Rumble in the Southwest witpqs-A vs Andav-J 2011-11-29 to 2017-02-08

[witpqs]

1943 July 25

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Oro Bay

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Big, juicy, and apparently loaded!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Namlea at 76,107

Japanese Ships
AO Kokuyo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tanikaze

Allied Ships
SS Perch, hits 6

SS Perch launches 6 torpedoes at AO Kokuyo Maru
DD Tanikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tanikaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tanikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tanikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tanikaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tanikaze is out of ASW ammo
DD Tanikaze is out of ASW ammo
DD Tanikaze is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub


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

Most of the over crowding condition in Prome has been alleviated and the rest will be tomorrow. That tanker convoy is 1 hex SW Rangoon and heading SW. The IJN carriers (sighted earlier) are 2 hexes NE Port Blair, and small ship TFs are 5 hexes NW Little Andaman and 3 hexes W Bassein. We're out of position to intercept but our subs are on the job. We did, however, induce DAW HQ to expend a lot more fuel on this enterprise than might otherwise have been the case. There is also now a troop-ship type convoy at Rangoon, but it is doubtful we will get much of a crack at that either. Our submarines remain on the case, of course.

And, just in case we can make something of it, Victorious and Hermes will put to sea and head SE Ceylon, in company the POW TF (Repulse is still upgrading) and a TF with 2x old CA and 2x DD. The 3x modern CA and 3x DD at Ramree Island are 11 hexes away from the CVE and will stand ready to rush in the back door as the main force is picked up by search and (hopefully) elicits a reaction that creates an opening on one end or the other.

A number of our units have made Toungoo, and there appear to be only two small enemy units present, which are themselves withdrawing. So without waiting for more forces - or recon - we attack tomorrow.

On the road to Lashio we found this by recon-bombardment. Although jungle-rough (x3), they are moving and our force will likewise attack tomorrow. The point is that the Empire is leaving behind substantial forces to keep the Burma Road closed. This group will be easier to attack before they make it to Lashio and join with others there.

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

Ground combat at 61,46 (near Lashio)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 285 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 408

Defending force 6702 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 219

Assaulting units:
22nd (East African) Brigade
1st Garrison Brigade
26th Indian Brigade
27th Indian Field Artillery Battalion
3rd (Special Force) Division

Defending units:
55th Engineer Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
III./143rd Infantry Battalion

Most of the Truk assault force is both loaded and at sea. The Battle Fleet will depart Nauru this evening and take up covering positions as the convoys assemble east of New Ireland. The invasion for Talasea should pass before the assembly is complete, so as the fleet moves north in the vicinity of Kavieng it might be mistaken for an invasion of Rabaul. There has been no bombing of Truk so far.

Enterprise is out of dry dock and will put to sea to join the fleet near Truk. CV Nanumea is just approaching Christmas Island and will be too late to join the party. BB Oklahoma is just passing Tabiteuea and will increase Short's Long Guns by 50% before they leave to join the rest of the Battle Fleet.

Here is an overview map. Look for the contacts as described above in the Indian Ocean.

[witpqs]

1943 July 26

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Lihir
Toungoo

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Chengtu held by a hair.

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

Ground combat at Chengtu (75,41)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 66050 troops, 538 guns, 60 vehicles, Assault Value = 1895

Defending force 27712 troops, 155 guns, 68 vehicles, Assault Value = 349

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 1343

Allied adjusted defense: 525

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2715 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 269 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3536 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 149 disabled
Non Combat: 33 destroyed, 59 disabled
Engineers: 21 destroyed, 26 disabled

Assaulting units:
35th/A Division
104th/A Division
110th/A Division
34th/B Division
13th/A Division
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
39th Division
41st/B Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Infantry Regiment
110th/C Division
31st Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
26th Chinese Corps
17th Construction Regiment
81st Chinese Corps
5th Construction Regiment
38th Chinese Corps
7th Construction Regiment
13th Construction Regiment
10th Construction Regiment
11th Construction Regiment
33rd Base Group
Fourteenth USAAF
16th Construction Regiment
60th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Base Force
3rd Chinese Base Force


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

Ground combat at 79,35 (near Lanchow)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13437 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 418

Defending force 5155 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 34

Japanese adjusted assault: 143

Allied adjusted defense: 34

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1445 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 104 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
66th Infantry Brigade
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
9th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps


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

Over Prome Tojo and Oscar sweeps got the better of our CAP, taking down 8x Hurricane IIc, 10x P-40K, and 3x P-40N1. The defenders scrapped and clawed, accounting for 5x Tojo and 5x Oscar.

On the ground, the Empire also did well near Lashio, which was mostly expected.

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

Ground combat at 61,46 (near Lashio)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13599 troops, 178 guns, 137 vehicles, Assault Value = 407

Defending force 6702 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 219

Allied adjusted assault: 203

Japanese adjusted defense: 994

Allied assault odds: 1 to 4

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
262 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
750 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 134 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st Garrison Brigade
22nd (East African) Brigade
26th Indian Brigade
27th Indian Field Artillery Battalion
3rd (Special Force) Division

Defending units:
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
55th Engineer Regiment
III./143rd Infantry Battalion

But at Toungoo we prevailed, which means that in addition to punishing enemy units we seized valuable supply (almost 8,800 tons).

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

Ground combat at Toungoo (57,50)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35526 troops, 361 guns, 302 vehicles, Assault Value = 983

Defending force 1320 troops, 11 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 44

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 865

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 288 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Toungoo !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1359 casualties reported
Squads: 50 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
93 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
13th Indian Brigade
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion
20th Indian/A Division
14th Indian Division
17th Indian Division
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
20th Indian/C Division

Defending units:
I./143rd Infantry Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion


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

At sea, the IJN CVE TF has slipped search coverage, and so has the tanker TF. The two small combat TF are still at sea, the troop-ship TF is still at Rangoon, and an xAP convoy is also there. Tomorrow 3x P-47 squadrons will sweep Rangoon.

It looks like final assembly of the Truk invasion forces at sea will be in three days. Then three more days to arrive vicinity of Truk, and D-Day on the fourth day. So now we are at D-7, possibly D-8 accounting for slack (escort refueling and so on).

Here is a look at most of Burma and part of China.

[witpqs]

1943 July 27

The Empire captured:
Chengtu

The Allies captured:
Vanimo

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Talasea

When Chengtu finally fell it fell hard.

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

Ground combat at Chengtu (75,41)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 64222 troops, 538 guns, 60 vehicles, Assault Value = 2094

Defending force 24763 troops, 154 guns, 67 vehicles, Assault Value = 171

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 1221

Allied adjusted defense: 135

Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Chengtu !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
A-29A Hudson: 1 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
529 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 85 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
24838 casualties reported
Squads: 474 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1587 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 177 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 198 (198 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 71 (71 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 15

Assaulting units:
110th/A Division
35th/A Division
37th Division
104th/A Division
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
34th/B Division
39th Division
3rd Infantry Regiment
41st/B Division
13th/A Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
110th/C Division
31st Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
7th Construction Regiment
26th Chinese Corps
81st Chinese Corps
13th Construction Regiment
38th Chinese Corps
10th Construction Regiment
17th Construction Regiment
16th Construction Regiment
1st Chinese Base Force
Fourteenth USAAF
33rd Base Group
60th Chinese Corps
5th Construction Regiment
11th Construction Regiment
3rd Chinese Base Force


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

This is what recon-bombardment shows SE Prome.

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

Ground combat at 55,51 (near Prome)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12415 troops, 218 guns, 147 vehicles, Assault Value = 2269

Defending force 39023 troops, 367 guns, 91 vehicles, Assault Value = 1157

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

Assaulting units:
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
111th LRP Brigade
150th RAC Regiment
255th Armoured Brigade
Gardner's Horse Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
3rd Cavalry Regiment
1st Army Tank Regiment
7th Indian Division
77th LRP Brigade
18th British Division
254th Armoured Brigade
50th Tank Brigade
5th Indian Division
XV Indian Corps

Defending units:
2nd Guards Division
9th Division
33rd Division
19th Tank Regiment
21st Fld AA Gun Co
35th Fld AA Gun Co
16th AA Regiment

Our sweeps over Rangoon (and P-40K over Pegu) did very well. Only the Oscar were not around and are probably flying from Moulmein. They did well in their own sweep of Prome, but the single Tojo sweep of Prome which came after the Tojos (and Nicks) took a beating on their home turf went against them. Many of our 2EB and 4EB hit Lashio airfield, doing great damage and also inflicting a nice tally of supply hits.

All Imperial shipping previously seen in the Indian ocean has disappeared, and one new TF has been spotted. The IJN has another small-ship TF on guard duty 13 hexes out of Sabang (11 W + 2 NW). it seems that our raids have prompted comprehensive coverage! The target is only 5 hexes SW of Victorious and company. The old CA TF is being dispatched to smite the watchers, and the carriers and POW will wait on their return path to cover them.

Our forces have landed on Talasea and will seize it tomorrow. The fast BB TF has been sighted (weakly, though), so hopefully the Gasmata/Talasea operation will provide any needed misdirection.

Here is a look at the falling of the Tojos (finally). We still lost ground point-wise with the fall of Chengtu.

[witpqs]

1943 July 28

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Talasea

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


We did OK in defending another armour-heavy IJA attack in China. The squads destroyed are fewer mouths to feed.

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

Ground combat at 71,48 (near Kunming)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13716 troops, 146 guns, 377 vehicles, Assault Value = 490

Defending force 132324 troops, 204 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3009

Japanese adjusted assault: 87

Allied adjusted defense: 583

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 6

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

Japanese ground losses:
1622 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 58 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 50 (22 destroyed, 28 disabled)
Vehicles lost 107 (2 destroyed, 105 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2538 casualties reported
Squads: 131 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 33 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
10th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
66th Infantry Regiment
22nd/A Division
11th Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
116th/B Division
21st Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
91st Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
97th Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
70th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
24th Chinese Corps
31st Chinese Corps
46th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
120th Red Chinese Division
115th Red Chinese Division
67th Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
52nd Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
21st Group Army
20th Group Army
Lusu War Area
3rd War Area
57th AT Gun Regiment
9th Group Army
19th Group Army
1st Artillery Regiment
4th War Area
16th Group Army
35th Group Army
9th War Area
56th AT Gun Regiment

Our CAs failed to find the IJN pickets, and search has lost them. As far as we know, though, none of our TFs has been spotted either. They will RTB. The troop-type ship TF is still at Rangoon. Heavy weather stopped further bombing of Lashio and limited sweeps of Rangoon and Pegu. We still took a large toll of the Tojos in the area, as seen in the pic at the end.

The Truk invasion forces and battle fleet are not spotted at all this turn. That will probably change as they begin moving forward tonight. The transports for the 3x NZ armour units are slower and so those units might land a day later, but AFAIK there is no mandatory shock attack at Truk. I hope that's correct. Tomorrow the 4EB at Kavieng and Manus will continue bombing Rabaul, and only change targets to Truk when the invasion force is spotted. Enterprise is two days south of Shortlands and will catch up to the battle in progress.

Here is that pic of today's air losses.

[witpqs]

1943 July 29

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Mussau Island

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


We gained some Intel (recon-bombardment) on what we currently face SE Toungoo. There are Imperial units still coming down the road to the east that might join the party.

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

Ground combat at 56,51 (near Toungoo)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6907 troops, 87 guns, 91 vehicles, Assault Value = 990

Defending force 15303 troops, 180 guns, 51 vehicles, Assault Value = 428

Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion
20th Indian/A Division
13th Indian Brigade
17th Indian Division
14th Indian Division
20th Indian/C Division

Defending units:
14th Division
44th Field AA Battalion
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
39th Field AA Machinecannon Company
13th Field Construction Battalion

I am pausing the offense in an attempt to get sufficient supply stockpiled at Prome to upgrade the infantry squads in the three Australian divisions. Meanwhile our air strikes on Lashio went through under fairer skies and scored a number of supply hits. The airfield itself is heavily damaged.

The Truk invasion forces and battle fleet are not seen by enemy search as far as we know. If fact, we sent two TFs, one CA-based and one CL-base, NW past the New Guinea coast. The one farthest from the coast (the CAs) has been spotted at DL 6/6. In return, our search sees 3 ships including an AO at Woleai. Our task force being seen might lead DAW HQ to suspect an operation underway toward Biak (and indeed that is a future target). The presence of an AO at Woleai might mean that IJN carriers are nearby. The CAs will try a full speed intercept at Woleai, just on the chance that they can pick off an AO or some. The invasion fleet will move on, with tomorrow being D-2. Small ASW and surface forces that had been protecting the waters around Ponape will move to join them, as will the CL-based TF currently near Hollandia. As the convoys are sure to be spotted tomorrow, the 4EB will commence bombing of Truk's ports. This will be harder on the 4EB than striking the airfield and quickly reducing fighter opposition, but is designed to suppress the shore batteries that are expected to take a toll of our still too scarce assault shipping.

Enterprise will stop at Shortlands tomorrow to refuel and then proceed on to find the fleet. Nanumea will be about 80nm east of Nanumea tomorrow and will refuel at Nauru before proceeding. The two new CVL will refuel at Christmas Island tomorrow and continue on. A group of cruisers and destroyers making their way back from repairs and refits at Pearl Harbor is a long two days out of Nauru.

[witpqs]

1943 July 30

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


This day the Empire did better than us in the air because of success in the air battle over Truk, but it was still a good turn for us overall. It started well.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Woleai at 101,103, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Tama, Shell hits 12, heavy fires
AO Shinkoku Maru, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AO Toho Maru, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Northampton, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1
CA Astoria
CA Quincy, Shell hits 5
DD Patterson
DD Preston
DD Reid

Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 3% moonlight: 5,000 yards
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 5,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 5,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Quincy at 5,000 yards
CA Astoria engages CL Tama at 5,000 yards
CA Quincy engages AO Shinkoku Maru at 5,000 yards
AO Shinkoku Maru sunk by DD Reid at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Quincy at 6,000 yards
CA Astoria engages AO Toho Maru at 6,000 yards
CL Tama engages DD Reid at 6,000 yards
DD Preston engages CL Tama at 6,000 yards
DD Patterson engages AO Toho Maru at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Quincy at 7,000 yards
CA Astoria engages AO Toho Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Northampton at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Quincy at 6,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Astoria at 6,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Northampton at 6,000 yards
CL Tama engages DD Reid at 6,000 yards
CL Tama engages DD Preston at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CA Quincy engages CL Tama at 4,000 yards
CA Northampton engages CL Tama at 4,000 yards
DD Preston engages AO Toho Maru at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CA Quincy engages CL Tama at 2,000 yards
CL Tama engages CA Astoria at 2,000 yards
CA Northampton engages CL Tama at 2,000 yards
DD Reid engages AO Toho Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Patterson engages AO Toho Maru at 2,000 yards
CA Quincy engages CL Tama at 2,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


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

Northampton will need yard time, but did not even split off from the TF with flotation damage of 38(30). The force has slowed from full speed and is heading for Manus.

In China the Empire punished a stack that had already been retreated and is making its way cross country to try and rejoin the main defense in the mountains. Better news in Burma, where four Australian regiments (1/3 of divided divisions) upgraded their squads at Prome. The 9th Division is now rebuilt with '43 squads. The other two divisions should take two more days (5 regiments remaining to upgrade at 4 per day).

A big surprise to me is that none of the invasion forces and battle fleet closing on Truk report being sighted. There were, however, some sightings of submarines by carrier-based DBs which might have given up the fleet's location. Tomorrow all ships will take up stations 1 hex from Truk, and the Hellcat squadrons from the fleet carriers will make sweeps over Truk to attack the remaining fighters there - 36 seen today versus >=80 yesterday. Short's Long Guns will stay with the fleet and bombard the following night, the same turn that landing commences. Tomorrow is D-1. Enterprise should rejoin the fleet in two days.

The air battles over and near Rangoon gave the P-47 an edge over the Tojos, but the P-47s took some losses as you can see. The losses to Tojos in the 4EB battle over Truk muddy the numbers to where I don't know how many where lost in each theater. The defense over Truk consisted of large numbers of Tojos and small numbers of Nicks and Georges.

[JocMeister]

How are your plane pools looking?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

How are your plane pools looking?

Pretty good, overall. Which ones are you interested in? I've got Tracker open.

[witpqs]

Here is a list of all non-Soviet aircraft with pools of 50 or more.

[JocMeister]

That looks really good! [:)] Can´t see the army 4Es though?

[witpqs]

Here is the next group down. B-24D1 is only USA 4EB with any to speak of. Some B-17E and F will be available as squadrons go short and upgrade to B-24D1 to keep the other B-17E/F squadrons full.

I've been trying to be disciplined about getting the most out of Allied production runs, the idea being that I want to have enough when I need them for offensive ops. With the game allowing increased IJ air frame production the Allies have to manage carefully.

[witpqs]

Here are the USA LB, sorted by availability date.

[witpqs]

Here are the USA fighter pools.

[JocMeister]

Looks like you have really managed your fighter pools well! [:)]

How are you using your 4Es? I never had my pools that low I think. I found out the hard way that using 4Es in a historical manner was impossible. Losses were just too high so I stopped using them outside fighter range. That gives me a slight surplus each month. At least until I forget to change the altitude and fly into balloons! [:D]

[koniu]

Truk have nasty Fortes. It is probably best Japanese CD gun battery in game.
How many BBs You have in invasion. How many Will bombard and how many will support landing ships??

[witpqs]

4EB: I thought my pools were pretty good. I still have one squadron using LB-30 and one using B-24D, although they are partial squadrons. I also have a number of squadrons that have just a few planes that are training pilots. At least half a dozen squadrons are using the B-24D, and the rest B-24D1. Losses have been pretty contained (IMO) as I use 4EB in contested areas only in concentration, and usually where I can sweep with fighters. An escort of P-38 against Truk was a mistake, I forgot the P-38 cold reach there from Kavieng.

The missions are typically to quickly close down an airfield or two - doing it quickly I accept some bad days instead of paying a price over a prolonged period, and hitting troops to support the ground campaign. That one is usually an extended series of missions with stronger fighter sweeps.

In Burma I am going to have a problem basing 4EB because of the supply situation. Even on the coast (Cox's Bazar & Akyab) because those bases need seaborne supply and that sea lift is already busy delivering supply there to be use inland.

This past turn of course I lost a bunch, but those days have been a pretty rare day so far. I don't think I will need to fly against Truk for long, and more than half its Scouted fighter strength disappeared on that first day.

[witpqs]

I lost 6 or 7 BB at Pearl Harbor. There are currently 2 old BB repairing/refitting on the West Coast, and 3 are in TF with the invasion fleet. I figure to use them to bombard. One of the convoys that will land on the first day has a CA in addition to smaller escorts. I have a TF with 2 CA there and might put one in the other convoy that will land the first day. The Kiwi tanks are in an LST convoy and I might either combine them with one of the other two or put a CA in with them. A couple of more CA will arrive in a few days after getting back to Manus (the ones that just caught the AOs), and there is a TF with several CA just back from Pearl that is farther out (not yet at Nauru). I will also have several new-type CL to use, but at first they are held for surface protection.

I have the fast BBs in a separate TF reserved for surface combat. My search extends well past Truk, but not far enough to ensure seeing a really committed strike coming in fast.

The 4EB hit the port rather than the airfield to try and suppress CD guns. I had to rest them this turn but would have preferred to continue that mission. The old BBs (and various CAs) will head to Kavieng to rearm (after they bombard next turn) while the 4EB attempt to keep up disruption on the CDs. I am landing two of the units that provide shore party, one a pioneer unit and the other an amphtrac unit, so I hope to get all or nearly all of the first wave unloaded on the first day. If I can, with adequate supply, then the CD guns will not be a factor until the first rotation or resupply and by then they will be hit again by naval bombardment and many more times by air bombardment.

[koniu]

I will think about moving one of slow BBs from bombardment TF to landing TF.
He will act ask shell magnet. Truk CD Naval for have 105 guns. half of that is 12cm and 15 and 20 cm.

Instead of adding CA to landing TF better to have BB. BB should be rather safe but for CA it can end bad. I many AAR You can find combat rapport where BB in Amphibious TF is hit 20-50 times. And most of those landings is against weaker CD defense.BB will survive CA not.

[obvert]

At Saipan, which has nearly as many guns, and the same types, with two BBs in each TF and in 44 with the quick unloading ships, Jocke's BBs were hit extensively. Although I don't know the state of them now, the worst hit took 30 and 44 shells and were on fire after the last engagement. Anything less than BBs and I think they wouldn't have made it.

Here is one day's totals.

NIGHT

BB Arizona, Shell hits 21
BB Nevada, Shell hits 6
CL Leander, Shell hits 5

BB California, Shell hits 5
BB Maryland, Shell hits 2
CL Richmond, Shell hits 4
CL Hobart, Shell hits 3

DAY

BB Arizona, Shell hits 9, on fire
BB Nevada
CL Leander, Shell hits 3
AKA Bellatrix, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKA Alhena, Shell hits 1, on fire

BB California
BB Maryland, Shell hits 42, on fire
CL Hobart, Shell hits 10, on fire
AK Menkar, Shell hits 3, heavy fires

[witpqs]

1943 July 31

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Arawe

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


The Empire is pressing hard in the mountains. Maybe they think I can rescue the Chinese forces, which means that maybe I can? OK. I'll try.

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

Ground combat at 71,48 (near Kunming)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11350 troops, 92 guns, 805 vehicles, Assault Value = 833

Defending force 128373 troops, 161 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2862

Japanese adjusted assault: 115

Allied adjusted defense: 376

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2616 casualties reported
Squads: 172 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 106 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 50 (25 destroyed, 25 disabled)
Vehicles lost 310 (49 destroyed, 261 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1501 casualties reported
Squads: 136 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (3 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Assaulting units:
23rd Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
104th/C Division
22nd/A Division
10th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
66th Infantry Regiment
17th Tank Regiment
36th/B Division
14th Tank Regiment
116th/B Division
21st Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
46th Chinese Corps
31st Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
97th Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
120th Red Chinese Division
24th Chinese Corps
70th Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
115th Red Chinese Division
52nd Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
3rd War Area
57th AT Gun Regiment
9th War Area
21st Group Army
4th War Area
Lusu War Area
9th Group Army
1st Artillery Regiment
35th Group Army
19th Group Army
20th Group Army
16th Group Army
56th AT Gun Regiment

Our Hellcats did about 1.5 to 1 in their sweeps of Truk. I compromised and left them at 10,000ft for possible fleet defense, so I'm sure that hampered them on offense.

The first wave will go ashore at Truk tonight/tomorrow, while the carriers and remaining convoys take up station 1 hex to the west. The refitted cruisers & destroyers have made it to Nauru and refueled; now they set off for Truk. Nanumea will refuel at Nauru tomorrow and proceed on. Enterprise will be at Truk and probably in the same hex with the other carriers tomorrow. The 2x CA (Callaghan) are still on their way to Manus to fuel and arm.

There is radio traffic at Babeldaob, so we will see what develops.