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I guess the game rewards Japan doing reckless head-on assaults without any worries about possible implications:

Today Japan sent a TF of cruisers and destroyers to bombard Calcutta; a mined port; he had great results:
- Mines are worthless vs. bombardment missions; in the other hand they never fail to hit my submarines
- My torpedo bombers had a free pass on the morning phase, CAP didn't fly, but still no hits.
- They didn't have a free pass on the afternoon phase, so bombers and escorts did pay a high price; once again for no hits.
- Afterwards, more airplanes destroyed on the ground due to the naval bombardment

Time to withdraw; but at least nobody can say that the RAF bombers withdrew without spilling blood; it doesn't matter if it was their own. honor is saved.

1st: Japanese TFs got into Calcutta and destroyed all shipping there

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Calcutta at 51,37, Range 24,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CL Naka
CL Isuzu
DD Maikaze
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi
DD Harusame

Allied Ships
AMc Dacca, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
AMc Lahore, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
AMc Sophie Marie, Shell hits 7, and is sunk

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 24,000 yards
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 24,000 yards
CA Mikuma fires at AMc Lahore at 24,000 yards
AMc Dacca sunk by CA Mikuma at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages AMc Sophie Marie at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages AMc Sophie Marie at 20,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages AMc Sophie Marie at 20,000 yards
CL Naka engages AMc Sophie Marie at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages AMc Sophie Marie at 18,000 yards
AMc Sophie Marie sunk by CL Isuzu at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages AMc Lahore at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages AMc Lahore at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages AMc Lahore at 11,000 yards
DD Harusame engages AMc Lahore at 11,000 yards
DD Maikaze engages AMc Lahore at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Arashi engages AMc Lahore at 7,000 yards
AMc Lahore sunk by DD Nowaki at 7,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...


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Day Time Surface Combat, near Calcutta at 52,37, Range 21,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CL Naka
CL Isuzu
DD Maikaze
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi
DD Harusame

Allied Ships
TK Sabari, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
TK Lady Myrtle, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 21,000 yards
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 21,000 yards
CA Mikuma launches Long Lance Torpedoes at TK Lady Myrtle at 21,000 yards
TK Sabari sunk by CA Mikuma at 21,000 yards
CL Naka launches Long Lance Torpedoes at TK Lady Myrtle at 21,000 yards
TK Lady Myrtle sunk by DD Harusame at 21,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...

2nd: Two futile Torpedo bomber attacks; notice no CAP

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Calcutta at 52,37

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 4 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 8
Hurricane IIa Trop x 22
Hurricane IIb Trop x 10
Vildebeest III x 9

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 1 damaged
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu
CA Mikuma

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Vildebeest III launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Calcutta at 52,37

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 15
Buffalo I x 8
Hurricane IIa Trop x 6
Hurricane IIb Trop x 27
Vildebeest III x 12

Allied aircraft losses
Vildebeest III: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Nowaki
CA Mikuma
CL Naka
CL Isuzu

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Vildebeest III launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
15 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..

3rd: Afternoon attack.. this time Zeros were abundant. Heavy losses, no hits

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Calcutta at 52,37

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 44
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 5
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 5

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 5
Hurricane IIa Trop x 16
Hurricane IIb Trop x 11
Vildebeest III x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ia Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 2 destroyed
Vildebeest III: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Vildebeest III launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

CAP engaged:
Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
Yamada Det S-2 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
1st Sentai with Ki-43-Ia Oscar (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
77th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead



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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Calcutta at 52,37

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 4
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 15
Buffalo I x 6
Hurricane IIa Trop x 14
Hurricane IIb Trop x 15
Vildebeest III x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
Hurricane IIa Trop: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
Vildebeest III: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Vildebeest III: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu
CL Naka

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Vildebeest III launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
10 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

CAP engaged:
Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
Yamada Det S-2 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 9380.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 15035.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 9380 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 66 minutes
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 64 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
1st Sentai with Ki-43-Ia Oscar (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 11585.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 11735.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead



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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Calcutta at 52,37

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
D3A1 Val x 4
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 2
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 14
Hurricane IIa Trop x 11
Hurricane IIb Trop x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 2 destroyed
Hurricane IIa Trop: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 3 destroyed

CAP engaged:
No.17 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIa Trop (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
No.67 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
No.232 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
No.258 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIa Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 13345.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
No.243 Sqn RAF with Buffalo I (8 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes

4th naval bombardment
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Naval bombardment of Calcutta at 52,37

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 11 damaged
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed on ground
Walrus II: 2 damaged
Albacore I: 3 damaged
Vildebeest III: 2 damaged
Buffalo I: 10 damaged
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed on ground
Hurricane IIa Trop: 1 damaged
Swordfish I: 4 damaged
Catalina I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CL Isuzu
CL Naka

Allied ground losses:
267 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Resources hits 1
Light Industry hits 1
Repair Shipyard hits 1
Manpower hits 3
Fires 232
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 41
Port hits 8
Port fuel hits 1

CA Mikuma firing at Calcutta
CL Isuzu firing at Calcutta
CL Naka firing at Calcutta

The only good news of the day was Jessore (1 hex east of Calcutta). Last turn it was captured by paratroops.
This turn my tanks recaptured it. Of course I don't plan to hold it, but I took the opportunity to kill some paras

The 3 armored LCUs will not go back to Calcutta. Instead, they will cover the retreating Bangladeshi troops in case he does another paradroops on a dot base

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Ground combat at Jessore (53,37)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1481 troops, 10 guns, 129 vehicles, Assault Value = 140

Defending force 568 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 39

Allied adjusted assault: 93

Japanese adjusted defense: 18

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Jessore !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
383 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
43rd Cavalry Regiment
254th Armoured Brigade
150th RAC Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Raiding Rgt /1

Well, look what Overcast weather does to torpedo bombers:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Surigao at 81,88

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 5
B5N1 Kate x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAKL Princessa
xAKL Princess of Cebu

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp


I have noticed that Thunderstorms, Sever Storms and Overcast nullify TBs almost completely. I always check the weather forecast when I want to attack with TBs. If it is Clear, Cloudy or Rain than I fly with torps.

Thanks!

we play with advanced weather off; so forecast it is always "partly cloudy".
A pitty the zeros came when it cleared out

Well technically Calcutta was not free, being a British colony. But whatever kind of freedom the Indians enjoyed will end tomorrow under the harsh boots of Japanese imperialism.

More on this on the next post; because there is another topic to discuss; today I saw the 1st merchant raider of the war. Raiders are usually not a big issue for me as I tend to escort heavily all my important convoys:
CL Trenton and the 3 DMS will be detached to hunt the raider. PC Taney and AM Chevruil will remain escorting the convoy.
I have a couple big convoys 1 turn away to Brisbane (one carrying the 1st regiment of Americal, the other one Marines). I will be happy when they reach port



Day Time Surface Combat, near Niue at 147,166, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMC Kinryu Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Trenton
AKV Hammondsport
AKV Kittyhawk
DMS Zane
DMS Dorsey
DMS Trevor
AM Chevreuil
AP Hugh L. Scott
AK Bellatrix
AK Almaack
AK Procyon
PC Taney
xAK Mount McKinley
xAK Ruth Alexander, Shell hits 1
xAK Examiner

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 21,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CL Trenton engages AMC Kinryu Maru at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards
AP Hugh L. Scott , AK Procyon , AK Almaack ,
AK Bellatrix , AKV Kittyhawk screened from combat
- escorted by PC Taney , DMS Trevor
Range closes to 15,000 yards
AP Hugh L. Scott , AK Procyon , AK Almaack ,
AK Bellatrix screened from combat
- escorted by PC Taney , DMS Trevor
Range closes to 13,000 yards
AP Hugh L. Scott , AK Procyon , AK Almaack ,
AK Bellatrix , AKV Kittyhawk , AKV Hammondsport screened from combat
- escorted by PC Taney , DMS Trevor
CL Trenton engages AMC Kinryu Maru at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
AP Hugh L. Scott , AK Procyon screened from combat
- escorted by PC Taney , DMS Trevor
AMC Kinryu Maru engages xAK Ruth Alexander at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Trenton engages AMC Kinryu Maru at 7,000 yards
Hagisu, S. orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 10,000 yards
AP Hugh L. Scott , AK Procyon , AK Almaack ,
AK Bellatrix screened from combat
- escorted by PC Taney , DMS Trevor
CL Trenton engages AMC Kinryu Maru at 10,000 yards
AMC Kinryu Maru engages AKV Hammondsport at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 16,000 yards
AP Hugh L. Scott , AK Procyon , AK Almaack ,
AK Bellatrix , AKV Kittyhawk , AKV Hammondsport screened from combat
- escorted by PC Taney , DMS Trevor
AMC Kinryu Maru engages xAK Mount McKinley at 16,000 yards
Range increases to 21,000 yards
AP Hugh L. Scott , AK Procyon , AK Almaack ,
AK Bellatrix , AKV Kittyhawk , AKV Hammondsport ,
xAK Examiner , xAK Ruth Alexander , xAK Mount McKinley screened from combat
- escorted by PC Taney , DMS Trevor
CL Trenton engages AMC Kinryu Maru at 21,000 yards
Task forces break off...

Back to Calcutta: he got a 2:1

All my non static troops were set to withdraw; they will be gone by next turn's attack

I have a new signature to commemorate the battle of Calcutta



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Ground combat at Calcutta (52,37)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 55197 troops, 529 guns, 248 vehicles, Assault Value = 1732

Defending force 18914 troops, 99 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 457

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1722

Allied adjusted defense: 661

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1355 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 134 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1484 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 56 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled

Assaulting units:
18th Division
5th Division
Imperial Guards Division
2nd Division
25th Army
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Southern Army
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
3rd Assam Rifles Battalion
36th Indian Brigade
15th/1st Punjab Battalion
Fort William
Waziristan Division
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Eastern Command
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

I hope those withdrawing units at Calcutta are in Move mode. You can put the units into Strat Move mode and they will pack, but when packing is finished they cannot move out when enemy troops are in the hex, and his attack will slaughter them since their gear is packed.
That is the problem with trying to disengage - he can pursue with motorized units at a faster pace than you can move, unless you can slow him with bombing or sacrificial blocking units. I would send my units into the rough terrain so they can get some defensive benefit when he attacks. In the open they will be smashed.
I would also prioritize which units I want to save and bring up some of the garbage units to block for them.

Only when you get some units several days ahead of his troops can you put them in strat move mode and send them far. "Several days" means the unit's packing time +1 day.

About that AMC raider - don't forget to use your CL's float plane on naval search and set a high react - 5 hexes or so. Japanese AMCs also have a float plane and will be trying to react away, but you have the advantage of speed. Good luck!

Even better; they are all on combat mode with 45/46

so almost gone; no strat mode when they reach Howrath; only those troops already there are changing to strat mode
the rest will just run at move mode.
The good news is that there are no tanks on Calcutta; so I have some chance to withdraw

And this is a picture of South East India

So the million dollar question for India now is where to fight?
the problem is my opponent really likes to use his mobile forces to first cut my supply paths and then, and only then start the siege

This is one example on China; as you can see, he 1st put some troops, north, west and south, to cut all supply. only afterwards he started the siege



He can do the exact same on each pocket of defense I build, thus the conclusion is I should build some sort of line, but only as a speed bump, the real stand can only be in either Bombay or Karachi.

I pick Bombay as the most likely target; I doubt he will want to trigger emergency reinforcements

This is how I plan to defend India; and my very inadequate troops are:

- 18 British Division: 445 AV at Rajshashi; strat moving to Benares
- 7 Arm Brigade: 80 AV (45 Stuarts) at Howrath, moving NW to Jamshedpur.

- 18 Australian Brigade: 134 AV in a TF, one day away from Bombay
- 21 Australian Brigade: 134 AV in a TF, two days away from Bombay
- 25 Australian Brigade: 134 AV in a TF, 3/4 days away from Bombay

- Burma Division: 306 AV currently close to Rajshashi; strat moving to Benares
- 17 Indian Division: 300 AV at Rajshashi; strat moving to Benares
- Waziristan Division: 217 AV at Calcutta; will try to retreat/ survive
- 7 Indian Division: 179 AV at Bombay; will remain there
- 19 Indian Division: 161 AV near Raipur; strat moving to Bombay
- 44, 45, 46 Indian Brigades: 336 AV combined. These 3 are at Rajshashi strat moving to Benares
- BFF Bde: 89 AV at Dimapur; getting ready for Strat move

- USA 185 Infantry Brigade: 125 AV, far away on 2 TFs enroute to Cape Town

February 16th:

First of all, the Japanese raider Kinryu maru was caught by 2 DMS. They put another 9 hits and left it in condition "heavy damaged, heavy fires"
Although I didn't see it sinking, I am almost sure it did; as there are some unexplained Jake losses this turn. Even if it somehow survived, being SE of Suva with heavy fires/ damage is a death sentence




Next topic: Calcutta. My opponent didn't reduce his efforts to capture it; he did another naval bombardment followed by a deliberate attack:
I am happy he damaged the city's industry

Night Naval bombardment of Calcutta at 52,37

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CL Kinu
CL Natori

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

Manpower hits 2
Fires 361
Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 17
Port hits 4

CA Kumano firing at Calcutta
CL Kinu firing at 36th Indian Brigade
CL Natori firing at Calcutta


Check how many troops are now in India [X(]

Ground combat at Calcutta (52,37)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 54317 troops, 568 guns, 248 vehicles, Assault Value = 2184

Defending force 6461 troops, 38 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 1557

Allied adjusted defense: 41

Japanese assault odds: 37 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Calcutta !!!

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

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

Allied ground losses:
2611 casualties reported
Squads: 42 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 100 destroyed, 66 disabled
Engineers: 27 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 32 (32 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
48th Div /9
18th Division
Imperial Guards Division
2nd Division
5th Division
16th Div /7
Southern Army
25th Army
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
Fort William
Eastern Command


Fort William and Eastern Command are static LCUs, everything else left and will "move" towards Bombay

Depresing to see 6 veteran divisions + tanks and artillery ready to blitz over my crappy troops... lucky me [:(]

Last turn I also lost Nanning, and Nanyang is coming next

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Ground combat at Nanyang (85,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 58446 troops, 578 guns, 210 vehicles, Assault Value = 1824

Defending force 63933 troops, 293 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1544

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 33

Allied adjusted defense: 826

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 25 (fort level 0)

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

Japanese ground losses:
146 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 44 (4 destroyed, 40 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
391 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
59th Infantry Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
17th Division
35th Division
36th Division
13th Division
5th Armored Car Co
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
China Expeditionary Army
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
12th Army
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
51st Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
85th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
30th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
4th Construction Regiment
5th War Area
7th New Chinese Corps
2nd Group Army
22nd Group Army


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Ground combat at Nanning (72,55)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27564 troops, 352 guns, 163 vehicles, Assault Value = 782

Defending force 18811 troops, 88 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 299

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 912

Allied adjusted defense: 341

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Nanning !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
301 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 47 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Allied ground losses:
7219 casualties reported
Squads: 184 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 230 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 32 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 35 (25 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
104th Division
38th Division
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
21st Mortar Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
23rd Army
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
52nd Chinese Corps
64th Chinese Corps
35th Group Army
9th Chinese Base Force

I am seriously thinking about parking my R class Battleships on Bombay; mainly to make it harder to do naval bombardments; BBs and MTBs : the BBs disbanded on port as to avoid naval attacks (and torpedoes). The idea is to move all the AAs, fighters and torpedo bombers I can muster.
I know if there is any kind of fight, they will be under heavy penalty, but being BBs, they can take some punishment

thoughts?

Disbanded in port, your BBs will not oppose any bombardment TF. They need to be formed into a TF for that.
They will draw attacks either way, reducing the attacks on other assets, but BBs can be sunk by non-penetrating bomb hits alone. Japanese BBs often succumb to 20-30 x 1000lb bombs. I don't know how many of the Val 500 lb bombs it would take to sink a British BB in port, but if KB has no opposition they can do it. IIRC, Kates can carry a heavy bomb (1760 lb/800 kg) that penetrates deck armour of BBs.

I think you should try your plan provided you have good air cover and good search so that you can form up your TF when enemy SCTFs are sighted.

Pearl Harbor is a good benchmark on the effectivity of 250kg bombs... most of the times, they just bounce; "deck armor hit".. I won't say useless, but he will need a lot, really a lot and then hope for fires
800KG bombs will penetrate, but only few, highly experienced pilots will carry them

Of course, against a SCTF he can use deadly torpedoes, thus it will be a cat and mouse game if KB-2 arrives. My main advantage is that Bombay is very far away from his natural hunting grounds, he cannot stay for too long,

And he can safely keep a split KB for a few more months; as the US fleet is still getting ready. But later on 42; if I see he has his half his carriers on the Indian Ocean, I will push him in the Pacific.

Looks like he's going full tilt into India. To look at the positive - it should give you some respite in the Pacific that you might be able to gain some advantage.

Not sure about using your BBs as bomb magnets - seems like a waste, but I see your point - less damage to infrastructure/facilities perhaps.

I am not too worried about the facitilies; it is more about the fact he is getting very good results with the combo strike: naval bombardment + deliberate attack;
he basically raises significantly my disruption with the bombardment and then his deliberate attack is a walk in the park. He did that on Diamond Harbor and Calcutta and his losses were nil while I got beaten badly.

Moreover, because he used mostly cruisers and destroyers, MTB and torpedo bombers are useless as the torpedoes are easily dodged. I am also starting to train all my level bombers on low naval so next time I might get better luck on the air strikes.

And certainly I am feeling better in Fiji and Australia; I have around 4 heavy convoys either unloading or arriving in the next couple turns. These are carrying BF, airgroups and more important USMC and USA troops.
I also moved some DMs and ACMs to Suva so they will start the slow process of building minefields in both Suva and the base 1 hex to the west (I don't remember the name).

I cannot afford mines yet for Australia as there are too many potential targets for invasion. I am mostly working on the SE; between Townsville/ Charter Towers and Brisbane. I am not doing any major effort in building the North.
I am also not trying to reinforce Pt Moresby (already engaged via Buna landings) or New Caledonia, which I decided to abandon.

I am also starting to build some of the smaller islands (Canton, Christmas), but they are very weak now.. I hope he doesn't push here. I am not yet reinforcing New Zealand as I prefer to focus on Suva and Australia first. New Zealand will be a worked out only if Suva and other better located islands fall.

Talking about North Australia, I have seen some recon planes on various bases; thus I believe he might soon invade. Even with his serious commitments on India, Java and Luzon, he can still work some invasion plan for Darwin and Pt Moresby easily as the troops requirements there are much smaller. We will see what happens. I know the location of half KB, if he attempts any invasion, he will need to commit the other half, thus I will have some time to do a second carrier foray... but this time I won't go head-on against his major bases [;)] Maybe I will go north to try to hunt some cargo ships, maybe try to recapture Armchitka island? we will see what happens..

And this is a large strat map. Notice the following:

- Java split in half, I still own Batavia and Soerabaja. He just recently start the invasion of N Sumatra
- He got Armchitka early on, but I see no activity there... maybe a bluff
- He got all the Gilberts and the most important St Cruz island (Ndeni)
- Clark field holds, he start ART bombing it again, and I confirmed 1 Div + 65 Brig + ART/ TKs/ supporting troops. He might attack soon
- He is highly commited to India, with 6 divisions on Calcutta + TKS/ ART/ support.
- He has one regiment at Akyab, he did small invasions on Pegu and a paradrop + tank advance on Lashio. As I already evacuated, he will get Burma and Bangladesh very cheaply
- Pt Moresby is the last standing base on New Guinea
- China is painful to watch, both at the high and the detailed maps [:(]

I think your impression about the TB and MTB/PT boats being useless is premature. Early on when they have little training and experience they do not achieve much, but keep using them and that will change. Granted, it is difficult to find enough good PT boat skippers, but if you make sure the most aggressive of them commands the TF they will not run away every time.