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Then you put those B-17s on Naval Attack at 11,000' with rest as their secondary mission when you stand them down. Any unescorted transported at sea within range of Calcutta are hit. That happened when Damian tried to land at northern Sumatra without LRCAP. Once their fatigue levels go down, back to max altitude for bombing missions.

Rinse, Repeat!! [:D]

A few thoughts on PsyOps....
 
In any war there are a finite number of soldiers and units per side. The more enemy troops one can cause to be garrisoning their rear areas the fewer enemy troops can be deployed at the enemy's spear tip - that bit which is jabbing for your guts. This is obviously a good thing.
 
So, the question becomes how to make good things happen. We have hypnosis - useful but difficult to do over the internet, neurolinguistic programming - highly useful and much easier to do over the internet but somewhat ethically questionable as it is really too powerful to employ just for a game and we have verbal misdirection and obfuscation - which is something I'm a bit more comfortable with as it is a harmless way of achieving the goal of weakening the spear tip.
 
So, how does that happen. Well, imagine that I was a bit unclear on the rules ( I amn't but lets imagine that I am ) that Damian had agreed with Mike and that I sought to clarify a rule concerning the unopposable landing of troops at any and all coastal hexes behind enemy lines ( IOW, submarine landings ). Damian would then reply quoting the rule and pointing out to me that such landings could only occur if an attempt to land the whole unit was made. Bemoan that rule and state that you will abide by it but that its a great pity that it states the whole unit because otherwise you would "land units at every coastal hex in the Phillipines and Java allowing me to retake southern Luzon and cause you a lot of trouble in Java. Ah well, I might try something later."
 
What do we see next turn? Well we can see some units moving to previously unoccupied coastal bases. Given that there are probably 30 or 40 unoccupied bases and occupying each would require a minimum of a Bn ( 30 AV ) that's 900 to 1200 AV ( or 3 to 4 division-equivalents ). Removing 3 or 4 divisions from the spear thrust could be enough to save Oz.
 
 
In other news: What have I learned about Damian recently? Well he's slow and steady in terms of his reaction. Over the past three days I've hit Meiktila with unescorted bombers every day. He hasn't hit me with Meiktila-based or LRCAP fighters once. Why? Well, he won't be scared. He is obviously, however, the sort of player who likes to observe, collect data and then analyse that data before deciding on a course of action. The real gem of these last 3 days isn't the 2.5 : 1 aerial exchange rate I've enjoyed but the fact that I've tested his reactions and playing styles with a variety of strikes ( hi-altitude bombing, low-altitude bombing, fighter ambushes, escorted vs unescorted bombing missions ) and he has responded consistently - cautiously but rationally.
 
 
Assessment of future actions. Well he now has two options:
1. Go on the defensive and surrender the initiative or
2. Go on the offensive and try to roll out his offensive plans.
 
Which will he do? He'll go on the offensive against a target he has already considered BUT he won't want to go for something big ( cautious players like him will prefer "risk little, win little" scenarios in times of great upheaval - which having a new opponent take over the enemy side most assuredly is ) and so I think that rather than going for Oz he will go for either New Zealand or Midway. New Zealand is currently being evacuated by my forces and really isn't a target of a lot of value so I think that rather than New Zealand we'll see him hitting Midway. It is a small, discrete target close to a concentration of his power and he will feel that he will risk little in hitting it since it is so accessible to large portions of his army, navy and air force.
 
Tomorrow my CVs will sortie on a mission to fly 120 P-40Es into Midway since he'll have to strike it and try to close the airfield there before he can bring troopships into range. The job of the P-40Es is simply to bleed his Zeroes and set the stage for a slashing attack by my CVs. Let's assume he has 7 CVs available ( which is the max he could currently have IIRC ). 6 of those CVs carry 18 Zeroes ( 108 Zeroes ) and one carries 42 ( the CVA Yamato ). That gives him a total of 150 Zeroes. My CVs carry 162 F4F4s but if I can winnow down his Zeroes with a strong CAP over Midway I might get lucky and put a big strike group through his CAP and sink a couple of CVs ( since the nearest safe base will be Kwajalein - which is a sizeable distance from Midway ). If I don't get the opportunity to slash in like that then, at least, my P-40Es can bleed his Zeroes and help reduce his pilot quality prior to the commencement of my invasion of the Bonins and Marianas... something which should help my survivability when the inevitable CV clash happens there.

Do I know when he will strike Midway? No but I imagine it will be within the next week as he'll want to react now in order to balance the initiative out a bit. In any case if he doesn't I need to get fighters there as he will definitely hit it once I hit the Bonins and Marianas so sending the fighters in now is prudent.

Don't the IJN carriers resize their airgroups in 6-7/42 to add more fighters (and less torpedo bombers)?

From the office of General Garrulous McDuff: "Only if they're still afloat old chap, only if they're still afloat. You'd be amazed at the low serviceability rates of airgroups at the bottom of the ocean. Now, that that's answered I'm off for a bit of tiffin'. "
 
Honestly though, I don't know. But the key point is that this is May 1942, not June or July and thus I won't be facing larger airgroups -  unless he loads his CVs with fighters but he is too conventional to do that.... unless people read this and then suggest it to him in his AAR obviously.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/15/42

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Coastal Guns at Umnak Island [AK], 101,37, firing at TF 91
TF 91 troops unloading over beach at Umnak Island [AK], 101,37


73 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
292 casualties reported

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TF 36 encounters mine field at Wake Island [USA] (85,72)

Japanese Ships
AP Nichiren Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

A 2000 ton AP hits a mine at Wake... It is not carrying troops. I'm reading this as meaning that this ship was moving to Wake to load up on troops preparatory to invading Midway.

To be fair one other giveaway for this is that there's a whole slew of spottings of submarines by C3N1s and B5N2s in the waters around Wake. With the airfield closed these planes can only come from his CVs.

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Coastal Guns at Umnak Island [AK], 101,37, firing at TF 91
TF 91 troops unloading over beach at Umnak Island [AK], 101,37


88 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Shiranuhi
CA Chokai
AK Misaki Maru

Japanese ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

TF 91 troops unloading over beach at Umnak Island [AK], 101,37


88 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Shiranuhi
CA Chokai
AK Misaki Maru

Japanese ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

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TF 45 encounters mine field at Wake Island [USA] (85,72)

Japanese Ships
DD Kiji

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Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 3
Ki-43-I Oscar x 27

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 1

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Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 7
D3A2 Val x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 3 damaged


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 14

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Day Air attack on Changsha [S China] , at 45,37

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 13
G4M1 Betty x 26
Ki-32 Mary x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged
Ki-32 Mary: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 21

I'd pulled my planes out overnight. The nice thing is it shows that he can be led into committing certain strikes and that means I can entice him into ambushes later. For right now though Burma has to be my main priority as it really is about time for him to hit back at me there.

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Day Air attack on Changsha [S China] , at 45,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 33
Ki-21-II Sally x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wuchow [C China] , at 42,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 43
Ki-109E Mike x 8

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon [Burma] , at 29,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 13
Ki-43-I Oscar x 18
Ki-44IIa Tojo x 4
Ki-109E Mike x 6

Allied aircraft
Pe-2 x 139

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-I Oscar: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-44IIa Tojo: 2 damaged
Ki-109E Mike: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Pe-2: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 103

This has got to be hellaciously frustrating for him as there's literally nothing he can do to strike back against these Pe-2s. Soon he'll hit Akyab - which is why I'm shuffling my Pe-2s out of there and into another airbase while shuffling fighters in in order to ambush his strike.

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Day Air attack on Meiktila [Burma] , at 32,31


Allied aircraft
P-43A Lancer x 6
SB-2M x 145


Allied aircraft losses
SB-2M: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 64

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Day Air attack on Bangkok [Thailand] , at 29,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 75

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 2 destroyed
H6K2-L Mavis: 1 destroyed
Ki-57 Topsy: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 2

Hmm, no G4M or G3Ms. Given the number of planes at Bangkok and its distance from my airbases only Bettys and Nells can bomb my bases from Rangoon.... but so far none of them have been destroyed on the ground. This is puzzling, and a little disappointing as G4Ms are high-priority targets right now as the more I kill now the fewer will be able to launch to torpedo my CVs.

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Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 83
Ki-21-II Sally x 32
Ki-15II Babs x 3
Ki-46-II Dinah x 3

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses


Allied ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 42

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Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 10
G3M2 Nell x 26
G4M1 Betty x 47
Ki-46-II Dinah x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 33

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Day Air attack on Wake Island [USA] , at 85,72

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 3
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 12

Allied aircraft
B-19A x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
F1M2 Pete-FF: 1 destroyed
A6M2-N Rufe-FF: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-19A: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 17

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Day Air attack on KNIL A-III-Ld AA Battalion, at 22,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 30
G4M1 Betty x 35
Ki-48-II Lily x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 12 damaged
Ki-48-II Lily: 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

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Day Air attack on KNIL Barisan Regiment, at 22,65

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 50
Ki-21-II Sally x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 9 damaged [:D]
Ki-21-II Sally: 3 damaged


Allied ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

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Ground combat at Umnak Island [AK]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11182 troops, 163 guns, 129 vehicles, Assault Value = 372

Defending force 5655 troops, 249 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 122



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Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 248363 troops, 3732 guns, 1374 vehicles, Assault Value = 6275

Defending force 102090 troops, 1803 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 3132



Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Manila/Cavite [PH]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 90063 troops, 1282 guns, 1043 vehicles, Assault Value = 3290

Defending force 57726 troops, 1257 guns, 387 vehicles, Assault Value = 2171



Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at Madicen [Java]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 46872 troops, 912 guns, 676 vehicles, Assault Value = 1274

Defending force 19794 troops, 337 guns, 62 vehicles, Assault Value = 522

Japanese max assault: 1167 - adjusted assault: 590

Allied max defense: 483 - adjusted defense: 1237

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)


Japanese ground losses:
1811 casualties reported
Guns lost 52
Vehicles lost 6

Allied ground losses:
343 casualties reported
Guns lost 22
Vehicles lost 1


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Ground combat at Medan [Sumatra]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 5315 troops, 80 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 191

Defending force 1256 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 37

Japanese max assault: 406 - adjusted assault: 210

Allied max defense: 28 - adjusted defense: 25

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Medan [Sumatra] base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
221 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
1220 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

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Ground combat at Umnak Island [AK]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4691 troops, 245 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 122

Defending force 11182 troops, 163 guns, 129 vehicles, Assault Value = 372



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Ground combat at Pamekasan [Madura]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 390 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 24

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

Japanese max assault: 24 - adjusted assault: 13

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 13 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Pamekasan [Madura] base !!!

The noose around Java tightens but I was never going to be able to save this place anyways. Mostly though the main news is that my combined assault on Burma/Vietnam is under way. Roughly 3 UK/Indian divisions are about to land south of Rangoon while 3,000 AV of Chinese troops are going to smash across the Vietnamese border. This should succeed in preventing him from immediately exploiting toward Oz when Java falls. Even when he drives me back into China ( as he will ) he will find that the resources and HI which have changed hands twice will be greatly damaged and reduced.

Hopefully he keeps focussing on Burma - which he seems to be doing - and that will allow me to get a couple of days head start in the Pacific. Well, that's it for now.

Well, a few days have passed and it became apparent that we had a synch bug problem... Basically I approached the Burmese coast safe in the knowledge that my forces hadn't been spotted. Unfortunately they had been but my combat reports and sighting reports were not the same as Damians SO on a day in which my CRs showed a Jap strike on 4 DDs which had landed a company to take Andaman Island his CR ( the one which takes precedence ) showed about 120 Bettys annihilating my 4 BBs and the guts of the 19th Indian Division which was being carried on those ships.

Anyways, once we sorted that out things progressed nicely with massive Betty and Sally strikes coming in, sinking lots of ships. It would appear that Damian is pretty ecstatic about this as he has mentioned the number of sinkings in email but overall I think that he isn't quite sinking them fast enough. Last turn BBs appeared at Port Blair and sank a transport unloading cargo there. Today I expect them to strike Moulmein itself. It is with that in mind that I have told my transports to move to Ye ( which I've already captured ) and unload there. Obviously I want both Ye and Moulmein but if push comes to shove I'll settle for Ye for now as I can build it up and keep Moulmein and Rangoon closed via Pe-2 raids from Mandalay.

Japanese losses continue to run at roughly triple the Allied rate. He has lost a LOT ( close to 100 ) Ki-21s on the ground in Burma and many other G4Ms in bomber raids elsewhere in addition to running into 2 or 3 small fighter ambushes which have, again, cost him dearly.

In a points tally he is still very much ahead since sinking those 4 BBs has more than made up for the 300 extra planes he has lost above and beyond my losses since the restart BUT:
1. I have invested Canton. I can't take it but investing it forces him to reinforce it robbing Burma and the Pacific of yet more troops.

2. I have over 3,000 AV ready to smash into Vietnam. I should easily over-run his border defences and take Hanoi etc ( 250 HI and 1000 resources --- taking it will halve those HI and resources and his recapture will halve them again ) and threaten to push toward Bangkok from the East. This will force him to amphib in troops from the DEI and Japan and, again, draw them away from Burma or the Pacific.

3. I can threaten to move down the coast of Malaysia with amphibious landings under cover of land-based fighters. Again he will have to keep planes, ships and troops available to honour this threat.

4. When the Burma/Vietnam battle is reaching its climax I will begin loading my shipping and making for the Bonins and Marianas islands. His BBs are off Burma and I'd be willing to bet his CVs are only a day or two behind as they MUST have been positioned to support his planned invasion of Oz. That's fine. They'll have a good day or two until I get Moulmein or until Ye becomes a Level 2 airfield and then my Pe-2s will force them back.


What's the plan for today? Well I expect his BBs to visit Moulmein as that's where I've been unloading. As a result all of my ships except one or two supply vessels which I need to have unloading to bring my supplies up to the right level to support a Shock Attack tomorrow will be sent to Ye.

His fighters and bombers will fly to Ye to attack my ships AND in so doing will run into the buzzsaw I've so carefully built over the past 2 weeks. Literal hordes of MiG-3s, I-16 Type 24s, Spitfires, Hurricanes and Kittyhawks will oppose them and my hope is to kill so many of his strike groups that I can get a couple of days of respite and finish unloading. If I get 2 days of unopposed landings at Ye or Moulmein then I will get enough ashore to survive. If I don't get those 2 days then this could end very badly for my guys.

I expect a LOT of aces tomorrow.

Unfortunately they had been but my combat reports and sighting reports were not the same as Damians SO on a day in which my CRs showed a Jap strike on 4 DDs which had landed a company to take Andaman Island his CR ( the one which takes precedence ) showed about 120 Bettys annihilating my 4 BBs and the guts of the 19th Indian Division which was being carried on those ships.

Damn -- that greatly reduces the chances of a good surface scrap. Which BB's were lost?

To be honest I don't know. BBs are really nothing more than AAA traps and kamikaze traps in my eyes so I don't bother with their names too much. I think they were all British but couldn't swear which ones they were. Lion is still out there somewhere though but I can't remember which ones the 4 sunk ones were.

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

BBs are really nothing more than AAA traps and kamikaze traps in my eyes so I don't bother with their names too much. I think they were all British but couldn't swear which ones they were.

I found the names in Damien's AAR. AAA traps and kamikaze traps? I take it you're not a shore bombardment fanboy.[:D]

Harlock,

No, not a real fan of shore bombardments. This mod has also tweaked the effectiveness of shore bombardments significantly so they are less likely to be nuclear.

So, today was a good day in which my fighter trap over Ye worked exceedingly well. The enemy BBs arrived at Moulmein and sank a few stragglers while the vast majority of my shipping went to Ye instead and began unloading there. Tomorrow his BBs will, undoubtedly, make for Ye but will find that my ships have headed out to sea for the night. He should, unless he's really sneaky, miss them entirely again.

Overall since the game has restarted roughly 335 Allied planes have been lost but over 800 Japanese planes have been destroyed. I'm particularly happy with the fact that the Zero losses have gone from 474 (in the previous 6 months ) to 696 ( 222 additional losses in the past 10 days ), G4M losses have increased from 373 to 495 ( a gain of 122 planes in just the past 10 days... the equivalent of 2 months of his previous loss rate ), Ki-21 losses hae increased from 206 to 396 ( a gain of 190 planes lost, almost a doubling of his Sally losses ), Ki-109 losses have increased from 85 to 145 ( a not insubstantial increase of 60 planes ), B5N losses have increased from 65 to 123 ( an increase of some 58 planes - again almost a doubling of their losses ). So, basically, I've made major inroads into his pilot pools and managed to attrit the Betty, Zero ( and to a lesser extent ), twin-engined bomber pools. The diversionary attack on Burma has succeeded - it has cost me more than I would have liked but in the end it has succeeded - in drawing his attention to Burma and attriting precisely the sorts of planes and pilots which will be of most use to him in the upcoming battles in the Pacific.

Other things I've learnt....
Well, I've learnt that when push comes to shove and the options are to push hard with everything he's got in an effort to win or to retreat and husband his resources for another day Damian will push in with everything he's got.
He's willing to risk CVs in close to land.
He likes surface bombardments.
CVA Musashi, CV Junyo and several CVLs/CVEs are present just west of Burma. That means that they CANNOT be available for future action in the Pacific. I won't quite get parity in the Pacific but this deployment means that he won't overmatch me nearly as much as he should.



AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/21/42
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TF 1051 troops unloading over beach at Moulmein [Burma], 30,34



Allied ground losses:
73 casualties reported

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ASW attack at 21,53

Japanese Ships
DD Michishio
DD Asashio
DD Nowaki
DD Urakaze
DD Maikaze
DD Oyashio
DD Makigumo
DD Kazegumo

Allied Ships
SS O20, hits 3, on fire

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Moulmein [Burma] at 30,34

Japanese Ships
PT Gyoraitei No 4
PT Gyoraitei No 5
PT Gyoraitei No 6

Allied Ships
AP Eastern Prince, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Cap St. Jacques
AP Empire Chivalry

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TF 50 encounters mine field at Midway Island [USA] (97,63)

Japanese Ships
SS I-10, Mine hits 1, on fire

Woohoo. Mines, the gift that keeps on giving.

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TF 74 encounters mine field at Kwajalein [Nanyo] (81,84)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.20
MSW W.19
MSW W.12
MSW W.11
DD Hato, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hayabusa
DD Ootori

Those L class Soviet subs are really earning their keep.

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Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 33
B5N2 Kate x 39
Ki-43-I Oscar x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Runway hits 12

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Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 7
D3A2 Val x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 17

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Day Air attack on Hengchow [S China] , at 44,37

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 21
Ki-32 Mary x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-32 Mary: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 24

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Day Air attack on Changsha [S China] , at 45,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 9

No Japanese losses

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Day Air attack on Bankha [Sumatra] , at 20,47

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 23
Ki-32 Mary x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-32 Mary: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 23

He's hitting this because every so often I sneak a dozen bombers in and hit one of his ships off Singapore.

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Day Air attack on Bankha [Sumatra] , at 20,47

Japanese aircraft
Ki-32 Mary x 6

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 2

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Day Air attack on Bandjermasin [BNO] , at 27,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 20
G4M1 Betty x 24
Ki-21-II Sally x 37

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 14

And the same at Bandjermasin.

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Day Air attack on Soerabaja [Java] , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 24
Ki-32 Mary x 26
Ki-48-I Lily x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-32 Mary: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-48-I Lily: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 63


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Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 14
Ki-109E Mike x 30
Ki-48-I Lily x 29
Ki-21-II Sally x 37
Ki-15II Babs x 4
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 3 damaged
Ki-109E Mike: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-48-I Lily: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 71

He has to keep Manilla closed no matter the cost because whenever it repairs even slightly I threaten to fly bombers in.

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Day Air attack on ROC 21st Field Army , at 49,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 28
Ki-32 Mary x 19

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
2 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

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Day Air attack on ROC 75th Guerilla Regiment, at 48,41

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 13
Ki-27 Nate x 24
Ki-15II Babs x 1

No Japanese losses

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Day Air attack on UK 2nd Infantry Division, at 30,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 23

Allied aircraft
Mosquito NF x 5

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

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Day Air attack on TF at 22,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 20

Allied aircraft
Pe-2 x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Pe-2: 6 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Maikaze, Bomb hits 1

Sent them in too low but at least they got a hit.

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Day Air attack on TF, near Ye [Burma] at 29,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 35
Ki-21-II Sally x 57

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 3
P-43A Lancer x 6
Hurricane I x 12
Kittyhawk I x 11
Lancer x 15
Spitfire VB x 24
I-16 Type 24 x 52
MiG-3 x 51
Yak-1 x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 32 destroyed
Ki-21-II Sally: 25 destroyed, 6 damaged

32 out of 35 Zeroes and almost half of the twin-engined bombers. Not bad.

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 damaged
P-43A Lancer: 3 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 2 damaged
Lancer: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Spitfire VB: 4 damaged
I-16 Type 24: 3 destroyed, 12 damaged
MiG-3: 4 destroyed, 8 damaged
Yak-1: 5 damaged

Cost me twelve planes but few of those were top-range or irreplaceable.

Allied Ships
AK Empire Impala

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Day Air attack on TF, near Ye [Burma] at 29,35

This strike came in from enemy CVs off the coast of Burma. The enemy fighters really didn't do well with 40 of the Zeroes and 47 Kates going down in flames. So, overall, a bit over half of this raid was shot down. As these are Elite naval aviators this loss must hurt him severely.

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 46
D3A2 Val x 46
B5N2 Kate x 99

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 3
P-43A Lancer x 3
Hurricane I x 12
Kittyhawk I x 11
Lancer x 13
Spitfire VB x 24
I-16 Type 24 x 49
MiG-3 x 47
Yak-1 x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 40 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 15 destroyed, 2 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 47 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-43A Lancer: 2 destroyed
Hurricane I: 2 destroyed
Lancer: 3 destroyed
Spitfire VB: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
I-16 Type 24: 13 destroyed
MiG-3: 14 destroyed, 2 damaged
Yak-1: 9 destroyed

102 Japanese planes went down in return for 49 of me own. Again though most of my losses weren't top-range planes. Only the Spitfires and MiG-3s are really difficult to replace for me.

Allied Ships
DD Anthony
CL Columbo, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Norman
SC Jasmine
PG Sutlej
DD Hotspur
PC Sonavati, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Griffin
PG Falmouth
PG Jumna
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Lightning
DD Lightfoot

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat at 29,34

Japanese Ships
PT Gyoraitei No 4
PT Gyoraitei No 5
PT Gyoraitei No 6

Allied Ships
AP Eastern Prince, on fire
AP Cap St. Jacques
AP Empire Chivalry

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Wake Island [USA] at 85,72

Japanese Ships
LCM AG-1721A, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCM AG-1722A, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
LCM AG-1723A
LCM AG-1724A, Shell hits 1
LCM AG-1731A, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
LCM AG-1732A, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCM AG-1733A
LCM AG-1734A, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
LCM AG-1741A
LCM AG-1742A, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LCM AG-1743A
LCM AG-1744A
LCM AG-1761A
LCM AG-1762A
LCM AG-1763A
LCVP AG-1413N
LCVP AG-1414N
LCVP AG-1415N
LCVP AG-1421A
LCVP AG-1436A
LCVP AG-1437A
LCVP AG-1438A
LCVP AG-1441A
LCVP AG-1442A
LCVP AG-1443A
LCVP AG-1444A
LCVP AG-1445A
LCVP AG-1446A
LCVP AG-1447A
LCVP AG-1448A
LCVP AG-1451A
LCVP AG-1452A
LCVP AG-1453A, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCVP AG-1454A
LCVP AG-1455A
LCVP AG-1456A
LCVP AG-1457A
LCVP AG-1458A
LCM AG-1321N
LCM AG-1322N
LCM AG-1323N
LCVP AG-1463A
LSM SS-1 Koryu Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LSM SS-2 Banryu Maru, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LCVP AG-1461A
LCVP AG-1462A
LCVP AG-1464A
LCVP AG-1465A
LCVP AG-1466A
LCVP AG-1467A
LCVP AG-1468A
LCM AG-1301A
LCM AG-1302A
LCM AG-1303A
LCM AG-1304A
LCM AG-1305A
LCM AG-1306A, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
LCM AG-1307A
LCM AG-1308A, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
LCM AG-1311A
LCM AG-1778N, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
LCM AG-1772N, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
LCM AG-1773N, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCM AG-1777N, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCM AG-1776N, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
LCM AG-1717A, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
LCM AG-1758N, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
LCM AG-1752N, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCM AG-1718A, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
LCM AG-1711A, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
LCM AG-1771N, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
LCM AG-1755N, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Hmm, I'm a little puzzled as to why so many barges were present at Wake. I've sold this raid ( and its CV component ) as an attempt to weaken Wake up preparatory to further operations. I've also made several comments about the need to "build up Midway" in order that it can serve as a base for future operations against Wake.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Eniwetok [Nanyo] at 77,78

Japanese Ships
AP Takatiho Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-45

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Wake Island [USA], at 85,72 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

An attempt to close down Wake. Well, that's what I told him anyways. Really its just an excessively showy raid to show how "serious" I am about closing Wake down forever. The next stage will e a slow withdrawal toward my "base" at Midway. Damian will see the retreat but won't see the 20+ subs formed in 3 lines between Wake and Midway, the 150 fighters at Midway or the hordes of PT boats and small craft designed to draw his surface strike groups and air groups in to be decimated in the waters just off Midway.

All of this is designed to make him view Midway as a base ( which it is ) and show him preparations for the invasion of Wake which are so obvious and heavy-handed that he never asks himself "but what if they aren't going for Wake" until it is too late.

154 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 15
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 16, on fire
CA Astoria
CA Indianapolis, Shell hits 12
BB Idaho, Shell hits 8
CA Northampton
CA Portland, Shell hits 12, on fire
CA Chester, Shell hits 2
CA Vincennes, Shell hits 5
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 5

Japanese ground losses:
185 casualties reported
Guns lost 14
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2
Port hits 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Umnak Island [AK]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 19629 troops, 274 guns, 142 vehicles, Assault Value = 642

Defending force 5479 troops, 234 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 118



Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 223494 troops, 3045 guns, 1303 vehicles, Assault Value = 5435

Defending force 101083 troops, 1744 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 3112



Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila/Cavite [PH]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 102912 troops, 1261 guns, 969 vehicles, Assault Value = 2665

Defending force 56943 troops, 1228 guns, 387 vehicles, Assault Value = 2144



Allied ground losses:
38 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Suva [FIJI]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15156 troops, 217 guns, 127 vehicles, Assault Value = 420

Defending force 4797 troops, 51 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 173



Allied ground losses:
3 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Madicen [Java]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 40284 troops, 783 guns, 639 vehicles, Assault Value = 997

Defending force 18879 troops, 288 guns, 60 vehicles, Assault Value = 486

Japanese max assault: 1856 - adjusted assault: 615

Allied max defense: 438 - adjusted defense: 859

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


Japanese ground losses:
1230 casualties reported
Guns lost 58
Vehicles lost 17

Allied ground losses:
496 casualties reported
Guns lost 19
Vehicles lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Moulmein [Burma]

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 5125 troops, 183 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 261

Defending force 6561 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 83

Allied max assault: 354 - adjusted assault: 87

Japanese max defense: 68 - adjusted defense: 57

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0


Japanese ground losses:
142 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Allied ground losses:
273 casualties reported
Guns lost 16

Damn, it would have been nice to take Moulmein but, unfortunately, this just wasn't possible prior to the arrival of strong reinforcements. Damn, that means I have to be on the defensive until I can build Ye up to Level 2. It is now 15% of the way to Level 2. Once it hits level 2 I'll fly in Pe-2s and obliterate Bangkok.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Umnak Island [AK]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4507 troops, 230 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 118

Defending force 19629 troops, 274 guns, 142 vehicles, Assault Value = 642



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Blair [Andaman]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 494 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 22

Defending force 608 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 31

Japanese max assault: 22 - adjusted assault: 4

Allied max defense: 22 - adjusted defense: 15

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

Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

I'm flying an additional Brigade in here to help hold Port Blair.


Tomorrow the BBs will hit Ye. So I'm sending my ships out to sea overnight to avoid the BBs. I'm then slipping them back in in the morning where my CAP umbrella can keep them safe. So, tomorrow should see another day of 150+ Japanese planes downed.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/22/42

Today was another Adlertag with hundreds of Japanese planes sortieing to attack my ships off Ye and the majority of those planes being downed. In the last 12 days the Japanese have gone from having lost 2000 planes to having lost 3,300. In addition many of those planes ( at least 700 to 800) have gone down over my territory which means their pilots have gone down with them. Furthermore as at least 300 of those losses were Zeroes with another 150 to 200 naval bombers also being downed that means that some 500 IJN elite naval aviators have been killed in the past fortnight.

Damian sent his BBs in again overnight but I was expecting this and had gone out to sea.

I've been looking at the situation and with so many naval bombers attacking me here I have the opportunity to strike elsewhere. Time to begin loading up in Oz and Hawaii and heading for my Phase 2 targets.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 74 encounters mine field at Kwajalein [Nanyo] (81,84)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.20
MSW W.19
MSW W.12
MSW W.11
DD Hayabusa, Mine hits 1, on fire

Ah, more mine hits.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Batavia [Java] at 20,60

Japanese Ships
DD RTN Chandraburi
DD RTN Puket
PC Ch 9
PC Ch 8
DE Asagao
DD Yayoi
DD Wakaba
DD Asagumo

Allied Ships
SS KXI

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Moulmein [Burma] at 30,34

Japanese Ships
PT Gyoraitei No 4
PT Gyoraitei No 5
PT Gyoraitei No 6

Allied Ships
AK Empire Wagtail

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Ye [Burma] at 29,35

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Nagato
BB Hyuga
BB Yamashiro
CA Takao
CA Myoko
CA Kumano
DD Natsushio
DD Hayate
DD Yamakaze
DD Hitachi

Allied Ships
AK Empire Nightingale, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Ye [Burma] at 29,35

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Nagato
BB Hyuga
BB Yamashiro
CA Takao
CA Myoko
CA Kumano
DD Natsushio
DD Hayate
DD Yamakaze
DD Hitachi

Allied Ships
AK Larut, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Ye [Burma] at 29,35

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Nagato
BB Hyuga
BB Yamashiro
CA Takao
CA Myoko
CA Kumano
DD Natsushio
DD Hayate
DD Yamakaze
DD Hitachi

Allied Ships
AK Skagerak, Shell hits 35, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Ye [Burma] at 29,35

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Nagato
BB Hyuga
BB Yamashiro
CA Takao
CA Myoko
CA Kumano
DD Natsushio
DD Hayate
DD Yamakaze
DD Hitachi

Allied Ships
AK Ngow Hok, Shell hits 7, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Ye [Burma], at 29,35

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Myoko
CA Takao
BB Yamashiro
BB Hyuga
BB Nagato
BB Haruna


Allied ground losses:
77 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Quite an ineffective bombardment.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 32 encounters mine field at Wake Island [USA] (85,72)

Japanese Ships
LCVP AG-1464A, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Ye [Burma] at 29,35

Japanese Ships
SS RO-67, hits 7

Allied Ships
PG Shoreham, heavy damage
PG Lawrence, heavy damage
PC Sonavati
AK Empire Launcelot
MSW Cromer
AK Wosang
PG Yarra
PC Parvati
PC Pathan
SC Jasmine
TK Erling Brovig
AK Katong
AK Empire Bond
TK Ondina
SC Genista

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 3
D3A2 Val x 9
B5N2 Kate x 39
Ki-43-I Oscar x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 14

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 7
D3A2 Val x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hengchow [S China] , at 44,37

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 17
Ki-32 Mary x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Changsha [S China] , at 45,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 10

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ye [Burma] , at 29,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 44

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 3
P-43A Lancer x 6
Hurricane I x 24
Kittyhawk I x 6
Lancer x 12
Spitfire VB x 24
I-16 Type 24 x 26
MiG-3 x 26
Yak-1 x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 30 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-43A Lancer: 3 destroyed
Lancer: 1 destroyed
I-16 Type 24: 4 destroyed
MiG-3: 2 destroyed
Yak-1: 1 destroyed

30 more elite IJN pilots are shot down over Ye and lost to the IJN forever while I lose TWO modern fighters ( MiG-3s ) and 11 second-line fighters. Over half of the pilots survive and live to fight another day.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Blair [Andaman] , at 23,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 26

Allied aircraft
I-16 Type 24 x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
I-16 Type 24: 6 destroyed

Lots of replacements for the I-16s. I don't know why he is striking here when he is achieving little of value. The attrition isn't so favourable as to make this diversion of effort from Ye justifiable.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bangkok [Thailand] , at 29,39

These high level raids must be REALLY annoying [:D]

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 17
Ki-44IIa Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 67
P-40E Warhawk x 4
Lancer x 6
Spitfire VB x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 2 destroyed
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed
H6K2-L Mavis: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Lancer: 2 destroyed
Spitfire VB: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bankha [Sumatra] , at 20,47

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 30

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 17

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bankha [Sumatra] , at 20,47

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 24
Ki-32 Mary x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-32 Mary: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bankha [Sumatra] , at 20,47

Japanese aircraft
Ki-32 Mary x 7

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bandjermasin [BNO] , at 27,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 19
G4M1 Betty x 24
Ki-21-II Sally x 34

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 35

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bandjermasin [BNO] , at 27,64

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 18

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja [Java] , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 24
Ki-32 Mary x 27

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-32 Mary: 4 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses


Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-109E Mike x 23
Ki-32 Mary x 26
Ki-48-I Lily x 29
Ki-21-II Sally x 37
Ki-15II Babs x 5
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-109E Mike: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged


Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 86

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wake Island [USA] , at 85,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 6

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 2 destroyed
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed


Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6

This continuous bombing of Wake must presage an invasion... mustn't it? Obviously it will if I spy Japanese weakness here but if Wake remains strong I'll detour it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 21st Field Army , at 49,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 28
Ki-32 Mary x 20

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 75th Guerilla Regiment, at 48,41

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 5
Ki-27 Nate x 27
Ki-15II Babs x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Ye [Burma] at 29,35

164 Japanese planes scream into the attack. As you can see they are quite low on Ki-21s and Ki-48s but the G4M numbers could still do with some culling.

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 69
G4M1 Betty x 83
Ki-44IIa Tojo x 3
Ki-48-II Lily x 1
Ki-21-II Sally x 8

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 3
P-43A Lancer x 3
Hurricane I x 24
Kittyhawk I x 6
Lancer x 11
Spitfire VB x 24
I-16 Type 24 x 22
MiG-3 x 24
Yak-1 x 9

130 Allied fighters rise to meet them and in vicious fighting 60 Japanese planes and 61 Allied fighters are downed. Importantly though 45 Zeroes and 56 IJN elite aviators are destroyed during the day's fighting while only 23 first-line Allied fightes are downed. The remaining 38 fighters downed are obsolete models or are flown by very inexperienced Chinese pilots who have been ordered to gain experience or die in the skies over Ye.

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 45 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 11 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-44IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-43A Lancer: 3 destroyed
Hurricane I: 10 destroyed, 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Lancer: 6 destroyed
Spitfire VB: 11 destroyed
I-16 Type 24: 12 destroyed
MiG-3: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
Yak-1: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Georges Averoff, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Cromarty, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Matang
AK Empire Lynx, heavy damage
PG Lawrence, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Wosang
TK Empire Jet, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Empire Morn
AK Nord, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK City of Canterbury, Torpedo hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Ye [Burma] at 29,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 20

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 2
Hurricane I x 14
Kittyhawk I x 4
Lancer x 5
Spitfire VB x 13
I-16 Type 24 x 10
MiG-3 x 15
Yak-1 x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 10 destroyed

Half of this Daitai met its death today.

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane I: 2 destroyed
Lancer: 1 destroyed
I-16 Type 24: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
MiG-3: 1 destroyed
Yak-1: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 19
Ki-21-II Sally x 21

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AP Empire Chivalry
AP Eastern Prince, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
AP Cap St. Jacques

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 10
G4M1 Betty x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Wagtail, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 90,68

The Japanese took the bait but, unfortunately, only a few of their planes attacked so the return on my lure was less than I would have liked.

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 9
B5N2 Kate x 16
E13A1 Jake x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 108

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 9 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 13 destroyed
E13A1 Jake: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 16 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico

Still, 26 more IJN aviators who will be difficult to replace die today. It all adds up and helps lay the stage for the Phase 2 operations --- which is all that Burma is really aimed at doing.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab [Burma] at 30,28

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 47
G4M1 Betty x 8

Allied aircraft
Hurricane I x 13
Spitfire VB x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane I: 7 destroyed
Spitfire VB: 1 destroyed

The first unfavourable exchange rate of the day.

Allied Ships
AK Empire Voice, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Puma, Torpedo hits 2, on fire


Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Umnak Island [AK]

This should fall in 1 to 2 days.

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 19713 troops, 274 guns, 142 vehicles, Assault Value = 644

Defending force 5499 troops, 236 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 118

Japanese max assault: 1322 - adjusted assault: 540

Allied max defense: 111 - adjusted defense: 265

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1030 casualties reported
Guns lost 27
Vehicles lost 12

Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Guns lost 5


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 225341 troops, 3092 guns, 1308 vehicles, Assault Value = 5503

Defending force 101091 troops, 1752 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 3114



Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila/Cavite [PH]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 104203 troops, 1284 guns, 971 vehicles, Assault Value = 2725

Defending force 57076 troops, 1236 guns, 387 vehicles, Assault Value = 2151



Allied ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Suva [FIJI]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15251 troops, 220 guns, 129 vehicles, Assault Value = 422

Defending force 4832 troops, 53 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 173


Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Madicen [Java]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 35726 troops, 719 guns, 601 vehicles, Assault Value = 889

Defending force 18301 troops, 259 guns, 58 vehicles, Assault Value = 467



Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton [S China]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31615 troops, 345 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 1749

Defending force 35588 troops, 430 guns, 73 vehicles, Assault Value = 640



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Umnak Island [AK]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4462 troops, 224 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 116

Defending force 18104 troops, 235 guns, 124 vehicles, Assault Value = 575


Overall over 100 Zeroes went down today and Japanese losses continue to be well over 2:1. I expect the Japanese to get serious about bombing and bombarding Ye over the next few days but, really, Ye has already done its job. The Japanese have spread their forces in Burma out more and the ground offensive from Mandalay is about to begin in earnest. In addition I'm airlifting troops into an airbase a little behind his lines and it looks like I might be able to cut off enemy troops trying to stem my advance south from Mandalay.

The ground pressure in Java and Manilla also looks like it is lowering a little and I'm thinking of trying a few little tricks in those two areas also to coincide with my invasions in the Pacific. All in all he has vastly over-committed aerially to Burma and he's let me wear his airforce down far too much, his ground forces are about to begin suffering from the Clausewitzian "Order, counter-order, disorder" maxim and I'm about to triple the number of theatres in which he is actively and closely engaged.

So far things are looking good, albeit extremely bloody.


10 Strategic Fanboy points to the first person who can guess which base is going to be the next one amphibiously invaded ( Initially I said invaded but obviously that is going to be Hanoi as my Chinese troops are marching there ).

130 Allied fighters rise to meet them and in vicious fighting 60 Japanese planes and 61 Allied fighters are downed. Importantly though 45 Zeroes and 56 IJN elite aviators are destroyed during the day's fighting while only 23 first-line Allied fightes are downed. The remaining 38 fighters downed are obsolete models or are flown by very inexperienced Chinese pilots who have been ordered to gain experience or die in the skies over Ye.

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 45 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 11 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-44IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-43A Lancer: 3 destroyed
Hurricane I: 10 destroyed, 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Lancer: 6 destroyed
Spitfire VB: 11 destroyed
I-16 Type 24: 12 destroyed
MiG-3: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
Yak-1: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Georges Averoff, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Cromarty, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Matang
AK Empire Lynx, heavy damage
PG Lawrence, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Wosang
TK Empire Jet, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Empire Morn
AK Nord, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK City of Canterbury, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Very impressive performance in the air -- but I have to point out that when it comes to ship losses, Damien is beating the Allies like drum.[;)]

Harlock,
 
Well it has cost me less than 50 ships. Many of those ships are easily replaced MSWs and small patrol craft ( PCs etc ) although, to be fair, a few of my fast AP losses are going to hurt in the long run.  In return I've ( to date ) destroyed some 1400 Japanese planes ( including about 600 Zeroes ) over the past fortnight and I've landed jsut under 1,000 AV into Ye and Moulmein. Add to that the fact that Ye is going to reach Level 2 very quickly ( at which point in time Pe-2s will make the waters off Burma and Bangkok airfield complete no-go zones for the Japanese ) and I think it is well worth the loss of 50 ships.
 
The really great news apart from the 600 Zeroes and roughly 1,000 naval aviators killed in the past fortnight is that in the past 4 days it looks like about 150 G4Ms have been destroyed ( along with their pilots ). Since things have been going so well in terms of destroying the enemy's long-range naval aviation strike groups I've moved up my Pacific and DEI invasions. Those three major invasion fleets have begun loading today and should begin causing serious problems in 2 to 3 weeks time ( I will, again, phase these operations for greatest effect and misdirection) .
 
Still, everyone draws the line differently. I suppose the difference between my view and that of others is that war is all about achieving things at an acceptable cost. If the achievement is sufficient then one must pay that cost, whether that be 1 ship or 100 ships.

ORIGINAL: Nemo121


Still, everyone draws the line differently. I suppose the difference between my view and that of others is that war is all about achieving things at an acceptable cost. If the achievement is sufficient then one must pay that cost, whether that be 1 ship or 100 ships.

I well remember your phrase that "Stalin has nothing on me when it comes to insensitivity to casaulties". Mind you, there is one fairly objective way of measuring the cost. What's the current score?

Harlock,

A few points in response:
1. The points score are calcuted on the same terms for both sides BUT one can certainly argue ( as I do ) that the point calculations are flawed as many IJN DDs cost the same in points terms as a half-dozen airplanes ( frankly preposterous ) and there is no differentiation in points terms between a single engined fighter and a four-engined strategic bomber.

2. Just because something is calculated equally for both sides doesn't mean that it actually gives a reasonable representation of the state of play.

E.g. Would anyone argue that an Allied player who has sunk all 6 IJN starting CVs at a cost of 6 USN BBs and some 600 planes by the end of December 1941 ( assuming no other losses ) is actually just EVEN with the Japanese? Of course not but in points terms and robbed of the context it is quite possible that the Japanese player would be shown as being ahead on points despite the fact that his ability to project power and push forward was now completely absent.


As to insensitivity to casualties. Well, if the casualties serve a purpose and that purpose is worth the cost then, yes, it is right to be insensitive to the casualties. Once the casualties exceed the possible return then one must be exceedingly sensitive to them. If you look at any combat report from my games you will be VERY hard pressed to find needless operations being run. Most players might mass 200 bombers at the Schwerpunkt and have another 400 scattered around the map raiding secondary bases, doing ASW work etc etc etc. Right there they could have two-thirds of their operational and FlAK losses occuring in unnecessary operations. THAT is wasteful.

What I prefer to do is concentrate those 600 bombers at the schwerpunkt. I believe that overall those 600 bombers will accomplish more in a shorter time such that their higher loss rate over a short period of time will:
a) achieve a LOT more than 200 bombers at the schwerpunkt plus 400 bombers scattered around doing useless missions - those 600 bombers taking, perhaps, 75 to 80% of the losses that the 600 bombers at the schwerpunkt might take.
b) result in far shorter operations such that the losses over the course of the operation will be a lot lower than if only two hundred bombers were used.

E.g. 200 bombers losing 10 per day over a 30 day campaign will result in the loss of 300 bombers in order to achieve the objective ( closing of an enemy base ). The other 400 bombers might lose 10 per day ( half the loss rate of the schwerpunkt bombers per sortie ) to all causes. End result 600 bomber result in a loss of 600 bombers over the course of 1 month before the base is closed and the ships and toops can be sent in.

E.g. 600 bombers losing 30 per day over a 15 day campaign will result in the loss of 450 bombers before the base is closed and the ships and troops can be sent in.

In addition by closing the base in 2 weeks instead of 4 weeks you get a greater operational tempo, get to play Boyd cycle games with the enemy commander's mind and give him or her the opportunity to observe the wrong things ( or fail to observe the right things ), interpret things they DO see incorrectly ( and very few people seek to interpret that which they do NOT see... That's one of the principle failings I notice when reading other AARs or way back when when I had a sort of "AAR Club" for Combat Mission which fostered dissection of play, interpretations and tactics ), make the wrong decision and then enact an inappropriate plan.

Overall Soviet doctrine argues ( and I agree ) that if you can play OODA games through superior operational tempo and applying force at crucial, reconned points ( through a recon-push as opposed to recon-following doctrine ) then you can dislocate and disrupt the enemy lines so quickly that even though your offensive might be rolling forward on rails ( the Soviet need to plan everything at higher HQ due to the lack of sergeants and junior officers with tactical nous ... thanks to the '38 purges ) the enemy will be so disrupted and dislocated that their observation, orientation, decisions and actions will be inappropriate to the situation at hand. And anytime you face an opponent whose orders are inappropriate you begin to win and win at a logarithmically favourable rate.

If you take away the need to follow a pre-planned phasing etc etc and allow operational and tactical flexibility then so long as you don't start second-guessing yourself and creating a Clausewitzian "Order, counter-order, disorder" situation then you should be fine and still generate a downward spiral in the enemy's situational awareness and response appropriateness.


None of those factors can be taken into account by any points score and that's one of the reasons I don't think giving it here would be of much value. I'm happy to discuss this as I'm certain some will disagree with my views regarding the Boyd ( OODA cycle ) and the fact that quicker operational tempos can actually result in fewer casualties for a given objective albeit with higher casualties per unit time.

If anyone is interested in reading on this I'd suggest Van Creveld and any study of the British Army in 1944. Monty has always gotten a bad rap for his conduct in 1944 but if you look into it what he actually did was ALL subjugated to one clear principle ---- The British Army could generate x replacements per week for an almost indefinite period of time but could only generate MORE than that number by disbanding existing units. Thus, to a certain point, it was PREFERABLE for the British Army to fight a LONG war at a relatively low casualty rate per week as opposed to a SHORT high intensity war ( a la Patton ) EVEN if that longer war resulted in more casualties. This question of tempo vs objective vs casualties is well illustrated in this period of history.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/25/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 23 encounters mine field at Kwajalein [Nanyo] (81,84)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.20
MSW W.19
MSW W.12
MSW W.11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Moulmein [Burma] at 30,34

Japanese Ships
SS RO-64

Allied Ships
AK Hosang, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Norman
PG Shoreham, heavy damage

Enemy ships routinely run into Moulmein and Ye and there's little I can do to stop them right now. Ye is 50% of the way to Level 2 and at that point in time it will become a base for Avengers and Pe-2s and I should be safe from further surface strike groups. Until then my supply situation is going to be VERY precarious.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Moulmein [Burma], 30,34, firing at TF 1003
TF 1003 troops unloading over beach at Moulmein [Burma], 30,34


415 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Norman, Shell hits 3


Allied ground losses:
245 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hanoi [Tonkin] , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Hudson IV x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
G5N2-L Liz: 1 destroyed
Ki-264-L: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson IV: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

*sigh* I'd been waiting to see lots of air transports at Hanoi for a while and today sent in over 100 bombers at 3000 feet. Unfortunately only 20 flew and my plan to kill dozens of bombers came to naught.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 34
D3A2 Val x 28
Ki-27 Nate x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 2 damaged
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 21

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hengchow [S China] , at 44,37

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 18
Ki-32 Mary x 10

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 17

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Changsha [S China] , at 45,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 9

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Changsha [S China] , at 45,37

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3

Lots and lots of costly and absolutely pointless Japanese aerial operations. Why isn't he using these in the Pacific or over Burma?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bankha [Sumatra] , at 20,47

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 12
Ki-51 Sonia x 28
Ki-15II Babs x 2

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 16

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bankha [Sumatra] , at 20,47

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 22
Ki-32 Mary x 20
Ki-48-I Lily x 11

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-I Lily: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
A-20B Boston: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 35

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bankha [Sumatra] , at 20,47

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-II Sally x 21

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
A-20B Boston: 1 destroyed

Runway hits 30

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 27
Ki-109E Mike x 22
Ki-32 Mary x 27
Ki-48-I Lily x 54
Ki-21-II Sally x 36
Ki-15II Babs x 4
Ki-46-II Dinah x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-109E Mike: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-32 Mary: 1 destroyed
Ki-48-I Lily: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
89 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 84

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wake Island [USA] , at 85,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 15

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 46

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
16 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 21st Field Army , at 49,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 29
Ki-32 Mary x 17

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon [Burma] , at 29,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 3
Ki-43-I Oscar x 13
Ki-109E Mike x 6

Allied aircraft
Pe-2 x 126

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 4 destroyed
Ki-43-I Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-109E Mike: 1 destroyed
Ki-32 Mary: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Pe-2: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 45

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 98 troops unloading over beach at Bankha [Sumatra], 20,47


Japanese ground losses:
772 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Umnak Island [AK]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 17430 troops, 221 guns, 120 vehicles, Assault Value = 547

Defending force 5303 troops, 220 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 112



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 230135 troops, 3215 guns, 1312 vehicles, Assault Value = 5684

Defending force 101439 troops, 1766 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 3124



Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Suva [FIJI]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15375 troops, 226 guns, 131 vehicles, Assault Value = 423

Defending force 4863 troops, 51 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 176

Japanese max assault: 357 - adjusted assault: 152

Allied max defense: 181 - adjusted defense: 697

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 4)


Japanese ground losses:
1147 casualties reported
Guns lost 24
Vehicles lost 5

Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila/Cavite [PH]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3198 troops, 144 guns, 96 vehicles, Assault Value = 2254

Defending force 56606 troops, 1211 guns, 383 vehicles, Assault Value = 2138



Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Moulmein [Burma]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20311 troops, 242 guns, 377 vehicles, Assault Value = 742

Defending force 15068 troops, 300 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 618


Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 34,30

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12820 troops, 176 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 726

Defending force 9138 troops, 146 guns, 25 vehicles, Assault Value = 322



Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton [S China]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31760 troops, 353 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 1753

Defending force 36540 troops, 451 guns, 83 vehicles, Assault Value = 677



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Umnak Island [AK]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4375 troops, 218 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 112

Defending force 17430 troops, 221 guns, 120 vehicles, Assault Value = 547

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/28/42

I missed a couple of turns but little happened except for massive Japanese aerial losses over Ye. The Brits are pretty much at the end of their tether so over the last 2 turns I've been pulling planes out. I don't need them there anymore anyways since my forces have managed to push south from Mandalay ( only 1 Bde was left to guard against my forces in Mandalay while 1 Division and 3 Bdes were pulled back to Moulmein to try to throw me out there. In addition it looks like 2 more Bdes were landed at Ye and another 2 Bdes are landing at Port Blair. That's 400 AV of Japanese reserves thrown into Ye and Port Blair which won't be available to defend Vietnam or the DEI when I hit them as well as 700 AV dislocated from south of Mandalay and drawn to the irrelevance that is Moulmein.

Harlock - This is a good example of an operation ( the landings at Ye and Moulmein ) which are, initially, a points loser but which were essential in dislocating the enemy line such that I can recapture all of Burma on the cheap and quickly.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 79 troops unloading over beach at Bandjermasin [BNO], 27,64


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Ye [Burma], 29,35, firing at TF 81
TF 81 troops unloading over beach at Ye [Burma], 29,35


199 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
MSW W.8

Japanese ground losses:
223 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Umnak Island [AK], 101,37, firing at TF 90
TF 90 troops unloading over beach at Umnak Island [AK], 101,37


504 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
DD Tanikaze

Japanese ground losses:
631 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 34,64

Japanese Ships
DD Hokaze
DD Sawakaze
DD Minekaze
DD Yamakaze

Allied Ships
SS S-41

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Olongapo/Bataan at 42,51

Japanese Ships
AK Myoko Maru, Torpedo hits 1
DD Amagiri

Allied Ships
SS O16

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Ye [Burma] at 29,35

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Hyuga
BB Yamashiro
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Maya
CA Haguro
CA Mogami
CA Kumano

Allied Ships
PG Jumna, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
SC Hollyhock, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

Badly damaged and unable to move out of the way quickly enough.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Ye [Burma] at 29,35

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Hyuga
BB Yamashiro
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Maya
CA Haguro
CA Mogami
CA Kumano

Allied Ships
DD Lightning, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
TK Empire Reynolds, Shell hits 14, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Ye [Burma] at 29,35

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Hyuga
BB Yamashiro
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Maya
CA Haguro
CA Mogami
CA Kumano

Allied Ships
PG Sutlej, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
SC Thyme, Shell hits 8, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Papaete [Tahiti], at 111,130

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BC Repulse
CA Exeter
CA Cornwall
CA Dorsetshire
CA Houston
CL Glasgow
CL Marblehead
CL Dauntless
CA Australia
BB Prince of Wales

Japanese ground losses:
263 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 20
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 71,78

Japanese Ships
DD Toyota
APD Patrol Boat No. 36

Allied Ships
SS L-15

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Ye [Burma], 29,35, firing at TF 81
TF 81 troops unloading over beach at Ye [Burma], 29,35


170 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
155 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
3 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Umnak Island [AK], 101,37, firing at TF 90
TF 90 troops unloading over beach at Umnak Island [AK], 101,37


Japanese ground losses:
82 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Blair [Andaman], 23,34, firing at TF 95
TF 95 troops unloading over beach at Port Blair [Andaman], 23,34


48 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
236 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Moulmein [Burma], 30,34, firing at TF 1038
TF 1038 troops unloading over beach at Moulmein [Burma], 30,34


72 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied ground losses:
45 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Moulmein [Burma], 30,34, firing at TF 1066
TF 1066 troops unloading over beach at Moulmein [Burma], 30,34



Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Olongapo/Bataan at 42,51

Japanese Ships
AK Yasukawa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Amagiri

Allied Ships
SS O16

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Moulmein [Burma] at 30,34

Japanese Ships
SS I-3

Allied Ships
AP Aorangi

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 3
Ki-27 Nate x 3

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
PBY Nomad: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hengchow [S China] , at 44,37

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 20
Ki-32 Mary x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 15

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bankha [Sumatra] , at 20,47

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 13
Ki-32 Mary x 22
Ki-48-I Lily x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-32 Mary: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 31

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 23
Ki-109E Mike x 18
Ki-32 Mary x 27
Ki-48-I Lily x 54
Ki-21-II Sally x 36
Ki-15II Babs x 5
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-109E Mike: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 143

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 36th Field Army , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 4
Ki-32 Mary x 3
Ki-15II Babs x 1

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 26th Field Army , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 16
Ki-32 Mary x 3

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 64th Field Army , at 43,41

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on KNIL 2nd WS Garrison Battalion, at 20,47

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 1
G4M1 Betty x 11

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 90,69

This is interesting. I've been trying to get Damian to commit his strike groups so that I can whittle them down. Today I downed about 100 of them. My own losses were acceptable albeit that the F4F4 losses were heavier than anticipated. I have identified the reason for this and thus can take this into account for future operations. I have the reserves in pilots and planes to replace them and wasn't planning to begin any invasion movements for another week anyways so I won't even lose time in replacing these planes.

Midway is being built to a Level 3 port in order to facilitate replenishment etc.

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 17
B5N2 Kate x 23
G4M1 Betty x 40
Ki-21-II Sally x 11

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 201

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 16 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 22 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 32 destroyed
Ki-21-II Sally: 10 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 40 destroyed, 30 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Northampton
CA Louisville
CA Chicago
CA Chester

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 90,69

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 45
Ki-21-II Sally x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 161

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 9 destroyed
Ki-21-II Sally: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 94 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Lexington

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 27,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 2
B5N2 Kate x 3
E13A1 Jake x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Bond, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Pangkor, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Papaete [Tahiti] , at 111,130


Allied aircraft
Albacore x 33


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 5

A little diversionary raid around Papaete.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 91,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 53
G4M1 Betty x 28
Ki-21-II Sally x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 13 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Indianapolis

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Palau [Nanyo] at 51,68

Japanese Ships
DD Numakaze
DD Yukaze
DD Okikaze

Allied Ships
SS KXVI

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 102,63

Japanese Ships
SS RO-62

Allied Ships
TK Camden, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
TK H. M. Storey
TK Connecticut
TK Associated
TK Montebello
MSW Robin
MSW Vireo


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Umnak Island [AK]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 17786 troops, 225 guns, 122 vehicles, Assault Value = 668

Defending force 5202 troops, 213 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 111

Japanese max assault: 1134 - adjusted assault: 498

Allied max defense: 104 - adjusted defense: 235

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Umnak Island [AK] base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
594 casualties reported
Guns lost 10
Vehicles lost 9

Allied ground losses:
4827 casualties reported
Guns lost 206
Vehicles lost 9


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 207328 troops, 2638 guns, 1278 vehicles, Assault Value = 4830

Defending force 99348 troops, 1677 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 3070



Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila/Cavite [PH]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 93281 troops, 1052 guns, 818 vehicles, Assault Value = 2390

Defending force 57081 troops, 1225 guns, 383 vehicles, Assault Value = 2160



Allied ground losses:
74 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Moulmein [Burma]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 29795 troops, 276 guns, 929 vehicles, Assault Value = 904

Defending force 15669 troops, 319 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 627



Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Malang [Java]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3160 troops, 67 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 175

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

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 7

Japanese max assault: 131 - adjusted assault: 62

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 62 to 1 (fort level 7)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Malang [Java] base !!!

Damian's trying to remove the little Level 2 bases around his perimeter I've been using to base torpedo and divebombers from time to time. This is an excellent diversion of his effort from crucial sectors like Vietnam and Burma.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bandjermasin [BNO]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2548 troops, 1 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Defending force 112 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese max assault: 18 - adjusted assault: 2

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Bandjermasin [BNO] base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Dakota I: 4 destroyed
TBM-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bankha [Sumatra]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4171 troops, 58 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 217

Defending force 1119 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 22

Japanese max assault: 194 - adjusted assault: 24

Allied max defense: 15 - adjusted defense: 7

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
73 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lashio [Burma]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4064 troops, 46 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 215

Defending force 3624 troops, 44 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 120



Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 34,30

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 12885 troops, 174 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 731

Defending force 984 troops, 4 guns, 25 vehicles, Assault Value = 20

Allied max assault: 1334 - adjusted assault: 1932

Japanese max defense: 20 - adjusted defense: 6

Allied assault odds: 322 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
198 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Clearing the road from Lashio to Mandalay. Right now the Burma Road is about 1 week away from being re-opened.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton [S China]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31672 troops, 348 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 1758

Defending force 37437 troops, 471 guns, 93 vehicles, Assault Value = 708



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 46,36

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4674 troops, 71 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 499

Defending force 29376 troops, 489 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 1516



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Blair [Andaman]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1114 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 136

Defending force 1596 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 43



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ye [Burma]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4349 troops, 156 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 264

My forces at Ye are being steadily reinforced with air-transported troops and supplies. Right now I'm pretty confident that Ye and Moulmein will hold until the 800 or so AV heading down from Mandalay can relieve them.

Defending force 8535 troops, 101 guns, 77 vehicles, Assault Value = 275


Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


So what were the lessons learned here?
1. The Marine Fighter units are too inexperienced to stand and fight against Zeroes on a 1:1 basis. I lost 68 of 71 USMC F4s in comparison with 66 of 135 USN F4Fs. So USN aviators flying the exact same plane in the exact same mission had about a 50% chance of surviving while USMC aviators had only about a 5% chance of surviving. The only difference was an experience gap, showing just how crucial experience is in WiTP.

2.LOTS of CV planes doing naval search missions around Marcus Island. It also looks like there are ships in the Marcus hex and I think that means he is landing troops there.

3. In spite of his massive losses over Ye Damian is still willing to throw planes and pilots away in the Pacific. What this means is that he will continue flying full strength missions right up until the point in time that his force breaks but when it breaks it will break irretrievably and won't be easily salvaged. There will be no slow decline into impotence here but just a massive failure of his air force to muster the necessary airframes one day despite the fact that it flung hundreds of planes at me just 24 hours previously.

This is important since it means that there will be very little hint of an upcoming collapse right up until it actually hapens.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/29/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Ye [Burma], 29,35, firing at TF 81
TF 81 troops unloading over beach at Ye [Burma], 29,35


56 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AK Katsuragi Maru

Japanese ground losses:
68 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Blair [Andaman], 23,34, firing at TF 95
TF 95 troops unloading over beach at Port Blair [Andaman], 23,34


86 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported

More Japanese troops are being landed at Port Blair and Ye. This is just a waste of effort. Why land 400 AV in two bases when I can easily fly 200 AV into each base over the course of a couple of days. Wouldn't it be FAR better to use those 400 AV to bolster Burma and prevent me over-running it? If he had sent them to Burma 1 week ago then I wouldn't be advancing as I am right now.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Moulmein [Burma], 30,34, firing at TF 1038
TF 1038 troops unloading over beach at Moulmein [Burma], 30,34


72 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied ground losses:
38 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 34,64

Japanese Ships
DD Hokaze
DD Sawakaze
DD Minekaze
DD Yamakaze

Allied Ships
SS S-41, hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Moulmein [Burma] at 30,34

Japanese Ships
SS I-3

Allied Ships
AK Empire Oryx

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Marcus Island [JP] at 76,62

Japanese Ships
DD Ushio
DD Oboro
DD Sagiri
DD Shiratsuyu

Allied Ships
SS SHCH129, hits 2, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Moulmein [Burma] at 30,34

Japanese Ships
SS I-3

Allied Ships
AK Empire Hunter

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Ye [Burma], 29,35, firing at TF 81
TF 81 troops unloading over beach at Ye [Burma], 29,35


Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Blair [Andaman], 23,34, firing at TF 95
TF 95 troops unloading over beach at Port Blair [Andaman], 23,34


24 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Blair [Andaman], 23,34, firing at TF 98
TF 98 troops unloading over beach at Port Blair [Andaman], 23,34


14 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
209 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Moulmein [Burma], 30,34, firing at TF 1038
TF 1038 troops unloading over beach at Moulmein [Burma], 30,34


40 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Haiphong [Tonkin] at 37,38

Japanese Ships
AK Kano Maru

Allied Ships
SS KXVIII

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 102,63

Japanese Ships
SS RO-62, hits 2

Allied Ships
AVD Swan
AVD Avocet
AVD Ballard
AVD Chincoteague
AVD Mackinac
AVD Casco
PC Aurora
PC Atalanta

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Haiphong [Tonkin] at 37,38

Japanese Ships
AK Uyo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXVIII

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Palau [Nanyo] at 51,68

Japanese Ships
DD Okikaze
DD Numakaze
DD Yukaze

Allied Ships
SS KXVI

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 34
Ki-27 Nate x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 2 destroyed

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hengchow [S China] , at 44,37

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 17
Ki-32 Mary x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed
Ki-32 Mary: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 22

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Changsha [S China] , at 45,37

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged

Runway hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ye [Burma] , at 29,35

I've been expecting this for some time which is why most of my air defence had been pulled out already. When Rangoon falls they'll be back and they will be all the stronger for the time they have spent re-organising and rebuilding their shattered ranks.

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 30
G3M2 Nell x 9
Ki-48-II Lily x 9
Ki-21-II Sally x 32

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 3
Hurricane I x 8
Kittyhawk I x 9
Spitfire VB x 3
I-16 Type 24 x 20
LaGG-3 x 12
Yak-1 x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 12 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed
Ki-48-II Lily: 5 destroyed
Ki-21-II Sally: 8 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Hurricane I: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 1 damaged
I-16 Type 24: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
LaGG-3: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
Yak-1: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Wirraway CA-1: 1 destroyed
Vildebeest IV: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
34 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ye [Burma] , at 29,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 184
G4M1 Betty x 142 OUCH !!! FINALLY the sort of concentrated raid he should have put in 10 days ago.
Ki-32 Mary x 17
Ki-21-II Sally x 67
Ki-264 Angel x 3

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 3
Hurricane I x 7
Kittyhawk I x 9
Spitfire VB x 3
I-16 Type 24 x 19
LaGG-3 x 5
Yak-1 x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 21 destroyed, 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 5 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed
Hurricane I: 9 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 13 destroyed
Spitfire VB: 3 destroyed
I-16 Type 24: 25 destroyed
LaGG-3: 8 destroyed
Yak-1: 15 destroyed
R-12: 3 destroyed
Wirraway CA-1: 1 destroyed
MiG-3: 3 destroyed
Vildebeest IV: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
102 casualties reported

Airbase hits 30
Airbase supply hits 17
Runway hits 128

And this raid means that for the first time since the game restarted Allied losses are higher than Japanese losses.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bangkok [Thailand] , at 29,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 49
Ki-109E Mike x 2

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 65
B-17E Fortress x 101

Say hello to the first 100+ B-17 raid Damian. You'll be seeing a lot more of these over the days and weeks to come.

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 13 destroyed, 7 damaged
Ki-109E Mike: 3 destroyed
H6K2-L Mavis: 7 destroyed
Ki-57 Topsy: 5 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed
Ki-264-L: 1 destroyed
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 destroyed


Japanese ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 45

Damian's only reasonable counter is to hit the B-17 bases with Ki-264 Angels. He begins building them at the first of the month and should have neough to raid by mid-month so, by that time, I'll make sure to have a few fast cannon-armed fighters in the air over Calcutta.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bankha [Sumatra] , at 20,47

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 14

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bankha [Sumatra] , at 20,47

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 16
Ki-32 Mary x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-32 Mary: 1 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bankha [Sumatra] , at 20,47

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-II Sally x 19

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 21

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 5
Ki-27 Nate x 22
Ki-109E Mike x 19
Ki-32 Mary x 27
Ki-48-I Lily x 54
Ki-21-II Sally x 36
Ki-15II Babs x 5
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-109E Mike: 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 54

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 55th "Division" Brigade, at 37,38


Allied aircraft
IL-2 Shturmovik x 161
IL-2M Shturmovik x 24


Allied aircraft losses
IL-2 Shturmovik: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 3rd Tank Brigade, at 32,31


Allied aircraft
IL-2 Shturmovik x 21


Allied aircraft losses
IL-2 Shturmovik: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 31st Field Army , at 36,38

Japanese aircraft
Ki-32 Mary x 4
Ki-15II Babs x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 36th Field Army , at 36,38

Japanese aircraft
Ki-32 Mary x 3

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Red 98th Guerilla Regiment, at 49,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-32 Mary x 9

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 21st Field Army , at 49,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-32 Mary x 8

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 62nd Field Army , at 43,41

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 3 damaged


Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 41,42

I snuck quite a few Pe-2s and Avengers into Hanoi after capturing it... Today they launch their first strikes.

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 4

Allied aircraft
TBM-1 Avenger x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Midori Maru, Bomb hits 1
AK Gosei Maru

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Haiphong [Tonkin] at 37,38


Allied aircraft
Pe-2 x 13


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Uyo Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Hue [Annam] at 35,42

It looks to me like Damian is landing a reinforcement Bde or Division at Hue. Obviously he is seeking to hold me there. Unfortunately for him I have a plan and a bit of a dodge which means he won't be able to hold me there at all. His thinking is good though, he is creating a strong line farther back rather than trying to hold the current front ( hanoi or Pakhoi ) but only committing his forces piecemeal.

Oh I should also mention that Hanoi has 997 functioning resource centres and is thus producing as many tons of supply per day as Chungking. The Chinese supply situation has just gotten a LOT better.


Allied aircraft
Pe-2 x 51


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Yahiko Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AK Nako Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire
AK Nana Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Noto Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Azumasan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Ujina Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Kansai Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
92 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Haiphong [Tonkin] at 37,38


Allied aircraft
Pe-2 x 15


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 5, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Blair [Andaman] at 23,34


Allied aircraft
IL-4C x 3


Allied aircraft losses
IL-4C: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Shirayuki

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 26,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 12
Ki-48-II Lily x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-II Lily: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Thedens, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Brook

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Moulmein [Burma] at 30,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-II Lily x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Cormorant

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Moulmein [Burma] at 30,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-II Lily x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Gilbert
AK Empire Hunter

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 41,42

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete-FF x 4

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VII x 3
TBM-1 Avenger x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VII: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AV Kamikawa Maru
AK Fukuyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Hachirogata Maru

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Hue [Annam] at 35,42

Hmm, looks like a big TF at Hue. That has to be more than a single Bde. So, can a reinforced Division stop my guys from advancing further? We'll find out soon enough.


Allied aircraft
Pe-2 x 66


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Yamamichi Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hibiki, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yukikaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Yubu Maru, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AK Aobasan Maru
AK Noto Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AK Zenyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
266 casualties reported
Guns lost 10
Vehicles lost 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Blair [Andaman] at 23,34


Allied aircraft
IL-4C x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Hasuna Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 26,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 12
Ki-48-II Lily x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-II Lily: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Empire Brook
AK Pangkor, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Thedens, on fire, heavy damage
AK Jalatarang, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 34,64

Japanese Ships
DD Sawakaze
DD Minekaze
DD Yamakaze

Allied Ships
SS S-41, hits 2, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Palau [Nanyo] at 51,68

Japanese Ships
DD Numakaze
DD Yukaze
DD Okikaze

Allied Ships
SS KXVI, hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Moulmein [Burma] at 30,34

Japanese Ships
SS I-3

Allied Ships
AK Empire Hunter, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Truk [Nanyo] at 66,78

Japanese Ships
DD Toyota
APD Patrol Boat No. 36

Allied Ships
SS L-15, hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Olongapo/Bataan at 42,51

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 15
PC Ch 18
PC Ch 17
PC Ch 14

Allied Ships
SS O16

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Moulmein [Burma] at 30,34

Japanese Ships
SS I-3

Allied Ships
AK Empire Oryx

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Moulmein [Burma] at 30,34

Japanese Ships
SS I-3

Allied Ships
AP Neptuna, Shell hits 4, on fire


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 209640 troops, 2688 guns, 1278 vehicles, Assault Value = 4929

Defending force 99654 troops, 1685 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 3080



Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila/Cavite [PH]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 94426 troops, 1077 guns, 815 vehicles, Assault Value = 2437

Defending force 57141 troops, 1230 guns, 384 vehicles, Assault Value = 2167



Allied ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ye [Burma]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8559 troops, 106 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 278

Defending force 20057 troops, 286 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 276



Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton [S China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 19355 troops, 212 guns, 61 vehicles, Assault Value = 717

Defending force 33567 troops, 350 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 1760



Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ondorhaan [MON]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 5356 troops, 28 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 154

Defending force 6045 troops, 115 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 265

Japanese max assault: 262 - adjusted assault: 60

Allied max defense: 274 - adjusted defense: 403

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese ground losses:
505 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Damian was sneaking a Mongolian cavalry unit in behind my lines in the Soviet Union but I saw it in time and air-transported the 101st Mountain Division in. We're safe for now.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Moulmein [Burma]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 29718 troops, 276 guns, 925 vehicles, Assault Value = 875

Defending force 16021 troops, 330 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 630



Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bankha [Sumatra]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4131 troops, 58 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 215

Defending force 1009 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese max assault: 193 - adjusted assault: 81

Allied max defense: 13 - adjusted defense: 11

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Bankha [Sumatra] base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
1216 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lashio [Burma]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4030 troops, 42 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 215

Another 1,000+ AV are on the way and should suffice to push the Japanese out of Lashio and re-open the Burma Road.

Defending force 3618 troops, 45 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 120



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton [S China]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31627 troops, 348 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 1758

Defending force 37629 troops, 473 guns, 93 vehicles, Assault Value = 717



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Haiphong [Tonkin]

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 11405 troops, 185 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 700

Defending force 10798 troops, 45 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 94

Allied max assault: 430 - adjusted assault: 224

Japanese max defense: 50 - adjusted defense: 145

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Japanese ground losses:
93 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Allied ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Two Armies get a 1:1 odds ratio. Tomorrow an additional 3 armies attack. I'm hopefuly of getting that ever-elusive 6 to 1 and clearing Haiphong in a day. If not I'll just have to wait another day or two and try again. I hae multiple aviation support units on the way from deep inside China and the thought of establishing Haiphong as an airbase for long-range bombers raids on the shipping to and from Malaysia and Java is most alluring. It wont' happen of course as the Japanese reaction is going to be extremely vicious and I can expect counter-invasion of Haiphong or Pakhoi momentarily. That's ok though, the point was never to hold Haiphong and Hanoi but merely to force the enemy to commit his reserves here, drawing them away from the Pacific and preventing him from rescuing the situation in Burma.

Any momentary success is merely an additional, welcome bonus.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Blair [Andaman]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2741 troops, 55 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 168

Defending force 3038 troops, 44 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 66



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ye [Burma]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6883 troops, 211 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 276

Defending force 9117 troops, 130 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 278


Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
2 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Green show current paths of attack. As you can see the distraction of Ye and Moulmein has fatally weakened northern Burma and allowed me to break out there along 3 axes.

Yellow shows the bypassing operations around Hue. Again the plan is to simply flood multiple routes of advance forcing the Japanese to commit their reserves here and drawing them far away from the crucial islands in the Central pacific. So far it is all going pretty much according to plan ( except for the failure to capture Moulmein in the first rush.

I've done a count and currently 240,000 Allied troops and over 400,000 tons of supplies are on board ship and making their way to the Phase 2 invasion sites. They won't be landing for at least ten days but when they do things should get pretty exciting pretty quickly. All in all it is a fun game albeit that it was slow recently as I was ueber-busy.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/30/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Ye [Burma], 29,35, firing at TF 81
TF 81 troops unloading over beach at Ye [Burma], 29,35


12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Blair [Andaman], 23,34, firing at TF 98
TF 98 troops unloading over beach at Port Blair [Andaman], 23,34


22 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Moulmein [Burma], 30,34, firing at TF 1038
TF 1038 troops unloading over beach at Moulmein [Burma], 30,34


24 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Marcus Island [JP] at 76,62

Japanese Ships
DD Shiratsuyu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ushio
DD Oboro
DD Sagiri

Allied Ships
SS SHCH129, hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Takao [Formosa] at 47,45

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 6
PC Ch 4

Allied Ships
SS KXIV

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Olongapo/Bataan at 42,51

Japanese Ships
DD Amagiri
PC Ch 18
PC Ch 17
PC Ch 15
PC Ch 14

Allied Ships
SS O16, hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Moulmein [Burma] at 30,34

Japanese Ships
SS I-3

Allied Ships
AK Empire Oryx, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hanoi [Tonkin] , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 8
B5N2 Kate x 3
Ki-32 Mary x 5
Ki-48-II Lily x 12
Ki-15II Babs x 1

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest IV: 2 destroyed
Beaufort VII: 1 destroyed
Pe-2: 1 destroyed
IL-2 Shturmovik: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10

I'd shifted most of my planes to China and Haiphong so only a few stragglers were caught on the ground. These losses are fine really as I have lots of Vildebeests and Il-2s in my pools.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hanoi [Tonkin] , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 4
G4M1 Betty x 39

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Pe-2: 4 destroyed
Vildebeest IV: 3 destroyed
IL-2 Shturmovik: 4 destroyed

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 18

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 30
D3A2 Val x 8
B5N2 Kate x 36
Ki-43-I Oscar x 25

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 24

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 31
D3A2 Val x 26
Ki-27 Nate x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 1 damaged
D3A2 Val: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 29


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ye [Burma] , at 29,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 44
G4M1 Betty x 132
Ki-32 Mary x 15
Ki-21-II Sally x 64

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 10 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed
I-16 Type 24: 2 destroyed
Pe-2: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
34 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 13
Runway hits 132

And he's determined to keep Ye closed. That's fine as the real battle has now moved on. He's one loop behind in the OODA cycle and he's fighting yesterday's battle again... This is the clearest sign yet that I have succeeded in completely wresting the initiative from Damian.

After a while he'll begin using these escorting fighters elsewhere and then a nice little Spitfire ambush might yield nice dividends.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bangkok [Thailand] , at 29,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 63
Ki-109E Mike x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 63
B-17E Fortress x 103

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zeke: 22 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-109E Mike: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
H6K2-L Mavis: 4 destroyed
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 14
Runway hits 57

Hmm, thats a lot of Zeroes to lose on the ground. I doubt those losses are really sustainable for the Japanese.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja [Java] , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 21
Ki-32 Mary x 20

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged
Ki-32 Mary: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VII: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 24

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 21
Ki-109E Mike x 17
Ki-32 Mary x 27
Ki-48-I Lily x 54
Ki-21-II Sally x 35
Ki-15II Babs x 5
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-109E Mike: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 50

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on IJA 55th "Division" Brigade, at 37,38


Allied aircraft
IL-2 Shturmovik x 152
IL-2M Shturmovik x 23


Allied aircraft losses
IL-2 Shturmovik: 1 damaged
IL-2M Shturmovik: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Prepping for the next assault...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 25,32

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 3
Ki-21-II Sally x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Thedens, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Brook, on fire, heavy damage
AP Varsova, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
AP Chitral, Bomb hits 1

Nothing but cripples making their escape.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 25,32

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 8
Ki-48-II Lily x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Brook, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Pangkor, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Thedens, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Just a few cripples being targetted as they run for Akyab. Interestingly enough I've managed to have about 15 or 16 ships escape Ye for Burma so far and most of those have minimal or no damage.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Moulmein [Burma] at 30,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 25
G3M2 Nell x 4
Ki-48-II Lily x 3
Ki-21-II Sally x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Cormorant, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Cameron, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Morn, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Moulmein [Burma] at 30,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-II Lily x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-II Lily: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Bonketoe

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Blair [Andaman] at 23,34


Allied aircraft
B-19A x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Fukko Maru
AK Kogyo Maru
PC Ch 11, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Ah, the B-19s get a hit on escorts near Port Blair. Tomorrow night two surface strike groups will make for Port Blair and intercept these ships.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Blair [Andaman] at 23,34


Allied aircraft
IL-4C x 6


Allied aircraft losses
IL-4C: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Hasuna Maru
AP Higashiyama Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Blair [Andaman] at 23,34


Allied aircraft
B-19A x 2


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Hikade Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Moulmein [Burma] at 30,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 11
Ki-48-II Lily x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Foam
AK Empire Ocean, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AK Empire Cameron, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Cormorant, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 211505 troops, 2741 guns, 1280 vehicles, Assault Value = 4998

Defending force 100147 troops, 1700 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 3090



Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila/Cavite [PH]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 95516 troops, 1099 guns, 817 vehicles, Assault Value = 2478

Defending force 57235 troops, 1233 guns, 385 vehicles, Assault Value = 2177



Allied ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Guns lost 5


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Blair [Andaman]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3166 troops, 47 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 70

Defending force 3653 troops, 65 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 197

Japanese max assault: 65 - adjusted assault: 39

Allied max defense: 167 - adjusted defense: 133

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

Japanese ground losses:
178 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Allied ground losses:
95 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Well, it looks like the Japanese have just thrown two Bdes away at Port Blair. They'll have to airbridge them out. I must park a few fighters there to kill a few transports.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ye [Burma]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 9296 troops, 131 guns, 107 vehicles, Assault Value = 283

Defending force 19992 troops, 285 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 276



Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton [S China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 19465 troops, 214 guns, 61 vehicles, Assault Value = 724

Defending force 33534 troops, 351 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 1758



Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Soerabaja [Java]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 37189 troops, 756 guns, 634 vehicles, Assault Value = 1037

Defending force 27174 troops, 204 guns, 34 vehicles, Assault Value = 437



Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Moulmein [Burma]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 29714 troops, 276 guns, 925 vehicles, Assault Value = 875

Defending force 16257 troops, 332 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 642



Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lashio [Burma]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4038 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 215

Defending force 3646 troops, 45 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 122



Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton [S China]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31597 troops, 349 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 1757

Defending force 37769 troops, 477 guns, 93 vehicles, Assault Value = 724



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Haiphong [Tonkin]

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 32268 troops, 489 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 1809

Defending force 9912 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 78

Allied max assault: 1638 - adjusted assault: 785

Japanese max defense: 40 - adjusted defense: 108

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Haiphong [Tonkin] base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
188 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
155 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

Strangely enough the Japanese weren't forced to surrender. They are in the base hex but no longer control the base. It is like they are on an island or something. Ah well, I'll use this to train these 6 Chinese Armies and hel them gain experience.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ye [Burma]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6883 troops, 209 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 276

Defending force 9296 troops, 131 guns, 107 vehicles, Assault Value = 283



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Blair [Andaman]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3130 troops, 60 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 191

Defending force 2906 troops, 35 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 61



Damian has bee making sounds about expecting me in the Pacific and I've seen a lot of CV-based airpower around Marcus. It might all be a huge bluff but I think his CVs are west or north of Marcus island. Thus I'm going to try to hit the DEI before I hit Marcus as I want to try to lure a few of those CVs away... Of course if I see a big opening then this is all out the window.

In an effort to create that opening I am moving an SC TF with a BB ( Lion ), a few CAs and a load of CLAAs about 200 miles west of Midway. I'm hoping that this will draw the IJN CVs in for a strike at which time they will run in to hordes of P-40Es on LRCAP. If I can hurt his CVs in this sort of battle in which my USAAF fighters wear down his CV airgroups then my own CVs will have a better chance in shepherding my shipping through to Marcus. My USAAF fighters will probably lose 2:1 in favour of the Japanese but that's ok since I'm using USAAF fighters to kill IJN pilots and the whole goal is to help preserve my own CVs and nevermind what happens to the USAAF.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/31/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 29,34

Japanese Ships
SS I-11

Allied Ships
AK City of Canterbury

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair [Andaman] at 23,34

Japanese Ships
DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 11, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
AP Teia Maru
AP Chifuku Maru
AP Fukko Maru
AK Hawaii Maru, Shell hits 1
AK Kogyo Maru
AK Tatuharu Maru

Allied Ships
CL Trinidad, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Fiji
CL Bermuda, Shell hits 1
DD Jupiter
DD Nestor
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Cheyenne
DD McCloud

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair [Andaman] at 23,34

Japanese Ships
AP Atuta Maru, Shell hits 2
AP Kirishima Maru
AP Atsuta Maru
AP Bokuyo Maru, Shell hits 14, on fire
AP Enju Maru, Shell hits 2
AP Haaburu Maru, Shell hits 9, on fire
AP Hasuna Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
AP Higashiyama Maru
AP Hikade Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Honda, Shell hits 42, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Trinidad, on fire, heavy damage
CL Fiji
CL Bermuda
DD Jupiter
DD Nestor
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Cheyenne, Shell hits 2
DD McCloud

My raiding force didn't do as well as I had hoped but it'll put a few AKs etc into the shop and it looks like two IJN DDs will sink. Every little bit helps.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hanoi [Tonkin] , at 36,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 12
G4M1 Betty x 116
Ki-21-II Sally x 25
Ki-264 Angel x 3

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 16
Runway hits 66

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 30
D3A2 Val x 8
B5N2 Kate x 35
Ki-43-I Oscar x 25

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A5M4 Claude: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 32

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sovetskaya Gavan , at 73,30

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 19


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ye [Burma] , at 29,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 31
G4M1 Betty x 115
Ki-32 Mary x 18
Ki-21-II Sally x 66

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-32 Mary: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 3 damaged

Allied ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 80

The number of fighters is falling a little. Once I capture Rangoon I may put an LRCAP here as an ambush.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja [Java] , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 18
Ki-32 Mary x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 18
Ki-109E Mike x 17
Ki-32 Mary x 26
Ki-48-I Lily x 54
Ki-21-II Sally x 36
Ki-15II Babs x 5
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-109E Mike: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-48-I Lily: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 82

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on JAAF 34th Engineer Aviation Battalion, at 31,31


Allied aircraft
SB-2M x 58


Allied aircraft losses
SB-2M: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on ROC 62nd Field Army , at 43,41

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 5
Ki-48-II Lily x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Ocean
AK Empire Foam, Bomb hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 27,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-II Sally x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK City of Canterbury, Bomb hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Ye [Burma] at 29,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zeke x 24
G3M2 Nell x 4
G4M1 Betty x 10
Ki-48-II Lily x 3
Ki-21-II Sally x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Bonketoe, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Wosang, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AP Neptuna, Bomb hits 3, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Ye [Burma] at 29,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-II Lily x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AP Neptuna, Bomb hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 27,33

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Hunter

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Ye [Burma] at 29,35

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Morn, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Canton [S China] , at 43,41

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 12
Ki-109E Mike x 3

Allied aircraft
Pe-2 x 90

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe-FF: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-109E Mike: 2 destroyed
A6M2 Zeke: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 14 destroyed
Ki-32 Mary: 14 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Pe-2: 7 destroyed, 11 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 43

A nice hit on Canton. Those G4Ms won't be easily replaced.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Skovorodino [SIB]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 213529 troops, 2774 guns, 1279 vehicles, Assault Value = 5091

Defending force 100403 troops, 1709 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 3093



Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila/Cavite [PH]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 96470 troops, 1115 guns, 818 vehicles, Assault Value = 2525

Defending force 57287 troops, 1228 guns, 386 vehicles, Assault Value = 2176



Allied ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Soerabaja [Java]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 42037 troops, 861 guns, 653 vehicles, Assault Value = 1055

Defending force 27345 troops, 211 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 452



Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ye [Burma]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 9423 troops, 135 guns, 107 vehicles, Assault Value = 287

Defending force 19868 troops, 283 guns, 29 vehicles, Assault Value = 276



Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton [S China]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 19729 troops, 216 guns, 68 vehicles, Assault Value = 735

Defending force 33547 troops, 349 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 1761



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Moulmein [Burma]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 29752 troops, 276 guns, 927 vehicles, Assault Value = 876

Defending force 16386 troops, 336 guns, 21 vehicles, Assault Value = 647


Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Toungoo [Burma]

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1440 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 27

Defending force 1669 troops, 60 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 109

Japanese max assault: 9 - adjusted assault: 0

Allied max defense: 111 - adjusted defense: 227

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
190 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lashio [Burma]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4000 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 213

Defending force 3621 troops, 44 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 122



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Taung Gyi [Burma]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13043 troops, 177 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 742

Defending force 21957 troops, 361 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 613



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Canton [S China]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31637 troops, 347 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 1761

Defending force 38047 troops, 482 guns, 99 vehicles, Assault Value = 735



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Haiphong [Tonkin]

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28434 troops, 403 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1507

Defending force 9320 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 66

Allied max assault: 808 - adjusted assault: 201

Japanese max defense: 42 - adjusted defense: 126

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Guns lost 4


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Toungoo [Burma]

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1669 troops, 60 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 109

Defending force 1087 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 12

Allied max assault: 214 - adjusted assault: 424

Japanese max defense: 6 - adjusted defense: 5

Allied assault odds: 84 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Toungoo [Burma] base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

And with Toungoo's collapse my forces are now fully free to march on Rangoon. That's it, Burma is now all mine bar a little bit of shouting.


What does all this mean?
Well, Bangkok is now toast as my Pe-2s can hit it from Burma and my B-17s can hit Singapore from Rangoon. All in all this means that everything he owns north of Singapore and west of China is now well within the sights of my air force. Moreover I've almost finished rebuilding my fighter groups and this means that I'll be able to maintain air superiority over my forces. It's all looking pretty good. I need to punch him hard in the DEI and try to draw his local carrier group in ( I'm sure he must have some CVs and CVEs/CVLs in the DEI as a sort of rapid reaction force ) before sending in my landing force for Java/Sumatra and then I need to be patient and wait for further opportunities to open up in the Pacific before committing there.

In terms of losses etc: I've lost 1336 planes in the past 21 days while the Japanese have lost 2,081. That's pretty much 50% more than me. What's even better there is that to do this I've bled the Soviet and British air forces to the bone BUT the USAAF and USN/USMC are pretty much intact and I intend them to be the hammer which breaks the over-stretched Japanese over the next month.

In terms of shipping losses I've lost 112 ships in return for 23 Japanese ships but most of those losses occurred off Burma and as a cost for retaking Burma, breaking the Japanese air force and regaining the initiative of the entire war I think it was a price well worth paying.

I'm still leary of committing in the Pacific as I think that I've done my job of drawing the iJN CVs there too well and I think that apart from one or two CVs and a few CVLS and CVEs --- Probably 1 to 2 CVs and all his CVE --- which are staying behind in the DEI to guard against surprises there, he has sent all his CVs to the Pacific. I can't face all of them so I'll need to think very carefully about this.

In terms of shipping losses I've lost 112 ships in return for 23 Japanese ships but most of those losses occurred off Burma and as a cost for retaking Burma, breaking the Japanese air force and regaining the initiative of the entire war I think it was a price well worth paying.

I'll certainly concede that point. Re-taking Burma in 1942 is an impressive achievement, and with the re-opening of the Burma road the Chinese forces will pose an even greater danger than they already are. (And there's always the possibility of basing 4E bombers in China now that the supply situation is looking up.) Damien does not seem to use his Mikes as wisely as you do -- the Japanese should still rule the sky at this time.

But the loss of the 4 British BB's is still a sad, sad thing . . .