Matrix Games Forums

I believe the AC in Myntaka (whatever [8|] ) are on training ops.

What I am curious about is how they are able to draw supply.

The Biplanes in the unspellable Burmese city of Mitykitainakynitata are improving thier skill as pilots by dropping torpedos onto individual Japanese infantrymen.

The Japanese don't come into the Bay of Bengal, putting planes out to guard against that is a waste of time.

I have not upgraded the Vildabeests because I want to keep drawing on the aircraft pool to save up Beauforts. I will probabley change them soon, but it gives me a preverse satisfaction to fly biplanes against the Japanese and win.

The Swordfish are pretty useful as single engine planes they can work from level 2 airfields so no upgrade for them. They are also training. Right now both groups are up in the 70s.

Supply comes over the trail from Ledo. I burn up a lot going over the mountains but so far I get enough.

My problem with all these forces is that I want them fighting and they are not really able to do so since Blackwatch pulled his aircraft out. In by August I will have paratroops ready to go as well as various big infantry, artillery and armor units in place. Then I can start to wipe out the Japanese in Burma, and eventually march over land to places where the British airforce may get to fight.

I really expect that the British will start moving East and keep going until they take Singapore, Hanoi and everything else in SE Asia. They are the only force I have that has the combination of armor, infantry, arty and overwhelming strength in the air in 1942. The Americans will have it eventually, but not for a while.

If you look at the difficulty the Japanese have had trying to supress 250 planes (many grounded) in Soerbaja you can imagine what would happen to them if they tried to fight 540 planes in Burma.

That would make sense.

I'm sure Tom is airlifting some supply in. But some will also travel from Ledo. If Ledo pulls a lot from a very well supplied Diamond Harbor, Mykitnia will pull enough to survive.

Following the rail line,

Chadpur 300,000
Dacca 60,000 home of SE Asia HQ
Ledo 15,000 home of Burma Corps and some other HQ plus a load of base forces
Mitititikynia 3-4,000 which is not actually enough for offensive operations, but it lets a lot of single engine planes fly.

On June 5th the RN attempted a raid on the Japanese convoy unloading at Kragan. They were suprised to find a big Japanese covering force there, but the Japanese were even more suprised when the British opened fire:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kragen at 22,63

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 7
CA Takao, Shell hits 1
CA Chokai, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Myoko, Shell hits 3
CA Nachi, Shell hits 2
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Arashi, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Oshio, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yudachi, Shell hits 5, heavy damage
DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Shinonome, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Sagiri, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Kuri, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tsuga, Shell hits 1
DD Otori, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Exeter, Shell hits 2
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 3
CL Enterprise
CL Emerald, Shell hits 3
CL Durban, Shell hits 5
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 2
CL Mauritius, Shell hits 1
DD Foxhound, Shell hits 1
DD Griffin
DD Hotspur, Shell hits 2
DD Inconstant

Durban took a bit of damage and is going to head back to India, the rest of the ships are fine. They are pulling out of Soerbaja now and heading South to rendevous with the CV and BB TFs. A Japanese BB TF has been spotted East of Soerbaja and its tempting to try and stop a shore bombardment attack with these ships but I think its better to keep the fleet in bieng right now.

We have had 2 days of monster air battles over the city here is the one from June 6th 1942:

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
A6M3 Zero x 12
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 8
Ki-21 Sally x 34
Ki-48 Lily x 18

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
CW-21B Demon x 4
Brewster 339D x 1
Kittyhawk I x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 8 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 3 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 5 destroyed, 7 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
CW-21B Demon: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
Wirraway: 1 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

Japan is losing 40+ planes a day but is gradually grinding down the Allies as well. June 6th is a historic day though, for the first time the Japanese air losses passed the Allied air losses, around 4120 allied to 4130 Japanese.


Then the army tried again:

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 125758 troops, 967 guns, 15 vehicles

Defending force 68647 troops, 607 guns, 23 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 5

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5)


Japanese ground losses:
3532 casualties reported
Guns lost 78
Vehicles lost 4

Allied ground losses:
1828 casualties reported
Guns lost 75
Vehicles lost 2

Still a hard, bloody fight and no victory in sight.

In the Phillipines the Wildcats and Kittyhawks at Clark at taking a toll on the Japanese bombers but they are not able to stop the daily air attacks. I think its because the Japanese are only flying one hex, instead of the 8 or 9 hexes from Batavia. Every day 10-15 Allied fighters confront 30-40 Japanese bombers, shoot down 2-5 and the rest inflict 12-16 hits on the runway.


At Naga the Japanese will soon go under 10,000 defenders but they show no signs of coming apart.

The big question is the BB group West of Soerbaja. If they bombard successfully it could give Japan a decisive edge in the air battle. There are 6" coastal guns and about 60 mines in the area but no warships patrolling on defense. So if the Japanese try for it things could go well for them.

The RN is further South, the CV group drained the fuel reserve at Broome from 20,000 down to 3,000 and the BB group is heading for the 44,000 fuel at Koepang. Once they top up it will be possible to head for Java and interviene but I have already decided that the RN is not going to get into a last man standing battle for the Island of Java. If raids and the threat of action can keep the Japanese from using BBs on Soerbaja that would be great, but if Blackwatch shows up with KB covering the Japanese battle line the British are out of there.

Game is stopped until Tuesday while I travel, but you all may see an update from Blackwatch. He expressed some unhappyness with his strategy and even more with his logistics, maybe he will give you guys something to think about.

Stay tuned as Soerbaja hangs in the balance.

25 Japanese aircraft shot down in air to air combat, mostly over Soerbaja, but some over Clark. All Japanese attacks on Soerbaja were repulsed with heavy losses, but the Jap bombers continue to pound Clark field inspite of the CAP now based there.

70,000 supply at Soerbaja with more unloading. At Clark air supply is hoding the garrison above 6,000 for the moment.

No other important changes.

Have they run off together? [:D]

They are both missing for a week, two of our most dramatic AARs are at a standstill.

Reading you AAR is like reading a good book

Tom, any update to the status of your game?

Nothing since August 16th

Blackwatch sent me an email today saying he was indisposed due to a health problem but is recovered now and should be back up for the game in a week or two. So this AAR will be back soon.

Excellent, I've joyed reading both of your AARs.

Chez

Tom....what's the word on this game?

I have not heard from Blackwatch since Early September when he sent a short note saying he had a medical problem that was resolved, and he would be back to the game soon.

I have pinged him once or twice since then and not recived any reply. As far as I am aware he is not playing any of his other games or replying to other player emails.

This leads me to believe that his condition is worse than he said in his email, and I just hope that he is getting better.

I can report same deal here as well with Blackwatch and our game [:(]

Kelly