Wild Sheep Chase - obvert (J) vs JocMeister (A)

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]18 - 19 July 1944[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] Three separate sub TFs mined the passage from Sorong to Sarmi in open ocean hexes. So much is moving here that I hope to catch a prize or two before he knows what hit them. Only about 150 mines over three hexes, but fingers crossed something hits.

One of the subs tangled with a large TF and sank a DE, then took a pounding, but should get home to Babeldaob. Another, I-12 found the bombardment TF after dropping it's gifts and was sunk for it's trouble after missing DD Stembel.

The Guavina sinks an E near the PI.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S/SW PAC:[/font] After having moved forward with two small SAGs to challenge a likely invasion threat the Allied CV DS moved in farther forward than it has so far, 7 hexes from Ambon. Whether it was looking to draw strikes, to hit the small ships at Ambon or simply to cover the piles of shipping between Biak and Morotai I don't know. I do know two strikes launched at max range and crushed two CA and three DD and left a few more CL in sinking condition. I can't do anything against this but run away. If' I'd thought he would come this close I would have left the SAGs near Timor, but it looked like only CVE and invasion material a day ago and so I popped them in too far. Too bad. Another two CA gone. Only 6 left.

Now I have to wonder where he's planning to go next. I've taken all LBA strike planes away and left up the best CAP I can make, but that performed abysmally against 400+ Hellcats and up to 300 strike planes this turn, so I'm not sure what it will do if he wants to bomb any of the nearby bases.

The strategy is taking shape though for the next month. Seek a battle in my depth. This means I have to let him get into it. I'm pulling back all resistance to the main thrust in the Molluccas and concentrating on pushing him to open territory toward Mindanao where I'l have two HQa equipped bases, about 6-7 bases capable of flying strike or CAP planes, lots of naval search and a place to try to shield the KB so it can stay only in range of any invasion TF and avoid a direct CV battle. He'll be wary of just such a move of course. I'll have to take a chance sooner or later though to hit some troops on ships.

At Sorong a DA hits and takes out about 150 squads with a 1:2 attack for only less than 50 of their own, which seems like it will make this a short battle, again.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI:[/font] Made a small mistake with two E sent in to hit a tiny Allied convoy at Morotai. He left it unguarded there and I should have sent only the fast E with torpedoes. Forgot it was a pre-war design and the result is no TT launched and one slow newer E lost for one PG and a burning transport. Still fun. An omnipotent voice speaks; "Pay closer attention and stop hurrying turns!"

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S DEI: [/font] Fewer ships here now. [:(]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Jocke bombs troops in 55, 51 moving to Toungoo and loses 8-9 4E and 2E to flak. [:D]

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 18, 44
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Morotai at 80,101, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
E Asagao
E Mutsure, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
AK Draco
AK Sterope, Shell hits 3, on fire
PG Warrego, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 3% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
PG Warrego engages E Mutsure at 2,000 yards

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Night Air attack on Kunming , at 69,48

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 10

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 damaged

Light Industry hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Night Naval bombardment of Sorong at 82,107

Allied Ships
BB California
BB Arizona
BB Nevada
BB Maryland
DD Stevens
DD Stembel
DD Sproston
DD Sigsbee
DD Sigourney
DD Norman Scott
DD John Rodgers
DD Remey

Japanese ground losses:
203 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 6 (3 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 40
Port hits 8
Port supply hits 2

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB California
BB California firing at 45th Ind.Mixed Brigade

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ASW attack near Sarmi at 89,111

Japanese Ships
SS I-169, hits 10

Allied Ships
DE Levy, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PF Grand Forks
LSI(L) Denbighshire
LSI(L) Empire Silver
LSI(L) Glenapp
DE Deede

SS I-169 launches 2 torpedoes at DE Levy
I-169 diving deep ....
DE Deede attacking submerged sub ....
DE Deede fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Sub attack near Manokwari at 86,108

Japanese Ships
SS I-12, hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Stembel
BB California
BB Arizona
BB Nevada
BB Maryland
DD Remey
DD Stevens

SS I-12 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Stembel
DD Stevens attacking submerged sub ....
Sounds of submarine breaking up detected!
Escort abandons search for sub

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Sub attack near Talaud-eilanden at 83,95

Japanese Ships
E W-16, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SC Ch 54
E No.17

Allied Ships
SS Guavina, hits 2

SS Guavina launches 2 torpedoes at E W-16
Guavina diving deep ....
E No.17 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E No.17 attacking submerged sub ....
E No.17 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E No.17 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E No.17 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Ground combat at Sorong (82,107)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21673 troops, 466 guns, 567 vehicles, Assault Value = 897

Defending force 18489 troops, 179 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 605

Allied adjusted assault: 1308

Japanese adjusted defense: 1497

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1456 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 126 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 23 (2 destroyed, 21 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
361 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Assaulting units:
6th Infantry Division
25th Infantry Division
671th Tank Destroyer Battalion
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
I US Corps
1st Medium Regiment

Defending units:
45th Ind.Mixed Brigade
5th Garrison Unit
16th Garrison Unit
2nd Amphibious Brigade
8th Garrison Unit
44th Naval Guard Unit
3rd JNAF AF Unit
37th JAAF AF Bn
13th Air Fleet /1


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Ground combat at Broome (62,127)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 705 troops, 0 guns, 105 vehicles, Assault Value = 59

Defending force 446 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Allied adjusted assault: 16

Japanese adjusted defense: 10

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker: op mode(-), leaders(-)

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

Assaulting units:
2/7th Armoured Regiment

Defending units:
8th JNAF Coy


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Ground combat at Kiriwina Island (102,131)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 391 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 25

Defending force 1376 troops, 4 guns, 87 vehicles, Assault Value = 5

Allied adjusted assault: 5

Japanese adjusted defense: 13

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

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

Assaulting units:
2nd Fiji Commando Battalion

Defending units:
8th Area Army /1
51st JNAF AF Unit
22nd Ind. Engr Rgt /1

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 19, 44
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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 6
J2M3 Jack x 21
P1Y2 Frances x 31
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 29
Ki-84a Frank x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 2 damaged
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
P1Y2 Frances: 12 damaged
P1Y2 Frances: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
28 x P1Y2 Frances bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
3 x P1Y2 Frances bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
5 x G4M2 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 24
J2M3 Jack x 21
Ki-84a Frank x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 12 damaged
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

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

Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x G4M2 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 14
N1K2-J George x 11
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 21
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 28
Ki-84a Frank x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 12 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
20 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 13
Ki-84a Frank x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 9 damaged

Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Waigeo at 82,106

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N2a Jill x 23

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 26
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 26
F4U-1A Corsair x 9
F6F-3 Hellcat x 54

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2a Jill: 10 destroyed

No Allied losses

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Namlea at 76,108

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 13

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 432[X(]
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M3 Jack: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 9 damaged
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano, Bomb hits 1
CA Mogami, Bomb hits 3
DD Oboro

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
6 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet
8 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet
11 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet
12 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet
4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet
4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet
4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet
4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet
3 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet
4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet
8 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet
19 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet
4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 14000 feet
4 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Namlea at 76,108

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 3

Allied aircraft
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 27

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano, Bomb hits 5, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Ambon at 76,109

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 5
N1K2-J George x 12
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 21
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 4 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AM Wa 104, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AM Wa 103, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Namlea at 76,108

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 15
N1K2-J George x 12

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 389
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 44
SB2C-3 Helldiver x 145
SBD-5 Dauntless x 27
TBM-1C Avenger x 88

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M3 Jack: 6 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 4 damaged
SB2C-3 Helldiver: 1 damaged
TBM-1C Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Hakaze, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Naka, Bomb hits 3, on fire
DD Oboro, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
CA Kumano, Bomb hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Mogami, Bomb hits 30, and is sunk
DD Tanikaze, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Kiso, Bomb hits 2
CL Jintsu, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yuzuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Yukikaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CL Sendai, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ambon at 76,109

Weather in hex: Clear sky

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

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 1
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 17
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
LST T-102, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
LST T-101, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
PB Shonon Maru #10, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PB Takuna Maru #7, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
PB Showa Maru #5, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Namlea at 76,108

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 6

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 33
SB2C-3 Helldiver x 29
TBM-1C Avenger x 36

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
DD Yukikaze, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

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Ground combat at Sorong (82,107)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15039 troops, 162 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 456

Defending force 23609 troops, 465 guns, 600 vehicles, Assault Value = 864

Japanese ground losses:
195 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2nd Amphibious Brigade
16th Garrison Unit
5th Garrison Unit
45th Ind.Mixed Brigade
8th Garrison Unit
44th Naval Guard Unit
37th JAAF AF Bn
3rd JNAF AF Unit
13th Air Fleet /1

Defending units:
6th Infantry Division
25th Infantry Division
671th Tank Destroyer Battalion
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
I US Corps
1st Medium Regiment
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Reinforcements: All troops heading to the PI now.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]E No.27 arrives at Tokyo
582 Ku K-1 arrives at Kumamoto
APD T-6 arrives at Kobe
[/font]

Losses:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of E W-16 on Jul 18, 1944 is admitted
Loss of SS I-12 on Jul 18, 1944 is admitted
Loss of CA Mogami on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted
Loss of CA Kumano on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted
Loss of DD Yukikaze on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted
Loss of DD Tanikaze on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted
Loss of DD Oboro on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted
Loss of AM Wa 103 on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted
Loss of AM Wa 104 on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted
Loss of PB Shonon Maru #10 on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted
Loss of PB Showa Maru #5 on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted
Loss of PB Takuna Maru #7 on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted
Loss of LST T-101 on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted
Loss of LST T-102 on Jul 19, 1944 is admitted[/font]

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]DE Levy is reported to have been sunk near Sarmi on Jul 18, 1944[/font]
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Too bad. The CAP at Ambon was mostly on escort duty, and didn't have a chance against the full weight of the US CV strikes. [/font]
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]20 July 1944[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]STRAT BOMBING:[/font] B-29s arrive at night again and pound Lanchow. It's at 1 (89) now. Not going to rebuild here for a while now. I'll wait until he's going for the big oil and then pop it back on.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S/SW PAC:[/font] Sorong is getting the works from the air, sea and land, and although it hasn't dropped forts about 150 of the raw AV has been dropped off already after only one DA. It doesn't matter much as the Allied commitment is so strong here I'm sure he'd either just land more or by-pass to a dot base or two if it took too long. Jocke has chosen to concentrate, and by mid-44 all I can do is hope to slow him, not stop him.

I've been looking at things a lot trying to figure out where to use the KB if at all, and I think it could happen in a few different spots. If he goes for Manado, which I imagine he will, as it's a great potential air base, I could attack from around Davao. That would give a lot of LBA support, but he might have some to attack with from Morotai. I also thought about near Dongalla, and the sea hexes are exactly 8 hexes from Manado. It could give me an 8 hex strike just on the amphibs and possible CVE and not the main body, also with plenty of room to get out clean. The third option is if he goes for Talaud-eilanden a strike from either side of Mindanao at 8 hexes from that base could work also.

If I can't get a good look before invasions at Manado and/or Talaud-eilanden, (or other bases in that area if he goes for those), then I might have to try wen he gets interested in the next step at either the Jolo area, Leyte/Samar or Mindanao. He has a lot of choices and I just have to try to guess where and when he's going. Not easy. It's been quick lately but at some point things will surely slow down. Right?

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S DEI: [/font] No movement here.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Nothing happening. It's almost like he's begun diverting the air force.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] Some better hits at Tinian this turn. Not sure why the Helens struggle so much here. They al have 70-80 skill pilots in ground bombing. They're flying from 1-5 hexes away. All at 10k. The DL is 9/10. Yet only 16 hits from 46 planes dropping 184 bombs? That's an 8.6% hit rate. Hmmmm.

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 20, 44
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Night Air attack on Lanchow , at 81,34

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 20

No Allied losses

Oil hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

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

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 28
N1K2-J George x 15
P1Y2 Frances x 30
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 29
Ki-84a Frank x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 14 damaged
P1Y2 Frances: 11 damaged

Airbase hits 8
Runway hits 33

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x P1Y2 Frances bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
28 x G4M2 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
3 x P1Y2 Frances bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 15
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 28
Ki-84a Frank x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 22 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 22
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 29
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 5 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Runway hits 1 [&:]

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Ground combat at Sorong (82,107)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 14950 troops, 161 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 449

Defending force 23719 troops, 466 guns, 600 vehicles, Assault Value = 872

Japanese ground losses:
98 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
16th Garrison Unit
2nd Amphibious Brigade
5th Garrison Unit
8th Garrison Unit
45th Ind.Mixed Brigade
44th Naval Guard Unit
3rd JNAF AF Unit
37th JAAF AF Bn
13th Air Fleet /1

Defending units:
25th Infantry Division
671th Tank Destroyer Battalion
6th Infantry Division
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
I US Corps
1st Medium Regiment
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Reinforcements:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]48th Ind.Mixed Brigade arrives at Tokyo
LST T-137 arrives at Maizuru[/font]

Losses:

[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font] Both of these go down from yesterday's air strikes as well.

Ships Sunk:Extensive flooding aboard CL Jintsu
Pumps fail aboard CL Sendai, flooding increases...
Pumps fail aboard CL Jintsu, flooding increases...
Temporary flotation repairs failing aboard SS I-169
Major flooding aboard CL Sendai
Pumps fail aboard CL Jintsu, flooding increases...

[font="Trebuchet MS"]PT-59 is reported to have been sunk near Biak on Jun 24, 1944[/font]
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Although these ships are pretty useful in the early going, by about mid-43 the pre-war CLs can't really do much against Allied surface forces. [/font]
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]20cm rockets[/font]
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Just saw these things in the queue and tried to look them up. At first I thought it was AA rockets, but they are for use against ground troops. Are these any good?

They have a much higher effect rating than all but the biggest 24-30cm guns, I guess because they're 20cm rockets and that is fairly large. [;)] Didn't know about them at all before checking the queue today. I would guess by the range it's like a mortar unit?

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]TO FIGHT OR NOT TO FIGHT[/font]
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The Allies have quite a few options for next steps in the DEI, and most of them are between four air nodes with HQa. The four strong base complexes are Balikpapan, Cagayan/Davao, Ambon and Babeldaob. All are in range of Talaud-eilanden and Manado but only a few for the Moluccas. For air strike ranges Manado would be the ideal location for him to attack. It's 12 hexes from Balikpapan so in good range for Frances with drop tanks. It's 10 from Cagayan and 8 from Davao, so Jills/Judys respectively at those two. It's 10 from Ambon, so Jills there. It's 15 from Babeldaob but some ships would likely not be right on the port (CVs for example) and could be closer, affording a better chance to fly for Bettys/Frances. The smaller bases with squares could host other low naval bombing, escorts, and search planes to light up the DL on everything.

I've placed on the map possible routes and stopping points for the KB should I decide to get involved and accept battle. The red chrysanthemums are the points at which I could stop attempting to gat a strike supported by LBA and LBA CAP in defense (some 8 hexes from Manado, one on the NE coast of Mindanao 8 hexes from Talaud). The one near Dongalla is the only point that affords an opportunity to hit an invasion landing at a base, Manado in this case, without as much risk of getting hit back. Of course it all depends on where he places his fleet as well. If he sees me coming he'll almost surely get his fleet in front of the transports.

That could be used in several ways. Firstly I could feint the use of the KB and then pull back, but load the opposite side with strike planes to hit the invasion, so if he shields he's opening himself a bit to LBA attacks. Secondly if I show but move across the front of Mindanao to a location on the other side I could avoid direct massed strikes possibly as well. That would be an incredibly risky maneuver though.

All of the KB has reached Manila. I've let the Yamatos sit and upgrade for some more AA, and I could leave port in about 3 days if necessary. Some things make me think it would be better to wait to attempt to seek battle, though.

The Peggy (T) units are fleshing out but need 3-4 weeks more to train pilots to acceptable levels. The KB has upgraded about 1/3 of it's DBs to the D4Y4 and about 1/5 of it's TB to the Grace. I would need another 4-5 weeks to think about getting them all upgraded.

Any thoughts?

[obvert]

If anyone has any comments about the post above I'd love to get some feedback. Anything. Tell me I'm crazy, too aggressive, too passive, not prepared or just plain overmatched. Anything will do.

I am just in a quandary over whether to use this asset now (the KB) or keep it as a threat for later. The two big bases at Manado and Talaud, to which it certainly feels like he is progressing, would give him enormous sway over what happens in this area and could lead to the next steps of invading Borneo or Mindanao. I feel compelled to react strongly and yet feel that unless I get very lucky this could turn disastrous and lead to an even quicker Allied pace. Yet, if I roll the dice again and come up sixes it could really stall the Allies and even more importantly affect the psychological balance in the game.

I may decide to use it even if everyone tells me not to, or not if everyone says go! Just want to see what others would do here.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]21 - 22 July 1944[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] A flotilla of 14-15 subs moves into the shipping lanes off of the New Guinea coast and around the Molluccas. This is after dropping the mines near Biak and Sarmi and hopefully between the two actions something important can be at least damaged. Two more mining TFs are on the way, and then I'm out of sub laid mines.

The Allied sub screen has moved up right around the edges of Mindanao which is great for our ASW but makes me very concerned about the next target here.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S/SW PAC:[/font] Is he going for the islands or will he jump to Mindanao right away? The subs moving up makes me wonder and feel some trepidation. I just made a choice to go all in for Manado this turn. I'm airlifting a division from Davao. It's a small 400 AV division and doesn't have a lot of extra arty or motorized support, so the benefit is that much of it can be lifted over by plane. I've got 75 Helen-KAI on the job with some Tabbys on the way. Emily-L from Babeldaob are airlifting an HQa to Davaoand others are sending a naval guard and a construction unit to the dot base next to Manado, which I've neglected completely. I'm sending in another naval guard to Talaud, even though that won't do much good. What the hell was I doing for two years around here?

It's so hard to prepare for everything. The Sumatra/Java defenses and Burma got priority and all I could give before the Allies started moving quickly along North New Guinea. By then it was too late to develop much more in the DEI and I had to continue with the bases I had built somewhat to get them as stable as possible.

So now it's another scramble. Feels good to make a choice though and go for it. This doesn't leave me too short in Mindanao in case he is going there. Two brigades and a division are landing or on their way now.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S DEI: [/font] Bombing resumed with 2Es from Darwin hitting Babar.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] A bombardment by the Allied stack at 55, 51 goes badly for them, but it's just a feeler to see what I've moved out anyway. I'm beginning to think this move to Toungoo is a ruse to get me shifting everything that way and then come back to the very same hex with the 9k AV again. I've now got two supported divisions at Toungoo and two more on the way, plus one that could walk there in two days. All with level 6 forts to stand behind. Two divisions moved back from 55, 51 to Rangoon and now form the reserve for the area. One is tanks so can get in quickly if needed. So if he turns around again he'll find there the same 4k+ AV in the 55, 51 hex that he faced before. And I've managed to move out 1.5k AV and a bunch of support and engineer units, all on their way to get shipped out at Bangkok. [8D]

Allied bombing also hits the 55, 51 stack doing almost nothing and losing 5 planes to flak. These guys are amazing! I guess something can be said for experience.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] I'm shifting the IJNAF 2E bombers out of the Tinian bombing runs. This wil be handled completely by IJAAF groups and these will also eventually upgrade to Peggy (T), so dual purpose. The IJNAF groups will move to Babeldaob to form the strike force there with a group of A6M3a as escorts.

Still have a bunch of small TFs running all over the Central Pacific and So Pac looking to get unflyable pieces off of islands. The DL is up on some of them, but either he is not paying attention or just doesn't care. Or there is a TF of Fletchers on the way. [:D]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 21, 44
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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 6
P1Y2 Frances x 28
Ki-84a Frank x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y2 Frances: 20 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13

Aircraft Attacking:
28 x P1Y2 Frances bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 44
N1K2-J George x 18
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 3
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 33
Ki-84a Frank x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 17 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
10 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Ground combat at Sorong (82,107)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22007 troops, 466 guns, 600 vehicles, Assault Value = 877

Defending force 17148 troops, 184 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 453

Allied adjusted assault: 1312

Japanese adjusted defense: 297

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
1535 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 69 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 51 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 52 (9 destroyed, 43 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (3 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
224 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Assaulting units:
6th Infantry Division
671th Tank Destroyer Battalion
25th Infantry Division
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
I US Corps
1st Medium Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Amphibious Brigade
16th Garrison Unit
8th Garrison Unit
5th Garrison Unit
45th Ind.Mixed Brigade
44th Naval Guard Unit
3rd JNAF AF Unit
37th JAAF AF Bn
13th Air Fleet /1

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 22, 44
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Sub attack near Zamboanga at 76,90

Japanese Ships
E No.17
SC Ch 54
E No.11

Allied Ships
SS Bonefish, hits 1

SS Bonefish launches 2 torpedoes at E No.17
Bonefish diving deep ....
E No.11 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E No.11 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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ASW attack near Jolo at 74,91

Japanese Ships
E No.11
SC Ch 54
E No.17

Allied Ships
SS Flying Fish

SS Flying Fish is located by E No.11
Flying Fish diving deep ....
E No.17 fails to find sub and abandons search
E No.11 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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ASW attack near Siquijor at 77,87

Japanese Ships
E Hasu
E Yasoshima
DMS W-7
AV Sagara Maru
AK Amagisan Maru
AK Arima Maru
AK Kinka Maru
AK Sado Maru
xAP Ukishima Maru
xAP Shanghai Maru
xAP Kitano Maru
xAP Mizuho Maru
E Hashidate
E Susuki

Allied Ships
SS Cavalla

SS Cavalla is sighted by escort
Cavalla diving deep ....
E Hashidate fails to find sub and abandons search
E Susuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Susuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 22
J2M3 Jack x 8
Ki-84a Frank x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 13 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x G4M2 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 32
N1K2-J George x 22
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 29
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 20
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 21
Ki-84a Frank x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 9 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 22 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
20 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on 16th Division, at 55,51 , near Prome

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 68 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 4
Liberator B.VI x 19
Liberator GR.VI x 6
B-17F Fortress x 10
B-24D Liberator x 10
B-24D1 Liberator x 17
B-24J Liberator x 42
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 12

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator II: 4 damaged
Liberator B.VI: 2 damaged
Liberator B.VI: 1 destroyed by flak
B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 7 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on Babar , at 76,117

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 13
Hudson III (LR) x 13
B-25C Mitchell x 11
B-25D1 Mitchell x 24
B-25H Mitchell x 12

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 24
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 25

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

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Ground combat at Sorong (82,107)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21819 troops, 465 guns, 599 vehicles, Assault Value = 854

Defending force 15456 troops, 178 guns, 48 vehicles, Assault Value = 307

Allied adjusted assault: 1642

Japanese adjusted defense: 791

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1668 casualties reported
Squads: 66 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 24 (14 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
183 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Assaulting units:
671th Tank Destroyer Battalion
25th Infantry Division
6th Infantry Division
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
I US Corps
1st Medium Regiment

Defending units:
8th Garrison Unit
45th Ind.Mixed Brigade
5th Garrison Unit
2nd Amphibious Brigade
44th Naval Guard Unit
3rd JNAF AF Unit
37th JAAF AF Bn
16th Garrison Unit
13th Air Fleet /1


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Ground combat at Corunna Downs (57,131)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 10354 troops, 102 guns, 147 vehicles, Assault Value = 379

Defending force 417 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Allied adjusted assault: 660

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 660 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Corunna Downs !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
537 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 44 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

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

Assaulting units:
5th Australian Division

Defending units:
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF


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Ground combat at 55,51 (near Prome)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 116766 troops, 1580 guns, 606 vehicles, Assault Value = 4862

Defending force 103114 troops, 1412 guns, 2244 vehicles, Assault Value = 3526

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

Allied ground losses:
630 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 14 (3 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

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

Reinforcements:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]102nd Machine Canno AA Battalion arrives at Tokyo
16th Ind.Mixed Regiment arrives at Tokyo[/font]

Losses: none.

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]AE Lassen is reported to have been sunk near Milne Bay on Feb 09, 1944
LST-84 is reported to have been sunk near Biak on May 29, 1944[/font]
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Here is a list of sub attacks with hits listed for the day. Not bad. There are 5-6 highly trained ASW air groups working the Mindanao area now and 4 ASW surface TFs. Moving subs outside his CAP range and into far forward positions like this and then putting them in stationary patrols will most likely not have good results. All 9-10 subs in the area are lit up like Christmas in New York with over 110 sighting reports on the day.

E13A1 Jake from Chichijima Ku T-1/C attacking SS Cero at 75,91
SS Cero is reported HIT
Ki-49-IIa Helen from 62nd Sentai attacking SS Flying Fish at 74,91
SS Flying Fish is reported HIT
B6N2 Jill from Akagi-3 attacking SS Dragonet at 82,87
SS Dragonet is reported HIT
E13A1 Jake from Atago-2 attacking a Thames class SS at 82,89
an Allied SS is reported HIT

Over the course of the game I've lost more Jakes (1500+) than any other airframe and yet I think it's been worth it. They have kept the DL up on subs everywhere, saving many ships and the things on those ships, have been strike planes taking out small Allied transports and escorts, have reconned bombardments and have been instrumental in seeing the movements of Allied fleets to get airstrikes, surface vessels and subs in for the attack. Hats off to the many lost Jake pilots.[&o]
[/font]
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[Captain Cruft]

Yes the Jake is a very important plane. Are you using Norms too? 4 hexes more search range ...

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

Yes the Jake is a very important plane. Are you using Norms too? 4 hexes more search range ...

Yeah, I have 28 building and use them where the extra range will help most, like Truk, Babeldaob, Rangoon, marcus, etc. I was originally worried the SR 2 would have too many sitting around, but as long as they're mostly LR search planes outside of combat areas it seems fine.

[LoBaron]

ORIGINAL: obvert

If anyone has any comments about the post above I'd love to get some feedback. Anything. Tell me I'm crazy, too aggressive, too passive, not prepared or just plain overmatched. Anything will do.

I am just in a quandary over whether to use this asset now (the KB) or keep it as a threat for later.

Just my 2c´s.

I think you are in the wrong quandry, because what you seem to believe are your options are either not to engage and save your assets, or engage, do damage, and be destroyed, removing KB from the option list.

Using KB does not neccessarily mean losing it. Admittedly against significant Allied invasion forces it is in a position of inferiority, but your advantage still is the proximity to your own airbases. Jockmeister should, IMHO, now consolidate before advancing, then he could maximise the use his own LBA. But he might be too impationet for that, and I think this is too good a chance to ignore.

With regards to your KB position options:
I would not ignore pondering on central Celebes Sea position, somewhere halfway between Davao and Babeldaob, or a flanking position threatening the NE coast of NG.
The first two do not sacrifice freedom of movement in favour of position (as your option 2 does) whereas the flanking move has one advantage: Jockmeister advanced quite far with only a single route for reinforcement an resupply, simply because you own everything else in the area. So chances are that he runs high value traffic in along the NE coast. If you do not sink ships moving in or out, at least by your presence you force him to guard his convoys with carriers or loads of LBA, and so reduce the forces he has available for missions against Mindanao or for defense of his beachheads.

To wait and baby KB for later has a significant drawback: The Allies get stronger. Every day. Delay usually means that the next time you plan to strike, your odds are even worse, independent of your advances in airframes.

It is just some ideas, always easy to give hints as an outsider without knowing the details of your force distribution or capabilities.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: LoBaron

ORIGINAL: obvert

If anyone has any comments about the post above I'd love to get some feedback. Anything. Tell me I'm crazy, too aggressive, too passive, not prepared or just plain overmatched. Anything will do.

I am just in a quandary over whether to use this asset now (the KB) or keep it as a threat for later.

Just my 2c´s.

I think you are in the wrong quandry, because what you seem to believe are your options are either not to engage and save your assets, or engage, do damage, and be destroyed, removing KB from the option list.

Using KB does not neccessarily mean losing it. Admittedly against significant Allied invasion forces it is in a position of inferiority, but your advantage still is the proximity to your own airbases. Jockmeister should, IMHO, now consolidate before advancing, then he could maximise the use his own LBA. But he might be too impationet for that, and I think this is too good a chance to ignore.

With regards to your KB position options:
I would not ignore pondering on central Celebes Sea position, somewhere halfway between Davao and Babeldaob, or a flanking position threatening the NE coast of NG.
The first two do not sacrifice freedom of movement in favour of position (as your option 2 does) whereas the flanking move has one advantage: Jockmeister advanced quite far with only a single route for reinforcement an resupply, simply because you own everything else in the area. So chances are that he runs high value traffic in along the NE coast. If you do not sink ships moving in or out, at least by your presence you force him to guard his convoys with carriers or loads of LBA, and so reduce the forces he has available for missions against Mindanao or for defense of his beachheads.

To wait and baby KB for later has a significant drawback: The Allies get stronger. Every day. Delay usually means that the next time you plan to strike, your odds are even worse, independent of your advances in airframes.

It is just some ideas, always easy to give hints as an outsider without knowing the details of your force distribution or capabilities.

Thanks for the thoughts LoBaron. As usual a lot to think on.

Here is my dilemma. I've had several semi-successful and a few not very successful raids on his supply lines across the Bismark Sea and along the Northern coast of New Guinea. When I sniffed out an invasion (that ultimately went to Sarmi) I actually intercepted masses of high value targets, but they were escorted by so many higher value combat ships I did well to put TT into two Iowa class BBs (which haven't yet returned to the front) but failed to get to any of the troop ships. My KB ended up two hexes from his main battle fleets and I high-tailed it out, he skipped three big bases and got a landing at Sarmi that led to all of this now. He would likely be 2-3 months farther back had I stopped that invasion then. So I don't just want to use the KB to harass, as I think once he knows it's not in line with the next jump he'll just go.

So what I'm saying is that I want to hit the troops on ships, and I'm not even that concerned with the CVs. In fact I'd like to stay away from them if I can, but I have to try at least to get to the invasion as it's landing in order to affect the pace of operations. I'm not certain I'll either win a battle or lose the KB, but I just want to do my best to make sure that I challenge where I have an opportunity, as you say, before he is both consolidated and stronger.

Although you point out that the position 2 on the side of Mindanao doesn't allow movement, I'm not sure he would expect an ability to move around Mindanao on the front side, so it could provide surprise of movement if that option was left open. It feels like a quick appearance and a quicker disappearance might have to be the method of attack here and that route certainly gives me an out if I want it. Of course all of this depends on timing and surprise, and his search is closer to the East side of Mindanao (from Morotai). That means I could likely sneak into better position without detection coming from the North tip of Borneo rather than from anywhere to the North.

So, lots of choices to make and need a little bit of clairvoyance!

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]23 July 1944[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] RO-114 runs into a combat TF near Morotai but can't get a hit. Then gets run over by DE ASW and takes a bunch. The I-184 knocks one home against AM Pursuit and gets away clean. [8D] Man, if this game gave extra pints for hitting as many of one ship type as possible I'd certainly be winning the AM pool.

The Bonefish 'elects not to launch' at my ASW Es, which is fantastic as they drop three hits, one direct, on the sub near Zamboanga.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S/SW PAC:[/font] Jocke continues to land stuff at Sorong with LSTs virtually every day. It provokes to auto-bombard, which then throws my troops into disruption, loses a few squads and generally makes this base less tenable. It'll fall soon, but it still makes it go quicker than it would. There are no new units so it must be parts of the ones there, so probably not intentional but still very annoying.

The fleet is hanging out near Waigeo. Lots of shipping and it's hard to tell if anything more is imminent or if he's just moving stuff in to consolidate. He did para-drop on Batjan. Looks like he wants a complex in the Molluccas. Don't blame him. I'm still biding my time and trying to gather for the possible inclusion of the KB. I have some new ideas based on LoBaron's input. A feint might be possible to use some of his ideas and see what I can hit if Jocke goes for the bait. More soon on that.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S DEI: [/font] Still 150k+ troops in Darwin, so no imminent threat here. No bombing either after yesterday. My SAGs will ease up to near Kendari to prepare for possible use to the North.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Same old thing. He's not stopped his movement to Toungoo. I'll be sending in two more divisions as of two days from now, with some anti-tanks guns as well. I'm sending out an HQ to hope he doesn't notice a change in number of units, although he's reckoning pretty closely, so he probably will. Even if he does they'll be behind level 6 forts in the jungle. I'd love nothing more than if he continues into that hex. Once he does I'll be able to shift all kinds of stuff around. Until then make it look like I'm taking the bait and hold tight in 55, 51.

Jocke bombs Rangoon again and loses another 5 4E to flak. This is getting fun. With his frequency in bombing, if he keep hitting these places he could lose 100+ 4E a month to flak. That is not bad! [8D]

The Thais are ready to go for Bassein. I'll start them across 6-7 days before withdrawal. There will be 650 AV shocking over. The full divisions are at 52-54 exp and have been in reserve mode getting moral up, now at 92 ad 98. Should I send some arty with them and risk it getting trashed completely in the river shock or just go with those units?

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] Tinian is listed as 100/100 for damage to port and fields. The IJAAF flew i ntwo more groups and they will begin taking over tomorrow after resting up. That'll be about 100 2E hitting the base every day. Should be enough I would hope to keep it inoperative and begin to deplete supply. I still have about 200 high trained ground bombing pilots to expend here. I think it's worth it in spite of daily flak losses of 2-3 planes, as if this base was opened I couldn't easily shut it again and ten it could defend re-supply and other TFs in the area. I at least want him to have to commit CVs and if he doesn't bring enough, make him pay. I'm now bringing mines and some fuel into the area to feed the ACMs in the three big bases, Guam, Rota and Saipan.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 23, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ASW attack near Waigeo at 83,106

Japanese Ships
SS RO-114, hits 9

Allied Ships
CL Mjollner
DD Ammen
DD Erben
DD Daly
DD Colahan

SS RO-114 is sighted by escort
DD Erben attacking submerged sub ....

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ASW attack near Sansapor at 84,106

Japanese Ships
SS RO-114, hits 14

Allied Ships
DE George
DE Lovelace
DE Loeser

SS RO-114 launches 2 torpedoes at DE George
RO-114 diving deep ....
DE Lovelace fails to find sub, continues to search...
DE Loeser attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

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Sub attack near Zamboanga at 76,90

Japanese Ships
E No.17
SC Ch 54
E No.11

Allied Ships
SS Bonefish, hits 3

Captain of SS Bonefish elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
Bonefish diving deep ....
E No.17 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Morotai at 81,102

Japanese Ships
SS I-184

Allied Ships
AM Pursuit, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AM Bobolink

SS I-184 launches 2 torpedoes at AM Pursuit
AM Bobolink attacking submerged sub ....
AM Bobolink cannot establish contact with SS I-184
AM Bobolink fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 22
J2M3 Jack x 26
Ki-84a Frank x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 15 damaged
G4M2 Betty: 2 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x G4M2 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 23
N1K2-J George x 22
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 4
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 29
Ki-84a Frank x 35

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 25 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
10 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 26
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 7 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Liberator B.III x 9
B-17F Fortress x 10
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
B-24J Liberator x 103
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
E15K1 Norm: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator B.III: 3 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 21 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 110

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Liberator B.VI x 6
B-24D1 Liberator x 4
B-24J Liberator x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
E15K1 Norm: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator B.VI: 2 damaged
Liberator B.VI: 1 destroyed by flak
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 10 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Liberator B.VI bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bombs

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

Ground combat at Sorong (82,107)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11947 troops, 140 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 199

Defending force 24237 troops, 465 guns, 660 vehicles, Assault Value = 832

Japanese ground losses:
277 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 15 disabled Lose almost as much in the auto-bombard as I do from Allied attacks.
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
45th Ind.Mixed Brigade
5th Garrison Unit
2nd Amphibious Brigade
44th Naval Guard Unit
37th JAAF AF Bn
16th Garrison Unit
3rd JNAF AF Unit
8th Garrison Unit
13th Air Fleet /1

Defending units:
671th Tank Destroyer Battalion
25th Infantry Division
6th Infantry Division
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
I US Corps
1st Medium Regiment


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

Ground combat at Wewak (96,119)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11883 troops, 213 guns, 287 vehicles, Assault Value = 393

Defending force 7325 troops, 10 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 173

Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division

Defending units:
6th South Seas Det.
Sasebo 7th SNLF
Sasebo 6th SNLF
7th Garrison Unit
46th Nav Gd /2
15th Naval Construction Battalion
51st Road Const Co
36th Const Co
2nd JAAF AF Bn


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

Ground combat at Sansapor (83,107)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 900 troops, 0 guns, 125 vehicles, Assault Value = 66

Defending force 3977 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 155

Allied adjusted assault: 59

Japanese adjusted defense: 448

Allied assault odds: 1 to 7 (fort level 4)

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

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

Assaulting units:
2nd USMC Tank Battalion

Defending units:
1st Mobile Brigade
31st Engineer Regiment


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

Ground combat at Batjan (78,104)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 200 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17

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

Allied adjusted assault: 17

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 17 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Batjan !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
1st Australian Para Bn /1


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

Reinforcements: none.

[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]

Losses: none.

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]AM Pursuit is reported to have been sunk near Morotai on Jul 23, 1944
LST-174 is reported to have been sunk near Eniwetok on Jun 03, 1944[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Based on some recent discussions in GJs AAR I've decided to limit the Grace to LBA for now and keep the KB with Jills. I don't want to much of a mix screwing things up. The D4Y4 has the same cruise speed as the D4Y3 so that won't matter. I've also gotten most of the KB zeros upgraded to the A6M5b. One group is still flying the A6M5 and a few have the A6M5c. I'm VERY short on A6M pools of all types right now. I'm only making 125 a month and it's not enough. Can't get more right now though. Most of my LBA escort will be Georges and Jacks. A few A6M3a groups for 2E TB. [/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Cpt Sherwood]

Man, if this game gave extra pints for hitting as many of one ship type as possible I'd certainly be winning the AM pool.

You might have problems doing your turn if that was the case. [:D]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]KB[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Here are some more thoughts about getting to some of the next stages of invasions using the KB, surface fleets and LBA.

All of course is dependent on whether I can assess where the Allies are heading and which days will be the crucial ones for the invasions. The KB is still getting elements together near Manila. Some DDs are stuck in upgrades but others are filling in from all over the map. The Yamatos will be finished with upgrades in a few days and then we will be ready to at least get to staging points for the actual run in should there still be time.

The gray line is a mini KB with BBs that I'd like to use for a feint. I'll embed a CVE in two SAGs and have another with a bunch of DDs. At long range this could feel like more than it is, especially if nothing else has been sighted. I would move the TFs far enough forward to be sighted at about 13-14 hexes. The KB would be stationed off the tip of Borneo and be ready to move in to a spot just past Jolo. I like this location because it would allow a long strike at either Talaud or Manado and if the Allied fleet moves toward the feint TFs it could keep it out of range while the KB could still hit transports and possibly other TFs in the area. If they didn't move and were able to hit us, then the LBA would at least be close for extra support. The CVEs could separate from the SAGs, which would run in, and sit off of Mindanao hoping to attract strikes. Another set of surface forces could move in from the Kendari area if the target was Manado.

This all assumes a lot. He could simply turn and go in toward Ambon and Kendari. I could still get to the area in a flank run and hit the rear of an invasion in that area and have some support from Manado fighters if that base has not been shut down. SAGs would definitely be able to move in to disrupt, and LBA is close in here.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Cpt Sherwood

Man, if this game gave extra pints for hitting as many of one ship type as possible I'd certainly be winning the AM pool.

You might have problems doing your turn if that was the case. [:D]

HA![:D]

From what Jocke said he's certainly had some trouble with the pints lately. I did have two before doing a turn yesterday, but that much just gives me courage, right?[;)]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]24 - 25 July 1944[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font]The RO-44 nearly gets the CA San Francisco near Morotai, missing with a spread of four TT, then is sighted and hunted by what looks like escorts of a CV TF with CLAA in it. Then it raises up again and shoots four at CVE White Plains, hitting with one! [:)] Postumous medals for that captain.

The I-172 hits a transport near Hollandia, the xAK John Muir. We force the Scorion to the surface near BayBay and gun it down.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S/SW PAC:[/font] None of this keeps Jocke from jumping ahead once more to Talaud-eilanden on the 25th. I coudn't have stopped the troops here and it looks like he's brought enough to overwhelm the defenders again. The level five forts might take a bit of time, but it looks like he's about to acquire a level 6 air base in the thick of things. A very good move on his part, and not much I could do about it right now.

The defenses are now moving into place for this region. It's taken forever to get enough base forces and air groups into place. His speed again forced me to scramble. Mindanao is now set though and will be a bit tougher than the last few spots to suppress. Now I have to work on the North Borneo coast and deeper PI islands.

Jocke pulled this move without CVs. He did have about 65 P-47s on LR CAP, so not bad anyway. Two TFs of the KB move into position near North Borneo and the others follow in the next two days.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S DEI: [/font] Still nothing here.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Railing two divisions in and a bunch of guns to Toungoo starting on the 26th.

A division, two brigades and a zillion engineers will move from Bangkok over the next week to Borneo and the PI.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] Still a bunch of small TFs plying the dead zone between the Solomons and the Gilberts going after lost troops. A 20cm CD gun should land on Guam within 2 days from Ndeni!

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 24, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub attack near Hollandia at 94,115

Japanese Ships
SS I-172, hits 5

Allied Ships
xAK John Muir, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Jalavihar
xAK Ekma
xAK Changte
xAK George Chaffey
AM Sage

SS I-172 launches 2 torpedoes at xAK John Muir
I-172 diving deep ....
AM Sage fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Sage fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Sage attacking submerged sub ....
AM Sage fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Sage attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Medan , at 46,76

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 14

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 4 damaged

Oil hits 13

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
302 Ku S-2 with J1N1-S Irving (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 1 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Medan , at 46,76

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 2

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 damaged
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
302 Ku S-2 with J1N1-S Irving (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Baybay at 82,86

Japanese Ships
E Kusagaki
E W-39

Allied Ships
SS Scorpion, hits 9, heavy damage

SS Scorpion is located by E Kusagaki
Scorpion bottoming out ....
E W-39 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E W-39 attacking submerged sub ....
SS Scorpion forced to surface!
E Kusagaki firing on surfaced sub ....
E W-39 firing on surfaced sub ....
E Kusagaki firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Morotai at 81,101

Japanese Ships
SS RO-44, hits 13

Allied Ships
CA San Francisco
CA Chester
DD Murray
DD Porterfield
DD Picking
DD Owen
DD Newcomb

SS RO-44 launches 4 torpedoes at CA San Francisco
DD Porterfield attacking submerged sub ....
DD Picking attacking submerged sub ....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Morotai at 81,101

Japanese Ships
SS RO-44

Allied Ships
CLAA Oakland
CLAA San Diego
DD Sampson
DD Aylwin
DD Dewey
DD Patterson
DD Henley

SS RO-44 is sighted by escort
DD Patterson fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Henley fails to find sub and abandons search
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Morotai at 81,101

Japanese Ships
SS RO-44, hits 14, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CVE White Plains, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DE Spangler
DE Fleming

SS RO-44 launches 4 torpedoes at CVE White Plains
RO-44 diving deep ....
DE Fleming attacking submerged sub ....
Debris floats to surface in area of attack!
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 22
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 21
Ki-84a Frank x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 18 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Runway hits 16

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Morotai at 81,101

Japanese Ships
SS RO-100, hits 25, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DE Spangler
DE Manning
DE Fleming
DE Emery
DE Dionne

SS RO-100 is sighted by escort
RO-100 diving deep ....
DE Fleming attacking submerged sub ....
DE Fleming loses contact with SS RO-100
SS RO-100 forced to surface!
DE Dionne firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 25, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub attack near Jolo at 74,88

Japanese Ships
E No.11
SC Ch 54
E No.17

Allied Ships
SS Flying Fish, hits 6

SS Flying Fish launches 2 torpedoes at E No.11
Flying Fish diving deep ....
E No.17 fails to find sub and abandons search
E No.11 attacking submerged sub ....
E No.11 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Talaud-eilanden (79,97)

144 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes
CL Leander
APA Winged Arrow
AKA Jupiter
APA Doyen
DE Encounter
DE Edward C. Daly

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

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

CA Vincennes firing at 54th Ind.Mixed Brigade
CL Leander firing at 54th Ind.Mixed Brigade
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Talaud-eilanden at 79,97

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 4

Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 25
F6F-3 Hellcat x 43

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on TF, near Talaud-eilanden at 79,97

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 15 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
APA President Monroe

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IV x 2
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 16
B-24J Liberator x 22
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 11

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
B-24J Liberator: 4 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

Ground combat at Talaud-eilanden (79,97)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8604 troops, 89 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 320

Defending force 19287 troops, 321 guns, 640 vehicles, Assault Value = 761

Japanese ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
38th Ind.Mixed Brigade
54th Ind.Mixed Brigade
90th Naval Guard Unit
14th Nav Gd /2
28th JAAF AF Bn
1st Mobile Bde /3

Defending units:
5th USMC Tank Battalion
754th Tank Battalion
24th Infantry Div /8
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
I Corps Cmbt Engr Rgt /5
147th Field Artillery Regiment
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
33rd Medium Regiment

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

Reinforcements: Sucks that after all of those air groups withdrew the ones that come back are restricted and must be bought out again to use out side the HI. [8|]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]DD Kuwa arrives at Maizuru
104th Sentai arrives at Tokyo
31st Tankette Co arrives at Tokyo
15th JNAF AF Unit arrives at Tokyo
xAP Oryoku Maru arrives at Fukuoka

Aircraft Ki-102b Randy advances R&D (9/44)
Aircraft A6M8 Zero advances R&D (6/45)
Aircraft Ki-100-I Tony advances R&D (12/44)[/font]

Losses:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of SS RO-44 on Jul 24, 1944 is admitted
Loss of SS RO-67 on May 25, 1944 is admitted
Loss of SS RO-100 on Jul 24, 1944 is admitted[/font]

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]DD Conner is reported to have been sunk near Lautem on Jul 07, 1944
xAK John Muir is reported to have been sunk near Hollandia on Jul 24, 1944[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Here is a shot of the blockade runners in So Pac. This likely won't have much impact on the game, but it's fun and I'll keep it up as long as I can. What does have an impact is that I'm moving hundreds of troops through the air each turn. At Manado about 1/3 of a division has already moved in a few days, and recently beaten troops have walked to Southern New Guinea and are flying out to Boela and Ambon to hopefully fill in some of the SE Celebes bases that are vacant now. [/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]26 - 27 July 1944[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] Another escort for sub trade as DMS W-7 is torpedoed by the Flying Fish as it protects a convoy to bring a base force to Zamboranga. E No. 14 then forces it to surface where the two xAP and the E gun it down. Confirmed.

I-16 takes out yet another AM. In a rare event the Lion hits and xAK on it's way back to the HI. A few more subs for both sides take damage in inconclusive attacks on the 27th. I'm now shifting remaining subs around to the area between Morotai and Manado/Talaud-eilanden.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PI:[/font] Two divisions and a few brigades are now on Luzon with a few more brigades and another division moving to Mindanao from Burma. Now the forward bases in Leyte and Samar have to be garrisoned as well as the lower islands leading to the South China Sea.

The KB is now stationed just off the tip of Borneo. I've got ASW TFs working nearby both to ward off potential scouts and to assess if air search gets anywhere near here.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S/SW PAC:[/font] Sorong falls, and of course the garrison retreats into the jungles rather than to the base one hex away. That is unfortunate.

I decided to take a stab at reinforcing Talaud-eilanden. I have 2/3 of a regiment rested up at Babeldaob and I'll send that over to the base with about 50 Emilys over the next few days. That still will only give us around 425 AV in small units while the Allies have about 750 AV including a division and tanks. This is good terrain though and level 5 forts, so if he waits and the AV value comes up, he could suffer a negative attack to start, and that would extend the operation a bit longer, if not giving time to send in even bigger units. A stall here would be perfect as the recently set up air strike ability from Mindanao and surrounding bases is ready to support the KB in any operation.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S DEI: [/font] Still nothing moving here. The SAGs move up another hex toward Kendari. I'm looking for a dead spot in search so that when the time comes these ships can be suddenly gone and right between Manado and Timor to support both areas.

Two brigades that can be joined with others recently arrived in China are on Sumatra and will be formed into divisions. I'm shifting them out and combining them to garrison Balikpapan and Samarinda. Everything else is set there with a level nine field, 350+ air support and level 6 forts. Tarakan will get a brigade and I'll try to scrape up some recently returned Naval Guard units for Sandakan, Tawau and and Tanjoe. Jesselton and Kudat will get brigades and base forces coming from Burma. The Celebes around Kendari and Macassar are a bit barren and I'll try to get some recently air-lifted troops fresh from defeats in New Guinea to sit and hopefully discourage para-drops. Whew. I need a break to dig in. At least here I've given the Molluccas basically without resistance in the hope of getting the next two lines ready (plus recovering air groups) and it appears I may just have enough time to do what needs to be done.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] The Thais cross into Bassein and get a 1:1 while losing almost half of their infantry to disablements and dropping forts to 5. Not bad. The base only has a Chinese infantry unit and some base forces, so I will start a tank division across and see if he bombs the troops during the next two days. If not those japanese tanks might just give the Chinese another headache. No big win here even if we get the base, but a few trashed Allied units would be nice and taking away another forward position for them to scout and occasionally place fighters is also not a bad thing. The Thais are only around for another four days. Their government is negotiating with the Japanese command to pull out of the war based on these casualties to their best troops and noticing the growing Allied power in the area. [;)] In the meantime the Thai units in Bassein will fight.

Troops arrived in Toungoo and are getting stuff unpacked. Surprisingly Jocke bombs the fields instead of going for troops which would likely have taken a good 10% off the top while they were in strat mode. As it is supply is getting low, but there is still some floating around and two shipments of 25k each are heading into Bangkok.

Jocke also bombarded at 55, 51 wrecking some more of his infantry in the process. He's undoubtedly trying to slow any movement from this hex to the Toungoo area, which I've already stopped, and likely trying to burn my supply.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] In spit of mostly 70-80 skilled bomber pilots the IJAAF groups simply aren't getting great results at Tinian. Only ~20 hits on the fields a day. Not enough.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 26, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ASW attack near Sarmi at 91,112

Japanese Ships
SS RO-115, hits 5

Allied Ships
SC-1062
AO Patoka
SC-1066
SC-1065

SS RO-115 is sighted by escort
RO-115 diving deep ....
SC-1066 attacking submerged sub ....
SC-1066 is out of ASW ammo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Zamboanga at 75,89

Japanese Ships
DMS W-7, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
E No.14
xAP Saipan Maru
xAP Tango Maru

Allied Ships
SS Flying Fish, hits 14, heavy damage

SS Flying Fish launches 2 torpedoes at DMS W-7
Flying Fish bottoming out ....
E No.14 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E No.14 attacking submerged sub ....
SS Flying Fish forced to surface!
DMS W-7 firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Saipan Maru firing on surfaced sub ....
E No.14 firing on surfaced sub ....
xAP Tango Maru firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Morotai at 80,103

Japanese Ships
SS I-16, hits 4

Allied Ships
AM Bihar, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SC PC-777

SS I-16 launches 2 torpedoes at AM Bihar
SC PC-777 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC PC-777 attacking submerged sub ....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 32
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 4
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 4
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 25
Ki-84a Frank x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 damaged
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 8 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x Ki-67-Ia Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 3 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 13
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 41
Ki-84a Frank x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 16 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 17

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Toungoo , at 57,50

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 4
Liberator B.III x 10
Liberator B.VI x 6
B-24D Liberator x 4
B-24D1 Liberator x 10
B-24J Liberator x 54
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 7

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 50
Airbase supply hits 21
Runway hits 62

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Peleliu at 90,98

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 40
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 23

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AM Wa 105, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SB2C-1C Helldiver releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb, 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

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

Ground combat at Sorong (82,107)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22655 troops, 465 guns, 661 vehicles, Assault Value = 851

Defending force 13778 troops, 164 guns, 48 vehicles, Assault Value = 185

Allied adjusted assault: 821

Japanese adjusted defense: 189

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Sorong !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
4633 casualties reported
Squads: 260 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 210 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 44 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 54 (40 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 45 (45 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 6

Allied ground losses:
271 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 46 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 17 (1 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
6th Infantry Division
671th Tank Destroyer Battalion
25th Infantry Division
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
I US Corps
1st Medium Regiment

Defending units:
45th Ind.Mixed Brigade
16th Garrison Unit
2nd Amphibious Brigade
5th Garrison Unit
8th Garrison Unit
44th Naval Guard Unit
3rd JNAF AF Unit
37th JAAF AF Bn
13th Air Fleet /1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 27, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Submarine attack near Ulithi at 99,93

Japanese Ships
xAK Senko Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Lionfish

xAK Senko Maru is sighted by SS Lionfish
SS Lionfish launches 2 torpedoes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Morotai at 81,102

Japanese Ships
SS I-172, hits 11, heavy damage

Allied Ships
PG Yarra

SS I-172 is sighted by escort
PG Yarra fails to find sub, continues to search...
PG Yarra attacking submerged sub ....
PG Yarra attacking submerged sub ....
PG Yarra fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 37
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 39
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 22
Ki-84a Frank x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 18 damaged
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 6 damaged

Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x Ki-67-Ia Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 3 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

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

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 9 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

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

Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Pegu , at 55,53

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 4
Liberator B.VI x 9
Liberator GR.VI x 6
B-17F Fortress x 10
B-24D1 Liberator x 21
B-24J Liberator x 76
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 7

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 50
Airbase supply hits 12
Runway hits 119

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Bathurst Island , at 76,123

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 12
Beaufort VIII x 15
Hudson III (LR) x 16
PV-1 Ventura x 27
B-25C Mitchell x 3
B-25D1 Mitchell x 3
B-25G Mitchell x 6
B-25H Mitchell x 30

No Allied losses

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

Airbase hits 34
Airbase supply hits 22
Runway hits 71

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 55th Division, at 55,51 , near Prome

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Allied aircraft
Wellington B.X x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 26
B-25D1 Mitchell x 47
B-25H Mitchell x 12

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 4 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak
B-25D1 Mitchell: 3 damaged
B-25H Mitchell: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Wellington B.X bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

Ground combat at Bassein (54,52)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 12753 troops, 94 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 660

Defending force 13782 troops, 104 guns, 126 vehicles, Assault Value = 215

Japanese adjusted assault: 238

Allied adjusted defense: 130

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 6)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 5

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

Japanese ground losses:
1714 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 427 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 36 (1 destroyed, 35 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
420 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th RTA Division
3rd RTA Division
1st RTA/A Division
7th RTA/B Division

Defending units:
7th New Chinese Corps
I/221 Gp Forward Base Force
48th Aviation Base Force
858th Engineer Aviation Battalion
167 Wing
122nd RAF Base Force
48th Light AA Regiment
XXXIII Corps RIASC Base Force
I/224 Gp Forward Base Force
243 Wing
II/221 Gp Forward Base Force
848th Engineer Aviation Battalion

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

Ground combat at Talaud-eilanden (79,97)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1065 troops, 86 guns, 81 vehicles, Assault Value = 779

Defending force 10134 troops, 105 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 343

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
24th Infantry Division
I Corps Cmbt Engineer Regiment
5th USMC Tank Battalion
147th Field Artillery Regiment
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
33rd Medium Regiment

Defending units:
54th Ind.Mixed Brigade
38th Ind.Mixed Brigade
90th Naval Guard Unit
14th Nav Gd /2
28th JAAF AF Bn
1st Mobile Bde /3

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

Ground combat at Wewak (96,119)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11876 troops, 213 guns, 287 vehicles, Assault Value = 391

Defending force 7149 troops, 7 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 164

Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division

Defending units:
Sasebo 7th SNLF
Sasebo 6th SNLF
7th Garrison Unit
6th South Seas Det.
46th Nav Gd /2
51st Road Const Co
15th Naval Construction Battalion
2nd JAAF AF Bn

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

Ground combat at 55,51 (near Prome)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 117097 troops, 1579 guns, 607 vehicles, Assault Value = 4893

Defending force 103224 troops, 1412 guns, 2250 vehicles, Assault Value = 3534

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

Allied ground losses:
497 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 9 (4 destroyed, 5 disabled)

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

Reinforcements: This Mixed Brigade will go to Paramushiro.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]14th Area Army arrives at Manila
69th Ind.Mixed Brigade arrives at Asahikawa
LST T-138 arrives at Niigata

Aircraft Toka advances R&D (8/45)[/font]

Losses:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of AM Wa 105 on Jul 26, 1944 is admitted
Loss of DMS W-7 on Jul 26, 1944 is admitted[/font]

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]AM Bihar is reported to have been sunk near Morotai on Jul 26, 1944
Previous report of sinking of SS Billfish incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
Previous report of sinking of SS Sirdar incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
SS Flying Fish[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]The removal of units by transport planes has been very active on both sides of New Guinea. In this Southern area Timoeka is the evacuation point for evacuees from Nabire, and once those have been shuttled to Boela and Ambon, an operation will begin to remove the regiments and base forces from the far southern DEI islands, all of those marked with white circles.

On the Northern coast Vanaimo has a group of transports flying from Wolaei, and then xAKLs have been gathering those troops back to Babeldaob. Emilys from Babeldaob have taken troops direct from Hollandia. One units is still brining pieces of things out of Rabaul and another works from Ponanpe to get units from Nauru, Ocean and Kusaie islands. The small transports then take them from Truk to the Marianas, as well as those units being grabbed from Tulagi, Ndeni and Lunga. [/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]28 - 29 July 1944[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] The Cavalla hits an AK carrying a brigade to Mindanao. The ship has 75 float and 6 fires. I've rerouted it to San Jose two hexes away. The I-28 is lost to the PF Coronado near Manokawari. Most other subs have returned to Babeldaob for resupply and/or repairs.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S/SW PAC:[/font] Jocke sent a few DDs for a trip to Truk and got a couple of xAKLs. He missed the mines this time, and my DBs are no longer here, so didn't catch him on the way out. Operation Pick-Up-Sticks is still on though, and 5 different 1-3 ship TFs are moving through the South Pacific. Since these are remnants of airlifted units, if he hits those ships it's just as good as getting them to their parent as they'll then be able to rebuild the guns and radars that have been missing.

His bombings hit Wewak and the troops just kicked out of Sorong. I'm just really happy that after many months of pushing forward his main air weapon is still concentrating on rear areas. Rabaul, where there are plenty of AA units to sting when he comes 1-2 missions a week, Wewak, a doomed outpost with no supply under siege for several months, and even Kiriwina and other small as yet unconquered rear positions. The actually dangerous ones, which I'll still use on occasion, are left untouched. Green Island has have of an HQa with TT and a level 5 field with 5500 supply. Never been bombed. I keep Norms at Rabaul just to see if he's getting complacent and moving big convoys too close. Hollandia and Vanaimo are also completely viable strike bases with good supply and 100 air support between them and the untouched fields allow me to airlift 100 squads a day to Woleai. I've moved so much I'm starting to go over the stacking limit there even with small convoys arriving to skim units off the top.

The US CVs seem to have moved back, likely to replenish and refuel.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S DEI: [/font] Bathhurst Island is crushed by everything at Darwin, but why? There is a Jake unit here, or what is left of one, but nothing else. Meanwhile the other Southern DEI bases have recovered, fields open, and I'm beginning to remove regiments from Babo and Taberfane back to Lomblen, then the Celebes.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Jocke has been bombing Toungoo and noticing there is no AA has slowly dropped the altitude n his 4E. A radar equipped regiment and another 16 75mm guns are moving in and should be set up in two days. Hopefully he'll go to 6k.

Elsewhere Rangoon still takes it's toll getting 4-5 2E to flak. Tanks are nearly to Bassein. Another bombardment wrecks some more Allied infantry at 55, 51. He is definitely on a mission for supply expenditure. Very similar to what I would do in China. However, the supply situation in the HI has stabilized and I've sent out three TFs with 25-30k each. The first arrives in 2 days, another in about 5 days, and another in about 10 days. One more will be loaded at Palembang and sent over. Should top things up.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 28, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ASW attack near Manokwari at 87,106

Japanese Ships
SS I-28, hits 29, heavy damage

Allied Ships
PF Coronado

SS I-28 is sighted by escort
I-28 diving deep ....
PF Coronado fails to find sub, continues to search...
PF Coronado attacking submerged sub ....
Large oil slick appears over area of attack!
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Truk at 112,108, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
MTB G-873, Shell hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Bush
DD LaVallette
DD McKee
DD Saufley
DD Thatcher
DD Frankford
DD Reid

Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Truk at 112,108, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Kensin Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAKL Assam Maru, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Hidaka Maru, Shell hits 31, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Matsutan Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Bush
DD LaVallette
DD McKee
DD Saufley
DD Thatcher
DD Frankford
DD Reid

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 8
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 29
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 16
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 28
Ki-84a Frank x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 6 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 15 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Toungoo , at 57,50

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 4
Liberator B.VI x 11
Liberator GR.VI x 7
B-24D Liberator x 8
B-24D1 Liberator x 23
B-24J Liberator x 65
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 8

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 38
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 171

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Bathurst Island , at 76,123

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 15
Beaufort VIII x 28
PV-1 Ventura x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 6
B-25D1 Mitchell x 42
B-25G Mitchell x 3
B-25H Mitchell x 39

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 24
Airbase supply hits 17
Runway hits 95

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Wellington B.X x 16
Wellington GR.XIII x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington B.X: 5 damaged
Wellington GR.XIII: 3 damaged
Wellington GR.XIII: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Wellington B.X bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

Ground combat at 55,51 (near Prome)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 117021 troops, 1579 guns, 607 vehicles, Assault Value = 4879

Defending force 103275 troops, 1412 guns, 2250 vehicles, Assault Value = 3538

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

Allied ground losses:
234 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 29, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 37
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 4
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 46
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 21
Ki-84a Frank x 45

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 16 damaged
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 12 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-67-Ia Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 3 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2nd Amphibious Brigade, at 83,108 , near Sorong

Weather in hex: Light cloud

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

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 15

No Allied losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 46th Naval Guard Unit, at 96,119 (Wewak)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 20
B-24J Liberator x 17

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
236 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 9th Division, at 57,50 (Toungoo)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 4
Liberator B.VI x 25
B-24D Liberator x 9
B-24J Liberator x 50
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 11

No Allied losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Bathurst Island , at 76,123

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 12
F6F-3 Hellcat x 15

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near San Jose at 77,83

Japanese Ships
AK Keisyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SC Ch 63
SC Ch 25
AK Johore Maru
E Sagi
PC Take

Allied Ships
SS Cavalla

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

SS Cavalla launches 2 torpedoes at AK Keisyo Maru
Cavalla diving deep ....
E Sagi attacking submerged sub ....
PC Take fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Sagi attacking submerged sub ....
E Sagi fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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

Ground combat at 55,51 (near Prome)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 116841 troops, 1579 guns, 606 vehicles, Assault Value = 4856

Defending force 103283 troops, 1412 guns, 2252 vehicles, Assault Value = 3539

Japanese ground losses:
271 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
413 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 11 (2 destroyed, 9 disabled)

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

Reinforcements: none.

Losses:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of SS I-28 on Jul 28, 1944 is admitted
Loss of MTB G-873 on Jul 28, 1944 is admitted[/font]

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]SS Truculent is reported to have been sunk near Port Blair on Jun 07, 1944
Previous report of sinking of DD Healy incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
Previous report of sinking of SS O20 incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]New 47mm anti-tank units have now been placed on the Marianas. One step at a time these are getting tougher. He could still drop 3-4 divisions and wipe out what we have here, but it'll be tougher and likely take longer now at least. Hopefully the combination of LBA, mines, MTBs, midget subs and CD guns will give the landings a bit more trouble this time. [/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]30 - 31 July 1944[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] Another sub downed. The Ronquil is sunk by three Es near Mindanao. The Sealion II hits a PB near Hengchun.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S/SW PAC:[/font] Rabaul is again a target and again takes out a few planes to flak. Wewak is hit hard and should fall soon. He hasn't yet DAed here. Just bombardments. Interestingly I haven't been seeing many sweeps around lately. I'll send in a few Georges to Vanaimo and see what happens.

The KB is nearly ready. I don't see his major CV fleet near Morotai or Sorong, so I'll add some search onto North New Guinea and see what I find. There are what look to be CVE near the Biak area. I've got three units converted to the Grace on Mindanao. Currently I'll use them for DB as they go to 13 hexes with the 2 x 250kg and I'm really hunting for reinforcements to Talaud or other invasions foremost, and combat shipping second. Two Judy units are at Davao. Frances will be used from Balikpapan and Babeldaob out to 13 hexes and Jills will be at Ambon. I'm hoping keeping the bombers in each base one type could help the coordination, but we'll see.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S DEI: [/font] No movement. I've now got transports set to both Babo and Taberfane to move out troops. Within a week I could have all major combat troops pulled back from this area if he doesn't interfere much.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] At Bassein I let the Thais DA while the tanks were entering the hex in case they shocked over. They did not, and didn't take part in the DA either. That's fine as Jocke reinforced through air-lifts, bringing in a Chindit Brigade and most of an Indian brigade a well. At least the tanks are unharmed and after moving them for a day back he still hadn't bombed them either. That could be a mess if he decides to tomorrow. The Thais will be gone tomorrow, so that was their last hurrah. Bye bye Thais!

A few small bases will be under-garrisoned tomorrow, but I'l get them in order within a week or two.

Jocke bombed Toungoo again for little damage on the 30th. The AA is now active though, and he kindly moved down to 6k where our flak took out another few bombers.[:)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] Just bombing the fields. A few more units moving in.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 30, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub attack near Guiuan at 86,86

Japanese Ships
E Chiburi
E No.24
E No.22

Allied Ships
SS Ronquil, hits 11, heavy damage

SS Ronquil launches 2 torpedoes at E Chiburi
E No.24 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E No.22 attacking submerged sub ....
Underwater explosion, debris and oil appear on surface!
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 32
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 39
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 23
Ki-84a Frank x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 11 damaged
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 16 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-67-Ia Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 3 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 29
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 12
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 19
Ki-84a Frank x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 12 damaged

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 99th JAAF AF Bn , at 106,125 (Rabaul)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IV x 9
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-24D Liberator x 8
B-24D1 Liberator x 14
B-24J Liberator x 45
B-25C Mitchell x 11
B-25D1 Mitchell x 12
B-25G Mitchell x 21
B-25H Mitchell x 18
P-39N1 Airacobra x 7
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 8
PBJ-1D Mitchell x 10

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
B-24J Liberator: 3 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-25H Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 2 damaged
PBJ-1D Mitchell: 1 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x PBJ-1D Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Division, at 57,50 (Toungoo)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

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

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 5
Liberator B.VI x 13
B-17F Fortress x 3
B-24D Liberator x 9
B-24D1 Liberator x 30
B-24J Liberator x 101
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 10

No Allied losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Garrison Unit , at 83,108 , near Sorong

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 30

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

Ground combat at Bassein (54,52)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10901 troops, 92 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 730

Defending force 18773 troops, 146 guns, 126 vehicles, Assault Value = 455

Japanese adjusted assault: 91

Allied adjusted defense: 516

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 5 (fort level 5)

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2696 casualties reported
Squads: 178 destroyed, 85 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 40 (7 destroyed, 33 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
212 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th RTA Division
3rd RTA Division
1st RTA/A Division
3rd Tank Division
7th RTA/B Division

Defending units:
111th Chindit Brigade
7th New Chinese Corps
44th Indian Bde /1
I/221 Gp Forward Base Force
XXXIII Corps RIASC Base Force
48th Light AA Regiment
48th Aviation Base Force
122nd RAF Base Force
243 Wing
II/221 Gp Forward Base Force
167 Wing
I/224 Gp Forward Base Force
858th Engineer Aviation Battalion
848th Engineer Aviation Battalion

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 31, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub attack near Hengchun at 84,68

Japanese Ships
PB Hakkaisan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Rakuto Maru
PB Kyo Maru #8

Allied Ships
SS Sealion II

SS Sealion II launches 2 torpedoes at PB Hakkaisan Maru
Sealion II diving deep ....
PB Kyo Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light rain

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

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 37
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 19
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 24
Ki-84a Frank x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 9 damaged
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 12 damaged

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

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 22

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Division, at 57,50 (Toungoo)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 5
Liberator GR.VI x 11
B-17F Fortress x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 9
B-24J Liberator x 72
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 10

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 38th Division, at 57,50 (Toungoo)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 10

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

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

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Sasebo 6th SNLF, at 96,119 (Wewak)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 21
B-25C Mitchell x 8
B-25D1 Mitchell x 12
B-25G Mitchell x 12
PBJ-1D Mitchell x 10
PV-1 Ventura x 8

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 3 damaged
PBJ-1D Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
552 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x PBJ-1D Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

Ground combat at Talaud-eilanden (79,97)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1080 troops, 88 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 801

Defending force 12215 troops, 131 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 422

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

Assaulting units:
24th Infantry Division
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
I Corps Cmbt Engineer Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
5th USMC Tank Battalion
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
147th Field Artillery Regiment
33rd Medium Regiment

Defending units:
38th Ind.Mixed Brigade
90th Naval Guard Unit
54th Ind.Mixed Brigade
49th Infantry Regiment
14th Naval Guard Unit
28th JAAF AF Bn
1st Mobile Bde /3

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

Ground combat at Wewak (96,119)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11883 troops, 213 guns, 287 vehicles, Assault Value = 393

Defending force 5101 troops, 3 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 56

Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division

Defending units:
6th South Seas Det.
7th Garrison Unit
Sasebo 6th SNLF
Sasebo 7th SNLF /3
15th Naval Construction Battalion
46th Naval Guard Unit
2nd JAAF AF Bn

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

Reinforcements:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]E Ukuru arrives at Tokyo
E No.43 arrives at Tokyo
SS RO-50 arrives at Osaka/Kyoto
332 Ku S-1 arrives at Hiroshima/Kure
332 Ku S-1 Det arrives at Hiroshima/Kure
332 Ku S-3 arrives at Hiroshima/Kure
955 Ku T-1 arrives at Davao

Accelerated training for 563 IJ Army pilots from month-cycle 10[/font]

Losses: none.

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]SS Ronquil is reported to have been sunk near Guiuan on Jul 30, 1944
Previous report of sinking of DD Carmick incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]The Thais are out of the war. This hurts for garrisons in Thailand and Burma, but should n't affect much else.

Royal Thai Army withdraws out of theatre
2nd RTA Division withdraws out of theatre
3rd RTA Division withdraws out of theatre
4th RTA Division withdraws out of theatre
Thai Aviation Coy withdraws out of theatre
RTA/A Cavalry Division withdraws out of theatre
RTA/B Cavalry Division withdraws out of theatre
RTA/C Cavalry Division withdraws out of theatre
1st RTA/A Division withdraws out of theatre
1st RTA/B Division withdraws out of theatre
1st RTA/C Division withdraws out of theatre
6th RTA/A Division withdraws out of theatre
6th RTA/B Division withdraws out of theatre
6th RTA/C Division withdraws out of theatre
7th RTA/A Division withdraws out of theatre
7th RTA/B Division withdraws out of theatre
7th RTA/C Division withdraws out of theatre[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]1 - 2 August 1944[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] Jocke sends a few DD TFs into Manado, so he must have noticed the mini-subs all over the place there. [:D] He sinks two but loses a DD to mines.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]STRAT BOMBING:[/font] B-29s go for Medan again both nights. It had gotten up to about 135 points running again, but these attacks knock it down to about 38. In reports Jocke loses three B-29 in the air, two to flak and four to ops over the two nights. I lose five Irvings. Eight are damaged, so in case he goes again soon I moved in more NF.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S/SW PAC:[/font] A big BB bombardment goes to Talaud and he begins to bomb the troops with 2E. No sweeps!! I'll be looking carefully at whether that continues. I did get to the strikes at Wewak and near Sorong, taking out about a dozen B-25s and a few B-24.

In the meantime I notice there is a CVE TF moving out of Morotai a few hexes SE. In spite of more search up all along New Guinea, spotting the many logistical and combat TFs moving there, there is no sign of the US main CV fleet. Interesting.

The odds look good, and so I'll move the KB out to see if this is for real. This will likely expose us to be sighted, but the prize would be a possible invasion fleet and potentially some CVEs. I'll give it a shot, and even if it's just a feint or CAP trap, I could surprise him with what happens. All other bases are now ready and I'll turn those strike planes on as well. The KB will be heavily LR CAPed from several bases around Jolo.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S DEI: [/font] It is possible he's moving the CVs to this area. There is no sign of loading troops at Darwin, but it will take a while to move around New Guinea if this is the plan. If so, once the KB is exposed I'll try to deceive about where it heads back should there end up being no battle. I'll put some search into the Solomon Sea and likely move toward Balikpapan, giving the option to protect both the Manado to Mindanao area and the Timor area.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Jocke bombards at Toungoo. He loses a good chunk of guns and some vehicles each day. he has 4500 AV of good troops here plus it looks like he didn't move in the tanks which are still on the Prome road. With level 6 forts and lots of supply on the way, I feel comfortable here, and love the loss of time caused by these troops having moved through the jungle to get here. It's August, and there is no other axis of advance to try unless he goes around to Chang Mai. That would be another 4-5 weeks, so hopefully he'll try it.

My retreat in Burma is now looking to be dependent on movement toward the Philipines. If he goes to Mindanao or any surrounding area I'll have to begin the general retreat to get out before he moves CVs through to the South China Sea. Saigon and Cam Rahn Bay are virtually undefended on the ground.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR August 1, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ASW attack near Manado at 76,99

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-35, hits 12, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Charles Ausburne
DD Gansevoort

SSX Ha-35 is sighted by escort
DD Gansevoort attacking submerged sub ....
Sounds of submarine breaking up detected!
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 235 encounters mine field at Manado (75,99)

Allied Ships
DD Caldwell, Mine hits 1, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Medan , at 46,76

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 14

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 3 damaged
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed by flak

Oil hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Medan , at 46,76

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 5

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 2 damaged


Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Manado at 75,99

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-29, hits 15, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Charles Ausburne
DD Monssen
DD Trathen
DD Schroeder

SSX Ha-29 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Charles Ausburne
DD Monssen attacking submerged sub ....
DD Trathen fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Monssen attacking submerged sub ....
Debris floats to surface in area of attack!
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 30
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 11
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 46
Ki-84a Frank x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 5 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 12 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 2 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 54th Ind.Mixed Brigade, at 79,97 (Talaud-eilanden)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25H Mitchell x 42

Allied aircraft losses
B-25H Mitchell: 1 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-25H Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 15th Naval Construction Battalion, at 96,119 (Wewak)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 11
B-24D1 Liberator x 23
B-24J Liberator x 24
B-25C Mitchell x 8
B-25D1 Mitchell x 11
PBJ-1D Mitchell x 10
PV-1 Ventura x 8

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged
PBJ-1D Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
371 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 17 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x PBJ-1D Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

Ground combat at Toungoo (57,50)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3982 troops, 310 guns, 247 vehicles, Assault Value = 4522

Defending force 71802 troops, 852 guns, 596 vehicles, Assault Value = 2272

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

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 40 (8 destroyed, 32 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
475th USA Regiment
18th British Division
5th Indian Division
27th Infantry Division
17th Indian Division
6th Australian Division
41st Infantry Division
20th Indian Division
7th Infantry Division
43rd Infantry Division
9th Australian Division
III Indian Corps
8th Mahratta AT Gun Regiment
12th Indian Heavy AA Regiment
15th Indian Heavy AA Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
XV Indian Corps
IV Indian Corps
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
33rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Southeast Asia
1st Indian Light AA Regiment
2/13th Field Regiment
2nd Indian Heavy AA Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
31st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
225 Group RAF
6th Mixed A/T Mtr Regiment
23rd AA Bde
14th Army
2/9th Field Regiment
163rd Light AA Regiment
101st Heavy AA Regiment
118th Light AA Regiment

Defending units:
9th Division
38th Division
2nd Guards Division
5th Division
18th Division
14th Mortar Battalion
2nd Area Army
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion
2nd Medium Mortar Battalion
9th RF Gun Battalion
Burma Area Army
70th Field AA Battalion
10th RF Gun Battalion
1st Air Defense AA Regiment
5th RF Gun Battalion
11th RF Gun Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
68th JAAF AF Bn

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR August 2, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on Medan , at 46,76

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 9

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 4 damaged

Oil hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 7th Garrison Unit , at 96,119 (Wewak)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 18

Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 6
B-17E Fortress x 4
B-24D Liberator x 9
B-24D1 Liberator x 9
B-24J Liberator x 46
B-25C Mitchell x 6
B-25D1 Mitchell x 48
B-25G Mitchell x 12
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 6
PBJ-1D Mitchell x 13
PV-1 Ventura x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 3 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 damaged
PBJ-1D Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
354 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x PBJ-1D Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 7th Garrison Unit , at 96,119 (Wewak)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 5

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 16
B-24J Liberator x 22
B-25C Mitchell x 8
B-25D1 Mitchell x 11
B-25G Mitchell x 9
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 7
PV-1 Ventura x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 4 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
205 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Garrison Unit , at 83,108 , near Sorong

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 16

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
S-305 Hikotai with N1K1-J George (16 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
16 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 23
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 4
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 14
Ki-84a Frank x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 2 damaged
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 12 damaged
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 1 destroyed by flak

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

Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-67-Ia Peggy bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 3 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 17
Ki-84a Frank x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 6 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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

Ground combat at Wewak (96,119)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11883 troops, 213 guns, 287 vehicles, Assault Value = 393

Defending force 3345 troops, 3 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

Allied adjusted assault: 350

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 350 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Wewak !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
3603 casualties reported
Squads: 164 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 252 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 34 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 6

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

Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division

Defending units:
Sasebo 6th SNLF
6th South Seas Det.
15th Naval Construction Battalion
7th Garrison Unit
46th Naval Guard Unit
2nd JAAF AF Bn
Sasebo 7th SNLF /3

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

Ground combat at Toungoo (57,50)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3945 troops, 307 guns, 246 vehicles, Assault Value = 4533

Defending force 71883 troops, 852 guns, 596 vehicles, Assault Value = 2279

Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 28 (8 destroyed, 20 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Reinforcements:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]MTB G-881 arrives at Hakodate
ML G-325 arrives at Sapporo
SC CHa-86 arrives at Ominato[/font]

Losses:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of SSX Ha-29 on Aug 01, 1944 is admitted
Loss of SSX Ha-35 on Aug 01, 1944 is admitted[/font]

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]DD Caldwell
Previous report of sinking of SS Tunny incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
SS Ling is reported to have been sunk near Marcus Island on Apr 07, 1944
SS Trusty is reported to have been sunk near Phuket on Jun 12, 1944[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]DD Caldwell. Likely sunk by a mine at Manado. I'm interested to see how Jocke deals with the challenge of mini-subs, MTBs, mines and CD guns right in the cross-hairs of all of my major air bases in the area. Only a few small CD guns 12cm and 8cm, but still, more than he's used to seeing, and could hurt any minesweeping he wants to do there. [/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]3 August 1944: CV BATTLE - Celebes Sea[/font]
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Major disappointment! The reaction of the AI again skrews any chance to have a successful engagement. [:@]

Well, it's not a disaster yet, but it's not a success either. Again, as has happened numerous times now in my games, the CVs don't end up where I've set them to go in spite setting that should keep them there. The slowest CVs go the farthest![8|] They pay a heavy price as a result.

First round after round of LBA went after crap, got skewered by CAP and generally did nothing for huge losses. Then the KB at least made a go of it.

Our strikes go in first and it looks like the Allies are only the CVEs plus a few big CVs and a few CVLs, not the entire fleet. Later it appears it might be all of them.

A few good hits are landed but nothing extraordinary, and mostly on CVEs rather than CVs. The Allies come in piecemiel as well. The KB CAP is as weak as I've seen it and the splitting of the CVs did nothing to help. It also took some out of range of the LBA LR CAP. Altogether this is a show of the ineptitude of the Japanese fleet in 44. It wasn't the Turkey shoot quite, but it was close.

Still only Ryujo, Zuiho and Junyo are lost outright. Hiyo has a chance to make it but Shoho is a goner with 99 fires. Kaga and Akagi both are in dire straits but farther away so also have a chance to make it home.

More details coming soon with maps. This might not be over as the US fleet could pursue considering the hammering our LBA and KB planes took yesterday.