::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjoy (J)

[PetrOs]

That division looks white - it means reassignable to me at least.. However still strange that its a new reinforcements unit coming to an off map base in such state... Could that be that it was destined to appear at a base which is now occupied (Calcutta or Colombo or similar), thus falling back to Aden?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: PetrOs

That division looks white - it means reassignable to me at least.. However still strange that its a new reinforcements unit coming to an off map base in such state... Could that be that it was destined to appear at a base which is now occupied (Calcutta or Colombo or similar), thus falling back to Aden?

A few posts ago I mentioned that this and one other HQ unit meant for Madras have been placed back in the queue for Aden in spite of being [R] and Indian units, which are supposed to show up in Karachi (or Bombay). It would be another probably 1600 PP I can't really afford to pay right now if it comes to Aden restricted as the HQ has already done.

[Capt. Harlock]

CL Ceres firing at Diego Garcia
CL Dauntless firing at 11th Special Base Force
11th Special Base Force firing at CL Dauntless
CL Emerald firing at Diego Garcia
CL Hobart firing at Diego Garcia

Cl's -- and not even modern CL's ?? You might as well have thrown water balloons.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

CL Ceres firing at Diego Garcia
CL Dauntless firing at 11th Special Base Force
11th Special Base Force firing at CL Dauntless
CL Emerald firing at Diego Garcia
CL Hobart firing at Diego Garcia

Cl's -- and not even modern CL's ?? You might as well have thrown water balloons.

These are British CLs in the area, and though they're not modern, they do just what i want them to do, which is put a small amount of damage on the base quickly and stealthily, plus getting me some info about what is there now. I also found out there are no DB or TB stationed at Diego but there is a Mavis group. That is important for the next round, and it appears no mines are there as yet either.

I try to think of how even the least useful units in game can be used, and I know for a fact these old cruisers can do a lot for me. I've seen it from the other side quite a few times. They're quick, have trained crews, decent captains, and working torpedoes should they meet a Japanese surface force. They're also expendable! [:D]

This is one of those moral building pinprick missions the Allies actually used quite a bit in 42. it's all we can really do well now, and it could change how the opponent views this point in game, the Allied intentions and his own defensive allocations.

Now for something in the Pacific. [:)]

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: PetrOs

That division looks white - it means reassignable to me at least.. However still strange that its a new reinforcements unit coming to an off map base in such state... Could that be that it was destined to appear at a base which is now occupied (Calcutta or Colombo or similar), thus falling back to Aden?

A few posts ago I mentioned that this and one other HQ unit meant for Madras have been placed back in the queue for Aden in spite of being [R] and Indian units, which are supposed to show up in Karachi (or Bombay). It would be another probably 1600 PP I can't really afford to pay right now if it comes to Aden restricted as the HQ has already done.

You should post this up in tech support for michaelm to see.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]April 21-23, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]The usual litany of misses. Swordfish does nail E Ishinui with one TT, which is nice.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font]The raiders never show up on search near the tip of India. Hmmmmm. [&:]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PI: [/font]Got a SIGINT message that there were new divisions moving to San Fernando, so I sent in the PTs. They couldn't break through the escorts though. No joy.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] The Chinese divisions caught in Burma were again battered by the Thais, and again retreated in a very unhelpful direction toward Kalemyo. [8|]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]OZ:[/font] Thought a few more units could escape West OZ, but the bombing is too intense. I'll have to buy them back. Luckily the Aussie units can build slowly for rear defense, and the US tanks have a good replacement rate.

The good news is the the final regiment of the Americal makes OZ, as do a gaggle of Marine air HQs and base forces. The engineers start flowing in a week or two and several will head down here. I've still not occupied Noumea with much, but within the month a huge force will move into New Caledonia. Fiji will be reinforced and several islands still in Allied hands in the New Hebrides will be invested.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] No luck getting to these guys, but the intel was correct. Ships were there.

Also interesting that the Southern Army is in India. Says a lot about the focus for the rest of 42.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]2/8th Division is loaded on a Japanese CM moving to San Fernando.
2/21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion is loaded on xAK Yamasimo Maru moving to San Fernando.
2/5th RF Gun Battalion is loaded on a Japanese xAK moving to San Fernando.
2/5th RF Gun Battalion is loaded on a Aden Cargo class xAK moving to San Fernando.

Southern Army is located at Calcutta(52,37).[/font]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR April 1, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on 754th Tank Battalion, at 56,150 , near Esperance

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 36

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 11 (6 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 30 (19 destroyed, 11 disabled) OUCH!!

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
15 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR April 22, 42
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Ground combat at 60,43 (near Katha)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4425 troops, 42 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 240

Defending force 1917 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 37

Japanese adjusted assault: 18

Allied adjusted defense: 7

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

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

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

Allied ground losses:
686 casualties reported
Squads: 50 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 4

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd RTA Division
17th Indpt Guards Regiment

Defending units:
BFF Brigade
Mandalay BMP Battalion
36th Chinese Division
88th Chinese Division
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Reinforcements: Not sure how, but the Gods of AE had a change of heart. The restricted division lands in Karachi! [:)][&o]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]26th Indian Division arrives at Karachi[/font]

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]xAK Tarushima Maru is reported to have been sunk near Serasan on Dec 21, 1941[/font]

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Looks like a small xAK that can convert to a PB. Nice to get those at any point. [/font]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: PetrOs

That division looks white - it means reassignable to me at least.. However still strange that its a new reinforcements unit coming to an off map base in such state... Could that be that it was destined to appear at a base which is now occupied (Calcutta or Colombo or similar), thus falling back to Aden?

A few posts ago I mentioned that this and one other HQ unit meant for Madras have been placed back in the queue for Aden in spite of being [R] and Indian units, which are supposed to show up in Karachi (or Bombay). It would be another probably 1600 PP I can't really afford to pay right now if it comes to Aden restricted as the HQ has already done.

You should post this up in tech support for michaelm to see.

Looks like I don't have to now. Somehow it rectified itself. The 26th just arrived in Karachi.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]April 24-25, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]More subs are being sent to the Chinese coast. I've noticed a few now being hit near Colombo by air ASW. I have two repairing 100kg bomb hits, so attacked by Lilys. All around Ceylon the subs are lit up immediately. Hopefully as more and more get their 4/42 updates with radar I can employ them and find ships in deep water in the Pacific. Midway is now transiting into a sub base with a steady flow of fuel and supply pouring in and support ship including AS Pelias on the way.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font]More small base forces and battalions are wiped out in the refugee stack from Ledo. As these are bought back it will give a great boost to the stacks that move forward in a month or two. The new ones can stay back and fill out while the already full units move forward. Both Karachi and Bombay have 1800+ AV in base and several smaller concentrations at Ahmedabad, Surat and Delhi are 150-200 AV. So the front is building and everything is on track to move sometime soon. I can't be impatient here though. I need to wait for more AA to arrive and for a few para-units to be shipped in as well. The plan is still looking solid and Delhi has been allowed to build up the field, now approaching size 8.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PI: [/font]The PI is nearly out of supply. It is mid-April, so that's to be expected, and it is still occupying the attention of 150 or so bombers and an increasing number of troops. Those will likely go to China or India when this is done, so the more time it takes the better.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] Sian is nearing 2300 AV now. It's still building it's final fort 4 very slowly, at 3.95 right now. A big Corps has moved onto the road between Liuchow and Tuyun to make sure there is no sneaking up back roads in this area. Another few are transiting from the Lanchow area to fill in up around Mengtze, and one more near Kweillin in the woods. These will bring all lines to a ready state and then it's just about the waiting. As units repair all disabled squads and get to full TOE (under 100% usually but with replacements off) supply could start to actually increase. I've now turned off all replacements other than three Corps building up at Chunking. One of those is at 650AV now! [:)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]OZ:[/font] Full ASW air action is being taken around Sydney and the approaches to Melbourne. One enemy sub has been seen and was DCed unsuccessfully by 3 Bathurst class AMs on the 25th. A lot will be moving around here in the near future, and I want to know where the subs are mostly, but hitting one or two would be nice too.

The Queen Mary delivers a last MAG HQ unit and withdraws from Sydney. The Queens did well for me, making several trips across the Pacific and IO each.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] Interesting. Is there a plan here or is this a bluff. Where is this unit? Well, it starts in Mutankiang. It could be bought out, but my feeling is this is deception. I will still plan for a landing behind any move forward in India by trying to secure the flank at Goa and keeping lower experience divisions in Bombay and Karachi. Surat and surrounding bases will also be garrisoned well.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]12th Division is planning for an attack on Bombay.[/font]

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]AS-14 USS Pelias in action. The deployment to Midway will significantly shorten trips to the Chinese coastline and give some chance to get into the supply lines of the Empire. [/font]

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[font="Times New Roman"]April 26-27, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]Lots of subs repairing and refitting in Bombay. No sight of any convoys near the HI or along the Chinese coast. I'm thinking GJ is using his massed tactic of bringing 100 ships or more together in a big pulse for fuel/oil movements. Not sure yet if there is any way to combat this early, but I may try to get a gaggle of subs ready with some scouts waiting to find the convoy when it comes, then send all in at once.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font]Another few bombardments for Diego are planned and on the way. One is including the PoW and Repulse. They're currently just near the map edge west of Sumatra well out of search range.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PI: [/font]Sent all of the PTs into the pools. They've been useless offensively so I might as well save them for defensive use in the Pacific. The Japanese keep bombing and bombarding on the ground, and all Luzon bases are out of supply. The troops are going into the red now and it'll be a short fight once it's all gone.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] Daily bombardments at Psingsiang but that is all. Still moving more troops around into more solid positions. Just checked and Chinese squads are growing in the pools now since I turned off all but three Corps replacements. Have 63 currently.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]OZ:[/font] Sending a few smaller xAP and xAKL to Melbourne to load up for New Caledonia and some of the New Hebrides. It looks like Luganville and Efate have been abandoned after their early capture. Since my recon sucks I can't be absolutely sure, but bombing the fields and then trying to bomb ground units produced no sign of troops. None of the search planes see anything out here moving, not even subs, and none of the convoys moving south of Fiji through the area have gotten a rise in DL. It seems So Pac is wide open.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Pacific:[/font] I sent a single DM into Abemama to drop 40 mines there. This was to test search and also to leave something behind to see if anything moves around here. It had a 10/10 DL after the mine laying op on its way out back to PH. I have some search planes flying close to Tabiteuaea and haven't spotted a thing. Seems another very low priority area, although I've gotten some strong SIGINT radio messages from the bees to the North occasionally.

I plan to invest the area around the Southern Gilberts, mostly on bases still in Alllied hands. I see the benefits of getting a solid foothold here even if the Japanese don't put great stock in the area. Getting the Gilberts as search bases, shortening routes to OZ, getting subs and naval assets closer replenishment bases and aging bases in range to bomb the Marshalls from. Not to mention a few extra points.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] Interesting.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]8/2nd Division is loaded on xAK Arizona Maru moving to Laoag.[/font]

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Notice all of the non-red dot bases in the area. Even Abemama is still in Allied hands for now. It appears nothing is on Baker Island, and Tabiteuaea was confirmed by SIGINT to have a 1/3 naval guard unit, but could have more as well. [/font]

[Lokasenna]

Are your SSTs converting? [:)]

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ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Are your SSTs converting? [:)]

Argonaut is finished, the others coming back to Pearl after a minelaying mission to convert. Those and the APDs (plus the Banana boats to bring supply) will be used extensively soon. Some of the islands are within Cat range from Canton as well, and I've brought a small engineers contingent to Nekefutau to both build a port, bring in search, and try to get the row boat corps to convert nearby islands which are unoccupied.

I want to do it all at once so there is little chance to reply against the shipping.

[Lokasenna]

Indeed. Though he may see what you're up to with all those ships... if he just sights a ship here, a ship there...he may not figure it out.

I believe you can probably use SSTs with Seabees to good effect. Obviously no engineer vehicles can go in the subs, but the engineers themselves can.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Indeed. Though he may see what you're up to with all those ships... if he just sights a ship here, a ship there...he may not figure it out.

I believe you can probably use SSTs with Seabees to good effect. Obviously no engineer vehicles can go in the subs, but the engineers themselves can.

I think that's where the Banana boats could come in.

Yeah, I'll be filling in slowly before the big push. There still most likely won't be too many ships in the final advance if I get it right. I'll have to load up nearby bases for supply runs as well. Always logistics first.

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[font="Times New Roman"]April 28-30, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]Gudgeon duds on an xAP in a massive TF near Taihoku. Didn't see it later so don't know if it's coming or going. The Grenadier manages to hit a Gozan class xAK out in the deep Pacific south of the Kuriles. What is it doing out there? Heading back from Wake? To Wake? Something more dangerous, as part of an Aleutians campaign? Or, maybe, are they pickets?

More patrols are sent out into this area to see if anything is coming.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Pacific: [/font]The 32nd division arrives in San Fran and will head out to solidify So Pac alongside the Americal ASAP. I'll send it to Fiji first while the Americal will head to Noumea. Finally some movement forward down here within a few weeks.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PI:[/font] The Japanese try a DA at Clark, but only get a 1:8. This will be most likely the last defense with full supply in the units, so the next may not do as well. Nice to disable 200 Japanese squads though.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] Lots of reports of the 2nd division moving to Laong, one each of these three days. Although this doesn't give me much news, it makes me feel that this might be the only significant unit moving right now, and that when others leave OZ and India, or invest those areas, I'll hear about it. That's good.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]8/2nd Division is loaded on xAK Arizona Maru moving to Laoag.
4/2nd Division is loaded on xAK Tusima Maru moving to Laoag.
3/2nd Division is loaded on xAK Nanrei Maru moving to Laoag.
15th Army is located at Laoag(81,72).[/font]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR April 29, 42
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Sub attack near Taihoku at 90,62

Japanese Ships
xAP Husimi Maru
PB Tosho Maru
PB Shinko Maru #1
AMC Asaka Maru
LSD Akitsu Maru
AK Tosan Maru
AK Kinka Maru
AK Kaga Maru
xAP Kachidoki Maru
xAP Koan Maru
xAP Mizuho Maru
xAP Huzi Maru
xAP Terukuni Maru
xAK Atutasan Maru
xAK Aobasan Maru
xAK Amagisan Maru
xAKL Kensho Maru
E Tobui
E Uruyame
E Ishigaki

Allied Ships
SS Gudgeon

SS Gudgeon launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Husimi Maru

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Sub attack near Shimushiri-jima at 136,63

Japanese Ships
xAK Kirisima Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
PB Yasushima Maru

Allied Ships
SS Grenadier

SS Grenadier launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Kirisima Maru
Grenadier diving deep ....

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Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32063 troops, 353 guns, 188 vehicles, Assault Value = 945

Defending force 31248 troops, 346 guns, 349 vehicles, Assault Value = 923

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 216

Allied adjusted defense: 1837

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 8 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
3105 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 224 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 60 disabled

Allied ground losses:
659 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 57 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled

Assaulting units:
48th Division
16th Division
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
14th Army
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
4th Marine Regiment
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
192nd Tank Battalion
14th PS Engineer Regiment
1st PA Infantry Division
194th Tank Battalion
45th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
2nd PA Constabulary Division
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
201st PA Construction Battalion
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
202nd PA Construction Battalion
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
301st Construction Battalion
1st PI Base Force
Far East USAAF
Provisional GMC Grp
21st PA Infantry Division
I Philippine Corps
Clark Field AAF Base Force
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR April 30, 42
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Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1020 troops, 90 guns, 92 vehicles, Assault Value = 770

Defending force 30695 troops, 346 guns, 347 vehicles, Assault Value = 875

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
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Reinforcements: FINALLY !!!![&o]

Recon.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]No.3 PRU RAF T-Flt arrives at Aden[/font]

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]xAK Kirisima Maru is reported to have been sunk near Shimushiri-jima on Apr 29, 1942[/font]

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[font="Times New Roman"]MAY 1-2, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]Silversides contacts a TF near the Chinese coast but duds with two TT fired. At least something is indeed moving around here.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font]I'll be waiting eagerly for the just arrived recon unit to arrive from Aden.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Pacific: [/font]With all of the ships the Allies have I'm finding it interestingly difficult to balance the numbers between the oceans. I've just sent about 40 ships back tot eh Pacific from Cape Town after most West Coast based vessels were sent to OZ, leaving very little carrying capacity from the WC to PH. I now this will not be a problem for too long, but it's interesting to manage right now. I think I've just gotten closer to the right allocations to allow continuous back and forth movement of troops, fuel and supplies.

I did turn off Sydney's HI. It just sucks up all fuel sent there.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] Still nothing new here. Looking at some other games around this time I feel very lucky to be where I am. Taking part of India may be beneficial to Japan economically, but keeping China fairly intact (to this point at least) is a definite boon to the Allies. While the Allied offensive will begin it's first tentative steps soon Japan will have to essentially start over if they want to take significant portions of China now, and while trying to halt offensives in other parts of the map. One of the main reasons to begin an offensive in India soon is draw more forces there rather than to China.

One place I'm pretty happy with right now is Wenchow. Only around 750 AV of Chinese are there, but it has held and is deemed dangerous enough to require 50 bombers to hit the fields every day for the past several months. In spite of this the troop morale remains high and supply is constant from the local industry, still hovering around 5k.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIAN OCEAN:[/font] A surprise was met with a surprise. I had been sneaking close to Diego Garcia for the past few days, heading in for a bombardment run. The ships were picked up yesterday, but only a 7/8 DL. On the 2nd the CVs made it within range of Diego and launched a raid. This was met by a good zero group, 30+ strong. As usual, the Allies suffer. Only about ten pilots lost in total, but the CVs will now retreat to Mombasa.

Two bombardment runs are scheduled, one for the 3rd and one for the 4th. There are about 7 subs judging by reports just hanging out here. I'll go forward with the bombardments and tempt fate, but I'll also try to send some mines into this base using the CM Abdiel and subs.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] Heavy radio traffic is happening around the tip of Sumatra, so I'm thinking some CVs are moving here. No indications from subs though. No ship icon showing on the map either. We'll be long gone by the time something could arrive at Diego though.

MAY 1
[font="Trebuchet MS"]Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at 45,71.[/font]

MAY 2
[font="Trebuchet MS"]Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at 42,67.
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at 42,67.[/font]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 2, 42
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Afternoon Air attack on Diego Garcia , at 11,62

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 13
F4F-3A Wildcat x 16
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
SBD-2 Dauntless x 30
TBD-1 Devastator x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
3 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
2 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
15th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 19 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 18000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]TB Sagi is reported to have been sunk near Izu Oshima on Apr 01, 1942[/font]

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Always happy to see one of these incredibly useful TB sunk. Almost the equivalent of destroyers, these ships perform so many useful tasks for the IJN. [/font]

[Bif1961]

Speaking of the USS Silversides SS236, I recently visited it and it's museum in Muskegon , Michigan. Also in Muskengon is the LST 393 so it might be worth a visit to anyone in the Grand Rapids-Muskegon area.

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ORIGINAL: Bif1961

Speaking of the USS Silversides SS236, I recently visited it and it's museum in Muskegon , Michigan. Also in Muskengon is the LST 393 so it might be worth a visit to anyone in the Grand Rapids-Muskegon area.

I'd love to see it! Got to Fall River for the USS Massachusetts a little over a year ago, and saw the Lionfish. Great visit and the first time I'd been inside a WW2 sub. Tight quarters!

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[font="Times New Roman"]MAY 3-5, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIAN OCEAN:[/font] Had a bit of a dust-up out here. I had Enterprise, Formidable and Hermes cruising to protect a bombardment run-in, and two days before the strike the TFs were seen by Mavis patrols. I made the decisions to go ahead, thinking that if he started out then it would be tot late. Unfortunately I kept strike planes on for a hit at Diego and a very good 15th Ku S-1 was on station there. That was on the 2nd. On the 3rd a British cruiser TF ran in and met IJN CLs. Strangley the TFs met only at 2k yards (due to thunderstorms) as Allied radar failed to spot the IJN TF in the first encounter, and from there the long lances are nasty. Exeter took one early, dooming the ship to more punishment before she could disengage after the first action.

Terribly, the Exeter retreated with her DD escort toward the Indian coastline! Her home base was Mombasa, but she made for Karachi, still doing 5 hexes (!!!) travel in the day phase, only to be crushed by air strikes from a mini-KB moving in. The US CVs did their job as well though and took out a DD while severely wounding at least two CLs at Diego. No sign of them after the battle, but I'm guessing they are in port at Diego fighting fires after 3 x 1000 punters.

Losing Exeter took what would have been a decisive Allied victory to a very marginal one. Nice to get another DD and a CL, but the old CLs for Japan are increasingly less useful as the war goes on. If another one or two go down, then I'd be much happier. Still, feels good to meet the enemy and come out at least a bit better.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]A Dutch sub gets an xAKL off of SW OZ, and the S-36 takes out one of the PBs from Diego. Every little bit helps. Especially escorts. If reports are correct each side has now lost 18 DD so far. That is a good amount for Japan, not even a year into the conflict, and about half were modern.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font]The 4E from Karachi bombed what turns out to be a vacant base. I'm guessing he took a bunch of bases in order to know for certain when we were moving forward as they are taken later. The base has decent damage after the turn and at least won't likely be used by Japan now for anything sneaky. Recon is here in the form of 4 F-4 Lightnings, and another RAF unit is just landing at Karachi with the B-25 recon planes. Looks from first view as if Hyderabad is not strongly held. Only 11k troops listed there although I've had reports of the 55th division being there.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Pacific: [/font]Troops move toward Noumea and Tanna in So Pac. Search planes at Noumea scour the oceans in search of enemy activity, but none found recently.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May3, 42
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Diego Garcia at 11,62, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Ginyo Maru, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
PB Tokotsu Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire
CA Exeter
CL Glasgow
CL Newcastle
DD Stronghold
DD Isis
DD Paladin
DD Panther

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms with 89% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 89% moonlight: 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages PB Ginyo Maru at 2,000 yards
CA Exeter engages PB Ginyo Maru at 2,000 yards
CA Dorsetshire engages PB Ginyo Maru at 2,000 yards
CL Glasgow engages PB Ginyo Maru at 2,000 yards
Matsuki N. orders Japanese TF to disengage
CL Glasgow engages PB Tokotsu Maru at 6,000 yards
Task forces break off...

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Diego Garcia at 11,62, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Shell hits 7, on fire
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 1
DD Kuroshio
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 1
DD Oshio
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Kawakaze

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire
CA Exeter, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Glasgow
CL Newcastle
DD Stronghold, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Isis
DD Paladin, Shell hits 1
DD Panther, Shell hits 1

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms with 89% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 89% moonlight: 3,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 3,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 3,000 yards
CA Exeter engages CL Sendai at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Exeter at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
DD Oyashio collides with DD Kawakaze at 11 , 62
CA Exeter engages CL Jintsu at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CA Exeter at 9,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages DD Oshio at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Exeter at 10,000 yards
Task forces break off...

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Diego Garcia at 11,62, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 1
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire
CL Glasgow
CL Newcastle
DD Stronghold, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Isis, Shell hits 1
DD Paladin

Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 82% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 82% moonlight: 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
Reed, A.D. crosses the 'T'
CL Sendai engages CL Glasgow at 2,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages DD Natsugumo at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages DD Kawakaze at 5,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Diego Garcia at 15,60

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 59 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 46
B5N2 Kate x 9
D3A1 Val x 18

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Exeter, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Panther

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Exeter

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Diego Garcia at 11,62

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 12
F4F-3A Wildcat x 14
SBD-2 Dauntless x 24

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 2 destroyed
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Tokitsukaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Naka, Bomb hits 1
CL Kinu, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
15th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead

Massive explosion on DD Tokitsukaze

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Diego Garcia at 11,62

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 9
F4F-3A Wildcat x 10
SBD-2 Dauntless x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 3 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kinu, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Naka, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
15th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Naka

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 4, 42
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Sub attack near Addu at 18,58

Japanese Ships
PB Tokotsu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-36

SS S-36 launches 2 torpedoes

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Sub attack near Carnarvon at 47,136

Japanese Ships
xAKL Kakyu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAKL Bichu Maru
xAKL Totai Maru
xAKL Turusima Maru
PB Shonon Maru #11

Allied Ships
SS KXVIII

SS KXVIII launches 2 torpedoes at xAKL Kakyu Maru
KXVIII diving deep ....
PB Shonon Maru #11 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Ships Lost:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]CA Exeter[/font]

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]CL Sendai is reported to have been sunk near Diego Garcia on May 03, 1942
PB Ginyo Maru is reported to have been sunk near Diego Garcia on May 03, 1942
SSX Ha-17 is reported to have been sunk near Diego Garcia on May 03, 1942
xAKL Kakyu Maru is reported to have been sunk near Carnarvon on May 05, 1942
DD Tokitsukaze[/font]

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Exeter could easily have made Mombasa, but retreats the opposite way and gets five hexes out from the battle and lands just within range for the IJN CVs. Too bad. [/font]

[ny59giants]

We all have learned the the AI will retreat both ground and ships towards the closest base regardless of what our orders are. [8|] Even the ground unit that has moved 44/46 will go totally across the hrx towards the base that is closest and cost the least to move through.

Slightly OT - You will need to take off ALL British FP groups before you withdraw the ships. You are short of them everywhere throughout the war. I train them up in Recon skills for doing base bombardment runs.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

We all have learned the the AI will retreat both ground and ships towards the closest base regardless of what our orders are. [8|] Even the ground unit that has moved 44/46 will go totally across the hrx towards the base that is closest and cost the least to move through.

Slightly OT - You will need to take off ALL British FP groups before you withdraw the ships. You are short of them everywhere throughout the war. I train them up in Recon skills for doing base bombardment runs.

It didn't go to the closest actually, which is Cochin, then Bombay, Surat, then Socotra, then Dante ... . I t sent them to Karachi, which is I think 4 hexes closer than Mombasa from that position, but it's not the closest by a long way. If they'd been diverted to Socotra, the Exeter would be afloat now most likely, o at least he might have had to sprint for it over a bunch of S-boats the next day.

Does 'absolute' danger setting change when a ship is hit and is put into an escort TF? I would think so, in which case it also should have not moved this way due to the air threat in the area.

Good to know on the floatplanes. Also, on a related note, what about the CV groups for RN CVs? Can I keep those as well?

If Japanese units will be resizing via their CVs, which I'm sure they will to some extent, it's only fair to use the Brit units this way if I'm able to do it. I'd resize the Martlets and Sea Hurris to 33-45 plane groups. I've already increased the Hurris to a 25 plane group, so I know the resizing works at least.