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

[ny59giants]

American Combat Engineers: You will find that you have more needs for these units than you actually have. I would make a list of them all and double check to ensure they are being used in the most important places.

Most of your large divisions will have TO&E upgrades that place significant combat engineer squads in them.

OT - we need Alfred to put out an "Allied Player Guide for Dummies - Invasions." [:D]

[Lokasenna]

In my Tracker, and granted this is a stock Scen 2 game, but I see the following groups as "Upgrade to" the J2M3:

302 Ku S-1 (arrival March 2, 1944), 36
332 Ku S-1 (arrives ~09/44), 36
352 Ku S-1 (arrives ~09/44), 36
381 Ku S-1 (arrives ~09/43), size 27

So...if his units are the same, none can upgrade. Unless I fail at using Tracker, but the "Upgrade to (path)" option shows so many more units that I figure that's gotta be the PDU On version of the screen.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

In my Tracker, and granted this is a stock Scen 2 game, but I see the following groups as "Upgrade to" the J2M3:

302 Ku S-1 (arrival March 2, 1944), 36
332 Ku S-1 (arrives ~09/44), 36
352 Ku S-1 (arrives ~09/44), 36
381 Ku S-1 (arrives ~09/43), size 27

So...if his units are the same, none can upgrade. Unless I fail at using Tracker, but the "Upgrade to (path)" option shows so many more units that I figure that's gotta be the PDU On version of the screen.

Thanks!

That's probably why I haven't seen them yet even though they're in production. Also probably why he pushed the A5M line so hard in RnD.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

American Combat Engineers: You will find that you have more needs for these units than you actually have. I would make a list of them all and double check to ensure they are being used in the most important places.

Most of your large divisions will have TO&E upgrades that place significant combat engineer squads in them.

OT - we need Alfred to put out an "Allied Player Guide for Dummies - Invasions." [:D]

I think reading Jocke's AAR was more informative than anyone player could put together. Lots of info there from everyone.

The key is having time to do it right. I know what to bring at this point, and the amount of bombardment I want to do before landing, but I don't necessarily think it's more prudent to do that if it puts my ships, (high VP ships like BBs and high value ships like APAs) into jeopardy. I've basically made the choice to go on the cheap in Cent Pac, so the timeframe is not ideal, with only time for one or two bombardments just before the invasions.

This last one the bombardments by embedded BBs did a lot of good work, but the cruisers failed to hit the base as scheduled (I had them on a daytime bombardment and they were in hex but didn't bombard, not sure why). That could have pushed the edge a little more in our direction. I also intercepted some Mavis-L at Mili, so he may have been flying another unit in, (or something out), during the turn. I had thought there were two naval guards there but found three at landing.

As it is he could reinforce but he must know this will most likely end like Nauru, with a complete annihilation of the garrison. The Marines there will recover unless really severely bombarded, and to do that he's going to have to put high value ships in the firing line. That's fine with me! [:)]

[Lowpe]

Getting the afternoon bombardment to work is always a crap shoot.

You are doing really well in this game, but you will have to start putting more at risk and Japan is strong. Can't wait for the clash of the carriers. Where will it be and who will win?

I would vote, but I am reading both sides.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Getting the afternoon bombardment to work is always a crap shoot.

You are doing really well in this game, but you will have to start putting more at risk and Japan is strong. Can't wait for the clash of the carriers. Where will it be and who will win?

I would vote, but I am reading both sides.

Set "Remain on Station" - they'll bombard in the afternoon. If you don't set that, the code will instead calculate how to get them to sail to the location, bombard at night, and retreat.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Getting the afternoon bombardment to work is always a crap shoot.

You are doing really well in this game, but you will have to start putting more at risk and Japan is strong. Can't wait for the clash of the carriers. Where will it be and who will win?

I would vote, but I am reading both sides.

At some point I may, but I also haven't been forced to put more at risk on the Oceans yet. I don't even have to move through the Cent Pac area, but I'm doing it to build an understanding of what my forces can accomplish and also to see what he'll risk to stop me from going forward.

In So Pac/SW Pac the going is pretty easy at this point, and that could change whenever he decides a line has been crossed. I have experience on the other side though, and I know that even though I had even more time to set up good defenses on New Guinea and around Rabaul, I couldn't hold back the Allies in later 43.

I just want to be in shooting distance of the PI and Marianas by early 44 for my own sense of accomplishment.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Getting the afternoon bombardment to work is always a crap shoot.

You are doing really well in this game, but you will have to start putting more at risk and Japan is strong. Can't wait for the clash of the carriers. Where will it be and who will win?

I would vote, but I am reading both sides.

Set "Remain on Station" - they'll bombard in the afternoon. If you don't set that, the code will instead calculate how to get them to sail to the location, bombard at night, and retreat.

Yep. I had this set and it's always worked for me including a few weeks ago in this game at Nauru. I had day recon floatplanes set and a good commander with high aggression, set to absolute threat tolerance. No idea why it didn't fire this time.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]May 9, 1943[/font]

---

Finally got a few minutes to give an update on the Mili invasion and the fighting above Paoshan.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] Two subs damaged and one confirmed sunk (with Glens on ground losses list). Our got a chance at a CA but couldn't hit with 4 fish.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font] I've started flying out Chinese units that could have HQ changed. Just realized this was a possibility, so I can get one big Corps plus some smaller units and two HQs out this way.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] The congestion at Paoshan is diminishing as troops leave and some begin to walk into the wilds to starve. I'd like to get out two of the Brit base forces other than the vehicles and AA guns and fly in a Marine MAG to run the CAP. Then hat will give me some room to use to get two Indian brigades with 43 squads in the place. I just need some time! [:)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SO PAC: [/font] Building up Buna.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font] Mili holds on but many of the guns for the fort and units look to be destroyed. The AA seems lessened as well. Now it's a waiting game until the Marines recover. I'll see also if his CA TF pursues our invasion fleet, which is reorganized into combat groups, the BBs taken out of the amphib TFs and all combat ships assigned to follow one of the TFs of APA/LSI. All will race South.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] Yes, I know this already!! [:D]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]a Aoba class CA is moving to Maloelap (136,117).[/font]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 9, 43 - Mili invasion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub attack near Wotje at 135,116

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Kako
CA Takao
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Hatsushima
DD Sagiri
DD Asagiri
DD Uranami
DD Murakumo

Allied Ships
SS Herring

SS Herring launches 4 torpedoes at CA Myoko
Herring diving deep ....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 406 encounters mine field at Horn Island (91,128) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

42 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DMS Chandler, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS Long, Shell hits 1
DMS Perry, Shell hits 2, on fire

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

3rd Special Base Force firing at DMS Chandler
DMS Chandler firing at 3rd Special Base Force

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Mili at 136,121

Japanese Ships
SS I-122, hits 7

Allied Ships
DD Gilmer
DD Van Ghent
PG Charleston
APA Bolivar
APA La Salle
LSI(L) Westralia
LSI(M) Prince Henry
APD Manley
DD King
DD Brooks

SS I-122 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Gilmer
I-122 bottoming out ....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Mili (136,121) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

124 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 1
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 1
DD King
DD Brooks
PG Charleston, Shell hits 3
LSI(M) Prince Henry
DD Van Ghent
APA Bolivar

Japanese ground losses:
214 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 35 (4 destroyed, 31 disabled)

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

BB Mississippi firing at Mili Naval Fortress

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Mili (136,121)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

64 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico
DD Gilmer
DD Brooks
DD Van Ghent
PG Charleston
APA Bolivar
DD King

Japanese ground losses:
163 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

BB Mississippi firing at Sasebo 6th SNLF

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Mili at 136,121

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 33
G4M1 Betty x 28

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 11
P-39D Airacobra x 11
P-40B Warhawk x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 5
F4F-4 Wildcat x 40

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 12 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 17 destroyed, 5 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Mili at 136,121

Japanese Ships
SS I-23, hits 9, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD LaVallette
DD Carmick

SS I-23 is sighted by escort
I-23 bottoming out ....
DD Carmick attacking submerged sub ....
Underwater explosion, debris and oil appear on surface!
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Mili (136,121) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

70 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania, Shell hits 5
PC Morris
LCI-21
LCI-22
DD Beale
LCI-23

Japanese ground losses:
265 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (3 destroyed, 13 disabled)

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

BB Pennsylvania firing at Mili Naval Fortress

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Mili (136,121) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

63 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Arizona, Shell hits 8
CVE Barnes
APA Sumter
DMS Hamilton

Japanese ground losses:
157 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 29 (22 destroyed, 7 disabled)

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

BB Arizona firing at Mili Naval Fortress
Mili Naval Fortress firing at BB Arizona

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

Ground combat at Mili (136,121)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 7157 troops, 46 guns, 67 vehicles, Assault Value = 212

Defending force 4165 troops, 57 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 120

Allied adjusted assault: 36

Japanese adjusted defense: 28

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
283 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1266 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 125 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 40 destroyed, 75 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 26 (9 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Assaulting units:
22nd Marine Regiment
34th Cmbt Engineer Regiment
5th US Naval Construction Battalion
26th US Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
Sasebo 6th SNLF
Kure 5th SNLF
44th Naval Guard Unit
7th JNAF Coy
Mili Naval Fortress
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 9, 43 - air battles over Paoshan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Paoshan , at 65,45

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 33

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 23
F4U-1 Corsair x 34
F6F-3 Hellcat x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 12 destroyed

No Allied losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Paoshan , at 65,45

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 16 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 36

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 18
F4U-1 Corsair x 31
F6F-3 Hellcat x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 9 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Paoshan , at 65,45

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 13 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 36

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 12
F4U-1 Corsair x 27
F6F-3 Hellcat x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 10 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 4 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Paoshan , at 65,45

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 43

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 10
F4U-1 Corsair x 23
F6F-3 Hellcat x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 25000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Paoshan , at 65,45

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 37

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 5
F4U-1 Corsair x 18
F6F-3 Hellcat x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x A6M5c Zero sweeping at 25000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

---

---

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Here is the current state of things. Will he send the CAs?[/font]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Getting the afternoon bombardment to work is always a crap shoot.

You are doing really well in this game, but you will have to start putting more at risk and Japan is strong. Can't wait for the clash of the carriers. Where will it be and who will win?

I would vote, but I am reading both sides.

Set "Remain on Station" - they'll bombard in the afternoon. If you don't set that, the code will instead calculate how to get them to sail to the location, bombard at night, and retreat.

Yep. I had this set and it's always worked for me including a few weeks ago in this game at Nauru. I had day recon floatplanes set and a good commander with high aggression, set to absolute threat tolerance. No idea why it didn't fire this time.

Hence my post that afternoon bombardments are a crap shoot. You can do everything right and they don't shoot. Perhaps the local commanders where worried about that heavy cruiser you spotted to the north...I dunno, but I won't rule anything out.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Getting the afternoon bombardment to work is always a crap shoot.

You are doing really well in this game, but you will have to start putting more at risk and Japan is strong. Can't wait for the clash of the carriers. Where will it be and who will win?

I would vote, but I am reading both sides.

Set "Remain on Station" - they'll bombard in the afternoon. If you don't set that, the code will instead calculate how to get them to sail to the location, bombard at night, and retreat.

Yep. I had this set and it's always worked for me including a few weeks ago in this game at Nauru. I had day recon floatplanes set and a good commander with high aggression, set to absolute threat tolerance. No idea why it didn't fire this time.

Can weather like "heavy rain" prevent a bombardment? If you can't see what you are shooting at ...

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna




Set "Remain on Station" - they'll bombard in the afternoon. If you don't set that, the code will instead calculate how to get them to sail to the location, bombard at night, and retreat.

Yep. I had this set and it's always worked for me including a few weeks ago in this game at Nauru. I had day recon floatplanes set and a good commander with high aggression, set to absolute threat tolerance. No idea why it didn't fire this time.

Can weather like "heavy rain" prevent a bombardment? If you can't see what you are shooting at ...

For the recent non-bombardment it was light cloud. I doubt weather is a factor. It's not listed above in the invasion landing bombardments CR.

[Lokasenna]

I've had night bombardments not go before, but it's been because they TF never moved there... 8 hexes out, 8 hexes for a single phase of full speed movement, and yet they won't go in - instead choosing to move to within 6 hexes, which is 2 phases of cruise, before going in for the bombardment.

I've never seen a day bombardment not go before. Odd.

[obvert]

I can now see into Truk. I actually have been able to for a while, but didn't use the F4F-7 from Ontong Java until now, since supply is topped up there.

Not much here other than support, but the nice thing is that there is no CAP, and the turn after there was still no CAP.

Maybe later I'll be able to take a LR risk here.

[BBfanboy]

Do you believe there actually is a CVE nestled in port there with the AKEs and AGs?

[Lokasenna]

Probably an AV...

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Probably an AV...

That would be my guess too.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]May 10 - 11, 1943[/font]

---

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] A few more interactions between Allied subs and the IJN combat ships in the area, but no hits. The I-28 tries for our cruiser TF and misses. Two subs find wounded IJN DDs but can't get a hit. They did confirm 'heavy fires, heavy damage' though, so it looks bad for the little ancient DDs.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font] Troops are streaming out of Tezpur toward Dimapur and Silchar. It looks like IJA forces are moving out of Silchar, but we'll probably get there while they're still in the base, which could be interesting. Forces are moving on Dacca and Comila, and once they're close I'l paradrop Chittagong. I can then move troops with motorized strat movement on major highways into the area. Dacca is key as it's another level 4 base in range of transports to Paoshan.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font] Everything gets away clean. He did send cruisers to Mili, but they must not have had orders to pursue past that point. three old IJN DDs were caught one hex too far to the South of Mili though. The DBs from Makin launched and put two bombs on one and one 1000 pounder on each of the others. They all might go down, but they're only Momi class, so not too great a loss. I don't use these at all in a surface combat role, only as escorts.

The 4E Libs and 2E Mitchells launched and went for the cruisers at Mili, under a large LR CAP, and only scored one hit on the Kako that looks like it bounced.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] The Japanese are ratcheting up pressure in areas outside my CAP zones. On the 10th they sent 257 bombers on strike missions.

He tries a DA at Paoshan and the results are still far in the negative zone, which is great for us. He also managed to help ease the overstacking by taking out one of the small Chinese units in move mode trying to get out.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 10, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mili at 136,122

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Karii, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Yanagi, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kuretake

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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Yanagi

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Maloelap at 136,117

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 24
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 37

Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Kako

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Maloelap at 136,117

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 12
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 21

Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 4 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Maloelap at 136,117

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 5
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 15

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 3 destroyed
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Kako

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level *
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Maloelap at 136,117

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
CA Takao
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1
CA Kako
CA Suzuya

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level *
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mili at 136,122

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Kuretake, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Karii, heavy fires, heavy damage

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

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

Ground combat at Paoshan (65,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13737 troops, 163 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 399

Defending force 24199 troops, 119 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 543

Japanese adjusted assault: 97

Allied adjusted defense: 1063

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 10 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
457 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
515 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
6th Guards Division
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
15th Army
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
9th RF Gun Battalion

Defending units:
2nd Reserve Division
55th Prov Chinese Division
39th Indian Division
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
96th Chinese Division
93rd Chinese Division
34th Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Base Force
10th Chinese Corps
33rd Base Group
Fourteenth USAAF
80th Chinese Corps
5th Group Army
104th RAF Base Force
72nd Chinese Corps
Lusu War Area
56th Chinese Corps
1st Burma Auxiliary AA Regiment
5th New Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Division
11th Group Army
103rd RN Base Force
16th Chinese Base Force

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

---

---

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Getting some good recon in China now. So far, very interesting. Chikhiang has also been looked at and had 41 fighters, while Hankow had 120 bombers and no fighters. I'll keep looking around. [/font]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]CBI[/font]

---

Here is a better shot of the CBI area. Paoshan has the 6th Guards Division, an experienced veteran unit late of India, sieging.

The Allied goal is to drive toward Dimapur to lock down the 65k defenders there as armor drives past on the yellow road to Ledo, which currently only has 5k defenders. Kohima has another 20k that could be railed back, but I'll theater that with a crossing as forces move on past as well. As usual the first goal is to create a trapping and encirclement of Japanese forces, but Nick is usually very quick to move out of those kinds of situations, and so then the secondary product is often a Japanese withdrawal.

I want Ledo while the fields at Chungking are still open so I can fly supply in, some free units out. I want it now. [:)]

Silchar is about to be invested along the rail to Chittagong and paras will take Chittagong in the next days. The Japanese at Silchar are moving back to Imphal, but if they're in combat mode once we arrive, we could get a shot at them moving slowly.

The one Guards Division in Paoshan will not likely be able to take the base soon without help from the air force to close the bad and then bomb everything. I've got Hellcats and Corsairs there to make sure it's hard to do that. The overstacking is slowly being remedied by gargantuan resupply efforts and withdrawal f some of the free units, both Chinese and Allied. With two more weeks this could get interesting. Nick has to act fast I think.

What will he do?

[obvert]

The 13th starts with a bang! I'd moved some ships up with the idea of bombarding Mili. Since his CAs appeared to be within range, but at Roi Naumur, so requiring perhaps a long dash in, I thought we might get an advantage in a battle there. I sent 5 DDs to escort the bombardment with a 2 hex react so they might get to the cruisers first and see what they could do.

What I didn't expect to find ...