PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[madflava13]

To quote Airplane 2: "Good luck, we're all counting on you..."

[PzB74]

A powerful effort is about to be made Madflava, and I do feel confident! Got so many good units ready to deliver a final blow that victory is almost within sight! [:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/13/42

Surface Combat

Sub/ASW Attacks

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Sub attack at 16,15

Japanese Ships - my blocade claims a victim just south of Bombay
SS I-4

Allied Ships
AK Santa Teresa, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
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Air Combat

Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft - a perfect strike!
A6M2 Zero x 55
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 21
Ki-21 Sally x 83

Allied aircraft - meets a heavy CAP
Hurricane II x 26
Kittyhawk I x 28
P-40E Warhawk x 15

Japanese aircraft losses - losses are high, but the bombers get through!
A6M2 Zero: 21 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 36 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 5 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses - the Allied fighters suffers heavily while the air fields are hit hard! [8D]
Hurricane II: 57 destroyed, 7 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 42 destroyed, 3 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 17 destroyed, 4 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 9 destroyed, 2 damaged
Blenheim IF: 6 destroyed, 6 damaged
Blenheim IV: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied ground losses:
132 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 67

Aircraft Attacking:
All Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
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Day Air attack on 6th NLF , at 67,97

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
SBD Dauntless x 13

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on 93rd Chinese Division, at 30,34 - this Chink div moved in to 'cut of Rangoon' when I moved my armies back into the city. I will use it as practice target.

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 24
G4M1 Betty x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x G3M Nell bombing at 6000 feet
11 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet
9 x G3M Nell bombing at 6000 feet
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Day Air attack on 63rd Chinese Corps, at 46,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 13
Ki-48 Lily x 24
Ki-49 Helen x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
14 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
12 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
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Ground Combat

Ground combat at Calcutta

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 93386 troops, 550 guns, 732 vehicles

Defending force 56030 troops, 260 guns, 477 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 6) - the forts stay up

Japanese ground losses:
746 casualties reported - casualties were less severe today!
Guns lost 13
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
1162 casualties reported - the enemy is also taking a beating
Guns lost 26
Vehicles lost 16
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Situation Report

India

All of my ac in Chandpur and Dacca takes of to punish Calcutta - and were met by a really heavy CAP!
My escort is evenly matched, but my Oscars suffers heavily under the guns of the Warhawks - but the Zeros hit
back and inflicts awful casualties on both Hurricans and Kittyhawks.

18 Oscars and 13 Zeros are lost while around 56 Allied fighters were destroyed - another 20 ac were also destroyed on the ground.

I think this will be remembered as RAF's zenith defensive effort above Calcutta - hopefully I will be able to bomb at will from now on. Wobbly knows that I will destroy him if he keeps his air force here.

Didn't manage to reduce the forts again, but no more will be built as long as the base took a heavy ponding today.
It will be possible to sustain this effort - both in the air and on the ground. While Al is flogging a dead horse in an attempt to keep me at bay, I'm fending him off and continuing my advance with one hand on my back. 50% of my resources are kept in reserve or in the South Pacific to guard against the US onslaught which is bound to happen sooner or later.

A small landing force departed for Mannargudi, I want to occupy as many bases as possible and capture fuel and supplies.
Trivandrum is next on my list and Bangalore will soon be assaulted. (See situation map - also notice the funny route taken by my troops to get from Madras to Bangalore)

Today the KB and 2 battlefleets left Trimcomalee and will initiate Phase III of Operation Hangover: This time it's serious - decisive blows will be delivered to both Bombay and Karachi!! A wast air armada has been gathered at Ceylon and Madras.
Already there are 75000 troops in Madras/Bangalore and another 125000 will land in a few days. If Al thinks my main effort is directed againat Calcutta he's in for a really nasty surprise!

The Imperial shock troops will soon shatter the enemy and claim a new Empire for the Emperor!

South Pacific

Troops are landing at Kavieng and Eniwetok - base forces are heading towards Wewak. a size 4 af is almost ready
and will provide another main base from which my naval bombers can operate. More base units will be sent to the Admirality island.

(See situation map)

Situation Map: Hangover Phase III

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/14/42

Surface Combat

Invasions

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TF 88 troops unloading over beach at Mannargudi, 16,23

Japanese ground losses:
98 casualties reported
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ship that was bombed of Sumatra as well as the one that was torpedoed
of the Indian coast yesterday were both reported sunk today!

Air Combat
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Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft - weather is again favorable and Calcutta is hit again!
A6M2 Zero x 45
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 7
Ki-21 Sally x 84

Allied aircraft - no CAP?
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 15 destroyed, 8 damaged
Blenheim IF: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 24
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 79

Aircraft Attacking:
All Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 66th Chinese Corps, at 46,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 12
Ki-48 Lily x 17
Ki-49 Helen x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
10 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
12 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
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Ground Combat

Ground combat at Calcutta

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 101215 troops, 615 guns, 796 vehicles

Defending force 55922 troops, 255 guns, 467 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 6) - the forts stays up..

Japanese ground losses:
1303 casualties reported
Guns lost 21

Allied ground losses:
914 casualties reported
Guns lost 15
Vehicles lost 8
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Ground combat at Bangalore

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20086 troops, 210 guns, 6 vehicles

Defending force 13295 troops, 184 guns, 9 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
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Situation Report

India

My air force in India has finally started to bomb with some regularity and I'm now preventing new forts from growing.
Still hard work to reduce the ones already there though - seems like I have to attack with all of my troops to make an impact!
2 Engineer regiments will be brought in from China, but this will take some time. In the meantime additional arty and a reserve
regiment are loading at Singapore.

Spotted 99 bombers and 30 fighters at Diamond Harbour today - this is not good news. I have to continue bombing Calcutta, so
I don't really have anything to hit Diamond with as my fleet is heading towards Karachi! Ordered the 70 mediums at Madras
to hit the place instead..the Zeros will be within extreme range.

Wobbly wasn't happy about the results of yesterdays air combat - felt that his fighters should have hit my bombers.
The 20 or so that survived the mas..battle did intercept and shot down one Sally while damaging another 2. Guess my Zeros
broke up their formations and prevented them from mounting effective attacks.

Almost feeling a bit sorry for Al, he's been taking a lot of heat lately - but that thought quickly evaporates by thinking of how
Hellcats and B29's will make life miserable for me if a K.O. blow can't be delivered over the next few months!

Again my troops at Madras headed straight west when ordered to march to Bangalore (due north along the railroad line).
Really annoying, ordered them to turn around and march to the area just north of Madras in an attempt to force them to follow
the railroad.

South Pacific

Base forces are now heading towards Wewak and Hollandia in New Guinea and towards the Admirality islands north of New Britain.
Minelayers continue their deadly work and a full regiment has arrived at Truk from China together with the battleship
Hiei (14 sys damage) and some escorts. Another 4 ca's, 1 cl and 10 dd's should arrive within a week.

Not sure whether I want to move the Junyo, Zuiho a cve + 2 bb's to Truk - the 2 light carriers both got 24 sys damage - repair is
so slow. Really would like a reaction force centered on a few carriers in the South!

What do the rest of you think - wait for repair and reinforcements or move all I got to the front immediately?
I can muster ca 120 ac on my available carriers in Japan/Shanghai, and in only a few days the Yamato will be available.

[Gen.Hoepner]

I say go and put everything you have. If you do not loose any position in South Pac area and you win in India by the end of the year you are the winner, so commit every ship you have which is not involved in India theatre to South Pac and Hold every single position

[Honda]

Although every course of action has its perks and flaws I'd opt for keeping them in reserve. This is how I see the scenario playing out.
1. Allies hit with what they got
2. Japs go with the flow - do as much damage as you can defesively without depleting your offesive strenght
3. Allies take their objectives
4. Japs mount a couterattack that would destroy the invading forces thereby effctively ending the war (in you case, that is)

How I would play it out: garrison only THE most important locations with troops in numbers. Wobbly chooses when and where the combat will occure so minimize your losses by not granting him a large prize. Shortly, think defensively (mines, landbased naval aviation...). Wait as his operation plays out and hit it at its most vunerable - towards the end. For that you need to conserve all the CV/CVL you got waiting and get KB up and running as soon as Hangover doesn't depend on their presence. Gather an invasion force consisting of units you preped as soon as his main objective becomes obvious. And then go for the grand prize. My two cents...
Unlike the Japanese, you may yet EARN the decisive battle. Good hunting.

[PzB74]

Thx for the advice Hoepner and Honda! It's really great to get input as it's not always easy to maintain a clear perspective when you're involved in a lot of different battles.

I will probably wait 16 days before I sortie the Mini KB - by then we will have received another cve and partially repaired the damaged carriers.

I agree with much of your reasoning Honda! It's much better to hit the enemy after he has been weakend by continous operations - especially since I will be the underdog when this happens. What I'm not going to allow is the loss of any major base. Kwajalein got 8 forts now, but there are only 2 at Rabaul - need more engineers. An invasion here would face a fierce reaction from Truk though. Can easily move in a lot of reinforcement by sea and air if needed.

Tarawa is the most likely target though, got 9000 men here and 2 forts and building. The only sad thing is that this base is situated too far away from my main bases. Will be very difficult and costly to counter an invasion here. Just want it to hold out as long as possible.

Gili Gili and Shortlands are also very vulnerable - so I expect visitors anytime really. Subs, naval bombers and mines will be my only defenses this far south. Again I only expect to delay the enemy in this area.

The problem is that I don't know what Wobbly is up to, so the spider has to sit still in the middle of the web and wait! (Truk in this case)


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/15/42

Air Combat

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Day Air attack on Chandpur , at 30,25 - I feared this and today the weather favoured Wobbly. Chandpur was covered in clouds and my bombers at Madras never took of

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 7
Buffalo I x 16
Wellington III x 47
Beaufort I x 12
P-40E Warhawk x 8
B-17E Fortress x 46

Japanese aircraft losses - ca 70 ac were destroyed on the ground [:'(]
A6M2 Zero: 13 destroyed, 8 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 6 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 16 destroyed, 16 damaged
L2D2 Tabby: 23 destroyed, 8 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 33 destroyed, 49 damaged
Ki-57-II Topsy: 6 destroyed, 7 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 2 destroyed
Buffalo I: 1 damaged
Wellington III: 3 damaged
Beaufort I: 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
310 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 61

Aircraft Attacking:
All Fortress and Wellington III bombing at 9000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Lae at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 45? A lot of ac at PM..hmm

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AG AG-116
PG Shinko Maru #1, Shell hits 24
AG AG-121, Shell hits 12, on fire
AG AG-114, Shell hits 4
AG AG-358
AG AG-369
AG AG-361, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-115, Shell hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
All P-39D Airacobra attacking at 100 feet
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Ground Combat

Ground combat at Calcutta

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 126246 troops, 678 guns, 797 vehicles

Defending force 55424 troops, 257 guns, 461 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 6)

Japanese ground losses:
2745 casualties reported - high losses and the forts stays up [:(]
Guns lost 25
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
1227 casualties reported
Guns lost 27
Vehicles lost 9
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Ground combat at Mannargudi

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1048 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Mannargudi base !!!
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Situation Report

India

I have feared this day for some time now, it was just a question of time before Wobblys Wellingtons and Fortresses would manage to hit Chandpur - and when they did they destroyed all my units here. I will have to withdraw them to Rangoon for replacements - fortunately I got a lot of ac in the pools. This will take at least a week, and in the meanwhile the forts will be rebuilt...

A large aviation regiment unloaded at Chandpur today and will march to Dacca - Lily's and Sallys will be moved to both these bases and resume bombing operations as soon as possible. Attacks against Calcutta have actually already been ordered from Dacca.

The energetic Kiwi has also moved a unit onto the railroad east of Calcutta - I got a regiment here that is ordered to attack at once. Kinda strange, one small unit can actually prevent 150000 men from moving that way!? Me thinks Matrix got more work to do here...

The forts again refused to be reduced at Calcutta, need fresh troops as my divisions are all burned out. Perhaps I should march on Asansol and try to clear my flanks - but first we have to reopen the railroad. The situation is a little difficult, but it's self inflicted since I'm directing half of my divisions into Madras. I will consider sending a battle group down the railroad to hit Calcutta from the rear..that will make Al cry [8D]

The fleet is now moving undetected NE and will try to stay out of search plane range until the reach Karachi and then move directly towards Karachi. I'm getting reports of 204!!!! ships in port - this can be fun. I will use my naval bombers soon, but I'd like to coordinate the strikes. All the supplies I unload into Madras simply dissappear, more than 40k thus far and I've never had more than 8k available!?

Didn't find any supplies in Mannargudi either..

China

Quite a few of the Chinese units that were heading towards Sian have now turned around, guess Al finally admitted that it would be a completely futile and suicidal gesture. I can move troops along t he railroad 10 times faster than his bandit peasents can march 200 miles through the wilderness [;)]

Central/South Pacific

Received another 27 A6M3 Zero Daitai today and I now got 90 Zeros in Japan.
I'm a little worried about that Al will hit Rabaul with another 100 heavy bomber raid - perhaps I should move the bombers back to Truk and put more Zeros on CAP? That actually sounds like a good idea...

[2ndACR]

Yep, move those bombers back and stick a bunch of fighters in Rabaul. You will lose some, but hopefully you will kill some of his too.

Tarawa at level 2 fort????!!!!!!! Pzb, you are letting me down. On turn 1 you are supposed to send 3-4 engineer batt down there and a base force to kick start construction of everything. Shame on you.

[PzB74]

Can use Truk and Wewak as bases for my naval bombers and put fighters on the forward bases - they are much more efficient at culling bombers than in UV!

Of course I should have built it, but this is my first WitP game and I never gave Tarawa priority - been busy with a lot of other projects. Trying to compensate by putting 9000 men on the atoll though, but I will consider my sins!-)

You sent me back the wrong WitP turn, so shame on you too! [:'(]

[Gen.Hoepner]

What's the total score at the moment?

[RAM]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Of course I should have built it, but this is my first WitP game and I never gave Tarawa priority - been busy with a lot of other projects. Trying to compensate by putting 9000 men on the atoll though, but I will consider my sins!-)

Tarawa is an atoll. If your forces are overrun by the attackers, you lose all of them...something to keep in mind.



As I see it (I've only read this thread for a long time and I have no idea of where wobbly will attack so take what I say with a grain of salt), there are several places to be concerned with.

1-Gilberts and/or Marshalls: lots of good places to build bases at, and a real menace to Truk if occupied. However in the big strategic picture losing any of those bases is not crippling: Truk is invulnerable at this stage of the war and those islands can't be used for anything aside of being a springboard to attack Truk or the Marianas: is too early in the war for the american to do that.


2-Rabaul-via-Shortlands: This is the road I would take if I was the allied player. Lunga is american, and Wobbly can hit Shortlands from there with ease. If Shortlands falls and gets a big enough airstrip, mediums from there and heavies from PM will reduce Rabaul to untennable rubble, leaving it open for invasion. Even more of a problem is the lack of forts there: if I was the allied player I would be sure that there would be BIG forts there, and so I would bring all my firepower. That's bad for you, because guarantees that Rabaul can fall in the first attack, and so you will lose everything you've got there.

I won't stress this hard enough (I already told you about this before ): Rabaul is the key for the SW pacific and New Guinea. Contrary to the Gilberts or Marshalls, lose it and you're in real trouble even if Hangover succeeds (something that I'm starting to doubt, seeing that you're stuck at Calcutta, that your bomber force has been crippled for several days, and that the British side receives quite some reinforcements around the dates you're playing at).


3- Northern side of the map, using Aleutians as springboard: This IMO is a strategic error because there are way more important places to attack...however taking the northern route gives access to bases within bombing range of Japan. Also, is an unexpected move because the previous options are more likely, and so the japanese will be off-guard to properly defend this approach. Worth a thought, but if I was you and I was attacked there, I'd like this option instead of 1- and much more, 2-.



What I would ask is what is really important for the KB now in the Indic...OK, you can strike Karachi,you won't sink a lot of things (Big port-ships hard to sink), but will give a rough treatment to the British fleet there, something very good for Hangover. However, after that...what use it has there with, as it seems, an imminent attack in the pacific?.

I wouldn't send the mini-KB to Truk. Whatever Wobbly does will be covered by no less than 5 fleet carriers. Simply said: your light carrier forces won't simply cut it against even three of them, much less five. On the other hand while I see the use of a naval carrier force in the Indic, I think keeping the whole KB there is overkill and even a wastage. Will it help you taking calcutta?. Will it help you advancing to take Karachi?. Do you dare using its air complements to attack heavily defended spots, as Calcutta?....

I guess the asnwer to those questions is "no". In short: there's no need to keep your best carriers and pilots in the Indic.Sure, a carrier force helps keeping control of the sealanes but with Trimcomalee and Madras in your hands ,and the mini-KB around you've got more than what you need to prevent the enemy naval moves.


In short: if I was you, I'd send the mini-KB immediately there to relieve the KB, which would set sail for Truk as soon as the Karachi run is over. Don't wait for anything, send what you've got, and when the new carrier comes by, send it there too if you want...or send it to Truk if the situation in the Center-South Pacific urges you to do it. You lose really nothing in Hangover (the KB intervention is marginal at this stage), and you win a lot in the Pacific...Mostly if the allied attack goes up from Lunga to Rabaul via Shortlands, something really crippling (IMO) that you simply can't stop at this stage without the KB at hand.


Of course there's another chance: that Wobbly doesn't want to do anything and is getting you nervous with misinformation so you kick the KB from the Bay of Bengal. This would fit great with a try to send a couple of carriers there...but it's too late for that because you have established a secure enough foot on India and have enough air power on Ceylon and Madras to keep his CVs away for the time being. Hangover could go on as predicted on the "land attack via the railroads" plan


Those are my advices...will be interesting to know where the attack will be and if I was right in any of my previsions .

[2ndACR]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Can use Truk and Wewak as bases for my naval bombers and put fighters on the forward bases - they are much more efficient at culling bombers than in UV!

Of course I should have built it, but this is my first WitP game and I never gave Tarawa priority - been busy with a lot of other projects. Trying to compensate by putting 9000 men on the atoll though, but I will consider my sins!-)

You sent me back the wrong WitP turn, so shame on you too! [:'(]

I know, it was not pretty correcting that little error either. Much cussing and wailing from both people. Had to go back 2 turns and re-do them. Sorry about that.[:(]

[PzB74]

Thx for a long and interesting evaluation RAM! [:)]

I know Tarawa will fall if attacked - only got 'expendable' units there. 9000 men is more than enough, and I'm building forts as fast as I can. Is it just me, or does some places
require a lot more effort to build forts? Both Rabaul and Tarawa have been 'slow' - while the forts on the islands in the Marshalls have shot up in 1-2-3!

1-Gilberts and/or Marshalls: lots of good places to build bases at, and a real menace to Truk if occupied. However in the big strategic picture losing any of those bases is not crippling: Truk is invulnerable at this stage of the war and those islands can't be used for anything aside of being a springboard to attack Truk or the Marianas: is too early in the war for the american to do that.

Agree, but there's been a lot of recon and sub activity in this area - I had really neglected the defenses in this area - but that has been taken care of. Kwajalein and the surronding islands are now the best defended area in the South Pacific! I almost hope Al attacks here.

2-Rabaul-via-Shortlands: This is the road I would take if I was the allied player. Lunga is american, and Wobbly can hit Shortlands from there with ease. If Shortlands falls and gets a big enough airstrip, mediums from there and heavies from PM will reduce Rabaul to untennable rubble, leaving it open for invasion. Even more of a problem is the lack of forts there: if I was the allied player I would be sure that there would be BIG forts there, and so I would bring all my firepower. That's bad for you, because guarantees that Rabaul can fall in the first attack, and so you will lose everything you've got there.

I won't stress this hard enough (I already told you about this before ): Rabaul is the key for the SW pacific and New Guinea. Contrary to the Gilberts or Marshalls, lose it and you're in real trouble even if Hangover succeeds (something that I'm starting to doubt, seeing that you're stuck at Calcutta, that your bomber force has been crippled for several days, and that the British side receives quite some reinforcements around the dates you're playing at).

Hm, I hope you're wrong...but you could be right. I still got Shortland, Gili Gili, Buna and Lae though - and Kavieng is growing quickly. Got 130 engineers at Rabaul, but still the forts grow slooowly. I can't imagine Wobbly capturing Rabaul without a major effort. There are 24000 men there, and I can move in another 20-30 in no time. Just look at how difficult it is for him to eliminate my starving remnants at Lunga! It will take him forever to destroy my troops at Rabaul - and I can fast transport units in and out at will.

Were will Al stage from? A big scale invasion must come from Noumea or Oz - and I KNOW how much fuel and supplies such a major operation requires. While I got 150 naval bombers at Truk and 200 fighters to support them - all within normal range. My battleships, cruisers and destroyers will run shuttle to bombard him - day and night! Ha, let him come and I'll crush him like a bug!! [;)]

My bomber force in Calcutta isn't crippled, 60 bombers hit Calcutta again today! I had to reorganize it, but don't forget that most of my efforts are noe directed toward occupying Bombay and Karachi - if I can achieve this, India will fall!! Therefore I want Al to send as many troops as possible to the eastern part of India!

3- Northern side of the map, using Aleutians as springboard: This IMO is a strategic error because there are way more important places to attack...however taking the northern route gives access to bases within bombing range of Japan. Also, is an unexpected move because the previous options are more likely, and so the japanese will be off-guard to properly defend this approach. Worth a thought, but if I was you and I was attacked there, I'd like this option instead of 1- and much more, 2-.

What I would ask is what is really important for the KB now in the Indic...OK, you can strike Karachi,you won't sink a lot of things (Big port-ships hard to sink), but will give a rough treatment to the British fleet there, something very good for Hangover. However, after that...what use it has there with, as it seems, an imminent attack in the pacific?.

I wouldn't send the mini-KB to Truk. Whatever Wobbly does will be covered by no less than 5 fleet carriers. Simply said: your light carrier forces won't simply cut it against even three of them, much less five. On the other hand while I see the use of a naval carrier force in the Indic, I think keeping the whole KB there is overkill and even a wastage. Will it help you taking calcutta?. Will it help you advancing to take Karachi?. Do you dare using its air complements to attack heavily defended spots, as Calcutta?....

I guess the asnwer to those questions is "no". In short: there's no need to keep your best carriers and pilots in the Indic.Sure, a carrier force helps keeping control of the sealanes but with Trimcomalee and Madras in your hands ,and the mini-KB around you've got more than what you need to prevent the enemy naval moves.

In short: if I was you, I'd send the mini-KB immediately there to relieve the KB, which would set sail for Truk as soon as the Karachi run is over. Don't wait for anything, send what you've got, and when the new carrier comes by, send it there too if you want...or send it to Truk if the situation in the Center-South Pacific urges you to do it. You lose really nothing in Hangover (the KB intervention is marginal at this stage), and you win a lot in the Pacific...Mostly if the allied attack goes up from Lunga to Rabaul via Shortlands, something really crippling (IMO) that you simply can't stop at this stage without the KB at hand.

Of course there's another chance: that Wobbly doesn't want to do anything and is getting you nervous with misinformation so you kick the KB from the Bay of Bengal. This would fit great with a try to send a couple of carriers there...but it's too late for that because you have established a secure enough foot on India and have enough air power on Ceylon and Madras to keep his CVs away for the time being. Hangover could go on as predicted on the "land attack via the railroads" plan

Those are my advices...will be interesting to know where the attack will be and if I was right in any of my previsions .

Doubt the Aleutians will receive much attentions, would certainly surprise me...nothing but frostbite and snow out there - and it would take a long time to develop the place.
Wobbly have to hit me ASAP to take advantage of my Indian adventure, in a few months I can mount heavy counterattacks anywhere - I hope [;)]

I already got 2 bb's (soon 3) in the South - and the KB will return here as soon as it has crippled the British fleet at Karachi!! In no more than 3 weeks in other words - it will be back. By this time I will have a potent Mini KB ready as well. I'm not all crazy, so sending the Mini KB against a full fledged US cv force is out of the question!! The only way Wobbly can provide aircover for his invasions is by using his carriers - after my land based naval bombers and Zero's have reduced and maybe damaged them - then we strike.

Since everything is still quiet in the South, I feel that this is a good plan. Let Al attack and wear himself out! In a few weeks we counterattack with superior force and prejudice! [8D]
After I have crushed the British fleet in the East, there will be no further need to keep even small carriers in the area.

The important thing is to successfully complete Hangover - I'm not willing to remove any resources from this operation. If India falls, the war will be won! Even the fall of Rabaul won't change that fact.

Hopener - the score is some 19200 to 5700 points - I only need 4 more points to achieve the 4-1 odds that is required for an auto victory. This can be achieved by capturing Bombay and Karachi. Since these bases got their backs to the sea, the troops defending them will most likely go into captivity as well.

I take all advice into consideration, but my priority is still to finish India. A lot of efforts is made to turn the major bases in the South Pacific into fortresses though!
Let Al show his cards, then I'll counter in due time. With some luck and skill all the troops will be home by Christmas [;)]

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/16/42

Air Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Imphal , at 33,26 - Imphal?? Didn't Al know that Dacca is up and running as an air base?

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 28
P-40E Warhawk x 3
B-17E Fortress x 18

No Allied losses

Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
All Fortress and Wellington III bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23 - Yes, we manage to mount an attack already the day after the devastating attack
on Chandpur! [:)]

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
Ki-21 Sally x 24
Ki-48 Lily x 33

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IF: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 13
Runway hits 56

Aircraft Attacking:
All Sally and Ki-48 Lily bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 56,88

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 9
Beaufort V-IX x 9
P-40E Warhawk x 44 - there are A LOT of ac based at PM these days!!!

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-114, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
All Beaufort V-IX launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Calcutta

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 65617 troops, 427 guns, 510 vehicles

Defending force 54768 troops, 246 guns, 456 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 7) - hm, forts are back up to lvl 7

Japanese ground losses:
1090 casualties reported
Guns lost 11
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
1311 casualties reported - but the defenders are taking more heat than the attackers
Guns lost 19
Vehicles lost 11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bangalore

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30685 troops, 229 guns, 6 vehicles

Defending force 13304 troops, 177 guns, 9 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0) - surprisingly low odds, we try again tomorrow!

Japanese ground losses:
454 casualties reported
Guns lost 12
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
647 casualties reported
Guns lost 34
Vehicles lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lunga

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6660 troops, 50 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 963 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 20 to 1 [:D] Al must be fuming...

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 30,23

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7182 troops, 85 guns, 2 vehicles

Defending force 5038 troops, 16 guns, 255 vehicles - an armoured division has moved onto the railroad east of Calcutta!

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
53 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Report

India

Surprisingly the Allied bombers in India hit Imphal! In the meanwhile reinforcements have been moved to Dacca and immediately hit back at Calcutta. Since Al is moving troops from Asansol, I'm going to move troops behind his lines as well.

Supplies are still getting through, but I can't move the bulk of my units in Calcutta back out via the railroad. An armoured regiment has been ordered to move north east to cut the enemy unit off. It seems like there will be a stand off at around Calcutta for a while - I don't expect it to change until Wobbly realizes that I'm going for Karachi with 6-7 divisions!

A lot of troops are enroute to Bangalore now, I'll try to surround it if it doesn't surrender immediately. Then the road will be open towards Bombay!

The KB has spotted one or more ships a few hexes to the west and will hit them tomorrow while the battle fleet sails due north. Their speed is slow and it wont' be difficult to catch up. A large replenishment group is moving out of Singapore to refuel the fleet when they run dry. Should be a lot of action soon [8D]

South Pacific

Today I moved the naval bombers back from Rabaul into Truk - in return more Zeros were moved back. Got 80 Zeros on 50% CAP here now and I'm expecting a heavy raid from PM soon. There are 40-50 fighters and another 40-50 fighter bombers here and I can only guess at the number of B17's. Got 150 naval bombers at Truk and tomorrow I will ordere a large night attack on PM's air fields.

The damaged light carriers have now 22 sys damage and I'm waiting impatiently for another cve and the Yamato.
In 14 days I hope to sail a powerful Mini KB south - here they will join the KB in 3 weeks. That's my current plan anyway!
If only Al gives me a few more weeks, I'll be ready for him...

[RAM]

Hi again, PzB!

I agree on most things you said, however...

ORIGINAL: PzB

Hm, I hope you're wrong...but you could be right. I still got Shortland, Gili Gili, Buna and Lae though - and Kavieng is growing quickly. Got 130 engineers at Rabaul, but still the forts grow slooowly. I can't imagine Wobbly capturing Rabaul without a major effort. There are 24000 men there, and I can move in another 20-30 in no time. Just look at how difficult it is for him to eliminate my starving remnants at Lunga! It will take him forever to destroy my troops at Rabaul - and I can fast transport units in and out at will.

For rabaul to be taken, prior step would be to take shortlands and developing it up to a size-4 AF. Once that is done, mediums will add to the previsible PM raids in the task of reducing the place to a scrapyard, and any SBD squadron based there will be quite successfull in isolating Rabaul by the use of airpower.

as it is now, from Lunga, Rabaul isn't in immediate danger, but if he has decided to attack in the solomons (and I would as it is the attack with more potential benefits, but that's just me) his first stage would be taking Shortlands. If he lands there you've got a big red emergency light over your head...if you let him develop the base, Rabaul will be at the very least isolated, and, if he wants to put the needed effort to it, lost.

Were will Al stage from? A big scale invasion must come from Noumea or Oz - and I KNOW how much fuel and supplies such a major operation requires. While I got 150 naval bombers at Truk and 200 fighters to support them - all within normal range. My battleships, cruisers and destroyers will run shuttle to bombard him - day and night! Ha, let him come and I'll crush him like a bug!! [;)]

Better time that right. Imagine a size 4 AF at shortlands with a couple SBD squadrons and another two F4F squadrons...even if you time it right sooner or later you'll gonna get caught by an air attack.

Staging points?...If I had developed it right, I'd do it from Noumea or Luganville. Lunga can serve as a good mid-trip staging point too, if properly supplied.


Remember anyway: losing Rabaul is crippling but seeing it negated by air power is also extremely damaging for your interests in New Guinea. By giving Shortlands 2 F4F squadrons, 2 SBD and 1 B20 squadrons, and if B17 are hitting from PM, Rabaul will suffer too much, and you won't be able to use it as a base to defend any disembark in New Guinea....

and doing that instead of actually invading Rabaul requires MUCH LESS effort from his side...

[PzB74]

That's what I think too, the outer bases like Wake, Tarawa, Gili Gili and Shortland are clearly the easiest targets.
Tawara is to isolated to be of much use for him, but you're right - Shortland and Gili Gili will put a lot of pressure on Rabaul. Developing a size 1(1) af to size 4 will take time though - and that is all I want.

Lunga hasn't been built yet, there are 10000 Allied troops there and I've not spotted many supply convoys. Noumea has been developed - but it's not exactly close to either Lunga or Shortland.

Shortland can easily be turned into another Guadalcanal - and by the time that conflict ends I will alreayd have won the war...ehhr, well - that's the plan anyway [;)]

Personally I feel that the US shouldn't take on the Imperial Navy until late 42 - doing so in early June would give me a lot of advantages. Less FLAK and radar, fewer ships, less capable aircraft etc.

Hope I'm not being over confident, but it certainly takes a lot of confidence to win a war [8D]

ORIGINAL: RAM

Hi again, PzB!

I agree on most things you said, however...

Better time that right. Imagine a size 4 AF at shortlands with a couple SBD squadrons and another two F4F squadrons...even if you time it right sooner or later you'll gonna get caught by an air attack.

Staging points?...If I had developed it right, I'd do it from Noumea or Luganville. Lunga can serve as a good mid-trip staging point too, if properly supplied.


Remember anyway: losing Rabaul is crippling but seeing it negated by air power is also extremely damaging for your interests in New Guinea. By giving Shortlands 2 F4F squadrons, 2 SBD and 1 B20 squadrons, and if B17 are hitting from PM, Rabaul will suffer too much, and you won't be able to use it as a base to defend any disembark in New Guinea....

and doing that instead of actually invading Rabaul requires MUCH LESS effort from his side...

[Scharnhorst]

quote:

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6660 troops, 50 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 963 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 20 to 1 Al must be fuming...

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported

What are they doing there? Throwing with feathers?? This game doesnt work well, 25 casualties after a shock attack with over 6000 men?? There must be something wrong.

Scharnhorst

[pompack]

PzB:

Great AAR!!!

Suggestion: always hit the "R" key before you give movement orders to LCU. The map is beautiful but "R" shows you where the roads and rails really run. When an LCU refuses to follow the rail line, it is often because the rail line isn't really there.

[PzB74]

What are they doing there? Throwing with feathers?? This game doesnt work well, 25 casualties after a shock attack with over 6000 men?? There must be something wrong.

Scharnhorst - take a look at todays AAR, a sizeable chunk of the Jap defenders were eliminated. I think WitP tries to simulate how difficult it is to destroy Jap troops in general. That 6600 men attack 1000 shouldn't automtically mean that they all engage at once. Ground combat isn't the best aspect of WitP - this much I must admit.

Thx for the praise and advice Pompack [:)] Must admit that I've all but forgotten about using the 'R' key - simple but effective!

Todays post is actually a couple of days old, Xmas and family dinners etc. Want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year though - I'm looking forward to continuing this AAR into 2005 and beyond [8D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/17/42

Surface Combat

Bombardments

Naval bombardment of Lunga, at 67,97

Allied Ships
DD Evertsen
DD John D. Edwards
DD Cassin
CL Detroit
CL Adelaide
CL Perth
CA Canberra

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft - I'm pleased that my hastily arranged bomber force at Dacca keeps up their attacks against Calcutta!
A6M2 Zero x 18
Ki-21 Sally x 21
Ki-48 Lily x 12

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 31

Aircraft Attacking:
All Sally and Ki-48 Lily bombing at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 45 - It's with growing concern that I observe the enemy grow stronger each day!

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed - We're still holding our own, but the steady attrition is a bad omen!

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 8 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th Division, at 17,19 (Bangalore)

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 14
Wellington III x 24

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
All Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th Chinese Division, at 30,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13 - good practice for my rookie replacement pilots in Rangoon
G3M Nell x 17
G4M1 Betty x 25

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
All Betty and G3M Nell bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 93rd Chinese Corps, at 45,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 17
Ki-49 Helen x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses: - The Chinese are now running back home as fast as their legs can carry them!-)
73 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
All Helen and Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 7,15 [X(] I had NOT expected this...

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 10
Swordfish x 15

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 8 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Torpedo hits 2, on fire - 27 sys damage, turning back to Singapore with a destroyer escort!
BB Hyuga, Torpedo hits 1 - minor damage

Aircraft Attacking:
All Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 7,15

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 10
Swordfish x 5

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima

Aircraft Attacking:
All Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 4,15 - If I hadn't turned the KB west to catch a few transports....argh!

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 54
D3A Val x 8
B5N Kate x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Foch, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
8 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 4,15

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
D3A Val x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Foch, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 30,34

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7113 troops, 58 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 8539 troops, 67 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
82 casualties reported
Guns lost 4


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at 45,24 - Chinese units retreating north towards the last base in Northern China

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 75093 troops, 776 guns, 153 vehicles

Defending force 1836 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 469 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
372 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lunga

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6604 troops, 51 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 866 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 172 to 1 - ouch

Japanese ground losses:
553 casualties reported - the biggest pocket of Jap resistance is eliminated

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Report

India

I got a really nasty surprise today as something we've never seen before showed up and put 3 torpedoes into our battleships - a British carrier!! The unfortunate move of the KB meant that I lost a great opportunity to sink a large British tf based around a cv. One of the bb's that were torpedoed shrugged of the hit, but the other one has to turn back with moderate sys damage.

The KB is ordered to move NE at flank speed, I belive my ships move faster than the slower british carrier. The battleship groups are ordered to follow the KB. Too bad that my numerous naval bombers at Ceylon and Madras didn't sortie, but at least the enemy doesn't have anywere to run - and the few stringbag torpedo bombers paid a price for their bold attacks!

I think that Al got a few valuable convoys somewhere in the area, this is the only reason for him to move his carrier around.

Todays even convinced me of the importance of putting the British Eastern Fleet out of commission before I leave for the Southern Pacific. In adition to protecting my convoys, I have to prevent the ships from bombarding my troops when they march into Bombay and Karachi.

I've ordered my worn down divisions in Calcutta to stop attacking for now. The armoured division that Wobbly moved down from Asansol has convinced me that I have to take care of my flanks and rest before continuing to reduce the forts.
Reserves are going to try to drive the enemy off the railroad and then the Imperial division and supporting units will march on Asansol.

My 7 divisions that have landed at Madras will send 3 into Bombay, 1-2 will move south to threaten Calcutta from the north while another one captures Delhi. The remaining units will advance towards Karachi and probe the enemy defenses there. When this has been achieved and the British fleet has been destroyed - we will bombard Karachi from the air and sea and wait for the troops in Delhi and Bombay to arrive before starting the final assault.

If everything works out, it will then be possible to march south and destroy the remaining enemy units in India and chase them into Burma.

China

Recon shows only a few Chinese units defending the last base in the North - most of the Jap divisions are now marchign south to Sian. After some R&R they will continue south and prepare for offensive action against Chungking. This will be the ultimate test in China - if I fail in India, this prize can still provide the points that are needed to achieve an autovictory in 6 and a half months time.

Central and South Pacific

My damaged light carriers are now being repaired at an increased pace, and a sizeable fleet is forming up in Tokyo as well as in Truk. The enemy is stepping up his activities around Lunga, a bombardment group hit my starving troops again - but since the bombers at Rabaul have been moved back to Truk, they're no longer exposed to air attack. Can't afford that my bombers goes in unescorted at extreme range - casualties were prohibitive last time and they didn't score a single hit.

46 Warhwarks raided Lae, and I'm tempted to move my fighters here back to Rabaul as well - I don't want to fight a slow battle of attrition that I'm bound to loose in the long run. Lae got enough supplies now, and the barge convoys can be stopped.

Several subs have been ordered to mine PM, Lunga and a variety of choke points.
The forces in the South will have to take make do with what is available until I've put things straight in India.

[pompack]

"Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 45 - It's with growing concern that I observe the enemy grow stronger each day!

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed - We're still holding our own, but the steady attrition is a bad omen!

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 8 destroyed "

One bright spot for Japan in 42 is the low replacement rate for P40E. 40 a month is not very much for the number of P40 units and the usual intensity of P40 combat.

I would recommend hanging in there at Lae and actually accepting an attrition battle (at least until October). While the Japanese pilot situation is always a problem, there are a lot more Zero airframes than P40 airframes being produced in early, mid 42. If he moves Wildcats into PM, that would change the equation.

My personal experience as the Allies has been that I run the P40 pool dry by April-May 42 and it stays that way until the N's arrive. I never convert anything to P40E unless I really, really need the unit in the front line and I still run out of replacements.

[PzB74]

Xmas time and little time for games, but here's a 3 day update!

Pompack: I'm afraid I got fewer trained pilots than Wobbly got P40's - my replacement pools are all but drained and I'm loosing ac at Lae almost every day. Increased CAP level to 60% and 16000 feet. Will keep the Daitai there for another week and see how things turn out.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/18/42

Surface combat

Bombardments

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Lunga, at 67,97

Allied Ships
DD Evertsen
DD John D. Edwards
DD Cassin
CL Detroit
CL Adelaide
CL Perth

Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported

Invasions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 81 troops unloading over beach at Trivandrum, 13,21 - me wants this little undefended base on the south west coast of India!

Japanese ground losses:
56 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23 - I'm trying to keep up the pressure and give the engineers at Calcutta a lot of work

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
Ki-21 Sally x 20
Ki-48 Lily x 27

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
Blenheim IF: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 35

Aircraft Attacking:
All Sally and Ki-48 Lily bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 83rd Chinese Corps, at 45,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 24
Ki-49 Helen x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
14 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
12 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 6,13

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 8
B5N Kate x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Vendetta - Al has split his tf's and sent a few dd's against the KB!?

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
8 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 6,13

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Vendetta, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 6,13

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 11
B5N Kate x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Edsall, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage - goes Boom!

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
9 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lunga

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6614 troops, 51 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 580 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 178 to 1

Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/19/42

Surface Combat

Sub/ASW Attacks

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lunga at 67,97

Japanese Ships
SS RO-67, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage - RIP

Allied Ships
CL Perth, Torpedo hits 1, on fire - hope this ones needs to be repaired!
DMS Trevor
APD Stringham
APD McKean
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Trimcomalee , at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 13

Allied aircraft - all of Al's Wellingtons have been moved to Colombo this time
Swordfish x 17
Buffalo I x 15
Blenheim IV x 12
Wellington III x 45
Beaufort I x 6

Japanese aircraft losses - and destroys 30 ac on the ground!
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 11 destroyed
G3M Nell: 14 destroyed, 12 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
Buffalo I: 9 destroyed, 2 damaged
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
Wellington III: 4 destroyed, 21 damaged - a lot of damaged ac, but few were lost!
Beaufort I: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
244 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 24

Aircraft Attacking:
All ac bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 1
Kittyhawk I x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 2 destroyed
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 93rd Chinese Division, at 30,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
G3M Nell x 15
G4M1 Betty x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
148 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x G3M Nell bombing at 6000 feet
20 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 63rd Chinese Corps, at 45,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 12
Ki-49 Helen x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
62 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
9 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 20th Chinese Corps, at 45,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 14
Ki-49 Helen x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
10 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
9 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 19,24

Allied aircraft - the British ac at Colombo were really efficient today!
Swordfish x 2
Beaufort I x 4

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Nichiren Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire - this ship is struggling back to Trimcomalee!

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Beaufort I bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Swordfish bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 8,14

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 10
B5N Kate x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Kalgan, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Aircraft Attacking:
All B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
All D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 7,16

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 15
B5N Kate x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Vendetta, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
8 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
7 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 9,12

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 22
B5N Kate x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Katong, Bomb hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Aircraft Attacking:
All D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
All B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 19,24

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 7
Beaufort I x 3

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 1 damaged
Beaufort I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari, Bomb hits 1, on fire - this already damaged escort now has to return to Singapore
AP Arizona Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Swordfish bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Beaufort I bombing at 2000 feet
4 x Swordfish bombing at 5000 feet
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Ground Combat

Ground combat at 30,34

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8565 troops, 49 guns, 96 vehicles

Defending force 8287 troops, 59 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 14 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
82 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
552 casualties reported
Guns lost 15

Defeated Allied Units Retreating! - 2 Chinese corps east of Rangoon are given the boot!
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Ground combat at Bangalore

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 56429 troops, 386 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 3526 troops, 28 guns, 5 vehicles - again Al has skill fully retreated his main force before the base falls!

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese assault odds: 49 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Bangalore base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
292 casualties reported
Guns lost 16

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
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Ground combat at Lunga

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6558 troops, 52 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 237 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 227 to 1

Japanese ground losses: - I'm getting reports of Banzai charges against the Allied units now! Only one NLF unit left.
54 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/20/42

Air Combat

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Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft - an unescorted raid today, but they doesn't encounter any fighters on CAP!
Ki-21 Sally x 20
Ki-48 Lily x 32

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 70

Aircraft Attacking:
All Sally and Ki-48 Lily bombing at 6000 feet
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Day Air attack on 64th Chinese Corps, at 45,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 21
Ki-49 Helen x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
12 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
16 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
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Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft - the attrition is starting to wear down this crack Daitai!
A6M2 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
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Ground Combat

Ground combat at Lunga

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6564 troops, 51 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 165 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 84 to 1 - another Banzai charge

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported - and it inflicts casualties! But the brave defenders of Lunga have all but shot their bolt by now...
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Situation Report

India/Burma

The last 3 days have been eventful - Wobbly has managed to keep ahead of the KB and is drawing my carriers away from the fleeing transports. 2 destroyers and 2 transports have been sunk and the pursuit is now continuing towards Karachi - I hope to engage them here tomorrow or the day after. (See situation map)

A heavy raid from Colombo hits Trimcomalee and destroyes 30 ac on the ground - a painful but not significant raid. No pilots were lost and there are a lot of supplies at the base and replacement ac have already been delivered. My main base is now at Madras, but I'm not satisfied with the lack of raids from this base.

East of Rangoon the 2 Chinese corps that moved in have been forced to retreat - I'm not blocking the path north of Rangoon with 1 bde, one tank regiment and 1 large garrison unit.

At Calcutta I've rested my troops - but 3 out of 5 divisions were ordered to attack together with all the engineers today.
More Zeros and Sallys have been moved to Dacca - still waiting for ac repair at Rangoon before ac can be returned to Chandpur. There are not enough fighters to stop a concentrated bomber attack against more than 2 bases, so I have to concentrate my forces.

In a mail to Wobbly I told him pretty straight forward about my plans in India: I will march on Bombay and then hit Asansol from the north. Karachi will not be invaded until my flanks have been secured. The fleet will stay in the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific will be guarded by SNLF and garrison units together with naval bombers and the 2nd Fleet and Carrier division.

My intention is to put mental pressure on Al and try to weaken his resolve..not sure this will succeed, but he knows what I'm up to anyway: a 4-1 score and auto victory by 1/1-43! I've offered to continue the game even if this is achieved.
Also told Al that he can read up to page 7 of my AAR. In return I'm allowed to read the first 4 pages of his [:)] Looking forward to that!

China

Around 200k Chinese troops have now been observed retreating from Sian - we've been bombing them all the way!
An advanced unit has reached the northern most base in China but will have to wait for the rest of the troops before attacking. Slowly withdrawing troops from this part of the country and into Sian.

Central and South Pacific

A sub manages to torpedo the light cruiser Perth - but pays the ultimate price...
Several shock attacks have now almost eliminated the last few troops at Lunga, but spirited Banzai charges have caused the enemy problems.

The continued sweeps over Lae have shot down many Zeros, and there are no more than 20 pilots including 4-5 untrained ones left.

The Yamato has joined the fleet, and is awaiting a destroyer escort to Tokyo. The cve and cvl at Shanghai are now at sys damage 20. 10 more days and they will sail for Tokyo and then join with the Junyo and a new cve.

In a few days there will be 40 destroyers, 20 cruisers and 1 bb at Truk!

Continued mining sorties have lain 1300 mines at Kwajalein and 1000 at Rabaul. 6 more ML's will arrive at Truk tomorrow and head towards Shortland and Tarawa.

4 engineer regiments are being loaded in Japan and China - 2 will move to India and 2 goes to Truk.
A reserve tank regiment will also be moved to India, trying to pull together some reinforcements for Chandpur and Calcutta.

Tomorrow will be an exciting day, if we can catch up with the british carriers in the Indian Ocean... [8D]

Situation Map: Operations in Southern India and the Indian Ocean May 1942