South Pacific:
I get a good amount of Betties (and a few Kates) in the air to attack the enemy's TFs at night but still no hits. 95% moonlight, pilot skills in the 70s and nothing. This time the combat animations not only looked like bombing runs, but sounded like it -- but report says torpedoes were used and torpedoes were removed from the Air HQ. So I'm about to give up on night attacks against TFs - Probably 100+ bombers have attacked and never gotten a single hit. Even blind luck should have hit once by now.
The allies bombard and land more troops at Shortlands. In the combat phase the Marines attack and easily take the base against my abused troops.
With no way to actually hurt the allies - Woodlark Island will be next and then probably Rabaul. I can't think of any way to stop the allied DS - it just dominates the area.. I expect this is late 43 or 44 but not late 42.
Xargun
More Variants - The End of Western Imperialism - No Nomad please (Feb 1944)
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
Sept 23rd, 1942
Sub Warfare:
An allied sub located I-21 and attacks, but luckily misses.
Burma:
27 Helens attack the enemy airfield at Silchar during the night. Reports indicate only a single B-17 was damaged in the raid.
South Pacific:
Twenty Vals attacked enemy BBs at Shortlands during the night, but fail to land any bombs.
The USMC Division in control of Shortlands attacked my stranded men destroying one of the base forces.
Xargun
An allied sub located I-21 and attacks, but luckily misses.
Burma:
27 Helens attack the enemy airfield at Silchar during the night. Reports indicate only a single B-17 was damaged in the raid.
South Pacific:
Twenty Vals attacked enemy BBs at Shortlands during the night, but fail to land any bombs.
The USMC Division in control of Shortlands attacked my stranded men destroying one of the base forces.
Xargun
Sept 24th, 1942
Sub Warfare:
A couple subs moved into Shortlands to lay a some mines, an I-18 took a shot at an allied APA, hitting it with 4 torpedoes - it broke apart and sank - taking what I am guessing as part of a Naval Construction Unit with it. The escorts pounced, and I-18 is heading back to Truk for repairs. She should make it.
South Pacific:
I moved a pair of xAKs to Rabaul loaded with supplies to test the waters. The allied DS did move up a bit within range, but did not launch any attacks - due to weather I believe. The two xAKs should unload most of their loads before the daylight hours and the airstrike comes calling. Not super worried, I have roughly 100 fighters on Cap over Rabaul - 50 Tojos and 50 Zeros. Experience is not the best, but they are competent should the enemy come calling.
Subs are redirected to the current DS position in an attempt to get a shot in on one of the allied CVs. My sub commander's luck has to change eventually. Right??
Xargun
A couple subs moved into Shortlands to lay a some mines, an I-18 took a shot at an allied APA, hitting it with 4 torpedoes - it broke apart and sank - taking what I am guessing as part of a Naval Construction Unit with it. The escorts pounced, and I-18 is heading back to Truk for repairs. She should make it.
South Pacific:
I moved a pair of xAKs to Rabaul loaded with supplies to test the waters. The allied DS did move up a bit within range, but did not launch any attacks - due to weather I believe. The two xAKs should unload most of their loads before the daylight hours and the airstrike comes calling. Not super worried, I have roughly 100 fighters on Cap over Rabaul - 50 Tojos and 50 Zeros. Experience is not the best, but they are competent should the enemy come calling.
Subs are redirected to the current DS position in an attempt to get a shot in on one of the allied CVs. My sub commander's luck has to change eventually. Right??
Xargun
Sept 25th, 1942
Burma:
RAF Wellingtons hit the airfield at Mandalay, catching some Thalia and Dinah on the ground.
South Pacific:
Six allied AMs clear half the mines I laid at Shorlands.
The allied DS moved near Rabaul and launched two strikes aiming for my resupply TF - they ran right into my fighters. I lost 2 Tojos - 1 to A2A and 1 to ops. The allies lost 3 Martlet II, 4 Wildcats and 20 Dauntless. They did manage to get through with a single SBD who landed a 1000lb bomb on one of the xAKs.
Xargun
RAF Wellingtons hit the airfield at Mandalay, catching some Thalia and Dinah on the ground.
South Pacific:
Six allied AMs clear half the mines I laid at Shorlands.
The allied DS moved near Rabaul and launched two strikes aiming for my resupply TF - they ran right into my fighters. I lost 2 Tojos - 1 to A2A and 1 to ops. The allies lost 3 Martlet II, 4 Wildcats and 20 Dauntless. They did manage to get through with a single SBD who landed a 1000lb bomb on one of the xAKs.
Xargun
Sept 26th, 1942
Burma:
RAF Wellingtons pick on Schwebo today, flattening the airfield but otherwise inflicting no real damage.
South Pacific:
Allied AMs clear the mines at Shortland opening up the base.
My CMs are forming up and heading back to Truk after laying their mines at Rabaul and Namatanai. Another small TF of 2 PBs and 2 xAKs are heading to Kavieng and then to Rabaul to slowly move in supplies. Right now I think I have air superiority over Rabaul that Nomad is not ready to crack - he will need to bring in his P-38s and such... Now that I have shown the IIc Tojos that are there he will be a bit more cautious in air attacks there.
I am also moving some more supplies to Milne Bay and Woodlark in anticipation that they will suffer the same fate as Shortlands did.
Xargun
RAF Wellingtons pick on Schwebo today, flattening the airfield but otherwise inflicting no real damage.
South Pacific:
Allied AMs clear the mines at Shortland opening up the base.
My CMs are forming up and heading back to Truk after laying their mines at Rabaul and Namatanai. Another small TF of 2 PBs and 2 xAKs are heading to Kavieng and then to Rabaul to slowly move in supplies. Right now I think I have air superiority over Rabaul that Nomad is not ready to crack - he will need to bring in his P-38s and such... Now that I have shown the IIc Tojos that are there he will be a bit more cautious in air attacks there.
I am also moving some more supplies to Milne Bay and Woodlark in anticipation that they will suffer the same fate as Shortlands did.
Xargun
Sept 27th, 1942
Sub Warfare:
Allied sub, SS Seal. is spotted near Mussau and attacked, but escapes unharmed. This gave Nomad a nice view of my 3 CMs - but he won't know if they are incoming or outgoing.
I-25 and I-26 sail into a minefield at Tulagi while trying to lay their own mines there. Both subs hit a mine. I-26 sinks.
Burma:
RN ships bombard Cox's Bazar but inflict minimal damage.
British troops perform an artillery attack at Cox's Bazar to see whats there - but it works both ways. I have spotted another 15k troops moving from Chittagong to Cox's Bazaar. My engineers are working on level 4 forts so hopefully we will complete them before the reinforcements arrive.
Ground combat at Cox's Bazar (54,43)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 18019 troops, 418 guns, 403 vehicles, Assault Value = 757
Defending force 19123 troops, 166 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 668
Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 11 (5 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Assaulting units:
7th Armoured Brigade
18th British Division
23rd British Brigade
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
6th Heavy AA Regiment
35th Light AA Regiment
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Defending units:
Imperial Guards Division
86th Naval Guard Unit
17th Indpt Guards Regiment
South Pacific:
Allied AMs clear mines from Torokina. I so wish subs in minelaying TFs would not engage the enemy in the same location as they are laying mines - its a dead give away.
Corsairs sweep Rabaul and clean house. I lose 20 fighters to maybe 2 or 3 of his.
Xargun
Allied sub, SS Seal. is spotted near Mussau and attacked, but escapes unharmed. This gave Nomad a nice view of my 3 CMs - but he won't know if they are incoming or outgoing.
I-25 and I-26 sail into a minefield at Tulagi while trying to lay their own mines there. Both subs hit a mine. I-26 sinks.
Burma:
RN ships bombard Cox's Bazar but inflict minimal damage.
British troops perform an artillery attack at Cox's Bazar to see whats there - but it works both ways. I have spotted another 15k troops moving from Chittagong to Cox's Bazaar. My engineers are working on level 4 forts so hopefully we will complete them before the reinforcements arrive.
Ground combat at Cox's Bazar (54,43)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 18019 troops, 418 guns, 403 vehicles, Assault Value = 757
Defending force 19123 troops, 166 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 668
Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 11 (5 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Assaulting units:
7th Armoured Brigade
18th British Division
23rd British Brigade
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
6th Heavy AA Regiment
35th Light AA Regiment
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Defending units:
Imperial Guards Division
86th Naval Guard Unit
17th Indpt Guards Regiment
South Pacific:
Allied AMs clear mines from Torokina. I so wish subs in minelaying TFs would not engage the enemy in the same location as they are laying mines - its a dead give away.
Corsairs sweep Rabaul and clean house. I lose 20 fighters to maybe 2 or 3 of his.
Xargun
Sept 28th, 1942
Sub Warfare:
My ASW patrol in the straights of Malacca caught KXVIII and attacked. Reports indicate the enemy sub was hit by a single depth charge - should be enough damage to send them home.
US sub, Halibut, attacked a fuel TF north of Truk, hitting a 10k tanker with 2 torpedoes sinking her
Burma:
RN warships bombarded Cox's Bazar again during the night causing very minimal damage.
Xargun
My ASW patrol in the straights of Malacca caught KXVIII and attacked. Reports indicate the enemy sub was hit by a single depth charge - should be enough damage to send them home.
US sub, Halibut, attacked a fuel TF north of Truk, hitting a 10k tanker with 2 torpedoes sinking her
Burma:
RN warships bombarded Cox's Bazar again during the night causing very minimal damage.
Xargun
Sept 29th, 1942
Burma:
Bunch of RAF Hurricanes sweep Cox's Bazar but no bombers come. Not sure if he sent them and weather stopped them, or what?
South Pacific:
The last survivors at Shortland are wiped out by the US Marines.
Xargun
Bunch of RAF Hurricanes sweep Cox's Bazar but no bombers come. Not sure if he sent them and weather stopped them, or what?
South Pacific:
The last survivors at Shortland are wiped out by the US Marines.
Xargun
Sept 30th, 1942
Burma:
The RN is back again during the night bombarding Cox's Bazar and doing a bare minimum damage - usually disabling 1 squad. The 2 CAs and 5 DDs just don't have the firepower the US ships do. I am moving some Betties to Rangoon and will set them to night Naval attacks and see if I can scare them off. If not, I will need to bring some CAs of my own up from Singapore and have a surface fight.
RAF Hurricanes sweep Cox's Bazar again. Not sure whats going on, but maybe he is training them ?
Xargun
The RN is back again during the night bombarding Cox's Bazar and doing a bare minimum damage - usually disabling 1 squad. The 2 CAs and 5 DDs just don't have the firepower the US ships do. I am moving some Betties to Rangoon and will set them to night Naval attacks and see if I can scare them off. If not, I will need to bring some CAs of my own up from Singapore and have a surface fight.
RAF Hurricanes sweep Cox's Bazar again. Not sure whats going on, but maybe he is training them ?
Xargun
Oct 1st, 1942
Burma:
RAF Hurricanes sweep Cox's Bazar again to no gain. He must be using sweeps to train them.
Sallies and Helens hit British and Indian troops near Cox's Bazar inflicting 100 losses - not much but it will add up and force him to take the losses or put up some CAP - which then I can sweep.
Nothing else happened during the turn. I am using the lull in the South Pacific to deliver supplies not only to Rabaul, but to Woodlark Island and Milne Bay. Also moving some troops around - including the fragment of the Brigade that was lost at Shortlands. It is now the parent and resting at Truk gaining strength. It will probably be there the rest of the war - Truk will be expensive to take.
Xargun
RAF Hurricanes sweep Cox's Bazar again to no gain. He must be using sweeps to train them.
Sallies and Helens hit British and Indian troops near Cox's Bazar inflicting 100 losses - not much but it will add up and force him to take the losses or put up some CAP - which then I can sweep.
Nothing else happened during the turn. I am using the lull in the South Pacific to deliver supplies not only to Rabaul, but to Woodlark Island and Milne Bay. Also moving some troops around - including the fragment of the Brigade that was lost at Shortlands. It is now the parent and resting at Truk gaining strength. It will probably be there the rest of the war - Truk will be expensive to take.
Xargun
Oct 2nd, 1942
Burma:
Sallies and Helens bombed the 2nd British Division east of Cox's Bazar inflicting minor losses.
Nothing else happened this turn.
Xargun
Sallies and Helens bombed the 2nd British Division east of Cox's Bazar inflicting minor losses.
Nothing else happened this turn.
Xargun
Oct 3rd, 1942
SRA:
IJN troops from some APDs land at Moa - one of (if not the) last allied controlled dot-base in the SRA. They will capture it next turn.
I feel I am doing a much better job moving fuel/oil/resources out of the SRA this game. Palembang has 700k fuel still in it but he others are all at 150k or less - many much less. Now most of the fuel/oil I am hauling is at Singapore, but that base is much better protected than anything else in the SRA and worst case I can pull the fuel/oil out of there by loading at Saigon or Bandkok if needed.
Xargun
IJN troops from some APDs land at Moa - one of (if not the) last allied controlled dot-base in the SRA. They will capture it next turn.
I feel I am doing a much better job moving fuel/oil/resources out of the SRA this game. Palembang has 700k fuel still in it but he others are all at 150k or less - many much less. Now most of the fuel/oil I am hauling is at Singapore, but that base is much better protected than anything else in the SRA and worst case I can pull the fuel/oil out of there by loading at Saigon or Bandkok if needed.
Xargun
Oct 4th, 1942
Sub Warfare:
PBs in a Fast Transport TF carrying part of the 22nd Special Base Force heading for Rabaul got attacked by S-46. PB Hakkaisan Maru took a single torpedo hit and sank taking 16 troops with her.
Burma:
RAF Hurricanes swept Cox's Bazar again and this time they were followed by dozens of heavy bombers. 36 Wellingtons, escorted by 50 P-38s attacked my troops inflicting minor damage. Then another 69 Wellingtons hit troops as well. 39 B-17s, escorted by 50 P-38s then arrived and hit the port.
My Sallies and Helens bombed the 9th Indian Division southeast of Cox's inflicting minor losses.
The bombers inflicted very little damage to my troops but they did destroy a bunch of supplies. I will need to resupply them soon.
Xargun
PBs in a Fast Transport TF carrying part of the 22nd Special Base Force heading for Rabaul got attacked by S-46. PB Hakkaisan Maru took a single torpedo hit and sank taking 16 troops with her.
Burma:
RAF Hurricanes swept Cox's Bazar again and this time they were followed by dozens of heavy bombers. 36 Wellingtons, escorted by 50 P-38s attacked my troops inflicting minor damage. Then another 69 Wellingtons hit troops as well. 39 B-17s, escorted by 50 P-38s then arrived and hit the port.
My Sallies and Helens bombed the 9th Indian Division southeast of Cox's inflicting minor losses.
The bombers inflicted very little damage to my troops but they did destroy a bunch of supplies. I will need to resupply them soon.
Xargun
Oct 5th, 1942
Sub Warfare:
SS Perch attacks an empty TF returning to Truk but misses.
SS Cachalot attacks the same TF a hex later but misses.
SS Halibut attacks the same TF two hexes later but misses.
Burma:
RAF Bombers attack the port and troops at Cox's Bazaar supported by 50+ Hurricanes on sweep missions and 50 or so P-38s on escort duty.
Xargun
SS Perch attacks an empty TF returning to Truk but misses.
SS Cachalot attacks the same TF a hex later but misses.
SS Halibut attacks the same TF two hexes later but misses.
Burma:
RAF Bombers attack the port and troops at Cox's Bazaar supported by 50+ Hurricanes on sweep missions and 50 or so P-38s on escort duty.
Xargun
Oct 6th, 1942
Sub Warfare:
RO-63 was on a training cruise in the Solomons when they were viciously set upon by an allied DD. The DD pursued them relentlessly and sunk the peaceful training mission
Burma:
The hot spot is still Cox's Bazar with the allies sweeping and bombing the port and troops there. I am thinking of putting some LR CAP over the base, but it is to far for anything other than my zeros and I don't have enough of them in Burma to matter much.
Xargun
RO-63 was on a training cruise in the Solomons when they were viciously set upon by an allied DD. The DD pursued them relentlessly and sunk the peaceful training mission
Burma:
The hot spot is still Cox's Bazar with the allies sweeping and bombing the port and troops there. I am thinking of putting some LR CAP over the base, but it is to far for anything other than my zeros and I don't have enough of them in Burma to matter much.
Xargun
Oct 7th, 1942
The only action this turn is at Cox's Bazar - more sweeping and bombing.
Xargun
Xargun
Oct 8th, 1942
Burma:
Same old same old at Cox's Bazar in the air. On the ground the British artillery attacked but didn't do a whole lot. I expect an actual attack any day. I am moving my troops there south to Akyab but staying in combat mode to avoid all the penalties should he attack.
Ground combat at Cox's Bazar (54,43)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 32917 troops, 698 guns, 737 vehicles, Assault Value = 1245
Defending force 17211 troops, 154 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 586
Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (4 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Assaulting units:
7th Armoured Brigade
2nd British Division
18th British Division
23rd British Brigade
35th Light AA Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
III Indian Corps
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
6th Heavy AA Regiment
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Defending units:
Imperial Guards Division
17th Indpt Guards Regiment
Once at Akyab I believe my LR CAP will reach for their bases in the south so I can ambush his bombers once he starts to recycle the air wr.
Xargun
Same old same old at Cox's Bazar in the air. On the ground the British artillery attacked but didn't do a whole lot. I expect an actual attack any day. I am moving my troops there south to Akyab but staying in combat mode to avoid all the penalties should he attack.
Ground combat at Cox's Bazar (54,43)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 32917 troops, 698 guns, 737 vehicles, Assault Value = 1245
Defending force 17211 troops, 154 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 586
Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (4 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Assaulting units:
7th Armoured Brigade
2nd British Division
18th British Division
23rd British Brigade
35th Light AA Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
III Indian Corps
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
6th Heavy AA Regiment
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Defending units:
Imperial Guards Division
17th Indpt Guards Regiment
Once at Akyab I believe my LR CAP will reach for their bases in the south so I can ambush his bombers once he starts to recycle the air wr.
Xargun
Oct 9th, 1942
Burma:
My Sallies and Helens bombed the 9th Indian Division in the jungle two hexes from Cox's Bazar as it moves south.
RAF Wellingtons and B-17s hit the troops and port at Cox's Bazar, with 50+ P-38s escorting them and 50+ Hurricane sweeping in squadrons of 14.
I have a Naval Guard unit southeast of Cox's securing the exit for my troops in Cox. I am also moving another division up to Akyab. I figure the longer I can hold the coastline, the longer I delay his eventual invasion of northern Burma.
Nothing is happening elsewhere except an occasional sub incident near Truk. I am still moving a few units into the Solomon Area, but mostly moving supplies now.
Xargun
My Sallies and Helens bombed the 9th Indian Division in the jungle two hexes from Cox's Bazar as it moves south.
RAF Wellingtons and B-17s hit the troops and port at Cox's Bazar, with 50+ P-38s escorting them and 50+ Hurricane sweeping in squadrons of 14.
I have a Naval Guard unit southeast of Cox's securing the exit for my troops in Cox. I am also moving another division up to Akyab. I figure the longer I can hold the coastline, the longer I delay his eventual invasion of northern Burma.
Nothing is happening elsewhere except an occasional sub incident near Truk. I am still moving a few units into the Solomon Area, but mostly moving supplies now.
Xargun
Oct 10th, 1942
Burma:
The air assault at Cox's Bazar continues. My troops there are pretty disrupted - I am surprised he hasn't attacked on the ground yet. If he waits too much longer my troops will be gone - they are about 15 miles along the trail to the south. They are moving in combat mode so if he does attack they won't be crushed like they would if they were in move mode.
Another division is landing at Akyab next turn with a large Cruiser TF in escort. I have about 120 fighters ordered on LR CAP over the TFs and the base incase of air attack -- although they are set at 50% LRCAP / 50% REST -- thats about the best I have found for long term LRCAP. Much more than that and they gain fatigue too fast.
SRA:
IJN troops land at Merauke on the southern side of New Guinea and should take it next turn.
Xargun
The air assault at Cox's Bazar continues. My troops there are pretty disrupted - I am surprised he hasn't attacked on the ground yet. If he waits too much longer my troops will be gone - they are about 15 miles along the trail to the south. They are moving in combat mode so if he does attack they won't be crushed like they would if they were in move mode.
Another division is landing at Akyab next turn with a large Cruiser TF in escort. I have about 120 fighters ordered on LR CAP over the TFs and the base incase of air attack -- although they are set at 50% LRCAP / 50% REST -- thats about the best I have found for long term LRCAP. Much more than that and they gain fatigue too fast.
SRA:
IJN troops land at Merauke on the southern side of New Guinea and should take it next turn.
Xargun
Oct 11th, 1942
Burma:
Sallies and Helens continue to bomb the 9th Indian Division on the trail east of Akyab.
My LRCAP ordered to protect the TFs and Akyab decide to fly up to Cox's Bazar and get into it there. I will say I was happy with the results but only because the bombers that attacked my TFs didn't hit any troop-laden xAKs. In the furball above Cox's Bazar I lost 1 zero in A2A and in return reports indicate we shot down 10 Wellingtons, 3 P-38s and 2 B-25Bs. Like I said, I was happy with the results.
Now the down side was when the RAF bombers came for my TFs the LRCAP was already windled down a bit so they didn't stop the attacks. The first attack by a dozen Fulmar IIs came in unescorted and we shot down about half of them and the rest attacked my heavy cruisers and missed.
The next attack was another dozen Fulmars, but this time escorted by eight Hurricanes. We got a couple of the bombers, but the rest got through and luckily missed all their attacks - mostly targetting my xAKs unloading troops and supplies. On this attack I do see
1 x Fulmar II bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 plane(s) with no ordnance
Not sure what that means... Did he drop his ordnance to evade my fighters?
The next wave was Avenger Is bearing torpedoes - and my CAP was all done by this wave. Luckily they targeted a CA and DD and missed.
The next couple waves were B-25Bs. The first wave missed, but the second landed a 500lb bomb on a DD causing heavy damage and another bomb hit, but bounced off the armor of CA Mogami.
My Amphib TF was able to unload 2/3rds of the division at Akyab so far. I am ordering them back as recon spots a BB and several cruisers up at Chittagong - we can't handle that sort of fight, so both TFs are ordered to retreat.
SRA:
IJN troops capture Merauke without a fight.
Xargun
Sallies and Helens continue to bomb the 9th Indian Division on the trail east of Akyab.
My LRCAP ordered to protect the TFs and Akyab decide to fly up to Cox's Bazar and get into it there. I will say I was happy with the results but only because the bombers that attacked my TFs didn't hit any troop-laden xAKs. In the furball above Cox's Bazar I lost 1 zero in A2A and in return reports indicate we shot down 10 Wellingtons, 3 P-38s and 2 B-25Bs. Like I said, I was happy with the results.
Now the down side was when the RAF bombers came for my TFs the LRCAP was already windled down a bit so they didn't stop the attacks. The first attack by a dozen Fulmar IIs came in unescorted and we shot down about half of them and the rest attacked my heavy cruisers and missed.
The next attack was another dozen Fulmars, but this time escorted by eight Hurricanes. We got a couple of the bombers, but the rest got through and luckily missed all their attacks - mostly targetting my xAKs unloading troops and supplies. On this attack I do see
1 x Fulmar II bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 plane(s) with no ordnance
Not sure what that means... Did he drop his ordnance to evade my fighters?
The next wave was Avenger Is bearing torpedoes - and my CAP was all done by this wave. Luckily they targeted a CA and DD and missed.
The next couple waves were B-25Bs. The first wave missed, but the second landed a 500lb bomb on a DD causing heavy damage and another bomb hit, but bounced off the armor of CA Mogami.
My Amphib TF was able to unload 2/3rds of the division at Akyab so far. I am ordering them back as recon spots a BB and several cruisers up at Chittagong - we can't handle that sort of fight, so both TFs are ordered to retreat.
SRA:
IJN troops capture Merauke without a fight.
Xargun