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Start walking up that road, IMO [;)].

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Interesting he built Perth's shipyard that much. A good reason? Dunno. But he's going to leave you a nice asset by and by.

I'm a little late, but that doesn't make sense at all. Allies are really hurting in that part of the world for a decent shipyard, why build them one? IJN can always expand/use Singapore or Soerbaya. With the map edge pretty close to Perth, it's never completely safe for Japan....

Not sure. I'm sure he wanted to hold all of this longer. The plan was probably for all of China to collapse by around now and for India to hold on with the industry producing for much longer than it has. Not that the Allies are near to controlling India, but the Japanese have been falling back continually for 4-5 months now.

It seems by his occasional comments and what I see in game (and what I don't) that he's now thinning about consolidation. he hasn't seen the bulk of the US CVs in a good while, and he could be wondering what is in the works as well as realizing that if he got a lot of troops trapped in OZ the DEI would be pretty vulnerable too, making China and India also harder to deal with if he tun had to transfer strength from them.

From a Japanese perspective I'm not sure why he built the shipyard up, but I think the current pull-back is actually a good move. Especially if he can still catch my surge back into this area, so I have to be careful.

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Start walking up that road, IMO [;)].

I think you're right. I have some still restricted divisions to use for that. [;)]

ORIGINAL: obvert



In spite of all of this I decided to try a DA since we have superior numbers, in a clear hex, with several tough armor units sporting brand new Lee tanks, and plenty of Valentine and Stuart tanks as well. The large majority of the units have acceptable exp now (50-55) with the Brits and Aussies in the 70-80 exp range. Every unit was rested, great morale and no fatigue or disruption. He can't have dug in more than 2 forts here, so we pulled the trigger.

Bad idea, apparently. After somewhat even air battles and good strikes on the armies, the Allies get stomped with 3x the losses including 250 destroyed squads and 50+vehicles lost. [&:]

Allied armor does not rule.

I'm not sure where the Japanese got all of the Panzerfausts, but they manage to wipe out half of a partially filled brigade of Lee tanks and put another one into jeopardy with 2/3 disablements. Is this happening with 47mm AT guns, or are the massive 24-30cm guns in the heavy arty units somehow training in on the tanks? I don't get it.

My theory is that the Brit/Indian leaders are simply SOO BAD that it doesn't matter at this point what's being used by the Allied side, it can't compete with 70-80 exp units sporting leaders that are 60-70 exp across the board. Still, you'd think a 1:1 would be possible here in clear territory, and especially since the bombers all got through and put some good damage for the second day in a row on the Japanese.

Yep, pretty much supports your theory. Leaders asides Allied 1942 divisions are not up to 1-1 attacks in most cases. I try to avoid that. The odd thing is that with grant tanks (not stuarts) you can attack Japanese infantry at 1-5 odds and not come out with any losses. But if they are in a big mixed stack then that is different.

ORIGINAL: crsutton

ORIGINAL: obvert



In spite of all of this I decided to try a DA since we have superior numbers, in a clear hex, with several tough armor units sporting brand new Lee tanks, and plenty of Valentine and Stuart tanks as well. The large majority of the units have acceptable exp now (50-55) with the Brits and Aussies in the 70-80 exp range. Every unit was rested, great morale and no fatigue or disruption. He can't have dug in more than 2 forts here, so we pulled the trigger.

Bad idea, apparently. After somewhat even air battles and good strikes on the armies, the Allies get stomped with 3x the losses including 250 destroyed squads and 50+vehicles lost. [&:]

Allied armor does not rule.

I'm not sure where the Japanese got all of the Panzerfausts, but they manage to wipe out half of a partially filled brigade of Lee tanks and put another one into jeopardy with 2/3 disablements. Is this happening with 47mm AT guns, or are the massive 24-30cm guns in the heavy arty units somehow training in on the tanks? I don't get it.

My theory is that the Brit/Indian leaders are simply SOO BAD that it doesn't matter at this point what's being used by the Allied side, it can't compete with 70-80 exp units sporting leaders that are 60-70 exp across the board. Still, you'd think a 1:1 would be possible here in clear territory, and especially since the bombers all got through and put some good damage for the second day in a row on the Japanese.

Yep, pretty much supports your theory. Leaders asides Allied 1942 divisions are not up to 1-1 attacks in most cases. I try to avoid that. The odd thing is that with grant tanks (not stuarts) you can attack Japanese infantry at 1-5 odds and not come out with any losses. But if they are in a big mixed stack then that is different.

I had hoped that in clear territory having a slight edge in AV plus the firepower edge of the armor and quality of the Allied troops could at least avoid this kind of result. I was wrong.

I thought about attacking first just with tanks, but I thought this was a riskier proposition. Maybe when i'm more confident with my units and what they can do I'll try that. I did lose a lot of good tanks in this one, and I'm not sure it would have been different if they were on their own.

[font="Times New Roman"]Nov 1 - 4, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] Greenling takes a pounding in the strait of Malaya. She'll head back to Bombay for a refit. The I-17 gets a few hard knocks in So Pac.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font] All troops from the 53, 30 debacle near Patna retreat back and will now filter out the least combat ready back to Benares for recuperation. I'll leave a strong contingent here for the time being to make sure the Japanese do the same, but there are more Allied troops elsewhere that can hopefully cause some damage in the South.

This will be another short period of consolidation in India. I'll get a bunch of engineers and base forces to the South and build up the areas near Ceylon, eventually taking the rest of those bees out farther once I have sufficient strength in Banglaore and Mysore. I'll start scouting along the cost for Viz/Cocanda and See how much the Japanese have retreated. The USN is all getting upgrades so there will be no significant missions until that finishes, but then things will shift into a new gear and some larger ops will start ramping up, here and elsewhere.

I left a group of Vengences on ground attack stupidly and lost 15 for nothing. [8|]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font] Things are looking up here. Another two bombardments go into Nauru, not completely closing the fields but putting good damage on the base. i want him to think this is the main focus. Then I'll land on Makin and potentially Mili just after if there is no big reaction. A few more MTBs sunk at Nauru. He's using them in TFs of 1 boat, which seems so far ineffective.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SO PAC: [/font] Rossel Island, Auki and Thousand Ships Bay are invaded. There is no Japanese presence here, and no reaction to the small TFs bringing troops, so I'm assuming he's given up on this area. I'l start getting more bold with my xAKLs and send in some engineers and supply to get things moving faster here. Lunga is now completely surrounded, but not abandoned, so I'l land there soon. I'd bet a bunch will be flown out soon. I'll start LR CAPing the base from Tulagi once that base gets to level 2 and I bring in another fighter group.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] The Japanese suffer a 1:3 on the South approaches to Kweiyang. That is great, as they lose nearly 300 infantry squads (17 destroyed) from two divisions that were already below full strength (793 AV between the two of them). They're already moving out and others loo to be on the way. Our Chinese troops managed to get two forts built each here, so it's a good defensive spot, and I've got two fresh 400AV units from up North that are the bulk of the troops here. This got their exp up above 50 as well. Some of the more experienced Corps are up around 60exp, but they're also a bit depleted from the fighting and will take up rear positions near Chungking to dig and eventually, if supply is ever flown in, start taking reinforcements.

On the other side of Kweiyang the units take a pounding from the air in spite of having 3-4 forts built now.

Finally managed to catch the Lilys hitting Wenchow. Knocked down about 12 of them with 9 Marine F4F-3. [:)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] Still getting a few ship movement reports. Not too interesting this time. This is probably escorting something, but also could be an ASW ship surrounding the KB. Never know.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]E Kunashiri is moving to Cocos Islands (33,101).[/font]

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 1, 42
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Morning Air attack on 71st JAAF AF Bn , at 136,125 (Makin)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 25
A-20A Havoc x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
297 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on Tarawa , at 136,128

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 2, 42
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Amphibious Assault at Rossel Island (105,137)

TF 440 troops unloading over beach at Rossel Island, 105,137

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Morning Air attack on 71st Chinese Corps, at 73,49 , near Kweiyang

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 4
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 57
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 36
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 24

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
357 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 3, 42
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Night Naval bombardment of Nauru Island at 127,128 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
H8K1 Emily: 2 damaged

5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL St. Louis
CL Detroit
DD King
DD Gilmer
DD Clark
DD Balch
DD Bailey

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

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 14
Runway hits 38
Port hits 15
Port supply hits 2

SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CL St. Louis
CL St. Louis firing at Nauru Island

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Night Naval bombardment of Nauru Island at 127,128

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
H8K1 Emily: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Louisville
CA Northampton
DD Worden
DD Downes
DD Lang
DD Wilson

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

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 6
Port hits 2

CA Louisville firing at Nauru Island
CA Northampton firing at Nauru Island

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Morning Air attack on Wenchow , at 89,58

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 25

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on 5th Division, at 53,30 , near Patna

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 12
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 5

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 5 destroyed
Vengeance I: 1 destroyed by flak

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

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Vengeance I bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 4, 42
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Amphibious Assault at Thousand Ships Bay (114,136)

TF 348 troops unloading over beach at Thousand Ships Bay, 114,136

Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (0 destroyed, 5 disabled)



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Amphibious Assault at Auki (115,136)

TF 277 troops unloading over beach at Auki, 115,136

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Morning Air attack on Nauru Island , at 127,128

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 19

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Ground combat at 76,50 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30612 troops, 505 guns, 409 vehicles, Assault Value = 793

Defending force 36513 troops, 212 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1050

Japanese adjusted assault: 478

Allied adjusted defense: 1696

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
3678 casualties reported
Squads: 17 destroyed, 248 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled

Allied ground losses:
526 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Assaulting units:
6th Division
40th Division
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
13th Army
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
4th Mortar Battalion
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
58th Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
16th Group Army
7th Chinese Base Force
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]This is one of the big Corps that just produced the 1:3 result for the IJA DA near Kweiyang. Even managed to scour up a good leader for this one. Wish I had some like this in India! Supply is poor after the attack here, but hopefully some will flow before the next one. [/font]

[font="Times New Roman"]SW OZ[/font]

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I've got a division and a brigade with some AA and a few base forces marching on Kalgoorlie now. It'll be a long slog. Not much over here though as this shot of troop strength shows. He could rail from Perth of course, but not much there according to SIGINT either.

Ran this little DD around and got tacked with 10/10 all the way across the edge of OZ 10-12 hexes out from the coast. No strikes though. I'm sure he knows what I'm up to there.

Looks like AF units only.

Thats a nice Chinese unit there. If you ever get China in supply again GJ are in deep trouble. [:)]

95th Chinese Corps is somewhat of an anomaly, since it starts the war with 18 additional mortars. Great to see this "artillery" corps in good shape at this point of the war. Full compliment of guns - impressive.

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Looks like AF units only.

Yep. SIGINT pretty much confirms that there isn't much of the infantry left that was here for most of the game. Maybe more is coming, but it looks to me like he's just pulled back all but search and some AS. Maybe keeping the KB close to hit anything lured in by the false sense of security. After a few more bases in So Pac are secured I'l bring a LOT of subs this way to begin scouting.

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Thats a nice Chinese unit there. If you ever get China in supply again GJ are in deep trouble. [:)]

That is the hope, but Nick knows that too, so I think his whole strategy in India has changed to keeping me from the mountains. At least that opens other things in the meantime.

ORIGINAL: Yaab

95th Chinese Corps is somewhat of an anomaly, since it starts the war with 18 additional mortars. Great to see this "artillery" corps in good shape at this point of the war. Full compliment of guns - impressive.

Ahhh, I didn't know this. It was sitting in the North and building up, and I finally moved it when the Chikhiang situation was getting dire. Nice to see also it's picked up this 55exp (from 44 a few weeks ago). [:)]

Well done in China![&o]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Well done in China![&o]

Thanks. It's good, but not good. Like, the Chinese aren't winning. They're just not losing too badly. [;)]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Well done in China![&o]

Thanks. It's good, but not good. Like, the Chinese aren't winning. They're just not losing too badly. [;)]

[:D] Most accurate description of the Allies best possible achievement in China that I have seen!

[font="Times New Roman"]Nov 5 - 8, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] The I-175 takes out AM Canso in So Pac. The first sub hit for a while.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font] Madras seems to be having troops pulled out. it's only got 120 fighters now according to recon. I might try something here if things remain the same. I've got a good number of P-40K groups and one good P-38F group in India right now for sweeps.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font] A strike by B-25s gets chewed up over Nauru as the base is more open that it seemed after recent bombardments. Looks like he has a lot of engineers here. Lose 14 airframes in this one that I can't afford.

Still on for the Makin landing in a few days. Hopefully my folly over Nauru draws attention away from other things in the area.

The next day though go tsome retribution with a P-38 sweep over Nauru, downing 11 A6M2s.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SO PAC: [/font] More stuff moving into the Tulagi area to get engineers and supply onto surrounding bases. No reaction as of yet.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] The Chinese take a difficult DA to the South of Kweiyang, with our forces losing 200+ infantry squads disabled to only about 90 for the Japanese. This is against a tank heavy force, and only in x2 terrain, but the units have between 2-4 forts and building. Hopefully I can get some good stops and the supply draw is tough for the Japanese here.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 5, 42
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Morning Air attack on Nauru Island , at 127,128

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 10 destroyed, 3 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Attu Island at 146,63, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Oi
DD Kuri
DD Hishu
DD Kiku
DD Yomogi

Allied Ships
AM Oriole, Shell hits 12, and is sunk

Reduced visibility due to Rain

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 6, 42
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Sub attack near Arorae at 139,140

Japanese Ships
SS I-175

Allied Ships
AM Canso, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Minnesotan
xAK Alabaman
AM Caraquet

SS I-175 launches 4 torpedoes at AM Canso
I-175 diving deep ....
AM Caraquet fails to find sub, continues to search...

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Morning Air attack on Nauru Island , at 127,128

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 20000 feet

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 7, 42
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Ground combat at 73,49 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31882 troops, 487 guns, 1215 vehicles, Assault Value = 1286

Defending force 41831 troops, 228 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1312

Japanese adjusted assault: 846

Allied adjusted defense: 1187

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1438 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 90 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1644 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 211 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Assaulting units:
16th Division
7th Ind.Tank Brigade
4th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Division
Guards Tank Division
23rd Army
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
21st Mortar Battalion
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
67th Chinese Corps
24th Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
71st Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
21st Group Army
11th Chinese Base Force

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]This is interesting. Random find? Probably not. This is up around 17 hexes from Paramushiro-Jima and about 15 hexes from Adak. The AM Oriole was an early warning picket for surface raiding or potential invasions to the North Pacific area. I'm guessing this TF was sent to get it after a sighting. i used to do this often against the Allies playing Japan, thinning it at least erases one small escort type ship and forces them to consider putting another out on patrol. Jut an annoyance unless followed up by something bigger. Lots of PBYs up here so it' not likely something will slip past any farther into shipping paths. [/font]

[font="Times New Roman"]Nov 9 - 10, 1942[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] I noticed some ships being sighted near SF so I sent out a few small ASW TFs and some YPs immediately found I-17 prowling. It wasted two TT on YP-133 for no hit and didn't get picked up in search the next day. All TFs are being diverted, especially as there are some CVEs moving around here these days!

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font] A very frustrating day over Madras. in spite of a well designed set up for a strike on Madras, with 60-70 LR CAP, 120 escorts and 85 sweepers designed to hit first from close by to wear down the CAP, it all goes wrong. Maybe due to weather? Maybe just chance.

The first to arrive are 36 B-24D with 24 escorting P-40E, but only one of the many groups on LR CAP involved. In spite of the fact that these were flying from 11 hexes and the sweeps were from 4-5 hexes, they arrive first. [8|]

Carnage.

Then it continues, all during the morning phase, with more diverse packages, never all of the LR CAP around, and finally the sweeps, which are incredibly effective, at the VERY END. Oh, well.

So. What am I doing wrong.

1. I did not check the weather and haven't consistently factored in forecasts into my plans. This is the first time playing with advanced weather and this is my fault. I have to be better at it.

2. I can't strike with surprise at this stage of the game. I'm expecting too much from my forces. The CAP is about what I expected, and my sweeps would have most likely saved 20-30 4E from destruction by making the CAP more manageable for the somewhat decent escort and LR CAP coverage, but I need to use these for several days before a big strike, not the day of, to make sure it's going to work. Right now this would just mean he adds another 200 fighters to the base for day 2-3 and the strike is off. Still, this would be better than the current result and would open up real opportunities everywhere else he flies the planes from. I have not been smart enough about using these reactions yet.

3. The bomber crews are not yet experienced enough to fight through big CAPs and get to target. They need more time. As it turns out, they'll now get it.

The entire Indian USAAF and RAF are grounded until further notice. There is no strategic point right now in fighting through massive CAP to hit anything until ground forces can face the Japanese on equal terms, so I will not waste airframes in battles that don't have a strategic focus. It's taken me 11 months to figure some of these things out, but I think I have a better handle on what the Allied forces can do now, and I won't make these same mistakes again, as much as I can help it. I have many other mistakes that need execution! [;)]

On the bright side, lots of Japanese fighter pilots most likely went down, including those that got kills in these battles and faced the sweeps after.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font] Preparations for the Makin landings are going well as bombing of troops and the Mili fields go unopposed. We land on the 11th. A very small force going in here, so it relies on the work that's been done to the IJN troops in place (52nd Naval Guard Unit) to work. It should be well disrupted and weakened, but this is an atoll, so you never know. Some supply is coming separately and should arrive in time to give enough for the first assault. Air cover will only be from nearby Tarawa.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SO PAC: [/font] No moves by the Japanese. Deboyne Island makes a level 1 field. Troops for Lunga are on their way. This is looking positive so far.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] Massive raids are now targeting the troops to the South of Kweiyang, but they're holding up well, not getting insanely disrupted. Still, this is a tough hold once the air strength factors in.

Interestingly it looks like the Japanese are going off-road into the area West of Chinhiang. Ten units have already transited to the next rough hex. I have good forces in all of the x3 hexes. It looks like he doesn't want to cross the river, but this will limit supply as well as lowering the number of troops to replace those in front line hexes that are worn out. I spreads the attack but our forces are there waiting, digging in, with reinforcements available to move into any of the possible destination hexes nearby. I'll bet he's going for the river crossing West of Kweiyang on the Chingking road. I have 800AV digging now and 600AV in Kweiyang that could move once I find out where he's headed.

This would make a fourth possible frontline hex and hopefully I could get one or two of these stuck with some troops filling in the rear areas. I may consider bringing more fresh Corps from up North.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] As if I had any doubts about this!

[font="Trebuchet MS"]China Expeditionary Army is planning for an attack on Kweiyang.[/font]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 9, 42
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Night Naval bombardment of Makin at 136,125

Allied Ships
CA Louisville
CA Northampton
DD Worden
DD Downes
DD Lang
DD Wilson
DD Henley

Japanese ground losses:
144 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Port hits 9
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Louisville
CA Louisville firing at Makin

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Morning Air attack on Madras , at 35,40

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 25
A6M3a Zero x 43
A6M5 Zero x 71
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 66

Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 9
B-24D Liberator x 36
P-40E Warhawk x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Mohawk IV: 1 destroyed
B-24D Liberator: 8 destroyed, 23 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 destroyed by flak
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Madras , at 35,40

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 17
A6M3a Zero x 37
A6M5 Zero x 66
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 54

Allied aircraft
P-66 Vanguard x 4
B-17F Fortress x 4
B-24D Liberator x 24
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
P-66 Vanguard: 1 destroyed
B-17F Fortress: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 1 destroyed by flak
B-24D Liberator: 4 destroyed, 11 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Madras , at 35,40

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 10
A6M3a Zero x 28
A6M5 Zero x 50
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 44

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 9
P-40E Warhawk x 24
F4F-4 Wildcat x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 7 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Madras , at 35,40

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 8
A6M3a Zero x 25
A6M5 Zero x 36
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 35

Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 7
P-38F Lightning x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 20000 feet

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Morning Air attack on Madras , at 35,40

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 5
A6M3a Zero x 16
A6M5 Zero x 25
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 24

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 49
F4F-4 Wildcat x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet *
20 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 10, 42
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Morning Air attack on 71st Chinese Corps, at 73,49 , near Kweiyang

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 20
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 39
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 23
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 25
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
450 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Too many. Not so many pilots lost thankfully. [/font]

You are not LRCaping the target are you?

Your best artillery is in your American CD units, so you might need to send some to India.

B-24 production doesn't ramp up until 2/43, so these type of losses hurt.