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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/25/42

Air Combat

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Night Air attack on Chandpur , at 30,25

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 6

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 3 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
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Day Air attack on Chandpur , at 30,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 5
Hurricane II x 17
Blenheim I x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 2 destroyed
Hurricane II: 1 damaged
Blenheim I: 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Blenheim I bombing at 18000 feet
3 x Blenheim I bombing at 18000 feet
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Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4 - grumble, did the rest stay home for Sake and rise?
Ki-21 Sally x 48
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 8 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses - most of these were destroyed on the ground
Hurricane II: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged
Blenheim IF: 8 destroyed, 6 damaged
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 42

Aircraft Attacking:
All Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
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Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 32

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 14 destroyed, 1 damaged - double grumble [:(] Zeros stayed home again!

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IF: 1 destroyed

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M Nell bombing at 10000 feet
4 x G3M Nell bombing at 10000 feet
2 x G3M Nell bombing at 10000 feet
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Day Air attack on Koepang , at 28,77

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 52

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-II Dinah: 3 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 27

Aircraft Attacking:
All B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
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Day Air attack on Tenimbar , at 36,81

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4 - 4? Wondered whether this was the 'Zeros stays home day'

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 4
Buffalo I x 13
Hudson I x 15
Beaufort V-IX x 14
B-25C Mitchell x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 2 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Port supply hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 7000 feet
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Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
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Day Air attack on 4th NLF , at 67,97

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
SBD Dauntless x 150
TBD Devastator x 30

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
373 casualties reported - another big strike that hits my men at Lunga heavily.

Aircraft Attacking:
All Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on 17th Indian/A Division, at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30 - finally
G3M Nell x 16
G4M1 Betty x 6
Ki-21 Sally x 24
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 21 destroyed - and the Hurries have to pay the ultimate price

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
16 x G3M Nell bombing at 5000 feet
6 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 5000 feet
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Day Air attack on 17th Indian/A Division, at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
G4M1 Betty x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
13 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
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Day Air attack on 17th Indian/B Division, at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 3
G4M1 Betty x 6
Ki-21 Sally x 3
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x G3M Nell bombing at 5000 feet
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Ground Combat

Ground combat at Kungchang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 247080 troops, 2504 guns, 591 vehicles

Defending force 59873 troops, 147 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kungchang base !!! [:)]

Japanese ground losses:
710 casualties reported
Guns lost 23
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
3305 casualties reported
Guns lost 94

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
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Ground combat at Trimcomalee

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30851 troops, 194 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 9344 troops, 70 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Japanese ground losses:
111 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
494 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
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Ground combat at 29,33

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 65917 troops, 640 guns, 17 vehicles

Defending force 39866 troops, 312 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
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Ground combat at 29,33

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 37180 troops, 309 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 81379 troops, 672 guns, 111 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Ground combat at Lunga

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4681 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1614 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported - hehe, another annoying rebut for Wobbly [;)]
Guns lost 1
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Situation Report

India

Most of the Army in India moves into the hex just east of Calcutta today. Still have to wait for the support units though. Seems like the tank regiments that
pursued the retreating enemy didn't suffer a penalty for crossing the river. The divisions that followed suit certainly did though - and I have to cross yet another
river to get into Calcutta. Not looking forward to it, so I'll rest and prepare before going in. The road north to Asansol lies open, but I will wait before moving in here.
A reserve Bde and tank Regiment will be given this task. The Imp Div has also prepared well for an assault here, and can be moved in if Wobbly got more troops than I think.

The sweep ordered over Calcutta didn't take place, and I lost 8 bombers to Hurries as their escorts stayed home. When the Zeros finally did appear, all 10 defending fighters were
shot done. More Sallys and Zeros have moved into Akyab from rear bases, and daily strikes will be ordered against Calcuttas air and ground facilities. Damage to the af is already evident, and no more forts will be built as long as the engineers got other work to do.

A shock attack against Trimcomalee has been ordered, only 1 fort left and I got a 2-1 odds today.
The KB will strike Madras tomorrow, and a full division will storm ashore. 3 heavy cruisers have been included in the landing force, and hopefully I don't get shot to pieces.
I need engineers - and I plan to move a regiment from Trimcomalee as soon as this base has been secured.

Central Pacific and China

I'm going to pick up aviation regiments from Borneo and other bases that have lost their strategic value as the enemy has been chases away.
These will be moved to India and Ceylon. A 15 ship fast transport group including 2 heavy cruisers, dd's and apd's are loading a SNLF unit at Singapore, and will move to Truk.

The fall of Kungchang leaves only 2 Chinese bases in northern China. The army will rest and prepare before moving north - I hope to encircle
and destroy the entire enemy army around Lanchow.

South Pacific

I gave the situation in the South Pacific some consideration again today. Wobbly is still busy pounding Lunga into the stoneage, and no sign of this so called Rapier! As long as Al keeps his carriers in theatre, he got the initiative, and I have to prepare as best I can for any potential onslaught.

The following air units are available in the South Pacific (offensive):

183 Zeros
158 naval bombers (Betties and Nells)
78 level bombers (Sallys and Helens)
33 Kates
= 452 ac

A regiment from the 19th Division has been released from the Kwantung Army, and is currently being loaded for Truk.
I have really few large inf units - and this is a weakness.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/26/42

Surface Combat

Invasions

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TF 131 encounters mine field at Madras (18,21) - the sweepers clears a path into Madras

Japanese Ships
MSW W.9
MSW W.6
MSW W.5
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TF 131 encounters mine field at Madras (18,21)

TF 131 troops unloading over beach at Madras, 18,21

362 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
MSW W.9
DD Hatsukari, Shell hits 9, on fire
AP Ryoyo Maru
DD Manazuru
AP Oyo Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AP Mizuho Maru

Japanese ground losses:
679 casualties reported - as always, the PBI pays a high price!
Guns lost 7

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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TF 131 encounters mine field at Madras (18,21)

TF 131 troops unloading over beach at Madras, 18,21

Japanese Ships
MSW W.9
MSW W.6
MSW W.5
DD Hatsukari, on fire
PC Ishigaki

Coastal Guns at Madras, 18,21, firing at TF 131
373 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Seattle Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Manazuru, Shell hits 3
AP Santos Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CA Chikuma
AP Sanko Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire
AP Ryujo Maru
MSW W.9
AP Ozan Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Oigawa Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
898 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Allied ground losses:
79 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1
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Air Combat

Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2 - ahh why can't these guys never ever provide a proper escort!?
Ki-21 Sally x 53
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses - great pickings today [8D]
Blenheim IF: 7 destroyed, 12 damaged
Blenheim I: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
Hurricane II: 11 destroyed, 12 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied ground losses:
210 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 28

Aircraft Attacking:
All Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
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Day Air attack on 48th Division, at 31,24

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 7

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
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Day Air attack on 23rd Indian Division, at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31
D3A Val x 97
B5N Kate x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 27 damaged - only 2 Vals are lost today

Allied ground losses:
162 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Aircraft Attacking:
All Vals bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on 2nd UK/C Division, at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
G3M Nell x 16
G4M1 Betty x 17
Ki-21 Sally x 23
Ki-46-II Dinah x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 7 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 4 damaged

Allied ground losses:
135 casualties reported - the reduction of Calcutta has begun
Guns lost 6

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
10 x G3M Nell bombing at 5000 feet
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 5000 feet
6 x G3M Nell bombing at 5000 feet
10 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
8 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 5000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 18,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 51

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 2
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Teia Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Madras at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 7 - they all die....

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 18 destroyed, 1 damaged
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Day Air attack on TF, near Madras at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 10
Wirraway x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 13 destroyed - again, losses are horrendous
Wirraway: 11 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Torpedo hits 1 - but the Haguro takes a hit!
CA Chikuma

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Madras at 18,21

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 2

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Takao

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Ground Combat

Ground combat at Trimcomalee

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 31023 troops, 194 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1840 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles - Wobbly has retreated the bulk of his garrison!

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese assault odds: 554 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Trimcomalee base !!!

Allied ground losses:
183 casualties reported

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
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Ground combat at 29,33

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 66167 troops, 641 guns, 17 vehicles

Defending force 39812 troops, 314 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Ground combat at Lunga

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6491 troops, 44 guns, 3 vehicles

Defending force 1595 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 10 to 1 - I can see the writing on the wall for my men at Lunga

Japanese ground losses:
131 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
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Ground combat at 29,33

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 37242 troops, 313 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 81612 troops, 672 guns, 111 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
2 casualties reported
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Ground combat at Madras

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3732 troops, 70 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 14308 troops, 184 guns, 15 vehicles - A solid number of troops already

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
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Situation Report

With the capture of Trimcomalee a amount of fuel and supplies was captured! 100000 supplies and 95000 fuel [:D]
What a scoop! That was exactly what I needed, my offensive can now continue at full pace.

Wobbly did march his troops out of Trimcomalee before it fell, but that's ok. I'm not going to invade Colombo anyway, hoping to turn it into a self sufficient Allied POW camp [;)] My Zeros and bombers will prevent any supplies from going in - I've already moved 40 Nells, 18 Zeros, 18 Sallys and 8 Mavis into the base. Moving ships from Oz to India will now be very dangerous.

The inivasion of Madras has commenced - and even though several transports were hit by defensive fire, the bulk of the division has already been landed. Stringbags (Swordfish) tried to hit my ships, and succeeded in torpedoing the heavy cruiser Haguro. System damage is around their 30's. They paid a horrible price though and the transports weren't hit.
A engineeer regiment is already being loaded at Trimcomalee, and will be unloaded in a few days. The native Indian troops at Madras shouldn't be able to halt my storm troopers!

Heavy bombing raids against Calcutta destroys many Allied ac on the ground, and no less than 40 of them were destroyed in the air and on the ground today. Japanese losses amounts to 13 ac. The army has been ordered to move into Calcutta, and should lay siege to the base in a few days. No fewer than 25 enemy units have been spotted there, and I believe Wobbly will try to make a stand here. So the fighting will be hard, but I'm confident. The hail of steel that will hit the base from the air will make it difficult to defend it against superior numbers and quality.

The Bay of Bengal has been re-christened and should from now on be known as The Bay of New Japan [:'(] (see map)
Mango madness is already evident in the High Command as Hangover has proven more successfull than anyone had even dared to hope. I do hold a sober eye on front in the south though.

In Dacca, the resources there will ease the problems of supplying the troops in India. I'm planning to withdraw 2 divisions from the army in Burma, move them to Singapore and then hit Karachi and Bombay. I don't have enough forces to hit both at once, so 4 divisions will be employed in two rounds in the final phase of Hangover. If these attacks are successfull, India will no longer be part of the British Empire [:'(]

Situation Map - Bay of New Japan

WOW! Amazing! This AAR is coming every day better! Keep it up!

Just a question: how about the flow of oil and resources from DEI and SRA to Japan Industries? How's are your stocks? Has the armament/veicles production incresed in the last months of war?

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

WOW! Amazing! This AAR is coming every day better! Keep it up!

Just a question: how about the flow of oil and resources from DEI and SRA to Japan Industries? How's are your stocks? Has the armament/veicles production incresed in the last months of war?

Thanx for the praise, hope you'll all be with me if/when the going gets tough [;)]

I've been moving huge amounts of oil and resources from DEI and SRA to Japan lately. Have to check the actual
stocks and production numbers next time I get a turn. They have remained rather stable as far as I've been able to see.
Ordered some rather costly increased in ac and industry factories. This drained a lot of the supplies available on the Home Islands, but no red numbers.

I desperately needed an additional 100k fuel and supplies for Hangover, and somehow Wobbly heard me and decided to help me out. Jolly nice chap [:D]

My two cents:
Don't go for Karachi. I say consolidate Asansol (sp?), Diamond Harbor and the base next to it, then build up forts and sit tight. You'll have a strong line in a malaria free zone that can be defended without using those 4 divisions slated for the next phase. Take those 4 Divisions and use them in the South Pacific to stem the tide there...

So if you take Karachi are the British totally gone then? I mean that you won´t be required to have the slightest garrison there?

pat

Thx for the advice Madflava...appreciate your input. This is a very important crossroad - a lot has been won, and everything now hangs in the balance. Got 17400 points to 5400. Need a 4-1 score on 1/1-43 to win right!?

I'm still kinda set on attempting to eliminate the Brits from the war altogether though!
Strv - if I capture both Karachi and Bombay, the Brits will receive no more reinforcements or supplies.
I still would need a rather sizeable garrison, but it would be highly unlikely that the Yanks would come all the way to India.
Allied port bases are so vulnerable to my battleships - they deliver such punishing bombardments that it becomes almost impossible to defend them without aircover. This would also be the case with Karachi and Bombay, right!

Imagine what scoop it would be to destroy all the Allied troops in India! It would mean certain victory.
If I don't attempt and succeed with this, it will be very difficult to win a prolonged war.

Only 2-3 more months will be needed to pull this off, and even if I fail - the Allies will have to face the full fury
of the entire Fleet and parts of the army in the south before the USA has really gotten its war production into high gear.
(Hope I never have to witness this.) I'm confident that lost ground in the south can be made good again.

When I get both the Yamatos and the 2 Junyos, the fleet will be strong enough to take on anything the Yanks can throw at me in late 42.

Would like to hear more about why I shouldn't go for the K.O. blow in India Madflava - need a month to prepare for any further operations, and in the meantime I will carefully consider the cons and pros.

Are you going to continue playing if India is taken?

Also, how's your production (naval) going? Other than the Junyos + Yamatos, anything coming up?

Ok...
Pros on taking Karachi:
Brits out of the war
Almost certain auto-victory
No worries on the Burma front until late late 1944.

Cons:
KB in an identifiable location
Ground forces committed to India
Massive surface support needed
Fuel/Supply expenditures (especially considering the distances from Japan)

I think the best bet Japan has is to grab everything possible as fast as possible, then fortify like mad. Establish large mobile reaction forces and wait for the Allies to show their hand. When they do, smash the invasion with everything you have - do that once or twice and you've set the Allies back a long, long time.

I don't see the British as much of a threat until 1944, so I don't think they need to be knocked out of the war. Remember historically the line was at the Kohima/Imphal area until 1944. You've already bumped the line back a long ways. Even if he can get an offensive going in 1944, he's got a ton of ground to make up. You're already ahead of the curve.

I think Japan blew it in the Pacific by defending everywhere at once - too thinned out. I think you pick a group of bases that become your strongholds - Truk/Kwaj/Rabaul/Kendari etc. Have outposts in front of those bases that can be reinforced quickly. Use them as tripwires and smash whatever force tries to come after the outposts.

Your situation now allows you to shore up a strong defensive front in India and release a ton of troops to Pacific duty. Instead of Naval Garrisons as Japan had originally on their islands, you'll have divisions - shock attacking against a dug in division on an Atoll will kill a lot of Marines. Plus add in your counter strikes and you've got the makings of an Allied slaughter.

Sorry for the long post - just trying to organize my thoughts. I usually play as the Allies. I know if I was your opponent and I knew KB and most of the surface forces were in the IO, I'd be running around like a kid in the candy store elsewhere. I always wondered what would have happened to Germany if Hitler hadn't invaded Russia. Think of all the forces that would have released... I'd worry if I were you that India might become a Russia.

If you're certain you can take Karachi, I guess I say go for it. If you're not certain, I would stop and consolidate. It's an expensive expedition otherwise.

One last thing: I know in my current PBEM as the Allies, I'm having a heart attack because I don't know where KB is. I think I do, but I'm not more than 55% positive. I'm worried it will show up passing Canton Island to hit convoys... Or coming back to PH, or showing up between SF and PH, or leading an invasion of Noumea... So I'm slowing everything down and escorting the hell out of everything - right now your opponent doesn't have to do that. Another benefit of stopping in India is he loses KB and gets that nervous sweat I have right now...

After all this, why would you need the KB around India? Mini KB + 1-2 normal CV should be enough. Other CVs can guard against any invasion in the Pacific.

ORIGINAL: madflava13

Ok...
Pros on taking Karachi:
Brits out of the war
Almost certain auto-victory
No worries on the Burma front until late late 1944.

Cons:
KB in an identifiable location
Ground forces committed to India
Massive surface support needed
Fuel/Supply expenditures (especially considering the distances from Japan)

I think the best bet Japan has is to grab everything possible as fast as possible, then fortify like mad. Establish large mobile reaction forces and wait for the Allies to show their hand. When they do, smash the invasion with everything you have - do that once or twice and you've set the Allies back a long, long time.

I don't see the British as much of a threat until 1944, so I don't think they need to be knocked out of the war. Remember historically the line was at the Kohima/Imphal area until 1944. You've already bumped the line back a long ways. Even if he can get an offensive going in 1944, he's got a ton of ground to make up. You're already ahead of the curve.

I think Japan blew it in the Pacific by defending everywhere at once - too thinned out. I think you pick a group of bases that become your strongholds - Truk/Kwaj/Rabaul/Kendari etc. Have outposts in front of those bases that can be reinforced quickly. Use them as tripwires and smash whatever force tries to come after the outposts.

Your situation now allows you to shore up a strong defensive front in India and release a ton of troops to Pacific duty. Instead of Naval Garrisons as Japan had originally on their islands, you'll have divisions - shock attacking against a dug in division on an Atoll will kill a lot of Marines. Plus add in your counter strikes and you've got the makings of an Allied slaughter.

Sorry for the long post - just trying to organize my thoughts. I usually play as the Allies. I know if I was your opponent and I knew KB and most of the surface forces were in the IO, I'd be running around like a kid in the candy store elsewhere. I always wondered what would have happened to Germany if Hitler hadn't invaded Russia. Think of all the forces that would have released... I'd worry if I were you that India might become a Russia.

If you're certain you can take Karachi, I guess I say go for it. If you're not certain, I would stop and consolidate. It's an expensive expedition otherwise.

One last thing: I know in my current PBEM as the Allies, I'm having a heart attack because I don't know where KB is. I think I do, but I'm not more than 55% positive. I'm worried it will show up passing Canton Island to hit convoys... Or coming back to PH, or showing up between SF and PH, or leading an invasion of Noumea... So I'm slowing everything down and escorting the hell out of everything - right now your opponent doesn't have to do that. Another benefit of stopping in India is he loses KB and gets that nervous sweat I have right now...

Good analyzis Madflava! I must say I agree with most of what you're saying... I don't want India to turn into another Russia, that's for sure. I can't afford a full scale two front war - so I really want to close India permanently. Today 100 RAF bombers and fighters showed up, they bounced quite a few unescorted Sallys and we lost 50 ac each. This is May 42, and there are no Spitfires around. Imagine what will happen in only 6 months! I can't afford to face the RAF in India and Burma and at the same time fend of the Yanks in the South Pacific [&:]

Keeping India without having supremacy in the air is going to be a Democles sword. In the long run, nothing but suffering can come out of it. Imagine all the level and heavy bombers that will use my crack divisions for target practice.

Another issue: I don't want to the KB to clash with the US carriers! Al got more good fleet carriers than I do, and if I loose my pilots, it will be a spent force. It's such a valuable force in being that I have to keep it intact.

So here is my plan: The main bases in the south Pacific will receive reinforcements and a fleet consisting of cruisers and destroyers will be created at Truk. If, or when, Wobbly attacks - I'm going to resist him feverishly. Perhaps I can hit a few carriers and gut his fleet and transports.

- If I loose a major base, but manage to hurt the Americans - I will dispatch the entire fleet and enough army units to counterattack and reclaim lost ground.

What do you think?

Right now I got to kick som Royal Air Force ar$se in India [:'(]

Black Void - I've lost 2 fleet carriers, and the KB consists of my 2 undamaged light carriers and 4 fleet carriers.
I can't split this force, that will turn it into 2 weak carrier divisions that neither can support an invasion of Karachi or take on 4-6 US fleet carriers. Divide and conquer...remember [;)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/27/42

Surface Combat

Invasions

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TF 131 encounters mine field at Madras (18,21)

TF 131 troops unloading over beach at Madras, 18,21

Japanese Ships
MSW W.9
MSW W.6
MSW W.5
DD Hatsukari
DD Manazuru
PC Ishigaki
PC Shimushu

Coastal Guns at Madras, 18,21, firing at TF 131
253 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Seattle Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Manazuru, Shell hits 1, on fire
MSW W.9, Shell hits 7, on fire
AP Ryujo Maru
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 1
AP Mizuho Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
PC Ishigaki, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
437 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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TF 131 encounters mine field at Madras (18,21)

TF 131 troops unloading over beach at Madras, 18,21

Japanese Ships
MSW W.9, on fire
MSW W.6
MSW W.5
DD Manazuru, on fire, heavy damage

Coastal Guns at Madras, 18,21, firing at TF 131
27 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported - all the troops have been landed now

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub/ASW Attacks

Sub attack at 20,5

Japanese Ships
SS I-174

Allied Ships
DD Express, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage - whow, a rare success! The sub wasn't even hit by the counter attack...
MSW Burnie
MSW Bendigo
MSW Cromer
DD Nizam
DD Napier
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4 - *ugly curse* Why can they never listen to me and escort the bombers!
Ki-21 Sally x 40
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4

Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 11
Hurricane II x 54 [X(] - Wobbly has initiated a 'Big Week!'
P-40E Warhawk x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 55 destroyed, 16 damaged *ouch!* 24 Sallys were lost today!

Allied aircraft losses
Mohawk IV: 1 damaged
Hurricane II: 8 destroyed, 4 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
1 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bengal Construction Regiment, at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33 - finally, the escort comes along! A little too late for the dead men on the Sallys
G3M Nell x 8
G4M1 Betty x 16
Ki-21 Sally x 15
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 11
Hurricane II x 50
P-40E Warhawk x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 29 destroyed - 15 Zeros were lost in air to air combat!
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Mohawk IV: 14 destroyed
Hurricane II: 40 destroyed, 7 damaged - Payback's a bit€h though [;)] 50 Allied fighters were shot down today
P-40E Warhawk: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
108 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 4

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
7 x G3M Nell bombing at 5000 feet
13 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 7th Armoured/A Tank Brigade, at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 9 - another unescorted raid
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 4
Hurricane II x 17
P-40E Warhawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 15 destroyed - that pays a price. 8 Nells were lost
Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G3M Nell bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 23rd Indian Division, at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
D3A Val x 94
B5N Kate x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 9 destroyed, 38 damaged - 5 Vals were lost to flak!

Allied ground losses:
146 casualties reported - this is the last raid in support of the landings
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
5 x B5N Kate bombing at 10000 feet
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
12 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
24 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
24 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
21 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 23rd Indian Division, at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Ki-21 Sally x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 3 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 15,26

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
G3M Nell x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Poelau Bras, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage - Wobbly tried to sneak these ships out of Trimcomalee!
AK Empire Spray, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
Blenheim I x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Asama Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Blenheim I bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 14 - the RAF was really active today!
Blenheim I x 12
Blenheim IV x 23

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Ceylon Maru
AP Bokuyo Maru
AP Buyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kozui Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yudachi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Biyo Maru
AP Ayaha Maru, Bomb hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
155 casualties reported - these men belonged to a construction battalion.

Aircraft Attacking:
All Blenheim IV bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 56,88

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 23

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-373, Shell hits 4, on fire
AG AG-363, Shell hits 16
AG AG-353, Shell hits 8, on fire
PG Shinko Maru #1, Shell hits 8
AG AG-116

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x P-39D Airacobra attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra attacking at 100 feet
4 x P-39D Airacobra attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at 29,33

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 66414 troops, 644 guns, 17 vehicles

Defending force 35577 troops, 278 guns, 0 vehicles


Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 29,33

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 32995 troops, 275 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 81889 troops, 675 guns, 112 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Madras

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3564 troops, 68 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 19483 troops, 206 guns, 15 vehicles - tomorrow we attack!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lunga

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4525 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1446 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Report

Must say I got surprise today! Wobbly managed to scrape together a sizeable fighter force at Calcutta and slammed them all into my bombers.
Unfortunately my Sallys came in almost without an escort and took a heavy pounding. I can replace the 24 army pilots easily though, got 75 pilots in the Army AF pool.
It's altogether a different story when it comes to naval pilots.

Todays losses in the air:

Japan - 24 Sallys, 15 Zeros, 8 Bettys, 8 Nells and 5 Vals
Allies - 37 Hurricans, 8 Mohwaks and 5 Warhawks.

Japan lost 57 ac while the Allies lost 53.

All the losses have already been replaced and fighter reinforcements have been moved to Chandpur. Today was the second day that the ordered fighter sweep failed to
materialize, and it's costing me blood!! I think this was an all out effort by the RAF in India though, and I will only keep the pressure up and slowly cull the RAF!
More base forces are needed at Trimcomalee - and soon Madras! (I hope:)

The KB has been ordered back to Trimcomalee to refuel and help shoot down Blenheims and Buffalos if they decide to make another appearence.
The convoy that was hit by the British bombers had to detach 2 ships, but the rest will move to Madras with the engineer regiment. Fortunately it's still intact.
I really need my heavy ships to pound Colombo into the stoneage. Patience, patience...can't have it all at once!

The Army has moved 23/60 miles towards Calcutta and should arrive in another 2 days. Then I will ordere bombardment attacks until the effects of the river crossing have been
reduced.

In the South Pacific things are quiet, but I'm shuttling reinforcements around and trying to prepare for an Allied offensive.
Wake and Tarawa are almost impossible to defend, so most of the effort goes into building Saipan in the Marianas and the islands around Kwajalein in the Marshalls.

Someone asked me about industrial statistics - got an overview here. Can compare it with the last one I uploaded.
Don't really have many valuable ships coming out of the yards in the months to come. The Junyo will arrive in one week while the Yamato is ready in 3.
In 30 days I receive a CVE and in 90 the Hiyo is ready....

Industry Overview:

You are going to need a lot more engines for the Tony. Also you only have 75 army pilots left in the pool, that seems low. Do you have a feeling that you are starting to strech thin on top quality pilots.

I think your plan can work - Let's just hope you wrap up India quickly - before Spits arrive... You don't have more than a few months to get this done and prep for the Pacific theater to heat up! Good luck.

Zeta - I must admit that my eyes haven't been on the engine pool lately. What kind of engine does the Tony use again, and how many do you suggest I produce pr month? Can convert some Mitsubishi's me thinks.

There has never been as many pilots in the Army pool as now [:'(] Was a little uncareful and left some Oscar and Lily Daitais with 'reinforcements allowed' - and that drained the pool a bit. I'm very careful about providing trained replacements now. All army pilots replaces losses on my level bomber formations - and to a certain degree Oscars.

Feels like I've always been stretched thin when it comes to high quality pilots. ALL my navy squadrons virtually have to be filled up with green replacements that will take 4-5 months to train into their 5-60's. I'm actually fending off the RAF with only some of my crack Zeros - lots of raw pilots that either turn veterans or become a 5 minuter.

So do I Madflava...! I will rest and prepare for 2-3-4 weeks and when I'm ready, the operation should be concluded within 2 more months. In a best case scenario, the fleet can start redeploying in 3 months - late July in other words.

Here is the snapshot I took of my industry ca 4 months ago, can compare it with the latest picture in my last post. All the numbers are positive as far as I can see.

They use Kawasaki. I bulid around 60 a month or more in my japanese games and upgrade as fast as I can to them. They can fly high and do well aganist allied fighters. Also look at the AAR between me and Dude. If you start to lose japanese pilots the fall is fairly quick to where the Hurricane II dominates the sky.

Thx Zeta, I'll check out your AAR! Will convert a few factories and have a batch of engines ready by the time the Tonys appear. Hopefully an honorable peace has been won by then!

Not sure what will happen if I win a decisive victory - depends on Wobbly! If he want's to continue, I guess we will.
If not, I'll offer him a rematch.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/28/42

Surface Combat

ASW/Sub Attacks

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 16,26

Japanese Ships
SS I-25

Allied Ships
AK Empire Spray, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage - nasty Al chose not to scuttle these heavily damaged transports from Trimcomalee. Their unfortunate crews ended up on the bottom of the Indian Ocean!

Air Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Chandpur , at 30,25

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 3
B-17E Fortress x 15 - ugly Forts!

Japanese aircraft losses - messed up my af at Chandpur big time today [:'(]
Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 7 destroyed, 9 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
202 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 15

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
15 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 6
G4M1 Betty x 5

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Hurricane II: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G3M Nell bombing at 5000 feet
5 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 7

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses

Allied ground losses:
53 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48 - now looky here! Finally a decent escort...
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 23
Ki-21 Sally x 40
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Mohawk IV: 13 destroyed, 10 damaged
Hurricane II: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
128 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 52

Aircraft Attacking:
All Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Koepang , at 28,77

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 46

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 24

Aircraft Attacking:
All B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tenimbar , at 36,81

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4 - difficult to get more ac to fly LRCAP at extreme long range

Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 11
Brewster 339D x 3
Buffalo I x 11
Beaufort V-IX x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged - will have to discontinue the effort!

Allied aircraft losses
CW-21B Demon: 1 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed

Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 7000 feet
5 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 7000 feet
7 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 7000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 7000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 7000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 23rd Indian Division, at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
Ki-21 Sally x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 67,97

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31
G3M Nell x 19
G4M1 Betty x 33

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 16 destroyed
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 16 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied Ships - 3 of these ships sinks immediately!
AK Admiral Cole, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Silksworth, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Cold Brook, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Crown City, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Steel Seafarer, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
All Betties and Nells launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 55,88

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 27

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-359, Shell hits 8
AG AG-364, Shell hits 8
AG AG-351, Shell hits 4, on fire
AG AG-107, Shell hits 8, on fire
AG AG-104, Shell hits 16

Aircraft Attacking:
All P-39D Airacobra attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Madras

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19598 troops, 206 guns, 15 vehicles

Defending force 7790 troops, 127 guns, 8 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 3) - this is promising! Shock attack tomorrow [8D]

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Japanese ground losses:
227 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 5

Allied ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Guns lost 9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 29,33

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 22907 troops, 231 guns, 3 vehicles

Defending force 36678 troops, 276 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 29,33

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 33133 troops, 276 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 58947 troops, 416 guns, 99 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Madras

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3494 troops, 60 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 19339 troops, 199 guns, 9 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lunga

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4531 troops, 34 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1463 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported - this could take some time...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Report

India

The first division marched into Calcutta today - alone [:'(] I tried to make everyone follow the slowest, but how the he11 do I know which division is the slowest? Argh, marching troops in WitP is FUBAR! Well, the remainder of the Army should follow suit tomorrow, and I don't think Wobbly dares to attack.

I also got a stack support troops that are stuck in the jungle between Dacca and Calcutta. They jumped directly into the jungle hex instead of following the railroad line, cause there were still Allied units on it when I ordered them to move towards Calcutta. Going back is just as time consuming. Now they move 2 miles each day, and will arrive in a month - completely exhausted. *sigh*

Well, I've finally organized a sizeable fighter force at Chandpur and Dacca. My bombers should be provided with ample cover from now on. I need to bomb Diamond Harbour with my battleships again! Al is operating his bombers out of this base, and I really have to close it down.

The first attack at Madras was very promising! A 3-1 odds made me order a shock attack, a 4-1 odds should be enough to capture it. Tomorrow the engineers will disembark. Hopefully the coastal guns ain't quite as savy this time...

The KB refuelled at Trimcomalee, they sucked in half of the 96000 fuel there!!!! Got a huge replenishment convoy coming in tomorrow though. Not really sure what to do with the KB now, I need another month or so to organize the attack on Karachi and Bombay. Perhaps I can make Al think I'm moving it south!? I'm also considering a sortie into the Indian Ocean west of Karachi and Bombay - I can just keep off the coast and jump on any convoy that might pop up.

China

In China 2 enemy units suddenly moved into Kungchang - WTF? Well, I've ordered my men to kick them back out.
Going to move north with a sizeable force soon.

South Pacific

In the South Pacific a supply convoy moved into Lunga. The Cactus Air Force has been activated, and 18 Wildcats rose to defend the ships as my naval bombers droned in. They had an even exchange with the Zeros, and both sides lost 6-7 fighters. Only a few bombers were downed, and all of the ships in the convoy were hit - most of them several times.
3 ships sank outright, and I doubt that the others will make it back home. I hope they took most of their supplies with em.

The US carriers were located at Port Efate - probably replenishing. I'm moving second rate dive bombers from the Phillippines and towards the smaller islands in the Marshalls. Got many small base forces here that can support them.
Rabaul - Truk - Kwajalein - Saipan are the anchors in my defense, spread out like a diamond. The bulk of my aircraft and troops will be deployed here.

Wotje and Maleotap are covering the approaches to Kwajalein, while Tarawa and Wake are rather isolated

The Tony with good pilots is a god send. I have one PBEM where I have Tony's around Rabaul with high ratings and they pounded a flight of P 38's. I trained them up In China before moving them there, but they are great planes, and not like real life they repair a lot quicker.

Changed 50 Mitsubishi engines into Kawasakis today Zeta [:)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/29/42

Air Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Chandpur , at 30,25

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 3
B-17E Fortress x 14 - the big pests are back

Japanese aircraft losses - more moderate damage today fortunately
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 6000 feet
14 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Diamond Harbor , at 28,23

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 3
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged - I wanted to return the favour...

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M Nell bombing at 5000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 12

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IF: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 21
Ki-21 Sally x 38

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged
Blenheim IF: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
48 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 31

Aircraft Attacking:
All Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 61,88

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 38 - a huge raid from PM!

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged - night bombing Chandpur caused more casualties than this large daylight raid
G3M Nell: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
H6K2-L Mavis: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 destroyed, 23 damaged - my few Zeros really shoot up the Forts!

Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
28 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 6 - The suicide squad is back!

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 10 destroyed - Wonder if their leader was called Otto...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lae at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AG AG-351, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-359, Shell hits 4
AG AG-107
AG AG-110
AG AG-103, Shell hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
All x P-39D Airacobra attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 18,22

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
G3M Nell x 4
Ki-21 Sally x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
MSW Eland Dubois, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage - tried to run from Madars

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Kungchang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 263013 troops, 2704 guns, 594 vehicles

Defending force 6030 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 4286 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
1863 casualties reported - what on earth was Al thinking!? [&:]
Guns lost 9

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Madras

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 19384 troops, 199 guns, 9 vehicles

Defending force 3348 troops, 47 guns, 4 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 15 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Madras base !!! [8D]

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 5 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
427 casualties reported
Guns lost 18
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lunga

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4565 troops, 35 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1373 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Report

I only got 12000 fuel and 6000 supplies at Madras [:(] I had expected much more though, Indian hospitality has bee great! (I have to note one big exception here though: a Dell supporter from he11 (India) drove me ballistic 6 months ago...only time I've lost my temper this year [:'(])

Received my first A6M3 Zero Daitai today, 27 ac with an average exp of 73 - carrier capable!

The battlefleet reached Singapore today, only to find that the fuel storage has been depleted. Will send it to Palembang to refuel. Loading up reserves at Manila and Balikpapan.

I looked at the map over India today and admired my new size 6 port and airfield base of Madras [:D]
It then occurred to me that I really don't need to conduct anymore costly amphibious landings.

I would like to hear some comments about this scenario:

The KB will immediately be dispatched back to Truk and rendezvous with the Junyo.
6 battleships in 2 TF's will be left in the Indian Ocean together with an escort carrier and escorts.

2 divisions from the 14th Army in Burma will move to Madras, so will the 2 divisions at Singapore together with the one currently in Trimcomalee. (A regiment and supportive units will be left as a garrison.) 3 engineer regiments and 2 tank regiments + other support units will also be moved in.

Then I will follow the route shown on the map below! The battlefleet will bombard first Karachi, and then Bombay to support the army. A powerful air fleet will move north as suitable bases are captured. It will also become possible to completely cut of the Allied Army fighting around Calcutta.

This means that the South Pacific will have to do without any of the 12 divisions of the Southern Army - but 5 fleet carriers and 3 light carriers together with 5-6 battleships and numerous cruisers and destroyers will be ready to strike back against any potential US invasion attempts.

The great thing about this approach is that it will only take 2-3 weeks to get both of these operations going.
Comments?

Situation Map: Alternative route to Karachi and Bombay

Sounds pretty good. I would use all the divisions, but the infantry regiments and brigades I would release back towards the DEI and South Pac. They have alot more punch than SNLF or Naval Guard. Not sure if you are using them in India though.

The 2 Junyos are not IMO useful to KB (too slow) I use them as the centerpiece of Baby KB, but since you are down 2 CV's already, I really see no choice. Unless you use the 4 pre-war KB CV's in 1 TF and the 2 Junyos, 2 CVL, 2 CVE in a Baby KB. That would allow you to cover 2 areas at once if they are backed up by Betty's and Zeros. Put 1 Zero and 1 Kate unit on the CV's, they will double your strike capability in baby KB.

** NOTE** I mean the empty CVE's and not Hosho. She is almost useless IMO. Alot of strike points, but very small air group. The other empty CVE's only have 90 strike points, but that is 3 full strikes from a 27 plane Kate unit.

I have found that my baby KB can take on a single Allied CV and win, but you will lose at least 1 and have 2 banged up for the result. I mainly use them for convoy interdiction. 2 Allied CV, and they will have alot more trouble sinking them or even 1. But they can put a torp or 2 into both 80% of the time.