[font="Times New Roman"]16 November - 15 December 1942[/font]
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GAME ON (AGAIN): [/font]After a hiatus Torsten has come back to do regular turns. We trade on average one a day. I've not updated the AAR much but thought I'd take a stab today since the game is still interesting, if slow. After the big move into the Andamans Torsten has been very quiet. He still has a lot of forces in the India area as I've learned through some recent recon, but I don't know the location of the Allied CVs. I'm thinking he will simply wait until Hellcats to do something bigger now.
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SUBS: [/font] Torsten's subs have now largely been neutralized. He has stopped leaving them around the approaches to Kyushu after a few got HIT messages. They still haunt the approaches to Balikpapan, but 4 ASW TFs and two ASW air units are also here, so they haven't hit anything recently.
The IJN subs are concentrated in the Indian Ocean. About 30 are on patrol between Ceylon and the Andamans, and a few more are sitting at Victoria Point and Singers waiting, while a few are farther afield on recon and early warning missions. Only about 5 are in the Pacific, simply to get some possibility of early detection.
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DEI: [/font] Units are very slowly filling in bases to form a defense. Scenario 1 has so few troops that there are large holes all over still.
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PACIFIC: [/font]Some jousting has gone on around Port Moresby, and the Allies have sent about 100 fighters in several times, only to retreat after big losses. We've been getting about 1:1 down here, which is fine. Some Hurri IIc are in the area, which is interesting. He made a move to take Lunga, which was empty, but I've since bombed the fields and troops and the only unit here is a small garrison. He also walked to Terapo from PM but I've bombed that periodically, and it's still a level 1 field. There are four units there and it's easy to sweep and suppress any LR CAP for now anyway. After the latest sweeps I tried got less than positive results he's continued to base 120+ fighters in PM. I'm gearing up for some bigger sweeps with Tojo and A6M5 once the groups have all upgraded.
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BURMA: [/font] Burma has gone a bit quiet. There is an occasional big sweep by the Allies but no major bombing runs. I sense a building of pools and troops. He has taken and solidified Ramree Island, but lost a few transports and 4 APDs in the process.
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CHINA: [/font]This theatre has been the most active in recent months. Torsten has done a fantastic job of stymying my advances. He's got a good defensive line along the Chikhiang to Kweiyang [EDIT] line. I've not been able to break through in spite of weeks of bombarding by air and ground, bombing of nearby bases to reduce supply, and pouring supply in to keep my units well in the white. The Northern areas are static and I won't advance up there, even though there are possibilities. Due to our agreement to have a Chinese Reserve should China collapse there is no point going from the North as all retreating troops could simply pile into the mountains, and once I got to Chungking I'd have to stop anyway to give him the truce area. I'll not make such a compromise again.
It's a fun theatre, and I enjoy the maneuvering that has developed, which still involve bigger stacks as there are no stacking limits. I've got some new ideas, and still have interior lines to use, so there is possibility to get through in the future I think. I'd like to bag a bunch of troops and block the mountains mostly.
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NORTH PACIFIC:[/font] I've not taken any of the Aleutians, and Torsten is building up Shemya and Attu in particular. I'm almost certain there will be a move here at some point. I'll build out from Hokkaido, but it's likely I won't have enough troops ready come spring 43.
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ANDAMANS:[/font] Torsten landed the 100th Indian Brigade on Car Nicobar the last time he sent the fleet over, and it took him a while to extract the unit. I'm thinking this is one that combined into a division and he needed it absolutely, as he sacrificed about 40-45 PBY of various US and Brit models flying them out. I have a group of Rufes on Car Nicobar that basically became and expert group with experience in the 60-75 range during this. That has to be a big hit to his search ability in late 42 as well. I know the PBY are scarce. I thought about letting it continue, but eventually decided to kill off the remaining troops as the Brit replacements are so low as well.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR November 27, 42
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Ground combat at Car Nicobar (44,62)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 12349 troops, 163 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 517
Defending force 1942 troops, 33 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 5
Japanese adjusted assault: 212
Allied adjusted defense: 17
Japanese assault odds: 12 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
340 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Assaulting units:
16th Division
2nd Raiding Regiment
Kure 3rd SNLF
14th Garrison Unit
1st Raiding Regiment
Yokosuka 1st SNLF
37th Const Co
27th JAAF AF Bn /1
Defending units:
107th RAF Base Force
100th Indian Brigade
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100th Indian Brigade Wiped Out at Car Nicobar by attrition!!!
Allied Unit(s) surrounded at Car Nicobar
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 1, 42
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CHINA: This was the shock over the river after a bunch of maneuver and deception which actually led 100k Chinese to move into the wooded off-road hex to the South. Still, even with a supply negative and a 1:1 attack we couldn't break through due to heavy disablements. It's been stuck here now for two weeks as I try to bombard, repair troops and try again. Two days later he had reinforced to 3400AV.
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Ground combat at 75,50 (near Kweiyang)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 107021 troops, 977 guns, 1699 vehicles, Assault Value = 4033
Defending force 66539 troops, 334 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2419
Japanese adjusted assault: 1434
Allied adjusted defense: 922
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)
Japanese ground losses:
16225 casualties reported
Squads: 38 destroyed, 1683 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 128 disabled
Engineers: 47 destroyed, 159 disabled
Guns lost 132 (3 destroyed, 129 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
3379 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 466 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 142 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 39 disabled
Guns lost 35 (5 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Assaulting units:
39th Division
34th Division
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
56th Engineer Regiment
13th Tank Regiment
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
37th Division
53rd Infantry Brigade
57th Infantry Brigade
2nd Tank Division
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
1st Tank Division
15th Division
26th Engineer Regiment
21st Mortar Battalion
Defending units:
55th Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
22nd Chinese Cavalry Division
51st Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
10th Construction Regiment
79th Chinese Corps
65th Chinese Corps
56th Chinese/A Corps
76th Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
56th Chinese/B Corps
14th Construction Regiment
4th War Area
1st Group Army
5th Construction Regiment
22nd Artillery Regiment
8th Construction Regiment
12th Construction Regiment
9th Group Army
20th Artillery Regiment
1st Artillery Regiment
7th Artillery Regiment
18th Artillery Regiment
30th Group Army
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR December 4, 42
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AIR: There have been a few big days and lots of small engagements in both Burma and the South Pacific. here is a sample day that went well but ended up about even in losses overall, as most of these have recently. Our rule that defensive planes can go to any altitude band but offensive planes are limited to 2nd best tends to favor the defender.
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Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 34
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 92
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 10
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 2 destroyed
CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 21000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
27th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (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, 3 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 33000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(21 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 16 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 33000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
85th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
50th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 22 scrambling)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 33000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 23 scrambling)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 32
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 80
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 9
Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 6 destroyed
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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 86 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 68
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 14
Kittyhawk IA x 13
Spitfire Vc Trop x 14
P-39D Airacobra x 21
P-40E Warhawk x 20
P-40K Warhawk x 43
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 2 destroyed
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 5 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
29 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 31000 feet
13 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 31000 feet
CAP engaged:
No.75 Sqn RAAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 37000 , scrambling fighters between 33000 and 37000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
No.76 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 29000 , scrambling fighters to 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
No.60 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 34000 , scrambling fighters between 27000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
12th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 32100.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
8th FG/35th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 24000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
347th FG/67th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 29000 , scrambling fighters to 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
8th FG/80th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 29000 , scrambling fighters between 26000 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 30
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 64
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 8
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 32
Hurricane XIIb x 16
P-38E Lightning x 25
P-38F Lightning x 25
P-38G Lightning x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed
P-38E Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Hurricane XIIb sweeping at 31000 feet
13 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 31000 feet *
13 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 31000 feet *
19 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 31000 feet
14 x P-38E Lightning sweeping at 31000 feet
19 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 31000 feet
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Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 22
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 49
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 16
Kittyhawk IA x 12
P-40E Warhawk x 175
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Kittyhawk I sweeping at 20000 feet *
12 x Kittyhawk IA sweeping at 20000 feet *
23 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet *
23 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet *
25 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet *
19 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet *
22 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet *
17 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet *
17 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet *
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Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 18
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 40
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 17
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 2 destroyed
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Afternoon Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 116 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
A6M5 Zero x 10
G4M1 Betty x 33
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
Kittyhawk IA x 8
Spitfire Vc Trop x 14
P-39D Airacobra x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 9
P-40K Warhawk x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 8 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 5 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40K Warhawk: 7 damaged
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
Catalina I: 1 destroyed on ground
Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 61
Aircraft Attacking:
31 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Here is a shot of China in the middle of the deceptive maneuver and river crossing.I had just sent tanks over to capture the bridgehead. The Allies bought the movement into the wooded hex to the South and I was able to cross with the full Army of 4.1k AV but only got a 1:1 on Dec. 1 with heavy disablements, so now everything is again static. new ideas and movement has begun and I'll update that soon. [/font]
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"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
