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I agree they need better experience, and the comment of being useless was more on a rock-paper-scissors relation; the best counter for MTBs are destroyers, thus if his bombardment TF comes with heavy component of DDs and CLs, even on the best conditions I am handicapped if I just bring MTBs. Thus the idea of having a BB TF ready to defend.

I will still bring MTBs; I just need to find some near Bombay; surprisingly there is nothing on the British pool; I know I disbanded some Dutch ones; so it will be a matter of finding the closest Dutch dot base and sending AKs with supply to create some.

I also need ACMs to start building a credible (+450) minefield ; but they are all in the Pacific ocean. I am surprised there is so little flexibility with the Allies in small craft conversions; with Japan you have multiple options to build ACMs, PBs, AMc, etc. ; with the Allies, I have a gazillion small craft or small cargo ships that can't convert to nothing.

I think Columbo is considered the "National Home Port" for the British, so if you have enough supply there you could see if it will create MTBs.

Looks like you're in great shape in the Pacific - what does he have on Java? With a major commitment in India, figure he has what's on Java and maybe the division plus in the PI for commitment next - not enough for a major campaign in Australia, right? A raid perhaps, or Darwin.

You going to try and hold Moresby? He's giving you time to decide at any rate.

Agree with your comments on the mines - don't see how the Allies can use them effectively - not enough mines produced or enough ACMs to keep what's there in play. 40 mines off a DM isn't going to do much to protect a port!

So Jorge, now you know what it's like to no longer be playing Easy Mode.

The Allies get no flexibility with their factories, or their airframe research or anything else.

btw

The American YPs can convert to ACMs.

It isn't difficult to assemble sufficient numbers of them to be able to maintain large minefields.

Yes I already convert them all into ACM; issue is also location; so far I have been sending all to PH\Suva\Australia; I will need to redirect some. I am also going to reduce my west coast numbers. As time goes, it is less and less possible to have any kind of surprise in the west coast, so as soon as I see some excess inventory in mines and no more ACMs, I will move out some from LA/ Seattle/ SFran, etc.

And although it had been a challenge, it is very fun to play a PBEM; I don't think I can go back to the AI.

Talking about PBEM; I keep good communication with Steve (Prester John) and from time to time we share intelligence or notes. He was also kind enough to ask how I fell about the invasion of India, and I was cool on how things were going. He also asked what was my view of continuous expansions.

I answered him I was very cool on anything he can throw, with the only exception of trying to not focusing only on China (which he already fulfilled with his mass invasion to India). I also warned him about been careful about over-expansion and the fact the USA and the USN are intact, and that these will be my main punishment tools going forward.

So, long story that keeps getting longer: he send me this email; it almost completely confirm the losses I recorded a couple pages ago; Of ocurse I will send him a list of mine too, as to avoid any handicap

Your AAR seems to get enough reads Hope you're saying nice things about the Japanese
People like some detail, so you can detail my combat ship losses to date:
10 DD
1 E
1 TB
2 SS
The DD losses are higher than i would like, a good chunk of them came in single action where my commnder was too aggressive and got his fleet sunk
Steve


So, if you see in the future "PresterJohn" asking for opponent; I strongly recommend you contact him; he is really great. We have kept an almost perfectly consistent 1 turn per day, even on times when both had been on vacations

To answer IdahoNYer question about Java. He has around 2 divisions + supporting ART/ ARM on Bandoeng

I also have to thank BBFanboy as he advice me to pick this mountain top as a very good place to make a stance. It has a x3 defense multiplier and of course it is not possible to use naval bombardment.
He is doing daily air bombing, and he had done some deliberate assaults. I guess by now he realizes he will need more troops if he wants to get it.

He has some only minimal troops on the rest of the places; Batavia and Soerabaja are not at risk yet. But for all pursposes they are lost already. I am trying to sneak some destroyers on the Java sea but so far I had always been spotted; so I am not putting a lot of faith there. He is definitively going to reinforce the possible entrances

And this is Pt Moresby:

He has 2 SNLF; so around 120 AV max already in Pt Moresby. They came by land (Buna and Orobay). This means he has enough interest in it, but he is not ready or he is not giving enough priority, short term speaking, on capturing it

There are significant challenges on building more defenses there:

1. Pt Moresby is under daily naval bomber bombing; and he has troops on the ground. thus it will be very easy for him to change them to "naval bombing = torpedoes" as soon as he spot a TF. This compounded by the fact Pt Moresby is a level 1 port, thus onloading will be slow
2. I don't know the location of KB-2; I guess it is either in Truk or Rabaul, which mean very close to Pt Moresby
3. Up until recently I didn't have anything to send, and even now that I have some regiments arriving, any troop moving to Pt Moresby will weaken Australia or Fiji

Some options I though about were:
- send some fighters; this again, possible only recently as I just got another big convoy. Problem is the pilot quality is not great; even just defending the losses will be high for likely little gain
- I will send 6 APDs. I have not yet decided if they will carry supplies or maybe a MAG or BF to allow for more fighters there. I think I will start with supplies to see how things go
EDIT: the 21 MAG (or better to say most of it as it won't fit in 6 APDs) will go to Pt Moresby; then I will be capable of sending more fighters

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I think Columbo is considered the "National Home Port" for the British, so if you have enough supply there you could see if it will create MTBs.

Update on this - I checked in the game and Columbo with lots of supply does not offer the option to create PT boats. I presume this is because there is a maximum number in the game and I have only lost one or two British MTBs. Manila does offer the PT boat creation option, and I have lost at least a dozen of the US PTs.

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

The DD losses are higher than i would like, a good chunk of them came in single action where my commnder was too aggressive and got his fleet sunk
Steve

Ask Prester John if the overly aggressive DD commander was Raizio Tanaka. He has the highest naval and aggression ratings of IJN ship commanders and he is immortal - if he dies in action he reappears in the available list a day or two later. Maybe you can get Prester John to put him in charge of another TF headed into your strongest area.! [:D]

The decision to rebase a 25 plane squadron of P-40s on Pt Moresby paid handsomly as he once again sent his Betties with escort, but no sweep

I personally tallied:
- 8 Zeros shot down, 5 damaged that left the battlefield either "smoking" or "on fire"
- 5 Betties shot down
- 5 P-40s down

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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 58 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
G4M1 Betty x 13

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed

Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
20th PS (P) with P-40E Warhawk (8 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes


On another (good) news; finally I got some payback on the efforts to hunt his invasion fleets; KXVIII torpedoed transport Katori maru, which was returning from Calcutta

Sub attack near Port Blair at 48,57

Japanese Ships
xAP Katori Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Nako Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS KXVIII

SS KXVIII launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Katori Maru
KXVIII diving deep ....
PB Nako Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Nako Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Nako Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Nako Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Nako Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub



Also on the news: Clark field was deliberate attacked; notice one ID (4th) and the 65 Indep Brigade

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22602 troops, 173 guns, 259 vehicles, Assault Value = 698

Defending force 23657 troops, 270 guns, 127 vehicles, Assault Value = 228

Japanese adjusted assault: 552

Allied adjusted defense: 355

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
593 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 29 (5 destroyed, 24 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
466 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 60 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 42 (7 destroyed, 35 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2nd Tank Regiment
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Division
4th Tank Regiment
65th Brigade
7th Tank Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
14th Army
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
31st PA Infantry Division
45th PS Infantry Regiment
41st PA Infantry Division
11th PA Infantry Division
1st Constabulary Regiment
Asiatic Fleet
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
I/Prov'nl SPM Grp
86th PS Field Artillery Battalion
24th Avn Sup
57th PS Infantry Regiment
11th PAAC Avn Sup
Clark Field AAF Base Force
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
I Corps
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
4th PAAC Avn Sup
US Forces Far East
24th PS FA Regiment
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp

The main highlight of the day was the 3 sweep vs. CAP battles over Pt Moresby; but I will come later on that topic.

First, the main focus on Japan's advance: India
Yesterday he sent paratroopers to capture Rangpur (map attached), but it was too late for him. The only 2 LCUs affected are the 108 RAF base force and the mighty Burmese BFF bde (25 exp, 45 moral)
I will move these 2 to the mountains, so hopefully he will send some troops to persecute and become irrelevant in the process.

I think it was a good decision to evacuate; as I can see in other AARs that doomed troops don't fight that good.

In addition to the 2 LCUs I already talked about, I have the following in a hopeless situation:

RM Viper force and Mandalay BMP battalion: walking from Burma into Bangladesh; close to Imphal
101 RAF base force: walking from Burma into Bangladesh; close to Myitkyina
Railway BAF, Rangoon BAF, Upper Burma BAF, 3rd Burma Rifles, 10th Burma Rifles: These are all in Rangoon, waiting for their inevitable annihilation
Chittagong fortress: not surprisingly at Chittagong, also waiting for the Japanese, marching from Akyab
I will use these troops; or what survives, as "guerilla", they will try to cut rail, roads; force him to move

The main defense focus, the national redoubt if we want to call it this way, will be Bombay, this I plan to defend at all cost; I even plan to keep it overstacked, understanding and accepting the penalties to supply consumption
I will also defend Cawnpore-Lucknow, Madras and Hyderabad, but these will be strong speed bumps at most; they won't be strong enough to hold for more than a couple days with luck

Today was P-39's official war debut; and it was not stellar under any account.

Some turns ago, Japan started bombing Pt Moresby; one Betty group (13 planes) escorted by one Zero group (20 planes). So I decided to rebase a 25-plane P-40 squadron and put it on 100% CAP

Results were awesome. This was one turn ago, and of course today he cancelled the bombing mission and threw instead heavy sweeps (3 in total).
I was expecting this, so I rebase more planes, this time 25 P-39 and they also got into 100% CAP. Results were just OK, as I had significantly worse losses than he did, but I will keep doing this; as I have several "ABDA" groups withdrawing in one month, thus I can spare a few dozen fighters; this of course as long as I can also punish Japan
I rebased another 25 P-40s; but next turn is resting time as they have high fatigue. So we will see what happens on Feb 22

Zero losses are over estimated; I am surprised that Oscars made most of the kills, while Zeros took the beating; it might be pilot quality



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 24
P-40E Warhawk x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
20th PS (P) with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 23 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 24

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 22
P-40E Warhawk x 6

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

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
20th PS (P) with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 23000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 9
P-40E Warhawk x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
20th PS (P) with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 55 minutes


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 99 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 5
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 8

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Ki-43-Ib Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet
5 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet *

CAP engaged:
20th PS (P) with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (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 12000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes

Going back to India; as soon as he "stabilizes" his conquest, I will start moving troops out of Bombay into whatever base he left untoched and I will start building it. The idea is to get ready for the counter offensive I will launch as soon as I am capable of building a credible force.. late 42 ???

Looking at the map again, getting India requires quite a lot of troops to garrison; I estimate he will go for the square plus 2 circles.. or 3 max!




And this is the strategy for India [;)]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabian_strategy

Many small news:

Luzon: Clark field finally fell; I have now an overstacked Bataan... thus I think I will need to invite some Filipino LCUs to do "banzai"

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21293 troops, 173 guns, 256 vehicles, Assault Value = 570

Defending force 21406 troops, 264 guns, 112 vehicles, Assault Value = 78

Japanese adjusted assault: 516

Allied adjusted defense: 256

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Clark Field !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
258 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
6111 casualties reported
Squads: 111 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 570 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 31 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 189 (187 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 84 (84 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 21
Units destroyed 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
65th Brigade
4th Tank Regiment
4th Division
2nd Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
14th Army
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
21st Ind Engineer Regiment

Defending units:
45th PS Infantry Regiment
11th PA Infantry Division
31st PA Infantry Division
1st Constabulary Regiment
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
24th Avn Sup
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
57th PS Infantry Regiment
24th PS FA Regiment
4th PAAC Avn Sup
I/Prov'nl SPM Grp
41st PA Infantry Division
Clark Field AAF Base Force
11th PAAC Avn Sup
86th PS Field Artillery Battalion
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
I Corps
US Forces Far East
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp
194th Tank Battalion
Asiatic Fleet
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp


Then, finally the AVG scored; last turn I noticed unescorted bombings close to Changsa, so this turn I re-based some flying tigers to get some revenge

Morning Air attack on 4th Chinese Corps, at 81,52 (Siangtan)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 9

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
AVG/3rd Sqn with H81-A3 (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 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 4th Chinese Corps, at 81,52 (Siangtan)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 9

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 4 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
AVG/3rd Sqn with H81-A3 (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes



Pto Moresby: The air battle was a lot less intense than I was expecting; only one group of Oscar came

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 97 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 5

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
49th PG/7th PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
20th PS (P) with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes

What a great day to kill Betty bombers!! [;)]

From the last 2 or 3 turns I had the Dutch TD (DeRuyter, Sumatra, DDs) fooling around North Australia; basically trying to work as bait while another smaller TF (2 DDs) try to get inside the Java Sea.
Long story short, it has not worked so far, as both TF had been spotted multiple times.

But then I also had a supply convoy coming to Darwin, so I decided to use this TF to cover the xAKLs;

Then last turn, I was spotted and Betties came bombing... luckily the Dutch managed to dodge the bombs.
... I also noticed no escorts... [:'(]

So this turn I tried to set a little CAP trap [;)] Details on the picture. I was not expecting it to work, as you can see it was obvious that I was getting too close to Darwin. but still wanted to try and worst case, I would have just achieved the original intent of covering the supply run



Results were great !

Final tally:
19 Betties down.. no survivors
21 very happy and more experienced USAAF pilots

The Dutch will need to run away soon, as there will likely be a very angry SCTF coming for revenge




Not many other news; My British-Indian-Burmese troops are running away faster than the Jamaican track& field team.

Submarine warfare has slowed down significantly; really no sinking in a long time. I don't know where the Japanese submarines are; certainly not bothering my convoys. A couple misses or hit no explosion from time to time on the Allied end

Naval warfare has become nil. I have a couple raider TFs heading to the Marshalls.. lets hope they don't get detected
Dutch as mentioned failed to cross the search barrier. US focused on big convoys, so I am happy they are not disturbed yet

Of course I have had worse days...

On Darwin, I was expecting my friend PresterJohn to come in anger as yesterday I killed 19 of his precious Betty bombers; and of course he did

a small Cruiser + DD came south and without any effort mopped the floor with my Dutch TF and completely destroyed the xAK force trying to re-supply Darwin. [:@]

Still I am happy I downed 19 Betties [;)]

1st battle: Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 76,124, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Shell hits 1
CL Nagara
DD Kuroshio
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Yugure
DD Ariake, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 1
DD Stuart
DD Piet Hein
DD Kortenaer
DD Evertsen, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Van Nes, Shell hits 1
DD Thanet
DD Express


Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 64% moonlight: 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards


2nd battle: total destruction of my supply TF [&:]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 76,124, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Shell hits 1
CL Nagara
DD Kuroshio
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Yugure
DD Ariake, on fire

Allied Ships
PG Asheville, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
AM Mildura, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
AM Cairns, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAK Kauri, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Talune, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Tantalus, Shell hits 51, and is sunk
xAK Autolycus, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Koomilya, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
xAK Mangola, Shell hits 30, and is sunk
xAK Mernoo, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Moonta, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Time, Shell hits 28, and is sunk

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 64% moonlight: 11,000 yards

3rd Battle: this time I got them tired after a night of partying, still little damage other than DD Ariake, who would probably sink

Day Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 76,124, Range 21,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Shell hits 3
CL Nagara, Shell hits 4
DD Kuroshio, Shell hits 1
DD Natsushio, Shell hits 1
DD Hayashio
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Yugure, Shell hits 1
DD Ariake, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
DD Stuart, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Van Nes, Shell hits 1
DD Thanet, Shell hits 2

So the Darwin operation cost me 9 AKs, 2 AMs, 1 PG and 1 DD... all sunk.
This plus 2 CLs and multiple DDs damaged (some won't make it back to South Australia).

What I achieved ?
19 Betties destroyed, 1 DD probably sunk and around 4,500 supplies in Darwin ... I don't think it was good ROI..


By the way, I forgot to mention; at last some good news on China: the AVG shot down 13 Sonias and 5 Lilies [:)]

India:
I use my limited recon capabilities to check what is my friend doing on Calcutta:




I am worried about so many transports on Calcutta; I think he will use some of his 6 IDs to grab more real estate in India.
The obvious candidate is Ceylon, or maybe Madras... KB-1 is probably in Singers replenishing; as soon as I see it coming back, then I will now the time for the second Indian land grab has come

The Pacific/ Australia is all quiet:
but check this !!

132nd Infantry Regiment LCU arrived at Melbourne
182nd Infantry Regiment LCU arrived at Melbourne
259th Coastal Artillery Battalion LCU arrived at Melbourne
70th Field AA Battalion LCU arrived at Melbourne
810th Aviation Engineer Battalion LCU arrived at Melbourne
811th Aviation Engineer Battalion LCU arrived at Melbourne
754th Tank Tank Battalion LCU arrived at Melbourne

I will soon form Americal Division; which will defend, in the short term, Brisbane

BB Maryland is not repairing [&:] [:(]
or better to say it is reparing so slow, it might not be ready before 1945
I imagine this is due to all the upgrades happening on PH;

I can't move it out of PH with so high float damage; risk of losing 175 VP is too high... and of course, it is more beneficial to the Allied cause to have the active ships refitted ASAP instead of resurrecting an old dinosaur
So I guess Maryland will have to wait.. and keep waiting



On the other hand, both Nevada (maj float 10, maj engine 21) and W Virginia (sys 14, maj float 7, maj eng 4) will arrive soon to SFran area for repair& refit

And of course; PoW is still on CT; slowly fixing: sys 31, maj float 22, engine 11, maj eng 10

Most of the ships doing upgrades are set to shipyard repair when the upgrade begins, but unless the upgrade requires flotation damage, you can take them out of shipyard repair and put them into pierside repair. This frees up SY points to repair damaged ships.
You can also remove damaged ships that have only System and Engineering damage from the SY if you want. PH is big enough to repair Eng damage without the ship being in the SY.

I usually send the longer term (20+ days) upgrade ships to WC USA to do the deed so the SYs closest to the action have room for damaged ships. Some of the upgrades to old BBs take over six months! (These are the ones that get the DP 5"/38s in twin mounts to replace the old 5"/25 AA only. Worth the wait since the longer gun gives longer range and better accuracy, and radar fire control.)