BACK IN BUSINESS - PzB goes East again(st) Andy Mac

[PzB74]

Now 20 enemy untis oppose our assault; not sure we can get through but since we still have 3-4 divisions to throw into the fray I'm not going to stand down yet.
The para assault on Kalemyo is a new opportunity.

[Mynok]

already stacked the place with rice & honey

Don't forget torps and sake. [:'(]

[Nemo121]

Ground combat at 60,43
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 112259 troops, 1359 guns, 697 vehicles, Assault Value = 3821
Defending force 45440 troops, 988 guns, 770 vehicles, Assault Value = 1509

Japanese adjusted assault: 1415
Allied adjusted defense: 2497

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
4845 casualties reported
Squads: 53 destroyed, 285 disabled
Non Combat: 119 destroyed, 161 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 28 (3 destroyed, 25 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2629 casualties reported
Squads: 62 destroyed, 84 disabled
Non Combat: 102 destroyed, 117 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 73 (36 destroyed, 37 disabled)

Hmm, you seem to be wavering about the assault again, let us look at the figures.
IJA losses in terms of unadjusted offensive AV: 53 squads, 3 vehicles = 56 AV lost. THe disabled ones can repair.

Allied losses in terms of unadjusted AV: 62+10+1+36 = 109 AV.

So, you outnumber him and are causing more casualties today than you lost. Of particular notice is the numbe rof non-combat squads destroyed and damaged. To me that looks like you took a regiment below 50% ready squads today and converted a lot of that Regiment or Bde's disabled units into destroyed units. So, I'd say that is a UK or Indian Regt/Bde wiped out by today's fighting.

Even if you can't push through causing such heavy losses to small numbers of units ( wiping out a regt of 100 combat squads and 300 non-combat squads ) vs spreading the same damage among multiple divisions will greatly reduce Andy's offensive punch for the next year as his replacement rates for combat squads are just far too low to rebuild multiple shattered Regts/Bdes.

Also, would you consider a major concentration of IJA bombers on this target, even if only for a week or two. All you need is to achieve a solid 1:1 once or twice and you'll be well on the way to breaking this concentration., With sufficient disruption of his few divisions a 1:1 needn't be unachievable.

[PzB74]

My many smaller sized units; regiments - brigades start to approach the 50% casualty limit and now and then one of them are smashed down to almost zero undamaged squads + lots of destroyed.
Last turn I noticed that 2 more enemy units, unsure what size, reinforced the enemy stack.

The question is to which degree we wishe to smash up our own units; don't like this kind of WWI trench warfare tactics [;)]
Reinforcements will be arriving soon; a full sized (70% combat ready) division arrived last turn and boosted AV back to 4000AV despite the reduced and wrecked LCUs.
A full sized reserve Bde from Singapore is unloading at Rangoon while the Guards tank division and a fresh div released from China (470AV) as well as a full strength mobile regiment (180 AV) and 2 more regiments
are moving forward.

Will see what effect these reinforcements will have over the next couple of weeks!

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: PzB

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Perth at 43,147

Japanese Ships
SS I-156

Allied Ships
AK Castor, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

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

AK Castor is sighted by SS I-156
SS I-156 launches 8 torpedoes at AK Castor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

don´t you do that! [:-]

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: PzB

My many smaller sized units; regiments - brigades start to approach the 50% casualty limit and now and then one of them are smashed down to almost zero undamaged squads + lots of destroyed.
Last turn I noticed that 2 more enemy units, unsure what size, reinforced the enemy stack.

The question is to which degree we wishe to smash up our own units; don't like this kind of WWI trench warfare tactics [;)]
Reinforcements will be arriving soon; a full sized (70% combat ready) division arrived last turn and boosted AV back to 4000AV despite the reduced and wrecked LCUs.
A full sized reserve Bde from Singapore is unloading at Rangoon while the Guards tank division and a fresh div released from China (470AV) as well as a full strength mobile regiment (180 AV) and 2 more regiments
are moving forward.

Will see what effect these reinforcements will have over the next couple of weeks!

you really have to be cautios with smaller (non div) sized units. I had a couple of tank units or inf bgd 100% destroyed in one turn after doing deliberate attacks. You move in, the unit is at 100/100, order one deliberate attack with a 2:1 superior force and end up with a tank unit or inf unit with 100av being destroyed. No squad left, no chance to rebuild. These whipe outs in one day haven´t made the ground combat model better IMO.

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 01, 43

Surface Combat

Lots of surface action near Luganville - Efate.
First our cruiser squadron encountered PT boats heading towards Efate and sank 2.
At Efate a transport was sunk.
Then an Allied surface TF engaged our pickets at Luganville; this was a standoff engagement.
Our cruisers finally engaged this Allied TF as it returned to Luganville; yet another inconclusive one.

So we sank 2 PT boats, a transport and scored hits on a CL and 2 DDs and took only superficial damage in return.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ambrym at 120,152, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami
CL Tatsuta
CL Yubari

Allied Ships
PT-20
PT-21
PT-22
PT-23
PT-24, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Epi at 120,153, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami
CL Tatsuta
CL Yubari

Allied Ships
PT-20
PT-21, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-22
PT-23
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Efate at 120,154, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami
CL Tatsuta
CL Yubari

Allied Ships
xAK John Adams, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Luganville at 120,150, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
CL Leander
DD Thanet, Shell hits 1
DD Napier, Shell hits 1
DD Dent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Lakatoro at 119,151, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 1
CL Tatsuta
CL Yubari, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Leander, Shell hits 2
DD Thanet, Shell hits 1
DD Napier
DD Dent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub Attacks

There were a dozen sub contacts today; mostly against Allied convoys heading back to PH.
We didn't achieve much today, a DM was sunk and 3 of our subs were damaged in return.
- The unescorted convoy to Perth has been ravaged though.

Sub attack near Pearl Harbor at 175,116

Japanese Ships
SS I-5, hits 2

Allied Ships
DM Ramsay, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SC-750
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Perth at 49,147

Japanese Ships
SS I-11

Allied Ships
xAK Jacalope, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

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

xAK Jacalope is sighted by SS I-11
SS I-11 launches 6 torpedoes at xAK Jacalope
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Our airfield attack against Kalemyo was a great success! In good weather we closed the fields and thus prevented
Andy from airlifting in reinforcements. Our sweeps also returned good results and more than a dozen Hurries were claimed.

Enemy bombers scored a single hit against our transports at Luganville; our Rufe's claimed a further 3 enemy bombers.

Morning Air attack on Burma Corps , at 60,43
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 36

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kalemyo , at 59,42
Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 55
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 33
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 62
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed on ground

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

Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 12
Runway hits 104

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
26 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 5000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
29 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 5000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
1 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 5000 feet
16 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 5000 feet *
8 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 5000 feet

CAP engaged:
No.146 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
No.232 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead

Also attacking Pathan Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking Kalemyo ...
Also attacking Pathan Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking Kalemyo ...
Also attacking Pathan Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking Kalemyo ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Burma Corps , at 60,43
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 9
Kittyhawk IA x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 3 destroyed
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 120,150
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3

Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 5
B-24D Liberator x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson III (LR): 1 destroyed
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Teisin Maru
xAP Kongo Maru
LSD Shinshu Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 6000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
801 Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Luganville , at 120,150
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 2

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Beaufighter Ic sweeping at 10000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 120,150
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 1

Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson III (LR): 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Teisin Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 6000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 120,150
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Nissyu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

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

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

As predicted Allied reinforcements arrive and the assault odds is decreasing.
Our AV is divided by 2.4 while the enemy's is doubled.

We do capture Kalemyo though and that was a great success that will make the Allied position much more precarious.

Ground combat at 60,43
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 113896 troops, 1407 guns, 978 vehicles, Assault Value = 4049
Defending force 56236 troops, 1154 guns, 887 vehicles, Assault Value = 1984

Japanese adjusted assault: 1616
Allied adjusted defense: 4823

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
7537 casualties reported
Squads: 70 destroyed, 820 disabled
Non Combat: 44 destroyed, 684 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 44 disabled
Vehicles lost 49 (15 destroyed, 34 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3282 casualties reported
Squads: 30 destroyed, 123 disabled
Non Combat: 62 destroyed, 205 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 108 (30 destroyed, 78 disabled)


Assaulting units:
4th Division
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
11th Division
113th Infantry Regiment
17th Infantry Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
16th Infantry Regiment
33rd Division
90th Infantry Regiment
38th Division
112th Infantry Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
42nd Infantry Regiment
24th Infantry Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
14th Guards Regiment
17th Tank Regiment
6th Guards Division
1st Recon Battalion
7th Tank Regiment
14th Division
55th Infantry Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
16th Guards Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
51st Field AA Battalion
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
48th Field Artillery Regiment
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Army
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Field Artillery Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
13th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
21st Army

Defending units:
32nd Infantry Division
77th Chindit Brigade
20th Indian Division
23rd British Brigade
Kowloon Brigade
73rd Motorised Brigade
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
17th Indian Division
66th Chinese/B Corps
150th RAC Regiment
5th Chinese Corps
16th British Brigade
111th Chindit Bde /2
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
RAF 222 Group Base Force
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd AA Bde
6th Medium Regiment
Burma Corps
14th Indian Light AA Regiment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kalemyo (59,42)
Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 821 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 36
Defending force 440 troops, 0 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 15
Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 15 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Kalemyo !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

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

Allied ground losses:
202 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Assaulting units:
3rd Raiding Rgt /1
Yokosuka 1st SNLF /1

Defending units:
Pathan Construction Battalion
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The Fight at Sea

[PzB74]

Andy didn't even care to provide an escort for Castor [;)]

It's not only small LCU's that suffer; today a major major division was completely routed.
Ref the very high number of disabled squads.

I don't truly believe in a frontal assault here anymore; I will attempt to close Kathia as an airbase.
That combined with the capture of Kalemyo and a trust into the enemy's rear should improve our position.

Burma

[PzB74]

All week I've been struggling to find time for the daily addiction turns; now I'm finally home alone and all set with booze and beers - what happens?
No turns.... [8|]

Great!

Al is probably having his rice pudding while Andy is visiting his crumblies.

Guess I'll go and get myself another serve of my @Hot@ chili con carne speziale; of course served sizzling hot with ice cold pints of Heinz
Did you know this about chili?

[Cribtop]

Now you're sounding like a Texan! MMMM, Chili. One bit of Cribtop trivia - I like food so spicy it would probably kill most people. Habanero, scotch bonnet, Thai peppers, bring 'em on!

[PzB74]

Then you're welcome to drop in for a bite and chill anytime [:)]
Been increasing my chili dosage for 20 years; the Chinese chef now calls me "the one who cannot be broken" [:D]

[Cribtop]

Heh, the staff at Mongolian BBQ here in Austin would give me a salute and intone "spicy guy" with a sort of "he is the one" reverence. We must be cut from the same cloth.

[PaxMondo]

Back in the day I used to eat with the locals in Udon Thani and Phuket and eat spicier than anyone in the local villages.  Now?  Ketchup is about as spicy as I can go ...  [:D]

[inqistor]

So... looks, like Rufe is THE BEST BOMBER BUSTER in Japan arsenal!

Attacking below 1:1 is kinda pointless, but if you could scrape enough troops to attack through Myitkyina, and lay siege to last base south of river...
Jungle combat bonus is big enough to march there just enough forces to not allow Allies counterattack. Since attack will go from north-east, and south is in Japan hands, there will be only one hex needed to cut off supply completely.

Allied troops don't have many negatives now in battle, but extending their supply lines, and daily bombardment, should soon change that.

[PzB74]

My wife doesn't stand hot food and she's learned the hard way not to taste spiced dishes [;)]
If faith allows we should arrange a WitP session over a uber spiced meal!

Good idea Inqistor; will probe and bomb enemy positions in Burma and try to find weak spots and reduce enemy supply levels.
This turn we bombed Kathia heavily. If we can close Kathia and Myit Andy can't fly in supplies. Does anyone know whether supply flow is disrupted
by heavy base damage?

A small miracle happened this turn; a midget sub penetrated into PH, attacked and got back out again [X(]
That's a first time in 50 attempts. Of course the dot over the i missed; the midget attacked a huge tanker...and missed [:o]

Even a small dozen Rufe's on CAP to cover a landing is a valuable asset when attacked by long range bombers without escorts.
If the attackers are not shot down they are usually disrupted and - or damaged which will ruin their bomb runs and increase the chance of crashing on RTB.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 02, 43

Sub Attacks

Our minelayer was part of a convoy and during loaded it took on a load of fuel. When hit it burst into flames.

Midget Sub attack inside harbor of Pearl Harbor!!!

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-37

Allied Ships
TK A.C. Rubel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Pearl Harbor at 180,107

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-37

Allied Ships
BB Revenge
DD Grayson
KV Chilliwack
KV Hollyhock
PC Morris
SC PC-581
SC PC-580
DMS Dorsey
DMS Boggs
AM Matai
AM Kingfisher
AP Heywood
AP American Legion
AP Tasker H. Bliss
AK Algorab
AK Libra
xAP President Fillmore
xAP Republic
DD Flusser
DD Duncan
DD Buchanan
DD Saufley

SSX Ha-37 is sighted by escort
DD Flusser fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Duncan fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Buchanan fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Saufley fails to find sub and abandons search
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub attack near Canton Island at 157,136

Japanese Ships
CM Itsukushima, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Seadragon

SS Seadragon launches 4 torpedoes
Seadragon diving deep ....
Sub escapes detection
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Canton Island at 156,136

Japanese Ships
CM Itsukushima, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Scorpion

CM Itsukushima is sighted by SS Scorpion
SS Scorpion launches 4 torpedoes at CM Itsukushima
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat


Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 31
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 38
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 36
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 45

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 2
Kittyhawk IA x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

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

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 41

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
31 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
36 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
16 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 9000 feet
4 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 9000 feet
12 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 9000 feet *
12 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 9000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 14
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 48
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 26
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 39
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 damaged

Runway hits 24

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Luganville , at 120,150
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 2

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Ic: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Beaufighter Ic sweeping at 10000 feet *

CAP engaged:
801 Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130
Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 43
B-17F Fortress x 28
B-24D Liberator x 47

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged

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

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 26
Port hits 9
Port supply hits 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Midget Sub Attack

[PzB74]

Asked Andy if the Palmyra operation was indeed an invasion attempt or a ruse.
Didn't answer... [:'(]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 03, 43

Air Combat

This turn we switched targets and hit Chittagong; disrupting the transport ac and fighters there.
Our sweeps also claimed a dozen enemy fighters including 5 Spits.

Hundreds of enemy fighters swept Kalemyo but we didn't have CAP there.

Morning Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11

Allied aircraft
Hurricane I Trop x 2
Kittyhawk III x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 8
P-40K Warhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane I Trop: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet
2 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Burma Corps , at 60,43
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 18

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Burma Corps , at 60,43
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 26

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 57
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 38
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 87
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 8

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
C-47 Skytrain: 2 destroyed on ground
PBY-5A Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 16
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kalemyo , at 59,42
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 3
Kittyhawk III x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 17
P-40E Warhawk x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 2

No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 42
B-17F Fortress x 28
B-24D Liberator x 39

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged

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

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 16
Port hits 20
Port supply hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zero A6M3a

Think there's a small bug here; the Zero A6M3a got 2x20mm guns too much!
Should be a good bomber interceptor....

Accordingly this error has been found and will be fixed in the next update.
So it's a limited offer!-)

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Asked Andy if the Palmyra operation was indeed an invasion attempt or a ruse.

Allies need clear airpath between Pearl Harbor, and Fiji, to fly planes directly. There will be much new units in few months, so surely there will be another Palmyra attempt.
Question is:
How hard will it be to build airfield at Washington Island? There are islands close enough to Palmyra to allow even short-range army fighters to LRCAP.

And obviously you are missing the point, that 3 RUFEs get better results, than 30 TOJOs [8D]
How, the heck, they are able to shot even enemy fighters? They have worse flying characteristics, than CLAUDE! In my game they are massacred against any opposition, even SINGLE fighter.

[PzB74]

I also think that Andy will come back to the Line Islands; I don't want to add many more combat and support troops to the region though.
Washington Island? Have to take a look at the map and find out were it is first [:'(]

I never said 3 Rufe's better than 30 Tojo's...I said that a a handful of Rufe's on CAP makes a big difference if the alternative is no CAP at all.
Tojo's have fought evenly with the Beaufighters that have been sweeping Luganville, just have to get the drop on them.

The Rex float fighter will be an interesting addendum; with heavy firepower they will be efficient against enemy bombers.

Not much to report in this weekends last turn; I put an LRCAP over PM but enemy heavies hit Lae and Madang.
I'm slowly bringing in more base force units and Air HQ's to New Guinea - New Britain - Solomons region.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 04, 43

Ref Float Fighter

[janh]

I tend to agree that the Line Islands and Marquesas are a strategical must for Andy.  Unless the direct line of communications with OZ is secure, he cannot effectively fight down there.  Imagine if he would loose a naval battle in the Solomons now, and had to transfer the cripples past your Netties to the West Coast... a long long way.

But Andy could take a slap first at another base to draw out your carriers, while only feinting an invasion.  Or invade, but immediately follow up with a major Line Islands operation.

I think Andy was scared at 2nd Palmyra after he only could guess the location of KB (where the AO sank), and saw what happened in C&G's AAR in the exact same situation.  I think he needs to know where KB is, before he risks a strike.   Or he is just playing for time, making you burn fuel, and waiting for more of his carriers to arrive.

[PzB74]

Yes, that's much my reasoning too Janh. Andy's repeated attempts at securing Palmyra and the Marquesas shows that it's a thorn in his side.
The Line Islands is actually both a buffer zone to the Marshalls and Carolines as well as a break water to the enemy's build-up in the South Pacific.
I'm constantly bringing fuel and supplies to the forward bases to enable the Combined Fleet to operate freely.
- Also inclined to believe that Andy lost hear and withdrew his invasion forces before committing himself; hi did the same near the Marianas in our first game.

Each time Andy sorties he bring most of all Allied combined fleets.
This usually leaves us rather short in surface combatants. A bit uncertain if we should counter this by gathering more of the Combined Fleet
at Truk, Rabaul and Kwajalein. Currently we have 1 battleship, 4-5 heavy and 3 light cruisers as well as 20 destroyers and a CVE in the SRA.
Feel that we need this force to form fast strike forces, support evacuations and counter-invasions.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 05, 43

Again a quiet turn; our sweep over Chittagong claim 6-7 enemy fighters without friendly losses.
We have bombarded in Burma over the last couple of days with mixed results.

- The thumb rule for jungle combat is that defender's AV will be doubled while attackers AV will be divided by ca 2.5.
If the defender got 1500 AV it will be adjusted to ca 3000. In order to achieve a 2-1 odds the attacker thus needs ca 8000 AV.

Our fast transports have completed the withdrawal from Luganville; a small garrison is left behind.
No further sign of enemy activity near the Line Islands; it's probably time to return to Truk to upgrade all our Val's with Judy's.
Next month production of Jill's will commence.