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

[Mike Solli]

Turned out there were 14 written off and 1 op loss with the pilot KIA:

Ki-48-Ib Lily from 3rd Sentai is written off
Ki-48-Ib Lily from 3rd Sentai is written off
Ki-48-Ib Lily from 3rd Sentai is written off
Ki-48-Ib Lily from 3rd Sentai is written off
Ki-48-Ib Lily from 3rd Sentai is written off
Ki-48-Ib Lily from 3rd Sentai is written off
Ki-48-Ib Lily from 3rd Sentai is written off
Ki-48-Ib Lily from 3rd Sentai is written off
Ki-48-Ib Lily from 3rd Sentai is written off
Ki-48-Ib Lily from 3rd Sentai is written off
Ki-48-Ib Lily from 3rd Sentai is written off
Ki-48-Ib Lily from 3rd Sentai is written off
Damaged Ki-48-Ib Lily from 3rd Sentai is missing, pilot reported killed
Ki-48-Ib Lily from 3rd Sentai is written off
Ki-48-Ib Lily from 3rd Sentai is written off

No other pilots were lost.

The weather was partly cloudy.

[Mike Solli]

Additional info. The airfield was level 2, with 173 AS supporting a total of 62 engines. They were training ASW at 100%. Their avg fatigue was 12 with morale 97.

[Mike Solli]

I think I figured it out. They were actually on an ASW mission, not training, but that wasn't it.

Previously, they were alone at a level 7 airfield training ASW, but there was only 24 AS and 54 was needed. Look at their damage (this was from a few days before):

Plane Damage.jpg (196.88 KiB) Viewed 191 times

It was the same before they were written off. That AS change is nothing to ignore!

[Mike Solli]

And here is what it looked like immediately after it happened. I added 12 aircraft plus 4 reserve aircraft:

After Replacements.jpg (191.84 KiB) Viewed 187 times

So, with sufficient AS, the planes were being repaired, but for 14 of them, it was too little too late. Also, the one op loss was probably due to the damage to the plane.

[Mike Solli]

Moral to the story: AS is critical! I am pushing the number of planes vs. the AS in a number of locations in the front lines. Airfield level 8 is critical. I have increased the airfield to level 8 in a number of places, because it doubles the raw AW there. One critical location is at Rabaul, which is helping immensely. Chiang Mai (level 7), my main air base in Burma is working toward that goal, as is Toungoo, which is only level 4. Toungoo will be my main bomber base. Singapore is level 8 as well as a number of bases in the Home Islands.

[zebrazwo]

How can you have "ready" planes with such high damage (90+ damage ready? )

[RangerJoe]

How can you have "ready" planes with such high damage (90+ damage ready? )

Spit, bailing wire, and duck tape.

[Mike McCreery]

How can you have "ready" planes with such high damage (90+ damage ready? )

Speed tape...

[zebrazwo]

I agree, although I was thinking more like bubble gum and glue and bandages.

[RangerJoe]

How can you have "ready" planes with such high damage (90+ damage ready? )

Speed tape...

If you are referring to "100 mile an hour tape" that is duct tape.

[Mike Solli]

19 Jul 42

Sub War

The I-3 had a nice day today. She found a TK TF just south of Efate and sank two Sun Type-H class tankers that were loaded with fuel. If they had escorts, I never saw them.

The I-8 took a depth charge off Noumea causing moderate damage: 20-35(16)-6(4)-0. She's headed home for repairs.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

My fighters rested today.

The enemy bombers focused on Milne Bay today. Wonder where he's going?

SRA

The night bombing of Darwin caused a nice amount of airfield damage and destroyed a transport on the ground as a bonus.

Burma

Eight P-40Es swept Akyab and met 31 Oscars. The Oscars were cruising at 15k feet and the Warhawks dove on them shooting down 7 Oscars for only 2 P-40s shot down. Fortunately, only 1 pilot was KIA.

China

Nothing to report.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[Mike Solli]

20 Jul 42

Sub War

The I-8 took 2 DCs today off Noumea. She had taken one yesterday and took these on her way home. The damage I posted yesterday is actually her damage from today. Unless she takes more damage, I expect her to make it home. I did see something I don't think I ever saw before. She was depth charged by two different DDs in the same attack. I don't recall ever seeing more than 1 ship dropping depth charges in a single attack.

The I-155 torpedoes and sank an xAK off Unmak.

The British sub Truant put a torpedo into an xAK at Akyab in the morning while dropping off 2 Army HQ. In the afternoon, Truant put another torpedo into her putting her down. Fortunately, most of the unit had already been offloaded.

The I-28 took a DC near Dutch Harbor. Her damage is 13-35(22)-3-0. She's headed for home.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Milne Bay was attacked by 60x 4E sorties and 43x 2E sorties along with fighter escort. I rested my fighters again today.

SRA

The night bombing of Darwin caused light airfield damage and destroyed a Hudson bomber and damaged 4 more aircraft.

Burma

A British carrier appeared and launched an attack on my shipping at Akyab. She was 6 hexes NW of Akyab and sent 12 Swordfish escorted by 8 Martlets. Sixteen Tojos dove into them shooting down 2 fighters and 5 TBs. They caused no damage. Unfortunately, I had no subs in the area and they were out of range of my Nells at Pt. Blair.

In the afternoon, 6 Swordfish escorted by 8 Martlets came back. The Tojos couldn't hold them off and they torpedoed an xAK badly damaging her. Fortunately, she had already offloaded her troops.

China

The daily bombing of Chungking's airfield caused a nice amount of damage today. I see 28 airfield damage not repaired.

13 Army attacked Kweiyang. The attack was 3:1 with level 3 forts, which were reduced to level 2. A fair number of enemy troops were killed and more disabled. I took a lot of disablements. I'll let them rest a bit and attack again.

Other Stuff

The Ki-44-IIb R&D advanced to 1/43 and is expected to become operational in 9/42.

[Mike Solli]

21 Jul 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

BB Warspite and CLAA San Juan bombarded Baker Island again. Again, damage was light and will be easily repaired. A midget sub is enroute and will arrive in 3 days.

SE Fleet

A total of 56 enemy 4E bomber sorties and 45x 2E sorties hit Milne Bay again.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Ted had his first successful surface action today. I had sent a small TF of Sendai and 4 Kagero class DDs to Akyab to protect shipping there from the small craft Ted would throw at me there. Today, it was different. He sent BB Royal Sovereign, CA Devonshire, CL Hobart and 4 DD. I was lucky losing only Sendai and two DDs. The two survivors were damaged, 1 lightly and 1 moderately. Both are headed back to Singapore for repairs. I'm going to sneak in some mines because I know he'll return. I've diverted all convoys headed there (16 Division and non-tank units of 2 Tank Division) to Rangoon. It'll take longer for them to reach their destination but it's much safer.

By the way, these are the first warships I've lost since I lost a DD and TB on 12 Dec 41.

I just sent the 25 Jul turn to Ted and have decided to do a couple of things. First, I'm going to dump a large load of mines in Akyab. I'm thinking 4-500. I'm also going to send a couple of small PBs (probably Kiso) into Chittagong harbor to see if there are any mines there. (I won't tell the commanders that's the mission.) If it checks out, I'll send in the 7 BBs I have at Singapore to let them know what a real mission like that looks like. I also may station some Nells in Burma for naval attack missions. They may get lucky.

A dozen Hurricanes swept Akyab and met 33 fighters (Oscars and Tojos). At a cost of 4 aircraft (1 KIA, 2 WIA) they shot down 2 Hurricanes.

China

Chungking's airfield attack caused some additional airfield damage and also hit the airfield supply. Yay!

Other Stuff

Reinforcement
1 Artillery Mortar Battalion, 24x 32 cm mortars!, Southern Army, not sure where I'm sending it yet.

[RangerJoe]

If you have a real minesweeper at a port with PBs, you can put the PBs into a minesweeping task force without any actual minesweepers. They sweep very slowly but they will clear mines, if you own the port them the PBs will usually disband into the port after they clear a mine with their hull.

[Mike Solli]

If you have a real minesweeper at a port with PBs, you can put the PBs into a minesweeping task force without any actual minesweepers. They sweep very slowly but they will clear mines, if you own the port them the PBs will usually disband into the port after they clear a mine with their hull.

That's a good idea. I'll put a Kiso PB into a minesweeping TF then send it to Chittagong. I'm not sure it'll last long enough to see if there are any mines there though.

[RangerJoe]

If you have a real minesweeper at a port with PBs, you can put the PBs into a minesweeping task force without any actual minesweepers. They sweep very slowly but they will clear mines, if you own the port them the PBs will usually disband into the port after they clear a mine with their hull.

That's a good idea. I'll put a Kiso PB into a minesweeping TF then send it to Chittagong. I'm not sure it'll last long enough to see if there are any mines there though.

The Ansyu-C PBs are what I use. The can usually survive a mine.

[Mike Solli]

22 Jul 42

Sub War

The RO-68 was taken out by Allied ASW near Townsville. Too bad.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

I set up a trap at Salamaua which worked, but at high cost. Eight Zeros and 14 Nicks caught a flight of 17x 2E bombers unescorted. They shot down 3 bombers but lost a Nick (KIA). Then, 4 Zeros crashed on the way home or landing (2 KIA, 2 WIA). Boy did that suck.

SRA

Darwin's night raid did light damage to the airfield and killed a Vildebeest on the ground.

Burma

Over Akyab, 6 Hurricanes ran into 20 Oscars and 25 Tojos. They lost 4 vs. one of each of mine along with one crashing on the way home (2 KIA, 1 WIA). You'd think that 7:1 odds in your favor would mean something.

China

Way up north at Hami (south of Urumchi) there are 2 Chinese brigades and 2 BFs. They should have little to no supply. I have only 2 cavalry brigades and a tank regiment. In addition, they're being bombed by 2 Sally sentai. I attacked getting only 1:1 odds but chewing them up. I'll eventually destroy them. When that happens, I'll own everything north on Lanchow.

Other Stuff

Reinforcements
xAP Team Maru
TK Takane Maru, Type-1 TM, 8150 capacity, headed to Palembang

Forgot to mention that Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku have completed their upgrades. Only Shokaku and Zuikaku have radar. All 4 will head back to Truk shortly. Akagi and Kaga are upgrading and will be done in 20 days.

[Mike Solli]

23 Jul 42

Sub War

Nothing to report.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

Been waiting for this to happen. An Allied AP dropped off the 18 Aussie Brigade at Milne Bay. They'll find a wrecked base once they take it. I never got around to building forts, unfortunately. The defenders are Maizuru 1 SNLF and 83 Naval Guard, each at about 2/3 effective strength. That was after 52x 4E and 37x 2E bomber sorties hit them over a number of raids.

Later in the day, 19 P-40Es swept Gasmata meeting 9 Zeros. Finally, they did well shooting down 4 Warhawks for no loss.

Then came the surface bombardment. Three British BBs, BC Repulse and 5 CAs bombarded Milne Bay really trashing the base but missing the troops for the most part.

I anticipate the fall of Milne Bay tomorrow.

SRA

Today's night raid on Darwin caused light damage to the airfield and damaged 10 planes.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

The Helen raid of Chungking's airfield did a nice amount of damage today.

Other Stuff

Nothing to report.

[Mike Solli]

24 Jul 42

Sub War

The following battle I witnessed was a new one for me. The RO-33, patrolling south of Dutch Harbor, was spotted by KV Chilliwack and proceeded to be depth charged, hit twice and forced to the surface. I figured she was done for but continued watching. After she was forced to surface, she duked it out with the KV, each landing a shell hit on the other. Then, she spotted and put a torpedo into a fully loaded TK leaving her burning fiercely before slipping below the waves. Immediately after that event, I heard sinking sounds. I figured it was the TK. Fuel laden burning tankers don't last long.

After the turn ran, to my surprise, RO-33 is still with us but heavily damaged: 21-75(57)-2(2)-0. She's on her way to Etorofu. Assuming she survives the trek, she'll reach port in about a month and a half. She'll have to traverse lots of dangerous waters to get there too. Keeping fingers crossed.

5 Fleet

Nothing to report.

4 Fleet

Nothing to report.

SE Fleet

The British BB squadron remained at Milne Bay and bombarded again. Being low on ammo, they did little except a bit more damage to the base. I contemplated moving a sub there but I figured they'd be gone today. Too bad. I did move a couple of subs just south of Milne Bay. Maybe they'll get a shot.

About a billion bombers hit my troops at Milne Bay in preparation for the inevitable assault.

All that happened over the past few days to the poor garrison pretty much guaranteed that the assault would be successful, and it was, at 3:1. I surprisingly didn't lose much, and the troops remained in the hex. I decided to pull out slices of each unit to rebuild at Rabaul using some flying boats.

SRA

Nothing to report.

Burma

Nothing to report.

China

Nothing to report.

Other Stuff

Reinforcement
TK Kyoie Maru, Type-1 TM, 8150 capacity, headed to Palembang

Today, my first Kamikaze pilot graduated! I train them up to 40-43 experience and 60+ low naval. Currently, I have 2 IJAAF bomber sentai training them, but that will grow with time.

[PaxMondo]

22 Jul 42
Forgot to mention that Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku have completed their upgrades. Only Shokaku and Zuikaku have radar. All 4 will head back to Truk shortly. Akagi and Kaga are upgrading and will be done in 20 days.

Ah, finally you can re-size those air groups!!!!