Page 14 of 312
1942 May 22
Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 4:40 pm
by witpqs
1942 May 22
The Empire captured:
The Allies captured:
There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Desperate to stop the 45th Indian Bde before it makes Lashio, the IJA made a shock attack (almost certainly) just with the armored unit present. Remember that previously deliberate attacks by armored units resulted in bad odds but good outcomes for the attackers. This one turned out OK for the attackers, but the 45th should make Lashio tomorrow anyway.
Ground combat at 61,46 (near Lashio)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 354 troops, 0 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 361
Defending force 2792 troops, 6 guns, 44 vehicles, Assault Value = 76
Japanese adjusted assault: 12
Allied adjusted defense: 211
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 17
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
47th Infantry Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
16th Infantry Regiment
25th Army
Defending units:
45th Indian Brigade
In Australia, the 2/5th Armoured Rgt made an attack to try and stop the encirclement of the 19th Australian Bn.
Ground combat at 76,135 (near Tennant Creek)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 921 troops, 0 guns, 39 vehicles, Assault Value = 28
Defending force 872 troops, 4 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 35
Allied adjusted assault: 10
Japanese adjusted defense: 34
Allied assault odds: 1 to 3
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+)
Attacker: leaders(-)
Japanese ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
2/5th Armoured Regiment
Defending units:
48th Recon Regiment
The IJA made air attacks on retreating Allied units outside of Shwebo they did so from 6,000ft. Here is the combat report, followed by the day's aircraft losses.
Afternoon Air attack on 46th Indian Brigade, at 60,44 , near Shwebo
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Ki-30 Ann x 12
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 2
Ki-51 Sonia x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann: 1 damaged
Ki-30 Ann: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed by flak
Allied ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
11 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
Also attacking 18th British Division ...
Also attacking 46th Indian Brigade ...
Also attacking 18th British Division ...
Also attacking 46th Indian Brigade ...
Also attacking 18th British Division ...
1942 May 23
Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 7:29 pm
by witpqs
1942 May 23
The Empire captured:
The Allies captured:
There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
There were Allied amphibious operations at:
The 19th was retreated and hurt badly.
Ground combat at 76,134 (near Daly Waters)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 902 troops, 4 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 36
Defending force 544 troops, 4 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 6
Japanese adjusted assault: 36
Allied adjusted defense: 3
Japanese assault odds: 12 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker: op mode(-), shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
161 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
2nd Recon Regiment
Defending units:
19th Australian Battalion
No sign of the KB. Here is an overview map.
1942 May 24
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:11 pm
by witpqs
1942 May 24
The Empire captured:
The Allies captured:
There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Lomblen
There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Yamato is on the waves, dodging torpedoes from Finback near Wakayama. No sign of KB though.
An attack on the retreating Allies north of Shwebo:
Ground combat at 60,44 (near Shwebo)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 12900 troops, 136 guns, 55 vehicles, Assault Value = 327
Defending force 15992 troops, 231 guns, 89 vehicles, Assault Value = 481
Japanese adjusted assault: 190
Allied adjusted defense: 367
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), leaders(-), morale(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)
Japanese ground losses:
692 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Allied ground losses:
119 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards Division
21st/B Division
Defending units:
18th British Division
46th Indian Brigade
13th Indian Brigade
Near Tennant Creek the IJA discovered that waiting Australian armour is less vulnerable in the open than retreating Australian infantry.
Ground combat at 76,135 (near Tennant Creek)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 902 troops, 3 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 37
Defending force 897 troops, 0 guns, 39 vehicles, Assault Value = 28
Japanese adjusted assault: 5
Allied adjusted defense: 30
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 6
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), leaders(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)
Japanese ground losses:
137 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
48th Recon Regiment
Defending units:
2/5th Armoured Regiment
One of the disabled combat squads is already repaired. No sign of KB. Here is a look at Burma. Lashio has large numbers of enemy troops marching on it and will certainly fall. Supplies there are hard to come by since the seizure of Bhamo, as Myitkyina is serving to receive supplies by air and now can not be reached over roads. On the plain the two brigades will probably make the jungle before being crushed by superior forces marching out of Shwebo, but the 18th British Division might not as they lag behind.
RE: 1942 May 24
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 1:50 pm
by ny59giants
Did you do anything with your American CVs in regards to reaching full air capacity?? Since you can easily overstack to 100 planes per CV, did you place any Marine air units or some of the Wildcat recon planes?? I like to know how Allied players treat their American CVs early in the war. If you go with 36 SBDs and 15 Avengers as standard, what did you do with the rest of the available capacity??
1942 May 25
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:15 pm
by witpqs
1942 May 25
The Empire captured:
Lomblen
The Allies captured:
There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Sinabang
There were Allied amphibious operations at:
It looks like Lashio is going to get whumped when more enemy units arrive. The infiltration in China continues. Here is a look at the small unit big battle developing in Australia.
RE: 1942 May 24
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:18 pm
by witpqs
ORIGINAL: ny59giants
Did you do anything with your American CVs in regards to reaching full air capacity?? Since you can easily overstack to 100 planes per CV, did you place any Marine air units or some of the Wildcat recon planes?? I like to know how Allied players treat their American CVs early in the war. If you go with 36 SBDs and 15 Avengers as standard, what did you do with the rest of the available capacity??
I've got a USMC dive bomber squadron on one of them. The others might just be short right now. I sometimes load up USMC fighter units and leave them until they attain "Carrier Trained" status.
I'm not sure how usual that is among Allied players, though??
RE: 1942 May 24
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:37 pm
by ny59giants
Most American CVs have 27 fighters, 36 SBD, and at your point in the game 15 Avenger. That places 78 planes on a CV with capacity of 90 (not counting the ability to overstack). Add in a 18 plane Marine fighter group and that gives you 45 fighters per CV. So, you have 96 planes on each CV. If you have all 5 heavy CVs plus Wasp, you easily have over 550 planes in the "American Death Star." Hopefully, your pilot training has gotten most up to near or above 70 skills levels (Air, NavB, NavT). It may not win a match with KB head-to-head, but if your opponent has not moved around his air groups, you could stand to come out ahead. Many of the scenarios and mods have each Japanese heavy CV with only 18 Zeros (until July 1st re-sizing) and under capacity like the Americans.
18 x 6 = 108 Zeros vs 45 x 5 = 225 Wildcats plus 27 from Wasp = 252. I like those odds!! [:)]
1942 May 26
Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 6:36 pm
by witpqs
1942 May 26
The Empire captured:
Sinabang
The Allies captured:
There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
There were Allied amphibious operations at:
There are TFs of small carriers and cruisers in the Bay of Bengal west of Akyab. No sign of troop convoys with them, so they might only be there to provide support to the Imperial defense of Cox's Bazar. The small combat in the Outback went for us.
Ground combat at 76,135 (near Tennant Creek)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 785 troops, 3 guns, 39 vehicles, Assault Value = 27
Defending force 1626 troops, 0 guns, 77 vehicles, Assault Value = 48
Japanese adjusted assault: 2
Allied adjusted defense: 46
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 23
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)
Japanese ground losses:
92 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
48th Recon Regiment
Defending units:
2/5th Armoured Regiment
2/6th Armoured Regiment
The 18th British Division is facing more than 2,000 AV and needs 8 miles more to exit the hex. Will they make it or get thrashed? Excess troops are passing through Chungking from the Sian area to shore up weak sectors. A fighter group currently stationed in Melbourne upgraded to the newfangled P-38 (E model) and will deploy to the Outback to challenge the invaders in the air.
Here is a look at the bay of Bengal.
1942 May 27
Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:51 pm
by witpqs
1942 May 27
The Empire captured:
The Allies captured:
There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
There were Allied amphibious operations at:
The night saw an anticipated naval bombardment of our troops on the outskirts of Cox's Bazar but damage was very modest. They attack tomorrow. North of Shwebo, the 18th British Division was mauled. Their AV is presently 42.
Ground combat at 60,44 (near Shwebo)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 70561 troops, 605 guns, 149 vehicles, Assault Value = 2075
Defending force 11194 troops, 204 guns, 74 vehicles, Assault Value = 348
Japanese adjusted assault: 1296
Allied adjusted defense: 24
Japanese assault odds: 54 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
919 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 66 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Allied ground losses:
5877 casualties reported
Squads: 137 destroyed, 101 disabled
Non Combat: 104 destroyed, 40 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 69 disabled
Guns lost 63 (23 destroyed, 40 disabled)
Vehicles lost 31 (14 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
38th Division
Imperial Guards Division
40th Inf Group Brigade
14th Division
11th Infantry Regiment
55th Infantry Regiment
56th Infantry Regiment
33rd Division
21st/B Division
5th Mortar Battalion
Defending units:
18th British Division
Near Tennant Creek our attack on the 48th Recon Rgt was spoiled when the 2nd Recon Rgt showed up in the nick of time. The results were still a bit in our favor.
Ground combat at 76,135 (near Tennant Creek)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 1577 troops, 0 guns, 76 vehicles, Assault Value = 43
Defending force 1555 troops, 7 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 51
Allied adjusted assault: 12
Japanese adjusted defense: 34
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
2/5th Armoured Regiment
2/6th Armoured Regiment
Defending units:
48th Recon Regiment
2nd Recon Regiment
A bit of a surprise was a river-crossing attack by an IJA Rgt onto the clear terrain (on the road) between Hengyang and Kweilin. It's one of two units that were seen moving in a different direction until just yesterday. Obviously one of the units was moving here and was not scouted as such. The other unit is now moving to follow. Rather than counter attack now our sentry unit will wait for others to join it, at which time they should be able to make a successful attack.
1942 May 28
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:35 am
by witpqs
1942 May 28
The Empire captured:
The Allies captured:
There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
Waingapoe
There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Cox's Bazar was bombarded for a second consecutive night, which had enough effect on the day's attack to blunt it.
Night Naval bombardment of Cox's Bazar at 54,43
Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CA Furutaka
CA Mikuma
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Hamakaze
DD Amatsukaze
DD Shiranui
Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
CA Kako firing at 7th Australian Division
CA Furutaka firing at 7th Australian Division
CA Mikuma firing at 7th Australian Division
DD Shiratsuyu firing at 7th Australian Division
DD Hamakaze firing at 7th Australian Division
DD Amatsukaze firing at 7th Australian Division
DD Shiranui firing at 7th Australian Division
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Cox's Bazar (54,43)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 18024 troops, 304 guns, 374 vehicles, Assault Value = 417
Defending force 4620 troops, 37 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 133
Allied adjusted assault: 181
Japanese adjusted defense: 465
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Allied ground losses:
334 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Assaulting units:
7th Australian Division
2/11th Field Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
2/1st Med Regiment
Defending units:
21st/A Division
36th Const Co
37th Const Co
The Imperials attacked at Lashio and made it clear they will have the town.
Ground combat at Lashio (62,46)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 17031 troops, 109 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 637
Defending force 4421 troops, 18 guns, 48 vehicles, Assault Value = 144
Japanese adjusted assault: 456
Allied adjusted defense: 115
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 3)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
846 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 91 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
163 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Assaulting units:
47th Infantry Regiment
Tanaka
113th Infantry Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
I./143rd Infantry Battalion
16th Infantry Regiment
25th Army
Defending units:
Rangoon BAF Battalion
45th Indian Brigade
12th Burma Rifles Battalion
13th Burma Rifles Battalion
RM Viper Force
The good news came south of Liuchow, where one Allied army gained victory.
Ground combat at 74,56 (near Liuchow)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 32309 troops, 240 guns, 86 vehicles, Assault Value = 996
Defending force 17924 troops, 85 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 499
Japanese adjusted assault: 487
Allied adjusted defense: 703
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1686 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 207 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Allied ground losses:
1385 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 66 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Assaulting units:
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
21st Infantry Regiment
30th Infantry Regiment
9th Division
24th Infantry Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
Defending units:
60th Chinese Corps
64th Chinese Corps
No sign of the KB, but there is loads of radio traffic at Singapore: 3 x "Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected". Here is a peak at the Bay of Bengal.
RE: 1942 May 28
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 12:55 pm
by BBfanboy
Victory at Liuchow? A bit of a stretch since it's a pyrrhic one. He lost more squads destroyed than the allies but the proportion of lost/remaining is in his favour since he has double the number of troops. Still, when one is getting kicked around turn after turn, a glimmer of success anywhere is good for the morale!
RE: 1942 May 28
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:39 pm
by witpqs
Yes, I WILL take any victory I can get just now! It wasn't really so bad there as we got better than a 3 to 1 ratio on disabled and destroyed squads. The troop count was different, but I take that to mean that each Chinese squad has more men than Japanese squad.
The 18th is lagging behind running to escape in Burma, air is targeting them, Imperial ground forces are coming on fast and they smell blood. They will likely get lots of it. The battle near Liuchow was important for morale! [:D]
The massive extent of those radio messages at Singapore has me wondering what is up there? Lots of ships showed up in port (on a mouse-over), as expected, but what else?
RE: 1942 May 28
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 9:10 pm
by BBfanboy
Maybe Tokyo Rose moved her base of operations to Singapore ...[8|]
1942 May 29
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 9:28 pm
by witpqs
1942 May 29
The Empire captured:
Waingapoe
The Allies captured:
There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
There were Allied amphibious operations at:
There were two nighttime naval bombardments of our troops at Cox's Bazar, one by battleships and heavy cruiser, the other by light cruisers. Our troops were sitting tight (no attack orders) and now show 66% disruption. Will there be anyone else to bombard tonight?
RE: 1942 May 29
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 9:32 pm
by BBfanboy
I read in another post that putting the troops in Reserve Mode helps reduce casualties. I guess that means they are not sitting in the front line foxholes so the bombardment misses most of them. If there are no enemy troops in the hex I would try it.
RE: 1942 May 29
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 1:49 am
by witpqs
They are facing a brigade and as they are the only infantry force in the hex I can't risk it. Let's see if a Dutch or British sub - they have working torpedoes! - can nail a big ship during these shuttle runs.
1942 May 30
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 6:05 pm
by witpqs
1942 May 30
The Empire captured:
The Allies captured:
There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
There were Allied amphibious operations at:
It seems that the results south of Liuchow were a bit backward from yesterday's:
Ground combat at 74,56 (near Liuchow)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 31052 troops, 240 guns, 86 vehicles, Assault Value = 870
Defending force 17035 troops, 85 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 380
Japanese adjusted assault: 405
Allied adjusted defense: 735
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1718 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Allied ground losses:
468 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 98 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 11 (2 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Assaulting units:
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th Division
24th Infantry Regiment
30th Infantry Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
Defending units:
60th Chinese Corps
64th Chinese Corps
Our guys performed well, but a lot of squads went off line. Reinforcements are on the way. A large radio source is headed south from Japan in the direction of Truk. The USA 32nd ID and 5 arty units are 3 or 4 days out from Sydney. Various aircraft and base personnel are 4 or 5 days out from Melbourne. No gin of the KB, and no sign of bombardment forces in the Bay of Bengal. Here is a look at the Australian 7th Division.
1942 May 31
Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 2:15 pm
by witpqs
1942 May 31
The Empire captured:
The Allies captured:
There were Imperial amphibious operations at:
There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Lots of aerial bombing today but no ground combat. No sign of KB, unless that radio contact - which is now SE Bonin Islands - is it. 7th Australian Division is down to 18% disruption. Here is a look at the maneuvering in Central China.
RE: 1942 May 31
Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 5:02 pm
by BBfanboy
Don't Japanese CVs upgrade in June 42? Could be KB going off-line for a month? I think Mini-KB is not in for refit though.
RE: 1942 May 31
Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 5:37 pm
by witpqs
Well that particular target has been in contact for 3 days heading south, away from Japan. That, of course, presumes that all 3 radio contacts were the same target. It could just be a big tanker, supply, or troop convoy.