Lambs to the slaughter (Lowpe (J) vs Jocke; BillBrown (A)) Finished

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Tjilatjap is not sufficient to defend Java. Banjoewangi, unfortunately, is the easiest place to land and it's not easy to defend.

I have a a couple hundred AV at Soerabaja, but nothing at Loemadjang -- in the process of moving something there now... 730 AV total on Java...which sounds better than it looks.[;)]

I will take a look at Banjoewangi.

Against a bolt from the blue, you can defend the tips of the island. Against a methodical advance, you can't. I opted to station just enough at possible landing points to force an honest landing and concentrate fort building elsewhere. Jury's still out on whether or not it "worked."

[Lowpe]

No turn till tomorrow....

[Lowpe]

June 17, 1943

Swept Silchar with two squadrons of A6M5 are the defending fighters, including Lightnings, really devastated the first sweep. The second sweep did much better.

Rule of thumb, sweep with lots of squadrons!

Lost a small tanker on the Georgetown to Sumatra run to an sub.

[Lowpe]

Big attack at Changsha sees 6000 IJA losses, but very few KIA. 2000 losses for the Chinese, and better, forts drop another level. I have three divisions resting outside Changsha, and will rotate troops and do it again.

Paoshan troops are ready for the attack, just waiting for supply to flow in.

I sent what amounts to the KB, with 5-6 fleet carriers absent getting upgrades, to nail whatever might hang around Lae this turn. Sweeping Lae with Zeroes, IIc, and LRCAP with Oscars at two altitude bands, and striking with 2 fresh Lilly IIb squadrons.

He could have upwards 140 Fighters there or LRCAP it. Runway is still damaged, and perhaps supplies are too low for Allies to base planes there yet.

Two tank regiments arrive as a reserve in Singers...upper New Guinea starting to build up with engineers and some light troops.

[Lowpe]

June 19, 1943

I have been moving out troops for a month now...and the Allies are quick to pounce.

Can't understand why they didn't do this months ago.

[Lowpe]

Lae...

[Lowpe]

Oh, my it is on.

[Lowpe]

An attack next...drat.

[Lowpe]

KB, or what there is of it...where were the rest of my sweeps?

[Lowpe]

Severe Storms...

One LST an one LCI are hit...very poor. At points we were attacking AM.

Bad weather blues...[;)]

[Lowpe]

Runway takes it on the chin.

[Lowpe]

More sweeps in the afternoon... at Lae.

[Lowpe]

The IIc sweeps, and for some reason shows up piecemeal along with the LRCAP. They do well however...but I needed them in the morning.

Weather has improved to Light Rain here in the afternoon. A bad day for Japan...thankfully there is an Iboat picking up all the downed pilots.

[Bif1961]

Nice to see Bolos bombing something other than misidentified whales.

[Lowpe]

An afternoon strike goes in, and gets mauled (only 10 fighters escort).

But a hit! I will take it.[;)] Oh, if they would have held off for one afternoon strike.

[Lowpe]

California

[Bif1961]

Must be a prewar sushi establishment there worth fighting for.

[Lowpe]

An absolutely exorbitant day. 100 pilots KIA. Another 93 MIA or WIA. Three ships hit. Can you say ouch!

Only 50 Allied fighters downed...250 losses for Japan.

The first Sweep...severe storms and plenty of radar warning. The Allies moved fighters into the base, there are 47 left there now.

Tough day. Dust yourself off, and do it again. Best naval target I bombed, and missed, was the Perth pretty much. Kudos, Allies.[&o]

[Grfin Zeppelin]

Ouch :/

[Lowpe]

On the bright side, there is at least one sunk ship![:D]