 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 41

Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 11
Hurricane I Trop x 14
Hurricane IIa Trop x 2
Mohawk IV x 16
Kittyhawk IA x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 40
P-40E Warhawk x 26


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar II: 1 destroyed
Hurricane I Trop: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIa Trop: 1 destroyed
Mohawk IV: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet *

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 38

Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 8
Hurricane I Trop x 12
Hurricane IIa Trop x 1
Mohawk IV x 9
Kittyhawk IA x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 32
P-40E Warhawk x 13


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane I Trop: 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed


Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 33


Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 7
Hurricane I Trop x 6
Mohawk IV x 7
Kittyhawk IA x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 12
P-40E Warhawk x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar II: 3 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet *

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 12

Allied aircraft
Hurricane I Trop x 2
Mohawk IV x 4
Kittyhawk IA x 5
P-39D Airacobra x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 3


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane I Trop: 1 destroyed
Mohawk IV: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 43 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 35



Allied aircraft
Hurricane I Trop x 1
Kittyhawk IA x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 2


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane I Trop: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
35 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 29
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 24
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 26



Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 42

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
26 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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

Ground combat at Chihkiang (78,50)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 54052 troops, 500 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 2939

Defending force 90279 troops, 512 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3257


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

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

Ground combat at Little Andaman (44,59)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 789 troops, 21 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 15

Defending force 347 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 26

Allied adjusted assault: 2

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

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


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


Assaulting units:
118th RAF Base Force
221 Group RAF /1
106th RN Base Force /1

Defending units:
143rd Infantry Rgt /1
Yokosuka 1st SNLF /1


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

Ground combat at Little Andaman (44,59)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 342 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 26

Defending force 1508 troops, 25 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 15

Japanese adjusted assault: 19

Allied adjusted defense: 23

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)


Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
143rd Infantry Rgt /1
Yokosuka 1st SNLF /1

Defending units:
221 Group RAF /1
118th RAF Base Force
106th RN Base Force /1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Even though we're playing with the modified 2nd best maneuver HR, where the defensive CAP is not limited by altitude restrictions, the Tojo is still having it's way over Burma. [8D][/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]ANDAMAN SEA[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

As usual after a successful battle I notice my opponent has written a note in his AAR after weeks away. [;)]I'm not doing much better with this one to be honest. Too much going on.

There has been a series of battle in the Andamand Sea. While I've done well against invasion forces, likely sinking a full combat unit and several base forces on troop ships, my attempts to engage the US CVs have led to misery. I've literally had four days strait of sending combat ships right at them, crossing paths, and making no intercept, then having not LR CAP fail. Even 4 fast BBs with Tanaka on board set to react at 6 hexes sailed right past them and ended up on the other side only to retreat right back past and get bombed on the other side where they started. It's infuriating, and has my moral pretty low. I'd say I'm about EXP 54, FATIGUE 79, MORAL 35 right now. Not much of a fighting unit.

I will go on, I'll just do it without BB Kongo, three CAs, a few more CLs and about five DDs. I've just had a 'come to jesus' turn where I increased all air production and bought out as many engineers and airbases as I can to be sent to the DEI. There will be no naval intervention of the allied progress in this game from here on out. I will fight in the air and on the ground. All IJN vessels will be parked in port unless escorting oil/fuel or resources/troops to and from the front. This will save fuel and make sure whatever I kill from now on will not be at a disadvantage.

I'm convinced he will come for the DEI. Why else would the USN fleet be here? Why else would he have gone for the Andamans?

I will pull back from all of the Pacific to the North New Guinea-Rabaul line and build heavily there and in the Marinanas, Bonins and Kuriles. The Gilberts/Marshalls will be left with one naval guard on each and nothing else. most are at level 3-4 forts now and that is high as they'll be.

I almost quit this game twice. Once on day 2, once yesterday after 4 SAGs all set to intercept at the spot where the US CVs ended up did not even interact with them and were blown out of the water. I won't quit but I will adapt. This will be a bit different for me, but I'll see how it goes.

[PaxMondo]

Ouch! I went over to your opponents thread to read the combat report ... WOW.

OK, he doesn't post the entire reports, only snippets, so little possibility to analyze. BUT, it looks like you sent SCTF's into an area without CAP and with the enemy CV's. I hate to say this, but ...

Kongo's cannot catch US CV's unless he has put some slow BB's in his TF's; they are about 3 knots too slow. If he has completed his first upgrades to get radar, he will see you before you do and can react away with the DD's screening the CV's. The only way you catch him is in crowded areas, like the DEI, where the nearby isles can mess up the reaction. Out in the IO, he has too much sea room.

If I send any SCTF in against CV's, I have to assume they are kami's. Yes, there are probabilities that they will be successful. The issue is that if they meet any other ships or do not destroy the CV's outright, they will have used up too many OPs points to effect escape. They will be in range in the morning. The counter to that is to be able to mount a very large CAP over the SCTF, and I rarely am able to do which is I why I sent the SCTF in the first place. For all of these reasons, I generally use DD's with maybe a CL for these missions. As IJ, you have to try these when you get the chance ... even at 1:5 odds, I have to try.

This is a tough game you are in ... you had a miserable start and this one will be a real chore to finish.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: obvert

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Even though we're playing with the modified 2nd best maneuver HR, where the defensive CAP is not limited by altitude restrictions, the Tojo is still having it's way over Burma. [8D][/font]

In '42, the Tojo is one of the very best fighters around. <period>

As I play the game, I come to understand how truly bad the internal corruption was in the Defense Ministry that they were still building Nates when the Tojo was available. I mean, you read about all the issues, but when you play and see the differences ... wow. Really sad.

As an American, we always like to think that when we ask our soldiers to go to war that we have provided them with the best possible tools. In WWII (I won't comment about now, too political), I can say that we generally did. There are some exceptions, but most of them are not too aggregious (building any P-40's after about Mar 43 is an example). Do I agree with all of their decisions? No. But at least the ones I disagree with have rationale that I have to acknowledge.

I can't honestly say that about the IJ Defense Ministry ... too many really, really poor decisions ...

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Ouch! I went over to your opponents thread to read the combat report ... WOW.

OK, he doesn't post the entire reports, only snippets, so little possibility to analyze. BUT, it looks like you sent SCTF's into an area without CAP and with the enemy CV's. I hate to say this, but ...

Kongo's cannot catch US CV's unless he has put some slow BB's in his TF's; they are about 3 knots too slow. If he has completed his first upgrades to get radar, he will see you before you do and can react away with the DD's screening the CV's. The only way you catch him is in crowded areas, like the DEI, where the nearby isles can mess up the reaction. Out in the IO, he has too much sea room.

If I send any SCTF in against CV's, I have to assume they are kami's. Yes, there are probabilities that they will be successful. The issue is that if they meet any other ships or do not destroy the CV's outright, they will have used up too many OPs points to effect escape. They will be in range in the morning. The counter to that is to be able to mount a very large CAP over the SCTF, and I rarely am able to do which is I why I sent the SCTF in the first place. For all of these reasons, I generally use DD's with maybe a CL for these missions. As IJ, you have to try these when you get the chance ... even at 1:5 odds, I have to try.

This is a tough game you are in ... you had a miserable start and this one will be a real chore to finish.

There was LR CAP set from Port Blair, about 60 fighters, and all of the others from Victoria Point on various TFs when they were set far out into the Andamans. The issue was that the TFs would move out and past the CV position, then back in past them again and be out of the LR CAP range. I guessed right 2 of 3 days about the ultimate position of the US CVs and sent ships exactly there, but no joy.

I get what you're saying about speeds, but remember a slow US BB caught the KB and stayed around to pummel it near Hawaii on day two here. So it can be done I assure you. That would 6 knots slower than KB. The key was op points, and he had other fast ships that interacted with the KB as well. I had three other Cruiser led TFs out there and sent again right across the path (head on and from the side so reaction away shouldn't have mattered) of the US CVs.

I'm not saying I didn't take a massive risk and expose my fleet horribly, but in my position it seemed too good a chance to miss. There are probably other settings that would have worked slightly better, or maybe not and it was an impossibly difficult intercept. I just know what is left after the turn. It would be great if we actually knew the movements during those phases of our ships to see what is going on. It's kind of a mystery otherwise. Just 'hit' or 'miss.'

I did consider these kamis to an extent. If they had interacted with the fleet they should have gotten a few hits at least, slowing things down, maybe setting them up for the next ships through. Several of the TFs were fast CL/DD TFs hoping to get in close in low moonlight and get a TT hit. What I didn't understand either was that the movement wasn't the full flank speed for all TFs, so some made it back under CAP easily while others were left hanging in no man's land. Very weird. Wish I had time to make a map and detail it all but it makes me a bit ill right now anyway, so I'll just move on and become the air minister of a desperate Empire. How soon can I get kamis?! [;)]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: obvert

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Even though we're playing with the modified 2nd best maneuver HR, where the defensive CAP is not limited by altitude restrictions, the Tojo is still having it's way over Burma. [8D][/font]

In '42, the Tojo is one of the very best fighters around. <period>

As I play the game, I come to understand how truly bad the internal corruption was in the Defense Ministry that they were still building Nates when the Tojo was available. I mean, you read about all the issues, but when you play and see the differences ... wow. Really sad.

As an American, we always like to think that when we ask our soldiers to go to war that we have provided them with the best possible tools. In WWII (I won't comment about now, too political), I can say that we generally did. There are some exceptions, but most of them are not too aggregious (building any P-40's after about Mar 43 is an example). Do I agree with all of their decisions? No. But at least the ones I disagree with have rationale that I have to acknowledge.

I can't honestly say that about the IJ Defense Ministry ... too many really, really poor decisions ...

Yes.

This is an interesting fight. It's kind of similar to the actual war post-midway. The IJN is wounded but the air force is stronger than historical for the reason you point out. I will maximize the best airframes.

We'll see how it goes. I am now looking at all the HQa everywhere and trying to see which in the rear can be bought to move to Sumatra, Malaya and Java. I'm almost positive he will come to this area. Torsten is already well into a strategic bombing of the oil in Burma and knows he can land without a KB presence, has the US CVs here, and so he'll likely go for the throat. I need a capability for a KB equivalent at three of four locations in the DEI. It'll be tough to do, but the airfields are there, no I have to get the support in place and build the planes.

[JocMeister]

Your biggest advantage is your air force. Sweep, sweep, sweep and keep his pools down. Now is Tojo time and he won´t be able to match that for quite some time. The first Corsairs doesn´t arrive until 1/43 and its only 30 per month. Be aggressive and take the losses. You can afford it and he can´t. If its within range it should get swept into oblivion.

Oh, and dig in deep. Secure the Marshalls and all the other important bases. Don´t get cut off in Burma! Hang on to Northen OZ for as long as possible. Look for places where you can shorten the perimeter.

Just dig in, let him come and try to counter blow. You can´t defend everything. [:)]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Your biggest advantage is your air force. Sweep, sweep, sweep and keep his pools down. Now is Tojo time and he won´t be able to match that for quite some time. The first Corsairs doesn´t arrive until 1/43 and its only 30 per month. Be aggressive and take the losses. You can afford it and he can´t. If its within range it should get swept into oblivion.

Oh, and dig in deep. Secure the Marshalls and all the other important bases. Don´t get cut off in Burma! Hang on to Northen OZ for as long as possible. Look for places where you can shorten the perimeter.

Just dig in, let him come and try to counter blow. You can´t defend everything. [:)]

Thanks Jocke.

That's basically it. I have to make a steel curtain of wings and bombs around the oil while beginning to protect the islands closer to the HI. I just keep forgetting hoe little is around at this point in game. Man, there is not much to move. I'll keep scraping though. I've already begu nthe pull-back from any extended position. It'll be interesting. A good test for sure. [;)]

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: obvert

I'm not saying I didn't take a massive risk and expose my fleet horribly, but in my position it seemed too good a chance to miss.

Ah, ok. From your original post it wasn't clear that you knew the risk you put your ships into. With that understood, then i sympathize greatly with the outcome. A couple of better rolls and you might have gotten some 14" hits on some CV's ...

ORIGINAL: obvert


How soon can I get kamis?! [;)]

Ha! Something that I both look forward to and worry about. Look forward to getting my best Naval attack weapon. Worry about because it means that the alies are on my doorstep and the DEI is essentially toast ....

[PaxMondo]

Regarding kami's, just one thing to mention that it seems so many overlook: once you convert a group to kami, it stays kami. For bombers that hardly matters as they have no real use except as kami's. BUT, fighter groups. You need a lot of those all the way to war's end. Converting them to kami's has to be done carefully, deliberately, and after considering the impact upon your defense.

This is the reason I don't tend to R&D and build Oscars. It isn't that they aren't a good kami, its that I can't commit too many of my fighter groups to kami. I need them as fighters badly ...

Just my thoughts ....

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: obvert

I'm not saying I didn't take a massive risk and expose my fleet horribly, but in my position it seemed too good a chance to miss.

Ah, ok. From your original post it wasn't clear that you knew the risk you put your ships into. With that understood, then i sympathize greatly with the outcome. A couple of better rolls and you might have gotten some 14" hits on some CV's ...

ORIGINAL: obvert


How soon can I get kamis?! [;)]

Ha! Something that I both look forward to and worry about. Look forward to getting my best Naval attack weapon. Worry about because it means that the alies are on my doorstep and the DEI is essentially toast ....

I was both buoyed and distraught that just before this I did have the 4 Kongos catch the CVs and get to 7k but they didn't score 1 hit on the CVs and fininshed a long battle without firing their secondary 15cm guns! Infuriating!

So yes, I knew I was pushing my luck, but also had enough there to push with to make it a very good chance to intercept again if he stayed around, and he did.

[obvert]

Well, we're locked in discussion about an issue with night bombing now.

Torsten sent everything he had at Mandalay airfield. He'd already prolifically bombed oil fields at Mandalay with massed night attacks, and while I do think they're most likely too accurate in game even in that situation, against an airfield I've come to see this as way to powerful based on admittedly few facts from the war. It seems to me this would have become a consistent strategy if it was as accurate in the war as it is in game. I've looked on the internet and in books in my collection, including one on the 10th AF in Burma, but most of the information is from 43 onward as not much was in operating order in 42 and even into 43 strikes were small and mostly against logistical and economical targets.

This attack was of only 163 bombers, not overwhelming, but a good amount for mid-42. Altogether it put 86 damage on the fields and destroyed 36 fighters on a level 6 field that was not overstacked. If he could do this once a week even I would have to simply relinquish he air wherever he wanted to bomb. We have the no night bombing at less than 50% moonlight, but maybe this is not enough.

My question, and the point we're stuck on, is could this have really been done in 42 and if so why wasn't it done? (Or was it? He brought up Peenemunde, which was much later and a very specialized night raid with specific technology for that raid). If it seems unlikely then how do we proceed? What rules would work to a fair compromise to both sides?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR August 19, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 4
Hudson IIIa x 8
Hudson I x 5
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-26 Marauder x 3


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Hudson I bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 17
B-17E Fortress x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

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


Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-18A Bolo x 5


No Allied losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 12


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-18A Bolo x 6


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Runway hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 7


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses


Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 8


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 6


No Allied losses


Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 8


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses



Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 5


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses


Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses



Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses



Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 7


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses



Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-18A Bolo x 5


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses


Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses



Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 5


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses



Runway hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses



Runway hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 3


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

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



Airbase hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 3


No Allied losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 5


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses



Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses



Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 5


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses



Runway hits 2

[CowboyRonin]

If he's using 10th AF heavies in night attacks, I think that can be HRed. American units were very slow to use nigh bombing over daylight bombing. I would look at restricting any American air units other than XX AF from night attacks. XX Air Force ( the B 29s) did switch to night bombing, so that needs to be on the table.