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

[witpqs]

1943 November 19

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Milne Bay

Our subs got a tanker over night.

Lots of naval bombardments, just all in the Pacific!

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Night Naval bombardment of Saipan at 108,93 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee, Shell hits 1

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Tennessee
Saipan Naval Fortress firing at BB Tennessee
BB Tennessee firing at Saipan Naval Fortress


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Night Naval bombardment of Peleliu at 90,98 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CA Wichita
CA Quincy, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

CA Wichita firing at 16th Army
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Quincy
Peleliu Naval Fortress firing at CA Quincy
CA Quincy firing at Peleliu Naval Fortress


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Night Naval bombardment of Pagan at 110,89

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
SS I-8, hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Baltimore
CA Vincennes

Japanese ground losses:
205 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 17
Port fuel hits 1

SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Baltimore
CA Baltimore firing at 15th Division
CA Vincennes firing at Pagan


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Night Naval bombardment of Tinian at 108,94 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

30 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Shell hits 1

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

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Oklahoma
BB Oklahoma firing at 3rd IJN Special Coastal Gun Battalion
3rd IJN Special Coastal Gun Battalion firing at BB Oklahoma


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Night Naval bombardment of Guam at 106,95

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
CA Portland

Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Salt Lake City
CA Salt Lake City firing at 12th Division
CA Portland firing at Guam


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Night Naval bombardment of Tinian at 108,94

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico

Japanese ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB New Mexico
BB New Mexico firing at 54th Division


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The Empire, happily for us, attacked at Kunming. He was well supplied and we were not. The happiness is that 3rd Commando Bde was passing through to bolster the fragile line to the SE, where the Empire did not attack. That and the outcome. I'm really not sure why the IJ adjusted AV was quite as bad as it was. This couldn't have been an armour-only attack as there were many squads disabled. Whatever the cause, an Allied victory it was.

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Ground combat at Kunming (69,48)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22479 troops, 137 guns, 163 vehicles, Assault Value = 916

Defending force 33895 troops, 247 guns, 87 vehicles, Assault Value = 787

Japanese adjusted assault: 37

Allied adjusted defense: 2209

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 59 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
2052 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 117 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Vehicles lost 50 (6 destroyed, 44 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
491 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th Tank Regiment
51st Infantry Brigade
17th/B Division
2nd Ind.Mixed Regiment
10th Tank Regiment
32nd/B Division
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
3rd Commando Brigade
54th Chinese Corps
9th Australian Division
11th Group Army
11th Chinese Base Force
5th Group Army
Y' Force
6th Group Army
14th Chinese Base Force


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Off the coast of Burma the good news piles up as the IJN carriers hang around to cover a convoy moving toward Rangoon. This next is always bad news, but she is still afloat.

Damage Control parties trapped in flooded compartment aboard CL Caradoc ...

CA Suffolk is in task force with a DD at Ramree, but she has 21-0-9(6)-0 damage and is in serious need of TLC. CL Emerald, an old CL, just finished repairs at Colombo and will make her way to Burma to smite the Kaigun. CL Newcastle will finish repairs at Colombo in 2 days. CL Kenya will be repairing for another month at Calcutta. CA Frobisher and CA Hawkins, both old CA, need 27 and 51 days respectively in the yard at past and future Mumbai.

CVE Battler and CVL Hermes are in task force at Cochin, but the air crew in Battler's groups are hardly trained up to be worthy of the ship's name. BB Royal Sovereign and BB Ramillies are with them. Perhaps they could all sink in the shipping channel leading to Rangoon, and block it? Little else productive on the horizon for them.

BC Repulse needs 22 more days in the yard at Cape Town. BB Prince of Wales needs 17 more days just to get there.

Lots of Imperial sweeps over the battle hex in Burma, and LRCAP-contested skies for our ground strikes. As most of our guys in combat were CAP and escort, they seemed to do alright. See the air losses below.

Three first-wave divisions for Guam - USA 7th ID, USA 33rd ID, and USA 1st CD (i.e. cavalry division) - will begin loading tomorrow. They will be on APA and probably make it to Guam before most other units, and as they have plenty of combat mass to defend themselves they will land and free up the ships as soon as they arrive there. In two days PacOA will begin unloading at Rota, after which those APA will head back to New Guinea to pick up some of the non-divisional units in the first wave.

Here are today's air losses.

[witpqs]

Here is the current plot of the IJN battle fleet deployed against our heroic positions in Burma. The carriers are near Great Nicobar (heading SW) and Little Andaman (heading NW).

[witpqs]

And here are the troops that fought at Kunming today.

[witpqs]

1943 November 20

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Milne Bay

Our subs were 1 for 2 over night.

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Sub attack near Cagayan at 79,89

Japanese Ships
AK Tosan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kyushu Maru
xAP Argentina Maru
xAP Kamakura Maru
xAP Asama Maru
xAK Aobasan Maru
DD Uzuki

Allied Ships
SS Perch, hits 4

SS Perch launches 2 torpedoes at AK Tosan Maru
Perch bottoming out ....
DD Uzuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Uzuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Uzuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Uzuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Uzuki attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub


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Sub attack near Sabang at 45,70

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
DD Kawakaze
DD Hatsushima
DD Hatsuharu

Allied Ships
SS KXVIII

SS KXVIII launches 2 torpedoes at CV Shokaku
DD Hatsushima fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hatsuharu fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsuharu fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsuharu fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsuharu fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsuharu fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsuharu fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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The bombardments went well, with Tinian doing the least (again), and to spare the details:

Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam

The bombs SE of Kunming continue to punish severely. Off of Burma there was action, both at sea and at Rangoon. At sea, just west of Moulmein, an imperial convoy was attacked by Beaufighters without escort, and they paid with 9 shot down and 2 lost on the way home. Some Imperial fighters were lost over the battle hex SW of Toungoo, but many were lost over Rangoon as Allied air units successfully disrupted Imperial resupply efforts. Several attacks also ran without hits.

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 4

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Indus Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Miho Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 13
B-24J Liberator x 10

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Miho Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Daifuku Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Taisoku Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
E Hato

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
5 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 2000 lb GP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Miho Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Taisoku Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Daifuku Maru


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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 68 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Ki-84a Frank x 7

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 9
P-40K Warhawk x 31
P-40N1 Warhawk x 14

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

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 damaged
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40N1 Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
xAK Miho Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
xAKL Ronsan Maru
E Hato

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
7 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 9000 feet
5 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 15000 feet *
11 x P-40N1 Warhawk sweeping at 15000 feet
1 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
8 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 12000 feet
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
47th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
77th Sentai Det A with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Miho Maru


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There is also a large merchant ship convoy spotted west of Victoria Point and heading northeast. It seems this is a very serious resupply effort. The two 21-knot battleships are pulling away from the small carriers (albeit at a snail's pace) and will base at Madras pending further developments. They really don't have the speed to hit Moulmein or Pegu under Imperial air threat, nor Rangoon even if they could get up river. No increase in enemy troop strength was detected with the artillery bombardment at Rangoon today.

Enterprise has joined the other fleet carriers. CL Caradoc is still afloat and should make Ramree Island tonight.

Here are today's air losses.

[witpqs]

A little activity in the Pacific, but not yet sure just what.

[witpqs]

1943 November 21

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Milne Bay

In China it seems that the winged devils have taken most of their efforts to Chungking. While this will destroy more troops on an ongoing basis, it is also better for us as the point SE of Kunming was about to crack.

A good day for a carrier battle! But there were only carriers on one side. Here is all the action in and near Burma, minus ground attacks. The day began with success for our subs.

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Submarine attack near Rangoon at 54,54

Japanese Ships
xAK Indus Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Trident

xAK Indus Maru is sighted by SS Trident
SS Trident launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Indus Maru


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Submarine attack near Rangoon at 54,54

Japanese Ships
xAKL Taisoku Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Trident

xAKL Taisoku Maru is sighted by SS Trident
SS Trident launches 2 torpedoes


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Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 37,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
Ki-84a Frank x 36

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 37000 feet

CAP engaged:
11th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 11 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
47th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 31514.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
54th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (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 12000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 31514.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
77th Sentai Det A with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes



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Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 40,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 5

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 37000 feet

CAP engaged:
11th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters to 34514.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 123 minutes
47th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
54th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 4

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Tonan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Bassein at 51,51

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 68 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 10

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 damaged
Vengeance I: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
25th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Bassein at 51,51

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 7

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 1
Vengeance I x 14
P-40N1 Warhawk x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40N1 Warhawk: 6 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai
CL Tenryu
CL Tatsuta

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
8 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
25th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes



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Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 38,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 9
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 19

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 37000 feet
3 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 37000 feet
3 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 37000 feet



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 53,46

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 22
B6N1 Jill x 6
D4Y1 Judy x 21

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
Kittyhawk III x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 14
P-40N1 Warhawk x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAP Poelau Bras, Bomb hits 1
AMC Hector, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAP Empress ' Scotland, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Mataroa, Bomb hits 2
xAP Rangitata, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
6 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.17 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
No.258 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
23rd FG/75th FS with P-40K Warhawk (14 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
80th FG/88th FS with P-40N1 Warhawk (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
4 planes vectored on to bombers
No.14 Sqn RNZAF with Kittyhawk III (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Empress ' Scotland


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Ramree Island at 53,47

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 13
B6N1 Jill x 10

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
B6N1 Jill: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
LSI(L) Kanimlba, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
LSI(L) Empire Silver, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LSI(L) Denbighshire
LSI(L) Empire Battleaxe, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
No.11 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
23rd FG/74th FS with P-40K Warhawk (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Raid is overhead



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 54,44

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 10
D4Y1 Judy x 15

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 3
Kittyhawk III x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 3 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
TK Buccinum, heavy fires
TK Thorshavn, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
PG Lawrence, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
6 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.135 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
No.14 Sqn RNZAF with Kittyhawk III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring TK Buccinum


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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bassein at 51,51

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 10

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 5

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Tatsuta
CL Jintsu

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

CAP engaged:
25th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes



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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 23

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 3 destroyed

CAP engaged:
11th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
47th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
54th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes



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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bassein at 51,51

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 5

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 9
Vengeance I x 14
P-40N1 Warhawk x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
Vengeance I: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CL Tatsuta
CL Sendai

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
25th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bassein at 51,51

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 2

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
25th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 53,46

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 10
D4Y1 Judy x 15

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 8
Kittyhawk III x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 6
P-40N1 Warhawk x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AMC Cornwallis, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.17 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Raid is overhead
No.258 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
No.14 Sqn RNZAF with Kittyhawk III (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Raid is overhead
23rd FG/75th FS with P-40K Warhawk (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
4 planes vectored on to bombers
80th FG/88th FS with P-40N1 Warhawk (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ramree Island at 53,47

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 12
B6N1 Jill x 15

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 3 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DE Express
LSI(L) Denbighshire, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CLAA Van Heemskerck
LSI(L) Manoora, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
LSI(L) Westralia, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
23rd FG/74th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cuttack at 46,40

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 8
D4Y1 Judy x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 5 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
xAP Jalabala, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AM Cromarty
xAP Rizwani
xAP Egra
xAP Jehangir

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Diamond Harbour at 52,39

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 13

Allied aircraft
P-43A-1 Lancer x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAK Ho Kiang, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
xAK Wulin, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Liran, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Jalapalaka, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
4th FG/21st FS CAF with P-43A-1 Lancer (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 54,45

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 11

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 6 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
YMS BYMS-2048
YMS BYMS-2044

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
No.14 Sqn RNZAF with Kittyhawk III (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000
Raid is overhead



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

As you can see we got the worst of it, although our boys did take down a batch of Imperial planes. See today's ship losses and air losses below. While we did better in the air, there will be more fighters set for wide-ranging CAP tomorrow in case the IJN carriers can sustain another wave, and those torpedo groups that were training will be stood up. Those convoys near Ramree Island are pulling in there for protection, with the meager surface forces available all on watch. CL Emerald, unnoticed a mere 9 hexes from the enemy carriers will make full speed to Ramree. Notably two RNZAF pilots made ace and two others double ace. At Colombo, CL Newcastle has completed repairs and is in company of two DD. Where to send her is the question. On a direct course to Ramree to protect shipping she might be intercepted by carrier air. The carriers might steam toward Madras, correctly guessing that there is very light fighter coverage there. Newcastle could try to intercept, but would she be effective even if she did? She could also sortie toward the gap between Sabang and Port Blair to present the spectre of Allied surface forces there which must be countered. That bluff might well be called. CL Caradoc has made it pier side at Ramree Island and will undergo repairs until the repair resources are sunk or destroyed. Regarding Madras, there is lots of AA (the base's flak value is 53), and a few Spitfire VIII are on duty for CAP (the rest arrive by rail tomorrow, as do two groups of Chinese fighters) and perhaps to escort the Swordfish operating there.

Meanwhile the ground forces SW of Toungoo continue to recover, with those units pulling back to Toungoo for R&R almost there. The USA Provisional Tank Bde is now changing to strat mode at Prome and will join the fight. Three armoured units just pulled out of Rangoon (3rd Carabiniers Rgt, 150th RAC Rgt, Gardner's Horse Rgt) are just passing through Bassein and will also provide increased fort busting. The troops at Rangoon continue to take replacements quickly and stand at 1,787 AV even with all but the armoured Humbers withdrawn from their line. British infantry squad replacements, of course, are rare. Bassein itself will see the arrival of a USA base force tomorrow, adding 72 air support.

Bombardments in the Pacific continued.

Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian

That enemy activity near the Spice Islands appears to have been mine laying, as 2x CM are seen in company with the DD force as it retires westward to the north of Celebes. Some forces for Guam are loaded and other will load in the coming days; D-Day is not yet fixed but with travel times will likely be in about a week. PacAO is now at Rota, and the available air groups slots there greatly increased. While there is also plenty of air support present, the base size only supports 200 air stacking. We moved in three DB units and now have it at 197.

Here is the situation in the Bay of Bengal.

[witpqs]

Here are today's air losses.

[witpqs]

Here are today's ship losses.

[princep01]

Those IJN CV aircraft still never miss. 13 Jills...9 hits. Wow.

[witpqs]

But this turn they miss 100% - their commander held them back!

---

1943 November 22

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Milne Bay

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


The Chinese and Allied forces in China suffered the usual beatings.

There was lots of air action over Rangoon, and the Empire did much better than they had been doing lately, owing largely to the escort nature of many of the Allied fighter missions. Five different merchants were hit by bombs and torpedoes, including one just west of Moulmein. See the air losses below for how difficult the day was. Another batch of very experienced USA pilots is being released to the pools to load up fighter squadrons in Burma. A squadron of P-40K is also upgrading elsewhere to make more replacements available for Burma. Some fighter groups have been rotated in from Calcutta and others will soon, and some attack squadrons also reshuffled.

Another Imperial ground unit, of about 4,000 troops, has been spotted in the open on the road to the battle hex SW of Toungoo. The B-24 groups are ordered to hit it (today they made numerous attacks on shipping at Rangoon, but it seems only the smaller aircraft, with naval trained aircrew, had any success there).

The naval bombardments in the Pacific all went well, perhaps sinking an ACM and two subs.

Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam

Even though most of the combat is in Asia, the most significant actions are embarkation of assault troops for Guam. One division is beginning to load at Shortlands, while two divisions and numerous other units are heading for a rendezvous point near Truk. The forces will be shuttled ashore in at leas the two groups mentioned previously, or in three groups if needed.

A little side show at Milne Bay.

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

Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7369 troops, 77 guns, 135 vehicles, Assault Value = 271

Defending force 2625 troops, 23 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 23

Allied adjusted assault: 244

Japanese adjusted defense: 13

Allied assault odds: 18 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Milne Bay !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
467 casualties reported
Squads: 54 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
15th NZ Brigade
NG Vol Rifles Battalion
49th Australian Battalion
Q Alexandra's (Mtd) Regiment

Defending units:
84th Naval Guard Unit
89th Naval Guard Unit


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

Here are today's air losses.

[witpqs]

The Imperial carriers are heading out of the Bay of Bengal on the route they've used on previous occasions. Perhaps O21 will get lucky this time?

[witpqs]

1943 November 23

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our guys in China took the usual beatings, with 3rd Commando Bde (SE Kunming) hit especially hard. Chinese troops did over-match one of the long-fleeing Imperial units that walked through the jungle from the Lashio area.

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

Ground combat at 66,49 (near Mengtze)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 25079 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 550

Defending force 2882 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 92

Allied adjusted assault: 367

Japanese adjusted defense: 58

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1309 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
905 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
21st Chinese Cavalry Division
91st Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
50th Chinese Corps
97th Chinese Corps

Defending units:
113th Infantry Regiment


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

LTC Yu is on his way toward becoming a superhero. In command of the 9th Separate Brigade, today he woke up and found that lucid dreaming had helped him increase his ratings in Admin skill, Aggression, Air skill, Inspiration, Land skill, Leadership, and Naval skill. We need more like him!

In Burma our B-24 groups hit the 21st Ind.Mixed Brigade just south of the battle hex near Toungoo several times, and by the end of the day it appeared that the unit had turned around and headed south. It was a tough day over Rangoon, as our fliers took losses concomitant with getting the attacks through, which means that some got through and some of those got hits. There were also P-47 and Corsair sweeps over Rangoon that were net positive but failed to find many Imperial fighters (they sent apologies for missing the sweeps, being busy savaging our strikes).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 50 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 7
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 3
Ki-84a Frank x 27

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 2
TBF-1 Avenger x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 11 destroyed

Japanese Ships
xAK Kumagawa Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.

CAP engaged:
24th Sentai/B with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
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 5 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
4th Sentai Det B with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
11th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
6 planes vectored on to bombers
21st Sentai with Ki-45 KAIc Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
25th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
47th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
50th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
54th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
77th Sentai Det A with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 2
Ki-84a Frank x 21

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 5
Beaufighter TF.X x 15
A-36 Mustang x 11
P-40N5 Warhawk x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIc: 2 damaged
Beaufighter TF.X: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
A-36 Mustang: 4 destroyed
P-40N5 Warhawk: 4 destroyed

Japanese Ships
xAK Momokawa Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Yamakaze Maru, Shell hits 7, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Kumagawa Maru
xAK Asakaze Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Beaufighter TF.X launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
5 x Beaufighter VIc bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
2 x Beaufighter TF.X bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
77th Sentai Det A with Ki-84a Frank (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
11th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
21st Sentai with Ki-45 KAIc Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
25th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
47th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
50th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
54th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 1
Ki-84a Frank x 10

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 11
P-40K Warhawk x 14
P-40N1 Warhawk x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Asakaze Maru
xAK Kenyo Maru
xAK Seia Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
1 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
47th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
25th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
54th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
77th Sentai Det A with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
21st Sentai with Ki-45 KAIc Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
50th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 1
Ki-84a Frank x 5

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter TF.X x 16
A-36 Mustang x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
A-36 Mustang: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
xAK Kumagawa Maru
xAK Momokawa Maru
xAK Seia Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Asakaze Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Beaufighter TF.X launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

CAP engaged:
25th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 59 minutes
21st Sentai with Ki-45 KAIc Nick (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead
77th Sentai Det A with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 2
Ki-84a Frank x 24

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter TF.X x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter TF.X: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
xAK Momokawa Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Beaufighter TF.X launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

CAP engaged:
4th Sentai Det B with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters to 3000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters to 31514.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 58 minutes
21st Sentai with Ki-45 KAIc Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
25th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 5 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 30580.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes
47th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
77th Sentai Det A with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 34670.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 55 minutes
54th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 64 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 1
Ki-84a Frank x 22

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
4th Sentai Det B with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
11th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters to 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
21st Sentai with Ki-45 KAIc Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 5340.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
25th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 5 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
47th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
54th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
77th Sentai Det A with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 68 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 1
Ki-84a Frank x 18

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 5
A-36 Mustang x 25
P-40N5 Warhawk x 7
P-51A Mustang x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIc: 2 damaged
A-36 Mustang: 6 destroyed
P-51A Mustang: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
xAK Momokawa Maru
xAK Kamogawa Maru, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Beaufighter VIc bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
4th Sentai Det B with Ki-84a Frank (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 11000
Raid is overhead
11th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
21st Sentai with Ki-45 KAIc Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
25th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
47th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
54th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead
77th Sentai Det A with Ki-84a Frank (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 3

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter TF.X x 16
P-40K Warhawk x 10
P-40N5 Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter TF.X: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Momokawa Maru
xAK Kenyo Maru
xAK Kamogawa Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Beaufighter TF.X launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
6 x P-40N5 Warhawk sweeping at 12000 feet
6 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 15000 feet
2 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
25th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
47th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
54th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes



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

For all the sound and fury, only 4 different ships were seen hit, with two of those seen to sink. The other bit of news is that the Imperial carriers are 2 hexes south of Little Andaman Island and heading SE. If they continue through the Strait of Malacca they will cross the patrol zones of at least six of our subs that are currently on station, and the carriers are well spotted. A reminder that shallow draft is no protection against hazard:

MTB 282 hits reef at 31 , 44

The Pacific Bombardment Brigade:

Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan

The boys probably smoked I-32 at Guam. Milne Bay is now clear of enemy troops. Yorktown and Hornet are heading back to Pearl for upgrades, and so are North Carolina, Washington, South Dakota, and Indiana. The USA 33rd ID continues to load at Shortlands while the other first wave units are en route to the rendezvous near Truk, and some armoured first wave units in LSTs are taking on supply at Manus.

In SWPac three battalions from Darwin and one from Gove will para drop on Kai-eilanden, while three P-38 groups sweep overhead, two B-25D1 groups bomb troops at low altitude, and five B-24D1 groups plus four B-24J groups drop to 5,000 ft to do the same. Four B-24D1 groups, four B-24J groups, and two B-24D groups from the northern side of New Guinea will bomb troops from 10,000 ft. SigInt has only picked up the 2/4th Indpt SNLF Coy moving there in early '42. No recon has been performed prior to this op! Ambon airfield is 81% damaged and there is no enemy air or sea activity anywhere in the vicinity.

Here are today's air losses.

[witpqs]

Here are the two ships confirmed sunk at Rangoon.

[witpqs]

1943 November 24

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Kai-eilanden

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Disaster in China, as the Empire attacked before we were ready SE of Kunming.

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

Ground combat at 69,49 (near Kunming)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3351 troops, 44 guns, 507 vehicles, Assault Value = 558

Defending force 15697 troops, 42 guns, 176 vehicles, Assault Value = 127

Japanese adjusted assault: 140

Allied adjusted defense: 40

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 43 (5 destroyed, 38 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
5220 casualties reported
Squads: 310 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 320 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 16 disabled
Guns lost 21 (21 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 71 (71 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 8

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
12th Tank Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
17th Tank Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
104th/B Division
4th Tank Regiment
41st/C Division
1st Mortar Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
50th Indian Para Brigade
3rd Commando Brigade
1st Army Tank Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
68th Chinese Corps
25th Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
27th Group Army


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

In a few days the 6th Australian Division would have been on hand to blunt the enemy drive. The only movement indicator seen on the Imperial stack is into Kunming.

Our attacks hit nothing but air at Rangoon as the Imperial ships made their way down the coast and the Empire's fliers decided they need some time off. But our long range strikes will send three empty ships to the bottom.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tavoy at 52,59

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 5

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 11
Beaufighter TF.X x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIc: 2 damaged
Beaufighter TF.X: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Momokawa Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Kenyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Kumagawa Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Beaufighter VIc bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
5 x Beaufighter TF.X bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Beaufighter VIc bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 plane(s) with no ordnance
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
21st Sentai with Ki-45 KAIc Nick (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tavoy at 52,59

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 1

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 2
A-36 Mustang x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Momokawa Maru, Shell hits 3, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Beaufighter VIc bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
21st Sentai with Ki-45 KAIc Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 146 minutes

There are some indications of IJN forces heading NW past Great Nicobar.

The Allied bombardments in the Pacific.

Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap

Our clever plan for Kai-eilanden was unneeded. The base was empty, so the sweeps found nothing and the various bomber groups auto-targeted elsewhere. Note that the game engine did not give up free Intel; I was allowed to target Kai-eilanden for ground strikes even though no units were present. Just a few more troops to ferry in, including the engineers organic to the para units.

Guam will be at least three separate landing days just due to juggling so many units without the number of assault ships available in '44. The first wave is on their way toward the Marianas.

Here is a look at the hot spot in China.

[witpqs]

1943 November 25

The Empire captured:
Hami

The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our subs got a merchant overnight.

The Empire continued to march into the hinterlands, capturing Hami, and pounded Allied positions in the mountains from the air. Imperial forces from yesterday's successful attack SE of Kunming are still seen heading toward Kunming but now also spied heading west, in pursuit of the forces they defeated yesterday.

Over Moulmein two of our P-47 groups bested a number of Tojos, but at Tavoy Imperial fighters took a similar toll of our long range FB strikes and their escorts going after merchants seen there. Alas, they achieved no hits.

The Pacific bombardments.

Allied Ships Bombarding Maloelap
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan

So many things and (little electronic) people continue moving throughout the Pacific.

The invasion force for Kaimana sets out from Cairns tonight.

Here is an overview map.

[witpqs]

1943 November 26

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our subs made several tries overnight but were thwarted in all attempts by escorting forces.

The usual damaging air attacks and movements continue in China. The USA transport groups in SEAC are going through their late '43 reorganization, and we are also reorganizing transport patterns. More supply will be flown directly into Tsuyung where it is desperately needed. Tsuyung also remains free of Imperial air attack, but unready fighters there are hardly repairing due to competing demands for supply. Hopefully this will get them airborne. The P-38 group was pulled out a while ago, but all of the unready P-38s are still on the ground. The two Chinese groups have only a few planes ready, and only the British Spitfire Vc group has most in the air - 10 out of 11.

Meanwhile the P-38 group at Paoshan changed to P-47s and by tomorrow almost all should be ready for combat. The group morale is still recovering, no doubt hampered by the small field they operate from. The (wonderfully aggressive) leader has been replaced by one with much better leadership and inspiration ratings. Paoshan will increase to size 4 (probably) tomorrow, and will be built to size 5. Lashio building has been completed, so that base can take in more supply to send on into China. Some supply is being airlifted from Lashio to Tsuyung.

When the P-47 group at Paoshan is deemed ready, they and the Spitfire Vc group at Tsuyung will LRCAP Kunming to ambush the hordes and hordes of Imperial bombers that are slamming our troops on a daily basis. I would like to work it out to get a Spitfire VIII group (the one from Calcutta) involved, but they will probably have to fly from Paoshan with the P-47s. Because they can not fly that mission without drop tanks, that might be a problem. The supply at Paoshan fluctuates quite a bit. The Spitfire VIII group is being staged into Taung Gyi in preparation.

On the ground at Tsuyung, the USA 27th ID will arrive tomorrow, having freed sup significant stacking space at the front but greatly crowding Tsuyung. All forces there will immediately attack an Imperial regiment-sized unit investing the city.

Our sweeps in Burma hit no opposition. Our grounded fighters rested as needed. Our bombers hit enemy troops in the battle hex SW of Toungoo for little effect. In less than a week the four additional armoured units will be in place and the next series of attacks will begin. No sign of the KB or other IJN units making incursion into the Indian Ocean.

We now have three Spitfire VIII groups in SEAC, but slots at relevant bases are hard to come by. One group is at Bassein, one at Magwe, and the most recently arrived at Calcutta. Base building in Burma has been done judiciously due to the supply situation, but now Toungoo and Prome are building toward size 9 air bases so that they can handle more groups. Bassein will likewise be built to seize 9, provided that the front does not break open before that is achieved.

Babeldaob airfield has been constructed to maximum size, 7. Work on the port is already underway.

Pacific bombardments, a little less effective than average today.

Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan

All four companies are fully transported to Kai-eilanden and a massive airdrop of supply is underway.

All three (single) old BB bombardment groups will hit Guam tonight, as will a couple of CA groups. Two surface combat groups will patrol around and near the island (2x DD are sen at Pagan), and the two CVE TFs will take up station at Guam as well. The first wave will go ashore tomorrow, then sit tight until all forces are in place. The forces landing tomorrow are:
XI Corps HQ
4th USMC Tank Bn
33rd Medium Rgt
225th FA Bn
249th FA Bn
2nd Pioneer Bn
1st (Spec) Cavalry Division
7th Infantry Division
There are also a number of AKA filled with supplies, and a separate TF of AK will supplies that will unload at the same time.

Here is a look at the area. There are 5x subs and 1x DD seen in harbor at Guam.

[JocMeister]

You probably know all this already.

The Spitfire VIIs have been fantastic for me as a low altitude CAP/LRCAP fighter. Its speed and maneuverability means they do great on defense. So I put them down on 15-20k and then a top cover of P47s/P51s up at 30k something. This makes any sweepers dive on the Spits which can usually evade. Then the P47s dive down and take care of the rest. I have a couple of Australian x4 aces and 20-25 x3 aces flying the Spit VII in that role. [:)] In fact its the only plane used by the RAAF in my game despite them having access to the faster P51. Buy out any RAAF squadrons you can. Especially those resizing to 24 planes. The British will be of less use with their 16 plane squadrons and they do get loads of Thunderbolts later on. And you can´t really NOT have them use them P47s when they are available! [:D]

I think it was GJ that named the Spitfires the best defensive fighters in the game. I certainly won´t argue with that!

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

You probably know all this already.

The Spitfire VIIs have been fantastic for me as a low altitude CAP/LRCAP fighter. Its speed and maneuverability means they do great on defense. So I put them down on 15-20k and then a top cover of P47s/P51s up at 30k something. This makes any sweepers dive on the Spits which can usually evade. Then the P47s dive down and take care of the rest. I have a couple of Australian x4 aces and 20-25 x3 aces flying the Spit VII in that role. [:)] In fact its the only plane used by the RAAF in my game despite them having access to the faster P51. Buy out any RAAF squadrons you can. Especially those resizing to 24 planes. The British will be of less use with their 16 plane squadrons and they do get loads of Thunderbolts later on. And you can´t really NOT have them use them P47s when they are available! [:D]

I think it was GJ that named the Spitfires the best defensive fighters in the game. I certainly won´t argue with that!

can only agree, the Spit VIII is the best you can get for the defense. While they lack a little firepower, like all cannon armed fighters in the game, they are quite sufficient to take on the Japanese fighters.

[JocMeister]

There is one thing better then the Spit VII though. [:)]

[witpqs]

I'm drooling!

I really want to get the Spitfire VIII into CAP combat but so far most of their action has been sweeping. The smaller unit size is right for China, but I don't have enough supply there even for that.

I'm working on it, but that DAW is opposed!