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4/6-4/7/42



DEI


Japan launches 2 more assaults to capture Palembang:


Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 43649 troops, 318 guns, 149 vehicles, Assault Value = 1326

Defending force 8940 troops, 128 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 155

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 436

Allied adjusted defense: 331

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
587 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 50 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Allied ground losses:
1855 casualties reported
Squads: 90 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 42 destroyed, 74 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Assaulting units:
III/66th Naval Guard Unit
21st Division
I/81st Naval Guard Unit
33rd Div /4
5th Division
2nd Division
18th Div /6

Defending units:
Padang Garrison Battalion
West Borneo KNIL Battalion
Tapanoeli Gsn Battalion
So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion
Riouw KNIL Battalion
Sabang Garrison Battalion
Korps Marechausee Battalion
Medan Coastal Gun Battalion
Zuid KNIL Battalion
Van Aaran Garrison Battalion
6th Indian Bde /1
Medan Garrison Battalion
8th Indian Bde /1
224 Group RAF
Padang Base Force
Bintan Det. Base Force
Sambas Base Force
Malaya Army
Pontianak Base Force
Bengkalis Base Force
Langsa Base Force
Teloekbetoeng Base Force
Singkawang Base Force
Palembang Base Force



Ground combat at Palembang (48,91)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 43451 troops, 318 guns, 149 vehicles, Assault Value = 1317

Defending force 7601 troops, 127 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 99

Japanese adjusted assault: 491

Allied adjusted defense: 175

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Palembang !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
400 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Allied ground losses:
9000 casualties reported
Squads: 399 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 764 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 176 (176 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 24


Assaulting units:
I/81st Naval Guard Unit
21st Division
33rd Div /4
2nd Division
5th Division
III/66th Naval Guard Unit
18th Div /6

Defending units:
Medan Coastal Gun Battalion
Padang Garrison Battalion
Sabang Garrison Battalion
Korps Marechausee Battalion
Van Aaran Garrison Battalion
Zuid KNIL Battalion
Medan Garrison Battalion
So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion
West Borneo KNIL Battalion
Tapanoeli Gsn Battalion
6th Indian Bde /1
Riouw KNIL Battalion
8th Indian Bde /1
224 Group RAF
Bengkalis Base Force
Padang Base Force
Sambas Base Force
Malaya Army
Teloekbetoeng Base Force
Pontianak Base Force
Bintan Det. Base Force
Langsa Base Force
Singkawang Base Force
Palembang Base Force


Dave used overwhelming force here as was able to take Palembang fairly quickly with minimal losses. What remains to be seen is if the 3 1/2 IJA divisions at Palembang are redeployed to Java or if they begin Phase II offensive ops for Japan.

Dave continues the aerial and ground bombardments at Batavia and supply is now down to 18,000. I received sigint this turn that an IJA heavy artillery regiment was loaded on an xAKL for Java.



CARRIERS


CV Illustrious arrives at Capetown and heads out into the Indian Ocean......that now gives the RN 3 CVs and a CVL.

Yorktown and Enterprise complete their 4/42 upgrades this turn and Hornet will complete her 4/42 upgrades next turn. The the Allies will have 5 USN CVs, 3 RN CVs and a CVL available for naval ops.....that should be enough to face off against KB should I decide to land a massive resupply op at Batavia.

It sort of depends on what Dave does with his troops at Palembang. If the 3 1/2 IJA divisions at Palembang redeploy to Java...it will be over fairly soon for Batavia and then there is no need to resupply. If Dave doesnt reinforce Java and decides to starve me out there then a resupply op could tie him down for a extra few precious months.

If there is no Allied resupply op for Batavia and KB stays in the DEI....then the Allies have the option of early amphibious ops in the central or south Pacific.



CBI

A large air battle swirls over the IJA armor stack as both sides try to create favorable odds for the upcoming attack. An AVG sweep out of Kukong doesnt fly and the RAF loses 11 Hudson Is and 3 Hudson IIIas. Overall Japan loses 35 AC to 31 Allied AC. Even with the addition of 2 fresh brigades......the IJA panzer korps can only manage a 1:4 assault that leaves both sides with heavy casualties:

Ground combat at 83,59

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24596 troops, 116 guns, 949 vehicles, Assault Value = 1126

Defending force 28675 troops, 234 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1118

Japanese adjusted assault: 457

Allied adjusted defense: 2167

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1248 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 71 disabled
Non Combat: 24 destroyed, 241 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 253 (16 destroyed, 237 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
2237 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 254 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 116 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled


Assaulting units:
12th Tank Regiment
8th Recon Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
58th Infantry Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
10th Tank Regiment
12th Ind.Mixed Brigade
23rd Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
55th Infantry Brigade
1st Recon Regiment
20th Recon Regiment
26th Recon Regiment

Defending units:
70th Chinese Corps
65th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
71st Chinese/C Corps
86th Chinese/C Corps
49th Chinese/C Corps
21st Chinese/A Corps
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment


The Chinese lose the equivalent of a corps while Japan loses an astounding 253 AFVs. When I ambushed Dave a couple of months ago in the forests south of Sian with 2 dug in AT regiments( 72 AT guns) Japan only lost 190 AFVs. Here Japan loses 253 AFVs to only 23 AT guns and an artillery regiment.
Add to that the loss of 130 AFVs 2 turns ago and the IJA panzer korps has lost nearly 400 AFVs.....about 30% of their AFVs.

Even better.....the Chinese defenders completed their withdrawal 1 hex to the NW where they linked up with 2 more artillery regiments and 2 more Chinese corps with 400 AV and 16 AT guns. Now the combined Chinese force has some 1300 AV and 39 AT guns.....with yet another Chinese corps with 270 AV and 12 AT guns 1 more hex to the NW of them. Now the hunters become the hunted.....this Chinese stack will now reverse course and advance on the IJA panzer korps while another Chinese army with 1000 AV bears down on the IJA armor from the NE. Its hard to tell from the resolution on my screenshot but it appears now that the IJA armor is trying to retreat towards Amoy.

4/8-4/9/42



DEI


The Japanese continue to pound Batavia from land and by air......supplies are now down to 17,800. Allied subs pulled nearly 400 supplies out of Palembang just before it capitulated and dropped them at Batavia before heading to Australia to reload.

Sigint reports that the 2nd Heavy Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Artillery Regiment and the 18th Medium Artillery Regiment are all loaded on xAKs heading to Kalidjati on Java. Looks like there will be some pretty impressive fireworks at Batavia in a few days.

I dont want the IJA reinforcements to feel unwelcome when they reach Java so Im going to mine the approaches to Kalidjati and have a couple subs waiting as a reception commitee.

The Dutch Hurricane and P-40E squadrons piut up a good fight in the skiies over Palembang and Batavia....there are quite a few Dutch aces now. However, they are finally out of replacements and Im withdrawing the remainder of the Dutch air force from Batavia.



CBI

All quiet across the entire theatre.

In Burma....even though the IJA 15th Army has been prepping for Myitkina since the start of the war.....the Allied position seems very secure for now with 1400 AV behind 4x forts in 3x terrain at Myitkina. The Allies have corps and command HQs 100% prepped for Myitkina so there is no need for concern until the SAA troops are released from the DEI and the Philippines.

In China....I can safely say that the threat level is green for the first time in the war. There is no IJA activity in the far north or western deserts, northern or central China. A large IJA force sits in Hangchow daring me to approach in south central China. Im pulling back a lot of troops now and forming reserves again at Sian and Ichang as the multiple Japanese threats subside.

In southern China....the bloodied IJA panzer corps continues its retreat towards Amoy. It will probably rest and rebuild on the coast for awhile. Dave has been greatly bothered by the Chinese seige of Canton since the start of the war. I would imagine that the IJA armor will spearhead an attack to relieve Canton once they recover their AFVs. After liberating Canton....I wouldnt be surprised at all to see Japan come after Wuchow. After all...Wuchow is in clear terrain and clear terrain is perfect tank country.......or is it? In previous iterations of WitP Ive made CAP traps and Flak traps but Ive never done an AT gun trap.

I have a Chinese AT gun regiment that has force marched from northern China thru Chungking and has nearly reached the rail terminus at Tuyun. Then it can be railed to Liuchow and then force marched to Wuchow. The 3 AT gun regiements from III Indian Corps will reach Ledo next turn and then I will have the big DC-3s start airlifting them over the hump into Kunming. Im also considering buying the USA 31st Regiment(with its 18 37mm AT guns) on Luzon and airlifting it to China if the PBY-5s have enough capacity to carry the 37mm tank guns.



PHILIPPINES


All quiet here as the Allies continue to fortify the San Fernando line on Luzon.

The last of the Allied xAK blockade runners drop supplies at Butuan. Cayagan and Davao on Mindanao and we should have nearly 17,000 supplies on the island when they are done. Then we will lie low for a month or 2 and then trying running the xAKs through the blockade again.

4/10-4/13/42



FORTRESS BATAVIA


The aerial and ground bombardments continue. Supplies are down to 15,000.



PHILIPPINES


All quiet on Luzon.

Dave goes on the offensive on Mindanao. The IJA 38th Division has withdrawn from Vigan and landed on Mindanao. Dave invests cayagan and lands a naval guard on Butuan:


Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20119 troops, 191 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 802

Defending force 9429 troops, 59 guns, 55 vehicles, Assault Value = 394



Assaulting units:
38th Division
10th Garrison Unit
67th Naval Guard Unit
11th Garrison Unit
62nd Naval Guard Unit
2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy

Defending units:
2nd/101st PA Battalion
4th/101st PA Battalion
3rd/101st PA Battalion
3rd PA Constabulary Regiment
102nd PA Infantry/A Division
102nd PA Infantry/B Division
102nd PA Infantry Regiment
102nd PA Infantry/C Division
Cagayan USAAF Base Force
III Philippine Corps



I staged in 3 squadrons of B-17s from China to Cayagan. The B-17s will hit the IJA troops at both Cayagan and Butuan and then the Philippine regiment at Butuan will shock attack the Japanese naval guard unit.



CBI


Ive mostly withdrawn the RAF from China to Ledo and Imphal. RAF bombers will strike the IJA 56th Division next turn as it advances on Katha.

Not only could the DC-3s airlift AT guns from Ledo to Kunming but the smaller C-33s(4000 capacity) were airlifting AT guns also. Now that I know that 4000 capacity transport AC can airlift AT guns Ive staged a couple of PBY-5 squadrons to the Philippines where they will try to transport the 31st Regiment to China.

Dave railed his 3700 AV army from Hangchow to Nanking and moved quickly into the forests SW of Nanking to ambush a Chinese corps:


Ground combat at Wuhu (89,53)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 98751 troops, 778 guns, 116 vehicles, Assault Value = 3703

Defending force 5704 troops, 44 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 260

Japanese adjusted assault: 2918

Allied adjusted defense: 27

Japanese assault odds: 108 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
307 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Allied ground losses:
4436 casualties reported
Squads: 76 destroyed, 142 disabled
Non Combat: 76 destroyed, 125 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 13 disabled
Units retreated 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
110th Division
2nd RGC Division
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
41st Division
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
6th Division
RGC Capital Brigade
34th Division
116th Division
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
RGC Tax Police Regiment
59th Infantry Brigade
35th Division
22nd RGC Temp. Division
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
84th Chinese Corps


Dave was attempting to cut off the Chinese 1900 AV army outside of Hangchow. Ive withdrawn the Chinese army towards Nanchang and its now in a 3x terrain hex awaiting the arrival of the IJA army.


All quiet in the south as Dave rests the AFVs of his panzer korps.

4/14-4/15/42



FORTRESS BATAVIA


Japan launches its second assault at Batavia:


Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36740 troops, 485 guns, 404 vehicles, Assault Value = 1505

Defending force 47063 troops, 503 guns, 256 vehicles, Assault Value = 1472

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 671

Allied adjusted defense: 2509

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
4950 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 163 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 183 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Vehicles lost 37 (1 destroyed, 36 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1911 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 118 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 81 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 18 (3 destroyed, 15 disabled)


Assaulting units:
33rd Infantry Regiment
18th Division
8th Tank Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF
16th Naval Guard Unit
16th Engineer Regiment
33rd Division
1st Engineer Co
4th Div /7
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
SE Borneo KNIL Battalion
4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion
1st Regt Cavalerie
6th KNIL Regiment
Manado Garrison Battalion
Kendari Garrison Battalion
Van Altena Battalion
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
Roodenburg Battalion
Barisan KNIL Regiment
Prajoda Garrison Battalion
Marinier Battalion
Afdeling Ritman
Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion
2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Lijfwacht Cav Sqn
VII KNIL Battalion
2nd KNIL Regiment
1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion
1st KNIL Regiment
VI KNIL Battalion
4th KNIL Regiment
Samarinda KNIL Battalion
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
Makassar Garrison Battalion
Banjoewangi Base Force
1 ML-KNIL Aviation
Djojakarta Base Force
Madion Base Force
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
MLD
Batavia Base Force
ML-KNIL
Loemafjang Base Force
KNIL Army Command
ABDA
Soerabaja Base Force
1st KNIL AA Battalion
Merak Base Force
Tjilitap Base Force
Bandoeng Base Force
Commandement Marine
Malang Base Force


Japan suffers nearly 5000 casualties vs 1900 Dutch casualties. Looks like all the IJA artillery regiments got ashore before I could lay down a minefield.

Glad to see Dave assaulting Batavia before it ran out of supplies.



PHILIPPINES


Dave is naval bombarding the Allied troops at San Fernando with 2 surface TFs centered around BB Nagato and BB Ise. Not only is this raising the experience of the Philippino troops but it means there are 2 fewer BBs in the Pacific to threaten Allied surface TFs.


Dave withdrew his naval guard unit at Butuan before I could launch my shock attack. The 3 B-17 squadrons at Cayagan hammered the IJA 38th Division before it could launch an expensive 1:2 assault at Cayagan:


Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20114 troops, 191 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 802

Defending force 9552 troops, 60 guns, 55 vehicles, Assault Value = 394

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 312

Allied adjusted defense: 399

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1513 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 139 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 81 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled


Allied ground losses:
783 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 81 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 81 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled


Assaulting units:
62nd Naval Guard Unit
67th Naval Guard Unit
10th Garrison Unit
11th Garrison Unit
38th Division
2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy

Defending units:
102nd PA Infantry/A Division
102nd PA Infantry Regiment
3rd PA Constabulary Regiment
3rd/101st PA Battalion
4th/101st PA Battalion
102nd PA Infantry/B Division
2nd/101st PA Battalion
102nd PA Infantry/C Division
Cagayan USAAF Base Force
III Philippine Corps


Now the IJA 38th Division is mired down in a battle it cant win on Mindanao......and the Allied troops on Luzon can go back to R&R until the Japanese mount a real threat there.



CBI


No ground assaults this turn. The IJAAF hammers Chinese troops across the region as the RAF has been withdrawn.

The RAF has staged to India and its bombers pounded the IJA 56th Division outside of Katha this turn. Next turn we will hit the main Japanese airfield in Burma at Mandalay with everything we have.



SOPAC


The massive Allied buildup continues in SOPAC.

Luganville now has a level 3 AF and a level 3 port. I staged a USMC SB2U-3 squadron into Luganville last turn and this turn they hit paydirt:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 3



Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 18
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 15


Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAKL Sakae Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Shuko Maru #5



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x F2A-3 Buffalo sweeping at 15000 feet *
4 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
17th Ku T-1 with E13A1 Jake (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Sakae Maru


Japan is going to have to start LRCAPing or escorting TFs in this area now.





THE AIR WAR


I havent received a turn for a couple of days so its time for some more AAR housekeeping.

Japan has now lost 1739 AC vs Allied losses of 1600 AC. In A2A losses its nearly equal with the Allies losing 759 AC vs Japanese losses of 702 AC.

Here is a screenshot of Japanese AC losses to date.....no surprises here:

4/14-4/15/42



THE AIR WAR


And here is a screenshot of Allied plane losses to date. No suprise here with the P-40E losses as they have been the workhorse of the USAAF. The one thing that jumps out at me here is the large loss of Blenheim IVs we suffered over China:

4/14-4/15/42



THE AIR WAR


And finally here is a screenshot of the top Allied aces. When I first posted this in 2/42 the top Allied aces were all USAAF pilots in the AVG and the 24th PG fighting over the Philippines and the CBI. When I posted this again in 3/42 the majority of the Allied aces were RAF Hurricane pilots fighting over the CBI. Now 7 of the top 10 Allied aces are Dutch Hurricane drivers. Even more.....the only two Allied double aces are Dutch....testament to the ferocity of the air war over Palembang and Batavia....where the Dutch pilots routinely faced 10:1 and 20:1 odds in battle but still kept fighting until their airfield service facilities were so heavily damaged that they couldnt get back into the air.

ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance

THE AIR WAR


I havent received a turn for a couple of days so its time for some more AAR housekeeping.

Japan has now lost 1739 AC vs Allied losses of 1600 AC. In A2A losses its nearly equal with the Allies losing 759 AC vs Japanese losses of 702 AC.

Here is a screenshot of Japanese AC losses to date.....no surprises here:

This is a very successful A2A ratio for the Allies at this point in the war and Dave is no slouch with his air force. Any tactical or operational insights?

Mike

ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance

4/14-4/15/42



FORTRESS BATAVIA


Japan launches its second assault at Batavia:


Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36740 troops, 485 guns, 404 vehicles, Assault Value = 1505

Defending force 47063 troops, 503 guns, 256 vehicles, Assault Value = 1472

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 671

Allied adjusted defense: 2509

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
4950 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 163 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 183 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Vehicles lost 37 (1 destroyed, 36 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1911 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 118 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 81 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 18 (3 destroyed, 15 disabled)


Assaulting units:
33rd Infantry Regiment
18th Division
8th Tank Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF
16th Naval Guard Unit
16th Engineer Regiment
33rd Division
1st Engineer Co
4th Div /7
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
SE Borneo KNIL Battalion
4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion
1st Regt Cavalerie
6th KNIL Regiment
Manado Garrison Battalion
Kendari Garrison Battalion
Van Altena Battalion
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
Roodenburg Battalion
Barisan KNIL Regiment
Prajoda Garrison Battalion
Marinier Battalion
Afdeling Ritman
Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion
2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Lijfwacht Cav Sqn
VII KNIL Battalion
2nd KNIL Regiment
1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion
1st KNIL Regiment
VI KNIL Battalion
4th KNIL Regiment
Samarinda KNIL Battalion
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
Makassar Garrison Battalion
Banjoewangi Base Force
1 ML-KNIL Aviation
Djojakarta Base Force
Madion Base Force
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
MLD
Batavia Base Force
ML-KNIL
Loemafjang Base Force
KNIL Army Command
ABDA
Soerabaja Base Force
1st KNIL AA Battalion
Merak Base Force
Tjilitap Base Force
Bandoeng Base Force
Commandement Marine
Malang Base Force


Japan suffers nearly 5000 casualties vs 1900 Dutch casualties. Looks like all the IJA artillery regiments got ashore before I could lay down a minefield.

Glad to see Dave assaulting Batavia before it ran out of supplies.

AdmSpruance,
in my experience, Dave is usually very careful with his force structure. I am surprised to see him attacking a strong, dug-in enemy position with other than fully formed divisions. These small units can really be smashed by the game algorithm, as if the Corps commander orders the 16th Naval Guard Unit to lead the attack.

Could he be in a hurry?

Mike

Wirrayway_Ace....I think that the one thing that jumps out at you regarding A2A combat in this AAR is that 10 of my top 11 pilots are Hurricane drivers. The Hurricanes fighting over CBI and the DEI have closed the gap in A2A losses over the last couple of months. I generally use the HurricaneIIbs for CAP and sweeps at 31,000'. I use the P-40Es at 15,000' for CAP and escorts. Dave has been sweeping me with Oscars at 34.000' but the Hurricanes are holding their own. Most of the Hurricane squadrons are at 50% strength now so I go though the pilot rosters and only use the best pilots....the extra pilots are placed in group reserve. Thats how I ended up with 2 Dutch double aces over the DEI when I raely had more than 3 HurricaneIIbs operational at a time.

Regarding Dave being in a hurry at Batavia.....I think that the clock is ticking for Japan. Here we are in the 2nd half of April 1942 and the only area Japan has completely secured has been Malaya. Dave is currently bogged down in the DEI at Batavia and in Burma he has been stopped short of Myitkina. In the Philippines the Japanese are holed up on Luzon in a tiny beachead at Vigan and even on Mindanao the Allies are putting up a determined defense. In China the situation is a stalemate as both sides have taken 3 bases from each other but Japan has suffered far more casualties that the Chinese.

I think that Dave needs to take Batavia and free up his SAA formations for a Phase II offensive before we reach a point that it is no longer feasible for Japan to conduct Phase II operations. To further this Ive begun to conduct large scale manuevers on the India/Burma frontier....Im hoping to attract the attention of the SAA troops recently freed up from the fall of Palembang.

The other issue is a naval one......Dave has kept KB in the Indian Ocean for the better part of 6-8 weeks to prevent me from reinforcing Sumatra or Java. Im pretty sure that he wants to finish the job at Batavia to free up KB for operations in the central and south Pacific.




4/16-4/17/42


DEI


Japan bombards away at Fortress Batavia as Dave rests his troops for another assault.

Supplies at Batavia are now down to 12,500. Ive got over 20 subs on transport duty to bring in supplies here but its not nearly enough. Ive activated a flotilla of small cargo ships to try to sneak in supplies from the Indian Ocean.....we will soon see if KB is still in the neighborhood.



PHILIPPINES


Dave has commited nearly a quarter of his active BBs and CAs here for naval bombardments as he hopes to even the odds in this theatre:


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 16, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of San Fernando at 80,74

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
CL Kinu
CL Isuzu
CL Sendai
CL Kashii
DD Tsuta
DD Hasu
DD Namikaze
DD Mikazuki
DD Hayashio


Allied ground losses:
294 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 56
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 2

F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Nagato
BB Nagato firing at San Fernando
E7K2 Alf acting as spotter for CA Mikuma
CA Mikuma firing at 11th PA Infantry/B Division
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Mogami
CA Mogami firing at 57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
CL Kinu firing at 11th PA Infantry/B Division
CL Isuzu firing at San Fernando
CL Sendai firing at 57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
CL Kashii firing at San Fernando
DD Tsuta firing at 11th PA Infantry/A Division
DD Hasu firing at San Fernando
DD Namikaze firing at USAFFE
DD Mikazuki firing at 57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
DD Hayashio firing at 11th PA Infantry/A Division


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of San Fernando at 80,74

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
DD Amatsukaze
DD Shiranui
DD Maikaze


Allied ground losses:
123 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (5 destroyed, 4 disabled)


Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 24
Port hits 1

BB Ise firing at San Fernando
DD Amatsukaze firing at 57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
DD Shiranui firing at 31st PA Infantry/A Division
DD Maikaze firing at 11th PA Infantry/C Division



Night Naval bombardment of Cagayan at 79,89

Japanese Ships
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
DD Amagiri
DD Ikazuchi


Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Manpower hits 1
Fires 57
Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 12
Port hits 4

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Nachi
CA Nachi firing at Cagayan
CA Haguro firing at 102nd PA Infantry Regiment
DD Amagiri firing at Cagayan
DD Ikazuchi firing at Cagayan



Ive placed 4 subs just offshore San Fernando but they havent done much yet to slow down to naval bombardments.

The IJA 38th Division spearheads a couple of assaults at Cayagan:


Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17614 troops, 176 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 720

Defending force 8968 troops, 60 guns, 55 vehicles, Assault Value = 335

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 386

Allied adjusted defense: 273

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
994 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 68 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled


Allied ground losses:
740 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
11th Garrison Unit
38th Division
62nd Naval Guard Unit
67th Naval Guard Unit
10th Garrison Unit
2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy

Defending units:
102nd PA Infantry/B Division
102nd PA Infantry Regiment
2nd/101st PA Battalion
3rd PA Constabulary Regiment
3rd/101st PA Battalion
102nd PA Infantry/A Division
4th/101st PA Battalion
102nd PA Infantry/C Division
Cagayan USAAF Base Force
III Philippine Corps


Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16848 troops, 176 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 662

Defending force 8566 troops, 61 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 282

Japanese adjusted assault: 185

Allied adjusted defense: 187

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
269 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
560 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 60 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Assaulting units:
11th Garrison Unit
10th Garrison Unit
62nd Naval Guard Unit
38th Division
67th Naval Guard Unit
2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy

Defending units:
102nd PA Infantry/A Division
3rd PA Constabulary Regiment
3rd/101st PA Battalion
102nd PA Infantry Regiment
102nd PA Infantry/B Division
2nd/101st PA Battalion
4th/101st PA Battalion
102nd PA Infantry/C Division
Cagayan USAAF Base Force
III Philippine Corps



Ive got another regiment on the way to Cayagan and hopefully it arrives in time.



CBI


Dave launches a bloody assault in south central China with his 3700 AV army NW of Hangchow:


Ground combat at 89,54

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 97635 troops, 766 guns, 116 vehicles, Assault Value = 3649

Defending force 47200 troops, 325 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1926

Japanese adjusted assault: 2176

Allied adjusted defense: 3382

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
8993 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 774 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 451 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 33 disabled


Allied ground losses:
3799 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 226 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 243 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled


Assaulting units:
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
59th Infantry Brigade
41st Division
35th Division
34th Division
RGC Tax Police Regiment
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
116th Division
RGC Capital Brigade
110th Division
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
6th Division
2nd RGC Division
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
26th Chinese Corps
9th Prov Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
87th Chinese Corps
78th Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese/C Corps
27th Group Army
30th Group Army


Japan suffers 9000 casualties vs 3900 Chinese. I have over 300AV of reinforcements that will arrive here next turn.

In southern China.....the IJA panzer korps rests in Amoy as it recovers its diabled AFVs. Three Allied antitank regiments are now on the move to southern China and the US Army 31st Regiment is being airlifted to Kwangchowan to deal with the Japanese armor menace.



In India...I have elements of I Australian Corps, III Indian Corps, Eastern Army and the Red Guard on the move to Burma to create a little distraction for Japan. Japan has just enlarged Lashio to a level 3 AF and appears to be building an AF at Katha. RAF bombers hit the airbase at Mandalay last turn and next turn will bomb Lashio in addition to Mandalay.

4/18-4/19/42



SUBS


SS S-38 attempts to intercept IJN bombardment TFs at Vigan but is instead hit by 4 DCs and is badly damaged.


SS S-39 sinks AK Tomtu Maru off Munda.

SS KXIII sinks AK Unkai Maru near Toboali.



FORTRESS BATAVIA


Japan launches a bloody 1:6 delberate attack this turn:


Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35938 troops, 491 guns, 404 vehicles, Assault Value = 1412

Defending force 45919 troops, 503 guns, 250 vehicles, Assault Value = 1398

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 445

Allied adjusted defense: 2793

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
4251 casualties reported
Squads: 55 destroyed, 217 disabled
Non Combat: 22 destroyed, 171 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 61 disabled
Vehicles lost 56 (4 destroyed, 52 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
2100 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 146 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 162 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 61 (10 destroyed, 51 disabled)


Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF
16th Engineer Regiment
1st Engineer Co
16th Naval Guard Unit
9th Infantry Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
33rd Division
18th Division
4th Div /7
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
1st Regt Cavalerie
VII KNIL Battalion
SE Borneo KNIL Battalion
Prajoda Garrison Battalion
2nd KNIL Regiment
2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion
4th KNIL Regiment
6th KNIL Regiment
Manado Garrison Battalion
Afdeling Ritman
Lijfwacht Cav Sqn
Kendari Garrison Battalion
1st KNIL Regiment
Van Altena Battalion
VI KNIL Battalion
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Marinier Battalion
Roodenburg Battalion
Barisan KNIL Regiment
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
Samarinda KNIL Battalion
Makassar Garrison Battalion
Bandoeng Base Force
MLD
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
Djojakarta Base Force
1st KNIL AA Battalion
Merak Base Force
KNIL Army Command
Soerabaja Base Force
Madion Base Force
Batavia Base Force
Loemafjang Base Force
Tjilitap Base Force
ML-KNIL
Banjoewangi Base Force
Commandement Marine
ABDA
1 ML-KNIL Aviation
Malang Base Force


Japan suffers 4250 casualties vs 2100 Allied casualties. Japan has now had 441 infantry squad disablements at Batavia.....an entire division's worth.

Supplies at Batavia are now down to 10,500.



CBI


Dave's big stack NW of Hangchow.....formerly 3700 AV....again launches a costly frontal assault on the Chinese troops defending in 3x terrain:


Ground combat at 89,54

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 83688 troops, 690 guns, 116 vehicles, Assault Value = 3158

Defending force 44624 troops, 325 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1719

Japanese adjusted assault: 1688

Allied adjusted defense: 3178

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
6535 casualties reported
Squads: 30 destroyed, 301 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 390 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
3030 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 227 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 186 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled


Assaulting units:
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
6th Division
34th Division
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
116th Division
RGC Capital Brigade
35th Division
RGC Tax Police Regiment
41st Division
110th Division
59th Infantry Brigade
2nd RGC Division
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion

Defending units:
78th Chinese Corps
87th Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
9th Prov Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese/C Corps
27th Group Army
30th Group Army



Japan loses another 6500 casualties here vs 3000 Chinese. Japan has lost over 15,000 troops here is the last 2 battles and the formerly 3700 AV stack is now down to 2800 AV.

Meanwhile...the Chinese defenders complete their withdrawal 1 hex to the west and reinforcements bring the Chinese AV back up to 1900.

The Chinese continue to withdraw from the area around Hangchow.

No action in southern or northern China.


In Burma....the RAF is going all out in bombing the Japanese airfield at Lashio next turn.



Allied troops in India continue their march to the Burmese border.




PHILIPPINES


All quiet here except for the continued IJN naval bombardments at San Fernando.

Dave is marching in reinforcements to Cayagan from the west while Im trying to move in reinforcements from the east.

4/20-4/21/42



FORTRESS BATAVIA


Dave hit me with both ground and aerial bombardments this turn.....the aerial attacks were particularly intense and he scored probably over a dozen air supply hits. The Dutch have more AV (1290) than the Japanese (1279) but somehow I lost a disastrous 3000 supplies......and the supply level is now down to 7500.



CBI


Relatively quiet in China....mostly just a lot of manuever as we continue to withdraw from the exposed Hangchow salient.

It looks as if Dave has the bulk of his manuever forces in south central and southern China so I may launch an offensive in central China in a bit to see if I can recapture Loyang/Chengchow/Tsiaotso.

In India.....over 2000 AV of III Indian Corps/I Australian Corps/Eastern Army continue their march to the Burmese frontier.

Dave has been sweeping over my defensive position outside Katha with 36 Oscars at 34,000 feet for a couple of weeks....and every turn he is able to kill a few Hurricane leakers from my CAP over Imphal. This turn I massively LRCAPed over the hex and also bombed the Oscar base at Lashio.....Japan loses 19 Oscars vs 6 Hurricane IIBs and 2 Fulmars.



PHILIPPINES

I sent 3 subs to patrol off San Fernando/Vigan to stop the daily Japanese naval bombardments. Two of the Allies subs were heavily damaged by DCs and the 3rd sub attacked a merchant TF rather than the surface TFs.

All quiet on Mindanao as both sides race to reinforce at Cayagan.



SOPAC


Havent spent very much time discussing this theatre. I had been rapidly building up in the New Hebrides and on New Caledonia when Dave started sending recon overflights over Luganville in late March.

In retaliation.....I started sending PBYs on recon over Shortlands/Munda/Lunga in early April. Dave has been building a chain of Nettie bases across the Solomons.......level 4 airfields at Rabaul/Shortlands/Munda/Lunga. There was almost no Japanese buildup on New Guinea however.....only a level 1 AF at Salamaua and a level 3 AF at Port Moresby. I was intending to make this the focus of the first Allied counteroffensive in late summer 1942 but the prospect of 4 interlocking Nettie bases that could base 800 A6M2s/Netties without overstacking seems a bit formidable.

What Allied recon also showed was that the Solomons were being held by incredibly weak forces....only 3000 troops at Munda and a mere 450 troops at Lunga. Since that initial discovery.....Dave has been using air and naval transport to rapidly build up his defenses and he now has about 7500 troops at Munda and maybe 2000 troops at Lunga.

This turn.....SS Silversides reported both a TF with CMs and another TF with ACMs heading from Truk towards Rabaul.....looks like Dave is going to try to rapidly mine all his important bases in the Solomons.

Meanwhile.....Im building up Luganville as rapidly as possible.....the airfield there reached level 4 last turn and reinforcement convoys land daily.

Dave launched an airstrike from Lunga this turn to try to interdict my shipping at Luganville:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 120,150

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
G4M1 Betty x 6



Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 20
F2A-3 Buffalo x 7


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed




CAP engaged:
VMF-221 with F2A-3 Buffalo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
50th PG/11th PS with P-39D Airacobra (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 120,150

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
G3M2 Nell x 9



Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 10
F2A-3 Buffalo x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 4 destroyed


Allied Ships
CL Achilles



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VMF-221 with F2A-3 Buffalo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
50th PG/11th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 62 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers




Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 120,150

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 56 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
G4M1 Betty x 6



Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 16
F2A-3 Buffalo x 5


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Leander



Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VMF-221 with F2A-3 Buffalo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
50th PG/11th PS with P-39D Airacobra (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers




When the smoke clears Japan has lost 8 A6M2, 13 Betty and 7 Nell vs a lone P-39D. Altogether this turn.....Japan loses 53 AC vs 17 Allied AC. In A2A combat....Japan loses 34 AC to 10 Allied AC.

I staged two more squadrons of fighters to Luganville this turn and the buildup there continues.

ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance

Wirrayway_Ace....I think that the one thing that jumps out at you regarding A2A combat in this AAR is that 10 of my top 11 pilots are Hurricane drivers. The Hurricanes fighting over CBI and the DEI have closed the gap in A2A losses over the last couple of months. I generally use the HurricaneIIbs for CAP and sweeps at 31,000'. I use the P-40Es at 15,000' for CAP and escorts. Dave has been sweeping me with Oscars at 34.000' but the Hurricanes are holding their own. Most of the Hurricane squadrons are at 50% strength now so I go though the pilot rosters and only use the best pilots....the extra pilots are placed in group reserve. Thats how I ended up with 2 Dutch double aces over the DEI when I raely had more than 3 HurricaneIIbs operational at a time.

Regarding Dave being in a hurry at Batavia.....I think that the clock is ticking for Japan. Here we are in the 2nd half of April 1942 and the only area Japan has completely secured has been Malaya. Dave is currently bogged down in the DEI at Batavia and in Burma he has been stopped short of Myitkina. In the Philippines the Japanese are holed up on Luzon in a tiny beachead at Vigan and even on Mindanao the Allies are putting up a determined defense. In China the situation is a stalemate as both sides have taken 3 bases from each other but Japan has suffered far more casualties that the Chinese.

I think that Dave needs to take Batavia and free up his SAA formations for a Phase II offensive before we reach a point that it is no longer feasible for Japan to conduct Phase II operations. To further this Ive begun to conduct large scale manuevers on the India/Burma frontier....Im hoping to attract the attention of the SAA troops recently freed up from the fall of Palembang.

The other issue is a naval one......Dave has kept KB in the Indian Ocean for the better part of 6-8 weeks to prevent me from reinforcing Sumatra or Java. Im pretty sure that he wants to finish the job at Batavia to free up KB for operations in the central and south Pacific.

Adm Spruance

You don't appear to need input, but this is how it appears to me as an objective newsreel viewer of the war:

Your China offensive has almost certainly distracted both forces and his attention from phase II planning. I doubt he realizes fully the problem he is facing on Luzon so will probably ignore it in his planning. The fighting on Mindanao is realively minor in the scale of things. He is unlikely to realize the supply problem in Batavia as supply stocks on Java start pretty robust. He probably will continue to push hard to disrupt you and overwhelm you to free up his forces.

While his bases in the Solomons may be able to support 800 hundred A6M2s/Netties, he cannot marshal more than 80 each without stripping every other theater at this point in the war.

He is, however, fully capable of conducting major amphibious operations (Corps strength) until such time as Allied CV strength becomes overwhelming. If the planning is done carefully, Japan has an adequate number of AKs and LSDs to offload the heavy equipment while using xAKs and xAPs in large numbers to delivery troops and supplies to a beachhead. This capability includes successfully attacking a well defended atoll. Losses to AKs and the two LSDs will very quickly degrade this capability. Thus, while the clock is indeed ticking for Japan, your own operations to continue to disrupt his tempo and the distruction of key naval assets (including AKs and LSDs) will have more effect on the early culmination of his strategic offensive than time (at least until mid 43).

So, my thought is it is time to force an early culmination....An offensive to retake key objectives in the Solomons with a threat to the Andamans or vice versa is likely to provoke a predictable counter-invasion which would give you the the opportunity to strike his transports. If you get his AKs and LSDs after the amphib bonus has expired, his options become very limited even if his fleet is otherwise intact.

Regardless, this is a fascinating campaign to watch play out.

Mike

Wirrayway_Ace....I appreciate your input and I think that your analysis is spot on. I didnt realize that Japan had that much amphibious lift capability.

Im not sure how much of a threat I could mount on the Andamans....I dont have a single AP or AK in the area. In the south Pacific I do have 9 APs and 2 AKs so if I am to mount a threat there I will need to assemble as much amphibious shipping as I can as quickly as possible.



4/22-4/25/42



FORTRESS BATAVIA


Japan reinforced here and now has almost 1600 AV:


Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2243 troops, 147 guns, 159 vehicles, Assault Value = 1591

Defending force 45273 troops, 503 guns, 239 vehicles, Assault Value = 1338

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
125 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
18th Division
16th Naval Guard Unit
8th Tank Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
5th Div /6
80th Garrison Battalion
33rd Division
4th Div /7
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
Kendari Garrison Battalion
Manado Garrison Battalion
1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
Barisan KNIL Regiment
VI KNIL Battalion
Van Altena Battalion
Afdeling Ritman
2nd KNIL Regiment
Prajoda Garrison Battalion
6th KNIL Regiment
1st KNIL Regiment
VII KNIL Battalion
Marinier Battalion
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
Samarinda KNIL Battalion
Lijfwacht Cav Sqn
Roodenburg Battalion
SE Borneo KNIL Battalion
2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion
1st Regt Cavalerie
4th KNIL Regiment
4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Makassar Garrison Battalion
Tjilitap Base Force
Loemafjang Base Force
1 ML-KNIL Aviation
Merak Base Force
1st KNIL AA Battalion
ML-KNIL
Batavia Base Force
KNIL Army Command
Commandement Marine
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
Soerabaja Base Force
Djojakarta Base Force
ABDA
Banjoewangi Base Force
MLD
Madion Base Force
Bandoeng Base Force
Malang Base Force


I have 5500 supplies remaining at Batavia.



PHILIPPINES


All quiet on Luzon except for the multiple daily naval bombardments at San Fernando.

Japan and the Allies both reinforce at Cayagan and Dave orders a bombardment to evaluaute relative AV:

Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8382 troops, 124 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 624

Defending force 9988 troops, 78 guns, 57 vehicles, Assault Value = 336



Assaulting units:
38th Division
10th Garrison Unit
11th Garrison Unit
62nd Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
4th/101st PA Battalion
102nd PA Infantry/B Division
3rd PA Constabulary Regiment
102nd PA Infantry/A Division
2nd/101st PA Battalion
103rd PA Infantry Regiment
102nd PA Infantry Regiment
3rd/101st PA Battalion
102nd PA Infantry/C Division
Cagayan USAAF Base Force
III Philippine Corps


I think that I can still hold out for a bit here but we will see for sure next turn when Dave launches the assault.




CBI


Dave made an excellent move over the last 2 turns and has rendered the Chinese forces at Canton hor's de combat. I thought he was resting the IJA panzer korps at Amoy. Instead...he loaded the tanks up on transports .....sailed down the coast and then upriver to Canton. Imagine my surprise this turn when he ordered a bombardment to evaulate relative strength at Canton:


Ground combat at Canton (77,59)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 27294 troops, 463 guns, 215 vehicles, Assault Value = 1482

Defending force 24005 troops, 192 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 991

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
10th Tank Regiment
20th Recon Regiment
Sasebo 8th SNLF
1st Recon Regiment
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
104th Division
1st Ind.Inf.Group
11th Tank Regiment
26th Recon Regiment
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
2nd Tank Regiment
8th Recon Regiment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
9th Armored Car Co
III/81st Naval Guard Unit
31st Field AA Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
45th Field AA Battalion
35th Fld AA Gun Co
16th AA Regiment
44th Field AA Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
1st JAAF AF Coy
47th JAAF AF Bn
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Fld AA Gun Co
47th Field AA Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
23rd Army
Canton Special Base Force
1st RF Gun Battalion
35th Field AA Battalion
51st Air Defense AA Regiment
21st Mortar Battalion
51st Ind.AA Gun Co
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
48th Field AA Battalion
40th Field AA Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
26th Fld AA Gun Co
2nd RF Gun Battalion
2nd JAAF AF Coy

Defending units:
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
79th Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
49th Chinese/A Corps
16th Group Army
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment


Im just hoping I can hold on for one turn so that I can evacuate Canton rather than being routed.

Not only will I lose my forward defensive position at Canton but I havent had enough time to set up my anti-tank trap at Wuchow. I will only be able to amass about 1200 AV at Wuchow and the antitank units are still a few days march out. Im staging in transport AC from Ledo and will start airlifting anti-tank guns to Wuchow.



Fortunately.....I still retain some semblance of the initiative in central China. I had moved 2 seperate armies with 5000 AV towards Loyang/Chengchow and Dave responding by pulling his former 3700 AV army(now 2800 AV) out of south central China and is beginning to rail them to Kaifeng. I havent decided if I am going to resume the push towards Hangchow...I still have 2 unopposed armies W of Hangchow but for now they will rest and recocer disabled squads.

Over in Burma....the vanguard of Allied armor crosses the frontier from India.

4/26-4/27/42



FORTRESS BATAVIA

Ground and aerial bombardments continue at Batavia:


Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15728 troops, 271 guns, 227 vehicles, Assault Value = 2732

Defending force 45376 troops, 503 guns, 238 vehicles, Assault Value = 1353

Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Assaulting units:
2nd Division
21st Division
5th Division
16th Recon Regiment
33rd Division
20th Infantry Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
16th Naval Guard Unit
18th Division
80th Garrison Battalion
8th Tank Regiment
4th Div /7
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
Van Altena Battalion
Lijfwacht Cav Sqn
Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion
SE Borneo KNIL Battalion
1st Regt Cavalerie
Samarinda KNIL Battalion
4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion
2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
1st KNIL Regiment
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
VII KNIL Battalion
Manado Garrison Battalion
Barisan KNIL Regiment
Marinier Battalion
Afdeling Ritman
Prajoda Garrison Battalion
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
2nd KNIL Regiment
6th KNIL Regiment
Kendari Garrison Battalion
VI KNIL Battalion
4th KNIL Regiment
Roodenburg Battalion
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Makassar Garrison Battalion
Djojakarta Base Force
1st KNIL AA Battalion
1 ML-KNIL Aviation
Batavia Base Force
Madion Base Force
Bandoeng Base Force
Commandement Marine
Tjilitap Base Force
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
Soerabaja Base Force
Loemafjang Base Force
ABDA
Merak Base Force
KNIL Army Command
ML-KNIL
MLD
Banjoewangi Base Force
Malang Base Force



Dave now has 2700 AV at Batavia.....over 7 divisions. Add to that the 2 1/2 divisions in the PI and 56th Division in Burma and thats pretty much all the SAA.

Batavia is now down to 4000 supplies.



SUBS


SS KXIII sinks xAK Tosei Maru off Vigan.

SS I-156 sinks xAKL Minnipa near Exmouth.



CBI


The Allies now have over 2000 AV of troops massing on the Indo-Burmese frontier.

In China.....Japan launches two 1:1 assaults at Canton but the Chinese defenders manage to hang on:


Ground combat at Canton (77,59)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 39952 troops, 493 guns, 1176 vehicles, Assault Value = 1485

Defending force 23963 troops, 192 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 987

Japanese adjusted assault: 1599

Allied adjusted defense: 1141

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1155 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 71 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 105 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 65 (4 destroyed, 61 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
750 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 150 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 140 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled


Assaulting units:
9th Tank Regiment
9th Armored Car Co
23rd Tank Regiment
Sasebo 8th SNLF
7th Tank Regiment
20th Recon Regiment
1st Recon Regiment
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
26th Recon Regiment
10th Tank Regiment
104th Division
3rd Tank Regiment
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
2nd Tank Regiment
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
1st Ind.Inf.Group
8th Recon Regiment
III/81st Naval Guard Unit
48th Field AA Battalion
26th Fld AA Gun Co
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
21st Fld AA Gun Co
16th AA Regiment
35th Fld AA Gun Co
1st JAAF AF Coy
23rd Army
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st RF Gun Battalion
31st Field AA Battalion
2nd RF Gun Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
44th Field AA Battalion
40th Field AA Battalion
47th JAAF AF Bn
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
21st Mortar Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
35th Field AA Battalion
51st Air Defense AA Regiment
51st Ind.AA Gun Co
45th Field AA Battalion
Canton Special Base Force
2nd Mortar Battalion
47th Field AA Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd JAAF AF Coy

Defending units:
79th Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
49th Chinese/A Corps
16th Group Army
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment



Ground combat at Canton (77,59)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 39101 troops, 493 guns, 1177 vehicles, Assault Value = 1436

Defending force 22530 troops, 192 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 877

Japanese adjusted assault: 1366

Allied adjusted defense: 1033

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1384 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 77 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 145 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 85 (2 destroyed, 83 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1257 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 138 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 107 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled


Assaulting units:
Sasebo 8th SNLF
20th Recon Regiment
1st Recon Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
1st Ind.Inf.Group
11th Tank Regiment
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
8th Recon Regiment
104th Division
10th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
26th Recon Regiment
9th Armored Car Co
III/81st Naval Guard Unit
2nd RF Gun Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
23rd Army
26th Fld AA Gun Co
21st Mortar Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
47th Field AA Battalion
35th Fld AA Gun Co
51st Ind.AA Gun Co
44th Field AA Battalion
21st Fld AA Gun Co
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
35th Field AA Battalion
Canton Special Base Force
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st JAAF AF Coy
16th AA Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
48th Field AA Battalion
47th JAAF AF Bn
51st Air Defense AA Regiment
45th Field AA Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
40th Field AA Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
31st Field AA Battalion
2nd JAAF AF Coy

Defending units:
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
79th Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
49th Chinese/A Corps
16th Group Army
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment



Unfortunately it will take another turn for the Chinese to complete their withdrawal from Canton and I dont think that I have that much time.



SOPAC


Things are starting to heat up in SOPAC. Dave staged several squadrons of A6M2s up to Guadalcanal and swept Luganville with 71 Zeros:


Morning Air attack on Luganville , at 120,150

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32



Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 45
P-40E Warhawk x 22


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed



CAP engaged:
24th PG/3rd PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 9 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 26000 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
50th PG/11th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 15 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 32100.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 32000 and 32100.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
35th PG/40th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 28000 and 30000.
Raid is overhead



Morning Air attack on Luganville , at 120,150

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33



Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 31
P-40E Warhawk x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 31000 feet *

CAP engaged:
50th PG/11th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 27000 and 32810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 53 minutes
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 27000 and 30000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
35th PG/40th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 30000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 56 minutes
24th PG/3rd PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 26000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Luganville , at 120,150

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6



Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 14
P-40E Warhawk x 1


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed



CAP engaged:
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 26000 and 30000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
35th PG/40th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 31810 and 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 50 minutes
50th PG/11th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 25000 and 35810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 107 minutes
24th PG/3rd PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes




Afternoon Air attack on Luganville , at 120,150

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23



Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 26
P-40E Warhawk x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed



Aircraft Attacking:
1 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 31000 feet *

CAP engaged:
24th PG/3rd PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 6 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
50th PG/11th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 23000 and 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 31000 and 32100.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
35th PG/40th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 32100.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Luganville , at 120,150

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19



Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 11
P-40E Warhawk x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 31000 feet *

CAP engaged:
50th PG/11th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 32810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 32810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
35th PG/40th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 23000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
24th PG/3rd PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes



When the smoke clears Japan has lost 53 AC to 36 Allied AC. In A2A....the Japanese lose 34 AC to 23 Allied AC. Individual plane losses by type include 49 A6M2s, 12 P-39Ds and 17 P-40Es.

Looks like the P-40Ds held their own against the A6M2s sweeping at high altitude. Moral of the story is that the Zero suffers heavy operational losses following A2A combat at extreme range(12 hexes).



USAAF HEAVY BOMBER RESERVE


I initially formed a heavy bomber reserve at the level 7 AF at Nandi on Fiji to cover the Allied buildup on New Caledonia and Tanna. Their main purpose was to nuke Japanese AFs if Dave invaded at Efate or Luganville. The Japanese invasion never happened.....and the 4Es have mostly been training for ground bombing over the last 3 months.

The heavy bomber reserve will be committed next turn in first Allied bombing mission of the war with massed 4Es. Some 80 B-17s and LB-30s are staged to the new level 5 AF at Luganville this turn. Japan has all their fighters in the Solomons stacked at Lunga.....so the USAAF heavies will hit the Netties parked on the level 4 AF at Munda.

I think that next turn Dave will get his first whiff of the upcoming change in which side hold the initiative.

4/28-4/29/42


FORTRESS BATAVIA


Japan unleashes over 7 battle hardened divisions on the defiant Dutch defenders of Batavia:


Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 73348 troops, 885 guns, 546 vehicles, Assault Value = 2754

Defending force 45396 troops, 503 guns, 236 vehicles, Assault Value = 1357

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 1320

Allied adjusted defense: 2929

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
4250 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 357 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 302 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 62 (1 destroyed, 61 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
3906 casualties reported
Squads: 59 destroyed, 174 disabled
Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 324 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Assaulting units:
9th Infantry Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
18th Division
21st Division
8th Tank Regiment
2nd Division
16th Naval Guard Unit
16th Recon Regiment
80th Garrison Battalion
33rd Division
5th Division
4th Div /7
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
SE Borneo KNIL Battalion
4th KNIL Regiment
2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Samarinda KNIL Battalion
Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion
Kendari Garrison Battalion
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Barisan KNIL Regiment
Manado Garrison Battalion
Marinier Battalion
Prajoda Garrison Battalion
Afdeling Ritman
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
VII KNIL Battalion
Roodenburg Battalion
4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Lijfwacht Cav Sqn
6th KNIL Regiment
1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion
1st Regt Cavalerie
2nd KNIL Regiment
VI KNIL Battalion
Van Altena Battalion
1st KNIL Regiment
Makassar Garrison Battalion
KNIL Army Command
1st KNIL AA Battalion
Banjoewangi Base Force
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
Soerabaja Base Force
Tjilitap Base Force
Loemafjang Base Force
Bandoeng Base Force
ABDA
Djojakarta Base Force
Commandement Marine
Batavia Base Force
MLD
Madion Base Force
Merak Base Force
1 ML-KNIL Aviation
ML-KNIL
Malang Base Force


Japan suffers another 370 disrupted/killed squads in the assault. Japan has now had over 830 squads disabled/killed.....almost 2 divisions worth..... so far in the battle for Batavia.

Remarkably....we still have 3300 supplies left at Batavia.....the Japanese deliberate attack caused less of a supply expenditure than 2 days of ground bombardment......go figure.

Probably 3-4 subs/turn drop off supplies at Batavia so we are getting about 150 supplies in per turn.....not enough to appreciably lengthen the campaign for Japan but maybe enough to extract an additional turn or 2 of pain.



PHILIPPINES


All quiet on Luzon except for the daily naval bomardments at San Fernando and aerial bombardments at Clark and Manila. Im rotating troops in and out of San Fernando on a weekly basis so everyone is getting trained up and they are able to rest away from San Fernando to recover disabled squads.

I completed the airlift of the 31st Regiment to China so the PBYs are sent back to Australia. A quick check of all the Allied bases on Luzon shows that we still have over 70,000 supplies pretty evenly distributed over 7-8 bases.


Down on Mindanao......Japan launches another assault at Cayagan:

Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13640 troops, 156 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 632

Defending force 10316 troops, 80 guns, 57 vehicles, Assault Value = 354

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 381

Allied adjusted defense: 625

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
566 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled


Allied ground losses:
527 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 40 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Assaulting units:
38th Division
10th Garrison Unit
11th Garrison Unit
62nd Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
4th/101st PA Battalion
2nd/101st PA Battalion
102nd PA Infantry Regiment
3rd PA Constabulary Regiment
102nd PA Infantry/B Division
102nd PA Infantry/A Division
3rd/101st PA Battalion
103rd PA Infantry Regiment
102nd PA Infantry/C Division
Cagayan USAAF Base Force
III Philippine Corps


I still have some 13,000 supplies at Cayagan but with the unfavorable exchange rate here the end is in sight.



SOPAC


The USAAF heavy bomber reserve makes a rather inauspicious start in the war as weather grounds it on the first day of the turn. The weather improved slightly on the 2nd day and the 4Es pound the Japanese airfield at Munda:


Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 7
B-17E Fortress x 56
LB-30 Liberator x 8


Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed on ground
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed on ground


Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled



Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 93

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x LB-30 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb


Aboiut the best thing I can say regarding this misiion was that it was well coodinated....the Air HQ at Luganville did its job.

Japan loses 8 Nells and 4 Bettys on the ground at Munda. More importantly...the airfield is now 16% damaged. Recon shows that Dave pretty much pulled all his AC back from Lunga, Munda and Shortland to Rabaul after this bombing attack. The USAAF heavies are ordered to strike Munda again next turn....I think that there are still a lot of damaged Netties on the ground there.

Overall....Japan loses 48 AC this turn vs 8 Allied AC. In A2A combat......Japan loses 22 AC to 2 Allied AC.


NORPAC


Dave got me good up here in the frozen north. He sent a CL and a DD into the harbor at Dutch Harbor and sank a small AO and several YPs:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Dutch Harbor at 171,50, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Tatsuta
DD Fuyo

Allied Ships
AO Brazos, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
PC Morris, Shell hits 4, and is sunk



Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 100% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages AO Brazos at 2,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages AO Brazos at 2,000 yards
AO Brazos sunk by DD Fuyo at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages PC Morris at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
PC Morris sunk by CL Tatsuta at 3,000 yards
PC Morris sunk by CL Tatsuta at 3,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...




Day Time Surface Combat, near Dutch Harbor at 171,50, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Tatsuta
DD Fuyo

Allied Ships
YP-72, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
YP-73, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
YP-74, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
YP-92, Shell hits 6, and is sunk



Low visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 4,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 4,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 4,000 yards
DD Fuyo engages YP-72 at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
DD Fuyo engages YP-72 at 3,000 yards
DD Fuyo engages YP-72 at 3,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages YP-72 at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages YP-73 at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages YP-74 at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages YP-92 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
YP-72 sunk by CL Tatsuta at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages YP-73 at 2,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages YP-74 at 2,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages YP-92 at 2,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages YP-74 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages YP-73 at 4,000 yards
YP-74 sunk by CL Tatsuta at 4,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages YP-73 at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
YP-92 sunk by CL Tatsuta at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages YP-73 at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
YP-73 sunk by CL Tatsuta at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...




Dave just expanded the AF at Amchitka to level 1. I guess that I will need to pay a bit more attention to this theatre. I sent a CA and a couple of DDs up to Dutch Harbor from Pearl this turn to prevent this type of piracy from happening again.



CBI


Ever throw a party and no one shows up?

Ever stage a diversion but no one is diverted?

Ive attached a screenshot of Burma at the end of this post. I have over 2000 AV of Eastern Army, III Indian Corps, I Australian Corps and the 7th Armored brigade cutting their way through the jungle from Imphal to Kalemyo. Even now....advance elements including 159th Motorized and 7th Armored are fording the west fork of the Irrawaddy River. There is only 1 more hex of jungle terrain to cross before they break out into the open plains of central Burma.

Yet Japan continues its advance with the 56th Division and the 1st Raiding Regiment on Myitkina and is now engaging Burma Corps troops a mere 2 hexes from the base.

I guess that maybe Dave hasnt seen the Allied troops yet. My whole goal here was to make as much noise as possible as a distraction. I didnt envison a major offensive here with the limited troops available. At least Ive had all the troops prepping for Mandalay so if Dave doesnt respond soon to this incursion I have a good chance to surround the 56th Division and destroy it in situ before assaulting Mandalay.

Even better....for the 1st time in this war I have Japanese troops outside of their own air cover but directly exposed to major Allied airfields at Myitkina(level 4), Imphal(level 5) and Ledo(level 6). Next turn.....every 2E bomber, 4E bomber and FB of the RAF and USAAF in theatre will ground attack 56th Division and try to fix it in place.

Japan loses 17 Oscars over Burma this turn in the air and on the ground.



In China, Dave orders a shock attack at Canton that annihilates the Chinese defenders there:


Ground combat at Canton (77,59)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 36826 troops, 474 guns, 1153 vehicles, Assault Value = 1556

Defending force 20920 troops, 192 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 753

Japanese adjusted assault: 1231

Allied adjusted defense: 345

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
1164 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 57 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 134 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Vehicles lost 42 (2 destroyed, 40 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
8311 casualties reported
Squads: 225 destroyed, 122 disabled
Non Combat: 234 destroyed, 74 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 6


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
10th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
Sasebo 8th SNLF
26th Recon Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
8th Recon Regiment
20th RGC Division
9th Armored Car Co
23rd Tank Regiment
20th Recon Regiment
66th Infantry Regiment
1st Recon Regiment
104th Division
3rd Tank Regiment
1st Ind.Inf.Group
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
III/81st Naval Guard Unit
35th Field AA Battalion
51st Ind.AA Gun Co
26th Fld AA Gun Co
5th RF Gun Battalion
48th Field AA Battalion
1st JAAF AF Coy
51st Air Defense AA Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
21st Mortar Battalion
31st Field AA Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
35th Fld AA Gun Co
1st RF Gun Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
21st Fld AA Gun Co
23rd Army
44th Field AA Battalion
Canton Special Base Force
47th Field AA Battalion
2nd RF Gun Battalion
47th JAAF AF Bn
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
16th AA Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
45th Field AA Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
40th Field AA Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd JAAF AF Coy

Defending units:
62nd Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
79th Chinese Corps
49th Chinese/A Corps
16th Group Army
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment



I have 2 AVG squadrons and 1 squadron of the 24th PG flying cover over the defeated Chinese as they attempt to withdraw to Wuchow. Transport AC are still lifting anti-tank guns into Wuchow so hopefully I can get the defenses organized here before the IJA panzer korps arrives.


In central China...we are having a game of Railroad Tycoon as Japan now rails 20 LCUs into Hangchow.....Im glad that I didnt bite at the bait. Im still advancing on Loyang/Chengchow/Tsiaotso but Dave can rail the troops at Hangchow to Kaifeng in 1 turn so I need to use caution.

4/30-5/1/42


CBI


Virtually all of the RAF bombers in India as well as 3 squadrons of USAAF heavy bombers are ordered toground attack the IJA troops advancing on Myitkina. Unfortunately....most of the sweepers were grounded by inclement weather on the first day and many of the escort fighters became "lost" so the bombers had only a small escort with them on the first day of airstrikes.

I had been bombing the Japanese airfields at Lashio and Mandalay non stop for over 2 weeks but Dave guessed correctly that I would be hitting his ground forces this turn and had a 60 plane CAP waiting for the Allied bombers. The IJA ground troops were hit pretty hard but at great cost to the Allied air forces.
The Allies lose 69 AC this turn vs 40 Japanese AC.

Its a good thing though that the Allied air hit the IJA ground forces though as Dave ordered a deliberate attack with them this turn:


Ground combat at 62,42

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22311 troops, 218 guns, 208 vehicles, Assault Value = 934

Defending force 9881 troops, 106 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 414

Japanese adjusted assault: 413

Allied adjusted defense: 645

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1705 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 158 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 57 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Vehicles lost 24 (1 destroyed, 23 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1194 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (4 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
56th Division
Imperial Guards Division
14th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
1st Gloucestershire Battalion
13th Indian Brigade
4th Burma Rifles Battalion
Tenasserim BAF Battalion
2nd King Own YLI Battalion
16th Indian Brigade
48th Gurkha Brigade
27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment



I was _very_ surprised to see the Imperial Guards Division here.....I think that this is the first time that I have ID'd this formation in the war. Im happy with these attritional losses though as I want the Japanese to wear themselves down in a frontal assault on Myitkina while my mobile troops envelope them in the rear. One of my Chinese "Red Guard" formations will join these defenders next turn.....and then the entire stack will slowly withdraw towards Myitkina to pull the IJA troops deeper into the jungle and farther away from Mandalay.

Fairly quiet over in China. I had over 70 fighters covering the withdrawal of my defeated Canton garrison as they withdrew towards Wuchow. The anticipated Japanese aerial interdiction of their retreat didnt occur however and the victorious IJA panzer korps seemed content to rest in Canton and recover their disrupted tanks. Ive airlifted portions of three III Indian Corps anti-tank units with a total of 55 AT guns into Wuchow. A Chinese AT regiment is also forced marching towards Wuchow and should arrive in 5-6 days.



SOPAC


Nearly 70 USAAF heavy bombers pummel Munda airfield but are again limited by severe storms over the base. Four more Nells are destroyed on the ground and the AF at Munda now has 60% damage. The 4Es will hit Munda AF again next turn as our intent here is to achieve 100% neutralization.


SWPAC(SOPAC HQ has not entered the war yet so SWPAC has operational control) gives the final OK for the commencement of OPERATION WATCHTOWER .......the upcoming invasion of Guadalcanal. SWPAC HQ is loaded on transports at Brisbane and will be relocated to Noumea for direct control of this operation.



PHILIPPINES


Business as usual on Luzon and Japan bombards awway on San Fernando, Clark and Manila with naval and aerial forces.

On Mindanao.....Japan unleahes yet another 1:2 assault on the stout defenders of cayagan:


Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13294 troops, 156 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 548

Defending force 9982 troops, 80 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 316

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 180

Allied adjusted defense: 261

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
585 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Allied ground losses:
417 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
62nd Naval Guard Unit
10th Garrison Unit
38th Division
67th Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
2nd/101st PA Battalion
3rd PA Constabulary Regiment
102nd PA Infantry/B Division
4th/101st PA Battalion
3rd/101st PA Battalion
103rd PA Infantry Regiment
102nd PA Infantry Regiment
102nd PA Infantry/A Division
102nd PA Infantry/C Division
Cagayan USAAF Base Force
III Philippine Corps



My next wave of xAK blockade runners from the US west coast will arrive off of Midway next turn and should reach Philippine waters in 2 weeks.




FORTRESS BATAVIA


Japan keeps up the aerial and ground bombardments at Batavia:



Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31854 troops, 525 guns, 298 vehicles, Assault Value = 2445

Defending force 42574 troops, 502 guns, 235 vehicles, Assault Value = 1182

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
8th Tank Regiment
21st Division
33rd Division
80th Garrison Battalion
2nd Division
18th Division
16th Naval Guard Unit
5th Division
16th Recon Regiment
4th Div /7
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
Marinier Battalion
2nd KNIL Regiment
Prajoda Garrison Battalion
Batavia Coastal Gun Battalion
1st Regt Cavalerie
4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Lijfwacht Cav Sqn
VI KNIL Battalion
1st KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
1st KNIL Regiment
Manado Garrison Battalion
Samarinda KNIL Battalion
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Kendari Garrison Battalion
2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Barisan KNIL Regiment
6th KNIL Regiment
Roodenburg Battalion
Afdeling Ritman
Van Altena Battalion
4th KNIL Regiment
VII KNIL Battalion
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
Makassar Garrison Battalion
Loemafjang Base Force
ABDA
Bandoeng Base Force
ML-KNIL
KNIL Army Command
MLD
Djojakarta Base Force
Banjoewangi Base Force
Merak Base Force
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
Soerabaja Base Force
1 ML-KNIL Aviation
1st KNIL AA Battalion
Commandement Marine
Tjilitap Base Force
Madion Base Force
Batavia Base Force
Malang Base Force



Japan now has 2445 AV at Batavia while the Dutch are at 1182 AV. Supplies have now dropped to around 1000 and each transport sub delvery of 36-48 supplies becomes critically important.

An Allied xAK blockade runner made it within 1 hex of Batavia but is then sunk by SS I-123:


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 01, 42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Oosthaven at 47,97

Japanese Ships
SS I-123

Allied Ships
xAK Aldinga, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage



xAK Aldinga is sighted by SS I-123
SS I-123 attacking on the surface


Im going to try to sneak some xAKLs around the other end of Java by Denpasar to see if I can get more supplies to Batavia.

OPERATION WATCHTOWER......THE PLAYERS


I began planning for OPERATION WATCHTOWERabout a month ago after discovering that Japn had woefully inadequate garrisons at their level 4 airifelds at Lunga, Munda and Shortlands. Unfortunately....nearly 90% of the US Navy was in port at the time undergoing their 4/42 upgrades. Initially I thought it would be OPERATION SMASH AND GRAB as Japan had maybe 500 troops at Lunga and 4000 troops at Munda and only 2 units at Shortlands.

I continued to build up bases in the New Hebrides and New Caledonia and debated whether to make a quick attempt to take the Japanese bases in the Solomons......... I could try a smash and grab assault now with woefully inadequate land/sea/air forces or methodically build up and launch a massive set piece attack into the Solomons in August 1942.

Well Dave pre-empted me and tried to bomb my TFs at Luganville(unsuccessfully) and followed that up with a 95 fighter sweep of Luganville. I responded with an 80 4E bomber attack on Munda. Dave apparently realized what was up and has been massively reinforcing Lunga/Munda/Shortlands/Rabaul.

I can wait until 8/42 and build up my bases in SOPAC and swap out TBDs to Avengers and increase USN fighter squadrons to 36 AC but then Japan will increase their air, land and naval force commitment to the Solomons. Dave has already been massively reinforcing his ground defenses in the Solomons and undoubtably also his fortifications. August 1942 would see massive allocations of naval fighters and bombers among the four level 4 airfields here in addition to land reinforcements from the SAA once they complete the conquest of Batavia.....and its very difficult for the Allies to advance into the teeth of 4 interconnected/mutually supporting Japanese airfields. Dave has also been careful to build only the level 4 airifelds as Lunga/Munda and Shortlands all have level zero ports.....so if the Allies capture them they cant reinforce immediately without amphib lift. Every day the Jap grows stronger here.

I guess that one of the main reasons to invade now is that Japan has 11 1/2 divisions tied down in combat at Batavia/Burma/Philippines and now is the perfect time to attack if I dont want to worry about massive Japanese counterinvasions.

With 1 IJN BB sunk and BB Yamashiro in dry dock forever and BBs Nagato, Hyuga and Fuso involved in bombardments in the SRA....I can count on a maximum of 6 IJN BBs available for the Solomons assuming that Yamato has been completed. The Allies have concentrated 10 BBs/14 CAs/28 CLs around Luganville.

The goal of OPERATION WATCHTOWER is capture of Guadalcanal and prep to invade Munda. I had hoped to invade with at least 3 infantry regiments but there was insuffucient amphibious shipping to do so. With a total at 10 APs, 2 AKs and 10 APDs the Allies invasion will be spearheaded by the USMC 8th Marine Regiment. The assault will also include the 164th Regiment, 1st USMC Raider, 3rd USMC Raider, 2nd USMC Eng. Regiment, 19th CBT Eng Regiment, 34th CBT Eng Regiment and the 754th Tank Battalion for a total of 564 AV but not nearly enough supplies. I like using the 3 combat engineer regiments here as not only do they have the AV and the ability to reduce fort levels but as soon as they capture the airfield they can repair it and begin to build a port.

Originally I hoped to make the Solomons my main effort and I began manuevers on the Indo-Burmese border to make as much noise as possible to create a diversion. Well Dave hasnt seen the diversion on the Indo-Burmese border yet but evidently Ive tipped my hand to him here in the Solomons so maybe the Solomons campaign is making noise to divert him from the Allied advance into Burma.

He has withdrawn his AC from Guadalcanal, Munda and Shortlands to Rabaul but has heavily reinforced his land based garrisons so now there are over 6500 troops on Guadalcanal and nearly 12,000 troops on Munda. I guess that he knows now that Im coming and I havent seen KB in 2 or 3 weeks. So Dave probably knows where but he doesnt know exactly when....and he probably doesnt sense the speed or the violence of the upcoming Allied assault.

Ive been running transport TFs every turn to Luganville so this amphibious assault TF will hopefully just look like another daily reinforcement TF as it reaches its staging point in the New Hebrides. Dave's recon/naval search AC have been doing a good job of ID'ing Allied ships as far as a 16 hex range from Guadalcanal so all the Allied CVs and BBs will assemble some 18 hexes away from their destination at Guadalcanal. That means that they may not make it all the way to their assigned positions on D-Day but relative surprise is critical here.

The Allies will have 5 USN CVs.....and each CV will be carrying an additional USMC fighter or bomber squadron. In addition....there will be 2 RN CVs and a RN CVL. Sea Hurricanes flying from the decks of RN CVs at 31,000 feet will be the focal point of fleet defense.

The Allies have some 600 land based AC for support in SOPAC...that includes 80 4Es, 80 B-26s and 30 land based DBs. There are some 200 USAAF fighters but 90% of them are P-39Ds or P-400s. The Allies also have 2 air transport groups and 5 PBY groups that are available as transports. There are also a half dozen VMF and VMSB groups available as well as some Aussie and Kiwi Kittyhawk and Hudson IIIa squadrons.

As far as logistics.....in some 30 games of WitP/CHS/BigB/AE Ive never started a Solomons campaign with les than 1,000,000 supplies and 1,000,00 fuel. For this campaign I have merely 500,000 supplies and 150,000 fuel at Noumea.

ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance

.....in some 30 games of WitP/CHS/BigB/AE....

Mary mother of God!

ORIGINAL: AdmSpruance

OPERATION WATCHTOWER......THE PLAYERS



Originally I hoped to make the Solomons my main effort and I began manuevers on the Indo-Burmese border to make as much noise as possible to create a diversion. Well Dave hasnt seen the diversion on the Indo-Burmese border yet but evidently Ive tipped my hand to him here in the Solomons so maybe the Solomons campaign is making noise to divert him from the Allied advance into Burma.

He has withdrawn his AC from Guadalcanal, Munda and Shortlands to Rabaul but has heavily reinforced his land based garrisons so now there are over 6500 troops on Guadalcanal and nearly 12,000 troops on Munda. I guess that he knows now that Im coming and I havent seen KB in 2 or 3 weeks. So Dave probably knows where but he doesnt know exactly when....and he probably doesnt sense the speed or the violence of the upcoming Allied assault.

Ive been running transport TFs every turn to Luganville so this amphibious assault TF will hopefully just look like another daily reinforcement TF as it reaches its staging point in the New Hebrides. Dave's recon/naval search AC have been doing a good job of ID'ing Allied ships as far as a 16 hex range from Guadalcanal so all the Allied CVs and BBs will assemble some 18 hexes away from their destination at Guadalcanal. That means that they may not make it all the way to their assigned positions on D-Day but relative surprise is critical here.

AdmSpruance

What is your deception plan as it relates to concealing your actual objective?

Mike

Wirrayway_Ace....Ive been playing WitP for 7 years now so that would be something like 4 0r 5 games a year. This year so far I have already starrted 5 games including the tournament games. Having siad that....Ive has maybe a half dozen games that have gone on beyond 6/42 and have completed (Japanese surrender) exactly 1 game of stock WitP and 1 game of AE.

Regarding Operation Watchtower.....I had a diversion plan....not a deception plan. I think its pretty obvious that the first _opposed_ landing the Allies would take in the Solomons to tackle the 4 Japanese airfields would have to be the one furthest away from Rabaul.




OPERATION WATCHTOWER......PLANNING


The Japanese defensive positions in the Solomons and New Britain resemble a 4 headed monster....each head is a level 4 airfield with its own AF HQ unit so that all can support torpedo armed Netties. Things could actually be worse if I delay the assault until summer 1942. Im lucky that Japan has completed virtually no AF upgrades on New Guinea. Even Port Moresby is still at level 3 and at the present time the AF there is not operational. A delay until summer 1942 would allow Japan to build additional level 4 Nettie nests at Port Moresby, Milne Bay, Buna, Lae or Salamaua.

The key to an Allied invasion here is to simultaneously cut off 3 of the heads of the monster so that only the threat of Rabaul remains. Dave has already written off the AF at Guadalcanal. A successful Allied invasion here first would destroy any air formations on the airfield. Just to be sure.....Allied surface TFs will bombard Guadalcanal AF on D-Day plus 1.

The USAAF heavy bomber reserve has been tasked with the closure of the Munda AF.....and as of 5/3/42 the AF there is 75% damaged. Im pretty confident that it will be 100% damaged by D-Day.....weather permitting.

That leaves one more monster head of the Nettie threat to deal with....Shortlands. On D-Day minus 1.....the USN and RN fast carriers will conduct a high speed run in to a point 50 miles due W of Lunga. From there they will search for enemy carriers and if none are located they will launch a massive carrier air strike on Shortlands AF for 2 days. By D-Day plus 1.....the only functioning Japanese airfield in the region sould be at Rabaul.

Recon shows a total of 7 LCUs and 6500 troops at Lunga. Sigint has reported the presence of an Air HQ and a couple of engineer units at Lunga. Add in a BF or 2 and that leaves Japan with maybe 2 or 3 combat units there. Im estimating a total Japanese AV of less than 1 regiment....maybe 100 AV or less.

Against these defenders....the Allies have some 564 AV assaulting the island. The way the supply loading worked with the limited number of APs/AK available.....the invasion will be spearheaded by the relatively well supplied 8th Marine Regiment and the 2 USMC Raider battalions.....perhaps the most feared raiders in the PTO with the possible exception of the Oakland Raiders. The assault forces should have about 50% or a bit more of their op points remaining when they reach the landing beach on D-Day. Deliberate assaults will be launched on D-Day plus 1 and D-Day plus 2 by which time hopefully 90% of the materiel and supplies have been landed.

The key to a successful invasion here will be round the clock ground bombing of the Japanese combat units by level bombers and dive bombers starting on D-Day minus 1. By the time the 1st deliberate assault is ordered on D-Day plus 1 the Allied air forces will have delvered multiple AM and PM ground bombing attacks over a 3 day period.

I havent seen KB in a few weeks....they could be hovering just north of Rabaul beyound Allied PBY naval search range. I staged PBYs forward into Stewart Island this turn so that advances the range of Allied PBY naval search another 5 hexes to the north. KB is currently not within range of Guadalcanal so D-Day minus 1 and D-Day should be relatively uneventful. The most dangerous days of exposure for the Allied carriers will be on D-Day plus 1 and D-Day plus 2.......KB could definitely arrive by then and Dave could also stage in a couple hundred A6M2s and Netties to the Solomons from Truk or the Marshalls.

For this operation to succeed the Allies must gain control of the airfield on Guadalcanal by the end of D-Day plus 2. I plan to immediately fly in some 130 fighters and 70 DBs to Lunga to cover the remainder of unloading operations while the Alied carriers withdraw. Each day the Allied carriers must remain in position offshore of Guadalcanal to cover offensive operations to capture Lunga AF increases their threat level exponentially.