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

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

CVEs & India: I would make some of your American CVEs fighters only and send the DB/TB part over to India for the replenishment types that have two full airgroups. You get plenty of Avengers and SBD models to use there. Like m_m said, leave Madras isolated and head for Burma.

About 2/3 of the CVEs so far are fighters only, and they'll be put to the test very soon. The DB/TB are training and being used in Cent Pac and So Pac so far, but I have two Marine DB in India to supplement the RAF Vengences and the many TB available. I also have 5 CV air groups able to be used there that i've so far kept in reserve ... until now. [:)]

I can't head for Burma until I have India, and I haven't been able to push through his very experienced troops and air superiority in NE India yet. With only three small sweeping groups (out of 4 on the map for the Allies right now) it's a little tough to win the air. PDU-off may benefit the Allies, but it doesn't start kicking in until I get Hellcats, more P-38s and then the P-47.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: obvert


a Soryu class CV is located at Ponape (119,113).[/color][/font]

When it come to Sigint, you are the golden boy of Allied players. I have never seen so many carrier spottings in any other AAR or in my own games. Gonna have to rub you for luck....[:D]

This isn't normal?[:D]

Maybe it's the AAR title. Giving props to the FRUPAC boys might have lit a fire and kept them working the late night shifts.

This one is sooooooo timely, as I was wondering if he'd moved some CVs to deal with SW OZ. He still may have gotten something down there, and I'll find out soon, but I do know the bulk of the KB is near India, a mini-KB is in Cent Pac, and that shouldn't leave much more to combat what I'm bringing toward Esperance now.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: crsutton





When it come to Sigint, you are the golden boy of Allied players. I have never seen so many carrier spottings in any other AAR or in my own games. Gonna have to rub you for luck....[:D]

No kidding. I have 1 CV spotting between both games so far, and the total game time is 34 months.

In the Op Report there are frequently mentions of transmissions picked up by Catalinas during patrols. I wonder if that has something to do with later specific SIGINT reports. If so, perhaps you could share with us how close you get your Cats to a location where SIGINT later reports a carrier? Gotta be something you are doing that increases your SIGINT gold.

Cats can't reach to Ponape, but they have been getting somewhat close. I do have other recon that does get there, but I'll wait a bit to have a good look. I also have some new 4E USN groups that might be able to join in, but I don't want to wave any flags until I'm ready to go.

[obvert]

Uh, oh!!

[obvert]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]THE KB: [/font]

Well, SIGINT didn't play a part in this one. Nick got the KB into striking range without a sighting and went for some RN cruisers stationed with only light CAP at Mangalore. I was a bit complacent over here, and I should have been moving them in and out more often, but he tok advantage regardless. He said the KB didn't launch all of her planes, which is interesting, and it could have been worse. As it is three older RN CL are hit hard. Two sink during the turn, and one the next day due to fires. Two older CA are also hit, but manage to escape much of the strike and move back to Bombay without difficulty the next day.

All subs in the area went for the KB and Nick seemed to be maneuvering around known sub positions after the strike, going out into the Maldives and then back around toward Ceylon. A few subs got into great positions, and one launched at the KB, but none were able to break through onto a CV.

The base at Trivinandan was hit by two bombardments, likely to take it away as a strike area for LBA. More CD guns, subs, mines, and PT boats are heading in there soon to provide some issues for these interlopers, hopefully.

This all means that while I'm down 70 VPs of shipping, I know where the KB is exactly, and the troops are already on their way to Esperance. [8D]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 19, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mangalore at 30,34

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 92 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 78
B6N1 Jill x 25
D4Y1 Judy x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 1 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Caradoc, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CL Danae
CA Frobisher, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Dauntless, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Capetown
CA Hawkins
DD Arunta
DD Nizam

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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Caradoc

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mangalore at 30,34

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 78
B5N2 Kate x 25
B6N1 Jill x 37
D4Y1 Judy x 27

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 5 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Capetown, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CL Dauntless, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Warramunga
CA Frobisher, Torpedo hits 1
DD Nestor
CA Hawkins, Torpedo hits 1
DD Isaac Sweers
CL Danae, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Napier
CL Caradoc, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
25 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
19 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
17 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
13 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 12000 feet
14 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
19 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 12000 feet
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.14 Sqn RNZAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Capetown
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Dauntless
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Caradoc
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Danae

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 20, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near North Male at 19,40

Japanese Ships
DD Takakaze
BB Yamato
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato
CA Furutaka
CA Maya
CA Tone
CL Kinu
CL Naka
DD Arare
DD Ishikaze
DD Susukaze
DD Hikokaze
DD Satsukaze

Allied Ships
SS KXV

SS KXV launches 2 torpedoes at DD Takakaze
KXV diving deep ....
DD Ishikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

[ny59giants]

Maybe you posted it but I forgot, but what troops are you bringing to Esperance??

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Maybe you posted it but I forgot, but what troops are you bringing to Esperance??

I've been pretty quiet about it so far.

I have two Aussie divisions, one armor unit, the II Aussie Corps HQ, two Heavy AA, one light AA, a base force, an engineer unit and two air HQs.

Still getting reports of two IJA divisions moving to Perth, and Perth still shows 9 units and 10k troops. Kalgoorlie 1 unit and 1100 troops.

Right now Esperance lists 1 unit and 200 troops. [:)]

The AAR is still a few days behind, and I'll catch up before they land with a lot more info.

[ny59giants]

Based on my own failed invasion here, I didn't land at Albany to make a better effort to get to Perth. And I didn't bring enough AA to go with my spearhead to get to Kalgoorlie. Depending on what Nick does, this will not be enough except to hold Esperance, IMO.

[leehunt27@bloomberg.net]

Good luck at Madras and Esperance! Curious to see what happens next few turns... also learning a lot from this AAR (and Greyjoy's). Good stuff

[JohnDillworth]

whats the point of attaching Madras? Want him to burn supply? Thats a great idea. Attach or bombard every day. In a supply war you can not lose. Want to get supply to China? Well he can't be everywhere and he has a lot of AV here. Drive north to Burma. Hit em where he ain't and he is in Madras, unless you are playing trench warfare there to burn out his long term supply just what the heck are you doing there?
Grant won because he knew if he went head to head he had more. Engage or go elsewhere, it's not 1942 anymore:
"After the failure of his first experimental explorations around Vicksburg, a committee of abolition war managers waited upon the President and demanded the General’s removal, on the false charge that he was a whiskey drinker, and little better than a common drunkard. “Ah!” exclaimed Honest Old Abe, “you surprise me, gentlemen. But can you tell me where he gets his whiskey?” “We cannot, Mr. President. But why do you desire to know?” “Because, if I can only find out, I will send a barrel of this wonderful whiskey to every general in the army.”"

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Based on my own failed invasion here, I didn't land at Albany to make a better effort to get to Perth. And I didn't bring enough AA to go with my spearhead to get to Kalgoorlie. Depending on what Nick does, this will not be enough except to hold Esperance, IMO.

If he tries to shut things down with the KB this will not be enough to secure the area when that moves in. As things are now that would be at least 7-10 days from the date of landing. I've loaded up more support troops already in the event I do take the base and don't have a bunch of stuff crushed by LBA and surface forces.

If the landings go well I'll also load another division, several NZ brigades and a bunch more armor. About 30 subs are fanning out ahead and with my invasion forces, and they will try to get early warning of any big moves down here.

M hope is that the troops walking to Kalgoorlie will get there eventually and even if it looks like I need to keep all landed forces at Esperance, if they can take Kalgoorlie, then I can rail in a bunch more.

If it looks like we can handle the LBA he throws our way then maybe Albany could happen in quick succession. Trouble is, all the good AP/AK I have in this theatre are in this first wave, so I didn't load them up as a second wave yet.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: leehunt27@bloomberg.net

Good luck at Madras and Esperance! Curious to see what happens next few turns... also learning a lot from this AAR (and Greyjoy's). Good stuff

Thanks! It's been an amazingly fun game, and the big fireworks are only just getting started!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

whats the point of attaching Madras? Want him to burn supply? Thats a great idea. Attach or bombard every day. In a supply war you can not lose. Want to get supply to China? Well he can't be everywhere and he has a lot of AV here. Drive north to Burma. Hit em where he ain't and he is in Madras, unless you are playing trench warfare there to burn out his long term supply just what the heck are you doing there?
Grant won because he knew if he went head to head he had more. Engage or go elsewhere, it's not 1942 anymore:
"After the failure of his first experimental explorations around Vicksburg, a committee of abolition war managers waited upon the President and demanded the General’s removal, on the false charge that he was a whiskey drinker, and little better than a common drunkard. “Ah!” exclaimed Honest Old Abe, “you surprise me, gentlemen. But can you tell me where he gets his whiskey?” “We cannot, Mr. President. But why do you desire to know?” “Because, if I can only find out, I will send a barrel of this wonderful whiskey to every general in the army.”"

I hear ya, and yes it is to burn supply, to make him adjust (there were only two divisions there when our first troops made it in) and because a 'drive to Burma' is what I'd been trying before and got shut down. It may not be 42 but he still rules the air in spots where he has to, and he still has the better troops. The 43 squads are just starting to trickle in and I've got all of 38 operational Corsairs in theatre, and another 22 ready P-38G. [8|]

I wil begin bombarding relentlessly at Madras, but until all of my arty finished building a fort I was holding off. I also had a small surprise waiting that finally was able to be launched, and so far that looks like it caught him off guard. More soon.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Feb 19 - 23, 1943[/font]

---

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]The KB winds it's way slowly back to Ceylon and although subs get in there, the only success is hitting the Kashii with two fish. She sank immediately, so that gets him back for one CL. [:)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font] As the KB pulls back I have a surprise for the defenders of Ceylon. I've been building up my air presence to look like I'm about to launch at Madras. instead, I'll launch at Trincomalee with a combined strike of sweeps, heavies bombing the fields and DBs aiming for shipping. He's been keeping everything out of the port and in a TF. Lately there have been 3-4 xAKE and 10-15 various transports, escorts and ASW forces around the base on a given day. The large CA led TF of about 15 ships that's been bombarding Madras periodically often sits for a few days here too, so I hope I catch it there and all of the elements come together as planned.

If I can make him split forces to more heavily defend a number of bases, something will have to go without somewhere. At least that's the idea. To ensure something working all elements will be duplicated at various bases in the tip of India so that weather won't shut down the entire op. If Trincomalee and Dambulla can both be shut down, Colombo is going to be feeling pretty lonely over there.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font] Same old. Got some LSTs into the area though.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SO PAC: [/font] At Buin I went for the surface forces he's been stationing there again. Again only a portion of my groups flew and I lost a bunch of DBs. it's not a disaster, but I will now need to curtail those kinds of offensive ops for a bit. I need a few more decent sweeping groups down here. One group of 12 SBD did get through but couldn't hit the CA or Musashi. I am noticing he's got a multi-hex CAP bleed with Buin and Torokina, so I think over time I can catch some of those in small numbers away from home.

On the 22nd I sent in two cruiser groups to Buin where Nick had 6 DD stationed on their own. I wanted to shield some amphibs coming to Rekata Bay and Panggoe, but also thought this was a good opportunity for some experience and to get at the IJN. Turned out I was wrong. My two CL in the initial battle didn't engage at all and afterward had nearly all of their ammo left. One DD was lost to a long lance, and then Columbia, Lang and Landsdowne hit mines. Lang went down but the other two are fine and need some work in Sydney. The same day a DA at Panggoe by the NZ brigade took the base easily. So in spite of losses, there is good progress up the chain.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] The IJA pushes the Chinese toward Changsha relentlessly. I'll be interested to see if we can fight there and inflict some pain still. The units do have some supply, and the base has 4 forts. In the mountains the tank division and arty are pushing forward, but slowly.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]OZ:[/font] All is moving here. The TFs are near Ceduna and will be landing at Esperance in a few days if all goes well. The IJN subs are monitoring and harassing, but none have gotten in close yet. More on this soon.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] What can this be?!? [&:]

During these days there continued to be numerous messages of units moving to Perth. No less than 17 separate instances of the 4th and Imperial Guards divisions loaded and moving to Perth.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]-the 21st
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at 61,127.
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at 61,127.

-the 22nd
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at 61,127.
[/font]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 19, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Buin , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 79

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 17
P-39D Airacobra x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Buin at 109,131

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 88

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 29
SBD-3 Dauntless x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
BB Musashi

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (21 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) The CAP missed the bombers completely here before their strike run
(24 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
21 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 between 15000 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Yokosuka Ku S-2 with A6M5 Zero (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 25000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 25000.
Raid is overhead
4 planes vectored on to bombers
281 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
7 planes vectored on to bombers
282 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (19 airborne, 0 on standby, 8 scrambling)
(27 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
19 plane(s) intercepting now.
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Buin at 109,131

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 58

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 15
F4F-4 Wildcat x 33
SBD-3 Dauntless x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed They didn't miss these!
F4F-4 Wildcat: 8 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 22, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Time Surface Combat, near Buin at 109,131, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Tamanami
DD Oboro
DD Kikuzuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Okikaze
DD Uruyuke, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Nashville, Shell hits 1
CL Columbia
DD Benham, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Ellet
DD Sterett
DD Wilson, Shell hits 1
DD Lang, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Improved night sighting under 92% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 92% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
DD Uruyuke engages CL Columbia at 11,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages DD Sterett at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
DD Tamanami engages DD Lang at 10,000 yards
Task forces break off...

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TF 177 encounters mine field at Buin (109,131)

Allied Ships
CL Columbia, Mine hits 1
DD Lang, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 205 encounters mine field at Buin (109,131)

Allied Ships
DD Lansdowne, Mine hits 1, on fire

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Ground combat at 72,47 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7673 troops, 135 guns, 79 vehicles, Assault Value = 541

Defending force 16777 troops, 102 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 345

Japanese adjusted assault: 187

Allied adjusted defense: 451

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
207 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
346 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
Guards Tank Division
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
10th Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
35th Group Army

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

Ground combat at Panggoe (111,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3781 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 125

Defending force 734 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 29

Allied adjusted assault: 49

Japanese adjusted defense: 7

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Panggoe !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
393 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Units destroyed 1

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

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
Fiji Bde /10
24th US Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
4th Raiding Regiment
46th Nav Gd /7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 23, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ASW attack near North Male at 20,49

Japanese Ships
CL Kashii, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Katori
E Ishigaki
AO Eisho Maru
AO Kurume Maru
AO Okayama Maru
AO Toho Maru
AO Toei Maru
AO Nissyo Maru
AO Nippon Maru
AO Kyokuto Maru
AO Kuroshio Maru
AO Itukusima Maru
E Uruko
E Tobui

Allied Ships
SS Hake

SS Hake launches 4 torpedoes at CL Kashii
Hake diving deep ....
E Uruko fails to find sub and abandons search

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

Ground combat at 72,47 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8111 troops, 207 guns, 484 vehicles, Assault Value = 523

Defending force 16509 troops, 100 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 324

Japanese adjusted assault: 163

Allied adjusted defense: 355

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

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

Allied ground losses:
356 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
Guards Tank Division
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
10th Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
35th Group Army
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Ships Lost:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]DD Benham
DD Lang[/font]

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]CL Kashii[/font]

---

---

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Hopefully while the KB is at Colombo the bulk of Ceylon defenses will be focused there. Last recon shows ~85 fighters at Trincomalee. [/font]

[BBfanboy]

Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at 61,127.

61,127 is one hex out of Broome, which seems a likely spot for him to hole up SCTFs, small carriers and support ships. He is about equidistant from either East or West coast Australia from there.
Did your SIGINT on the Imperial Guards and 4th Division include info on where they were loading? It could take a long time at a small port, and explain the long string of intel hits.
My own suspicion is that he had a fragment of those two units left behind somewhere and was loading/unloading them constantly to drive you crazy!

[crsutton]

Hard luck naval battle. Just seems to be the norm for the Allies but you should see better results in 43. You just would expect American CLs to cause some damage-especially in 95% moonlight. It just happens. I had a DD fight with Ark around Manus in 8/42 (we are slower than you and Nic) and we missed shots and torpedoes. Then when I was breaking off and we were 12,000 yards apart he hit two DDs with long lances and sunk them both. Don't think I have seen any torpedo hit anything at that range and he drove two of them home..[:@] You just have to bloody those ships though. Even if its a loss, their first fight will drive night exp up 15-20 points, and give them a chance the next time.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at 61,127.

61,127 is one hex out of Broome, which seems a likely spot for him to hole up SCTFs, small carriers and support ships. He is about equidistant from either East or West coast Australia from there.
Did your SIGINT on the Imperial Guards and 4th Division include info on where they were loading? It could take a long time at a small port, and explain the long string of intel hits.
My own suspicion is that he had a fragment of those two units left behind somewhere and was loading/unloading them constantly to drive you crazy!

Yeah, that is what I was thinking. It's possible to get to Esperance in three days from there, but not likely. Flank speed for three days with Japanese destroyers doesn't work too well usually. [;)]

I agree, this seems like something he's figured out can produce a LOT of SIGINT, and he's doing it over and over. It's kind of like the Naval Guard unit that just showed up prepping for Sydney, though. I'm not taking it too seriously at this point in the game!

For those divisions, if the KB is still near Ceylon (which it is) I would be moving them out of Perth if I were him. If his LBA doesn't hit then he's got nothing defending the whole coastline for a few days and he doesn't know how much I've loaded up or where I'll land. He could gamble it's not Geraldton, but if it is, that's not great for whatever is in Perth (or farther SE).

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ORIGINAL: crsutton

Hard luck naval battle. Just seems to be the norm for the Allies but you should see better results in 43. You just would expect American CLs to cause some damage-especially in 95% moonlight. It just happens. I had a DD fight with Ark around Manus in 8/42 (we are slower than you and Nic) and we missed shots and torpedoes. Then when I was breaking off and we were 12,000 yards apart he hit two DDs with long lances and sunk them both. Don't think I have seen any torpedo hit anything at that range and he drove two of them home..[:@] You just have to bloody those ships though. Even if its a loss, their first fight will drive night exp up 15-20 points, and give them a chance the next time.

Yep. That was the thinking. I had another cruiser TF moving in that then also turned around after the first battle. I had hoped the second would find the DDs low on ammo and movement and smash them, but the IJN BBs happened to move in and my commander wisely turned tail.

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The day began with sightings over Trincomalee.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Coastwatcher sighting: 2 Japanese ships at 31,47 near Trincomalee , Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 5 Japanese ships at 31,47 near Trincomalee , Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 8 Japanese ships at 31,47 near Trincomalee , Speed 4 , Moving West
Coastwatcher sighting: 3 Japanese ships at 31,47 near Trincomalee , Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 10 Japanese ships at 31,47 near Trincomalee , Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 5 Japanese ships at 31,47 near Trincomalee , Speed unknown
Coastwatcher sighting: 9 Japanese ships at 31,47 near Trincomalee , Speed unknown [/font]

Knowing what I knew about the day's actions this set up a tense and expectant feeling for the watching of the replay.

I had set about 200 fighters to sweep Trincomalee from the closest possible bases on the tip of India. I'd also set almost 80 DBs to fly from Madurai with USN CV Wildcats as escorts. This is the only base where a 5 hex setting would only hit Trincomalee and not the CAP over Colombo or Madras. I'd set 120 B-17E flying from Bangalore and 75 RAF and USAAF B-24 flying from Benares. Escorts and sweeps would fly from all three closest bases of Tanjore, Trichinopoly and Madurai.

I had no idea what ships would be there today, but it looked like the best day to move since the KB was at Colombo and it would most likely be the focus of CAP there.

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First indications were that all was a go! Recon and search went over the base and confirmed coast watcher reports that there was shipping in the hex and that the weather would allow flights there. Sweeps came first in nearly a perfect order.

He had four groups of layered CAP there, and a bit of a surprise!! The A6M5c is here!! Yikes! That is a good defensive plane, and I hadn't thought it would be anywhere near ready, since even in this scenario they shouldn't come until later in 44. (After looking in the AC databases it's confirmed they just arrived in 2/43. The A6M8 is due in 3/44 currently!!!!!![X(] It should arrive in mid-to late 43 at this rate of R n D) I'll do some more hunting in the database to see what other surprises may be in store.

Our USN Wildcats did okay to start the proceedings, but against a stronger than anticipated CAP (bigger by a third than recon suggested). Things got better from there. Chinese Lancers and RAF Hurricanes showed up together and weakened the CAP a bit more before the two Corsair groups smashed them.

Unfortunately our next sweeps came in a big mass, and the three elite P-40K groups plus the P-38s didn't get to show their worth individually although they did get a very good kill ratio. The P-400 Airacobras were supposed to be on escort duty, but didn't wait for the bombers.

All of it left the CAP incredibly weak and out of position, and when the B-24s arrived next they sailed through to hit the base without a loss!

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 25, 43
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Morning Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 27
A6M5c Zero x 25
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 42
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 36

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 69

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
30 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet

CAP engaged:
582 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 16 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
Chitose-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 17 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
4th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 22 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 22000 and 30000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 25 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes

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Morning Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 27,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 22
A6M5c Zero x 20
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 37
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 33

Allied aircraft
P-43A-1 Lancer x 11
Hurricane IIc Trop x 15
Kittyhawk I x 10
P-39D Airacobra x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-43A-1 Lancer: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x P-43A-1 Lancer sweeping at 25000 feet

CAP engaged:
582 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 12 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 21000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
4th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (1 airborne, 5 on standby, 12 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 4 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
26 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
Chitose-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 8 scrambling)
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes

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Morning Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 21
A6M5c Zero x 17
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 34
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 27

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
582 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 6 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
4th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
21 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 27000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
22 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
Chitose-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 25125 and 32390.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes

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Morning Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 20
A6M5c Zero x 12
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 20
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 23

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 2
F4U-1 Corsair x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5c Zero: 3 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 25000 feet

CAP engaged:
582 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 25125 and 34600.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
4th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
16 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 25000 and 33600.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
13 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 34600.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
Chitose-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 25125 and 30000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes

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Morning Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 13
A6M5c Zero x 6
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 15
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 19

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 2
Kittyhawk III x 16
P-38G Lightning x 22
P-39D Airacobra x 4
P-400 Airacobra x 25
P-40K Warhawk x 72

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Kittyhawk III sweeping at 25000 feet
21 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 25000 feet *
22 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 25000 feet
21 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 25000 feet
23 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 25000 feet

CAP engaged:
4th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 26390 and 35600.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 32560.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
582 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 28000 and 32700.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
Chitose-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 32600.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes

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