::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjoy (J)

[obvert]

The heavies put a good hit on the base, but unfortunately this wasn't followed by the flights of more B-17s from Bangalore. This was the one weather problem for the day, and means we didn't get even close to shutting down the fields at Trincomalee. That's bad for the future here as now he can pile on and keep all three major bases open if he wants to do that while we need several recovery days for our sweepers.

Later packets were brought through by the escorts and remnants of LR CAP, and the escorts really fought hard against the CAP and took out another good number in these later flights.

By the time the DBs arrived only 4 Kittyhawks were left on LR CAP, and the first two groups decided to fly ahead of their escorts. Miraculously only four were shot down, and the rest did some good business in the harbor! [:)]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 25, 43
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Morning Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 8
A6M5c Zero x 5
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 13
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 14

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 18
Kittyhawk I x 17
LB-30 Liberator x 3
B-24D Liberator x 24
P-39D Airacobra x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M5c Zero: 2 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator II: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 31

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Liberator II bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x Liberator II bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x LB-30 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
4th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 26390 and 35600.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
77th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 29000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
582 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 30000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Chitose-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 28000 and 30000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 7
A6M5c Zero x 3
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 10
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 14

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 6
Kittyhawk I x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 25
P-40K Warhawk x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator II: 3 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Liberator II bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
4th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 31190.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
77th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
582 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 19671.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Chitose-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47

Weather in hex: Clear sky

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 6
A6M5c Zero x 2
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 3
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
582 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 76 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
4th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
77th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 50 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Chitose-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 4
A6M5c Zero x 1
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 2
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 2

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 1
B-24D Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
582 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
4th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
Chitose-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Trincomalee at 31,47

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 4
A6M5c Zero x 2
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 5
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 4
Kittyhawk I x 4
SBD-3 Dauntless x 17

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Kamoi Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Tokyo Maru
PC Nire, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Shinryu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Natisan Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Aoi, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
1 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
582 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
Chitose-1 with A6M5c Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
4th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Natisan Maru
Massive explosion on xAK Natisan Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APD Aoi

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

[obvert]

The second wave came in with a few Wildcats and four remaining P-39D on LR CAP, and luckily these managed to hold off the remainder of the CAP long enough to get most of the slow Vengeance DBs through. I'm not sure what happened to the other 60 Wildcats that should have been here, all flying tom the same base and at the same altitude, but at least the result was good and the timing at the close of day meant the CAP didn't have much left.

I counted 21 different ships hit here, and of those at least 15 should be goners. This should make up in VPs what we lost in Brit CLs and then some! [8D]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Trincomalee at 31,47

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 3
A6M5c Zero x 1
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 5
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 44
P-39D Airacobra x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Kazuura Maru, Bomb hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Matsue Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AKE Genoa Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire
xAK Ceylon Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKE Yosida Maru #3, Bomb hits 3, on fire
xAK Nansin Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Chicago Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKE Meisan Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Sugiyama Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire
xAK Teisin Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKE Syokyu Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Koyo Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKE Genzan Maru, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
10 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
2 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
7 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
8 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
4th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
77th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
582 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Ceylon Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Nansin Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AKE Meisan Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Teisin Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AKE Syokyu Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Kazuura Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AKE Genzan Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Trincomalee at 31,47

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 2
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 1

Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Momoyama Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Utide Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hakodate Maru, Bomb hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
582 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Utide Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Hakodate Maru

[obvert]

Now I have to hope and pray I don't hand back all of those VPs from my landings tomorrow at Esperance!!!

he's got a bunch of subs in the area and a ton of strike planes at Perth. Not too many fighters though, so I hope the CVE CAP can hod them off. About to run the turn!!!

[obvert]

Well, no sub hits on the fleet during the night, but I can't tell if they all made it the 7 hexes (out of 8 possible on flank speed) into Esperance. Looks like at least one TF fell short. A few Bettys hit by CAP while searching, so I know we're in range and they're on the prowl.

[obvert]

No IJN air strikes during the turn!!!! [&o][&o]

The I-165 is posted at Esperance and missed the Richmond in the end of the day phase, but that's the closest to a loss so far.

[obvert]

The TFs made it! it looks like all three unload in the final phase of the turn. The Tennessee completely wipes out the defenders here and it won't be close to a battle tomorrow. It's is a fragment of the amphibious brigade I'd had reports of here for ages.

[obvert]

Awesome!!!

All three TFs unload more than 2/3 of the troops, and tomorrow the supply and large machinery should unload enough to pull out should something appear on the horizon. Here is a shot of what made it ashore. The base is devoid of defenders after the bombardments from the amphibs, and it should either turn over without a fight or the NZ brigade will take it tomorrow. It only shows 15 damage on the fields, so after that I'll be able to fly in two groups of Spits and some search and DBs.

I brought a bit more than I remembered, including a CD gun unit in case he gets frisky later. There should be enough, and enough supply if it all gets unloaded tomorrow that the base will be self-sufficient for a while.

[obvert]

Here is a shot of what is still to unload.

I know more could come to disrupt the proceedings, but this feels like a big step on the path to pushing the frontiers of the Empire back. To do it so far without a loss is great. My philosophy as Japan is to make every move hurt. He may have been gambling that we'd not move in from 7 hexes to try and unload, but he also may have just thought that it's not worth it to skewer a bunch of strike planes against a decent CAP and lots of AA. We'll see. Tomorrow will still be tense!

[Yaab]

Four bombs per one Vengeance dive-bomber? Talk about overkill.

[ny59giants]

Esperance - The only thing I see you are lacking there is a BF or other unit with Naval Support to help with unloading. A RAN BF or some of the American LCU that are designed for invasions should have come along. I haven't perfected it yet, by learning how to invade is a skill that Allied player must learn. Japanese players, not so much. [:D]

EDIT - bring a small MineLaying TF to mine the base and keep his subs out.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Esperance - The only thing I see you are lacking there is a BF or other unit with Naval Support to help with unloading. A RAN BF or some of the American LCU that are designed for invasions should have come along. I haven't perfected it yet, by learning how to invade is a skill that Allied player must learn. Japanese players, not so much. [:D]

EDIT - bring a small MineLaying TF to mine the base and keep his subs out.

Yeah, the port management and shore party stuff didn't make it in time. I have some on the way for future unloads, already moving.

Notice a few maps up near Ceduna there's a minelaying TF already with orders fro Esperance, and another is on the way from Melbourne just in case it's needed. [:)]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

Four bombs per one Vengeance dive-bomber? Talk about overkill.

Ha! [:D]

Yes, it's pretty good against unarmored Japanese stuff with all of those chances to hit. Lots of fires going on! [8D]

[JocMeister]

Nicely done. [:)]

PS. Don´t count on the CD guns doing anything. [:(] You will need the Navy and/or air power to make sure its safe from bombardments.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Nicely done. [:)]

PS. Don´t count on the CD guns doing anything. [:(] You will need the Navy and/or air power to make sure its safe from bombardments.

Yeah, I'm sure they'll be worthless, but if he gets really bold and tries to invade behind after we move out, ala Olorin, at least these will be here.

It looks like his surface forces bugged out after the last sighting of them near Perth. Or ... they're on the way? [:)]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Feb 24 - 26, 1943[/font]

---

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]INDIA: [/font] All units at Madras are fortified and now I'll begin daily bombardments, regardless of results. My units can use the experience, and he doesn't want the supply burn I'm sure. It looks like one more has been added, up to 26 units now, so that'll be interesting to see. Why is he still putting more here?

At this point I welcome it, but it does mean I'm not likely to DA anytime soon. I'd want to break through the CAP first, close the fields and get some supply burnt as well as disruption to the troops. That might be a ways off.

At Trincomalee Nick sets up a nice trap with the KB just in case I'm planned a day 2 strike. I knew enough not to push my luck there. he doesn't miss a beat to use my enthusiasm against me if possible, so it's best to stay prudent and conservative until the qualitative advantages are there for the Allies. See map below.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font]Shifting units around here to prepare to move to Mili, Maleolap and introduce some new units to Nauru. I've got two combat engineer units prepping, some arty, and tanks. Had a peep at some CVs up near Kusaie so all surface forces huddled at Tabiteuaea for a few turns.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SO PAC: [/font] Panggoe is getting a field built and soupy is moving in on LCTs. Love the big allied landing barges! Nice to be able to just send 2-3 a day around So Pac with no fear of losing them. I've got subs and PTs littering the slot, so if he moved something big in there it might not be healthy for them. Also getting some things ready to open some doors in SW PAC areas around the tip of New Guinea.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] The IJA shocks a tank division through to Changsha, not too afraid of messing them up at this point. Got 9-10 VPs for that though, which is good. That base is under siege and will likely not last much longer. His AV is about equal to ours, but I'm sure they're supplied, and they have tanks. In the mountains another hex is achieved, and there are only three blocks now before Kunming.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]OZ:[/font] Units keep moving through the desert, but ht sway it's looking, they might be eclipsed by others racing by on the rails soon enough. I'll solidify at Esperance, then send armor racing to Kalgoorlie after shutting the fields there.

Of course, all that is dependent on the next few days going well. [:)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SIGINT:[/font] Still getting noise from around Port Hedland, and the divisions moving. Interesting to see the SNLF moving in to Port Hedland. Maybe a replacement for the larger garrison moving out (and back)?

[font="Trebuchet MS"]
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Port Hedland (57,129).
1/6th Ship Engineer Regiment is located at Port Hedland(57,129).
Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at 66,125.
21/4th Division is loaded on a Japanese xAK moving to Perth.
18/Kure 3rd SNLF is loaded on xAKL Tientsin Maru moving to Port Hedland.[/font]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 24, 43
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Ground combat at Changsha (82,52)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 48289 troops, 512 guns, 175 vehicles, Assault Value = 1664

Defending force 84953 troops, 272 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1967

Japanese adjusted assault: 24

Allied adjusted defense: 1733

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 72 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
906 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 24 (12 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Vehicles lost 62 (1 destroyed, 61 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
59th/A Division
13th Division
70th Division
58th Division
68th Division
3rd Tank/A Division
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
10th Mortar Battalion
12th Army
1st Mortar Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
18th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
3rd New Chinese Corps
19th Group Army
6th War Area
29th Group Army
5th Construction Regiment
9th War Area
27th Group Army
30th Group Army
14th Construction Regiment
17th Chinese Base Force

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Ground combat at 72,47 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14555 troops, 245 guns, 484 vehicles, Assault Value = 517

Defending force 16109 troops, 99 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 285

Japanese adjusted assault: 337

Allied adjusted defense: 184

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
177 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
548 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 65 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Assaulting units:
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
Guards Tank Division
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
10th Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
35th Group Army

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 25, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 72,47 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 14339 troops, 245 guns, 484 vehicles, Assault Value = 493

Defending force 15656 troops, 99 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 246

Japanese adjusted assault: 449

Allied adjusted defense: 217

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
283 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3198 casualties reported
Squads: 147 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 129 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (5 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
Guards Tank Division
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
10th Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
72nd Chinese Corps
35th Group Army

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 26, 43
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Pre-Invasion action off Esperance (56,153)

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee

Japanese ground losses:
168 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled)

BB Tennessee firing at 5th Amphibious Brigade
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Nick's trap in front of Trincomalee. The KB would have made it a really bad day if I'd tried to go for a day 2 there. As expected, the fields are open and a much larger CAP is introduced as well. Looks some of the ships made it through the fires and are huddled in the port there. [/font]

[ny59giants]

Go for a night port attack once your moonlight gets above 70 at Trinc. Is it going up or down now??

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Go for a night port attack once your moonlight gets above 70 at Trinc. Is it going up or down now??

It's heading down now. No worries though. I bet there's time!

[BBfanboy]

Great strike on Trincomalee! Well executed - especially the way you covered the possibility of weather shutting down some bases. [&o][&o]
You got 5 AKEs by my count in the Combat Report, and I don't see any on the latest map so he may not be able to reload BBs so quickly there. I'm sure he lost a lot of supply too!

About the latest SIGINT from Pt. Hedland - I take this to be the group that was recently at Broome stopping to fuel up before a high speed dash. I'm betting on a Fast Transport TF with SCTF escorting. He may be reinforcing Perth with fragments just to delay your reconquest. Using fragments means he can lose them in the end without losing the unit.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Great strike on Trincomalee! Well executed - especially the way you covered the possibility of weather shutting down some bases. [&o][&o]
You got 5 AKEs by my count in the Combat Report, and I don't see any on the latest map so he may not be able to reload BBs so quickly there. I'm sure he lost a lot of supply too!

About the latest SIGINT from Pt. Hedland - I take this to be the group that was recently at Broome stopping to fuel up before a high speed dash. I'm betting on a Fast Transport TF with SCTF escorting. He may be reinforcing Perth with fragments just to delay your reconquest. Using fragments means he can lose them in the end without losing the unit.

I was patient for this one. Finally got something to go exactly as planned even if not fully realized. More than anything this means he has to feel a little bit precarious in Ceylon and at madras. That is what i really wanted more than the sunk ships. But they're also nice! [:)]

Yeah, thinking about it, there could be 20k+ supply on the AKE alone. A lot more if the others were loaded too.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]IJAAF RnD[/font]

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So, the sighting and combat with the A6M5c group over Trincomalee has made me have a look at the database, which updates arrival dates in conjunction with Japanese R n D. Another form of intel I'm not sure all players know about.

Since that late 44 zero showed up in early 43, I started wondering what else I'd see soon. With PDU-off I know I'll see a bit of everything, but how much I'm not sure. Here's the first look at the IJAAF fighters as they stand now.

The Oscar line has been heavily researched, as I would expect, with the Ki-43 IIIa showing up in late 42 and the Ki-43 IV likely to move up a lot from it's current date to near the end of 43 I'd wager. I was worried about the Tony line, and although there looks to be some forward movement, the Ki-100 will be some time yet since he has to go through all of the other Tony versions to get there. maximizing the majority of his groups with a 'better' Oscar makes more sense than fielding a few good Ki-100, especially once the Ki-43 IV arrives.

Still, against what the Allies now have the Oscar IIIa is a formidable plane. It's faster and more maneuverable than many Allied planes at each band, and it's range is a huge plus. It's also inexhaustible in numbers, and has armor for the pilots, so he can throw them around at will. Both this and the A6M5, A6M5b and A6M5c that are available are all better than our best USN/Marines fighter, the sorely obsolete F4F-4 at 318mph with mediocre maneuverability. No wonder I can't break through in the Buin Torokina area in spite of greater numbers.

The Frank is a good way off, and it'll have to face the P-47 and more Corsairs, plus the Spit VIII when it arrives. This period though still has Japan with a distinct advantage in the air, and that should continue until the Hellcat, which will only give us an even chance against the Ki-44 IIc, the many Oscar IIIa, the A6M5c and the George and Jack which will arrive soon.

So PDU-off is not a forsaken land for the Japanese player if he takes advantage of what is available. Hats off to Nick for creating a good strategic R n D plan for his forces.