Wait... What! (NO Chris)

[Uncivil Engineer]

Apr 5 - 7

21 Div/B lands at Tassfaronga on the 5th and captures it on the 6th.

Lashio is captured on the 6th, with 25% damage to resources.

Nanning was captured on the 7th, with 50% damage to resource and light industry.

An amphib TF inbound for Buna with base force and engineers was virtually obliterated by a sole US CV operating near Milne Bay. 16 and 48 Div are also inbound for Buna, so more air cover will be brought forward before trying again.

Ha-43 engines advance a month.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Apr 8 - 10

On the 8th an IJN sub put a torpedo in CA Chicago near Milne Bay, followed by a Betty putting a torpedo in BB Maryland.

On the 9th IJA troops land at Dobo and Gorong, capturing Gorong. An IJN sub put a torpedo in BB Pennsylvania near Milne Bay, and a US sub put a torpedo in BB Yamashiro (north of Truk) retiring to Yokohama for repairs.

On the 10th Dobo was captured.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Apr 11 - 14

Apr 11 - Taberfane flipped to IJA, Bhamo captured.

Apr 12 - Kaimana captured, Tuyun captured after being evacuated by Chinese (!?)

Apr 14 - Myitkyina captured after being evacuated by Brits/Indians/Burmese (?)

Ha-44 engines advanced to Mar 43 (that's now 2 months ahead of the B6N1 Jill's becoming available, but I hope to advance that, as well.)

[Uncivil Engineer]

Apr 15 - 16

Trinkat captured on 15th; Kai-eilanden on 16th (both dot bases).

Terapo flipped on the 16th, while an IJA attack on Wau begins.

CVL Ryujo has been repaired at Yokohama and will head south as soon as her Kates reboard. Her Zeroes are at Rabaul.

Ha-45 engines (Frank, George) advanced to Mar 43; A6M3 Zeroes advanced to May 43.

I'm watching the Aleutians with subs as my build up of the Kuriles begins. There's been a lot of ASW activity, especially at Attu, but I've seen no Allied transports.

16 Div is arriving at Buna by fast transport and amphib; 48 Div arrives tomorrow, then the overland trek to Port Moresby begins. 14 Army HQ is enroute from Luzon to join. 1 and 4 Divs are resting at Rabaul waiting an opportunity to assault Milne Bay.

18 and 56 Divs are approaching Paoshan to open another front in China.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Apr 17 - 19

Warazup captured on the 17th.

On the 18th, CVL Zuiho, BB Hiei, and BB Mutsu arrive at Yokohama for repairs. Only the CVL and one BB can repair in the shipyard simultaneously, and then requiring 44 days for the CVL. The BB's will be moved to Hiroshima and Nagasaki so that Zuiho will repair in 30 days. In any event, it looks like Hiei will be out of action for 2 months, and Mutsu for at least 6.

On the 19th, BB Yamashiro arrives at Kobe with 30 system and 30 flotation damage and will require 206 days in the shipyard for repair.

Edit: After one DD at Kobe finished a minor repair and another doing an upgrade changed from shipyard to pierside, the repair time on BB Yamashiro dropped to 126 days! Does that make sense to anyone?

[Uncivil Engineer]

Apr 20 - 23

Timoeka captured on 20th.

Tsuyung captured on 21st by air drop; several days of recon showed the lone defender moving out (toward Kunming).

Car Nicobar captured on the 22nd.

The BB TF covering the landings of 16 and 48 Divs at Buna, having completely that mission, was ordered to strike Milne Bay enroute to returning to Rabaul. The TF sank one PT during the first engagement, then 2 CAs (Pensacola and San Francisco) and a DD during the second engagement. A third CA (Astoria) was also reported sunk, but the combat action didn't show it. Eleven Seagulls went down. IJN CAs Myoko and Haguro took heavy damage, but are not in danger; minimal damage to the 2 BBs.

An airdrop on Wau on the 22nd achieved nothing; the units will rest a day before the rest of the para-SNLF reinforces.

BB Mutsu arrived at Nagasaki on the 23rd with 51 system, 16 flotation, and 4 engine damage; 128 days in the shipyard are required to fix (about the same as BB Yamashiro at Kobe).

[Bif1961]

If all the float planes lost 11 Seagulls, it could be a strong indications that all 3 American CAs you listed went down because the max they can carry is 4 Seagulls each for a max of 12 Seagulls.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

If all the float planes lost 11 Seagulls, it could be a strong indications that all 3 American CAs you listed went down because the max they can carry is 4 Seagulls each for a max of 12 Seagulls.

Thanks, I didn't know how many each CA carried. I'll assume for now that the 2 I saw sink is what I got. If the other one is toast, then so much the better. BTW, my 2 BBs took some shell hits, but when they got back to port there was NO damage. Woot!

[Uncivil Engineer]

Apr 24 - 27

On the 24th BB Hiei reaches Hiroshima with 30 system, 1 flotation, and 10 engine damage; will require 41 days in shipyard to repair. Near Ceylon an IJN sub puts a torpedo in CV Indomitable. In China Paoshan is captured with no damage to resource or light industry. Wau is captured on Papua/New Guinea.

Allies land at Terapo on the 25th and capture it on the 26th. It had flipped to Japanese control some weeks ago, but had not been occupied. Also on the 26th, a river crossing into Patung (in China) was costly -

Ground combat at Patung (81,46)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 23171 troops, 211 guns, 34 vehicles, Assault Value = 894

Defending force 27676 troops, 152 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1022

Japanese adjusted assault: 596

Allied adjusted defense: 1117

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
4719 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 279 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 39 disabled
Guns lost 22 (1 destroyed, 21 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
653 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
57th Infantry Brigade
41st Division
11th RGC Temp. Division
13th RGC Temp. Division
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
67th Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
26th Group Army

On the 27th BB Colorado was sighted near Dutch Harbor, but the torpedoes missed. In China, a counterattack by the Chinese at Kweiyang ejected the Japanese. This attack had been expected for a couple days, but reinforcements were not available to help the defense -

Ground combat at Kweiyang (74,49)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 51868 troops, 238 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2472

Defending force 17493 troops, 164 guns, 360 vehicles, Assault Value = 572

Allied adjusted assault: 1393

Japanese adjusted defense: 433

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
3759 casualties reported
Squads: 168 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 180 destroyed, 84 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 47 (21 destroyed, 26 disabled)
Vehicles lost 186 (55 destroyed, 131 disabled)
Units retreated 5

Allied ground losses:
2848 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 351 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
72nd Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Corps
28th Chinese Corps
58th Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
38th New Chinese Division
1st Group Army
30th Group Army
13th Chinese Base Force
7th War Area
22nd Group Army
18th Chinese Base Force
10th Group Army
9th Group Army
4th War Area
20th Chinese Base Force

Defending units:
11th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
15th Division
13th/A Division
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment

Here's the current situation in China -

[Uncivil Engineer]

Apr 28 - May 1

After retreating from Kweiyang the IJA defenders are attacked unsuccessfully by 1000 Chinese AV.

Meanwhile, the retreated tanks move east and join in a shock attack that does serious damage to the Chinese on May 1 -

Ground combat at 76,50 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 35961 troops, 279 guns, 642 vehicles, Assault Value = 1328

Defending force 20038 troops, 142 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 315

Japanese adjusted assault: 1314

Allied adjusted defense: 589

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1094 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 91 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Vehicles lost 27 (1 destroyed, 26 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
7391 casualties reported
Squads: 235 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 437 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 28 destroyed, 27 disabled
Guns lost 41 (12 destroyed, 29 disabled)
Units retreated 10
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
104th Division
2nd Ind.Mixed Regiment
8th Recon Regiment
116th Division
9th Tank Regiment
13th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
13th/B Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
69th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Corps
37th Chinese Corps
46th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
51st Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
19th Group Army
7th Artillery Regiment
Lusu War Area
89th Chinese Corps
56th AT Gun Regiment

IJA troops land at Tagula Is on Apr 30 and capture the vacant base on May 1. A6M5 Zeroes advance research to Apr 43. 16 and 48 Divs are advancing (slowly) from Buna overland to Port Moresby. 1 and 4 Divs are preparing to assault Milne Bay within the next few days. Six BBs and the KB (minus Kaga) are in support.

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 2 - 3

The admiral in charge of this fiasco has decided it's time to try to take Milne Bay (a month has passed since the last FAILED attempt). 1 Div is loaded on a amphib TF escorted by a slow battleship TF (3 BBs). Both TFs encounter subs while moving part way from Torokina to Milne Bay, but show no detection otherwise. KB provided LRCAP on the 2nd. This map shows the search patterns (naval and ASW) in the area -

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 2 - 3 (continued)

On the 3rd the BB TF closes on Milne Bay to bombard, while the BB Kongo/Haruna TF moves forward to protect the amphib TF. Also, the 4 Div amphib TF leaves Torokina. Again, all are covered by LRCAP from the undetected KB. The action opens with the IJN BB TF engaging a 5 PT TF guarding Milne Bay; 2 PTs are sunk with no hits on any IJN ship (although one DD hit a mine). The naval bombardment was followed by a Sentai of Sallies bombing the airfield (there was no Allied CAP) -

Night Naval bombardment of Milne Bay at 101,133

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 11 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground
PBY-4 Catalina: 7 damaged
PBY-4 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
Hurricane IIb Trop: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Fuso
CA Chokai
CA Atago
DD Yayoi
DD Ayanami

Allied ground losses:
163 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 55
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 2

Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 28

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 5 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
28 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Since the KB's mission was strictly naval attack it attacked a DD and xAK, but not any other TF, even though one other was detected. No Allied carriers or capital ships appear to be in the area. (Famous last words).

Ha-45 engines advanced another month, to Feb 43.

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 4 - 5

At Milne Bay on the 4th an IJN sub hits a mine; Allied PTs tangle with the BB TF and lose 1 PT; BB Kongo hits a mine before the DMS sweep, so with 23 flotation damage Kongo will be out of action for several months.

Both amphib TFs arrive and unload at Milne Bay on the 4th, and both with somewhat high disablements (at least higher than I expected). They almost finish unloading on the 5th, and the 2 divisions only bombard. The Aussies defending Milne Bay counterattack with poor results, being outnumbered 1 to 2 (more or less). For the May 6 turn, the TFs reorganize keeping all unloaded transports in one TF to finish unloading, covered by a bombarding BB TF that will remain on station. The original TFs both RTB. Supporting artillery and engineers will arrive on the 7th.

On the 4th mines are placed at Chittagong; Port Arthur's airfield improves to level 6; CV Kaga arrives at Yokohama with 8 system and 22 flotation damage, requiring 70 days in the shipyard. That will take it into July and the scheduled upgrade, so some of the upgrade will (might) occur while the ship is being repaired.

On the 5th CV Junyo arrives at Nagasaki.

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 6 - 8

On May 6 four BBs bombard Milne Bay, the amphib TFs finish unloading, and the 2 division attack captures the base -

Night Naval bombardment of Milne Bay at 101,133

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Fuso
BB Nagato
DD Karukaya
DD Sanae
DD Yayoi
DD Ayanami

Allied Ships
SS S-44, hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hughes, Shell hits 1, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
89 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 7 (3 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13
Port hits 8
Port supply hits 2

Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21796 troops, 241 guns, 43 vehicles, Assault Value = 602

Defending force 4656 troops, 98 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 174

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 585

Allied adjusted defense: 119

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Milne Bay !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
PBY-4 Catalina: 1 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
258 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1411 casualties reported
Squads: 77 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 40 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 18 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 57 (54 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 5

Assaulting units:
1st Division
4th Division

Defending units:
Sparrow Battalion
17th Australian Brigade
Gull Battalion
5th RAAF Base Force
15th RAAF Base Force /1

Also, Aichi Ha-60 engines (Judy) advance research to Jul 42.

On May 8 Milne Bay was cleared of US mines and 2 US(?) CV TFs counterattacked, one at Milne Bay and one at Tulagi -

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 9 - 11

The move by KB from north of New Britain island to the Solomon Sea was uneventful, as both Allied carrier TFs retired from the area. KB moved due south on the 10th, thinking the 2 Allied CVs would move toward each other to merge, but that didn't happen, so on the 11th KB retired north toward Rabaul and fuel.

On the 9th, the damaged (and on fire) xAK at Tulagi unloaded 4 Tk Rgt at Tulagi before sinking. 16 Div arrives at Port Moresby and is under continuous air attack by B-17s and Marauders. 48 Div is a few days out.

Also on the 9th, research on Helen IIa bombers was completed at the sole factory. This will be insufficient to advance arrival as September 1 is less than 100 days from May 9. On the 11th, the first of six Tojo IIa factories completed research, but by itself is insufficient to advance arrival. When a second factory completes, then the Tojo will advance in 50 days from that date, making arrival August 1 instead of September 1. If a third factory completes research before the end of May, then 2 months advancement (to July) may be possible, but that seems unlikely at this time.

In China a tank heavy force was able to retreat the Chinese stack that was one hex west of Chihkiang, while Chinese reinforcements arrived at Chihkiang from the northeast (see the map on post #248). When one of these IJA units moves into Chihkiang the IJA will control 3 hexsides at Chihkiang, which control the 3 major roads into the city. This will reduce Chinese supply further and may, over time, allow capture of the base. An updated map will be posted soon.

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 12 - 14



There are 26 Chinese units at Chihkiang of slightly over 3000 AV. NW of the city there are 12 beat up units of about 200 AV, and NE of the city 11 units of probably about 1000 AV. The IJA is currently outnumbered SE of Kweiyang, but of sufficient strength to block the Chinese from getting to Chihkiang. The hex NW of Chihkiang should be taken within the next few days and reinforcements coming to Tuyun will solidify control of the major east-west road and allow the hex NE of Chihkiang to be occupied, further restricting Chinese supply to Chihkiang.

On the 14th, 48 Div arrived at Port Moresby, joining 16 Div. 14 Army HQ, artillery, and engineers are marching to join.

[RangerJoe]

If you are planning to take Chungking and the other replacement city, you may not want to destroy those units yet.

Supply will flow through that hex as long as the enemy has hex side control.

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 15 - 17

Not planning to destroy Chinese units, but once out of supply they may be destroyed by my opponent. The 13 surrounded and out of supply units 2 hexes NW of Nanning have started attacking; their losses are not severe, but over time they will destroy themselves to respawn at Chungking. I would expect the same to happen at Chihkiang if I can get them totally cut off.

My supply situation in Burma is horrible. Most bases have stopped fortification. Mandalay and Lashio have had zero supply for several days. I'm running supply up from Palembang by fast transport and a slow convoy is coming from Honshu, but whenever the Brits decide to counterattack, they will likely make steady progress. I'm flying supply from Magwe to Tsuyung, but it is not enough, as the IJA is now outnumbered by the Chinese at that base. Of course, Chinese supply can't be much better!

The Chinese have been forced to retreat from the hex mid-way between Kweiyang and Chihkiang, and soon will be forced to retreat from the hex NW of Chihkiang.

A6M5 Zero research has advanced arrival to March '43. BB Kongo arrived at Tokyo with 5 system and 20 flotation damage, requiring 96 days in the shipyard.

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 18 - 21

Yenan was captured on the 18th in a one division shock attack across river; one Chinese corps defended and retreated SE.

Ningsia was captured by the Allies on the 19th; the unit probably coming cross country from Yenan over the last many weeks. Also, 5 Brit BBs bombarded Ramree Island causing extensive damage; there is no supply there to fix anything. Four of them bombarded again on the 20th, but didn't use float plane recon so little damage occurred.

On the 20th, Ha-45 engine research (Frank, George) advanced to January '43.

An escorted amphib TF arrived at Milne Bay to extract one brigade of 1 Div; it was attacked by 83 carrier SBDs from 7 hexes SW; CAP from KB 7 hexes NE (still undetected) was insufficient to stop the dive bombers and 2 AMC were sunk. Damage to the escorting BB TF was minimal. The amphibs departed empty on the 21st, rather than loiter and be slaughtered.

On the 21st, KB moved west to a position allowing a 9 hex TB attack on the US carriers if they moved toward Port Moresby. The US CVs moved away, and a 15 Val attack hit a TF at PM along with Betties from Rabaul. There was no CV battle.

The Singapore airfield reached level 7. BB Yamato and CVE Unyo will arrive on the 22nd.

The envelopment of Chihkiang continues in China.

[Uncivil Engineer]

May 22 - 27

KB sank 2 US APDs off Port Moresby on the 22nd.

Patung was captured on the 23rd after being abandoned by the Chinese.

On the 25th an escorted amphib TF heads to Milne Bay to evacuate a brigade of 4 Div; air transports pull out some of that unit to reduce the amphib load somewhat. Part of the unit loads on the 26th with a small fragment loading on the 27th.

CVL Zuiho completes repair on the 27th.

The tanks enveloping Chihkiang ran into superior numbers and withdraw.