Castles in the Sand - Spidery(J) vs MrKane(A) no MrKane please

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe
Shore bombardments seem pretty random to me. I am sure detection level plays a big part, Leader as well. AA and ART seem pretty high priorities for a shore bombardment to target.

Makes sense to target those.

I also expect it is more of the common problem with small units in combat. The game picks a unit at random to target and size doesn't matter for that. So small units suffer as much damage as bigger ones but have less to absorb it.

[Lowpe]

Especially true in ground combats.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Spidery

Is that what you meant or is there something else meant by instructors?

In a pdf either in the manual folder or the beta folder on pilots there is a mention of instructors adding to the accumulators for training.

I take this to mean that if there are a couple of high experience high skill pilots in a training group the rookies will learn faster. I am experimenting with this but don't have a firm grasp if it works yet or not.

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Spidery

Is that what you meant or is there something else meant by instructors?

In a pdf either in the manual folder or the beta folder on pilots there is a mention of instructors adding to the accumulators for training.

I take this to mean that if there are a couple of high experience high skill pilots in a training group the rookies will learn faster. I am experimenting with this but don't have a firm grasp if it works yet or not.

I thought that was specifically to do with "Training Groups" which are the groups received late war and intended to be used for training Kamikaze pilots extracted early from the basic training command. The instructors then are specifically extracted from TRACOM.

I don't leave high skilled pilots in groups being used for on map training except where they happen to be the group leader.

[Lowpe]

This is what I meant...I thought they add to the accumulators, but I see in re-reading it the chance of success improves.

[Spidery]

July 5th 1942

Air Losses: 3 Japanese, 5 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy: La Foa
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

China

Continuing attacks and bombardments.

Landed some supply at Canton expecting that it would flow to Tuyun and the forces in the Kunming/Kweiyang area. Instead, it runs back to Hong Kong! And the forces there remain at less than 100% supply.

Had a look at the state of Kweiyang. When I bombarded some time back there were 1700+ AV. According to records I have damaged about 100 squads and slightly more non-combat. So there is a long way to go. I will have about 1300 AV there when the last forces arrive and reckon I need to reduce the Chinese to about the same before risking an attack.

Burma

Allies try a sweep over the jungle to try and catch my planes. They fail.

Australia

B-17s hit Katherine. Katherine is feeling hard done by.

New Caledonia

Lots of sub attacks and attacks by air on subs.

Arizona returns to bombard so there must be an AKE operating quite close.

La Foa falls.

Ground combat at La Foa (114,159)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4794 troops, 172 guns, 243 vehicles, Assault Value = 190

Defending force 1637 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 41

Allied adjusted assault: 212

Japanese adjusted defense: 7

Allied assault odds: 30 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE La Foa !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
905 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
Americal Infantry Division
754th Tank Battalion
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
181st Field Artillery Battalion
24th MAG
ComAirCenPac
1st Marine Air Wing
188th Field Artillery Battalion
183rd Field Artillery Battalion
1st Marine Defense Battalion
1st US Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
41st Naval Guard Unit

The Allies seem light on engineers. He may have another task force coming with them, or it could be the result of my earlier attack on a convoy that seemed to get many engineer forces.

Elsewhere

Quiet

Engineering

Tuyun expands to level 6. This will allow me to base three groups of 27 bombers plus their fighters here. The two hex flight to Kweiyang does not seem to fatigue the aircraft or pilots much so they can keep 100% active (barring involuntary grounding). It seems too costly to carry on the levels 7 and 8.

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

This is what I meant...I thought they add to the accumulators, but I see in re-reading it the chance of success improves.

Lowpe: Thank-you, I wasn't aware of those details so no I haven't been using instructors. I think it is another complication I will avoid [:D]

[Spidery]

July 6th 1942

Air Losses: 2 Japanese, 8 Allied, 2 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

China

Supply has reached the forces at Kweiyang. Some Chinese forces may have pulled out of Kweiyang

I was trying to get behind his defenders outside Kunming but it looks like he is falling back to prevent this.

Weather prevented air strikes at Kweiyang, otherwise same old attacks.

Burma

Wellingtons hit Magwe at night. Nicks on CAP fail to shoot any down but one is downed by flak and no hits are scored.

North Pacfic

Bombardment of Dutch Harbour by 5 CA goes reasonably well.

Australia

B-17s hit Katherine. He is careful and sends Lightnings on sweep each day even though I have no fighters in Australia.

New Caledonia

Allied tanks have entered Noumea.

4 MTB hit the transports at La Foa. They get 1 hit that sinks xAP Rajula and cause two collisions.

On the way out, during the day, they encounter the Allies again but both forces evade. They are now out of torpedoes.

I-25 gets a torpedo into xAP Aorangi. It is claimed as a kill but no sinking sounds are heard. The ship was carrying some troops. This may be more support units arriving.

Elsewhere

Quiet

Engineering

Quiet

Economy

Port Arthur is short of oil for the refinery, not sure how that happened.

R&D

Mitsubishi Ha-43 to 2/45.
Ki-44-IIc to 8/43 (on track for November).

[Spidery]

July 7th 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 8 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Cox's Bazaar (auto)
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

China

Try a sweep of Chungking but there are no defenders. I wonder if I can try and bomb it some time.

Same old attacks.

Burma

Cox's Bazaar swaps back to the Japanese.

Australia

B-17s hit Katherine.

New Caledonia

RO-61 is lost to attacks by Dauntless dive bombers.

I-8 moves into Tanna and is heavily attacked by AVD and AVP. Despite multiple hits damage is light.

A mini-sub attack is launched against the anchorage at Tanna but fails.

I-155 sinks the xAP Aorangi, carrying troops, a 12000 ton liner. Allied LCU VP losses go up by 25 for the turn. China may account for some of that but it looks like 60 or so devices lost, probably support troops.

Engineering

Just VP gains for both sides.

R&D

Nakajima Ha-44 to 2/43.
Ki-44-IIc to 8/43 (on track for November).

Ha-33 engine pool now exceeds 500.

[Spidery]

July 8th 1942

Air Losses: 3 Japanese, 3 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

China

Last Chinese force has withdrawn from Tienshui. The artillery will move to start reducing the isolated forces.

Artillery has arrived at Kweiyang so will launch an exploratory bombardment.

Burma

Quiet

Australia

Quiet

New Caledonia

Allies launch a bombardment attack at Noumea:

Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 693 troops, 82 guns, 46 vehicles, Assault Value = 328

Defending force 24759 troops, 319 guns, 141 vehicles, Assault Value = 626

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

Assaulting units:
754th Tank Battalion
Americal Infantry Division
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
183rd Field Artillery Battalion
181st Field Artillery Battalion
188th Field Artillery Battalion
1st Marine Defense Battalion

Defending units:
53rd Division
10th Garrison Unit
41st Naval Guard Unit
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
39th Field AA Battalion
11th Air Flotilla
15th Air Defense AA Regiment
37th JNAF AF Unit
3rd Air Defense AA Regiment
9th RF Gun Battalion
10th RF Gun Battalion
32nd Ind.AA Gun Co
4th JAAF AF Bn

He doesn't have enough to take this without a lot of softening up first. This gives me two main options. If KB stops off at Truk to fix some system damage, fix plane fatigue, and upgrade some fighters to A6M5 then it can be in the area in about 2 weeks time. (If sent without repairs it could be there in about a week.) I could send reinforcements to New Caledonia and try to destroy the Allied landing, or I could evacuate.

If I stay I would need lots of bombardments and softening up to clear the Allied assault so that would put most of the fleet in a fixed location for about 6 weeks or so at the end of a long supply line. The Allies could use this to shift their carriers and launch an attack somewhere more important, or could flood the area with subs and try and make it a decisive battle. The benefit would be significant damage to the US ground forces and about 500 to 1000 VP of Allied losses.

I don't need to commit yet so can start preparing for either way.

Pacific

CA's bombard Dutch Harbour again. Not sure this is really worthwhile.

16 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CA Furutaka
CA Ashigara
CA Haguro
CA Myoko
CA Chikuma
DD Wakatake
DD Yayoi
DD Uranami
DD Usugumo
DD Yugure

Allied Ships
AV Tangier, Shell hits 1

Allied ground losses:
323 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 30 (1 destroyed, 29 disabled)

Port hits 15
Port fuel hits 5
Port supply hits 3

Heart stopping moment as Shokaku appears in the sights of SS Snapper, it scores a hit, but lucky it is a dud[:)]!

Near Truk a Helen claims a hit on SS Finback, later sub sunk sounds are heard so that is, probably, the first kill for one of my ASW aircraft[8D].

Engineering

Darwin forts reach 4. Not sure whether to stop there.

R&D

Quiet

[Spidery]

July 9th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 2 Allied, 1 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

China

In the mountains West of Tienshui the Chinese attack. He is heavily over-stacked (stacking limit is 20,000) so I'm surprised he can get adequate supply. Most of these attackers have been shelled for weeks as they retreated through Tienshui.

It goes badly for the Chinese:

Ground combat at 80,38 (near Tienshui)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 64029 troops, 252 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2146

Defending force 20265 troops, 175 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 594

Allied adjusted assault: 159

Japanese adjusted defense: 1615

Allied assault odds: 1 to 10

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

Japanese ground losses:
1344 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 113 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled

Allied ground losses:
6371 casualties reported
Squads: 262 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 18 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
47th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
16th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
42nd Chinese Corps
8th Route Army
19th Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
15th Chinese Corps
2nd War Area
1st War Area
34th Group Army

Defending units:
9th Division
8th/C Division

Bombardment at Kweiyang shows a weaker Chinese force than I expected. A deliberate attack will be risked, just as soon as the forces are supplied:

Ground combat at Kweiyang (74,49)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1944 troops, 152 guns, 160 vehicles, Assault Value = 1182

Defending force 40333 troops, 153 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1090

Allied ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
36th Division
40th Division
59th Division
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Army
12th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
28th Field AA Machinecannon Company
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
10th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
68th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese Corps
4th War Area
6th War Area

Burma

Quiet

Australia

B-17s back in action against poor Katherine.

New Caledonia

I-22 hits but does not sink the xAP Raranga carrying troops:

Submarine attack near Noumea at 114,161

Japanese Ships
SS I-22

Allied Ships
xAP Raranga, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

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

A mini-sub, Ha-7, hits but does not sink the xAP Taroona carrying troops:

Submarine attack near Noumea at 114,160

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-7

Allied Ships
xAP Taroona, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

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

The British bombard Noumea. This destroys the industry so supply will fall.

Night Naval bombardment of Noumea at 115,160

Allied Ships
BB Resolution
BB Ramillies
BB Revenge
CL Perth
CL De Ruyter
CL Achilles
CL Leander
DD Thracian
DD Maury
DD McCall
DD Gridley

Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (5 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Light Industry hits 2
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 7
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 3

Disruption is high amongst the defenders. Allies bombard again, another marine defense battalion has entered the hex.

Pacific

Quiet

Engineering

IChang airfield expands to 7 (I am planning to expand this to 8). Koumac forts expand to 3, not sure these will ever be much use.

Allies have built a level 1 airfield and a level 1 port at La Foa.

R&D

A6M5b now 3/44.

[Spidery]

July 10th 1942

Air Losses: 0 Japanese, 5 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

China

Usual attacks.

Have moved a unit through the mountains onto the minor road to Kunming. Will try to get to the junction first to bypass Allied defenses.

The supply fairy passed through and sent supplies to Kweiyang and other forces in the Kweiyang-Kunming gap.

Burma

Quiet

Australia

Quiet

New Caledonia

I-155 makes two attempts to get at the Arizona task force but DE John Edwards is watching and empties its ASW ammo for minimal effect.

Two sinking sounds are heard suggesting both xAP from yesterday sunk. Victory points suggest some Allied devices were unable to offload first.

At Noumea, MrKane has overstacked (limit is 35000 so 3 Allied divisions should be more than that) and it doesn't look good for the defense:

Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1962 troops, 128 guns, 53 vehicles, Assault Value = 1243

Defending force 24803 troops, 318 guns, 141 vehicles, Assault Value = 626

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

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
1st Marine Division
Americal Infantry Division
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
754th Tank Battalion
2nd Marine Division
193rd Tank Battalion
183rd Field Artillery Battalion
1st Marine Defense Battalion
181st Field Artillery Battalion
188th Field Artillery Battalion
5th Marine Defense Battalion

Defending units:
10th Garrison Unit
53rd Division
41st Naval Guard Unit
10th RF Gun Battalion
39th Field AA Battalion
32nd Ind.AA Gun Co
15th Air Defense AA Regiment
3rd Air Defense AA Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Air Flotilla
37th JNAF AF Unit
9th RF Gun Battalion
4th JAAF AF Bn

Pacific

Quiet

Engineering

Big boost to the Allies VP total as they expand Canberra airfield.

R&D

H8K2 now 12/42.

[Spidery]

July 11th 1942

Air Losses: 4 Japanese, 12 Allied, 2 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Biak(air drop)
Allies occupy: Lifou(auto)
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

China

Sweeps fail to engage at Chungking but then a bombing run meets a training mission. 3 Lancers are shot down for the loss of 1 Lily to flak and 1 to ops. Airfield damage is light.

Attack at Kweiyang goes reasonably well. Supply is low and there is some disruption so may have to wait a day or two:

Ground combat at Kweiyang (74,49)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 38103 troops, 428 guns, 200 vehicles, Assault Value = 1180

Defending force 39652 troops, 153 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1044

Japanese adjusted assault: 2191

Allied adjusted defense: 1073

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
2606 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 117 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 14 (2 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1106 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 117 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
36th Division
40th Division
59th Division
3rd Army
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
12th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
28th Field AA Machinecannon Company
10th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
68th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese Corps
4th War Area
6th War Area

Burma

Quiet

Australia

Quiet

New Caledonia

Noumea is subject to heavy bombardment:

Night Naval bombardment of Noumea at 115,160

Allied Ships
BB Warspite
BB Pennsylvania
BB Arizona
BB West Virginia
BB Maryland
CL Trenton
CL Detroit
CL Raleigh
CL Concord
DE John D. Edwards
DE Edsall
DE Bulmer
DE Barker
DE Alden

Japanese ground losses:
197 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Resources hits 1
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 27
Port hits 12
Port fuel hits 7
Port supply hits 1

Followed by a total flop of an air strike:

Morning Air attack on 10th Garrison Unit , at 115,160 (Noumea)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 13
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
F4F-4 Wildcat x 42
SBD-2 Dauntless x 11
SBD-3 Dauntless x 113

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 damaged
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
SBD-3 Dauntless: 10 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

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

Then the ground attack, the defenders do as well as can be expected:

Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 38920 troops, 615 guns, 414 vehicles, Assault Value = 1255

Defending force 24577 troops, 317 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 620

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 452

Japanese adjusted defense: 763

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1167 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 44 (5 destroyed, 39 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1582 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 146 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 24 disabled
Guns lost 36 (10 destroyed, 26 disabled)
Vehicles lost 69 (12 destroyed, 57 disabled)

Assaulting units:
754th Tank Battalion
1st Marine Division
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
Americal Infantry Division
2nd Marine Division
193rd Tank Battalion
181st Field Artillery Battalion
1st Marine Defense Battalion
183rd Field Artillery Battalion
188th Field Artillery Battalion
5th Marine Defense Battalion

Defending units:
53rd Division
10th Garrison Unit
41st Naval Guard Unit
3rd Air Defense AA Regiment
11th Air Flotilla
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th RF Gun Battalion
39th Field AA Battalion
10th RF Gun Battalion
15th Air Defense AA Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
32nd Ind.AA Gun Co
37th JNAF AF Unit
4th JAAF AF Bn

Pacific

Some inconsequential ASW action.

Closed the range for the bombardment at Dutch Harbour:

Night Naval bombardment of Dutch Harbor at 171,50 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

28 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Kako, Shell hits 1
CA Furutaka
CA Ashigara
CA Haguro
CA Myoko
CA Chikuma
DD Yayoi
DD Uranami
DD Usugumo
DD Yugure

Allied Ships
AV Tangier, Shell hits 3, heavy damage
AS Otus, Shell hits 1

Allied ground losses:
207 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (4 destroyed, 7 disabled)

The shell hit on the Kako does no damage. Would like to get some shells into the Catalinas here.

Engineering

Minor stuff.

R&D

Quiet

[Spidery]

July 12th 1942

Air Losses: 25 Japanese, 1 Allied, 4 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Gebe(air drop)
Allies occupy: Ouv'ea(auto)
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

China

A bombardment attack on the road to Kunming shows a weaker force than I expected. Only 450 AV.

Supply is still short for the troops between Kunming and Kweiyang.

Burma

Quiet

Australia

Quiet

New Caledonia

B-17s hit Noumea they hit the airfield which is irrelevant at this time.

I-158 is damaged by ASW and will retire for repairs.

I am surprised that he attacks on the ground again. However, if my CV headed straight here they would be arriving in a day or two so time is short for him. The attack is repulsed bloodily.

Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 37621 troops, 607 guns, 403 vehicles, Assault Value = 1083

Defending force 23779 troops, 313 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 555

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 327

Japanese adjusted defense: 1291

Allied assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 1)

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

Japanese ground losses:
875 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 79 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2430 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 202 disabled
Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 24 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 38 (15 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Vehicles lost 63 (25 destroyed, 38 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
2nd Marine Division
754th Tank Battalion
Americal Infantry Division
1st Marine Division
193rd Tank Battalion
183rd Field Artillery Battalion
181st Field Artillery Battalion
188th Field Artillery Battalion
1st Marine Defense Battalion
5th Marine Defense Battalion

Defending units:
53rd Division
10th Garrison Unit
41st Naval Guard Unit
11th Air Flotilla
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Air Defense AA Regiment
37th JNAF AF Unit
39th Field AA Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
32nd Ind.AA Gun Co
9th RF Gun Battalion
10th RF Gun Battalion
15th Air Defense AA Regiment
4th JAAF AF Bn

I think it may have been one of the marine defense battalions that was destroyed.

Pacific

Lightnings sweep Port Moresby and massacre the A6M2s there. 21 planes are lost out of 22, 10 pilots are wounded and 4 die. Slightly puzzled here as the A6M2s were on 40% CAP, 60% Rest so I would not have expected them all to fly.

Engineering

Allies expand La Foa to 2. Forts at Rabaul are now 4.

R&D

Quiet

[Lowpe]

Those Lightnings are tough...used offensively in sweeps at altitude, well rested and repaired, they are super planes for the time period.

How aggressive was the leader of the Zeroes? Can that aggressiveness over rule the percentage splits?

[Spidery]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Those Lightnings are tough...used offensively in sweeps at altitude, well rested and repaired, they are super planes for the time period.

How aggressive was the leader of the Zeroes? Can that aggressiveness over rule the percentage splits?

Fire-breathing, a nice 72. Morale wasn't too good as they had retreated from Noumea.

[Spidery]

Did some economy planning based on assumed dates at which production from oil wells fails because of destruction by strategic attack or isolation. Based on that I can allocate HI to build about 75000 more engines worth of aircraft.

Allocating these out to the various models and I think I will need to expand engine factories to:
360 Ha-32
360 Ha-33
345 Ha-34 (this is needed to cover demand in 1943/43)
520 Ha-35 (this is too many but needed to allow for demand in 1942/43)
620 Ha-43
110 Ha-44
490 Ha-45
50 Aichi Ha-60
60 Ha-31 (stop this mid 1943)

I will immediately expand Ha-33 (currently 274) and Ha-32 (currently 260) and expand Ha-43 and Ha-45 once the models are available.

[Spidery]

July 13th 1942

Air Losses: 1 Japanese, 4 Allied, 0 Pilots
Japanese occupy: Mangole(air drop)
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

China

Same old attacks.

Allies expand Chungking airfield to 7. This is risky as he could start basing B-17s out of there.

Mitchells hit Loyang at 1000 feet. They do no damage.

Start reducing the cut off forces near Tienshui. This could take a long time as the first bombardment is not good.

Burma

Quiet

Australia

Quiet

New Caledonia

B-17s hit Noumea they hit the airfield which is irrelevant at this time.

Looks like it was the combat engineer battalion that was destroyed yesterday.

This day he bombards at Noumea

Ground combat at Noumea (115,160)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1768 troops, 126 guns, 53 vehicles, Assault Value = 916

Defending force 23202 troops, 312 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 503

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Another BB task force has been spotted heading in so Noumea will be bombarded again this night.

Various subs fail to penetrate screens. The I-9 will have to retire for repairs.

Pacific

I-172 puts a torpedo into the xAP Kota Inten near Pearl Harbour. Sinking sounds were heard later.

Some troop loss from the hit but LCU few VP gained suggests either it was not full or it offloaded at Pearl first.

Engineering

Benkoelen airfield to 4.

Allies expand Chungking to 7, Cairns to 4, Cooktown to 5.

R&D

Quiet



Situation map for New Caledonia

[Spidery]

July 14th 1942

Air Losses: 36 Japanese, 22 Allied, 22 Pilots
Japanese occupy:
Allies occupy:
Japanese land at:
Allies land at:

China

Big dust up over Chungking as I sweep and bomb the airfield. The sweeps nearly clear the air and shoot down 9 Hurricanes. However, there are a few left and the escorts fail to protect the bombers. 11 bombers are lost. The raid does good damage to the airfield and destroys 6 Hudson IIIa on the ground.

No air attack at Kweiyang due to weather.

Mitchells strike at a force in the rough, Oscars on CAP only engage briefly. He could now attack this hex as it has been revealed as weak.

Near Kunming I have opened a hexside along the secondary road, see map below.

Burma

Quiet

Australia

Quiet

New Caledonia

B-17 and B-26 hit Noumea. Damage is minor. The forces here now mostly have disruption down to 25. No bombardment this turn as the suspected BB force only moves a short distance.

Small bombardment attack only.

Pacific

Quiet

Engineering

Minor stuff

R&D

Quiet



Situation map for Southern Chinese front:


A: The hexside here is open and can move along the minor road forcing the Allies to defend two hexes outside Kunming. I think they have 5 or 6 Corps here.

B: He bombed this and revealed it as just a brigade. A counter-attack here is possible by the Chinese.

C: Need to take Kweiyang

D: Lots of armour here and plan on attacking over the river in a few days.

E: Moving divisions here as it looks like just one Corps.

F: An engineer unit heading for:

G: Plan to air drop here to secure two more possible paths into Kweiyang. Also, this may be a useful forward supply base.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Spidery


520 Ha-35 (this is too many but needed to allow for demand in 1942/43)

It is encouraging to see such high a number of Ha-35s. Thanks for sharing your engine forecasts.