(RA) IJN refloated Soulsilver (J)vs Deaniks (A)

[RangerJoe]

Chinese and Indian food? That could be very spicy!

[soulsilver]

24th March

the day began with massed air attacks against Chinese troops at Shaoyang

Morning Air attack on 79th Chinese Corps, at 80,52 (Shaoyang)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
G3M2 Nell x 33
G4M1 Betty x 62
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged

Allied ground losses:
461 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
5 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
25 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
33 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

A follow up attack deals a further 60 casualties to the defenders for no loss.

Normal air attacks in bataan to destroy supply got some supply hits

Morning Air attack on Bataan , at 78,77

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 8 damaged

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

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

The biggest event of the day was sweeps on Calcutta. The first sweep went well trading favourably. By the end 2 zeros were shot down and 3 were write offs. I am unsure exactly how many planes they shot down but overall results were quite favorable. Tracker says that 21 Hurricanes of various types were shot down by both the Zeros and the K-43s that came afterward.

Afternoon Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24

Allied aircraft
Hurricane I Trop x 16
Hurricane IIa Trop x 15
Hurricane IIb Trop x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane I Trop: 2 destroyed
Hurricane IIa Trop: 2 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 2 destroyed

Second wave

Afternoon Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Overcast

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

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 24

Allied aircraft
Hurricane I Trop x 1
Hurricane IIa Trop x 9
Hurricane IIb Trop x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane I Trop: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIa Trop: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 10000 feet


The day ended with Carrier Division 3 finding and destroying the 2 cargo ships spotted yesterday.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near North Male at 20,37

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
D3A1 Val x 21

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAK Durenda, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
AKV Athene, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Durenda
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AKV Athene

Tracker counts 31 p-39s destroyed on the ground and 8 PBYs. Overall plane losses for the day are 61 to 12, BANZAI!!!!


The day was finished off by an attack on surrounded British Indian troops in Burma.

Ground combat at 54,47 (near Ramree Island)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32559 troops, 293 guns, 88 vehicles, Assault Value = 953

Defending force 8911 troops, 62 guns, 45 vehicles, Assault Value = 250

Japanese adjusted assault: 756

Allied adjusted defense: 51

Japanese assault odds: 14 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
295 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1344 casualties reported
Squads: 81 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Assaulting units:
38th Division
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Division
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
144th Infantry Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
46th Indian Brigade
16th Indian Brigade
BFF Brigade
48th Gurkha Brigade

Another Central Philiphine Island garrison surrenders

Ground combat at Tacloban (81,85)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3624 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 135

Defending force 905 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 24

Japanese adjusted assault: 56

Allied adjusted defense: 3

Japanese assault odds: 18 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tacloban !!!

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

Allied ground losses:
950 casualties reported
Squads: 52 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
90th Infantry Regiment
8th Indpt SNLF Coy
16th Army

Defending units:
93rd PA Infantry Regiment

[soulsilver]

Situation in South India and Ceylon

[soulsilver]

Situation in eastern India

[soulsilver]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Chinese and Indian food? That could be very spicy!

indeed, very spicy.... You'll get to taste more of the Chinese spice tommorow when I attack Shaoyang.

[soulsilver]

Situation in Burma

[soulsilver]

On a side note the Fuso and Yamashiro are heading back to japan to repair. Fuso had a collision around a month ago and has 9 permanent flood damage that needs to be repaired, and Yamshiro was badly beaten up in a duel vs the Royal sovereign which was sunk along with her 4 CL and 4 DD escorts. current damage after sitting in Singapore for a while is 20 system, 10 flood and 5 engine. Her initial damage was 56 system, 22 flood, 15 engine, 0 fire.

[RangerJoe]

Singapore should be able to fix them, or even Hong Kong.

[soulsilver]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Singapore should be able to fix them, or even Hong Kong.

Sinapore was nuked after it was captured, so the dockyard isnt large enough yet. ive repaired it up to 34 size, but im also repairing half a dozen DDs and a cl that were damaged during the chittagong landing.

hongkong was also damaged and the repair dockyard is currently at 17.

Im gonna repair the Singapore dockyard to at least 40.

[soulsilver]

March 25th

The turn opened with I-16 landing 2 torpedos on SS Nautilus!

Allied Ships
SS Nautilus, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Landings at Cochin go in, but i forgot to check if Cochin had defenseive CD guns facepalm*!


Pre-Invasion action off Cochin (28,40)

12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Melbourne Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
PC PB-53
PC PB-52
PC PB-51
xAK Kinai Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Manila Maru
xAP Kasado Maru

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


post invasion bombardment reveals a fragment of a Brigade that tried to evacuate ceylon with 27 AV...... The 56th Division will take the port tommorow.

Sweeps went in at Calcutta again with poor results compared to yesterday


Morning Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft
Hurricane I Trop x 2
Hurricane IIa Trop x 1
Hurricane IIb Trop x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 3 destroyed

There was a devastating air attack on Shaoyang today in preparation for ground attack.

Morning Air attack on 4th Chinese Corps, at 80,52 (Shaoyang)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
G3M2 Nell x 33
G4M1 Betty x 61
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged

Allied ground losses:
708 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 63 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Ok now for the part we have all been waiting for, IJA troops gloriously ride to victory on Type 95 Ha-go and type 97 Medium tanks.


Ground combat at Shaoyang (80,52)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 99842 troops, 880 guns, 642 vehicles, Assault Value = 3037

Defending force 39305 troops, 266 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 938

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1770

Allied adjusted defense: 188

Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Shaoyang !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
5826 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 164 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 26 disabled
Guns lost 31 (2 destroyed, 29 disabled)
Vehicles lost 25 (3 destroyed, 22 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
14062 casualties reported
Squads: 589 destroyed, 115 disabled
Non Combat: 228 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 35 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 62 (35 destroyed, 27 disabled)
Units retreated 8
Units destroyed 1

[soulsilver]

I also spot US carriers in the SW pacific as I expected.

[RangerJoe]

Don't forget to have night naval search. Over the ocean, not her . . . [8|]

[soulsilver]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Don't forget to have night naval search. Over the ocean, not her . . . [8|]

What plane type/ model would you recommend to use in a night naval search role? should I use C5M2 or the army equivalent in this role?

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: soulsilver

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Don't forget to have night naval search. Over the ocean, not her . . . [8|]

What plane type/ model would you recommend to use in a night naval search role? should I use C5M2 or the army equivalent in this role?

Float planes like the Jake, the Mavis or Emily flying boats, even a detachment of Japanese bombers will work but the pilots must have an experience of 50 or better. The best Naval Search skill so they know that a PT boat is not a Battleship.

The Babs is a Recon plane more than a Naval search plane.

[soulsilver]

Overall I'm not very surprised that Deaniks is trying to raid, the Rabaul/port Moresby region as hes done this before in past games i've played vs him. should be getting the turn back in about an hour.

[soulsilver]

March 26th

Today had some spicy air combat. The American Carrier force headed towards Rabaul today and was attacked by G4Ms escorted by zeros coming from Rabaul.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 112,138

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
G3M2 Nell x 20
G4M1 Betty x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 20
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14
F4F-4 Wildcat x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed, 9 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CV Enterprise
CVL Charlotte
BB Prince of Wales

Ammo storage explosion on CV Yorktown.

Overall loses are 20 G3M and 14 G4M and 11 Zeros. In return 34 defending F4F wildcats were lost. I had hoped to do a bit more damage but given the extreme range of the strike I am happy enough. No retaliatory strike is launched by the American carriers as they are out of range of Rabaul, or any shipping elsewhere. Banzai!!!!

A couple of other peice meal attacks came in without dealing any signigant damage. ironically the only unescorted attack if the day scored a hit on the New Orleans.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 112,138

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 12

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 6
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans, Torpedo hits 1

Cochin is captured easily and the defenders of Trincomalee repulse the intial attack with very few losses on either side.


Ground combat at Trincomalee (31,47)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14116 troops, 106 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value = 436

Defending force 9110 troops, 71 guns, 45 vehicles, Assault Value = 129

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 198

Allied adjusted defense: 229

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

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

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

Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Assaulting units:
20th Division
3rd Ship Engineer Regiment
32nd Special Base Force

Defending units:
Trincomalee Fortress
99th Indian Brigade

[soulsilver]

position of the American Carrier force at the beginning of the 27th of March.

[soulsilver]

Ok I have a question for you guys, im currently trying to convert the CS chitose to a CVL It has no damage and is disbanded in Nagasaki which has a sufficiently large dockyard. furthermore I have the ship set yes to upgrade.... not sure what my problem is.

[soulsilver]

March 27th

Allied carriers retire southwest towards Sydney. The yorktown appears to be detached indicating that its damage is at least somewhat severe. A strike from Woodlark didnt achieve anything.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Tagula Island at 107,142

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 56 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
B5N1 Kate x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 12
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVL Charlotte

Later in the day a cargo ship retreating from the SW pacific was hit by a sub and will likely sink next turn.

Sub attack near Ontong Java at 115,125

Japanese Ships
xAK Izan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Shotoku Maru

Allied Ships
SS KXVI

Good ground attack against Burmese troops again. still gotta kill the 1st Burmese divisions after this... ugh. The thai units will deal with it.

Ground combat at 54,47 (near Ramree Island)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31976 troops, 293 guns, 88 vehicles, Assault Value = 907

Defending force 5718 troops, 33 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 83

Japanese adjusted assault: 600

Allied adjusted defense: 13

Japanese assault odds: 46 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
133 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1607 casualties reported
Squads: 99 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 118 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 17 (6 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
4th Division
38th Division
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
144th Infantry Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
46th Indian Brigade
BFF Brigade
48th Gurkha Brigade
16th Indian Brigade

Dean bombards Port moresby with 4 cruisers for not much effect.

Night Naval bombardment of Port Moresby at 98,130

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 12 damaged
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
CA San Francisco
CA Minneapolis
CL Trenton
CL Concord

Japanese ground losses:
155 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 27
Port hits 9
Port supply hits 4

Otherwise normal sweeps in India trade evenly and normal air strikes in China and Bataan do fine.

[soulsilver]

SW Pacific