Psych Ops: BTS "Lite" NY59Giants (A) vs John 3rd (J)

[ny59giants]

Why should Japan be the only player to get a Panzer Corp to play with until the Soviets are activated? It will be interesting to see an American armoured division vs one of the Japanese tank divisions. Place your bets now! [:D]

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

You can boost the experience on that new division just by having them move (not strat move) cross-country once they land somewhere big enough. The rate of experience gain is reverse exponential, so they gain quickly at first and then it tapers off.

Getting low experience units into any kind of a siege fight with daily bombardments will also very quickly raise experience.

I put an Indian division with 30ish experience in a siege hex in Burma and the XP quickly shot up to 59, but plateaued there and wouldn't go any further form pure bombardment combat.

I saw the same thing in China where XP capped at 59 from bombardment combat only.

Seems LCUs need to participate in deliberate or shock attacks to go beyond 59 XP.

[ny59giants]

Time to get caught up as action has been limited for a few weeks.

Dec 16th:
Aleutians - 2 CLs & 3 DDs visit Chirikof and sink 2 of 6 PT Boats
Usually bombing in SoPac at Makemo
Daily ground bb at 1 NE of Akyab and Cox's Bazar
Intel - 1st Sasebo Assault Division at Pago Pago (Intel Reports continue to show LCUs in SoPac over time)

Dec 17th:
Usually bombing in SoPac at Makemo
Daily ground bb at 1 NE of Akyab and Cox's Bazar

Dec 18th:
Usually bombing in SoPac at Makemo
Daily ground bb at 1 NE of Akyab and Cox's Bazar

Dec 19th:
Usually bombing in SoPac at Makemo
Daily ground bb at 1 NE of Akyab and Cox's Bazar

Notes: Big "E" is down to 7-33(33)-4(4), 21 knots, 10 days (should be ready to leave SoPac for permanent repairs at end of month)

[ny59giants]

Dec 20th:
100 fighters sweep the empty skies above Cox's Bazar
Usually bombing in SoPac at Makemo
Daily ground bb at 1 NE of Akyab and Cox's Bazar

Dec 21st:
125 fighters sweep the empty skies above Cox's Bazar
Daily ground bb at 1 NE of Akyab and Cox's Bazar

Dec 22nd:
India based bombers (about 550) of all types split between Kalemyo and Cox's Bazar
Daily ground bb at 1 NE of Akyab and Cox's Bazar

Dec 23rd:
John finally takes two dot bases between Umnak and Adak by Fast Transport (Yunaska and Seguam Islands)
DBs from Chittagong sink 3 xAKs at Cox's Bazar and Aykab
Usual bombing of Makemo in SoPac
Daily ground bb at 1 NE of Akyab, Cox's Bazar, and now Kalemyo (56th ID defending)
Recon - I've started to use my Aussie F-4 group to see what John has in NE corner. Coen shows 1 LCU of only 80 troops. Troops have already left Cooktown for this base.

Notes:
San Fran - The Allied CV/CVLs arrive at San Fran Bay except Enterprise (down to 6 days before minor repairs completed). The carriers head for Alameda while the other warships remain at San Fran to get long overdue upgrades.

[ny59giants]

Date: '42 Dec 24 & 25
Warship upgrading and logistics going on

Key:
TT = Torpedo;
bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits;
AV = Assault Value;
ID = Infantry Division; AD = Assault Division (really 3x SNLF formed into a Brigade);
DC = Depth Charged;
(*) = destroyed aircraft;
If odds are bold, they are the Allies;
BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons);
FG fighter group = 25 fighter planes if American;

Invasions:

CVs:
Japan -
KB1: MIA
KB2: MIA

Allies:
Death Star (DS) - CVs Saratoga, Hornet, Wasp, Yorktown, & Lexington; CVLs Jacksonville & King's Mtn; upgrading at San Fran Bay bases
CVEs x5 headed for San Fran
CV Enterprise - at Mangareva [9-33(33)-4(4)] - 21 knots & 13 more days pierside

Subs:

Sub attack near Tahiti at 173,178

Japanese Ships
PC PB-52
AMC Asaka Maru
AMC Kinryu Maru
APD Aoi
LSD Akitsu Maru
xAK Kizan Maru
TB Hatsukari
TB Manazuru
TB Chidori
PC PB-53

Allied Ships
SS Searaven, hits 4

She will retire to Rapa for fuel before heading over to Aukland for full repairs.
Is this TF bring in troops or pulling some out??

Surface Action:

India/Burma: -
Chittagong -
Cox's Bazar - daily ground bb; 25 P-40s sweep before 32 Hurricanes escort in 150 LBs
Hex between Akyab and Cox's Bazar - daily ground bb;
Akyab - 75 P-38s sweep
Kalemyo - 42 Hurricanes sweep the empty skies, 73 fighters escort in 120 LB (level bombers)

Ground combat at Kalemyo (59,42)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 26592 troops, 439 guns, 393 vehicles, Assault Value = 833

Defending force 15353 troops, 112 guns, 90 vehicles, Assault Value = 502

Assaulting units:
2nd British Division
39th Indian Division
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
170 RAF Base Force
35th Light AA Regiment
2nd Indian Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
56th Division
47th Const Co
62nd JAAF AF Bn

50th Tank Bde is on its way here from Dimapur

Magwe -

On 25th, the survivors of previous air attacks end up between Akyab and Cox's Bazar. 15 Zeros and 22 Tojos are on LRCAP as 18 SBDs fly to their death (fighter escort remained at Chittagong [:@])

China: [>:] [>:]

SouthEast Pacific:
Tahiti - Recon shows 4 LCUs (11380 trps, 122 guns, 13 AFVs); 64F, 33B, 31Aux; 10 ship Amphib type TF at base
Makemo (4 hexes NW of Hao) - 40 P-39s are sweeping while another 20 escort in 60 LBs (B-25 & B-26) daily (AF closed)
Hao -
Tubuai - resupplied to bring base total to 36k, 75 P-38s (one group unloaded with supplies), and 96 B-17/24s. Tahiti on the menu around year end.

North Pacific: -
Kodiak -
Chirokof Island -
Cold Bay -
Akutan Island -

Australia:
Recon flight over Portland Roads shows it empty.

Engineers: Cooktown AF7; Wagga Wagga AF8; Cristobal AF8;

Intel: 2nd ID at Daly Waters (earlier reports have 33rd ID at Tennant Creek); 53 Nav Gd at Penrhyn

Notes:
Coastwatchers show 32 ships at Pearl

[BBfanboy]

I wonder if that TF at Tahiti could be picking up troops to come for Mangareva? You have enough to protect the base while Enterprise is there?

[ny59giants]

Screen shot shows what I have in SoPac. Inbound to Marquesas Islands is 60k in fuel and to Hao is 23k in sup. We are going 'small ball' here (for those not familiar with term its baseball for singles, doubles, and bunts to create offense vs the big home run).

[ny59giants]

Date: '42 Dec 26 & 27
Allied fighters continue to impress

Key:
TT = Torpedo;
bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits;
AV = Assault Value;
ID = Infantry Division; AD = Assault Division (really 3x SNLF formed into a Brigade);
DC = Depth Charged;
(*) = destroyed aircraft;
If odds are bold, they are the Allies;
BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons);
FG fighter group = 25 fighter planes if American;

Invasions:

CVs:
Japan -
KB1: MIA
KB2: MIA

Allies:
Death Star (DS) - CVs Saratoga, Hornet, Wasp, Yorktown, & Lexington; CVLs Jacksonville & King's Mtn; upgrading at San Fran Bay bases
CVEs x5 headed for San Fran
CV Enterprise - at Mangareva [9-33(33)-4(4)] - 21 knots & 11 more days pierside

Subs:


Surface Action:

India/Burma: -
Chittagong -
Cox's Bazar - daily ground bb
Hex between Akyab and Cox's Bazar - daily ground bb;
Akyab - 50 P-38s find the skies empty;
Kalemyo -
26th - 14 Hurricane IIc vs 17 Tojo & 10 Zeros on LRCAP = 7:1 (outnumbered two to one and still get seven to one); the next 14 break even at 1:1; the final 14 get one of five Tojo left on LRCAP; 180 LBs follow and most bomb the 56th ID;
27th - 14 Hurricanes come in at 20k to find a smaller LRCAP of 12 Tojo & 7 Zeros = 1:1; the next two groups get 4 more for no losses (these three Hurr IIc groups have average group experience at or just above 70, so they are some of my best); 43 Hurricane IIb escort in 28 LB of the 180 ordered to hit the base and troops in next wave;

Ground combat at Kalemyo (59,42)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 26698 troops, 439 guns, 393 vehicles, Assault Value = 843

Defending force 15238 troops, 112 guns, 90 vehicles, Assault Value = 498

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

Assaulting units:
2nd British Division
39th Indian Division
170 RAF Base Force
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
35th Light AA Regiment
2nd Indian Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
56th Division
47th Const Co
62nd JAAF AF Bn

China: [>:] [>:]

SouthEast Pacific:
Tahiti -
Makemo (4 hexes NW of Hao) - 40 P-39s are sweeping while another 20 escort in almost 60 LBs (B-25 & B-26) daily (AF closed)
Hao -
Tubuai -

North Pacific: -
Kodiak -
Chirokof Island -
Cold Bay -
Akutan Island -

Australia:


Engineers: Cocanada AF2; Ceduna AF6; Hiva Oa AF5;

Intel:

Notes:
Just India/Burma for last two days.

[ny59giants]

Date: '42 Dec 28 & 29
minor skirmish at sea

Key:
TT = Torpedo;
bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits;
AV = Assault Value;
ID = Infantry Division; AD = Assault Division (really 3x SNLF formed into a Brigade);
DC = Depth Charged;
(*) = destroyed aircraft;
If odds are bold, they are the Allies;
BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons);
FG fighter group = 25 fighter planes if American;

Invasions:

CVs:
Japan -
KB1: MIA
KB2: MIA

Allies:
Death Star (DS) - CVs Saratoga, Hornet, Wasp, Yorktown, & Lexington; CVLs Jacksonville & King's Mtn; upgrading at San Fran Bay bases
CVEs x5 headed for San Fran
CV Enterprise - at Mangareva [5-33(33)-4(4)] - 21 knots & 6 more days pierside

Subs:

ASW attack near Victoria Point at 49,66

Japanese Ships
CL Suzuya
CL Mikuma
CL Mogami
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Nenohi
DD Harusame

Allied Ships
SS O23

More 'visitors' headed for India/Burma area, me thinks.

Surface Action:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Cox's Bazar at 54,43, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 1
CL Yubari
DD Maikaze
DD Isokaze
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
CL Achilles, Shell hits 8, on fire
CL Hobart
CL Dauntless
CL Ceres
DD Hotspur, Shell hits 1
DD Isis
DD Hamillton , Shell hits 1

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms with 67% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 67% moonlight: 2,000 yards

Damaged enough to head for Calcutta for repairs.

India/Burma: -
Chittagong -
Cox's Bazar - daily ground bb
Hex between Akyab and Cox's Bazar - daily ground bb;
Akyab -
Kalemyo - Hurricanes find the air space empty and the 180 bombers come in unmolested on 28th. 18 Hurr sweep on 29th to find 9 Tojo = 2 Tojo destroyed. Bombers are resting.

China: [>:] [>:]

SouthEast Pacific:
Tahiti -
Makemo (4 hexes NW of Hao) - 40 P-39s are sweeping while another 20 escort in almost 60 LBs (B-25 & B-26) daily (AF closed)
Hao -
Tubuai -

North Pacific: -
Kodiak -
Chirokof Island - John's strong BB TF comes back to mini-nuke the base and sink 3 of 5 PT Boats stationed there.

Night Naval bombardment of Chirikof Island at 179,46

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Owari
CL Oi
DD Yakaze
DD Uzuki
DD Kisaragi
DD Isonami
DD Samidare
DD Michishio
DD Nowaki

Allied ground losses:
299 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 35
Port hits 20
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 2

Cold Bay -
Akutan Island -

Australia:


Engineers: Kohima F4; Kweilin AF4; Tubuai F5 (that's enough)

Intel: 3rd Raiding Rgt at Aitutaki; 15th Ind Eng Rgt at Daly Waters

Notes:
Focus will be to recapture Kalemyo and then switch back to Cox's Bazar.

[ny59giants]

Date: '42 Dec 30 & 31
'42 ends with a whimper. John's plan was for a small bang, but was a dud.

Key:
TT = Torpedo;
bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits;
AV = Assault Value;
ID = Infantry Division; AD = Assault Division (really 3x SNLF formed into a Brigade);
DC = Depth Charged;
(*) = destroyed aircraft;
If odds are bold, they are the Allies;
BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons);
FG fighter group = 25 fighter planes if American;

Invasions:

CVs:
Japan -
KB1: MIA
KB2: MIA

Allies:
Death Star (DS) - CVs Saratoga, Hornet, Wasp, Yorktown, & Lexington; CVLs Jacksonville & King's Mtn; upgrading at San Fran Bay bases
CVEs x5 headed for San Fran
CV Enterprise - at Mangareva [2-33(33)-4(4)] - 21 knots & 3 more days pierside

Subs:

Surface Action:
CL Oi and 3 DDs visit my PT TFs at Chirikof and then 4 DDs find the 2nd PT TF. They don't hit any on 31st. [X(]

India/Burma: -
Calcutta -
31st - Complacency hits Allied HQs (me), but I don't pay the big price as John comes calling. 68 Tojos from Cox's Bazar and Aykab sweep the base AFTER only 26 fighters on CAP fend off 30 Zeros with 17 Liz and 13 Nell (losses are 7A:2J); the big Tojo sweep gets only 1 of the remain 12 fighters; In a phone call later, John admits that I got lucky again as his recon flights had shown over 10 subs and my SC TF disbanded in port. He had assigned 200 bombers to hit AF (almost all my 4e bombers in theater are here) and another 100 to hit the port; sometimes its better to be lucky than good! [:D] I had overlooked having any AA units at this big base too. Needless to say, things were changed afterwards.
Chittagong -
Cox's Bazar - daily ground bb
Hex between Akyab and Cox's Bazar - daily ground bb;
Akyab -
Kalemyo - 12 Hurr IIc sweep the empty skies; followed by 25 P-400 escorting in part of the 180 LBs hitting base and troops;

Ground combat at Kalemyo (59,42)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29420 troops, 457 guns, 675 vehicles, Assault Value = 1102

Defending force 15183 troops, 112 guns, 90 vehicles, Assault Value = 493

Allied adjusted assault: 523

Japanese adjusted defense: 454

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
486 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
337 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2nd British Division
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
50th Tank Brigade
39th Indian Division
170 RAF Base Force
35th Light AA Regiment
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Indian Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
56th Division
47th Const Co
62nd JAAF AF Bn

I will rest, rinse, and repeat!

China: [>:] [>:]

SouthEast Pacific:
Tahiti -
Makemo (4 hexes NW of Hao) - 40 P-39s are sweeping while another 20 escort in almost 60 LBs (B-25 & B-26) daily (AF closed)
Hao -
Tubuai -

North Pacific: -
Kodiak -
Chirokof Island -
Cold Bay -
Akutan Island -

Australia:

Engineers: Cocanada AF3 (I'm building to size 4 and already have Air HQ here. Reason is I hope to get John to chase any SC TF in this direction and give me chance to use Beauforts and Avengers to get at his large warships, if they pursue. Remember, I have three R Class BBs at Diamond Harbor.)

Intel:

Notes:
For those of you wonder what has been changed in RA that Canoerebel is using to BTS Lite (and more current versions of RA), a while ago I had the Dutch Air Force not become totally or close to useless. They get P-40Es, B-25C, and some of their own airframes until late '42. Right now the P-40s are flying CAP over some bases in India while the bombers are active over Kalemyo.

[ny59giants]

1943 is here!! 1943 is here!!

[ny59giants]

1943 Jan 1st & 2nd

The war continues on at a slower pace as the Allies take time out to get caught up on long over due ship upgrades. San Fran is closing in on 100 ships upgrading as the trickle from Panama slows down.

India/Burma: The air war here continues on with John mainly passing the initiative over to me, but he still has the ability to mass his planes for a strike at a particular target. After one more American division uses up PP (needed for Australia), the bulk of my '43 PPs will go to this theater to free up all those Indian divisions.

Calcutta - John doesn't allow Allied pilots to recover from any New Year's Eve celebrations as only 7 minute warning take place before the 23 Tojo sweep in to find a true Allied CAP (Chinese in 11 P-43 Lancers & 4 P-66, Brits in 20 Hurricanes, and Dutch in 24 P-40Es) = 6J:0A. 8 of 12 Liz are shot down when they try to act like B-24s and get through without fighter escorts. 10 of 20 Helens are then used for sharpening my fighter pilots skills. 17 late arriving tojo still find 35 fighters and lose out 4J:1A. 2 of 4 Liz are shot down on 2nd.

Kalemyo - Three of my elite Brit Hurricane IIc squadrons keep the skies clear. They are follow by a group of P-38s. Over 280 LB hit the AF and troops (56th ID) for two days.

Ground combat at Kalemyo (59,42)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29740 troops, 460 guns, 754 vehicles, Assault Value = 1079

Defending force 14471 troops, 112 guns, 86 vehicles, Assault Value = 446

Allied adjusted assault: 491

Japanese adjusted defense: 676

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
845 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 82 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (4 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
271 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 26 (1 destroyed, 25 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2nd British Division
50th Tank Brigade
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
39th Indian Division
170 RAF Base Force
35th Light AA Regiment
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Indian Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
56th Division
47th Const Co
62nd JAAF AF Bn

Cox's Bazar - A group of P-38s sweep the empty skies followed by 25 P-40Ks. On the 2nd, John decides to send 53 Zeros as CAP vs 25 P-38s. While outnumbered by 2;1, I still down 13J for 1A fighter. Not bad! [;)] 25 P-40Ks then come in to find 15 Zeros still game. He loses 5J for 1A.


SE Pacific: The air siege on Tahiti by sweeping the air clear with P-38s allow my B-17/24s based 9 hexes away at Tubuai to work on closing the AF or at least heavily damaged. Not keeping close attention to when certain fighters get their drop tanks (is there a list of when this happens??), I find out that my F4F-4 Wildcats (WC) have theirs now and can barely make the 9 hex trip to Tahiti. [:)]

Tahiti - The open move is for my 3 P-38 groups to sweep the skies before I allow the bombers to come in. The first 25 face off vs 23 Tojo & 20 Zeros = 9J:1A in losses. The second 25 down another 7 for no losses. The third 25 down one more. On 2nd, 18 P-38s find 18 Tojo & 12 Zeros still left from the day before and I get 4J:1A. Only 12 are left on CAP when 5 WC with 66 HB hit AF. 30 HB follow and then 32 P-38s sweep in last.

Makemo - A group of P-39s ensure these skies belong to the Allies. 45 P-39s escort in 35 LBs to keep the AF closed.

RO-67 is hit once by 4 SC on ASW due east of Mangareva. She will will leave the area allowing the soon to be repaired (outside of major repairs) Big E (CV Enterprise) to head for Cape Town for full repairs. She leaves on 2nd for Port Stanley.


NoPac: The first major attack will be taking place in the 'great white north' once upgrades are completed. It will occur in Feb, which is still during winter. Cold Bay and Dora Harbor are the targets. John has BB Owari & Ise along with a few CLs and over a dozen DDs operating here. I've been steadily building up Chirikof Island (4 SW of Kodiak) as forward air base despite the periodic nuke bombardments.

Chirikof -

Cold Bay -

Dora Harbor -


Australia: This is where Allied Supreme HQs has decided the main effort for '43 will be for the first 6 months or so. Troops are streaming into Cape Town as we speak. Intel has shown little information in western area below Port Hedland. Bits and pieces of Intel still show a steady build up in SoPac, which I plan to avoid, but will continue small advances to keep john focused here.

Coen - One of two dot bases that John has in NW corner.

Portland Roads - The other dot base

Cooktown - Steadily expanding and home to the Aussie F-4s.


Engineering:
Madras AF9;

Intel:
Port Hedland - 90th Inf Rgt & 23 Ind Eng Rgt

Notes & Musings:
Panama - All ships now through eastern locks (Cristobal)

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

1943 Jan 1st & 2nd

Two days to recover from the NY eve party hangover? You were really celebrating!

[ny59giants]

1943 Jan 3rd & 4th

My pilots at Calcutta are now recovered from New Year's Eve. [;)] John leaves the city alone, for now.


India/Burma: Focus will remain on the capture of Kalemyo.

Kalemyo - bombers resting

Cox's Bazar - Even my P-40Ks get the best of his Tojos sweeping in at 20k. I lose 1 of 25 while he loses 3 of 31. The second group of 25 get 3 more Tojo for no losses.

Akyab - 24 P-38s vs 41 Tojo = 6J:0A. The second sweep gets 5 of 13 Tojo.

Hex between Akyab and Cox's Bazar - daily ground bombardments continue. 28 Sallys hit troops

O20 gets another...CM Adzuma, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (SINKS) 4 due west of Rangoon. [:)]

KXI is hit once by 2 CMs at Akyab (looks like I cannot send in any warships or subs here for some time).

SE Pacific: Battle over Tahiti continues....

Tahiti - John still resist with 11 Tojo, but my 12 P-38s still get one before the 16 WC escorting in 66 HB hit the AF. This is followed by 36 LB and 18 HB to leave AF damaged at 78% at end of day. On 4th, he has pulled out his fighters so my 36 LB and 40 HB have an easy time (he has only 3 LCUs left at base and none are an AA so minimal flak).

Makemo - Three groups of A-29 Hudson from Hao that normally bomb here are shifted over to Tahiti.


NoPac: P-38s still rule the skies. But limited production (yes, increased from stock), weather, distance to enemy bases, and SR of 3 means needed rest periods between missions.

Chirikof -

Cold Bay - I switch back to Cold Bay on 4th. 12 P-38s vs 25 Zeros = 7J:1A. 12 more P-38s get 1 of 3 Zeros still left. Problems arise during the afternoon of 4th when 66 Zeros are there to greet 23 HBs. I lose 6. 36 more HB trickle in and I lose 3 more as they cannot make their way back to Anchorage.

Dora Harbor - An example...

Morning Air attack on Dora Harbor , at 173,48

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3b Zero x 35
A6M5 Zero x 35

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 57

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3b Zero: 8 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 15 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
Kanoya-2 Ku S-1 with A6M3b Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 35 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 21000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
Nagasaki-3 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 35 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes

Another theater where I control the air initiative.

Australia: F-4s will start exploring bases to see what is around the NW corner. One of my little tweaks to Allied air OOB in this mod was increased recon aircraft production. Time to use that asset more and more.

Coen - Empty base now back in Allied hands

Portland Roads - The other dot base

Cooktown - Steadily expanding and home to the Aussie F-4s.


Engineering:
Sydney F7 (this base will never fall [:D]); Cocanada AF4; Normanton F3;

Intel:
Tennant Creek - 33rd ID

Notes & Musings:
Panama - The locks return to normal traffic flow after the Allied fleet has completed transit on the 3rd and sets course to NW for San Fran for upgrades and much needed liberty.

[ny59giants]

1943 Jan 5 thru 10 The winter lull

India/Burma: Almost 300 medium bombers and occasional heavy bombers continue to hit Kalemyo (shock attack is enough to capture base on 10th); ground bb 1 NE of Akyab (IG, 48, 55 ID present); Cox's Bazar forts down to 3 despite only one enemy division left there (18 ID);

SE Pac: Bombers visit Tahiti to suppress the AF; Makemyo AF is still closed

NoPac:[>:]

Notes:
Big "E" is now in off map channel to Port Stanley and then to Cape Town for repairs. [:)]

[ny59giants]

1943 Jan 11 thru 17 The winter lull continues with brief interruptions

India/Burma: Daily ground bb on stack 1 NE of Akyab; now that I have taken back Kalemyo, focus switches to Cox's Bazar; Hurricane IIc are good enough to take on Tojos and win over Cox's; medium bombers hit here; base falls to Allies on 17th, but base damage is near max;

SE Pac: Bombers visit Tahiti to suppress the AF; Makemyo AF is still closed

NoPac: John bombards my advance base at Chirikof Island again, but the base continues to expand slowly; BB Ise gets a TT hit from S-28 near Dutch Harbour; action over Cold Bay sees numbers like 18 P-38s vs 53 Zeros come out with 7 Zeros lost for only 1 P-38;

Notes:
Recon findings - The big PB4Y-1P recon show up for first time. Adak is shown to have 17 LCU (40,120 trps, 154 guns, 192 AKV), 13 ships, 33F, 204B, 119Aux. WOW!! Port Moresby - 3 LCU (9680 trps, 58 guns, 0 AFV); Milne Bay - 3 LCU (4400 trps, 24 guns, 3 AFV)

San Fran - down to 72 ships repairing from upgrades.

[ny59giants]

1943 Jan 18 thru 21 CB times two (Cold Bay and Cox's Bazar)

India/Burma: Daily ground bb on stack 1 NE of Akyab; for some strange reason the defeated troops remain at Cox's Bazar, so I continue to bomb and attack; John sends in 6 CLs and 7 DDs to hit base with minimal success; 3 Liz reach out to hit port at Madras and another 3 Liz visit Diamond Harbour;

SE Pac: Bombers visit Tahiti to suppress the AF; Makemyo AF is still closed

NoPac: 12 PT Boats are now at Chirikof defending base as CL & 3 DD visit; heavy bombers from Anchorage reach Cold Bay before fighters from Kodiak and Chirikof; DBs go in without escorts, but get three bomb hits on CL; losses are 51A to 16J; P-40E & K go in the next day and losses are about even;

Notes:
Big "E" arrives at Port Stanley.

San Fran - down to 51 ships repairing from upgrades.

[ny59giants]

1943 Jan 22 thru 24 Coast Watchers prove their worth

India/Burma:4 Liz visit Madras and Comilla; over 300 medium bombers hit Mandalay followed by P-38s;

SE Pac: Bombers visit Tahiti to suppress the AF; Makemyo AF is kept close by American hudson from Hao. Logistics continue behind the scenes.

NoPac: BB Ise and Owari along withescorts tangle with a sub, so Ise was not hurt enough by a TT hits days ago to keep her out of the battleline.

Notes:
Coast Watchers report 28 ships on 22nd and 111 ships on 23rd at Pearl. No info there on 24th. [&:] I want John's attention to remain SE Pac and/or NoPac while I get everybody back through the Panama canal and headed for Cape Town.

San Fran - down to 35 ships repairing from upgrades.

SigInt reports 19th ID at Singapore, 1st Kure Assault Division at Katherine, 21st Mix Bde at Sabang, 6th Gd ADU at Perth. Except for the 4th ID at Kalgoorlie and 1st Raiding Rgt at Albany, I've received very little intel about other LCUs in western Australia.

[ny59giants]

1943 Jan 25 thru 28 Kodiak hit

India/Burma: The whole Air Force in India hits Akyab (over 300 medium and 150 heavy bombers) on 26th; I lose 10 to flak

SE Pac: Bombers visit Tahiti to suppress the AF; Makemyo AF is kept close by American Hudson from Hao. Logistics continue behind the scenes.

NoPac: John's aggressiveness pays off as his first visit to Kodiak finds just 4 SC and 6 PT Boats defending (33 planes destroyed). 2 BB, 4 CLs, 7 DDs = 568 cas, 17 base, 6 sup, 66 runway and base at 0-45-77. Where is the American Fleet you ask? My 2 CLs are over at Prince Rupert finishing upgrades and the 2 SC TF (3 fast BB, 8 DDs and 3 CLs and 9 DDs) are still making their way up the coast from San Fran. It takes a week to effect repairs and get base to full capacity. [:(]

Notes:
Coast Watchers report 30 ships on 26th at Pearl (empty on 28th). 28 ships are at Suva.

San Fran - down to 25 ships repairing from upgrades.

SigInt: 6th ID at Umnak, 21st ID at Port Blair

[ny59giants]

1943 Jan 29 thru 31 Three days of relative peace end the month.

India/Burma: resting air force

SE Pac: Bombers visit Tahiti to suppress the AF; Makemyo AF is kept close by American Hudson from Hao. Logistics continue behind the scenes.

NoPac: 6 PT Boats find targets at Cold Bay (PC, APD, SC, 2 PB, 2 xAKs). I lose a PT, but sink xAK, APD. I-boats are showing up off Canadian coast.

Notes:
Aussie F-4s recon Merauke and find it empty. While most troops are prepping for western Australia, some are now prepping for Horn Island, Merauke, Port Moresby, and Milne Bay.

San Fran - down to 13 ships repairing from upgrades.

SigInt: 12th ID to Batavia, 70th ID to Singapore