A toe in the water - wobbly vs herb (I try again)

[wobbly]

Another eventful day. Mayhem continues in China - Herb counters at Dobadura. Rangoon now has massive airforce.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/17/42

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TF 18 troops unloading over beach at Dobodura, 55,91


Japanese ground losses:
521 casualties reported

The handful of Aussies on the beach cause trouble with unloading at Dobadura but they wont have the numbers to overcome the troops that will attack.
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Day Air attack on 34th Division, at 45,35


Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 12
SB-2c x 13


No Allied losses

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

The Chinese bombers continue to throw in good attacks against the aggressive Jap ground forces.

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Day Air attack on 85th Naval Guard Unit, at 54,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 31
B-24D Liberator x 40

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported

A not so impressive bombing display by the heavies out of Cooktown this turn. I set them to hit these ground troops on the Kokoda trail again. Since Herb has countered my plan of making Dobadura a viable target for the Kokoda troops, I have to change tack. Next turn the tired starving and deseased troops will attack this 85th Naval unit and hope to force them back to PM.
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Day Air attack on 27th Chinese Corps, at 51,28

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 14 destroyed

Herb professes to have forgotten to move his budding zero pilots to a new target. I guess correctly with the AVG and despite the small number they are aces. 15 zeros lost today.
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Ground combat at 51,28

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 32424 troops, 386 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 59966 troops, 331 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
189 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

I am still suffering the effects of the shock attack last turn and the bombardments are adding to my pain - this is up north.
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Ground combat at 49,29

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15105 troops, 159 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 10397 troops, 69 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
167 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Allied ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Herb also tries to continue to push my Homan flank-holding force around and they continue to hold.
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Ground combat at 51,28

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 59698 troops, 325 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 32424 troops, 386 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
497 casualties reported
Guns lost 19

Allied ground losses:
201 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

For some reason my troops up in the North were still on shock attack. The Japs aren't impressed and I get stopped. The troops suffer medium losses and I call it quites retiring.
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In Burma my transport TF with supplies will arrive in Akyab this turn. Subs down the coast register the presence of something - hopefully just an enemy sub - but possibly another surface attack. The BBs move closer to Chandpur - as I have moved the P-40B group there for LRCAP - but still in range to react if they are given the opportunity. Recon of Rangoon shows that Herb has heavily increased the airpower there. Scouts still only find oscars on defense but I would not be surprised to find we had twin engine naval bombers now.
With this interesting news my transport TF is very likely to be in for torrid times in the next few days. The 50 flyable P-40Es and spitfires will be working overtime! A process of rotating in more units will be required as will another base unit to help with repairing the broken aircraft we inevitably get.
The attack force for Myitkina is now 16 Miles out. The 2nd UK Division is rapidly catching these guys up - 15 miles into the last hex.

IN China Herb has moved a unit into Homan - I imagine there are more on his tail but I order the troops to shock attack in the hope of spanking this one unit badly - a tank regiment I think.
He is also very interested in trying to bomb Ichang with trainy fighters. I move in some Hurricanes and I-16cs. There are 50 ACs there now. Not enough for parity even but maybe I can cull some of the newbies.
China is an awful mess of units trying to cut each other off.

In the South Pacific Yorktown makes it to Noumea and unloads her air sqds. They have all changed to funny sizes so I hope this reverts back to normal. Yorktown will continue to Pago Pago and on to San Fran - which is now overcome all repair jobs. An ASW group will join Yorktown - hopefully the 8 DDs can hold off subs.

In the North the first steps on my operation to strike the Kuriles starts to unfold with 2 regimental units and some seabees coming ashore under the watchful gaze of Wasp.

At Pearl a regimental engineering unit loads with orders to build up Baker Island. The growth of Baker will be required to convince Herb that my diversionary attack on Apamama is the real deal - not the Kuriles.

[ADavidB]

In the South Pacific Yorktown makes it to Noumea and unloads her air sqds. They have all changed to funny sizes so I hope this reverts back to normal. Yorktown will continue to Pago Pago and on to San Fran - which is now overcome all repair jobs. An ASW group will join Yorktown - hopefully the 8 DDs can hold off subs.

What's the damage level? Why not send her to Auckland so that you can start to get repaired much sooner? BTW - did you at least leave a group of Dauntlesses on board to provide ASW scouting?

BTW - there looks to be a typo in your statement above; "...which is now overcome all repair jobs." Are you sending all of your ships to San Fran for repairs? If so, that will slow things down dramatically. Why not spread ships around all four West Coast ports?

Good luck -

Dave Baranyi

[wobbly]

Hi dave - very good points - damn sometimes I think English is a language I picked up courtesy of Skippy cornflakes! (figures since that's an Australian brand [:D] )

Damage level is 60 Sys so she wont allow flights of dauntlesses on ASW. I thought you only got a benefit from repair yards when the repair points numbering twice the durability of the ship in question were available to be spent. Since repair yards can only hold 4 times their production of repair points - Auckland, in fact all the repair yards in the West Pacific - were inadequate to really speed up the repair job?
No - not all repair jobs are sent to San Fran - I defiantely spread them out. San Fran just has the greatest accumulation of repair points so therefore able to serve a larger number of ships.
All this statement was meant to say is that San Fran has no capital ships repairing there anymore. There is a CA, a DD and a few AKs with 1 or 2 damage but otherwise she is ready to take damaged ships. Yorktown is slated to go there unless you can update me that I have the repair model wrong.

As always thanks for the interest.

[ADavidB]

I thought you only got a benefit from repair yards when the repair points numbering twice the durability of the ship in question were available to be spent. Since repair yards can only hold 4 times their production of repair points - Auckland, in fact all the repair yards in the West Pacific - were inadequate to really speed up the repair job?

I use Auckland and the Australian repair yards all the time and they work as well for me for BBs and CVs as any of the West Coast ports. I do put a lot of effort in making certain that all of the ports are at level 9 too.

Give it a try, it can't hurt and the difference between all that time at sea and some slight edge due to San Fran having more points may come out a wash.

Good luck -

Dave

[wobbly]

Ahh Capice. Sydney is level 9 for me but Auckland is still building. I am using Sydney to upgrade the Enterprise and Lexington - one of those has upgraded by the way - thanks for that mate.
What about sending her back to Pearl? there are a few damaged ships there - and more's the point there are many undamaged ships. This though should not affect repair on Yorktown should it?

[ADavidB]

ORIGINAL: wobbly

Ahh Capice. Sydney is level 9 for me but Auckland is still building. I am using Sydney to upgrade the Enterprise and Lexington - one of those has upgraded by the way - thanks for that mate.
What about sending her back to Pearl? there are a few damaged ships there - and more's the point there are many undamaged ships. This though should not affect repair on Yorktown should it?

Anything that is damaged in a port takes precedence over a BB or a CV, so if you want to send the ship to Pearl, send all the other ships there to some other port first.

But it all depends upon which is closer, and where your opponent has his subs. I wouldn't risk a carrier that is crawling along with damage like your has. It is pure sub-bait. Go for the closest safe shipyard port and repair the damage enough to put some Dauntlesses back onto it so that you can get some "eyes" before sailing the long way home.

BTW - here is a thought - if you have a cruiser in the area that has a couple of scout planes on it, send it at full speed to "follow" your carrier TF. Then when it reaches the TF, transfer it into the carrier TF and set its planes to naval search. You'll get a bit more security and advanced notice of subs from that.

Good luck -

Dave Baranyi

[wobbly]

Hi Dave - Pearl has minimally damaged ships and I can look to send them on the invasion I am planning for the Kuriles or the feint in the Gilberts. Yorktown is now heading for Pearl. NO cruisers for miles unfortunately. Either east coast of Oz, Pearl or RN.

The retirees cannot push the blockers off the Kakoda trail. Herb attacks the supply effort to Akyab.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/18/42

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Day Air attack on Pagan , at 31,31


Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 15
Wellington III x 51
B-24D Liberator x 44


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 38

I continue to surpress the airfields about Akyab so that attacks can only really come from Rangoon - not powerful enough to hurt Rangoon for long enough without using the BBs at the moment.

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Day Air attack on No. 112 RAN Base Force, at 54,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
D3A Val x 48
B5N Kate x 36

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
217 casualties reported

I suppose, if I can't get the troops on the Kakoda trail out he will eventually just kill them all.
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Day Air attack on 3rd/A Division, at 45,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 18

Allied aircraft
I-153c x 15
SB-2c x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-153c: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged
SB-2c: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged

Herb defends one of his units on the chinese trails. The chinese biplanes are not up to taking on oscars.
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Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 29
Ki-21 Sally x 11
Ki-49 Helen x 35

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 8 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Emerald, Bomb hits 3
DD Napier
DD Decoy
DD Tjerk Hiddes
MSW Poole

As predicited Herb assaults the resupply effort. As yet no naval bombers but I imagine they are on their way. With just bombs to use against me the Emerald losses a 6" turret but that is really it. He doesn't really pay for the attack as he should as my fighters are too high. I actually decided not to change that this turn - hoping Herb thinks I will.

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Ground combat at Dobodura

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1567 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 106 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Dobodura base !!!



Allied ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

The force I took back DObadura with capitulates.
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Ground combat at Homan

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 96610 troops, 646 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 16056 troops, 207 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 64 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
3198 casualties reported
Guns lost 101

Allied ground losses:
181 casualties reported
Guns lost 13


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

This Japanese unit overstepped itself and entered Homan against a much numerically superior force. My shock attack ejects it like a Tsunami - many broken guns litter the battle
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 54,91

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 13278 troops, 64 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 2609 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
245 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Unfortunately Herb can give as good as he gets. There is now no way I can even move the units on the Kokoda trail. This is actually worse than loosing them outright as I can't begin to reform the unit. I have to wait until the whole lot is destroyed. At current speed these units will not be available until some time mid 44 I'd think. I may try and really bomb the hell out of them and hope I can get a bit more luck with a later attack but I am attacking with bayonets and knives - aerial drops are not able to reach.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[wobbly]

A few turns over the weekend to comment on. We wrangle over Akyab. He starts to encircle Homan. Otherwise it is quiet.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/21/42

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese Ships
DD Kuri, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Tsuga, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Hasu, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Chidori, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
DD Manazuru, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Devonshire, Shell hits 2
CL Mauritius, Shell hits 1
CL Birmingham
DD Foxhound
DD Inconstant
DD Nestor
DD Nizam
DD Norman
DD Panther

The turn before this Herb tried to attack my resupply effort at Akyab. Thankfully the incoming ships were sighted and the TF moved out of danger. I had just had a FT mission come in dropping off another base force - 2 there now. So I sent these ships back in as a surface combat group. They had the weight on the Jap forces and handed out a one sided thumping.
Both sides sighted each other at 4000 yards and both turned to fire torpedoes and the Manazuri was hit. The Japs retaliated by hitting Devonshire and Mauritious but the shells bounce. Birmingham finds the range on Chidori and puts shell after shell into her - she goes under. The 3 remaining are all able to make steam to get out of dodge and do so.
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Sub attack at 102,107

Japanese Ships
SS I-123

Allied Ships
CA Louisville, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Bah! The Louisville - veteran of combat about Port Moresby - is found 300 miles NW of Pago Pago by the I-123. The two torpedoes don't do as much damage as I initially thought they would considering she was already at 52 Sys damage. She is now at 75 damage and 72 float. I have turned her back to Pago Pago and baring another meeting with I-123 she should make it. Whether Pago Pago has the facilities (size 3) to save her is again in the lap of Mars: god of war.

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Ground combat at Homan

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 127585 troops, 1445 guns, 12 vehicles

Defending force 110839 troops, 640 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
51 casualties reported

Herb has moved an army into Homan but with size 9 forts it is not going to fall easily to frontal assault. His plan appears to be make me retreat as the city gets encircled. I am trying to stop this with reserves.

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The next days combat holds nothing new of interest. I bomb the intruders at Homan - he artillery bombards and does about as much damage to me as my bombing does to him.

A quick look around the place sees these plans afoot:

In India I am trying to race the Royal Sovereign back to Karachi. I initially wanted to send Revenge - it had more damage - but that damage slowed her to 3/3 movement at full speed and she is currently on station by Akyab. This did not appear to leave enough time to get to Karachi in time to return her to the Atlantic. Royal Sovereign had less accumulated damage and goes instead. Revenge will just have to repair a bit in Colombo as a speed 3 BB is almost useless.

The 21st, 22nd and 23rd Chindit units and 180K supplies have been moved to Diamond Harbour. They are very air-liftable and are heading to Myitkina.

Talking of Myitkina the 14th Indian Division just made it there. They will Deliberate attack this turn and if, as I expect, Herb has nothing there then the Burma road will again be open! I am reinforcing Myitkina with a Chinese Division and the 2nd UK Division. The Dakotas will move in Chindits and base units as they can - I do only have 3 sqds in India so this will be a long haul. Once I have the Burma road open again I want it to stay that way. Herb has bombed Wuchow industry into the stone age so replacement supplies will make all the difference. Myitkina is also a place to start attacking back down the Mandalay Road. It will all be about consolidation initially but as British strength increases, holding this stepping stone should be very beneficial.

Akyab is building up. The 20K supplies that side stepped Herbs attempt to sink them continue to unload. With port 2 it is not the most rapid job but there are 50 fighters on duty above the ships. Weather is also playing its part - Thunderstorms were most likely the reason Herb resorted to surface attacks in the first place. Daily recon over Rangoon Harbour points to more surface ships there though - 2 of which are listed as BBs! My Heavies have retired to Trimcommalee along with the carriers - I am still very paranoid about using the Brit fleet in this very confined part of the map - there just isn't any sea room if the Jap Carriers come calling (which is a good point - they have not been sighted now for over a week down by Ndini in the S Pacific).

In China things appear to have settled down. Neither of us have managed to get in behind the other with any power. My attempt to move troops from the Hex below Wuchow to Nanning (to the West) failed when the trail-finding AI decided the fastest way was not up the rail line but back into Wuchow and then off into the trails. I may try this again when we see what impact the Burma road has to supplies.

The poor beleagured Owen Stanley Refugees are still stuck in their mountains. I have started another attempt to get them out. A request for knowledge to the boards again. Here is the plan: land a sub transported unit on the trail on the way to Gili Gili. This should change the ownership to allied. The problem I have is, in my experience, you can't move a unit occupying a hex with an enemy unit anywhere other than towards a friendly base. There are no friendly bases still in New Guinea. Is this a pointless excercise? If this will not work there is no way left that I can get them out short of taking Gili Gili. Something I am not at all ready to do!

Down by Noumea the sub threat is intense. I count 10 Jap subs around the place. As we saw 2 days ago this danger has meant the damage of the Louisville. The Yorktown is in the same waters - although with decidedly heavier ASW defense.

2 base units have braved the sub threat around Noumea to make it safely to their new home. Power in the South Pacific is slowly accruing.

Heading to Baker Island is a full regiment of engineers. Operation Rainbow continues with progress and this is an important stepping stone. Enterprise and Saratoga are in attendance.

Attu Island in the Aleutians has 2 RCTs digging in. The base will be built up, supplies and fuel for an operation against the Kuriles being put into place. Wasp is on guard duty although Attu has some air power now as well, a sqd of Hudsons and Kittyhawks.

[wobbly]

A couple of days of quiet and then Herb makes a big try against the resupply effort of Akyab.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/26/42

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Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 104
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 30
Ki-21 Sally x 11
Ki-49 Helen x 62

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 43

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 30 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 12 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 5 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 25 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Emerald, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Rowan, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Tjerk Hiddes
AK Empire Rani
DD Express, Bomb hits 1
DD Napier, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Lynx, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Empire Razorbill

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 8000 feet
4 x Ki-49 Helen launching torpedoes at 200 feet

The first thing to note is this is a very large raid from Rangoon. As expected Herb had moved up a tonne of zeros, 4 Daitais by the look. The second is that Helens do indeed carry torpedoes, just ask the crews of Emerald and Napier! The Warhawks do an awesome job defending against the zillions of escorting fighters. This is the only action that involves loss of aircraft on this day and the the scores are allied 34 Jap 43. The spitfires weren't particularly effective. They were flying at lower altitude to try and get at the bombers. They do manage to bring down the only bomber - a single Helen.
The Emerald and Napier are in a bad way. They, and the less damaged Express, detach and head to Chandpur at full speed. This reduces my defensive firepower markedly but with torpedo totting Helens within range I don't want to risk too many more of the RN.
The transports still hold about 18K supplies which I would like to get unloaded so they will stay. Air defense was bolstered by another sqd of spitfires and the Warhawks automatically gain about 20 replacement planes - Akyab is over 20K supplies. Another thing to take from the attack today is that many of the zeros were turned back with bad morale. This should give akyab a bit of time to make the replacement Warhawks airworthy.
12 pilots are replaced from the pools to make up losses in the battle - the benefit of fighting over your own bases - however this warhawk grp is not very well trained.
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More news from the sub-continent is that Royal Sovereign and two DDs are returned to the Atlantic. Akyab increases its airbase size to 5. There aren't enough base units there to accommodate a large bomber force yet but two more base units are slated to move there.

Myitkina continues to attract more troops. An Indian base unit is all but moved in and the Chindits are getting closer to their jump off point for airlifting in. The UK 2nd Division is still about 10 days of jungle slog away. I am surprised with the temerity in which Herbie-sam is conducting Burma manoeuvers.

In china I repulsed a Jap regiment moving up towards Chungking. I had 5 Chinese corps there though so the 7-1 odds I got weren't that wonderful. China has moved off the boil and is all about my bombing of his troops in Homan and him trying to train pilots by moving the target of his planes around. So far I have not been able to catch another group unawares like I did a training zero Daitai a week or so ago.

The South Pacific is quiet other than a back to back raid on the Jap troops stopping my PM refugees on the Owen Stanleys. The first raid was not contested - the second met 30 zeros and I lost 4 heavies (although they did knock down a zero).

Further south and I now have 2 ASW TFs chasing the multitude of subs around New Caledonia. So far no luck

Bad weather over night in Pago Pago Harbour ment that servicing crews woke to find the CA Louisville on the bottom of the harbour - she has seccumbed to her two torpedo wounds. Anyone who follows my games knows I am very hard on my cruisers - Emerald and Louisville on the wrong side of this today.

Yorktown though continues on her way with her 8 DD escorts.

The engineering regiment bound for Baker Island is about two days away. Enterprise and Saratoga on escort duty

Unloading of the engineers, RCTs and supplies at Attu Island is slow due to the ports. So far not even a Japanese sniff though.

[wobbly]

2 days again today. I time an attack on Rangoon perfectly after Herb maanges to hit my supply effort to Akyab. THen on day two he again strikes my AKyab suppliers on the way home and attempts to take down the walls of Homan.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/28/42

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Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 11 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 4 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 5 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 5 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 7 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
126 casualties reported

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 57

No defensive fighters - he had tried to sweep Akyab. My Liberators do a number on teh airfield and planes based there.
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Day Air attack on 56th Division, at 30,30


Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 16
Wellington III x 30


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

He is moving a major infantry division up to Akyab. I will start to bomb these guys very heavily. They can take on the jungle and the bombing and see how well they come out the other side.
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Ground combat at Homan

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 103191 troops, 711 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 130002 troops, 1457 guns, 155 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
909 casualties reported
Guns lost 29
Vehicles lost 4

An intensely damaging bombardment from the chinese defenders of Homan.
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Ground combat at Sian

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1069 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 4800 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2



Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported

And what is this? Herb tries to land paratroops on the base force behind the Homan lines at Sian. I set the AVG and some I-16c fighters to LRCAP and bring the brit Dakotas in to drop in some Chinese troops.

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/29/42

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Sub attack at 77,68

Japanese Ships
AK Tokihime Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
SS Haddock

A sub above the Marshals finds a mark but the two spreads of torpedoes are ineffective.
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Day Air attack on Gili Gili , at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 46
B-24D Liberator x 43

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 18000 feet

I throw in a high level attack on Gili Gili. I want it to have to run on the smell of an oily rag.

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Day Air attack on TF at 29,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 73
G3M Nell x 9
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 3
Ki-21 Sally x 6
Ki-49 Helen x 32

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 15
P-40E Warhawk x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed, 1 damaged
G3M Nell: 2 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 2 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 10 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 15 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Empire Razorbill, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Poole
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Foam
AK Empire Lynx, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Arrow
DD Decoy

Yet again Herb finds my resupply effort to Akyab. The Helens and their torpedos doing the most damage. My spitfires get ravaged. This coming turn I am moving 2 new Base units into Akyab so he has a real target. Hoping for some thunderstorms over the port.
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Ground combat at Homan

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 128182 troops, 1382 guns, 150 vehicles

Defending force 120120 troops, 724 guns, 0 vehicles

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


Japanese ground losses:
10300 casualties reported
Guns lost 226
Vehicles lost 8

Allied ground losses:
1332 casualties reported
Guns lost 17

That is the heaviest butchers bill I have seen in this game. Herb tries a deliberate attack at Homan after his troops have suffered aerial attack for about a week. I don't think he was expecting level 9 forts.

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Ground combat at Sian

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1816 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 5794 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)


Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

He also tries to bolster the surprise attack behind the lines at Sian, but I have reinforcements there now and the 2 fort levels are starting to make the job a tall order.
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the bitter fighting in Burma and China are set to continue. The South Pacific, by comparison, is very quiet.

Hopefully I can get the two base units into Akyab without too much more trouble. I'll then have 100 aerial support and some serious bombing of his assets, with fighter support, can start. Rangoon will then be a difficult place to stay.

China is a nest of vipers. My units tart on their way to Nanning but Herb thinks I am after Canton - I think the forts and the nine resident units there will be too strong.

[ADavidB]

Day Air attack on TF at 29,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 73
G3M Nell x 9
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 3

Ouch, that's a lot of escorts for your planes to try to take on. Where are those Zeros flying in from? Can you reach that base with your B-24s?

Dave Baranyi

[wobbly]

Hi David - they are all flying out of Rangoon and I did hit them with the B-24s killing about 50 ACs! He has a wole lot more than that against me today. I am trying the heavies again - more later. Thanks again.

Herb unleashes the Army airforce and land based carrier zeros on my forces in huge numbers. Many of my fighter sqds are hacked to pieces.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/30/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Homan , at 49,30

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 100
Ki-21 Sally x 51
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 7 destroyed
I-153c: 1 destroyed
SB-2c: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 16

A massively escorted raid on Homan while the fighters based there are away covering Sian. I definately come out second in this one.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 34

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 5
Spitfire Vb x 21
P-40E Warhawk x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 5 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 6 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Herb then releases some of the newer variants against Akyab. I don't do so badly here but it doesn't stay this way.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 29,27

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
G3M Nell x 16
Ki-49 Helen x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Razorbill, on fire
AK Empire Lynx, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

My first loss to the supply run to Akyab. The Nells catch and punish the Empire Lynx - she breaks in two and disappears beneath the waves.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 80
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 42
Ki-21 Sally x 17
Ki-49 Helen x 34

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 3
Spitfire Vb x 15
P-40E Warhawk x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 9 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 4 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 14 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 13 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Empire Webster
MSW Agra
AK Empire Gilbert, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Empire Prince, Bomb hits 1


Allied ground losses:
46 casualties reported

Then a truly massive raid against the new base force units moving into Akyab. I take a fearful pounding as Herb gains local superiority. The bombers were untouched but don't do too much damage thankfully. The majority of the two base units should be ashore by the time the bombers start flying tomorrow. Unfortunately the Buffalos - which I still use due to their range - were being used to LRCAP the incoming base units and I forgot to take them off this duty.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 45,34

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 38629 troops, 230 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 22381 troops, 266 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
180 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Allied ground losses:
1259 casualties reported
Guns lost 30


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

I manage to force the 40th IJA Division back off the trail to Chungking but it is at some cost.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Homan

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 102831 troops, 698 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 115200 troops, 999 guns, 128 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
221 casualties reported
Guns lost 11

Bombardments against the attackers at Homan are still doing very good work.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Indian air defense network, which was starting to look quite capable is suddenly scrabbling for aircraft. I don't have the fighters to replace the number of losses I am taking. 20 Spitfires were lost today and I only get 40 per month. I rotate the P-40Es and the spitfire sqds to Calcutta - 1 of which only has 2 planes left. I have to return this sqd to Hurricanes, which are far more plentiful now with 143 spare ACs. More Spitfires, Hurricanes and my scarse as hens teeth P-40Bs, are moved to Akyab. This should enable me to get about 80 fighters up against the incoming raids. I lost 43 ACs to his 35 today, this did include 19 Tonys though. I would actually much rather he has them against fighters than defending against Heavy bombers - so I suppose I should be thankful. He has the initiative because I am delivering troops and I'm forced to defend them as well as I am able. To try and change this I am sending the heavies after Pagan, which he is flying his sweep missions out of. The Wellington and Liberator pilots are now very experienced so I hope they can survive the defenses.
On the naval front I notice a cheeky Jap sub very close to Chandpur and try to catch the bugger with an ASW force - Hurricanes LRCAPing.

The Chinese and allied airforces in China are also scrambling to keep up with the numbers of Japanese ACs that are being bought against them as well. I pull the AVG out of Homan as I can't replace lost planes - they killed another 5 topsys flying more Paratroops into Sian today. I have also implemented attacks on Hanoi's resources to try and get him to move fighter units around.

My Chinese troops on the way to Nanning are making good headway. I expect Herb to try and cut them off from behind but I should still be able to retire if this is what's done.

Elsewhere the delivery of the engineering regiment to Baker has been completed although there are still 15K supplies to be offloaded. I feel like I am offering the carriers that are on duty there to the lions but at present neither they nor the transport mission have been sighted.

[ADavidB]

Herb unleashes the Army airforce and land based carrier zeros on my forces in huge numbers. Many of my fighter sqds are hacked to pieces.

You are now suffering the effects of the "Myth" of Japanese pilot "availability". So many people talk about the replacement rate of Japanese pilots and recommend that the Allies try a war of attrition. But remember what PzB did to you, me and now Nomad; all a Japanese player has to do is train rebuilding and new units on helpless Allied ground units in China or elsewhere and lo-and-behold, in no time at all the Japanese player has more "super pilots".

At the same time the Allied player is faced with the ugly and inescapable truth that he has a grand total of 50 USAAF fighters per month to "play with" until October 1942. Forget about all of those F4Fs - there aren't enough land-based Marine or Navy fighter units to use them until mid-1943. And those Brit planes don't go very far when you are facing 80-90 experience Japanese fighters.

That's why I am very deliberately husbanding my planes, building up reserves and avoiding situations where the Japanese can get local air superiority. You've just seen first hand how fast your air reserves can be depleted.

Good luck -

Dave Baranyi

[wobbly]

Hi David - that is exactly what is happening. Although I am trying to make training in China a difficult proposition by defending my troops with good fighters to hammer his trainees. This approach has worked on two occasions but he is also moving his land forces all over the place forcing me to trya ns stop flanking attacks. When I do this it is giving him many locations to send his trainees and my interception rates aren't that great. I am thinking of turning the AVG - with their longer range P-40Bs - into dedicated cadet killers and using the Hurricanes, Spitfires and Chinese planes to defend cities (as best as possible). He also has locations elsewhere to train - like my troops on the Owen Stanleys. He tries attacks on Akyab again today but the shoe is very much on the other foot.

Large Aerial attack on Akyab again today.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/31/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 29,27

Japanese Ships
SS I-11

Allied Ships
DD Norman
DD Nizam
DD Nestor
DD Foxhound
DD Inconstant
DD Van Galen

I alluded to the fact I saw a sub off the coast of chandpur unfortunately I don't hit it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pagan , at 31,31

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 12

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 54
B-24D Liberator x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 4 destroyed
Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 destroyed
Ki-54 Hickory: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 7 damaged - 4 of these guys fall on their way home- 3 pilots are lost.
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 44

A satisfactory attack on Pagan catches about 20 planes on the ground (intelligence has more destroyed than in this combat report).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Chinese Cavalry Corps, at 45,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 25
Ki-51 Sonia x 55

No Japanese losses

Day Air attack on 41st USA Division, at 54,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 34

It's attacks like these that are difficult to stop (especially the zero attack) - a matter of luck I suppose.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 15
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 24

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 13
Spitfire Vb x 11
P-40B Tomahawk x 45

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 13 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 10 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 1 damaged
Spitfire Vb: 1 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

A slap to the face for Herb's anti-shipping attempts. Nothing gets through to my shipping and I take a heavy toll on the attackers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3
Ki-49 Helen x 4

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 13
Spitfire Vb x 11
P-40B Tomahawk x 44

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 13 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 8 destroyed, 3 damaged

This next attempt is not so markedly one sided but still favours my forces. All 3 of the new Tojos go down. Again the bombers do not get through. I loose 10 priceless P-40Bs - that's one months production in one day. The P-40Bs are retired to Chandpur to defend shipping and the port. A Spitfire and Hurricane sqd are moved in.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Homan , at 49,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 63
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 5
I-153c x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
I-153c: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Even oscars can do the business if I can't get enough fighters for defence. The Chinese biplanes are really just targets and should be used further back to offset bombers likelihood of attacking rather than actually defending places.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Homan

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 102969 troops, 705 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 131130 troops, 1178 guns, 128 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
197 casualties reported
Guns lost 23

Herb has moved more troops up to Homan and the Chinese guns are still taking a reasonable toll.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Despite the loss of 10 Tomahawks this is a very fruitful day for the fighter jocks. 64 Jap planes to 23 lost. My ships in Akyab harbour are not bothered and so have unloaded half of their charges. As long as they are not interrupted by a surface task force I should have them unloaded by the time the Jap bombers try again tomorrow. Many of his formations are now failing morale checks so the 4 fighter sqds (2 spit - 2 hurri) will hopefully be able to turn them aside during the day.

With the paradrop crisis at Sian averted by the 66th Chinese Division being partially air lifted in and the arrival of another Chinese Division via the trail from Chungking to Sian, the Dakotas are now free to start their next job: flying Chindit Brigades into Myitkina. The 2nd UK Division arrived here via the trail from Ledo so Myitkina is now quite strongly held.

I am contemplating reinforcement of Indian forces with aircraft in Oz. Another fighter group and some more Dakotas would give me better defence and more tactical flexibility.

Elsewhere everything is quiet although I have loaded a USAAF base unit in SF for delivery to Brisbane.

[wobbly]

Herb blitzes my Chinese airforce.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/02/42

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Day Air attack on Homan , at 49,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 107
Ki-21 Sally x 54
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 5
I-16c x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 4 destroyed
I-16c: 33 destroyed
I-153c: 2 destroyed
SB-2c: 2 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 40

I-16c fighters are dog fodder. They are absolutely spanked out of the sky above Homan.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Homan , at 49,30

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 27
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 35
Ki-21 Sally x 87
Ki-49 Helen x 21

Allied aircraft
I-16c x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-16c: 6 destroyed
Hurricane II: 7 destroyed
SB-2c: 2 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed
I-153c: 5 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
48 casualties reported

Airbase hits 28
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 112

He follows up with a devastating raid that smashes the airfield and many of the planes left on the field. In try Wobbly style I had not been careful with my replacement settings and now there are a stack of I-16cs damaged on a broken airfield. Herb has put his back into this so he wont let many get away. The supply damage will also start to hurt the ground troops ability to defend the walls.
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Ground combat at Homan

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 103147 troops, 710 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 131277 troops, 1163 guns, 129 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

The Paratroops that were dropped on Sian have somehow been able to move from Sian to the hex between Sian and Homan despite me having an HQ unit there. Maybe HQ units don't have the same presence as 2 or 3 sqds of infantry. Anyway with all the bombing which is lowering supplies, and now the Paras moving to an area that blocks supply traffic, things are getting tighter in Homan. The city itself should be very hard to crack. Herb is trying to surround it though and this will make holding it far more difficult. With no retreat hex even level 9 forts are not much help. Surrounding Homan are 6 hexes, only the northern one does not have enemy units. The most important one to clear is the rail hex which has the Paras camped on it. Herb has 9 units of some description on the road hex to the NE. They will be trying to move to the currently unhindered northern hex. I may yet move troops down from the North so that if he moves into the hex north of Homan he gets cut off. With no airforce though any of these options will be hard to accomplish.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Herb killed 83 planes to my 21 today. That is not at all good. I think he has moved the forces he had in Burma across to China as he can't have that many Helen Sqds and they are taking part in both locations. Akyab is now a level 5 airfield so it might be a good time to remind him that I have some firepower in the West. I think the first fighter - heavy bomber coordinated strike on Rangoon might be the go. An attack from the RN to follow up this time rather than initiate closing Rangoon. I have a problem here: the British Government wants to get one of the carriers back to the Atlantic! I only have two... I do know someone at the Admiralty so this may be the situation where I cash in some of the favours he owes me and get the carrier to stay!

My Chinese troops that have moved on Nanning are now in range to see that only one unit is defending. Hopefully this is only a base force. Anything too much stronger and despite the fact I have a numerical advantage I am pretty sure the fortifications will make taking the place a no go idea.

I have sortied 10 of the subs in townsville as it does not look like I will be able to get any of the stranded men in PM out. They will go to Darwin for work in the DEI.

Other than China and Burma things are still quiet.

[ADavidB]

Herb killed 83 planes to my 21 today. That is not at all good.

You are playing into your opponent's strength. Why waste planes in China? Why worry about China at all? If your opponent decimates your air forces and your air reserves, what will you do when he attacks elsewhere? You just can't keep enough supply in China to keep your forces up to snuff, let alone support an air defense.

Remember - if your opponent happens to be able to take China, what is he going to do then if you are prepared elsewhere? If he tried to send troops through the Burmese jungles you can bomb them at your leisure and beat them when they stagger out - remember, jungle is your friend!

And if you build up your forces farther back, particularly your air units, if your opponent comes via ship you can then stop him at the beaches.

Good luck -

Dave Baranyi

[wobbly]

Hi David - I dont' think China is a lost cause in this scenario. I have the Burma trail open and that is dumping 500 supplies into Yenan a turn. The Chinese LCUs have an average Exp of about 45 (with some about 65-70) as opposed to the 35 or so in the Dec 7 scenario. Also Herb is utilising alot of his airpower here. If it is in China it isn't somewhere else. The planes that were destroyed in this situation were ones that are part of the Chinese AF, while I grant you could move them to Burma maybe there doesn't seem much point. I am also trying to restict the loations he can train up new pilots. I may be a little premature in this attempt and might be better served when the US really starts to put pressure on. If he can't come back to China to retrain easily then his pilots will start to degrade. This option will not even exist if I just roll over. This will not happen without a few bumps like yesterday and today.
In my Japanese game I have dealt to China and have not found Malaria to be a problem as long as you have your units in good bases. So I want him to fight for the good bases.

As expected Herb hammers Homan again and basically destroys all the ACs on the ground. I get a clear run at Port Moresby but don't accomplish too much.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/03/42
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Day Air attack on Homan , at 49,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 33
Ki-21 Sally x 55
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-16c: 4 destroyed
Hurricane II: 3 destroyed

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 16

Bang whollop crash kapow - Batman and the other guy in body hugging tights do a demo session on the Chinese AF. Unfortunately there are Hurricanes there for the destroying too.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Homan , at 49,30

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 27
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 31
Ki-21 Sally x 84
Ki-49 Helen x 18

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 5 destroyed
I-16c: 12 destroyed
I-153c: 1 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 105

Ahh crap - the caped crusader and his side kick are making sure of their work. It's very disappointing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Nanning , at 40,38


Allied aircraft
SB-2c x 16


No Allied losses

Runway hits 2

The first attack on Nanning. I will try and ramp these up before assaulting the place. Chinese forces will be in position in the next day.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 61
B-24D Liberator x 48


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 11 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
376 casualties reported
Guns lost 15

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 69

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 18000 feet

A reasonable attack on Port Moresby. I am sending them back while the weather is good for a lower altitude attack. If they can do more damage I might be able to get a naval strike in against them. The bombing notices about 5 Tfs of various description in harbour.
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Day Air attack on 56th Division, at 30,30


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 38
B-24D Liberator x 38


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Guns lost 10
Vehicles lost 1

Just keeping the 56th Division, south of Akyab, honest.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 4th Chinese Corps, at 42,39

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 67
Ki-21 Sally x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed, 16 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Herb reverts to attacking Wuchow again. No fighters escort it so I decide to defend the place vigourously. 1 spit, 1 hurricane and 1 mohawk sqd move in.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 89th Chinese Corps, at 43,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 32

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

He's also trying to train his Tonys here so it would be nice to give them a surprise.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Very little that is new in Burma. The Dakotas continue to move the Chindits into Myitkina. Akyab continues to build forts and a 3rd level to the port. My fighters are slowly recuperating from the smashing they took at the hands of the Rangoon based fighters. I decide to revert a sqd of spitfires to Buffalos and use these as training ACs rather waste the more important Spitfires. 1 of my hurricane sqds at Akyab will also start strafing the advancings (I think) 56th Division.

China is a slow moving morass of men. I don't know if I am behind his lines or it is the other way around - maybe both. Herb has advanced another unit towards Chungking that my blocking force is going to attempt to repulse.

In the central and south Pacific a sub spies a TF of transports heading to Tarawa. This puts them in range of the Saratoga and Enterprise group. They were slated to retire this turn but I don't think these guys are being covered by carriers and Tarawa only appears to be flying scout planes (which have yet to find either my carriers or the Baker reinforcement group). So Spruance is given orders to sprint in to the south of Tarawa and wake the Jappers up! I hope there are troops on board as well!

[ADavidB]

My fighters are slowly recuperating from the smashing they took at the hands of the Rangoon based fighters. I decide to revert a sqd of spitfires to Buffalos and use these as training ACs rather waste the more important Spitfires. 1 of my hurricane sqds at Akyab will also start strafing the advancings (I think) 56th Division.

What is your stock situation for fighters? How many fighters can you put together at a time to stand up to your opponent's attacks? If he sends two Daitai at you can you match them fighter for fighter?

My point is - as long as you bring fewer fighters to the battle than your opponent you will continue to lose fighters faster than you can replace them. The non-Chinese fighters that you are using in China could be used to defend Alkyb in depth and allow you to match your opponent plane-for-plane.

I'm not saying that you should just fold in China, but instead why not just slow down your opponent with as little in the way of outside help as possible. There are other more important places where you want to mass your forces. And you don't want to be always short on fighters.

Good luck -

Dave Baranyi

[wobbly]

Hi Dave - yes I am at a short straw as far as plane numbers go. The loss of the replacements

for the Chinese was a real blow - even if they aren't that capable. I have no P-40B or E

types in the pot and spitfires are only just starting to make headway in numbers again. I have many Hurricanes and many of the lesser variants but the best planes are in high demand. I think I have done well on the ground and that is in no small extent to the defense of the

ground troops by these fighters. The Chinese bomber force is now a well oiled machine with no

unit below 72 Experience!! It is not possible to make Herb react to me a bit in China without

getting the call wrong a few times. Another point though is that Herb appears to have moved

away from Burma again so if I can supress Rangoon and keep it down then I can start to move

the defensive figters back to China again.

2 Days and a shot of the situation in China - where it is all starting to happen.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/04/42

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Day Air attack on Nanning , at 40,38


Allied aircraft
SB-2c x 11


No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3

More softening up to give me a chance in the next day when I attack.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 36
B-24D Liberator x 36


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 5 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
452 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 54

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 12000 feet

I attack from a little lower this time and still get some serious casualty figures from the

men stationed there - I loose a Liberator.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 70th Division, at 45,34


Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 5
IL-4c x 14
SB-2c x 21


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

THe 70th Division is on its way towards Chungking and I want them gone so a bit of

preparatory bombardment before the attack in the afternoon.
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Day Air attack on 29th Chinese Division, at 45,34

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 21
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 32
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 20
Ki-21 Sally x 61
Ki-49 Helen x 19

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged


Allied ground losses:
112 casualties reported

Herb is trying the same thing on my chinese. They are defended by the AVG who manage to get

amongst the bombers despite a hefty escort. 1 more of these priceless pilots falls to Jap

cannons though.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 45,34

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 36323 troops, 190 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 14978 troops, 181 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Allied ground losses:
332 casualties reported
Guns lost 10


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

With losses, again the Japs are forced back to the South by my Chungking blocking force.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 48,30

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 9232 troops, 66 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1897 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 18 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
79 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

The Paras below Sian are sent packing and they retreat to a hex by themselves - supplies can

get back to Homan now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Homan

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 103318 troops, 712 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 131727 troops, 1154 guns, 133 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
268 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
Vehicles lost 1

The allied Artillery is doing a better job again without Jap aerial intervention.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well in the next turn I will shock attack Nanning - I now know what is there but I shall

leave it to the next report. Herb is pushing very hard to outflank my units in China and I am

doing my best to do the same to him. Problem being that he has much better units to do it

with. Both of us need to keep a good number together to get local superiority and this is

also the greatest weakness of success. You have to split defensive forces off to guard major

intesections and supply routes or risk being cut off. The units Herb is moving on Chungking I

think are ripe for this type of problem - the same with the ones trying to go around Homan.

IN Burma the 1st Burma rifles are shock attacking the small blocking force on the way to

Akyab. Most of the allied bombing capability will be softening the target.

In the Gilberts you may remember I saw some transport ships heading for Tarawa. Nothing

scouted by my carriers that rushed into position. I split off two DDs to go in and have another scout and keep the carriers here for one more day. Baker Island supply has nearly finished unloading.

DAY TWO

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/05/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tarawa at 85,91

Japanese Ships
MSW W.12, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
MSW Asahi Maru #2
MSW Kyo Maru #3, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
PG Tamo Maru #6
PG Edo Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
PG Magan Maru
AK Nikkyu Maru
AK Ina Maru

Allied Ships
DD Smith, Shell hits 1
DD Cassin, Shell hits 18, on fire, heavy damage

Ahaa - there is someone at Tarawa! The MSWs and PGs are not at all defenseless though. The hits to Cassin are with 4.7 inch shells and she has to be scuttled at the beginning of the next day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 48th Construction Battalion, at 30,27


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 39
B-24D Liberator x 33


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
168 casualties reported

It's this construction battalion barring the way to Akyab - they pay for their cheekiness.
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Day Air attack on 56th Division, at 30,30


Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 20


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported

I have started to use the fact I have targets one hex away from airfields to allow bombing

runs for training.
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Day Air attack on 20th Chinese Corps, at 49,30

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 5
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 29
Ki-21 Sally x 26
Ki-49 Helen x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Herb mounted about 7 splintered attacks on Homan. All aimed at troops. They do reasonably

well damaging them. The other side of the coin is that I get about 10 damaged planes repaired

and out to Chungking because he relaxed his attacks on the airfield.

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Day Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 85,91


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17
SBD Dauntless x 28


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PG Magan Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AK Ina Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Asahi Maru #2, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

This is the only attack mounted by my carriers against the Tarawa force. Very disappointing

but mainly the weather's fault - socked in during the morning.
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Ground combat at Nanning

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 97686 troops, 699 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 14572 troops, 184 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5)


Japanese ground losses:
309 casualties reported
Guns lost 18

Allied ground losses:
544 casualties reported
Guns lost 26

And there we are.... 9 units cannot budge one through the 5 forts at Nanning. All Chinese

units are now badly fatigued and disrupted. I decide to retire gracefully to my own forts. As

expected, if there was a combat unit, and with the lack of engineers in Chinese units, I was

going to have alot of trouble piercing the protection.
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Ground combat at 30,27

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4852 troops, 44 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 454 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 186 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

That's one blocking force moved along. They retire towards Pagan which equals deep into the

jungle. That is one way to wreck a combat engineering unit.
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The 1st Burma rifles continues down the mud track to its next target and hopefully also to

restoring land based supplies to Akyab. It is important to note that now the Japanese have

two units moving towards Akyab from the South. I know one of these is the 56th Division. If the other is another Divisional unit I might have trouble holding Akyab!. The 14th Indian Division is Chandpur waiting for Fast transport if necessary and I am moving the 13th Chindits back to Chandpur for aerial delivery. That along with 3 base units and a Tank regiment should be able to hang on. In the next turn Akyab should become a level 3 port and from there I will concentrate on forts (currently at level 2).
The Bombers revert to hitting ground units - especially this southern threat - for the next

turn. Once I get to level 3 port I will look to move in more supplies and then also move in

the Heavy bombers to hit Rangoon - fun fun fun!

Lets skip down south and return to China with our added picture. In the Gilberts I order the

carriers to scarper south. They have loitered for long enough. I am obviously running from

the KB! It hasn't been sighted but it often gets sighted at very inopportune times... like

now would be bad. So Spruance runs south and most of the other shipping about these parts

also takes a detour.

The other two carriers of the Pacific fleet: Lexington and Hornet have now left Sydney with a

view to cover a raiding party to Port Moresby. If my Heavy bombers can get in there and wreck

the place it would be nice to add to the carnage with the BBs from Brisbane.

OK China - in the North you can see the enemy units to the NE of Homan trying to go around. I have started to move units south from Yenen with the understanding that they can cut off these outflankers. He has 9 units in this merry band. If I can move about 5 down to threaten he will have to leave about 3 or 4 to hold. Doing this means the outflanking units should be

watered down to the point I can hold against them when they either try to take Sian or cut

off Homan.

In the centre you can see the threat of the 7 units now on my blocking force south of

Chungking. Obviously loosing the capital is not an option. These blockers are all at 3 forts

and I am going to start bombing the threat heavily. Thankfully Herbie-san was a bit

unorganised with his move forward and allowed me to repulse 2 of his units. They should not

be much help to him for a week or so. I can also look to cut him off if he moves too many

units up by moving more of my own along the trail out to the west. The units out that way

have already been forced to retreat once though and are therefore not very well.

Herb is also trying to outflank me at Kweilin. This will be harder to oust as he has bought 2 units and mine in Kweilin itself are not well endowed with supplies. This will obviously get worse if I don't open the trails!

Down to the South and you can see my Nanning attack force. These guys are going to retreat.

They have ruptured themselves against the walls and just do not have enough engineers to get

passed. Herb has tried to cut me off with forces from Canton but you can see I have plenty of options to getting back and I may even be able to repluse his block force to Canton.

So China really is a quagmire!

[wobbly]

China continues to be where it is at. Both of us continuing this strange dance of getting behind each others lines.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/07/42

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Day Air attack on 39th Division, at 45,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 11

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 9
IL-4c x 10
SB-2c x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 damaged
SB-2c: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1

It is now the turn of the force moving on Chungking. It is too large for my defenders to safely stop so I am retreating. At present he has not put in an attack but he is LRCAPing the ground units. My bombers do get through though and loose no aircraft in the process.
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Day Air attack on 55th Division, at 30,30


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 33
B-24D Liberator x 27


No Allied losses

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

This is more interesting news. The other unit below Akyab turns out to be another powerful division: the 55th. This prompts me to start fast transporting the 17th Indian Division to Akyab from Chandpur.
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Day Air attack on 56th Division, at 30,30


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 12
B-24D Liberator x 11


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
77 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1

THe 56th also gets a visit from the heavies.
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Day Air attack on 4th New Chinese Corps, at 45,34

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 14
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 32
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 6
Ki-21 Sally x 25
Ki-49 Helen x 11

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
102 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Here is Herb's response to my bombing of his thrust on CHungking - he is attacking the defenders.
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Day Air attack on 7th Chinese Corps, at 43,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 61

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
56 casualties reported

These Chinese units are below Wuchow. I move my fighter planes back there to LRCAP these ground pounders and hopefully catch the bombers without escort. I have a nasty feelign htis will backfire though and I meet a tonne of Tonies or something else nasty.
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Ground combat at 45,34

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 95786 troops, 1070 guns, 30 vehicles

Defending force 35413 troops, 169 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
114 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Here are the actual numbers difference between the units he is thrusting on Chungking with and my defenders. This is why I am retiring. Another reason though is if he retreats as well he will be much easier to cut off by a thrust on the West East Road.
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Ground combat at Homan

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 103486 troops, 709 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 132257 troops, 1160 guns, 132 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
113 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 1

THe blockers in Homan continue to do nothing - he has to be waiting for his flanking move to come into power. This will be along wait as it doesn't cut me off until it moves two completely offroad hexes!
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THe supplies that have come across the Burma road must have triggered a supply dump to all units as suddenly no Chinese base has over 15K supplies and every unit bar the ones cut off (mainly in Kweilin) have full supplies now!

My retirement from Nanning goes well and it does look like Herb was trying to cut me off. No such luck as the offroads are as rapid as the rail with the new maps. I am thinking of blasting out his road block and then trying to head towards Hengchow and cutting off the supplies for his central thrust.

The SW PAcific Carriers make it to Brisbane and a bombardment TF is made to hit PM. No sign of the KB but it is really the air forces out of Lae that worry me. I have been cutting out the attacks on my ground units (training I surmise) but as long as he keeps to do this then the planes can't have anti-naval orders!

In SF two seabees units are loaded for Attu Island. It is rapidly on its way to a port 3 airfield 5 size base. ONce we are there I will start the ball rolling on my Kurile adventure.