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

[wobbly]

herb changes aerial tactics on me in China.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/08/42

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

Japanese Ships
SS I-11, hits 9, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Norman
DD Nizam
DD Nestor

At last I catch the pesky glen sub south of Chandpur - this is the fast transport taking Indian troops to Akyab. I-11 is no more.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sian , at 47,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 38
Ki-21 Sally x 55
Ki-15 Babs x 5

No Japanese losses

Heavy Industry hits 16

Two big assaults on Sian smash the heavy industry there.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 7th Chinese Corps, at 43,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 61

Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 9
Hurricane II x 7
Spitfire Vb x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 13 destroyed, 10 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

My change of tactics traps the Sonyas he has been flying against my blocking force just below Wuchow. There is another attack involving Tonys but they are too low to be successfully repulsed by my higher flying LRCAP.

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

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 95910 troops, 1077 guns, 30 vehicles

Defending force 35270 troops, 168 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
259 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

A very destructive bombardment by the troops heading to Chungking. They haven't attacked me though so another day towards a successful retirement - I need another 2.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 43,40

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 46320 troops, 524 guns, 7 vehicles

Defending force 17513 troops, 87 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
754 casualties reported
Guns lost 22
Vehicles lost 4

Allied ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Guns lost 4


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

The blocking force his sonyas were softening up attacks and forces my troops back into Wuchow. They manage to extract their pound of flesh in the process though.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Homan

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 103648 troops, 711 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 132654 troops, 1164 guns, 133 vehicles


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

The bombardments in Homan are starting to become less effective.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Herb is of the belief has has me on the run in China. I don't get the same feeling. His tactic of going around can force you to retire under your own steam. HOwever, if you put some serious reserves behind the line the number troop you have to bring up to cut off supplies and stay there doing the job is large. All these troops, off the trails, cuts down the one big strategic necessity of China - the railways. I think I would rather he was floundering away in the depths of China - off trails and generally having a hard time getting supplies, than putting together a large juggernaut and hammering the cities on the rail.
THe long and the short of it though is I don't know... I've never faced this tactic before.

More building everywhere else really. THe carrier force that hit Tarawa makes it to Canton Island to get some more fuel and then heads back to Pearl. THe bombardment and carrier force out of Brisbane is making slow process. This second attempt all depends on surprise and with the speed of the older BBs I am using I will have to get so close to PM that my chances of gettign surprise are pretty slim.

The BB Nevada and two escort DDs leave San Fran for Pearl - she is completely repaired.

[PzB74]

Seems like you're in control of things Al.
We got out of that..other FUBAR game I see, not heard anything more [:D]

Read your old AAR from beginning to end last night. Never done that before...laughed so much that I almost rolled out of
the sofa now and then! You truly got a great way to express yourself when things didn't go your way <G> I almost hope that Herb can
put the pressure on you to get more of that stuff, lol!

I said to Ken that it's too bad you're not in charge anymore as we enter the last half of 1943. Ken boasted about how many
Hellcats, Corsairs and new ships he would be receiving over the next few months. After all the bad luck you had in our old game you
would have served me a very just paypack I'm afraid!-)

What amazed me the most was that you really didn't make any big mistakes. A long series of unfortunate events is closer to the truth.

[wobbly]

Hi John

Yeah - todd got in touch with me and I handed back the poison chalise.

I don't think I am in control yet but I know if I try and compete it wont be a farce - even in China the troops seem to have more backbone in this scenario. I think I may put the pressure on his forces in China obliquely. By that I mean I think I am going to bring up another 2 Brit Divisions and a tank regiment to Myitkina and then hit Mandalay. 3 Divisions and a tank regiment plus sundries should take the place. He hasn't been able to clear all the damage I am constantly doing against his airbase so forts should be down. With Mandalay in my hands Rangoon becomes untenable for him. The only thing I would then be afraid of is an end run to India so a strategic reserve must be kept there.

I remember trying to pull off coups by surprise attacks and get my arsenal handed to me on a platter. The theme of the day tended to be: yeah John, take that you scoundrel - 2 DDs sunk - man you aint gonna try that again... right where can I find another BB, 2 CAs, 1 CL, 4 DDs and 45 fighters so I can hand out another whipping like that one...

Our game was also started with a game that had less polish. Your night port attacks were mean mean mean. Especially the destruction of the RN at Diamond harbour. Why my sailors had to leave a trail of cordite to the magazines of the BBs especially also confounded me.

Without trying to hand too much over to Nomad I think you are doing your very best to defend what you have, and if my UV game against Herb is anything to go by, then the road to the home islands is going to be very painful for the Yanks.

I felt I wasn't making too many mistakes but in retrospect I had the wrong strategy. I had the troop's feet pointed in the wrong direction, they should have been on the retreat not trying to take Burma or attacking Java. The reason I had such hairbrained ideas was because of the pressure you put on. If I had retreated more completely earlier in the piece I would have consolidated better. I started point watching and then despairing when India became such a nightmare - enter the Java gambit.
Then again - Java could have been a whole lot better if you hadn't wiped out the carriers. With them still afloat it was not an impossibility to retire or to reinforce depending on how things went. It was done too early and I, and later David, lost far too much there. It may have saved the game for Ken by just keeping the points tally under 4 to 1 though. Now whether he can get it below 3 to 1 by end of the year will be very interesting.

[PzB74]

Hehe, that was probably a wise decision...

You scared me detergent white with your invasion of Java if that's a comfort! [:'(] The ability to shift large numbers
of naval bombers and Zero's to the surrounding bases saved my hiney. In retrospect I think an invasion of the Marshalls or
even Rabaul would have been more dangerous as it would have forced me to move the KB and reserves a loong way from
India. This was were I thought you would land, and as I understand it you planned to but changed your mind.

I'm really uncertain about how hard I should contest Ken's initial advances in our old game. It's all new ground for me!

Still find myself wearing a lucky charm though, look at this little beauty against my Jap scen 15 opponent today:

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Day Air attack on TF at 20,25

Allied aircraft
Beaufort I x 9

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort I: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Torpedo hits 1
BB Haruna, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Beaufort I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Beaufort I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Beaufort I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's 5 torp hits from 9 bombers! Their exp was in the mid 70s range though.

[wobbly]

John - you are the Jammiest sod! I don't know how to fight that kind of fortune... Yeah the Java invasion was a master stroke put together by an amateur. Far too early in the game - I couldnt' back it up against what you could muster. In a way I knew this I just had to raise the bar. In reality I needed another two months to get organanised, the problem with this was I wanted to draw assets away from India and in 2 months that conflict was decided. Java fell to pieces when you reaped my carriers and my cruisers decided to retire from their attack on Batavia on the Eastern side of Java rather than back through the straits. If I had the cajones to continue with the game I would have taken the whole island (well maybe attempted to), but I didn't and then david had his very good reasons for staying where he was. A whole lot of who knows. In the end a foolish attempt I think.

Herb cuts of Homan again and the first attack against Rangoon takes place while the weather isn't thunderstorms.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/10/42

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Day Air attack on 30th Group Army, at 48,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 169
Ki-21 Sally x 41

Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Day Air attack on 30th Group Army, at 48,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 31
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 10
Ki-21 Sally x 54
Ki-49 Helen x 11

Allied ground losses:
62 casualties reported

two very large attacks on the Headquaters unit I had between Sian and Homan. They are up against a Jap Division who attack later in the day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 8
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 23

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 53
P-40E Warhawk x 42
B-24D Liberator x 45

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 10 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 14 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 9 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 5 destroyed, 7 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 14 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
305 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 149

Weather over Rangoon and Akyab is clear so the SEAC heavies take to the air against the most troublesome target there is in their area. They are very experienced crews with the B-24s weighing in with average exp of 78! The escorting Warhawks on the other hand barely crack 60 and they pay for it against the Tonys and Tojos. These two fighters also get amongst the Brit Wellingtons knocking 5 out of the sky. However they are good crews and continue to the target - and what a lambasting they hand out - 68 ACs destroyed on the ground. What's even more satisfying is that 16 of them were helens!
The damage done to the airstrip appears to have hungover as well so I have ordered the heavies to go again. I still have some P-40Es left to escort so they should pass morale. I am sending them in slightly higher this turn - 10K. The weather has turned back to Monsoon though so it is highly likely they wont go.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30


Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 16
Blenheim IF x 12
Blenheim IV x 12
Beaufort I x 12


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 11

I continue to keep Mandalay closed while training the fighters up as well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 48,30

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 10202 troops, 109 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 3340 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 29 to 1



Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

As expected the HQ unit is sent packing back to Sian. I have 4 Chinese corp on the way here so I should be able to open the trail back to Homan.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All things considered a satisfying turn. The heavy bombers are going to go back to Rangoon - weather permitting - and bomb the crap out of the place. I have sacrificed to the evil war fairy: Sebastian - that Herb has left his units on replacements allowed and I can hammer the broken planes on the tarmac. Akyab is already in the pink on supplies so a TF at Diamond Harbour starts loading. I will have to move the heavies out for a while but they will probably need it after their double attack.

The RN puts to sea from Trimcommalee to join in the "hurt Rangoon" party. If this weather continues to be awful I may be able to get in and deliver a nuclear bombardment.

China is still a mess - nothing else to say here. If I can squash Rangoon that may free up fighters for China.

Down South the bombardment of PM gets closer. The Heavies at Cooktown are ordered to attack PM this turn and will follow it up in the next. As I wrote previously I dount whether I can get into position without being seen.

No sign of the KB for some time now - where can they be???

Intel places the Imperial Guards Division at Saipan - I'm doing OK but I didn't think Herb would be defending this far back yet.

Added is the intel screen for this turn as you can see I have managed to keep reasonable pace with him in losses although my shipping has been of higher value.

[wobbly]

The Mahan attacks shipping in Dili Harbour on a tip off from Intel. Port Moresby is heavily bombed from Cooktown.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/11/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Dili at 31,77

Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 3
AK Arimasan Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
AK Asaka Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Mahan, Shell hits 2

I had noted a report that shipping was at Dili. The Mahan was sent from Darwin (despite still being repaired after wearing a bomb from the KB when PM was taken). It appears the Captain suffered from timidity after this previous damage as he doesn't press his firepower advantage. On the other hand though, the AKs did land a few ineffectual 3 inch rounds on the Mahan...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 56
B-24D Liberator x 43

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 3 destroyed, 11 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
358 casualties reported
Guns lost 13

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 72

I hit PM in preparation for the bombardment attack no w closing in from 8 hexes out. If they are not spotted next turn he will get a wee surprise. Arrrgggghh as I write this I've remebered something: I have left the carrier planes on attack and there are TFs in the Harbour at PM - bugger. No bombardment now as the BBs would never get in and out again next turn - all the naval bombers in Lae would come calling. They are 20 knot BBs so are a bit sluggish.
I also set these bombers to hit Gili Gili as I didn't want him using that base to hit my navy - GG is size 3 now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 32,77


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Asaka Maru
AK Arimasan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
4 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet
4 x Hudson I bombing at 2000 feet

The training forces at Darwin were given the option to hit a naval target if they could reach. It appears they could and the TF at Dili, bumped into by the Mahan earlier, get another reminder of war when the sun is up.
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Ground combat at 43,40

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 45007 troops, 488 guns, 1 vehicles

Defending force 20089 troops, 140 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
527 casualties reported
Guns lost 24

Allied ground losses:
236 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Below Wuchow Herb's blocking force does a shock attack against a single Chinese target. Unfortunatley for him a friend arrived in the night and is enough to stop a retreat. Another unit will arrive for the next turn and I should be able to dig them in from there. I also move the AVG and some Hurricanes to Wuchow to LRCAP these guys.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So this turn should be a double whammy for Messeur Le 'Erb: a bombing raid on Rangoon (you may note the pilots were scared of the torrentual rain, thunder and lightning over Akyab this turn - wimps) and the allied carriers undertaking unsanctioned raids against shipping in Port Moresby. I can only hope for rain in both air phases,the Jap scouts to be too hungover to fly and for Saturn to be in the conjunction with Uranus in order to mount a surprise BB raid on PM in the next turn.

[wobbly]

Weather over Rangoon clears, but doesn't over the carriers below PM.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/12/42

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Day Air attack on Wuchow , at 42,39

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 32
Ki-49 Helen x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 4 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 17

Herb hits Wuchow while I was LRCAPing the units to the south. I change the fighters back to looking after Wuchow itself.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 9

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 43
P-40E Warhawk x 23
B-24D Liberator x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 6 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 8 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 4 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 13 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 7 destroyed
B-24D Liberator: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
174 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 60

the weather over Akyab and Rangoon is good for another bombing run and again all sorts of pain is unleashed on Herbs forces there. My P-40Es are not up to the task of taking on the tonys today. 7 flutter down in flames. They do keep them off the bombers though and that allows them to continue the pain on Herbs parked bombers.
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Day Air attack on Gili Gili , at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 5

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 48
B-24D Liberator x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
60 casualties reported

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 60

Next to feel it was Gili Gilli. 2 Liberators knocked down by the pesky Rufes though. 10 are destroyed on the ground.
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Day Air attack on 41st USA Division, at 54,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
D3A Val x 5
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 32
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 10

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

These guys are still coming from Lae training agaisnt my hapless ground troops. He knows about my carriers now though so they will all be gunning for things painted grey.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 43,40

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 43696 troops, 456 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 28361 troops, 174 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
2113 casualties reported
Guns lost 40

Allied ground losses:
185 casualties reported
Guns lost 4


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Ahh well. The troops south of Wuchow are forced to retreat back North. To they hand out a nasty delaying retreat in the process though or what! All three units are back in Wuchow now and really they don't look too badly off.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Burma the bombers are retired. ther eare some tired looking pilots and a few spare spaces at the mess tables. The POMs are lamenting the loss and drowning it in beer (morale low) and the Yanks are looking for fresh blood to swindle poker cash off (morale high). Either way I have destroyed over 150 jap ACs in the air but mainly on the ground for the loss of 20 fighters and 9 heavy bombers. They have gone back to Dacca for a while so I can get some more supplies in and maybe a bit of training for the new guys - the holes in the ranks may be felt.

The coup de grace on Rangoon is still trundling its way there. The BBs will move to with 8 hexes next turn and then up to 4. I notice some shipping in the harbour and at range 5 my Beauforts can't reach to deliver some underwater sedative and can only drop coconuts from on high. I am going to tend the RN north to take advantage of LRCAP out of Akyab.

China and I order a deliberate attack to try and open the supply run to Homan again. 3 Chinese Corp are in the attack with most of the Chinese airforce ordered to bomb the defending Jap unit. Looking at the shock attack results for the Jap last turn I thought a deliberate attack might be prudent first up here - you never know.

At Darwin the subs sent here from Townsville reach there destination, re-arm and head off into the DEI for some skulduggery.

Down by PM the allied carriers got into perfect position to study the inside of a day long rainstorm - bugger! No attacks mounted against PM and that is that really. I knows I am there now so I make a surface attack force with CLs and DDs and aim them at PM. The BBs will retire along with the Carriers towards Cooktown where the LRCAP should help defend. The Saratoga's fighters provide defensive firepower above the attacking light surface force. I expect all kinds of air attacks now Herb is alerted but the faster light units might be able to get in and out again under full steam. It all depends on Herb now. Will he send everyone out of port knowing my carriers are there? Will he drop everyone into port knowing my BBs are there and could hit them in port? Will he leave some token ships as targets? Is PM airfield closed for CAP purposes? Many questions answers in the next edition.

Over by Hawaii I note 3 Jap subs SW of the islands. 3 ASW units are put together to take a look and the carriers returning from about Palmyra Island heftily increase there search component. If the KB show up there now I will look really silly. I doubt this though as it is behind the front lines and I would hope a few alarm bells would be going off by now.

At San Fran the 40th Division and the Amphib HQ load up for Noumea.

[wobbly]

A surface force sweep of PM and the road to Homan is cleared yet again.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/13/42

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TF 1042 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (53,91)

Allied Ships
DD Flusser, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Damn - Flusser hits a mine on the way in and is in a very bad way. I will leave her to attempt to get to Cairns but she has a size 23 fire raging and serious SYS and float damage, I think she is a gonna.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese Ships
MSW Asahi Maru, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
MSW Mejima Maru, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
MSW Tamaura Maru, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

Japanese Ships
AP Shinai Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Japanese Ships
AP Ujigawa Maru, Shell hits 22, and is sunk

Japanese Ships
AP Kaisho Maru, Shell hits 37, and is sunk

Japanese Ships
AP Ueizuru Maru, Shell hits 40, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Leander
CL Hobart
CL Enterprise
DD Hughes
DD Cushing
DD Flusser, on fire, heavy damage
DD Porter
DD Le Triomphant

The surface force, inclusive of the damage to Flusser, this is still a good result. Herb complained that I didn't stay in Betty range but that was always going to be a long shot when he scouted me last turn. The carriers, BBs and now the attack surface group are 6 hexes SSW of PM and will head back to PM. I may play a few games with bombing PM and GG to see whether I can get the KB to come wandering down - I think they are based in Truk but have no proof.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on Homan , at 49,30

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged


Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 23

herb has started to bomb Homan airbase. Now this is a worry when mixed with the news that I now have 230K crazed on sake japanese fanatics with a wish to tear down the walls. This more than doubles my contingent on defense - although at least I am behind size 9 walls! I will therefore enhance the fighter capacity of Homan to the detriment of all other locations. If he has trouble bombing my troops then he will have trouble taking the city.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 48,30

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19520 troops, 134 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 10211 troops, 101 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 28 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
252 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Allied ground losses:
196 casualties reported
Guns lost 6


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

The blocking troops between Homan and Sian's supplies is cleared again. The deliberate attack is plenty enough power if you have air support bombing the defending troops.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Homan

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 104108 troops, 714 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 240513 troops, 2497 guns, 376 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

I bombard again doing little damage. The important part to this picture is the numbers against me now. Most of his artillery appears to be in Homan and he outstrips me two to one in troops - although my total will not be including base troops. This is his schwerpunkt. He is still trying to outflank me and this turn one of the 9 units that were to the NE of Homan moves to the hex to the North of Homan. As expected he is trying to get a powerful force behind the Homan defenders to cut them off and force them to surrender. More forces of mine are heading south to try and cut off his cut-off force. Swings and roudabouts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The RN moves within 4 hexes of Rangoon with the P-40B Tomahawks adding to the seafire defense. There are ships in the harbour still so a bombardment may be stopped. The weather is still slated for thunderstorms so hopefully this means the Japs can't get airborne.

A bucketload of reinforcments arrived today including the CA Hawkins (a funny ship with rubbish endurance for a Heavy Cruiser) and 64 B-26Cs in Karachi, 1 sqd hurricanes at Dacca.
A sqd of Vindicators at Pearl, Washington and South Dakota plus 10 or so DDs and 6 SCs plus numerous auxilary and transport shipping in SF; 48 Liberators, 24 Wildcats and 72 P-39s round out the air reinforcements.

The warships head for Pearl

[wobbly]

The British bombardment of Rangoon goes in and I am very very fortunate to have anything left.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/15/42

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Sub attack at 31,75

Japanese Ships
AK Asaka Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Trout

This AK was returning to the DEI from Timor - I don't think it will get much further.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Rangoon, at 29,34 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed

79 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AK Asosan Maru, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Newcastle, Shell hits 6
CL Dragon, Shell hits 4
CA Devonshire, Shell hits 8
BB Resolution, Shell hits 7
BB Ramilles, Shell hits 1
BB Revenge
BB Valiant
BB Warspite

Japanese ground losses:
1562 casualties reported
Guns lost 19

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

A poor bombardment result really. I'd have liked to hit some planes and do some real damage to the facilities but the number of casualties is pretty impressive.
THe important addition is brainless wonder that I am - I left the Patrol do not retire orders on the BBs so they were proudly sitting in Rangoon Harbour all day!!!
For whatever reason nothing attacked them - cannot understand it! I did have Tomahawks flying LRCAP but at range 0 or 2 from Moulmein I thought they'd be doing some underwater work at the end of the day.
In addition - the surface attack force that I fired at Rangoon - and these BBs - did not meet the transport fleet that I have viewed in harbour. SO therefore I detach a further 2 CLs to chase them in Moulmein harbour. Herb will probably move them again but worth a try.
I am getting the jitters about the KB something cronic so I think I will retire the RN again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Little else to add.

72 P-40Es head to Attu Island in the continuing build up for the attack on the Kuriles.

The Yorktown makes it to Pearl with 52 sys damage. I'll see how quickly it starts repairing as to whether I move it back to the West Coast.

My ASW forces are sitting on two subs south of the Hawaian Islands but no luck this turn - I wonder if Herb knows I am there. He will have noted the Dauntless search planes that scouted him last turn but I don't mind if he knows those carriers are back by Pearl.

[wobbly]

The RN does it again, I find and despatch one of the subs around Pearl and a massive bombardment by the Chinese in Homan.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/16/42

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Moulmein at 29,35

Japanese Ships
MSW Choun Maru #21
MSW Fukeui Maru #7, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Hakata Maru #7, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
AK Akagi Maru, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
AK Aobasan Maru

Allied Ships
CL Dragon
CL Newcastle

Caught with trousers around ankles. All enemy ships hit were sunk.
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Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 41


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 55

THe Mitchells - new to this theatre - try there luck on Mandalay. They are pretty green so will need some training and this is a good milk run as continued damage to Mandalay will help keep the nasty forts at bay.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 40,72

Japanese Ships
AK Yagi Maru, Shell hits 7

Allied Ships
SS Seadragon

My subs now out and about begin finding targets - teh seadragon has no luck with 3 salvos of torpedoes though.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 107,77

Japanese Ships
SS I-1, hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Ward
DMS Lamberton
DD Hatfield
DD Lawrence
DD King
DD Sands

Excellent - more pesky underwater vermin exterminated. There is another one in the hex next door but Herb will undoubtedly move it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Homan

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 104296 troops, 717 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 241433 troops, 2515 guns, 379 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
469 casualties reported
Guns lost 14
Vehicles lost 1

Kapow! What an excellent bombardment. I can't for the life of me figure out why Herb isn't firing back? He definately has the gun tubes to cause me pain.

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

In Burma the RN retires along the coast. A supply run comes into Akyab - hence I double the air defense. The troops on the trail to Myitkina are making good headway and then we can move to take back Mandalay. I updated some Blenheim IVs to vengence divebombers - no idea what they are like but they are experienced pilots - average 80.

In China it is all still about Homan. I can inly imagine Herb is waiting to cut me off to the North. More of my forces come down the trail from the North to attempt to cut off his flankers. Another Brit spitfire sqd arrives in Chungking to go on to Homan.

In Northern Oz I move 3 sqds of Hudsons to Derby to have a crack at Timor - herb seems to be basing recon there and it is time I made their life a little more interesting. One of my subs attacked a southward bound convoy that may again be heading to Timor. I gather the two warships in the north together - two DDs - and set them up ready to interfere if the opportunity presents itself.

In the South Pacific reinforcements arrive in Townsville including an HQ a base unit and some engineers.
THe Heavy bombers at Cooktown line up to attack Gili Gili.
More reinforcements arrive in Noumea - mainly engineers again. It is now a fortress with 1652 assault points there. It may be time to take out Ndini?

In the central Pacific I gain two interesting pieces of info:
45340 men are based at Maloelap.
5363 men are based at Iwo Jima.

That is a very sizable garrison at Maloelap!! I wont be going there in a hurry - I wonder if the other islands are as populated?

In the North Attu Island is about to expand to a size 5 airfield and then I can have heavy bomber support to the Kuriles...

[wobbly]

A Very good day for the allies

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/18/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 106,79

Japanese Ships
SS I-123, hits 7, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DMS Lamberton
DD Hatfield
DD Lawrence
DD King
DD Sands
DD Ward

The I-123 was found between Pearl and Palmyra and sinks.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rahaeng , at 31,35

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 48
B-24D Liberator x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 8 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 15 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 55

Another exellent attack by the Heavies in SEAC. In fact the butchers bill is 30 sallies and 15 oscars on the ground. Intel actually has about 200 planes on this airfield so I don't know if Herb is/was planning a major offensive. I haven't squashed it but I have probably postponed it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Koepang , at 28,77

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 39

Japanese aircraft losses
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 11

The hudsons out of Derby also make Koepang a more interesting place to live and breath. He can easily shut this down by moving in fighters but I am starting to hit him all around the perimeter and this will spread out the forces he needs to defend the dastardly empire.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 16
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 5
Ki-48 Lily x 3

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 5
Spitfire Vb x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 11 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 4 destroyed
Ki-48 Lily: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Empire Webster

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 15000 feet

3 Lillies accompanied by a large escort force tries to hit the two AKs I have unloading in Akyab harbour - boy was that a foot in teh wrong direction. The escorting fighters get savaged.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 108,76

Japanese Ships
SS I-122, hits 9, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Schley
DD Mugford
DD Helm

Then my other ASW force located in the same area as the earlier one latches onto a sub target and sinks her.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I’ve attached a shot of Burma where you can see the lay of the land. Heavy concentrations of enemy aircraft in the south but he has left a lot of the north free. You can also see the forces making their way to Myitkina over the trails. At present Herb has not reconned Myitkina. He has looked at Lashio, so the tripwires must be jangling. I need a few more turns of neglect and then I’ll be ready to march on Mandalay.
I’ve had no appearance of the KB in the Indian Ocean so the RN may get back. I will carve off the more damaged ships to get some repair done in Colombo, while the rest of the ships move up to Bombay.
I have decided to retire the Yorktown to the West Coast. It hasn’t repaired any damage in the last week in Pearl. She can make 15 knots so will get there relatively quickly.

[wobbly]

2 days of reports - the first a bumper day for the allies - the second it all turns quiet again.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/21/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 26 encounters mine field at Saipan (63,64)

Japanese Ships
ML Kamome, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

One of the mines laid in the Marianas hits and sinks one of the medium range Jap minelayers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1032 encounters mine field at Gili Gili (56,94)

Allied Ships
DM Pruitt, Mine hits 1

Pruitt does the same thing but may actually survive the long trip to Cairns.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 27
Ki-21 Sally x 33
Ki-48 Lily x 7

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 6
Spitfire Vb x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 16 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 17 destroyed
Ki-48 Lily: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Spitfire Vb: 14 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3

Oh Dear - Herb hits Akyab with his priceless bomber crews and without any escort - they are smashed out of the sky.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 40,80


Allied aircraft
A-20B Boston x 11
B-26B Marauder x 51


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Yuki Maru
AK Kosho Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tonegawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Koto Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Shinmei Maru
AK Toten Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

I noticed, in the previous turn, that
Herb appeared to be sending a convoy to one of the islands to the East of Timor. I therefore gave all the trainies at Darwin their first real combat orders. Some of the pilots are pretty capable and they hit their targets as well as setting the cargo on fire. Heh heh

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 40,80


Allied aircraft
A-20B Boston x 12
B-26B Marauder x 40

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Kosho Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Koto Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tonegawa Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

They re-visit in the afternoon and manage to sink two of these ships - on the following day the third also seccumbs. I think quite a lot of supplies were sent to the bottom here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Homan

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 246112 troops, 2559 guns, 240 vehicles

Defending force 121202 troops, 729 guns, 0 vehicles

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


Japanese ground losses:
1131 casualties reported
Guns lost 52
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported

Sick of suffering my bombardments in Homan Herb tries another deliberate attack - probably in the hope that engineers that are here in force - will drop the fortress. Not today imperial pretenders of Nippon!!
If Herb runs by his usual plan this will be enough to make him think about trying somewhere else. With the full rail line an option he can manage this far quicker than I can respond so I have to hope that whereever I have put up defenses that they can hold until cavalry arrives.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO to the second day - this is far more subdued

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/22/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Tarakan at 33,61

Japanese Ships
TK Tonan Maru #3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Gudgeon

First the Gudgeon chases the Tonan Maru #3 into Tarakan but can't finish the job it started.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Dili at 31,77

Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 3, Shell hits 21, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Mahan
DD Dale

Then the Mahan and Dale waltz into Dili looking for what was thought to be an arriving supply convoy. Instead it only appears to be a MSW that has arrived to clear mines that Herb must have thought I had laid with subs he has been scouting around Timor - not so but nice for this trap.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 17th Division, at 49,30


Allied aircraft
SB-2c x 13


Allied aircraft losses
SB-2c: 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Here is a single instance of the bombing campaign that has started against Homan again. I want the attackers there to suffer through a nasty time of trying to take the place.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Homan

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 105022 troops, 717 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 270802 troops, 2751 guns, 386 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
484 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

The allied bombardments are also making life very unhappy for the Japanese troops there.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All in all two satisfying days at the helm. Herb is frustrated that the plans he had in place have been scuppered by my defense of PM and refusal to come out and play at Noumea. He feels a little rudderless at the moment - perfect!

Although I don't want to get rash about it the pressure will soon be cranked up a few notches with the offensive against Mandalay in Burma; invasions in the Kuriles; and attack against one of the Gilberts - probably Apamama and probably a feint; and the retaking of Ndini.

I've added the scores here and other than the obvious pasting you suffer this early due to base points I am doing very well in aircraft losses; have sunk more shipping (although granted worth less points) and I'm not doing too badly in loss of troop points considering I pay more for their loss (mostly through the loss of PM).

What you'll also see is I am about to loose 2300 PP points as I pay for a brit carrier and a DD. I have spare PP and have been playing most units to their historic commands so I have some to burn. So far the RN along with SEAC air have been my biggest hammer - I don't want to lessen the impact of them.

I don't know what Herb is going to do in the near future and I have to consider what I will do to respond when I find out. One thing appears to be an attack on Nanomea Island as I scouted APs heading south inside Tarawa a turn or so ago. I have an AV and a sqd of PBYs there so hopefully I get another look. ALso 5 DDs are heading there from Noumea but I want to see if any carriers are about before I try anything rash with them.

[wobbly]

it has been a while - Herb and I have had a few turn file problems.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/25/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 56,89

Japanese Ships
AK Bichu Maru, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS Albacore

The second sub attack on a singleton AK. The Seal, my most effective sub, had effected repairs and caught an AK by Gili Gili and sunk it. Albacore now has a crack - no sinking message though. As an aside the TK I damaged outside tarakan a few days ago sank today.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 46
B-24D Liberator x 48


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 85

I have neglected Mandalay for a while and I don't want it to be able to build any fortresses so the bombers come over and wreck the place again - who'd want to be an engineer down there? No thanks!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As I said things have not moved on a whole lot.

In burma I am moved all the Beauforts and some Vengences up to Akyab to harrass shipping in Rangoon Harbour. Nothing has flown as the weather has been bad - and Herb has been reconning Akyab so he may have noted the large increase in bombers - if so a hot reception may greet them in Rangoon.

My subs are now all over the DEI as the attempt to create a path that the isolated defendes of PM could use to escape (by dropping a group of Aussies from teh 7th division on one of the hexes to the south of PM) was tested today and like all other attempts has been found unable to release the troops.

In the Aluetians things are almost at readiness to start operations against the Kuriles. I have two rather large misgivings about this operation:

1.Pamashiro is very well defended with 2 large CD groups. Not reducing them will be tantamount to what the Japs will be doing later in the war, but reducing them will tip herb's hand to the incoming invasion. Also damaged ships have a pretty reasonable trek back to a safe anchorage - and there is likely to be a few of them. I always envisaged taking the next island on the chain first as a base but I really need to take both so a well placed bombardment doesn't shut me down completely.

2. The size of the islands means a store of supplies will not last long - wastage will reduce the stockpile rapidly - especially if I am trying to build the base at the same time. If the KB comes snooping, as I am reasonably certain he will, then I either let the invasion wither on the vine or fight.

Either way I also have to put together some other operations to make him wonder where I am coming from. The problem with this is it is business as usual. Herb knows this. I am struggling with a way to keep the KB away from the landings for a time. In my UV game recently he waited on the invasion of PM - which he should have at least been worried about - I am wondering whether this should be the first invasion so that he waits and gives me more time. However, the problem with this is that taking one of the Kuriles could be considered such a threat that he has to remove it - in which case maybe this is better as a deception... decisions decisions!

Either way I am progressing on plans to invade Ndini - which should be easy - and Apamama (in the Gilberts) which should be hard. Both of these are secondary to the attack in the Kuriles but I don't want them to be failures either.

In other news the Yorktown makes port in San Fran and it will be about 4 months until she is ready to put to sea again.

Otherwise the US naval forces are mainly scuttling back to bases with repair yards to ready themselves for the October 42 upgrades. The airforce will also harken in the new P-38 lightning - happy days.

[ADavidB]

In the Aluetians things are almost at readiness to start operations against the Kuriles. I have two rather large misgivings about this operation:

1.Pamashiro is very well defended with 2 large CD groups. Not reducing them will be tantamount to what the Japs will be doing later in the war, but reducing them will tip herb's hand to the incoming invasion. Also damaged ships have a pretty reasonable trek back to a safe anchorage - and there is likely to be a few of them. I always envisaged taking the next island on the chain first as a base but I really need to take both so a well placed bombardment doesn't shut me down completely.

2. The size of the islands means a store of supplies will not last long - wastage will reduce the stockpile rapidly - especially if I am trying to build the base at the same time. If the KB comes snooping, as I am reasonably certain he will, then I either let the invasion wither on the vine or fight.

Wobbly - what is your objective with your Kuriles operation? Are you attempting a "stepping stones" advance or just nuisance raids?

Why not just ignore Paramushiro and go after the vacant islands? The only good bases in the area are on Sakahin Island anyway.

Have you been checking SIGINT regularly to see which units and how many are in the Home Islands and available to counter-attack you? If there are a couple hundred thousand troops in reserve, your invasion could be snuffed very quickly.

Good luck -

Dave Baranyi

[wobbly]

Dave - you make a very good point. What am I really trying to achieve? I pondered on this for some time and came to the conclusion that anything more than a nuisance raid would probably end up costing me more than it does him! I think this had better be shelved to be re-visited when I have more powerful defensive capability. Even if I landed with 2 Divisions and a large number of capable bombers I would also have to have the navy there in order to stave off the bombardments. At the distance from friendly bases that the Kuriles are I would be in some jeapardy doing this at this time if he decided to counter attack. Further thought on this came to the conlusion that he would have to counter attack as strategic attacks on Sahkalin would force his hand. At this time in the war and in that particular area, I don't have the power to match him.

The Pacific continues to be quiet.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/28/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 29,66

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 13
PC Ch 3
MSW Misago Maru #11
MSW W.22
MSW W.15
MSW W.9

Allied Ships
SS Cuttlefish, hits 2

Cuttlefish - in the DEI - takes two close DBs and has to return to Darwin - she should make it but will be out of the war for a while.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 27,36

Japanese Ships
AK Dakar Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
ML Yaeyama

Allied Ships
SS KXI

South of Rangoon the Dutch get one back on the agressors.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 15

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 46

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

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 18

My rookie medium bombers attract these oscars from another base. Half of them turn back so morale is an issue. I therefore take them off combat missions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 43rd Construction Battalion, at 30,28


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 39
B-24D Liberator x 31


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
88 casualties reported

The heavy bombers strike the supply blockers on the trail to Akyab in preparation for the attack that the Burmese rifles will put in at the end of the turn.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 51

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 10
Beaufort I x 15
P-40B Tomahawk x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 5 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AK Clyde Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Cuba Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Borneo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

At last the weather is condusive to allowing me to attack the shipping in Rangoon harbour. Many of the bombers slated to go don't get into the air, and those that do are greeted by 50 tonys! Strangely the Tonys have poor morale and the Tomahawks manage to frighten the poor wee lambs away. 4 solid hits by the bomber boys and then it's home for tea - what!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 30,28

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4848 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 40 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 100 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

The Akyab trail is cleared - supplies no longer need to be shipped in! The Burmese rifles will continue on to Akyab.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Staying in Burma I notice a unit moving north out of Mandalay! Is he heading for Myitkina? If so he will find my gathering forces and the game will be up!

I keep the bombers at Akyab on anti-shipping duty but replace the Tomahawks with the more numerous Warhawks. The difference though is that the Tomahawk pilots have an average experience of 77 to the Warhawks 59. I just have to hope that the defending pilots keep running away.

More subs are bought up to try and make the retreat and continued supply of ships into Rangoon more difficult. I have also pondered the liberation of Andaman Island. Bombers based here will make shipping moves more difficult up the Western Coast of Burma. Hmmm I'll think on it some more.

In China we have a very quiet turn - no air attacks - just recon. Homan continues to bubble though.

In Port Moresby harbour I not shipping and without any planes at the airstrip. I set the heavy bombers to attack naval from 4000 ft.

Mainly this is a sub war now. I am getting about 4 intercepts per day with usually one torp strike. As I stated earlier the cuttlefish got tagged today so it isn't all one way traffic. Herb has countered this by putting many of his planes on search routines. He finds many of my subs each day - this does add to the requirement to keep moving them.

[ADavidB]

Dave - you make a very good point. What am I really trying to achieve? I pondered on this for some time and came to the conclusion that anything more than a nuisance raid would probably end up costing me more than it does him! I think this had better be shelved to be re-visited when I have more powerful defensive capability. Even if I landed with 2 Divisions and a large number of capable bombers I would also have to have the navy there in order to stave off the bombardments. At the distance from friendly bases that the Kuriles are I would be in some jeapardy doing this at this time if he decided to counter attack. Further thought on this came to the conlusion that he would have to counter attack as strategic attacks on Sahkalin would force his hand. At this time in the war and in that particular area, I don't have the power to match him.

That's probably a good decision. I've always found early invasions of the Kuriles to be a mess and not worth the effort in the end. A mid-to-late 43 invasion might be a better opportunity, so don't disregard the future opportunity.

Good luck -

Dave Baranyi

[wobbly]

Dave - Yep, shelved for a rainy day (sometime in 43).

Herb pulls a fast one on my in Burma by smashing all the aircraft in Akyab.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/29/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 32
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 7
Ki-21 Sally x 136

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 10 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 7 destroyed, 19 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 3 damaged
Beaufort I: 11 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 14 destroyed
Vengeance I: 2 destroyed
Blenheim IV: 3 destroyed
Catalina I: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 60

A savage attack by the wiley Ozzie. He smashes the Akyab airforce on the ground. I loose priceless P-40Es and a swag of Beauforts and Blenheims. IN all I loose 63 planes today - 25 of which are P-40Es - that's half a months production! Thankfully the spitfires on defence make mince meat of the attackers smashing all comers out of the sky. The squads there are now average 77 experience and man it tells. Tonys and Tojos may be good at knocking down bombers but they struggle against dedicated intercepters like the Spit. This is still a defeat - I can't deny that. Akyab air is bolstered to make another attempt more expensive. I have to lick my wounds while I draw enough strength to deliver some of this for myself.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ndini , at 72,101


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 15


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4

Opening attacks by the Hudsons out of Luganville are not very effective.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So I retreat in Burma - back to India.

Everywhere else is quiet except China where Herb has been moving his forces along the trails to Kweiyang. This may be an attempt to cut off Wuchow and Kwelin. One of his units has jumped ahead of the rest and since I happen to know he has tanks I am deliberately attacking there this turn. Hopefully I can force it to retreat. There is stuff all in the way of supplies in Kweiyang - hope that doesn't mean I get a towelling.

[wobbly]

Herb punishes my stupidity again at Akyab - why am I so unable to turn off replacement aircraft for sqds?

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/30/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Saipan at 63,64

Japanese Ships
AK Teikin Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Pompano

Pompano lays mines at Saipan. During the process the Teikin Maru decides to wander in front of the one set of loaded torp tubes she has - oh well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Saipan at 63,64

Japanese Ships
AK Teikin Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Pompano

Just to add to the damage she swings around and empties the rear tubes too. Teikin Maru is now a future dive site.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 36,61

Japanese Ships
AK Hide Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire

Allied Ships
SS Gudgeon

Gudgeon doesn't have quite as functional torps but her shells cause the cargo to burn.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 32
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 11
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 19
Ki-21 Sally x 22
Ki-49 Helen x 39

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 11
Spitfire Vb x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 9 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 6 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 8 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
Vengeance I: 2 destroyed
Beaufort I: 3 destroyed
Catalina I: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 21

Grrr and ouch and bugger it! I just do not learn - turn the bloody replacement toggle off you nit wit!! He hits Akyab again and all teh dmaged planes are torched. The hurricanes I move in are hammered by the Tonys - only the very capable spitfires really meet out any reisistance - strangely it is helens that knock the two listed here down.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 20
Ki-21 Sally x 84

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 1
Spitfire Vb x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 1 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 1 destroyed
Vengeance I: 2 destroyed
Beaufort I: 5 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 11 destroyed
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 54

And again - a massive raid of Sallys hits the reduced defenses of Akyab. The last of the planes on the ground - hidden in the initial raid - are found and consumed by fire. It's a pyromaniac's dream.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 34th Division, at 41,35


Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 15
SB-2c x 22


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Oops - the unit scouted at Kweiyang last turn is not a tank unit - it's a full division. The softening up exercise tries to give the ground pounders a chance to repel boarders.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Ind. Brigade, at 49,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 10

Allied aircraft
SB-2c x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SB-2c: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

3 attacks by SB-2c ACs onto Homan (I have deleted 2) have the ignomy of trundling past the CAP above the city to be hit by Herb's own LRCAP over the city. This may be the mechanics of the job, and it may be to stop gameyness, but it sure feels unrealistic!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps, at 41,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 Helen x 7

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

This one doesn't look like much, but this is against a unit at Homan. I have 4 allied fighter units defending the place. They all watch the SB-2c flights come in earlier - not taking any part in helping the bombers against the Tonys, and now they don't even defend at all! Thankfully the helens cause little damage from the 25K feet they bomb from.
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Ground combat at Kweiyang

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 56629 troops, 316 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 21975 troops, 244 guns, 7 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1


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

Allied ground losses:
302 casualties reported
Guns lost 11


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Ooooo a 2-1 victory against the 34th Jap Division doesn't cause them much in the way of damage but has forced them back out of the city with all that entails.
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I am gutted by the lack of control I appear to have with replacement aircraft. This is about the 3rd time I have done this in this game and the bazillionth time I have done it in total. I seem to have a brain block about turning front line sqds off replacement. I generally move sqds back out of locations for RnR and can use this for replacements as well - I just don't seem to do this. So I went to all bases I figured were likely to get a nasty surprise and turned their replacements off.

[ADavidB]

I am gutted by the lack of control I appear to have with replacement aircraft. This is about the 3rd time I have done this in this game and the bazillionth time I have done it in total. I seem to have a brain block about turning front line sqds off replacement. I generally move sqds back out of locations for RnR and can use this for replacements as well - I just don't seem to do this. So I went to all bases I figured were likely to get a nasty surprise and turned their replacements off.

Wobbly - what I've done to avoid that sort of forgetfulness is to go to the "options" screen and turned replacements "off" for my air and ground units. This way I only turn replacements "on" for those specific units that I want to grow at a particular time. This also means that new units come in with replacements "off", which allows you to decide what you want to do at the moment, and keeps new units from "stealing" replacements that you want for your experienced units.

I did that right at the beginning of my game with Tophat and it has helped me manage my air and ground units and also avoid some of the losses that you are suffering.

Give it a try, you might like the results.

Good luck -

Dave

[wobbly]

David - I am afraid I did the same thing and have just been negligent in turning the setting back to no replacements after I have attempted to make up the short fall created by normal operational and combat losses. I then move the unit into a contested zone and get hit like this. It is pure forgetfulness!

Herb continues his bombing runs - only Spitfires and a last few bombers there for him to torch and this time I knock down more than are lost

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/01/42

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Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 20
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 2
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 45
Ki-21 Sally x 20
Ki-49 Helen x 37

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 10 destroyed, 4 damaged
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed
Beaufort I: 3 destroyed
Vengeance I: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 37

A disappointing number of bombers engaged yet again. With the number of interceptors I have on station it always appears to mean they never get to the bombers. You have to have numerical superiority.
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Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 62
B-24D Liberator x 48


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
542 casualties reported
Guns lost 18

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 129

So I give him some of his own medicine - a very painful raid on Port Moresby by the heavies. They also recon a large contingent of singleton ships in harbour. I tried to hit these guys with the heavy bombers for a few turns but I don't think they flew due to the small size of the TFs.
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Day Air attack on Ndini , at 72,101


Allied aircraft
PBY Catalina x 3
Hudson I x 12


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

PBYs go along on recon today and they find that there is a small unit at Ndini. Important intel as I will want to take this on any move to the Solomons.
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Sub attack near Rangoon at 29,34

Japanese Ships
AK Dakar Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXII

It just wouldn't be a good turn if we didn't have a sub attack - this Dutch commander sneaks into Rangoon harbour and sinks another AK.
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Ground combat at 44,33

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 41102 troops, 272 guns, 76 vehicles

Defending force 17694 troops, 236 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
229 casualties reported
Guns lost 20

Allied ground losses:
428 casualties reported
Guns lost 21
Vehicles lost 1

I have tried to force a Jap unit, blocking Chinese armies from moving south out of Chungking, out of the way. A deliberate attack fails so I instigate softening attacks with the Chinese AF escorted by the AVG.
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A strange turn. Herb is moving AKs north towards Akyab from Rangoon. Now I know he has been hurting Akyab - probably to stop aerial intervention - but this is still very hopeful. I do not load akyab with planes again - instead I load Chandpur with planes. They should still have range if he is going to be that keen. See the added attachment for details.

I have a nasty feeling this is actually a trap for the Royal Navy. Hang out a bit of bait and then let the RN carriers come in and.... Hullo there are jap carriers to meet them. Well the RN is in Panaji and I have no plans to move them in a willy nilly operation at present.

Damn Herb also recons Myitkina - he will move to reinforce Mandalay now.

I also got a very strange intel intercept of forces in the middle of the Indian Ocean??? This is either an AV, CS, glen toting sub or maybe even a CV. Or it could even be an attempt on Perth or some of the more isolated Northern bases. I am in no condition to oppose anything like this because...

Most of the US Navy is now broken as the have upgraded their AAA suites and radar. Many were in sydney harbour and that will mean the docks are overpowered by requirement to repair. I wont be able to accomplish naval manouevers for some time.

In other news a fleet of 7 long range subs make it to their new home in Attu Island, refuel and head out against Japan's close waters.

I also notice shipping on its way to the Gilberts - nothing I can do about this either due to the lack of functional US warships - Pearl is even more overcome than Sydney!

The recent hefty loss of P-40Es required me to downgrade the FG in Kodiak to P-39s to allow the Burma area to replace its losses. 48 lost planes, with a build speed of 50 per month, is just a bit hard to make up!

Of course P-38s are now available - 4 in stock - but they will need to be used very carefully and a enough reserves kept to allow continued use.