PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[herbieh]

Kill, conquer, advance!
But karachi must fall
And all allied players remain paranoid about India forever!!!

[PzB74]

ORIGINAL: 2ndACR

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.

I'm using all the divisions, and I also got a Bde and a Reg involved in Burma and India. Another will go to Trimcomalee to release the division there. All of the SNLF and garrison units are in the South Pacific - minus the para units that is.

The Hosho is a ferry - using her to show the flag here and there.
The Mini KB is in a bad shape, the best cvl - the Zuiho took 2 bombs from the Dutch searchplane pests. Still got 29 sys damage, and so does my cve. The 2 cvl's have been travelling with the KB.

3 more days and I get the Junyo, but still another 3 months before the Hiyo is ready. So no Mini KB for a while yet, it would be too weak - one big KB is what I will take south.

The RN is still based at Karachi or Bombay though, and the KB may have to hit these ports before sailing south.
There are no large af's close to Karachi were I can base my fighters and bombers. A long range port attack from Madras by Betties and Nells is an option though.

[2ndACR]

Alrighty then. With 4-6 divisions in one base, that base will quickly build AF's and forts. If you have a couple Engineer regiments there also, in about 1 week you can take a size 1 and turn into a 4 if it will go that high. That would allow you to avoid long range strikes. I find them too costly due to lack of escorts, ops losses etc.

If you have Junyo, 1-2 CVL and a CVE or 2, that makes for one mean baby KB. I never operate KB as a 6 CV TF after PH. All 6 may be in the area, but seldom more than 2 CV's in a single TF. With the 2 CVE's loaded out as I explained above, you would be able to (depending on CAP setting) throw a strike of 30 Zeros, 20 Vals and 50+ Kates against an Allied TF. If it is a surface combat or transport TF, you will devestate them. May be pretty ugly against a CV force though.

I use the Junyos mainly because as my opponent sees Vals on search, he never really knows if it is KB or mini KB. Adds a little more worry to the fact that one may be in the DEI and the other playing around the South Pac. Panzer found out the hard way in our game about my Baby KB's and the decoy in our AAR. 1 Allied CV on the bottom with 3 others banged up for 1 CVL and Kaga, 1 CVL hurt.

[PzB74]

I think Hyderabad (curse these names) is a size 3 af! Can oversize it to 4 and base Zeros and bombers here that can cover my army and take the war to him. In no more than 2-3 months, the entire Indian Campaign can have been brought to an end. Now, that would be something to write home about!

It could indeed be a good idea to part the light carriers from the KB - I just had such a bad experience with the Hiryu and Soryu, they both went down without even damaging a US ship [:(]

I could muster 3 cvl, 2 cve and 1 cv in a month or so - that would mean 160-170 ac. If I could make Wobbly believe that this was a all I sent to the South.... Got a Kate Daitai with 27 (+8) ac waiting for the next cve that appears. My latest carrier capable 27 size A6M3 Daitai will equip the other one.

I've not allowed poor pilot reinforcements into the KB yet - will try to disband smaller experienced units into the undersized groups. The 4 cv's and 2 cvl's are now holding 330 ac altogether. Full strength would be something like 360-370 ac.

[Zeta16]

ORIGINAL: PzB

In no more than 2-3 months, the entire Indian Campaign can have been brought to an end. Now, that would be something to write home about!

With how the rail movement is, I bet you can do it a lot faster.

[2ndACR]

Is the 3rd CVE Hosho? If so, I would leave her near India just because she is so worthless.

All the others you list will give you a pretty good baby KB. Once the 2nd Soryu arrives, you could detach a CVL to run with KB. I pray and speed up as many of my CVE's as I can. They can form quite a little strike force.

For replacement pilots, are you using some back water base you bypassed as a training ground? Because I have found that I can train up a 27 plane Zero/Val/Kate group from 3-40's to 60's in about 2 weeks time. I only lose 1-3 pilots per group I train to ops loss if the target is 2-3 hexes away. I will then use these to fill out other groups or keep them training if I have no pressing need for them. In 5-6 weeks time, they are in the 80's and ready to play alone.

[PzB74]

I havn't even included the Hosho, she's at Truk. Sortied her south of PM to convince Wobbly that I had cv's in the area. Moving her 10 Kates and Zeros to the smaller islands in the Marshalls.

Sounds like a very efficient way to train units, perhaps even a little too efficient! Unless someone's shooting at them, pilot exp shouldn't increase to much more than 70 or so.

Don't really have any Val/Kate units to train - got 63 Kates and 27 Vals that are waiting for carriers to deploy on, and their average skill is ~70. Been a busy beaver and occupied all enemy bases that could be used for target practice too. I got a few severly understrength Zero Daitais that I have to provide raw recruits for soon.

Also considering to withdraw troops from China, got more than I need there right now - and they're good! 90+ exp.
Already moving a regiment from a Kwantung Div to Truk - but I need more polit points to release them.

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/30/42

Air Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Diamond Harbor , at 28,23

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M Nell bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 12
G4M1 Betty x 12

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged - wanted to return the favour from yesterday!
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Do 24K-2: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x G3M Nell bombing at 6000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet
6 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 16th Division, at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18 - expected this, so this Daitai was on LR CAP over Calcutta

Allied aircraft
Lysander I x 9
Blenheim I x 7
Blenheim IV x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 12
B-17E Fortress x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged - the P40's fought well

Allied aircraft losses
Lysander I: 1 damaged
Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
76 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Blenheim I bombing at 9000 feet
9 x Lysander I bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 9000 feet
15 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Imperial Guards Division, at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 3
Blenheim IV x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 2
B-17E Fortress x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 2 destroyed
Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Blenheim IV bombing at 9000 feet
2 x Blenheim I bombing at 9000 feet
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 56,88

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 26

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-359, Shell hits 8, on fire
AG AG-107, Shell hits 8
AG AG-104, Shell hits 8
AG AG-364, Shell hits 4
AG AG-367, Shell hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
All P-39D Airacobra attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 55,88

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 24

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AG AG-360, Shell hits 4
PG Hakkai Maru, Shell hits 32
AG AG-119, Shell hits 4

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

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Calcutta

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 106405 troops, 1192 guns, 11 vehicles

Defending force 50199 troops, 337 guns, 478 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
64 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 29,33

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 23014 troops, 240 guns, 3 vehicles

Defending force 37331 troops, 281 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4557 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1340 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 15 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
137 casualties reported - one of the Base Force units were eliminated today

Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Report

The enemy units defending Calcutta doesn't seem to be a match for my 5 divisions and 6 tank regiments.
Will rest for another day or two before ordering a deliberate attack.

2-3 transports were observed in the Bay of New Japan, probably trying to escape. The KB moves in to intercept.
Will take another week or so to move the battlefleet back up to Diamond Harbour - and then another week to Trimcomalee -> Karachi -> Bombay.

Transports for 2 divisions, the South Seas Detachment, 2 arty units and 1 HQ is being organized at Singapore.
Shipping is also sent to Rangoon to life 2 divisions and 1 engineer regiment. Another engineer regiment is moving from Akyab. The division at Trimcomalee will also follow them to Madras. This Army will then move towards Karachi.

I'm also scrounging aviation regiments and garrison units that can guard the bases that are captured in India.

Got a Zero Daitai that was divided into 3 sub units - and it refuses to be joined together again. Annoying! Advice anyone..

[2ndACR]

Did you divide the unit and disband part of it into another unit? If so, it will not rebuild until the other part comes back. Very annoying. Would not be so bad if the disbanded part would come back in 30 days. 90 days is too long.

[PzB74]

Nope, I got A,B and C sub sections of the 201st Daitai in the same base - and they refuse to come together again.

[2ndACR]

In that case, I have not a clue. This game does some wierd things at times for no apparent reason.

[Mynok]

they refuse to come together again.

Call a lawyer. He's the only one who can annul the divorce papers.

[Freddy Fudpucker]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Got a Zero Daitai that was divided into 3 sub units - and it refuses to be joined together again. Annoying! Advice anyone..

I had this with the AVG which I had split into A/B/C. The reason was because I'd got one of the groups set on accept upgrades and replacements but not the other sub-groups. Once they were all set the same and all in their brand spanking new shiny Warhawks they rejoined again.

As for the CV conversation of yesterday. Are you keeping the two convertable scout ships (can't remember names?) out of harm's way so you can upgrade them to CVL's at the end of the year?

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Nope, I got A,B and C sub sections of the 201st Daitai in the same base - and they refuse to come together again.

can this be an answer to your question? Is divide/rebuild button missing from the screen. If so, then i'm pretty sure that a reason why you cannot rebuilt your unit.

quote:

ORIGINAL: dereck

I've seen on other threads that there is a hard-coded top limit to the number of air groups that can be divided. As a test, find one that is divided and recombine it and then see if you can go divide this one in your example. You may have reached that limit.

[Andy Mac]

I wonder if thats why im struggling to get divided land units to recombine.

If the A B C unit has a partially upgraded TOE it would explain why I cannot get them to re combine
Andy

[PzB74]

All the 3 sub units have t he same settings and they're all operating the A6M2. There's just no way to recombine them [:(]
Tried moving them to another base etc, but nope. I can still divide other units though, so I've not exceeded any limits either.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/01/42

Air Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lae at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12 - Today I adjusted the Zero's patrol attitude down to 5000 feet.

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 23

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged - Perhaps we can do more than only scare them next time they come back

Japanese Ships
PG Hakkai Maru, Shell hits 4
AG AG-113, Shell hits 8
AG AG-123, Shell hits 8
AG AG-366, Shell hits 12
AG AG-105
AG AG-118

Aircraft Attacking:
All P-39D Airacobra attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 56,88

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 20 - enthusiastic fellas [:'(]

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PG Shinko Maru #1, Shell hits 4
AG AG-121
AG AG-116, Shell hits 4
AG AG-370, Shell hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
All x P-39D Airacobra attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 18,28

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
Ki-21 Sally x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Oklahoman - one of the ships that are trying to escapre from the Bay of New Japan [;)]

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Calcutta

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 106714 troops, 1198 guns, 11 vehicles

Defending force 50753 troops, 359 guns, 481 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
62 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Calcutta

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 32027 troops, 306 guns, 414 vehicles

Defending force 132570 troops, 1198 guns, 636 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
126 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Report

Bad weather today, so not much action in the air - or anywere else for that matter.
Organizing the troops that will march out of Madras and trying to find enough fuel to replenish my battlefleet - and that's a thirsty bunch!!
Moved all my Betties and Nells out of Chandpur and back to Rangoon. I will concentrate all my Sallys here instead, I don't like to use crack
naval bombers to attack flak heavy ground targets. The airfields at Jamshedpur have been targeted tomorrow.

The Army will wait for another bde and a tank regiment and rest for another day before starting to reduce the forts at Calcutta.
Would like to deliver a few heavy bombing raids first as well.

I really don't want to push ole Al out of Calcutta to quickly either! Then his troops will simply retreat towards Dehli, Karachi and Bombay.
We don't want that, do we [;)] Therefore I'm going to try to cut them off and let them roam no mans land instead.

In China Wobbly has moved 8? units westwards from the base north of Kungchand (can't remember it's name). That's ok with me, will require
fewer of my troops to destroy the ones that remain. Want to move my troops back to southern China as quickly as possible, perhaps we can
try to march towards Burma when India falls!?

Trying to think strategic, smallers victories shoulds sometimes be disregarded in order to pursue a much bigger one.

In the South Pacific Truk has built it's port to size 9, well not yet actually - was very annoying to find the port still at size 8 + 100%.
Should be able to reload my minelayers tomorrow though.

I've moved 9 Rufes to Wake Island, 12 dive bombers will soon follow. 24 Sonia db's have been moved to the island just NE of Kwajalein. Also moving more
search planes into the area and trying to prepare some kind of early warning system. Got 24 destroyers and 1 heavy cruiser at Truk now.

The light carrier Zuiho has moved into Shanghai together with 3 destroyers and a light cruiser. 3 dd's that have been repaired at Hong Kong are moving
back towards Tokyo - they will act as escorts for the Mutsu and Junyo (which will arrive tomorrow). Someone asked about the seaplane tenders (CS) - I got
3 of them operating with the KB and another one is based at Tokyo. They're valuable support ships, and I don't simply hide them away until a potential upgrade to light
carriers can take place. Total victory will have been won by then anyway [;)]

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/02/42

Surface Combat

Invasions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 31 troops unloading over beach at Yanam, 22,21 - small indian base east of Madras

Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat


Day Air attack on 72nd Chinese Corps, at 45,26

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 27
Ki-49 Helen x 17

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
7 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
12 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
10 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
5 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 15,30

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
G3M Nell x 4
Ki-21 Sally x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Oklahoman, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sinks)

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
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 17,37 - overkill strike!

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 52
D3A Val x 71
B5N Kate x 82
Ki-30 Ann x 14 - based on the northern tip of Sumatra, nice combined strike (see map)

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CLAA Columbo, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (magazine explodes, sinks)
Aircraft Attacking:
All Ann bombing at 2000 feet
All Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
All Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Calcutta

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 32107 troops, 314 guns, 413 vehicles

Defending force 135449 troops, 1200 guns, 805 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Report

The KB launched an oversized strike against t the anti aircraft cruiser Columbo today. Ann's from a base on the northern tip of Sumatra joined in as well. Looks like I've sunk all of the blocade runners in the Bay of New Japan for now.

Bad weather in India has prevented my Sallys from attacking the enemy lately, hopefully they will launch a big strike tomorrow. The Army has been ordered to attack in Calcutta, want to see what I'm up against!

Some of the KB escorts have been dispatched to Singapore together with elements of the battlefleet.
The remaining units will head back to Trimcomalee and head north towards Karachi. This will take about a week to organize. The damaged cve (24 sys) has been dispatched towards Shanghai - were it will join with the Zuiho. When repaired, they will move to Tokyo and join forces with another cve and the Junyo (arrived today).

The Mini KB will then be reformed: 1 cv, 1 cvl and 2 cve. The 2 cvl's attached to the KB may also join them.

Almost all of the Chinese troops in the north are now heading west - leaving the remaining bases undefended!
I've cancelled the movement orders for most of my divisions, 3 of them will suffice to capture the remaining 2 bases.
A Chinese unit also appeared just west of Sian - I got more than enough units defending my forward bases though.
Don't have very high opinions about the offensive capabilities of the Chinese at this stage.

Truk has expanded to port size 9, and 5 minelayers were 'reloaded' today. Steaming out to mine all my bases in the Marshals.

Situation Map: The Columbo is hit by a combined strike and blows up!

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/03/42

Surface Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 87 encounters mine field at Madras (18,21)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.11
MSW W.20
MSW W.14
MSW W.13
MSW W.3
MSW W.2
DD Ushio
PG Uji
DD Oboro, Mine hits 1, on fire - very annoying [:(]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Jamshedpur , at 28,22

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 24 - wonder why my Zeros stays home most of the time?
Ki-21 Sally x 117 - look at this beauty [8D]

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 13 damaged - flak damage

Allied aircraft losses - great results today!
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Wellington III: 7 destroyed, 9 damaged - ah, looks like I hit Al's new long range bombers!
Hurricane II: 11 destroyed, 5 damaged
Lysander I: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported

Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 64

Aircraft Attacking:
All Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 7
Blenheim IV x 9
Beaufort V-IX x 26

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
All Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Chandpur , at 30,25 ?? This attack was shown to take place over Lae [&:]

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 6 ? I don't have any Oscars at Lae, only the Zeros attacked the enemy!

Allied aircraft - this report is seriously skewed
Kittyhawk I x 9 ?
P-40E Warhawk x 13
B-17E Fortress x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed, 8 damaged - only 1 Zero destroyed in the air today!

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 14 destroyed - the Zeros fought extremely well!
B-17E Fortress: 6 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
205 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 19

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 13000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 72nd Chinese Corps, at 45,26

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 32
Ki-49 Helen x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
52 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
All Helen and Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Calcutta

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 129158 troops, 1211 guns, 808 vehicles

Defending force 53932 troops, 375 guns, 487 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 7 - lots of forts [:'(]

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 7)

Japanese ground losses:
4186 casualties reported - heavy casualties, but it's drity work waiting to be done
Guns lost 143
Vehicles lost 8

Allied ground losses:
1135 casualties reported - soon the tables will be turned again!
Guns lost 36
Vehicles lost 10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Yanam

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 678 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Yanam base !!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Calcutta

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 31652 troops, 287 guns, 406 vehicles

Defending force 132103 troops, 1034 guns, 796 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lunga

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4543 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1266 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Report

The first deliberate attack against Calcutta was costly, turning my Sallys to ground attack now.
Another week of heavy casualties ahead, but after that Calcutta should be doomed and Diamond Harbour made indefensible. Would like a landing here now to bypass the defenses at Calcutta - but I don't have shipping and troops available. Lots of rather large coastal guns there too I guess.

I'm glad the British Army in Burma isn't in Calcutta - another 30000 troops and casualties would have been unsustainable.
Guess I'm not going to defend Burma in force in my next WitP game [:'(]

Tomorrow an aviation regiment lands at Madras, then we will march north. Already moving 3 more divisions here.

Wobbly has finally marched his Army in Northern Burma north! Much easier to make him break camp himself than to kick him out. Would have become far to costly. I only got a division left to guard Rangoon - will attack Burma from India in due time.

A strange attack at Lae today, well - could have been against Chandpur, but the map showed otherwise and only a few of the aircraft types shown in the combat report engaged in combat.

Transports were spotted just out of Lunga again today - got a little surprise for Al tomorrow. A sub and 2 light cruisers of the Kashii type are lying in wait. Not very good ships, but they got endurance and 5.5" guns. If the convoy doesn't have a dedicated escort....

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/04/42

Surface Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 67,97 - interesting battle!

Japanese Ships
CL Katori, Shell hits 38, on fire
CL Kashima, Shell hits 34, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships - the Allied ships are heavily escorted!
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 11
CL Detroit, Shell hits 7
DD Conyngham, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Preston, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Schley, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
DD Waters, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Santa Rita
AK Kanlaon II
AK Morazan

Air Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 67,97

Japanese aircraft - have we seen this before?
G3M Nell x 18 - bombers approach enemy target defended by CAP without a fighter escort
G4M1 Betty x 13

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
P-40B Tomahawk x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 16 destroyed, 2 damaged - and pays for it
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Detroit
CL Adelaide
DD Schley

Aircraft Attacking:
All Betty and Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 67,97

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 3
G4M1 Betty x 22 - and again....

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
P-40B Tomahawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 13 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Conyngham
CL Adelaide
CL Detroit
DD Schley

Aircraft Attacking:
All Betty and Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2 - a mini strike, at least with an escort [:'(]
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Surigao, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Calcutta

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 125114 troops, 1015 guns, 792 vehicles

Defending force 52732 troops, 334 guns, 484 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 7) -we fail to reduce the forts [:(] Have to rest before trying again!

Japanese ground losses:
2474 casualties reported
Guns lost 49

Allied ground losses:
569 casualties reported
Guns lost 41
Vehicles lost 12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Report

India

I didn't like that the forts are so hard to reduce at Calcutta - will move in reinforcements and rest for another few days before trying again.
Got 2 regiments that will move in - more engineer, AA and a tank regiment are still struggling in the jungle. No airstrikes were launched even though the weather was favourable!

At Madras I have now moved in 27 Zeros and 100 bombers - it should now be possible to hit any Allied ships withi 10-20 hexes.
Port attacks against Karachi is also an option, will try to time it with the fleets raid!

One division, 2 engineer regiments and 1 arty battalion have been ordered to march north towards Bangalore!
They're all rested and should easily capture the base if the garrison is made up from the troops that retreated from Madras itself.

China

In China there are now 25!! Chinese units just west of Sian?? Looks like Wobbly will try a counterattack...poor him. Got 70000 troops and 6 forts there.
Going to move in some reinforcements - half of the Army in Kungching has also been ordered to march south, this will take some time though.

South Pacific

Interesting events in the South Pacific today! The 2 old cruisers (that originally were fast transporting in supplies) that were ordered to engage the Allied transports
that were observed heading towards Lunga yesterday, found more opposition than they appreciated!

3 Allied transports were escorted by 2 light cruisers and 4 destroyers - and overwhelming force for the 2 old 18kt cruisers.
A prolonged battle took place during the day - first from 20000 yards which decreased to 9000 before again increasing to 18000! Must have been at least 7 or 8 rounds.

At first the Allied 6" guns failed to penetrate, but as range decreased damage started to accumulate. The old cruisers 5.5" shells failed to penetrate the armor of the US cruisers, but they were nevertheless riddled! All 4 of the destroyers were hit, one was put on fire, one blew up while 2 others were heavily damaged! An amazing effort by such a feeble force.

The Katori will head back to Shortland, 38 sys damage and 30 fires - perhaps she can be saved. The Kashima looks lost, but will see emergency harbour at Tulagi.
The Allied convoy has now turned back - a small victory in itself!

The air force's contribution wasn't so swell: It's really annoying that it isn't possible to order bombers to turn back if their escort doesn't turn up - cause this happens more often than not! Twice today, my Betties and Nells were ravaged by Allied fighters - 20 were lost. I've now ordered them to stand down, I can't sacrifice my good pilots against relatively low value targets when my Zeros time and again stays home.

Enemy subs were spotted in the base hexes of Wotje and Maloetap!? Mining or recon effort - hm, have to keep a keen eye on this.
Situation Map: Surface Combat off Lunga

[tsimmonds]

Actually Katori and Kashima were practically brand new, they were designed to be training cruisers but were mostly used as floating HQs during the war. A very realistic exercise you arranged for those cadets....[;)]