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yes , this was crappy -note altitude.
Suggest to your opponent that 17000 feet is the minimum altitude for army bombers -its a good house rule I use.

My Hr's are usually between the 12,000 and 15,000 minimum for 4e's

I suppose I should be thankful he is using them on 6000, earlier Ive seen B17 attacks coming in at 2 or 3000...
 
 

The airbattle today cost him 4 B17s and 4 B25s btw. Completely outrageous. I have 50 fighters on LRCAP at 11000, 100 bombers come in low and slow at 6000. I damage pretty much all of the bombers, but only manage to shoot down 8?
 
50 fighters dive in on 100 unescorted bombers and manage to shoot down 8? I wonder how the battle of Britain would have ended with kill-ratios like that.

There is a problem with Nikmod, this version and the earlier version (both of which I have played).  Unfortunately it takes so many hits to down a bomber that the Allied 4E end up either getting through or aborting long before they are destroyed.  In trying to reduce the all aircraft losses 4E have become almost invulnerable - lots of damaged planes, very few brought down. At least in part it is a problem with the narrow range of damage each plane inflicts during an attack.   If it were more variable, then some would still be destroyed.

ORIGINAL: Yakface

There is a problem with Nikmod, this version and the earlier version (both of which I have played).  Unfortunately it takes so many hits to down a bomber that the Allied 4E end up either getting through or aborting long before they are destroyed.  In trying to reduce the all aircraft losses 4E have become almost invulnerable - lots of damaged planes, very few brought down. At least in part it is a problem with the narrow range of damage each plane inflicts during an attack.   If it were more variable, then some would still be destroyed.

Yeah, but the problem is that the only side that benefits from this is the allied side. The jap bombers are still fragile enough to be shot down.

In effect what happens is that if 30 bombers are attacked by 60 fighters, if the bombers are japanese, they will have 25 shot down and 5 damaged, but if they are allied, they will have 25 damaged and 5 shot down.

We have had some conversations in mail regarding the nikmod. Basically Castor believes he is punished enough by my flak, high numbers of damaged bombers, low morale, low replacement rates, low experience etc etc. This is what I replied.

Maybe you are punished in nikmod with lower experience in new pilots and lower replacement rate. That does not change the fact however, that you can get through any CAP at any time. The fact that you suffer losses and have your bomber wings damaged and with low morale for three weeks after that attack is irrelevant to the fact that you can...if you want...get through any CAP and attack any target at least once. And when you get through that CAp, anything below your bombers just die...60, 80, 100 B17s can and will destroy any target.

You will not have your pilots die and your bombers destroyed, you will just have your bombers damaged and your pilots with low morale. That is a significant advantage to having them destroyed and killed respectively. Which is what happens if I try to penetrate a lare CAP. Meanwhile I get the same losses from flak that you do, I have low replacement rates than you (this is the experimental nikmod with lower jap production, which is starting to show now) and soon my pilots will arrive with 35 exp in Japan.

I have all the 'downsides' of the nikmod, with the added bonus that when my bombers goes up against your fighters, they just die.

Huge battles over Akyab today. My convoy was spotted ~6-8 hexes off Akyab, and I had to scatter it. So instead of 4 different convoys arriving at port, the ships made their own way to port depending on their speed. Most make it to Akyab and are now unloading. And that was in the nick of time! Ive spotted 25 units marching down the trail towards Akyab. The british are coming!

This is the situation at Akyab...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/17/42

I manage to put up a large CAP over Akyab, that proves to carry the day for the Empire. In the end, he loses 120 aircraft to my 45.

Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 25
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 84

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 25
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 84

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 4 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 9 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 19
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 84

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 22
P-40E Warhawk x 9
Hurricane IIc x 3
SB-2c x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 17 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 8 destroyed
Hurricane IIc: 3 destroyed
SB-2c: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Yoshinogawa Maru
AP Shoho Maru
PG Uji, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Oigawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SB-2c bombing at 6000 feet
1 x SB-2c bombing at 6000 feet
4 x SB-2c bombing at 6000 feet
4 x SB-2c bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 19
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 82

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 19
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 82

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
ML Shirataka, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 19
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 82

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
ML Shirataka, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 29,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 33

Allied aircraft
A-20B Boston x 26

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
A-20B Boston: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
ML Kamome, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet
2 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 19
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 36

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 3
Hurricane IIc x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 3 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
Hurricane IIc: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 19
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 36

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
ML Sarushima

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 29,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 53

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 2 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 19
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 15
P-40E Warhawk x 27
Hurricane IIc x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 3 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 5 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed, 17 damaged
Hurricane IIc: 3 destroyed

Japanese Ships
ML Kurokami, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
ML Katoku, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
ML Kuroshima

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
1 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 29,28


Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 11


Allied aircraft losses
IL-4c: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
PG Saga, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x IL-4c bombing at 6000 feet
4 x IL-4c bombing at 6000 feet
4 x IL-4c bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 21
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 64

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 21
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 64

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 21
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 64

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 3 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 14 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 21
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 64

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 33
P-40E Warhawk x 16
Hurricane IIc x 9
SB-2c x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 6 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 13 destroyed, 7 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 8 destroyed
Hurricane IIc: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
SB-2c: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Kasui Maru
AP Manila Maru
PC Ch 11

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SB-2c bombing at 6000 feet
5 x Hurricane IIb bombing at 2000 feet
9 x Hurricane IIb bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 17
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 61

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Meiyo Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 29,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 41

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 4

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Miyadono Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 17
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 27
Hurricane IIb x 22
Spitfire Vb x 6
Beaufort I x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 16 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 9 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged
Hurricane IIb: 4 destroyed, 14 damaged
Spitfire Vb: 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Hirota Maru
AK Daishu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Beaufort I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Beaufort I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Oridono Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Satsuma Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 4

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Tamaki Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet



All in all, it was a good day. I managed to defend my ships who are now unolading, and I managed to inflict 2,5-1 losses in the air.

To achieve this I had to scatter my convoy and let the ships return to port individually. I have two larger surface combat taskforces to protect the ships, but the rest come in smaller taskforces consisting of 2-6 ships. I divided them into 2-4 transport ships escorted by 1-2 PCs or PGs. I also have several MSW taskforces and several ML taskforces.

And here are the losses.

Oh boy - I would declare "strategic emergency" !!!

Try to fly in a spare division from Rangoon if you can. Send more divisions to Burma if you can. Start bringing 50K+ supply to Rangoon each month - or double that or double it again if you can. You'll need it.

Launch a few small bombing missions on the monster stack to see if it is really 25 divisions or a bunch of junk.

ORIGINAL: jwilkerson

Oh boy - I would declare "strategic emergency" !!!

Try to fly in a spare division from Rangoon if you can. Send more divisions to Burma if you can. Start bringing 50K+ supply to Rangoon each month - or double that or double it again if you can. You'll need it.

Launch a few small bombing missions on the monster stack to see if it is really 25 divisions or a bunch of junk.

The convoy that just arrived at Akyab carries one division, two artillery units (one of which is that huge artillery brigade) and 17k of supplies. Ive also just reinforced the minefield at Akyab so it now has 1500+ mines. Do you think I should move another division in from Java?

Oh, btw, two of those units are the 18th and 2nd UK division, so its definitively not just a piece of junk...
 

Ki-15 Babs takes recon photos of 2nd UK Division
Ki-15 Babs takes recon photos of 18th UK Division

ORIGINAL: Panzerjaeger Hortlund


Do you think I should move another division in from Java?

Absolutely ... with a level-6 fort you don't want to get outnumbered by more than 2 to 1 ... and that stack probably has at least 4 divisions, maybe 4 brigades and a pile of arty and some armor, so to meet that you need at least 2 Divisions, 2 Bdes and your own pile of Arty. Another possibility, if you have the urge, is to consider invasion of India, if he is really stripping all the defense out of India and sending to Burma. But moving more units into the Theater and getting more recon on that stack are certainly in order. If Burma falls, the SRA comes within 4EB range pretty quickly. You can also try to lay on some bombardments of Akyab to hit his troops. I didn't get great results with this - but it serves as another distraction and might help if he attacks the same turn.

Of course, he also threatens in the Timor area and the Thursday Island area. Any quick path to the SRA or the Home Islands, would be priorities!

Suddenly a wormhole appears that distorts the space/time continuum. We are taken back two days in time.

ORIGINAL: jwilkerson

ORIGINAL: Panzerjaeger Hortlund


Do you think I should move another division in from Java?

Absolutely ... with a level-6 fort you don't want to get outnumbered by more than 2 to 1 ... and that stack probably has at least 4 divisions, maybe 4 brigades and a pile of arty and some armor, so to meet that you need at least 2 Divisions, 2 Bdes and your own pile of Arty. Another possibility, if you have the urge, is to consider invasion of India, if he is really stripping all the defense out of India and sending to Burma. But moving more units into the Theater and getting more recon on that stack are certainly in order. If Burma falls, the SRA comes within 4EB range pretty quickly. You can also try to lay on some bombardments of Akyab to hit his troops. I didn't get great results with this - but it serves as another distraction and might help if he attacks the same turn.

Of course, he also threatens in the Timor area and the Thursday Island area. Any quick path to the SRA or the Home Islands, would be priorities!

Ok, Im moving in another division from Java. Im also considering moving in the majority of the combined fleet into the area. My fleet is almost done with the repair/upgrade program in Japan, and if I want I can dispatch the full might of the combined fleet into the Bay of Bengal.

I am somewhat pressed to find more land units though. I have 2 divisions on Timor, 2 around Port Moresby, one at Noumea, and three in the central pacific.

Perhaps this is the time to launch a feint into India. Like you say, if he is coming with 25 units towards Akyab, then he cannot have very much garrisson units at Ceylon or in lower India. At the same time I can bring 8 BBs, 8 CVs, 5 CAs, 30 DDs into this area within two weeks...all this while his Carriers are messing around in the Sydney area.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/18/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 37
A6M3 Zero x 16
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 58

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 80
CW-22 Falcon x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 101
Hurricane IIc x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 11 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 5 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 44 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 60 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 24 destroyed, 53 damaged
Hurricane IIc: 6 destroyed, 4 damaged

The day starts with a huge dogfight over Akyab. A battle that I win.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
A6M3 Zero x 16
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 32

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 2
Wellington III x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 2 damaged
Wellington III: 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
PG Eifuku Maru
PG Uji, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet

As we can see, my CAP is still i the air, while the RAF attacks are scattered and piecemeal.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
A6M3 Zero x 16
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 31

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 28
Beaufort I x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 10 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 6 destroyed, 16 damaged
Beaufort I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Natori
AP Kyokusei Maru, Torpedo hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Beaufort I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Beaufort I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
A6M3 Zero x 7
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 12

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Eihuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CL Natori, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kyokusei Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kasui Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Miyadono Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Meiyo Maru
AP Tamatsu Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet

Here things are starting to look weird. 26 Wellingtons, unescorted Wellingtons penetrate the CAP of 30+ fighters without losses.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
A6M3 Zero x 7
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 12

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 6
A-20B Boston x 3
B-26B Marauder x 25
IL-4c x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Natori, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Satsuma Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Zenyo Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire
AP Manila Maru
MSW Fumi Maru #2, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Sanko Maru

Japanese ground losses:
87 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x IL-4c bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
2 x IL-4c bombing at 6000 feet
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
4 x IL-4c bombing at 6000 feet
4 x IL-4c bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet

And here, 40 bombers penetrate the same CAP.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 34
A6M3 Zero x 16
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 25

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
MSW W.14

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet

Apparently no strike is too small. Here 3 bombers penetrate a defensive cap of 70 fighers. This is in the afternoon btw.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 34
A6M3 Zero x 16
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 25

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 14
Wellington III x 51
P-40E Warhawk x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged
Wellington III: 3 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 12 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Oigawa Maru, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AK Totai Maru, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AK Bichu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Kennichi Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Takegawa Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tsukikawa Maru
AK Yuki Maru
PC Ch 17

Japanese ground losses:
108 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet

And while this strike was escorted, I find it somewhat odd to see such complete impotency of the defensive CAP against the bombers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
A6M3 Zero x 15
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 23

Allied aircraft
A-20B Boston x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
A-20B Boston: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Katori Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet

10 Bostons penetrate a defensive CAP of 70 fighters without losses? Why not.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
A6M3 Zero x 15
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 23

Allied aircraft
A-20B Boston x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
A-20B Boston: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Hitora Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet

Again...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
A6M3 Zero x 15
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 23

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 damaged


Japanese Ships
AK Suez Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet

Does anyone really believe these results? 3 Wellingtons vs 70 fighters. Result, one damaged fighter and a Wellington scoring two hits on a transport.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
A6M3 Zero x 15
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 27

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 3
Wellington III x 72
P-40E Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Wellington III: 37 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 7 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AP Meiyo Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Oridono Maru, Bomb hits 2
AP Kasui Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Maya Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Satsuma Maru, on fire
AP Eihuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Karachi Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Meikai Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Keisho Maru
AP Seizan Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Nowaki
AP Kaifuku Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tamatsu Maru

Japanese ground losses:
77 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
1 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
1 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
1 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet

Ok, here we get an airbattle at least. And the impotence of the Japanese fighters present itself again. 37 damaged bombers, not one shot down...all manage to bomb their targets as if it was a milkrun against some deserted island.


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Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
A6M3 Zero x 7
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 10

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 7
A-20B Boston x 7
B-26B Marauder x 6
IL-4c x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 4 damaged
A-20B Boston: 3 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 1 damaged
IL-4c: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Nowaki
PC Ch 12
AP Miyadono Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet

And the final attack of the day.



All in all I am very pleased with the actions of my airforce. I have shot down over 200 allied aircraft at the loss of something like 70 of mine. I also lost 50 on the ground, but I dont count these since the pilots survived.

The RAF in India must be in very bad shape now. They have lost 120 Hurricanes, 20 Spitfires, 50 P40s...all shot down over enemy territory, meaning the pilots are dead or captured.

My losses have been severe, all my remaining fighter wings are 50% operational 50% damaged. Those who were at Akyab have 4-10 operational aircraft.

BUT

The convoy got through, I have unloaded the 48th Division and I have refilled the minefield. I have enough supply at the base. The cost will be something like 100 fighters and maybe a dozen transports. Its a price I have to pay.

Well, this is it, I am ordering a strategic emergency. I have spotted 27 units now, right next to Akyab. That should mean they arrived in that hex today, and that should also mean that I have 10-15 days before they arrive at the base.

I have ordered the 5th Division to embark their ships at Batavia for transport to Rangoon. I am also pulling back the 4th from Tarawa. I will need them in this theater instead. The Combined Fleet has been given orders to leave port and rebase to Singapore. At Sasebo I have the elements of the fleet that are finished with their repairs and upgrades, but I am also sending the rest of the ships to Singapore. With the exception of the Zuikaku who needs to finish her repairs first.

This will mark the beginning of the first major defensive battle of the war. I will not yield the base at Akyab without a fight.

Related to this.

I have not spotted the US CVs since their little raid on Gilli Gilli about two weeks ago. They were heading south after that, and I actually spotted them from Noumea.

Maybe the CVs are taking the route south of Australia to join the battle. There are some effects of cource. If he does move his CVs to the Indian Ocean, I will know for sure that there wont be any invasion in the central pacific for a while. On the other hand, I am in no position to attack anything in the central pacific anyway, so he is not exactly stripping himself of his defences either.

I am bringing the entire Combined Fleet into the Indian Ocean now. For this to work I need to keep the Malacca straits sub-free for the duration of these operations. I cannot have a bunch of subs there giving him free intel and taking the occational torpedo shot on my ships. Im bringing in my best ASW units from the interior shipping lines, and Im moving all my ASW aircraft to patrol the area between Singapore and Rangoon.

I have not seen a single RAF airplane in the past two days. It seems he has retired his airforce to the interior of India to rest and refit after the battle of Akyab. Im not sure whether this is good or bad, but at least I have been able to unload my convoy at Akyab now.

I believe he will mount a serious surface raid somewhere in this area. Most likely target is of cource Andaman Island, but another possible target is the base at the northern tip of Sumatra.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/20/42

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Day Air attack on TF, near Thursday Island at 49,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
A6M3 Zero x 26
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 79

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 12 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 26 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Bomb hits 8, on fire
DD Kari
CL Kitakami, Bomb hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kamo, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
79 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet

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Day Air attack on TF, near Thursday Island at 49,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
A6M3 Zero x 28
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 8 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 11 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Nissyu Maru
AK Ryoka Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Mejima Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tatuno Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet

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Day Air attack on TF, near Thursday Island at 49,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
A6M3 Zero x 28
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 16 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
26 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 56,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 15
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 12

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Onoe Maru
MSW Tama Maru #3, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kasii Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet


I am going to ask him if he is willing to discuss a houserule now. A houserule that puts an end to these insane 4-engine naval attacks from 6000 feet. Because this is just stupid.