Greyjoy(J) vs. Obvert(A) - The air war in China- DBB, SLs, PDU OFF

[Lokasenna]

Going back to the comment about "Is it a mistake for the Allies to bring CVs to contest India?"... in Early 1942, absolutely a mistake. The Allies would be better served, strategically, with grabbing up and fortifying forward territory in the Pacific, which I think is what makes an Indian campaign so dangerous for Japan. I think extended SOPAC and Australian adventures are more productive in terms of time and space.

In any case, there are multiple things that make India/Bay of Bengal the most perilous place on the map for the USN CVs if Japan is going for India in Spring '42:

1) LBA - Aside from Colombo, and to an extent Calcutta/Madras, there are going to be no supporting airbases. By contrast, Japan will have Rangoon at the very least and possibly Port Blair - from which they can reach the entire Bay of Bengal with Nells, albeit without escorts... but they could still participate in a CV clash here.

2) Visibility - Allied recon in this area is very poor for the first year of the war. You would need to transfer many Catalinas here from the Pacific, and you would need to do so before you knew for sure that your opponent was coming for India. This is a gamble as there aren't enough Catalinas to cover the Pacific as it is in those early months, but I suppose you could stopgap with bomber units if necessary. But that has its own costs, particularly in training up your pilots.

3) Obvious point here, but CV aircraft quality disparity. Even if a lot of the prewar USN pilots are of very good quality, their planes aren't. And beyond quality, there is quantity: one big battle and, even assuming you achieve a draw, your SBD and F4F pools are really going to be hurting.

4) Movement. It's constricted, whether you're operating off the west coast of India because Japan already has Ceylon and is landing at Madras (or wherever), or within the Bay of Bengal. There's only one way to run. Lots of land, not so much ocean. Mavis units from Sabang (and Blair) can reach a very long ways, so cripples fleeing from a battle in the BoB will be at risk. And if you lose, having to run back to Ceylon... KB can burn that down, too. Depending on the timing, even MKB can punch through the British airpower in the region.


Obvert did the right thing with his CVs, IMO. I think China falls either way - whether Japan goes India or China with these units - so the middle of the Pacific is the consequence I find most interesting here. Granted, Obvert made his own choices to kick GJ out of India at this point, which will have their own consequences... but I think they will be less costly, in terms of strategic opportunity cost, than Japan going for India to begin with. Just my .02 on the whole thing (what to do with CVs is almost always a macro consideration).


What's the earliest you could get the USN CVs to the IO anyway? If Lex/Enterprise sail around Australia, they could probably make it to Ceylon by February sometime. Saratoga could sail to Panama to meet Yorktown at the end of December, and be in the IO in late February, perhaps?

[CaptBeefheart]

Well played, Grey Joy. Pretty much a mirror of the Gallipoli withdrawal. You continue to entertain the peanut gallery.[&o]

Obvert diverted a lot of resources to India that weren't used in gaining ground in CenPac, SoPac or SWPac. That's a very large opportunity cost. As a result, future thrusts in those directions will be more of a slog.

Cheers,
CC

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Going back to the comment about "Is it a mistake for the Allies to bring CVs to contest India?"... in Early 1942, absolutely a mistake. The Allies would be better served, strategically, with grabbing up and fortifying forward territory in the Pacific, which I think is what makes an Indian campaign so dangerous for Japan. I think extended SOPAC and Australian adventures are more productive in terms of time and space.

In any case, there are multiple things that make India/Bay of Bengal the most perilous place on the map for the USN CVs if Japan is going for India in Spring '42:

1) LBA - Aside from Colombo, and to an extent Calcutta/Madras, there are going to be no supporting airbases. By contrast, Japan will have Rangoon at the very least and possibly Port Blair - from which they can reach the entire Bay of Bengal with Nells, albeit without escorts... but they could still participate in a CV clash here.

2) Visibility - Allied recon in this area is very poor for the first year of the war. You would need to transfer many Catalinas here from the Pacific, and you would need to do so before you knew for sure that your opponent was coming for India. This is a gamble as there aren't enough Catalinas to cover the Pacific as it is in those early months, but I suppose you could stopgap with bomber units if necessary. But that has its own costs, particularly in training up your pilots.

3) Obvious point here, but CV aircraft quality disparity. Even if a lot of the prewar USN pilots are of very good quality, their planes aren't. And beyond quality, there is quantity: one big battle and, even assuming you achieve a draw, your SBD and F4F pools are really going to be hurting.

4) Movement. It's constricted, whether you're operating off the west coast of India because Japan already has Ceylon and is landing at Madras (or wherever), or within the Bay of Bengal. There's only one way to run. Lots of land, not so much ocean. Mavis units from Sabang (and Blair) can reach a very long ways, so cripples fleeing from a battle in the BoB will be at risk. And if you lose, having to run back to Ceylon... KB can burn that down, too. Depending on the timing, even MKB can punch through the British airpower in the region.


Obvert did the right thing with his CVs, IMO. I think China falls either way - whether Japan goes India or China with these units - so the middle of the Pacific is the consequence I find most interesting here. Granted, Obvert made his own choices to kick GJ out of India at this point, which will have their own consequences... but I think they will be less costly, in terms of strategic opportunity cost, than Japan going for India to begin with. Just my .02 on the whole thing (what to do with CVs is almost always a macro consideration).


What's the earliest you could get the USN CVs to the IO anyway? If Lex/Enterprise sail around Australia, they could probably make it to Ceylon by February sometime. Saratoga could sail to Panama to meet Yorktown at the end of December, and be in the IO in late February, perhaps?

Even with possession of Colombo, The island of Ceylon sets up a perfect trap for any Allied carriers operating in the IO. KB need only move to the Southern part of Ceylon to force a fight. Nowhere to escape. This is true of all Allied warships operating in the IO. Obvert moved for the Central Pacific. My only change is that I would move for the Solomons instead. Holding either Port Morsby, Rabaul or Lae/Nazdab is a tremendous thorn in the side of Japan. Allies need only to be in possession of one level 9 airfield and the Solomons are doomed sooner or later. Plus, you need not risk the Allied carriers much in this area. Allies need a solid base for LBA and the Central Pacific does not offer that.

[GreyJoy]

Been terribly busy at work lately... Jan seems to be the month of the bankruptcies

However, i am late with the report...

We reached April 15

April 9-15, 1943

China: our tanks reached Tsuyung and immediately achieved a 2-1 reducing forts to 2. The fate of western China is now almost done.

India: Allies land at Colombo and then immediately para-drop 3 big para units, but they are repulsed with heavy losses by a tiny garrison unit let there to be sacrificed while the bulk of the japanese indian army was moving back[:D]
Calcutta is abbandoned in good order and now we can say that operation rescue is over. The new defensive line is estabilished at Dimampur (even if i won't hold there for long).By the time the allies will get there, i'll be partying and dancing in Paoshan

SOPAC: here's where we've made a mess. Sent 7 old DDs (Kamikaze type) at full speed against the allied transport fleet east of Milne Bay. We engagded several PTs and i forgot how fast those old DDs drink fuel... we ended up with 0 fuel in the middle of the allied bases in daytime... the SDBs arrived and sunk 2 of the 7 stupid DDs... then, the following day, i sent a strong SAG to refuel them... immediately after they were refueled, the PTs arrived in droves and sunk, along with some AUS cruisers the whole lot of DDs... strange enough the Tanaka's cruisers that managed to refuel the tin cans weren't engaged by the allied cruisers...
Then we also met Mr.Hellcat[:-]...these bastards torn my sweeping Georges apart (killing 13 of them for 5 Hellcats). The following day, a sweep of Hellcats south of Torokina got 30 A6M5s for 0 loss on their side... OUCH!!!![X(]

Reinforcements are now arriving to SOPAC. A full division will be sent to Kavieng along with CD and AA units...

Not looking good also on the subs side. In April allied subs started to be seen almost everywhere and they are achieving at least 1 hit every turn. Need to improve my ASW...and the loss of 7 (SEVEN!) old DDs isn't exactly a good start on that matter

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Well played, Grey Joy. Pretty much a mirror of the Gallipoli withdrawal. You continue to entertain the peanut gallery.[&o]

Obvert diverted a lot of resources to India that weren't used in gaining ground in CenPac, SoPac or SWPac. That's a very large opportunity cost. As a result, future thrusts in those directions will be more of a slog.

Cheers,
CC

Thanks CC!
My Indian Air force badly needed a break. Now we can finally breath for some weeks untill the allies will be close again to our positions... By that time i hope to have estabilished a japanese "burma road" connection, so to be able to move some of my units to Sumatra.

The KB will now move back to Java. Wanna be able to defend Java and Sumatra untill the defences are ready there...

[GreyJoy]

This is how CBI theatre looks now

[veji1]

Good thing you are going to finish China, this must be a relief at last. Now regarding your airforce, you are going to have to go back to what players did in the old WITP days, before PDU become an option : hide you airforce, show up suddenly in force for a trap, than disappear, etc. It is a completely different game with PDU off, where you must fight tooth and nail to avoid the allies seizing not the bases that mean he can bomb you, but the ones that mean he can sweep you. Because in PDU off, you will get swept to death. surface navy and landforces are now more reliable than airforce for you.

Good luck !

[ny59giants]

Supplies - How is your supply situation in your new bases?? I know as Allied player that many have "Max Draw" per day restriction that only increases when base is expanded (AF + Forts). Is it true for Japan also?? You may need to press your transport plane into service here to get some stability along with stockpiling at some.

Hellcats vs George - That was a rude surprise!! [X(] I wonder how many of his airgroups will get the even nastier Thuds?? I'm using dbb data in August '44 and only the Frank 'r' is having anything that can be called success against them.

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

This is how CBI theatre looks now

Hmm....I'm not sure I agree with your defensive line so much. For one thing I think that your plans to defend the Ledo area should be based on your progress in China. If you manage to take Paoshan before the allies can take Calcutta which seems very likely at this point I see no reason to defend Ledo. A delaying action in the jungle towards Upper Burma makes sense but you shouldn't invest a lot in front of Kalemeyo because of the likely supply issues your units will face. As you have found out from previous experience a major advance into Upper Burma without a strong supporting attack along the coast is doomed to fail.

On the other hand, I don't see why you are planning on voluntarily giving up the 3x terrain between Chittagong and Akyab. Make the Allies pay for every inch of that jungle. It's not like your army is so stretched or depleted that you can't afford to fight in a forward position like that in good terrain.

Lastly, I think you need to revisit your decision not to defend Ramree in strength. That is not an easy base for the Allies to take if you can get some decent units and forts. Sure the Allies may not be able to advance from Ramree easily but it's a forward base that can be supplied from the sea and built up to a level 4 air base. Not to mention I think you would feel a lot differently about your proposed line at Akyab should the Allies have a foothold in Ramree even if it did stalemate.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Sangeli
On the other hand, I don't see why you are planning on voluntarily giving up the 3x terrain between Chittagong and Akyab. Make the Allies pay for every inch of that jungle. It's not like your army is so stretched or depleted that you can't afford to fight in a forward position like that in good terrain.

He is not, his line of defense goes thru the jungle rough terrain, and leave the jungle in front. He may also fight, but not in depth in those jungle hexes.

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Sangeli
On the other hand, I don't see why you are planning on voluntarily giving up the 3x terrain between Chittagong and Akyab. Make the Allies pay for every inch of that jungle. It's not like your army is so stretched or depleted that you can't afford to fight in a forward position like that in good terrain.

He is not, his line of defense goes thru the jungle rough terrain, and leave the jungle in front. He may also fight, but not in depth in those jungle hexes.

Hmmm maybe your right. It's hard for me to tell the difference between jungle and jungle + rough from a map alone but I guess if you look close enough you can see the difference in color (rough makes it slightly darker). I agree that 2x hexes shoudln't be defended.

[GreyJoy]

Hi guys,

interesting observations about Burma defence.

In fact, as i've said before, the new line won't be hold for long.
The Diamphur-Impal-Ledo sector will be abbandoned as soon as he starts building the bases around Dacca and Chittagon. As Micheal said, supplies flows very slowly there and even if i had stockpiled quite a lot of it during the last months (foreseeing the evacuation of Assam), it simply won't last a series of battles.
The idea is to get back to Burma. But i wanna do it slowly, so to be able to kill western China out of the war first and to estabilish a good defensive perimeter in Burma before the former Assam Army will move back.
Akyab is a bad place where to defend. As soon as his BBs arrive at Calcutta, Akyab will be bombed 24h, from the skies and from the seas. Will resist there as long as possible, but won't waste a good division for it.
There's already a division at Ramree. Soon there will also be an AA regiment and some guns and engineers. Again, like Akyab, not much more.

Space for time. That's the goal. Space for time.


April 16, 1943

An important day in China. Tsuyung falls! BANZAI!
Now on towards Paoshan!


Ground combat at Tsuyung (68,46)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15656 troops, 318 guns, 994 vehicles, Assault Value = 630

Defending force 23660 troops, 94 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 184

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 489

Allied adjusted defense: 109

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tsuyung !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
10183 casualties reported
Squads: 197 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 314 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 35 (28 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 18
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd Tank Division
18th Tank Regiment
Guards Tank Division
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
56th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
10th Chinese Corps
5th New Chinese Corps
11th Group Army
Lusu War Area
10th Construction Regiment
NCAC
80th Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
5th Group Army
9th Group Army
33rd Base Group
62nd Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Base Force
16th Chinese Base Force


Quiet everywhere else. Usual bombings at Ceylon and he also started to bomb Attu... Diego will be targetted pretty soon i guess. Space for time.

Bought a new division from Japan. The 54th. It will go to Kavieng with some AA and base forces. Need to plan the abbandoning of Bouganville and to defend the right flank of Rabaul.

Moving some 200 fighters to Port Hedland. Soon his bombers will come screaming over there...

130K supplies are moving from Japan to northern Oz and Timor.

Left at Calcutta 40K fuel... couldn't wait anymore to leave the area... that's a pity, i know...just like the 35K i left at Ceylon... but that's the price to pay for getting back in good order without a single ship lost in that operation.

In 5 days we'll begin a sistematic bombing of Chungking and in 2 weeks we'll start moving against Sian again. Wenchow is on the list too, but it will need to wait untill i get Paoshan done.

Planning to use the 4 tank divisions ihave in the Marshalls... what do you think? Better an Infantry division (those with Heavy 43 IJA infantry squads) or those nasty tank divisions for static defence of an island?

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
Akyab is a bad place where to defend. As soon as his BBs arrive at Calcutta, Akyab will be bombed 24h, from the skies and from the seas. Will resist there as long as possible, but won't waste a good division for it.
There's already a division at Ramree. Soon there will also be an AA regiment and some guns and engineers. Again, like Akyab, not much more.

Akyab is a 2x hex? Ya I guess it's not the best hex then. But then where do you intend to make a real stand? The river crossing east of Akyab which is not a coastal hex but is the only march rout from Akyab? Again I still think you're being a little overcautious here. You are doing just fine defending against the Allies in wide open India. Yet you seem very pessimistic about being able to Allies marching a coastal dirt road in 2x and 3x terrain. Ya the Allies will be stronger in a few months but the defensive conditions in Burma are just so much better IMO. Also, Calcutta isn't accessible by BBs due to the size constraint on moving upriver.

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
Planning to use the 4 tank divisions ihave in the Marshalls... what do you think? Better an Infantry division (those with Heavy 43 IJA infantry squads) or those nasty tank divisions for static defence of an island?

I think you should still try to use at least some of those tank divisions they can use their mobility advantageously. I think that they would be more useful in Java and Sumatra where you may need to deploy rapidly to meet an Allied landing.

[Lowpe]

Nonsense, GJ is not be too careful.[:)] Once Ceylon falls, Burma can be an out and out deathtrap! And Obvert knows it, he lost 22 divisions there to Jocke, maybe more.

Interesting thought on using the tank divisions in the Marshalls, the problem is where to put them so they actually fight? Ponape, Kwaj, Roi, Ailinglaplap or others like Malo, etc... What about Kusaie? That leaves a lot of bases the Allies can use to bypass, and then how do you manage to withdraw those heavy loads from an isolated, worthless position.

Marianas you could put them on Guam, Rota, Saipan and Tinian?

Just thinking out loud here, I am sure you have thought more about it[:D]

[GreyJoy]

I meant Mariannas, not Marshalls! Sorry [:D][:D][:D][:D]

Sangeli, i do understand what you think. That coastal road is surely a good place to defend. I know. But how much should i put there? The perimeter to be defended in Burma is pretty big if you want to prevent the allied columns to penetrate inthe plains. The hex behind the river crssing east of Akyab is exactly the place i had in mind. But i will fight for Akyab, don't get me wrong... i just won't let good units die there, which is different.

Also consider that if Japan committs too much in Burma the allies will simply bypass it.
So it's a balance thing: you need to give him the belief that he could penetrate in Burma, so he will commit there good units. At the same time it's mandatory, as Obvert knows as Lowepe pointed out, to defend deep...Rangoon, Pegu, Moulmein and Tavoy.

Also it's about timing... Obvert won't be ready to threaten deep Thailand untill 1944 i guess, while Sumatra can be invaded even in late 1943, so i need to give priority to the defence of Sumatra. Already sending to Singapore some good support units that will be needed in those eastern Sumatra bases.

[GreyJoy]

Once again, the general strategic idea behind my choices is that Japan needs to "lure" the allies towards the best (for Japana) possible advancing vector.
Obviously the allies won't attack where they feel Japan is stronger.
So i need to show him i'm strong in Sumatra and Java and let him advance in the cent-pac.
I want him to advance in Centpac.
That's why i fortified Umboi-Finshtafen and Mereuake-Horn Island complexes. I want him to committ in the marshalls rather than in the Indian Ocean.
Want him in Bura rather than in western Sumatra.
Want him in NW Oz rather than in NE Oz and so on...

The fall of western China will surely help me in this. Once it's secured, many chinese divisions will be free to be moved elsewhere...and only God knows how badly are they needed.

[MrKane]

I would advice to keep best divisions in Singa with Amphib TF ready. Just in case Obvert will have different opinion where is good place to advance in late 43

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Sangeli

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
Akyab is a bad place where to defend. As soon as his BBs arrive at Calcutta, Akyab will be bombed 24h, from the skies and from the seas. Will resist there as long as possible, but won't waste a good division for it.
There's already a division at Ramree. Soon there will also be an AA regiment and some guns and engineers. Again, like Akyab, not much more.

Akyab is a 2x hex? Ya I guess it's not the best hex then. But then where do you intend to make a real stand? The river crossing east of Akyab which is not a coastal hex but is the only march rout from Akyab? Again I still think you're being a little overcautious here. You are doing just fine defending against the Allies in wide open India. Yet you seem very pessimistic about being able to Allies marching a coastal dirt road in 2x and 3x terrain. Ya the Allies will be stronger in a few months but the defensive conditions in Burma are just so much better IMO. Also, Calcutta isn't accessible by BBs due to the size constraint on moving upriver.

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
Planning to use the 4 tank divisions ihave in the Marshalls... what do you think? Better an Infantry division (those with Heavy 43 IJA infantry squads) or those nasty tank divisions for static defence of an island?

I think you should still try to use at least some of those tank divisions they can use their mobility advantageously. I think that they would be more useful in Java and Sumatra where you may need to deploy rapidly to meet an Allied landing.

Akyab is a death trap for the side that does not hold naval and air superiority. So for the Allies in 42 and for Japan after mid 43. GJ is aware of that. Besides who says the Allies need to take it at all.

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
Sangeli, i do understand what you think. That coastal road is surely a good place to defend. I know. But how much should i put there? The perimeter to be defended in Burma is pretty big if you want to prevent the allied columns to penetrate inthe plains. The hex behind the river crssing east of Akyab is exactly the place i had in mind. But i will fight for Akyab, don't get me wrong... i just won't let good units die there, which is different.

I don't think the whole perimeter of Burma should be defended as it is large like you said. Really I'm just advocating force the Allies to have to their time advancing through Burma. Either they go head on with frontal attack whereupon strong defenses can slow that approach or they attempt outflanking maneuvers and you slowly pull back based off those movements. But I just have a feeling based off Obverts strategy so far that the main advance in Burma will be a frontal one through Akyab. Really 6 divisions deployed along the coast should give the Allies a real hard time I think; remember how low the stacking limits are there. That's not a lot of units compared to what you have available right now.

ORIGINAL: MrKane
I would advice to keep best divisions in Singa with Amphib TF ready. Just in case Obvert will have different opinion where is good place to advance in late 43

+1 to that. The other reason I am advocating a more forward defense is because I know that in the following months that the IJA in China is being released for overseas duty. The assembly of a rather rapid reaction force in Singapore is now possible with those units. I'd even go a step further and prepare those units to prepare for bases in Japanese hands but which might be targets of Allied attack. Really I see no reason why you can't get a large army in strategic reserve to meet an ambitious amphibious allied assault (say that 4x fast[:D]) in Java or Sumatra and match the Allies soldier for soldier. The real weakness for Japan this game, as Grejoy already is aware of, is an advance through SW PAC where there are just too many isolated bases for even a large army to defend in strength. An attack anywhere else before 1944 is likely to work to Greyjoy's advantage I think.

[GreyJoy]

April 17-18, 1943

On the 17th, the allies attack Torokina, my main base south of Rabaul.
They sweep+LRCAP and send several 2E bombers.
My fighters were momentary back at Rabaul for some RnR...
The base was smashed and the AF barely usable.
I decided to hit back.

On the 18th, i moved 230 fighters to Torokina, while ordering the N1K1s to sweep Shortland.

A MASSIVE success!

The N1K1s arrived first and diverted not less than 3 groups of Wildcats from their LRCAP duties over Torokina.
The Georges achieved a stunning 20-0 result! [X(][&o][&o][&o][&o]

Then the 2Es arrived unescorted...and got slaughterd over Torokina.

In the meanwhile 25 P-39s swept Buin and found 36 A6M5s who butchered them

When the P38 and P39s arrived over Torokina they found a stiff resistance...and got back with a small 1,5 to 1 in their favour.

By the end of the day, we had killed 90 enemy planes, losing 30 of my own[8D]

Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 110,132

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 40

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 12
F4F-4 Wildcat x 36

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 11 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x N1K1-J George sweeping at 25000 feet *

CAP engaged:
VRF-1F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(18 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 18 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 25000.
Raid is overhead
VRF-3F with F4F-4 Wildcat (18 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(18 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
18 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 25000.
Raid is overhead
VMO-251 with F4F-3 Wildcat (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 25000.
Raid is overhead



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

Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 110,132

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x N1K1-J George sweeping at 25000 feet *
------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Buin , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 35

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 25

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x P-39D Airacobra sweeping at 15000 feet *

CAP engaged:
281 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 24 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes

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

Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 68
A6M8 Zero x 25
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 30
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 19
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 26

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 12
B-18A Bolo x 11
PV-1 Ventura x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-18A Bolo: 4 destroyed
PV-1 Ventura: 7 destroyed



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

Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 66
A6M8 Zero x 25
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 28
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 18
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 25

Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 7 destroyed

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

Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 27,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 66
A6M8 Zero x 25
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 25
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 16
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 25

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
23 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
203rd Sentai with Ki-43-IIIa Oscar (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
246th Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (0 airborne, 17 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
248th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 5 scrambling)
16 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 74 minutes
282 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
23 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
Taiyo-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
13 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 30000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes


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Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 65
A6M8 Zero x 24
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 20
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 12
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 24

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 22
P-39D Airacobra x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 3 destroyed