Rumble in the Southwest witpqs-A vs Andav-J 2011-11-29 to 2017-02-08

[witpqs]

3:

[JocMeister]

Never had my tanks get that beat up. Wonder if DBB tweaked them a bit? I suffer disablements in single digits. If it all! [X(]

[witpqs]

1943 August 26

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Salamaua

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


The combat at Lashio was tough, as I expected. We are pushing there, racing to provide relief to the Chinese Army before they are annihilated. I am pulling back the 1st Garrison Brigade, 19th Indian Division, and 6th Australian Division to relieve the over stacking and allow those units to recover. The remaining units will attack again when ready.

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Ground combat at Lashio (62,46)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 60903 troops, 1042 guns, 885 vehicles, Assault Value = 1614

Defending force 22784 troops, 157 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 630

Allied adjusted assault: 1982

Japanese adjusted defense: 1546

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1089 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 87 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
4608 casualties reported
Squads: 120 destroyed, 222 disabled
Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 39 disabled
Guns lost 100 (26 destroyed, 74 disabled)
Vehicles lost 40 (13 destroyed, 27 disabled)

Assaulting units:
19th Indian Division
754th Tank Battalion
6th Australian Division
7th Australian Division
1st Garrison Brigade
268th Motorised Brigade
22nd (East African) Brigade
1st Army Tank Regiment
9th Australian Division
27th Indian Field Artillery Battalion
3rd (Special Force) Division

Defending units:
64th Inf Group Brigade
Tanaka
III./143rd Infantry Battalion
113th Infantry Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
21st/A Division

Our AKA at Truk were savaged. One will sink, another might. They delivered part of their load and now head for Kavieng. Meanwhile the ground troops at Truk will attack tomorrow. The fleet carriers will be 6 hexes WSW Truk tomorrow and Essex will join them there.

Here are the haggard units at Lashio.

[witpqs]

And here are the forces at Truk on the eve of the next attack.

[TulliusDetritus]

I have read half of the AAR. Good read [8D]

But one thing I find amusing... The strategy you have followed is Winston Churchill's wildest wet dream!

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

I have read half of the AAR. Good read [8D]

But one thing I find amusing... The strategy you have followed is Winston Churchill's wildest wet dream!

Thanks, and yes, I guess it is!

Hey - where have you been? Good to see you here! [:)]

[TulliusDetritus]

I was trolling the WitE forum Nah, I was playing WitE PBEM games and then writing their AARs (3 games) [:)]

And only now -after playing WitP since august 2004- I'm thinking about starting a PBEM game: the REAL thing, obviously.

Anyways, as for the Churchill thing, there's the other side of the coin. You have basically ostracized er... MacArthur himself, the Big Man!

We have a main effort in Burma / India and then your offensive in the Pacific was the task of the South / Central Pacific Areas aka the Navy.

[witpqs]

MacWho? [:D]

I plan to shift the carrier fleet to SWPac targets south and west of New Guinea after the Marianas and maybe some smaller fry.

[TulliusDetritus]

Your Burma campaign (the defensive part) was *impressive*. And I have been toying with land warfare these last two years (WitE). very intelligently played, in my opinion [:)]

Right now Churchill has the King ready to 100% knight you!

[witpqs]

1943 August 27

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Saidor

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Three successful Allied sub attacks around the map, 2 on xAK ships and 1 on a PB. In addition there was this gem in the waters approaching Rangoon.

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

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 15

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 5

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Fushimi Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Africa Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

CAP engaged:
25th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (15 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(15 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
15 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 24000
Raid is overhead



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

This was paid for by the loss of 21x P-40K sweeping over Rangoon in return for only about 1/3 that number of mixed fighters (mostly Tojo). DAW HQ is aware that our main air cover has shifted to the battle for Lashio and has beefed up CAP over Rangoon to take advantage.

Out attack at Truk went poorly, so now the troops will rest longer to get disruption in the single digits and fatigue as low as practical.

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Ground combat at Truk (112,108)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25134 troops, 398 guns, 479 vehicles, Assault Value = 834

Defending force 17958 troops, 224 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 375

Allied adjusted assault: 925

Japanese adjusted defense: 1078

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
579 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 47 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1386 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 183 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 52 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 30 (8 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Vehicles lost 47 (5 destroyed, 42 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2nd Marine Division
763rd Tank Battalion
762nd Tank Battalion
1st Marine Division
Otago (Mtd) Rifles Regiment
1st AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
3rd Pioneer Battalion
3rd NZ Division

Defending units:
Guards Mixed Brigade
Sasebo 5th SNLF
48th Naval Guard Unit
30th Infantry Regiment
42nd Naval Guard Unit
46th Naval Guard Unit
41st Infantry Rgt /2
Truk Naval Fortress
4th Base Force
4th Port Unit

Here are the troops at Truk. I might bring the 3rd USMC Div back in, which has recovered markedly (as has the 24th ID). I'll decide after the next attack.

[traskott]

Hi, been reading your AAR for a while, and I have good question: Why u burn AKAs unloading supply at Truk? Use xAKs, which are expendable...The AKAs (in my humble opinion ) should only be used to disembarck cargo loads on enemy beaches, not supply.

[witpqs]

1943 August 28

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Umboi Island

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


The heat is on in China. This is the main point of resistance, and it is being worn down. AV in the force dropped by about 250.

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Ground combat at 70,48 (near Kunming)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15808 troops, 100 guns, 738 vehicles, Assault Value = 686

Defending force 87311 troops, 30 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1450

Japanese adjusted assault: 249

Allied adjusted defense: 187

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
850 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 79 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 95 (2 destroyed, 93 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
4612 casualties reported
Squads: 209 destroyed, 56 disabled
Non Combat: 69 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
5th Tank Regiment
23rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
11th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
17th Tank Regiment
22nd/B Division
3rd Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
104th/C Division

Defending units:
37th Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
70th Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
46th Chinese Corps
31st Chinese Corps
97th Chinese Corps
115th Red Chinese Division
3rd Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
120th Red Chinese Division
74th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
24th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
4th War Area
21st Group Army
Lusu War Area
9th War Area
9th Group Army
20th Group Army
16th Group Army
49th Chinese Corps
19th Group Army
56th Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
3rd War Area
52nd Chinese Corps
35th Group Army

The troops at Lashio should be ready for attack orders tomorrow. The units pulling back will leave the hex the day after tomorrow, coinciding with the turn of attack and therefore greatly easing the post attack resupply burden.

IJN convoy sighted heading into Rangoon - see pic below. We reshuffled fighters in Burma, plus moved in yet another torpedo capable group (at Prome we now have 2x 6-plane Albacore; 1x 12-plane Beaufort I; 1x 16-plane Beaufighter TFX). Tomorrow we will sweep Rangoon (now sporting 53 fighters pus whatever LRCAP is assigned) with 2x P-47 groups and 1x Corsair group, all at 30,000 ft.

At Truk the assaulters are recovering very nicely (they are well supplied), both reducing disruption/fatigue and recovering disabled squads. Disruption will be low enough to attack tomorrow, but I likely will wait another day to further reduce fatigue. Meanwhile a convoy is already on its way to carry the 3rd USMC back to Truk. Another attack with forces in place, rotate in the 3rd USMC and continue attacking, perhaps rotate in the 24th ID and continue.

The fleet carriers are just north of Truk, but they will head to Sarmi to cover the landing of substantial support troops to build and operate the base. Sarmi is within Corsair range of Biak, where an elite group of George fighters bloodied out B-24s operating out or Merauke.

[witpqs]

The troops at Lashio and Truk.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: traskott

Hi, been reading your AAR for a while, and I have good question: Why u burn AKAs unloading supply at Truk? Use xAKs, which are expendable...The AKAs (in my humble opinion ) should only be used to disembarck cargo loads on enemy beaches, not supply.

You are right. I was hoping they would unload in one day and get away cheap. xAK will be slaughtered. But as it turned out the AKA were hit almost as bad. They did unload more quickly than AK or xAK would have, but using xAK would have been better.

There is a big surplus of APA picking up 3rd USMC so hopefully they can be unloaded in one day, perhaps even in one phase. I have a group of LST near Truk loaded with supply that I will merge with the APA when they go in to unload.

[witpqs]

1943 August 29

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Long Island

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


This is what the first P-47 group ran into over Rangoon.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 21
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 51

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 6 destroyed

CAP engaged:
251 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 30000 and 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
202 Ku S-1 Det B with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters to 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
4th Sentai Det B with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
11th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 24000 , scrambling fighters between 21000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
25th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 13 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 24000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
47th I.F.Chutai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 29000 and 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
54th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Raid is overhead
77th Sentai Det A with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes



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

The second group did a little better.

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Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 54 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 18
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 36

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
202 Ku S-1 Det B with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters to 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
4th Sentai Det B with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 30000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
25th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 24000 , scrambling fighters to 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 65 minutes
47th I.F.Chutai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 31000 and 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
54th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters to 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
77th Sentai Det A with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters to 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
251 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 9 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 30000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 8 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 24000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes



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

The Corsairs did not sweep. One more day of rest for the troops at Lashio, so the attack will come the day after over stacking is reduced. At sea the IJN small combatants are again running interference, now located 6 hexes west of Prome. The main RN assets, currently near Madras, will move into strike position. The convoy of armored units is near Cuttack and will turn toward Ramree Island when on a straight line with it (2 more hexes). The cruisers guarding Ramree Island are to remain there until time to move out and escort the convoy in.

Another day of rest for the troops at Truk as well.

CVL Cowpens arrived at Balboa and is making her way westward with CL Birmingham and DD Daly. CVE Casablanca, with Hellcats, is about a day or a day and a half away from joining the CVE fleet near Truk.

Here is the bay of Bengal.

[witpqs]

And the troops at Lashio and Truk.

[witpqs]

How to deal with the IJ George fighter? I guess for openers I need to up the altitude of the P-47 and Corsair groups to 35,000 ft. I've also freed up some of the best pilots in the USA for assignment to those P-47 groups.

[witpqs]

1943 August 30

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Wewak

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Several Allied sub attacks during the day, two of them successful (xAK and PB). Two more days until 90% effective torpedoes.

This battle, SE of Kunming, seemed to go in our favor.

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Ground combat at 69,49 (near Kunming)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6714 troops, 98 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 226

Defending force 39539 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1059

Japanese adjusted assault: 32

Allied adjusted defense: 370

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 11

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

Japanese ground losses:
827 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 39 (7 destroyed, 32 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
297 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
Kanno
10th Tank Regiment
104th/B Division
1st Mortar Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
21st Chinese Cavalry Division
14th Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
25th Chinese Corps
76th Chinese Corps
3rd New Chinese Corps
50th Chinese Corps
27th Group Army
78th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps

The 50th Indian Para Bde has finished airlifting into Paoshan and is setting off for the front. While they are preparing for Tsuyung as part of a last line of defence for that terminus of the Burma Road, their first assignment is to join the defense east of Kunming and try to blunt the IJA armored spearhead.

The Albacores strike again.

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Ramree Island at 49,50

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 5

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
E Kuri, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
E Yomogi

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo



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We attack at Lashio tomorrow.

Apparently knowing that our fleet carriers were away from Truk, DAW HQ ordered a ground strike to disrupt the attack they must have thought was timed for today. The escort carriers were on duty, obviously deterring further attacks.

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Morning Air attack on Otago (Mtd) Rifles Regiment, at 112,108 (Truk)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
FM-1 Wildcat x 1
F6F-3 Hellcat x 2

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VC(F)-26 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
VC(F)-33 with FM-1 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
VF-35 with F6F-3 Hellcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead



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

The troops at Truk will rest one more day.

Heavy cruisers Minneapolis and Vincennes finished repairs at Pearl Harbor and are heading back to the battle area. Two more CA there will be ready in about two weeks. The USA Provisional Tank Bde has arrived at Aden. We bought the 25th Indian Div, currently at Madras and 100% prepped for Rangoon.

Here is the bay of Bengal again. There are two IJN TFs of small combatants running as flankers, while a convoy heads south and another is still at Rangoon.

[witpqs]

Here are the troops at Lashio and Truk.

[witpqs]

1943 August 31

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


The Empire is pushing to break through before the Allies can relieve the Chinese Army. They might do it. AV there is down to about 900. Reinforcements are being rushed in from Kunming and the position between Kunming and Tsuyung.

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Ground combat at 70,48 (near Kunming)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16284 troops, 104 guns, 780 vehicles, Assault Value = 667

Defending force 79896 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1125

Japanese adjusted assault: 197

Allied adjusted defense: 121

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1165 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 108 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 156 (2 destroyed, 154 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3915 casualties reported
Squads: 212 destroyed, 67 disabled
Non Combat: 56 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
17th Tank Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
22nd/B Division
3rd Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
23rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
56th Recon Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
104th/C Division

Defending units:
97th Chinese Corps
115th Red Chinese Division
24th Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
120th Red Chinese Division
90th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
31st Chinese Corps
70th Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
73rd Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
3rd War Area
56th Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
9th Group Army
20th Group Army
52nd Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
Lusu War Area
9th War Area
67th Chinese Corps
16th Group Army
19th Group Army
21st Group Army
46th Chinese Corps
4th War Area
35th Group Army


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The northernmost of the outriders for the IJ Rangoon convoy lanes were far enough out to run into the RN main force.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Ramree Island at 46,49, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Shosei Maru, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
PB Tatsumiya Maru, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
PB Yodozo Maru, Shell hits 24, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 2
DD Napier
DD Nizam
DD Norman
DD Tjerk Hiddes

Low visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 5,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 5,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages PB Yodozo Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Napier engages PB Yodozo Maru at 5,000 yards
Matsuo S. orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 2,000 yards
PB Yodozo Maru sunk by BB Prince of Wales at 2,000 yards
DD Tjerk Hiddes engages PB Shosei Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Norman engages PB Shosei Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Nizam engages PB Shosei Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Tatsumiya Maru sunk by BB Prince of Wales at 2,000 yards
DD Tjerk Hiddes engages PB Shosei Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Nizam engages PB Shosei Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Shosei Maru sunk by BB Prince of Wales at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...


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The IJ convoy at Rangoon fared better, being very well protected by its brethren in the air.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 39 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 22
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 56

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 10
Hurricane IIc Trop x 11
P-39N1 Airacobra x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 6 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed
P-39N1 Airacobra: 3 destroyed

CAP engaged:
251 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 30000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
202 Ku S-1 Det B with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
4th Sentai Det B with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
11th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 24000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 36740.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
25th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 13 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 24000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
47th I.F.Chutai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
54th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Raid is overhead
77th Sentai Det A with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes



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Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 40,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 22
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 54

Allied aircraft
P-40N1 Warhawk x 25
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 25
F4U-1 Corsair x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40N1 Warhawk: 2 destroyed
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 2 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 35000 feet
11 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 35000 feet

CAP engaged:
251 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
18 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 22470.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
202 Ku S-1 Det B with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
4th Sentai Det B with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
13 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 24000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 30000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
25th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 24000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 125 minutes
47th I.F.Chutai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
54th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (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 30000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes
77th Sentai Det A with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (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 30000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes



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

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 52 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 18
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 46

Allied aircraft
Beaufort I x 4
Hurricane IIc Trop x 3
P-40N1 Warhawk x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort I: 2 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
P-40N1 Warhawk: 2 destroyed

CAP engaged:
251 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
202 Ku S-1 Det B with N1K1-J George (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
4th Sentai Det B with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
11th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (5 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 24000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 24000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
25th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (13 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 24000
Raid is overhead
47th I.F.Chutai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
54th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
77th Sentai Det A with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Raid is overhead
6 planes vectored on to bombers



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See the air losses screen at the end. We've rearranged the CAP in Burma again, pulling back one P-47 group to R&R and bringing in the last one from the Lashio front. Also moved in more torpedo armed bombers and more Hurricanes for escort (a number of groups, both American and British, are already on escort duty). Meanwhile our attack at Lashio went well. The troops will rest probably just one day before attacking again.

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Ground combat at Lashio (62,46)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35265 troops, 565 guns, 616 vehicles, Assault Value = 956

Defending force 22078 troops, 161 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 566

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 1114

Japanese adjusted defense: 1018

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1159 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 146 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1283 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 151 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Guns lost 43 (1 destroyed, 42 disabled)

Assaulting units:
268th Motorised Brigade
7th Australian Division
754th Tank Battalion
1st Army Tank Regiment
22nd (East African) Brigade
9th Australian Division
27th Indian Field Artillery Battalion
3rd (Special Force) Division

Defending units:
113th Infantry Regiment
Tanaka
III./143rd Infantry Battalion
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
64th Inf Group Brigade
21st/A Division

The USA 27th ID is about 5 days from Lashio. The RN main force is not sighted at all, and we can only guess what DAW HQ will make of the nighttime encounter and what steps they will take to safeguard the convoy at Rangoon. POW is low on main battery ammo, so the RM main force will RTB Colombo. With luck, that movement will be undetected.

The troops at Truk attack tomorrow. Also tomorrow, the fleet carriers will be one hex off of Sarmi, covering a large APA convoy unloading there; a large APA convoy will begin loading the 3rd USMC Div at Dagua; an evac Amphibious convoy departs Kavieng to take up station near Truk.

Here are today's air losses.