Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)

[apbarog]

18 Jan 43 - Invasion of Burma

Good news at Port Blair. The enemy cruiser TF there disappeared, and didn't engage the transports as they continued to unload men and supply.

2 squadrons of Wellingtons flew from India and hit Akyab's airfield at night. Very minor damage was done in severe storms.

A squadron of Liberator IIs flew from India and hit Rangoon's airfield at night. One Betty was destroyed.

Near Mergui, Tunny spotted a lone ship: AG Assam Maru. Tunny engaged on the surface, hitting the ship with one shell. One torpedo hit, while two more were duds. Sinking audio was heard afterwards.

Tautog hit SC Ch 23 with a torpedo but it was a dud.

In the morning, 3 squadrons of P-40Ks swept Akyab from Chittagong. 62 Oscars were on CAP to begin with. Total losses were 25 P-40Ks for the downing of 30 Oscars. I can play the attrition game with P-40Ks for awhile. I need to whittle down the defenses.

Light bombers hit enemy troops at Myitkyina. B-24s from Calcutta hit Port Blair.

Now for the main event. Rangoon, Pegu and Moulmein will be invaded. Two cruiser groups will bombard Rangoon. Hopefully they can do some damage to the airfield and take out some planes.

All carrier bombers will hit Toungoo's airfield and troops. No carrier bombers are set for naval strike. The bombarding cruisers should clean out the small shipping at Rangoon. Then it'll be safe to set the carrier bombers back to naval strike.

Toungoo will be attacked by paratroopers from Chittagong. Lots of bombers from India will hit Toungoo also.

It was a bad day in the Solomons and at Darwin, but the main event is at Burma, and the enemy is concentrated elsewhere.

[Lowpe]

An interesting day!

You need some recon to identify the low hanging fruit. 2 divisions off road in the jungle...my oh my are they out of position.[:)]

Akyab is a death trap for Japanese planes, no rail and easily bombarded.

Probably some mines at Rangoon.

Good luck...

[Bif1961]

I just sent off my 21 Jan 43 Allied turn to my Japanese opponent, nice to see we are almost at the same place in out games. There are a few other AARs at about the same place between December 42 and March 43. I learn something from all of them. Tough bombardment at Darwin but you loss totals almost match the relay total, but the damage totals, as you pointed out, were way off. His CAP trap of your carrier strike package was unfortunate as well. What are your VP totals and losses for the campaign so far?

[apbarog]

Here's the victory point situation, as well as the ugliness of this last turn with aircraft losses.

[Bif1961]

Interesting differences we have far more plane and ship losses about twice as much. I am almost tied in base points but you are closer in over all VPs than I am.

[apbarog]

19 Jan 43- Part One - The Solomons and Darwin

Yesterday I'd spotted KB, split into 2 task forces, with another task force that appeared to have AOs in it. The AO task force turned out to be battleships. Lots of battleships. First, PTs engaged at Tulagi as the enemy passed through to get to Lunga.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
CL Natori
DD Satsuki
DD Minazuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze

Allied Ships
PT-20
PT-23
PT-24
PT-25
PT-26
PT-28, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight

The PT boats couldn't get close enough in the bright moonlight. The enemy continued to Lunga, and engaged another group of 6 PT boats. None were lost in a short fight. The enemy then found some ships unloading at Lunga. The cargo ships had fragments of units at Munda and Vangunu. Lots of vehicle support lost, not tanks.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 114,138, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 1
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
CL Natori
DD Satsuki
DD Minazuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze

Allied Ships
APD Little, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
xAKL Loyaute, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
xAKL De Klerk, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAKL Silindoeng, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
xAKL Regulus, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
xAKL Kolambugan, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
354 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 71 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 85 (68 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 160 (139 destroyed, 21 disabled)

Destroyer Matsukaze then hit a mine at Lunga. Fire with heavy damage reported.

My version of the "Black Cat" squadron flew at night from Tulagi. Some planes got lost in the night.

Night Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 3 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
PBY-5 Catalina x 6

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi
BB Hyuga

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PBY-5 Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.

A good attempt, but all misses. Lunga was then bombarded.

Night Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 61 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 6 destroyed on ground
P-40E Warhawk: 35 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed on ground
P-43A-1 Lancer: 3 damaged
P-43A-1 Lancer: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
BB Musashi
BB Yamato
CL Natori
DD Harukaze
DD Asakaze
DD Nagatsuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Minazuki
DD Satsuki

Allied ground losses:
923 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 35 destroyed, 61 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 19 (5 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 24 (14 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Airbase hits 39
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 40

6 battleships in one task force! That's the most I've ever seen together. Between the 4 battleship nuclear bombardment at Darwin yesterday, and now this one, I can say that OPilot likes his battleships. I don't know how many the Japanese have, but that's 10 of them.

Another small task force is engaged and sunk at Lunga.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 114,138, Range 24,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
CL Natori
DD Satsuki
DD Minazuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze

Allied Ships
LCT-59, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
SC-707, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Mawata, Shell hits 6, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 24 (17 destroyed, 7 disabled)

And then 2 more PT boats are sunk at Lunga, and then another at Tulagi as the battleships head back towards Rabaul.

As for the Darwin area, the enemy battleships disappeared near Koepang. OPilot did go for bombing Darwin's airfield, which was out of action. 36 Oscars swept, but found 9 P-38s on LRCAP from Katherine. About 6 Oscars were downed. Then 26 Bettys attacked with 27 A6M3a Zeros, and found 7 Lightnings. About 8 Zeros were downed, but they kept the P-38s off of the Bettys. Minor base damage was done. 2 P-38 pilots became double aces. No P-38s were lost.

The Australian armor unit made it to Wyndham, but was bombed by Helens. Enemy troops at Wyndham continue to get bombed by US medium bombers. The Aussies won't attack, having about 90% disruption from the daily bombing in clear terrain.

Will OPilot send his battleship group back to Darwin, or maybe go after the easy target at Wyndham? I move a couple of subs to guard the approach to Wyndham.

[apbarog]

19 Jan 43 - Part Two - Burma

Unloading of troops and supply continues at Port Blair and Little Andaman.

4 Allied cruisers with 3 destroyers moved to Rangoon. First they sunk a patrol boat. Then they sank four more patrol boats. Many shells were expended for these tiny targets. Then US cruisers Indianapolis and Chicago arrived, with destroyers Shaw and Case. They sank a patrol boat and 5 xAKLs. DMS Hovey then came in to sweep mines, and sank AMc Wa 3. This cleared out all of the enemy shipping not disbanded in port.

The two Allied cruiser task forces then bombarded Rangoon.

Night Naval bombardment of Rangoon at 54,53

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-57-II Topsy: 31 damaged
Ki-57-II Topsy: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 19 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 55 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 43 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 5 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
CA Exeter
CA Devonshire
CL Phoenix
CL Mauritius
DD Mahan
DD Fanning
DD Dunlap

Japanese ground losses:
229 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Airbase hits 38
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 79
Port hits 1

and

Night Naval bombardment of Rangoon at 54,53

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 10 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
G4M1 Betty: 23 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 8 damaged
Ki-57-II Topsy: 11 damaged
Ki-57-II Topsy: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Chicago
CA Indianapolis
DD Shaw
DD Case

Japanese ground losses:
166 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 29
Port hits 1

Troops unloaded at Rangoon, Pegu and Moulmein. No interference. Pegu is undefended. Moulmein has the 6th RTA/C part of a division. Units at Rangoon are not completely known but the totals have looked manageable.

DMS Hovey did find mines at Rangoon, and started clearing them. No ships hit mines.

During the daylight, cruisers Indianapolis and Chicago ran into AMc Hakata Maru #6 in the Rangoon channel, sinking the tiny ship.

Just west of Port Blair...

Sub attack near Port Blair at 45,58

Japanese Ships
SS I-11

Allied Ships
CV Illustrious, Torpedo hits 1
DD Scout
DD Stronghold

SS I-11 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Illustrious

Illustrious was fortunate though. Another torpedo hit was a dud. Illustrious is about 2 weeks overdue for withdrawal, and has been covering Port Blair. I decide to send it to Ceylon to withdraw now. The air risk to Port Blair is now reduced with all of the action going on near Rangoon. Illustrious is SYS 15/FLOT 9-5/ENG 0/FIRE 0. I split off a destroyer for its escort and sent the other escorts to Port Blair to bombard today.

I noticed that there was no automatic enemy bombardment at Rangoon with my amphibious landing. One did occur at Moulmein.

No Allied bombers from India attacked Rangoon. Today, carrier bombers have Rangoon's troops as a secondary mission, with naval strike reactivated as the primary mission.

The paratrooper attack was successful at Toungoo, and even better, the base was undefended. There will be no quick enemy counter-attack on the beachheads, particularly from the north.

For today, I decided not to try and fly in the rest of the paras to Toungoo. It's a likely target for enemy LRCAP, going after my transports. I've taken the base, and reinforcements from the south will be coming soon enough, with an undefended Pegu about to fall. I moved extra fighters to Chittagong, expecting a big enemy air attack, seeing all those transports based there.

Things are looking good in Burma, I think.

Not near Burma, but notable was O24 getting a torpedo hit on xAK Delagoa Maru near Cam Ranh Bay. There's a few Allied subs in the South China Sea now. It's a long patrol from Gove, but it's worth starting early and making the enemy more cautious behind the lines. And every tanker knocked off early multiplies how many potential trips back and forth that it won't be making.

[BBfanboy]

apbarog: I noticed that there was no automatic enemy bombardment at Rangoon with my amphibious landing. One did occur at Moulmein.

I think that means the enemy there do not have any guns capable of bombardment or are completely out of supply. The latter seems unlikely for Rangoon.
Perhaps they are all in strategic move mode?

[Lowpe]

Very well done, total strategic surprise.[&o]

Of far more interest than ChiangMai is the Raheng triangle of bases...especially the two on the rail lines (of which I see one is still a dot base)...but perhaps that is getting a bit ahead of ourselves since your focus on opening the Burma road.

This invasion will set the focus for the next six months and more. With a still active China, I think things look very bad for Japan. Even were you to hunker down here and draw IJA troops like a magnet, you would be able to really move forward in the SRA for example.

If it were me I would look to set up defensive line at Raheng/ChiangMai, Tavoy and send all the Burma troops the long way out thru TuangGyi. I just don't see how Japan can mount a counter attack here unless you came rather weakly.

I think you could have run the rest of the paratroopers in...2 hex range for LRCAP is a bit of a stretch, but it won't matter, as 61 AV will hold that base until he marches troops down there and by then it will be far too late.

Lots of options are open to you. I know it isn't your focus, but if you can get Allied armor into the Bangkok plains...well then you could cut across to Vinh and really devastate Japan. Coupled with a push to Luzon/Mindanao or up thru the eastern SRA to Miri/Brunei you would cut off the majority or all of the SRA resources potentially very early. Japan simply cracks like an egg here whatever you decide.

Really well done and I look forward to reading what comes next.

[apbarog]

19 Jan 43 - Planning in Burma

[Lowpe]

That is one more division at Rangoon than I remember.

I think I mentioned this before, but it is eerily like Mr. Kane vs Spidery, but there the Allies landed at Java with 5+ divisions and managed to win a CV clash too.

Very hard for Japan to counter this large of an invasion so early. Especially with Japan's ill fated Oz adventures.

Congratulations.[&o]

[Bif1961]

He left the back door unlocked!!

[apbarog]

20 Jan 43 - Part One - The Solomons

3 Hudsons flew from Tulagi on a night attack. They went after AO Shinkoku, traveling in a task force with KB, now west of Rennell Island. Bombs missed. Night flying Catalinas got lost in the dark, aborting the mission.

Nearby, but not in the Solomons, sub Porpoise fired 4 torpedoes at xAP Baikal Maru, while 2 hexes southeast of Babeldaob. One torpedo hit but it was a dud.

In the morning, KB launched against Rennell Island. US fighters had been moved to Guadalcanal to maximize coverage there.

Morning Air attack on Rennell Island , at 113,140

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 87 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 30
A6M5 Zero x 18
D4Y1 Judy x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 10 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
PC Kybra, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AGP Sirius, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AVP Arend, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Ipswitch, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Port hits 2

In the afternoon, KB went after Lunga.

Afternoon Air attack on Lunga , at 114,138

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 117 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 49 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 55
A6M5 Zero x 18
B5N2 Kate x 76

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 14
F4F-4 Wildcat x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 11 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAP Princess Elizabeth, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
LCM 532E, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Neo Hebridais, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
ACM YP-250, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
ACM YP-197, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
LCVP 532G, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Princess Victoria, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
xAKL Yarra, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
LCM 532D, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
ACM YP-251, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
LCT-60, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
LCM 532B, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
LCM 532C, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
LCM 532A, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
LCVP 532K, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Port hits 7
Port supply hits 1

Another strike then hit Rennell Island's port. No ships left there though.

Afternoon Air attack on Rennell Island , at 113,140

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 14
D4Y1 Judy x 107

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 8 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 2 destroyed by flak

Port hits 10
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

Lots of ships sunk, but it was no accident. I had evacuated all of the bigger shipping, and there had been quite a bit of it at both ports. I chose not to send the landing craft back to the pool, and left them as a target. The two xAP were tiny and very short ranged. Useful where they were but not that valuable. I encouraged this attack. Unfortunately, Lunga's airfield was completely shut down, and US CAP there was from Tassafronga and Tulagi. I had hoped for a bigger haul of enemy planes.

Lots of flash and bang, but of little consequence.

KB and replenishment task force drifted 2 hexes to the west today. I see no signs of a counter-invasion. I don't know what KB will do. Townsville is on particular alert, as it has had many ships in port, and is the port of embarkation for most units going to Darwin. In the back of my mind, I wonder about Milne Bay or Horn Island. I could see a Japanese approach to try and close off the sea route to Darwin. Milne Bay is vulnerable. Horn Island is not. There's still a US Marine Division there. I did note that OPilot started doing recon at Horn Island about 2 weeks ago, after not doing so for a long time.

[apbarog]

20 Jan 43 - Part Two - Burma

Troops and supply continue to unload at Rangoon, Pegu and Moulmein, as well as Little Andaman and Port Blair. An xAK hits the rocks at Port Blair and sinks. An xAKL there also took some damage that I couldn't identify.

I-11 fired 2 torpedoes at DM Breese at Little Andaman. Both missed. Breese was laying mines there.

Cruisers Cornwall, Dorsetshire and Achilles bombarded Port Blair.

Night Naval bombardment of Port Blair at 46,58

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall
CA Dorsetshire
CL Achilles
DD Stronghold

Japanese ground losses:
258 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 22
Port hits 18
Port supply hits 3

US ships hit Rangoon.

Night Naval bombardment of Rangoon at 54,53

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 7 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 18 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 7 damaged
Ki-57-II Topsy: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
AG Kinesaki, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Kibi Maru, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Bichu Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA San Francisco
CA Minneapolis
DD Lamson
DD Cummings

Japanese ground losses:
435 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 55 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 24
Port hits 2

P-40s swept Akyab, finding Oscars. Even losses, about 4 each. B-17s hit the airfield, doing minor damage.

Liberators did a probing bombing of Chiang Mai, doing some minor airfield damage. Prome was hit by B-25s, just in case aircraft had railed out of Rangoon. They had not. Other B-25s found the 6th Tank Regiment in the jungle just north of Toungoo, on the rail line. Could hit anything but the unit was identified. B-24s bombed Port Blair. P-38s swept Chiang Mai, finding no enemy planes.

A huge US carrier strike hit troops at Rangoon. 155 SBD-3s and 72 TBF-1s bombed, causing just 55 casualties. B-17s and B-24s hit Rangoon's troops and the airfield. B-17s and Wellingtons hit Mandalay's airfield, doing moderate damage. Spreading the attacks around. Avoiding Magwe and its heavy CAP and heavy flak.

Port Blair is attacked.

Ground combat at Port Blair (46,58)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12550 troops, 172 guns, 92 vehicles, Assault Value = 337

Defending force 7709 troops, 48 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 185

Allied adjusted assault: 190

Japanese adjusted defense: 247

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
387 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
190 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 47 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
17th Australian Brigade
2/1st Lt AA Regiment
111th RN Base Force

Defending units:
1st Raiding Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
302nd Ship Eng Coy
1st Base Force
303rd Ship Eng Coy
34th Field Const Co
5th JAAF AF Coy

Forts weren't touched. A tough fight, but one that the Allies will win.

Then Rangoon is attacked.

Ground combat at Rangoon (54,53)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29771 troops, 582 guns, 484 vehicles, Assault Value = 1079

Defending force 10656 troops, 86 guns, 122 vehicles, Assault Value = 123

Allied adjusted assault: 380

Japanese adjusted defense: 95

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
962 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 88 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Guns lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 45 (24 destroyed, 21 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 50 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 22 (2 destroyed, 20 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
2nd British Division
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
18th British Division
11th Indian Division
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment
221 Group RAF
95th Heavy AA Regiment
XXXIII Indian Corps /2
2/11th Fld RAA Rgt /1
103rd RN Base Force /1

Defending units:
9th Tank Regiment
2nd Raiding Regiment
103rd Ship Eng Coy
13th Field Construction Battalion
35th Field AA Battalion
15th JAAF AF Bn
211th Ship Eng Coy
104th Ship Eng Coy
18th JNAF AF Unit
32nd Special Base Force
311th Ship Eng Coy
304th Ship Eng Coy
111th Ship Eng Coy
3rd Air Division
204th Ship Eng Coy
36th JAAF AF Bn

Good odds but the forts keep the base in Japanese hands. But not for long.

And finally Moulmein is attacked.

Ground combat at Moulmein (55,55)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15850 troops, 61 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 837

Defending force 1935 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 83

Allied adjusted assault: 345

Japanese adjusted defense: 27

Allied assault odds: 12 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Moulmein !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
543 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
266 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
6th Chinese/A Corps
6th Chinese/B Corps
6th Chinese/C Corps
209th FA Bn /1

Defending units:
6th RTA/C Division

Time to land the followup troops at Moulmein and Pegu. Need to finish off Port Blair and Rangoon.

[apbarog]

No turn today from OPilot.

One consideration for my Rangoon area invasions is how long to commit the 5 US carriers there. I don't want to keep them in the Indian Ocean. My big push is planned to be out of Darwin to the north and northwest. That won't happen until the carriers return.

While the carriers are near Burma, I will be pushing as much supply into Rangoon as possible. I want there to be so much supply there that if KB comes and takes control of the seas, my operations to cut northern Burma off will continue.

I expect a big push from the Japanese, with troops coming north from Singapore and from Saigon/Cam Rahn Bay. It's to be expected that enemy troops not committed, like ones in the Philippines and maybe Java, will make a front between Bangkok and Moulmein. I know that my operation isn't a big push towards Bangkok, but OPilot doesn't know that. He sees 2 big Chinese corp headed east from the bridgeheads.

Maybe this effort will draw some troops out of China too. I do expect some of the enemy air units in China will move to Thailand.

[apbarog]

21 Jan 43 - Part One - The Coral Sea

South of Truk, the big battleship task force is spotted, heading north to Truk.

ASW attack near Lihir at 112,118

Japanese Ships
DD Nagatsuki
BB Hyuga
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
BB Musashi
BB Yamato
CL Natori
DD Fumizuki
DD Minazuki
DD Satsuki
DD Harukaze
DD Asakaze

Allied Ships
SS Seadragon

SS Seadragon launches 2 torpedoes at DD Nagatsuki

Near Rossel Island and Tagula, Haddock spots DMS W-10 and DMS W-9. Two torpedoes are fired at W-9 and one hit, sinking the minesweeper. Looks a lot like a plan to sweep US bases nearby, which probably means a counter-invasion is coming. With KB nearby, it's very possible.

Speaking of which, KB moved strongly to the northwest.

[Lowpe]

Could you show us China...I am curious if there is any troop movement going on there?

[apbarog]

21 Jan 43 - Part Two - Northern China

[apbarog]

21 Jan 43 - Part Three - Southern China

[apbarog]

21 Jan 43 - Burma

Troops and supply continue to unload at Rangoon, Pegu and Moulmein. DMS and 2 YMS continue to sweep mines at Rangoon.

I-155 misses destroyer Arrow near Port Blair.

Rangoon is bombarded.

Night Naval bombardment of Rangoon at 54,53

Allied Ships
CA Quincy
CA New Orleans
DD McCalla

Japanese ground losses:
168 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 9 (4 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Enemy bombers hit Toungoo, probably coming from Chiang Mai. Just paras here, holding the base until the reinforcements arrive from Pegu. Minor damage to the airfield.

8 B-17s hit Chiang Mai's airfield, doing minor damage and destroying a Sonia.

Port Blair isn't going to be captured quickly.

Ground combat at Port Blair (46,58)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12315 troops, 172 guns, 92 vehicles, Assault Value = 303

Defending force 7349 troops, 48 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 137

Allied adjusted assault: 58

Japanese adjusted defense: 229

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
281 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
663 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 97 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
17th Australian Brigade
2/1st Lt AA Regiment
111th RN Base Force

Defending units:
1st Raiding Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
302nd Ship Eng Coy
1st Base Force
303rd Ship Eng Coy
34th Field Const Co
5th JAAF AF Coy

The Allied troops will rest and wait for more ship bombardments to help things along. I wanted to get AKEs and and AD into Port Blair to help with bombardments in Burma. Now the reverse will happen. The support ships will go to Rangoon and help rearm ships to bombard Port Blair, because...

Ground combat at Rangoon (54,53)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30802 troops, 603 guns, 500 vehicles, Assault Value = 1028

Defending force 9647 troops, 83 guns, 108 vehicles, Assault Value = 65

Allied adjusted assault: 1669

Japanese adjusted defense: 39

Allied assault odds: 42 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Rangoon !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
2907 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 258 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 73 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 36 (34 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 133 (133 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 14
Units destroyed 2

Allied ground losses:
139 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
2nd British Division
18th British Division
11th Indian Division
103rd RN Base Force
XXXIII Indian Corps
221 Group RAF
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment
95th Heavy AA Regiment

Defending units:
9th Tank Regiment
2nd Raiding Regiment
204th Ship Eng Coy
304th Ship Eng Coy
3rd Air Division
13th Field Construction Battalion
15th JAAF AF Bn
104th Ship Eng Coy
32nd Special Base Force
35th Field AA Battalion
211th Ship Eng Coy
18th JNAF AF Unit
111th Ship Eng Coy
103rd Ship Eng Coy
311th Ship Eng Coy
36th JAAF AF Bn

One British division and the armor will head north towards the coast. The other will move northeast to Toungoo. The Indian division will stay at Rangoon for garrison.

[Added information in the Coral Sea area: SigInt says that 2/17 Army is on a destroyer headed to Rabaul. I know that 17 Army has been at Rabaul, so it is now loading. There's a good chance that is will be involved in a counter-invasion somewhere from Horn Island to New Guinea to the Solomons. I decided to pull Allied troops from Buna and retreat back into the mountains, just in case Port Moresby is threatened. I'd like to get the infantry division and armor back to Port Moresby.]