Meridian to Majestic: Hartwig (Lokasenna) (J) vs obvert (A) (Bullwinkle's from 7/41-11/44)

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Jan 24-25, 1945[/font]

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The 24th has little action, but on the 25th the Japanese launch more sweeps targeting the DS near Soc Trang. They get about a 1:1 on the day. The DS can take a few hits like this easily keeping up group numbers thanks to replacement airframes and groups nearby.

The invasion of Quinhon will begin within a few days, and the danger will now be a combined KB flanking strike from the North combined with big LBA strikes fro m Saigon, Cam Ran Bay and Samah plus other smaller fields. I spot some IJN CVs today near Takao, but this TF doesn't look like the full complement. Still, the fleet and amphibs will connect in a defensive configuration for the 26th.

I'll be working to suppress the bigger fields with bombardments and some limited air strikes. I've been nitpicking with small B-29 night strikes at Saigon, and I now have 4Es in range of Cam Ran Bay from Northern Borneo.

It's tense moments, but so far so good. Ships from the Victoria Point invasion have nearly unloaded and will be moving around through the straits soon. The 2nd and 3rd waves to follow-on in China will be huge!
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 24, 1944
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Bengkalis at 48,82, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Kyo Maru #2, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
TK Shoyo Maru, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Evans
DD Hickox
DD Hudson
DD Kimberly
DD Morrison

Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 85% moonlight: 11,000 yards

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Night Air attack on Saigon , at 60,71

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-100-I Tony x 17

Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-100-I Tony: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 25, 1944
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Submarine attack near Kuantan at 54,79

Japanese Ships
SS RO-100

Allied Ships
AM Staunch, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

AM Staunch is sighted by SS RO-100
SS RO-100 launches 2 torpedoes


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ASW attack near Terempa at 54,82

Japanese Ships
SS I-36, hits 14, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Luke

SS I-36 is sighted by escort
DD Luke attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

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Morning Air attack on Soc Trang , at 58,73

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 37,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M5 Jack x 26

Allied aircraft
Corsair IV x 5
FM-2 Wildcat x 6
F4U-1A Corsair x 32
F6F-3 Hellcat x 38
F6F-5 Hellcat x 71

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M5 Jack: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 4 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

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Morning Air attack on Soc Trang , at 58,73

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 8
Ki-84r Frank x 44

Allied aircraft
Corsair IV x 4
FM-2 Wildcat x 3
F4U-1A Corsair x 23
F6F-3 Hellcat x 25
F6F-5 Hellcat x 54

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 4 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 7 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-84r Frank sweeping at 38000 feet

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Morning Air attack on Soc Trang , at 58,73

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 45,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 8
Ki-83 x 33

Allied aircraft
Corsair IV x 2
FM-2 Wildcat x 2
F4U-1A Corsair x 19
F6F-3 Hellcat x 15
F6F-5 Hellcat x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 3 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 4 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Ki-83 sweeping at 41530 feet

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Morning Air attack on Soc Trang , at 58,73

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 38,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 8
J2M5 Jack x 8

Allied aircraft
Corsair IV x 1
FM-2 Wildcat x 2
F4U-1A Corsair x 10
F6F-3 Hellcat x 11
F6F-5 Hellcat x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 2 destroyed
J2M5 Jack: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-5 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

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Morning Air attack on Soc Trang , at 58,73

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 45,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 10

Allied aircraft
Corsair IV x 1
FM-2 Wildcat x 2
F4U-1A Corsair x 8
F6F-3 Hellcat x 8
F6F-5 Hellcat x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
F6F-5 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

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[BBfanboy]

I would guess that CV TF is positioned to protect other TFs reinforcing or evacuating Luzon via Aparri.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I would guess that CV TF is positioned to protect other TFs reinforcing or evacuating Luzon via Aparri.

Possibly. I have to be wary though. He has to be itching to get the Allies back fro the unexpected flank strike of a month ago that sank about 1/4 of the KB.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Jan 26-27, 1945[/font]

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On the 26th and 27th the IJN sends in the subs. About five RO and one I-boat are sunk and one DE sunk with a DD damaged plus one xAP damaged. No attacks on CV TFs. I've set about 10-12 ASW TFs patrolling the edges and attached to the fleet, plus ASW air from all of the CVE Avengers.

The Allied subs did their job out in the South China Sea, but I may lose one and another is heavily damaged by IJN Es.

The 4Es hit Cam Ran Bay, which had little in the way of defenses. Heavy damage to the fields leaves only Samah and Saigon in the immediate victim to worry about. I can and plan to bombard both by sea before air strikes.

Sweeps hit hard at Kompong Trach, and the Japanese do well again with just better than 1:1, but it's all over our base and the Allies don't lose many pilots. A few cargo ships are unloading here but the main troop unloads are finished, so the CAP can be stood down in a day or two.

The Japanese try to dislodge our paras from their captured base at Luangprabang, but I've sent a lot of engineers now as well, building airfields and forts, so the stack by armoured units fails and the base is secure for the time being. I'll start bombing this armor as well to make sure all is fine here. I like the air support I can place here and the follow on para-drops that can be made into China from here.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 26, 1944
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Submarine attack near Saigon at 62,74

Japanese Ships
SS RO-64, hits 28, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Howe
CA Area 51
CLAA Euryalus
CLAA Reno
DD Hazelwood
DD Moale
DD Quality
DD Philip
DD Owen
DD John Hood

SS RO-64 is sighted by escort

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ASW attack near Cam Ranh Bay at 63,74

Japanese Ships
SS RO-104, hits 21, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Hickox, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hudson

SS RO-104 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Hickox
RO-104 bottoming out ....

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ASW attack near Saigon at 61,74

Japanese Ships
SS RO-107, hits 12, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB South Dakota
CLAA Phoebe
CLAA Oakland
DD Conway
DD Brown
DD Bearss
DD Ault
DD The Sullivans
DD David Taylor

SS RO-107 is sighted by escort
DD The Sullivans attacking submerged sub ....

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Submarine attack near Cam Ranh Bay at 62,76

Japanese Ships
SS RO-109, hits 34, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Mertz
DD McNair
DD McDermut

SS RO-109 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Mertz
DD Mertz attacking submerged sub ....
SS RO-109 forced to surface!

Morning Air attack on Cam Ranh Bay , at 64,72

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 3
B-24J Liberator x 24
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 4 destroyed on ground
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed on ground
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 damaged

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

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 45

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Cam Ranh Bay , at 64,72

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 9
B-24J Liberator x 3
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb


[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 27, 1944
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Submarine attack near Soc Trang at 60,74

Japanese Ships
SS RO-102, hits 24, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DE Thomas F. Nickel
DE Lough
DE Charles J. Kimmel

SS RO-102 is sighted by escort
RO-102 bottoming out ....

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ASW attack near Cam Ranh Bay at 63,74

Japanese Ships
SS I-10

Allied Ships
DE Thomas F. Nickel, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DE Lough

SS I-10 launches 2 torpedoes at DE Thomas F. Nickel
DE Lough attacking submerged sub ....
DE Lough fails to find sub, continues to search...
DE Lough attacking submerged sub ....
DE Lough is out of ASW ammo
DE Lough fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Sub attack near Laoag at 80,69

Japanese Ships
E No.12, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
SC Ch 51
DD Ushio

Allied Ships
SS Swordfish

SS Swordfish launches 4 torpedoes at E No.12
Swordfish diving deep ....


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Sub attack near Swatow at 80,63

Japanese Ships
xAK Bandoeng Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
SC Ch 1
xAK Ryugi Maru
xAK Hirota Maru
E Sakito
E Habushi
E Chikubu
xAK Oyashima Maru

Allied Ships
SS Sea Dog, hits 26, on fire, heavy damage

SS Sea Dog launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Bandoeng Maru
Sea Dog bottoming out ....

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Sub attack near Quinhon at 66,71

Japanese Ships
SS I-10, hits 29, heavy damage

Allied Ships
xAP Santa Paula, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SC PC-1078
DM Ramsay
xAP Arawa
xAP Lancashire
xAP Santa Elena
xAK United Victory
xAK Skagway Victory
DE Tills
DE Roberts
DE Lamons
DE Kyne

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

SS I-10 launches 2 torpedoes at xAP Santa Paula

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Sub attack near Batan Island at 86,71

Japanese Ships
E No.52, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
E No.32

Allied Ships
SS Shakespeare, hits 20, heavy damage

SS Shakespeare launches 6 torpedoes at E No.52
E No.32 fails to find sub, continues to search...

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Morning Air attack on Kompong Trach , at 57,70

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 44,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 34
Ki-84r Frank x 36

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 22
P-51B Mustang x 15
P-51D Mustang x 66

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 2 destroyed
P-51D Mustang: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-83 sweeping at 41530 feet

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Morning Air attack on Puerto Princesa , at 73,83

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 44,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 15

Allied aircraft
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 18
P-51B Mustang x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51B Mustang: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-83 sweeping at 41530 feet

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Morning Air attack on Kompong Trach , at 57,70

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 175 NM, estimated altitude 44,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 43 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M5 Jack x 51
Ki-83 x 3

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 14
P-51B Mustang x 13
P-51D Mustang x 54

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M5 Jack: 8 destroyed
Ki-83: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 3 destroyed
P-51B Mustang: 2 destroyed
P-51D Mustang: 7 destroyed

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Ground combat at Luangprabang (63,55)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1618 troops, 0 guns, 247 vehicles, Assault Value = 137

Defending force 6375 troops, 48 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 100

Japanese adjusted assault: 80

Allied adjusted defense: 244

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 28 (5 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
381 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 30 disabled

Assaulting units:
9th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
111th Chindit Brigade
77th Indian Para Bde /1
20th USN Naval Construction Battalion
2nd ISF Base Force
166 Wing
27th USN Naval Construction Battalion
23rd USN Naval Construction Battalion
823rd EAB /1

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Ground combat at Chumphon (52,66)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 26324 troops, 428 guns, 271 vehicles, Assault Value = 868

Defending force 10955 troops, 66 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 398

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

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

Assaulting units:
2nd Australian Division
10th KNIL Regiment
28th (East African) Brigade
39th Indian Division
9th Australian Division
1st Burma Auxiliary AA Regiment

Defending units:
60th Division
1st South Seas Det.

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[CaptBeefheart]

CA Area 51? Did Bullwinkle name that one?

Cheers,
CB

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: CaptBeefheart

CA Area 51? Did Bullwinkle name that one?

Cheers,
CB

Yes!! [:D]

I didn't name any of them.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Jan 28, 1945[/font]

---

A very good day here. The Japanese send a strike at the cargo ships still unloading at Kompong. The CAP deals well with the sweeps and nails a bunch of escorts and strike planes, but some do get through. I'll lose about 4 xAK and an AM. The air losses for Japan more than make up the VPs and only a few support vehicles lost.

The invasion of Quinhon commences without any hitches. I'll take the base on the 29th. Then on to Tourane and Hue. The flotilla is huge now, but none detected, so he doesn't know what all is coming. That is good. I plan on a long strong of invasions, and I don't want him to know that yet.

I've been taking notes on recon and finding opportunities over the past weeks. All recon has essentially stayed the same, but Ive' found some bases with bombers and no fighter cover, some empty invasion beaches, and some weak defensive areas in general.

Kiungshan and Kwangchowan are empty. Pakhoi looks to have a base force only. I'll forgot landing all follow-on troops at Tourane and Hue and send them to Pakhoi. I want to close the retreat path from Indochina, Malaya and Burma. Only 8k troops at Nanning. If I can get up there in force within ten days or so I could even possibly take the base. Not many reinforcements around either at Liuchow. Time is critical now. The fewer troops moving to China to reinforce the more he has to remove from the mountains, and the more possible it might be to go deep quickly past some of the toughest terrain from Liuchow toward Chungking.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 28, 1944
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Pre-Invasion action off Quinhon (65,69)

9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB New York
APA Eastland
DE Manlove

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

BB New York firing at Wotje Base Force
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


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Amphibious Assault at Quinhon (65,69)

TF 258 troops unloading over beach at Quinhon, 65,69

Allied ground losses:
247 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 69 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (0 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 36 (1 destroyed, 35 disabled)

Motorized Support damaged beyond repair during unload of 41st Infantry Div /5

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Morning Air attack on Kompong Trach , at 57,70

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 14 NM, estimated altitude 39,270 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M5 Jack x 24
Ki-84r Frank x 55

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 16
Spitfire VIII x 6
F4U-1D Corsair x 15
P-51B Mustang x 17
P-51D Mustang x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed
P-51B Mustang: 1 destroyed
P-51D Mustang: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-84r Frank sweeping at 38270 feet

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Morning Air attack on Kompong Trach , at 57,70

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 45,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M5 Jack x 24
Ki-83 x 22
Ki-84r Frank x 20

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 16
Spitfire VIII x 6
F4U-1D Corsair x 13
P-51B Mustang x 14
P-51D Mustang x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M5 Jack: 3 destroyed
Ki-83: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed
P-51D Mustang: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-83 sweeping at 41530 feet

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Morning Air attack on Kompong Trach , at 57,70

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 41,270 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84r Frank x 30

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 12
Spitfire VIII x 2
F4U-1D Corsair x 11
P-51B Mustang x 14
P-51D Mustang x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 11 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51B Mustang: 1 destroyed
P-51D Mustang: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-84r Frank sweeping at 38270 feet

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Morning Air attack on Kompong Trach , at 57,70

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 41,270 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M5 Jack x 19
Ki-84r Frank x 9

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 9
Spitfire VIII x 2
F4U-1D Corsair x 6
P-51B Mustang x 9
P-51D Mustang x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kompong Trach at 57,70

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B7A2 Grace x 20
J2M3 Jack x 59

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 8
Spitfire VIII x 2
F4U-1D Corsair x 4
P-51B Mustang x 9
P-51D Mustang x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
B7A2 Grace: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
J2M3 Jack: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAK Joliet Victory, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AM Sentry
xAK Steel Surveyor, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Loma Victory, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B7A2 Grace bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kompong Trach at 57,70

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N2a Jill x 38

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 6
Spitfire VIII x 2
F4U-1D Corsair x 1
P-51B Mustang x 7
P-51D Mustang x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2a Jill: 5 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-51D Mustang: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAK Steel Surveyor, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Overseas Rose
xAK Loma Victory, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Sentry, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Joliet Victory, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 9 (7 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
28 x B6N2a Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

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Morning Air attack on Liuchow , at 74,55

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-II KAI Helen: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 25

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kompong Trach at 57,70

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B7A2 Grace x 14
J2M3 Jack x 51
Ki-84r Frank x 7

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 8
F4U-1D Corsair x 5
P-51B Mustang x 4
P-51D Mustang x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
B7A2 Grace: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
J2M3 Jack: 3 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed
P-51B Mustang: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAK Overseas Rose, Torpedo hits 1
xAK Green Bay Victory, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B7A2 Grace launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

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[obvert]

It seems the IJA are realising the threat now. The big stack near Rangoon have begun moving back. I'll strike tomorrow one hex out, which was the big blockage and now shows one unit. If he abandons Rangoon with no battle that is a big win.

Lashio is being evacuated, and I'll keep an eye on Toungou which is the other IJA blocking point. Freeing up these troops (and getting supply in through Rangoon) will change the game completely. Especially if the retreat for the IJA is cut off.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Jan 29, 1945[/font]

---

On the 28th the RN CLs and DDs crush Saigon with a couple of bombardments. This will set that base up for sweeps in the coming days. Then 4E bombing from Borneo. I should be able to cripple Saigon, Cam Ran and a few other nearby bases enough to avoid reprisals coming from that end of the Japanese position.

The big news on the day is Quinhon falling on the first attack. There wasn't much doubt, since it was held very lightly. This will be a good spot to drop troops and rail forward once Tourane and Hue are captured. Tourane will be invested on the 30th. Hue most likely the same day if the transports make it. I'll drop paras at Kwangchowan and Kiungshan, then at Pakhoi the following day, and change the allocation of follow-on troops so all move to China. If all of that works I'll pull the DS back with some amphibs returning until the next wave begins arriving. It's now loading up.

So far Japanese strikes have been moderate. Mostly sweeps over bases and a limited naval strike targeting the few remaining cargo ships at Kompong Trach. As I move the DS into the area near Haiphong it brings it into range of Hanoi/Haiphong, Samah, Hong Kong/Canton and probably some of the other S/SE China bases. It's a great spot for the IJN to also get involved, so this part is dicey. I'll have to stick around for a few days to unload as well.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 29, 1944
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Sub attack near Aogashima at 112,67

Japanese Ships
E No.82
E No.84

Allied Ships
SS Archerfish, hits 11

SS Archerfish launches 2 torpedoes at E No.82
Archerfish diving deep ....

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Night Naval bombardment of Saigon at 60,71 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-100-I Tony: 4 damaged
H8K2-L Emily: 44 damaged
H8K2-L Emily: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-II KAI Helen: 15 damaged
Ki-49-II KAI Helen: 2 destroyed on ground
B6N2a Jill: 15 damaged
B6N2a Jill: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 damaged
L2D2 Tabby: 10 damaged
L2D2 Tabby: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-84r Frank: 15 damaged
Ki-84r Frank: 2 destroyed on ground
J2M3 Jack: 5 damaged
J2M3 Jack: 2 destroyed on ground

109 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DD Phelps
DD Tucker
DD Conyngham
DD Case
DD Dunlap, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Benham

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

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 36

DD Phelps firing at Saigon

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Saigon at 60,71 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
L2D2 Tabby: 4 damaged
L2D2 Tabby: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-100-I Tony: 14 damaged
Ki-100-I Tony: 4 destroyed on ground
H8K2-L Emily: 48 damaged
H8K2-L Emily: 5 destroyed on ground
B6N2a Jill: 13 damaged
B6N2a Jill: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-84r Frank: 10 damaged
Ki-84r Frank: 4 destroyed on ground
B7A2 Grace: 8 damaged
J2M3 Jack: 10 damaged
J2M3 Jack: 4 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 6 damaged
Ki-49-II KAI Helen: 6 damaged
Ki-49-II KAI Helen: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M5d-S Zero: 1 damaged
A6M5d-S Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

23 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Swiftsure
CL Ceylon
CL Emerald
DD Undine
DD Undaunted
DD Ulysses
DD Ulster
DD Roebuck
DD Rocket
DD Relentless
DD Rapid
DD Quilliam
DD Penn
DD Nestor
DD Vendetta
DD Vampire

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

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 20

CL Swiftsure firing at Saigon

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Laoag at 81,71

Japanese Ships
E W-5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
E Ukishima

Allied Ships
SS Caiman, hits 1

SS Caiman launches 2 torpedoes at E W-5
E Ukishima fails to find sub, continues to search...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Quinhon at 66,69

Japanese Ships
SS RO-106, hits 9, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Capps
CL Mobile
CL Birmingham
CL Santa Fe
DD Haggard
DD Stevens
DD Hunt

SS RO-106 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Capps
DD Stevens attacking submerged sub ....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Liuchow , at 74,55

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-II KAI Helen: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 13

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Liuchow , at 74,55

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Liuchow , at 74,55

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Quinhon (65,69)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10788 troops, 221 guns, 207 vehicles, Assault Value = 383

Defending force 1111 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 310

Japanese adjusted defense: 5

Allied assault odds: 62 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Quinhon !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
622 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 8 (3 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 1

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

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
775th Tank Battalion
41st Infantry Division
610th Coast AA Regiment
III US Amphib Corps
19th USN Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
Wotje Base Force

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Chumphon (52,66)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 26486 troops, 428 guns, 271 vehicles, Assault Value = 1312

Defending force 10643 troops, 62 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 380

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

Assaulting units:
28th (East African) Brigade
10th KNIL Regiment
Guides Cavalry Regiment
81st (West African) Division
39th Indian Division
2nd Australian Division
9th Australian Division
1st Burma Auxiliary AA Regiment

Defending units:
60th Division
1st South Seas Det.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Langsa (46,74)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 104 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9

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

Allied adjusted assault: 10

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Langsa !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
11th Airborne Div /4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[BBfanboy]

Air loss ratio of 9:95 [&o] awesome raids! He must have been counting on mines to keep Saigon secure. You got lots of supply hits there too!

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
Air loss ratio of 9:95 [&o] awesome raids! He must have been counting on mines to keep Saigon secure. You got lots of supply hits there too!

Frankly, that ratio means nothing when bombardments are involved and all losses are on the ground. Allies could've made it even more impressive 0:95 by grounding their planes for the turn.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: GetAssista

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
Air loss ratio of 9:95 [&o] awesome raids! He must have been counting on mines to keep Saigon secure. You got lots of supply hits there too!

Frankly, that ratio means nothing when bombardments are involved and all losses are on the ground. Allies could've made it even more impressive 0:95 by grounding their planes for the turn.

How is it that you consider air-to-air losses the only ones that count? Any commander that figures out how to destroy enemy aircraft at a rate 10X his own losses on the day is moving toward victory. All means of destroying aircraft count! My kudos are for Obvert's attention to Intel on the aircraft stacked at the base and having the nerve to send bombardment forces into such close waters.

[Lowpe]

The bombardments also shatter the morale, raise fatigue.

Mines should never scare Allies from bombardments with CL and DD. A Fletcher can take two Japanese mines hits without sinking (except for the relatively rare type 88 sub dropped mine). Maybe restricted waters.

I would like to see super aggressive use of four Destroyer task forces steaming into any Japanese port/waters prowling for enemy ships. They can move so far and fast, and there should be plenty of long range fighter escorts to provide a bit of air cover, which is all they need.

The CL/DD or even straight DD bombardments are a huge advantage Allies have over Japan. Plentiful aggressive destroyer use is another.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

The bombardments also shatter the morale, raise fatigue.

Mines should never scare Allies from bombardments with CL and DD. A Fletcher can take two Japanese mines hits without sinking (except for the relatively rare type 88 sub dropped mine). Maybe restricted waters.

I would like to see super aggressive use of four Destroyer task forces steaming into any Japanese port/waters prowling for enemy ships. They can move so far and fast, and there should be plenty of long range fighter escorts to provide a bit of air cover, which is all they need.

The CL/DD or even straight DD bombardments are a huge advantage Allies have over Japan. Plentiful aggressive destroyer use is another.

Yep. I had a bunch hit the mines at Singers. None sank.

Bombardments often kill pilots too. Indescriminantly. I've had 80+ experts killed on the ground by the old ladies of the USN too many times to count.

Point taken. Although right now my DDs are playing shield, early warning and combat attractors ahead of the fleets. It's such a mess with this rolling invasion for the past four weeks that I haven't had a chance to reorganise everything. I have to make new TFs on the fly and keep the ones that have decent commanders somewhat the same. The at sea replenishment for the USN is SO GOOD though. [8D]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Jan 30, 1945[/font]

---

Another good day. Allied troops land at Tourance effectively, and find the 2nd Tank Division waiting for them. Quite a good unit to be isolated in a smallish base on the Indochinese coastline. Unless I caught them in strat mode moving by. At any rate, I should have enough to give them a bad day if they don't move out before I can attack.

At Chumpon the IJA holds well, but will succumb soon. I've got more coming too.

A few Ki-83 sweeps are handled pretty well by Thunderbolts and Spits. I find them a good combo for a high CAP. I also got some good small bombardments at Hue, which had 2E bombers and Jacks in the airfield.

Tomorrow more landings at Hue as well, then on to China! I've build the airbase at Luangprabang (para-dropped and captured) and now can fly enough transports out of the base to land on the Chinese coastline. That should enable me to take weakly held bases and flood in with unprepped troops the day after. I'm aiming first at Kiungshan on Hainan, Pakhoi and Kwangchowan on the mainland. Holding Kiungshan will cut off this entire Bay around Haiphong, and then allow a big airbase to operate at Pakhoi.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 30, 1944
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Naval bombardment of Hue at 66,64

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M3 Jack: 10 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
DD Remey
DD Hale
DD Hailey

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

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 9
Port hits 12
Port supply hits 3

DD Remey firing at Hue

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Hue at 66,64

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M3 Jack: 35 damaged
J2M3 Jack: 5 destroyed on ground
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 5 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
DD S. Kline
DD D. Upchurch
DD J. Santuri
DD Snatz

Japanese ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 26
Port hits 17
Port supply hits 9

DD S. Kline firing at Hue

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Quinhon , at 65,69

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 186 NM, estimated altitude 45,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 8

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 15
Thunderbolt II x 15
Spitfire VIII x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-83 sweeping at 41530 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Quinhon , at 65,69

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 42,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 15

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 15
Thunderbolt II x 15
Spitfire VIII x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Quinhon , at 65,69

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 45,530 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-83 x 31

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 13
Thunderbolt II x 13
Spitfire VIII x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-83: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-83 sweeping at 41530 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Samah at 69,60

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 44
TBF-1 Avenger x 14
TBM-1C Avenger x 14

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 5 damaged
TBM-1C Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Tokusima Maru, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
xAK Sinno Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Kinryu Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Konan Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Japanese ground losses:
1865 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 129 destroyed, 87 disabled
Engineers: 20 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Tourane (66,65)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1608 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 456

Defending force 64853 troops, 1303 guns, 1558 vehicles, Assault Value = 2152

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

Assaulting units:
2nd Tank Division
86th Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
44th Tank Bn /1
11th (East African) Division
3rd Marine Div /1
93rd Infantry Division
710th Tank Battalion
27th Infantry Division
713th Flame Tank Battalion
37th Infantry Div /10
Pacific Ocean Areas /1
182nd USAAF Base Force /4
Tenth US Army /1
257th USAAF Base Force /3
14th USN Naval Construction Battalion
198th Coast AA Regiment
147th Field Artillery Regiment
5th USMC FA Bn /1
56th Australian Lt AA Regiment
85/88/98th Mortar Regiment
842nd Engineer Aviation Battalion
6th RAAF M/W Sqn
2nd Eng Amph Bde /2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Chumphon (52,66)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36681 troops, 572 guns, 368 vehicles, Assault Value = 1368

Defending force 10619 troops, 62 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 378

Allied adjusted assault: 435

Japanese adjusted defense: 731

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
2012 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 150 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 21 (5 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1620 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 203 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Guides Cavalry Regiment
39th Indian Division
10th KNIL Regiment
28th (East African) Brigade
81st (West African) Division
2nd Australian Division
Korps Marechausee Battalion
9th Australian Division
1st Burma Auxiliary AA Regiment

Defending units:
60th Division
1st South Seas Det.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[obvert]

Now that Indochina is invested and a few bases look to be easily captured I can breathe a bit. This was the original extent of the series of ops I started by landing at Mersing. After getting a few stages in I realised the ultimate goal is to cut off the entire Southern Army from returning to China, and the plan has thus expanded to include the Chinese bases. I also have prep ready for further targets up the coast, onto Formosa and into the islands up to Okinawa.

So far no responses other than sporadic sweeps and a few small LBA strikes.

The IJA is now retreating from the Rangoon area, but that 3k AV in Burma is surely trapped. The majority of what escaped from Malaya and Thailand is also likely in danger, and I'm finding some major units still in Indochina. A lot of bases on the rail route through the Cambodian plains are packed and lots of movement markers toward Vinh. I'll recon the entire route now to see how much is there and how much time I have to get to the blocking spots.

The target marks on the map are hexes I'll try to invest and set up blockades. The clear hex near Nanning is crucial as it's the least effective defensive terrain in the area and if I can block them from the road into China then I don't have a huge stack to try to shock into over the river either. Currently Nanning shows about 21k troops. So a reinforced ID most likely.

He's bugging out from Cam Ran Bay and Pnom Penh, so those bases will be ours very soon. Saigon may be a last stand? Not sure yet by his movement markers. An Aussie ID will get there in a few days and assess the competition.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Jan 31, 1945[/font]

---

All continues to plan. Loka sent a note to say he was a bit disgusted. That "these are exactly the sorts of things that not blundering away a bunch of fleet assets can prevent."

Tourane falls this turn. Significantly, the 2nd Tank Division is there and takes heavy losses being pushed back. One of only three tank divisions, this takes out a very good defensive unit from the Japanese arsenal.

Saigon airfield is hit pretty hard.
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 31, 1944
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Hong Kong at 75,63

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 36
SC Ch 60
SC Ch 47

Allied Ships
SS O20, hits 24, heavy damage

SS O20 launches 4 torpedoes at SC Ch 36
O20 bottoming out ....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Saigon , at 60,71

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 11
B-24J Liberator x 12
Spitfire VIII x 4
B-24J Liberator x 48
P-51B Mustang x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
J2M3 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-II KAI Helen: 1 destroyed on ground
L2D2 Tabby: 1 destroyed on ground
B6N2a Jill: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
E Hatsukari, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Repair Shipyard hits 1
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 16
Port hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Saigon , at 60,71

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 4
B-24J Liberator x 9
P-51B Mustang x 2
P-51D Mustang x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-100-I Tony: 1 destroyed on ground
L2D2 Tabby: 1 destroyed on ground
B6N2a Jill: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Saigon , at 60,71

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 4
B-24J Liberator x 9
P-51B Mustang x 2
P-51D Mustang x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2a Jill: 1 destroyed on ground
L2D2 Tabby: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Tourane (66,65)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 68629 troops, 1215 guns, 1431 vehicles, Assault Value = 2198

Defending force 10323 troops, 159 guns, 723 vehicles, Assault Value = 452

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 1988

Japanese adjusted defense: 61

Allied assault odds: 32 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Tourane !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), disruption(-)
preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1487 casualties reported
Squads: 24 destroyed, 90 disabled
Non Combat: 294 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 37 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 125 (96 destroyed, 29 disabled)
Vehicles lost 508 (442 destroyed, 66 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Allied ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
713th Flame Tank Battalion
44th Tank Battalion
3rd Marine Division
27th Infantry Division
93rd Infantry Division
37th Infantry Division
710th Tank Battalion
11th (East African) Division
85/88/98th Mortar Regiment
198th Coast AA Regiment
2nd Eng Amph Bde
56th Australian Lt AA Regiment
6th RAAF M/W Sqn
Tenth US Army
14th USN Naval Construction Battalion
5th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
147th Field Artillery Regiment
182nd USAAF Base Force
257th USAAF Base Force
842nd Engineer Aviation Battalion
Pacific Ocean Areas /1

Defending units:
2nd Tank Division
86th Naval Guard Unit

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/color][/font]

[BBfanboy]

The IJA got an Op Mode - at Tourane, so the tanks must have been in Strat Move mode. Which direction did they retreat in?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

The IJA got an Op Mode - at Tourane, so the tanks must have been in Strat Move mode. Which direction did they retreat in?

Yes, they must have been. Or caught in Strat and then converting to move/reserve to get out, but didn't make it in time. They retreated up the hill into the jungle, and will be pursued. [:)]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Feb 1, 1945[/font]

---

Wow. It's been a good many months since I've updated this AAR. The original Japanese player, Lokasenna, has now decided he doesn't want to continue with this one for various reasons. I think he's become a lot busier than when it started and he also found the process of continuing with a new player on the other side to be too different from his side.

I'm still interested in keeping it going, so I've posted and gotten interest from Hartwig Modrow, a long time forumite. I'm happy it's moving forward, and hopefully a bit more quickly now. Although I hadn't posted since June 6, the game is only on about three weeks ahead of the AAR. I'll catch that up over the next week or so.

The game is getting very interesting to me as an Allied player since I've seen the other side in the late game, but not this one. The Japanese also have a big lead in points, and it's quite late, so I want to see whether. I can bring the Allies back and actually gain victory conditions based on the VP system. It's a fun goal, and it will drive everything I do, which may be different than how many Allied players tackle the late game. I already see the effects and I'm curious to post about them for feedback.

So, the game will be continued with this Feb 1, 1945 turn.

The Allies had just landed in Indochina and taken Tourane. This turn Hue was attacked and it will fall within a day or two. On Hainan a para assault had taken Kiungshan, and Kwangchowan on the mainland across the strait. Today another combined landing and para-landing took Pakhoi, which (as the others) was very lightly defended. These clear hexes on the Chinese coasts are almost indefensible anyway.

Pakhoi will become the Allied hub for a large move into the interior. I'll also try to march to Vinh and stop the IJA retreat from Burma, blocking the path back completely.

In preparation for this Allied B-29s severly damaged the IJA 46th division moving toward Nanning. There isn't much there now and anything moving from Indochina has to traverse a clear hex. This unit is probably 70% disabled now.

About 150k troops are inbound for Pakhoi and will land over the next few days.

Rangoon also is about to fall after being abandoned. A few other irons are on the fire and I'll go over those soon. [;)]
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 1, 1944
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Hue (66,64)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4275 troops, 100 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 412

Defending force 5363 troops, 47 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 164

Allied adjusted assault: 124

Japanese adjusted defense: 57

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
175 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
119 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Assaulting units:
710th Tank Battalion
43rd Infantry Division
713th Flame Tank Battalion
24th Infantry Div /8

Defending units:
71st/A Division
115th JAAF AF Bn

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Rangoon (54,53)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 84083 troops, 1618 guns, 2168 vehicles, Assault Value = 2245

Defending force 4073 troops, 12 guns, 54 vehicles, Assault Value = 77

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 6

Allied adjusted assault: 1346

Japanese adjusted defense: 315

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 6

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

Japanese ground losses:
733 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 30 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 12 (9 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Pakhoi (72,58)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 390 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 30

Defending force 714 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

Allied adjusted assault: 22

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 22 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Pakhoi !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
339 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
111th Chindit Bde /2
1st Burma Bn /1

Defending units:
3rd RGC Route Brigade

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