2 days again - the combat report is only for today - a couple oif bombing runs is all that occurs - the Pacific War is taking a breath.
herbie and speedy: thanks guys - I wondered where you were herb. Are you having trouble with Ozzie unions? how can they disconnect you and then not reconnect you again for two weeks?
it must be hard at times to not give away something the other guy can use - not knowing makes all teh difference and re-reading PzBs AAr - he has let me read page 1 - is like a trip down memory lane. He wrote in page one about my first foray below palau with the Lex. It was extremely rewarding to read about it from his point of view. I have to hang on before I can read page two! (although that is going to be a far harder story to stomach).
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/19/42
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Day Air attack on Wuhan , at 48,35
Allied aircraft
SB-2c x 26
No Allied losses
Resources hits 6
the Chinese manage to dent a few resource farms. The bombers are moved back to Changking and instead I move some fighters in, P-40s (the few that remain in the AVG) and 1 sqd of hurricanes.
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Day Air attack on 23rd NLF , at 39,80
Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 7
Hudson I x 12
Beaufort V-IX x 8
P-40E Warhawk x 3
B-17E Fortress x 28
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
167 casualties reported
Well the 23rd NLF are the unhappy residents of the island North of Darwin. Now to be known as bomb alley. My bombers get their first outing today and do well (against no opposition). The Brewsters are still averaging 39 experience!!! I'm surprised none of them fell into the ocean, or tried to land backwards. they will go again this turn.
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Ground combat at Woodlark Island
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 281 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Woodlark Island base !!!
All of the Solomons and most the island bases around New Guinea are now over-run by the yellow pestilence. There is little to nothing I can do about this - subs would be nice but as I have alluded to, they are toothless tigers.
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The B-17s at Columbo are being assembled from their crates - 6 are now airworthy and 7 more have been delivered to make up a full compliment of 48. I don't know where to base them from. The only bases large enough are in and around Calcutta. I would like to put them in Manadalay but it is only size 3.
Operation 'wake up call': the bombardment of Andaman makes good progress, they may be in position in a couple of days.
PzB has started to recon the troops North of Rangoon. His units are repairing faster than mine are moving in the jungle. I think the follow up for operation 'wake up call' may have to be the evacuation of the units from the beach rather than trying to march them out - this of course means they will come in range of the air force units located at Rangoon.
2 sqds of hudsons and a sqd of beauforts have moved to PM to attack LAe - the Warhawks are going along this time - they should fair better than my hapless wirraways.
The Americal Division with its Carrier escorts is at Nanomea Island.
The orphaned part of the 51st aviation brigade, cruelly hammered by his carriers, made it to Noumea today. I didn't notice before but the additional men were all support rather than air support.
Sand in the Vaseline - Wobbly vs PzB
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
operation 'wake up call'
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operation 'wake up call' is a go
2 days again. the first will be one I'd like to put behind me - air attacks on my bombing alley and Lae both go badly. I try and second guess PzB in this report and manage I think, but cannot quite come up to his standard of the day before.
On the first day my P-40s, Hudsons and Beauforts tried a raid to Lae and the same bombing group from Darwin went to the bombing island escorted by the green dutch sqds of Demons and buffalo 339s.
He had zeros at both locations and they spanked me. I lost 20 ACs to his 6 (for the day he only lost 2 zeros) 10 P-40s were included in this. The Dutch fighter pilots didn't have a chance.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/21/42
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Sub attack at 61,90
Japanese Ships
PC Shonon Maru #10
PC Sonan Maru #6
ML Takashima
ML Hoko
Allied Ships
SS Silversides
Oh wonder of wonders - an allied sub fired it's torpedoes. it doesn't hit anything but I was ecstatic anyway!
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Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1
A bit of night bombing of Rangoon to keep them on their toes.
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Night Air attack on Lae , at 54,87
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 3
B-17E Fortress x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed, 10 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
145 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 7
The B-17s, moved back to PM for operation 'retribution', manage to hit the airfield during a rare clear night. He looses 8 zeros today. The B-17s are moved back to Charter Towers.
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Sub attack near Kendari at 33,71
Japanese Ships
AK Kagu Maru
MSW Tamozono Maru #2
MSW Shawa Maru #10
Allied Ships
SS KXIV
I am firmly on the floor after this one. Another allied sub attack! This one's torps failed to detonate - but holy christi - have my sub commanders overcome the allied sub doctrine and found their courage???
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Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37
Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 14
Allied aircraft losses
IL-4c: 2 damaged
Manpower hits 1
OK, so I accidentally left the city target up to my commander. The Chinese are being bolstered this turn by the whole British bombing fleet from Mandalay. I think the Blenheims there are due a visit from the Jap airforce and moving them to China for a bit m,ore harrassment is as good a place as any.
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Day Air attack on Sorong , at 42,74
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 30
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
So, I know he is CAPing my bombing island from somewhere and Sorong is the closest with ACs. So I reasoned he would do it again this turn. Therefore I decided to bomb the oil (he has been repairing) at Sorong while his CAP was elsewhere. Well that appears to have been exactly what he did only my bloody pilots couldn't hit the non-moving oil fields - grrr. The B-17s are stood down this turn.
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Operation 'Wake up call': the bombardment of Andaman goes in this turn. A Dinah managed to scout one of the ships in the TF this turn but nothing ventured nothing gained. The defensive Carrier TF will stand off and the Formidable's Fulmars are set to LRCAP the bombardment force - we have thunderstorms anyway.
I move the AVG remnant and two hurricane sqds to the chinese city North of Sian. He bombed there two turns ago and I want him to try again against a markedly improved fighter defense. Most of the more capable infantry units have split off and are heading to Chungking. Hopefully enough continued to the northern city to confuse his recon units.
In the North the 'Dutch harbour' reinforcement has been completed. The resupply Tf is about 4 days out (20K supply).
In Seattle, two 72 plane Grps, one P-39s the other P-40 Tomahawks, load up for their long journey to Brisbane.
A surface force of CAs and DDs, damaged along time ago in the battle in the DEI, will make harbour in San Francisco this turn. Included is the CA Houston (damaged at Tilitjap). She has an upgrade slated for 2/42 and will be the first ship to get better AAA.
5 BBs, 7 CA/CLs, 24 DDs are now in SF waiting for the 4/42 date roll over.
On the first day my P-40s, Hudsons and Beauforts tried a raid to Lae and the same bombing group from Darwin went to the bombing island escorted by the green dutch sqds of Demons and buffalo 339s.
He had zeros at both locations and they spanked me. I lost 20 ACs to his 6 (for the day he only lost 2 zeros) 10 P-40s were included in this. The Dutch fighter pilots didn't have a chance.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/21/42
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Sub attack at 61,90
Japanese Ships
PC Shonon Maru #10
PC Sonan Maru #6
ML Takashima
ML Hoko
Allied Ships
SS Silversides
Oh wonder of wonders - an allied sub fired it's torpedoes. it doesn't hit anything but I was ecstatic anyway!
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Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 21
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1
A bit of night bombing of Rangoon to keep them on their toes.
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Night Air attack on Lae , at 54,87
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 3
B-17E Fortress x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed, 10 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
145 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 7
The B-17s, moved back to PM for operation 'retribution', manage to hit the airfield during a rare clear night. He looses 8 zeros today. The B-17s are moved back to Charter Towers.
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Sub attack near Kendari at 33,71
Japanese Ships
AK Kagu Maru
MSW Tamozono Maru #2
MSW Shawa Maru #10
Allied Ships
SS KXIV
I am firmly on the floor after this one. Another allied sub attack! This one's torps failed to detonate - but holy christi - have my sub commanders overcome the allied sub doctrine and found their courage???
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Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37
Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 14
Allied aircraft losses
IL-4c: 2 damaged
Manpower hits 1
OK, so I accidentally left the city target up to my commander. The Chinese are being bolstered this turn by the whole British bombing fleet from Mandalay. I think the Blenheims there are due a visit from the Jap airforce and moving them to China for a bit m,ore harrassment is as good a place as any.
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Day Air attack on Sorong , at 42,74
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 30
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
So, I know he is CAPing my bombing island from somewhere and Sorong is the closest with ACs. So I reasoned he would do it again this turn. Therefore I decided to bomb the oil (he has been repairing) at Sorong while his CAP was elsewhere. Well that appears to have been exactly what he did only my bloody pilots couldn't hit the non-moving oil fields - grrr. The B-17s are stood down this turn.
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Operation 'Wake up call': the bombardment of Andaman goes in this turn. A Dinah managed to scout one of the ships in the TF this turn but nothing ventured nothing gained. The defensive Carrier TF will stand off and the Formidable's Fulmars are set to LRCAP the bombardment force - we have thunderstorms anyway.
I move the AVG remnant and two hurricane sqds to the chinese city North of Sian. He bombed there two turns ago and I want him to try again against a markedly improved fighter defense. Most of the more capable infantry units have split off and are heading to Chungking. Hopefully enough continued to the northern city to confuse his recon units.
In the North the 'Dutch harbour' reinforcement has been completed. The resupply Tf is about 4 days out (20K supply).
In Seattle, two 72 plane Grps, one P-39s the other P-40 Tomahawks, load up for their long journey to Brisbane.
A surface force of CAs and DDs, damaged along time ago in the battle in the DEI, will make harbour in San Francisco this turn. Included is the CA Houston (damaged at Tilitjap). She has an upgrade slated for 2/42 and will be the first ship to get better AAA.
5 BBs, 7 CA/CLs, 24 DDs are now in SF waiting for the 4/42 date roll over.
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RE: operation 'wake up call' is a go
2 days again: operation 'wake up call' leaves PzB still slumbering. A few more bombing raids.
Well teh bombardment of Andaman was noticed on the way in, as we surmised, by PzB. He sent 4 DDs to defend the islands - they were no match for the foursome of BBs. However, those same BBs did not fire a shot at the DDs, their escorts did the work - sinking one but not even firing upon the rest.
The bombardment then hit the island killing 500 men (apparently) and doing 5 supply hits, but not touching a single plane and the guns of the unit on the island manage to badly damage one DD and inflict mid twenties injuries on two more. So all in all a failure. The BBs only fired 2 rounds from their main guns each. Not the bombardment i was after really.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/23/42
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Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 29
IL-4c x 11
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
IL-4c: 1 damaged
Heavy Industry hits 5
Aircraft Attacking:
The British bombers help out their conuterparts in the Chinese AF flying to Hanoi. As expect PzB hit Mandalay with a night attack and found no targets. 5 Heavy industry hits is hardly somehting to write home about but hopefully it is irritating PzB into moving fighters away from more important areas.
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The Andaman bombardment group retires to Madras, they will refuel and rearm there. The DDs should all survive baring further intervention.
BY B-17 unit has 12 funcitonal ACs and their morale - previously 27 - has climbed to 47. They are still a long way from being dangerous but we are getting there. The next reinforcement of P-40s is still a long way off.
Darwin bombers are going back to bomb alley - maybe PzB has defended it maybe he hasn't. Only P-40s are escorting this time.
A fast transport Tf with supplies is off to the base at the bottom of Timor - The Dutch Flying boats are consuming all their fuel resources.
The B-17s are back in PM but this time they are aiming at the air strip in Rabaul. I have been flying Catalina recon their for about 4 turns and each time a paltry 2 zeros rises to meet me. Time to see if I can hit the planes parked there - should be at least one Daitai of Betties and Nells (the float search planes will probably be aloft).
The P-40s at PM are on 100 ft naval strike. I am trying to knock off a few of the barges he has running between Rabaul and Lae.
Another P-40B Tomahawk squad is loaded at San Francisco bound for Brisbane and my first Kittyhawk sqd appears at Melbourne.
The CA Houston did not upgrade its AAA?? It is in port at San Francisco with 'Yes' marked on. What else do I have to do?
Well teh bombardment of Andaman was noticed on the way in, as we surmised, by PzB. He sent 4 DDs to defend the islands - they were no match for the foursome of BBs. However, those same BBs did not fire a shot at the DDs, their escorts did the work - sinking one but not even firing upon the rest.
The bombardment then hit the island killing 500 men (apparently) and doing 5 supply hits, but not touching a single plane and the guns of the unit on the island manage to badly damage one DD and inflict mid twenties injuries on two more. So all in all a failure. The BBs only fired 2 rounds from their main guns each. Not the bombardment i was after really.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/23/42
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Day Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 29
IL-4c x 11
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
IL-4c: 1 damaged
Heavy Industry hits 5
Aircraft Attacking:
The British bombers help out their conuterparts in the Chinese AF flying to Hanoi. As expect PzB hit Mandalay with a night attack and found no targets. 5 Heavy industry hits is hardly somehting to write home about but hopefully it is irritating PzB into moving fighters away from more important areas.
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The Andaman bombardment group retires to Madras, they will refuel and rearm there. The DDs should all survive baring further intervention.
BY B-17 unit has 12 funcitonal ACs and their morale - previously 27 - has climbed to 47. They are still a long way from being dangerous but we are getting there. The next reinforcement of P-40s is still a long way off.
Darwin bombers are going back to bomb alley - maybe PzB has defended it maybe he hasn't. Only P-40s are escorting this time.
A fast transport Tf with supplies is off to the base at the bottom of Timor - The Dutch Flying boats are consuming all their fuel resources.
The B-17s are back in PM but this time they are aiming at the air strip in Rabaul. I have been flying Catalina recon their for about 4 turns and each time a paltry 2 zeros rises to meet me. Time to see if I can hit the planes parked there - should be at least one Daitai of Betties and Nells (the float search planes will probably be aloft).
The P-40s at PM are on 100 ft naval strike. I am trying to knock off a few of the barges he has running between Rabaul and Lae.
Another P-40B Tomahawk squad is loaded at San Francisco bound for Brisbane and my first Kittyhawk sqd appears at Melbourne.
The CA Houston did not upgrade its AAA?? It is in port at San Francisco with 'Yes' marked on. What else do I have to do?
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madflava13
- Posts: 1501
- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2001 10:00 am
- Location: Alexandria, VA
RE: operation 'wake up call' is a go
I believe SYS has to be below 5 for the upgrades to kick in... Is Houston damaged higher than 5?
"The Paraguayan Air Force's request for spraying subsidies was not as Paraguayan as it were..."
RE: operation 'wake up call' is a go
Mudflava - that makes sense then - she is at about 34 SYS damage. Thanks mate - I'll have to wait for the repair guys to do their thing first - a few others in the same catagory.
Litttle to report - B-17 raid of Rabaul nets me 10 level bombers for the loss of 2 B-17s, I'll take that.
More worrying is the arrival of 3 CAs in the sea between PM and Cairns - they are not in range of any base - what is my erstwhile opponent up to. I have 2 heavy cruisers and 4 DDs available at Townsville. They go into a TF with react 6 but stay under the dubious cover of Townsvilles Kittyhawks, Buffalos and Wirriways. I note no carreirs with them but I can imagine that he is waiting on re-supply missions to PM - correctly two there is one about 15 hexes away.
Litttle to report - B-17 raid of Rabaul nets me 10 level bombers for the loss of 2 B-17s, I'll take that.
More worrying is the arrival of 3 CAs in the sea between PM and Cairns - they are not in range of any base - what is my erstwhile opponent up to. I have 2 heavy cruisers and 4 DDs available at Townsville. They go into a TF with react 6 but stay under the dubious cover of Townsvilles Kittyhawks, Buffalos and Wirriways. I note no carreirs with them but I can imagine that he is waiting on re-supply missions to PM - correctly two there is one about 15 hexes away.
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The Pacific snoozes
Very little occuring for such a large area of war.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/26/42
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Night Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 12
G4M1 Betty x 11
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2
PzB is trying to hit aircraft on the ground - it is working but I think he wants to be hitting the B-17s. They are there, those that are not air worthy, but he doesn't seem to be hitting them.
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There is very little to write about at the moment. The one point of interest is the Cruisers I sighted off the coast of Cairns. They were sighted again this turn and this time they are reported as a single Carrier. I actually believe this to be a more accurate indication of what we are up against. If it was sa surface fleet it would have close the range to get into bombardment position.
The PM re-supply mission is ONE hex out of range of his naval bombers (if indeed it is a carrier). I get cold feet and aim them at Cairns with orders to auto disband.
Bellinger and his 3 Cariers races ahead of the Americal Division, bound for Noumea and more fuel. The BB escort will stay with the troop ships.
In Melbourne Spruance gathers Enterprise, Lady Lex and his other recently repaired ships together and heads into the Coral sea. I have 5 Carriers in the vacinity, it now just comes down to what are we up against?
PzB has said he is now securing his perimeter and waiting until my counter offensive starts. He has a long time to wait, but I think these are just words, he has managed to expand his territory so quickly that he has time to advance the perimeter further. The only problem is 'what target is worth the effort'? There in lies the immortal question really [:D]
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/26/42
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Night Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 12
G4M1 Betty x 11
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2
PzB is trying to hit aircraft on the ground - it is working but I think he wants to be hitting the B-17s. They are there, those that are not air worthy, but he doesn't seem to be hitting them.
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There is very little to write about at the moment. The one point of interest is the Cruisers I sighted off the coast of Cairns. They were sighted again this turn and this time they are reported as a single Carrier. I actually believe this to be a more accurate indication of what we are up against. If it was sa surface fleet it would have close the range to get into bombardment position.
The PM re-supply mission is ONE hex out of range of his naval bombers (if indeed it is a carrier). I get cold feet and aim them at Cairns with orders to auto disband.
Bellinger and his 3 Cariers races ahead of the Americal Division, bound for Noumea and more fuel. The BB escort will stay with the troop ships.
In Melbourne Spruance gathers Enterprise, Lady Lex and his other recently repaired ships together and heads into the Coral sea. I have 5 Carriers in the vacinity, it now just comes down to what are we up against?
PzB has said he is now securing his perimeter and waiting until my counter offensive starts. He has a long time to wait, but I think these are just words, he has managed to expand his territory so quickly that he has time to advance the perimeter further. The only problem is 'what target is worth the effort'? There in lies the immortal question really [:D]
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is Ceylon for the knife?
No doctoring of the report for today - this is actually all that happened!
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/27/42
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TF 66 troops unloading over beach at Kiriwina Island, 57,93
Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
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Day Air attack on TF at 60,92
Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 7
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
ML Takashima
ML Hoko
I think he is using the MLs as Fast transport ships! They were heading towards Kiriwina so they may be guilty.
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The only other news of note is that PzB will now know I have B-17s in India. One finds a sub off the coast of Trimcommalee.
Then a Catalina finds one, then a Beaufort finds one! Ceylon is ringed by subs!
This is classic PzB pre-emptive preparation for mayhem. I may be a worry wort but I move all of my warships out of Trimcommalee and Columbo towards the North, this includes the Carriers Hermes and Formidable.
The BB task force at Madras has some dangerous water to skirt so instead heads towards Diamond harbour.
Two large transport groups are also created and pointed back towards Karachi.
This may all be a false alarm but I am going to leave the defense of Ceylon to the RAF for the moment.
Below Port Moresby I have lost my sighting of the enemy carrier I got a turn ago. He may have just moved further out into the ocean to try and hide. I still don't quite know what I have here. I am cautious about committing my carriers without better intelligence.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/27/42
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TF 66 troops unloading over beach at Kiriwina Island, 57,93
Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
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Day Air attack on TF at 60,92
Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 7
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
ML Takashima
ML Hoko
I think he is using the MLs as Fast transport ships! They were heading towards Kiriwina so they may be guilty.
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The only other news of note is that PzB will now know I have B-17s in India. One finds a sub off the coast of Trimcommalee.
Then a Catalina finds one, then a Beaufort finds one! Ceylon is ringed by subs!
This is classic PzB pre-emptive preparation for mayhem. I may be a worry wort but I move all of my warships out of Trimcommalee and Columbo towards the North, this includes the Carriers Hermes and Formidable.
The BB task force at Madras has some dangerous water to skirt so instead heads towards Diamond harbour.
Two large transport groups are also created and pointed back towards Karachi.
This may all be a false alarm but I am going to leave the defense of Ceylon to the RAF for the moment.
Below Port Moresby I have lost my sighting of the enemy carrier I got a turn ago. He may have just moved further out into the ocean to try and hide. I still don't quite know what I have here. I am cautious about committing my carriers without better intelligence.
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Chinese air battles
PzB has a bad day at the office. His sub antics around Ceylon get off to a poor start and the air campaign rekindles in China only this time he feels the sting of fighter capability.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/28/42
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TF 67 encounters mine field at Mannargudi (16,23)
Japanese Ships
SS I-172, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Umm oops! I think PzB wanted to mine a few of my main harbours. He admitted the bombardment of Andaman was a little on the nose so it appears subs and sub laid mines were the weapons of choice. However, the tides seem very against the I-172 as one of her own mines detonates against her hull - glug glug.
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Day Air attack on Wuhan , at 48,35
Allied aircraft
SB-2c x 24
Allied aircraft losses
SB-2c: 1 damaged
The SB-2s are on anti industry attacks again. This is all just niggle stuff.
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Day Air attack on 27th Chinese Corps, at 46,26
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 15
Ki-48 Lily x 15
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 17
P-40E Warhawk x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 5 destroyed
Ki-48 Lily: 9 destroyed, 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
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Day Air attack on 5th New Chinese Corps, at 46,26
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 26
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 26
Ki-51 Sonia x 10
Ki-48 Lily x 27
Ki-49 Helen x 8
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 17
P-40E Warhawk x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 8 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 13 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 13 destroyed, 7 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 3 damaged
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Two air attacks on the troops who have just made it to the town north of Sian (damn I have trouble with the names). This time it is not a walk in the park though. The remnanats of the AVG and two hurricane Sqds rise to meet them and drop two for one of the attackers. No P-40s are lost, yet they do most of the damage. The only problem is the enemy fighters manage to lay down their lives to protect the bombers - especially in the second attack. I don't know a way to make my fighters engage the bombers without climbing or diving to attack enemy fighters.
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The Royal Navy has scattered from the sub threat around Ceylon. PzB admits he has created wolfpacks to try and disrupt my bombardments, but it is so unlike him to attack with only one facet of his power. I will keep the heavies away from their historical home ports while I try and get more intel. If it is only subs then the ASW effort will start in earnest. I do create a couple of mine sweeping missions to locate any of the sub laid pests.
The Blenheims that have been helping Chinese efforts to crack industry in Hanoi are back in Mandalay with night orders to strike Rangoon. PzB attacks my troops still holed up north of Rangoon with some Sallies today - if he is on ground attack he isn't after the airfields of mandalay.
The bombing units at Darwin refuse to attack any of the islands. It is hard to find out whether this is weather related or because of fighter defense.
I re-scout the carrier off the coast of Cairns - what are you up to my Norwegian friend???
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/28/42
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TF 67 encounters mine field at Mannargudi (16,23)
Japanese Ships
SS I-172, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Umm oops! I think PzB wanted to mine a few of my main harbours. He admitted the bombardment of Andaman was a little on the nose so it appears subs and sub laid mines were the weapons of choice. However, the tides seem very against the I-172 as one of her own mines detonates against her hull - glug glug.
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Day Air attack on Wuhan , at 48,35
Allied aircraft
SB-2c x 24
Allied aircraft losses
SB-2c: 1 damaged
The SB-2s are on anti industry attacks again. This is all just niggle stuff.
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Day Air attack on 27th Chinese Corps, at 46,26
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 15
Ki-48 Lily x 15
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 17
P-40E Warhawk x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 5 destroyed
Ki-48 Lily: 9 destroyed, 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
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Day Air attack on 5th New Chinese Corps, at 46,26
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 26
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 26
Ki-51 Sonia x 10
Ki-48 Lily x 27
Ki-49 Helen x 8
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 17
P-40E Warhawk x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 8 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 13 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 13 destroyed, 7 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 3 damaged
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Two air attacks on the troops who have just made it to the town north of Sian (damn I have trouble with the names). This time it is not a walk in the park though. The remnanats of the AVG and two hurricane Sqds rise to meet them and drop two for one of the attackers. No P-40s are lost, yet they do most of the damage. The only problem is the enemy fighters manage to lay down their lives to protect the bombers - especially in the second attack. I don't know a way to make my fighters engage the bombers without climbing or diving to attack enemy fighters.
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The Royal Navy has scattered from the sub threat around Ceylon. PzB admits he has created wolfpacks to try and disrupt my bombardments, but it is so unlike him to attack with only one facet of his power. I will keep the heavies away from their historical home ports while I try and get more intel. If it is only subs then the ASW effort will start in earnest. I do create a couple of mine sweeping missions to locate any of the sub laid pests.
The Blenheims that have been helping Chinese efforts to crack industry in Hanoi are back in Mandalay with night orders to strike Rangoon. PzB attacks my troops still holed up north of Rangoon with some Sallies today - if he is on ground attack he isn't after the airfields of mandalay.
The bombing units at Darwin refuse to attack any of the islands. It is hard to find out whether this is weather related or because of fighter defense.
I re-scout the carrier off the coast of Cairns - what are you up to my Norwegian friend???
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bay of bengal gets interesting
Surface battle at Lautern Island and the Bay of Bengal starts to hot up.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/30/42
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Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 17
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed
Japanese ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2
More night bombing, from Akyab this time.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Lautem at 33,78
Japanese Ships
CL Kiso
DD Kuroshio, Shell hits 1
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Kamikaze
DD Nokaze, Shell hits 1
DD Namikaze
Allied Ships
CL Raleigh
DD Helm, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Mugford
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Patterson
DD Case
DD Shaw, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Reid, Shell hits 1
The battle of Lautern Island commences with a trading of shots - I come out worst with some solid hits on my DDs.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Lautem at 33,78
Japanese Ships
CL Kiso, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kuroshio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Kamikaze
DD Nokaze
DD Namikaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
CL Raleigh, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Helm, on fire
DD Mugford
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Patterson, Shell hits 1
DD Case
DD Shaw, on fire
DD Reid, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
The Japs cross the T but do so at long range, only the light cruiser takes a few shots. Again the hits I take cause damage, especially the torpedo on Raleigh. Most of the damage is floatation - 57, but she has sys damage of about 23 so will require some dry dock time.
It is not all one way traffic though 3 solid 6 inch hits on the Kiso have her reported as heavily damaged - hers is likely to be system damage too.
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TF 55 troops unloading over beach at Lautem, 33,78
Japanese ground losses:
315 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 55 troops unloading over beach at Lautem, 33,78
Japanese ground losses:
119 casualties reported
The invasion proper begins on Lautern. I have evacuated all but 2 engineering vehicles so he will take it easily.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lautem at 33,78
Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 3
Martin 139 x 3
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AP Kunimitsu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
Darwin is weather locked so takes no part in resisting the Timor invasions, hopefully this changes tomorrow. Some Martins do spread their wings and manage to hit one of the APs; it has already unloaded it's troops though.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Bay of Bengal it appears PzB has followed form. His subs are heralds of a larger operation that one of my searching B-17s spots North East of Sumatra (man those planes are useful). A large formation of warships - BBs included in the mix (if I can believe the pilots) and it looks like they are not alone. I have a lonely retreating MSW in the middle of the bay which is trying to run but may not have the legs. There is also a lone AK loaded with 24 Warhawks, they will take a wide berth and try and dock further up the Western Coast of India.
As stated previously, none of my warships are located in Ceylon. I have kept some ships in the harbours but nothing of great importance.
The Royal Airforce have been moved into harms way though. Blenheims, Beauforts, Swordfish and Vilderbeasts all move to either Columbo, Madras or Trimcomalee. I have no long legged fighters for escort though - only one 8 plane sqd of Wirriways - hardly awe inspiring.
In Timor the retreating warships try to make Darwin. I have bolstered the fighters above the port while still providing fighter cover for an attack against the landings in Lautern. I would imagine, following the air attacks against the invasion yesterday, that he will LRCAP Lautern from Kendari. I therefore fly the B-17s against Kendari's port and airbase - see what that maanges - they are flying at 20K feet at extended range so damage may be minimal.
My resupply effort for PM is recreated and so far has moved unmolestered towards it's goal. The two carrier forces are still many hexes apart, which has me a little worried as I have not been able to scout his units off the Aussie coast.
1 more day and it is April - I should get a few AAA upgrades this next turn.
Also, the Isaac Sweers, a Dutch DD has had no port to come into the war effort so has not appeared anywhere - is this by design?
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/30/42
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Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 17
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed
Japanese ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2
More night bombing, from Akyab this time.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Lautem at 33,78
Japanese Ships
CL Kiso
DD Kuroshio, Shell hits 1
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Kamikaze
DD Nokaze, Shell hits 1
DD Namikaze
Allied Ships
CL Raleigh
DD Helm, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Mugford
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Patterson
DD Case
DD Shaw, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Reid, Shell hits 1
The battle of Lautern Island commences with a trading of shots - I come out worst with some solid hits on my DDs.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Lautem at 33,78
Japanese Ships
CL Kiso, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kuroshio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Kamikaze
DD Nokaze
DD Namikaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
CL Raleigh, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Helm, on fire
DD Mugford
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Patterson, Shell hits 1
DD Case
DD Shaw, on fire
DD Reid, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
The Japs cross the T but do so at long range, only the light cruiser takes a few shots. Again the hits I take cause damage, especially the torpedo on Raleigh. Most of the damage is floatation - 57, but she has sys damage of about 23 so will require some dry dock time.
It is not all one way traffic though 3 solid 6 inch hits on the Kiso have her reported as heavily damaged - hers is likely to be system damage too.
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TF 55 troops unloading over beach at Lautem, 33,78
Japanese ground losses:
315 casualties reported
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TF 55 troops unloading over beach at Lautem, 33,78
Japanese ground losses:
119 casualties reported
The invasion proper begins on Lautern. I have evacuated all but 2 engineering vehicles so he will take it easily.
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Day Air attack on TF, near Lautem at 33,78
Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 3
Martin 139 x 3
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AP Kunimitsu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
Darwin is weather locked so takes no part in resisting the Timor invasions, hopefully this changes tomorrow. Some Martins do spread their wings and manage to hit one of the APs; it has already unloaded it's troops though.
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In the Bay of Bengal it appears PzB has followed form. His subs are heralds of a larger operation that one of my searching B-17s spots North East of Sumatra (man those planes are useful). A large formation of warships - BBs included in the mix (if I can believe the pilots) and it looks like they are not alone. I have a lonely retreating MSW in the middle of the bay which is trying to run but may not have the legs. There is also a lone AK loaded with 24 Warhawks, they will take a wide berth and try and dock further up the Western Coast of India.
As stated previously, none of my warships are located in Ceylon. I have kept some ships in the harbours but nothing of great importance.
The Royal Airforce have been moved into harms way though. Blenheims, Beauforts, Swordfish and Vilderbeasts all move to either Columbo, Madras or Trimcomalee. I have no long legged fighters for escort though - only one 8 plane sqd of Wirriways - hardly awe inspiring.
In Timor the retreating warships try to make Darwin. I have bolstered the fighters above the port while still providing fighter cover for an attack against the landings in Lautern. I would imagine, following the air attacks against the invasion yesterday, that he will LRCAP Lautern from Kendari. I therefore fly the B-17s against Kendari's port and airbase - see what that maanges - they are flying at 20K feet at extended range so damage may be minimal.
My resupply effort for PM is recreated and so far has moved unmolestered towards it's goal. The two carrier forces are still many hexes apart, which has me a little worried as I have not been able to scout his units off the Aussie coast.
1 more day and it is April - I should get a few AAA upgrades this next turn.
Also, the Isaac Sweers, a Dutch DD has had no port to come into the war effort so has not appeared anywhere - is this by design?
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KB shows up and sinks a few PGs
The Bengal Tyrants strike, it is all one way but aside from two bad encounters is not teh carnage he expects (no doubt).
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/31/42
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TF 1044 encounters mine field at Mannargudi (16,23)
Allied Ships
MSW Cuttack
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Day Air attack on TF at 14,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 66
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 3
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
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Day Air attack on TF at 14,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 66
Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 24 destroyed, 5 damaged
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Day Air attack on TF at 14,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 66
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 10 destroyed, 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
Only this last sad attempt manages to get through to the task forces and once again choses something it cannot hurt. The beaufort sqd lost every plane!
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Day Air attack on TF, near Sag Sag at 57,88
Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 3
Beaufort V-IX x 4
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
PG Kaiun Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AG AG-110
Back down by Port Moresby the cargo boats running supplies to Lae are whittled further. About time I bought in the heavies to hammer his supply stockpiles.
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Day Air attack on TF at 56,88
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 14
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 6 destroyed
Japanese Ships
AG AG-358
AG AG-367
AG AG-351
these green Wirriways are not managing to do much except get themselves killed.
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Day Air attack on TF at 18,30
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 24
B5N Kate x 24
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
MSW Ballarat, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
This is the poor MSW caught out on the Bay with nowhere to run and nowhere to hide - dwon she goes.
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Day Air attack on TF at 17,25
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 48
B5N Kate x 55
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
ML Rigel, Bomb hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
Now this was the big failure of the turn - I simply missed him in my round up. He alone has sowed his little prizes around the bay - and could take a pat on the back in the holding of Akyab. He was the only ML in the area so now I only have subs to lay with - bugger.
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Day Air attack on TF, near Colombo at 14,24
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 48
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied Ships
MSW Rampur, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
PG Auricula, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
PG Freesia, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
Now this could have been so much more. The hurricanes are just too high and too slow to get into position to really get amongst the incoming unescorted Kates. One of the PGs survives (but for how long)?
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Ground combat at Lautem
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 4940 troops, 33 guns, 14 vehicles
Defending force 20 troops, 0 guns, 1 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 40 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Lautem base !!!
Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Lautern falls funnily enough - these poor fellas are utterly overwhelmed. This is about the last allied island not in the South Pacific that the allies owned.
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So my Norwegian friend, what do you do now. If it hadn't been for the loss of the ACs and the Rigel I would be very happy about that outcome. As it is I will have at least a days grace before I know where he is heading. His little sprint will have used up the fuel and he has sprinted away from any fuel ships (oh for functional subs).
At the moment this appears to be a recon in force. He moved at full speed last turn and while an invasion would still be behind his carrier screen, he is usually not that reckless. No I think he has been gunning for a quick kill and it is up to me to make that hard for him to accomplish.
This next to turn I prophsise that he will set his BBs loose in Trimcommalee harbour and stay to pound the shipping in Columbo. I could be wrong (again [:D] ) but I am moving as if this is so:
1. The naval bombers are pointless against shipping covered by his carriers - I don't have any fighters with the legs to escort. My last attack was reasonable considering I was not certain their were carriers and my Beauforts may have been able to hit BBs. So the navy bombers in Trim are retired to points in the map. The Catalinas and the B-17s are moved to Madras to continue searching. All the Hurricanes are moved to COlumbo - he can't reach here with his BBs this turn.
2. I expect he will port bomb Trim and Columbo, I just have to get lucky in that he escorts the trim raid and not the Columbo ones otherwise I have just added a swag of Hurricane carcases to the losses.
3. I will turn naval bombing back on again if he stays around a little long, now that he has moved this far he may try sneaking up the coast.
4. What are my responses? Well run, what else can I do - I have a CVL and a small CV with biplane bombers and archaic fighters. My BBs are not match ofr his naval bombers - nope it's run.
Elsewhere, my B-17s at Darwin are still aiming at Kendari. Weather stopped them that turn.
My Carriers in the Coral sea are coming together and can start to move with a little more strength. The point of hiding the Lex and Enterprise is rapidly passing - he will be wondering where they are as he trails his coat laong the ocast of Southern India.
72 P-39s have been added to the ACs in OZ - they will soon go up aginst his AG convoy - I know how good htey are at this job!
In San Francisco the ships do not convert - maybe it is this turn?
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/31/42
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TF 1044 encounters mine field at Mannargudi (16,23)
Allied Ships
MSW Cuttack
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Day Air attack on TF at 14,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 66
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 3
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
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Day Air attack on TF at 14,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 66
Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 24 destroyed, 5 damaged
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Day Air attack on TF at 14,29
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 66
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 10 destroyed, 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
Only this last sad attempt manages to get through to the task forces and once again choses something it cannot hurt. The beaufort sqd lost every plane!
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Day Air attack on TF, near Sag Sag at 57,88
Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 3
Beaufort V-IX x 4
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
PG Kaiun Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AG AG-110
Back down by Port Moresby the cargo boats running supplies to Lae are whittled further. About time I bought in the heavies to hammer his supply stockpiles.
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Day Air attack on TF at 56,88
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 14
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 6 destroyed
Japanese Ships
AG AG-358
AG AG-367
AG AG-351
these green Wirriways are not managing to do much except get themselves killed.
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Day Air attack on TF at 18,30
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 24
B5N Kate x 24
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
MSW Ballarat, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
This is the poor MSW caught out on the Bay with nowhere to run and nowhere to hide - dwon she goes.
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Day Air attack on TF at 17,25
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 48
B5N Kate x 55
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
ML Rigel, Bomb hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
Now this was the big failure of the turn - I simply missed him in my round up. He alone has sowed his little prizes around the bay - and could take a pat on the back in the holding of Akyab. He was the only ML in the area so now I only have subs to lay with - bugger.
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Day Air attack on TF, near Colombo at 14,24
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 48
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied Ships
MSW Rampur, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
PG Auricula, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
PG Freesia, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
Now this could have been so much more. The hurricanes are just too high and too slow to get into position to really get amongst the incoming unescorted Kates. One of the PGs survives (but for how long)?
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Ground combat at Lautem
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 4940 troops, 33 guns, 14 vehicles
Defending force 20 troops, 0 guns, 1 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 40 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Lautem base !!!
Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Lautern falls funnily enough - these poor fellas are utterly overwhelmed. This is about the last allied island not in the South Pacific that the allies owned.
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So my Norwegian friend, what do you do now. If it hadn't been for the loss of the ACs and the Rigel I would be very happy about that outcome. As it is I will have at least a days grace before I know where he is heading. His little sprint will have used up the fuel and he has sprinted away from any fuel ships (oh for functional subs).
At the moment this appears to be a recon in force. He moved at full speed last turn and while an invasion would still be behind his carrier screen, he is usually not that reckless. No I think he has been gunning for a quick kill and it is up to me to make that hard for him to accomplish.
This next to turn I prophsise that he will set his BBs loose in Trimcommalee harbour and stay to pound the shipping in Columbo. I could be wrong (again [:D] ) but I am moving as if this is so:
1. The naval bombers are pointless against shipping covered by his carriers - I don't have any fighters with the legs to escort. My last attack was reasonable considering I was not certain their were carriers and my Beauforts may have been able to hit BBs. So the navy bombers in Trim are retired to points in the map. The Catalinas and the B-17s are moved to Madras to continue searching. All the Hurricanes are moved to COlumbo - he can't reach here with his BBs this turn.
2. I expect he will port bomb Trim and Columbo, I just have to get lucky in that he escorts the trim raid and not the Columbo ones otherwise I have just added a swag of Hurricane carcases to the losses.
3. I will turn naval bombing back on again if he stays around a little long, now that he has moved this far he may try sneaking up the coast.
4. What are my responses? Well run, what else can I do - I have a CVL and a small CV with biplane bombers and archaic fighters. My BBs are not match ofr his naval bombers - nope it's run.
Elsewhere, my B-17s at Darwin are still aiming at Kendari. Weather stopped them that turn.
My Carriers in the Coral sea are coming together and can start to move with a little more strength. The point of hiding the Lex and Enterprise is rapidly passing - he will be wondering where they are as he trails his coat laong the ocast of Southern India.
72 P-39s have been added to the ACs in OZ - they will soon go up aginst his AG convoy - I know how good htey are at this job!
In San Francisco the ships do not convert - maybe it is this turn?
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[/center]
Resolutely sinking....
Oh that norwegian is a whiley customer. he night port attacks Diamond harbour with a swag of Nells and Betties.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/01/42
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Night Air attack on Diamond Harbor , at 28,23
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 45
G4M1 Betty x 43
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 6 destroyed, 12 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 22 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Resolution, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Ramilles, Bomb hits 3, on fire
BB Revenge, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Warspite, Bomb hits 2
Port hits 4
Apparently he saw a search report that had cruisers in Diamond Harbour and decided that this could be the location of my fleet - well he was right. My luck continues and he gets his third BB magazine explosion - sigh. Resolution is not so resolute - she goes stright to the bottom.
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Naval bombardment of Trimcomalee, at 15,25 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
24 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 5
BB Haruna
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
BB Nagato
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Maya
CA Chokai
CA Haguro
CA Ashigara
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CA Kumano
CL Nagara
CL Natori
CL Abukuma
CL Kuma
CL Tama
CL Oi
Allied Ships
AK Lematang, Shell hits 3
TK Empire Norse, Shell hits 2
AK Empire Raven, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
TK Empire Onyx, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tjisaroea, Shell hits 1, on fire
AK Poelau Bras, Shell hits 4, on fire
AK Empire Bunting, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Empire Spray, Shell hits 3, on fire
Allied ground losses:
562 casualties reported
Guns lost 20
Vehicles lost 3
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 30
Port hits 12
Another of these very powerful bombardments - as started in yesterday's AAR I had moved all of the planes out, and shipping takes some serious hits but being in port none of them should not sink.
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Day Air attack on TF at 13,20
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 23
B5N Kate x 36
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
AP Van Cloon, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Cuttack, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AP Van Rees, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
Now this one was a double edged sword - I made the home base for this little group - madras. Unfortunatley i did not change its heading! So they sailed on and were caught by his carriers (which moved exactly where I thought they would - exact hex in fact - the sub there still does nothing). I'll discuss the the better side of the 'double edged sword' in a minute.
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Day Air attack on Colombo , at 14,24
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 21
B5N Kate x 47
Ki-27 Nate x 20
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 25
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 29
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 14 destroyed, 5 damaged
B5N Kate: 31 destroyed, 22 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
AK Soochow, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AK Nora Moller, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PG Auricula, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Port hits 1
Well this is a very stragne combat report - I did not understand it at all. On the replay the attack went from Sian to the city north of Sian. What actually occured was a bombing run against the shipping in port at Columbo. Obviously no Nates or Oscars have range to escort this and the bombers actually go up against my Hurricanes alone - they loose about 20 of their number. This is the other side to that sword. I think the raid against my wayward APs took the zero escort - the port bombers are the unlucky ones. It is unknown to me if the bombers would have been escorted if the carriers had more than one option.
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Day Air attack on TF at 13,20
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 55
B5N Kate x 12
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AP Van Rees, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AP Van Cloon, on fire, heavy damage
They pay for being there again in the afternoon. both priceless APs sink
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So - may best laid planes seem to be of mice rather than men. The bane of my existence returns to lay me low - I wonder how safe the brits would have felt, in Scapa Flow, if the Germans had Betties and Nells? Boy o boy magazine explosions are devastating if they happen to Capital ships.
PzB taunts me in his email/propaganda to come out and face teh firing squad like a man. he's right - now that he's found me there is nowhere I can go to escape, it is just how much damage I can do while I get beaten to a pulp. He floats the idea of me sallying forth, but these are BBs so it is not as if it is a fair shootin match - RN BBs versus the KB!
So, I am a rat in a trap. He will slowly but surely smash the big boys of the bengal brigade. The only thing I can do is try to defend them as best I can. All the hurricane sqds, 1 wirriway and 1 lysander unit are heading to Diamond harbour. The AVG remnant are on their way back from China. The night fighters at Mandalay are based there for night attacks. 6 count them 6 artillery regiments are moving to the base to try and make bombardments uncomfortable. The P-40s off the South coast of India will land and get operational - they may be ready in time to fly over the outcome unfortunately.
I am going to loose planes hand over fist but alot of aircraft go into one BB, and if I manage to kill a few high level Naval pilots in the mix well good riddance to them.
All I can say is Crap.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/01/42
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Night Air attack on Diamond Harbor , at 28,23
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 45
G4M1 Betty x 43
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 6 destroyed, 12 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 22 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Resolution, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Ramilles, Bomb hits 3, on fire
BB Revenge, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Warspite, Bomb hits 2
Port hits 4
Apparently he saw a search report that had cruisers in Diamond Harbour and decided that this could be the location of my fleet - well he was right. My luck continues and he gets his third BB magazine explosion - sigh. Resolution is not so resolute - she goes stright to the bottom.
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Naval bombardment of Trimcomalee, at 15,25 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
24 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 5
BB Haruna
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
BB Nagato
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Maya
CA Chokai
CA Haguro
CA Ashigara
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CA Kumano
CL Nagara
CL Natori
CL Abukuma
CL Kuma
CL Tama
CL Oi
Allied Ships
AK Lematang, Shell hits 3
TK Empire Norse, Shell hits 2
AK Empire Raven, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
TK Empire Onyx, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tjisaroea, Shell hits 1, on fire
AK Poelau Bras, Shell hits 4, on fire
AK Empire Bunting, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Empire Spray, Shell hits 3, on fire
Allied ground losses:
562 casualties reported
Guns lost 20
Vehicles lost 3
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 30
Port hits 12
Another of these very powerful bombardments - as started in yesterday's AAR I had moved all of the planes out, and shipping takes some serious hits but being in port none of them should not sink.
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Day Air attack on TF at 13,20
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 23
B5N Kate x 36
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
AP Van Cloon, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Cuttack, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AP Van Rees, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
Now this one was a double edged sword - I made the home base for this little group - madras. Unfortunatley i did not change its heading! So they sailed on and were caught by his carriers (which moved exactly where I thought they would - exact hex in fact - the sub there still does nothing). I'll discuss the the better side of the 'double edged sword' in a minute.
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Day Air attack on Colombo , at 14,24
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 21
B5N Kate x 47
Ki-27 Nate x 20
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 25
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 29
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 14 destroyed, 5 damaged
B5N Kate: 31 destroyed, 22 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
AK Soochow, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AK Nora Moller, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PG Auricula, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Port hits 1
Well this is a very stragne combat report - I did not understand it at all. On the replay the attack went from Sian to the city north of Sian. What actually occured was a bombing run against the shipping in port at Columbo. Obviously no Nates or Oscars have range to escort this and the bombers actually go up against my Hurricanes alone - they loose about 20 of their number. This is the other side to that sword. I think the raid against my wayward APs took the zero escort - the port bombers are the unlucky ones. It is unknown to me if the bombers would have been escorted if the carriers had more than one option.
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Day Air attack on TF at 13,20
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 55
B5N Kate x 12
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AP Van Rees, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AP Van Cloon, on fire, heavy damage
They pay for being there again in the afternoon. both priceless APs sink
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So - may best laid planes seem to be of mice rather than men. The bane of my existence returns to lay me low - I wonder how safe the brits would have felt, in Scapa Flow, if the Germans had Betties and Nells? Boy o boy magazine explosions are devastating if they happen to Capital ships.
PzB taunts me in his email/propaganda to come out and face teh firing squad like a man. he's right - now that he's found me there is nowhere I can go to escape, it is just how much damage I can do while I get beaten to a pulp. He floats the idea of me sallying forth, but these are BBs so it is not as if it is a fair shootin match - RN BBs versus the KB!
So, I am a rat in a trap. He will slowly but surely smash the big boys of the bengal brigade. The only thing I can do is try to defend them as best I can. All the hurricane sqds, 1 wirriway and 1 lysander unit are heading to Diamond harbour. The AVG remnant are on their way back from China. The night fighters at Mandalay are based there for night attacks. 6 count them 6 artillery regiments are moving to the base to try and make bombardments uncomfortable. The P-40s off the South coast of India will land and get operational - they may be ready in time to fly over the outcome unfortunately.
I am going to loose planes hand over fist but alot of aircraft go into one BB, and if I manage to kill a few high level Naval pilots in the mix well good riddance to them.
All I can say is Crap.
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RE: Resolutely sinking....
Ouch not pleasant only 2 months to go till you get Spitfires its a real pity you dont get more AA units to protect those BB's.
RE: Resolutely sinking....
I suggest you plan some ops in the south pacific with your carriers.. with the KB in bengal you should have a free reign
Surface combat TF fanboy
RE: Resolutely sinking....
Poor AVG - they just cannot get a break.
Andy: I can't wait to have some fully capable fighters mate - phew can't wait. however, their range is still awful and it is range I will need to LRCAP retreating Naval units.
String, you are a mind reader - read future plans after the combat report. Trouble is - if you and I have thought of it then PzB will have too.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/02/42
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Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 108
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 18
Ki-21 Sally x 62
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 5 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 15 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15
PzB had a hunch that I would move the AVG back west. He manages to hit the same location that I move them to. He also happens to bring half the zeros he has under his command. My P-40s continue their awful showing and loose 8 of their numbers without hitting a single enemy - the AVG is down to 8 planes. THis is a pointless remnant and will be incorporated into the new P-40 sqd as soon as I can get them to land in Ceylon.
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Day Air attack on Lautem , at 33,78
Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 9
Brewster 339D x 3
Hudson I x 16
B-17E Fortress x 60
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2
A bombing raid of one of the islands North of Oz. Of the 60 B-17s that took part 16 are now listed as damaged!!! That is rubbish - there was no adequate flak at 20k altitude and the range was 6 - miles inside the B-17s normal range. There is no way you can fly these guys more than 1 day per week if this is how they are affected.
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The hurricane sqds are on their way to bangladesh but they do take a fair amount of time to get there if you don't use rail. It is difficult to ascertain whether he is gunning for the remains of the fleet or not. With the numbers of zeros he has at Rangoon he can wipe the skies of Hurricanes anyway.
I admit the wish to bug out of this rat trap is getting unbearable - the "better the devill you know" birdie on my shoulder is loosing it's power of persuasion and I am starting to feel I could make a bid for freedom. The biggest problem with this is the Subs along the main route and the lack of fighters with range to LRCAP the TF.
It is completely up to his carrier fleet. If they decide to park off the coast of course I won't be going anywhere - the subs I will chance. If he does bring the carriers in there is so little I can do - although a plan is hatching - bwork bwork!
The Americal Division may be landing at Lunga rather than moving to Port Moresby. He has none of his fleet carriers in the South Pacific and I have 5. His little carriers - including the Junyo and Hiyo now (maybe) are still not adequate deterence to the operation. What is more is the lack of base units to truely make Lunga dangerous, and the lack of a base at Luganville - the trip to Noumea is long. I do need to show him that he can't concentrate his naval power in one space without being hit in the other though.
All of the surface ships that could upgrade have done so and I have sent them out to repair locations to get rid of the damage. The Maryland is the first pearl harbour veteren to get an upgrade and return to the fight.
Andy: I can't wait to have some fully capable fighters mate - phew can't wait. however, their range is still awful and it is range I will need to LRCAP retreating Naval units.
String, you are a mind reader - read future plans after the combat report. Trouble is - if you and I have thought of it then PzB will have too.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/02/42
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Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 108
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 18
Ki-21 Sally x 62
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 5 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 15 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15
PzB had a hunch that I would move the AVG back west. He manages to hit the same location that I move them to. He also happens to bring half the zeros he has under his command. My P-40s continue their awful showing and loose 8 of their numbers without hitting a single enemy - the AVG is down to 8 planes. THis is a pointless remnant and will be incorporated into the new P-40 sqd as soon as I can get them to land in Ceylon.
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Day Air attack on Lautem , at 33,78
Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 9
Brewster 339D x 3
Hudson I x 16
B-17E Fortress x 60
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2
A bombing raid of one of the islands North of Oz. Of the 60 B-17s that took part 16 are now listed as damaged!!! That is rubbish - there was no adequate flak at 20k altitude and the range was 6 - miles inside the B-17s normal range. There is no way you can fly these guys more than 1 day per week if this is how they are affected.
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The hurricane sqds are on their way to bangladesh but they do take a fair amount of time to get there if you don't use rail. It is difficult to ascertain whether he is gunning for the remains of the fleet or not. With the numbers of zeros he has at Rangoon he can wipe the skies of Hurricanes anyway.
I admit the wish to bug out of this rat trap is getting unbearable - the "better the devill you know" birdie on my shoulder is loosing it's power of persuasion and I am starting to feel I could make a bid for freedom. The biggest problem with this is the Subs along the main route and the lack of fighters with range to LRCAP the TF.
It is completely up to his carrier fleet. If they decide to park off the coast of course I won't be going anywhere - the subs I will chance. If he does bring the carriers in there is so little I can do - although a plan is hatching - bwork bwork!
The Americal Division may be landing at Lunga rather than moving to Port Moresby. He has none of his fleet carriers in the South Pacific and I have 5. His little carriers - including the Junyo and Hiyo now (maybe) are still not adequate deterence to the operation. What is more is the lack of base units to truely make Lunga dangerous, and the lack of a base at Luganville - the trip to Noumea is long. I do need to show him that he can't concentrate his naval power in one space without being hit in the other though.
All of the surface ships that could upgrade have done so and I have sent them out to repair locations to get rid of the damage. The Maryland is the first pearl harbour veteren to get an upgrade and return to the fight.
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rogueusmc
- Posts: 4583
- Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 6:21 pm
- Location: Texas...what country are YOU from?
- Contact:
RE: Resolutely sinking....
I tell ya...I'll keep the Tomahawks alot longer now knowing the Warhawks have a shorter range by TWO HEXES!!!
There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and the enemy. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion.
Gen. William Thornson, U.S. Army
Gen. William Thornson, U.S. Army
RE: Resolutely sinking....
I've left this AAR unattended for a long time, around 2 weeks. I haven't still read the japanese part of the AAR since then...so I can comment on this part of the story without fear of letting some kind of hindsight making me slip some info I shouldn't, as I simply have no idea of what's going on over there 
.
so here goes my advice.
Ok, after reading all the posts you made from the point I last left the AAR seems that you have been caught by complete suprise, and in a very brilliant way (seems Pzb knows what he's doing
) at the Bay of Bengal. There is a dark dark night ahead of you while the japanese CVs sit around...
I don't know what he will do, but if I was in his pants I won't let the prey go away once it's in my teeth. If I know where the enemy is docked and I know he's got pretty poor or no defences to stop my attack (and actually you haven't got any worth of mention and I guess he knows it) I simply drop the hammer and smash everything I can as fast as I can do- then withdraw in blitz fashion "come-hit-hit-hit-run". You still got your big boys at port. He knows which port it is where they are. If I was him, I'd hit you with all the KB.
I'd set Naval strike with port attack as secondary, and unleash all the power of my air strike complement. When it's gone, there will be hell in earth at that port.
Summing up: If PzB attacks your harbor (and I would do it), if you sail with the fleet you're dead. If you stay at port, you're dead. It's a worse-or-worse scenario, as both your choices are terribly loaded against you. At this point I would not worry about what choice I make. The outcome of both choices is devastating vs you no matter what. So don't get fixated of what're you gonna do because basically whatever you do you're going to get hit. And bad.
What would I do if I were in your place?...well, other than ask for terms (;)), I'd try to save whatever I can save. Diamond harbor is in range from his land based naval bombers AND KB. If they're found at open sea trying to flee they will be (probably) in range of KB, but (probably) not of his land based bombers (at least not not at their "normal range", and naval bombers without torpedoes aren't as worrying, so...)
I'd get whatever I can gather, put it at full speed and get the heck outta there as if there was no tomorrow. And possibly for them there will be no tomorrow but, hey at the port there is LESS tomorrow, isn't it?
.
I'm an over-agressive player, and I like this approach. However, if Rabaul has got Betty daitais based there I won't take it. If you get one or two of your CVs seriously hit by betty torpedoes you're gonna have a hard time later when the KB comes back.
if there's no betty at Rabaul, it's a good idea. However, I'm under the impression that he hasn't got that big a bunch of land troops sitting around at Lunga, and a full division seems to be a bit overkill. If you find yourself stuck later, you might lose all of it, and that would be a BIG hit for your ability to put a fight on the SW Pacific on later stages.
Have you got something lesser in forces around there?. if I've assessed the situation right and he has got only a token force at Lunga , a Regimental Combat Team would suffice for the job, and is much easier to evaquate that a full-fledged division if the going gets rough.
Also, remember that there seem to be carriers around that zone. Maybe the KB is nearby Ceylon, but your air recce saw carriers near Australia only a couple turns ago...are you sure he's not waiting exactly to do that?. Maybe the KB raid on the Bay of Bengal was done on purpose to attract you to hit somewhere else...and "somewhere else" at this stage can only be the Solomons...I would go ahead with the operation, but being very very cautious all the time...
Summing up: in the Pacific you can do something right now, but in the Bay of Bengal you're going to suffer a lot of losses until the KB leaves...no matter what you do. If you go ahead with the Lunga invasion you might force KB to leave the Bay of Bengal sooner than what he expects to, to attend the situation in the Solomons- and that's good for you. Unless he's anticipated exactly that and he's luring you into a trap- and that's bad for you (if you fall)...
Just some thoughts, I hope you find them valuable...man this is like great-scale big-size chess trying to get into the other's mind to know what he will do.... I LOVE THIS GAME!
OTW to check the other thread...so my lips are sealed again from now onwards
[edit]
on the games I've played (so far only vs the AI) all the heavy bombers get a high % of "damaged" planes after each sortie...not sure why it is, but is as true for the B17s as for the B24s and B29s...maybe it's to limit them into flying once or twice a week only. Whatever it is, I agree with you, it's rubbish
.so here goes my advice.
Ok, after reading all the posts you made from the point I last left the AAR seems that you have been caught by complete suprise, and in a very brilliant way (seems Pzb knows what he's doing
) at the Bay of Bengal. There is a dark dark night ahead of you while the japanese CVs sit around... ORIGINAL: wobbly
It is completely up to his carrier fleet. If they decide to park off the coast of course I won't be going anywhere - the subs I will chance. If he does bring the carriers in there is so little I can do - although a plan is hatching - bwork bwork!
I don't know what he will do, but if I was in his pants I won't let the prey go away once it's in my teeth. If I know where the enemy is docked and I know he's got pretty poor or no defences to stop my attack (and actually you haven't got any worth of mention and I guess he knows it) I simply drop the hammer and smash everything I can as fast as I can do- then withdraw in blitz fashion "come-hit-hit-hit-run". You still got your big boys at port. He knows which port it is where they are. If I was him, I'd hit you with all the KB.
I'd set Naval strike with port attack as secondary, and unleash all the power of my air strike complement. When it's gone, there will be hell in earth at that port.
Summing up: If PzB attacks your harbor (and I would do it), if you sail with the fleet you're dead. If you stay at port, you're dead. It's a worse-or-worse scenario, as both your choices are terribly loaded against you. At this point I would not worry about what choice I make. The outcome of both choices is devastating vs you no matter what. So don't get fixated of what're you gonna do because basically whatever you do you're going to get hit. And bad.
What would I do if I were in your place?...well, other than ask for terms (;)), I'd try to save whatever I can save. Diamond harbor is in range from his land based naval bombers AND KB. If they're found at open sea trying to flee they will be (probably) in range of KB, but (probably) not of his land based bombers (at least not not at their "normal range", and naval bombers without torpedoes aren't as worrying, so...)
I'd get whatever I can gather, put it at full speed and get the heck outta there as if there was no tomorrow. And possibly for them there will be no tomorrow but, hey at the port there is LESS tomorrow, isn't it?
.The Americal Division may be landing at Lunga rather than moving to Port Moresby. He has none of his fleet carriers in the South Pacific and I have 5. His little carriers - including the Junyo and Hiyo now (maybe) are still not adequate deterence to the operation. What is more is the lack of base units to truely make Lunga dangerous, and the lack of a base at Luganville - the trip to Noumea is long. I do need to show him that he can't concentrate his naval power in one space without being hit in the other though.
I'm an over-agressive player, and I like this approach. However, if Rabaul has got Betty daitais based there I won't take it. If you get one or two of your CVs seriously hit by betty torpedoes you're gonna have a hard time later when the KB comes back.
if there's no betty at Rabaul, it's a good idea. However, I'm under the impression that he hasn't got that big a bunch of land troops sitting around at Lunga, and a full division seems to be a bit overkill. If you find yourself stuck later, you might lose all of it, and that would be a BIG hit for your ability to put a fight on the SW Pacific on later stages.
Have you got something lesser in forces around there?. if I've assessed the situation right and he has got only a token force at Lunga , a Regimental Combat Team would suffice for the job, and is much easier to evaquate that a full-fledged division if the going gets rough.
Also, remember that there seem to be carriers around that zone. Maybe the KB is nearby Ceylon, but your air recce saw carriers near Australia only a couple turns ago...are you sure he's not waiting exactly to do that?. Maybe the KB raid on the Bay of Bengal was done on purpose to attract you to hit somewhere else...and "somewhere else" at this stage can only be the Solomons...I would go ahead with the operation, but being very very cautious all the time...
Summing up: in the Pacific you can do something right now, but in the Bay of Bengal you're going to suffer a lot of losses until the KB leaves...no matter what you do. If you go ahead with the Lunga invasion you might force KB to leave the Bay of Bengal sooner than what he expects to, to attend the situation in the Solomons- and that's good for you. Unless he's anticipated exactly that and he's luring you into a trap- and that's bad for you (if you fall)...
Just some thoughts, I hope you find them valuable...man this is like great-scale big-size chess trying to get into the other's mind to know what he will do.... I LOVE THIS GAME!
OTW to check the other thread...so my lips are sealed again from now onwards
[edit]
A bombing raid of one of the islands North of Oz. Of the 60 B-17s that took part 16 are now listed as damaged!!! That is rubbish - there was no adequate flak at 20k altitude and the range was 6 - miles inside the B-17s normal range. There is no way you can fly these guys more than 1 day per week if this is how they are affected.
on the games I've played (so far only vs the AI) all the heavy bombers get a high % of "damaged" planes after each sortie...not sure why it is, but is as true for the B17s as for the B24s and B29s...maybe it's to limit them into flying once or twice a week only. Whatever it is, I agree with you, it's rubbish
RAM
"Look at me! look at me!!!
Not like that! NOT LIKE THAT!!!"
"Look at me! look at me!!!
Not like that! NOT LIKE THAT!!!"
RE: Resolutely sinking....
Rogue - absolutely right - the trick to the AVG seems to be, keep them flying the Tomahawks and don't let their numbers get too low: when I changed plane types I only ever managed to get to about 30 total flyable. This meant his zeros outnumbered me in a 2 or 3 to 1 basis and this seems to mean you get thumped.
RAM - phew - that's a huge post - thanks for all the pointers. OK - I have kissed the Royal Navy goodbye. I cannot get them out unless I make enough noise elsewhere. My fighters cannot provide a deterent so it is up to ground based fire - this is why I have moved in as many units with AAA ability as I can, but in the end this is only to make it costly for him. While the KB is around I cannot move them. I have toyed with moving one or maybe two BBs to Changsha (there I go with the crap naming again - the base about 2 hexes to Diamond harbour's east - I may be right) just to throw him off - he is reconning though so it is actually a move closer to his bombers - sigh.
As to the invasion of the Solomons - you are correct - the Americal is overkill - I actually have an RCT with the Americal!! They could do the business. What I really want though is a base force to come along (and while I am at it - a CD unit an engineer unit and some minelayers...). That really is the issue - it is a throw together invasion that will require follow up to be completed successfully.
You also correctly state that there are CVs around, in truth I will sacrifice the RCT, transports and even a fleet carrier or two if I can lock horns with his little fellas and sink a few of them - he cannot afford to loose any more. I have sunk two fleet carriers and severely damaged a light carrier (a while ago now and thanks to the Dornier flying boats that put two bombs into the Zuiho, I think, getting it to sys damage 47 according to intel from PzB). He will have trouble with 5 US fleet carriers no matter what he wheels out - unless he can teleport the KB somehow - then I will be on the run - but that is the point isn't it: get the KB away from the Royal Navy!
Next is the land based bombers. He holds all of the Solomons but only has troops in any number at Rabaul (I think he has a small base unit at Lunga). So Betties and Nells will have to fly from Rabaul with zeros at very long range. I'd keep the carriers out to the East or South of Lunga, LRCAPing the invasion. At this range the Naval Wildcats will be worthy adversaries. I have another TF of 2 BBs 1 CA a CL and 7 or so DDs with the Americal, so this would be the likely target of his bombers - that's fine by me.
Finally - PzB is a very capable player - so he will get his licks in while he holds the hammer. In this case I was the creater of my own doom but I was restricted by the way in which things came about. I very much doubt my BBs would have made it from Madras to the West Coast of India in time to escape his full speed KB - I really did not want them caught at sea (which is why they are staying in port now!) Even if they had made it to a West Indian port, my first move, as the japanese (after finding Ceylon empty of my target), would have been to move on up theWest coast of India looking for targets. Once he found my fleet I would have been no less 'in the deep end' (although I suppose I wouldn't have land based planes to contend with).
Another point to make is the three remaining BBs are all below 20 sys damage after his raid! If it hadn't been for the magazine explosion the raid would have been far less effective. Also remember that was an attack against no fighter defense and now I have moved a swag of AAA toting units in that direction. I am sure I have lost the RN's big boys but I hope he pays to bring about their demise.
RAM - phew - that's a huge post - thanks for all the pointers. OK - I have kissed the Royal Navy goodbye. I cannot get them out unless I make enough noise elsewhere. My fighters cannot provide a deterent so it is up to ground based fire - this is why I have moved in as many units with AAA ability as I can, but in the end this is only to make it costly for him. While the KB is around I cannot move them. I have toyed with moving one or maybe two BBs to Changsha (there I go with the crap naming again - the base about 2 hexes to Diamond harbour's east - I may be right) just to throw him off - he is reconning though so it is actually a move closer to his bombers - sigh.
As to the invasion of the Solomons - you are correct - the Americal is overkill - I actually have an RCT with the Americal!! They could do the business. What I really want though is a base force to come along (and while I am at it - a CD unit an engineer unit and some minelayers...). That really is the issue - it is a throw together invasion that will require follow up to be completed successfully.
You also correctly state that there are CVs around, in truth I will sacrifice the RCT, transports and even a fleet carrier or two if I can lock horns with his little fellas and sink a few of them - he cannot afford to loose any more. I have sunk two fleet carriers and severely damaged a light carrier (a while ago now and thanks to the Dornier flying boats that put two bombs into the Zuiho, I think, getting it to sys damage 47 according to intel from PzB). He will have trouble with 5 US fleet carriers no matter what he wheels out - unless he can teleport the KB somehow - then I will be on the run - but that is the point isn't it: get the KB away from the Royal Navy!
Next is the land based bombers. He holds all of the Solomons but only has troops in any number at Rabaul (I think he has a small base unit at Lunga). So Betties and Nells will have to fly from Rabaul with zeros at very long range. I'd keep the carriers out to the East or South of Lunga, LRCAPing the invasion. At this range the Naval Wildcats will be worthy adversaries. I have another TF of 2 BBs 1 CA a CL and 7 or so DDs with the Americal, so this would be the likely target of his bombers - that's fine by me.
Finally - PzB is a very capable player - so he will get his licks in while he holds the hammer. In this case I was the creater of my own doom but I was restricted by the way in which things came about. I very much doubt my BBs would have made it from Madras to the West Coast of India in time to escape his full speed KB - I really did not want them caught at sea (which is why they are staying in port now!) Even if they had made it to a West Indian port, my first move, as the japanese (after finding Ceylon empty of my target), would have been to move on up theWest coast of India looking for targets. Once he found my fleet I would have been no less 'in the deep end' (although I suppose I wouldn't have land based planes to contend with).
Another point to make is the three remaining BBs are all below 20 sys damage after his raid! If it hadn't been for the magazine explosion the raid would have been far less effective. Also remember that was an attack against no fighter defense and now I have moved a swag of AAA toting units in that direction. I am sure I have lost the RN's big boys but I hope he pays to bring about their demise.
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RE: Resolutely sinking....
You could try a mid-ocean intercept with some of your ships there.. they're gonna go down anyway, why not bring some of the japs with you
Surface combat TF fanboy
RE: Resolutely sinking....
KB on the way
String - because they are docked in a size 9 port, so really they need to be hit in the magazine to be sunk. He is going to hurt many of my ships but will have trouble sinking them. At sea they are garanteed to go down. I also cannot LRCAP tehm at sea. No this way he will pay to sink them.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/03/42
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Night Air attack on Chandpur , at 30,25
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
He tries to cover all bases by hitting both harbours - there are targets at both but no luck in Chandpur.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Diamond Harbor , at 28,23
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 9
G4M1 Betty x 15
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 9 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IF: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Ramilles, Bomb hits 1
CLAA Columbo, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Port hits 1
More luck in Diamond harbour again. However, having a few night fighters seems to put the aim off so not quite the same carnage. This time the 800lb bomb bounces off the Ramilles but the other one smashes the Columbo - she is at 52 sys damage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kungchang , at 46,26
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 35
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 5
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 8 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 13 destroyed, 7 damaged
I loose 8 hurricanes but they do manage to knock down 3 tojo and 2 oscars, the zeros are as invincible as ever.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 41
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4
He is aiming to put Mandalay out of commission as he has moved upon my troops holding the rail line north of Rangoon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lautem , at 33,78
Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 9
Brewster 339D x 4
Hudson I x 15
B-17E Fortress x 44
No Allied losses
Runway hits 7
Continuation of training for the Darwin wings - experience is crawling up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 93rd Chinese Division, at 29,33
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 5
Ki-21 Sally x 22
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Ouch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Burma Brigade, at 29,33
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 32
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
and double ouch - he has started to hit my troops - this will continue until I run away or get forced away. The troops have very good fortifications though. Morale is a bit poor however most at about 50 other then the Aussies at 75. How do you increase morale? The Chinese never seem to get any better than 35 or so.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 56,96
Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 3
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Akatsuki
Now I don't know what this is - this DD is south of Gili Gili - why go there? He may be lining up to bombard PM - he has alot of mines to contend with 810 in the harbour.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 57,91
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 13
Hudson I x 4
Beaufort V-IX x 8
P-40E Warhawk x 34
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 1 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
ML Takashima, Shell hits 16
CL Katori, Shell hits 4
ML Yaeyama, Shell hits 8
ML Hoko, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
ML Okinoshima, Shell hits 4
PC Shonon Maru #10, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
400 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
You could be forgiven for realising why he would want to bombard PM though - this is a mission from there against a fast transport group. I don't know where they were aiming but they will be a fair number of troops short. The Beauforts can be awesome if the target is undefended.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In india I have to move hurricanes by rail as they don't have the legs to get to Diamond point by air. The sqds in question won't be ready for defense for some time in this case. I split my bomber up all over the place.
I imagine he will CAP his carriers heavily to begin and then try sweep missions. If I time it right I may be able to get a large anti-ship attack escorted by my 8 P-40s that could scare the carriers - if he takes a couple of hits he may just think twice about pounding me to a pulp.
I now have 6 artillery unit and 4 units with 15+ flak rating in Diamond point. The flak already put paid to a couple of Betties last turn - that was in the dark.
The Americal Div splits from the RCT and heads for Noumea. The RCT is off to Lunga. Spruance speeds up to catch the other carriers and a supply mission escorted by a CA and 4 CLs departs Noumea. Time to put the pressure on.
In San Francisco the Maryland refuses to update - she is at 4 sys damage but shows a destroyed CXAM radar. This radar has never been repaired. Would this have something to do with her lack of upgrade?
WE have also upgraded to 1.3 - Frag, could you do us that favour now?
String - because they are docked in a size 9 port, so really they need to be hit in the magazine to be sunk. He is going to hurt many of my ships but will have trouble sinking them. At sea they are garanteed to go down. I also cannot LRCAP tehm at sea. No this way he will pay to sink them.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/03/42
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Night Air attack on Chandpur , at 30,25
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
He tries to cover all bases by hitting both harbours - there are targets at both but no luck in Chandpur.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Diamond Harbor , at 28,23
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 9
G4M1 Betty x 15
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 9 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IF: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Ramilles, Bomb hits 1
CLAA Columbo, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Port hits 1
More luck in Diamond harbour again. However, having a few night fighters seems to put the aim off so not quite the same carnage. This time the 800lb bomb bounces off the Ramilles but the other one smashes the Columbo - she is at 52 sys damage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kungchang , at 46,26
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 35
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 5
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 8 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 13 destroyed, 7 damaged
I loose 8 hurricanes but they do manage to knock down 3 tojo and 2 oscars, the zeros are as invincible as ever.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 41
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4
He is aiming to put Mandalay out of commission as he has moved upon my troops holding the rail line north of Rangoon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lautem , at 33,78
Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 9
Brewster 339D x 4
Hudson I x 15
B-17E Fortress x 44
No Allied losses
Runway hits 7
Continuation of training for the Darwin wings - experience is crawling up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 93rd Chinese Division, at 29,33
Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 5
Ki-21 Sally x 22
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Ouch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Burma Brigade, at 29,33
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 32
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
and double ouch - he has started to hit my troops - this will continue until I run away or get forced away. The troops have very good fortifications though. Morale is a bit poor however most at about 50 other then the Aussies at 75. How do you increase morale? The Chinese never seem to get any better than 35 or so.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 56,96
Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 3
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Akatsuki
Now I don't know what this is - this DD is south of Gili Gili - why go there? He may be lining up to bombard PM - he has alot of mines to contend with 810 in the harbour.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 57,91
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 13
Hudson I x 4
Beaufort V-IX x 8
P-40E Warhawk x 34
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 1 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
ML Takashima, Shell hits 16
CL Katori, Shell hits 4
ML Yaeyama, Shell hits 8
ML Hoko, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
ML Okinoshima, Shell hits 4
PC Shonon Maru #10, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
400 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
You could be forgiven for realising why he would want to bombard PM though - this is a mission from there against a fast transport group. I don't know where they were aiming but they will be a fair number of troops short. The Beauforts can be awesome if the target is undefended.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In india I have to move hurricanes by rail as they don't have the legs to get to Diamond point by air. The sqds in question won't be ready for defense for some time in this case. I split my bomber up all over the place.
I imagine he will CAP his carriers heavily to begin and then try sweep missions. If I time it right I may be able to get a large anti-ship attack escorted by my 8 P-40s that could scare the carriers - if he takes a couple of hits he may just think twice about pounding me to a pulp.
I now have 6 artillery unit and 4 units with 15+ flak rating in Diamond point. The flak already put paid to a couple of Betties last turn - that was in the dark.
The Americal Div splits from the RCT and heads for Noumea. The RCT is off to Lunga. Spruance speeds up to catch the other carriers and a supply mission escorted by a CA and 4 CLs departs Noumea. Time to put the pressure on.
In San Francisco the Maryland refuses to update - she is at 4 sys damage but shows a destroyed CXAM radar. This radar has never been repaired. Would this have something to do with her lack of upgrade?
WE have also upgraded to 1.3 - Frag, could you do us that favour now?
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RE: Resolutely sinking....
810 mines at PM? Bah ! You should be shot for incompetency ! I have 3000 mines at PM in my game against the banananana.
Never argue with an idiot, he will only drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.