RADM Yamaguchi's Diary (Pls no affins or cheesesteak)

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 26, 43
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Marcus Island at 123,85, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Maya
DD Akatsuki
DD Hibiki
DD Ikazuchi
DD Murakumo

Allied Ships
PT-112
PT-130
PT-134, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Trying to keep Marcus nuetralized

Morning Air attack on TF, near Truscott at 70,124

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y4 Judy x 73
N1K2-J George x 43

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y4 Judy: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Barker
xAK Edgar Luckenbach, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Coquina, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Vendetta, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Texan, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Santa Elisa, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
xAK F.J.Luckenbach, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Paul Luckenbach, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Oregonian, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Caught a TF headed for Darwin i think. Perhaps in preparation for attack to the north.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 136,98

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 48
B6N2 Jill x 39

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 6 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 3 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAK Frederick Billings, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Anthony Ravalli, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Ben T. Osborne, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Edmund F. Dickens, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Don Marquis
xAK George L. Curry, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 9 (6 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Caught a reinforcement TF near Wake

Morning Air attack on 4th Guards Division, at 55,53 (Pegu)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 15
Ki-84a Frank x 3

Allied aircraft
Liberator B.III x 3
Spitfire VIII x 8
P-40N5 Warhawk x 3
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 10
P-51A Mustang x 5
F6F-3 Hellcat x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 3 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator B.III: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied bombers working over my units trying to free Pegu

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Victoria Point at 48,63

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
P1Y1 Frances x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Isherwood
DD Pringle, Torpedo hits 1

Trying to whittle away at the overwhelming number of allied destroyers around rangoon

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Victoria Point at 48,63

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
P1Y1 Frances x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 8 damaged
P1Y1 Frances: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
DD Chevalier
DD Renshaw

They are hard to hit
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tavoy at 52,58

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 17

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
N1K2-J George: 3 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DD Foote
DD Ammen, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD William Porter

so i try it with some Georges (2x250kg not to bad)

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mergui at 52,60

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 70 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 13

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 10 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DD Kimberly
DD Charrette
DD Nicholas

Vals are not my favorite

Ground combat at Pegu (55,53)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 119942 troops, 1768 guns, 4305 vehicles, Assault Value = 4799

Defending force 27929 troops, 426 guns, 363 vehicles, Assault Value = 923

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 2547

Allied adjusted defense: 422

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Pegu !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 12 destroyed
Spitfire VIII: 15 destroyed
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 6 destroyed
P-40N5 Warhawk: 10 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
845 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
Vehicles lost 268 (86 destroyed, 182 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
9143 casualties reported
Squads: 322 destroyed, 95 disabled
Non Combat: 484 destroyed, 129 disabled
Engineers: 183 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 204 (177 destroyed, 27 disabled)
Vehicles lost 400 (353 destroyed, 47 disabled)
Units retreated 15

Assaulting units:
2nd Tank Regiment
9th Armored Car Co
18th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
2nd Guards Division
5th Guards Division
6th Guards Division
2nd Division
Guards Tank Division
2nd Tank Division
3rd Tank Regiment
4th Guards Division
1st Tank Division
5th Amphibious Brigade
5th Armored Car Co
22nd Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Division
7th Ind.Tank Brigade
17th Indpt Guards Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd RF Gun Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th RF Gun Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
7th RF Gun Battalion
6th RF Gun Battalion
1st Mortar Regiment
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st RF Gun Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd RF Gun Battalion
4th RF Gun Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
21st Army

Defending units:
Provisionl Tank Brigade
98th Indian Brigade
18th British Div /1
111th Chindit Brigade
45th Indian Brigade
25th Indian Division
77th Chindit Bde /1
2nd Ceylon H AA Regiment
185 Wing
4th West African AA Regiment
101st Heavy AA Regiment
46th Aviation Base Force
120th RAF Base Force
170 Wing /1
20th Indian Div /6

But i threw them out of Pegu, those 4 tank divisions are pretty good

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

next day was pretty active too

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 27, 43
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Moulmein at 54,55, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kako
CL Kitakami
CL Oi
DD Shirayuki
DD Shikinami
DD Oboro

Allied Ships
AK Alcona, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
AK Amador, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
AK Antrim, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
AK Beaverhead, Shell hits 25, and is sunk
xAK Trieste, Shell hits 50, and is sunk
xAP Devonshire, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
xAK Egra, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
xAK Jalavihar, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
PG Clive, Shell hits 7, and is sunk

Caught reinforcement TF for Pegu - i think after
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Ta'u at 152,158

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Crater, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Lynx
AK Hyperion

Reinforcement TF near Pago Pago with CVE TF air cover - i don't think they are very good fighter units on the CVEs

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Pegu at 55,53

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
P1Y1 Frances x 13
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
DE Levy, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Sagadahoc
xAK Anglo Canadian, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

Frances still finding targets near Pegu

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Ta'u at 152,158

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 2

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
SC-644, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

I don't know anybody who has lost more Jakes but my units are pretty well trained for low nav

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Morning Air attack on 2nd Guards Division, at 55,53 (Pegu)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 13
Ki-84a Frank x 2

Allied aircraft
Liberator B.III x 3
Liberator GR.III x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator B.III: 3 damaged
Liberator GR.III: 1 destroyed
Liberator GR.III: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

typical allied bombing of my land units

Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Blair at 42,51

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 9
A6M5c Zero x 96

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 10 destroyed

B-25s coming after my CV TF near Port Blair
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Blair at 42,51

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 6
A6M5c Zero x 66

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 8
P-40N5 Warhawk x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak
P-40N5 Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho

Glad the attacks are uncoordinated

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Ta'u at 152,158

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 42

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Azimech, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SC-708, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AK Lynx, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
SC-709
AK Crater, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Allioth, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Venus, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
SC-642
AK Hyperion, Bomb hits 1, on fire

This is back over by Pago Pago unescorted judys sneak by

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Ta'u at 152,158

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 15

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
SC-709
AK Murzim
AK Hyperion, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

My poor Jake pilots, i probably abuse them too much

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ta'u at 152,158

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
D4Y1 Judy x 46

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Crater, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Murzim, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk
AK Allioth, on fire, heavy damage
AK Azimech, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Lynx, on fire

like i say, i don't think the hellcat pilots on those CVEs are very good

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Afternoon Air attack on Marcus Island , at 123,85

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 40
B6N2 Jill x 110

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAK Cape Trinity, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Herald, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
PT-131, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Port hits 15
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 2

Back over to Marcus island i found some ships hiding in port

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ta'u at 152,158

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 damaged
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
SC-709
AK Crater, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk

Jakes can do it especially if there isn't any CAP

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Blair at 42,51

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 8
A6M5c Zero x 83

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
B-24J Liberator x 6
P-38H Lightning x 20
P-38J Lightning x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 4 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 2 destroyed by flak
P-38H Lightning: 2 destroyed
P-38J Lightning: 5 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
CVE Kaiyo
CVE Chuyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Katsuragi

Finally, the big guys get through and score a hit

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Blair at 42,51

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 5
A6M5c Zero x 56

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 10
P-38J Lightning x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
P-38J Lightning: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho
CVE Chuyo, on fire

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 16
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 2

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 6
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 damaged
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
xAK Ryuzan Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Rasin Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Nisso Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Momoyama Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Nitiho Maru, Shell hits 2

my supply TF gets hit at rangoon

[M Peaston]

Thank you for the updates.

It looks like to me that you are in a fairly strong position. Do you think the Allies are capable at this time of posing multiple simultaneous threats? Where do you think they present the most dangerous threat?

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

Thanks for the question. My opponent made a nice comment that he was getting stymied everywhere the allies go.

I've never been past 3/44 before so i don't know much about the late game. The allies are really hampered after losing so many CVs.

I think the path from N. Australia toward celebes and borneo is very well protected. I can't see them getting anywhere there.

E. Australia up through PM and Rabaul might be vulnerable in terms of land units but ive got so much AV support and large airbases there that i can rotate aircraft in very easily. And if it gets too bad it's only a short hop for the KB.

the allies have Wake and Marcus but i can't see them making much of that with the KB right there.

Up north in aleutians would appear a bit vulnerable but it's a long distance for both sides (i think?)

Burma seems to be the natural path and that's where all the bloodshed is. I didn't realize the importance of Port Blair.

I had no clue what to do in china. It should have been put to bed but now i don't think i have any chance.

I'll have to figure out how to prepare for russian invasion. I've never even looked or read anyting about it.

Any help is always appreciated.

[RangerJoe]

Dig in, even older aircraft are useful against the Soviets. Be prepared to fall back alot.

For China, you have to concentrate on taking Chungking and the other base there where the new units will come in. It is not easy but the important thing is to make sure that you don't destroy too many Chinese units because they do return. Also, interdict supplies from India and Burma as soon as is possible.

[CaptBeefheart]

Even playing against the AI, it's not all that easy for Russia to invade. Those border forts take a while to get through. I doubt you could stop him, but you could easily make the Russian invasion quite a bit slower than historical.

There are a few old AARs that cover Russia in action.

Cheers,
CB