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SOPAC

Luganville

4th may, SS RO-65 hit APD McKean (escorting a convoy of 3AK) near Luganville, suffering no counter strike.
On 5th may, SS I-172 hit APD Manlay. Who pretended the japs subs where not effective ???? [:@]; my APD reach Noumea, but despite size 9 port and an AR sink on 10 th may.


6th may, 48 zero escort 12 bettys attacking Luganville harbor. They face 45 P-40E of 49th FG; 13 zero and 21 P-40 are downed, AK Boreas suffer a torpedo hit (and once more supply on board is lost).

16th may at Tulagi, SS S-18 sink MSW Chitose maru; it then escape 3 ASW attack and 1 val attack before escaping.
20th may at Tulagi, SS S-45 sink AP Renzan Maru (or Kenzan Maru ? Can't read myself [:o] ) with troops on board. Then it hit AP Oigawa with 3 torps and escape toward Sidney for rearm and refit.

SOPAC

21th MAY - 24th MAY

22th may, at Noumea, 23 bettys make a night attack, destroying 2 planes on ground.
Several japs TF are spotted north of New Caledonia (ok guys, here i please myself, this a Free French base, so: Nouvelle Calédonie ! [;)] ). One TF supposed to have 2BB and 5 others ships. One with at least 4DD; and one with 10 ships, 3 of them CV...
At this moment i only thought of a raid.

23th may, 40 Marauder attack a refuel TF (?). CL Kashima is set on firewith 14 bombs, AO Naruto with 1 bomb and the fuel cargo burn. CL Kashima sink later.
Then, same day, another raid of my forces aim another target.
21 P-39 (8th FG), 40 B-17 and 4 Beauforts face a CAP of 31 zero. 3 zero and 9 Airacobra are downed. BB Fuso take a torp. Hyuga and Nagato 2 bombs each (Nagato supposed to be on fire), Yamashiro unharm. Another raid in the afternoon, 7 Airacobra destroyed and 2 zero, BB Hyuga take 2 bombs hits. 500lb bombs are no real threat to these beast.

24th may at Noumea, the jap try an night raid with 30 bettys, causing few damages.
A raid of 120 bombers from CV attack Noumea. 8 allied fighters downed, 8 allied bombers destroyed on ground, 30 runway hits and 7 base hits (but quickly cleared by my engineers). 11 japs planes are lost.
Then my forces launch a raid against the jap CV TF; 17 Rufe and 31 zero on CAP; 10 of my 18 P-40E are lost, along with 8 bombers, for 2 zero and 10 Rufe. CV Shokaku and BB Kirishima each sustain a bomb hit (no damage seen, the bombs bounce [:(] ).

At the end of the day, to my surprise, 900 japanese soldiers storm Koumac: 2nd Para Regt and 2 SNLF units. Probably by Fast Transport TF. This is a severe blow to my hopes.
With Japan in New Caledonia, all my south front is under threat.
3 subs are immediately send from sidney to New Caledonia (not yet arrived), although some are damaged. 3 others subs are en route for Sidney to rearm (and 2 of them need repair). 1 sub near Tulagi sprint south, spot a DD TF, and is hunted all night long on 26th may.

SOPAC


25th may - 31th may

25th may at Noumea, 95 bettys raid the airfield, destroying 11 planes on ground and loosing 6 of them to my fighters.
A first raid of my airforce is made on Koumac, scoring 5 hits on base and 21 on Runway, but the damages seems quickly repaired by the japs, wich is pitty.
I CAN'T ALLOW THIS BASE TO GROW !
If it reach level 2 and host bombers, then all area will be in harm ways, threatening the losses of all SoPac; and i have too much assets in there to admit this.

Same day; 25th may, 2 raids north of Koumac catch a jap TF; 32 B-26 Marauders score 1 hit on CL Kuma, 1 on CL Jintsu, 1 on CL Natori, seen on fire; 3 DD escape harm. There are 29 casualties, confirming it is a Fast Transport TF. In the afternoon another raid on this TF score no hits.
There is also another raid on CV; 8 P-40 and 3 B-17 are lost for 4 Rufe and 2 zeros, no hits on CV.

26TH MAY
Another CV raid on Noumea destroy 7 bombers on ground and 6 fighters, for 5 japs bombers (2 to flak). Once again the 7 base hits and 20 runway hits are cleared in the day.
This raid is followed by 89 bettys, catched by 7 Airacobra (8th FG very depleted). 6 allied planes are destroyed on ground and 6 bettys downed.
Allied raids on Koumac airfield on 26th and 27th may face Zeros on CAP (one Datai), causing too few damages to airfield.
West of Koumac, 16 A-24 and 90 4E bombers attack a Fast Transport TF;
DD Asagano 2 bombs hits. DD Yugumo 1 bomb hit on fire. CL Natori 1 bomb on fire. DD Kasayuka 1 bomb on fire. 80 casualties.
Second raid in afternoon. DD Kasayuka 2 bombs, DD Oshio 2 bombs, on fire; CL Natori 4 bombs, on fire; DD Sazanami 1 bomb on fire. 170 casualties. 6DD and a CL are unharmed.
Despite this result, my recon show now 8 units and 15000 mens on Koumac !
This is confirmed with a raid of 12 Mitchell (89th BS) on ground troops scoring few casualties on South Sea Detachement.
I really start to fear for this front (see June, it is not going to get quiet !).

28TH MAY
The japs CV had withdraw from New Caledonia, and send a raid of 50 bombers, with 12 oscar escort, to Port Moresby. The 40 Kittyhawk of 75th,76th and 77th RAAF squadron down 39 planes for only 2 planes lost on ground !
Thus, it even the aerial losses in SoPac.
In the following days, the CV bombers fly from Rabaul against remnants of 101st RAAF Base Force still lurking in the jungle west of Gasmata.

Same 28th may, a CAP of 53 zero protect Koumac, with EI EII and DII datai.
2 P-40 are lost for 3 zeros (2 on ground), but still no real damages to airfield.
Nothwest of Noumea, 3 Beauforts and 6 Liberators attack CL Natori unprotected, and 2 torpedos sink the cruiser.
At Suva in the Fiji, SS I-18 hit TK Cathwood bringing fuel; the cargo is burnt, and the ships still try to recover it's flooding in port.

29TH MAY, another raid on Koumac. 13zero against 15 P-40 and 46 bombers. 2P-40 and 2 bombers destroyed by CAP for 3 zero (2 on ground).

31TH MAY another raid on Koumac. 55 zero on CAP against 15 P-40 and 43 bombers. 10 P-40 and2 bombers lost for 6 zeros.
Fight in New Caledonia is far from an end (just see June reports)....

May

Total air losses

TOP PILOTS

MAP

Quick post for begin of June

- Kuching (Borneo) fall with 2500 british defenders.
- Sweep in Burma turn badly for me
- Surprise in So Pac (once more [8|] ; Jan is very good at this....i fear he can "read" in my mind )
Efate is Japan !! 1st Para rgt and 2 NLF units take the place (maybe some Paradrop in here along with fast transport).

Now i am really in trouble, this mean 2 airfield that SHOULD NOT GROW to size 2....

Really have a bad feeling about this....

HOW IN THE HELL DID HE MANAGED TO SEND ALL THIS IN KOUMAC ???

I am absolutely outgunned.
Too much engineers , i can't shut the base.
Too much troops, i can't dislodge him.
How can he bring supply ? Fast transport could bring only a few. Airtransport could bring only a few. He need AK, i don't see any. And my subs or mines are good for garbage !!!

i think SoPac is lost, damn !



orders to be given next turn:
all subs repairing in Pearl are to head for SoPac, Noumea, and start lifting out of this mess as much assets as possible. Estimed time of travel: around 12 days. Estimed numbers of subs avalaible right now for this urgent rescue: 6. Not idea now where to send the refugies.
Damn damn damn.....
Also find a div stacked in SanFran (think there is one army div of SoPac HQ), put it in AP, head for SoPac, and unload in Fiji/Pago to create a kind of "rescue hub"....[:@][:(]

5th - 6th june 1942

Midway
A convoy with supply and some engineers was sent in Midway. As i was tired of usual jap raider, i give escort to this convoy with 2BB;
on 5th of june, the Mavis flying from Wake spotted my TF in Midway, and at night came the raiders....



3 rounds of combat lead to the destruction and sinking of 3 japs DD; what i find hard to stand is the fact that the 2nd and 3rd battles, my fleet was surprised....SURPRISED ? If my fleet know there are japs lurking around, they are surprised ??? Come on...
Anyway, i suffer damages on my BB (no torpedoes hit me, just 5' hits), few fires on board. DD Alwyn probably on the way of sinking.
Most troops unloaded , supply still unloading.


CHINA
I think i have spotted the Mega-stack of troop that had withdrawn from Changsa and North China.
Several japs units have been spotted on the china coast, walking toward Canton, so it probably mean that i have 12 days or so to sent troops at Wuchow to resist the juggernaugt.

BURMA
- sweeps on Pagan are going bad for 605th squadron wich used to be a vet units. Too much losses had lead to a weakening of experience of the unit. The jap seem to strenghen it's defense.
Sadly, NO RAIDS from my bombers occurs, 5 days in a row !!! how can i attrit him if my bombers don't fly ?

DEI
After just 12 days of fighting, Batavia felt today ! Too quickly for my taste.



26000 allied troops surrenders !
small fragments of ABDA HQ and 27th Australian Bde had been evacuated by subs, but the too quick fall of Java has not allowed me to save more.
Last stand is at Palembang. But there are 2 divs and a bde there, not sure i will stand for a while...


SOPAC
If luck is not on my side...
The raids of my bombers against Koumac turn badly for my planes. No real results on base. In the air, F4F of marines squadron prove to be very disapointing: they suffer losses without scoring kills....
Also a few sorties against replenisment TF, slaughtering my B-26, but no attack on CV TF lurking north of New Caledonia.
In 2 days, i loose 8 F4F, 8 P-39, 8 P-40, 12 B-26, 3 B-17, 4 LB-30. Japanese losses amount to 23 zeros. It seem there are datai coming from CV covering Koumac (AII - EI - DII ).
I really don't see how i can deny him the use of Koumac and Efate. And i still don't understand how he can supply there: airtransport should not be enough. Is there some Fast Transport TF coming each night, avoiding my subs and the mines laid, and reaching cover (and not detected !) in the morning ? If so, i really lack luck !!

i thought i could give a little hinsight of the war fought in this game.
For a few days now, the losses of both sides are really high.
This is the losses for 7th june.
With the global losses of IJA and IJN planes, it should explain the fact that Zeros datais suffer losses.
Also you could note the appereance of A6M3; first days of fight for this new planes was not really a success.
I really wonder was is the real state of the whole japanese airforce.
I also hope this will help me in a few months.

once again a request for advice; i must confess (and i am ready to loose all kind of proud attitude) that i don't know what to do i SoPac for New Caledonia campaign.

Fist, a few hints on 8th June:
many raids spread and uncoordinate against the Japanese ships get the global result of 4 P-39 4 P-40E 6 B-26 8 B-17 and 2 LB-30, for 9 zeros destroyed (+2 on ground) and 28 damaged. Hits on ships: CL Nagara 2bombs on fire; CL Kiso 1 bomb on fire .
I must add that in the nights, the Fast Transports of japanese encounters mines at Koumac, wich lead to 5 DD hits and 2 CL hit.
The airfield at Koumac is not close (far from this).
I can also not close Efate (i have even let down this problem, trying to handle just one at a time).

Here is what is stacked in Koumac; you can see a entire jap div has landed there, bringing Assaut Value to 1100 !!
i got only one marine div (wich was trying to repulse the landing); in Noumea i got 2 base units + one aviation regiment+ 1partial div
I got nearly 45 bombers damaged, and still 35 to 45 in order of battle. Fighters are going to diseapear soon (30 ready to fight) because losses are raising quicker than the production rate.



On the image, you can see several TF just north of Koumac: the Fast Transport of the jap.
North of them, the CV TF under clouds. A part of their bombers are based at Rabaul (bombarding 101 RAAF Base force just west of Gasmata). Not on screen, south west of the CVTF is a japanese Surface TF with at least 2BB .
It is probably acting like a flank guard.
There are certainly bettys by hundred in Guadalcanal (airfiel level 5). They are probably "warding" the jap CV; they seem to act like bait for my CV, wich would come in range of bettys in order to attack the jap CV.

My overall situation in SoPac: i have too few lifting capability right now; i would like to send an Australian Div, and an Australian HQ to Noumea. I must also think to send supplies. Noumea is warded by a partial div (bringed peacemal, parts are spread a bit everywhere; this unit can't be divided ) behind level 8 forts. Every Bomber Group that i could find has been sent to Noumea (except 2 or 3 australians squadrons of beauforts keeping the east coast).
One US Div is on the way to SoPac but had just leave West Coast 3 days ago.
5 subs had leaved Pearl 3 days ago. There are already 3 S class sub near New caledonia + Argonaut laying mines.
Of my 5 CV, one is repairing in West Coast (no battle damages, but sailing operationnal damages has come to a 18 level !); one other is in repair with also 17 damages, but in Australia; all the escorting ships that came with this CV, that mean 2cruisers and 8DD have operational damages of the same level,and in the same port, waiting for repair.
No real Surface TF is in the sector. I got 2 APD doing ASW duty near NZ, and a dozen MSW around Australia.

So....IF Koumac get to level 2 airfield, i am toast: hords of betty will close the vicinity. It seem i can do nothing against this.
Should i try to send what i can , fight, and risk loosing many assets (you have the list up there). Or should i start evacuating what i can right now ?
I now what the loss of New Caledonia mean: first, it is a Free French base ( [;)][:D] ) wich is bad for my morale.
Second, it cut Australia from West Coast, and i don't have bring enough supply/fuel/forces in it (it seem there is never enough).
Third, it make much much harder a come back here in the future. It also condamn Luganville (where i got a division and a base force).
Fourth, it break all my plans for future ( so bad i just started to elaborate one).
Any advice will be heard, could be discussed (depending on my situation), weighted, and so on.
I must add that this now manage to stress me really, cause i fought all the resistance i had before elsewhere (see DEI and Singapore) would had mean a quiet front in here....
Respectfully to all my readers.
Eric

So....IF Koumac get to level 2 airfield, i am toast: hords of betty will close the vicinity.

No, they won't probably close the vicinity... Betty's can't use torps from a level 2 airfield... you DO want to keep it from getting to level 4, though.

Hold onto Noumea if you possibly can... you are playing for time, and you have hurt the Japanese pretty well from your account... if you get into a slogging match or attrition, well and good, even if you are taking more losses than the Japanese (hopefully not HUGELY more losses.)

EDIT: If you don't have enough ships, start flying supplies in NOW (as well as troops) ... and get those forts to level 9!

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

So....IF Koumac get to level 2 airfield, i am toast: hords of betty will close the vicinity.

No, they won't probably close the vicinity... Betty's can't use torps from a level 2 airfield... you DO want to keep it from getting to level 4, though.

Hold onto Noumea if you possibly can... you are playing for time, and you have hurt the Japanese pretty well from your account... if you get into a slogging match or attrition, well and good, even if you are taking more losses than the Japanese (hopefully not HUGELY more losses.)

EDIT: If you don't have enough ships, start flying supplies in NOW (as well as troops) ... and get those forts to level 9!

Good info here Robert, thank you ! Indeed, even with bombs, bettys won't be as dangerous as with torpedoes.

9th june was a stange day in SoPac

there was NO air opposition from the japanese. Why ? Bad weather ? Strategic decision ? Failure of something ?
It mean that i suffered very few air losses. A raid of 43 lba toasted 6 zeros on ground at Koumac. 37 hits on runway.
A raid against the japanese ships managed "only" to put 3 bombs on CL Kiso.
No sighting of sinking (after the mines did some damages in one or several Fast Transport TF).
And in the afternoon, 9 lba managed this :



this CV was seen on fire. I am pretty sure this won't sink it, and i don't even know if it made enough damaged to close it's deck, but that a good job of my planes !

Also in Tulagi, SS S-34 managed to put a big fish in an AP with troops on board.

CHINA
Sweep of zeros on Chunking. 2 P-39 of 6th FS lost for 1 A6M3;
i will post in a few days a screenshot with the sighted troops on the east cost of china.

SINGAPORE
Still holding !

DEI
Palembang under siege, still holding; repulsed an delib attack today, dropping forts to level 6;

BURMA
Bad weather prevented my raids to operate.
Who is responsible of weather, i should jail him and trial him [;)]

10th June 1942 - 12th June 1942

NoPac - CentPac
Nothing particular in 3 days.
After the ambush suffered by 3 japs DD in Midway, my convoy is finishing unloading Eng and supplies, and 4 AP rushed in Midway, unloaded a RCT, and sailed back to Frisco : now, the place should be secure.

CHINA
I 've got some kind of failure of my sceenshot capture, i had some pics of dogfights in the skys of Chungking, but can't manage to paste them here [8|].
So: an A6M3 Datai (along with the remains of an A6M2 datai ??? ) are making sweeps against Chingking. 6th FS and some I-16 squadron face them, but i don't have the upper hand. In 3 days, losses are 3 P-39 and 10 I-16 for 3 A6M3.

North of Sian, Sallys are bombing my troops warding the river bank. I try to cap them, but I -153 is a wors fighter than Sally [8|].
So on 10th june i loose one polykarpov for no sally lost. I decide to put 27th Squadron of Beaufighter VIF in cap. Wrong decision: on 12th june, the Sallys are escorted by 26 Oscar. 2 Beaufighters and 2 I-153 are downed for no japanese loss....failure [:o]

MALAYA
Incredible. For how long will it hold, i don't know, and i will suffer when it will crak, but Singapore is still holding !!!
a few Catalina are evacuating troops to Sumatra, where they are picked by subs. The time of DD evacs is gone since Sabang had been bombed by Bettys and Sallys, from where a Buffalo squadron was LRCAPing the incoming subs.
I will make a summary of rescued troops once DEI and Singapore had fallen, but it is a good chunk !!

BURMA
Sweeps on Pagan are conducted by a semi-experienced squadron of Hurricane: 67th squadron don't have the 70exp of 605 sq (sent for refit in India), only 63 average exp. So the fight with zero is not really perfect : in 2 days, 4 zeros are destroyed for 3 Hurricanes. Taung Gyi is targeted for resources. No fighters escort my bombers, so 2 LB-30 are lost, but 6 resources are knocked (thus trying to deny free supply to the japs fighting at Mandalay)

On 10th june, the intel show 2 ships in Rangoon harbor....one of them supposed to be a CV; so what, since the raids against Ceylon in march, one CV would have stayed and repaired in Rangoon unknown of my services ??? If this is true, i must try something.
On 11th june, i order 2 Bombers groups to aim at Rangoon port. Only 66 bombers (out of 96) fly the missions, without escort. They face 12 oscar. One jap fighter is destroyed, for 8 bombers damaged (3 will never reach base....). The target is not a CV (would have been great), but 2 japanese subs previously damaged near Ceylon. SS I-25 and SS RO-64 suffer 3 and 4 bombs hits and sink in the harbor...

DEI
Palembang is now besieged by 2 divisions, one brigade, one tank regiment, and 3 arty units !!! the jap want it !
On 10th june, a deliberate attack fail to take the place (460 japs casualties for 370 allies).
On 11th june, the place is bombed by BB Ise and Yamato, (wich cause 750 casualties).

Koepang is once more the targets of raids coming from Kendari. 40+ sallys are escorted by zeros, so i prefer to keep my Brewster 339 on ground. The airbase has suffer some minor damages, but 3 planes had been destroyed on ground in 3 days ( few sallys damaged by flak).

SoPac
This is THE HOT SPOT of the war right now.
F4F is not really a good plane, but the marines pilots are "training" slowly against zeros.
So on 10th june, 16 two-engines bombers aim Koumac airfield. They are escorted by 31 fighters and encounter 30 zeros. I loose 4 wildcats, 6 airacobra and 2 bombers, for 11 zeros. 12 hits on runway.
A raid on Efate of 15 B-17 flying fortress encounter 9 zeros. 4 zeros are damaged and 8 Flying fortress, and no damages on the airfield: failed manoeuver...
In the afternoon of 10th june, another raid on Koumac, with 8 fighters and 77 bombers face a CAP of 23 zeros. 2 A6M2 are downed for 1 P-40 and 6 bombers. 15 hits on runway, 2 on supply, 1 on base....

11th june, between New Caledonia and Tulagi, SS S-23 sink DD Ariake with 3 torpedoes. A bit up north, SS S-41 suffer a direct hit from an ASW TF and try to head back for Noumea. The place start to swarm with subs. I order S type to hunt for ships (they have reliable torps) and the others to lay mines.
Then, BB Nagato hit a mine at Koumac, in the night.
First raid of the day on Koumac; the jap have a CAP of 18 Rufe and 32 zeros. I sent 12 P-39 and 6 P-40, with 73 bombers.
6 Rufe and 3 zeros are downed for 11 P-39 (ouchhhhh), 1 P-40 and 9 bombers; the target is not the airfield but the jap TF in the same hex. BB Nagato is seen on fire after it's night encounter with a piece of metal that made BANG, but suffer no hits from this attack. BB Yamashiro 2 hits, wich bounce on it. BB Fuso 2 bombs hits, but one of them is a 1000lb wich bounce on it's armor !!! [X(]. Damn, these beast will be hard to kill !. BB Hyuga is unharmed.
In the afternoon, another raid is made 3 hex north of Koumac against a cruiser TF; the results are poor. CA Maya suffer 2 bombs hits but no damages seen. CA Mogami 1 hit, no damage; CA Ashigara 2 hits, one of them a 1000 lb (for those wondering, my Marauder launch these from time to time) wich seem to penetrate the deck.
Then the japs BB shore bomb my 2nd USMC div at Koumac.

12th June.
At Efate, APD 31 hit a mine. How could i explain best to my opponant that " i don't want him to reinforce or supply these bases" !!!
At Koumac, the japs BB once again shore shell my position, but my mobile CD Gun unit (it's here to provide arty support for 2nd Marines div) reply, and BB Nagato suffer 12 shells hits and is on fire.
In the morning, there is no CAP on Koumac airfield, 11 bombers score 10 runway hits, 1 supply and 1 airbase, and trash 2 zeros on ground. The airfield (level 1 ) is supposed to be 30% damaged.
A raid in the morning by 8 New Zealand Beauforts score 2 torpedoes hits against BB Nagato ( did try a screenshot but it fail [8|] ) and in the afternoon, it sink [&o].
Then, some scattered raids attack the jap CV TF north of New Caledonia, loosing 2 B-25 for no hits.
Then came a raid a bit more powerful. It face a CAP of only 5 zeros. 1 marauder is shot in flames. No hits are scored against the japanese ships [:(].

In the afternoon, a raid of 22 Bettys attack the first convoy that i managed to bring in here (with supplys). 6 Wildcats and 6 airacobra ae on CAP; 1Lt Shannon of VMF 221 down the 3 bettys destroyed in this day (achieving Ace status, has now 6 kills). 2 AK are hits withs bombs, but supply keep unloading.
Then came a raid on CV TF . There are 3 zeros on CAP; 55 of my bombers (without escort) manage to put one bomb on CV Zuikaku and one on CVE Hosho, both seen on fire.

13th June - 15th June

CHINA
Japanese sweep over Chungking are made by the brand new A6M3 but the pilot seem to lack experience. In 3 days, i loose 5 I-16, and the japs loose 6 A6M3; also brand new Helen...not much luck for them, 2 are downed on the day of appearence , 15th june.



South of this, Changsa is once again (after weeks of rest) the target of hundreds of army dive bombers. The flak took a booty on them (3 are destroyed, more than 20 damaged, and there is roughly 5 or so ops loss following this in japanese ranks.
I wanted to take a screeny of the coast of south china, but now the japanese units are scattered, and some had disapear, but i know for sure that almost 15 units or more are taking the coast road (thus avoiding for my opponant to buy PP to board them), to gather around Canton. I try to concentrate troops around Wuchow for the incoming battles.

BURMA
The japanese have totaly evacuated the airfields of Pagan and Taung Gyi. My bombers launch raids to knock down resources in these 2 place, to reduce the amount of supplies for the jap army fighting in Mandalay.
2 of my bombers are downed, and 1 australian Kittyhawk of 453 RAAF squadron, for 10 resources knocked.
An attack made by infantry troops (not the 7th armoured Bde) fail with heavy loss against the japs.

DEI
Koepang is raided daily by Sallies coming from Kendari ,escorted by Zeros, so my depleted squadron of Brewster 339D (with low experience) don't take off !
The damages on the airfield start to rise....

INDIAN OCEAN

13th june, at Andaman, a raid of 21 Nells escorted by 3 Oscar Ib aim the airfield, where a few Hurricanes of 20th squadron had find refuge (after trying to cover Singapore, but never managing to take off). Here, they did good job, downing 1 Oscar and 2 Nells. Damages on airfield: 1 runway hit.
At Ceylon, i gather a convoy of 6 AK with 42000 supplies bound for Andaman and all the refugies that are gathering here.
On 14th june, 3 raids gathering a total of 40 Nells and 22 Bettys (escorted by 12 Oscar) face 8 Buffalos of 488 RAF squadron also based in Andaman and trying to LRCAP this convoy. 3 Oscar and 1 Bettys are destroyed, for no Buffalos (surprising for me), but 5 AK are hit by torpedoes, and 2 sink outright....once more supplying my remote base is hard and costly.
On 15th june, another raid attack the AK closing to the isles. This time 2 buffalos are downed by the Oscar on escort, but 2 Bettys are destroyed. Another AK is sinked. One AK, slightly damage, manage to unload nearly 1200 supplies in 2 days.

DEI

On 14h june, a japanese deliberate attack at Palembang down my fort to level 5, and cause 500 allied casualties.
At the end of the day, the 57000 japanese soldiers, with 600 guns and 150 vehicules, have only 7500 allied soldiers trying to stop them. The end i written...
On 15th june, Palembang still resist to another attack, but the Assaut value of my troops are reduced to 91 against the 1160 of the japs....

SoPac

Port Moresby
Another place where i try to deliver supplies.
On 13th june, my convoy, arrived the day before (and still unloading) is attacked by 16 Bettys escorted by 19 Zeros A6M2; my cap of 35 Kittyhawk loose 3 planes and down 7 zeros and 4 betty, but 2 AK are hit.

14th june, bad day in Port Moresby....
A big raid of 50 zeros and 20 Oscar escort 7 Bettys. 36 Kittyhawk take off....But 75th, 76th and 77th RAAF squadron wich were good units are wipped today....27 Kittyhawk are downed ( and 24 Pilots lost [X(] ), claiming 11 zeros and 7 oscar.
In the afternoon, another raid of 56 zeros and 24 oscar escorting 10 bettys only have to face 11 Kittyhawk. All my fighters are downed (and once again, a slaughter of pilots, 10 KIA) but down 7 japs fighters. The convoy suffer, but as the japs bombers only bring bombs rather than torpedoes , no AK sink yet, and they still unload a part of their supplies, and no raid disturb the place on 15th june.

13th june - 15th june

SoPac

New Caledonia
My airforce still try to close Koumac airfield, but also to harass the land units there.
So my forces launched 212 bombers sorties along with 74 fighters sorties. I still face zeros coming from CV, but can't find if they are based on the airfield or LRCAPing from the CV TF north of New Caledonia.
The loss in 3 days are 6 allied bombers, 19 fighters for 29 japs fighters (60% destroyed on ground).

Efate is also targeted by my airforces (slight raid, slight damages), but also my FIRST NAVAL BOMBARDEMENT of the war , with a small TF of 2 old BB and 2 DD . Once more, the damages on the bases are slight, but it will slow the building of this.

16th June - 17th june 1942

DEI
On 16th june, in the night, BB Ise and Yamato once more shell Palembang.
At the end of the day, 16 TH JUNE , Palembang fall to the japanese forces.
Surprisingly, my units don't surrender and flee in the jungle....how much will i save, leading them to West coast of Sumatra ???
Sadly, damages on the Oil and Resources are really slight...( 25 oil damaged, 16 resources damaged).
I hope that the fact that Jan grabbed late this place would have hindered a bit the japanese industry
3 squadron are destroyed on the ground (34 RAF squadron of Blenheim, 100th squadron of Vildbeest, a Groep of Martins)....[:(]



KOEPANG under daily raids, destroying few allied planes on ground, and nearly to close the airfield...Is there an invasion incoming ???

BURMA
Pagan airfield raided on 16th june, there is no japanese fighters, but the flak is heavy, 18 of my bombers are damaged, 2 downed. 13 resources are knocked.
On 17th june, target is Taung Gyi; my sweep of AVG/A and 453 RAAF sq down 4 zeros; my bombers bombard freely and knock 5 resources. Also 33rd japanese division at Mandalay suffer some losses from my LBA.