July 2, 1942
SE Asia:
The Allies are taking their time advancing toward Bangkog.
The Thai Army is involved in delaying battles at Tavoy and Uttradicht, taking a toll on the enemy:
Ground combat at Tavoy (54,60)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 30030 troops, 681 guns, 521 vehicles, Assault Value = 904
Defending force 11207 troops, 82 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 363
Allied adjusted assault: 885
Japanese adjusted defense: 427
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Tavoy !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
2748 casualties reported
Squads: 107 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 70 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (9 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 3
Allied ground losses:
874 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 93 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
25th Indian Division
5th Indian Division
2nd Indian Field Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
56th Heavy AA Regiment
IV Indian Corps
8th Mahratta AT Gun Regiment
Defending units:
1st RTA Division
1st INA Subhas Regiment
2nd RTA Division
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Ground combat at 53,61 (near Tavoy)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 25188 troops, 478 guns, 491 vehicles, Assault Value = 806
Defending force 8876 troops, 74 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 283
Allied adjusted assault: 436
Japanese adjusted defense: 697
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
619 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 91 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
779 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 102 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Assaulting units:
Lushai Brigade
28th (East African) Brigade
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
5th Indian Division
12th Indian Heavy AA Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Indian Field Regiment
IV Corps RIASC Base Force
Defending units:
1st RTA Division
1st INA Subhas Regiment
2nd RTA Division
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Ground combat at Uttaradit (59,56)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 29652 troops, 149 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1095
Defending force 11207 troops, 132 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 346
Allied adjusted assault: 852
Japanese adjusted defense: 179
Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 3)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), supply(-)
Japanese ground losses:
1034 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 32 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 20 (12 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Allied ground losses:
2162 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 233 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Assaulting units:
BFF Brigade
3rd New Chinese Corps
48th Light AA Regiment
Defending units:
3rd RTA/A Division
7th RTA/B Division
6th RTA/C Division
7th RTA/C Division
7th RTA/A Division
6th RTA/A Division
6th RTA/B Division
3rd RTA/B Division
3rd RTA/C Division
3rd Machine Cannon AA Battalion
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Ground combat at Uttaradit (59,56)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 10680 troops, 144 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 1277
Defending force 10357 troops, 121 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 293
Allied adjusted assault: 55
Japanese adjusted defense: 41
Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
784 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 63 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (6 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
294 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Assaulting units:
BFF Brigade
81st (West African) Division
3rd New Chinese Corps
48th Light AA Regiment
Defending units:
6th RTA/A Division
6th RTA/B Division
6th RTA/C Division
3rd RTA Division
7th RTA/A Division
7th RTA/B Division
7th RTA/C Division
3rd Machine Cannon AA Battalion
Eastern DEI:
The Allies are making their next move at Biak. No CVs or BBs are spotted. The 2nd Marine Div is the only ground unit identified so far.
The garrison consists of the 54th Div and the 35th Ind. Bde, but the last months sea and air bombardments have deprived them of their supplies. So, I don't expect much resistance from them.
Overall Situation:
I did some math and I concluded that the Japanese economy with its current reserves can support war making at maximum efficiency for 18-20 months after the SRA oilfields are lost or destroyed. From now on, any tanker convoys reaching the Home Islands will simply be a bonus. Which means that the DEI is gradually losing its strategic value to Japan. The primary mission of the IJA now is to delay the enemy from acquiring bomber bases in range of Japan.
Accordingly, a series of withdrawals from certain outposts has been ordered. Cocos, Christmas island, northern Sumatra, all islands west of Sumatra and the Sunda island chain will be stripped of their garrisons. That will provide a reserve of 5 division equivalents. Eventually, the 2nd Area Army defending Timor and Celebes will also be withdrawn, if enough pressure is applied by the enemy.
The KB main base from now on will be Okinawa. From there, it's two days to the Philippines and the Marianas, and three days to the Kurilles.
The preparation of the Decisive Battle Area of the Philippines continues apace. The 14th Area Army has been reinforced by a multiple of newly built brigades, which will be used to bolster the defense of Mindanao and the island chain west of it (Jolo etc). Forts and airfield expansion is continuing.