Newbie Allies vs. Experinced WitP

[Crackaces]

********************************************** 02 MAY 1942 ***************************************************

The night opens with a run of Betty's on an airfield attack. We put up 12 Fighters vs. his 12 LB's .. we kill 3 and hurt 4 .. another ACE!

SLDR DeCruyenaere, A.J. of No.136 Sqn RAF attains ace status!!

Night Air attack on Chittagong , at 55,41

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 12



Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 8
Mohawk IV x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed on ground



Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

We keep running our ASW screens and I-6 shows up on our RADAR .. I got a "Fires Below Decks" message .. that cannot be good on a submarine ..

ASW attack near San Luis Obispo at 221,76

Japanese Ships
SS I-6, hits 3

Allied Ships
AVD Thornton
DD Maury
DD McCall

Our bombing runs in Burma did not go and I lost sight of the convoy in the Gilberts ..The tide comes and goes ..

The IJ acutally have forces moving toward Darwin:

15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion is loaded on xAK Nojima Maru moving to Darwin.


The picture is quite clear .. I think I will be hitting the Gilberts the same time that the IJ is hitting Darwin ...lets see who blinks first ...

It does mean devoting a lot more transports to start moving a lot more stuff to the Land of Oz. I do not feel rushed but we need to prepare for a long campaign in Northern Oz ...[8|]

Ok .. more later ..

[Crackaces]

As you see for 02 MAY 1942. The Convoy indeed landed at Ocean Island. I held back on hitting thinking the Dutch subs might contact but alas .. no joy. So my Brit SCTF will smack Ocean Island and scatter this convoy. I am not sure how many troops/supply has landed. It might cause my to reconsider my raid.

But .. I should have everything ready to go for the 5th of May. The big force will be 3 days out to follow this raid with a hit on Tarawa. It will be an exciting 4 days coming then the IJ will hit Darwin and begin occupying Northern Oz . It will be a race to see who blinks first ..and starts to react to the others offense first .. once the IJ goes on the defense . I have them licked ..

[Crackaces]

******************************************************************** 03 MAY 1942 **************************************

The early morning hours start with an ASW operation:


Sub attack near Brisbane at 97,160

Japanese Ships
SS I-9, hits 1

Allied Ships
APD Colhoun
DD Van Nes
DD Banckert



Nothing big just one hit ..

Our operation described above goes without a hitch:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ocean Island at 130,130, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Fumi Maru #3, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Kohoku Maru, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall
CA Exeter
CL Hobart
CL Danae
CL Durban
CL Ceres
CL Glasgow
CL Caledon
CL Capetown
CL Colombo
DD Evertsen
DD Piet Hein
DD Van Ghent
DD Electra
DD Isis
DD Napier



Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 89% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...[>:]
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards [X(]
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards [:-]
CA Exeter engages xAK Kohoku Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Kohoku Maru at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Exeter engages PB Fumi Maru #3 at 9,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages PB Fumi Maru #3 at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CA Exeter engages PB Fumi Maru #3 at 6,000 yards
CA Exeter engages xAK Kohoku Maru at 6,000 yards
PB Fumi Maru #3 sunk by CL Colombo at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CA Exeter engages xAK Kohoku Maru at 3,000 yards
CL Danae engages xAK Kohoku Maru at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Isis engages xAK Kohoku Maru at 2,000 yards
xAK Kohoku Maru sunk by CL Colombo at 2,000 yards
xAK Kohoku Maru sunk by CL Colombo at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...



Night Naval bombardment of Ocean Island at 130,130

Allied Ships
CA Exeter
CA Cornwall
CL Colombo
CL Capetown
CL Caledon
CL Glasgow
CL Ceres
CL Durban
CL Danae
CL Hobart



Resources hits 2
Port hits 26
Port supply hits 4

Now we reload and proceed to drop the Marines in on Ocean Island ...

Our raid on Mandalay was kind of expensive ..

Morning Air attack on 14th Tank Regiment, at 59,46 (Mandalay)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 37
Hudson IIIa x 12
Hurricane I Trop x 7
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16


Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged

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

Blenheim IV from No.113 Sqn RAF crashes on landing

Blenheim IV from No.11 Sqn RAF is damaged on landing

Blenheim IV from No.113 Sqn RAF crashes on landing

Hurricane IIa Trop from No.605 Sqn RAF crashes on landing

So we lose 4 aircraft for 3 guns [:(]

Ok next tirn is getting stuff in place. We launch the Hornet into theater with all new upgraded CA's, CL & DD's .. She will stage near Christmas Island about 5 days away and then we decide what to do next .. More later ..

[Crackaces]

*********************************************** 04 MAY 1942 *******************************************

DARWIN!

The predicted attack comes and begins with Naval Bombardment:

Night Naval bombardment of Darwin at 76,124 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

47 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Nachi
CA Myoko
CL Kiso
DD Yanagi
DD Karii
DD Minazuki
DD Oshio
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Oyashio


Allied ground losses:
81 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)


Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 2
Port fuel hits 1


Then the Amphib Attack. This does not go as planned for the IJN/IJA ..

Pre-Invasion action off Darwin (76,124) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

57 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Kashii, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAK Kansai Maru, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shikinami
DD Yomogi
xAK Tatumiya Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Sasako Maru

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

Invasion Support action off Darwin (76,124) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

63 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DD Kamikaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Kansai Maru, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kashii, on fire
xAK Tatumiya Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AK Sasako Maru
DD Yomogi

Japanese ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Amphibious Assault at Darwin (76,124)

TF 83 troops unloading over beach at Darwin, 76,124

Japanese ground losses:
1169 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 128 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 21 (0 destroyed, 21 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)



So one xAK unloads the rest of the Amphib forces are on fire ...

But this is enough of a force to take Darwin if they have enough supplies:


Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1085 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 77

Defending force 7093 troops, 59 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 309


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


Assaulting units:
2/1 NAOU Det.
19th Australian Battalion
Emery Point Fortress
Northern Territory
A/B Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
21st Div /5
48th Div /1


I am fortified there and it will be a nasty fight but as predicted Darwin will be captured.

In Burma we execute a shock attack using the Chineese:


Ground combat at Lashio (62,46)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 5731 troops, 27 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 347

Defending force 612 troops, 0 guns, 98 vehicles, Assault Value = 51

Allied adjusted assault: 156

Japanese adjusted defense: 76

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 23 (14 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Allied ground losses:
138 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

We continue our attacks on Mandalay:

Morning Air attack on 18th Division, at 59,46 (Mandalay)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 3 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 14
Hurricane IIb Trop x 8


No Allied losses

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

Morning Air attack on 33rd Division, at 59,45 (Shwebo)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 12


No Allied losses

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



In other news .. around Pearl Harbor the IJN has operationaly started patroling my exit point toward the south. The other two hexes are covered by mines

They pay the price:

ASW attack near Kona at 181,111

Japanese Ships
SS I-28, hits 2, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Kennison
DD Crane

We also find that the IJN has stationed a submarine in a strategic location over Colombo's cargo route ..

Sub attack near Colombo at 27,48

Japanese Ships
SS I-25

Allied Ships
KV Fritillary



SS I-25 launches 2 torpedoes


More later as this turn unfolds .. Things continue to position in the Gilberts ..

[DOCUP]

Nice costal fire at Darwin.  But I think that unit has 4 or so 6 in guns.  Your hurting the subs now.

[Crackaces]

Situation at Darwin:

I want to devote a couple paragraphs on Darwin.

Right now I have identified the remnants of two IJ divisions. If they were full strength when they landed that would be 25K troops for which 7K landed.

xAK Kansai Maru,
xAK Tatumiya Maru
AK Sasako Maru

However, I count about 20K total capacity including supplies and equipment in these 3 ships so something does not make sense. Maybe some other parts of these division are landing elsewhere? Could a JFB or LYBFB comment?

The causualites correlated with the capacites of this TF makes sense. About 1K causualties and the whole of the AK Sasako Maru landing ..

Comments anybody?

[Alfred]

1. You are assuming the entire invading army is on board only 3 ships. That is a, ahem, "courageous" assumption.

2. You are overestimating the carrying capacity of those 3 ships. You have failed to deduct the 20% of unavailable space when combat loading is involved.

3. No additional ships carrying supplies have been identified.

The enemy has either not brought along 2 complete divisions or you are yet to identify more transports.

Alfred

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

1. You are assuming the entire invading army is on board only 3 ships. That is a, ahem, "courageous" assumption.

2. You are overestimating the carrying capacity of those 3 ships. You have failed to deduct the 20% of unavailable space when combat loading is involved.

3. No additional ships carrying supplies have been identified.

The enemy has either not brought along 2 complete divisions or you are yet to identify more transports.

Alfred

I have to agree with you Alfred. He loaded up the divisions all in one place and on multiple transports. I am thinking with the idea of hitting multiple places at once rather than deal with the road network. We are blind for sure to be bale to make any assumptions.

But yes, I was assuming one would load up the two diivsions and drop them off at Darwin first [;)] ... better to think otherwise .. [:'(] and also that was puzzling me .. I assume he is holding back on the ships with supplies until he has the port .. he has an unadjusted 309 - 77 I have Fort Level 3 (-exp) ( - leadership) (- morale) but he is disrupted badly Supply? .. I say 4-1 raw reduced to 1-1 when the deliberate attack happends [8D]

One thing we know .. not much more is coming onshore from that Amphib TF [;)]


I am also thinking this is a diversion and the KB is somewhere in the Marians right now. Just a hunch but I am thinking that TK at Milli is really an AO and he is moving more AO support this turn. He needs to refuel to strike anywhere in this area. I suspect my 2 CVTF's are about to find the KB .. [&:] we shall see ..


Ok thanks very much for the inputs Alfred . I am thinking way differently now ..

[modrow]

ORIGINAL: Alfred
The enemy has either not brought along 2 complete divisions or you are yet to identify more transports.

Alfred

My money is on the second option. CD guns engage a ship, in response some ship that has guns to respond moves in to suppress the guns. As a result, only few ships are engaged and appear in the combat report. That does not mean this is the number of ships in the TF.

You can find another example in my AAR, my opponent's invasion of PM. If you follow along the sequence of unloading actions you will see that the ships that are identified vary slowly and that only a fraction of the ships in the TF are identified.

Hartwig

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: hartwig.modrow

ORIGINAL: Alfred
The enemy has either not brought along 2 complete divisions or you are yet to identify more transports.

Alfred

My money is on the second option. CD guns engage a ship, in response some ship that has guns to respond moves in to suppress the guns. As a result, only few ships are engaged and appear in the combat report. That does not mean this is the number of ships in the TF.

You can find another example in my AAR, my opponent's invasion of PM. If you follow along the sequence of unloading actions you will see that the ships that are identified vary slowly and that only a fraction of the ships in the TF are identified.

Hartwig

Ok that makes sense .. given a troop count of 7K plus cargo given losses then I would say at least 4 other xAK's are still alive. We shall see at the next combat report if more ships show up .. the two DD's showed up as sunk ..

[Crackaces]

********************************************* 05 APR 1942 ***************************************

I thought I would just update the thread with what the Operational Plan is now:

NORPAC: We have moved 2 Rgt to Addu & Dutch Harbor. The 101VP is at Addu and looking in Northern Japan. I have also moved 3 AA rgts to Dutch Harbor.

CENPAC: The Ocean Island Attack force postiions this turn. I have to rearm and refuel the Brits and then we will execute the raid on Ocean Island. The Tarawa forces are staged south of Baker Island. I have decided to move the Pacific Ocean HQ to Tabetuea. This HQ has a 9 hex range and provides support for Tarawa. The IJ cannot refinforce or supply this atoll so any delay only has the risk that the KB reacts because some sub scout plane finds something.

SOCPAC: Base Forces move to toward Ndeni. Aircraft are staging through Tabitueua. We will have 6 B-17 squadrons at Luganville that can haunt the Sothern Solomons.

OZ: We have the American Division plus 4 armored units moving to the land of OZ. We have time to develop this front as I will eventually by July stage at Alice Springs.

BURMA: The IJA is reacting to stopping the advance to Akyab 300 miles south. Another 300 AV is committed to move the Indian Rgt there. This will give me time to build a defensive line along the river bordering Akyab. To the North, the Chineese are staging aircraft and troops at the border. If the IJA decides to make a push it will be costly.

More later ...

[Crackaces]

I worked today to put the story together .. in the combat reporter we have:


17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 21st Div /2
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 48th Div
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of 48th Div
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of 48th Div /2
17 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 21st Div /4
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad accidentally lost during unload of 48th Div /5

Defending units:
21st Div /5
48th Div /1

The Above is about 7K troops

That tells me that at least :

21st Div /2
21st Div /4
21st Div /5

48th Div
48th Div /1
48th Div /2
48th Div /5

Are attempting to land of which I can see only the two elements at Darwin -- 21st Div /5 & 48th Div /1 ... .

This reinforces hartwig.modrow's comments. That is at least 7 elements and thus there has to be at least 4 more xAK's to land these forces. Only 2 Ak's are engaged and are on fire. We are just seeing the elements that the guns are engaging. I still suspect that there are 2 Divisions loaded on 10 xAk's ... the next combat report will provide the rest of the puzzle to the story ...The DD Kamikaze, and Shikinami are showing sunk so the guns hopefully will find new targets ..

[Crackaces]

******************************************** 05 MAY 1942 **************************************************

As was explained to me .. three more AK's show up .. and are subsequintly enaged. I bolded the AK Sasako Maru as she has been seen from the begining ..


Invasion Support action off Darwin (76,124)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

29 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Tatumiya Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Yamagiri Maru, Shell hits 3
xAK Hakusika Maru, Shell hits 1
AK Sasako Maru
DD Yomogi

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



Invasion Support action off Darwin (76,124)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

31 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Yamagiri Maru, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hakusika Maru, Shell hits 1
xAP Hakozaki Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAP Husimi Maru
xAP Suwa Maru
AK Sasako Maru
DD Yomogi

Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Invasion Support action off Darwin (76,124)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

31 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAP Hakone Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Yamagiri Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hakusika Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
AK Sasako Maru
DD Yomogi

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Invasion Support action off Darwin (76,124)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

14 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAP Hakone Maru
xAK Hakusika Maru, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Hakozaki Maru
AK Sasako Maru

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

Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10925 troops, 59 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 416

Defending force 2531 troops, 23 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 74

Japanese adjusted assault: 174

Allied adjusted defense: 61

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
630 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled


Allied ground losses:
471 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled


Assaulting units:
21st Division
48th Div /1

What is really important is that the 21 division has consoldated. The 48th Division is yet to consolidate.

ASW:

ASW attack near Mili at 136,121

Japanese Ships
PB Santos Maru

Allied Ships
SS Tambor, hits 3
Don't mine in occupied spaces ..
[;)]

But we let him mine in a part with no less than 12 DD's


ASW attack near Tabiteuea at 137,134

Japanese Ships
SS I-171

Allied Ships
CL Colombo
CL Glasgow
DD Van Ghent

Japanese Ships
SS I-171

Allied Ships
DMS Chandler
DMS Long

ASW attack near Tabiteuea at 137,134

Japanese Ships
SS I-171

Allied Ships
AM Vireo



TF 346 encounters mine field at Tabiteuea (137,134)

Allied Ships
YMS-97
YMS-96
YMS-95
YMS-94



19 mines cleared [;)]


Ok more tommorow when I get the turn ..

[Crackaces]

The below picture shows the situation as of this turn. One thing I like about WitP AE the game flow dramtically transitions from Strategic mode into operations mode very nicely. The tension is mounting ...

I will get another turn soon. But for planning purposes here is the situation at Tarawa:

The invasion force is at D-Day - 3 right now. I will stage just outside of Mavis range shown on the map and rush there in one turn. We will have a day under Nell'y range depedent on LB & Carrer Based CAP. The last attack on was 13 Nell's and 8 zeros vs 20 Wildcats 11 got through .. this time we have 45 Wildcats on CAP plus 45 in reserve that might or might not join the frey ... and whatever P-40's show up.

We roll the dice ...

I could strike earlier but I think staging everything just outside of range and coming into Nell range just one turn in and one turn out will limit exposure. If its 25 Nells we are going to take some torps .. if it is 12 - 15 I think we can shoot down our fair share.

Here is what is happening this turn:

1. The Brit ASW will fill the gap as shown to prevent SS-I-171 from getting into theater. 8 more USN DD's will decend from the north and cover the northern routes.
2. The Marines are loaded this turn. We rearm and refuel the Brit CA and 2 DD's to form an amphibious attack on Ocean Island.
3. The Invasion force contunues to stage.
4. The CVTF's stage into position.

So 4 DMS mine clearing detail lead the force, followed by the invasion forces with the Carriers set to follow 1 hex back.

Godspeed ...

[Crackaces]

While waiting for my turn I thought I would provide a picture of Burma. The armored foray into Lashio was met by 2 Chineese Corps and 1 Brit Bdge -- he stopped. I shocked and 1/2 of the units vehicles were lost. In the other corner of this little world a small force tried to force their way up the road to Akayb and was met by a small weak Ind Bgde .. but with a little help from the air we stopped that unit. Now friends are coming from Ragoon. I sense we will meet the 2 Kurkas Rgt that is that unit right next door. That will provide 100 AV although the forces are quite fatigued .. but in the Jungle should be enough to buffer the 400 AV coming up the road. This little unit has stalled the advance over a week.

Meanwhile we have moved in a full division into Akyab and will have 2 bgdes along the river to prevent an outflanking maneuver. We are organzting the Brits and Indians in India and by July should have a line established. We would like a stalemate .. and then B17's and LB's hit the LYB's from the level 7 bases we are building in India. Akyab is level 3 right now .. when its level 5 I have bomber commands to go there and start the air attack on Ragoon.

One day at a time.

[Crackaces]

**************************************** 06 MAY 1942 ******************************************

First the night starts with bombardment. Things do not go well for the IJN:

Pre-Invasion action off Darwin (76,124) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

63 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DD Ushio, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Hibiki, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAK Mito Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
APD Tachikaze
xAK Konzan Maru, Shell hits 1

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


The xAK's continue to unload and so do the shore batteries ..

Invasion Support action off Darwin (76,124)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

22 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Hakusika Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Hakone Maru
xAP Hakozaki Maru
xAP Husimi Maru, Shell hits 2
AK Sasako Maru
DD Yomogi

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



Finally:

Amphibious Assault at Darwin (76,124)

TF 190 troops unloading over beach at Darwin, 76,124

Japanese ground losses:
99 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)




Putting the whole story together over three days here is and what was observed what the Darwin invasion costs total:

APD Tachikaze
AK Sasako Maru
xAK Hakusika Maru, Shell hits 6 on fire heavy damage
xAP Hakone Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Kansai Maru, Shell hits 22, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Konzan Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Mito Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Tatumiya Maru, Shell hits 8, on fire heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Yamagiri Maru, Shell hits 21 heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Hakozaki Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAP Husimi Maru
xAP Suwa Maru
CL Kashii, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Kamikaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hibiki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Ushio, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Yomogi

Plus the BB's (see previous CR's) had to committ to engage .

I would say 8 xAK's are sunk. I would venture the Kashi, Kamikaze, Hibiki, Shikinami, & Ushio are also sunk as they caught 9.2" Critical hits with things like "Superstructure carried away" "internal expolsions.."

Darwin Falls: [:(]


Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12270 troops, 110 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 498

Defending force 2249 troops, 24 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 41

Japanese adjusted assault: 247

Allied adjusted defense: 22

Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Darwin !!!

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

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


Allied ground losses:
1172 casualties reported
Squads: 96 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 160 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 31 (31 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3
Units destroyed 2


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
48th Division
21st Division
21st Ind.Mixed Bde /3
1st Hvy.Artillery Rgt /1

Defending units:
19th Australian Battalion
2/1 NAOU Det.
Emery Point Fortress
Northern Territory
A/B Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment



One thing to read from this .. the 21st and 48th divsion consoldated. and the 21st Ind Mixed Bdge and 1st Hvy Art .. make up an unadjusted AV 500. The CR quotes: 12270 troops, 110 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 498

The 21st and 48th alone start as over 12K each! There is over 50% causulties on the landing.

I think if an assult was planned for Darwin directly it would have been far better to have brought the BB's in with the Amphib force and took some shots rather than the xAK's but that is my opinion.

My Burma guys flew for some reason .. I guess I did not disable all ..


Morning Air attack on 53rd Division, at 59,46 (Mandalay)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 9
Hudson IIIa x 12


Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
Hudson IIIa: 1 damaged
Hudson IIIa: 1 destroyed by flak

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


[:(]

I also forgot to shut the Chineese down ..

Morning Air attack on 12th Ind.Mixed Brigade, at 85,54 (Nanchang)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes


Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 16
SB-III x 6


Allied aircraft losses
SB-III: 1 damaged

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



Ok ...

We did not engage the submarine around Tabitieua .. this is not good at all .. despite all the ASW air and ASW DD TF's it just might be in the middle of our Battlespace. Despite 12 DD's patroling its only hexes ..I suspect it will slip through to get a CV ...[8|]


Ok .. more later ..

[Crackaces]

May be a month of planting. I am planning to release my aces from China and I have found two of them that qualify for the Traning Corps Leadership. This is the time to do this as the AVG is due to disband soon. WE need to seed the future .. now ..

[Crackaces]

SIGINT:

"Radio transmissions detected at 106,77."

This is the first time that fleet markers appeared on the map with Radio traffic SIGINT. It is 54 hexes away from Tabetiteua and 45 from Tarawa. At 18 hexes per turn he can be in range in 2 days .. it will be very very interesting if these forces react to my current operations around Tarawa. But next turn we should be moving in. I still have one more turn to call this off ...or at least postpone. It has taken me soooo long to get this stuff in place ..


There could be two things happening here .. one he is sending the KB over to hit the Brits that are terrorizing his shipping into the Gilberts. The second thought is that he got Radio intellegence of "Heavy Traffic" and and is repsonding .. or a little of both. But .. I sense an exchange of "Queens" coming .. my 4 CV's and some LBA VS 6 CV's ..... I am not sure I want to do this yet ..


More later ..

[Crackaces]

********************************************************** 07 MAY 1942 ****************************************************************************

This turn was extermly light. I left some fighters on "Sweep" and a couple went out to find the IJAAF. Very uncoordinated and we lost two "Trops" to One Oscar .. but .. my pilots are claming more kills:


PO Brewer, P.M. of No.136 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2

WO Wilding, F.E. of No.136 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3

Maybe for some past event [:D]

Very very quiet before the storm ..

I sense Darwin was only a diversion to an upcoming KB sortie. More radio transmissions in CENPAC area. Boy is a surprise coming for both sides.

More later ..

[Crackaces]

The Battle for Tarawa is on. The picture below shows the operational orders for the intial phases. I think an invasion starts at teh begining of the turn and the forces will just arrive and the end of the day. So I suspect we will have one turn in Nelly range before off loading. Hopefully 70 fighters can beat 12 - 20 LYB LB's .. or at least our BB's can take a hit...

At the same time we are hitting a convoy ported and striking Ocean Island with the Marines.

If my Intel and planning is correct we should have Ocean Island and Tarawa on 10 MAY 1942. Then its consoladaton and reinforcement.... or salvaging what we can and running ..[;)]