DBB 28C. Co-prosperity sphere of happiness: Jorge (J) vs Revthought (A)

[Jorge_Stanbury]

This is the scenario... Chittagong besieging troops are perpetually out of supply... while being bombarded turn after turn by pretty much every Allied artillery piece in India

meanwhile there is significant supply excess at Cox's Bazaar... 3 hexes away and connected by road

is there something I am doing wrong? any trick I can use to move supply?
otherwise I am thinking about lifting the siege, as it will be pointless to attack with no supply



Moving on to happier news; Akyab "trapped" enemy is already low on supply and already doomed

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

Ground combat at 55,44 (near Akyab)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27562 troops, 288 guns, 378 vehicles, Assault Value = 839

Defending force 19863 troops, 148 guns, 88 vehicles, Assault Value = 568

Japanese adjusted assault: 504

Allied adjusted defense: 397

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1141 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 61 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1094 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 178 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 15 (3 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
14th Division
48th Division
4th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
16th Indian Brigade
44th Indian Brigade
Medan Cdo
10th Burma Rifles Battalion
46th Indian Brigade
1st Gloucestershire Battalion
1st Burma Division
Tenasserim BAF Battalion
36th Chinese Division
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

[Jorge_Stanbury]

3rd convoy:
this time beautiful tankers!

well I spoke too early, as you can see, the tankers managed to escape; however this was actually good news as the KB is following nearby and more important, the cruisers found crippled Mississippi



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Eua at 145,180, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CA Aoba
CA Furutaka
DD Uranami
DD Shikinami
DD Ayanami
DD Yugiri
DD Amagiri

Allied Ships
AVD McFarland, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AVD Hulbert
TK Esso Richmond, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
TK Esso Balboa, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
TK Anders Jahre, Shell hits 7, on fire
TK Elsa, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AO Kurumba, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

[Jorge_Stanbury]

As I was saying before, it was actually good that the cruiser TF disengage from the tankers as it found BB Mississippi. Aircraft losses confirm it is no more


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Eua at 140,174, Range 26,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CA Aoba, Shell hits 1
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 1
DD Uranami
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 1
DD Ayanami
DD Yugiri
DD Amagiri

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 26, on fire, heavy damage

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 26,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 26,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Chikuma at 26,000 yards
Range closes to 25,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Furutaka at 25,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards
CA Aoba engages BB Mississippi at 22,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Aoba at 20,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages BB Mississippi at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Furutaka at 16,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Aoba at 16,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Chikuma at 16,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Uranami at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages BB Mississippi at 13,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Aoba at 13,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Yugiri at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages BB Mississippi at 10,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Yugiri at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Furutaka at 7,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Aoba at 7,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Chikuma at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Yugiri at 9,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Ayanami at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Chikuma at 10,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Ayanami at 10,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Shikinami at 10,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Furutaka at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 16,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages BB Mississippi at 16,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Aoba at 16,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Chikuma at 16,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Yugiri at 16,000 yards
Task forces break off...


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Day Time Surface Combat, near Eua at 136,174, Range 27,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CA Aoba
CA Furutaka
DD Uranami
DD Shikinami, on fire
DD Ayanami
DD Yugiri
DD Amagiri

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 33, heavy fires, heavy damage

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 26,000 yards
Allied TF attempts to evade combat
Range increases to 27,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 27,000 yards
Range increases to 30,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Aoba at 28,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Chikuma at 28,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards
Range closes to 25,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Aoba at 23,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Chikuma at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Chikuma at 20,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Chikuma at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Amagiri at 17,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Yugiri at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Yugiri at 15,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Uranami at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages BB Mississippi at 11,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Chikuma at 11,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Ayanami at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Chikuma at 9,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Ayanami at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Yugiri at 10,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Ayanami at 10,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Shikinami at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Ayanami at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Aoba at 9,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Yugiri at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Ayanami at 13,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Amagiri at 13,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Ayanami at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 16,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages DD Yugiri at 16,000 yards
Range increases to 20,000 yards
Range increases to 25,000 yards
Task forces break off...

[Jorge_Stanbury]

I know it is not advisable to use the KB for convoy hunting (too much fuel use), but they were already there looking for BB Mississippi (which already sunk)

So long story short, they found some interesting target, and it looks like it was possibly an infantry battalion and some artillery.. in any case it was a massacre:

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Mangaia at 147,191

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
B5N2 Kate x 50
D3A1 Val x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged
D3A1 Val: 10 damaged

Allied Ships
xAP Kota Radja, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
AP William Ward Burrows, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Barnett, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Algorab, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAP Haleakala
AP President Monroe, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Balch
DD Tucker
AP Harris
AK Fomalhaut

Allied ground losses:
5624 casualties reported
Squads: 140 destroyed, 68 disabled
Non Combat: 239 destroyed, 161 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 109 (92 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 40 (36 destroyed, 4 disabled)

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

Massive explosion on AP William Ward Burrows
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AP William Ward Burrows


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Mangaia at 147,191

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Fomalhaut, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
AP William Ward Burrows, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Haleakala, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Allied ground losses:
140 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 6 (3 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AP William Ward Burrows
Massive explosion on AP William Ward Burrows
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AK Fomalhaut


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Mangaia at 147,191

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Tucker
xAP Kota Radja, heavy fires
AK Fomalhaut, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
592 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 42 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 43 (33 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mangaia at 147,191

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
B5N2 Kate x 22
D3A1 Val x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 12 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Tucker
DD Balch
AP Harris, Torpedo hits 1
xAP Kota Radja, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

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

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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Kota Radja

[Jorge_Stanbury]

In other news:

- Malaybalay fell, this was the strongest US position in the PI; there are now only a few pockets left there

- He is trying to pull a Dien Bien Phu at Ichang (See map), his first attempt failed miserably (5,700 casualties against nothing), and there are reinforcements moving to relief the besieged Japanese




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

Ground combat at Malaybalay (80,90)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13689 troops, 130 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 346

Defending force 8285 troops, 27 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 188

Japanese adjusted assault: 244

Allied adjusted defense: 97

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Malaybalay !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
8782 casualties reported
Squads: 376 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 556 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 33 (33 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 9

Assaulting units:
16th Division

Defending units:
3rd Constabulary Regiment
101st PA Infantry Division
2nd PA Infantry Regiment
Agusan Constab Battalion
Del Monte AAF Base Force
Mindanao Force
205th Base Sqdn
II/43rd PS Inf Battalion
305th Base Sqdn

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

Ground combat at Ichang (83,48)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 26001 troops, 124 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 991

Defending force 19326 troops, 128 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value = 654

Allied adjusted assault: 0

Japanese adjusted defense: 586

Allied assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 3)

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

Allied ground losses:
5748 casualties reported
Squads: 297 destroyed, 118 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 58 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 33 disabled

Assaulting units:
67th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps

Defending units:
11th RGC Temp. Division
34th Division
13th RGC Temp. Division

[IdahoNYer]

That's a whole lot more than an infantry battalion - at least a Bde, perhaps part of a Div. And, just as good, some valuable APs and AKs won't be around to upgrade in '43. Your opponent's aggressiveness is certainly working in your favor at the moment!

[Anachro]

A trying time for your opponent at the moment.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

As of May 8th, 1942
Generally speaking, I am already on defensive mode, I don't know if this is a good idea, but I would just say that DBB-C is hard for Japan, I am feeling scarcity in everything, I don't want to keep wasting fuel in forays:

Specifics:
- Resistance at Java ended a few turns ago
- Resistance at Koumac (New Caledonia) also ended, with great results actually, I intercepted an Australian brigade at sea and it sank with heavy casualties, then a few days later the garrison surrendered.
- Resistance at North Australia is broken, already defeated, I am taking the time in mopping operations, before I hit Darwin.
- Puerto Princesa and Cebu remain Allied, I will soon start an invasion (as soon as the troops get enough preparation).
- Battle for Chittagong continues in a stalemate, with heavy losses (both sides) due to bombardment.. I think I might withdraw soon.
- China is "relatively quiet": he tried a Dien Bien Phu at Ichang, but my reinforcements broke it and the base is now fully supplied

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Global:

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Chart:

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Not too happy with engine production... should already be above 500 [:(]

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Even less happy with aircraft ... very low pools [:(]

[Jorge_Stanbury]

These are the ship losses, obviously Allies are FOW

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Air losses:
I am separating front line fighters from "old obsolete", for Japan "1942 front line" means Oscar, Tojo, Zero. For Allies this means P-38s, P-43s, P-39s, P-40s, Hurricanes, Wildcats, in any version

Obsolete is simply older models pressed into service: Claude, Nate, P-26s, P-35s, P-36s, Buffalos and the like



I really don't like the fact I am having higher losses of "front line" fighters than the Allies; this is even more alarmed since I am showing FOW numbers

[jwolf]

Looking at the big map I think it makes sense you are moving to the defensive, apart from some rear area cleanup work. You've been very successful in the South Pacific, to the point that there really aren't any remaining meaningful targets left IMHO. With the possible exception of China, starting or continuing a big land war will not be sustainable. But, for a time, you could probably hurt the Allies badly with some well timed or well placed convoy raids, and you certainly have the facilities and assets to do that. The only question would be cost/benefit calculation including your fuel and supply expenses.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Yes, I am on defensive mode already:

- Pacific: I got as far as Noumea and Suva (plus surrounding island), only places still interesting are: Norfolk and Enderbury Islands, the former is as far south as I would go, I have one regiment already prepared for it, the later was a dot base he somehow decided to invade and build. I might wait a few more months before I assault it

- Australia: I will get all the north, from Porth Hedland to Daly Waters and from Darwin to Horn island. I might get Exmouth, Carnarvon and Portland Roads, but only if they are easy grabs, I don't plan to fight for them

- SRA: as you said, there is still some cleanup work to do, but I am not in a hurry, everything will be "red" in the next few weeks/ months, this includes dot bases that can be used as springboard

- China: game has not been as quiet as I wished it to be, I have grabbed Nanyang, Loyang, Chengchow, Wuchow and some other small bases. I am happy with no more conquest, assuming of course he keeps his word that this game is "quiet China" and doesn't steam roll later on.

- India: this is the hardest decision on what to do; I got all Burma, Akyab and Coxs Bazaar. Chittagong is still under siege, with daily artillery strikes killing around 200 to 300 troops (each side), he has tried a couple times to break the siege with deliberate attacks, which resulted in heavy casualties (again for both sides). I have lost ~ of 1 division already, his losses are similar, however I know it will be easier for Japan to recover than it is for the Aussie/ British/ Indian as these troops have low replacement rates.. In other words, I think I can sustain the losses, moreover these losses will be acceptable as long as they delay the inevitable fight for Magwe's oil (air and land).

- Aleutians: I have no appetite for these frozen rocks, we will see if this is a mistake

[Jorge_Stanbury]

By the way, a main reason to go defensive is the precarious situation on most of the bases I have taken in the Pacific: garrison, air support and engineers slowly taking positions, not enough supply, most without fuel or with just barely adequate levels. I will need time to build a serious defense perimeter.

KB is in a "safe" location hopefully I won't need to use it in a long time, as every time it moves, fuel reserves "evaporate". And as you can see in other AARs, using it is a gamble, better if I fight under good odds or to shatter serious Allied offensives,

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Unrestricted Air HQs: I have decided to base torpedo carrying HQ as follows:

- Magwe (IJA)
- Pt Blair
- Palembang
- Soerabaja
- Koepang
- Pt Moresby (IJA)
- Rabaul
- Noumea
- Suva
- Tabiteau
- Roi Namur

Restricted at:
- Oita
- Canton
- Harbin
- Nagoya

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Carrier battle!
A bit of background, a few turns ago, a carrier force that included at least one USN fleet CV appeared in the Bay of Bengal, I was lucky really because my battleships and mini-KB were both retiring to Rangoon for refuel-reload.
Long story short, the covering light cruiser TF got a beating, although damage was moderate to light, they all were able to withdraw at full speed, and they are now cruising to Singapore for repairs.

Afterwards, of course, the naval bombardments started, last turn he hit the troops sieging Chittagong, and I suspected that a second bombardment was coming, hence I decide to send mini-KB, at full speed from Rangoon, (TF was at max fuel, sorties, torpedoes and planes/ pilots)

I know you might think it was reckless to do, and I agree to a certain point, but in my defense, I had significant naval search assets and for two turns they spotted nothing on the area of operations.

Well... mini KB found a much stronger carrier TF:

Shoho, Hosho, Zuiho, Ryujo
vs
Hornet, Formidable, Indomitable, Hermes
[X(]

Results were very inconclusive in this 1st day:
- only morning phase strikes
- both Formidable and Indomitable received torpedo hits (one each)
- all Japanese carriers hit, one bomb each, they were all capable of controlling fires


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Diamond Harbour at 50,41

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 34
B5N1 Kate x 21
B5N2 Kate x 5

Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 5
Sea Hurricane Ib x 5
Hurricane IIb Trop x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 2
F4F-3 Wildcat x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 2 destroyed by flak
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVL Hermes
CV Indomitable, Torpedo hits 1
CV Formidable, Torpedo hits 1
CV Hornet

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
4 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
4 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
4 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 3000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 31225.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
No.800 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
No.803 Sqn FAA with Fulmar II (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 25700.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VMO-251 with F4F-3 Wildcat (3 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 31225.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
No.17 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
50th PG/12th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
58th PG/68th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 13000.
Raid is overhead

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Allied strike was very inaccurate, considering the very strong strike pack of more than 100 bombers
Maybe it was the heavy rain compounded by inexperience

in any case, only 4 bombs got in, one on each carrier, 3 by Dauntless (1000lb) and 1 by Devastator (500lb)
CAP performed well, significant number of Dauntless were shot down

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 53,45

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 55

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 10
Martlet II x 19
Swordfish I x 2
F4F-3 Wildcat x 17
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 15
SBD-3 Dauntless x 59
TBD-1 Devastator x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Martlet II: 2 destroyed
Swordfish I: 1 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 10 destroyed, 16 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVE Hosho, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 13000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
2 x Swordfish I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
7 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
2 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes