See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

[apbarog]

14 Apr 42

Port Hedland - The Japanese 1st Raiding Regiment landed here yesterday. It took the base easily today, despite some losses to B-17's. I'll bomb the port next turn just to harass them. Two Dutch subs are at and just outside of the base. The destroyer with the small invasion task force has no ASW capability, as demonstrated in an attempted ASW attack.

Kukong, China - The airbase is bombed heavily. I move the 4 small Chinese air force units into Kukong and LR CAP the troops just to the east, in the rough. This is the most likely target for attack very soon. I'm taking a chance that the troops will be bombed this coming turn instead of Kukong again. The enemy hit Wuchow last turn. I think he's just moving the fun around, and maybe stopping fort building. Targets tend to change every turn, so we'll see how my guess turns out.

Calcutta - The one big Brit division finally moves out of Calcutta to the base just to the east. The other one is just switching from Strat mode and will begin the same move. Calcutta has been a problem for me, with troops heading elsewhere, like Chittagong, pathing through Calcutta when I thought they had shorter distances to move around it. Then the troops are stuck there, in Strat mode, since the enemy is there, and the only way out is changing mode and moving out. This had delayed my flanking move and my reinforcing of Chittagong by over a week.

The big news with this turn is the next turn. I'm making the first huge commitment to attacking Diamond Harbour by air. Sweepers, bombers in Calcutta going for shipping at Diamond Harbour (including torpedo bombers) with escorts, other bombers going after the airfield. Many B-17's arrived from Australia and are based well to the north. All will bomb the airfield and port at Diamond Harbour.

I picked this turn because of the B-17 arrivals, and because KB slid to the south some, now down by Akyab. It could jump back north and LR CAP Diamond Harbour, but I doubt it. I haven't been attacking it at all by air for quite awhile, and he's had 45 Zero's there.

I'm hoping for good escorts and timely sweeps.

2 US carriers leave SF after upgrading and head to the South Pacific. The other 3, and a Brit carrier, need from a few more days to almost 3 more weeks for repair.

[apbarog]

15 Apr 42

Pago Pago - A Japanese sub makes an appearance. I-1 takes a shot at an AVD in a big transport task force southwest of Pago Pago. Torpedoes miss. The ships are headed to Suva, and will now zigzag the rest of the way.

Clark - Clark falls finally. The Allies still had supply when this occurred. Losses are heavy, of course, and most units retreat to Bataan. Only a few thousand supply left, and the base is now overstacked by about 1500 men. A small unit with almost all disrupted troops will start moving back to Clark. The unit has been told by Dugout Doug that the enemy has evacuated Clark and plenty of food was left behind. Of course, this is not true.

Diamond Harbour - A huge air battle takes place over Diamond Harbour. Lots of Japanese shipping is there. The Allied plan of many sweeps taking place before the bombers arrive works perfectly. At start, 63 Zero's are on CAP. For the day, 50 Zero's are downed, for the loss of 18 P40E's and 19 HurriIIB's. Swordfish, Vildabeests, and Blen's go after shipping, and take minimal losses to a few surviving Zero's. But the bombers do terribly. Many torpedo bombers target destroyers, and only one torpedo hits its mark, sinking an APD. Level bombers hit no ships. Other bombers, including B-17's and B-26's target the airfield, and damage is very minimal.

I'm repeating this attack in the next turn. I have much fewer sweepers available, but the CAP should be reduced some. The base will probably be reinforced, but it's only a size 1 airfield. I'd like to gain air superiority here. This may cause KB to come back north to clear the skies.

Madioen, Java - A strike of 30 Sally's with 36 Oscars, then a follow-up strike of 20 Sally's, hits Madioen airfield. Dutch CAP, although only 18 fighters at this point, does well. 11 Sally's and 7 Oscar's are downed, for the loss of 2 Hawks and a couple of Hurri's. Too bad I can't get these air units out of Java. I'd certainly like to save them, particularly the pilots. My first ace was created today, and he's Dutch.

Port Headland, Australia - 3 B-17's make a return appearance, and find 3 Zero's on CAP. All bombers are damaged and achieve nothing. The bombers go back to their main base at Alice Springs.

[apbarog]

16 Apr 42

Ontong Java - This small isolated island north of Tulagi is invaded and captured. I'm seeing an increasing but limited Japanese interest in the Solomons. This attack looks like a defensive consolidation move to me. Tulagi is still a size 1 port and size 0 airfield.

Madioen, Java - The same attack as yesterday yields different results, due to reduced Dutch CAP. Against only 6 Dutch fighters, Sally's escorted by 29 Oscars get the better of the Dutch. The airfield is damaged and half of the Dutch fighters are lost.

Bataan - The final rounds of bombings begin.

Diamond Harbour - Similar to the same attacks at Madioen, the same Allied attacks at Diamond Harbour yield different results also. The Allied sweeps are fragmented and much weaker this time, and some bombers arrive first. The Japanese put up about 20 Zero's, and they were probably from a fresh unit. All Japanese ships leave Diamond Harbour and move 4 hexes to the southwest, so no naval strikes occur. Losses are 3 Zeros versus 8 P39's, 6 B26's, 3 Blens, 2 Hurri's, and 1 B17. The Allies CAP their own bases next turn, and the bombers rest.

Calcutta - The Allied bombardment this turn goes badly, with 3 times the Allied casualties than the Japanese. Both Brit divisions had left the town, and are now to the east. These units, along with a few support units and armor, start to move southwest to threaten a flanking move on Diamond Harbour. I don't think I'll ever actually cross into Diamond Harbour, as this move will be obvious. I am interested in seeing what the Japanese reaction will be. Units will have to stay or move back to Diamond Harbour in case I did cross.

KB is not seen this turn. The subs that were being lit up by KB south of Akyab are not lit up this turn. I suspect that KB moved back to the north to cover all the ships that just left Diamond Harbour.

[apbarog]

17 Apr 42

Almost no combat this turn. A rarity. Just a bombing of Bataan's airfield.

I've reconsidered my Calcutta strategy. The movement from Diamond Harbour to Calcutta, reinforcing the 5 enemy divisions already there, looks like a feint. I have good recon of Diamond Harbour, and the units aren't moving this turn. Calcutta cannot be taken with what the Japanese have there now. I strongly feel that the Japanese have moved to a "Plan B". All of the shipping that was at Diamond Harbour has continued toward Akyab, and KB is down in that area somewhere.

Singapore recently had about 25 units. Now it has about 10 fewer. Transports from the Java area recently went to Singapore. The enemy isn't leaving Calcutta. Bringing more here probably won't work. What will the enemy do?

I'm convinced that the only answer for the Japanese, other than evacuating Calcutta, is to do another landing. The best spot for that is Chittagong. A landing here can be supported by land based air, and the enemy is slowly pushing north from Akyab on the coast anyhow. A strong landing here could flank Calcutta.

This would mean a truly large effort in India.

Two turns ago, Clark fell. I'm seeing no movement from Clark to Bataan, but I am seeing movement from Clark to Manila. The enemy will leave a weak guarding force and send what they can elsewhere.

This is a critical point in the game.

I will no longer try to show a flanking threat to Diamond Harbour. It wouldn't accomplish anything that isn't already being accomplished. One Brit division will rail to Chittagong. The other will rail to Viz. Chittagong is already getting more smaller units, and this is being observed.

Note that a large numbers of Zero's have appeared at Diamond Harbour, again. I will keep fighting fresh units here, while attriting my limited airframes, if I continue to try to bomb it. I'm rethinking this also. When I do attack here again, it will again be a maximum effort. That's the only way to do more harm than good. Or at least cause equal losses.

Interesting time in the game. Interesting to see what the enemy comes up with.

Should KB continue to be tied down to the Indian coast, my actions in the Solomons and New Guinea will speed up. It's tough, right now, though. It's still early, and I'm still trying to build up what I have. I am seeing more shipping at Rabaul lately. I am starting to prep some units in Australia for Port Moresby, but that would be a long way out.

[apbarog]

18 Apr 42

India - Enemy paras drop on Comilla. Comilla is the inland base on the rail from Chittagong. Certainly another strong indication that Chittagong may be invaded soon. Or maybe just a target of opportunity? I do have it minimally defended, and withstood the first shock attack. Units are on the move to Chittagong, and will get stuck at Comilla. Maybe that is the enemy's plan. Regardless, Calcutta is quiet and it looks like the Japanese will just sit there for now. They can't take Calcutta, and I can't kick them out.

I also moved some transport aircraft to Calcutta to transport a small unit to Comilla. Chittagong, if invaded, is on its own until Comilla is cleared. I also have LR CAP over Comilla from adjacent Dacca. Some bombers will attack the paras.

KB is not visible today. A CVE is spotted at Singapore. Half of the ground units that were at Singapore a week ago are gone. They didn't go south.

I'm pretty convinced that the Japanese are going all-in on southeast India.

I was able to fly a SB2U air unit to India. It only had a couple of planes in it, but has well trained naval bombers. I upgraded another unit to get more SB2U's into the pool, and hope to fill the Indian unit out.

I think the Chittagong invasion is imminent and I won't reinforce in time. I would have gotten units there by now if I hadn't had so much trouble with units accidentally transiting through Calcutta and getting stuck there in Strat mode. I learned an important lesson there. Move to intermediate destinations.

[apbarog]

India - 18 Apr 42 - Paras drop at Comilla

[apbarog]

19 Apr 42

Comilla, India - 6 B-26's try to bomb the enemy paras at Comilla. Almost all are shot down. Some P-40's show up on LR CAP on the bomber exit and shoot down some Oscar's and Zero's. Then 8 Blen's bomb the troops and do minimal damage and probably some disruption. The Allies then try a deliberate attack here, barely miss a 2-1 advantage, and take even casualties. The enemy did not try to fly in more paras, and they won't. A small Chinese unit stopped here on the way to Chittagong (and will stay in Strat mode), and I flew in part of a small Indian unit, which will help with the attack this turn.

Diamond Harbour - a surface fleet is now here, supported by KB 4 hexes to the southwest. Must be loading or unloading men, I can't tell which.

Cox Bazaar - The Japanese forces that moved up the coast from Akyab attack here, but only get a 1 to 2 against fort level 2 (which is now 3). Even casualties. I'm moving another small unit in from the trail east to help hold them off while Chittagong is reinforced.

Still can't tell what the Japanese "Plan B" is. But I did recon of Rangoon, and see 99 ships in port. I move all of my B-17's to Calcutta and Dacca to bomb the port. I'm showing no fighters there, but that probably is incorrect. I'm going in anyhow. If I get lucky and hurt a bunch of transports, that could hinder whatever "Plan B" is going to be.

Last turn I got SigInt of an armor unit on an xAK going to Fusan. I figure that it is loading there. This turn I got SigInt of a different armor regiment loaded on an xAK headed to Singapore. I think the enemy has discovered it has armor units and didn't send hardly any to India. I think they are now on the way and won't land at Diamond Harbor.

Viz and Chittagong will be reinforced as much as I can. Some of the Australians at Calcutta will now leave and go towards these bases. Some armor too.

[Bullwinkle58]

RE Rangoon and 99 ships. I have sometimes had luck sub-mining the river delta hex on the exit there. It's shallow water, so mine erosion is better than deep water, but worse than port. Few players expect mines outside port hexes until it happens to them.

[apbarog]

Good point. And he does expect my mining. Everywhere. I'd already mined that river entrance to Rangoon, back when I first started seeing movement of shipping north from Singapore. I had minor success there, sinking a PB I think. Since then, the enemy has stationed minesweepers in that river hex. They've done the same kind of thing at the entrance to Rabaul. I've resorted to doing things like mining the coast west of Rangoon, on the way north. I don't know if I've had any success there. I have a mine-laying sub on the way to Diamond Harbour now. I know that he lost 3 DMS's here earlier to guns at Calcutta, so he may not have replaced his sweeping ability.

[Bullwinkle58]

I have mined the strait at the 1-hex-wide part of the strait NW of Singers. You can be creative if you don't mind the accelerated erosion. The coast of Borneo south of Balikpapan works too.

[apbarog]

20 Apr 42

Air Attack at Rangoon - Something for the Allies to cheer about! 22 B-17's fly from Calcutta and Dacca and bomb Rangoon's port. The port is full of ships, and there are no enemy fighters to be seen. A bunch of ships are hit. The attack came in three waves, and every one showed men loaded on ships. These guys were loaded to go somewhere, that is for sure.

xAK Rokko Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Yamagata Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PB Eifuku Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Rakuto Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Kikukawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Minegumo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Yamakaze, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

xAK Arima Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Ryujo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Santos Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

DD Asagumo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Enju Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Kiyozumi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS I-154, Bomb hits 1
xAK Ume Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Ayanami, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Yagi Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Cox Bazaar - The Allied troops here are bombed and then attacked at 3 to 1 odds. The forts are reduced to 2, and around 200 casualties occur for both sides. The base will fall.

Comilla - The Allies try to clean up the enemy paras here blocking the way to Chittagong, getting a 6 to 1 attack, and doing three times the casualties to the Japanese. I shock attack next turn.

Still no sign of another landing. I do see movement out of Calcutta back to Diamond Harbour. Is he pulling out? Or is it just a fake move? There are still combat ships at Diamond Harbour, KB is lurking, and another combat task force has moved southwest of Diamond Harbour. This could be a move toward Viz.

[apbarog]

21 Apr 42

India - Another Japanese bombardment of Chittagong. They must be coming, or it's a fantastic head fake. A huge invasion task force is spotted south by Tavoy, northbound. It has battleships Hyuga and Fuso, 2 cruisers, destroyers, patrol boats, and lots of xAK's. Can't be anything but an invasion task force. Not the way I'd build one, but there it is. It sights sub Truant and does minor damage to it, forcing Truant to RTB.

Dacca - KB makes an appearance, sending a large airfield strike to Dacca. Probably 2 motivations for this: B-17's were here last turn, and they hammered Rangoon's port. Secondly, knocking out Dacca helps any invasion at Chittagong. The strike has 108 Val's, 64 Kate's, and 63 Zero's, and later another 19 Kate's. 13 Hurri's and 13 P-40E's fly CAP. Moderately heavy damage is done to the airfield, but the Allied fighters hold their own, and do well, considering the numbers disadvantage. Losses are 11 Kate's, 8 Zero's, 6 Val's, 9 P40E's, and 8 Hurri's. The Allied fighters leave Dacca to rebuild. Only 3 Allied pilots lost, which is very good.

Cox Bazaar - The base falls.

Comilla - The Allies shock attack and severely hurt the Japanese paras, but still don't eliminate them. I need the path open to Chittagong! A couple of units are approaching, and the 2 big Brit divisions are fast approaching. I need to get through!

And then there's the nagging thought in the back of my mind...this is all mind games and the new landing will be at Viz...

I still see movement out of Calcutta to Diamond Harbour. Could be real, could be fake. If he loads up infantry divisions, he could go to Viz or Chittagong with them, and still have a successful invasion. The only place I could stop 5 infantry divisions was Calcutta.

All of this action in India has been interesting, and I think it is only going to get more interesting.

Elsewhere, 3 US carriers and 1 Brit carrier are heading to the South Pacific. 2 other US carriers still have a couple of weeks to get out of repair.

[apbarog]

22 Apr 42

Lots of activity between Rangoon and Calcutta. Allied subs take some shots at huge transport task forces, west of Rangoon and near Ramree Island. No hits. Missed a true AK (not an xAK). Everything spotted is moving north. It's either another huge invasion push, or a huge evacuation from Calcutta. Since nothing is really moving from Calcutta to Diamond Harbour any longer, I don't see an evacuation coming.

Diego Garcia - Interesting. 2 cruisers, Tone and Chikuma, bombard the island. They first sink a local minesweeper, the only ships in the area. The bombardment does provide good intel, showing that the 17th Indian Division is at Diego Garcia. Damage is negligible. The ships are spotted to the northeast on their RTB. This tells me that their "home" base is currently set for either Port Blair or Rangoon.

Chittagong - 2 cruisers, Kumano and Maya, bombard here. 200 casualties, almost all non-combat.

Comilla - Victory for the Allies, as the Japanese para unit here is destroyed. Units will now proceed to Chittagong. Unfortunately, a few units dropped out of Strat mode just east of Comilla, so their arrival is further delayed. I held back the 2 Brit infantry divisions to the east, and kept them in Strat mode. They will now head directly to Chittagong. It will be a race to get them there and into combat mode. Of course, it's only a race if the other side is really coming here.

East of Java - SS Seadragon spots a big xAP task force, probably headed to the eastern tip of Java. Lots of enemy units withdrew from Malang, Java. These ships will be picking them up, most likely.

Singapore - Only 12 ground units spotted here now. Lots of shipping has moved through here lately, and all of it left headed toward Rangoon.

Near Umnak Island, Aleutians - I-2 sinks xAK Mokihana. It was in a task force that just dropped off a small Canadian unit at Umnak.

SigInt- The Japanese 1st Infantry Division is loaded on an xAK and headed to Singapore. I'm not familiar with this unit. It's probably in the previously SigInt spotted task force that left Fusan, loaded with armor units.

Is this really an "all-in" India attack? All indications is that everything is headed that way. There's no movement into Bataan, so that will be starved out. And Java has become a stalemate at Malang, with no indication of any further activity. The Solomons has been dead quiet. Nothing going on anywhere except in the Indian Ocean.

I've checked the ground reinforcement list. (Always a nice thing to do when things are looking bleak.) In about a month, some regiments start showing up, as well as an unrestricted US infantry division. It will only get better, I know, but things are certainly a challenge at the moment.

When the US carriers get to the Noumea area, we'll start moving into the Solomons. If nothing else, to draw some attention. If India does become the only show in town by then, I'll be even more aggressive starting with the Tulagi area, and maybe even a counter-invasion of Port Moresby (which I think is not heavily defended, at least not with the division that took it).

[apbarog]

23 Apr 42

With the stalemate at Calcutta, what will the Japanese do? The one thing I am sure of is that there are MANY task forces west of Rangoon northbound. I had a bunch of sub contacts and all of the contacts are northbound. I'm seeing invasion task force compositions. I still can't say for sure if the enemy is headed to Chittagong (most likely), Diamond Harbour, or Viz (least likely). The enemy does have excellent recon of Chittagong, and my two big Brit divisions just arrived there. I wonder what will happen next. I did see at least one invasion task force that could reach Chittagong next turn. The big stack of task forces, however, looked to be two turns away, if not three. KB is still lurking out there. It seems to be southwest of Diamond Harbour, close enough to support a move to any of the suspected invasion spots.

I sent a sub into Moulmein's port to see what was there. It found multiple task forces, one with an AKE. I suspect that Moulmein is setting up to be a ship rearming base to aid in ship bombardments. Or it just has ships that fled when I bombed Rangoon's port. Next turn, I'm sending some long-range recon to Moulmein for a better look. This will at least get my opponent nervous and possible cause him to CAP Moulmein if he's using it heavily.

Another northbound task force was spotted passing Phuket.

The last base in Burma connected to the Mandalay area is lost. It looks like the Japanese will not pursue into the jungle into India.

It's a really, really tense time for me right now. Moving 2 Brit infantry divisions to Chittagong is a big move. It could stop an invasion cold, or get the divisions hammered, or force an invasion elsewhere, or force a reinforcing of Calcutta. Hard to say. The enemy could be conservative and just land at Cox Bazaar and walk to Chittagong too.

I'd most like to see more enemy troops bottled up at Calcutta. I would rather see a new invasion at Viz than at Chittagong. It's out by itself, and it would be a lot more difficult for the enemy to support taking Calcutta from there.

Looking at the big picture, I just won't be getting many reinforcements in the next month that can be sent to India. I've thought about pulling troops from Australia for India, but I've decided against that. I'll pretty much make do with what I have. What I have going for me is that I evacuated so many units from Singapore, and all of them went to the Indian theater. That, and that I sent all of the Aussie units from Aden to India, and sent the Brit division to India instead of its historical move to Singapore.

Diamond Harbour's airfield did just build to size 2. With about 60 Zero's there, I just don't want to sweep/bomb it heavily until it would accomplish something. I can't trade airframes at this point in the war. But if I can affect a landing, I will do it.

But I think the next big fight will be at Chittagong.

[apbarog]

24 Apr 42

The tension keeps building around India

Many task forces continue northward. Some are now at Cox Bazaar, some at Akyab, others in the vicinity. Lots of them. KB is out there too, detecting my subs, but it isn't directly spotted today. CVE Hosho is reported on fire at Cox Bazaar after hitting a recently dropped sub mine. That was awesome to see. Vizagapatnam ("Viz") is reconned by the Japanese for the first time. Maybe a bit of desperation looking for an easier landing spot? Near Victoria Point, Dutch sub KXV puts 3 torpedoes into the huge transport xAP Huzi Maru, causing infantry squad losses. The convoy was northbound. I have many subs stretching from Diamond Harbour to Chittagong and south to Rangoon. Some others, like KXV, between Rangoon and Singapore.

The Japanese could play it safe and land troops at Cox Bazaar and/or Akyab. I'd welcome that, as it gives me more time before battle. Both of these ports are only size 1, and Cox Bazaar's port is heavily damaged from when the Japanese attacked and captured it.

Long range recon of Moulmein shows several task forces there, but no ships in port. The AKE is still there.

Elsewhere...

Bataan - A couple of Japanese units have moved in from Clark. The Allies are almost out of supply.

Wuchow, China - Lily's and Sonia's are escorted by 13 Nates. 3 Chinese fighters make a rare appearance, long range capping from the north. 1 or 2 Sonias are shot down. A large number of Japanese units have gathered at Canton, south of Wuchow. Most of these units were threatening the Chinese town to the east. If there's going to be a new offensive in China, I'd rather see in go through Wuchow and the bad trails there.

Solomons - Planning for some ops here. One Marine division, currently split between Pago Pago and Christmas, start planning for Port Moresby. Early plans are for action at Tulagi, which is enemy held, and Lunga, which is not.

[apbarog]

25 Apr 42

The Japanese are apparently not coming to Chittagong, not anymore. Many task forces are now at Akyab and Cox Bazaar. There were 3 units at Cox Bazaar. Now there are 8. KB is at Akyab, with other ships, as shown on the map. My opponent says that he missed his chance at Chittagong. He landed paras at Comilla too soon. It took me several days to clear the hex, and then the 2 British divisons moved through and got to Chittagong. So it appears that the enemy will settle for landings on the coast and marching north. The question is can the Allies hold the line at and near Chittagong.

There were many encounters between Allied subs and Japanese ships near these bases. No torpedo hits. Chittagong is bombarded by 7 Japanese cruisers, causing minimal damage.

Still, many Japanese units are at Diamond Harbour and Calcutta. They aren't leaving. And they aren't able to advance. The Japanese must be trying to find a way to flank Calcutta. I will know that this is no longer the plan when the enemy evacuates Diamond Harbour.

On this turn, I'm going with a large effort of sweeping and bombing Diamond Harbour. I'm figuring that there is a large effort capping enemy task forces at Cox Bazaar and Akyab, so I'll hit Diamond Harbour. Many units are sweeping. About half of my B-17's in India are bombing, along with a few other medium bomber types. Most go for the airfield, a couple are trying for the port. In a ideal situation, I get air superiority over Diamond Harbour and keep the airfield damaged, and hurt his supply situation in Calcutta. I'm not convinced, though, that the airframe losses that I'd incur make this worth it.


(The inset on the picture shows task forces at Akyab)

[apbarog]

26 Apr 42

The big event was at Diamond Harbour. I did a maximum effort of sweeping and bombing, and it was brutal. The Japanese again had 61 Zero's on CAP. Most of my sweeps arrived first, but the unit sizes are far smaller than 61, and the first couple of sweeps were disastrous for me. 25 P40E's swept first, and all were lost, with no Zero kills. Terrible. The only redeeming fact was that many units swept, and by the end, the Zero's were worn out. Total losses were 39 Zero's, 31 P40E's, 6 P39's, 6 Blen's, 5 P400's, and 2 B25's. I had 13 pilots KIA, but the airframes are my weak point.

This turn, I sweep again with a small Hurri unit, and try to bomb again, with P39 escorts. It will be OK only if the Zero's are not reinforced. I did minor damage to the airfield last turn. If I do well this turn, I guarantee that KB will move this way and provide heavy LR CAP. So there's a limit to what I can accomplish here.

At Akyab, Dutch sub KXVII takes a shot at BB Yamashiro, and misses.

Still all the same many task forces at Akyab and Cox Bazaar. KB is still at Akyab. I'm sending in a couple of subs, despite the ASW and shallow water. It's worth a shot at a stationary KB and lots of surface combatants.

The Japanese are now all at Bataan, and did an artillery attack. The Allied supply has finally run out. A few units are now under-supplied. The end will come quickly now.

[apbarog]

28 Apr 42

Didn't get a good look at Cox Bazaar this turn, but Akyab is showing just one ground unit. Now I'm wondering if he isn't unloading everything at Akyab and Cox Bazaar. I've shown both big Brit infantry divisions at Chittagong. He can't think that he can get through that. So I'm going to move one of the Brit divisions out of Chittagong, to an interior base closer to Calcutta. It will wait and see where it is really needed.

At Diamond Harbour, 16 Hurris sweep, encountering 16 Zero's and 14 Oscar's. The Hurri's do badly. Then 15 B-17's escorted by 19 P-39's arrive. Bomb damage is very slight, not worth the trouble. Overall losses are 9 Hurri's, 6 B-17's, and 2 P-39's, versus just 1 Oscar.

It's hard to imagine that the Japanese get take a tiny airbase next to a huge Allied one, with other Allied ones in the area, and the Allies can't get air superiority. My best case has been a 1 for 1 trade in airframes. Other attacks were far worse. I can't trade airframes, or throw them away. So I go defensive with the airpower for now.

Just east of Cox Bazaar, the Japanese kick two previously routed units and one new small unit back. This hex is on the trail to Chittagong, with just one jungle hex in between. An Allied armor unit just moved to the intervening hex. I hope to hold that jungle hex.

KB, and many other ships, are still at Akyab.

[apbarog]

28 Apr 42

Little change in the Chittagong area. An enemy cruiser force does bombard Chittagong, and gets a very good result, causing 433 casualties (mostly disabled), destroying a couple of Hurri's and damaging a dozen more, and hitting the airbase, runway, port, manpower, and light industry. Still unsure how much is marching from the south. KB and lots of ships are still at Akyab, and only one ground unit there.

Why would KB just sit here? If the Allied carriers were here, I'd think very hard about going straight at them. At a base, their own CAP would be halved. I'd trade carriers here.

I do know that CVE Hosho was in port here after hitting mine. I don't think that warrants all of KB in the same hex, but who knows.

Whatever the reason, it does mean that the enemy is not done here.

Elsewhere...

Java - Finally the enemy makes a move. It had retreated most of its units from Malang after being unable to break through the mountain hex. Now ships are off the north coast, having come from the eastern tip. Dutch bombers attack. The ships are have no CAP, but no bombs hit. There are a number of possible new landing locations here. All of them would fall quickly to an invasion.

Solomons - US subs take shots at cargo ships near Rabaul and Truk. All fish miss.

On the Chinese border with Burma, Sally's have bombed a portion of a Chinese division in the mountains. This turn, I fly some P-400's from Calcutta to the area, and LR CAP the unit.

Phillipines - No deliberate attack at Bataan yet. Most Allied units are now out of supply. At the size 3 port just southwest of Manila, I noticed a build-up of ground units. These units had left Clark and are now waiting for shipping. I moved a Dutch sub here. It fires on a tiny TB and misses. Surprise is lost. I move the sub just to the west hoping to catch loaded ships leaving.

Lots of supply, fuel, carriers, and combat ships heading to the South Pacific.

[apbarog]

29 Apr 42

KB and at least a couple of other task forces slide down the coast from Akyab to Ramree Island. I had intel last turn of 55 Cav Regiment loaded on an xAK and headed to Ramree. I can't see a reason to unload there, so this must be a rendezvous point. And since KB was already at Akyab, there's no reason to rendezvous to go there. I'm still just guessing where all the new units are going to go.

I'm not seeing ground movement out of Cox Bazar so far. The only units that I see advancing on Chittagong are the few that advanced up the coast from the beginning.

Chittagong was bombarded by cruisers again this turn. It's causing moderate damage each time.

At Moulmein, the just laid minefield is discovered and is being swept. Unsuccessful here. I did lay a small minefield just south of Akyab, and KB did move through the hex. No sign of any hits though. Still hoping.

Near Phuket, a huge transport force is attacked by US sub Porpoise, but no hits are achieved. Indicated movement is southwest, but it is unknown really.

In Java, Tjepoe, just west of Soerbaja, is invaded. It will fall easily. The Dutch will pretty much defend in place. No point in moving too much. A few units are pulling out of Malang and moving into Soerbaja to beef up the defense there a bit.

Dutch bombers get no hits on the invasion shipping, and lose several bombers to Oscar LR CAP.

Overview:

I took some time looking at what is available in Australia and the South Pacific. I'm planning landings at Port Moresby, Milne Bay, Lunga, Tulagi, and Tassafronga. I need to assemble some units, like the 2nd Marine Division, and gather shipping in the right quantities in the right places. I have 4 carriers headed to Auckland now. I will probably use them for the Port Moresby invasion, drawing Bettys that direction, then move others into the Guadalcanal area. The southernmost enemy bomber base is currently Buin, and it is only a size 2.

This is all several weeks away.