Godzilla {J: Andav} vs. Rodan {A: witpqs}

[Lowpe]

Many thanks, will take a bit of time digesting this. I figured the Allies had more transports, but I guess it is early yet.

[witpqs]

I think there is another 13 plane group arriving shortly.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

The transports from Ledo. There are also a few CAF bombers flying supplies but not many remain.

Can you show another picture with just Heavy Bombers? I am curious to see how and where they are all being used?

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: witpqs
The transports from Ledo. There are also a few CAF bombers flying supplies but not many remain.

I find it more beneficial to fly transports with full complement of reserve planes. They transport slightly less in the short run, but excessive plane fatugue is being worked on constantly thanks to reserve airframes, so ops losses are lower

[witpqs]

They are all at Ledo.

The B-17's are hitting the enemy at our Tsuyung defenses. The B-24's and Liberator II's are hitting the enemy at our Paoshan defenses.

[witpqs]

Over the next 2 to 3 weeks 2 or 3 more groups arrive at Cape Town to upgrade from B-18 and be shipped to India.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: witpqs
The transports from Ledo. There are also a few CAF bombers flying supplies but not many remain.

I find it more beneficial to fly transports with full complement of reserve planes. They transport slightly less in the short run, but excessive plane fatugue is being worked on constantly thanks to reserve airframes, so ops losses are lower

I would love to, but I am keeping the pools dry just to keep supplies flowing. So no reserve planes in any of those groups, and no rest (for the weary).

[witpqs]

1943 January 25

INVADED
Kunming, Paoshan, Urumchi are invested.

CHANGED OWNERSHIP



Overall
• No carrier sightings.


West Coast USA, Alaska, Hawaii
• Enemy sub activity near San Diego.

• All convoys report no contacts.


Pacific
• Enemy sub activity near Howland Island.

• All convoys report no contacts.

• Cat and mouse.

Sub attack near Bikini at 132,110

Japanese Ships
PB Kyo Maru #6
PB Kyo Maru #7

Allied Ships
SS Greenling

SS Greenling launches 2 torpedoes at PB Kyo Maru #6
Greenling diving deep ....
PB Kyo Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Sub attack near Ponape at 115,113

Japanese Ships
PB Shonon Maru #15
PB Shuko Maru #5

Allied Ships
SS Pike

SS Pike launches 2 torpedoes at PB Shonon Maru #15
Pike diving deep ....
PB Shonon Maru #15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shonon Maru #15 attacking submerged sub ....
PB Shonon Maru #15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shonon Maru #15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shonon Maru #15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

• The fleet is spotted, partially but sub substantially. KB is about 20 hexes away and did move back toward the Gilbert Islands and Marshall Islands so our plan worked. Now what? How far can we lure them? Are they luring us? The troop convoys returning to PH are not spotted, nor are any of the AO at sea.

The fleet will move 3 hexes, 2 south and 1 east. There are 3 enemy subs nearby to be avoided, and this move is also meant to thwart an attempt by KB to position itself for a max range attack out of USN carrier plane range.

• The AO's are moving farther east.

• The APD's, with a air support unit for Nonouti to relieve the AVD o duty there, will move SW to evade possible search areas.

• Recon now shows more than 7,000 troops on Maloelap, so upgrading the 27th Div squads is a good idea.


New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Solomons, Papua New Guinea, New Britain
• No enemy sub activity detected.

• All convoys report no contacts.


Philippines


DEI, Dutch new Guinea, Borneo, Malaya


China
• Well trained zombies.

Ground combat at 71,46 (near Kunming)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 6021 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 130

Defending force 2896 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 41

Japanese adjusted assault: 200

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 200 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3388 casualties reported
Squads: 121 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 194 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
40th Chinese Corps

• Rolling assaults at Kunming.

Ground combat at Kunming (69,48)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31631 troops, 317 guns, 415 vehicles, Assault Value = 984

Defending force 76793 troops, 139 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1402

Japanese adjusted assault: 276

Allied adjusted defense: 283

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
259 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 6 (3 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 19 (2 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
558 casualties reported
Squads: 48 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
116th/C Division
1st Tank Division
104th/B Division
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
22nd/B Division
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment
6th/B Division
21st AA Regiment

Defending units:
83rd Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
71st Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
31st Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
60th Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
7th Chinese Base Force
11th Group Army
27th Group Army
5th Group Army
Lusu War Area
3rd Group Army
11th Chinese Base Force
21st Group Army
16th Chinese Base Force

India, Burma, Thailand, Indochina
• No enemy sub activity detected.

• Got one! No indication of serious damage.

Sub attack near Rangoon at 51,55

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Torpedo hits 1
CA Takao
DD Shinonome
DD Shikinami
DD Shirakumo

Allied Ships
SS KVII

SS KVII launches 4 torpedoes at BB Yamashiro
DD Shikinami fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Shirakumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Russia


Complete combat report attached.

[witpqs]

1943 January 25

The fleet. Moving 2 hexes south and 1 hex east.

[witpqs]

1943 January 26

INVADED
Paoshan, Urumchi are invested.

CHANGED OWNERSHIP



Overall
• No carrier sightings. Indirect info is thin, but KB is probably in the same general area.


West Coast USA, Alaska, Hawaii
• No enemy sub activity detected.

• All convoys report no contacts.

• The USA 27th Division is unloading at Pearl Harbor.


Pacific
• Enemy sub activity near Baker Island, Howland Island, Gardner Island, Pago Pago.

• All convoys report no contacts.

• PB's are hard to hit.

Sub attack near Ponape at 117,114

Japanese Ships
PB Sento Maru
PB Yahada Maru

Allied Ships
SS Seadragon

SS Seadragon launches 2 torpedoes at PB Sento Maru
PB Yahada Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

• They're carrier hunting.

ASW attack near Howland Island at 150,127

Japanese Ships
SS I-10

Allied Ships
DD Blue

SS I-10 is sighted by escort
I-10 diving deep ....
DD Blue fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Blue fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Blue fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Blue fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Blue fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

• The fleet is not spotted, bu an ASW element reacted 5 hexes away to sub-hunt and is DL 6/6, certainly from a sub float plane and more direct sightings by subs. There are at least 5 sub TF's in the area hunting the fleet, some with multiple subs. The fleet will move ENE. We'll see how that goes and maybe circle around counter-clockwise toward the Marshall Islands to draw KN back into detection and over sub patrols.


New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Solomons, Papua New Guinea, New Britain
• Enemy sub activity near Duff Islands.

• All convoys report no contacts.


Philippines


DEI, Dutch new Guinea, Borneo, Malaya


China
• Good news! We no longer have to pay the HOA fee for Kunming!

Ground combat at Kunming (69,48)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31581 troops, 315 guns, 414 vehicles, Assault Value = 967

Defending force 75840 troops, 137 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1376

Japanese adjusted assault: 642

Allied adjusted defense: 268

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kunming !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
5311 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 394 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 42 disabled
Guns lost 47 (2 destroyed, 45 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
18331 casualties reported
Squads: 326 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1141 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 40 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (10 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 22

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment
104th/B Division
116th/C Division
1st Tank Division
22nd/B Division
6th/B Division
21st AA Regiment

Defending units:
45th Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
71st Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
60th Chinese Corps
31st Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
7th Chinese Base Force
83rd Chinese Corps
21st Group Army
27th Group Army
3rd Group Army
11th Chinese Base Force
11th Group Army
Lusu War Area
5th Group Army
16th Chinese Base Force

• Temporarily holding.

Ground combat at 69,45 (near Tsuyung)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31831 troops, 362 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 741

Defending force 31772 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 373

Japanese adjusted assault: 257

Allied adjusted defense: 169

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1459 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 97 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 11 (2 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2002 casualties reported
Squads: 56 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
138th Infantry Regiment
11th Division
36th Division
34th/B Division
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
10th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
42nd Chinese/B Corps
32nd Chinese/A Corps
32nd Chinese/B Corps
77th Chinese/C Corps
30th Chinese/B Corps
30th Chinese/C Corps
42nd Chinese/A Corps
14th Chinese/B Corps
32nd Chinese/C Corps
91st Chinese/B Corps
73rd Chinese/C Corps
73rd Chinese/A Corps
42nd Chinese/C Corps
91st Chinese/A Corps
14th Chinese/C Corps
77th Chinese/A Corps
79th Chinese/C Corps
79th Chinese/B Corps
79th Chinese/A Corps
77th Chinese/B Corps
73rd Chinese/B Corps
14th Chinese/A Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
91st Chinese/C Corps
95th Chinese/A Corps
19th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Base Force
1st Chinese Base Force
59th Chinese/B Corps
59th Chinese/C Corps
95th Chinese/B Corps
84th Chinese Corps
82nd Chinese Corps
30th Chinese/A Corps
80th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese/A Corps
95th Chinese/C Corps

• B-24's will target Kunming airfield to destroy supplies before they go to enemy troops.


India, Burma, Thailand, Indochina
• No enemy sub activity detected.

• Looks like another bombardment force heading north but composition is uncertain. This one is running farther away from teh coast, probably to avoid our subs.


Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Russia


Complete combat report attached.

[zuluhour]

PM me when they land. [:D]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

PM me when they land. [:D]

Hah! Can't take the suspense, eh?! [:D]

[zuluhour]

Shiver Me Timbers!
(always wanted to say that)

[witpqs]

1943 January 27

INVADED
Paoshan, Urumchi are invested.

CHANGED OWNERSHIP



Overall
• No carrier sightings.


West Coast USA, Alaska, Hawaii
• Enemy sub activity near Kodiak.

• All convoys report no contacts.

• The other two invasion convoys have reached Pearl Harbor and are unloading units which will upgrade devices.


Pacific
• Enemy sub activity near Howland Island, Funafuti, Suva, Pago Pago.

• All convoys report no contacts.

• Again the fleet is not spotted except for the same ASW group off chasing subs. They've still made no attacks and so have all their ASW ammo. The fleet will meet up with the AO's, refuel, then continue their counter-clockwise movement around the concentration of IJN subs.


New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Solomons, Papua New Guinea, New Britain
• No enemy sub activity detected.

• All convoys report no contacts.


Philippines


DEI, Dutch new Guinea, Borneo, Malaya


China
• No ground assaults today. Spies report Imperial engineers measuring for new drapes in Kunming.


India, Burma, Thailand, Indochina
• No enemy sub activity detected.

• That IJN bombardment group is now 6 hexes SW of Cox's Bazar.


Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Russia


Complete combat report attached.

[witpqs]

1943 January 28

INVADED
Paoshan, Urumchi are invested.

CHANGED OWNERSHIP



Overall
• No carrier sightings. I believe KB is just west of the Marshall Islands.

• Upgrades of various squads/devices is underway at Pearl Harbor among the assault units just unloaded. USA Inf squads pool is 75 out of 91 needed, 80/month production rate. Remaining USMC upgrades are underway.


West Coast USA, Alaska, Hawaii
• Enemy sub activity near San Francisco.

• All convoys report no contacts.

• The fleet is not spotted except for that intrepid ASW TF. The fleet carrier TF's finished emptying two AO TF's, a replacement AO TF will arrive tomorrow to finish fueling up the fleet.


Pacific
• Enemy sub activity near Howland Island.

• All convoys report no contacts.

• DL 10/10 for our ships, but we have so much search coverage I am sure it's from the sub contact and aircraft, not from KB aircraft.

ASW attack near Howland Island at 149,127

Japanese Ships
SS I-27

Allied Ships
DD Bagley
DD Blue

SS I-27 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Bagley
DD Blue fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Blue fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Blue fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Blue fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Blue fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

• From our own subs' DL I think KB is just west of the Marshall Islands.


New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Solomons, Papua New Guinea, New Britain
• Enemy sub activity near Belep Islands, Perth.

• All convoys report no contacts.


Philippines


DEI, Dutch new Guinea, Borneo, Malaya


China
• Our position outside of Paoshan is being slowly crumbled away. Not terribly slowly either.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11690 troops, 114 guns, 431 vehicles, Assault Value = 510

Defending force 25342 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 412

Japanese adjusted assault: 113

Allied adjusted defense: 190

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 52 (1 destroyed, 51 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2283 casualties reported
Squads: 61 destroyed, 147 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
18th Tank Regiment
19th Tank Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
18th/B Division
18th/C Division
30th Fld AA Gun Co
3rd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
28th New Chinese Division
29th Chinese/B Corps
39th New Chinese Division
29th Chinese/A Corps
28th Chinese Corps
54th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese/C Corps

• So many enemy, so little ammo!


India, Burma, Thailand, Indochina
• No enemy sub activity detected.

• Chance favors the prepared.

ASW attack near Akyab at 53,45

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
DD Shikinami
DD Shirakumo

Allied Ships
SS O16

SS O16 is sighted by escort
O16 bottoming out ....
DD Shikinami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shirakumo fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Shikinami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shikinami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shikinami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shikinami fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

• So little damage was done the base's fortification level increased to 4 just after the bombardment.

Night Naval bombardment of Cox's Bazar at 54,43 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

15 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
CA Takao

Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Yamashiro
2nd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at BB Yamashiro
BB Yamashiro firing at 2nd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Fuso
BB Fuso firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at BB Fuso
3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at CA Takao
CA Takao firing at 3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment

• Our light tanks took the brunt of the attack but heavy tanks are on the way.

Ground combat at 60,43 (near Katha)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31800 troops, 309 guns, 494 vehicles, Assault Value = 1077

Defending force 25272 troops, 228 guns, 477 vehicles, Assault Value = 842

Japanese adjusted assault: 115

Allied adjusted defense: 1099

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 9

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

Japanese ground losses:
367 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 34 (3 destroyed, 31 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 47 (6 destroyed, 41 disabled)

Assaulting units:
112th Infantry Regiment
2nd Tank Division
2nd Division
5th/C Division
45th Field AA Battalion

Defending units:
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
19th Indian Division
7th Cav Recce Regiment
23rd Indian Division
IV Indian Corps

• Supply is light in the hex just attacked. The British DC-3's will switch their supply drop efforts that that point. Our heavier tanks still need several days to arrive there and out light tanks in-hex need all the time they can get to repair.


Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Russia


Complete combat report attached.

[witpqs]

1943 January 29

INVADED
Paoshan, Urumchi are invested.

CHANGED OWNERSHIP



Overall
• No carrier sightings. KB is likely west of Ponape and SE of Truk.


West Coast USA, Alaska, Hawaii
• No enemy sub activity detected.

• All convoys report no contacts.

• The fleet is not spotted, including the roaming ASW TF. There is an enemy sub TF nearby which probably has aircraft, so instead of completing refueling today the fleet will head ENE to get ahead of the subs and swing around partway through the counter-clockwise arc before refueling.


Pacific
• Enemy sub activity near Nikunau, Baker Island, Pago Pago.

• All convoys report no contacts.

• KB fleet train.

Sub attack near Truk at 113,111

Japanese Ships
PB Toshi Maru #3
PB Tama Maru #8

Allied Ships
SS Plunger

SS Plunger launches 2 torpedoes at PB Toshi Maru #3
PB Tama Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tama Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tama Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tama Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Tama Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

ASW attack near Truk at 114,112

Japanese Ships
AO Toho Maru
AO Shinkoku Maru
AO Ken'yo Maru
DD Mochizuki

Allied Ships
SS Snapper

SS Snapper is sighted by escort
Snapper diving deep ....
DD Mochizuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Mochizuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Mochizuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Mochizuki attacking submerged sub ....
DD Mochizuki is out of ASW ammo
DD Mochizuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Sub attack near Bikini at 132,110

Japanese Ships
PB Kyo Maru #6
PB Kyo Maru #7

Allied Ships
SS Greenling

SS Greenling launches 2 torpedoes at PB Kyo Maru #6
Greenling diving deep ....
PB Kyo Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Solomons, Papua New Guinea, New Britain
• Enemy sub activity near Reef Islands

• All convoys report no contacts.


Philippines


DEI, Dutch new Guinea, Borneo, Malaya


China
• The slow crush.


India, Burma, Thailand, Indochina
• Enemy sub activity near Bombay.

• After today's mauling we did various upgrades of British bombers, one Blenheim IV Sqn to Hurricanes, two to Vengeance DB, one Wellington Ic Sqn to Blenheim VD.


Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Russia


Complete combat report attached.

[witpqs]

1943 January 29

The British bombers had a slightly disagreeable day.

[BBfanboy]

Why change from a Wellington 1c (which has the bomb load of a B-17) to a Blenheim V with half the bomb load? Extreme shortage of Wellies?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Why change from a Wellington 1c (which has the bomb load of a B-17) to a Blenheim V with half the bomb load? Extreme shortage of Wellies?

As always at least at this point in the game, yup.

[Lowpe]

Can I see the plane fatigue on your skytrains? I guess you are running them at 0 rest?