Matrix Games Forums

April 5th - 6th, 1942

INDIA
I switched the heavies to daylight bombing. Thanks God the weather kept them down [:'(]. He just brought more Zero’s in Mandalay. I’m reverting to night bombing and I’m upgrading fragments of B-17s to LB-30. Better bomb load.
I retreated the Blenheim IV to Madras, they are useless also for city attack in daylight. The only use is airfield/port attack during the day, hence I have no use for them so far.
I’m sure he is going to strike back very soon.

CHINA
All he paratroopers are in Chengtu, I now have (3) divisions, (4) more on the way. I’ll definitely take it back. I just need some more time.

INDIAN OCEAN
GH should really get a woman or a hobby! [;)]
He came with a KB to sink some of my cargo ships!!
I don’t need the supplies anyway. I already have plenty anywhere. But I felt the need to do something with those tons of AKs I have in Karachi. It appears I’ll have to just leave them there to rot.

PACIFIC
Luganville feels now rather secure with the new NZ Bde (see picture).
I’m bringing the Lark Force Battalion to Noumea, in Suva the 101 NZRAF base Force has been reassigned and is loading for Luganville. One NZ Bde remains, but I don’t have yet the PPs to reassign it. I hope I’ll have the time before he comes.
Pago is being bombed, he is preparing the landing.
Palmyra also feels rather safe. Next step, Christmas Is.

Indian Ocean:

Considering that his fleet carriers are currently employed in the SOPAC you might commit the RN CV's there. Guess that the CVE's or CVL's he employs in the IO cannot have much CAP. In one of my own PBEM the RN did quite well even against KB (well, a reduced KB with Hiryu, Soryu, Zuikaku, Junyo and Hiyo to be honest). And even one Swordfish that scores a torpedo hit might sink a Japanese CVE while the RN CV's are able to endure some hits.

Of course, the IO is currently a secondary theatre for you, but I think you should try to hit him now where he is weak (or at least not stronger than you).

Hi Kereguelen,

I've been thinking about that. So far I'm not too favourable becuase I've seen quite some planes taking off that KB. I believe he has (2) CVL's plus possibly one or more CVE's.
And if I get hit, I'm far away from any friendly port.
Given the fact that he hasn't made any mistake so far, but for the first few days, I'll play safe and assume he has considered the British carriers as a potential threat and is acting accordingly.
Once I'll have the Fulmar's upgraded to Seafire's I'll reconsider. Right now I'm going chicken [;)]

Once again, thanks for the suggestion. Always appreciated [:)]

April 7th - 8th, 1942

INDIA
The night bombings are doing fine. GH even told me that I killed one of his aces (10 kills) on the ground. [8D]
He is not however retreating, he endures the night punishment (some kind of fetish?). [:D]
I’ll wait till May to switch to daylight bombing.
In May I’ll be able to upgrade the British planes. Hence the Blenheim will probably become Wellington and the Buffalo I, Wirraway and Lysander will become Hurricane.

CHINA
The Jap unit behind Lanchow has arrived in Sining. He is not attacking nor bombarding. He goal is probably to cut the supplies from Sining to Lanchow.
One of my divisions has cut his unit out. I’ll post a picture with the next report.

PACIFIC
The Americal US Division has been wiped away with the first shock attack. I didn’t even have time to get a fragment.
I’m playing really badly, it’s one mistake after another. [:-]
The subs going to Pago have been redirected towards Nanumea, they should be there in 3-4 days. Maybe I’ll manage to get some fragments out of there. Or maybe it’ll be another mistake to add to the list. [:(]
I’ve unloaded some supplies (10k) in Bora, they’ll be waiting for the CD and ENG unit on their way there.
I’ve decided not to take the carriers group down there, it’s too risky and the reward would be too small. It’s heading back to PH.
I’ll place two subs in Bora on stand-by, they’ll retrieve a fragment of the units if he comes. At least I won’t be loosing any more LCU’s for good.

You seem to have thick skin MC, hang in there and things will be ok. You have managed to get to May and the upgrades are nice to have for the British. By the way, could you post an intel page with how many planes both you and GH have lost? I am curious to see how the air war is going overall. Thanks , and It's a great AAR to read, I am enjoying your commentary.[:)]

Thanks GEM [:)] I'm happy you enjoy it ... I wish I did too [:D]

In the next report some info on the overall situation, later tonight (London time) I'll probably post the intel screen with next turn.

April 9th, 1942

INDIA
The usual night bombings. Yet no retaliation or reaction.
Meanwhile the pilot training continues.
I’m going to take Akyab back. I need to improve the morale of my men. My only problem with going for Akyab is weakening India. However he should be still busy in CENPAC for a while.
The following units will participate in the action:
- Burma HQ
- 24th UK Mtn Art Regiment
- 2nd UK Division
- 7th Armoured Tank Brigade
- CD Rangoon Force already in Akyab.
I hope they’ll be enough. He has (4) LCU’s in Akyab, no divisions. Only one brigade and auxiliary units.

CHINA
Lanchow encirclement continues. Nothing else relevant.

PI
Manila is down to (0) supplies. I wonder how long it can hold. Once it falls he will free (5) divisions!

AUSTRALIA
I’ve split the 12th BG equipped with (64) Bolo’s in Townsville.
I’ve upgraded the ‘A’ section – after taking it to Brisbane - to LB-30, once ready I’ll convert the next section. My problem is aviation support. I don’t have nearly enough anywhere. In Brisbane I have (30) points and no planes. Hence I’ll use the base to bring newly upgraded groups up to speed. Even in Alice I only have (150). Base forces are already on their way from the US, but they won’t make it before 3-4 weeks.
Alice Springs has now 130k supplies. That’s good.
The 26th US FA Bde in Townsville is being loaded, it’ll reinforce Luganville.

PACIFIC
He is heading for Nanumea.
As you can see in the picture my subs are behind his transports, they probably won’t make it to recover the fragments. They are going full speed.
I’m trying to make things a bit less than the usual smooth for GH. I’ve just created (7) PT boats in Nanumea. They are going East one hex, I hope I’ll be able to sink a few transports and to gain the couple of days I need to get the subs to Nanumea.

LOSSES
Air losses are quite good. He is now down (200) and it keeps getting better.
MC (1358) – GH (1569) [:)]
Naval losses are worse, but not too bad, since most ships lost are cargo ships and I definitely have plenty of them.
MC (129) – GH (46) [8|]
The worst situation is with army losses. Two full division, plus the Dutch units are hurting badly.
MC (9.042) – GH (174) [:(]

Next port will show the Intel screen.

April 10th – 11th, 1942

INDIA
He has eventually decided to retreat the fighters from Mandalay! [:D]
It could of course be a trap. Hence I’ll wait some more before switching to daylight bombing over Mandalay.
However I’m now directing the heavies towards Rangoon. Range is (10), hence still normal. I want to drive him away from Birmania before initiating some serious daylight bombing. From Rangoon he could still LR CAP.
In the picture you can see the actual planned missions.
The heavies will pound on Rangoon till he’ll have enough there too. Blenheim’s IV will make sure he cannot jump from Rangoon to Mandalay to Myitkyina. I’ll use them to shut down that airfield, not continuously, because I’m sure he’ll try to ambush me. But - on and off - I’ll slowly shut down Akyab, Mandalay and Myitkyina.
I’ll only use Blenheim and SB-2c, because I want to keep the heavies for airfield night bombing or daylight city attacks.
I’m wondering if it’s only a trick or if – at least for now – he has really decided to withdraw.

CHINA
Lanchow is almost entirely surrounded. Not much to do about it, I still have one hex free to reatreat to. Direction Sining, that’s where I’d want to go anyway.

AUSTRALIA
He has withdrawn the fighters from Daly Waters too!
A few more days of night bombing, just in case, and then I’ll bomb Daly Waters into stone age. Operation freedom will soon begin. I hope I’ll be able to force him to commit more units to Northern Australia. I am really scared for NZ and SOPAC, I’d better keep him busy somewhere else.
In Townsville the 101st Australian AT Rgt is loading, destination Noumea.

PACIFIC
A couple of rather good days [:)]. The PT boats ambush worked exactly as it was supposed to … unbelievable! [:'(]
(2) AP’s sunk with fragments of the Imperial Guards Division on them. One more AP damaged. He retreated the landing TFs and is bringing in some surface warships to wipe away the PT boats. They’ve done their job, they’ll all get awards, unfortunately they’ll likely be posthumous.
The subs have just loaded fragments of the 111th US Rgt, the 27th US/C Div and the 115th USN Base Force. They’ll be taken to Luganville where they’ll slowly reform. At least I haven’t lost those for good.
Next turn I’ll have enough PPs to reassign the 8th NZ Bde in Suva and take it to Luganville (or Noumea?).

I know I was supposed to post the Intel screen, but I thought that an overview of India, given his retreat from Mandalay, would have been more interesting. Next report will likely have the Intel screen.

hehe no problem , MC. you are doing some good damage to his air fleet. keep up the good work, pal. I am really pulling for you in this one.[:)] I'll look forward to intell screen whenever you have time to post.

April 12th, 1942

INDIA
The night bombing mission against Rangoon didn’t take off. Too bad.
However the recon missions report tons of fighters and bombers in Mandalay. It could be just FOW of course, but with GH I learnt to expect the worst. [:-]
a) I was surprised when he retreated without even trying to fight.
b) Next month the Zero bonus will be over (I think). He may want to take a last shot with it.
c) If he gives me total air superiority I can even bomb Hanoi from my bases. It means that I’ll wipe it clean of resources, oil and HI.
Those three considerations lead me to strongly suspect that his retreat has only been an attempt to lure my bombers in a trap over Mandalay and to retaliate over Chandpur, where I’ve been taking more and more F and FB for night training.
Hence, I may be a pussy[;)], but I’ve decided to play safe.
1) Heavies are bombing Mandalay - at night - again.
2) I evacuated from Chandpur every aircraft, with two exceptions, recons and fighters. I now have some 150 fighters all on 90% CAP in Chandpur, mainly Hurricane’s and P-40’s. They are all from 15.000 ft and up
3) I moved the Blenheim IV in Imphal back to Madras
4) I moved two more fighter squadrons in Diamond Harbor, where I have the heavies and he can‘t escort with Oscar‘s due to the range. There are now some 70+ fighters on CAP.
5) All squadrons in Chandpur and DH are on ‘no replacements’. If the CAP fails, at least I won’t fill the airfield with damaged planes.

CHINA
Lanchow defenders fended off yet one more assault. The odds remained at 0:1, fortifications held at (4) and the losses have been 5.500:1.200 in my favor. Supplies are in the red, but the units experience is now 80+ for all my divisions. I think it’s that that’s making the difference. I was surprised nevertheless. I expected at least a fortifications reduction.
Chengtu keeps growing, he is airlifting tons of units there. I’m moving in (6) more divisions from Chunking.
The key to Chengtu will be the air superiority. If I can gain it over India and Birmania, I can provide heavy air support to the assaulting Chinese troops. Otherwise it may take a long time. So far there are already some 15k Japanese in Chengtu.

AUSTRALIA
I’ll soon have (5) full divisions, (4) brigade size units, (3) tanks units and several minor units in Alice Springs.
Daly seems to be deserted by aircrafts. I’ll keep bombing at night for a few more turns though (same pussy as above [:D]).
I can’t wait to start the daily runs.

PACIFIC
My PT boats rock!! Oh yes they do! [8D]
GH sent in Nanumea (4) BBs [X(] plus cruisers and escort to clear the way from my (7) PT ... he really doesn’t like to take risks, does he? I mean what’s next? A carriers attack on my - mighty - PTs!?! [:'(]
Anyway ... they put (2) torpedoes into the Yamashiro!! It feels real good.
He should have sent the Yamato. I mean we are talking (7) PTs, no kidding.
... Ok, I know, it’s not a major event, but morale wise it was great.
In Suva I eventually had the PPs to reassign the 8th NZ Bde, it is now loading, destination Luganville.
Luganville will consequently reach 700 AV. It should be enough to feel safe. Shouldn’t it?

Good to see you scoring some hits. Here is a big cheer for your brave PT men!!!

Thanks marovici! Some support from the Allies fanboys is always nice. [:)]

April 13th, 1942

INDIA
Everything went according to the script.
Retaliation on Chandpur. He was trying to catch the training planes on the ground and to score as many hits as possible.
Looks like playing p#ssy worked, at least partially. [:D]
In the picture you can see the breakdown of the air losses of the day. I’m obviously on the losing side. However the ratio hasn’t been too bad. He lost 50 of his fighters, with irreplaceable pilots on them. While I have plenty of planes and inexperienced pilots. The ones he shot down had no experience anyway. On the other hand, the few who survived are now mostly 70+.
I consider the battle a minor victory.
I forgot a couple of heavies on Rangoon attack and the Mandalay one has therefore not been as effective has it should have been. Pity. Still (5) destroyed on field.
Chandpur airport is still open. The survivors of the air battle have been withdrawn to Diamond Harbor, where they’ll receive replacements and recover from the losses.
I doubt he’ll come for a second round on Chandpur. However, in case he does, I’ve moved in (4) fresh fighter squadrons:
- AVG/A P-40E
- AVG/C P-40B
- 605 RAF Hurricane II
- 28 RAF Hurricane II

In Karachi the 223 RAF Base Force (90 AS) is now available. It’s starting the march for the front.

AUSTRALIA
Fighters have reappeared in Daly. Unfortunately bad weather kept my heavies down.
His bluff is now clear. Let’s see what happens next.

PACIFIC
To clear Nanumea from the PT’s this time he sent DD’s. There’s now one PT left.

April 14th, 1942

INDIA
No second day attack on Chandpur. He is probably licking his wounds ... as I am, but he is not used to it. [;)]
Recon reports aircrafts in Magwe and one unit there. He must have moved one base force there to have more operational airfields.
I’ve decided to run one daylight mission with the heavies, I’ll attack Magwe. I don’t think he’ll be expecting it.
I’ve also resumed the night training Chandpur-Akyab, the airfield is protected enough and I’m confident that he won’t attack me again too soon for a number of reasons:
a) he if wanted to shut the airfield down he would have attacked this turn,
b) recon shows very few aircrafts everywhere,
c) he follows Mogami’s training method religiously, hence he now needs a little time to reorganize his fighter squadrons that must have been quite depleted during the battle over Chanpur.
I can’t wait for May to upgrade my bombers.

CHINA
He is trying to intercept my troop transports Ledo-Sining.

AUSTRALIA
I’m switching to daylight bombing here as well. I intend to close down Daly Waters ... for ever!
He has retreated the fighters again, somehow I believe this time is for real.
Recon shows 70k men there. A force I’ll have to deal with.
I’m thinking ... maybe I’ll just surround Daly, leave the necessary troops to keep him engaged and go for Darwin. Can he possibly have 70k in Daly AND in Darwin? Anyway it’s a plan that’ll have to wait for summer. I’m still massing troops in Alice.

PACIFIC
He has landed in Nanumea. Thanks to the fortifications the first attack didn’t kick me out. That’s good because I had forgotten to move the PBY’s out [:'(]. I’m falling next turn for sure.

I can see/guess GH is receiving quite a lot of support from the forum. I’m jealous [:o] and worried [:(]. Jealous because I’d like some support as well, worried because suggestions can always be helpful.

I know, I know, I’m a p#ssy. [;)]

=====================================
Hurricane IIc LB835 of No.4 Squadron. One of Chanpur's heroes.

Dont worry MC, he can have all the Jap asskissers ![;)] We know who the real heroes are. [:D]

I'm glad you are still fighting, you seem to be recovering from his initial punches and now you can plan for some counterpunching. His forces are weakening while yours are getting better each day. good luck [:)]

Thanks Gem, I was expecting more Allies fanboys, but hey …. more butts to kick! [:D]

April 15th, 1942

INDIA
Recon shows no sight yet of Jap fighters. The Magwe bombing caught some Dinah on field. Next turn I’ll bomb Myitkyina. I’m still a bit worried to bring the mediums in.
The heavies can survive an ambush inflicting some good casualties too, but the mediums are sitting ducks. I think I’ll wait some more days.

CHINA
A bit of a mess in the North and in the East.
In the picture you can see Lanchow encirclement. Should I withdraw to Sining now or should I hold on?
Lanchow has fortifications at (4) and seems to be able to hold. I don’t know. [&:]
Chengtu is growing stronger and stronger on the Jap side. He has some 20k men, including a Mixed Brigade. It will be a long job to take it back.
Kunming is growing nicely. It’s airfield size (5), supplied from Ledo by air, and with all the UK troops escaped from Birmania. It’ll be the airfield I’ll use to slowly come back to China. It’s going to take some time though.

AUSTRALIA
Fighters are back in Daly. But the daylight bombing went smooth. Airfield damage (39) and a couple of fighters destroyed on field. (370) casualties inflicted, he is now tasting a bit of the medicine I’m getting in China.
I’m reverting to night bombing to check if he is once again trying to ambush me.
The biggest problem in Australia today is the lack of air support. Units are on their way, but it’ll take almost a month before I’ll be in good shape under this point of view. The clash – or I should rather say ‘slaughter’ – in CENPAC has slowed down the reinforcements flow to an almost stop.

PACIFIC
Amazingly Nanumea pushed off one more attack.
However fortifications are now down to (0), the defenders are doomed.
A cargo convoy has been attacked by Betty’s not far from Gili Gili. (2) AK’s down, (2) damaged. I haven’t the faintest idea how they got there. I’m taking them back to Townsville at full speed.

April 16th, 1942

INDIA
Myiktyina bombing worked perfectly, the airfield has been shut down in just one turn. Fortresses and Liberators are great!
Once again my recon reports fighters and bombers in Mandalay, although not as many as before. So far recon has proven very precise, I’m kind of surprised. [X(]
Usual precautionary measures adopted. All aircrafts, but recon and fighters, withdrawn to backward bases.
All fighters in DH and Chandpur on LR CAP, range (0).
Heavies are back on night duty over Mandalay. They are now joined by the first Wellington III squadron.

AUSTRALIA
In Devonport the 106 RAAF Base Force (30 AS) has been reassigned to SWPAC, it will be loaded and taken to Adelaide, from there to Alice.
I now have (150) AS in Alice and (48) LB-30 waiting to be stationed there, I desperately need Aviation Support.
The RAAF units will help.

PACIFIC
Nanumea has eventually fallen.
The 32nd US Division is unloading in Palmyra. I think I can now consider the atoll secure.

===============================================
My main tool for air superiority
The LB-30 Liberator bomber was the designation given to the B-24's that were exported to Britain.

April 17th-18th, 1942

INDIA-AUSTRALIA
I decided to switch to daylight bombing since the recon reported only a few Oscar’s on CAP. And … I destroyed (64) on field!! [X(] Mandalay + Daly, that is. [:D]
My guess is that he had just switched the fighters to night CAP, because I found no CAP whatsoever during both bombings.
Eventually one mistake by GH, it was about time.
Now all Northern Burma airfields and Daly show a damage >50, hence I’ll keep pounding them during the day, to make sure they stay close.
Next targets will be Rangoon and Moulmein, he can still LR CAP from there.
Once airfield damage will be enough I’ll keep only the mediums on airfield attack and I’ll switch the heavies to city attack.
(4) Squadrons of SB-2c have been transferred to Imphal to join the airfields attacks.
In the pictures the attack vectors.
In Karachi the 223 RAF Aviation (270 AS) is now available. I love those units.[:'(]

PACIFIC
Luganville is now at 700+ AV and Palmyra 800+, fortifications 5+. I’m starting to feel rather safe.
Noumea (300+) and Auckland (200+) are the next bases to strengthen.

I’ve been unable to write the AAR for a while, I’m now back.
I’ll probably keep a slower pace anyway.

April 19th-24th, 1942

INDIA
The fight for air control continues. Yesterday he has returned in strength at Mandalay. Recon reports some 200 planes, fighters and bombers.
The usual precautionary measures have been adopted. In Chandpur only fighters on LR CAP and recon. Heavies in DH have switched target from Rangoon to Mandalay and all the fighters there are on LR CAP. Every other airfield within range has been vacated.
The AVG/B has been upgraded to P40-E. The Tomahawks are not strong enough to escort bombers anyway, not against his Zero’s, hence I’m only using fighters on defence.

CHINA
Lanchow’s encirclement is completed. The defenders can only retreat into a mountain hex. I don’t see what I could possibly do. I only have to hope that they’ll hold on.

DEI
The remaining bases around DEI are slowly falling into Japanese control. I obviously consider DEI lost already, hence I’ll forget about anything that happens there.

AUSTRALIA
Night bombings over Daly are being quite successful. More aviation support is unloading in Adelaide. In a couple of weeks I’ll be able to move some additional heavies in Alice.
Operation freedom will begin in June.

PACIFIC
I’m unloading ENG units in Christmas Is., I’ll use it to provide mutual cover with Palmyra.
I do believe however that his thrust westward is over. Oddly he is not going for Fiji, now totally undefended.

OVERALL SITUATION
So far I have 5.000 points and he has 16.500, once Manila falls I’ll drop to 3.800. Hence the ratio will be 4,5:1. [:(]
In the short term I only have one way to grab some points: air losses.
Japanese air force is loosing 20-30 aircrafts per day due to op losses and night bombings.
If this trend keeps up it makes some 300-500 planes (= points) per month. Just what I’ll need to bring the ratio somewhere near 3:1 by autumn.

What will his next targets be? Will he stop and consolidate or will he go for more conquers?
The Pacific has little more to offer: Fiji.
New Zealand could be a target. It is only lightly defended, but with Luganville and Noumea in my hands reinforcements and supplies would have to travel a long way.
He could mount another D-Day at Luganville and/or Noumea and he may still succeed.
West Australia is also almost undefended, but I see little advantages for him to go there. If he wanted to he could have done it earlier.
India is an obvious target, but my air power makes me feel quite secure there. Also every potential target is garrisoned, heavily mined and building fortifications. Ceylon is strong: mines, men, fortifications and aircrafts.
I almost hope he’d try to come to India, I believe I could hold the ground.
North Pacific: not many points there. Attu is built up and garrisoned. Enough to require another of his major invasions. And it could still hold.

My guess is that he’ll finish up PI and DEI, bring more forces into China and build airfields size (4) everywhere on my potential counter attack vectors.

Probably he’ll also use his carriers to ambush my transports South of Christmas Is.

===========================================

B-17G-25 of the 96th. Bombardment Group US 8th Air Force

It's still wayyyyyy too early in your war against GH to worry about victory points MC, just keep doing what you are doing, attrition damage will catch up to him sooner or later. So much war material is headed your way..... [:)]

actually, The LB-30 Liberator was a transpot version of the Liberator II, build for the RAF Coastal Command (Churchill had one named "Commando")