Mines in the Pacific

[EUBanana]

Lapsed a bit due to laziness on my part and few turns over the Christmas period.

2nd April 1943

BURMA/INDIA
The British invasion fleet is now rounding the southern tip of India. Despite the imminent invasion I've not changed the bombing patterns of Ceylon at all so as not to alert him. In any case the TF hasn't been spotted yet to the best of my knowledge so the invasion should hopefully be a bolt from the blue. Reinforcements are ready at Cochin, the second wave will include aviation support and engineers - a major Allied airpresence at Colombo is a prerequisite of the campaign as LBA will be needed to provide an umbrella over any transports.

Aside from that it's been quiet, the Allied continue to bomb Ceylon and Burma with little opposition.

Japanese carriers have been sighted recently near Lae as he keeps the twist on Milne Bay, so I'm not anticipating major naval intervention on the part of the Japanese.

CHINA
Stalemate on the ground where it matters but there is still fighting, this time in the centre, around Changsha and SW along the rail line from Changsha towards Vietnam. Heavy fighting but no changes in position.
The Japanese continue to occupy the sparsely populated west without opposition, he's practically at the Soviet border now. The Himalayas and the map edge will prevent him from advancing any further though, so it's just VPs really.

NORPAC/Subs
Very quiet up here, the submarine patrols have altered to the open sea S of Japan as heavy ASW patrols around Formosa have cut sinkings. Not much result yet.

SOPAC
The busy place.

There was a coda to the above battles, BB Massachusetts was very badly damaged (speed 2 knots) and was making for Lunga. I anticipated a raid to sink her and had a cruiser SAG escort - sure enough they ran into a Japanese cruiser force of equal strength (2 cruisers/4 DDs) and they were driven off. However reloads were far away for the Allies and 2 nights later the Japs came back while the Allied cruisers were headed for Ndeni where there is an AE - BB Massachusetts promptly ate half a dozen torpedoes being a sitting duck, and sank. However as her flotation damage was at the 60 major/90 total mark it is dubious she would have made it home anyway and even if she did, she'd have been dirtying up a shipyard for the rest of the war probably. The Japs didnt get it all their own way though as the CA in the SAG involved was hit by three penetrating 500lb bombs by Allied attack bombers after the BB was sunk.

The reinforced Milne Bay has held off any ground invasions but the air war is completely one sided and they are completely cut off and there is nothing I can do about it - they are being bombed relentlessly from at least seven (!) Japanese airbases (Gasmata, Lae, Buna, Port Moresby, Rabaul, the two bases by Lae), and there is no hope whatsoever of the Allied airforce suppressing that many bases. However, Japanese attempts to resupply have led to significant (half a dozen I would say) losses from Allied attack bombers in the Solomons. Attack bombers are absolutely lethal against merchants, and he's been hit hard, but it takes a lot of bombs to outright sink a ship. The Allies have cruisers at Townsville and they were sortied on one occasion to attempt an intercept of Japanese ships at Milne but with Port Moresby in Japanese hands this is dangerous stuff - I lost a couple of DDs without anything to show for it.

Allied efforts to advance are on the Solomon chain, in a couple of days Munda will be provided with engineers and that means Corsairs right next to Vella Lavella - a divisional sized USMC force has already been set aside to retake Vella Lavella. That op will be happening within a week. The air war over the Solomons has been contested but the Corsair has complete dominance over the Japanese - even Tojo sweeps often get massacred by Corsair CAP.

As attack bombers and Corsairs inch up the Solomon chain it will get progressively harder and harder for him to control SOPAC. It's telling that so many of his Solomons bases are basically not supplied at all - in a months time hopefully Rabaul itself will be in that position!

One odd thing is the lack of Japanese torpedo bombers in SOPAC. Netties have been attacking Allied ships around Massachusetts and later on going for fast transports and cruiser raids around Milne Bay, but were always using bombs. Weird.


CENTPAC
Tarawa has been repeatedly reinforced since the last update, there are half a dozen engineering units there now and development proceeds rapidly.

I don't think CENTPAC is an area of high priority Japanese interest as long range LB-30 raids from Arorae over Kwajalein and other bases in the Marshalls have met with zero CAP and zero targets. A port raid on Kwajalein caused a bunch of ASs and AEs to flee the place with light damage, a bunch of US submarines were vectored onto them but couldn't find them in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean unfortunately, but the lack of opposition to small raids tells me that he has few assets in the area and little ability to reinforce.

A large invasion force is headed for Makin Atoll, a short distance NE of Tarawa which is nicely developable. It is undefended, but the force includes plenty of engineers and such so the base can be made productive ASAP.

FLEET
The fleet is currently en route from Suva to Pearl. With the exception of CV Hornet, which was quite badly injured in the last fight and has just finished being patched by an AR at Ndeni, she is just leaving Ndeni for Pearl now. The fleet is quite significantly bashed up (lots of ships, including both active CVs, have 10+ sys damage) and needs yard time. In addition fuel is starting to run dangerously low in SOPAC after all the fleet ops there, and I think that situation will not be rectified (temporarily) for a good month. Even supply is running a bit low at Noumea.

All this conspires to force a pause in the use of the fleet, though suits me as CV Essex arrives in just over 40 days now so we could use a pause anyway. As can be seen in the AAR though the Allies continue to act as aggressively as possible regardless, as I think there is plenty of scope for advance where LBA is present or where the Japanese fleet assuredly is not.

[EUBanana]

Kinda suspicious how these Japanese ships showed up after 1 days warning... OPSEC being a bit leaky perhaps?

[EUBanana]

April 4th, Second Battle of Colombo.

On the one hand, the Allies are ashore and took Colombo and there wasn't much in the way of IJN around to stop them.

And yet the Allies once against demonstrated their utter hopelessness/helplessness at sea when pitted against the supersamurai.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 04, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Colombo

35 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
PC Tydeman
AMC Hector
KV Commandant Duboc
DD Gilmer


Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


PC Tydeman fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Koggala at 29,53

Japanese Ships
DD Suzukaze

Allied Ships
SS KXII, hits 2



SS KXII is sighted by escort
KXII diving deep ....
DD Suzukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Suzukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Suzukaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Suzukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Suzukaze attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Kochi at 105,62

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-24, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
SC CHa-12

Allied Ships
SS Harder



SS Harder launches 6 torpedoes at SC CHa-24
SC CHa-12 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-12 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-12 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-12 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-12 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Colombo at 29,48, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 3
DD Shiratsuyu, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire, Shell hits 9, heavy fires
CL Birmingham, Shell hits 3
DD Bagley
DD Arunta
DD Warramunga
DD Isaac Sweers



Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 0% moonlight: 4,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 3,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 3,000 yards
Roake, R.A. crosses the 'T'
CA Shropshire engages BB Kongo at 3,000 yards
CA Shropshire engages DD Suzukaze at 3,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages CA Shropshire at 3,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DD Bagley at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 2,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CL Birmingham at 2,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu sunk by DD Isaac Sweers at 2,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Arunta at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 4,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Bagley at 4,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Isaac Sweers at 4,000 yards
DD Arunta engages DD Suzukaze at 4,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Bagley at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 7,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CL Birmingham at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 12,000 yards
DD Bagley engages DD Suzukaze at 12,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Suzukaze at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 13,000 yards
CL Birmingham engages DD Suzukaze at 13,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Bagley at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 14,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 14,000 yards
CL Birmingham engages DD Suzukaze at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Bagley at 13,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Arunta at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 12,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CL Birmingham at 12,000 yards
DD Bagley engages DD Suzukaze at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CA Shropshire engages BB Kongo at 10,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Suzukaze at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 7,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Suzukaze at 7,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Bagley at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 9,000 yards
CA Shropshire engages DD Suzukaze at 9,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Isaac Sweers at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 12,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Bagley at 12,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Arunta at 12,000 yards
DD Bagley engages DD Suzukaze at 12,000 yards
Koyanagi, Tomiji orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 14,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CA Shropshire at 14,000 yards
DD Arunta engages DD Suzukaze at 14,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Suzukaze at 14,000 yards
DD Suzukaze engages DD Bagley at 14,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Colombo at 29,48, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano, Shell hits 1
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 1
DD Amagiri

Allied Ships
CA Hawkins, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
CA Frobisher, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CLAA Van Heemskerck, Shell hits 2
DD Gilmer
xAK Delawarean
xAK Oregonian
xAK Texan
xAK Trieste
xAK West Cawthon
xAK West Isleta
xAK Kainalu
xAP Empress ' Scotland
xAP Empress ' Australia
xAP Empress ' Asia
xAP Moreton Bay
xAP Devonshire
xAP Lancashire
xAK Alice Moller
xAK Baron Cawdor
xAK Bucegi
xAK Changte
xAK Chilka
xAK Clan Forbes
xAK Clan Lamont
xAK Congella
xAK Empire Raja
xAK Filleigh
xAK Gandara
xAK Gogra
xAK Howra
xAK Itola
xAK Itria
xAK Demodocus
xAK Jalabala
xAK Jaladuta
xAK Jalaratna
xAP Kutsang
xAK Matiana
xAK Mulbera
xAK Neleus
xAK Nils Moller
xAK Tai Sang
xAK Tanda
xAK Jacalope
xAK Autolycus
xAK Barala
xAK City of Adelaide
xAK City of Agra
xAK Clan Macpherson
xAK Elmdale
xAK Empire Grenfell
xAK Empire Rani, heavy damage
xAK Fresno City II
xAK Gamaria
xAK Glenaffric
xAK Hadleigh
xAK Industria
xAK Uffington Court, Shell hits 2, heavy fires



Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 0% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CA Frobisher at 7,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CA Hawkins at 7,000 yards
CLAA Van Heemskerck engages CA Kumano at 7,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CA Kumano at 7,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CA Hawkins at 7,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages DD Amagiri at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
xAK Silvermaple collides with xAK La Pampa at 29 , 48
xAK Delawarean collides with xAK Lavington Court at 29 , 48
CA Kumano engages CA Frobisher at 4,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CA Hawkins at 4,000 yards
DD Amagiri engages CA Frobisher at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CA Frobisher sunk by CA Kumano at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
CA Hawkins collides with xAK La Pampa at 29 , 48
CA Kumano engages CA Hawkins at 3,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CA Hawkins at 3,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages DD Amagiri at 3,000 yards
CA Kumano engages xAK Uffington Court at 3,000 yards
xAK Derrymore collides with xAK La Pampa at 29 , 48
xAK Queda collides with xAK La Pampa at 29 , 48
xAK Lulworth Hill collides with xAK La Pampa at 29 , 48
CA Hawkins engages CA Kumano at 3,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages DD Amagiri at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
xAK Fingal collides with xAK La Pampa at 29 , 48
CA Hawkins engages CA Kumano at 2,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CLAA Van Heemskerck at 2,000 yards
DD Gilmer engages DD Amagiri at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
xAK West Isleta collides with xAK Lavington Court at 29 , 48
CA Hawkins engages CA Kumano at 4,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages CL Jintsu at 4,000 yards
DD Gilmer engages DD Amagiri at 4,000 yards
xAK Annalock collides with xAK La Pampa at 29 , 48
CA Kumano engages CA Hawkins at 4,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Cape Gloucester at 102,124

Japanese Ships
E Kiji
E Hato

Allied Ships
SS Scamp



SS Scamp launches 6 torpedoes at E Kiji
Scamp diving deep ....
E Hato fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hato fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hato fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hato fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hato fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Taihoku at 90,62

Japanese Ships
xAKL Shingetsu Maru
xAK Kogyo Maru
PB Konei Maru

Allied Ships
SS Shark



SS Shark launches 4 torpedoes at xAKL Shingetsu Maru
Shark diving deep ....
PB Konei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Konei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Konei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Konei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Konei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Shaoyang , at 80,52

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 39,740 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet *



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 39,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane XIIb x 9


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Hurricane XIIb sweeping at 36000 feet *



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2nd Chinese Corps, at 80,52 (Shaoyang)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 17
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 19



No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
13 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 1000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 68th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 2nd Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 68th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 2nd Chinese Corps ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Shaoyang , at 80,52

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 41,740 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 36740 feet *



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 8th War Area , at 82,23

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 5



No Japanese losses


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


Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 2000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2nd Chinese Corps, at 80,52 (Shaoyang)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 10
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11



No Japanese losses


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


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



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Colombo at 29,48

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 7
TBF-1 Avenger x 21


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna



Aircraft Attacking:
19 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Colombo at 29,48

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 34
SBD-3 Dauntless x 20


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Bomb hits 5, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43

Weather in hex: Severe storms

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


Allied aircraft
Hurricane XIIb x 2


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Hurricane XIIb sweeping at 36000 feet *



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 8
B-17E Fortress x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

No Allied losses



Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 44

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Liberator II bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x Liberator II bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

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

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-17F Fortress x 5
B-24D1 Liberator x 23


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged

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



Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 90

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 14
P-40K Warhawk x 32


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground




Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 17

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



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 5
B-24D1 Liberator x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged



Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 37

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 7


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground




Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 19

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 12
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

No Allied losses



Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 26

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lae , at 99,126

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 5
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 13



Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 13
B-24D1 Liberator x 5


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 6 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged



Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 23

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
33rd Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36740 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 36000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 13


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
13 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 6000 feet



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Colombo at 29,48

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
P-39D Airacobra x 6
TBF-1 Avenger x 38


Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna



Aircraft Attacking:
17 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
21 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Colombo at 29,48

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

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


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
P-40K Warhawk x 13
SBD-3 Dauntless x 20


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Bomb hits 5, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Haruna


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 38,600 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 20


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 35600 feet *



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 23rd Division, at 29,48 (Colombo)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 32


No Allied losses

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



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
1 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000' *
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000' *
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000' *
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000' *
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000' *
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 8


Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-C Irving: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 damaged

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



Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 16

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Maloelap , at 136,117

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 3


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet *
Airfield Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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

Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12667 troops, 101 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 413

Defending force 2799 troops, 12 guns, 97 vehicles, Assault Value = 73

Japanese adjusted assault: 170

Allied adjusted defense: 129

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
735 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 46 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
204 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 31 (24 destroyed, 7 disabled)


Assaulting units:
49th Infantry Regiment
87th Naval Guard Unit
Guards Mixed Brigade
Kure 3rd SNLF
19th Division
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF

Defending units:
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion
Kanga Force Bn /1
140th USA Base Force
II Aus Corps Engr Bn /1


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

Ground combat at 80,40

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31360 troops, 429 guns, 173 vehicles, Assault Value = 1101

Defending force 53064 troops, 243 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2253

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


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


Assaulting units:
27th Electric Engineer Regiment
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
37th Division
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
1st NCPC Infantry Brigade
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
4th Mortar Battalion
8th Ind. Engineer Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
11th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
80th Chinese Corps
35th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
81st Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
18th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
39th New Chinese Division
38th Group Army


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

Ground combat at Colombo (29,48)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10512 troops, 67 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 383

Defending force 25549 troops, 275 guns, 564 vehicles, Assault Value = 1115

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



Assaulting units:
23rd Division
14th Tank Regiment
57th Field AA Battalion

Defending units:
267th Armoured Brigade
25th Indian Division
14th Canadian Brigade
32nd Infantry Division
88th Chinese Division
IV Indian Corps


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

Ground combat at Colombo (29,48)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 23477 troops, 275 guns, 504 vehicles, Assault Value = 1115

Defending force 11061 troops, 71 guns, 127 vehicles, Assault Value = 381

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 2355

Japanese adjusted defense: 80

Allied assault odds: 29 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Colombo !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), leaders(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
4911 casualties reported
Squads: 95 destroyed, 114 disabled
Non Combat: 163 destroyed, 161 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 42 (42 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 112 (95 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Units retreated 3


Allied ground losses:
566 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 57 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Vehicles lost 45 (1 destroyed, 44 disabled)


Assaulting units:
267th Armoured Brigade
14th Canadian Brigade
25th Indian Division
32nd Infantry Division
88th Chinese Division
IV Indian Corps

Defending units:
23rd Division
14th Tank Regiment
57th Field AA Battalion


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

Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 592 troops, 6 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

Defending force 12154 troops, 106 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 374

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



Assaulting units:
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
Winnipeg Grenadiers Battalion
Kanga Force Bn /1
140th USA Base Force
II Aus Corps Engr Bn /1

Defending units:
87th Naval Guard Unit
Guards Mixed Brigade
19th Division
Kure 3rd SNLF
49th Infantry Regiment
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF


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

Ground combat at 82,23

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4429 troops, 38 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 166

Defending force 185 troops, 35 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9



Assaulting units:
36th/A Division

Defending units:
33rd Chinese Corps
34th Seperate Brigade
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
8th Chinese Base Force
15th Chinese Base Force
8th War Area
Lusu War Area
6th Chinese Base Force
56th AT Gun Regiment

[EUBanana]

5th April 1943

BURMA/INDIA
D-Day at Ceylon was described in the report above. Bottom line - 1 CA sunk and 1 heavily damaged, both old Hawkins class cruisers, one Japanese DD sunk and BB Kongo peppered with 1000lbers. 1000 AV of troops ashore, Colombo has been retaken.

Once again the fleet showed that it is easily the worst arm of the Allied military - the escorting RN crossed the 'T' but the vast majority of torpedoes remained unfired. Half the RN heavy cruiser force was sunk, the other half is all looking at six months yard time, assuming they even make it to the yard given the submarines lurking in the area. RN surface ship presence is down to a CL and some DDs now with CA Sussex arriving in a couple of weeks. USMC torpedo bombers with torpedo skill 70 didnt help, 70 sorties at BB Kongo didnt score any hits. Ditto the haplessness of the submarines around Ceylon who didnt manage to attack.

*sigh*

Typically dismal performance by the navy aside, I'm still a bit suspicious of how the IJN managed to be there at all.

50 transport aircraft have been based at Cochin and are starting to ship over aviation support to Colombo. Allied air superiority over Ceylon is absolutely crushing, a Japanese tank regiment that retreated over open ground was eliminated completely by massed dive bombers. However the range isnt enough to guarantee naval superiority in the waters by Ceylon until Colombo has been sorted out, so we're still at a dicey stage of the new campaign.

On the plus side the Allied ground forces behaved magnificently, the Japanese apparently are still adequately supplied on Ceylon but they proved no match for the Chinese/Indian/American forces so far.

In Burma Tojo sweeps over Ledo have been surprisingly indecisive, massed P40K CAP seems to work just fine. Interestingly I tried Castor Troy's approach of setting them to 6k altitude - not seen any constant dives yet as a result. Bug? Coincidence? Who knows.

CHINA
Stalemate continues, there are some Japanese units trying to ooze through the Chinese lines in the centre, but their numbers are too small to scare me just yet, and they dont cover enough space to risk cutting off major Chinese units.

SOPAC
Heavy aerial fighting over the Solomons, attack bombers are proving deadly when used against ground targets as well as shipping. Torokina and Shortlands are out of action, looks like he's even partially evacuated Rabaul in the face of 2 P38G squadrons and the occasionally raid by 30-40 heavy bombers. Munda has been resupplied at the cost of a few lightly bombed AKs (the Lilies responsible met with their destruction a day later at Torokina), perhaps one or two will sink. Two P40K and one Beaufort squadron is now based well forward at Munda. Next hop is Vella Lavella just one hex away, the TFs are loading at Lunga. I think this'll be a multiple wave invasion due to lack of adequate shipping, a marine regiment is going in first but will be inadequate to capture the place I think. A divisional size force is ready, that will be adequate but its going to take several trips. Due to the good state in the air of whats going on this doesnt scare me unduly.

Milne Bay will fall in days, I've begun the final evacuation of all units, I think that it's been stripped to the point that one more deliberate attack from the Japanese will cause the base to fall. The Japanese were attritioned a bit during the campaign, several LCUs and a lot of ships wrecked, but it's still an Allied failure. 'A base too far'.

CENTPAC
Landed at Makin Atoll, I thought it was empty but to my surprise it was not! Fortunately the USMC tanks were fully prepped for Makin and rolled over the defenders despite having no support (bombing, bombardment) whatsoever. Lucky on my part.

Long range recon of Kwajalein and Maloelap - the only Japanese bases of any size in the area - reveal surprisingly light defences. The occasional small Allied raid has netted very little. Compared to other theatres CENTPAC is practically an open door, which is the only reason I'm really pushing here at all.

Pondering an invasion of Wake Island in a sort of pincer, that'll have to wait for the fleet to be rebuilt though.

FLEET
The fleet is actually my greatest source of worry atm. The Allies are down to 3 CVs, one of which is badly damaged, half a dozen BBs of which just two are available for active duty (PoW and California). About 15 cruisers spread across the whole map. An extreme shortage of destroyers. Even with the limited capital ships available there isn't really an adequate destroyer screen for them. While Allied cruisers can certainly wreck Japanese transports when it comes to warship on warship action the Allies almost invariably are thrashed - the Ceylon encounter above counts as the latest thrashing, IMHO, with another couple of cruisers added to the Japanese tally in exchange for no kills at all.

The IJN meanwhile is largely intact.

While the tales of sorrow at sea have not really hindered the Allied advance (aside from Milne Bay) due to air superiority, at some point the Allied navy is going to have to face the IJN and at least manage to give as good as it gets against the supersamurai. I'm really hoping that the huge Allied reinforcements in July/August can turn the tide at sea. The Allied performance has been so diabolical though that I'm suspicious that even the Essexes and Hellcats, which are now coming off the production lines, won't be able to turn the constant slaughter and failure around. [:(]

[EUBanana]

9th of April

I decided against caution in the end, figured he'd have a long way to sail to rearm his warships and so full speeded another convoy to Colombo. So far they havn't been caught.

So far.

Here's the situation. Currently ashore we have

14th Canadian Bde
25th Indian Div
32nd American Infantry Division
88th Chinese Division (only Bde size)
IV Indian Corps

A tank regiment which disbands in 4 days (oops!) has been omitted.

~800 AV

Just reinforced by sea with

12th Indian Heavy AA Rgt
171 RAF Wing

and by air via Cochin

224 RAF HQ


Priority is as you can see getting up air cover over Colombo to secure the sea route to the mainland as much as we can in the absence of a strong naval presence, and protecting Colombo from Nells. ~20 Nells have been making long distance raids from I would assume Port Blair, but they'll carve up vulnerable AKs just fine if I let them. ATM Lightings at Trivandrum are LRCAPPING which is keeping the Japs confined to night raids but its heavy on the P38 crews.

The worry is the Jap navy, the RN is yet again out for a while, but with so many antiship bombers (48 Avengers, 24 Dauntlesses, 24 Vengeances, 24 torpedo armed Beauforts) in the area and total air supremacy I'm hoping LBA will be adequate.

Given there is an estimated 2000 AV of Japanese troops on Ceylon, we will need reinforcement so control of the sealances is vital in the short term. In the long term there are such huge numbers of transport aircraft available in India if need be I think supply can be shipped largely by air. The problem is the heavy equipment and artillery in the LCUs which can only be supported by ship - that was actually one of the reasons I wasted no time in getting an AA unit over there, because AA is a priority and the sea is the only way to get it there.

[EUBanana]

I keep promising a map of China but never get around to it - reason being, nothing ever changes there so in terms of my time spent I just zip through China normally.

Japanese gains towards Tibet have been prodigious, just two Chinese bases are still in Allied hands there! But the Himalayas mean no invasions of the Indian backdoor seem likely and the Soviet border is a dead end.

The Chinese are hunkered down, out of supply, but even out of supply they can do an OK job defending in place. Japanese efforts lately have focused upon Kweilin in the south but the rough terrain down there have seriously hampered his efforts and he's made no progress at all.

In recent turns he's been attempting to punch a hole in the otherwise static lines NE of Chungking out in the wilds, that line has remain fixed at that point, WW1 style, for months and months now and I think the latest flareup will die down. The terrain is a killer in China for the Japanese.

[EUBanana]

Milne Bay fell today, another turning point in the game which prompted me to break out the maps and take a snapshot of the situation.

I'm actually kinda relieved, the boil has been lanced. It was certainly eating up Allied transport aircraft, dozens of which have been shot down over Milne Bay due to the game apparently not allowing fighter sweeps over friendly bases. [8|] Thus allowing him to put up a constant Tojo LRCAP over Milne Bay and there was zip I could do about it, though the P38s were raring to go.

Efforts are focused on the Solomons here and so far are going much much better than the Papua New Guinea approach!


The ultimate objective is to re-open the route to the SRA by clearing the Japs out of SOPAC and away from Papua New Guinea, and it's probably the main American effort in the war. It's a long hard slog, we've been at it for six months in SOPAC so far, so perhaps a strategic error?

[EUBanana]

And finally CENTPAC.

The volume of forces here is negligible compared to elsewhere and this whole area of activity is basically sheer opportunism on my part, plus a desire to advance on a broad front strategically.

But given the limited Japanese defence it's actually so far where the most bloodless advances have been made in 1943.

I'm kinda dreading the day that Japanese naval assets are committed in force in this region, but his window for doing that is fast running out. CV Essex in just over 1 month, and the Hellcats are filling up the pools right now.

[EUBanana]

April 10th is another flareup as the first Marine regiment destined for Vella Lavella arrives...

Lost about 40 AV over the beach, this invasion is going to be hard precisely because it is piecemeal. But there are 2 more divisions at Noumea already 100% prepped for Shortlands, rotating the USMC units shouldn't set me back much.



Pre-Invasion action off Vella Lavella

36 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
SC PC-582
LCI-22
LST-18


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


SC PC-582 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Vella Lavella

TF 62 troops unloading over beach at Vella Lavella, 110,133


Allied ground losses:
241 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 45 (0 destroyed, 45 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (0 destroyed, 14 disabled)


13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad 43 lost overboard during unload of 7th Marine Rgt

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Panggoe at 111,133

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 13
P-40K Warhawk x 17
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Akigumo, Bomb hits 1



Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb


(Panggoe is 1 hex from Vella Lavella. I suspect he saw the incoming ships and misjudged where the destination was, so his raiders were caught. In the past I've always, always bypassed well defended targets in SOPAC/CENTPAC. Vella Lavella will be the first assault on a significantly well defended target since the Guadalcanal landings).

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

Morning Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 110,133

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 3



Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 21
F4U-1 Corsair x 2


Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 2 destroyed


Allied Ships
LST-447, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires



CAP engaged:
347th FG/67th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 14 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring LST-447

(CAP barely engaged here [8|])

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 110,133

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 34
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 20



Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 18
F4U-1 Corsair x 1


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 11 destroyed
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged


Allied Ships
CA Quincy, Bomb hits 5
CL Nashville, Bomb hits 1
CA Salt Lake City, Bomb hits 2, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-48-IIb Lily bombing from 6000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
347th FG/67th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 11 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes

(One heavy cruiser left on about 30 sys, lucky the Lilies are armed with dinky bombs)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Vella Lavella , at 110,133

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 12
B-25C Mitchell x 13
P-38G Lightning x 7
P-40K Warhawk x 7
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17


No Allied losses

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



Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 86

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

(going for supply really)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Vella Lavella , at 110,133

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 5
P-40K Warhawk x 3
F4U-1 Corsair x 1


Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
LB-157



Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

(attack bombers are few in number but 5 bombers doing 14 hits is pretty good!)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 110,133

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 13
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 6



Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 20
F4U-1 Corsair x 2


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 8 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed




CAP engaged:
347th FG/67th FS with P-40K Warhawk (14 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Raid is overhead
347th FG/68th FS with P-40K Warhawk (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Raid is overhead
VMF-111 with F4U-1 Corsair (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

(this raid got wiped out)



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Panggoe at 111,133

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 9
SBD-3 Dauntless x 17


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Akigumo



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 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



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Panggoe at 111,133

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes


Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 17


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Hokaze, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

Hokaze dead in the water ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Panggoe at 111,133

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 16


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Yugumo, Shell hits 11



Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Beaufighter Ic bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

[EUBanana]

16th April 1943

BURMA/INDIA

On Ceylon our tank regiment has advanced one hex from Colombo due east. The Allied plan is to attempt to cut the island is half. One convoy worth of reinforcements dropped off another Canadian Bde and the heavy equipment of the divisions already landed, we're going to need another 3 or so convoy runs before everything is over that needs to be. Massive Allied bombing of Ceylon has annihilated an SNLF unit and done heavy damage to Trincomalee port.

In Burma there are air skirmishes over Ledo and Myritkina, the Allies are winning though (P40Ks and Hurris versus Tojos but winning anyway).

CHINA
Stalemate continues.

SOPAC
We're effectively fighting the Battle of Kolumbangara right now. Vella Lavella has seen heavy fighting, the Japs attacked me and then I attacked the Japs, both attacks failed. The Japs suffered more than the Allies.

KB moved near the Solomons but I had warning and all the shipping had pulled back. Heavy bombers landed a single 500lb hit on a CVE but 10 heavies were shot down by KB CAP, not really a good use of four engine bombers.

There has been heavy aerial fighting over Vella Lavella and Munda - sometimes the Japs win, sometimes I win - as Tojos from Rabaul meet P40Ks from Munda and Corsairs from Russell Island. Corsairs seem invincible in the air but P40Ks less so. RAAF Beauforts torpedoed and sank an AKL and a PB near Buna, Allied heavy bombers have kept Shortlands and Torokina out of action, and Japanese single DDs raid Munda incessantly, sinking a lot of PT boats but doing no other damage. The Marines on Munda have been reinforced by half an army regiment, the next half will be going over in another few days, and theres another regiment after that which I think should be adequate to take the place.


CENTPAC
Jap activity seems to be increasing near Kwajalein, Tarawa is now an airfield 3, Makin has a lot of engineers but is still undeveloped. USN air units are coming onto the scene, two Ventura and one B24 squadron just left San Francisco, another B24 squadron is ready at Pearl Harbor to fly to Tarawa. These naval bombers are all trained in low level attack, unlike the USAAF there have been Kingfisher squadrons training to sink ships since day 1 of the war practically and as the USN air arm has not seen much action the pool of trained bomber pilots is quite healthy.

FLEET
CA Shropshire arrived at Aden after the fighting at Colombo, 24 days to fix sys/flotation but she's lost a turret as well, 250 days to fix that. I might have her fight on minus a turret, we'll see. CA Sussex arrived in theatre today so the RN will at least have a single CA soon. BB PoW and CL Danae have been released from Pacific duties finally and are en route to India, an American CL and a couple of DDs is going to to help the massacred RN out.

The US fleet is mostly at Pearl now being refitted and minor damage being fixed, aside from CVEs Sangamon and Suwannee who are still in SOPAC. Sangamon and Enterprise now have Hellcats embarked, a huge number of these babies are coming off the production line so hopefully in a month or two the entire fleet air arm will be packing Hellcats. Still not planning on any fleet actions but things are looking healthier there already.

[EUBanana]

22nd April 1943

BURMA/INDIA
Landed another two divisions plus support at Colombo without a hitch. Total AV on Ceylon is now about 2000 ish. Time to start moving out.

He checked my advance east of Ceylon but this has tied up 800 AV of Japs. Now 1000 AV of Brits and Canadians is driving southwest from Colombo with Koggala as their objective. Koggala is the port most suitable for him to evacuate from, it's capture would be very bad news for the Japanese. There is a single Japanese unit blocking the path. If its not a division he's in deep trouble, even if it is a division he might be though the terrain is forested. Maybe massed airpower - and I do mean massed - will manage to break him with 2:1 AV even in a rough hex, but we shall see.

Heavy bombing of Ceylon throughout, the Burmese border is very quiet in comparison even though I moved the heavy bombers back there.

SOPAC
Landed the third regiment at Vella Lavella, the time has come to attack. All three are quite beat up, and average 100 AV apiece, still, with just 3000 Japs reported at Vella Lavella it should be an adequate force, especially with 50 plus heavy bombers in support. We shall soon see.

However things are going a bit south in the air war in SOPAC, I must admit. Originally with Tojos dying like flies I was confident but they ... just... keep... coming. It's like a human wave in the air. And the crap Allied service ratings mean that sustained combat is not the Allied specialty, as a/c get damaged and take a week plus to fix with a daily aerial horde things get dicey. I have a Corsair squadron with a mindboggling kill ratio (6 or 7 to 1, and that includes a time when they were flying Wildcats), but right now out of 21 aircraft 18 are damaged or in maintenance for a week plus, and while they've raped Tojos aplenty it seems to make no difference, every day 50+ come on over. The P40K isnt in a much better position, their service rating is still inferior to the Japanese sleek, maintainable by clueless types balsa wood planes.

He also saved up a big strike when the third regiment landed. Nigh on 100 bombers and 150 or so fighters in total raided, from Shortlands, Rabaul and Choiseul Bay. So happened that the heavies hit Choiseul Bay the same day and wrecked the place. The Allied CAP was pretty heavy, about 30-40 planes,but the constant attacks all through the day wore them down. End result, 6 AKs/LSTs sunk, 30 Allied a/c shot down (mostly Dauntlesses and Beaufighters that attacked DD raiders near Shortlands, not fighters) and 68 Japanese aircraft destroyed, including 24 Tojos, some on the ground, most in the air.

This isnt actually all that abnormal lately. A 'normal' day would be about 15-20 Allied a/c being lost across the entire theatre in exchange for 30-40, the vast majority of Jap losses being Tojos. I'm starting to get a bit worried, as the SOPAC fighters are clearly getting beat up over time, and the 800 Tojos I've shot down since they appeared has made no difference (its almost 200 a month and there is nevertheless a flood of them!). Looks like there may be a patch in 1943 where air superiority goes back to more contested than before, or yielded to him even, until the P47 with service rating 1 and the improved Corsair with servcie rating 2 (thus making it actually useful) arrive in the second half of the year.

CENTPAC
KB was sighted a couple of days ago headed East from Kwajalein. My paranoia was thus triggered. I've emptied Pearl Harbor, the USN is off to San Francisco to wait for the Essexes. Patrol aircraft have been beefed up around Johnston Island, Baker Island, Midway Island, Palmyra. Convoys to the Central Pacific have been routed in a circuitous path so they are well behind Allied held bases at all times. The Pearl Harbor airfarce (a hefty 7 fighter squadrons but largely obsolescent a/c now, P40Bs and the like, though very well trained after all this time) is set to high alert. Probably nothing but just in case...

Tarawa and Makin now are jammed with SeaBees, half a dozen each. Building is rapid. Aviation support is en route. Tarawa has two Wildcat squadrons, Makin has one Wildcat squadron and 16 attack bombers, the USN will provide heavy bombers trained in low level naval attack and Venturas in significant numbers, these will be sent to Tarawa. It won't be too long before we can start exerting LBA power on the Japanese held Marshalls.

[EUBanana]

This pic was taken a few days ago. The 30,000 Japs moved to the Allied position east of Colombo, there arent enough of them to force them out (800 AV versus 600 AV) given the lack of air support and the rough terrain. I will have to reinforce them though, a Chinese unit will probably end up going there. The bombers are mostly focused on them right now.

The two British divisions mentioned have successfully landed and are headed SW with some Canucks as well, theres perhaps a brigade or an understrength division in their path. Hopefully they can drive along the railway line all the way to Koggala.

[EUBanana]

23rd April sees Vella Lavella fall to the Allied forces, a Japanese regiment was wiped out by 3 Allied regiments.

Also saw a personal best, 52 heavy bombers raided Vella Lavella on the day it fell, I think thats the most number of heavies in a single raid so far.

Also saw B25Ds attack shipping at Kwajalein from Makin, another milestone, sinking one PB.

[EUBanana]

Been a bit slow lately, we've been busy with other things.

26th April sees two Indian divisions and a couple of Canuck brigades meet what turns out to be the 33rd IJA Division while moving from Colombo to Koggala.

With massive air support the Japanese are sent packing despite the rough terrain with heavy casualties. As 33rd Division seemed understrength as it is, they are pretty torn up now.

"Our bombers shall blacken the sky..."
"Then we shall fight in the shade."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 33rd Division, at 28,49

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
Blenheim VD x 15
Hudson IIIa x 11
Hurricane IIc Trop x 12
Wellington Ic x 17
Beaufort VIII x 3
A-29 Hudson x 12
B-24D Liberator x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 32
P-40K Warhawk x 13


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson IIIa: 1 damaged
Wellington Ic: 2 damaged
Beaufort VIII: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
114 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Blenheim VD bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
8 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x A-29 Hudson bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 33rd Division, at 28,49

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes


Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 18
B-26 Marauder x 6
SBD-3 Dauntless x 20


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
B-26 Marauder: 1 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged

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



Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
9 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 33rd Division, at 28,49

Weather in hex: Clear sky

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


Allied aircraft
Vengeance I x 12


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000' *
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000' *
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000' *
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb


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

Ground combat at 28,49

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11741 troops, 120 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 383

Defending force 23948 troops, 327 guns, 370 vehicles, Assault Value = 910

Japanese adjusted assault: 67

Allied adjusted defense: 2227

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 33

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

Japanese ground losses:
1762 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 97 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)


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


Assaulting units:
33rd Division

Defending units:
18th Canadian Brigade
14th Canadian Brigade
19th Indian Division
25th Indian Division

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

Ground combat at 28,49

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 23872 troops, 327 guns, 370 vehicles, Assault Value = 903

Defending force 10183 troops, 120 guns, 31 vehicles, Assault Value = 289

Allied adjusted assault: 1501

Japanese adjusted defense: 337

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
3013 casualties reported
Squads: 79 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 98 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 16 (7 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (8 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Allied ground losses:
182 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
19th Indian Division
14th Canadian Brigade
18th Canadian Brigade
25th Indian Division

Defending units:
33rd Division

[EUBanana]

Here's the current situation in Ceylon, for what it's worth...

[EUBanana]

6th May 1942

BURMA/INDIA/CEYLON
Koggala fell today, 33rd Japanese Division who we met earlier plus some tanks were decimated by 2 Indian divisions and 2 Canadian brigades along with all the air support in the world, those fleeing would be lucky to be in brigade strength. One Bde is staying behind as a garrison, the others are chasing them into the interior.
Meanwhile a British division, Chinese division and artillery are headed NE from Ceylon towards Dambulla in a pincer. Looks like most of the Japanese forces are now holed up in that rough hex more or less in the centre of Ceylon, so I'm going to try and take all the bases first, which means no evac will be possible and this will be a battle of annihilation.

In Burma the Allies are alternating between night bombing Rangoon for the odd airframe and bombing his forward airbases. He's been mostly quiet, though on the 5th 30 Tojos swept Ledo and ran into Hurricanes and P40Ks, the kill ratio was about 1:1. All the transport a/c are back in Ledo now btw, and shipping supply to Chengtu. I've also moved pretty much all the AA gun reinforcements here, so there are four AA units - hopefully this'll be a prickly target.

CHINA
Stalemate continues pretty much.

SOPAC
The main story is the air war. The number of Liberators based at Lunga/Tulagi has been creeping up, and we're getting into the 50 bomber raid whenever I want sort of territory now. He's been hatching schemes of his own though - one day I raided and ran into an 80 Tojo CAP, made worse by the bomber strikes coming in uncoordinated. 10 B24s lost in one day, and the rest shot up real bad, that kept the heavies off his back for a while.
But the Allied solution to this sort of thing is moar bombers!. So I scraped up three more heavy bomber squadrons (mostly from Australia, the ones that were at Cooktown) and that puts the Allied force there at about 80 bombers now. When they were mostly ready the heavy hand hit back - I lost six, but he lost about 50 a/c of all types. Right now they are in the fixing stage again, but I think this is going to keep Rabaul down.

Attack bombers have been trashing Shortlands, Torokina and Choiseul Bay quite effectively meanwhile. Corsairs are unbelievably deadly, when they actually fly, so he's been wary of hitting back - not many Japanese strikes. He's been trying night naval bombing which has mostly been aimed at PT boats raiding Shortlands but no hits, seems pointless to me.

While this air war has been raging overhead there has been a naval war too. A Japanese convoy headed for Torokina was bombed lightly by attack bombers, each AK taking one 500lb hit for the loss of a couple of B25s. I then sent out the PTs, who managed to engage them at Torokina itself, sinking a couple of AKs and blowing a PB apart with 50 cal fire. The convoy apparently retreated without landing any supply.

A few days later it was my turn. I've got a USN baseforce, engineers and supply headed for Vella Lavella, they were escorted by a pretty big SAG based around two old BBs, Idaho and California. They were hit in the night by two single DD raiders. The first DD took 14 14" shells ([X(]) and was sank. The other one managed to torpedo California and escape without even being fired upon. ([8|]) Damage was light fortunately but BBs being what they are it'll probably be a couple of months in the yard.
The supply and engineers were, however, landed. Won't be too long now before we have Corsairs based here making life miserable over Rabaul itself, I think that is surely the beginning of the end for Rabaul when that happens.

CENTPAC
US power is slowly increasing but not yet to the point where offensives can be considered. The Japanese base at Maloelap is beign suppressed by attack bombers from Makin but the real force is at Kwajalein, just out of range. Tarawa is an airbase 4, 26% towards an airbase 5 - when that happens we can reach out and touch Kwajalein and Roi-Namur, but not before, really. The high point since the last update was a raid on Maleolap by attack bombers that sank half a dozen midget subs in harbor.

THE FLEET
Paranoia was unfounded, no attacks on Pearl, but better safe than sorry. The fleet is now all at Seattle and San Francisco, being fixed, resupplied and the rest. Hornet is the capital ship in the worst state, she needs a month and a half to be back in full fighting trim. Which suits me, by that time the first Essexes and Independences will be in play.

SUB WAR
Been quite intense lately, the Allies have been attacking a lot. I'm looking at last months stats out of curiosity - this last month we lost 2 submarines, Albacore and Shark, both near the Home Islands. In exchange 20 Japanese ships are reported sunk in the last month by sub launched torpedo - 13 of them sunk by the Mark 14. One convoy was particularly noticeable between Formosa and Japan, it was attacked again and again over several days by multiple subs and got mauled, I would guess five or six ships sunk from that one convoy alone.
I hardly ever see Japanese subs, not sure what they are doing. There were three around Ceylon but since the last update two of them were heavily depth charged (one I'm pretty sure is deffo sunk) and another one was torpedoed by a Dutch sub just off Koggala. 26 non-midget Japanese submarines have been sunk in the whole war to date - not sure how many he gets but that doesn't seem like all that many to me, he must have plenty more hiding somewhere.

[EUBanana]

9th May sees major brutality as 80+ heavy bombers hit Rabaul in a focused strike, really dropping a nuke on the place. Somehow Rabaul is still in action but this sort of punishment can't end well.

KB raided around Makin too, and sank half a dozen merchants, a Canadian CLAA which had a top speed of 22 knots and so was limited anyway, and DD Meade.

A bloody day.

[EUBanana]

Things are going from bad to worse for the Japanese at Ceylon - looks like they are outnumbered 3 to 1 now, after a divisions worth of strength was wiped out in the battles for Koggala.

I see he's ordered a retreat but I think it's too late for that. He probably underestimated the strength of the landing force. From my point of view it looks like it was a perfect commitment in the end, just enough to really steamroller him quickly but not a huge overcommitment.

Actually there are more units on the Indian mainland which were earmarked for this which I have refrained from shipping over.

[EUBanana]

And this is why I consider the Corsair to be semi useless...

...they just never fly. Service rating is absolutely crucial, and for a short range fighter which will be in constant combat when moved up to the enemy - 3 is just not good enough.

[EUBanana]

Done a fair few turns, not quite sure of the date but its ~19th May now.

BURMA/INDIA
The main Japanese force of ~3 divisions is now roughly 50/50 split between Dambulla and the hex SW of Dambulla. Trincomalee is firmly mine, his troops are isolated from Jaffna as well so he has no port at all, and indeed no base. Presumably supply will soon become an issue for him. Allied bombers are ground bombing en masse every day and getting about 50-100 casualties per day despite the rough terrain, Allied bombardments are also reasonably effective thanks to the inclusion of American artillery in the Invasion of Ceylon OOB.
The sheer number of Japs there means that I think they'll hold out for a good while, but short of a counterinvasion in significant strength these guys are doomed.

I'm pondering the next move, an assault into Burma. I have a single objective, which is modest - taking Chittagong. 7 Jap units, one of them known to be the Imperial Guard, are defending Chittagong though so even that objective will require significant commitment. I doubt I will have the force to spare until I can redeploy troops away from Ceylon but you never know, I got some spare divisions now due to significant Commonwealth reinforcements.


CHINA
Still stalemated, kinda, but things are looking bad at Kweilin with ~1500 AV of Chinese surrounded. However they are only /just/ surrounded and there are a lot of Chinese units in the forests around the city so it's not over there yet. The total inability of the Chinese to do more than simply occupy ground, due to the total lack of supply, might mean that despite the huge outnumbering the Chinese will be unable to rescue those surrounded units.
China is still my Achilles heel. All the more reason to get into Burma asap.


SOPAC
Rabaul is actually out of action. 99 airfield damage, and only a dozen or so fighters over its skies now when I raid. I've started work on the port. With the heavy bomber reinforcements it's been possibly to put 50 heavies over Rabaul every day for four days and this has been decisive. Allied damage was remarkably light - we opened up with a massive night raid which did quite heavy damage, and then switched to daylight raids and Corsair/Lighting sweeps - with an apparently significant number of the enemy on nightfightering orders the defences were light-ish and the Corsairs/Lightnings got the heavies in mostly unattacked. Massive damage was done and I kept it up to ensure the airfields closure. I think he's lost about 250-300 aircraft, mostly fighters, in four days.
Torokina, Shortlands and Choiseul Bay are also out of action so the USAAF has done its job. We're ready for the next push.
Next objectives : Shortlands and Rossell Island.
Shortlands is defended by significant Jap forces (I guess a brigade + support but may be more), I have 5 regiments at Noumea 100% prepped for Shortlands. 3 or 4 will be going over in the first wave. I dont have a huge LCU superiority therefore but I do have crushing air superiority over Shortlands which I hope will prove sufficient.
Rossell Island is an undefended rock half way between Milne Bay and Lunga. However based on past form I expect a counterinvasion. Unlike Milne Bay its in dive bomber and Beaufort range (just) of Allied bases in the Solomons, and quite far from Lae/Buna where he has a network of big airfields, so I hope the Milne debacle can be avoided. A SWPAC American regiment is planned for that, along with SeaBees and a RAN baseforce. I think this is the riskier part of the op, as its much more remote than Shortlands (Shortlands is well within Corsair and P40K range). I'm actually sending in two Sangamon class CVEs to bring 40 Hellcats to cover the invasion, heres hoping the IJN is conspicuous in its absence. IJN Yamato class BBs have been seen and attacked ineffectually at Rabaul, but hopefully he'll be wary of sending them in against reported CVs with inadequate air cover.

It's not been totally one sided here, he loves sending in small warships to raid - single DDs quite often. They shoot up PT boats quite effectively and the ALlies have not had much luck fending them off due to the usual surface ship incompetence. The only Allied defenders are a CL and a couple of DDs mind. Our bases are so close now in the Solomons, and the airspace (up till now anyway) still quite contested, that the enemy is only ever 12 hours steaming away.

CENTPAC
A marine raider battalion hit Mali I think it is, a tiny atoll NE of Makin, and the next hop. I thought it was undefended. I was wrong! The battalion was wiped out, and 2 DD and 4 AP hit by coastla guns, 2 APs sunk outright. On the plus side ~30 Jap torpedo bombers, including a lot of Emilies, were shot down by the P38 LRCAP. Still, a debacle.

KB has been sighted near Kwajalein several times, and the Japs are busy reinforcing the Marshalls I think. Unfortunate.


FLEET

CV Essex is here! Currently en route to the west coast. The fleet is otherwise being refitted. No plan for a major fleet action for a couple of months - need more carriers - but I'm sending some surface ships down SOPAC way, I anticipate they will be needed given how close our bases are there now.