Argentina vs. Slovakia (Aurorus against 821Bobo)

[adarbrauner]

Me? I don't know...rec/search, ASW, training...

[Aurorus]

I should not speak for Robert. He can speak for himself, but the Falcons were flying close air support over his ground unit at Madioen. Madioen is an important base at this point, because it is a large airfield near Soerabaja, which has been a point of contention for the Japanese. He had a good (well... good for the Dutch) land unit protecting the hex: stronger than I anticipated actually. I expected only to find a base force there. Fortunately, I moved a division into the hex to attack. He was probably expecting an attack from a regiment or at most the 65th brigade. If only a regiment had been present, the Dutch unit at Madioen, with air support in good defensive terrain, probably would have held off the attack and inflicted significant casualties on my unit. As it happens, however, my unit was a division, which Robert had no way of knowing, because the unit moved in an attacked the next day.

[Aurorus]

ORIGINAL: adarbrauner

This result is so surprising...would be interesting to see the replay...to see why this, why it happened...unbelievable.
Probably because of heavy rain? and dispersed escorting formations? But shouldn't it have affected the defenders alike - in RL at least?

This happened to me recently in my other game as well. 18 Zeros failed to protect 27 Vals from 8 Cap fighters, and 4 Vals were lost. I checked the leaders of all of the units engaged, and they were fine. The Zero Squadron leader and the Nell leader are exceptional actually. Just bad luck. On the other hand, my escort fighters did a pretty good job the other day, limiting bomber losses when flying into 50 fighters unexpectedly. So, sometimes it goes your way; sometimes it does not.

[Aurorus]

I have been busy the past two weeks and started a second game. The first turns of my other game were consuming most of my free time, so I was unable to update the AAR. The pace is slowing now, and I have the time to resume the AAR. So where did I leave off...

March 4th, 1942

Naval search showed a group of allied ships at Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. I had begun prepping a paratroop SNLF for the island a few days before, so a naval strike was ordered to attack the shipping or the port. The ships had moved into port, however, so the strike came off against the port.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Christmas Island IO , at 45,104

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
G4M1 Betty x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AG Deneb, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AVP Poolster, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AGP Wega, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Port hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

[Aurorus]

March 5th and 6th were slow days with little to report. Allied B-17s bombed Port Moresby, and minesweepers cleared Singapore harbor for use. March 7th saw a series of fighter sweeps over Soerabaja. The allied pilots fought well against the initial wave of Zeros, but a 2nd wave of Oscars was able to inflict significant losses on the allied aircraft.

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Morning Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23

Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 3
75A-7 Hawk x 5
P-40B Warhawk x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
75A-7 Hawk: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet

CAP engaged:
1-Vl.G.IV with 75A-7 Hawk (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 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
2-Vl.G.IV with CW-21B Demon (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 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
24th PG/3rd PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
24th PG/17th PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
24th PG/20th PS with P-40B Warhawk (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 42

Allied aircraft
75A-7 Hawk x 4
P-40B Warhawk x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
75A-7 Hawk: 1 destroyed
P-40B Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
29 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet

CAP engaged:
1-Vl.G.IV with 75A-7 Hawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
24th PG/17th PS with P-40E Warhawk (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
24th PG/20th PS with P-40B Warhawk (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 20000 , scrambling fighters to 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
24th PG/3rd PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes


In Centpac, a Japanese sub spots the AMC Prince Robert.

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Submarine attack near Lahaina at 195,99

Japanese Ships
SS I-26

Allied Ships
AMC Prince Robert, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

AMC Prince Robert is sighted by SS I-26
SS I-26 launches 2 torpedoes at AMC Prince Robert

[Aurorus]

March 8th

Another Japanese sub finds an allied AK near San Francisco. Alas it is empty.

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Sub attack near San Francisco at 214,78

Japanese Ships
SS I-1

Allied Ships
xAK Shooting Star, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Alcoa Prospector
DD Hatfield
DD Lawrence

SS I-1 launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Shooting Star
DD Hatfield fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Lawrence fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Lawrence fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

The allies even the score by sinking a Japanese AK with troops from the 11th Garrison Regiment on board.

Sub attack near Hengchun at 84,68

Japanese Ships
xAK Ginyo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PB Chitose Maru
PB Taiko Maru
PB Akagane Maru

Allied Ships
SS Perch

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

SS Perch launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Ginyo Maru
PB Taiko Maru fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Akagane Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Akagane Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Akagane Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Akagane Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Akagane Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

I have lost more VPs of army points to submarines than I have to ground combat.

[Aurorus]

March 9th.

Another Japanese submarine finds a target near Darwin.

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Sub attack near Darwin at 74,123

Japanese Ships
SS I-159

Allied Ships
PC Zeeman, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

SS I-159 launches 2 torpedoes at PC Zeeman
Sub escapes detection

[Aurorus]

March 10th.

Japanese forces are in position to begin an attack on Soerabaja. Additional units are moving in from the south and the northwest to gain control of all three hexsides and prevent retreat. So the forces in position, accompanied by airstrikes, begin softening up the allied position, which is a little stronger than I had initially anticipated. The current disposition of forces at Soerabaja.

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Ground combat at Soerabaja (56,104)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15046 troops, 212 guns, 136 vehicles, Assault Value = 496

Defending force 11484 troops, 75 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 261

Allied ground losses:
117 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
38th Division
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Artilleriecommando Coastal Gun Battalion
2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Marinier Battalion
6th KNIL Regiment
South Java Base Force
2 ML-KNIL Aviation
Commandement Marine
Soerabaja Base Force

[Aurorus]

The allied redoubt at Padang on Sumatra continues to hold out.

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Ground combat at Padang (44,85)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6564 troops, 64 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 242

Defending force 3915 troops, 22 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 154

Japanese adjusted assault: 154

Allied adjusted defense: 76

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
477 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
132 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Guard Battalion
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
WS KNIL Territory Regiment
Zuid KNIL Battalion
So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion
110th RAF Base Force

A Japanese paradrop secures Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

[Aurorus]

Japanese operations in Burma commence with a fighter sweep and raid on the airfield at Rangoon.

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Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 41

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 26
Buffalo I x 8
Hurricane IIa Trop x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 4 destroyed
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIa Trop: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet

CAP engaged:
AVG/1st Sqn with H81-A3 (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(26 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
No.605 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIa Trop (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(16 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
No.67 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes

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Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 51
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 30
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 30

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 14
Buffalo I x 3
Hurricane IIa Trop x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
25 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

The allies have spotted a large convoy of Japanese units moving up the dirt trail in eastern Burma toward Magwe and the central Burmese plain. Another bombardment of Soerabaja further softens the allied position there.

[Aurorus]

March 12th.

Two follow up sweeps of Rangoon are launched.

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Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 29

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
No.232 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(16 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
No.242 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(16 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 17

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

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Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 37

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 5 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet

The allies continue to bomb Port Moresby, preventing the repair of the airfield. Neither the airfield nor the part at Moresby is operational.

The allied redout at Padang holds off another assault.


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

Ground combat at Padang (44,85)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6314 troops, 64 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 216

Defending force 3707 troops, 22 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 131

Japanese adjusted assault: 143

Allied adjusted defense: 85

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
246 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
108 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
41st Guard Battalion
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
Zuid KNIL Battalion
WS KNIL Territory Regiment
So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion
110th RAF Base Force

Japanese bombardments of Soerabaja continue as an additional unit moves to close the final hexside for retreat from the hex.

[Aurorus]

March 13th. Two more fighter sweeps over Rangoon encounter no resistance. The allies have begun a bombing campaign to interdict the Japanese units advancing up the dirt trail toward central Burma. B-17s also continue to pound Moresby, preventing repair of the airfield there.

[Aurorus]

March 14th.

Artillery and aerial bombardments continue at Soerabaja. Allied air interdiction of the Japanese advance toward central Burma continues, and the allied units at Padang hold off another Japanese assault.

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

Ground combat at Padang (44,85)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6222 troops, 64 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 208

Defending force 3549 troops, 22 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 112

Japanese adjusted assault: 78

Allied adjusted defense: 148

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
372 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
41st Guard Battalion
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
WS KNIL Territory Regiment
Zuid KNIL Battalion
So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion
110th RAF Base Force

[Aurorus]

March 15th. A dark day for the Empire.

A Japanese sub finds a target off the coast of Australia.

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Submarine attack near Cooktown at 93,137

Japanese Ships
SS RO-60

Allied Ships
xAKL Mulubinda, Shell hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage

xAKL Mulubinda is sighted by SS RO-60
SS RO-60 attacking on the surface
SS RO-60 low on gun ammo, Maki J. breaks off surface engagement and submerges

Then, after 2 days of sweeps over Rangoon without resistance, the Japanese decide to send in bombers. The bombing raids are preceded by sweeps which encounter heavy allied fighter resistance.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 36

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 17
Buffalo I x 3
Hurricane I Trop x 10
Hurricane IIa Trop x 23
Hurricane IIb Trop x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet

The second sweep is late arriving and arrives after the bombers, leaving the bomber groups to face a heavy allied CAP.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 27
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 29
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 28

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 11
Buffalo I x 1
Hurricane I Trop x 10
Hurricane IIa Trop x 21
Hurricane IIb Trop x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Runway hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 26

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 11
Buffalo I x 1
Hurricane I Trop x 8
Hurricane IIa Trop x 19
Hurricane IIb Trop x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

The second sweep arrives after the bombers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 37

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 12
Buffalo I x 1
Hurricane I Trop x 13
Hurricane IIa Trop x 24
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
H81-A3: 1 destroyed
Hurricane I Trop: 3 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet

In the afternoon, another raid on Rangoon is launched into the heavy CAP.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 25
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 28
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 23

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 5
Buffalo I x 1
Hurricane I Trop x 5
Hurricane IIa Trop x 16
Hurricane IIb Trop x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4


The final tally for the day shows 18 Japanese fighter losses to 20 allied fighters downed. However, the allied fighters also flamed 34 Japanese bombers. Not a happy day for the empire. This is the second time that 821Bobo has surprised me by heavily reinforcing a base after I had thought that he had conceded air superiority and evacuated his air forces from the base. He did the same over Soerabaja.

[Aurorus]

March 16th.

An allied naval bombardment of Padang disrupts another Japanese assault on the base. Padang is proving to be a major thorn.

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Night Naval bombardment of Padang at 44,85

Allied Ships
BB Resolution
BB Ramillies
BB Royal Sovereign
BB Revenge
CA Exeter
CA Dorsetshire
CL Colombo
CL Capetown
CL Enterprise
CL Hobart

Japanese ground losses:
146 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Ground combat at Padang (44,85)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5150 troops, 59 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 180

Defending force 3356 troops, 22 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 91

Japanese adjusted assault: 67

Allied adjusted defense: 79

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
124 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
245 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
41st Guard Battalion
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
Zuid KNIL Battalion
WS KNIL Territory Regiment
So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion
110th RAF Base Force

[Aurorus]

Allied B-17s in Burma find a column of tanks along the trail leading to Magwe and the central Burmese plain.

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Morning Air attack on 2nd Tank Regiment, at 61,50 , near Taung Gyi

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 4

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

B-17s from Australia continue to pound the airfield at Moresby.

[Aurorus]

March 17th.

A Dutch sub is given a rough go by the escorts of an oiler TF near Palembang.

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ASW attack near Muntok at 51,89

Japanese Ships
PB Kamitsu Maru
AO Shiretoko
PB Tonon Maru
PB Kinsyo Maru #4

Allied Ships
SS KXVIII, hits 2

SS KXVIII is sighted by escort
KXVIII bottoming out ....
PB Tonon Maru attacking submerged sub ....
PB Kinsyo Maru #4 fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Tonon Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tonon Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tonon Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tonon Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tonon Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

And Robert tells me that he is receiving reports of an invasion of Horn Island in his replay. I have not invaded Horn Island as yet, so it appears that we have a sync bug. We may both have to reinstall the game to proceed. My turn for the 18th is finished, but I am awaiting his reply on the possible sync bug... so the game is momentarily on hold until we resolve what may be a technical issue.

[Aurorus]

March 18th,

Soerabaja falls to the first attack. It was surrounded with the Japanese controlling the 3 hexsides, and the allied forces surrendered.

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Ground combat at Soerabaja (56,104)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 18150 troops, 218 guns, 234 vehicles, Assault Value = 598

Defending force 10764 troops, 75 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 185

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 3522

Allied adjusted defense: 80

Japanese assault odds: 44 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Soerabaja !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), leaders(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
775 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 52 disabled

Allied ground losses:
14639 casualties reported
Squads: 302 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 884 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 108 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 60 (60 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 9

Assaulting units:
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
2nd Engineer Regiment
38th Division
7th Tank Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
16th Army
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Marinier Battalion
2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Artilleriecommando Coastal Gun Battalion
6th KNIL Regiment
Commandement Marine
2 ML-KNIL Aviation
South Java Base Force
Soerabaja Base Force

On Java, the allies retain a strong ground presence at Batavia, and a heavily garrisoned and fortified redout at Bandoeng.

[Aurorus]

Another allied sub attack finds a ship with troops.

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Sub attack near Donggala at 69,96

Japanese Ships
xAK Sanko Maru, Torpedo hits 1
AMC Asaka Maru
AV Sanuki Maru
xAK Keisyo Maru
PB Syozui Maru
PB Senyo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Pike

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

Japan has suffered about 150 VPs of army losses in this game to date. Of these 150, more than half have been to submarine attacks.

[Aurorus]

Several Japanese regiments with armor support continue to move up the dirt trail in Central Burma and are coming under allied interdiction. The allies have formed up along the river line as a battle for Burma seems to be heating up.

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Morning Air attack on 2nd Tank Regiment, at 61,50 , near Taung Gyi

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 5

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb