PBEM from May 42: Mogami-san VS Capt. Ron

[Ron Saueracker]

Some of my reserves made it to Hengchow on time and blunted an ititial attempt by shock attack. That should buy time for my other units to close and respond to an attack at either Changsha or Hengchow.

Darn subs keep getting spotted everytime...what are they doing, smoking on deck at night, firing guns in the air like at a Greek wedding, taunting the Japanese with radioed insults? "Yoohoo...over here..."[8D] All these attacks are subs be spotted, not after failed attacks.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/16/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 63,63

Japanese Ships
PG Zuiko Maru
MSW Banshu Maru #52
MSW Banshu Maru #51
MSW Banshu Maru #18

Allied Ships
SS Tuna

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 50
A6M3 Zero x 45
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 36

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 17
Spitfire Vb x 20
P-40B Tomahawk x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 24 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 10 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 42 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 38 destroyed, 7 damaged
Spitfire Vb: 24 destroyed, 5 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 21 destroyed, 6 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bangkok , at 29,40

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 59

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 10 destroyed, 12 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 4 destroyed, 9 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 7 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
79 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 13

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 89th Chinese Corps, at 47,36

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 34
Ki-30 Ann x 23
Ki-32 Mary x 12
Ki-21 Sally x 66
Ki-48 Lily x 31
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Hengchow

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 116305 troops, 1361 guns, 7 vehicles

Defending force 104952 troops, 654 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 9)


Japanese ground losses:
8715 casualties reported
Guns lost 182
Vehicles lost 4

Allied ground losses:
1010 casualties reported
Guns lost 34


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rahaeng

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 93375 troops, 504 guns, 291 vehicles

Defending force 36883 troops, 235 guns, 1 vehicles

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


Japanese ground losses:
4505 casualties reported
Guns lost 52
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
1782 casualties reported
Guns lost 66


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8280 troops, 289 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 21692 troops, 137 guns, 4 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
141 casualties reported
Guns lost 6


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rahaeng

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 27122 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 87556 troops, 407 guns, 287 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12141 troops, 112 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 63817 troops, 562 guns, 261 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Hengchow

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31125 troops, 202 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 112010 troops, 1030 guns, 0 vehicles

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Tristanjohn

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker

Aaaaack! Land Death Star...[X(] 32 IJA units 1 hex SW of Hengchow.

OK...I suck at land combat with this model.[:)] What are you supposed to do about this? One can't position units on flanks of bases as they don't "project" a ZOC so they can't curb movement by enemy units which simply bypass them and they are then vulnerable to being cut off and encircled. Japanese units can use rail so they can hit anywhere at the moment while the Chinese "reserves" have to use road movement to react...invariably too late given the weight of force Japan can bring to any point along rail line. All bases along rail line are therefore basically indefensible.

This whole area may as well be abandonned immediately in December because of this. I've a whack of supply in Changsha and little in Hengchow, despite HQs.

Any advice would be appreciated. Basic land strategies from years of wargaming don't apply. I'm at a loss.

HELP!!![:D]

Also, I gave up trying to recon the rail lines. The interface basically bored me to death. I would have liked to have seen Air Search work over land, not just vs naval units. (asked about this during beta but no dice) I don't have the time or patience to point and click over every hex everyturn hoping to find a hex which accepts the selection (needs a unit in it if not a base hex to be acceptable as a recon targetable hex)...this game is a chore enough as it is.

I agree re the limitations of the recon routines. They're no better thought out than the rest of this game. It's same same all the way through.

This was not a well-thought-out simulation. It's a fun game to play, per Gary's usual stamp, but almost nothing makes sense in isolation, and when the various game routines are called upon to interact with one another the result soon becomes silly. As it must, mathematically speaking.

If "accuracy" is assumed to hold a value of 1, then any part of the game which is less than "accurate" must be assigned a value less than 1. So, if the "accuracy" of land-combat movement rates is just .9 (compared to an "accurate" score of 1), and these movement rates are then called on to interact with some another aspect of play which is itself less than accurate (for example, the distribution of supplies where they're needed), and we assign this second aspect of play (supply distribution) an "accuracy" score of .9 as well, then this will result in a new "accuracy" score of .81 when we consider the effect of these two apsects of play as they work in conjunction with each other. In other words, the product of these two play components combining in the game is less "accurate" than the two individual game-routine parts were when considered in isolation. The new combined game function they make up when they interact lands further away from the ideal score of 1.

That's the theory, and this is why it's crucial not to start with false values. This game is full of false values, dubious assumptions based on isolated (and sometimes totally misunderstood) examples from history, etc. The result in play is predictable, as these various routines, already compromised, serve to frustrate themselves more still.

Given the rules set as it exists, and as a practical matter in the game, if I were you I would spread my forces out to form the "fronts" Mogami mentioned a week or so ago. These units of yours, set off to either side, will not be on road or rail hexes and so will be very difficult to even get at, and slow to reduce and/or force into retreat once Mogami does make contact. This will also oblige Mogami to dilute his force. If he doesn't react to cover these flanking movements of yours, then simply surround him with these units you have on your flanks. And like that.

This doesn't take away the inherent Japanese advantage of superior force and a better supply network, but it should compel a careful Japanese player to string himself out in conformity with your movements, and eventually this will likely result in your opponent having too little force at the critical road/rail hex you primarily wish to hold to force you back. Even if you are forced back, and assuming the Japanese pursue, the enemy will have to consume yet more precious time trailing after you over cross-country paths, wearing his troops out in the process from the exertion. Wed this to his now-fast-degrading supply lines, etc, and the picture ought to become clear. In time, you will bring the Japanese player to a halt with this strategy. His troops will simply be too weak to attack you anymore.

At least that's how I read the land-combat system as it applies to China. I don't like it any more than you do, Ron, but that's how it seems to boil down.

These units of yours, set off to either side, will not be on road or rail hexes and so will be very difficult to even get at

Granted, but once off the road they lose all mobility and are easily bypassed leaving them in the lurch.

[Tristanjohn]

ORIGINAL Ron Saueracker

ORIGINAL Tristanjohn

These units of yours, set off to either side, will not be on road or rail hexes and so will be very difficult to even get at

Granted, but once off the road they lose all mobility and are easily bypassed leaving them in the lurch.

Bypassed by what? Mogami's Japanese force on the road or rail?

Once Mogami pushes into the center without secure flank cover himself he exposes his supply line. You then simply cut this supply line with those units you have on your flanks and all of a sudden Mogami's offensive push in the center comes to naught because you have now surrounded him! His only recourse will be to order detachments of his own to contest these outflanking units of yours, and so now you've effectively caused him to dilute his force in the center, per the example in my note above.

Do you see that?

[Grotius]

You then simply cut this supply line with those units you have on your flanks and all of a sudden Mogami's offensive push in the center comes to naught because you have now surrounded him!

But those flanking units are on trails, which means it will take them a long time to move anywhere to cut anything. By then Mogami will have taken the base and have had plenty of time to bring up any needed relief force on the railroad.

I guess the Chinese trails aren't as deadly slow as trails in jungle hexes (as in Malaya or Burma), but we're still talking slow, aren't we?

[Tristanjohn]

ORIGINAL: Grotius

You then simply cut this supply line with those units you have on your flanks and all of a sudden Mogami's offensive push in the center comes to naught because you have now surrounded him!

But those flanking units are on trails, which means it will take them a long time to move anywhere to cut anything. By then Mogami will have taken the base and have had plenty of time to bring up any needed relief force on the railroad.

I guess the Chinese trails aren't as deadly slow as trails in jungle hexes (as in Malaya or Burma), but we're still talking slow, aren't we?

Maybe, maybe not. Where do these additional units to guard the road/rail hex(es) behind Mogami's central force come from? Is there an inexhaustible supply of these units? Also, in turn these units, should they exist, could be similarly surrounded by Ron's outflanking forces. Which, again, would bring Mogami's push in the center to a slow grinding halt.

The principle at work here is to force an attacker to respond to a proactive defense. And an alert attacker will do just that. Or suffer the consequences.

It might be possible for the Japanese to mount such a strong drive on any given road/rail axis on the map to effectively counter this defensive strategy, but even if that were true it would only likely be true at one spot on the map and at one given point in the game. Surely you don't suggest the Japanese are strong enough to do this all over the entire map of China at once! That would be just too silly. [8D]

[Tristanjohn]

Maybe I'm misunderstood, so I'll include a screen grab from my PBEM game.

Given what I've said above about Chinese land-combat strategy, Ron, can you look at this position and reasonably guess why I've done what I've done, and where a few of my units would most likely at this moment be marching?

[Ron Saueracker]

I understand entirely what you are saying Tris and my deployment is similar at face value (not knowing how much is where of course). But those units you have off the network of roads etc are hampered by a severe movement penalty depending on terrain, and even if they cut the supply for a day or so until the Japanese kick you off again (which they will), those units are basically now rogue units fatigued, disrupted and themselves hurting for supply. Basically one is voluntarily allowing the line to be breached and enemy units to get behind you...there are not enough units to make a "deep" enough defence to prevent this. NOW, if they projected "enough" ZOC to cut supply without having to move, requiring the enemy to keep a unit in each successive hex to negate this faint projected ZOC, then maybe the flanking units would be more useful.

[Ron Saueracker]

",,,and the lamb, lies down, on Bangkok." The Luftwaffe was especially effective vs 40+ Forts today, losing four fighters for two dozen heavies.[8D] My fighter sweep chooses to stay home despite direct orders. Bad day for me.

The Martins are flying bombing missions despite orders to recon. Second time they have done this. Another glitch I suspect.

Half a million Japs in Hengchow!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/17/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bangkok , at 29,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
A6M3 Zero x 30
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 20
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 13

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 43

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 6 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 5 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 5 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 52 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 17000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 17000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged


Japanese ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
34 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 19000 feet
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 19000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
G3M Nell x 25
G4M1 Betty x 100

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
PBY Catalina: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported

Airbase hits 13
Runway hits 80

Aircraft Attacking:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Macassar , at 30,69


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 20
Hudson I x 29
B-25C Mitchell x 27


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 2 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 27

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 2000 feet
8 x Martin 139 bombing at 2000 feet
6 x Martin 139 bombing at 2000 feet
5 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
4 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 2000 feet
6 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 2000 feet
6 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8330 troops, 288 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 21652 troops, 133 guns, 4 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rahaeng

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 24394 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 87964 troops, 418 guns, 288 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12138 troops, 113 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 63967 troops, 563 guns, 262 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Hengchow

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31145 troops, 204 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 434115 troops, 4584 guns, 39 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

[Ron Saueracker]

Not looking good for the yellow folks...[X(]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/18/42

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 24

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 7 destroyed, 15 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 89th Chinese Corps, at 47,36

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 32
Ki-30 Ann x 28
Ki-32 Mary x 12
Ki-21 Sally x 91
Ki-48 Lily x 30
Ki-46-II Dinah x 2

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
118 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Macassar , at 30,69


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 14
Hudson I x 23
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-25C Mitchell x 24


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
62 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 29

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Hengchow

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 422179 troops, 4666 guns, 39 vehicles

Defending force 103818 troops, 627 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 7

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 7


Japanese ground losses:
6562 casualties reported
Guns lost 192
Vehicles lost 11

Allied ground losses:
5474 casualties reported
Guns lost 204


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8340 troops, 289 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 21415 troops, 134 guns, 4 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
73 casualties reported
Guns lost 7


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rahaeng

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 24478 troops, 124 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 88597 troops, 423 guns, 288 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Guns lost 4


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11993 troops, 109 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 64012 troops, 564 guns, 261 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Hengchow

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 28946 troops, 109 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 463650 troops, 4859 guns, 27 vehicles

[mogami]

Hi, I had to spend over 4000 PP last turn. I only have 5500 PP left

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Mogami

Hi, I had to spend over 4000 PP last turn. I only have 5500 PP left

Wow! I am counting change but I make sure everything gets switched over to proper HQs, even if it does not matter due to generous PP allowances for unrestricted HQs.

[mogami]

Hi, Yes I had to spend the PP in order to get Saipan Defense Complex bases and units all assigned to common HQ.
(I have never yet transfered a infantry division from China or Korea/Manchuria) (I have transfered a few AA or engineer units)

[Oznoyng]

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker
The supply thing is annoying and is yet another thing which the AI can't seem to handle. During the entire six months Wuchow had near ample supply yet Kweilin was starving, despite being a two hexes from each other and being the same distance by road from Kweiyang, another short supply city, a city which should have had more supply than either Wuchow and Kweilin.

Wuchow produces supply and the others do not. Wuchow has 300 resource centers giving you 300 supply per day. Kweiyang and Kweilin produce nothing. Supply only moves if there is a surplus at the location that the supply will moved from. By saying that you had "near ample supply" you imply that Wuchow had enough supply to provide for troops in the city, but not enough to transfer very much to nearby towns. I would not expect Wuchow to have less supply than the other two unless you had a bunch of units, some units building bases, and lots of airgroups flying bombing missions all at Wuchow. (having IJA in the hex would modify this of course).

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Oznoyng

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker
The supply thing is annoying and is yet another thing which the AI can't seem to handle. During the entire six months Wuchow had near ample supply yet Kweilin was starving, despite being a two hexes from each other and being the same distance by road from Kweiyang, another short supply city, a city which should have had more supply than either Wuchow and Kweilin.

Wuchow produces supply and the others do not. Wuchow has 300 resource centers giving you 300 supply per day. Kweiyang and Kweilin produce nothing. Supply only moves if there is a surplus at the location that the supply will moved from. By saying that you had "near ample supply" you imply that Wuchow had enough supply to provide for troops in the city, but not enough to transfer very much to nearby towns. I would not expect Wuchow to have less supply than the other two unless you had a bunch of units, some units building bases, and lots of airgroups flying bombing missions all at Wuchow. (having IJA in the hex would modify this of course).

No...supply was over double required and in the green. Chunking and Kunming were both also well into the green.

[Ron Saueracker]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/25/42

Not much to note except Mogami has been pounding on Hengchow for about a week now and has reduced the fortifications from 9 to 6. I'm still uneasy with engineers reducing fortifications because the only way I can seriously rationalize fortifications in the abstract are in the form of prepared lines of defence, and this reduction by engineers seems more a specific tactical outcome, not a strategic one. Either way, Mogami is slowly grinding the little Chinamen into dust.

I'm surprised that all the convoys I've been sending into Rangoon have yet to be sighted by air recon, despite some of the large sized ones (12-15 vessels). The fact that mines have little radios telling the enemy that they are being swept has given up the goose as Mogami laid some by sub (which I spotted on the way in and back out...must have been sailing on the surface with huge oriental fireworks going off on her deck...subs are way too easily spotted...this was a covert minelaying mission and only one squadron of Cats was on Naval Search in the area...pretty amazing feat IRL).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1106 encounters mine field at Rangoon (29,34)

Allied Ships
DD Paladin
DD Hotspur
DD Van Galen

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Bangkok , at 29,40


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 6


Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 damaged

Manpower hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Wellington III bombing at 14000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 5th War Area , at 46,36

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 35
Ki-30 Ann x 30
Ki-32 Mary x 12
Ki-21 Sally x 105
Ki-48 Lily x 38

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
219 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Hengchow

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7083 troops, 252 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 129440 troops, 392 guns, 38 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
212 casualties reported
Guns lost 4


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8372 troops, 288 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 21169 troops, 136 guns, 4 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
102 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rahaeng

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25128 troops, 143 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 91722 troops, 459 guns, 292 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Guns lost 4


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11369 troops, 96 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 64928 troops, 580 guns, 267 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

[mogami]

Hi, I am letting stuff into Rangoon. Bring lots of supply and fuel.

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Mogami

Hi, I am letting stuff into Rangoon. Bring lots of supply and fuel.

[:D]

[Ron Saueracker]

Hmmmmm...I really need Robert Lansing and Paul Burke as my bomber leaders at Darwin. I need some "Hollywood" interpretation to combat the invincible Japanese fighters cutting swaths through my bomber boxes. Lost over twenty heavies over Amboina to 36 Zeros flying LR CAP from CVs or from Amboina if it is now open (KB was flying LR CAP over Amboina in an attempt to allow it time to repair). I wonder if Amboina is now open for business?

I'm happy with my results on target as most times the heavies do too much damage, but the effectiveness of CAP and vulnerability of the 4E bombers is an ongoing bitch of mine which needs constant bitch slapping.[:D] Those Zeros just did not have the punch or durability to be doing what we see here. Now, Tonys, Franks or some of the other later Japanese cannon armed interceptors could achieve these results with heavy losses among fighter but for the above results, alot of Zeros should have gonme down in the attempt.

The vulnerability of the 4E heavies makes up for their overly generous operating/maintenance/destructiveness performance but this should demand a look see, not a "two wrongs make a right" view. Anyone else agree that 4Es need more severe operating restrictions, a lessening of their destructive power but that their vulnerability to flimsy fighters needs to be addressed?

I'm really looking forward to see what Mogami has planned for Burma and how it will pan out. As I've said before, India has not been stripped of forces...all bases have an Army unit at or near it (one or two days march). Major bases like Madras, Bombay, Karachi, Calcutta etc have multiple LCUs stationed there.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/26/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Bangkok , at 29,40


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 6


Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Wellington III bombing at 14000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 5th War Area , at 46,36

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 35
Ki-30 Ann x 30
Ki-32 Mary x 12
Ki-21 Sally x 113
Ki-48 Lily x 47

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
120 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 96th Chinese Division, at 31,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 15
Ki-49 Helen x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 17th Indian Division, at 31,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
Ki-21 Sally x 40
Ki-49 Helen x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
150 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Amboina , at 39,73

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 42
LB-30 Liberator x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 5 destroyed, 15 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 21 destroyed, 32 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
55 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 64 troops unloading over beach at Buka, 63,90


Japanese ground losses:
242 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Hengchow

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7096 troops, 255 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 129868 troops, 430 guns, 42 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
204 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8410 troops, 290 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 21198 troops, 137 guns, 4 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rahaeng

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25076 troops, 142 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 92023 troops, 465 guns, 291 vehicles



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11362 troops, 93 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 65115 troops, 591 guns, 267 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Here is an example of the amount of men and materiel based in India for defence purposes honoring Mogami's and my commitment to the style of play we chose. Colombo is well fortified and garrisonned

[mogami]

Hi, My TF are now just 2 days from US West Coast. 16 Divisions from China and Manchuria Along with 4 Fighter Sentai, and 2 Bomber Sentai. 380 Ak,AP in 9 TF........and thats when I woke up. [X(]

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Mogami

Hi, My TF are now just 2 days from US West Coast. 16 Divisions from China and Manchuria Along with 4 Fighter Sentai, and 2 Bomber Sentai. 380 Ak,AP in 9 TF........and thats when I woke up. [X(]

Aaaaack![:D]

Here is Madras...