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ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
If you have some Cats in range you could use them to fly in the engineers. Seaplane runways repair themselves! [:)]

Ya, that's what I was thinking. I can probably get 12 Catalinas to fly troop transport.

February 19th 1944

I made a BIG mistake. Inexplicably, my CVEs were ordered to Timor by themselves with no external air cover. Luckily the Japanese did not expect this move any more than I did so only one naval strike went against my CVEs while more planes hit ground targets.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lautem at 73,116

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 57
D4Y1 Judy x 33
N1K2-J George x 122

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 24
F6F-3 Hellcat x 100

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 19 destroyed, 11 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 3 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 15 destroyed, 5 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
N1K2-J George: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 6 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Natoma Bay, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
CVE Barnes, Torpedo hits 1
CVE Corregidor
CVE Kaskaskia, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVE Breton, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Suwannee, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DE Duffy, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

One CVE sunk and another one heavily damaged. It is clear that the Japanese intend to defend this area in strength. Due to these losses and strong Japanese defenses, I have changed my operational plans. The Koepang invasion in western Timor have been delayed. Instead, the remaining fleet forces are going to move to the SoPac to force a landing at Woodlark Island. This is at the same time as the CentPac fleet also is moving to this theatre. My plan is to advanced rapidly here relying almost exclusively on CVs and CVEs for air cover.

February 20th 1944

Things continue to heat up on Timor. First, I sunk the remainder of the transport fleet unloading the 31st IJA Division at Dili:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Dili at 71,115

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 70 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
SBD-5 Dauntless x 5
TBF-1 Avenger x 4

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Tamon Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Tenzan Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Dili at 71,115

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 58 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
SBD-5 Dauntless x 5
TBF-1 Avenger x 3

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Tatumiya Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Nako Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

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

The previous day I hit more ships but I forgot to post that combat snippet. Not sure why the Japanese didn't provide air cover here...they had plenty of sweeping fighters. I believe these strikes were launched by the crippled CVE fleet which makes their success even more surprising.

Despite Japanese reinforcments, I launched an attack on Dili:

Ground combat at Dili (71,115)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19738 troops, 299 guns, 477 vehicles, Assault Value = 834

Defending force 22977 troops, 145 guns, 154 vehicles, Assault Value = 537

Allied adjusted assault: 232

Japanese adjusted defense: 795

Allied assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
682 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled

Allied ground losses:
247 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 55 (4 destroyed, 51 disabled)

Assaulting units:
193rd Tank Battalion
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
32nd Infantry Division
1st Australian Division
I US Corps

Defending units:
31st Division
41st Guard Battalion
25th Ind.Mixed Brigade
11th Indpt SNLF Coy
41st JAAF AF Bn
21st JAAF Base Force
15th JAAF Base Force
54th Construction Battalion
62nd JNAF AF Unit
56th Construction Battalion
68th JAAF AF Bn

Doesn't look like I have enough to take the base right now. But what was really interesting is that just to the rear, the Japanese counter invaded Lauetem:

Ground combat at Lautem (72,115)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 583 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 46

Defending force 1135 troops, 42 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Japanese adjusted assault: 11

Allied adjusted defense: 9

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Para Assault/C Div /1
1st Para Assault/B Div /1
1st Para Assault/A Div /1

Defending units:
641st Towed Tank Destroyer Battalion
6th USN Naval Const Rgt /1
1st USN Naval Const Rgt /1

Did not expect that! Glad I left behind that one tank destroyer battalion. I doubt the Japanese will try to attack again but just in case I will fly in some reinforcements.

At this point I think I will pull back from Dili and concentrate on holding and repairing Lautem. Truth be told I am rather happy with the Japanese plans here. They decided to send a division to Dili even though I already have a foothold on the island - and lost some of that division and the transports carrying it. My units in Dili are already at around 40 prep for their next objective which is not on Timor. At this point I have two options. Bypass Dili or land reinforcements at Lautem and take the base. I guess it will depend on if the Japanese bring in more units. I'm leaning towards letting them rot as it keeps them out of the OOB and reappearing elsewhere.

Current map of the main theater of action, the central-eastern DEI:



Japanese are holed up in Kendari behind a level 8 air base outside range of my larger air bases. Everything including and south of Sorong and Ambon are left to my bombers. And what's left of the KB is here too. They're sending reinforcements into Timor as well; this is clearly the main focus for the Japanese right now. Which is why its an absolutely perfect time to use my interior lines and shift to the South Pacific. It's simply shorter trip for my ships and he will take at least a day to react; I'm basically guaranteed overall superiority for the landing at Woodlark which looms under the threat of Rabau.

February 22nd, 1944

Well Ponape finally fell:

Ground combat at Ponape (119,113)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 21417 troops, 423 guns, 401 vehicles, Assault Value = 550

Defending force 13984 troops, 276 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 186

Allied adjusted assault: 684

Japanese adjusted defense: 287

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Ponape !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1184 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 62 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 155 (154 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (20 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
482 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 13 (1 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Assaulting units:
43rd Infantry/A Division
40th Infantry Division
43rd Infantry/B Division
43rd Infantry/C Division
I US Amphib Corps

Defending units:
24th Ind.Mixed Brigade
Combined 8th SNLF
2nd Amphibious Brigade
4th ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
7th Guard ADU Coastal Gun Battalion
28th JAAF AF Bn
Ponape Naval Fortress
4th Base Force
8th JAAF AF Coy

Despite taking the base, most of the defenders are still there. So I will continue to bombard the base to make it easier for my LCUs to finish the job. But with Ponape in my hands that pretty much ends the main operations in the CentPac for some time. Intel shows that Truk is largely devoid of ships and planes so there likely will not be a fight for the air space over it once Ponape is repaired.

Things in the South Pacific are looking very good. Japanese don't seem prepared here at all and defenses are weak almost everywhere. Starting within a few days, I shall launch a quick succession of invasions against what appears to be almost no naval or air opposition. Seems that my threat against the DEI has done its job in keeping the Japanese tied down there. My CVs will stay a few more days at Darwin before heading east and supporting the invasions there.

February 23rd 1944

Big day with ships today but almost no air action.

First a small transport convoy gets wrecked by a small Japanese cruiser force east of Timor:



Those same ships bombarded Babar to good effect:

Night Naval bombardment of Babar at 76,117 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 23 damaged
P-38J Lightning: 1 destroyed on ground
Catalina I: 4 damaged
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 16 damaged
C-47 Skytrain: 7 damaged
C-47 Skytrain: 1 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 15 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground

8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Noshiro
DD Michishio
DD Amatsukaze
DD Isokaze
DD Kuroshio

Allied Ships
CVE Breton, Shell hits 1, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
314 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 49

I'm going to happily pull back from here. The Japanese are in full counter-attack mode in the region. But there's just no way they're gonna push me out of Lautem with its two divisions. All this amounts to is base suppression with the bulk of their navy in a theater that I am not attacking in anymore.

That being said, I don't like losing ships, especially APAs:

Submarine attack near Bathurst Island at 78,122

Japanese Ships
SS I-177

Allied Ships
APA Henry T. Allen, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Second day in a row where I lost an APA down near Bathurst from a sub. There was supposed to be an escort ship but it got sunk the day before with the other APA. USN DD ASW TFs of two ships apiece are cleaning up the area and attacking Japanese subs with the aid of torpedo bombers from the nearby CVs and CVEs.

I unloaded a big invasion force at Tulagi to join the force that has been there for about a month. Luckily I included a number of BBs who took the brunt of the CD punishment:



Glad those idiot digital Japanese commanders are telling their CD regiments to fire at the most heavily armored ships. Here is what the situation on the ground looks like:



I have enough to take the base in under three deliberate attacks I think. And if you notice on the map I also have a unit in Munda now which was just dropped by seaplanes. Intending to build a small air base here. The engineers and other support units from the Gilberts and Marshalls are being moved to the SoPac in support of base building operations in parallel with actual invasions. Action in the South Pacific is increasing at a rapid pace and the Japanese just don't seem to care! The KB is firmly stuck in Kendari and all the IJN surface ships are there too. I guess the Japanese see the threat against their oil sources as being a mortal danger to the point of giving up areas that otherwise could be defended. He's letting me set up bases around Rabaul without making me fight for it. Even in the SWPAC he doesn't have a level 9 base for the Japanese; if he had his a part of his navy here (or even just hidden) I'd be a lot more reluctant to push quickly here. So I think the Japanese deployment is a mistake. Especially because he has no idea what my real plans are and how he may be playing exactly into what I want him to do

EDIT: In my game the SwPaC is everything in to the west of the middle of New Guinea, the SoPac is everything east.

I neglected to mention that I am finally ready to assault Rangoon. I've assembled over 6,000 AV in the hex but I'm still not at the stacking limit of 250,000. I think I have enough to take the base but it's gonna be very bloody.

A sneak preview of what I had to deal with near Darwin. Lots of subs crawling around my CV fleets:

Too bad you can't carpet bomb those ocean hexes!

February 24th 1944

First let's talk about those pesky subs. They caused more issues again this turn:

Submarine attack near Bathurst Island at 78,123

Japanese Ships
SS I-17

Allied Ships
TK H. M. Storey, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage


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Submarine attack near Bathurst Island at 78,123

Japanese Ships
SS I-17

Allied Ships
TK H. M. Storey, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Obviously that tanker would sink. Though of course I am periodically sinking Japanese tankers of my own, including this turn. I just don't usually post the combat snippets because by now that is pretty much standard [:D]

But this time the Japanese would hit a more important target:

Sub attack near Darwin at 77,124

Japanese Ships
SS I-28, hits 8

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina, Torpedo hits 3
BB Alabama
CLAA Atlanta
DD Ingersoll
DD Perkins
DD Maury
DD Morris
DD Endicott

The BB North Carolina is moderately damaged and seeking repairs in Darwin.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
Too bad you can't carpet bomb those ocean hexes!

I did the closest thing I could. I created around 5 different ASW fleets, set my torpedo bombers to 30% ASW, and brought two 18 bomber squadrons of trained ASW pilots to scour the area. This turn I attacked a few subs but don't think I sunk anything.

Well, after many days of inaction in the South Pacific, the Japanese finally come alive. A couple of different CAP traps and a Lilly DB attack. But it is very clear that these are the second tier Japanese squadrons as most of the George's and Frank's are in the DEI. Faced against Zeroes and Tonys with no doubt sub-par pilots, my fighters could not be stopped:

Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 13 NM, estimated altitude 23,580 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M7 Zero x 33
A6M8 Zero x 48
Ki-61-Id Tony x 54

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M7 Zero: 7 destroyed
A6M8 Zero: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 43 NM, estimated altitude 27,440 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M7 Zero x 15
A6M8 Zero x 25
Ki-61-Id Tony x 53

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61-Id Tony: 7 destroyed



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Arawe , at 102,126

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 28,440 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 18
A6M8-J Zero x 76

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 7 destroyed
A6M8-J Zero: 11 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 1 destroyed

If Kittyhawks are getting 14-1 ratios in 1944, there MUST be a problem with Japanese pilots. The Kittyhawk III is pretty much on par with late model Zeroes.

And that one Lilly DB attack got annihilated:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 108 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 32
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 35
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 24

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 4
F4U-1A Corsair x 36
F6F-3 Hellcat x 56

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 4 destroyed
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 15 destroyed, 2 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 4 x 100 kg SAP Bomb

I later had a strange battle over Tulagi where I sent in torpedo bombers to do ground support. I really did not count on Japanese CAP here. But since my CVEs were in the same hex, the CAP added to the strike:

Afternoon Air attack on 5th ADU Coastal Gun Regiment, at 114,137 (Tulagi)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 61
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 72

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 26
F6F-3 Hellcat x 53
TBF-1 Avenger x 40

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 10 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 14 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 15 destroyed, 7 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

So somehow despite my Avengers being shredded, I actually came out ahead in planes destroyed. Those Tojos were no match for my Corsairs and Hellcats. On the whole, the Allies came out ahead about 170-70 on plane losses. Very good considering probably half those losses were Avengers and bombers.

The ground was a different story. I thought Tulagi was going to be a relatively quick battle. I was wrong!

Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34234 troops, 834 guns, 621 vehicles, Assault Value = 1202

Defending force 18128 troops, 123 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 275

Allied adjusted assault: 1556

Japanese adjusted defense: 2008

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
587 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1407 casualties reported
Squads: 52 destroyed, 108 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 16 disabled
Guns lost 50 (17 destroyed, 33 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (6 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
27th Infantry Regiment
19th Infantry Regiment
161st Infantry Regiment
151st Combat Engineer Regiment
7th Infantry Division
35th Infantry Regiment
24th Marine Regiment
21st Infantry Rgt /1
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
249th Field Artillery Battalion
226th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
V US Amphib Corps
9th Marine Defense Battalion
30th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
29th Ind.Mixed Brigade
5th ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
1st Guard ADU Coastal Gun Battalion
2nd Air Flotilla
6th Fleet
8th Base Force
111th Naval Construction Battalion
36th JNAF AF Unit

That level 8 fort in 3x terrain is going to be very tough to bring down. I am quite glad the Japanese did not bring reinforcements. Luckily, I have two more infantry regiments in the Gilberts and Marshalls I can bring over. But since I have to use the transports that dropped off these units, they probably will not land for another 3 weeks. In the meantime I am going to use my battleships and cruisers to smash the base like I was doing in the CentPac. With Lunga built up to a level 4 port, I can base my AEs there and just tee off on the Japanese. By the time those reinforcements land, Tulagi should be much easier to take.

Rangoon was not pretty. This probably was the most soldiers I lost in a battle in a single day since 1942:

Ground combat at Rangoon (54,53)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 185492 troops, 2966 guns, 2739 vehicles, Assault Value = 6444

Defending force 64481 troops, 695 guns, 345 vehicles, Assault Value = 2105

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 5

Allied adjusted assault: 5902

Japanese adjusted defense: 10679

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 5)

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

Japanese ground losses:
3098 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 195 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 59 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 47 disabled
Guns lost 53 (2 destroyed, 51 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
15796 casualties reported
Squads: 151 destroyed, 1396 disabled
Non Combat: 89 destroyed, 297 disabled
Engineers: 55 destroyed, 196 disabled
Guns lost 221 (48 destroyed, 173 disabled)
Vehicles lost 160 (31 destroyed, 129 disabled)

Assaulting units:
26th Indian Brigade
7th Indian/C Division
7th Indian/A Division
25th Indian Division
11th Indian/A Division
7th Australian Division
5th Indian Division
72nd British Brigade
5th Chinese/C Corps
5th Chinese/A Corps
29th British Brigade
6th Chinese Corps
2nd British Division
6th Australian Division
Provisionl Tank
5th Chinese/B Corps
11th Indian/B Division
7th Indian/B Division
19th Indian Division
7th New Chinese Corps
17th Indian Division
14th Indian Division
268th Motorised Brigade
11th Indian/C Division
6th Mixed A/T Mtr Regiment
2/13th Field Regiment
14th Army
134th Field Artillery Battalion
1st Medium Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
97th Field Artillery Battalion
5th Field Regiment

Defending units:
16th Division
2nd Division
10th Division
8th Division
1st RTA Division
1st RF Gun Battalion
Burma Area Army
23rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th Shipping Engineer Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
10th RF Gun Battalion

My AV dropped to under 5,000 after that attack. Luckily, I did bring down the fort a bit. And I have a small trickle of reinforcements heading to Rangoon as well. Still, this battle is going to be a long and bloody affair no doubt.

Is Tulagi so critical for you to capture? That level 8 fort looks like an invitation to bypass.

Ouch, ouch, ouch on Rangoon. Good luck as you regroup and fight again.

February 25th 1944

More sub attacks against tankers near Darwin:

Submarine attack near Bathurst Island at 77,123

Japanese Ships
SS I-178

Allied Ships
TK Genota, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

TK Genota is sighted by SS I-178
SS I-178 launches 4 torpedoes at TK Genota


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Darwin at 77,124

Japanese Ships
SS I-177

Allied Ships
TK British Destiny, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

TK British Destiny is sighted by SS I-177
SS I-177 launches 4 torpedoes

The Japanese have done more with subs here in the past 5 days than they did in maybe the last 4 months. A few xAKs were sunk as well on both sides. My ASW fleets attacked some of the subs near Darwin but it doesn't look like any were sunk. As it is, I am reluctant to send my CVs east through this concentration of subs. So for now I will concentrate on trying to sink those subs while keeping the KB tied down at Kendari. The rest of my CVs in the SoPac are more than a match for any LBA the Japanese could throw my way.


The previous day I noticed a mere 50 fighters at Rabaul and none at Kavieng (a sure sign that the Japanese are tightly stretched). Recon at Kavieng showed it was being used as a rearmament base. As a result, I decided to launch raids on Kavieng's port. First I sent some sweeping fighters which cut through the Japanese CAP like a knife through butter:

Morning Air attack on Kavieng , at 106,122

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 30,440 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M7 Zero x 7
A6M8 Zero x 7
A6M8-J Zero x 5
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 3
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 6
Ki-61-Id Tony x 4

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M7 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed
Ki-61-Id Tony: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kavieng , at 106,122

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M7 Zero x 3
A6M8 Zero x 1
A6M8-J Zero x 3
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 2
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 4
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 2
Ki-61-Id Tony x 4

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M7 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M8-J Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-61-Id Tony: 1 destroyed

The second tier Japanese air force is no match for me at all. These last two days are probably the first time I have really felt that my fighters were vastly superior to the Japanese both in pilot quality and plane quality. Again, I can attribute this success to keeping the Japanese focused on the Timor area where those fearsome Georges and Franks are sweeping the empty air over Lautem.

The actual attacks went pretty well:

Morning Air attack on Kavieng , at 106,122

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M7 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 17

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
AKE Cormasta, Bomb hits 1
AMc Fumi Maru #2, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Port hits 6
Raid is overhead



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Morning Air attack on Kavieng , at 106,122

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 12

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

Japanese Ships
AKE Turuga Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AKE Cormasta, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AD Misaku Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Port hits 2
Port supply hits 1



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kavieng , at 106,122

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 10

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
AD Misaku Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AKE Cormasta, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Hopefully those heavy fire and heavy damage sunk those ships. Though this may not be significant as the IJN doesn't have any SCTFs here; by the time they could arrive perhaps Japan might send more AKEs. Though I would imagine they would be based in a more secure location.

Meanwhile, my CVs covered a landing at Woodlark. I did not expect a Japanese convoy to come in range of them so this was a nice surprise:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Torokina at 106,129

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M7 Zero x 6
A6M8 Zero x 16
A6M8-J Zero x 12
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 29
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 14
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 13
Ki-61-Id Tony x 22

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 13
F6F-3 Hellcat x 158
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 64
SBD-5 Dauntless x 38
TBF-1 Avenger x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 5 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-61-Id Tony: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 5 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAP Rakuyo Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Teikyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Shanghai Maru, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Kitano Maru, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Horai Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AV Kamoi, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Husimi Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Tamo Maru #7
PB Chitose Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Not only did I sink a half dozen xAPs, I shot down more planes than I lost.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure I landed enough at Woodlark to take the base:

round combat at Woodlark Island (104,133)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6601 troops, 72 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 228

Defending force 7701 troops, 206 guns, 234 vehicles, Assault Value = 292

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

Assaulting units:
27th Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
53rd JNAF AF Unit
8th IJN AA Battalion

Defending units:
Americal Infantry Div /6
II Australian Corps
2/16th Field Regiment
Sixth US Army /1

More of the Americal ID will unload tomorrow but even after that I will only have a 2 to 1 AV ratio over the Japanese. However, I did bring an army and corps HQ so maybe that will put me over the top. But this shouldn't be an issue; I am already loading up for Kiriwina Island which is just to the NW of Woodlark and has much lighter defenses.

All in all, my SoPac offensive seems to have caught the Japanese off guard. I took a number of days before the Japanese responded and their response was completely ineffective as I came out well ahead on planes shot down. The biggest issue I am facing are CD guns. They have really caused a lot of problems with merchant ships pressed into amphibious invasion forces because they take so long to unload. Note to readers who play as the Allies: use APA and AKA when invading bases that have CD guns. If you are going to press xAPs and xAKs into an amphibious role, only use them against targets without CD guns. I'd estimate I've lost nearly a dozen merchant ships unloading at Tulagi and if I had to do it again, I would have only used APAs and AKAs as they unload quickly enough to avoid the worst punishment.

ORIGINAL: jwolf
Is Tulagi so critical for you to capture? That level 8 fort looks like an invitation to bypass.

Tulagi, Noumea, and Rabaul are the only bases between Australia and Hawaii that can have a level 7 port and I want to have at least one of them. Noumea is defended by 2 full IJA divisions and when I attacked it, the adjusted Japanese AV was about 5,000 which is substantially more than what we saw at Tulagi. Noumea was bypassed so I could take Tulagi which is defended by a mere 275 AV bolstered by a single independent infantry brigade. Level 8 fort or not it's not a substantial defense when compared to other key bases. Tulagi is also an ideal logistical hub as it is midway between Australia and the Gilberts. Don't forget I haven't even really gotten my battleships and cruisers into play yet. Once they start bombarding heavily, those defenses won't last long. Also I have another two infantry regiments that are prepped that can land within 3 weeks. Maybe Tulagi isn't absolutely critical, but I do not expect it to cost me much more than a month and a few thousand casualties.

On a side note, how would I even bypass the base? Are you suggesting I pull out the 1,000 AV on the island? Can I even do that? And if so, wouldn't that put my ships into substantial danger from CD guns? I've never attempted such an operation before. Seems to me that it would probably lead to horrendous ship casualties.

ORIGINAL: jwolf
Ouch, ouch, ouch on Rangoon. Good luck as you regroup and fight again.

Ya, it's gonna hurt a lot to take Rangoon. I'm much more concerned with taking Rangoon than Tulagi. And if the Japanese ship reinforcements here, it may take me another 6 months to finish it off. Unlike Tulagi, I cannot count on heavy air and naval bombardment to clear out the defenders.

Thanks for explaining your strategic thinking in the SoPac. I don't have another strategy to offer; was just asking naively after recoiling from the level 8 fort.

ORIGINAL: jwolf
Thanks for explaining your strategic thinking in the SoPac. I don't have another strategy to offer; was just asking naively after recoiling from the level 8 fort.

LOL. Well I certainly think it won't be the last level 8 fort I deal with. Just imagine what the Marianas could look like. Level 7-9 forts backed by full divisions. Those could be extremely difficult to defeat.

Feb 26, 44

I finally sunk an IJN sub near Darwin, though it wasn't an ASW fleet that did the deed:

Submarine attack near Bathurst Island at 75,121

Japanese Ships
SS I-26, hits 20, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Conner
BB Alabama
BC Renown
CLAA Atlanta
DD Perkins
DD Jenkins
DD Maury
DD Morris
DD Endicott
DD Lansdowne

The the DD William Porter almost got one:

ASW attack near Darwin at 76,124

Japanese Ships
SS I-121, hits 17

Allied Ships
DD William Porter

And with that my CVs have broken free from that sub wall and will continue east towards the SoPac afterwards. It remains to be seen what the KB that has been at Kendari will do. Even if Japan should decide to send it to the Rabaul region, I am confident I will already have a couple of bases 9 hexes or less from Rabaul by that time. Then I will sweep the air of Rabaul with as many advanced fighters as I can get, especially P-47s and P-38Js which both can fly at over 420 Mph.

So if you recall I landed an ID, a corps HQ, and army HQ at Woodlark to take the base. After seeing I had only about a 50% edge in AV, I thought the attack would stall. Well I guess using a corps HQ and army HQ can make a world of difference:

Ground combat at Woodlark Island (104,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6123 troops, 211 guns, 96 vehicles, Assault Value = 359

Defending force 7962 troops, 113 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 226

Allied adjusted assault: 1266

Japanese adjusted defense: 215

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
403 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
89 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Americal Infantry Division
II Australian Corps
Sixth US Army
2/16th Field Regiment

Defending units:
27th Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
53rd JNAF AF Unit
8th IJN AA Battalion

Not only did I reduce the fort, I did it with 5 to 1 odds! I legitimately could have captured the base on the first attack with those assault odds. My AV increased by a factor of 3.5. It seems to me that using the right combo of HQs can greatly increase your ceiling for adjusted AV but it takes a good dice roll to get it. And now that I've reduced both the fort and Japanese AV, taking the base shortly seems almost certain.

Another good day in the SoPac for me as the Japanese pulled their fighters back to Rabaul and left my bombers to smash the airfields in the region. Once I get my full fleet assembled in the SoPac, there will be little the Japanese can do to stop me. Both Bougainville and New Ireland islands are weakly held and my troops should have no problems taking bases quickly there. At this point it seems very possible to wrap up my SoPac operations within a month, culminating with the capture of Kavieng in northern New Ireland.

February 27th 1944

I seem to have a problem with my subs patrolling east of Singapore who are based at Colombo. When they come back to rearm or refuel, they have a bad tendency to route through Singapore:

TF 240 encounters mine field at Singapore (50,84)

Allied Ships
SS Trident, Mine hits 2, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 243 encounters mine field at Singapore (50,84)

Allied Ships
SS Truculent, Mine hits 1, heavy damage

Not sure why this keeps happening. It didn't always do this; subs used to avoid Singapore. It might be because I am using direct routing but I have noticed in the past even direct routing will avoid enemy bases unless coastal routing is selected. I would really like to see a patch such that subs try to avoid any hexes with mines unless specifically ordered to do so. Surely there is no good reasons subs heading back to Ceylon shouldn't just go around Singapore from AI routing.

The Japanese launched a naval strike against a cruiser force in the the eastern DEI covering some convoys:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Taberfane at 82,117

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 150 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 49 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 40
D4Y1 Judy x 21
N1K2-J George x 106

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 9
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 25
F4U-1 Corsair x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
N1K2-J George: 4 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DD Aylwin
DD Rotherham
CA Suffolk, Torpedo hits 1
DD Oreleck
DD Warramunga
DD Bulmer

Took at least 20 planes down for a single torpedo hit on a cruiser. The CA Suffolk should sail away just fine to get repairs in Sydney.

Today I landed at Wake. The CD gunfire was MUCH less than I expected:

Invasion Support action off Wake Island (136,98)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

11 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
LSD Belle Grove, Shell hits 1
DD Evertsen
DE Seid
LSV Catskill, Shell hits 3
PF Coronado
APA Leon

That being said, I still took a fair number of casualties on the shock attack:

Ground combat at Wake Island (136,98)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 9861 troops, 172 guns, 115 vehicles, Assault Value = 348

Defending force 1492 troops, 38 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 19

Allied adjusted assault: 44

Japanese adjusted defense: 18

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4

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

Japanese ground losses:
369 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
872 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 40 destroyed, 35 disabled
Guns lost 7 (4 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (8 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
18th Combat Engineer Regiment
53rd (Sep) Infantry Regiment
14th Canadian Bde /4
18th Marine Defense Battalion
6th USA Defense Battalion

Defending units:
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
33rd JNAF AF Unit

My adjusted AV really plummeted here. Might be due to overstacking; I'm a good 60% over the limit. Hard to say. That being said, I took the fort down two levels and most of my LCUs are intact. Seems only the 18th Combat Engineer Regiment got hit hard based off the number of destroyed engineering squads.

Meanwhile to the west I am still finishing off the defenders at Ponape. The type of battle I am fighting there is very in line with the historical experiences of the US in the Pacific:

Ground combat at Ponape (119,113)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21026 troops, 421 guns, 400 vehicles, Assault Value = 506

Defending force 6185 troops, 55 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 37

Allied adjusted assault: 492

Japanese adjusted defense: 15

Allied assault odds: 32 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
387 casualties reported
Squads: 25 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 10 (3 destroyed, 7 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
43rd Infantry Division
40th Infantry Division
I US Amphib Corps
Bobcats USN Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
24th Ind.Mixed Brigade
4th Base Force
28th JAAF AF Bn

This battle has dragged on for many weeks requiring numerous attacks. This is probably my 5th attack since taking the base. And there are still thousands of troops left. Those Japanese just don't want to surrender. Kind of annoying because I want to get these units prepped for new targets. But then again all these attacks are probably building up experience for my units.

To the west I destroyed the remaining paratroopers at Lautem:

Ground combat at Lautem (72,115)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8445 troops, 104 guns, 228 vehicles, Assault Value = 852

Defending force 414 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 19

Allied adjusted assault: 106

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 106 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
579 casualties reported
Squads: 43 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

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

Assaulting units:
32nd Infantry Division
2/9 Cavalry Cdo Battalion
3rd USMC Parachute Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
641st Towed Tank Destroyer Battalion
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
1st Australian Division
I US Corps
6th USN Naval Const Rgt /1

Defending units:
1st Para Assault/C Div /1
1st Para Assault/A Div /1

As you see I brought the two IDs back here as well. The rest of Timor will wait.

And in the South Pacific I made more progress with Woodlark:

Ground combat at Woodlark Island (104,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7057 troops, 219 guns, 114 vehicles, Assault Value = 350

Defending force 7454 troops, 112 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 175

Allied adjusted assault: 474

Japanese adjusted defense: 381

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
277 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
227 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
Americal Infantry Division
Sixth US Army
II Australian Corps
2/16th Field Regiment

Defending units:
27th Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
53rd JNAF AF Unit
8th IJN AA Battalion

Bringing down fort levels is always a good thing.

Looks like the KB might have left Kendari at last. Too late my friend! Landings at Kiriwina have already started. And if you have read Target Rabual you would know that Kiriwina was the main fighter base for P-38s in attacking Rabaul. By the time the KB arrive, I'll be ready to sweep Rabaul. Those are going to be some MASSIVE air battles. I'm planning on bringing every P-47 in the Pacific in support. It's going to be a glorious moment once I've cleared the skies enough to start pummeling the airfield.

February 29th 1944

Wake fell on the second attack:

Ground combat at Wake Island (136,98)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7943 troops, 166 guns, 90 vehicles, Assault Value = 256

Defending force 1120 troops, 37 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Allied adjusted assault: 98

Japanese adjusted defense: 8

Allied assault odds: 12 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Wake Island !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1523 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 117 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 28 (28 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Allied ground losses:
243 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
53rd (Sep) Infantry Regiment
14th Canadian Brigade
18th Combat Engineer Regiment
18th Marine Defense Battalion
6th USA Defense Battalion

Defending units:
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
33rd JNAF AF Unit

Rangoon was very bloody again. At least I got the fort down:

Ground combat at Rangoon (54,53)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 183633 troops, 3047 guns, 2792 vehicles, Assault Value = 5449

Defending force 74595 troops, 803 guns, 379 vehicles, Assault Value = 2361

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied adjusted assault: 4840

Japanese adjusted defense: 7249

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1303 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 209 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 22 disabled
Guns lost 57 (6 destroyed, 51 disabled)
Vehicles lost 19 (4 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
17996 casualties reported
Squads: 195 destroyed, 2061 disabled
Non Combat: 64 destroyed, 243 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 114 disabled
Guns lost 316 (11 destroyed, 305 disabled)
Vehicles lost 130 (18 destroyed, 112 disabled)

Assaulting units:
6th Chinese Corps
26th Indian Brigade
7th Indian/A Division
11th Indian/B Division
268th Motorised Brigade
7th Australian Division
5th Chinese/C Corps
7th Indian/C Division
Provisionl Tank
29th British Brigade
5th Indian Division
25th Indian Division
7th New Chinese Corps
14th Indian Division
5th Chinese/B Corps
11th Indian/A Division
72nd British Brigade
22nd Indian Brigade
6th Australian Division
19th Indian Division
17th Indian Division
2nd British Division
5th Chinese/A Corps
7th Indian/B Division
11th Indian/C Division
14th Army
2/9th Field Regiment
97th Field Artillery Battalion
6th Mixed A/T Mtr Regiment
28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Medium Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
134th Field Artillery Battalion
2/13th Field Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
5th Field Regiment

Defending units:
21st Division
8th Division
16th Division
2nd Division
10th Division
1st RTA Division
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st RF Gun Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
Burma Area Army
11th Shipping Engineer Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
10th RF Gun Battalion

At this rate it's going to take me months...

March 1st 1944

Slow progress at Tulagi. Definitely going to be an easier battle than Rangoon:

Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34477 troops, 836 guns, 658 vehicles, Assault Value = 1149

Defending force 17446 troops, 122 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 236

Allied adjusted assault: 1315

Japanese adjusted defense: 739

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 8)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 7

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

Japanese ground losses:
174 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1670 casualties reported
Squads: 79 destroyed, 160 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 54 (16 destroyed, 38 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (10 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Assaulting units:
24th Marine Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment
19th Infantry Regiment
151st Combat Engineer Regiment
27th Infantry Regiment
161st Infantry Regiment
35th Infantry Regiment
7th Infantry Division
V US Amphib Corps
9th Marine Defense Battalion
226th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
249th Field Artillery Battalion
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
30th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
29th Ind.Mixed Brigade
5th ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
1st Guard ADU Coastal Gun Battalion
111th Naval Construction Battalion
8th Base Force
2nd Air Flotilla
6th Fleet
36th JNAF AF Unit

Now I have a dozen cruisers and eight battleships bombarding the base daily. Planning on landing some unit fragments so I can form those regiments into divisions. Also need some supply before my next attack. Hopefully daily bombardments will reduce the supply the CD guns have to fire back on my ships that are unloading. I'd guess by now I've lost a dozen ships at Tulagi to CD guns...ouch. But I REALLY want that level 7 port as a logistical hub. It's perfectly situated to feed both the SoPac and SwPac near Darwin.

March 4th 1944

SWPAC:

The Japanese continue to priority in the DEI. Now there are convoys going to bases that had gone dry long ago. Fine by me; once I bring my air force and navy back I'll just end up destroying that supply.
Japanese still in a counterattack mode here bombarding my bases and sending in bombers.



SOPAC:

Everything for me is concentrated on the SoPac. Things moving quickly here. As you see, I now hold many of the islands NE of New Guinea. Just getting them repaired before I launch my assault on Rabaul. I have landings coming soon for Buin and Shortland and I'm already sending transports to go pick up the Kavieng invasion. The Japanese tried CAP traps in Rabaul with small transports ships but I put all my planes to range 5 so they wouldn't fall for that trick. As long as the rest of the IJN is in the SWPAC I can do this without worry.