Never Thought I'd Start Another One - tc464 (A) vs. Mike (J)

[Mike Solli]

1 Mar 42

Sub War

Nothing exciting to report.

5 Fleet

A small flight of 9 Vals and 9 Kates, escorted by 28 Zeros, hit some ships at Dutch Harbor sinking an xAK and damaging a big xAP. There were no troops aboard. Note: There are no Allied fighters in the Aleutians so I won't mention Zeros again unless things change. Needless to say, everything is escorted. Oh yeah, the DD Hatfield emerged unscathed. I really want to sink that DD. That name reminds me of someone I really don't care to think about...

Another flight of 15 Vals and 17 Kates arrived at Dutch Harbor, putting a bomb each into a TK and DD McCall. Again, Hatfield got away scot free.

In the afternoon, the main attack was at Adak, composed of 66 Vals and 49 Kates. An AS, DD Smith and 2 subs were all damaged to varying degrees. Some troops took damage and the airfield and port took a pounding.

KB is moving closer to Dutch Harbor to focus on that base tomorrow.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Nine Banshees attacked my troops (unsuccessfully) at Buna. Unfortunately, my Zeros were high and the Banshees were low. Need to rectify that...

SRA

Malaya

Singapore - 1332(+70) - 779(+8)

Philippines

Bataan - 922(+4) - 681(0)

Borneo

Miri still has 146 oil to repair with plenty of supply and more arriving from CRB/Saigon as needed.

Samarinda still needs to repair 15 oil. There's 10k supply there and is repairing about 1 every other turn. A convoy with 10k supply will arrive tomorrow and they're getting the excess supply from Balikpapan. The oil should be fully repaired in 15 days. If needed, I'll send some from Tarakan.

Sumatra

Palembang has 92 oil to repair. They have 26k supply and will receive more as needed.

Java

I'm bombarding Soerabaja until another division or two arrive.

Tjepoe still has to repair 7 oil and 6 refinery. They have only 8k supply, but more is enroute.

Burma

A dozen Lilys went after Mandalay's airfield in another night raid, but basically bombed the jungle.

China

Pucheng was attacked but not successfully. Losses on both sides were pretty low. The attack was just over 1:1 with 1 fort. I'll need more strength to take the base.

Loyang was liberated, killing an enemy Corps and HQ. Unfortunately, the infrastructure was destroyed:

Manpower: 1(1)
Resources: 0(20)
LI: 0(20)

Still, that's 20 less supply a turn for the Chinese.

In the south, I killed a couple of beat up units near Kweilin. 23 Army will now march to kweilin to cut the rail line.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[Mike Solli]

No big deal, Pax. It's always interesting to find out little details about you guys.

Thanks for your patience.

Your input is always welcome here. Once you defined RW and FW, it actually made some sense.

[Mike Solli]

2 Mar 42

Sub War

The I-2 took some minor damage off Pearl Harbor (10-3-0-0) and is very low on torpedoes, so she's headed back to Kwajalein for repairs.

I-15 put a torpedo into an xAK off the US west coast. No report of her sinking.

5 Fleet

The first attack on Dutch Harbor was against DD Hatfield by 15 Vals. She ate 4x 250kg bombs. Yay! No report of her sinking but I'm sure she's hurting.

Here's the afternoon attack at Dutch Harbor:

Afternoon Air attack on Dutch Harbor , at 171,50

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 117 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 49 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 28
B5N2 Kate x 83
D3A1 Val x 60

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
YO-53, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DD Craven, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Porter, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Trout, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
TK T W Drennen, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Ellet, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Thresher, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
DD Gridley, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Maury, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD McCall, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
ARD-1, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AS Fulton, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires

Port hits 11
Port fuel hits 3

I heard some sinking sounds afterward, but I'm hitting Dutch Harbor again tomorrow to put down as many of these ships as possible.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

The sweep of Pt. Moresby found no enemy fighters there. I think Ted finally withdrew them. There are Banshees there and a squadron of B-17Es somewhere on the Australian coast that are both being a nuisance. My Zeros do nothing against the B-17s other than take damage. The Banshees, on the other hand, are still a valid target. With the withdrawal of the enemy fighters at Pt. Moresby, I have air supremacy there and can use my bombers against the port and airfield, along with any TFs they decide are worthy of their attention. My issue is a lack of AS in the region. I keep sending more, but can't bring all of my air power to bear there. I have elements of 23 Air Flotilla there and will eventually bring 5 Air Division there. Eventually...

The afternoon attack on Pt. Moresby's airfield by 18 Betties pounded the place. It included 11 air supply hits too! That should take a bit out of the supply there.

SRA

Malaya

Singapore - 1371(+39) - 780(+1)

Philippines

Bataan - 925(+3) - 681(0)

Borneo

Nothing to report.

Sumatra

I am beginning to bomb the troops at Medan, the only base still held by the Allies. Intel says there are 8 units totaling 8300 troops.

Java

Nothing new.

Burma

I bombarded Mandalay to see what's there:

Mandalay.png (2 MiB) Viewed 232 times

I suspected there were Chinese there. I have more units headed to join 15 Army including armor, engineers and artillery that will eventually become 1 and 2 Tank Divisions and more infantry too.

China

Nothing exciting.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[Tanaka]

You don't like the Hatfield specifically? Is your last name McCoy?

[Mike Solli]

You don't like the Hatfield specifically? Is your last name McCoy?

Uhh, no. I think you probably can figure out my last name. I knew someone by that name who was, let's say, less than polite...

[Tanaka]

You don't like the Hatfield specifically? Is your last name McCoy?

Uhh, no. I think you probably can figure out my last name. I knew someone by that name who was, let's say, less than polite...

Haha joke of course could not resist

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatfield% ... McCoy_feud

[Mike Solli]

You don't like the Hatfield specifically? Is your last name McCoy?

Uhh, no. I think you probably can figure out my last name. I knew someone by that name who was, let's say, less than polite...

Haha joke of course could not resist

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatfield% ... McCoy_feud

Yeah, I know. Just, as my wife tells me, I have little sense of humor. Usually goes over my head.

[Mike Solli]

3 Mar 42

Sub War

The I-15 caught up with the xAK she torpedoed off the US west coast yesterday and attacked her on the surface, putting 2 torpedoes and a shell into her before the cargo ship went down.

5 Fleet

I hit Dutch Harbor one last time before KB moved toward Adak to pound that base. This attack was pretty successful. Two DDs and a sub were sunk and 2 other DDs, the ARD and an AS were heavily damaged. Intel says port damage is 21. Not bad, but I suspect Ted has enough engineers there to repair it in short order. I have a sub hovering around to the east of Dutch Harbor just in case some damaged ships attempt to head to the west coast.

Ted later implied in an email that the ARD went down. I hope so.

There were sinking sounds later, so I figured some of the other ships went down.

The port attack was large: 28 Zeros, 76 Vals, 84 Kates. With that many planes, I figure just about all of the ships in port would have been spotted, but maybe not. At any rate, there were a number of ships that weren't seen after the attack yesterday:

DD Craven
DD Porter
TK T.W. Drennen
DD Maurey

All of these ships were burning fiercely and heavily damaged after yesterday's attack. Maybe they went down yesterday?

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Not much happened here today. There are no enemy fighters at Pt. Moresby. A flight of Betties went after a couple of enemy ships and managed to lose one to flak for their effort.

SRA

Malaya

Singapore - 1417(+46) - 784(+4)

Philippines

Bataan - 982(+7) - 685(+4)

Borneo

Still repairing oil fields.

Sumatra

Ditto.

Java

Still pushing the Dutch south. They're currently in or south of the east-west hex row containing Soerabaja.

Burma

At an impasse here. 15 Army isn't strong enough to take Mandalay yet (I think). I don't want to attack and trash my infantry trying. Ted moved the tiny unit (~800 troops) out of Magwe (where there are 300 oil fields) to the SE onto the rail line. I have 2 AS battalions and an AA regiment moving into Magwe. They'll reach it tomorrow. Once I gain control, I'll pack it full of fighters to hold off the inevitable attack on the oil fields. There are about 30 Blenheim IVs and about 50 AVG fighters available. Should be quite a battle. I'll have 42 Oscar Ics and 8 Tojos in the hex and another 42 Oscar Ics in Chiang Mai on an LRCAP mission over Magwe. It'll be over my territory, so hopefully the pilot losses will be within reason. Should be interesting.

China

Nothing to report.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[Mike Solli]

4 Mar 42

Sub War



5 Fleet

KB launched a huge raid on Adak's port sinking a DD, 3 subs and an ACM, and heavily damaging an AS and ACM. I think KB has outlived its welcome and is heading south to refuel and then head back to Truk. Total losses to KB's planes were:

Zero: 4 planes and 1 pilot
Val: 17 planes and 9 pilots
Kate: 1 plane and 1 pilot

Overall, acceptable losses for the gain.

Intel reports that DDs McCall and Ellet were sunk at Dutch Harbor yesterday. That brings the total sunk in this operation:

DD: 5, plus 6 others heavily damaged and probably sunk
SS: 6
AS: 2
TK: 1
xAK: 1
ACM: 2
xAP: 1 damaged

Finally there is moderate damage to Adak and Dutch Harbor. They'll most likely be repaired in short order.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

The Dutch squadron (3 CL, 6 DD) battered Merauke again. The engineer company is badly disrupted and beat up. The damage to the base is 11/3/17, but there are few operational engineers to repair anything let alone work on the airfield. I guess it is a focus of Ted's and prevents him from doing anything that could be worse to me.

Banshees demolished a small TF attempting to bring troops to Buna. The 3 Zeros attacked them after they trashed the TF, but they did shoot down 8 bombers.

SRA

Malaya

Singapore - 1429(+12) - 783(-1)

Philippines

Bataan - 936(+4) - 687(+2) - Once the garrison unit arrives in Manila, I'll move the 65 Brigade from there back to Bataan and try a deliberate attack.

Borneo

Repairing oil.

Sumatra

Repairing oil.

Java

Waiting for a reinforcement division to move to Soerabaja after it destroyed some Dutch remnants.

Burma

My AS and AA are sitting at Magwe waiting for it to flip. That way I won't have any of the oil fields damaged. Then I'll pack the airfield with fighters. I have 18 elite Zeros from Yamada heading up there. I'll probably fly them to Rangoon to add some additional LRCAP to Magwe.

China

Nothing to report.

Other Stuff

The Ha-45 engine accelerated to 6/43. There are 6 R&D factories repaired (1x 80, 1x40, 4x30) working on this engine. The engine will become operational in mid-August 42. There will be 500 engines in the pool by mid-October 42 to assist with Frank, George and Grace research.

[RangerJoe]

Uhh, no. I think you probably can figure out my last name. I knew someone by that name who was, let's say, less than polite...

Haha joke of course could not resist

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatfield% ... McCoy_feud

Yeah, I know. Just, as my wife tells me, I have little sense of humor. Usually goes over my head.

lt trained his men well.jpg (28.5 KiB) Viewed 152 times

That is because you were an officer, even worse was that you were a logistical officer!

where is the LT.png (550.23 KiB) Viewed 152 times

[Mike Solli]

I was a lieutenant a LONG time ago. Before that I was an NCO, so I actually knew a little bit. Eventually retired as a major, so I survived lieutenancy. I remember when my commander pinned on my oak leaf he asked me which officer ranks were gold. I told him lieutenant and major. He said yes, first company grade and first field grade ranks. They were the training ranks. He also told me that it didn't last as long for major as it did for lieutenant.

[RangerJoe]

I was a lieutenant a LONG time ago. Before that I was an NCO, so I actually knew a little bit. Eventually retired as a major, so I survived lieutenancy. I remember when my commander pinned on my oak leaf he asked me which officer ranks were gold. I told him lieutenant and major. He said yes, first company grade and first field grade ranks. They were the training ranks. He also told me that it didn't last as long for major as it did for lieutenant.

So you defected to the officers?

I also would bet that the NCOs nor the enlisted people could not pull things on you that they could with a regular butterbar. Of course, they may have even given you the map. After all, the easiest way to get lost is to give the butterbar the map . . .

[Mike Solli]

5 Mar 42

Sub War

An enemy sub showed up in the deep water hex just south of Fusan. I'm training some ASW pilots at Fusan, but they're not ready to bomb anything but whales. I did just finish upgrading some SCs (that have Type 95 Mod-2 DCs) at Nagasaki. They were supposed to head to the SRA, but now have a new mission.

5 Fleet

KB is heading SW to refuel then head back to Truk.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

My daily sweep of Pt. Moresby netted 4 P-40Es for no loss. The current status of Pt. Moresby's airfield is 14 damage. I see 7 fighters and 26 bombers there.

SRA

Malaya

Singapore - 1437(+8) - 779(-4)

Philippines

Bataan - 936(+0) - 688(+1)

Borneo

Nothing to report.

Sumatra

Nothing to report.

Java

Nothing to report.

Burma

I'm still at an impasse at Mandalay. Ted has the AVG split between Mandalay and Lashio, with 24 and 27 planes respectively. 15 Army, with its main body at Mandalay, isn't strong enough to attack. The problem with this army is that it has 33 Division (Mandalay) and 55 Division, still broken down into its components. All of them except 144 Regiment are at Mandalay, but it's going to be a good long time before 144 gets there. It's currently waiting for xAPs to show up to pick it up at Samarinda. Anyway, it'll be in its components for a while.

The 3rd division allocated is 30 Division, still in its components. 41 Regiment is the only unit in theater. It is currently 3 hexes SW of Lashio and headed there, along with 2 tank regiments. That force can take Lashio, which intel says has 2 units and 2100 troops. The other 2 infantry regiments are the 74 and 77 Regiments, which will begin landing at Bangkok tomorrow. They're a long way from that front. The engineers, recon and artillery for that division arrive in Keijo (Korea) and don't even arrive for 461 days. So, basically there are just 3 infantry regiments for the next 16 months.

Other forces allocated to 15 Army:

5 Tank Regiment (1 Tank Division): Will reach Pegu tomorrow then move up the rail line to Mandalay to reinforce 15 Army.
5 Independent Engineer Regiment (1 Tank Division): Crawling toward Pegu from Rehaeng and will reinforce 15 Army.
1 Independent FA Regiment (1 Tank Division): Crawling toward Pegu from Rehaeng and will reinforce 15 Army.

The 1 Tank Division will form when its AA, infantry and recon units arrive in Mukden in 110 days. Its other unit on map is 1 Tank Regiment, which is with 41 Regiment currently.

The 2 Tank Division is also partly on map:

6 Tank Regiment: At Rangoon and moving to Mandalay.
7 Tank Regiment: Guarding Djambi until the remnants of that garrison are destroyed. Then they will relocate to Burma.
10 Tank Regiment: Recently reassigned and enroute to Keijo (Korea) for movement to Burma.
AA, Engineer, FA, Infantry and Recon: Will arrive in Mukden in 110 days.

My thought is to move all 4 tank regiments to Mandalay (after Lashio is liberated for 2 of them). Looking at the enemy OB there, I don't see any AT units and I doubt the Chinese or Indian troops have any AT guns. The only British combat unit there is the 1 Gloucestershire Battalion, at reduced strength with an AV of 15. If there are any AT guns in this motley crew, there aren't many. The 4 tank regiments include 48 light and 127 medium tanks. I think that, along with the infantry, may be able to do some work. If there aren't AT guns, the tank regiments alone may be able to wear down the enemy infantry. I have really good success using that tactic.

Magwe flipped today, with its infrastructure intact:

Oil: 300(0)
Refinery: 100(0) - This will remain off. I want the oil to flow south without any spoilage. The fuel produced would undergo spoilage as it moved.

Magwe's oil will never be repaired. Every drop of oil I squeeze from that place is a plus!

I'm anticipating the 30 or so Blenheim IVs to begin attacking the oil tomorrow. I have 2 AS battalions (48 AS) and a AAA regiment (18x 8.8 cm AA guns, 8x AA MGs, 12 searchlights, 2 sound detectors). I just realized the sound detectors can upgrade to radar now. Noted that to do it next turn. I have stationed there 42 Oscar Ics and 8 Tojos. The Oscars will patrol at 13k ft and the Tojos at 18k ft. In addition, I have stationed the elite Yamada Det at Rangoon on LRCAP over Magwe at 18k ft. They have 18 Zeros and 25 pilots and have 47 kills to date with only 1 WIA (op loss) who has long since returned to duty. I'm expecting good things from them! Yamada Det disbands on 7 Apr 42. They will then go to TRACOM, carrier (or reserve) or land-based units depending on their stats.

China

Herding cats.

Other Stuff

Reinforcement
42 JNAF AF Unit - Southern Army - Headed to Truk. There is a serious shortage of AS at Truk.

[Mike Solli]

6 Mar 42

Sub War

The I-15 caught an ACM and sank her with gunfire. Saved some torpedoes! Banzai!

The I-173 sank an xAK off Cairns and eluded the escort.

5 Fleet

KB will meet up with the oilers tomorrow for refueling prior to movement back to Truk.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Today's sweep of Pt. Moresby netted 8 of 9 P-40Es with no loss to the Zeros. Intel reports 2 fighters, 25 bombers and 8 auxiliary aircraft at Pt. Moresby. More sweeping tomorrow...

Another flight of 4 P-40Es over Kokoda were met by the Japanese buzzsaw. Two more enemy planes shot down. After that, a flight of 10 B-17Es bombed my troops there. Fortunately, the Zeros didn't fly after them. They can't shoot down the B-17s and end up with a bunch of damaged planes. The bombers caused a single disablement. I can live with that. Later, 5 more B-17Es bombed the troops at Kokoda again, causing 2 more disablements.

SRA

Darwin's port just reached level 4 and the airfield is already at level 4. I need to let Ted know he can't build that base with impunity. I just sent 2 TFs from CRB to visit. They'll arrive within bombardment distance (6 hexes) in about 5 days. They will bombard on consecutive nights. The first is composed of 6 BB with a 4 DD escort and the second has 4 CA with a 4 DD escort. I like to bombard on consecutive nights because that causes maximum damage to the planes there. A bunch are damaged the first night and destroyed the second night. The only possible issue is running into a TF sitting in the hex. Then there are also mines. I minimize that by not having the escorts bombard. The BBs and CAs can bombard from farther out. Should be interesting...

Malaya

Singapore - 1451(+14) - 772(-7) - There has been no AAA from Singapore for quite a while now. Does the HI and LI produce supply with enemy troops in the hex? Can't remember. If they do, it's 140 supply a day. I suspect the troops eat a fair amount of that.

Philippines

Bataan - 944(+8) - 691(+3) - Bataan stopped shooting AAA a couple of days ago. They have no supply source so that's my signal to attack soon. I'm still bombing and bombarding. 65 Brigade is marching from Manila to Bataan to reinforce the attackers now that Manila got its garrison unit. Both infantry divisions at Bataan are at full strength and rested. I'll attack when 65 Brigade reaches Bataan.

Borneo

Samarinda still need to repair 10 oil and has 16k supply in the hex. Just a little more and they'll be at full strength.

Miri has 141 oil to repair and is repairing 1 a day. They have 18k supplies in the hex with more convoys headed there periodically. Saigon and CRB are down to ~15-20k supply each so they aren't providing any more supply to Miri or Palembang. Now the supply is coming from Samah and Takao, who have ~120k supply between them.

Sumatra

Palembang needs to repair 87 oil with 32k supply in the hex. They get periodic supply TFs as needed.

Java

Tjepoe need to repair 6 oil and 5 refineries. They're getting periodic supply runs to finish it off. They have only 8800 supply there so repairs are sporadic right now.

16 Army is waiting for 4 Division to arrive at Soerabaja before attacking that base. 4 Division is 2 hexes away and still unloading from the train. It'll be a few days...

Burma

The Blenheim IVs came after my troops in Mandalay, not the oil at Magwe. That was unexpected. They were also unescorted. That was really unexpected. Another unexpected event was that the Yamada Detachment (18 Zeros with really good pilots) were set to LRCAP Magwe, but they went after the bombers 2 hexes farther. Interesting. Anyway, there were 2 separate attacks, one of 22 and the other of 7 Blenheim IVs. (A squadron and a flight?) This has been normal. Occasionally, they'd fly together but usually they flew separately. Anyway, between the 2 attacks, 10 bombers were shot down for no Japanese loss. There was little damage done to the ground troops.

Ok, 3k oil!

China

The single Chinese Corps in the hex just east of Lang Son was pushed out today, chewing it up badly for just a few Japanese disablements. This will be part of the overland oil/resource line to Japan.

Other Stuff

Reinforcement
CVE Unyo - She'll eventually carry some Vals and escort valuable TF hauling stuff. I accelerated her. In retrospect, I shouldn't have bothered.

Right now, I'm using every TK in my inventory to haul fuel and oil back to CRB and Babeldaob. I'm keeping up, mostly. It's not very efficient though. Can't wait to get more of the 8150 TKs and get my convoys going.

[RangerJoe]

When enemy units are in the hex:

HI, LI, and refineries produce. Factories should produce as well. Resources and oil do not produce.

[Mike Solli]

When enemy units are in the hex:

HI, LI, and refineries produce. Factories should produce as well. Resources and oil do not produce.

Very good. Thank you! I suspect there are a lot of resources in Singapore so the HI and LI will probably produce for a while.

[RangerJoe]

When enemy units are in the hex:

HI, LI, and refineries produce. Factories should produce as well. Resources and oil do not produce.

Very good. Thank you! I suspect there are a lot of resources in Singapore so the HI and LI will probably produce for a while.

You are most welcome!

[PaxMondo]

Philippines

Bataan - 944(+8) - 691(+3) - Bataan stopped shooting AAA a couple of days ago. They have no supply source so that's my signal to attack soon. ...

That's the same signal I use ... so I guess I do a few things right ...

[Mike Solli]

7 Mar 42

Sub War

The I-173 put a torpedo into DD Ralph Talbot off Cooktown and ate a depth charge in return. I heard sinking sounds immediately after. My sub took enough damage to head for the barn, but the US is down one more DD.

Oh yeah, I heard sinking sounds first thing this turn and it wasn't mine.

5 Fleet

KB refueled and is headed back to Truk. They should arrive in about 5 days.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

I sent an AS battalion to Gasmata to allow more fighters to be stationed there, but some Banshees snuck under the Zero CAP and put a couple bombs into the xAP. She'll probably sink tomorrow, but just about all of the battalion (including all the AS) landed.

Some B-17Es hit my troops at Kokoda but were first met by 26 Zeros. One on each side was shot down and another Zero crashed on landing (2 KIA). No damage to my troops. I really hate those B-17s. They're really hard to bring down and my fighters take a lot of damage. That daitai started with 30 planes. Three losses from all causes, and 17 damaged planes. Only 10 ready to go. This daitai will rest tomorrow and another one will sweep Pt. Moresby. I see 15 fighters and 14 bombers there.

SRA

Troops landed at Kendari. I have an AS battalion a couple of days out. Ted countered it with 3 air attacks, two with 2 Do-24s and one with 2 139WH-3s. All missed. Wish I had MKB in the area. I did see an AVP at Ambon and sent a little surface group at Kendari over to investigate. I suspect the bombers are located there.

Malaya

Singapore - 1469(+18) - 758(-14)

Philippines

Bataan - 944(0) - 686(-5) - I'll attack when 65 Brigade arrives. They're 33 miles out.

Borneo

Still repairing oil fields and hauling oil and fuel.

Sumatra

Palembang got its airfield to level 5. With the level 4 port, there now is no max for fuel.

Java

4 Division is 92 miles from Soerabaja. I'll attack when they arrive.

Burma

The air war began in earnest today, over Magwe. This was expected. I had 42 Oscar Ics and 8 Tojos in the hex and 18 Zeros stationed at Rangoon flying LRCAP over Magwe. Ted had a LOT more fighters in the AO than I anticipated. Here's what happened in order:

First enemy sweep was 17 H81-A4s vs. 3 Zeros, 6 Tojos and 42 Oscars. Losses were one one of each of mine vs. 7 H81-A3s. Not a bad start.

Sweep 2: 24 H81-A3s, vs. 2 Zeros, 4 Tojos and 38 Oscars. Losses were 1 Zero vs. 7 H81-A3s.

Sweep 3: The RAF rears its ugly head! 15 Hurricane IIb vs. 1 Zero, 4 Tojos and 27 Oscars. Losses were 1 Tojo and 4 Oscars vs. 1 Hurricane. The RAF did well, but my pilots were getting tired and low on ammo.

Sweep 4: 15 Hurricane IIb vs. 3 Tojos and 21 Oscars. Losses were 8 Oscars and 1 Hurricane.

Sweep 5: 15 Hurricane IIb vs. 3 Tojos and 10 Oscars. Losses were a Tojo and 2 Oscars

Sweep 6: 15 Hurricane IIb with none of my fighters left.

Overall, losses were:

Zero: 3 (one apparently shot down on the way home), (3 KIA, 1 WIA)
Tojo: 3 (no pilots lost)
Oscar: 15 (4 KIA, 6 WIA)

H81-A3: 14, 4 op losses, 4 more shot down on the way home?
Hurricane IIb: 2, 1 op loss, 1 more shot down on the way home?

Not really sure of the total enemy losses, but all of the combat took place over my territory. I'm sure their pilot losses were more severe than mine.

What was really surprising was that he sent in no bombers. I suspect he wanted to whittle down my fighters first. What Ted probably doesn't realize is that I have reserves. I pulled out the chewed up Oscar sentai and replaced it with a fresh Oscar sentai. I kept the 5 remaining Tojos and moved Yamada Det into the base (11 undamaged planes).

11 Sentai, which was pulled out is resting at Chiang Mai and took replacement aircraft. It currently has 36 aircraft and 38 pilots (of 42). I also have an additional Oscar sentai and 2 chutai to throw into the mix later.

Intel tells me there are 10 H81-A3s at Mandalay and 2 at Lashio. I suspect there are a lot of damaged planes at those bases. If those numbers are accurate, there are at least a dozen damaged. No idea how many reserves he has.

I also see that there are 38 Hurricane IIb at Imphal (of 60). Finally, I see 21 bombers (Blenheim IV) at Imphal too.

Tomorrow should be interesting. I'll fight his fighters over my bases. I think I have the reserves to outlast him too.

China

Herding cats.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[Mike Solli]

Philippines

Bataan - 944(+8) - 691(+3) - Bataan stopped shooting AAA a couple of days ago. They have no supply source so that's my signal to attack soon. ...

That's the same signal I use ... so I guess I do a few things right ...

Or we both do it wrong.

If you put your AA units in move mode will they still shoot? Maybe Strat mode to not shoot. I'd keep shooting to kill pilots. My flak losses have all but vanished since both have stopped shooting flak.